Chapter 7: I Won't Spoil this One

Rewinding...

"Everyone must be wondering why we're currenly in a simple studio somewhere in the wild." Kang Sejin remarked.

(Not really.)

The trainees nodded their head.

Due to Kang Sejin's warm demeanor, everyone became less nervous.

Whisper here, whispers there...

"We're like, in a camping!"

"Are they going to make us crawl in the mud?"

"Wow, haha..."

"Unlike other survival shows, [Cap-Teen-Vating]'s first to second episode will be filmed here! In the wild! In the campsite sponsored by [Arkhe Entertainment]!" Kang Sejin seemed to be more excited than any of the 87 trainees present.

"[Cap-Teen-Vating] is not all about competion and dramas. The honorable CEO of [Arkhe Entertainment] Mr. Wang Hajoon wanted everyone to relax and get to know each other first before anything else! So, for the first two episodes of [Cap-Teen-Vating], you will be playing numerous mini games that will show and improve your skills while camping."

Lies.

Wang Hajoon did this so [Cap-Teen-Vating] would look different from other survival shows out there.

This idea might either make [Cap-Teen-Vating] flop or viral.

Wang Hajoon loves to gamble.

That's the main reason why [Arkhe Entertainment] became one of the biggest agencies in the current timeline.

"Let's get to know each other--"

A male staff climbed the stage and handed something to Kang Sejin.

It was a small box.

"This box contains all the names of the trainees currently present. 87 boys... Wow." Kang Sejin made a reaction that screamed 'I don't get paid enough for this bullshit', causing the trainees to chuckle at his reaction.

"I will pick a piece of paper from this box once in a while and when I call your name, climb this stage, introduce yourself, and show the judges what you got!"

"Introducing the judges that will be evaluating you! First is Ms. Berlyn Chu, the [Dancing Machine of the Stage]!"

She's the least dance teacher one would ever dream of having.

Her former students gave her the nickname [Typical Bitch Teacher] for being strict, dramatic, unreasonable, and perfectionist.

"Second is, Mr. Guy!" The trainees erupted into excited cheers at the mention of the kindest mentor in the history of survival shows.

Guy.

That's his name.

Ask his mother why-- not me.

He's South Korean, by the way.

"Third is, Mr. Kang Hyunjin!" The cheers were just so-so like his appearance and presence is (Ohoooo).

"Mr. Kim Eunho!" Once again, the trainees erupted into excited cheers at the mention of the popular 26-year-old actor.

He's also a former idol.

"Ms. Lee Nahyun!" A famous soloist.

"And lastly, Ms. Lea of [CraveMe]." The trainees erupted into defeaning cheers.

[CraveMe]'s Lea, an extremely beautiful and talented 18-year-old girl.

Her group had been sweeping the industry with their killer songs since their debut which was exactly 4 years ago.

"Oh, and also... The agency you came from shall not be revealed-- you are also not allowed to tell others the name of your agency-- this is some kind of a special mission." Kang Sejin instructed, causing the trainees to groan.

Some were even having a panic attack (not literally).

A few individuals were pleased at the challenge.

Kang Sejin started shaking the box.

The trainees were nervous, especially since they didn't know who's name would get called after who.

Except for one person.

If you think it was Geon, you guessed correctly!

Our little tuna was too busy staring at the mole on his right hand's thumb to be listening to Kang Sejin's instructions.

The area couldn't really be called a normal studio since it looked more like a stage surronded by trainees sitting on the grass.

Bamboo pillars were standing on each, four side of the area, connected by rope.

The roof was made of bamboos too.

Nevertheless, the area looked ethereal with Kang Sejin, an actor, and the 6 judges, present.

Of course, the judges were comfortable at the huge desk.

Nevertheless, everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

Until...

"Trainee Zhang Chen."

"Y-yes?"

"What was that? A circus performance?"

Everyone went silent.

The cute, charming 18-year-old trainee had just finished performing on the stage.

It seemed like Berlyn Chu, one of the judges, got overwhelmed with Zhang Chen's performance.

"Pardon...?" The poor hamster tried his best to remain calm.

The real evaluation started.

•••

"Song Jeongin." Kang Sejin called out.

A very handsome trainee (more handsome than Geon kind of handsomeness) climbed the stage.

"Uwa! His face is shining!"

"I think, he's from [Cloud Entertainment]."

"A big agency!"

"Yeah, they care about looks a lot."

"Shhh! We still have to act like we don't know each other's agency.

"Hello, my name is Song Jeongin." The handsome boy bowed 90° at the judges.

"Your skin is smoother than Eunho's." Guy joked, causing the trainees-- including Kang Sejin, to laugh.

"What's your secret?"

"I'm sorry but my mom told me that I shouldn't share my secret to others." Song Jeongin said in a serious but polite way, causing the trainees-- including Kang Sejin and the judges, to laugh again.

Is this guy being serious?

"I was talking about how you made your skin so smooth, silly." Guy said in between his laughs.

"Oh, I eat vegetables and take a shower everyday."

"Wahh! It's really true that beauty is pain!"

"Why? He was just eating vegetables and taking a shower."

"Oh, foreigner guy... Tsk, tsk, tsk. You still don't know how South Korea works."

"Okay, show us what you prepared." Berlyn Chu said with a kind smile.

WARNING: This bitch's smile is kind but her personality isn't.

Each trainees had already given the staff in advance the recording of the instrumental song they were going to perform.

An unfamiliar instrumental song started playing.

[~Venom~]

•••

Not a single performance came close to Song Jeongin's [Venom] until...

"Choi Geon."

''Hello." Geon bowed 90° at the 6 judges sitting on their respective seats.

"Choi Geon. Hmm... Your specialty is rapping, I see." The judges skimmed through the documents placed on their table.

"Tell us, what motivated you to join [Cap-Teen-Vating]?" Lea, one of the judges, as well as the main rapper of the popular girl group [CraveMe], threw him a risky question.

'It's because of the damn [System Window]--'

"This is my mission." Geon answered whole-heartedly.

It was true.

"I see, you must be very passionate about this." Lea nodded her head in acknowledgement.

She got it right!

After all, the reward was very... Out-of-the-world (evil smile).

"Then, show us what you got." One of the judges said.

"Yes." A familiar music started to play.

Some trainees gasped in shock.

Geon was going to perform [The City You Ruined].

It was the debut song of the famous boy group, [True].

An R&B type-- the tone is seductive, contrary to its painful lyrics.

Geon started his performance.

[~How are you?

I'm sorry for everything

For all the things you went through

For all the times you were bleeding~]

He sang the first verse with a seductive smile plastered on his lips.

[~What made those words so hard to say?

What was so fun in pushing me away?~]

Some trainees who were being loud just a while ago went quiet at the pre-chorus.

[~Look at the city you ruined

The city you 'loved' had sunken

How? For what? For who?

I have no clue~]

Geon rapped the chorus as his body became one with the wind.

[~How are you?

I'm sorry for making you cry

Due to the times I was untrue

Due to the sudden goodbye~]

Geon sang the second verse with a seductive smile just like how he sang the first verse.

Things were going well...

[~What made those words so hard to say?

What was so fun in pushing me away?~]

However...

[~Look at the city you ruined

The city you 'loved' had sunken

Wow! For that? For you?

For someone new~]

Crash!

The whole studio's temperature dropped significantly.

Because Geon slipped on the stage and fell on his butt.