The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 145
* * *
WEZ’s showcase proceeded far more systematically than ToZ, who had stood on the same stage earlier.
“The press seats will enter through the opposite entrance! Fans, please go through the metal detectors here!”
“Hey, shit. They're checking for cameras hard. I don't think I'll get through….”
“What do we do? Didn’t you say you were filming this as a proxy?”
“Dunno. For now, put the camera away for a sec….”
“We will check IDs before entry! Also, moving between seats inside is absolutely impossible! Anyone found doing so will be ejected, so please check the notice on the WEZ app!”
“What? I gotta pull out my ID too? Why do I have to go this far just to see our kids! Am I some kind of criminal?”
Recruiting a limited number of audience fans, filtering out reporters who would ask unfavorable questions, and ensuring that not a single accident occurred on stage.
Unlike AG, which was still somewhat inexperienced in idol management, this was possible because Queens already possessed several teams that had produced quite decent results.
And, more than anything, the reason Queens had managed to do all this was….
“Be your Whiz! Hello, we are WEZ!”
Because WEZ was an idol that Queens had prepared very ambitiously.
“Did you make the kids memorize all their scripts?”
“Yes. I also organized all the reporter questions and briefed them.”
“Good. Tell Jaiden not to give him the mic unless absolutely necessary. We never know what he'll say.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Queens, which had thus far lived with the tag of “a fairly decent mid-sized idol agency,” had begun to want more at some point.
Not just an ordinary idol agency, but one that anyone could trust, watch, and listen to.
Making people seek them out deliberately to listen, and feel enjoyment in every single video.
Dreaming of the company’s growth through the money exchanged in that process.
“Yeonu-hyung, are you a devil? How do you expect us to eat this! You just shoved everything in because you’re not the one eating it!”
“A devil? Hmm, well… Juyeong, what do I look like to you?”
“You really look like a devil who came down from the heavens. How is someone like that our leader…?”
“Haha, Juyeong-ah… that’s why you have to eat it. Devils don’t come down from the heavens; they crawl up from hell.”
“Please!”
To become a major agency like the one that produced Sledix.
In that process, WEZ had been extremely cautious from the planning stage onward.
What concept they would pursue, what song they would take as their main. What direction of activities the fans, who acted as the main consumer base these days, preferred.
And more than anything else….
Which members they would form the team with.
“…They deleted the articles? How many?”
“Most of the promotional articles remain… but only the ones with a subtle nuance mentioning ToZ and Mr. Chunyong were deleted.”
“Tsk, I tried to weave it in and push the story. AG was faster than expected, unlike them. It can’t be helped.”
“But when we inquired, they said our side requested it? Isn’t this strange, Team Leader?”
“That’s entertainment news companies for you. They can’t even properly remember who requested what. Forget it.”
From the beginning, the Queens agency officials had held no personal ill will in dropping Gim Chunyong from the debut team and sending him to AG.
It was simply that Gim Chunyong really did not fit the concept of WEZ they had planned, and he was at an ambiguous age to continue his trainee life.
“So, starting today, Chunyong will no longer be practicing with us….”
“I’m not particularly curious about him. You don’t have to tell me.”
“O-oh, really?”
“Yes. …Good riddance. I won’t have to see that delinquent-looking face anymore.”
Moreover, since some of the trainees already earmarked as debut members found him unpleasant, there was no reason to insist on holding onto him.
That was why they had connected Gim Chunyong to AG’s survival program,
We have no intention of continuing our relationship with you, so after your contract is terminated, do what you want on your own.
However.
“Put out another article separately today. Before the press people get home after the showcase, tell the marketing team to draft a headline and send it out. Something like… ‘The Strength of a Prepared Idol, a Specialness That Can’t Be Shown Through Survival?’”
There was no longer any reason for them to make special allowances for a trainee who had slipped from their grasp—and furthermore, for someone who had become an idol.
Because that was what the entertainment industry was from the start.
You find and use them when needed, ignore them when not, and if they are higher than you, you benchmark them and leech off their strong points.
Therefore, truly.
Queens did not hold any particularly strong feelings toward Gim Chunyong.
