Chapter 175
Even after months of this, the over-the-top TV production still felt a little strange to someone like Yu Chan hyung, who’d lived a relatively normal life until now.
I patted his shoulder and refocused on the screen—throwing in a touch of fake fear for the atmosphere.
The blood-red font was kind of hard to read, but not impossible if you really tried.
Targeting Star Trainee Courage Challenge & Treasure Hunt!
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- Nine teams of two will be formed. Each team must find the hidden production notes.
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- Using clues from the notes, figure out where the hidden treasure is.
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- The first team to retrieve the treasure and bring it to MC Gaon wins! (※ Winning team will receive a live broadcast benefit.)
It’s a simple mission. Easy. And sure to deliver good footage.
As expected from PD Joo Cheol Yeong, often dubbed the “Midas of idol survival shows”—this was one of his specialty horror segments.
“Whether the treasure is actually treasure… you’ll have to find out from me! But I promise, the benefit will definitely help you in the live broadcast!”
Though Gaon seonbae’s gentle voice was layered with distortion effects, his crisp enunciation made his professionalism shine through.
“Now, we’re going to form pairs. One member from each of the teams that placed 3rd and 4th in the 4th round—‘Spontaneous Escape’ and ‘Diving’—will take turns picking.”
“So that’s… one trainee each from the ‘Diving’ team and the ‘Improvised Escape’ team, right?”
“Yeah, looks like it. Yu Chan hyung, you don’t seem scared at all… am I right?”
“Huh? Me? Nah. I don’t scare easy. Scary stuff…school?”
With a sheepish scratch of his cheek and a wandering gaze, it was like Yu Chan hyung had “What’s there to be scared of?” written across his forehead—I had to bite back a laugh.
Right. Last time, he was paired with Si Woo, who’s just as fearless, so he didn’t get much out of the experience.
Meanwhile, I was paired with Seo Bin, who at the time I wasn’t quite close with.
Seo Bin… yeah, Seo Bin.
That night was… unforgettable.
“W-Wait, Rex. Hold on! I can’t go any further. No, ahhh! Something grabbed my ankle! Ack! Ack!”
“Aaack! Oh my god! Please—please help me—waaahh!”
His reactions were golden.
Out of all our trainees, Seo Bin was one of the top two at taking care of his voice, rivaled only by Yu Chan hyung—but after that night, he lost his voice for days, and had a hard time after, as a consequence.
As for me…
“Oh? Hello! Haha, it’s getting pretty chilly these days. You should dress warmer….”
“Uh—uhh….”
“I’ll just take this clue here. Thank you! Keep up the hard work!”
I hadn’t been scared at all.
And that sort of balance—where neither of you gets scared, or both of you do—can actually ruin the vibe… So maybe we’d had pretty good chemistry.
Targeting Star back then wasn’t so different from now. It already had plenty of great content.
No—if anything, back then…
I’d been running full speed ahead, fueled by hope and nothing else but the thought of debuting. That made it even better for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get long to dwell in the nostalgia.
Yu Chan hyung, who had been standing beside me, got swept away into a team the moment Ryota dramatically howled “Yu Chan aniki!” at the top of his lungs.
And with only a few trainees left unpaired…
“…Li Ming Shen.”
“……”
Li Ming Shen, who had been quietly keeping to his pace, was suddenly chosen by Liu Wei as his courage test partner.
“O-oh! Another new team has formed!”
The air inside the auditorium took on a strange tension, and Gaon seonbae, never one to let a moment like that linger, briskly walked up to Liu Wei.
“Liu Wei trainee! Why Li Ming Shen? Is it because you want to show off your chemistry with someone from your hometown?”
“……”
Liu Wei let Gaon seonbae’s excited chatter pass in one ear and out the other. He stared directly at Li Ming Shen and slowly opened his mouth.
“…More than that.”
I’ve got something to talk about.
“……”
A chill ran straight down my spine.
The only ones who knew just how bad things were between Liu Wei and Li Ming Shen right now… were the two of them—and me.
From what I remembered, this courage test mission was filmed almost entirely with trainee handycams, except for a few fixed-position cameras at key spots.
Which meant, if anything happened and the handycam didn’t catch it… no one would know.
“……”
Li Ming Shen, after briefly meeting eyes with me, calmly walked over to Liu Wei’s side.
‘It’s fine.’
“Huh….”
I couldn’t stop the sigh from slipping out.
His lips said it was fine, but… how could it really be?
As I’d worried before—people pushed into corners, like Liu Wei was now, could do anything.
Just like I once had, during my worst days as a toxic member—messing up in ways no one expected.
And right now, Liu Wei had a clear target for his anger.
It was… not good.
Then—
“I’ll go with Chunyong!”
“Oh! Son Jae Ha trainee has chosen Kim Chunyong! Wow, this is getting more and more interesting!”
Jae Ha hyung, who’d been on the same ‘Diving’ team as Liu Wei, chose me, and just like that, a strange little formation appeared:
Liu Wei and Li Ming Shen standing side by side, Me and Jae Ha hyung standing right beside them.
“Let’s do well together, Chun Yong.”
“…Yeah, Jae Ha hyung.”
Watching his bright smile, something stirred inside me.
Up to now, everything had begun faster—and more abruptly—than I could ever plan.
When I had to suddenly convince Logan’s parents.
When Liu Wei spread that awful rumor about me.
Even my coming back here, in the first place.
“I too… I want to do well with you too, hyung.”
So maybe, just maybe, even in this courage test…
I had no idea what could happen.
Discussion
2 CommentsBees
Ryota, fulfilling the comedic role as always.
kcyfan1000
I hope Ming Shen kicks Liu Wei's ass
Thanks for the translation <3