Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Translator: Penny
Chapter 102
I flipped through the Bonobono PPT, its rainbow-colored, rounded font tailored to the CEO's tastes, and began my presentation.
Of course, I hadn't created it myself.
I'd outsourced the task to Kim Dobin, who had previously and unintentionally nailed the CEO's preferences. He replicated that winning formula perfectly.
"I've considered themes that align with the song's message and offer strong performance potential. The concept I propose is detectives versus phantom thieves."
Photos popped up with dizzying animation effects.
"Even looking at 19th-century novels like Arsène Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes or the deduction-chase battles between Kaito Kid and Conan from the anime Detective Conan, it's clear that the detective-phantom thief rivalry is a major genre."
Speaking aloud the names "Detective Conan" and "Phantom Thief Kaito Kid," which Kim Dobin had stubbornly insisted on including, brought on an inexplicable wave of existential dread. Holmes and Lupin would have been more than enough, I thought.
The presentation continued, outlining the overall performance concept, the direction for the concept photos, and the music video's theme.
With this much spoon-feeding, the agency should be able to fill in the rest on their own.
The "100 Ways to Win Any Argument" item, which I'd opened before its expiration date, had the effect of filtering my words, making even the simplest statements sound incredibly persuasive.
Watching the CEO nod in rapturous agreement to every word I uttered, his face wiped clean of any Multiverse notions, filled me with immense satisfaction. I love you, System.
"That concludes my presentation."
After the presentation, the CEO applauded with a satisfied expression. I was relieved he seemed to have finally given up on insisting on the Multiverse concept.
"Hmm, but next time, let's leave Bonobono out. It's too blue and distracts from the PPT content."
Wait, didn't he say before that he liked it because it was visually striking? Why is he so stubborn about his cosmic preferences?
I handed the USB containing the PPT to the Planning Team Leader and left the conference room with a light step. Kim Dobin, pouting dramatically, grumbled, "Wow, the CEO's being so harsh. I stayed up all night working on this!"
That? He probably wasted all his time choosing animation effects for the photos and text.
"Why didn't you just update the content from the previous version?"
"Ah, ah...! There was a way...!"
Why doesn't he use his abundant imagination for practical things like this?
May 26th.
"Today's my birthday!"
Kim Dobin scrolled through the deluge of birthday messages, a wide, happy smile spreading across his face.
Along with messages celebrating his last year as a teenager, his birthday hashtag was trending on Twitter.
#Dobin'sNineteenthBirthdayShiningAlways
#ShiningDobinDay
Early that morning, he and Ryu Jaehee had visited the subway birthday advertisement.
Just a year ago, when they were performing "Come to My Universe" on stage, he'd thought they were destined for the flop idol path. Now, he was an idol with his own birthday ad in the subway—a reality that still felt surreal.
When he shared this sentiment with Ryu Jaehee, Jaehee scoffed instead of offering sympathy.
"Hyung, you were against One Chance back then, right? If we'd kept promoting 'Come to My Universe' like you wanted, we'd be on the flop idol path by now, let alone getting major endorsements. You should bow deeply to Eden Hyung."
"Come on, that was just a childish tantrum."
"Tantrums have their time and place. I thought you'd gone crazy back then. The only reason Eden Hyung didn't pressure you as much as Yehyeon Hyung did was because you contributed to the choreography. You should be really grateful for your dancing talent."
"That Hyung is still... still so difficult to deal with. Whenever I talk to Eden Hyung, I end up spouting nonsense without even realizing it. Jaehee, you don't have that problem, do you?"
"Not really. Eden Hyung has such clear preferences that as long as you meet those criteria, it's easy to get on his good side. Hajun Hyung is the real challenge. He's... hard to pin down. It's like he doesn't have any real standards."
"I get what you mean. Every group has that one character—the one who's kind and friendly to everyone, but leaves you feeling cold inside."
"I said he doesn't have standards, not that he's cold."
As they bickered their way back to the dorm, they found chicken breast seaweed soup waiting for them for breakfast.
"Wow, is this a surprise?"
"Hyung, do you even know what a surprise is...? Hajun Hyung has been soaking the seaweed since yesterday."
Ryu Jaehee sighed at Kim Dobin's overenthusiastic reaction, offering a gentle scolding. Gyeon Hajun sent them to the bathroom to wash their hands first.
Yoon Eden, his hair a tangled mess, shuffled out of his room, pulling his hoodie up to cover it. He scowled and grumbled about someone's morning cheer before settling at the dining table.
Once all five members of Reve were gathered and Yoon Eden picked up his spoon, the meal began.
Kim Dobin wondered why they waited for Yoon Eden to start eating, even though Seo Yehyeon was the oldest. Did they value the leader's position more than age?
The dining table remained quiet as the five members ate without much conversation.
After breakfast, Kim Dobin, who didn't have school on weekends, settled on the living room sofa and turned on the TV.
After finishing his vitamins and supplements, Yoon Eden plopped down next to Kim Dobin and casually snatched the remote from his hand, flipping through channels with practiced ease.
As the youngest member of the Maknae Line, Kim Dobin had no say in what they watched.
The channels scrolled endlessly until they landed on a broadcast of "Drop The Beat" Season 2.
The screen showed rappers competing in the second preliminary round.
