Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 23

[BOOM!]

[Voice of an urgent staff member: Lee Unha has collapsed!!! Medical team! Medical team!!!]

[BOOM!]

[Footage and sound of an ambulance arriving]

[BOOM!]

[Voice of an angry trainee: Get out here! I said get out here!]

[BOOM!]

[Voice of a crying trainee: Sob… sob… I want to drop out. Sob…]

[BOOM!]

[Voice of a crying trainee 2: This isn’t right.]

[BOOM!]

[MC: Trainee □□□’s rank is <Slave>.]

 

The premiere had begun, and short clips were flashing on and off the screen. 

 

I didn’t think they’d include the ambulance scene so early, but seeing it air immediately made me think they were truly out of their minds. 

 

Collecting provocative or interesting scenes to show as a short montage before a program starts was a standard trick in the playbook, but I never imagined they’d pick such blatantly sensationalist clips. 

 

To put it exaggeratingly, it looked less like an idol survival show about chasing dreams and hope, and more like some kind of survival game produced somewhere.

 

‘I can’t tell if they’re geniuses or just incompetent.’

 

Naturally, there was probably no better way to grab people’s attention.

 

The first episode of an idol survival show usually spent a huge amount of time introducing the trainees who would be active later on, so they had to keep tossing out provocative spoilers to keep viewers hooked.

 

Just looking at my younger brother, Ahn Kyeongnam, who had seemed completely uninterested before but now looked at least a little intrigued, was enough to show how effective that short teaser had been.

 

“What was that…? Why did an ambulance show up? Did a trainee get hurt? Do they fight too? They’re yelling at each other and everything.”

 

“Be quiet and just watch, Kyeongnam.”

 

“Why? It’s more fun to chat while watching.”

 

[MC: Only trainees who reach the <Royalty> class can debut! Before we begin the new concept idol survival show, <Idol Classism>, let’s explain the basic rules!]

 

[Modulated Voice: We will now explain the new concept survival show, <Idol Classism>.]

 

[1. Only 7 out of the 150 trainees will debut.]

[2. After their self-introduction stages, the 150 trainees will be classified into <Nobility>, <Commons>, and <Slave> classes and will live in dormitories corresponding to their rank.]

[3. When necessary, the 150 trainees may impose penalties on trainees of a lower rank than themselves.]

[4. The 150 trainees will perform missions prepared for each round. Ranks may change based on mission results or viewer votes.]

[5. The 150 trainees will reveal not only their dormitory life and practice process but also all major and minor incidents that occur during the training period.]

[6. The 150 trainees, the production team, and the three judges will approach the program with their best efforts and sincerity.]

 

‘I told you to shut up so you wouldn’t keep nitpicking.’

 

It was a bad habit of my sibling. 

 

Watching something together wasn’t something we were used to in the first place, and he always found something to complain about, to the point where it actually got in the way of enjoying it… and sure enough, he spoke up immediately.

 

“Noona. Is this really an idol survival show? Not some survival game like Squid Game?”

 

“I told you to shut up and just watch, Ahn Kyeongnam.”

 

“No, I mean, even if the labels are in English, they’re openly dividing everyone into nobles, commoners, and slaves and saying they’re going to discriminate based on class. Even if it’s not on a major broadcast network… people on SNS are already saying these producers have lost their minds. You actually worked on this?”

 

“I’m not the executive producer, so it’s not exactly my baby. Besides, when your boss tells you to do something, you do it. Do you think I had a choice?”

 

“Still… it looks like it’ll be interesting.”

 

‘Of course it is.’

 

It definitely had the appeal of one of those over-the-top melodramas.

 

It was a format that made you want to curse it out, but ironically, it was literally spraying dopamine directly into the brain, so there was no way there wouldn’t be a demand for it. There would definitely be fans who got completely obsessed with it.

 

Originally, I’d only intended to casually watch the first episode, but thanks to my troublesome sibling, I found myself becoming curious about the reactions on social media too.

 

“Is it still trending on Twitter?”

 

“Yeah, it’s on the real-time trends. ‘Judge Benok,’ ‘Idol Classism.’”

 

“What… what are they saying?”

 

“I told you. They’re asking if the show is crazy. Some are saying Benok is handsome, and there are people asking when Trainees 111 and 112 are going to appear because they can’t wait.”

 

‘Yeah. Waiting for them will be the hard part.’

 

“They’ll probably show up sooner than you think. We were worried about that too… so we’ll probably cut out anything we don’t think is necessary.”

 

“Ah… but shouldn’t self-introductions be equal for everyone? That way viewers know who to vote for.”

 

“There’s no choice because of the broadcast time and pacing. All of the introduction videos will be uploaded online anyway, so that’s supposed to make up for it… There’s no way we can tell the stories of all 150 trainees one by one. Even so, I think everyone will probably get at least a few dozen seconds. And of course, the trainees who stand out will naturally get more screen time.”

 

[MC: Trainee No. 11’s rank is unfortunately <Slave>. Good job. Please return to your seat!]

 

[Kim Minhyuk: Are there any interesting trainees?]

 

[Benok: Ah, I have one in mind… You know, that one trainee from a major agency.]

 

[Kim Minhyuk: Ohhhh, Trainee □□□?]

 

[Caption: Who is the trainee from a major agency that Judges Benok and Kim Minhyuk are watching?]

 

[Trainee No. 12 Kim Haejun: Hello! It’s been a long time.]

 

‘Still, it’s hard not to get a little bored.’

