Chapter 82
The Liu Wei I originally knew was a guy who moderately gained popularity among fans as the ‘Beijing Ice Fairy,’ showing exceptional abilities in his position.
With guaranteed dance skills as a main dancer and a refreshing, sharp look that seemed as cold as ice.
[SiberianIceWind @FNASPOJA2294
Ah, f*ck, if it weren’t for that trash Rex, our Liu Liu ♡ would have more dance break time. Seriously, when is this useless nuisance Rex quitting? Die, die, f*ck.]
…Moreover, my poor stage attitude as a problematic member was one of the factors that made Liu Wei’s fans even more passionate about him.
Anyway, until his departure, the selling point for those who liked Liu Wei was ‘Beijing Ice Fairy turns into a cute puppy when he opens his mouth,’ due to his slightly clumsy Korean.
“Stop wasting my time.”
He’s so good at Korean, isn’t he?
As I felt my image of Liu Wei shattering, I focused more on their conversation.
“Alright, good. I’ll listen to what you have to say now, Liu Wei. Indeed, in Korea, one should speak Korean, right?”
At Gao Yan’s bold remark, Liu Wei, who was slightly showing discomfort while snapping his fingers, slowly opened his mouth.
“…Gao Yan. I must debut with this program, in this country.”
“What nonsense is that? I need to debut too, you idiot.”
“No, you want to debut. I must. There are many people involved in my debut.”
Liu Wei’s voice echoed slightly in the emergency stairwell. His tone was both solemn and calm, carrying significant intent.
“…The person backing me will handle it, but that’s not enough for me. Instead, I have a decent proposal for you, as a fellow Chinese man.”
“Stop imitating movie lines and get to the point, Liu Wei.”
“I need you to ruin the image of two trainees at the crucial moment. I’ll tell you how once you accept my proposal. The targets are…”
Logan Lee in your room and… Kim Chunyong.
“…What?”
Given the fact that I was eavesdropping, I thought I must have misheard due to nervousness. My name suddenly coming up?
I couldn’t believe what I heard.
Gao Yan seemed as bewildered as I was, responding in a dazed voice.
“…Chunyong hyung and Logan? Ruin their image? Liu Wei, what are you talking about?”
“I need someone around them to actively destroy their image to ensure my stable debut. Li Ming Shen isn’t in the same room as them, so you’re the perfect fit.”
Chills ran down my spine.
Liu Wei was already performing well enough on stage to be assured of a stable debut spot, but he was proposing a shady plan to Gao Yan to sabotage fellow trainees?
And above all… he already has a strong backing, doesn’t he?
Regardless of my thoughts, Liu Wei, thinking only he and Gao Yan were present, spoke without hesitation.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for nothing. I’ll help you debut after this survival show. Moreover, my parents can assist your family’s business in Hong Kong. Isn’t that a fair deal?”
“I can debut without your help, Liu Wei!”
Gao Yan shouted angrily at Liu Wei’s words.
“…But what about your family?”
Standing in front of him, Liu Wei remained as cold as ever.
Their conversation was like ice meeting fire.
“Your family. Will they be okay not stepping on Chinese soil again? It would be quite tough with their main accounts frozen, no matter how wealthy their business might be.”
“Are you threatening my family like a coward?”
“I told you, it’s not a threat. It’s a proposal.”
Liu Wei, responding in his robotically precise Korean, sneered.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t accept it. But the reason I approached you first is because you’re Chinese, and we’ve known each other for a while. I’d appreciate it if you understood that.”
“Liu Wei, why are you doing this? You’re already doing well! If you just showcase your skills on stage, that’s enough. Why go to such lengths?”
“…It’s just a stepping stone.”
Stepping stone.
The moment I heard that word from Liu Wei’s mouth, I gritted my teeth as a certain memory flashed through my mind.
[ ‘Arrows’ member Liu Wei announces departure: ‘Can’t go into details, but it’s a health issue’ ]
[ Liu Wei leaves Korea due to chronic illness, set to star in Chinese romance drama ‘Under the Peach Blossoms’ ]
[ Controversial interview with Chinese star Liu Wei: ‘I was too big for Korea to handle’ ]
I thought I heard a faint sound of something cracking in the hallway.
Thankfully, Gao Yan’s incredulous voice was louder, so they didn’t notice.
“…What did you just say?”
“I said debuting in this country is just a stepping stone for a grand return to China. A low stepping stone won’t do. I’m aiming for something higher.”
The meaning of his words was painfully clear without needing further explanation. While the Arrows members struggled because of me, Liu Wei, who left for China after his departure, had…
…planned to leave the team even before debuting.
My palm, resting against the wall, grew damp with sweat. I felt nauseous, as if I might vomit at any moment.
“…I’ll never accept it. You bastard. Logan and Chunyong hyung are my friends. And business investment? Our family does well without that filthy money, 痴線 (damn it)! This is a survival competition. We should debut fair and square with our own skills!”
“…你的回答我听清楚了，香港人 (…I heard your answer loud and clear, Hong Konger).”
Hearing Gao Yan’s spirited refusal and Liu Wei’s fading Chinese, I quickly moved away from the emergency stairs and ran back to where I had left my suitcase.
Standing there, near my luggage, was the main producer, Lee Hyeon Jeong
“Oh, Trainee Kim Chunyong. Is this your luggage? It was just sitting here, so I was about to collect it…”
“Oh! Yes, it’s mine. I’m taking it home.”
“…You look pale. Is everything okay? Did something happen?”
Maybe because she’s used to watching me through the cameras, she quickly noticed the change in my expression. I fumbled for a response to her casual question.
Should I tell her? That Liu Wei is plotting to use other trainees to sabotage me?
But Liu Wei is just another trainee. How would I prove it? And what if I tell her and it turns out the production team and Liu Wei’s backers have already coordinated their stories?
With countless scenarios running through my mind, I hesitated several times before finally deciding…
“…I think I have indigestion! I guess I was too nervous about today’s performance, haha.”
I chose to keep my mouth shut for now.
“Is that so? There’s a medical office next to Practice Room 106 on the first floor. You can get some digestive medicine there.”
“Oh, thank you for telling me. I’ll see you in two days, Ms. Writer!”
“Sure. Have a good rest. Enjoy the first broadcast. We’ve worked hard on editing to show the trainees at their best.”
After finishing my conversation with Lee Hyeon Jeong, I quickly walked out of the building, pulling my suitcase behind me.
Liu Wei, Arrows, my resignation, me being the problematic member, the new Arrows debut…
All these words jumbled together in my mind until they formed a single sentence that lodged itself in my brain.
If I and Arrows are to become the greatest K-pop idols in history… I must deal with Liu Wei, who’s planning to return to his country eventually.
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