Save a Failed Idol’s Life

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: NicoleTempest

Chapter 251 Spark (1)

As they turned on the music and started to follow the rhythm one by one, people soon gathered around them.

It was not a professional performance, but just one of the many dance crews of middle and high school students, so the audience was not that large.

Still, they seemed to be enough to stop the passers-by on their way, and everyone moved their bodies with a cheerful expression.

‘They’re good.’

They must have worked hard in places that were not visible, even though they had not received any professional training.

To others, they might look like scumbags who had no dreams, hopes, or future.

But from the perspective of someone who knew how much effort it took to prepare for such a stage, they could not be scorned as pathetic lives.

As they watched the stage with fascination, the first stage ended.

‘They won’t finish after one song, will they?’

They wondered what they would dance next, but only for a moment. A familiar accompaniment soon sounded.

[Three, two, one, shh-.]

A low metallic sound that scratched the eardrums. It was Yi-jun’s part.

“This…”

“Oh. Offbeat’s new song. It’s good.”

It had been more than a week since it was released, but it was still in the top 10, which meant it would keep the chart and run long.

The general public who didn’t like us much also listened to this song lightly without much resentment, as we prepared it as an easy listening song.

Some people said that it would have been better if we had made a more radical attempt to show our unit’s color, but…

‘Sales! Sales are more important than color, right?’

Of course, color was also important, but. In a situation where it was important to raise awareness and achieve results, there was no room to mix minor tastes and take risks.

‘It’s easy to give advice when it’s not your own business.’

They pouted their lips and looked up at the makeshift stage, and there were more people standing around than before.

Maybe because it was a hit song, there were more people who knew it and more people who were attracted by it.

“The atmosphere here is too boring.”

“Pretending to be indifferent~ You turn away with a dull expression.”

The most active-looking member of the crew on stage encouraged the audience, and the spectators who looked like friends started to sing along.

“Hello, is a common greeting too boring?”

“I came to pick you up today!”

One by one, the voices gathered and formed a chorus, and as the voice grew louder, more and more people flocked. As if they were the nation of enthusiasm, everyone hummed along without exception, and even the people who passed by saying that they were singing along came closer and sang along.

“Tonight! The most shining moment~.”

“Right now, when our eyes meet!”

“A confession of liking you! It’s too common!”

It looked like they had come to a concert hall, and they followed along with a roar. It seemed that the purpose of the people was not to watch the dance performance, but to just sing.

‘Well, even so…’

They look happy. They were not real idols, but just cover stages that followed the dance, but both the audience and the crew on stage had happy expressions.

‘Wait… Next is…’

It was my part. As soon as I thought that, the lyrics came out of my mouth.

“One by one, pretending to worry, nodding your head.”

“A bouquet of flowers that I prepared secretly, I hope you like it.”

Ah. I sang too much, and the song came out at the timing as if it was a conditioned reflex. I was surprised by myself.

With a hollow laugh, tears flowed down my cheeks without me knowing.

The crew member who took my part barely managed to do the point choreography that I made myself, and everyone cheered him on with a light laugh.

It was a song that I participated in the lyrics and choreography, but I had no right to claim anything now.

“I wish you liked me…”

“The whisper that I muttered to myself.”

“Tonight! I’ll tell you my heart properly.”

I want to sing. I want to go out and dance.

I only had one showcase stage, but the music broadcast activities were already over.

‘Why did the groups that do well start the trend of not doing music broadcasts at all or ending them in two weeks?’

Even Floss, who was on the verge of disbandment, pulled out a follow-up song and went out very hard.

Anyway, Floss was a project group, so it was an exception, and Offbeat was expected to rank at least above the second group from the start, so the activity was planned for two weeks.

‘But I wanted to go to the music broadcast once.’

It was a pity, but there was no way. I decided to give up and the phone rang from Kang Yu-geon.

[Caller: Kang Yu-geon]

I was just watching our song cover stage with your fan. I pressed the receive button, hiding the trivial situation that I couldn’t tell.

“Hey, are you done with your schedule?”

Even though I covered my phone and mouth with my hand, the noise around me was so loud that I couldn’t block it out.

“What is it? It’s too noisy here.”

What do you mean, what is it? Come out and watch the stage where we covered our song. I wanted to answer curtly, but I restrained myself with patience.

“I’m outside.”

“Who did you go out to meet?”

“Why do you keep asking me who I’m meeting? I just came out to clear my head.”

I shrugged my shoulders and changed the subject.

“Did you finish your schedule?”

The audience around me, and even the guy who claimed to be a fan of Kang Yu-geon who brought me here. They probably couldn’t imagine that the person I was talking to was none other than Kang Yu-geon himself.

