Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Translator: Penny
Chapter 7
This is driving me crazy. Why is the verse so ambiguous?
As soon as today's schedule ended, I rushed to Yongcheol Hyung's studio to work tirelessly on the beat. Rubbing my dry eyes, I finally opened the door to our basement dorm.
Manager Hyung had hinted that the company was considering shortening our promotion period from three weeks to two.
Did they really cut it to two weeks before my regression?
If so, I'd have to pull all-nighters. Should I scrap the old verse entirely instead of trying to follow the original song?
It was past 3 AM, so I tiptoed to my room, careful not to wake the others. The moment I cautiously opened the door, Gyeon Hajun abruptly sat up.
"What's this? You weren't asleep?"
"Why are you coming home so late these days? Where have you been wandering around alone?"
I yawned in response to Gyeon Hajun's questions.
"I'll tell you later."
As I dodged the question, Seo Yehyeon's voice emerged from the pile of blankets.
"You're not secretly seeing a girlfriend behind our backs, are you?"
"Ah, you scared me! Hyung, you're still awake too? Shouldn't you ask if I even have a girlfriend first?"
While you guys were sprawled out asleep, I was working myself to the bone trying to save the team. You'll thank me later.
Because this time, the MVP won't be Seo Yehyeon—it'll be me.
Since we were both already awake, I took a shower and lay down on the bed to check this week's Weekly Quests.
[☑ Weekly Quest!]
▶ Post selfies and updates on official social media at least 5 times a week (+2 Original Intent Score)
▶ Search fan reactions at least 6 times a week (+2 Original Intent Score)
▶ Post selfies and updates on the fan cafe's FROM board at least 4 times a week (+2 Original Intent Score)
▶ Greet fans warmly during commutes (+2 Original Intent Score)
I'd already posted three times on the FROM board, so just one more post would complete this week's quest. To be safe, I'd set daily alarms to search fan reactions. If I kept up with greeting fans during commutes, I should recover about 6 points of Original Intent Score this week.
As soon as I closed my eyes, intending to shut off the quest window and catch some sleep, Gyeon Hajun switched on the room's light. He frowned deeply and grumbled in a hoarse voice, "Juna, let me get some sleep."
"We have a pre-recording at dawn today. Get up and wake the others. Yehyeon Hyung, you too."
Ah, right, the pre-recording. I'd completely forgotten about it while preparing for the next album.
Ugh, I groaned, dragging myself out of bed. Since the album was already doomed, did the System not have a time-skip function?
Whether it flops or hits big, giving your best to every activity is the essence of your Original Intent.
Haaah, right. Did anyone ask?
After waiting since dawn, before the sun had even risen, we successfully completed the pre-recording for the music show and headed to our next schedule.
Today, we had managed to secure a music show pre-recording slot thanks to another artist's cancellation, followed by a radio appearance.
"This is Music Trip at Noon with Lee Sangho. In the second segment, we're joined by Reve, a newly debuted rookie boy group with exceptional talent."
"One, two, Dream of me! Hello, we're Reve!"
At my signal, the members simultaneously delivered our English version greeting: "Dream of me!"
After each member gave a brief self-introduction, we were given time to promote our debut track. The DJ, who had only skimmed the script, asked, "What kind of song is your debut track, 'Come to the Universe'?"
It was a girl group song released two years ago that had become a hit. I understand being annoyed by some random flop idol group showing up, but at least read the script properly, right?
"Yes, our debut album's title track, 'Come to My Universe,' tells the story of an astronaut adrift in space after their tether breaks, who is drawn toward a voice calling them to that universe..."
I deliberately emphasized the title as I mechanically recited the title track introduction provided by our agency.
Did they come up with this song concept while watching footage of Yuri Gagarin?
"A solitary journey through space—how unique! The lyrics are incredibly lyrical and seem to fit the cosmic concept perfectly."
Exactly. If our agency hadn't gone completely overboard with the whole "space war" narrative, we might have actually adapted to the space travel concept ourselves.
"By now, I'm really curious about their live performance! After this commercial break, let's check out Reve's stage!"
As soon as the upbeat jingle started playing, the DJ took off his headphones and picked up his phone, grumbling loudly enough for us to hear, "No lunchbox tributes here either?"
Seeing the members' expressions shift uncomfortably, as if they were sitting on a bed of nails, he clicked his tongue.
What do you expect from a newly debuted flop idol group with fewer than 500 fan club members, you idiot?
Maintaining his halfhearted attitude until the end of the broadcast, the DJ didn't even look up from his phone when we greeted him after the second segment, waving his hand dismissively.
Behind his back, where he couldn't see, I subtly raised my middle finger.
Let's see what happens after I'm awake.
Bad hand gesture detected.
Original Intent Score -2
A sharp sting made me suck in a breath. Seriously? I was so careful not to get caught, so why is my Original Intent Score dropping? If I didn't get caught, shouldn't they just let it slide?
The atmosphere in the car on the way back to the dorm after our schedule was gloomy.
It seemed I was the only one unaffected by the blatant mistreatment, thanks to the mental fortitude I'd built up during my two-and-a... years as a flop idol.
Amidst the heavy silence, my phone buzzed with an alarm.
Fan Reaction Search Time
Ever since I'd nearly coughed up blood from failing to meet my search quota, I'd set an alarm to remind myself. My search history contained only two terms: Reve and Eden.
As I scrolled through my feed, the word "fansign" caught my eye. Since we were about to hold our first fansign event, there was a high chance this Reve was our Reve.
Yanggi Beauty Hunter @kpopdol
Anyone know the cut-off for Reve's fansign?
**Heidi @hi_everydi**
Is Reve a ᄂᄀ?
Yanggi Beauty Hunter @kpopdol
They're rookies who just debuted, but I'm going to see him. Found a new yanggi beauty!
(Photo)
**Heidi @hi_everydi**
How the hell hasn't he blown up with visuals like that?!
Yanggi Beauty Hunter @kpopdol
The song is fucking awful. The styling is terrible too. Seems like the agency is a complete mess.
**Heidi @hi_everydi**
Ah... guess I can't stan him then.
As expected, Seo Yehyeon's photo was prominently displayed.
I recalled this Hyung's nickname from before the regression. Our Young Breadwinner had been working tirelessly since his debut.
Our title track really is terrible...
I clicked my tongue at the undeniable truth, a bitter taste lingering in my mouth.
Scanning the album's tracklist for any decent B-sides, my eyes landed on a song I'd completely forgotten about.
The debut album, their first, was awful from the title track to the B-sides—except for one relatively decent song.
It was the final track, which I had written and composed: .
Having been involved in the underground scene, I knew the basics of songwriting and composition.
I wanted one of my songs on our debut album, so I reworked a rap mixtape I'd made during my underground days into a proper song. After persuading the agency, I barely managed to get it included on the album.
Of course, I'd only started seriously composing and producing during our flop idol group days when we had way too much free time. So, from my current perspective, the song isn't up to par.
Still, it was too good to be lumped in with the title track and other album tracks and dismissed as mediocre.
Before my regression, the album had flopped miserably, and the song was buried along with it.
Later, when Reve went viral, this song was re-evaluated as the only decent track on the debut album, right? I think?
Maybe I should promote this song a bit.
Thanks to the Weekly Quest, I was semi-forced to consistently post on the fan cafe. This earned me a reputation among our small fanbase as one of the most communicative members, alongside Jaehee.
From. Eden
Daydreams, how have you all been? Now that we've officially named you Daydreams, I can finally call you that!
I actually saw a post today saying the song was bad, and it frustrated me because I couldn't argue with it, haha. So I'm posting what I think is the best song from the album before I go.
P.S. Lyrics & Composition by Yoon Eden
https://yxxtu.be/SDFJPEx42
(One Chanceaudiovideo)
Comments: 13
- Eden, you don't have to be so formal... I'm not that old, you know...
- Who said the song was bad?! Who?!
- This song is amazing!! Why didn't they make it the title track?! ㅠㅠ
- Lyrics and composition by Yoon Eden?! Our boy was a composer?!
- I knew something was up when they put the kids in those white jumpsuits that look like sponge experiment outfits. The agency really has no taste. They chose "Your Eyes Are Sparkling" as the title track over a song like this?!
└ Still, "Come to My Universe" is our boys' song. How dare you call it "this kind of song"?! ᅮ
└ Even Eden oppa couldn't argue when people said it was bad ㅠㅠ Honestly, "Come to My Universe" is objectively (censored)
- This song is too good to be buried. I'm going to go promote it everywhere!
(View more comments)
As I chuckled at the endless stream of comments, Ryu Jaehee nudged my arm.
"Hyung, why do you always start your From posts with 'Have you been in good health?'"
"'Hello' has five characters, while 'Have you been in good health?' has eleven. Satisfied?"
As I patiently explained, even counting on my fingers, Ryu Jaehee's expression turned utterly bewildered.
"You might as well just say you're sticking to a concept. Don't give me some worldly reason about trying to increase the character count."
What else could I say? The quest wouldn't even register unless it was at least two lines long, and to top it off, they docked my Original Intent Score for being "insincere." What choice did I have, you demon?
I posted the same message on our official social media accounts, including the video link.
If it goes viral, great. If not, whatever—we'll just make a comeback with the next album.
Ms. Kim was a typical K-pop idol enthusiast in South Korea.
After seven years of following idols, she had grown weary of seeing her former favorites—once her "babies"—become jaded, their eyes dull and their bodies bloated from partying. She longed for the fresh, sparkling energy of rookie idols.
Then Reve appeared before her eyes. When Ms. Kim's parents saw Reve performing first on a music show, they remarked:
"Do they work at a semiconductor factory or something?"
"Ugh, why is music these days so... rough?"
But through the faintly visible face of Seo Yehyeon, piercing through the lackluster styling that made even viewers feel sorry for him, Ms. Kim saw that long-lost sparkle in his eyes. Abandoning her former "babies," who had now become someone else's, she fell headfirst into stanning this new idol group.
Exactly one week after joining the fan cafe, her ultimate bias changed.
She had initially liked Yuje, the adorable hamster-like youngest member, who frequently communicated with fans through official social media and the fan cafe's "From" section.
But her new ultimate bias was Yoon Eden, the leader. He visited the "From" section almost as often as the youngest member, greeting fans with the formal phrase "기체후일향만강하셨어요" (May your health and well-being be abundant). This gap moe point, so incongruous with his cool demeanor, and the beauty mark beneath his eye that A certain Ms. Kim was obsessed with, had completely won her over.
Seeing the fan cafe's massive membership—practically a 덕질 club—and the official social media accounts' paltry share counts, which rarely exceeded ten, she felt a sense of mission to promote this idol group by any means necessary.
Our boys' visuals and proportions are flawless! They're perfect no matter where you put them!
The problem was the embarrassing styling and the shoddy title track. As rookies, they lacked the viral videos or social media clips that could attract new fans.
The music video's quality and styling were so poor that even while making GIFs, Ms. Kim couldn't help but sigh. They completely buried the overwhelming visual genius of Seo Yehyeon.
True to form for a small agency, Ms. Kim, who had been endlessly criticizing the incompetent management, rushed to her favorite idol's From post like a Pavlovian dog.
"Who said it's bad?! Which bastard...?! Well, it is pretty bad..."
Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing an angry comment, but Ms. Kim deleted it with a bitter smile.
What Eden had posted today wasn't the title track, but an audio video of a B-side track on YouTube.
Was there even a song like this? Though a dedicated fan, Ms. Kim had been so stunned by the title track that she hadn't even considered listening to the B-sides. Now, hearing this unfamiliar song for the first time, she blinked in surprise.
After all, the best song was usually chosen as the title track.
"Wow, Eden even composes?"
Great, we can market him as a composer-idol! Of course, that would only work if the song was actually good.
Ms. Kim played the YouTube audio video without much expectation, but as the song continued, her expression gradually shifted to shock.
Is the agency seriously out of their minds? They chose a song like "Dead Eyes" as the title track over this?!
Alright, this is it. Let's promote this song instead.
Finally, after ten years of K-pop fandom, Ms. Kim had found her selling point. Her eyes blazed with fierce determination.
📝 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