NOVEL NEXT The Road to Glory
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TLN: The author wrote this in English
Halo hummed.It seems his voice projected much more clearly than before, probably because he had been practicing hard and training his vocals.He roughly pulled out an adolescent voice.It was completely different from his original voice, but the style was the same.Halo paid no heed to the slight dissonance.He was a pro, and he knew how to perfectly perform and sing in any condition. Compared to when he had forcibly held a concert while having cold symptoms, his current state was heavenly.He had reserved the studio for tomorrow. Kang Yeongmin of HY Studio was startled, asking if he had made another song, but it seemed like he was gradually getting used to it.After sending the demo track for his second album ‘Spring again’ in advance, there was no reply.‘It’s about time he got used to it.’The completed demo track could be heard through the headphones. If he had only completed ‘When We Meet Again’ with an electric guitar before, this time he had completed it with an orchestra.The violin layered over the electric guitar embraced the melody like spring wind, while woodwind instruments like flutes and oboes, and the harp filled out the sound richly.Even though it was the same song, it gave a completely different impression. Of course, it wasn’t just one or two session musicians involved.Halo leaned back on the bed with his eyes closed.All the practice was finished, and he wouldn’t sing it at home anymore.As always, the song rang out to him.The already completed song.#At some point, the outside became noisy.Halo, who had been contentedly listening to the audio track, slowly got up. It seemed the chicken had finally arrived.And the arrival of the chicken meant that the ‘time’ his mother had been eagerly awaiting had come.“!”Halo opened the door, and the flashy fried chicken adorned with blooming oil flowers greeted him.However, the person holding it was—.“Why are you here?”“Your mother invited me to have chicken together.”“But the shoot is…”“There isn’t one, so I came.”Jang Jinsoo bluntly replied.Since there was no way Jang Jinsoo could know the door password, it was clear that someone inside had opened it for him.And that person must have been his mother.His father wasn’t home, after all.Halo suddenly recalled seeing his mother messaging someone earlier that day.‘Was it Jang Jinsoo? Since when were they in contact?’As Halo looked at him with doubt, Jang Jinsoo, holding the chicken, said in a wronged tone,“This, I didn’t bring it—I met the delivery person in the elevator…”He hadn’t asked for an explanation about the chicken.But he sort of understood anyway.Ever since she had heard about it on ‘Show Your Show.’Ever since she had learned about her son’s situation, his mother had felt an increasing affinity towards Jang Jinsoo.She would occasionally ask things like, ‘Is Jinsoo eating well these days?’She might have gotten his contact information when he had visited before.Jang Jinsoo was a chatterbox, and he was good at telling her what she wanted to hear.For example, stories about her son, or stories about the entertainment industry that her son might venture into someday. It made perfect sense.“Jinsoo, have you been well?”“Hello, Mother!”As soon as he saw Halo’s mother, the previously frozen Jang Jinsoo immediately approached like a second son. His mother also welcomed Jang Jinsoo.“Have you been eating well? Oh, you look so thin.”“Yes, I’ve been eating well except during shoots.”“Do they starve you on set?”“No, it’s not that they starve me, it’s just that the food doesn’t sit well with me. It’s just easier to eat at home after the shoot is over.”“It must be so tiring.”“It was tiring, but I’m re-energized now that you bought chicken for me, Mother!”“Eat a lot before you go home.”His mother smiled fondly at Jang Jinsoo and gently stroked his head. Jang Jinsoo closed his eyes and smiled. There was a curious lingering sense of hardship that made her feel sorrowful for him.It seemed that the few shoots he had done so far were still taking a toll. His mother led Jang Jinsoo to the sofa while pouring cola into a mug for him.“Since I kicked out Haelil’s father, let’s just comfortably watch together, the three of us.”“That—!”Jang Jinsoo was startled by the mention of kicking someone out.Did they fight? He glanced at Halo suspiciously.His mother saw his reaction and laughed heartily.“Actually, he went to an alumni meeting. A college alumni meeting, or was it a graduate school alumni meeting?”“Ah, ah.”“He preferred drinking over listening to the song my son made.”Seeing his mother grumbling, Jang Jinsoo inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Whenever he came to Halo’s house, he couldn’t help but develop PTSD from being caught in the middle of their whaling fights.“Oh, it’s starting.”The mother, who had thrown away the chicken radish water, sat down next to him. Right on cue, the opening of the first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ started playing on TV.Halo brought a fried chicken drumstick to his mouth.Crunch.The crispy sound of the fried batter crumbling pierced his eardrums, along with the savory aroma of oil.#“It’s starting now.”Daily Today reporter Song Ojeong pressed the Alt-Tab key.[Line 1) When Villains Meet Villains. (Read More)]The community post she had been reading switched to a Word document, displaying the materials she had received from the ENS public relations department.There was an embargo until 11:30 AM. They were set to simultaneously release the information once the 135-minute first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ ended.