Chapter 192

It was a Sunday in October as summer was coming to an end.

It has already been over three months since I took on the role of MC for the trending music show, and this schedule has become familiar and comfortable.

After finishing the basic reading with Joo Seung-bin in front of the staff, I returned to the waiting room.

I dove onto the sofa, crashing into it.

“Ah, I’m so tired~”

Then I picked up the bottle of strawberry latte I bought from the show’s snack bar earlier.

I tried to open the lid after shaking it, but it wouldn’t budge at all.

Maybe it’s because my hands are slippery from the hand cream.

Honestly, I thought this would be tough even for a guy.

Seriously, how tightly did they screw this on?

I handed the drink bottle to Joo Seung-bin, who was fiddling with his phone right next to me.

“Seung-bin, can you open this for me?”

Without saying a word, Joo Seung-bin took the bottle and quickly unscrewed the lid.

He handed it back to me with a slightly proud smile.

“Oh, you’ve got some strength~”

As I took a sip of the strawberry latte, my mouth was instantly filled with sweetness.

Sweet things are the best.

Suddenly curious, I asked Joo Seung-bin, who had put his earphones back in and was doodling on his phone.

“Seung-bin, what’s your grip strength?”

“You don’t know? I think it was around 55 before.”

“Wow, that’s some serious bragging.”

“I’m serious.”

“What can I say?”

I guess boy idols hit the gym hard because their grip strength is quite impressive.

I wonder what mine is.

Maybe around 20? Or 25 at most.

Playing the piano doesn’t really give you strong grip strength.

I don’t have especially large hands…

Since I had nothing else to do, I put in my earphones and started scrolling through YouTube Shorts.

Trending memes, music, classical, idols, games, comedy.

As I was engrossed in my phone, I heard a slightly resentful tone from beside me.

“Hey.”

“What’s wrong?”

“But I’m older… you’re the younger one, Seung-bin.”

There he goes again, with that older-brother nonsense.

Still only 19, I guess he’s in the age where he clings to that kind of stuff.

“C’mon, if there’s a 2-year gap, in society, we’re friends. Right, Manager?”

The manager, Young-ho, nodded while sitting next to us.

“Yeah, there’s a 15-year gap between me and Do-hee, but after seven years, we decided to just speak informally. Right?”

“Oh, did you get permission for that?”

“Of course. From now on, just call me Young-ho.”

“I’m sorry, but the fact that you’re in your 30s makes it a bit hard for me…”

“That’s sad…”

Seeing Seung-bin chuckling at us, I shot him a look that said, “Did you see that?”

“Anyway, Seung-bin, we both share the same initials, so just let it go~”

“No, I’m fine, but I’m worried about what others might say.”
Excuses.

“Okay, okay~”

Frustrated out of my mind, I had started casually talking to Joo Seung-bin, and before I knew it, I was using informal language with him.

But honestly, with my age and mental maturity, does it really matter?

Just then, my phone buzzed with an alarm.

Bored, I quickly checked the notification.

[Coral Blue Lira: What are you doing?]

‘Ah, Lira.’

These days, I had been casually chatting with her, not just about work.

[Coral Blue Lira: I’ve read all your alarms.]

This felt like she was about to give me work.

Didn’t she just say something about a song camp recently? This girl truly has endless passion.

Of course, while I was idly poking at my phone, I shot back a response like I was super busy.

[I: I’m driving.]

[Coral Blue Lira: ?]

[I: Please contact me again later.]

[Coral Blue Lira: It’s KakaoTalk, so don’t act like you’re busy.]

[I: Haha;]

At this level of familiarity, I thought I could start using informal language with her too.

—Ding!

Another alarm popped up.

Ugh, so busy.

Even just touching my phone…

Oh, it looks like the older sisters are debuting first, huh.

*

With Do-hee dropping out, it’s been two months since the anticipation for a new girl group from Topist centered around Seo-yoon and Do-hee.

People’s interest had already shifted to the groups currently active.

However, a post on a Kpop community caught attention recently.

[JS New Girl Group Spoiler?]

—(photo)

｢—They’re debuting.

I knew the director’s daughter was aspiring to be a singer.

I heard she’ll debut soon.

I didn’t know much about which company, but it turns out it’s JS, which I’ve heard of.

The group name is Ailee, a five-member girl group, and apparently, the members are still under wraps; they’re debuting next month.

—If it’s true, it seems like they’re debuting with three members from Seven.

└I’ve heard of Seven, but I’m not so good with girl groups,ㅠㅠ

— The fandom was hoping for a reunion, but it seems like everyone’s going to be going solo now…

—Better get their signatures early; Eun Se-ra, Hana, and Ye-eun have joined, so it seems they’re bound to blow up.

└I guess other members are famous. I thought, they’re going down a tough path, huh.@.@─｣

This post captured excerpts from a community mainly used by middle-aged people.

