Chapter 75: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

I was about to sit down but decided to stand and speak.

"Ah, I'm sorry, hyung... senpai... nim."

"Just call me hyung."

"Really? Wow. Wow!"

As I couldn't speak and just kept saying "wow," Big Blue's Lee Junhee said,

"Why are you standing? Sit down."

"Ah, yes. Wow... Ah, I'm sorry. I'll stop saying 'wow.'"

I tried to calm down and took a deep breath. I looked at the stage, worried that I had made too much noise, and as expected, a few Firstlight members who were shy in front of other companies' behind-the-scenes cameras were looking at me.

I no longer cared about them and gave a quick cheer before sitting down again.

Lee Junhee asked,

"You said you're my fan, right?"

"How did you know?"

"When you were using X app, the fans told me."

"Ah, really?"

"But from your reaction, I can tell you're a real fan."

My reaction must have been obvious, as Lee Junhee laughed. I finally relaxed a bit and bowed my head slightly.

"I'm sorry for saying 'what.'"

"It's okay, at least you didn't swear."

"I almost did."

"Yeah, you're a real fan."

Lee Junhee spoke casually and crossed his legs, wearing a suit with a blue tint. Wow, he's really handsome in person. He's definitely a lead actor material. But, can you stop acting and release an album already...?

As if he could hear my thoughts, Lee Junhee suddenly said,

"We don't have any songs."

"Really?"

"It's our company, they don't have any songs for us."

"Shouldn't they have a lot?"

"The company prefers our individual activities, so they keep saying they don't have any."

"Ah, Pomdapi... Ah, I'm really sorry."

Big Blue had finished their contract with their previous agency and signed with the new company Pomdapi, which does a terrible job, so fans call it "Pomdapi."

But even though the team activities are a mess, the individual activities are well taken care of, so I understand why Big Blue chose Pomdapi.

I couldn't lift my head due to my blunder, but Lee Junhee covered his mouth with his hand, resting his elbow on the armrest, and laughed.

"Wow, I'm hearing that for the first time with a sound."

"I must be crazy..."

"It's okay. I'll pretend I didn't hear it. I understand why fans say that."

It's been four years since their last album, even including the military service period. Honestly, from the fans' perspective, the agency is unbearable. Even though Lee Junhee, the youngest member, has been discharged for almost a year, there's still no news.

Today, I'm here as an MC, not to perform.

Lee Junhee continued, looking at me.

"So, if you have any leftover songs, give them to us."

"Really? Me? Give songs to Big Blue?"

"You're a fan, so you should know our style well."

"Yeah, but me... giving songs to Big Blue?"

"Sure. Please, I'm asking you."

I couldn't speak and my mouth hung open. I even forgot about my poor condition for a moment.

Big Blue hasn't released an album in four years, but they're still one of the few male idol groups that can enter the real-time chart at No. 1 and have a high chance of topping the daily chart when they do release an album.

Not only that, but their album sales are also enormous. And I'm supposed to give them a song...?

Lee Junhee said,

"Because we haven't performed for four years, I'm starting to forget what we should do. We always talk about getting together with the members, but nothing actually happens."

"Ah, I see."

"Then I saw 'The Rising,' and the members were really excited for the first time in a while. Especially Joon and Matteo..."

Before Lee Junhee could continue, I quickly opened my phone's memo and said,

"Wait a moment. So, like Joon or Matteo?"

Because I'm a fan of Big Blue, I know this team well. Giving songs to the team I'm a fan of is a nerve-wracking task, but it's also advantageous.

I'm not going to let this opportunity slip just because I'm scared.

Lee Junhee smiled at my immediate response and answered,

"Let's have a meeting together. We'll coordinate between the companies."

"I, my schedule..."

"I haven't set a schedule yet. Honestly, it seems like only Minha and I want to release an album."

That makes sense. All the members are doing incredibly well in acting, variety shows, and solo activities. I nodded, and Lee Junhee continued,

"But if the song is good, we'll gather immediately. I promise."

Wow. It's both burdensome and great. I nodded.

Finally, after the behind-the-scenes shooting was over, it was Firstlight's turn, so I stood up and said,

"Ah, hyung. There's something I really wanted to say when I met you."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Can you please take better selfies?"

"Ah..."

"It's not hard to raise your hand 30 degrees... Hyung, you lack enthusiasm."

"Ah..."

I don't understand why handsome people lack enthusiasm in selfies.

You should at least try to look more beautiful and cute. When you take a selfie and see your handsome face with the perfect settings, you end up thinking, "Why am I not happy even though this is my favorite member?" Ah, it's so frustrating.

My frustration must have been obvious, as Lee Junhee put his hands together and said,

"I'll raise my hand 30 degrees."

"Yes, please."

Hehe, fortunately, my slip of the tongue calling him "what" and his agency "Pomdapi" was overshadowed by the selfie criticism. It couldn't be helped. Idols can't win against their fans. I probably wouldn't win any contest against the Hwatsunis either.

After exchanging numbers with Lee Junhee to set a schedule, I went up to the stage for the rehearsal.

* * *

After the rehearsal ended and I finished the pre-recording of the intro in the afternoon, I returned to the hotel and lay down. The run-through rehearsal starts at eight tomorrow, so I should probably wake up around three.

I was exhausted and collapsed on the bed as soon as I entered the hotel. I wasn't sure if it was okay to take them, but I swallowed all the digestive aids and painkillers and tried to sleep. The members suddenly burst in.