“What kind of first episode lasts 135 minutes?”Not even in the latter half, but for the first episode to drag on for two hours—she didn’t know what kind of editing that was. Of course, the more material there was to write about, the better it was for her. As long as it wasn’t boring.“When does he show up?”And Reporter Song thought that at least the first episode wouldn’t be too bad. The preliminary round that had grabbed attention in the preview would probably be included in the first episode, right?‘The show’ might be questionable, but the applicants this time were as flashy as always, so it was worth watching.If you were interested in indie music, you would have heard of the indie musicians and the famous influencers with hundreds of thousands of subscribers who had applied.The competition rate must have been cutthroat as well. Unless they were truly skilled amateurs, they couldn’t have made the lineup.Oh, and the middle school student who appeared this time was quite good too.Reporter Song recalled Gillaon, who belonged to the P-R Label.With a sensibility and vocal ability beyond his years.And an appearance like a child actor—he was a promising newcomer with high expectations.In particular, the skills he showcased in the preview were on par with any decent adult singer.If Gillaon performed, the annual controversy over ‘special admissions’ might not even surface.“But the one I’m most curious about is someone else. I wonder if he’ll show up last.”That’s what she would have done if she were the producer.Since all attention had been focused on this kid after the preview, placing him in the latter half would sustain interest for a longer period.The first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ began.The main background music that wasn’t used in the preview started playing as the opening commenced. The video started right away without any commercials. As always, it began by introducing the five mentor judges who would be producing and evaluating the contestants.“Oh.”Reporter Song was newly impressed.Even on a second viewing, it was a stellar lineup.Stars excelling in their respective fields without any overlap in positions.There was star composer Kim Myeongjin, who had become well-known through various music programs.The rapper Kaiser, who was active overseas.Liv, the digital queen who dominated the charts whenever she released an album with music that moved people.Wonder, a member of the famous idol group Cold Brew.And finally, the producer Emperor who was skilled at making popular songs.After a brief interview about what kind of mentee they wanted, the stage performances of the applicants were shown.As always, the editing technique of repeatedly showing the applicants’ performances to elicit reactions would probably be criticized. Judging by how they had never fixed this issue despite it being an ongoing complaint up to the third season, it seemed to be the stubborn insistence of the former producer.Sure enough, curses towards the producer immediately popped up on the community. Judging by the sheer volume of insults compared to previous seasons, it was quite the sensational start.Of course, criticism was still attention, so this meant they were receiving more attention than in previous seasons.The obvious cause was the preview.Although the preview’s main character had yet to appear, it wasn’t bad so far.The influencer had a decent flair for variety shows, and the indie musician Jojo lived up to his reputation.The judges’ reactions were also enjoyable to watch.They dished out harsh criticism and advice to some performances, while giving feedback, applause, and praise to the decent ones.Those dramatic reactions might have been tragic occurrences on set, but from the viewer’s perspective, they were entertaining.And finally, the promising newcomer appeared.[Hello, I’m number 27, Gillaon.]The way he confidently walked onto the stage and calmly adjusted his number tag was impressive. The slight smile playing on his lips showed that he would be loved wherever he went.Look, the judges were already smiling like proud fathers in unison. After a brief interview, Gillaon’s performance began.The stage dimmed, and a single spotlight fell on Gillaon’s head.[Today, when the wind blowThe path to you seems far away]His sweet voice tugged at the heartstrings.[The reason you’re always by my sideIs because you loved me moreI only realized that nowIt’s cold here]Before long, the judges were fully immersed in the performance.Soon, a heart-rending vocal outpouring followed.[I wish I could meet you againEven if you don’t recognize meAs long as I can approach you]One didn’t even think about him being a middle school student.When the song ended, ballad singer Liv and idol Wonder immediately stood up and applauded.[Thank you for listening!]As soon as the song was over, Gillaon emerged from his emotional state and smiled brightly again.Reporter Song watched Gillaon’s poised performance and glanced at her watch. It was almost 10:30 AM.Even with the intermission commercials, it was a lingering performance that almost felt too impactful to be placed in the middle.With his youthful age that belied the heart-rending quality of his performance, viewers would have already decided on their champion and would view the other applicants with an even more stringent standard.And yet, the fact that they had deliberately placed a famous contestant in the early part and positioned Gillaon in the middle meant that there was someone who would make an even greater impact than Gillaon.