Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Translator: Penny
Chapter 35
"Eden, did you stay up all night? What's with that face?"
I rubbed my dry, puffy eyes and replied to the CEO's question, "No, sir."
In truth, my mind had been too tangled to sleep soundly. Uploading that post on impulse was quite unlike me. And I still couldn't figure out why his words about prioritizing us had made my stomach churn.
"Even if you're nervous about the comeback, you need to get some rest, kid. Even if it flops, I'm the one who made the decision, so don't worry too much. We can just use my ideas next time."
What kind of jinxing nonsense are you spouting right before our comeback? Are you performing a ritual to curse us to fail?
Summoned to the CEO's office, we were on edge, bracing ourselves for whatever half-baked idea he might try to force on us next.
I believe that maintaining discipline among people without resorting to an oppressive atmosphere is a talent in itself.
Fortunately, the CEO had called us in for a positive reason.
"You've received an offer for a reality show. It's called 'My Idol Observation Camera.'"
"Oh, I know that show!"
"My Idol Observation Camera" was a reality program primarily targeting rookie idol groups.
The show involved installing observation cameras in the group's dorm and practice room to capture their daily lives, as well as taking them on trips to showcase their fun and playful side. It was a fairly standard reality format.
While viewership varied depending on the featured idol group, only rookies with a decent level of recognition were typically cast.
Above all, the show was renowned for its ability to deliver both entertainment and high-quality production, making it a reliable success.
I think this year's "My Idol" group was KICKS, right?
After our debut album promotions ended, the reality show aired, significantly boosting our public recognition.
The reality show offer was something we hadn't received before the regression.
Remembering how the group that filmed the reality show in our place before the regression had a hit album followed by a rapid decline made me uneasy.
Surely, just because we took their spot, we wouldn't inherit their fate exactly, would we?
A quick glance at the members' expressions showed they weren't too worried.
"If we give them the okay, they'll probably schedule a meeting within a few days, and filming will start the following week."
"Wow, that's a tight schedule."
"Still better than nothing, right?"
"True enough."
Before leaving the CEO's Office after hearing about the reality show, I raised my voice slightly, loud enough for everyone to hear, and muttered to myself as if thinking aloud.
"Oh, so our crummy basement dorm is going to be broadcast nationwide now? We'll have to do a thorough cleaning before filming. The mold's gotten so bad on the walls, I'm not even sure it'll come off."
Through the still-ajar door, I faintly heard the CEO's voice asking, "Why the kids' dorm?" followed by Manager Hyung's hesitant reply, "It's just... you know..."
"We're moving out soon, guys!"
Even if we don't actually move, reading some online hate about our basement dorm might cheer me up when I search for us later.
I flashed a refreshing smile at the members, who were all staring at me with dumbfounded expressions.
"That's some big-picture thinking right there..." Ryu Jaehee exclaimed.
Humming a tune, I strode confidently away.
At least they'll get rid of the mold before the broadcast, right?
Reve's 2nd Mini Album, "HI-TN," had its scheduler and concept photos pre-released.
The first image revealed was a group shot taken in front of a chalkboard.
Yoon Eden, wearing a navy hoodie over a white shirt, sat on the teacher's desk, blowing a bubblegum bubble as he looked at the youngest members.
Kim Dobin, in a yellow sweatshirt, grinned mischievously while scribbling on the chalkboard with chalk.
Yuje, dressed in a basketball uniform and jersey, stood slightly apart, holding a chalkboard eraser and pretending to wipe away the scribbles.
Seo Yehyeon, wearing glasses askew and a white shirt paired with a knit vest, stood at the teacher's desk, grading test papers with a red pen.
Gyeon Hajun, in an ivory turtleneck sweater, held a book in one hand and pretended to stop Kim Dobin's mischief.
On the green chalkboard, the words "All Right or Night" were boldly written in colorful chalk.
The second reveal was a group photo taken on a sofa in a heavily cluttered living room.
Yoon Eden, dressed in a leather jacket, sprawled comfortably across the sofa.
Gyeon Hajun, wearing a beige knit cardigan, sat beside Eden, resting his thigh against Eden's head.
Yuje, in a sports brand jersey, perched on the sofa armrest next to Hajun.
Seo Yehyeon, in a denim jacket, sat on the floor, leaning back against the sofa with one knee raised and an arm resting on it.
Kim Dobin, in a baseball jacket, crouched at Yoon Eden's feet, hugging his knees.
- Finally, I can escape the nightmare of "Come to My Universe."
- Are there two title tracks? The timing seems a bit tight for that.
- Ugh, this is insane! I've been replaying it 213,551 times a day.
- What's with Yoon Eden's silver hair? Silver hair? Silver hair? Silver hair? Silver hair?
- Check out the individual member cuts too: https://twxxxer.com/LnL_reve/status/151341535
- I have this weird thing where I see silver hair and immediately think "elf," but seeing our Eden, that's completely gone. I can't even bring myself to say he looks like an elf.
The concept photos were released, followed by the teaser the next day.
The teaser, labeled "#1," subtly hinted that this was just the first of multiple teasers to come.
Reve - 'All Right or Night' Official Teaser #1
The thumbnail showed Hajun's upper body silhouetted against a classroom window bathed in the glow of sunset.
Clicking the thumbnail started the video, which opened with a drum beat and a cheerful melody.
