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 seemed very satisfied with this scoop.
And she appeared to have quite a liking for me, 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 time.
‘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 crime.
It was simply a headshot of rising actress Jeon Chaeyeon.
Not yet widely known to the public, but promoted by YT Entertainment—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 remember Kevin had been on drugs around that time.
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 seemed.
I forced a bitter laugh and waited on Lee Doyeon reporter’s words.
This wasn’t all the reason she called me.
[By the way, how did you realize that actress had done drugs?]
“…by physiognomy?”
[Are you asking me to believe that just now?]
“Of course. I’m good at reading faces.”
[So you discovered Kevin by physiognomy, too?]
“……”
That was right. That name had to come 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 mean I accepted Lee Doyeon reporter’s words as truth. To outsiders who didn’t know the details, I’d just look like someone 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 me 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 seemed 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 me cute.
[He’s just a kid, I guess. Reminds me of my younger brother. He’s cute when he throws a tantrum too.]
Comparing me 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 mental 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 somewhere in his heart.
“Why do they hate me 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 camera, 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 me.
Though we were both trainees from KJ Entertainment, he now felt like someone I had to look at from afar.
It was Do Seohan, currently riding the highest wave of popularity.
Someone 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 come out from practice?”
“Yes, that’s right. What about you, hyung?”
“I was just about to go in and practice.”
For some reason, his face looked more radiant every time I saw him.
Maybe it was the camera massage effect.
I let out a small laugh while looking at Do Seohan, who shone like a baby hamster.
As expected, debuting was meant for people like him.
Someone who sparkled just by standing still, like a light source itself.
“Congrats on getting 2nd place last time.”
“I’m glad you came up with us this time too, hyung.”
It was a simple, kind remark.
But somehow, I felt a pang of guilt, like I should bow my head.
Unlike Do Seohan, I didn’t feel like I had come up fairly.
I mumbled, trailing off.
“Well, I only came up by accident…”
“I thought you might be like that, so I came to find you.”
“Huh?”
“I heard some excavator noises, and look—hyung was digging a tunnel?”
Do Seohan shook his head and looked down at me.
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 me he wasn’t buying it.
“Tsk…”
I was definitely two years older than him, but he looked at me like I was a child.
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Hyung, don’t you remember what I said that time?”
“…!”
The day the media was buzzing with Lee Junhyeok’s scandal and the KJ exposé.
At the soft tofu soup restaurant, Do Seohan had said something to me.
‘I’ll make sure you debut, hyung.’
Do Seohan smiled brightly as he spoke again.
“I came to keep that promise.”
What works in the entertainment 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 memorable 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.”
“…Me?”
“Trust me.”
“Uhh?”
Right now, the program’s pick for main vocal was Jin Sehyun.
Considering he would become 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 remembered, 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 Me.”
There was no way he’d end up in the same team as Jin Sehyun again.
Do Seohan nodded in satisfaction.
“From my perspective, you fit ‘Touch Me’ 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 time.
“None of the trainees assigned to ‘Touch Me’ screamed ‘main vocal’ to me.”
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 same team, I’d definitely support you as main vocal, but I think I’ll end up in ‘Betters.’ That’s a shame.”
“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 message came in with perfect timing.
[All trainees, please gather on the first floor for the Concept Evaluation team assignment.]