Free Web Novel「– Contestants, did you all enjoy your two-day break?
(Cheers erupt from the contestants in response to Jang Junseok’s words)
– During the last training camp, we had the first mission and the first ranking announcement. And now, what awaits all of you is the second mission.」
[Hurry up and reveal it already!]
[LOL what’s funny is the contestants’ faces are also screaming “just reveal it already”]
[Jang Junseok is really good at dragging out time]
The moment Episode 5 of Idol Ground 100 began, the community boards grew lively again.
‘See? Watching the live broadcast while scrolling the community is the most fun.’
Lee Hyuksu, who had personally edited Episode 5, was leaning back in his chair in the editing room, practically half-lying down as he watched the TV and fiddled with his phone.
—From now on, Hyuksu, just focus on managing community reactions and YouTube. From Episode 6 onward, we’ll send separate editing staff.
Recently, Hyuksu had been seriously considering escaping due to the excessive workload, but thankfully, the new main PD, Park Hyungsoo, had saved him from work hell.
No—rather than saving him, it was practically sending him to heaven.
‘Community stuff is what I was already doing, and YouTube videos have way less to edit than the main broadcast. This is insanely nice.’
Being assigned work that fit him far better than his previous tasks, simply because he’d done well so far, Hyuksu was genuinely happy.
The only regret was that because of the Kim Miyoung incident, he now had to stick to lurking instead of actively participating in Sionism, where he used to hang out all the time.
Not being able to watch Idol Ground 100 live while chatting with café staff in the chatroom anymore—that was his only regret.
After all, shows like this were always more fun when watched together with others.
So now, Hyuksu was watching the broadcast while keeping an eye on the Idol Ground 100 gallery of a major community site in real time.
「– Ahem··· um. I’m sorry. We’ll pause for a moment.
(Jang Junseok repeatedly coughing during the broadcast, receiving water from staff and drinking it)
– Cough!」
[What? Did Jang Junseok just throw up?]
[You idiot, does that look like vomit to you? That’s blood!]
[That scene from the preview just came out]
[What the hell is going on?]
Watching the gallery panic because they didn’t know what was happening made a smile creep onto Hyuksu’s face.
‘Mr. Jang Junseok’s acting really is good.’
Maybe because he’d started out as a child actor, he could act out even absurd situations convincingly, which was exactly why this hidden-camera prank had worked.
「(Jang Junseok collapses as Lee Sion runs out)
– Staff member holding the camera! Please call emergency services immediately!
(Lee Sion quickly and precisely giving instructions to those around her, preparing for CPR)」
Soon, a scene aired where Lee Sion placed her palms together on Jang Junseok’s chest and began CPR, her movements sharp and disciplined enough that viewers commented it looked realistic.
And then—
「– Cough!!! Time! Time!! PD, this wasn’t in the script!
(Jang Junseok springing up the moment his chest is pressed, shouting toward the PD)
– Idol Ground 100 Accident-Prevention Safety Training Hidden Camera!
(On-screen captions announce the hidden-camera prank, followed by scenes of safety training with an invited instructor)」
[There wasn’t some sucker who didn’t realize it was a prank, right?]
[LOL if you fall for this, stop watching this and go study or something. I’ll go study first]
[Let’s go together]
[Between Jang Junseok’s acting and the contestants’ reactions, I really thought an accident happened, damn it]
[These lunatics went this far just for product placement?]
Snort.
Hyuksu chuckled at the community reactions unfolding exactly as he’d expected.
‘This is why I put up with even the hard parts of editing.’
As an editor, nothing thrilled him more than seeing viewers react exactly the way he’d predicted.
[Ryu Ayeon, what is she? She’s solving everything by herself.]
[More than that, the production team is ruthless, LOL—they aired that whole conversation when Sion gave Lee Gahyeon a gift]
[Gahyeon··· those dark circles really did get worse]
[How much money did Dongyu Pharm pay for them to advertise this hard?]
Some complained that starting Episode 5 with PPL was too much, but contrary to that worry, the reaction was good, which was a positive sign.
And this hidden-camera prank was only an appetizer; Episode 5 was packed with entertaining scenes, so just imagining the reactions to what was coming made Hyuksu feel excited.
However—
‘We need to upload the “great escape” video to YouTube as soon as it ends, so I should get ready.’
Now it was time to work.
Hyuksu wasn’t watching the broadcast just to relax.
He was standing by to follow the main PD’s order to upload the YouTube video the moment Episode 5 finished airing.
***
“I really think PD Kim Miyoung’s work is outstanding.”
“Thank you.”
“Balancing entertainment and tension properly in a survival program like this isn’t easy, is it?”
“That’s true.”
Miyoung had a lot of nerve.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have become the youngest main PD in MPlay’s variety department history, nor would she have dared to use her almost-sister and her niece for ratings.
But even someone like Miyoung couldn’t help feeling tense in front of the person now sitting across from her.
“Contestant Lee Sion seems soft-hearted.”
“Excuse me?”
“Look now.”
The man spoke while pointing at the TV airing Episode 5 of Idol Ground 100.
On the screen was Miyoung’s niece, Sion, agonizing over which song to choose as the last pick during the Position Evaluation.
‘Ah··· that moment.’
It was a scene Miyoung knew well.
After all, it had been her idea to let contestants choose songs in order during the Position Evaluation, and moments like this—contestants hesitating over their choices—were exactly what she’d wanted.
‘Sion really is soft-hearted, despite how she looks.’
As Sion stood in the Bang! Bang! Love line, locking eyes with teammates from the previous mission and spinning in place in flustered panic.
And then, finally—
– With the first-place contestant from the first ranking announcement, Lee Sion’s choice is the dance position’s Bang! Bang! Love!
After choosing Bang! Bang! Love, Sion stood there looking completely dazed.
“Do you still hope your niece doesn’t become an idol?”
“What? Ah, not anymore. Now I just want to let her do what she wants.”
“A good choice. To be honest, I also understand why you tried to stop her from becoming an idol.”
“Do you?”
“Even though I run an entertainment company, wouldn’t it be lying too much to say this industry is easy?”
Miyoung only smiled and nodded at his words.
‘This isn’t just any entertainment company.’
Even on blind dates, Miyoung was never this well-behaved—but the person in front of her now was different.
SY.
One of Korea’s Big Three agencies, and the one widely considered the strongest among them.
Sitting across from her was Lee Seyoon, the CEO of SY.
If you divided the power structure of the entertainment industry into a pyramid, the top tier would be broadcasting executives and PDs.
After all, celebrities were only celebrities if they appeared on TV, so the power of PDs and broadcasting executives, who decided appearances, was immense.
Even Miyoung herself had felt that power while working as a PD at MPlay.
—PD Kim, congratulations on launching your new program! I’d love to treat you to a meal sometime to celebrate—
How many agencies and singers had sent her messages and calls, trying to curry favor, even when she’d just become a main PD?
But Lee Seyoon was at the very top of that pyramid.
‘If anything, we’re the ones who have to be careful.’
An agency so powerful that instead of agencies and artists watching broadcasters, broadcasters had to watch them.
In Korea, there was only one such agency.
SY—the origin of idols and the spearhead of K-pop.
People even said that music shows and variety programs couldn’t function without SY.
Unlike the other Big Three agencies, SY had recruited top-tier actors and variety stars as well, aiming to dominate broadcasting itself, not just music.
And Lee Seyoon was the head of that SY.
That was why Miyoung couldn’t let down her guard.
—PD, if you have time, would you like to meet sometime?
After stepping down as main PD of Idol Ground 100, Miyoung hadn’t been assigned a new program yet, so the company had effectively given her leave. Exhausted after planning and filming nonstop, she’d been happily loafing around at home.
Then came Hyeryeong’s call.
Ignoring it felt awkward, so she answered—only to be told to come meet at the company, forcing her out of the house.
Normally, she would have declined, but since Miyoung herself had personally cast Hyeryeong for the program, she couldn’t refuse a meeting request after causing a scandal and stepping down.
And when Miyoung arrived at SY’s headquarters to meet Hyeryeong today, the person waiting wasn’t Hyeryeong—but CEO Lee Seyoon. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
“Shall we talk over a meal? There’s a good restaurant nearby.”
“No, thank you.”
Not knowing why, of all people, Lee Seyoon wanted to see her instead of Hyeryeong, Miyoung couldn’t relax.
“Then I suppose I should explain why I asked to meet you today, despite my rudeness.”
“Yes, please.”
At Miyoung’s response, Lee Seyoon nodded briefly, paused, then spoke again.
“SY is planning to establish its own in-house variety production team.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that rumor.”
“Have you? Then this will be quick.”
—Would you take the position of PD for SY’s newly established variety production?
After a short wait, Lee Seyoon’s words turned out to be a recruitment offer.
***
「– We will now begin the Idol Ground 100 Talent Show!!!
– Woooo!!!
(The contestants gathered in the auditorium cheer at Jang Junseok’s voice)
*This segment was filmed with sponsorship from BHQ.
(Chicken and pizza being brought into the auditorium)」
“Phew··· no issues.”
Watching Episode 5 of Idol Ground 100, Yoon Ayeong finally let out a sigh of relief at the sight of chicken boxes with brand logos clearly visible on-screen.
—Team leader, Idol Ground 100 is really trending these days. What if we put PPL in it?
A sponsorship broadcast that happened because Ayeong herself had proposed it.
Ayeong worked on the marketing team at BHQ and was an avid fan of Seo Ryujin.
So avid that—
[Look how ruthless the production team is, making them do talent acts just so they don’t give away free chicken, LOL]
[Honestly though, good call. When else do we get to see personal talents?]
[I wonder if our Ryujin did a talent act too?]
She was even part of a private KakaoTalk fan chat for Seo Ryujin that only allowed entry after verifying voting records and promo posts.
Even now, Ayeong was watching the live broadcast while chatting with members of the Seo Ryujin fan chat.
Seeing that the product exposure went exactly as planned, she felt like she could finally relax and enjoy the show.
