10
Step Ten
:: Selected Center ::
After passing the audition, it was a period of training.
The survival show was not just about competing with existing abilities but also an opportunity to learn new knowledge and experiences from senior contestants.
And if one could learn and apply it in time, that person might become a dark horse in the show, unpredictable to everyone.
Because most people often only suspected those who were at the top of the pyramid, like Class A.
What attracted viewers to this type of program was not only encountering their favorite idols but also indulging in drama, storylines, and…
indulging in the uncertainty of what was called popularity.
Those who think they might debut…
could turn out to be the first ones voted out, who knew?
So, no one should be underestimated.
In the morning, while many trainees were still not awake, they were forced to get up and exercise with the trainers, including Lee Danbi and Jung Wangseong.
After completing ten rounds of running around the basketball court, they were allowed to cool down for ten minutes on their own.
“All right, if anyone is still not awake, raise your hand,” Lee Danbi looked at several boys almost lying down on the field.
“…” Jung Wangseong raised his hand.
“Hey!
We’re working here,” a younger boy murmured softly, but it was too late.
Several kids turned to see and burst into laughter.
“…” Jung Wangseong put his hand down.
“Ahem, today, Mr.
Jung Wangseong and I are here to announce the results of the theme song test, who will be selected as the center and be one of the 45 people who will stand on the main stage,” the rapper finished speaking.
The whole field fell silent.
Some unintentionally held their breath until their faces turned red.
The trainees forgot to cool down for a moment, and some even forgot to breathe.
Everyone looked at the tablet in the hands of the other party with anticipation.
If they could see through it, they probably already had.
“Which position do you want to know first?” Lee Danbi scrolled through the list on the screen, reviewing it again and again until he was confident that no one had fallen, then turned to ask the trainees what they wanted.
“Center!!!” No one broke the line, answering in unison.
“Starting from that position, huh?
Not saving it as a surprise for the center a bit?” The rapper smiled mischievously.
“Center it is, sir,” emphasized another round.
“I think I got it for sure, so don’t even hope.
Just say my name now,” the cheerleader cheered, revealing some names, some friends, mixed with laughter and teasing.
“Okay, the center position goes to…” Jung Wangseong turned to look at the younger rapper who was stubbornly holding back, refusing to announce the name of the kid.
He snatched the mic and announced directly,
“The center is Jacan.”
“…” Lee Danbi, wanting to spice up the atmosphere to the max.
“…” The trainees who thought they would have to wait longer.
“…” Jacan…
He should be happy, right?
Why was the atmosphere not quite right?
“Come on, let’s applaud.
What are you waiting for?” Jung Wangseong returned the mic to the young rapper before clapping enthusiastically, being the first to do so.
Three seconds later, there was applause followed by ecstatic cheers from the trainees’ side.
Why did the atmosphere feel so strange?
“Congratulations, bro.
I knew you’d make it,” Wang Qi was the first to go up and shake hands with the older contestant.
Then more people came to express their congratulations.
Some just stood outside clapping.
“Congratulations!
Your abilities are well-suited for this.” Lee Danbi affirmed, the applause gradually subsiding.
In reality, the program had planned to assign this position to a trainee who didn’t need to stand out but showed considerable effort and improvement.
However, in this competition, the person who seemed to put in the most effort ended up being the most popular and gaining the highest popularity.
Despite being talented already, they continued practicing late into the night and even managed to spare valuable time to teach other classes without complaining.
Believe it or not, when the second tape aired, he would surely reel in a large number of fans into his fandom.
“Thank you very much,” Jacan nodded to both trainers and then thanked his friends who joined in the celebration.
Even though some congratulated him with smiles, their eyes didn’t quite show the same happiness.
“All right, next, we’ll announce ranks 2-5 who will be on the main stage in the center.” Jung Wangseong quickly announced the top five names without delay as the program had planned.
The fast, smooth, on point Jung Wangseong.
“Kim Jiseong, Wang Qi, An Junsa, Im Kureum, congratulations.”
“Hey!!
Well done, Brother Im!
Finally, you did it!” While Class A erupted in a mix of joy for Jacan and shock over Eiji slipping from the pre-debut position, there was a burst of cheers and excitement from Class B.
“Easy there, crazy kids.
The trainers haven’t finished announcing yet,” Im Kureum reprimanded, pressing his finger to his lips.