 

It was simply the unavoidable fate of the first episode of a textbook audition survival program. I didn’t know if it was because I was desperately waiting for Lee Unha, but if there were a fast-forward or skip button, I would have used it. If it weren’t for the fried chicken, it probably would have felt even more tedious.

 

[Caption: Trainees No. 35, 36, 37, and 38 are all confirmed for the <Slave> class]

 

Trying to cram as much as possible into a ninety-minute broadcast made everything feel densely packed. Of course, there was the joy of watching the performances themselves, and I found myself thinking, ‘Oh, there was a contestant like that too’… but…

 

‘He could debut with Lee Unha.’

 

For me, the most important person was Lee Unha. 

 

After a time that felt both long and short, it finally happened.

 

[Caption: An Arrogant Genius Trainee?!]

 

[Trainee No. 111 Joo Wooyoung: I am Trainee No. 111, Joo Wooyoung! My dream is to become Korea’s best… no, the world’s best K-pop star!]

 

Joo Wooyoung appeared. 

 

I remembered his interview being much longer, but it seemed it had been edited down due to time constraints. After a few lines of dialogue, the stage began immediately. 

 

It was undeniably clean and polished, without a single unnecessary movement, and it naturally left people with their mouths hanging open. Even seeing it again, I couldn’t believe he could do live vocals while dancing like that. Even the trainees sitting in their chairs after finishing their short performances looked shocked. 

 

The camera even caught Lee Unha’s startled face waiting in the wings.

 

[Trainee No. 114 Kim Haejun: While doing live vocals….]

 

[Trainee No. 113 Oh Inhwan: How is his breathing not wavering at all?]

 

Unlike the other trainees, Lee Unha wasn’t speaking, but for some reason, my eyes kept going to his face on screen. No matter how I looked at it, he had eyes full of admiration for Joo Wooyoung. 

 

Is it just my imagination that I feel an unexplainable depth of emotion there?

 

‘No. It’s not just my imagination.’

 

The editors knew it too, which was why they held the shot on Lee Unha at the side of the stage for so long, even though it wasn’t strictly necessary.

 

“Noona. Is that Lee Unha?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Were he and Joo Wooyoung friends before this?”

 

“No. I think they met here for the first time.”

 

‘Did something happen between them in the past?’

 

Watching him unable to look away, I couldn’t help but think that. 

 

Soon after Joo Wooyoung’s performance ended, it was Lee Unha’s turn. Naturally, a short caption describing him appeared on screen.

 

[Caption: What kind of performance will Lee Unha, the trainee who became a hot topic through the pre-release video, deliver?]

 

[Benok: Ah… next is Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha… Could we ask for a brief self-introduction?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: It is an honor to meet you! Respected judges! And viewers! I am 17-year-old Lee Unha, who has descended from the Idol Planet to become your vitamin! ♥]

 

[Benok: Puhahahaha!]

 

[Benok: What was that? Did you see his expression change suddenly? Hahahaha!]

 

[Benok: Hahahaha! Where exactly is this Idol Planet?]

 

[Benok: How did his expression change so suddenly? Isn’t the contrast too much? Hahaha.]

 

[Kim Minhyuk: He is a vitamin, alright. My eyes suddenly snapped wide open….]

 

‘Yes… this scene was great.’

 

I remembered how he captured the camera in an instant when no one expected it. His face had been almost expressionless, then suddenly his eyes sparkled with life, so that kind of reaction was only natural.

 

[Benok: You were a trainee at QR six months ago?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Yes!]

 

[Benok: Well… I’m sure there were various reasons, but your decision to appear here means you aren’t giving up on your dream, right?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Yes! That’s right! Because I want to become one too!]

 

[Benok: Hm?]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: The world’s best K-pop star!]

 

[Benok: Hahahaha!]

 

“This part was good too.”

 

From here, they’d probably cut back to Joo Wooyoung.

 

[Benok: We have two future ‘world’s best K-pop stars’ here then. I hope you show us a stage as good as Trainee Joo Wooyoung’s. Shall we take a look?]

 

“Noona.”

 

“Shut up.”

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming.]

 

“Ah. This is that part!”

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Look at me, the one who shines. I want you to fall into my eyes. I want everyone to look at me.]

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: I want to steal your gaze and lock you inside me.]

 

“…….”

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: It’s only right. I won’t let you dare look away. I’ll make you come to me.]

 

“…….”

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming.]

 

“…….”

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Charming. Charming. You are to me… ha… ugh.]

 

“…….”

 

His voice cracked for a bit, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

 

[Trainee No. 112 Lee Unha: Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming.]

 

It almost felt as though Lee Unha knew it too. The way he stared exactly into the camera while twirling his finger looked like he was casting a spell. He looked into every camera one by one, as if trying to engrave himself into the viewers’ minds. 

 

I felt like I wanted to crawl right into the TV.

 

[Lee Unha: Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming. Charming!]

 

‘Now that I think about it… his voice is incredible too….’

 

He didn’t take his eyes off the camera until the song ended. Even in the ending pose, he maintained eye contact until the very last second. 

 

How could he look so lovely while catching his breath? 

 

It was a performance I had already seen several times, but it still gave me goosebumps. I couldn’t help but lose my composure.

 

“He’s—he’s truly insane. Lee Unha! Lee Unhaaaa!!!”

 

Even my sibling, who usually would have frowned at me, was staring blankly at Lee Unha’s performance.

 

*

 

Idol Classism

Episode 1 Average Rating: 2.1%

Real-time Peak Rating: 3.3%

Lee Unha Performance – Charming Charming