《From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show》


 Chapter 1: White Tiger Lackey

    <h4>Chapter 1: White Tiger Lackey</h4>


    In the bustling streets of Shanghai, a notorious thug named Chen Jun Hao ruled with an iron fist. Known for his strength and ruthlessness, Jun Hao was feared by many. The year was 2022, and he had gone up from being ackey to the right-hand man of the boss of the White Tiger gang.


    "Jun Hao! Boss wants to see you," Bo Wen, a bald-headed friend, said.


    "Where is the boss?"


    "In the warehouse. He wants you there now."


    "I''m going."


    Jun Hao let go of his cigarette and went to the warehouse. He passed by his underlings as he walked. They were bowing their heads in respect. Jun Hao was pleased. After serving as theckey¡ªrunning errands, cleaning toilets, and doing dirty work for the past eight years, he was finally promoted to the boss''s right-hand man.


    It was well-deserved. Jun Hao helped the boss obtain thend he had always wanted.


    He arrived at the warehouse. The stench of gasoline and blood mixed in the air which made his nostrils burn. It was dark¡ªlike it always was when he met the boss. Jun Hao still does not know the face and identity of their boss, but he knows he has a distinct white tiger tattoo on his left arm.


    "You called for me?"


    "Ah, Jun Hao. It''s nice seeing you after a while. I heard you''re doing well these days."


    "Yes," I smiled. "The territories are under control."


    "That''s good. How''s your sister?"


    Jun Hao smiled. "She''s still crazy for those Korean idols. She begs me every night to fly her to South Korea, but ya know I don''t have enough money for that," he chuckled.


    Jun Hao''s sister, Mei Ling, is the only family member he has left. Their father was Chinese while their mother was Korean. As a result, Jun Hao knows how to speak bothnguages since their mother would talk to him in her nativenguage when she was still alive. However, his mom died after giving birth to Mei Ling, and his father overdosed on drugs not long after.


    At the young age of 8, he had to take care of his sister and live in an orphanage. When he turned 18, he started looking for jobs but couldn''t find a decent-paying one since he wasn''t able to finish high school.


    When he was fighting off bullies one day, the boss took him in and made him ackey. He was taught how to fight, negotiate, and manipte other people. He knew the boss was a bad person, but he rewarded Jun Hao with a decent pay.


    The boss chuckled. "That''s good. At least she''s of legal age now, right?"


    Jun Hao frowned. "Yes," he answered slowly. "Why did you ask that?"


    "No reason," the boss brushed it off. "Did you close the deal with the Thunder Dragons?"


    "Yes," Jun Hao boasted. "I got the briefcase you wanted."


    "Give it to me."


    Jun Hao shook his head. "My pay hasn''t been given this month, boss. I need it so I can finally pay for my sister''s tuition. I''m sorry to withhold the information from you, but I''ll give it as soon as I get my pay."


    The boss was not pleased by Jun Hao''s answer. He had been wary of Jun Hao since bing the right-hand man.


    "Give me the briefcase," the boss insisted.


    "Give me my pay."


    The boss had enough of Jun Hao. He heard rumors from other members that Jun Hao was bing stronger, and he was threatened by that fact. The boss had to take the briefcase by force if Jun Hao didn''t want to give it to him willingly.


    Just then, Jun Hao felt a chill run down his spine, followed by footsteps entering the warehouse.


    "Bo Wen? What are you doing here?" Jun Hao asked.


    Bo Wen remained silent and pointed a gun at his head. Jun Hao tried to get away, but another member held onto his arms, making him unable to move.


    His jaw clenched as he looked at the gang members he once trusted.


    "What are you all doing?"


    "Such a shame, Jun Hao," the boss coldly said. "You''re a good man¡ªa very good man, indeed. But I can''t have my right-hand man disrespecting me, do we?"


    Jun Hao scrambled to escape their hold, but he had no fight against five people. He was only one, and the boss was right before him. The boss pulled out a gun and ced it on his temple.


    "Don''t do this, boss. I did everything I could for the gang."


    "You did," the boss said. "And I''m afraid you''ll only get stronger. So, it''s better to eliminate you now before you be my enemy."


    Bang.


    Jun Hao''s vision turned ck.


    [System integrating]


    Jun Hao gasped for air as he woke up. He looked around and saw himself in an unfamiliar room. It was small¡ªeven smaller than the beat-down apartment he used to live with his sister.


    <i>How did he get here?</i>


    <i>Did somebody save his life?</i>


    Jun Hao''s fists clenched when he remembered what happened. After ving his life away to the gang for eight years, this is how his boss repays him?


    At least he was still alive. He didn''t know what would happen if he died and didn''t get to look after his sister.


    Jun Hao stood up from the bed and felt lighter than usual. His stiff muscles felt more nimble. It was as if he had aged backward. His skin was fairer, too.


    What had happened?


    "Mei Ling?" he called for his sister but stopped when his voice sounded different. It was more delicate, very different from the husky and gruff smoker voice he had.


    Everything felt foreign and weird, so he washed his face in the bathroom. He washed it thoroughly, his cor and sleeves getting wet.


    After washing his face, he looked up and stared at his reflection in the mirror.


    "Ahh! Who is that?" he took a step back and held onto his face, feeling the soft skin of the youngd.


    [System has been integrated.]


    Suddenly, a vibrant holographic disy appears in the center of the room, projecting the image of a sleek, futuristic AI system.


    [Congrattions, Chen Jun Hao! You have been chosen.]


    Jun Hao''s eyes widened in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "Chosen? Chosen for what?"


    [You have been selected as the host to embark on a transformative journey to be a top idol.]


    Jun Hao''s jaw drops, a mix of fear and disbelief washing over his face. And just like that, everything turned ck once again.

 Chapter 2: June

    <h4>Chapter 2: June</h4>


    [Oh, good. You''re awake]


    For the second time in the night, Jun Hao woke up with a gasp. He looked around the room but didn''t see anyone. Instead, he felt dizzy because of the swift movement.


    [Careful, host. You just fell down inthe bathroom. You don''t have any money to go to the hospital.]


    His eyes widened when he realized what happened earlier. He ran to the dresser and looked at his face. Indeed, he looked very different. More handsome and youthful. Like a flower boy.


    "Who is this?" he whispered.


    [That is you, host. You are Choi Joon-ho.]


    Heughed out loud. He really thinks he is going insane. Did he actually die?


    [Yes, you died. But your soul continues to live. It is now in Choi Joon-ho ''s body.]


    "Who are you?" he asked, looking around.


    [I thought you wouldn''t ask. My name is Fu, and I am your system. Have you heard of transmigration before?]


    He nodded his head. His sister was a fan of novels like such, so she would tell him stories from time to time. However, he didn''t expect that it would actually happen to him.


    [That is what happened, host. Read the screen to know more about your current body.]


    A projection was cast in front of him, and he took a step back in surprise.


    [Born to be an Idol. You have been chosen to fulfill Choi Joon-ho''s lifelong dream!]


    Choi Joon-ho, born in 2002. He works at a convenience store at night and is a trainee for Phoenix Entertainment. He had been training for six years and was promised a debut during the year. However, a new trainee came and took his spot. Not even a yearter, they became the well-known boy group CHAOS.


    Since then, he has been depressed. However, he didn''t want to end his dream. So he joined anotherpany after paying them 1000 dors. He was scammed out of his money and was kicked out of his former apartment. So, he moved to this beat-up apartment to have a fresh start.


    However, he made some enemies in this unfriendly neighborhood. He found anotherpany to take him in, but the thugs in the area made rumors that he was a bully. So, he ended up being rejected by hisst resort. He didn''t have any parents or friends to hold onto, so in the end, he decided to end his life.


    Jun Hao sighed when he finished reading the kid''s life story. His story was simr to Jun Hao''s, but he was so young. He was only the same age as his sister. Why did his life end so quickly?


    [You are responsible for continuing his dream, host.]


    Jun Hao chuckled. As much as he pitied the teen, he did not want to be an idol. He already knew a lot about idols because of his sister, and he definitely did not want that life.


    "I won''t do it," he said. "Take me back to my world instead. My sister is waiting for me."


    [System declines. The host cannot reject the offer.]


    "I decline," he repeated. "Find another host to fulfill his dream."


    [System declines. The host has been finalized.]


    Jun Hao sighed and hesitated for a while. He peeked outside the window and saw apletely different world. It looked like he was far away from Shanghai. Instead, he''s in Seoul, South Korea! Even the street names were written in Korean. No way. He must be dreaming.


    He went in front of the dresser again and banged his head on the mirror, causing it to shatter into pieces. He had cuts all over his face, but he didn''t care.


    "Shit," he said. "That hurts. I''m not dreaming."


    [Everything is real, host. Let me show you something.]


    Just then, the projection shed another scene. It was his sister, and she wasughing with her peers. It seemed like she was in school with her friends, and they were watching thetest music video of their favorite group.


    [That is your sister right now, host. She had lost her memories since your death and is now living with a good family.]


    Jun Hao smiled as he gazed at her sister''s gleeful face. At least he now knows that she''s doing okay.


    [However, she will die if you don''t ept the mission.]


    "What?" Jun Hao eximed.


    [That is the consequence, host. Your sister will die when you decline, but will continue to live a happy life once you ept the mission.]


    "Mei Ling," he whispered. He cannot let his sister die. In the end, she was the only one he had left. "Will I be able to see my sister again?"


    [When you fulfill the mission, you will know. But for now, all I can promise is her safety.]


    [Do you ept the mission?]


    "Do you promise my sister a good life?"


    [The system promises. A contract had been signed.]


    Jun Hao sighed.


    "Then I ept."


    [Wise choice, host. For now, you are no longer Chen Jun Hao. You are June¡ªan aspiring idol.]

 Chapter 3: Zero Skills

    <h4>Chapter 3: Zero Skills</h4>


    [These are your stats, host. Every aspect is from the former Choi Joon-ho.]


    - Vocals: C+


    - Dance: D-


    - Visual: C


    - Rap: E-


    - Charm: E+


    June looked at the stats with wide eyes. How is he a trainee for six years but only has stats like this? It''s no wonder he didn''t debut. Even Bo Wen probably has better stats than this!


    [You should not talk about the dead like that, host.]


    June rolled his eyes. "How am I going to be an idol with stats like this? It''s impossible!"


    [Don''t worry, host. Your stats can always be improved. When youplete tasks and side-missions, you have the chance to upgrade your skills.]


    "Can I upgrade them now?"


    [These are your missions for the day:


    1. Give coffee to the old grandma downstairs.


    2. Sing a song without your voice cracking.


    3. Have someone call you "handsome."


    The missions will be reced with new ones when you aplish them.]


    June scoffed. These missions were easy! He decided to get the first one done so he could at least be decent in singing.


    He made coffee and went downstairs, knocking on the door. It didn''t take long before the door opened, but it wasn''t an old grandma who did. Instead, a small child looked up at him with wide eyes.


    "Where''s ya grandma, kid?"


    The child merely looked at him with horror before bursting into tears.


    "What? Why are you crying? Man up and tell me where your grandma is!"


    The little boy cried even harder, making June''s ears hurt. He clicked his tongue and kneeled down to his level. He tried to smile, but it came out as an intimidating grimace.


    "Show me your grandma."


    The little kid wailed and tipped the boiling cup of coffee toward June, causing the liquid to ssh over his chest and face.


    "Little demon!" he screamed as he wiped his face with his shirt. The door mmed close, and he was left with a burning face.


    [You need to wash your face, host. That can cause a scar.]


    June trudged upstairs in a sour mood. He thought he was going to get his skills upgraded, but the little boy ruined everything! It seemed like these missions were not as easy as he thought.


    He went to the bathroom to ssh his face with cold water and frowned when he saw how bad he looked. His face was red from the hot liquid, he had small scars from the broken mirror, and there was a forming bruise on his head because of his fall a while ago.


    He clicked his tongue and left the bathroom, determined to get his stats up. However, with his current appearance, he definitely won''t be able toplete the third mission. So, he decided to try out the second one.


    He brought out his phone and looked for a song. He yed Shining Light by the idol group IMMORTALS. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew a lot of idol music since Mei Ling would always st them in the living room. At this point, he knew about K-pop as much as his sister.


    Other than that, all he listened to was songs from the 1970s and Chinese rap songs. The thugs from his gang loved music like those.


    He closed his eyes and tried to sing. Jun Hao was actually quite a good singer when he was in his old body. It was his dream to be a singer when he was younger, and the nuns would always let him sing when they were still living in the orphanage.


    However, when he got older and became oriented to reality, he realized that being a singer was only for the rich. They had to train and wait until producers actually liked them before they could start making money. So, he let go of that dream and decided to be a thug.


    He closed his eyes and remembered how he used to sing when he was young.


    <i>"In the darkest night, a flicker caught my eye</i>


    <i>A shimmering glow, a spark that reached the sky</i>


    <i>A beacon of hope, a me that burned so bright</i>


    <i>I couldn''t turn away, it ignited something deep inside</i>


    <i>Through the trials and the tears, through the storm and the rain</i>


    <i>That light kept shining, it whispered my name</i>


    <i>And as I walked this path, uncertain and unsure</i>


    <i>I knew deep within, my dreams would endure</i>


    <i>You''re the shining light, guiding me through the night</i>


    <i>You''re the fire that burns, igniting my soul so bright</i>


    <i>In the face of doubt, I''ll spread my wings and fly</i>


    <i>For dreams never die, they reach beyond the sky"</i>


    June finished the song without any trouble. His voice was still shaky because of Joon-ho''s underdeveloped vocal cords, but his past skills came in handy. His voice did not crack, and he had a tone that was full of potential.


    As he opened his eyes, he saw the screen pop up in front of his face.


    [Congrattions! You have finished the second mission. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    June ced his hand under his chin and thought for a while. His voice had a lot of potential, and if he improved on this, he''d have a better chance of debuting.


    "Vocals," he said.


    [Nice choice!]


    [Vocals+1]


    [Current grade: B-]


    "Aren''t you going to rece the missions?" he asked the system.


    [The missions only reset once youplete the whole set. Please do your best toplete them, host. I wish you could improve before thepetition starts.]


    "Competition?" June asked, taken aback.


    [Why, yes! Did I forget to tell you?]


    "Yes!"


    [Silly me! Choi Joon-ho applied to join an idol survival show before he passed, and he had now been epted.]


    [You are now part of the popr show "Rising Stars!" The system wishes you luck.]

 Chapter 4: Rising Stars

    <h4>Chapter 4: Rising Stars</h4>


    "Rising Stars?"


    The TV automatically turned on, and a signal song yed, the small room resonating with a blissful piano. June remembered it to best year''s song. It seemed like this world was the same as the world he lived in. The host of the show was a familiar face, too.


    Kang Minho, the most popr young actor of the generation, stood at the very center of the stage. June knew about him since he''s also popr in China. Numerous bright lights illuminated his face, making him look deathly pale. The iconic 100 seats were behind him with numbers written in a glittery blue font.


    [Have you heard of this show, host?]


    Of course, June knew about "Rising Stars." It was a highly-popr idol show in Korea, with the first season birthing the most popr girl group¡ªGIRLS EVOLUTION. After the sess of the first season, they started making a boys'' season. That, too, became popr, with the group bing even more sessful than GIRLS EVOLUTION.


    They faced bacsh during their third season for exploiting the trainees and rigging the results. The birthed group from that season disbanded not even months after.


    How does June know all of this? It''s because his sister cried her eyes out when they were disbanding! Mei Ling had always been interested in these kinds of shows, so she became a fan of each and every one of the groups. She even begged Jun Hao to take her to theirst concerts.


    "Rising Stars" became the blueprint for all other idol shows in Korea. However, even with multiple showsing out with the same concept, "Rising Stars'''' continue to reign on top. This is mainly due to the TV station''s mischievous and witty editing. They''re the best at recruiting the most handsome and interesting trainees, too.


    So, despite their unsessful attempt at a third season, it seems like there are still a decent amount of people who are interested in watching a fourth season.


    Based on Joon-ho''s status window, he must have been epted to be the edy relief." The show knew that not everyone should be talented, and people like Joon-ho were needed to make the show more interesting.


    June focused his attention back on the TV as the signal song stopped ying.


    "100 boys. 100 dreams. But only 10 can make their dreamse true! Rising Stars is back with another season. So,dies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for an unforgettable experience! Get ready to be mesmerized by the incredible talent, amazed by the electrifying performances, and inspired by the sheer determination of these 100 boys. Together, let us witness the birth of the next generation of idol superstars! Wee to the stage, wee to the magic, wee to the ultimate idol survival show!" Minho said with vigor, the familiar piano piece escting.


    June can already imagine thements from the public.


    <i>- Rising stars is back again? I''m so excited! I hope more handsome trainees join this time.</i>


    <i>- Rising stars? That rigged show? Such a thick face they have for wanting to make another season!</i>


    <i>- Shut down Rising Stars! It''s a rigged show. Their favorites will debut anyway.</i>


    <i>- People are hating, but they''re going to watch it again.</i>


    <i>- I''m definitely going to be watching.</i>


    There were mixed reactionsing from the public. Some loved the idea of a new season, while others still remember the scandals that arose from the third one. One thing''s for sure, though¡ªit got the attention that it wanted.


    As soon as themercial aired, the topic rose to be the number 1 trend on Navel, thergest social media tform in the country.


    June didn''t want to join such apetition, but he couldn''t deny that this was one of his best ways to debut. Then, he can give Mei Ling a good life and possibly get his old life back. He couldn''t wait to find out who his boss really was and give him a taste of his own medicine.


    As themercial ended, June saw the first airing date¡ªJuly 24, 2023.


    He sighed in relief. It''s still one year from now! Howe they''re in such a rush for promotions?


    [It''s next month, host.]


    His eyes widened in surprise. He looked at the old phone in his hands and saw that it was indeed 2023 already.


    Then, does that mean that one year had already passed since his death?


    [That''s right, host.]


    [The preliminary interviews will be taking ce soon. Make a good impression so they don''t rece you, okay?]


    "How soon are we talking?"


    [Tomorrow.]


    "What?" June eximed. "Tomorrow? I don''t have any skills yet! And have you forgotten that I look like this?" he gestured to his botched face. His injuries made him look scary, and he was sure he would be eliminated even when the show hadn''t started.


    [Oh, goodness. I almost forgot, host. Let me use one of my potions really quickly.]


    June watched himself in the mirror and waited for the magic to happen.


    [System error. Potion had run out.]


    [System error. Recharge healing potion.]


    "Well?" June asked. "You''re taking such a long time."


    [Pardon me, host. It seemed like I ran out of the healing potion. I still need to recharge.]


    "Then recharge. You have until tomorrow."


    [...]


    [That''s the problem. I''ll only be able to recharge when your skills are at least a D. So until then, you''re going to look like this.]


    June massaged his temples. He looked at his face once more before pacing back and forth. He''s already not the most handsome, but now, he had to enter apetition with plenty of facial injuries?


    He kept pacing back and forth until he stumbled upon a soft yet sturdy material. He stopped pacing and saw a cute cat mask on the ground. He frowned and picked it up. It was pink with sparkly details. It looked like something Mei Ling would like. Why would Joon-ho have something like this?


    He was about to throw it in the trash can when he thought of a brilliant idea. He ced the mask on his face. It was a perfect fit.


    He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled when his injuries were finally covered. It also made him appear more handsome since Joon-ho''s eyes were the most charismatic part of his face.


    "Alright, let''s go with this concept," he decided.


    If his wounds couldn''t be healed on time, then he just had to wear the mask until they were all gone.

 Chapter 5: Pink Cat

    <h4>Chapter 5: Pink Cat</h4>


    June sat in the waiting area, his face covered with a bright pink cat mask. Fortunately, he was thest one to be interviewed, so only one person was in the waiting area with him.


    The young teen, probably even younger than the former Joon-ho, looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes. June nced at him and raised his eyebrows when he saw his amazed face.


    "What ya looking at?" he asked, his Chinese ent barely noticeable since he was fluent in Korean. However, his "thug" ent was more evident.


    The teen immediately turned around and scooted away, his ears bright pink from fright and embarrassment.


    [You have to speak kinder than that, host. You sounded like your old self just now.]


    June clicked his tongue.


    "What do you want me to do, Fu? Old habits die hard."


    The teen was once again startled when June started speaking to himself.


    This mister¡ªis he insane?


    Minx, a young boy born in 2006 with big dreams of bing an idol, was questioning why Azure, the TV station responsible for Rising Stars, cast such a person. He knew that Azure wanted to make the show entertaining, but he didn''t think they''d cast a crazy individual!


    Minx didn''t realize that he was staring at the crazy man once again.


    "Do ya have a problem with me, huh?" the man asked, his voice soft yet holding a deep sense of maturity. He must be older than him by a lot.


    "Nothing," Minx nervously chuckled. "Your handsome mask is just fascinating, brother."


    "Trainee Minx, it''s your turn to be interviewed."


    Thankfully, Minx was called for the interview. He stood up from his seat and nearly bolted toward the interview room.


    Atst, June was alone. He was about to tell that kid off for staring at him too much, but he was damn happy by what he said.


    [Congrattions! You have seeded on a mission: Have someone call you "handsome."]


    Now, all of the three missions have been aplished. He still struggled with giving that old woman her coffee, but after watering her nts and cleaning her house, he was finally able to aplish the mission.


    [The set of missions is now being reset. These are your new missions:


    1. Get 100 fans


    2. Trend on a social media app


    3. Make a new friend]


    "What the hell? Why did the difficulty increase so much more?" he clicked his tongue. However, Fu ignored him.


    [You may now pick an aspect to improve.]


    "Vocals," June said without any hesitation. He upgraded that one when he finished the "coffee" mission, too. He definitely needed to master one skill before thepetition started.


    [Vocals+1]


    [Current grade: B+]


    That''s good. He thinks he''d at least be a decent singer when thepetition starts.


    After a while, the young kid finally finished his interview, and it was now time for June to go in. The intern responsible for calling the trainees stopped in her tracks when she saw one man wearing a cat mask in the waiting room.


    She sighed and shook her head. ''They definitely recruited more weirdos this season. I don''t get paid enough to deal with people like this.''


    "Trainee June, it''s your turn."


    June stood up from his seat and walked to the interview room. The interviewers were all tired after a long day of interviewing trainees. Yena was on her third cup of coffee while Yejin could barely keep her eyes open. Even the cameramen yawned.


    Good thing it was thest trainee.


    "Let''s make this as quick as possible," Yena said, downing the rest of her coffee.


    "June, huh? Like the month?" Yejin asked, going through thest trainee''s folder.


    "I think so," Yena said. "But what''s with his picture? Why is it ck and white and blurred?" she squinted her eyes to make out the young man''s features.


    Yejin shrugged her shoulders. "I don''t know. He''s an independent trainee, and his audition tape also looked like it was filmed with a potato. We needed a filler for the 100th spot, so the team recruited him."


    "Ah, whatever," Yena said. "We''re going to see him today anyway."


    They waited, bored out of their minds, for June to arrive. Yena wanted to see what he looked like since his picture and audition tape were both blurry.


    Her tired eyes scanned the room. She couldn''t wait to go home tonight. However, her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw Junee in.


    Yejin, too, sat up straight as a pink cat sat down in front of them.


    "What''s up? I''m June."

 Chapter 6: Masked Idol

    <h4>Chapter 6: Masked Idol</h4>


    Yena couldn''t believe her eyes. She met some interesting people during the interviews¡ªone with hyperflexible joints, one who could dance with fire, and even one who could swallow a whole egg!


    But nothinges close to the young man in front of her.


    June looked at the crew and repeated his introduction. "What''s up? I''m June! Do ya have some questions for me?"


    Yena snapped out of her thoughts. "Ah, right. Choi Joon-ho, right?"


    He nodded his head. "But I go by June now. Please refer to me by that name."


    "Alright," she cleared her throat. "June. Born in 2002. Your position is vocal?"


    "Correct."


    "But you danced on your audition tape," Yejin noted. Quite badly, too. He looked like he just learned how to dance but was busting out the mostplicated moves. It was a funny video. It''s probably why he was recruited.


    "I''ve improved my vocals since then. Do you want me to sing?"


    Yena shook her head. "Save your talent for the show. Instead, may we ask what your special charms are?"


    June pursed his lips together. He never got this far. His charms? He stabs well, punches well, and shoots guns well. Oh, he''s good at throwing heavy objects too. But he couldn''t say that, could he?


    "I''m¡­good at making coffee," he said, remembering how he made coffee for the old grandma downstairs.


    "Oh," Yejin said, a bit surprised. His hobby seemed a bit tamepared to his look. "Then, is being an idol your dream? Or were your parents against it?"


    June''s mind clicked. He knew what kind of scenes the two women were aiming for. It was the time of the episode when the trainees'' struggles were shown. Usually, the saddest stories would be aired, and even unpopr trainees had the chance to pull the heartstrings of the watchers.


    As much as he wanted to exploit this moment, he didn''t want anyone pitying him for his past. Besides, it wasn''t a wise choice to be popr because of that image. The poprity will run out quickly and will be forgotten by the watchers.


    "Everything''s good," he said. "It''s been my dream to be an idol ever since I was young," he gave out generic answers.


    Yejin shook her head, disappointed by his answer. "Then, can you exin this?" she asked, gesturing to his face.


    The crew members listened attentively. Was it a gimmick? They didn''t know if they could ept such a person into thepetition. They''d only be aughing stock!


    "Cats are my favorite," he said.


    "That''s it?" Yena asked. "That''s the reason why you''re wearing a mask?"


    "And I''m still not ready to show my face," June added. "My confidence isn''t that good."


    "Oh," Yejin eximed. "Why is that?"


    "I''m ufortable talking about it," he said. "But I want the watchers to realize my talent without even seeing my face. I can prove to them that I can make it far with my talents and charms alone."


    June was bluffing. He was practically talentless, and he didn''t have any idol-like charms! If this was a show for gangsters, then he would have nailed it. He might even end up cing first!


    Yejin and Yena were impressed by his answer.


    "But do you have any ns of showing your face?"


    "Hmm," June hummed. Well, he never intended to join the show with a mask anyway. And he''d eventually need to show his face if he wanted to debut.


    "Yes, I do," he said. "It might not be now. It might not even be for the first episode, but I do n on showing my face. I think it can bring good ratings to the show. A lot of people are fans of grand reveals, am I right?"


    Yena''s and Yejin''s eyes sparkled in delight.


    A masked idol with an impending reveal? This was genius!


    If he was handsome, then it''d bring more fans. If he was ugly, then it''d bring more attention to the show! It was a win-win situation. Yena was hesitant to ept him into the show, but now she''spletely convinced.


    June is going to be a great addition to the show. The other crew members agreed, and they stamped his application as "approved."


    "Congrattions, Trainee June," Yejin said. "You are now officially a part of Rising Stars! The first episode will be filmed in three days. Make sure to prepare your specialties ahead of time. We look forward to seeing you in the audition!"

 Chapter 7: Upgraded Skills

    <h4>Chapter 7: Upgraded Skills</h4>


    [1. Get 100 fans


    2. Trend on a social media app


    3. Make a new friend]


    June stared at his mission list and tapped his foot on the ground. Only two days were left until the audition, and he still didn''t know what to do. He wanted to upgrade his skills in the meantime, but his first three missions were more difficult than he thought.


    He can''t possibly get 100 fans overnight, and he also can''t get to the Navel trends without any reason. So, he had to settle with thest one¡ªMake a new friend.


    However, that, too, is a hard mission since June''s not a very friendly person. As a thug, he made enemies. And the people in this neighborhood are downright crazy.


    He sighed and plopped down on the couch, not knowing what to do. Aside from that, he also hasn''t practiced for his audition stage yet. Heck, he doesn''t even have a song picked out! June was sure that the other contestants, especially those with big entertainmentpanies behind their backs, were now in the process of getting their stage polished.


    It was pretty obvious when the first season of Rising Stars first aired. The very few independent trainees had a less extravagant stage on the show. So, their screen time was also lesser. Meanwhile, idols from bigpanies had nice stage outfits and nicely-produced songs, garnering them more fans at the start of the show.


    "Let''s settle this," June said, opening his phone to look through some new songs.


    "Labyrinth of Time" by CHRONO. Too high.


    "Elysian Embrace" by ETHEREAL. Too low.


    "Celestial Waltz" by ASTRAL. Too slow.


    "Twilight Reverie" by LUNA. Too dancy. June can''t dance well.


    He groaned and leaned back against his old couch. Why are idol songs soplicated these days? Everyone''sing out with bizarre concepts because of the market saturation.


    He decided to sleep it off and pull ast-minute decision, but his rest was interrupted when someone rang the doorbell. He groaned and got up from the couch, ready to curse out whoever interrupted his sleep.


    "What the hell¡ª"


    "Take care of my grandson. I have somewhere to go," the old grandma from downstairs said, pushing the little boy inside his house. "I''lle back in the afternoon."


    And just like that, she bolted from June''s sight.


    "Hey, grandma!" he tried to call out. "I can''t babysit this kid for free!"


    Grandma was already out of sight. June wondered how she could move so fast when she already had weak joints.


    He had no choice but to close the door and take the kid in. He looked into his nted eyes and frowned. It was the same kid that sshed coffee on his face!


    He still hasn''t recovered until now since Fu''s stupid healing potion still hasn''t been refilled.


    "You''re ugly," the kid said, causing June to resent him even more.


    "Speak for yourself, kid. Just wait until you grow older."


    The kid rolled his eyes and sat down on his couch. "Give me your phone. I want to watch something."


    June raised his eyebrows. This kid had a lot of nerve.


    "What''s your name, kid?"


    "Minjun," he snapped. "Now, give me your phone."


    June shook his head. "No way, Minjun. Sit there and wait for your grandma."


    Minjun''s jaw clenched, and then he started crying loudly. June immediately covered his ears. However, it was futile as his tiny wails resonated in the small room.


    "Stop crying, kid! What the hell do you want?"


    Minjun pointed at the phone. "I can cry for hours if you want."


    Minjun opened his mouth to cry once again, but June had enough at this point. He tossed his phone in defeat.


    "Nasty kid," he spat.


    "Ew," Minjun said. "What''s this? Your phone''s so old. Even my grandma has a better model."


    June rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just stay quiet."


    June watched as Minjun opened his phone and went to a video streaming tform. He scrolled through multiple streamers until hended on a young teenage girl singing songs about¡­dinosaurs?


    "Is this what kids like these days?" June asked.


    Minjun nodded his head. "All of my ssmates love watching this girl. If you want to be cool, then you''d have to know who Little Meow Meow is!" he smiled. It was the very first time he smiled at June.


    And aside from being the spawn of Satan himself, Minjun looked pretty cute when he smiled.


    The teenage girl dressed in all yellow sang an easy tune. The lyrics were perfect for kids, and the dance was easy to follow. That''s why it must be so popr. June looked at her viewers and saw that a whopping two million people were tuning in.


    "Holy shit," he cursed.


    Minjun red at him. "I''ll tell you to my grandma."


    June clicked his tongue. "Give me that," he said, snatching his phone and observing the teenage girl.


    "Hmm," June hummed, suddenly thinking of a great idea.


    Minjun smirked as he looked at the engrossed June. "She''s good, right? I can tell you more about her most famous songs. I know all of them. I know all of the dances too."


    June averted his focus from the phone to Minjun. "Alright, teach me," he said.


    Minjun nodded his head, getting June''s phone once again. "This is my favorite one¡ªABC Hip-Hop."


    The two of them conversed about the popr streamer Little Meow Meow, and June thought that the kid wasn''t as bad as he thought. Moments passed by like rapid lightning, and before they even knew it, Minjun''s grandma was there to pick him up.


    "Min! Let''s go home," she said. Minjun reluctantly got up and walked to his grandma. He didn''t want to show June that he was quite disappointed about leaving, so he stuck his tongue out before mming his door shut.


    June scoffed and shook his head.


    That kid, really.


    [Congrattions! You havepleted the mission: Make a new friend. Please choose an aspect to improve.]

 Chapter 8: 100 boys

    <h4>Chapter 8: 100 boys</h4>


    Today marked the day when the 100 boys finally shot the first episode of "Rising Stars." ck vans with tinted windows drove through the driveway of therge venue, dropping off their precious trainees. Smallerpanies had smaller cars, but at least they still had managers and trainers.


    June had no choice but to take the bus since he was broke and had no money to pay for a taxi. He was already in his stage outfit¡ªa simple ck shirt, leather jacket, ripped jeans, and rubber shoes. His ck outfit became the nk canvas for his pink cat mask.


    The people whispered as they looked at June.


    <i>Is he a cosyer? Or a busker? Or maybe he''s part of a kid''s show?</i>


    The kids all looked at him with wonder, and he was even approached by a little girl who tugged on his sleeve.


    "What ya want?" he asked.


    The little girl''s eyes sparkled when the pink cat talked. She hugged his thighs, not nning to let go. He saw phone cameras being whipped out, directing them toward the scene. He sighed and let the girl be. June was sure she was going to get tired at one point.


    On the other hand, trainees started walking inside the venue. They were given separate waiting rooms, proving Azure''s wealth and power. The waiting rooms were filled with excitement and nervous energy. The trainees practiced while waiting for their turn toe in.


    Even here, the favoritism couldn''t be hidden. Bigpanies were given muchrger rooms, while smaller, unknownpanies barely had room to practice.


    The independent trainees, which consisted of only four people, had a small hallway-like room. The three of them were going to perform a song together, so they were practicing in the small space. June entered the room, causing the three to halt.


    They focused their attention on the guy with a pink cat mask. They were surprised, wondering if Azure was pranking them.


    "Umm, hello?" Jiyong, a short guy with thick eyebrows, asked. He was handsome but not idol material.


    June nodded in acknowledgment and sat on one of the seats.


    The three trainees still felt awkward around him.


    "Are you June? The other independent trainee?" Xin, a pale, thin guy with small eyes, asked.


    June nodded his head, still not talking.


    Hoon clicked his tongue. He already didn''t like this brother''s attitude. "Well, we''re going to practice. Don''t bother us," he said.


    "Weird guy," he told the two other trainees. They nodded their heads in agreement.


    On the other hand, June closed his eyes and decided to sleep. He stayed up all night to practice since he only got to decide his song after Minjun went to his apartment.


    He only opened his eyes when he heard amotion inside the room. The TV in the small room was turned on, and the first set of trainees starteding in.


    A breathtaking spectacle unfolded before the boys'' eyes. The stage for the "Rising Stars"petition showed a dazzling disy of brilliance and modernization. It was a magnificent fusion of cutting-edge technology and artistic craftsmanship.


    The vast stage stretched across the entire hall, adorned with towering LED screens that form a mesmerizing backdrop of ever-changing visuals. The screens came alive with vibrant colors and pulsating graphics, immersing the contestants in a world of endless possibilities.


    Multiple tiers were strategically ced on the stage, creating dynamic levels for the boys to perform their talents. The stage''s centerpiece is a colossal crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, casting a soft and ethereal glow over the entire space. One hundred seats were ced on varying tforms, with the top ten seats in the middle, the light slightly brighter on these seats. June was sure the trainees would scramble to get to the middle for more screen time.


    Three trainees walked in, wearing boyish school outfits. They watched as the lights turned on one by one, their mouth agape and their reactions a bit exaggerated.


    "Woah!" a guy with the name tag "Zachary" eximed loudly. He seemed to be mixed, and his blonde hair looked natural. "This is crazy!"


    "I can''t believe we get to see this first," a shy-looking guy named Bin said softly.


    June recognized thest trainee to be the young guy who called him "handsome" during the preliminary interviews.


    The three immediately reached the top ten seats, sitting on numbers five, six, and seven, respectively. June thought right. He was sure the seats would be filled up before their turn. June also wanted to sit on one of those seats. Not because he wanted to be noticed right away but because it looked morefortable. It was padded, unlike the hard stic seats of the 11th-100th seat.


    Independent trainees were usually shown near the end before all the biggerpanies and most handsome trainees were revealed.


    One by one, group by group, the traineese in. June was getting sleepy amidst all of it.


    The double doors swung open, and the next contestant, Daeho, stepped into the hall. Unlike the other trainees, this guy exuded confidence, his sharp features and wless smile turning heads. He walked with purpose, aware of the attention he garnered. He''s definitely going to be one of the fan favorites.


    He walked toward the first seat without any hesitation, sitting down confidently.


    The trainees in the hall looked at him with admiration and envy, wanting to sit on the first-ce seat too.


    "Independent trainees. You''re up next," the female intern went in. She saw the familiar pink cat and halted for a while. She couldn''t believe Yena and Yejin had actually epted such a trainee.


    The three other trainees went to the front, feeling excited. They wanted to intimidate the trainees right away. June, on the other hand, stood at the back, waiting to enter the hall.


    There was one advantage to his mask, too. He didn''t have to manage his facial expression since it was covered.


    The word "Independent Trainees" were shown on the giant LED screen, and the other trainees eximed in awe.


    "Woah, so cool. Our independent brothers."


    "Independent trainees don''t belong inpanies. They had a harder time getting here."


    "Oh, quite handsome, eh? But I''m more handsome."


    The room buzzed with multiplements. June knew that independent trainees were popr among the contestants. Still, it was harder to capture the attention of the general public.


    After the three boys, June entered through the double doors and scanned the crowd. He tuned out theirments and tried to find a nearby seat.


    "What is that? Why does one of the trainees have a pink cat mask?"

 Chapter 9: Side Quest

    <h4>Chapter 9: Side Quest</h4>


    June created chaos as he entered. It was the very first in the history of the show where a trainee didn''t show his face. Much less, wear something so cute and feminine. Almost everyone was curious about his identity, and the three other independent trainees were quickly forgotten.


    June ignored their whispers and walked to the closest seat.


    Number 91.


    He picked that seat since nobody else was sitting in the row.


    Trainees continued pouring in, yet nobody could top June''s first impression. However, his entrance was inevitably forgotten when the trainees from bigpanies started pouring in.


    StarMuse.


    Five trainees came in wearing suits. Right off the bat, they were already on a different spectrum from the other trainees. Their image screamed "all-rounders."


    DragonFire.


    Seven trainees wearing in white button-ups entered the venue. They were tall and had model-like charms. It looked like they were good at dancing too. One particr trainee, Leo, stood out from them all. June knew that he had participated in thest season. He was one of the trainees who were supposed to make it but was reced by a trainee from a biggerpany who paid for his spot.


    Phoenix.


    It was thepany that Choi Joon-ho used to train in. It''s a wonder how he got into a famouspany when he had the skills of a mediocre man.


    [You''re questioning the dead again, host.]


    ''Oh, shut up, Fu. I''m just telling the truth.''


    Two trainees came in¡ªAlex and Hyunwoo. June didn''t recognize these people, but maybe the former Joon-ho could. They looked talented, yet they also felt like troublemakers.


    Harmony.


    A tall, handsome-looking, shy boy came in. He appeared to be the same age as June, but he looked quite clumsy despite his handsome image. Well, Harmony is a rtively newpany. Still, they have produced some good solo artists in the past few years, which earned them the image of a goodpany.


    The timid trainee sat beside June.


    "Hello, brother," he shyly said. "My name is Jisung, but you can call me Ji. What''s your name?"


    June merely pointed at his nametag.


    "Ah, June! Like the month? I was born in June."


    "That''s good," June said, wanting to finish their conversation quickly.


    "Oh, you have a good voice, brother. You must be good at singing."


    June nodded his head. "You look handsome," heplimented.


    The shy boy beamed, instantly liking the mysterious trainee with a pink cat mask.


    Only twenty more trainees and the room will be filled. More trainees poured in, and Jisung continued talking beside him. For someone who looked shy, he for sure talked a lot with June.


    "Oh! It''s Prism Entertainment. Someone from theirpany always makes it to the final line-up. I wonder who it will be this time."


    Four trainees came in. Like the other trainees from bigpanies, they, too, were very handsome.


    Jisung gasped. "It''s Casper!" he eximed.


    June nced at Jisung. "You know these guys?"


    "Of course!" he said. "Trainees from bigpanies already have content posted on YouTube and other tforms. I watched some of their videos, and they''re really good."


    June nodded his head. He was familiar with idols who had already debuted, but he didn''t know that trainees could have fans too.


    Crystal Entertainment.


    Three guys came in this time, and all the other trainees stood up. June was confused about why they were all standing up, but then he recognized the faces of the people in the group. These trainees have already debuted. Specifically, they were once the idol group RAVEN.


    They debuted in 2020 but didn''t be popr in Korea. Instead, they made it big in Western countries. However, that wasn''t enough to sustain their career, as they disbanded one yearter. Now, they came back as an iplete group topete in Rising Stars.


    "Our seniors," Jisung looked at them with sparkling eyes. "I''ve always liked their music."


    Jaeyong, the leader of Raven, scanned the room andnded on the three empty seats beside Jisung.


    Jisung froze when the group started walking toward them.


    "What do we do? Do we greet them? Do we bow?" he frantically asked.


    "Rx," June told him. "Just sit down."


    He pulled Jisung to sit down while RAVEN settled on their seats. At that point, Jisung stayed silent for fear of disturbing the senior group.


    June nced around him and saw only two seats left¡ª31 and 32. At that point, he could only think of onepany.


    Top Star.


    Like the name, they were the biggest entertainmentpany in Korea. Almost all of their groups are famous both domestically and in the West. Two trainees came in, earning a warm and amazed reaction from the trainees.


    Jisung leaned closer to him. "They sent Ren and Zeth. Top Star is really a different ss."


    "Why?" June asked. "Are they good?"


    "More than good," Jisung whispered. "They''re the best of the best among these trainees."


    June sighed. He knew that talented trainees would make their way to thispetition. However, he wanted to know specifically who he was going against.


    If only he could see their status window like he could see his.


    Just then, a holographic disy was shown in front of him. At first, he thought it was one of the LED screens from the show, but when he looked around and saw that no one had noticed, he instantly knew that it was Fu.


    ''You decided to show up now?'' he asked in his mind.


    [This is your first side quest. It''s called "Status Prophet." See other people''s status windows! Do you want to take up this mission?]


    ''Well, what is the mission?''


    [You may only know when you ept. Do you ept this side quest?]


    June shrugged his shoulders. Seeing other people''s status windows would make it easier for him to know who to avoid and who to team up with.


    ''I ept.''


    [Wise choice. Your side quest is entitled: Heart of Gold.


    Comfort a friend. Make use of your touching words to build someone''s confidence!


    Side quest deadline: 2 hours


    Failure to aplish the side quest will result in skill deterioration. One aspect will be downgraded by one level.]


    ''What? You never told me about any of this?''


    [Good luck, host. Your timer starts now!]

 Chapter 10: Men and Mentors

    <h4>Chapter 10: Men and Mentors</h4>


    Fu is the spawn of satan. That''s confirmed.


    How was June supposed to aplish the side quest when the auditions were finally starting?


    Just then, extravagant music started ying. A state-of-the-art sound system enveloped the hall, ensuring crystal-clear audio that resonates deep within the four walls. Lights focused on the middle of the stage,manding the attention of the trainees.


    Kim Minho walked out of the double doors. His aura was unbeatable by anyone in the room. He practically shone on stage, and his experience was evident in how he walked.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to the first episode of Rising Stars. Today, we have 100 talented young men ready to showcase their abilities andpete for the chance to be the next idol sensation! Who''s your lucky boy?" Minho stated, and the trainees erupted into apuse and cheers.


    "Before we get to the auditions, let me introduce you to our mentors for the season."


    Everyone waited in anticipation. The first two mentors slowly opened the door, revealing themselves to the trainees.


    "Our vocal mentors: Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Woo-jin!"


    A tall woman with voluptuous curves entered the hall. Kim Ji-hyun is a multi-talented singer and actress known for her versatility and captivating performances. She started her career as a child actress but got recognition for her musical performances.


    On the other hand, Lee Woo-jin is a talented singer-songwriter known for his soulful voice and emotional lyrics. He began his musical journey as a street performer and gradually gained attention for his unique style and captivating performances.


    The two of them looked quite intimidating, and the trainees who were more focused on dance became nervous.


    "Good day, trainees," Ji-hyun said. "Today marks the start of your journey as idol trainees. I am quite pleased to see such handsome trainees."


    She scanned the room and smiled at the young men. However, she stopped when a pink creature came into her view.


    "Is that a trainee?" she whispered to her co-mentor, Woo-jin. Woo-jin narrowed his eyes and frowned.


    "I think so? Is that a concept?" he asked.


    "I don''t even know," she said. "Kids are getting weirder these days."


    The two of them went to their seats and waited for the other mentors to be announced.


    "Our dance mentors: Hyerin and Gun!"


    The trainees cheered at the mention of the famous mentors. Hyerin is a renowned K-pop idol. She''s part of the idol group LUNA, one of the most famous groups in South Korea. She debuted at a young age and quickly rose to fame with her exceptional dance skills and charismatic stage presence.


    Gun is one of the most famous K-pop choreographers of the current generation. He has choreographed dances for multiple idol groups, and most of his dances are iconic in the industry.


    Jisung''s eyes practically sparkled as he looked at the two dancers. He held onto June''s arm and squeezed them tight.


    "I can''t believe this," he whispered. "Can you pinch me?"


    Without any hesitation, June pinched his tricep. Jisung covered his mouth to muffle his scream.


    "Brother, you''re really strong," he said, still in pain. "Even if your body looks quite delicate."


    June clicked his tongue. This kid should have seen him when he was still a thug!


    "Our rap mentor: Bone!"


    A charismatic man with long hair and tattoos appeared. Out of the mentors, he was the only person that June didn''t know. Well, he was never a fan of Korean rap, and Mei Ling never talked about it, either. The other trainees seemed to love him, though.


    "Andstly, let me introduce myself. I am Kang Minho, your host and charm mentor for Rising Stars season four!"


    "In this audition, you will be ranked with stars. There will be five tiers: 5 stars, 4 stars, 3 stars, 2 stars, and 0 stars. The stars on your shirt only correspond to what you believe in. However, today, we''re going to rate you based on your actual skills," Minho said.


    June looked down at his nametag and saw that he didn''t have any stars. Not even a single one. He then looked at Jisung and saw he had two stars on his nametag. He looked around the room and saw trainees with even more than five stars on theirs!


    "Where''s your star, brother?" Jisung asked.


    "Nobody told me where the stars are," June said. It was true! The past seasons had letter systems. It started from A to F. This was the very first time they applied this rule.


    Jisung chuckled. "You''re quite cute."


    June red at him through the mask, so Jisung raised his hands in surrender. Brother June''s eyes looked quite sharp when he was ring.


    Kang Minho sat down, so the other trainees followed.


    Jisung was still giddy next to June, looking at the Judge''s head with a delightful smile. The two of them were quite close to the judges since they sat at the 91st and 92nd seats.


    "Are you performing alone, June?" Jisung asked.


    June nodded his head. "How about ya?"


    "I''m performing alone, too," he said. "I''m quite nervous about it. I wish I don''t perform first."


    Yena, the show''s main director, went to the front and brought out her cue cards.


    "Trainees, the order has been determined," she said.


    The trainees'' hearts started beating in their chests, hoping not to be the sacrificialmb. They still didn''t know the judges'' standards, so being the first one meant you were going in blind.


    There were only some trainees who didn''t mind going first. One was the talented and popr trainees from the bigpanies, and the other was June. The editors will edit as they see fit anyway. It doesn''t matter what the order would be.


    "The first trainee will be Song Jisung!"


    The other trainees nced at him with pity. Jisung wanted to cry. That was his biggest nightmare. He didn''t want to go first!


    "The auditions will start in thirty minutes. Trainee Jisung, please prepare and go backstage."


    Jisung turned to June, his hands shaking as he took his hands.


    "Brother," he said. "I''m nervous."


    Just then, a light bulb switched inside June''s mind.


    Maybe he couldplete his side quest after all.

 Chapter 11: Stars and Status Windows

    <h4>Chapter 11: Stars and Status Windows</h4>


    "How long have you been a trainee?"


    "Less than two years," Jisung said.


    June nodded his head. That exins why he''s still quite nervous. Two years usually isn''t enough to build a trainee''s confidence.


    June still remembers when he was still two years in on being a thug. He was always tasked with making coffee, mixing alcohol, and cleaning the other gang member''s feet. However, one day, Bo Wen asked him to shoot a gun. He was scared out of his own wits!


    Then, this old member approached him and said some inspiring words.


    "Jisung," he said, channeling the old gang member''s words. He retired a yearter and is probably dead by now. So, it probably wouldn''t be too bad to say his words, right?


    "Let me tell you a little secret," he said, coaxing Jisung to lean in. Jisung, still nervous, leaned in.


    "Nobody really cares about your anxiety except you. They only care about the results here. So, it''s time to p those jitters in the face and show them who''s boss. I want you to strut on stage like a peacock with a Ph.D. in shooting a gun," June said.


    "Trainee Jisung, it''s time for you to go backstage," a PD said, interrupting their conversation.


    June forgot to change thest statement. It should have been a "Ph.D. in performing," but he was too engrossed in the role that he forgot.


    He shrugged his shoulders. It should have worked, right?


    He looked at his status window and saw the timer still ticking.


    [Side quest deadline: 1 hour, 25 minutes]


    June clicked his tongue. It worked for him back then! He was able to hit the target in the center even though he was a newbie.


    Ah, whatever. He can just deduct some of his rap skills. It was non-existent in the first ce, anyway.


    After a few more minutes, Jisung came to the stage, still appearing quite nervous. He continuously shook his hands, and his feet were practically glued together.


    "Please introduce yourself," Minho said.


    Jisung cleared his throat. "Good day, mentors and trainees. My name is Song Jisung, 20 years old under Harmony Entertainment."


    His face was shown on screen, and hums of approval were heard around the room.


    "He''s a handsome trainee."


    "Ah, I''m jealous. My parents should have done a better job."


    "Why wasn''t I born with that kind of face?"


    June can resonate with what they''re saying. This kid is blessed with good looks.


    However, having good looks wasn''t a foreign concept to him at all. As Jun Hao, he was hailed the most handsome in his gang! He looked like a rugged man, though, and the beauty standard in the idol industry is more delicate and flowery.


    Choi Joon-ho actually has a lot of potential to be even more handsome. However, he had incurred many scars from his past fights with the hoodlums in his neighborhood. It seemed like he didn''t take care of himself well, too. His skin was blemished, his hair dry, and his eyes quite sunken fromck of sleep.


    "Whenever you''re ready, Jisung," Jihyun said.


    Nervousness filled the hall once more. Everything felt more real. It was really the time for them to show the judges what they had worked hard on for the past weeks or even months. In June''s case, two days.


    Music started ying, and Jisung became apletely different person. There was still a hint of shyness in his movements, but barely noticeable to the amateur eye. His voice was a bit shaky, but it was outshined by his dance.


    Dancing seemed to be his specialty. With every step, the floor beneath him ignites as if it were not merely a stage but a zing inferno of passion. His movements were fluid, a seamless fusion of strength and grace. Each extension of his limbs told a story, expressing emotions that words alone could never capture.


    As the stage ended, the trainees erupted into apuse. The next trainees became even more nervous. Jisung had set the standard so high!


    "Hmm, not bad," Minho said. "You''re trained in dance, I presume."


    Jisung nodded his head, still catching his breath.


    "Give us a moment to discuss."


    The judges gathered around and started discussing his skills.


    "This kid is quite good at dancing," Gun said. "I can give him five stars for that aspect."


    "Me too," Hyerin agreed.


    "His voice is a bit underdeveloped," Woo-jin contraindicated. "I''d say he''s two stars in vocals. I can''t give more than that."


    Jihyun nodded her head. "Trainees these days are quite good at dancing. He''s better than the average idol, but I don''t think he can handle the vocal training in the five stars ss."


    As the judges discussed, a status window appeared before June''s eyes.


    [Congrattions, host! You have seeded in the mission: Heart of Gold.]


    [You may now see other trainees'' status windows when they are on stage.]


    June snapped his eyes on Jisung and saw a holographic screen above his head.


    [Song Jisung:


    Dance: A


    Visual: A


    Vocal: C-


    Rap: C


    Charm: B]


    Okay, this kid is more talented than he''d imagined. He has two A''s and a B! However, judging from the judge''s long deliberation, they must be discussing his vocals and confidence issues.


    With that, June concluded that he would at least be three stars.


    "Trainee Song Jisung, you have three stars," Kang Minho said.

 Chapter 12: Talent-less

    <h4>Chapter 12: Talent-less</h4>


    The trainees eximed in surprise.


    "Three stars? He''s better than I am! How many will I get, then?"


    "Their judging criteria are much stricter than I thought."


    "I''m scared, brother. I think I won''t get a single star."


    "Three stars? It should be at least four stars for him. He dances so well!"


    June expected this kind of evaluation. He doesn''t know whether the other trainees had watched the previous seasons, but it''s only expected that their criteria would be much stricter as time passed by. The K-pop industry is already so saturated with idols who can sing, dance, and rap well. They needed something special.


    Besides, it was just the first audition. There are still lots of time to catch up. It''s also not a guarantee that trainees with five stars will be able to debut. What''s important is getting the most screen time. Even a trainee with zero stars can debut if he is favored by the editors.


    After Jisung, the performances were quite mediocre. They mostly got two stars or stars. Their judging criteria also became stricter as the performances went on. More than ten performances had already been done, but no one got five stars yet.


    Just then, therge LED screen shed the word "StarMuse." The apuse for their entrance was different from the other trainees. They were the second bigpany to perform on stage after Harmony.


    Jisung leaned on his knees to get a better look at their performance.


    "Ah, StarMuse," Hyerin said. "My agency. I''m looking forward to your performance. Don''t let me down."


    "I hope we get an A this time," Woo-jin said to his co-mentors.


    The music started, a strong guitar-opening rattling the trainees. The five boys moved in a synchronized manner, showing off how much they had practiced. They seemed to be a group that had already debuted!


    "What song is this?"


    "I''ve never heard it before."


    June narrowed his eyes and listened to the music. It''s a song he was not familiar with. It may have been from a group that Mei Ling did not listen to.


    Or perhaps¡­an original?


    Trainee Yuri sang the first lines, showing off his unique vocal texture and prowess. June nodded in approval. This trainee is the best out of the singers so far. He also has a B grade in vocals. The mentors were also surprised by his vocal techniques.


    "In a world where walls divide,


    We''ll shatter them, side by side.


    A melody of unity we''ll sing,


    Breaking barriers, we''ll spread our wings.


    No more limits, no more bounds,


    Together we''ll break through any rounds.


    We''ll rise above, we''ll reach the sky,


    With open hearts, we''ll unify.


    We''re breaking barriers, can''t you see?


    Embracing differences, setting spirits free.


    A song of love, a clear message,


    United we stand, conquering fear."


    The song ended with the five of them in a semicircle. Yuri was in the very middle, out of breath from the magnificent performance. The trainees and mentors apuded.


    "Ah," Hyerin said. "It''s definitely different."


    "Did we make you proud, senior?" Jaxon asked with a charming smile. Unlike everyone from his group, he had a rugged charm, causing Jihyun and Hyerin to be giddy in their seats. He''s also another trainee to look out for.


    "It wasn''t bad," Hyerin said. "You guys did a good job."


    "Thank you. Thank you," the five boys bowed respectfully.


    "You guys have a good foundation," Gun said. "The dance was well-synchronized, but the routine wasn''t the most difficult," he pointed out.


    "This is an original song, too, right?" he asked.


    The trainees whispered among themselves. An original song of this caliber? StarMuse is really amazing.


    "Who made the choreography?" Gun asked.


    The trainees pointed to the shortest guy on the team. He had light brown hair and tan skin. His name, "Steel," was something that June noticed. He had a friend named Steel when he was still in White Tiger. He was extremely hairy and big-headed, though. So, they''re definitely different people.


    June looked at his status window and pursed his lips. This guy was a constant B-. It seems like he''s an all-rounder, but he''s not the best in each aspect. It''s going to be tough for this guy to debut.


    "Steel," Gun said. "I feel like the choreography didn''t match the song well. However, you dance pretty good, brother. I just don''t like the elements of the dance."


    Steel nodded his head in eptance, disappointed in himself.


    "We''re now going to give you your stars. For five stars¡ªYuri and Jaxon."


    The trainees burst into cheers. They were the very first five-star trainees! So, this was the standard that the mentors were looking for.


    "The rest of you get three stars. We look forward to seeing your improvements. Try your best to move up to five stars!" Hyerin cheered. Despite their disappointment, the three other trainees nodded and epted the results.


    "Next trainees, pleasee in!"


    Two boys entered the stage, and June frowned when he saw their stats. Their highest aspect was a C. They also hadn''t been training for a long time. June can now guess what''s going to happen. Since two bigpanies have already performed, they''re now saving the other bigpanies forst.


    Which only means one thing.


    It''s time for theedy relievers of the show.


    His time is going toe soon.


    The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and the panel of mentors watched as the intro of Fever Dream by SIXC yed.


    Hyeon opened his mouth to sing the first line, but his voice instantly cracked. The mentors and trainees grimaced. Not only that, but their dancing wasn''t synchronized. It looked like something from a school''s talent show.


    Jihyun looked at them with disbelief. "These kids need a lot of work."


    "Zero stars!"


    The next contestant, Mike, confidently strutted to the center of the stage. He started to dance, but his moves were stiff and awkward, more reminiscent of a iling fish than a skilled performer.


    Gun chuckled. "Is he trying to imitate a jellyfish?"


    Hyerin giggled. "I don''t know what''s worse¡ªthe dancing or the facial expressions."


    Mike finished his routine with a clumsy twirl, nearly tripping over his own feet. The mentors struggled to maintain theirposure.


    "Your voice isn''t bad, but your dancing skills are nearly zero," Gun said.


    "Zero stars!"


    The audition continued with a series of equally amateur and disastrous performances. A hip-looking trainee named C-Jay entered the stage, and a familiar rap song started ying. June shook his head. This guy is a D in rap! He should have focused on dance since he''s at least a B on that aspect.


    He forgot his lyrics in the middle of the performance and asked for another chance. However, Bone shook his head.


    "I think we''ve heard enough."


    "I have one more verse," the "rapper" insisted.


    Bone shook his head. "This is enough for a deliberation. Zero stars!"


    "What?" he asked in disbelief. "You don''t know what you''re talking about! How can I have zero stars when I''m the only real rapper in this ce?"


    The mentors gestured toward the producers, and C-jay was rightfully removed from the stage. The trainees were shocked by his outburst. June smirked as he looked at the producers. Their eyes were practically sparkling in delight.


    They loved this. June already knew that they would use this footage in the teaser.


    "Well, that was.. something," Minho said. "My head is aching from all the performances already, and yet we only have two five stars."


    "Tell me about it," Jihyun said. "I''m getting tired from judging. Should we take a break?" she asked.


    Gun nodded. "Yena," he gestured to the main director. "We''ll have a fifteen-minute break."


    Yena agreed. Having talentless trainees was definitely funny at first, but as time progressed, it wasn''t as fun anymore. It just felt pathetic.


    The mentors were given coffee, and they also took this time to tell something to the trainees.


    "Trainees," Minho said.


    The room turned silent as they gauged the seriousness in his voice.


    "It''s quite disappointing seeing such performances today. We would appreciate it if you at least show something mediocre. The performances just now were only under zero or two stars."


    "This is a show where we''re looking for idols," Hyerin added. "You can''t rely on everything that yourpany has taught you. Show off your charms as well as your talents. Don''t be angry when we give ourments, too. We''re telling it for your own sake."


    C-Jay looked down at the ground.


    "Do you understand?" Minho asked.


    "Yes, mentors."


    Minho and Hyerin sat down.


    "I hope that wakes them up somehow," Minho sighed.


    Bone nodded. "Thanks for that. It was definitely needed."


    "I do wish the next acts would show us some talent," Woo-jin said.


    Jihyun agreed. "I hope a good vocalist shows up too. These kids are too focused on dancing nowadays."


    As they waited for the fifteen-minute break to finish, the same female intern approached June.


    "Trainee June, please stand by and wait backstage."

 Chapter 13: Junes Audition

    <h4>Chapter 13: June''s Audition</h4>


    "Good luck, June!" Jisung enthusiastically said. "Do a good job out there."


    June nodded his head and proceeded backstage. Another disastrous trainee was performing, and the mentors weren''t pleased since so many talentless trainees had already gone.


    The independent trainees would perform next, and Xin, Hoon, and Jiyong were performing before June.


    The three other independent trainees nced at him as they practiced.


    "The weirdo''s here again," Hoon said. "I''m d we got to perform before him. I''m sure he will put the judges in a bad mood and ruin our chances if he goes first."


    Xin nodded his head. "This brother''s really strange. Is the pink cat his concept?"


    "Hey, June," Jiyong said. "Don''t mess up our image, alright? And make sure you don''t associate yourself with us."


    June nced at them and nodded.


    Xin scoffed. "He doesn''t even talk to us. What an arrogant man."


    "The next group, it''s your turn," one of the crew members said, pushing the three independent trainees to the stage.


    As soon as they entered, the trainees burst into a big apuse. Every season, the trainees and mentors looked out for independent trainees since unpolished gems might be hidden among them.


    "Good day, trainees and mentors! We are the independent trainees," Jiyong said.


    "Please take care of us well," they said in unison.


    "Ah, independent trainees. I always look forward to watching your performance every year," Jihyun said. "Go ahead and perform."


    The trainees gasped when they heard the intro of the song.


    "Infinite Rhythm by EMBER? They''re singing this song? But it''s so high!"


    "As expected from the independent trainees. They''re brave because they have nothing to lose."


    "Tell me about it. They don''t have to carry thepany''s reputation with them."


    "With this song, they must be talented."


    June watched the trainees through the screen. It seemed like the status window could only be seen in person. He couldn''t see their stats on screen, so he had no idea how their stage was going to turn out.


    "I hope they''re good singers," Jihyun said. "This song requires great vocal skill."


    "You spoke too soon," Woo-jin said. "These trainees are focused on dancing, too."


    It was true. Xin, Jiyong, and Hoon weren''t as bad as the previous performers, but they''re still mediocre. Their vocals were unstable, and their dancing was nothing special. They also didn''t project their facial expressions well either.


    As their performance ended, an ambiguous atmosphere was created.


    It was a performance that was neither good nor bad.


    "All of you get two stars," Hyerin said.


    The three of them bowed their heads, quite disappointed, before heading backstage to ce their star stickers. They felt much better, however, when they saw June standing just right behind the stage.


    Jiyong smirked at him as he put on the two stars. He was sure that June wouldn''t get any stars at all.


    Atst, June entered the stage, and the hall was in shambles once again. The other trainees thought he''d remove his mask this time, but he was still wearing it!


    "Good day to you all," he said, a delicate and soft voice resonating through the high-quality speakers. "My name is June. I''ll be in your care for today."


    "His voice is more delicate than I had thought," Ren told Zeth. "He must sing well."


    Zeth chuckled and continued to look at June. "He seems funny. I like him already."


    The mentors looked at each other and tried their hardest not tough.


    "Umm, trainee June?" Bone said. "This mask. Is it a concept?"


    June nodded. "Yes," he said. "I like cats."


    The studio burst intoughter after that. Minx chuckled in his seat. This brother never fails to make himugh! He answers so seriously, too.


    "I like cats, too," Hyerin said amidst herughter. "But will you take it off? We need to see your face."


    June shook his head. "I cannot do that for now, mentor."


    "Oh," Jihyun said. "So, you''re really not going to show your face?"


    He shook his head. "Not right now."


    Woo-jin sighed. "I really don''t understand kids nowadays."


    Since June sounded so serious, the judges moved on to another topic.


    "Trainee June, why did you join this show?" Minho suddenly asked. The actor couldn''t help but be curious about June''s identity. There must be a reason why the production crew had recruited him!


    "I want to be an idol."


    Gun chuckled. "That''s it?"


    June nodded, the pink cat''s ears flopping as he did so.


    "This kid doesn''t talk much," Gun said to Hyerin. "But he''s funny. I''m curious to see how he is on stage."


    "You can go right ahead and perform, June."


    June took a step back and waited for the music to start.


    "Woah! He''s using a hand mic?"


    "He''s wearing an all-ck outfit; he must be singing a rock song."


    "It must be a dark concept!"


    "I can already imagine his stage performance."


    An unfamiliar tune yed, and everyone frowned in confusion.


    A bad? He''s going to sing a bad?


    However, as the intro progressed, they realized that the song was familiar. The mentors and trainees exchanged nces in disbelief at what they were hearing.


    "Am I wrong?" Woo-jin asked. "I feel like I have heard this song a lot."


    Minho nodded his head. "Yes. Where did I hear this again?"


    Jisung, too, had heard this tune plenty of times before. And it was when he was tasked to care for his young nephew.


    His eyes widened in surprise when he finally realized what it was.


    He''s going to perform a song by Little Meow Meow?

 Chapter 14: Meow Meow

    <h4>Chapter 14: Meow Meow</h4>


    They couldn''t be mistaken. This is indeed a Little Meow Meow song. Not only that, but it''s her most famous and signature song¡ª"Meow Meow." Almost everyone in South Korea knows this song!


    "He''s going to sing a¡­kid''s song?"


    "My niece is a big fan of Little Meow Meow. He must be a genius!"


    "I don''t know if he''s serious or not."


    Zethughed out loud and pped Ren''s arm. "Ah, I really want to be his friend."


    They watched in awe as June narrated the first part of the song.


    "In a world filled with endless adventures and heartwarmingpanionship, cats hold a special ce. These majestic creatures, with their graceful movements and expressive eyes, enchant us with their charming ways."


    In the original song, this part was sung by children apanied by a happy piano tune. However, with June''s delicate voiceplemented by the solemn piano he had recorded himself, the mentors and trainees wondered if this was the same song after all.


    The piano apaniment was recorded on Minjun''s grandma''s phone. They were kind enough to let him borrow her new phone. Then, he downloaded a piano app and recorded the piece in his tiny bathroom.


    It was a hidden skill of his when he was still a part of the White Tiger gang. Whenever they had year-end parties, the newbies were forced to perform in front of the old members. Jun Hao didn''t want to sing or dance since he was too embarrassed, so he settled on ying the piano instead.


    The track definitely sounded amateur, but it added to the vibe of the song. The piano that echoed within the walls of the bathroom gave a pretty eerie and profound sound. One might even call it indie.


    As he opened his mouth to sing, the mentors were even more surprised.


    "Goodness, this is unexpected," Jihyun said. "This weird kid can sing."


    June hadpleted four missions overall, and he improved his vocal aspect every time he seeded. Right now, his grade in vocals is an A-, the highest one he''s seen from the other trainees so far. The only person who came close to his grade was Yuri.


    <i>"In the shadows of the moonlight,</i>


    <i>Whispers of a hidden sight,</i>


    <i>A meow, so soft and yet profound,</i>


    <i>Echoes through the silence all around."</i>


    His voice wavered like a delicate me flickering in the wind. Yet, there was an undeniable charm, a vulnerability that resonated through every word.


    His voice carried the weight of his past, and despite the silly lyrics, there was a glint of the struggles he went through when he was still a thug.


    The mentors exchanged nces, their brows furrowing with confusion and contemtion.


    <i>"Through the alleys, they roam free,</i>


    <i>Guardians of ancient melody,</i>


    <i>Their voice, anguage understood,</i>


    <i>By those who seek a greater good."</i>


    Zeth wanted tough as the chorus approached, but the way June conveyed the farcical lyrics made him halt. It''s like he''s singing a typical bad!


    "Meow, meow, a timeless call,


    Unveiling mysteries, standing tall or small.


    Beneath the surface, secrets lie,


    In the depths of a feline''s eye."


    The other trainees couldn''t even remember Little Meow Meow''s version. Was this really the cute song that their child rtives would listen to all day?


    <i>"In each meow, a story untold,</i>


    <i>Whispers of wisdom age-old.</i>


    <i>They dance between worlds unseen,</i>


    <i>Guiding us to ces serene.</i>


    <i>Meow, meow, a timeless call,</i>


    <i>Unveiling mysteries, standing tall and small.</i>


    <i>Beneath the surface, secrets lie,</i>


    <i>In the depths of a feline''s eye.</i>


    <i>(Meow, meow, meow¡­)"</i>


    As the song finished, not a single pin drop was heard in the studio. They looked at June like he had grown three heads.


    The trainees never imagined that a song like that could be performed in an idol audition show! The mentors also never experienced this before. Jihyun, who had been the vocal mentor of the show for the past three seasons, believed that this trainee was the most unique out of all.


    Yena and Yejin looked at each other with knowing eyes.


    "We didn''t make a mistake, sis," Yena said.


    Yejin nodded enthusiastically.


    They already know that the show is going to be a big hit.


    June bowed his head as he ced the mic down. He was satisfied with his performance. He definitely had some shaky moments, but it was the best he had performed out of all the practices he did. In this case, he might get two stars for what he had shown.


    However, as he lifted his head, nobody apuded. He tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Was his performance that bad?


    "Umm, thank you for listening," he cautiously said.


    And at that moment, the room erupted into apuse.

 Chapter 15: The Big Guns

    <h4>Chapter 15: The Big Guns</h4>


    "Wow," Jihyun said. "I can''t believe someone actually sang a Little Meow Meow song in an idol program. You are the first of your kind."


    "Thank you," June bowed his head.


    The mentorsughed. This trainee just sang an unserious song, but now he''s back to being serious? It seemed like he had a clumsy and contrasting charm.


    "But I don''t hate it," Jihyun added. "Your voice is quite good for a trainee."


    June nodded. "Thanks, mentor."


    Woo-jin chuckled. "You don''t talk much, do you? Well, I agree with Jihyun. You sing pretty well. I like the tone of your voice, and you also have a lot of potential to improve."


    Bone nodded. "You didn''t rap, but I also found it quite cool, especially with the new arrangement. Whoever made your demo music is very good. You hired a good producer."


    June didn''t bother correcting him. It was bothersome to tell them that he yed the piano and arranged the song himself.


    "Let us deliberate for a while," Minho said. The mentors gathered in a semi-circle and discussed their opinions.


    "What do you guys think?" Jihyun asked. "I can give him five stars based on his vocals alone. I also think he''s quite charming."


    Woo-jin agreed. "I''m not sure about the mask. It''s still pretty weird to me, but I think he has a lot of potential. His voice is very fitted for bads. I don''t know whether he''ll be able to adapt to idol singing, but I think it''s not impossible. I can give him about five stars based on his potential, too."


    "What do you guys think?" Minho asked the other mentors.


    "I don''t know," Bone said. "I like him, though. I just don''t know if the public will ept someone with a pink cat mask. After all, visuals are important for an idol."


    They chuckled, but Gun and Hyerin seemed to be seriously going over his profile.


    "Do you guys have something to say?" Minho asked.


    "Hmm," Hyerin hummed. "Does he not dance at all?" she asked.


    Gun nodded. "I noticed that, too. I don''t think I''ll be able to give him five stars until I see him dance."


    Jihyun nodded. As much as she wanted to give the weird kid five stars, an idol must possess well-rounded skills in both singing and dancing.


    "Trainee June," Minho said into the mic.


    "Yes, mentor?"


    "Can you show us a dance you''ve prepared?"


    June froze for a second before stiffly nodding his head. Fortunately, he had prepared for this. He wished they wouldn''t have to make him dance, but this was an idol survival show, so he prepared something in advance, just in case.


    "Okay, music cue!" Minho eximed, and another familiar tune started ying. This time, the piece wasn''t arranged, and the original song yed.


    The trainees burst intoughter. He''s ying another Little Meow Meow song? Is he a fanboy?


    The cute lyrics yed through the speakers, and June started moving his body.


    <i>"A is for the awesome tunes we drop,</i>


    <i>Bouncing to the rhythm, we just can''t stop.</i>


    <i>C is for the cool cats, breaking it down,</i>


    <i>Dancing to the music all around."</i>


    He had a D- on his dance aspect, at least, so he wasn''t appalling. But he wasn''t good, either. Not even decent. However, the easy choreography masked his real skills. He moved to the rhythm urately, but there was something off in his movements.


    <i>"Hip-hop ABC,e and sing with me,</i>


    <i>Learning letters in a groovy melody.</i>


    <i>From A to Z, it''s a hip-hop spree,</i>


    <i>Let''s dance, oh, can''t you see?"</i>


    The trainees couldn''t stopughing in their seats. A guy wearing all ck with a pink cat mask was clumsily dancing to a kid''s song in an idol show. That sentence itself is already too funny to imagine.


    Gun shook his head in disbelief. With this dance, he already knew that June wasn''t a good dancer. With that, he erased one star from his initial review. He showed it to the other judges, and they reluctantly agreed.


    As thest notes faded, Hyerin picked up her mic to speak. "Are you a Little Meow Meow fan?"


    June shook his head. "My neighbor is. He rmended this song to me."


    "Oh," she said, taken aback. "So, your neighbor decided your song for you?"


    He nodded. "He wanted me to perform it."


    "Okay," she said, not knowing how to react. "Well, we have deliberated and will now give you your stars."


    June waited.


    Two stars.


    It was probably two stars.


    "Trainee June¡ªyou get¡­"


    "Three stars," she finished her sentence.


    June nodded and bowed his head. "Thank you, mentors."


    With that, he left the stage, leaving a deep impression on the trainees and the mentors. He passed by Xin, Hoon, and Jiyong, the three of them looking at him with agape mouths.


    June ignored them, however, and walked to where he could get his star stickers. He ced the first two on and hesitated to ce thest one. He already knew he didn''t deserve such a ce. It would have been better to start at the very bottom and make his way up.


    Now, he had no choice but to mingle with people who had more talent than him. It would be tough to improve when the other trainees are on a whole other level.


    However, since he was gifted such a ce, he decided to just ept it.


    After sticking on his stars, he went back to his seat. Some of the trainees waved at him, so he gave them a nod of acknowledgment.


    "Brother!" Jisung eximed as he sat. "I''ve be your fan."


    "We''re in the same ss," June said.


    "I know! I''m so excited! You have such a good voice, brother."


    June robotically nodded.


    Their conversation was quickly halted when the nextpany name was shed on the screen.


    The trainees fell into a chaotic silence, whispering among themselves.


    Top Star Entertainment.


    "It''s time for the big guns."

 Chapter 16: Familiar Face

    <h4>Chapter 16: Familiar Face</h4>


    The stage is set for the most awaited audition yet. The mentors'' expressions shifted into a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The crowd murmured in excitement as the trainees from the renownedpany stepped onto the stage.


    Zeth Kim and Ren Yuan.


    "I''ve heard about Zeth. He''s the best rapper and dancer in the show."


    "Ren''s voice is so good. Did you see his covers on YouWatch?"


    "It must be good to be talented and be in a famouspany."


    "Who hasn''t heard of Zeth and Ren? You must be living under a rock if you don''t."


    June didn''t know them. He, indeed, is living under a rock. If it wasn''t for his sister, Mei Ling, he would not even know what idols are.


    However, as he saw their status windows, he had to do a double-take.


    [Ren Yuan, born in 2003


    - Vocals: A-


    - Dance: B


    - Visual: A


    - Rap: F


    - Charm: B+]


    [Zeth Kim, born in 2001


    - Vocals: B-


    - Dance: A


    - Visual: A


    - Rap: A


    - Charm: A+]


    These kids are extremely good. They have the best stats out of everyone else yet. June was looking forward to their audition.


    "Good day, mentors. We are the trainees from Top Star Entertainment!"


    "I am Ren."


    "And I am Zeth."


    "Please look forward to our stage," they said in unison.


    The mentors leaned forward, their attention fully focused on the performers.


    "Top Star," Minho muttered. "They must be good. I''ll judge them more harshly."


    The music started, a pulsating beat that filled the air. The two trainees burst into action, their moves precise and energetic. Despite having only two people on the team, they filled the stage with their presence. They executed the intricate dance formations wlessly, their synchronization a testament to their rigorous training.


    "Step on the scene, feel the heat rise


    I''m the one they watch, I''m the prize


    Got the moves that make them all go wild


    When I dance, I make it worth their while


    I''m the shining star, can''t you see?


    I''ll never back down and won''t let it be


    I''m on a mission, gotta take control


    Gonna show the world, watch me reach my goal"


    The trainees were enthralled as they effortlessly transitioned into the vocal and rap part of the performance. Their harmonies were spot-on, their voices blending beautifully. The room reverberated with undeniable talent.


    June nodded to himself. This is the kind of trainees that he had expected to face¡ªthe ones who are most likely to debut.


    "They''re incredible! As expected from Top Star," Gun whispered.


    "Their stage presence is remarkable. It''s no wonder theye from such a famouspany," Hyerin added.


    "I''m the best, no doubt, no question mark


    Gonna light up the stage, like a walk in the park


    I''ll keep pushing harder, never gonna rest


    Proving to the world that I''m the very best"


    Zeth and Ren continued their performance, showcasing a variety of skills, from rap verses to acrobatic flips. The room erupted in apuse as they finished their performance, their breathsbored but smiles still stered on their faces.


    Jisung nudged June''s shoulder. "I''m scared, brother. They''re so talented."


    June nodded. It couldn''t be denied. He''s sure that everyone in the room thought the same. They were in the midst of great talent.


    "Zeth and Ren. The two of you get five stars."


    As Top Star exited the stage, another famouspany entered. Prism Entertainment.


    Jisung gasped. "It''s Casper''s turn already. I can already see him getting five stars!"


    Four trainees entered the stage. The first thing that June noticed was Casper Park.


    [Casper Park, born in 2002


    - Vocals: B+


    - Dance: A+


    - Visual: B+


    - Rap: A-


    - Charm: A+]


    He''s another trainee to look out for. His dancing skills are the best that June has seen, even better than Zeth''s.


    A sexy piano tune filled the hall, and the dark performance captivated the trainees. They''re going to sing a song by a girl group? More specifically, Undone Love by STARDUST. It has a sexy concept that enchanted the hearts of both Asian and Western fans.


    "In the shadows, we dance so close


    A forbidden love nobody knows


    Temptation pulls, like a spell, we''re bound


    In this dark romance, our desires profound


    Whispers in the night, secrets entwined


    Passions ignite, bodies intertwined


    Yearning for release in this sinful flight


    But deep within, I long to see the light"


    Zeth and Ren watched their performance backstage. In contrast with Zeth''s Golden Retriever personality, he had a serious look on his face while watching Casper.


    Ren nced at Zeth and took a step back. It was rare to see him so serious like this.


    "Dark love, burning bright


    In the depths of the night


    But I crave the touch of the sun


    To heal the wounds, to be undone."


    The judges exchanged nces, clearly impressed by what they''d just witnessed.


    "I have to say, that was one of the most polished and professional auditions we''ve seen so far," Jihyun said into the mic.


    "Absolutely. Your skills are undeniable, and your potential is immense," Bone added.


    "Casper and Jinsol, five stars!"


    As the end of the auditions started nearing, June started feeling sleepy. It was true that he had been transported to a 20-year-old''s body, but he still felt like he was 28. During this time, he''d usually take a nap in their den.


    However, as the nextpany was called, his sleepiness all drifted away.


    "Phoenix Entertainment" shed on the screen.


    "Phoenix¡ªthey''re really good, too."


    "This is the first time they sent their trainees to Rising Stars. I wonder what happened?"


    "I love the idols from Phoenix Entertainment, especially CHAOS!"


    Three trainees entered the stage.


    June''s eyes widened slightly.


    Three? They were only two when they first came in.


    Jisung hummed. "I think the other trainee''ste. It''s the first time I''ve seen him here."


    Alex and Hyunwoo entered the stage, and behind them was a trainee whose face couldn''t be seen. As they lined up in the middle of the stage, thest trainee''s face was revealed.


    Lin Zhi.


    June held onto his head as he felt a sudden pain. Alex and Hyunwoo were definitely strangers, yet there was something about them that triggered a sharp pain in June''s head. He winced and instinctively gripped the edge of his chair, trying to make sense of the overwhelming sensation.


    He then focused his gaze on Lin Zhi; fleeting glimpses and images shed in June''s mind. Snippets of memories, disjointed and fragmented, flickering like a damaged film reel.


    Lin Zhi?


    At that point, he realized that it wasn''t just Choi Joon-ho''s memories that shed in his mind, but his.


    Because June, as Chen Jun Hao, knew who Lin Zhi was.

 Chapter 17: Killer Idol

    <h4>Chapter 17: Killer Idol</h4>


    Two years ago, March 2021


    "Yo, Jun Hao!" Bo Wen called. Jun Hao stopped scrubbing the toilet and stood up.


    "A new member is waiting for you. Orient him for me." With that, the baldie walked off while snacking on a chocte bar.


    Jun Hao pursed his lips, removing his cleaning gloves.


    "It''s your job, for fuck''s sake! Why does it always have to be me?" he muttered.


    He washed his hands and ensured he looked decent before meeting the new member. He entered the den and saw a few people gambling, drinking, and sparring even in mid-daylight. He looked around until his eyes met an unfamiliar face.


    "Are ya the newbie?" he asked. The new face stood and bowed his head.


    Eh, this kid looked pretty handsome. What is he doing in a ce like this?


    "Yes, sir. My name is Lin Zhi. I''ll be joining the White Tiger Gang from today."


    "How old are ya, kid?" Jun Hao asked, sitting on the beat-up couch and pulling out a cigarette. He then patted the spot next to him. Lin Zhi reluctantly sat.


    "I was born in 2000, sir," Lin Zhi responded.


    "You''re pretty young," Jun Hao stated. "Only 21, right? What are ya doing in a ce like this?"


    But then again, Jun Hao entered the gang around the same age.


    "The Boss offered to make me a drug dealer," he said. "I need the money to go to Korea and stay there."


    "Korea?" Jun Hao raised his eyebrows. "What are you going to do there?"


    "I can''t disclose that, sir. But I have already told the boss about my ns. He had agreed to keep me here until I had enough money for that."


    Jun Hao felt quite bitter. A newbie was already given the position of being a drug dealer when he wasn''t even part of the gang. However, he had been stuck being an errand boy for the past six years! He would have made more money by now if he was a drug dealer.


    He sighed and stood up from the couch, cing the cigarette butt on the ashtray.


    "Fine, I''ll show ya around. Make sure to listen closely so I don''t have to repeat myself, alright?"


    ***


    One Year Ago, January 2022


    "Congrattions, big brother!" Lin Zhi eximed, giving Jun Hao a cheap bottle of vodka as a gift.


    "What a cheapskate you are," Jun Hao teased. "I finally got promoted, but this is all you''re going to give me?"


    "You know I''m saving up for something, brother. Cut me some ck. I''m sure you''ll be able to afford a more expensive bottle now that you''re one of the boss'' right-hand men. You can finally disobey Bo Wen''s orders."


    Jun Hao rolled his eyes. "That baldie''s still stubborn. I''m sure he''ll make me clean his toilet even if we''re at the same level now."


    "Well, at least you won''t clean other people''s toilets now! I''m proud of you, brother. Don''t forget me, alright?"


    Jun Hao ruffled the younger''s hair. "How could I forget the kid who gave me so many headaches?"


    He chuckled. "Don''t worry, brother. I''ll be out of your hair soon. The money I need to move is slowly piling up."


    "Ah, right. You''re going to Korea, am I right? You still haven''t told me what you would be doing there."


    "You''ll know when I get there, brother," he smiled. "I''ll make sure that you''ll definitely know."


    "Is your money still not enough?" Jun Hao asked. "You''ve been dealing with drugs for about a year now. I''m sure you''ve saved up some pennies."


    "I have enough for a ticket," he said. "But I''m just a dealer, brother. I''m not the drug lord. My savings are not enough for a house just yet. You know how crazy housing prices are in Korea right now."


    "When are you going then?" Jun Hao asked.


    "The boss asked me to do something," he cryptically responded. "Once I do that, I think I might finally be able to go."


    ***


    One year ago, June 2022


    "Bo Wen," Jun Hao eximed as his bald-headed friend of eight years gazed into his eyes. There was a hint of guilt in his gaze, but it didn''t take away the fact that he was betraying Jun Hao right now.


    "Ah, your good friends are here. Aren''t you happy?" the boss eximed. "They''d be able to witness your death, at least!"


    "Why are you doing this?" Jun Hao screamed. "If it''s for the briefcase, then just take it! Why do you have to kill me off?"


    "As I said, I don''t like how you''re shaping up, Jun Hao," the boss calmly said. "You will be a very, very strong man. I don''t need a man who''s stronger than me. That''d be dumb for me to do."


    "I served you like a fucking ve!" Jun Hao spat. "I did nothing but obey your orders for the past eight years. And now that my pay is dyed, you''re fucking killing me? After everything I''ve done for this gang?"


    "Always remember, Jun Hao. You''re not special. You''re receable. You do not have any friends in this ce. It''s your fault for believing so."


    Jun Hao''s jaw clenched. He then felt a cold metal press against his temple. He looked up and saw another familiar face illuminated by the light.


    Lin Zhi.


    Jun Hao chuckled like a madman. Oh, he must be really stupid. Jun Hao knew that the gang wasn''t a ce to make friends, but was it really his fault for caring for the people he worked with everyday?


    Bo Wen, he treated him like a real friend.


    Lin Zhi, he already thought of him as a little brother.


    "I''m sorry, brother," Lin Zhi mouthed before cing his finger on the trigger, pressing the gateway to Jun Hao''s death.


    Bang.

 Chapter 18: Veterans

    <h4>Chapter 18: Veterans</h4>


    Year 2023, Present time


    There is no doubt.


    This is the Lin Zhi that Jun Hao knew. When he said he was going to Korea, this was what he was talking about? Bing an idol? June wanted tough. This kid actually had such a dream?


    Fucker.


    ''Did he have to kill me to get a house in Seoul?''


    "Lin Zhi?" Jisung said beside him. "I''ve heard of Alex and Hyunwoo, but Lin Zhi must be a new trainee. He''s pretty handsome, though."


    "Handsome, my ass," June muttered; however, Jisung heard him. Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise and quickly covered June''s mouth.


    "Don''t say that, brother. The editors will have a field day if you do that! We don''t want to get evil-edited, do we?" he anxiously looked around. Jisung sighed in relief when he saw that their personal camera was filming RAVEN at that moment.


    June pushed him away. "Don''t do that, will ya?" he snapped. "I might hurt ya unknowingly or something."


    June''s "thug" ent came through, causing Jisung to be surprised. However, he chuckled not long after. "I don''t think you can hurt me, brother. You''re very delicate-looking."


    June scowled. He wanted to teach this young kid a lesson right there and then. Joon-ho''s body is indeed absolute shit. He doesn''t have enough stamina, and his abs are a result from only eating one meal a day during his darkest times. However, Jun Hao still knew how to pack a punch.


    "Oh, it''s starting," Jisung eximed, causing June to snap out of his thoughts. He focused his gaze on Lin Zhi.


    [Lin Zhi, born in 2000


    - Vocals: C+


    - Dance: B-


    - Visual: B-


    - Rap: C-


    - Charm: B+]


    June frowned when he realized something. This was bad.


    "Stepping into the lights, the energy''s aze,


    Heart pounding, adrenaline never fades,


    We''re warriors on a mission, with fire in our souls,


    To conquer every moment, to take full control."


    With his skills, it''s most likely he''s going to end up in the same ss as June.


    "The crowd''s anticipation, like thunder in the air,


    We''re ready for the challenge; we show them we don''t care,


    We''ll rise above the doubts, we break the barricade,


    With every move we make, we leave asting cascade."


    Alex and Hyunwoo were definitely better. They had some As here and there and trained longer than Lin Zhi, so it was expected. However, June can''t get his mind out of the worst-case scenario.


    "We''re killing the stage, leaving it all behind,


    Every step we take, embracing the grind,


    The spotlight''s our weapon, passion''s our guide,


    We''re killing the stage, where dreams collide."


    June scoffed. Talk about irony. They''re actually singing about killing the stage when they''re with a literal killer.


    The stage ended, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The judges deliberated shortly before giving out their star levels.


    "Alex and Hyunwoo¡ªyou get five stars."


    "Lin Zhi," Minho said. "You get three stars."


    June wanted to scream. This is what he didn''t want to happen! As much as he had a lot of unanswered questions, he knew that mingling with Lin Zhi will not be good for the future. Suppose the media finds out that he was a former drug dealer and murderer. In that case, the people he associated with are dead meat.


    June already let his past life get ruined by the kid. He doesn''t need him ruining his chances in this life, too. He needed to debut to make sure that Mei Ling was safe.


    Lin Zhi''s face morphed into a frown. However, he still epted the results. June sighed in his seat. This is going to be troublesome.


    [It''s better to stay away from him, host.]


    "That''s what I n on doing."


    "Huh?" Jisung leaned closer. "Were you saying something, brother?"


    June quickly shook his head. He really should practice speaking in his mind more. After seeing Lin Zhi, June wanted nothing but lie down and sleep. Thankfully, they were down to thest performers.


    "Crystal Entertainment."


    The crowd buzzed once again.


    "I still can''t believe that RAVEN is participating in Rising Stars. Weren''t they doing well?"


    "It''s because of their member''s cheating scandal, right? They halted theireback promotions because of that."


    "It''s unfair. They already have a big fan base from both the East and the West. Howe they''re joining now?"


    It wasn''t the first time debuted idols joined Rising Stars. In fact, in the first three seasons, already debuted idols also participated. However, it seemed like RAVEN caused quite a controversy since they were really popr in 2020.


    Most of the debuted idols that joined the show were "nugu" or quite unknown in the idol industry. That''s why some of the trainees have problems with RAVEN suddenly joining. It''s like throwing a well-trained dolphin back into the ocean.


    The three trainees entered the stage. As far as June knows, they were once a four-member group. They were definitely on the rise to poprity, but one of their members, Luke, got into a cheating scandal which led to their downfall.


    Minho''s mncholic expression was shown on screen while the RAVEN members bowed their heads.


    "Good day, mentors! We are trainees from Crystal Entertainment."


    They lifted their heads, and one of them had teary eyes. It was a hard-to-swallow pill that they called themselves "trainees" again.


    "How have you been?" Minho asked.


    Jaeyong, the leader, pursed his lips. "We''ve been good, senior."


    "Ah, it''s been a while," Minho said. In reality, the two of them were from the samepany. Minho and Jaeyong were even good friends, so Minho knew the struggles he went through.


    "RAVEN," Jihyun said. "I was a big fan of yours back then."


    "Thank you, mentor," Evan, another member, said.


    "I know most of us are thinking the same thing," Hyerin said. "But as far as I knew, your group was doing well. You could have re-debuted instead of being here instead."


    Jaeyong took the mic and sighed deeply. "I understand that it might seem unusual for someone who has already experienced sess in the industry to join an idol survival show. However, we are on the same page with the other trainees. We still hold the dream of bing idols. Long had been the days when people would cheer our names. It''s already too difficult to break through in this harsh industry of well-promoted idols. It took us some time to decide whether to participate in the program, but we came to a decision that we don''t want to give up on our dreams just yet."


    "We came here intending to debut once more, and we''re more serious than anyone else. We won''t let anyone hinder our path, especially those who don''t even seem serious about bing an idol," he ended his mini-speech, ncing to his left.


    Wait¡­


    June stopped drinking water as he felt Jaeyong''s gaze.


    ''Is he talking about me?''

 Chapter 19: Wrong Song

    <h4>Chapter 19: Wrong Song</h4>


    June looked around the hall to see if Jaeyong was looking at anyone else. However, he couldn''t be mistaken. RAVEN''s leader was looking right at him!


    Is he insinuating that June isn''t serious about bing an idol?


    June''s probably the most serious out of everybody else in this room. The others want to debut because they want to continue singing and dancing on stage. He''s the only one doing this for his sister''s life!


    He clicked his tongue and looked at this guy''s stats.


    [Lee Jaeyong, born in 1998


    - Vocals: B-


    - Dance: A-


    - Visual: B+


    - Rap: B+


    - Charm: A-]


    Thisd''s even younger than June when he was still Jun Hao. Well, he''s probably the oldest out of everyone here. June ought to teach him a lesson if they crossed paths.


    The two other members are on the same page as Jaeyong. They didn''t have a grade that was less than C+. Well, that''s only expected from already-debuted idols.


    "I can see you''re very passionate about this," Woo-jin noted. "You can start whenever you''re ready."


    The three boys went to their formation while Jaeyong signaled the sound team to start the music. A familiar tune started ying, causing most of the trainees to gasp in shock.


    "They''re doing their own song?"


    "It''s their most popr song, too. Howe they made this decision?"


    June frowned. This is definitely a risky decision. While it would be wise to perform something they''ve probably performed a hundred times, there''s always a risk forparison if they don''t do it as well.


    And since the main rapper, Luke, had left the group, this is the first time that RAVEN will perform the song once again. June still wondered if they could pull it off, considering the song is very rap-heavy.


    The song started with Jaeyong covering Luke''s iconic rap part. June''s frown deepened. He had heard this song before. It was one of Mei Ling''s favorites when it came out. He had to endure listening to it for two weeks after that.


    So, he already knew what it originally sounded like. Luke''s rap tone best suited this type of trap beat, and part of why it became so famous is because of his part. However, with Jaeyong''s tone, which is more fitted for boom bap, the rap was quite disappointing.


    "Yo, listen up, I got a story to tell.


    ''Bout never giving up, even when life''s a living hell.


    Dreams are the fuel, the fire deep inside.


    Struggles tryna bring us down, don''t let ''em override."


    The next parts were sung by the original members, and it sounded just like the recording. However, an ambiguous feeling still surrounded the hall.


    "I remember when I started, full of passion and drive.


    Thought everything would be smooth, that I would surely thrive


    But the road got bumpy, obstacles in my sight.


    Challenges and setbacks tested my might.


    But I refused to surrender; I ain''t backing down.


    I kept grinding, chasing dreams all around.


    Every failure was a lesson, every setback a chance


    To rise stronger, I took my stance."


    It gave a sense that they didn''t really improve their skills and became stagnant for the two years when they weren''t active.


    As thest chorus yed, the hall still had an ambiguous feeling. The performance was good, but it really wasn''t any better than how they''d performed it before. June pursed his lips. It went just as he had expected. If they were a group that hadn''t debuted before and did this exact performance, they would have gotten five stars¡ªthere''s no doubt.


    However, since they did their own song without any improvements, none of them would probably get five stars at all.


    "I won''t give up; I won''t let go.


    I''ll keep pushing forward and let my true colors show.


    When the going gets tough, I''ll fight, I''ll strive.


    I won''t back down; I''ll keep my dreams alive."


    The song ended, and yet the ps weren''t instantaneous. It only started when June pped his hands, causing a domino effect.


    Minho took the mic and let out a disappointed sigh. "You guys are good, but you''re not any better."


    Jaeyong''s face fell while the two other members cast their heads to the ground.


    "I feel like I''m watching the old RAVEN," Jihyun added. "I don''t think this was the right song choice for you. Did you getzy and just pick one of your songs to get it over with?"


    Evan opened his mouth to speak, but Jaeyong brought his mic down. The two of them shared a silent conversation. They knew how much hard work and effort they put into the performance. However, retaliating will only make matters worse. They''ll be branded with a bad image at the very start of the season.


    "Jaeyong''s voice also doesn''t match the first part of the song. I can''t help butpare the original with this one," Bone continued. "It would have been better if you chose another song. You guys aren''t RAVEN from now on. You''re aspiring idols."


    "That is noted, mentors," Jaeyong said despite the heavy feeling in his heart.


    Minho sighed. "Who picked this song?"


    Evan turned to their Japanese member, Akira. It was him who had suggested that they try to go back to the past and perform their old song.


    "It was me," Jaeyong said, taking the me for their wrong song choice. His two members wanted to say something, but he gave them a stern look.


    "Ah, that''s disappointing," Minho said. "Let us deliberate for a while before giving you your stars."


    The trainees whispered among themselves as the mentors deliberated.


    "Ah, what a shame. I was looking forward to their performance the most."


    "Yeah, I''m even better than them, right?"


    "I guess the group crumbled for a reason."


    Jisung looked down at hisp as he heard the chatters around him.


    "They''re so mean, brother," he said to June. "RAVEN made a big decision toe here. I don''t know why they''re getting so much hate."


    "It''s normal," June said. "They''ve been ced on a higher standard, so the judging is quite biased. Besides, their song choice wasn''t the best. I think they''ll be around the same level as us."


    "What?" Jisung eximed. "Then, does that mean we''ll get to train with them?" he asked with sparkling eyes. "I can''t wait! I''m going to ask for a picture with Jaeyong."


    June shook his head. This young kid is still innocent, after all.


    "Four stars¡ªEvan and Akira."


    "Three stars¡ªJaeyong."


    Evan and Akira felt quite bad for their leader, but Jaeyong continued to look unfazed.


    "Thank you, mentors," they said in unison, bowing before they exited the stage.

 Chapter 20: Signal Song

    <h4>Chapter 20: Signal Song</h4>


    June sighed in relief when the auditions finally ended. He nced at his watch and saw that it was already evening. They''ve been filming for ten hours straight! It''s no wonder he was so sleepy.


    He stood up from his seat, but Jisung quickly pulled him down.


    "What are ya doing?" June asked.


    "Where are you going? The mentors still have an announcement."


    June wanted to lie down already. Can the mentors wait until tomorrow to tell them whatever it is they''re going to tell?


    "Thank you for sticking with us, trainees. You are now given your own stars, which reflect the sses you will be in. Trainees with simr stars will train with you from here on out," Jihyun said.


    "If you got the stars you desired, congrattions. However, if you aren''t satisfied with your current level, do not fret. This is only the initial assessment. After three days, we will assess you once again and give you the stars you deserve."


    June looked at the LED screen in advance. He already knew what wasing next.


    Just then, the speakers busted a loud tune, startling some of the trainees. Even June, who usually wasn''t as jumpy, felt his heart jump to the sound of loud music.


    "In the depths of my mind, I had a vision so clear,


    A dream so vivid it fueled my fears.


    But I knew deep down I couldn''t do it alone,


    I needed the strength of those who called me their own."


    The first verse sounded quite emotional and contemporary, setting the hopeful tone of the song.


    "They say dreams are just fantasies, illusions we chase,


    But with the right people, they be our saving grace.


    Together we rise, we conquer, and we soar,


    As dreamse true, we''ll shout it out and so much more."


    The difficult dance was finally shown.


    "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    Hand in hand, in stormy weather.


    With the people around, we''ll reach for the sky,


    United as one, our spirits flying high.


    United as one, our spirits flying high!


    So let''s celebrate the dreams thate true,


    With faithful friends, there''s nothing we can''t do.


    Together we''ll conquer, with dreams as our guide.


    As dreamse true, we''ll dance side by side."


    The awe in the room was evident as the signal song faded. Azure outdid themselves once again. The song wasn''t June''s style of music, but the lyrics and tune already embedded itself in his mind, repeating over and over again. He already knew that the song would be a hit once it aired.


    However, the trainees'' amazement quickly turned to nervousness when they realized they would be performing this song.


    "The pitch is quite high," Yuri, the capable vocalist, said.


    "If it''s high for you, then how would it be for me?" Steel asked in distress. "It sounds like it''s in the female key."


    "We have to do this while dancing?" a zero-star trainee exasperatedly asked. "I don''t know. I give up!"


    "Ah, the dance is easy," Jisung said. "But singing it would be quite hard."


    June raised his eyebrows. The dance is easy? He could already see himself struggling with the choreography. He needed toplete his missions quickly to level up his dance skills.


    "Settle down, trainees," Minho said. "I know the signal song has deeply touched your hearts, but we still have some things to say. As I said earlier, you will be reevaluated in three days. All of you will be reevaluated with the song you just heard¡ªDream on Cloud Nine."


    "Three days?" a two-star trainee eximed. "I can barely learn a routine in a week. We''re only getting three days?"


    "The past seasons have done it," Woo-jin said. "So, for the peopleining without even trying, reevaluate your dreams again. Do you really want this?"


    The room turned silent.


    "Again, these three days would be filled with mentoring and training. Of course, we don''t expect you to do this alone. Starting tomorrow, you will have general and specialized lessons per ss. Then, after three days, you shall perform this song live in front of the mentors and trainees, where we will give you your new level. Got it, trainees?"


    "Yes, mentor," the trainees said in unison.


    "Now, I''m sure most of you have watched the past seasons," Hyerin said. "Not only will the signal song be used for reevaluation, but it would also determine your standing on the signal song performance."


    June nodded. The signal song of the season usually airs even before the first episode. The 100 participants are arranged like a pyramid, with the top ss at the highest and the bottom ss at the lowest. The top ss gets the most screen time, while those in the bottom ss would be lucky if they were included in the group shot. It was a harsh segregation of skill and poprity.


    "This year, it''s going to be different," Gun said. "Ifst year, all of the trainees were given the opportunity to stand on the same extravagant stage, it wouldn''t be like that this year. Instead of filming just one performance video, each ss will be given the opportunity to film a performance video of their own."


    The trainees chattered.


    "Well, isn''t that a good thing?" Minx, who got two stars, asked the older trainees. "We no longer have to fight for screen time since we''d be a smaller number."


    "That''s honestly better!" another two-star trainee eximed. "I don''t want to be fighting with the five stars."


    June continued to listen. Surely, there must be a hidden agenda. Azure wouldn''t have set such a big budget to film five different performance videos.


    "However, even if all sses are given the opportunity to shoot a performance video, it does not mean that you will have the same budget. Those with five stars will be given an unlimited budget for their performance, so they can use that for the costumes, effects, and the like. The budget for the video will lessen as the tiers go down."


    "Oh, shocks! So we''ll be stuck with pennies if we end up in zero stars? I don''t want this system anymore. Let''s just go back to how it was before," a zero-star traineeined.


    "So make sure to do your best, trainees," Minho said. "All performance videos will be uploaded on YouWatch one week from now, and the video with the most number of views within 24 hours will be aired on the Azure channel."

 Chapter 21: Roommates

    <h4>Chapter 21: Roommates</h4>


    The trainees got their baggage from their managers before heading inside the living quarters. June, on the other hand, grabbed the backpack he left in the lockers before heading back. It was no use packing a suitcase when they were still going to go home after filming the signal song performance video.


    He arrived at the living quarters, and some trainees were already there. He saw Jisung waving him over. He reluctantly went and stood next to him. It was only then that he realized how tall this kid really was. They were sitting during the evaluations, so he didn''t initially notice.


    "Brother!" he cheerfully greeted. "Come and grab your shirt. It has our stars in it."


    June nodded and went to the front to get his shirt. He looked at it with disdain. Why does it have to be neon orange? Well, at least it wasn''t piss yellow like the one zero stars had. Five stars had it best with their white shirts. The four stars also had it better with their blue ones. Honestly, June even liked the green shirt that the two-star trainees had.


    June wasn''t the only one displeased with the color of the shirts. Some of the trainees already felt discouraged because of the segregation of trainees.


    "Let''s go," June said to Jisung. "I want to sleep."


    Jisung chuckled. "I hope we''re roommates. Let''s see the rooms real quick."


    The two of them walked together to the designated rooms. Jisung pped his hands when the key handed to him was the same as June''s.


    "We''ll be roommates!" he eximed. "Can you believe this? I was just hoping for it a while ago."


    June nodded. He was quite thankful that his roommate was someone he knew. He was sure he would get tired of listening to Jisung''s chattering, but June knew he was a good kid, so he didn''t mind it much.


    "Do you want to take the bottom or top bunk?"


    "Any would do," Jisung responded.


    "Then you take the top bunk," June said, cing his belongings on the bottom.


    Jisung smirked. "Are you afraid of heights, brother?"


    June froze but shook his head. "No. It''s troublesome to get down every morning."


    Jisung chuckled. "You don''t have to feel embarrassed. You must be a softie under that mask, huh?"


    As they conversed, another person came into the room. The two of them turned around and saw Hoon in the doorway. Hoon immediately scowled as soon as he saw the familiar pink mask.


    "Ugh," he groaned. "Why did it have to be you?" he spat, roughly cing his belongings on the floor.


    "Umm," Jisung awkwardly said, looking at the two independent trainees. "What''s up, brother? Nice to meet you."


    "It''s nice to meet you, too," Hoon smiled. "If I were you, I won''t get close to that weirdo. Who knows what''s under that mask?" he joked.


    Jisung awkwardly chuckled. June couldn''t care less about Hoon. He had met far worse people when he was a thug. June knew kids like Hoon only wanted to feel superior by looking down on others.


    "Let''s hope our other roommate isn''t a weirdo," Hoon continued to mock June.


    The door opened, revealing theirst roommate. Jisung and Hoon quickly bowed when they saw Jaeyong in the doorway.


    "Senior," Hoon said, his tone suddenly turning respectful. "It''s nice to meet you. You did really well on your stage a while ago."


    June rolled his eyes. He heard Hoon and the other independent trainees calling themselves better than RAVEN during their audition.


    "I''m a big fan, senior," Jisung sincerely said, bouncing like a little kid.


    "Thank you. Let''s get along well together from now on," Jaeyong smiled.


    His smile fell, however, when he saw June sitting on one of the bottom bunk beds. His face twisted into a scowl.


    "Aren''t you going to bow?" Hoon clicked his tongue as he nudged June''s shoulder. This kid really has a lot of nerve. However, he decided to y civil since the cameras were filming them.


    June bowed his head. "Nice to meet you," he said.


    Jaeyong didn''t bother greeting him back, making the air more awkward.


    ''Great,'' June said in his mind. He couldn''t have been luckier with his roommates!


    One of them is a stuck-up trainee with anger and superiority issues.


    One is a veteran idol who seemed to dislike his guts.


    And the other is a noisy kid who suddenly turns silent in times like this!


    [I''m d you''re having fun, host.]


    June rolled his eyes. Can''t Fu even tell that he''s being sarcastic?


    "Is nobody going to use the bathroom yet?" June asked, breaking the silence.


    "I''ll still unpack," Jisung said in a soft voice.


    Hoon rolled his eyes. "I''m alright. I''ll washter." He removed his shoes, and the stench of his sweaty feet immediately wafted over June''s senses. June nced at him with disgust. Surely, the people at Tiger Gang were much nastier, but even then, June was a bit of a clean freak.


    Why do you think he got the job of cleaning toilets? It''s because he''s goddamn good at it.


    Jaeyong did not respond, so June took that as a cue to shower first.


    "I''ll go first, then."


    He started removing his mask, careful not to hurt his present wounds. His three roommates discreetly watched him. As much as they don''t want to admit it, they were curious about June''s appearance.


    There were only two conclusions¡ªhe''s either extremely ugly or incredibly handsome.


    Hoon hoped for it to be thetter. A voice like his would probably not have a pretty face, would he?


    They waited in anticipation while June took his sweet time. The three kept their gaze on him until the time came when his pink cat mask had been removed.


    However, they couldn''t help but take a double look as soon as it was gone from June''s face.


    "Why the hell are you wearing another mask?"

 Chapter 22: Power Up!

    <h4>Chapter 22: Power Up!</h4>


    The trainees woke up with the sound of the signal song sting through the speakers. They groggily got up, hair sticking in all directions and dried saliva on their cheeks. Among the tired trainees stood an enigmatic force.


    June stood in the middle of the room, dressed in his neon orange shirt and bright pink cat mask.


    Jisung screamed as he saw him, causing their other two roommates to jolt awake in their beds.


    "Ahh!" Hoon screamed. "What the hell are you doing there?"


    "I''m waiting for the song to finish," June said. In reality, he was trying to capture the notes of the song. The trainees had only heard it once, so he wanted to learn it as soon as possible to get a good night''s sleep.


    "I can''t believe you''re wearing that mask so early in the morning," Hoon grumbled, finally getting up.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue and sent him a small re. June pursed his lips. His patience was slowly thinning for this kid. From what he recalls, he hasn''t even done anything wrong to him! June was about to tell him off when Fu''s screen appeared before him.


    [Another side quest had opened! This time, you can earn a booster. The title is Power Up! Gain a boost of strength or motivation once activated. Good for one day. Affects close proximities.]


    June frowned. Where the hell would he use this kind of booster? It would honestly be better to give him another set of missions since the current ones were too difficult.


    [Do you ept this side quest or not?]


    ''No,'' June responded. Thest time he agreed, the consequence was a regression of skill. He didn''t see the need for the booster, so he quickly denied it.


    [Are you sure? Confirm to cancel the side quest. Side quest cannot be brought back once declined.]


    June let out a long sigh. Now, he felt conflicted. Thest thing he wanted was regret not grabbing such a mission.


    "Ah, heck," Hoon clicked his tongue as he bumped into June. "Why the hell are you standing there like an idiot? Get going, weirdo," he whispered.


    ''I ept,'' June quickly said in his mind. He realized he might actually need a Power Up booster when people test his patience. He was about to retaliate right then and there!


    [Wise choice, host. Here is your quest: be a helper! Help upgrade other people''s skills. Inspire three trainees so they can increase their skills by one point. The deadline is 24 hours. Failure toplete the mission allows one point deduction from one skill. Your timer starts now!]


    June was right. The consequence was the same. Although he felt more thankful since the deadline is in 24 hours.


    After agreeing to the side quest, June realized he was the only one inside the room. He quickly ced on his shoes and ran after the sea of orange. The little oranges entered the training room meant for three-star trainees. As they entered, they saw Mentor Gun waiting for them inside.


    Some of the three-star trainees immediately felt dreadful. June understood their fear. He had watched the previous seasons because of Mei Ling, and Gun was a mentor during the second season. He was known for being a strict dance mentor during his time. However, he must have changed in the span of two years, right?


    "Move faster!" Gun said in a strict voice, causing the trainees to bump into each other as they tried to secure a spot.


    Seems like he hasn''t changed at all.


    The trainees lined up in five rows, with June staying at the very back. He didn''t want to bring much attention to himself since he knew he wasn''t a good dancer.


    However, that was practically impossible to do with his bright pink mask. Gun''s eyes naturally gravitated toward him.


    "Alright," Gun pped his hands. "You only have less than three days. You''d be performing this song the day after tomorrow, so I expect you to learn fast," he set the tone. "I won''t hesitate to call you out if you''recking in any way. Three-stars should at least have dance fundamentals. If you don''t have that, consider going to zero stars instead."


    June couldn''t help but feel apprehensive. This is exactly what he didn''t want to happen. He knew that standards and expectations would only rise as the star levels increased. He was set up for failure because he is only a D- in dance and has no theoretical background in dancing.


    "I will only show it to you once," Gun said. "Then, we''ll go over the moves one by one. I expect you all to familiarize yourselves with the moves until noon. This is the only time you''d be learning the dance, so make sure to listen well."


    Gun faced the mirror and started the music. He started with the first verse. It was rtively easy. It didn''t require much vigor, but a sense of elegance was embedded in his movements.


    It looked easy to the eyes of an amateur, but June knew that it probably takes some skill to make it look good. Then, it only got worse after that. The chorus was filled with acrobatic movements and jumps, making it practically impossible to sing while executing the moves. It calmed down during the second verse but got even more difficult at the bridge. The dance break even involved some floorwork!


    What did Azure think of the trainees? Some goddamn robots who could learn such choreography in less than three days'' time?


    The atmosphere in the different sses was all different. The five stars wore bright smiles, excited to learn the new choreography. The four stars, too, beamed with happiness as their vocal mentor asked them to sing one by one.


    It starts crumbling in the three-star room. Of course, some trainees were still excited as they watched the choreography. Jisung was practically peeing himself in excitement. Trainees like Jaeyong, on the other hand, were more serious than ever. He had already started memorizing the moves when Gun performed them. The trainees at the back, those in June''s row, seemed to be the least confident.


    "Poor kids," June muttered.


    [You should worry more about yourself, host.]


    ''Shut up, Fu.''


    It''s not even worth mentioning the zero-star and two-star trainees. The mentors assigned to their sses already want to give up because of theirck of enthusiasm and skill.


    "There," Gun said after finishing the routine, only mildly out of breath. "Now, it''s your turn. I would expect you to pick up the chorus part, at least."


    "Yes, mentor," the trainees in the first few rows said. June frowned. He doesn''t have a clue about what the first move even was.


    "Trainees at thest row," Mentor Gun suddenly said. "I only want to see your row standing up."


    The trainees in thest row looked at each other with confusion.


    "The first four rows, sit down," he instructed. "Let''s monitor your learning skills. Thest row, all of you shall dance to the chorus."

 Chapter 23: Unluckiest Idol

    <h4>Chapter 23: Unluckiest Idol</h4>


    This was bad. June surveyed the room and found the other trainees and cameras focused on them. He nced at the trainees by his side and saw they weren''t any better. What the hell? Is that one kid crying?


    ''Fu, help me,'' he said in his mind.


    [System is resting. Please try againter.]


    He pursed his lips. Why would a system even rest? It''s not like Fu''s a real person or something!


    "I''ll be ying the chorus part," Gun said, starting the music. The pre-chorus yed, and some of the trainees started moving shyly, recalling some of the movements.


    June had already memorized the dance¡ªthat was certain. He had quite a good memory, so remembering what the movements looked like was not much of a problem. The problem is he doesn''t know how to trante the movements to his body.


    He knew the first move of the chorus involved a pop-and-lock movement, but he didn''t know how to do that. The chorus approached fast, and the trainees started moving to the beat.


    It was a mess. None of their movements matched, and the crying trainee only made them look pathetic. June stood still, ying the movements in his mind. If only he could level up his skill, he''d know how to do them.


    He was sure that if he had Joon-ho''s passion for dance, he could have at least done a mediocre job. However, being a thug, he never had the opportunity to dance. Aside from Little Meow Meow songs, he had never tried dancing before joining Rising Stars. So, it''s as if he''s learning how to walk for the first time.


    Gun stopped the music halfway through the song, clicking his tongue and looking at them disappointingly. "I expected more from the three-star trainees. And you, mask boy," he pointed at June.


    June turned to him.


    "I would have put you in zero stars if I knew you would be like this. You''re lucky the other mentors liked your voice," he scolded.


    June bowed his head, not bothering to say anything. He had to look remorseful somehow if he didn''t want to be evil-edited.


    "Those at the first row, stand up," Gun instructed.


    This time, it was Jaeyong''s and Jisung''s turn to be evaluated. Along with them are trainees who have decent dancing skills, too. The music started, and they executed the dance pretty well for people who had only seen the movements twice.


    Jaeyong and Jisung stood out among them. Their movements were precise, powerful, with the right amount of fluidity. It showed their natural talent and prowess in dance.


    June couldn''t help but let out a sigh.


    He already wants this day to end.


    ***


    After lunch, the trainees were back to their rooms for the second part of the training. This time, it would be for their vocals.


    Mentor Jihyun entered the room, causing most of the trainees to sigh in relief. If Mentor Gun was a terror, Jihyun was theplete opposite. She had a very weing aura to her. She''s strict but tolerates mistakes as long as you''re willing to improve them.


    "Good afternoon, mentor," the trainees said in unison.


    "Ah, three stars," she said. "I''m so d to be here. I was in the zero-stars room earlier and wanted to scream out loud. I hope you won''t do that to me this time, alright?"


    The trainees chuckled. "Yes, mentor!"


    "Alright. Did you familiarize yourselves with the song?" she asked.


    An ambiguous grumble resonated in the room.


    "I''ll take that as a yes. Grab your lyric sheets, and let''s start. I''m sure most of you already know the song since you''ve had your dance lessons earlier on. Sing it together, alright?"


    The music started, and the three-star trainees started singing in unison. When they sang the first verse, it sounded quite good. However, it became harder for them to sing as it reached the chorus part. Most of the three-star traineescked vocal skills, so they were ced at that level.


    Even Jaeyong, who had some idol experience, struggled since he was originally a rapper.


    Only June was the trainee who had been ced in three-stars purely because of his vocal skill, and it projected well when they sang the chorus parts. With a soft yet enchanting voice, June sang the notes effortlessly. The other trainees turned around to look at him, envious that he could hit the notes.


    Mentor Jihyun, too, focused her gaze on the back. She was initially unsure who was singing since June had a mask on. But she couldn''t be mistaken. It was the trainee she liked the most during the auditions!


    She smiled. He was the very first one out of the two sses she handled who hit the notes precisely.


    The chorus ended, and Jihyun turned off the music.


    "Hmm," she hummed, a small smile ying on her lips. "There are a lot of voices that stand out. Overall, you guys aren''t too bad. But the chorus part is a problem. It''s good to have a fellow trainee who can help you with this. Trainee June," she said.


    June lifted his head. He was memorizing the words of the song, so he didn''t hear much of what she just said.


    "Yes, mentor?"


    "You did a good job," she said. "Can you sing it one more time?"


    June nodded and sang the song. Now that he was singing all alone, the people around became even more in awe. His vocal tune sounded clear, and the lyrics of the song were projected well.


    "Good job," Jihyunmented. "I would expect you all to do the same, alright?"


    June bowed his head in gratitude.


    Their vocal training continued, and June wondered if he should have done a worse job at it. For the entire duration, he was asked to sing by himself more than six times! He barely had enough time to practice for himself since Mentor Jihyun would always call him out to demonstrate.


    Now that it was over, he plopped down on the cold and hard floor, his throat sore from all the singing. He wanted to get some rest before heading back to his room when Jisung suddenly approached him.


    "Brother," he said. "I''m worried. I don''t think I can sing the chorus part well. You did so good just now. Could you teach me?"


    June reluctantly sat up. He really doesn''t want to sing anymore. But Jisung''s one of the people who could help him with his dancing.


    "I can teach you this part, but you have to teach me the dance tomorrow."


    Jisung beamed and nodded. "Of course, brother."


    "Okay," June said. "Sing this part for me," he pointed to the lyric sheet.


    "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    Hand in hand, in stormy weather.


    With the people around, we''ll reach for the sky,


    United as one, our spirits flying high."


