Chapter 176: Symposium (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 176: Symposium (5)
At the sudden question regarding the password for the dorm’s shared laptop, the members' eyes all turned toward Kim I-wol.
Kim I-wol, the man currently commanding everyone's attention, remained perfectly composed.
"Yeah, what’s the password?"
Seeing Kim I-wol so nonchalant, Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon immediately pounced on the opportunity to nitpick.
"Did you put this here, Hyung?"
"When?"
"I put it there so I could report you guys to the Sparklers. You guys are the only ones who won't tell me the laptop password."
"I’m sorry, but if you take the conversation in that direction, we’re never going to lose."
Lee Cheong-hyeon crossed his arms and stood in opposition to Kim I-wol. With Kim I-wol standing tall and straight and Lee Cheong-hyeon leaning back with his weight on one leg, they made quite a striking picture.
"I’m the only one who can’t see the meeting minutes right now."
"What are you even going to do with the minutes right now, Hyung? I told you to just rest."
"Are you trying to turn me into a total loafer?"
From the fan seats, shouts of "I-wol, be a loafer! Work less and earn more!" could be heard quite frequently.
"Let’s take this chance to pick sides. Anyone who thinks we should tell I-wol Hyung the password, go to his side. The rest of you, come to mine!"
"You’re going to divide the team like this?"
Kim I-wol spoke as if he couldn't believe it. He looked even more flabbergasted when more than half of the members moved over to Lee Cheong-hyeon’s side.
"Seong-bin, after how well I’ve treated you, you’re doing this to me?"
Kim I-wol spoke with a look of despair. However, Jeong Seong-bin remained firm.
"Please think of this as our way of cherishing you, Hyung."
"You really should have seen your face just now."
It certainly wasn't the expression of someone "cherishing" another. If anything, it was the kind of look someone would have while ordering a subordinate to lock someone away in a UA-style underground prison.
Still, acting as a true friend, Choi Je-ho stayed by Kim I-wol’s side.
Kim I-wol looked back at Choi Je-ho standing behind him.
"Why are you..."
It wasn't that Kim I-wol found him particularly reassuring, though.
Choi Je-ho didn't look like he had put much deep thought into his choice either.
"If they keep refusing to give you the password, you’re just going to borrow another one from the office anyway."
"...You heard that?"
"Yeah."
Choi Je-ho replied as if he were beyond being fed up. It seemed he had overheard I-wol asking a company staff member to lend him another laptop.
I’d heard stories about how stubborn Kim I-wol could be, but I didn't realize it was to this extent. Is he possessed by a ghost that died from being unable to work?
Only after the members and fans had collectively "kneaded" the crazed Hyung did Kim I-wol finally give up on his resolution to rent a new laptop.
If only the manager of my team worked even half as much as Kim I-wol. It was a painful thought, but Won Chae-hee decided to stop thinking and just enjoy the happiness of the moment.
"Oh, right. Did you guys see the self-produced content that went up recently?"
"We saw it!"
Won Chae-hee had seen that particular content too. It was the episode where Spark went to a daycare center.
She couldn't help but watch it, as clips of the adorable children had been circulating everywhere. The tall men flailing around behind the kids were an added bonus.
However, the Spark members themselves seemed surprised.
"Really? You’re sure you saw the daycare center content?"
"Yeah!"
"How?"
How? On MeTube, obviously...
Both the members and the fans were left in a state of confusion. Then, Jeong Seong-bin pointed toward the projector.
"Are you sure you saw this behind-the-scenes footage?"
It was a thumbnail she had never seen before. It was titled: 'Spark’s Hilarious Daycare Adaptation – The Untold Stories.'
"No, we haven't!"
"It's my first time seeing it!"
"Play it right now!"
Are these guys teasing the fans? I’ll have to punish them with some top-tier reactions. The Sparklers steeled their resolve.
The video that played shortly after was a total chaotic mess.
『Customer, which pin would you like me to decorate you with?』
『Is there even any room left on my head...?』
Starting with Park Ju-woo, who looked like a cactus, his presence was extraordinary. Even his reason for choosing a pin was delicate.
『Well, since it’s autumn, maybe a chestnut...』
『No. I’m going with the watermelon!』
...Of course, all his suggestions were rejected by the hairstylist, Director Park (Age 5). Regardless, he did get to experience the act of choosing.
The person two seats over from Chae-hee bit their lip while clutching a Chinchilla doll. It seemed Park Ju-woo was their bias. A watermelon hairclip would likely be pinned to that Chinchilla doll’s head very soon.
Still, it was nice to see him doing his best to play along despite his introverted personality. In particular, when Park Ju-woo re-tied the hair of a child whose hairband had come loose, groans of adoration erupted from all sides.
And what about Jeong Seong-bin? Fans, who had only ever seen the leader’s gentle side, had to witness the deep rift between a strict Seong-bin and the children who, unlike the Spark adults, ignored him and refused to listen.
『I don't like Teacher because he keeps scolding me!』
『But if you don't brush your teeth, you'll get cavities...』
『I hate brushing my teeth too!』
Jeong Seong-bin, sending out SOS signals with his eyes, was quite pitiful. Watching the process of him becoming a master of childcare was incredibly entertaining.
He was naturally kind-hearted. The children picked up on that fairly quickly. When one of the kids said they wanted to grow up to be just like Teacher, both the Jeong Seong-bin on screen and the Sparklers off-screen had to hold back their ugly crying.
But the highlight of the daycare content was undoubtedly Choi Je-ho.
At least, that’s what Won Chae-hee dared to think. No one would have expected Choi Je-ho—who spoke in short, clipped sentences even with his own members—to communicate so smoothly with children.