They could go celebrate in the practice room later.
What’s with all the fuss now?
“Oh, you got it, bro!” Even Yeo Unche got over excited.
Then it was the stage for the other 40 trainees.
Yeo Unche and Lee Sang-ah, who were among them, grinned and ran over to proudly show off to their kind-hearted big brother, Jacan.
As for those whose names weren’t called, they had to go down to the lower part of the stage and dance, with the chance to be on camera only when there were high-angle shots to capture the overall picture.
“After this, we’ll have uniform fittings for the show.
Don’t try to lose or gain weight unnecessarily.
We’re starting MV shooting in two days,” Lee Danbi looked at the tight schedule of the trainees with limited time.
“After the MV shoot, there will be a performance in front of the audience for the first time.
Details about team division or competition categories will be announced after the MV shoot.”
Chatter erupted
After the excitement and anxiety of the audition results, the heart, which had soared and plunged, was now dancing with the unexpected next mission.
Finally, they would get to showcase their performances in front of the audience!!
While Jacan was busy with the third tape shoot and preparing for the first MV of the Star Fright program, mum like Georgina, who was lying down watching Almond on the foreign TV channel, almost choked on her tea when she saw a familiar face walking into the studio of the Survival program she had just started following.
“Klaus!
Klaus, that’s our kid, right?” A forty-something mom threw a bowl of almonds on the floor and hurried to drag her husband out of the kitchen.
“What’s up, honey?” Mr.
Miller put down the ladle and reached to turn off the gas before being pulled out by the younger, smaller person to the living room past their niece, a daughter of his elder brother, who had just returned from school.
“I saw Jacan!
Oh my goodness, I thought he didn’t want to sing anymore,” Georgina picked up the remote to rewind to the part where her son walked out of the backstage door.
“That’s Brother!,” Casey floated over the sofa to watch her brother with wide eyes.
“Casey, didn’t I tell you not to cross the sofa?
Remember?” Klaus said seriously.
“Sorry, sorry, Uncle Klaus,” the eighteen-year-old girl turned to apologize and then turned to look at her brother on TV again.
“Jay looks so good on camera as usual,” the mother was busy watching her son, she glanced up and down, from top to bottom, to find any abnormalities on the other side to confirm that he was still fine.
“That’s why he hasn’t contacted us back,” they were wondering why their son lacked communication.
There was only a short text message asking to stay in Country K for a while longer.
“Look, our boy got my looks so much,” Georgina pointed her husband to watch their son instead of spending time being angry with their niece.
It worked.
Klaus finally gave in and sat down beside his beautiful wife to watch their son’s performance.
Indeed, as the other said, Jacan had inherited almost all of his handsome looks from Georgina.
Georgina and Klaus watched their son’s performance with proud eyes.
They had seen the young boy chase his dreams from yesterday until today, whether it was a small or big stage, they were proud of it all.
Just as long as their son was happy…
“Hey, isn’t the main host of the show Park Insa?!!
Oh my gosh!!!” That legendary idol still lives!
“Scream!!!”
“Ssh, calm down, take it easy, breathe slowly or you might faint,” the husband had to come in to support her and tap her back to prevent too much shock.
“Jay’s the best!
I’ve got to vote for him!” No matter what, her brother had to get a debut again.
“That’s right, dear, fetch me the notebook, please.
I’ll study how to vote,” it took Georgina almost ten minutes to regain her composure.
She still had things to do.
She couldn’t faint right now.
Each program had a different voting method.
Some allowed international voting, while others didn’t.
So international fans had to resort to contacting domestic fan clubs or fan bases as voting agents.
Klaus went to get the notebook on the second shelf and went back to the kitchen to cook, leaving his wife and niece glued to their son’s competition situation.
“Hey, why can we only vote twice per ID?” Georgina frowned, reading the voting rules that allowed global voting without the hassle of VPNs.
The problem was that fans couldn’t solve problems with money like in other shows, where they just bought products or voted in various forms to support their favorite trainees.
It was a revenue stream for the reality show.
However, Star Fight did things differently…
The show’s website required fans to register as members and verify their identity with their ID card or passport.
Each day, they could vote twice, once in the morning and once in the evening, which counted as two points.
And there was no product or voting card that required any payment at all.
