Chapter 276

“I, I have something to say ……. Please wait just a moment.”

What on earth could be so urgent that he stopped us like that, forgetting to even pick up his microphone? Every eye on set, including the production staff and cast, was focused on Jo Inchan.

“…….”

But Jo Inchan just stared at me with a desperate expression, his fists clenched.

We would have to move on to the next shoot soon, so we couldn’t let a trivial matter disrupt the flow. If he were just a regular cast member, not Prism, the PD might have simply brushed it off by saying there wasn’t enough time.

As I was harboring such worried thoughts, Lee Chise, who had been resting his chin on his hand while staring straight ahead, sighed playfully and held out his microphone to Jo Inchan. When Jo Inchan just stared blankly at him, looking bewildered, Lee Chise shoved the microphone into his grip and smacked his back with a loud pang.

“You’ve got something you want to say. Even if it’s a bit embarrassing, it’s better to just say it now than regret it later. If the PD-nim has a problem with it, we can just ask them to cut our footage instead.”

“Ugh!”

The guy staggered back from being punched by the uselessly strong Lee Chise, then looked back at the faces of the Prism members.

“…….”

The unwavering gazes of the members fixed on Jo Inchan were filled with endless trust and support.

Jo Inchan, who had been quietly facing them, looked at me one last time. Then, with a voice and expression far more composed than when he first stopped us, he began to speak.

“I know that you’ve all been practicing tirelessly, losing sleep, just for this one performance today. You must have been disappointed that your skills didn’t improve as much as you practiced for. And you probably feel regretful for not being able to show everything you were capable of, everything you managed to do in practice. I’ve felt that pain countless times throughout my career, so deeply, so unbearably, thousands, even tens of thousands of times.”

At those words, those who had made mistakes today and failed to deliver a satisfying performance, or those who had struggled to improve, like Lee Danbi, lifted their heads. To the juniors, Jo Inchan had always been a distant, almost untouchable figure shining brightly from afar, so the very idea that he had felt the same emotions as them must have been astonishing.

The only ones watching him with calm, unwavering eyes were Prism members and me; the ones who truly knew the journey Jo Inchan had been through.

“ Why does my hard work go unrewarded? Why does no one recognize me? I tormented myself with those questions, hurting the things I truly cherished and even letting them go with my own hands. But now, I realize that was a mistake. That’s why I hope you all won’t forget this.”

Jo Inchan could no longer smile the way he used to.

That’s why I believed that the young Jo Inchan, who had the most delicate heart of anyone I had ever met, who smiled easily and cried a lot, was now gone. I thought that we had ultimately lost him to a pain too heavy for him to bear alone.

“The time you spent giving your best, even if people don’t recognize it, even if the world doesn’t acknowledge it, you yourselves know it.”

But even in that reality, it seemed that Jo Inchan had still managed to hold onto the warmth within himself.

“Today’s failures will surely become the foundation for success and give you strength for tomorrow.”

I could see the juniors’ eyes gradually reddening as they listened to Jo Inchan’s heartfelt words. Several of them even quietly cried, their heads bowed deeply.

“So, don’t be anxious, and don’t listen to those who belittle your efforts, even if that voice comes from your own mind. Just keep moving forward on the path you believe in.”

“…….”

“Because surely, the answer you’ve been dreaming of will be waiting for you ahead.”

Jo Inchan’s words had always possessed a peculiar power to deeply resonate with people’s hearts.

“When I see that guy smiling so brightly … I find myself smiling along.”

It was undoubtedly a talent unique to him; the ability to bare his heart without reservation and reach straight into others’ souls. Although Kang Hyukwoo once exploited this to create cracks within Prism, I still believed that this quality of his was an irreplaceable strength.

“Trying to change is really scary and takes a lot of courage. I’m truly proud of you all for facing this fear that those who choose to stay where they are have long forgotten.”

I don’t know what kind of impact the conversation I had with Lee Danbi had on you.

But right now, I’m just proud of you and grateful for who you are.

“…Heuk.”

“Next time, I’ll really do well. I won’t give up…….”

Look, there are so many people being comforted by you.

‘…You’ve grown.’

Jo Inchan, watching as the set turned into a sea of tears in an instant, bowed his head toward the cameras and production crew.

Then, the rest of Prism, who were sitting beside Jo Inchan, quietly stood up. Together with him, they bowed deeply.

“To the viewers and the production team, I ask for your understanding. Please watch over these children with warmth as they learn, through falls and rises. They are children who have chosen this difficult path for one reason alone, to bring you a great performance.”

A competition program.

In a place where provocative editing and direction for ratings ran rampant, ‘ growth ’ and ‘ hard work ’ were gradually being forgotten. Yet, those words served as a reminder of those two humble and imperfect values—ones that everyone admired and, in the end, couldn’t help but cheer for.

