The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 134
In truth, timing the release of “Hide and Seek”’s music video to coincide with the start of the showcase had drawn a great deal of resentment, and AG’s marketing team was aware of the fact thanks to the flood of inquiries pouring in.
[Title: This Week’s Winning Lottery Numbers Is a Lie
Has AG’s marketing team lost its mind? What world do you live in where an idol music video gets released at the exact same time the showcase starts? Please, if you don’t understand the idol industry, at least look at how other agencies do it;; I attached Sledix and Leopold 2OCD’s release schedule files too in case that’s too hard for you ㅈㅂㅈㅂ I’ll die if ToZ flops please get a grip August]
[⎿Re: Here Are the Winning Lotto Numbers
Hello, this is Kim Gyuhan from Marketing Team 1 at August Entertainment ^^
I have carefully read the inquiry you sent us. Please rest assured that I did not check it in hopes of winning the lottery!
We will make an announcement after a future meeting. Thank you.]
However, no announcement about changing the release time was posted.
“Team Leader. Still… wouldn’t it be better to push the time back until after the showcase ends? People keep sending angry inquiries while pretending they’re lottery winning numbers, and besides, increasing the buzz as an extension of that…”
“No. We should go ahead as planned. Do you like cake?”
“Cake, all of a sudden? …
I don’t particularly like it. If it’s there, I eat it, that’s all.”
“Right. Say you like cake, and you eat a whole one and get full. But then someone offers you a cake, saying this one tastes way better. Except it’s the same cake you ate earlier. Would you eat it again?”
“Mm, why would I? I already ate it all and I’m full… Ah.”
“Exactly. You probably learned this in marketing lectures too. It’s better to set out a fully loaded table from the start. Besides, the showcase is a live broadcast, and because of that, there are people who can’t watch it live.”
“That does make sense. But still, won’t attention be split either way? And as time passes, fewer people will watch.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. We’re preparing something with another team.”
“Pardon?”
“The important thing is buzz, isn’t it.”
‘We should try outsourcing promotion too.’
Once with Director Shin Giho joining the company, and once with ToZ preparing for debut. After AG had undergone a sweeping reorganization and personnel reshuffle that way, each of its teams had its own goal.
We will survive.
We will wring every last drop out of our prepared rookie, the rookie who must succeed—ToZ!
Whether thanks to that grand ambition or not, even though AG had already established a certain position within the entertainment industry, ideas and projects like those from a newly launched start-up were now pouring out nonstop.
And the video the marketing team and a certain media team had ambitiously prepared was just released.
Click—
The important thing was buzz.
With ToZ’s concept, song, and the individual charm of each member, fans had already checked out all of their teasers, mood samplers, concept photos, and even the music video trailer.
But how could they make even non-fans watch?
It was simple.
Put it into video content that non-fans watched.
And through that, make attention gather.
“…
Hello? This is Yeonwoo of Sledix.”
“Yes, this is Seongmin of Sledix!”
“Today, to film a music video reaction video for our juniors, I’m here together with Seongmin for the first time in a while.”
“Yes. Since Yeonwoo hyung and I recently got split into different units, we haven’t been seeing each other much… Um, should we play the video first? Since we’re not the main focus!”
“Right. Well, we aren’t the main focus.”
“U-um… The concept is unique, isn’t it? Is this a vampire?”
“Hard to say. It seems like it might be werewolves too. This concept is really… interesting, haha.”
In that manner, other idols often asked successful juniors or seniors who had already firmly established their position to film music video reaction videos.
Of course.
AG, which had only one idol group that had scattered to pursue individual activities and only solo singers whose core fandoms were too dominant, had found it difficult to benefit from things like that until now, but…
This time, they had one.
- “Good to see you, it’s Gao Yan! I’ll say this in advance: if you don’t subscribe, like, and turn on notifications, the one who loses out is you, the person watching this! Because you’ll regret not being able to see it right away!”
An exclusive AG supernova WiTube creator who had hit 600,000 subscribers exactly one week ago.
- “Today is not Gao Yan’s Noisy Boy content, but anyway. While I’m asking nicely, press subscribe and like. The higher Gao Yan’s position rises within the company, the higher the quality of the content becomes. It’s true. Is everyone not curious about the ruins of Colombia? I am.”
