Hyeonbaragi must have seen the post with replies, because he immediately posted a new one. It wasn’t his usual formatted post, but a response to his own comment.
[Hyeonbaragi]: Cheonghyeon, it’s been a very clear day today. Can I comment now?
– official Gi Cheonghyeon: Yes!!!!! I’ll write lots of replies to your letters from now on. Please write lots of letters. Hehe
He gladly replied to Hyeonbaragi’s second comment as well. Then he quietly revealed his true feelings.
Stop being so busy and write me lots of letters.
After this, he also commented on other fans’ posts. He even commented on a fan’s post titled [PLEASE CHEONGHYEON!!! SANBEOM’S WISH!], begging them to click on his post.
- official Gi Chunghyun: Sanbeom’s wish came true hehe
After the replies went up, all the fans started using the title to draw attention, which was awkward, but just then, Sikyung posted a new message.
- official Lim Sikyung: We can comment now~! I’ll comment diligently!! But if you just call me, I have nothing to say T_T Please tell me what you all ate today, what you did. Other stories are fine too 🙂
The number of comments on Sikyung’s post rapidly approached 9,999. Cheonghyeon hurriedly commented on Sikyung’s post.
└ official Gi Cheonghyeon: I ate the curry Hando made for me today. The spicy one was delicious, and the one with cream was also tasty. Hando is a great cook!
As soon as Cheonghyeon’s comment appeared, even his fans flooded in, instantly filling up the comments on Sikyung’s post.
Fans who had hurriedly typed things like ‘ㅇ’, ‘1’, or ‘ㅅ’ just to claim the comment spot laughed and comfortably edited their posts.
Cheonghyeon checked comments like, ‘Cheonghyeon-ah, your noona ate triangle rice balls today T_T Your curry must’ve been so delicious, my baby T_T’, and ‘Please tell us what Sikyung oppa ate today too T_T’.
Then, he went back to the letter category and diligently replied to his fans’ messages.
[Nemo Nemo Myeojanim]: Mopa, I ate Cheomsansu today-myeo-myeo. I’m so hungry and tired, please feed me something delicious-myeo.
- Official Gi Cheonghyeon: I like Cheomsansu too, but since it’s watery, it doesn’t fill you up much. Instead of water, eat something tasty and fun :]
Now even memes were second nature! Seeing fans’ positive reactions at a glance made him feel proud. That’s how Cheonghyeon kept communicating. All night long.
“Cheonghyeon, did you pull an all-nighter today?”
Wasn’t this the Cheonghyeon who, no matter what happened, insisted on sleeping soundly at his set time?
Seeing Cheonghyeon pressing his reddened eyes shut, Changsik was at a loss for words.
Cheonghyeon, who had his own lazy routines, had his daily life completely shattered when the comment restrictions were lifted.
Seeing him clutching his phone all night like a hardcore gamer, it seemed drastic measures were definitely needed.
“Cheonghyeon. Communicating with fans is great, but let’s stop here.”
“Why? I’m fine. It’s just today. I’ll sleep well from now on…”
Cheonghyeon, who hadn’t budged an inch at the suggestion to eat breakfast, curled up in bed pressing his bloodshot eyes shut, suddenly jumped at the mention of communication and protested.
Seeing this, the manager couldn’t help but sigh. It felt like being a father scolding a child who, after being given a toy, played with it all night and neglected their own life.
Who would’ve thought he’d feel this way, being unmarried and childless?
“Cheonghyeon. Can you keep replying? You can’t skip a single day. Even when you’re sick, even when you’re tired, you have to reply without exception.”
“Yes. I can do it.”
No, he shouldn’t do it if he’s sick or tired!
Seeing his clenched fists and that look in his eyes, as if this were the opportunity of a lifetime and he absolutely had to see it through, left him speechless.
What on earth was this?
Changsik sat perched on the bed, meeting Cheonghyeon’s gaze
Up close, his dark circles looked bluish, making him appear even more hollow-eyed. His eyelids were rubbed raw and red, probably from constantly touching them.
If fans knew he was replying to comments looking like this, they’d probably feel too bad to write anything.
“Once you start doing it, you have to keep doing it. But even if you stay up all night replying like you did today, there will definitely be fans who never get a reply. You could just shrug it off and move on, but it doesn’t work that way, does it?”
Cheonghyeon bowed his head silently, and Changsik felt a lump in his throat and a pang of pity.
This kind of advice was meant for underage newbies. Suppressing his bitter feelings, Changsik continued.
