Chapter 45:
“Ah! This is so frustrating!”
A shrill voice pierced through the closed door and flowed into the living room.
“…Here we go again.”
The boy, whose voice was still awkward from puberty, fiddled with his Adam’s apple and sighed.
It had seemed quiet for a while… but that person, he’s starting up again.
‘How long will this last this time?’
The core of his mom’s “fanatic daughter,” who always muttered about “can’t leave fandoms behind,” was more fickle than the changing seasons.
A few years ago, she had been obsessed with a boy group whose names sounded like something out of a game—warrior this, assassin that—and traveled across the country to follow them. Last year, she went wild collecting photos and CDs of boy group members with reptile-like names.
And in less than a year, she had already switched to a new group.
‘Beatwelve… or what was it?’
Even the name was difficult. Anyway, thanks to her, the posters and albums that used to cover the walls of her room were all sent to storage.
‘Ah, I sold a few of them, didn’t I?’
It could have been left alone since it was her hobby, but the problem was that her fandom activities also dragged him along.
Bang!
“Hey! Mom’s son!”
Damn…
As expected, his sister called him.
“…What now?”
He trudged over to the door, showing his annoyance in every step.
“Hey, come in quickly.”
“….”
“What are you doing? Come in.”
“…No. Talk from there.”
The boy’s gaze went to the floor, not his sister.
Though they were siblings, it was unbelievable how different they were.
‘Is this really a human’s room?’
Clothes, bags, books, cosmetics scattered across the floor.
Ugh, just looking at it made him dizzy.
“Come in.”
“….”
Under his sister’s fierce glare, he reluctantly stuck out his lips and tiptoed into the room.
“Hey, look at this.”
His sister desperately needed the opinion of her younger brother, who usually liked hip-hop.
On the monitor screen, a video was already queued up.
[RE:VIVAL Episode 3] Compass – LUMIS <Position Battle> Round 2
It was the full rap part video of Kang Ian and Ha Jinwoo recently uploaded on YouTube.
After the three-minute video ended, she reopened the community post.
“Look at this. Does this make sense to you? Isn’t it just ridiculous? It’s totally wishful thinking!”
She pointed at a fan’s interpretation post and vented her frustration.
Though she seemed to be asking for a response, the answer was already clear:
Relate to me!
Unlike her, the mother’s son was a T personality.
He carefully read the post and replayed the video, resting his chin on his hand.
It wasn’t much, but his gaze was serious.
“Ah… so that’s what it meant?”
“…What’s with that reaction?”
“Seeing it this way, the lyrics are really well-written.”
“What? You’re just some guy who only listens to rap, and you’re saying that? Well-written?”
“The rhymes are good, the wordplay is incredible.”
“Is this guy crazy?”
It was natural for the “fanatic daughter” to react this way.
To her, LUMIS was just some unknown, cheerful “five guys.”
Especially since it included the member who hurt and angered her favorite, Jeong Jeyoon.
But the real reason was different.
‘Why does he keep popping into my mind…?’
Clearly, the guy who had touched her favorite—his smile, his arm!—kept lingering in her thoughts.
‘Snap out of it!’
She quickly slapped her own cheek.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
The boy was stunned.
He knew she was crazy about idols, but he never expected her to hurt herself over them.
Unlike him, the Beatwelve fan’s face was full of determination.
She had finally found her favorite, and her feelings would not waver—especially because it was the guy who had hurt her favorite.
After a slap to herself, she looked seriously at the boy.
“Alright, forget it. Let’s go out; it’s been a while.”
“What? Ah, no way!”
The mother’s son timidly resisted.
“30,000 won.”
“…Can’t we spend a little more?”
“50,000 won.”
“Transportation and meals separate.”
“…Deal.”
Someone once said: if money doesn’t solve it, think again if the amount is enough.
Thanks to that, the mother’s daughter frowned, while the mother’s son smirked.
“But why? You could just go yourself.”
The mother’s son tilted his head.
“It was registered under your name.”
“Ah, are you crazy?”
“Hey! I also want to go! But I can’t!”
Her eyes glared at the monitor, full of injustice.
‘Why the hell can’t I?’
Though they had flopped in the third round, she had been selected for the fourth live audience.
But…
‘Of course, only this idiot got selected.’
Only the younger brother’s entry, applied to increase chances, had won.
AMP MUSIC was so frustrating.
Usually sloppy with work, but for things like this, they were precise.
Even when allowing one companion for music shows, only the individual could be a live audience for RE:VIVAL.
Sigh…
A deep sigh escaped.
“Jeyoon, I’m sorry! Forgive me for only being able to do this!”
Even if she couldn’t meet her favorite, she would use her precious vote for him!
“Hand it over.”
Ignoring her heartfelt feelings, the mother’s son arrogantly held out his palm.
“Show me the money.”
“…Damn it.”
♪♫ –
The melody that had filled the practice room gradually faded.
“How is it?”
Ha Jinwoo looked around at the members with eyes full of expectation.
