Chapter 298
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: The Fan Meeting Begins
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From Superstar at Age 0
Chapter 298
On the last Sunday of May.
Today was the day of Seojun's fan meeting.
Although he was scheduled to have his hair and makeup done again at the venue, Seojun stood before the mirror, fixing his hair and adjusting his clothes. His heart fluttered with a different kind of excitement than he felt during filming.
An Daho, checking the time, called out to Seojun.
"Seojun. Let's get going."
"Okay."
Seojun and An Daho left the house and got into the car.
An Daho, behind the wheel, turned on some music. At the familiar song, Seojun tapped his foot and began to sing along. It was a song by 'White,' a group also under Cocoa Entertainment, and one he planned to sing at the fan meeting today.
As he sang along for practice, something suddenly occurred to Seojun, and he asked An Daho.
"Daho hyung. Have all the gifts been moved?"
"They should all be there by now."
"There won't be a shortage, right?"
"We prepared extras, so it's fine. Don't worry."
An Daho smiled and continued.
"You just focus on having a great time with your fans, Seojun."
At his dependable manager's words, Seojun beamed.
* * *
A car carrying Kang Taeyoung, with a cap pulled down low and a mask on, and his manager, Joo Yongjin, who was yawning as if exhausted, arrived at the fan meeting venue.
Getting out of the car, Kang Taeyoung said to Joo Yongjin.
"Hyung. I'll call you as soon as it's over."
"Don't take off your hat and mask."
"Got it."
"If you get caught, go straight to Seojun. I've already contacted his manager."
"Got it."
"You have a schedule tonight, so right after... Kang Taeyoung. Are you listening?"
"...No! Hyung, see you later!"
Joo Yongjin had been speaking, but Kang Taeyoung, who had been anxiously watching the Sprouts gathered in front of the venue, bolted towards the entrance. Staring at his retreating back, Joo Yongjin pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Giving out Seojun photocards!"
"Anyone who signed up for the slogan banner!"
"Handing out Naeuiwon transparent photocards!"
The area in front of actor Lee Seojun's fan meeting was buzzing with activity. Song Yujeong and Im Yena, who had come to the fan meeting with clear minds after their university midterms, also wandered around, handing out free merch and buying official goods.
With her paper bag full, Song Yujeong's eyes sparkled, her fan heart full to bursting after a long time.
"A lightstick. Is there no lightstick?"
Wasn't the lightstick the crown jewel of merch?
There was no better piece of merchandise than a brightly shining lightstick, especially one with a central control system.
Im Yena shook her head at Song Yujeong, who was scanning the venue sharply.
"Some actors have them, but it's not common. Seojun doesn't have one either."
"...Should I make one?"
"To wave while watching his dramas?"
Im Yena chuckled.
"When you watch Seojun's work, you won't even have the mind to wave anything."
That was true, so Song Yujeong nodded. But as a former idol fan, she couldn't give up on the idea of a lightstick. Im Yena led the pensive Song Yujeong as they meandered around the front of the venue.
"So they accept gifts at fan meetings?"
Im Yena answered Song Yujeong's question as they took a short break from their energetic wandering.
Both Song Yujeong and Im Yena were holding paper bags with gifts for Seojun. Thanks to Im Yena's tip, Song Yujeong had been able to prepare one too.
"These are small, personal gifts, so I guess Cocoa Entertainment is okay with it. We're also not giving anything too expensive in case they ban this too."
"But the problem is, he doesn't have fan meetings that often."
Startled by the sudden voice, Song Yujeong and Im Yena jumped. Lee Miyeon was smiling brightly as she handed them each a badge.
"Here, take this."
It was a badge from a long time ago, from Seojun's very first fan meeting.
It featured a picture of baby Seojun from the Elephant Milk Formula photoshoot, a gift she had received from a fan walking ahead of her.
"Thank you!"
Song Yujeong and Im Yena's eyes lit up as they accepted the badges. Seeing them reminded Lee Miyeon of her past self, and she smiled warmly.
"Let's keep cheering for our Seojun!"
"Yes!"
"E-excuse me. Can I have one too...?"
Lee Miyeon paused when a man with a cap pulled low and a mask accosted her, but after a moment of scrutiny, she nodded.
Various pieces of Monster Company apparel that Seojun had worn were visible on the man's clothing. Moreover, his shoes were the same sneakers Seojun had worn on 'Bom-dol'. He didn't seem like an unwelcome guest trying to disrupt the fan meeting or someone looking to resell the item.
"Here you go."
"Thank you! Here! I'll give you this!"
The man, holding the baby Seojun badge, brightened up and pulled three photocards from his paper bag. The sight of Seojun in his 'Bom-dol' school uniform, smiling brightly, made Lee Miyeon, Song Yujeong, and Im Yena clutch their hearts.
They had been worried because his face was covered, but he was just another Sprout who loved Seojun.
"Thank you!"
"See you around, then!"
The man carefully pocketed the badge and ran off to trade free photocards and goods with other fans.
The fans, who had been a little hesitant due to his hat and mask, immediately relaxed when they saw the Seojun photocards he offered and recognized the sneakers he was wearing.