“Some might think, ‘Why did that person get a two-line reply, but I only got a one-word answer? Why haven’t I ever gotten a comment?’ Even if you wrote to each person with the utmost sincerity. Of course, that’s not your fault, Cheonghyeon. But anticipating and preventing such unfortunate situations is my job. And even if fans don’t feel that way themselves, anti-fans can stir up that sentiment. They create an atmosphere like, ‘Gi Cheonghyeon seems to be neglecting communication lately. Shouldn’t he at least reply to the longer letters?’ It’s all too easy for that initial small disappointment to turn into hatred.”
“…”
“The relationship between fans and celebrities shouldn’t get any closer than this. Those people might act like they’d die without you in their comments, but once they turn off their phones, they go to school, go to work, and live their own lives. I just don’t want to see you alone, constantly tormented by a sense of obligation and guilt, tied down here.”
“Then what do I do now? I already left so many comments…”
“They’ll think you did it yesterday to celebrate the comment restrictions being lifted. For now, don’t reply for at least two days, and don’t comment on more than three people’s posts a day. Let’s promise to only comment on the days I allow. If you do it gradually like that, you’ll understand what I mean. You’ll get a feel for how much give-and-take is needed.”
Cheonghyeon nodded quietly, and Changsik patted his back.
The protruding wing bone seemed to mirror Cheonghyeon’s troubled heart, making Changsik’s own heart ache.
Cheonghyeon, who usually dodged Changsik’s hugs, was burrowing into his embrace now, nearly bringing tears to Changsik’s eyes.
“Then is it okay to just watch?”
“Of course that’s fine! Watch as much as you want. As much as you want.”
Changsik sometimes drinks with other managers. The managers handling boy groups with considerable seniority all said the same thing. ‘Stop going to clubs, stop drinking so much, learn to be grateful to the fans. Is that really so hard?’ At the very least, idols absolutely cannot succeed without their fans’ support.
It’s different from actors who rise to fame when they land a good project, even without a particularly loyal fandom. When a song comes out, fans flood social media with praise regardless of quality, stream it all night to keep it charting, and buy dozens or even hundreds of copies of albums they won’t even listen to.
They watch music shows and send paid text votes. All of this is done out of love. Without fans, there is no number one spot. It was only natural.
Yet most idols, as they gained seniority, mistakenly believed their success came solely from their own efforts and failed to show gratitude to their fans. Worse, some even thought expressing thanks to fans was beneath them.
But what about East? Especially Cheonghyeon? Seeing him rub his reddened eyes while saying he wanted to communicate more with fans, I felt a quiet pride welling up inside, even though I’d only said one word to Cheonghyeon. Our Global Semicolour really did raise one great idol!
And exactly one week later, Changsik wanted to slap his past self for thinking that.
That pride was completely gone for the Changsik of today. Seeing Cheonghyeon shuffle toward him like a zombie, he grabbed the back of his neck and screamed inwardly.
My singer is addicted to his phone?!
The cafe app on the phone – the very thing that turned the current Cheonghyeon into a communication addict – was still glowing brightly in his hand. Cheonghyeon, seemingly unaware of what was wrong, smiled faintly as if he’d just watched without replying, then shook his phone. It was absolutely maddening.
“Hyung, I need some water.”
Facing Cheonghyeon, whose hoarse voice rasped like rusty metal, Changsik finally closed his eyes tightly and shouted.
“Your phone is confiscated starting today!”
When the production crew entered the dorm and began installing cameras one by one, it felt strange. Maybe they hadn’t fully adjusted to the cameras yet. Once the installation was complete, the PD handed each member their own camera.
“With these, you can film whatever you want. You can use them to write a diary, or film each other. No need to feel pressured. Most of the footage will come from the camera directors anyway; these are just like the cherry on top. Got it? We don’t even have a script. Just relax, relax.”
Hearing the PD’s words only made Cheonghyeon feel more stifled. What could possibly be entertaining about watching him just lounge around and play? Why was it easier not to give a script?
He already had a history of messing up a shoot without a script on Unyeonri. It had worked out well that time, but that was pure luck.
He didn’t have the confidence to muddle through this shoot like that again, so his stomach knotted up.
The fundamental concept of a dating show is to showcase the sweet, affectionate moments between male and female celebrities, making viewers think, ‘I want to date too.’ But this time, the audience watching the show were precisely the people who didn’t welcome that.
It coincidentally matched their needs, so it passed with praise for being fresh. But now? They need to build chemistry between the members, but what if it veers off in another direction like it did with Yeonhee?
Unaware of Cheonghyeon’s turmoil, the PD and members were laughing and joking away. They should drop that nickname ‘Henry’ they stuck on him too.
How can everyone be so happy without knowing how I feel? The only one with a face like dark clouds gathering was Cheonghyeon.
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