No, rather than having no feelings, should one say they simply could not perceive any reason to take care of him, think about him, and approach him so carefully?
“Mr. Danu, I truly enjoyed your explanation of the title track! Wow, it’s rare to see a rookie answer so composedly. Very impressive, very!”
“Haha, yes. Thank you.”
“Then I’ll take the next question. Yes, uh….”
However.
“Oh my, it’s my turn! Right here!”
“Ah, yes. Reporter Gim Gaeun from Enter… Gate? Would you like to ask a question?”
Enter Gate, Korea’s representative yellow press of the entertainment industry, which would do anything to get people’s clicks.
And a reporter who boasted overwhelming performance even there, Gim Gaeun.
“Hmm, I’d like to ask Mr. Danu a question too! Would it be alright even if it isn’t a pre-prepared question?”
“Ah, I believe we informed you. If it’s not a question from the provided questionnaire, we cannot….”
“Oh, is it because it’s too far away?! I can’t hear you very well? Yes, I’ll ask right away! So, you see.”
“No, I’m speaking through a mic; what do you mean you can’t hear….”
“—I heard that Mr. Gim Chunyong of ToZ, the rookie idol group achieving outstanding results at AG this time, was originally in WEZ’s debut team. Mr. Danu, have you by any chance seen the video of Chunyong posted two days ago?”
The moment she hurled a question that made the showcase venue buzz indiscriminately, the Queens officials had to feel that something was wrong.
“The reaction is really no joke. It’s a video of him dancing with the Jin Dasol crew; even though two days have passed, it’s ranked 3rd in real-time SNS trends and 4th in WeTube’s rapidly rising videos.”
He was just a name to be used a little for marketing, someone they didn’t need to care about.
At least, they had to elevate WEZ’s standing by making people think, “Now I understand why he couldn’t become a member,” compared to WEZ!
“Especially, the hand movements in the chorus part, which Chunyong choreographed himself, are so unique and fascinating that already since yesterday, people like Mr. Choe Geonyeong from dance team Aillik have copied it and a challenge has started. Did any anecdotes like this happen when you practiced together? Were you all close with Chunyong? Why did Chunyong fail WEZ’s debut team?”
Who would have known that in the showcase venue where WEZ should have been the protagonist, Gim Chunyong’s name would pour out like madness?
Thanks to Gim Gaeun’s innate propensity for antics and her ability to sniff out issues, the planning team sitting in the Queens officials’ section burned hot with confusion.
“My God, who let Gim Gaeun in? Are they crazy? Who doesn’t know what kind of person she is!”
“But, there’s another Gim Gaeun at Enter Gate, right? It was definitely someone with a different resident registration number…!”
“She obviously applied under that person’s ID knowing we’d filter her! They don’t check IDs in the press section!”
“No, more than that. What about the stage? Are the kids answering?”
When the planning team belatedly turned their heads, the stage where the Q&A was currently in progress was truly….
…so cold, so utterly chilled, that one had to wonder if it could even be this icy.
“…Ah.”
Han Danu, who had been answering smoothly until now, had hardened his face, his previously beaming smile nowhere to be found, and the other members couldn’t even hold their mics, not knowing what to do.
And the one who put the finishing touch on this mess was….
“Ah, host. May I answer instead?”
“Huh, uh, Mr. Taei?”
“Yes, Reporter Gim Gaeun. I saw it! He was really good, wasn’t he? I’ve been looking up the video since yesterday and practicing too. Shall I show you?”
“Oh my, please do!”
It was An Taei, wearing a bright smile on his pristine face that looked like it was sculpted from porcelain, clumsily copying Gim Chunyong’s choreography.
“Ah, it’s difficult. I might ask him to teach me if we meet later. I’ve never actually met Chunyong in person!”
At An Taei’s remarks that flipped the stage splendidly until the very end, sirens blared above countless people’s heads.
Like this, avoiding comparison was impossible.…
Truly, in a bad direction.
* * *
And at the same time.
Gim Chunyong, who neither knew nor wanted to know nor even thought about what kind of bomb An Taei had detonated at his first-ever showcase venue….
“…I didn’t expect it to go this far.”
He was newly surprised at the reaction to the counterattack he had sent to Queens.
