Chapter 62
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 62
[Pre-release / For those who want to see a male idol updating his legendary dark history]
“…….”
I watched the video in the practice room and quietly closed Nutube. Immediately, a messenger window popped up over it.
[Seo Ho-jin: Hyung hyung hyung hyung]
What now?
[Seo Ho-jin: It’s an emergency]
[Me: ?]
[Seo Ho-jin: Did you see my freshman year major textbook? I need it for an assignment.]
[Me: No]
[Seo Ho-jin: Ha… Sigh-ga-chae… Sigh-ga-chae T_T]
This little punk definitely made that up just to say that. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth to suppress the rage bubbling up to the top of my head.
The variety show, which had been broadcast nationwide in an instant, had turned me into the "Legendary Dark History Idol Boy."
It was good that my "intellectual" image had done a complete 180, but it wasn't so good that my dark history was racking up millions of views on Nutube.
[Is Seo Ho-yun an aegyo machine or a robot? (Likes 113)
└ Is the aegyo machine a robot or Seo Ho-yun?
└ Is the robot Seo Ho-yun or an aegyo machine?]
[They say the peak viewership was when Seo Ho-yun grabbed Kang Yi-chae by the collar (Likes 2144)
└ LOLOLOL Ah LMAOOOOOOOOO]
[Ho. Yu. ni. is. ti. red. too. hung. hung. (Likes 3155)
└ That breathtaking staccato
└ LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]
[You can really see how much he’s struggling, it’s even funnier because he’s genuinely bad at aegyo… He looks like he’s dying but he still does it because they told him to ㅋㅋㅋㅋ His image is so likable now ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Honestly, I screamed when he said, ‘If the fans like it, then everything is fine’…. Yeah… My face is burning for him… but hey, it’s good to see him working hard!!]
Ding!
[Is all the embarrassment mine to bear?]
“It’s mine, why would it be yours…?”
I muttered quietly, rubbing my temples. Beside me, Kang Yi-chae, who had nonchalantly exposed my dark history to the world, was sitting there snickering as if he were having the time of his life. Getting annoyed for no reason, I gave him a sharp flick on the forehead.
“Calm down. We have a fansign tomorrow anyway, so it’s a good thing.”
“What’s good about it?”
“Think of it as practicing your aegyo in advance~.”
Kang Yi-chae winked, acting like it wasn't his problem. As I kicked the traitor away, a quest popped up.
[Quest Arrived!]
[Create memories with fans at the fan meeting!
A surprise gift from the System for the sulking Seo Ho-yun.
Success: 2,000 Points.
Failure: SNS shares with the reputation of ‘The “Oh, Really?” Fish Market Idol.’]
Though we had only a handful of fans until recently, even The Dawn had held a fan meeting during the release of our first album.
A fan meeting.
An opportunity to actually meet and talk to idols you usually only see through media.
Even though it was just a short conversation lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few dozen seconds depending on the number of members, it was a godforsaken random draw event where you had to spend hundreds of thousands of won just for a chance to get in.
“How was it last time?”
Kang Yi-chae, clearly feeling guilty for what he’d done to me, came scurrying over.
“You mean the fansign during Glow? Like, the fansign cut and stuff?”
Jeong Da-jun jumped up, raising both hands.
“Me!”
“Yes, Da-jun. You only need to raise one hand.”
“The company didn't tell us!”
That was the one thing Daepasung actually did well.
It was likely a disastrous result that stood in stark contrast to Jeong Da-jun’s bright smile.
“Let’s try practicing.”
Kang Yi-chae, seemingly excited, sat in front of me and shouted while covering his mouth with both hands.
“You’re so, so handsome, Ho-yun!”
“Don’t drop the honorifics.”
“Try to be a bit more cooperative. Okay, again.”
It didn't feel like he would back off easily if I gave a half-hearted answer. As I arched an eyebrow, Jeong Da-jun cut in from the side.
“I’ll try. I ate tuna kimbap today!”
“Ah, really…?”
“…….”
“…Good for you?”
Everyone fell silent. Even Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been drinking water in the corner with zero interest, looked at me as if he couldn't believe my attitude. Kang Yi-chae cleared his throat a few times and asked brightly again.
“Ho-yun! When is the next comeback??”
“First, wouldn't it depend on how the song turns out?”
“…What are we going to do with him?”
Everyone muttered, looking lightheaded. It had been a joke until a moment ago, but even though I had answered this question with sincerity and care, the reaction was poor. According to the members' explanations, it wasn't about giving serious "TMI" like a buzzkill; what mattered was appropriate reactions and a bit of push-and-pull.
No, I think I understand it theoretically, but…
As I looked away in embarrassment, Seong Ji-won suddenly stood up.
“Wait a second.”
Then, he caught a staff member who was passing by the practice room.
“Ji-hyeon, I’m sorry, but could you please help Ho-yun snap out of it?”
“Wh-what??”
It was the otaku Lee Ji-hyeon, who had been caught in the crossfire while just passing by. After hearing the situation, Lee Ji-hyeon scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“So, you want me to tell you what my ideal fansign would be like…. But this is difficult. It’s been a while since I left a fandom…. These days, I mostly stick to 2D characters….”
“It’s okay. Just help Ho-yun snap out of it.”
“Hmm… ‘Ah, really?’ is a bit much. I understand.”
And so, Lee Ji-hyeon’s fansign review suddenly began. Starting slowly with stories from fansigns years ago, Lee Ji-hyeon suddenly flared up five minutes later.
“…No, thinking about it now, I’m getting mad!”
“Pardon??”
“Seriously, how hard could it have been to just do that for me? Why did he have to have those dead fish eyes? Do you know what he said at the fansign? He said he wanted to live a normal life now. That crazy bastard! If he wanted to live a ‘God-saeng,’ his bank account shouldn't have been so extraordinary!”
“…….”
This was an emergency.
As a cold sweat broke out while watching the raging Lee Ji-hyeon, the members' eyes focused on me.
“…You saw that, right? Let’s do well.”
“Yes….”
* * *
After that sudden emergency training (more like brainwashing) from the members, Seo Ho-yun entered the fansign venue with a certain level of confidence. Everyone screamed at the sight of him in a denim jacket that matched the current concept, having shed his usual "shadow look."
However, for Seo Ho-yun, it was an emergency from the start.
“Ho-yun! Is there an animal you like? Like a rabbit?”
“……Pardon?”
He blinked, wondering what she was talking about, before answering. He didn't really care what kind of animal it was, but he felt like he had to pick one for them to like it, so he answered while hiding the fact that he had zero interest.
“I… like cats.”
“…Th-think again. Deep inside.”
“……A rabbit?”
“I knew it!!”
…Knew it?
Watching Noeul walk away with a happy face and clenched fists, Seo Ho-yun was utterly bewildered. And only then did it occur to him.
Wait, don’t tell me….
And then, posts like this appeared on SNS.
[Guys, Ho-yun said he prefers being called a rabbit.
It’s settled.
It’s official.
If you disagree, give me a photocard.]
[Fuck, where did the cat faction go?]
[It’s true that Seo Ho-yun is a cold-looking handsome guy with a sharp vibe…
But because the family keeps calling him a rabbit, he seems like a rabbit.
It’s like if I keep shouting on the timeline that he’s my husband,
at first people are like ‘uhh…’, but later they’re like ‘Ah… right, he was that person’s husband.’
└ Ah… Seo Ho-yun was a rabbit.]
It was all agitation and fabrication.
He had seen reactions like "Seo Ho-yun is a rabbit genius idol" before, but he had lived as a normal person for 32 years. Seo Ho-yun, who never imagined that he—the "King of Personality" and "Devil's Editing" PD—would be called a rabbit, met the next fan in a state of shock.
“There are rumors that you like sweet things and rumors that you like Pine Bud Drink at the same time….”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
While opening the album and signing it, the fan hesitated for a moment before speaking. It was a story Kim Seong-hyeon, who was before him in line, had told the fan.
Setting aside how cute Seo Ho-yun was, Noeul, who absolutely loathed that specific taste, squeezed her eyes shut. Realizing his mistake, Seo Ho-yun slightly changed his tune.
“I’m not picky about drinks, so I just drink whatever is there at the time. If I had to choose, I prefer sweet things.”
“…Then do you even like mint chocolate?”
“I hate that.”
[Seo Ho-yun says he’s not particularly picky about drinks, he eats everything if it’s there…. It depends on the moment T_T (The truth about the Pine Bud Drink revealed). But then he said he absolutely hates mint chocolate with total conviction…. I can’t figure out your standards.
└ He seems a bit picky and it’s exciting.
└└ This is it.]
[You always eat sweet things T_T God-baby….]
The next post-it was written like this:
[Raising a five-year-old Jeong Da-jun vs. Raising 5 Jeong Da-juns]
“Ah, this is a bit….”