‘But better than that?’With the cold eyes of a reporter, as she watched ‘Show Your Show,’ she found herself unconsciously becoming engrossed in the program without realizing it.Part 2 soon began.#“Not bad.”Halo said in admiration as he tore off a piece of the yangnyeom chicken drumstick. The two people next to him remained silent. It seemed they had even forgotten the existence of the chicken. They would probably be startled later when they noticed the drumsticks had disappeared.“Wow, he’s really good for his age.”“Yeah, he was good back then too, but he’s really good now.”The two of them seriously praised number 27, Gillaon.Even Halo could tell that the kid didn’t have an ordinary sensibility. He was supposedly the same age as Jang Jinsoo.Halo thought that Jang Jinsoo would have to work harder from now on.“What did you think of him?”Jang Jinsoo turned to him and asked.What did he think? Was there anything special to say?Halo swallowed what was in his mouth.“He sings well.”“Right?”“But not as well as me.”“…”Jang Jinsoo’s expression turned cold.He turned his head back to the TV, pretending not to have heard.Gillaon’s song lingered in his ears like an afterglow.A heart-rending love song.Someone came to mind.He didn’t understand why kids these days liked such emotional love songs. He had never sung love songs, not just at that age, but his entire life, so he couldn’t comprehend it.“Still.”As Halo spoke up, Jang Jinsoo looked back at him again.“It’s not my taste.”“Huh?”“I’d rather have rap.”It was better to be refreshing and straightforward, honestly expressing his feelings, sometimes even shouting and smashing instruments.Sentiments like ‘Love me’ or ‘I miss you’ were hard for him to understand.“I see.”Although Halo hadn’t meant it as a compliment, Jang Jinsoo grinned like a weirdo.He considered pointing out the misunderstanding, but instead reached for another chicken wing.He wanted to eat more drumsticks, but there were none left.He didn’t understand why chicken only had two drumsticks.As Part 2 began, each contestant’s story was shown.As always, there were some strange characters like Line 1’s Villain whenever things got loose, and everyone had at least one backstory.A common but always effective cliché.Time gradually passed.As it approached 11 AM, Jang Jinsoo’s face turned pale.“What if I got edited out? There’s no way I wouldn’t have appeared by now.”Since he was in the preview, he probably wasn’t edited out.Well, he might not appear in the first episode.Jang Jinsoo, who hadn’t considered that possibility at all, kept muttering “edited” over and over. He regretted not listening more obediently, and his complexion fluctuated from pale to ashen to even bluish.Around that time, a familiar face appeared on the ‘Show Your Show’ stage.Simultaneously, Jang Jinsoo’s expression changed as if he had finally relieved the constipation he had been suffering for a week.“Thank goodness.”Before starting the performance, an interview segment aired.Jang Jinsoo appeared, tense and stiff to an awkward degree that would make even the viewers uncomfortable.[Hel.lo. My name is JJ.]“!”Seeing himself on camera acting so ridiculously, something Jang Jinsoo hadn’t realized, he froze like a rock, while Halo spat out the cola he was drinking into the air. Pffft!“Cough, cough. JJ?”“…”“Pfft, really? JayJay?”The soda burned his throat, causing a stinging pain, but he couldn’t help but laugh.In fact, if someone else had used that name, it might have sounded like an ordinary stage name.But the way Jang Jinsoo said it so seriously made it sound like a middle school kid, which was hilarious. He must have been proud of coming up with that name, thinking it was clever.Moreover, on camera, Jang Jinsoo wasn’t even breathing, and his pupils were fixed. It was as if he were stating a product name rather than a stage name.“Well, it’s just initials, you know?”Jang Jinsoo’s face turned beet red.He didn’t mention that he had originally intended to use the name ‘Jade Jang.’“It’s cool, why are you like that, Haeil? Jinsoo must be embarrassed.”“Hahaha!”“Stop laughing already.”Embarrassed, Jang Jinsoo grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it into his mouth. Unluckily, it was the breast meat, so it was tough and chewy.Meanwhile, the interview was progressing well.Self-introduction, motivation for applying, declaration of determination—it was much longer than the others’, as if they had chosen him as the producer’s pick.The scene transitioned to his performance.“Oh!”Jang Jinsoo flinched in surprise.Of all times, it was an acapella stage.A nerve-wracking performance where mistakes were doubled compared to usual, embarrassingly inadequate on stage.On that stage, Jang Jinsoo rapped his heart out, but he was worse off than any other applicant. It was almost like he wondered how he made it past the first round.His pupils shook as if in an earthquake, not knowing how to show anything but a bad performance instead of a good one.Naturally, the judges’ expressions were more severe than ever. A participant passed by, scoffing with a smirk, and interviews followed suit.Some participants directly mentioned the ‘special selection’ process.The screen switched back to the judges.They discussed what to say, then, upon receiving a signal from the writer, they said, “We’ll listen to the second song and then make a judgment.” As they spoke, the shape of the judge’s mouth seemed to say, ‘Why bother watching the second performance?’Especially, Emperor, the producer who had praised Gillaon so much, failed to keep his composure. Rapper Kaiser also seemed about to blurt out criticism.Liv and Wonder, who had asked Gillaon to be their mentor, looked on ruefully.No one expected Jang Jinsoo to do well.They only pitied the child being scrutinized to this extent.That’s when the instrumental track played, and the beat was heard.Rapper Kaiser, who had his arms crossed, tilted his head. Following him, Idol Wonder’s eyes widened, and the serious expression of producer Emperor gradually softened.Liv shook her head, and composer Kim Myeongjin closed his eyes.Together with them, Jang Jinsoo began to rap.Not much had changed.The only difference was that accompaniment was added to the acapella.However, the rap synchronized with the beat became more comfortable to listen to, and everything changed.Idol Wonder nodded, as if urging courage, looking Jang Jinsoo in the eye. Jang Jinsoo’s rap gradually became more skillful. It was a visibly clear change.Wow.Liv opened her mouth.Her eyes never left Jang Jinsoo.And finally, after a week, a hook that had heated up the community was heard.[SpotlightWhere I should be]That very moment from the teaser.[A spinning circle might revealthe reason for life]Liv raised both arms and gasped.[You say you’re not perfectwhatever
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TLN: In English
but my dreamsare different from your cunning ways]Rapper Kaiser leaned forward,[You, walking the promenadeon the edge of eternal abyssare simply acrophobic][Racing towards the endyou wouldn’t know]But most impressively-.[They will never meet again]Jang Jinsoo smiled confidently more than ever.The child who seemed inadequate from interviews to acapella stage adapted on stage, arousing a strange satisfaction.#[When I close my eyes-]“!”Verse 2 played again.But Reporter Song was holding her chest, unable to suppress her excitement. She could hear her heartbeat.It was eleven-fifteen at night.It was time to gulp down caffeine drinks, but her heart was pounding.As if dominated by the song, 56 tracks played from both ears.When she heard it in the teaser, she thought it was good.But she didn’t expect it to be this good.The melody she wondered about flowed perfectly. The monotonous beat was intricately designed for the hook.“Ah.”A belated sigh escaped her.She couldn’t hear the judges’ evaluations.She just wanted to see the stage again.Gillaon, who seemed like the protagonist of Part 1, didn’t even come to mind. With the main character of Episode 1 here, who would notice the supporting roles?The narrative was perfect.The interview that made even the viewers uncomfortable.The broken stage.Expectations that seemed irreparable returned, completing the climax.The PD didn’t just make the teaser for nothing.The PR team’s message was no longer in her mind. All she could think about was 56.Then Reporter Song remembered the number of a known contact. When she urgently made the call, it was answered as if expected.“No, you’ve been hiding this until now? Kind of disappointed.”“How is it? Episode 1 came out pretty good, right?”“No, is ‘pretty good’ the issue? It’s not important now, it’s 56! Give me more information about 56.”“Hmm… Information about the applicants is strictly confidential.”“Oh, really? No info to share? There must be something.”Reporter Song pretended to be nonchalant, hiding her anxiousness.Of course, the other party probably already knew.They’re just playing along without knowing each other.Someone might have already made a call.As Reporter Song lost herself watching the stage for 56.“Well, there is one more thing.”“What is it?”Reporter Song hurriedly searched for her notebook.Despite having a laptop right in front of her, she fumbled around for a notebook like a fool.“It’s an idea from the PR team, unanimously approved by the PD, writers, and production team.”“What is it!”The other person’s words didn’t follow.The more they didn’t, the more anxious Reporter Song became.She waited for a response.The other party didn’t easily share, to the point where she checked if the call was disconnected.“What time is it now?”“Is it eleven-thirty? But why suddenly about the time-”The Your Show Your Show Episode 1, which started at 9, packed the second qualifiers of the applicants into 135 minutes. Already two hours had passed, and the minute hand of the clock was nearing 12.Reporter Song grumbled for no reason and then shut her mouth.There was something fleeting through her mind.“By any chance? What’s going to happen later?”No response came from the other end.It was certain that something was up.“What’s happening at what time?”“All I can say is up to here!”Click.The call was disconnected.Reporter Song looked at her phone with a disappointed face.#ENS PR Team’s Kim Miyeong, in her third year, hung up the phone. Then she looked at her watch again. The minute hand pointing at 6 seemed to pass by unusually quickly today.The time she was waiting for was like something out of a fairy tale.Just like Cinderella opening the ballroom door and dashing out with a bang, a bomb with a timed timer would explode in the magical time.Since it hadn’t happened in the previous season, no one would expect it.Nevertheless, in the end, the wind would blow into silent slumber.When it finally arrived on the ground, whether it would be a wave or a tsunami, nobody knew.Tick-tock.It struck 12.Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!
Chapter 32 - They Will Never Meet Again
When I was young, the world was like a car running towards me.
