Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 43

43.

It happened about an hour ago, shortly after we entered the reptile farm.

While Chae Hamin and I were looking at the various snakes and lizards, a man approached us and said, “Hello! I’m Kim Min-seok, the manager here.”

*He’s quite young to be an acquaintance of my uncle.*

“Hello! Long time no see, Min-seok hyung [older brother/male friend]!”

“Oh, Hamin, thanks for coming before your debut.”

Kim Min-seok looked like an ordinary guy, except for the camera hanging around his neck.

The simple, everyday conversation between the two suddenly sped up and landed on a strange topic.

“Hyung! Please take our picture!”

*Well, taking pictures is fine.*

However, Kim Min-seok seemed a bit embarrassed and tilted his head.

“…Is that okay? You’re debuting as an idol now.”

“I thought so too, so I asked my manager, and he said it’s okay!”

“Oh, really? I’m honored! I don’t often get to shoot subjects like you.”

I listened to their conversation and asked, “…Hamin, what are you talking about?”

“Ah! This hyung also works as a photographer. He takes pictures and posts them on SNS [Social Networking Service], so this is a chance to take some cool pictures with snakes.”

“Oh! Sounds fun.”

*Yeah, take lots of pictures. I’ll lie down over there and take a nap.*

As I was looking for a place to lie down, Chae Hamin came over and grabbed my shoulder.

“Dong-hwa, let’s go make memories together.”

I was stunned by the sudden development and replied, “…Even me?”

“Yeah! Memories with a friend in our youth!”

* * *

Originally, I was going to refuse Chae Hamin’s offer to take pictures, but I knew he would get sulky again, so I had no choice.

Unlike me, who was just going to take a few quick pictures, Chae Hamin seemed quite serious and brought a bag full of things to decorate his hair and face. As a result, I’m currently all dolled up and taking pictures.

Even my uncle’s acquaintance seems quite serious, to the point where the setup is comparable to a photo studio.

And now, under the bright lights, I had a black kingsnake wrapped around my hand, looking straight ahead with a blank expression.

“…Wow, really, you look great, Dong-hwa.”

“Dong-hwa! Black clothes, black hair, and a black snake against a white background—it looks amazing.”

“Dong-hwa suits the ‘cruel’ image after all.”

*Okay, is it over now?*

I carefully returned ‘Lucy,’ who was in my hand, to her enclosure.

“Dong-hwa! Just one more solo shot!”

*You’re not even getting paid for this, why are you so enthusiastic?*

“This time, let’s take a picture with a ball python!”

“Dong-hwa! You have to take one with me too!”

*Wow, I really wish you’d all disappear.*

* * *

After taking a few more solo and group shots, I suppressed a deep sigh as I walked out of the breeding room.

[Emergency Quest ‘Get a Little Closer!’ Completed!

You have shown amazing patience and fulfilled the wishes of the members! However, what is certain is that you must have enjoyed spending time with the members to some extent! To celebrate your break from your room-bound life, the following reward is provided.

Reward: An important piece of the future possibility]

*I can tell that’s a sentence that tried its best to be sarcastic.*

Is this a protest that I enjoyed it too, so why am I talking about killing myself?

“Dong-hwa! Look at this, our picture came out well, right?”

Chae Hamin sets the picture taken today as his messenger profile picture and shows it to me.

A picture of the two of us sitting back to back, making eye contact with the snakes wrapped around our hands.

Hmm, it turned out well, but is there really no other meaning than making memories?

*This is the first quest presented by Gisaeng [the system] that I have a hard time understanding the intention of.*

“…Hamin, should we buy something for the members to eat?”

“Oh! Good. What’s something that doesn’t have a lot of calories?”

*Well, even if it was really about getting closer, it wouldn’t be bad.*

* * *

A week later, everything started with one broadcast.

Ji Dong-hwa’s fan was, as always, reviewing the reality show and waiting for the debut date.

Then, on the way to the kitchen to get a drink of water, she heard a familiar voice on TV.

