Chapter 98 Han's Daily Recording Routine
The moment the door opened, the girls who had been huddled together peeking abruptly pulled back their outstretched necks, scattering like startled sparrows.
"Yin Xiangya!"
"Han Xiaoyuan!"
Lee Soo-hyun!
With a helpless yet slightly amused tone, PD Kim Jung-yong, who was in charge of recording the debut variety show "Light It Up," appeared at the door, his gaze fixed on the few figures who hadn't gone far.
When her name was called, Lee Soo-hyun stiffened. She stopped burying her head in the sand, lowered her hand from her face, and her eyes revealed the embarrassment of being caught red-handed. She turned around with feigned composure, and, pulling the dejected Yoon Sang-ah and Han Soo-won along, bowed to greet Kim Jung-yong.
"Are all the people in this room monsters?" Kim Jung-yong looked at the three men who were shaking their heads in unison with amusement, then raised his hand to look at his watch: "It's about time, you guys come in and say hello."
Although the debut variety show "Light It Up" has just started filming, the project has actually been going on for two years. Trainees from the same period have come and gone, and only ten girls remained before the show started filming.
They didn't know how many debut spots the company would ultimately keep, so all they could do was keep practicing.
They spent most of the year in this practice room. The group entered with practiced ease. Unlike before, there was a long table inside, where Cube Entertainment's seniors sat. From left to right: CEO Hong, Jung Eun-ji, Han Yoon-sung, Jung Woo-seok, and Jang Seung-yeon. Behind them was the filming crew, their equipment arranged at varying heights. Being pointed at by the dark lenses made them feel like they were standing on tiptoe, almost within reach of debut positions—a mix of excitement and trepidation.
They stood in a row, bowed and greeted the people inside, nervously fidgeting as they remembered being caught before being called in.
It was obvious that everyone had heard the commotion outside the door. Except for Zheng Yushuo, who wanted to maintain a serious mentor image and deliberately kept a straight face, everyone else had smiles on their faces.
Han Yunxing followed the girls' restrained gazes and looked at Zheng Yushuo beside her.
He was dressed in all black today, wearing a beanie. He was tall and muscular, with sharp features. When he wasn't smiling, he had a rather intimidating presence. Han Yunxing secretly gave him a thumbs up under the table.
Jung Woo-suk was secretly pleased, but he couldn't hide his smugness on his face. He clenched his fist and put it to his lips, clearing his throat tactically, but his pretentious persona was eventually exposed.
Feeling the relaxed atmosphere, the huge weight that had been hanging over Lee Soo-hyun and the others finally lifted from their shoulders.
I originally intended to sneak off to meet some celebrities, but I made too much of a fuss and messed things up. Luckily, the celebrities were kind, and I didn't leave a bad impression on them.
The members of Cube Entertainment have a good relationship. When facing the trainees, President Hong asked them a few questions, and Han Yunxing and the others also shared some of their experience from their training careers with smiles.
They etched Guan Ju's words into their hearts. Looking into Han Yunxing's clear eyes, Li Zhuxian and the others felt dizzy and bubbly with happiness.
Jung Eun-ji rested her chin on her hand and said, "Kids, do you want Yoon-sung to keep paying attention to you? Then debut!"
Upon hearing this out of the blue, Lee Soo-hyun and the others blushed with excitement, their youthful faces filled with ambition for the future. They responded in loud, unified voices: "Yes! We will debut!"
Sensing the group's immense determination, Han Yunxing smiled and clapped, and under her influence, the room erupted in applause of appreciation.
The door to the practice room was knocked on again, and seven more trainees filed in, guided by the staff.
The newcomers immediately spotted Lee Soo-hyun and her group lined up in the middle, and then saw the president and seniors behind the long table with smiles on their faces. Confused about the situation, they instinctively stood next to Lee Soo-hyun and her group, bowing and greeting everyone in the room.
After everyone arrived, the "Light It Up" project officially started filming. Today is the end-of-month assessment. The ten trainees were divided into two groups, A and B, to present their group stage performances. Then, according to the category they chose, they presented their individual stage performances.
As the main producer, Han Yunxing was in charge of the entire evaluation. She and President Hong gave their evaluations first, and then the others gave targeted feedback based on vocals, dance, and rap.
Han Yunxing stood up and addressed the girls in front of her: "Hello everyone, I am Han Yunxing, the chief judge of the group formation assessment, and I will also be the chief producer of the debut group in the future."
Jung Eunji, Jung Woo-seok, and Jang Seung-yeon are the vocal mentor, rap mentor, and dance mentor, respectively. After Han Yoon-sung introduced everyone present, his calm voice carried through the microphone to every corner: "I hereby announce that the first recording of the 'Light It Up' debut project is now officially starting."
The relaxed atmosphere vanished instantly, leaving only the faint sound of the camera work and the girls' suddenly rapid heartbeats. President Hong and the other senior colleagues behind the long table also suppressed their smiles, their expressions becoming serious and focused.
Lee Soo-hyun's group also included Lee Yoo-jung and Nagai Yang-na, whose collaborative stage performance covered Han Yoon-sung's "Yippee!".
Upon hearing the song title, Jung Eun-ji raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with anticipation: "Yoon-sung, it's your song."
Han Yunxing was curious about Group A's arrangement and performance of the song. She looked at the somewhat nervous trainees with encouraging eyes and said, "The rest of the stage is in your hands."
The music started, and the rhythmic, signature intro of "Yippee!" filled the room.
