13. A Second Beginning(1)
“Joo-in... you say?”
“Yeah, Hyeon Joo-in. Why? Not very close?”
Eunchan forced up lips that refused to rise, forming a subtle smile.
‘It’s not that we’re not close—it’s way too sudden!’
Wondering if he had misheard, or if there was something wrong with his ears, he asked again, but it only served as confirmation.
‘I just hope things don’t get twisted for no reason. It makes me uneasy…….’
Thinking of the reactions he had seen on SNS after the Genesis teaser dropped, what was to come next was obvious without even looking.
People who hated that a kid who had trained with the debut team was dropped to make them an MC, people angry that Hyeon Joo-in should have been an idol rather than an actor, and people pouring out curses asking if the group without Hyeon Joo-in was going to do well.
Of course, he was recalling mostly negative reactions, but positive reactions were unlikely anyway given their group’s lack of recognition.
‘Right now, the image of being a group only known by those who know us is too strong.’
Besides, this was already a done deal being delivered as a notice. Even if he said more here, nothing would change.
He hadn’t wanted to create any unnecessary entanglements, since Hyeon Joo-in had chosen the actor’s path herself. He was on the verge of developing a migraine out of nowhere.
While Eunchan was busy trying to hide his displeased expression, Director Choi clapped his palms together as if he had forgotten something important. At that sound, Eunchan, who had been staring at the floor, looked toward Director Choi.
“Ah! Don’t tell the members yet. I heard Joohyeok and Iseon went to the same school as Joo-in, so let’s surprise the kids. How surprised would they be if she appeared out of nowhere like ta-da? If we clip that scene, it’ll be content too, so it’s killing two birds with one stone. And…….”
In the end, as the leader, he was being told to keep this to himself. So that was why the director hadn’t said it in the waiting room but had called him outside to quietly deliver the news. As Eunchan nodded, the end of Director Choi’s long, drawn-out words came to a close. A tone brimming with conviction and confidence.
“……?”
“Joo-in is popular.”
It meant that with Hyeon Joo-in around, existing fans would take interest, making promotion easier. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand. Whether positive or negative, the promotional effect of Hyeon Joo-in would certainly be significant. Logically speaking, it was perfectly sound.
‘This isn’t something that would change even if I said I didn’t like it.’
At times like this, there was nothing to do but accept it.
Thinking positively, Hyeon Joo-in had excellent diction and memorized scripts well, befitting an actor, so she would probably run the proceedings smoothly. She was good at acting in front of cameras, and since she was close with the members, she was certainly the optimal person to entrust with the showcase MC role.
‘Still, couldn’t they have cast someone from the outside?’
Though it was a new agency, they had received decent investment, so it wasn’t like they were strapped for cash.
While having Hyeon Joo-in from the same agency certainly made it easier to draw attention or get press coverage, he couldn’t help but worry.
‘I just hope it doesn’t create unnecessary bad talk about Minutes or put the other kids in a situation where they can’t shine. I’m just being paranoid, right?’
He couldn’t stop his mood from sinking, but for now, he had to accept it.
After all, they were now split between idols and actors, so it wasn’t like Hyeon Joo-in’s individual actions would harm their team.
“Yes.”
“Right, good! Keep it in mind. Hurry back inside. You should rest.”
Even though his displeasure must have shown on his face, Director Choi rather patted Eunchan’s back in encouragement without losing his smile.
In the past, Director Choi had been exclusively in charge of Utopia, so this was the first time Eunchan had ever received such encouragement. If Director Choi was encouraging him, it meant the CEO was backing him.
His gloomy heart gradually cleared up. Coming back in time didn’t seem so bad.
“Hyung, where’d you go?”
“Just to the bathroom for a bit…….”
“I told you to go in the morning, tsk.”
“What are you talking about! By the way, did you finish your individual shots?”
As he closed the waiting room door quietly, Byeol’s cheerful voice rang out. Turning around, he saw the battle screen on Byeol’s phone—he must have been playing a mobile game.
“Yeah, wow, expression acting is hard!”
Hong Byeol smiled so brightly that his uniquely sharp canines were visible—he had the typical mischievous face.
[ Hong Byeol ]
Visuals ★★★★
Vocals ★★★☆
Dance ★★★☆
Talent ★★★★★
Luck ★★★
During Chilwol Chilseok, there had been many fans who found Byeol cute because of that easygoing side. As his stat window showed, he had plenty of talent too.
Since he didn’t have a temper and acted honestly according to his emotions, many fans found him approachable and accepted him warmly. Even though he caused minor accidents like slip-ups now and then, it was largely thanks to this personality that he could successfully transition to being a YouTuber later.
‘To be honest, I worried a lot at first… but since you know the line, I’m grateful.’
He communicated with fans better than any of them, so he must have captured viewers well too.
“You’re about to die.”
Eunchan, who had been staring down at Byeol blankly, spoke flatly. You’re getting hit a lot by that passing monster right now, Byeol.
“What? Aack! No! I left it in a safe place, how did this happen!”
Only then did Byeol check his character’s status and let out a shriek. If Eunchan hadn’t said anything, he probably would have just died. Byeol pouted like a duck, manipulating his character that had been taking hits a few times before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Though the words that followed were more laced with slight irritation than relief.
“Still, I survived with a sliver of health…….”
“…Congratulations?”
“Ugh…….”
He had to actually know mobile games to offer appropriate words. Eunchan barely knew anything about them, and at best had only played popular games or visited PC cafés a few times.
Maybe that was why.
Byeol still wore a sulky expression, perhaps because the comfort wasn’t what he had hoped for despite Eunchan’s best efforts.
“So how was filming?”
“I totally crushed it, of course. Hyung, I think I’m born to be a celebrity. Why does getting attention feel so good?”
“…Pfft.”
“What’s so funny? I’m serious.”
When Eunchan burst out laughing, Byeol snapped his head up.
‘It’s not easy for a person to be this consistent.’
Anyway, positive traits deserved recognition.
When Chilwol Chilseok was in decline and all chances of a comeback had disappeared, rather than getting depressed, Byeol had challenged YouTube using his experience of communicating with fans.
As expected of the member who had best utilized communication channels with fans during his idol activities, he was good at accepting viewers’ opinions, and since he was the type to secure screentime even on the rare variety shows, he knew how to be funny.
‘If Iseon is the type to smoothly talk his way through situations with sly words, Byeol is the type to create situations…….’
And that somehow ended up being so cute that he was the type you couldn’t hate.
“What gives. Why are you ignoring my words? Eunchan Hyung, do you think being handsome fixes everything? Huh? Is that it?”
“Where did you learn those words from again?”
“You’re born with this kind of thing. It’s not something you learn.”
Right now, Byeol before him was still barking away, but Eunchan sat down beside Byeol, who was immersed in his game again, and after debating what to do, he logged into SNS to check reactions to Genesis.
‘I really should cut back on checking SNS reactions.’
No matter how hard he tried not to care, he was greatly affected by both good and bad comments.
But isn’t it true that I can produce better results only after checking the public’s reactions with my own eyes? I have to succeed this time. Without fans who look at you, idols don’t exist!
‘…Is it to the point where I need to find time to organize my followings?’
While feeling perturbed because of Hyeon Joo-in, the moment he logged on, he was dumbfounded to see a post about Hyeon Joo-in right at the top. He wondered if it was some trick of fate, yet he couldn’t scroll past it, pathetic as he was.
What fault could the fan accounts of Hyeon Joo-in, who was actively working, possibly have? It was just that he paid excessive attention. Now he really had to close his eyes and ears to Hyeon Joo-in.
Except for this one thing right in front of his eyes.
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Kiki
@jooinnni_kk
Spotted Joo-ini during filming!
Our angel handing umbrellas to staff so they don’t get rained on by the sudden rain.
Looking forward to the drama♥
Good work today too♥
#HyeonJooIn #NineteenNineteen #ActorHyeonJooIn
Shares 80 Quoted 3 Likes 240
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ㄴ CrazySpringGetAGrip @crazygwangchoon
? What’s with the hashtag? Talking like an actor.
Joo-in is going to be an idol, okay? Lol
ㄴ kiki @jooinni_kk
If they’re saying they don’t want to be an idol, isn’t that not real love either?
Please respect the actor’s opinion^^ Let’s love them responsibly and be happy~
ㄴ CrazySpringGetAGrip @crazygwangchoon
What are you even saying lol
You know Joo-in was a trainee with Minutes, right?
Are you denying that entirely?
Guess you haven’t been a fan for long ㅠㅋ
I recommend checking out the archives, see? ㅊㅊ
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He had simply clicked because an eyewitness account of Hyeon Joo-in’s drama filming was at the top…….
Eunchan could only blink his eyes wide at the debate unfolding before him. In short, it seemed to be a battlefield between Hyeon Joo-in’s actor faction and idol faction.
‘Kiki-nim, you’re right.’
It’s just as Kiki-nim says. Eunchan naturally took the side of the fan who posted the eyewitness account. I sincerely support Hyeon Joo-in’s path as an actor too! Kiki-nim, fighting!
It wasn’t the first or second time Eunchan had witnessed fandom wars on SNS. Whether inside or outside the fandom, fights and bait happened at every opportunity.
When he looked closely, the majority of fights started over truly trivial matters, but there had never been a topic he empathized with as much as this one. To think he could relate to one side. Eunchan had always been the one standing in a third-party position.
Eunchan internally cheered for the ‘Hyeon Joo-in Actor Faction’ as he scrolled down.
And… it was another story about Hyeon Joo-in.
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Kira♥Joo-in
@kurominii
Gwangchoon… where did you hide Hyeon Joo-in
You do want to do the idol business, right?
Hand them over while I’m asking nicely
Tell Gwangchoon to open his bundleㅋㅋ
I’ll trust you for now, really, please, damn it @MINITSneighbor
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‘Gwangchoon’s bundle…?’
A term he was seeing for the first time in his life. Seeing their agency account tagged at the end, it was probably aimed at the CEO.
“Mmm…….”
Eunchan locked his phone screen and organized his thoughts.
He understood the disappointed feelings of Hyeon Joo-in’s fans who had been waiting for debut news instead. Still, Hyeon Joo-in had expressed her intention to continue the acting activities she had wanted all this time, and furthermore, six members of their group Genesis had already been revealed. If these reactions continued, it wouldn’t be good for either side.
‘It’s like they’re denying that the six of us without Hyeon Joo-in are a complete group.’
Feeling displeased, he wanted to show these people that the six of them were more than good enough.
‘Since we’re idols… proving it on stage would be the fastest way.’
For now, he had to pull off their first stage perfectly.
Showcase D-30.
Eunchan clenched his fist tightly. He didn’t want to fail a second time.