    "Hmm," June thought for a bit. "It doesn''t sound bad, but it''s definitely not in your range. I think you can sing it an octave lower¡ªjust as long as it''s still on the pitch."


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "Why didn''t I think of that?" he asked. "Let me try again."


    He sang the chorus part once more, and it significantly got better. June nodded in approval.


    "I think that could work. But watch out for your pitch at this part¡ªour spirits flying high. It''s a bit out of tune. Let me show you."


    June continued teaching Jisung, which attracted some of the trainees'' attention.


    Four other trainees approached June, and he saw that one of them was the crying trainee earlier.


    "Could you teach us too, brother?" they asked.


    June sighed and was about to decline. His voice was already raw, so he wanted to rest. However, Fu showed up before him.


    [Congrattions! You have increased one aspect of trainee Jisung''s skill: Vocal. Remaining trainees to inspire: 2. Deadline of side quest: 16 hours.]


    He suddenly remembered he had a side quest to finish. June reluctantly nodded.


    "I''ll be heading first, then," Jisung said. "See you in the room, brother."


    The four young trainees looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "Alright. What do ya have a problem with?"


    After three long hours, June finally seeded in his side quest.


    [Congrattions! You havepleted a side quest. You have now acquired a booster: Power Up! Gain a boost of strength or motivation once activated. Good for one day. Affects close proximities. To use, just summon the system and ask for a "Power Up!"]


    June groaned and trudged toward their room. He doesn''t even know if teaching those trainees was worth it. It took him two hours to raise their vocal aspect! He also sang a countless number of times, so his throat felt even worse than before.


    As he entered the room, he saw his roommates already sleeping.


    "Good for them," he muttered but stopped when he felt that something was wrong.


    ''Was that my voice just now? Why does it sound so husky?''


    "Hello," he tested it out, his throat getting scratchy.


    His voice sounded like the Sahara desert! It was dry and croaky, like that one time he watched a sparring event between Bo Wen and a new bald-headed recruit! It took him three days to get his voice back.


    However, this is Choi Joon-ho''s body.


    His voice is probably going toe back tomorrow, right?

 Chapter 24: Dancing High

    <h4>Chapter 24: Dancing High</h4>


    Wrong.


    In fact, his voice got even worse.


    June woke up with a very sore throat. He opened his mouth to speak.


    "June," he said his name.


    "Ahh!" Jisung eximed. "You startled me, brother. Were you watching a scary video?"


    "No," June responded. Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "Your voice! Are you alright?"


    June nodded. "I think I lost my voice."


    "Woah, shit," Hoon eximed as he went out of the bathroom, drying his hair. "Your voice is the only thing good about you, but now, you lost it?" he said. The cameras weren''t on yet, so he was extra courageous.


    Jaeyong smirked and stood up from his bed.


    "Where are you going, senior?" Hoon asked.


    "Practice," Jaeyong said, putting on his earphones and leaving their room.


    "I''lle after you!" Hoom eximed, running after Jaeyong even if they weren''t in the same star level.


    "What are you going to do now, brother?" Jisung asked as their two roommates left the room.


    June shrugged. "I probably wouldn''t speak. I might be able to get my voice back tomorrow."


    "Let''s hope for that," Jisung said. "For now, do you want to learn the dance?"


    June nodded, pulling out his old phone and typing into it.


    "Go ahead first. I''ll go after you," it read.


    Jisung nodded. "I''ll wait for you there."


    ''Fu, show me my missions.''


    [Ongoing missions:


    1. Get 100 fans


    2. Trend on a social media app


    3. Make a new friend: DONE]


    June sighed. He still doesn''t know how to aplish the two missions. He badly needed to level up his dance skills before their reevaluation. He knew he couldn''t sing to his highest capacity because of his sore throat, so dancing well was one of his chances.


    He sighed and left the room, going to their training area. Today was their free day for training, so they wouldn''t be monitored by the mentors. Tomorrow, they''d have to perform right before them with the signal song.


    He entered the training room and saw some of the three-star trainees practicing in groups. Jaeyong practiced individually while Jisung listened to the song by himself on the floor.


    June tapped Jisung''s shoulder.


    "Oh, brother. Do you want me to teach you now?"


    June nodded, still not speaking.


    "Alright, let''s go to an empty space."


    Jisung and June stood in the corner of the room, readying themselves for a dance session.


    "Alright, what do you know about dancing, brother?"


    June shook his head, signaling that he didn''t have a clue at all.


    Jisung raised his eyebrows. "You''ve never learned how to dance?"


    June nodded.


    "That''s okay. Do you want me to go over the moves?"


    June shook his head and typed something into his phone.


    "Already memorized it. Show me how it''s done."


    Jisung frowned. A trainee with no experience in dance had already memorized aplicated routine? That''s strange.


    "Okay," Jisung said. "Then, there''s no need to go over the routine. I''ll just show you how to move your body."


    June nodded, taking a step back to give Jisung more space.


    "The first moves are easy. You just need to make sure you''re not putting much strength in your arms since the movements are supposed to be flowy. Like this," he demonstrated.


    June followed his movement.


    "Oh, that''s pretty good. You need to loosen up more, but that''s a good start."


    Jisung continued teaching June the moves, and the younger guy was surprised by how fast June could pick up the movements. It must be true that he had memorized all of it. However, his moves were clumsy, showing hisck of experience.


    "You''re quite a fast learner, brother. I think you can improve more with practice."


    June felt like dying. His throat was sore, his body stiff, and his mind filled with sleep.


    "It''s now time for the difficult part¡ªthe dance break. This one needs more skill, but I''ll try my best to teach you."


    "It''s like this," Jisung said, bending down, his body weight being supported by one of his hands, his knees up in the air.


    June looked at him with furrowed eyebrows and tried to copy his movements. However, he failed miserably. He fell down to the ground, hitting his buttocks in the process.


    Jisung chuckled. "Try it again. Use your core strength."


    That''s the problem! This body does not have any core strength.


    He tried once again but failed miserably. He tried a couple more times, but none had seeded.


    Jisung pursed his lips. "Umm, how about this? Think you''re dodging a bullet. Bend down as if your life is on the line."


    June tilted his head to the side. Dodging a bullet? Well, he''s done that plenty of times! He tried to do the movement once again and finally seeded.


    "That''s it!" Jisung eximed. "You did it really well, brother."


    A small smile appeared on June''s lips. He realized thatparing the movements to what he had done in the past was much easier.


    "I''ll teach you the rest of the song, then you can practice by yourself."


    After four long hours, Jisung sessfully taught June every movement of the song.


    The younger kid let out a tired sigh. "I think it''s time to rest, brother. We''re the only ones left here."


    June gestured to the door.


    "Thanks," he quietly muttered, his voice still fucked. "I''ll stay for a while."


    "You''re still going to practice?"


    June nodded.


    "I''ll get going then. I''m really sleepy."


    "Hmm," June hummed. Jisung left the training room, so he was left all alone.


    June also wanted to sleep, but he decided to go through the movements onest time. He yed the song and danced.


    Hey, he doesn''t look too bad! He''s actually pulling it off quite well.


    As the song ended, he plopped down to the ground. He really needs to work on this body''s stamina. He feels like he will pass out with just a three-minute dance.


    Everything was good now. He had already memorized the dance and the song.


    The only problem was his voice.


    He hoped that it''d be back tomorrow.


    He stood up from the floor and dusted his clothes, ready to leave the training room.


    However, just as he ced his hand on the doorknob, Fu appeared.


    [Congrattions! You havepleted the missions:


    1. Get 100 fans


    2. Trend on a social media app


    Please choose two aspects to improve.]

 Chapter 25: Reevaluation

    <h4>Chapter 25: Reevaluation</h4>


    The judges sat at one long table,ughing to themselves as they conversed about the weird antics of the trainees.


    "I have no faith in the zero-stars," Jihyun said. "It feels like they don''t even want to be here."


    "Same for the two-stars," Hyerin sighed. "I don''t even know how I survived teaching them. They keptining about the difficulty of the dance."


    "The five-star trainees are good," Woo-jin said. "They learn quite quickly."


    "The four-stars, too," Gun added. "Some are definitely better than others, but I think they''ll do a good job. The three-stars are kind of ambiguous. Some are good, some aren''t."


    "I agree," Jihyun said. "I found a trainee I really like. That mask boy has a really nice voice."


    Gun frowned. "He couldn''t keep up with the dance at all. He just stood there most of the time. I can''t even decipher his expression because of his mask."


    "Ah, really?" Woo-jin asked. "I was looking forward to him already. I guess you can never really have everything. Such a good voice does not have the fundamentals in dancing."


    Gun nodded. "Let''s see if he improves, though. But I don''t have much hope."


    "Shall we call the first trainee then?" Minho asked.


    The mentors nodded, putting on their serious faces. The reevaluation sequence was going to be done through a draw, so there wasn''t a particr order. Minho picked the first name¡ªHoon.


    "Trainee Park Hoon, two stars. This guy''s not that bad," Hyerin said. "He was one of the few people who I think are going to level up."


    Hoon entered with a minimal introduction before starting his reevaluation. The trainees were watching through the screen, some cheering for their fellow trainee. June focused his gaze on the screen, wanting to see how good this punk kid actually was.


    The song started. He moved to the beat, his movements amateurish but nhelessplete. He sang the first lyrics, and June raised his eyebrows in surprise at his sudden improvement. The mentors nodded in approval as he finished the song.


    "Trainee Park Hoon¡ªthree stars!"


    "Next trainee¡ªJisung, three stars."


    Jisung shyly entered the room, making the judges beam.


    "You''re quite handsome even with minimal make-up," Boneplimented. "I''m looking forward to your performance."


    As the first notes yed, Jisung broke into an elegant dance. The introduction part was pretty lengthy, so the mentors could already tell how a trainee''s dance skills are based on the first part of the song.


    Jisung definitely did not disappoint. He moved with grace, power, and precision. The trainees watched in awe as hemanded the stage. The shy boy turned into a dancing monster in a span of seconds! He sang the first notes, and his improvement was impable. Although he was singing the chorus at a lower pitch, it did not take away anything from the performance. Jisung was grateful for June''s advice. He was so touched yesterday that he still taught him despite being tired. He finished the song and went back to his usual shy self.


    The judges smiled satisfyingly. They discussed for a bit before giving him his reevaluation.


    "Congrattions. You get four stars."


    After Jisung, the other trainees weren''t so memorable. They were either ranked two-stars or three-stars. As time passed by, the mentors also went through a rabbit hole of zero-star trainees. June thought it would be a perfect time to be called.


    Minho let out a long sigh, making the other mentors chuckle.


    "We''re not even halfway through," Gun said. "My head is already hurting."


    "Zero-stars are really¡­I''m not even going to finish the sentence," Hyerin said.


    Woo-jin groaned. "I hope we have some five-star trainees now. I can''t even imagine how the performance video for the zero-stars would be."


    Minho picked another name and sighed in relief.


    "Trainee Ren Yuan, five stars."


    Ren entered the room, immediately brightening the atmosphere. He didn''t waste any time and performed the song right away.


    Different. It was definitely different. The five-star trainee showed the other trainees how the signal song was supposed to be done.


    "Ah, I can''t keep up with him."


    "As expected, the five-stars are really different."


    "So, that''s how it''s supposed to be like. I already forgot because of all the zero-star performances."


    "That''s my friend," Zeth boasted. "But I''m still better than him."


    The other five-star trainees chuckled. June nced at them and found their aura untouchable. Their stats were filled with A''s, something June could only dream of at this time.


    "Trainee Ren¡ªyou get five stars!"


    After Ren, other five-star trainees were called. Like destiny, Zeth performed after him, and he had shown once again that he''s deserving of a spot in the final group. Like Jisung, he sang the song in a lower register. Jisung and him had simr dancing skills, but Zeth''s vocals were more developed.


    "Trainee Zeth¡ªyou get five stars."


    "Trainee Casper¡ªfive stars!"


    "Five stars for Leo."


    "Yuri, congrattions. You will be staying in five stars."


    June sighed as wonderful performances kepting. A while ago, he wanted to perform. However, right now, he wishes that his name would be called a littleter. Performing after these monsters would only make him look far less talented.


    However, when has June ever been lucky during thepetition?


    "Next up¡ªTrainee June. Please enter the room."


    The trainees nced his way and couldn''t help but look at him with pity. The others alsoughed as he stood up.


    "Good luck, cat boy!" Zeth eximed, causing the trainees to burst intoughter. June scowled and turned to him, the smiling cat face looking directly into Zeth''s eyes.


    Zeth chuckled. "I enjoyed watching the video. You were really cute there!"


    June sighed and went to the room, ignoring their boisterousughter.


    [The set of missions is now reset. These are your new missions:


    1. Donate money to charity


    2. Increase height by at least one centimeter


    3. Get an autograph from a famous person]


    His mission box had now been reset after aplishing thest set. It felt like the missions were getting more ridiculous as time passed by.


    Donate to charity? June does not have any money!


    Increase height? This body is already 21 years old. June was pretty sure his growth tes had been closed!


    At least getting an autograph would be easy. He can just ask one of the mentors or something.


    He then looked at his stats while he waited for thest trainee to move out of the reevaluation room.


    [Current skill status:


    - Vocals: A-


    - Dance: D


    - Visual: C+


    - Rap: E-


    - Charm: E+]


    Last night, he was surprised to find he aplished the two missions. However, when he woke up, he became theughingstock of the dormitory. Apparently, the video of him on the train with the little girl hugging his leg was uploaded online, and it was entitled¡ª"Weird Gangster Cat Cosyer Is Actually A Softie."


    It had 100k views in 24 hours and trended at #11 on Navel. It seemed like kids loved the video too, and they want to buy the cat mask he wore in the video! However, it wasn''t too bad since he got to upgrade two aspects. He decided to upgrade his dance and visuals.


    As Steel, who looked disappointed that he was promoted only one step to four stars, left the room, June quickly entered.


    The mentors had varying reactions as he bowed his head. The vocal mentors were excited, while the dance mentors looked disappointed. Minho and Bone had neutral expressions, making them hard to read.


    "Trainee June, you may start."

 Chapter 26: New Stars

    <h4>Chapter 26: New Stars</h4>


    "I''m not expecting much from him," Gun said. "Even if he sings well, I''ll demote him to zero-stars if he doesn''t dance at all."


    Hyerin nodded. "That''s just fair. What do you guys think?"


    Jihyun frowned. "His voice isn''t for zero-stars, though. It''s not even for two-stars. He did well demonstrating how the vocals should be during our sses."


    "Even if," Gun insisted. "Trainees are supposed to be well-rounded. I don''t think he''s ready to join the higher-ranked trainees if his skill set is iplete."


    Jihyun nodded. "Let''s just see."


    "Trainee June, you may start."


    June nodded and stood at the center. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. The music yed, and he started moving his body. Gun was sure June didn''t improve his dancing skills at all. It''s only been a day, and he didn''t exert much effort during their sses.


    However, as the song continued, his eyes widened in surprise when June was able to keep up with the music. His moves weren''t excellent, but he wasn''t bad at all!


    Was it possible for a trainee to improve so much in a span of two days?


    Scary. This trainee was scary.


    He finished the beginning dance part without any problem. Now, it was time for him to sing.


    As he sang the first lines, the mentors and trainees looked at him with shock.


    Is this really the trainee that mentor Jihyunmended during her sses?


    His voice was gone¡ªmerely a breath. Everyone could tell that he had lost his voice.


    Hoon smirked. He made sure to crank up the air conditioning in the room so June wouldn''t be able to get his voice in time for the reevaluation. It seemed like his n seeded.


    Ren and Zeth whispered to each other.


    "Such a shame. I know he has a good voice," Zeth said.


    Ren shrugged. "It''s the cruel part of life. The mentors need to evaluate him based on what they see now."


    Jisung was on the verge of tears! He knew that June worked hard for this more than anyone else, but he became a victim of a cruel fate. If only he didn''t let June teach the chorus part of the song, then would his voice be okay now?


    Lin Zhi, who had been noticing him since they were in the same ss, smirked as he watched him struggle. It was always a joy to find other trainees struggling more than him. He felt even better since he had been promoted to four stars a while ago.


    Jaeyong was also delighted by the turn of events. At this point, he still doesn''t think June is taking the idol life seriously. He thinks that what''s happening to June is just what he deserves.


    The mentors looked at each other with frowns on their faces. Jihyun had the biggest frown of them all. She was embarrassed about boasting about June''s skills, and then he showed up like this.


    The song continued, and June tried his best. However, with his hoarse voice, he could only show a limited performance.


    ''Ugh, I just want this to end.''


    ''My throat is killing me.''


    Those were the thoughts that echoed in his mind as he continued the song. Since this morning, he had already prepared himself for the worst since his voice still hadn''te back. However, since he had polished his dancing skills, he decided to do good in that aspect at least.


    Gun pursed his lips as he watched June dance. He still hadn''tmitted a mistake at this point, which impressed him. However, that doesn''t mean that he likes him! He still does not believe that someone like June should be an idol.


    The song finished, and June posed for the ending. He was breathless, and the sweat had already soaked his hair underneath the mask.


    "Thank you, mentors," he said with his hoarse voice.


    He was greeted with silence, the judges merely sending nces to each other.


    In the trainees'' room, there were varying reactions. Some were happy, especially those who didn''t like June from the start. Others didn''t care, while others felt pity for him.


    The other independent trainees were the most amused. However, they didn''t make it that obvious since the cameras were filming their every move.


    The mentors started to discuss quietly.


    "He''s better at dancing than I thought," Hyerin started. "But his voice¡­."


    Jihyun smiled sheepishly. "I apologize, mentors. It was true that he did well during our sses. However, it seemed like he had lost his voice."


    "How are we going to evaluate him then?" Woo-jin asked. "We can''t grade him based on what you heard during the sses, Jihyun."


    "I understand."


    Gun sighed. "I think it''s best if we ce him at this level. Yes, he danced to the entirety of the song. But as I said earlier, idol trainees should be well-rounded, right?"


    Gun showed them what he had written.


    "Don''t you think that''s a bit too harsh?" Bone asked. "The trainees in this ss don''t have the basics of everything at all."


    "I think it''s only fair," Minho responded. "There''s nothing to evaluate. His voice couldn''t be heard at all."


    Bone let out a long breath. "I''ll go with the majority vote then."


    "Let''s give him this," Gun said, some excitement bubbling in his heart. Ever since June didn''t dance in his ss, he had already felt a slight disdain for the trainee.


    The other mentors nodded.


    "Trainee June," Jihyun said, a bit remorseful.


    "You get zero stars."

 Chapter 27: Zero Star Crisis

    <h4>Chapter 27: Zero Star Crisis</h4>


    It was a warm sunny day. The five-star trainees sat on the floor in a circle, excited to talk about their uing signal song performance.


    "Sweet! We don''t have a budget limit," Zeth eximed. "The possibilities are endless with our performance. May I suggest we add some tforms to the stage to make it more dramatic?"


    Ren nodded in agreement. "Artificial indoor fireworks would be good too, or maybe some fire at the end may be better."


    "We can do both," Jaeyong said. "We don''t have a budget limit anyway. Let''s do our best to get the most views in 24 hours."


    "Then, shall we ask the production crew to make the tforms move? I''m sure the other levels wouldn''t be able to afford that," Casper suggested.


    "Good idea," Leo said. "And since we''re singing live, let''s ask them for higher-quality speakers."


    The other trainees nodded.


    "And should we stick to the iconic schoolboy outfits for this performance?" Hyunwoo asked. "It''s a signature for the signal song."


    Zeth nodded. "Yes. I think that would be good. What do you guys think?"


    The other five-star trainees eximed in agreement. Everyone was amicable to the schoolboy concept.


    "That''s good," Jaeyong, their leader, said. "I''ve written down your suggestions and will take them to the production crewter."


    "Thanks, bro," Jaxon said, patting Jaeyong''s back. "You''re a lifesaver."


    Jaeyong smiled and nodded. "There''s one thing we need to establish, though. Who will be our center?"


    ***


    The four-star trainees excitedly eximed as a briefcase filled with 10,000 dors was handed to their leader, Steel.


    "Damn! Imagine what we could do with that amount of money. Let''s go all out for our performance!" Daeho eximed.


    "I''m sure the five-star trainees are also going all out," Alex said. "However, I think we''re pretty simr in skill. We have some famous trainees here, too. It''s worth fighting for the benefit."


    "Then, do you have any suggestions on what we can do?" Steel asked.


    "Let''s entuate the stage," Zachary suggested. "I think a pyramid would be nice. The center can take the highest part."


    "Oh, that''s good," Lin Zhi smirked, speaking for the first time. "Then, can I try out for the center positionter?"


    "We''ll do thatter," Steel said. "For now, do you have any other suggestions?"


    "How about fireworks?" Sejun suggested.


    "I don''t think we can afford that anymore," Steel said. "The pyramid stage would already cost quite a lot."


    "Then, how about flower petals?" Jisung shyly said, a pink tint on his cheeks. "It''d look pretty."


    Hums of approval were heard in the room.


    "Flower petals are good," Steel said. "Andstly, do you have any ideas for our outfits?"


    "Of course, it''s supposed to be schoolboy outfits!" Zachary said. "It won''t be a signal song performance without schoolboy outfits."


    ***


    The three-stars stared at the 5,000 dors in front of them.


    "It''s a lot more than I had expected," Hoon said.


    "Really, brother?" Minx, the youngest trainee, asked. "Then do we have a chance to win the benefit?"


    "Of course," Hoon boasted. "Right, Jiyong?"


    His fellow independent trainee nodded.


    "Just let me take the lead," Hoon said. "Then, we can win the benefit! I''ll be your leader! Unless you guys want another one," he gazed at all of them.


    The other trainees looked a bit hesitant. However, none of them had the courage to oppose Hoon''s passion.


    "It''s decided then," Hoon smirked. "I''ll be the leader. I''ll also be the center."


    Minx bit his lip. He wanted to be the center too, but there were too many older trainees that he couldn''t find the courage to speak. His fellowpany-mates were already promoted to four stars, so he felt even more bashful.


    "Don''t worry about the outfits," Hoon said. "My mom is a costume supplier. We''ll get the schoolboy outfits from her store."


    ***


    The two-star trainees couldn''t help but sigh as they looked at the 3,000 dors on the floor. They had the highest amount of trainees, over thirty, so they wondered if their budget would be enough.


    "Ah, let''s give up," Xin said, plopping on the floor. "We can''t have any decent stage effects with such a small amount of money."


    "You''re right," Chul agreed. "We don''t have a chance against the popr trainees anyway. Let''s just rent schoolboy outfits, then call it a day. At least we''re still given a chance to perform."


    While the other two-star trainees wanted to do their best, they were quickly dragged down by the gloomy atmosphere.


    In the end, they decided to give up.


    ***


    June nkly started at the measly 500-dor bill in his hand. The two-star trainees got 3,000 dors! How did the budget reduce so much? It''s like the production crew want the zero-star trainees to fail so badly.


    "This is ridiculous," he muttered.


    Like a joke, his voice was now back.


    Well, thanks, world.


    He already got his zero stars. June looked around the room and sighed.


    The young trainees looked down at the ground, obviouslycking confidence and drive.


    June sighed and ced the 500-dor bill in his pocket. "So, what do you guys want to do now?"


    "I don''t think we can do anything," C-Jay, the self-proimed rapper, said. "What''s 500 dors going to buy? That''s not even enough for my groceries."


    "C-Jay is right," Eli said. "There are 11 of us. That can''t even buy a decent outfit for each of us. Schoolboy outfits are already out of the picture. Let''s just wear our casual clothes."


    Chany hummed. "What''s the point? We''re at the bottom of the food chain. We can''t even have good outfits, effects, and fan support. Let''s just forfeit this one and do our best on the next mission."


    "Let''s just rest," Jangmoon said. "I''m tired of practicing the song over and over again. It''s not like I''m going to improve in just one day."


    June stared at them nkly. However, it really wasn''t obvious with his mask.


    The atmosphere was gloomy, and it seemed like they had already given up.


    "Where''s the 500 dors?" C-jay asked. "Let''s just use that to buy pizza and cheer ourselves up."


    "Yeah!"


    "Let''s do that."


    "We deserve it."


    A series of agreements were heard in the room.


    June let out a big sigh.


    These guys are more troublesome than he had thought.

 Chapter 28: Booster for Losers

    <h4>Chapter 28: Booster for Losers</h4>


    June felt more tired than usual. He entered their shared room and dropped down on his bed. He''d usually wash up first but was too damn tired to get up.


    Hoon''s boisterousughter filled the room. "I''m the center of the three-star level," he boasted. "I''m also the leader. Can you believe it? I''m such a vital person to our group."


    "You have a lot of responsibility, brother," Jisung said with awe. This kid is really innocent. He doesn''t even notice that Hoon is just boasting.


    "Of course," Hoon said. "Our level wants to win. So, watch out, brothers. Even if you have more money than us, we can beat you."


    Jisung and Jaeyong chuckled.


    "I''m not letting you," Jaeyong joked. "How''s it going in four-stars, brother?"


    He asked Jisung an innocent question. However, Jaeyong had the hidden objective to know about their current status. Then, he would know what to improve with the five-star performance.


    "I tried to be the center for four stars, but Brother Lin Zhi was a better fit," he shyly said. "He seemed to want it more than anyone else too."


    June wanted tough out loud. That kid probably gaslit some of the trainees into giving him the center part. Lin Zhi''s definitely not as good as Jisung or Steel.


    "We have also started preparing our stage effects and outfits. It''s quite fun doing all of those."


    "What outfits are you going to wear?" Hoon asked.


    Jisung chuckled and nudged his shoulder. "I won''t tell you, of course. You''ll have to see on the day of the performance."


    Hoon pouted and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "What about you, senior?" Jisung asked. "Is everything going well with the five stars?"


    "Of course it is!" Hoon responded for Jaeyong. "They have an unlimited budget. They must be having a field day at their level."


    "Yeah, the budget is not a problem at all," Jaeyong said. "But we haven''t settled on who the center will be yet. Everyone seems to want to do it."


    "Oh, that''s expected. There are a lot of excellent brothers in five-stars," Jisung said.


    "How about you, June?" Jisung suddenly asked. June could feel their gazes on him despite his face being buried in his pillow.


    He sighed, not bothering to lift his face. "I don''t even want to talk about it."


    ***


    It was another day, and June was all alone in the training room. They had agreed to start practicing at 10 AM, but the trainees only starteding in 30 minutester.


    June had enough. They couldn''t go on like this. He wouldn''t end up debuting at this point.


    He pped his hands, causing the discouraged trainees to look his way.


    "Alright. It''s time for us to talk about our stage. We can buy our outfits with the 500 dors at least. The default stage lighting is already built-in, so that wouldn''t be a problem. We just need to show a good performance to the mentors and the starlights." he said. People who vote for the rising stars are called starlights.


    "What''s the point?" Jangmoon whined. "The five-stars will win anyway. The trainees there are naturally talented and have fandoms already. Who would even watch a video of a bunch of untalented trainees?"


    June sighed, trying his best to stay patient. "Then, let''s establish the center," he said, hoping they''d cooperate this time.


    "You do it," C-Jay said. "You''re the only one who has experienced being in three-stars. And you seem to be the most enthusiastic out of all of us."


    "Brother June would be great," Chany said. "You''re the only one who can hit the high notes. That is if your voice is already fine."


    Eli chuckled. "Yeah, you do it. Maybe we''d earn some views from your pink cat mask," he joked. The trainees burst intoughter and eximed in agreement.


    "That''d be hrious!" C-Jay eximed. "Imagine a cat as the center of the performance."


    They chuckled once more.


    They thought of it as a joke.


    However, June found himself pondering upon Eli''s statement.


    Genius!


    If they can''t win through poprity, they might be able to win through other ways.


    Only three kinds of videos got popr during these idol survival shows:


    1. Handsome idols. It would be a bonus if they were talented, but they must be handsome in the end.


    2. Pitiful idols with sad backstories. Tearjerkers always get the media. Mei Ling herself is a victim of this trend. She cried endlessly when she found out a trainee had been training for more than 3 years with their family disapproving of their dream. It''s quite ironic since the siblings'' past could also be considered pitiful. This body, Choi Joon-ho, is quite pitiful too. If she''s watching now, she must be bursting into tears if the real Joon-ho participated.


    3. Funny moments. If one''s lucky, this would be the biggest hit of all categories. Normies who aren''t fans of the idol industry might even tune in if the moment is too funny or ridiculous.


    June already had an idea in mind. However, he needed the zero-star trainees to cooperate for his n to push through.


    If only he had something to boost their spirits¡­even if it''s just temporary.


    Ah, Eureka!


    June stood up and paced back and forth, surprising most of the trainees.


    "What time are we shooting tomorrow?" he asked.


    "10 AM," Mike responded. "We''ll be the first to perform since the other groups probably have quite extravagant stages. Why?"


    June nced at the wall clock and smirked.


    11:11 AM.


    Perfect.


    ''Fu, prepare the Power Up! booster.''


    [Power Up! booster preparing.]

 Chapter 29: Hope for the Hopeless

    <h4>Chapter 29: Hope for the Hopeless</h4>


    [Power Up! ready. State in a loud voice to activate.]


    June sighed. Fu always has ridiculous requests. How can he say that loudly without looking strange?


    ''What''s the distance of its affected proximities?'' June asked.


    [6 feet, host.]


    He nodded and thought about ways to activate the booster without looking like a lunatic.


    "Right, where is the money?" C-Jay asked. "I''m hungry. Lunch is already approaching."


    "It''s with me," June said, patting his pocket.


    "Give it to us," Jangmoon said, walking up to him. Jangmoon was quite tall, standing at 185 cm, so June had to look up to face him.


    June clicked his tongue. Why does this body have to be so short? He''s only 175 cm, so he''s one of the shorter trainees. It was hard being intimidating with a height and build like his.


    "We''re going to use this for our outfits," June said, unwavering. He might be 175 cm, but his personality can be linked to a 200 cm person.


    "You''re still yapping about that?" Eli asked. "Let''s just wear these shirts and some nice jeans. It won''t make a big difference anyway."


    June felt like strangling these little kids. Most of them are already so untalented, but they have such shitty attitudes too.


    "Come here. All of you," June calmly said.


    The 10 other trainees looked at each other beforeughing loudly.


    "Why are you suddenly so serious?" Mike asked. "Just hand over the money, brother. We''re all craving pizza."


    "Come. Here."


    June repeated his statement, slower this time. The group shared skeptical nces, their confidence slightly faltering because of the tone of his voice. Jangmoon chuckled. "Come on, brother. Just follow us. You''re the only one here. There''s 10 of us."


    June took a step forward, his gaze piercing through Jangmoon''s eyes through his mask. A sudden change in his aura sent shivers down the spines of everyone present. Even the cameramen held their breaths as they watched the scene before them. The air became heavy with an unspoken danger.


    "I said,e here," June said. "Gather in a circle right now."


    The group of trainees exchanged uneasy nces, their bravado wavering. Slowly, they began toprehend the gravity of the situation.


    "Alright," C-Jay chuckled nervously. "No need to get all serious. Let''s make this quick, alright?"


    "Link your arms together," June said, still serious.


    "What?" Eli asked.


    June snapped his gaze at him, so he quickly followed. Despite finding the situation strange, the other trainees started linking arms with the people next to them.


    This was the best way for June to ensure that everyone would be affected by the Power Up! booster. June let out a deep breath before channeling the speech he learned when he was still a gangster. It''s practically embedded in his mind since he had stated it so much to newer recruits. It''s a good thing Lin Zhi wasn''t around. Otherwise, he might recognize June''s words.


    June looked each trainee in the eye.


    "The world is a shitty ce," he started with a curse word, causing the other trainees'' eyes to go wide.


    The producers and cameramen whispered to themselves.


    "Should we intervene?" a producer asked


    "No," another producer said. "Let''s see where this leads to."


    "We''re in a ce where justice is only served for the rich. Some are given more resources. Some have nothing at all. However, what do we have most that they don''t? Desperation."


    The trainees listened closely, sensing a change in the air, as June''s words took hold of their attention.


    "Honestly, who doesn''t want to win the benefit? I''m sure, deep inside your hearts, that you want to be seen on TV while showing your talents. Why else would youe here and go through so much struggle? It''s time for us to rise above mediocrity. We have the potential to be more than just trainees; we can be the best damn team this ce has ever seen! But it starts with each and every one of us embracing our ws."


    "Let''s Power Up! And let us always remember that true power lies not in strength alone but in the belief that we can achieve anything when we work together, refuse to give up, and strive for greatness. We can do this with just 500 dors and a dream! So, who''s with me?"


    ''It''s done,'' June said. ''Is it activated yet?''


    [Power Up! activated]


    June smirked.


    A spark ignited within the trainees as they exchanged determined nces, their faces reflecting the newfound and artificial motivation.


    "I''m in!" C-Jay said. "We can do this!"


    "Count me in too!" Jangmoon said.


    One by one, each trainee stepped forward, expressing theirmitment to their performance.


    June smirked. These little rascals. He had to whip up a long speech and a booster for them to be convinced! How troublesome.


    June, too, felt a newfound energy course through his veins. However, it wasn''t too dramatic.


    "Let''s do this," June said, and the trainees cheered loudly. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. This booster seemed to be more effective to them.


    June''s notining, though. They didn''t pester him about buying pizza from then on, and started practicing enthusiastically.


    "Can you teach us the dance and song again, brother?" Eli asked a hint of excitement in his voice.


    "Alright. I''ll show it to you once. Then, let''s practice as a group, alright?"


    The zero-star trainees continued practicing, the atmosphere turning 360 degrees. The producers looked at the scene in front of them in awe.


    "What did we just watch?" one of the producers asked.


    Did the masked boy encourage ten hopeless trainees to start working hard?


    Time passed, and the zero-star trainees were still practicing. All the other levels had gone to bed, but they were all still inside, polishing some details. June looked at the performance and pursed his lips.


    They looked like iling, breathless fishes, but at least they were working hard. June could only change their enthusiasm with the booster. In the end, he couldn''t really fix their talent.


    "Alright, that''s good," June said, turning off the music. "Let''s do better tomorrow and avoid making any mistakes."


    "Yes, brother!"


    They rested on the floor, catching their breaths. June looked at their enthusiastic yet tired smiles. That''s when he realized they weren''t even able to eat lunch a while ago. He sighed and pulled some of the money from his pocket.


    "Let''s order some pizza," June suggested.


    The trainees'' eyes widened in surprise. "But what will we use for our outfits?" Jangmoon asked as if he didn''t suggest using the money earlier this morning.


    "It''s my treat," June grumbled. "Just order some."


    He brought out his wallet and saw a measly 600 dors inside. The 500 dors was even intended for their performance.


    "Here," he handed them a 50-dor bill. "You all deserve to eat."


    The trainees excitedly picked a menu on Eli''s phone. As they waited for their order, C-Jay raised a question.


    "Right. Have we discussed our outfits yet?"


    June shook his head. "But I already have an idea."


    "That''s great, then," Jangmoon said.


    "Do you all trust me?" June asked.


    The trainees nodded their heads.


    "Then leave it all to me."

 Chapter 30: Fangirls and a Hater

    <h4>Chapter 30: Fangirls and a Hater</h4>


    "Faster! The signal song performances are about to premier soon," Soo-min, the most enthusiastic fangirl of the group, eximed.


    "Wait! The popcorn is about to be finished," Na-ri called out from the kitchen. "Just camp on the channel first."


    "I''m so excited!" Wei screeched. "I''ve been waiting for this for such a long time now. I can''t believe Rising Stars is finally back!"


    Jia sighed as she observed her excited friends. She was the only one not looking forward to the signal song performances. "Why are you making such a big deal out of this anyway? It''s just a bunch of semi-good looking boys singing and dancing to an overly-edited pop song."


    Her friends looked at her with wide eyes. Even Na-ri, who was still in the kitchen, popped her head out to re at Jia.


    "Have you watched Rising Stars before?" Wei asked.


    "No," Jia said. "There''s no reason for me to watch a rigged show."


    "It''s not rigged now," Na-ri defended, carrying a bowl of popcorn in her hands. "They hired a third-party vote-counting specialist to ensure that the voting will be fair."


    "Yes! And I heard there are a lot of cute guys this season, too," Soo-min added. "Just give it a try, Jia. You''re going to find someone you like eventually."


    Jia sighed. "It''s not like I have a choice. You''ll force me to watch even though I don''t want to. Let''s just get this over with," she said, tossing some popcorn in her mouth.


    "Ooh! Only one minute left," Wei eximed. "Whose video are we going to watch first?"


    "The five-stars, of course!" Na-ri said. "Let''s see if RAVEN is really going to participate. If they do, then let us watch where Jaeyong is."


    Soo-min shook her head. "No, we definitely have to stream the one where Zeth is. He''s also rumored to be joining the show."


    "What if they''re on the same team?" Wei asked.


    "Then that''ll be the best," Soo-min gave a thumbs up.


    Jia frowned as she listened to her friends'' conversation. "Five stars?"


    The three other girls nodded. "Azure came out with a statement that the trainees will be divided through star levels. Today, they''re going to show the five performance videos. The video with the most views will be aired on TV!"


    Jia nodded in understanding.


    It sounded stupid to her. With this concept, it''s obvious the higher-level trainees are going to win.


    "It''s starting!" Na-ri eximed. Despite her reluctance, Jia focused on the huge screen.


    Her friends screeched when they saw that the videos had been uploaded.


    "Click the five-stars right away!" Soo-min urged.


    The sound of enthusiastic music burst through the speakers, and a grand stage was shown. The lights were dim, and a spotlight shone on a group of trainees dressed in well-tailored schoolboy outfits. The music started, and they broke into a synchronized dance routine, showcasing their impable skills and fluid movements. The LED backdrop was illuminated with vibrant colors and patterns, enhancing the performance.


    The camera panned across the trainees, and the girls immediately gasped.


    "Zeth''s here!" Na-ri said.


    "Jaeyong''s here too," Soo-min said. "Oh my goodness! This team is perfect. We should watch their video again after going through the other ones."


    "Yes! I can recognize some other trainees, too," Wei said. "I wish I had multiple eyes so I can look at them one by one."


    Jia nodded to the beat of the song. The song sounded quite nice. She knew of Rising Stars but never bothered to watch it. She''s not into the idol culture, but her other friends are, so she''s being strung along in their antics.


    Jia continued to watch the performance. It wasn''t too bad. Honestly, it was actually really good. These idols were definitely branded five¨Cstars for a reason. Their dancing was good, and their vocals were stable.


    However, Jia''s still not convinced why her friends are so crazy about the idol culture.


    As the performance concluded, the stage transformed into a serene setting, with a moonlit backdrop and soft lighting. The center, Zeth, took center stage, exuding elegance. The three girls squealed as he performed a solo dance.


    "Ah! I''m bing a Zeth fan," Na-ri eximed. "I''m going to give him some stars when the voting period starts!"


    "This Leo and Casper guy are quite good, too," Wei said.


    "And Jaeyong is still the best!" Soo-min concluded.


    The five-star performance was finished, leaving the fangirls in undeniable glee.


    "That was so good!" they pped. "I can''t wait to watch it again. I don''t think I can watch the other levels now."


    "Let''s just do it," Jia said.


    "Oooh, are you bing a fan?" Wei asked.


    Jia clicked her tongue and clicked the four-stars video. She just felt that it would be unfair to only watch the highest star level. She caught a glimpse of the view counts and saw that the five stars already had more than 100,000 views.


    The scene changed as the video was yed. This time, the four-star trainees were in front of paint-covered walls. They delivered an energetic performance, their lyrics and dance flowing seamlessly as they confidentlymanded the stage. They also wore schoolboy outfits, but they had a more casual vibe than the five-stars.


    Lin Zhi stood at the center, and Jia immediately felt that something was off. However, her friends seem to think he''s quite handsome. The stage transformed into a pyramid, and Lin Zhi stood at the very top, showcasing his charisma and skills.


    "These trainees are good too!" Na-ri said. "I thought the five-stars were going to win by a lot. But, they''re pretty close in skill."


    "Yeah," Soo-min said. "Their stage has a different vibe. I still think the five-stars are going to win, though. Their stage was much more extravagant."


    "Agreed," Wei said. "But I think I''m falling in love with the tall guy with a shy smile. Let''s look at their profiles after this one. I think they''re going to upload it soon too!"


    The four-star video finished, and Soo-min immediately clicked the three-star video. It had a simr vibe to the other two performances, but it was clear that they didn''t have much stage effects. Their outfits looked a bit cheaper too.


    "They''re good," Soo-min said. "They definitely won''t win, though. It''s nothing special."


    "Agreed," Wei said. "The center''s pretty good, though. Let''s look him up too."


    "It''s bad," Jia suddenly interrupted. "Some of them are not in sync."


    Na-ri clicked her tongue. "They''re still cute! And I''m sure they''re going to improveter on. Let''s watch their video againter since I see some handsome trainees."


    "Azure really brought it up a notch," Soo-min said. "There are a lot of handsome trainees."


    "We''re almost done," Wei said, causing Jia to internally rejoice.


    Finally.


    The two stars'' performance was shown on screen, and thedies watched with lukewarm reactions. It''s true that they were wearing schoolboy outfits, but it was the tackiest of them all.


    It''s like they just gave up.


    "I feel bad for these trainees," Soo-minmented. "I think they''re not happy with their level."


    "Who would be?" Wei asked. "There are some good trainees I''m seeing, though," she added.


    "They should have done a better job," Jia retorted. "It''s shit."


    The three girls gasped.


    "Don''t say that! They''re doing their best," Na-ri defended.


    Jia sighed. These girls and their rose-colored lenses. They already love the trainees when the first episode hasn''t even aired yet.


    It seemed like Jia wasn''t the only one who didn''t like the two-stars performance, though. Countlessments fromizens criticized them for looking bored andmitting mistakes.


    By the time the two-stars performance was finished, Jia already felt quite tired. She knew she wanted to give everyone a chance just moments ago, but now all she wanted was to lie down in bed.


    "Is it finally over?" she asked, leaning against the couch. "I''m going to sleep now."


    "Wait!" Soo-min eximed. "There''s still one video left¡ªthe zero stars."


    Jia scoffed. "Zero stars? That''s the worst. Why would you even join the show when you have zero skills?"


    "I don''t know," Wei said. "But let''s give them a chance. They only have 5,000 views so far."


    Jia wanted tough. Well, they''re definitely not going to win. She could already imagine what kind of performance they would pull off since the two-stars already did quite badly.


    The video yed, and it was obvious that the four girls were less interested in the zero-star performancepared to anyone else. The first scene was ck, creating a sense of mystery.


    Then, the t stage was illuminated, showing the small bundle of zero-star trainees.


    The girls looked at the TV in shock as the camera panned closer to the trainees. Even Jia, who was just about to sleep a while ago, straightened her back and looked at the scene with disbelief.


    Unlike the other levels, they weren''t wearing schoolboy outfits.


    Instead, they wore animal onesies? There''s a dinosaur, a fox, a dog, an alligator and even an ant?


    The room was silent as they started to dance, their skills showing that they were indeed zero-stars. However, much to their surprise, it appeared like they weren''t making any mistakes. Their moves were lousy but they were in sync!


    The four girls didn''t know how to react as the beginning dance was finished. Then, they burst intoughter.


    "I can''t believe this!"


    "This is genius!"


    "Fuck, I''ve never seen something so funny in Rising Stars."


    The camera focused on the middle, and June, who was the only one wearing a mask, was shown. The girls burst intoughter once again. His moves were lousy like the other trainees, but they appeared betterpared to the other ones. A group shot was shown, and all of them looked like fish out of water. Even Jia let out a tiny chuckle.


    "Who the hell is that?" Jia asked. "Why did they allow a trainee to wear a mask?"


    "Ah, my stomach hurts," Wei continued tough.


    However, as the first line was sung by the trainee with a mask, they all became silent.


    Jia''s eyes widened in surprise.


    This funny guy could actually sing?


    The girls had never been so engrossed in watching a performance. It was filled withughter, disbelief, and moreughter.


    And before they even knew it, they reyed the video once again.

 Chapter 31: Virus Video

    <h4>Chapter 31: Virus Video</h4>


    Minjun burst intoughter as he watched the zero-star video on his grandmother''s phone. He decided to visit June now that he was home. The trainees are given some time off until the airing of the first episode. After that, they''ll pretty much continue filming for the next two months.


    Minjun and his grandma couldn''t stopughing as the lousy dancing of the zero-star trainees was shown. June watched them with a tired look. He had already watched it himself, and he wondered if the concept was a bad idea after all.


    [HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.]


    And worse, Fu couldn''t stopughing inside his head. This damn system. Sometimes June wonders if he really wants him to debut or not.


    The music continued to resonate in his small room, and he watched from behind as his fellow trainees danced with serious enthusiasm, executing quirky yet synchronous moves that matched their respective animal outfits. The bear clumsily attempted a breakdance move while the bunny hopped around with boundless energy.


    Aside from June, there were a few vocal cracks here and there. C-Jay, dressed like a lion, even growled during one of his notes, but it came out as a cheesy bark.


    The video finished, and Grandma and Minjun couldn''t stopughing.


    "When Minjun said you were going to join an idol show, I almost couldn''t believe it," Grandma said. "But you were serious."


    June gave them a dead look. "Stop ying that," he said, snatching the phone from the little kid''s hand. He nced at the view count and saw that it was stuck on 5,600 views. He clicked Azure''s channel and saw that the five-stars had more than 100,000 views already. Even the two-stars passed the 20,000 mark.


    June sighed. He definitely failed this time. He clicked on the zero-star video again and read some of thements.


    - Kekeke, what is this?! A school talent show?


    - It''s like watching a group of intable tube men at a car dealership.


    - A guy with a mask on an idol survival show? What a joke!


    - HHAHAHAH fuck, I can''t stopughing.


    - Hey! Isn''t this the guy on the bus with the little kid? So, he''s actually going to film for Rising Stars during that time?


    - I think I just got motion sickness from watching them.


    June sighed once more andpletely turned off the phone before tossing it on the couch.


    "You sang quite well, big brother," Minjun said, giving him a thumbs up. "I''ll ask my friends to watch your video tomorrow so your level can win."


    June ruffled Minjun''s hair. "Thanks, kid."


    "Minjun''s right," Grandma said. "You do sing pretty well. I was surprised when you first sang."


    "Thanks, I guess," he grumbled. It doesn''t take away the fact that their performance was horrendous and downright embarrassing, though.


    "By the way. How long are you nning on wearing a cat mask on the show? You''re a good-lookingd," Grandma said.


    "My wounds," he said. "They''re not healed yet."


    "Oh, that''s right," Grandma said, inspecting his face. "I''ll give you a cream and a pack of face masks tomorrow. Apply the cream on your wounds so they can heal faster. Then, wear a mask every other day so yourplexion brightens too. And make sure to eat more; you need more meat on your cheeks."


    June nodded. "I''ll do that, Grandma."


    Just then, Minjun yawned, so Grandma held onto his hand. "We''ll sleep first. I''ll see you tomorrow, alright? Come down to eat some lunch with us."


    "Yes, good night, Grandma. Good night, twerp."


    With that, the two of them left his apartment. However, before they left, Minjun turned around and smiled at him.


    "We''ll only watch your video, big brother!" Minjun said. "I''m sure the other videos aren''t as funny as yours."


    June scoffed. "Just go to sleep, kid."


    He closed the door and locked it before opening his phone and tracking the views once again.


    5,765.


    A whopping 165 views were added in the span of minutes.


    Ah, whatever.


    June went inside his room and plopped onto his bed. Practicing and filming for thest couple of days felt quite tiring, so he''s been itching to rest. He''s definitely going to sleep until noon tomorrow.


    After a few seconds, he was able to fall into slumber.


    ***


    June''s sleep was interrupted by his phone''s loud, continuous beeps. He groaned and nced at the bedside clock.


    10:07 AM.


    He was determined to get more sleep! Who are the little shits that disrupted his sleep?


    He squinted his eyes as he looked at the multiple texts from Jangmoon and C-Jay. There were a couple more texts from the other zero-star trainees, too. He frowned. Since when did they decide to act all friendly with June?


    June was surprised that they were still excited despite the Power Up! booster expiring. It''s like they attached themselves to June after the performance. They even kept pestering him for his number, so he had no choice in the end.


    He opened the texts and immediately sat up.


    - Brother, it''s insane!


    - I think we''re going to win!


    - The response to our performance video is crazy!


    June quickly left the messaging app and went to Youwatch. His eyes widened in surprise when he looked at the number of views on their video.


    6,567,890.


    He rubbed his eyes and made sure he was indeed looking at their video. He couldn''t be mistaken. It''s really theirs. June then looked at the other levels'' view count and saw that the five-star trainees just passed 3 million views.


    "What the heck?" he muttered as he clicked on the video.


    He went straight to thements.


    - My child thinks this is hrious~


    - HAHAHAHA shit. I''m not even a fan of idols, but this is hrious.


    - People actually watch this shit?


    - Ah, the guy with the cat mask has a good voice ^_^


    - I might actually tune in to Rising Stars.


    - Holy! Already 5 million views?


    - This isn''t a viral video. This is a virus video.


    He let go of his phone, the video ying in the background. Then, a smirk appeared on his face.


    His n actually worked.


    They''re definitely going to see their performance on TV.

 Chapter 32: Part Time

    <h4>Chapter 32: Part Time</h4>


    Alright, maybe winning wasn''t too good. Their video practically yed more than ten times on TV every day. It would just be short snippets, but June always cringed while watching them. The Azure broadcasting station isn''t even the one showing them the most! They practically became a national meme after their video went viral. However, he couldn''t reallyin since more people have grown more curious about him.


    June opened his phone and turned the camera on to see how his face was doing. What Grandma gave him seems to be doing wonders. His skin was already brighter, and the wounds were finally drying up. They were still there, though. So he might stick with the cat mask until they fully heal.


    Besides, it''s fun not being judged based on your appearance in thepetition. June would like to enjoy it a bit more.


    He scrolled through some of the pictures on Joon-ho''s old phone but found nothing except screenshots of idol culture. This kid''s life seemed to be such a mystery. June decided to explore his phone further, proceeding to the note app.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise when he saw a lone note entitled¡ª" I shouldn''t have seen what I did."


    He opened it and immediately read the content.


    "In shadows cast by the veil of night,


    A glimpse of darkness, stark and tight.


    A secret hushed, a truth untold,


    A tale of sin that must be stowed.


    Eyes wide, my heart began to race,


    I stumbled upon this somber ce.


    A truth too heavy for me to bear,


    A burden I must forever wear.


    To the grave, I''ll take this weight,


    A solemn vow, a sealed fate.


    I''ll bear this knowledge, dark and deep,


    A secret held, my soul to keep.


    So, here I stand, burdened by this weight,


    A silent witness to cruel fate.


    A tale of crime I''ll never share,


    To the grave, my secret I''ll bear."


    June frowned. This felt like lyrics to a song, or maybe it held a much deeper meaning than he''d thought?


    Before June could ponder upon it, though, his phone suddenly beeped, a sign he had received a text message. He sighed. He swears if it''s one of the zero-star trainees again¡­


    They''ve been pestering him nonstop ever since they won the benefit. Calling him a "genius" and a good "big brother."


    What a joke. Some of them were older than this body! Big brother, my ass.


    June opened the text and found that the sender was called "monster."


    From: Monster


    "You better pay on the 20th, you little shit. You need to pay two months in total."


    To: Monster


    "Who''s this?"


    From: Monster


    "ying pretend now, huh? You''re lucky I haven''t kicked your sorry ass out. It''s yourndy, you shithead!"


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. Well, now he knows why Joon-ho named the contact as such. He nced at the calendar and saw it was already the 16th? As far as he knows, the former Joon-ho was broke, so he probably doesn''t have any money stashed up.


    Where the hell is he supposed to get money?


    June was supposed to return to their filming site on the 24th, just in time for the first episode, so he still has time to look for money.


    To: Monster


    "I''ll give it to you on the 23rd. How much do I owe you?"


    From: Monster


    "You better do that, little shit. You owe me 400 dors."


    June sighed and turned off his phone. At least it wasn''t too bad. This apartment was shitty as hell, so the price is quite reasonable. He still doesn''t think it''s possible to earn 400 dors in a week, though.


    Should he ask Grandma for help?


    Nah, that''d be too much. She already feeds him on a daily basis.


    But maybe she knows some part-time jobs he can do for a week. With that thought, June went down since it was time for lunch as well.


    June entered their small apartment, not even bothering to knock. This was like his second home now.


    "You''re here?" Grandma said, bringing out a pot of hot noodle soup for their lunch. "You''re just in time. Come and grab a te."


    June helped arrange the table with Minjun. Then, they ate in peace. Honestly, this felt like the closest thing he could consider family now that Mei Ling wasn''t with him.


    "Grandma," June said as he finished his te. "Do you know any part-time jobs I can do for only one week?"


    "Why? Are you going to pay my grandma for giving you free meals now?" Minjun asked.


    "Minjun," his grandma scolded.


    "A job?" she asked. "But aren''t you going back to film Rising Stars in a week?"


    "Yes," June said. "That''s why I need a short-term job."


    "Well, you came to the right person," she smiled. "My old friend, who owns a family-owned convenience store a few blocks from here, is looking for a temporary worker since their son, who manages it, went on a trip to Australia. They''re looking for someone to work the register for only a week."


    June smiled. "Then, could you rmend me to work there?"


    "Of course," she patted his shoulder. "I''m sure my friend will immediately hire you. They haven''t found a part-timer yet since nobody wants to work for just one week. However, they''re paying a pretty good amount¡ª7 dors per hour."


    June nodded in approval. He''ll be able to gain enough money for his rent if he works the entire week.


    "When do you think I could start?"


    Grandma brought her phone out. "Do you want to start now?"

 Chapter 33: Growing Gummies

    <h4>Chapter 33: Growing Gummies</h4>


    It''s already been a week since June started working in the family-owned convenience store. And now, it was hisst day already. It''s been uneventful so far, and he''s quite thankful the old owner let him wear a mask while he''s working.


    Not his bright pink cat mask, of course.


    Just a regr ck facemask.


    However, now that it was hisst day, it seemed like the world was testing him.


    In the middle of the day, a drunkard came and pestered to give him a pack of cigarettes for free.


    "There''s nothing free in this world, bud," June said, looking him in the eyes.


    The drunkardughed. "Bud? Who are you talking to, kid? How old are ya, huh?" he said, slurred.


    June sighed, feeling tired already. "Then, get going, gramps. We don''t give out freebies here."


    The drunkard suddenly brought something out from his pocket¡ªa knife of some sort. June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when the drunkard held it in front of his face threateningly. June''s heart started beating harder in his chest. He never knew encountering danger would make him so excited!


    "Just give me one pack, kid. Or you''re dead meat."


    "I''d like to see you try, gramps," June smirked. The drunkardunched forward, trying to dive the knife near June''s neck. However, with his fast reflexes, June quickly caught the knife from his hands and pressed a pressure point on his wrist, causing the drunkard to let go of the knife.


    Afterward, June wrapped his elbow around the drunkard''s neck, locking him in ce. June grimaced as the scent of cheap alcohol and umted hair grease and dandruff wafted through his senses.


    "Why are you looking for cigarettes when you should be stealing shampoo instead, gramps?"


    June quickly ripped a sachet of shampoo from the counter and ced it in the drunkard''s pocket. Then, he tightened his hold around his neck, causing the drunkard to choke.


    "Now, get going, take a bath, and don''te back, you got it?"


    The drunkard quickly nodded, bing sober. He thought the part-time worker was just a little kid, but something about him was terrifying.


    June smirked as he watched the old drunkard in fear. He patted himself on the back.


    He still got it.


    After the encounter with the drunkard, three high school girls entered the store. They were watching something on their phone, causing one of them to bump into a rack of chips. The chips toppled over, but they continued walking like nothing had just happened.


    June clicked his tongue and went to the rack to ce them back in order. As he got near the high school girls, he saw a glimpse of what they were watching. June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    They were watching his star level performance video.


    "Ah, what to do? They''re quite cute. My favorite is the lion."


    June grimaced. C-Jay? Really?


    "I watch this every day when I want a goodugh. It''s like aedy show."


    "The masked guy sings quite well, but I don''t know why Azure let him join. Isn''t he super ugly if he hides through the mask?"


    "That''s true. I don''t like him already."


    June scoffed.


    "Ah, whatever. I can''t wait for the first episode. I''m curious about these guys."


    They paid for their drinks and left the store, not even bothering to give him onepliment.


    June was in a sour mood already when four elementary school kids entered. They were loud, had greasy iPads in their hands, and appeared to be spoiled little kids.


    "Let''s get candies! Or chips? Or drinks? But I also want some rice balls," one kid said.


    "Let''s get them all," another said. "Mommy gave her a card, so it''s alright."


    They wandered around the store while June wiped the counter. However, he couldn''t help but listen in to their conversation when one kid started speaking.


    "Oh my! Let''s get this too."


    "What''s that?"


    "You don''t know about this? It''s BenBen gummies! It''s going to make you grow in one day!"


    "That''s impossible."


    "It''s true! My friend grew 2 cm in one day after eating the gummies."


    "Let''s buy it then."


    The little kids brought a handful of snacks and drinks to the counter. However, June couldn''t stop looking at the BenBen gummies. He summoned his present missions before him.


    [Mission Status:


    1. Donate money to charity: INCOMPLETE


    2. Increase height by at least one centimeter: INCOMPLETE


    3. Get an autograph from a famous person: INCOMPLETE]


    "Can you make it faster, oldie?" one of the kids said, annoyed.


    June focused his attention on the little kids.


    "Oldie?" he asked.


    "Just give us our snacks, oldie," they continued to tease.


    June let out a long sigh before cing their snacks in a bag. "Here, little twerps."


    They stuck their tongues out before leaving, causing June to be more annoyed. He would have scolded them if they didn''t give out vital information.


    But since they taught June about BenBen gummies, he''s letting them off easy.


    June momentarily left the counter to get to the rack of gummies. He rummaged through the rack and saw there was only one pack left.


    He frowned. He saw many people buying this for the past week!


    He should have hoarded it if he knew it could increase his height.


    June was still grumbling to himself when someone suddenly tapped his shoulder. He turned around and saw a prestigious-looking woman who looked about his age when he was still Jun Hao.


    "I''m sorry. Are you the one working here?"


    June nodded.


    "I''m in a rush, and I couldn''t find you. I''m just going to buy this," she said, holding some sanitary pads. "Can I just pay for it here? I really need to go."


    "Okay," June said once more.


    The woman gave him a 20-dor bill.


    "Your change," he said.


    She shook her head. "Keep the change. I really need to go."


    With that, she left the store in a rush. June smiled to himself. It seemed like he didn''t need to pay for the BenBen gummies with his own money after all.


    He went back to the counter but stopped when he saw a pink item on top of it. He frowned and picked it up.


    It was a wallet!


    June opened the wallet to see who it may belong to, but the first thing he noticed was the money inside.


    [Oh, wow. That''s a lot of money.]


    Indeed. The wallet has more than 10,000 dors!

 Chapter 34: Kindhearted Gangster

    <h4>Chapter 34: Kindhearted Gangster</h4>


    [Take it. Take it.]


    Fu said over and over again in June''s mind.


    ''Were you a thief in your past life?''


    [Imagine what you could do with it, host!]


    There were definitely a lot of things he could do with 10,000 dors. For starters, he doesn''t even need to think about his rent for the next few months! He can also buy another phone and rece the cracked and old phone he currently has. He can repay Grandma for all the meals she had cooked for him!


    June can even aplish the first mission on his list: Donate to charity.


    He inspected the wallet once again and went through the IDs inside. He saw it belonged to the rich-lookingdy a while back. Now that he thinks about it, thedy probably won''t even feel a loss of 10,000 dors.


    But then again, he shouldn''t judge a book by its cover. Besides, it wouldn''t be good for his reputation if people found out he had stolen a wallet.


    June brought out his taped-up phone from his pocket and typed in the number written on one of the ID cards.


    [You''re going to give it back?]


    June ignored Fu and waited until the person on the other side picked up.


    "Hello?" the familiar voice of the woman said.


    "Hello, Miss Hana?" June asked.


    "Umm, yes. Who is this?"


    "I''m calling from Seven Star Convenience Store. It seems you have left your wallet here," he said. He couldn''t help but sigh since he still felt that it was a shame.


    10,000 dors!


    June never even had that amount of money when he was still with White Tiger. Sure, he had dealt with money as big as millions during negotiations, but he was paid with petty penniespared to those.


    "Oh, thank goodness," Hana said. "I thought I had lost everything. Thank you for calling me."


    "Can you get it here? I''m still on my shift," he said.


    "Of course," Hana eximed. "I was just in a restroom nearby. I''ll go there right now."


    "Alright," June said.


    "Thank¡ª"


    June turned off the call before Hana could even finish her sentence. The girl, who was on her way back to the convenience store, looked at her phone with confusion. Did that guy really just abruptly end their call?


    Does he not recognize who she is?


    Hana smiled and shook her head in amusement. And to think he''s returning her wallet. Other people would not have hesitated to keep the 10,000 dors for themselves.


    He must be a very kind man.


    On the other hand, June can''t stop sighing at the convenience store. Maybe he should have kept the wallet for himself. It didn''t seem like Hana was frantically looking for it, either.


    However, it does go against his principles. Even as a thug, he never stole any money from innocent people. He only ever stole money from those who deserved it. June believed that normal people who had no business with gangs and their world shouldn''t be involved.


    It didn''t take long before the sound of the door chimes was heard, signaling the entrance of Hana. Hana had a wide smile on her face as she entered, already thanking June with her gaze.


    "Here," June nonchntly said. "I didn''t take anything."


    Hana chuckled at the young guy''s cold demeanor. It felt refreshing not to be treated like a celebrity all the time.


    "I''m sure you didn''t," Hana said. "Thanks for being honest."


    "I would have kept it if ya didn''t tip me," he seriously said, but it elicited a chuckle from Hana.


    "I like you," Hana suddenly said, causing June to raise both his eyebrows.


    "Do you go around falling in love with people you don''t even know?" he asked.


    She shook her head. "It''s not that kind of "like," young man. I just like that you brought this back to me. You seem very kind."


    Kind?


    June scoffed.


    If only she knew.


    "You''re honest, too," she added. "Here," she said, suddenly bringing out a 500-dor bill from her pocket. "A token for being a kind and honest man."


    June wasted no time in taking the money and cing it in his pocket. Stealing from a normal citizen was something he didn''t want to do, but when the blessing is right in front of your face, you shouldn''t even hesitate to grab it!


    "Thanks," he muttered. "Have a good day."


    Hana looked at him, amused. "That''s it?"


    "What else do ya want?" June asked.


    Hana chuckled. "Nothing, nothing. I''m just curious¡ªdo you not know who I am?"


    June frowned in confusion. He looked at her face, but she didn''t seem familiar.


    "No," he honestly said.


    Hana nodded and smiled. "That''s nice. I''ll get going then."


    June merely nodded, causing Hana to chuckle once again. "I hope to see you around sometime!"


    With that, she waved her hand and left the convenience store.


    June sighed in relief since his shift was almost over. There weren''t any new peopleing in, too, so he decided to clean up while waiting for the owner to give him his sry for the week.


    June first arranged the chips rack, then moved over to the alcoholic drinks. How he wishes he could drink tonight, but they were going to shoot for Rising Stars tomorrow. He looked at the soju bottle with longing, imagining its taste on his tongue.


    He frowned, however, when he saw a familiar face on the soju bottle.


    "Miss Hana?"


    ***


    June''s shift was now over, and he was already on his way home. He had a huge bag of gummies in his hand and quickly popped one in his mouth.


    His eyes widened in glee when he tasted the c-vored gummy.


    "These BenBen gummies are quite good," he muttered.


    In the end, the owner could only pay him 500 dorspared to the 588 dors they agreed on. It was alright with June since he had gotten a prettyrge tip from Miss Hana. However, he couldn''t go home empty-handed, so he asked the owner topensate him with BenBen gummies instead.


    So, now, he had 10 bags of gummies in his possession.


    They better help him grow at least 1 cm!


    On his way home, he came across an orphanage, causing him to stop and stare at the old and knackered building. Somehow, it reminded him of the orphanage him and Mei Ling used to live in.


    It had awful living conditions, and they fought for food every single day. However, the nuns who took care of them were kind enough to raise them well with love and care. Of course, that was difficult with theck of funds they had, but they still tried their best.


    When June entered the gang, he felt quite guilty, knowing the nuns raised them to be kind people. However, June believed he didn''t have a choice. In the end, he wanted to give Mei Ling a good life.


    To ease his guilt, June donated to the orphanage every month when he was still Jun Hao. That''s probably one of the reasons he couldn''t save a lot of money back then. But it was nice seeing the nuns that raised him smile in gratefulness whenever he donated.


    June was reminded of his mission once again. Whilst chewing on his gummies, he brought out his wallet and saw the 1,000 dors he had earned in a span of one week.


    He had to spare 600 dors for his rent fromst month until the next month, so he was left with only 400 dors left.


    June wanted to buy some decent clothes for the filming of the show or maybe treat Grandma and Minjun before he went.


    However, he heard the sound of children cheering from inside. June peered through the musty window and saw about 15 kids and 2 old caretakers sharing a vegetable dish on the table.


    June sighed and brought out the 500 dors that Hana gave him this morning.


    "This wasn''t supposed to be mine anyway," he muttered.


    [Mission Sess: Donate to Charity]


    [Please pick one aspect to improve.]


    "Dance."


    [Wise choice! Dance + 1. Current grade: D+]

 Chapter 35: First Episode

    <h4>Chapter 35: First Episode</h4>


    "Don''t mess up," Minjun said. "You need to be famous. You''re going to end up as a street thug if this doesn''t work out."


    If this kid only knew.


    June rolled his eyes. "Yes, big brother."


    Minjun smiled. "That''s good, kid. You should do well since you''ve been fed good meals by my grandma."


    "Don''t listen to Minjun," Grandma said. "You should take care of yourself well while you''re in thepetition. At least I wouldn''t worry about your meals since they must be feeding you there."


    June nodded. "Thanks," he muttered. He doesn''t express his gratitude often, but Grandma has done a lot for him since he gave her a cup of coffee.


    "We''ll continue to watch you on our TV," she smiled.


    With that, June left the apartment building, putting a ck face mask on. He fixed the duffel bag on his shoulder and walked to the train station to go to the Azure building.


    Today was the airing of the first episode of Rising Stars, and after this, their missions would be given out as well. Honestly, June wasn''t excited to watch himself on the big screen. He could already imagine his audition and attempt at dancing.


    He nced at his watch and saw he arrivedter than their call time. Well, he still did not have a manager who could transport him, and the train arrived longer than usual.


    June was given a schoolboy outfit at the main door and instructed to wear it. He went to the dressing room and quickly changed before heading to the amphitheater. He also ced his signature pink mask, newly-washed courtesy to Grandma.


    As he arrived, he was greeted with the sight of the 100 boys he would live with for the next few months. He tried to find a seat as discreetly as possible, but it was practically impossible, with C-Jay and Jangmoon screaming his name.


    "Brother June! Brother! Here, here! We saved a spot for you," C-Jay screamed, getting the attention of the other trainees.


    June pursed his lips together.


    "Our big brother is here!" Jangmoon boasted. "He''s the one who led our team to victory! Who would have thought the zero-stars would win against all the other levels?"


    The other zero-star trainees eximed in agreement, obviously ted with the results they had achievedst week. June wandered his eyes around until he saw Jisung. He saw a vacant seat next to him and sighed in relief.


    June ignored the zero-star trainees and walked over to Jisung. Jisung looked at him with wide and bright eyes.


    "You''re not sitting with them?" he asked.


    "Too noisy," June said, focusing his gaze on the front.


    Just then, the intro of the signal song started ying, startling some of the trainees.


    "Ah, that scared me!" Zeth eximed. Renughed by his side while the other trainees who wanted to suck up to the five-stars reacted the same way.


    Just then, the door opened, causing the trainees to look around. They gasped in surprise when they saw the popr idol Mimi from the first season of Rising Stars! She was part of the group Girls'' Evolution but became a solo artist when their contract expired two yearster.


    "Oh my! It''s Mimi," Jisung gasped. "She''s so pretty."


    "Mimi!" the other trainees eximed.


    Mimi smiled and walked down the stairs. She stopped for a second when she arrived at third row. June made eye contact with her, and a small smile appeared on her lips. However, June was too focused on getting the itch on his back that he didn''t even notice.


    She went to the front and smiled at the trainees. The guys were immediately mesmerized by her beauty. At the end of the day, they were still boys. June nced at her and quickly looked away.


    Too young.


    She really looks young.


    "Good day, dear trainees! You have made it past the initial phase of Rising Stars, and we are now on the first episode! We shall watch the episode together, and the initial rankings will be revealed in the end."


    The trainees murmured to themselves. Jisung fiddled with his fingers and leaned closer to June.


    "I''m nervous, brother. I want to rank high."


    "You will," June said.


    It was obvious. Jisung came from a bigpany. He looked pretty and handsome at the same time, and he wasn''t talentless.


    June''s guessing he will get into the top 15, at least.


    The first episode started, and the trainees tuned in, hoping for a decent amount of screen time. The first trainees who entered already felt boastful that they could open the show. The extravagant stage was shown on screen, and the trainees eximed in awe even when they''d already seen it before.


    Then, the mentors were mentioned, eliciting some cheers from the crowd.


    Jisung was the first trainee to be shown. The trainees eximed when they saw his face on the big screen.


    Ah, as expected. Handsome trainees are different.


    His stage was amplified by the effects and the editing, and by the end of it, everyone thought his level was well-deserved.


    The auditions continued, and everybody knew the show was already guaranteed to be a hit.


    Ye-jin and Yena monitored the reactions online and couldn''t be happier. Both hate and praise were being thrown around on social media tforms.


    And if that''s not a sign of sess, then Yena doesn''t know what is.


    After the lukewarm performances, it was time for the segment of "funny and untalented" trainees. Mike was the first to be shown, and the trainees burst intoughter at his attempt to dance. It only continued after that. The stages of the zero-star trainees were shown, and the room was filled withughter with every performance.


    Even Mimi wasughing in her seat.


    However, when C-Jay was shown on screen, the room had turned silent. This was the time when the mentors gave the trainees some scolding.


    June knew what wasing next.


    Somehow, he wished his performance would be shown on the next episode¡ªjust so the other trainees couldn''t watch it live. However, his hope was shattered when the screen showed him entering the stage.


    Some of the trainees cheered, the zero-stars being the loudest, as he introduced himself.


    "Umm, trainee June?" Bone said. "This mask. Is it a concept?"


    June nodded. "Yes," he said. "I like cats."


    June sighed when the traineesughed once again.


    "You''re hrious, brother!" Eli eximed from the back.


    Mimi even turned around to look at him. Since she saw their signal song performance on TV, she had grown more curious about June. How could someone wear a mask during an idol survival show? And to think he actually has a good voice.


    Mimi definitely thinks June is one trainee to look out for.


    June''s audition started, and the initialughter turned into awe.


    ''He really sings well,'' Mimi taught.


    Ren sighed. "I think he sings better than me," he whispered to Zeth.


    "Eyy, I thought you were confident in your skills, hmm?" Zeth teased. "But he does sing quite well. Even in their signal song performance, his voice stood out."


    Jaeyong and the RAVEN members watched him intently too. Jaeyong still didn''t feel like June was taking Rising Stars seriously and didn''t want to get close to people who thought thispetition was just for fun.


    However, he does recognize that June could sing well.


    June kept silent as he watched his performance. He sounded quite good and wanted to give himself a pat on the back. However, he knew what was about toe next.


    The Little Meow Meow song yed, and he started moving to the beat. The trainees burst intoughter once again, tears in their eyes as they watched June''s pathetic attempt at dancing.


    "Ah, you''re so cute, brother," Jisung giggled by his side.


    June sighed and clenched his fists from the cringiness he was feeling. How could the editors add meowing sounds and hearts floating through the screen during this performance?


    "So cute!" Jangmoon whispered, smitten. "Howe I didn''t notice that our big brother is so cute until now?"


    "You know you''re older than him by one year, right?" Mike retorted by his side.


    "A more talented brother is a big brother."


    By the end of his audition, the room was practically in shambles. The real-time rating of the show soared to an all-time high, too, and thements on the live stream were phenomenal.


    - This kid! Does he think thispetition is a joke or something?


    - I really like his voice! And his dancing was so cute, too.


    - I''m bing more curious about this guy.


    - He can''t dance for shit, kekeke. But his voice is the main vocal material.


    - Ugly. He''s definitely ugly. No one could have a voice like that and be handsome.


    - I''m bing a fan <3. I''m so sad I didn''t give him stars during the preliminaries.


    The trainees quickly stoppedughing when they saw that the rankings were finally going to be announced. They focused their attention on the screen, hearts pounding in nervousness.


    100. Eli


    Eli felt his breath get stuck in the back of his throat when he appeared to best. He tried to smile, but he was obviously devastated by the results.


    After that, more trainees from the zero-stars were on the list.


    June frowned when it was already in the 50th rank, yet his name still wasn''t shown. He was expecting to rank around that ce since he still doesn''t have a lot of individual fans.


    37. Minx


    36. Hoon


    35. June


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw himself at the 35th spot.


    That was higher than expected.


    "Congrats, brother," Jisung sincerely said.


    "Thanks," June muttered.


    On the other hand, Hoon couldn''t help but fume at the results. 36th? After he became the center of the three stars? And how could that faceless trainee from the zero-stars rank higher than him? This might be some kind of joke!


    Starting from the 30th, the rankings was filled with handsome or already-known trainees.


    14. Jinsol


    13. Steel


    12. Jisung


    11. Bin


    June knew it. If Jisung stands out even more in the future, there''s a guarantee he''s going to debut.


    "Congrats," June said.


    "Ah, thank you, brother! I never expected my rank to be this high!"


    After that, the top 10 trainees were shown. These were the trainees that had the highest chances of debuting.


    10. Lin Zhi


    Lin Zhi proudly smiled when the people around him started congratting him. June, on the other hand, felt like this situation wasughable. He couldn''t believe the guy who contributed to killing him made it to the top 10!


    9. Alex


    8. Jaxon


    7. Hyunwoo


    6. Leo


    5. Yuri


    4. Ren


    3. Jaeyong


    2. Casper


    1. Zeth

 Chapter 36: Avengers

    <h4>Chapter 36: Avengers</h4>


    The 100 boys changed into their ck shirts after the airing of the first episode. They weren''t divided by their star levels anymore, and now, they were going to form another team for their very first performance with a live audience.


    June wandered his eyes around the familiar room that he always saw on TV.


    In front of the trainees was a wide wall with multiple covered cue cards on them.


    The song mission cards.


    June was familiar with them. Some songs were definitely more popr than others. There will be some unexpected songs among the bunch, and it would either be criticized for being a "bad" performance or be iconic since a group of well-known and talented trainees performed it.


    "Line up ording to your ranks!" Yena instructed, and the trainees with lower ranks were devastated.


    Hoon clicked his tongue as he stood beside June. He hated the fact that his rank was lower than his!


    Kang Minho entered the room, and the trainees burst into apuse.


    "He''s still so handsome whenever I see him."


    "I wonder what it''s like to live with such a face."


    "I think I need to be reborn if I want to live a life like his."


    "Good evening, trainees," Minho said.


    "Good evening, mentor."


    "How was the first episode?" he asked.


    Different reactions were heard across the room.


    "That''s nice. With the airing of the first episode, your dreams of bing a worldwide idol are finally within your reach!" Minho enthusiastically said.


    "However, you will have toplete a series of challenges before you reach the top. Today, the first mission willmence. It is entitled¡ªArtist Battle!"


    "Artist Battle?" June whispered.


    The other trainees were also unfamiliar with the concept. The first mission was always a song battle! Girl seasons were given girl group songs, while boy seasons were given boy group songs.


    What the hell was an artist battle?


    "Settle down, trainees. I''ll exin it to you."


    The cloth was let down, and numerous artists were shown. For one artist, two cue cards with different colors were on the wall.


    LUMINOUS


    GIRLS'' EVOLUTION


    THUNDER


    CRXSS


    ROMANTIX


    CHAOS


    In total, 12 cue cards with 6 different groups were shown.


    "Chaos? That''s a guaranteed win!"


    "Why is there a girl group here?"


    "Damn, I don''t want Romantix''s song. They''re unpopr."


    Different opinions were heard in the room. Some songs were more wanted than others, and it seemed like GIRLS'' EVOLUTION was the least popr among the male trainees.


    "You shall battle with two different songs from the same artist! So, you must choose your teams and songs wisely because the winner between the two teams will get 50,000 stars each! And get this, the highest ranked trainee will get an additional 50,000 stars."


    "A total of 100,000 stars? That''s unfair! They''re basically debuting," someined.


    "I''m definitely going to win this," some eximed, confident that they were going to take the points.


    "And the team with the highest score out of all will get another 50,000 stars!"


    "But before we get to the song reveals, you shall form your teams first. I think you already know who the first person to pick will be!"


    Everybody nced at Zeth. Zeth smiled, his charisma unhidden despite the simple shirt he was wearing.


    "Zeth, can you pleasee here," Minho said.


    "You shall pick your teammates first. Four teams will have nine members, while the other eight will have eight. The chosen picker would have the power to decide the number of his teammates too. Zeth, are you ready to pick your team?"


    "Yup," Zeth said, his happy-go-lucky personalitying through. He scanned the room with his eyes, and some of the trainees swelled with hope, wanting to be picked by the number one trainee.


    It was almost a guaranteed win if they were picked by Zeth. Each season, there was an "Avengers" team, and it usually had the person who was voted first on the pilot episode.


    On the other hand, June didn''t want to be a part of the Avengers team. With his current skills, he definitely would fall behind and look like a fish out of water.


    "You may start with picking your teammates," Minho said.


    Zeth already knew whom he would pick. He already had a team and song in mind, so it wasn''t too difficult for him.


    "Ren," he said with a smile.


    "You again?" Ren teasingly said, but he was happy to be a part of a good team.


    "Yuri."


    Yuri smirked. It was already shaping up to be such a good team. With Ren''s and Yuri''s top-notch vocals, a good performance was guaranteed to be shown.


    "Jaxon."


    A good dancer with a sexy charisma.


    "Steel."


    A well-rounded trainee with choreography skills.


    "Alex."


    Out of all the trainees called, he''s definitely the least talented one. But he has a unique voice that could add something special to the team.


    "Lin Zhi."


    "Leo."


    "Jisung. He''s thest member of our team."


    Jisung gasped loudly, and he bowed his head in gratefulness. It seemed like he really wanted to be with the Avengers.


    "Ah, this is unfair! They''ve already won."


    "We have to avoid them at all costs."


    "The next trainee to pick will be chosen through a lucky draw," Minho said.


    The trainees eximed excitedly. The zero-stars still had some hope that they could pick some good teammates.


    Minho rummaged through a ball of names and quickly picked one out. June wanted to be called because he wanted to pick his teammates.


    "Jaeyong."


    June shook his head. Truly, this was a lucky draw. The third cer still ended up having the privilege of choosing a team!


    "That''s he unfair," a trainee whispered.


    "He''s going to take all the other talented trainees."


    Jaeyong went to the front. This might potentially be another set of Avengers¡ªmaybe like the Justice League.


    June definitely wasn''t expecting to be picked. This guy still hates his guts for whatever reason.


    "Evan."


    As expected, Jaeyong picked a member from RAVEN.


    "Casper."


    June frowned. It was surprising. Casper and Jaeyong both have rapper positions, and their styles are quite simr too. Jaeyong will have a hard time securing the top spot with Casper in his team.


    "Hyunwoo."


    "Daeho."


    "Zachary."


    "Jinsol."


    "Youngmin."


    "This is really unfair. Jaeyong took all the good trainees!"


    "What the hell? There are two teams I''d like to avoid already."


    Minho looked at the newly formed team and nodded in approval.


    "It''s time to form the third team," he said, rummaging through the balls.


    June wanted to get picked this time around. Based on the past seasons, the third team wasn''t the most "stand-out" group, but their performance would also be well-loved since a number of talented trainees were also included in them.


    "C-Jay."


    Or not.


    June definitely doesn''t want to get picked now.


    The zero-star trainees cheered, while others avoided his eyes.


    C-Jay excitedly went to the front and scanned the room, his eyes shining with a mischievous smirk.


    "Of course, I have to pick my boy Jangmoon!" he excitedly eximed.


    Jangmoon practically bolted to the front, fist-bumping with C-Jay as he went beside him.


    "And Eli, too! Don''t be so down even when you''re the only one with a three-digit rank, brother."


    Minho chuckled while some traineesughed.


    The three zero-star trainees appeared excited on the tform.


    Doomed.


    June knew that their team was already doomed! How could three-zero star trainees be in the third group when there were still a lot of options to choose from?


    "Akira."


    RAVEN''s Japanese member tried to smile when he was called, but it was obvious that he dreaded being part of the team.


    "I always wanted a little brother, so Minx," he called the youngest trainee.


    Minx couldn''t hide his disappointment, but he still stood next to Akira.


    "Bin."


    C-Jay''s picks are actually getting better, but June still wanted to avoid the team.


    "Hoon."


    Oh, he definitely wants to avoid this team.


    Hoon cursed under his breath before going to the front.


    "Andst but definitely not the least..."


    Everybody held their breaths while waiting for thest trainee to be called.


    June looked down at the ground and prayed he wouldn''t get picked. However, as he lifted his head, his eyes were met with C-Jay''s enthusiastic smile.


    "June."

 Chapter 37: Run, Baby, Run

    <h4>Chapter 37: Run, Baby, Run</h4>


    All the teams had been formed, and it was time to pick their songs.


    "Let''s go with CHAOS," Zeth said. "They''re the most popr group right now, and all their songs are hits.


    His group mates nodded in agreement.


    "I hope we get their song Daybreak," Ren said. "It has a lot of cool elements that we could y with."


    "Let''s avoid GIRLS'' EVOLUTION at all costs," Leo said. "I don''t think we should do a cute concept on the first mission."


    A series of agreements were heard.


    It was clear that CHAOS was the most popr out of all the groups, and C-Jay also wanted to perform a song of theirs.


    "Who''s good at running here?" he asked.


    Nobody responded.


    "Oh,e on, guys. I have the shortest legs here. How about you, Jangmoon? You''re the tallest here," C-Jay said.


    "I have asthma," Jangmoon sheepishly said.


    C-Jay nced at June and was about to ask him but quickly shook his head. This big brother helped him so much already! He should only sit still and look pretty while the other members run for a song card.


    "You do it," C-Jay said, patting Minx''s back.


    Minx looked at him with wide eyes.


    "You''re the youngest, right? You do it. Grab a CHAOS card for us, alright? I''m sure a 16-year-old has the best stamina out of all of us."


    Hoon scoffed, still bitter that he was chosen into a team with four zero-stars. For him, thest team formed is even better than this one!


    Minx was already shaking in his boots. Ever since he joined thepetition, he had lost confidence in himself. And now, he was given such a big responsibility.


    June felt bad for the little kid. Once again, he was reminded of himself when he was younger. This kid doesn''t seem like he''s ready for the idol life yet.


    Since June remembered that this guy helped him aplish one of his missions, he patted his back.


    "It''s alright, kid," he said. "You could grab anything that''s avable."


    Minx nodded, thankful to the masked guy that he always thought was weird.


    On the other side of the room, Jaeyong''s team was conversing.


    "I have a group in mind already," Jaeyong said.


    "We''re listening," Casper said.


    "What do you guys think about choosing a GIRLS'' EVOLUTION song?"


    Daeho''s eyes widened in surprise. "GIRLS'' EVOLUTION?" he asked. "Are you alright, brother? Do you think we''ll fit their cutesy concept?"


    "It''s a controversial pick," Jaeyong said. "More people would tune in if we pick such an artist. Besides, not every song from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION is cutesy. Theirtesteback is hip-hop inspired."


    There were still some hesitance within the group, but with Casper''s utterance, everyone listened closely.


    "Jaeyong''s right," he said. "We could create a more iconic stage with an unexpected song. I''m confident we can make a girl group song work by adjusting it to our style."


    "Alright," the other trainees started to agree.


    "But what if we''re unlucky enough to get a cute song?"


    "I''ll run," Casper said. "I suggested it, so I''ll take responsibility for it."


    The team decided to ce their trust in Casper.


    "Alright, will the chosen trainees pleasee to the line? Like every other season, the cue cards will be chosen through speed!" Minho said through the mic.


    The trainees lined up and waited until the signal was given.


    Minho blew the whistle, and they scrambled to get to the music cards. Zeth, with his tall and lean physique, led the pack.


    He took the CHAOS card, which put off the other runners. They wanted to pick the CHAOS card, but they also didn''t want topete with the Avengers team.


    "Take ROMANTIX!"


    "Take CRXSS!"


    They shouted to their teammates. The group scrambled to get to the other boy group songs.


    Casper, on the other hand, walked calmly to GIRLS'' EVOLUTION. He looked at the two cue cards and ced his hand under his chin.


    After thinking for a while, he took the blue card and walked back to his teammates.


    "Where the hell is that little kid?" Jangmoon asked.


    "I don''t see him," C-Jay said, squinting his eyes to get a better look.


    "There he is!" Bin said, pointing at Minx, who was currently on the floor.


    June pursed his lips. He felt bad for the kid, but at this point, he also felt bad for the team. The choices were getting snatched left and right.


    And before they even knew it, only CHAOS and GIRLS'' EVOLUTION were left on the board.


    The guy representing thest-formed team stood in front of the two choices with hesitancy.


    Minx, on the other hand, was still recovering on the floor.


    "Get up!" Hoon eximed. "Take the boy group song!"


    "Take CHAOS!" C-Jay screamed.


    Minx got up and started running toward the cards.


    The other group discussed among themselves. It was a tough decision since both songs were going to be performed by the best teams.


    Avengers vs. Justice League


    "Can we go against Zeth?" one of them whispered.


    "Definitely not. But we can''t go against Casper too," another said.


    "Then again, it''s better to perform a boy group song."


    "Take CHAOS!" they screamed.


    Minx was shaking as he ran, and he could see the CHAOS card within his reach.


    However, just as he reached his hand to take their card, the other guy quickly snatched it from the wall.


    And Minx fell to the ground once again.


    His teammates collectively sighed.


    Looks like they''re performing a GIRLS'' EVOLUTION song.

 Chapter 38: What Should I Do

    <h4>Chapter 38: What Should I Do</h4>


    After the exhausting run, the trainees were now about to reveal their chosen song.


    June nkly stared at their cue card.


    GIRLS'' EVOLUTION.


    The very first and undoubtedly very famous girl group that arose from ''Rising Stars.'' The concept of idol survival shows wasn''t very well-known then, and their season changed the trajectory of the trend since it aired.


    They debuted with a fresh, cutesy, and summery concept, so the general public is well-acquainted with their songs. Truly, they were the epitome of a girl group.


    When they disbanded after their contract expiration, other members ventured out into acting while others became sessful soloists.


    For some reason, the pink card that C-Jay held emanated an unspeakable aura.


    He nced at Jaeyong''s team and wanted to snatch the blue card from Casper''s hand and perform their song instead.


    "Alright, can the CHAOS teams please reveal their songs first?"


    The team ripped off the sticker from the card, and the song "Light Warriors" was revealed.


    "Ooh, that''s a good song!" C-Jay said. "If only you got it, little boy. We could have had an easier time."


    Minx looked down at the ground and scratched the back of his head.


    After that, Zeth''s team revealed their song.


    "Daybreak."


    The team cheered, and it seemed like the heavens were on their side since this was the exact song that Ren wanted to perform.


    "It''s over," Hoon said. "They''re definitely going to win the benefit."


    One by one, the groups started revealing their songs. The production crew selected a nice array of songs. Hits after hits were shown, so June dreaded their song reveal.


    Some of the songs were too tame.


    June knew that Rising Stars wouldn''t give the trainees such an easy time.


    "Let''s go to thest team! The GIRLS'' EVOLUTION performers, please reveal your songs," Minho said.


    Casper stepped forward and carefully ripped off the sticker. The trainees gasped as they stared at the written song.


    "Rebel Queens."


    "Ah, fuck. That''s a good song!"


    "If I knew it was going to be their hip-hop song, then I would have picked it right away."


    Casper turned back to his team with a wide smile. Indeed, it was a good song. It is an electrifying and empowering hip-hop anthem about breaking free from societal norms and standing tall as confident leaders.


    The song kicks off with a bold and energetic beat that immediately captures listeners'' attention, setting the tone for the rebellious and unapologetic spirit of the track. The verses are filled with clever wordy and fiery rhymes, showcasing the girl group''s fierce rap skills and lyrical prowess.


    It would be easier for them to arrange it into a boy group anthem since it already has some masculine elements to it.


    It was now their team''s time to show the song.


    "I don''t want to do it," Hoon said, still upset about the trajectory of the situation. He didn''t want to be in this group, and he definitely didn''t want to perform a girl group song.


    "I''m nervous, brother!" C-Jay said, giving the card to June. "You open it."


    June looked around and saw the trainees looking at them impatiently. He sighed and took the card before taking a step forward.


    "Yes, go, big brother!" Jangmoon cheered. "Please make use of your golden hands!"


    June focused his gaze on the card as he quickly ripped off the paper. The trainees pursed their lips together to hide theirughter.


    "Mermaid Melodies."


    Golden hands?


    More like golden poop hands.


    ***


    The groups have finally separated and were now preparing for their performances. Other groups were excited, while others didn''t have a clue what to do.


    June''s group is thetter.


    "Mermaid Melodies, huh?"


    Mermaid Melodies is from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION''s third album. This was the peak of their poprity, so this song is quite well-known. It is an enchanting and whimsical K-pop song that captures the essence of a magical summer romance in a beachy, mermaid-inspired world. The song paints a vivid picture of a stunning coastal paradise, where the shimmering sands meet the sparkling ocean waves and where dreams and love intertwine beneath the golden sun.


    The song''s cutesy and upbeat melody sets the stage for a tale of a lovestruck mermaid who serenades her true love with her mesmerizing voice. As the song progresses, the mermaid''s emotions and excitement for her beloved are conveyed through catchy and light-hearted choruses, inviting listeners to join in on the joyful celebration of their love.


    So, in the end, it''s a little mermaid concept.


    How will a boy group perform this song? And to think they''re going against Casper''s team, who has a hip-hop song.


    "I''m sorry, brothers," Minx said, casting his head to the ground.


    Bin chuckled and patted his back. "Cheer up, kid. It''s not over yet. Let''s first choose our leader and pick our parts."


    "I''ll do it."


    "I''ll do it."


    C-Jay and Hoon said at the same time. They nced at each other with raised eyebrows.


    "I formed this team, so it''s only fair that I be the leader."


    "Exactly," Hoon said. "This team is already in dire need of help because of its members and song choice. Let me be the leader so I can make things right."


    "That''s not fair," C-Jay said. "I chose you. Be grateful for once."


    "Let''s just vote," Bin nervously chuckled. "Is there anyone else who wants to be the leader?"


    "Why do we need to vote?" Hoonined. "I''m the only one with experience bing a leader here. I can do it the best out of everyone else."


    "That''s not true," Jangmoon said. "June was the leader of the zero-stars, and he did really well. We even won because of him."


    C-Jay''s eyes brightened up. "Then, I can ept if Brother June bes the leader," he said.


    Bin nodded enthusiastically. "I think June will be a good leader too. Don''t you guys think so?"


    "It''s alright with me," Akira said.


    "Of course, our brother June is a good leader," Eli said.


    "I think it would be good if it''s brother June too," Minx shyly said.


    Hoon pursed his lips in anger. On the other hand, June couldn''t do anything since his teammates were looking at him with such bright eyes.


    "Fine," he said in a constipated voice.


    C-Jay pped in delight. "That''s settled then. Brother June would be the leader," he said, sticking the "leader" sticker on June''s shirt.


    [Do a good job as a leader, host.]


    ''I hate this.''


    June sighed and went over the song. "There will be a main vocalist, rapper, and dancer. While the other would take the sub roles. Let''s first start off with the main positions. I think we should sing each part to see who suits each part the best."


    Hoon scoffed. "If I was the leader, the positions would have been given out by now. Why waste time fighting for it?"


    "Ooh, can''t I be the main rapper?" C-Jay asked. "I''m the only legit rapper in this show, after all."


    Minx shyly raised his hand. "I''ll just be a sub-rapper."


    "I''ll be the main dancer," Hoon said.


    "I think I want to be the main dancer, too," Bin countered. "I have experience in choreography-making anyway."


    "I can be a sub-vocalist," Akira said. "I like the sub-vocal 1''s part better than the main vocalist."


    "Then, can I be the main vocalist?" Eli asked. "I don''t want to be in the 100th ce anymore!"


    But he can''t sing for shit!


    "That''s good. Don''t lose hope, brother," Jangmoon eximed. "Then, I''ll be the main dancer!"


    This guy just told everyone a while ago that he had asthma. Moreover, he dances like a tumbleweed. How can he be the main dancer?


    "Main dancer?" Hoon asked. "Are you alright?"


    "Umm, the main vocalist position," Akira continued. "Don''t you think it''s better for June to do it?"


    "But brother June already became one. It''s my time to shine now," Eli said.


    "Let''s talk about this more rationally," Bin calmly said.


    "So I''m already the main rapper, right? Since nobody else wants to do it?" C-Jay chimed


    June observed the scene in front of him¡ªhis head already aching.


    Looks like he has another obstacle before him.

 Chapter 39: Interim Evaluation (1)

    <h4>Chapter 39: Interim Evaluation (1)</h4>


    The mentors entered the wide gymnasium, and the trainees felt their hearts beating faster in both nervousness and excitement.


    It was now the time for their interim evaluation.


    They were given more than a day to perform at least half of their song to see if the direction they were heading in was actually good.


    All the mentors gathered today and sat at a long table. Around them are the trainees, nervously waiting to be called.


    "Let''s start with the CHAOS teams," Jihyun said. "Pleasee to the front."


    The two teams came to the front, emanating a different vibe. Zeth''s team practically glowed with confidence. Their team was full of visuals, too, so you can''t help but let your eyes gravitate toward them.


    On the other hand, the other team, led by a timid trainee named Geonwu, already felt like they had lost.


    "Zeth''s team, please take a step back for Geonwu''s team."


    The prearranged song of "Light Warriors" by CHAOS was yed. It didn''t sound that different from the original, except they calibrated the pitch to be one tone lower since they couldn''t reach the notes.


    They started dancing, and surprisingly, they appeared to be in sync. However, there really wasn''t anything special with their performance.


    "In the darkness we arise, united and strong,


    A force that can''t be denied, we''ll right every wrong,


    Together we stand, our spirits ignite,


    In a world full of shadows, we''ll bring the light!"


    Zeth smiled to himself. It was exactly what he had predicted. They didn''t change the song that much, so it was easy topare to the original. And since they were just mediocre, it wouldn''t have much of an impact on the audience.


    "Breaking free from the chains that bind,


    Our hearts ame, no fear we''ll find,


    With courage and hope, we''ll take flight,


    As warriors in the light!"


    Even as the chorus approached, the team showed ackluster performance. It would have been better if they showed a bit more strength, but they were too insecure at the moment.


    "We''ll fight, fight with all our might,


    Defenders of truth, we''ll shine so bright,


    In unity, we''ll take our stand,


    As warriors of light, hand in hand!"


    As they finished their performance, a lukewarm performance enveloped the room.


    "Hmm," Hyerin hummed. "It''s not bad¡­"


    Geonwu''s team smiled.


    "But it isn''t good, either. I don''t see anything special with your performance. And if you want to go against a team like Zeth''s, there must be something more to your performance," Bone said.


    "I agree," Jihyun nodded. "You still have four days until the performance, so I want you to make some good changes then. This is a well-loved song. Don''t disappoint the CHAOS fans with an underwhelming performance."


    "Yes, mentors," they said, bowing their heads before switching positions with Zeth''s team.


    The mentors looked at the current line-up with amazed eyes.


    "Ah, of course," Woo-jin said. "If it isn''t the Avengers team of the season. I always have high hopes for these teams every year."


    "I can''t believe all of the members are within the top 20," Hyerin eximed.


    Jihyun nodded excitedly. Deep inside, she felt excited because there were too much eye candy in front of her.


    "Well, we can''t wait for your performance," Gun said. "Please start right away."


    The room was filled with anticipation as the Avengers team stood at the center. Even June couldn''t help but pay more attention to them. With that much talent, it was bound to be good.


    The music started, and the trainees gracefully took their positions, exuding confidence and determination. The rap, hip-hop intro of Daybreak was reced with a retro, funky feel.


    Ren and Yuri started the song, their harmonious voices filling the room. Then, Zeth performed some acrobatic dancing with Jisung and Steel. The mentors'' and trainees'' eyes widened in amazement as they witnessed their vocal delivery and powerful stage presence.


    "It''s definitely over," C-Jay whispered by June''s side. "I''m actually d you didn''t get the CHAOS card, kid," he patted Minx''s back.


    "You''re right," Eli said. "It''s unfair. Why do they have so much talent?"


    Their performance continued, and although it wasn''t wless, it was the best they could do for a day and a half of practice.


    Jaeyong looked at them with narrowed eyes while Casper watched intently. Even as talented people, they can''t deny the talent that this group has.


    June watched Lin Zhi and shook his head. This little rascal could actually blend well with a bunch of talented trainees. And to think he only knew how to deal with drugs and get into fights when he was still part of the White Tiger Gang.


    Their interim evaluation had finished, and the room was filled with apuse.


    "I don''t even have anything to say," Gun said. "You guys did really well."


    "I agree," Woo-jin said. "You need to focus on your breathing while performing, though. The beginning was really good, but it became weaker in the end. However, with the direction you''re going, I know that you''ll be able to improve on this aspect."


    "We will mentor," Ren, their leader, said.


    "Zeth," Bone said. "You''re really something, man. You''re born for the stage."


    Zeth, the center, smiled and shook his head. "That''s too much, mentor. I wouldn''t be this good if I didn''t have good teammates."


    "That''s true," Gun said. "This is a very well-bnced team. However, there are also some moments when Zeth tends to outshine you. Try to match your energy levels with each other more."


    "That is noted," Ren said. "Thank you, mentors."


    "That was amazing," the trainees whispered.


    "As expected, talented trainees are different."


    "I hate it here. My mom should have met a better dad so I could have inherited some good genes."


    "Alright," Gun said. "We''re off to a good start. Let''s go with the GIRLS'' EVOLUTION teams next."


    June''s team looked at each other with wide eyes.


    "This soon?" Jangmoon whispered. "I think I already forgot the lyrics."


    "Ah, what to do? I forgot the dance, too," Eli whispered.


    "We''re ruined," Hoon said. "At least the arrangement I asked for is good. You should thank me after this evaluation."


    "Don''t worry, guys," C-Jay said. "I''m the best at rap, so we''ll get good evaluations."


    ''Can I join another idol survival show, Fu?''


    [Sorry, Fu does not ept do-overs.]


    June sighed and stood up from the floor.


    Let''s just get this over with.

 Chapter 40: Interim Evaluation (2)

    <h4>Chapter 40: Interim Evaluation (2)</h4>


    "Who wants to go first?" Gun asked.


    Jaeyong quickly raised his hand. "We''ll go first, mentor."


    "Oh-ho," Woo-jin chuckled. "Such confidence. I like it. Take the stage then."


    June''s team stepped back, intimidated, but not making it too obvious. However, Hoon''s shaking hands, Minx''s sweaty forehead, and the zero-stars'' nervous chattering gave them away.


    June remained nonchnt amidst all of this.


    He already acknowledges that winning against Jaeyong''s team will be like asking for his phone battery tost all day.


    It''s quite impossible.


    That ancient phone is practically hooked to a charger.


    The familiar intro of Rebel Queens yed, and the team assumed a pyramid formation, simr to a cheer-leading squad, earning them a series of amazed exmations from the watchers.


    Hoon nervously chuckled. "We''re seriously fucked."


    Casper''s powerful rap voice resonated in the room, followed by Jaeyong''s rhythmic flow. The other members danced behind as they did a back-and-forth. The other trainees sang their parts really well. However, there was something off about their performance.


    It was good.


    Arguably a very good performance.


    However, it felt a bit underwhelmingpared to Zeth''s team. Aside from that, the elements that made Rebel Queens iconic are because it contained themes of women empowerment.


    Having a bunch of men sing about how they were "queens" may leave a bad taste. Moreover, they tried to incorporate so much into the performance, making it a bit messy.


    Their performance ended, and Gun nodded in approval.


    "Skills-wise, I don''t have anything to say to your team," he started off. "You are all very good with your individual skills. There are also some energy and breathing problems urring in your team, but that''s expected since you guys are still amateurs."


    "Yes," Hyerin said. "I do have a problem with your concept, though. I like your formation at the beginning, but I didn''t feel it all throughout the song."


    "What do you guys think about changing some of the lyrics of the song? Instead of Rebel Queens, what if you call yourselves Rebel Kings instead?"


    Jaeyong took note of everything they were suggesting.


    "We''ll take those into mind, mentors," Jaeyong said.


    Casper felt quite disappointed that they didn''t give a wless performance. It somehow made him feel like it was his fault since he chose this song.


    "Cheer up, boys," Minho said. "You still have four days. I''m sure you could fix your problems."


    "Thank you, mentors," they bowed their heads before making way for June''s team to go to the front.


    As they stood before the mentors, Minho couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Well, this is an interestingbination," he whispered to Gun.


    "I have a lot of trainees I don''t like on this team," Gun said. "I can''t believe some of these guys won the TV benefit for the signal song performance when they don''t even deserve it."


    "It was funny," Hyerin joined in. "Even my momughed when she saw it on TV."


    Gun shook his head. "It''s whatever. I already have a bad feeling about this performance."


    "Me too," Jihyun chimed. "They picked Mermaid Melodies."


    Boneughed. "Why does this June kid always end up with unusual songs?"


    "He uncovered the song himself, too," Minho said. "He really must have golden poop hands."


    Woo-jin chuckled and shook his head. "Whenever you''re ready, trainees," he said.


    The mentors focused their attention on June''s team.


    Honestly, they weren''t expecting much.


    And when the bubbly tune of Mermaid Melodies yed, it seemed like their hunch was right.


    The trainees awkwardly began their dance routine. To June''s defense, Bin and Hoon had some conflict about the dance moves this morning. Hoon wanted to take the easy route and follow through with the same choreography of the original song and just make it masculine, while Bin wanted to tweak the dance moves so they could be more in sync.


    As a result, it took some time before they learned the actual routine. And even now, Bin and Hoon seemed to be dancing differently, causing the group to crumble.


    The song started with Eli''s timid voice. He wanted to be the main vocalist, but June refused. However, he keptining in June''s ear, so June gave him the iconic beginning part instead.


    Gun grimaced as their tacky performance continued.


    Hyerin had the urge tough, but then she realized that this performance was supposed to be performed in front of a live audience.


    Jihyun shook her head. Not even June''s voice could save this atrocity. It was too painful to watch, and Eli kept trying to sing over June''s part, determined to show everyone he deserved to be the main vocalist.


    Their moves were out of sync, resembling a group of marites with tangled strings.


    "Is this some sort of parody?" Minho asked.


    "This is Urs''s Melodies. Why the hell is that kid singing the whole song?" Woo-jin pointed at Eli.


    "And that kid looks like he''s about to die," he added, gesturing to Jangmoon, who was currently out of breath.


    As C-Jay proceeded to the rap section, his delivery was nothing short of hrious. The lines were mispronounced, and the rhythm was more akin to a nursery rhyme than a rap.


    "Whispers echo through the night,


    A deal is made, and stars align.


    Underworld, a lethal dance,


    She''s bound by fate, entwined in chance."


    And the band''s sound felt like it came from a shitty musical instrument app! Why the hell was it arranged this way?


    Finally, the trainees attempted to salvage the performance with their dance finale. However, their movements were more reminiscent of aedic skit than polished choreography. Tripping over each other, mismatched steps and exaggerated expressions turned it into aughable spectacle.


    An awkward silence filled the room as they finished their performance.


    "We''ve won," Evan, the main vocalist of RAVEN, said. "However, I feel bad for Akira here."


    "Definitely," Hyunwoo smirked. "What a joke."


    "Umm," Minho said, looking at each member one by one. "I don''t have anything to say."


    C-Jay pped his hands since they got ament simr to Zeth''s team.


    "That''s not a good thing," Gun said, bursting his bubble.


    C-Jay pursed his lips.


    "Out of all the seasons I''ve been mentoring in," Jihyun said. "I''m afraid to say this might be the worst interim evaluation I''ve seen. I don''t even know how it''s salvageable."


    Woo-jin sighed, disappointed. "It''s bad. Awful, even."


    Hyerin nodded in agreement. "It seems like you don''t suit your parts well. And what''s with the arrangement? It sounds so tacky."


    Gun shook his head. "Who''s the leader here?"


    His members turned towards June.


    Gun chucked, appalled. "Of course, it''s you. Now, I see why the performance turned out like this."


    June frowned.


    "Well, good luck to you guys. I don''t even think you''re worth mentoring," he said in a cold voice, sending shivers down the trainees'' spine. "Go back to your seats."


    June let out a quiet sigh.


    "Don''t you have any rmendations for us?" he asked.


    They gave so much constructive criticism to Zeth''s and Jaeyong''s teams, but they''re ignoring a team that actually needs their input!


    Talk about favoritism.


    Gun scoffed.


    "I said, go back to your seats."

 Chapter 41: She Tea

    <h4>Chapter 41: She Tea</h4>


    June sighed in frustration as he popped a gummy in his mouth under his mask. He was on his second pack of BenBen gummies. He''s been addicted to them since he bought itst week.


    However, he didn''t even grow an inch! Those little kids said it could make people grow in just a day.


    What a scam.


    Everything was shitty.


    The gummies are shitty (although they taste really good).


    Their singing was shitty.


    Their dancing was shitty.


    The entire performance was shitty!


    And Eli''s continuous goat-like singing is the shittiest of them all!


    And to make things worse, these people don''t even want to listen! If June could use violence like he did in the gang, he might be able to get them to follow. But this was an idol survival show, and June was sure he was going to get kicked out if violence of any kind was imposed.


    "Will you guys listen for a second?" June asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Yet, his teammates remained stubborn. Hoon and Bin continued to polish the dance routine separately. Minx was busy learning his rap verses. C-Jay and Jangmoon were busy ying around, and Eli was still trying to sing June''s part.


    "Guys," June said, his voice getting louder this time. "We need to talk about what we could improve in our performance."


    "Will you keep quiet?" Hoon snapped. "I''m trying toe up with new choreography here."


    June bit his lip in frustration.


    He looked at his teammates, and it appeared like they couldn''t care less about their performance.


    June wanted to rip his hair off but decided to walk out to calm himself down in the meantime. He sat down in the lounge area and leaned against the wall.


    [Another side quest is open: The side quest is entitled: Lead the Way! Add aspect LEADERSHIP under the skills status window. Be more empathetic and lead the team to victory! Starting level: C. Do you want to ept the side quest?]


    June looked at the new pop-up with wide eyes.


    This is exactly what he needed!


    Fu isn''t as useless as he thought he would be.


    ''I ept,''


    [Very well. Here is your mission: Comfort a person. Practice your leadership skills andfort someone until they feel better. Deadline for the quest: 3 hours. Failure to fulfill the side quest leads to a regression of skill. Good luck!]


    ''Three hours?''


    Before June could even think of where he would find a person tofort, he suddenly heard a sniffing from behind the wall. He frowned and peered over the source of the noise.


    He saw Akira sitting on one of the seats, appearing to be down.


    June smirked. It seemed like he didn''t need to search far and wide after all.


    June walked cautiously to RAVEN''s Japanese member, sitting down next to him silently.


    Akira lifted his head, unshed tears in his eyes. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    "Are ya alright?" June asked, scratching the back of his head.


    Now that he thinks about it, he''s not very good atforting other people after all.


    The only person he hadforted in his life was his sister¡ªand that''s when her favorite groups were disbanding, which included RAVEN.


    "What do you think?" Akira asked. "Our team is a mess."


    "Tell me about it," June sighed, leaning against the chair.


    Akira red at him. "What do you know?" he asked. "You''re not even taking thispetition seriously with your bright-ass mask and nonchnt personality. However, it''s different for me. This is myst chance to debut."


    "Do all RAVEN members think like that?" June asked. "Why do you all assume that I''m not taking this seriously?"


    Akira looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "Look at your cat mask! Who the hell wears that for apetition?"


    "I have my reasons," June exined. "And I have my reasons for joining thepetition, too."


    Mei Ling.


    "The two of us may have different reasons as to why we want to stay here, and I''m sure it''s difficult to take part in an idol survival show when you''ve already tasted what it''s like to be an idol once. You must have gone through a lot to achieve your dreams, but it feels like you''re going back to square one," June said, his mind lingering on thoughts about his sister.


    "You did so much to protect the things you love, but it just seemed futile in the end¡ªall the hard work, sacrifices, and kiss-assing you''ve done are all lost. But there''s nothing we could do but face whatever''s handed to us. Because in this way, we''re protecting what we love, too. In your case¡ªit''s your dreams."


    And in June''s case, it''s his sister.


    Akira looked at him with an unreadable expression.


    June cleared his throat and looked away. He hadn''t spoken such a long statement since forever, so he felt awkward.


    Akira felt like June was apletely different person right then and there. He had spoken to Jaeyong about June, and Jaeyong always told him that he''s a typical guy who only wants to be an idol for shits and giggles.


    But listening to him now, it seemed like June''s actually a decent guy.


    "I''m sorry," Akira muttered. "I''m just frustrated, I guess," he honestly said.


    "Jaeyong and Evan are on the same team, but I''m stuck in a team that''s bound to lose," he continued.


    *In Japanese* "They''re a bunch of idiots," Akira said in his mother tongue.


    June chuckled. "They are," he responded in Japanese too.


    Akira looked at him with wide eyes. "You know how to speak Japanese?"


    June shrugged. He was well-versed in thenguage since he made a lot of negotiations with Japanese gangs, too. He''s definitely not as good as Akira, though.


    "You could say that," June said, still speaking in the foreignnguage.


    "Oh my goodness! I''ve been looking for someone to speak mynguage with. So, are you of Japanese descent?"


    "No," June shook his head. "Just happened to learn it."


    "That''s so cool," Akira said with bright eyes, visibly looking better.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted a side quest. You now have the aspect LEADERSHIP on your status window. Current grade: C]


    June smiled under his mask.


    "Let''s go back to the practice room. I think it''s time I knock some sense into their brains."


    Akira nodded and also stood up. "I''ll help you, my friend."


    The two of them walked back to the training room, but June paused when he realized that Akira could help him with something else too.


    "Hey," June said, holding onto his arm.


    "Yes, brother?"


    "Do you mind giving me your signature?"


    [Mission Completed: Get a signature from a famous person/celebrity. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    ''Dance.''


    [Dance + 1. Current grade: C-]

 Chapter 42: Big Thrills

    <h4>Chapter 42: Big Thrills</h4>


    June entered the training room and sighed when he saw they were still in the same state when he left them. However, there seemed to be something different.


    June looked at them one by one and was able to see their frustrated looks. His hearing had also be more keen. He heard how Minx tried to rap C-Jay''s part, and it didn''t sound too bad. He also heard Eli''s singing and how the verses sounded like a rap.


    That flow¡­


    It didn''t sound bad.


    C-Jay and Jangmoon were jokingly singing the song, but the blending of their voice sounded harmonious.


    And with Bin and Hoon facing away from each other and doing the choreography simultaneously, there was some type of unity in how they moved.


    "Hmm," June hummed, assessing the situation once more.


    He might be able to do something about this.


    June pped his hands loudly, yet they still didn''t pay attention to him. He sighed and went to the music yer, turning it off.


    His teammates finally looked toward his way.


    "What the hell? We were practicing." Hoon cursed.


    "It''s time we have a little chat," June said, his voice firm. C-Jay, Jangmoon, and Eli looked at him with wide eyes.


    There it was again.


    He was using the voice that subdued the entire zero-stars'' ss into obedience. The three of them lined up instantly. Bin and Minx also noticed the urgency of the three members, so they stood next to them.


    "Hoon," June calmly said. "Come here. Right now."


    Hoon felt a shiver run down his spine. Is it just him, or did June be more authoritative?


    "Geez, you don''t have to be so pissy about it," he said, but nheless, lined up with his other teammates.


    June stood before them, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "We''re going inpletely different directions, and we''re definitely going to show a ruined stage if we continue like this."


    Akira nodded in agreement.


    "We need to change everything," June said. "Starting with the parts."


    "Change everything?" C-Jay asked. "But our parts are already perfect enough! I was even able to blow the mentors away with my good rapping skills."


    June remained serious. "That''s not what the mentors said a while ago. They didn''t even give us any feedback, so I''m taking this time to say this all to you."


    "Bin and Hoon, you should work together more. Your choreographies are quite simr to each other, and bringing them together would make a more harmonious stage."


    "Akira will retain his part and take the center role," he continued. "I believe he''s the most talented out of all of us here."


    Akira shyly smiled. "Thanks, brother."


    "Minx, you''re going to take the main rapper position."


    "What?" C-Jay and Minx said at the same time.


    "I¨CI''ll be the main rapper?" Minx softly asked.


    June nodded. "I heard you rap C-Jay''s part a while ago. You sounded good. You have talent in rapping, kid."


    C-Jay shook his head. "Brother, you know that I like you very much, but I''m not going to be a sub-rapper."


    "You''re not," June nonchntly said. "You''re going to take Eli''s part and be a sub-vocalist."


    "WHAT?"


    This time, it was Eli who refused to do so.


    "I''m a vocalist! What am I going to do then?"


    "You''ll rap," June chimed. "The way you sing sounds like you''re rapping anyway, and you have a good sense of rhythm. You''ll do a good job at it."


    "I''ll remain the main vocalist, and Jangmoon will also retain his part," June said.


    "But¡ª"


    "No more exceptions," he firmly said. "We only have less than four days for our performance."


    June yed the music and pointed at C-Jay, not giving them any time to argue.


    "Now, start the song."


    Despite his reluctance, C-Jay started singing the first words. His teammates looked at him with surprise.


    He actually has a decent voice?


    Then why the hell has he been trying to rap all this time?


    The song shifted to C-Jay''s original rap part. Minx started without confidence, but as June nodded in approval, he became moreposed.


    There was no doubt that Minx was better than C-Jay, and the other members thought so too.


    Akira''s voice filled the pre-chorus, and as much as Hoon hated to admit it, their performance wasing together after June''s changes. He still doesn''t like June, though.


    As the chorus approached and June''s soft yet powerful voice echoed in the room, the members started feeling more confident with their stage.


    By the end of it all, they even saw themselves nodding their heads to the beat and enjoying how they sounded together.


    Bin and Hoon also tried conceptualizing some dance moves, and they were surprised when they suddenly moved in unison during the dance break.


    "That was a good move," Bin said.


    Hoon smiled confidently. "Of course, I came up with it."


    Bin shook his head in amusement.


    The song was nearing its end, yet they only made a few mistakes. As thest notes faded, Minx looked at the older trainees with bright eyes.


    "That was¡­good," he shyly said.


    "Hmm," June nodded. "Definitely better. We canbine the dances you''ve made, too. Don''t make it tooplicated since we don''t have much time to learn it."


    Bin nodded while Hoon kept quiet.


    "There''s one thing left to think about, though," Akira suddenly said. "I think we need to change our concept. The band idea isn''t working well for all of us."


    "I agree," June said.


    Surprisingly, all of the members agreed too.


    "Do you guys have any ideas?" June asked.


    They all stayed silent. Truly, it was hard to think of a concept for a song named¡ª"Mermaid Melodies."


    *In Japanese.* "Ah, this is hard," Akira said.


    "Hmm," June hummed, looking over the lyric sheet. "The lyrics are quite dark," he said in Japanese too.


    His members looked at June with wide eyes.


    June lifted his head when he felt their gazes on his face.


    "What?" he asked.


    "What the hell? You can speak Japanese?" C-Jay asked.


    "Oh," June said, not even realizing that he did. "I guess so."


    "You guess so? You''re so cool, big brother!" Jangmoon gave him a thumbs up. "I learn new things about you every day."


    "You sounded so cool!" Eli eximed. "It reminded me of those Japanese Yakuza dramas I watched back in the day."


    June smirked. Well, of course, he had talked to a lot of Japanese Yakuza members when he was still in White Tiger.


    "I was just about to say that," Akira said. "Your ent reminds me so much of those action dramas¡ªone where Yakuzas roam the streets and fight with other gangs."


    "Whispers echo through the night,


    A deal is made, and stars align.


    Underworld, a lethal dance,


    She''s bound by fate, entwined in chance," June whispered, reading the lyrics of the song.


    Wait¡­


    "What do you guys think of this concept?"

 Chapter 43: Cat Man

    <h4>Chapter 43: Cat Man</h4>


    The Azure building was filled with excitement as young teens queued in line and waited for their turn to enter. Numerous cue cards were in their hands, and even with just the airing of the first episode, it seemed like the fourth season of ''Rising Stars'' was bound to be another hit.


    At the front of the line were Na-ri, Soo-min, Wei, and Jia. They had been here since dawn since the group of friends wanted to stand at the front row.


    Of course, not all of them was excited about this.


    "Until when are we going to wait?" Jia asked. She had been dragged here by her friends despite her obvious reluctance.


    "Not much longer," Soo-min responded.


    "I''m hungry," Jia whined. "We''ve been waiting here since early morning!"