“It’s too strange,” Georgina, beautiful and rich with her husband’s money, clutched the credit card tightly in her hand.
The show didn’t want money or what?
She had money.
She’s ready to pay!
“It seems like this program can’t be fixed with money,” Casey wrinkled her nose in thought.
“So, will Jay get a debut like this?” The worried mother wondered.
Usually, survival shows often rely on fan club donations.
Why the change!
As her son was a foreigner, she feared history might repeat itself.
She didn’t want her son to lose confidence because he wasn’t accepted.
“It’s SKM’s program, right, I think the program’s management doesn’t expect a big lump sum in the short term.
Plus, this method can calculate the actual number of fans following the trainees.
When it’s time for the debut, there’s no need to worry that this group will disappear as soon as the program ends.”
“The more international votes they get, the more it means they can go international anytime,”
“That’s too much,” Georgina complained as she signed up herself.
Surely, she would have to get her husband’s passport to register as well.
On the other hand, her niece said she would register on the computer in the bedroom.
“Looks like we’ll have to find ways to help Jay’s fan bases get more people to join.
That’s it.”
“If the Candies know that Jacan in the Star Fight program is the J they want to see, things would be easier than this,” Georgina grumbled silently.
She could publicly announce this without anyone knowing the source.
But if her son found out later, he would definitely be mad at her.
“If Brother doesn’t ask for it, then don’t bother, Aunty George.
He might get angry and not talk to me,” Casey disagreed.
She didn’t want to incur the wrath of her beloved brother.
“Then you create a fan account to support Jay on social media, okay?
It could help amplify your brother’s voice.
And for those who speak ill of our brother, I’ll handle them myself,” the former government hacker smirked wickedly.
Even though she no longer worked in her old field because she had to take care of her child herself, she still kept up with the world of technology.
Whoever dared to speak ill of her child, prepare to be exposed.
She didn’t need money from lawsuits.
Anyone who dared to come with a knife, she was ready to fight back.
Don’t expect to live a peaceful life.
“Hatchiwe,” Jacan sneezed loudly as he was being made up by the makeup artist.
“Are you not feeling well, hyung?” Yeo Unche looked with a concerned face, wanting to see how his handsome brother looked when he wore the show’s uniform.
“Wow, the outfit suits you so well,” the Class B boy complimented.
Yeo Unche didn’t exaggerate.
The show’s uniform resembled that of international high school students.
Inside, it was a white shirt paired with a dark purple blazer, a deep purple tone that symbolized power, and the same-colored slacks.
The sneakers were white Spencer.
Everyone wore the same thing, except for Class A, who had a gold logo pin on the left chest to differentiate themselves clearly from other trainees.
When Jacan, with his light hair and blue-eyed gaze, wore it, he exuded the charm of a high schooler to the fullest.
Unlike some of them who looked like they had borrowed their older brother’s clothes, they looked like little kids even though they wore the same uniform.
“You’re handsome too,” Jacan glanced at the younger boy.
Because he couldn’t move his face much, he just raised his thumb to signal his approval.
“Speaking like this, I feel relieved a bit,” he hadn’t done his makeup yet, just wore the uniform, and passing by the mirror, he thought he looked like a country boy coming to the city.
“And me?” Wang Qi also wanted some feedback.
He hadn’t styled his hair yet, just waiting in line like everyone else.
“You look good too.
When they do your makeup, ask them to make your eyes a bit sharper, otherwise you’ll look too childish,” making it seem like you’re picking clothes from your brother’s wardrobe.
Jacan didn’t say the last sentence, of course, just giving advice as he thought fit.
“You really have a good eye for detail.
Wang Qi needs eyeliner to make him look more mature,” the makeup artist, who was meticulously working on Jacan’s face, glanced at the young boy with a playful wink, offering an opinion as he would be the next queue after this mixed-race young man.
As for Jacan, he barely needed any powder or foundation at all.
The young man’s skin was very good, both smooth and soft.
Just a little emphasis on eye contouring would help enhance this pair of blue eyes even more.
“I have a sister who often does makeup.
So I’ve picked up a thing or two,” which was no one else but his duo sister Han Shinsu.
As a girl singer, they spent more time on her makeup.
Unlike him, who had to wear a mask, even without makeup, it would not make any difference.
“Ah, I see.
