Ahn Jiho sat on the waiting room sofa with a serious expression, awaiting his broadcast appearance.
—♬♬♬
What he was watching was none other than…
“Ah, this is a bit much.”
A video of a woman freestyle dancing to Hyunseung’s new song, ‘CRZH.’
Calling it freestyle was a bit of a stretch…
Nowadays, Koreans were more likely to recognize this as the official choreography.
That was because challenge videos based on this clip were currently flooding the internet.
Jiho wasn’t sure if this situation would actually be a significant help to Hyunseung, but if it was…
Then, yes.
Even if it was only a small help, he wanted to join in.
However…
I mean, why is the choreography so… suggestive?
“Ah…”
He tried to follow the moves slightly in front of the mirror, but his face quickly flushed red with embarrassment.
“I can’t do this. No way…”
Just as An Jiho crouched down on the waiting room floor, burying his face between his knees.
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded from the waiting room door.
“Jiho, I’m coming in.”
Before he could even pick himself up, the door opened, and a familiar man walked in. That man was…
“I was filming in the set right next door, and on my way back, I heard you were here, so I stopped by to say hello.”
It was Kang Hajun.
“Oh, hey. Come in…”
Ahn Jiho pretended to pick something up from the floor and naturally stood up, heading toward the sofa. Kang Hajun also naturally walked toward the sofa, following Ahn Jiho.
Soon.
Silence fell between the two.
“Ahem, humph.”
Ahn Jiho cleared his throat, unable to withstand the awkward atmosphere filling the room.
And for good reason.
In truth, the two weren’t particularly close. They had only crossed paths a few times because of their mutual connection to Hyunseung.
Furthermore, it was obvious why Kang Hajun was looking for him…
“You’re the only one left now.”
It was to tell him to join the challenge.
“I was actually thinking about that issue, and…”
Ahn Jiho decided to take this opportunity to flatly refuse, saying he couldn’t do it.
“It’s not like the song will fail just because I don’t do it, and it’s already generating enough buzz, right?”
He calmly added an explanation.
“Above all, if we’re going to participate, it’s better if all of The Moon does it, but some members are preparing for solo activities right now, so it’s hard to coordinate the timing.”
Kang Hajun remained silent and listened to everything he had to say.
“Jiho.”
Then, casting his gaze into the air, he called out to Ahn Jiho.
“Do you happen to know? I’m actually quite close with Jeonghyuk.”
The ‘Jeonghyuk’ mentioned by Kang Hajun was a fellow member of The Moon. He was the type of person who had the ability to become friends with anyone he brushed past, thanks to his naturally sociable personality.
So.
Even if Kang Hajun and Choi Jeonghyuk were close, there was nothing strange about it.
“Huh?”
However, the look on Kang Hajun’s face as he said that was chilling.
“I happened to play a game with Jeonghyuk once, but I didn’t have an account for that specific game.”
“S-so?”
“Jeonghyuk let me borrow another account to use, but it turns out that was your account?”
True to his image as the son of a wealthy family who grew up well-bred, Kang Hajun usually maintained a kind expression to a terrifying degree.
“But Jeonghyuk didn’t seem to know the meaning of your nickname…”
But every once in a while, the corners of his mouth would twist upward, and a frantic madness would flow from his eyes.
“I knew as soon as I saw it.”
That always happened when something related to Hyunseung came up.
“I even took a screenshot…”
Yes, like right now.
“Should I send it to the composer?”
Soon, Kang Hajun asked with a smile, his face once again dripping with kindness. Seriously, wasn’t he practically a split personality at this point?
“I-I’ll do it.”
In the end, An Jiho bit his lower lip hard and nodded.
“Then, please do it as soon as possible. Good luck with the broadcast today, and give my regards to Jeonghyuk.”
“Y-yeah…”
“I’ll be going now for my next schedule. Jiho?”
“Uh, yeah…”
The game nickname that Kang Hajun had screenshotted and threatened to send to Hyunseung was, unfortunately…
“Dammit!”
It was ‘ChoiRiverSupremeH.’1
Hyunseung visited the VINCIS building for the first time in a while.
Quite some time had passed since he officially left…
Yet his private studio remained exactly as he had used it, except for the instruments he had taken with him.
Of course, including the massive DJ booth that took up a lot of space.
Moreover, it seemed someone came to clean the studio every now and then.
“Phew.”
Not a single speck of dust had settled on the worktable.
I feel bad.
The person cleaning it in secret was likely…
Knock, knock, knock.
It would be Kim Woohyun, who always knocked with the same pattern.
It was Kim Woohyun who had called Hyunseung here today, after all.
“Shouldn’t you stop knocking by now?”
Hyunseung smiled playfully as he saw Kim Woohyun pushing the door open.
“You’re going to just walk in anyway.”
“It’s become a habit.”
“So, why did you call me here again today?”
Kim Woohyun, seemingly hurt, narrowed his eyes and clung to Hyunseung’s words.
“Why again? Man, that’s disappointing.”
“Are you sulking?”
“Me? Sulking? What is there to sulk about?”
Just as he was brusquely brushing off Hyunseung’s touch.
“This guy, sulking again like a child.”
