The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 173
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After hearing what Kim Ja-in and Choi Gyo-young said, Park Nam-seok is a rookie killer.
He’s famous for what’s called “rookie crushing.”
He’s very kind to most cast members and responsible staff, so there are many heartwarming stories about him that can easily fool people.
“They say once you get on his bad side, he’s an expert at making you look bad in variety shows.”
Since he has such deep trust among people, it’s apparently hard to escape from his swamp once you’ve fallen into his disfavor.
If Park Nam-seok badmouths any rookie, most people would believe Park Nam-seok rather than the rookie.
‘I don’t know why Han Da-min suddenly became a target out of nowhere.’
For now, I asked Kim Ja-in to minimize variety show casting offers where we might encounter him, so we wouldn’t get more entangled with Park Nam-seok.
‘I think it’s probably because of screen time.’
It’s just my speculation, but Kim Gwang-cheon, the main host, seemed to quite like Han Da-min and me.
Kim Gwang-cheon is the person Park Nam-seok respects most and wants to impress the most.
No matter how much it’s about taking care of guests, I thought maybe his feelings got twisted seeing Kim Gwang-cheon only praising Han Da-min from the same team.
According to Han Da-min, Park Nam-seok used to pity Han Da-min and her former group Rosetta to an extent that made her uncomfortable.
Someone he thought was beneath him suddenly returned as a popular singer and was even receiving praise from someone he respects, so his feelings got twisted.
This is all speculation based on the premise that he’s as insecure as I think he is.
Anyway, the mission isn’t complete yet, but for now we can keep our distance from him and prevent some traps to some extent.
I even told Choi Gyo-young to constantly monitor whether he’s talking about Han Da-min.
It’s very concerning, but I have a lot to do…
Thud.
Just as I was about to finish organizing my thoughts, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
“Shouldn’t Ji-ye go practice now? Hm?”
“Ah…”
Kim Ja-in was smiling while putting pressure on me.
“We just started preparing for SPLCON, so you need to be enthusiastic, right? That way, um…”
Kim Ja-in thought for a moment then said energetically.
“Won’t you be able to show a stage that won’t lose to May Rookie?”
“…You’re right, CEO.”
I quickly got up and left the conference room.
Our first album activities had only one week left.
It was time to start preparing for the next schedule after album activities.
The so-called SPLCON proposed by Start Plan seemed to be proceeding on a larger scale than we expected.
Not only the concert venue, but also online concerts and live viewing.
‘Are there really that many Start Plan fans?’
Of course I knew there were many, but honestly, I had been thinking of Start Plan as something like a crumbling castle.
The controversy was so fierce and public opinion was so bad that most of the participating teams issued statements and apology letters.
Anyway, with the negative public opinion about SPLCON itself added on, interest in SPLCON had grown higher than expected.
Our homework was to use this situation to draw out the maximum reaction.
Therefore.
Click.
When I opened the door, the gazes of people filling the practice room focused on me.
“Ji-ye, are you done with everything? Then let’s join in quickly.”
“Yes, I warmed up on the way here. I can start practicing right away.”
The choreographer, dancers, and staff members watching us with eagle eyes.
Even though I hadn’t been away for even an hour, the members were already red-faced and drenched in sweat.
We had to create the most spectacular and perfect stage among the six teams that appeared on Start Plan.
Fortunately, this SPLCON had so many advantages that would help us shine.
***
“You need to move faster! Ra-eun, I can see you in the back!”
“Yes!”
“I’ve told you three times this is off-beat, girls! Song-i, you came in on the beat!”
“Huff… Ugh…”
All that echoed in the practice room was the choreographer’s voice and the members’ heavy breathing.
We’d already been practicing non-stop for five hours.
My vision was starting to blur.
“Teacher, could we take a short break?”
Finally, Seo Ra-eun raised the white flag and cautiously suggested a rest.
The choreographer checked the time with sharp eyes, then stopped in surprise and waved her hand.
