[Idol Unity Sports Day] Meeting Room.
“Hmm….”
[Idol Unity Sports Day] was a program ambitiously prepared by Nnet to surpass the terrestrial program [AyuGol].
Thus, the main PD, Park PD, had to figure out how to make the program a success.
After gathering the junior production team members in the meeting room, he threw down the challenge.
“Okay, the segment arrangement is roughly done, but… how can we make the program a hit? Let’s hear some ideas.”
“…….”
The production team fell silent at Park PD’s words.
They were flustered by the sudden question, and above all, the atmosphere in Nnet’s entertainment department was tense, making it hard to casually throw out ideas.
The reason for the tension in Nnet’s entertainment department was simple.
It was because of the ousting of Shin PD.
Though there were many rumors about Shin PD’s vicious program management style, he was undoubtedly a star PD of Nnet and a major pillar of the entertainment department.
No employee in Nnet’s entertainment department was unaffected by Shin PD’s influence.
Even Park PD, the main PD of [Idol Unity Sports Day], used to be part of Shin PD’s faction, and most of the writers here had previously worked with him.
Everyone here was already steeped in Shin PD’s provocative program management style.
However, Shin PD left the broadcasting station due to malicious editing and the trainee tampering scandal involving MS Planning.
The core members of Shin PD’s faction, which had close ties to him, were either demoted or disciplined.
In such a tense atmosphere, coming up with provocative ideas was tough.
“Hmmm….”
Feeling the mood, Park PD pondered deeply, and when no ideas emerged from the juniors, he spoke first.
“How about a love line?”
“……Huh?”
“How about creating a love line? There are definitely fans who would love it.”
“PD-nim….”
The writers looked at him with concerned eyes at the mention of a love line.
And rightfully so….
“That’s Shin Ji-cheon PD’s method…”
Love lines were something Shin PD frequently emphasized in programs featuring both male and female idols.
He preferred forcibly creating love lines between male and female idols to incite fan rivalries and use that to enhance the program’s popularity.
Of course, it was effective in gaining attention, but it was too provocative.
Feeling the subtle jab, Park PD suddenly shouted at the juniors.
“Ugh, who’s going to do it like that guy? Let’s tone it down a bit! We can do it in a more subtle way!”
“…….”
“I know why you’re so on edge…. But everyone, get it together. Did you hear? They’re hiring a lot of external staff now that our senior Shin is out. If we don’t produce results, we could all be replaced!”
But this was also an opportunity.
With Shin PD, who had been pulling the strings at the broadcasting station like a concrete wall, gone, a void was left.
If they could worm their way into that void, aiming for a higher position wouldn’t be just a dream.
“Okay, if everyone understands, then let’s pick some potential love line candidates from the participant list.”
“……Yes.”
In the end, when the higher-ups say to bark, you bark.
The production team felt a sense of wrongness about this, but they had no choice but to follow Park PD’s demands.
Shortly after, a short list for the love line was compiled.
Upon seeing the top name, Park PD gasped.
“Ha Ye-rin…?”
He flinched at that moment.
In fact, the main reason Shin PD got ousted this time was largely due to Ha Ye-rin.
“I’m a bit worried about her… She has tons of fans. What if we mess with her?”
“Well, that’s true… but I’m sure it’ll generate buzz.”
“Hmm….”
As Park PD stared at the name Ha Ye-rin, he sighed and asked.
“Okay, but Ha Ye-rin is at the top level right now. The counterpart has to be someone of equal standing… so who will it be?”
“The counterpart is… right here.”
Park PD flinched again at the name his junior pointed out.
“Black Night’s… Shin Si-woo? Wow, this is tough.”
One side was a top-rated idol audition program star who had hit massive ratings, while the other was from a top-tier boy group of the Big Three agencies.
To Park PD’s eyes, the two were matched well.
Both sides had substantial fanbases, so it seemed it could stir quite the buzz if handled correctly.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke to the writers.
“Okay. Let’s go with these two for now. But you all know, right? We absolutely must not give the impression that we’re pushing these two. We just discovered their signals by chance and aired it. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes…!”
“Then let’s wrap up today’s meeting on this note…. Let’s create an amazing show.”
A week later.
Park PD received a rather peculiar request from Director Jeong of NAS, responsible for managing Rookies, to ensure that Black Night’s Shin Si-woo wouldn’t get close to Ha Ye-rin.
Receiving a request to specifically keep a certain person away was unprecedented, leading Park PD to suspect there was some issue between them…
“Of course, Director. I’ll take care of it.”
While Park PD said that, he didn’t actually alter his original plan.
[Blue Team]
[Rookies’ ‘Ha Ye-rin’, Black Night’s ‘Shin Si-woo’….]
The camera was rolling.
“Wow! Unnie! We’re on the same team!”
“Awesome! Let’s do well!”
While other participants reacted cheerfully in front of the camera upon seeing the team list, our Rookies couldn’t do the same.
Because Black Night’s Shin Si-woo was on my team.
Thus, our Rookies briefly frowned at the list and awkwardly smiled as we subtly huddled together to whisper.
“It’ll be fine, what could possibly go wrong?”
“He wouldn’t do anything weird with all these cameras around, right?”
