Chapter 123

Translator: PennyChapter 123 The joint practice for the Special Stage had concluded. Now, the only remaining occasion for the five Project team members to gather was the final rehearsal. Ryu Jaehee finally rejoiced, declaring he wouldn't have to see those bastards' faces again, but I couldn't share his relief so easily. [ Jeong Iseo (KICKS Parachute) - Did something happen between you and Kwon Yunseong? ] 6:32 PM[ Not really? ] 6:43 PM[ Jeong Iseo (KICKS Parachute) - Choi Hyeonmin was badmouthing your youngest member, and when he started on Mr. Eden, Yunseong suddenly yelled at him to shut up. ] 6:44 PM Jeong Iseo (KICKS Parachute) - That's why I was wondering if something had happened. [ Jeong Iseo (KICKS Parachute) - Anyway, thanks to that, the atmosphere is a total mess. ] 6:45 PM It was because of the text message I received from KICKS Parachute. If I had just heard that we were gossiping together behind his back, I would have brushed it off with a casual, "That's just like him." But the message made me think, "Now, of all times?" Gyeon Hajun asked if something was wrong, but I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to needlessly worry him. Gyeon Hajun's history with KICKS was even more complicated than mine, so there was no point in bringing it up. In any case, I decided to completely cut ties with that side and focus on rehearsing for the year-end awards show performance. "Alright, let's run through it one more time and then we're done for the day!" Both songs had become hits this year, so we agreed to alternate performing one song each at the various award shows. Reve hadn't yet secured enough time to perform both songs. Fortunately, Come to My Universe had simple choreography, allowing Seo Yehyeon to quickly master it with just a couple of practice sessions. However, One Chance was far more complex. After months away from high-intensity choreography, Seo Yehyeon couldn't possibly catch up immediately. Still, he only struggled with the most demanding sections, and his group dance coordination was surprisingly good, so I didn't have to worry too much. "Yehyeon Hyung, you're keeping up well. Just focus a bit more on the parts you keep messing up." It was time to showcase the leadership skills I had honed during the project. I was about to be reborn as a respected leader in Reve. Under my gentle encouragement and soothing words, Seo Yehyeon's face turned deathly pale, a stark contrast to Gyeon Hajun's slightly moved expression. Seo Yehyeon asked cautiously, his voice trembling, "Why are you being so scary all of a sudden...?" "Possession, just as I suspected... Mmph!" "Why are you trying to banish Eden Hyung's soul when he's perfectly fine, Dobin Hyung?! He's just repenting for his fascist dictator days after being inspired by the true leaders!" "You're the worst of all, you little devil!" Yeah, forget it. This only works on idiots. Respected leader? What a joke! Music Daejeon SPECIAL STAGE! [K-Pop Carol Song Project!] [Making of 'On Top'] [The new song 'On Top,' released on the 23rd] A poster featuring the five members appeared alongside a brief snippet of the intro to Come to My Universe.[Composer of Come to My Universe: G1] [Choreographer Park Jeonghun, in charge of the 'On Top' team's choreography] Footage showed G1 and Park Jeonghun working together before cutting to a shot of them standing side-by-side. [G1: Each of the five friends has such distinct personalities, so I composed the song to really highlight their individual colors.] [Park Jeonghun: Rather than focusing on the performance itself, I prioritized creating choreography that perfectly matched the song's mood.] A brief clip showed the members of On Top posing for a poster shoot in street-style outfits. The story of On Top, five charismatic leaders, begins now! November 20th, Poster Shoot Location Eden strode in first, wearing a long padded jacket over his poster shoot attire. Eden: Hello. After bowing politely and glancing around, he quickly spotted five empty chairs. As the other members arrived one by one, Eden rose from his seat to greet each of them. Once all five members were seated in their poster shoot outfits, Junhyeok: Now that I think about it, since we're all people who understand each other's struggles well, I feel relieved that there won't be too many conflicts. Sion: Ah, because everyone's a leader, right? Well, being a leader is definitely tough, ha... Kanghan: Mr. Eden is nodding very vigorously beside me. Eden: I completely agree. Yunseong: By the way, we need to decide on a team slogan now, right? Sion: We should go for something a bit cheesy. Like, "Sleek Charisma On Top!" Junhyeok: My hands are already cramping up. Eden: How about "World On Top"? It embodies our ambition to stand above the world. Kanghan: Ah, it's impossible to choose between them! After a long discussion about the team slogan and gesture, the members ultimately adopted Eden's idea. "Sleek Charisma On Top" was deemed too long and cumbersome. Sion, who had been dejected after his alternative was rejected, quickly perked up and devised a new gesture. Sion: How about this gesture? For "World," we make a W shape with both hands by extending our thumbs and index fingers. Then, for "On Top," we raise our index fingers to form a number 1 and hold them up high. It simultaneously represents "One Top" and "On Top"! Eden: Oh, that's cool! Kanghan: ...