―Um, I came with a child.

*’…Dong-hwa?’*

*Does my idol have a hidden child?*

Startled, she ran to the TV and sat next to her mother.

“Tsk, tsk, a young kid already has a child.”

*’He can’t have one! Mom!’*

Then, the TV caption raised expectations by saying [Child will appear soon].

―With a child… Yes, how was today?

As the reporter was asking a question, Seok-joon suddenly ran over and held out something in both hands.

[Child. Ap. pears.]

―I want to buy this!

[A child whining]

Then, Ji Dong-hwa shook his head firmly and said.

―…No. Pick only two out of those, Joon.

[A firm adult]

―That’s! Cruel! Cruel Overlord Ji Dong-hwa!

[Cru…el Overlord… ?]

Then, Ji Dong-hwa said firmly without a change in expression.

―…What if you need to buy something else later? Pick only two things you really want.

Then Seok-joon turned away with a tearful face.

Ji Dong-hwa took a short breath and politely bowed his head to the reporter and asked.

―…Sorry. What question were you trying to ask?

And Ji Dong-hwa’s fan, her mind went blank.

*’What… what did I just see?’*

Next to her, her mother laughed and said…….

“Oh, those kids are funny. They say they’re going to debut as idols.”

*’And I’m going to stan [support] those idols!’*

She held back the giggles that were seeping out and began to think about what was going on.

* * *

In the ‘Life is Good’ Wizney [variety show] viewing episode, Ji Dong-hwa and Seok-joon’s crazy conversation was broadcast.

Ji Dong-hwa calling the grown-up Seok-joon a child without a second thought, and Seok-joon acting like a child in reality,

Seok-joon, full of resentment for being told not to buy things, saying, ‘Hyung is cruel,’

And the strangely funny situation created by Ji Dong-hwa looking at such Seok-joon with a firm expression began to become a topic of conversation.

As Seok-joon’s ‘Hyung is cruel!’ meme and Ji Dong-hwa’s firm face spread like wildfire on various internet sites, Blossoms’ fans began to comment on the posts.

―Why is my idol here?

―lolololololol no seriously are these guys idol members?

―Ah this is a bit embarrassing lololololol

―lolololololol no what is this lololol why is Ji Dong-hwa in the guardian position lololololololol

―Hyung is cruel lolololololol aigoo [oh my] Joon lololololol

―Forbes’ Most Determined Idol No. 1

And Kim Min-seok, an SNS influencer, poured oil on the rekindling topic with his edited photos.

(A photo of Ji Dong-hwa looking straight ahead with a black kingsnake)

(A photo of Chae Hamin smiling brightly with a boa constrictor around his neck)

(A photo of the two of them back to back, each looking at a snake)

It was an honor to be able to take pictures of these wonderful friends 🙂

#Blossoms #JiDonghwa #ChaeHamin #KimMinseok Reptile Photo Studio #Reptiles #Snakes

Basically, Kim Min-seok’s SNS has a lot of followers, and with the addition of Ji Dong-hwa and Chae Hamin’s atmospheric photos, a new side of Ji Dong-hwa, called ‘Determined,’ was revealed.

―Determined, he has a bit of an atmosphere here…

―fr [for real] here he really looks like a mafia mastermind boss…

―Wow, I enjoyed the photos (smiling emoticon) but what’s the name of the person smiling so brightly?

―Hamin… Hamin…!!

And as Blossoms became a topic of conversation to some extent, a V-log of a sports creator was rediscovered this time.

In the video, Ji Dong-hwa is seen silently staring at the camera behind the person working out, ignoring Ryu Iden’s words.

―4:55 Isn’t this Determined?

―That’s right lololololololol In front of Cruel, he’s determined, but in front of that person, he becomes annoyed…

―He’s a man… I made eye contact with Determined at 5:00 and my heart fluttered…

―fr why did he make eye contact with me?

―Wow, the person who’s training him has perfect form… His frame looks good too…

―I almost fell in love.