“Hyung!!”
“Ahahaha!!”
When he answered honestly by circling the "vs," Jeong Da-jun shrieked from beside him, but the fan walked away laughing hysterically.
[Seo Ho-yun’s Balance Game results.
Raising a five-year-old Jeong Da-jun vs. (○) Raising 5 Jeong Da-juns
= Seo Ho-yun circling the ‘vs’
Happy memories vs. Happy 7.1 billion won (○)
= He didn't hesitate for a single second lol
Idols must be handsome (○) vs. Idols must have a hot body (○)
= He said with a straight face that idols must have both.]
[This guy seems pretty confident in his body.
We don’t even need to talk about his face.]
Even after the balance game ended, the "crumbs" kept pouring in.
While Seo Ho-yun struggled with headbands that kept falling off every time he bowed his head to sign, all while responding to fans' questions with the utmost sincerity, the members next to him (especially Kang Yi-chae) were thriving like fish in water.
[Yi-chae remembered me……. He remembered my name, my major, where I live, and what we talked about back then. He told me to see him often T_T Jeong Da-jun was also bouncing around brightly next to him, he’s really the same as ever….]
[I just showed Kim Seong-hyeon a marriage registration form and he tried to sign it so calmly that I had to stop him;;
My conscience was barely holding on, you know?
└ Wow, his patience is insane.
└ He was really focusing his brain.]
[Ji-won says he’s happy lately…. T_T He says he’s grateful T_T Be happy forever, you punk T_T]
[Ah, life is worth living these days. Shining Star was so ‘malat’ (spicy) that it was a bit hard, but once you actually see the kids’ personalities, they’re so soft, soft, soft….]
As the Noeuls were frantically devouring the overflowing crumbs, Kang Yi-chae was seeing off a fan who had just finished getting a signature, wearing a mischievous grin.
“Noona~, get home safely~! It’ll be the perfect ending if you see Ho-yun hyung’s aegyo before you go!”
“Ahahaha! I will!”
“…….”
Seo Ho-yun, who was next in line after Kang Yi-chae, had no choice but to work hard at performing different types of aegyo almost by force every time Kang Yi-chae set him up….
Once the fansign finally ended and all the glowing Noeuls had left, Seo Ho-yun—who was happy to meet the fans but also hit with a direct blast of reality—slumped into the corner of the van heading back to the dorm and rubbed his face with his hands.
* * *
“Good job, everyone~!”
“Where should we put the gifts?”
“I wish we had just one more room. Right?”
Returning to the dorm with deep dark circles and in a half-dazed state, I naturally took one of Seong Ji-won’s red ginseng pouches and started sucking on it. Kang Yi-chae, seemingly tireless, let out a laugh.
“I was worried, but you did just fine~.”
“…….”
“Leave him alone. Seo Ho-yun has lost his mind right now.”
“Thanks….”
Aside from my mental state, it seemed the fansign had ended without any major issues. But now that it was over and we were back, I found it hard to even move my fingertips, so I sprawled out on the sofa like a wet noodle.
I saw Seong Ji-won and Jeong Da-jun quietly trying to slip into their rooms. I guess they don't want to get caught in the crossfire… but Kang Yi-chae suddenly blocked my path.
“Hyung, I’m going to the convenience store. Want me to get you anything?”
“A Ba-X-Ba (ice cream).”
“Don’t answer so half-heartedly. Can’t you be at least half as kind to us as you are to the fans?”
“A great sinner asks for too much.”
“Oops, this humble servant is a wretch indeed~!”
Spouting nonsense, Kang Yi-chae dragged Seong Ji-won and Jeong Da-jun along to go buy ice cream. Since I had already finished monitoring the reactions on the way back in the car, there was no need to look further.
Looking at the reactions on communities and Twitter, it didn't seem bad. I’m glad they seemed satisfied. I lay flat on the sofa and sank into thought.
But no matter how much I think about it… I don’t get it.
They wait in line, spend money to buy dozens of albums just to barely get picked, and then they even buy gifts to give us, and despite all that, they take care to only say nice things.
Is it really worth… liking me that much?
The other members, well, they’re growing so fast and they’re talented, so I get that….
As I idly organized my thoughts, my gaze naturally drifted toward the music show trophy sitting in the living room.
“…….”
The manager said he’d take it to the company soon.
The reaction to the #1 pledge wasn't bad either. A good song, our first #1 win, decent digital chart performance, and a good response to the variety show.
