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Chapter 127

I’m flustered.

No, should I say it’s ridiculous?

In separate from my confused emotions, the MC was in the center of the stage, delivering a welcoming speech and moving things along.

“Seven. It feels like just yesterday we were together at this same spot. You’ve become a total top idol now, huh?”

Jin Tae-seop, who was also the MC during last year’s [Bold Season 3], must have been invited just to keep last year’s mega-hit audience intact.

They could cling to the image the viewers loved.

‘If this continues, our fans will be taking care of the early viewing audience…’

Even though the demand for male and female idol groups is different, Seven’s fandom has half its members as women.

Considering the possibility of fandom leakage, I was quite worried internally.

And amidst all this, he shows up.

‘Is this going to cause unnecessary trouble?’

I need to tread carefully.

“That means the participants here might become the best idols in a year! Right?”

The participants, perhaps projecting their future onto us, cheered loudly.

“Of course, you need to survive in Season 4! This process won’t be easy at all. Right, Seven?”

The surprise appearance of Baek-hwi made me set aside my confused emotions, and now it was my turn to read the cue sheet.

“As you said, the reason we’re here today is thanks to your choices, dear viewers. Participants, you will go through a total of five evaluations…”

*

“Ugh, so embarrassing. Will my words make it onto the broadcast? If I tell the PD, they’ll probably edit it out, right?”

“No? I bet they’ll put a caption saying ‘Kim Seo-yoon hasn’t grown at all.'”

“Hey, come here.”

Avoiding the beckoning Seo-yoon Unni, I hastened my steps towards the outside corridor.

“Manager, I’m going to the bathroom!”

I called out as I moved away from the set.

I could hear footsteps following behind me.

It seemed like Seo-yoon Unni was coming after me.

If Seo-yoon Unni was really mad, there were three ways to get around it.

Either hug her jokingly,

Or act all pitiful with a sulky face.

Usually, with just this much, I could let out a sigh and ease the situation.

But if she tries to hit me…

‘Guess I have to act all bratty.’

Better than getting hit, right…?

Getting hit hurts…

I turned my head, planning to brush it off playfully.

But contrary to my expectations, the person standing there was so tall I had to look up.

“Huh?”

It was Baek-hwi.

“Ah, hello.”

What’s he doing here?

“Aren’t you in the middle of filming?”

Though I was happy to see a familiar face from childhood, it didn’t change my curiosity.

“Ah, the PD just said you guys—well, I mean Seven—are taking a short break to greet each other.”
“It’s already time.”

Meeting with a guy and a girl was a situation I wanted to avoid.

“Ah…”

Fortunately, looking around, there didn’t seem to be any other people nearby.

It was at the back of the hallway.

“Am I being a nuisance? If I am, I’m really sorry. It’s been a while, and I just wanted to say hi.”

I felt awkward saying anything to the fidgety guy.

“Forget it. It’s not that much of a nuisance.”

Only then did Baek-hwi smile.

Come to think of it, when we were kids, I wished I could be born as him.

“But… it doesn’t bother me now.”

I actually prefer who I am now.

I’m pretty and overflowing with charm.

And I’ve got my adorable little sister, Do-ah.

Anyway.

What’s important is why he suddenly decided to become an idol.

“Does Min-ha Auntie say anything?”

If he still likes me, and is chasing after being an idol because of me…

That would annoy me.

“Ah… Did you join in? Yeah, Mom says to do what you want.”

I didn’t think I’d get any answers by beating around the bush, so I decided to ask directly.

“Honestly, I don’t get it. Why did you suddenly want to be an idol? What’s the reason?”

Baek-hwi, who hesitated to speak, suddenly asked me instead.

“What about you? You studied well and played the piano well.”

I can’t say it’s because I like attention.

“…I just want to be an idol for my own reasons.”

I hesitated to ask him if he still liked me…

‘Gotta be careful, just in case someone’s around.’

It was obvious from his blushing face, even without asking.

That he still likes me.

‘It feels nice to be liked, but I wish he’d keep his distance.’

“I have my reasons too! Um, well… saying this makes me a bit embarrassed.”

He flailed his arms and awkwardly fumbled around.

“What is it? Spill it out.”

“I didn’t look it up! I swear! I just happened to see it because my classmates watch you all the time.”

After hesitating, he finally opened his mouth.

“After you finish your performance, you always look so happy…”

…Did I?

“And I still don’t know what I want to do, but while I was walking, I got scouted…”

I mean, with his face, it makes sense he’d get scouted at least once or twice while walking around.

He lives in the bustling part of Seoul, after all.

“So where did you end up?”

I could tell without asking that he just jumped into some agency that would throw him into showbiz without any hesitation.

“Uh…”

He hesitated to answer, and it was obvious it was a shady agency.

As an adult, I felt like I should tell him to quit right now.

“ZY.”

Chae-rin Unni’s agency…? A big one…?

“…You ended up in a good place, huh?”

Why did I hesitate and create misunderstandings… gosh.
“It’s just causing misunderstandings and it’s ridiculous.”