    "And it''s all worth it," Wei said. "We''re going to get front row this time. Here," Wei opened her bag and gave Jia some of the snacks she had packed. "This will do until lunch."


    Jia tiredly sighed before popping the biscuit in her mouth.


    "Please enter the studio in an orderly manner," one of the guards said, finally opening the barricade.


    The girls zoomed to the front row, and they cheered when they were able to secure the barricade.


    "Oh my gosh. We''re so close!" Na-ri eximed.


    "I feel like I''ll see their pores at this point," Jia said, causing her friends to re at her.


    "Don''t say that," Wei said. "Idol trainees don''t have pores."


    Jia rolled her eyes. Her friends have such glorified perceptions about idols. At the end of the day, they''re people too!


    The girl next to her didn''t seem to be enjoying the loudness of the studio either.


    "Were you also dragged here?" Jia asked, trying to start a conversation.


    "No," the girl said, still with a frown. She showed Jia the "Casper" banner in her hand. "But I only came for one person."


    "Oh," Jia said, not bothering to talk to her anymore.


    Fortunately, it didn''t take long before Kang Minho entered the stage. The cheers were amplified a hundrefold as Minho stood at the center with a dazzling smile.


    "Oh my gosh. He''s so handsome!"


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen someone so handsome in my entire life."


    "Ah, I might be a Minho stan at this point."


    "Good morning, starlights," Minho eximed. He was greeted with much louder cheers.


    He chuckled yet remained professional. "Today marks the first live performance of our aspiring idols. It is entitled¡ªArtist Battle."


    The crowd whispered among themselves, and even ''Rising Stars'' enthusiasts were unfamiliar with the concept.


    "This year, we have divided the groups based on the artist they want to perform. 6 different legendary artists have been chosen for this challenge. Teams who chose the same artists will go head-to-head with different songs."


    The crowd started to understand what ''Artist Battle'' meant.


    "After every performance, you are given the privilege to vote for the most eye-catching trainee in the team. Aside from that, after every team battle, you shall decide whose performance you liked better. Lastly, at the end of the show, you''re also going to vote for the team who did the best out of everybody else. Is that understood, starlights?"


    "Yes!"


    "Alright, now, let''s get this show on the road!"


    "Make sure to vote for Jaeyong''s team, alright?" Na-ri said.


    "No," Soo-min eximed. "What if he''s battling with Zeth? I can''t afford not to vote for my baby."


    "Let''s hope they aren''t going against each other," Wei said. "And I also hope my baby Lin Zhi''s in a good team."


    Jia clicked her tongue. "Just vote for the better team," she said.


    Her friends looked at her with wide eyes.


    "It''s not that simple," Wei said. "Yes, we can vote for the better team when our faves aren''t involved, but at the end of the day, we need to help our biases the most! This is apetition, after all."


    Jia sighed. "You guys are soplicated."


    "Let us now wee the first 2 teams on the stage. They shall perform songs from LUMINOUS!"


    The girls cheered as the first 17 boys trudged to the stage. They introduced themselves in such a cringy manner that Jia had to look away for a second.


    Why the hell is their group name "Light Bulbs?" Jia bets she can create a better team name than that.


    The first team took the stage, and the music yed. The crowd cheered once more as the amateurish stage of the boys was shown.


    "They''re not that good," Jia said.


    "Of course," Soo-min said. "It''s only the first teams. They wouldn''t show the talented trainees until the end."


    "Why not?" Jia asked.


    "Duh! Who else would watch these first few stages if the popr trainees are already done?"


    Jia shook her head. Azure definitely knew how to give people a run for their money.


    The stages continued, and Jia remained bored while watching them. Sure, there were some good performances, and there were some arguably very talented trainees in thepetition too.


    Still, she didn''t find them special. The market is already saturated with talented idols, and she doesn''t see a point in making a new one when it''s just going to be a duplicate of all the other existing idol groups.


    If Jia could pick a trainee she''s most interested in, it would be the guy from zero-stars who was wearing a pink mask. Out of all the trainees, she feel like he''s the most different.


    And until now, he hasn''t performed yet. His bright pink mask wouldn''t be hard to miss.


    "We are now down to ourst two stages!" Minho said. "This might be the most controversial artist pick of the season. I present to you the teams that will perform songs from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION!"


    The crowd gasped and chattered among themselves.


    "A girl group song? This has never been done before, right?" Soo-min asked.


    "I''m so excited!" Wei eximed. "I want Lin Zhi to perform this."


    As the trainees entered the stage, the crowd burst into their loudest cheers of the night.


    The main focus of the crowd was on Jaeyong''s team. Truly, their aura was different from the past teams that had performed.


    They appeared to be more handsome and put-together.


    The trainees backstage watched in awe as Jaeyong''s team was shown on screen.


    "This is unfair. They''re so handsome."


    "We didn''t get that much cheers, did we?"


    "Of course, what can you expect from trainees and idols that are already popr?"


    "Good day, starlights! We are team Kingz. Please look forward to our stage!" Jaeyong''s team said in unison, causing a frenzy in the crowd.


    After their introduction, it was only then that the crowd finally faced theirpetitor.


    They already felt quite bad for the team that Kingz would be facing. In their minds, the oue was already obvious.


    Jia, on the other hand, had her gaze focused on the other team from the very start.


    She tilted her head to the side as she looked at one of the trainees. Their eyes met for a second, which made her heart beat faster in her chest.


    This guy? Is he the one wearing the bright pink cat mask?


    "1¡­2¡­3¡­," June quietly said. The group assumed a charismatic poise.


    "Wee to our world," Akira said in a deep voice. "We''re team Abyss."


    The camera panned to each member one-by-one, and the trainees gasped when June came to view.


    Jisung looked at the screen with wide, sparkling eyes.


    Instead of his usual bright pink mask, June was wearing a ck cat mask, simr to the one that cat woman wears.


    "Ah, June''s fucking cool."

 Chapter 44: Kingz vs. Abyss

    <h4>Chapter 44: Kingz vs. Abyss</h4>


    "Team Kingz shall start first," Minho said, causing the crowd to erupt into cheers once more.


    Abyss left the stage yet Jia still felt her heart beating fast in her chest.


    What the hell was that?


    She ced her hand over her heart to try and calm it down. The trainee, June, didn''t even expose his face, yet why does Jia feel like such a wreck when the two of them made eye contact?


    It''s probably because his eyes were more evident in this mask than his past one. The bright pink cat mask made him look like a mascot in a children''s show.


    "Did somebody catch your eye, Jia?" Soo-min asked, causing her friends to look at her.


    Her cheeks reddened and she quickly shook her head. "Nope," she lied. "It''s just very hot in here."


    "I saw you looking at June," Wei teased. "Don''t worry. It''s alright to fall for an idol trainee! Now, you''ll understand what we''re feeling."


    "Although I don''t know why you''d like a masked idol," Na-ri said.


    "Shh," Soo-min silenced them. "It''s time for Kingz''s stage. I wonder what their song will be."


    Kingz took centerstage, and they started their performance in a pyramid formation. Right off the bat, it was already very overwhelming.


    The title "Rebel Kingz" was shown on screen, and the crowd became excited to watch their rendition of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION hit hip-hop song.


    The familiar strong intro of the song boomed through the speakers, and Casper''s rap started the performance.


    The girl beside Jia suddenly screamed so loudly, causing Jia to jump in surprise. She was so quiet a while ago, but now she''s screaming like a lunatic!


    "We arise from the shadows, fearless and bold,


    Rebel kingz with hearts of gold.


    Breaking the chains, defying the norms,


    A force to reckon, in every storm."


    "Casper! Casper!"


    The girl beside her continued to cheer while Casper finished his rap. Then, she was back to normal when Jaeyong sang the next few lines.


    "With crowns of fire, we rule the night,


    Hearts burning bright, refusing to be confined.


    Boundaries never holding us down,


    Scars in battle like a royal gown."


    The crowd went crazy as the synchronous and powerful performance was shown. Jia couldn''t deny that this bunch was very talented.


    They seemed like already-debuted idols. Jia had heard of this song before. Sure, she didn''t like the idol culture, but she does listen to idol group songs¡ªespecially girl group songs.


    So, this particr stage was more enjoyable than the rest.


    Evan and Hyunwoo sang the chorus, their voices filling the stage. The crowd sang along with them, creating a more dramatic effect.


    "Oh, rebel kingz, hear our battle cry,


    Together we fly, we touch the sky.


    With courage and fierceness, our spirits ignite,


    In a world of darkness, we shine so bright."


    The performance highlighted their individual strengths very well, and Jaeyong''s leadership definitely shined through.


    The concept they''ve picked resonated well with the audience, too. It felt like a bunch of royal rebels that wanted to break the norms. Their prince-like visuals amplified their concepts as well.


    As the bridge approached, the cheers hushed down, giving Zachary and Daeho the moment to shine with their baritone voices.


    "Through trials and pain, we stand tall,


    Legends that shall never fall.


    Empowered voices, we unite,


    Guided by justice, we fight the fight."


    With thest chorus, the crowd was in shambles.


    "Jaeyong, marry me!"


    "Evan, I love you!"


    "Zachary, please step on me!''


    Jia looked around her, weirded out. Why are there so many weird people in this studio?


    "Oh, rebel kingz, hear our battle cry,


    Together we fly, we touch the sky.


    With courage and fierceness, our spirits ignite,


    In a world of darkness, we shine so bright."


    Their performance finally ended, and the camera panned to their faces one-by-one for the ending fairy shot.


    Screams after screams were heard, and the trainees backstage were overwhelmed by their performance.


    "Wow," Jisung said. "That was really cool."


    "It''s over. It''s definitely over!"


    "If I were June''s team, I would just go home right now."


    The other trainees chuckled. "Well, if its anything like their interim evaluation, then they might go home after being thrown tomatoes on stage."


    "Well, June''s their leader. It must be a tacky performance," Jiyong said.


    Team Abyss, who was watching their performance backstage, felt even more nervous as team Kingz finished their performance.


    June nodded in approval. He had to give props to Jaeyong''s team. They did a very good job.


    When he turned to his teammates, he saw them looking at the screen with pale faces and trembling hands.


    June cleared his throat. "It''s our turn," he said. "Don''t let all our hard work go to waste."


    His members snapped out of their dazed states.


    "I''m nervous, brother!" Eli eximed. "This is my first time rapping in a performance."


    "Just do what you did during practice," June said.


    Akira nodded in agreement. "Don''t think about Kingz''s performance anymore. We prepared for this a lot, so make sure we show the audience what we''re made of, alright?"


    Hoon clicked his tongue. "None of you better mess up."


    Somehow, his threatening encouragement led the other members to calm their nerves down.


    The team went up the stage, and the response was quite lukewarm. After such an overwhelming performance from Kingz, they really didn''t expect much from a group of zero-star trainees.


    They still had a number of fans, though, courtesy of Akira and Bin, so that seemed to lift up the atmosphere.


    The lights suddenly turned ck, causing the crowd to whisper among themselves.


    "What''s this? Why is it so dark?"


    "Are they going to sing Dark Love?" Soo-min asked.


    "Or perhaps¡ªShadows?" Na-ri suggested. "It''s the only dark songs I know from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION."


    "Such a shame," Wei said. "I like those songs, but this is such a predictable way to perform it."


    "Agreed," her friends said.


    However, as the song name appeared on screen, everybody appeared perplexed.


    "Mermaid Melodies."


    Jia''s eyes widened in surprise.


    They''re going to be performing Mermaid Melodies in these all-ck suits?


    Just then, the song intro yed, and it rendered the audience speechless.


    Sure, it sounded like Mermaid Melodies, but they''ve turned a bright song into something so dark!


    The spotlights turned on, and the crowd was finally able to see how their stage was set up.


    They became even more surprised.


    This didn''t look like Mermaid Melodies.


    "Mafia Melodies," June whispered as the dark music yed, and just like that, all eyes were on them.

 Chapter 45 Mafia Melodies

    <h4>Chapter 45 Mafia Melodies</h4>


    Before the song was revealed, the studio felt indifferent. The crowd was seemingly uninterested in yet another untalented group of hopefuls that daredpete against one of the greatest teams in thepetition.


    "I''m really not expecting a lot from this team," Gun said to the other mentors who were watching backstage.


    "I heard they changed a lot with their performance," Jihyun said.


    "Are you guys sure they''re performing Mermaid Melodies?" Hyerin asked. "Their outfits scream that they''re going to perform another song."


    "I don''t know," Woo-jin said. "We don''t have any final evaluations this time, so we don''t have a clue about how they changed their performance."


    The lights dimmed further, leaving the stage shrouded in darkness. A single spotlight flickered to life, revealing the silhouettes of the trainees. The faint sound of a haunting melody filled the room, drawing the audience''s attention.


    "Mafia Melodies¡­"


    Still, with the haunting music in the background, C-Jay opened his mouth to sing the next lines.


    "What?" Gun asked, sitting on the edge of his seat. "C-Jay''s singing?"


    "And this arrangement¡­," Jihyun trailed. "It actually sounds¡­good?"


    "In the depths of the ocean, a tale unfolds,


    A mermaid''s heart entwined with secrets untold.


    She swims in darkness, her world concealed,


    Where shadows dance, emotions sealed."


    As the beat intensified, Bin stepped forward and led the dance routine. They decided to keep the routine simple since some of their members were stillcking in dancing skills.


    However, that seemed to be a good decision since they appeared to be in sync.


    Gun frowned as he continued watching the performance.


    "Oh, gosh. They''re actually doing a good job," Hyerin eximed.


    Jaeyong and his members watched from backstage. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as Akira, their Japanese member, sang the next lines with confidence and ease.


    Akira had been telling Jaeyong that he''s been losing confidence in thepetition, and that''s part of the reason why Jaeyong didn''t pick him for his team.


    However, Akira seemed to be doing a pretty good job.


    Minx''s voice boomed through the mic as he rapped in a nonchnt manner. The bubbly and lovely rap from the original song turning into a dark confession of love.


    "A chance encounter in the moonlit haze,


    Fates entangled in forbidden ways.


    Siren''s heart, drawn to the danger''s call,


    A dangerous man, where one''s destined to fall."


    Somehow, the audience didn''t feel like their concept was out of ce. Surely, the original song had a bubbly and summery vibe, but as they listened to the lyrics, it actually seemed a bit haunting.


    The story of "Mermaid Melodies" talked about a young, innocent girl falling in love with a dangerous human and doing everything she could to make him fall in love with her.


    And the concept that Abyss had chosen perfectly embodied the song by interpreting it in a different way.


    It wasn''t an innocent love.


    In contrast, it was a forbidden love.


    As the chorus aproached, June stepped forward, his aura powerful even in the dim light. He took a deep breath and unleashed his mesmerizing vocals, his voice filled with raw darkness. The audience, caught off guard by the sudden disy of talent, fell silent.


    Jia watched the scene before her with wide eyes. She could hear her heart pounding, and her gaze was focused on the guy wearing a ck cat mask on stage.


    The crowd''s indifference began to wane as they watched, intrigued. Eli''s rapping skills follow, his verses cutting through the air like a knife. Although he wasn''t as good as Zeth, Jaeyong, or Casper, he definitely surprised the trainees and judges with his unexpected skill.


    "Eli''s a rapper?"


    "No, he''s a vocalist!"


    Jihyun watched the stage with bright eyes.


    "That June kid," she said. "He''s really special."


    Minho nodded as he continued watching their stage.


    The entire group moved with an intensity thatmanded attention. The stage became a canvas for their emotions, and the audience couldn''t help but be drawn in.


    It felt like they were also stuck in a forbidden love.


    Na-ri wanted to remain faithful to Jaeyong''s team, but why is this group actually performing so well?


    As the chorus returned, June''s voice soared, hitting notes that seem almost otherworldly.


    Casper''s eyebrows shot up in surprise.


    Ren and Yuri also intently watched the stage.


    The trainees backstage, who were initially dismissive, now watched with wide eyes, astonished by the transformation of their peers.


    "His soul as dark as the abyss of the sea,


    Yet she saw the fragments of a heart longing to be free.


    Pushing her away, to escape her allure,


    But her voice in the waves would endure."


    The dark performance continued, the trainees pouring their hearts and souls into each movement, each lyric, each beat.


    "Whispers echo through the night,


    A deal is made, and stars align.


    Underworld, a lethal dance,


    She''s bound by fate, entwined in chance."


    The audience was entranced, their earlier indifference reced by awe and admiration.


    "The tides of fate turn against their will,


    The mermaid''s heart aches, longing to heal.


    In the depths, she finds him, broken and lost,


    But a love like theirses at a cost."


    As the song reaches its climax, the group delivered a powerful finale. Jangmoon faltered a bit, but June held onto his wrist and brought him back to their formation.


    Jia noticed his quick action and couldn''t help but admire him more.


    Her eyes widened in surprise when she realized what was happening to her.


    She nced at her friends and suddenly felt a new connection with them.


    Holy shit!


    Is she turning into one of them?


    Thest verse yed, and June''s voice echoed through the room.


    "Oh, a forbidden love in the twilight zone,


    A mermaid and a man, forever to atone.


    Love defying the oceans, defying the stars,


    As they rest in eternity, united atst, forever afar."


    The spotlight dimmed, leaving only the faint glow of their sweat-drenched faces.


    The camera panned to the members one by one, yet the studio was still encapsted in silence.


    Jihyun smirked as she observed her fellow mentors who appeared to be in disbelief.


    ''I never stopped believing in you, June!''


    The trainees, too, didn''t expect such a performance from a group of tacky trainees.


    As the screen faded to ck, Akira wondered whether they did such an atrocious job that they had left everyone speechless.


    The room remained silent for a moment. Then, the studio shook as the crowd erupted into thunderous apuse.

 Chapter 46 Results Matter

    <h4>Chapter 46 Results Matter</h4>


    "Holy Moly," Na-ri eximed as their performance ended.


    Abyss gave one final bow before leaving the stage.


    "That was nuts," Soo-min said. "I definitely didn''t think they''d pull off such a stage."


    "They''re all pretty good," Wei added. "I recognized some of the zero-star trainees from their signal song performance, and they weren''t like this."


    "And who''s the main vocalist again? Junny? JunJun?" Na-ri asked.


    "It''s June," Jia quickly rified. "His name is June. Get it right."


    Jia''s friends turned to her, surprised by her sudden outburst.


    "Right, June," Na-ri chuckled. "He''s really good. His vocals stood out from all the rest. But I think I''ll vote for Bin. He''s really handsome."


    Jia looked at them with wide eyes. "What? That guy didn''t even stand out!"


    "He did," Soo-min said. "He was the best dancer in the team. He''s probably the most popr, too, since he''s in the top 20."


    Jia frowned. She didn''t even notice that guy.


    Wei chuckled and patted her back. "It''s because you were too focused on that June guy, my friend. Seems like someone''s developing a bias."


    Jia rolled her eyes and turned away from them. So what if she''s taken a liking to June? She quickly opened her phone and cast a vote for him. For her, he stood out the most, and it would be a shame if he didn''t win in his group just because Bin was more popr.


    "Alright, starlights," Minho said. "It''s now time to vote for the team you liked better between Kingz and Abyss."


    Minx squeezed June''s arm.


    "What is it?" June asked.


    "I''m scared of the results, brother," the youngest said, his hands shaking.


    "I suddenly lost confidence after we finished," C-Jay, who was the most confident trainee in the show, surprisingly said.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his head. "I made a mistake too. If it weren''t for big brother June, the stage would have been ruined."


    Hoom smirked. "I didn''t make a mistake."


    "I''m sorry," Bin said. "It''s my fault for not making the choreography tighter. I guess I lost some confidence after watching the other team perform."


    June sighed as he watched his dejected teammates.


    "What did you guys feel when you performed?" he asked.


    "It was fun," Akira chimed. "It''s been a while since I''ve had such a fun time performing. I think thest time I felt this way was when RAVEN was promoting in music festivals."


    Minx nodded, looking a little less nervous. "Yeah, it felt really fun. I was always nervous during monthly trainee evaluations, but this one felt just like a performance."


    C--Jay chuckled, patting the youngest''s back. "Tell me about it. It didn''t feel like we were being evaluated."


    "I even forgot this was apetition at one point," Eli added. "I actually enjoyed rapping."


    "Well, I would say I''m satisfied with the performance, too," Bin smiled.


    "Then there shouldn''t be any problem," June said. "You guys had a fun time. That''s all that matters. I think the audience feels the same way, too."


    Akira chuckled and nudged June''s shoulders. "Eyy, you''re doing good at this leadership thing."


    "That''s my big brother June!" Jangmoon eximed.


    June sighed. "You''re older than me!"


    "It doesn''t matter," Jangmoon smiled. "You feel like a big brother to me."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    "Let''s head in to see the results," he said. "And remember, no matter what the results say, what''s important is you guys had a fun time."


    With that, he turned around and started walking to the results room.


    Hoon clicked his tongue as he watched June''s retreating back. Why the hell is he so cool?


    June only said those words.


    But of course, he didn''t believe them!


    The results are always the most important!


    At the end of the day, people only look at the results and not how much effort they''ve made in order to achieve such results.


    June learned that the hard way.


    No matter how many times he stumbled, broke down, and sacrificed himself for the White Tiger gang, it was futile at the end of it all.


    However, since his young teammates appeared so down, he couldn''t help but say those words.


    In a way, it felt like he was saying it to his younger, naive self.


    They entered the results room and saw that Kingz was already there. The team nced at them with unreadable expressions, creating a palpable tension within the room.


    Akira smiled at his teammates, but they were too focused on the screen to notice him. He frowned and sat next to June.


    The screen started shing the results of the Artist Battle.


    "GIRLS'' EVOLUTION RESULTS"


    "Kingz vs. Abyss"


    "Kingz team: Top Member"


    The Kingz team watched the screen in anticipation. June looked at them one by one and found it hard to predict who was going to take the benefit.


    A lot of them were popr, but if he had to choose someone, it''d either be Casper or Jaeyong.


    "Casper"


    The other trainees pped for Casper. For some of them, it was already expected. Casper is currently the second cer of the show. However, it still didn''t take away the disappointment they felt.


    "Abyss team: Top Member."


    "I wish this was you, brother," Akira whispered by his side.


    June focused on the screen.


    "Bin."


    Bin stood up and sighed in relief. Minx went behind his back to give him a hug.


    "Congrats, brother," the other members of Abyss eximed. Only Hoon remained silent.


    "Congrats," June said.


    Akira sighed. "It should have been you."


    June chuckled. "Why are you more disappointed than I am?"


    Akira shrugged. "You were the one who brought this team back to life."


    "It''s alright," he nonchntly said. "Bin did a good job."


    Again, June was saying such kind words, but he was already cursing inside his mind.


    After all the shit he went through, he still didn''t get first ce?


    He sighed and tried to get rid of such thoughts in his head.


    Bin already had some fans even before joining ''Rising Stars.''


    June still has a long way to go.


    After the announcements of the top members were shown, it was now time to see who won among the two teams.


    The trainees backstage conversed among themselves.


    "It''s probably Kingz, right?"


    "I would think so too."


    Zeth, who was currently on standby for their performance, watched the screen intently.


    "I think Abyss did a better job, though," he muttered under his breath.


    The two team names were shown on screen, and underneath them were varying numbers ranging from 1 to 500. A drumroll-like beat yed in the results room, and the trainees felt like their hearts were beating at the same, fast tempo.


    "This is nerve-wracking," Akira said.


    "Kingz: 289"


    "Abyss: 211"

 Chapter 47 Latex

    <h4>Chapter 47 Latex</h4>


    The mentors monitored the results with hawk eyes.


    "This is quite difficult," Woo-jin said. "Even though Kingz is full of talented and popr trainees, I feel like Abyss didn''tg behind."


    "Of course," Jihyun said. "June''s on that team."


    Hyerin chuckled and nudged her shoulder. "You''ve already got a favorite, hmm?"


    "What can I say? I''m a sucker for good idol vocalists. I see lots of potential in him."


    "That mask, though," Hyerin added. "It really creates such a sense of mystery."


    "It''s going to be andslide win in favor of Kingz," Gun chimed. "The trainees on Abyss aren''t nearly as popr as Kingz."


    The final results were shown, and Gun couldn''t help but cheer.


    "See? I was right," he proudly smiled.


    Minho chuckled and shook his head. "I don''t think I''ve ever seen you this enthusiastic before, Gun. Do you dislike Abyss that much?"


    Gun shrugged. "It''s not that I dislike them. I just don''t prefer untalented trainees."


    In the results room, team Kingz rejoiced, while Team Abyss felt quite disappointed. However, June''s words backstage resonated with them.


    Akira stood up and smiled at his team.


    "It was a fun stage," he concluded. "I learned a lot from you, guys."


    His little ment sent the zero-star trainees into an emotional frenzy.


    "Don''t speak like that, Akira," Jangmoon sniffed. "I''m an emotional person."


    June sighed as he stood up. "You guys did a great job," he said.


    In the end, it was just as he had expected.


    It was too soon for Abyss to be able to beat a team like Kingz.


    However, seeing how close the results were made him a bit surprised.


    Jaeyong and Casper, too, couldn''t show utmost happiness.


    "The results...," Casper whispered.


    "Are too close," Jaeyong concluded.


    However, their other members were already celebrating their victory.


    C-Jay suddenly felt emotional as he watched them cheer. "We can''t lose to them!" he eximed. "This was such a good and fun stage! We need to rejoice too."


    He held onto June''s hands and looked at him with bright eyes.


    "You''ve been such a great help, brother! You''ve never disappointed me," he said. "Come here."


    June''s eyes widened as C-Jay suddenly wrapped his arms around his waist, hoisting him up in the air. Although C-Jay was the shortest among them, there''s no doubt that his body''s the most toned.


    He had very strong arms, and with June''s current body, he felt as light as the cloud to C-Jay.


    "Let me go!" June said, pathetically trying to escape his arms. However, his other teammates, with the exception of Hoon, flocked to him and started throwing him in the air like a newborn being yed by his parents.


    Fuck this.


    "Yay!"


    "Brother June!"


    His other members continued treating him like a baby. Team Kingz found their team weird. Casper looked at June, still with his cat mask, and smiled.


    Hmm, pretty cute.


    "Put me down," June said in a serious voice, and it was only then that his teammates let him go.


    "With this celebration, it felt like we had won," Jangmoon chuckled.


    June sighed and straightened his clothes. "Let''s just go. Thest team still has to perform."


    They went back to the trainee''s watching area, and they were surprised to see some of the trainees apuding upon their arrival.


    "Aww, shucks," C-Jay gushed. "Don''t tter us too much, guys."


    "Shut up," Hoon said, focusing on the TV.


    Thest team to be performing is Zeth''s Avengers team. Everybody saw thising. They were the most popr group, with almost all of its members being in the top 10.


    The trainees watched intently, focused on therge-scale performance that they had prepared.


    Right from the very start, their aura was different.


    June clicked his tongue.


    Definitely unfair.


    These guys can debut right now, and it wouldn''t be much of a problem.


    Lin Zhi was shown on screen, and his mood became bitter. This guy''s doing a good job, too. He gets to live his dream while Jun Hao is probably rotting underground already.


    The cheers wereparable to team Kingz''s performance, and it was obvious that their team was going to win withndslide votes.


    After their performance had finished, June quickly stood up from his seat since he felt mother nature calling.


    "Where are you going?" Akira asked.


    "To the bathroom," he said.


    June went to the bathroom and did his thing. He then washed his hands and looked at himself in the mirror.


    He didn''t look too bad with this mask, but it reminded him too much of the BDSM kink.


    He''d dly pick his bright pink mask over this any day.


    Moreover, the material was made of thicktex, so he was already sweating underneath.


    June looked around the ce to see if he was all alone. Once he confirmed that no one else was in sight, he decided to momentarily remove his mask to wipe away the sweat build-up on his face.


    He even sshed his face with some cold water, sighing in relief as he felt invigorated.


    Then, before cing his mask back on, he observed his face in the mirror.


    He looked like shit.


    Thetex had imprinted on his skin, so there was now a red indent on his face in the shape of the mask. Hisplexion had improved, though, and the e marks he once had were fading, courtesy of the cream and masks that Grandma had given him.


    His nose seemed a bit taller, too, probably due to the one upgrade he had used for his visuals.


    His scars and bruises were still intact, though, so he still needed to wear a mask for a couple more weeks. Maybe just in time for the next live performance.


    As he ced his mask back on, he suddenly heard the sound of the door closing.


    June frowned as he watched the door vibrate as if somebody had just mmed it close.


    He quickly ced his mask on and peered outside to see if anybody entered while his face was exposed.


    As he opened the door, he sighed in relief when he saw there wasn''t anyone there.


    That was close.

 Chapter 48 What Are you Doing Here?

    <h4>Chapter 48 What Are you Doing Here?</h4>


    The trainees anticipated the announcement of the best team that would be granted a total of 150,000 stars for the first eliminations.


    "And the star team goes to¡ªCHAOS'' Daybreak! Congrattions to all of you, and congrattions to trainee Zeth for having the highest amount of star benefits among all the trainees!"


    The room was filled with apuse as Zeth took the mic. "Umm, I really don''t know what to say except that I''m very grateful for this reward. I couldn''t have done it without the starlights. I promise to work harder and show you better stages from now on," he said with determination.


    June looked at the screen and shook his head.


    This guy was definitely born to be an idol. He already speaks like one too.


    And to add to that, he just bagged 150,000 stars under his belt. It''s not like he needed it too. Zeth could probably ce first even without the benefit. However, truth be told, the kid deserved it. Some are just born to be idols, that''s all.


    "Now, time for the announcements," Minho said,manding attention from everybody.


    "You all know whates after the first mission, right?" he asked.


    June listened intently.


    "The first eliminations," he muttered, and Minho said it at the same time as him.


    "After the airing of the second episode tomorrow, starlights will be given the chance to start voting for their favorite trainee. They will be given two weeks to vote, just in time for the airing of the first eliminations."


    The trainees chattered among themselves.


    "Two weeks? Shouldn''t it be one week?" C-Jay asked. "Then, won''t our fancams be uploaded online so the starlights can have a glimpse of our performances already?" he asked.


    "If this wasst season, then that would be the case," Minho said. "However, since we want to be fair to all trainees, starlights would only be able to see your Artist Battle performances on the third episode."


    "It still doesn''t make sense," Hoon chimed. "How are we going to film the first eliminations if starlights are given two weeks to vote?"


    Minho smirked. "Rising Stars always wants to be transparent to its viewers. And to avoid the controversy that had happenedst season, we decided to change our eliminations system this year."


    June pursed his lips.


    "Buckle up, trainees," Minho said. "The eliminations for this year would be broadcasted live!"


    ***


    After the announcement of the "live" eliminations were posted online, people startedplimenting the Rising Stars production team. A lot of people had lost trust in the show ever sincest year''s rigging controversy, so this was one way to ensure viewers that they have now be transparent with the voting.


    Although it isn''t a guarantee, some viewers thought they made some good efforts.


    - That''s more like it! The third-party team they hired is quite trustworthy too.


    - Stupid people. Even with live eliminations, the production crew can still rig the show!


    - I might start watching Rising Stars now.


    - Commenter upstairs, you really should. Only the first episode has aired, but the trainees are so good already!


    - When''s the next episode?


    - It''s tonight, guys! Make sure to tune in tonight at 8:50 PM.


    - Don''t forget to vote for Zeth and Ren <3!!


    The trainees had yet another break before they started their next mission. June, who had run out of BenBen gummies, went to the Seven Star Convenience Store to refill his stock.


    Sure, they haven''t done shit to his height.


    However, they tasted pretty good. June even tried to switch it with normal c gummies, but it just didn''t taste the same.


    "Oh, June, you''re back?" the old owner said.


    "Yes," June said. "I''ll be going back next week."


    "That''s great! Grandma has been showing you off to our ballroom dance group ever since the first episode of Rising Stars aired. Some of the grandmas even took a liking to you. They''re still confused about why you wear a mask, though."


    "Ah, thank you, I guess," June scratched the back of his head.


    "Now that I think about it, I don''t think I''ve ever seen your face. I''m sure you''re a pretty good-lookingd!"


    "Tune in to Rising Stars, old man," June joked. "Then you''ll see what I look like."


    The owner chuckled loudly. "Ah, you''re really good at luring in those viewers, huh? Very well. I shall watch it with my granddaughter from time to time. She seems to be around your age."


    "While you''re at it, why don''t ya give me some stars, too?"


    "Stars?" the owner asked, confused. "We don''t sell stars here."


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Don''t sweat about it."


    "Right. We don''t have stars, but we do have a new stock of BenBen gummies. Do you want some? I''ll give you a whole box."


    "For free?" June asked in a hopeful voice.


    "Well, since I can''t give you stars, I''ll give them to you for free."


    June smiled. "Then, I''m taking it, old man."


    "Wait here," he said. "I''ll just bring some out from the back."


    June smiled as he waited for his BenBen gummies. He sat down on the counter and started reading the magazines on the rack.


    On one of them, Rising Stars was the first page.


    The show is definitely bing more popr now.


    "Are you sure this is the ce?"


    "This looks like it came out from the 1960s, though?"


    "Will brother really work in a ce like this?"


    "Quiet down, and just enter!"


    June lifted his head and frowned when he heard some familiar voices outside the store.


    He stood up from the counter and saw five silhouettes outside the door. Then, the bell chimed, and five familiar faces peeked inside.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise when he saw who they were.


    "Oh my! Is that Brother June? It''s his eyes. It''s really you!"


    "Big Brother!''


    "You''re really here."


    "Woah, these are the snacks I had when I was younger."


    "Hi, brother."


    "What the hell are you all doing here?"

 Chapter 49 His Beat-Up Apartment

    <h4>Chapter 49 His Beat-Up Apartment</h4>


    "Oh, are you June''s friends?" Mr. Chang, the owner of the convenience store, eximed when he saw five young adults standing in front of the door.


    "Yes, mister!" Jangmoon chimed.


    "Such a handsome bunch you are. I think I saw you on Rising Stars," Mr. Chang eximed. "''What brings you here?"


    C-Jay nudged Jisung''s shoulder.


    Jisung cleared his throat and shyly smiled before taking a step forward. "I saw Brother June''s name tag scattered on the floor in our room, and it led to this convenience store. June did mention that he worked during our break, so I thought we''d be able to find him here."


    June massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "And why exactly are you all here?" June asked, looking at the five men one-by-one.


    Akira, C-Jay, Jangmoon, Jisung, and Minx stood there with sheepish smiles.


    "We aren''t evenplete," Jangmoon said. "Hoon didn''t want to go. Bin and Eli wanted to spend time with their friends and families. It''s a good thing Jisung told us about where you work! We wanted to give you a surprise visit."


    "I mean, why are you really here?" June impatiently asked. "You could have spent this day with your families too."


    "We wanted to watch the second episode with you!" Minx said.


    June sighed. "Watch it in Jisung''s house. I''m not going with you," he said, taking the box of BenBen gummies from Mr. Chang''s arms and taking a step forward.


    "But we came all the way here," Akira said, standing in front of him and covering his path. "Let''s watch it together, brother!"


    "No," June deadpanned.


    "Oh,e on," Mr. Chang said. "Don''t be so harsh to your friends, June. Here," he said, cing some chips on top of the BenBen gummies before handing some drinks to Akira. "Eat this with your friends while watching Rising Stars. Consider it as a gift from this old man right here. Just don''t forget me when you all be famous. "


    "Aww, thanks, mister! Don''t worry. I''ll give you an autograph once that happens," C-Jay chimed. "Nowe, June," he wrapped his arms around June. "Let''s go to your house."


    June sighed in frustration.


    They walked to June''s apartment, and the group of young men couldn''t be more excited.


    "They''re going to air the signal song performances today, right?" C-Jay asked.


    Jangmoon nodded. "Yup! I saw it in the teasers this morning. My mom even woke me up because my face was shown. I can''t wait for you guys to see how we became the winners," he boasted to the non-zero-star trainees.


    "I''m excited about that, too," Jisung smiled.


    "By the way, what are these, brother?" Jangmoon asked, pertaining to the box of gummies June was currently holding.


    "BenBen gummies," June nonchntly said.


    "BenBen gummies?" Minx asked. "The one that makes you grow taller?"


    June nodded.


    Akira chuckled. "I saw you eating a pack of those during our practices. You were so absentminded back then that you finished 20 gummies in one sitting."


    "Aww, do you want to be taller, brother?" C-Jay asked. "Don''t worry. You''re cute like this."


    "I''m taller than you," June said. He was a whole 5 cm taller than this dude!


    "It doesn''t matter," C-Jay said. "My personality makes up for myck of height. But if you want to grow taller, ask Jangmoon over here," he said, patting the giant''s back.


    Jangmoon shyly smiled in all his 187 cm of glory. "I was born like this."


    June scowled. He was tall when he was Jun Hao, too. But now, he was barely over 175 cm.


    "BenBen gummies aren''t effective," Minx said, standing at 178 cm at 16 years old. "Trust me, brother. I''ve tried."


    June didn''t care.


    BenBen gummies were delicious.


    They arrived in front of June''s apartment, and the five men stopped when they saw the condition of the building. It was a three-story building with graffiti written all over the walls. The paint was chipping off and was stained with smoke. Some of the windows were cracked, and the posts seemed to be in bad condition. There were also a bunch of rebel-looking teens in the corner smoking some type of weed. In short, it looked horrendous.


    June kept walking but halted when he didn''t feel their presence behind him. He turned around and saw the five of them looking at the building with wide eyes.


    "Well, are you just going to stand there, or are you going inside?" he asked.


    Jangmoon approached him with pitiful eyes.


    "You live in such a ce, brother?"


    "Yes," June said, confused why they were acting that way.


    "Now,e inside before I change my mind," he added.


    The five of them reluctantly followed June to his apartment. Once they got inside, they felt even sadder for June.


    ''This looks like a birdcage,'' Jisung thought. He looked at June, who was wearing a ck mask, and couldn''t help but feel bad for him. ''Is this the kind of life that June had been living?''


    Akira, too, felt a sense of guilt. He was ranting to June about Rising Stars being his "final chance," but he never lived a life like this. His dog lives better than June! This must be the reason why he wants to debut as an idol, right?


    C-Jay and Jangmoon looked at each other with knowing, teary eyes. They never expected their brother to live like this.


    ''Poor big brother,'' Jangmoon thought.


    ''I admire him even more,'' C-Jay pondered.


    Minx, too, felt a newfound respect for June. For all he knows, he could never live like this!


    On the other hand, June was oblivious to their mncholic stares. Instead, he felt happy because he got a new box of BenBen gummies. He ced it in the corner of the room, his eyes crinkling in delight.


    That seemed to make C-Jay and Jangmoon even more emotional.


    ''He''s so thankful even with the small things in life!''


    June turned back to the five of them, confused since they looked at him with wide, consoling eyes.


    "What?" June asked.


    "Nothing," Akira said, a small smile on his lips. "It''s almost time for the show. Shall we tune in?"

 Chapter 50 The Second Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 50 The Second Episode (1)</h4>


    "Would you guys make it faster?" Jia urged as she sat down on the couch. "We''rete since you decided to study at the library."


    Soo-min chuckled as she sat beside Jia. "Who knew you''d be the most enthusiastic fan out of all of us? It''s our final exams next week! Of course, we need to study. We''ll be going to college soon."


    "Tell me about it," Na-ri said. "Jia''s been stocking up on some stars so she could vote for June after this episode."


    "Shut up. You guys are doing it too."


    "Not as much as you," Wei said. "How much have you spent on those stars already?"


    "Well, June needs more stars than your famous trainees. Even if you don''t vote for them, they''ll still probably end up in the top 20. Just let me be!" Jia defended.


    Her three friends shook their heads and chuckled in amusement.


    They tuned in to the live stream being aired on YouWatch, so there werements popping up on the side from here and there.


    - Ahhh! I''m excited. I can''t wait for Zeth''s audition. It''s going to be nuts!


    - They''re definitely saving the talented trainees for thest portion, aren''t they?


    - They''re going to show the signal song performance process today, right?


    - Yeah, I saw it in the teaser. I wonder what happened in the zero-star ss?


    The show finally started and continued fromst week''s audition.


    Wei, Na-ri, and Soo-min squealed as the famous trainees'' auditions were shown. Indeed, they were a different breed.


    - So fucking good!


    - These guys are geniuses.


    - Totally deserves the five stars.


    After the auditions, the signal song reevaluation process was finally shown. It started with the smooth-sailing process of the five-stars and four-stars.


    "It''s June!" Jia eximed when she saw the pink mask pop on the screen.


    "Well, he''s very hard to miss," Wei chuckled.


    "I feel like he''s the only trainee I can recognize from a mile away," Na-ri joked.


    Jia frowned when the music came on, yet June still hadn''t danced. Azure''s signature dramatic music yed, creating a dramatic and tension-filled scene.


    - Is he stupid or something?


    - Is this guy in three stars? What a joke!


    "Of course, he doesn''t know!" Jia eximed. "It''s not like Gun had already taught their ss."


    "Calm down," Weiughed. "It''s fucking funny. Look at the other trainees. They look like little worms being sprinkled with salt."


    "But this Gun guy is taking it too far!" Jia said. "The other trainees were taught the dance before they were asked to demonstrate."


    "That''s how mentor Gun is," Wei said. "He''s been that way since the first season. It''s a fact that he doesn''t like unpopr and untalented trainees."


    "June''s talented, though," Jia muttered.


    She saw quite a lot of hatements for June, saying he didn''t deserve his star level, so Jia quickly opened a YouWatch ount and named it "MyKittyJune."


    - MyKittyJune: June is very talented! I went to the first live showcase, and this editing doesn''t do his skills any justice!


    - ^This is me when I lie. June can''t dance for shit.


    - MyKittyJune: I did go. Just wait and see.


    - Woah, June stans are scary.


    - June is good! I watched their first performance live too.


    Jia sighed in relief when the dance training portion was finally over. Jihyun walked inside the three-stars'' room to ask the trainees to sing. They sang in unison, and Jia''s ears perked up as soon as the first note was sung.


    "That''s June''s voice!" she eximed.


    "Yeah, his voice is really good. I still remember it from the showcase," Na-ri said.


    "His techniques areparable to Ren''s," Weimented.


    The people watching online were also impressed by June''s vocal prowess.


    - Oh, he isn''t too bad.


    - Yeah, I thought the Little Meow Meow song was a fluke.


    - Kekekeke, even better than some of the five-star trainees.


    Jia smiled in satisfaction as she read thements praising June. She focused her attention on him and smiled as he was asked to demonstrate again.


    She could never get tired of hearing his voice.


    It sounded very unique. June had the technique of a seasoned vocalist, yet his vocal color was very trendy. However, she grew worried when mentor Jihyun made him demonstrate the song over and over again.


    Even when their vocal training was already done, he helped Jisung and some other trainees in tweaking their vocal choices.


    "Aww, June''s growing on me," Soo-min said. "He''s teaching my baby Jisung."


    "He seems like a pretty decent guy, hmm?" Wei said.


    The next few scenes passed quickly, and it was time for their reevaluation stage.


    Jia was nervous about June''s dancing. She acknowledges that her bias isn''t the best at dancing, and there''s only so much he could improve in a matter of days. And since the final signal song performances had been aired, Jia knew that June would be regressed to zero-stars.


    It must be because of his dance, right?


    The reevaluations continued on, and like ill fate, June went after a bunch of five-star trainees performed.


    "Please do well," Jia whispered.


    "We already know he''s in zero-stars, Jia," Wei said. "You better close your eyes and ears for this one."


    Jia wanted to, but couldn''t take her attention away from the screen.


    Why is June so cute?


    Even with the mask on, he looks he cute!


    "Ah, so handsome," Jia couldn''t help but exim.


    Her friends looked at her weirdly.


    "You''ve gone insane," Soo-min said. "You can''t even see his face!"


    "I don''t care," Jia said, her gaze focused on the screen.


    The song started ying, and Jia held her breath as June danced.


    However, she was surprised to see June doing quite well.


    "Yo, he''s not bad, though," Wei said.


    "He improved a lot," Na-ri said. "And it''s just within 2 days. What a scary trainee."


    Jia couldn''t hear her friends'' conversation anymore since she was too focused on June.


    However, when he opened his mouth, it felt like a cold bucket of water was poured all over her body.


    Why did he lose his voice now out of all days?


    - Woah HAHAHA. He lost his voice?


    - Unlucky guy.


    - What a shame. His dancing improved, though.


    - So, that''s why he ended up in zero-stars. Such harsh mentors.


    - Lmao! He lost the one thing he was good at.


    It seems like being a June stan is not an easy feat.

 Chapter 51 The Second Episode (2)

    <h4>Chapter 51 The Second Episode (2)</h4>


    Jia couldn''t bear to watch June''s reevaluation stage. And when he was given zero stars, she felt so bad that she wanted to turn back time and yell at the other mentors for being unfair to him.


    "He lost his voice!" Jia defended. "Didn''t mentor Jihyun make him sing over and over again? That''s the reason why his voice had gone hoarse."


    Wei chuckled and patted Jia''s back. "Calm down, Jia. The mentors give out rankings based on their actual performance. Mentor Jihyun can''t give him more stars just based on what he had shown during practice."


    "But he did really improve in dancing, though," Na-ri said, trying to calm Jia down.


    Jia crossed her arms in front of her chest and red at the TV.


    "I''m not watching anymore! It''s like the whole world is against June," she pouted.


    "Are you sure?" Soo-min teased. "We''ll turn off the TV if you like."


    Jia snatched the remote from Soo-min and clicked her tongue. "But, whatever. They won the signal song performance benefit anyway. Let''s continue watching."


    "She''s gone insane," Na-ri whispered.


    - Finally! That June guy got what he deserved.


    - Zero-stars June, hehehe. I don''t know why, but I really don''t like this guy.


    - It''s because we can''t see his face. That cat mask is he weird.


    - You guys are so mean. If he was handsome, then you wouldn''t be throwing hate like this.


    - This June guy is bing my favorite. I don''t like pretentious people.


    "However, even if all sses are given the opportunity to shoot a performance video, it does not mean that you will have the same budget. Those with five stars will be given an unlimited budget for their performance, so they can use that for the costumes, effects, and the like. The budget for the video will lessen as the tiers go down," Minho said, and thedies gasped.


    "So, that''s what happened?" Na-ri asked. "No wonder the quality regressed per star level. Zero-stars were lucky that they had a funny stage, though."


    Jia clenched her fists in anger. June must have had such a hard time.


    - Damn, Azure is really brutal.


    - The zero-star trainees are both untalented and poor.


    - I feel kind of bad for the lower-tier trainees.


    - These two-stars kind of gave up, though. It''s not that fun to see.


    - I bet the zero-stars will be the same. They only have 500 dors, pfft. Even my allowance is greater than that.


    Jia rested her elbows on herp and watched intently when the zero-stars'' practice scene was being shown.


    "Let''s just rest," Jangmoon said. "I''m tired of practicing the song over and over again. It''s not like I''m going to improve in just one day."


    "Where''s the 500 dors?" C-jay asked. "Let''s just use that to buy pizza and cheer ourselves up."


    - Oh :/ I empathize with June.


    - What the hell? Why are they speaking that way?


    - June, cheer up!


    - Why is June even trying so hard? They''re going to lose anyway.


    Na-ri sniffed as she watched the scene where June continuously attempted to get the zero-star trainees to work harder for their signal song performance.


    Azure used the "sad" editing technique for the scene, so the viewers couldn''t help but empathize with June.


    "I feel so bad for him!" Soo-min said. "Why are they being like this?"


    "My June," Jia whispered. "Really¡ªhe must be really sad underneath his mask."


    She couldn''t help but tear up as she watched the pitiful scene. It''s as if he was the only one who wanted to continue on with their stage.


    Meanwhile, in that scene, June was actually cursing the trainees under his breath. However, since he was wearing his mask, the big wide eyes of the cat made him look so pitiful.


    "Ah, really! I have to scold these trainees," Wei said. "I hope tomorrow''s going to get better."


    As the next scenes were shown, the zero-stars'' situation was, indeed, not any better.


    There was only a day left for their performance, yet the trainees were still cking off.


    Intense piano music yed as June stood up, seemingly fed up with their attitudes.


    "Come here. All of you," June calmly said.


    The girls collectively gasped. They''ve never heard June use such a voice before.


    "Come. Here."


    - Holy shit. Why is his aura so different?


    - It''s like he''s a whole different person. Kind of scary.


    - Damn, I kind of want to follow him too.


    - Go, June! Show them who''s boss.


    June took a step forward, and the piano music became even more intense as he stood in front of Jangmoon.


    - Are they going to fight?


    - Hell yeah! I want to see them throwing fists.


    "Link your arms together," June said, still serious.


    "Huh?" Na-ri tilted her head to the side in confusion. "So suddenly?"


    "I thought he was going to punch Jangmoon just now," Wei said.


    "June wouldn''t do that," Jia said. "He''s a pure person."


    "The world is a shitty ce," June started with a curse word. However, it was bleeped out by the production crew.


    The girls looked at each other with wide eyes. "Did he just curse?" Wei asked.


    "What the hell," Na-ri startedughing. "That''s a first! I can''t believe they even aired that."


    - HAHAHAHAHA, a trainee cursed in front of the cameras? This is gold!


    - He''s really growing on me.


    - Tsk. No etiquette at all.


    - Why do I like him so much?


    "We''re in a ce where justice is only served for the rich. Some are given more resources. Some have nothing at all. However, what do we have most that they don''t? Desperation."


    The girls listened intently. Jia felt herself falling deeper in love with June with just those few words.


    "Honestly, who doesn''t want to win the benefit? I''m sure, deep inside your hearts, you want to be seen on TV while showing your talents. Why else would youe here and go through so much struggle? It''s time for us to rise above mediocrity. We have the potential to be more than just trainees; we can be the best damn team this ce has ever seen! But it starts with each and every one of us embracing our ws."


    "Let''s Power Up! And let us always remember that true power lies not in strength alone but in the belief that we can achieve anything when we work together, refuse to give up, and strive for greatness. We can do this with just 500 dors and a dream! So, who''s with me?"


    "Ah," Jia squealed. "That was so fucking cool!"


    "Damn," Soo-min said. "Would you mind sharing your bias, Jia?"


    "Go stick to Zeth," Jia said. "But I wouldn''t mind if you give my June some extra stars," she giggled.


    At that moment, the ratings were crazily rising. The people who used to be indifferent toward June started taking a liking to him and his blunt personality.


    The other trainees watching at home were also fascinated by June''s way of speaking.


    Zeth, who had gathered with his members from the third round, couldn''t help but curse as June''s little speech ended.


    "This June kid''s so cool," heplimented.


    Lin Zhi, on the other hand, frowned as the scene reyed over and over inside his head.


    June''s speech¡ªit somehow sounded familiar.


    It reminded him of someone he once knew.

 Chapter 52 The Second Episode (3)

    <h4>Chapter 52 The Second Episode (3)</h4>


    "You''re so cool, big brother!" Jangmoon sniffed as their scene finished. He cried like a baby when June told his little speech. "I''m so sorry for being like that at first! I was just devastated that we were given less when we''re already at the bottom."


    "Me too, brother," C-Jay said, attacking June with a hug and nuzzling his face in June''s neck.


    June pushed him away and red at him.


    "Alright, I get it. It''s over now," June said. "Let''s not talk about it anymore."


    "But I''m really sorry!" Jangmoon insisted. "Here, have my kiss as my deepest form of apology."


    June looked at him with horror and pushed Akira to the front, causing Jangmoon to kiss Akira''s cheek instead.


    "Fuck!" Akira screamed. "What the hell. Why is it so wet?"


    "Brother,e here!" Jangmoon insisted, chasing June around the small room.


    June got up and assumed a fighting stance.


    The other four watched them in amusement.


    Fortunately, Jangmoon got tired after a while, and they were back to watching the episode. The filming of the five-star trainees was currently being shown, yet the other guys were still not over June''s little speech.


    "But you were really cool right there, brother," Jisung said. "The other guys didn''t give you an easy time."


    Akira patted June''s back. "Good job, June. You''ve worked harder than anybody else. I bet Jaeyong will have a change of heart once he sees the episode."


    June frowned. "Right. Why does he even hate me?"


    Akira shrugged. "Jaeyong''s just like that. He''s trained the longest out of all of us. He became a trainee at 14 years old and only debuted at 22. He witnessed a lot of younger and less talented trainees debut before him, so he doesn''t like those who think being an idol is a just a joke."


    "I don''t think like that, though," June responded.


    While it''s true that June doesn''t want to be an idol, he could never think of it as a joke.


    Especially with Mei Ling''s life on the line.


    Akira chuckled. "I guess you came off that way during the beginning. Especially with your Little Meow Meow audition piece and bright pink mask."


    "Right," Minx said. "You were wearing a mask during the preliminary interviews too. We were thest ones to be interviewed during that time. Why do you wear a mask when it''s an idol survivalpetition?"


    They anticipated June''s answer.


    June shrugged and answered nonchntly.


    "It''s simple. I''m ugly," he said.


    Well, he''s definitely not ugly. But the wounds and bruises he had incurred made him look abused. His dark circles and e marks didn''t help with his appearance either. Moreover, since he was too poor, he was too skinny for his own sake.


    This body looks much better now, though.


    Although June hasn''t really paid much attention to his appearance for the past few days. He just kept using the skin care products that Grandma had given him.


    He''s also nning to use his next level-up for his visuals just in time for the next battle. However, thest mission was much harder than he had thought since his height was something he couldn''t really control!


    Jangmoon went closer to him and stared into his eyes, scaring June a bit.


    "You have really pretty eyes, though."


    June pushed him away once more. "Just watch the show."


    Akira and Jisung looked at June with pity.


    Not only is he poor, he has self-esteem issues, too?


    Poor June.


    Akira wrapped his arms around June. "Don''t worry, brother. You wouldn''t be the first K-pop idol with mediocre looks. You can still make it to the group."


    "Gee, thanks," June said.


    "Hmm," Jisung hummed in agreement. "And there isn''t an ugly person in this world! I''m sure you have your own merits."


    June looked at their consoling faces and shook his head.


    It seemed like they really believed him when he said he was ugly.


    Well, whatever. June''s not in the mood to exin that he was covering his face because of his wounds and bruises.


    The show was nearing its end, and the performance video of the zero-stars was finally shown.


    Initially, their performance was deemed humorous by the public. However, seeing the process of their hard work and effort, the public seemed to empathize with them more.


    - I didn''t realize this was such an emotional performance.


    - The zero-stars :( They worked really hard.


    - MyKittyJune: Where are the June haters now? They''ve grown quiet, huh?


    - I have a newfound respect for June. I might give him some stars now. Although Ren still has my heart <3.


    - Still ugly, though.


    - Crazymenter upstairs. You can''t even see his face!


    - Why would he cover it if he''s handsome?


    "They edited it so well," C-Jay said, touched. "I should give Yena and Ye-jin some gifts when we go back."


    "Stupid," Jangmoon pped the back of his head. "Do you want to be used of bribery?"


    "Ah, right. Sorry, sorry."


    Their performance finally ended, and the scene where the YouWatch views had been tracked was shown. The zero-stars'' video started off slow, with just 5,000 views in the first hour. However, as time progressed, their views escted the most, creating a very dramatic finish.


    The zero-star trainees couldn''t help but cheer as they were hailed the winners.


    "My mom is going to love this," C-Jay eximed.


    June nonchntly watched the show, popping another BenBen gummy under his mask.


    [Congrattions, host! You have aplished the mission: Increase height by at least one cm. Current height: 177 cm. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    When June saw that pop-up, he couldn''t help but stand up in surprise. Before he even knew it, he pped his hands and raised his hand in victory.


    Those BenBen gummies are actually effective!


    June smiled. He''s finally more than the average height of Korean men!


    The five other guys were surprised to see him stand up.


    Jangmoon covered his mouth as he looked at June.


    ''Our big brother! He''s secretly touched by our victory, too, huh? He was just acting cold a while ago.''


    "You must really be happy, brother," C-Jay said. "You don''t have to hide it from us."


    Akira and Jisung smiled. Turns out, June was much more of a Tsundere than they had thought.


    Ah, those idiots.


    They didn''t even know that June was celebrating a different victory.


    "Visual," he muttered under his breath.


    [Wise choice, host! Visual +1. Current grade: B-]


    [Current stats:


    - Vocals: A-


    - Dance: C-


    - Visual: B-


    - Rap: E-


    - Charm: E+


    - Leadership: C]

 Chapter 53 Chef June

    <h4>Chapter 53 Chef June</h4>


    [Your missions are now being reset:


    1. Cook for five people.


    2. Rise through ranks (at least 5 ranks).


    3. Earn apliment from mentor Gun.]


    June looked at his new set of missions with a frown. The first two were very doable. He can even finish the first one tonight. The second one is also doable if his appearance in the second episode made a big enough impact.


    However, the third one sounded impossible.


    Mentor Gun would rather eat the sole of his shoe thanpliment June.


    "The episode''s over," Jisung said. "Should we head home, brother?"


    "Wait," June said, standing up. He might as well get the first mission over with.


    "Stay here," June said. "I''ll cook you guys some dinner."


    The five boys looked at each other with surprise. "You''ll do that for us?"


    Well, if it wasn''t for the mission, June would have kicked them out already.


    "Wait a second," June said. "I''ll buy some ingredients."


    He went out of the house before the others could refute.


    "Brother June is so sweet," Jangmoon eximed. "I can''t believe I''ll be able to taste his cooking!"


    "Can he cook, though?" Minx asked. "He''s so skinny. I''m afraid he''ll only feed us junk food. My mom will get mad."


    C-Jay clicked his tongue and pped the back of Minx''s head. "You should be grateful that Brother June is even cooking for us."


    Jisung enthusiastically nodded his head. "I can''t wait to taste his cooking."


    Akira looked at the four guys one by one and concluded something. "Do we all just find June really cute?"


    "Yup!" they said in unison.


    June went to the Seven-Star convenience store to buy some ingredients for ate dinner. At first, he only thought of buying instant ramen and calling it a day, but Fu never really specified what "cooking" meant in the mission. He tried asking multiple times, but Fu seemed to be sleeping already.


    Therefore, in order to take the safe route, he decided to cook some hotpot instead. It was quick to cook, and the only stove he has in his room is a portable one, so it just checks out. Moreover, June was happy that he had grown 2 cm in less than a month, so he was going to take this time to celebrate.


    "Are you cooking?" Mr. Chang asked.


    "Hmm," June said. "Give me a discount, will ya? It''s for those little rascals at home."


    Mr. Chang chuckled and ced one of the meat packets inside the bag without ringing it up.


    "You speak so harshly, yet I feel like you care for them. Here," he said, handing June the bag. "Have a nice dinner."


    June clicked his tongue and nodded goodbye.


    He did not care for those annoying kids.


    June left the convenience store with a bag full of fresh ingredients. He kept his ck mask and hood intact, humming to himself as he walked back.


    Holy fuck.


    He was humming the signal song performance!


    That annoying song was actually stuck in his head now.


    June was too busy with his thoughts that he didn''t realize he had already bumped into a group of young men, around the same age as this body, all smoking cigarettes.


    "Watch where you''re going," one of them yelled. He had red hair, so let''s call him Red.


    Damn. They sure do have a temper.


    June bowed his head. "Sorry," he said before quickly turning away from them.


    "Wait a minute," the mohawk-boy said, holding onto June''s wrist. "Aren''t you that idol kid? I''m surprised you''re not dead yet," they burst intoughter.


    Do these people know him? Or rather, do they know Joon-ho?


    "I don''t know who you are," June said.


    "Hey," the blondie eximed. "I''m sure you know us. We shared such a deep bond. You even used to run our errands when you were looking forpanies to recruit you."


    "Did you ever find one?" Mohawk-boy asked. "I mean, with your shitty looks, skinny figure, and beat-up image, I wouldn''t be surprised if you were rejected."


    "He was epted into onepany, remember?" Red said, reminiscing the past. "But the recruiter believed everything we said when they conducted a home visit. Poor Joon-ho. I really thought you would have died after that night."


    I lifted my head, finally meeting their eyes. Just then, June felt disconnected, as if he didn''t belong in his own body.


    His head throbbed, and a wave of memories flooded his mind. He saw glimpses of a past filled with torment and pain. The memories were not his own but those of Joon-ho, whose body he now inhabited.


    In his memories, these three men cornered the original body, Joon-ho, in a dark alleyway. Joon-ho struggled to defend himself as they ruthlessly beat him, leaving him bruised and bleeding. Then,ughter echoed in his mind as his tormentors taunted him with cruel words.


    The next few scenes were unclear, but it''s as if Joon-ho was being forced to do something he didn''t want to do.


    June''s hands trembled as he instinctively clutched his chest.


    "Aww, do you remember us now? I remember how you cried to us back then," Red said. "Thanks for being our client that night."


    June pursed his lips together and clenched his fists. Mohawk-boy was about to pat his shoulder, but June held onto his wrist and bent it, making the ugly guy scream in pain.


    "Ahh!" Mohawk-boy screamed.


    Red and Blondie looked at him with wide eyes. "What the hell?"


    Although this body was still pretty weak, it seemed like Jun Hao''s original strength and instincts came through whenever he felt he was in danger.


    Red was about to hit June''s face when a familiar scream was heard from the end of the ally.


    "Holy! Brother June!" C-Jay screamed. The other four ran after him, quickly breaking the fight.


    "What the hell do you think you''re doing to our big brother?" Jangmoon asked, looking down at the three problematic teens.


    "Big brother?" Blondie scoffed. "This cowardly guy''s your big brother?"


    "June''s the most courageous out of all of us," Akira said. "Watch what you''re saying, kid."


    "Kid?" Red''s eyes widened in anger. "Let me show you who the kid is¡ª"


    Blondie raised his fist to hit Akira, but then a loud whistle was heard. They nced at the source of the sound and found a roaming police officer shining a shlight on them.


    "What the hell are you kids doing thiste at night?"


    Red scoffed. "Whatever. Let''s just go."


    Mohawk-boy smirked and leaned closer to June. "But don''t think this is over yet."


    June frowned, taking a step back. This Joon-ho kid went through much more trouble than he had expected.


    "Are you alright?" Jisung asked, on the verge of tears.


    "I''m fine," I said. "Let''s go back and have hotpot."


    Minx''s eyes brightened in delight. "Hotpot? You know how to cook hotpot, brother?"


    "Just wait and see," he said, hoping they wouldn''t bring up what just happened.


    That seemed to do the trick since the five of them followed June like little, lost dogs.


    Once they made it inside, June quickly prepared the items for the hotpot while they watched intently. He whipped up the ingredients for the sauce before chopping the dippable food items.


    The aroma of simmering broth filled the air as June stood proudly in front of the hotpot set-up, surrounded by his amazed friends. Steam rose from the pot, carrying the tantalizing scent of various ingredients.


    "What''s that amazing smell? Did you hire a gourmet chef or something?" Akira asked.


    "Yeah, seriously! It smells like heaven," Jisung said, almost drooling.


    June chuckled. "Dig in."


    They gathered around the table and started eating.


    "Big brother," Jangmoon said, touched. "This meat is so tender and vorful! How can you be talented in this too."


    "Of course, I''d know how to cook," June said. "I''ve been living all alone."


    C-Jay pouted. "Is that because your family is living far away?"


    No, they''re dead.


    "Something like that," June answered.


    As they continued to eat, the trainees couldn''t stop praising June''s culinary skills with every mouthful.


    It somehow made June feel proud, and it reminded him of the times he used to cook for Mei Ling. That voracious eater also loved his cooking.


    "Seriously," Jisung said. "Is there anything you can''t do?"


    "Dance," June seriously answered.


    The whole table turned silent before they burst intoughter.


    "You''re definitely better than Jangmoon," Akira joked, making June crack a smile.


    "You''re improving each day, though," Jisung said. "You weren''t like this during your audition. How can you learn to dance so fast?"


    "I don''t know," June said.


    "Our brother is very hardworking," C-Jay said, his mouth filled with chewed-up meat. "Don''t underestimate him."


    [Congrattions! You have seeded in the mission: Cook for five people. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    Although June had improved a lot in dancing, there''s no denying that he still isn''t good.


    ''Dance.''


    [Wise choice. Dance +1. Current Grade: C.]


    "Ah, right. I almost forgot," C-Jay said. "Who were those thugs just now? They seemed like they knew you."


    Joon-ho definitely does.


    But it would only bring June harm if he associated himself with such people.


    "I don''t know them."

 Chapter 54 Self-PR

    <h4>Chapter 54 Self-PR</h4>


    "Wee back, trainees! It''s only been five days since I''vest seen you, but it already feels like forever," Minho said, greeting the trainees as they entered the room. He was apanied by Gun this time, which immediately instilled fear in the trainees.


    Today, there was an interim mission before the airing of the third episode. Apparently, this mission was supposedly going to help the starlights get to know about the trainees more.


    "You''ve all gotten more handsome since thest time I saw you," Gun smiled. It seemed like being in the spotlight had given the trainees a different glow.


    One trainee still looked the same, though.


    That damn cat mask. It still gives Gun the creeps.


    "Wee, wee," Minho continued to greet. "Are you all settled?"


    "Yes, mentor."


    "I''m sure most of you have learned about today''s agenda," Gun said. "But you do not know the details yet. However, if you''ve watched the previous seasons, I''m sure you''ll be familiar with this interim mission."


    "Self-PR," Jisung whispered. "I don''t like this already."


    Song Jisung, the young guy with social anxiety, shook in his boots when he realized they''ll be doing live streams today.


    "What are you going to do?" C-Jay asked June. "Do you want to have a joint live stream and have a rap battle?"


    "No! No! I want to do a dance battle with big brother," Jangmoon said.


    June listened to them with deaf ears.


    These two are really confident despite theirck of skill.


    "What are you going to do?" Akira asked Jisung.


    "I¨CI don''t know," Jisung said. "I''m not good at speaking, so I just want to dance."


    The other trainees were already discussing what they were going to do among themselves.


    "Not so fast, trainees," Minho said. "You guys seem excited."


    Self-PR live streams.


    Every season of Rising Stars, the trainees were given chances to promote themselves in between the episodes of the show.


    The self-PR live streams were one of the most popr segments of the show. Azure partners up with YouWatch and creates a hundred live streams where people can get to know the trainees more. Each trainee was given only 15 minutes for the live stream, so the trainees busted out everything they had for those few minutes.


    June even saw one of the trainees eating with his feetst year. He looked so crazy that he ended up getting eliminated on the first elimination.


    The trainee with the highest views by the end of the 15 minutes takes home a tangible benefit.


    It''s not stars or anything like that. It''s rted to what they did in the live stream. For example, a trainee who dances will get new expensive speakers. Most of the time, Azure gave out a new phone too.


    Somehow, the same scenario that happens every year. Famous trainees will showcase their talents, and they''d garner the highest views, while low-ranked trainees try all desperate antics but still end up at the bottom.


    June wanted to win this one. Sure, there weren''t any star benefits. But if it''s like the other seasons, then June might be able to rece his old phone.


    "Settle down," Gun said in a stern voice, causing the room to go quiet. "This would not be like the past seasons," he added. "Back then, trainees were given the freedom to showcase their talents without any limits. However, that gave the starlights very simr content. In order to show the starlights a variety of talents, trainees shall incorporate a chosen item in their respective live streams."


    "What does that even mean?" Eli whispered.


    "There are hidden items in this room and in the hallway, and you can pick out, at most, two items to use in your live stream. This does not have to be the sole topic of your live stream, but you must incorporate them in order to be eligible for the price."


    No wonder there were so many weird items in the hallway a while ago. June even saw a set of balloons just right outside. What was Azure expecting them to do? Produce a clown show?


    June looked around the room and saw a speaker on top of the tall post. Well, looks like he''s not going to be able to reach that.


    "I''m going to get that speaker and have a rap battle by myself," C-Jay said, determined.


    "Keep dreaming, brother," Jangmoon said. "You''re too short."


    "On your marks," Gun said, and the trainees prepared to run. "Get set¡­Go!"


    Almost everybody ran up to the speaker. However, having golden hands, Zeth was able to get it.


    "Sweet," he smiled, already nning to do a dance cover challengeption for his live stream.


    Ren quickly took the toy microphone next to the other real microphones. "Let''s have fun with this one." A busking-type live stream was best suited for a vocalist like him.


    Leo pouted when Ren got the microphone. He settled for a sketchpad instead. He was also quite talented in drawing, so he could showcase that to the starlights too.


    Jangmoon and C-Jay had a brawl in the middle of the room, wanting to take the flower crown.


    "This''ll be pretty on me!" C-Jay said.


    "The only reason why this will look good on you is because your face resembles dirt. Other than that, this suits me better," Jangmoon retaliated.


    Other trainees started looking for their second items, quite dissatisfied with the first items they got.


    June leaned against the wall and observed the room. However, he suddenly felt something behind his back. He stopped leaning for a second and found a bunny hat behind him. It was one of those hats that would go up once you press the "paws."


    "The hell?" he whispered. This was one of those popr hats that idols would use to act cute in front of their fans.


    Aegyo, was it?


    June could not act cute for his life.


    However, it seemed like the other trainees liked the bunny hat since he suddenly became the target of many.


    "Are you sure you want that, June?"


    "June, my man!"


    "Hey, June. You like cats, right? You''re not a bunny guy, aren''t you?"


    "June!"


    "June! June!"


    "June!"


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. It''s like he''s being chased by those seagulls from Finding Nemo!

 Chapter 55 Supplies

    <h4>Chapter 55 Supplies</h4>


    June ran away before he got devoured by the trainees that wanted his bunny hat.


    He looked at the fluffy piece of cloth with disdain.


    "Why do they like you so much?"


    He tried cing it on, but it couldn''t fit his head because of his cat mask. Instead, it just awkwardly sat on top of the cat ears.


    Well, this was useless. This didn''t suit someone like him.


    Someone prettier or cuter would suit this item more¡ªsomeone like Jisung or Minx.


    He ced the bunny hat over his shoulder and rested one of his hands against a small table. However, instead of a t surface, there was a huge dent underneath the tablecloth.


    June quickly removed the tablecloth and saw a pair of shoes underneath.


    Not just any kind of shoes.


    They were ballet shoes!


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Is this one of the items?


    Most probably. Why else would it be horribly hidden underneath the tablecloth?


    June nced at the timer and saw there were only 5 minutes left until the end of the item hunt.


    He decided to walk back to his spot while wracking up some ideas on what to do with his items.


    "I can''t find any more items," C-Jay whined. "I guess I''m stuck with these darts or something."


    "At least you can show off your non-existent skills," Jangmoon said. "I have a book! What the hell am I going to do? Read to the audience?"


    Akira chuckled, holding a strange instrument. "Lucky me. I found something I can y."


    "What''s that?" June asked.


    "It''s a Koto," Akira responded. "It''s a zither instrument, simr to a guitar and a harp. It''s a good thing my mom forced me to learn this instrument when I was younger. Now, I can show off my skills."


    It was simr to China''s guzheng. It was used in folk or traditional court music. June can already imagine Akira singing while ying the instrument.


    It would make a pretty neatbination.


    "I''m so unlucky," Minx pouted, holding up a human head?


    June jumped in surprise. "What the hell is that? A mannequin head?"


    C-Jay chuckled. "You don''t know this one, brother? It''s the mic they use for ASMR."


    "ASMR?" June asked. The hell was that?


    "You''re such an oldie at heart," Akira chuckled. "It''s famous on YouWatch. I don''t get why you''reining, Minx. This would create a good live stream. You can try different triggers while whispering to the starlights."


    June frowned. "Oh, it''s that weird fetish with whispering?"


    "It''s not a fetish!" Jangmoon eximed. "I use it to help me sleep."


    Just then, Jisung joined them empty-handed. His hands were still shaking, scared from the thought of doing a casual livestream with the starlights. Jisung was used to performing onstage, and although he usually got nervous before the start of a performance, he bes a different person during the actual performance.


    However, since this was something that didn''t involve performing and focused more on talking, his social anxiety was gradually getting worse.


    "You don''t have an item yet?" Akira asked.


    Jisung nodded, anxious. He nced at the timer and saw there were only less than 3 minutes left.


    "I don''t know what I''m going to do," he said.


    "Who has an extra item?" Akira asked. He looked around until his eyesnded on June''s items.


    "Woah," Jangmoon eximed. "You''re so lucky, brother! You could dance and act cute in front of the starlights."


    June grimaced.


    That''s two things he isn''t good at.


    "These are ballet shoes," June stated the obvious. "Do you know how to dance ballet?" he asked Jisung.


    "I''m ballet-trained," Jisung said. "It''s one of my dance foundations."


    June unhesitatingly gave him the ballet shoes. "Then, use this."


    It''s not like June could dance ballet. He''d only end up humiliating himself if he used the item.


    "Really, brother?" Jisung asked with wide eyes. Just thinking about having the chance to perform ballet in front of the starlights already eased his mind.


    "Yes, it''s fine," June said.


    "Ah, I really don''t know what to do with my stream," Minx suddenly whined. "I don''t like ASMR!"


    June ced the bunny hat on top of Minx''s head and squeezed its paws. The ears went up while Minx looked at June with wide eyes.


    Hmm, it suits him well.


    "Keep this one, then," June said. "If it makes you feel better."


    "Are you sure?" Minx asked.


    June nodded. "It doesn''t fit my head."


    Akira frowned. "Then, what are you going to use?"


    There were merely 30 seconds on the clock, and June had given all his items away.


    He nced around the room until his eyesnded on a familiar material.


    "That one," June pointed.


    "What?" his friends eximed. "What the hell are you going to do with that one?" C-Jay asked.


    June shrugged, taking therge item and cing it next to him. "I''m quite good at this one."


    "Alright, trainees. Time is up!" Minho eximed. "Please go back to your original spots."


    The trainees went back to their original spots and waited for the next instructions.


    Gun and Minho observed the room as the trainees organized themselves.


    Minho chuckled when he saw one of the trainees with a princess tiara and wand.


    "What is that trainee going to do with a basket of fruits?" Gun asked.


    "Probably a mukbang," Minho responded. "Azure is really crazy. I''d be miserable if I ended up with an ASMR mic."


    "Well, it''s a good thing he has bunny ears with him," Gun said. "It suits him as the youngest trainee in thepetition."


    "I guess some trainees are just luckier than others," Minho said, looking at the higher-ranked trainees who all had decent items.


    Gun narrowed his eyes at June, who stood at the back of the room. "What¡­is that?" he asked.


    Minho frowned while looking at June''srge item.


    "Cleaning supplies?"


    Meanwhile, the Janitor in the next room frantically searched for his rags and soaps¡ª" Where the hell are my cleaning supplies?"

 Chapter 56 Toilet Whitening

    <h4>Chapter 56 Toilet Whitening</h4>


    "Who ced cleaning supplies as part of the hidden items?" Yena asked, frustrated at the production team.


    The crew members started pointing at each other. The intern, Ann, who always seemed to run into June, sighed and raised her hand.


    "What?" Ye-jin asked. "Are you insane?"


    "It''s not part of the hidden items," Ann exined. "Someone in their right mind wouldn''t even think of that. I just spilled my coffee and borrowed the janitor''s cleaning cart. I left it there since I got busy preparing the live stream. I didn''t know a trainee would even get it!"


    Ye-jin massaged the bridge of her nose. "Well, that June kid definitely isn''t ordinary. What should we do now?"


    "I say, we just let it be?" Yena suggested. "He doesn''t have any other item. Besides, I''m also curious about what he''d do with cleaning supplies."


    "Alright," Ye-jin sighed in agreement. "Let''s get this thing started then."


    ***


    Loyal ''Rising Stars'' viewers waited in anticipation after the announcement that the trainee''s self-PR live streams were going to be aired this afternoon. As usual, the three friends huddled in their ownptops inside their university library.


    It was their final exam this week, yet the fan girl''s life still did not stop.


    Yes, there were only three of them! Since Jia was unlucky enough to have an exam scheduled in the afternoon, she couldn''t join her friends for the live-streaming event.


    "Wait for me, June!" Jia thought as she pressed the numbers on the calctor harshly. She was already cursing her professor and wishing him a lifetime''s worth of bad luck.


    Soo-min immediately clicked on Zeth''s live stream, his striking blue hair and wide smile being shown on the thumbnail.


    "Hey, guys!" Zeth eximed. "Oh, you''re filling in this stream so fast. I can''t believe a thousand of you are already in here!"


    "Zeth," Soo-min whispered, falling in love with his boyish charms. "I''ll give you the world if I could."


    "We don''t have much time to talk, but I hope you still enjoy this stream. I''ll be doing dance covers with you, guys!"


    Zeth moved back and started ying the trending idol songs on social media. It was supposed to be a random ylist, yet he knew each and every song that was yed.


    Na-ri, on the other hand, clicked on all three live streams of the RAVEN members. She knew she couldn''t focus on all three of them, but who cares? She was staring at three handsome men on her tiny screen. What more could she ask for?


    Jaeyong, who found some dumbbells, gave the viewers some exercising techniques. His toned body and strong biceps were being unted on screen, melting the hearts of many.


    Evan, on the other hand, was lucky to pick a guitar. He wasn''t the best at ying it, but he could y simple chords¡ªjust enough to serenade the starlights.


    Although he was deemed the most "unpopr" member, ranking lower than his other members, Akira garnered the most viewers because of his unique live stream.


    - OMG! Is that a Kyoto?


    - I''ve only ever seen one in anime shows. That''s so cool!


    - Akira''s so handsome. His voice is very nice too!


    Akira smiled as he read some of thements. "I''ll sing more songs for you, guys. So, stay here with me, okay?"


    Wei, who was a fan of timid-looking boys, couldn''t pick who to watch. She first clicked on Lin Zhi''s live stream but found that he was teaching the viewers how to speak Chinese using a whiteboard.


    Wei would have loved to tune in. But she''s of Chinese descent! She got bored after watching for a few minutes.


    So, she settled on one of the trainees who was starting to crawl up her bias list¡ªJisung.


    "Ah, hello, guys," Jisung shyly said, a pink tint on his cheeks. "I''m new to this kind of thing, so please bear with me."


    "So cute!" Wei quietly eximed.


    - What are you going to do today, Jisungie~


    - Please dance soon. I love your dance.


    "Yes, yes," Jisung said. "I''m going to dance ballet today."


    - Omo! Ballet? What did we do to deserve this?


    - I can''t wait to see it!


    Now that it was their third week, Jisung became increasingly popr after an edit of his audition was posted on LikLok, a popr application for sharing short videos.


    As a result, Jisung was in the top ten trainees with the most viewers in their live streams. To be exact, he currently has 75,000 viewers!


    "I''m going to be dancing a routine I learned in ballet school," Jisung continued. "But I learned it when I was very young, so please bear with me."


    As he was about to stand up, he realized that he didn''t get to thank the person who allowed him to put on a ballet performance.


    He shyly sat back down, clearing his throat as he prepared to talk. "I have one more thing to tell you, guys."


    - Tell us anything, Jisungie~


    - Go ahead, our baby!


    "Honestly, I was really unconfident during the start of this mission, but one of my brothers was kind enough to give me these ballet shoes as an item. I want to thank June for being such a good friend and for selflessly giving his item to me!"


    - June? That masked guy?


    - OMG! June? I like that guy.


    - Right! I remember they were both in three stars when the show just started.


    Wei straightened her back. "June? Oh, Jia would love this."


    "So, if you guys want to support me, please head to June''s live stream after my dance! He has a pretty interesting item," Jisung hinted.


    Wei watched Jisung gracefully dance to a Nutcracker song, and she was amazed by how broad his dancing background was. However, as much as she was amazed, she couldn''t get her mind off what Jisung had said a while ago.


    To satiate her curiosity, Wei muted Jisung''s live stream before clicking June''s.


    Wei eximed in shock, causing the librarians and other library-goers to turn her way.


    "Shh!"


    She covered her mouth with the back of her hand to stifle her giggles.


    All the other trainees picked locations in the training grounds¡ªsome were in the living room, kitchen, hallways, and other reasonable areas.


    What was June doing in the bathroom in front of a toilet?


    "These guys don''t know how to flush after themselves, so it''s best to use bleach to clean it. This one''s an expensive kind," he said in a serious voice before pouring some of the bleach on the inside of the toilet.


    And he''s giving people cleaning advice?


    "Soo-min! Na-ri! You guys need to watch this!"''

 Chapter 57 Happy Happy Happy

    <h4>Chapter 57 Happy Happy Happy</h4>


    "Is this how you do it?" June asked the cameraman filming him.


    "Umm, yes," the cameraman said. Isn''t this kid 21 years old? Doesn''t he know how live streaming works?


    "So, like this?" June asked, pressing random buttons on the screen.


    "The live stream is already ongoing, trainee."


    "Oh," June said.


    - HAHAHAHA! So funny right from the start!


    - Junie Junie! When are you going to reveal your face?


    "What''s with all the text floating around? Is it usually like this?"


    The cameraman stayed silent this time.


    - These are for you, June! We''re your fans.


    "Fans? Hi, I guess? What are ya''ll doing here?"


    - To watch your live stream, dummy.


    - I''m forever a fan of June! We need more people like you in the idol industry.


    - Junie! You ignored my question. When are you going to reveal your face?


    - Any advice for a college girl taking her final exams today?


    "Advice for final exams?" June read. "I honestly don''t know. Don''t cram your lessons. And don''t review on the day of the exams itself."


    June didn''t study much when he was still in high school. Granted, he got into a lot of trouble when he was younger. However, he had pretty good grades while he was studying. He even made it into the top 10 of his batch despite being a working student.


    - What are you going to do today?


    "Right," June said. "I almost forgot about that. We are supposed to use our chosen items today for the live stream."


    - We already know.


    - What''s your item?


    "You guys need toe with me," June said, walking away from his original ce.


    - Woah, where are we going?


    - It''s like I''m in those POV videos. Why are we moving?


    "We''re here," June said, opening the stic door and focusing the camera on one of the trainees'' shared toilets.


    The cameraman''s eyes widened when June suddenly put on cleaning gloves.


    What is this kid doing?


    - HAHAHAHAHAH, WHAT THE HELL? THE FUCKING TOILETS?


    - Kekekeke. I was scrolling through the live streams when I suddenly saw a toilet. What is this?


    "I''ll ce you guys here," June said, cing the phone on top of the toilet.


    "These are the items that I picked," he said, pointing to the brushes, rags, bleaches, and soaps at the side.


    - How could a trainee pick this?


    - Is this really part of the hidden items?


    "I''ll give you guys some tips on how to clean toilets at home. I''m sure your parents, wives, or roommates will be impressed by how white and shiny your toilets will be after you use these tips."


    "First of all, you guys need gloves. You can''t clean the toilet without gloves¡ªespecially if it''s shared. Look, the sides are already yellowing," June said, observing the interior of the toilet.


    - He''s seriously giving toilet-cleaning tips.


    - This June guy is so unserious hehehehe.


    - I''M DYING! WHY IS HE SO SERIOUS ABOUT THIS?


    "These guys don''t know how to flush after themselves, so it''s best to use bleach to clean it. This one''s an expensive kind," June said, pouring the bleach into the toilet. "Then, this is where most people are wrong. They start scrubbing right away. You need to wait for at least five minutes to let the bleach soak. That way, it''d be the whitest toilet ever."


    Before the cameraman could realize it, he was already listening intently to June''s advice. He definitely needed to tell his wife some of these tips.


    "However, if you don''t have this type of bleach, you can also make one at home for a much lower price. You can mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of white vinegar instead. That''s what I use at home too."


    - Our thrifty king~


    - Thanks, June! My mom came in and thought I was watching something useful for once.


    - My mom approves! She''s watching with me.


    "Let''s read somements while we''re waiting for this to soak," June said, removing his gloves.


    - I love you, June! Please tell me you''re legal.


    "I''m 21 years old," June said. "You guys can see that on my profile."


    - What is your real name?


    "My real name? I can''t tell you guys that. You can keep calling me June."


    - What''s your desired position in the group?


    "All-rounder?" June joked. "But right now, it''d be the main vocalist."


    - As expected! Your voice is so pretty.


    - I can''t wait for the episode tomorrow. The people who watched it live said you guys were really good!


    - June! This''ll be thest time I''ll be asking this. Please pay attention to me! When are you going to do a face reveal?


    "A face reveal?" June asked. "Would you guys like that?"


    - Yes! Yes! When will it be?


    - Do it now.


    - It''s alright even if you aren''t handsome </3.


    "I''ll do it on¡ª"


    "Time''s up!" the cameraman said. And just like that, the screen turned ck. "You need to return to the main room now, kid."


    "Alright," June said. "Shall I take these back with me?" he asked, referring to the cleaning supplies.


    Just then, the janitor, who took a huge dump, came out from one of the toilets.


    "There''s my cleaning supplies!"


    "I''ll leave it here then," June said, swiftly leaving the bathroom.


    As the two of them walked back to the main room, the cameramanplimented June.


    "Those were some pretty good advice, kid," he said. "I hope you get good results."


    "I didn''t get to see the view count before it ended."


    ***


    Meanwhile, the staff couldn''t believe their eyes in the tallying room.


    "Is this really real? Zeth didn''t win? Or Casper? Or even Jaeyong?" Gun asked, still in disbelief.


    "Please announce it to the trainees," Yena said. "Here''s the price," she handed Minho a bag of something.


    "Let''s go," Minho said, pulling Gun back to the stage.


    "You announce it," Gun said. "I don''t want to say his name."


    Minho chuckled and shook his head in amusement.


    The training center was excited as the trainees gathered around the stage, eagerly awaiting the winner''s announcement for the live stream mission.


    "The moment we''ve all been waiting for is finally here! The results are in, and we have a winner for the live stream mission!" Minho eximed.


    The trainees pped and cheered, exchanging nervous nces with each other.


    "I think it''ll be Zeth or Casper. I only had around 200,000 viewers by the end of it all," Akira said.


    "200,000?" Jangmoon eximed. "Boy, I had 15,000."


    "How many did you have?" Ren asked Zeth.


    "Around 450,000?"


    Ren scoffed. "I had 400,000."


    "How about you, June?" Jisung asked. "How many did you get?"


    "I don''t know," June honestly said.


    "And the winner, with the most viewers during the live stream, is none other than... June! He garnered over 600,000 viewers with his cleaning live stream. Let us congratte him," Minho announced.


    Surprised gasps and cheers erupted from the trainees around June.


    "What? That dude won?"


    "What did he do again? Cleaning live stream?"


    "Congrats, brother!" Jisung sincerely said. "You deserved it."


    June tuned out all of their cheering. Instead, he focused his gaze on the prize that Minho was holding.


    "Come up here and im your prize, June."


    He wasted no time in walking to the front. Minho gave him the heavy paper bag with a wide smile.


    June felt excited. He was finally going to get a new phone!


    As he opened the paper bag, expecting to find a valuable reward, he was taken aback by what he saw inside. His smile slowly faded as he pulled out a stack of the expensive bleach he used in the live stream.


    This has got to be a joke.

 Chapter 58 He’s Ugly, Hmm?

    <h4>Chapter 58 He''s Ugly, Hmm?</h4>


    "I can''t believe you won bleach," Akira said, continuing to tease June.


    June, on the other hand, didn''t find this situation amusing at all.


    He was given five bottles of bleach! They couldn''t even give him anything else.


    "This one''s the expensive kind, brother," Jisungforted June. "My mom likes this brand but doesn''t think it''s practical because other brands are cheaper."


    June absent-mindedly gave him one bottle. "Here. Take one home."


    Jisung''s eyes brightened up. "Are you sure?"


    "Hey, that''s unfair," Akira whined. "My mom likes this brand too. Although she''s in Japan¡ª"


    "Then take one too," June said, handing Akira one bottle.


    Akira and Jisung looked at each other with glee.


    As expected, June is the best!


    Akira retrieved his phone from his pocket and started scrolling through Navel. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw June''s cat mask on the front page.


    "Brother, look!" he eximed, bringing the phone to June''s face. "You''re on the front page."


    "What?" June asked, reading the headline title.


    "Toilet-Talented Trainee Flushes the Competition with Hrious Cleaning Tips!"


    Akira and Jisung burst intoughter. "They did a great job in making the title," Jisungplimented.


    "Hey, look!" Akira said, pointing to one of the reposts in the article. "The bleach brand even left ament! Read it out loud, brother."


    June sighed and read thement. "Hey, June! These are some pretty useful tips. Hit us up, and we''ll give you a lifetime worth of supply of products! And after thepetition, let''s see if we can work together."


    Jisung''s and Akira''s eyes widened in surprise. "This is nuts! I think you justnded yourself a brand deal," Akira eximed.


    "It''s a shame you can''t ept it yet, though," Jisung said. "But hey! You get a lifetime supply now. Don''t forget us, brother."


    June let out a deep breath.


    He definitely did not need more bleach.


    ***


    Most of the trainees gathered in the cafeteria after the live stream mission. The ce was packed with trainees, so C-Jay and Jangmoon sat at the farthest table.


    "One thing about Azure is that they never disappoint with their food. I feel sorry for my mama, but these cafeteriadies are better than her," C-Jay said, stuffing a piece of sausage in his mouth.


    "Tell me about it," Jangmoon said, his mouth full.


    "I can''t believe June won the mission," C-Jay said. "He was supposed to be our zero-star brother, but he''s bing so popr so fast."


    "You''re right about that," another voice chimed. C-Jay and Jangmoon lifted their heads and found Zeth and Ren hovering above them.


    The two of them looked at the five-star trainees with wide eyes. Sure, they''ve seen each other in the hallways and in the training room, but this was the very first time they actually interacted closely with each other.


    "Mind if we sit here?" Ren asked. "The other tables are full."


    "Go ahead," Jangmoon squeaked.


    Not long after, Hoon, who couldn''t find a table, was called over by C-Jay and Jangmoon.


    "Yo, Hoon! Over here," C-Jay called out.


    Hoon was about to ignore the two of them, but then he saw Ren and Zeth sitting at their table.


    So, he put on a smile and went to sit down with them.


    The five-seater table was now full.


    C-Jay and Jangmoon exchanged nces at each other, not finding the courage to talk since two prestigious trainees were in their presence.


    Zeth noticed their hesitancy and nudged Jangmoon''s shoulder. "You guys can speak normally. Ren and I will leave after eating."


    Ren nodded in agreement.


    Hoon scoffed. "Since when did the two of you act this shameful? For all I know, you don''t have shame."


    Jangmoon and C-Jay reflected upon themselves. That''s right! They''re shameless!


    With that, they started talking like the other three weren''t even there.


    "As I was saying, brother June is improving so fast. It feels unfair since we started at zero stars together," C-Jay said.


    "I know!" Jangmoon eximed. "But big brother deserves it."


    ''''Is June...a good person?" Zeth suddenly asked. He has been curious about the masked guy ever since he saw him during the auditions. But they never really had the chance to interact since then.


    "Yes!" Jangmoon and C-Jay eximed in unison. "Our brother is an angel in disguise. Although, don''t tell him that. He doesn''t want to be fawned over."


    "What''s so good about him?" Hoon suddenly asked. "He doesn''t take thispetition seriously."


    "That''s what I thought in the beginning, too," Jangmoon said. "But he does work hard. And although he doesn''t show it much, I feel like he cares a lot about the people around him."


    "There are some times when I find him scary, though," C-Jay said. "But I think that''s one quality that makes him a good leader."


    Hoon clicked his tongue. "You''re just saying that because you guys won the signal song performance challenge."


    "And we wouldn''t have done it without June," C-Jay defended.


    "You guys got lucky," Hoon retorted. "Besides, how can you trust a guy who hasn''t even shown his face? What if he''s a criminal or something like that?"


    "Hey, don''t speak about June like that," Jangmoon defended. "He has some...issues. That''s why he doesn''t want to show his face."


    "Issues?" Ren asked.


    C-Jay gestured for them toe closer. "Don''t tell this to anyone. But June has some self-esteem issues."


    "What do you mean by that?" Zeth asked.


    "He''s ugly," Jangmoon bluntly said, causing C-Jay to p him.


    "You''re not supposed to tell them that!"


    "Oh," Jangmoon''s eyes widened in surprise. "Right. Right. I''m sorry. I take that back. Forget about everything I''ve said."


    Hoon frowned. "You guys have seen his face, too?"


    "Too?" C-Jay frowned.


    Hoon cleared his throat. "I mean, already. You''ve seen his face already?"


    "No," C-Jay shook his head. "He only told us. But at the end of the day, who cares? Looks are overrated!"


    Hoon smirked, leaning back against his chair.


    Hoon didn''t see his face clearly in the bathroom that day but recalled that June''s face was bruised and red.


    But now, it''s confirmed.


    He''s ugly, hmm?

 Chapter 59 The Third Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 59 The Third Episode (1) </h4>


    "I can''t believe this is how our reunion will be like," Sasha said, sitting next to L with a bowl of chips in her hand.


    "If our fans knew the three of us came together just to watch Rising Stars, they''d go ballistic," L said, turning on the TV.


    "Shall we take a selfie, then?" Mimi asked,ing out from her bedroom with a fresh face mask on her face.


    "With these looks?" L chuckled, pertaining to their bare faces and baggy sleepwear. "There''s no way in hell. At the end of the day, we''re still idols."


    The three members of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION gathered in Mimi''s apartment to watch the third episode of Rising Stars. It was quite weird to watch the show they once participated in, but they couldn''t resist Mimi''s invitation¡ªespecially when she told them the boys would be performing some of their songs.


    "Are you sure they''re going to perform our songs?" Sasha asked.


    "Of course," Mimi said. "It''s in the teasers, too. Don''t you watch the show?"


    "Nope," Sasha said. "This drama filming is taking up all my time."


    "I''ve seen some clips here and there," L responded. "Some trainees from mypany are joining, so I watched their audition. Casper, was it? He''s really good."


    "Yeah, he''s good," Mimi said. "But there''s another trainee that caught my eye."


    "Oooh," L teased. "Is he handsome? You only like handsome guys."


    "I''ll show him to you," Mimi said.


    The episode started with the trainees choosing their respective teams. Mimi looked for a familiar pink mask but only saw him for a millisecond.


    "Oh, this is a good team," Sasha said as Zeth''s team was created. "Their ranks are no joke."


    "Where''s your bias, Mimi?" L asked.


    "Wait," Mimi frowned. "They''re not showing him."


    "There''s the kid from mypany!" L eximed. "He''s quite handsome, isn''t he? Is he your bias, Mimi?"


    "Nope," Mimi said, surprising L. Casper definitely suited Mimi''s taste.


    "Ooh! There he is!" Mimi pointed at June, causing her two friends to look at the screen with disbelief.


    "Who? That Akira guy from RAVEN?" Sasha rified.


    "No, dummy," Mimi chuckled. "That guy¡ªJune. Isn''t he cute?"


    "Girl, you can''t even see his face," L said.


    "Wait," Sasha eximed. "I think I''ve seen him before. Is he the center of the signal song performance that kept on airing? The one that went viral?"


    "Exactly," Mimi said. "That''s him¡ªmy bias."


    L and Sasha chuckled. "You''ve officially lost it. Have you developed a furry fetish or something?"


    "No," Mimi said. "I just felt his aura when I went to film that special episode reaction with them. He didn''t even look my way!"


    "You won''t even know if he''s looking your way. He has a freaking mask that covers his entire face!" Sasha retorted.


    "Ah, whatever. You guys are going to see why I like him soon."


    "It seems like his team isn''t good at all, though," L observed. "Those rankings...the highest one is Bin and next to him is Akira¡ªwho isn''t even in the top 20."


    "And to make matters worse, they''re actuallypeting with Casper''s team. Look, thements even agree."


    - Congrats to Casper''s and Jaeyong''s team!


    - I watched the show because of the toilet guy. Poor him! I really liked his live stream too.


    - Why are ya''ll being Debbie Downers? There might be a twist in the results!


    As the songs were being revealed, the GIRLS'' EVOLUTION members couldn''t help but reminisce about their past.


    "Aww, Rebel Queenz, oursteback," L said, cing her hand over her heart. "That was when we were aware that our contract was ending soon."


    "I still can''t believe our contract wasn''t extended yet those boys that debuted in the second season did," Sasha eximed. "They''re still active now, too," she bitterly added.


    "Lucky bastards," Mimi said.


    Then, it was time for June''s team to reveal their song.


    Thement section went crazy as soon as their song was revealed.


    - Mermaid Melodies? That girly-ass song? HAHAHAHAH.


    - Aww, really? Why is June so unlucky?


    - Yes, unlucky June! He''s like a ck cat.


    - OMG! He''s really like a ck cat. His personality resembles one too.


    - And he''s got the luck of a ck cat. From losing his voice in the reevaluation song, to being demoted to zero-stars, to getting the cleaning supplies, and now with Mermaid Melodies.


    "Geez, this is a tough song for a boy group to perform," L said. "It was even hard for me to promote back then because it was too bubbly."


    "But the lyrics are kind of dark," Mimi said. "It''s based on the real Little Mermaid story, not the one that Disney made."


    "But the vibe is still very summery and girly. I wonder how they arranged the song."


    "Let''s just hope they did a good job."


    The show continued, airing the performances of the different teams. The GIRLS'' EVOLUTION members couldn''t wait to watch the rendition of their songs.


    "Oh, here it is!" L eximed. "Casper''s team is going first!"


    "I hope they put on a good performance. They didn''t receive the best feedback from the judges, but they''re all talented, so I''m looking forward to it," Mimi said.


    Kingz''s performance started, and the GIRLS'' EVOLUTION members were impressed right off the bat.


    - Woah, this is really good!


    - I didn''t expect any less from trainees with high ranks.


    - I feel so proud watching this as a GIRLS'' EVOLUTION stan.


    "Wow, that was really good," L pped her hands as soon as their performance was finished.


    Mimi, on the other hand, felt anxious since she really wanted June''s team to win.


    June''s team entered the arena, and thement section was filled with confused remarks.


    - Hng? Aren''t they going to perform Mermaid Melodies?


    - What''s with these outfits? It''s too fierce-looking.


    - OMG! We manifested it! June is wearing a ck cat mask.


    "Holy," Sasha eximed. "They don''t look like they''re going to perform Mermaid Melodies at all."


    "How the hell did they arrange this song?" L asked. "What do you think, Mimi?"


    On the other hand, Mimi couldn''t take her eyes away from June.


    "Mimi?" L said, snapping her fingers in front of her face.


    However, Mimi remained unfazed, her eyes practically shooting hearts at June.


    Sasha chuckled and shook her head. "I think we''ve lost her, L."


    Mimi smiled, her eyes never leaving June.


    "Ahhh! He''s so handsome!" Mimi squealed.


    "You can''t see his face!" L and Sasha eximed in unison.

 Chapter 60 The Third Episode (2)

    <h4>Chapter 60 The Third Episode (2)</h4>


    "Shut up! His eyes were handsome. I saw it through his mask," Mimi eximed, her eyes still on the screen.


    "She''s gone crazy," L whispered to Sasha.


    "I can still hear you, guys."


    As team Abyss assumed their positions, the training process was first shown. It started with the interim evaluation.


    The training room was a bundle of nerves. Azure''s tension-filled editing style made the audience watch on the edge of their seats.


    "I remember this feeling," L said. "Mentor Gun is still as scary as ever."


    "Oh, you were one of his favorites," Mimi retorted. "I, on the other hand, had to earn his respect. I could see he feels the same way with this group."


    The camera panned to capture the trainees'' performance, but something seemed off.


    "Wait...they''re performing our song, right?" L asked.


    Sasha squinted at the screen. "Looks like it. But why does it feel like they''re performing it on another?"


    L chuckled. "I can already sense the inte exploding with memes about this."


    The trainees struggled with synchronization, some were out of tune, and their choreography was far from polished. Awkward nces and hesitant moves filled the performance, creating an almostical spectacle.


    - Is this a cover or a cosmic joke?


    - My expectations are officially buried.


    - They turned our bop into a flop.


    - Someone call 911 because this is an emergency.


    - I''m scared they might break the space-time continuum with this performance.


    Sasha burst intoughter. "Oh goodness, thesements are brutal!"


    "Well, to be fair, this is... quite something," L trailed off.


    "You''re judging them too quickly," Mimi said. "Just watch."


    "Girl, we are watching," Sasha chuckled.


    The trainees on screen finally wrapped up their performance to a mix of scattered apuse from the trainees and bewildered expressions from the judges. Then, it switched to the next scene, where the team merely sat in silence.


    Although the girls weren''t there, they could still feel the tension in the air.


    "Are they just going to sit there?" Mimi asked. "Do something, please."


    Just then, the camera panned over to June, and he was seen bringing out a red pack from his bag. He started going through the gummies one by one, slipping them into his mask at an appalling speed.


    "What are those?" L asked.


    - Those look familiar. I also ate those when I was younger.


    - Wait, BenBen gummies?


    - BenBen gummies? The one that makes you taller?


    - HAHAHAHAHA June surprises me every minute! Brother, I''m an 18-year-old teenage boy who eats this too. It''s reassuring to see an idol who also wants to improve his height!


    The three girls burst into giggles.


    "Okay, this June guy is pretty cute," L admitted.


    "See?" Mimi boasted.


    "Their performance is still shit, though," Sasha snorted.


    As the frustrating scenes continued, Akira was seen leaving the room. Then, a personal interview was shown.


    Akira just sat there in silence before tears started streaming from his eyes.


    "Aww, poor guy," L said. "We promoted with them too, right? When we disbanded, they just newly-debuted."


    "I remember this guy," Mimi said. "He was so full of life then. He must be struggling a lot."


    Sad piano music started ying, and the words¡ª"Why are you crying?" were shown on the screen.


    Akira sniffed. "I don''t know. It''s just been really tough for thest couple of days. Actually, it''s been very difficult for us toe here¡ªRAVEN, that is. We thought we would be promoting for a long time after all those years of training, but in the end, our group still disbanded."


    "Then, we got a lot of hate for joining this show. People are saying it''s quite unfair for us to bepeting with trainees without experience. But we''re also trainees too. We''re no longer idols," he continued.


    "And to make matters worse, my teammates are in a different group. I really thought Jaeyong would pick me, too," he whispered.


    After that, the scene shifted to him sitting all alone in the lounge room, still quietly crying.


    - Aww, my baby Akira!


    - You''re going to debut. Mark my words.


    - Vote for Akira, you guys.


    - You just can''t expect to always be picked by your team members. It''s why you''re the most unpopr member here.


    - Ah, really. Why do haters exist?


    Sasha sniffed, causing her two friends to turn to her. "Wait, you''re crying?" L asked.


    Sasha nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. She could actually rte to Akira. Before joining Rising Stars, Sasha was also part of a small K-pop group. They definitely weren''t as famous as RAVEN, but she could still rte to his words.


    Mimi rubbed her back,forting her dear friend.


    Just then, the scene showed Juneing out of the room. He sat in the lounge area, appearing to be in deep thought, when he suddenly noticed Akira.


    He stood up and sat beside him, seeminglyforting him.


    "Wait, shh!" Mimi eximed. "June''s on screen."


    "We weren''t even speaking," L chuckled.


    "Shh!"


    There was a moment of silence before June started speaking.


    "You did so much to protect the things you love, but it just seemed futile in the end¡ªall the hard work, sacrifices, and kiss-assing you''ve done are all lost. But there''s nothing we can do but face whatever''s handed to us. Because in this way, we''re protecting what we love, too. In your case¡ªit''s your dreams."


    His mini-speech was shown, and Mimi felt herself falling deeper for June.


    "Kyaah! That was so cool," Mimi eximed, cing her hand over her beating chest.


    "He sounds like a really good guy," Lplimented. "I''m starting to see his appeal now."


    After that, June''s and Akira''s conversation in Japanese was also shown.


    The three girls looked at each other with wide eyes.


    "He...speaks...Japanese," Mimi slowly said. However, deep inside, she was already losing her mind.


    "Oh goodness. You like him even more, huh?"


    Mimi enthusiastically nodded.


    - June is an angel in human form.


    - Us Akira stans have officially adopted June.


    - Did you see the way he looked at Akira? My heart can''t handle it!


    - Fangirls are really crazy. He''s wearing a cat mask, for goodness sake!


    - June''sforting presence is giving me life.


    And just like that, June trended on Navel once again.


    #JuneTheAngelKitty

 Chapter 61 The Third Episode (3)

    <h4>Chapter 61 The Third Episode (3)</h4>


    "Their stage is about to start!" Mimi eximed. "Stay quiet, guys. We need to pay attention to this."


    L and Sasha looked at Mimi like she''d gone crazy.


    "You''re the noisiest out of us three," L said.


    Mimi ignored her statement and focused on the screen.


    - Just another mediocre performance... Let''s see if they can prove me wrong.


    - Yawn, wake me up when something interesting happens.


    - Can''t wait to be unimpressed.


    - My expectations are so low; they''re practically in the Earth''s core.


    - Let''s see if they can dance better than I do in the shower. Spoiler: they won''t.


    The screen turned ck before June''s cat silhouette was shown on screen.


    "Mafia Melodies," June whispered, and the girls were immediately enamored.


    Honestly, Sasha and L also had low expectations, but as their performance progressed, they were stunned to silence.


    Team Abyss radiated confidence and determination, capturing viewers'' attention with their synchronized and well-distributed parts.


    "Wow," L said. "I never expected this"


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this, but I already like their rendition better," Sasha admitted.


    And as the chorus approached and June started singing, they were even more stunned.


    "Oh. My. Goodness. Your bias has such a pretty voice!" L eximed.


    Mimi watched the screen in awe, her mouth agape and her eyes wide. She knew June had excellent potential based on the first few episodes, but he exceeded her expectations with this performance.


    The camera focused on June as he hit an impressive high note, causing L to lean forward, her eyes widening. "Did you hear that? That''s some next-level vocal control!"


    - Okay, they might be onto something...


    - MyKittyJune: Suck it, haters! June''s the fucking best!


    - Wait, did I just wake up in a parallel universe? Is this actually good?


    - *Reflects in the shower* Yeah, I definitely can''t do that.


    The performance continued, seamlessly transitioning from energetic dance moves to delicate singing moments. The three idols were visibly captivated, exchanging amazed nces as Team Abyss poured their hearts into the performance.


    A close-up shot of Bin captured the sweat on his brow as he executed a particrly difficult dance break.


    "They''ve clearly put in so much effort after June stepped up to lead them. It''s paying off big time."


    - I take back everything I said! These trainees are incredible!


    - Alright, I''m wide awake now! This is seriously impressive!


    - Okay, I''ll admit it. I''m officially a fan. What''s June''s fandom name?


    - MyKittyJune: We still don''t have one! I hope June names us soon.


    - My expectations just sted through the roof!


    - Fine, I''ll stick to critiquing my own shower moves.


    As the trainees took their final bow on stage, the screen faded to ck, leaving the idols in awe.


    "I¡ªI think I get you now, Mimi," Sasha said, still amazed by their stage. "I might like June too."


    Mimi snapped out of her daze and red at Sasha. "You can like him. But he was my bias first, okay?"


    Sasha chuckled and raised her hands in surrender. "Alright. Alright. I''m not stealing him from you."


    "It''s time for the results!" L said, bringing the two''s attention back to the screen.


    "Who do you think is going to win?" Sasha asked.


    "Well, I''d hope it''s team Abyss," Mimi said. "I remember their performance more."


    "Now that you say it, I do remember their stage more. Team Kingz did a good job, too, though. I just didn''t find it that memorable."


    "Ladies," Sasha said. "I think we already know what''s going to happen, though."


    Mimi sighed. "Of course. This happens every season. I still remember when Kara''s team won against L''s when your team was clearly better!"


    L chuckled. "Well, Kara is our center, and she was very popr back then. It''s all good now, though. We all debuted in the end, didn''t we?"


    Mimi pouted. "I know, but it sucks that I already know how this will end."


    The screen showed Team Kingz''s victory, and although the three girls were disappointed, they couldn''t really say they were surprised.


    "It''s alright," Mimiforted herself. "I''m just happy to see June perform."


    "It''s official," L chuckled. "You''ve fallen in love."


    "Wait until Hunter hears about it," Sasha said. "That CHAOS guy is practically head-over-heels for you."


    "Shhh!" Mimi eximed. "Don''t bring that boy into this conversation."


    "Sorry, sorry," Sasha chuckled. "But really, this team did such a good job. I don''t think I can listen to Mermaid Melodies the same way ever again."


    "There''s no time to rest," Mimi said, pulling out her phone. "How much do stars cost again?"


    "''About ten dors a bundle," Sasha responded.


    "''l''ll spend about a thousand dors tonight."


    ***


    Minjun and Grandma pped as Team Abyss'' performance came to an end.


    "Okay," Minjun said, nodding. "I don''t want to admit it, but you did a really good job."


    June chuckled and ruffled the little kid''s hair. "You can''t even give me a genuinepliment, huh?"


    "This kid''s just joking," Grandma said. "You did a really good job. You should have won that mission."


    June shrugged. "The other guys are more popr."


    "Still," Grandma said. "Those girls in the arena don''t know what they''re doing. Here," she said, cing some candied sweet potatoes on the table. "Have some before going back to your room."


    June chuckled, removing his mask to eat the scrumptious snack.


    As he did, Minjun and Grandma stopped mid-bite to stare at him. June happily chewed on the sweet snack. He''s always had a sweet tooth, so stuff like this made him happy.


    However, when he felt their piercing stares, he lifted his head and raised one eyebrow.


    "What?" June asked.


    Grandma and Minjun tilted their heads to the side in confusion.


    "Is it just me? Or have you gotten more handsome?" Grandma asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    Minjun crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I don''t remember your face being like this, big bro. You really look like an idol now."


    June shrugged, continuing to eat. "It''s because of the products that Grandma gave me."


    Minjun patted his grandma''s thigh. "Can you give me some too, Grandma?"


    Grandma clicked her tongue. "You''re still too young. But really, are the products that effective? I should start selling them now."


    June chuckled. "Give me some of the profit."


    Grandmaughed and nodded. "When are you going to reveal your face then? A face like that must be shown off to the world."


    June ced his hand under his chin.


    "On the next mission," he decided.

 Chapter 62 Bang Bang Compliment

    <h4>Chapter 62 Bang Bang Compliment</h4>


    Jisung shook his hands in nervousness as he changed into Rising Stars'' signature school uniform.


    "Can''t you believe the first eliminations are already starting, brother?" Jisung asked, going out of the dressing room.


    He was surprised to see June already sitting, fully dressed, paired with his iconic bright pink cat mask.


    "Woah, you dress up really fast."


    "It''s my talent," June said.


    "I''m nervous," Akira said, joining them. "I don''t feel safe with my ranking."


    "Me too," Jisung muttered.


    Jangmoon and C-Jay simultaneously went out of their dressing rooms, a look of disbelief on their faces.


    "The two of you are nervous?" Jangmoon asked. "Then, I''m dying of anxiousness," he said, pointing to his current ranking, which was 73rd.


    "Eli is practically creaming his pants," C-Jay pointed to thest-ranked trainee.


    "That''s right," June said. "There''s nothing to be nervous about. You''re both safe."


    "I think you''ll be safe, too," Akira said. "You trended once more after the third episode. Your topic even surpassed Casper''s and Zeth''s."


    June shrugged. While it was true that he garnered the most attention from casual watchers, Zeth, Casper, and the other popr trainees still had the most "stans."


    Just then, Yena''s voice was heard over the inte.


    "Trainees, we shall be starting the live broadcast in fifteen minutes. I repeat, the live eliminations shall start in fifteen minutes."


    "How long will thisst?"June suddenly asked.


    "I''m not sure," Akira said. "But probably around 3-4 hours? You know Azure likes to build the tension. The MC always takes so long to say the trainees'' names."


    C-Jay groaned. "I''m reminded of the past seasons again. With all the editing, it already feels so long. What more if it''s a live broadcast?"


    June stood up. "I''m gonna go to the restroom then," he said, feeling the call of nature.


    June went to the restroom and found that it was empty. He quickly went to one of the urinals to do his business. He sighed in relief when he felt his dder emptying.


    Afterward, he went to the sink to wash his hands and fix his mask. He made sure that not even a single whisker was out of ce.


    "There," he muttered. He was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice cursing inside one of the cubicles.


    June frowned and looked at the only closed cubicle.


    It seemed like June wasn''t alone after all.


    "Shit, shit," the man cursed. "I can''t believe this is really happening right now."


    June walked closer to the cubicle but took a step back when the nasty scent of shit wafted through his nostrils. He was already wearing a mask, yet the odor was still intense!


    He was about to leave the restroom when the door suddenly opened, and he was met face-to-face with mentor Gun.


    The two of them froze for a second. Mentor Gun looked at June with wide eyes and quickly closed the door.


    "What are you doing here?" Gun asked with a frown on his face.


    "I pissed," June nonchntly answered. "What else would I be doing here?"


    Gun awkwardly cleared his throat. "Are you sure you should speak to me in that tone?"


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The show is about to start in less than 15 minutes. Are you sure you should be picking a fight with me when your poop still hasn''t been flushed?"


    Gun''s face turned red, and he clenched his fists together.


    "You''re such a little shit," he spat.


    "Well, your shit''s definitely not little," June retorted. He chuckled in the back of his mind.


    That was a good one.


    Gun sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "If you''re not going to help, then I suggest you leave. I''ll handle this on my own."


    June raised one eyebrow. "Are you sure? It looks like you''re struggling right now, though."


    "I''ve got this," Gun insisted.


    "Do you even have a plunger?" June asked.


    Gun sighed in frustration. "I got it, okay?"


    June pointed to the supplies room at the side. "The plunger is inside that room."


    Gun weirdly looked at him. "How do you even know that? Wait, don''t answer that. Just go."


    Gun walked to the supplies room and took the plunger. He looked at it, not having a clue what to do with it. In reality, Gun was born with a golden spoon. Growing up, he had always been called a "Nepotism Baby" possessing zero talent.


    That''s how he grew to dislike people in the industry who don''t really have talent.


    And that''s why he built a reputation that was built around talented people.


    However, his "golden spoon" past couldn''t really be hidden this time.


    He had never used a plunger before!


    Heck, the toilets in their house never got clogged at all!


    As Gun skeptically ced the plunger inside the toilet, he started weakly pumping it in and out.


    "You''re doing it wrong."


    Gun jumped in surprise when he saw that June was still there.


    "What the heck are you still doing here? I told you that I got it, didn''t I?"


    "At this point, your shit will melt before you actually fix the problem."


    "Scoot over!" June said.


    Gun finally moved over, looking at June as he worked some magic.


    June inspected the scene and held his breath when he found the water level dangerously high and the toilet brimming with, well, not-so-pleasant contents.


    He looked around the restroom, spotting toilet covers next to the tissue papers. With careful consideration, he used them as makeshift gloves, wrapping them around his hands.


    He had done this plenty of times, but damn, does Gun have one intense stink bomb.


    Then, he started to pump the plunger with intense strength and speed. Despite the unpleasant nature of the task, he remained focused. His efforts gradually paid off as the water level in the toilet started to decrease, and the flow began to improve.


    Gun could only watch in amazement as June skillfully finished the task as if he had done this a million times.


    "There," June said, cing the plunger at the side and removing his makeshift gloves.


    He then went to the sink and washed his hands thoroughly before spraying his pocket-sized cologne all over his body.


    Gun could only stand motionless. "That was...amazing," he absentmindedly said.


    June paused when he heard Gun''s statement. He swiftly turned around.


    "What was that?" June asked.


    Gun, who was still slightly out of it, repeated hispliment.


    "You''re really talented with toilet stuff."


    A smile slowly made its way to June''s face.


    "Thanks for thepliment, mentor," he said. "See you inside."


    "Wait! I wasn''tplimenting you!"


    [Congrattions, host! You have seeded in the mission: Get apliment from Mentor Gun. Please choose an aspect to improve.]


    "Da¡ª"


    June was about to pick dance once more, but he decided to go a different route.


    "Rap."


    [Wise choice! Rap +1. Current grade: E]


    Might as well upgrade the other skills since he never expected to aplish this mission that quickly.


    Meanwhile, the janitor, who was about to clean the restroom, couldn''t find his beloved plunger.


    "Where is it?" he muttered. "My lucky plunger, where are you?"


    He started going through the cubicles one by one and sighed in relief when he finally saw the red plunger.


    He was about to get it when he noticed something different.


    Why is his lucky plunger covered in shit?

 Chapter 63 Jordan Lee

    <h4>Chapter 63 Jordan Lee</h4>


    The spacious studio buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension as the 100 trainees entered perpany.


    - AHHH! I''m so nervous.


    - Oh goodness! Zeth, please make it.


    - Commenter upstairs, you''re crazy! Your bias is the top 1 trainee. How can he not make it?


    - June, please rise!


    - Casper''s so handsome.


    The live episode was currently being aired online and on the Azure channel, and millions were watching from their homes, anticipating the first eliminations of Rising Stars.


    The four friends were in Jia''s dorm with their respective cards and lucky charms.


    The three idols from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION also gathered once more to watch the awaited moment.


    Jisung first entered the studio, and thement section went crazy when they saw his new hairstyle. His usual hairstyle, which covered most of his eyes, was now gelled up, exposing his forehead.


    - Ahh! Jisungie~ handsome


    - My baby''s grown up already <3.


    Then, Ren and Zeth entered, making thements move at an unfathomable speed.


    - OMG! OMG! OMG! My favorite ship. Please get married.


    - Weird shippers get out. Fighting Ren and Zeth.


    - Make them top 2, please!


    Backstage, the independent trainees thought of a pose to do as they go in. Hoon and the others already decided to make a heart. June watched them, feeling left out. However, that wasn''t really a bad thing.


    They looked fucking stupid while making the hearts.


    As the trainees before them posed extravagantly in front of the camera, the anticipation built as time passed by.