"Hyung Hae-won, you said you were sick?"

"No, I did more work than you guys, so why are you sick?"

Ugh, I'm so tired. It's so noisy...

I was in agony, but the members ignored me and found spots to sit. Shin Ji-un looked around our room and said,

"Maybe we can put another futon here."

"Please, just leave..."

"Ah, I really don't like sleeping alone."

"Then switch rooms with me. Go ahead."

"I'm sick, how can I sleep alone?"

Min Ji-ho, who had been listening to our conversation, said,

"This time, all the roommates have clear concepts. I'm with Sejae, that's the awkward zone, and this is the gradient zone."

Then Han Hyo-seok said,

"I'm not awkward with Saebi hyung."

Then Hwang Saebi replied,

"Hyo-seok, we are awkward."

"Ah..."

Han Hyo-seok accepted it without hesitation. I found it funny and chuckled under the covers.

"Ah, I really love it when we all gather."

After my words, Park Se-jae, who was lying next to me on the bed, said,

"Hyung likes it the most, doesn't he?"

"No, I don't..."

I yawned and fell asleep amidst the members' chatter.

When I woke up, I muttered in disbelief.

"......What are you guys doing? This is ridiculous."

Despite having good rooms, all seven of us were crammed into our room. Park Se-jae was on my bed, three on An Ju-won's bed, one on the sofa, and one on the floor with a sleeping pad and blanket. These guys, who are already big, were all sleeping in one room.

While I was wondering why they were doing this, it secretly felt a bit good...

"Ah, oh."

I tried making a sound, and my voice condition seemed to have returned.

"Ah, I feel good today? Guys, let's go to the awards ceremony."

I said as I woke the members up.

Maybe because I slept so well, my condition seemed to be the best.

While I was waking the members up, I received a message from a TRV staff member.

[Management Team Manager Hwang Su-jeong: Hae-won! The team rings are ready, and I'm bringing them over.]

What? Like she's delivering rings to the next-door neighbor?

[Are you coming to Jakarta?]

[Management Team Manager Hwang Su-jeong: Yes! I told Ye-yeong, so you can wear them starting from the red carpet today.]

I felt both ridiculous and grateful and chuckled.

[No, I can wear them when we get back to Korea, no need to deliver them here... I'm grateful though...]

Just as I was about to ask if this was a money issue, Manager Hwang Su-jeong replied.

[The members really want to wear them on stage today for 'The King' performance. It does look good, doesn't it?]

"......"

I must have looked really depressed and isolated. I'm starting to feel a bit embarrassed.

* * *

[BEAM Music Red Carpet has started]

[The weather in Jakarta is nice, but I'm freezing]

[Ah, I want to travel so much ㅠㅠ]

[Is there a dress code today? Everyone is in white]

[↳Maybe they just thought black would look too hot ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Firstlight appeared? I'm not a fan, but I just want to see their faces ㅎㅎ]

[↳Me too, I'm not a fan of Firstlight, but it's fun to see their faces]

[↳Firstlight members are all so handsome]

[Firstlight appeared]

[Holy X]

[They're so good and so handsome]

[There's no dress code, I guess ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

Among the teams mostly dressed in white, Firstlight, the only one in black, appeared on the red carpet.

The red carpet MC continued,

"Please take a photo. Can you pose for us?"

[What's with the cheers? Firstlight didn't have this many fans at the beginning, did they?]

[↳Just seeing Firstlight in person makes you cheer ㅎㅎ]

[↳How can they be a team? It's like a scam ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[↳↳Their faces are only possible because they're from survival shows...]

Then, as usual, Jeong Hae-won took the microphone and continued the interview. Just when I thought it was over, the red carpet MC asked,

"Is there any special point about your red carpet outfits today?"

Surprisingly, Hwang Saebi raised his hand for the microphone. When Jeong Hae-won handed it over, Hwang Saebi said,

"We've made team rings, and this is the first time we're showing them on stage at the VMC Music Awards."

"Ah, team rings! Can you show them?"

At that, the members raised their right hands to show the team rings on their ring fingers.

[No way, our boys have team rings ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[What ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[The boys are going to wear these on stage today ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Can't see the rings more clearly? They're so beautiful]

[They're on the workshop's Instagram!]

[Yeonnam ring workshop 'Christmas Cracker': These are the Firstlight team rings. They were designed using jewelry CAD based on the members' ideas. They don't tarnish or corrode, and platinum really suits this team^^]

[Platinum rings are beautiful]

[No wonder a group with art school students...]

[Even though Firstlight is a survival group, they've worked hard, so they feel more solid now]

[↳I feel the same way lately]

[What will Firstlight perform today?]

[Clear Day, probably]

[↳If they perform Clear Day, Hwatsunis will cry ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[↳But Clear Day is right before the concert, so they probably won't. It will definitely be on the concert setlist]

[↳↳Me too]

[↳↳The concert is canceled... I need to pressure TRV to release the album faster...]

[They'll probably perform 'Turn On the Light']

[↳Turn On the Light + I Only Wait for Morning, maybe]

[↳That's it, right?]

Soon, the music awards began, and Firstlight took the stage quite early.

[Oh, it's Firstlight]

[What? X, it's Matteo?]

[No, it's crazy Matteo ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[They're going to perform the winning song from a public competition here ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ?]

[VMC ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋIt's good that it's getting attention, but it must hurt ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Their survival show failed, but they're performing a successful song from another station... ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

At VMC's biggest festival, the song from another station's competition began.