After all, many productions begged shamelessly for sponsorship, only to cut or minimize the PPL during broadcast.
Thankfully, Idol Ground 100’s production team honored their contracts.
As a result—
[Chicken and pizza at this hour is just cruel, seriously]
[Forget it, just order already, I already did]
[I don’t care, I ordered too, why does the chicken look so good]
Even in Ayeong’s chat, people were talking about ordering late-night food, so the ad effect seemed solid.
「– I’ll imitate a water deer!
Grrrk! Grrrk!!
(Jang Junseok turning his head away from Lee Gahyeon, while contestants lower their heads as if they can’t bear to watch)
*This talent was not assigned by the production team!
(A cut-in showing real photos and sounds of a water deer alongside Lee Gahyeon)」
[Lee Gahyeon, you’ve chosen the path of a variety character too, I see···]
[You’ve got to go that far to get screen time, respect]
[No matter what, the production team can’t help favoring contestants who create something like that]
As the contestants one by one performed talent acts to earn chicken and pizza, the footage flowed across the screen.
At first, it was predictable stuff like singing or dancing, and interest was starting to fade—
Until Lee Gahyeon’s water-deer imitation suddenly appeared, flooding the chat with laughter.
‘Why is Lee Gahyeon suddenly so funny these days?’
Ayeong, who still hadn’t finalized her votes this week, actively reacted in the chat while internally debating whether to give one of her two remaining votes—after reserving one for Seo Ryujin—to Lee Gahyeon.
「– Contestant Lee Sion has come up! Contestant Lee Sion, what performance will you show us?
– I’ll do board breaking!
– Board breaking?
(Prepared roof tiles and wooden boards placed in front of Lee Sion)
– Could you hold this for me?
– Ah··· yes, okay.
(Jang Junseok’s hands trembling as he holds the board, flashing back to the earlier CPR scene with Sion)
Bang!
A clean punch shatters one board, followed by a leap and a kick that breaks another.
– Woooo!!!
(Contestants cheering wildly, Jang Junseok staring in shock with his mouth wide open)
– Hyaaah!!!
Bang!
(Lee Sion leaps and smashes a roof tile with her head)」
[There goes first place again]
[Can’t we just classify Sion as non-standard? How is anyone supposed to beat that monster?]
[We’ve got to get Ryujin a first place at least once]
[That’s a natural disaster, and there isn’t even a main PD left who can seal it away]
At Lee Sion’s insane board-breaking show, the chat devolved into complete surrender.
‘Things have really changed.’
Just a few weeks ago—
[Why is L.S. acting out so much? Why does she keep trying to stand out alone?]
[So annoying, people like Ryujin who compete purely on skill get screwed over]
[The production team pushes L.S. way too much. She’s not even idol material—why is she on a survival show?]
[How does it make sense that Ryujin can’t get first place because of someone like that?]
Seo Ryujin fans’ reactions toward Lee Sion had once been cold, bordering on hostile.
Naturally—Lee Sion was the biggest obstacle for fans who desperately wanted Seo Ryujin to take first place.
But—
– Sluggish Ryujin.
– What, you helpless mess?
As the broadcast aired scenes of the two being close, and photos of them together were uploaded on social media not long ago, attitudes rapidly shifted.
[Having someone like Sion in the group wouldn’t be bad]
[Hasn’t Ryujin’s screen time increased since getting close with Sion?]
[The vote gap among the top five is tiny right now. We need to cooperate with Sion’s side just to keep second place]
[Why is their chemistry so good when they’re together? Just debut together already]
There was a time when even saying Lee Sion’s name was taboo—but that was long gone.
Now, even when Lee Sion stole the spotlight, reactions were more openly amused than negative.
Ayeong laughed along at Sion’s board-breaking show, but also felt a bit wistful.
‘If only Ryujin could show something fun like this too, she’d be even more popular···.’
Seo Ryujin, Ayeong’s pick, held a solid second place in votes, so popularity wasn’t lacking.
The problem was that she leaned too heavily toward skill, which made her slightly weaker in general public appeal.
To capture non–idol fans, variety presence mattered—and that was Ryujin’s weak point.
At least recently, being around Lee Sion had helped fill that gap a little.
The talent show atmosphere was fully charged thanks to Sion’s performance.
「– Contestant Lee Sion recorded the highest score with an average of 9.2 points from the production staff! Is there any contestant who would like to °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° challenge that score?
(All contestants shake their heads as if they’ve given up)
– I will!
The camera isolates Seo Ryujin as she raises her hand among the contestants gathered in the auditorium.」
“No, Ryujin!!!” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Watching the broadcast, Ayeong shouted without realizing it.
But it couldn’t be helped.
After Lee Sion’s talent act, putting on a normal performance was practically asking for disaster.
The audience had just witnessed something completely unheard of in an idol—let alone female idol—talent show.
Following that with a normal song or dance would make the atmosphere crash instantly.
– I’ll sing “Three Bears.”
But unaware of Ayeong’s desperate feelings, Seo Ryujin’s talent show began.