The setting wasn't a typical Korean school, but rather one more commonly seen in foreign teen movies or dramas.
Yehyeon stood surrounded by other students, laughing as he held a stack of papers.
Eden leaned against a wall, a white stick dangling from his mouth.
Yuje dribbled a basketball on a small court with a hoop.
Dobin, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, collided with someone while running, revealing his bare face.
The scenes flashed by in quick succession before the camera panned through a dark hallway and an empty classroom.
The camera zoomed in on a locker in the hallway, then the perspective shifted to inside the locker.
The locker burst open, and four hands sequentially placed letters inside.
As the camera faded out, it showed Hajun standing by the window of an empty classroom, bathed in the glow of the sunset.
I have so many questions, but I'll ask just one, girl.
Hajun opened the classroom door and strode to the locker. As he opened it and placed the letter he was holding inside, the screen went black.
REVE – All Right or Night
11.17 PM 6:00
The 30-second teaser ended, revealing the song title and comeback date.
What what...? A high school concept? This is insane!
- I already feel like my memories of high school have been manipulated. My first love was Yehyeon Sunbae.
- Wait, was Eden's spoiler really about this?
└ What was the spoiler?
└ They said it was a concept that suited two members perfectly, but since there were 10 possible combinations, everyone came up with all sorts of theories. Who would've thought it would be the simplest one: the youngest members doing a high school concept?
- The title is so hard to pronounce... my tongue keeps getting twisted...
Exactly 24 hours after the release of Teaser #1:
Reve (레브) - 'All Right or Night' Official Teaser #2
Teaser #2 was released on Reve's official YouTube channel.
The thumbnail featured a side profile of Eden, bathed in deep blue light, biting down on a lollipop.
This time, instead of a melody, a line of song immediately played:
Let's lose ourselves in this music all night long
Until this night is over, let's party time
The staircase leading to the second floor and the television revealed that this was a home.
Blue lighting and neon signs. People dancing wildly to the music as if they were in a club.
Eden, with a lollipop in his mouth, held up a cup, turned it upside down, and poured the liquid onto the floor before flicking the lollipop behind him.
The camera followed the lollipop's trajectory, then shifted to focus on Dobin breakdancing in the center of a circle of people before zooming back out.
I'm not letting anyone go home tonight, how about you?
So tell me now, all right or night?
As the screen gradually darkened, it showed the five members of Reve lounging on the sofa, either sitting or lying down, accompanied by a line that sounded like a chorus.
The 26-second video ended, just like Teaser #1, by announcing the song title and comeback date.
- Wasn't this supposed to be a school setting? Suddenly it's a house party vibe?
- Omg, is this a full-on high teen concept? I'm already hyped for their stage outfits!
- Wow, what's going on with One Chance? Did Kim Nodap win the lottery? Why is the music video suddenly so high-quality? ㅠㅠㅠ
└ Right? This isn't a dream, is it?
└ We can't let our guard down until the full version drops.
- I'm relieved the styling looks good. They all look so pretty!
└ I watched the "My Universe" music video first as a preemptive measure to mentally prepare myself before watching the teaser. Now I feel like I've been enlightened!
- The song's catchy! I'm already humming it automatically.
"The reaction's pretty good, huh?"
During a break from dance practice, Ryu Jaehee said, leaning against the practice room mirror next to me as we monitored the comments.
"Yeah, I guess so. After the My Universe era was such a disaster, the fans' acceptance threshold must have dropped a lot. Ugh, now the expectations for the next one are going to be sky-high."
"But we've only just climbed out of the negatives and barely reached zero, right?"
"True."
Chuckling, I scrolled through the comments on the YouTube teaser video. About one-fifth of the comments were in foreign languages, so I was only reading the Korean ones.
"Any negative feedback?"
"Some people think the sentimental scenes don't match the song, but those parts only take up the first verse in the music video anyway."
"So that's still quite a long segment, isn't it?"
"It's one minute and thirty-two seconds out of three minutes and thirty-seven seconds."
"That's pretty long, considering."
Gyeon Hajun handed me a water bottle. I took a swig and passed it to Ryu Jaehee.
Ryu Jaehee tilted his head, looking convinced as he accepted the bottle.
"...Maybe you're right?"
"Don't worry about it. It's just one opinion anyway. Besides, the song should be the focus, not the music video."
"The song's the best part! Who wrote it, after all?"
I reached out and ruffled his hair roughly as he took a drink.
"Hey, you're getting pretty good at this social stuff, huh?"
"I'm being genuine, Hyung."
His fluffy hair was so satisfying to mess with.
As I continued to tousle his hair roughly, Ryu Jaehee shook his head violently, swatting my hand away.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"I feel like I've become your hyung's dog, and it's making me uncomfortable."
"Hey, our dog is way cuter than you. Stop rubbing against me, you brat. And when did you switch from pushing hamsters to dogs?"
I instinctively retorted, then froze, clenching my jaw.
When did I fall for that hamster nonsense again? What part of him looks like a hamster?
"Hamster? Even Eden Hyung now admits that the adorable and charming Mr. Yuje resembles a cute little hamster!"
"Ha, Jaehee, please don't make me swear."
As if he'd heard me, the brat cupped his face with his hands and thrust it into mine. I covered his face with my palm and shoved him away.
If I swear, my precious Original Intent Score will drop, you damn brat!
📝 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