From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

"Are you really doing this?" Grandma Bok-soon asked as she helped June with his hair.

The townspeople were excited about the idol group gracing their village. June knew that they were going to be disappointed if they didn't perform, so he took the initiative to perform for them.

It had been a while since he performed in front of a live audience, so he kind of missed it, too.

However, thinking that he would be performing in front of a normal crowd and not in front of his fans was quite nerve-wracking.

June smiled as he looked at himself in the small mirror.

"Who's going to perform if I don't?" he asked.

Grandma Bok-soon chuckled. "Will this be okay with Azure?"

June turned to her with a smirk.

"I thought you didn't like Azure?" he asked.

"That's true," she chuckled. "But I care about you a lot. I don't want you to be scolded."

June shrugged. "It's okay. I've already broken a lot of rules anyway."

"This doesn't even count as a violation in my book," Grandma Bok-soon chimed.

"You're right," June said, now fixing his collar.

Grandma Bok-soon looked at me fondly.

"You've really grown up to be such a fine gentleman."

June smiled, feeling reassured.

"There, I'm done," he said, preparing himself for the performance.

"Perfect," Grandma Bok-soon exclaimed. "The only problem is that your roots are growing in. How about you try a different hairstyle next time?"

June looked at his hair and found that it had grown quite a lot already.

With that, he nodded in agreement.

"Sure," he said. "I'll bring it up with the company."

"But, for now," he continued, finally facing her. "Let's get this show on the road."

***

"Thank you for that wonderful performance, Melon!" Buzzhead grandma exclaimed, pertaining to the last performer before June.

It was a young girl from the next town who aspired to become an idol, and she made everyone love her with such a short performance.

As she went backstage, she was met by none other than June, which made her freeze on the spot.

She believed that the town must have been very rich for them to invite someone like June from EVE!

"Our last performer of the night is someone you've already seen," Buzzhead grandma introduced.

The townspeople turned to each other in confusion.

"But we thought it was going to be the idol group!"

"Where is the idol group?"

"I want some young blood in here!"

Buzzhead grandma smirked as she stepped to the left.

"Let us welcome—June from EVE!"

The introduction immediately shut them up, and they burst into cheers.

"It's June! He's going to perform!"

"What is he going to perform?"

"I'm so excited! We're getting this for free when EVE's tickets retail for more than 1,000 dollars right now!"

June went up the stage, a professional smile gracing his lips.

He didn't introduce himself and just let the music play.

The people were expecting him to sing one of his group's songs. However, contrary to their beliefs, he was actually going to sing a trot song!

They immediately became more excited.

A handsome young man singing such an old yet exciting song?

Sign them right up!

June let out a deep breath, not wanting to show his nervousness.

With that, he brought the wired microphone to his lips and started singing.

"In the wide blue sky, a bird flew high.

Dreams in his wings, he kissed the sky."

With the utterance of the first lines, the crowd was immediately stood.

It was a genre that they didn't expect from June, but somehow, he still made it work.

It seemed like his voice was just made for every genre.

He walked back and forth on the stage, acting out the gestures of the simple lyrics.

"Sunshine on his feathers, bright and warm.

He danced with the clouds, free from harm."

June could still remember where he first heard the song.

It was on his dad's old radio, and it played while he was helping him with house repairs.

It was the type of song that you would think to be a nursery rhyme. When he was younger, he thought it was just about a bird flying high.

However, now that he had grown, he realized that the meaning was much deeper than it seemed.

Sometimes, the simpler the words, the more open they were for interpretation.

"Oh, little bird, with wings so wide.

Fly through the heavens, on the winds you ride."

When dark clouds come and you descend,

Remember, little bird, this is not the end."

The crowd started dancing along to the song.

June made up some simple movements that they could follow, which they clumsily did.

He couldn't help but smile as he watched the crowd enjoy his performance.

Amidst all of this, Sami, the granddaughter that her grandma wanted to introduce to June, watched the performance with red cheeks.

And in her hand was her old phone, filming the entire scene and going live on her personal account.

She only had three viewers, and all her commenters were trolls who clearly lacked attention from their mothers, but she didn't care.

She enjoyed the performance very much!

"The wind turned cold, and the night drew near.

But somehow, it brought the little bird here.

Wings clipped, he fell to the ground.

In the still of the night, without a sound."

June's eyes brightened as he went down to the crowd, dancing with the old ladies as they joyously laughed.

"In the quiet earth, where he now rests.

A new life grows from his messy nest.

New wings sprout from sorrow's deep.

In every ending are the dreams he keep."

At that moment, it seemed like everything slowed down.

The people around him emanated such a joyous vibe that he couldn't help but feel happy.

So, this was why people loved to perform...

...because others also loved watching.

"Oh, little bird, with wings so wide,

Fly through the heavens, on the winds you ride.

When dark clouds come and you descend,

Remember, little bird, this is not the end."

As the final lines approached, he quickly went up the stage and settled down.

He stood under the lights, making him appear like the shining little bird in the song.

"The sky remains, stars softly glow,

In each goodbye, new hellos grow.

Oh, little bird, your spirit flies,

Beyond the clouds, where no one dies."