Chapter 277

[JO INCHAN’S POV]

I was raised by my grandparents from such a young age that I could barely remember it.

It wasn’t something I understood back then, but apparently, my parents had me at a very young age and didn’t have the financial means to raise me.

“Inchan-ah, Mom and Dad will come back after you sleep ten nights. Okay?”

“Okay! Ten nights, it’s a promise!”

In that small rural village, where cicadas sang into the endless blue summer sky, and snow gently piled up in winter without a single tire mark, I was a singer loved by everyone.

“Our Inchan is so cool! You’re great at dancing and singing!”

“…I’m cool? Really?”

It was a simple thing, a kid singing and dancing in front of the village elders, something that might sound silly to others. The audience was fewer than ten, and the stage was nothing more than a wooden floor without a single light. But to me, that time felt truly precious.

“I’ve slept a hundred nights, so why haven’t they come back?”

“…Indeed. Mom and Dad must be really busy. What should we do? Our little one’s been waiting so long.”

“Grandpa, I’m really, really happy right now! When I sing and dance, everyone looks at me. They pat my head and give me compliments, so I love it.”

“…….”

“So please don’t cry … I won’t mention Mom and Dad anymore.”

To keep the absence of my parents and the loneliness it brought from creeping into my heart, I filled my days with overflowing love.

“If you love singing and dancing that much, you should become a singer.”

“A singer?”

“Yeah, standing on a big stage, becoming a singer loved by way more people than now. If Inchan becomes like that, Grandpa won’t have any other wishes.”

In that situation, it was as natural as breathing for me to dream of becoming a singer.

By the time I was old enough to understand, all contact from my parents had stopped, and the little financial support they once provided had disappeared completely. I later learned that they had each started new families, and I—a child they had barely seen—had become an inconvenience to them. I didn’t quite remember how I felt at the time.

“Oh, my pitiful child…….”

“…Grandma, I’m okay. Please don’t call me pitiful. I don’t like that. If you cry like this, Grandma, it’ll really make me a pitiful child.”

I think it was just the way people looked at me that felt uncomfortable. I was fine, so I couldn’t quite understand why everyone looked at me with such pity in their eyes.

…I felt a pang in my chest.

Eventually, my elderly grandfather passed away, and I decided to move to Seoul and live independently so that I wouldn’t be a financial burden on my grandmother.

Going alone to a distant city as a student, auditioning, and living as a trainee was anything but easy. It was a time that made me truly understand why minors need to grow up under their parents’ protection.

“…Let’s just make it through a hundred nights first. It’s not that hard, right?”

But that didn’t mean I felt particularly pessimistic about my situation. At the time, I had a dream, and I believed that the hardships I faced were simply part of the journey toward the happy future that awaited me.

Perhaps my heartfelt wish reached the heavens, because after countless efforts, I was chosen as the final member of Prism. Since I was always ranked at the top among trainees due to my relentless practice, I often imagined that I might get a chance to debut someday. But to debut as a member of a group produced by the Seo Yutae? It felt like a dream come true.

‘Yeah, hard work pays off…….’

Who got selected as a member? With that anticipation in mind, I headed to the first meeting where the members of Prism would gather. But the moment I stepped into the room, my heart started pounding uncontrollably, and all I could do was stand there, staring blankly at the person leaning against the table.

‘Wow, it’s Seo Yutae.’

That sight was something I could never forget, no matter how many years passed.

It’s kind of funny, but when I was still young, I think I looked at my hyung as if I was seeing a total celebrity.

He had a bare face with no makeup and was dressed casually, clearly having cleared his schedule. However, his appearance was exactly the same as the one I had seen on screen. The only difference was that his long hair was loosely tied up with a random pen, looking like it had been picked up from nowhere.

‘…Why a pen of all things? And it’s one of those pens they hand out on the street…….’

I had seen him once during the Prism member selection process, but at that time, I was just a trainee being evaluated. Now that I knew we would be working together in the future, his presence slowly started to become real.

‘Did this person really choose me? Is this a hidden camera prank?’

I used to think that if there were a God in this industry, he must be a being born from all of his blessings. There was something so compelling about my hyung that drew people’s attention without him saying a word, and in reality, he also had left the biggest mark on this industry.

Looking back on the fact that such a person chose me, I was unbearably happy.

“…….”

As time passed, Cha Woon-hyung, who had consistently ranked first in the year-end evaluations, entered the room. His skills were so well-known across agencies that I naturally assumed he would be selected as a member. However, just as his exceptional skills were well-known, so was his notoriously prickly personality—so much so that other trainees couldn’t even strike up a conversation with him. I had a strong feeling that our future activities wouldn’t be smooth sailing.

The next person to enter was Chise-hyung.

“Hellooo. I’m Lee Chise, the rapper of the group.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Wow, am I the only one saying hello? I said hello, guys. Did you all glue your mouths shut?”

“…….”

“Oh wow, Seo Yutae-sunbaenim, it’s an honor to meet you. Did you know I joined this company because of you? Let’s have a hug. Ah, but you’re not a sunbaenim anymore, you’re my hyung now! We’re in the same group!”

He was someone surrounded by countless rumors. I had heard that he was an exceptionally talented rapper, highly regarded by hip-hop labels. It was fascinating to think that someone like him had given up everything to become a rapper in an idol group. Looking back, I think I had felt a bit intimidated.

“Wow, hyung, you’re ripped. How much do you lift in the big three?” 1

Regardless of the reactions, Chise-hyung just showed off his ‘ my pace 2 ‘ attitude; approaching the shy Yutae-hyung, squeezing his biceps, and talking to him nonstop.

“Hello, I’m Yoo Jay.”

After that, Jay walked in. He had always received poor evaluations in the monthly assessments, but despite his young age, his outstanding looks and sharp mind had saved him from being expelled multiple times. Since he hadn’t been present at the final member selection, I had assumed he had already moved to another agency. However, it seemed he had been chosen as a Prism member in advance, so there was no need for a further evaluation.

As Jay stepped into the room, the first thing he did was bow his head to Yutae-hyung. Watching Yutae-hyung quietly close his eyes as he acknowledged the greeting, I couldn’t help but wonder if they had known each other beforehand.

What exactly was the feeling I had when I looked at Jay back then?

Doubts about the selection process?

A sense of relief that someone far superior to me hadn’t appeared again?

A sense of responsibility that came from having a younger brother who was more mature than me?

I wasn’t sure. It might have been all three, but after growing close to Jay, the last emotion lingered the most, and I forgot everything else. That’s how adorable the youngest of our new family was.

Even though people often joked, asking why our youngest was so dependable.

With Jay being the last to arrive, and as the appointed time drew near with no one else showing up, Yutae-hyung slammed his hand down on the pile of clothes stacked on the table.

“Ah! My butt!”

“Get up already, Nam Yihwon. What kind of crazy guy sleeps at the meeting spot just because he thinks he won’t make it on time?”

“Hyuuung, if my butt splits into four because of you, will you take responsibility?”

“Yeah.”

Whether he heard Yutae-hyung’s scolding or not, the black bundle of padding quivered in pain before suddenly coming apart. A head of white hair, frizzed up with static, peeked out.

“…Really?”

“If it splits into four? That’s nowhere near enough, so just get up.”

“What? I was tricked.”

It was Nam Yihwon. Though I felt a bit annoyed for thinking this upon seeing someone who had just woken up, I couldn’t help but admit, ‘Wow, you really have to look like that to be a celebrity.’. As Nam Yihwon rubbed his butt without offering any sort of introduction, Kang Hyukwoo, who was standing beside him, said this.

“Namgung Yihwon is the only son of Gong Ayeon and Namgung Jiwon. 3 He’s technically even more of a senior than Seo Yutae since he was a child actor. The company is going to fully support his acting career from now on, so keep that in mind.”

Nam Yihwon instantly erased all traces of mischief from his face and shot Kang Hyukwoo a murderous glare.

“…I said I wouldn’t do any acting, even if it killed me. Don’t just make stuff up.”

Since I didn’t know anything about Nam Yihwon’s family background at the time, I tilted my head, unable to understand his feelings. Idols were expected to be versatile entertainers. Knowing how to act would undoubtedly be an advantage, so I couldn’t understand why he was so adamantly against it.

‘He looks impressive in my eyes…….’

Seeing my only same-age member have such impressive credentials, I had even resolved to work harder from now on.

As expected, perhaps it was because they were the members personally chosen by the Seo Yutae, but aside from Jay, everyone had overwhelmingly superior skills and backgrounds compared to me. Even Jay, whose skills were still lacking, had such striking visual that I was sure he would soon shine just as brightly as the other members.

‘I’m probably not quite at the level to claim a main position yet.’

I started to feel a little anxious.

I even felt that they were far too good for me.

But it was only natural. How much time and effort had they endured to reach that level? They were undoubtedly people who had been working hard for far longer than I had.

But that was okay.

Nothing is unattainable with continuous hard work. It was that belief alone that brought me to this place, which felt beyond my reach.

Thinking that way, the pride of being chosen alongside such outstanding people and the anticipation that I, too, could grow with them outweighed my anxiety.

While I was avoiding Kang Hyukwoo, who was somehow eyeing me with an unpleasant gaze, Yutae-hyung glanced at the clock and called someone’s name with harsh words.

“…Ha, that bastard Seo Yuseong…….”

Come to think of it, the appointed time had long passed, yet the last person still hadn’t arrived. Yutae-hyung, seemingly calling him, picked up his phone irritably, and we soon heard him yelling into it.

“I told you not to be late. I said today was an important day.”

Then, the door suddenly swung open, and we heard the voice of the person on the other end of the call, which we shouldn’t have been able to hear.

“Sorry, I got stuck in traffic.”

It was a completely emotionless, dry voice. The voice sounded strangely unreal, and as I turned my head without any thought, I saw a boy with a face that looked exactly like Yutae-hyung. Even without an introduction, it was obvious to everyone that he was Yutae-hyung’s younger brother.

He showed no reaction even after looking at the members in the room, his doll-like face remaining expressionless as he simply stared at his older brother. Then, Yutae-hyung clicked his tongue and scolded him.

“You should greet everyone. And apologize for being late.”

At that, his expressionless face suddenly curved into a smile, almost like a machine executing a command, as he turned to face us.

“Hello. I’m Seo Yuseong. I’ve joined as the main vocalist … I don’t have any trainee experience, so how should I put this? Ah, maybe I should say it like this.”

“…….”

“I’ve been practicing singing for about a month.”

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Translator’s Corner:

People who asked for Seo Yuseong’s screentime … here you go ….

Yutae: How did Kang Hyukwoo manage to convince Lee Chise to join this agency?

Meanwhile, Lee Chise: You mean I could call THE Seo Yutae my hyung ? SIGN ME UP (lowkey getting scammed because he ended up taking care of 4 problematic younger brothers + 1 weak older brother)

Remember how I said I didn’t delete, uh, aggresive comments in the early days because it was too late … from time to time there would be new readers, and everytime someone wrote a new essay in defense, I’m still impressed asdfghfkjld like there are almost 200 chapters ahead waiting, but people still took a break from their reading marathon to defend MC ….. in this house we love MC ….. (me saying this because we’re already in chapter 270) (if people still dislike MC even though they stayed reading until chapter 270, that’s not dislike, that’s denial….)

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