Who is she…
your girlfriend?” When stumbled upon interesting stuff for gossiping, the makeup artist quickly asked playfully.
Her eyes sparkled, as she was fully ready to pay close attention.
“Not really.
It’s an older sister who used to sing together.
Now she’s about to have a boyfriend herself,” Jacan replied with closed eyes and a smile, No one knew that it was an important secret of the famous actress.
If Han Shinsu heard about it, the young man would surely be scolded until his head fell off.
“Really?
You’re not only handsome but also warm.
It’s a type that girls really like.”
“You’re flattering me too much, but I’ll gladly accept it,” while other trainees were nervous about their first performances on the big stage, Jacan was the only one who could casually chat with the makeup artist and hairdresser.
“What he said about debuting must be true then,” Kim Jiseong whispered to Wang Qi, who had returned to sit with him.
“Do you think Brother Jacan was just kidding?” Wang Qi raised his eyebrows.
He thought everything Jacan said was true.
“You’re so…, if Brother Jacan’s sold you out, don’t go help him count the money,” believing too easily had gone too far.
“Oh, do you know this phrase too?” the younger brother asked, surprised.
This was a very popular phrase in his home country.
He never thought he would hear it from someone from another country.
“Of course.
I’ve read a lot of novels,” Kim Jiseong boasted.
“Novels?
Are they translated novels?” Im Kureum, who had been sitting quietly because he hadn’t adjusted to Class A yet, suddenly piped up from the other end of the sofa, joining the conversation instantly.
“Oh, they’re Yaoi novels.
My older sister loves to read them.
But I’m not gay, just feel like they’re fun,” Kim Jiseong, a true man who has a sister addicted to novels and manga, laughed.
During the time he didn’t practice dancing or singing, he also read some.
The more he read, the more he felt they were fun.
But he still liked girls as usual, not looking at the same sex differently,
Still seeing them as crazy as before.
It was a gender that, when put together, there would be nothing but endless nonsense…
“Huh, you read stuff like that too?
Uh, don’t get me wrong.
I’m not bullying or resisting anything,” Im Kureum hastily denied, afraid the other party might misunderstand.
“I also like reading, but…
but I read books of all genres, not just Yaoi.”
“So have you read this one, xxxx?
My sister loves it,” Kim Jiseong considered his new friend for a moment before inviting further conversation about books.
“Yeah, I have.
That one’s really popular.
It’s even published abroad,” Im Kureum, caught off guard by the younger person’s sudden initiation of a conversation about novels he liked, forgot the worries he had about abruptly shifting classes.
His demeanor changed.
The intimidating aura that had made him the Big Brother of Class B was completely erased.
Referring to information from the novels, the person in front of him must be gay, because he thought he accidentally revealed his own secret, he quickly came up with other reasons to explain.
Hmm, just like in the novels.
Sundere…
It meant he hadn’t come out as gay at home one hundred percent.
So he was afraid if the talk segment in the dressing room went on air and his family found out, there would be trouble.
He must be right!
This guy must be gay!
He could guarantee it with his sister’s experience of reading more than a hundred volumes of Yaoi novels.
Kim Jiseong closed his eyes, nodding to himself, confirming his thoughts inwardly.
“…” Im Kureum.
“…” Wang Qi.
What’s his deal?
They were having a good conversation, and he just zoned out meditating.
…
It took three hours for makeup and hair styling together.
All 99 trainees were ready to film the program’s theme song music video.
The staff led them into the original studio where they had shot the first tape.
However, this time, Athchanan and the judging panel were gone, replaced by a large stage they had only seen as a model during the mission announcement.
It looked beautiful on TV, but seeing it in person made them truly appreciate its grandeur.
Amazinggg!
Were they going to dance on that?!
Many trainees shouted in excitement at the grandeur, taking turns expressing their views enthusiastically while the cameras captured the atmosphere.
Except for Jacan, who looked at it with a pressure that didn’t show to anyone.
With this many people…
How long would it take to finish shooting?
Jacan’s pressure wasn’t not unfounded.
It was evident during the first group rehearsal.
They hadn’t even started filming yet, but they were already making mistakes, dancing out of sync, bumping into each other, and causing so many problems that the MV director and the PD had to stop and have everyone meditate before trying again…
and again.
“Stop, stop.
