Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 151

#151.

Joo Yuri’s new album, 〈S-he〉, concluded its new song release showcase with the title track as the final performance.

The results were, as expected, overwhelmingly positive.

Reporters and critics alike showered praise on Joo Yuri’s album and stage, which were full of creative ideas.

And that praise included compliments for Gyu-sung’s vocals.

As felt during the pre-release track, his vocals, which held their own against Joo Yuri’s, completely brought the song to life, preventing it from sounding uninspired.

The online community’s reaction was also more enthusiastic than anticipated.

In fact, even for Joo Yuri, it was the first time that a showcase for fans had garnered such a huge response.

Naturally, this was thanks to the synergy with Gyu-sung.

With the MOST fandom supporting Gyu-sung, it was only natural that the internet would be buzzing.

Of course, Joo Yuri contributed significantly to driving public interest.

As soon as the 〈Look Into Each Other’s Eyes〉 performance clip was uploaded to Mytube [a fictional video-sharing platform], the number of views and comments exploded almost instantly.

-The chemistry is insane

-Is this… heaven?

-Fantastic harmony. I never thought these two would meet ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ [crying emoticons, indicating strong emotion]

-I like both Joo Yuri and Kim Gyu-sung so much, this is great

-It’s crazy from 00:32

-If you only watch their live performance, it’s like this is the Grammy stage ㄷㄷ [Korean slang indicating amazement]

-Why is Joo Yuri so pretty.ㅠㅠ

-Gyu-sung seems more and more charming and cute, but when he sings, he adds charisma

-It’s even better live than when I listened to the audio

-The manipulation of memories is crazy. Who am I. Who do I like?

-Is that male singer from Joo Yuri’s agency? Why are they pushing him so much? Joo Yuri is too good for him

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s a MOST member, why would they push him

-Who’s MOST? Never heard of them

-You’re just ignorant

-MOST needs to step it up!

-Wow, he was a MOST member. I’ve always enjoyed MOST’s songs, I didn’t know such a vocalist was hidden

-The best duet since Oh Sa-yeon and Im Mu-song

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Crazy

-Grandma.ㅠㅠ

-Suddenly those two?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Did they even do a duet?

-Who are these people???

ㄴThey’re a famous singer coupleㅎㅎ They were famous in our parents’ generation

-Gyu-sung’s vocal skills are really top-notch, but it seems like it’s not well known because he’s an idol. I hope his singing skills become more known with this opportunity

-1:02 So sweet

-The male side’s tone is really unique. I want to hear him sing a pop song

-Joo Yuri is always right no matter when you listen to her

-The answer is Yuri. Today, the answer is Yuri again

-It sounded kind of sweet when I listened to it as a song, but it’s terrifying when I listen to it live

-He’s hitting those high notes while smiling? Both of them are at least singing AlphaGo [referencing the AI, implying superhuman skill]

-I’ll come closer, I’ll come closer 2:04 My jaw dropped at this part

-2:13 The guy’s crazy vocal cords

-2:15 Are they battling? It’s a great match ㄷㄷ

-2:25 No winner

-The days when male and female duets caused dating rumors are over now

-It was a good match. Ha… Why does my throat feel like it’s bleeding? Those people are smiling

-Tore it up, this is what that phrase is really forㅋㅋ

The most common reaction was that they ‘tore up’ the stage [meaning they performed exceptionally well].

It was clear that the two had elevated each other’s skills by working together on this song.

It was definitely a win-win collaboration for both of them.

In particular, it was an opportunity for Gyu-sung, who had relatively lower public recognition compared to the other members, to make his name known.

“Hyung [an honorific for older brother or male friend], the reaction is really amazing. It’s as good as when the song was released!”

On the way back after the showcase, Woo-chul gave Gyu-sung a thumbs up.

Gyu-sung scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

It was hard to believe he was the same person who had coolly belted out high notes on stage that others could only dream of.

The other members also complimented Gyu-sung, saying he did a great job.

“Thanks for coming, everyone. Thank you, hyungs.”

“It’s a bit hard to take that as a genuine thank you·····.”

Gyu-sung tilted his head at Heung-min’s words.

“It’s not like we came to see you·····.”

“That’s right. Hyung…. If you were performing alone, we would have watched the live broadcast from the dorm and cheered you on. We only went because you were with Yuri noona [an honorific for older sister or female friend].”

Gyu-sung burst into laughter at Heung-min and Woo-chul’s words.

He knew better than anyone that they were just teasing him.

“Ah, that’s right. I got a message from Yuri sunbaenim [an honorific for senior colleague]. She said thank you for your hard work at the performance today, and thank you for coming, everyone. She said she couldn’t say goodbye separately because she was too busy afterward·····.”

“To think that she’s an angel even in her heart…. Oh? Gyu-sung, you’re calling her sunbaenim?”

“Yes…. It’s a bit awkward to be casual.”

Heung-min smiled faintly at Gyu-sung’s words.

Woo-chul suppressed a laugh as he looked at Heung-min.

“We’re here. Everyone! Especially Gyu-sung, you worked hard! Let’s get off!”

Jung Gil-joo, who parked the van in the dorm parking lot, shouted.

The members, except for Gyu-sung, looked at each other and got up more slowly than usual.

As a result, Gyu-sung was the first to get out of the van.

“Oh? …Manager Lee?”

“Hello, Gyu-sung-gun [a polite suffix], It’s been a while!”

“Oh…. Yes. But what brings you here, Manager Lee·····.”

Gyu-sung looked at Manager Lee Jung-yeon, who was standing in the parking lot, with a puzzled expression.

Gyu-sung became even more puzzled as Lee Jung-yeon trailed off, saying, “Well….”