    "Independent Trainees" were shed on the screen.


    - June! My ck kitty is finally here!!


    - Hoon''s better than June.


    - MyKittyJune: Nobody even mentioned Hoon, loser. He''s a Debbie Downer! Have you seen the other episodes?


    - At least Hoon is handsome. Your idol doesn''t even want to show his face.


    Jia fumed as she ran out of things to say. "I can''t refute this motherfucker! I just want June to show his face."


    "What if he''s really ugly, though?" Na-ri asked. "There had been a series of face reveals that happened this year. From that Minecraft Youtuber, then that Streamer/Rapper. All of them had been the center of jokes! I believe face reveals never go right."


    "It doesn''t matter," Jia said. "I already fell in love with June''s soul."


    The independent trainees entered. Xin, Hoon, and Jiyong linked their arms together and made hearts with their hands. They looked like conjoined triplets.


    June, on the other hand, was the only trainee who nonchntly entered. He didn''t even bother to stop for a second. He just walked to his seat and called it a day.


    - HAHAHAHAHA. June stole the show for me.


    - Our ck kitty is really a ck kitty.


    - June is in such a mood.


    - Hoon, Xin, Jiyong! I wish you guys the best.


    The 100 trainees settled down, their hearts pounding in anticipation. The bright lights illuminated the nervous expressions on their faces.


    Suddenly, the doors swung open, and Mentor Gun strode in with an air of authority.


    June held in hisughter. He''s acting so tough in front of the cameras, as if June didn''t just help him with his "big shit" issue a while ago.


    "Wee, trainees," his voice boomed,manding the attention of the trainees and viewers. "Today marks a significant step in your journey towards stardom."


    The trainees exchanged anxious nces, some fidgeting their fingers while some tapping their feet in anticipation.


    Just as the silence grew almost unbearable, the studio''s energy shifted as Jordan Lee, the center of BOYMYSTIC¡ªthe birthed group of Rising Stars Season 2, entered through the curtains.


    Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd.


    - OMG! Jordan, my love.


    - Jordan, what are you doing here?


    - I missed BOYMYSTIC! When are you guys going to make aeback?


    June observed Jordan Lee.


    Truly, his aura was different. He could see his stats, and all of them were A+ except for "Rap."


    It''s no wonder he''s one of Mei Ling''s biases. She had multiple, so it was hard to keep track, but she was very vocal about her love for Jordan Lee.


    The famous idol''s presence was electrifying, his charisma filling the room with a new level of anxiousness and excitement. He scanned the room with his eyes and offered reassuring smiles to the trainees, hoping to calm their nerves to an extent.


    "Good evening, everyone," Jordan greeted, his voice velvety yet powerful. "Looking at you today, I feel like I''m taken back to the time when I was still an aspiring trainee. I''ve also sat on one of those seats, so I could empathize with the nervousness you''re feeling."


    C-Jay leaned closer to June to whisper in his ears.


    "How could he understand how we feel? He literally ranked above the top 5 every episode."


    June nodded. Jordan could bepared to Zeth. There''s no denying that he was one of the trainees with a secured debut spot since the beginning.


    The other trainees seemed to be touched by his words, though.


    "I know the road you''ve chosen is challenging, but remember, this journey is about growth and determination. In the end, good results are only an incentive."


    The trainees listened intently, their admiration evident in their expressions. Mentor Gun stepped forward again, his gaze wandering through the room.


    "The time hase for the first eliminations," he announced, his voice sounding heavy.


    Silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of anxious breaths.


    "There are 100 trainees below me," Gun said. "But, unfortunately, only 75 of you shall remain. Therefore, 25 of you shall leave thepetition and start a new journey."


    Jordan stepped forward. "Remember that elimination doesn''t define your worth or potential," he assured them. "Your journey doesn''t end here. It''s a stepping stone toward greater things."


    The trainees exchanged nces, their expressions a mix of determination and fear. Mentor Gun stepped to the side as Jordan approached the podium next to arge screen that disyed the trainees'' names.


    "It is simple," he said. "The names of the trainees who will continue on with this journey will be called out and disyed on the screen. Along with that, the number of votes will also be disyed."


    - Oh god. This is nerve-wracking! I feel like I''m about to puke.


    - I feel so nervous, yet Iugh whenever June appears on screen! A bunch of nervous trainees, then BAM! A pink smiling cat. I can''t with him.


    - Please drop your stars while the voting still hasn''t ended!


    "As of the moment, the votes are stilling in," Jordan said. "But, in a few seconds, it shall halt. Trainees, count down with me."


    "10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1..."


    The room grew tense as the screen showed the number zero, flickering into a differentyout.


    "Let the eliminations begin!"

 Chapter 64 Best Boy June

    <h4>Chapter 64 Best Boy June</h4>


    The room was heavy with anticipation as Jordan Lee leaned closer to the microphone.


    The tension-filled background music thrummed, the notes hanging in the air like a suspenseful breeze. The music seemed to make the trainees even more axious, and the viewers watching at home felt the familiar nervous energy coursing through their veins.


    - It''s really happening.


    - Goodness, Azure''s ylist is so fitting for each scene.


    "Alright, everyone," Jordan began, his voice cutting through the silence like a sharp de. "Let us start with the 74th ce."


    As he spoke, the background music intensified, its haunting melody sending shivers down the spines of the trainees. Every eye was fixed on Jordan, and the atmosphere seemed to tighten with each passing second.


    "The 74th ce goes to..."


    June yed with his fingers. He knew better than to anticipate the announcement.


    "To a trainee who was in the team that performed a song from a boy group."


    And here it was.


    The never-ending descriptions.


    That only crossed out the teams that performed GIRLS'' EVOLUTION!


    "And...it''s from a group that didn''t win any of the benefits."


    June sighed in frustration.


    Is this what it''s going to be like for every trainee?


    This will take them an eternity to film, then.


    "It''s from the team that performed Crucifixion by CRXSS!"


    The camera panned toward their team, nervousness evident on their faces.


    "He...captured the audience with his good dance skills and stable voice."


    - This is killing me!


    - Jordan, I love you, but please make it faster.


    "And the trainee in the 74th ce is..."


    We''re back to square one.


    The music''s crescendo matched the collective tension in the room. Jordan took a deep breath, and then, with deliberate emphasis...


    "Son Wooseok."


    The fair-skinned trainee with short hair stood up, a look of relief washing over his face.


    Fucking finally!


    As June gazed at the 74th-ce trainee sitting on his designated seat, he began to feel sleepy.


    This is going to be one hell of a long shoot.


    ***


    As the names continued to be called, the tension in the room seemed to grow thicker. However, amidst the hushed anticipation, a soft snore could be heard.


    June jolted awake when Akira patted his arm.


    Damn, he really fell asleep.


    Unluckily for him, the camera captured that moment and was aired live to the starlights at home.


    "He''s sleeping?" L incredulously asked.


    "He''s so cute!" Mimi eximed.


    Jia, in her small dorm, nodded in approval. "I would have done the same thing if I was in his shoes."


    June nced at the ranking board and saw that they were already on the 37th trainee. He slept through almost half of the announcements!


    He already saw C-Jay sitting around the 50s and Minx around the 40s. Eli, Jangmoon, Bin, Hoon, and Akira were still in their seats.


    He straightened his posture and prepared himself to be called. He was the 35th on the first episode. It''d be a lie to say he didn''t feel the shift in his poprity. Every time he goes to Navel, his bright pink cat mask will always be in view. He had gained more fans in that period too.


    But then again, it isn''t a guarantee that the people who keep talking about him online will grant him stars.


    "37th, Jihoon"


    "36th, Seungwoo"


    "35th Taeyun"


    "You rose in ranks, brother!" Akira eximed. "You deserve it."


    "You''ll rise too," June predicted.


    "And just like that, we''re already halfway through the announcements," Jordan eximed. "Let''s move on to the 34th trainee..."


    June straightened his posture. He''d be called out any time now.


    "But before that, let''s have a break and watch how the live stream mission of the trainees turned out to be!"


    A collective sigh was heard in the room. June clicked his tongue.


    He just wanted to get this over with!


    The screen shed the trainees gathering in the training center. Mentors Minho and Gun told them the instructions, and now, they were scavenging for the materials to use in their live stream.


    The trainees quickly found their items¡ªsome were lucky while some were not.


    Then, the camera panned to June, who merely wanted to rest but came across "gold" items.


    "That''s how you acquire the bunny ears and ballet shoes?" Jangmoon whispered.


    June nodded.


    - Huh? Where did the cleaning suppliese from, then?


    - What the hell? Those are some good items.


    - What happened? HAHAHAHA. Isn''t that Jisung''s item?


    The video moved swiftly, and Jisung was shown to be in a dilemma.


    - Aww, poor boy. He''s just too shy.


    - If I had been there, I would have given Jisung all of my items.


    However, like an angel in disguise, June gave both his items to Jisung and Minx.


    Then, a snippet of his interview was shown.


    "They need it more than I do," he said, melting the hearts of many.


    Jisung nced at him with grateful eyes while Minx gave two thumbs up.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. He never recalled ever getting interviewed after the live stream! He only recalled saying those words after the production crew found out that he had given his prize (the bleach) to Akira and Jisung.


    He shook his head in disbelief.


    This was the power of editing.


    However, it seemed to favor him this time since the starlights were eating it up like a good stew.


    - Best Boy June.


    - He really is kind, hmm? First, he helped Akira, and now he helped Jisung.


    - It''s all pretend! He deliberately chose the cleaning materials to trend on Navel.


    - MyKittyJune: How would he even know he''d go viral? June did that because he''s a good friend.


    - HELP! I''M FALLING FOR THIS MASKED DUDE!


    - Still ugly. Why doesn''t he show his face?


    Mimi watched the scene with heart-filled eyes. "I should have bought you more stars," she said to the screen.


    "You''re going to be bankrupt at this point," L chuckled. "You already spent more than a thousand dors for him."


    "And I''d dly spend a thousand more," Mimi said. "Us June stans aren''t the biggest poption."


    They focused their attention on the screen once more, showing June desperately trying to find his item.


    There were only less than 20 seconds on the clock when he came across the cleaning cart.


    Without hesitation, he pulled it toward his body, securing it like a bag of money.


    - Calm down, June. No one''s going to take that from you.


    - He''s acting like someone''s going to steal those cleaning supplies from him HAHAHAHA.


    As June stood there with his cleaning supplies, captions suddenly appeared¡ª


    "The cleaning supplies weren''t part of the hidden items. But whatever makes trainee June happy, I guess?"


    The studio burst intoughter after they read the captions. Even Jordan stifled a little chuckle.


    June closed his eyes and slumped on his chair.


    When was this going to end?

 Chapter 65 Surprise Attack

    <h4>Chapter 65 Surprise Attack</h4>


    The trainees burst into apuse andughter as the live-stream mission video ended. Thest scene showed June''s obviously displeased reaction after receiving his prize¡ªfive bottles of bleach.


    Jordan chuckled into the microphone before turning serious again.


    "That was a fascinating video," he said. "Let''s congratte trainee June once more for winning the live stream mission!"


    "Wooh, June!"


    "How was the bleach?"


    The trainees pped while teasing June.


    Hoon didn''t bother pping for June at all. Instead, he clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.


    What June did wasn''t even amazing! They''re acting like he saved the world.


    How could someone like that rank higher than him?


    "Back to business," Jordan said, his voice cutting the fun atmosphere. The room had once again turned into a bundle of nerves as the tension-filled background music yed.


    "Let''s start with the 34th ce..."


    "Congrattions, trainee Yoonjae! You made it with 657,801 thousand stars! Pleasee up the stage."


    Jordan still took his time announcing the trainees'' names, but June was thankful that the pace had somewhat picked up.


    "33rd, Kyungho"


    [Good day, host! You have a new side quest. The title is Ethereal Glow. Get glowing skin! Good for 3 hours. Ethereal Glow is immediately activated after seeding in the side quest.]


    June''s eyes widened in surprise as the side quest popped up.


    "32nd, Sunghoon"


    ''Really, Fu? Right now? I decline the side quest.''


    [Action cannot be processed. This is a mandatory side quest.]


    ''What? We''re in the middle of the eliminations. I''ll get called anytime soon.''


    "31st, Eun"


    What''s with the sudden side quest?


    And why was Jordan Lee speeding up now?


    [Host epts the side quest.]


    ''I didn''t even say anything! What even is Ethereal Glow? Are you going to turn me into Edward Cullen or something?''


    [Here is your side quest: Say ''I Love You'' to a fellow trainee. Deadline of mission: 10 minutes. Good luck! Failure to fulfill the side quest entails a regression of one skill.]


    ''What the fuck? Who the hell says ''I love you'' in this context?''


    June hasn''t even said that to a woman before! He shook his head and massaged his wrists.


    And he had to aplish it within 10 minutes? Should he just take the L and move on?


    June shook his head. It''s damn hard getting all his skills to level up. There was no way he was going to fail this time.


    "27th, Zachary"


    The trainees eximed in shock. Zachary''s rank had gone down by eight steps!


    June bit his lip. If his predictions are right, he''s going to be called next. So, he had to aplish the side quest as soon as possible.


    "Akira," June said, holding onto his wrist.


    Akira, who appeared nervous, nced at June. "What is it, brother? I feel like I''m going to shit my pants."


    Come to think of it, Akira''s rank was 29th in the first episode. He must be nervous since his name still wasn''t called.


    June sighed. Here goes nothing.


    "I love you," June quickly said.


    Akira''s eyes widened in shock. "What? You''re confessing right now?"


    June quickly shook his head. "No, not like that¡ª"


    "You''re gay?" Akira whispered.


    "No, no...Let me exin. You''re my frie¡ª"


    "25th ce¡ªtrainee Akira, pleasee up the stage!" Jordan quickly cut June''s statement.


    Akira quickly stood up, a huge smile on his face. He went to the stage without letting June finish his statement.


    "...friend. You''re my friend," June absent-mindedly whispered.


    [Congrattions! You seeded in the mission: Ethereal Glow. You now have glowing skin. Good for 3 hours.]


    June wanted tough out loud. This was ridiculous! He looked at the skin on his hands and found nothing different.


    "Nothing even fucking happened," he whispered.


    "Thank you, trainees ranked 25th-29th. Please head to your seats."


    June lifted his head and watched as the 25th to 29th seats filled. For some reason, he started getting nervous.


    If he wasn''t in that rank bracket, then does that mean he ranked higher?


    It was definitely much higher than what he had expected.


    "Now, we''re nearing the top 20s. But first, let''s call out the trainees that almost made it to the upper ranks."


    "For 24th ce...Hoon!"


    June raised his eyebrows. This gloomy kid actually got in 24th ce? But then again, he also stood out during their Mermaid Melodies performance. Moreover, Azure portrayed him as a hardworking trainee alongside Bin. There were some ambiguous moments, but it wasn''t enough to tarnish his reputation.


    Hoon proudly stood, his lips quirked into a cocky smile.


    He went to the front and said a small speech. His eyes strayed to June, and he couldn''t help but rejoice.


    In his mind, he had already won. There was no way June''s rank was higher than his this time.


    "23rd Gyeore"


    "22nd Johnny"


    June frowned. Alright, he really needed to be called out this time.


    "21st Anthony"


    Just how much did he rise or fall down in ranks?


    Jordan Lee''s eyebrows raised in surprise as he gazed at the next name. "And now, let''s give it up to the trainee who just made the biggest leap in ranks..."


    "Please, please, please...Let this be June," Jia whispered, praying to every god in the universe.


    "Trainee June! You have secured the 20th ce. Congrattions!"


    - OHMYGODOHMYGOD! My dream came fucking true. June, my man!


    - 20th? I didn''t expect it to be that big of a jump.


    Jia screamed as soon as June''s name was called. Na-ri, Soo-min, and Wei covered their ears in surprise.


    "Shh!" Na-ri said. "We''re going to get a noiseint at this point."


    "I don''t care!" Jia eximed. "This is the happiest I''ve ever been."


    The room erupted into a chorus of cheers and apuse, many trainees clearly shocked by June''s unexpected climb.


    But alongside the apuse, there were also envious whispers:


    "Seriously? How did June manage to jump that high?"


    "Guess some people get all the luck."


    "Did he bribe the judges or something?"


    June, seemingly unfazed by the attention, stepped forward to the stage. This was definitely higher than he expected.


    He took the microphone and cleared his throat.


    "Umm, thank you," he said. "Really appreciate it, guys. Thanks for the stars."


    With that, he ced the microphone back on the stand.


    Jordan and Gun exchanged confused nces.


    "Is that all?" Jordan asked.


    June nodded, causing Jordan tough.


    - As expected. June never breaks character!


    - That somehow sounded sincere, though.


    - What do I do? I keep falling for him more.


    - Ungrateful trainee.


    "I think you can say a bit more than that," Jordan urged. "You might want to thank other people."


    June pursed his lips. "I guess I want to say thank you to Grandma and Minjun, who lives downstairs...Mr. Cheng, who owns a convenience store in the neighborhood...myndy..."


    - Why is he thanking random ass people?


    - This might be the funniest eptance speech in the history of Rising Stars.


    Hoon, standing three people away from June, burned holes at the back of June''s head.


    His thoughts dripped with jealousy. Not only is the faceless trainee''s rank higher than his, but he actually made it into the top 20?


    What a fucking joke.


    Then, he smirked.


    There was only one thing he could think of that would instantly trigger June''s downfall.


    At the end of the day, nobody liked ugly idols.


    So, in a deliberate yet idental manner, Hoon tripped on the 23rd-ranked trainee''s foot, lurching his body toward June.


    And in lightning speed, Hoon held onto June''s mask to seek anchor.


    Everything seemed to turn to slow motion as Hoon yanked the bright pink cat mask off June''s face.

 Chapter 66 Face Reveal

    <h4>Chapter 66 Face Reveal</h4>


    As June''s mask was fully removed, the studio fell into an expectant hush. June had his head down, but his mid-length, fluffy, ck hair was on disy.


    Anticipation hung in the air like a heavy curtain, and everyone braced themselves for the reveal.


    Jia and her friends collectively gasped. Jia covered her mouth as if forgetting how to breathe. She wanted June to reveal his face, but not this way.


    "I''m going to puke," Jia said. "Are we really going to see his face?"


    "I didn''t fucking expect that," Na-ri eximed with wide eyes. "I still can''t see his face."


    Jia covered her eyes. "Tell me when this is over."


    Mimi stood up from the couch, her eyes wide and mouth agape.


    "Holy shit! And it''s happening in a live broadcast, too," L said. "Are you okay, Mimi?"


    "Don''t be disappointed when he''s not what you expected," Sasha added.


    Mimi stayed silent and kept her gaze on the screen, not wanting to miss the moment.


    Thement section, too, was going crazy at this point.


    - IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?


    - I can''t breathe.


    - Finally, that ugly cat will finally be revealed.


    - Lift your head, ugly loser!


    Hoon''s thoughts raced with cockiness as he took a step back, the pink mask in his right hand. He had spent hours observing June, noticing every slight detail that seemed to suggest hisck of physical appeal.


    First, the way he looked in the bathroom after the Artist Battle. Then, how his friends confirmed that he has self-esteem issues¡ªall of it enforced Hoon''s conviction that he was about to reveal something embarrassing.


    ''Let''s see the real face that somehow managed to get 20th ce,'' he thought with a self-satisfied grin. He was convinced that the reveal would solidify his position and prove his point that someone like June didn''t deserve to rank so high.


    But of course, he didn''t really show it on screen and tried to look as apologetic as possible. "I''m so sorry," he said to the cameras. "I¡ªI just tripped," he stammered.


    June''s friends, who were already in their respective seats except for Jangmoon and Jisung, exchanged worried nces as they watched the screen with a clear view of the unfolding situation. Knowing June''s struggles with his self-esteem, they had an inkling that this moment might be challenging for him.


    ''Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.''


    Curses echoed in the back of June''s mind. At this point, he still hasn''t lifted his head.


    However, he knew there was no escaping this situation.


    Fuck it.


    His visuals are already at B-. Might as well just get it over with.


    So, without hesitation, June lifted his head, running his fingers through his hair.


    At that point, Hoon''s smugness reached its peak. He was prepared to see the surprise, the disdain, and even theughter ripple through the studio as June''s ugliness wasid bare for everyone to see.


    But as June''s face was revealed on the screen, Hoon''s confidence crumbled like a house of cards.


    June''s handsome face was a portrait of surprising charm, a stark contrast to the assumptions that had been made. His big, cat-like eyes were a striking shade of honey brown, framed by long, darkshes that seemed to add an extrayer of allure. It also had a "sleepy" charm to it, some bags evident underneath them.


    Under his eyes, a tall nose added an elegant touch to his features. And beneath that, his lips, slightly chapped, were still plump and pink. The corners were upturned, yet he still looked quite cold.


    June''s jawline was a bnce between softness and definition. The curve was gentle, yet a subtle chiseled line hinted an underlying strength.


    And above all of that, he had...glowing skin?


    June nced at the screen and pursed his lips together.


    So, this was Ethereal Glow? He looked like a porcin doll!


    At that moment, Hoon''s cocky facade melted away, reced by a stunned expression he couldn''t hide. The thought that he had been so sure of was false, and he felt a sense of bewilderment, and, perhaps, regret for revealing June''s face.


    Na-ri, Soo-min, and Wei were stunned to silence, looking at the glowing boy on the screen.


    "Is it over yet?" Jia asked, still covering her eyes.


    "Jia...you need to see this," Wei said.


    As Jia slowly removed her hands, her eyes widened and she leaned forward in her seat, lips slightly parted.


    "Wait, what? He''s¡ªHe''s actually...handsome."


    Mimi, who had been anticipating this moment, was equally caught off guard. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes focused on June''s face.


    "Oh goodness," L said. "I''m afraid she can never recover from this."


    Whispered exmations resonated in the studio, a blend of disbelief and shock. Even Gun and Jordan were surprised. Gun was sure that this kid would be like C-Jay or Jangmoon, but now, he was speechless.


    - Is that really him?


    - Oh my gosh. June? Our ck kitty actually looks this handsome?


    - Holy shit.


    - My bad, my bad. He ain''t bad.


    - Damn, he kinda good looking. No homo, though. My sister''s just forcing me to watch with her. She''s just too stunned at the moment.


    June stood there, his features clearly not matching the assumption that had been built up. He cleared his throat and started speaking once more.


    "Umm, I guess I''d like to thank the janitor for lending me his cleaning supplies? Yeah, that''s all. Thanks to the starlights, too," he nonchntly continued his speech, like his face hadn''t just been revealed.


    He took a step back, cing his hands behind his back.


    The studio was still filled with silence, but Yena and Ye-jin signaled Jordan to say his next statement.


    "Ah, right," Jordan cleared his throat. "I guess that happened. Thank you to the trainees who ranked 20th to 24th. You may now head to your respective seats."


    June nodded and turned around, letting the other trainees go up first. He made eye contact with Hoon, but thetter immediately evaded his gaze.


    June smirked. This kid is really troublesome.


    As he went up, he was met with dazed looks on his friends'' faces. They weed him with stiff expressions, so he raised his eyebrows in inquiry.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked.


    C-Jay puffed up his cheeks before poking June''s chest.


    "You told us you were ugly!" he whisper-shouted.

 Chapter 67 Top Ranks

    <h4>Chapter 67 Top Ranks</h4>


    June shrugged, nonchntly sitting down on his seat. Yet, his friends couldn''t take their eyes away from him.


    "Focus," he mouthed, so they turned back around to watch the next announcements.


    - I still can''t believe that happened.


    - Why the hell was he hiding his face with the mask, then?


    - This kid is a genius.


    - So freaking handsome, really.


    - Still ugly.


    June''s face reveal left a lingering impact on the trainees and starlights, so it was more difficult for them to concentrate on the next happenings.


    "Now, I shall announce the trainees who are part of the top 15!" Jordan eximed, determined to finish the live show.


    "Fifteenth¡ªJinsol"


    "Fourteenth¡ªBin"


    Bin went down in ranks, which was surprising since he received the most benefits in June''s team. However, it was still a pretty good rank.


    "Thirteenth¡ªSteel"


    "Twelfth¡ªAlex"


    "Woah, Alex is out of the Top 10," some trainees whispered.


    "He didn''t stand out much."


    "Eleventh¡ªHyunwoo"


    "Hyunwoo went down, too," Akira said. "It seems like those who trained under Phoenix Entertainment went down this week."


    "Ranks 11th-15th; you may now go to your seats," Jordan said.


    The other trainees went up with smiles on their faces, yet Alex and Hyunwoo couldn''t stop looking at June.


    June snapped out of his daze and looked back at them. Hyunwoo looked away, yet Alex held his gaze, observing June''s face.


    June raised one of his eyebrows, causing Alex to shake his head and get moving.


    Come to think of it, these two trainees were from Phoenix Entertainment¡ªthepany where Choi Joon-ho used to train in.


    June didn''t look drastically different from the past Choi Joon-ho. He just looked more well taken care of. Aside from that, his skin was clearer, and his features looked a bit enhanced. However, these two trainees might recognize him if they trained together.


    June looked away and turned his head to the side.


    But then again, he was known as Choi Joon-ho up until Jun Hao transmigrated into his body. And it looked like they didn''t fully recognize June, too.


    "Now, onto the debuting ranks," Gun said. "As you all know, this year''s Rising Stars will give birth to a 10-member boy group. And although the ranks in the first elimination aren''t set in stone, we congratte these trainees for being the first ones to sit on the debuting seats."


    "Let''s start with 10th rank. Trainee Lin Zhi, congrattions!"


    Lin Zhi strode to the stage with utmost confidence. Honestly, he was still thinking about June''s face reveal. As he came to watch the past episodes, he really couldn''t shake off the feeling that June was someone he knew.


    Someone from his dark past.


    And his pesky little mask didn''t help with the questions brimming in Lin Zhi''s mind.


    However, as soon as his face was shown, it felt like a fish bone was plucked out of his throat.


    He didn''t know the guy. They might just have simr personalities.


    Lin Zhi took the mic and gave a short speech with a confident smile.


    "Top 10, huh? I always knew this was just the beginning. To my fans who''ve been with me from day one, thank you for believing in my journey. Get ready because we''re about to take this to a whole new level!"


    June softly scoffed. This guy still managed to get into the top 10?


    If June''s going to debut, then Lin Zhi must not. It''s the price he has to pay for killing June''s original body.


    June still had to think about how to do that without associating himself with Lin Zhi, though.


    Jisung, who was waiting for his name to be called from the 11h-15th rank, felt anxious about the next announcements.


    "Just how much did Jisung rise?" C-Jay muttered under his breath.


    "And for the ninth ce, we have Jisung! Pleasee up the stage."


    "Woah, he rose in ranks."


    "I can''t believe I have a friend who''s in the top ten," C-Jay proudly smiled.


    June nodded in approval. This kid deserved it, but it seemed like he didn''t expect it at all.


    "Um, hi, everyone. I, uh, I never really thought I''d be standing here, honestly. Um, I guess I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you to all the people who believed in me when I didn''t even believe in myself. It''s been a, um, really incredible journey. And, um, I couldn''t have done it without the support of my family and, uh, even the trainees here," he finished his speech very Jisung-like.


    - So adorable!


    - Oh, what shall we do with this shy boy?


    "Eighth ce¡ªJaxon."


    The energetic trainee made his way to the stage. If June couldpare his personality to anything, it''d be to a frat boy.


    "Woo! Top 10, baby! This is proof that hard work and a lot of dance practice can get you far. Shoutout to my teammates in the artist battle ¨C you know who you are! Let''s keep rising!"


    "Seventh¡ªDaeho"


    The other trainees in the top ten trainees were more or less the same. With Alex and Hyunwoo out of the top ten, Daeho and Jisung reced their ranks.


    "Sixth¡ªYuri"


    "Fifth¡ªLeo"


    "Fourth¡ªJaeyong"


    "Third¡ªRen"


    With the announcement of the third-cing trainee, the time to reveal the top two trainees has finallye.


    It was just as June had expected.


    "Trainees Zeth and Casper, please go to the front."


    Zeth and Casper stood side-by-side, their toned physiques making a very pretty picture even from the back.


    "Lucky bastards," June muttered. Their stats were practically bursting through the roof. Rising Stars definitely did a good job in recruiting these two into the show.


    They held onto each other''s hands as they waited for the announcement.


    It was clear that the two were "unspoken" rivals. They haven''t interacted much in the show, but there always seemed to be some type of tension between them. Their positions were very simr to each other, too. They were both in charge of rapping/dancing in their teams.


    - Screenshot! These two are too handsome.


    - I can''t believe they''re humans who live on the same as I do.


    - Team Zeth!


    - Team Casper!


    ''"Two very talented trainees," Mentor Gun started off. "If I were a starlight, I wouldn''t know who to pick between the two, honestly. However, Rising Stars is a show with what?" he asked the other trainees.


    "A center," they answered.


    "That''s right," Jordan said. "And there could only be one center during this time."


    "So, without further ado, let me announce the first-ranked trainee!"

 Chapter 68 Bonus Round

    <h4>Chapter 68 Bonus Round</h4>


    "Zeth, congrattions! With 3,567,891 stars, you''ve retained your position as the number one trainee. Casper fell short by 120,000 stars but is still ranked the number two trainee in thepetition. Congrattions to the two of you!" Jordan eximed.


    "Damn, three million votes? I only have six digits."


    "These two are monsters, really."


    "I can''t dare touch these top ten trainees."


    June intently looked at the numbers disyed on the screen. They both got three million stars, while he just barely passed the one million mark.


    Of course, that''s still a huge number of votes.


    June can''t even imagine having one million people in a stadium. It was insane how he even got that amount of votes.


    However, if he wanted to secure a debut position, he needed to at least go past the two million mark. June doesn''t even think ofpeting with Zeth and Casper since they were on another level.


    cing tenth will be more than enough for June.


    It''s still a long journey, but thepetition is only starting.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted the mission: Rise through ranks (at least 5 ranks). Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    June thought hard about this one.


    He was already one of the best singers in thepetition, but it couldn''t be denied that his dancing skills stillg behind the top-ranked trainees. He also has a hard time getting choreography down, so maybe the level-up could help him with that.


    ''Dance.''


    [Wise choice! Dance +1. Current grade: C+]


    June waited for his missions to be reset. However, nothing popped up.


    June frowned. ''Where''s the other missions?''


    Fu did not respond.


    What the hell? Did his missions run out or something? Can''t he upgrade his skills now?


    "Last but not least, let us find out the trainee who ranked 75th! He will be thest trainee to continue on with Rising Stars."


    "The two trainees, ranked 75th and 76th, will be shown on screen," Gun said. "Let us all find out who they are!"


    June''s thoughts were interrupted when Jangmoon and Eli were both shown on the screen, with nervous expressions on their faces.


    - Azure is so cruel. Why would you give the other trainee hope?


    - Damn, I would simply pass out if I were in their shoes.


    June pursed his lips. This means that one of his teammates wouldn''t continue with them after this.


    "There are two bright men on the screen, yet only one of them can continue on this journey with the rest of us," Jordan Lee announced, his voice sounding empathetic.


    As the moment of truth arrived, Eli and Jangmoon''s faces twisted into sorrow, and the tension in the room couldn''t be cut with a knife. The studio held its breath as the name was finally called.


    Jangmoon''s name appeared on the screen, securing his ce at the bottom rank.


    C-Jay sighed in relief as his partner-in-crime was called.


    June also felt quite happy about the oue. Even if he still wanted to strangle Jangmoon every chance he got, he couldn''t deny that the annoying boy had grown close to him.


    Jangmoon stood up, his expression somber. However, as he got on stage, he let out a dramatic wail that resonated through the room like an opera singer hitting a high note.


    June shook his head.


    Still as crazy as ever.


    Jangmoon''s face twisted into an expression ofedic despair, his body hunching over dramatically as he unleashed a bucket of tears.


    At this point, it felt like he was the one who got first ce!


    The unexpected disy of emotions sent bouts ofughter through the room.


    "Eli, my man," Jangmoon managed to say between exaggerated sobs. "It''s been an honor sharing this journey with you! Even if your voice almost busted my ear drum in the practice room, I''m still thankful for having a zero-star brother."


    "I also thank all the starlights," he continued. "Because of you, I get to stay with my brothers, especially my very handsome big brother¡ªJune. I almost fell out of my seat when you showed your face, brother."


    - Kekeke, he''s thankful that he gets to ogle June now?


    - He''s not even thinking of thepetition anymore HAHAHA.


    - This dude''s hrious too.


    As Jangmoon sat on the 75th seat, the trainees were finallyplete. Gun gestured for them to stand up and bow to the starlights.


    "Thank you, starlights."


    After that, the goodbyes began. June awkwardly stood at the corner while the others said their goodbyes. Most trainees looked at his face as they passed by, but June kept his expression nonchnt.


    Just then, someone patted him on the back, so he turned around. He saw Eli standing behind him with a sincere look on his face.


    "Hey, June," Eli started off.


    June cleared his throat. "Hey," he briefly responded.


    "Umm, I just wanted to take this time to thank you, brother."


    June frowned. "Thank me for what?" he asked.


    "I thought I was the most passionate about singing beforeing here, but after you made me rap during our mission, something shifted inside me. I want you to know that I want to take rapping seriously this time. And maybe, one day, we''ll get to see each other on stage."


    June scratched the back of his head.


    He never expected anyone to be inspired by his words, and he really didn''t know how to respond.


    "It''s...alright," he awkwardly said. "I''m rooting for you."


    Eli chuckled. "I wish you''d never change! I hope we''d gotten more closer, but I guess this is it. Thanks for everything, brother."


    June merely nodded. "Good luck."


    With a final nod of mutual respect, Eli turned away, leaving June all alone.


    However, his alone time was quickly disrupted when C-Jay wrapped his arm around his neck.


    "Ah, really! I still can''t stop thinking about your face reveal. You stole the fucking show, brother," he cursed.


    Jisung nodded. "You''re not ugly at all! Well, even if you were, it''s alright. Nobody''s ugly in this world. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the¡ª"


    "I get it," June said.


    "Big brother!" Jangmoon wailed as he leaned against June''s shoulder. "You''re really unfair! You told us you were ugly, but you actually looked like this. Now, you left C-Jay all alone as the ugly guy in our friend group."


    C-Jay pped the back of Jangmoon''s head. "Oh, shut up. You''re the ugliest here."


    June shook his head while the others chuckled. However, there was one person who wasn''t acting like they usually did.


    June''s eyes met with Akira, but thetter quickly looked away, a flush of pink on his cheeks.


    Then, it dawned on June.


    That fucking ''I love you.''


    "Hey," June said, patting Akira''s arm. "About what I said earlier, I said it as a friend."


    Akira looked at him with wide eyes before clearing his throat. "Oh, of course," he chuckled. "I wasn''t thinking about anything else at all...," he trailed off.


    June nodded. "Good."


    As they made their way back to their rooms, a pop-up suddenly appeared.


    [BONUS ROUND! Aplish this mission, and upgrade all your skills by one grade all at once!]

 Chapter 69 XX Battle

    <h4>Chapter 69 XX Battle</h4>


    [Mission: Sign an autograph.]


    June smirked. That would be easy.


    He could just give Jangmoon or C-Jay his autograph, and that''ll be it.


    [Conditions:


    1. The host cannot ask to give an autograph.


    2. The host must not coax the person to ask him to give an autograph.


    3. Everything must be unprecedented. No nning involved.


    4. No autographs for people you prior know.]


    ''What? Why are there so many restrictions?''


    [Good luck, host! Standard missions will only reset once the bonus mission is over. Deadline for bonus round: 2 days. Failure? to aplish entails regression of all skills.]


    All skills?


    June sat up from his bed, startling Jaeyong, who was the only one awake at that time. Jaeyong had a green face mask on, so June eximed in shock as soon as their eyes met.


    "What the fuck?" June cursed.


    "Shh," Jaeyong said. "You''ll wake the others up. We have a long day tomorrow."


    June ced his hand over his chest. "Well, why are you still awake?"


    "I''m meditating," Jaeyong said. However, June noticed there was something off in his tone.


    "Are ya alright?" June asked.


    Jaeyong frowned. "What do you mean?"


    June shrugged. "Nothing," he said. "It just looks like there''s something boggling your mind."


    Jaeyong sighed, leaning against his bed. "It''s just that...my rank went down."


    June gave him a nonchnt look. "You''re the fourth-ranked trainee in thepetition," he deadpanned. "Your rank went down by one ce."


    Jaeyong bitterly chuckled. "Well, you wouldn''t really know. Your rank went up so much."


    "How is that my fault?" I asked. "I''m just doing my best here."


    Jaeyong smiled. "Yeah, I can see that."


    June couldn''t believe his eyes and ears. Jaeyong, the trainee who has disdained his presence ever since he came to Rising Stars, actually believed in him?


    "I saw the episode with Akira," Jaeyong stated. "When you first came to the show, I thought you were one of those trainees who joined the show for clout. However, when I watched that episode, I realized that maybe...you aren''t too bad."


    June smirked, then he leaned forward to tease the experienced idol. "So, are ya going to apologize?"


    Jaeyong scoffed. "I still don''t think I did something wrong. Your dancing skills are still jack-shit."


    "Whatever," June said. "At least I don''t need that ogre mask to look good."


    Jaeyong shook his head, a hint of amusement on his face. "You should sleep. It looked like you woke up from a nasty nightmare."


    Ah, shit!


    The nightmare.


    He looked at his mission corner and saw that the timer was indeed ticking. He had less than two days to aplish his bonus mission.


    There was only one way to finish the mission.


    "Hey," June said. "Do you think we can go out here tomorrow?"


    Jaeyong chuckled out loud. "What are you talking about? We''re stuck here the whole week since the second mission ising up. We''re not allowed to go out at all."


    Well, fuck.


    ***


    The 75 trainees entered therge auditorium, lining up based on their rankings. Their hearts raced after the recent eliminations, and it felt like it was yet another beginning. Whispers and nervous nces filled the air, and everyone seemed to be on edge.


    June was on edge for a different reason, though.


    [Deadline for bonus round: 38h, 56m, 11secs]


    June swallowed his annoyance for the mission as the door swung open. Mentors Kang Minho and Jihyun stepped in. Minho''s confident stride was matched by Jihyun''s graceful presence. All eyes were on them as they took their positions at the front.


    As Jihyun entered, her eyes immediately searched a familiar face. She smiled as soon as she saw him ¡ª June.


    Jihyun couldn''t help but steal nces at June from time to time. For a second, her eyes lingered a moment too long, and she made eye contact with June. She quickly looked away, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. She mentally scolded herself for the wandering thoughts.


    She was married, for god''s sake!


    But she felt like a little teenage fan girl whenever June was involved.


    Truthfully, Hyerin was supposed to apany Minho during the announcement of the second mission. However, after watching the live streamst night, Jihyun almost couldn''t believe her eyes when June''s face was revealed. She had to see it for herself.


    So, she proposed to be present today instead of Hyerin.


    She really didn''t expect June to look like...THAT! It was true that good vocalists usually wouldn''t have the best visuals. It was a rule of life. However, June broke that rule.


    After clearing his throat, Kang Minho spoke, his voice steady and professional. "Congrattions to all of you for making it to the top 75. We know the eliminations were tough, but it is now time to focus on the next challenge."


    Jihyun managed to tear her gaze away from June and joined in. "That''s right. For this mission, we have something special nned."


    Murmurs of excitement and curiosity spread through the trainees.


    "Isn''t it the position battle next?"


    "I want to go to rap."


    "I''ll go to vocals! Don''t hog the vocal choices, please."


    Jisung poked June''s side, causing the troubled guy to look at him. "What?" he asked.


    "Which position are you going to take?"


    "Vocals," June said without any hesitation.


    Jisung pouted. "I want to go to dance. Can''t you go with me, brother?"


    June raised one eyebrow. "Really? You want me to go to dance?"


    "Well, I just want to team up with you at least once."


    June shrugged. "Pick vocals then."


    "Settle down now," Minho said. "As Mentor Jihyun said, it''s going to be special. Rid your mind of any preconceptions you have about this show. It isn''t the position battle like you guys thought it would be!"


    The room was divided by arge, white wall, concealing the surprises that awaited.


    Kang Minho continued, "Behind this wall, we have songs prepared in three different categories: Rap and Dance, Vocal and Dance, and Vocal and Rap. Each category represents a unique challenge that will test your versatility as a performer."


    "What?"


    "Two positions?"


    June was surprised. Azure once again utilized a new concept. Last season, only one position was involved in the second mission.


    "Idols these days are expected to be good at everything," Jihyun said. "So, instead of focusing on one position, we want to produce well-rounded trainees that go beyond theirfort zones."


    "That''s right," Minho nodded.


    "Let us nowmence the XX position battle: battle of all-rounders!"

 Chapter 70 Kick ’em Out

    <h4>Chapter 70 Kick ''em Out</h4>


    "Does this mean we can finally be on the same team?" Jisung asked, bouncing in excitement.


    "It depends," June said.


    June would like to pick an easy song this time. He already went through so much hell because of Mermaid Melodies, so he''s going to take it easy on this mission.


    Amidst the excited and nervous chatters, Mentors Jihyun and Minho began to exin the details of the XX Position battle''s song choosing.


    Kang Minho''s voice rang out, "Beyond this wall are twelve songs of varying styles and genres. They would be divided into three categories: rap and dance, vocal and dance, and vocal and rap. Each category has four songs to choose from."


    "Now, here''s the catch. The number of group members allowed for each song varies. The highest limit would be eight members, while the lowest limit is four members. It is, therefore, crucial to choose a song that emphasizes the group''s strengths and members'' individual abilities."


    Some trainees exchanged nces, starting to discuss amongst themselves as they mentally calcted the best strategy.


    "Let''s team up again," Akira said, nudging his shoulder. He was near behind him, so he was able to reach June.


    June shrugged. Akira was one of the trainees who were on a simr wavelength as him. Their voicesplement each other well, and they aren''t the most talented at dancing. "Sure," June said.


    "Unfair," Jisung called out from in front of them.


    Akira chuckled. "Sorry, kid. Your music taste isn''t the same as ours."


    "June''s the same age as me! I think he''s even younger by months," Jisung defended.


    "He seems older than all of us, though," Akira retorted.


    "Let''s just see where it leads us," June said. Ultimately, he''ll pick a song that suits him well and would be the easiest to perform.


    "Remember, like the first mission, this mission is abination of individual and group battles. The highest-voted individual from each team will receive 100,000 stars, a reward for showcasing their personal talents. And for the ultimate challenge, the team with the highest overall votes per category will earn another 100,000 stars!


    "200,000 stars for one person?" Jangmoon eximed. "That''s more than what I had during the first eliminations."


    "Damn, that''s like securing a spot for the third mission."


    "I probably won''t get the personal benefit, but I need that group benefit."


    Determination and excitement swept across the room.


    Jihyun smiled warmly as she continued, "This is your moment to shine, to prove your skills and unity. Select your songs wisely, practice diligently, and give it your all. The fate of your team and your individual sess rests on your shoulders."


    "This is how you''re going to pick the songs," Minho said. "Each of you will go behind this wall, one by one, and stand beneath your song of choice. So, line up ording to the order of your rankings, starting from thest-ced trainee."


    Whispers of excitement rippled through the lower-ranked trainees while confused statements were heard in the upper ranks.


    "Hell yeah!" Jangmoon screamed. "It''s finally our time to shine, my fellow losers," he pped, causing the auditorium tough at his antics.


    "Trainee Jangmoon, pleasee to the front," Minho said. Jangmoon trudged to the front with a smug smirk.


    June shook his head. Jangmoon was quite an innocentd. There''s definitely something more than what meets the eye.


    Azure wouldn''t have a change of heart overnight and suddenly disy the principle of equity to the low-ranked trainees.


    "Do you have a position in mind?" Jihyun asked.


    "I do," Jangmoon said. "But then, I kind of wish that the higher-ranked trainees would go first."


    "Why?" Minho asked.


    Jangmoon yfully smiled. "I want to be on the same team as big brother June!" he proudly said.


    The trainees sent June amused nces and chuckles. June sighed and gave out a thumbs-up.


    He was determined to stay away from C-Jay and Jangmoon at all costs.


    These two were his good friends, but bing their teammates would be very frustrating.


    "Shall I go now?" Jangmoon asked. "I can''t wait to see the songs!"


    "You may," Jihyun said. "But before you choose, remember that each song has a maximum limit of group members. If the team is full, the higher-ranked trainees have the opportunity to push the lower-ranked trainees out of the team."


    And there''s the catch.


    The lower-ranked trainee''s expression shifted from excitement to disappointment. Jangmoon''s shoulders slumped, his dreams of having the first choice were crushed, and the reality of thepetition''s dynamics sank in.


    "Now, you may head inside," Minho said.


    With a disappointed sigh, Jangmoon went inside and looked at the song choices with wide eyes.


    ''Forever Young by BLACKBUNS under Vocal and Rap.''


    ''Bodylicious by JAY KIM under Rap and Dance.''


    ''Beside Me by THRICE under Dance and Vocal.''


    Jangmoon smiled and went to his first choice. However, he stopped when he remembered June scolding him during the first mission.


    He loves to dance.


    But he has two left feet.


    So, to spare his future members'' blood pressures, he decided to stand under the ''Forever Young.''


    But, wait.


    He really loved to dance.


    Whatever, he''s thest ce! He''ll pick a song that he would love to perform. So, in the end, he picked ''Bodylicious'' by JAY KIM.


    As Jangmoon finished choosing, the next one in line stepped forward, and the process continued. Each trainee grappled with the weight of their choice, weighing between the song they''d like to perform and the song they could truly excel in.


    Akira entered the room and saw the ''Vocal and Rap'' and ''Rap and Dance'' teams unusually full. It seemed like nobody wanted to pick ''Vocal and Dance'' since it was more difficult to sing in a stable voice with choreography.


    There were already a few trainees among all the song choices, but Akira picked the safest choice.


    Jangmoon and C-Jay appeared to be on the same team. They tried coaxing Akira to join them under ''Bodylicious,'' but Akira shook his head and stood under the first song on ''Vocal and Dance.''


    ''Beside Me by THRICE''


    It was a cheerful band song that could showcase his vocals well, and it wouldn''t be that difficult to choreograph since it already had a cheerful and rhythmic beat.


    Several choices and "kicking-outs"ter, the time for June to pick a song finally came.


    Jihyun giddily picked up her mic and looked him in the eyes.


    "Trainee June, you may now go beyond the wall."

 Chapter 71 Song Choice

    <h4>Chapter 71 Song Choice</h4>


    Jihyun''s eyes remained fixed on June as he walked to the front, her thoughts drifting momentarily. As he got closer, his appearance seemed to be getting better. "He''s really handsome," she mused silently to herself, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.


    As June approached the wall to make his selection, Jihyun''s curiosity got the best of her. "Do you have a position in mind?" she asked, her voice soft as she leaned closer to him.


    June''s cold gaze met Jihyun''s, and he nodded. "Yes," he briefly replied.


    Minho chuckled. "Is that all?"


    June nodded.


    "Mind telling the other trainees what it is?" Jihyun asked.


    June silently shook his head. He wanted to pick peacefully.


    "Oh," Jihyun disappointedly said. She secretly hoped that he''d pick something that had to do with vocals so she could mentor him.


    As their conversation ended, June walked towards the wide entrance.


    He had already made up his mind.


    He''s going to pick ''Vocal and Dance.''


    It would be a shame for him not to showcase his improvement in dancing while highlighting his singing abilities.


    As he went inside, his eyes focused on the ''Vocal and Dance'' column. He didn''t even nce at the other categories despite Jangmoon''s and C-Jay''s attempt at calling him over to ''Bodylicious.''


    "Over here, brother!" Jangmoon screamed. "Let''s rap together!"


    C-Jay smiled and gestured enthusiastically for him to perform the same song.


    June shook his head.


    These two picked a song that they''d be horrible at once again. June was already wishing their new teammates good luck.


    June stood at the center for a moment, just taking all the song choices in. His gaze settled on the first option: ''Beside Me'' by the group THRICE. It was a band song with a good rhythm, and it would be a safe choice to perform.


    It is quite mncholic and yearning in the beginning, which can showcase the rawness of his vocals. There are also lots of chances to add in harmonies since the melody is easy to follow, with the gentle strumming of the guitar forming the backbone of the melody.


    Moreover, he looked at the people under the song''s name and saw Akira, who was smiling at him and coaxing him over. June nced at the other team members and saw that they, too, were pretty decent.


    Eight people were needed in the group, so joining the team means he''ll bepleting it.


    However, he took the time to consider the other songs.


    The second song was entitled ''Electric Pulse'' by the idol group VIBELOCITY. The title alone hinted at an energetic and electrifying track. It is a pop-rock anthem known for its addictive chorus and powerful bridge. If June recalls, the song began with a techno piano riff that gave off a retro feel.


    One downside to the song is its repetitive chorus, with the words ''Electric Pulse'' being said over eight times in a span of thirty seconds. As June considered "Electric Pulse," he couldn''t help but imagine the energy and excitement that their performance would bring to the stage. However, it''s quite an overyed song, so it might trigger other people''s annoyance.


    The third song on the list carried a different vibepared to the previous choices. However, it was still quite upbeat. Titled ''Midnight Craze,'' the track was by the renowned DJ duo SYNTHESIS. The mere mention of the song evokes images of neon lights and pulsating energy, setting the stage for an EDM festival experience. It has an upbeat energy and vibrant electronic sounds. What made the song special was the vocal arrangement. The high notes were a highlight, soaring above the male range.


    June could reach it, for sure. Yet it would be difficult for him to aplish this while dancing on stage. As the song echoed in the back of his mind, memories flooded back to him.


    June could practically hear the song ying in the background as he recalled the nights he visited the White Tiger Gang''s bars and auction houses.


    June''s eyes strayed to thest choice, and he immediately recognized the song: ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    He immediately disqualified it from his choices. Even the title was enough of a red g. Who names their song such a long title? Out of all the choices, this was the most different, too. It leaned more toward a subdued ambiancepared to the upbeat track. It was almost like a bad.


    No, it''s definitely under the bad category. It has a delicate piano sound that seemed to carry a sense of nostalgia.


    As June looked at the title, his memories surged forth. He knew this song all too well, as the original artist hailed from China. This wasn''t a well-known fact, by the way. It''s mostly known as a song by ''Yoo Ji-hwan,'' otherwise known as ''Hwan.'' The legendary Korean soloist, who had been in the industry for more than twenty years, imbued it with his own touch, creating a version that became popr all across Asia.


    However, the familiarity of ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave'' was a bittersweet memory for June. It was a song he had sung countless times during his day as a gang member, often at the karaoke. The memories associated with it were pathetic, representing moments he had left behind.


    Aside from that, the ''bad'' quality of the song practically made it impossible to choreograph, so June quickly rid his mind of any lingering memories and focused on the three choices instead. He weighed his options once more before walking over to the safest choice.


    With a nod of resolution, June walked over to ''Beside Me.'' Its rhythm, emotions, and arrangement all aligned perfectly with his intentions to showcase his improved dancing and singing abilities. He believes his teammates wouldn''t give him a hard time too.


    And with him being the highest-ranked among them, there''s a higher chance he can get the 100,000-star personal benefit.


    "d to see you here, brother," Akira smiled. "Let''s make another legendary stage together."

 Chapter 72 Absolutely Destroyed

    <h4>Chapter 72 Absolutely Destroyed</h4>


    The trainees in team ''Beside Me'' weed June with encouraging smiles and nods. June also nodded in respect. It seemed like he picked the right decision.


    After June, the 19th-ranked trainee entered the room. The trainees, especially those at the lower ranks, held their breaths when he guy stood before them. They wished fervently not to be pushed out, and fortunately, the 19th-ranked settled on ''Bodylicious,'' where spots were still open.


    Poor guy.


    He doesn''t know what he signed up for.


    C-Jay and Jangmoon already looked like hyenas, ready to pounce on the currently highest-ranked trainee in their team.


    Even with rituals and prayers going around, hoping not to get kicked out, luck didn''t always favor the lower-ranked trainees. This was the reality of the situation.


    The higher-ranked trainees had the power to kick out those lower down thedder to secure their chosen songs. The cruel twist of this "kicking-out" system cast a shadow over the proceedings, serving as a constant reminder of the cutthroat nature of thepetition.


    "Sorry," Bin smiled at Seungwoo. "I really like this song, brother," he said.


    Seungwoo disappointedly left his current song choice and went to ''Midnight Craze,'' making the team full.


    Alex went in, and his eyes naturally shifted to June. For him, June looked very familiar. However, the person he once knew had a whole different personality from him. So, he still wasn''t sure.


    His eyes left June and gravitated to the song choices. He wasted no time in going to the ''Vocal and Rap'' section.


    He mercilessly kicked Johnny out of their team, so thed had no choice but to go to ''Electric Pulse.''


    The ''kicking-out'' system continued, and another trainee joined ''Electric Pulse,'' also making the team full.


    Among all of this, June remained in the fortunate position of not having been pushed out.


    At this point, three ''Vocal and Dance'' songs were finally full. However, amidst the tension for the song choices, there was one song that remained untouched. ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave'' was empty. It was obvious that the trainees thought it would be the toughest song, perhaps uncertain about taking on the emotional depth that the bad demanded.


    Not until Lin Zhi entered the room.


    June immediately felt annoyed as he strode in with a confident smirk. As if determined to fill the void, he stepped forward and imed the first spot of the unimed song.


    "Woah, he''s picking that song?"


    "As expected, the top ten trainees are indeed different."


    "That''d be very tough, though."


    After Lin Zhi picked the difficult song, the next trainees followed a simr pattern. Like clockwork, the next trainees picked ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    Jisung, Yuri, and Leo all stood with Lin Zhi, their ranks intimidating the other teams.


    "Damn," Akira whispered by June''s side. "The lowest-ranked trainee on that team is the tenth-ranked. How unlucky we are for facing someone like them."


    "I think our team is better, though," June honestly said.


    Akira raised his eyebrows in surprise. "How do you say so?"


    June shrugged. "It just seems a bit too much," he said, looking at the pasted ranks on their t-shirts.


    Jaeyong entered the room, and he didn''t even waste any time. He simply went to ''Shake it,'' a rap and dance song that can showcase his rapping skills very well.


    With only three trainees left, June started feeling more secure. Ren''s voice was very well-fitted for a bad. He was sure that he was going to pick ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    Ren entered the room, and his eyes fixed on the ''Vocal and Dance'' category. He hesitated for a while, closely looking at the choices. He situated himself in the middle, walking back and forth between ''Beside Me'' and the bad song. June''s heart raced as he watched, a sense of unease settling in.


    Was June wrong?


    He saw a hint of uncertainty in Ren''s eyes as he looked at the ranks of those under ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    That''s when June realized he was fucked.


    And then it happened...


    With a determined gaze, Ren went in front of June and pursed his lips.


    "Sorry, I''m kicking you out," he coldly said, taking June''s ce in the team that had been his from the start.


    Gasps were heard through the room, and Akira even let out a small "no."


    However, June couldn''t hear anything.


    It felt like a hammer hit him in the head, making his ears ring and his mind nk.


    As the room fell into a tense silence, C-Jay''s and Jangmoon''s voices broke through.


    "Big brother, over here!"


    "We still have one spot left! Brother, here. Come here!"


    With only a few spots remaining and the song choices narrowing down, the tension in the room reached its peak. June found himself faced with a tough decision ¨C there was one spot left for ''Bodylicious'' and two spots for the challenging song that Lin Zhi had bravely chosen earlier.


    So, in simple words...


    June was fucked.


    Both songs would be a nightmare to perform.


    June definitely didn''t want to perform the bad, but he didn''t want to perform with C-Jay and Jangmoon too. Along with that, ''Bodylicious'' was a rap and dance song. That was two aspects that he still needed to improve.


    "Ah, fuck it," he whispered, ruffling his hair and walking over to ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    Jisung''s smile widened as he patted June''s back.


    "I guess we still ended up in the same team, brother."


    June absent-mindedly nodded, still in disbelief about the turn of events.


    He didn''t even notice Caspering in and kicking out a trainee from ''Shake It,'' causing him to go to Jangmoon''s team.


    As Zeth entered the room, the trainees started chattering among themselves.


    "I kinda don''t want him to be in our team."


    "Yeah, I agree. He''ll take the star benefits anyway."


    "Well, ''Vocal and Dance'' are safe. Zeth''s a rapper, so..."


    Yeah, Zeth is a rapper. He''s known as a very powerful dancer and skilled rapper.


    It''s obvious that he''s going to pick something that has to do with rap, right?


    Right?


    WRONG!


    Because at that moment, Zeth confidently strode to the ''Vocal and Dance'' section and stood next to June.

 Chapter 73 Too Many Cooks

    <h4>Chapter 73 Too Many Cooks</h4>


    Are you all familiar with the statement ¡ª "Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth?"


    Apparently, the origin of the phrase can be traced back to medieval times, where it likely emerged from amunal kitchen. Suppose individuals are involved in preparing a dish with differing methods, preferences, and opinions. In that case, it is almost certain that a disastrous dish would be the oue.


    That''s exactly what was happening within June''s team.


    10th...9th...6th...5th...1st


    A team of six where five members are within the top ten.


    And there was June ¡ª in 20th ce.


    By no means was his rank low, butpared with these big dogs, he was somewhat like a chihuahua.


    Zeth''s decision to join the team wasn''t taken lightly, too. How could a rapper/dancer pick a bad song with intricate vocal styles?


    Zeth cleared his throat and decided to take the lead.


    "So, umm...Why did you guys pick this song?" he asked.


    "I like Hwan," Yuri said. "I''ve always admired him since I was younger, and I believe this genre suits me the best."


    Indeed, Yuri''s voice wasparable to Ren''s. His vocal style is mellow, which will work well with the song.


    "I already have a choreography in mind," Leo responded. "I majored in contemporary dance, and this was the only song that could help showcase that."


    Jisung shyly raised his hand. "But wouldn''t it be predictable if we go the contemporary route? Of course, this is just my suggestion. You guys can just ignore my statement," he trailed off when he felt pressured by the look his teammates


    Zeth awkwardly patted his back. "Hey, it''s okay, man. We''ll take all the suggestions we need."


    "The reason why I chose this song is solely because I already have a contemporary dance in mind," Leo said. "Besides, wouldn''t it be great to show the starlights a stage that differs from ourpetitors?"


    "Hmm," Zeth hummed. "That is true. I have another suggestion, though. The song is quite high-pitched. What if we transpose it one chord lower? Just so it can match all our vocal ranges?"


    Lin Zhi nodded in agreement. "Yeah. This isn''t myfortable range. Contemporary is nice, but we can also take Jisung''s suggestion and add some pop elements in the chorus."


    "Pop elements in a bad song?" Yuri asked. "We''re going to look funny if we execute that. And I don''t really agree with changing the key. I believe the starlights would want us to challenge ourselves. Besides, this is a range I''mfortable in. I''m sure June can reach the high notes too."


    "But you need to think about the whole team," Lin Zhi argued. "It''s not only you who will be singing the song. It''s all six of us."


    Leo let out a deep breath. "You''re not thinking about the entire team, too. Taking it lower would also mean making June, Yuri, and I sing ufortably. Besides, changing the key will make it a bit disappointing."


    "Umm, I can just settle with the parts in the beginning," Jisung said. "Since I can''t reach the notes in the chorus."


    Zeth nodded. "I can''t reach the high notes, too," he said. "But I want to sing the chorus and the bridge. I feel like I can do it well."


    "It''s not just about your feeling," Yuri chuckled. "It''s a matter if you can really sing it or not."


    "Yuri definitely suits the main vocalist part more. Then, I can be the main dancer if you''d like," Leo added.


    Jisung pursed his lips before courageously speaking up. "I also want to be the main dancer," he said.


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "What shall we do? I want to be the main dancer too."


    "Ah, this is bad. I also want to be the main vocalist. I heard this song beforeing to Rising Stars and immediately liked it. I even sang it in one of the trainee''s evaluations," Lin Zhi said.


    "Again, this isn''t about what you want to sing," Leo said. "It''s about who suits the part the best."


    "So, are you saying I don''t suit the part at all?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Well, if you can only sing it with a lower key, then maybe, you don''t suit that part at all."


    Yuri let out a chuckle while Zeth and Lin Zhi frowned.


    The tension increasingly became more ufortable, and it was clear that the team had very different visions.


    "B¡ªbut I think, brother June suits the main vocalist part the best," Jisung suddenly said. "His voice is very pretty."


    With the mention of June''s name, the five trainees turned toward him.


    June raised both his eyebrows as he looked them in the eyes.


    He was keeping quiet for a reason. There were already too many ideas, and he was sure his suggestion would only make things worse.


    "Come to think of it," Zeth said. "You haven''t spoken at all, June."


    June nodded, still not saying anything.


    "Then, what''s your opinion?" Lin Zhi asked. "Why don''t you decide for us, brother?"


    His teammates looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes.


    Oh, hell no.


    June''s not going to decide.


    "You guys decide."


    ***


    June stood in the middle of the room, looking at his teammates with a gloomy expression.


    It couldn''t be denied that the conversation had diverged the team into sub-teams. Zeth was in the corner of the room with his earphones in. He was seriously studying the lyrics of the song while trying toe up with some choreography. Compared to his bubbly and ''Golden Retriever-like'' personality, he was moreposed than usual.


    Leo was on the other side of the room, doing the same. There was a frown on his face as he tried to get the moves down.


    Jisung, too, was choreographing the bridge part of the song.


    In the end, since the ''Main Dancer'' agenda still hadn''t been settled, they decided to cut the song into three parts ande up with three different choreographies.


    However, in the meantime, Leo was able to persuade everyone that he''d be a reliable ''Main Dancer.'' He also forgo his vocal parts and settled on Sub-Vocal 4, which has the shortest lines.


    The vocal parts had been decided too.


    Yuri was hailed the Main Vocalist, while Lin Zhi became the Sub-Vocalist 1.


    June was stuck with Sub-Vocal 2, and it was significantly lesser than the ''Main Vocal'' and ''Sub-Vocal 1'' lines.


    However, there was already too much tension in the room, so June couldn''t really speak out.


    He nced to his side and saw Lin Zhi. He was practicing the song, yet instead of the ''Sub-Vocal 1'' part, he was practicing the ''Main Vocal'' part. Yuri noticed that too, since he frowned and made his voice louder, his voice ringing in the room.


    The sound of dissonance resonated in the practice room, and June couldn''t do anything but stand there and watch.


    June sighed.


    Maybe ''Bodylicious'' wouldn''t be too bad, after all.

 Chapter 74 Sneaking Out

    <h4>Chapter 74 Sneaking Out</h4>


    "1...2...3...," Zeth counted as the team did a run down on everything they had learned today. Since the choreography was split into three parts, the process was faster than usual.


    Some trainees peeked inside their practice room, curious to see their progress.


    "They''ve already finished the choreography? That''s insane. We''re only halfway through."


    "This team is really insane."


    "We can''tpete with them."


    June nced at the door, making eye contact with the spying trainees, making them scramble away.


    They really weren''t discreet about it all.


    June wondered what his team looked like from the outside perspective. It might seem that they''re progressing very quickly, and in reality, they are.


    This team has a bunch of very talented trainees. It would be weird if they weren''t able to utilize their good skills.


    However, June felt? that something was missing in their performance.


    As they ran through the movements, it just seemed a bit...monotone. Aside from that, it also felt like it didn''t flow very well. It was obvious that three different people choreographed the song.


    Some moves were repetitive, while some were out of ce.


    Although June wasn''t a dance expert, which was evident since he struggled the most when learning the dance, he could still tell that something was off.


    "Let''s practice one more time," Zeth said, ncing at the clock. "It''s already gettingte, but we still need to get the dance down so we can focus more on our vocal parts and arrangement tomorrow."


    Leo nodded. "The interim evaluation is tomorrow, too, right? After lunchtime?"


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "That''s what the production crew told us."


    "Geez," Yuri muttered. "We need to make it quick. The performance is already on Wednesday. So we have more or less four days to practice."


    "We''re doing a good job, though," Zeth said. "The choreography is already done. Let''s do it onest time."


    They did the dance once more, and June still couldn''t shake off his weird feeling. As the song finished, he rested his hands on his knees and took a deep breath.


    The song is a bad, but why was he so out of breath? Sweat dripped from his temples, so he quickly wiped it away.


    June was about to straighten his back when he felt a heavy weight around his shoulders.


    "Ah, this song is so tough," Lin Zhi said. "I feel like you''re the only one who can understand my struggles, brother. These four are monster dancers."


    June quickly moved away when he realized it was Lin Zhi.


    Lin Zhi chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. "Woah, what''s with your reaction? Did I do something to you, brother? Why does it seem like you don''t like me?''


    ''Yes, you killed me.''


    And you''re fucking annoying.


    Since June wasn''t responding, Lin Zhi started to think he was serious.


    Thankfully, Jisung came to the rescue and lightened the atmosphere. "Don''t take it too hard, Lin Zhi," he chuckled. "June just doesn''t like being touched."


    "Oh," Lin Zhi said. "You really remind me of someone I know. You have such simr personalities. Makes me want to tease you more."


    June pursed his lips to control his anger.


    This bastard.


    ''That is me! The fucking brother you killed for your own benefit!''


    "Well, let''s call it a day," Zeth said. "Let''s meet early tomorrow. Around 7 AM?"


    They all nodded before parting ways.


    Jisung and June walked together since they were still roommates. As they entered, they saw Hoon all alone in the room.


    Hoon and June made eye contact, but Hoon quickly looked away. Ever since the day he forcefully revealed June''s face to the public, the two of them hadn''t talked at all.


    "I''ll take a shower first, brother," Jisung said. "I''m all sticky."


    "Sure," June said, keeping his gaze on Hoon.


    As Jisung entered the bathroom, June decided to confront Hoon once and for all.


    Hoon frowned and took a step back, his ankle hitting the back of his bed.


    "Shit," he cursed. "What the fuck are you doing?"


    "Should you really be talking to me in that way?" June asked, cocking one eyebrow.


    Hoon clenched his fists and kept his chin held high. "I tripped, okay?" he snapped. "You must have been happy that I revealed your face since you look like..."


    "I look like what?" June cockily asked. "I''m not what you expected, huh?"


    Hoon chuckled. "Don''t be so brave now, June. At the end of the day, you''re still a loser that hid behind the cat mask. You''re a pathetic man that got stic surgery in the middle of thepetition. I saw you during the first mission. You didn''t look like that."


    June smirked in amusement.


    He''s saying all that with an obvious rhinosty and double eyelid surgery?


    "So, it was you, huh?" June asked, taking a step forward. Hoon felt a chill run down his spine. "You saw me in the bathroom?"


    There it was again ¡ª June''s dark aura.


    Hoon had only experienced it once when they were in Team Abyss, and although he didn''t want to admit it, the reason why he agreed to June''s decisions back then was because of his aura.


    "If this was any other situation, I would have gouged your eyeballs out, amputated both your hands, and stuffed them into your empty eye sockets. But for now, let me thank you since everything went well after the reveal."


    Although the threat sounded like a joke, Hoon couldn''t help but feel scared.


    "I¡ªIt doesn''t ch¡ªchange the fact that you still got stic surgery," he pathetically stammered.


    "What am I? A superhuman or something? How could I heal in less than two weeks if I got surgery? You''re just in denial, Hoon," June said. "So, don''t try to mess with me from now on. And stop being an insecure little bitch. Maybe then, you''d get on my level."


    With that, June calmly went to his bed and sat down.


    On the other hand, Hoon was a shaking mess. He didn''t even dare look back at June.


    Instead, he went out of the room.


    "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What''s with him?" he muttered under his breath and went to Jiyong''s room to sleep for the night.


    June chuckled as he watched Hoon''s frightened back.


    Looks like the kid wouldn''t be bothering him any time soon.


    Jisung went out of the bathroom and looked at June with raised eyebrows.


    "Why''re you chuckling all by yourself, brother?" he asked.


    June quickly pulled a straight face and cleared his throat. "Nothing," he said.


    "Where did Hoon go?" Jisung asked.


    "I don''t know. He went out. He''s probably not going toe back for the night."


    "Then I guess it''s just the two of us tonight."


    "The two of us?" June asked. "Where''s Jaeyong?"


    "He''s rooming with Akira. I think he wanted to talk about the team selection in the first mission."


    "Oh," June muttered. "Oh?"


    "Well, I''m going to sleep," Jisung yawned, going up his bunk. "It''s going to be a long day tomorrow."


    June stayed still, and in a matter of minutes, he heard Jisung snoring from above him.


    This was it.


    He looked at his mission corner and saw the deadline.


    [Deadline for mission: 28h, 45m, 7secs]


    It''s time to sneak out.

 Chapter 75 Bucktooth Guard

    <h4>Chapter 75 Bucktooth Guard</h4>


    Maybe sneaking out wasn''t a good idea after all.


    June stood behind a wall, concealing him from the night cameras in the hallway.


    Sneaking out of his room was the easy part.


    It was a good thing that Jisung, the heaviest sleeper among them, was the only one left in their room.


    If Jaeyong was there, June was sure he''ll have an even harder time.


    June looked at the cameras situated on the corner of the wall and analyzed the extent of the view it could capture. If he could recall, there were some scenes aired on the show from this specific view, and it couldn''t capture the entire hallway.


    He just has to stick to this route, sticking his body as close to the wall as possible.


    "Let''s do this," he muttered.


    June wasn''t foreign to these kinds of concepts. He had to sneak out plenty of times from various ces. And it was more high-stake than this.


    Back then, if he had been caught, it would have cost him his life.


    He took his experience from the past and moved expertly, evading the cameras without making any sound. June went past one obstacle after the other, but encountered the most difficult one in the end.


    The back door.


    The Rising Stars'' dorm had two exits ¡ª the front entrance and the back door.


    The front entrance usually had more guards, and most of the production crew members also entered and exited through that door.


    So, June knew it was impossible to exit there without getting caught.


    The back door was a better choice.


    Not a lot of trainees knew about the exit. June didn''t know about it at the start, too. If it wasn''t for C-Jay, he would still be clueless about this ce.


    June saw a lone security guard standing next to the exit, causing him to retreat and hide behind a wide post.


    [Deadline for mission: 28h, 8m, 34secs]


    June continued looking at the door, hoping the security guard would suddenly feel the urge to go to the restroom.


    Unluckily for him, the guard settledfortably on his seat,ughing at something on his phone.


    "Heck. What is that bucktooth doing here?"


    June suddenly heard a familiar voice.


    "He usually flirts with the janitress during these times. Did they break up or something?" another voice asked.


    June frowned and peeked from behind the post.


    Those voices...he couldn''t be mistaken.


    June sighed in disbelief when he saw Jangmoon and C-Jay on the wall adjacent to the post. Their figures were hidden by a cab, luding the guard''s view of their bodies.


    However, June could see and hear them clearly.


    "I''m hungry. I want a sausage," Jangmoon whined. "And I''m craving a soda. They don''t have any junk food in the pantry here."


    C-Jay clicked his tongue. "Be patient. Let''s just wait until that bucktooth guard falls asleep."


    Jangmoon groaned. "And when will that be? His eyes are practically glowing while watching on his phone. We''ll be the first ones to sleep here if that happens."


    "Then, tomorrow?" C-Jay asked. "We can sneak out tomorrow and go to the convenience store."


    "But I''m craving something now," Jangmoon whined.


    June observed the two of them. It seemed like it wasn''t their first time doing something like this.


    Just then, June thought of a brilliant idea.


    He rummaged through his pockets and brought out a couple of coins. June smirked and looked back and forth between the guard and his two friends.


    ''Sorry,'' he thought. ''Just think of it as payment for letting me suffer when we were still teammates.''


    The guard turned off his phone for a bit and stood up, stretching his body and letting out a yawn.


    This was his chance.


    June aimed at Jangmoon and C-Jay and threw the coins over their way, creating a loud clinking sound paired with Jangmoon''s dramatic wail.


    "Shh!" C-Jay shushed, but that, in itself, was already loud.


    June smiled when the guard''s attention was sessfully taken. He brought out his shlight and pointed it straight at Jangmoon and C-Jay.


    They froze for a moment while the guard shook his head and clicked his tongue.


    "Rising Stars trainees, huh?" the guard said, his voice resembling someone that had inhaled helium.


    "Run!" Jangmoon screamed, and the two of them scrambled away from the guard.


    The guard was surprised, but he soon started running after them.


    June took that as a chance to walk through the back door, internally rejoicing when he felt the cool night breeze against his skin.


    He kept his mask and hoodie on since he didn''t want to risk running into anyone from the production crew. June then continued walking until he saw a convenience store on the side of the road.


    There''ll probably be people who can recognize him here, right?


    June entered the convenience store and finally took off his hoodie and mask, hoping someone would recognize him right away and ask for his autograph.


    However, as he opened the door, he didn''t find anyone except for a scrawny little teenager ying games on his phone.


    He didn''t even bother to nce at June as he came in.


    "Wee," the part-timer nonchntly said, still looking at his phone. His game sound effects were on full volume, so it could be heard in the entire store.


    June clicked his tongue and settled on one of the seats, hoping someone who watches Rising Stars woulde in at any moment.


    The part-timer, a high school student who only wanted a job to buy skins for his game characters, finally looked up when his character died. His respawn time was already more than one minute, so he decided to observe the new customer.


    The high school student was surprised to see that the customer was very handsome.


    "Lucky motherfucker," he muttered, continuing to observe June''s face.


    For the part-timer, June looked quite familiar. It seemed like he had seen him on TV when his sister and mother would be watching their useless shows.


    But then again, maybe this brother was just handsome, so he looked like a celebrity.


    June felt the kid''s stare, so he looked up, raising his eyebrows in inquiry.


    "Aren''t you going to buy anything?" he asked.


    "Why?" June asked.


    "People aren''t allowed to sit there if they don''t buy anything," the part-timer said. Then, he? saw that he already respawned, so he held onto his phone once more. "If you''re not going to buy anything, then you should leave."


    June clicked his tongue.


    This stingy little kid. There weren''t any people around!


    June went to the chocte section and grabbed the first one he saw. He walked to the counter and ced the choctes down.


    Just then, the door opened, and the chimes rang, signaling the arrival of a new customer.


    "Wee," the part-timer said in the same nonchnt tone.


    June nced at the door but quickly looked away when he saw two familiar faces. He quickly ced his hood and his mask back on.


    What are Alex and Hyunwoo doing here?

 Chapter 76 Phoenix Trainees

    <h4>Chapter 76 Phoenix Trainees</h4>


    Fortunately, the two Phoenix trainees didn''t notice June''s presence since they were too engrossed in their conversations.


    "It''s a good thing the back door was unguarded," Alex said, removing his hood.


    "Yeah," Hyunwoo chuckled. "I really wanted to get some booze."


    Shit. Shit. Shit.


    Out of all the trainees, why the hell does it have to be them?


    "Ring this up quickly," June said to the part-timer.


    "Geez," the kid said. "Can''t you wait a bit? Can''t you see that I''m on fire right now," he gestured to his game.


    "Then, I''m going to leave," June said, preparing to leave. However, the kid suddenly rang up one of his choctes.


    "You need to pay for these ones now," the part-timer smirked. He didn''t know why this handsome dude was suddenly in a hurry, but it''s fun messing with people.


    "Then make it fast," June said through gritted teeth.


    "Sure," the part-timer said, one hand on his game while the other rang up his items. The kid did it so slowly that June knew it was already on purpose.


    June pursed his lips and was about to scold the younger teen when he suddenly felt Alex and Hyunwoo''s presence behind him.


    "This is enough, right?" Hyunwoo asked. "Should we get some snacks too?"


    "No need," Alex said. "Anderson only told us to get some booze. We need to make it fast since Mad Hatter is waiting for us in the alleyway too."


    "Alright," Hyunwoo said. "By the way, that trainee...doesn''t he seem familiar?"


    Alex hummed. "That June guy?"


    June froze.


    Shit.


    They''re talking about him.


    "Would you like to pay using cash or card?" the part-timer asked.


    June didn''t say anything and handed him a 10-dor bill, looking him in the eyes to urge him make it faster.


    However, the kid merely smiled and took the 10-dor bill in his hands, inspecting to see if it was real. Then, he went back to his game to buy some items.


    "Kid...," he said in a serious but soft voice. "I''m serious. Make it fast," he said, leaning closer so Alex and Hyunwoo wouldn''t be able to hear him.


    The part-timer raised his eyebrows in surprise. Then, he heard the sound of his character dying, making him annoyed.


    "Ah, seriously. You made me die."


    ''You''re just jack-shit in the game,'' June wanted to retort but decided not to. "Just...give me back my change," June whispered.


    The part-timer smirked.


    ''This brother is obviously in a hurry. Let''s mess with him more.''


    While June urged the part-timer to make it faster, he could still hear Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s conversation behind him.


    "He reminds me of someone," Alex said. "But they''re different. Too different."


    "You don''t think it''s him, right?" Hyunwoo asked. "It''s been a year. I''m sure he''s not pursuing to be an idol after everything that happened."


    "I don''t know," Alex said. "But I better not see him again. He''s the reason why we got kicked out of CHAOS. Now, this is ourst chance to debut."


    June frowned. Are they still talking about Choi Joon-ho?


    "These are vodka choctes, brother. I need an ID to confirm your age."


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. He wanted to say something more, but fighting with this kid will just prolong his time in the convenience store. So, he brought out Choi Joon-ho''s ID from his wallet and showed it to the part-timer, making sure to cover it from Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s view.


    "Alright," the part-timer said, finally feeling satisfied with teasing the handsome brother.


    "Here you go!" he cheerfully said, handing June the choctes he bought like he didn''t just waste June''s time and piss him off.


    "Thanks," June squeezed out, taking the bag of choctes and his ID card from the annoying little high-schooler.


    June swears kids are getting scarier these days.


    As June abruptly left the convenience store, Hyunwoo and Alex looked at each other with perplexed stares.


    That guy sounded familiar.


    "Hey, kid," Alex said, taking the high-schooler by surprise.


    "What?"


    Hyunwoo chuckled. "Snarky, aren''t you? What if we fucking punch your mouth close, huh?"


    The high schooler, named Won, felt a chill run down his spine.


    These two brothers were also handsome, but Won didn''t like them at all.


    And although the handsome brother who just left threatened him too, these two felt like bad news.


    "Umm, what do you want?" Won nervously asked as he rang up their liquor. He didn''t even bother getting their IDs since he was too scared.


    "That guy a while ago," Alex said, gripping the counter. "What was his name?"


    "I don''t know," Won said, giving them their bag of booze.


    Hyunwoo chuckled. "You saw his ID."


    "I don''t remember it," he shakily responded.


    Alex suddenly brought out a shiny material from his pocket, making the part-timer freeze in fear.


    "I said¡ªwhat was his name?"


    ***


    June sighed in relief when he finally made his way to an empty alley. It was dark, and only a flickering street light illuminated the ce.


    However, June found sce in the ratchet ce. He sat down on the elevated concrete and unwrapped one of his choctes.


    He popped it into his mouth.


    ''This better be good. I suffered so much because of this.''


    June grimaced as soon as the vors hit his tongue.


    He quickly spat it out.


    It tastes like shit.


    Just then, a gaudy-looking man came and stood at the end of the alley, just under the street light.


    After him, the two boys that he was trying to escape from showed up once more.


    "Fuck," he cursed. "What are they doing here again?"


    They carried bottles of alcohol in their hands and went straight to the strange man underneath the street light.


    June was a bit far away from them, but June could still see their faces from where he was sitting.


    This wouldn''t do.


    He needed to get out of there fast.


    He stood up and dusted off his pants, cing his mask and hood back on. Then, he tried his best to stay as silent as possible as he walked away.


    However, just as he was about to leave, two young girls suddenly came up to him, making him halt his steps.


    "Oh my gosh! You''re June, right?"

 Chapter 77 Please Ask For My Autograph

    <h4>Chapter 77 Please Ask For My Autograph</h4>


    How?


    How the hell did they recognize June when almost his entire face was covered?


    June quickly looked back from where Alex, Hyunwoo, and the strange guy were standing to see if they had noticed themotion. June sighed in relief when he saw they were still busy talking among themselves.


    "You''re June, right?" the young, short-haired girl eximed as she looked into June''s eyes.


    "How did you know?" June whispered.


    "Your eyes, duh," the long-haired one responded. "We saw you on Rising Stars."


    [Deadline for mission: 26h, 8m, 34secs]


    Are they finally going to ask for June''s autograph right here?


    He was about to ask the two girls to take this conversation somewhere else, but they were already chattering among themselves, leaving June speechless.


    "Your face reveal was really awesome. My mom fell for you too."


    "Right? Everything moved so quickly. Then, BAM BAM BAM! His handsome face was revealed. That was fucking legendary. I keep repeating the video over and over again."


    "I gave you lots of stars!"


    "Me too. I used my mom''s card."


    "Oh, wow. Did she get mad?"


    "She didn''t find out," the short-hair girl chuckled slyly.


    June pursed his lips. He didn''t want to interrupt the two since he didn''t want to be rude to people who supported him on Rising Stars.


    "Umm, do you need anything?" June asked, hoping they''d just ask for an autograph so June could finally aplish his bonus mission and leave this alleyway. He nced back once again and found that the three men were still conversing.


    "Ah, right. What do we need, Rina? Do you want a picture?"


    "Umm, a picture. Yeah, yeah! Can you take a picture with us," the long-haired girl, Rina, asked.


    "A picture?" June asked.


    An autograph, please!


    Just ask for an autograph!


    "Sure," June trailed off. Maybe they''d ask for his autographter.


    "But wait, I think I forgot my phone at the dorm, Hina," Rina said.


    Hina, the short-haired girl, started rummaging through her belongings. "Wait, I forgot it too. Sorry, June. We came out in a hurry because we craved milk tea. Can you use your phone to take our pictures instead?


    June was dumbfounded.


    What kind of fans are these people? They wouldn''t even be able to get this picture afterward!


    "Please?" Hina asked. "I just want to take a picture with you."


    June pursed his lips and stiffly nodded his head. "Okay..."


    He brought out his phone, and the two girls immediately eximed.


    "Aigo, how old is your phone now? My little sister has a better model than yours," Rina said.


    "Give me that," Hina said, opening the camera app. "We look like we''re from the 1990s. No wonder you don''t have any pre-debut pictures online. Your phone''s camera isn''t good at all."


    Gee, thanks.


    It wasn''t like June wasn''t aware of that already.


    "Don''t worry, brother. We''ll give you more stars so you can debut and finally get a new phone," Hina cheerfully assured him.


    "I appreciate it," June said through gritted teeth. "Do you still want a picture?"


    "Oh, yes! Go ahead. Just use the sh since I''m afraid we wouldn''t be seen with the current quality," Hina responded.


    "sh?" June asked with wide eyes.


    Without any warning, Hina held his phone up and snapped a picture. The bright sh blinded their eyes, and his phone also had an obnoxious camera-snapping sound, which resonated in the dark alley.


    June was sure that the three men had noticed them now.


    "Aiya, it didn''t even focus on us," Rina said as she observed the picture. "But it''s okay. At least I can say that we took a picture with you. You''re really on fire these days. Don''t forget us when you be famous, alright?"


    "Sure," June awkwardly chuckled. "I have to go," he quickly said, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible in case Alex and Hyunwoo would check out what was going on.


    "Oh, stay safe!" they said, waving their hands enthusiastically.


    "You guys stay safe, too," June seriously said. "This seems like a very dangerous alleyway. Bye!" he quickly said, almost sprinting away from the alley.


    Once again, that was a close call.


    He didn''t know who those two trainees met in the alleyway, but it seemed that he was a very dangerous man.


    The two girls June left behind were squealing to themselves as they walked back to their dorms.


    "He''s very kind, isn''t he? I bet other celebrities won''t even let us take a picture on their phones," Rina chimed.


    "Of course, he''s kind. It''s already quite evident in the show," Hina said. "But I think I like him more now. Let''s post our encounter on Navel!"


    June muttered curses under his breath as he walked away from the alley. He didn''t even know where his feet were taking him.


    June looked at his watch and sighed. It was nearing midnight, and he still wasn''t able to aplish his mission.


    Instead, he mainly gained a headache from interacting with that high school part-timer and palpitations from the very near encounters with Alex and Hyunwoo.


    Before June realized it, he had made his way to the subway station.


    Shit.


    Did he walk that far already?


    He sighed and suddenly felt tired, so he leaned against the wall to rest for a while.


    The wall he leaned on wasn''t so stable. It was a bit flimsy, and it was too bright that it hurt his eyes.


    June clicked his tongue and turned around to look at the wall.


    Everything seemed to annoy him at this point.


    As he turned around with a re, he suddenly stopped when he saw familiar eyes looking back at him.


    No, it wasn''t anyone he knew.


    Because it was him ¡ª June.


    In particr, it was the moment when June revealed his face during the eliminations. His skin was glowing, and his cheeks and lips were unusually pink. It seemed that they had edited him into a San Rio character.


    However, above all the exaggerated editing, June found it fascinating. His face was literally ced on such a big LED screen where multiple people coulde and see it.


    Surrounding his face were numerous post-it notes of varying shapes and colors.


    "My ck Kitty June! You made me get into K-Pop again. I''m looking forward to your performances!"


    "I fell in love with your pink mask in the beginning, but I fell deeper when I saw your face."


    "You''re the best idol vocalist for me. Keep going, June!"


    "You make me believe that I can be an idol too. Fighting to the two of us, June!"


    June read the letters with an ambiguous feeling. To be honest, he''s only doing this to keep Mei Ling alive; he really didn''t expect to have this kind of impact on other people.


    As he read the other letters, a small gasp was heard from beside him.


    He looked to the side and saw ady looking at him with wide eyes.

 Chapter 78 Major Upgrade

    <h4>Chapter 78 Major Upgrade</h4>


    "It''s sote!" Na-ri whined. "Why are we going to the subway thiste in the evening?"


    "It''s past midnight already," Jia said. "So technically, it''s notte. It''s early."


    Wei sighed. "I swear. Who knew you''d get the biggest fan girl fever out of all of us?"


    "If I knew this was going to happen, I never would have introduced you to Rising Stars," Soo-min yawned.


    "Oh,e on," Jia urged. "Just think of it as payback for forcing me toe to early morning shoots with idols that weren''t even singing live."


    "Well, damn," Wei chuckled.


    The four of them got out of the subway, and Jia guided them to June''s LED screen.


    As they approached therge screen, they saw a strange guy wearing a ck hood and a ck mask. He was looking at the screen intently, and it scared the girls a little bit.


    Soo-min stopped. "Umm, let''s go backter? That guy looks suspicious."


    "Don''t be soo judgmental," Jia said. "He may be a fan of June."


    "While looking like that?" Soo-min asked.


    Jia clicked her tongue. "Come on. Just let me leave a letter and take a picture. Then, we can finally head back to the dorms."


    Wei pouted. "He''s wearing all ck! And look at those pockets. It''s like he has something stuffed in them."


    It was, indeed, his vodka-infused choctes.


    Jia sighed. "Fine. Wait for me at the food stalls out front. I''ll just take a selfie."


    "Are you sure?" Soo-min asked.


    "Yes!" Jia eximed. "Order Tteokbokki for me in advance. Oh, and a serving of fish cakes too."


    Wei smiled. "Call! It''s my treat this time. Let''s go."


    With that, her three friends left her behind. Jia slowly walked to the LED screen, wary of the strange man.


    Even after their conversation, he was still in the same position where she first saw him.


    At that point, Jia found him strange too. However, as she got closer, she let out a small gasp when she saw his eyes.


    No...


    The man finally snapped out of his trance and looked Jia in the eyes.


    Jia took a step back as she gazed into familiar orbs. Some of his hair peeked through his hood, casting a mysterious shadow over his eyes.


    "June?" Jia whispered.


    "Umm, what''s up?" June awkwardly said.


    Jia hupped. "It really is you."


    She was unsure at first if it was really him, but with his first utterance, she couldn''t be mistaken.


    Jia couldn''t speak for a couple of seconds, and June, being the introverted person he was, also didn''t know what to say.


    "Did youe here to look at your LED screen?"Jia shyly asked.


    This was the very first time she interacted with a man this way. Usually, she was rougher in the presence of her male friends, but with June, her personality took a sudden change.


    June scratched the back of his head.


    ''No, I just stumbled upon it.''


    "I guess?" he said, his words contrasting reality.


    Jia softly smiled.June really seems to care a lot about his fans. What a great idol trainee!


    "Are you here to visit it too?" June asked.


    Jia nodded. "I¡ªI have this letter," she said, pulling out a post-it note.


    "Oh," June said, reading the contents of her short letter.


    ''You made me get into K-pop! I''ll support you in every way I can. I''ll even skip my meals just to buy you some stars.''


    June chuckled as he finished reading. However, his amusement suddenly turned into somber nostalgia when he remembered his sister.


    Mei Ling used to be the same.


    June would always scold her for skipping her meals and spending it on albums, merch, and streaming passes.


    He clicked his tongue and looked her in the eyes. "Don''t skip your meals for me," he said. "Your parents aren''t giving you allowance to buy stars."


    "Oh," Jia said, her heart racing in her chest


    Jia held onto her reddening cheeks. "Okay. I''ll just ask my parents for more allowance to buy more stars for you."


    June chuckled. "Spend it on yourself, but thanks for supporting me."


    Jia shyly looked down at the ground. "If you don''t mind, can you give me an autograph?"


    June froze, causing Jia to panic.


    Is he not allowed to?


    Or does he not want to?


    Oh gosh. She didn''t want to make him ufortable!


    "But it''s okay if you don''t..."


    "I''ll do it," June quickly interrupted her. "I''ll give you my autograph."


    Jia was practically bursting with excitement due to his sudden enthusiasm.


    "Umm, you can just sign my post-it," she said.


    Jia quickly rummaged through her bag. "Here," she said, handing him a pen.


    June looked at the piece of paper, a bit perplexed. This was the first time he had needed to sign an autograph. Does he just sign it? Or write his name? Or add a message?


    He clicked his tongue and did whatever felt right.


    ''Don''t skip a meal,'' he wrote before cing his signature.


    "There you go," he said. Then, he nced at his watch and saw it was nearing 2 AM!


    His eyes widened. "I think I need to go now."


    "Oh, sure," Jia said. "If you want, you can take the subway to Azure¡ª"


    June ran before Jia could finish her sentence.


    She looked at him with a frown. "Is he going to run back to the Azure building?"


    Then, she admired him even more.


    What an environmental and economic king!


    After that, she absent-mindedly went to the food stalls where her friends were.


    "Jia! Over here," Wei called out. Still absent-minded, Jia sat next to her.


    Her three friends looked at each other with confusion.


    "Did...something happen?" Soo-min asked.


    "I met June," Jia bluntly said.


    Now, her three friends were looking at her like she was crazy. Did the fan girl''s life get to her mind and create brain damage or something?


    "Yeah, sure," Na-ri awkwardly chuckled.


    "It''s true!" Jia defended. "He was the guy with the ck hood."


    Soo-min patted her back. "It''s okay, Jia. We also have delusions sometimes."


    "But it was really him!"


    Jun ran back to the Azure building after finishing his bonus mission. He had a smile on his face as the tall and wide building made its way to his view.


    [Congrattions, host! You have seeded in the bonus mission: Sign an autograph. All stats have now been upgraded. Your current stats are:


    - Vocals: A


    - Dance: B-


    - Visual: B


    - Rap: E+


    - Charm: D-


    - Leadership: C+]


    [Mission reset will ur within 24 hours.]


    ***


    The morning after, Jia went to Navel to create a thread using her stan ount.


    ''How I met Rising Stars'' June and got his autograph! He even wrote me a message,'' she wrote, attaching a picture of the post-it note he had signed.


    The Navel thread blew up right away, and Jia was expecting enviousments that would boost her ego.


    However, as soon as she opened thement section, her face fell.


    - Yeah, sure. And my father''s Michael Jackson.


    - It''s time to get checked into a Mental Asylum.


    - Did you have your little brother write that for you? The handwriting is that of a middle schooler.


    Just then, a newment popped up.


    - Hina&Rina: Oh my gosh! I met him too. We even took a picture on his phone.


    Jia chuckled in disbelief as she read thatment.


    - MyKittyJune: Stop lying. Why would he take a picture with you on his phone?


    - Hina&Rina: It''s real! His phone was as shitty as a potato, but he was really nice. You''re the one who should be lying, girl. You must have run into his doppelganger and was stupid enough to think it was him.


    - HELP! Two delusional fans are fighting. There''s no need to fight,dies. The mental asylum wees everyone!


    "But it''s true!" - Hina, Rina, and Jia.

 Chapter 79 His Melancholic Past

    <h4>Chapter 79 His Mncholic Past</h4>


    The practice room was bathed with a warm glow early in the morning. The weather was great today, so Jisung entered the practice room with a wide smile on his face. Zeth looked up from his phone and greeted him with a smile.


    "Good morning, man."


    "Good morning," Jisung chimed.


    Jisung wanted to wake June up, but he looked to be in such deep sleep that he didn''t want to interrupt him.


    So, he decided to let him sleep for a bit more since there were still five minutes until 7:00AM.


    Their other teammates quickly followed, stretching their bodies and yawning due to their early rising.


    As the clock hit 7, the door opened, and June came in.


    Jisung gasped in surprise as soon as he saw him. His other teammates also looked over his way and frowned.


    June stopped for a moment to look at their ambiguous expressions.


    "What?" he asked.


    Did he look awful?


    Well, he did only get about three hours of sleep, so it was understandable.


    "You look good, brother," Jisungplimented, giving him two thumbs up.


    He looked good? June looked to the side to stare at himself in the mirror.


    Damn. He did look good.


    That one upgrade on his visuals definitely did him a very good favor.


    "Let''s start," Zeth said, pping his hands. He was the acting leader at this point, so the other members listened to hismand well.


    ...Or so June thought.


    "Let''s dance first to warm up our bodies, then let''s start with training our vocals," Zeth suggested.


    However, Yuri stepped in. "We had already danced to the song multiple times yesterday," he countered. "Don''t you think we need to focus on the vocals now? We haven''t even sung the song once."


    Zeth sighed, raking his hands through his hair. "We need to warm up our bodies. We all just woke up. We can''t start singing right away."


    "That must be the case for you," Leo said. "But we''re alright with singing first."


    The mood felt better when June first came in, but now it was back to where they all started.


    The tension was suffocating.


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "Let''s dance first. We''ll sing better if our bodies are warmed up."


    Leo was about to argue, but Yuri ced his hand on his shoulder. "Fine," Yuri said. "Just one round."


    Zeth nodded and yed the music.


    They aimed to get it right in one round, but it seemed like things were not working out for them.


    They didn''t look unsynchronized, but their styles were a bit too different from each other¡ªlike they weren''t on the same team at all.


    Lin Zhi, too, seemed to be making too many mistakes.


    Leo clicked his tongue and sat down on the floor. "What is wrong with you? This is our fourth round already," he scolded.


    "The moves are confusing," Lin Zhi snapped. "They don''t flow well with each other."


    June couldn''t argue with that. It was really the case with their choreography.


    "Let''s just do it one more time," Zeth sighed. "We need to get it down today since the interim evaluation starts after lunch."


    Yuri pursed his lips together. "Don''t mess up," he said as a general warning to all his teammates.


    It seemed like Yuri''s threat worked since they were finally able to finish the choreography without any problem.


    "Take five," Zeth said, a bit out of breath.


    June sighed in relief and plopped down at the corner.


    Jisung soon joined him, taking a swig from his water bottle.


    "I was watching you a while ago, brother," Jisung said. "How could you improve your dancing again? You weren''t like this on the first mission."


    June sighed.


    Of course, he''s already at a B-. He was merely a C during the first mission.


    "I still need to practice more," June genuinely said.


    "Okay, let''s start with the vocal training," Zeth said, pping his hands. "We have about two hours left until the evaluation, so let''s make this fast."


    Their team lined up while Zeth went to the music yer to y the instrumental version of the song. The woeful piano intro set the tone of the song, helping the trainees get into character. However, it was ruined when Lin Zhi suddenly spoke.


    "Wait!" Lin Zhi eximed. "We''re not going to do anything with the instrumentation, right? We''ll keep it as it is?"


    "Yes," Leo said. "We''re not going to make it into a pop song," he sarcastically added.


    Lin Zhi frowned. "That''s not what I was insinuating. I also don''t want to change the arrangement. Hey, brother. Tell me, do you have a problem with me?"


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Leo and Lin Zhi looked at each other with subtle hatred, and June was reminded of the person Lin Zhi used to be. He had tomend Leo, though. He''s not backing down despite being in the presence of a killer.


    "Let''s start," June said, his voice cutting the tension like a knife.


    Frankly, he was a bit annoyed by their constant ''passive'' bickering. His sleep-deprived self wanted to get this over with.


    His teammates lined up, and Zeth went back to the music yer to restart the song.


    The mellow intro of the song sent June back into the past.


    Shit.


    This was what he wanted to avoid.


    For some reason, this song always evoked intense feelings inside him.


    It must be because of the meaning it had in his life when he first sang it. The song talked about romantic love, something he was unfamiliar with, yet he could rte to the message so much.


    It was when he was trying his best to send Mei Ling on a field trip, and he had to make extreme ends meet.


    He would forgo his meals, lying to his sister that he wasn''t hungry just so he could save some money.


    However, in the end, he still wasn''t able to make enough money.


    Mei Ling came up to him with teary eyes, saying everything was okay and that she never really wanted to go on the field trip anyway.


    However, June knew better.


    His sister was holding back her sadness for his sake too.


    In the end, the two of them were liars.


    June was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn''t even realize that his part already came on.


    He only snapped out of it when Jisung patted his back.


    "Brother, are you okay?" Jisung asked, concerned.


    June looked at the annoyed faces of his teammates and nodded.


    "Pay attention, will you?" Leo asked.


    Lin Zhi sighed impatiently. "We''re already short of time, so it''d be appreciated if we don''t make any mistakes."


    June pursed his lips. "Okay," he softly said.


    These damn motherfuckers! They were acting like June had done a heinous crime.


    This was the very first time he had made a mistake. Lin Zhi was big to speak about June''s mistakes when he hadmitted plenty during the dance practice earlier.


    "Let''s start again," Zeth said, reying the song once more.


    Yuri started the song, followed by Lin Zhi.


    Then, it was time for June to sing.


    However, before June could even utter his first lines, Jangmoon suddenly burst through the room and shouted¡ª


    "The mentors got here early! It''s time for the interim evaluations!"

 Chapter 80 Special Mentors

    <h4>Chapter 80 Special Mentors</h4>


    "What?" Leo eximed, his eyebrows furrowed. The sudden change in schedule ensued turmoil within the team, and even June felt ufortable going into the interim evaluations without practicing their vocals even once.


    Jangmoon smiled. "We''re shocked too, brothers. But the production team is urging us to be there in five minutes. See you!" he cheerfully said before leaving their practice room.


    Zeth sighed and massaged his temples as soon as the door mmed close.


    "What are we going to do?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "It''s alright," Zeth tried to calm the team down. "We have the dance down, and I''m assuming you guys are at least familiar with your lines."


    "We didn''t even fully run down our parts," Leo stated.


    Yuri pursed his lips. "Well, if we followed what was agreed upon yesterday, then we wouldn''t have a problem right now. I''ll add in some harmonies here and there to save some face."


    Jisung appeared as if he wanted to cry.


    The tension increased a million-fold, creating an awful team spirit.


    "Let''s just go," June said. "Just...get along well during these evaluations. Let''s show the mentors what we worked hard for."


    June only ever had disastrous interim evaluations ever since he joined the show, and he wanted to change that.


    They went out of the practice room and to the training center. Almost all of the trainees were already there, so their team settled on the very back.


    June frowned when he saw twelve chairs behind the mentors'' backs.


    Jihyun nced excitedly at the door as June''s team entered. She beamed as she looked at his face.


    Ah, she already felt invigorated.


    She felt Hyerin nudge her side, causing her to evade his gaze away from him.


    "That''s June, right?" she asked. "Wow," Hyerin eximed. "I saw the live broadcast the other day and was amazed. Why was he hiding such a face under that mask?"


    Minho hummed. "My sister became a fan. She asked me to get his autograph."


    Jihyun and Hyerin chuckled. "Then, go ahead," Jihyun said.


    "Nope," Minho smiled. "I''m the world star. I can''t ask for an autograph from an idol trainee."


    Gun cleared his throat, causing them to halt their conversation.


    "Alright, let''s start. I have a schedule after this one, so let''s make it quick," he impatiently said.


    "Right," Minho cleared his throat. He took the mic and spoke, "Good morning, trainees. I''m sure most of you are shocked to see us here two hours earlier than the expected time, but this is the fun of a survival show! You must always be prepared at all times."


    "You have been given less than two days to prepare, so we''re not expecting a perfect performance," Woo-jin said. "Although I''m seeing some good teams, and I''m already expecting a lot," he continued, his gaze lingering on June''s team.


    June felt constipated.


    They were already cing his team on a pedestal.


    "You might think this is just a normal interim evaluation; however, this evaluation is important. These twelve chairs behind us aren''t just props. These seats are going to be filled up by special people," Bone added.


    "Special mentors, pleasee in," Minho said.


    The room seemed to hold its breath as the door opened, revealing familiar faces.


    "Holy shit," C-Jay eximed loudly. "Jay Kim?"


    The people who entered gave a different aura¡ªshowcasing that they were truly celebrities.


    Jisung squeezed June''s hand as they came in one by one.


    A member from BLACKBUNS, THRICE, SYNTHESIS, and all other original artists of the song the trainees will perform came in.


    Thest person was the most imposing. With a cane in his hand, dark sunsses, and a straw fedora, the room bowed as the presence of a well-known senior, Hwan, entered the room.


    "I''m going to puke," Jisung said. "Hwan looks so intimidating."


    As Kang Minho''s announcement settled in, the trainees'' eyes widened, their jaws practically hitting the floor.


    "Great. Not only do we have to impress our mentors, but now we''ve got the actual singers watching us massacre their songs."


    "I hope they''ve forgotten their own lyrics at some point too. Maybe we can bond over that."


    "I forgot all the lyrics. Shit."


    Minho cleared his throat into the mic. "Let''s not make this any longer. ''Bodylicious'' team, please take center stage."


    C-Jay''s team stood up, and they looked moreposed than June had expected.


    Or maybe that''s just C-Jay and Jangmoon.


    "Alright, introduce your team," Gun said.


    "Good morning, mentors!" Seungwoo eximed. "We are Team Yummy Bodies!"


    The mentors and trainees stifled augh after hearing their team name. June shook his head. It felt like he already knew who came up with such a straightforward name.


    "Team Yummy Bodies, huh?" Jay Kim said. "Well, since it seems like you have embodied my song with your team name, I''m looking forward to your performance."


    "I wouldn''t," Gun whispered.


    The music started, and ''Yummy Bodies'' immediately snapped into performance mode. The thumping bass and smooth hip-hop beats set the tone as the trainees prepared to deliver the seductive rap verses that defined the track.


    Jihyun and Woo-jin exchanged nces, both sharing an unspoken skepticism about how the performance would unfold. Some of the trainees within the team had the reputation of being edic reliefs'' rather than being ''talented,'' so they already buried their expectations underground.


    The opening move was slow and sensuous, surprising the mentors. As the first rapper started, their delivery was unexpectedly smooth.


    A slight grin tugged on Mentor Bone''s lips. He nced at Jay Kim and saw him intently watching the performance, pursing his lips together here and there.


    Of course, there were hups along the way. There were some missteps during the tough chorus and fumbles dung fast rap verses. However, team ''Yummy Bodies'' already exceeded the mentors'' expectations, especially since thest-ranked trainee was in the team.


    As thest notes lingered, the mentors started writing pointers on their boards.


    Jay Kin spoke first, his tone more generous than expected. "Honestly, I was expecting a disastrous performance after seeing your ranks, but you guys did unexpectedly okay. I think your teamwork is the mostmendable."


    Mentor Minho nodded, adding, "It wasn''t a wless performance...but it wasn''t bad. Practice more, and you''ll have a good performance.


    Team ''Yummy Bodies'' exchanged triumphant smiles, their shoulders visibly lightened by the mentors'' words.


    "Thank you, mentors," their leader said. The team bowed before going back to their original seats.


    Jisung couldn''t help but p as they finished.


    "They did better than expected, huh?" he whispered to June.


    June nodded. "Those two fools improved."


    "I wish we could getments like those, too," Jisung said in a hopeful voice.


    However, June knew that thements they''d be receiving would bepletely different from ''Yummy Bodies.''


    Even if the mentors promised to look at them equally, their biases were already evident after seeing the trainees'' ranks.


    There''s no doubt that they''d be judging their team with higher standards.


    The interim evaluations continued, and it was evident the teams had be more nervous in the presence of the original singers.


    A lot of teams fumbled with their lyrics and tunes, and they received a generous scolding from both the mentors and the original singer.


    The teams performing ''Shake It'' and ''Beside Me,'' however, received the mostpliments out of all teams. It was rightfully deserved. Their teams felt cohesive, and it seemed like they already had their concept down.


    June noticed that the order of performances followed the pattern of the original singers'' seating arrangement¡ªwhich meant their team would be performingst.


    June didn''t know whether it was on purpose or not, but surely, Azure knew how to stir up drama.


    They were saving the ''best'' team forst, building up yet another expectation for their team.


    "The team performing ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave,'' please take center stage and show us your performance."

 Chapter 81 No Praises for Aces

    <h4>Chapter 81 No Praises for Aces</h4>


    "I''m looking forward to this performance," Woo-jin said as June''s team stood at the center.The other trainees anticipated their performance too.


    "Did you hear? They finished the choreography early yesterday."


    "Well, what else would you expect? They have the highest-ranking trainees."


    "This better be a good stage."


    Pressuringments came from left and right, and the original artists also raised their eyebrows in surprise when they saw their ranks.


    Gun and June made eye contact, and June was surprised when Gun avoided his eyes. Ever since the ''shit'' incident, it seemed like Gun had been deliberately ignoring him.


    "Introduce your team," Gun said, still not looking June in the eyes.


    "Good morning, judges," Zeth started off. "We are Team Aces."


    Woo-jin raised his eyebrows. "Aces, huh? You just made us expect even more, Zeth. I hope your team lives up to your name."


    "You may start," Minho said.


    As soon as the music yed, the trainees eximed in nostalgia. ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave'' is such an iconic song. It could be recognized by the first piano notes.


    Everyone watched intently as Leo started a flowy and contemporary dance intro.


    "Woah, Zeth''s not the center?"


    "How could you even pick a center among these people? Only June is not deserving."


    June clicked his tongue as he executed his moves.


    These little rats are still underestimating him.


    Yuri stepped forward, his voice gentle yetmanding as he opened the song.


    "I looked once again up at the blue skies,


    A memory, long-lost, held within my eyes."


    His vocals filled the room, capturing the audience''s attention instantly. It was a well-known fact that Yuri was a good singer, one of the best among the trainees.


    He had the same grade as Ren and June under A-, but June was able to upgrade his vocals due to the bonus round, so he now ranks the highest in terms of vocals among the trainees.


    Lin Zhi followed, his husky voice contrasting with Yuri''s.


    "I held you back, kept feelings at bay,


    Now we''re adrift, worlds away."


    Then, he chimes in during the chorus, his voice blending with Yuri''s. Surprisingly, their voices matched each other pretty well; however, there was a slight dissonance when they sang the high notes.


    Jihyun pursed her lips together as she listened to their voices.


    There''s something...iffy about their performance.


    With a bit of a fumble, Zeth and Jisung emerged as centers during the chorus, their unsynchronized dancing somewhat ufortable to watch. Their styles were too different, and it was highlighted during their pair dance.


    June sang the first part of the second verse, already feeling tired after the countless jumping and ballet-inspired movements during the chorus.? There was no doubt that the choreography was tiring, and by the second verse, their vocals started getting shakier.


    At first nce, it seemed like a wless performance. However, as the bridge approached and as Lin Zhi sang the high notes, a subtle unease settled over the room.


    While their performance was technically impressive, there was ack of genuine connection to the emotions behind the bad. Despite their powerful movements, the mentor''s expressions remained somewhat unimpressed.


    As Lin Zhi sang thest notes, Leo took the center and did a back tumble, making the trainees exim in shock. After their performance, the trainees apuded. Although, it quickly faded when they noticed the somber expressions on the mentors'' faces.


    "I thought it was good, but why do the mentors look so disappointed?"


    "Yeah, it was good. But it isn''t anything special. It''s like they just wanted to show off their skills."


    "Now that you''ve mentioned it..."


    "Yeah, yeah, It was disappointing."


    Team Aces, once the object of high expectations, now found themselves at the center of doubt and uncertainty.


    Gun was the first one to speak. He sighed into the microphone, making the atmosphere even heavier.


    While practicing, June couldn''t pinpoint what their teamcked.


    They were definitely good...but something was missing.


    And now, June finally knew what the problem truly was.


    They weren''t a team.


    They were mere individuals who performed their respective parts without regarding its emotional aspect.


    "Let me critique the dance," Gun said. "The choreography...isn''t bad. There are some good elements, but how do I say this? It''s somewhat repetitive?"


    Team Aces nodded.


    "And at some parts, it felt like the moves were forced. They didn''t flow seamlessly, and there was too much going on during the chorus. Instead of feeling impressed, I only felt distracted."


    "I had high expectations for this group," Woo-jin continued. "But it seemed I should have turned it down a notch. Your singing was dissonant. Have you ever tried practicing it as a group before?"


    Zeth pursed his lips.


    "No, sir," he quietly said.


    Woo-jin chuckled in disbelief. "I rest my case. So, you all just want to be dancers, huh? I get it. You don''t want to focus on singing that much."


    June felt a bit annoyed. This dude was putting words into their mouths! However, he didn''t dare say anything since he knew the power of evil editing.


    "But they didn''t do a great job at the dance," Hyerin said, chuckling bitterly. "If you jump around and show off your high ranges, do you think it''s going to make you win? Or maybe your team is justcent since most of you already have high ranks?"


    "Anyway," she continued. "I suggest looking into the dance. It''s somewhat confusing, and it doesn''t resonate well with the lyrics."


    "Yes, mentor," the team muttered.


    The other trainees looked at the highest-ranked team bowing their heads in regret. Some of them felt a st of satisfaction. It was nice seeing the top guys getting rained on with criticism.


    However, just as June thought things couldn''t get any worse...it did.


    Hwan took the mic, making the room dead silent.


    He cleared his throat and looked at the trainees, his dark sunsses concealing what he truly felt.


    This was the very first time he had spoken all throughout the interim evaluations, so his potentialmentary made even the mentors anxious.


    "Do you really think your performance was worthy of my song?" Hwan asked, his voice cutting through the atmosphere like a sharp knife.


    "Well, you''ve ruined it, tainted it with half-hearted effort and empty execution."


    His words hung heavy in the air, a bitter truth that the trainees couldn''t escape. Hwan''s eyes locked onto each of them, his gaze unyielding. "You had a chance to showcase my song to the world, and you''ve squandered it. Those rankings you received? You don''t deserve them."


    "You think this is enough? Do you think you can skate by with mediocrity? If you believe that, then you don''t understand the weight of the responsibility you''ve been given. My song deserves more than what you''ve given it."


    A heavy silence settled over the room as Hwan''s words sank in. This was the harshest evaluation someone had gotten from the entire evaluation. Even the trainees who weren''t part of Team Aces felt the sting of his criticism.


    "I expect nothing less than the best."


    "So, I suggest you start all over again."

 Chapter 82 Fed Up

    <h4>Chapter 82 Fed Up</h4>


    The team sat in silence, looking at the floor with dark expressions.


    June lifted his head and looked at his teammates one by one, and he was getting frustrated by their tense silence.


    "We need to talk about what happened," June said, breaking the silence.


    Lin Zhi sighed, raking his hands through his hair. "What else is there to talk about? Let''s just get this over with. Hwan already told us to start all over."


    "And whose fault do you think that is?" Leo muttered.


    Lin Zhi frowned. "You keep talking with that cocky tone of yours, Leo. Are you ming us for the failed performance?"


    Leo sighed, his gaze fixed on Lin Zhi. "Well, if we would have gotten our singing down this morning, then we wouldn''t have been the center of mocking during the evaluations."


    June sighed. Instead of smoothing over the wrinkles of their performance, they were fighting once again.


    "And how is that my fault?" Lin Zhi eximed. "You messed up during your solo dance, and the choreography you did was too hard. That''s why we were so out of breath by the second verse."


    Leo was about to stand up to confront Lin Zhi, but Yuri held onto his shoulder.


    "Don''t me Leo for your ipetence in singing," Yuri calmly said.


    That seemed to aggravate Lin Zhi even more.


    "Let''s not fight, guys," Jisung said, getting nervous. "I think we should talk about the performance."


    "We''re already talking about the performance. And while we''re at it, let''s talk about how unsynchronized you and Zeth were during the chorus," Leo snapped, causing Jisung to cast his head down, looking like a kicked puppy.


    "Don''t speak like that," Zeth said to Leo. "It''s not helping with our situation at all."


    "Your soft leadership didn''t work with this team, Zeth," Yuri said. "It''s not doing us anything good. And I think it all boils down to your leadership skills."


    "Fine," Zeth sighed. "Let''s say that I wasn''t such a good leader, but I tried my best to incorporate all your suggestions no matter how ridiculous they seem. I even forgone the center position because Leo wanted it," he retaliated.


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue. "It''s still surprising, though. Why would you even pick a bad song to perform, Zeth?" he asked. "It''s not like you''re good at singing at all."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    Zeth, too, seemed to be taken aback by Lin Zhi''s statement. It was a big blow to his ego as the first-ranked trainee.


    June sighed, feeling fed up with their constant bickering.


    Zeth was about to retaliate when June finally spoke.


    "If ya''ll don''t stop, I''m going to bang your heads together until you all be incapable of thinking."


    Ah, shit. He couldn''t help himself.


    His teammates all looked at him with surprise. June sighed and decided to finish what he started.


    "Ya''ll are blind and deaf if you think only one person has something to do with the oue of the interim evaluations," June started.


    "This is a collective fault. I have been observing from the very start, and I have a lot to say. First," June said, facing Yuri and Lin Zhi.


    "You''re focusing too much on your pride. Both of you want to be the main vocalist, so your harmonies sound dissonant. You keep trying to outsing each other, so it doesn''t sound pleasant to the ears. Frankly, it sounds like the two of you are always battling against each other. Just because you sing more loudly does not mean you''re more skilled," he bluntly said.


    "And you three," June turned to Zeth, Leo, and Jisung.


    "Splitting the choreography wasn''t a good idea. It''s like we''re dancing to three different songs. It''s difficult to transition from one part to another because your styles are too different. It would have been resolved if you hadmunicated about it."


    "Of course, I admit I have some fault in this too," June said. "But I didn''t want to add more fuel to the fire.? However, we have less than three days until our performance, and there needs to be some changes," he continued. "If you think we''re going to win just because of our ranks, then you''re absolutely wrong. Our opponents are more desperate than us. And from the interim evaluations, we had the worst performance among all. I thought Hwan''sments would help this team snap out of it, but we''re still the same."


    The team went quiet as June finished his speech.


    ''He''s so freaking cool,'' Jisung thought, looking at June with wide and amazed eyes.


    Lin Zhi''s thoughts also turned as he looked at June. ''The more I spend time with this guy, the more I see Jun Hao in him.''


    June was about to say something more when the door suddenly opened, and mentor Jihyun entered the room.


    "Oh," she eximed when she felt the tense atmosphere. "Did I interrupt something?"


    The team forgone their argument and stood, greeting mentor Jihyun with a bow.


    Then, June lined up along with his teammates.


    "You didn''t receive goodments during your evaluations," she said, taking a seat next to the music yer. "I, too, expected something more from you. But don''t worry. You still have three days to change your performance."


    "That''s why I''m here to help you guys," she added, looking straight at June. However, the trainee didn''t even bother looking at her.


    She awkwardly cleared her throat and straightened her posture. "Alright. Shall we start?"


    Jihyun turned on the music, and undoubtedly, the group tried their best to show that they didn''t argue just moments ago.


    Yuri took a deep breath and began to sing.


    "I looked once again up at the blue skies,


    A memory, long-lost, held within my eyes."


    Then Lin Zhi joined him for the chorus, their harmonies blending in a technically sound performance.


    However, Jihyun''s expression remained unreadable, asionally nodding in approval. However, she felt there was an intangible energy missing, a spark that would truly connect the song to the hearts of the listeners.


    Moreover, June''s words were right. Although their voices were technically harmonizing, the volumes weren''t quite right since they wanted to outshine each other.


    As the second verse approached, June let out a shallow breath before singing his lines. Come to think of it, this was the very first time June had sung the song without doing anything else. Earlier, during the interim evaluations, he was focused more on his dancing since it was a bit tough.


    However, with the still atmosphere, June couldn''t help but feel his past emotions.


    "Unspoken words, a silent ache,


    A love unimed, a heart at stake."


    His voice was soft, contrasting with how Yuri and Lin Zhi sang their lines. However, despite the soft volume, it had an emotional weight that resonated with every note. As June sang those few lines, the air seemed to change. The room was hushed, and the team members exchanged nces, feeling like they were able to genuinely hear the song for the first time.


    Jihyun''s eyes fixed on June, then a spark of recognition flickered in her gaze. Out of all the members of ''Team Aces,'' June was the only one who had unlocked the song''s hidden message. At that point, she realized that it was the emotional core that had been missing from their performance.


    When June''s voice faded, there was a moment of silence, and Jisung almost forgot his lines.


    However, the performance continued...but Jihyun''s mind still lingered on June''s lines.


    It was far too little for someone as talented as him.


    As the song finished, Jihyun turned to June and said, "June, could you sing the bridge part just by yourself?"

 Chapter 83 Switching Parts

    <h4>Chapter 83 Switching Parts</h4>


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise while Lin Zhi frowned.


    "You mean my part?" he asked in an incredulous tone. It didn''t take a genius to see that Lin Zhi didn''t want another person to sing his part.


    However, Mentor Jihyun remained insistent. "Yes," she said. "I don''t have to repeat myself."


    She manipted the music yer to start just before the bridge. "June, sing the bridge," she said, her gaze locked onto his.


    Although June was still confused, he took a deep breath and began singing the bridge. Although he didn''t want to sound too emotional, this song triggered something within him¡ªsomething he couldn''t exin.


    "Oh, the regrets that haunt my soul,


    The pain of letting you go...


    I asked for space, and you truly pushed me away,


    I love you, leave, and now I''m alone in the price I pay."


    His voice filled the space, carrying the weight of the song''s message that sent shivers down everyone''s spine.


    As he sang thest line, he went back to his usual nonchnt self, causing Mentor Jihyun to let out a giggle.


    "I¡ªI don''t have anything to say," she said, her eyes sparkling with newfound fondness. Jihyun didn''t think it would be possible to like June even more, but it was.


    "I think I''ve found your missing piece," she said, looking at the members. "You guys sounded great," she said. "But it''s not anything special. Your singing and dancingcked depth and emotion during the interim evaluations, but June over here unlocked the song''s true essence. I hope you take this time to reflect on your past decisions. Maybe your task delegation wasn''t effective after all."


    Zeth tilted his head to the side. "What do you suggest we do, Mentor?"


    "Switch parts," she said. "June is made for the bridge. Now, I wouldn''t be making this decision for you, but talk among yourselves and take it into consideration."


    The idea stuck with everyone, yet Lin Zhi wasn''t happy about it.


    June didn''t care about the parts he''ll need to sing, but if it was for the best of the team, then he''d unhesitatingly take on the role.


    "Well, I''ll leave you guys for now," Jihyun said. "I still need to meet with the other teams for their vocal training. See you all during the final evaluation."


    "Thank you, mentors," they bowed their heads once more as Jihyun exited the practice room.


    After their vocal training, Mentor Hyerin immediately followed. The team still hadn''t internalized Mentor Jihyun''s suggestions, yet they already had to show their unpolished dance to Hyerin?


    Hyerin sat down next to the music yer and looked at the trainees one by one. Leo, Yuri, and Jisung looked away from her out of shyness. Zeth and Lin Zhi, on the other hand, ogled her.


    At the end of the day, they were still boys, and Hyerin was freaking pretty.


    Hyerin felt satisfied when she saw their reactions. She was used to these kinds of reactions from trainees.


    Hyerin only joined ''Rising Stars'' during the second, all-male season, and her ego had exponentially grown ever since.


    Being adored by multiple male trainees boosted her self-esteem, and even now, she couldn''t help but smile to herself as the good-looking boys looked at her with amazement.


    But not all the boys.


    Hyerin''s smile fell when she saw June ying with his hands, not even bothering to look at her.


    She raised one of her eyebrows in surprise. Does he not find her beautiful at all?


    Hyerin cleared her throat, sessfully getting June''s attention. Hyerin smiled at him¡ªa smile that she was sure would make him melt. However, like a block of frozen metal, he remained unfazed.


    She internally scoffed and decided to let it go...for now.


    "I''m assuming you still haven''t revised your choreography?" she asked, tapping her feet on the floor.


    "Yes, Mentor," Leo responded. "We just finished our vocal training."


    "I''m aware," she said, checking her nails. "Show me what you have prepared since yesterday, then."


    Team Aces went to their respective positions while Hyerin yed the music.


    They did as they practiced a while ago, and still, the problems the mentors pointed out were evident.


    "Hmm," Hyerin hummed, stroking her chin. "There''s no doubt that all of you are capable dancers now. I''m even surprised to see June catching up. You''re almost at par with Lin Zhi now."


    "However, there are definitely a lot of elements going on. You''re trying to show off your skills in the worst way possible. Who choreographed this?" she asked.


    Jisung, Zeth, and Leo raised their hands.


    "All three of you?" she asked. "I''m surprised. You''re all really good dancers, but the dance is...underwhelming? And repetitive, in a sense. Work together more, and try to simplify the moves and evoke the emotion rather than focusing on the skill."


    The team nodded.


    "And one more thing," she added. "The arrangement¡ªdo something about it. I know you only have three days left, but you''re all talented. I believe in you, guys," she said, smiling at them widely.


    "Now, I''ll leave your team to talk. I''m sure you have a lot going on in your minds."


    Mentor Hyerin left the room, and the team members were finally alone.


    Zeth sighed and sat on the floor, leaning against the mirror. "We need to talk," he said.


    Fortunately, the team seemed to be amicable to hismands as they silently sat down without anyints.


    "Let''s start with what Mentor Jihyun told us," he started. "What are your opinions on it?"


    "I can''t be the sub-vocalist 2," Lin Zhi quickly said. "June''s current part only has four solo lines. At least with the sub-vocalist 1 part, I can have the pre-chorus, bridge, andst lines to myself."


    Jisung cleared his throat. "But when June sang your part, it sounded really good. Not only that, but I actually felt goosebumps when he sang. I believe he''s the only one who can evoke the right emotions of the song."


    Jisung pitifully looked at the brother he idolized. ''Is he singing from experience? Did he actually have a failed rtionship?''


    "I agree," Leo said. "I forgot how the song should truly sound after hearing it so much, but hearing June''s version a while ago made me feel emotional again."


    "Switch parts," Yuri said. "June''s voice blends better than mine, and the sub-vocalist 1 has the most harmony parts out of all."


    Lin Zhi chuckled in disbelief. "So, you''re all ganging up on me right now?"


    June sighed. "My current parts do not require any harmonizing," June said. "That means you actually have more lines where you sing by yourself. I have two lines in both the second verse and the chorus. The mid-high note before the bridge is also under sub-vocalist 2. I believe it''ll suit your husky voice more since the emotions are at their peak during that time."


    As June spoke, Lin Zhi''s face started brightening up.


    June internally scoffed. This kid is still the same.


    He''s so easily swayed with praises. His ego is probably the biggest thing he has on his body.


    "Fine," Lin Zhi grumbled, trying to sound unhappy. However, the small smirk on his face betrayed him.


    "Alright," Zeth pped. "It''s settled then. The two of you will be switching parts."

 Chapter 84 What It Really Means

    <h4>Chapter 84 What It Really Means</h4>


    June nodded. Being the sub-vocalist 1 meant he would have more lines to sing. Most of the lines he liked were under this part too.


    "Shall we practice again?" Yuri asked.


    The team was about to stand up when June spoke.


    "We have to take into mind that I''m not the only one singing this song," he said.


    His teammates looked at him before sitting back down, intrigued by his statement.


    "What do you mean, brother?" Jisung asked.


    "This song," June started. "What do you think is the most important aspect of it?"


    "A better choreography," Leo said.


    "Impressive vocals," Yuri chimed.


    Zeth scratched the back of his neck. "Maybe...emotions?"


    "Exactly," June said. "It''s a song built around the emotions, and I believe that''s what Hwan wanted to tell us when he criticized our performance."


    Jisung sighed. "It''s hard to do that, brother. Especially when I haven''t even fallen in love."


    Yuri chuckled, ruffling Jisung''s hair. "I agree," he said. "Besides, even if we''ve experienced loved before, we haven''t experienced that type of love¡ªthe lying one."


    June frowned. "What do you think this song really means?"


    June thought it was pretty obvious, but it seemed like these kids really didn''t know what the song meant.


    "It''s confusing," Lin Zhi answered. "The guy is contradicting himself. Why is he telling lies to the girl he loves? And why does he keep telling her to leave, only to end up regretting it in the end? I think the song means that the guy didn''t love the girl deep enough."


    "Yeah," Yuri said. "But honestly, who''s ever had that kind of love? It''s like something out of a movie," he chuckled.


    "What about you?" June asked Zeth.


    Zeth shrugged, looking a bit down. "I don''t know..whatever you guys said, I guess. Oh, and maybe it''s teaching people to be more truthful in their rtionships?"


    The group nodded in agreement, and a hint of frustration settled within June. It was clear they felt disconnected from the song''s emotional depth, which reflected on their performance a while ago.


    As they discussed the song''s emotions, a shadow flickered across June''s eyes, a distant memory resurfacing. He hesitated for a moment but eventually concluded that it would be for the betterment of the team if he shared what he thought.


    "Then, let me tell you what I think it really means," June said.


    His teammates turned to him, paying attention.


    "I''m sure we''ve all had moments where we had to put on a facade, a brave face, where we tell ourselves that everything''s fine even when things are falling apart."


    Silence settled over the group, the weight of June''s words hanging in the air. "The song we''re singing, ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave," is not just about romantic love."


    June remembered Mei Ling''s innocent face.


    Oh, how he missed that little rascal. If he had known that they weren''t going to be seeing each other for a long time, then June should have bought her that concert ticket. Now, all he could do was regret.


    June sighed before continuing. "It''s about the kind of love where you hold onto hope, where you pretend you''re okay because that''s the only way to keep moving forward."


    He nced around and saw a mixture of emotions on their faces, so he decided to bring up something that they could all rte in.


    "It''s like the life of a trainee, where everything is uncertain. We don''t know when we''ll debut," he chuckled bitterly. "We don''t know if we''d even debut after all. But we tell ourselves we''re okay because this is our dream, and we''ve already sacrificed a lot for this dream," he nced at Lin Zhi, whose face suddenly twisted into regret.


    "Not only that," June continued. "But our loved ones have also invested a lot in this dream, and as much as we try to deny it, I''m sure they''re expecting something...anything that would signify that we''ve fulfilled it. So, when they call, we tell them that we''re okay, even when we''re struggling inside. I''m okay, but I''m not. I love you, leave."


    June''s words hung in the air, leaving his teammates in silence. He finally snapped out of his emotional state to observe their faces.


    *Sniff.*


    He was surprised when Jisung suddenly started tearing up, looking at him with wide eyes. "That was...that was beautiful, brother. Now I think I know what you mean."


    Yuri, too, had teary eyes. However, he quickly blinked his eyes to get rid of them. "Yeah," he softly said. "I get it now."


    Leo swallowed the lump in his throat before nodding.


    "I was mistaken, I guess," Lin Zhi quickly said.


    Zeth still seemed to be deep in thought, so he let him be for a while.


    Then, June stood up and pped his hands. "Now that we''ve got the emotions down let''s start with practice."


    As they practiced the song with their newfound perspectives, each note seemed to carry a deeper meaning.


    June nodded in approval as they finished. Their performance was already a hundred times better than what they had performed earlier.


    It somehow created a domino effect as the three choreographers huddled together, discussing the routine and how to make it more cohesive. They had made the dance routine simpler, but it was somehow more impressive. Their movements seemed to flow seamlessly, with each member expressing the song''s emotions through their gestures. It was as if everything had finally fallen into ce, and the energy in the room was much brighter.


    "I think that''s it for today," Zeth said. "Good job to us, guys. We worked really hard today. Have a good rest. We''ll meet here tomorrow. Same time."


    "Ugh, finally," Lin Zhi groaned, stretching his body. "I''m starving."


    With that, the team members left one by one.


    However, June couldn''t shake off the feeling that not everything was okay. He turned back around to look a Zeth, who was still sitting down on the floor, appearing to be deep in thought.


    June cleared his throat. "Are ya okay?" he casually asked.


    Zeth turned to him, surprised. Then, he nodded. "Yeah, everything''s fine."

 Chapter 85 One Chip Is All It Takes

    <h4>Chapter 85 One Chip Is All It Takes</h4>


    June went back to his room to freshen up. His stomach grumbled as hethered his body with soap.


    June was so damn hungry since they practiced until 11:00 PM without having any dinner. Jaeyong and Hoon were already knocked out on their beds while Jisung went to the cafeteria to eat before showering.


    June felt too sticky, so he decided to take a shower first before eating.


    He was in the middle of his shower when a pop-up showed up.


    [New missions are in! After the bonus mission, you have now unlocked the feature: two missions. Instead of three given missions, only two at a time will be generated. Missions will regenerate once those two missions are aplished. This allows better regeneration time.]


    "Damn," June muttered, looking at Fu''s new user interface. "You''re looking better."


    [Since the host has upgraded his skills, Fu is also being upgraded. Anyway, here are your two missions:


    1. Create an SNS ount.


    2. Evoke an emotional response. Make someone cry from the trainees!]


    [Good luck!]


    June stopped midther to look at his new missions. He frowned. What the hell was this second one all about? Make someone cry from the trainees?


    Won''t that put him into trouble?


    "Oww!" he suddenly eximed when some of the soap bubbles got into his eyes. He quickly turned on the shower and rinsed his eye out.


    He sighed and got out of the shower, looking at himself in the mirror. He cursed silently when he saw his eyes had turned red because of the soap.


    Great!


    It''s because Fu always has great timing. Why the hell would he give him his new missions in the shower? And two ridiculous missions, at that.


    As a 28-year-old man in his past life, he didn''t know much about SNS ounts. He didn''t even know how to take a good picture of himself, so he was sure he wouldn''t be able to do that all alone.


    The second mission is just...in ridiculous.


    June got out of the shower with wet hair, red eyes, and a scowl on his face. Meanwhile, Jisung entered the room with a smile stered on his face, satisfied by the meal he had just eaten.


    "Oh, brother," he whispered. "The meals are probably gone by now. I don''t think there''s food left for you to eat."


    "What?" June eximed, causing Jaeyong to groan.


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. "I know," he said. "Apparently, the other trainees were crazy hungry after their practices and went crazy on the dinner selection."


    "What did you eat then?" June asked.


    "The remaining buffet," Jisung sheepishly chuckled. "But there might be some snacks left. You can check it out if you want."


    "Fine," June grumbled. He needed to get something in his digestive system. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to sleep with his stomach grumbling.


    He went to the cafeteria and saw that almost all the lights were closed. The cafeteriadies were already out of sight, and the only light source shone upon the ''snack'' section.


    Azure calls it a ''snack'' section, but it''s truly just a bunch of fruit and some tasteless crackers. They wanted the trainees to stay fit throughout their stay at the dorms, so they didn''t serve them any junk food. Sometimes, there would be a sweet gran bar among the snacks, so June wanted to eat that, at least.


    However, as he got closer to the basket of snacks, he could only feel disappointed. The snacks left were hardtacks and a fire chip? What the hell is a fire chip?


    He looked around the cafeteria and saw that there wasn''t any food left, so he let out a sigh and picked those two snacks.


    June opened the packet of hardtacks and popped one inside his mouth. He immediately grimaced as the cracker sucked all the moisture in his mouth.


    They were shitty, so June decided to eat the fire chip instead. He observed the big piece of chip inside the clear box and frowned.


    Who the hell sells individual chips? Has the world changed so much when he died that manufacturers already make something like this?


    However, June''s curiosity got the best of him as he popped the whole chip in his mouth.


    At first, it was fine...like a normal barbecue-vored corn chip. It was a little bit spicy, but not anything June couldn''t handle with his Chinese tongue.


    However, as time progressed, he suddenly felt an aching burn on his tongue.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise when he realized that this chip was individually packaged for a reason.


    It''s fucking spicy!


    He grabbed a water bottle from the vending machine and went to the stairs to calm himself down. June was already panting, tears brimming in his eyes, and sweat starting to form on his temples.


    June breathed in deeply as he took another swig of water. However, it felt like fire going down his throat. He coughed, sniffed, and panted out loud, and he was sure he looked like a crazy dog at that point.


    As he continued to struggle, someone suddenly came into his view, causing him to freeze.


    "June?" Zeth said, looking at June''s teary eyes and red face. "Are you okay?"


    "I¡ªI''m fine," June tried to say without struggling, but it was practically impossible with his burning tongue.


    He was surprised when Zeth chuckled sadly and sat next to him.


    Now, why wasn''t he going away?


    "I see. We must be on the same boat, huh?"


    June wiped the tears from his eyes, causing Zeth to pat his back. "It''s alright, brother. We all have our days sometimes."


    June scratched the back of his head. "I''m not crying," he exined, sniffing as some mucus ran down his nose.


    "Sure," Zeth smiled, obviously not believing him. "You don''t have to exin yourself. I know that feeling, too. I feel it all too well, honestly."


    June raised his eyebrows. "Are you...alright?" he asked, finally calming down from the aftermath of the chip.


    That damn chip made him lose twenty years of his life!


    Zeth smiled and fiddled with his fingers. "You know, no one has ever asked me that question before..."


    June froze.


    Oh geez.


    Is this going to be another therapy session?


    June just wanted to eat some damn dinner!


    "Everybody just seems to assume that I''m alright, you know?" Zeth said. "Just because I''m the first-ranked trainee...Just because I''m talented...Just because I have supportive parents."


    Alright, alright. Now, he was just bragging.


    "I never thought I''d be saying these thoughts to anybody else, but seeing you intensely cry made me feel more at ease," he softly said.


    It was the damn chip.


    "I wasn''t¡ª"


    *Sniff*


    June''s statement was cut off.


    "I feel like I could share this with you, brother," Zeth said, looking at June with tears streaming down his eyes.

 Chapter 86 Comforting The First

    <h4>Chapter 86 Comforting The First</h4>


    Zeth''s crying.


    He''s really crying.


    And all June could think of was his mission.


    ''I seeded, right? I made him cry,'' he said in his mind.


    [Trainee Zeth did not cry because of you, host. He merely cried because of his struggles.]


    June let out a sigh, causing Zeth to turn to him.


    "You understand me, right?" he asked, still with teary eyes.


    June wasn''t even paying attention!


    Thinking this could be a way to finish another mission, June decided to sit down and listen to Zeth''s rants.


    He sighed before reluctantly squeezing his shoulder. June didn''t know much aboutforting another person. When Mei Ling''s favorite groups would disband, he''d usually just give her some of her favorite snacks.


    June rummaged through his pocket and found the opened hardtacks in them. With an awkward cough, he ced it in Zeth''s hands, causing the talented boy to look up at him with wide eyes.


    "How did you know that this is my favorite snack?" he asked, popping a piece into his mouth.


    "Umm, you seem like the guy to like hardtacks," June reasoned out.


    Zeth chuckled and continued eating the snack. "You''re really a good person, brother. I thought your friends were joking because you always looked serious, but now I think I understand them."


    June felt awkward.


    He wasn''t used to his attitude beingplimented.


    "So¡ªuh, what''s on your mind?" June asked.


    Zeth ced the hardtacks down and took a deep breath as he began to open up.


    "Have you ever experienced being the at the top?" Zeth asked.


    "No," June bluntly said.


    There was no doubt that he''s had a shitty life.


    He had never experienced getting first ce, so he couldn''t rte to what Zeth was saying.


    "Do you want to?" Zeth suddenly asked.


    June hummed. "No," he honestly said. If June was given another chance to live his life, he''d pick a very mediocre one¡ªsomething that wouldn''t entail a lot of responsibilities.


    A life where you''re just...there. Not at the bottom, but not at the top.


    "That''s a good choice, brother," Zeth softly said. "You know, being the top-ranked trainee isn''t all great if you think about it," Zeth admitted, his voice tinged with frustration.


    June would much rather live a life at the top than the bottom, though.


    In the end, it''s better to cry at a furnished mansion than a beat-up shed.


    "Sure," June said. "I''m sure it has its moments."


    Zeth sighed. "Everyone expects so much from me, and it''s like I''m constantly under a microscope. I''ve been training for years, and sometimes the pressure just feels suffocating."


    He continued, his voice gaining strength as he spoke, "I chose the song we''re performing because I wanted to prove that I''m more than just a good-looking rapper and dancer. I wanted a challenge, something that could showcase my versatility and hard-earned talent. But after everything that happened today, I feel like I''m letting everyone down."


    June listened intently, trying to understand the weight of Zeth''s words.


    What this kid is feeling is definitely valid, but at the end of the day, it''s not like he has to be perfect.


    However, looking at Zeth, it seemed like he still hadn''t internalized that fact.


    This kid must have been honed in such a tough environment where he always had to be perfect. June knew of the cutthroat world of idols and trainees, but it''s different now that he''s experiencing it firsthand.


    It''s definitely hard to lose yourself if your heart and mind are not in the right ce.


    "You don''t have to be perfect," June said. "If you really think about it, nobody actually cares about you at all. We''re all too focused on ourselves to give a damn about other people."


    Zeth frowned. "I don''t understand," he said. "People are quick to judge. I feel like I have to put on some kind of facade to always please them. That''s how my life has always been."


    June leaned against the cold railing, crossing his arms casually. He decided to ry it to Zeth in a way he''d understand. "You know, Zeth, life''s a bit like a dance routine. Not everyone gets it right on the first try. Sometimes, you stumble over your steps, miss a beat, or even fall t on your face. But the trick is to keep moving, find your rhythm, and take those missteps as learning experiences, so you wouldn''t repeat them again."


    Zeth''s gaze met June''s mncholic feelings swirling in his eyes. "It''s easier said than done."


    June''s lips quirked into a smirk. "Oh, no doubt about that. But think about it ¨C those ''imperfections'' in your routine are what makes it unforgettable. They''re the moments that tell your story, the story of growth, and bing the person you''re meant to be."


    June wanted to puke as he said those words. When did he be such a phnthropist?


    Zeth''s smile wavered slightly, his voice soft. "I just... I don''t want to let anyone down."


    June''s gaze held a reassuring steadiness. "We all fear that, Zeth. You''re not special. Of course, it''s alright to feel down every once in a while. That''s normal. It''s just the wheel of life. However, if that happens, just remember to go back to your original intentions¡ªwhy are you doing this in the first ce?"


    Zeth blinked, his eyes glistening with tears.


    June chuckled. "Come on, man. Don''t cry. You''re making me look bad here."


    Cry.


    Cry.


    Fucking cry.


    June internally rejoiced when tears fell from Zeth''s eyes. He patted Zeth''s back, trying to hold back his smile.


    [Congrattions, host! You have fulfilled the mission: Evoke an emotional response. Make someone cry. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    ''How about charm? Or maybe rap?''


    ''Let''s go for rap first since I don''t even know what charm does.''


    ''Rap.''


    [Wise choice! Rap +1. Current grade: D-]


    [All skills are now on the D-tier. You have earned: a healing potion.]


    June wanted to roll his eyes. This potion only unlocked right now? He doesn''t need it anymore.


    Thankfully, Zeth only cried for a couple of minutes.


    He sniffed and smiled¡ªhis signature golden-retriever smile that June hadn''t seen since the start of the second mission.


    It seemed like Zeth was finally back to himself.


    "I think we should head back to our rooms, brother," Zeth said, his tone suddenly bing friendlier¡ªlike he had be fonder of June. "We still have to think about the arrangement tomorrow. I still don''t have a clue on how to arrange the song."


    June groaned. "Don''t remind me..."


    "Hey," Zeth patted his shoulder. "Don''t get discouraged now. Take your own advice. Remember your original intentions," he smiled.


    June paused.


    Wait...


    Original intentions?


    Hmm...


    As the two of them walked back to their rooms, a loud monstrous sound broke the tranquil night.


    Zethughed out loud and pointed at June''s stomach.


    "I think you forgot to feed the hungry monster in your stomach."


    June froze, then he suddenly clutched onto his stomach.


    It wasn''t the hungry monster; it was the fiery chip!


    "Shit," he muttered. "I gotta go," he said, running to his room and going straight to the bathroom.


    The chip felt painfuling in, and it sure as hell felt painfuling out.

 Chapter 87 Nothing Beats The Original

    <h4>Chapter 87 Nothing Beats The Original</h4>


    June thought about it all night long. He had his earphones in, and one song yed over and over again.


    He listened to it in his sleep, and he was now listening to it as he woke up.


    June entered the practice room, and he was surprised to see a much brighter atmosphere than before.


    Jisung and Leo were polishing their dance routine while the two other vocalists practiced among themselves.


    Zeth, on the other hand, appeared to be in a better mood. However, there was a frown on his face as he listened to the instrumental version of the song.


    Zeth lifted his head, his eyes brightening when he saw June enter through the door.


    "Little brother!" Zeth eximed, standing up from the floor and running toward June.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    ''Little brother?''


    When the hell did Zeth decide to call June that? In his past life, June could be his uncle!


    Jangmoon already called him ''big brother,'' and now he has be a ''little brother?''


    Zeth, like a big puppy, hugged June''s arm, squeezing it tight. June groaned and forcefully removed his hold.


    Zethughed, pping June''s back. "It''s nice to see you today."


    "Sure," June said, trying to get away from him. However, it seemed like Zeth had taken a liking to June after their conversationst night.


    Jisung looked at the two of them with a frown. "Since when did the two of them get so close?" he whispered to himself.


    As Zeth continued pestering June, Yuri suddenly spoke.


    "Can you turn the music off? It''s hard to practice our respective parts while it''s on," he snapped.


    Zeth sighed, finally letting go of June. He paused the music yer and stood at the front, his arms crossed in front of his chest.


    "Gather up. We need to talk about something," he said.


    "Wait, Jisung and I are still syncing some things," Leo called out.


    Zeth remained resolute. "I said,e here," he eximed louder, causing his teammates to look at him with surprise.


    June smirked. He''s really back.


    June sat in front of Zeth, and the other members reluctantly followed.


    "Alright, let''s talk about this," Zeth said, sitting down. "I just want to say that we did a good job yesterday. Special thanks to my little brother, June, for helping us understand what the song really means," Zeth smiled.


    Jisung nudged June''s side. "You''ve be friends?"


    June shrugged. Not by choice.


    "The dance has also been revised by the three of us, but there''s still something we need to settle. Tomorrow night, we will be having our performance. However, the song arrangement still hadn''t been settled. Our concept is still unclear. All I know is that we''re performing something contemporary. But it doesn''t have a story," he said.


    "Aren''t we going to stick with the original arrangement?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Mentor Hyerin told us that it didn''t suit us. Listening to it, I think it really doesn''t. The dance looks a bit awkward since it only has a piano apaniment," Zeth responded.


    Leo sighed and nodded in agreement. "Although it would be such a hassle to arrange the song, I also think it''d be better to add more instruments."


    "But would it be possible to arrange it at this time? Is somebody skilled in arranging?"


    Zeth sighed. "If only Ren was here."


    "I only know how to write harmonies," Leo said. "I never learned? how to make musical arrangements."


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. "I''m not skilled in that area."


    Lin Zhi raised his hands. "Don''t look at me. I''m an idol, not a producer."


    Leo shook his head. "I majored in dancing."


    Then, the five of them turned toward June with hopeful looks.


    June sighed. He only knew how to y the piano. And although he assisted with the arrangement of Mermaid Melodies, Akira was mainly the one who talked with the A&R team about the changes needed.


    "We''re doomed," Lin Zhi said. "Can''t there be any premade instrumentals that we can just use?"


    "There is," June said, causing his teammates to look at him. He brought out his phone and went to YouWatch.


    Zeth sat next to him. "Did you find a cover on Youwatch?"


    "No, it''s not a cover," June responded. "It''s the original."


    There was a frenzy among the group. "The original?" Yuri asked. "This isn''t Hwan''s song?"


    "No," June said. "The original song is sung by a Chinese singer named Zhang Mi. This came out two years before Hwan released his version."


    Lin Zhi chuckled in disbelief. "I''m the Chinese one here, but I''ve never even heard of this song," he said.


    "When did you find this, brother?" Jisung asked. "It only has five thousand views."


    "It was a song I listened to when I was young," June responded.


    Zeth chuckled. "Just when were you born, brother?" he joked. "I swear, it sometimes feels you''re older than me."


    ''Because I am!''


    "Just listen to it," June said, pressing y on the video.


    Honestly, his teammates weren''t expecting a lot.


    However, when the song was yed, they were immediately enamored.


    Hwan''s version was already an emotional masterpiece, but the original was even better.


    The start of the song sounded more raw. It''s as if the sound of the pianist''s fingers hitting the piano keys could even be heard.


    Then. some light percussion was heard in the second verse, making Lin Zhi nod his head in approval.


    Leo also naturally started moving his body, and he could already tell that the song was better to dance topared with Hwan''s version.


    However, that wasn''t the best part. As the bridge approached, the instrumentals stopped overall, and only the singer''s voice was heard, amplifying the emotions of the song.


    Then, as the high note approached, numerous string instruments ¡ª violins, cellos, harps ¡ª yed in harmony, creating a grandiose atmosphere.


    "Holy shit," Zeth couldn''t help but curse. He quickly covered his mouth and continued listening to the song.


    As the end approached, the instrumentals dialed down once more, and they were back to the sentimental piano sound from the beginning.


    The room became silent as the song ended, and the team fell into an agreement.


    Zeth wrapped his arm around June and squeezed his neck, causing him to choke. However, Zeth didn''t care and continued smothering him with praises.


    "You''re really the best, little brother. What would we have done without you?"


    June elbowed Zeth, causing him to let go with an oof.


    "Do we all agree to use this arrangement?" Zeth bubbly asked.


    It was a unanimous decision.


    "Alright, it''s final. We''ll be using this one," Zeth said. "Now, we just need to finalize our dance, then we''d practice the entire thing this afternoon."


    "But wait," Jisung said. "The outline of the dance routine is already finished. However, it is hard to materialize it without a concept."


    "Right," Zeth sighed. "I almost forgot about that."


    "What about we wear all white like contemporary dancers?" Leo asked.


    "Too generic," Lin Zhi said. "How about a butterfly concept?"


    "What the hell is this? Zootopia?" Yuri asked. "The song talks about love, so let''s do a concept surrounding that."


    "Yuck," Lin Zhi spat. "I ain''t doing a love concept with you, guys."


    As his members continued to argue about their concept, June recalled the lyrics in his mind.


    Truly, the song was beautifully written.


    And June''s favorite parts were the bridge and the outro. Fortunately, after switching parts, June would now sing these lines.


    Thest lines resounded in his mind.


    "But I see that you''re happier, though I want you to stay.


    But now, I''ll smile while watching you from far away."


    ...Hmm?


    "Are there any other ideas?" Zeth asked.


    June lifted his head.


    "Death."

 Chapter 88 Big, White Thing

    <h4>Chapter 88 Big, White Thing</h4>


    "Next team, stand by!" the production crew yelled as Casper''s team finished with their final evaluation.


    Hyerin, havinge back from a festival schedule, sat with the judges with an apologetic smile. She still had her stage outfit on, and Minhoplimented her look.


    "Well, you''re very pretty today," he said.


    Hyerin smirked. "Aren''t I pretty every day?"


    Jihyun chuckled. "I was prettier when I was younger."


    "I can''t argue with that," Hyerin retorted. "How many teams have performed?" she asked, scanning the stage. The production crew was currently preparing it, bringing up various props. Smoke screens were ced on the stage as long as white flowers.


    "We''re down to thest team," Gun said. "But I''m worried for this team. Despite having high-ranked trainees, they didn''t do well during the interim evaluations. And not to mention, Hwan is going to be watchingter at the live show too."


    "I hope they took my suggestions into consideration," Jihyun said with a hopeful face. "If they do, then I have no doubt they''re going to do well."


    "Is there stage ready?" Bone asked one of the members of the production team.


    "There''s still one item, sir," the member responded. "After that, we''ll call Team Aces up the stage."


    Bone nodded, going back to scrolling on his phone. The other judges also went back to their casual conversations. However, they all halted when a big, white thing was hauled onto the stage.


    Their eyes widened in surprise.


    "What is that?" Hyerin eximed. "Don''t tell me¡ªthey''re going to use that thing?"


    They had no time to react as Team Aces went up the stage and assumed their positions.


    Then, the intro of ''I Love You, Leave; I Love You, Don''t Leave'' started ying.


    It was familiar yet new at the same time...somehow revamped.


    The final rehearsals continued, and the judges watched their stage, captivated.


    By the end of it, not even a pin drop could be heard in the studio.


    ***


    A chilly afternoon breeze swept through the crowd of enthusiastic fans, each eagerly waiting to enter the studio. Along them, Jia stood at the very front of the line, her other friends not being able to make it because they all decided to head back to their province after the academic year. So now, she was stuck all alone outside of Azure''s building, waiting for the guards to open the gates for the second mission.


    As they entered the studio, Jia couldn''t help but recognize the familiar face beside her. It was the same girl she had seen during the first mission¡ªRen''s fangirl.


    "Hey," Jia greeted. "I think we''ve met before."


    Despite their past shared experienced, the girl''s demeanor remained just as aloof as before.


    "You''re a fan of Ren''s, right?" Jia asked.


    "Hmm," the girl hummed. "And you were the girl with annoying friends. I''m surprised they aren''t here this time."


    Jia chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, that was me, I guess. If you don''t mind me asking, what''s your name? I feel like we''ll be seeing each other more often from now on."


    Since their summer break wouldst a month, Jia wanted to befriend another person because her friends would onlye back to the city in time for the fourth mission.


    "Bora," the girl replied, her tone casual. "And you?"


    "Jia," I said. "I''m a fan of June''s. If you''re open to it, I can tell you all about¡ª"


    "No thanks," Bora cut her off. "I don''t care about your favorite. I only care about Ren."


    "Oh," Jia said, pursing her lips.


    On another note, she doesn''t want to be friends with this girl anymore.


    As they waited for the event to begin, the chilly air around them seemed to freeze.


    However, the chilly air thawed when Kang Minho stepped onto the stage. The excitement was exhrating, and the fans'' cheers echoed off the walls of the recording center.


    "Hello, everyone!" Kang Minho''s voice rang out, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Are you ready for the XX battle?"


    Fans were curious about the new battle mission, wondering what XX battle could mean. They erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm matching Minho''s infectious energy,


    "Today, our talented trainees will be showcasing their skills in not one but two positions ¨C vocal, rap, or dance. Each performance will be a chance for them to shine and capture your hearts," he continued.


    As Kang Minho exined the rules of the battle, the room buzzed with anticipation. "After each performance, you, starlights, will have the power to vote for the most eye-catching member. And that lucky member will receive a special benefit. But remember, it''s not just about the benefit. Your vote can be a source of encouragement and support for these hardworking trainees."


    Kang Minho''s gaze turned serious as he concluded, "By the end of today''s show, we''ll also be voting for the team that performed the best in each category. So choose wisely because your votes will shape the course of thepetition."


    "Without further ado, let me call the first team onto the stage. The team performing ''Beside Me'' by THRICE, pleasee to the stage. It''s time to shine!"


    The crowd''s cheers intensified as Minho stepped back, allowing the spotlight to shift onto the trainees.


    Bora, who was calmly scrolling through her phone just a while ago, turned into a different person when she saw that this team had Ren in it. She screamed like a manic person, causing Jia to look at her in shock.


    Jia didn''t look like that when she fangirled, right?


    The lights dimmed, and the stage came to life as Team ''Beside Me'' stepped forward. The audience''s cheers filled the air as the trainees took their positions, each holding a different instrument ¨C guitars, drums, and more. The "band" concept was a refreshing departure from the norm, and the anticipation for their performance was obvious in the crowd''s energy.


    Bora''s hands were pressed against her cheeks, her eyes sparkling as she focused her gaze on Ren. The music enveloped the room, and she seemed utterly captivated by the scene unfolding before her.


    The trainees'' synchronized movements and the lively melody had an infectious quality, and as they transitioned to the chorus, the band concept seamlessly blended into a vibrant dance routine. The energy was high-teen as if the performers had channeled the essence of youthful enthusiasm into their every move.


    "Beside me, you and I, a dance that feels so right,


    Our friendship turned into love under the moonlight.


    Guided by the music, our hearts begin to sway,


    Together at this moment, forever here to stay."


    Bora''s fangirling reached a new level, her excited squeals almost drowning the sea of cheers around them. Jia couldn''t help but give her some space, afraid that Bora would identally p her.


    As the performance concluded, Jia pped and nced at Bora once more.


    This woman is truly scary. She was back to her nonchnt self once again.


    Bora''s excitement had already died down, and she wanted to leave the floor after voting for Ren. However, her vote would only be valid if she stayed until the end of the show, so she decided to stay.


    With a sigh, Bora resigned herself to scrolling on her phone.


    Countless performancester, her boredom only seemed to increase.


    Jia, too, couldn''t wait for June''s team to perform. If she recalled right, Minho said that there would be twelve teams performing,? one for each category. Then, that meant that June''s team was going to performst.


    "Wait," Jia muttered. "Is he going to perform with Zeth?"


    The other fans in the studio also chattered excitedly among themselves.


    "Leo and Yuri still hadn''t gone, right?"


    "And Lin Zhi too!"


    "Oh, is this Jisung''s stage? Finally!"


    "Shit. Is June on the same team as them? I can''t wait!"


    Before thest team came on stage, the production crew disassembled the props of thest team and arranged them for the next performance.


    Jia watched intently as the props team carried varied materials onto the stage.


    Smoke screens...


    White flowers...


    Flowy white curtains...


    And...


    Jia''s eyes widened in shock.


    "A coffin?"

 Chapter 89 White Rose (1)

    <h4>Chapter 89 White Rose (1)</h4>


    The mentor''s room was lively as ever, as twelve additional seats were ced by the production crew.


    "I saw your performance the other day, Jay," Mia, a member of BLACKBUNS, said as she sat next to him. "Taking off your shirt and twerking is definitely a courageous choice."


    Jay Kim smirked. "I just gave my fans what they wanted. Why don''t we film the dance challengeter?"


    Mia blushed and gently hit Jay''s chest.


    "Hyerin!" the THRICE member eximed as she went to hug her fellow idol.


    "Nana," Hyerin said with a fake smile. Coming from girl groups who debuted in the same year, the two were considered ''rivals.'' Another member of THRICE came during the interim evaluations, yet now it was none other than Nana.


    The two of them were the ''visuals'' or the ''faces of the group,'' and they both gave off an innocent feel, so they''ve beenpared to each other ever since.


    "It''s nice seeing you here," Nana said in an exaggerated tone.


    Hyerin chuckled and gave her a hug despite wanting to pull her hair.


    "Of course," she smiled. "It''s nice to see you too."


    The room was filled with nostalgic greetings and chatty conversations. They paid attention during the trainees'' performances, but they went straight to gossip right after.


    "This team will probably win," Jay said to the ''Shake It'' team.


    "Shouldn''t you be rooting for Bodylicious instead?" Woo-jin chuckled.


    "I would want to," Jay shrugged. "But these kids killed it. Their ranks are high too."


    The night continued with exciting performances. And now, it was time for thest team of the night.


    "I''m worried about them," Mia suddenly said. "I was shaking when Hwan said thosements. Even as a veteran idol, I felt quite fearful."


    "Tell me about it," Jay said. "I couldn''t even sleep that night."


    Just then, the chatty atmosphere turned silent when an enigmatic presence entered the room. The group of artists turned to the door where Hwan''s imposing figure stood.


    They all stood and bowed their heads in respect.


    "Good evening, senior," Jihyun said. "It''s great to have you join us tonight."


    Hwan merely nodded before sitting on his chair. The artists resulted to whispering after Hwan came, all worried about the oue of the performance.


    However, the mentors who had watched the performance already knew better.


    "Look forward to their stage," Jihyun said with a proud smile.


    ***


    "A coffin? What song needs a coffin, to begin with?"


    "Is it going to be a spooky performance again? June already did that, so I hope he doesn''t repeat the same concept."


    "I heard that they''re performing a bad song."


    "Huh? Then what''s with the coffin."


    After the setting of props, the trainees went up the stage. Then, the stage lighting shifted causing gasps to ripple through the audience.


    The trainees watching backstage also eximed in surprise.


    "What the hell? So handsome!"


    "This is unfair! Their cheers are so loud for this team."


    There was no doubt that this team had the most fans in the audience. Zeth''s fandom alone can already overturn one group. And not to mention that they all looked very handsome under the stage light.


    However, it couldn''t be denied that the audience''s gazes strayed to one person¡ªJune.


    The people in the studio took sight of June in person for the first time, and Jia already felt like she was going to pass out any second.


    Beautiful! June was too damn beautiful.


    Bora, who had been on her phone for the entirety of the show, finally lifted her head. Her eyes instantly widened in surprise when she saw June in front of her. She had seen his photos and videos before, but being in his presence was an entirely different experience. He exuded a charisma that was impossible to ignore, and the collective enamored gasps from the audience echoed her own reaction.


    Jia, standing beside Bora, seemed to have lost all semnce ofposure. Her hands sought out Bora''s arm, squeezing it in excitement. "Oh my gosh, look at him! He''s even more handsome in person!"


    Bora couldn''t help but agree. However, she didn''t want to admit it out loud. She brushed off Jia''s hand and clicked her tongue. "Don''t bother me."


    "Good afternoon, everyone!" Zeth said in a bubbly voice.


    "Vocals A!" Leo eximed.


    "Dance A," Jisung shyly said.


    "We ace every aspect!" Lin Zhi boasted.


    "We''re Team Aces," they said in unison, and the cheers became even louder.


    The anticipation in the room grew as the lights dimmed. Jia held onto the railings and squeezed them tightly. She was so damn excited for this performance. She was even more excited than the time she passed her dream university''s entrance test!


    Bora, too, couldn''t help but feel intrigued.


    ''I guess let''s watch thisst stage,'' she thought, pocketing her phone.


    The boys spread out on stage, each upying a section. Then, the soft strains of the piano began to echo in the air.


    "They''re performing this song?"


    "Ah, shit. I love this song so much."


    "My mom loves this song. It''s a ssic."


    The crowd fell into silence, their attention focused on the stage ahead. As the sad melody of the bad filled the space, they found themselves entranced, captivated by the raw emotion that emanated from the music alone.


    The LED background illuminated, revealing a stunning moving image of a sunlit hill nketed with pristine white flowers. The scene gave off a sense of serenity, yet there was an underlying mncholy that tugged at their heartstrings. The performers, dressed entirely in white, seemed to blend seamlessly with the ethereal backdrop.


    Yuri stood at the forefront of the stage, clutching a single white rose in his hand.


    "I looked once again, up at the blue skies,


    A memory, long lost, held within my eyes.


    Under the sun, I held you close but not too near.


    Afraid to let my heart be clear."


    His voice quivered with emotions as he began to sing. His mellow voice held a delicate vulnerability that touched the audience''s heart.


    Hwan raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    The other artists who were in the interim evaluations were also shocked.


    How could their performance improve this much?


    As Yuri''s voice filled the room, he reached out to June, who walked toward him.


    He passed the white rose onto June''s hand as if passing the emotional baton.


    Then, June opened his mouth to sing...

 Chapter 90 White Rose (2)

    <h4>Chapter 90 White Rose (2)</h4>


    "I love you, leave, my heart believes,


    A paradox of tangled leaves,


    With every word, I push you away,


    Hoping you''ll choose to stay."


    June''s voice emerged like a whisper, tender yet powerful. It carried the weight of sorrow and longing, and the crowd watched with awe as his heartfelt delivery seemed to pierce through the very soul of the song.


    As the song''s chorus approached, their voices intertwined in a harmonious blend that sent shivers down the audience''s spine.


    "I love you, leave; I don''t love you, don''t leave.


    My mouth spewed lies of make-believe.


    Promises unravel, a fragile game we y,


    I don''t love you, don''t leave, don''t let this slip away."


    Jisung and Zeth stepped forward, their movements synchronized as they danced at the center of the stage. Their mirrored choreography created a captivating visual symphony that held the audience spellbound.


    The transition to the second verse was seamless, and the spotlight shifted to Lin Zhi. Zeth once again passed him the white rose, and he looked at it with deep sadness.


    "Unspoken words, a silent ache,


    A love unimed, a heart at stake,"


    His voice, infused with a rich depth of feeling, painted a vivid picture of heartache. The remaining members followed suit, each delivering their lines with an intensity that mirrored the emotions embedded in the lyrics. Their collective performance was a testament to their dedication and talent, drawing the audience even deeper into the story they were telling.


    "In the spaces between our stolen nces,


    Lies the truth of missed chances."


    The mentors and artists watched in amazement, their heats thumping to the subtle percussion sound.


    Then, Hwan let out a small gasp.


    This version...were they using the original?


    "I love you, leave, a silent plea,


    Afraid to show the real me,


    I held you back, kept feelings at bay,


    Now we''re adrift, worlds away."


    The chorus once again approached, and the sound of multiple string instruments resonated in the studio, opening the hearts of the watchers.


    "I love you, leave; I don''t love you, don''t leave,


    In this paradox, we''re meant to grieve,


    A love once pure is now lost in the night,


    Two souls forever apart from the light."


    Hwan felt something tug on his heartstrings. Indeed, they were using the original instrumental.


    The fact that someone was aware of the version already softened his heart. This song was very special to him as a young artist. It was the one that boosted him to stardom.


    And then, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived ¨C the bridge. The music swelled, and the LED background changed, casting an ethereal glow over the performers. June stepped forward, his presencemanding the stage as he prepared to deliver the most emotionally charged part of the song.


    The music stopped, and everyone seemed to hold their breaths as June sang the first lines.


    "Oh, the regrets that haunt my soul,


    The pain of letting you go..."


    Akira gasped softly as he watched his friend on screen.


    "Crazy," he whispered. "He''s too good."


    His every word seemed to hang in the air, heavy with the weight of the emotions he poured into the lyrics. The LED background shifted once more, revealing a cascade of falling white petals, symbolizing the release of pent-up emotions and the fleeting nature of the moment.


    And then, as if drawn into a spell, everyone''s attention heightened as June reached thest line of the bridge. With a gentle yet heartbreaking twist, he changes the final lyric.


    "I lied, I''m sorry. I pushed you away.


    I love you, don''t leave; that''s what I really wanted to say."


    I don''t love you, leave. Now I''m all alone in the price I pay ¨C those were the original words, but June thought it would be better to say what he truly wanted to.


    Hwan pursed his lips together.


    He was thankful he was wearing sunsses because, at that moment, he felt tears well up in his eyes.


    However, he wasn''t alone. Jia and Bora now held hands as they cried silently. The profound impact of the subtle alteration struck at the core of their hearts.


    The performance continued onto thest chorus, with Yuri leading the harmony. His soaring high notes pierced the air and Lin Zhi''s husky voice entuating the pain of the song.


    "I love you, leave; I don''t love you, don''t leave,


    Our love''s a secret we chose to deceive,


    With every smile, a part of me died,


    Now we''re living in a love denied."


    The chorus served as a crescendo of emotion, a heartrending culmination of the journey the team had taken the audience on. And then, as the final notes of the song hung in the air, the studio seemed to hold its breath. The audience was silent for a moment, the weight of the performance still lingering in the space.


    The studio was filled with emotion, yet it still wasn''t over.


    June stood at the center for the outro of the song.


    The other members of the team stood still, their gazes fixed on June.


    All other lights were turned off, and only the stage was illuminated.


    As June uttered the final words, a subtle change urred on the LED background ¨C a shadow of a girl standing with someone else.


    "I love you, don''t leave; Please don''t leave


    Those were the words I wanted you to receive."


    The bittersweet reality of the situation was reflected in the screen, a visual representation of the girl''s happiness with another, even as June remained in the shadows of her life.


    June''s smile remained genuine and filled with an amalgamation of sadness and contentment. He leaned against the coffin, his gaze directed downwards, seemingly lost in thoughts that stretched beyond the stage. And then, as the camera zoomed in, the truth was revealed ¨C the coffin was a mirror. The gasps from the audience resonated throughout the studio, the realization that they had been drawn into a narrative twist leaving them stunned.


    Hyerin covered her mouth to stifle a sob. She had already watched the stage, but this plot twist wasn''t seen on screen a while ago.


    "But I see that you''re happier, though I want you to stay


    But now, I''ll smile while watching you from far away."


    The silence in the studio was profound, the revtion sinking in as June''s mncholic performance took on an entirely newyer of meaning. His portrayal of longing and selflessness, of urging the girl he loved to move on, despite his own lingering feelings, painted a heartbreaking picture of sacrifice and love beyond the grave.


    As the final notes lingered in the air, June''s actions continued to captivate the audience. He reached for the white rose that had been a recurring motif, a symbol of their love, and gently ced it on top of the coffin. And then, the moment everyone had been waiting for ¨C June''s gaze lifted, his eyes meeting the camera''s lens.


    In that instant, a single tear fell from June''s eye, glistening in the stage lights.

 Chapter 91 Don’t Cry!

    <h4>Chapter 91 Don''t Cry!</h4>


    As June held his gaze on the camera, a multitude of emotions swirled within him.


    One. Why was the cameraman still focusing the camera on his face? It had already been too long!


    Two. How could he fucking cry during a performance?


    Three. He wanted to strangle Jisung for poking his eye with the rose as he passed it onto him for the outro of the song. And to add to that, the thorn part was the one that poked his eye! How could he miss that badly?


    June''s right eye was in pain for the entirety of thest chorus, and it must have been obvious in his voice too.


    Of course, June didn''t cry because of the song! He had already sung it way too many times for him to get overwhelmed by it. Sure, he admits that this particr performance was the most emotional one of all, but he definitely didn''t cry.


    It was because of that damn rose!


    As the camera still focused on him, June pressed his lips together in what was meant to be annoyance, but the audience misinterpreted it into June fighting back even more intense emotions.


    "I didn''t expect to cry in an idol show!"


    "Genius. This stage was genius. Whoever thought of their concept deserves those extra stars. But I guess we''ll only find out on the next episodes."


    "June''s holding back his tears!"


    "June''s an emotional person."


    June was definitely not an emotional person. He sighed in relief when the camera started panning to his other teammates. At this point, the audience was still enamored by the emotional performance.


    Then, the stillness slowly transformed into a roar of cheers and admiration.


    It was a simr reaction backstage. The camera panned to capture the reactions of the other trainees, and the scene was nothing short of chaotic. Most of them were wiping away tears, their expressions a mix of awe, surprise, and intense sadness.


    Jaeyong, who was known for his cold and tough exterior, seemed to be fumbling something inside his pocket. Then, with careful movements, he hastily wiped the unshed tears from his eyes.


    However, Akira''s gaze was quick as he pointed at him. "Oh goodness. Jaeyong''s crying!" he screamed, causing the other trainees to look his way.


    Jaeyong''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly pocketed the wet tissue. "I am not," he defended. However, his shaky voice betrayed him, and some of the trainees burst intoughter.


    Akiraughed the loudest out of them all. Jaeyong had always been a tough nut. When they disbanded, he didn''t even cry in front of the members. However, he actually cried during this performance.


    "Don''t worry, leader," Akira said. "Their performance was really good. I can''t deny that it was very emotional. June, that bastard, did it again," he shook his head. "How could their stage transform from an emotionless mess to this masterpiece?"


    In the other corner of the room, C-Jay and Jangmoon held onto each other as they sobbed. Seungwoo, their teammate, looked at them with disgust as Jangmoon blew some mucus onto the bandana tied around C-Jay''s bicep.


    "My big brother!" he wailed. "How could his voice hold so much pain?"


    "It''s really unfair," C-Jay sniffed. "Why is he so good now?"


    The scene of trainees crying and struggling to keep theirposure backstage was both heartwarming and amusing. The profound impact of June''s performance had caught them all off guard, shattering their expectations and leaving them genuinely moved.


    Even those that underestimated Team Aces after seeing their interim evaluations quickly swallowed their words.


    Compared to the noisy trainee''s room, the mentor''s room was filled with quiet stillness. Their jaws hung open, and they couldn''t even give anymentary as the screen faded to ck.


    However, despite the screen going off, the audience''s apuse continued to resonate in the studio.


    It was clear that none of them had moved on after the spectacr performance.


    Then, a sniff broke the silence.


    Hyerin and Jihyun, who had been mentoring the trainees, were now on the receiving end of their own medicine.


    ''I want to be mentored by him,'' Jihyun thought.


    "So. fucking. cool," Hyerin cursed, catching Jihyun off guard. It was a rare urrence for Hyerin to curse since she was upholding a very pure reputation.


    The two of them seemed to be in a silent agreement that they had somehow taken a liking toward June.


    Nana, Hyerin''s rival, was also amazed by their performance.


    "The rehearsals were nothingpared to the actual stage!" Bone eximed. "These kids are insane."


    Minho nodded in agreement. "I must say, I don''t have anything negative to say."


    Jay Kim chuckled out loud. "I can''t believe trainees are putting out such high-caliber performances. I really thought the team that sang ''Beside Me'' would win, but I guess not."


    Even Gun, known for being an avid hater of June, was visibly impressed. "It''s good, I guess," he quietly said.


    The meekpliment from Mentor Gun brought smiles to Hyerin and Jihyun''s faces, their eyes alight with pride and satisfaction.


    "June''s growing on you, isn''t he?" Jihyun teased.


    Gun looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Now, where did you get that idea? I''mplimenting the entire team. They all did a great job."


    Hyerin and Jihyun turned to each other with knowing smiles.


    Although Gun''spliment was surprising, the most surprising moment was yet toe. As the mentors discussed among themselves ¨C Hwan, known for always wearing sunsses and a straw fedora, stood up while slowly pping his hands.


    It was a standing ovation!


    A singer of twenty years actually stood up for a bunch of trainees!


    However, that was just the tip of the iceberg.


    The most surprising thing of all was that his dark sunsses were absent, revealing his eyes which were filled with tears.


    The other mentors exchanged surprised nces, and some even gasped audibly at the unexpected sight. Hwan''s eyes, which seemed to be a bitrger and rounder than anyone expected, held a mixture of emotions that caught everyone off guard.


    The mentors, Hyerin and Jihyun, exchanged amused looks, their earlier fangirling now reced with incredulous surprise. The sight of Hwan''s teary eyes was so unexpected, and the particr way his eyes looked made the moment slightlyical.


    So, that was the reason why he always wore sunsses.


    Hwan looked like a kicked dog without them.

 Chapter 92 Close Match

    <h4>Chapter 92 Close Match</h4>


    Team Aces finally left the stage, yet the impact of their performance still lingered in the air. The audience chattered among themselves about their newfound admiration.


    Jia, who was still speechless after the performance, felt like her soul had been sucked out of her body. Watching their performance was an out-of-body experience, and her fondness for June increased exponentially after it.


    However, she wasn''t alone in her emotions.


    Bora, who stood there in shock, slowly turned towards Jia. She tugged on Jia''s sleeve, causing thetter to snap out of her daze.


    "What?" Jia asked with one eyebrow raised.


    "June," Bora said his name.


    "What about him?"


    Bora smiled, curiosity twinkling in her eyes. "Tell me more about him."


    ***


    As Team Aces made their way backstage, Jisung slung an arm over June''s shoulder.


    "Are you alright?" he asked with a concerned look. "I saw you cry a while ago."


    ''It''s because of you!'' June screamed in his mind.


    Zeth joined in on their conversation with a sad smile. "I saw that too. I felt like I was about to burst into tears after seeing you, little brother. You did such a great job."


    Yuri nodded in agreement. "Were you overwhelmed by your emotions?"


    "Not really," June nonchntly said. "My eyes just hurt."


    Lin Zhiughed out loud, pping his knee. "As expected," he chuckled. "You''re back to yourself again. You can tell us if you''re a crybaby or something. We promise we won''tugh."


    June sighed. "I''m telling the truth."


    "Well, whatever the truth is," Leo butted in. "I think it was a very good choice. It was a very emotional performance, and I believe we did a great job."


    Zeth smiled. "Damn right, we did. The audience was going nuts for our performance back there."


    "Team Aces?" one of the production crew members called for their attention. "Please head to the results room right now. Afterward, join the other trainees for the overall rankings and some announcements."


    Zeth let out a deep breath, looking a bit nervous. "Let''s go," he seriously said.


    Just a while ago, they were a team.


    But now, they were back to being individual trainees. At the end of the day, this was still apetition.


    Jisung nudged June''s side, causing thetter to look at him.


    "I was amazed, brother," he genuinely said, showing two thumbs up. "It would only be fair if you got first ce," he whispered.


    June smirked but didn''t respond.


    He sat next to Jisung as they arrived at the results room.


    June knew better than to expect the best results. Being on this team, he already had low expectations. All his members were in the top 10, and although his rank wasn''t low, there was a clear difference in their fanbases.


    It was already pretty obvious in the audience today, too. Zeth''s cards dominated everyone else''s.


    So, for June, it wouldn''t be too surprising if he would be thest ce in their team.


    The screen finally lit up, and the team watched in anticipation as their ranks were shown one by one. The trainees and mentors were also monitoring their rankings backstage, and Hwan, whose eyes were still exposed, was secretly rooting for June. In his mind, he was the one who embodied the song the most.


    In contrast with his teammates, June didn''t feel nervous at all. He was already sure that he wouldn''t win, but it was clear that their team would be taking the group benefit. So, there wasn''t any bitterness in his heart.


    "6. Lin Zhi ¡ª 182 votes"


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. The team turned to Lin Zhi and saw a scowl on his face. His fists were clenched, and it was obvious he didn''t like the oue of the voting.


    June was surprised because he genuinely thought he''d cest. If he wasn''tst, then maybe he''d be fifth.


    "5. Leo ¡ª 197"


    Now, this was even more surprising. The trainees backstage also gossipped among themselves.


    "I didn''t expect that. Leo is in the top 5. That''s so few votes."


    "Is it really possible for June to rank higher than him?"


    "He didn''t stand out for me. It''s just expected."


    June let out a sigh. He''s fourth. He can already feel it.


    "4. Jisung ¡ª 243"


    This was ridiculous. June''s actually in the top three?


    Jisung squeezed June''s arm and smiled at him, his eyes crinkling in delight. "I think you''d get the personal benefit, brother."


    June shook his head. "I''m next," he said. Yuri''s the current top six, and he also had the most lines in the group. It would make more sense if he was third.


    "3. Yuri ¡ª 256"


    With each member shown on screen, Jihyun''s heart leaped out of her chest. She couldn''t vote for June, but if she could, she''d do it a hundred times. Maybe, she should have taken a leave just to join the audience and vote for June.


    "Holy," Akira whispered. "June''s actuallypeting with Zeth."


    Ren frowned. For quite some time, Zeth had been at the top. He had always been the number one trainee in theirpany¡ªduring monthly trainee evaluations, pre-debut projects, modeling gigs, and a lot more.


    In this group of trainees, only Casper stood a chance against him.


    However, herees June¡ªan independent trainee who had been unknown in the idol industry before he joined Rising Stars. And to think he was actually going head to head with Zeth?


    The screen showed both of their names.


    Zeth vs. June


    Everybody seemed to hold their breaths as the final numbers were shown. The trainees gasped when they finally saw the final results.


    ''Zeth''s Victory!'' the screen showed.


    Sighs were heard across the room. Some were sighs of disappointment, while some were of relief. Gun was one who sighed in relief. As much as he hated to admit it, June did a very good job in this performance. However, he''s still not convinced about his fast improvement. For him, it was unfair for a trainee to disy such drastic improvement in less than two months!


    "Zeth won," Ren frowned. He expected it, of course. At the end of the day, he''s still the number one trainee in thepetition.


    However, he didn''t expect the number of votes they had gotten.


    "2. June ¡ª 416"


    "1. Zeth ¡ª 417"

 Chapter 93 I Know You

    <h4>Chapter 93 I Know You</h4>


    "Aww," Jisung said in disappointment, causing Zeth to chuckle.


    "Do you hate that I''ve won?" he chuckled.


    Jisung blushed. "Oh, of course not, brother! I was just¡ª umm, you know? Rooting for my friend...," he awkwardly tried to evade the situation.


    "I get it," Zeth said, patting Jisung''s back. "It was a close match, right?"


    June stood up, and Zeth immediately went next to him.


    "That was a good match, little brother," he smiled.


    "We weren''t even fighting," June said. "We''re a team."


    Zeth suddenly stopped, causing June to look at him.


    "What?"


    "Howe you always say the right things?" he exasperatedly asked.


    June scoffed and shook his head before walking backstage. As he walked in, he was surprised to see the other trainees anticipating their return.


    "Wooh!" he heard C-Jay and Jangmoon cheer from a distance. "That''s our brother right there! He almost beat the first ce, ya''ll!"


    June sighed and covered his face with his hand before standing over to where their team was supposed to be.


    Akira was right beside him since the teams from the same categories were next to each other. Akira nudged June''s shoulder. June raised his eyebrows in inquiry.


    "You were so cool back there," Akira winked. "You made Jaeyong cry."


    June nced at Jaeyong, who was on the other side of the room, and shook his head.


    June scoffed. "I don''t believe you," he said. "That guy would never cry."


    "He did," Akira chuckled. "Just wait until the show airs."


    Their conversation was put to a halt when Kang Minho entered the room. With a confident smile, he trudged to the podium with cue cards in his hand. The trainees remained silent, each hoping for their respective teams to emerge victorious.


    "I won''t dy this any further," Minho said. "I know all of you are tired after the short preparations, but bear with me, my trainees. For ''Rap and Dance,'' the team that impressed the audience the most is team ''Shake It!''"


    Casper''s team rejoiced while theirpetitors hung their heads low but epted the oues.


    "Moving on to the next category," Kang Minho continued, "Under the ''Vocal and Rap'' category, the team that left an indelible mark was ''Forever Young.'' Congrattions, you have won the 100,000-star benefit."


    Once again, the room erupted in cheers as the winner was unveiled. The trainees, led by Hyunwoo, exchanged looks of tion. Hyunwoo smirked in victory, feeling like the most talented person in the room.


    Anticipation was built for the final category, yet almost all of the trainees already knew who would win. June was a hundred percent sure of it too. It would be impossible for their team not to win.


    He was wrong about his ranking a while ago, but now, he was a hundred percent sure.


    June can even bet his right pinky for this.


    "And finally, for the Vocal and Dance category," Minho announced, drawing out the suspense, "the team that truly captivated the audience and the judges with their performance is¡­"


    "Team Aces who performed ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.'' Let us congratte them for not only delivering an emotionally charged performance but also earning recognition from the original artist backstage," he added.


    "They were watching?"


    "Hwan actually liked the performance?


    "There''s no doubt. They did a really good job."


    Amid the conversations, Minho had one more surprise up his sleeve. "But that''s not all," he dered, his voice carrying an air of excitement. "The team that has earned the highest overall stars for their performances will receive an extra fifty thousand stars!"


    A hushed silence fell over the room as the magnitude of the additional reward sank in. And then, with a dramatic pause, Minho announced, "And the team that has earned the overall highest stars is none other than¡­ Team Aces!"


    "Damn," Akira whispered by his side. "You just packed 150,000 stars. Give some to me, bro."


    June chuckled as he looked at C-Jay and Jangmoon, who were cheering even louder than he was. "I think they''d need it more than you do."


    After the announcement of the winners, it was now time for some auxiliary announcements.


    Minho cleared his throat, and the room turned silent once more. "As you all know, after the missions, there''s an inevitable event thates right after ¡ª the eliminations."


    A collective sigh was heard in the room, causing Minho to chuckle. "I know that all of you would like to stay in thepetition, but I''m afraid that''s not how it works. So, ready yourselves, trainees. The second mission will be airing for two weeks, so make sure to prepare yourselves for the live eliminations the week after. The production crew will contact you for the next events of thepetition, but for now, you will be given a break."


    "Yes! I''ve been dying to go home."


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this, but I really miss my mom."


    "I''m going to miss the cafeteriadies here. My mom''s food tastes like shit."


    "So, with that, we shall be seeing you after next week''s episode for another mission. Make sure to stay tuned for updates. Thank you, trainees," Minho said, waving his hand goodbye.


    "Thank you, Mentor," the trainees bowed their heads until Kang Minho was out of sight.


    As soon as he was gone, his friends huddled over at June.


    "What are you guys going to do on this break?"


    "Nothing," June said.


    He was telling the truth.


    He wanted to do nothing at all.


    Maybe he''d upgrade his skills from here and there, but he wants to rx after the tiring week.


    "Oh,e on, brother! Why don''t we go out, huh?" Akira asked. "Can wee to your ce again?"


    "That''s right! Let''s watch the next episode at your ce," Jangmoon bounced.


    June sighed. "You''re not going."


    C-Jay smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Toote. Expect us there, brother."


    June shook his head. "I won''t open the door for you. So, I''m serious. Don''te," he seriously said.


    C-Jay raised his arms in surrender. "Gee, sorry, brother. We won''te."


    Jisung checked his phone and smiled. "My parents are here to pick me up," he said. "I''ll get going first."


    "Sure," Akira said. "My uncle''s on his way, too."


    "Aww, good for you, guys," Jangmoon said. "My mom only called me a cab."


    C-Jay stuck his tongue out. "Sucks for you. I''m going out for dinner with my family today."


    Jangmoon rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he spat. "What about you, big brother? Is someone picking you up?"


    June shook his head. "I''ll go on my own."


    "Oh, right," Minx said. "Your parents aren''t from here, right?"


    "Yeah," June nonchntly said. They''re in heaven¡­or hell. He didn''t know, but they definitely weren''t here.


    "I need to take the bus, so I have to go," June said, robotically waving at them before leaving.


    He didn''t bother turning around as C-Jay called for him.


    He just wanted to go home and have a good night''s sleep. It''s been a while since he''s had an eight-hour sleep.


    However, just as he was about to leave the building, somebody suddenly tugged on his arm and pulled him to a secluded area.


    "Joon-ho?"

 Chapter 94 Past Chronicles

    <h4>Chapter 94 Past Chronicles</h4>


    June squinted his eyes at the two people in front of him.


    Alex and Hyunwoo.


    Alex chuckled out loud when June didn''t respond.


    "Yah, you''re really Choi Joon-ho, aren''t you? I almost didn''t recognize you when you first revealed your face, but it''s definitely you," Alex taunted, his grip on June''s wrist tightening. "Your eyes are still the same."


    June nonchntly looked into his eyes before retreating his wrist.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," June said.


    Currently, he doesn''t know what these two have to do with Choi Joon-ho, and frankly, he wants to keep it that way.


    June could feel that they had a connection, but he could also tell that it wasn''t good.


    These two appeared like predators in front of June.


    Alex and Hyunwoo nced at each other.


    "Still acting dumb until now, huh?" Hyunwoo smirked. "You acted innocent with us during our training period, but in reality, you were thepany''sckey. Such a good boy you are. However, they still let you go in the end," he said, teasingly ruffling June''s hair.


    However, June was having none of it.


    He clicked his tongue and swatted Hyunwoo''s hand away.


    Hyunwoo raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking a bit annoyed. "I see. You''ve grown some guts, haven''t you?"


    Alex frowned as he observed June''s face. It was strange.


    The Joon-ho he met back then was meek, silent, and always followed orders. Despite not being the most talented trainee, thepany kept him around because he was good at running errands. He was the most hardworking out of them all too.


    Choi Joon-ho never fought back¡ªthat was a fact.


    Yes, June''s eyes were the same as they were in the past¡ªanatomically, that is. But right now, there was a certain glint, a fire, in June''s eyes that set him apart from the Joon-ho they knew.


    Alex chuckled in disbelief. "You can put up an act and show a brave facade," he said. "But it doesn''t take away the fact that you were the one who ruined our chances to debut back then. And now, you''re here? Trying to make it into another idol group? Don''t you have any conscience for what you''ve done?"


    "What did I do?" June asked out of genuine curiosity. People around him always seemed to speak in riddles, and he wanted to know what it was that Choi Joon-ho had really done.


    Hyunwoo''s jaw clenched, while Alex red at him with profound hatred. However, June remained calm throughout their ordeal, which confused the other two even more.


    How could he act like such a different person within the span of less than a year?


    It was impossible!


    "Come on," June taunted. "Tell me what I did, then maybe I''ll make it up to you. What do you guys want? Want some chocte aspensation for what I did, huh?" he said in a teasing tone.


    Hyunwoo clenched his fists and appeared like he wanted to hit June. However, Alex held onto Hyunwoo''s hand and shook his head.


    June smirked. "Come on, man. Hit me."


    Hyunwoo really wanted to hit June, but Alex''s expression told him otherwise. Physical violence was a disqualifying offense in Rising Stars, and they''de too far to ruin their chances of debuting.


    Instead, Alex stepped forward to whisper in June''s ears, "We''ll show you what you did instead," he smirked. He stepped back and winked at June, a murderous glint in his eyes.


    With that, the two of them walked away, leaving June confused.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. Those two kids looked like a joke while they threatened him.


    They were merely teenagers when they trained with Choi Joon-ho.


    June didn''t know much about Joon-ho''s past, but based on what Fu had told him, Joon-ho had been training at Phoenix for six years and left less than a year ago because a trainee reced him for the debut position.


    Fu never mentioned a past with Alex and Hyunwoo, so June didn''t make much of a big deal out of it.


    With that, he decided to head home. He already miss his small apartment.


    He quickly put on his hood and mask since he didn''t want to risk the chance of getting recognized and flocked.


    June left the building and walked to the bus station. He sat on one of the benches and waited patiently. Then, a young girl with her brother sat down next to him. She had lopsided pigtails on, and it appeared like they went out to eat some ice cream.


    However, only the little girl was eating ice cream.


    The guy, who looked like he was Minx''s age, sat her down, looking at her fondly while wiping her messy mouth.


    "Look, brother!" the little girl cutely said, pointing behind June. "It''s the show I like!"


    June subtly turned his head to the side and was surprised to see a Rising Stars poster behind him. Kang Minho was the face of the show, and behind him were the one hundred trainees. They appeared like background characters, their faces not being seen since they were a bit blurred.


    "Right," the young guy chuckled. "The next episode is already near. Let''s watch it together?"


    "Hmm!" the little girl nodded. "I want to see Jisungie."


    June smirked. Good choice, little girl.


    "How about June? Don''t you like him?" the guy asked, and June listened intently.


    "No!" the little girl eximed, causing June to frown. "I don''t like him. I like his pink mask. He should cover his face again."


    June scowled. Alright, this little girl is the same as Minjun.


    They both speak the same way too.


    The guy chuckled. "June''s good, though. He''s probably my favorite."


    June smiled in satisfaction.


    This young man will seed someday.


    However, his smile quickly fell when the little girl started crying.


    "No!" she wailed. "Why is he your favorite? He shouldn''t be your favorite. He''s not cute at all!"


    June was appalled. What did she mean? June was cute at times!


    His friends told him so!


    However, his heart softened after hearing the little girl''s exnation.


    "I should be your favorite," she sniffed. "If June''s your favorite, then how about me?"


    The young man chuckled as he ruffled his sister''s hair. "Of course," he said. "You''re my favorite in the entire world. Not even June canpare to you."


    "Promise?" the little girl cutely said.


    "Promise."


    June let out a quiet sigh. This exchange just made him miss his little sister.


    "Yay!" the little girl eximed. "Then, if I''m your favorite. Can you buy me a doll, brother? The cute one in front of our neighbor''s house."


    The young man scratched the back of his neck. "Umm, I''ll make you one. I''ll make it even cuter than the one they''re selling."


    "Ahh," the girl whined. "But I want that one, brother. You told me you''ll buy me onest month."


    "Then, next month," the young man said. "I promise. Your big brother will just try to make more money to buy you a doll."


    June frowned. It seemed like they were in the same situation as him and Mei Ling too.


    The little girl continued to insist, and it broke June''s heart how she looked so dejected by his rejection. The young man, too, couldn''t hide his disappointment.


    June felt like he had to do something. So, with a sigh, he started rummaging through his pocket.

 Chapter 95 Perspective Taking

    <h4>Chapter 95 Perspective Taking</h4>


    June doesn''t even know why he''s doing this.


    It''s not like he''ll gain anything from it. He isn''t gaining any level-ups, either.


    In fact, he''s even losing something because of these two.


    However, there was something that tugged on his heart, telling him he needed to do something about it.


    He grabbed his wallet and pulled out fifty dors. He clicked his tongue when he realized he only had enough money for a ride back home now. There goes his ns of buying some food while on his way back to the apartment.


    He definitely should talk to Mr. Chang and ask him to work when they have breaks like this.


    June patted the young man''s shoulder. He looked at June suspiciously.


    "I don''t have any money," the young man said.


    June sighed and ced the fifty dors in his palm.


    "What is this?" he asked.


    "Buy the kid the doll she wants," June coldly said. "Her whining is making my ears hurt."


    The young man frowned. "Excuse me, we''re not beggars. And you''re wee to leave if you don''t like my sister''s voice."


    June clicked his tongue. Can''t this boy just take it?


    "Just think of it as a Christmas gift," June said.


    Thetter guy narrowed his eyes. "It''s August. Why are you really giving me this?"


    "Buy the little kid the doll. My bus is here," June said, standing up.


    "Wait!" the young man said. "We''re not a charity case¡ª"


    "I never said you were," June cut him off. "I''m going."


    However, the young man held onto his wrist and pulled him back. The two of them made eye contact, and the young man''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Wait¡ªyou''re June!"


    "Bye!" June eximed and ran to the bus. "Buy her the doll, okay?" he called out as the bus doors closed.


    Then, he sighed in relief when the bus finally started moving. He sat down at the very back, leaning his head against the window and gazing at the night sky.


    His life had been peaceful thus far.


    Compared to his life as Chen Jun Hao, this definitely seemed a lot less dangerous. Yet somehow, there are some aspects he misses about his past life. In the end, he lived longer as Jun Hao than Joon-ho.


    However, he had epted that there was no other way out.


    June still isn''t sure how far he can trust Fu, but things seem to be going pretty okay so far.


    [REWARD! With the host''s rank exceeding five steps, you are given a reward. Exceed missions and earn rewards! Since this is the host''s first reward, you are given what you currently desire the most.]


    June frowned. What he currently desires the most?


    [Reward Title: Perspective Taking. Have the opportunity to see Mei Ling''s life! Valid for two minutes.]


    June stood up on the bus when he read the pop-up, causing some of the passengers to look over his way. He awkwardly sat back down and muttered soft apologies under his breath.


    [Activate now?]


    June looked at thendmark outside the window and saw that he still had a little over five minutes before he arrived at his stop. So, he unhesitatingly nodded.


    "Activate now."


    After uttering those words, June''s vision instantly blurred, and when it was cleared, he wasn''t on the bus anymore. Instead, he was in a room that felt foreign yet warm.


    A scene materialized before his eyes. He found himself in a cozy kitchen, the aroma of homemade food filling the air. It was a ce he had visited many times, even if he hadn''t been physically present.


    He was now seeing through Mei Ling''s eyes, and he watched as she stood in front of the stove, carefully stirring a pot of simmering soup. Her fingers deftly worked, and when she nced at herself at the mirror of the cab, June confirmed his suspicions.


    He is, indeed, in Mei Ling''s perspective.


    June could feel the warmth of the kitchen, thefort of familiarity, and the love that had gone into preparing the meal.


    The scene shifted again, and now June found himself standing at the end of the street, watching as an elderly couple interacted with Mei Ling. The couple''s faces were kind, their eyes filled with warmth as they spoke to her. He could sense their genuine affection for her.


    The realization struck him¡ªthese were the neighbors at the end of the street. The ones who had lost their child and had taken a liking to Mei Ling. June had known them and had even thought that, perhaps, Mei Ling would be better off living with them, especially during the times when he struggled to bnce his work in the gang and taking care of her.


    But Mei Ling had always been adamant. She had insisted on staying with her brother, no matter the challenges they faced. He saw shes of memories¡ªMei Ling''s determination, her unwavering loyalty to him, herughter that had brightened even the darkest days.


    And then, in the blink of an eye, June was back on the bus. He sat there, his heart heavy with the weight of the emotions he had just experienced. He looked down at his hands, and he felt a painful pang in his chest.


    He understood now¡ªMei Ling''s choice to stay with him had been a testament to the bond they had shared as siblings. And now, knowing that she was living with the elderly couple, he felt a bittersweet feeling settle over him. He couldn''t help but smile, even as his heart ached.


    [End of Reward. The scene that is yed is the current Mei Ling''s life. Fu hopes he fulfilled the host''s wishes! Mei Ling''s current life will continue while the host strives to debut!]


    Fuck Fu.


    After seeing those scenes, June felt like he wanted to cry. However, he held himself back.


    Mei Ling was now happy, and June would like to keep it that way.


    And there''s only one way to keep her safe¡ªhe needed to debut.

 Chapter 96 Minjun’s Loaded?

    <h4>Chapter 96 Minjun''s Loaded? </h4>


    June arrived at the apartment, still feeling a bit down, when he bumped into Grandma and Minjun along the way. He removed his hood and mask and greeted them with a smile.


    "Well, if it isn''t our favorite trainee," Grandma eximed. "Did you get another break?"


    "Brother!" Minjun eximed, running to June and hugging his legs.


    June smiled when he saw the two of them. It somehow made him feel better after what happened on the bus.


    "Yeah," I said. "I have around ten days before we go back to the filming site."


    "Then, you''d be here for a long time?" Minjun asked with wide eyes.


    June knelt down to his level and pinched his cheek. "I thought you didn''t want me to be here, huh, kid?"


    "Yeah," Minjun said, looking away from June. "I''m just d I have a person I can tease now. Grandma''s no fun to tease."


    June shook his head. "You still haven''t changed, kid."


    "Well, it looks like you''ve changed a lot," Grandma said, fondly smiling up at him. "Since when have you been this handsome? I swear, you get more handsome every time we meet."


    "It''s those creams you gave me," June said. He noticed that the visual level-ups only made subtle differences. It doesn''t really change his features; it only enhances them. And he wasn''t lying when he said the creams that Grandma gave were actually helpful.


    He hasn''t had a pimple since he started using them!


    "Huh," Grandma said. "I should really start using them, too."


    "Yeah, they''re good."


    "Do you want to head back with us?" Grandma asked. "I''m going to make beef stir fry today."


    "Hell yeah," June said. He already missed her cooking!


    "Let''s go," June said, taking the grocery bags from Grandma''s hand.


    They arrived at Grandma''s apartmentplex, and June noticed that they had a new TV.


    "Woah!" June eximed, sitting down on the floor. "What''s this thing?"


    "It''s a TV, duh!" Minjun retorted, sitting beside him.


    On the other hand, Grandma went to the kitchen and started cooking the beef. It wouldn''t take a long time since the thin beef slices didn''t take that long to cook.


    June scoffed. "I know that. Your old TV was fine. Why''d you buy a new one?"


    Minjun kept quiet and yed with his fingers. Grandma chuckled and answered from the kitchen.


    "He wanted to get a better quality one so he could see you clearer. He begged her mom to buy it for us. Fortunately, since his parents are working in the States, they bought thetest model."


    June smirked and nudged Minjun''s shoulder. "So, you actually support this big brother, huh?" he boasted.


    "Shut up," Minjun snapped. "I just want to watch Little Meow Meow better."


    "Sure, whatever you say," June said, looking at their new, widescreen, 126-inch smart TV.


    From the looks of it, this TV is very expensive. And now that he thinks about it, Minjun''s and Grandma''s items always looked brand new.


    Heck, Grandma''s bag is even from a luxury brand. They can even afford to eat beef every day!


    "Hey, kid," June called out. "Your parents are working in the States, huh?"


    He nodded. "Yeah¡­"


    "What do they work as?"


    "Don''t know," Minjun shrugged. "My Grandma says that it''s business. I don''t know. My mom and dad don''t live together, but they both have businesses."


    "Oh," June said. "Your parents are separated?"


    "Yup!" he nonchntly said. "But it''s okay because Grandma is with me."


    "If your parents work there, then why don''t you move to a better ce?" June couldn''t help but ask. It was obvious that his parents were well-off. The new TV is a testament to that.


    Minjun gestured for June toe closer, so he did. "My dad wants me to live with my other Grandma. They have a bigger house, but I like my Grandma better. So, I decided to stay here since she didn''t want to move anywhere else. This ce stinks, though. It doesn''t even have an elevator! But don''t tell my Grandma that. She''s going to be sad."


    June looked at Minjun with amusement. This kid was very good, after all. June smiled and pinched his cheek. "Don''t worry, I won''t. Unless you give me your old TV."


    Minjun rolled his eyes. "Grandma already asked thendy to bring it to your apartment."


    "Sweet," June eximed, the thought of a new TV making him ted.


    "Dinner''s ready, boys!" Grandma yelled, so the two of them quickly set up the table and waited for Grandma to bring in the main dish for tonight.


    The aroma of beef, vegetables, and soy sauce lingered in the air, causing June''s stomach to rumble. He quickly sat down and shoveled the food into his mouth. Grandma watched him fondly. Ever since he gave her that coffee, she started treating him like his real grandson.


    "Eat up," she warmly said.


    June nodded, continuing to eat.


    As they ate, June suddenly remembered what Minjun said a while ago.


    "Hey, Grandma," he said.


    "Hmm," Grandma hummed.


    "You''ve been living here for a long time, right?"


    Grandma nodded. "I''ve been here before Minjun was even born. Why?"


    "Then, did you also notice when I first came here?"


    "Why, yes," she responded. "I''m always aware of the new tenants in the building. Thendy and I are the same age, and we often talk to each other."


    "Then, did you meet me before?" June warily asked.


    Just then, Grandma''s expression shifted and she brought her utensils down with a dark look on her face. She nodded, her face void of any emotion, making it hard to read what she was thinking.


    "Umm," June trailed off. "If you''ve met me before, can I ask this question¡­"


    "How was I before?"


    Grandma let out a long sigh before gulping her water down.


    "It''s hard to tell," she started off. "For starters, you were a quiet kid. But there''s one thing evident on your skin."


    "What is it?"


    "Bruises," she said. "You always had cuts and bruises."

 Chapter 97 JunexxWW870j

    <h4>Chapter 97 JunexxWW870j</h4>


    "That''s right," Minjun said. "That''s why I didn''t like you back then, bro. You always looked scarying home with bruises."


    "Cuts and bruises?" June asked. "How did I manage to get all of that?"


    "Did you have amnesia or something?" Minjun retorted. "Of course, we wouldn''t know. You''re the only person who can answer that question."


    "Minjun," Grandma scolded. "Be more polite."


    Minjun clicked his tongue and continued eating.


    "I also don''t know, dear," Grandma said. "But I saw you hanging out with some of the bad kids around the neighborhood. Well, it didn''t look like you were hanging out with them. It just seemed like they were asking you to do their errands."


    "So, a push-over?" Minjun interrupted.


    "Well, if you put it that way, then yes," Grandma said. "As I said, you were a quiet kid. Very polite too. However, it appeared like you didn''t take care of yourself very well. You were as skinny as a pole, and your under eyes were as dark as night. I wanted to give you some meals once, but it looked like you didn''t want to be approached."


    "So, Joon-ho''s a good kid?" June asked.


    Grandma chuckled. "You''re talking about yourself in the third person?"


    "Uh, sorry," he said. "So, I was a good kid?" he quickly rified.


    "Yes," Grandma smiled. "You were. You definitely hung out with a bad crowd, but I never saw you do anything particrly bad."


    "Good," June muttered. Then, he doesn''t have anything to worry about.


    It didn''t seem like Choi Joon-ho was capable of evil things like how Alex and Hyunwoo were insinuating.


    "Well, I''m done," June said, carrying his empty te and quickly washing it on the sink.


    "I''ll watch a show on your new TV, okay?" he called out before lying down on the carpet and catching up on some basketball games.


    Not long after, Minjun joined him. He sat on the couch and started ying some games.


    Then, June suddenly remembered his first mission: Make an SNS ount.


    "Hey, kid," June said, turning the volume of the TV down.


    "What?" Minjun asked, not looking away from his phone.


    "Do you know how to make an SNS ount?"


    Minjun finally lifted his head. "You don''t know how to make an SNS ount?"


    "No," June honestly said. "I don''t have one."


    "You don''t have Navel?" he asked. "I saw you scrolling on it a while ago."


    June was familiar with Weibo when he was still in China, and he learned that Navel was the Korean version of that.


    However, he didn''t know that you could make an ount on those two tforms. He thought it was merely for big celebrities and news sites.


    "No," he said. "Don''t you just scroll on it or something? It''s a news app, right?"


    Minjun turned off his game and massaged his temples. "You''re really an old man. You don''t even know this stuff?"


    June clicked his tongue, bringing out his cracked phone from his pocket. "Just show me, won''t ya? I want to make an SNS ount."


    Minjun shook his head and repeatedly clicked his tongue. "I swear¡ªGrandma is better than you. She even has her own ount here."


    "She does?" June''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Yes," Minjun responded. "Now,e here. I''ll show you how to get started."


    June went closer to Minjun and handed him his phone.


    Minjun clicked his tongue as he opened the very old, very heavy device. "Maybe I should ask my dad to buy you a new phone," he said.


    "Then, do that, will ya? Your big bro is struggling over here."


    Minjun shook his head. "Maybe if you give me Little Meow Meow''s sign. But right now, you should stick with this ancient phone."


    June clicked his tongue. "Give it to me. Just teach me or something so I know what? to do next time."


    "Fine," Minjun grumbled. "Go over to ''Sign Up'' and click the button."


    June followed his instruction well. This was simple enough for him to understand.


    "Then go ahead and fill out that important information. Afterward, show me when it''s done," he said.


    "Okay," June said, taking this seriously. Technology had always been his weak feat, and even as Jun Hao, he often asked help from Mei Ling to navigate his phone. In the end, it was still too hard for him, so he merely used it for texting, funny videos, and news updates.


    "Name...Age...Birthday..."


    Name: June


    Age: Twenty-one


    Birthday: December 23, 2002


    Sex: M


    Those were easy enough. June answered those questions in a breeze. However, when it came to the "username" part, he became stuck.


    "Hey, kid. What''s this?" he asked, pointing at the "username" portion.


    "You don''t even know what that is?" Minjun asked.


    "No," June retorted. "Stop asking me questions. Just help me, kid."


    Minjun shook his head. It was strange how a young adult like June didn''t even know how SNS works.


    "It''s a username. It''s what other people see when they''re interacting with you."


    "Ah, so my name?" June asked.


    Minjun sighed in frustration. "They already asked for your name, dimwit. It''s the username. Something creative and fun so that other people will be interested in interacting with you. You''re going to be a celebrity soon, so make sure to make it good, okay?"


    "Okay," June said, determined toe up with a good username.


    ''June.''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''June Choi''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''IdolJune.''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''JuneTheGreat''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''JuneJulyAugust''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''TheRealJune''


    Username has already been taken.


    "What the fuck?" June cursed, getting frustrated because of his numerous failed attempts.


    "Hey, you cursed!" Minjun eximed, but June ignored him.


    "


    It doesn''t want me to have a username," June whined. "It''s always taken. Why the hell are all the ones I like taken?"


    Minjun sighed and grabbed his phone, and looked at his recent username titles.


    "Ew,me," Minjun said. "Because these are so generic. Other people have already taken it."


    June frowned. "What''s your username then?"


    Minjun smiled and opened his Navel ount. It was named ''MinMin.''


    "What?" June eximed. "That''s it? Mine are so much better than that.


    "My 25,000 followers don''t think so," Minjun said, proudly zooming in on his follower ount.


    "Why''d you have so many?" June asked in disbelief.


    Minjun shrugged boastfully. "What can I say? They like my updates."


    June sighed in frustration. He grabbed his phone from Minjun''s hand and typed in ''JunJun.''


    Username has already been taken.


    This became an ongoing battle for June. It felt like this was more intense than the XX battle from Rising Stars.


    ''June_RisingStars''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''June_the_RisingStar''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''KittyIdolJune''


    Username has already been taken.


    ''JuneTheIdolOnRisingStarsWithThePinkCatMask¡ª


    The username is too long.


    ''FuckThisApp''


    The username contains explicit words.


    With a collected sigh, June tried once again.


    ''June_Idol_Rising_Stars_Kitty''


    Username has already been taken.


    "Oh,e on!" he screamed. "How is that even fucking taken?"


    Minjun watched him in amusement, popping some popcorn in his mouth.


    This has been going on for well over fifteen minutes...to thirty...until it finally came.


    Username approved.


    He sighed in relief and plopped down on the carpet when it was finally done.


    Minjun raised his eyebrows and picked up his phone to look at the username June had created.


    ''Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5''

 Chapter 98 Ramen Thief

    <h4>Chapter 98 Ramen Thief</h4>


    "This username sucks ass," Minjun said as he looked June in the eye.


    "Minjun!" Grandma yelled, just having finished her night shower. "Don''t curse, you foolish child."


    "I''m just telling the truth!" Minjun yelled. "Look at his username, Grandma. You can''t tell me it doesn''t look bad," he said, showing her June''s phone.


    June looked at Grandma with wide, bright eyes. It wasn''t too bad, right?


    However, Grandma quickly pursed her lips when she saw his username.


    "See, it''s bad!" Minjun chuckled.


    Grandma let out a sigh. "It is pretty bad. Why didn''t you stick with a much simpler username?" she asked.


    "I tried everything," June said. "That''s the most I could do. Who would have thought that this would be hard? You have a Navel too, right, Grandma?" he asked.


    Grandma nodded. "I made one with Minjunst month since I wanted to monitor your progress on Rising Stars."


    "What''s your username then?" June asked. "I''m sure you also had a hard time making one."


    Grandma shook her head. "The first thing I typed worked."


    June frowned. "What''s your username then? Is it simr to mine?"


    Grandma opened her phone and went to Navel. She quickly navigated her page and showed June her user interface.


    "Here," she said.


    June couldn''t believe his eyes. "This is your username?" he asked.


    She nodded with a smile. "Isn''t it cute?"


    "Do you know someone from Navel? How could you have such a simple username?"


    "Well, it wasn''t taken," Grandma nonchntly said. "Your username''s good too. It''s one of a kind."


    June sighed.


    Grandma''s username was "Grandma."


    And it wasn''t taken by other people? It seemed like the world had it out for June!


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted your mission: Create an SNS ount. Please pick an aspect to improve.]


    ''Dance.''


    [Wise choice! Dance +1. Current grade: B]


    ***


    The soft glow of the sunset spilled into June''s bedroom, casting a warm ambiance in the small room. After days of grueling practice and intensepetition in Rising Stars, he finally had the chance to sleep for more than eight hours.


    So, despite his rock-hard mattress and poorly-ventted room, he felt so serene¡ªlike the room wrapped him in afortable embrace.


    Juney sprawled on his bed, his tousled hair spilling over the pillow. His chest rose and fell rhythmically as he snoozed,pletely unaware of the world around him.


    After hours of deep slumber, a faint grumble came from June''s stomach, prompting him to stir awake. Blinking away the remnants of his sleep, he stretched his arms overhead and let out a contented sigh.


    June pushed himself to his feet and shuffled into the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn, his mind still caught in the realm between sleep and wakefulness.


    He rummaged through his almost empty cupboard and smiled when he saw a packet of spicy ramen in the farthest corner. He had missed the simple pleasures of junk food during his time on the show, and the ramen would be the best item to satisfy his craving.


    With practiced ease, June filled a pot with water and set it on the stove. The soft hiss of water soon grew into a bubbling symphony as he dropped the noodles and seasoning packet into the pot. As he waited, he leaned against the counter, gazing out the window. The view of his neighborhood seemed remarkably different from the camera-filled sets he''d be ustomed to.


    As the water boiled, June quickly turned off the stove to make the noodles have that ''bouncy'' feel. He then ced it on top of the coaster on the small table, not bothering to use a bowl since washing it would be too much work.


    He opened the lid, and the air instantly overflowed with the distinct scent of ramen¡ªtheforting fragrance of umami and spices that seemed to have the power to make his heart dance.


    June''s hand hovered over the steaming pot of ramen, the chopsticks poised for the long-awaited bite.


    However, just as he was about to dig in, an insistent knock echoed through his apartment, jolting him out of his peaceful moment. Irritated, he shot a re at the door as if his displeasure alone could fend off the intruder.


    Sighing, he set the chopsticks down and trudged to the door, his annoyance growing with each step. He yanked the door open, fully prepared to give whoever was on the other side a piece of his mind. But his words froze on his tongue as he took in the unexpected sight.


    There stood C-Jay and Jangmoon, grinning cheekily. Behind them, Akira and Jisung shared a knowing smile as if they were all conspirators in some grand n.


    "Hey, big brother!" Jangmoon eximed. "Did you miss us?"


    "No," June deadpanned. "I saw you yesterday. I don''t want to see you until the mission next week."


    Before June could react, the two of them breezed past him, strolling into his apartment with the familiarity of people who had lived there for years. June''s jaw dropped in disbelief. He hadn''t realized his front door had turned into a revolving entrance for his fellow trainees.


    C-Jay plopped down on the couch, making himselffortable with a contented sigh. "Ah, it''s good to be here. Your ce smells like you. It''s soforting."


    June''s face twisted into disgust. "What the fuck does that mean?"


    Jangmoon strolled into the kitchen as if he owned it, opening the fridge as if he had the right to do so. "You''ve got any drinks in here?"


    June''s irritation was rapidly transforming into bewildered amusement. He opened his mouth to tell him off, but C-Jay quickly cut him off.


    "Hey, what''s that delicious smell ?" C-Jay''s eyes lit up with a mischievous twinkle as he followed his nose to the small table.


    June''s heart sank as C-Jay made a beeline for the ramen. "Don''t you dare¡ª"


    But it was toote. C-Jay and Jangmoon each sat at the table and plunged their chopsticks into the bowl of ramen, slurping away with enthusiasm.


    June''s frustration reached a boiling point. "Are you kidding me? That''s mine!"


    "Damn," C-Jay sighed in satisfaction. "You''re really a great cook, bro. Why does this taste so much better than when I make it?"


    June''s eyebrows knitted together as he watched his friends feast on his treasured bowl of ramen. With a huff of surrender, he finally spoke up. "Okay, seriously, what are you all doing here? I told you not toe."


    Akira wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "We came here to watch Rising Stars with you," he said. "Jisung even bought food," he said, gesturing to the stic bag in Jisung''s hand.


    "Leave that here, then go home. Watch it at your house."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "But we came this far already, and we even have a surprise guest!"


    June''s confusion deepened as Akira made a grand gesture toward the doorway. "He''s a bit shy, so he''s been hiding behind that wall."


    June frowned and squinted his eyes.


    "Jaeyong?" he muttered.


    "Hey," Jaeyong mumbled.


    "What the hell are you doing here?" June asked.


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his head. "Well, the other guys said they''re going toe to your ce, so I uhh¡ªwanted toe too," he said thest statement so quietly that June didn''t even hear it.


    "Go home," June said to the five of them, but it seemed like they weren''t listening. Instead, they made themselves feel at home, turning on June''s new TV and opening the packets of food they''d bought.


    June stood at the doorway and sighed.


    He can never have a peaceful day, can he?

 Chapter 99 Murder On My Mind

    <h4>Chapter 99 Murder On My Mind</h4>


    With the skies finally turning ck, the group settled in front of the TV to watch the fifth episode of Rising Stars. They tuned into Azure''s YouWatch channel, where numerousments could be seen floating at the side.


    "Look," C-Jay pointed, still snacking on June''s ramen. "They''re talking about you, brother! You''ve be so popr that you can evenpete with Jaeyong''s fans."


    June squinted his eyes to read thements.


    "June is my little kitty cat. I raised him, fed him, and taught him how to use the toilet. Please give him lots of love!"


    "I can''t wait for June''s team to suffer again."


    "I''m always looking forward to watching June struggle during these missions. It''s my joy in life."


    "Fighting, June! Let''s see a fight this time."


    June sighed. It''s hard to decipher whether these are really fan''sments or not.


    Howe Jaeyong and the others get such cutements from their fanbases?


    Jangmoon cracked up as he read thements out loud. Truly, June''s fans were the funniest of their kind.


    June clicked his tongue and ced a piece of lettuce in Jangmoon''s mouth, effectively shutting him up.


    "The song choosing is up first," Jisung said. "This was legendary. I really thought the bottom ranks would finally be able to pick the songs first."


    C-Jay sighed. "I thought so too. But of course, Azure wouldn''t give us what we wanted that easily."


    The scene continued until it was time for June to choose a song. The people in thements were excited to see another stage from Akira and June, but little did they know¡­


    Ren came into the room, pacing back and forth between the two song choices. In the end, he mercilessly kicked June out of team ''Beside Me,'' so he naturally went to ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''


    "June and Akira!!! But it''s okay; at least he''ll be with Jisung."


    "I wonder how they''re going to perform this song. The team has so many good members already."


    "This song is tough to sing, isn''t it? I don''t have a good feeling about it."


    Then, Ren''s interview was shown on screen. "I had to do it," he said. "Hwan''s song had way too manypetitors. It''ll be very hard to arrange too."


    June sighed. He understood Ren''s reasoning. As one of the few members of the show who actually has producing skills, ''''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave'' was something he had to avoid.


    Afterward, the birth of the legendary team was born. Thement section was going nuts for the unexpectedbination. Almost all of the top ten trainees were in June''s team.


    "Good luck, ck kitty."


    "As expected, he''s really a ck kitty. How can hepete with these monsters?"


    "He probably gotst during the second mission."


    June scoffed. These people¡ªif they only knew June got second ce!


    The team performances started with Akira''s team, and their process wasn''t the smoothest out of all too. Ren ran into some problems with the arrangement, and his other groupmates started ming him for doing a mediocre job.


    Jangmoon frowned. "I thought you didn''t run into any problems at all. You did well during the interim evaluations."


    Akira sighed. "Yeah, my other teammates are just pieces of shit, honestly. They gave Ren all the work to arrange the song, but they med him for not doing a satisfactory job. I helped Ren the second time, so we were able to make another one on the same day."


    "That''s good," Jisung said. "Ren looked really sad in those scenes."


    The team performances continued until the team that performed "Forever Young" came on screen. This teamprised of the Phoenix trainees and four other unknown trainees.


    Naturally, Hyunwoo won the personal benefit since he had the highest rank.


    "These two are like two peas of a pod, aren''t they?" Akira asked. "I rarely see them without the other."


    "It''s natural," Jaeyong responded. "They''re from the same agency."


    "Still," Akira said, looking to be in deep thought. "There''s something strange between them. I wonder if they''ve trained together for a long time."


    "They have," C-Jay suddenly said, causing June to turn to him.


    "You know them?" June asked.


    "Duh," C-Jay said in an obvious tone. "I know most of the trainees in thepetition. Especially those who came from biggerpanies."


    "So you knew about me already?" Jisung asked.


    C-Jay proudly nodded. "I came to one of your dancepetitions too. You were great, man."


    Jisung looked at him with wide eyes, but C-Jay remained unfazed. Akira, too, was weirded out.


    "Just how much do you gossip around?" Akira asked.


    "A lot," he responded. "You''d be surprised by what I know."


    "What do you know?" June couldn''t help but ask. Maybe he could learn about Alex and Hyunwoo through C-Jay.


    "Let''s start with the basics¡ªthe kid stuff. Alex and Hyunwoo had been training for a long time. I think five or six years? At a young age, they started training with Phoenix, and they were even bound to debut with CHAOS at that time."


    Jisung gasped in surprise. "Really? Did that fall through then?"


    "Well, of course," C-Jay said. "They wouldn''t be in Rising Stars if it went well. It just so happened that they were taken out of the debut team six months before the set debut date. I think it had something to do with another unknown trainee?"


    June''s frown deepened. "The unknown trainee? Do you know about him?"


    "No," C-Jay said. "I don''t keep up with the unknown losers."


    "Ah, so you don''t keep up with yourself?" Jangmoon nonchntly asked as he continued eating.


    C-Jay pped the back of his head, and the two of them proceeded to brawl on the floor, causing the others tough.


    June, however, remained silent.


    So, he definitely had something to do with the fallthrough of Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s debut.


    But in what way?


    June cleared his throat. "Don''t you have any other details on why they didn''t debut?"


    C-Jay and Jangmoon stopped fighting and finally let go of each other.


    "There is something else," he slowly said. "Come here," he whispered, gesturing for them toe closer.


    The five of them huddled together.


    "The reason why they didn''t debut is because...


    ...they murdered someone."

 Chapter 100 Drama Stir Fry

    <h4>Chapter 100 Drama Stir Fry</h4>


    June felt his heart skip a beat, and it seemed like the others were also taken aback by C-Jay''s statement.


    Murder? Is June a part of something that''s way deeper than he had imagined?


    Then, like a fucking joke, C-Jayughed out loud, causing a collective sigh to break out in the room.


    "Hey," Jangmoon said. "That''s not a good joke."


    C-Jay continuedughing but eventually raised his hands in surrender.


    "Yeah, I''m sorry. I don''t know if that''s real," he said. "But it''s not in baseless. It''s an ongoing rumor in Phoenix. It hasn''t been confirmed, though."


    "Give us the context at least," Jangmoon retorted.


    "Geez, fine," C-Jay said. "Let''s start from the beginning.? Apparently, there were four ancient trainees in Phoenix¡ªthose that have been training for the next big boy group in thepany."


    "They were set to debut in CHAOS, but somehow, none of them managed to get through," he said.


    "And two of them were Alex and Hyunwoo?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Yes," C-Jay affirmed. "And the bullying scandal I told you is about the other trainee.


    Apparently, the bullying was so intense for this one trainee that he had to leave. That was the confirmed story. However, the streets are saying that he was beaten to death."


    Jangmoon grimaced. "I don''t think that''s real. We''re just trainees! I''m sure thepany wouldn''t tolerate it if it happened."


    June felt so confused. Is the trainee in the story pertaining to him? But then, it wouldn''t make sense! How could Alex and Hyunwoo still know him if he had died already?


    "You said there were four," June said. "Where''s the other one right now?"


    "Right," C-Jay said. "The lives of these four ancient trainees intertwined until the end. The other one was bullied, so who was naturally used? Of course, the other three! However, in the end, Alex and Hyunwoo pleaded innocent, and only the other one was med. He got kicked out of thepany, while Alex and Hyunwoo got to stay but were kicked out of the debut group. They were all reced by newer trainees in the end."


    June pursed his lips. So, it was most likely that he was the fourth trainee in the story¡ªthe one who got kicked out.


    He cursed under his breath. He didn''t have a good feeling about that one.


    Then, if there were four of them back then. Did the other trainee die too?


    Choi Joon-ho would have died if Jun Hao didn''t transmigrate in his body.


    This was just confusing.


    "I''m really surprised that you know so much about this stuff," Akira said. "It makes me wonder if what you''re saying is credible."


    "It''s a hundred percent legit!" C-Jay defended. "I''ve been an insider for years now. I know what''s false and what''s fact. The murder part is probably false, but all the other details are real. At least, that''s what my sources tell me," he chuckled.


    "Do a lot of people know about this?" June asked.


    "Of course not," C-Jay said. "It''s insider news. Only a few people are aware of it. So, don''t go telling people what you''ve heard today."


    Jaeyong scoffed. "It''s not like they''ll believe me anyway."


    "I don''t want to talk about this anymore," Jisung said in a shaky voice. "Let''s just go back to watching the show, please."


    The fiveds didn''t realize they had been talking for quite some time. It was already near the end of the episode!


    Even as June faced the screen, he couldn''t help but let his mind wander to what C-Jay had said. The details were different from what Fu had told him. At the start, Fu said that Joon-ho was merely reced by a new trainee despite training for plenty of years. He never mentioned how he got reced.


    June clicked his tongue. This was much moreplicated than he had thought.


    "So, only six teams are going to be aired today?" Jaeyong asked. "We''ll be shown next week then."


    "Aish," C-Jay sighed. "Because of you guys, I missed Bodylicious!"


    "Just watch it online," Akira retorted. "Maybe then, you''ll get a million views," he teased, causing C-Jay and Jangmoon to chase him around the room.


    "It was a joke!"


    The three of them continued to run like little kids.


    June sighed and faced the TV once more. He didn''t appear much on today''s episode. It was expected. Their team''s performance will be shown next week, probably at the very end too.


    So, all in all, it wasn''t too eventful.


    That is¡­until the previews were shown.


    "Quiet down, will you?" Jaeyong snapped. "The previews are here."


    The three finally stopped running and sat back down for the previews.


    It was seemingly normal at first, just showing practice sessions transitioning to legendary performances. However, it got weirder at the end.


    It first showed the fight between Team Aces and how it wasn''t going well. June had already expected this to happen. The production crew would milk their misunderstandings and create a tension that was far more intense than the actual scene.


    Jisung yed with his fingers as he paid attention.


    "Damn, you went through a lot," Akira chuckled. "This background music isn''t helping at all, too."


    Then, the screen momentarily turned ck. Just as they thought the teaser was finally over, a night camera was shown on screen, along with the rustling sound of white noise.


    June frowned when he recognized the scene.


    T


    here were two trainees sitting on the stairs, oblivious to the fact that they were being recorded.


    "Brother, that''s you," Jisung said, pointing at the screen. "...And Zeth?"


    At first nce, June already thought it was weird. They were sitting on the staircase. It was


    the day Juneforted Zeth, which moved him to tears. However, the shot made it look like Zeth was crying because of June...and it wasn''t anything good.


    It was blurred, and their distance seemed to be letting on an unspeakable tension.


    Then, June opened his mouth.


    "Nobody actually cares about you at all."


    He raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    "You''re not special."


    The five of them watched in unnerved silence.


    Afterward, the scene where June was storming off into his room, leaving Zeth behind, was shown.


    And just like that, the evil editing began.

 Chapter 101 Here Comes Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 101 Here Comes Trouble</h4>


    June wanted to apud the Rising Stars production team. Azure once again proved themselves to be the ''evil editing'' kings.


    The statements that June originally said were¡ª


    "You don''t have to be perfect. If you really think about it, nobody actually cares about you at all. We''re all too focused on ourselves to give a damn about other people."


    And "We all fear that, Zeth. You''re not special. Of course, it''s alright to feel down every once in a while. That''s normal. It''s just the wheel of life."


    And the reason why he stormed off in the end was because he had to take a huge dump!


    He couldn''t even get mad since it was seamlessly edited.


    June could already see thements rushing in on the side of the video.


    "What the fuck? Who is he to tell our Zeth that he''s not special?"


    "That masked bitch is getting courageous just because he gained a petty number of fans."


    "Get off your high horse. Zeth is the best."


    "June is jealous of Zeth."


    "I bet it''s June''s fault why they were being scolded in?the teaser."


    "Fuck you, June."


    And just like that, the live stream ended.


    The five boys were stunned to silence as the episode ended. They were no strangers to the ''evil editing'' scheme. Even Jaeyong, when he didn''t pick Akira for the first mission, was a victim of it. And in this episode, Ren was also subjected to some kind of ''evil editing.''


    However, June''s was probably the worst one of them all.


    "Did you actually say that?" Jisung asked, concernced in his voice.


    "Well, it came out of my mouth," June said. "But I didn''t say it that way."


    "Those evil bastards," Akira said. "They''re going to make us wait another week to clear up the misunderstanding?"


    June clicked his tongue. Out of everyone in the show, why would he be the biggest victim of the ''evil editing'' scheme?


    "What are we going to do, big brother?" Jangmoon asked, squeezing June''s arm.


    "We can''t do anything right now," June said.


    "Do you want to do a Navel live?" C-Jay asked. "We''re not forbidden tomunicate with our fans online anymore."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong said. "But we''re not allowed to give spoilers about the show. Do you want to take one for the team and exin June''s situation?"


    "Let''s just wait it out," June said.


    "But you''re going to be the subject of hate for the next week," Jisung said.


    "It''s alright," June shrugged. He was used to it already.


    "What''s the worst thing that could happen?" he added.


    ***


    Something worse happened.


    June would have never said those words if this was going to be the consequence.


    As soon as he woke up, he was bombarded with texts and phone calls.


    It was a rainy morning, and the gloomy atmosphere instantly put June in a shitty mood. He hated the cold.


    His sleep was yet again interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. June checked the time and saw it was still 7 in the morning.


    June groaned in annoyance. Those four kids left the house around midnight, and despite June''s assurance that he didn''t need anyone tofort him, they still stayed and made a big deal out of the situation.


    His phone continued ringing, so he reluctantly answered.


    "What?" he snapped, his eyes still closed.


    "Bro," Jisung said through the phone, his voice filled with anxiety.


    "What happened?" June asked, finally sitting up.


    "Have you seen Navel yet?"


    ''No," June grumbled. "I just woke up."


    "Check it out now, brother. It''s bad..."


    Since June recognized the urgency in his voice, he quickly opened Navel.


    Didst night''s episode make that big of an impact that he''d be trending on Navel?


    Fortunately, he didn''t have to search long and hard because as soon as he opened the app, he saw his face on the very front page. It was trending number one in South Korea with over a hundred thousand topics.


    June quickly clicked on the trend and scrolled through the topics.


    ''Controversy Unveiled: Rising Stars Trainee ''June'' Faces usations of Bullying from Fellow Contestants''


    ''Masked Kittydol was a Phoenix Trainee? Not Only That, But He''s A Bully, Too?''


    The headlines weren''t really exining the situation, so June opened one of them to read.


    ''Exposing the Face Behind The Mask: Rising Stars'' June is a Bully?''


    In a surprising turn of events, what was intended to be a casual chat with fans on ''Navel Live'' took a dramatic shift as idol trainees Alex and Hyunwoo, well-known figures from Phoenix Entertainment, used the tform to expose fellow contestant June. The incident has ignited a heated controversy within the idol survival program ''Rising Stars.''


    During the live streamst night, the two trainees were asked by fans if there were any trainees they didn''t particrly like. Their response, marked by an unexpected burst ofughter, took viewers by surprise. The atmosphere quickly turned tense as they proceeded to reveal alleged negative aspects of June''s past.


    ording to Alex and Hyunwoo''s ount, June had previously been associated with Phoenix Entertainment as a trainee. However, they imed that his actions had led to them missing out on opportunities, including a chance to debut. The revtions took a more disturbing turn as they used June of being responsible for a teammate''s departure from thepany, further hinting at strained rtionships within the organization.


    June, who had garnered significant poprity among viewers, described as the "Masked Trainee" and "ck Kitty Idol,'' kept his identity concealed for the majority of the show. His charismatic performances and charming personality had earned him a strong fan base.


    The exposure video has generated mixed reactions from fans and the general public alike. Many expressed their disappointment and shock at the allegations made by Alex and Hyunwoo. Moreover, followingst night''s episode, where a cryptic preview of June''s conversation with first-ranked trainee Zeth was shown, many viewers are starting to believe that June is, indeed, evil behind the mask.


    Stay tuned for more updates.


    June let out a cold chuckle as he finished reading the news article.


    So, it has started, huh?


    Amidst thinking of his next course of action, a pop-up suddenly appeared.


    [Missions have been reset! Here are your new missions:


    1. Post a selfie on your SNS ount. Gain over a hundred thousand interactions!


    2. Kick someone out of thepetition.]


    As usual, Fu always has great timing.

 Chapter 102 Mission FlufferNutter

    <h4>Chapter 102 Mission FlufferNutter</h4>


    These new missions were just adding up to June''s frustrations.


    Posting a selfie?


    That would just get him murdered on the streets. He was already being murdered online by Zeth''s dedicated fans, the Phoenix''s trainees'' enthusiastic fangirls, casual viewers, and people who just love to hate on others.


    And kick someone out of the show? At this point, he''ll be the one kicked out if nothing changes.


    June sighed in frustration as he raked his hands through his hair, leaving it a mess.


    And just then, he received another text.


    ''Pay your rent this month!'' the monster texted.


    Great, thendy has the same perfect timing as Fu.


    ***


    June leaned against the counter of the convenience store, absentmindedly scanning the shelves while his thoughts swirled in a whirlwind of frustration. The flickering fluorescent lights cast a pale glow over the rows of snacks and drinks, creating an eerie ambiance. Thankfully, Mr. Chang gave him another opportunity to work at his store while June was on a break.


    However, June felt like he wasn''t on a break at all. Last night''s usations hung heavy on his mind.


    used of bullying those two hooligans?


    June couldn''t believe it. He clenched his jaw, the muscles in his arms tensing. He grabbed a pack of instant noodles from the shelf and tossed it into his basket with a little more force than necessary.


    June''s thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the bell above the entrance chimed, announcing a new arrival. He looked up nonchntly as he saw a familiar face walking into the store.


    Hana.


    The girl whose money he returned and the same girl on the soju bottle.


    "Hey," she eximed, her eyes brightening when she saw the familiar worker.


    June sighed quietly and went behind the counter. "What do you want?" he asked in a rough voice, still feeling frustrated with what was happening.


    Hana chuckled, amused. Ever since she met the blunt worker in the convenience store, she went almost every week in hopes of meeting him again.


    She didn''t know what drew her into such a cold person, but it just felt refreshing not to be perceived as a famous celebrity.


    Fame sometimes gets tiring, you know?


    "Are you a student or something?" Hana asked, obviously intrigued. "You only work here from time to time."


    June sighed. Only his eyes were seen, so the annoyance wasn''t as evident in his face.


    "Something like that," June responded. Then, he impatiently tapped his fingers on the counter.


    "Are you buying anything?"


    He couldn''t believe he was turning into that part-timer in the convenience store near Azure, but he couldn''t help it.


    He really wasn''t in the mood.


    Hana smiled and grabbed a pack of gum. "Just this," she said.


    June quickly rang the item and gave it to Hana.


    "Are you working here tomorrow?" Hana asked, leaning against the counter.


    "No," June deadpanned.


    Hana smiled. "Got it. See you tomorrow!" she eximed as she left the convenience store.


    June sighed and shook his head. Is he a people ma or something? Why are people so adamant about meeting him when he''s done nothing but push them away?


    And speaking of people he didn''t want to see, Jisung, C-Jay, Jangmoon, and Akira entered the store with concerned looks on their faces.


    "Big Brother!" Jangmoon screamed, jumping up the counter to hug June and inspect his features. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he dramatically asked. June clicked his tongue and pushed him away.


    "I didn''t get into an ident," June said. Although, that would honestly be better.


    Akira sat on the counter while Jisung stood next to him. C-Jay proceeded to snack on a discarded bag of chips while Jangmoon kept clinging to him.


    "I''m starting to believe that June is a ck cat in his past life. You''re lucky and unlucky all at the same time," Akira chuckled.


    C-Jay nodded. "Tell me about it. He always gets himself into shitty situations, but he somehow gets through them in the end. I''m sure you''ll get through this one too. It''s not like you really trained at Phoenix, right?" C-Jay chuckled.


    "True," Jangmoon chimed.


    However, June remained silent, causing the four to look at him with inquiry.


    "Wait," Akira awkwardly chuckled. "Don''t tell me¡ª"


    "I did," June said, looking into their eyes. "I trained at Phoenix."


    "What?" they eximed.


    "How many years?" C-Jay asked.


    "Seven," June responded, causing their eyes to bulge out of their sockets.


    "Holy shit," Akira cursed. "Then, are you part of the ancient trainees that C-Jay was talking about?"


    June shrugged.


    "How could you be so nonchnt about this?" C-Jay asked, leaning over the counter to shake June''s body. "Then, are you saying you''re the fourth trainee in my story? The one that was kicked out because of the bullying scandal?"


    "Then, that also means that what Alex and Hyunwoo are saying is all true?" Jangmoon asked. "Their chances of debuting were halted because of you? Did you do something when you trained at Phoenix? Or maybe it''s all just a big misunderstanding?"


    Jisung bit his lip in anxiousness while the others urged him to respond.


    That was the point. June would be able to prove that he isn''t a bully if he knew what truly happened. However, the truth was...


    "I don''t know."


    The other four were stunned to silence. Jangmoon took a step back, seemingly wary of June''s presence. The other''s expressions weren''t any different¡ªthey all looked suspicious of June.


    June sighed in frustration. "Look," he started. "I don''t know what truly happened. I can''t fully refute what Alex and Hyunwoo said because I genuinely don''t know. But one thing''s certain¡ªthose two aren''t good people. I''m not asking you to believe me or anything like that, but I think you can judge my character. You guys tell me if I''m really capable of doing something like that."


    His friends didn''t speak for a while, then Jangmoon slowly scooted over to him, capturing him into a warm hug.


    "Sorry, big brother," Jangmoon said. "I just got scared. But now that I think about it, I don''t think you''re capable of doing any of that."


    "Yeah," Jisung quickly nodded. "You''re a good person, brother. You''re right when you said that Alex and Hyunwoo were not good people. I met them once before Rising Stars, and they wereughing at a disabled trainee, telling him he wouldn''t debut because of his disability."


    Akira frowned. "And they have the audacity to use someone else of bullying?" he scoffed. "Don''t worry, June. We''re with you. We''ll help you prove your innocence."


    June sighed. "Thanks," he muttered, not expecting their support.


    "Of course," C-Jay said, patting his back. "Who else would have your back, brother? We''re with you until the end. Before the airing of the sixth episode, let''s all prove your innocence!" he eximed.


    "Let''s name it: Mission Fluffernutter: Busting the Nutty Case of June''s Innocence."

 Chapter 103 Girl On The Soju Bottle

    <h4>Chapter 103 Girl On The Soju Bottle</h4>


    "That''s a shit name," Akira retorted. "What the fuck is a FlufferNutter? And did you just say that June will bust a nut?"


    "I kinda want to see that," Jangmoon said.


    "Ay-yo?" Jisung eximed.


    "Shut up," C-Jay said. "It''s not like you cane up with a better name. You like it, right, June?"


    "No," June deadpanned.


    "I thought so," C-Jay smiled. "So, let''s get down to business. How are we going to do this?"


    As Jisung, C-Jay, Jangmoon, and Akira gathered around June, the convenience store suddenly became a hub of absurd suggestions.


    C-Jay waved his arms dramatically, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I say we challenge them to a dance-off! Show them we can''t be bullied on the dance floor!"


    Jangmoon raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Dance-off? Are we in a cheesy ''80s movie?"


    Jangmoon leaned in, his voice conspiratorial. "What if we hire a team of trained pigeons to fly in formation spelling ''June is innocent''?"