No need to start the song.” The middle-aged man turned to send a glance to the judges standing below the stage with a face of annoyance and frustration, ready to devour the trainees in their care.
“…” The trainees on stage stood still, hands clasped in front of them.
They didn’t think that even during the final rehearsal, they would still be making continuous mistakes like this.
“What are you guys doing?” Jung Wangseong held the mic, standing with his hands on his hips, looking down at the trainees from the stage.
His formerly composed face now showed increasing irritation.
Anyone who accidentally met his gaze would lower their head in shame.
“Are you guys thinking you’re playing shop?”
“Don’t tell me that after the position selection was over, you guys didn’t even rehearse or review anything?” Lee Danbi scowled, criticizing the chaos that ensued.
“…” It was fortunate that the two Kim sisters had a job today and didn’t come to this studio.
Otherwise, they would have sunk the stage with criticism until everyone wanted to escape for sure.
Jacan observed the situation with a calm and quiet demeanor.
He had already anticipated that it would be like this.
Even professional idols made mistakes during their stage performances, how could trainees, who were still amateurs, avoid them?
And with their large number, the difficulty of harmony increased tenfold.
Im Heewoo chose to remain silent, letting the instructors take care of them.
If he, the most senior in the program, also joined, there would undoubtedly be tears to the point where no further filming could continue.
“I’ll give you guys 10 minutes to review yourselves.
Or if anyone needs to do something else, feel free.
And I hope that after this, there won’t be any more embarrassing mistakes like this,” Jung Wangseong said in a stern manner, making the trainees shrink in fear.
Those who were emotionally fragile shed a few tears before hurriedly wiping them away for fear of smudging the makeup they had applied.
Fortunately, most of the mistakes occurred with the group located near the stage’s outer perimeter.
If it happened to those who had already been selected by the judges, they would have faced heavier criticism.
Or worse, they could have been removed from the stage to the ground.
“So frightening, brrrr.” Wang Qi was confident that he hadn’t made any mistakes, but when he saw his friends being scolded, he couldn’t help but shrink back.
“Hmm,” An Junsa sighed, his handsome face showing clear signs of annoyance.
Perhaps it was because there were no close-up cameras recording at the moment, the young man no longer bothered to control his facial expressions.
Furthermore, the stage he stood on was higher than anyone else’s, making it difficult for anyone to see his face, except for Jacan, who stood higher.
However, the other side probably wouldn’t notice.
The trainees who couldn’t bear the pressure began to take turns going to the bathroom, one or two at a time.
Some who knew they had made mistakes quickly reviewed themselves urgently.
Some asked their nearby friends to help them rehearse to avoid making mistakes in the next practice session.
Ten minutes passed, and the fourth major rehearsal began.
Although there were still some mistakes, they were almost invisible and could be covered up by close-ups of other contestants, so they passed and were ready for actual filming.
When they heard that they had to start filming for real, the already tense atmosphere became even more intense.
The song that should have conveyed freshness and energized the listeners couldn’t evoke natural expressions from the performers.
Stiff smiles, unblinking eyes.
“Cut!
Stop, stop, stop right there!
What’s happening in this recording?
Is this a ghost-hunting show?
Make your faces look decent for a bit.
We’re going to start filming again,” the MV director yelled into the microphone with a slightly irritated voice.
Then he started getting angry, angrier, and angriest when he had to call for a fifth take.
“Do you think you’re just playing around with filming?
Do you know how much money every minute wasted costs?” Im Heewoo walked out, holding a slate with a frustrated expression.
Because they had to rent this large studio by the hour, even though he had it booked for the whole day, if they kept making mistakes like this repeatedly, they might not finish filming today.
“…” Both the trainees above and below looked at each other.
If it wasn’t this person’s fault, it was that person’s mistake.
The blame game continued endlessly.
Even the pre-debut trainees above started receiving criticism later because they had to dance non-stop for a long time, which took a toll on them.
In their group, it seemed that only the center had never made a mistake.
“You guys, look at Jacan, he’s a good example.
He hasn’t made a single mistake up to now.
The more you make mistakes repeatedly, the more tired everyone gets, and it’s not just one person who’s exhausted,” As the last sentence ended, they all looked up at the program’s older brother who hadn’t shown a hint of exhaustion on his face, not even a little bit.
Was this older brother human for real?