Second Try Idol

Chapter 343: Concert (7)

Have you ever had that chilling moment when you suddenly hear someone calling your name amidst peak tension? Imagine the nerve-wracking climax of a horror movie or the heart-pounding finale of a hide-and-seek game in that kind of intense atmosphere.

The voice that called out to Lee Jin-Sung seemed eerily calm, almost as if it wasn't human, but an echo through the shadows. But what sent shivers down his spine was the realization that the voice belonged to Suh Hyun-Woo, who was supposedly no longer in the game.

Cold sweat drenched Lee Jin-Sung as a bone-chilling fear took over. A sensation crept from his fingertips to envelop his entire body.

It was not that Suh Hyun-Woo was actually dead, but hearing his voice was akin to encountering a ghost. The ominous footsteps and the jingle of something metallic played like a soundtrack to a thriller.

Jingle, jingle-

"Jin-Sung, where are you?"

Jingle-

"Which floor are you on? I heard your voice just now."

"Uh, me, I..." Then it hit him. He had heard the same jingling earlier from both Park Yoon-Chan and Kang Joo-Han.

As realization dawned on Lee Jin-Sung, he began slowly walking backward, his heart racing.

Just then, a voice cut through the tension. "Found you."

There, smiling up at him from beneath the stairs, was Suh Hyun-Woo.

"AHH!" Had Lee Jin-Sung ever screamed so loud at the sight of Suh Hyun-Woo's face?

Suh Hyun-Woo smiled as he ascended the steps. Goh Yoo-Joon, who was also supposedly eliminated, was behind Hyun-Woo. Time seemed to stand still.

"...Jin-Sung?"

"Ahahaha! Look at him freeze up. Jin-Sung, are we that scary?" Goh Yoo-Joon teased, making Lee Jin-Sung's frantic thoughts pause for a moment.

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Suh Hyun-Woo and Goh Yoo-Joon were already known for their icy demeanors. They seemed doubly unnerving standing there in the dim light.

"Hyungs, I don't quite grasp what's happening here, but one thing is crystal clear."

And that thing was that he needed to bolt right now.

Lee Jin-Sung flung open the emergency exit and sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him.

"He’s running away! Catch him!" Goh Yoo-Joon's voice echoed alongside the pounding footsteps of Jin-Sung’s pursuers.

What was supposed to be a game turned into a real-life chase through the building's corridors. Lee Jin-Sung realized that the key was surely already in their possession.

Then, what happened to the game? What would happen if he got caught?

"Why are they so fast?" Frankly, Lee Jin-Sung had no idea what was going on, but the circumstances urged him to flee. Clutching his recording phone even during his run turned out to be a wise decision amidst the chaos.

Even though Lee Jin-Sung was known for his speed, he couldn't outpace Suh Hyun-Woo or Goh Yoo-Joon since both had athletic backgrounds as former relay racers and were reputed to be among the fastest people in the entertainment industry. The gap between them steadily closed.

"Help me!!!" Lee Jin-Sung shouted while running, but there was no one around to lend a hand. His sneakers screeched harshly against the floor.

Exhausted and desperate, Lee Jin-Sung found himself back on the second floor. Just then, Kang Joo-Han and Park Yoon-Chan burst out from a nearby waiting room. Kang Joo-Han extended his hand and shouted. "Stop!!!"

Strangely enough, Lee Jin-Sung halted involuntarily at Kang Joo-Han’s command-like shout. He knew he wasn’t supposed to stop, but his body disobeyed him and he froze in place.

After a momentary pause, he snapped back to reality and attempted to dash away, only to be swiftly captured by Suh Hyun-Woo and Goh Yoo-Joon.

"Ah! What is this...! What's going on with you guys?"

"Let's handcuff him first."

"Wasn't today supposed to be about teamwork?" Jin-Sung asked. He was overwhelmed and felt utterly betrayed. He looked both wronged and forlorn. "Was I the only one deceived? Are all of you guys in on this? Wow, for real?"

As his emotions welled up, the members erupted in laughter and quickly secured the handcuffs.

"Everyone, give Jin-Sung a hug."

"I am so sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"We really aren't good at this game, are we? We got out of the room too soon. Ha!"

"And what about escaping? And the gifts for the Rings?" Jin-Sung asked. Suh Hyun-Woo proudly displayed the key. Lee Jin-Sung's face flushed with a mix of relief and embarrassment. "Ah, come on! I was genuinely terrified..."

"Alright, let's move. Take Jin-Sung to jail."

"Yep!"

