Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Video Call Fan Sign
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After a quick dinner at the company cafeteria, the members and I split up for the video call fan sign.
As I sat down, a staff member quickly set up the camera.
“We'll give you a signal when it's been five minutes. You'll need to wrap up your goodbyes then.”
“Okay.”
Being in this position naturally reminded me of the time I went live to make an apology.
The setup was so similar to back then.
‘Maybe it's because I ran into my former manager today.’
I thought I'd never have to see them again.
But today, I learned that I was wrong.
‘It's not like he would have left the company on his own, so I guess it was impossible to avoid him completely.’
Of course, I never dreamed that the reason he was at the broadcast station was to participate in ‘Twisty Puzzle’ as the manager of a new group.
I already knew LM Entertainment was preparing a new boy group.
They'd released articles about it, and since I had experienced the future where they had already selected trainees to promote as the second generation of GANGSTER-M, there was no way I wouldn't know.
Their debut song would probably be the same one I released when I resumed activities as GANGSTER-M's second generation.
‘Chemistry.’
It was an intense, hip-hop-based track that suited the name GANGSTER-M well.
‘The song itself was good. If it hadn't been for the agency's response, there's no way it would have been buried like that.’
Now that I'm gone from the equation, I wonder if they'll do well this time.
The reasons for the failure of GANGSTER-M's second generation were the agency's handling of the situation and my own existence.
Even I couldn't deny that fact.
So now that the future has changed, their outcome is bound to be different.
Even their group name is different.
‘Zero to the Boy.’
It was a group name that didn't exist in my memory at all.
‘Still, I hope they do well. They weren't always so on edge.’
During my trainee days, I was in the debut lineup for GANGSTER-M.
So, while I wasn't particularly close with Ji Hyun-soo, Kim Tae-wan, and Jung Seok-hyung, we would at least exchange simple greetings.
Even after hearing we'd be promoting in the same group, things weren't bad.
‘In fact, we were on pretty good terms. They even comforted me.’
“Hyung, we know you didn't do it.”
“That's right. You didn't do anything wrong.”
“Don't be discouraged. If you keep working hard, everyone will eventually understand.”
But as they grew weary from continuous failure and ridicule, they became more and more sensitive, which inevitably led to that final outcome.
“We'll start now.”
While I was lost in thought, it was already time to begin the video call fan sign.
“Okay.”
Feeling nervous, I swallowed dryly and straightened my posture.
A staff member fiddled with something, and although the screen was still black, I could hear ambient sounds.
A moment later, a fan's face appeared.
—Hi!
She looked to be in her early twenties.
With a stiff, awkward smile, she waved at me.
“Hello.”
I waved back with the brightest smile I could manage.
—*Hooo...*
The fan let out a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?”
Her pupils dilated, as if she hadn't expected me to speak first.
—Yeah. I'm a little shaky.
“That's understandable.”
After exchanging a few words, I could see her gradually starting to relax.
—If there's a song you've been listening to a lot lately, could you sing a line for me?
As if to express her earnest plea, the fan raised her index finger and let her eyebrows droop.
It wasn't a difficult request.
After a moment's thought, I opened my mouth.
—The scent of freesia drifting on the breeze
—Gently pulls the corners of my lips up
There was no particular reason I sang that song.
It was just the first thing that came to mind.
—Wow!
The fan clapped her hands enthusiastically and cheered.
Seeing her so happy made me feel good too.
—Yoon-seul, you're the youngest, right? So could you do something cute, like the youngest member should?
Acting cute.
Perhaps because of GANGSTER-M's image, it was an awkward word for me, as I'd never really tried to act cute before.
But for a fan who had spent her money and time on me, there was nothing I wouldn't do.
‘Acting cute, how hard can it be?’
I raised my hands above my head to form puppy ears and said, "Woof."
I was copying a pose I'd seen another idol do on social media, which had gotten a great response.
—So cute! What am I going to do?
The fan reacted enthusiastically.
“Was that okay?”
In response to my question, she nodded vigorously.
—Yoon-seul! Do you like pineapple on pizza?
The fan suddenly asked about my food preferences in a hurried voice.
Since the time was limited to five minutes, it seemed she wanted to ask as many questions as possible.
“I don't love it, but I don't hate it either.”
My answer made the corner of the fan's eye twitch briefly.
—I-If Yoon-seul likes it, I'll try to like it too. I can eat it. I'm an adult, after all.
“I don't like it that much, so you don't have to force yourself. You don't have to like the same foods I do. In fact, I'll just stop eating pineapple on pizza starting today.”
The fan placed both hands on her chest, looking touched.
—Still, I'll try it again today. People's tastes change, you know. I used to hate it, but maybe I'll like it now.
It didn't seem like she would change her mind no matter what I said, so I just nodded.
It's not like eating pineapple pizza is a bad thing.
‘Isn't pineapple good for you? I think I heard it's good for digestion.’
*Knock, knock.*
A staff member lightly tapped the desk with their fingers.
It was a signal that time was almost up.
