One autumn day.
LS Entertainment was in an uproar over a single rumor.
“Wait, does this lineup even make sense?”
On the rooftop, promotion team staffers and A&R people gossiped in unison.
“Of course it doesn’t. It’s like a cat deciding to play with a mouse.”
“No, it’s more like God and Buddha joining hands and holding a rally together.”
“Are we sure the info’s real?”
They all looked as though they couldn’t believe such a mysterious report.
“They told us to prepare PR copy, so it must be true.”
An A&R team lead squinted at Team Lead Kwak, still dubious.
“April Fools’ was ages ago. This isn’t a prank, right?”
“You think I’ve got nothing better to do than joke about something like this?”
“Well, it’s not as if Team Lead Kwak is humorous enough to crack jokes about such trivial stuff anyway.”
With that mocking tone, Kwak’s eyes went round. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Thanks for the tip.”
At that moment, sound engineer Gi Yeon-seon, watching the bickering pair, cut in.
“So when’s the track being delivered?”
In an instant every engineer’s gaze speared Kwak’s face.
They looked exactly like children in line for cotton candy, eyes sparkling, lips twitching as if begging for a bite.
“Uh, well…”
Under those eager eyes, Kwak opened his mouth, looking terribly embarrassed.
“We’re… not that far yet…”
Sure enough.
“Ahh…”
The engineers slumped onto the bench with deflated faces.
“Shouldn’t the song come in before we do promo?”
“Right? Where do you tease us with only a trailer…”
Their pouting lips showed just how much they were expecting HS’s track.
No, should we call it an Ethci-ble track?
Yes. Since HS and Jayble were preparing it together, anyone would be excited.
Besides, the songs were supposed to premiere at HS’s first fan-meeting, so they were bound to be special.
“Pheww…”
As if on cue, the engineers put cigarettes to their lips. To calm their burning hearts, they had to smoke.
Ahh… the start of another wait with no end in sight? HS really might be a master of push-and-pull.
Because whenever they work on mastering with him, they feel like running away. Yet let word of a new project leak out and they forget everything and get hyped again.
Just then, someone who instantly captured all their attention stepped onto the roof.
“Manager Kim!”
They rushed over and formed a circle around him, firing questions.
“Is HS really working with Jayble?”
“How far along is the track? When will it be done?”
“Is the vocalist lineup set? When’s the recording?”
“We’re doing the mastering, right?”
Manager Kim backed away, overwhelmed.
“H-Hang on a second.”
He had only come up to smoke, but clearly it was the wrong time. Gi Yeon-seon in particular clung to his sleeve like an entertainment reporter.
“Manager, you must know something.”
This was tricky.
In fact, Kim had no idea how much Hyunseung had finished.
Because…
“Manager, just set the venue, staff, and MC. That’s all.”
After saying only that, Hyunseung had locked the studio door.
He’d basically declared he would focus alone until the work was done.
“I’m collaborating with Jayble. Once it’s finished, I’ll send it to the distributor myself.”
Drawing the line that cleanly meant Kim himself had no clue about progress.
But he couldn’t flatly say I don’t know. Those eyes were too desperate.
What do I do…? Kim’s silence only raised their hopes higher.
Diiing!
A ringtone, like a savior, rang.
“Guys, sorry. I really have to go.”
“Hey, you can’t just leave!”
“I have to run the HS fan-meeting draw. Over a hundred thousand people are in the official live stream waiting.”
At that, the engineers had to let him go, sighing “Ahh…”
Gi Yeon-seon called after Kim’s retreating back.
“Um, for that live draw… can I enter too?”
The plea, soaked in longing, sounded truly wistful.
Meanwhile, Hyuna was in a tight spot and sweating bullets.
The reason:
“Please, I’d trade all my luck if I could just get picked.”
“Yeah, who knows if we’ll ever get another chance like this…”
Her friends had gathered to watch HS (her real older brother) draw lots for the fan-meeting.
“I actually booked an overseas trip on that date, but I entered anyway. If I win, I’ll postpone.”
“I’ve got Mom’s birthday that day, but I said screw it and applied too.”
Hyuna felt both embarrassed and amazed that the star they were so eager for was her brother.
