The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 143
Honestly, there were plenty of ways to go up against Wiz with their showcase coming up.
I could ask Hobin hyung to turn on a live with the members and talk about the B-sides, or we could film our own choreography video and upload it to the official WeTube channel.
It wasn’t like I absolutely had to work with Dasol-ssem—no.
“Li… ve, you say… Is there… no, way… to speak… faster….”
What I meant was, there was no need for me to carve out time to film a guest crew video with Dasol hyung, who was sitting beside me and speaking ever so slowly into the Outgram live screen.
Still, in my opinion, this was the best option I could take right now.
[ToZFoooorever has entered]
[Youknownothing: omg what is this Dasol oppa is doing a live with an idol lol is he good at dancing?]
[kpopotaku: yongyong say hello to Indonesia♡]
[lologanpuppy: Chunyong Chunyong Chunyong what’s Logan doing? Are you dancing to Logan’s song today??]
[REALLeehoejin_ has entered]
[Everyspringtoyou: Don’t mention people who aren’t here lol Let’s only talk about Dasol-nim and Chunyong-nim]
[dancingtnthemoon: Are you going live to dance? Or is this a preview live? Either is fine handsome men are good add more handsome men add more]
[ehsrktmehsrktm: There are seriously people talking only about faces in front of a dancer lol People like that ruin the scene]
[REALLeehoejin_: holy shit don’t let Gunyoung hyung see this]
[dancingtnthemoon: Add lots of handsome dancers who dance well add lots of handsome idols who are good on stage rude pork-cutlet human who criticizes people move aside]
For buzz.
Of course, even if I’d done a live with our members, it would have been talked about plenty.
Our results were climbing even more steeply than they had during Arrows, and thanks to Director Mun Yunha, we’d stamped our concept firmly into people’s minds as well.
But the problem was that the image our agency, August Entertainment, had always pushed was already “talented performers.”
[Choi Gaon dances and sings for all four minutes like he’s got gills, so what’s the point of splitting up parts and being good on stage lol]
[⎿The point is their faces you crazy bastard only one handsome guy goes onstage with Choi Gaon but TOZ has six]
[⎿⎿Saying it like this only makes Xenia-nim look pathetic ㅜ How many outstanding senior solo singers does that agency have? Of course people wouldn’t be satisfied with an ordinary stage….]
Even if you remade and served something people had already been enjoying, it couldn’t compare to the buzz of a newly appeared dish.
[Recommendations for new hot spots in Sinsa♡ I went faster than anyone else!]
[“It’s actually just vinyl” The secret behind designer Seong Umin’s eco-friendly material bag selling out?]
Regardless of whether it tasted good or not.
That elation of being the first to experience something new, the special feeling of consuming something different from what you already knew.
Only by satisfying things like that could you get people talking.
I learned that….
I don’t remember exactly. Probably when I first started getting hate after the accident.
[Arrows Rex’s heartbreaking story… The reason he left the fan meeting venue.jpg]
[Where is the agency’s care? An idol standing on the edge, about idol depression]
It wasn’t as if I’d only been hated from the start.
People couldn’t possibly be that evil.
Who would throw nasty words at someone who’d gone through something bad right from the beginning?
[Why isn’t AG putting Rex on hiatus? If his condition is like that, shouldn’t they let him rest? His symptoms are totally panic disorder]
[⎿I saw an interview before and he said all his family supported him so he was able to be an idol, and that he had to keep going no matter what… Seems like it’s because of that ㅠ so like, his own will? AG is probably seeing how things go because this is their first case like this too]
[⎿⎿Aww my heart feels so heavy… I hope they can all overcome it together]
There were fans who defended me because they thought Arrows couldn’t fall apart, and there were definitely people who worried about my condition.
[(Link) No but fuck, I heard Rex got into a fight with the PD while filming and left the set? What is this? Crazy, what did they do to piss him off enough to fight with the PD]
[⎿Wow damn I literally just left a comment saying I hope Rex overcomes this well]
Putting aside the fact that I did some ridiculous shit in the process, well.
[I read the statement posted by ShootingRex @Shooting_REXAG!
It’s true there were misunderstandings on both sides, but I can’t help thinking the broadcasting station could have shown the artist a little more respect.
I hope Rex’s tomorrow will be a more comfortable day than today…
Stay strong, Rex
I’ll always support you]
Even so, there were people who supported me.
However, the public did not want to see an entertainer, someone meant to amuse them, being depressed.