- “Uaaah, Gao Yan… Even after not seeing you for a while, you’re really still so reckless. How can you talk to subscribers like that?”
- “Ah. Before today’s content, we have a special guest! I personally brought him from Japan. Gao Yan’s close friend, in other words, his underling. Let me introduce him. Gao Yan’s flatmate from
- “Wait. What does ‘underling’ mean? It doesn’t sound very nice!”
- “Who knows. Most of Gao Yan’s Korean is taught by Gao Yan himself, but I learned only this word from RoR’s chat, so I don’t know. But it feels perfect for Ryota.”
- “You can’t just use words you don’t know well anywhere you want, Gao Yan!”
A God-given ability to bait attention, and wildly imaginative content planning.
And since the marketing team had already confirmed that Gao Yan had drawn in plenty of views with his video of acting as ToZ’s manager for a day before, there was no way they would let such talent slip away.
Moreover, one of the flatmates who had shared a room with the debuting members readily agreed to appear in the video, so everything proceeded smoothly.
- “So, although it makes me jealous, today we will be filming a music video reaction video for ToZ’s debut song, ‘Hide and Seek.’ Ryota, did you watch all of ToZ’s previous teasers?”
- “Of course. I watched them while chewing my handkerchief to pieces out of jealousy, envy, and pride. Logan got way too cool, didn’t he? This is cowardly. I could do well too!”
- “Correction. Logan was cooler than Ryota from the start. Of course, neither of you is as cool as Gao Yan. There is only one Gao Yan in this world.”
- “That’s so mean! Then what about Chunyong aniki? Are you going to say you’re cooler than Chunyong aniki too? Seriously?”
- “…
I will get to the main point. ToZ’s concept this time is the story of Boy Scout members searching for a dog named ‘Xenia.’ Mm-hm. However, they suspect one another of having stolen it. What a wonderful thriller, what suspense. Very good. Gao Yan is truly looking forward to it. I listened to the song earlier, and it’s really good too!”
- “You’re just ignoring me however you please. Hello?”
- “However! I thought it would be no fun if we simply watched it. Gao Yan’s iron rule. ‘Something that is not fun has no meaning.’ Therefore, Ryota and I will first bet on who stole Xenia, then watch the music video!”
- “Gao Yan? Can you even hear what I’m saying!?”
The noisier, more chaotic, and more full of things they wanted to say, the better.
The more entertaining the commotion of those multinational flatmates felt, the more people would…
♪♬♩♬♪—
- “Huh, is it starting right away? I still haven’t decided who the culprit is!”
- “The world of competition is a harsh one. Gao Yan has already decided in his heart who stole it. Logan definitely stole it.”
- “What? Why?”
- “Because Gao Yan’s soul tells him so. Ryota, hurry and choose too. The loser will receive a penalty later.”
- “Ah, honestly…! Th-then I’ll choose… Siu!”
♪♪♩♪♬♪!
Because they would focus on the six Boy Scout members appearing in their video.
* * *
Unlike the song, which began the members’ individual parts immediately after the intro melody, the music video first showed someone stepping onto a slightly damp forest path with brown work boots.
From the work boots to impatient knees, then to a slightly oversized scout uniform, and the badges and insignia fastened all over the top.
- “The outfits are really cool. I wanted to debut and wear something like that too!”
- “Shh, Ryota. Even if Ryota wore something like that, it wouldn’t suit you. Things like that should be worn by handsome people. Like Gao Yan.”
- “I don’t want to hear that from someone who didn’t get to wear it either, okay?”
No matter what Gao Yan and Ryota bickered about, the camera in the music video simply continued slowly scanning up the subject it had zoomed in on.
And just before the subject’s face was revealed.
A sheet of paper smacked onto his face, making it impossible to tell who he was.
- “Right now… Something about this person seems like the one who stole Xenia. His first appearance is meaningful.”
- “Mm. Intentionally covering his face like this could imply that. However, Gao Yan will not recklessly choose the culprit like Ryota. Things like this can only be known after watching to the end.”
- “Urgh, you keep looking down on me! Huh? It’s Siu! Yuchan hyung too!”
Just as Ryota said while tapping Gao Yan in retaliation, the music video had at some point transitioned to show the inside of an old tent.
