From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

The lights dimmed low, casting a serene blue hue across the stage.

The LED screens showed the ocean.

Some of people in the crowd found it strange how they had trees under the ocean; however, they let it go for a moment to focus on their performance.

In the center, surrounded by the two large makeshift cherry blossoms, stood EVE, clad in the dignified attire of Yishang, a male variation of the traditional Chinese Hanfu.

Angel frowned, and she looked to the side to see Jayden wearing the same expression.

"What are they going to perform?" she asked.

Jayden snapped out of his thoughts and placed his hand under his chin.

"It's strange," he said. "I saw them a while back, and I thought they were going to perform their own songs."

"Me too," Angel muttered.

The crowd was even more confused, wondering why a K-Pop group was wearing their traditional clothing. It was the first time for foreign artists to embrace a heritage that resonated deeply with the Chinese people.

- I almost cursed. Why are they wearing such clothes?

- What are they even going to perform?

Murmurs were heard all around the field. However, they turned silent when the cameramen zoomed in on their faces.

The members of EVE stood in a straight line, holding each other's hands with closed eyes. Each member appeared ethereal with their natural, barely-there makeup. They exuded an aura of purity and grace, and the people couldn't help but marvel at their beauty.

- Well, these friends are actually really handsome.

- A group with no visual holes? That's new!

- But what song are they going to sing? Don't tell me they're going to sing their own song while wearing those outfits?

Suddenly, the intro of '52' by none other than Jayden Chou filled the stadium.

Once more, Jayden and Angel turned to each other with furrowed eyebrows.

"They're going to perform my song?" he asked.

"It's been a long time since you released this song, right?" she said.

"Yes," Jayden nodded. "It's been four years, I believe. It's a popular song with no music video."

"May I ask why?" Angel asked.

"It's because I couldn't capture the loneliness of the song. I thought it would be better if I just left it alone."

"Up until now, I still don't know what it means," Angel muttered.

Jayden chuckled. "Not a lot of people do."

"But, it's about the 52 Hertz whale," he answered. "The whale forever calls out a frequency no other whale could hear, forever destined to be alone."

The other artists surrounding them listened to their conversation, and they also felt enlightened by Jayden Chou's explanation.

"How are they going to perform this song?" one of the members of ELEV8 muttered.

The music swelled, and EVE began their performance.

Gasps were heard in the venue as they danced with the grace of Chinese traditional dance. However, it wasn't only that; they also executed the loneliness and yearning of the 52 Hertz whale with their movements and facial expressions.

Jisung was right at the center, and his innocent expression spoke of a thousand emotions. The audience, initially unsure of what to expect, found themselves captivated. Whispers rippled through the crowd as EVE effortlessly executed intricate dance moves they had meticulously prepared. For a group not steeped in Chinese tradition, their respect for the art form was obvious in every gesture and every sway that conveyed the emotional depth of the song.

Then, a voice rang through the filled.

The boys didn't sing the song live since they were short of time in learning the intricacies of the language, as they also prepared another song.

They didn't want to record something haphazardly, so they decided to make June sing the song on his own through the recording.

"In the ocean, I drift through waves of dreams.

A silent traveler, longing to explore the unseen.

With a heart full of wonder, I yearn to touch the unknown.

To find a place where my voice can be heard, where I can belong."

The audience held their breaths as the first verse was heard.

Jayden Chou frowned.

"Is that your voice, sir?" one of the young artists asked.

He frowned and shook his head. "No," he muttered. "It's not mine."

"Could it be that-"

Then, he shook his head. It wouldn't be possible. They appeared to all be Korean artists.

However, the person singing the song sounded completely fluent in the language, even adding the nuances of the song's emotion.

Angel closed her eyes and only focused on the song for a moment.

It was a beautiful, captivating voice that encapsulated the loneliness that the whale was

feeling.

Paired with the sound of the ocean waves along with the deep blue hues that danced behind them on the LED screen, she couldn't help but appreciate their performance.

"I stumbled upon an island, a place of breathtaking beauty.

A world painted in colors I've never known.

But when I turn around, seeking another's eyes.

I find only the expanse, the empty sky."

- Is it possible to fall in love with a voice?

- Who sang this? Are they using a cover for their performance?

- Why isn't anyone complaining that they're not singing live?

- Because they appear too beautiful, brother. Have you seen any other foreign artist put out a stage like

this?

The boys danced once more, with Zeth as the center this time. His visuals didn't fail this time around, too, and the crowd gasped as his pained expression was shown on the large screen.

- Help me. I'm getting sucked into his beautiful eyes.

- What's his name? Please, can someone tell me what his name is?

-No one. He's the manager.

- He's a staff member.

- He's Zeth. He's the main visual of EVE and a talented rapper and dancer.

-Goodness. This is too beautiful.

Zeth reached his hand toward the cherry blossoms, but he couldn't seem to reach it.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach it.

As the storyline progressed, the crowd started understanding the link between the cherry

blossoms under the deep waters.

Being heard.

Being seen.

It was impossible.

Just like Cherry Blossoms under the ocean.