“Hanna and I are in the White Team, and unnie Hye-jung and Yujin are with Ye-rin, so you two please keep an eye on that guy and make sure he doesn’t do anything weird, okay?”
“Sure!”
“Yes!”
The members wore determined expressions as they brainstormed ways to protect me from Shin Si-woo.
Seeing their determined faces made me chuckle, while at the same time…
‘What could possibly go wrong?’
My worries about Shin Si-woo began to lessen.
And then…
“Each game has prizes! Please, have a look!”
“Wow!”
The MC for the sports day announced the prizes for each event.
Refrigerators, TVs, Hanwoo sets, etc., all prizes that would make anyone’s eyes widen.
Moreover, if they win against the opposing team based on the total score, there were even greater prizes waiting.
So…
‘Whoa… How much is that…?’
I began to burn with enthusiasm for the seemingly light participation in [Idol Unity Sports Day].
It feels a bit odd to say this myself, but I’m a bit confident in physical activities.
This sports day… I was thinking I’d get active and win prizes…
It felt like it would be a more enjoyable day than I anticipated.
However, I changed my mind right from the very first event I participated in.
[Idol Unity Sports Day] featured both male and female idols.
Naturally, they were divided into male and female events, but…
There was also a mixed event that included both genders.
[Partner Dodgeball]
This was the very first mixed event I was participating in.
In this event, guys pair with girls, and if a girl gets hit by the ball, she’s out, while the guy protects the girl from getting out.
The problem was…
“Ye-rin? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“…….”
To top it off, my partner was Shin Si-woo.
Upon realizing Shin Si-woo was my partner, I tried to back out of participating, but since this list was already set by the production team, I couldn’t refuse.
So, I had no choice but to step onto the court with Shin Si-woo.
Beep!
Thus, the Partner Dodgeball began between the blue team and white team.
The female participants all huddled behind the male participants, trying to avoid the ball.
Of course, I didn’t stick close behind Shin Si-woo.
The ball wasn’t that fast, so I intended to avoid it by myself without his help.
But…
Crackle.
“What the…!”
Shin Si-woo tightly grabbed my sleeve and forcibly pulled me behind him.
I panicked and tried to shake him off…
“Are you not focusing on the camera?”
“……!”
I had no choice but to pause at Shin Si-woo’s whisper.
Then, I quickly checked the camera positions.
Having gone through my Na Ah Ah days, I had mastered being keenly aware of the camera and the production team’s movements.
While other cameras zoomed out to capture the entire dodgeball court…
Zing-.
One particular camera was solely focused on Shin Si-woo and me.
‘No way….’
I had sensed it since the list, but did the production team want to capture a cute moment between Shin Si-woo and me?
Somehow, it felt like the main PD’s eyes were solely following me and Shin Si-woo.
At this point, showing any discomfort could attract unwanted attention from the cameras.
But leaning against Shin Si-woo during dodgeball…
‘Disgusting.’
I couldn’t easily predict what this guy might do.
As a result, I had no choice but to…
Ping!
“Oops! Shin Si-woo & Ha Ye-rin are out!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Ahhhhh!”
I intentionally got hit by the ball and was out.
As I pretended to be disappointed and left the out line, Shin Si-woo whispered to me.
“That’s too bad. But I feel like the production team won’t just let us part this easily. What do you think?”
“…….”
“Put on a smile. We’re working right now, aren’t we? If we get caught on camera looking bad, it’ll affect the whole Rookies, don’t you think? Hehe.”
Shin Si-woo’s teasing struck a nerve, but…I couldn’t deny his logic.
If I showed a negative expression here, I might receive backlash from the Black Night fandom…
‘No… I feel like even if I show a good side, I’d still get scolded by Black Night fans….’
I felt caught in a dilemma and returned to the tent where the members were.
I could sense Shin Si-woo’s sticky gaze trailing after me.
As soon as I returned, the Rookies members began to speak up, one by one.
“Did Director Jeong not mention anything? Why did Ye-rin unnie have to team up with that guy…?”
“Director Jeong probably didn’t say anything. It’s just the Nnet PD being typical Nnet PD.”
“Unnie! Didn’t that guy say anything while teaming up?”
“Uh….”
I shared with the members how Shin Si-woo had used the camera to threaten me.
Upon hearing this, the members grew outraged.
“What a psycho!”
Naturally, they were furious.
However, they whispered angrily, keeping their voices down to avoid drawing attention from the cameras.
“Unnie! Just bump into him! Forget about the cameras!”
“That guy needs to be taught a lesson!”
… I wanted to do that too, but the thought that my actions could bring trouble to the group made me hesitate.
Thus, I sighed without providing a definite answer to the members.
At that moment.
“Doing that might actually make Ye-rin receive backlash from people.”
Yoo Seol, who had been quietly listening to my story, opened her eyes and spoke.
Her words drew the members’ gazes toward her.
“What should we do then? What if that guy does something weird…?”
“We should use a method where we can hit back at him without getting hurt ourselves.”
“Is there such a way?”
I asked her, and Yoo Seol smiled and answered.
“We can actually take advantage of the camera.”
Using the camera to our advantage?
At her unclear words, the members and I tilted our heads, prompting Yoo Seol to gather us to explain the plan.
As she described the scheme, there was a glimmer of murderous intent in her eyes, suggesting she intended to plunge Shin Si-woo into trouble this time.
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