Sure, it was already strange to see his songs chart and a fan-café appear, but a fan-meeting made him feel like a real celebrity.
Just then a friend squealed.
“Guys, the live draw’s starting!”
“Hey, mute your phones so we can hear!”
Everyone clamped their mouths shut and crowded around the tiny screen.
Watching the cluster of heads, Hyuna wondered if this was necessary.
If they knew my brother’s personality, they wouldn’t…
One friend even clasped hands, praying.
“Please, please…”
Only Hyuna remained calm. She just wanted the draw over so they could go eat tteokbokki.
“Hyuna.” A friend, puzzled by her lack of reaction, tilted her head. “Don’t you want to go? You look bored to death.”
“Of course I do!”
“Then why that face?”
“Maybe I’m too nervous?”
She laughed awkwardly. The friend turned back to the screen.
In truth, Hyuna hadn’t applied at all, so there was nothing to be nervous about.
She was curious about the fan-meeting, but didn’t see why she needed to enter a lottery to see someone she lived with.
She also hoped a real fan’s odds would be a bit higher.
“Should we fetch water and pray?”
“Sure. It can’t hurt!”
“I’ll pray to God.”
“I’ll ask Buddha.”
“Then I’m going with Allah!”
These very friends spouting nonsense were exactly the fans she meant.
Just then a suit-clad man whose face was only half visible appeared on-screen; silence fell.
“First, thank you to everyone interested in HS’s first fan-meeting.”
He bowed faintly.
“As announced, from 14,357 applicants we’ll select only 500 and send invitations.”
“Because the software draws live, it’s completely fair.”
Only five hundred? Hyuna thought, and glanced at the chat:
↳ Mom, 500 seats is way too stingy
↳ The odds are like applying for a new condo
↳ If I win, I’m buying a lotto ticket right away
↳ Winning this would use up all my life’s luck
Everyone seemed to feel the same.
The drawing window popped up.
“We’ll begin right away.”
↳ Wait, can’t you drop some HS news before you start?
Ignoring that, the man started the draw. Rather than building suspense, he was as dry as her brother.
“These are the 500. IDs are in the chat. We’ll also post them on the café.”
↳ My ID isn’t there T_T
↳ omg I think that’s me?!
↳ So jealous—go buy that lotto!
Despite her friends’ fuss, the announcement was anticlimactic.
But the friends were glued to their phones, hunting for their IDs.
“Hey, did you see mine?”
“I’m still looking for mine!”
“I think I’m not there…”
“Don’t give up hope!”
“If you weren’t selected, please don’t be too disappointed. We’ll try to arrange another chance to meet.”
↳ Then how about a surprise fansign for the losers? ;_;
↳ You promised. If you don’t, I’ll poop in front of LS HQ
Even with that bland comfort, they kept scouring the list.
“Kyaa!”
One friend suddenly hopped up and down.
“I see my ID! I’m in!”
“Really? Weren’t you traveling abroad? Just go on your trip.”
“No way, I’m postponing!”
“You were so excited about that trip. Just transfer the ticket to me—”
“Are you crazy? Give up a miracle like this? I’ll pay a fee and postpone the trip.”
“Kyaa! H-here’s mine too! I’m in!”
“What? Why not me! I’m looking again!”
Winners and losers traded cheers and groans. Sparks flew.
Is it worth all this?
“Winners will receive invitations plus a gift personally prepared by HS.”
Without thinking, Hyuna muttered, “A gift, personally?” A friend nudged her.
“Playing it cool, huh? Bet you want that present.”
“Wh—ha-ha, sure?”
“Don’t be too sad. If I get it, I’ll share what it is in the group chat.”
“Th-thanks.”
She’d only muttered because she worried he might give something huge again like that MacBook fiasco.
She wasn’t upset at all.
You can’t feel sour after being given a foreign car…
She swallowed the words. She still hadn’t told them about the car sitting unused and dusty.
The MC straightened to close.
“Finally, Geum, Dong—”
↳ ???
“Ahem, hm!”
↳ Sounded like he accidentally said a name?
↳ ‘Geum-dong’ soooo doesn’t match the image…
The chaotic stream ended abruptly.
“Please continue to give HS lots of love and support.”
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