Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 100

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Shall we start by talking about how you felt when you first heard the news?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Well…]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: You don’t have to overthink it. Rather than an interview, just think of it as having a casual conversation. Tell me what you felt as if you were talking to a friend, Unha.]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Ah… well… I was just… really surprised.]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: And?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: I was also very worried that Idol Classism might just end like this. Honestly, even before thinking about whether I’d debut or not… I knew how hard everyone had worked, so… so I think that made me feel even more anxious.]

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: When I thought about how the efforts of not just us trainees, but you, the writers, the PDs, and the staff who helped us might all go up in smoke…]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: I see. So that’s what you were thinking?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Yes. That’s how it was. That’s why I’m still feeling anxious now…]

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: But… Writer-nim. Can I ask you a question?]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Yes, of course.]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Is the Hey HEY Hey performance really cancelled? And the live audience vote too?]

 

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[Trainee No. 98 Kim Taeyeol: I was pretty flustered too. You saw for yourself how unsettled the atmosphere was when you arrived here, Writer-nim.]

[Trainee No. 98 Kim Taeyeol: Anyway, we were filming, but the Main PD was nowhere to be seen, and the Head Writer wasn’t there either.]

[Trainee No. 98 Kim Taeyeol: The number of staff was much smaller than usual, yet the ranking announcement was still going on in the middle of all that… and since no one would tell us anything, it was impossible not to feel anxious.]

 

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[Trainee No. 55 Baek Suhyeon: What were we trainees saying among ourselves? Just… mmm…]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Yeah.]

 

[Trainee No. 55 Baek Suhyeon: We said it seemed like the show would just end abruptly. There was only one performance song left anyway, and I thought the final stage would be scrapped. It really is gone, right? There was too little time to prepare another song. Especially for a live show.]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Mmm.]

 

[Trainee No. 55 Baek Suhyeon: So, can I go now? Unha said we should gather for a moment…]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Yes, go ahead. Could you call Wooyoung in on your way out?]

 

[Trainee No. 55 Baek Suhyeon: Yes. Thank you as always. Wooyoung hyung!!!]

 

[Sound of commotion]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Ah. Come in, Wooyoung.]

 

[Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung: Yes.]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Mmm… you heard from the kids who interviewed before you, right? I’m asking everyone the same question. How about you, Wooyoung? Were you anxious or…]]

 

[Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung: No. I wasn’t anxious.]

 

[Writer Jeon Heeyoung: Really? Can I ask why?]

 

[Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung: Because I trusted the production staff.]

[Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung: Even if our methods and goals are different, at some point I felt like the trainees and the production crew were heading down the same path. Regardless of the many controversies surrounding Idol Classism. I felt I had to believe.]

 

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[Main PD Seong Ohjoong: What? I have to do this too? I’m already busy, can’t I do it later? Wait, let me take this call… Ah, yes. Yes. Ah… yes. That’s how it turned out. Yes. Ah, thank you for understanding. No, I’m more grateful to you. Ah, right now? Yes. Ah… I’ll… be right there. I have to do at least this much after all the effort you put in. Yes. I’m coming now. Sorry, Writer Jung! Hey! Wait… so… PD Ahn! Have PD Ahn do the interview instead….]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: No… wait….]

 