—If Ailee is real, that’s a pretty name; it totally feels like a girl group name.

—Is JS the first to debut among Seven?

Of course, since I couldn’t confirm the authenticity of the post, it felt a bit buried.

But it was enough to spark discussions about the Seven members I had forgotten.

And rumors about the re-debut of the JS Seven members.

The truth was revealed not long after the spoiler post, as a new playlist appeared on the JS YouTube channel.
It was revealed.

JS Entertainment

@JS Entertainment 32 million subscribers, 2000 videos

illli!▶ Everyone play

—PROLOGUE FILM: Ailee? illli!

As expected from JS Entertainment’s YouTube video with 32 million subscribers, and the buzzworthy Seven members, this video quickly became the number one trending video.

And Do-hee is the overwhelming bias, with her Home Mama too.

Still filled with Seven merchandise in her room.

Being a fan who loves the Seven members, a Shabenu.

Unable to hide the racing heart.

Immediately after work, donned the headset and sat in front of the computer.

On the way home.

Saw a bit of spoilers but.

Held back to feel the deep emotion.

‘Starting from the group name Ailee… sounds nice…’

And I couldn’t hold back any longer.

I must watch it now…!

Entering the JS YouTube channel.

The video displayed on the main page.

A thumbnail filled with the logo illli!

Somehow, the white logo that looks like a barcode appeared quietly against a dark background with soothing music.

The screen was filled with monochrome.

A beam of light appeared on the screen.

A red line.

A red laser.

With a beep sound, the barcode scan line scanned the logo.

But at the same time, an error sound spread.

The beep continued to repeat, but.

Only errors popped up.

Then the logo slowly started to shine.

Each line of the monochrome white logo.

The different hues surged into i, l, l, l, i.

‘Is it the colors representing the members?’

At that moment, the red laser again.

The barcode scan line passed by.

The screen captured the moment each logo brushed past in slow motion.

And as the screen zoomed in, the logo popped out closer.

Resounding guitar riffs.

The previously quiet background music changed to a lively tune.

The illli logo transformed to a large form with 5 members standing.

And each showing different expressions.

One raised eyebrow, asking “why?”

A finger on the lips shushing.

Biting the lips.

Looking up.

The faces of the Ailee five members were each zoomed in.

—Toodoodung Toodoodung

And with the upbeat drum beats signaling the official start, the one-shot introduction of each member began.

With “[SERA]” as lettering art, Sera stood in the center holding a megaphone.

Striking a pose as if shooting a gun with the megaphone provocatively.

“Wow.”

Do-hee’s Home Mama naturally exclaimed in admiration.

As a K-pop nerd before being a fan, Sera’s visuals definitely represented the 4th generation.

If you were a Seven fan, you would understand.
If you were a Seven fan.

It was true that we were divided between Do-hee and Sara.

The member I first saw along with the second [MiHO] lettering.

Wearing a hairpin, she lazily tossed a glass and lay sideways on a chair, gazing alluringly at the camera.

“Miho? Gumiho? But she looks so much like a Japanese person. Is she Japanese?”

The third [HANA].

Hana emerged playfully and casually from the chains hanging from the ceiling, contrasting in purple and yellow.

“Indeed… there’s only one leader in Seven, and that’s Hana.”

The fourth [BOM].

The youngest member with a floral crown.

She looked incredibly young with her chubby cheeks.

“Do-hee used to have round cheeks too, but she’s losing them these days and becoming an older sister…”

Next up, instead of a floral crown, she donned a pink cap, adorned with some bling…

“Our Ye-eun looks totally front-line?”

She even looked younger than 19-year-old [YEEUN], who was a professional in her third year!

And the video added various effects.

When Ye-eun fired a gun, the screen shattered.

When Miho dropped the glass, the sound of glass breaking echoed.

When Sara spoke into a megaphone, a loud crack from the speakers shot out.

When the youngest Bomi took off her floral crown, the screen brightened again.

As Hana shook the chains, the colors on the screen changed dramatically.

Amidst the chaotic screen effects and transitions,

the drum beats went thump-thump again.

The members’ faces were interchanged one by one.

Finally, the members stood in a line against a backdrop of five colors.

And then, their shapes changed back into the logo.

illli

The voices of Ailee’s members began to fill the air.

[i will] X 5

Then the refreshing laughter of the members spread.

[Laugh Infectiously!]

This was the meaning behind Ailee’s group name.

I will laugh infectiously.

[Everyone will catch my laughter!]

[I’LL L I]

Ail, El, I.

Ailee.

The screen gradually faded to dark.

Ailee’s logo and debut date simply appeared.

And having seen this intense trailer, Do-hee’s Home Mama felt her heart race involuntarily.

“Wow, the planning… no matter what, JS isn’t going anywhere.”

The debut of JS was already something to look forward to.

---

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