"The photocards are bait..."
"Right? Smart."
After Lee Miyeon left to find Park Sunga, Song Yujeong and Im Yena carefully tucked away their baby Seojun badges.
"But I've never seen this picture before."
"Is he a fansite master?"
The Sprouts who received photocards from the man tilted their heads in curiosity.
* * *
Knock, knock.
Seojun, who was practicing a song in the waiting room, raised his voice at the sound of the knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and the cast of the play 'Mirror'—actors Yang Juhee, Kang Jaehan, Park Siyoung, and Jeon Sungmin—entered the waiting room, their faces flushed with excitement.
"Wow. There are so many people out front."
"It's Seojun, so this is to be expected! There are probably even more fans who couldn't make it."
"We came in the Brown Black van, you know?"
"As expected of a celebrity van. It was really nice, right?"
The waiting room instantly became boisterous, making An Daho and the Team 2 staff member who had come with the 'Mirror' cast laugh.
After catching their breath for a moment in the waiting room, the kids opened their bags and took out their scripts. Even though they had practiced until yesterday, they were still nervous. Seojun took out his script as well.
"Shall we do one last practice?"
"There are more people in the audience than at our graduation performance. I don't know if I can do well."
"We have rehearsal time, so it's fine. Of course, we can't do the whole thing, but we can do parts of it."
The kids nodded at Seojun's words.
"Then let's just do the hardest part."
"Which part is the trickiest?"
"I think the part where we all enter together is the most difficult."
Seojun nodded in agreement with Jeon Sungmin's words.
Since they were Seojun's fans, they must have all read the novel 'Mirror' and seen the play. Probably multiple times. Knowing the play's twist, their entrance had to feel natural yet convey a sense of dissonance.
"Right. Let's rehearse that scene. We've been practicing with the twist in mind, so as long as we do as well as we did in practice, we'll be fine."
The kids nodded at Seojun's words.
Seojun and the kids did a table read in the waiting room, then went up to the prepared stage to check their blocking and act out the final scene.
-Arrrggghhh!!!
The staff and event agency employees watching the 'Mirror' team's rehearsal rubbed their arms, which were covered in goosebumps.
Kim Jinwoo, with water from a teacup splashed on his face, was letting out a scream filled with agony.
"...I've watched it a ton on N-tube, but seeing it in person is really different."
"And this is just the rehearsal. The actual performance will be even more incredible."
"If it weren't for work, I'd want to watch it...!"
Even as they voiced their impressions, their eyes remained glued to the stage.
There, on the stage, were actors who filled the vast space with their presence through a single line, a single movement.
* * *
"You may now enter!"
"Please take a gift! One per person!"
The doors opened.
Song Yujeong and Im Yena accepted the paper bags handed out by the staff, their faces flushed. They couldn't look inside right there, so they quickly walked to their seats. Once seated, Song Yujeong and Im Yena opened the paper bags.
"Is this a photocard?"
"Open it!"
At Im Yena's urging, Song Yujeong clutched her pounding heart and carefully opened the paper envelope. I have to keep this envelope too! As she gently pulled out the card inside, a picture of a giggling baby Seojun appeared. Seojun's signature was in the corner of the photo.
"I'm so jealous! It's 48 Hours Seojun!"
Im Yena's eyes sparkled as she looked at Song Yujeong's photocard. According to the analysis of a fan who had rewatched '48 Hours' countless times, it seemed to be a picture of baby Seojun from a scene that had been edited out.
Im Yena quickly took out her photocard as well.
"That's Choi Eunyul, right?"
Song Yujeong, in turn, stared blankly at the photocard in Im Yena's hand.
It seemed to have been newly taken for this photocard; Seojun, or rather, 'Choi Eunyul,' wearing the same clothes as in the practical exam video, was smiling softly in the picture.
Even if they loved the same actor, Lee Seojun, and enjoyed his different works, every fan had a favorite character and project.
Song Yujeong, who had become a fan because of Choi Eunyul, and Im Yena, who had become a fan because of '48 Hours,' looked at each other and silently offered their photocards to one another.
The suspicious man sitting next to Im Yena, Kang Taeyoung, watched them with envy.
'Please. Please...!'
Kang Taeyoung gripped the paper envelope containing the photocard, squeezed his eyes shut, and prayed. He slowly pulled out the photocard. The brightly smiling face of Grand Prince Seongnyeong appeared.
Kang Taeyoung covered his mouth.
Kang Taeyoung's favorite was Grand Prince Seongnyeong.
* * *
He could feel the buzzing atmosphere of the audience.
Behind the curtain, Seojun, seated in a chair on the stage, smiled.
'I hope everyone likes them.'
The photos for the eight signed photocards this time were chosen from unreleased pictures taken by his mom, dad, and Daho hyung.
There were so many photos that even choosing was difficult.
He hoped that each fan would get the character they loved most, so no one would be disappointed.
'I wonder if Taeyoung hyung came?'
He remembered Kang Taeyoung asking if he could use a photo taken during the 'Bom-dol' filming for a photocard. He was curious how it turned out.
