The Daughter of a Conglomerate Family Has Debuted - Chapter 194
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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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A First Grade member is my, no, Ryu Ji-ye’s high school classmate?
“Right? Ji-ye.”
“…Huh?”
I smiled awkwardly at her suddenly dropping formalities and acting friendly.
Sorry, but I really don’t remember.
Not all of Ryu Ji-ye’s memories flowed into me, but I generally know information about her and intense memories, especially people related to her.
However, I had no memory at all of that person, First Grade’s leader Jung Han-na.
I suddenly felt like breaking out in a cold sweat.
‘No, why is she acting like she knows me now…’
During Start Plan, she acted like we were meeting for the first time?
Since I have no memory, even if we really were classmates, we probably weren’t that close.
From what she’s saying, we knew each other by sight but weren’t in the same class.
‘Don’t tell me she’s someone Ryu Ji-ye bullied…’
Did this troublemaker really attend school quietly?
Even though her family kept strict surveillance on her.
I don’t have any memories of causing trouble at school, but I still doubt Ryu Ji-ye’s past.
Even after going through Start Plan, various controversies, and debut, there haven’t been any particular suspicions or exposés yet, so I’m just guessing she really did attend quietly.
‘Then what kind of relationship were we? What is this?’
My mind was spinning busily.
But regardless of that, my reaction to Jung Han-na was lukewarm.
“Haha…”
No, I really don’t remember.
Jung Han-na might be lying about knowing Ryu Ji-ye, or maybe we just went to the same school.
It would be troublesome if I pretended to know her and got caught up in school days stories I barely remember.
Here, it seemed better to react honestly.
…But what if she really is someone I, no, Ryu Ji-ye bullied?
“Looks like you don’t remember? Weren’t you in different classes?”
When I just smiled and laughed awkwardly, Kim Gwang-cheon said to Jung Han-na with a playful expression.
Then Jung Han-na seemed a bit flustered but soon shrugged her shoulders and smiled brightly.
“Why can’t she remember? We weren’t in the same class, but we greeted each other quite often.”
“Hey, if you only greeted each other, you weren’t really that close!”
“Haha, I had a bit of internal intimacy. She was really famous at school.”
What? From what she’s saying, we literally just knew each other by face?
‘That’s a relief then.’
What is this. This awkwardness.
What was Jung Han-na’s meaningful expression when she looked at me?
The way she looked at me and her tone weren’t what you’d expect from a relationship where we simply knew each other.
It was clearly a look that implied some relationship we both knew about.
She’s definitely hiding something she can’t say in front of the cameras.
“Ji-ye was famous at school?”
“Very. Haha. …Very famous.”
I closely watched Jung Han-na excitedly telling Kim Gwang-cheon about her school days.
And I concluded that I, or rather Ryu Ji-ye, had not bullied her.
That’s because Jung Han-na’s eyes didn’t show emotions like resentment or fear.
‘Rather than that….’
It was closer to mockery, or perhaps contempt.
However, it seemed certain that we weren’t just acquaintances who only knew each other’s faces.
‘Should I investigate this further since it feels unsettling? If I put my mind to it, there’s nothing I can’t do, but….’
After thinking it over, I decided to just leave it alone.
I almost did something dangerous.
Investigating this would be no different from doing a background check on Jung Han-na.
There would be a brief break after the meal, so I could ask then or just pretend not to know at all.
“Anyway, let’s stop this story here. Since we’re almost done eating, I’ll tell you in advance.”
As the meal was ending, Kim Gwang-cheon spoke up. The members all looked at him in unison.
Kim Gwang-cheon opened his mouth leisurely.
“In a bit, we’re all going to the community center to meet the elderly people, okay?”
Finally, the main content of this broadcast.
Kim Gwang-cheon looked at the members with an expression that didn’t show much expectation as he spoke.
“Anyway, you need to make a good impression on the elderly people so they’ll give you work. But the elderly people now know how to do broadcasts, so they’re very picky, you know?”
“Yes.”
“Think about how to get the elderly people to give us work, what kind of talent or something that could make the elderly people happy.”
Homework was thrown at the members who had become happy after eating a full meal.
It could be seen as a kind of mission given to guests every week before going to the community center.
Only by preparing something that could satisfy the elderly people could they receive work and obtain food ingredients or household items to eat tomorrow morning.
But since the elderly people of the same village had been watching guests’ talent shows for three years, their judgment was bound to become strict. The number of so-called failed episodes was increasing.
