Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Let's Poach Some of Their Fans
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Kang Minje whispered softly.
"Actually, they said they didn't want to make this comeback."
Oh.
"Well, they could've earned more if they'd gone to Japan a few more times."
"It's about time for members to start dropping out. But they forced a comeback anyway because they didn't want to lose their spot domestically."
Suddenly Ki Jaeyoon stepped forward and said,
"Bringing something weird like a psychopath concept."
That one's a dud too, huh.
I nodded, recalling the teaser where he'd been flicking his tongue.
"VIP is kept in line by their leader Jeremy."
"The leader must be American."
"Nah, he's just Korean."
Oh.
'Such things are common enough. Zenith is the outlier, with everyone using their real names.'
They must've been going for that international vibe.
But that wasn't the important part.
"Leadership sounds like the military. Makes me think of our seniors."
Their group was Vita... or was it Bika? It'd been a while, so I was a little fuzzy.
The fox kid smirked faintly, probably thinking of them too.
"Vita's Kiki probably had Jeremy as a role model from the start."
Ah, so that's why it always felt half-baked.
"Funny. Can you really lead people like that? I heard Jeremy even pays the members' taxes as their leader?"
"Nope."
Oh dear. No one needs a leader who just bosses people around without extra pay.
'Our leader's way better.'
Kang Minje and I both glanced at Yoo Hajin. The leader was poring over a cue sheet for a kids' show.
Kind, hardworking, looks after everyone. Just keep him from playing the sucker, and he's perfect.
"We're lucky to have Hajin."
"Yeah."
Ruling through virtue beats iron-fisted control any day. What is this, a dictatorship in a Confucian country?
"Still, VIP's been fine up until now. Why the sudden infighting?"
"Control always slips toward the end."
I nodded.
"Probably all their bottled-up resentment finally boiled over."
"Yeah, fair enough. Makes sense. Better to drop singles in Japan than drag a psychopath track back home. They'll just lose ground for nothing."
To us, that is.
"But VIP's still a powerhouse."
"I know. But there's a crack now."
"True. Ah, I heard their fans are starting to get snippy with ours—probably sensing their own base shaking."
Oh.
"I'm always sorry to our fans. They keep showing up to rewrite the comments every time some nasty article drops."
"We just need to step up our game."
I nodded.
"Ultimate goal's to devour VIP, but I've got a short-term target too."
I could feel Kang Minje's gaze on me.
"Let's poach some of their fans."
The fox kid grinned.
"How?"
"Easy win. We pour everything into our fresh rookie energy on stage. They're slacking off. The fans who pick up on it will hedge their bets... and eventually jump ship."
Of course, that was just the surface level.
How do we actually devour VIP properly?
'Time to shore up the foundation.'
We've built solid, but it's still not enough.
"Let's ramp up the content. Existing fans, new converts—they all need more to enjoy."
More entertainment is always better.
"You mean SNS?"
"SNS included. Stuff like that kimbap rolling video."
Even Chief Director would have to take a proposal like that seriously.
'What kind of hook?'
Something that plays up the members' personalities, feels rewarding, heartwarming, cozy.
'Variety's full of concepts like that.'
I recalled the video trends from ten years ahead. Mukbangs and pets were huge.
'Pets are solid, but we're too busy. Can't just grab one irresponsibly. Mukbang's fine. Should I hit up Taejin?'
Parenting vlogs came after that.
'Way out of reach right now.'
There's one babyish guy around... maybe raise him instead.
I let out a chuckle. It was a dumb idea, even coming from me.
That was when Ki Jaeyoon's voice rang out from behind me.
"Aaack! Lost the game again! Damn it! Just you wait! Dropping 300k cash today!"
I turned to look at the monkey.
'Nah. This is a good idea. Could totally raise him.'
I kept my eyes fixed on Ki Jaeyoon. Completely clueless to my thoughts, he just kept mashing at his smartphone.
I turned to Kang Minje next to me and asked,
"Minje hyung. Has Ki Jaeyoon's singing gotten any better?"
"Jaeyoon? He's weird. Seems like he's improving, but every time we record, he slides right back. Not easy to regress that consistently."
Oh.
'Found it. Perfect hook.'
Something anyone could get a kick out of, and feel proud. I flashed Kang Minje a bright smile.
"Thinking of pitching something to Chief Director, but I'll need Minje hyung to put in some work."
"Huh? Me?"
"It'll be a hassle, but it'll fill out our content big time."
Kang Minje was about to ask more when a staffer spoke up.
"Zenith, get ready for main broadcast."
Oh.
"I'll fill you in later."
I stood with a smile. Then I quietly grabbed Ki Jaeyoon's shoulder. It was already lower than mine, the shoulder that'd once towered over me.
"Jaeyoon-ah."
"Huh? What?"
"Let's do great."
I beamed at him, and his face went sheet-white.
"Wh-why! Cha Dowon! Did I screw up? Scary! Cut it out!"
Huh.
"D-did I eat those snacks yesterday or something? I snuck 'em, how'd you know?"
Oh. Hadn't even clocked that one—the thief's own foot burns him.
Right on cue, Leader hyung's yell echoed out—Ki Jaeyoon's dedicated handler.
"Jaeyoon, you ate snacks? I told you no!"
I shook my head as Hajin hyung launched into his nagging. Looked like a long road ahead.
***
Zenith took the stage. A pleasant tension ghosted across my back.
I raised my head, locked eyes with fans, and they screamed.
Kyaaak—Kuuuaak—
A laugh bubbled up naturally.
'Cue sheet was kinda brutal.'
Recording drags on forever, but in the broadcast, VIP came right after us.
What to do.