Even as his mind wandered, his heart pounded. A pleasant tension enveloped his body. Seojun grew slightly antsy and tapped his foot a couple of times.
'...I can't help it.'
Gripping the microphone, Seojun let out a small laugh.
He wanted to do better, to show a cooler side of himself. He wanted to be loved by his fans and liked by the public. In front of the people who loved him and his acting, Seojun was endlessly vulnerable.
Sensing the atmosphere on the other side of the curtain slowly quieting down, Seojun took a deep breath.
'Good.'
His eyes twinkling, Seojun enveloped his body in divine energy.
[Advanced Elf's Basic Breathing is activated.]
[Advanced One-Legged Harpy's Song is activated.]
[Advanced One-Legged Harpy's Song - Mid to High Tier]
Allows the user to produce high and low notes that are structurally impossible for the human body.
The user's vocal tone becomes sweeter.
The user's musical skills are enhanced.
The user's vocal volume is amplified.
Hunted for its bizarre appearance and sold to a circus, the one-legged harpy was so loved for its beautiful song that it was eventually able to return to its original home. Its singing voice was able to sway the heart of even a greedy nobleman.
After activating the ability, Seojun turned off the microphone.
'It's better to hear it directly than through a speaker.'
Seojun signaled to the back, and the curtain blocking the front of the stage slowly began to rise.
* * *
The curtain slowly rose.
A chair in the center of the stage and Seojun sitting on it came into view.
Seojun, in pitch-black dress shoes, black slacks, and a crisp white shirt, was half-perched on the chair, holding a microphone.
The lights that had been illuminating the entire stage slowly converged on him. Cheers erupted at the sight of Seojun, shining alone under the white light.
Seojun smiled at the fans' reaction.
Music began to flow.
As the intro played, Seojun brought the switched-off microphone close to his lips and opened his mouth.
'...The speakers are too good.'
That was the only thought they could manage as Seojun's voice pierced their ears.
The fans, as well as the nearby staff and officials, all fell under the spell of Seojun's song without exception.
The song, with lyrics about being happy to have met them and wanting to be happy together in the future, brought tears to the fans' eyes.
Song Yujeong and Im Yena, who had been surprised to recognize actor Kang Taeyoung sitting next to them, soon forgot all about him, completely absorbed in the song.
Seojun's sweet voice filled the fan meeting venue.
His vocalization, honed through acting and theater, combined with his outstanding musical sense, detailed emotional expression, and his special ability, made him no less than a professional singer.
Backstage, a little ways off, Yang Juhee marveled.
"That kid Seojun would have succeeded even if he'd become an idol."
At Yang Juhee's words, the 'Mirror' cast and Cocoa Entertainment staff nodded their heads repeatedly. The staff members who had experience with the music department, in particular, truly thought so.
When the song ended, a lingering emotion hung in the air.
Seojun looked around the audience, filled with fans, for a moment before breaking into a wide smile and opening his mouth.
"Hello, Sprouts. I'm actor Lee Seojun."
Cheers immediately followed.
An enormous roar erupted at the sight of Seojun, who was shining brighter than ever.
"Thank you all so much for coming today. On the way here, my manager told me something. He said I should just focus on having a blast with all of you. So that's my plan for today. I hope you all have a great, fun time today too. Um. I'm planning on being the MC for today's fan meeting, without a host..."
Seojun smiled and walked forward.
"Please be understanding even if I'm not very good at it. I'm just so happy that I get to see all you Sprouts for longer."
Seojun's smiling eyes made the Sprouts clutch their hearts.
Behind him, a second curtain that had been installed beforehand slowly descended. As Seojun approached the front of the audience, the Sprouts in the front row held their breath without realizing it.
Today, Lee Seojun was shining more brilliantly than ever before.
He was radiating such a powerful celebrity aura that even Lee Miyeon and Park Sunga, who had seen him in person at a previous fan meeting, were in awe.
"Shall we begin the first part of the fan meeting? I really wanted to show this to you, Sprouts, in person. And my friends graciously agreed."
Friends?
A few quick-witted people in the audience let out exclamations of "Ah!"
"Please enjoy the show."
Seojun said with a smile.
"The play, 'Mirror'."
Come to think of it, Seojun's clothes looked familiar.
They had thought it was just ordinary black slacks and a white shirt, but it wasn't.
It was the outfit of the man with dissociative identity disorder—no, the doctor, Kim Jinwoo.
The fan meeting venue exploded at the unexpected news of the play.
* * *
Just as the fan meeting was starting, a notice was posted on [From Sprouts].
It was an announcement for Sprouts not just in Korea, but all over the world.
[Notice: We will be giving away photocards with Seojun's signature through a lottery. Please apply by next week.]
And samples of the eight photocards were uploaded.
They were unreleased photos, showing his appearance from when he was a baby until now.
-One? You mean just one?
-This is... just sell a photobook insteadㅠㅠ
=222 Like a growth album or somethingㅠㅠ
=33 It's the first time I'm happy and sad that something is freeㅠ
-Only one per person... and it's a lottery...
-They're all new photos, which makes me want them even moreㅠ
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