Chapter 40: Are the fans ordering this?
[Our Jeon Chaeyeon‑ssi apparently was a very habitual drug user? To discover such a scoop with my own hands, I’m really a lucky person. Right?]
At Lee Doyeon reporter’s remark, I briefly inhaled.
I had found out faster than expected.
“I’d heard you were very capable, and it seems that was correct.”
[Yes. I’m rather exceptionally capable.]
I snorted, skipping over Lee Doyeon reporter’s feigned reply.
A mad, relentless reporter. Lee Doyeon seed very satisfied with this scoop.
And she appeared to have quite a liking for , the person who helped her land it.
[But what on earth was that photo?]
“Ah…”
The one photo I’d shown Lee Doyeon reporter in the office last ti.
‘So, you know, I have one gift I want to give you.’
In truth, the photo itself wasn’t anything special.
It wasn’t an image capturing drug use, nor CCTV footage of any cri.
It was simply a headshot of rising actress Jeon Chaeyeon.
Not yet widely known to the public, but promoted by YT Entertainnt—and already drawing attention among reporters as a rising star.
In fact, her upcoming project was anticipated to be a major hit, solidifying her as a famous actress.
The issue was that at her career peak, a huge scandal would break.
A drug scandal.
A few celebrities got dragged into it, one of them being Kevin.
I'm not certain… but I rember Kevin had been on drugs around that ti.
He had shown signs from trainee days.
It was an inevitable incident. I just triggered it a bit earlier.
Lee Doyeon reporter, unaware of my true intent, chattered excitedly.
[Seo‑han‑ssi handed over a pretty photo, so I mulled over what it might be for days. At first I thought it was my sister’s girlfriend.]
“Regarding that guy, it could very well be him...”
[Don’t make scary jokes. I’m strictly opposed.]
Even Casanova's sister didn’t want her brother involved with a druggie, it seed.
I forced a bitter laugh and waited on Lee Doyeon reporter’s words.
This wasn’t all the reason she called .
[By the way, how did you realize that actress had done drugs?]
“…by physiognomy?”
[Are you asking to believe that just now?]
“Of course. I’m good at reading faces.”
[So you discovered Kevin by physiognomy, too?]
“……”
That was right. That na had to co up eventually.
Once you catch one, others follow in droves.
The reason I threw the bait in this dangerous deal with Lee Doyeon reporter.
Finally caught her—a big catch.
Of course that didn’t an I accepted Lee Doyeon reporter’s words as truth. To outsiders who didn’t know the details, I’d just look like soone trying to tear down number one Kevin.
So I tried denying, for now.
“Ke…vin?”
Hum‑hum.
“Th‑at. guy. did. drugs?”
This level of reaction should look legitimately shocked, right?
“H‑uh, he didn’t look like it.”
[Doseohan‑ssi.]
“Yes?”
[Seohan‑ssi danced well and sang well—but acting? No go. It stands out terribly.]
Oh.
[You knew already, huh?]
“That can’t be. It must just be your imagination.”
[I get why you’re worried, but nothing will tie you to this incident. I’m human too! I know gratitude!]
“Ah. Yes.”
[Thanks for the scoop! When do you want to blow the timing? When you want to be number one, just say so! Tomorrow? Right now?]
“……”
Did she forget that she was being blackmailed?
Why was she so excited?
My lips stayed sealed in sympathy, but it seed Lee Doyeon reporter interpreted it in a different sense.
[Aw, it’s so cute how you’re flustered you can’t answer properly.]
I didn’t want a scary woman like her calling cute.
[He’s just a kid, I guess. Reminds of my younger brother. He’s cute when he throws a tantrum too.]
Comparing to Lee Dokyung was too much.
Click—
I brushed off Lee Doyeon reporter’s nonsense with one ear and hung up.
• Will Free‑Rider Ian slack off in the next round too?
• From now on it’s strictly individual competition, how could he freeload lol He’ll just fail to make it to the finals
• Honestly Free‑Rider Ian didn’t really do anything wrong but I just don’t like him ㅠ
• Looking at Seo Ian, I feel really bad for him. Lee Junhyeok brought that anger on himself, but he sat there quietly and got cursed at by the production team; why do they hate a twenty‑year‑old kid so much;;
• Sure the production team was at fault, but thanks to them he got moved up? So he deserves it lol He got benefits lol
• Why on earth didn’t Lee Hajin get rescued but Free‑Rider Ian still advanced lol
Seo Ian sighed as he scrolled down. There wasn’t much worth seeing in any sane mind.
Even though he tried not to look, where did that ever hold?
He ended up reading everything.
It wasn’t content he could easily brush off—but he didn’t completely break either.
“I just need to prove it.”
Seo Ian steadied his heart and slipped her phone into his pocket.
His face looked like soft tofu, but his ntal resilience wasn’t tofu.
If it were, he would have left this field long ago during the KJ assault years.
Still, he couldn’t help feeling a pang sowhere in his heart.
“Why do they hate so much…?”
He knew not everyone could like him.
But it was hard to accept that strangers he’d never seen hated her as if to kill.
That he had no presence?
He had done his best. Whether that best didn’t show up on cara, he didn’t know.