I think our sensibilities are a bit different. At Kanghan's cautious remark, Eden and Sion exchanged a high-five and burst into laughter. Junhyeok: Let's all try it together. One, two— On Top: World On Top! After shouting their slogan with gestures, the members of On Top buried their faces in their knees or clung to each other, laughing and sobbing. The screen then cut to black. November 22nd, First Joint Practice On Top members monitoring the choreography Sion: It's not as intense as I thought... but there's a lot of movement. Kanghan: We really need to nail the chorus part. Eden: Wow, Junhyeok Hyung already learned the choreography! Junhyeok: I'm Revolution's main dancer, after all. V! Eden exclaimed in admiration as Junhyeok, befitting his four years of experience, effortlessly nailed the choreography after just one viewing. Junhyeok grinned proudly and flashed a V-sign at the camera. The scene immediately shifted to show the members of On Top standing in formation. The members are quickly getting in sync! Park Jeonghun: Everyone's picking it up so fast! They're doing great for their first time together. As expected from a group of leaders. Sion: Really? If you keep praising me like this, I won't be able to sleep tonight. Yunseong: Still, we're supposed to be leaders. We need to show a cooler side than the youngest members. Kanghan: There's no way to look cool there. It's all about being cute. Kanghan shook his head, and the others burst into laughter. The five members huddled together, clasped hands, and shouted, "Fighting!" [On Top: On Top Fighting!] The screen shifted again, showing an exterior shot of the building housing G1's studio. [November 23rd, Recording Studio] A split screen showed G1 leaning his chin on his hand in front of a monitor, while Eden stood in the recording booth, wearing headphones and facing the microphone. [Eden: Hyung, how was it?][G1: It was good ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earlier. Just do that when we start the real recording.][Eden: First to arrive, warming ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up his voice] G1 nodded with a satisfied smile at Eden's question. Against the backdrop of the recording booth, G1's interview began. [G1: Why did I choose Team On Top? I just liked the team name.]Eden: Come on, Hyung! Just be honest! Eden, sitting in the back, jeered and chuckled. G1 glanced back with an affectionate glare and sighed softly before correcting himself. G1:Sigh, well, there are some friends I've worked with before, and a close younger brother... Satisfied now? Huh?Eden: Wow, Jiwon Hyung's really got people figured out!I think I know who that "close younger brother" is ^^ G1 stood up and pressed down on the crown of Eden's head, causing Eden to feign exaggerated pain and giggle. As the members gradually arrived at the recording studio, the actual recording session began. G1: Okay! Nailed the vibe perfectly. Let's do one more take. As Eden finished his part, G1 clapped his hands and restarted the instrumental. The video quickly flashed through scenes of the members in the recording booth, starting with Eden, who had smoothly completed his recording in just two takes. G1 paused the instrumental and addressed Yunseong, who was still in the booth. G1: Again. The tempo was too fast. Kanghan: As expected of Producer G1... still as meticulous as ever. Sion: Agreed. The old memories are flooding back. I'm already exhausted... Junhyeok: Mr. Eden, you got the OK in just two takes—the fastest record so far. How do you feel? Eden: I think I just got really lucky. Sion: Oh, you're being too modest. Sion chuckled heartily, clapping Eden on the back as Eden nodded with a smile. On Top's Image Shoot Day! The camera captured the On Top members filming a short VCR segment to be shown before their stage performance, amidst streets already brimming with Christmas cheer. Sion: Oh, Junhyeok Hyung, you've got the vibe! Junhyeok: It's freezing. Standing here in just a coat in this weather... Eden: We finished the indoor shoot and came out to cheer them on. It's definitely cold. Go get 'em, Junhyeok Hyung! Sion: ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'm filming outdoors too! Cheer me on too! Eden: Go get 'em, Sion Hyung! Kanghan: Ah, wait a minute! My ring fell on the floor, and I can't see it now. A Midnight Ring Hunt! The scene cut to the members of On Top practicing their final rehearsal before taking the stage at Music Daejeon, after filming their VCR segment. The footage showed Hyeonmin, the youngest member of KICKS and part of the project group Snow White, being ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kicked out of the practice room and then practicing his final choreography with the group. The members then gathered in the practice room, shouting their team slogan as the making-of video concluded. World On Top! Their performance starts now! As the poster and subtitles faded, the making-of video ended completely, and a separately filmed VCR began playing on the screen behind the stage. Junhyeok leaned against a streetlight, clutching a bouquet and patiently waiting for someone, his eyes fixed on the falling snow. Sion stared intently at the cakes displayed in the bakery window. Kanghan sat on a bench, tossing his couple ring up and catching it as he watched couples stroll by. Yunseong replied to a text asking about Christmas plans with, "Hmm, nothing planned yet ^^" Eden lay sprawled on his bed in a room decked out for Christmas, dialing someone on his phone. Giggles erupted as a carol filled the air: We wish you a merry ChristmasWe wish you a merry Christmas The familiar melody and lyrics of the carol echoed through the room. We wish you a merry Christmas and— The melody gradually slowed, and the female vocals transitioned into a male voice. Solo X-Mas! With Eden's cool shout, the members of On Top appeared on stage. 📝 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

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Chapter 123

Chapter 123

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