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[1]
TLN: The author wrote this in English
Halo hummed.It seems his voice projected much more clearly than before, probably because he had been practicing hard and training his vocals.He roughly pulled out an adolescent voice.It was completely different from his original voice, but the style was the same.Halo paid no heed to the slight dissonance.He was a pro, and he knew how to perfectly perform and sing in any condition. Compared to when he had forcibly held a concert while having cold symptoms, his current state was heavenly.He had reserved the studio for tomorrow. Kang Yeongmin of HY Studio was startled, asking if he had made another song, but it seemed like he was gradually getting used to it.After sending the demo track for his second album ‘Spring again’ in advance, there was no reply.‘It’s about time he got used to it.’The completed demo track could be heard through the headphones. If he had only completed ‘When We Meet Again’ with an electric guitar before, this time he had completed it with an orchestra.The violin layered over the electric guitar embraced the melody like spring wind, while woodwind instruments like flutes and oboes, and the harp filled out the sound richly.Even though it was the same song, it gave a completely different impression. Of course, it wasn’t just one or two session musicians involved.Halo leaned back on the bed with his eyes closed.All the practice was finished, and he wouldn’t sing it at home anymore.As always, the song rang out to him.The already completed song.#At some point, the outside became noisy.Halo, who had been contentedly listening to the audio track, slowly got up. It seemed the chicken had finally arrived.And the arrival of the chicken meant that the ‘time’ his mother had been eagerly awaiting had come.“!”Halo opened the door, and the flashy fried chicken adorned with blooming oil flowers greeted him.However, the person holding it was—.“Why are you here?”“Your mother invited me to have chicken together.”“But the shoot is…”“There isn’t one, so I came.”Jang Jinsoo bluntly replied.Since there was no way Jang Jinsoo could know the door password, it was clear that someone inside had opened it for him.And that person must have been his mother.His father wasn’t home, after all.Halo suddenly recalled seeing his mother messaging someone earlier that day.‘Was it Jang Jinsoo? Since when were they in contact?’As Halo looked at him with doubt, Jang Jinsoo, holding the chicken, said in a wronged tone,“This, I didn’t bring it—I met the delivery person in the elevator…”He hadn’t asked for an explanation about the chicken.But he sort of understood anyway.Ever since she had heard about it on ‘Show Your Show.’Ever since she had learned about her son’s situation, his mother had felt an increasing affinity towards Jang Jinsoo.She would occasionally ask things like, ‘Is Jinsoo eating well these days?’She might have gotten his contact information when he had visited before.Jang Jinsoo was a chatterbox, and he was good at telling her what she wanted to hear.For example, stories about her son, or stories about the entertainment industry that her son might venture into someday. It made perfect sense.“Jinsoo, have you been well?”“Hello, Mother!”As soon as he saw Halo’s mother, the previously frozen Jang Jinsoo immediately approached like a second son. His mother also welcomed Jang Jinsoo.“Have you been eating well? Oh, you look so thin.”“Yes, I’ve been eating well except during shoots.”“Do they starve you on set?”“No, it’s not that they starve me, it’s just that the food doesn’t sit well with me. It’s just easier to eat at home after the shoot is over.”“It must be so tiring.”“It was tiring, but I’m re-energized now that you bought chicken for me, Mother!”“Eat a lot before you go home.”His mother smiled fondly at Jang Jinsoo and gently stroked his head. Jang Jinsoo closed his eyes and smiled. There was a curious lingering sense of hardship that made her feel sorrowful for him.It seemed that the few shoots he had done so far were still taking a toll. His mother led Jang Jinsoo to the sofa while pouring cola into a mug for him.“Since I kicked out Haelil’s father, let’s just comfortably watch together, the three of us.”“That—!”Jang Jinsoo was startled by the mention of kicking someone out.Did they fight? He glanced at Halo suspiciously.His mother saw his reaction and laughed heartily.“Actually, he went to an alumni meeting. A college alumni meeting, or was it a graduate school alumni meeting?”“Ah, ah.”“He preferred drinking over listening to the song my son made.”Seeing his mother grumbling, Jang Jinsoo inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Whenever he came to Halo’s house, he couldn’t help but develop PTSD from being caught in the middle of their whaling fights.“Oh, it’s starting.”The mother, who had thrown away the chicken radish water, sat down next to him. Right on cue, the opening of the first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ started playing on TV.Halo brought a fried chicken drumstick to his mouth.Crunch.The crispy sound of the fried batter crumbling pierced his eardrums, along with the savory aroma of oil.#“It’s starting now.”Daily Today reporter Song Ojeong pressed the Alt-Tab key.[Line 1) When Villains Meet Villains. (Read More)]The community post she had been reading switched to a Word document, displaying the materials she had received from the ENS public relations department.There was an embargo until 11:30 AM. They were set to simultaneously release the information once the 135-minute first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ ended.