VIP had gone slack overseas, senses dulled—they weren't likely to outshine us.
Same-week comeback, slotted back-to-back, and comparisons were inevitable, senior or not.
'VIP fans waiting for their comeback stage will end up seeing ours too.'
The music kicked in. I eased into the moves.
Arms extended, I dropped into a squat on thigh power alone. Rebounded straight into the next step.
Camera swooped close. I snapped open the umbrella I'd been holding. Not handmade by some intangible cultural treasure—no, cheap factory stage prop.
'Lightweight, though.'
Made it easy to move.
That's when the camera lens swung my way. Sharp eyes caught it—close-up.
'Hello, VIP fans.'
I smiled with all my heart.
Jumped and spun in place. Kept arms precise, took a step back.
'We'll give it our all, so come on over.'
I reached out toward the camera.
'Look at me.'
The music swelled. I raised the umbrella again. Cheers built louder. It wasn't just our fans screaming now.
'Feelin' good yet?'
The choreography ramped up. I shifted expressions to match the lyrics. The god's face, yearning for his lover—lonely, heartbreaking.
Final pose, umbrella down. Members' breaths mingled as the lights cut.
Cheers erupted again.
"Kyaaaa!"
Comeback stage over. I stood and met the eyes of the screamers.
'Nice to meet you.'
Please watch us pretty.
Staff yelled for us to come down. I turned with a smile. The cheers refusing to die—it felt great.
***
"Dowon-ah. Minje-ya. Sudden schedule popped up."
Manager burst in panting while we changed.
"What?"
"Night variety. You know it? Stereo Star?"
Aha.
I nodded. Pre-regression, it'd hit its fifteenth anniversary.
'Not as intense as it sounds.'
Four MCs roasting the guests—that was the show's core.
'Ran forever, though.'
MCs rotated, but the format held.
'Ratings stayed sky-high.'
No reason to hesitate.
"I'll do it. Me and Minje hyung?"
"Ah, we weren't originally slotted."
Manager let out a deep sigh.
"VIP requested it. What to do—scared, wanna bail?"
Oh.
I shook my head.
"I wanna go. What kind of special?"
"Veteran vs. rookie special. Stereo Star team's hyped, says it'll be fun."
Fun, huh.
I tugged at Kang Minje's clothes.
"How 'bout you, hyung? They called just us two."
"Hmm, think it's worth going. Stereo Star's got a huge fixed audience."
"Might get roughed up."
The fox kid smiled faintly.
"Fine by me. Hiding out ain't my style."
I narrowed my eyes.
'Pre-regression Kang Minje would've turned it down flat...'
What gives?
"Besides, even if I bail, you'd go solo anyway, right Dowon?"
"Obviously."
Kang Minje grabbed my arm.
"Knew it, right on brand."
"That show's ratings are killer."
"Let's go together. Can't leave you hanging with the worry."
Worry, my ass.
"I can handle solo fine."
The fox kid turned to the manager.
"See, Manager hyung? Can't send Dowon alone. Count me in too."
"Uh, alright."
Manager suddenly sniffled.
"Sniff. You guys have such great friendship."
Where?
Kang Minje jumped right in.
"Ah. When's the Stereo Star shoot?"
"Tomorrow."
Oh. Quick turnaround.
"Smells like a last-minute sub."
"Feels like VIP dragging us to hell."
Kang Minje whispered with a soft laugh.
"Pretty much. Ah, can't wait!"
Can't wait?
Weird. Why's he into this?
'Pretty sure he hated these mind games...'
I scanned Kang Minje up and down.
'They say people who suddenly change their ways drop dead soon...'
Health check time?
He flashed a bright smile at my skeptical stare. Gave me chills—I scratched at my arms.
***
Pinch hitter or invite?
Curiosity cleared up fast. I suited up and stretched. Rolled my shoulders, clothes dipped then rose.
'Still that deep-cut style.'
Just a different color from the movie premiere.
Stylist noona's been stuck on these lately.
'Whatever...'
I blinked my eyes shut then open. Makeup freshly done.
Kang Minje was next to me, scanning the script. I said to him,
"This show's MCs are hilarious."
Kang Minje glanced at the cue sheet.
"Ah, the no-waiting-room-greeting thing?"
"Said they can't go hard on guests if they greet 'em, so they skip it entirely."
Quirky variety for sure. Kang Minje swept back his hair and murmured,
"Pre-interview was quirky too."
I nodded.
"Yeah. Caught me off guard."
First show where the writers grilled so relentlessly. Wouldn't let vague answers slide.
"Gotta brace ourselves."
I said to my mirror reflection.
"This slot's a pinch, right?"
The fox kid laughed and nodded.
"Feels like it?"
"VIP called us on purpose, yeah?"
"Seems that way."
No need to wait and see. I flipped my phone to cheat mode.
'What cheat to use.'
What'd screw over the VIP punks most efficiently?
'Stockpiled plenty for today.'
Three cheats remaining. I tapped the screen quietly.
[cheat mode 0/3]
[Cha Dowon, Kang Minje feel no pain for 5 hours.]
[Changed. Side effect: nape stings for 5 min starting 5 sec from now.]
[cheat mode 1/3]
There, minimal insurance.
I gripped my wrist hard. Hurt like hell, but zero pain.
'Feels like a game berserker.'
The type that charges no matter how much it hurts.
Not bad at all. Perfect for a scrap.
That's when the staffer opened the door.
"Zenith, get ready."
"Yes."
Kang Minje stood. I whispered softly,
"Not scared?"
"Why would I be? Pumped."
VIP steak waiting on Stereo Star.
'Goal's fan poaching.'
VIP won't hand 'em over easy, though.
'Doesn't matter.'