    Akira couldn''t help but chuckle at the sheer absurdity of the idea. "Yeah, because nothing says ''innocence'' like pigeons with banners."


    Jisung, always the emotional optimist, pped his hands together. "I''ve got it! We''ll write a heartfelt bad about the injustice of the situation and perform it on Navel Live!"


    Akira tilted his head, a bemused smile on his lips. "You want us to be singing activists now?"


    "You guys are hopeless," June said, massaging his nose bridge.


    Akira chuckled, patting June''s back. "I think the best thing we can do is find more information about what really happened. Are you sure you don''t remember what happened?"


    "I blurred it out," June said, not giving anything away. "It must have been a traumatizing time."


    It seemed like they were convinced since they stopped asking more questions.


    "Alright," C-Jay said. "Then, do you know anyone from back then that could help you remember the past?"


    "No," June bluntly said. "I don''t have anything right now."


    A collective sigh was heard in the store, and C-Jay slumped on the counter.


    "Then, I also don''t know how to start," he said. He saw a glimpse of the sparkling green bottle and quickly grabbed it. "Why don''t we drink it out?"


    "I''m down," Jangmoon said. "But is there a different brand of soju around here? The actress on this bottle just turns out to be a part of our enemy. Well, she used to be a part of them...but her blood is still running with their genes!"


    June frowned, grabbing the bottle from C-Jay''s hand. It was none other than Hana, the woman he met two times already.


    "Hana?" June asked. "She''s an actress?"


    The four of them looked at June like he had grown three heads.


    "No, the circus clown," Akira chuckled. "Yes, the actress! How could you know her name but not her profession?"


    June shrugged. "I don''t know. I thought she was just a soju model since she strolls around here from time to time."


    Again, he didn''t gain a response from the group of guys.


    "What?" June asked.


    "It''s official," Jangmoon chuckled in disbelief.? "You''ve lost it, brother. Hana Lim is an A-list celebrity. Why would she be lingering in a ce like this?"


    "It''s true," June said. "She even came around this morning and talked to me."


    They all huddled over inughter, tears streaming down their faces.


    "Alright. Don''t get too ahead of yourself now, big brother," Jangmoon said, pping his knees. "We know that you''re handsome, but someone like Hana Lim wouldn''t even look our way."


    June tiredly sighed. "Fine. Believe what you want to believe. But why did C-Jay say that Hana has the enemy''s blood?"


    "You''re clueless," C-Jay said. "And you want us to believe that you''ve actually met her?"


    "Just tell me."


    "Before Hana Lim became an actress, she trained as an idol... in Phoenix."


    ***


    After a long day of work, Hana finally plopped down on her soft couch in her luxurious apartment. Hana was wearing worn-out shorts, a freebie oversized shirt, and thick reading sses. Her underwear was worn-out too.


    Argue all you want, but new underwear sucks ass.


    A smile grew on her face as her mind lingered on the encounter at the convenience store.


    The young man, who looked cute and rebellious at the same time, continued to treat her with a nonchnt attitude. It was refreshing to meet someone who didn''t recognize her as the famous actress she was.


    Hana didn''t know why she felt so drawn to the worker, whose name she didn''t even know. However, before she even knew it, she found herself going back to the convenience store from time to time, hoping to meet him once again. Aside from that, the convenience store sold goods for a much lower price than the supermarket.


    Then, her mind strayed to the person from her past ¡ª the one she was reminded of when she spoke to the convenience store guy for the first time ¡ª the person who brought profound sadness whenever she thought about him.


    It was strange. The two of them were so different. But Hana could sense the genuineness in their attitudes.


    She tried to shake off those thoughts since she hadn''t seen him in a long time. Today was supposed to be her escape from the relentless world of fame and unending work.


    She was currently filming a period drama, and it had been the most exhausting filming process she had ever done.


    This week was a rare chance for her to rx and do what she wanted before she got enved by the demanding filming schedule, so she wanted to make the most of it.


    While popping greasy chips in her mouth, she turned on the TV and scrolled through countless channels. However, much to her disappointment, nothing seemed to be appealing to watch.


    A cake bake-off, but with kids.


    A modelingpetition, but with kids.


    A zombie simtion movie...starred by kids.


    Hana sighed in frustration since all of them somehow involved kids.


    Sighing, Hana picked up the remote and began scrolling through the channels she usually didn''t watch; she hesitated when she reached a channel that typically featured idol-rted shows ¡ª Azure.


    Since leaving Phoenix and retiring from being an idol trainee herself, she had purposely distanced herself from anything resembling her former life.


    However, curiosity got the best of her, and she settled on the channel.


    ''Rising Stars'' were written on the corner. Hana was familiar with the show. Of course, she was. She''ll have to be living under a rock for her not to recognize the famous show.


    She also knew that it was currently airing, but she stayed away from the show because she was aware of the enjoinment of the two Phoenix trainees ¡ª Alex and Hyunwoo.


    Hana scowled as she remembered those two. Even their names left a bitter taste in her mouth.


    Her mood dampened even more when Alex was shown on screen, seemingly choosing a song for this particr mission.


    Hana clicked his tongue and was about to turn off the TV when she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar-looking person.


    She stopped in her tracks and squinted her eyes, hoping the camera would focus on that person again.


    Then, it happened.


    Illuminated on her very HD television was June with a nonchnt look on his face.


    "Choi Joon-ho?"

 Chapter 104 Remember Me?

    <h4>Chapter 104 Remember Me?</h4>


    ''10% Low Battery.''


    Jia cursed under her breath as she switched from her phone to her tablet. She had been on fire since dawn, defending June from countless haters left and right.


    It wasn''t a good day to be a June stan.


    "LukeDefender87: Fucking bully. Let me punch your mouth so it caves in. My faves could never do that."


    "MyKittyJune: Bitch, you''re a Luke stan. You''re fave got caught doing drugs and was kicked out of RAVEN. June could never."


    "Alex''sFeet: I had a bad feeling about that June ever since he removed his mask. He''s a twat who can''t sing, dance, or rap."


    "MyKittyJune: And you have a foot fetish. Your faves'' statements haven''t even been proved yet."


    "ZethLovesMe: It doesn''t need to be confirmed anymore. Did you see how he treated Zeth in the previews? You''re delusional if you think June is innocent."


    "MyKittyJune: It''s a preview! I hope you swallow your words once the episode actually airs. And you''re talking about delusions? You''re fucking delusional for thinking Zeth loves you. He doesn''t even know you exist!"


    "HyunwooMyDaddy: June is fucking ugly. Fix your face, bitch."


    "MyKittyJune: Fix your daddy issues first."


    June wanted tough as he read the hatements under his topic. However, he realized there wasn''t anything tough about.


    He''s being canceled online despite theck of evidence on Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s part. And the preview with Zeth on thest episode wasn''t helping his situation, either.


    Although some loyal fans are defending him and rational people are waiting for official statements, most have alreadybeled him as a "bully" and are petitioning for him to get kicked out of the show.


    He kept scrolling through his phone when the bells chimed, signaling the arrival of another customer. June was secretly hoping for someone to arrive, and fortunately, the person he was waiting for came in.


    Hana returned to the convenience store, her feet bouncing with anticipation as she entered. Her eyes scanned the store until theynded on June, and a subtle smile yed on her lips as she approached.


    "Hey," she greeted, her voice light and friendly. "I thought you weren''t working today," she teased, pertaining to his adamant denial yesterday.


    June''s expression remained unchanged, although a glimmer of curiosity danced in his eyes. "Hey," he replied in his trademark curt manner.


    Hana leaned against the counter, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You know, most people I meet can''t help but act all starstruck. But you¡­ You''re refreshingly indifferent."


    June''s lips twitched, a hint of amusement touching his features. "Not my thing, faking excitement."


    Hana chuckled. "I like that about you, June."


    He merely shrugged in response, but his eyes held a flicker of something she couldn''t quite decipher.


    Their conversation remained short and to the point, yet there was an undeniable elephant in the room ¡ª Phoenix.


    June cleared his throat, capturing Hana''s attention.


    "So," he started off. "Did you really train at Phoenix before?"


    Hana paused, and then she pursed her lips. "I don''t want to talk about those times."


    June sighed. "And I don''t want you pestering me in the store, but I''m doing my job, aren''t I?"


    Hana let out an amused chuckle. "Wow, you''re really blunt. To answer your question ¡ª yes. I think the inte can prove that true."


    June''s demeanor remained unreadable, but he persisted. "For how long?"


    "About three years," Hana answered, her mind drifting back. "I started in 2015."


    A glimmer of recognition flickered in June''s eyes, his interest suddenly increasing. "2015, huh?"


    ording to the maths, Choi Joon-ho would have started training in 2015, too, which would be the same year that she had entered. He stayed until 2022, which meant he stayed four years longer than Hana. However, she must still know about some things that happened in Phoenix back then, right?


    Hana raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his reaction. "Yeah, why?"


    June pursed his lips together, and he hesitated for a moment before reaching up and removing his hood and mask. The sight that met Hana''s eyes left her utterly stunned ¨C it was the face of someone she had once known so well.


    Choi Joon-ho.


    "Joon-ho," she whispered, her eyes immediately welling up with tears. "Is that really you?"


    June was surprised by her reaction. He had expected her not to even recognize him, but it seemed like the two had a deeper connection than he thought.


    "Umm, hey?" June awkwardly said, trying to sound as nostalgic as possible.


    However, he just sounded constipated, causing Hana to chuckle.


    "You''re still as awkward as ever, huh?" she said,? patting his shoulder. "Why did you act like you didn''t recognize me at all? It''s been so long since we''ve seen each other."


    "Because I don''t," June honestly said. "I don''t remember..."


    "What?" Hana''s eyes widened in surprise, then sheughed out loud. "Don''t tell me¡ªare you joking right now?"


    "No," June said with all seriousness. "I don''t remember you," he said, looking into his eyes.


    Hana stared at June, her heart pounding in her chest as a mixture of emotions swirled within her. His words left her both frustrated and puzzled. "You¡­ you don''t recognize me?"


    Hana was sure that June was ying some kind of borate prank. They had spent years training together, sharing countless moments. How could he not recognize her?


    However, as she looked into his eyes, all she found was a resolute sincerity that sent shivers down her spine. It was as if he was telling the truth, no matter how impossible it seemed.


    Then, her thoughts took an unexpected turn as June held her gaze...


    Why was he so handsome now?


    The puny, meek, and tired-looking boy she once trained with had transformed into a very handsome yet cute man. It was confusing ¨C the four-year age gap she remembered didn''t align with the man standing before her.


    But then again, she shouldn''t be thinking of such things when there are other important matters to address...


    Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered, "You¡­ you really don''t remember me?"


    "No," June repeated. "But I need your help."


    Hana was the only one who could help him escape from the situation.


    "What happened at Phoenix before you left?"

 Chapter 105 Weave of Lies

    <h4>Chapter 105 Weave of Lies</h4>


    "How do you expect me to help you if you don''t even remember who I am?" Hana asked, a frown gracing her face.


    June sighed and leaned against the counter, looking her dead in the eyes.


    "I know you know something," he slowly said, making use of the maniption techniques he had used in his past life.


    He didn''t know shit about what happened, but he could coax her into saying something.


    "And I''m sure you know what would happen if the information got out."


    Hana took a sharp intake of breath.


    "But I want you to know that you could trust me. I wouldn''t involve your name if ever this gets out."


    "A¡ªand why would I help you?" she stammered.


    "Because you were my friend," June smiled softly. "There are some things I don''t remember ¡ª the traumatic things that had happened in my past. And I believe you''re the only one who can help me."


    "I don''t know if you''re already aware of what''s happening," June started off, his voice shifting from gentle to intense. "But I''m participating in the show called Rising Stars."


    "I''m aware," Hana said, having watched the fifth episodest night. "I thought you gave up on being an idol."


    "I almost did," June bluffed. "But I couldn''t let go of my dreams."


    Hana''s expression softened, so June knew he was on the right track.


    "However, I fear that my dream will be crushed once more with everything that''s happening."


    Hana frowned, her eyes filled with curiosity. "What happened?"


    "Alex and Hyunwoo are trying to defame my name, using me of being a bully. As I said a while ago, I have memories that have been blocked in my mind due to their emotional intensity...and one of them is what happened when I was still a trainee in Phoenix. You may not have been there until the end, but maybe you can help me piece my memories back together...just so I wouldn''t have to give up my dream this time."


    Hana''s resolve weakened as she looked into June''s eyes. "Alright," she began. "I''ll tell you about our time at Phoenix."


    Hana began to paint a picture of their trainee days, starting with the darker backdrop of Phoenix Entertainment''s early years.


    "Phoenix was a newpany back then, still finding its footing," Hana exined, her voice nostalgic. "They only had one famous group and wanted to make it big in the idol industry, so they recruited a lot of trainees, including us."


    As she spoke, Hana''s words painted a vivid picture of their shared struggles and dreams. She spoke of long nights of practice, fiercepetition, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. And in the midst of it all, she shared her observations of June.


    "You were the sweetest boy I ever met," Hana admitted, her gaze distant as she recalled their interactions. "You had this aura of someone who grew up in a very loving household. You were respectful, polite ¨C probably the most respectful among all the trainees."


    A bittersweet smile graced her lips as she continued to share her heartwarming memories. "And you had so much potential, June."


    June was confused. His stats didn''t speak of him having great potential. Did he regress during the years she wasn''t in Phoenix anymore?


    "But training wasn''t just tough," Hana continued. "It was tougher than anything we could have imagined. We saw our friends drop out, one by one, unable to bear the pressure."


    Her gaze grew distant as she remembered those who had fallen by the wayside, their dreams crushed under the weight of the industry. But then, she turned her attention back to June, her eyes softening.


    "Then there were Alex and Hyunwoo," she continued, her tone taking on a darker note. "They were the poster boys for ''bound-to-debut'' trainees ¨C the look, the talent. But it became clear that they didn''t have the right attitude."


    A hint of tension crept into the air as Hana recalled the turn of events that had shattered their initial perceptions. "We started as friends, the four of us. But over time, we saw their true colors. Alex and Hyunwoo were different behind closed doors."


    June''s gaze remained steady, but there was an underlying recognition in his eyes.


    "They were maniptive, controlling," Hana added, resentment heard in her voice. "They used their looks and their talent to get ahead, without any regard for the people they trampled on."


    "I tried to call them out," she chuckled. "But you always tried to stop me. However, in the end, you were the one who would run errands, do things for others, and take the me ¨C all without a second thought. You were the selfless heart among us."


    June couldn''t help but frown as he listened to her story.


    So, Choi Joon-ho was a wuss?


    "Then came the darkest year ¨C 2018. K-pop was at its peak, and thepetition had grown fiercer than ever. Ourpany became desperate, kicking out idols left and right to stay afloat."


    A shadow passed over her eyes as she recalled the turmoil of that year. It was a time when dreams were shattered and bonds tested. But then, her expression softened as she spoke of a new addition to their group.


    "Haru," Hana said. "He joined us that year, and it didn''t take long for us to be friends."


    Haru...that was a new name ¡ª someone June had never heard of.


    "We trained together, hoping to debut soon...as we had trained the longest. However, Phoenix changed after that. They started overworking us, pushing us beyond our limits. Alex and Hyunwoo remained the same ¨C still maniptive, still using their tactics to get ahead."


    Her gaze met June''s, and her voice lowered as she shared the most heart-wrenching part of their shared history. "And you¡­ you went through something unimaginable. Your parents died in a car crash, and you were left all alone to endure it."


    Hana paused for a while to gauge June''s reaction. However, June remained nonchnt, leading her to continue.


    Hana''s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she recounted the depths of June''s pain. "You struggled to keep up with practices, to bnce it all. There were times you couldn''te to practice because of work, and the bullying ¨C it had gotten worse, to the point of bing physical."


    June''s jaw clenched. One thing he took from this is that Alex and Hyunwoo were lying.


    He was not the bully of the story.


    "And I''m still so sorry that I left that year," Hana whispered, her voice breaking. "I was given an offer at my currentpany to be an actress, and I was truly desperate. I didn''t want to leave Haru and you alone, but I felt like I had no choice. I''m really, really sorry."


    "There''s nothing to apologize for," June calmly said. "You didn''t do anything wrong."


    Hana looked down at the counter, still feeling guilty. "After that, I didn''t keep up with Phoenix anymore. I started training to be an actress, and I assumed you were doing the same as an idol trainee."


    "And this Haru guy?" June couldn''t help but ask. "Where is he now?"


    "I don''t know," she frowned. "Thest thing I heard was Haru left thepany, Alex and Hyunwoo stayed but got kicked out of the debut group, and you..."


    June raised one of his eyebrows.


    "You killed yourself."

 Chapter 106 Damage Control

    <h4>Chapter 106 Damage Control</h4>


    June paused, his posture bing rigid. Again, he didn''t know the full story behind Choi Joon-ho''s death, but Fu told him that the timid trainee killed himself after years of struggling.


    "But that doesn''t seem to be the case, right?" Hana said, her voice filled with relief. "Because you''re standing in front of me right now."


    June stiffly nodded.


    "Anyway, that was just a rumor I heard because nobody seemed to know where you were. I also tried searching for you on SNS but failed to do so. In the end, I hoped you went out of the radar to live a more peaceful life. I never expected that you''d continue pursuing the idol dream."


    "Is that all you know?" June asked.


    She nodded. "Again, I didn''t keep up with Pheonix anymore because of all the bad memories I''ve incurred, but I''m assuming it didn''t get any better. CHAOS debuted with people I didn''t even know."


    Juns sighed. Although thest years of his training period weren''t disclosed, it felt safe to say that Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s statements were false.


    They twisted the story so June could be the viin.


    And he was pretty sure they were also feeding on the fact that the starlights were currently on the edge of their seats after watching the preview of ''Rising Stars'' on the fifth episode.


    "So, Alex and Hyunwoo are using you of being a bully?" Hana asked.


    "Yes," June said. "But I''m d you rified that their stories aren''t true."


    "Those bastards," she clenched her fists. "They still hadn''t changed. It''s so frustrating for people like them to still be given chances."


    "So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.


    "Those stories¡­," June trailed off. "Do you have any evidence of them happening?"


    "Sadly, no," she looked down at the ground. "We weren''t allowed to use phones in the practice room as trainees, so we don''t have any evidence against them."


    June sighed, and Hana felt quite bad for him.


    "I don''t think I can provide a statement either," she said. "It hasn''t been that long since I started doing well as an actress, and my career is currently at its peak. As much as I would like to help you, I fear I can''t taint my reputation right now. Maybe in the future if my career is already stable. But I''m afraid that will already be toote."


    "I understand," June said, his mind running a thousand miles an hour to find a solution to his problem.


    It would be too much to ask Hana for help when she''d already shared so much, so he knew that he had to fight this war alone.


    "Do you need help with anything else?" Hana asked.


    June paused and thought of it for a while.


    "Do you know where Alex and Hyunwoo live?"


    She froze, and then she slowly nodded. "If they didn''t change addresses, then I still know where they live."


    "Show me."


    ***


    In the modern building of Azure, the Rising Stars'' production team answered countless calls. Interns ran around with cups of strong coffee in their hands. The head of the production team hadn''t slept for the past two days, thinking of ways to control the damage that had been done.


    Without a doubt, this has been the worst scandal they had to handle after what happened in the third season.


    Yejin and Yena lead the meeting with the other directors and producers, all of them stumped to silence as they thought of their next course of action.


    "So¡­," Yena started. "What are we going to do about June?"


    Yejin sighed as she raked her fingers through her greasy hair. She hasn''t washed since the night the scandal broke out.


    "There isn''t any solid proof that he was indeed a bully. We conducted a thorough investigation on his background, and this kid has nothing!" she eximed. "No social media ounts. No school stories. I think he stopped going to school in 2018 or something? At least, that''s what the private investigator said."


    "And Phoenix?" the head producer asked. "Have they released a statement?"


    Yena shook her head. "No statements from them either. Apparently, past trainees aren''t their responsibility anymore. They don''t want to give out a statement."


    "But Alex and Hyunwoo are their trainees!" Yejin eximed.


    "It seems like they''re supporting their trainees, though," Yena responded. "They want to kick June out of the show."


    "Rising Stars is getting martyred online," Ann, the intern, said. She scrolled through her phone and read somements from the public.


    "Rising Stars became Bullying Stars. How can they ept such a trainee into the show?"


    "Remove June from the show."


    "June''s a big bully! He bullied Alex, Hyunwoo, and Zeth."


    "They seem pretty enraged that we''re still keeping June on the show," Ann said.


    Yena sighed in frustration. "Shall we kick him out then? It''ll be easier than us solving the problem from its roots."


    One of the shareholders raised his hand. "I don''t think that''s a good idea. June is one of the main attractors of the show. Zeth, Casper, and the others garnered more votes, but June had made Rising Stars more known to the public. His face reveal itself garnered a 34% real-time rating! Azure''s stocks raised through the roof when that happened."


    "Not only that," a producer said. "But the pink mask he wore had be a trend in the country. It''s being sold by an Azure affiliate, so kicking him out will be like kicking out one of our assets."


    "But we can''t deny that Alex and Hyunwoo also bring a lot of viewers to the show," Chris, a guy who doesn''t like June, said. "We can''t disregard their statement just because of those reasons. At the end of the day, June will be a passing craze. People only care about him now because he just revealed his face."


    "I agree," another guy, Woosan, said. In truth, those two were once Phoenix employees, and they''ve been receiving money to make sure the Phoenix boys are receiving the best editing on the show. "If the bullying situation gets out of hand, it''d be toote to control the damage. So, let''s snip the bud before it grows even more. The editors should start cutting out June''s segments on the show."


    "But the episode is airing in three days!" an editor said.


    Yejin faced Yena. "What''s your decision?" she asked her fellow main director.


    Yena bit her lip in frustration. "Let''s give June until tomorrow," she said. "If the bullying usations aren''t debunked by then, we''ll have no choice but to kick him out of the show."

 Chapter 107 Just You Wait

    <h4>Chapter 107 Just You Wait</h4>


    It was time to confront the ghosts of his shared past ¨C Alex and Hyunwoo. With a murderous glint in his eyes, June stood in front of their dorn, with the help of Hana, of course.


    It was nighttime, and the hallways were dimly illuminated, creating an eerie atmosphere.


    June stood there for a second, then he reached out into his pocket and felt the small metal material in it.


    He never knew what could happen, so it''s best he protected himself.


    Of course, June would only use the weapon as hisst resort. He''ll make sure to stay in the hallways to talk so he can escape easily if something does happen.


    Then, he stepped closer to their door, knocking on the pristine wood. The sound of his knocks echoed in the silence of the night.


    "Who the fuck is knocking in the middle of the night?" he heard Alex curse.


    The door creaked open, revealing Alex and Hyunwoo, their expressions twisting into surprise.


    Seeing June under the dim lights, his murderous eyes being emphasized, seemed to send a chill down their spines ¨C something about the look in his eyes was unsettling, a contrast from the boy they thought they had known.


    "June?" Alex''s voice wavered slightly, his gaze locked onto June''s with confusion.


    Hyunwoo''s eyes widened, his usual smugness momentarily gone. "What are you doing here?"


    June''s voice was calm, yet there was an undercurrent of something else. "I came to talk."


    The atmosphere seemed to thicken with every passing moment ¡ª like the past had suddenly caught up to them.


    "I think it''s time we had a conversation," June continued, his gaze steady on Alex and Hyunwoo. "About what happened back then."


    The silence that followed seemed to stretch, tension mounting in the air. And as June''s eyes bore into them, it became evident that something had shifted within him. He was no longer thepliant trainee they had manipted ¨C he was someone different.


    "I know what really happened back then," June continued. "I know who the real viins of our story were. It''s quite brave for you to twist the story that will fit your own narrative."


    Alex and Hyunwoo exchanged nces, their expressions bing indifferent. "And who might that be?" Alex asked, his tone dripping with mocking.


    June bit his lip as he clenched his fists inside the pocket of his hoodie.


    "You guys¡­are so cute," June chuckled deeply. "You really think you can get away with this? You were the ones who used physical and emotional maniption when we were trainees."


    Hyunwoo''s lips curled into a mocking smile, his gaze challenging. "Is that so? And what''s your proof?"


    The dismissive tone in their voices grated on June''s nerves, but he pushed forward. "Proof or not, I know the truth. I''ve seen through the facade you both put up."


    Alex''sughter was insulting as if he was looking down at the gravity of the situation. "You''re making quite the usation without any evidence, aren''t you?"


    June''s frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he remainedposed. "I don''t need proof to recognize the reality of what happened. You both can deny it all you want, but deep down, you know the truth."


    Hyunwoo''s voice wasced with arrogance as he spoke, "You can''t juste here and spout usations without backing them up. It''s amusing how seriously you''re taking this. Where''s the cute, little trainee that used to follow our orders, huh?" he asked, patting June''s head. It was a gesture the two of them did when June would aplish their errands in the past.


    Back then, June would flinch or ept it withoutints.


    However, instead of pulling away, June held onto Hyunwoo''s wrist before it came into contact with his hair. He held onto Hyunwoo''s wrist tightly, squeezing onto the bone with his strength.


    Hyunwoo chuckled and tried to pull his wrist away, but June held on, his gaze never leaving Hyunwoo''s eyes. Hyunwoo tried to escape his grip once more, but June held on tighter.


    June''s smirk widened as he continued to hold onto Hyunwoo''s hand, his fingers dancing lightly over Hyunwoo''s skin. Hyunwoo''s frustration grew, and his attempts to break free became more desperate. He tried to yank his hand away, a scowl marring his face, but June''s grip felt like an iron vice, unbreakable and unwavering.


    Then, June''s expression shifted ¨C his smirk morphing into something more sinister. With a sudden motion, he tightened his grip, his fingers digging into Hyunwoo''s flesh with a cruel intensity.


    A strangled gasp escaped Hyunwoo''s lips, his eyes widening in shock. The pain that shot through his hand was visceral. It was like every nerve ending was set aze. June''s fingers seemed to transform into instruments of torment, thepressure cruel and unrelenting.


    Hyunwoo''s body tensed, his face contorting in agony as his attempts to pull away were met with a wall of unyielding strength.


    Alex frowned, a chill running down his spine.


    Choi Joon-ho.


    He changed too much.


    "Let go of him," Alex said in a weak attempt to scare June. "We''re going to record this if you don''t stop right now."


    June chuckled and finally let go of Hyunwoo''s wrist. Thetter cradled his sore limb with a fearful look in his eyes.


    Choi Joon-ho was weak.


    Choi Joon-ho always lost to them.


    So, why did they feel like they were the ones being yed in their own game?


    Alex remained strong and indifferent, raising his chin up. "I don''t even know why you came here," he started, taking a step forward. "The damage is already done. The whole country knows you''re a bully, and like hyenas in the wild, they''d continue to eat you up until you''re nothing but a rotting carcass."


    "Thepany called," Alex smirked as he continued. "The Rising Stars'' team are having a meeting as we speak. And it looks like the favor is with us," he boasted. "Tomorrow, you''d be kicked out of the show¡­just like how you were kicked out of Phoenix."


    "And we''ll be the ones with thestugh."


    With that, Alex moved to close the door, a gesture meant to dismiss the situation. However, June quickly reached his arm to the gap, gripping the edge of the door and prying it open with his strength.


    His eyes, once calm andposed, had transformed into something different ¨C a wild intensity that sent shivers down Alex and Hyunwoo''s spines.


    The air in the hallway seemed to crackle with tension as June''s gaze bore into them, something bordering on madness.? Alex''s bravado faltered, his hand frozen in mid-air as he tried to close the door. Hyunwoo''s mask of indifference cracked, reced by a growing unease that he couldn''t shake.


    And then, June''s voice cut through the silence, a low and ominous whisper that sent a chill down their spines. "This is your final warning. You will pay for what you''ve done. Just you wait."

 Chapter 108 Mad Hatter

    <h4>Chapter 108 Mad Hatter</h4>


    Okay, June had to admit.


    He merely talked big.


    But in reality, he didn''t have any evidence against those two.


    June sighed as he sat on the sidewalk, the night breeze making him shiver. It was currently 2AM, yet he still didn''t know how to prove himself innocent.


    Those two are too damn infuriating! However, their fear-induced expressions brought a twisted smirk to June''s lips ¨C a grim satisfaction that they were finally feeling a sliver of the difort they had once inflicted upon Choi Joon-ho.


    If this kid could see it now, he would be satisfied, too.


    But as the seconds ticked by, the exhration began to fade, leaving behind a sense of uncertainty. He let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping as he stared at the ground. He wasn''t quite sure what to do next. The rush of the moment had fueled him, but now he was left grappling with the reality of the situation.


    Lost in his thoughts, June was momentarily oblivious to his surroundings. It was then that a coin clinked onto the ground in front of him, jolting him back to the present. He blinked in surprise, his eyes focusing on the small piece of currency resting at his feet.


    Confusion mixed with annoyance was evident in his face as he looked up, prepared to dismiss the person who had mistaken him for a beggar. But the words died on his lips as he took in the sight of the person before him ¨C a stranger, eyes filled with sympathy and perhaps a hint of pity.


    "Take this, young man. Buy something from the convenience store, okay?"


    "Look, old man, I''m not¨C"


    The old man smiled. "It''s okay to ask for help sometimes." Then, he proceeded to walk away, leaving June with a coin in his hand.


    June''s lips twitched, a disbelieving smile forming as he realized the absurdity of it all.


    As if the universe was determined to pile on his misfortune, a bird chose that moment to add insult to injury. June''s eyes widened as a stter of bird droppingsnded squarely on his head, his expression shifting from disbelief to exasperation. He muttered a frustrated curse under his breath as he removed his hoodie, throwing it to the ground.


    "Great! Just great," he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with sarcasm. It was as if his day couldn''t get any worse.


    But life had a way of proving him wrong.


    Just when he thought things couldn''t possibly deteriorate any further, a sudden gust of wind carried a piece of newspaper right across his face. June sputtered and swatted at the intrusive piece of paper, his frustration growing.


    "Seriously? Could this day get any worse?" he eximed, his irritation increasing.


    His fingers curled around the edges of the newspaper, ready to crumple it up and discard it as another annoyance in a string of unfortunate events. But as he began to crumple the paper, something caught his eye.


    June''s movements halted. He tilted his head to the side as he looked at the face pasted on the front cover.


    He clicked his tongue as he recalled where he could have met this man. Slowly, he uncrumpled the newspaper, his eyes scanning the headline and the apanying article.


    "Drug Lord''s Web of Celebrity Connections Exposed," the headline read.


    "Lee Doo-sam, a 28-year-old man, is currently being held at the Seoul City Jail for distribution of drugs. It''s rumored that his clients are within the entertainment industry, from CEOs and A-list celebrities to D-list celebrities. The police are investigating, but Doo-sam is taking all the me."


    The more he looked at the picture, the more the man seemed familiar.


    "He is currently being seen at the Psychiatric unit for being so happy while being interrogated...which proves his name, the ''Mad Hatter.''"


    Then, it struck him.


    "The¡­Mad Hatter?" he muttered under his breath.


    His mind was transported back to the time he sneaked out of Azure to aplish his bonus mission¡­when Alex and Hyunwoo were conversing behind him.


    "Anderson only told us to get some booze. We need to make it fast since Mad Hatter is waiting for us in the alleyway, too."


    The guy at the alley.


    June observed his face once more, and it all made sense.


    He was wearing a beanie when June saw him at the alley, but June could never forget his red eyes and patchy beard.


    Without a doubt, Mad Hatter was the guy that Alex and Hyunwoo met that night.


    June shook his head with a smirk.


    Those two are more entangled in dark crimes than he had imagined, and to think they were acting so innocent while on the show.


    June rummaged through his pocket for his phone and went to Navel.


    As expected, the number one topic is about the Mad Hatter.


    The public couldn''t care less about drug dealers. It was usually swept under the rug, but the fact that this involved celebrities was something they couldn''t look past.


    People were hungry for gossip, and celebrities were always at the center of that. They''d jump at the next topic like hungry hyenas, ready to ruin the lives of the next gossip material.


    He read through thements.


    "Shit. I knew some celebrities were druggies. I mean, who could handle such a toxic life?"


    "If I were a Mad Hatter, I''d turn this into a business. I''ll ask for money from the celebrities so I won''t reveal their names."


    "Make him expose the celebrities! Let''s shatter fans'' hearts!"


    "I wonder who his clients are. I wonder if any idols are on the list."


    "Commenter upstairs! Of course, there would be idols. Idols are not angels. Heck, I bet even trainees are getting their fix from him."


    "Wouldn''t it be legendary if someone from Rising Stars got exposed for this?"


    "Oh, give Rising Stars a break! They''re already under fire for that June guy."


    If they only knew¡­


    Their beloved trainees, both in the top 20, were actually drug users.


    Then, like a light switch, June remembered something in the back of his mind.


    He exited Navel and went to his camera roll. Fortunately, he didn''t have to scroll far since he didn''t take too many pictures.


    He quickly opened his picture with those twodies¡ªRina and Hina.


    June''s phone didn''t capture thedies'' faces clearly. Instead, the three of them were a blurry mess since his camera decided to focus on something else¡ªthe three people behind them.


    June smirked. This was one instance when he didn''t loathe his phone.


    If June couldn''t put off the me of his rumors, then he''ll just add fuel to the fire.


    Let''s burn Alex and Hyunwoo alive.

 Chapter 109 The Calm Before The Calm

    <h4>Chapter 109 The Calm Before The Calm</h4>


    June woke up with a smile on his face. It was one of the rare moments where he didn''t get much sleep, but he still felt happy.


    He made his bed, opened his window, and inhaled the fresh scent of chimney smoke and fried dried fish. It wasn''t a pleasant smell, but nothing could ruin June''s mood.


    June opened his door and even watered the nts. Then, he went downstairs to Minjun''s and Grandma''s apartment, greeting them with a subtle smile. Then he plopped down on their couch and watched leisurely on the TV while waiting for Grandma to finish cooking breakfast.


    The grandmother-and-grandson pair watched the scene before them in disbelief.


    "It''s weird," Minjun said. "Why does he look so happy? He''s still being called a bully online."


    "Maybe he lost it?" Grandma asked. "I should make his favorite breakfast today. Why don''t you go and talk to him?"


    "I''m scared," Minjun whispered.


    Grandma clicked his tongue. "Just go."


    Minjun warily went to the living room and sat next to June.


    He froze as June turned to him with sparkling eyes. "Hey there, little boy!" he eximed in happiness, making Minjun''s heart race in his chest. "Did you miss your big brother?"


    Minjun chuckled awkwardly as he slowly scooted away from June. "Umm, yeah. Sure."


    "Aww, I knew you missed me!" June said, squeezing Minjun''s cheek.


    "Brother," Minjun said, muffled because of his squeezed cheeks. "Did you eat something weird?"


    "I haven''t eaten yet."


    "You''re weird," Minjun bluntly said. "Come on, tell me. Do you need anything?"


    June''s smile widened as he brought out his phone.


    "Minjun," he said. "How many followers do you have again?"


    "Around 30k now," Minjun said. "After posting updates about the Mad Hatter, my followers increased overnight!" he said proudly.


    Minjun, the eleven-year-old boy, gained over 30 thousand followers for reposting news articles on Navel while adding captions that roasted the main person in the article.


    He''s like a kid version of RoastHimJim. Instead, he was RoastHimMin.


    Hisst post gained a hundred thousand likes alone because of his caption, "Introducing the ''Mad Hatter'': Where Patchy Beards, Jaundiced Eyes, and ckened Teeth Make for the Ultimate Fashion Statement! Is Crime the New Couture?"


    "Then, do you want an exclusive story?" June asked.


    Minjun looked at him, his eyes showing intrigue. "How exclusive are we talking here?"


    "You''d be the first to post it. Not even big news stations got a hold of this information yet."


    ***


    In the Seven Star Convenience Store, June was back to his usual duties, a hint of a cheerful tune escaping his lips as he went about his tasks.


    Mr. Chang''s eyebrows furrowed as he observed June''s cheery mood. It wasn''t often that his part-time worker disyed such unabashed happiness, especially after what seemed to have been a rather eventful day for him.


    The older man scratched his head. "Kid, did something happen? You look like you''re on top of the world."


    June''s grin only widened as he continued to stock the shelves. "Oh, nothing much. Just had a bit of an interesting day."


    Mr. Chang raised an eyebrow, but before he could press for details, he decided it was best not to pry. With a shake of his head, he muttered to himself, "Kids these days."


    As Mr. Chang excused himself to go feed his chickens in the backyard, June continued his work.


    A jingling of the store''s entrance bell caught June''s attention¨CJisung, C-Jay, Jaeyong, Jangmoon, and Akira.


    June sighed. "You''re here again?"


    "Big brother!" Jangmoon sobbed, his eyes puffy. "C-Jay told us something. I can''t believe this is really happening."


    June let him be, and then he turned to Jaeyong. "And what are you doing here?"


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his neck. "Umm, I just wanted to see if I could help."


    "It''s over, brother!" C-Jay screamed, making June''s ears hurt. "I heard from my mother''s cousin who has a friend that worked with her nephew, who currently works as a deliveryman, who went to the Azure building and heard from his client, who''s a director of the show, who¡­"


    "We get it," Akira said. "Just tell June what you know."


    "You''re getting kicked out."


    C-Jay''s words hung heavily in the air, each syble resonating with concern and tension. The faces of Jisung, Jaeyong, and Akira mirrored the weight of the news ¨C a reality that seemed both unfair and unsettling. As the silence stretched, it was clear that the gravity of the situation was sinking in.


    "This nephew heard that they''re going to give a certain trainee until morning to prove his innocence. However, if nothing happens, then they''re going to kick him out and edit him out of the scenes. Can you believe it? They''re going to cut you out like that? Alex and Hyunwoo don''t even have any evidence against you! And that Phoenix shit isn''t debunking anything, too," C-Jay ranted.


    Jisung patted June''s back. "It''s really so unfair. You don''t even have an agency to begin with. How can youpete against them?"


    "Tell me about it," Jangmoon said. "It''s like they''re preying on June just because he''s an individual trainee without apany backing him up."


    "Do you want me to ask ourpany to help?" Jaeyong asked. "They''re not the greatest, but they''re pretty good at legal matters."


    "It''d be absurd if they helped someone not under thepany," Akira said.


    "And it''s toote!" C-Jay eximed. "The production crew is probablying to a conclusion now. How can we prove June''s innocence in just a matter of hours¡­or worse, minutes?"


    "It''s alright," June said, causing all five of them to look at him like he''d gone mad.


    Amidst the shared worry, it was June''s unexpected calmness that stood out. His expression remained serene, a contrast to the collective unease that had settled over the group. His eyes were filled with their usual nonchnce, and they even held a tranquility that seemed almost surreal.


    The others exchanged nces, baffled by June''s unbothered behavior.


    "How could he be so calm when his future on the show is in jeopardy?" Akira asked.


    "Jangmoon''s going to get farther in thepetitionpared to you," C-Jay shook his shoulders. "Do you think that makes sense?"


    "Yeah," Jangmoon agreed, then he realized that C-Jay''s statement was lowkey bashing him. "Wait¡­hey!"


    "Anway," Jisung said. "We can''t let you leave, bro," he said, on the verge of tears.


    They were in a state of panic, while June seemed to be the embodiment ofposure.


    And then, he smiled.


    It was a smile that seemed to light up the room, a gentle curve of his lips that held a hint of mystery and a touch of mischief. His eyes, usually detached, now gleamed with confidence that was captivating and reassuring.


    As the others watched him, drawn into the serenity of his presence, June finally spoke. His voice was calm, steady, and surprisingly soothing in the midst of the storm that had enveloped them.


    "Rx," June said. "Things will eventually fall into the right ce."

 Chapter 110 Tea Party

    <h4>Chapter 110 Tea Party</h4>


    Yena woke up after a deep, dream-filled slumber.


    She wishes.


    She hadn''t gotten any sleep at all! The production crew all stayed up, answering countless calls from news sites, outside sources, and worried and enraged fans alike.


    A lot were pleading for June to be kicked out of the show, mostly Phoenix and Zeth stans.


    But a reasonable number also made logical arguments that they couldn''t just believe the trainees'' words without proof. However, the media had inculcated the mindset of "victims first."


    And in this story, Alex and Hyunwoo are the supposed victims.


    Moreover, the two had a hugepany to back them up. Azure was sure that it''d be a huge loss if they decided to forgo Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s statements for an individual trainee who didn''t have any backing at all.


    The clock struck 12, and the production team turned to Yena and Yejin, who were bound to make the final decision.


    There were more members who would like for June to stay in thepetition, saying that the kid is actually quite nice and it''d be a shame to just kick him out. However, more powerful members were against him, which put them on pretty equal footing.


    "It''s noon already," Chris said. "You said that we''ll wait until now for June to prove his innocence, but I think we''re waiting for nothing. The episode is airing in two days. Let''s give the editors more time to edit him out by making a decision right now."


    Ann, the intern who found June weird at first but eventually fell in love with his charms, mmed her fist against the table. "But it''s unfair! There isn''t even any tangible evidence that June bullied Alex and Hyunwoo. I believe you''re just defending them because you worked at Phoenix before."


    The table was stunned to silence. They couldn''t believe that an intern was speaking up against the Editing Director.


    Chris'' face became red as he stood up, his chair loudly scraping against the floor.


    "A mere intern has the guts to say these words to me?" he shouted. "Do you know who I am? You''re just a puny little girl who does nothing but run errands and buy coffee for the team!"


    Ann''s lips quivered while Yena massaged the bridge of her nose.


    "Enough," she said. "Director Chris, that was out of line. And Ann, you should not talk to your superiors like that."


    "But¡ª" Ann tried to argue, but Yejin held her hand up.


    Yena was about to speak when the door suddenly opened, and someone unexpected came in.


    "Jihyun?" they all stood up from their seats. Some were starstruck that the well-known artist came directly to their headquarters. Yes, they see her during filmings, but that was it. Seeing her in their office was definitely a different thing.


    "What are you doing here, Miss Jihyun?" Yena asked.


    "Is it true?" Jihyun asked, sounding frantic. "I heard you''re kicking June out."


    Chris smirked and took the initiative to answer. "Yes, Miss Jihyun. We don''t tolerate bullies in thepetition, so we have no choice but to kick him out."


    "What?" Jihyun asked. "You can''t do that. June''s a nice person."


    They raised their eyebrows in response. Since when have the two been close to each other?


    Yejin cleared her throat. "It''s still under discussion," she said. "We''re finalizing our decision now."


    "What is there to consider?" Woosan, another Phoenixckey, asked. "You shouldn''t go back on your words. You said that you''ll only give June until today to prove himself innocent. Don''t tell me¡ªare you going back on your words?"


    Yejin and Yena exchanged looks of uncertainty. Thest thing they wanted was for the team to lose their trust in them.


    So, they nodded knowingly at each other.


    "Alright," Yena said. "We have made a decision. We don''t want to go back on our words. So, we decided to kick June out of the show."


    "What?"


    "Just like that?"


    "Tsk. Such a waste of talent."


    Protests were heard across the room, but some were also satisfied with their decision.


    Chris pped the loudest. "Great! I''ll ry it to my team. We''ll finish editing the episode tomorrow. Don''t worry, we''ll make it seamless¡ªas if June wasn''t even there in the first ce."


    With that, he stood up and started walking out of the office. The others also started packing up, knowing that the decision was already final.


    "Wait!" Ann screamed loudly, causing the people to halt in their spots.


    Chris, too, stopped in his tracks and turned back to the screaming intern.


    "Everyone, go on Navel right now," she urged.


    "What are you yapping about¡ª" Christ groaned. However, Ann quickly cut him off.


    "Quickly!" Ann eximed.


    Everybody followed her instructions, opening their Navel apps.


    Then, the room turned silent while Ann''s lips formed into a smirk.


    "Looks like you''ll be editing someone else out of the show."


    ***


    Despite June''s assurance, his friends remained in the store, their anxiety going through the roof. The contrast between June''s carefree whistling and their worried huddling was stark.


    They exchanged nces, trying to decipher whether June had truly gone crazy or if there was something they were missing.


    "Seriously, is he just born without the ''worry'' gene?" Akira muttered under his breath.


    "He''s eitherpletely clueless or secretly a zen master," C-Jay added. "I would have ran through the streets naked with an apology sign in my hands if I were him."


    "No, that''s just you," Jaeyong side-eyed him. "Are things really going to be alright?"


    The group was deep in their contemtions when Jangmoon absentmindedly pulled out his phone. He had intended to scroll through his social media feed and maybe post a selfie, a small distraction from the tension that hung in the air.


    However, as he unlocked his phone and opened the front page, his eyes widened in shock.


    His fingers froze, and his breath caught in his throat. Without a second thought, he called out to the others.


    "Guys, you need to see this."


    Their attention immediately shifted to Jangmoon, his phone held out in front of him. On the screen was an article ¨C a headline that was trending number one worldwide!


    As they read the headline, a collective gasp filled the air.


    "Drama Rising Through the Stars: The Mad Hatter''s Celebrity Extravaganza - ''Tea Party'' Takes on a Whole New Meaning!"

 Chapter 111 #WeStandWithJune

    <h4>Chapter 111 #WeStandWithJune</h4>


    Akira took the phone from Jangmoon''s hand and started reading it out loud.


    "In a story that could rival the most sensational K-drama plotlines, new stars have emerged on the scene. Two familiar faces from Rising Stars are finding themselves in a celebrity scandal ¨C and this rabbit hole goes deep, my friends. Get ready to sip your tea with an extra dash of spice!"


    "Yes, we''re talking about none other than Alex and Hyunwoo, those ''D-list darlings'' who somehow managed to trade in fame for infamy. Sources, which have been so kind as to leave no room for spection, have revealed that Alex and Hyunwoo have a not-so-secret talent ¨C indulging in ''substances'' that seem to rival the hallucinations present in Alice''s Wondend."


    June let out a little chuckle. Minjun is definitely going ces. How can an eleven-year-old write this well?


    "Previously, Alex and Hyunwoo have tried to deflect the spotlight onto none other than June, another trainee from Rising Stars, using him of bullying during their trainee days. Were they also stoned when they came up with this brilliant usation?"


    The others, too, couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "And before we end, can we talk about their appearance? Let''s face it ¨C it''s been more obvious than a neon sign at a dark alley that these two have been dabbling in something other than skincare. Their ''new looks'' are less ''refreshed'' and more ''refreshingly obvious,'' leaving even the most optimistic fan wondering if their mirrors have been lying to them all this time. Those red eyes, yellow teeth, and chronic cough gave it all away!"


    To add credibility to the story, Akira turned the phone and showed the picture attached to the article. They gasped as they looked at the picture of the Mad Hatter handing Alex and Hyunwoo a packaged white powder.


    "It''s legit," C-Jay muttered. "I thought it was a joke with how it''s written, but it''s real. Who posted it?"


    "MinMin?" Akira said, looking at the poster''s information. "They have around 120k followers now."


    June smirked. He bets that kid is jumping for joy right now.


    The five of them continued looking at the picture, not believing their eyes. June crossed his arms in front of his chest as he observed their shocked faces.


    ***


    In a college dorm in Seoul, Hina and Rina were walking to their next ss when they came across the article.


    "Hey, doesn''t this look familiar?" Hina asked, pertaining to the attached photo.


    Rina tilted her head to the side as she stared at the picture. "Nope," she said. "Never seen that photo in my life."


    "Look at it intently," Hina insisted. "Isn''t this my forehead?" she asked, cing the phone next to her forehead.


    Rinaughed out loud. "You''re crazy! Why would you be in a photo with some druggies?"


    Hina clicked her tongue. "I''ve definitely seen this picture before."


    "You haven''t," Rina convinced her. "Let''s focus on the more important thing here! Alex and Hyunwoo are proven to be pathological liars. Our June will be finally free from rumors!"


    "Right!" Hana chimed happily. "I still can''t forget our interaction. Do you think we can message him to ask for our picture together?"


    "Message him on what? Email?" Rina asked. "That man does not have any social media presence."


    Hina pouted. "You''re right. Let''s wait until he makes one, then! I bet he''ll have a really cute username."


    ***


    Back to the Seven Star Convenience Store¡­


    June''s smirk widened as he scrolled through thements section.


    - I knew it. I never really liked Alex and Hyunwoo.


    - I had a bad feeling about those two, and it turns out I was right.


    - Kick Alex and Hyunwoo out of the show!


    - I bet the production team is editing out their scenes as we speak.


    - June fans can now sigh in relief. My baby is innocent!


    - These bitches switching up faster than Lightning Mcqueen. Ya''ll were just murdering June seconds ago!


    - I concede defeat. I was wrong about June.


    - June''s probably a good person, then?"


    - June has always been a good person! You guys were just deluded because of your faves. Now, you know that Alex and Hyunwoo are the viins of the story. #WeStandWithJune.


    - #WeStandWithJune"


    - June has been a victim of those two. #WeStandWithJune."


    June''s amusement was evident as he continued to read, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.


    His friends exchanged nces once again; this time, they appeared to be in awe. It seemed that while they had been caught up in the hurricane of events, and June had been ying a different game altogether ¨C one where he had known the moves before anyone else.


    "Big brother, do you see this?"Jangmoon eximed. "Thements, the support ¨C the public is actually on your side!"


    "Bro," Jisung said, his eyes still filled with tears. "Does that mean you''re staying?"


    June clicked his tongue. "Will you stop crying? I said that it''ll be okay, didn''t I?"


    Jaeyong frowned as he observed June''s calm face. As he watched the previous episodes, he couldn''t help but wonder if June was a hidden genius. "How''d you know everything was going to be okay?"


    June nonchntly shrugged. "Gut feeling?"


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. And he talked too coolly, too! How could a young person speak like this?


    Akira continued to read through thements. "People are definitely defending you. But some delusional Zeth fans are still saying you''re a bad person because of the preview."


    "They''ll know the truth once the episode airs," June said, unconcerned.


    "I really can''t believe this," Akira said. "It''s over. Alex and Hyunwoo are definitely over."


    "Rising Stars won''t let you go now," Jaeyong said. "I''m certain of it."


    "So, he''s going to stay?" Jangmoon asked.


    "I''m here to stay," June smirked.


    "Brother!" C-Jay screamed as the thought that June would still be staying with them hit him like a truck. He gave him a hug and exaggeratedly cried into his shoulder. Jangmoon did the same, causing June to sigh in frustration and the other three to chuckle in amusement.


    Amidst the relievedughter and congrattory hugs, the bell above the door rang, a sign that a customer hade in.


    They all instinctively turn toward the entrance.


    And there she was.


    Hana Lim in the flesh.

 Chapter 112 Another Level

    <h4>Chapter 112 Another Level</h4>


    Hana paused as she came face-to-face with not one but six boys. Ever since she found out that June was participating in ''Rising Stars,'' she started binge-watching the episodes. So, shes well aware of who the other guys are.


    She also can''t deny that she''s be a big fan of June.


    Hana has always been fond of June since he was still "Joon-ho," but watching him on the show was a whole other experience, especially when he first revealed his face to the public.


    June kept wiping the counters while the other five gaped at Hana, not finding the right words to say.


    C-Jay snapped out of his daze and practically bolted to where Hana was.


    He looked at her with wide, bright eyes, seemingly falling in love.


    Hana Lim, the well-known actress of hit teen and romance shows, was standing in front of him!


    C-Jay blinked, almost unable to process the fact that an A-list celebrity was right in front of him, gracing their humble convenience store with her ethereal beauty. It was as if meeting Hana was the kind of opportunity that came once in a lifetime, a chance to glimpse at a world beyond their own.


    Jaeyong and Akira, despite being well-known idols in the past, also looked at her with disbelief. Jaeyong blinked several times, trying to make sure he wasn''t imagining things. On the other hand, Akira''s eyes widened like saucers, his heart racing.


    Jisung''s mouth hung open slightly. He exchanged a quick, incredulous nce with the others, silently acknowledging the surreal nature of the moment.


    Jangmoon had the worst reaction out of them. He stayed still, expressionless, while staring at Hana. Hana nced at him and took a step back, seemingly scared by his meercat-like reaction.


    Meeting Hana Lim wasn''t something that happened every day ¨C it was the kind of experience that could make someone pinch themselves just to make sure they weren''t dreaming.


    June shook his head as he observed his starstruck friends.


    "You''re here?" June said, breaking the silence.


    Hana, still a bit weirded out, stepped to the side to evade the other fives'' gazes and went to the counter where June was. She smiled as she leaned her hands against the counter and looked at June with bright eyes.


    With how she was looking at him, it seemed like June was the A-list celebrity between the two.


    "I saw the news," Hana said. "It turned out just like how you said it would."


    June smirked as he punched the gum she usually bought. "I told you, right? I had it covered."


    Hana smiled. "Don''t lie. You didn''t know what to do at first. You were definitely going to get kicked out of the show."


    "But I didn''t."


    "Thanks to that photo," she chimed. "How did you even get such a photo?"


    June pursed his lips. Meeting those two loud girls was definitely worth it. The photos they captured were helpful to him in the end.


    "Just some fans," June said. "It''s over, though. ''Rising Stars'' would be a fool not to kick those two out."


    "And I''m sure Phoenix would kick them out, too," Hana said. "No otherpany cares for their reputation more than Phoenix."


    "It was long overdue," June said. "They had iting."


    "I couldn''t agree more."


    "So, why''d youe here?" June asked.


    "Should you really be telling that to someone who helped you talk with Alex and Hyunwoo?" Hana asked with a cheeky smile.


    June sighed. "Fine. Thanks for the help," he muttered.


    Hana smiled, finding him cute. "Well, I just came by to say that I wouldn''t be visiting anytime soon. We''ll be confined in Gyeonggi-do for the whole month to finish thest set of episodes!"


    "Good luck," June briefly said.


    Han chuckled as she shook her head. "Still cold as ever. Well, I''ll take this," she said, grabbing the gum on the counter and giving him the money.


    June briefly waved his hand goodbye while Hana enthusiastically smiled. She passed by the other five, who still looked to be in shock, and gave them a curt smile.


    The mere action sent those five into overdrive.


    Hana Lim is freaking pretty.


    As Hana left, the five of them still haven''t recovered.


    They nced at June, then back to the door, where Hana had just exited. They did this for quite some time, trying toprehend the reality of the situation.


    June sighed and pped loudly, causing them to snap out of their dazes.


    "Th¡ªThat was Hana Lim," Jangmoon stammered, staring off into the distance.


    Akira and Jisung faced each other, their ears red from embarrassment.


    "Pinch me, Jisung. I wasn''t dreaming, was I?"


    Jisung quickly shook his head. "She''s real. She smiled at me."


    "Holy shit," Jaeyong muttered under his breath.


    C-Jay ran to where June was and started shaking his shoulders.


    "Hana Lim? You were talking with THE Hana Lim just now, right? Why didn''t you tell us you knew each other?" he eximed.


    "But I did tell you," June simply said.


    "No, you didn''t," Jangmoon said. "You never told us you knew each other."


    June sighed and shook his head, not bothering to exin himself.


    "He did tell us," Jaeyong said. "We just didn''t believe him."


    "I mean¡ªwhy would Hana Lime to a ce like this?" Jangmoon asked. "No offense to Mr. Chang, but this convenience store is beat-up! Celebrities wouldn''t even think ofing here."


    "And you didn''t tell us you were CLOSE like that," C-Jay said. "She was blushing while talking to you."


    "She wasn''t," June nonchntly said. "We trained at Phoenix together."


    "That makes sense," Akira said. "Did you keep up until now?"


    June shook his head. "No," he deadpanned. "She started visiting on her own."


    The five of them felt a new sense of amazement with their friend.


    June was definitely like Shrek¡ªhe hadyers, and all of them seemed to take them by surprise every time.


    "So you''re telling me¡ªHana Lim just came here on her own...despite her very busy schedule...just to visit you?" C-Jay summarized.


    "Yeah," June shrugged.


    Akira sighed and shook his head, grasping June''s shoulder. "You''re on another level, bro."

 Chapter 113 Sixth Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 113 Sixth Episode (1)</h4>


    After days of grueling battle, Jia finally wore a smile on her face. Her dark under eyes were so dark they could counter the inside of a man''s belly button.


    "War is over," Bora said, looking the same as Jia.


    The two had be closer ever after the second mission live performances. Since her friends/roommates were still out of town before the next semester started, Bora came to her dorm almost every day.


    Although Bora was still a full-blown Ren stan, she couldn''t deny that June had also crept into her heart.


    The two of them had been going on a battle for the past two days¡ªnot on a battlefield, of course. Although the inte can be called a battlefield of its own.


    They did their best to debunk the bullying rumors surrounding June, but as college students, they could only do so much. So, when they saw MinMin''s post on Navel, they shared it on all social media tforms, making it grow traction until it became the number one trending topic in the whole world.


    Their eyes were bloodshot, their hair greasy, and their sanity was definitely on the brink of breaking.


    However, knowing June''s name had been cleared made them feel refreshed. They felt well-rested, squeaky clean, and sane (not really).


    "Now, only the issue with Zeth is left," Bora sighed, plopping on the couch. "Those Zeth fans always have something to say. Just because Zeth is in first ce, they also think they''re unbeatable! The episode hasn''t even aired yet."


    "It''s airing tonight," Jia said. "Let''s wait until then."


    "I don''t want June to go through that again," Bora whined. "What if it turns out he really said those words to Zeth?"


    Jia pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.


    Eight hours were too long for them to wait for the sixth episode of the show.


    ***


    "Bora! It''s starting," Jia screamed, turning the TV to the brightest setting and the highest volume.


    "Gee," Bora said. "Don''t be in such a rush. We all know they''re going to be shownst."


    Jia sighed and slumped her shoulders. "You''re right. We have to wait an extra two hours for their performance."


    The two of them reluctantly watched the other performances, but when it got to Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s performance, they couldn''t help but pay attention.


    Their team had the shortest screen time yet. The behind-the-scenes only showed the three other trainees aside from Alex and Hyunwoo. The two Phoenix trainees were blurred out like an adult Japanese film, and it brought immense satisfaction to the two.


    Thements were also roasting them as the performance was shown. It was quite devastating for the other trainees since their performance seemedckluster and iplete.


    - Blurred Druggies.


    - Forever Young? How about forever in jail?


    - They really thought they''d get away with this, huh?


    - Have fun in jail, losers!


    Thankfully, the other performances passed by like a breeze, and Team Aces'' segment was finally airing. Everybody seemed to anticipate their performance the most, and the hate for Alex and Hyunwoo was quickly reced with excitedments as well as hatements for June.


    - Here it is. It''s finally starting.


    - Azure and their marketing y. They always have to save the best team forst, don''t they?


    - Fuck June. He''s finally going to be exposed for being mean. He may have escaped the usations of Alex and Hyunwoo, but he''s not going to escape the wrath of Zetheralists.


    Zethealist is Zeth''s fandom name.


    As the camera panned to the practice room, Jia and Bora exchanged anxious nces. The scene appeared to be tension-filled, with the members of Team Aces noting to an agreement. They worked separately like they weren''t a team, and their argument was also edited in a way where they seemed to really hate each other.


    Jia''s fingers nervously tapped against the remote control, her eyes fixed on the screen. "Bora, this doesn''t look good," she murmured, her voice edged with worry.


    Bora nodded, her brows furrowed. "Yeah, I thought June would blend in better with his team. But it seems like they''re having trouble synchronizing everything. Their live performance was so good. Howe this looks so bad?"


    Their interim evaluations with Hwan were shown, and their hearts beat in nervousness with the legendary artist''sment. "Bora, should we... turn it off? This is really hard to watch."


    - Shit. I would have bawled right then and there.


    - It''s June''s fault. He should have never been on this team.


    - Bitch? He didn''t even do anything!


    - Exactly. He''s feeding off of his teammates. Have you seen him speak up throughout their practice?


    - It isn''t over yet.


    - h h. June is a fucking freeloader.


    "Okay, this is really bad," Bora said, although her eyes were still glued on the screen, bing a ve to the drama being shown.


    The interim evaluations ended, and they were now back in the practice room. The tension was even more ufortable this time around. Nobody dared to speak at first, but then, another fight broke out.


    - I''m starting to get tired of them. I feel like their performance will go down the drain as one of the shittiest performances of all time.


    - It''s the very first time a good group would actually have a bad performance.


    - And it''s all thanks to June. That piece of shit is still not saying anything.


    However, like June had heard them from the screen, he began to speak up.


    "If you don''t stop, I''m going to bang your heads together until you all be incapable of thinking," June''s voice resonated in the practice room.


    Jia and Bora were stunned to silence, ncing at each other to confirm that what they heard was real.


    "Ya''ll are blind and deaf if you think only one person has something to do with the oue of the interim evaluations," he continued, and the two watched the screen with beating hearts and utmost concentration.


    The way he scolded the trainees was both endearing and scary at the same time. His criticisms were on point, and the other team members appeared to be listening to him well.


    Then, their rehearsal with Mentor Jihyun, where they were asked to switch parts, was shown.


    June sang, his voice sounding like the opening gates to heaven. And just like that, the haters were all stunned to silence.


    - I hate to say this...but he''s a really good singer.

 Chapter 114 Sixth Episode (Two)

    <h4>Chapter 114 Sixth Episode (Two)</h4>


    The hatements for June toned down when his leadership was shown to be the source of improvement for the group. His beautiful voice also sent other people speechless, his talent being undeniable.


    However, the hate came back when a familiar scene yed.


    It was what everybody was anticipating¡ªZeth''s and June''s conversation on the stairs.


    - It''s here. I''m ready to write a hate paragraph for June.


    - Don''t mess with Zetherealists, June!


    - Zetherealists are so fucking entitled. I wish you all to choke on your wordster.


    - Azure had been evil-editing kings until now, and you still believe them anyway.


    - Zeth is number one! June''s a leech who''s sucking up to his fame.


    "Damn," C-Jay said as he read thements. "They still haven''t let this one go. Did you really say any harsh things to Zeth?" he asked.


    "Just watch the scene," June said, causing his friends to let out a frustrated sigh.


    Why do they seem more nervous than the person involved in the scene?


    The scene was finally shown, with June sitting on the stairs. Fortunately, the scene of him crying because of the spicy chip wasn''t shown.


    That would have been his thirteenth reason.


    It went straight to the part where Zeth found June on the stairs.


    Tension-filled music defined the scene, and as Zeth sat down next to June, the stirring instrument background became even more intense.


    "Shit," Akira said. "Why does it feel like a fight is going to break out?"


    Then, Zeth starts pouring his heart into June. After that, he started to cry.


    "Oh man," Akira eximed. "He''s really going through it, isn''t he?"


    "It''s expected," Jaeyong said. "He''s used to being on the top. It''s hard to maintain that kind of image in thesepetitions. Everybody''s expecting him to do well."


    "He''s doing well, though," Jisung said. "I thought he was fine. We were on the same team, but I didn''t notice him going through this."


    June still hadn''t said anything at this point, and the audience waited in anticipation.


    "It''s taking so long," Jangmoon whined. "Did you really say shitty things to him?"


    Then, the tension-filled music reached its climax. However, instead of progressing to a simr sound, it was reced with emotional piano music when June handed Zeth the hard tacks he didn''t want to eat.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was expecting Azure to show the scene as it is, but with their editing style, it seemed like a very touching moment.


    June began to speak, his voice soft andforting.


    June grimaced as he watched himself on TV. Heck, he didn''t even notice he was speaking in such a tone. It''s like a big brother looking out for his younger sibling.


    "You don''t have to be perfect," June said. "If you really think about it, nobody actually cares about you at all. We''re all too focused on ourselves to give a damn about other people."


    "We all fear that, Zeth. You''re not special. Of course, it''s alright to feel down every once in a while. That''s normal. It''s just the wheel of life. However, if that happens, just remember to go back to your original intentions¡ªwhy are you doing this in the first ce?"


    At that point, Zeth started crying even harder.


    June chuckled, hisugh sounding endearing. "Come on, man. Don''t cry. You''re making me look bad here."


    Then, June patted Zeth''s shoulder.? It was apanied by a flowery caption, saying ¡ª "An unexpected brotherhood between two handsome trainees."


    Along with Zeth''s sniff, June heard another sniff from his side. He frowned as he turned to the side, expecting Jisung to be the one crying.


    However, much to his surprise, it was actually Jaeyong.


    "What the hell?" he muttered. "You''re crying?"


    Akira guffawed as he strongly patted Jaeyong''s back. "You''ve be a crybaby, leader. You didn''t even cry like this in RAVEN. I can''t believe you already cried twice because of June."


    "Twice?" June asked.


    "I told you back then," Akira said. "Jaeyong cried after your performance."


    Jangmoonughed while looking at Jaeyong, too. "Not going to lie, I was close to tears


    there. Thankfully, Jaeyong saved me from a round of tears."


    "Why''d you even cry?" June asked.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat and looked away. "You always say the right stuff."


    "No kidding," Akira said. "You made me cry when we spoke that one time too."


    "He made me cry, too," Jisung shyly admitted. "When he told us about the real meaning of ''I Love you, Don''t Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''"


    "At this point, you should open psychology services," Akira said. "Howe you always know what to say?"


    "I don''t," June said.


    June just says what he wants.


    He never expected others to beforted by it.


    "Look!" C-Jay eximed, pointing at thements on the corner of the screen. "Thements are switching up."


    - Umm...


    - I cried. Our ck kitty''s so well-spoken.


    - My middle finger''s up! These are for all the people who threw hate at June for the past week.


    - This dude is a ck cat with nine lives. He had been murdered twice by the media this week, but he somehow managed to bounce back.


    - Zetherealists aren''t so noisy now, are they?


    - I admit my mistake. June''s a good guy.


    - I still hate him...


    - Zetherealists stand by what they said.


    - Oh,e on, guys. June''s actually a good person. He evenforted Zeth! I''m a Zetherealist and a June fan now! What are you guys called again?


    - We still don''t have a name.


    "HE''S THE MOST PERFECT PERSON TO EXIST!" Mimi shouted as she stood up from the couch. Once again, the three members of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION had gathered to watch thetest episode of ''Rising Stars.'' It had been a weekly tradition for them now,? and Mimi''s craziness for June grows each day.


    Their performance had just finished airing, and thement section was now a haven of positivity. Everybody who doubted Team Aces switched up as their performance concluded.


    Everybody called it a ''legendary'' stage, and the song skyrocketed to number one on the biggest music site in Korea.


    "I can''t believe this," Sasha said. "How does this kid improve so fast? I was impressed by his vocals, but I also noticed his dance."


    Being the main dancer of the group, Sasha paid more attention to the dancers. She couldn''t deny the exponential improvement that happened with June''s dance skills. His dance lines had gotten prettier, and his footwork more precise.


    Sasha nodded in approval. This guy can pass off as a lead dancer now.


    The episode concluded with Team Aces taking the spotlight. The song they sang trended worldwide, and June''s name had been cleared. Of course, there were still some insect-like fans who didn''t want to acknowledge his performance, but it was a hundred times better than the past week.


    Jia, who had be irrevocably in love with June when the episode ended, decided that the wold world deserved to know how talented June really was. So, without hesitation, she went to FaceLook, a popr social media application for the older generation.


    Then, she went to a Hwan fan page, where over a million members were a part of.


    Without hesitation, he posted June''s outro on the page before quickly shutting theptop.


    What she didn''t know was the post would garner a million likes overnight.

 Chapter 115 Senior Pick

    <h4>Chapter 115 Senior Pick</h4>


    "Oh my goodness!" Grandma jumped excitedly as June entered their apartment. "He''s here. He''s really here!"


    June looked at Grandma with wide eyes, and then he nced at Minjun, asking what was wrong with the olddy.


    Minjun sighed and gently pushed Grandma away. "You''re acting like he''s a celebrity. You see him almost every day."


    However, that didn''t stop Grandma from looking at June with wide, googly eyes.


    "What happened?" June warily asked, feeling apprehensive because of Grandma''s attention.


    Minjun sighed and retrieved his phone from his pocket. "You''re really so clueless about everything. Here," he said, showing him the screen. "Someone posted your solo part on FaceLook, and now it has more than two million likes."


    "What?" June asked, skeptical of the number of likes. "What page is this?"


    "It''s Hwan''s fan page, one that has over a million members. Grandma''s a part of that page."


    June paused. So, that exins the sudden shift in her attitude. She was looking at June like he was god''s incarnate.


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "You''ve once again earned another fanbase, bro. First, it was children, then with young adults...and now you have fans like my Grandma over here."


    June frowned as he clicked on the post, scrolling through thements.


    - June is my son''s age... but it''s okay...I don''t believe in age gaps as long as he is of legal age, hehe...


    - How do you buy stars on the Azure app? My grandson does not want to teach me.


    - I like Hwan; my granddaughter likes June. Now, we''re fighting for June.


    - My vision is blurry, but I can still see that June is handsome.


    - This kind of talent is hard toe by. We, grandmother stans, support June!


    - I will ask my son to send more allowance this month so I can send stars to June.


    - June, I am 69, but I am still young at heart. Please message me when you see this.


    June scrolled with mixed feelings. Minjun was reading with him from behind his back, cracking up with everyment.


    The young kid patted his back and gave him a thumbs up.


    "I hope you don''t mind a 50-year age gap!"


    ***


    June has been having a hard time after the video was posted. Back then, he could walk around their neighborhood without getting recognized.


    However, now, he was being stopped by people even when he just wanted to go to Seven Star Convenience Store! And all of them were of the older generation! How could they recognize him so quickly when they had blurred vision?


    He even had to run away from a group of protesting olddies. In the end, they were still able to catch up to him, even with their arthritis.


    As expected, old people were scary, too.


    Moreover, Grandma hadn''t stopped pestering him to join her morning zumba sses at the park. She wanted to boast to her fellow old friends that she knew June from ''Rising Stars,'' and since June felt like he owed Grandma a lot, he decided to appease her requests.


    He just didn''t know his cheeks would be sore after every two-hour session because of the continuous cheek-pinching from the olddies.


    So, despite being a homebody, June was kind of thankful that he was now back in the Azure dorms.


    "It''s starting again," Akira groaned. "Why do I feel like the break was so short?"


    "I know," Jangmoon agreed. "We''re down to the third mission already. I feel like time is moving too quickly."


    All 75 trainees were gathered in the training center. They were dressed in casual clothes, some catching up after the one-week long break.


    A lot of them nced at June, who had been the center of gossip for the past week.


    As June looked around, he realized that Alex and Hyunwoo were out for good. A knowing smirk appeared on his face as a pop-up emerged.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted the mission: Kick Someone Out Of the Competition. Please pick an aspect an aspect to improve.]


    June thought hard about this one.


    His vocals were already on the A-tier, which was the highest among the trainees. His dance and visuals were at a tie on the B-tier, which was already above average among all the trainees. Of course, he stillgs behind the top ten trainees, but he could already be considered talented.


    As for the rap, he probably wouldn''t even rap for the duration of thepetition. He''s been singing until now, and he''ll be singing until the end.


    So, for now, he decided to upgrade his visuals just in time for the second elimination.


    ''Visual.''


    [Wise choice! Visual +1. Current grade: B+]


    C-Jay was staring at June when the upgrade happened, and he was taken aback by the aura he emanated in a split second. He scrubbed his eyes and took a double look at June.


    What the hell? Did he just get more handsome?


    His thoughts were interrupted when Hyerin and Minho entered the training center. The trainees erupted into apuse as the pretty and handsome celebrities made their way to the front. It has been more than a week since theyst saw each other, so seeing them today felt brand new.


    Hyerin immediately looked for someone among the sea of trainees, and then she saw him¡ªJune. She couldn''t help but smile as she watched his nonchnt pping. In reality, her mom had be a fan of June ever since his video went viral on FaceLook, and she''s been pestering Hyerin for a photo with him ever since. It was amazing how big June''s reach had be. Her aunts and uncles were even asking for an autograph! It''s definitely the first time she has seen an individual trainee be this popr on the show.


    "It''s been a while, trainees," Minho started off. "I watched the previous episodes, and I must say that all of you have improved so much since the first mission."


    The trainees pped, feeling proud of themselves.


    "However, in Rising Stars, trainees have no time to rx," Hyerin continued. "We shall now move onto our third mission¡ªa staple for Rising Stars."


    Excited exmations filled the room, while others dreaded the pressure and hardships that came along the new mission.


    June pursed his lips and thought hard about what the third mission could be. If it''s a staple of Rising Stars, then that means they''re going with the same third mission from the other seasons.


    "Concept Mission," June and Hyerin said at the same time.


    Hyerin''s eyes sparkled as she borated, "In the Concept Mission, each team will be assigned a song from a renowned producer from all across the borders."


    Minho''s grin was infectious as he continued, "That''s right! We''re talking about original musical masterpieces created by famous producers ¨C a true test of your skills and talent."

 Chapter 116 Concept Mission (1)

    <h4>Chapter 116 Concept Mission (1)</h4>


    So, this was the very first mission where Azure didn''t change anything at all? The two other missions involved some kind of innovation, so this retention took the other trainees by surprise. Of course, there was still an element of anxiousness and anticipation, especially with the songs not being announced yet.


    "This mission will push you to embrace different styles and concepts. It''s an opportunity to show your adaptability and creativity on a whole new level."


    Minho''s eyes gleamed with energy. "And remember, it''s not just about performing the song ¨C it''s about infusing it with your own signature style, creating a fusion that''s uniquely yours."


    Hyerin chimed in, "That''s right. We''ve already produced seven amazing songs, each with a unique concept. These songs vary from rap-heavy to rock-heavy, R&B, and more. Your challenge is to bring these songs to life with your performances."


    June leaned back, his cold expression unchanging as he listened attentively. Akira patted his shoulder. "I wish we''d be in the same team again."


    "Back off," Jangmoon said. "Big brother and I would be on the same team."


    "And what? Give him a headache again?" C-Jay chimed. "I''d be on the same team as him."


    Jisung chuckled. "You''d also give him a headache. I think I should be the one to be on the same team as June."


    Zeth, who was sitting next to them, suddenly turned around. "I feel like we''ll be on the same team."


    Jaeyong shyly looked at them, wanting to say something, but quickly evaded his gaze when his eyes met with June.


    June sighed. The songs hadn''t even been revealed, but they were already annoying him to death.


    Minho continued, "Now, here''s the twist: the song choices have already been made for you. We''ve worked with a group of experts and chosen fans who have assigned each of you to a song that they believe suits you best."


    "That means you won''t have any choice in the matter. Your teammates, song, and concept are final once you are in your teams. Of course, the execution and story is still up to you," Hyerin added.


    The trainees weren''t too surprised by that. It was the same as thest season, too.


    "I can''t wait to hear the songs. I want a sexy one."


    "A sexy one, pfft. You look like a sea urchin. You wouldn''t suit that concept."


    "I wish there was a bad like ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave.''"


    It was obvious that Tem Aces'' performance had left a tremendous impression on the other trainees.


    With the room growing more curious, Minho gestured to therge screen at the front.


    "Alright, let''s get started by revealing the first song," he announced.


    As the screen flickered to life, a familiar face was seen. Of course, June didn''t know who it was. He merely kept up with K-pop Idols because of Mei Ling, but she never really watched or talked about producers.


    It seemed like the others were excited for this guy, though.


    "Hello," the bearded Korean guy greeted. "It''s HAZE, and I''m here to present my song for the concept mission."


    Then various songs were shown on the screen ¡ª "GogoBoop by EXOTIC, D-ss by Spray Teens, and Drunk Days by Endash."


    Now, June was familiar with those songs.


    "Holy shit," Akira whispered by his side. "I can''t believe HAZE produced a song for Rising Stars. Azure brought up the scale for this season."


    Jisung nodded in agreement, looking at the screen with bright eyes.


    Then, a title appeared: "Brown Sugar Milktea" by producer HAZE. The screen shifted from HAZE to a practice room illuminated by a soft, cool glow, setting the tone for the bright and sentimental atmosphere of the song.


    HAZE began to exin. "This song is all about that sweet and innocent feeling of first love, like the kind you''d experience back in high school. The choreography is designed to capture the youthful exuberance of that time, and the lyrics depict a love that''s as sweet as brown sugar milk tea."


    June''s gaze remained steady, listening intently to the song, "The moves are yful, with a mix of joyful jumps and expressive hand gestures. It''s all about conveying the happiness and warmth of falling in love for the first time."


    The song was bubbly, cute, and sweet....like Brown Sugar Milktea.


    The screen then yed a short teaser of the song''s choreography. The trainees watched in awe as the dancers on the screen brought the bright and bubbly choreography to life. The room seemed to light up with the promise of young love, and even June found himself subtly nodding in appreciation.


    However, he knew the song didn''t suit him.


    Performing this song wouldn''t be impossible, though.? He knows just how unlucky he is when ites to song choices.


    As the anticipation in the room grew, the scene shifted to another song.


    JONG, a well-known producer for idol bands, was shown on the screen, making band- enthusiasts jump in surprise. He produced songs like "Almost Sober by BANGBIG, You Were Ugly by Day 69, and Happy Birth Day by Ordinary Civilians."


    "This track is all about raw emotions and the rollercoaster of love. I have brought my signature pop-punk ir to this song, infusing it with electric guitar riffs and a high-energy tempo. The choreography for ''Break My Heart'' is going to take you back to the emo anthems of the early 2000s. It''s intense, full of headbanging and powerful movements. The goal is to channel the emotions of heartbreak and defiance through your performance."


    The screen yed a teaser of the choreography, and the trainees were immediately hit with the rebellious energy of the moves. The room seemed to transform into a rock concert, with the trainees already imagining themselves on stage, giving it their all.


    Again, June felt like he didn''t suit the song well.


    Even when the third and fourth songs were shown, he felt like it didn''t suit his style. He was starting to feel like a song wouldn''t suit his taste...


    That is...until the fifth song came.

 Chapter 117 Concept Mission (2)

    <h4>Chapter 117 Concept Mission (2)</h4>


    The trainees couldn''t help but feel excited as the next song came on. The first four songs already exceeded their expectations, and they were having a hard time picking from the song choices.


    However, when the next producer came on the screen, there seemed to be a collective agreement from all the trainees.


    The screen disyed the name "PCatt," which caused gasps of anticipation and excitement to fill the air.


    Even June knew who he was.


    Hit songs from well-known K-pop idols have mostly been produced by PCatt. "RNA by BTC, Flinch Mode by NCITI NIGHTMARE, Masochist by RED POLYESTER, and Super Confident by OLDSWEATS" were only some songs from his discography.


    Minho and Hyerin grinned as they watched the trainees,pletely aware of the reaction the name had garnered. Even idols like Hyerin aspired to perform a song by PCatt.


    "Hello, it''s PCatt, and I''m here to introduce you to my song¡ª''Skateboard Ride.''"


    PCatt''s assistant took the opportunity to exin the song through the screen. "PCatt''s signature style shines through in ''Skateboard Ride.'' It''s a true pop sound that feels both nostalgic and incredibly modern. The song captures the essence of today''s K-pop hits, blending catchy melodies with a touch of familiarity that''s sure to resonate with listeners."


    The screen disyed the title of the song, and the room buzzed with excitement, recognizing the name "PCatt" as a ticket to the industry.?Even the start of the choreography already appeared to be a hit move!


    The assistant continued, "The choreography for ''Skateboard Ride'' is nothing short of addictive. It''s abination of smooth moves and powerful gestures that perfectlyplement the song''s upbeat tempo. Moreover, it portrays the cool lifestyle of a skater, but that "coolness" always seem to fall t whenever his love interest is near. It''s a cool song that speaks of a clumsy experience."


    PCatt added, "The choreography ys with the concept of a skateboard ride, incorporating fluid gliding motions and yful footwork. You''ll also find moments of synchronized moves that highlight the unity of your team."


    The screen yed the choreography of the chorus, and the room was instantly filled with an energy that was hard to contain. The trainees watched in awe as the dancers on the screen executed the intricate steps with precision and ir. The choreography felt like a ride itself, with seamless transitions between dynamic group formations and solo moments that allowed each trainee to shine.


    "This is it," Zeth eximed,pletely enamored by the pop song. "It has to be this."


    "Damn," C-Jay said. "I want to perform this one."


    "I like this song a lot," Akira said in exasperation. "It has equal song and rap parts. I can already imagine myself performing it."


    Jisung nodded as the song finished. He was also determined to perform this one.


    Jangmoon screamed out loud. "This is mine!"


    June''s demeanor remainedposed, but a spark of something ignited within him as he contemted the opportunity to prove himself on a stage that was, quite literally, a skateboard ride toward sess.?Out of all the songs, June liked this one the most. However, it seemed like a lot of trainees also anticipated being picked for this song.


    PCatt definitely outdid himself with this one.


    Even after the teaser was shown, the trainees couldn''t stop talking about it.


    ''Skateboard Ride'' left such a huge impression on the trainees that the sixth song waspletely overshadowed.


    However, their attention was captured once more when thest song was presented. The title: ''Tie Me Up'' by GROOVYTUNES was shown on?screen.


    Thest producer was GROOVYTUNES ¡ª the well-known rap producer duo. As judges on the rap show "Show Me The Penny," the two have garnered attention from rap-enthusiasts and the public alike.


    Now, whatever song they put out, it was a guaranteed hit in the K-hip-hop world. "Hokey Pokey by SICKO, Instapic by BEAN, GottaSundae by BEHOW, and Peter Dominic by PETER DOMINIC," were all produced by them.


    "Woah, what the hell?" Jaeyong eximed through his calm demeanor. "How much budget does Azure have in this season? They''ve brought out the best producers for these songs."


    "This is bound to be good," Akira said. "But I don''t rap."


    "My mind is set on a Skateboard Ride, though," Zeth said. "I can''t have any other song."


    With the excitement still lingering in the air, the song yed through the high-quality speakers.


    June was surprised when he heard the sexy song intro. It was slow, sensual, and felt a bit dangerous. It had a very different vibepared to the rest of the songs¡ªone that would be hard to pull off.


    GROOVYTUNES'' voices resonated through the room. "This song takes a unique approach. It''s heavily focused on rhythmical rap, with the chorus being the main vocal part. The addicting, sexy intro sets the tone, drawing you in with a strong rap that demands attention."


    The song was very rap-heavy.


    Almost all of the verses, and even the bridge, were centered around rap. The chorus, too, despite having a "vocal" undertone, felt more like "singing rap."


    The choreography, however, was a whole other story. It was definitely on the sexier side...with the dancers embodying the title¡ª''Tie Me Up.'' With the red lights and revealing outfits, it felt like they were in a BDSM club.


    As the song continued, June frowned when some of the parts weren''t filled with lyrics.


    GROOVYTUNES quickly exin the situation.


    "But here''s the catch ¨C some parts of the song are intentionally missing. The essence of a rapper lies in their ability to fill in the nks with their own style and flow. So, we''re giving this chance to have the performing trainees incorporate their own rap verses into the song."


    A murmur of surprise and excitement swept through the room. The people who originally wanted to perform the song were now skeptical. They had to learn new choreography, embody the song, and write rap verses all at the same time?


    No thanks.


    June, too, wanted to avoid this song at all costs.


    It ticked off all the things he couldn''t do:


    1. Rap


    2. Write a rap verse


    3. Be sexy


    So, all in all, it was a song he definitely couldn''t perform.

 Chapter 118 Disrupted Balance

    <h4>Chapter 118 Disrupted Bnce</h4>


    "Again," Minho reiterated. "The songs have already been chosen for you, so don''t be disappointed when you don''t get the song you want."


    The trainees already epted that decision since it has been a norm since the first season.


    However, they were fools to believe that this mission wouldn''t have some kind of twist.


    "Trainees," Minho''s voice cut through the excited tension. "Although the mission has stayed the same, there will be some...minor changes because of the implementation of the live eliminations."


    June frowned. He did find it strange how they were given the third mission before the live eliminations.


    "We care for the quality of your performances, so we wanted to give you more time to prepare for the songs, especially since they are originals," Hyerin continued.


    Cared about us, my ass. June could already feel what the next announcement would be.


    "The second eliminations will happen two days from now, but we''re already establishing the teams for the Concept Mission," Minho said. "This means that after the teams have been established, and you start preparing for your performances, twenty-three trainees will be leaving thepetition."


    Shocked gasps were heard in the room.


    June shook his head. They''re acting like it wasn''t already obvious.


    Hyerin''s words followed, "We understand that this is a challenging twist, but it''s also an opportunity for each of you to showcase your growth and determination. We believe that the performances you deliver as part of these teams will truly reveal your potential."


    The initial atmosphere of excitement began to change to worry as their announcement continued.


    "For now, all teams will have ten to eleven members each. However, as you reveal your songs, the final number of members will also be shown."


    "After the second elimination," Minho continued. "Some groups will have excess numbers while some willck members. So, in the end, the teams with excess members will have no choice but to kick out some of their members...even when you''ve already made progress."


    C-Jay, with his brows furrowed, voiced what many were thinking. "I get that it''s apetition and all, but isn''t it kind of unfair to suddenly change up the teams after we''ve been practicing and bonding with our current members?"


    "Don''t worry," Jangmoon said. "You''d probably leave before that happens. You have nothing to worry about."


    C-Jay cursed and pulled some of his hair, causing Jangmoon to groan in pain.


    Steel frustratedly sighed. "I mean, we''ve been working hard to work on a song, but now they''re saying that we might end up with a different concept? It feels like we''re being set up to fail."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "I don''t like this."


    Akira shook his head. "You don''t even have anything to worry about. You''re probably not going to get kicked out."


    For June, it seemed overlyplicated. However, he also wanted to apud Azure foring up with these crazy twists in thepetition.


    "Let''s not waste any time," Minho said. "Thest-ced trainee, pleasee to the front and get your room card. Afterward, you may leave the room and wait for your teammates."


    Jangmoon went to the front and acted like his room card was top-secret. In reality, nobody was paying attention to him since the other trainees were already engrossed in their own conversations.


    "Have you guys thought of the song you want to perform?" Jisung asked while waiting for their turn to perform.


    Akira smiled. "Although ''Skateboard Ride'' is good, I want something cute this time. I''ve only been unting my vocal skills until now, so ''Brown Sugar Milktea'' is a good choice. I bet June would suit that song, too."


    June red at him. "Don''t jinx it."


    "Aww," Akira teased, pinching his cheek. "Where''s the cute guy who sang the Little Meow Meow song?"


    June clicked his tongue and removed Akira''s hand from his cheeks.


    "I want to perform ''Skateboard Ride,''" Jaeyong said. "It''s by PCatt. It will definitely ce high on the music charts."


    Zeth once again turned around. "''Skateboard Ride'' is a good song. I guess I''ll see you there, Jae. I''m already manifesting to get the song."


    "Don''t you want to go to ''Tie Me Up?'' It''s the only rap song out of the bunch," Jaeyong asked.


    "Too much work, honestly. I could ask the same thing to you," Zeth chimed.


    "Same thoughts," Jaeyong answered. "It''d be alright if it was an existing song. But it''s a new one. New dance. New lyrics. New tune. It''d be hard to make rap on top of it, too."


    As expected, popr trainees thought the same as June.


    As the time came for June to make his way to his assigned room, Hyerin couldn''t help but show her excitement. She smiled at him and said, "Good luck."


    He nonchntly nodded before grabbing his room card. Hyerin sighed disappointedly at hisckluster reaction.


    He entered the room, expecting to be met with at least three people. However, much to his surprise, only one person was there ¡ª Xin, an independent trainee and one of Hoon''sckeys.


    Xin''s face twisted into a scowl when he saw June, but he quickly reced it with a smile.


    Ever since the face reveal incident, the other independent trainees haven''t been bothering him.


    However, it was obvious they still didn''t like June at all.


    The room was engulfed in silence as the two of them didn''t talk.


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long for their next members toe in.


    Bin and Steel came in with hopeful smiles on their faces.


    "I hope we perform ''Skateboard Ride,''" Bin said. "I think we can pull it off really well."


    The door opened once more, and Lin Zhi came in, causing June to internally sigh.


    Him again?


    Lin Zhi''s eyes brightened up when he saw June sitting in the middle.


    "You''re here?" he chimed, pushing Steel to sit next to June. "This is going to be fun."


    Ever since theirst performance, Lin Zhi realized how good of a leader June truly was. As much as he hated to admit it, their performance wouldn''t have gone so well if it wasn''t for him.


    Because of this, he wanted to perform with June again. It seems like everything he performs bes iconic, and he wanted to be a part of that.


    June was definitely reliable.


    It felt like he had a lot of wisdom, too.


    But for Lin Zhi, that was more of a w. June had too much of a "hero"plex. In the end, he''ll be the one with the short end of the stick.


    Lin Zhi smiled knowingly as he continued looking at June.


    Stupid, stupid June.


    ''You remind me so much of Jun hao.''

 Chapter 119 Main Vocalist

    <h4>Chapter 119 Main Vocalist</h4>


    The peace was once again disrupted when Jaxon, the loudest popr trainee among all contestants, entered the room with a smug smile.


    June sighed as he watched the handsome kid fist-bump with everyone in the room. Even though they hadn''t been in the same group before, he could already gauge Jaxon''s personality¡ªlike an extroverted frat boy.


    June already had a hunch that their team would have the highest-ranked trainees once more.


    The lowest-ranked among them was Xin, who''s currently at rank 39, and the second lowest was him.


    Daeho, another trainee that June hadn''t been acquainted with, entered the room. If Jaxon was the frat boy of the group, this kid seemed to be the model student¡ªsomeone who went to sses early, aced all his subjects and even had time to go to church.


    Then, the unthinkable happened. Jaeyong, ranked 4th, came into the room, which sent the others into a state of excitement.


    "Jaeyong''s here too?" Lin Zhi loudly eximed. "This will be a damn good stage."


    "Oh damn," the others started eximing in shock when Casper, too, entered the room. June observed the way he seamlessly joined the conversation. It was a reminder of the connections he had formed with the other trainees.


    Casper looked up for a second, meeting June''s eyes, and then he softly smiled.


    June awkwardly smiled back. He guesses Casper wouldn''t be too hard to work with.


    As soon as Casper came in and their team was still yet to be full, June knew who would being next.


    Zeth walked in, his presence instantly brightening the atmosphere with his confidence and enthusiasm. However, as he walked past Casper, there was a slight tension between them.


    Nheless, they seemed to be pretty civil, so June didn''t have to worry about another fight breaking out at least.


    "Little bro," Zeth excitedly ran to where June was, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.


    "Seems like we''re on the same team again. Let''s make another legendary stage."


    "Mmmh," June merely hummed.


    June nced at the circle they''d formed, observing the ten trainees he was going to perform with.


    "I have a good feeling about this team," Bin said, breaking the silence. "Let''s get along well from now on."


    Chimes of agreement were heard in the room, and June wondered if he was dreaming. There wasn''t any tension within the team...no weird feeling. It was the very first time he had felt like this during the team selections.


    The production crew gestured to the sticker-covered stand next to them. The trainees knew the moment had arrived¡ªthey were now going to reveal their song.


    The air became thick with anticipation as the trainees awaited to reveal their assigned song.


    Amidst the tense atmosphere, Jaxon''s enthusiastic presence decided to take the lead.


    With a Cheshire grin, Jaxon stepped forward. "Alright, alright," he said, rubbing his hands together as he leaned against the stand. "Let''s get this party started!"


    He livened up the atmosphere like a real party host. If he does debut, he''d earn a reputation and be popr in fanfics as someone who hosts a huge party for other idols.


    "Now that we''re here to reveal our song, I''ve got to know ¨C what''s on everyone''s minds? What song do you all want to perform?"


    The trainees exchanged nces, and from the looks of it, they seemed to agree on the song selection. "Definitely ''Skateboard Ride.'' The song is just so catchy, and I can already imagine the choreography being amazing," Steel said.


    Lin Zhi passionately agreed.? "Oh, absolutely. ''Skateboard Ride'' would be such a hit. I might just kill someone if I don''t get that song," he jokingly said, but June internally rolled his eyes.


    He would do that, wouldn''t he?


    "Well, let''s hope it is ''Skateboard Ride.'' I also want that song," Jaxon said.


    Casper''s calm voice added to the unanimous consensus. "I think we''re all on the same page here."


    June had a good feeling about the song reveal. He was teammates with both the first-ranked and second-ranked trainees. As far as he knows, they had always performed the song they wanted to perform.


    June guesses they were just born with it.


    June, on the other hand, never ended up with the song he had desired. However, with their presence, there might actually be a change.


    "Ah, I can''t wait any longer," Jaxon agitatedly said. "I''ll reveal it now."


    With deliberate slowness, he peeled back the sticker¡­


    He was taking too damn long!


    "I thought you couldn''t wait any longer," June muttered under his breath. However, Zeth seemed to have heard him as he chuckled and ruffled June''s hair.


    Fortunately, Jaxon sped up and removed the sticker, revealing the words "Skateboard Ride."


    Cheers immediately erupted in the room. Bin and Steel even jumped up in happiness as they realized they were going to perform a song by PCatt.


    "Yes!" Xin said, raising his fist in the air. He was ted that he was going to perform a good song, but other than that, he felt like he could suck-up to the fame of his fellow trainees and finally rise in the ranks.


    As the others celebrated their assigned song, June read the other contents of the board.


    "Skateboard Ride by PCatt."


    And beneath that was a number¡ª8.


    ***


    After the song reveal, the team decided to watch the performance video before delegating the parts.


    June felt a dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach. Things have been going pretty well so far, but the part distribution always seemed to tear the teams apart.


    Lin Zhi, who had taken the role of the leader after much deliberation, sat at the very center, leaning against the mirror.


    Originally, Casper and Zeth both volunteered to be the leaders. However, the group was torn on who to vote for. It was exactly 50/50. So, in the end, Zeth and Casper both agreed that they''d step down and have another person be the leader since they''d already experienced being one in their past groups.


    Nobody but Lin Zhi volunteered to be the leader, so he automatically took the title.


    "It says here that we should duplicate two roles for the moment. I don''t think we should duplicate the mains, so why don''t we use the Sub-Vocal 1 and the Sub-Rapper 1?" he suggested.


    "I don''t have any problems with that," Steel said.


    "Me too," the others agreed.


    Surprisingly, Lin Zhi was doing a pretty good job at leading the part distribution. Well, he''s always been good at distribution, even back then.


    Drug distribution, that is.


    "Umm, and then let''s start with the Main Vocal," Lin Zhi continued.


    Zeth raised his hand, causing the others to pay attention to him. "After listening to the song, I can''t help but let his voicee into mind," he started off.


    Then, he looked around until his gaze met with June''s.


    "I think June should be the Main Vocalist this time around."

 Chapter 120 Since When?

    <h4>Chapter 120 Since When?</h4>


    Again, June was expecting a lot of protests to go around the room. Although there were currently more rappers on the team, some of the trainees would definitely want the Main Vocalist position, too.


    June cleared his throat, ready to show them that he was meant for the Main Vocalist part when they all started agreeing with Zeth''s suggestion.


    "Yeah, I think that''d be good," Lin Zhi said. "I like the Sub Vocal 1''s part anyway. And I think June also suits the Main Vocalist part the most."


    "That''s fine with me," Casper said. "I''ll also be the Sub Rapper 1. You guys decide who the Main Rapper will be."


    "I''ll be the other Sub Vocal 1," Steel said. "I also think June''s voice would stand out as the Main Vocalist. He''s the most skilled one out of all the trainees."


    "Then, is it alright if I be the Main Rapper?" Zeth asked. "These are the parts I really liked."


    "No problem for me," Bin said. "I''ll take Sub Rapper 2."


    "And I''ll take the other Sub-Rapper 1 position," Jaxon chimed. "There''s a solo dance for it, and I believe I''ll pull it off well."


    "Then, I''ll be Sub Vocal 2," Daeho quickly said. "If that''s alright with all of you."


    "Fine with me," Xin said, smiling since he didn''t have a lot to practice for. The Sub Vocal 3 part was definitely the easiest to execute, and Xin felt like he could rx during this mission and let the others carry the performance.


    June watched the scene before him with utter awe. He nced at the clock and saw that the part distribution only took a few minutes!


    How did that make any sense?


    "How about you, little bro?" Zeth asked, making him snap out of his thoughts.


    "Huh?" June asked, confused since he wasn''t paying attention.


    They chuckled as they looked at June''s confused face.


    "About the parts," Zeth said. "Can you be the Main Vocalist?"


    "Sure," June quickly said. "I''ll be the Main Vocalist."


    "Great!" Zeth eximed, pping his hands. "I guess that''s settled then. Shall we go ahead and learn the choreography?"


    Their other teammates stood up as if this was the norm in every group.


    What the hell?


    Things are going so smoothly.


    Was this what it''s supposed to be like?


    ***


    "5 and 6 and 7 and 8," Zeth counted, finishing off thest part of the chorus. Zeth and Casper took the initiative to be their dance leaders, meaning they watched the choreography video that the producers had made and were now teaching the dance to the team.


    Casper went around and pointed out some ws in the other''s movements.


    "Your fingers are spread out. Think of it as a salute," he said to Xin, guiding his hands.


    "And Lin Zhi. Your knees should be at a right angle during this movement. It''ll look sharper that way," Zeth pointed out.


    "Let''s do the chorus once again," Casper said, ying back the music.


    The team members assumed their temporary positions for the chorus and danced while looking at themselves in the mirror. Despite only practicing for less than two hours, they already got the first verse, pre-chorus, and chorus done.


    Their progress was impable for an idol trainee team.


    Zeth pped loudly as soon as another round was finished. He then looked at his wristwatch and bit his lip.


    "We still have quite a lot of time. So, do you guys want to perform the chorus one by one so we can point out thecking parts of our dance?" he asked.


    "I''m down for that," Steel said. "That helped us a lot when we did it in our past team."


    "It sure did," Bin chimed. "I''ll go first."


    Bin stood center and started dancing to the choreography. He was definitely a very good dancer, and it was also evident in his stats. The kid has risen to an A- at this point in thepetition.


    The others followed suit, and it couldn''t be denied that there was a lot of talent in this team.


    Even Xin, whose rank fell below 30, had improved a lot through the course of thepetition.


    That''s probably why they''re having a very smooth practice until now.


    Sure, June was in a very talented team during thest mission, but it was obvious that they had different views on the song when they first started practicing. This time, though, a concept wasid out in front of them, so it was easier to gather and implement ideas.


    "June," Zeth said, a bit out of breath after dancing. "It''s your turn."


    June looked around and saw his teammates all looking at him. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn''t even notice it was only him who hadn''t performed.


    June sighed and went to the center. His teammates sat in front of him, leaning against the mirror while looking at him with non-anticipating eyes.


    It was clear that they didn''t put June''s dancing in high regard. At the end of the day, he was still the main vocalist. And up until now, he''s still branded as a mediocre dancer because of the impression he made during his auditions.


    And although he still doesn''t think of himself as a very proficient dancer, June believes he has improved a lot. He was now at the B-tier, and thanks to Grandma inviting him to her Zumba ss for the past week, his stamina and agility had also improved.


    "Whenever you''re ready," Casper said, hovering his hand over the music yer.


    "I''m ready," June said, just wanting to get this over with.


    As the music began to y, the trainees'' attention shifted to June. At first, they watched indifferently, just wanting to be respectful.


    However, their indifference quickly turned to surprise when June started moving.


    They couldn''t help but be shocked by the transformation in June''s dancing. It was as if he had awakened a skill no one had previously witnessed. The surprise was genuine, their astonishment evident in the subtle widening of their eyes.


    Lin Zhi''s surprise was more introspective. He remembered his own assessment of June''s dancing during the previous mission. June was definitely worse than him back then! Why does it feel like he''s better than him now?


    Xin''s frown deepened as he watched June. He had known June to be reserved and somewhat aloof, but this level of improvement was baffling. His thoughts echoed those of his teammates ¨C how had June managed to progress so rapidly?


    Bin''s astonishment was equally noticeable. They were both in Team Abyss during the first mission, and he recalled him to be a clumsy dancer back then. Since when has he danced this well?


    June continued to move with ease, his attitude remaining nonchnt.


    And although he didn''t put much emotion into his moves, it was still a very good performance.


    Arguably, the most effortless out of all of them. It definitely wasn''t perfect¡­with a few "underdanced" movements here and there.


    However,pared to his past self, this change was astronomical.


    It looked like he wasn''t even trying!


    And then, as the music came to an end, June finished his performance with a subtle bow before going back to his seat.


    His teammates were stunned to silence as they tried to process what just happened.


    "Holy shit," Zeth eximed. "Since when were you so good at dancing, little bro?"

 Chapter 121 Good Job

    <h4>Chapter 121 Good Job</h4>


    The trainees once again gathered in the training room they had dreaded. Only one day had passed since they were given the songs, yet ''Rising Stars'' already expected them to perform the whole song.


    "Can you believe it?" Minho said to his other mentors, looking at the group of traineesing in. "They looked like they''ve grown so much."


    Bone chuckled as he observed Minho''s fond expression. "Do you think of them as your kids now?"


    "No," Minho defended. "I just feel like it''s going too fast."


    "Stop denying it," Jihyun teased. "You''ve be a fan of these boys, haven''t you?"


    Minho shook his head with an amused smile. "You''re talking about me? I heard you went to the Azure headquarters when June was about to get kicked out. You''re the fan here."


    Jihyun raised her hands in surrender. "I''m not denying it."


    Hyerin chuckled. "Not going to lie. June got me, too. But I bet Gun over here''s the one he got the most."


    Gun looked up from his phone and red at them. "Shut up. I wasn''t even saying anything."


    "Which is strange," Woo-jin chimed. "You haven''t bashed June ever since the second elimination. Did something happen between the two of you?"


    Gun''s face flushed as he remembered the shit incident in the toilet. Until now, he can''t make eye contact with June and the janitor, who apparently held a grudge against him for "tainting" his lucky plunger.


    With hisck of response, his fellow mentors started teasing him.


    "You''ve developed a soft spot for him, haven''t you?" Hyerin teased, nudging his shoulder.


    Gun clicked his tongue and gently pushed her away. "I haven''t," he defensively said. "And I''ll prove it to you. Let''s have them go first. Then, I''ll let you know if I''ve developed a soft spot for him."


    The other mentors appeared like they didn''t believe him, making Gun roll his eyes. He then took the microphone and decided to disobey the script and have June''s team perform first.


    "Skateboard Ride, pleasee center-stage," Gun said, surprising the others. Usually, the highest-ranked team will performst, but Gun was determined to prove his point.


    Their team quickly rose up to their seats and lined up in front of the judges. "Good moning, mentors," Lin Zhi said as their leader. "We are team Risers."


    "Risers, huh?" Jihyun asked. "Quite fitting for the song and this show."


    "Thank you," Lin Zhi bowed, feeling proud of himself foring up with the name.


    "Don''t waste any more time," Gun said, directing his gaze to June. Thetter wasn''t looking at him, which made him a bit annoyed.? And why the hell is this kid bing more handsome every week? Is he drinking some kind of magical potion or something?


    They started out with a loose formation, representing the carefree spirit of riding a skateboard.


    "Riding through the streets, heart racing like a beat,


    Love''s a skateboard ride, unpredictable and sweet."


    As the main vocalist, June sang the first lines. It was a first for him to start the song, and the audience was immediately enamored as he sang his lines.


    As the lyrics mentioned falling down and getting back up, they mimed stumbling and quickly rising again, symbolizing a young boy''s perseverance.


    "But no matter how we try, no matter how we glide,


    Can''t seem to impress, even with our style.


    It''s like a challenge set, an endless uphill climb,


    Fighting for a chance to make you change your mind."


    The pre-chorus was a rapbination by Zeth and Casper, livening up the atmosphere. Although they only had one day to master the choreography and get the vibe of the song down, they were doing such a very good job.


    June stood at the center during their lines, his movements smooth and confident, reflecting the growth of his skills.


    "Skateboard ride, love''s a wild ride,


    Falling down the curb, swallowing my pride


    "Boo, you suck," a little kid shouts.


    Yet all that''s in my mind is how to ask you out."


    Even after the chorus, Gun''s gaze was still focused on June. He frowned as he watched his movements, feeling confused by his sudden improvement.


    June was one of the worst dancers at the start of the show.


    But now, he doesn''t look too weird with other ace dancers like Casper and Zeth. Surely, the others'' movements looked more fluid and professional than his, but the progress within less than two months left him speechless.


    "No ollie or flip trick can win your heart away,


    Even as we spin and twist, I still can''t find a way.


    It''s like a half-pipe dream, too high to reach the top,


    But I''ll keep on riding, never gonna stop."


    For the bridge part, they split into pairs, mirroring each other''s movements. June''s partner, Xin, imitates a fall, and he extends his hand, helping him up.


    It wasn''t only a technically impressive performance. It was also fun and theatrical in a way.


    June''s stable vocal power shone as he belted out the lines, his voice capturing the essence of the pop song. If PCatt could hear his voice right now, he''d definitely feel satisfied.


    Jihyun gaped at the performance before her. Her full attention was on June, and she feels that he''s doing the best in the team despite having higher-ranked trainees with him.


    For thest line, they formed a line resembling skateboard riders in a group, with fluid spins that seamlessly transitioned to powerful jumps.


    "I''m just a skater boy, caught up in your snare.


    You''re the girl next door, with that twinkle that''s rare."


    As the song gradually faded, the room erupted into excited apuse.


    "Is it toote to give up?"


    "Maybe in my next life, I''ll be able to perform this song."


    "They should have gonest."


    Team Risers went back to their line formation, a bit out of breath, waiting for the mentors to give theirments.


    The other mentors pushed the mic toward Gun, urging him to be the first one to speak.


    June wasn''t expecting a lot, especially since Gun was the first one to speak. He''s probably going to pick on something from the performance.


    Gun ced the microphone beneath his mouth and let out a deep breath.


    "It was good."

 Chapter 122 Joon-ho’s fault

    <h4>Chapter 122 Joon-ho''s fault</h4>


    Holy shit.


    Things were actually going pretty well for once.


    This was the very first time June''s team wasn''t scolded during the interim evaluations. The look on the mentors'' faces reflected that they liked the performance as well.


    "Even though the performance still feels iplete, I feel like you guys are very cohesive as a team," Gun continued. "Zeth and Casper definitely stood out during their raps and center parts, so I would look into that. Make sure they don''t overshine the others."


    Gun then cleared his throat before ncing at June. "June too," he said, his voice barely a whisper.


    Jihyun smirked and nudged his shoulder. "Make it louder, Gun. The others can''t hear you."


    Gun pursed his lips and brought the mic to his lips. "June stood out too. The other vocalists should keep up."


    With that, he passed the mic to Minho, who had an amused smile on his face.


    June, too, had a small smirk on his face.? This was also the first time Gun gave him a genuinepliment¡­aside from the shit incident.


    Hyerin took the mic from Minho and smiled at all the members. "For me, this was a really good performance. Considering the fact that you''ve only prepared for a day, I must say that you''re heading in the right direction. Just make sure to incorporate the concept into a storyline of some sort. And I think it''s best if you think about how to put more individuality into your performance."


    "Will do, Mentor," Lin Zhi said, a wide smile on his lips.


    "If there''s one thing I will point out, the stage just feels a bit expected," Hyerin said. "Of course, it is expected that you guys do well since all of you are very talented trainees. However, if you don''t do anything particrly grand, some fans might find it ordinary."


    The team members listened to her advice intently.


    "And one more thing," she added. "Xin''s dancing needs more improvement. He sometimesgs behind during the fast movements. It isn''t overly noticeable, but it''s one thing you can focus on."


    "Yes, Mentor," Xin responded, bowing his head. "We will practice more."


    "Well, I think that''s it," Jihyun said. "They said all that they could say. Ah, right. I want to say one thing before the next teames."


    She turned to June and gave him a thumbs up. "You''ve improved immensely since the start of the show. Keep it up, June."


    Jihyun was hoping that herment would bring a smile to his face. However, he merely bowed his head in gratitude.


    "Thank you, Mentor."


    Jihyun''s lips twisted into a pout. "Alright, let''s have the next team."


    The other teams performed what they had prepared so far, and undoubtedly, Team Risers did the best out of all of them. The others weren''t as nearly prepared as they were, and it seemed like the winner had already been decided.


    The team who performed the worst was definitely ''Tie Me Up.'' The additional responsibility of making some of the rap verses ced a huge burden on the members, and even their highest-ranked member, Sehun, who''s currently in 25th ce, struggled to keep their performance afloat.


    ''Brown Sugar Milktea'' and ''Break My Heart,'' which were performed by Akira''s and Jisung''s teams, respectively, came in at a close second when it came to positivements.


    However, it wasn''t even close.


    ''Skateboard Ride'' left the best impression on the judges and the trainees.


    ***


    In the towering ss expanse of Phoenix Entertainment building, where dreams were both nurtured and shattered, Alex and Hyunwoo trailed behind their CEO, Kim Young Do, like penitents seeking mercy.


    "Sir Kim, please, you have to understand," Alex implored. "This scandal was blown out of proportion. We didn''t mean for it toe to this ¨C we were just caught in a bad situation."


    Hyunwoo''s gaze was equally desperate as he added, "That Choi Joon-ho only wanted to ruin our careers. Maybe you can sweep this under the rug and keep us in Rising Stars? Protect us by saying we aren''t the ones in the photo or something."


    Young Do sighed heavily, his footstepsing to a halt as he turned to face the duo. "Alex, Hyunwoo," he began. "You both were given opportunities many would envy. We saw potential in you, and we invested time, resources, and effort to mold you into stars."


    He paused for a second and looked into their pleading eyes.


    "But this scandal ¨C it''s not just a minor hup. It''s tarnished your reputation and thepany''s image. We can''t simply overlook it."


    "In Phoenix, we believe in second chances," Young Do continued, sounding as professional as ever. "But this was yourst chance. Our decision will affect not only your careers but the reputation of thispany as well. Besides, haven''t we paid for your bail? Just think of it as separation pay from thepany," he chuckled, preparing to walk away.


    Frustration and desperation had reached a boiling point for Alex and Hyunwoo. As the CEO''s stern words echoed in the corridor, Alex couldn''t bear it any longer. He dropped to his knees, his voice trembling with emotion.


    "CEO Kim, please, give us another chance," he begged, his hands gripping at the hem of his suit. "We''ll do anything to make things right again. Please, we''re begging you. Rising Stars was also ourst chance. "


    Kim Young Do regarded him with a cool detachment. He looked down at Alex and smirked.


    "Young man, you must understand that Phoenix Entertainment cannot afford to have anyone tarnish its name. Our pure reputation is everything."


    Hyunwoo''s frustration finally snapped, so he stepped forward. "Pure reputation, my ass. And what about the crimes hidden among these walls? Thepany is far from perfect, CEO Kim. You can''t just pretend like everything is pristine."


    Kin Young Do''s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Oh? You think you can expose the secrets of Phoenix Entertainment, do you? Go ahead, Hyunwoo. Tell the world about your usations. But who will believe druggies like you?"


    Alex and Hyunwoo were stunned. The CEO, who had believed them over Choi Joon-ho in the past, now looked at them like they were merely gum on the bottom of his shoe.


    So, this was the reality of life?


    As Young Do turned to walk away, the security guards moved in to restrain Alex and Hyunwoo and throw them out of the building.


    Alex''s and Hyunwoo''s pride had been trampled all over, and this time, they had enough.


    As they gazed at the building that once honed them, the familiar poster of Rising Stars made its way to their view.


    That pink fucking mask sent an indescribable anger to their core.


    And then, with a tone that dripped with venom, Hyunwoo''s voice cut through the air like a de.


    "It''s Choi Joon-ho''s fault...and he must pay."

 Chapter 123 Second Live Eliminations

    <h4>Chapter 123 Second Live Eliminations</h4>


    "Fucking hell. They''re really going to put us through this shit again?"


    "I swear, if the next special MC uses that same slow technique of announcing as Jordan Lee, I''ll be dropping out on the show."


    "You''re ranked 69th. You''re going to be dropped out no matter what."


    The trainees have settled in the wide familiar studio, where the live eliminations will be taking ce. Everybody seemed to be more on edge than the first eliminations because they were in the middle of practicing their Concept Mission songs.


    They were currently seated ording to their previous teams, and June didn''t feel the nervous energy in Team Acespared to when he was seated with Team Abyss back then.


    It must be the confidence that they''re definitely going to make it.


    "Little bro, let''s sit together," Zeth eximed after arriving with Ren. Jisung nced at Zeth and smiled as he sat next to June on the other side.


    After all the trainees were seated, the production team wasted no time in calling out the mentor announcer for the week.


    The automatic sliding doors opened and revealed Hyerin, who was wearing a short ck dress and her waist-length hair straightened. Her make-up was characterized by a red lip, and the trainees couldn''t help but exim as theyid their eyes on her.


    They see Hyerin almost every week, but seeing her under this light was still fascinating.


    As Hyerin nced around the room, she felt a sense of satisfaction go through her veins.


    Being born pretty, she''s always had a superiorityplex. Of course, she was well aware of it.


    After bing an idol, her "princess syndrome" developed too, and she believes that there''s not a single man on this Earth that wouldn''t be attracted to her.


    At least, Hyerin thought there wasn''t...


    Until June came around.


    As her eyes settled on the ck-haired trainee, Hyerin subtly frowned when she saw he still wasn''t looking at her. Instead, he appeared to be deep in thought.


    ''I''ll forgive you for now,'' Hyerin said in the back of her mind. ''You seem to be nervous about the elimination.''


    Meanwhile, in the trenches of June''s mind...


    ''I miss my BenBen gummies.''


    As the trainees settled down from their excitement, the production team didn''t give them any time to breathe as the sliding doors opened again, revealing the night''s special MC.


    Hyerin, who wasn''t aware of who it was, also turned around with a friendly smile on her face.


    However, her smile quickly faltered when she saw who it was.


    Exims of excitement, arguably even louder than before, resonated in the studio.


    "It''s Nana! This is my first time seeing her in person."


    "Damn, she''s really pretty."


    "She can punch me in the face, spit in my mouth, tell me I''m worthless, and I''ll dly ept it."


    Hyerin clenched her jaw as her rival idol stood next to her. The two of them standing side-by-side looked like a painting straight out of the Renaissance period. Their innocent images were both praised online and seeing them in real life was an out-of-body experience for most of the trainees.


    Hyerin observed Nana and saw that her eyes were directed at the seemingly uninterested trainee. Hyerin narrowed her eyes slightly. They really do have simr tastes.


    "Good evening, trainees," Hyerin started off, going back to her professional self. "From 100 to 75, and now we''re going down to 50."


    "The second live elimination marks another start in your journey as idols. And although this will be the end for some of you, I want you to know that things never really end...it just marks a new beginning," Nana said, a heartfelt smile on her face.


    The trainees were awed in response, feeling touched by her sincerity.


    Hyerin wanted to scoff and roll her eyes. It was obviously a scripted line!


    "Right at this moment, the starlights are still dropping in their votes. But in the count of ten, the votings will officially close."


    The countdown shed on screen, each number being shown apanied by a booming sound. The sound echoed in their ears, mimicking the loud sound of their hearts.


    As the screen showed zero, Hyerin and Nana both faced the front once more.


    "Let the eliminations begin!" they said in unison, and Azure''s signature tension-filled background music filled the studio.


    "I can never get used to this," Jisung said by June''s side.


    June patted his back once tofort him. "You''ll survive."


    "Let us first start off with the 49th ce," Nana announced.


    June couldn''t help but nce at C-Jay and Jangmoon. As much as he found the two annoying, they were actually pretty good people. And being ranked only in the 50s and 70s, June felt like this was going to be thest time he''s going to see the other two.


    "This trainee is from Bodylicious," Nana characterized, and June raised his eyebrows in surprise. The spotlight was ced on their team, each of them looking pale and sweaty, like they needed to take a huge, watery dump.


    "He has surprised the mentors with his sudden improvement, proving their original notions to be false. He was also a rapper in the second mission," she added, which meant C-Jay could be one of them.


    "Trainee C-Jay! Pleasee up the stage," she excitedly said, and the trainees erupted into apuse.


    C-Jay stayed seated, not believing his ears. Jangmoon nudged his shoulder with a teary smile. "It''s you, bro. You''ve made it."


    "Holy shit!" C-Jay eximed out loud, and because this was a live stream, the production crew wasn''t able to censor it. Yena and Yejin''s facepalmed on the side of the stage.


    - HAHAHAHA. Did this guy actually make it? Good for him. He looks happy.


    - I gave some of my bonus stars to him because he is June''s friend!


    - He''s always so funny on the show. Sucks that he''s not that talented, but I''m d he made it!


    C-Jay was still ted as he made his way to his seat, a huge smile on his face. However, he caught a glimpse of Jangmoon''s sad smile from his seat, and he felt something tug at his heart.


    This tall, tree-like bastard should make it.


    The eliminations shed by fast this time, and June was thankful that Nana and Hyerin didn''t drag it out like Gun and Jordan Lee.


    "Now, we''re down to the top 25!"

 Chapter 124 Rise

    <h4>Chapter 124 Rise</h4>


    "Mr. Chris," Alex said, the cap on his head hiding his face. It''s only been less than a week since the scandal broke out, yet their looks had already degraded so much. Their eyes were bloodshot, undereyes were dark, and their unshaved faces looked unkempt.


    Azure''s head of the editing team and past Phoenix employee, Chris Ong, nced around the headquarters before pulling the two desperate boys inside his office.


    "What are you two doing here?" he said in a reprimanding voice.


    "You were supposed to protect us, right?" Hyunwoo said in a desperate tone. He hadn''t brushed his teeth for days, so the smell of build-up que wafted through Chris'' nostrils.


    He took a step back and breathed in some fresh air.


    Hyunwoo''s breath alone should get him arrested for assault.