And it was a request that carried true weight and meaning because it came from someone who had walked the path his juniors were about to take, someone who was in a position to put pressure on the production team with a brief statement.

“…….”

As I bowed to the Prism members in praise, the other cast members standing nearby followed suit. Then, a small round of applause came from the production team’s side, gradually growing into a deafening ovation that even drowned out the cheers.

And with that, the first round of Legendary Singer came to an end, leaving the cast with much to learn and grow from.

***

Afterward, several cast members were interviewed at the production team’s request, and the interviewee chosen from Pantheion was Lee Danbi.

Against a black backdrop, when the production team asked him to share his thoughts on the harsh criticism he received during this competition, Lee Danbi said the following.

[“Seungbeom-hyung told me this. Even if you can’t be the one who shines the brightest, be the one who stands on the stage the longest. Have courage .”]

[“I’m still filled with anxiety, and honestly, I get really nervous every time I face my shortcomings. Nicholas-hyung has grown to the point where he can lead a performance, even if he’s still a bit clumsy. But compared to him, I’m still stuck in the same place, standing there without receiving a single word of praise. Just because Seungbeom-hyung said those words to me didn’t mean I suddenly experienced some dramatic improvement overnight.”]

[“But my mindset has changed. After the first competition ended, I suddenly realized that even if I wasn’t blessed with talent, I was blessed with the right environment. Having people who cherish and believe in me even more than I do, having seniors who guide me in the right direction, how much strength that gives me … People who haven’t experienced it could never, ever understand.”]

[“…I will continue to be Lee Danbi who never stops working hard. Thank you.”]

This interview video of Lee Danbi, along with Jo Inchan’s encouragement video, garnered an explosive number of views, and Legendary Singer recorded the highest viewership rating across all channels, including terrestrial networks, for its time slot. Of course, this happened much later, after L egendary Singer ‘s Prism special had begun and the first competition had aired.

Legendary Singer , which was initially seen as just another survival show featuring a parade of big groups, finally proved its meaningful value to the viewers.

And from that point on, something changed.

The atmosphere of the show, which originally aimed to create a provocative environment where the cast criticized and competed against each other, gradually shifted to highlighting something the public had not seen before—the tears, sweat, and passion the cast poured into their performances.

This wasn’t simply because the production team couldn’t just ignore the request made by Jo Inchan, a member of Prism with considerable influence in the industry.

— I’m weak for beautiful growth stories

— This is seriously an emergency, I’m losing my mind, stars……

— I was shocked by how mature Lee Danbi was in his interview video. Let’s not forget, he debuted at 17 and has only just turned 18. ༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽

└ (2) After watching this episode, I totally fell for Danbi. How can an 18-year-old be this mature? ㅜㅜ

└ I fell for Prism … their senior vibe is insane

— Honestly, I really hated it when the kids decided to go on this survival show. They already had plenty of recognition, so I couldn’t understand why the hell they would go to a place where they’d just be criticized and suffer for nothing. I was so worried. But after watching this episode, I don’t think that way anymore. The kids’ expressions changed after hearing their sunbaenim’s words … I’ve now realized just how important a mentor’s role is.

— I think it was something only Prism-sunbaenims who have reached the top as idols could say.

— Han Seungbeom is truly a great leader. If I had met someone like him, maybe my life would have turned out a little differently.

— Han Seungbeom, is he light? Han Seungbeom, is he light? Han Seungbeom, is he light? Han Seungbeom, is he light?

— It’s been a while since a show made me cry. Just from this short clip alone, you can tell what Jo Inchan thinks about the path he’s walked and how he feels about his juniors. He’s really an admirable person.

— I get that provocative editing boosts ratings, but at this point, they really need to tone it down. Honestly, I’m really tired and sick of it … Just seeing cyber wreckers pounce on the tiniest flaw is more than enough. Broadcasting stations need to start learning. Just handing people something to hate on has a short commercial lifespan. What people truly need are stories they can empathize with and find comfort in.

— I think the show can do just fine without resorting to evil editing. The cast is already more than attractive enough. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching someone pour their passion and utmost effort into what they do.

The ones who held even greater power than Prism were none other than the viewers.

When those viewers agreed with Jo Inchan’s comments and applauded the cast’s challenges, the production team had no choice but to respond.

“…….”

I could clearly feel the small gears beginning to turn.

As Lee Danbi said, a change in mindset alone didn’t alter the reality in front of you.

But when small hearts come together, one after another, they eventually change the world.

The love I gave was returning as an even greater love.

— Come back even stronger. We’ll always be cheering for you.

— Danbi-ya, thank you for not giving up. I really, really love you

Ah, as expected, I really do love this industry…….

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Translator’s Corner:

Exactly the reason why Produce 101 Season 2 is the most legendary among all survival shows … if you watch it and compare it to the others, they really much more focused on the struggle and friendship part, not weighing heavily on rivalry and conflict

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