—Aw, that's a shame.
The fan seemed to have noticed the signal too, expressing her disappointment.
“Let's see each other again next time. Not through a screen, but in person.”
As I said that, I leaned closer to the camera lens.
—Yeah! Let's definitely meet. I'll be waiting for that day. Okay, Yoon-seul, don't you ever skip a meal! Have sweet dreams. What else? Oh! Don't get hurt and be happy!
The fan's wishes for my happiness, like a fairy's blessing, made me laugh out loud.
“You too, BRAVE. Eat well, have sweet dreams, don't get hurt, and be happy. Promise.”
I held out my pinky finger to the camera as I spoke.
—Yeah! I promise. Bye.
And with that, my first video call fan sign ended.
‘Is it okay for me to receive so much love while getting paid for it? I'm so grateful.’
The fan's wholehearted support and affection left a deep, lingering impression on me. I was so thankful.
‘When I get paid, I have to give back to the fans.’
I took a sip of water, resolving to prepare an amazing reverse tribute for the fans on the day I receive my first paycheck.
‘I wonder if the other members are doing okay.’
* * *
After the video call fan sign ended, fans began posting their reviews one by one.
[I asked Eun-woo to sing a song from his old group, and he sang it right away. Why are these guys so sweet? (Edited clip from the video call fan sign) I think I can live off this memory for the rest of my life.]
↳Seriously, why are they so sweet?
↳They're all so sweet, they'll do anything you ask.
↳Idols who cherish their fans this much are so rare. So precious.
[I came all the way to Japan because I wanted to show Haru something. I waited in the park he said he used to visit as a kid and asked, "Doesn't this place look familiar?" and he covered his mouth in shock! (Screenshot of Haru covering his mouth) This is the sight I flew all the way to Japan for. So worth it. The trip to Japan was totally worth it.]
↳You went to Japan for a video call fan sign?
↳Whoa. That's insane... To think you'd go to Japan. The dedication is unreal.
↳While I was there, I followed in Haru's footsteps. It was bliss. The trip was so healing.
↳I totally get Haru's expression. I would've reacted the same way.
[Ho-jun... Ho-jun is so kind. No, I think because all the guys went through a long period of being unpopular, they truly understand how precious fans are.]
↳Right... He said that he can only exist because the fans exist... Seriously...
↳The survival show probably had a big impact too. That was a place where you could only survive if you were popular.
↳True. Our boy came from a place where they'd line people up and openly announce their ranks.
[I thought I was going to have a heart attack because of Yoon-seul. Seriously. Ever since he became the youngest, he's gotten even more dangerously charming. They say the position makes the man. He leans right into the camera, makes eye contact while talking... Mom, thank you. For letting me be born in the same generation as Yoon-seul. (Screenshot of Yoon-seul's face close to the camera) And when I asked him to act cute, he made puppy ears...! Isn't he a genius? A genius puppy! How did he even think of making that with his hands? (Edited video of Seo Yoon-seul making puppy ears with his hands and saying 'woof')]
↳Seriously. What is that? What's with that gaze? Even my mom doesn't look at me like that.
↳I'm so happy because the boys' love for their fans is overflowing.
↳Hah. Seriously. Yoon-seul. If you act like this, I have no choice but to love you even more.
[The staff suddenly cut in and wasted my time. I wanted to talk to just Ji-ham for the whole 5 minutes, but what is this? (Edited recording from the video call fan sign.)]
↳Did you post this yourself? Not the company?
↳Um. I think the staff cut in because they had a reason to? What exactly are you complaining about?
↳I didn't say anything lewd or curse, so what was so wrong? Why is everyone being like this?
Those who watched the video were pouring out their intense anger.
[Wow. Can people like that even function in society? I've seriously never seen someone so unreasonable...]
↳You, who went out of your way to write a post criticizing someone else, don't seem to have a great personality either?
↳I didn't even mention a name, but the fact that you came here and left this comment suggests you're in no position to talk.
↳Sigh. Today was such a good day, and someone had to come and ruin it. Just ruin it.
↳I think she knows she did something wrong. That's why she's going around acting all defensive even though I didn't name anyone.
The appearance of one controversial fan instantly threw the atmosphere into disarray.
[I think I've heard that person's voice somewhere before? Why does it sound so familiar? Why is that? I've been a fan of Ji-ham since his first year after debut. As you all know, our fan club is pretty small, right? So we all kind of know each other. Ah. First, let me check if my suspicion is correct. Wait a sec.]
↳What is it?
↳What's going on...? What's happening?
↳Why would you start to say something and then just leave? I'm curious. I'm so curious.
↳When are you coming back? You are coming back, right? If your guess was wrong, can you at least say you were mistaken? I can't sleep when I'm curious about something.
↳Wait... are you suspecting *that* person too? If so, send me a private message!
↳Wait. Is that person famous? What in the world is going on?
Amidst the chaos, people who seemed to know the fan's identity began to appear one by one.
Many people left comments asking them what was going on, but for a long while, there was no reply.