Chapter 71
Woo Jung-woo's surprise mini concert commemorating his birthday concluded successfully.
'I can't believe my plan worked this well...'
Beyond what I had vaguely thought—that if it's Woo Jung-woo, he'd do well.
Woo Jung-woo advanced his skills another step on that small stage, clearly proving why he is WEERS's main vocal.
More than anything, in Woo Jung-woo's appearance returning to normal after the broadcast ended.
I could feel a little bit of ease that hadn't been visible before.
'It was a bit reckless, but as long as the result is good.'
The fans' reactions were, of course, explosive as well.
The fans who watched the W-App expecting a modest birthday broadcast.
Let out cheers of joy when all the members of WEERS gathered in one place along with the unexpected surprise event.
Not long after Woo Jung-woo's singing started, the live broadcast's viewer count immediately shattered WEERS's previous highest record of 100,000.
Soon, well over 100,000 people ended up enjoying Woo Jung-woo's mini concert together.
With so many people watching, the video of Woo Jung-woo's singing spread quickly, centered around the fan communities.
-Woo Jung-woo's singing skills were at this level? I knew he was good, but he's way better than I thought.
-He couldn't get a proper skill evaluation because he was overshadowed by Eugene Kim all this time. People who watched Guk-a all knew Woo Jung-woo's skills were top-tier.
-This is what a main vocal is...! Woo Jung-woo really seems like the textbook definition of a male idol vocal. Solid vocal production and stable in high notes.
-He's terrifyingly good. Is there any chance they could properly re-record the live video and upload it?
Every comment on the video continued with praise for Woo Jung-woo.
While even people who had no interest in WEERS were exclaiming in admiration after watching Woo Jung-woo's singing video.
Among WEERS's fans, posts about the members' actions of giving up their vacation to come to the birthday celebration broadcast were continuously being uploaded.
-So the kids gave up their vacation and came to celebrate Jung-woo's birthday... I didn't know because I couldn't see from the beginning. No wonder Jung-woo seemed so moved.
-Since everyone gets along so well, it really makes fangirling worthwhile.
-Other fans who were basely assuming the members wouldn't get along because the group was formed through auditions won't even be able to make a peep if they watched today's live broadcast.
-It was truly a cauldron of emotion when the kids suddenly popped out during the live broadcast... It wasn't just Jung-woo who cried, all the fans watching the broadcast probably cried too.
└Right... when Jung-woo cried I really wailed... ㅠㅠ WEERS please stay together forever...!
***
The day after Woo Jung-woo's birthday, which concluded successfully in many ways, and the W-App live broadcast ended.
I returned to the dorm after finishing my short vacation.
"It somehow feels like it's been a long time since I came here. Even though only 5 days have passed."
"Right. Maybe it's because we've never left it empty for this long."
Kang Ah-jin, who came in together on the way to the dorm, looked around as if the dorm he visited after a few days felt momentarily awkward.
Just as Kang Ah-jin said, perhaps due to the aftermath of receiving vacation for the first time, arriving back at the dorm felt strange somehow.
Maybe it was also because not all the members had returned yet.
"Now that vacation is over, it's time to start preparing for activities in earnest."
"Next activity... have you thought of anything?"
At my words, Kang Ah-jin let out a deep sigh and answered.
"Actually, even when I went home for vacation, I could only think about what to do for the next activity? What would be a good album concept?... Did you rest well, hyung?"
"Me? Well..."
Did I rest well?
Actually, I couldn't rest at all because of the Woo Jung-woo matter.
Of course, it was something I had brought upon myself.
'Still, I gained a lot personally.'
What I gained during this break was first, Woo Jung-woo's awakening.
Woo Jung-woo's singing skills, which were already tremendous, advanced another step due to the awakening.
'It's not just singing skills that improved.'
What increased wasn't just skills, but also trust in the members and self-confidence, among other things.
Everything Woo Jung-woo needed right now seemed to have worked positively through this awakening.
A member's development is ultimately WEERS's development as well, so even without a visible reward, this could be considered a great achievement of this vacation.
And the second was.
The conviction that choosing the 'Leader's Whip' trait was not a mistake.
The trait effect was of great help in this matter as well.
Of course, it would be unreasonable to say that Woo Jung-woo's growth was all thanks to the trait.
But without the trait, things probably wouldn't have worked out so easily.
The most important thing was that awakening a member didn't just end with the member's awakening.
Direct rewards were given to me along with it.
'I hadn't even thought of that.'
Shown when Woo Jung-woo's awakening ended.
A message saying rewards are given according to the contribution to the member's awakening.
And the reward given to me was.
-Perfect Falsetto
Even without bringing the microphone above your head, you have already mastered perfect falsetto.
You can brilliantly handle high register parts!
It was the trait called 'Perfect Falsetto'.
Although the description was a bit strange, when I looked it up in the trait shop, it was a whopping 2-point trait.
And after obtaining the trait, when I practiced singing for a bit.
'Definitely, my voice has become much more stable in the high register. My vocal range seems to have increased too.'
The trait's effect was certainly real.
My singing skills didn't noticeably improve, but now I too had a weapon called high notes.
I had escaped the danger of trembling in fear that I might crack my voice when made to sing live somewhere.
But there was one thing that bothered me.
'If it's falsetto, could it be that a trait related to Woo Jung-woo was given to me as a reward?'
Woo Jung-woo's specialty is splendid high notes.
And the reward given to me along with Woo Jung-woo's awakening was 'Perfect Falsetto'.
A trait related to the awakened member is given to me as a reward.
I could think of it that way, but.
'I can't know for sure yet.'
It was just one clue anyway.
'Still, I've definitely set my goal now.'
The goal I set through this vacation was to awaken as many members as possible.
It's helpful for the individual members.
And direct rewards are given to me too.
There couldn't be anything better than this.
'Of course, the problem is that awakening isn't something that happens at my will.'
Still, if we keep spending time together, wouldn't an opportunity come someday?
I looked at Kang Ah-jin next to me with a gleam in my eyes.
"Huek? Hyung, why are you looking at me with those eyes suddenly...?"
"Ah-jin, is there anything difficult going on lately?"
"Something difficult?"
"Yeah. Or any worries or something."
At my words, Kang Ah-jin looked at me with an expression saying 'Why is this hyung suddenly like this?'
But seeing my serious face, he started pressing his chubby cheeks with his palms.
That was a habit Kang Ah-jin showed whenever he was worrying about something.
Kang Ah-jin, who had been thinking for a while, seemed to finish his thoughts and looked at me to speak.
"Not really?"
At the overly simple answer, I was momentarily speechless, but.
What could I do if he said he had no worries.
"If you have no worries, then I have a good method."
"Excuse me...?"
"The foundation is stamina after all, so let's start with some intense exercise with me."
"...???"
If he has no worries, then I just need to create some for him, right?
Not 'if I keep working hard something will come out'... The most important thing is still stamina after all.
Actually, Kang Ah-jin's stamina is quite lacking.
I definitely didn't have any bad intentions.
"First, Ah-jin needs to supplement his lacking stamina..."
When I muttered while looking at Kang Ah-jin, he jumped in surprise and shouted.
"Hyung! Actually, I think my vocals are a bit lacking! So I want to practice vocals hard!"
"Isss that so...?"
"Yes!"
"It's not because you don't want to exercise, is it?"
At my words, I could see Kang Ah-jin sweating profusely.
Right then, the front door opened, and the members started coming into the dorm.
"Si-hyun!"
Kang Ah-jin, who was next to me, ran to Baek Si-hyun, who had just entered the dorm.
Baek Si-hyun was surprised by Kang Ah-jin suddenly clinging to him, and looked at my face with an expression wondering what was going on.
But Kang Ah-jin's words were faster than my explanation.
"Huek, Si-hyun, I was scared... sob"
At Kang Ah-jin's words, Baek Si-hyun's expression looking at me became strange.
Shim Sung-ha and Woo Jung-woo, who were coming in behind, each added a word.
"Rin hyung! Are you already going to do this right after vacation ends?"
"That's right! You worked me hard during vacation, that should be enough. Now the next turn is Ah-jin?"
"No, guys... I haven't done anything yet..."
Despite my excuse, the members' criticism didn't stop.
"Not everyone in the world is a monster like you, hyung!"
"Sunwoo-rin, restrain yourself! Restrain yourself!"
What on earth has my image become among the members.
This was all done for the sake of the members...
While I was feeling unjustly treated like that.
"What's this situation?"
"Well..."
Park Han-hwi and Eugene Kim arrived at the dorm last. Finally, all the members gathered in the dorm again.
While the two were surprised by the noisy atmosphere of the dorm.
Fortunately, before a Sunwoo-rin denunciation rally could take place, the topic flowed elsewhere.
"Yesterday was Jung-woo hyung's birthday but we couldn't even properly celebrate. How about a home party today?"
"Oh! Home party!!"
"Guys... our vacation ended yesterday...?"
"Come on. Is that important right now? What's important is that yesterday was Jung-woo hyung's birthday."
As soon as the members gathered, Shim Sung-ha could be seen continuously insisting on a home party.
Looking at the members gathered in the dorm, I decided to stop thinking about work for now.
'If I wait, an opportunity will come someday.'
For now, it seemed I needed to calm down the runaway Shim Sung-ha.
"Guys, a home party is a bit..."
When I opened my mouth, the excited members looked at me with tense expressions.
"If you really want to, let's not drink alcohol. How about we cook and eat together?"
"That's great!"
"Then who wants to go out grocery shopping with me?"
"I want to go too!"
As soon as I finished speaking, I could see the members quickly finishing their role assignments.
Kang Ah-jin, Baek Si-hyun, and Eugene Kim prepared to go grocery shopping together.
Shim Sung-ha and Park Han-hwi were checking the refrigerator and discussing what food to make.
"It's peaceful..."
"Right."
Woo Jung-woo, who was helplessly bound to the sofa because he was today's main character, spoke while looking at the dorm's scenery.
"Let's just enjoy it for now."
Although starting tomorrow, we'd have to handle busy schedules along with comeback preparations.
At least for today, I wanted to enjoy this time without any worries.
***
From the day after re-entering the dorm, we began preparing for the comeback.
The company once again arranged time for us to discuss and consult about future schedules and the next album plans together.
"So the comeback is decided for the end of July?"
"It's not confirmed yet, but we're coordinating the schedule to have a comeback at the end of July and hold a solo concert in August."
The meeting currently taking place in the conference room.
The A&R team, planning team, marketing team, and others.
All the key personnel of our company except the CEO were gathered.
For now, it seemed the next comeback was almost confirmed for the end of July.
That would leave about two months.
It was better than the preparation time for the debut album, but it wasn't enough time to prepare with leisure.
After hearing about the schedule roughly like that, it was now time for detailed discussions about the next album.
The A&R team began their presentation about the next album.
They introduced a few demo songs among the title track candidates prepared so far.
As they were title track candidates, they were songs by composers with such remarkable reputations that I had heard of them.
"Then would it be okay if we listen through them all at once now?"
At my suggestion, a time was created in the conference room to listen to the next title track candidate songs.
'I'm still not sure...'
Since they were demo versions, they were unfinished music.
Still, it was a bit disappointing that there wasn't a song that grabbed my ear enough to make me go 'This is it!' the moment I heard it.
"Umm..."
I glanced at Eugene Kim, who was sitting next to me seriously listening to the candidate songs.
When all the candidate songs up to the last one had been listened to.
Eugene Kim, who had been quietly listening throughout the meeting, suddenly opened his mouth for the first time and spoke.
"Do we necessarily have to choose the title track from among these songs?"
"Not necessarily, but among the songs we can receive right now, this is the best."
Eugene Kim seemed unsatisfied with the answer to his question, furrowing his brow for a moment while thinking, then.
Carefully brought up his words.
"By any chance. Could you give me about 2 weeks?"
"Yes? 2 weeks?"
When the company officials looked puzzled at Eugene Kim's sudden request for 2 weeks.
"If it's okay, I would like to try making this title track myself."
Looking at the faces of the company officials making troubled expressions while listening to Eugene Kim's words.
I thought that this comeback preparation wouldn't go smoothly either.