“Break, break! Oh my, I had no idea this much time had passed? You girls really have good stamina! I thought it was only an hour or two.”
…Teacher?
That’s a three-hour difference.
But who cares about a break.
I immediately collapsed onto the floor.
Groans erupted from here and there.
As expected, the first practice for any stage is tough, but I’m still enjoying it quite a bit.
The stages we’ll present at this concert are 3 FLORA songs and 2 collaborative stages with other teams.
We creatively arranged existing songs to make them more special, and I loved both the new choreography and songs, so even practice felt fun.
‘Most importantly, the composition…’
Leaving my heavy breathing behind, I crawled across the floor toward the mirror.
Then I found my mobile phone tucked in my outer clothing and opened the internet.
[FLORA to perform collaborative stage with U&DA at ‘SPLCON’]
[The only two teams without controversy? ‘FLORA and U&DA SPLCON collaborative stage’]
[SPLCON, all participating teams complete song selection through fan voting!]
We’d only just arranged the stage composition and sent it over, but articles were already pouring out.
If this were the original Start Plan, they would have been doing media play centered on May Rookie instead of us to gather attention.
Now, perhaps being conscious of May Rookie’s public opinion, most articles were being released focusing on FLORA and U&DA.
Thanks to this, the already soaring interest in FLORA grew even more, which was great.
Including the collaborative stage with U&DA that we’d wanted to do so much since our Start Plan days, I was very pleased with the stage composition.
Actually, I didn’t have any good feelings toward SPLCON.
But now that we’re starting again, honestly I’m beginning to feel a bit excited.
Our fans also seem to have skeptical reactions about SPLCON, but they appear to be looking forward to the stage performance itself.
‘Ah, since I thought of it, should I take a look?’
I was about to turn on social media for the first time in a while to search for fans’ reactions.
“Are you practicing? Ah, it’s break time. Everyone, listen while you’re resting!”
A Day Entertainment office employee poked their head into the practice room and said.
“I came to let you know in case you forgot while practicing and being active. You know you need to submit fan name ideas by today, right?”
Ah.
“If you have any ideas you’ve thought of, make sure to pass them to Ji-soo.”
“Oh, right.”
The members exchanged glances.
Looking at their expressions, it seemed everyone except Han Da-min and Seo Ra-eun had forgotten about it.
Including me.
Han Da-min, who noticed this, said with an incredulous expression.
“Everyone, let’s have a brief meeting after we finish practice.”
That’s when it happened.
Click.
At the sound of the door quietly opening without a knock, the members’ gazes turned there once again.
“Ah…”
Choi Song-i, who had been resting her head on my shoulder at some point, let out a small sigh.
Hmm, we probably won’t be able to have our meeting today.
The woman who entered with quiet steps to avoid disturbing practice was none other than.
Choi Song-i’s Mother.
‘She hasn’t been coming much lately.’
I heard she’s been busy with filming since starting a morning drama recently.
It seems she came during a brief break.
“Oh! Mother! Hello!”
“Mother, it’s been a while!”
The members who spotted her greeted her warmly and headed toward her.
“Let’s go too.”
I also got up and spoke to Choi Song-i, but Song-i shook her head with a sulky face.
“Later. I told her not to come when we’re practicing.”
“Song-i, still, your mother came, so you shouldn’t…”
Oh well, I don’t know.
I left Song-i behind and headed toward Mother.
“Oh my, Ji-ye~. This child seems to get prettier every time I see her.”
“Mother, have you been well?”
“Of course! Seeing you all being active is so wonderful that even though I’m busy these days, I’m living happily. You all haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“No!”
“I made some food. Do you want to go to the dormitory to eat, or should Mom buy you something delicious?”
Song-i’s mother had naturally become everyone’s ‘mom’ from the first time we met, always looking after us in various ways.
While it can sometimes feel a bit burdensome when she visits without notice during busy times like this, I’m still very grateful.
“Mom… I told you not to come when I’m practicing.”
Song-i had been openly showing her displeasure with her mother’s behavior for a long time.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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