Chapter 35

35

"What? A sound accident?"

"Are you crazy?"

The fans murmured. The staff could be seen running around frantically on stage.

I quickly picked up the microphone. It wasn't my part, but—

[Come to me, Come to me, Don't be afraid]

Let's keep going, guys.

No matter if it's a sound accident or something else, we can't stop here.

[I have my second chance]

Jung Ji-won noticed and quickly added a harmony below. It was a harmony that shouldn't have been there, but since it was a cappella, we had to make the sound as rich as possible.

Kim Sung-hyun followed, waving to the fans as if to say everything was fine, and continued singing.

[No, there's no need to worry]

At that moment, the fans started to sing along with us.

As we slowly moved in rhythm, the tangled formation quickly unraveled. At that moment, Kang Yi-jae magically came in on beat.

"Everyone, sing along!"

[Stand up with the target, I have confidence]

Kang Yi-jae's confidence was overflowing, even amidst this sound accident.

Instead, without the accompaniment, he seemed to run wild like an untamed calf. As Kang Yi-jae got excited, the fans also relaxed their stiff faces and cheered.

[I ain't gonna miss this time!]

Jeong Da-jun was swept along and came forward. Perhaps thinking, "It's come to this," everyone went crazy, changing the song with ad-libs.

At the highlight, I and Jung Ji-won smoothly finished the final note. Even without accompaniment, Jung Ji-won sounded like he had swallowed a CD. There was not a single mistake.

Kim Sung-hyun deliberately smiled and approached the front of the stage. He pointed at each audience member and raised one eyebrow.

[Give me, Give me, Give me Second Chance]

The song ended like that. The heavy breathing could be heard through the microphone.

The audience booed when the audio source briefly glitched, but Jeong Da-jun, still panting, grabbed the microphone.

"We've been practicing hard, huh... After all, it was well done."

"Wasn't it part of a bigger plan to prove our live performance?"

"Of course, of course. I knew everything."

"But you seemed very flustered for someone who knew."

"Ah, bro!"

Playing it off, the booing quickly stopped. Amid the friendly and affectionate gazes, numerous slogans were lovingly waved.

We smiled widely and greeted the audience.

There were no pitch errors, and the rhythm was precise.

'Actually, this is pretty good. Maybe we can draw some attention by certifying our a cappella live performance.'

With a happy circuit, I grabbed the microphone.

"We've been practicing hard lately. You might know, but we're currently filming Shining Star."

I deliberately mentioned Shining Star.

"Although the first episode hasn't aired yet, we're doing our best every time to avoid any regrets."

"More, fighting!"

"Thank you. We're working hard to stand proudly on the stage with other groups—"

I was in the middle of saying that when a sudden angry voice was heard.

"Get lost, you rigged group!!"

Thud!!!

"Aaaaah!"

Someone screamed. Something hit my head and broke.

Ah... This feeling is very, very familiar.

I slowly brushed my hair to the side. My fingers came away with small, broken shells and a sticky, yellow liquid.

...It was an egg.

"What, are you crazy?"

"Who is it?"

The audience murmured. Not just the fans, but even the onlookers who had stopped to watch were confused and looked at each other.

But the person had already hidden among the crowd and couldn't be found. The members approached me with stiff faces, but I raised my hand to stop them.

"Here, use this to wipe it off."

"Thank you."

The staff hurriedly brought a towel, and I quickly wiped my head.

Everyone's faces were pale.

'Aha...'

Anything can happen. A sound accident and an egg.

The situation was clear.

I had heard that some PD pick talk had spread in the community, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.

'Even if you're not a bad PD, idols can still get hit with eggs.'

A new discovery. I subtly picked up the microphone and smiled.

"Even before airing, the program seems to be quite popular."

The atmosphere was restless.

They probably expected me to cry or look dejected.

But what can I do, I'm not.

"Let's continue what I was saying. We are preparing a lot to stand proudly on the stage with other groups."

I spoke slowly. My skin was still sticky, but I ignored it. The more I pay attention, the more the haters will be excited and the fans will be heartbroken.

And actually, if the video of me getting hit with an egg spreads and causes controversy, it might be useful in various ways.

"I want to repay the time and affection of our fans with a performance that won't make them regret it. I ask for your support."

This is genuine.

The faces of the people below the stage, who looked like they were about to kill someone, gradually turned into sad faces. I smiled at them to reassure them.

"We've prepared the next performance, so will you watch it?"

"Seo Ho-yun, I love you!"

"Thank you. I really do, too."

After finishing my words, I bowed, and the members quickly surrounded me. They checked me over, whispering.

"Are you okay, Ho-yun?"

"We really need to find out who did this."

"Bro, are you really okay?"

"If you're tired, let's go down, bro."

I shrugged and patted the shoulders of the members, who looked worried.

