From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

The boys were all silent as they waited for Mr. Ong to speak.

He was still standing—although it wasn't too obvious since he was around the same height as Casper even though Casper was sitting.

Nonetheless, he was still intimidating despite his small presence.

Mr. Ong tapped his pen on the table before slamming it down.

"You had a live without our permission?" he asked in a calm tone—too calmly if you asked the members of EVE.

The members all turned to Jaeyong, who cleared his throat and responded for the team.

"It was just for a short while, sir," he answered. "We wanted to celebrate our new achievements with our fans."

"That didn't seem like a celebration to me," Mr. Ong said. "It almost seems like you were bashing the company."

They now turned to Akira, who shook his head with wide eyes.

"It isn't anything like that," he chuckled awkwardly. "There were just a lot of fans who didn't get a ticket, so—"

"We're not satisfied with the concert venue," June bluntly said, causing his members to turn to him with wide eyes.

"June," Jaeyong nervously muttered while pinching his thigh.

However, June remained nonchalant, even casually leaning against his chair with crossed arms.

"We're practicing very hard for the mini-concert, and we want a lot of fans to be able to see it," June continued.

"The venue you've picked for us is even smaller than that of other newly-debuted groups," he deadpanned.

"I'm not boasting or anything like that—but EVE's popularity had skyrocketed at an immense pace in the last few months."

The other members nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment with June.

"I don't know what's going on inside the headquarters, but I believe this is a disrespect to our hard work," June continued, wanting to let all of his emotions out.

"Aren't all of you hungry for money? If so, then you would have booked us a bigger place. Or maybe you're planning on saving money by booking a smaller venue yet pricing the concert tickets unreasonably high?" he asked with raised eyebrows.

"Oh damn," Akira muttered. "That's a burn."

Ren turned to him with a frown. However, his eyes quickly widened when Mr. Ong heavily sat on his swivel chair, making a loud sound.

Mr. Ong gazed at June's eyes, not wanting to back down.

"Managing a group requires a lot of hard work and resources," Mr. Ong started off.

"GIRLS' EVOLUTION had disbanded years ago. BOYMYSTIC is going to have their final concert this week. We're the only ones left in Azure—basically, we're your last moneymakers until the time the girls in the fifth season of Rising Stars debuts. So, why are you struggling so much?" June asked.

The members all turned silent, finally realizing the gravity of the situation.

June didn't know where he gathered his courage, but all he knew was that he was sick of the situation they were in.

He was happy being an idol, but it wasn't as simple as it seemed.

Mr. Ong sighed, realizing that he couldn't win against June.

With that, he decided to change the topic.

"I can forgive you for that live," Mr. Ong said.

June sighed in frustration since Mr. Ong wasn't answering any of his queries.

"Aside from the kicking of balls thing from Zeth, I believe you guys are safe," he continued.

"I actually went to your practice room for another reason," he smiled, acting as if he wasn't just mad at the boys mere seconds ago.

"Umm, what is it, sir?" Jaeyong asked, still trying to be polite.

Just then, he turned on the television behind him, making the members turn their attention toward it.

"I know that all of you are working hard for the concert," he started off.

"But, I want you to know that the company is also working hard," he said, emphasizing the point and looking at June for a second.

June continued to frown as Mr. Ong navigated the television.

"So, I asked our in-house producers to make you a song regarding your journey to the top," he said. "It will be a gift to the fans and will be the final song you will sing in the mini-concert."

June pursed his lips. It actually seemed like a good idea. That still didn't take away the fact that he despised Mr. Ong, though.

"The lyrics will be shown on screen," Mr. Ong continued. "And along with that, the member who will sing it will also appear."

The members nodded in understanding, appearing to be excited for their new song.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Ong played the video.

The room was engulfed in a nostalgic tune, similar to the theme song during their season of Rising Stars.

June smirked as he relaxed in his seat.

As expected, Azure was good at composing such stuff.

He could already imagine their fans bawling their eyes out to such a nostalgic tune.

"When I closed my eyes, I could see my dream.

So far, it seems.

Yet, I'm already standing in the spotlight.

Under the bright lights."

"When it seemed like I couldn't reach too far.

I aimed for the moon.

Then, I landed on the stars.

So late, yet so soon."

June focused on the lyrics, finding them vague yet touching at the same time.

It was the kind of song that allowed many interpretations.

However, its vagueness also contributed to its emotional the same time.

It was the kind of song that allowed many interpretations.

factor.

June was so focused on the lyrics that he didn't find anything strange in the past two stanzas.

However, as soon as the chorus hit, he realized that something was wrong—very wrong.

"With strangers turned to family,

I found my life's meaning.

And even when darkness comes eventually,

I don't find myself leaving."

"It couldn't be," he muttered.

June continued to watch the video, wanting to prove his assumptions wrong.

However, as the song continued to play, he realized that he was right.

"What is this?" he couldn't help but say out loud.

"What?" Mr. Ong asked, surprised that he had interrupted their listening party. "It's a good song. I even had Ren write some of the lyrics."

June turned to Ren, who was now looking down at his lap and fiddling with his fingers.

So, that was why the song sounded so touching.

"Something's very wrong," June deadpanned.

"This song—I have way too many lines."

Mr. Ong raised his eyebrows in surprise. Usually, idol members would want to have as many lines as possible.

Was June actually complaining that he was getting the majority of the lines?

"And so?" Mr. Ong asked in disbelief.

"It's only normal," he continued.

"You are the main character of EVE, after all."