SCT-Novel Chapter 101: Four People (3)
Chapter 101: Four People (3)
Ten participants including Kang Rojun gathered in the hall. In front of them, PD Woo Han-suk briefed them about the 5th evaluation. No, the final evaluation. Out of the 10 people, 6 would be eliminated and only 4 would survive.Many emotions were reflected on the participants' faces.
Worry and fear, unease, and many others.
Most of them already knew that four people would be the final winners. Kang Rojun was also aware, having roughly heard about it before joining 'Produce That 100!'. Still, now that he had reached the final stage, a subtle tension began to build inside him.
Then, PD Woo Han-suk revealed the final evaluation task.
“The fifth. No, the final evaluation theme is ‘freedom’.”
Freedom? At the unexpected word, not only Rojun but all nine other participants murmured among themselves. Freedom? The participants’ expressions shifted to ones that said they didn’t understand. Several cameras filmed each of them individually. After briefly scanning the participants, PD Woo Han-suk spoke again.
“The evaluation task is freedom. Just as the word suggests, the final evaluation allows you to do whatever you want, freely.”
PD Woo Han-suk lowered the tablet he had been holding.
“What evaluation song should you choose? Anything is possible. A song you’ve liked for a long time, or even an original composition is okay. You can also develop something you performed in a previous evaluation and do it again. Whether it’s vocal, dance, or rap, what you choose to highlight is entirely up to you, and it’s fine to mix all three if you want. Solo, duet, or even a group with more than three people, that’s also fine.”
Simply put, it was “Do whatever you want". Until now, all the tasks had been decided and enforced by the production team, but now, everything regarding the final evaluation would be left to the participants’ discretion.
“Of course, you can also freely decide the concept of the stage, starting from your outfit. Our production team intends to silently observe whatever decisions you make.”
Why suddenly freedom? Did the 'Produce That 100!' production team become too lazy to work at the end? Not at all. The current viewership rating of 'Produce That 100!' had surpassed 30% and was making history. On top of that, it was setting trends and leading the latest wave. It was precisely because it was the final evaluation of such a show that the production team should be putting in even more effort, not less, unless they were crazy.
But PD Woo Han-suk granted the ten participants freedom.
'If I were to make an analogy - until now you were trainees, and this final evaluation is like your debut.'
This had been planned from the early stages of 'Produce That 100!' Furthermore.
‘Once these kids graduate from 'Produce That 100!', they will be thrown into the filthy and ugly, cold and harsh reality. Compared to the entertainment industry, this place is a flower garden. So, at the very least, it’s right to let them make the final decision themselves.’
It was also a final evaluation designed more for the participants than the viewers. So that they might become even slightly stronger, and have even a bit more of an independent spirit.
'Produce That 100!' was just a signboard.
‘It’s not that the signboard was bright, making you shine, it was because you shone that 'Produce That 100!' could be bright.’
PD Woo Han-suk and the 'Produce That 100!' production team hoped the participants would believe in themselves. That way, leaving 'Produce That 100!' with a powerful flap of their wings would be the best.
Then, PD Woo Han-suk made eye contact with each of the ten participants and wrapped it up.
“The final evaluation shoot will be on Monday, November 2.”
Today was October 20. It was tight. In any case, after wrapping up the rest of the briefing, PD Woo Han-suk exited the room. However, the cameras kept rolling. The participants also stayed in their spots.
No voices could be heard.
“......”
“......”
The vast hall was quiet.
After a while.
The participants stared blankly into the air or glanced at their fellow trainees. How about you? What are you thinking? Their expressions were filled with confusion and helplessness. At the same time, their thoughts and concerns deepened.
They were only twenty years old at most.
How many truly important decisions could they have made in their lives so far? But the world, society, does not wait. Situations that force a choice are all too common. It was not strange for the participants to be frightened in the face of the invisible future called 'survival'.
‘Uh, what do I do???’
‘Being told it’s freedom all of a sudden... my brain just froze.’
‘Uh- should I just redo the thing from the previous evaluation?? No... that might feel stale.’
‘Ha, two weeks seems too short. What if I fail?’
Dozens of staff watched them silently. Among them, the writers whispered their worries to PD Woo Han-suk.
“Will it be okay? The kids haven’t moved at all for several minutes already.”
“It’s obvious their brains have shut down.”