Yoon Eden chuckled, snapping photos with his phone as he watched a rapper auditioning before the judges—someone he seemed to know. Kim Dobin blurted out his honest impression:
"Hyung, you definitely look less scary when you smile."
Yoon Eden frowned and turned to glare at him. The Hyung, who had seemed slightly less intimidating with his smile, instantly became terrifying again.
I quickly lowered my gaze, and a soft chuckle reached my ears.
Emboldened by the sound, I glanced sideways at Yoon Eden, who was still focused on the TV screen. The beauty mark beneath his eye stood out clearly.
In his eyes, fixed on the screen, flickered emotions like longing and envy.
It struck me anew that this Hyung had come from the underground scene.
"Hyung, you should try out next year too. You're the top Korean rapper, after all."
"I've been thinking about it. Should I go for Season 3 or Season 4?"
Yoon Eden chuckled, playing along with my words.
"And 'top Korean rapper'? Please. There aren't many, but there are definitely rappers better than me."
He didn't claim there were many better rappers, but even admitting there were some was a bit surprising.
I naturally expected him to declare himself the Top Korean Rapper, but he seemed to take hip-hop more seriously than I thought.
"Wow, he's pretty good! He'll definitely pass."
"Holy crap, he actually passed! Hyung, so is that guy eliminated or accepted?"
"We'll have to hear him rap to know, you idiot. Just wait. Hmm... Eliminated."
"Damn, he really got eliminated! Hyung, you should be a judge!"
Ryu Jaehee had already sidled up to Yoon Eden, asking whether each contestant would pass or fail. It was uncanny how his predictions were about 95% accurate.
As the broadcast ended, it was time to head to the practice room.
He eagerly anticipated the surprise party the hyungs had planned, walking with the other members toward the practice room.
The most they'll do is a hidden camera prank where Eden Hyung and Yehyeon Hyung pretend to fight.
No matter how much the hyungs pretended to fight, they didn't scare me anymore. I'm not the same Kim Dobin who used to tremble in fear at their fierce arguments!
But if Eden Hyung and Hajun Hyung ever really fought, even knowing it was an act, I might still be a little scared.
That was a terrifying, unimaginable scenario.
The choreography we'd outsourced was based on a chase scene between four detectives and one phantom thief.
As the Main Dancer, Kim Dobin was assigned the central role of the Phantom Thief. It included a solo dance, making it the most challenging part, but he was confident he could handle it.
Having a dedicated choreography director had significantly reduced Kim Dobin's workload and elevated the quality of the dance.
No matter how talented he was at dancing, he was still just a nineteen-year-old who hadn't even graduated high school yet.
The fact that Dobin, before his regression, had continued to take charge of choreography direction until his skills rivaled those of professional choreographers was a truth known only to Yoon Eden.
Whether it was thanks to the rigorous practice he'd done with Kim Dobin or the intensive training from the choreography director, Seo Yehyeon now performed movements that could legitimately be called choreography, bypassing the initial awkward struggles he'd always experienced at the start of practice.
"Wow, seriously... this is a true human triumph, a real human triumph!"
Yoon Eden, leaning casually against the practice room mirror as he watched Seo Yehyeon's dance practice, clapped enthusiastically.
Hmm, he's starting to stir up trouble for the hidden camera prank.
Kim Dobin chuckled softly, taking a sip of bottled water.
"Even I have to admit, it's a real human triumph..."
"Wow, so you weren't kidding about doing a group dance for our next performance?"
"I don't make empty promises."
Surprisingly, the conversation remained calm and rational, with neither raising their voices. Their expressions were equally serene.
They're not fighting...?
His plan to stage a surprise party using a hidden camera had clearly backfired spectacularly.
"We're off to vocal lessons now," Ryu Jaehee said, suddenly hooking his arm through Seo Yehyeon's. He waved goodbye as they left the practice room.
They scheduled vocal lessons on my birthday, just the two of them? Anyone could see this was bait for a surprise party.
"Hajun Hyung must have stayed behind to avoid raising suspicion."
In about ten minutes, they would appear with the cake.
But contrary to Kim Dobin's expectations, the two didn't return even after thirty minutes.
"I'm going to the studio. You two practice for a bit and then head back."
Next, Yoon Eden left the practice room.
Eden Hyung will probably come back with the other two.
But an hour passed, and Yoon Eden still hadn't returned. Seo Yehyeon and Ryu Jaehee, who had supposedly gone for lessons, were also missing. Gyeon Hajun answered a call and turned to Kim Dobin with an apologetic look.
"What should we do? Eden wants me to come to the studio now. If you don't want to be alone, Dobin, why don't you come with me?"
"No, I'll stay here in the practice room."
Is this going to be one of those scenarios where they leave me alone, then the four of them surprise me by barging into the practice room with a cake?
That prediction turned out to be spectacularly wrong. Thirty minutes after being left alone in the practice room, Yoon Eden finally called.
"Hey, Dobin. Can you go to the dorm and grab the USB on Hyung's desk? Bring it to his studio."
"Yessir!"
They must be waiting at the dorm.Did it take them this long because they were busy decorating with balloons and streamers?
But when he arrived at the dorm, his heart pounding with anticipation, there was no surprise party—just an empty dorm.
Overwhelmed by disappointment, Kim Dobin stomped his foot at the entrance.
At this point, have they all forgotten it's my birthday?
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny