Fan Frenzy and the Trembling Meridians
Suhyeon hurriedly turned the car around and raced back to the hotel. With quick steps, he headed straight to the waiting room they'd used during the press conference.
Upon arriving, he quickly scanned the room. Seong Kang-ho and Kim Hae-su were seated in chairs, fully made up, fiddling with their phones as they waited for him.
Spotting Suhyeon, Seong Kang-ho raised his hand high and called out loudly.
"There you are, Suhyeon. Sorry for calling you back like this."
"No worries, hyungnim. Sorry to keep you waiting. I turned the car around the second I got the call and floored it here... Did they really say I had to be there?"
"Yeah. The internet's blowing up with news about you right now, so the PD in charge flipped their script. I've been pushing for days that it'd be better with you there too... But up until this morning, they ignored me flat-out, and now they change their tune? People, I swear. Should've listened to me from the start..."
As Seong Kang-ho grumbled on in a voice full of complaint, Kim Hae-su cut in from beside him.
"Quiet down! It's good we're doing it together with Suhyeon now, isn't it? We're already way behind schedule, so let's hurry up, everyone."
Suhyeon entered a hotel room with Seong Kang-ho and Kim Hae-su. A simple interview set had already been set up inside for filming.
As soon as they arrived, a woman who appeared to be the interviewer approached, bowing her head.
"I'm so sorry. The head PD called in a rush and insisted I bring Suhyeon too for the interview. I know you're all busy—truly sorry."
Stepping forward as the group's rep, Seong Kang-ho flashed a grinning face, acting like he'd never been annoyed at all, and replied smoothly.
"Nah, no problem at all. Having Suhyeon join us is even better for promoting the drama from our side. We've got plenty of time, so take it easy and do the interview at your pace."
"Oh my, oh my. As expected of a ten-million actor—such poise... Thank you so much for understanding. I'll do my best to wrap it up quickly."
A moment later, they clipped on mics, sat in position, checked audio levels, and meticulously confirmed the lighting before the interview began.
At that very moment, as Suhyeon was giving an interview to KBC's Entertainment Relay to promote his drama, a young woman in a two-story building behind Gangnam Cheongdam-dong's luxury street was grinning from ear to ear, unable to contain her joy.
Kang Seonghui, the 28-year-old owner of a nail salon that occupied the entire first and second floors, had been a die-hard fan since Suhyeon's debut. She was currently the president of his fan club.
As news praising Suhyeon flooded the internet like a tidal wave, Kang Seonghui clutched her phone, unable to stifle her bursting laughter.
After skimming the articles, she swiftly linked them and bombarded her SNS with posts, determined not to miss the chance.
After furiously posting articles for a while, Kang Seonghui suddenly thought of her high school bestie and archnemesis, Park Sujung.
'Park Sujung, you bitch... You always ragged on me for liking Suhyeon, saying he's dumb and has a shitty personality. Where'd you get that crap from? Time to eat crow today.'
Kang Seonghui steadied her breath, calmly dialed Park Sujung's number, and waited.
A few rings later, the other side picked up.
"Hey, I'm swamped. Why're you calling?"
"Oh my, friend. You sound busy? I called 'cause I had something urgent to say—what to do?"
"...Haa. I saw the news too. Don't try to rub it in, you."
"Oh, really? Then should I hang up?"
"Sigh. Fine, friend. Guess I owe you. I'm seriously busy, so you get ten minutes. Spill it all."
... (excerpt) ...
"So that's why I called to personally correct your wrong ideas, nice and friendly-like."
"...Time's up. Fine, my bad. Friend, I sincerely reflect and apologize. And I won't say crap like that again. Happy now? I'm really busy..."
"Got it. Can't help if you're busy. Talk tomorrow."
"You... Planning to brag tomorrow too? Whatever, bitch. Don't call for a while!"
"Oh, what a riot. Wasn't it you who said friends should stay in touch often? See you tomorrow." Click.
Kang Seonghui hung up with a refreshed face, like she'd flushed away a decade-old grudge. Humming a tune, she felt she had to do something for the drama shoot that was making people see Suhyeon anew.
She sat at her computer, logged into the BBG fan cafe, created a chat room, and invited the cafe president and vice-president.
Soon, BBG fan cafe president GoldenOlive and vice-president HalfHalfOnly joined the chat and started talking.
After a serious discussion among the three, they reached a conclusion.
Logging out of the fan cafe, Kang Seonghui surfed the net for chimaek types and prices to send to the drama set. Behind her, the nail salon staff sighed as they watched.
About an hour into the Entertainment Relay interview, Suhyeon climbed into the car where Baek Seongcheol waited, looking exhausted.
"How'd the interview go, Suhyeon? Hmm? What's with that face?"
"Haa... They dragged out an interview that's barely a few minutes long. And they made us do every damn thing. Felt like a monkey in a zoo."
"What'd they have you do?"
"Mental math, Sudoku, ridiculous quizzes... Barely asked about the drama, just annoying stuff. Probably won't even air most of it. By the end, I was relieved they didn't ask for impressions."
"Aw, come on, Suhyeon. Cut 'em some slack. From their side, they gotta go for entertainment value. You got no acting creds yet—gotta have material to ask about. Nail this drama big, and it'll change. Just tough it out this once."
"Sigh. Guess so..."
"Yeah, yeah. Still, appearing on Entertainment Relay as an actor? That's something. Plenty of film actors never get on there no matter how long they grind. Not just anyone can."
"Got it, hyung. How's Luxury Authentic shaping up?"
"Date's set. Shoot in four days, airs next Sunday."
"Hm. Drama premieres Wednesday—timing's awkward. But gotta do at least one, right? For the PD's face..."
"Yeah. You're not even lead, so that much effort's plenty."
"Hyung, before heading to the office, swing by a big stationery store."
"Huh? Why stationery?"
"Gotta bring pottery or a painting, yeah? Can't do pottery, too fiddly—pass. For painting, need tools. Whip up a simple orchid and take that."
"You do Eastern ink painting too? Damn, Suhyeon. You're unreal. What can't you do? Genius thing?"
Suhyeon gave a wry smile at his manager's words, thinking to himself:
My past life's ho was Gujeolyangjang—master of nine excellences: poetry, calligraphy, painting, guqin, arrangements, Go, medicine, wisdom, and martial arts. Especially strategy like Zhuge Liang, fearsome in battle like a general. Our clan alliance leader named it himself. No way hyung knows that.
Suhyeon rode to the stationery store.
Three days had passed since the Special Investigation Headquarters press conference. Suhyeon rose early as usual and practiced Qi Circulation Breathing.
Having finished Meridian Washing and entering Acupoint Activation, he focused on his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, gradually lengthening his breaths.
Then it happened.
Unlike usual, the meridians began vibrating intermittently. Feeling it throughout his body, Suhyeon couldn't hide his excitement.
Finally today? This is the meridian tremor for forming the dantian! The day for Microcosmic Orbit has come.
Suhyeon calmed his momentary thrill and continued the breathing. Soon, his body, filled with accumulated pure qi, began swelling slightly. The pressure brought excruciating pain, as if his vessels would tear.
The crux. One slip here, and qi deviation ends this life too.