He couldn’t imagine what would bring Lee Jung-yeon, not Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol, to the dorm.

“Is there something going on at the company?”

Was there something urgent that needed to be delivered?

If that was the case, they could have contacted him by phone·····.

Gyu-sung’s mind quickly became complicated.

In fact, it had only been a month since Do-jae had released his statement.

Gyu-sung couldn’t help but worry if something else had happened.

“Gyu-sung-ah!”

While Gyu-sung was momentarily flustered, Heung-min called out to Gyu-sung in a loud voice.

Gyu-sung quickly turned around.

“·····!”

“Happy-birthday-to-you!”

Han Yu-na, who had been hiding behind a parking lot pillar, lit the candles on the birthday cake and approached with the members, singing the birthday song.

And behind them was a cameraman.

“Happy-birthday-to-you!”

“Dear Gyu-sung hyung! Happy-birthday-to-you!”

Because the members were singing the birthday song in loud voices, Gyu-sung, who was flustered and surprised, couldn’t even pay attention to the camera behind them.

“Suddenly?!”

“Cry! Cry!”

While Woo-chul was feigning tears of emotion, Ki-joon told him to blow out the candles first.

Gyu-sung felt a lump in his throat and quickly closed his eyes and made a wish.

“Whoo-!”

Gyu-sung, with his good lung capacity, blew out all the candles at once.

“Oh! As expected, Gyu-sung hyung! Excellent!”

Louie clapped his hands in delight.

The other members also burst into laughter, offering birthday greetings once more.

In fact, Gyu-sung’s birthday was two days ago.

However, they couldn’t properly celebrate it because of the tight concert practice schedule.

All they did was exchange birthday greetings and order the dessert that Gyu-sung wanted to eat.

Nevertheless, Gyu-sung didn’t show any signs of being upset.

This was because there were many times when they couldn’t even do this when their birthdays fell during peak activity periods.

Also, it wasn’t the time to worry about birthdays as they were on edge ahead of the song release.

However, the members had a plan.

Since they wouldn’t have time on his actual birthday anyway, they set the showcase day as the surprise party D-DAY.

It was a win-win situation since there would be more things to celebrate.

“Here, take your present.”

Do-jae handed Gyu-sung a large box.

They had all pooled their money together to buy something that Gyu-sung had always wanted.

It was also a gift that was possible because the members’ spending had increased since they had received their payments.

“When did you guys even prepare something like this·····.”

Gyu-sung’s voice trembled slightly at the end, touched that he didn’t even shed tears as Woo-chul had hoped.

Do-jae, who had gone with Jung Gil-joo to pick up the present before the showcase, gestured with a proud face for him to take the present quickly.

“Hyung! You’re going to be really surprised?!”

“Open it quickly!”

“···Thank you so much.”

Gyu-sung thanked them first without even properly opening the present.

And after actually opening the present, he just blinked his eyes without saying anything.

“What, what does that mean?”

“Isn’t this it?”

“Oh? Isn’t this right, Do-jae hyung?”

“This is right·····.”

The members, who couldn’t properly grasp Gyu-sung’s reaction, were flustered.

Do-jae was also momentarily taken aback, but soon smiled after examining Gyu-sung’s expression.

“This is it, right?!”

Gyu-sung nodded his head.

It was exactly the item that Gyu-sung had wanted.

It was also something that he had hesitated to buy every time because it seemed too luxurious.

“How did you know what I wanted?!”

“Your friend Do-jae told us!”

Heung-min answered clearly.

The gift was a top-of-the-line wireless Bluetooth headphone.

It was perfect for Gyu-sung, who listened to a lot of music.

From the custom in-ear monitors he received from fans on his birthday to the headphones given by the members·····.

Gyu-sung felt like there was nothing more he could want.

“Thank you so much.”

The members were relieved and boasted at Gyu-sung’s delayed greeting.

Gyu-sung struggled to figure out how he could better express his feelings, but it was beyond his capabilities.

“I’m really thankful·····.”

“I know, I know. I can tell just by looking at your expression now!”

It was fortunate that Heung-min said that.

The other members also realized Gyu-sung’s feelings, saying that he had reacted greatly for Gyu-sung’s standards.

“He doesn’t even raise his voice when he’s angry! This is a successful surprise! Right?”

The members nodded their heads in unison at Woo-chul’s words.

Jung Gil-joo and the staff, who had been watching with pleased expressions, belatedly offered their birthday wishes.

Gyu-sung, who was gratefully accepting the greetings, then looked at the camera and asked what was going on.

“They’re filming the behind-the-scenes video for the concert DVD starting today.”

The answer came from Louie.

It was a fact that all the members knew except for Gyu-sung because of the surprise birthday celebration.

“But why are they filming the behind-the-scenes video starting today…. Here·····?”

Generally, a concert behind-the-scenes video would show the process of preparing for the concert in the practice room, or the filming of videos to be included in the concert.

That’s what they would film.

“Well, this is one of the days we’re preparing for the concert·····.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have the fans’ birthday celebration in it too?”

Ki-joon and Woo-chul gave their own reasons.

At the same time, they seemed a little puzzled themselves.

This was because when they talked about the surprise event, Jung Gil-joo said that they should start filming the video from then, so they just thought that was the reason.

At that time, Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol stepped forward and said.

“It’s because we’re going to Jeju Island starting today.”

“Yes?”

“Oh…. Jeju Island?”

“Oh! Jeju Island! Jeju Island…. Jeju Island?!”

The members blankly asked back.

“Why suddenly Jeju Island·····.”

It was when Do-jae calmly asked back.

Several large vans lined up and entered the parking lot.

And five more cameras appeared from who knows where.

“Wow·····.”

Woo-chul was stunned in surprise.