The members firmly grabbed Lee Jin-Sung's arms and escorted him toward the dimly lit prison cell. The air was thick with anticipation as the director, overwhelmed with joy from watching Lee Jin-Sung's unexpected heroics, greeted them.

"Great job, everyone," he said. His voice echoed slightly in the narrow room. "The results are far more entertaining than we had planned. I am truly grateful for your dedication."

"It was genuinely enjoyable."

"Hyun-Woo's suggestion really paid off," the director continued, turning to Hyun-Woo with a smile. "And of course, the gifts for the Rings will be handed out as promised."

A collective cheer erupted from the group, punctuated by puzzled whispers. "Wait, what do you mean Hyun-Woo succeeded?" Jin-Sung asked with a furrowed brow.

The director took a moment to explain what was going on to Lee Jin-Sung, who had been out of the loop. Only after the full story was laid out did his expression shift from confusion to a sharp glare directed at Suh Hyun-Woo. Suh Hyun-Woo was unfazed. He simply shrugged off the stare. His satisfaction with the shoot was evident.

"The footage will be up on UTube before the concert tickets go on sale."

The filming wrapped up. After a brief but intense game, Chronos resumed their concert rehearsals, seamlessly shifting back into their routine as if the day's filming was just a brief interlude.

***

"Hey, they've finished editing the escape game episode youshot. Do you want to check it out?" Tae-Seong asked.

"Sure, but let’s watch it back at the dorm."

Tae-Seong glanced at me through the rearview mirror and nodded, sealing our plan. As we talked, the upcoming concert loomed over us and propelled us into a whirlwind of intense rehearsals and promotional appearances.

Despite the packed schedule, the tasks were manageable, mostly because we needed to focus on the upcoming show. Fatigue was inevitable with such a dense rehearsal schedule, but the thrill of performing kept us going.

However, today was special. It was the first broadcast day for the faceless singer Eden, and my nerves were on edge. "Reina really doesn’t miss a single detail, does she?" I mused aloud.

She had meticulously arranged everything, from changing cars to hiding my identity, underlining the importance of secrecy given Eden's growing popularity. Because Eden was the first singer produced by the top-rated singer Reina, the public's attention was solely on Eden—me.

In a situation that had already generated significant buzz, revealing Eden’s identity right from his first broadcast was simply not an option. While YMM had planned to conceal his identity, no one had anticipated that Reina would go to the extent of sending a separate vehicle for him.

With such tight security, and even wearing an outfit far different from my usual casual clothes, I was on my way to Reina's agency. Today would be especially draining mentally because not only would my manager change midway, but I would also need to keep my identity hidden all day.

Considering how mentally exhausting each shoot was, I started to wonder if variety shows really weren't for me. As I entertained these trivial thoughts, the car pulled into the parking lot of Reina's company.

Knock, knock.

Reina tapped on the car window wearing her sunglasses, then opened the door without waiting for permission. She greeted me vibrantly. "Long time no see! How's the concert prep going? I know it's busy. Sorry for squeezing in the schedule."

"No, it's actually nice to have things scheduled. How have you been?" I asked.

"Good! I've been well. I wish I could have scheduled this after your concert! The producer booked this appointment on his own because he is friends with our CEO."

While we appreciated the exposure from the high viewership on public television amidst our concert rehearsals, Reina seemed genuinely apologetic because she understood just how much time and energy a concert consumed. After all, she was known for holding the most concerts in a year in South Korea.

"Like I said during our last meeting, there won't be any voice modulation during the song or even while talking," Reina reminded.

"Right."

"Modulating your voice could raise suspicions like, 'Isn't that a famous singer altering their voice?’"

Yeah, people would think that modulating voice was proof that Eden was actually a famous singer. Therefore, there was no need for that.

"So talk as little as you can, and slightly change your tone when you need to speak. We talked about this last time, didn't we?"

"Yes, but Reina, if I barely talk, what about my screen time?"

Reina shook her head before I could finish. "Seeing you worry about screen time makes me proud. It shows you are no longer a rookie. This time, you don’t have to worry about that."

While Reina and I were talking, her manager and Tae-Seong switched places.

"You don’t need to worry about screen time for this show," she told me. "You won't need to grab attention deliberately. Everyone will be focused on you regardless."

Reina smiled confidently, thanked me, and headed toward her own vehicle.

"She’s quite something, isn't she?" Reina’s driver, who took the driver’s seat, was visibly excited.

"Yes, she really is," I agreed, recalling how I had admired her since the auditions before my debut.

"Hahaha! I'm not a singer myself, but I really respect Reina in many ways. Alright, let's get going!"

The car exited the parking lot and sped toward the broadcast station.