A hurricane lantern dangled above the brown tent that matched the Boy Scout uniforms, and on the floor, a fountain pen with its ink burst open lay rolling.
- I count from one to ten
Ready or Not, Here I come
From far away, the sound of your laughter
Jang Siu was hugging his knees with a meaningful expression as he looked at it, while Bang Yuchan pressed a finger to his lips and shushed him.
- “It looks like there’s some kind of secret. A secret between just the two of them? Ah! I think it said they were accomplices. But still…”
- “Oh, Ryota. You understand after being told once. Yes. They will all feel like this! Among them, we have to find out who the real culprit is.”
- “Right. Come to think of it, that lantern and fountain pen seem like they were another member’s signature items too…!”
It was just as they huddled together and deduced.
In the following video, Ji Hwaseong and Son Jaeha also appeared to be sharing a secret conversation of their own, and when they met Jang Siu and Bang Yuchan, they made expressions that seemed a little uncomfortable.
- “They’re good at acting?! If it were me and Gao Yan, we might have burst out laughing the moment our eyes met.”
- “Ryota, saying things like that is troublesome. The only one who would laugh is Ryota. Since Gao Yan is a professional, he knows very well how to immerse himself in each moment.”
While they chattered like that, Kim Chunyong and Logan had also joined the Boy Scout members’ movements before anyone knew it.
The details of the Boy Scout uniforms they wore were all different, but there was one thing that was the same.
All of them had a badge shaped like a dog, drawn in intaglio, pinned to their chests.
- Hi, Hi. Hide and Seek
See, See. In my eyes, I only see you
Hi, How was your day?
At the end of this curiosity
I found you, I saw you
And the members, who climbed into an old Jeep as if about to leave for somewhere, stared expressionlessly ahead and sang the highlight part together.
- “Mmm. The song is really exciting, but the video isn’t, so it’s kind of giving me chills…”
- “Wait, wait! Ryota. Gao Yan has realized something. If Gao Yan’s thoughts are correct, this is because they’ve become lethargic since Xenia disappeared.”
- “Isn’t that not a realization but something obvious? It said they all liked her a lot!”
- “Does Japan not have a proverb saying you should listen to people until the end?! So, after this…”
Before Gao Yan could even finish speaking, the second verse began and the screen completely changed.
♪♬♩♬♪—
In the previous first verse, they had appeared wearing Boy Scout uniforms, but Kim Chunyong, who opened the second verse, was playing with a Swiss Army knife while wearing a loose, comfortable black sleeveless shirt and leather pants.
- “—I predicted it would change like this! In music videos, if you only show one outfit, fans get angry. Ryota, remember this for your future debut.”
- “Is that what matters right now? No, until now, it showed pairs sharing secrets. But suddenly, Chunyong aniki is alone…”
Ryota’s words could not continue after that.
- “…
Eh? Wa-wait. What is this! The two of them weren’t allies?!”
The same went for Gao Yan, who had been spouting nonsense nonstop beside him with a solemn expression.
- On a day like this, when rain falls
I take three steps to find you
Hi, Hi. But Hide tightly
After finishing his first line, Kim Chunyong threw the knife toward the wall, and the paper hanging there was split cleanly in half by the blade…
- Lying is my specialty
That’s all for your sake
Ready or Not, Here I come
From far away, the sound of your footsteps
Because behind it, a photo of Logan holding a dog presumed to be Xenia dropped down.
The ones shocked by the reversed situation were not only the people watching the music video and those watching Gao Yan and Ryota’s reaction video.
[Neulbom @Bombangbom
Wait, I’m so shocked right now I can’t speak]
[Neulbom @Bombangbom
The culprit is what? Wait… Who’s the culprit? No but Chunyong is so pretty today, his hair is styled so well I feel like crying no but who’s the culprit?]
[⎿Yongyongguri @yongyongletsgo
??
Neulbom-nim, I can’t watch either the MV or the live broadcast right now ㅠ What’s going on]
[Neulbom @Bombangbom
No, Yongyongguri-nim, listen, the kids’ stage just ended and ㅁㅊ how do I even explain this]
Because the same was true for those at the showcase venue, who had seen the “Hide and Seek” stage all the way through faster than anyone else.