Chapter 41: Touch Me (1)
“Wow, where are we this time?”
“I think it’s my first time here.”
A strange studio.
The trainees quietly gasped as they looked around the practice room, which had a huge screen like a movie theater. This was a space they hadn’t stepped foot in since the Stardust Project shoot.
Reincarnated Do Seohan settled in comfortably.
In fact, that big screen wasn’t even registering in his eyes. He was simply curious about which song he’d be assigned to.
“‘Touch Me’ is a great song, but I really want to do ‘Betters.’”
Do Seohan, still not letting go of the sexy concept, muttered to himself.
Beside him was Kang Siwoo, who still hadn’t let go of the cute concept.
“Ah, I want to do ‘Touch Me.’”
With visuals that looked like they couldn’t be easily touched, talking about “Touch Me” was something else.
Do Seohan blinked and turned to look at Kang Siwoo.
Since Kang Siwoo had dropped out in the first evaluation, he wasn’t in Do Seohan’s mental database. But no matter how he had survived in his past life, it didn’t seem like he would’ve been assigned to “Touch Me.”
“I want to do Betters.”
“Yeah, it suits you.”
“You suit ‘Touch Me’ too, hyung.”
“Thanks, haha.”
They exchanged words they didn’t mean, and sitting right behind them, Ha Junseo whispered to Jin Sehyun.
“…What do you think about that conversation?”
“I think Siwoo hyung could do ‘Touch Me,’ but I can’t imagine Do Seohan doing ‘Betters.’”
Hearing that, Do Seohan sharply turned his head.
“I think I just heard my name somewhere.”
“It’s just your imagination. Turn back around.”
Not wanting to meet that slightly threatening gaze, Jin Sehyun quickly made Do Seohan sit back down.
While everyone was mentioning the songs they hoped for before filming, the cameras finished setting up, and the red light turned on.
“It’s starting, it’s starting!”
They were fairly used to shooting now. Do Seohan straightened his posture and looked straight ahead. Just as the trainees were preparing their reactions, Han Dawon walked out with a sheepish smile.
Clap clap clap.
“Wow! Our MC!”
“Hello, everyone!”
Since this shoot was different, Han Dawon’s face looked much brighter than during the gloomy second ranking shoot. He greeted the trainees with a cheerful voice.
“Did everyone rest well?”
“Yes!”
“MC-nim, your face is shining again today!”
“Ugh, what is that!”
A burst of laughter erupted from the front at Cha Seongbin’s sudden flattery.
MC Han Dawon blinked playfully and looked pleased.
“You’re good at social life, trainee Cha Seongbin.”
“Thank you!”
Despite the cheerful atmosphere, they couldn’t let their guard down while the cameras were rolling. Everyone probably had team assignments on their minds.
MC Han Dawon, aware of that, quickly got to the point.
“So, everyone. Do you know why we’re gathered here today?”
“Yeeees!”
“Team assignments!”
As expected, a great reaction.
Han Dawon smiled with satisfaction and turned toward the big screen.
“Yes, that’s right. Based on the recommended concepts voted by the supportive fans of Stardust World over the past week, today we’ll be assigning songs and teams for the boys’ ‘Concept Evaluation.’”
“Wooooow!”
“What song is it?”
“I’m already excited!”
Their acting showed they were reading from a script, and laughter burst out from the back.
“Act better, Haim.”
“Okay~”
Actually, the three song samples had already been released online.
Betters, Touch Me, All Time.
Each song would have five trainees assigned, and those combinations would be used for the concept evaluation.
The last stage before the finale. Every trainee seated here was serious about this concept evaluation. Although all three were excellent songs by famous producers, that’s why they were extra sensitive about the selection.
Everyone’s eyes focused on the monitor in front.
MC Han Dawon boomed out the scripted line.
“Then… let us now introduce the three precious songs gifted by the composers, created just for the boys of Stardust World!”
Songs for us. That title struck a new chord with the trainees.
Because these weren’t cover songs, but ones that would be officially released under their names on music platforms. Voices filled with excitement came from all around.
“Wow… it’s really our song.”
“I’m so nervous.”
“I’m already anxious….”
MC Han Dawon pointed at the screen and stepped back.
“No more words needed—let’s listen to them ourselves.”
At the same time, the screen lit up.
[Hey, everyone. I’m Billy Vinger, the composer of ‘Betters.’]
[And I’m choreographer Choi Myunghwan!]
Billy Vinger, a Korean-American composer behind many idol hits. And top-tier choreographer Choi Myunghwan.
The trainees stirred at the collaboration of these two.
“They’re starting off with those guys?”
“I already want to do this.”
“Wow… that lineup is crazy.”
Next, a one-minute highlight and choreography demo video played.
Billy Vinger’s song was, of course, a masterpiece, and Choi Myunghwan’s choreography was intense and impactful as expected.
Do Seohan stared at the screen, swallowing.
He liked it no matter how many times he saw it.
“Legendary song with the perfect choreography.”
As someone aiming to be main dancer, it was an irresistible song.
Then the screen transitioned to the introduction for “Touch Me.”
[Hello, I’m Jium.]
The composer with long straight hair, Jium, bowed politely.
She was a well-known producer who had written many hits for Doubles Entertainment.
[A refreshing melody line, with a touch of cute choreography. I wrote the song ‘Touch Me’ while thinking of our adorable trainees.]