"I think my hair came down during the performance, so this will keep it in place."

"Bro, are you really crazy?"

Kang Yi-jae scowled, but I tapped the foreheads of the worried members with my finger. That means all the members.

"Ouch, it hurts!"

Don't make such a world-ending face.

I finished wiping my hands and returned to the stage to set the formation. I could see Kim Sung-hyun clenching his teeth from the side.

He must be frustrated, so frustrated that he wants to go crazy. But now, he has the look of someone who wants to do even better.

I nudged Kim Sung-hyun.

"Let's do well."

In the end, we successfully performed the second act.

When we came off the stage, the members stuck to me and wouldn't let go.

*** [Really, he's completely crazy. I'm really going to go crazy. If there's a problem, go to the hospital, you crazy guy. Why are you taking it out on our Ho-yun?]

[We're suing all the haters now. If we just sit here, we'll look like fools. Let's meet in court, you bastards.]

[Why is Ho-yun so calm in this situation? But seeing him so calm, I'm even more moved... How much must he have suffered at such a young age to be so calm after this?]

[Really, some people are laughing and saying they feel vindicated after seeing this. This is just a declaration of war now.]

***

***

***

[Title: Today's fans, you really crossed the line this time. It's obvious that someone threw an egg at Seo Ho-yun. Are you really thinking, or are you not?

And many people are mocking this video. There are really a lot of crazy people;; └Is there any evidence that the person who threw the egg is a Today fan? There's no evidence, and the party involved is fine, so it's an overreaction. └You guys who write like this without thinking are the evidence.]

SNS and community platforms were set ablaze.

While the PD pick talk had been quietly spreading among the fans of the groups appearing on Shining Star, the guerrilla performance and the egg incident made it a topic of discussion among K-pop fans in general.

At the same time, it became the second most popular video on Nertube's real-time trending.

['The Den Mutual Dong Park Guerrilla Performance Live Cam'

└Wow;; What mental strength... I would have cried, but he's so calm (492 likes) └└Is it Seo Ho-yun? He's really amazing... I heard he solved a robbery case before └└There's a reason Joo Sung likes Seo Ho-yun └└His mental strength is top-notch └Throwing eggs is really an overreaction, isn't it? Shouldn't the agency file a lawsuit?

└└If I were a fan, I would have cried hearing Seo Ho-yun's words. He got hit but is comforting others └└I'm now a fan of Seo Ho-yun..

└I didn't even care about idols before, but these young men are really amazing. They performed without any issues even after a sound accident and getting hit with an egg. I'm 49, but I think I'll become an uncle fan. I support The Den (1249 likes) └Is it really a Today fan who threw the egg?

└└No feeding, no feeding, no feeding └└It's a fact, but what's this no feeding nonsense? lol Really, blinded by jealousy and can't see anything]

'It went as I hoped.'

The sound accident and the egg were not expected, but thanks to the good handling, our popularity actually increased. Plus, the rival image with Today was created.

'What a gain, right?'

The Nertube algorithm caused the views to skyrocket to hundreds of thousands in a short time. It was easy to see that it would hit the million mark soon.

Moreover, thanks to the successful guerrilla performance, our stats also increased.

[Dance: C+]

It was a gain, no doubt.

'If there's a problem...'

"What? Did you just cough?"

"What?"

These things had become strange in a few days. It was just a light cough, but the members jumped up.

"Can someone turn off the air conditioner? Ho-yun is coughing."

"Bro, did you just cough? Should I get you some warm water?"

"Is Ho-yun sick? Is it because he got hit by something cold?"

"Hey, I told you to take your vitamins."

It was overprotection.

Originally, I was being overly protected by these guys, who were almost ten years younger, like nephews.

They would ask where I was going after three steps, and if I coughed once, they would all panic and bring water.

Even yesterday, when we watched the first episode together, the atmosphere became solemn whenever my face appeared.

Even during the talent show part where they imitated Im Hyun-soo...

"Right, Ho-yun is so earnest..."

"Are you kidding?"

I tried to resist a little, but even Jung Ji-won didn't listen to me. He was the ultimate overprotector.

Anyway, I checked the reactions after the first episode, and they weren't bad.

[Title: Guys, I'll summarize the first episode. The Den is so handsome, end of story └So, during the performance, the faces of Jung Ji-won, Kim Sung-hyun, Seo Ho-yun, Jeong Da-jun, and Kang Yi-jae come out one by one. Isn't that crazy?

└How can such good-looking people exist... The greatest miracle since Moses └└There's a rumor that they all have a weakness └└This is true]

[Title: Guys, is Jung Ji-won a D.go rookie???

I thought I saw him somewhere...

There can't be two people as pure as him in the world └He's the one └└Of course └Your nose is... so perfect └└Where should I report this? D.go or Daepaseong?

└└└lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol