Episode 78
With the announcement of Weers' comeback, the first teaser video was released.
Although it was merely a short 30-second teaser, its impact was by no means small.
Naturally, the first place to explode with reactions was Weers' fan cafe.
-If you suddenly release a teaser video like this, my heart won't be able to handle it ㅠㅠ
-Since it was a summer comeback, I thought this album would be an exciting dance track and didn't expect much, but the moment I saw the teaser my fan spirit just exploded...
-The style has completely changed from their debut, but this concept suits them perfectly. Especially Rin's white hair is truly a godsend.
-How am I supposed to wait for the comeback now ㅠ Guys, please quickly empty my wallet ㅠㅠ
These reactions from fans naturally flowed through SNS and into general communities.
While the fans' heated reactions were spreading through the communities.
In the community, posts related to Seonwoo Rin were generating more buzz than the teaser video itself.
[The idol who caused an uproar saying they hit their visual peak the moment the comeback was announced.]
-Wow... Seonwoo Rin's looks are seriously insane ㄷㄷ
-To think there was an idol who suited white hair this well. I've been completely hit right in my preference. My heart still feels like it's pounding.
-I haven't even properly heard the song yet, but why do I feel like this song is going to be all-time great...
└Don't know about the song, but the visuals are all-time great for sure.
└With visuals like this, there's absolutely no way they can fail.
Seonwoo Rin's visuals showing an overwhelming atmosphere that made it hard to recall their national idol days, combined with the teaser video's dreamlike concept.
With reactions to those visuals, the general community also began to burn hotly.
Amidst that atmosphere, Weers' comeback preparations were steadily progressing.
[Weers' first individual concept photo revealed 'Dreamlike and Refreshing']
[Weers' mini 2nd album tracklist revealed, title song composed by Yoojin Kim]
As news related to the comeback was revealed one by one, articles poured out as if mass-produced.
And the rapidly rising view counts and comment numbers with each article upload made one truly feel the current interest and popularity toward Weers.
Weers' fans were somewhat cautious about such reactions, but they couldn't hide their boiling expectations.
-Every time a concept photo is revealed, I can only think that this concept is insane.
-No, CL Entertainment could actually do this well? Have they finally gotten serious about the entertainment business this time?
-Is this the power of a large corporation? Every single outfit is luxurious, and the hair and makeup are all crazy. Other groups can't achieve this even if they pour money into it...
-The music video hasn't been released yet, but if they deliver as much as what they've shown so far, it feels like they'll create a legend.
While fans were waiting for the comeback in joy with the newly revealed news every day.
The negative reactions that always follow with much attention were also gradually rising from the shadows to the surface.
-Composed by Yoojin Kim and lyrics by Yoojin Kim, Baek Sihyun? This isn't even making geniuses, hasn't the agency's media play been too much since the debut album?
└Well, I'll admit Yoojin Kim, but why are they putting Baek Sihyun in the lyrics?
-More than that, it's funny how they bring photos plastered with all kinds of photoshop and say they hit their visual peak ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅇㅈ Honestly, you don't know until you see them in person, that's why people leave the fandom for no reason at concerts or fan meets, right? ㅋㅋㅋ
-No matter how many times I look, I can't see that Seonwoo Rin is handsome? White hair suits him? Not at all...
Posts about Seonwoo Rin's appearance had high topicality, but equally, resistance to it was steadily arising.
Critical opinions that were slowly emerging in places beyond the reach of fans' attention.
Were also starting to show themselves in articles about Weers.
Unrelated to that, Weers' comeback was drawing closer and closer.
***
Having finished the comeback preparations over the past two months or so, finally today the day of the comeback had arrived.
Weers' comeback, just like their debut, was held as a live broadcast comeback show on MusicNet this time as well.
'It seems the CEO pulled some strings...'
For the debut, there was the justification of being a group born from an audition program held by MusicNet.
But holding a live broadcast comeback show on a broadcasting network even for this comeback would have been difficult.
As expected, when the title of MusicNet's son and the CEO's influence combined, there was nothing that couldn't be done.
That much expectation was riding on us, so it did bring some pressure.
'If we go by topicality alone, it seems we won't lose out.'
The topicality for this comeback seemed even greater than during the debut which had the benefit of the audition program's afterglow.
And I knew very well that I had a large share in the reason for that.
'I'm glad I raised my appearance.'
Originally, I didn't search for my name on communities or SNS.
But during this comeback preparation period, I absolutely couldn't hold back.
'I need to see the reactions to know what level Appearance A+ grade is.'
The reactions were more explosive than expected.
No matter how I thought about it, being able to pull off this white hair seemed largely due to the effect of Appearance A+ grade.
Thanks to that, we received enormous attention even before the comeback, so there couldn't be a better result than this.
'It's a bit burdensome to receive attention for my appearance, but.'
Hadn't I experienced since the audition days that for an idol, appearance is also a skill?
Thinking so, I decided to accept it positively.
'If possible, it would be nice to raise my appearance to S grade during this activity.'
The appearance stat was the stat with the fastest response, but whenever I raised my appearance, I couldn't help but be conscious of plastic surgery rumors.
'Fortunately, it seems like there aren't many such talks since the interval between activities is short this time.'
Anyway, if I could raise my appearance to S grade while active, that would be the best.
I made up my mind that if my level increased during this activity, I would raise the appearance stat first.
Having organized my thoughts like that, I opened my eyes which I had kept closed and looked at the mirror.
'The effect is definite.'
In the mirror, the somewhat sharp impression from usual had disappeared, and there existed a person who gave a mysterious feeling like a character from an animation.
'I'm glad I told the company.'
A smile crept to my lips at the satisfactory result, but I didn't express it in words.
Because...
"Oh my! Oh my! You've finally opened your eyes! How is it? Do you like it? No, the audition feels like just yesterday, but how can you debut and become this handsome all by yourself? It's really ridiculous..."
The makeup artist who started talking at an incredible speed the moment I opened my eyes.
Right. She was the makeup artist who had given me the artisan's buff with her fraudulent skills during the national idol days.
'Endure it. endure it, Seonwoo Rin.'
There was the serious drawback of having to consume my mental strength in proportion to her makeup skills.
'If only I can make an impact on this showcase stage, this level of mental suffering...'
I drew the character for endurance in my mind and spoke to the makeup artist.
"Isn't this pretty much finished?"
"What do you mean finished? There's still so much left to do. More importantly, Rin-ssi, have you been doing well since your debut? Now that you've completely become a star, I can't even talk to you easily..."
'Despite saying that, you're talking quite excitedly...?'
Enduring the mental suffering disguised as chatter, I spent the time of endurance.
-By receiving the artisan's touch, a buff is temporarily applied to appearance stat and charm stat.
'As expected, the effect is definite.'
Seeing the status window message that appeared right before my eyes as soon as the makeup was done, I was able to immediately forget the suffering I had endured.
Opening the status window to check, there was no such thing as the appearance stat rising to S grade.
'Expecting that much would be too greedy. Just getting a buff is already amazing.'
"Thank you so much, ma'am! You're truly the best artisan as expected!"
"Rin-ssi is exactly the same person as before, how can you be so consistently polite? No, I'm too moved..."
Having unexpectedly moved the makeup teacher, I had to be held back for about 10 more minutes after that.
"Phew..."
Barely escaping, I walked toward the sofa placed in one corner of the waiting room, and the members who had finished preparing long ago were gathered in one place.
"Wow! Rin-hyung, today you're seriously not of this world handsome!"
"I need to take a picture quickly!"
"Ugh, it's so bright I can't even look at you...!"
The members making a fuss wasn't something from just yesterday or today, but judging from their reactions, it didn't seem like they were just joking around.
'Even I can see that today's makeup is a bit fraudulent.'
I tried hard not to show it in my expression at the members' reactions and sat in the empty seat next to Park Hanhwi.
"Rin, it seems like the corners of your mouth have been slightly raised since earlier?"
I almost let my poker face slip at Park Hanhwi's words, but quickly regaining my composure, I looked at my watch and said to Park Hanhwi.
"Ahem... Anyway, it's 6 o'clock now, so the music and music video must have been released by now, right?"
"Right, do you want to see too, Rin?"
On the phone screen Park Hanhwi handed me, Weers' music video that hadn't even had its view count calculated yet was playing.
I immediately scrolled down to check the comment list.
'The reactions...'
The comments that were being replaced as if the entire page changed every time I refreshed the screen.
In other words, it meant that comments were being posted in real time at an incredible rate.
"No need to check any further."
I said as I handed the phone back to Park Hanhwi.
Even with a brief look, the reactions were undeniably good.
As for the music, it had just been released, so we'd have to wait an hour for it to chart.
With that, I put my mind at ease and waited in the waiting room with the members for the start of the showcase.
And not long after.
"It's time to head to the stage!"
As I went up on stage along with the staff's words.
Waaaaaaaaaaaah-
I could feel my heart pounding wildly at the enormous cheers.
***
The comeback showcase that Weers' fans had waited and waited for.
Finally, the teaser video announcing the start of the showcase was revealed first.
As the broadcast of the showcase began along with the short video, the fans held their breath and focused all their nerves on the broadcast screen.
At last, the screen changed.
Waaaaaaaaaaaah-
The tremendous cheers coming from the venue.
And the moment the screen that had been illuminating the entire concert hall turned toward the stage.
-light me up
With your smile that lights up this night
take me now
Take my hand,
In this moment we will become one
The chorus of a track from this mini 2nd album rang out, and the Weers members' faces began to be captured on camera one by one.
Kyaaaaaah-
The screams that erupted every time the members' faces were projected onto the large screen at the venue.
And the moment Seonwoo Rin's face was captured on camera last.
Suddenly, the screen crackled with static.
And the showcase teaser video played again.
-W-What? Where did our Rin disappear to...?
-The screen suddenly went weird?
-Give Rin back...! Please give our Rin back quickly!!!!
-What are these MusicNet bastards doing?
And so, Weers' comeback showcase began with an unexpected accident.