Chapter 875: You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you? (4)

Bang Yochan couldn’t sleep the entire night.

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck....’

Because Next Mission had aired yesterday.

The problem was—he didn’t have his phone, so he had no idea what had actually been broadcast.

So he tossed and turned all night, lost in thought.

‘There’s no way all of that aired. Even if the CP changed, my dad might’ve stepped in.’

‘Damn it, why the hell won’t they give me my phone?’

‘Editing... they must’ve edited at least some of it, right?’

The moment he heard the CP had been replaced, he had requested a meeting with the PD.

I’m... sorry about how I’ve been until now. I have a bit of a temper, and honestly, this kind of program can make people act like that. Of course, I was in the wrong too. But still...

After hearing that apology, the main PD simply nodded with a faint smile, saying he understood.

The meeting had definitely ended on a good note...

‘I can’t read what they’re thinking.’

He had apologized sincerely, but it didn’t feel like it had worked.

Still, sensing that something might go wrong, Bang Yochan had changed his behavior over the past week.

He acted polite.

Hello.

But even when he greeted a writer in the studio hallway, they just walked past him.

The other staff weren’t much different, and irritation slowly built up.

‘I apologized, didn’t I?’

Every time he saw the staff acting cold, anger flared up—but putting out the fire in front of him came first.

Today as well, Bang Yochan bowed.

“Hello.”

And then—

“Hmm?”

A junior assistant director, who would have walked past before, suddenly stopped and looked at him.

Then smiled faintly.

“Hi, Yochan.”

“...Yes. Hello.”

As the assistant director walked away, Yochan blinked.

‘Why are they suddenly greeting me?’

At first confused, then—

A lightbulb went off.

‘Dad stepped in...!’

His father—a mid-sized company owner with influence.

He must’ve smoothed things over with the new CP.

That’s why the staff’s attitude had changed.

Yochan’s mood shot up like a rollercoaster.

‘Then I don’t need to greet them anymore. No... I should still manage it a bit.’

Grinning, he greeted the staff.

Lighting directors, camera directors—everyone smiled warmly back.

“Oh, Yochan’s here.”

“Yeah. Slept well?”

Just days ago, they had ignored him.

Now their expressions were warm.

‘Guess I don’t need to worry about yesterday’s broadcast.’

Feeling refreshed, he entered the studio.

Even whistling.

Other contestants glanced at him, frowning.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Yochan slung an arm around contestants he thought he was close to.

“Hey, you ready?”

He was in a great mood.

Until Kim Jihyuk glanced at him.

‘Look at that stare.’

Yochan’s mood soured instantly.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? Got a problem?”

“....”

Jihyuk, irritated, shook his head.

‘Follow Wooju sunbae.’

He corrected his mindset.

What would Wooju do in this situation?

Jihyuk smiled and bowed.

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

Maintain politeness.

Don’t lower yourself to argue with someone crazy.

At the short apology, Yochan’s expression turned awkward.

He muttered loudly to another contestant.

“Hyung, that bastard’s always hated me. I don’t like his eyes.”

“...Ah, really?”

Jihyuk ignored it.

That kind of person wasn’t important.

What mattered was his goal.

Wooju handing him Park Gyuho’s business card.

You said your dance is lacking. To compensate, you need a bigger title.

I’ll win.

His eyes burned.

‘I’ll win and enter Lemon Entertainment.’

Just imagining it made his heart race.

Debuting there.

Having Wooju and NewBlack’s direct contacts.

Getting birthday messages.

Thanks, Jihyukㅎㅎ You were the first to congratulate me

He clenched his fist.

‘I won’t stop until that day comes.’

Yochan was nothing but a minor obstacle.

The real threat was Gye Hongju beside him.

Noticing his gaze, Hongju split his chocolate.

“Jihyuk, want some?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re hungry, right?”

While they shared chocolate—

Jihyuk tilted his head.

‘Why is Yochan so cheerful today?’

Then the MC, the handsome rapper Rito, entered.

“Hi.”

He greeted each contestant.

Then looked at Yochan.

“Hi, Yochan.”

“Yeees~ Hello, sunbae!”

Overly cheerful.

The contestants frowned.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

But Yochan’s mood rose again.

His dad must’ve handled this too.

‘Yeah. Money solves everything.’

But Jihyuk understood.

‘So that’s what it is.’

Rito, who had clearly disliked Yochan before, was smiling now.

But—

‘Doesn’t he realize?’

It was a farewell.

Like when someone transfers schools.

You smile because you’ll never see them again.

Jihyuk nodded.

‘Makes sense he acted like that toward Wooju.’

He stopped paying attention.

Meanwhile—

As recording began, Yochan felt something was off.

‘What?’

The audience’s eyes pierced him.

Even a fool could tell something was wrong.

“Is that him?”

“Yeah, the one same age as Wooju...”

“...on broadcast...”

The word “Wooju” made his heart sink.

Their gazes were hostile.

Like looking at a condemned prisoner.

And the biggest problem—

‘Where are the girls?’

The fangirls were gone.

Not a single one.

Instead—

Other contestants’ fans stared at him like he was a disgusting insect.

‘This can’t be happening.’

He smiled at a high school girl—

She looked disgusted and whispered to her friend.

His mental state cracked.

The popularity he had clung to—

Gone.

“....”

Seeing the staff smiling warmly at him—

He realized something.

And then—

After his performance.

Voting.

Bang Yochan [0 votes]

Not a single vote.

“....”

He went blank.

After that, he remembered nothing.

Just sat there, empty.

“Yochan, take your phone and belongings.”

He barely registered it.

He stumbled out.

Turned on his phone.

“....”

Then—

It slipped from his hand.

Thud.

‘This is insane....’

The internet was on fire.

If it were someone else, he would’ve laughed.

Now—

He couldn’t.

Reading comments praising Wooju and tearing him apart—

His eyes welled up.

“AAAAAA!”

Rage exploded.

At Wooju.

At K-net.

He kicked the wall with all his strength.

Then—

Crack.

“Ah—?!”

Agony shot through him.

He collapsed, rolling on the floor.

-[Photo] ‘Next Mission’ Bang Yochan, toe fracture

“....”

“....”

A photo of red-haired Yochan rolling on the floor in pain.

I blinked.

“What is this, hyung?”

“It’s his latest update. Thought you’d be curious.”

I let out a laugh.

“What even happened?”

“Got eliminated with zero votes. Got mad, kicked a wall, broke his toe.”

Reporters caught it.

Comments flooded in.

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Who kicks concrete like that

Rolling masterㅋㅋ

I shook my head.

“...Honestly... he’s really something.”

“Agreed.”

“So he’s out?”

“Yeah. No one’s touching him right now. Even hip-hop labels are backing off.”

Apparently, there was one offer.

“Black Money Clan.”

“Ah.”

“Their boss is Trash. The guy who dissed you guys and apologized.”

I nodded.

“Not worth worrying about.”

I was more curious about Kim Jihyuk.

How was he doing?

Anyway—

Episode 5 ended with one unlikeable contestant rolling out.

“Why are you holding it with both hands?”

“Because... manners.”

“....”

I closed my eyes.

“Hyung, I’m going to hate you.”

“I’m scared.”

Everyone kept teasing me.

At this point—

I just accepted it.

“Turns out... I’m the one people like to tease.”

Souffle comforted me.

Oppa what did you say?

Didn’t hear itㅠㅠ

Then—

Say “Please show some manners” once!

I said it.

They screamed.

“Then go to Seoul National University and tell your parents it’s thanks to me.”

I already go there☆ Class of 2018 Kim Hyunji

“....”

Endless laughter.

That’s it.

I decided.

I’m buying this app.

And adding a block feature.

Later—

We filmed a Kids Choice acceptance message.

Wearing fruit costumes.

“Hi, Kid’s Choice!”

And—

“Kids, listen to your parents and eat fruits and vegetables.”

Banana, strawberry, blueberry, grape—

And {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} broccoli.

It went perfectly.

Too perfectly.

The managers were laughing.

Why?

After practice, I visited the film team.

“Did your research go well?”

“Of course.”

“Why doesn’t curfew punishment fit Korean culture?”

“Because kids need to go to academy.”

“....”

I stood up.

Applauded.

“Perfect.”

They really studied Korea well.