    "That''s before you were exposed to be drug users," Chris said, an uncaring smile on his lips. "I''m sure you''ve already talked to CEO Kim. You know how Phoenix values its reputation. I''m surprised he even bailed you out of jail. I''m sure otherpanies wouldn''t be so kind to do that."


    "Thepany has kicked us out," Alex said. "We didn''t even do anything wrong! Drugs are fucking normal these days. More CEOs are using drugspared to the two of us. I don''t know why thepany isn''t giving us a chance."


    "Because you''re in Korea, young man," Chris said. "Even if you were using drugs, you wouldn''t be dumb enough to get caught while buying it."


    "It''s not our fault," Hyunwoo screamed, making Chris cover his nose. "It''s that Choi Joon-ho. I''m sure it was him who exposed the picture."


    Chris frowned and tilted his head to the side. "June? You''re talking about trainee June?"


    "Yes," Alex said, his jaw clenching. "I knew that bastard was acting innocent right from the start. He knew more than he let on...and he''s shown his true colors now."


    "How are you even so sure that it was him who posted the photo?"


    "I just know," Alex stubbornly said. "That''s why he needs to pay."


    Chris senses the murderous intent of the two eliminated trainees, so he slowly backs away.


    "And you''re going to help us, Mr. Chris," Hyunwoo smiled, his yellow grin sending a shiver down Chris'' spine.


    Chris rummaged through his pockets for his phone, but Alex held onto his wrist, cornering him in the office.


    "I believe I can''t help you," Chris said, trying to look tough. "I can''t bring you back to thepetition. That would be way too out of my power."


    "We''re not asking you to do that," Alex smirked. "We just want one little favor from you, former boss," he continued. "Get us on the set of Rising Stars right now."


    Chris frowned, pushing the young man away. "I can''t do that, too. They''re currently filming the live eliminations."


    "We know," they said in unison.


    "And you''ll be the one to take us there," Hyunwoo said, walking back and forth in front of him and ying with something in his hands.


    "Otherwise, you''re wife might just find out that you''re cheating on her with a perky intern."


    ***


    "25th, Sehun."


    "24th, Johnny."


    "23rd, Gyeore."


    Nana nced around until her eyesnded on a familiar trainee. "This trainee''s ranking has changed from the first eliminations, and I am pleased to announce that he is now in 22nd ce."


    June got ready to stand up, leaning his elbows on his knees.


    This week, he definitely expected to have regressed in ranks. The bullying scandal had made a huge impact on his poprity, and it was also blown out of proportion during the first half of the week.


    As much as he wanted to deny it, Alex and Hyunwoo have definitely tarnished his name.


    There are still some loyalists who believe in the two druggies'' words, so June is still receiving hate until now.


    He didn''t know how it had impacted the fans who voted for him with stars before, but he guesses that they also probably gave the stars to someone else during the duration of the scandal.


    And even when the hate calmed down after Alex and Hyunwoo were exposed to be drug users, June knows that those two days probably weren''t enough to raise his ranks.


    "Congrattions to trainee Bin! You are still in the running for Rising Stars."


    Murmurs of gossip resonated in the room, and even the viewers were surprised with his sudden drop in rank.


    - What the hell? He''s out of the top 20 now?


    - His rank has been going down per week. I wonder what''s happening,


    - He hasn''t done anything that surpassed his audition, so people aren''t voting for him as much anymore.


    Reluctantly, Bin made his way to the stage and gave a mncholic speech. He definitely felt worried about his sudden drop in rank.


    "21st, Anthony."


    As the 21st trainee had been announced, June was expecting his name to be called next. If he didn''t drop in ranks, he must have maintained it.


    "Now, it''s time for the top 20! Can you believe we''ve already made it this far?" Hyerin asked Nana in fake excitement.


    Nana merely smiled. "Without further ado, I present to you the 20th trainee!"


    "Trainee Akira, Congrattions. You have made it into the top 20!"


    Akira''s name being announced as the 20th trainee caught both June and Akira by surprise. A look of astonishment crossed Akira''s face, his eyes widening as he took in his jump of nine ces.


    "Congrats, man. You deserve it."


    "Keep rising, bro!"


    "Wow, I...I honestly didn''t expect this," Akira''s voice trembled slightly as he addressed the stage, his words sincere and heartfelt. "Thank you to everyone who''s been supporting me. This means so much, and I promise to keep giving it my all."


    The announcements continued the trainees'' reactions varying from tion to disappointment. But as the ranks drew closer to the top ten, June''s confusion deepened. He had anticipated his name being called by now, and yet, he remained unnoticed.


    Could he have dropped so much after the scandal?


    Deep in his thoughts, he missed out on the important moment.


    He looked around the room and saw that almost all of them were looking at him.


    "What?" he instinctively asked.


    Zeth and Jisung chuckled by his side. "You''ve been called," Jisung said.


    June frowned and looked at the huge LED screen, and there he saw his name.


    11th¡ªJune.

 Chapter 125 Kitty Heart

    <h4>Chapter 125 Kitty Heart</h4>


    What the fuck?


    He''s in 11th ce now?


    He looked at the screen, still not believing the jump in his rank. Moreover, he got over 2 million votes this time. The trainee before him only had around 1.8 million, so it was quite a big gap.


    - Almost at the top 10, baby!


    - Holy shit. How popr is this kid?


    - From 30th ce to 11th. Only June can pull it off.


    Jia and Bora screamed when June''s name was finally called. They knew he had risen in the ranks, especially after Jia posted that video to Hwan''s fan page, but they didn''t expect this big of a jump!


    He''s already near the 10th ce, which would start the debut ranks.


    Grandma, who always went past her bedtime on Fridays, screamed a bit too loudly that it startled Minjun awake.


    "His name''s called now?" Minjun said, still a bit sleepy.


    His eyes widened in surprise when he saw not only his Grandma but three other grandmas in the room. They had June bobble-headbands and weirdly shaped sunsses. They also had homemade lightsticks, one that Halmi''s husband unwillingly crafted in his pawnshop.


    The old man is still traumatized after his wife asked him to include June''s voice whenever she presses one of the buttons.


    They danced around like little gremlins, and Minjun wondered if he should have stopped June from joining ''Rising Stars'' from the very start.


    "La. June in 11th. Our June is the most popr."


    "It is our duty to make June''s rank rise even higher!"


    "People should never underestimate the power of the elderly poption!"


    Mijun fearfully scooted to the side of the couch, covering his body with a nket.


    Maybe he should ask his mom to take him to the States?


    However, with June''s increasing poprity, hatements also filled the livestream.


    - Who the hell is voting for this dude? All his fans are weird, degrading teens/adults and creepy grandmas.


    - I swear, if he wasn''t in Team Aces, his rank would have gone down more than ten ces.


    - Now that I think about it, the upstairsmenter is right. When he sang Mafia Melodies, he lost. I bet he rose because of the benefits.


    - June is a dick-riding guy. I bet it was in his n to get kicked out of his past group so he could pick ''I Love You, Leave; I Don''t Love You, Don''t Leave."


    - Sure, because June can see the future! Let''s say he has superpowers, too, then!


    After recovering from his surprise, June was back to his nonchnt self.


    He walked to the stage, feeling more confident than before. He was finally near his goal¡ªtop 10. As long as nothing goes too wrong, then he might just rise one more rank until the end of thepetition.


    The trainees cheered, with his friends being the loudest. He smirked and shook his head before taking the microphone from the stand.


    Thinking that his fans had struggled with him for the past week, he decided to write his speech with more consideration this time around.


    "Hey, everyone," June calmly said, the cameramen zooming in on his face.


    Zeth looked at the screen with narrowed eyes. Is it just an illusion, or is June getting more handsome each day?


    Hyerin and Nana, too, focused their eyes on the screen. They couldn''t help but nod in approval. Until now, they still didn''t understand how he would such a face from the public during the first course of the show.


    "Uh¡ªI just want to say thank you to all of you for supporting me until now," he said, feeling a bit awkward. Speaking in front of his gang members wasfortable to him, but speaking into a camera where more than a million people were watching was something he wasn''t used to.


    "And I want to let you guys know that rankings are rankings, but I''m here to keep doing my thing. Thanks to all of you for the support, and let''s keep moving forward together."


    Two people from the production crew just right beneath the stage scoffed in disbelief. Ranks are just ranks, huh?


    Choi Joon-ho was talking out of his ass.


    Ranks were everything on this show.


    Alex and Hyunwoo, who managed to get into the filming set by acting like crew members, nced at each other with knowing looks.


    "It''s time," Alex whispered, giving Hyunwoo the go signal.


    The young man, whose breath still reeked of cigarettes and cavities, nodded in understanding. Then, he smirked while retrieving the shiny metal from his pocket.


    It''s time for Choi Joon-ho to pay for what he has done. He''s a fool to think that Alex and Hyunwoo would back down so easily.


    On the stage, June appeared to be thinking hard about what to say next.


    In reality, Grandma''s words echoed in the back of his mind.


    "A kitty heart! You have to do a kitty heart at all costs!"


    "What the hell is a kitty heart?" June frowned.


    Minjun facepalm. "I already made you a Navel! What the hell are you monitoring there?"


    June didn''t say anything. He couldn''t tell Minjun and Grandma that he was deep into the "gang" topic under Navel. It was more so on Korean gangs, but it''s fuelling his nostalgia for his past life. Aside from that, it''s also filled with BenBen gummies'' consumers'' transformations.


    Until now, June was still hoping he''d reach 180 cm!


    "I''ve never seen a kitty heart," June deadpanned.


    Grandma smiled and sat next to him. "Make your hand into a heart, then raise your index fingers to serve as ears for the heart."


    "Like this," she demonstrated.


    June nkly stared at the tangle of fingers before him. "People like this?"


    "Oh, just do it," Minjun sighed in frustration. "Give your fans something to work with, at least. They''ll love it."


    June pursed his lips and decided to just get it over with. He brought the mic back to the stand, so Nana and Hyerin got ready to announce the tenth trainee.


    However, they were surprised when June stayed on the stage, looking like he had something nned.


    "What is he doing?" Akira whispered, amused by the concentrated look on his face.


    June, undoubtedly, couldn''t act cute.


    However, thinking how he wanted to repay some of his fans'' hard work in defending him, he shakily brought his hands up to his chest, and with quick movements, he did the kitty heart.


    His face, however, stayed the same. There was a small furrow on his eyebrows, and it seemed like he was being forced to do this.


    - What the fuck is that?


    - A kitty heart? June, my cutie!


    - BWAHAHAHA, it looks like he has a stick up his ass.


    - Our ck cat is doing a kitty heart! Everybody, take screenshots.


    The studio center, too, was filled with exims of amusement.


    "You''re cute, little bro!"


    "That''s my big brother."


    Akira shook his head with an amused smile. "This guy can''t act cute for his life."


    But just as the studio chuckled at his antics, a sudden movement caught June''s attention.


    Like a Jack in the Box, a familiar figure leaped onto the stage, a glint of sharp metal catching the light. Hyunwoo quickly moved, not giving the others time to rx. However, for June, time seemed to slow as he approached.


    The chuckles turned into screams of horror, and before they could even react¡­


    Blood was everywhere.

 Chapter 126 Stab Stab

    <h4>Chapter 126 Stab Stab</h4>


    In the studio center of the Azure building¡­


    Gasps and screams filled the air as panic spread through the contestants and crew members.


    The attack was so sudden, so unexpected, that it was as if the world had frozen in that moment.


    The knife in Hyunwoo''s hand gleamed malevolently, and June''s instincts kicked in, his survival mode taking over.


    The others screamed and scattered, their cries echoing like a church choir performance. Some even scrambled to get away, fearing for their lives. But amidst the chaos, June''s focus remained unbroken. He saw Hyunwoo''s eyes, wild and unsteady, the desperation within them like a storm waiting to break loose. June''s breath caught, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins.


    ''This bastard still hasn''t given up, huh?''


    Hyunwoo moved carelessly, only being driven by his hate, so for June, his movements were predictable. He had dealt with scoundrels that had looser screws than Hyunwoo.


    As if time had resumed its normal pace, June''s movements were fluid and deliberate. He backed away from Hyunwoo with caution, his eyes locked onto the knife. Hyunwoo''s grip on the knife tightened, his knuckles turning white as his chest heaved with erratic breaths.


    "You''ll pay for this!" he screamed, now moving more dangerously than before.


    ''Shit,''? June whispered in his mind. And at that moment, he looked around to see if anybody was there to help. However, the production crew only cowered in fear¡ªwith the cameramen backing away and leaving their expensive cameras locked in on the scene.


    At this point, the live stream was still ongoing, and the viewers wondered if this was some kind of skit prepared by the Rising Stars'' production crew.


    - Eyy, this is a really good skit.


    - I can''t believe they''re going as far as this. I apud the Rising Stars team for always making the show entertaining.


    - Damn, this is a good action show. June''s got some moves.


    However, one of the cameramen bumped into the camera as they ran, making it zero in on Hyunwoo''s face. And just like that¡­the audience thought this must not be a joke after all.


    - Is that Hyunwoo?


    - Holy Moly! Is this real? Like, it''s not a prank, after all?


    - I think it''s serious, guys¡­


    - WTF? They''re still airing this?!


    Yena and Yejin sought shelter to the side. Yena contacted the control team to take it down, but at that point, they all had ran away when they saw the reckless man.


    "Shit," Yena cursed. "I''ll have to go to the control room and turn it off myself."


    "I already contacted the guards. They''reing," Yejin said, ncing at the door and hoping they''de sooner.


    Nana and Hyerin huddled over, temporarily forgetting their beef and seekingfort in each other.


    "We have to do something!" Akira screamed, and that''s when the other trainees started moving. However, they quickly halted when they saw the scene before them.


    June was evading Hyunwoo''s attacks with ease!


    Hyunwoo took a step forward, his intentions clear as he pointed the sharp knife near June''s abdomen. But June was ready. With every ounce of resolve he could muster, he zeroed in on Hyunwoo, his mind clear and his strength increased.


    The others watched in breathless anticipation, unable to tear their eyes away from the scene ying out before them. June''s voice, a whisper amidst the chaos, cut through the air like a knife of its own. "Put the knife down, Hyunwoo."


    The studio seemed to hold its breath as June''s words echoed, the oue uncertain.? Time seemed to stretch as June''s focus intensified.


    June thought he could convince Hyunwoo to calm down, especially since he was getting too tired.


    He really needed to exercise this body more! Choi Joon-hocks so much stamina!


    However, as expected, loose screws will eventually loosen even more¡­and in Hyunwoo''s case, he had nothing to lose.


    So, Hyunwoo once again lunged forward, the glint of the knife in his hand aimed straight at June''s heart.


    June''s instincts took over. He sidestepped with the grace of a dancer, his body moving fluidly to the side, evading the de with a hair''s breadth to spare.


    Holy shit. That was close!


    Hyunwoo stumbled forward, his movements off-bnce from the failed attack. Frustration twisted his features, his eyes wild with rage and desperation. He spun around, his breathing heavy and uneven, as he turned his attention back to June, who now stood several feet away, his heart pounded harder in his chest.


    June nced around and saw that the security guards were already rushing to the stage.


    Leading them was the bucktooth guard that June was able to trick when he snuck out that one night.


    He let out a sigh. June''s definitely not expecting much from these people.


    So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.


    He saw an opening, a moment of vulnerability in Hyunwoo''s stance, and he seized it. In one swift movement, he closed the distance between them, his fingers wrapping around Hyunwoo''s wrist in a vice-like grip. A swift twist and a deft maneuverter, the knife ttered to the ground, leaving the audience in awe.


    - Was he a ninja in his past life or something? Where did thate from?


    - He looks skinny as hell, but he''s actually strong?


    - Am I the only one wondering why this hasn''t been turned off yet?


    - Shut up pastmenter! Enjoy the free action movie.


    - June, please! Stay safe. Where are the fucking guards?


    Everybody seemed to sigh in relief as Hyunwoo was finally restrained. The guards, too, had reached the stage, out of breath from running through the building''s hallways.


    June rxed his hold on Hyunwoo, finally taking a deep breath.


    However, just as everybody thought it was over¡­someone sprinted forth from the shadows.


    June turned around. "Alex?"


    And in a swift, heart-stopping motion, he plunged a de into June''s chest.


    - What the fuck just happened?


    - Was he just stabbed?


    - Shit. Blood sttered everywhere. Did everyone see that?


    - Fuck, is he going to die?


    And just like that, the screen turned ck with a notice saying¡ª" Technical difficulties. Livestream has ended."

 Chapter 127 #PrayforJune

    <h4>Chapter 127 #PrayforJune</h4>


    In the sterile hospital room, the atmosphere was heavy with a somber stillness. The soft beeping of machines and the distant sound of footsteps in the corridor were the only signs of life.


    Minjun sat by the bedside, tears welling up in his eyes.


    Beside Minjun stood Grandma, hunched over, and her gnarled hands clutching a tissue. Her eyes were red from crying.


    The hospital bed was shrouded in a white cloth, its surface eerily still. Juneid beneath it.


    Minjun reached out and grasped Grandma''s hand, their fingers intertwining in a silent gesture of shared grief. Their eyes met, and in that moment, their pain increased a thousandfold. No words were spoken; none were needed.


    Grandma''s voice trembled as she broke the silence, "He''s like a grandson to me, Minjun. I''ve seen him grow from a dead-eyed child to the talented young man he is today."


    "Big brother," Minjun sniffed, holding onto June''s hand. As expected, it was already so cold.


    Grandma reached out and rubbed circles on his cold hand. "You''ve left a mark on all of us, my dear," she whispered, her voice quivering.


    "What the fuck are ya''ll crying about?" June said, removing the white cloth from his face. He had been woken from his slumber by their sad cries, and now, he was in a cranky mood.


    And who the hell put this over his face? He couldn''t breathe well because of it.


    Minjun''s and Grandma''s eyes widened, their jaws dropping as they stared at June like he was a ghost. "B¨Cbig brother?" Minjun stammered.


    Grandma''s tissue dropped from her hand, her mouth agape. "Oh dear Lord, his soul has been awakened! We''re seeing his ghost in real life."


    Minjun squeaked in fear as June reached out his hand to him.


    "What are you spouting about? I''m okay." June snapped.


    "He''s even cranky when he''s dead," Minjun said.


    June clicked his tongue. "I''m not dead. Look," he said, reaching out his hand to ruffle


    Minjun''s hair, but the little child pushed him away, causing a jolt of pain to go through his shoulder.


    "Oww," he muttered. "Be careful. The stab wound still hurts."


    Grandma and Minjun, who were in the corner of the room, looked at June with confused eyes.


    "You''re not dead?" Grandma asked.


    "No," June said. He wouldn''t die that easily. He still needed to debut.


    Besides, that Alex guy''s hands trembled so much that it missed his chest. Instead, it sliced his shoulder¡­a bit deeply. But at least the bleeding was controlled, and he was now stitched up.


    It still hurt moving his right shoulder, but it was not the worst pain he had experienced.


    "Oh goodness, it''s a miracle!" Grandma eximed, pping her hands. "I thought you really died."


    "Where did you even get that information?" June grumbled.


    Minjun brought out his phone and showed the trending article to June. "It''s all over Navel," the kid said. "A lot of people think you''re in serious condition."


    "What?" June snapped, grasping the phone and reading the contents of the news article.


    "Idol Survival Show Contestant on the Brink of Death after Gruesome Attack, Rising Stars Launches Investigation."


    Seoul, Korea, 2023 ¡ª In a shocking turn of events, popr idol survival show contestant June miraculously survived a horrifying attack that left him with severe injuries. The incident, which took ce during the live elimination episode of the show, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and beyond.


    ording to initial reports, the attack was allegedly orchestrated by fellow contestants Alex and Hyunwoo, fueled by the scandal that made them leave the show. Their motives are believed to be rooted in resentment and jealousy.


    The brutal nature of the attack has left many stunned, as June''s injuries are said to be extensive and gruesome. The rising star''s face was reportedlycerated, his legs nearly severed, and his chest brutally stabbed. The severity of the injuries prompted immediate medical attention, and June is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of an undisclosed hospital, fighting for his life.


    Azure, the productionpany behind the idol survival show, has issued a statement condemning the attack and expressing their deep concern for June''s well-being. Thepany has alsounched a thorough investigation into the matter, vowing to hold those responsible ountable for their actions.


    Fans and fellow contestants alike have taken to social media to express their shock and outrage over the incident. The hashtag #PrayForJune has been trending, with thousands of well-wishes pouring in for the young idol trainee''s recovery. Friends and supporters have organized candlelight vigils in hopes of his speedy recovery and return to Rising Stars.


    June was stunned as he read the article. "Legs severed? Where did they even get that?"


    "I don''t know," Minjun shrugged. "I think they interviewed some of the trainees or something."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. He already had a hunch on who was interviewed¡ªthose damn guys had a reputation for taking it up a notch!


    His legs weren''t even grazed by a knife!


    "Well, I''m fine," June said. "It hurts a bit, but I''ll recover fast."


    Just then, a doctor came inside the room, a wide smile on his face.


    "You''re awake?" he chimed. June nced at his namete: Dr. Oh.


    "Who put the white cloth over my face?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh chuckled. "Oh, that was me. The nurses were observing your face while you were asleep, so I guess you would have appreciated it if I covered it for you."


    June pursed his lips. What kind of hospital was this?


    "Well, uh¨Cis everything okay?" June asked. "I can leaveter, right? We have to continue practicing for the show."


    "About that," Dr. Oh scratched the back of his head. "I know you''re itching to go back to the show, but after a thorough assessment, the knife went as deep as severing one of your arteries. Thankfully, we were able to stitch it up before you bled to death, but it also means you need to recover for quite a while."


    June frowned. "How long?"


    "Hmm¡­a week, at least."

 Chapter 128 Post A Pic

    <h4>Chapter 128 Post A Pic</h4>


    June stood from the bed, flinching as he felt a slight rip in his stab wound.


    "Woah," Dr. Oh eximed. "I wouldn''t get up just yet, young man. You might just risk being bed-bound for more than a week at this point."


    "A week?" June asked, still standing up. "I''m sorry, doctor. But I''m afraid I can''t do that. We have a mission on Wednesday. It''s already Saturday, so my teammates are probably practicing right now. I can''t be here for a whole week."


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "You''re going back for what? To ruin the performance? You can''t even raise your left arm," he smirked.


    June red at the young kid and shook his head. "I''m fine," he insisted. Again, he''s suffered much worse than this. When he was in the White Tiger gang, he had to go on an undercover mission after his abdomen had just been stabbed!


    "Unfortunately, you are not," Dr. Oh said. "I''m already being generous by giving you only a week. Besides, my dear friends, Yena and Yejin, instructed that I should let you stay here until you''re all better."


    "And thepetition?" June asked.


    "Do not fret. You are still a part of Rising Stars," Dr. Oh said. "You cane back the next week just in time? for the eliminations."


    June pursed his lips. He couldn''t afford to miss out on the Concept Mission!


    He had finally bagged a song he actually enjoyed performing, where everything seemed to be going well. Besides, being idle for even one mission meant that his chances of debuting were going to regress.


    It was the cruel rule of life.


    A butterfly effect happens when you miss out on something.


    "Well, I just came by to ry the news to you," Dr. Oh said. "Don''t worry. We''ll be monitoring your wound every day, and if it gets better, we''ll let you go."


    And with that, the white-haired and entric doctor left the room while humming a Little Meow Meow song.


    June groaned as he plopped down on the bed. "I need to go back," he said.


    Grandma clicked her tongue and pped his chest. "Stubborn young child. You just got stabbed, but you''re already thinking of going back to work? You heard what the doctor said. Recover first, then you''ll be able toe back."


    Minjun nodded in agreement. "That''s right. Why don''t you inform your fans that you''re better in the meantime? Some are already looking for your gravestone in certain cemeteries."


    "Yeah, you do that," Grandma said. "In the meantime, I have to enroll Minjun in school. Can''t you believe this little rascal is already going to be a 7th grader?"


    "Yeah, can''t believe it," June said. Minjun, despite his immature taste in music and crybaby tendencies, might as well be Jun Hao''s age with how witty he is.


    "See youter!" Minjun waved his hand. "We''ll go back this evening."


    June nodded and waved goodbye with his good arm.


    In the meantime, he decided to do what Minjun had suggested. He has yet to upload a selfie on his ount because of the scandals that broke outst week, but since everything has died down, he thinks this is the perfect time toplete the mission.


    However, just as he was about to open Navel, he was bombarded with texts from his friends.


    ''Streets are saying that big bro''s dead'' - Jangmoon.


    ''Who''s dead, you bastards?'' - June.


    ''June!'' - Akira


    ''Bro huhu'' - Jisung.


    ''You''re alive?'' - C-Jay


    ''You saw what happened. Why''d you think I died?'' - June


    ''C-Jay said you were stabbed in the chest. I really thought you bled to death.'' - Jangmoon


    ''The sites are also saying you incurred major injuries. I covered my eyes when Alex jumped up the stage, so I don''t know what truly happened hehe.'' - C-Jay


    ''Tsk. I''m fine. I''m thinking ofing back before the performances.'' - June


    ''What? You''ve just been stabbed. How can youe back before Wednesday?'' - Akira


    ''I''ll figure something out'' - June


    ''Yeah, you bettere back. We''re going to be kicking otsdjseghuy'' - Jangmoon


    ''What?'' - June


    ''The production crew instructed everyone to decide who they''dashgefaduyhgbh'' - Jangmoon


    ''What the fuck are you talking about?'' - June


    ''Don''t mind them, brother. Akira just wrestled Jangmoon on the floor. Focus on your recovery for now.'' - Jisung


    ''Hey, what''s really going on?'' - June


    ''Bye, June! We''re heading to practice now. Get well soon.'' - Akira


    And with that, their online status turned to offline.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. Is something going on in the training center?


    Ah, whatever.


    Those kids are always over-dramatic.


    Let''s just get thest mission over and done with.


    June opened his camera app and decided to take a selfie. Again, this was probably the first time he took a selfie for the sake of posting it, so he''s a bit clueless about what to do.


    As his face came into view, he clicked his tongue. Is it just him, or has his camera quality degraded even more? The camera lens was shaky, and it made a weird clicking sound when he opened his camera app.


    "What the fuck is this?" he cursed, hitting the phone camera with his fist. However, it seemed like he underestimated his strength since the clicking sound suddenly stopped, and the camera lens finally stopped shaking.


    However, that came with a bigger consequence.


    It looked as if he was taking a picture at the bottom of an ocean¡­or maybe on the highest peak of Mount Everest, where fog had covered the entire area.


    It was blurry, a bit hazy, and with not much contrast.


    June clicked his tongue and decided to snap a picture anyway.


    He then proceeded to inspect the picture. He had a forced smile on his face, and since it was blurry as fuck, it appeared simr to the picture of Jeff the Killer.


    Thinking that he couldn''t do any better than that, he decided to post it on his Navel ount.


    Minjun had taught him how to post a picture before, so he didn''t have a hard time because


    of that.


    ''Hi, guys. It''s me, June, from Rising Stars. Just wanted to say that I''m okay.''


    Afterward, he attached the photo and clicked ''post.''


    ''Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5 has posted a new photo.''


    Now, June just had to wait for the post to gain traction. He posted it under the topic of his stabbing incident, so he believes that it''ll gain over a hundred thousand interactions tonight.


    It did.


    Just not the kind of interactions he expected.

 Chapter 129 You’re Not June

    <h4>Chapter 129 You''re Not June</h4>


    - Who are you fooling with your ugly ass face? Stop impersonating June, you fool!


    - Lol. This guy''s actually cosying as June while the real guy is in the hospital? He''s a real piece of work.


    - You deserve a special ce in hell. June will kick-drop you when he meets you in real life.


    - My grandma takes better pics than this. I don''t know who you''re fooling.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed deeper as he read thements.


    As of now, the post has garnered over 100,000 interactions¡­with hatements.


    It was ridiculous! It only had 487 likes, but thements and reposts ounted for those 100,000 interactions. How could his post have been ratioed this badly?


    June thought he''d be greeted a bit more warmly, at least. He was in 11th ce this week. How could he get suchments?


    He is the real June! Why would he lie about his real identity?


    He clenched his jaw and wrote another post.


    ''Uh¡­it''s really me. I''m the real June. I am at the hospital right now, and I am okay."


    - Loser! He''s still going on with this? The real June would never say that.


    - For real. And have you seen June''s face? He''s an angel who has fallen down on Earth. You look the same¡­except you fell down face first.


    - HAHAHAHAHA. Ugly bastard. Stop pretending to be June.


    - And can we talk about this dude''s username? You''re not fooling us, Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5.


    - It looks like a keyboard smash.


    - This loser can''t evene up with a good enough username.


    Bora burst intoughter as she saw a random guy pretending to be June on Navel. She quickly showed it to Jia, who was crying her eyes out while reading thements of the news article that said June was in a critical condition.


    "Oh, stop crying and look at this," Bora said, pushing the phone to Jia''s face.


    "How can you just sit there andugh when June is on the brink of dying?" Jia eximed.


    Bora clicked his tongue. "And I don''t know why you believe such rumors. It''s clear that June is still alive. Sure, he must have been stabbed¡­but Rising Stars will definitely release a statement if a trainee had died."


    "Do you really think he''s okay?" Jia sniffed.


    "Well¡­," Bora trailed. "Again, I don''t know if he''s okay, OKAY, but I bet he''s alive, at least. Did you see the way he dodged those attacks during the livestream? It was so fucking cool I almost forgot that we were watching an idol show."


    Jia red at Bora. "I swear. I can''t read you sometimes."


    Bora smiled. "Chronically not giving a fuck is my coping mechanism. The situation had already happened, so we can''t do anything about it. Cheer up, friend. I bet June will be back next week."


    Jia pouted but felt better after Bora''s little scolding. It''s still a shame that June might miss this week''s mission, though.


    "Now look at this," Bora said, pointing to her phone. "This guy''s acting like June."


    Jia frowned as she observed the photo.


    You know how people joke about how certain photos or videos are taken with a potato?


    Jia never thought of that statement seriously until this moment.


    The photo, indeed, looked like it was taken with a potato¡ªone that had been rotting in the ground for a long time.


    Then, she squinted her eyes. "They have a resemnce."


    Bora burst intoughter as she looked at the photo again. "Are you blind? This dude looks nothing like June. And look at his username," she pointed.


    A disgruntled expression appeared on Jia''s face.


    "Yeah, that definitely isn''t June."


    Our June is much cooler than that!


    ***


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted the mission: Post a selfie on your SNS ount. Gain over a hundred thousand interactions! Please choose one aspect to improve.]


    Even afterpleting the mission, June couldn''t feel quite satisfied.


    He was still being obliterated online because of that post.


    He even contemted taking it down, but Fu insisted it would void the mission.


    "Tsk," June clicked his tongue.


    Again, he thought hard about what aspect to improve. ''Skateboard Ride'' is very dance-heavy, and even if he had improved a lot, he wanted to get nearer Casper''s and Zeth''s levels so people wouldn''t say anything about him being a freeloader.


    Moreover, he''s been praised by the starlights for his vocals until now, so he wanted to give them a nice surprise.


    ''Dance.''


    [Wise choice. Dance +1. Current grade: B+]


    June nodded in satisfaction as he looked at his stats. He hade far since the start of thepetition. He didn''t even have a B-tier during the first episode.


    Now, the only problem was this wound.


    He has to go back to Azure''s building tomorrow if he doesn''t want tog behind their practice.


    Is it possible to heal a stab wound in less than 24 hours?


    June sighed and looked up at the white ceiling of the hospital, feeling at a loss.


    Out of boredom, he started rummaging through his status window. He scrolled through the missions he had finished, as well as the side quests that granted him unusual abilities.


    Then, as he continued exploring the user interface, June suddenly stopped when he saw an unfamiliar folder.


    ''Potions.''


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion before clicking on the unknown folder.


    As a new window opened, he saw a singr potion inside the folder.


    ''Healing Potion.''


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise when he remembered the healing potion that was granted to him as a bonus when he went up more than five ranks!


    A small smile appeared on his lips as he read the description.


    [Introducing the System''s Ultimate Healing Potion: a potent potion that instantly restores 100% of your health. It can heal various illnesses¡ªfrom wounds, colds, lice, cancer, and more. Its effects take ce after 18 hours.]


    "Fu, consume Healing Potion."


    [Healing Potion has been consumed. Amount remaining: 0. Effect will take ce after 18 hours. Please maintain a period of rest while Healing Potion is being internalized.]

 Chapter 130 Last Place

    <h4>Chapter 130 Last ce</h4>


    In the Azure building, Rising Stars'' filming site¡­


    The 72 trainees gathered on a Saturday¡ªthe day after the unfortunate stabbing incident. Most of them had weary looks on their faces, still uncertain of how June''s condition turned out.


    Yena made her way to the front with a solemn look on her face, and at that point, a dreaded feeling went through the trainees'' hearts.


    "Good day, trainees," she said, scanning the room with her eyes. "Yesterday had been a devastating day for all of us, and I''m afraid to say this, but¡­"


    "Did big bro really die?" Jangmoon asked.


    C-Jay sniffed. "I told you guys. He was stabbed in the heart."


    "He was fine," Jaeyong said. "The guards just quickly covered the scene, but he was breathing when he was being transported to the ambnce!"


    "Then why does Director Yena look so sad?" Jisung asked.


    "June is currently in the hospital. The doctor called me a while ago, and he needs to recover beforeing back here," Yena continued.


    Jisung, despite his shy personality, raised his hand. "When is he going toe back?"


    "That¡ªI don''t know," Yena said.


    "Is it true that his legs had been severed?" C-Jay asked, causing the others to murmur.


    Yena gave him an incredulous look. "What? No. His shoulder just got stabbed quite deeply. Currently, he cannot move his left arm, so the doctor is advising him to take a rest."


    "Oh," C-Jay said, his tears halting. "Still, it''ll take a long time before hees back. Can he evene back in time for the Concept Mission?"


    "He''s not going to perform?"


    "Damn, that''s sad. His team was actually doing well these days."


    "I guess he''s really a ck cat."


    Lin Zhi, who stood at the very front, tried to hide his smile. Hoon, Xin, and Jiyong, on the other hand, didn''t even bother hiding their smiles.


    "He fucking deserves it," Hoon muttered under his breath.


    Yena cleared her throat, capturing their attention. "Now, since the eliminations have been haltedst night, I have some important announcements. First, because of the incident that happenedst week, we have been warned by the broadcasting situation for showing graphic material. So, the live eliminations will halt. All elimination episodes shall be pre-recorded from here on out."


    The trainees sighed in relief. Honestly, live shows were exhausting! You have to put on a nice face for four hours straight! At least, with pre-recorded episodes, things can still be edited out.


    However, they became tense once again when Yena announced that she would be announcing the names of the trainees who made it.


    The most nervous among them, undoubtedly, were Jangmoon and Hoon.


    Only the top 10 and the top 50 were to be announced, yet they still weren''t called.


    Hoon wonders if the stunt he pulled off during the first eliminations could have such a heavy bearing on his rank. He couldn''t help but resent June more at that moment.


    "I won''t make this long," Yena announced. "The top ten trainees are¡­"


    "10th¡ªLin Zhi"


    Lin Zhi smirked as the others congratted him. He maintained his rank once more.


    "9th¡ªYuri"


    "8th¡ªLeo"


    "7th¡ªJisung"


    "Wooh, congrats, shy boy," Jangmoon said amidst his nervousness.


    Akira wrapped his arm around Jisung''s neck and ruffled his hair. "Treat us to a meal, kid."


    "6th¡ªRen"


    The other trainees gasped as they heard Ren''s rank. He had always ced within the top 4! His rank must have dropped because of the "slight" evil editing that happened within his team in thest episode.


    "5th¡ªDaeho"


    "4th¡ªJaxon"


    "3rd¡ªJaeyong"


    "2nd¡ªCasper"


    "1st¡ªZeth"


    "Ah, really. The top two are immovable forces. They might as well debut at this point."


    "I bet they''re going to be top two until the end."


    "Those two are guaranteed debuters."


    "Andst but not least¡ªwe have the trainee in 50th ce," Yena said, lifting her head and looking around the room.


    Somehow, the room became even more tensepared to the announcement of the top 10. Jangmoon, despite being in 75th ce, had some hope in his heart. He nced at C-Jay and smiled bitterly.


    It probably won''t happen, right? How can he jump 25 ces right then and there?


    And besides, there''s Hoon. He was ranked 24thst time, so it would be weird if he didn''t get the 50th ce.


    C-Jay patted his back, a silent assurance that he also wanted Jangmoon to make it.


    Hoon, on the other hand, smirked as he waited for his name to be called.


    He could forgive June if he still makes it to the next round. He had invested too much time practicing ''Tie Me Up.'' He''ll be really pissed if he doesn''t get to perform it.


    "I honestly don''t know how he makes it like this every time, but trainee Jangmoon, congrattions! You take the 50th andst ce in thepetition. With this, you are still in the running for Rising Stars."


    With the utterance of his name, Jangmoon stood there, dumbfounded.


    "You made it!" C-Jay eximed, jumping in delight.


    J


    isung and Akira nudged his shoulder. "Eyy, I know you would have made it," Akira said. "You did really well in Bodylicious."


    "Congrats, bro," Jisung smiled.


    Jangmoon merely smiled back, feeling too touched to say anything.


    Hoon clenched his fists as he heard their celebration from behind him. Xin, who was the only one who made it between the three individual trainees, held onto Hoon''s arm.


    "Hoon," he whispered. "How could this happen? It must be rigged."


    Hoon let out a deep breath, trying to stay as calm as possible.


    "The eliminated trainees, please start packing your bags. It has been a joy to be with you for the past month. Please continue chasing your dreams," Yena said her scripted line.


    "Hoon," Xin continued to console him. However, Hoon held up his hand. "I''ll talk to youter."


    With that, the eliminated trainees began leaving the room.


    The remaining trainees stayed in their spots, some feeling down because of the elimination of their friends.


    However, the cruel reality of life is that everything must go on.


    "Are all eliminated trainees out?" Yena asked the production team.


    "Yes, director," Ann responded.


    Yena brought the mic to her lips once more. "The Concept Mission will push through with only fifty of you," she began. "June''s status is yet to be disclosed, but the doctor says he''s insistent oning back before the mission. However, for this time, I need your teams to make a decision."


    "For those with excess members, you must choose who to kick out of the team until 4 PM tomorrow."

 Chapter 131 Part Lizard

    <h4>Chapter 131 Part Lizard</h4>


    After Yena''s announcement, the remaining trainees made their way back to their rooms.


    Xin was on his way back to their shared room when he was suddenly pulled into a hot, dark ce.


    He was about to exim in shock when he smelled the familiar scent of cologne from the person before him.


    "Hoon?" he whispered.


    "It''s me," Hoon said in an equally soft voice. "I told you that we''ll talk, right?"


    "Yes," Xin said. "But do we really have to talk inside the janitor''s closet?"


    "I don''t have a choice," Hoon said. "The production crew is already making us leave. I have to tell you something important."


    "What is it?" Xin asked.


    "June''s in your team, right?" Hoon said. "How is he right now?"


    Xin scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say. "Honestly, I thought he was cocky at first. And I still don''t like him now¡ªdon''t get me wrong," he quickly defended. "But¡­maybe he isn''t too bad? He hasn''t done anything much. He just practices and sometimes teaches me on my parts."


    Hoon scoffed in disbelief. "You''re being brainwashed by him."


    Xin''s eyes widened in surprise. "Brainwashed?"


    "He''s just like that because he wants to gain the most benefits in the team," Hoon said. "Even when I revealed his face, he didn''t seem appalled because he actually liked that idea."


    "But didn''t you do it out of your own will?"


    Hoon clicked his tongue. "That doesn''t matter! You shouldn''t believe a word that June is saying. I heard him talking about you¡ªabout how you''re the weakest in the team," Hoon said, bluffing.


    He actually never got the chance to interact with June after theirst conversation, but Xin does not know that, does he?


    Hoon smirked when Xin''s eyebrows furrowed.


    "And do you remember during the first filming? He didn''t even speak to us at all. It''s clear that he has a superiorityplex," Hoon added.


    Xin, being the easily swayed person that he is, nodded in agreement. "You''re right. I got swayed a bit, but I realized I don''t like him at all."


    Hoon''s smirk widened. "And he''s the reason why I was eliminated."


    "Really?" Xin asked.


    "Yes," Hoon insisted. "And he might be the reason why you''ll be eliminated, too. So, we have to stop that before it happens."


    Xin nodded with resolution. "What are we going to do?"


    "I need someone to tell me what''s happening with him," Hoon said. "I''ll do my best to find something while I''m outside, but I also need you to tell me anything you find out about him¡­and I mean anything suspicious that would help me destroy him. And while you''re at it, why don''t you try to make his experience less enjoyable here too?"


    "Got it," Xin said. "I''m very good at that."


    Hoon smiled and ced his hand on top of Xin''s head, giving him a pat like he was a gentle, good dog.


    "I''m going to miss you," Xin said while looking up at Hoon.


    Hoon felt a bit weirded out. Xin had always looked up to him, and that''s probably why he agreed to be his spy a bit too fast. So, with that in mind, Hoon responded.


    "I''ll miss you too."


    Just then, the lights turned on, causing their eyes to widen in surprise.


    They nced to their side and saw the janitor looking at them with raised eyebrows.


    "Uh¡ª," Hoon awkwardly said.


    "Look, I don''t judge," the janitor said. "But you better not do it in my closet."


    The two practically bolted out of the small room, leaving the janitor all alone.


    The janitor shook his head in frustration. "Why do they keep bothering me?"


    ***


    18 hours after consuming the health potion¡­


    "You''re finally awake?" Minjun said. "I really thought you died since we couldn''t wake you up, but the doctor insisted you were fine."


    "What time is it?" June asked.


    "30 minutes past 3," Minjun answered, his eyes not leaving his phone. "Why?"


    June abruptly stood up from the bed.


    Minjun''s eyes widened in surprise. "Hey! The doctor said you couldn''t get up yet."


    June ignored his shouts and went to the bathroom, lifting his shirt and tearing off the gauze pad while his eyes were focused on the mirror.


    He was aware of the healing potion''s ims, but to see it happening with his own eyes was unbelievable.


    Aside from a small scar, there wasn''t anything there!


    June smirked and went outside the bathroom, throwing the gauze in the trash can.


    "Hey," Minjun called out. "You''re going to stay here longer if you don''t stay still. I swear¡ª"


    Minjun''s words were cut off when Dr. Oh and a nurse came inside the room.


    Dr. Oh''s widened in surprise when he saw June stretching his left arm.


    "Uh, young man. That is still a fresh wound. We''d have to stitch you up again if it opens," he said in a frantic voice.


    "I''m fine, doc," June calmly said.


    "You''re not fine," the nurse said. "It''s only been a day since the stabbing incident. You need to recover more."


    June sighed and started lifting the left side of the shirt.


    "What are you doing?" Minjun asked.


    The nurse blushed as he did the action, looking away when she saw his milky-white skin.


    "Look," June said, pointing to his shoulder. "I''m all better."


    "Mama Mia!" Dr. Oh eximed in surprise, not believing his eyes.


    Minjun and the nurse, too, turned to look at June.


    And they had the same reaction as Dr. Oh.


    Dr. Oh went closer to June and started poking the scarred tissue. "Is this..real? I''ve never seen anyone heal so fast before."


    "Are you part lizard or something?" Minjun asked, his eyes focused on the scar.


    June sighed and put his shirt back on, moving his arm to prove that he was a hundred percent okay.


    "See? I''m fine now, right? So let me go."


    Dr. Oh nodded, his headspace still not in the right space.


    June smiled. "Good. I''m going now."


    "Wait!" the nurse eximed when June just ran out of the hospital room. "Your bill!"


    Dr. Oh held onto her arm and shook his head. "Don''t," he said. "I''ll pay for it¡­"


    Then, his eyes sparkled in delight. "Should I ask him to participate in a human research or something?"

 Chapter 132 Grandmas on Scooters

    <h4>Chapter 132 Grandmas on Scooters</h4>


    "We have to make a decision today," Lin Zhi said, gathering his members in a circle after they finished practicing for the ninth time.


    The elephant in the room was yet to be addressed¡ªwho will be kicked out from their team?


    Zeth groaned as he sat on the floor. "Why are they making us do this? We''ve been practicing hard for the performance, but they just want us to kick someone out?"


    "We don''t have a choice, unfortunately," Bin said. "And it''s already 3 PM. The production crew needs the list of names by 4 PM."


    Casper sighed and also took a seat. "Let''s talk about it then."


    As they formed a circle, none of them dared to talk. For a couple of minutes, they just sat there, thinking about the next words to say.


    Lin Zho sighed and started the conversation. "There''s currently nine of us here," he said, "ten if we include June. But only 8 of us will perform Skateboard Ride. That means two of us will need to leave and find another team."


    "What are the teams thatck members again?" Steel asked.


    "Tie Me Up needs the most members," Jaeyong responded. "They need about four new members. Brown Sugar Milktea and Break Me Up also need to kick out some members, so all the other songsck some trainees, too."


    Jaxon let out a deep breath. Even his bubbly personality couldn''t handle the pressure ofing up with a decision.


    "Should we vote on who to kick out?" Lin Zhi asked, making the others groan.


    "Ugh, don''t make us do this," Jaxon said.


    "But we need to do it," Daeho quickly countered. "We don''t want to waste any more time. Let''s just go ahead and point at the person we think does not suit our team."


    Despite their reluctance, the members decided to conform to the decision in the end.


    They really couldn''t do anything at this point.


    As Lin Zhi gave the members some time to think, Xin bit his lip in nervousness.


    He already had a feeling that he was going to be picked.


    "Alright," Lin Zhi said. "Time''s up. It''s time to make a decision. Point to the trainee in 3¡­2¡­1¡­"


    Xin''s gut feeling was right. Almost all¡­no, scratch that. All of his members except for him, who decided to abstain from voting, pointed in his direction.


    His breath got caught in the back of his throat.


    "B¡ªbut why me?" he stammered, looking at the others with wide eyes.


    Zeth pursed his lips and looked away from him. The others, too, couldn''t face the eliminated trainee.


    Daeho, the ever-logical one, sighed and looked him in the eyes.


    "You''re not putting as much effort into the team," he said. "Yes, you have a small part in the song, but that doesn''t mean you can ck off."


    Xin pursed his lips, not able to counter Daeho''s statement. It was true. He didn''t want to put as much effort into the performance since he wasn''t going to be seen anyway. And it was already a guarantee that they''d win since all of the members had high ranks.


    Lin Zhi sighed and patted Xin''s back. "Sorry, Xin. I heard there''s an open space for the main vocal on the song ''Thunder.'' Why don''t you try it out there?"


    Xin clenched his fists together. Thunder was filled with trainees from the 20th-30th ranks! Even Jangmoon was there! They wouldn''t have a chance against this team.


    However, as he looked at his teammates'' resolute expressions, he knew he couldn''t do anything about it.


    However, what he can do is drag someone along with him.


    "Alright," he said, still trying to sound as pitiful as possible. "I wish you guys the best of luck then. I know you''re going to kill the performance."


    "But as a former teammate, I want to suggest something."


    "Go ahead," Lin Zhi said.


    "This ising from a good ce," he smiled. "I want the best for your performance, and I also don''t want you guys to have a hard time deciding on who to kick out next."


    The others listened attentively.


    "So, why don''t you kick June out instead?"


    Zeth immediatelyined. "What? June is an integral part of the team. We can''t just kick him out."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "He received most of thepliments during the interim evaluation, so I think it''s best if he stays."


    "Yet where is he now?" Xin asked, looking around the room. "He''s not here, isn''t he? And there isn''t a guarantee that he''s evening back during the performance."


    Although Zeth wanted to perform with his precious little bro, he couldn''t deny that Xin had made a great point.


    "Uh," Jaxon scratched the back of his neck. "I think it''s unfair, too," he said. "We can''t leave a spot for him if we don''t even know if he''sing back."


    "Yeah," Xin said. "He should be here, right?"


    Jaeyong red at Xin. "June just got stabbed. It''s not a situation he can avoid."


    "Still," Xin insisted. "It''d be an insult to kick someone present."


    Daeho sighed. "June is our Main Vocalist. Who''s going to rece him then?"


    "Me."


    ***


    "Oh,e on!" June muttered under his breath as he was stuck between three grandmas who all had electric scooters on a narrow sidewalk.


    Since the hospital was near the Azure building, he decided to run there to save some money. However, he didn''t expect he''d run into a mishap! These threedies were hogging the narrow sidewalk.


    Their scooters moved at a turtle''s pace, and the only way he could get past them was if he jumped over their scooters or if he walked on the road instead.


    Both actions would probably get him arrested, so he decided to talk to them instead. He cleared his throat and spoke¡ª" Umm, do you mind if I went ahead first?"


    The three grandmas turned around, and at that moment, June realized he had made a grave mistake.


    Their eyes brightened when they recognized the handsome young man.


    "June? Is it really June?"


    "Oh my! I voted for you. Imented on your video, too!"


    "I was the 69-year-old grandma! Did youe and find me, June?"


    June''s eyes widened in horror as they suddenly reversed their electric scooters.


    "Shit," he cursed.


    "June! Answer us."


    "June, can you pleasee to our nursing home and massage my back?"


    Fuck this. June stepped on a pot and then leveraged himself on the sidewalk railings before propelling himself in front of the three grandmas.


    "Maybe in the future!" he called out as he ran, still wanting to be respectful.


    He could still hear their screams from behind him, but he ignored them and ran even faster.


    June needed to go to the Azure building now!


    After much struggle, he finally arrived. Without hesitation, he bolted to the Rising Stars'' filming site and to their assigned practice room.


    He was breathless and sweaty, but he didn''t care at all.


    June let out a sigh of relief when he finally saw their training room within his view. He ran to the door and twisted the knob, pushing it open.


    Then, an unexpected scene yed before his eyes.


    June''s team members were currently practicing the song.


    Normal, right?


    Sure!


    If Lin Zhi wasn''t in the center while singing June''s part.

 Chapter 133 What’s this Feeling?

    <h4>Chapter 133 What''s this Feeling?</h4>


    It was exactly 5 p.m. when June entered the practice room.


    "June?" Zeth eximed with wide eyes when he saw the supposedly "injured" trainee before them.


    Jaeyong rushed to his side. "What the hell? Akira told me you got stabbed in the shoulder pretty badly. What are you doing here?"


    June ignored their worried statements and looked Lin Zhi in the eyes.


    "Why is he singing my part?" he asked.


    The room turned silent, evading June''s gaze. Lin Zhi scratched the back of his head and awkwardly cleared his throat.


    The cameramen and production crew members watched the scene with sparkling eyes.


    This was gold!


    Daeho sighed and stepped forward. "We had to make a decision by 4 PM. You already know that we have to kick a member out of the team. We weren''t sure whether you were going toe back, so we had to kick you out."


    June''s eye twitched.


    These bastards.


    They made a decision without even consoling him?


    "You could have told me first," June said in a calm voice, sending shivers down their spines. Even Daeho, who was usuallyposed, felt a sense of guilt in his heart.


    Zeth cleared his throat. "That''s our mistake, little bro," he warily said. "We should have contacted you about the decision."


    "So, it''s final?" June asked, now feeling a bit numb.


    He finally got a song he wanted to perform¡­


    With people he had good chemistry with¡­


    And at one point, he even felt happy receivingpliments for his improvement.


    It was the first time he had gained so much praise for the effort he put in himself.


    But then again, June has never been lucky.


    Not as Chen Jun Hao and not as Choi Joon-ho.


    And not even as June.


    "It''s final," Lin Zhi said, his voice cutting through the air. "You should meet the production crew in the training center so you can choose the song you''ll perform."


    June wanted tough out loud, but he saw the cameramen zooming in on his face.


    They were going to have a feast day if he reacted badly here.


    "Alright," June said in a much sadder tone than he anticipated.


    Zeth''s and Jaeyong''s eyes widened in surprise. From the time they spent with June, this was the very first time he actually sounded...sad. He didn''t even react like this when Alex and Hyunwoo tried to tarnish his name.


    "Little bro," Zeth called out, trying to hold onto his shoulder, but June took a step back.


    "It''s alright," June said, going back to his hard exterior. "I should take my leave then."


    With that, he turned around and walked out of the room, leaving the final eight members of ''Skateboard Ride.''


    As he went outside, he couldn''t help but feel a bit disappointed.


    Away from the people and the cameras, June leaned against the cold, hard wall, focusing his gaze on the white ceiling above.


    "Shit," he cursed. "Why am I feeling this way?"


    However, like he always does, he ignored the hollow feeling in his heart and let out a deep breath.


    There''s no point dwelling on it since it''s already finished.


    With that thought in mind, he walked to the training center, where he saw a few crew members chattering among themselves.


    "I swear, that spicy hotpot really ruined my insides. It''s been three days, and my shit still smells like chili peppers," one of them shared.


    June cleared his throat, halting their conversation.


    The crew members turned around, ashamed of their conversation topic. However, their embarrassment quickly turned to shock when they saw the trainee before them.


    "June?" Ann asked.


    "Oh my gosh. It is June."


    "What the hell? Didn''t he just get stabbed?"


    "I''m fine now," June said, not letting them pry any further.


    "Should you be here?" Ann asked in a worried tone.


    "Yes," June said, moving his left arm. "I''m all better now. I heard I have toe here for my mission song. I can pick what I want, right?"


    The crew members pursed their lips together, exchanging awkward nces.


    The senior members of the crew pushed Ann, the intern, forward to take one for the team.


    Ann hesitated to speak, but June''s piercing gaze didn''t allow her to stall.


    Ann sheepishly smiled. "Well, you see...that would have been the case if you came earlier. But now,? all the trainees who have been kicked out have chosen a song before you."


    June frowned, confused. "So, what you''re saying is..."


    "You kinda don''t have a choice," Ann softly said. "Actually, you really don''t have a choice. There''s only one song left that hasn''t been filled up yet."


    "And that is?" June asked. The switch was already inevitable.


    Maybe he''d go to ''Break Me Up'' or ''Thunder'' instead.


    He just wishes it wasn''t ''Brown Sugar Miktea'' or ''Tie Me Up.'' Those two would mean that it''s over for him.


    "Here," Ann said, handing him an envelope.


    June sighed and opened the envelope, three words staring back at him.


    ''Tie Me Up.''


    Oh, it''s over for him.


    ***


    June paced back and forth in front of the practice room that had the ''Tie Me Up'' signage.


    Compared to the one Team Riser had, this practice room wasn''t as grand and spacious. It was also located at the very back, which merely showed the favoritism the show has on the higher-ranked trainees.


    "I can''t believe this," June muttered under his breath.


    Out of all the songs, this one just ended up in his hands.


    He intently looked at the door and wondered if he should just run away.


    Maybe it wasn''t toote to go back to the hospital and pretend he wasn''t okay.


    However, just as he was about to leave, the door opened, and a familiar, annoying face looked at him with shock.


    "June?" C-Jay asked with wide eyes. "You''re here."


    June held his breath.


    "Oh, my goodness. You''re alright? You recovered so fast! But what are you doing outside of our practice room? Shouldn''t you go to your team?"


    June didn''t respond, and C-Jay, who was usually slow-witted, got it right away.


    His eyes widened in delight as he pointed to the envelope in June''s hand. "You''ve been kicked out? You''ve been kicked out, right? Then does that mean that you''re going to be on our team?"


    "No," June said in a soft voice. C-Jay pped his back a bit too hard, causing him to cough.


    "Oh,e one! Stop joking," C-Jay eximed. "We''re the only team with acking member."


    "Come," he said, wrapping his thick arm around June''s neck. "I''ll introduce you to the team."


    June frantically shook his head and tried to get out of C-Jay''s hold, but it was already toote.


    He had kicked the door open with a wide smile on his face.


    "Hey, guys!" he enthusiastically greeted. "Our Main Rapper is here."


    June''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Main Rapper?" he eximed.

 Chapter 134 I Like Head

    <h4>Chapter 134 I Like Head</h4>


    June sat in the middle of the room, his new members looking at him with wide eyes.


    Aside from C-Jay, he had never interacted with these people before.


    June looked at their ranks¡ª46th, 47th, 43rd, 42nd, 49th, 25th.


    The trainee, Sehun, had the highest rank among them, and he also had the "Leader" and "Center" badges stuck on his shirt. Despite the dark bags under his eyes, he had a smile on his face as his gaze met with June.


    "It''s my first time performing with a trainee from the top 15," a young-looking trainee, Jakob, said.


    "Me too," Seokhwa eximed. "It''s a pleasure to finally meet you! I alwaysugh when your scenese on."


    "My mom''s a fan of you," Sehun added, a smile still on his face.


    "We''re so d you''re here, bro," C-Jay eximed. "I felt really down when I got kicked out of ''Break Me Up,'' but now, I get to perform with you! That''s a win in my book."


    "You were kicked out, too?" June asked.


    C-Jay nodded. "Sehun, Jakob, and Seokhwa are the only original members here. All four of us are new members!"


    Sehun smiled. "Yeah," he said. "It''s been a really tough morning with just the three of us, but I''m d you''re here now, June. I''m d that you guys are all here. I feel like our performance is going to be okay."


    "Yeah," Seokhwa nodded. "We were just talking about our roles before you came, and we haven''t decided on the Main Rapper yet. We believe you''d be great!"


    June wanted tough in disbelief.


    Are they watching the same show, or are they pretending to be blind?


    June has never rapped in the show! Not even once! How could they think he was perfect for the role?


    "I don''t rap," he deadpanned, looking them in the eyes.


    Sehun pursed his lips. "We know that," he admitted. "But the other boys don''t rap, too. We have already established Jakob''s and Seokhwa''s positions as sub-Rapper 2 and 3st week. I''ve also practiced Sub-Rapper 1. C-Jay volunteered to get Sub-Rapper 4 already."


    "And these two?" June asked, pointing at Haesoo and Taekyung.


    "We''re vocalists," Haesoo said. "And we''ve already agreed to our parts. Only the Main Rapper is free."


    June felt frustration escte in his heart. What''s with people not asking his opinions?


    Is he that unimportant?


    Team Risers kicked him out without even consoling him.


    And these dudes are just deciding that he''s going to be the Main Rapper?


    June was about to tell them off when Sehun held onto his hand. The young guy looked so pitiful¡ªlike he''d been carrying the burden of the team for the past few days.


    "We''re really sorry, June. But you''re ourst chance. As you can see, you''re probably the most talented out of all of us."


    The others nodded, looking a bit down, too.


    "Everybody''s saying our team is going to end up inst ce," he continued. "And it''s painful hearing that when we''re working so hard. Can you help us just this once, please?"


    C-Jay let out a deep breath. "Help us, brother. As much as I would love to rap, you know that I can''t be the Main Rapper."


    June let out a deep breath, still weighing the decision.


    "Besides," C-Jay continued. "Their past Main Rapper gave us permission to use his lyrics. You don''t have to think about it anymore!"


    June looked up, and he felt a tug in his heart when he saw the desperate looks on the guys'' faces. Despite being in thest ces, they still didn''t want to give up¡­


    ¡­And June was a sucker for that.


    The youngest among them, Jakob, looked so simr to Minjun that it also softened his heart.


    Ah, fuck it.


    With a small sigh, he nodded.


    "Fine, I''ll do it."


    They immediately rejoiced with June''s confirmation.


    "Give me the lyrics."


    ***


    June looked at the piece of paper with a nk look on his face.


    As the Main Rapper, he''d have two full four-verse rap lines in the middle of the song after the first chorus. He was also in charge of one four-line verse in the bridge.


    The responsibility of the Main Rapper was quite heavy since all these lines had been left nk by GROOVYTUNES.


    The other rappers had fewer lines, with the Sub-Rapper 4 having only six lines in the song, with two lines already pre-written.


    Then, the Main Vocalist had the first chorus and bridge vocals. While the Sub-Vocalist 1 had the second chorus. The third andst chorus will be sung by all members.


    "Ah, lucky you," C-Jay said as he passed by June. "You already have a rap verse written. I still have to write two lines."


    Lucky? June was fucking lucky?


    He''d rather swallow ss than rap these pre-written verses.


    June read them once more, confirming if what he was reading was real.


    To be fair, the first verse wasn''t too bad.


    Diamonds on my wrist, and gold on my chain,


    Countin'' all my money, never feelin'' pain,


    Life''s a never-ending party, every single night,


    I''m livin'' in the spotlight; everything''s so right.


    However, it didn''t really resonate well with the theme that GROOVYTUNES had presented.


    The pre-written chorus and verses for ''Tie Me Up'' is linked to being tied up to a toxic rtionship and struggling to break away.


    The past Main Rapper just focused on flexing, ignoring the very meaning of the song.


    And it just became worse after that¡­


    Females flocking like sheep, I''m basically Jesus


    Rollin'' in my cars, Money stacking like Beezus


    I got that, honey; they are addicted


    I like that head head head head..not that kinda of the head, you dirty!


    First of all, who the fuck is Beezus? And thatst line would probably get him kicked out of the show.


    I flex my money; buy that Rolex.


    King of the world¡­.I like that face, baby girl


    Don''t try to suck my money like a leech


    I''m the top dog, and you? You''re just a bi¡ª


    Alright, that''s enough.


    These lyrics were unusable.


    June opened his status window and looked at his mission board. He needed to upgrade his rap aspect fast! But, the window only showed¡ª


    [Mission formtion under construction. Please try againter.]


    When was Fu when you needed him?

 Chapter 135 Aglet

    <h4>Chapter 135 Aglet</h4>


    "Have you all finished writing your rap verses?" Sehun asked as the leader of the team.


    "I''m done!" C-Jay eximed. "We can finally practice our dance."


    "How about you, June?" Sehun asked.


    C-Jay answered for the nk-eyed trainee. "Oh, he didn''t even write anything. The lyrics are already written for him."


    "Oh, that''s good," Sehun eximed. "Let me teach you the dance then."


    June sighed and stood up, thinking that he couldn''t do anything at the moment.


    He''d never written a rap verse before, and he still wasn''t familiar with the beat, rhythm, and overall vibe of the song.


    Maybe dancing to it would give him some inspiration.


    Sehun, being the Main Dancer, started teaching them the dance.


    It was simple enough. ''Skateboard Ride'' was definitely moreplicated with its big and fast movements. Yet somehow, this song felt more difficult to dance to.


    The moves were on the more sensual side¡­with the beat being heavily R&B. The rap parts, too, didn''t have fast movements as they focused more on "vibing" with the song.


    June clicked his tongue. It had uplicated steps, but movements like these really needed one to be skilled in dancing.


    It was easy to execute, but it was also easy to look bad while executing it.


    Exhibit A: During the first part, they''re acting like their hands are tied, and they''re doing three full-body waves.


    June nced at C-Jay and saw his stiff body wriggling to the beat.


    He looked like a leech being sprinkled with salt.


    The original members looked decent while doing it, with Sehun looking the most graceful.


    However, the two new members were in the same situation as C-Jay.


    It seemed like dancing wasn''t their forte either.


    "Damn, this is easy to follow!" C-Jay eximed proudly, causing June to let out a small sigh.


    Let''s not burst his bubble for now.


    On the positive side, June felt the upgrade in his dance aspect. It seemed as if his body was easier to work with, and movements like waves, pops, and transition changes were natural to do. June just found it hard to embody the song.


    It felt like he was part of a strip club or something.


    "The chorus moves repeat twice, and for thest chorus, it goes like this," Sehun demonstrated, going down to the floor and doing a grind.


    "Wooh, sexy!" C-Jay eximed while the others looked at the move shyly.


    June, on the other hand, looked at him with horror. What the hell was that?


    "I still can''t get used to it even until now," Jakob, the 18-year-old boy, shyly said.


    "I don''t think I can do it," Haesoo said, already shaking in his shoes.


    Sehun gave him an encouraging smile. "Don''t worry. I''ll teach you slowly. If it bes too much, you can tell me, and I''ll simplify it for you."


    Damn, this kid is really kind. Was he a disciple in his past life?


    It somehow made June sort of ashamed ofining since they were all doing their best.


    "First things first, feel the music. Let it flow through you and take over your body. It''s quite a sexy beat, so you should internalize it. Loosen your lower body, but make sure it''s still controlled. Use your upper body strength to hoist you up."


    "Like a push-up?" June asked.


    "Exactly!" Sehun eximed. "Like a push-up. However, instead of stiffening your body and going down altogether. Think of it like a body wave on the floor."


    He demonstrated it again, and June quickly followed. He did it one more time until he felt the other''s gazes on him.


    "Holy!" C-Jay shouted, clinging to him. "That was so sexy, bro! How did you do that?"


    June pushed him away and clicked his tongue. "I just listened to him," June said, pointing to Sehun. "He''s a good teacher."


    Sehun beamed, feeling touched by hispliment. "Let me teach you again."


    ***


    This kid, Sehun, is definitely a good kid.


    June could see that he really wants to be an idol.


    He''s also very patient while teaching the other members, despite them fucking up over and over again.


    It was already around midnight, and they had just finished getting all of the choreography down.


    It wasn''t perfect, but at least everyone was familiar with the song now.


    "I don''t think I''ve practiced this much in my entire life," C-Jay eximed. "All the other teams I joined went to bed before 10 p.m"


    "We can''t help it," Sehun smiled. "We have the most new members, and even during the interim evaluation, we were scolded because ofck of preparation. We didn''t even get to prepare a team name by that time. It made me realize howcking I was as the leader."


    Jakob pouted. "You weren''tcking at all. It''s our problem, too. We couldn''t keep up with our current skills."


    "Yeah," Seokhwa agreed. "I like how our team was progressing, though. We already got all the dance moves down!"


    "Well, of course," C-Jay said. "I''m the lucky charm of this team!"


    June shook his head in disbelief. C-Jay has definitely improved a lot, and when they were dancing a while ago, he had gone up to a C+. However, it can''t be denied that his movements were still a bit stiff.


    "Then do we have a team name now?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Sehun smiled. "We just established it a while ago before you came."


    "What is it?"


    "It''s Aglet," C-Jay responded.


    June didn''t react for a second.


    What the hell did he just say?


    "Uglet?" June asked with a frown.


    The members chuckled. "It''s Aglet. A-G-L-E-T," C-Jay spelled it out. "Aren''t you familiar with that word?"


    "No," June said, causing the others to gasp and look at him weirdly.


    June couldn''t believe what was happening. Why were they acting like he''s the weird one here?


    Who wants to be named as an "Aglet?"


    "What even is that?"


    Jakob disappointedly shook his head. "You don''t watch Phineas and Ferb?"


    "Penis and Burp?" June asked.


    "Oh my goodness!" Sehun eximed, covering June''s mouth. "I think it''s safe to say that he doesn''t know."


    C-Jay cracked up as he pointed at June. "You¡ªyou''re really an old man. You don''t even know that cartoon?"


    Cartoons?


    June wanted to watch them when he was younger.


    But they never had a TV.


    Then, in the orphanage, the other kids didn''t like it when he watched with them.


    Before he even knew it, he became a teenager without a childhood.


    Mei Ling would probably know about it.


    June tried his very best to give her a normal childhood while he lost his.


    "I never got the opportunity to," June muttered. "But it sounds stupid," he said, quickly masking his wistfulness.


    "Should we change it?" Sehun asked, looking a bit guilty.


    June sighed. "What does it even mean?"


    Sehun bit his lip. "It sounds pretty childish, but I think it embodies the transformative power of small details. Just as an aglet, the tiny but crucial stic or metal tip at the end of a shoce, holds together the entirece, our team''s strength lies in our ability to rise despite being deemed useless. I guess it''s pretty stupid. Should we just scrap it?"


    They all looked at June with wide, inquiring eyes.


    He clicked his tongue and redirected his gaze to the floor.


    "Team Aglet it is, then."

 Chapter 136 Numb

    <h4>Chapter 136 Numb</h4>


    June didn''t get a wink of sleepst night.


    There was still a dull ache in his heart, and despite being surrounded by good teammates, he can''t help but feel a bit discouraged.


    He even passed by Team Riser''s practice roomst night and he felt even...stranger. June knew he should think about his rap lyrics, but his mind couldn''t concentrate.


    In the end, he settled with the lyrics he quickly came up with in the back of his mind. He doesn''t feel satisfied with it, but he feels that it''s the best that he can do.


    His rm sounded, but he didn''t have the motivation to get up.


    Jisung went up to him and patted his shoulder.


    "Time to get up, bro," he smiled. He had heard of what happened, and he felt bad for the brother he had admired from the start.


    Usually, upon waking up, June''s stare was nk or annoyed, but this time, he looked a bit lonely.


    "Are you okay?" Jisung asked.


    June sighed and got up. "Yeah," he muttered under his breath. "I need to head to practice now."


    He lifelessly went to the bathroom to wash up. Akira and Jisung exchanged perplexed looks. Akira had beening to their room more often after Hoon had been eliminated.


    "Is he okay?" Akira asked.


    "I don''t know," Jisung answered. "He''s not annoyed at his rm today."


    Just then Jaeyong came to the room after his morning work-out, a bit breathless.


    Akira weirdly looked at him. "Did you run here?"


    Jaeyong ignored his question and asked, "Is June awake now?"


    Before Jisung or Akira could answer, June came out of the bathroom, wearing all ck.


    He made eye contact with Jaeyong, but he quickly averted his gaze.


    Jaeyong continued to stare at him with guilt.


    "Umm, good morning?" Jaeyong warily geeted.


    "Good morning," June also greeted before quietly leaving the room.


    The sound of the door closing echoed in the small room, causing the other three to freeze.


    "Yeah, he''s not okay," Akira said. "He actually greeted you today!"


    ***


    "Good morning, brother!" C-Jay cheerily eximed as he wrapped his arm around June''s neck in a headlock.


    C-Jay always found it fun to mess with June since he was easily annoyed.


    However, this morning was different.


    June didn''t retaliate at all. In fact, he just epted C-Jay''s teasing!


    "Morning," June said, staring off into a distance.


    C-Jay slowly let go of his neck and stared at his retreating back.


    That''s weird.


    It didn''t take long before all members arrived in the practice room. Unlike June''s mncholic self, they all seemed pretty jolly.


    They''re the happiest teammates June has ever had. Despite being on the edge of elimination, they still practiced with smiles on their faces.


    June didn''t want to bring their moods down so he still did his best despite the strange feeling in his heart.


    It had just turned 9 a.m when somebody came into the room. The trainees'' eyes widened in surprise when they saw mentor Bone and another persone in.


    June, however, stayed calm, not feeling anything.


    Sun-Y, a K-rapper known for his romantic rapping and rhythmical flow, was a subject of many scandals in the industry. He had put out misogynist, sexist, and even racistments before, causing his reputation to go down the drain.


    However, he was like the roach of the industry. With his thick face and a "don''t give a fuck attitude," he had kept his career until now.


    All of the groups had a special mentor with them, and when the production crew saw that the ''Tie Me Up'' team wereprised of nobodies, they decided to save some money and hire a rapper with a low appearance fee instead.


    "Good morning, trainees," Mentor Bone greeted.


    "Good morning, Mentors," Sehun greeted for the group.


    "I see that you''re practicing your dance quite hard," Bone said.


    "Yes, Mentor," Sehun smiled. "We''re doing our best despite losing and gaining new members."


    "Ah, right," Bone said. "This team has the most new members, doesn''t it? Well, I came here today with Sun-Y to look over your performance."


    Sun-Y smugly smirked, still feeling proud that he was contacted by a big show like Rising Stars.


    "Since I''m a real rapper, I''ll evaluate your rap performance first," he said, his tone already unlikeable.


    Sehun nodded and led the team into a line. Despite being the Main Rapper, June stood at the end of the line.


    The music started, and Sehun opened the song. Before this mission, he was originally a dancer/vocalist. Actually, most of them were originally vocalists, but the Concept Mission forced them out of their usual positions.


    "Tie me up, Tie me down,


    I''m looking at the ground.


    What am I doing here again?


    Can''t give up when you''re around."


    As soon as he opened his mouth, Sun-Y frowned, his face twisting into an ugly expression.


    C-Jay continued with his two-verse line followed by Haesoo.


    "I''m bound by ropes, can''t escape.


    Afraid of this leap of faith."


    "But the ropes are tougher than before.


    And I''m weak, can''t take no more."


    Taekyung takes the pre-chorus, and even until then, Sun-Y was still grimacing.


    Mentor Bone, on the other hand, had a neutral look on his face, asionally nodding in approval.


    To be honest, their lyrics aren''t too bad. Their delivery, too, had improved over the course of the practice. They still can''t be called as "rappers," but they stayed on beat and their words were coherent.


    For some reason, June didn''t feel nervous when his turn came.


    He just felt numb.


    "Ties on my wrist makes me scream.


    Patience bursting through the seams.


    Can''t escape now, there''s no use.


    Light can''t turn on, I''m a broken fu¡ª"


    "Stop," Sun-Y loudly eximed, causing June to halt. "What am I listening to right now?"


    With one statement, the tension rose in the room.


    From the start, it was already apparent in Sun-Y''s face that he didn''t like their performance.


    Bone stopped the music, and they were engulfed with silence.


    Sun-Y, despite being disappointed at all of them, directed his hateful gaze at June.


    Truthfully, he wasn''t a fan of idols, especially idol rappers. However, like the spiteful person he is, he kept up with shows like these just to hate on them.


    It was his joy in life...


    In his miserable, miserable life.


    And deep inside, he must admit, he was jealous of this kid for rising to fame so quickly despite being an individual trainee.


    "11th ce?" he asked in an incredulous voice. "You have to be kidding me. How can you be 11th ce when you can''t rap for shit?"


    Their eyes widened in surprise when Sun-Y cursed. Even Bone raised his eyebrows.


    "Sir," Sehun said in a soft voice, kindly interfering. "June is originally a very talented vocalist, and he just joined uste in the afternoon¡ª"


    "I don''t care," Sun-Y sired. "He''s a shitty rapper and a shitty performer. Someone like him isn''t cut out to be a star."

 Chapter 137 Why Me?

    <h4>Chapter 137 Why Me?</h4>


    June pursed his lips together as the trashy rapper continued to throw hurtful words at him.


    "He can''t rhyme. He doesn''t have a flow. I don''t even know why you guys gave him the Main Rapper position," he continued. "I monitor the show from time to time, and it seems like my prejudices are right. Some trainees have high ranks merely because they''ve got plenty of issues," Sun-Y smirked.


    "However, they can''t even do a simple rap?" he scoffed, obviously directing his diss to June.


    "Honestly, I don''t even know why this team is working so hard. Look at your ranks," heughed out loud, spiting out of his mouth. "I heard you were getting cut by half after this mission. I bet none of you besides this shitty rapper will make it. Give up, folks. Just ept the fact that some people are born with it, and some people aren''t."


    "No matter how hard you try, you will never get on the level of someone who has innate talent. So, just give up. This performance is over and done with. You have what? Three days until the performance? You''re not going to make it¡­"


    "Soon-so," Bone called Sun-Y by his real name. "I think that''s enough."


    "Don''t stop me, Bong-gu," SUN-Y retaliated. "These kids need to hear it from me. It seems like they''re still hoping to debut andpete with the other teams, but the result is already obvious from the start."


    Bone sighed and massaged his shoulders. Soon-so, undoubtedly, had the foulest mouth in the rap industry, and he wondered why the production crew hired someone like him.


    Sehun and his other teammates looked down at the ground, feeling quite disheartened by the rapper''sments.


    When they thought it wouldn''t get any worse, Sun-Y stood from his seat and paced back and forth before them.


    "I can''t believe a song by GROOVYTUNES is being performed by people under the 40th rank. Don''t you find it shameful?" he cackled.


    Then, he settled in front of June, his smirk widening. "And June, huh? The guy involved in those two scandals then got stabbed?"


    June let out a deep breath as Sun-Y walked even closer to him. "Why don''t you give your teammates a talk, huh? They''re not going to make it. So, ask them to stop trying so hard. In the end, you won''t seed since you''re just not talented enough."


    The trashy rapper expected him to look away, but June held his gaze, a fiery expression seen behind his eyes.


    "Are you speaking from experience, sir?" June asked, finally having enough.


    He''s had a shitty week.


    He''s been stabbed...


    Then, he got kicked out of the song that he actually enjoyed performing.


    And now, this dude was speaking down on him and his teammates?


    At first, he could tolerate the insults directed at him. June''s been immune to such responses since he was born. However, having Sun-Y look down on these kids who had worked so hard for their performance sent him on edge.


    "What?" Sun-Y snapped.


    "You''re speaking so well on the topic. The only exnation I can think of is because you know the feeling very well. It''s quite hard trying to stay relevant when you''re only talent is to diss others, am I right?"


    Sun-Y''s ears became red, and smoke could practically be seening out of his nostrils.


    "You little shit¡ª," Sun-Y was about to punch June, but Bone held onto his wrist.


    "I think that''s enough," Bone said, restraining Sun-Y, who was still struggling in his arms.


    "Let me have my way with this cocky kid!" Sun-Y screamed, but Bone dragged him out of the room.


    "Practice hard, okay? I''ll be the one to evaluate you before the actual performance!" Bone called out as he closed the door.


    Once the two artists were gone, the team was engulfed in silence.


    As much as they wanted to deny it, Sun-Y''s words hit them harder than they expected.


    "Hey, it''s okay," C-Jay said, trying to cheer them up. However, it was evident in his voice that he also felt hurt. "We¡ªwe''re okay. We''re just a new team, that''s all."


    "Yeah," Jakob smiled, fiddling with his fingers as tears glistened in his eyes. "My mom told me I was doing well. She''s always worried whether I''m doing okay, and I want to show her my progress with this performance."


    Taekyung sniffed as he wiped his nose. "I was really sad when I got kicked out of the team, and I thought I wouldn''t be able to make it. But you guys stayed upte with me and taught me well. I''m really d I''m on this team. I wish they''d be kinder to us," he sadly smiled. "We just created this team, after all."


    June listened to their intentions one by one, his heart squeezing in pain.


    Fuck!


    He''s really gotten weird these days.


    These kids were being fed well by their parents. They can pursue the dream that they want, but why does June feel so sad for them?


    With a sigh, he started walking to the door.


    "Bro?" C-Jay called out, trying to hold onto his shoulder.


    However, June quickly evaded his touch and left briskly. His teammates called his name, but he needed some time to think.


    He bumped into Team Risers on the way, and they looked at him with pity. Zeth even tried to call out for him, but June ignored them, continuing his way.


    June only stopped when he reached a familiar staircase. He sat down and focused his gaze on the ground, breathing deeply as he tried to forget the ache in his chest.


    "Shit," he cursed, cing his hand over his heart.


    June was hurting.


    He wanted to deny it at first since he''s always been strong.


    June''s parents had passed away when he was just a child, leaving him to fend for himself and Mei Ling. He had never known thefort of a normal childhood, and the pain of that loss was instilled into his very being. But he bore it all, never letting a tear escape his eyes.


    When he lost his life, he grieved silently, never letting anyone see the depth of his sorrow. He had be a master at concealing his emotions, a fortress of strength in the face of life''s relentless trials.


    Even during the gruelingpetition, he had brushed off inconveniences that would have sent others into fits of frustration.


    June endured it all.


    But now, as he sat alone in the quiet stillness of the staircase, June felt a wave of frustration wash over him. It was as if all the pain and suffering he had endured over the years had finally caught up to him. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white with tension, and he couldn''t help but ask himself, "Why is it always me?"

 Chapter 138 Masochists

    <h4>Chapter 138 Masochists</h4>


    June was still deep in his thought when he heard footsteps nearing him.


    He lifted his head and saw Sehun looking at him with a sad smile.


    Does this dude never stop smiling?


    "You okay?" Sehun asked, sitting next to him.


    June let out a deep breath before straightening his posture. "I''m fine," he grumbled.


    "You''re not," Sehun said. "I can see it in your eyes. I''ve noticed it since morning. You can talk to me if you want,"


    "There''s nothing to talk about," June said. "I''m just in a weird mood. It''ll probably go awayter."


    Truthfully, June just wanted to give up.


    June got mad since Sun-Y was spouting hurtful nonsense, yet deep inside his mind, he knew that Sun-Y had a point.


    June wasn''t born to be a star. He didn''t want to be one in the first ce.


    But he''s working hard for this¡ªfor Mei Ling.


    In the end, he wonders if his hard work would be enough.


    "There it is again," Sehun said, poking June''s shoulder. "That sad look in your eyes."


    June scoffed, ignoring Sehun''s statement, before ncing at Sehun. "You''re not okay too. Why do you smile all the time?"


    "Because it''s the only thing I have¡ªmy smile."


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    "This is myst chance," Sehun suddenly said, causing June to frown.


    "You''re still young," June said. "You still have a chance."


    "I''m 25 now," Sehun continued. "That isn''t young when you''re trying to be an idol. I started quitete, and it''s already been four years since I became a trainee. My family isn''t well-off, and I believe my parents are also getting tired of supporting me even when they don''t show it. So, if I don''t make it here, I''m thinking of going to the military already."


    "What Sun-Y said was true," he sighed, leaning against the railings. "With our ranks, it''s very likely that we aren''t going to debut."


    "Then, why are you still holding on?" June asked.


    June asked the question to Sehun, but at the same time, it felt like he was asking himself, too.


    Aside from Mei Ling, what was he doing this for?


    "There''s no particr reason," Sehun responded. "It''s a part of my life already. I''vee this far, and I need to see the end of it. Am I doing this for my own satisfaction? For my family? I honestly don''t know. But do I need to have a reason for doing what I want to do?"


    Do I need to have a reason?


    Those words resonated with June.


    Aside from Mei Ling, he doesn''t have any other reason to continue doing this. And for the past few days, he''s been questioning if all of this was actually worth it.


    But speaking with this optimism-filled trainee actuallyforted him a bit.


    He doesn''t need to have a reason.


    He''s already in the situation.


    This is his reality.


    What June can do is make the most of it.


    "Of course, there are times when I just want to give up," Sehun continued. "But seeing our members'' faces boosted my spirits up. I''m not the only one working hard for this. Their dreams are at stake too, so I have to do my best."


    June felt a shift in his mood.


    He suddenly felt more annoyed at everything around him, and he found himself sighing in annoyance without any reason.


    A smirk appeared on his lips.


    June was back.


    Sehun hadn''t noticed the change in his demeanor, so he continued talking.


    "This life¡ªit''s something I cannot escape. But at the same time, it feels like I don''t want to escape it anymore," he chuckled, feeling a bit ridiculous.


    June paused as he internalized his words.


    "Don''t want to escape anymore?" June muttered.


    "Huh?" Sehun asked, looking back at June.


    He was surprised when he saw that June''s eyes had reverted back to his original gaze.


    "Hey," June said. "Do you guys want to change our concept?"


    "What do you mean?" Sehun asked.


    "Let''s be masochists."


    ***


    "Bro!" C-Jay screamed, his eyes puffy, as he ran toward June.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed him away before C-Jay could hug him.


    C-Jay''s eyes brightened in delight as he looked at June''s annoyed expression.


    "You''re back!" he eximed.


    June clicked his tongue. "You''re noisy. Stop screaming."


    Their other members chuckled as they watched their banter.


    "Are you alright now?" Jakob asked, still with teary eyes.


    June clicked his tongue and ruffled the teenager''s hair. "I''m fine. Just had to think for a bit."


    "We''re here for you, bro," C-Jay widely smiled while giving him two thumbs-up.


    "Speaking of thoughts," Sehun interrupted. "June hase up with our concept, guys! I think it''s also a really good idea."


    "Oh goodness. That''s good news. We''ve been thinking of a concept for our lyrics for the past few weeks, but can never settle on one. In the end, we decided to go with a toxic love and how we want to break away," Seokhwa said.


    "We''re still going with the toxic love concept," June said. "But before all of this, I need to make sure that you guys are amenable to changing your lyrics."


    "It''s fine," Sehun said. "I can do it today."


    "Me too," C-Jay said. "I only need to write two lines anyway."


    "Me too," Seokhwa and Jakob said in unison.


    "Good," June smirked. "Have you guys experienced a toxic love before?"


    They looked away from June, sheepish expressions on their faces.


    "I have!" C-Jay eximed. "I bought her expensive jewelry, but she sold it to a pawnshop and used it to date a more handsome guy."


    His members looked at him like he was crazy.


    "Should you be sharing that?" Taekyung asked in horror.


    C-Jay shrugged.


    June sighed. "Well, I think most of us hadn''t experienced such love before, and that''s the reason why our lyrics are mediocre."


    "However, I''m sure we''ve experienced the pressure of being idol trainees and how, sometimes, we just want to escape," June continued. "This song''s perspective, at first listen, does sound like it''s talking about wanting to break free from a toxic rtionship. But the pre-written lyrics are actually open for other interpretations...and maybe, we could rte to it more if we start speaking of our toxic rtionships with our training."


    "Then, we''re going to talk about wanting to break free from being trainees instead?" Jakob asked.


    "We could," June said. "But it would be predictable."


    "What if we don''t want to break away?" he continued. "What if we want to hurt ourselves more¡ªlike masochists."


    "Holy shit! You''re a genius."

 Chapter 139 Consolidation Mission

    <h4>Chapter 139 Consolidation Mission</h4>


    June continued to exin the concept he thought of.


    "Of course, the lyrics aren''t enough," he said. "We have to focus on our delivery too."


    Jakob sighed, knowing that the team wascking in rap skills. "It''s just so hard since most of us are vocalists."


    Sehun nodded in agreement. "I can say we''ve improved a lot. However, we don''t have the natural rapper tone that most of the top-ranked trainees have."


    C-Jay leaned against the mirror, sighing in disappointment. "Can we even beat them with our current skills?"


    Indeed, trainees like Jaeyong, Casper, and Zeth had already built their own sound, andpeting with A-tiers like them will be very difficult.


    "Maybe we can''t beat them in skill," June realistically said. "But we can definitely beat them with something else."


    The others listened attentively.


    "I''ve been with both teams, and I can say that the members of Team Riser definitely have more natural talent. However, there''s something in our team that surpasses theirs."


    "Is that even possible?" Haesoo shyly asked.


    "Yes," June responded. "With our emotion."


    "I can say that we''re more desperate than them. Even before joining this team, I had heard that you were hopeless," June started, making the original members direct their gazes to the ground.


    "But as I''ve joined this team, I realized that they were wrong."


    They lifted their heads up.


    "This team works harder than anyone else. The circumstances aren''t favorable for us, but we''ve made it this far. I know we can make it even further. So, while you''re practicing your rap verses tonight, I want you to think of the people who undermined this team...of the people who kicked you out...of Sun-Y who told you to give up."


    June smirked when he saw the determined gazes of his teammates. He knew he had said the right words once more.


    "And besides, we''re going to bring in something that will symbolize that desperation," he added.


    "Damn, you''ve got plenty of tricks up your sleeves, don''t you?" C-Jay chimed. "What is it?"


    June meaningfully smirked as he looked into their determined eyes one by one.


    If they want something sexy, then they''re going to give them what they want...and probably more.


    "Let''s take this BDSM thing seriously."


    ***


    In the dark, shared room, there sat a handsome guy on the bottom bunk bed.


    The clock struck 12, yet his eyes were still wide open.


    The only light source in the room was his shitty phone, illuminating the small smirk on his face.


    With squinted eyes, he read the lyric sheet, muttering the words under his breath.


    "It''s done," he whispered, feeling quite satisfied with himself.


    Team Aglet polished their concept and dance this afternoon and agreed to finish writing their respective lyrics by tomorrow.


    June had the most lines to write, and it took him a while before he got some inspiration.


    But after thinking about that ugly ass Sun-Y''s face, he suddenly had the urge to prove him wrong.


    Moreover, his time at the gang and how it became his home despite wanting to escape inspired the lyrics he had written.


    June didn''t want to boast, but he thinks it''s pretty damn good.


    However, even after his lyrics were written, he couldn''t stay still.


    No matter how good his lyrics are, if his delivery is shitty, then it''s going to be shitty lyrics.


    With that, he silently sat up from his bed and left the room.


    Then, he proceeded to go to his peaceful space¡ªthe staircase.


    June sat down and brought out his phone and lyric sheet. Then, he started rapping the lyrics while recording his voice.


    June had spent his entire evening listening to rap songs, and now, he could set "good" rappers and "bad" rappers apart.


    As he finished with his verses, he yed the recording back, and he couldn''t help but grimace in disgust.


    "I sound like shit," he muttered, frustrated.


    He didn''t have a good flow. His voicecked power, and it felt like he was catching his breath during thetter parts of the verses!


    Well, it was expected for a trainee who only has a D- in his rap skills.


    If he knew things were going to turn out like this, then he should have upgraded his rap aspect first.


    However, it was already toote.


    If only there was a way to upgrade his rap skills to at least a B, then he could pull off being the Main Rapper of their team.


    [A mission is waiting for you! Missions have now been reset.]


    June peered at the status window before him with wide eyes.


    "Fu," he grumbled. "Why are you appearing only now?"


    [I have a special mission for our lovely host! This is your opportunity for a mega upgrade!]


    June scoffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I bet there''s a catch, Fu. Just get to it. I know you''re listening to my thoughts."


    [Mission title: Consolidation Mission]


    [Combine two of your aspects into one! You can carry over your grade from one aspect to another.]


    [However, the chosen aspect to extract upgrades from shall disappear afterward. It will note back after the mission has been epted and aplished.]


    [This is a special mission for the host! Therefore, he must ept the mission before it is announced. You shall be given 48 hours to aplish the mission. Do you ept?]


    "Consolidation?"


    This was too good to be true.


    If what Fu is saying is indeed real, then he could carry over his grade from "Charm" and add it to his "Rap" aspect.


    Up until now, he still doesn''t know what charm entails. He doesn''t even think it''s a skill! So, he wouldn''t mind having it disappear from his status window.


    "I ept," June said.


    [Duly noted. The host has epted the mission. Failure to aplish the mission within the given timeframe entails regression of one grade for all skill aspects.]


    "What?" June eximed. It has usually been one aspect only!


    June wanted toin but knew he couldn''t do anything about it.


    [Your mission is: Get a headshot! Have your photos taken by Choi Pablo.]

 Chapter 140 Choi Pablo

    <h4>Chapter 140 Choi Pablo</h4>


    Choi Pablo?


    June had never heard of that name!


    Fu''s missions were bing more specific as time progressed. It''s like he doesn''t want June to improve his skills after all!


    "What are you thinking about?" Sehun asked as he sat next to him.


    They were currently taking a break after endlessly practicing their song. They started practicing at 5 a.m. today since they didn''t have much time.


    Tomorrow night will be the performance, so they had only one more day to finish polishing their performance.


    All of them had finished writing their lyrics, too, and it seemed like his teammates had gained newfound confidence after their concept changed.


    June also found that they were improving drastically. He doesn''t know if it was brought by pure desperation, but aside from June''s rapping skills, their performance was almostplete.


    "Have you gotten a headshot taken before?" June asked, opening the topic.


    The other members gathered around them in curiosity.


    "Headshots?" Sehun asked. "Of course, I have. It''s an unofficial prerequisite to bing an idol. If you don''t have a headshot these days, then you practically can''t enter entertainmentpanies."


    C-Jay smirked and brought out his phone, showing them the photos he had taken in an overpriced studio in Seoul. "Look at this. Aren''t I he handsome?"


    June looked at the photos with a nk expression.


    His pictures were overly edited.


    His eyes were too big, and his chin was a bit too sharp. Seeing C-Jay in real life felt like watching those mukbang videos where the filter suddenly turns off while they were eating.


    "Oh wow, they''re¡­good," Sehun said with a smile and a thumbs-up.


    June shook his head. "You look like an alien."


    C-Jay raised his eyebrows in surprise. "An alien? You must be blind, brother. These are the best pictures I have. And you''re one to talk! I bet you don''t have any headshots at all."


    Jakob''s eyes widened when June didn''t respond. "You haven''t done a photoshoot at all?"


    June pursed his lips. "Not as I remember."


    It seems like Choi Joon-ho never liked getting his photos taken. It was evident by theck of photos stored in his phone.


    "Right, you''re an individual trainee now," C-Jay said. "But it wouldn''t hurt to have your headshots taken. Like Sehun said, idols need those these days. It''s what entertainmentpanies send to other enterprises so they can catch brand deals and the like."


    June nodded. "Then, do you know Choi Pablo?"


    C-Jay frowned. "You don''t know who Choi Pablo is?"


    "No," June honestly said.


    C-Jay clicked his tongue. "I''m not even surprised at this point. You barely know about important people. But you know a lot about useless things."


    "Is he important?" June asked.


    "Important? He''s the most famous photographer for celebrities!" he eximed. "He''s only in histe 20s, but he''s already made such a big impact on the world of celebrities."


    "What makes him so special?"


    "Choi Pablo only photographs people he wants to photograph," Sehun answered. "I heard that the members of CHAOS wanted to get their photographs taken by him, but he refused."


    "Really?" Haesoo asked with wide eyes. "But that''s CHAOS we''re talking about! They''re the hottest boy band right now."


    Sehun shrugged. "Like I said, he doesn''t really photograph people based on their fame, but based on his gut feeling. A lot of people tried booking him, but he refused a lot of them."


    "But get this," C-Jay added. "All the people he photographed became even more famous than before! From Bong Yoo, G-Dinosaur, Bae Sueme, and Cha Eun Boo¡ªthose are just a few names under Choi Pablo''s name."


    Taekyung sighed and shook his head. "Being photographed by him will be impossible for people like us. I bet we need to be born again before we aplish such a task."


    June ced his hand under his chin.


    "Then, do you know where Choi Pablo is?" he asked.


    C-Jayughed out loud. "Why? Are you going to pay him a visit?"


    June didn''t answer, causing C-Jay to stopughing.


    "Wait¡ªyou''re serious?"


    June clicked his tongue. "Just answer the question."


    "Well, his studio is located somewhere in Itaewon. It''s called ''Pablo.'' But if I were you, I wouldn''t even waste my time," C-Jay advised. "He''s definitely not taking any clients at this time."


    June sighed.


    It''s not like he wanted to meet this Choi Pablo dude.


    He NEEDED to meet him.


    It''s the only way he can upgrade his rap skills to the B-tier!


    "Hey," June said, looking at the clock. It was still early in the morning since they started practicing at dawn. "Do you mind if I step out a bit? I''ll be back this afternoon."


    "What?" Sehun asked. "Tomorrow evening is the performance, though. We still need to polish everything for our performance. And we haven''t gone over everything with our rap yet."


    "Continue practicing," June instructed. "I''ll catch up in the evening."


    C-Jay frowned. "It''s not like the production crew will allow you to leave."


    "They will," June said.


    "Where are you even going?"


    To Choi Pablo.


    "To the hospital. My incision has reopened."


    ***


    June knew that his teammates and the production crew wouldn''t be able to deny his request to leave once he mentioned his stab wound.


    So now, he was roaming the streets of Itaewon and looking for the photo studio named "Pablo."


    June was wearing a? ck mask and bucket hat since he didn''t want to risk the chance of getting recognized. After thest elimination, he had even more peopleing up to him!


    Fortunately, June didn''t have to look long and hard since the white building with the equally white signage that spelled out "Pablo" was easy to point out.


    Without hesitation, he walked to the white building, determined to get his photos taken by the legendary photographer.


    As he opened the door, he was greeted by a short woman with short ck hair and short bangs. She was chewing her gum while filing her short ck nails. She was wearing all-ck too!


    Everything about her seemed short.


    However, her gaze could be likened to a giant.


    She looked at June with raised eyebrows before pointing to the door. "We don''t ept walk-in clients."


    "I made an appointment," June bluffed.


    She raised her eyebrows. "Oh, I''m sorry. It seems like I haven''t made it clear enough."


    She looked him dead in the eyes before smirking. "We don''t ept clients like you here."

 Chapter 141 Nude

    <h4>Chapter 141 Nude</h4>


    June looked at the woman''s namete¡ªEsther.


    Then, he looked around the spacious studio. It was all white¡ªfrom the walls to the decorations and even the lights.


    Esther stood as a starkparison against the in background.


    "Why are you still here?" she snarkily asked.


    "You must hate working here, huh?" June suddenly said, causing her to stop chewing her gum.


    Esther''s eyebrows furrowed as she locked gazes with June.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "But you''re staying here because the pay is really good," June continued to assess her life.


    Esther''s frown deepened. With their gazes still locked, she realized that she couldn''t read the masked boy''s eyes at all.


    She had always been pretty good at reading other people! And that''s how she was able to kick plenty of aspiring artists out of Mr. Choi Pablo''s studio before they even met the man himself.


    It was obvious when someone just wanted to use Choi Pablo to get ahead in life.


    However, she couldn''t read this man at all. If she could pick out just one emotion, then it''d be "desperation." Not the crazy kind! But one where he must really want to achieve something other than fame.


    "What makes you say that?" she asked in a wary tone.


    June shrugged. "You''re chewing on a packet of gum you''ve bought," he said, pointing to the watermelon-vored gum on top of the counter. "But there''s multiple packets of lemon-vored gum behind you. I''m assuming it''s what the office provides."


    Esther looked away.


    "And yourputer screen," June pointed at therge mirror on the back, where herputer screen is currently being reflected. "You''re looking for job cements to be a designer while ying solitaire on the side. If that doesn''t entail job dissatisfaction, then I don''t know anymore."


    Esther pursed her lips together. She felt like she was being read like an open book!


    However, June didn''t stop there.


    "And you must hate the color white. None of your items remotely have that color, so this office is filled with the color you hate. But looking at your designer items, I''m assuming the pay is quite nice, so you can''t really leave, am I right?" he asked.


    Esther didn''t respond.


    "Or do you want me to continue?"


    "Stop!" Esther eximed, her face reddening in embarrassment. "That''s enough," she muttered.


    Usually, she''d be the one reading people at the front desk. Choi Pablo trusted her so much that she could make people leave or stay based on her discretion.


    However, this was the very first time that someone had read into her life!


    "What''s your name?" she asked.


    "You''re not interested in that, I presume," June said. "You only let in people you want to anyway."


    Esther scoffed, a small smile ying on her lips.


    "Alright, you got me there," she said. "You passed."


    This man¡ªit felt like he could be the next big star.


    "Go in," Esther continued, pointing at thergest door. "Choi Pablo is probably resting there."


    June bowed his head, taking Esther by surprise once more. Usually, people would jump and exim in joy once they were granted permission to go in. However, this guy just looked like he was entering a fast-food restaurant.


    Esther shook his head as she watched his retreating figure. "Pablo''s going to enjoy this."


    As June entered therge doors, he was greeted by a white room, reminding him of the rooms where people with straight jackets were locked. And in the center of the room was a prestigious camera.


    June looked around and saw a man with white-blonde hair and white clothes sleeping on the white couch. His face was covered with a white book, and his fingers twitched when he heard the door close.


    "What?" Pablo asked, his voice sounding higher than June had expected.


    "Choi Pablo," June said, his eyes never leaving his figure.


    Choi Pablo clicked his tongue and removed the book from his face before sitting up. A man, who appeared to be in histe 20s, locked gazes with June. He had an annoyed look on his face after his peaceful nap had been interrupted.


    Pablo looked June up and down before shaking his head.


    "Esther actually let you in?" he asked in a condescending tone. "I''m surprised. You don''t have any style at all," he continued.


    June remembered he was wearing all-ck that day. Even his mask was ck.


    "But then again, she likes the atrocious color," Pablo continued. "What do you want?"


    "I want you to take my headshots," June bluntly said, causing Pablo to burst intoughter.


    "Oh, geez. You go straight to the point, don''t you?"


    "And preferably until after lunch only. I have things to do in the afternoon," June continued.


    Choi Pablo smirked. "Just because Esther let you in does not mean that I''ll take your photos right away. I just don''t take it for anyone."


    "You don''t have a set criteria on who you want to capture," June said. "So, you''re going to take my photos today. It can''t be anyone else."


    The rap upgrade¡ªJune needed it for his team.


    "Are you that desperate?" Pablo asked.


    June shrugged. "I''m not leaving until you take my pictures."


    "Feisty," Pablo smirked. "Then, show me what you got. I haven''t even seen your face, yet you want me to take your photos?"


    With a quick movement, June removed his mask and hat before raking his fingers through his hair.


    For a second, Pablo''s breath got caught in his throat.


    The man before him was a mixture of handsome and beautiful. His eyes appeared very cat-like, and his lips were quirked into a natural smile. However, his aura felt so different from his looks, causing Pablo to be confused.


    It''s as if he''s a gangster stuck in a pretty boy''s body.


    "Well?" June asked. "Can you take my pictures now?"


    Pablo clicked his tongue. "I''ve seen far more attractive faces than you," he said.


    "Cha Eun Boo and Bae Sueme stunned me the first time we met. G-Dinosaur was also more charming. You, on the other hand, look like a regr idol singer."


    "Okay," June epted his statements. "But you take pictures based on your preference, right? You don''t take them based on the subjects'' looks."


    Pablo narrowed his eyes. Alright, he got him there.


    "What''s your name?" Pablo asked.


    "June," he answered.


    "June?" Pablo tilted his head to the side. The name was familiar. He must have heard it on TV or something. However, Choi Pablo was currently undergoing a social media detox for personal reasons, so he isn''t really aware of up-anding stars.


    June clicked his tongue. "Look, I really need to get my pictures captured by now. I have an important performance tomorrow, and I can''t miss it."


    "So impatient," Pablo said. "You''ll get hurt in the future if you''re impatient. Do you know that?"


    "I know," June acknowledged. "But you aren''t saying what you want from me."


    "Oh?" Pablo eximed in surprise. "How''d you know I want something from you."


    "It''s obvious in your eyes," June said. "Just spill it. You''ll take my picture after you get what you want, right?"


    "Only if I like what I''ll see," Pablo answered.


    June sighed. "What do you want?"


    Pablo smiled cheekily as he looked into June''s eyes.


    "Take off your shirt."

 Chapter 142 Milky-white

    <h4>Chapter 142 Milky-white</h4>


    June was a bit weirded out.


    But in the end, his desperation shone through.


    Without hesitation, he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the body underneath.


    He instantly felt the cool air from the air-conditioning, causing him to shiver.


    June really hated feeling cold, so it annoyed him to the max.


    Choi Pablo, on the other hand, froze as June stood half-naked in front of him.


    "Omo," Pablo eximed as he pped his hands.


    June rubbed his hand along his arms, hoping to give him warmth. The skin turned red from the vigorous rubbing, causing Pablo''s eyes to brighten in delight.


    White.


    June''s skin was milky-white, almost glistening under the light.


    And Choi Pablo loves the color white.


    June''s milky-white skin stretched like a nk page, awaiting stories to be inked upon it. Along the graceful curve of his shoulder de and down his chest, scars danced like enigmatic verses, each one whispering secrets known only to him.


    His muscles, though not chiseled like sculptures of marble, possessed a subtle poetry of their own. They were defined, yet gentle, as if nature had taken a brush dipped in watercolors to trace the contours of his form. This body, like a so, spoke of a life lived with grace, where imperfections became verses, and softness became a bad of its own.


    "Perfect!" Choi Pablo eximed. "Your body is perfect," he continued.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as Pablo circled around him like a hungry predator.


    "It''s exactly what I''m looking for. These muscles," he said, poking June''s bicep, causing him to flinch.


    "These are the kind of muscles you get from the hardships of life¡ªnot from the luxury of the gym."


    "And even though your body screams your hardships, it hasn''t lost its pure form!" Pablo eximed. "I''ve been looking for a body like this ever since I became a photographer."


    "So, you''ll take my pictures?" June asked.


    "Yes, yes! With a couple of half-naked photos here and there."


    June smirked and shook his head before putting his shirt back on, causing Pablo to exim in disappointment.


    From the look in Choi Pablo''s eyes, June could tell that he''d do just about anything for him at this point.


    "No can do, Mr. Photographer," June said. "You''re going to take my headshots today."


    A sad look passed by Pablo''s eyes. Then, he pounced on June and wrapped himself around him like a sloth.


    June clicked his tongue. "Get off. We need to make this fast."


    "But can''t you stay here longer so we can take pictures of your body?" he asked.


    June shook his head. It was only a couple of moments ago when Pablo wanted June to leave; now, he was the desperate one between the two.


    "As I told you, I have something to do today."


    "Then, in the future?" Pablo asked with wide eyes. "I need you as my subject, please. It''s only then that I could be satisfied with my career."


    "Take my headshots," June firmly said, causing Pablo to sigh and let go of him.


    "Fine," Pablo said. "But you need to change out of those atrocious clothes. Go to the dressing room and put on the first outfit on the rack. Then,e back here so we can take your photos."


    June quickly followed his instructions. As expected, the clothes inside were all white. June grabbed the first one and put it on. It was a simple white tank top, but it was a little bit too low. If June leaned over, then his nipples were definitely going to be shown.


    With that, he grabbed a white long-sleeve polo from the rack and put it over his body.


    After he was satisfied with the outfit, he went out of the dressing room and found Choi Pablo already taking practice shots.


    At this point, Choi Pablo was the desperate one.


    "You wore a topper?" he asked in a disappointed tone.


    June clicked his tongue. "Let''s get this done and over with."


    June sat on the stool that Pablo had prepared and gazed into his camera.


    Choi Pablo took June''s pictures, but he was starting to notice a trend in all of the photos he took. He sighed and looked at June.


    "You don''t know how to pose for pictures, don''t you?"


    "I''ve never done it before," June said. "Don''t I just have to stare at the camera?"


    Pablo clicked his tongue. "You need to do more than that. Headshots capture a variety of emotions, ranging from happy, sad, to neutral. We need those kinds of expressions. Why don''t we start with a smile?"


    That was the problem.


    June had an awkward smile.


    He quirked his lips into what seemed like a smile, but it only came out as a grimace.


    Choi Pablo chuckled loudly. "Oh, god. You''re cuter than I had anticipated. I should have taken your pictures sooner. However, this smile wouldn''t do...just smile genuinely."


    "I don''t know how to," June said.


    Pablo sighed. "Then, think about something you really like, something that makes you happy."


    Something that makes June happy?


    Mei Ling, of course.


    But then, it''d be kind of word to smile so meaningfully for your sister. Besides, as much as Mei Ling made June happy, thinking about her now just makes him...sad.


    So, he searched his mind for something that truly made him happy.


    When was thest time he genuinely smiled?


    Then, a red, squishy thing began to ease into his mind.


    A BenBen gummy?


    With that thought, a small smile began to appear on his face.


    Choi Pablo watched the scene before him in amazement.


    So cute! June looked like an innocent child when he smiled!


    Pablo quickly captured the scene, causing June to snap out of his thoughts.


    "Good," Pablo eximed. "That was good. I can make something out of that photo."


    June nodded, relieved that he didn''t have to force himself to smile anymore.


    "Let''s go with a different emotion now. Make a fierce face," Pablo instructed. "Think of someone you really hate."


    Now, thatmand was easier for June.


    There were a lot of people he hated¡ªAlex, Hyunwoo, Lin Zhi, Bo Wen.


    But if we''re talking about a profound hatred...then it could only be one person.


    His boss.


    As his thoughts were consumed by his boss¡ªthat faceless bastard, he looked deep into the camera.


    Choi Pablo was stunned for a moment.


    This expression...he had never seen it before.


    In the depths of his gaze, a tempest brewed, and an abyss of emotions unfurled.


    Choi Pablo, captivated by the raw intensity radiating from this man''s eyes, stood in awe. He had witnessed countless faces in his career, but this was an emotion he had never seen before¡ªa? sea of emotions swirled within those eyes. It was not just anger; it was a manifestation of a deep-rooted, long-buried grudge.


    With trembling hands and an artist''s heart ame, Pablo seized the moment. The click of the shutter, like the brushstroke of a master painter, captured the masterpiece¡ªetched in anger, painted in pain, and sculpted by the soul''s deepest recesses. In that fleeting instant, they immortalized an emotion that transcended the ordinary, creating a photograph that would forever whisper the secrets of the man''s haunted gaze.


    "Mi perfecto," Pablo whispered.


    [Congrattions! You havepleted the Consolidation Mission: Get a headshot! Have your photos be taken by Choi Pablo.]

 Chapter 143 Show You

    <h4>Chapter 143 Show You</h4>


    [Rap +6. Current Grade: B-]


    [Current Stats:


    - Vocals: A


    - Dance: B+


    - Visual: B+


    - Rap: B-


    - Leadership: C+]


    Since June''s ''Charm'' aspect was also a D-, which was 6 grades away from the lowest grade of F-, his current rap grade was upgraded a total of 6 steps, making him fall under the B-tier.


    June smirked as his status window showed the upgrade.


    He''s now an arguably good rapper with his current stat. Some trainees who specialize in rap have even lower grades than him.


    Choi Pablo still hasn''t recovered from June''s hateful gaze when he saw a new expression adorn June''s face once more!


    Pablo acted quickly and captured his photos candidly, loving every oue.


    "Such a natural," he muttered as he continued capturing June''s photos.


    Since his objective was done, June stood up from the stool, causing Pablo to exim in protest.


    "Where are you going?" Pablo asked.


    "That''s enough," June said. "I have to go back now."


    "What?" Pablo asked, disappointed. "But we still haven''t taken your half-naked pictures!"


    June clicked his tongue. "That''s because we''re not taking it. It wasn''t part of our deal."


    Choi Pablo puffed his cheeks. This young man just kept making him more intrigued!


    "Then, in the future, will you be able to coborate with me?" Pablo asked with wide eyes.


    June weirdly looked at him.


    Now, why the hell does it feel like he''d gain another problematic follower?


    "I''ll think about it," June said, hoping it would make Pablo stop pestering him.


    "Good!" Pablo chimed. That was definitely better than nothing!


    "Here," he said, handing him a calling card. "I don''t give my personal number to a lot of people, so consider yourself special. Make sure to call once you''re free, okay?"


    "Okay," June mindlessly said.


    Although he probably wouldn''t use this calling card...ever.


    Pablo sighed as he looked through the pictures in the camera. It had been a long time since he felt satisfied with what he had captured, but June made him feel that satisfaction.


    As he arrived at the picture with June''s hateful gaze, a shiver ran down his spine.


    How could an innocent face carry so much hateful emotion?


    "When are you going to give me that?" June asked, pertaining to the photos.


    Pablo snapped out of his daze. "I still need to edit these," he said. "You can give me your e-mail so I can send it to you."


    June pursed his lips. "Just send it to my Navel ount."


    Although Pablo was a bit confused, he eventually agreed.


    "Alright, type your username here," Pablo said, giving June his phone.


    June was about to type it into Navel''s search bar when someone suddenly called, changing the user interface.


    ''Choi Birth-Giver.''


    Pablo quickly turned off the call and pretended nothing happened.


    "Just type it in," he urged.


    June shrugged and typed in his username. Afterward, he handed back the phone to Pablo.


    Pablo excitedly looked at his profile but quickly became disappointed when he read the username and the singr post he made.


    "This...is you?" he asked, tilting his head.


    "Yes," June nonchntly said.


    "People really can''t be perfect," Pablo sadly said.


    "I''m going now. Send it to me on Navel, alright?" June said, going to the dressing room to get changed.


    "Should I help you change?" Pablo asked in a hopeful voice.


    June turned to re at him. "Stay put."


    Pablo slumped on the chair like a child whose candy bar was ced back on the grocery aisle.


    After June got dressed in his clothes, he quickly went out since it was already past lunch.


    However, what greeted him was a sight to see.


    Choi Pablo stood at the center of the room with various items in his hand!


    "What the hell are those?" June frowned.


    "Tokens," Pablo excitedly said, walking over to June and cing them in his hands.


    A pair of shoes...a watch...a bracelet...and even a gift card for a luxurious restaurant?


    "And why are you giving them to me?" June asked. "Do you usually give these to clients?"


    "Uh...no?" Pablo warily said.


    In truth, he had really taken a liking to June, and this was also his way to persuade him into that half-naked photoshoot.


    "Then, I won''t ept them," June said. He had looked at the brands of the items and saw they were all designer. He wasn''t interested in such items, and he didn''t want to go back to Azure carrying a bunch of bags.


    "But you need to take them!" Pablo insisted.


    June sighed before cing them back in Pablo''s hands. "I don''t want them."


    Pablo pouted, dejected by June''s rejection.


    "Instead, can you give me something else?" June said as his eyes strayed to a white, long, and silky material hanging on one of the racks.


    Pablo enthusiastically nodded. "Anything!"


    "Can you give me those silk ties over there?"


    "Huh?" Pablo tilted his head to the side in confusion. "We use those during sexy photoshoots, though. Are you sure you want them?"


    "Give them to me," June said.


    "Okay," Pablo said. "But I''ll only give it to you once you ept all these other gifts."


    ***


    And that''s how June went back to the dorms with four luxury items in his hand, a bag of silk ties, and a 5-star restaurant gift card.


    Fortunately, nobody caught him carrying those bags since they were all busy eating lunch.


    June quickly went to his room and stashed the items under his bed.


    He probably won''t use those.


    Afterward, he went to the cafeteria to grab a rice ball before making his way back to their practice room.


    As he walked, he bumped into his former team, and although he wanted to ignore them, Casper suddenly held onto his arm.


    June turned to look at him with raised eyebrows.


    "What are you doing?" June asked.


    Casper merely stared at him without saying anything. June''s former teammates, especially Jaeyong and Zeth, looked at him guiltily.


    "What do you want?" he asked, directing the question to everybody.


    Lin Zhi chuckled, breaking the cold atmosphere. "You''re always so serious, bro. That''s probably why you were kicked out of the team!" he joked, but none of themughed except for Lin Zhi.


    June sighed and removed Casper''s hold on his arm.


    "If you don''t have anything important to say, then I''m going to head to our practice room."


    "Hey, hey," Lin Zhi teasingly said. "Don''t go practicing too hard now. I think we both know how this will go anyway."


    June pursed his lips. "What are you talking about?"


    "Oh, nothing," Lin Zhi innocently said. "Good luck with your practice. I heard you''re the Main Rapper."


    "Do you really rap, brother?" Bin asked out of curiosity.


    June didn''t respond, causing Lin Zhi to burst intoughter.


    "You''re always so cute for taking on new challenges. Well, we''re going to be watching your stage and cheering for you! Fighting, bro."


    With that, Lin Zhi guided his other teammates back to their practice room while June turned around to make his way to theirs, too.


    June''s footsteps were heavy as he walked, and when he heard Team Riser''s practice room door shutting, he clenched his fists in anger.


    "I''ll fucking show you."

 Chapter 144 Newbie Pro

    <h4>Chapter 144 Newbie Pro</h4>


    June was the first one back to the practice room.


    The door opened, and his other teammates came in with smiles on their faces.


    "Bro!" C-Jay cheerfully greeted. "You''re back?"


    "Yeah," June said, standing from the floor.


    "Are you alright?" Sehun asked in a worried tone. "Do you need to have your incision re-sutured?"


    "No need," June bluffed. "It''s just a little bit sore."


    "You should take it easy," Haesoo said. "You''re still recovering."


    "Besides," Jakob continued. "We''re going in a pretty good direction, so you can rely on us a bit more. You''ve already done a lot for this team."


    "Did something happen?" June asked since they looked unusually happy.


    "We had our final evaluations a while ago," Sehun said, also looking brighter than before. "We were called for a final practice at the stage. We were sad that you weren''t able to perform with us, but we did pretty well even without you. The mentors gave us some pretty goodments."


    "Yeah!" C-Jay eximed. "They really liked our lyrics and concept change."


    "Did the other teams watch your performance?" June asked.


    "Yes," Jakob responded. "But they weren''t paying much attention," he dejectedly added.


    "Then, did you watch Skateboard Ride?"


    "Hmm," C-Jay hummed, suddenly turning sullen. "Our performance was pretty damn good, but you can''t really beat a team with that amount of talent. It''s unfair having so many top-rankers in one group!"


    "It feels like it''s already a unanimous decision," Taekyung sighed. "Even the judges liked ''Skateboard Ride'' the best. However, I still feel pretty satisfied since we got goodments. I''m sure we''ll be even better once June actually raps!"


    "Of course," Sehun said. "I heard June''s been working really hard for this."


    June clicked his tongue, not used to being acknowledged for his hard work.


    "We''re all working hard for this," he muttered. "So we must do our best to win."


    "We''ll give nothing but the best," Sehun smiled. "Why don''t we practice once more, hmm? We have the performance tomorrow night, so we might as well end early today and get some good rest."


    "Sounds good to me," C-Jay said.


    "Let''s get started," Sehun initiated. However, before they went to their formation, June pulled something from his pocket.


    It was the white silk ties that he had gotten from Choi Pablo.


    "What''s this?" C-Jay asked. "Why''d you give us a rag?"


    "A rag?" Jakob asked with wide eyes. "This isn''t a rag. Do you see the tag on this thing? It''s Hermit!"


    "Holy!" C-Jay eximed. "Hermit? The luxury brand Hermit?"


    "You''re right," Sehun said. "These are from Hermit. Where did you get this, June? I''m assuming a tie like this will cost at least a hundred dors."


    June shrugged as he observed the smooth material. He didn''t even notice that this, too, was a luxury item.


    "Someone gave them to me," he vaguely answered.


    "Well, you better thank that someone," C-Jay said. "He just dished out a thousand dors for you, my dude."


    June sighed and changed the topic.


    "This will serve as our prop," he exined. "It''s tiring practicing with the rough ropes," June said. "So, let''s use this from now on."


    Since the song was entitled ''Tie Me Up,'' and there were some moments in the pre-made choreography that mimicked the action of getting tied up, June thought that it''d be best to do it...literally.


    They originally used rough ropes that June got from the janitor''s closet (the janitor is still looking for it until now), but it was pretty hard to practice it due to the roughness of the material.