She believed this was his last chance—how could he think of freeloading? He’d prepared more fiercely than anyone for the last round.
It was while Seo Ian swallowed his bitter feelings and walked the hallway.
From the end of the corridor a familiar face waved.
“Oh, hyung!”
“Uh?”
I looked up in surprise.
A familiar face that I hadn’t seen recently due to being so busy was walking toward .
Though we were both trainees from KJ Entertainnt, he now felt like soone I had to look at from afar.
It was Do Seohan, currently riding the highest wave of popularity.
Soone like Lee Dokyung might try to ride Do Seohan’s popularity, but I wasn’t that kind of person.
I simply greeted him in a calm and friendly voice.
“Seohan, did you just co out from practice?”
“Yes, that’s right. What about you, hyung?”
“I was just about to go in and practice.”
For so reason, his face looked more radiant every ti I saw him.
Maybe it was the cara massage effect.
I let out a small laugh while looking at Do Seohan, who shone like a baby hamster.
As expected, debuting was ant for people like him.
Soone who sparkled just by standing still, like a light source itself.
“Congrats on getting 2nd place last ti.”
“I’m glad you ca up with us this ti too, hyung.”
It was a simple, kind remark.
But sohow, I felt a pang of guilt, like I should bow my head.
Unlike Do Seohan, I didn’t feel like I had co up fairly.
I mumbled, trailing off.
“Well, I only ca up by accident…”
“I thought you might be like that, so I ca to find you.”
“Huh?”
“I heard so excavator noises, and look—hyung was digging a tunnel?”
Do Seohan shook his head and looked down at .
Feeling like I had to explain, I waved my hand.
“No way, it’s not like that.”
But still, the look in his eyes told he wasn’t buying it.
“Tsk…”
I was definitely two years older than him, but he looked at like I was a child.
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Why are you looking at like that?”
“Hyung, don’t you rember what I said that ti?”
“…!”
The day the dia was buzzing with Lee Junhyeok’s scandal and the KJ exposé.
At the soft tofu soup restaurant, Do Seohan had said sothing to .
‘I’ll make sure you debut, hyung.’
Do Seohan smiled brightly as he spoke again.
“I ca to keep that promise.”
What works in the entertainnt world is having a character.
Not sure if this is the best way to put it, but entertainers live off their image.
It’s about building a story with your own unique character.
In that sense, Seo Ian had an advantage from the start.
Unlike in his previous life, Lee Junhyeok’s attention-grabbing scandal had already made the public aware of Seo Ian’s unfortunate backstory.
This was Do Seohan’s plan in his head.
Up until the First Group Evaluation and the Second Position Evaluation, Seo Ian hadn’t shown any real impact.
So the keyword Seo Ian needed to aim for was “growth.”
Create one morable scene that firmly captures the public’s attention, and leave the rest of the story to the fans.
That one scene would be…
“Hyung, have you ever tried for center?”
“I did try… but I always failed.”
“How about main vocal?”
“No…?”
“That’s the problem.”
“…?”
Main vocal?
Seeing my confused look, Do Seohan grabbed my shoulders.
Then he spoke in the most serious voice imaginable.
“From what I see, you’re main vocal material, hyung.”
“…?”
“Trust .”
“Uhh?”
Right now, the program’s pick for main vocal was Jin Sehyun.
Considering he would beco the main vocal of Stardust in the future, he was definitely talented enough to deserve that spotlight.
But was Seo Ian’s vocal ability worse than his?
Tunnel-Ian might believe that…
But it wasn’t actually true.
The Second Position Evaluation was the perfect chance to showcase Seo Ian’s vocal skills, but he got overshadowed due to the Jin Sehyun-centered editing.
However, the upcoming Third Evaluation would be different.
From what Do Seohan rembered, Jin Sehyun would be assigned to “Betters” in the Third Evaluation.
A song with a sexy and powerful vibe.
It obviously didn’t suit Seo Ian.
“Hyung, what concept did you go with?”
“I wore a bunny headband… so I tried going for a cute concept.”
Then most likely, he’d be assigned to “Touch .”
There was no way he’d end up in the sa team as Jin Sehyun again.
Do Seohan nodded in satisfaction.
“From my perspective, you fit ‘Touch ’ perfectly. So aim for main vocal in that team.”
Even though Seo Ian still looked reluctant, Do Seohan was confident.
With that kind of vocal ability, constantly aiming for center was what got him no screen ti.
“None of the trainees assigned to ‘Touch ’ scread ‘main vocal’ to .”
It was a spot he could easily secure.
Do Seohan smiled at the still-hesitant Seo Ian and encouraged him.
“If we were on the sa team, I’d definitely support you as main vocal, but I think I’ll end up in ‘Betters.’ That’s a sha.”
“Wait. ‘Betters’… that’s the sexy concept song, right?”
“Yep!”
Seo Ian’s pupils trembled slightly.
“The fans… they’re letting you do that?”
“Of course.”
As Do Seohan replied with confidence and Seo Ian panicked—
Ding—
A KakaoTalk ssage ca in with perfect timing.
[All trainees, please gather on the first floor for the Concept Evaluation team assignnt.]
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