Chapter 71

"Is it going to rain?"

"Yes."

Jung-hyun scratched his cheek and explained.

"Since I've lived in the countryside since I was little, I've heard a lot of adults talking about the weather when they go to the fields. I've also experienced it firsthand."

"Then what?"

"The smell of the air is a bit off, and the wind is blowing a bit... "

His large hands moved around as if trying to explain, but he seemed frustrated that the words wouldn't come out.

"It's the kind of feeling you get right before a heavy rain."

"Lee-hyuk, didn't you check the weather earlier?"

"I did."

Lee-hyuk tapped his phone and showed the screen.

"Look. It says 'clear' for today's weather. There's no mention of rain for the next few days."

"Is it because of the typhoon? They said a typhoon is coming."

"That will take a few more days."

He heard that the typhoon expected to arrive would take at least one or two more days to reach the southern region. Therefore, this area in the central region was far from the typhoon's influence.

Besides, the weather forecast said it wouldn't rain.

Well, to be honest, I don't really trust the weather forecast, but just looking at the clear sky, it's hard to believe it will rain.

The problem was the weight of what Jung-hyun said.

He usually talks nonsense, but when he's serious, he often says things that turn out to be true.

Like when I was considering whether to talk about my dad at the music cafe, or when he spoke sincerely to the fans before the fan signing event.

Of course, this weather forecast is a different matter, but when Jung-hyun is serious, it's usually worth listening to.

That's why everyone furrowed their brows.

"Min-ki, if it really rains heavily, shouldn't we say something?"

"I don't know. This is a bit..."

Min-ki scratched the back of his head, looking awkward.

Of course.

How could he go to the organizers and say, "The sky is clear, and the weather forecast is good, but our kid says it's going to rain."

"I'll go talk to the manager first. You guys go inside."

Min-ki walked towards Yun Seok-hwan and added,

"If it rains heavily, it'll be a big problem."

He was right.

Rain is a very critical factor for outdoor events.

Especially for singers.

Even ballad singers, who have fewer movements, can't perform well in the rain and wind, let alone idols who have to do breathless choreography.

Just thinking about having to dance on a slippery stage...

Ugh.

It's dizzying just to imagine.

I was worried, recalling the videos of idols slipping and falling that circulate on the internet.

"Can we trust what you're saying, Jung-hyun?"

Lee-hyuk asked, as if seeking confirmation. Jung-hyun hummed and replied,

"I can't say for sure, but the feeling is definitely there."

"Ah, what is it? Is it really going to rain?"

"Still, don't worry too much. I have a good feeling."

"Hyung, we agreed not to say that, remember?"

"No. It's fine because of Woo-jae."

"Didn't something go wrong with the sound system the last time you said that?"

He shook his head and looked at me with those innocent eyes, as if seeking help.

"Jung-hyun is right. There's no such thing as superstition in the world."

No one agreed.

Jung-hyun and I walked together, feeling a bit down, while the younger members ahead started having worried conversations.

Of course, I was worried too.

It just didn't feel real.

Because the sky was so clear.

I couldn't help but ask again.

"Jung-hyun, can you feel it when it's going to rain?"

"No, not exactly. Sometimes the weather forecast says it won't rain, and the sky is clear, but when the adults going to the fields say, 'Jung-hyun, put some burlap on the plants today,' it always rains on those days..."

"Really?"

"Yes. Today feels a bit like those days."

Is it really going to rain?

I tilted my head, looking at the sky, which was turning red with the sunset.

"Hyung, but..."

"Hmm?"

"Did I say something strange? Everyone is worried, and Min-ki even went to talk to the manager because of me..."

He scratched the back of his head, looking conflicted.

He seemed quite concerned.

He didn't mean anything by it, but everyone overreacted because it was right before the event.

Despite his calm face, his eyes showed a mix of emotions.

I was trying to think of what to say when his serious voice called me again.

"Hyung."

"Hmm?"

"Since I said all this..."

What?

"What if it doesn't rain?"

At that moment, I couldn't help but laugh.

It felt like the tension was suddenly released.

On the one hand, I felt relieved.

This is the real Kim Jung-hyun, I thought.

Not understanding the context, he tilted his head and asked, "What's so funny?" I patted his shoulder and laughed.

"What do you mean, idiot? It's better if it doesn't rain."

* * *

But it actually happened.

"..."

Just before the rehearsal, we went outside again and stared blankly at the sky.

We weren't the only ones.

Other singers and performance teams were also looking up at the sky.

"This doesn't look good."

As someone muttered, the sky was indeed unusual.

Dark clouds were gathering from the west against a dark blue background.

The ominous advance of the dark clouds over the vast fields was enough to make anyone swallow hard.

Soon, worried voices from the performers began to fill the event site.

"Hey, I wonder if the equipment will be okay."

"What do we do, sis? Do we need to change the choreography?"

"What about our order? We should ask to go earlier."

The rock band was worried about their expensive equipment getting wet, while the boy and girl groups were discussing changes to their choreography.

The most worried were the folk performance team.

They all looked serious, imagining doing jumps and shouting "Eolssigujulssigu" on a slippery floor.

While worry spread like wildfire, the on-site staff were in a panic.

"Hey, rookie! Is this all the waterproof sheets we have left?"

"Bring some extra cable ties and tidy up the wires here! I can't believe I have to do this... Hey, hey! What are you doing setting up the tent there, man!"

"Pump! We're going to install the drainage pump now!"

Under the precise direction of the chief director, the staff were running in all directions.

It was an impressive sight.

Sometimes on TV, they show construction sites with time-lapse footage of buildings going up, and it was similar.

Blink, and a tent would be set up.

Blink again, and the waterproof sheets would be neatly laid out.

The worry was alleviated.

Seeing the staff setting up barriers on the stage and checking every corner, I felt less worried about external factors.

On the other hand.

While other teams were raising their voices over choreography changes and costume issues, and the on-site staff were running around frantically, we were relatively calm.

"Everyone understand the changes to the choreography? Like this. Don't rotate your feet as you usually do, but rather tap them."

Bijoo demonstrated the foot movements like a coach, and we all nodded.

We practiced a few more times to confirm.

"Bijoo, I think I can't do it. The movement feels a bit strange."

It was a movement that only he found strange and couldn't do, but Bijoo gave Lee-hyuk a one-on-one lesson without a word.

Meanwhile, the other three were stretching to loosen up.

"Wow, thanks to Hyung Jung-hyun, we're lucky we knew about the rain in advance. Otherwise, we would have been in a big fight."

"Jung-hyun did a great job."

The reason we were relatively relaxed was thanks to the human weather station standing next to me.

An hour ago, after talking with the event agency, Yun Seok-hwan suggested changing the choreography.

I, who was worried about the members getting hurt, agreed enthusiastically, and we immediately had a video call with the choreographer to modify a few slippery foot movements.

Except for the main vocalist, who struggled with the simple movements as I did in the past, the result was successful.

Just as I was about to thank Jung-hyun,

"Jung-hyun."

"..."

"What are you looking at so intently?"

My heart sank as he was staring at something intently.

I wondered what it could be this time.

Was it just my imagination that he might say, "I think a wild boar will come out later"?

Jung-hyun said it was nothing much.

"Over there, the staff member seems to be doing it wrong."

"Where?"

"The one installing the pump."

He was talking about the junior staff member installing the drainage pump in a corner of the concert venue.

"Adults use it differently. It should be more vertical..."

As he explained in a low voice, Ji-ho and I looked at each other.

Should we say that our kid sometimes seems strange?

Ji-ho whispered, "He's a strange hyung."

I chuckled, then he seemed to remember something and whispered in my ear again.

"Thinking about it, you're the strange one."

This always happens.

While I was rolling my eyes at him, the practice ended, and Bijoo and Lee-hyuk rejoined us.

"Did the practice go well?"

"Yes, there are a few parts