Star Maker Chapter 20

Yoo Ayeon, who had been quietly listening to Han Seon-ho and manager Oh Hanbit’s conversation, spoke up once the manager returned to his place.

“That was interesting.”

“Was it?”

“You’re more enthusiastic than I expected.”

“Well, I’ve already started.”

Since the evaluation had begun, he had to provide useful feedback.

Although this was something he started for his deal with Yoo Ayeon, these small steps could eventually lead ‘Manager Han Seon-ho’ toward becoming ‘Producer Han Seon-ho.’

As Park Cha-myung had said, this industry was small.

The rehearsal continued, and so did Han Seon-ho’s evaluations.

Each time the host, Song Hanmin, called for a judge, Yoo Ayeon naturally looked toward Han Seon-ho.

Because of that, many entertainment industry figures present at the scene ended up hearing his evaluations as well.

To be precise, since they were near Yoo Ayeon, they also overheard Han Seon-ho’s words.

Who is he to be acting so important?

And the general assessment of Han Seon-ho was: a clueless newbie trying to act like he knows everything.

People could hear him, but hardly anyone was truly paying attention to his evaluations.

Regardless, the rehearsal progressed, and the evaluations continued.

Then, it was Cha Hye-mi and Jung Su-rim’s turn.

Hye-mi, who had stepped onto the stage, looked around.

However, with the bright stage lights shining down, it was difficult to see the people below.

In the end, unable to find the person she was looking for, the final rehearsal began.

The stage lights went out completely, and the music started playing.

A stage shaped by Han Seon-ho’s ideas, Hye-mi and Su-rim’s input, and Park Cha-myung’s finishing touches.

A concept that used light and darkness to express psychological states.

From the darkness, Jung Su-rim’s voice emerged.

Listening to Su-rim sing, Hye-mi smiled.

Su-rim was often judged as someone who got scared on stage, but today, it seemed different.

It’s good.

The song was truly good.

Su-rim sang well, but the song itself was great to begin with.

As Su-rim’s intro ended, it was now Hye-mi’s turn.

Preparing to sing in the dark, she lifted her gaze.

In that moment, she spotted two figures—a man and a woman.

Smiling and whispering to each other below the stage.

“Ah.”

Hye-mi forgot the lyrics.

Right after the final rehearsal ended, Han Seon-ho stood in front of the waiting room.

Jung Su-rim, uncomfortable in her stage outfit, had changed into something more comfortable while waiting for standby.

As Han Seon-ho stood outside the waiting room, someone approached him.

“Hey, you. You’re in charge of Cha Hye-mi, right?”

An older staff member he had seen a few times in passing.

“Yes, that’s right. Is something the matter?”

“We need to film a VTR reaction shot with Cha Hye-mi and Jung Su-rim before they go on stage. Let them know to get ready.”

“A reaction shot? Right now?”

“Yeah, now. The camera will come in about ten minutes.”

Han Seon-ho acknowledged the older staff member’s words but found it strange.

Is there even a reason to film a VTR reaction?

A VTR was a video segment played before a performance.

It showed how the team prepared for the stage, what episodes happened during practice, and their determination for the performance.

Of course, the real purpose of VTRs was to buy time for stage setup during live broadcasts, but that’s not how it was presented to viewers.

For the audience, once the VTR ended, the team’s stage would begin immediately.

So where exactly did a reaction shot fit into this?

Of course, directing was up to the PD, so maybe they had something in mind.

Still, no matter how he thought about it, it felt odd.

“Su-rim, have you finished changing?”

But if the PD said to prepare, there was no choice but to do so.

“Yes! You can come in now!”

“Sorry, but you’ll have to change back into your stage outfit.”

“What? Why?”

“We need to film a reaction shot in ten minutes.”

Hearing this, Jung Su-rim frowned and reluctantly slid her legs back into the skinny jeans she had just taken off.

A short while later, two staff members entered the waiting room.

A cameraman carrying a shoulder-mounted camera and a female writer wearing a thick sweater that didn’t match the late summer season.

For some reason, Han Seon-ho got the impression that they looked somewhat bewildered.

“For now, Hye-mi and Su-rim, please take a seat on the sofa. Manager, step out of the frame.”

As Han Seon-ho moved out of the shot, the writer turned on the waiting room monitor.

Originally used for watching the stage, the monitor could also display other videos when controlled from the main studio.

“We’ll keep it natural. It’s not a long take, just a reaction shot, so just show your real emotions. But please speak clearly and laugh out loud.”

“Understood.”

“Okay!”

Hye-mi and Su-rim responded, and the writer smiled, saying she liked their enthusiasm.

Is that enthusiasm?

To Han Seon-ho, it seemed more like Hye-mi wasn’t in a good mood.

Probably because she had messed up the rehearsal after forgetting the lyrics.

“Rolling now.”

As soon as the writer finished speaking, the VTR started playing on the waiting room monitor.

The video opened with Jung Su-rim and the other ten finalists choosing their partners from Season 2 participants.

—”I want to work with Cha Hye-mi.”

—”Hye-mi? Why is that?”

—”I really like her. I even sang her songs for my preliminary and regional auditions.”

Clips from Su-rim’s audition rounds, which hadn’t been aired before, were shown briefly.

Just as she had said, Su-rim had passed her auditions using Hye-mi’s songs.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s embarrassing…”

When Hye-mi asked, Su-rim responded, looking a bit shy.