“Yes, I finished recording ‘National Counseling Center’ today. It was pretty decent, but I don’t think it will be a huge hit in terms of ratings. But it wasn’t boring, so you don’t have to worry.”

You don’t have to report that in such detail. If I listened, I would only wonder what I would have done if I were there, or how the other guys did. It would only make me feel awkward.

“Good, I’m glad you finished well. Are the members okay? How did the company react?”

As I poured out the questions I wanted to ask, Yu-geon patiently answered them one by one over the phone.

“The members are fine too. Today, Kyunghwa hyung and Yi-jun talked. They decided that it would be better to get along comfortably since we’re going to work together anyway.”

This sounded like a conversation between a parent and a child who checked their report card, but I was relieved anyway.

“Good, you did well. What about the company?”

That was the most important thing right now.

“They seemed happy to see me. They were having trouble with the work, so they were glad that someone came back to take care of it.”

I had to make a more thorough handover document before I left for good in six days.

I felt sorry for causing trouble by suddenly disappearing.

“Thanks for letting me know.”

I heard enough for now, so I thought I’d talk to him later on messenger. As more people crowded around me, I was about to hang up, when a familiar voice came in.

“What? Were you on the phone, hyung?”

It was Yi-jun.

“Oh, then I should go somewhere else.”

This was Seon-woo. I wasn’t sure what the situation was, but he must have finished his schedule and gone home and called.

“Who is it? Do we know them?”

My heart sank at Yi-jun’s playful question. What would Yu-geon say?

It would be better to avoid trouble and say he didn’t know them. But my heart was pounding.

“Well…”

Yu-geon hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“It’s someone who supports Climax. Do you want to talk to them for a bit?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

I nodded at the first half, thinking he was just a supporter, but my eyes widened at the suggestion that followed.

What the hell. Why should I talk to them? What’s the point?

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

As I stuttered in confusion, Yi-jun took the phone without hesitation.

“Oh, are you a fan? Okay, I’ll take it. Hello~.”

Have some caution, will you? You don’t even know who they are!

Are you a dog? Do you want to greet every neighbor you meet on your walk?

I sighed and answered.

“Uh, yes. Hello, Yi-jun.”

I felt awkward and covered my mouth with my hand to prevent the conversation from leaking out.

“I’ve been watching your activities lately. Good job.”

Actually, there were more things I wanted to say if I had the chance. I wondered if he was disappointed that Ise suddenly went on strike. If he was angry.

It was funny that I was worried about that, when I was no longer Cheon Ise, nor would I ever be again.

And this was my true feeling.

It wasn’t my choice to disappear so suddenly. I hope you weren’t hurt. I hope you weren’t disappointed in me.

‘What does it matter now…’

I ignored the bitter taste in my mouth.

“Oh, thank you! We’ll work harder and show you better sides of us.”

Yi-jun replied cheerfully, and Seon-woo added a comment.

“Thank you!”

They must have been confused and struggling after losing their center member, but they answered bravely. I was grateful.

“Yes, cheer up. Can you give the phone back to Yu-geon, please?”

I quickly wrapped up the call and Yi-jun handed the phone back to Yu-geon.

After a brief crackling noise, I heard Yu-geon’s voice.

“Is that all you have to say?”

Of course. I snorted and answered.

“No.”

“You must have something else.”

“I said no. I’ll hang up if you talk nonsense.”

I drew a firm line and Yu-geon sounded sulky.

“Are you really okay with that?”

What can I do if I’m not okay? I was silent for a moment and changed the subject.

“I’ll hang up if you keep talking about that.”

Yu-geon didn’t seem to know what the problem was either. Anyway, he gave me a snappy reply.

“Fine. Anyway, there’s nothing much going on here.”

I wondered if his definition of nothing much matched mine, but I had to trust him for now.

“Okay. I’ll contact you if I need anything. It’s late, so get some rest.”

“Yeah.”

I hung up and looked up at the stage. The song had changed from Offbeat to Floss.

Before I knew it, another song was over and they bowed their heads to the crowd that had gathered around. My chest twitched again.

I wanted to be on stage. I had practiced my ending pose, my wink, my hand heart, and my finger gun. I had gotten used to finding the main camera.

I wanted to show them how much better I could do, but now it was impossible.

I had planned to switch parts and change the choreography with the members, so that the fans would have fun watching the stage. But all of that had gone up in smoke.

‘What are you trying to do, Cheon Ise?’

You should at least do well on stage, even if you don’t care about the business. That’s what you always wanted to do.

Do you have to be so down?

As I turned to go back to the resting area, my eyes welled up again.