Chapter 199

The trailer for Debonaire, released a day ago, had already climbed to #1 on YouTube’s trending videos.

─Topist is finally ready to launch this… The moment the piano keys started playing, I was hooked from the members to the quality…

─Seriously, it seems like the brand marketing team is filled with geniuses. How did they come up with this?

─I thought the trailer song would obviously be EDM, but it’s a piano track, which threw me off at first, but it really fits. It’s so grand that I feel like my blood is boiling. I’m ready for a Proletariat revolution!

─Oh my, maybe because Do-hee is playing it herself… This song is really awesome!!! Can we find out who the composer is?

But the video didn’t just end with countless praises.

Within that short video, there were countless stories packed in.

A prominent one was the group name and concept.

─The group name is unique, so I was honestly a bit puzzled, but the meaning is so good. It’s not some forced anagram, both have meanings, which makes it even better!

─Debonaire is literally my ideal type… So cool.

─I’m totally hyped for Debonaire; I’d buy it right away if pre-orders start!

Of course, it wasn’t all good feedback.

There were some who scoffed at the overly complex and excessive concept.

─Is Debonaire going for a girl crush concept again? Since Coral Blue did well, now it’s all girl crush. Sigh… Can we get something fresh like Ailee?

─I sort of get it; Topist is a small company, they should benchmark Coral Blue, right?

─If Topist was going to do this, why not stick with Seven?

─They’re assigning too much meaning; don’t they see why boy groups became a trend? If a girl group comes out with a complicated concept, what’s the point? Haha…

But those opinions didn’t seem to get much sympathy or interest.

Most people recognized the fact.

That the quality of the video and group planned by Topist was comparable to that of major corporations.

Everyone knew that the complexity and deep structure was a separate matter.

Of course, what happens next is still uncertain.

Whether Topist is just good at planning despite its operational capabilities.

Or if they’ll manage their operations just as well as the planning.

Regardless, the current impression is enough to excite many K-pop fans’ hearts.

And that interest is being proven by the numerous interpretations of the trailer video.

─Debonaire trailer video ‘What is Debonair’ interpreted.

─The latecomer to Ailee, Topist has polished the 4th generation girl group Debonaire. Let’s discover the members and concept… (See more)

Among them, the article considered the most perfect interpretation was written by a reporter who received information directly from Topist.
[Topist Entertainment Confirms Girl Group Name ‘Debonaire’, Debut Concept Trailer Released]

After a long time since Pastelove, Topist is set to unveil their girl group under the name ‘Debonaire’.

On the 19th, Topist released the debut trailer for their first mini-album ‘ID (I DEBONAIR)’ on their official website, captivating viewers with stunning visuals.

The released coming soon trailer features members answering the question, ‘WHAT IS DEBONAIR?’ in various charming ways.

First, amidst the sounds of a piano, member Na-eun appears in a stylish dress in a ballroom filled with dazzling lights. Her first answer is, ‘Sophisticated charm, good lineage’, which is the first definition of the English word ‘Debonair’.

Next, Kim Seo-yoon shows a warm, everyday side as she greets people and coos at a puppy in a park. Her second answer is, ‘Polite, kind’, which is another meaning of ‘Debonair’.

Woo-ah delivers a dynamic performance in a dark parking lot, revealing the third definition: ‘Having an outstanding appearance, dignified atmosphere’.

Chiyo is seen in a pitch-black sewer, lying on her back and staring blankly at the camera. The fourth definition appears: ‘Urban, indifferent’.

The trailer then rewinds back to the ballroom, showcasing Lee Do-hee gracefully dancing over the piano keys. After finishing her performance, she responds to the question: ‘Whatever’, implying that any answer is acceptable and there is no one correct answer.

The pre-release promo which appeared to be for the trailer actually presented the theme: ‘Debonair, as fickle as fortune.’

This concept is visually represented by moving from the dazzling ballroom to increasingly darker places, eventually arriving at the dark sewer. Ironically, the rewind technique reveals the dark corner of the shining ballroom, hinting once again at the members showing their true selves regardless of public scrutiny. It’s a declaration of their will to display their identity.

At the end of the video, the anagram ‘DEBONAIR IS?’ is presented, leading to another answer: ‘BORN IDEALS’. This conveys that the Debonaire members are destined to be ideals no matter what they do.

Additionally, their final alluring whisper ‘WE DEBONAIR’ suggests that all the previously mentioned meanings describe them perfectly. It can be defined as an aspiration fitting for idols and icons.