“What kind of first episode lasts 135 minutes?”Not even in the latter half, but for the first episode to drag on for two hours—she didn’t know what kind of editing that was. Of course, the more material there was to write about, the better it was for her. As long as it wasn’t boring.“When does he show up?”And Reporter Song thought that at least the first episode wouldn’t be too bad. The preliminary round that had grabbed attention in the preview would probably be included in the first episode, right?‘The show’ might be questionable, but the applicants this time were as flashy as always, so it was worth watching.If you were interested in indie music, you would have heard of the indie musicians and the famous influencers with hundreds of thousands of subscribers who had applied.The competition rate must have been cutthroat as well. Unless they were truly skilled amateurs, they couldn’t have made the lineup.Oh, and the middle school student who appeared this time was quite good too.Reporter Song recalled Gillaon, who belonged to the P-R Label.With a sensibility and vocal ability beyond his years.And an appearance like a child actor—he was a promising newcomer with high expectations.In particular, the skills he showcased in the preview were on par with any decent adult singer.If Gillaon performed, the annual controversy over ‘special admissions’ might not even surface.“But the one I’m most curious about is someone else. I wonder if he’ll show up last.”That’s what she would have done if she were the producer.Since all attention had been focused on this kid after the preview, placing him in the latter half would sustain interest for a longer period.The first episode of ‘Show Your Show’ began.The main background music that wasn’t used in the preview started playing as the opening commenced. The video started right away without any commercials. As always, it began by introducing the five mentor judges who would be producing and evaluating the contestants.“Oh.”Reporter Song was newly impressed.Even on a second viewing, it was a stellar lineup.Stars excelling in their respective fields without any overlap in positions.There was star composer Kim Myeongjin, who had become well-known through various music programs.The rapper Kaiser, who was active overseas.Liv, the digital queen who dominated the charts whenever she released an album with music that moved people.Wonder, a member of the famous idol group Cold Brew.And finally, the producer Emperor who was skilled at making popular songs.After a brief interview about what kind of mentee they wanted, the stage performances of the applicants were shown.As always, the editing technique of repeatedly showing the applicants’ performances to elicit reactions would probably be criticized. Judging by how they had never fixed this issue despite it being an ongoing complaint up to the third season, it seemed to be the stubborn insistence of the former producer.Sure enough, curses towards the producer immediately popped up on the community. Judging by the sheer volume of insults compared to previous seasons, it was quite the sensational start.Of course, criticism was still attention, so this meant they were receiving more attention than in previous seasons.The obvious cause was the preview.Although the preview’s main character had yet to appear, it wasn’t bad so far.The influencer had a decent flair for variety shows, and the indie musician Jojo lived up to his reputation.The judges’ reactions were also enjoyable to watch.They dished out harsh criticism and advice to some performances, while giving feedback, applause, and praise to the decent ones.Those dramatic reactions might have been tragic occurrences on set, but from the viewer’s perspective, they were entertaining.And finally, the promising newcomer appeared.[Hello, I’m number 27, Gillaon.]The way he confidently walked onto the stage and calmly adjusted his number tag was impressive. The slight smile playing on his lips showed that he would be loved wherever he went.Look, the judges were already smiling like proud fathers in unison. After a brief interview, Gillaon’s performance began.The stage dimmed, and a single spotlight fell on Gillaon’s head.[Today, when the wind blowThe path to you seems far away]His sweet voice tugged at the heartstrings.[The reason you’re always by my sideIs because you loved me moreI only realized that nowIt’s cold here]Before long, the judges were fully immersed in the performance.Soon, a heart-rending vocal outpouring followed.[I wish I could meet you againEven if you don’t recognize meAs long as I can approach you]One didn’t even think about him being a middle school student.When the song ended, ballad singer Liv and idol Wonder immediately stood up and applauded.[Thank you for listening!]As soon as the song was over, Gillaon emerged from his emotional state and smiled brightly again.Reporter Song watched Gillaon’s poised performance and glanced at her watch. It was almost 10:30 AM.Even with the intermission commercials, it was a lingering performance that almost felt too impactful to be placed in the middle.With his youthful age that belied the heart-rending quality of his performance, viewers would have already decided on their champion and would view the other applicants with an even more stringent standard.And yet, the fact that they had deliberately placed a famous contestant in the early part and positioned Gillaon in the middle meant that there was someone who would make an even greater impact than Gillaon.