It couldn’t be helped since the guests on this broadcast were usually idols.
What talent could young idols perform in front of elderly people with whom they had no common ground? At best, trot?
No matter how spirited the elderly people were, if they listened to trot for three years, and with similar song selections at that, it would naturally become harder to respond enthusiastically.
But from the idols’ perspective, it was also difficult to think of something other than trot.
Would they dance in front of the elderly people, or sing the latest songs? Or would they do the voice impressions that are popular these days?
All the talents they had prepared to perform on broadcasts someday would be useless in front of the elderly people, so they had no choice but to sing trot.
“Hey, you should do this. You sing trot well.”
“I’ll do one trot song.”
“Then we’ll dance behind you!”
“While we’re at it, should we prepare tambourines or costumes too?”
Sure enough, including Min Ha-young, all teams were making a fuss about preparing trot together.
And as expected, Kim Gwang-cheon’s expression as he silently watched from behind was quite a sight.
He couldn’t force idols to do novel talents like he would with his comedian juniors, so he stayed quiet, but his face said “Again?”
However.
I stared at him intently without saying a word. Then Kim Gwang-cheon, noticing my gaze, turned his head to face me.
“…Huh?”
When I smiled at him, Kim Gwang-cheon’s eyes widened.
‘Don’t worry.’
I nodded at him as if telling him to trust only me, then approached the members.
I could feel Kim Gwang-cheon’s gaze following me.
There’s no way they wouldn’t have anticipated this kind of situation during pre-filming research.
I had already thought through what would be good to do.
Of course, the members would have to agree for it to work.
“Everyone, trot is good, but I also have a suggestion.”
***
After a brief break, filming resumed.
Kim Gwang-cheon yawned loudly while watching the guests gather various props before departing for the community center.
‘How are they going to liven up the atmosphere this time.’
“Sigh….”
Just thinking about it brought up both boredom and annoyance simultaneously.
Fortunately, it seemed like the trot talk had died down after Ryu Ji-ye got involved in preparing the talent show earlier.
Nevertheless, Kim Gwang-cheon didn’t particularly expect much from them.
He acknowledged Ryu Ji-ye’s variety show skills, but that was only “for a rookie idol,” and having good sense was completely different from being good at talent shows.
He just hoped they hadn’t prepared something so boring that he’d rather have them sing trot.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
At Kim Gwang-cheon’s words, the ten guests followed him out, each holding their props.
And as always, they arrived at the village community center and introduced today’s guests to the elderly people.
“Today, if you have any work for these kids, just give them anything. Got it!”
“Gwang-cheon, I made braised short ribs to give you today, you know? But if you just come asking for work with nothing to offer, do you think we’ll just hand it over!”
“That’s right. Since our young singers are here, liven things up a bit! Life has no joy these days.”
“Why is there no joy in life?”
“Because it’s boring! If you want to get work and side dishes, show us something fun!”
The elderly people, who knew the show well, demanded something exciting from the guests according to their usual repertoire.
That’s when it happened.
“…Phew.”
Ryu Ji-ye, who had been standing in a respectful posture with her hands neatly folded, nodded with a determined expression, then suddenly ran somewhere and grabbed the karaoke microphone that was in the corner of the community center.
“Why the microphone? Don’t tell me it’s trot again?”
“Young singers doing trot isn’t fun to listen to anymore~”
“They can’t capture that flavor properly!”
As expected, the elderly people began expressing disappointment and complaints.
The atmosphere was gradually becoming awkward. However, Ryu Ji-ye smiled brightly, shook her head, and said:
“Of course. We need to get you excited, so what would be the point of us just singing trot among ourselves.”
“Hmm?”
Kim Gwang-cheon’s eyebrows rose slightly. Ryu Ji-ye’s tone had become strangely folksy.
To compare it to something, it was like a Village Community Center event tone.
In any case, it was a tone unimaginable coming from Ryu Ji-ye.
“We have our Elderly People here who have more spirit than us and sing loudly and well. Naturally, to get excited, everyone should dance together, sing together, and enjoy themselves. Isn’t that right!”
“Yes~”
“That’s right!”
The Elderly People responded enthusiastically to Ryu Ji-ye’s words.
Ryu Ji-ye smiled brightly and shouted.
“So we’ve prepared! Nationwide~!”
A tone and shout that the Elderly People absolutely couldn’t resist.
The Elderly People reflexively shouted back.
“Singing competition~!”
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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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