Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Showcase Surprise
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Answer, who had been crying at the audience's reaction, suddenly turned and rushed toward us backstage, assaulting us.
The audience, not knowing what was happening, began to stir, and a barrage of camera flashes from the reporters exploded in our direction.
“Oof! Agh! It hurts! Aah!”
“Hmph! Ugh! Oof!”
Hoping it would help the Answer members feel a little better, Choi Yoo-jun and I took the hits while exaggerating our pain. Ro-si and Seul-bi, finding our act amusing, laughed through their tears.
After taking enough of a beating for Answer to let off their steam, I pulled Choi Yoo-jun to the front of the stage. The members of Answer, finally calm, began wiping away each other's tears.
The on-site MC, sensing the situation, handed me his microphone.
Tap, tap.
I tapped the microphone with my index fingernail to confirm it was on.
-Hello, everyone. I'm Min-jun, Answer's chief manager, and this is Choi Yoo-jun, the field manager.
“We know!”
“You're so handsome!”
“Hahahaha!”
-Thank you.
At the fans' shouts, even the broadcast officials cracked slight smiles.
“Hyung. At this point, don't you think some of the fans are here for you?”
Choi Yoo-jun said as he bowed his head along with me.
“They could be here for you, too.”
Whatever it takes, let's just make this a success.
-We came out because we felt an explanation was needed for this sudden situation.
I started by explaining the recent malicious articles about Answer, how worried the members were about the showcase and the fan club inauguration, and finally, our plan to surprise them.
-I would like to offer my apologies to the members of Answer and to all the fans gathered here today. We were trying to think of a way to bring even greater happiness to Answer, who have worked so hard. We will atone for this at the first opportunity.
As my voice echoed through the microphone, the Isa-nim, who had taken his seat at some point, smiled and gave a slight nod.
“It's okay!”
“It's not okay! Atone!”
Fortunately, the atmosphere in the audience was warm and friendly.
-Then, we'll start with a greeting from the members of Answer...
...I was about to say, but the Answer members were still busy wiping away their tears.
“Don't cry! Don't cry!”
“Stop crying!”
The fans' thunderous shouts erupted, and the Answer members burst into tears all over again.
It's a strange thing, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone stop crying just because they were told not to. If anything, it makes them cry more.
-...We'll have the members give their greetings after they've calmed down a bit. For now, let's watch the music video being unveiled for the first time here at the showcase, along with Answer.
The quick-witted Choi Yoo-jun and the concert staff swiftly brought out chairs. The members of Answer sat down facing the audience, carefully dabbing at their tears before turning their heads toward the screen behind them.
This arrangement, too, was all part of the plan.
We could have shown the video on the displays below the stage so the audience could see the members' faces from the front, but audiences tend to feel a greater connection with artists who are looking at the same thing they are.
Just then, a staff member gestured frantically. It seemed the technical team was having an issue due to the sudden change in schedule.
I raised the microphone I was about to lower.
-This album's title track, 'Answer me now,' is a retro disco song with an '80s and '90s pop feel. It carefully captures the fluttering excitement and tension of wanting one's long-held feelings to be acknowledged and one's wishes to come true, all expressed through the synth. The composition, lyrics, and arrangement were all handled by the recently acclaimed Beat Room. I am confident that it is a work that will satisfy everyone who has graced us with their presence today.
It didn't feel awkward at all to introduce my own musical alias as if it were someone else's.
I was still working as the producer Beat Room, sleeping only four or five hours a day, and the thought of one day landing a decisive blow on Gyeon Sang-jin with that name seemed to conjure up acting skills I never knew I had.
Just in time, the technical team gave the okay sign.
-The music video is now ready. Please experience Answer's tension and excitement along with them.
The Isa-nim and Manager Ji clapped along with the audience, wearing pleased smiles.
“Whoa, hyung. Your hosting skills are insane. You could be an MC.”
Choi Yoo-jun said, giving a thumbs-up.
The screen lit up with the JD Enter logo, and soon, the video began with the sound of white noise, like something you'd hear at a bus stop.
A man in a sharp suit walked past Yi-na, who was in her school uniform. The scene of her clenching her jaw, followed by Ro-si and Seul-bi practicing their dancing after graduation, played out like a movie.
And then, Seol-ah's entrance.
Dressed in a sequined outfit, Seol-ah's elegant walk created an echoing click-clack of her heels.
“Ooooh!”
Gasps of admiration erupted from the audience.
Seol-ah's walk, exuding a fresh yet bold charm, must look incredibly cool.
When the crowd gasped at her scene, Seol-ah's lips curled into a smile even as she wiped away her tears.
♪♬
As Seol-ah approached the heavy club doors, the sound of drums and a synthesizer began to play, as if from a distance.
It was the start of the intro, where automation was applied to a filter (giving different effects over time), causing the muffled synth to gradually become clearer.
The sound, reminiscent of thick, soundproof club doors opening, perfectly synchronized with the on-screen scene of her opening the club doors, creating a fantastic sense of presence.
And then, the four members of Answer took the stage.
Answer's outfits were sequined, but we had personally designed them with current trends in mind, giving them a strong, stylish feel that was simultaneously retro.
“Waaaah!”
At the fans' cheers, the broadcast officials turned to look, their faces asking, 'Was Answer really this popular?'
The reaction surpassed my expectations, and even I felt a lump in my throat.
♪♬
The night begins again
But time is short
My heels will soon break
My heart will break
♪♬
The verse, which started calmly, built into the pre-chorus, and more elements of the track began to play in earnest.
