From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 85: Signal Song (2)

The screen lit up, and a high-energy electro pop beat blasted out of the speakers for about 20 seconds.

Many people jumped out of their seats, and a few hiccupped in fright while PD Emily laughed silently from the front.

Then, a high, upbeat voice began singing as lyrics appeared on the screen.

When you walked into the room

Pick me, love me, choose me

Couldn’t help myself, couldn’t look away

Pick me, love me, choose me

Shining like a firework, a firework

Lighting up my heart and soul, heart and soul

Pick me, love me, choose me

This precious dream I’m chasing here

Pick me, love me, choose me

You’re the one I want to take me there

Pick me, love me, choose me

I want to be your star, be your star

To shine for you wherever you are, wherever you are

Pick me, love me, choose me

The first two verses of the signal song spoke to the viewers who would likely be voting for the contestants, speaking about the contestants’ dreams and the viewers’ beauty that illuminated the contestants’ hearts.

Although the song was quite catchy, Ari cringed at the lines that seemed to be begging to be chosen and loved.

Truthfully, he couldn’t imagine himself singing such a bubbly, sweet song, and the sickly lyrics, but it seemed that he had no choice in the matter.

With only a small break in the music, the next verse began.

I’m nervous that I can’t show you my best

I’m so scared to let you down

Please always believe I do my best and even tonight~

The intense electronic beat increased in intensity as the chorus of the song started.

I want to be your one and only star, only star

Your lucky jackpot that will take you far, take you far

Gonna steal your heart and gonna make it mine, make it mine

In this whole dream world, it’s just you and I, you and I

There was a brief pause in the music, then the chorus repeated once more.

Tonight~, I want to be your one and only star, only star

Your lucky jackpot that will take you far, take you far

Gonna steal your heart and gonna make it mine, make it mine

In this whole dream world, it’s just you and I, you and I

The lyrics on the screen then disappeared as a recording of trainer Kim Young-woo appeared and began performing the choreography as another verse began.

Energetic bouncy moves, quick turns, pivots, and large movements that utilized the whole body, which were reminiscent of the warm-up moves that they had been taught.

As Daniel Kim had deduced earlier, it truly looked like the warm-up had been scrambled thoroughly and then reassembled with little pieces of the warrior choreography thrown in there.

When the energetic, upbeat music transitioned into the dance break, Kim Young-woo basically began flying around on the screen.

His moves were fluid with the right amount of strength and emphasis, fully displaying his technical skill.

As the signal song reached its climax, his actions seemed to mirror the words being sung.

Pick me, love me, choose me.

I’m your star.

With the final verse, Kim Young-woo reached out, forming a star and pointing to himself as the music trailed off into silence.

In the video, Kim Young-woo was panting from exerting himself. He waved slightly once before bowing his head, and then the screen went black.

There was a round of applause as the screen slowly rose into the ceiling and the signal song looped again at a much lower volume.

As Ari heard the catchy chorus again, he knew the song would be popular, especially with the cringy lyrics.

Like an ear worm, it was bubbly, upbeat, with no particularly difficult lyrics which was basically everything that a signal song should be.

He thought he could learn to sing it easily, even with the high range of some parts.

The issue was that high-energy dance that seemed impossible to perform and sing.

If even the choreographer was panting after performing half of it without singing, what were the rest of them supposed to do?

Especially after a hellishly long day and only 13 hours to perfect it.

Ari couldn’t help but glare at the still-smiling PD Emily as she began to speak.

"So? What do you guys think of the signal song? Catchy right? Next time you see Larry Jackson and Jelissa, say thank you since the two of them worked hard on it with some other composers. In fact, let’s get another round of applause for them."

Clap clap clap-

As the contestants clapped slowly, their faces filled with despair, PD Emily shrugged.

"The choreography was done by trainers Jaywalk and Kim Young-woo. They specifically wanted me to tell you that the basics of it were in the warm-up they taught you on the first day, and if you learned that, you should breeze through this easily since the moves are recycled."

"That’s not fair! They told us it didn’t matter!" somebody yelled out in front, and PD Emily laughed in his face.

"Life is not fair, but you’re all talented, so you’ll be fine. I can tell that you all are very excited to work on the signal song, so I’ll let you go. You’re dismissed."

PD Emily waved one more time before sauntering off with the cameramen.

The room was quiet for a few seconds before it exploded in noise as people began groaning and complaining.

While everybody was still sitting around occupied, Ari quickly left to go change out of his soaked clothes and shower before anyone else came in.

When he came out of the bathroom, dressed in his utterly adorable tracksuit, Vishal was waiting to enter the bathroom.

The two of them made eye contact as Vishal asked, "Heading to the same practice room?"

"Not sure yet, but I doubt it. I’m going to find Daniel first, then search for Jamie." Ari replied honestly.

Although he had nothing personal against his former teammates, after the week he had, he was sure they were sick of seeing his face, and he was tired of nagging them to work hard and stop trying to escape.

A clean split where they all avoided each other was best for everyone.

"Okay...I’ll find and join whatever room you end up in...if you don’t mind." Vishal looked a bit nervous as if the other boy would say no, but Ari shrugged.

Vishal had been helpful throughout, and Ari had no issues with him since he was a hard worker.

"That’s fine with me. See you in a bit." Ari replied before grabbing his entire snack bag and stepping out.

First, he walked over to the practice rooms, peeking inside each one, but he didn’t see a bright head of orange hair.

After waving off Carlos and Jamie, he slowly walked up the steps Daniel had taken to the roof last time, taking the opportunity to stretch his legs.

Ari had met the boy twice on the roof, so it was a pretty good guess that Daniel was up there this time as well.

As he neared the door on top, he heard a muffled voice shouting, and he froze in place, waffling between eavesdropping and leaving whoever was fighting to fight in peace.

But then it seemed that the voice was getting closer because Ari could suddenly hear the words clearly and identify the owner.

"Then why didn’t you tell me?! Huh!? What the hell is my dad paying you money for if you can’t do this one little thing?! You want me to look stupid in front of the judges tomorrow? Huh?"

The person yelling was William Forbes.

Shocked but also curious, Ari squatted down on the steps, pressing his head against the door to listen.