There was no change on the stern face of Woo Han-suk, who had his arms crossed.
“Now those ten, whether they survive or are eliminated, will walk the path of idols. This level of attention and popularity… Even if they get eliminated, entertainment companies won’t just leave them alone. They know it too, they’re just flustered by the unfamiliar situation. We just have to watch.”
“...St-Still.”
“This is the kind of moment when the real ones show themselves. Some may get trapped in confusion and struggle to make a decision, while others might break through this gloomy fear and change the flow.”
At this point, Kang Rojun, like the others, felt quite complicated inside.
‘They kept giving us tasks, and now they suddenly give us freedom, so my brain really isn't working.'
Well, the production team probably aimed for this kind of reaction. While scratching his head lazily, Kang Rojun pushed aside most of his swirling concerns and worries.
‘In times like this, it’s better to keep it simple.’
Kang Rojun had truly experienced 'survival'. Because he had once lived as a grotesque monster. Not just passing or failing, he had deeply contemplated life and death and survived no matter what. The beginning was 'let's go outside first'.
‘And that’s why I’m here now.’
Rojun looked up at the ceiling where the lights were fixed. Soon, he let out a small sigh.
-Swish.
He sat at the far end of the stage in the back. Seeing the movement, the other participants turned to look. Kang Rojun smiled faintly.
“Let’s sit down for now. Don’t just stand there.”
The first to sit next to Rojun was 58Si-hoo. After that, the rest of the participants followed and sat down in a line. Kang Rojun spoke again.
“Phew- I smell stir-fried spicy pork. I’m hungry.”
At that, the other participants, who now wore slight smiles, started talking.
“Isn’t it bulgogi?”
“Yeah, it’s not stir-fried spicy pork. It’s bulgogi.”
“I saw the menu before coming, it’s definitely bulgogi. Beef radish soup and bulgogi. Cucumber salad.”
“Ugh- I don’t like cucumber salad.”
“Cucumber doesn’t like you either.”
The atmosphere became less serious. With both hands braced behind his back, Rojun looked at the nine fellow trainees sitting beside him.
“My thoughts are, the final evaluation is our last stage to show the viewers and entertainment companies who we are. And ‘Produce That 100!’ isn’t a show to pick solo singers, but a program to create an idol group in the end.”
Most of the participants nodded. Rojun’s eyes once again turned toward the lights on the ceiling.
“Except for the early evaluations, we’ve been working together since ‘Produce'. By the time we got to ‘Survival 100', we’ve built decent chemistry. Of course, competition and survival are at the core of ‘Produce That 100!', but since we’ve made it to the final evaluation, aren’t we already pretty valuable?”
The oldest, 58Si-hoo, agreed.
“Yeah. When I talked to some of the guys who got eliminated during the 4th evaluation, some of them already had agencies. Whether we survive here or not, there’s a high chance we’ll run into each other again as idols.”
26Do-kyung added in a blank tone.
“In other audition shows too, some who were eliminated early later became successful idols.”
Rojun, as if to say “Exactly my point", picked up the baton.
“So from here on, let’s all think of ourselves as survivors and just enjoy it.”
He looked at everyone and concluded.
“How about we decorate the final stage as a group of all ten of us, like true idols?”
The participants’ reactions were varied. The one common thing was that everyone’s eyes grew wider. Regardless, Kang Rojun kept laying out what he had thought through.
“Wouldn’t that leave a stronger impression of us being real idols on the entertainment companies and viewers? Even if we all started as soloists, if the last moment is captured in a group performance, won’t that image continue to be talked about even as time passes? Of course, the final performance would have to be jaw-dropping.”
In that moment, the nine other participants imagined themselves being talked about for years to come. There would likely be more audition variety shows similar to 'Produce That 100!' in the future. But surpassing 'Produce That 100!' would be difficult.
The impact- after all, the viewership rating had exceeded 30%.
Such a show would continue to be mentioned as a legend by viewers, entertainment companies, idol trainees, and even across the entire entertainment industry. The final evaluation would be talked about too. In that case, would a solo performance or a group performance have a greater impact?
Of course, it would be the group.
The remaining videos were the same. Rather than being spread across ten separate videos, having all ten participants featured in a single video could better concentrate attention and interest.
At that point, Kang Rojun spoke again.