[Ah I’m so fucking tired I could die, is the board flow still Rex? I mean, sure, he must be having a hard time, but I’m having a hard time too;]
[Can someone leave a comment when the Rex flow ends? It feels so weird to keep watching ㅠ]
Their own lives were already hard and exhausting enough; watching someone else be depressed wasn’t going to make them feel any better.
And PD Ju Cheolyeong, who grasped that psychology, came blazing in like a comet and decorated the weekly entertainment news screen with my name.
[How long will it be nothing but pity? Arrows Rex’s disgraceful behavior crosses the line!]
[A person that sad and struggling goes clubbing to drink?
The feeling I had when that program went up, and I saw the name Rex plastered gaudily across the entertainment section.
And what about the comments beneath it, where people finally began running wild in full force?
“…….”
For a moment, I forced myself to relax the strength that was about to clench hard into my jaw, then naturally draped an arm over Dasol hyung’s shoulder.
“Uh, Chunyong… ssi.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Is this uncomfortable? It’s just, this posture is a little hard for me!”
“…
No, it’s fine.”
I smiled at Dasol hyung as brightly as I could and quietly shifted my gaze.
What mattered right now wasn’t the emotions I had felt back then, or the hardships, or the anger toward PD Ju Cheolyeong, who had seemed to quiet down for a bit only to start raising his head again from the bottom.
What mattered was what I had learned from that incident.
How much more could I focus people’s attention?
Who would watch this live?
And how would the news spread?
In that context, Dasol hyung, who had sent me countless love calls, was an absolutely reliable guarantee.
[Dancer Jin Dasol achieves victory in the krump category at an international dance competition!]
[“If it’s adopted as an Olympic event, he’ll be a national representative” What is the life of dancer Jin Dasol like?]
[“I speak with my body rather than words” Designer brand GN reveals Jin Dasol’s solo pictorial]
People teased him by calling him a “child of darkness” because of his slow way of speaking and all-black outfits, but no one doubted Dasol hyung’s skill.
The description of an idol member who danced together with someone like that would definitely help our TOZ.
Of course.
“Lean… on me, more… comfortably. Later, I’ll make… you dance… a lot.”
“Ha, haha! Ah, no, it’s fine. I suddenly got really comfortable.”
I still had no idea why this hyung was showering me with this endless goodwill.
“Ah, it seems like the crew members will be arriving soon… so we’ll end the live here! Please look forward to the video that will be uploaded soon!”
Dodging Dasol hyung as he suddenly pressed closer, I threw out the closing ment I’d grown used to at the live screen.
[NBML__0412: no Chunyong nuna just got here please]
[NBML__0412: you’re handsome today too you look dangerous today too you are the best idol you are the best dance member nuna supports you Chunyong]
[Youknownothing: Guess they’re gonna edit it roughly and show us ㄱㅡ He must not be that good at dancing ㅠ Dasol oppa don’t be like that and call me instead~]
[ChoiKY_: fuck why are only you two meeting]
[ChoiKY_: Dabal—ssibal hyung give me a chance too]
There were comments expressing regret, and a few asking why we’d turned on the live if we weren’t going to show any dancing, but that didn’t really matter.
With this, the stage was finally set.
[The live has ended! Upload replay▷]
“…
Huh? You’re going to upload the replay?”
“Yes… I want… to watch it… later… too….”
Dasol hyung slowly nodded at me, then took off the jet-black leather jacket he’d been wearing and murmured.
The T-shirt with flashy graphics underneath was also black, so I almost laughed a little, but….
“The dance… I’ll upload… all of it. Even… the practice.”
The words that came after were not something I could laugh at.
“…
Haha.”
“I was… looking forward to it. Chunyong… ssi. Your dancing.”
There had been a reason I’d ignored all the love calls Dasol hyung had sent me in the first place.
It was fine to hear praise while being evaluated on a survival program.
A dance-position member being complimented by a dancer was within a range people could understand to some extent.
But dancing beside him was different.
It would reveal what level my skill was, and further than that, it could even bring about comments like, “That’s why he’s an idol,” or “Why did he become an idol instead of a dancer?”
If I failed to control things properly in the middle of it all, I could end up losing more than I gained.
“…
I’m nervous. Haha, then I’ll go change my clothes too!”
I lifted the gray hoodie I was wearing and clenched my teeth.
Even so, I had to pull it off.
[What kind of group is Wiz, who captured people’s attention with the ‘MONOCHROME’ teaser? “Even an idol who just debuted practiced with them”]
To avoid repeating what had happened before.
To show the people who tried to sell me off that I wasn’t someone they could run their mouths about.
Besides….