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[PD Ahn Kyunghee: No, wait, why am I the one doing the interview? It’s not like I have anything to say…]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Sigh… seriously… what’s with PD Ohjoong? This whole documentary was his idea in the first place…]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: You’ve really been through a lot, Writer Jung. But I honestly don’t have anything I can say. I’d have to know something first before I could talk about it. And even if I did know something, I don’t even know whether it’s confidential enough that it couldn’t be broadcast.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: No, I’m not trying to ask about things like that. It’s okay, PD Ahn.]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Huh?]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: I just wanted to ask what you think about this program, Idol Classism, and the things happening right now. I only mention this because I thought you might feel pressured, but we’re interviewing every single trainee and every single staff member without exception. First, here’s the common question. How did you feel when you first heard the news?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Of course I was shocked. Extremely shocked.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Could you be a bit more specific? I heard you cried quite a lot, PD-nim.]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Hey, why would you bring that up?]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: I don’t want just brief impressions; I want a more detailed interview. That was the whole plan, after all.]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Even so….]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Think of it as being for Idol Classism. I don’t know if this will work or not, but as long as we’re doing it, wouldn’t it be better if we did our best for the kids? Let’s start with this. The fact that you are personally a fan of Trainee —BEEP— .]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Isn’t that something we definitely shouldn’t talk about? Do you want people accusing us of giving preferential treatment to trainees?]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: There aren’t really any new controversies left to create anyway. The viewers likely know better than anyone that Idol Classism didn’t provide backing for specific trainees. In fact, you don’t even have the authority to do that, PD Ahn. I’ll tell the viewers: PD Ahn here is someone who strictly separates business and personal life.]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: You think that’ll work as an excuse?!!!]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Why not? I have trainees I personally like too. It’s probably the same for the other staff. Let’s talk honestly. Objectively. We’ve been filming here for so long, it’s only natural to grow fond of them.]

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: When you see how hard these trainees work from right next to them, you can’t help but become a fan. I haven’t been on many sets, but the trainees on Idol Classism are a bit different. Everyone is probably feeling the same thing.]

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: That’s why… we’re going this far. It’s the same for PD Seong Ohjoong and for you, PD Ahn. We could have just wrapped it up. We didn’t need to increase the screen time like this and grind our bodies down to help with the aftermath. But look at it now. Look at how the set is running.]

 

[Screen showing staff members running busily]

[Screen showing PDs and writers huddling for a meeting]

[Screen showing production staff laughing and talking with the trainees]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: I’m telling you, I’ve never seen a set like this. Strictly speaking, we’re just office workers… why are we going this far? Am I wrong, PD Ahn?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: No… you aren’t wrong. Everything you said is correct, Writer Jung. No one really has a reason to go this far.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: If we just went by the original plan—well, we couldn’t use it, but—if we just brought in some passable song, did the live performance, and announced the rankings, it would have been out of our hands from that point on…]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Of course, it would leave a bad taste in our mouths, but I think that would have made all the problems simpler. No reason to be called here and there to bow and scrape, no need to go around asking for favors. And we wouldn’t have had to… cancel the vacations we’ve been waiting for.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Ah. Come to think of it, you even cancelled your vacation, PD Ahn. Why did you go that far?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Well. Because we’re lucky?]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Luck?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Yes. Because I’m lucky. Honestly, this isn’t a normal situation. It’s a miracle that we were allocated more episodes even while pushing back programs already scheduled to air, and it’s a miracle that our trainees are able to debut safely without getting caught up in legal disputes between companies.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: It’s a miracle we could get more budget, and it’s a miracle we finished talks with various agencies well.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Crucially, I think it’s a miracle that such an absurd program gained nationwide attention and explosive popularity despite being embroiled in various incidents and accidents.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: It even feels like an invisible hand or heaven is helping us. So… that’s why I thought it was okay to try and do this right for once.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: When people in this industry see things going smoothly here and smoothly there, you hit a point where you feel like, ‘This is it’.]

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: I’m worried this is going to make me sound like a crazy person, but I genuinely felt like the universe was helping us.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Ah! I felt it too. Everyone is probably feeling it. The more time you spend on sets, the more you get that spark, you know?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Yes. That’s exactly what it was. That’s why I did it.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: So is that simply the only reason? Because you felt it would be a turning point in your career?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: No.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Huh?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: It’s not just for that reason.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Then…]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Another big reason is that I want to see the trainees debut properly.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: …….]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: In the end, the essence of this kind of program is doing business by selling kids’ dreams; we should at least do this much for them.]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: Ah, I think the fans will have figured it all out by now. Can you just speak plainly? What is going to happen to Idol Classism after this?]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: Why are you making me do something so difficult… Sigh…]

 

[Writer Jung Heeyoung: …….]

 

[PD Ahn Kyunghee: I don’t know either! As for what happens next… all the production team can do is work hard to prepare what we can. While waiting for the kids’ performance songs to be decided, and while waiting for their performances to be ready.]

 

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