The tension from before dissipated, and the five people quickly got into the zone as soon as they heard the music.
Han Xiaoyuan's voice, clear and magnetic, captivated the audience from the very first note. Li Zhuxian's dance was powerful and precise, showcasing her impressive vocals. Yin Xiangya's rap section perfectly complemented the chorus, her expressive face conveying a quirky and playful spirit. Li Youzheng's energetic voice perfectly matched the song's atmosphere. And while Nagai Yangcai from Japan had a slight accent, her performance was highly polished, her sweet voice adding depth and richness to the entire show.
The five of them worked together with unexpected chemistry. Unlike Han Yunxing's solo version, Group A's performance of "Yippee!" had some flaws, but they did not detract from the overall excellence, showcasing the girls' vitality to the fullest.
After the performance, the five performers, panting and with flushed faces from the dance, nervously glanced at the judges' panel.
Han Yunxing was the first to smile and clap, giving generous praise. Lee Soo-hyun and the others couldn't contain their excitement, their faces showing a relieved yet incredibly excited expression. Being recognized by the original singer and producer filled them with immense joy, prompting them to bow repeatedly in gratitude.
However, after a brief moment of joy, Han Yunxing's suggestion made their expressions serious.
"The choreography for 'Yippee!' is very energetic, and you've done a good job showcasing the song's concept. However, I'm wondering if you have a representative member to highlight the key moves in your dance?" Han Yunxing followed the gaze of the other members of Group A to Lee Soo-hyun: "Soo-hyun, your dance style is very distinctive. I can understand that you want to enhance the sense of liberation in 'Yippee!' by emphasizing the individual styles of the members' dances. But right now, the team's primary task is to dance in unison, and individual styles should serve the overall effect."
Zhang Chengyan nodded in agreement and added some dance suggestions.
These words cooled down the overheated minds of Group A. Lee Soo-hyun pursed his lips and nodded, earnestly engraving these words in his heart.
The following assessments proceeded as planned. Group B's foundation was slightly weaker than Group A's, so they opted for a safer approach and did not perform any of the mentors' pieces. Instead, they chose a song that was less challenging, and their stage performance was mediocre. During the evaluation, President Hong naturally brought up this point, and his tone was not very friendly: "If you continue like this, you shouldn't debut."
"Being an idol is a profession that sells dreams. If you don't have dreams, what will you use to inspire your fans?" President Hong's words were merciless, lashing at the hearts of everyone in Group B like a whip. Several members instantly teared up, lowered their heads in shame, and nervously twisted the hem of their clothes.
The positive feedback from Group A was so overwhelming, but this is the feedback they received. The elation they felt about entering the debut variety show was instantly shattered. With tears in their eyes, they nodded repeatedly, a sense of urgency rising within them.
Han Yunxing's last words intensified this sense of urgency. She pinched her brow and scanned each trainee with a serious look: "I need to tell you in advance that there are only six spots for debut in Light It Up."
The news made the trainees breathe rapidly.
Is it not the expected eight or even ten people, but six?
Among them were many who had practiced for more than five years. Knowing that the elimination rate was close to 50%, their eyes became anxious.
Sensing their unease, Han Yunxing waited until they calmed down a bit before speaking: "This is reality, and although it's harsh, from now on, you must muster all your energy and continuously improve yourselves. During this time, we mentors will provide you with full support."
Han Yunxing's words were like a shot in the arm, piercing through the pervasive panic. The girls understood that unease couldn't change anything, and the fear in their eyes gradually gave way to ambition and determination.
*
Han Yunxing has adapted well to the role of mentor. With the pandemic under control, she has resumed her daily work schedule and often visits the set of Light It Up. The trainees are always happy to see her, after all, who wouldn't love a mentor who is beautiful, kind-hearted, and highly capable?
Aside from the trainees, the stars have also recently become obsessed with mentor Han. The previous episodes of "Light It Up" have already been broadcast on YouTube, and fans have been posting clips of Han Yoon-sung on Instagram to express their love for mentor Han. Amidst the barrage of messages, Han Yoon-sung actually did post some homework on Instagram.
After discovering that Han Yunxing had given a serious reply to the short video she had casually recorded, the first star to receive feedback was overjoyed, and the screenshot quickly spread on fan platforms.
—Teacher Yunxing, please give me your guidance.
—Our star sings so well, no wonder he was trained by Yunxing.
—I cried. I single-handedly lowered the overall level of the program. Can someone who's tone-deaf still submit their homework?
—Students, the semester is about to start and you'll be choosing your advisors. Which professor has a good reputation?
—I highly recommend our beloved mentor, Han. Mentor Han is gentle and fun, with top-notch professional skills; she's a top-rated mentor on the K-pop university's recommended list!
—He's handsome even with a cold expression, and incredibly responsible towards his students! [Image 1]
—I want to become a student of Professor Han! I want to become a student of Professor Han!
......
Due to the pandemic, fans haven't had many opportunities to meet Han Yunxing recently. After the first fan received a reply, everyone uploaded clips of their "talent performances" to the platform. Even just one Instagram post grading homework resulted in several more trending posts for Han Yunxing.
After being spotted by the trainees from Light It Up, they felt an even greater sense of urgency. To be honest, they were receiving personal instruction from Han Yunxing in person. To exaggerate a bit, they were Han Yunxing's personal disciples, so they had to work even harder and not let their teacher down!
So when the mentors came to visit the practice room, they found that the kids were like they were on steroids. Although they didn't quite understand why, they were happy to see the trainees pushing forward with such enthusiasm.
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