“Chunyong… hyung. Will you… be okay? You seem like… you’ll be too tired.”
“Right. You went to a live broadcast today too! You haven’t even taken your makeup off yet….”
“Mmm, I want to stop you too. …But if it’s what you think is best, I’ll respect it.”
“Yongyong hyung. Do well, okay? Dasol-ssem already totally likes you anyway! At a time like this, you have to make it clear you have no intention of joining a crew, that you’re TOZ, and take control from the start.”
“Whew, when you get back, hyung will make you ramyeon. Guess I’ll have to wait up and not sleep!”
After getting encouragement like that, how could I say I couldn’t do it and lie down on the floor crying?
“Uh, hello… Is this the person Jin hyung mentioned?”
“Ah, yes. Hello, I’m Chunyong of TOZ!”
“Wow, you’re handsome. Kind of scary too. Definitely Jin hyung’s type, yeah. He’s been saying since forever that a face like this should be the crew’s visual, even though he talks like that without being fast at all.”
“True. With a face like this, of course he’d become an idol. Not just a dancer. Our Dasol hyung is the weird one.”
“Haha….”
Greeting Dasol hyung’s crew members as they filed in one after another, I smiled brightly enough for my canine teeth to show.
“I look forward to working with you today!”
The stats I’d raised after being hounded endlessly by X until now, and the skills I’d gathered after all that suffering.
I only planned to use every last bit of them to film a perfect video.
* * *
Five hours after Kim Chunyong left for Jin Dasol’s practice room.
Earlier, Kim Chunyong had said, “Since it hasn’t been long since the choreography draft was sent over, it might take some time,” but TOZ were not the type to simply say, “I see,” and let it pass.
“…
Let’s go. To the practice room.”
In other words, they all packed their arms full and set out to support Kim Chunyong.
“This should be all right, shouldn’t it? Hmm, I thought they might not drink coffee. I bought some ades too….”
“What if Yongyong hyung is feeling intimidated? Of course, he isn’t the type of hyung who would, but still. Since they’re all dancers, I’m a little worried.”
“Chunyong hyung… dances well. It’ll be… okay. That’s why… we’re going now.”
“Oh, Siu. For saying that, you’re trembling too much. Thanks to you, I’m trembling too.”
“At this rate, it looks like instead of me making ramyeon for him, we’ll all end up making it together….”
“It’ll be all right. Don’t worry.”
Yu Hobin, who gave a clean response toward the back of the van where even one sentence per person became six sentences, smoothly turned the steering wheel and finished parking.
Even his face as he said that had a trace of worry on it.
Jin Dasol was someone who showed an almost strange amount of goodwill toward Kim Chunyong, but….
No one knew what his crew members would think.
‘Since they’re dancers, they must all have high pride. From what I heard, Logan-ssi and Chunyong-ssi both had trouble with dancers during the
Because Logan’s face had been quite unusual when he relayed the situation back then, Yu Hobin had accompanied TOZ on this support mission.
“Listen. Chunyong hyung does well on his own… but I still thought it would be better if we went and gave him strength. Really!”
“Wow, Logan. You even know the word ‘give’ now? And when to use it!”
“Hwaseong, I’m being serious right now!”
“No, did anyone say we weren’t going? Let’s go. All six of us!”
“…
Yuchan-ssi, put down the car keys. I’ll drive.”
“Haha, what a relief! It’s been a while since I drove, so I was wondering if I could do it!”
Because of that, until they opened the practice room door, Yu Hobin and TOZ’s faces held tension despite pretending to be warm and cheerful.
How should they react if Kim Chunyong was having a hard time?
What words should they use to begin a conversation with the dancers?
Because of such concerns.
…
However.
Click—
“Excuse me, may we come in for a moment? I’m Chunyong-ssi’s manager, Yu Ho….”
Hobin, who politely opened the practice room door and stepped inside, could only have his words get stuck in his throat because of the scene inside.
The fierce practice room of dancers where sweat should have been dripping….
“You only have to come by for a bit when you’re not promoting as an idol. Like, a month or two? Surely your agency can free you up for that much? That’s not the case, right? No, if so, your agency is too harsh. We can treat you better.”
“Ah, that’s not it! For now, I’m a rookie…!”
“More… Do more… Recruit him… faster. I… can’t do it… alone.”
“If the company won’t coordinate that kind of thing for you, you can tell me. I went to law school and dropped out, you know? I’ll help you. Of course, I’d like you to consider it on the condition that you work with us.”
“More… Do more.”
Had transformed into a fierce field of headhunting.