The VTR continued.

—”Last year, when I saw Hye-mi unnie, I completely fell for her—no, I mean, I became a huge fan. I’ve always wanted to stand on the same stage with her if I ever got the chance.”

—”How do you think it’ll feel to perform together?”

—”It’ll be fun. Even if I get eliminated in the next round, I won’t have any regrets.”

The screen changed.

This time, it was a scene Han Seon-ho was familiar with.

The moment when Hye-mi and Su-rim first met.

Scenes of Hye-mi and Su-rim eating together, trying out songs, and deciding on a piece.

Finally, a heartwarming moment of them busking in Hongdae flashed by quickly.

Perhaps to avoid spoilers, the singing scenes were shown only briefly with wide shots, revealing just a few lines.

They’re really pushing this, huh?

Han Seon-ho thought as he watched the changing VTR scenes.

It felt like it should be ending now, but the scene changed again, as if there was still something more to show.

“Huh?”

“What?”

At that moment, Hye-mi and Su-rim’s startled voices could be heard.

The VTR now displayed a scene where they rejected the original arranger, PD Joo Min-hwan.

— PD Joo Min-hwan.

— I like that song better.

— A lot more.

— Because it’s a song we put our utmost effort into.

Cha Hye-mi’s voice and expression were calm—no, to others, they might have seemed cold.

Han Seon-ho understood that her words and actions were a way of reaffirming her resolve, but to the viewers, it wouldn’t appear that way.

Jung Su-rim’s expression, at a loss for what to do.

PD Joo Min-hwan’s face, looking flustered and hurt.

And Cha Hye-mi’s cold, unyielding expression.

The three faces overlapped as the footage continued.

What’s going on? Hye-mi and Su-rim might have actually looked like that, but…

Hye-mi and Su-rim’s expressions were real.

But PD Joo Min-hwan’s were not.

Han Seon-ho distinctly remembered him displaying irritation and anger—yet, in the VTR, he was portrayed as a pitiful victim.

Why would they show this?

The reaction shots they were filming of Hye-mi and Su-rim at this moment would probably never be used.

Judging by the expressions of the writer and the cameraman, even they hadn’t known what was coming in the VTR.

That meant this entire setup was an attack meant to shake Cha Hye-mi mentally, making it impossible for her to give a proper performance.

Who? Who sent this attack?

Only one person came to mind.

Kim Dong-han, CEO of MOK Entertainment.

But would he really go so far as to manipulate a public broadcast’s main PD just to attack Hye-mi?

Wouldn’t that be too much of a leap?

Even as Han Seon-ho pondered deeply, the VTR continued.

The following scenes were ordinary. Nothing particularly provocative in the editing.

Practicing with the new song.

Stage production meetings and recording sessions.

Finally, their determined statement about how much effort they had put in and asking people to watch.

With that, the VTR ended, leaving only silence.

Even after the cameraman and writer exited the waiting room, the silence persisted.

Su-rim, still wearing the skinny jeans she had constantly complained were uncomfortable, sat quietly.

Hye-mi sat as well, her expression unreadable.

“Hye-mi.”

As Han Seon-ho broke the silence and spoke, a knock sounded at the waiting room door.

“One moment.”

He let out a deep sigh before opening the door.

“Who is it?”

Standing outside was an unexpected visitor.

“Uh, Mr Han Seon-ho.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re not too busy, could we talk for a moment?”

“I have things to do right now. Please speak here.”

“It’s not me who wants to talk—it’s Hanbit.”

The unexpected visitor was the manager of rapper Oh Hanbit.

“I’m a bit busy right now. Sorry.”

“Hanbit’s waiting room is just next door. It’ll only take fifteen seconds to—”

“Sorry.”

It wasn’t as if he wasn’t curious, but right now, he had other priorities.

After sending Oh Hanbit’s manager away, Han Seon-ho turned back and spoke again.

“Hye-mi.”

“Yes, oppa.”

“Shall we talk in the car for a bit?”

“Hmm… Okay.”

“Su-rim, would you mind waiting here for a moment?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, take your time.”

Just then, someone suddenly flung open the waiting room door and barged in.

Han Seon-ho frowned.

With two female singers inside, it was rude to enter without knocking.

“Manager-ssi.”

“The person who entered, addressing Han Seon-ho in an unfamiliar manner, was none other than rapper Oh Hanbit.”

“Have you done music before?”

That was the first question Han Seon-ho received upon being called into Oh Hanbit and Ryu Hail’s waiting room.

It seemed Ryu Hail had stepped out for a while.

“I’m not sure what exactly you mean by ‘done music,’ but I haven’t studied it formally.”

“Then do you know anything about rap?”

“No. It’s not a genre I particularly enjoy, so I don’t know much about it.”

“You don’t know much?”

Oh Hanbit seemed… upset.

No, to be precise, he seemed annoyed.

His manager must have told him what I said.

It was likely that Oh Hanbit’s manager had relayed his feedback word for word.

“Then why did you say that?”

“It was just my personal opinion. If it offended you, I apologize.”

“No, I’m not offended, it’s just… just…”

Oh Hanbit took a long pause, searching for the right words, before finally blurting it out.

“I want certainty.”

“Certainty?”

“Yes. Certainty. I want to know for sure that what you said was right.”