“Ah, yeah…”

“Ugh, damn it, this is why K-pop can’t succeed.”

“Just looking at the faces of those casting managers.”

“You should focus on talent and skills like me.”

“Suddenly, I feel irritation bubbling up.”

“But I’m a senior. Is it okay to use casual speech?”

“Huh?”

“U-uh??”

“Ah… I’m sorry, Senior.”

Left the stunned Baek-hwi behind and turned toward the bathroom.

I should splash some water on my face since I’m heated.

‘Speaking of which, I still have something to say.’

Turning my head back, I see him flinching.

“And if you throw me under the bus, you’ll die?”

I’m sure he’s already told the production staff we’re childhood friends.

“Oh…? I’ll do that. Sorry.”

“Use honorifics, dammit.”

“Anyway, now that you’re here, do your best. I’ll support you.”

“Got it… no, thank you…!”

Seeing Baek-hwi dash off makes me click my tongue.

It’s done, so there’s no helping it.

Besides, it’s not a lie; I was just happy to see him.

‘Just say that our moms are friends and we’ve eaten together a few times, and it’ll be fine.’

Yeah, there shouldn’t be any problems.

I might get some hate from fans clinging to Baek-hwi.

‘Thinking about it like that just irritates me more, damn.’

*

Last year, the first recording date for [Bold] Season 3 was May 1st.

This year too, the first recording date for [Bold] Season 4 is May 1st.

And with May arriving,

The late spring has suddenly gotten hotter.

“University festival?”

After finishing the recording schedule for [Bold], when I returned to the company, Hana’s eyes widened at the news from Manager Da-hong.

“Yeah, it’s almost university festival season.”

Ha-rang said excitedly.

“Shh! This is amazing! University festival! It’s finally here!”

“I-I want to go to the festival too! I’ve never been!”

University festival.

It was a word that made my heart flutter.

“Huh, is the goddess of architecture Kim Seo-yoon attending?”

“Oh… Unni, she really suits the construction site.”

“Make it a murder scene for me?”

If you’re a successful idol, you can’t miss the university festival.

“Is Do-hee wearing a varsity jacket? Should we wear ours too…?”

“What kind of varsity jacket does an elementary school graduate wear~”

“Hehe, you call me an elementary school grad…”

“So what? I’ll pass my high school equivalency exam soon?”

Dal, about to escape being an elementary school grad.

It was a day that made my heart race.

Everyone was in high spirits, but the only member showing fatigue was…

Chae-rin Unni.

“Why? Are you not excited?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s nice… but… seeing this…”
“Well, it’s good… I mean, seeing this.”

Gong Chae-rin Unni held up her phone.

“Go check the announcement room. Ugh…”

Following Chae-rin Unni’s advice, I entered the Seven announcement group chat.

Oh Hyun-soo Manager laid out the May schedule.

“Huh?”

It was packed to the brim, making me doubt if we were in a break period.

Just as busy as the activity season.

With the comeback song set to be released next month.

Basic choreography and stage practice.

Promotional variety shows scheduled for the comeback period.

Even a music video shoot abroad meant we’d have to travel overseas.

So far, it looked manageable.

But filling in every little gap was the schedule for university festivals, as if refusing to give us a breather.

It would carry on straight into next month’s activity period.

Two months ahead with no days off.

From morning till dawn.

The members’ faces were looking haggard.

Da-hong Unni tried to encourage us with a forced smile, patting us gently.

“Hang in there, kids…?”

But even the manager’s expression wasn’t bright.

Da-hong Unni was in this schedule too…

“Hang in there, Da-hong Unni…”

“Yeah, let’s all hang in there together, Seven team…”

But it couldn’t be helped.

It’s a testament to our popularity.

We had to participate with a happy heart.

If there’s any silver lining, it was that my stamina had grown from being pushed by Hana Unni day and night.

‘Thank goodness.’

…Is it really thank goodness?

*

[Oh Seven is coming to the university festival!]

[OMG, our school is hosting Seven!]

[Lineup for Day 1 is out!]

Excluding a few universities that keep it private,

The student unions started announcing the festival schedules one by one, releasing lineups.

This news quickly spread through the college student community.

And given that it’s a small country, regular folks eager about local university festivals quickly caught wind of it.

Naturally, the idol fandom reacted.

The Seven fandom did too.

[So Seven is coming to the festival in May]

[Is the Chungcheongdo festival not happening?]

[Can regular folks see the S University festival?]

SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1Zk9sYWw5NGNjMUFPdFdRemh4SUxKeTd5SmlVdDFVUWtXNXBSNlIzc3BZRw

With a long-awaited official external schedule lined up, Seven fans were actively chatting about the festival in the community.

With a surge of activity in the community after ages, the excitement was palpable.

Then, a mysterious post appeared on the bulletin board.

[I think I found something strange]

(Photo)(Photo)(Photo)

Is this Do-hee’s comment?

That post quickly became popular and ignited flames of curiosity.


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