『Teacher, your legs are so long~ and your hands are so big!』
Even though the child was talking about Choi Je-ho’s hands and legs, the camera was focused squarely on his face. It was as if someone had ordered, "The face... focus primarily on the face...!"
In the midst of that, a voice that was 90% breath and 10% soul pierced through the back of her head.
"He's fucking handsome, goddamn..."
Even though it was someone else's monologue, Won Chae-hee almost nodded in agreement. When Choi Je-ho brought out a tail comb and hairpins to style the children’s hair similar to his own, all she could see were his forearms. She was starting to get confused about whether this was a fan meeting or an eye clinic.
The Kkot-nim Class superstar Kang Gi-yeon and the Kkot-nim Class maestro Lee Cheong-hyeon were also wonderful. What is everyone in the world doing, not filming commercials with these kids and Spark...
『The babies are so small.』
Finally, Kim I-wol appeared.
At the same time, Kim I-wol displayed a miraculous feat of stumbling and dodging through the running children, unable to take a single proper step.
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was watching the video with them, burst into laughter.
"Hyung, why were you walking around like that?"
"I was afraid I’d bump into them."
"True, the kids were really small."
Hearing those words come out of the mouth of a 183cm man was just too good.
After that, Kim I-wol continued to use all sorts of expressions from the corner of the camera, never stopping his commentary on the tiny beings.
『I’ll wipe that off your face, so just wait a second. ...Oh my, your cheeks are so soft. I’m shocked.』
『I saw it earlier; they were holding a cup this small with both hands. Their hands are total baby hands.』
『Why is there a handkerchief wrapped around your neck? In case you drool? ...Ah, so you don't catch a cold? You really are all just babies.』
『Is this the snack tray? Oh my god, it’s so cute.』
It wasn't anything new for Kim I-wol to gush over things.
However, since that had always been directed at grown men, his main expressions were usually "handsome" or "sculpted by God."
But a Kim I-wol with the word "cute" constantly on his lips? That was a rare sight.
Feeling that Kim I-wol genuinely found the children adorable, the fans happily watched his "Aren't our kids the cutest?" talk show.
Ah... I wish he could just go to work at a daycare center every day...
Leaning back in her comfortable chair, Won Chae-hee thought seriously. She was so happy it brought tears to her eyes.
After playing games and doing various other activities, it was finally time for the fan meeting to come to an end.
"Sparklers, what are you doing after the fan meeting? Do you have to go somewhere right away?"
"We rented this place for a very generous amount of time..."
Kang Gi-yeon and Park Ju-woo mentioned overtime with nonchalant faces. Looking at their expressions, they really didn't seem tired at all. Spark hadn't shown pride in their practice hours in the Idol Dynasty Annals for nothing.
Only the fans, who had planned to have a group gathering at a gopchang restaurant while waving their group-purchased cotton dolls after the fan meeting, shed tears of joy and sorrow simultaneously.
"How long does it take to get home? We shouldn't hold you for too long, right?"
"Noona has her own car, so stay as long as you want!"
Was that the person who was throwing straight punches earlier? Now, everyone felt like a professional puncher to Won Chae-hee.
Anyway, it’s about time...
Won Chae-hee checked the clock.
It was time for that to happen.
"Then let’s talk and play a little more. That’s okay, right?"
Just as Jeong Seong-bin was about to pull his chair toward the edge of the stage, all the lights in the hall went out. It was part of a surprise event the fans had prepared in advance.
"Huh?"
The confused voices of the members flowed through the microphones.
You’re surprised, aren't you, boys? Well, anyone would be startled if the lights suddenly went out.
At that moment, Kim I-wol’s voice was heard.
"Everyone, it seems there’s a temporary problem. Moving around in the dark can be dangerous, so please stay seated for a moment. Staff, please check the situation outside."
Kim I-wol’s voice was calm and composed.
"If anything happens, we will guide you out immediately, so could you please wait just a moment? We will resolve this as quickly as possible. We’re sorry for startling you."
It sounded like he had moved the mic away from his mouth, but Won Chae-hee clearly heard him telling the members, "Don't panic."
And the "resolution" happened very quickly. The Reverse VCR prepared by the fans began to play.
『Spark’s 1st Fan Meeting Celebration VCR
(Note: Might be more amateurish than what I-wol planned)』
"What is this?"
Choi Je-ho asked in a hesitant voice.
"It’s a gift!"
At the fans' answer, the members gathered one by one in front of the projector.
Several photos and messages of support passed by along with the instrumental of Spark’s debut song.
『To our best eldest brother, I-wol, thank you for always being Spark’s roof ♡』
『Je-ho, you are Spark’s identity! Spark shines because you are here!』
『Thank you for being a leader the fans can trust and rely on. We love you, Seong-bin.』
『Ju-woo, we start and end our day with your voice! Let’s sing forever!』
『To the most dazzling Cheong-hyeon, may your future be even more brilliant than you are!』
『Our Gi-yeon, the final treasure indispensable to the team, never forget that everyone cherishes you.』
When the video ended, the lights in the venue came back on.
"We love you, guys!"
Cheers erupted from the audience.
The expressions on the members' faces as they turned around said everything.
—
Profile
Name: Kang Gi-yeon
Birthday: December 29
Birthplace: Incheon
Height: 176cm
MBTI: ISTJ
Nicknames: King Cute Kang Gi-yeon, Definite Young Northern Duke, Ice Tanghulu, Model Delinquent
Likes: Comic books, delicious food, running
Dislikes: Sad movies, injuries, people you can't communicate with
Motto: Today's effort creates a better tomorrow
Favorite Food: Bunsik (Korean snack food)
Preferred Scent: The scent of commercial fabric softener
Favorite Music Genre: Hip-hop
Favorite Sport: American football
Body Part He’s Confident In: Abs
Personal Habit: Sometimes watches the members from behind while they are practicing