Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: First Fan Meeting
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[Hello! This is Entertainment TV, and we're here with the actors who starred alongside Lee Seojun in the play 'Spring.']
“They did an interview. Isn’t that a bit fast, Hyung?”
Stamp, stamp! Seojun, who was stamping a pure white sheet of paper, looked at the television screen with a surprised expression.
It had only been two weeks since Seojun's identity was revealed, yet a pre-recorded interview was already on air.
“It’s fast compared to the Baram Theater Company, but if you consider the buzz, it’s a little late. They probably watched the VOD that came out a few days ago and then decided who to interview.”
An Daho, sitting beside him, pushed over a new sheet of paper and took the stamped one, placing it on the living room floor so the ink could dry without smudging.
All over the living room were autograph papers bearing Seojun's name, alongside a drawing of a blue dragon he had done himself.
Of course, they were all stamps.
Stamp! Stamp!
The blue ink glistened on the pristine white paper.
[Sea Slime's Lucky Ink (Pre-made) - Low Grade -]
An ink made from a sea slime, which can only be seen by those who have accumulated a great deal of virtue.
The superstition that it brings good luck has finally been proven true.
The ink used will bring unexpected fortune.
How to use: Hold the ink bottle firmly with both hands.
When he discovered and read about the life of the [Sea Slime], he had felt a little uneasy. It was because the ink's main ingredient was the slime's bodily fluid.
The faint image of humans wringing out its entire body, like tightly squeezing a soaking wet towel, flashed through his mind, making him shudder.
‘Thank goodness. If it needed something like blood, well... I might not have been able to use it.’
Seojun pretended to wipe away sweat that wasn't there and moved his hand again. Hoping that good fortune would follow the fans who received his autograph, he stamped each one with the utmost care to maximize the activation probability, no matter how low-grade the ability was. It can't be crooked.
After a few minutes of this, Seojun’s hand, which had been moving skillfully between the ink and the paper, came to a halt.
An Daho looked at Seojun when the stamping stopped. Seojun's gaze was fixed on the television.
An acting academy was on the screen, and judging by the name, it was the one Soyoung Nuna and Dajin Nuna attended. He recalled the two of them always grumbling about how tough the classes were.
On the wall of the staircase leading to the second floor was a picture of the two of them with Seojun. The reporter was interviewing the academy's director, and soon, Choi Soyoung and Lee Dajin appeared on screen.
[Hello, Choi Soyoung and Lee Dajin.]
At the reporter's words, the two smiled shyly. It had been two weeks since the play ended. Seeing their faces after so long, Seojun broke into a bright smile.
[A few days ago, the DVD and VOD for the play ‘Spring’ were released. The praise for all the actors has been incredible. There were even comments that ‘Children’s’ should be removed from ‘Children’s Play.’ I really enjoyed it as well.]
The two beamed at the reporter's compliment and replied with thanks. More people watched the VOD, which was easily accessible on their home televisions with a click of the remote, than the DVD, which took time to be delivered.
Less than 24 hours after sales began, the number of downloads had already exceeded expectations, surprising both the VOD service 'Video Tree' and the Eunhasu Center.
Although Seojun and his parents had received a DVD, they bought the VOD as well. It was definitely more convenient to watch on TV.
The VOD was listed under the title [Children's Play 'Spring'], with a short, edited trailer available for free, while episodes 1 through 8 and the making-of film were available for purchase.
Not only the play but also the making-of film recorded a high number of downloads.
[We didn't really realize it when we were on stage. We just acted joyfully, without the pressure of having to do well.]
Choi Soyoung nodded repeatedly at Lee Dajin's words.
[When we watched our own play from the audience's perspective, we thought, ‘Were we really that good?’ I mean, that’s clearly me acting up there, and I remember making those movements, but I was surprised at how much cooler and better it looked than I had imagined.]
Seojun was so engrossed in their interview that he stopped moving his hands.
An Daho didn't rush him and watched the interview with him. Seeing Lee Dajin speak excitedly and Choi Soyoung respond calmly with a shy expression, he felt a strange prickling at the tip of his nose.
Seojun picked up the phone next to him.
“Dajin Nuna! You’re on TV right now!”
-Ack! You saw?! Wait, that was today? Hold on!
***
[Title: What’s up with the Blue Dragon in the 8th performance?]
Was it the only one rendered in CG?
No, if you rewatch it, it looks the same as the other performances, but the first time I saw it, I seriously thought it was alive.
Did my eyes go weird from watching all 8 performances in a row? Or has computer technology advanced to the point where it only looks like CG on the first viewing?
-No such tech lol
-But it’s really weird. The first time I saw it, I also thought they brought a real dragon from somewhere lol
-?? There’s something like that? I didn’t see it?
[Title: How’s this? This was the vibe of the 8th performance.]
I tried drawing it lol. It really felt like it smashed its head into the Eunhasu Center lol.
(A drawing of a dragon with its head inside the Eunhasu Center and its body and tail flying in the sky outside.)
-lol ah lol
-I get it lol
-I made a compositeㅋ (A photo of the Eunhasu Center with a dragon's body and tail composited in.)
-Isn’t this better than something so bold? (A photo where the body and tail look like faint clouds.)
=The theater where Spring was performed is on this side. You have to do it the other way around.
-Like this? (Photo.)
-lol someone drew this as a cartoon and posted it lol
***
“Daho Hyung. Did you see this?”
Seojun held out his phone. His arm, however, didn't quite reach the driver's seat from his car seat. An Daho, who met Seojun's eyes in the rearview mirror, asked.
“What is it?”
“The ‘Spring’ cartoon!”
“Ah, I saw it. It was cute, right?”
“Right? Isn't it cute how the Blue Dragon is looking for Spring to grant her wish and ends up breaking through the Eunhasu Center wall with its head? It even got a bump on its head.”
“That one’s pretty popular.”
Today was the day of Seojun's first-ever fan meeting.
Seojun, sitting in his car seat, hummed a tune while looking out the window, read posts from fans who were overjoyed to have won a spot at his fan meeting, and even saw a post from someone who had already arrived at the venue.
At that post, Seojun’s head shot up.
“Hyung! Some people have already arrived.”
“Really? It’s still a while before it starts….”
“Hyung, hyung! Is the weather okay today? At the fan meeting venue!”
“It’s a bit cloudy elsewhere, but the weather at the venue seems fine. It’s indoors anyway, so it doesn’t matter, but it would be a drag if the weather was bad for those waiting outside. That's a relief.”
Seojun giggled at An Daho's words. He was glad the weather was good.
Seojun tapped his feet with pleasant nervousness. An Daho smiled as he watched Seojun swing his legs back and forth. He had heard from Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun that Seojun had been too excited to fall asleep.
“I heard you went to bed late last night. How about getting some sleep in the car?”
“I’m okay! I’m not sleepy at all!”
Just as he said, Seojun's eyes were sparkling. It was all thanks to his ability.
As they got closer to the fan meeting venue, people wearing strange hats, clothes, and bags began to appear. Seojun pressed his nose against the darkly tinted window and observed them.
“Ah. That’s Heesang Samchon’s. That one, too! It’s the same as mine!”
There was the goblin-shaped bag Seojun had brought to the set of 'The Devil', the monster doll attached to the bag he had carried during the play, and the metal badge he had pinned to his hat. Seojun's heart pounded.
“Are all these people here my fans?”
“Yep. Looks like they’re all heading to the fan meeting.”
One fan couldn't take their eyes off a badge on the bag of a fan walking ahead. Hmm. Seojun squinted. He couldn't see it well.
After hesitating for a moment, the fan finally tapped the other on the shoulder and gestured. They were probably asking where they bought the badge. The other fan didn't seem to mind and, with a broad smile, appeared to be telling them where they got it.
Seojun smiled brightly at the sight of the fans heading to the venue together, already chatting amongst themselves.
I don't know what kind of badge it is, but I'm so happy everyone is getting along!
Seojun's car, which had been driving briskly, stopped in the underground parking lot. As Seojun got out of the car with a flushed face, Seo Eunchan appeared before him. Seojun beamed at the sight of Seo Eunchan, who now looked quite good in a suit.
“Samchon!”
“Seojun, you’re here! Let’s go up!”
Seojun, Seo Eunchan, and An Daho headed upstairs. Seo Eunchan slowly explained things. Staff members could be seen rushing about. When they made eye contact with Seojun, they would wave or bow.
“After the fan meeting, when the fans are leaving the theater, we’ll be giving them the autographs Seojun stamped, a DVD, and some gifts. We’ll also be serving snacks during the break.”
“Okay!”
“You remember the order of events, right?”
Seojun nodded at Seo Eunchan's question.
The three of them entered the prepared waiting room. It was fully equipped with everything from water and juice to snacks and a plush chair for Seojun to rest comfortably. Seo Eunchan met Seojun's eyes and said.
“Seojun. If you get tired, tell me. You can take a break anytime, for as long as you need. Got it?”
“I’m okay! I’m super strong!”
“Still!”
Seo Eunchan roughly ruffled Seojun's hair. Seojun giggled.
Knock, knock—
“Yes. Come in.”
At Seo Eunchan's words, someone opened the door and entered. Seojun's face lit up at the familiar sight.
“Soyoung Nuna!”
“Hi, Seojun!”
“When it’s time to show the Blue Dragon acting, Choi Soyoung is the best choice, right? And for the MC…”
“Ta-da! It’s me!”
“Dajin Nuna!”
Lee Dajin appeared from behind Choi Soyoung. Several weeks had already passed since the play ended.
The storm of interviews had subsided, and drama scripts were pouring in. While the two were carefully considering their options, an offer came from Cocoa Entertainment. Choi Soyoung and Lee Dajin gladly accepted.
“I know a thing or two about broadcasting.”
Choi Soyoung and Seojun burst into laughter at Lee Dajin's remark. The three, reunited after a long time, chatted and laughed as if everything was the most amusing thing in the world.
***
Time passed, and the theater filled with people. The lucky fans who had managed to get tickets that sold out in just five minutes waited with faces full of anticipation for the fan meeting to begin.
“There’ll be an MC, right?”
“It would be tough for Seojun to do it alone, so they must have called someone.”
“I don’t know who it is, but I just hope they don’t get in the way.”
A fan meeting was a place where fans and celebrities could get closer than at a concert or a play. It was a time when laughter flowed freely just from seeing the celebrity smile, without any need for forced humor.
“Hwang Yejun from Brown Black would be perfect. He could tell us stories about Seojun that we don’t know.”
“If that were the case, we wouldn’t be sitting here, would we?”
“Anyway, please let it be someone with good chemistry!”
Everyone clasped their hands and prayed.
When it was time for the fan meeting to start, the stage lit up, and someone appeared.
“Hello!”
A girl stood on the stage. Everyone was puzzled by the appearance of a younger-than-expected MC, but then they realized it was Lee Dajin.
These were fans who had watched not only all eight episodes but also the making-of film multiple times. They couldn't fail to recognize Lee Dajin, who had chattered and played with Seojun.
“Well, we don’t have to worry about chemistry.”
“She’s a pretty funny kid, too.”
“Whoa.” An exclamation of awe, which had escaped her unconsciously, echoed through the theater via the microphone. The fans burst into laughter at the dumbfounded look on the middle schooler’s face.
“There are so many of you here. Ah, that’s not it! Hello. I’m Lee Dajin, the MC for actor Lee Seojun’s first fan meeting. I don’t know if you know, but I was in the same play as Seojun!”
Seo Eunchan, who was standing backstage, grinned.
“She’s good.”
“She’s not nervous, even with such a large crowd. Dajin is doing well.”
The head of the planning team from Cocoa Entertainment, who organized events like Brown Black's concerts and fan meetings, watched the fluently speaking Lee Dajin with shining eyes.
At those words, Choi Soyoung and Seojun shook their heads.
“Dajin Nuna is just speaking her mind. Right, Soyoung Nuna?”
“Yeah. It’s a good thing her words aren’t malicious. Otherwise, there would have been big trouble by now.”
“But Dajin Nuna must be really excited. She’s totally on fire.”
“She’s a bit of an attention seeker.”
While the two were whispering, Lee Dajin continued to speak with an excited expression.
“You all came to see Seojun, right? I haven’t seen him in a while either. So, shall we call out actor Lee Seojun? Seojun! Come on out!”
Everyone burst into laughter at her friendly, casual tone. Some fans even followed Lee Dajin's lead and called out, ‘Seojun!’
Perhaps because it was a child actor's fan meeting, it had a cozier, more charming feel than expected.
The fans, whose hearts were about to burst with anticipation, and the staff, who had been nervous as this was their first fan meeting for such a young actor, all began to smile and relax at Lee Dajin's words.
“See? It’s completely different from the script.”
“Choi Soyoung, hurry up and come out! Lee Seojun!”
“Nuna, let’s go. Who knows what she’ll say next if we leave her.”
They had told her to be comfortable, but… Seojun, bursting into laughter at the dumbfounded faces of the planning team leader and Seo Eunchan, who were blindsided by Lee Dajin's informal speech, led Choi Soyoung toward the center of the stage.
When Seojun, the one they had been waiting for, appeared on the large stage, everyone screamed.
Seojun turned on the microphone he was holding and bowed deeply.
Fans holding up clearly visible signs that read [Seojun! I love you!], fans dressed as the monster doll Seojun liked, and fans waving the monster dolls they had bought as gifts for him above their heads.
Even without using his ability, their feelings seemed to ring out right in front of him, making Seojun’s heart pound.
“Hello. I'm actor Lee Seojun!”
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