Gim Chunyong had hoped that what he did would send a clear message to Queens, but he hadn’t expected such a huge ripple effect.
However, the public always moved in ways different from people’s expectations.
[No, I heard Gim Chunyong dances well, but is this for real? Is that a beat a human can split?]
[⎿Overreacting much? He’s good, but is it worth all this fuss…?]
[⎿⎿Try it yourself, you crazy bastard. I’ll bet my wrist that you’ll tie your fingers in knots and cry your way to the hospital]
[I'm falling for Chun… @springdardar From now on, if anyone uses 'how is an idol name Gim Chunyong<' or 'how is an idol trainee name Gim Chunyong<' on Chunyong, I'll kill them. Who speaks like that to God? Call him properly by his given name Gim Chun-yong, or cutely Chunyong-ie♡]
[⎿This person seems to have lost their mind from happiness after watching the 'how is an idol name Gim Chunyong<' video with Jin Dasol]
[⎿⎿Where do you live?]
[Neulbom Miru @NBML__0412 (Link) The video filmed with JDS Crew and #Chunyong has surpassed 3 million views in 3 days (tears) (tears). They say this is the first time even for JDS Crew to see such a trend, and since Jin Dasol-nim said directly “I want to work with Chunyong a lot in the future”… I think we can look forward to it, right?!
I support Chunyong-ie who always grows, moves forward, and develops♡]
At first, as Gim Chunyong had hoped, his video was only becoming an issue on SNS and communities.
Because “an idol with skill” was a phrase that always had demand.
The point when people’s reactions began to exceed Gim Chunyong’s expectations was when the acquaintances of Jin Dasol Crew, who had participated in filming with him, saw his appearance.
[#Chunyong OMG I thought he couldn’t dance but he’s good ㅠㅠ Dasol oppa let me dance with you too~]
[⎿Is Chunyong-ie your friend? Why did you tag his name saying he looked like he couldn’t dance?]
[ChoiKY_ (video) Dasol-hyung please look at me, I’m better than that guy]
[⎿REALLeehoejin_ Geonyeong-hyung admit it, you got destroyed…]
Dancers’ Outgram activities were very active even compared to other similar occupations.
Because video was essential to announce what dance they performed today, what they watched and copied, and that they could do it better than that.
Because of that, Gim Chunyong’s video naturally flowed even to people who had “absolutely” no connection with him.
For example, the overseas dance scene watching the Korean idol market with interest.
[Who is he? He's a K-pop idol? Why is he called ‘Chuchu’ in the vod?]
[⎿No Chuchu Yes Chunchun. Comment in Korean, you crazy bastard]
[⎿I'm not sure what you're talking about ^^ But chuchu is good He looks like Super Sonic]
[⎿You saying "chuchu is good" like this, you’re Korean, right?]
[⎿No I’m a Korean-American]
“Ha….”
Gim Chunyong, who had checked the comments under Jin Dasol’s uploaded Outgram Live, slowly closed his phone with a hollow laugh.
The nickname “Chunchun” that Jin Dasol Crew members used for Gim Chunyong had already changed and spread widely into the bizarre pronunciation “Chuchu.”
Not an idol who only knows how to follow choreography written by others, but an idol dancer who knows how to move his body properly to the beat and melody—Chuchu.
“…….”
He had hoped for a reaction.
For ToZ, and furthermore, so that there would be no setbacks to his future plans.
But well.
Who knew the reaction would be to this extent.
“Still, it’s better than something like Chuchu… like Super Sonic….”
“Mr. Chunyong, what did you say?”
“…It’s nothing. Just… talking to myself!”
“Haha, you seem nervous. The other members seem that way too….”
“Haha, well. That’s right….”
Gim Chunyong shrugged awkwardly with an awkward smile at Hobin’s question.
If asked if he was nervous, the answer was “yes.”…
Of course he was nervous.
The schedule he was carrying out for the first time after properly counterattacking Queens and checking the reactions on SNS, communities, and Outgram was….
[ToZ Mini 1st Album Offline Fan Signing Event]
…nothing else, but the first time properly meeting face-to-face with the fans who had left those reactions at a proper venue.