Turning toward the voice from the door, he saw Executive Director Park leaning against the frame.
“I’m telling you, it’s because your body has gotten so frail that your heart has grown weak too.”
Executive Director Park seemed to be scolding the pouting Kim Woohyun, but in the end, it was just to brag about his own physique.
“Look at me. Don’t I look sturdy in both body and mind?”
His body seemed to get more massive every time Hyunseung saw him.
“Director, I think you can stop getting any more ‘manly’ now.”
The buttons barely hanging onto his shirt were almost pitiful…
“You too, kid! You’ve lost all your muscle now and turned back into a skinn—!”
“Director, first of all, Hyunseung took time out of his busy schedule to come here after a long time, so let’s talk about other things first.”
Kim Woohyun stopped Executive Director Park from scolding further.
As if he really did have something to say, he looked at Hyunseung with a quite serious face.
“What exactly are you trying to say that you’re setting the mood like this?”
Hyunseung asked, shifting his gaze to Kim Woohyun’s thin cheeks.
Unlike Executive Director Park, Kim Woohyun seemed to be getting smaller by the day.
It was almost like facing a toothless tiger. It must be because he’d been overworking himself since coming here.
I feel bad for him.
Ah, of course, that’s not to say Executive Director Park hadn’t worked hard.
The fact that the Director was so obsessed with exercise was also based on his belief that one needs a healthy physical foundation to do their job properly.
Right.
The fact that his body was getting bigger probably meant he was working hard to grow Vincis even more.
If so, I should also strive in various ways from my position to contribute to Vincis.
“First of all, Hyunseung.”
Just as Hyunseung was lost in thought.
“Look at this.”
Kim Woohyun handed over a tablet he always carried around like a part of his body.
“Hmm?”
Hyunseung tilted his head as he looked at the screen.
Dozens of video thumbnails were flashing distractingly, making it hard to know what to look at.
There was one thing in common, though…
The keyword ‘CRZH’ was in all the video titles.
“Your song has exploded in Korea right now. No, not just Korea; the whole of Asia is in an uproar.”
Kim Woohyun explained the current situation in an excited tone.
“It seems a famous Korean influencer first posted a video of themselves freestyle dancing to your song.”
He then played a video of a woman dancing with a practice room in the background.
He had expected his song to be played at various festivals or clubs, but he had never thought about choreography…
“Hmm.”
It’s better than I thought?
“Influencers must have incredible reach these days.”
Curious, Hyunseung replied, playing along with Kim Woohyun’s words.
“Actually, it wasn’t that big at first, but what happened after is important.”
“After?”
“Well, it seems Jini invited that influencer as her backup dancer to a fan meeting in Japan and danced to your song.”
“She did?”
“Yeah, but then the others, as if they had made a pact, started filming and posting videos at their fan meetings or on their personal NewTube channels one after another.”
Kim Woohyun continued his explanation fluently, as if he had written a script in advance.
“If you mean the others…”
Hyunseung asked, narrowing his eyes.
“It’s obvious. Those kids from the ‘Hyunseung Division’ who follow you around.”
At that moment, Executive Director Park, who was standing by, chimed in.
If it was the Hyunseung Division…
It would be Seo Jini, Kang Hajun, Jung Arin, Yoon Jaeyi, Lee Hyoeun, and those guys from The Moon, including ‘Colt Jiho.’
Since everyone was busy with their own careers, he thought they would have forgotten about his new song, or even his existence.
Apparently not.
Right.
It seemed his presence, which had been fading in Korea, was being protected by them.
“Those guys, really…”
At that, Kim Woohyun smirked and rubbed the bridge of his nose as if he were touched.
“Looking at things like this, I really think I did well to give those kids songs back then. They’re repaying the favor like this.”
“Didn’t you try to stop me from giving them songs back then, Director?”
“No, well, you brushed aside all the famous singers and insisted on giving songs to trainees who were treated like has-beens or kicked out, or to unknown idol groups…”
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and trailed off for a moment.
“Now, no matter what you do, I believe in you and support you.”
He let out a laugh mixed with banter. Executive Director Park scolded him, saying, “Stop with the empty talk!” but he also wore a smile on his unclouded face.
Ah.
The presence I haven’t quite established in America yet was being diligently filled by them from behind.
Looking at Kim Woohyun and Executive Director Park, that thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Clap!
Hyunseung then clapped his hands, drawing their attention.
“Since things have turned out like this, why don’t we head to Korea for a bit?”
He made the proposal with a fairly determined face.
“To go see the kids?”
“No.”
“Then? Do you have a meeting?”
“No.”
To find out the reason for going to Korea so suddenly, Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun threw out plausible reasons one by one.
“It’s nothing like that.”
Hyunseung firmly dismissed them.
“I’m going to go to a club.”
“Huh?”
“You said my song is playing in Korean clubs these days.”
Then, he grinned playfully and shrugged his shoulders.
“Sigh…”
“Phew…”
Naturally, the two could only let out a sigh as they looked at Hyunseung.
- 초이리버지존H – Choi River” is wordplay on 최강, “the strongest”: 최 is rendered as “Choi,” while 강 is translated literally as “river.” The full username praises H, presumably Hyunseung, as “the strongest and supreme. ↩︎
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