“It’s Jium-nim!”
“This one’s definitely going to include Seo Haim.”
“Haim, Ian, Seohan…? That lineup seems likely.”
“Our maknae says he wants to do ‘Betters.’”
After the trainees' light reactions, the screen switched to the guide recording for “Touch Me” along with choreographer Heo Chanyeong’s demo video.
“Oh, the song’s good.”
It was the song that had trailed just behind “Betters” in popularity, and in Do Seohan’s past life, it had significantly boosted his recognition.
Though he didn’t crave it as much as “Betters,” this song also had a lot of key points in its choreography.
Just like “Betters,” the choreography wasn’t easy at all, so the presence of a main dancer to anchor the performance seemed crucial.
“The main dancer has to do well.”
Anyway, it was someone else’s business.
Finally, even “All Time,” which had been of least interest, was introduced on screen, and a thick envelope appeared in MC Han Dawon’s hand.
“All right, that’s the end of the three songs.”
“They’re all so good!”
“Ah… I feel like I could pull off any concept!”
They were all saying camera-friendly lines, but their eyes were already glittering with desire.
They had already decided in their heads what they wanted, and yet could act that fake.
Han Dawon smiled lightly, finding the honestly eager eyes of the trainees cute, and held up the envelope.
Now the dice had been cast.
Inside the envelope handed out in order would be written the assigned practice rooms.
“…I’m nervous.”
Do Seohan, who received the red envelope after waiting his turn, glanced inside.
Class C.
“I can’t quite remember which song this was.”
At the time, he’d been thinking of “Touch Me” anyway, so he hadn’t paid much attention to the song assignment. His hazy memory made him tilt his head.
In any case, team assignments were done.
MC Han Dawon picked up the mic and announced the next step.
“Starting with trainee Seo Ian, ranked 15th, please move to your assigned practice rooms in order.”
Do Seohan, who had ranked 2nd in the last ranking announcement, and Kevin, who was 1st.
While the two were having separate interviews, most of the other trainees had finished moving into their teams.
Those who arrived earlier naturally began to figure out their team composition.
Class C, now confirmed for “Touch Me.”
In a corner of the practice room sat Seo Haim, Seo Ian, Cha Seongbin, and Kang Siwoo.
Cha Seongbin, who was one year older than Kang Siwoo, smiled and spoke.
“I’m so surprised Siwoo ended up in ‘Touch Me.’”
“To be honest, I’m surprised too.”
He had actively appealed with cuteness, but he hadn’t expected to really be chosen for “Touch Me.”
Most likely, the competition for “Betters” was too fierce and he’d lost out due to lower recognition, but Kang Siwoo himself was satisfied.
Cha Seongbin cheerfully smiled and pointed at himself.
“Of course, I’m not exactly the universal definition of cute either.”
“Wouldn’t the universal cuteness be Seo Ian, Seo Haim… and Do Seohan?”
Kang Siwoo nodded in agreement to Cha Seongbin’s comment.
Cha Seongbin also replied in a confident voice.
“Do Seohan’s definitely coming here.”
Everyone knew it—except the person himself. Earlier in the studio, he was standing there with his hands clasped, looking all nervous….
Kang Siwoo scratched his head and said,
“I have no idea why he was so nervous.”
Seo Haim, who was in charge of Universal Cuteness #1, laughed and answered.
“Seohan is usually really good at being self-aware, but he completely loses it when it comes to the sexy concept.”
“True.”
“Our Seohan thinks he’s cool, and that in itself is adorable.”
“Exactly.”
Seeing the cute maknae just made the hyungs want to tease him more.
It was Cha Seongbin who poured fuel on the hyungs’ wicked ideas.
“Why don’t we try something fun?”
“Something fun?”
“What if we pretend this is the ‘Betters’ room?”
That sounded like a blast.
With just that one line from Cha Seongbin, the eyes of the other three sparkled.
Even the usually quiet Seo Ian wasn’t about to miss out on this kind of mischief.
“Then… I’ll hide behind the door.”
Action-oriented Seo Ian quickly dashed behind the door. Cha Seongbin clapped in admiration at the quick thinking.
“Right, without Seo Haim and Seo Ian here, this could totally pass as the ‘Betters’ room.”
“Exactly.”
“To make the numbers match… I’ll go fetch Jin Sehyun from the other room.”
While the Seo brothers were hiding, Cha Seongbin shamelessly went off to recruit Jin Sehyun.
Of course, everyone was completely sincere about tricking the maknae.
“Wow, sounds fun. I’m coming right now.”
With an immediate answer, Jin Sehyun came to the “Touch Me” room and settled in.
These people, united with the noble goal of deceiving Do Seohan, were sitting together, excited—except for Seo Haim and Seo Ian, who were hidden behind the door.
They were even quite methodical.
“The one person who isn’t here yet—we’ll say it’s Kevin hyung.”
“Perfect number. Sehyun, you’re a genius!”
Seo Ian spoke up excitedly from behind the door.
“With this lineup… he’ll totally believe it, right?”
“Ah, my heart’s already racing.”
“Seohan, hurry up and come….”
And so, after the hyungs’ desperate wait, time passed,
and the door to the previously quiet Class C practice room finally opened.
Then—
“Seohan, welcome to Betters!”
Cha Seongbin cheerfully welcomed Do Seohan with a bright voice.