“Of course, this is just a suggestion. Everyone should make their own choice. If you don’t want to do it, you can do whatever you want.”
The one who asked a follow-up question was 46Kang Min, whose exotic good looks stood out.
“If we were to go as a group of ten, how did you picture it?”
“Luckily, each of us has solid skills, right?”
“Let’s go like we did with ‘Survival 100', but from beginning to end, let’s build the stage entirely with our own strength?”
“Exactly. From vocals and dance to producing, everything. That way, it’ll make for a richer broadcast image too.”
“......”
About several dozen seconds of silence passed. The one to break it first was 58Si-hoo, with his baby perm.
“G-Good idea, I think. I’m in. I’ll take care of the composition part. Since there’s not much time, instead of making something new, I think we should pick from what I’ve already created.”
Next was 26Do-kyung, in his usual tone.
“Then I’ll talk to Si-hoo hyung and handle the rap part.”
46Kang Min too.
“Then I’ll have to take charge of the dance.”
15Tae-min, with yellow hair, followed.
“I’ll help with the dance too.”
“Cool.”
71Jung-woo also joined in.
“Me too! I’ll do producing! I’ve always liked it.”
In the end, all nine participants agreed.
At that moment, a vibration came from Kang Rojun’s wrist.
-Vrrrr.
The ‘AI Simulation’ had sent a notification.
-[You’ve completed the Hidden Mission: ‘Demonstrate Leadership to the Members!’ You’ve received 15 Coins as a reward.]
Kang Rojun took a quick glance and smiled faintly with his eyes.
“Then I’ll take on lyrics writing.”
58Si-hoo interjected right after.
“No, Rojun, you should do one more thing.”
All nine participants spoke in unison, as if planned.
“You’re the leader.”
“Hyung, you’re the leader.”
Meanwhile, the writers of 'Produce That 100!' were smiling faintly.
“This is taking a weird turn.”
“Seriously, didn’t expect this at all.”
“I have a feeling the finale is going to explode in the best way??”
PD Woo Han-suk was looking at Kang Rojun.
‘He said he didn’t want to be the leader, but he’s doing just fine.’
The next day, late Wednesday morning.
In the waiting room of a music show at a broadcasting station. The hallway was bustling with countless idols, and inside a shared waiting room used by several girl groups, some familiar faces could be seen. It was the rookie girl group ‘Lime Some’, who had connections with Kang Rojun.
From Ha-young with her fox-like features to the rest of the members, all wore white stage outfits with their shoulders exposed.
For some reason, the girls were all gathered around Ha-young. To be specific, they were all watching her phone. On her phone screen, a brand-new teaser video that had just been released that morning was playing.
-“We’ll lend you a lover!”
It was the official teaser for 'Rental Lover'.
It’s uncommon for a one-act drama to release a teaser. Usually, it’s skipped. However, the teaser for 'Rental Lover' felt like it had been given a serious push. The running time of the teaser that ‘Lime Some’ members were watching was about 15 seconds.
It started with Choi Rina, a shut-in, no- the female lead ‘Lee Da-eun’ lying in a dark room using her phone. A light and upbeat BGM played underneath.
-♬♪
From there, the screen switched rapidly. It showed the female lead opening her eyes wide at someone, followed by a lineup of several handsome men’s faces. The last to appear was.
“Oh! It’s Rojun-nim!!”
It was Kang Rojun, or rather 'Lover No. 4'. He wore pomade-styled hair and a suit, smiling faintly. His appearance lasted only about two seconds.
“Wow... his visuals are insane.”
“He looks totally different in the drama compared to real life!!”
“He’s not even human, seriously.”
“Add hair and makeup, then editing, honestly, I can’t even see the senior actors who came before him.”
His presence was overwhelming.
Then, the teaser cut to a black screen, and the title and text slowly appeared.
-Rental Lover
-First broadcast on November 6
What was incredible was that this teaser had been up for less than an hour, yet it had already surpassed 300,000 views. It looked like hitting a million views would be easy. And the 'Rental Lover' team quickly pushed the hook further right after releasing the teaser. They dropped new bait through official SNS.
-[......Writer of ‘Rental Lover’ + Rojun-nim, who plays ‘Lover No. 4', have taken charge of the OST! And he even wrote the lyrics himself!!]
It was a carefully timed, explosive chain reaction.
*****
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