‘But better than that?’With the cold eyes of a reporter, as she watched ‘Show Your Show,’ she found herself unconsciously becoming engrossed in the program without realizing it.Part 2 soon began.#“Not bad.”Halo said in admiration as he tore off a piece of the yangnyeom chicken drumstick. The two people next to him remained silent. It seemed they had even forgotten the existence of the chicken. They would probably be startled later when they noticed the drumsticks had disappeared.“Wow, he’s really good for his age.”“Yeah, he was good back then too, but he’s really good now.”The two of them seriously praised number 27, Gillaon.Even Halo could tell that the kid didn’t have an ordinary sensibility. He was supposedly the same age as Jang Jinsoo.Halo thought that Jang Jinsoo would have to work harder from now on.“What did you think of him?”Jang Jinsoo turned to him and asked.What did he think? Was there anything special to say?Halo swallowed what was in his mouth.“He sings well.”“Right?”“But not as well as me.”“…”Jang Jinsoo’s expression turned cold.He turned his head back to the TV, pretending not to have heard.Gillaon’s song lingered in his ears like an afterglow.A heart-rending love song.Someone came to mind.He didn’t understand why kids these days liked such emotional love songs. He had never sung love songs, not just at that age, but his entire life, so he couldn’t comprehend it.“Still.”As Halo spoke up, Jang Jinsoo looked back at him again.“It’s not my taste.”“Huh?”“I’d rather have rap.”It was better to be refreshing and straightforward, honestly expressing his feelings, sometimes even shouting and smashing instruments.Sentiments like ‘Love me’ or ‘I miss you’ were hard for him to understand.“I see.”Although Halo hadn’t meant it as a compliment, Jang Jinsoo grinned like a weirdo.He considered pointing out the misunderstanding, but instead reached for another chicken wing.He wanted to eat more drumsticks, but there were none left.He didn’t understand why chicken only had two drumsticks.As Part 2 began, each contestant’s story was shown.As always, there were some strange characters like Line 1’s Villain whenever things got loose, and everyone had at least one backstory.A common but always effective cliché.Time gradually passed.As it approached 11 AM, Jang Jinsoo’s face turned pale.“What if I got edited out? There’s no way I wouldn’t have appeared by now.”Since he was in the preview, he probably wasn’t edited out.Well, he might not appear in the first episode.Jang Jinsoo, who hadn’t considered that possibility at all, kept muttering “edited” over and over. He regretted not listening more obediently, and his complexion fluctuated from pale to ashen to even bluish.Around that time, a familiar face appeared on the ‘Show Your Show’ stage.Simultaneously, Jang Jinsoo’s expression changed as if he had finally relieved the constipation he had been suffering for a week.“Thank goodness.”Before starting the performance, an interview segment aired.Jang Jinsoo appeared, tense and stiff to an awkward degree that would make even the viewers uncomfortable.[Hel.lo. My name is JJ.]“!”Seeing himself on camera acting so ridiculously, something Jang Jinsoo hadn’t realized, he froze like a rock, while Halo spat out the cola he was drinking into the air. Pffft!“Cough, cough. JJ?”“…”“Pfft, really? JayJay?”The soda burned his throat, causing a stinging pain, but he couldn’t help but laugh.In fact, if someone else had used that name, it might have sounded like an ordinary stage name.But the way Jang Jinsoo said it so seriously made it sound like a middle school kid, which was hilarious. He must have been proud of coming up with that name, thinking it was clever.Moreover, on camera, Jang Jinsoo wasn’t even breathing, and his pupils were fixed. It was as if he were stating a product name rather than a stage name.“Well, it’s just initials, you know?”Jang Jinsoo’s face turned beet red.He didn’t mention that he had originally intended to use the name ‘Jade Jang.’“It’s cool, why are you like that, Haeil? Jinsoo must be embarrassed.”“Hahaha!”“Stop laughing already.”Embarrassed, Jang Jinsoo grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it into his mouth. Unluckily, it was the breast meat, so it was tough and chewy.Meanwhile, the interview was progressing well.Self-introduction, motivation for applying, declaration of determination—it was much longer than the others’, as if they had chosen him as the producer’s pick.The scene transitioned to his performance.“Oh!”Jang Jinsoo flinched in surprise.Of all times, it was an acapella stage.A nerve-wracking performance where mistakes were doubled compared to usual, embarrassingly inadequate on stage.On that stage, Jang Jinsoo rapped his heart out, but he was worse off than any other applicant. It was almost like he wondered how he made it past the first round.His pupils shook as if in an earthquake, not knowing how to show anything but a bad performance instead of a good one.Naturally, the judges’ expressions were more severe than ever. A participant passed by, scoffing with a smirk, and interviews followed suit.Some participants directly mentioned the ‘special selection’ process.The screen switched back to the judges.They discussed what to say, then, upon receiving a signal from the writer, they said, “We’ll listen to the second song and then make a judgment.” As they spoke, the shape of the judge’s mouth seemed to say, ‘Why bother watching the second performance?’Especially, Emperor, the producer who had praised Gillaon so much, failed to keep his composure. Rapper Kaiser also seemed about to blurt out criticism.Liv and Wonder, who had asked Gillaon to be their mentor, looked on ruefully.No one expected Jang Jinsoo to do well.They only pitied the child being scrutinized to this extent.That’s when the instrumental track played, and the beat was heard.Rapper Kaiser, who had his arms crossed, tilted his head. Following him, Idol Wonder’s eyes widened, and the serious expression of producer Emperor gradually softened.Liv shook her head, and composer Kim Myeongjin closed his eyes.Together with them, Jang Jinsoo began to rap.Not much had changed.The only difference was that accompaniment was added to the acapella.However, the rap synchronized with the beat became more comfortable to listen to, and everything changed.Idol Wonder nodded, as if urging courage, looking Jang Jinsoo in the eye. Jang Jinsoo’s rap gradually became more skillful. It was a visibly clear change.Wow.Liv opened her mouth.Her eyes never left Jang Jinsoo.And finally, after a week, a hook that had heated up the community was heard.[SpotlightWhere I should be]That very moment from the teaser.[A spinning circle might revealthe reason for life]Liv raised both arms and gasped.[You say you’re not perfectwhatever
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[2]
TLN: In English
but my dreamsare different from your cunning ways]Rapper Kaiser leaned forward,[You, walking the promenadeon the edge of eternal abyssare simply acrophobic][Racing towards the endyou wouldn’t know]But most impressively-.[They will never meet again]Jang Jinsoo smiled confidently more than ever.The child who seemed inadequate from interviews to acapella stage adapted on stage, arousing a strange satisfaction.#[When I close my eyes-]“!”Verse 2 played again.But Reporter Song was holding her chest, unable to suppress her excitement. She could hear her heartbeat.It was eleven-fifteen at night.It was time to gulp down caffeine drinks, but her heart was pounding.As if dominated by the song, 56 tracks played from both ears.When she heard it in the teaser, she thought it was good.But she didn’t expect it to be this good.The melody she wondered about flowed perfectly. The monotonous beat was intricately designed for the hook.“Ah.”A belated sigh escaped her.She couldn’t hear the judges’ evaluations.She just wanted to see the stage again.Gillaon, who seemed like the protagonist of Part 1, didn’t even come to mind. With the main character of Episode 1 here, who would notice the supporting roles?The narrative was perfect.The interview that made even the viewers uncomfortable.The broken stage.Expectations that seemed irreparable returned, completing the climax.The PD didn’t just make the teaser for nothing.The PR team’s message was no longer in her mind. All she could think about was 56.Then Reporter Song remembered the number of a known contact. When she urgently made the call, it was answered as if expected.“No, you’ve been hiding this until now? Kind of disappointed.”“How is it? Episode 1 came out pretty good, right?”“No, is ‘pretty good’ the issue? It’s not important now, it’s 56! Give me more information about 56.”“Hmm… Information about the applicants is strictly confidential.”“Oh, really? No info to share? There must be something.”Reporter Song pretended to be nonchalant, hiding her anxiousness.Of course, the other party probably already knew.They’re just playing along without knowing each other.Someone might have already made a call.As Reporter Song lost herself watching the stage for 56.“Well, there is one more thing.”“What is it?”Reporter Song hurriedly searched for her notebook.Despite having a laptop right in front of her, she fumbled around for a notebook like a fool.“It’s an idea from the PR team, unanimously approved by the PD, writers, and production team.”“What is it!”The other person’s words didn’t follow.The more they didn’t, the more anxious Reporter Song became.She waited for a response.The other party didn’t easily share, to the point where she checked if the call was disconnected.“What time is it now?”“Is it eleven-thirty? But why suddenly about the time-”The Your Show Your Show Episode 1, which started at 9, packed the second qualifiers of the applicants into 135 minutes. Already two hours had passed, and the minute hand of the clock was nearing 12.Reporter Song grumbled for no reason and then shut her mouth.There was something fleeting through her mind.“By any chance? What’s going to happen later?”No response came from the other end.It was certain that something was up.“What’s happening at what time?”“All I can say is up to here!”Click.The call was disconnected.Reporter Song looked at her phone with a disappointed face.#ENS PR Team’s Kim Miyeong, in her third year, hung up the phone. Then she looked at her watch again. The minute hand pointing at 6 seemed to pass by unusually quickly today.The time she was waiting for was like something out of a fairy tale.Just like Cinderella opening the ballroom door and dashing out with a bang, a bomb with a timed timer would explode in the magical time.Since it hadn’t happened in the previous season, no one would expect it.Nevertheless, in the end, the wind would blow into silent slumber.When it finally arrived on the ground, whether it would be a wave or a tsunami, nobody knew.Tick-tock.It struck 12.Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!
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