The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 18

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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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The Chaebol’s Daughter Debuted

Episode 18

Writer Son Yeo-jin forced a smile and spoke stubbornly. She didn’t seem particularly angry, but her face looked quite flustered.

“I specially gave you entry permission, Reporter, so why are you picking a fight like this?”

Reporter Choi Gyo-young shrugged his shoulders slyly as he spoke.

“Hey, I’m just stating facts. What’s wrong with that?”

He seemed to already have thick connections with the production staff on site.

Reporter Choi Gyo-young giggled as if teasing Writer Son Yeo-jin, then belatedly looked at Yu-hwa and said.

“Anyway, continuing what I was saying, Min Ha-young was probably the contestant who got the most hate this time around?”

“She got hate? Why?”

“She really couldn’t manage her expressions back then. What you’re feeling about Yu-hwa right now is exactly what the viewers felt too.”

“Ah…”

“She was really greedy about parts too. Well, she participated as an individual trainee back then, so if she was just a regular person, it’s understandable that she couldn’t handle camera awareness. But like I said earlier, she got cut.”

Screech. Reporter Choi Gyo-young made a gesture of slitting his throat as he spoke.

“The person she fought with over parts happened to be a trainee from a well-known agency. You know, that girl. From Planaty that debuted recently. She was a member there.”

Planaty was a 7-member girl group that debuted recently, and their agency Colosse Entertainment was notoriously known as a gang of thugs.

Various media play forcibly linking them with other agencies’ groups, excessive viral marketing, badmouthing other groups, etc. There was controversy over their porcupine-like management style, but thanks to their truly massive backing connections, they were still rolling along fine.

If she got involved with a member from there, it made sense that she got cut due to external pressure.

This industry slang is used in various meanings, but Reporter Choi Gyo-young’s “got cut” probably meant heavy editing rather than being dropped from the broadcast.

If she had fought over parts with a Colosse trainee, they likely made Min Ha-young into a one-sided villain to rationalize the conflict in a favorable direction.

So that thing Reporter Choi Gyo-young was talking about. Evil editing.

Yu-hwa glanced at Writer Son Yeo-jin with a sarcastic look.

You were going to tell me this while giggling? To a mentor, no less?

Knowing what kind of perspective I’d have toward Min Ha-young, you tried to plant such prejudice, really.

“Haha…”

Writer Son Yeo-jin awkwardly avoided Yu-hwa’s gaze and changed the subject.

“So Reporter Choi, who were you so curious about that you came today?”

Most reporters who observed filming went to where the debut group trainees were.

Unlike individual trainees, most of them had confirmed debuts and would naturally be more popular than individual trainees.

But why did Choi Gyo-young, who was most thirsty for those view counts, not go there and instead get permission to cover the individual trainees’ dormitory?

“Since you’re talking about Min Ha-young, is it Min Ha-young? Or Han Da-min?”

At her question, Choi Gyo-young shook his head in disgust.

“Why Han Da-min? What money is there in her? A failed idol trying again isn’t that amazing a story, and no one would be interested, right? Same goes for Min Ha-young.”

Yu-hwa, who had been trying to quietly focus on the monitor, frowned even more.

Writer Son Yeo-jin tilted her head and asked.

“Then what? Besides those two, who else here could become a hot topic. Ah, Choi Song-i?”

“Hey. It’s a secret.”

Choi Gyo-young grinned meaningfully. Soon his closed mouth turned toward the monitor.

‘The real headline material is separate, what.’

Team F’s practice room, specifically toward Ryu Ji-ye.

***

Spread out like the horizon

Will you accept my heart

Ra ri ra- ta-

Screech- squeak- the sound of sneaker friction echoed throughout the practice room.

How long had it been since I was soaked in sweat like this. Intoxicated by a strange happiness, I belted out the high note part of the chorus.

Even if it burns hot

So that you feel cool

The high notes went up pleasantly.

My body had warmed up too, and after practicing so continuously, my locked-up voice seemed to have finally loosened up completely.

Ah, if I had gotten a vocal evaluation now, Yu-hwa would have liked it even more.

Of course, the reaction was good earlier too, but now would have been much better.

Getting praised and receiving a mentor’s affection all leads to screen time, doesn’t it?

This evaluation would probably focus mainly on Min Ha-young and Han Da-min’s part competition even when aired, so I felt regretful about every second of screen time.

“…”

Still, Yu-hwa’s reaction to listening to my song looked extremely interesting.

-She’s good… Really good.

As soon as she saw my song and dance, she relaxed her strange expression and said that with a bright smile.

Seeing that expression made me think all sorts of things.

Even meeting in different positions, as different people, Yu-hwa’s taste seemed unchanged.

‘My favorite is, well, if I had to say, Yeo-eun unnie? Her singing style is so my type. I want to imitate her so much. Actually, I like Yeo-eun unnie so much that I put all her cover songs in my playlist.’

Whether I was Hong Yeo-eun or Ryu Ji-ye, seeing that she liked my songs made me quite happy.

It felt like I had found a connection point of the Ji Yu-hwa I knew between the present and past.

At the same time, it made me a little sad that it had become only my memory.

“Huff… Ji-ye, what’s wrong? Are you tired?”

My expression must have looked strange because Han Da-min asked.

“No.”

Anyway, I’m glad Yu-hwa’s taste hasn’t changed. Thanks to that, I was able to get the most parts among the members in this evaluation.

I quickly organized my thoughts and focused on the choreography.

‘I have so many thoughts every time I meet Yu-hwa.’

My concentration had dropped, but it wasn’t difficult yet. Just as I was about to continue practicing, Han Da-min looked back and forth between the clock and the members’ reflections in the mirror, then stopped abruptly.

“Girls, should we stop here for today? It’s almost 2 AM already. We need to sleep now to manage our condition, so what do you want to do?”

Seo Ra-eun and Choi Song-i immediately collapsed on the floor.

“Good…”

“Huff… gasp…”

There are people here with weaker stamina than Ryu Ji-ye.

I quietly sat down next to the two and looked at Min Ha-young.

Min Ha-young was still standing in front of the mirror. After moving her body for a moment like that, she shook her head.

“I’ll practice a bit more before going.”

She had been moving particularly intensely today, wasn’t she tired? Her usual high energy was nowhere to be found, and her sunken voice and expression looked tired.

‘Or not. Maybe she’s not tired but still in a bad mood.’

Her expression was getting stiffer as time went on. Of course, I’m not in a position to say anything now, but as a senior, I really wish she’d fix that.

Even if not just for Start Plan, if she really wants to become an entertainer, showing emotions so directly isn’t good for her.

‘It would just be rude meddling if I said something now though.’

I can’t help feeling frustrated.

That’s when it happened.

“Ha-young, I don’t know what you’re thinking when you act like that, but.”

In the quiet practice room where only rough breathing could be heard. A low, sunken voice echoed.

Han Da-min’s hand that had been on my shoulder came down.

Han Da-min got up expressionlessly. Then she stood facing Min Ha-young.

“How can you show such an obviously upset expression when the members are all here together.”

Wait a minute. It’s not time to fight yet, is it?

Ding!

See that. The gauge isn’t full yet. But why is it like this already? Is this how the fight buildup happens?

Please, Ha-young. There are cameras here. Expression management failed long ago, but let’s just not fight back.

No matter how much we’re on the same team, she’s still a senior, and there’s nothing more deserving of criticism than taking a senior’s advice as picking a fight.

“….”

At Han Da-min’s firm voice, Min Ha-young stopped moving.

‘…Hm?’

Unexpectedly, Min Ha-young was being obedient.

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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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