It might have been expected, but the showcase hall's sound system delivered the exact effect I had intended.
“It was a good call to book the Sangam Hall, even if it was a bit expensive, Isa-nim.”
“Yes. It's definitely on another level compared to a movie theater.”
Manager Ji and the Isa-nim were feeling the same thing I was.
♪♬
You, who smiles at me
Time will never come back
You, who smiles at me
My heart is waiting for you
♪♬
As if waiting for the conflict that had built up through the pre-chorus to explode in the chorus, dozens of synth tracks and live instruments all burst forth.
The audience, now captivated by the dancing members of Answer on screen and the mesmerizing sound, waited in dead silence for the hook that would resolve the tension.
♪♬
My love is waiting for you
In this brief darkness
Hold me
My heart is beating for you
From this long wait
Save me
♪♬
“Woaaah.”
At the connected movements of the main choreography, which featured the Answer members' various turns combined with Seol-ah's high note, the audience let out an involuntary cry of amazement.
Reporter Shin Dong-min and a few other journalists had already opened their laptops and were furiously typing out their impressions.
“Hyung. The artists are crying even more. What should we do?”
“...I don't know either.”
After one hook passed, Ro-si's rap part was revealed—powerful and almost intoxicated, unlike her usual self.
♪♬
I came to you as promised.
I'll stand here as promised.
Aren't you proud of me?
I grew up well, right?
You know it's time to catch me, Right?
Don't hesitate.
♪♬
“Ooooh!”
The impact of the flawless rap, with its native-like pronunciation and perfectly executed rhyme and flow, was incredibly powerful.
The moment the music video ended.
An unprecedentedly loud cheer echoed through Sangam Hall.
Then came a short talk session. Questions from the reporters began to pour in.
“According to the circulating rumors, the malicious rumor you recently suffered from originated from Your Girl's side. Do you resent them for it? After all, they are your rivals.”
“The worst person is the one who creates falsehoods in the first place, but we believe those who spread unconfirmed news are just as much at fault. The idea that Your Girl's side spread it is also just a rumor, so we don't particularly resent them. We just hope to foster a healthy competition based on good songs, skill, and who works harder.”
Occasionally, a reporter would ask an unplanned question. The calm Seol-ah handled the sensitive responses.
“Answer gained fame even before your debut, but from your debut until now, you haven't received much of the spotlight. What was the most sorrowful part of that period? For example, a dark and cramped dorm?”
“It definitely wasn't a dark and cramped dorm, but we thought it couldn't be helped. The company was struggling, so we couldn't live in a nice place by ourselves. I think if we work just a little harder, we'll be able to move to a new dorm soon. And the most sorrowful thing wasn't the dorm, it was the food.”
“Ah, because you have to manage your diet, you can't eat as you please, right?”
“Yes, yes! That's why I'm really confident I'd do well on a mukbang or cooking show! If you get the chance, please don't forget to call me, I'm begging you!”
The witty responses that required a bit of sense, like adding in some self-PR, were handled by Seul-bi.
“Hahaha. That sounds like you're asking to be allowed to eat without having to worry.”
“Yeees!”
Seul-bi glanced at the Isa-nim's unreadable expression and stuck out her tongue.
* * *
Having returned to their full form, the members of Answer took their positions to perform the title track, 'Answer me now'.
A moment later, the music started, and the fans' cheers erupted once more.
“Waaaah!”
The full, connected choreography that couldn't be seen in the music video, along with the members' vibrant live vocals, excited the audience even more.
Every time a member's choreography changed, every time the vocal part switched, different fans would burst out in cheers. The men's cheers were focused on Seol-ah and Yi-na, while the women's cheers were overwhelmingly for Seul-bi.
Ro-si's reaction was currently ambiguous. But once her rapping and acting skills become better known, the response will be completely different.
As the second chorus repeated and the song was nearing its end, the music and stage lights suddenly cut out.
A single spotlight soon illuminated Ro-si, and she began to murmur the sharp rap from before, now with a gentle flow.
♪♬
I came to you as promised.
I'll stand here as promised.
Aren't you proud of me?
♪♬
Twing, plink-plink, thrum, thrum-thrum.
Before Ro-si's rap finished, an acoustic guitar began to play on stage. The spotlight that had been following Ro-si moved with her footsteps and stopped in front of Lee Yoo-ah, who was playing the guitar.
Snap.
Lee Yoo-ah sat on a chair, legs crossed. She created a lyrical, slow-go rhythm using an arpeggio technique, plucking each string one by one.
Just then, Ro-si, who had moved behind her, gently embraced Yoo-ah.
It was such a natural scene, like watching a play performed by veteran actors, that even the broadcast officials showed looks of admiration. To see such awe from veterans who had seen hundreds of stages like this... It made my shoulders rise with pride.
The spotlight that had been following Ro-si now settled on Lee Yoo-ah. Ro-si disappeared into the darkness, and now, only the singer-songwriter Lee Yoo-ah remained.
Her performance began.
♪♬
On a day the snow softly falls
A heart-fluttering night under the moon
In my mother's drawer
A faded cassette tape
A young girl's heart, wanting to grow up
A love-struck heart, poured into a notebook
Floating on a beautiful melody
Floating on a shade of pink
♪♬
It was the kind of gentle music one would never imagine seeing at a dance group's showcase, but the calm yet dense aura emanating from Lee Yoo-ah enveloped everyone in the audience.
The crowd, as if mesmerized, was completely drawn into her.