Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Assembling Companions for Mongolia
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Yeonwoo decided to go to Mongolia with Olivia Snow.
However, this time, it wouldn't just be the two of them without family.
Jaehoon and the bodyguards would come along, but he planned to bring more people besides them.
Yeonwoo first asked Invincible.
"Aren't you paying too little attention to us these days? We're planning another nationwide tour."
"Ah! I forgot!"
Yeonwoo usually remembered everyone's schedules at his agency. But even he was human.
He forgot things sometimes.
"That's too much. So, you're going to Mongolia?"
"Planning to feel the spirit of Genghis Khan."
"The spirit of Genghis Khan, huh."
Yu Jaehyuk burst out laughing.
"Yeonwoo's sounding pretty fluent now. You could start writing your own lyrics."
"I'm practicing."
"Show me sometime. Anyway... I can't go to Mongolia."
"...Okay."
Things weren't starting off well.
But it was fine. There were still plenty of people left.
Next, he asked Chae Hayeon.
"Mongolia? Sounds fun. I'm in!"
"Yay!"
He'd finally recruited one party member.
Who to call next?
Kim Beomsin? Hadass?
"Sorry, what can I do? The CEO has performances, and the Hadass kids have packed broadcast schedules. Hard to make time."
When he asked Ellis, who was closest, it seemed Kim Beomsin and Hadass were out for his plans.
"What about you, Ellis noona? Come with us. Olivia Snow noona and Teacher Chae Hayeon are going too."
"Me, me?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm..."
Ellis pondered Yeonwoo's offer. She did love traveling.
Overseas trips were a must during breaks.
She'd been everywhere in Western Europe, and parts of Eastern and Northern Europe too.
Of course Canada and the US, Japan, China—all done.
And just recently, she'd done a month-long stay in Southeast Asia.
"I've never been to Mongolia, though. Count me in!"
No hesitation—Ellis joined too.
'This is my chance to get close to Yuin. Might get more help that way?'
There was a bit of calculation, but getting friendly was her top goal.
"Anyone else?"
With Ellis and Chae Hayeon on board, Yeonwoo still wasn't satisfied.
That's when Fuji Wakana came to mind.
Her studio was gone, SSHIN's new building under remodeling, so she was working from home. He sent her a message.
[Noona, wanna go to Mongolia?]
[I don't wanna leave Korea, CEO.]
Her swift reply was a no.
[Knew it.]
[Bring back lots of footage if you go! Fans are complaining no YouTube vids lately.]
[Got it!!]
Yeonwoo pondered again.
"No need to limit to Koreans, right? Olivia noona's coming, so let's ask Japan too."
He turned to Japan.
Tatemura Shuji?
No.
He was older; might make others uncomfortable.
Yeonwoo messaged the Japanese group chat with Yuri, Annosuke, and Himari.
[Himari auntie, bro, noona, Mongolia?]
Himari replied first.
[I'm going to the US... jazz concert...]
Himari was out.
Then Annosuke chimed in.
[Oh, teacher! Have fun! Mongolia?]
[Yeah, bro wanna go?]
[Oh, perfect. We're entering break. Let's go.]
[Why no asking me and saying 'us'?]
[So you not going, Yuri?]
[Of course I'm going. Let's go, Yeonwoo.]
[Okay.]
Yuri and Annosuke were in too.
With his travel companions assembled, Yeonwoo prepared for Mongolia.
First, set the date.
Yuri and Annosuke would come to Korea first to meet Yeonwoo and tour, then all fly to Mongolia on Olivia Snow's plane.
Yeonwoo was thrilled at seeing Yuri and Annosuke after so long.
He researched Korean tourist spots and eateries for them.
Historical sites like Gyeongbokgung seemed good.
Food?
They all ate anything but loved meat best.
Yeonwoo picked Seoul's most famous BBQ spot.
Expensive and renowned, but he wanted to treat the rare visitors to the best.
But that was his limit.
With his limited experience, no better ideas.
He asked his dad after work.
"Dad, Yuri noona and Annosuke bro are coming. Any fun group stuff or food ideas?"
"Group thing?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... It's summer. How about water play, Yeonwoo's favorite?"
"Pool? Too ordinary... not Korean enough."
"Not a pool. A valley stream."
"A valley?!"
Yeonwoo knew what a valley was.
But never thought of playing there.
"Yeah, back in my day, we'd go to the countryside and play in streams. Chicken stew, ice watermelon in the water, splash around. Nothing better for summer."
Jihoon gazed into space, smiling at memories. Yeonwoo nodded.
"I've never tried it, so let's."
"Want me to look it up?"
"I'll ask Jaehoon bro!"
"Sure."
Before asking Jaehoon, Yeonwoo YouTubed valleys.
Reviews, play vids, old TV clips on summer getaways.
Nothing special, but playing and eating amid mountains and nature looked fun.
Olivia Snow heard his plan and said, baffled,
[Putting Damian Cruise to work, while master plans a blast from Korea to Mongolia?]
[No, this is experience, work. For inspiration.]
Olivia Snow just laughed.
* * *
Meanwhile, Damian Cruise directing the debut team's MV blew up after JOP's big promo.
[Damian Cruise to direct JOP's upcoming idol debut MV.]
[World-renowned master, Academy dominator Damian Cruise, takes first-ever MV gig.]
[Damian Cruise: Why I'm directing an MV? Had a deal with Yuin.]
-Damian Cruise directing MV wtf
-JOP insane;;;;
-Wow f***; Yuin plus Damian Cruise;;; Can't fail now?
-Super rookie
-Not the kids; their backers are super
-Idol backed by heavyweights wtf
The debut team, plagued by Saito Riku drama, became "success guaranteed" idols with Yuin's tracks and Damian's direction.
Company poured more cash into the MV budget Damian requested.
Good director meant high-quality vid.
But the team wasn't relaxing.
"Korean idols are all-round entertainers, right? Why's your acting so awful? Do it right, or else. Can't put this trash in my film... he says."
Damian demanded pro-level acting.
He thought he'd lowered standards for idols' debut MV, but it was genius-director standards from watching top actors.
Too high for idols.
"It's an MV, not a movie—what's this director saying...?"
"Draw out the beast hidden in the music...? What?"
"Ask him to skip jargon... What's mise-en-scène?"
The debut team groaned.
Tortured by monster PD Yuin's recording hell, now acting hell.
"Hang in there, kids. Survive this, flower road ahead."
"Is it really flowers?"
"Yeah, Yuin CEO'll keep giving tracks, climb to world star."
Their new manager's words paled their faces.
Recording hell forever?
Great, sure.
But not purely...
Others'd call it ungrateful.
"Yeah, practice."
"Acting practice? Ha... Teacher said no visuals for acting, no lessons..."
"I said variety or acting..."
"Director's glaring. Pretend to practice!"
The debut team grimaced into acting drills.
* * *
As Damian dove into MV shooting, Yeonwoo chilled at the valley.
[Bro, what do you eat at valleys in Japan?]
Shivering from icy water that prickled scalp just dipping toes, blue-lipped from play, Yeonwoo bit watermelon and asked Annosuke.
Annosuke paused mid-gorge.
"Hmm, usually salt-grilled ayu fish? Went sometimes as kid. Not sure nowadays?"
[Noona, Okinawa?]
[Ocean right by home, played beach as kid. No valley memories.]
[I see.]
Yeonwoo nodded, spotting Jaehoon approaching and stood.
[Everyone, stop playing! Chicken stew's done!]
They'd booked a pension near a Seoul valley.
Jaehoon stewed while they played.
[Coming! Let's go. Noona! Get out! Let's go!]
Yeonwoo called to Olivia Snow floating mid-stream.
She swam ashore.
[Noona's good at swimming?]
[Told you, love water. Valley play's the best.]
[No valleys like this in US?]
"Well, rivers, lakes yeah. But deep mountains? Nah, bears and wildlife."
Japan and US rarely did deep-mountain streams due to bears, etc.
Annosuke's valleys were safe foothills, not deep like this.
No place like Hokkaido for bears.
"Anyway, we leave day after tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah! Why?"
"Dunno, just doesn't feel real."
Mongolia was right around the corner.