―No, he looked like a noble in the reptile photos, but why does he look so shabby here lololol

―What does this person do that he’s seen in so many places?

―He’s an idol debuting this time called Blossoms! Please give him a lot of attention!

And finally, an article collecting all of Ji Dong-hwa and the other members’ bizarre actions spread to the community.

[Blossoms’ Pre-Debut Activities Collection and Results.jpg]

Lee Hyun-jae’s school open class (link)

Ryu Iden’s one-day gym (link)

Life is Good interview activities (link)

SNS star photographer model activities (link)

The result of all of this happening in a row: More buzz on the internet than the last episode of The Next Nietzsche.

If the agency didn’t order this, then we should assume Ji Dong-hwa did Ji Dong-hwa again.

Comments

―frlololol we should assume Ji Dong-hwa did Ji Dong-hwa again

In that way, the meaning of the actions that Ji Dong-hwa was curious about was connected by a necessity disguised as coincidence, completing a trajectory.

And one of Blossoms’ fans, who was organizing this situation in the community, left the following post.

[Blossoms’ Holiday Summary]

(A photo of a dog owner holding leashes in the middle, with four dogs running in different directions, with a bored expression)

* * *

After the holiday ended and they continued to practice for another week, Lee Hyun-jae looked at his phone while resting and shouted in surprise.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], hyungs! We’re on the real-time search rankings!”

“Huh? Why?”

Chae Hamin made a stupid noise…….

“No, why? Did someone cause an accident?”

The leader, who has only worried since becoming the leader, said something nonsensical.

*Hmm, it’s sudden.*

We haven’t been active for a while, so maybe Nietzsche’s company is on the verge of bankruptcy or something.

I got up from my chair and approached Lee Hyun-jae.

“…For a good reason?”

Lee Hyun-jae quickly rolled his eyes and nodded.

“Take a look!”

Hmm, an internet article. The other members ran to my side and started watching together.

[Who is ‘Blossoms’ on the real-time search rankings?]

There is a person who has become a minor topic of conversation in this week’s broadcast of ‘Life is Good.’ In the Wizney [variety show] viewing party, the appearance of calling a grown man a ‘child’ and choosing what to buy caused minor laughter, and the appearance of these two attracted attention and became a topic of conversation. Later, it was revealed that these two were members of the idol team ‘Blossoms,’ which will debut as a team, and it became an even bigger topic of conversation.

(Omitted)

In addition to this, reactions of ‘Who is this person?’ began to appear simultaneously on a sports YouTuber’s vlog screen, on an official video site of a school, and on a photographer’s SNS, and the targets were all members of Blossoms.

(Omitted)

Blossoms, who were born through ‘Who’s the Next Nietzsche,’ will debut after a showcase in two weeks.

I stopped breathing for a moment because everything I read was full of embarrassment.

*Gisaeng [the system], was this it.*

[Caution! As I said, trust is the most important virtue.]

Ryu Iden, who was as dumbfounded as I was, muttered.

“…Wow, so there was a camera everywhere Dong-hwa went, and as a result, it became a topic of conversation?”

Then Chae Hamin shouted.

“Dong-hwa must be a lucky charm!”

“As expected, our lord!”

* * *

Public Relations Team Leader Lee Kwan-woo was overly distracted.

“Seriously, they haven’t even debuted yet…….”

He was in charge of organizing the information to be distributed to reporters and directing the sending of all the words that should and should not be included in the articles.

Why did Blossoms suddenly become a hot topic on the internet?

Lee Kwan-woo sat down quietly and thought.

*Whatever the reason, now is the time. We have to detonate the fact that Blossoms will be on Detection [another show] next week no matter what.*

Based on the data that Jang Hae-jin handed over to the public relations team, the articles and reporters to be distributed have already been contacted.

This timing, with about 10 days left until the broadcast and the situation on the real-time search rankings.

Lee Kwan-woo called the broadcasting station to adjust the distribution date of the promotional materials that had been agreed upon, with the heart of a general launching a catapult on the battlefield.