“Oh~ our maknae!”
“Now you really have that producer vibe, huh?”
“…Good!”
Cha Eun-gyeol gave a thumbs-up.
“Jinwoo, write me a solo song later! You will, right?”
Kang Ian hugged Ha Jinwoo and acted cute.
The 4th round performance for RE:VIVAL was decided: “Bulti.”
This song from LUMIS Mini Album 2, composed by Yoon Tae-jin, was a ballad with the lyrical melodies of an acoustic guitar.
Ha Jinwoo, like some magician, perfectly transformed this emotional song into a trot full of energy in just a few days.
“All thanks to Producer Jin.”
“What? Producer Jin is here?”
Baek Doha asked in surprise.
“No, we gave files back and forth and received feedback. The CEO also helped a lot.”
“Wow~ Royal family vibes? CEO and producer both? Trying to grab all the golden connections alone?”
Kang Ian poked Ha Jinwoo’s side and laughed playfully.
“Producer Ha! Then, how should we stage our performance?”
Ryu Sian asked jokingly.
“Hm… I think we should start with the chorus first. Eun-gyeol hyung hits first, Doha hyung hits next…”
Ha Jinwoo now felt quite like a real producer.
“Great, let’s make the choreography a bit softer.”
“Hyung! How about standing microphones?”
“Ah, that’s good too! Then…”
Baek Doha took charge of choreography, Ryu Sian handled stage direction and movement.
Cha Eun-gyeol hummed and adjusted ad-libs and toplines to match the lyrics, while Kang Ian wrote the rap parts.
This was the self-sufficient skill of a 3rd-year trainee.
Even without the company’s help, they managed everything.
Thanks to this, the stage began to take shape.
“…Thanks.”
While working passionately, Cha Eun-gyeol spoke quietly.
“Huh? Suddenly?”
Kang Ian tilted his head.
“No, it’s just…”
After a short reply, a quiet atmosphere settled.
Though he didn’t show it outwardly, a heavy stone sat in Cha Eun-gyeol’s heart.
The third round, which she had high hopes for, had ended in an unexpectedly low rank, and a fight had broken out between Kang Ian and Jeong Jeyoon in the waiting corridor.
To make matters worse, the genre she picked was trot.
Ryuha had explained it for her to understand, but it was the complete opposite of RE:VIVAL.
Usually, he didn’t believe in superstitions or jinxes, but just in case, he felt anxious, thinking the reason the fourth round might be LUMIS’s final stop could be the genre he had picked.
“Eun-gyeol, sorry, but we’re not the old LUMIS anymore. We’re not weak!”
Ryu Sian, quick to sense the moment, jumped up and raised his hand to the sky.
“Yes!”
Kang Ian followed and shouted.
They danced, lifting the atmosphere.
“Cheh.”
Thanks to that, Cha Eun-gyeol’s stern face softened a little.
“But what’s this?”
Baek Doha pointed at the printed lyrics.
The second verse marked the start of full-fledged trot, with the chorus emphasized.
“Oh, this was checked by Producer Jin. It’s a special guest.”
“Really!? Who?”
All the members turned their heads.
“I’m not sure. Apparently a very famous trot singer…”
“Trot singer?”
“Who?”
The members tilted their heads.
“But… isn’t it difficult to secure a trot singer now?”
Cha Eun-gyeol said, taking out his phone, searching, and showing it to the members.
“They’re probably appearing on this show…”
<Trot Era Season 3>
A trot competition program with average ratings over 10%.
Season 1 had a winner from classical vocalists, Season 2 from musical actors.
They became rising trot singers in Korea.
No need to win.
Top 10 participants already received events, broadcasts, ads, and even acting opportunities.
This Season 3 added a mentor system with previous contestants returning as mentors, and many famous trot singers joining as judges. It was practically a “trot festival.”
“Hm… with this lineup, other programs won’t even look at us.”
Kang Ian added worriedly.
During the peak of the trot season, would any singer invest that much time?
“Ah, come on~ Producer Jin wouldn’t call it a special guest without a plan, right?”
Ryu Sian said confidently, but others remained skeptical.
Just one day off for recording? No way.
What about events? How much money would that cost?
And practice? No rehearsal together?
“Wait a second!”
Ryu Sian looked around the practice room.
“Doesn’t it feel… weird?”
“Yes, it feels empty somehow.”
Kang Ian glanced around nervously.
“What… what is it?”
“Ah!”
Baek Doha suddenly jumped up as if remembering something.
“Ryuha!”
Ryuha was missing.
By now, he should have been sneering: “Pathetic,” “What are you doing?”, “Here to play?”, “Think!”—but he wasn’t.
“Why didn’t I notice…?”
Ryu Sian, addicted to Ryuha’s usual “helping hand,” scratched his back absentmindedly and muttered.
Watching quietly, Cha Eun-gyeol spoke:
“…Gone.”
“What!?”
“G-Gone? Where?”
“…To secure the cheat key.”