Like a ship with the wind in its sails, everything was going smoothly.
All the conditions are met.
Ding!
[What is our rabbit thinking about? H.H]
[Being called a rabbit vs. Being called a cat
Pick 1, go]
“…….”
This guy, I’m definitely going to hit him one day….
I took a deep breath and turned my gaze to Kim Seong-hyeon.
“By the way, why are the others taking so long?”
“I-I wonder?”
Kim Seong-hyeon stammered, strangely averting his eyes. Just as I was about to lift my body from the sofa, scratch my head, and go change my clothes…
I needed to head to the company soon to discuss the settlement with the CEO….
“Ho-Ho-yun!”
“Ugh!”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been fiddling with his phone in the distance, suddenly rushed over, threw the blanket draped over the sofa at me, shoved me down, and rolled me up. Since it was a winter blanket put out to be washed, it was incredibly heavy.
“??”
“You’re tired, right? Shall we make a kimbap roll?? It’s warm and cozy!”
“What the….”
Why was he suddenly acting like this? My face was covered, so I couldn't see anything. Kim Seong-hyeon raised his voice while using his hands to make sure I couldn't get out of the blanket.
“It’s very cold out!!”
It’s summer, you crazy bastard.
“Get off.”
Before I start swearing.
Sensing that my voice had turned ominous, Kim Seong-hyeon flinched. Normally (though he wouldn't have done this in the first place), he would have apologized and backed off immediately, but he was being persistent despite his panic.
Even though I couldn't see him, I could vividly imagine him not knowing what to do. Taking advantage of the moment his grip loosened slightly as he fidgeted, I yanked the blanket off. Then, I glared at Kim Seong-hyeon.
“Kim Seong-hyeon. I assume there’s a reason you suddenly started with the kimbap nonsense…?”
“…….”
When I pressured him with narrowed eyes, Kim Seong-hyeon, who had zero talent for acting, just rolled his eyes awkwardly with a troubled expression.
This guy is definitely up to something.
“You did something wrong, didn't you?”
“……N-no, I didn't.”
What do you mean, no? You’re acting exactly like a puppy that just made a mess.
“I can see right through you. Spill it.”
“I told you, there’s nothing! B-but, how about trying to speak kindly, delicately, and nicely like you usually do?”
“…What did you say?”
Just as I was about to seriously ask him if he’d eaten something wrong, I suddenly spotted a phone across from Kim Seong-hyeon.
The fact that it was fixed on a tripod was suspicious.
“……?”
Why is that there right now…?
“No, what do you mean, kimbap….”
Pop!
It was at that moment. The front door opened, and paper crackers suddenly went off.
“Wow~!! Congratulations on the #1 win~! You’ve successfully finished the music promotions for Ocean Train… ni….”
“……!!”
Jeong Da-jun walked in with a beaming smile, carrying a large cake. Seeing the ‘1’ candle on it, it seemed to be a cake celebrating our first win.
Kim Seong-hyeon and I were frozen in an awkward stance near the sofa. We looked suspicious to anyone watching.
The chilly atmosphere, the two of us looking strangely out of breath, disheveled hair, and the beads of sweat on my forehead. It was a nuance that screamed "something just happened" to anyone.
“…Kimbap?”
Jeong Da-jun muttered blankly, his eyes growing wider and wider.
“Are you two fighting over food?!”
“Hi~, congratula… Gasp.”
“Congrats, congra… Hmm?”
Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae, who were entering late, also shut their mouths mid-sentence. The rest of the members, who had entered wearing party hats and ridiculous glasses while setting off crackers, froze in place, having clearly misunderstood something.
“You guys came to blows over food?”
How on earth did you reach that conclusion?
“We weren't fight… No, anyway.”
I think I have a general idea of what’s going on, but why am I… the target of the surprise? Why me, the one who would be the least fun to tease….
No, no, putting all that aside.
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on, and asked.
“It’s a recording, right?”
If it’s a recording, I can still perform some CPR on this. I can edit it somehow…. But all the members avoided my eyes.
“……Uh….”
“B-Live…….”
“…Live?”
Everyone nodded gloomily.
With me as the target?
I’m screwed…….
The manager, who had entered late and failed to grasp the situation, came in with a look of pure joy, setting off a paper cracker.
“Sur~prise~!”
“…….”
Thud. The paper streamers fluttered down and draped ridiculously over the members' heads.
A chilling silence filled the room.