Meanwhile, Debonaire is the girl group launching from Topist, consisting of members like Lee Do-hee and Kim Seo-yoon, and is set to debut in January.
“Na-eun Unni, this turned out really pretty, right?”

“Really? I think our Woo-ah is prettier.”

“Oh my~ why are you being shy about it…”

The Unnis always search for Debonaire whenever they get a break.

And I watch them, shaking my head.

“Ha… is this the first time you’re getting attention? Tsk tsk.”

It’s not that I’m upset they don’t tell me I’m pretty.

It’s just that there’s less than a month until the showcase, and I need to practice my dance moves… Tsk tsk.

Of course, the Unnis don’t seem to care and just glance at me before going back to checking their phones and searching their names online.

But there’s one thing that hits the mark.

Kim Seo-yoon, who always counterattacks for no reason.

“What are you talking about? You’re the biggest attention seeker.”

There’s one more.

The attention seeker wanting to grab both external and internal attention.

“What’s an attention seeker even?”

So, even though I know the word well, I still ask Seo-yoon Unni.

A person with a Korean proficiency level of 4 can’t possibly not know.

“Someone like you. You.”

“Huh? So that’s a good thing…?”

“Not at all.”

“So it’s a bad thing…? Ehhhhh… I knew it. Seo-yoon Unni, you’re always saying bad things to cute Do-hee and pretty me… a bad person… ugly… horrible personality… smells bad…”

“Your face.”

“Oh… still, Seo-yoon Unni has a good heart. When you praise me like this, Chiyo will gladly accept your apology… hehehe.”

“You sound just like Do-hee.”

“Please retract that statement.”

I let out another sigh, watching their childish antics.

Everyone’s immature except for Na-eun Unni.

When will they grow up?

Sigh… a cup of coffee… no, coffee is bitter. I want to ponder while having a chocolate latte.

Lost in the profound thoughts of my inner self.

A sudden loud voice startles me.

Woo-ah Unni’s voice.

“Hey, Do-hee!”

Woo-ah Unni calls me and shares something on her phone screen with Na-eun Unni.

Na-eun Unni exhales and stands up, calmly walking over.

Then, in a stern tone, she clearly asks,

“Do-hee, what did you post on Bubble today?”
“What did you post on the blog?”

“Hehe…”

“Good thing I got permission from the Director beforehand.”

“But I still can’t help but look away.”

*

Ever since the Debonaire trailer was released, the entertainment community has been chowing down on all the rumors related to Debonaire.

This included the appearance of the members.

─ “All the Debonaire kids are really tall. The average height is 169 cm, and the smallest, Seo-yoon, is 165!”

─ “Their visuals are already hitting hard… but I guess when pretty girls gather, it’s hard not to look good.”

Group name.

─ “When I first heard the group name, it was a bit odd to say, but the more I think about its meaning, the more I like it.”

Information about the new members.

─ “Woo-ah and Chiyo went to the same Hanseong Arts High School as Do-hee, and both of them are bright, kind, and pretty, so they were super popular. I heard Woo-ah is funny while Chiyo is seriously out of this world, lol.”

─ “Na-eun asked about switching to acting while she was a trainee at Topist, but she said she really wanted to be an idol until the end.”

Also, Topist has been releasing concept photos once a week.

─ “Debonair Concept Photo Vol.1 [Welcome]”

However, those were only hot topics in the entertainment community; for the general public to get interested, they needed a debut or a showcase, or at least a YouTube video.

But today’s post was getting buzz even without any of that.

Before the tracklist was revealed.

At a time before we knew what songs would be included or what composers were involved.

A huge spoiler had been released.

It was the title of the first track from Debonaire’s debut album and the composer, all revealed at once.

And the culprit craving attention was Do-hee.

[“Whoa, I think Do-hee composed that piano piece in the Debonaire trailer!”]

─ (Lee Do-hee Bubble.JPG)

[Do-hee: (Selfie with music notes on the staff)]

Out of nowhere, she posted a picture on the bubble and ran away;;

The song title was written as “As Fickle As Fortune!!”

She tried to act cool by posting the photo without saying anything.

But it wasn’t really all that cool.

*

“Ugh, that attention seeker is the worst.”

I spread my arms wide towards Kim Seo-yoon.

“Go ahead and be jealous.”

After all, it was a spoiler I got permission to post from the Director.

I’m not guilty.

But the one who discreetly pokes me in the side is Woo-ah Unni.

“I’m not jealous, but how about insulting you?”

“Our sweet unni wouldn’t say anything bad.”

“Not true. I gossip behind your back when you’re not around.”

“…Really?”

“Who knows~?”

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