From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show Chapter 1037: A Special Stage

The morning sun beamed through the corridors of Phoenix Entertainment, though June barely registered its presence. He stifled a heavy yawn, trudging toward the auditorium.

He had anticipated starting rehearsals for the upcoming holiday performances, yet Jay had unexpectedly ordered everyone to gather in the auditorium.

His vision was blurry from profound sleep deprivation. After all, he had spent the entire previous night beside Jay, sifting through mountains of audition files and tapes! At this rate, he was surely due for a significant pay raise.

"Are you holding up alright?" Jisung asked.

June gave a curt nod, another yawn escaping his lips. He had certainly seen better days, though he reminded himself it was still an improvement over his time at Azure.

"What do you think is on the agenda for today?" Akira inquired, sounding quite animated.

"It is rather obvious," Ren replied, his tone flat. "We are likely going to discuss the Christmas stages. Though, that shouldn't be much of a struggle since our concept is already solidified."

"True," Zeth added. "It feels incredibly reassuring to perform alongside all of you!"

"Well, that is a first," Casper remarked with a scoff. "Usually, you make sure to heap praise upon yourself before you ever mention the rest of the team."

"Aww, don't be like that!" Zeth exclaimed. "You know perfectly well that I love you guys."

"Regardless, why are we trekking to the auditorium anyway?" Sehun questioned. "Shouldn't we be starting our training today? We are slated to begin the Asian leg of our tour shortly after the holidays, so we need every spare moment we can get."

"Your guess is as good as mine," Jaeyong replied. "Jay just called for a mandatory meeting this morning."

"Well, let us go see what it is about," Akira suggested as he pushed the doors open.

The moment he stepped into the cavernous auditorium, the sound of various conversations washed over him.

The members of DAWN exchanged wide-eyed glances upon noticing that nearly every group housed at Phoenix was already gathered inside. They caught sight of CHAOS positioned centrally, while LUNAIRE sat off to the side.

"What is going on here?" Sehun asked, looking to Jaeyong for answers.

Jaeyong simply gave an uncertain shrug, equally oblivious.

Jay was standing at the front of the room, clutching a clipboard. Despite the dark circles under his eyes hinting at his own exhaustion, he wore his usual jovial expression.

June shuffled over with his group mates, offering a brief nod to Jay before taking his place beside him.

"A long night, I assume?" Jay queried.

"I am certain you know exactly how long," June replied, eyes narrowing slightly. "I am genuinely amazed you are still standing on your own two feet."

Jay let out a soft chuckle. "Barely."

The ambient chatter faded as Jay clapped his hands to demand attention.

"Alright, everyone," he announced into the microphone. "Please find your seats. We have a great deal to cover today, so let us jump right into it."

The idol groups promptly complied with their CEO’s request. Jay carried an air of unfamiliar seriousness on stage, which unsettled DAWN slightly. Still, they had no choice but to accept that their peer had evolved into a high-powered executive.

Jay continued, "As you are all aware, the holiday season is approaching, which signals the return of our annual Christmas stages. Naturally, every one of you will participate this year. However, things will be handled differently this time around."

A wave of whispers rippled through the audience. June managed to catch a few snippets of the surrounding gossip.

"Is that really why they summoned us all here?"

"It must be a serious matter if they are overhauling the format."

"I caught wind of a rumor from ESTEEM! They said their agency is planning a joint group performance."

The boys turned to one another in surprise. That rumor certainly carried a sense of plausibility.

Jay held up a hand, effectively quieting the room once more. "That is correct. For the first time, all the major companies will be presenting a special stage at the same event. This is a golden opportunity to prove our worth, so we must give it our absolute best."

A buzz of excitement filled the room. As typical of idols, they were intensely competitive; despite maintaining professional exteriors, they remained human, after all! Everyone hungered to deliver the most memorable performance for the Christmas stage.

It had always been a monumental occasion within the K-pop scene. Fans frequently opted to watch these performances rather than celebrate with their families, which inevitably drove the expectations to extreme heights.

"That is not all," Jay added, drawing their focus back.

"The broadcasting station overseeing the festivities has decided to elevate the stakes with three specific collaboration stages. They have personally selected the participants, so none of us had any say in the matter."

The other members of DAWN shifted their gaze toward June.

Having already collaborated with his mentor on the hit track 'Father,' they naturally assumed June would be selected again.

Jay’s gaze swept across the room. "First, we have a group stage featuring a curated mix of vocalists from various labels. More details to follow. Second, a special dance feature highlight performed by the industry’s top dancers."

The concept of merging elite talents from rival companies excited many, but June could already feel the friction starting to build.

Jay paused, his eyes locking onto June for a heartbeat before he proceeded. "And finally, a duet."

June’s stomach did a somersault. He immediately understood where this was heading.

He could read the look in Jay’s eyes all too clearly!

For a brief moment, he reasoned it might not be entirely catastrophic. He loved to sing, and a duet with another artist would represent an interesting hurdle to clear.

"The station has already finalized the pair: June from DAWN and Mei from LUNAIRE."

Mei’s eyes went wide, reflecting the sheer shock on June's face. The two of them locked eyes instantly, their expressions mirrored in their mutual disbelief.

June wasn't inherently opposed to a duet, but singing with Mei Ling? It felt deeply uncomfortable! Even without her knowing they were biological siblings in a past life, the instinctive unease persisted.

The rest of the group offered their congratulations, blissfully unaware of the underlying turmoil.

"Furthermore, the station has already dictated the track you will be performing," Jay continued.

June stared toward the stage, his eyes wide with impending dread. What could it possibly be now?

Jay opened his mouth to explain, and in that instant, a sharp ringing sound filled June's ears.

"It is going to be a love song!"

This, he realized with horror, was the worst-case scenario.

June would honestly prefer to jump off a bridge than perform a romantic ballad alongside his own sister!