    Nheless, his teammates didn''tin and continued practicing earnestly.


    That''s why June thought of using the silk ties.


    The music yed, and they discarded the rough ropes to the side and used the soft material.


    As they danced to the choreography, June nodded in approval as he watched the overall picture in the mirror.


    The white silk ties created a better image for their choreography. It appeared to symbolize the delicate bnce between surrender and control, adding an element of sophistication and eroticism to the overall presentation.


    As they executed their moves, they entwined themselves in intricate patterns with the ties, creating visually captivating moments.


    "It''s so much better," C-Jay said, catching his breath after their tedious dance practice.


    "It looks really good," Sehun said. "Our performance elevated once more. I believe we''ll do even better on stage."


    "I have high hopes for this," Seokhwa chimed. "Just as long as we deliver our lyrics well, the audience will definitely feel our desperation and talent."


    "Let''s go right ahead to the song then," Sehun said. "Then afterward, we''ll practice the entire performance until the evening."


    As June nced at his optimistic teammates, he couldn''t help but feel an iprehensible feeling in his heart.


    He couldn''t pinpoint what it was, but it felt simr to the feeling he got when the mentorsplimented his performance in ''Skateboard Ride.''


    Is it...joy?


    As much as June tried to deny it, a small smile appeared on his face as his teammates spat their lyrics.


    The improvement was evident, and he felt quite proud of these kids.


    They were determined to show their talents while proving the people who underestimated them wrong.


    As his part got near, June took a deep breath.


    Before he began his rap, June made eye contact with his teammates, and they had encouraging looks in their eyes¡ªas if saying, "you can do it!"


    To be honest, Sehun and the others were a bit worried about June. He had gotten the harshest criticism from Sun-Y, and he wasn''t evaluated with them just a while ago.


    Moreover, June was known for being a very good vocalist, arguably the best one on the show.? June''s rap skills, from what they had heard, relied a lot on his desire to win.


    However, as June evaded his gaze, confidence surged within him.


    June practiced on his way back to Azure, and he could feel the drastic change of the 6-step upgrade.


    His flow seemed more natural, and he wasn''t as out of breath at the end of each line.


    As the beat of the second verse began to pulse through the speakers, June kept his gaze at the front. With a deep breath, he started his rap verse, and his words flowed effortlessly, like a newbie pro who had emerged from nowhere!


    His voice, once gentle and melodic, had transformed into a rhythmic force to be reckoned with. He delivered his lines with a cadence that was razor-sharp, each word punctuated by the beat in a way that made it seem like he was born to rap.


    His teammates, who had been holding their breaths, exchanged shocked nces. They couldn''t believe what they were hearing. June wasn''t just mediocre; he was actually good! He sounded like a natural rapper, effortlessly weaving intricate wordy and clever metaphors into his verse.


    As June''s rap verse came to a close, a stunned silence hung in the air. His teammates were speechless, their jaws practically on the floor. They had expected something decent, but what they got was pure insanity.


    C-Jay stared at June with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.


    What the fuck?


    Was he always this good?

 Chapter 145 Up All Night

    <h4>Chapter 145 Up All Night</h4>


    "Alright, guys. I think it''s best if we hit the sack," Sehun said, yawning. "We want to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow."


    "Let''s go," C-Jay said, being infected by Sehun''s yawn.


    "Even if we said we were going to end early today, we still ended up practicing until 10 p.m.," Jakob chuckled.


    "That''s early in my book now," C-Jay said. "You guys are practicing monsters. I''m going now. My eyes are about to fall off."


    "Good night!"


    "Good night!"


    They exchanged greetings before going back to their rooms. June walked back to their room, but as he stood outside the door, he felt like he still had to do something.


    June brought out the lyric sheet from his pocket and looked at it in wonder.


    Even if he had upgraded his rap skill to a B-, he still didn''t feel satisfied.


    June needed to improve even more if he wanted to defeat Team Risers.


    And right now, there''s only one way to do that¡ªpractice.


    Practice makes perfect.


    That''s definitely a fucking lie.


    If the statement was correct, then the former Choi Joon-ho would have gotten all A''s by now.


    However, even if practice doesn''t make perfect, practice definitely makes an improvement, especially since June had already built a good rap foundation.


    With those in mind, he decided to go to the ce that served as his sce during this mission.


    As he walked, he muttered the lyrics under his breath, not wanting to waste any time.


    However, June was so preupied with his thoughts that he bumped into another person.


    "Sorry," he apologized to the person before him.


    Xin.


    Xin had a smug look as he looked at June in the eyes.


    "Fancy seeing you here, former teammate," Xin eximed in fake joy.


    June pursed his lips and nodded, not in the mood to talk.


    Xin clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You really think you''re better than me, don''t you?"


    June frowned. "I didn''t even say anything."


    "And you don''t have to," Xin said. "I can see it in your eyes¡ªyou''re looking down on me. I was a fool to think you were a good person. Hoon had always been right," he whispered thest statement, so June wasn''t able to hear it.


    "What are you talking about?" June asked.


    Xin cleared his throat. "Where are you going?" he suddenly asked, changing the topic. "Aren''t you going to sleep yet?"


    June became even more confused. Nheless, he answered since he didn''t want to prolong their conversation any further.


    "No," June answered. "Now, if you don''t have anything else to say, then I''m going to leave."


    With that, June left the weird guy alone.


    As Xin turned back to watch June''s retreating back, he smirked to himself.


    "Stupid...stupid, June," Xin muttered.


    Xin had been looking for the perfect opportunity to infiltrate his room after Hoon instructed him to find something...anything about June, and he never had the opportunity since June was always in his room.


    However, now was his perfect chance.


    Akira is Xin''s roommate, so he knew that the Japanese idol was already sleeping in their room. Moreover, Jaeyong,? June''s roommate, had been staying in that room, too, after Team Risers kicked June out.


    It was obvious that he still felt guilty about how the situation panned out.


    Jisung, based on the stories he had heard, is a very heavy sleeper.


    So, he wouldn''t be much of a problem.


    With stealthy steps, Xin walked to June''s room and opened the door. As expected, it was unlocked.


    The doors were expected to be unlocked in the dorms since the production crew said something about their lives always having to be "essible" to the public.


    As he opened the door, he quickly removed his jacket and covered the camera before going inside the room.


    Then, he wasted no time and went to June''s bed. He opened his phone shlight before ncing at Jisung. Indeed, he was as still as a log.


    As Xin illuminated June''s bed, he stopped and stared for a second.


    It was neatly folded like the ones in a hotel room!


    Even his nightstand appeared straight out of a home catalog. His creams,mps, essories, and masks were neatly perched on top of the wooden table!


    Xin clicked his tongue as he couldn''t find anything suspicious with his items. He made sure to ce all items back to their original ces so as to not raise any suspicion.


    Feeling disappointed, he slumped on the floor and ced his phone down.


    However, his phone shlight illuminated the contents underneath June''s bed, causing Xin to halt. He went on all-fours to peek under the bed and saw multiple items hidden underneath!


    And it wasn''t any regr items!


    These were luxury items!


    Xin softly gasped as he pulled out the paper bags containing an expensive-looking shoe and a watch.


    He frowned as he observed them.


    S


    ince C-Jay had a big, loud mouth, Xin was able to overhear that June''s living conditions weren''t the greatest.


    From his stories, it sounded like June was poor.


    However, looking at these items, there might be more than what meets the eye.


    So, without any hesitation, Xin snapped pictures of the items one by one.


    He''s definitely going to send those to Hoon.


    ***


    "One more time," June sighed.


    "Fuck! Just once more..."


    "Alright, one more, and I''m done."


    "These fucking lyrics are hard to rap. Why the hell did I write them?"


    "Okay, for thest time, let''s do this."


    June had always been a man of persistence, and tonight was no exception. In the dimly lit staircase, cluttered with crumpled paper, frustration etched on his face. He had been practicing all night, chasing a cking" element in his voice that seemed to elude him.


    "Come on, June, get it together," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He yed back the recording of histest attempt, his brows furrowing as he listened critically.


    There was something missing, something that gnawed at him like an itch he couldn''t quite reach.


    Undeterred, he pressed on, reying the melody over and over, experimenting with different intonations, and pushing his rapping limits. The hours seemed to blend together as he persisted through the night, each attempt taking him closer to that perfection.


    Then, after what felt like a million attempts, June finally sighed in satisfaction.


    "Shit," he muttered. "I''m tired. Time to hit the bed."


    He walked back to his room, staggering a bit because of his tiredness.


    Some rays of sunshine crept through the windows, but June didn''t even notice them.


    "June," Zeth, who hade out of his room, greeted him with a sad smile.


    However, all June could hear was the sound of a soft luby.


    Zeth pursed his lips and choked back a sob as he looked at June''s staggering figure.


    "He must be really sad about this," he muttered.


    June was just sleepy.


    He arrived in his room and saw Jisung already getting ready.


    "You''re up so early," June said, his voice quite raspy.


    "Huh?" Jisung tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Just as he was about to copse into bed, exhaustion taking over, the ring sound of his morning rm jolted him awake. He stared at the clock in disbelief.


    "What the hell?" he eximed.


    It''s morning already?


    He had been practicing all night, so lost in his pursuit of perfection that he failed to realize the value of time.


    It was now the next day¡ªthe day of the mission.


    June sighed in frustration, angry that he didn''t get his beloved sleep.


    However, as his eyes strayed to his bedside table, he saw something that made him wide awake.


    On the nightstand, there was a slight angr change...merely 15 degrees.


    But June noticed it.


    "Who moved my lotion?"

 Chapter 146 Arm Wrestling

    <h4>Chapter 146 Arm Wrestling</h4>


    June wasn''t able to sleep after that.


    The production crew had called all the teams out for a "special" mission.


    June didn''t care how special it was. He needed sleep!


    As he met up with his teammates, they all looked at June with shock.


    "Did you even get any sleepst night?" C-Jay asked. "Your under eyes are...severe."


    "No," June snapped. "So, don''t talk to me. I''m going to sleep."


    On the other side of the room, Team Risers watched all the other teams. Lin Zhi, who was the most confident they''d win the mission, looked at Team Aglet with pity.


    "Look at June," Lin Zhi said. "It appears as if he didn''t get any sleep. He must be plenty worried for their performance."


    The other members of Team Risers stared at Team Aglet, and what Lin Zhi said was true.


    June was leaning against Sehun, looking like he was tired of it all.


    Zeth sighed as he watched his little bro.


    Did them kicking him out affect him so badly?


    Again, June was just sleepy.


    "Good morning, trainees!" Woo-jin entered the training center, making June jolt awake.


    "I know you didn''t expect to see me here early in the morning, especially when it''s the day of your performance, but the production crew had sent me for an important mission."


    The trainees chattered among themselves.


    "We are giving you this chance to determine your order of performance during the missionter. Do you want to perform first orst? It''s all up to you! The team that would win this challenge can pick their order of performance!"


    June opened his eyes amidst themotion.


    "And how are we going to do decide that? Of course, it''s none other than Arm Wrestling!"


    "Jangmoon, go! You''ll finally be useful for the team."


    "I have weak upper body strength," Jisung said. However, his teammates insisted that he be the one to go since he was the most agile dancer.


    "I''ll go for this one," Lin Zhi proudly said. As a former gang member, he took pride in his strength.


    On the other hand, June was still trying to wake himself up.


    "Who''s going for us?" Sehun said.


    If June was in his former body, then he would win¡ªa hundred percent.


    However, this current body still has its limitations.


    And June could only think of one person who could win this challenge.


    "C-Jay, you go," June said with a yawn.


    "What? Me?" C-Jay pointed to himself.


    June nodded. "You can beat those guys," he confidently said.


    "You got this."


    "Wooh, go, C-Jay!" his teammates cheered for him.


    As June watched the scene on the stage, he smirked.


    These guys don''t stand a chance.


    Not even Lin Zhi.


    ***


    The parking lot was filled with multiple fans wearing different-colored shirts and carrying varying slogans.


    Originally, a lot of June fans didn''t sign up for the show, but when ''Rising Stars'' announced that all trainees would be present, a lot more people wanted to watch the live show, even causing the Azure webpage to crash!


    Compared to the cold and chilly mornings where Jia used to suffer in, the weather today was a bit hot.


    Most of the fans waiting in line were wearing thin shirts or tank tops. However, one person stood as a contrast between the sea of fans.


    The woman was d in a big sweatshirt with a mask and sunsses. She even had gloves, too!


    Jia worriedly looked at the woman, who appeared to be sweating her ass off.


    Bora clicked her tongue and nudged Jia''s shoulder. "Stop looking."


    Jia rolled her eyes. "I''m worried. That girl looks like she''s about to pass out."


    "Let her be," Bora said. "You really need to stop being so concerned all the time."


    "And you should really give a fuck at times," Jia countered.


    "That''s why we became friends," Bora smiled. "Ourbination will make a really nice person."


    On the other hand, the girl in the sweatshirt was none other than Mimi of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION herself.


    She had always wanted to watch the live shows of ''Rising Stars,'' but that would only cause chaos as she is still an active soloist.


    So, this was the best way she could think of.


    "Shit," Mimi muttered as she felt her wet armpits.


    Maybe she should have settled with a thinner sweatshirt instead!


    Just then, somebody approached her¡ªa young and pretty girl with long brown hair.


    "Umm, I don''t want to pry, but do you want some cool water?" she asked, offering her a thermos.


    Mimi smiled at the kind girl. "Sure," she said. "Thanks for this."


    "You can take your sweatshirt off if you want," the girl continued. "It''s too hot and humid today."


    "Uh¡ªI have a condition where uh¡ªI can''t be exposed to afternoon air," Mimi came up with ame excuse.


    The girl frowned in confusion. There was a condition like that?


    "Oh, okay," she said, not wanting to question any further. "I''m Jia, by the way."


    "I''m...M!" Mimi came up with a fake name.


    "M, that''s a pretty name," Jiaplimented. "So, who are you here for, M?"


    Mimi''s eyes brightened in delight when Jia asked her.


    She loves this question!


    "It''s none other than the love of my life¡ªJune."


    ***


    Backstage, the makeup artists were scrambling to finish the trainees'' makeup looks.


    Azure had prepared one makeup artist for each team, and as expected, Team Aglet was given a trainee makeup artist named Lira.


    She kept shaking as she ced makeup on the trainees'' faces, causing some of their eyeliner and lipstick to be smudged.


    "I''m sorry," she kept apologizing to the group of boys.


    Lira was usually great at putting on makeup, but there was a handsome entity sleeping on the couch, causing her to be distracted.


    "Umm, sir," she woke him up since he was the only person without makeup. "It''s your turn now."


    June groaned as he got up. "What time is it?" he asked, his voice sounding deeper and raspier due to his persistent practice and interrupted sleep.


    Somehow, the tone of his voice made Lira blush.


    "There''s less than one hour before the live show, sir," Lira responded.


    "Okay," June said, standing up from the couch and onto the stool. June closed his eyes and stayed still, appearing sleepy once more.


    Lira, with even shakier hands, started cing skin tint on June''s face. She didn''t want to wash him out with foundation, so she made use of a translucent skin tint.


    It was also a big help that June had great skin.


    She wonders what his skincare is.


    Then, she decided to ce his lipstick first since it was the first item she grabbed.


    Lira only nned on blotting it on his lips to create a naturally flushed look, but she underestimated her nervousness as she went over his lip line.


    "Shit," she cursed, causing June to open his eyes.


    Lira quickly wiped the smeared lipstick on his face while muttering apologies under her breath.


    "Wait," June said as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.


    "This lipstick smudges, right?" he asked.


    "Not until I set it," Lira nervously answered. "Let me set it real quick."


    "Don''t set it," June instructed.


    "Huh?" Lira tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Then, it''s going to smudge if you identally wipe it, sir."


    "I know," June said.


    Then he leaned over to observe his face in the mirror.


    Despite having dark circles, his skin still looked clear and glowy.


    "Don''t cover my dark circles, too."

 Chapter 147 Concept Mission Commences

    <h4>Chapter 147 Concept Mission Commences</h4>


    As the fans starteding in, the mentors looked at them fondly. Compared to the past set-up where mentors were seated backstage during the performance, they were now seated behind the audience, elevated like VIP concert-goers.


    Beside them, were the "special mentors" who assisted each group during the interim evaluations¡ªall seven of them.


    The fans nced behind them and couldn''t help but exim in shock when they saw the popr "special mentors."


    Stars like Kiera from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, Jaeyun from BOYMYSTIC, Rhino from SVT (SupraVentricr Tachycardia), and plenty more had poised smiles on their faces.


    They appeared even better in person than when they appeared on the television!


    Seeing such stars in one studio spoke of the budget and prowess that Azure currently had. It was hard gathering these many stars, yet they still managed to do it.


    However, that budget seemed to run out for one person¡ªSun-Y.


    Among the star-studded cast, he sat as a starkparison. However, he had the smuggest look on his face¡ªlike he was the most famous one among them.


    As the production crew continued to arrange the fans, the mentors talked among themselves.


    "How did your practice go?" Kiera, who was in charge of ''Brown Sugar Milktea,'' asked.


    "It went really good," Jaeyun, the third-rank during the second season of Rising Stars, answered. "These guys are really talented. However, there were definitely some trainees that stood out. You can tell the difference between talented and untalented ones."


    "I think I got the talented ones," Rhino chimed in. He was in charge of ''Skateboard Ride'' and was amazed when he realized they didn''t need much teaching after all. Their performance was already very well done. Of course, it wasn''t perfect. But it was very good for idol trainees.


    "And I got the untalented ones," Sun-Y loudly eximed, causing even the original mentors to look his way.


    He had an annoying look on his face, and the way he spoke was so condescending.


    "They can''t rap for shit. Especially the Main Rapper," he continued. "June, was it? So don''t expect anything for their performance."


    Jihyun, who was listening in on their conversation, frowned deeply as Sun-Y continued spouting nonsense.


    "Their performance was decent yesterday," Hyerin said. "This dude is just noisy as hell."


    "It wasn''t the best, but it wasn''t too bad," Woo-jin said. "However, I actually feel a bit nervous since they''re performingst."


    "They''re performingst?" Jihyun eximed with wide eyes.


    "Wouldn''t that be too much? Thest performance is usually the one that leaves the most impact. If it does the opposite, then it''d only amplify its mediocrity," she added.


    "I know," Woo-jin said. "That''s why I''m worried. ''Skateboard Ride'' is performing right before them, too."


    Gun clicked his tongue. "Good luck to them."


    Jihyun bit her lip in anxiousness.? She hasn''t seen the team''s performance with June, so she doesn''t know what to expect.


    "Is June a rapper?" Hyerin asked.


    Bone pursed his lips. "He''s not," he responded. It was a bit disappointing when he rapped during the interim evaluations, and Bone knew June could only improve so much after a couple of days. Will he be able to pull it off?


    Jihyun''s frown deepened. She had always supported June, and she greatly believed in the young man''s talent.


    However, with the current circumstances, she''s not sure about their performance after all.


    ***


    The stage is aze with dazzling lights and loud energy.


    "I''m so fucking excited! The Concept Mission is my favorite mission in the entire show."


    "I heard from my mother''s new boyfriend that there''s a team filled with top ranks."


    "I can''t believe we''re going to see June after he got stabbed."


    "It''s even a miracle that he''s still alive. I heard his legs were severed."


    The massive audience filled the studio, their excitement heard in the air. In the center of it all stood Kang Minho, the ever-charismatic host of the idol survival show, holding a sparkly microphone with a confident smile.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee back to the most electrifying idol survival show on television! Are you all ready for another thrilling mission?"


    The crowd roared in response, waving colorful banners supporting their favorite trainees.


    "Tonight, we have something truly special in store. It''s time for the Concept Mission!"


    The audience erupted into cheers as the words "Concept Mission" shed on the screen in bold letters.


    "In this mission, our beloved trainees will embody the essence of seven original songs. It''s all about teamwork this time, so there won''t be any individual votes. It''s up to you, our fantastic audience, to decide which team worked the best!"


    "No individual votes?" C-Jay asked. "That''s a first."


    "But that''s not all, folks! Hold onto your seats because here''s the twist. The team with the most votes from you, our dedicated audience, will receive a whopping 200,000 stars!"


    The trainees exchanged wide-eyed nces.


    "Yes, you heard it right! Those individual votes? They''ve now be team votes! This could be a game-changer for the winner, so vote wisely!"


    The unexpected reward added a newyer of intensity to thepetition.


    Most of the teams, especially those who had new members, felt like the result was already decided.


    Team Risers will most probably win in the end.


    However, one team didn''t look anywhere else and merely focused on their team.


    Team Aglet had determined looks on their faces. Sehun nced at his teammates with a bright smile.


    "We can do this," he said, despite still having some doubts in his mind.


    However, there was one trainee that always made him feel certain¡ªthat despite having low ranks, they''d be able to achieve the impossible.


    Sehun turned to June to give him a look of appreciation. But he stopped and quickly chuckled when he saw the state June was currently in.


    Is he sleeping again?


    "Should I wake him up?" Jakob asked. "His voice is going to get husky if he sleeps until the performance."


    "Let him be," Sehun said. "I''m sure he''ll wake up right on time."


    "Without further ado," Kang Minho''s voice resonated through the whole studio.


    "Let us now start the Concept Mission! With the first team performing ''Brown Sugar Milktea.''"

 Chapter 148 Puberty Crack

    <h4>Chapter 148 Puberty Crack</h4>


    The stage is set, and a hush falls over the audience as the first team, ''Sweet as Sugar,'' stepped into the spotlight. Akira, their leader, took center stage, a soft smile on his face.


    The crowd cheered loudly when Akira was shown on screen. During the first part of thepetition, Akira was the least famous trainee from RAVEN.


    However, as time progressed, Akira quickly rose to fame, and that was evident in the loud cheers he gathered from the crowd.


    "He has improved so much," Jihyun said. "I''m d he rediscovered his confidence."


    "It''s like I''m watching the past Akira on stage," Hyerin said. "He looks very happy."


    As he began to sing, his voice was as sweet as the title suggests. The melody is lovely, and the atmosphere in the studio instantly became romantic.


    As the song progressed, the team''s choreography was impable. They moved in perfect harmony, executing each dance move with precision. The audience can''t help but be impressed by their synchronized performance, and cheers of support were heard in the crowd.


    However, as the love song unfolded, there were moments that elicited cringes from the audience. Some of the trainees, while talented, struggled to convey the genuine emotions required for such an intimate performance. Their attempts at portraying romantic chemistry asionally came off as awkward, drawing nervous chuckles from the spectators.


    "That guy looks cheesy as hell."


    "I have to give it to him, though. I''ll be cringing HARD if that was me."


    However, despite these cringy moments, Team Sweet as Sugar finished their performance on a strong note, with Akira delivering a cute ending.


    The audience and mentors pped as their performance finished.


    For the first time in the show, the judges were going to publicly critique the performances.


    "It was really good," Kiera said. "It was better than I had expected, and I''m happy that you took my advice well. If you were given more time, then it would have been a better performance."


    "It was a concept made for Akira," Gun said. "You really brought something to the table this time."


    "I agree," Jihyun said. "He stood out the most among all the trainees¡ªwhich can both be a good and bad thing. Some trainees didn''t embody the song, so it felt pretty forced on some of the parts. Nheless, it was still a good performance."


    "I cringed," Sun-Y said, always wanting to criticize something.


    With both joy and disappointment in their hearts, the team made their way down the stage.


    The performances continued, showcasing the different genres and talents of the trainees.


    ''Brown Sugar Milktea'' and ''Break My Heart'' undoubtedly had the best responses so far, and they quickly became the front runners for the 200,000 star benefit.


    Now, it was time for the next team to perform¡ªTeam Lightning performing ''Thunder.''


    Jangmoon, who had gotten morefortable with the stage, entered with steady breathing. Beside him was Xin, the overly confident trainee who bagged the Main Vocalist position despite being a new member.


    Jangmoon was supposed to be the Main Vocalist after their teammate was eliminated. However, with Xin''s reasoning as a new member, he snatched it out of Jangmoon''s grasp.


    In this group, Xin had the highest rank, so their cheers were quieter than the team before.


    Their performance started with the strum of a guitar. ''Thunder'' is an acoustic love song that talks about a girl who came as thunder in one''s life.


    Jangmoon, being the Sub-Vocalist 1, took a deep breath, determined to prove himself as he started the song.


    The gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar apanied by a soft percussion set the mood as he began to sing.


    C-Jay raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard his friend sing.


    When did this tree-like person improve so much?


    There was some depth and emotion in his singing despite hisck of technical ability, and his improvement surprised many, even the mentors.


    There wasn''t much dancing in the song, more on swaying and simple movements as the chorus approached.


    "This isn''t too bad."


    "This song''s pretty nice."


    "Isn''t that thest-ced trainee? He''s actually pretty good."


    Xin smirked as he looked at the satisfied looks on the audience''s faces.


    With that, he stepped forward and sang his lines.


    "Thunder, you''re my love, oh my wonder.


    You''re a sight I want to wander.


    To tell you the truth, this ain''t no blunder.


    ''Cause you''re my thunder¡ª"


    The mentors grimaced as Xin''s not-so-pretty voice cracked at the end of the chorus.


    The audience, too, wasn''t forgiving of the incident at all.


    "Well, he just ruined that."


    "What the hell was that? Thest-ranked trainee performed better than the Main Vocalist."


    After Xin''s mistake, he found himself stumbling a lot on stage.


    His other teammates, however, pulled through in the end.


    Jangmoon remembered June''s teachings when they first performed as Team Abyss. Despite Jangmoon''s mistake back then, June acted like nothing happened and even helped Jangmoon up.


    So, that''s exactly what Jangmoon did.


    Xin''s voice continued to crack like a 13-year-old boy going through the first stage of puberty even as the second chorus approached, so Jangmoon took the initiative to sing louder to mask Xin''s voice.


    Although thebination didn''t sound too good, the audience found Jangmoon admirable for covering his teammate.


    Xin, on the other hand, didn''t like how Jangmoon''s voice was louder than his.


    Jangmoon was rankedst in their team!


    He doesn''t have the right to sing louder than Xin!


    However, ignoring Xin''s re, Jangmoon continued to cover for his part.


    And as their performance finished, the audience stayed silent. On one hand, they were impressed by Jangmoon''s performance. On the other hand, they wanted tough because of Xin''s mistake.


    "That was pretty...bad. But thatst-ced trainee surprised me."


    "Xin? Can''t believe he ranks the highest among them."


    It was obvious that the performance got ruined because of one person¡ªXin.


    "That wasn''t cool at all," Jihyun said. "Having a voice crack is definitely forgivable, but losing your cool and performing bad all throughout the song isn''t."


    "If it wasn''t for Jangmoon, then you would have ruined the performancepletely," Woo-jin continued.


    Xin clenched his fists, and he felt anger bubbling in his heart.


    This was supposed to be his time to shine!


    But this imbecile ruined it.


    As expected, people who are close to June are also misfits.


    As they walked backstage, Xin decided to confront Jangmoon by pulling him to a secluded area. Despite being a big and tall person, Jangmoon was still a little insecure inside.


    "What was that?" Xin snapped.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his head. "I thought you wanted some help since your voice wasn''t in the greatest condition."


    "My voice was fine," Xin red. "You fucking ruined everything. I can''t believe you covered for my part when you don''t even have any talent. You, as thest-ced, trainee should stay in yourne," he said.


    Jangmoon looked down at the ground, wondering what he did to receive such words.


    Xin was about to say something more when he felt a powerful presence behind him, causing him to halt. Jangmoon and Xin nced back and saw Team Risers warming up for their performance.


    Lo and behold, it was time for the most anticipated performance of the night¡ªSkateboard Ride.


    And at that moment, like perfect timing, June finally opened his eyes.

 Chapter 149 Skateboard Rig

    <h4>Chapter 149 Skateboard Rig</h4>


    The energy in the studio reached a fever pitch as the most anticipated team, ''Skateboard Ride,'' took the stage. The screams and cheers from the audience were deafening, a testament to the team''s poprity.


    Jia covered her ears as the fans around her screamed like those rubber chickens that made squeaky sounds.


    "Damn," Bora said next to her ears. "The cheers are different this time."


    Jia nodded in agreement and squinted her eyes to look at the members of the team.


    She frowned when she realized that June wasn''t with them.


    It''s such a shame. June would have won if he had been with this team. It''s like a powerhouse of top ranks gathered together!


    C-Jay clicked his tongue as the camera focused on the members of Team Risers one by one.


    "I wonder what it''s like to be born like that," he muttered.


    "You''d never know," Jangmoon said, emerging from behind him.


    C-Jay red at the tall trainee and then ruffled his hair. "Oh, shut up. I would have punched you for thatment but you did a great job out there, so I''m cutting you some ck. But wait¡­did you cry?" he asked when he noticed Jangmoon''s red eyes.


    Jangmoon''s eyebrows furrowed before shaking his head. "I didn''t," he defended, although he sounded too defensive.


    "Are you sure?" C-Jay pestered.


    Jangmoon merely nodded. "I''m fine. I''ll get back to my ce."


    After Jangmoon sat in his original seat, Xin came into the room with a proud smirk. June noticed his smug face and frowned.


    Did he say something to Jangmoon?


    June didn''t have time to dwell on his thoughts as his focus was brought back to therge screen. Team Risers were already in their starting positions, ready to take on the stage.


    The screams were still deafening, making June frown.


    Then, the beat started.


    "Riding through the streets, heart racing like a beat,


    Love''s a skateboard ride, unpredictable and sweet."


    Seeing Lin Zhi sing the lines he was supposed to sing left a bitter taste in June''s mouth.


    However, Sehun approached him and whispered in his ears, "You sang it better."


    As the chorus approached, Zeth and Casper, two young men who had captured the hearts of viewers from the very beginning, stood at the center.


    They stepped forward, their faces beaming with confidence. They exchanged knowing nces, and the crowd erupted in cheers.


    Zeth took the mic first, his voice smooth and confident as he began the pre-chorus rap.


    "Skateboard ride, love''s a wild ride,


    Falling down the curb, swallowing my pride."


    Casper followed suit, matching Zeth''s swagger with his own.


    "Boo, you suck, a little kid shouts.


    Yet all that''s in my mind is how to ask you out."


    Their yful rap lyrics flowed seamlessly, their chemistry evident as they traded lines back and forth. The crowd was in a frenzy, screaming and cheering as if their lives depended on it.


    "I see why they''re ranked first and second. They''re the best rappers on the show!"


    "I need to vote for this team! I just need to."


    "It''s definitely over. I can''t believe a team like this is not performingst."


    The performance continued without any mishaps. C-Jay was at the corner of the room, praying mantras under his breath as he watched the scene. He wished for something, anything that would make them fumble.


    Then, the right moment came.


    As the performance neared its climactic final chorus, the anticipation in the air was almost unbearable.


    June knew that this part would be the most important in the song.


    The high note.


    He pulled it off perfectly, and Lin Zhi was the one who got to sing in the end.


    Their performance was going so well, and all of the mentors on the elevated tform nodded their heads to the beat.


    But as the music swelled and the moment arrived for Lin Zhi to hit that high note, something seemed off. He hesitated, his lips moving, but the note didn''t emerge from his mouth. It was as if he had missed his cue.


    C-Jay sat on the edge of his seat as he watched the scene before him. The other trainees who were paying attention also seemed a bit confused.


    "Is he¡­lipsyncing the high note?" Sehun asked.


    "He is," June said, a small smirk appearing on his face.


    The mentors, especially Jihyun, were disappointed in the obvious lip-syncing.


    She made eye contact with Woo-jin, and the two of them hade to an agreement¡ªJune, indeed, did it better.


    It made the mentors wonder why they kicked out the person who performed best on the team.


    It also made Jihyun feel confused about how Lin Zhi was allowed to do such a thing. The production crew had never allowed a trainee to lip-sync during live performances before.


    Jia, who was watching the performance intently, also frowned when the high note came. She also didn''t miss the worried nces that Zeth and Jaeyong exchanged.


    "Did you notice that?" Jia asked Bora.


    "He was lipsyncing," Bora responded. However, their spections were drowned out by the screams of frenzied fans.


    Lost in their little fangirling world, they didn''t even notice that Lin Zhi lip-synced the note...or maybe, they didn''t want to believe that he would lip-sync it.


    "As expected," Mimi chimed. "These people are blind. They don''t care about it at all."


    Although some people stopped cheering when they noticed the ''lipsyncing'' ident, die-hard fans of Lin Zhi still continued to cheer for him like nothing had just happened.


    Lin Zhi, who was fully aware of the incident, continued to perform shamelessly, too. As expected, fans act like their idols.


    June shook his head. "Shameless bastard," he muttered.


    As their performance ended, the crowd cheered once more. However, much to their surprise, it wasn''t as loud as before. Of course, it was still loud, but it couldn''t bepared to the cheers they got in the beginning.


    The mentors were now going to give theirments, and Jihyun wanted to speak first.


    She wanted to address the ''lip-syncing incident,'' but before she could even say anything, someone suddenly spoke in her in-ear.


    "Don''t speak about it," a deep voice said, sending shivers down her spine. "...or else."


    Jihyun froze for a second, notprehending what had just happened.


    That voice¡­it was someone she had never heard before. In the past three seasons of Rising Stars, this was the very first time something like this had happened.


    And she couldn''t help but feel afraid.


    "Are you okay?" Hyerin asked by her side. Jihyun cracked a nervous smile before nodding.


    In the end, she couldn''t ignore the murderous intent in the voice she just heard. So, she settled for the usual positivements.


    "It was good," she shakily said. "You guys were a great team, and I¡ªI think you practiced very well," she stammered.


    "Thank you, mentor," Lin Zhi smiled the widest, causing some of the audience members to cheer.


    Hyerin was about to speak, also wanting to talk about the lip-syncing incident, when Sun-Y suddenly took the microphone.


    "Lin Zhi," Sun-Y started off with a smile on his face.


    June frowned. At that point, he already sensed something wrong.


    "You were incredible tonight. I couldn''t help but notice you all throughout the performance. Your voice is incredible, and your dancing is impable. I must say¡ªyou truly deserve the Main Vocalist position."


    June leaned against the chair with a knowing smile.


    Bingo.


    There''s something going on here.


    Sun-Y had never given apliment to a team throughout this show, and it was weird that he had said those words all of a sudden.


    It made June think that Lin Zhi was more well-connected than he had thought.


    But before he could ponder more about it, a crew member shouted their team name.


    "Team Aglet! Please head backstage."

 Chapter 150 Tie Me Up (1)

    <h4>Chapter 150 Tie Me Up (1)</h4>


    Team Aglet quickly went backstage as their name was called.


    June looked at his teammates and frowned when he noticed their nervous energy.


    Compared to their confident selves just a while ago, they looked stiff.? Even C-Jay, who was usually confident, appeared to be having doubts.


    And as Team Risers went down, it only got worse.


    Zeth, Casper, and Jaeyong genuinely wished them good luck, to which June nodded in acknowledgment. The other members were kind enough to give them encouraging smiles.


    However, as Lin Zhi approached, June couldn''t help but feel annoyed.


    "You should have performed before us," he said in a teasing tone, but there was an underlying seriousness in his voice. "Then maybe the expectation for your stage wouldn''t be too much."


    Sehun pursed his lips before smiling. "You guys did great."


    "Of course," Lin Zhi smiled. "And I''m sure you''ll do great¡­especially you, June," he said, ncing at the nonchnt trainee.


    June ignored him and faced his teammates instead.


    Fortunately, Zeth pulled Lin Zhi back to the trainees'' area, leaving Team Aglet all alone.


    Once again, June observed his teammates'' faces. Then, he let out a deep breath.


    "You''re nervous," he said his observation.


    "I can''t help it," Sehun said. "This is the first time I''m performingst on the show. I''ve always performed in the middle¡ªwhere the audience doesn''t expect much yet."


    "Me too," Jakob shakily said. "I don''t think I''ve ever been this nervous before."


    C-Jay silently nodded, appearing paler than before.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "You guys have worked hard for this," June said, his voice carrying a soothing yetmanding tone. "This is your moment to shine. You need to show the people what you''re capable of."


    "But how do we get rid of these nerves?" Haesoo asked.


    "Channel that nervous energy into anger," he advised. "For all the people who looked down on you, for all the doubters and haters, turn that fear into fuel."


    The others exchanged nces, absorbing June''s words. Sehun''s apprehensive expression gradually shifted into one of determination. Haesoo''s clenched fists rxed, and Jakob''s trembling hands steadied.


    "And then," June continued, "perform with that anger. Let it fuel your passion, your energy, and your every move on that stage."


    As June spoke, the faces of his teammates eased a little bit. Worry was reced by resoluteness, and annoyance crept in, directed at all the obstacles they had faced and all the doubters who had ever underestimated them.


    June was ted as he saw the fire light up in their eyes. "Remember," he added, "we''re not just performing for everyone who''s ever doubted us. But we''re also performing for ourselves¡ªour dreams. Let''s show them what we''re made of."


    C-Jay finally cracked a smile. "You always know what to say, don''t you? But wait," he worriedly said. "Your voice is still a little bit hoarse and deep. Must be from all the sleeping you''ve been doing."


    June smirked. "It''s just perfect."


    ***


    The atmosphere inside the dimly lit studio was electric, charged with anticipation as the audience continued to talk about thest performance. Kang Minho walked back to the stage, his sharp features highlighted by the soft glow of the stage lights.


    "Zeth was crazy! How could he improve every week?"


    "Casper was the star of the show. Did you see how he annihted Zeth with that rap?"


    "Lin Zhi was the best. He sang that high note so well."


    "I think he lip-synced it?"


    "Shut the fuck up. You don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "I want to steal Steel."


    "Wee back,dies and gentlemen," Minho announced, his voice resonating through the venue. "We''re down to our final performance of the night, and it''s a special one. But before we get to that, let''s give it up for all the incredible teams that have graced this stage tonight!"


    The crowd erupted into apuse, showing their appreciation for the talented trainees who had already performed their hearts out.


    Minho continued, "Now, for ourst team of the evening, we have something truly remarkable in store for you. A performance that''s been months in the making, created by none other than the famous rap producer duo known as ''GROOVYTUNES''!"


    The mention of GROOVYTUNES sent a ripple of excitement through the audience. The duo had a reputation for producing chart-topping rap hits, and their involvement in this show sparked immense curiosity.


    "Groovytunes?" Jia asked. "Don''t they only produce rap songs?"


    "They do," Bora frowned. "Which is strange since June hadn''t performed yet. I wonder if the production crew were lying when they said he''s going to perform this week. Maybe he''s still in the hospital."


    Jia frowned, too. "That''s what I thought. Unless June raps?"


    "I don''t think so," Mimi said. "We''ve never heard him rap throughout the show. And with vocals like that, it''s pretty obvious that he focused a lot on that aspect."


    "Yeah, and he didn''t write ''rap'' under his Rising Stars'' profile," Bora added.


    Jia let out a disappointed sigh. "Then, does that mean we came here for nothing?"


    "I guess so."


    "By the way," Jia said, changing the topic. "Aren''t you going to take off your jacket?"


    Mimi shook her head. "I''m fine!" she eximed, despite sweating buckets inside the thick sweatshirt.


    As the cheers died down, Minho continued, "This song, ''Tie Me Up,'' is an RnB rap masterpiece that''s sure to leave you speechless. This song, unlike others, required the involved trainees to write their own rap lyrics. So, without further ado, let''s wee our final team of the night!"


    The stage lights shifted, focusing on a group of seven trainees dressed in all-white outfits.


    Each member exuded a unique charisma, and they stood at the center of the stage, ready to make history.


    Their all-white outfits glistened under the soft, ambient stage lights, creating an ethereal contrast against the dark backdrop. Each member''s attire was a unique expression of their individual personalities, yet all shared themon theme of pure white.


    "June''s here."


    "Oh my gosh. June is really here."


    "I can''t believe it. I really thought he died."


    "June''s rapping?"


    Jia''s eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the trainee on the side of the formation. "He''s here," she whispered.


    Mimi, too, looked at him, captivated. "June looks...sexy?"


    The audience erupted into whispers as they continued to stare at June.


    June wore a silk polo shirt that matched the theme, its fabric catching the light with a subtle sheen. The shirt was unbuttoned at the first three buttons, revealing a glimpse of his chest.


    Then, amidst their whispers, a thumping bass line filled the air, stunning the crowd to silence.

 Chapter 151 Tie Me Up (2)

    <h4>Chapter 151 Tie Me Up (2)</h4>


    The stage was cloaked in an alluring darkness, the hushed anticipation of the audience hanging in the air like a forbidden secret. The smooth, sultry rhythm of keyboards, synthesizers, and drum machines beckoned like an irresistible invitation into a world of seduction.


    A soft, red-hued spotlight pierced the obscurity and bathed the stage in its sensual glow. It revealed a solitary figure at the side, poised with an air of irresistible enchantment.


    The crowd collectively held its breath as theyid eyes on him¡ªJune. His entrance into the spotlight was nothing short of intoxicating.


    June''s gaze, once aloof, had undergone a transformation. Under the seductive radiance of the spotlight, his eyes gleamed with an intensity that was both captivating and unpredictable. They held a smoldering fire that sent shivers down the spines of everyone watching. Dark, undeniably inviting, his eyes beckoned, daring the audience to unravel the mysteries hidden within.


    And it seemed like not sleeping for the night had given him a huge favor.


    His dark undereyes made him even more alluring.


    The mentors, who didn''t expect such a strong start, also held their breaths, wondering if it was the same performance they evaluated just a day ago.


    As the sultry melody enveloped the studio, the trainees began to move with an innate sensuality that left the audience in shock.


    Their bodies swayed to the rhythm. Then, the camera panned to Sehun, whose fingers were adorned with silver rings, tracing invisible patterns through the air as he gestured for the audience to get sucked into their performance.


    "I''m trapped in this web, can''t break free,


    Tied to a past that won''t let me be,


    It''s like I''m drowning in memories,


    Toxic love, it''s a storm in my seas."


    Jaeyong, being a rapper, raised his eyebrows in surprise when he heard Sehun rap. He wasn''t paying much attention to their final evaluation stage, but this guy is actually pretty decent.


    It seemed like the audience agreed, too, as they continued to watch the stage intently.


    "You were a drug, and I was addicted.


    Every touch, every word, so conflicted."


    C-Jay rapped his self-written lines, and the audience started getting more into the performance.


    As the song''s pre-chorus began, the seductive melody deepened, setting the stage for a mesmerizing disy. The performers, moving in perfect synchronization, executed a sensual body wave, a slow and deliberate sway.


    June smirked since C-Jay didn''t look like a leech being sprinkled with salt anymore.


    However, that smirk was caught by the camera, causing the audience to gasp in surprise.


    "He''s so fucking sexy."


    "I can''t breathe."


    Mimi, who still had a thick sweatshirt on, started sweating profusely despite the air conditioning. She started removing her sleeves one by one, her eyes still focused on the performance.


    Gun, who hadplimented June during his ''Skateboard Ride'' performance, didn''t think it was possible for June to pull such a sexy choreography off. But there he was¡ªleading the team with a sultry grace that left no room for doubt about his mastery of movement. His body, like liquid silk, arched smoothly from head to toe, then curved sensuously in the opposite direction. The undting motion rolled through his hips and traveled down the length of his legs, every contour and line of his physique on full disy.


    The crowd, their eyes riveted on June, was entranced by the beauty of the body wave. It was as if they had been drawn into a hypnotic trance, captivated by his fluid motions.


    As the pre-chorus melted into the chorus, a wave of anticipation washed over the audience.


    The stage was once again nketed in a sensuous, dimly lit atmosphere, and the performers had something special in store. Without missing a beat, they reached into their pockets and pulled out white silk ties.


    "Tied up, drowning in pain,


    Can''t escape it, still in my veins,


    In this torment, I''m forever chained,


    With every beat, the memory remains."


    Sehun, now standing at the center, took the lead, his eyes locking onto the audience. The moment the ties appeared, his movements took on a new dimension. With anguid grace, he wrapped the silk tie around his wrist, bound by the white material.


    The unexpected addition of the silk ties sent shockwaves through the mentors, who had no inkling of this risqu¨¦ twist in the performance. Their expressions ranged from astonishment to amazement, their jaws dropping in disbelief. The stage had transformed into a realm of raw sensuality, and it was clear that the meaning of the song ''Tie Me Up'' was being embodied with exquisite precision.


    Sehun''s hips swayed in an addictive rhythm as he continued to interact with the audience, each flirtatious flick of the tie carrying an unspoken invitation. His fellow performers mirrored his movements, their bodies moving to the sultry beat.


    Despite not being in the center, many in the crowd found themselves unable to tear their gaze away from June, his tantalizing movement leaving them spellbound.


    And then, it came.


    It was finally June''s turn to be at the center¡ªand the rap lyrics that no one had heard of besides the members of Team Aglet swirled in his mind.


    This was it.


    The weight of all the painful memories and experiences settled upon him, and it became an undeniable force that fueled his determination.


    In that fleeting moment, before he began his rap, a realization washed over him like a rogue wave. He thought of all the times he had sacrificed, the people who had dismissed and underestimated his team, and the countless hours he had poured into perfecting their performance.


    June worked fucking hard for this.


    And he was going to show them.


    Everyone watching seemed to hold their breaths. Even the production crew watched in anticipation.


    How could a Main Vocalist transform into a Main Rapper?


    There''s only one way to find out.


    With relentless resolve, June brought the silk tie up to his lips, biting the material before wrapping it around his neck.


    And then, with a visceral intensity, June spat out his rap lyrics.

 Chapter 152 Tie Me Up (3)

    <h4>Chapter 152 Tie Me Up (3)</h4>


    Zeth sat on the edge of his seat. Casper, who was right by his side, leaned his elbows against his knees and listened intently. For some reason, they weren''t too satisfied with their performance a while ago¡ªmaybe they already knew that their previous performance with June was better.


    And now, seeing June do so good on a new team made them feel like it was such a waste.


    They made the wrong decision, it seems.


    None of the trainees had heard June rap. So, some of them were expecting June to fail badly.


    "This dude''s never rapped before. I can''t believe they made him the Main Rapper."


    "A good vocalist like that shouldn''t be a good rapper."


    "He''s really sexy, though. In this performance, of course! Just this performance!"


    Various spections went around the room, yet one thing was definite¡ªthey were all uncertain of June''s rap skills.


    "Tied up, getting used to the pain,


    Maybe this is my fate, but who''s to me?


    I''m wrapped in chains, but it''s strangely sweet,


    You''re the poison I crave, your taste unique."


    June''s rap verse flowed like moltenva, the raspiness in his voice doing him a good favor. He had practiced the whole night for this, and it showed. His words were crystal clear, and his flow overpowered the song. It seems as if the lyrics were perfect for the written song!


    Truly, he was a B-tier rapper.


    Suck that, losers!


    Its intensity and lyrical aptitude left everyone in awe. Jihyun watched with wide-eyed astonishment. She had known June primarily as a vocalist, and this unexpected disy of rap talent had caught herpletely off guard.


    The audience, too, was caught in a collective trance. The cheers that had punctuated the sexy chorus now seemed to have vanished. The spectators were hanging on to every word that tumbled from June''s lips, afraid that even the slightest cheer might cause them to miss a single syble of his rap.


    "I know it''s twisted, but I can''t resist the fire,


    As the ropes tighten, my soul''s burning with desire,


    No more running from this haunting spell,


    I fucking like being tied up, can''t you tell?"


    The addition of a curse word left everyone in shock. Yet, they weren''t appalled. It wasn''t tasteless. Instead, it even added vor to his performance.


    Akira, who only snapped out of his trance after June''s part, shook his head with a smirk.


    "This bastard has done it again."


    Zeth, Casper, and Jaeyong, undoubtedly the most talented rappers in the show, couldn''t help but feel a pang of admiration, and along with that was a tinge of rivalry. It was as if a new contender had entered the arena.


    Almost all of the trainees were amazed by June''s showcase of talent. However, two trainees remained bitter at heart.


    Lin Zhi clenched his fists between his thighs. His earlier dismissive attitude seemed like a distant memory, reced by annoyance for June''s talent. It was a humbling experience¡ªand he hated being humbled.


    Lin Zhi was better than June when they first came to the show. Now, why the hell does it feel like Lin Zhi was being left behind?


    Xin was on the same page, not being able to contain his anger. His face flushed with frustration as he watched the crowd''s ecstatic reaction to June''s performance.


    That should have been him!


    He should have been the independent trainee everyone was cheering for.


    Yet there he was¡ªJune, owning the stage despite the doubts that surrounded him.


    The chorus approached once again, and Team Aglet had gained more motivation from June''s powerful rapping, giving him looks of acknowledgment during formation changes.


    It was undeniable that his presence was great for the team, and as Sehun made his way back to the center, he danced even harder than before.


    "Tied up, drowning in pain,


    Can''t escape it, still in my veins,


    In this torment, I''m forever chained,


    With every beat, the memory remains."


    Bone, who had been speechless until now, continued to watch the stage in wonder. It was unexpected¡ªthis improvement. He was the only person besides Sun-Y who had heard June rap before, and it was certain that the young man wasn''t experienced in rapping at all.


    However, as Bone internalized June''s flow and lyrics, he felt a sense of amazement. Can somebody improve this quickly?


    The vocalists sang the first part of the bridge, their voices blending beautifully as the instrumentals mellowed down.


    "Yeah, I''m tied up, it''s a twisted reality.


    Locked in this world of painful brutality.


    These ties that bind, like chains made ofce.


    In this intricate web, I''ve found my ce. "


    It was thest rap of the song¡ªJune''s part, and he looked into the camera, acting like he was saying those words to the people who looked down on him and his team.


    "I''m the person you looked down on, so naive


    And now, you''re the one staring at me in disbelief.


    The scars you''ve left¡ªthey don''t define my tomorrow,


    In this story of pain, I''ll rise above the sorrow."


    June meant everything he said, and it hit everyone harder than they thought. At this time, it wasn''t his rap skills that left a mark. It was the raw emotion behind every syble that made them speechless.


    Among the people watching were some who had once cast him aside, who didn''t even bother contacting him when they made a decision as a team. Their faces turned somber as they listened to his impassioned verses. The lyrics held a mirror to their past decisions, a reminder of how they had underestimated his potential and discarded him without a second thought.


    Undoubtedly, the person who''s most shocked out of all is Sun-Y. He felt a pang in his heart as he watched June pour his soul into his performance.


    What was this?


    He actually felt ashamed?


    Sun-Y didn''t even feel any shame when he was being roasted on diss tracks!


    As the dance breakmenced, the audience remained in a state of shock and awe from June''s previous rap performance. However, June had more surprises in store. He reached for the white silk tie that was now wrapped casually around his neck. With a swift movement, he pulled the tie up to his eyes and tied it as a blindfold. Gasps and whispers were heard in the crowd as they watched in disbelief.


    Dancing with a blindfold was a daring move, but June executed it with a precision that defied expectations. His body moved with grace and assurance, every step and spin perfectly synchronized with his teammates. The audience marveled at his audacity and the seamless coordination of the performance despite the added challenge of the blindfold.


    As thest chorus approached, the team gathered at the center of the stage, ready to sing in unison. The harmonious blend of their voices filled the venue, a testament to their unity and dedication. June''s voice, still as powerful as ever, shone brightly, reminding everyone that he was not just a rapper but also a remarkable vocalist. His contribution added depth and emotion to the song, elevating it to a level of intensity that sent shivers down the spines of those listening. He even supported Haesoo in his high-note since June felt him getting a bit out of breath. The blend of their voices resonated through the room, putting Lin Zhi''s lip-synced high note to shame.


    At that moment, a profound sense of emotion washed over the entire team. Their journey, filled with challenges and determination, was encapsted in this performance. It was more than just a song and dance; it was a powerful expression of their shared passion.


    As the final lyric approached, June roughly removed his blindfold. The camera focused on him, capturing the image of disheveled hair, smudged lipstick, and eyes that still burned with intensity.


    There, he stood as the perfect embodiment of their performance, a symbol of their unyieldingmitment and the raw, untamed energy they had poured into every moment on stage.

 Chapter 153 Our Best

    <h4>Chapter 153 Our Best</h4>


    Everybody felt weird.


    The song was supposed to be sexy, but why do they feel emotional?


    ps of hesitancy filled the room and were then followed by thunderous apuse.


    Then, the ps turned into "awws" when the team started breaking down in tears.


    June was confused by the sudden shift of reaction at first, but when he nced to his side and saw Sehun with tears streaming down his cheeks, he became surprised.


    The man who had served as the pir of the team since day one¡­


    The trainee, who always had a smile on his face despite the challenges and discouragingments from others¡­was crying.


    He was the first one who cried among his team, a sad yet proud look in his eyes.


    After seeing their leader cry, the other young men felt something tug in their chest, and before they even knew it, they, too, started crying.


    "Aww, don''t cry!"


    "Why are they crying? They did such a great job, though!"


    "I feel like I''m going to cry, too," Jangmoon said from backstage. Jaeyong, once again, tried to hide the tears in his eyes. However, Akira caught him in the act.


    "That''s the fourth time," he teased.


    Bone, who was aware of the team''s situation, sighed in pity. "These kids have been through a lot. They had the most people eliminated from their team."


    Although the audience didn''t know the process they went through to get to such a performance, they felt sympathy for the men crying on the stage.


    June felt a surge of panic in his heart. He was standing at the center during this time, and all his other teammates had tears streaming down their faces. He felt the audience''s inquiring eyes, so he felt like he had no choice but to exin.


    So, before the mentors couldment on their performance, June brought the mic to his lips and started speaking.


    "Umm, what a bunch of crybabies, am I right?"


    The audience and the mentorsughed (except for Sun-Y, who is still in a state of shock). The other members of Team Aglet, too, let out a chuckle as they cried.


    They didn''t know what came over them, but the feeling of relief and enjoyment overwhelmed their feelings as they reached the end of the performance.


    "But in all seriousness, this team worked really hard for this performance. Right now, it''s something only we understand, but I want you all to know how grateful we are for letting us perform in front of you."


    June internally cringed at his "inspiring" speech. But seeing as he''s the only one who can speak right now, he continued with his words.


    "These guys," he said, ncing at his teammates'' emotional eyes. "Are some of the best people I''ve worked with. And I would really like to see them continue to live their dreams. So, from this day on, please look at them more favorably. Sehun, Jakob, C-Jay, Taekyung, Haesoo, and Seokhwa, you all did a great job. I just want you to know that, and from now on, I hope you don''t doubt yourselves anymore. You''re pursuing this dream for a reason."


    June said those words tofort them, hoping they''d finally stop crying. However, it seemed like his words only made it worse as they started crying even harder!


    Even some of the audience members sniffed as he finished his speech.


    And there was a collective thought running in their minds¡ªour ck kitty is so kind!


    June pursed his lips in frustration and brought the microphone down.


    Maybe he shouldn''t have spoken at all!


    Thankfully, the mentors decided to cut through the silence as they ryed their evaluations.


    While they had a lot of good and bad things to say about the performances of the other teams, they somewhat felt speechless for this particr one.


    "It''s¡­wow," Hyerin started off. "That''s the only word I can think of right now. I can''t evenment on the technical mistakes you made since I feel like they were a part of the performance. You guys really did such a good job."


    "I don''t know what to say," Jihyun continued. "Honestly, I wasn''t expecting a lot from this team. But you guys proved me wrong. I bet GROOVYTUNES will be proud of this performance."


    "June," Bone suddenly said, causing June to snap his gaze at him. "Are you a genius?"


    June raised his eyebrows.


    "I¡ªI can''t exin it in words, but I believe you''ve improved the most out of anyone in this show. I know the others can''t understand me right now, but they will once the episode airs. Please watch it fondly."


    The audience began toin, wanting the episode to air faster. The other mentors, too, became more curious about what Bone meant.


    Kiera, who didn''tment much on the other team''s performances, picked up her mic, causing Team Aglet looked at her with wonder.


    It was the first time they''d seen the girl who ced first on the very first season of ''Rising Stars,'' and she just had a different aura to her.


    On the other hand, her past fellow member, Mimi, had her arms out of a huge sweatshirt. Yet, her face was still hidden by a big hood. Jia and Bora looked at her weirdly, but Mimi continued to ogle June, not minding the weird looks she got from other people.


    "During concept missions, there''s usually one song that bes iconic out of all the stages. In the first season, it was ''Homesick Women'', and in the second season, it was ''Ugly U.'' This season, I feel like it''s yours."


    The audience eximed in surprise. The trainees backstage, too, felt like they were hit by a truck¡ªespecially Team Risers.


    Compliments kept pouring in, and at that point, Team Aglet knew that they had done their best.? The other mentors continued to speak, and as Rhino ended hisment, the panel turned toward one person who hasn''t uttered a single word.


    The trashy dude always had something to say to all the performances. He''d even take the opportunity to always speak first, setting a negative tone. However, this time, he was thest person to speak.


    "Do you have anything to say, Sun-Y?" Bone asked.


    Much to their surprise, Sun-Y shook his head.


    June smirked as he made eye contact with the rapper. Sun-Y immediately evaded his gaze and cleared his throat. Hundreds of questions swirled in his mind.


    Was it possible for someone to improve that fast?


    Then, Sun-Y felt his heart beating faster in his chest.


    This trainee¡­is a very scary trainee.

 Chapter 154 I <3 June

    <h4>Chapter 154 I <3 June</h4>


    As Team Aglet left the stage, the impact they left on the audience was still felt.


    Mimi felt like she was going insane. How could she feel prouder of June than during her time in Rising Stars?


    Bora, too, felt like Ren''s spot in her heart now had a truepetitor, and it was concerning how she didn''t even remember any other stage after Team Aglet performed.


    Jia, as usual, felt prouder than everybody else. She didn''t know what June and his team went through to get to where they were, but it seemed like they didn''t have an easy time.


    She couldn''t wait to watch the episode.


    Kang Minho went back to the stage with a proud smile. "And that''s it, starlights! Just like that, the Concept Mission hade to an end. Please stay tuned for the songs as the trainees will record them in the next few days and release them to the public after the airing of the episode!"


    "Now, it''s time for you to make an important decision. As I said, this time, the individual votes will be forgone, so all you have to do is vote on the Azure app for the team you think performed best. We will be giving you ten minutes to make a decision! The special mentors, too, are given the privilege to vote for a team they like. Afterward, we will call out all the teams up the stage and announce the winners."


    "Their fate lies in the palm of your hands, so vote wisely, starlights!"


    Once again, Minho left the stage while the starlights made their decision. A lot of them, before evening here, already had someone to vote for in mind. And when Team Risers performed, a lot of them were convinced that nobody else could top the performance.


    However, as they watched Team Aglet, they couldn''t help but feel conflicted.


    Jia, Bora, and Mimi wasted no time in voting for Team Aglet, but there were still whispers of hesitancy from the other starlights.


    "Should we vote for Skateboard Ride like we had nned?"


    "Uh, I don''t know. Why does my heart go to Team Aglet?"


    "This is the hardest voting I have evere across."


    "But then again, does Team Risers even need the benefit?"


    "I don''t think that should be the question¡ªdoes Team Risers even deserve the benefit?"


    "Oh, shut up, guys. Just vote for Skateboard Ride. They''re going to win anyway."


    The special mentors on the elevated tform also cast their votes. Kiera, who had wanted to root for Team Sweet as Sugar from the start, scrolled past their name until she saw Team Aglet. Then, she clicked on their name to cast a vote.


    "Who''d you vote for?" Jaeyun asked. "I still voted for my team since I was the one who taught them."


    Kiera smiled. "It''s a secret."


    Since she voted quite quickly, Kiera had some time to scan the crowd. She was reminded of her days in Rising Stars, but she didn''t miss the experience. Being on the show was¡­ let''s just say, stressful.


    As Kiera continued scanning the room, her eyes strayed to a weird-looking girl in the front row. She had her arms out, but her hood remained, making her pop out from the crowd.


    Kiera tilted her head to the side in confusion. Why does it feel like she knows that girl?


    Back in the waiting room, where the trainees waited for the production crew to call them to go up the stage, Team Aglet finally arrived.


    June still hasn''t fixed his hair and smudged lipstick, so he still appeared to be the embodiment of the song.


    Sehun nudged his shoulder. "You should button up now," he whispered.


    June looked down at his bare chest and shrugged before buttoning them all up. He was in the midst of buttoning them up when someone patted his shoulder.


    He lifted his head, expecting it to be one of his friends, but was surprised when he saw Casper looking at him with an unreadable expression.


    June sighed. This dude again?


    "Do you need anything?" June asked.


    Casper was about to open his mouth and say something when a crew member shouted,


    "Trainees, it''s time for the announcement of the winner!"


    June shook off Casper''s hold and pointed toward Team Risers. "They''re waiting for you," he said.


    With that, June started walking back to the stage, but not without being congratted by his friends.


    "You betrayed me," Akira said. June looked at him in confusion. "Why didn''t you tell me you were good at rapping?"


    June shrugged. "I wasn''t."


    "Liar!" Jisung eximed from his side. "Is there anything you can''t do?"


    "I can''t whistle," June confessed, causing them to burst intoughter.


    "You''re suddenly confessing that?" C-Jay cracked up. "Anyways, you really did such a good job out there. You were even better during our practice. Did you practice even more after that?"


    "I bet it''s his natural talent!" Minx chimed. "Our brother must be naturally good at everything."


    June didn''t deny or confirm it. Again, being acknowledged for his hard work was something he wasn''t used to. It was true that the system gave him the foundation for his rap skills, but he worked hard for it too.


    As they made their way to the stage, the fans erupted into cheers once more. It was the loudest of the night¡ªwith different sub-fandoms wanting to cheer the loudest for their favorites.


    Since June was so focused on the performance a while ago, he didn''t get the time to observe the banners they were holding up. He scanned the room and finally read them.


    "Zetherealists got Zeth''s back!"


    "Ren, our forever love <3."


    "Lin Zhi, born with everything!"


    "Our smart and talented prince, Leo."


    "King of Duality, Song Jisung!"


    Alright, June had to admit. The fans made some cute slogans. It made him realize that this is why idols do what they do. They receive love from multiple people, and it makes them feel¡­wanted?


    June had yet to see a slogan of his but stopped when he saw a group of women at the very far end of the room.


    His eyes widened in surprise.


    Howe he didn''t notice them right at the beginning?


    With the biggest banner in the room was a group of olddies, all with matching I <3 June shirts.


    And then, as he let his eyes wander to their slogan, he felt like a bucket of cold water was being poured over his body.


    "This grandma lives 30 minutes away from June! #GrandmasForJune #AgeDoesNotMatter "

 Chapter 155 And the Winner is?

    <h4>Chapter 155 And the Winner is?</h4>


    C-Jay burst intoughter as he also read the slogan.


    "Quite a fandom you got there," he teased June.


    "Shut up," June said, already feeling stressed. Again, he had expected a cute slogan, at least.


    His slogan looked like those ads you see on sketchy websites.


    C-Jay continued tough, but deep inside, he felt a bit bummed out.


    With augh, he scanned the room once more, looking for something in the crowd. However, there truly wasn''t a slogan for him.


    He knew June was stressed because of the contents of his slogan, but that was better than not having anything, right?


    C-Jay masked his sadness with a mischievous smile as he continued to tease June.


    However, his teasing quickly halted when Kang Minho entered the stage. The sadness in his heart was reced with pure nervousness.


    As he scanned his other teammates, C-Jay also sensed their profound nervousness, aside from one person¡ªJune. As usual, there was an unreadable expression on his face¡ªone that C-Jay had always noticed during announcements like this.


    Does he really not care at all?


    In the trenches of June''s mind, his pettiness had reached a new level.


    ''We better fucking win.''


    For all the past missions, June had some kind of prediction during the winner announcement.


    He had always been rational with his guesses, too. Winning during the first mission was practically impossible since his skills were still being developed, and the team they were going against was popr even before the start of the show.


    During the second mission, he had already expected to win. Again, losing was practically impossible. With the ranks that his teammates had, it was obvious from the beginning.


    However, today, he didn''t want to make a guess.


    June simply wanted to win.


    No, June needed to win.


    He could see Lin Zhi''s face from here, and he wanted nothing but to see a look of defeat on his face. He stood at the very front of Team Risers as their leader, and he exuded an air of supreme confidence.


    Lin Zhi stood tall, his posture showing an annoying sense of self-assuredness. His arms were crossed casually, and his lips curled into a smug half-smile. His eyes, framed by arched brows, scanned the room with an air of expectation as though he had already etched their victory in stone.


    Fucking lip-syncing, drug-distributing, kiss-assing piece of shit.


    Alright, maybe that was a bit too much.


    But June couldn''t help it. He felt extra annoyed today!


    The atmosphere in the venue grew increasingly tense as Kang Minho stepped forward and cleared his throat into the mic. The room fell silent, and the audience was now on the edge of their seats.


    "Who do you think will win?"


    "I still don''t know. I voted for the team that captured my heart.


    "I can''t breathe. It''s so intense!"


    "Can somebody turn off this beat? I''m palpitating!"


    A suspenseful beat seemed to echo in everyone''s hearts, making their pulses quicken.


    June, who usually felt calm during these announcements, suddenly felt a rush of nerves like he had never experienced before.


    Kang Minho''s voice rang out, cutting through the tension. "And now, the moment we''ve all been waiting for," he dered. "I now have the name of the winner of the Concept Mission in my hands."


    As the seconds stretched into eternity, the trainees held their breaths, waiting for Kang Minho to reveal the results.


    The room was fraught with unbearable tension as the screen disyed the names of thepeting teams, each apanied by their corresponding number of votes. The lowest-ranked team was poised to be revealed first.


    "The team with the lowest number of votes and in seventh ce is... Team ''Thunder.''"


    Jangmoon nodded and pursed his lips. Of course, he had already expected the oue, but he still couldn''t help but feel disappointed. Nheless, he smiled and pped, genuinely rooting for his friends to win.


    Xin, on the other hand, clenched his fists in anger. Of course, he also didn''t expect to win. Buting inst ce? That''s uneptable! Then, his eyes strayed toward the tallest trainee in their team.


    It''s Jangmoon''s fault.


    One by one, the remaining teams were announced, their fates hanging in the bnce. The tension escted with each reveal, and the room felt like a pressure cooker ready to burst.


    ''Break My Heart'' and ''Brown Sugar Milktea'' came in as a close third and fourth, with Team Sweet as Sugar taking the higher spot with less than a hundred vote gap.


    Finally, only two team names remained on the screen¡ª ''Skateboard Ride'' and ''Tie Me Up.''


    The atmosphere became even more suffocating, the anticipation reaching its zenith.


    Everyone held their breath, their eyes locked onto the screen, awaiting the crucial moment that would determine the winner of the mission.


    At this moment, Skateboard Ride was expected to win. Out of all the missions so far, Zeth had never lost. And with the amount of top-ranked trainees in their team, there was no way they''d lose.


    Moreover, they were facing a team that had majority of its members in the 40th rank. They were projected to be thest-cing team during the beginning, so it was already remarkable that they got second ce.


    The silence in the venue was deafening as Minho prepared to reveal the ultimate verdict.


    As the tension reached its peak, the audience couldn''t help but engage in whispered discussions, trying to predict which of the remaining two teams would emerge victorious.


    The room was divided, and the tension was so thick it couldn''t be cut with a knife. Then, in a moment that seemed to defy expectations, the screen showed the final victor.


    Tie Me Up: 589


    Skateboard Ride: 491


    As June stared at the screen, he couldn''t internalize it at first. It seemed like he had forgotten even the most basic Math concepts as he stared at it in wonder.


    Is 589 greater than 491?


    [589 is greater than 491 by 98.]


    They won.


    But there was no time for June to dwell on the shock.


    Because before he even knew it, he was being hoisted up in the air.

 Chapter 156 Laohu

    <h4>Chapter 156 Laohu</h4>


    What was June doing so high up in the air?


    He doesn''t really know.


    All he knows is that they won.


    They fucking won!


    As he continued to get tossed into the air like a baby who was left all alone with his dad on the weekend, he scanned the studio until his eyesnded on Lin Zhi.


    Although he tried his hardest not to show it, there was a slight annoyance in Lin Zhi''s face. It was obvious. Even when they were together in the gang, Lin Zhi could hide his emotions very well except for one¡ªanger.


    As their eyes met, a small smirk etched onto June''s face¡ªonly enough for Lin Zhi to wonder whether June knew what he was internally thinking. However, before Lin Zhi could read into it, June evaded his gaze and forced his teammates to bring him down.


    "They actually won."


    "I can''t believe Zeth lost this one."


    "No matter how hard I think about it, I can only see this as being rigged."


    "You''re speaking out of your ass. I voted for June even though my favorite trainee is Akira."


    Jia, Bora, and Mimi all screamed in glee after the announcement of the winner. For Jia, this seemed like the best thing that ever happened on the show.


    After countless trials¡ªJune getting stabbed, his face being revealed without his consent, and all others that Jia didn''t even know of, seeing him win felt like a satisfying ending to a movie.


    Sun-Y pursed his lips as he watched their team rejoice in the victory. It was unbelievable. How could a bunch of nobodies win against a team of powerhouses?


    In the rap industry, Sun-Y had never won against those powerful figures.


    He couldn''t beat them, couldn''t join them, and couldn''t even imitate them.


    So, in the end, he decided to go against them instead. Dissing those powerful figures and creating controversies became his personality, and it was the only way that brought him recognition from the public.


    That''s why he hates how these idiots have won.


    Because then, that would mean that it''s actually possible for someone to rise through poprity with mere hard work.


    What a joke.


    Sun-Y stood up from his seat even before the production crew gave him a cue.


    "Whatever," he muttered. "At least I fulfilled my job."


    With that, he started walking out of the studio while bringing out his phone from his pocket. Sun-Y settled on a hidden corner and pressed on the contact name¡ª" Laohu."


    Sun Y: You''ll still wire me the money, right?


    Laohu: Only half of the money will be sent. My prospect didn''t win.


    Sun-Y cursed under his breath as he saw the bank notification and the amount of money he had received.


    "Fuck that kid."


    ***


    The fans were now being escorted out of the studio, and the trainees started getting changed and going back to their respective dorms.


    Team Aglet remained backstage, still not believing what had just happened.


    Jakob sniffed as he looked at his teammates. "I''ve only been filled with doubt ever since I came to the show, and although I tried hard to push through, I can''t deny that I haven''t been feeling happytely. However, being in this team and even winning made me realize why I''m still chasing this dream."


    "You couldn''t have worded it better," Sehun said. "I''ve tried to put on a smile for you, guys. But most of them weren''t genuine. They were just forced. But tonight, my smile is real. It feels good winning like this."


    "My cheeks are honestly hurting," C-Jay said, massaging his plump cheeks.


    "I''ve been smiling since earlier, too," Haesoo said. "But it''s strange," he suddenly said, turning to June. "I don''t think I''ve ever seen you smile, bro."


    June raised his eyebrows after he heard his name. Honestly, he hasn''t been listening to their conversation.


    Why? Because he wanted to sleep right then and there.


    "What did ya say?" June asked, his thuggish enting back amidst his sleepiness.


    "Smile," Sehun said. "It''s okay to smile when you''re happy, you know?"


    June shrugged. "I am happy, but I don''t need to smile."


    "I think you''re right, Haesoo," C-Jay said. "Aside from that one time when he was given a free box of BenBen gummies, I don''t think I''ve ever seen June smile. It''s more like a smolder? Or a smirk?"


    "A smolder?" June asked. "What the hell is that?"


    "You know," C-Jay said. "The thing you do when you think of a new idea or eat something delicious."


    "I don''t smolder or whatever that is," June defended.


    "Whatever you say," C-Jay said. "Let''s talk more about our victory. I still can''t get over it. Did you see those fuckers'' faces? Those who kicked me out of my team and those who kicked you guys out, too! I bet they''re regretting it now. They didn''t even stand a chance. And a team with powerhouse members? That''s us! Numbers are only¡ª"


    Sehun roughly nudged C-Jay''s side, causing him to splutter. "What the hell? Let me finish my rant."


    Sehun awkwardly smiled and pointed to June''s back. C-Jay''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly zipped his lips. "Uh, I''m actually pretty tired. I think I should go now."


    The other members also chuckled nervously when they saw the two tall figures behind June, quickly following C-Jay.


    Sehun patted June''s back with a smile. "I''ll go now, too, June."


    "Wait¡ª" June called out, but they were already running away. He considered just walking away, too, but Zeth suddenly held onto his shoulder.


    June let out a frustrated sigh before facing the two rappers behind him.


    Jaeyong and Zeth¡ªlooking like guilty puppies,? stared at him with wide eyes.


    "What do you want?" June asked.


    Zeth scratched the back of his head. "Congrattions," he said. "You guys did a really good job."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. He was honestly expecting Zeth to be quite upset about not winning the mission, but he actually looked pretty calm?


    "Thanks," June muttered. "Is that all? Then, I''m gonna go."


    "Wait," Jaeyong said, looking even guiltier. "We just wanted to apologize too."


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "For what?"


    "Uhh, for kicking you out of the team," Zeth said. "We were in a bind back then, and we had to choose someone to eliminate. You weren''t there, so we thought it''d be the most rational decision."


    June sighed. "Look, I understand why you did it. You had no choice or whatever. But would it have hurt to tell me about it beforehand? I was a part of the team, too, you know?"


    Jaeyong sighed and cast his eyes to the ground. "We know. We''re sorry. We didn''t think it through."


    "Whatever," June said. "It''s all in the past now."


    "So, does that mean you forgive us?" Jaeyong asked.


    "I didn''t say anything about that," June smirked, walking closer to them.


    "But I''m not angry anymore," he said, ncing at the hidden figure behind therge equipment.


    Lin Zhi''s not so slick, hmm?


    "Because we won," June continued, deliberately making his voice louder. "And that high note just now? I didn''t lip-sync it."

 Chapter 157 Pee Bottle

    <h4>Chapter 157 Pee Bottle</h4>


    Xin pulled onto his dyed blue hair as the results of the Concept Mission sank in. As he retreated his hand away from his hair, he was surprised to see that more than fifty strands of hair had been pulled out.


    "What the fuck!" he eximed and ran to the bathroom mirror. He parted his hair and saw a small bald spot on the area he pulled.


    Xin pursed his lips before screaming in frustration.


    Nothing seems to be going right for him today!


    He had done so much for their ''Thunder'' performance. He even went as far as dyeing his hair the same color as Zeth''s, but that, too, backfired on him.


    Xin sighed andbed his hair back so the bald spot wasn''t noticeable. Afterward, he realized that he still hadn''t contacted Hoon and told him about the results of thepetition.


    He went out of the bathroom to speak with him but halted when he saw Akira inside the room.


    "Why''d you scream just now?" Akira asked with a frown.


    Xin evaded his eyes away from him. "Uh¡ªI couldn''t get a big shit out."


    Akira raised his eyebrows in surprise before slowly nodding. "Alright, is it out now?"


    "Yeah," Xin said, scratching the back of his neck. "Don''t worry. The toilet isn''t clogged."


    "Alright," Akira said. "Well, let me know if you need anything. I have fiber supplements if you need them."


    Xin shook his head. "I''ll head out for a while."


    With that, Xin left the awkward room and started looking for a ce to talk with his most-respected brother, Hoon. He wandered around the hallways and cafeteria but couldn''t find an empty ce. In the end, he settled on the one ce he knew wouldn''t be disturbed by anyone else.


    He walked toward the Janitor''s closet, making sure to open the lights this time since he didn''t want the past incident to repeat itself. Then, he locked the door before dialing Hoon''s number.


    The closet smelled oddlyforting¡ªlike the janitor had done a good job keeping it clean. After a couple of rings, Hoon finally responded. Xin ced it on a loudspeaker since his hearing was still a bit muffled after all the screaming in the studio a while ago.


    "Is it over?" Hoon asked.


    "It''s over," Xin responded.


    "Well, how was it? Did Skateboard Ride win? Did you win against June''s team?" Hoon asked. He was currently confined in his small room, the sound of his mother ranting about how she was the only one doing chores in the house echoing in the thin walls. He was covered in potato chips, soda bottles, and ramen packets that he ate uncooked. All of the lights in his room were turned off except for the purple LED lights that adorned hisputer.


    Under hisputer were numerous bottles filled with his pee. Now that he was back in their house, Hooon was once again miserable¡ªmerely ying games and eating junk food all day long. It''s only been less than a week since he was eliminated, but he already gained a belly pooch.


    As he lost in the game he was ying, he let out a string of curses. Then, his reflection was seen on a ck loading monitor, making him feel even more miserable than before.


    And he could only me it on one person.


    "Well," Hoon asked. "Who won?"


    Xin let out a deep sigh before responding. "They won."


    "They won against your team?"


    "No," Xin softly said. "They won the Concept Mission. They won even against Skateboard Ride."


    Hoon stopped for a second, the mouse pointer hovering over the game''s ''start'' button.


    "What?" he asked after a while, his voice sending shivers down Xin''s spine.


    "Uh¡­June won? They got 200,000 stars."


    Hoon''s grip on his soda bottle tightened, causing some of the liquid to ooze and spill over his legs. He was surprised to find that it was really warm.


    What the hell? It was straight out of the fridge.


    He looked at the bottle and saw that the contents were yellow instead of clear, sparkling white.


    "Shit!" he cursed loudly, causing him to let go of the pee bottle and soak his white shirt too.


    Feeling frustrated by it all, Hoon screamed out of rampage before standing up and punching a hole in his wall. His mother heard themotion from upstairs and shook her head.


    "When am I going to live a peaceful life?" she muttered as she continued washing the dishes.


    "A¡ªare you okay, bro?" Xin asked, sensing Hoon''s anger even through the phone.


    Hoon continued to breathe heavily, and Xin''s fear escted.


    "The photos I sent," Xin said, trying to divert Hoon''s attention. "Have you gone through them? Can you believe it? I think June is actually loaded. It doesn''te off that way, and his friends also say that he lives in a small apartment."


    "Shut up," Hoon snapped, causing Xin to shut his mouth.


    Hoon closed his eyes for a second and tried to calm down.


    He couldn''t lose his cool yet. He still hadn''t made June pay.


    "I have seen the photos," he calmly said, his voice turning aplete 360, causing Xin to be even more fearful.


    Hoon doesn''t seem to be himself anymore.


    He sounded so¡­desperate.


    As Hoon calmed down, he went back to hisputer and exited the shooting game he was currently obsessed with. He sat down, ignoring the way hisputer chair made a squelching sound, and then pulled up an article from Navel.


    He had been desperate for June''s downfall ever since he got eliminated, and he camped on various social media sites to find something that could lead to his demise.


    And after sleepless nights, he finally came across the article¡­


    It wasn''t a big discussion among the public since it involved Azure''s shareholders¡ªsomething boring to a normal citizen''s eye.


    But Hoon can make it much bigger.


    He just needed something more.


    "Those shoes," Hoon started off. "From the box, I can tell those are limited edition shoes. Tomorrow, I need you to go back to June''s room and take a picture of them."


    "And tomorrow, Xin," he continued. "I need you to follow him."


    "How is that going to help us?" Xin asked.


    "Trust me," Hoon said, smirking, still staring at the article on hisputer. "I have a good hunch about this."


    Then, he turned off the call before letting a manic chuckle. Those chuckles eventually turned to bouts ofughter, causing Hoon''s mom to think that her son had gone crazy.


    "Choi Joon-ho," Xin whispered. "You''re one sly bastard."

 Chapter 158 MJ

    <h4>Chapter 158 MJ</h4>


    June finally slept like a baby after a week of grueling events.


    Again, that was a lie.


    How could June sleep peacefully in this ce?


    At 5 a,m., after the day of the live performances, a chaotic group entered his room, disrupting his peace.


    "I''m still sleepy," Akira yawned, opening the door to June''s room.


    June had already woken up at that point. He''s not a heavy sleeper like Jisung, and he''s very sensitive to sound and movement.


    "Why''d you even wake us up so early, C-Jay?" Jisung asked, still feeling sleepy, weing the others inside. "I was surprised when you suddenly called me."


    "Sorry," C-Jay sheepishly said. "The moment I woke up, I looked at my watch. I didn''t realize it got ruined and stopped at 8 AM. I had already washed up when I realized it was still 5 AM. So, I decided to pester you guys instead."


    Then, the group went to June''s bed and started shaking him awake.


    "Brother¡­Brother¡­wake up, bro."


    "Wakey wakey, it''s time for school!"


    "Is he dead?"


    "Shut up, Jangmoon. Don''t joke about things like that."


    "But he''s not moving."


    "Maybe we should leave him to sleep. He''s had a rough week."


    That''s right. Leave the ck kitty all alone and let him sleep.


    June continued on with his act, hoping the group of noisy trainees would leave and let him rest.


    "We can''t," C-Jay eximed. "It''s ourst day here until the filming of the elimination episode," he insisted.


    To C-Jay, that wasn''t really the main reason. They were going to film their elimination episode on Wednesday, which meant that he might not be able to see them again after that¡­


    Ranked 46th out of all the trainees, he knew that it''d be too much for him to make it into the top 25.


    "What are we even going to do?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Let''s go jogging! We haven''t been to the yground near Azure, right? It''s been more than a month since we''ve been here, but we haven''t even seen that ce," C-Jay cheerfully suggested.


    "I want to go," Jisung shyly said.


    "Wake him up then," Akira said, yawning. "If he doesn''t want to wake up, then let''s throw cold water in his face."


    June''s eyes twitched after Akira''s suggestion.


    "That''s a good idea," C-Jay said.


    It''s definitely not a good idea!


    As much as June didn''t want to wake up early, he most definitely didn''t want to be poured with cold water. He opened his eyes and was about to sit up, but it was already toote.


    Before he could even sit up, cold water was poured on his face, causing his blood to boil.


    June really, really hated the cold.


    He opened his eyes and was met with four guilty gazes. "Oops?" C-Jay eximed as he tightly held on a ss cup.


    June closed his eyes and evened out his breathing, not wanting to create such a scene so early in the morning. "You better have a good reason for waking me up so early and pouring water on my face."


    "It''s ourst day here?" C-Jay said in an unsure tone. "So, we decided to have a jog in the park next to the building."


    That was June''s breaking point.


    "We''re seeing each other on Wednesday," June said, his tone murderous.


    They chuckled nervously. "You''re awake now anyway," Jangmoon smiled. "So, let''s just go! We all didn''t want to go without you, bro. You''re an integral part of this friendship."


    June was about to tell them off, but he heard the sincerity in Jangmoon''s voice. In the end, he sighed and slumped on his bed.


    "Fine," he grumbled. "I''ll meet you guys in the park. I''ll just wash up."


    "Great!" Jisung eximed. "We''ll meet you by the swings!''


    June wordlessly nodded and watched as they left his room. Afterward, he felt a small smile tug at his lips.


    "Friendship?"


    That sounded kinda nice.


    ***


    June washed up and quickly changed into a simple shirt and sweatpants. He then put on his shoes¡ªthe very beat-up rubber shoes that Choi Joon-ho probably had since forever.


    The sole was very worn-out, and the sides appeared like they had acquired the stains of every pathwalk in Seoul. The faux leather design had already been peeled off, and the polyester was close to being paper-thin.


    As June put it on, he realized that the sole was already detached from the polyester material.


    June sighed. It must be from all the running he''s done¡ªrunning away from grandmas, running around Itaewon to look for Choi Pablo, and running from those druggies when he first caught them.


    He rummaged through his belongings, hoping he''d find something to wear.


    But, just as expected, there wasn''t anything.


    Who was he kidding? June only had one pair of shoes.


    The only other time he can wear good quality clothing is during the performance stages.


    "Wait," he muttered, remembering the pair of shoes he had gotten from Choi Pablo.


    June opened the box and frowned when he saw a seemingly simple pair of rubber shoes inside.


    It didn''t look new. Instead, it looked quite vintage. It was a ssic faded white high-top shoe with a bold blue star adorning the side.


    June was unfamiliar with the brand since it''s just a single star. However, on the opposite side of the shoe, there was a signature also written in blue.


    "MJ, 2002?" June muttered.


    As June continued to examine the shoe from inside and out, he noticed subtle hints of shimmer incorporated into the sole.


    It definitely looked expensive, but it''s just shoes! How expensive could it be?


    Without hesitation, June put on the shoes and was surprised to see that it was the perfect fit.


    Then, he proceeded to ce the box back under his breath.


    However, he stopped when he saw the watch and restaurant voucher that Pablo had given him.


    C-Jay''s words reyed back in his mind.


    "The moment I woke up, I looked at my watch. I didn''t realize it got ruined and stopped at 8 a.m."


    Might as well give it to him since June wasn''t even going to use it.

 Chapter 159 Overloaded

    <h4>Chapter 159 Overloaded</h4>


    Xin didn''t know what he was doing hiding in the bushes so early in the morning, but after Hoon sent him a selfie and a lengthy message about how he was the greatest friend he had ever had, Xin knew he had to make Hoon proud.


    So there he was, hiding in the bushes while spying on the group of guys sitting on the swings.


    "There he is!" C-Jay eximed when June walked toward them.


    June yawned as he sat on one of the swings, closing his eyes and leaning against the cold chain.


    The four other guys looked at him before bursting intoughter.


    "What?" June snapped as he red at them.


    "Nothing, nothing," Akira said. "I just didn''t know you were fond of little duckies."


    June''s frown deepened. "Little duckies?" Then, he felt a weird indent on his butt¡ªlike a bulbous head, of some sort? June looked down at the swing and saw he sat on one of those weird swings shaped like a duckling for smaller children.


    He quickly got out of the tiny swing, but the damage had already been done.


    "Oh, gosh. I wish I could have snapped a picture of that."


    They didn''t have to worry about that. Xin already did, and he observed the picture with a smile on his face.


    It was pretty cute.


    The duck, of course. The little duck was cute.


    As Xin continued to look at the picture, he realized that he was seeing the shoes June was wearing for the first time. Were these the shoes hidden inside the prestigious box?


    "Holy shit!"


    Xin snapped out of his thoughts when he heard C-Jay curse.


    "The shoes you''re wearing," C-Jay continued. "Where the hell did you get that?"


    June nonchntly looked down at his feet before shrugging. "Someone gave them to me."


    "Gave them to you?" C-Jay asked with wide eyes. "For free?"


    "Yeah," June said. "It was a gift."


    "Why would someone give that away for free?" Jangmoon asked. "Not going to lie. Those are some really cool shoes. I bet they cost a fortune."


    C-Jay couldn''t take his curiosity as he crouched down to the ground and inspected the shoes.


    "What the hell?" June eximed, trying to push him off, but C-Jay remained at his feet, clutching his shoes like they were the most precious item in the world.


    Akira, too, looked at June''s shoes and tilted his head to the side. Being an avid fan of basketball, he felt like the shoes looked really familiar.


    Then, C-Jay finally stood from the ground, a bit wide-eyed.


    "What?" June raised his eyebrows.


    "Bro," C-Jay started off. "Do you even know how precious these shoes are? These are the shoes MJ wore during the 2002 basketball finals! It even has his signature right there."


    "What?" Akira eximed with wide eyes. "MJ? As in Mikey Jouse? The most legendary basketball yer of all time?"


    "The one and only," C-Jay said.


    June frowned as he observed the signature on the side of the shoes. Again, there was a faded "MJ" written in blue ink. Who would have known that it was Mikey Jouse?


    "So?" June asked. "There are a lot of MJ shoes in retail. I bet this doesn''t even cost that much."


    C-Jay clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Sure, there are a lot of MJ shoes going around, but the one you''re wearing¡ªit''s one of a kind. I believe it''s the only pair in the entire world! You can''t even buy that with a year''s worth of sry."


    June shook his head, still not believing his words. Why would Choi Pablo give them away for free, then?


    As his friends continued ogling his shoes, he brought out the watch from the pocket of his sweatpants.


    "I heard your watch broke this morning," June said. "So, take this," he handed him the sturdy-looking box.


    C-Jay eagerly grabbed the box since he loved free items. "Aww, you actually thought about me?" he cooed, causing June to shake his head.


    His other friends huddled over C-Jay, also intrigued by the new item.


    Then, as C-Jay opened the box, they were rendered speechless.


    Colexx.


    C-Jay almost couldn''t believe that he was holding such an item.


    "You''re giving this to me¡­for free?" C-Jay asked.


    June nonchntly nodded. "Yeah, this one is still working fine," he said, pertaining to the cheap watch on his wrist. "And it''s too heavy for my liking. If you don''t like it, then you can give it away."


    "No, no," C-Jay aggressively shook his head. "I''ll be keeping this one," he said, pocketing it despite Jangmoon''s protest of also wanting the watch.


    Then, C-Jay pulled the guys to the side¡ªlike an emergency meeting.


    June looked at them weirdly but shrugged since it gave him some time to doze off while they spoke about their useless spections.


    "I don''t understand this," C-Jay whispered. "Why would he just give me a Colexx watch?"


    "I know, right?" Jangmoon whisper-shouted. "He should have given it to me."


    "That''s not the point," C-Jay scolded. "The point is¨Che''s also wearing MJ''s limited edition shoes. Is June actually loaded?"


    "Loaded?" Akira chuckled. "With items like those, he''s overloaded."


    "But if he''s loaded, then why does he live in a house like that?" Jisung asked.


    The four of them looked at June, who was dozing off in the tiger swing this time. It seemed like he didn''t notice it again.


    "And why does he wear clothes like that? My grandpa has better clothes," Jangmoon said.


    C-Jay pursed his lips and ced his hand on his heart, acting emotional.


    "He must be rich, but he doesn''t want us to feel bad," he said in a dramatic yet soft voice.


    Xin leaned closer but couldn''t make out their conversation.


    "That''s why he''s still working even if he''s rich," C-Jay continued to speak, on the verge of sobbing. The other guys seemed like they agreed, all nodding in agreement.


    Just then, June finally woke up and saw the four of them looking at him with emotional eyes.


    "What?" he raised his eyebrows.


    Jisung quickly shook his head, not wanting to raise any suspicions. "Nothing, bro. We were just uh¡ªwe were just hungry!"


    June frowned and looked at his watch. Indeed, it was almost time for breakfast.


    With that, he brought out the coupon from his pocket.


    "Then, would you guys like to eat at this restaurant?"


    Their eyes brightened in delight.


    "Of course!" C-Jay eximed. "I''m not one to deny free food. Where is this ce anyway?"


    June shrugged. "Don''t know. Some ce called Pierre?"


    "PIERRE?"


    There''s no doubt¡ªJune is overloaded.

 Chapter 160 VVIP

    <h4>Chapter 160 VVIP</h4>


    As Xin now hid in a nearby dumpster, he couldn''t shake off the weird feeling in his heart.


    Is June actually rich?


    Then, are they going against a very unstoppable force?


    Xin was aware of the rich lifestyle¡ªactually, he''s a fan of it. He had always wanted to live afortable, rich life. Unfortunately, he was born into a middle-ie family, and he wanted nothing more to be an idol so he could live out his dream of bing rich.


    Hearing that June was a poor bastard who lived in the slum areas of Seoul made him feel a bit satisfied with himself. Yet seeing him now, standing in front of Pierre, one of the most prestigious and well-known Michelin restaurants in the entirend of Korea, made him feel jealous.


    Not even small-scale politicians can eat here.


    It was that expensive.


    The five guys stood outside of the restaurant dressed in their casual jogging clothes, making them feel a bit out of ce. They had just opened the ce, and the peopleing in gave them weird looks as they passed.


    June, however, didn''t care about that at all. He beckoned his friends toe to the front desk despite their reluctance.


    "Maybe we shoulde back in the evening," Jisung said, scratching the back of his neck.


    "I agree," Akira said, feeling a bit shameful. "Let''s rent suits or something."


    "Suits?" June raised his eyebrow. "That''s too expensive. Let''s just go in. I''m hungry."


    His friends shook their heads in disbelief. June was taking them to a luxurious restaurant, but renting a suit was expensive? What a joke!


    June showed no signs of stopping as he stood at the front desk. His tacky appearance, along with his disheveled hair and mask-covered face, instantly made the host grimace. As the host looked at the other guys, however, his eyes brightened in surprise.


    What a handsome bunch!


    But they still looked dirt poor, so he kept his facade.


    The host, Seowon, didn''t even smile as he greeted the five of them.


    "Do you need anything?" he asked, nonchntly going through his phone.


    "Uh, we want to eat here," June casually said, like this wasn''t a 5-star restaurant.


    Seowon held in the urge tough. He popped a piece of gum in his mouth and chewed loudly. He couldn''t do this in front of important guests, but this group of men didn''t seem to be so important.


    "A lot of people want to eat here," Seowon smiled. "Sadly, not everyone can have what they want."


    C-Jay frowned and was about to tell him off when Jisung held onto his shoulder and shook his head.


    "Good job for stopping your friend over there," Seowon said. "We don''t really ept such squatter-like behavior in this very prestigious restaurant."


    June felt his eye twitch, but he calmed himself down.


    As a gangster, he had met plenty of guys like this. They''re entitled just because they represent an expensive enterprise. However, in the end, they get the same median wage as office workers.? Yet their attitude is even worse than a poor man''s.


    "Then, can you prepare a table for us?" June calmly said. "We really came here to eat."


    "Then, do you have a reservation?" Seowon smugly asked. He knew for a fact that their reservation list was filled until the next month by their stakeholders¡ªand men as young as them would definitely not be on the list.


    "No," June said.


    "Or, perhaps you''re a member of the country club?"


    "No," June said, causing Seowon''s smirk to widen.


    "Then, I''m sorry, we can''t let you in. Our restaurant has a reputation to keep, and only people with reservations or are members of the country club can eat in this restaurant."


    "We have this," June said, bringing out the coupon from his pocket, but Seowon didn''t even bother looking at it.


    "You should leave," he smiled. "Before I call security."


    Xin, who had now migrated to the big nt in the lobby, listened in on their conversation.


    He smirked when he realized that June was rich, but he couldn''t be THAT rich.


    "We should just leave, bro," Akira said, already feeling quite ashamed.


    However, June stood his ground. People like this will only continue looking down on others unless they are proven wrong.


    And June was determined to prove him wrong.


    "We are going to eat here," he said, sliding over the coupon in front of Seowon. However, Seowon continued to ignore the shiny piece of paper.


    "Are you really not going to leave?" he asked.


    "No," June stubbornly said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    The two of them locked gazes, and Seowon felt frustrated since he felt intimidated by the poor guy''s eyes.


    "Fine," Seowon said. He then pressed the button to call for security and a higher-up. "Then, you can talk to my manager."


    A bald man with a well-kept mustache and a big guy with sunsses came out from behind Seowon.


    "Is there anything wrong here?" the mustache-man asked.


    "Yes, manager," Seowon said, suddenly sounding professional.


    "This group of youngds are insisting on eating at Pierre, and they are increasingly bing violent."


    "Violent?" Jangmoon eximed. "Do you want me to show you real violence?"


    June held out his hand, causing Jangmoon to shut his mouth.


    Seowon continued to smile. "My point has been proven."


    The manager sighed. "Please, boys. Just leave. We don''t want Big Ant over here to throw you out and cause a scene," he said, gesturing to the big guy next to him.


    June handed over the coupon to the manager. "I have this," he said. "Can''t we use it for this restaurant? The person who gave it to me said I can use it any time," he bluffed.


    The manager''s eyebrows furrowed as he observed the coupon. Then, he brought out a magnifying ss from his pocket.


    As he read the contents of the coupon, his eyes widened in surprise, and he muttered a curse word under his breath.


    This coupon was only dispensed to their greatest shareholders.


    "Choi," it even had their surname underneath.


    "M¡ªmay I please see an ID card, sir?" the manager shakily asked.


    June sighed while Seowon frowned. It was a rare urrence for his manager to lose his cool, but there he was, sounding unconfident in front of a poor-looking young man.


    June didn''t know the reason for showing his ID card, but he agreed since he wanted to eat as soon as possible.


    "Here," he said, handing them Choi Joon-ho''s ID.


    The manager''s breath got caught in the back of his throat as he nced at the ID, the coupon, and then back at June.


    Choi¡­


    June clicked his tongue and removed his mask. "That''s me," he said.


    Seowon froze when June removed his mask. This face¡ªit seemed like the face of a young master! The mask and tacky clothes had deceived him!


    The manager continued to observe June, and when his eyes strayed to his shoes, he was confident that he was, indeed, the owner of the coupon.


    The manager pinched Seowon''s side, causing him to squeal in an embarrassingly high tone.


    "Get these fine young men a table right away!"

 Chapter 161 Orphan

    <h4>Chapter 161 Orphan</h4>


    June couldn''t help but smirk at the dumbfounded Seowon as they made their way inside.


    Xin, too, who was still hiding behinf the big nt, was so surprised that he forgot to record the encounter just now. However, he quickly snapped a photo of the group going inside the restaurant before finally leaving.


    The five guys, dressed in casual clothes, appeared to be fishes out of water in Pierre.


    However, as the manager treated June like a VVIP person, the waiters started serving them like masters, too.


    "This way, sirs," Richard, the manager, said, leading them to a wide table. He couldn''t help but shake as he felt the powerful aura from the young man. The coupon is a rare item¡ªonly about ten of its kind in Korea. The coupon itself is embedded with real gold to make it easier to recognize.


    "Here is our menu," Richard said, taking the initiative to serve them. "You can order any of the menu items for free! Our restaurant will also give you aplimentary dessert."


    "Hmm, alright," June said, not really internalizing Richard''s words since he couldn''t understand anything on the menu.


    He was fluent in threenguages, namely Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. But there was anguage he secretly loathed, one he had never learned¡ªEnglish.


    And this menu was all in English.


    His friends mistook June''s internal turmoil for seriousness. As June continued to gaze at the menu with a serious expression, Jangmoon shook his head.


    He''s really on another level.


    June looked like a connoisseur!


    In the end, June ced down his menu. "We''ll just take everything," he said, giving up.


    C-Jay showed him two thumbs-up. As expected, June is the best!


    "Of course, sir," Richard said. "We''ll serve you the food very quickly."


    With that, he dashed to the kitchen to yell out their orders.


    "Can we even finish all of those?" Jisung asked.


    "They have small servings here," C-Jay whispered. "But they say the food is bomb, so I''m going to enjoy it while I can."


    "Me too," Akira chimed. "This is probably the only time I can eat in this ce. And it''s all thanks to June," he buttered up, leaning against June''s shoulder.


    June scoffed and pushed Akira away. It was his first and probablyst time in this restaurant, too.


    "I still can''t believe you managed to get us in," Jangmoon said. "And you get to eat here for free? Just what do your parents do for a living?" he asked out of genuine curiosity.


    June paused.


    The other guys looked at him with anticipation. They already had guesses in their minds.


    "Are they artists?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Or perhaps...something that has to do with Real Estate?" Jisung guessed.


    "Oooh, what about doctors? Or directors of a hospital?" Jangmoon chimed, and the other guys started eximing in agreement.


    "But I do think that business is most usible," Akira seriously said.


    C-Jay then raised his hand before whispering, "Or maybe they''re a part of the mafia?"


    June looked at them like they were crazy. They all had curious looks on their faces as they waited for June to answer.


    In the end, June sighed and settled for an answer.


    "They''re doing business, I guess?" he said in an unsure tone.


    Sure, they were doing business.


    Business in the afterlife, that is.


    "I was right," Akira proudly said, and the others eximed in disappointment since their guesses failed through.


    As his friends kept bickering, June couldn''t help but let his mind stray to the issue of ''parents.''


    Why was it so hard for him to say that they were dead?


    June honestly didn''t know.


    Jun Hao was an orphan.


    Joon-ho is an orphan.


    It was funny how June was given two lives, yet in both of them, he still didn''t have any parents.


    It''s like he was never meant to be...cherished.


    In the beginning, when he lost his parents and went to an orphanage with Mei Ling, he was proud to tell other people that he lived with plenty of other kids his age. However, as he grew older, he realized that the world wasn''t kind to orphans after all.


    It''s not that he''s ashamed of being an orphan, but the world has a way of viewing him through a lens of pity, and that''s something he learned to resent.


    The unkindness of the world, disguised as well-intentioned sympathy, has shaped his decision to conceal the fact that he didn''t have any parents. In their attempts to console him, people unknowingly reduced him to the status of an orphan, overshadowing his individuality.


    "Oh, Jun Hao? That kid without parents?"


    "You should be kinder to him. He doesn''t have any parents."


    "He''s got a lot to say for someone who doesn''t have any parents."


    Those were only some of the words that June heard growing up.


    And he hase to realize that living in his own space was a refuge from this pervasive perception. It''s a ce where people don''t see him as an orphan first, where he can just be... June.


    And maybe that''s the reason why he didn''t want to tell his friends, too.


    Because June felt like he already built a good friendship with these guys, and he didn''t want them to take pity on him.


    As June got lost in his thoughts, the manager and the waiters finally arrived with two full trolley carts.


    "Gentlemen, your first course: the chef''s special appetizers," Richard said in a sophisticated tone.


    The waiter removed the domes one by one, revealing tiny, beautifully arranged tes, each holding a bite-sized masterpiece of culinary artistry. The presentation was impable, and the food looked exquisite, but there was an unmistakable sense of surprise at just how small the portions were.


    "Tiny," June muttered under his breath, measuring the portions with his hand. It was a mere three inches.


    "That''s not too tiny," C-Jay defended as he stared at the dishes.


    "Shall wee back for the main course, or do you prefer we serve it all to you?" Richard asked.


    "You can serve it all," June said, hoping the serving sizes for the main course would be bigger than this. He was truly starving.


    As the waiters revealed the main course, June was disappointed again. How can a piece of steak be so tiny?


    "Please enjoy the food," Richard said, bowing his head before leaving them all alone.


    "Thank goodness we ordered a lot," Jangmoon said. "It looks like my pet bird wouldn''t even be satisfied with this."


    C-Jay pped the back of his head. "You really don''t know anything. This is what you call¡ªsophistication," he said in a posh voice.


    "Soshitstication¡ªwhat?" Jangmoon frowned.


    C-Jay sighed in defeat. "You will never understand June and I''s lifestyle."


    As June reached for one of the tiny morsels with eager anticipation, C-Jay suddenly interrupted, raising his smartphone high above the table.


    "Wait," C-Jay exined. "We need to take pictures of this."


    The others groaned in mild annoyance, but they knew C-Jay''s obsession with documenting every moment. They begrudgingly waited as he adjusted lighting and angles to capture the perfect shot.


    C-Jay finally lowered his phone, and the group turned their attention back to the precious appetizers.


    Finally, they could eat.


    With eager anticipation, they took their first bites. However, as June chewed the delicate creation, he stopped to internalize the taste of the 100-dor appetizer.


    "This... this tastes like shit."

 Chapter 162 5-Star Restaurant, 1-Star Review

    <h4>Chapter 162 5-Star Restaurant, 1-Star Review</h4>


    The group of guys went out of the fancy restaurant with heavy sighs and grumbling stomachs.


    "I''m disappointed," Akira sighed. "I thought Pierre would have the best food in Seoul!"


    "I swear¡ªrich people don''t have any taste," Jangmoon said, causing the others to look at them with wide eyes.


    June was walking ahead of them, so he didn''t see their reactions.


    "Are you stupid?" C-Jay whisper-shouted. "How can you say that when June''s right here?"


    "Uh¡ªI mean, rich people must have the soshitsticated taste," Jangmoon said, still getting the word wrong. "I don''t have that, I guess," he chuckled nervously.


    The others followed suit. "Yeah, m¡ªme too. Guess I can''t be rich in this life," C-Jay nervously chuckled.


    In the meantime, June was oblivious to their conversation.


    His stomach was still grumbling because he wasn''t satisfied with the taste or the serving size of the food in Pierre.


    Moreover, their customer service was shit. They treated them like VIPs only when they saw the coupon that Choi Pablo gave. It spoke highly about their discrimination of others.


    "Hey, C-Jay," June said. "Can you send me those pics that you took?"


    C-Jay suspiciously looked at him. "Are you posting it on Instapic too?"


    "Just send it to me," June grumbled.


    "Fine," C-Jay groaned. "You can have them since you gave me a Colexx. But you should take your own pictures next time."


    C-Jay sent the photos via text, and June quickly saved the photos. Then, he went to Minjun''s contact name and wrote him a message.


    June: Kid.


    Minjun: What? I''m busy.


    June: Have you ever eaten at Pierre?


    Minjun: Only when my mom came back to Seoul for a week. Why?


    June: It tastes like dog food.


    Minjun: You know what? You''re right.


    June: *Sent 8 photos*


    June: Make a review for me on MinMin, then. Give them a 1-Star review.


    Minjun: How''d you even eat there?


    June: Just got in.


    Minjun: That''s suspicious¡­but it sounds pretty fun! Let me write a review real quick.


    June smirked and turned off his phone. Then, a wonderful scent invaded his nostrils, causing him to halt. The others behind him stopped too.


    "What is it?" Akira asked.


    June turned to the side and saw a Tteokbokki and fish cake stall in the corner. His stomach grumbled louder when he smelled the heavenly spicy scent.


    "Let''s eat there," June said, pointing to the stall. "It''s your treat this time," he said.


    The other guys looked at each other with knowing looks.


    "Do you really want to eat there, bro?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Of course," June said. "It already smells better than the ones we had in Pierre."


    C-Jay let out a shaky smile, touched by June''s taste.


    As expected, June is really down-to-earth!


    ***


    "Hoon," Xin shakily said as he recalled everything that had happened today.


    June''s expensive shoes¡­giving away a Colexx to C-Jay¡­and treating his friends to the most luxurious restaurant in Seoul.


    "Did you do what I asked you to do?" Hoon asked, his phone propped on the table as he continued ying on hisputer.


    He was surrounded by even more food wrappers and pee bottles during this time, a testament to his undyingmitment to gaming and finding something to ruin June''s life.


    "I did," Xin said as he sat on a concrete bench. "And it''s worse than I thought¡­I don''t think we should continue with what we''re doing, bro."


    Hoon frowned as he started pressing harder on his keys. "What do you mean? What''d you find out?"


    "June¡ªI feel like he''s an untouchable person. We probably shouldn''t mess with him."


    Hoon''s jaw clenched as he listened to Xin''s cowardly mumbling. He mmed his keyboard when the words "Game Over" appeared on the screen, and he wanted nothing more but to me it on Xin.


    "You just made me lose," Hoon breathed heavily.


    Xin froze. "Uh¡ªI''m sorry, bro. I didn''t mean to. I''m just looking out for the two of us since June''s probably a person with great influence."


    Hoon chuckled coldly. "What? Did you find out anything?"


    "I''ll send you the pictures for now," Xin said. "Check them out on our text messages."


    Hoon quickly opened the messaging app and scrolled through the photos one by one. His eyes instantly widened in surprise when he saw them. He zoomed in on his phone, still with an agape mouth, before slumping on hisputer chair.


    He couldn''t be mistaken. These shoes¡ªthese were the shoes the Mickey Jouse wore during the 2002 championships, the only one of their kind.


    Hoon went to search for the retail price online and saw a whopping 120,000 dor bid on the pair of shoes.


    Then, as he scrolled through the other photos, his disbelief escted even further.


    "They even ate at Pierre. Pierre!" Xin emphasized. "Can you believe it? We could never eat at that ce no matter how hard we tried, and he got in just because he showed them a piece of paper. The manager treated him like a VIP guest, too. So, I''m guessing he''s actually more influential than we had thought? Maybe that''s the reason why he''s doing very well on the show."


    "Genius," Hoon muttered under his breath.


    "What was that, bro?"


    "Nothing," Hoon smirked. "You''ve done enough. I''ll make sure to send some stars for you before the elimination episode."


    Xin smiled. "Thanks, bro. I really appreciate it. But are you going to continue with this n? Even if we''re going against such a powerful force?"


    "That''s exactly why we''re going against him," Hoon smirked. "Because the most powerful people will have the biggest, most satisfying downfall."


    Xin let out a shaky sigh. "Alright, bro. Just tell me if you need anything else."


    "Will do," Hoon said before turning off the call.


    Then, he went to Navel once more to open the article he had been eyeing for thest couple of days. It was posted by "BannChu," a page that was famous for posting drama about the entertainment industry and the corporate world. The user has garnered over a million followers since its creation, and it was rare to see a positive post made by the user.


    The monitor''s glow painted a sickly pallor on Hoon''s face, revealing a twisted grin that stretched from ear to ear, making his features appear manic.


    The room was covered in darkness, the only source of light being the eerie, pale glow of theputer screen casting haunting shadows across the walls. The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the faint hum of theputer''s fan. Hoon, hunched over his desk, seemed like a specter in the dimly lit room.


    As he stared at the screen, his eyes burned with an unholy fervor. Hisughter, a chilling sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of his very soul, pierced the silence. It was aughter devoid of joy¡ªa mere a cacophony of madness. His shoulders shook uncontrobly like he was possessed by some unseen force as he continued tough.


    "Azure Shareholder Power Couple ''Choi'' Faces Scandal Over Corruption And Rigging of Last Year''s Rising Stars Amidst Lavish Lifestyle Revtions."

 Chapter 163 Parents’ Day

    <h4>Chapter 163 Parents'' Day</h4>


    June entered Grandma''s and Minjun''s house. The scent of fried fish and newlyundered curtains evaded his nostrils, and he immediately feltforted.


    "I''m home," June called, plopping down on the soft couch.


    Minjun came out from his room with his phone in hand, ying some sort of game.


    "You''re back?" he asked in a casual tone, sitting next to June.


    June weirdly looked at him. "You don''t sound excited."


    "Why would I be excited?" Minjun nonchntly asked. "Youe back here whenever you have the time anyway."


    June chuckled and shook his head. "You didn''t even miss me?"


    "Hell no," Minjun said, still not looking at him.


    June scoffed before peering over his shoulder. "Where''s Grandma, by the way?"


    "She''s taking a shower," Minjun said. "She''ll be out soon."


    "What about the review I asked you to do?" June asked. "Did it go well? And did you add how they treated their guests like shit?"


    "Oh, I forgot about that one," Minjun said. "Of course, I did. I also didn''t like how they sucked up to my mom that time. Let''s check it out right now."


    Minjun paused his game and went to his Navel page. At this point, he already had more than 300,000 followers¡ªsomething he was very proud of. Then, he scrolled down until he reached the food review he made just a while ago.


    "A Pricey Pooch Palette: Dining at Pierre."


    Ladies and gentlemen, gather ''round as I regale you with the tale of my gastronomic adventure at the outrageously overpriced "Pierre," where the food costs more than your college education, yet tastes like something my neighbor''s poodle would happily devour. Buckle up, because this is a culinary ride you won''t forget!


    Each dish came with a description that was more cryptic than a Dan Brown novel, and a price tag that would make a Wall Street banker''s jaw drop.


    I started with the "Golden Leash Gazpacho," which promised to be a transformative experience. s, it tasted like someone had pureed a garden hose and sprinkled it with dust from a Swarovski crystal. The "Champagne Caviar Sorbet" that followed was a delightful medley of frozen fish eggs and fizz, but let''s be real, I could''ve achieved the same effect by sticking my head in a fish tank with a bottle of champagne.


    For the main course, I went all out and ordered the "Filet Mignon ¨¤ Canine." This dish cost as much as my monthly rent, and I swear, it tasted like they''d aged the beef by burying it in the backyard for a week. The "truffle-infused kibble" on the side was presented as if it were the holy grail of dog cuisine. I couldn''t help but think my neighbor''s schnauzer had better taste.


    To wash down this absurdity, I ordered a bottle of their "Vintage Toilet Water." It was priced like liquid gold, but it tasted like, well, water from a toilet. Go figure!


    In summary, dear readers, Pierre not only serves food that tastes like it belongs in a dog''s dish, but it also treats customers like pedigree canines versus the rest of us mere mutts. If you dare to venture into this realm of extravagance, do so at your own risk, and be sure to bring your designer dog and your tinum card if you hope to receive the royal treatment. As for me, I''ll stick to establishments that value diners based on their appetites, not their appearances.


    June burst intoughter as he read Minjun''s review, pping the little kid''s back since he wrote pure ingenuity.


    "Kid, I swear. You''re the best writer I''ve ever known."


    "Well, of course," Minjun smirked. "And looks like the public agrees with you too."


    - MinMin is my favorite user on this app, I swear.


    - I want to meet the person behind this ount and shake his hand. I fantasized going to Pierre, but now, I won''t even n on going anymore.


    - I thought this dude was just talking crap because he couldn''t afford Pierre, but the photos say otherwise. Man, rich people really do gobble everything up just because it''s expensive.


    - Is nobody wondering how the page owner was able to eat there?


    June smirked as he read thements. It was well-deserved. The stall they ate at earlier had even better customer service than that overpriced restaurant.


    As the two of them bonded over readingments, Grandma went out of her room.


    "Oh, you''re back?" she asked with a wide smile. "Should I cook you some lunch?"


    "No need," June said. "I just ate. I''ll eat dinner with you guyster, though."


    "I''ll cook your favorite then," Grandma said.


    June beamed. "Thanks, Grandma. Right," he suddenly said, bringing out something from his pocket. "I got you something."


    Then, June brought out the bracelet that Choi Pablo had given him. It was thest item that he had gotten from Choi Pablo, and he felt it was the perfect gift for Grandma.


    Minjun raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Where did you even get that?" he asked.


    June shrugged. "Someone gave them to me."


    "Oh my," Grandma eximed, looking at the bracelet in wonder.


    "Do you like it?" June asked.


    "Well, of course!" Grandma eximed. "I have never received such an extravagant gift. Help me put it on."


    "Liar," Minjun coughed. "You have thetest version of that bracelet sitting in your dresser."


    June''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Oh,e on now," Grandma said. "Your mother brought me that. It doesn''t count."


    June still hasn''t recovered from his shock. How rich are Grandma and Minjun?


    "Don''t worry, June," Grandma patted his back. "I like yours much better."


    "Mom''s probably going to give you another one of those, Grandma," Minjun said. "Especially with Parent''s daying up."


    "Parent''s day?" June muttered under his breath in confusion.


    Grandma pped her hands. "Ah, right. I almost forgot about that! Parents'' day is next Friday! How could I forget? Are you going to celebrate it with your parents, June?"


    "No," June bluntly said.


    "Why not?" Minjun asked.


    June sighed. There wasn''t any harm in sharing the truth with Grandma and Minjun, is there?


    "Well, we probably have to start filming for the next mission by that time."


    "And the thing is," he said, taking a deep breath before looking them in the eyes. "My parents are dead."


    [Good day, host! Your missions have now respawned:


    1. Celebrate Parents'' day with your parents!


    2. y re De Lune by Debussy and share it to the world. Fu loves Debussy!]

 Chapter 164 Seventh Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 164 Seventh Episode (1)</h4>


    "He''s not answering," Jangmoon said, repeatedly knocking on June''s door.


    "Knock harder," C-Jay said, pushing Jangmoon out of the way to practically bang on June''s door.


    "Are you sure he lives here?" a new voice asked. "How many years has this ce been built?"


    "He does," Jaeyong said. "I couldn''t believe it at first, but I saw it with my own two eyes. June lives here."


    "I still can''t believe it, too. Why does someone like him live in a ce like this?" Akira asked.


    "Why?" the new person asked. "Is there something wrong with June living here?"


    "That''s ''Young Master June'' for you," C-Jay said. "Call him that name from now on. Especially after kicking him out of the team like that."


    He tilted his head to the side in confusion but eventually nodded. He still wanted to make it up to June, so he''ll do whatever it takes.


    As C-Jay continued to bang on the door, June''s neighbor suddenly popped her head out.


    "Who the fuck is banging on the door at night?" the middle-ageddy screamed. "Fuck-ass kids always messing with me in this apartment. Do I need to show you how our mothers used to beat our asses back then?"


    The group of five men paused before C-Jay signaled them to run.


    "Let''s go!" he eximed, and they all scrambled to get away from the manicdy.


    As they reached the second floor, they sighed in relief when thedy didn''t run after them.


    "Should we leave?" Jisung asked.


    "Of course not," Jangmoon said. "I want to watch the episode with June. I''m sure he''s here. He doesn''t go anywhere anyway."


    "Should we ask someone where he is?" C-Jay asked.


    "Who?"


    "That door," C-Jay pointed. "I have a good feeling about that door."


    He started walking to the beat-up door, but Jisung held him back.


    "It''s embarrassing," Jisung whispered.


    "Embarrassing is not in my dictionary," C-Jay smirked. With that, he knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it.


    June clicked his tongue as he heard someone knock on the door. Who the hell would visit during this time?


    "Can you get the door?" Grandma called out from the kitchen.


    June sighed and begrudgingly stood up. He was still in a bad mood after seeing his missions¡ªespecially the first one.


    Celebrate Parents'' Day with your parents? Did Fu want him to die?


    How could he celebrate that day with his parents?


    "What?" he asked as soon as he opened the door. He sighed in annoyance when he saw the group of boys before him. Somehow, he had already expected they woulde, and that''s the reason why he decided to stay at Grandma''s and Minjun''s for the night.


    However, it seemed like it was no use.


    "Bro!" their eyes sparkled when they saw him.


    "What is he doing here?" June asked while pointing to the new addition to their team.


    "He insisted oning," Jaeyong said.


    "When I heard you guys were watching the show on Fridays, I also wanted to join in," Zeth shyly said, scratching the back of his neck.


    "Well, we''re not watching anything," June said, mming the door shut.


    However, C-Jay ced his foot on the door before it couldpletely close. And like perfect timing, Grandma came out of the kitchen and saw the five handsome boys standing in her doorway.


    "Omo," Grandma eximed. "Has Rising Starse to life?"


    Akira went to the front and offered his hand to Grandma. "Good morning, ma''am. We havee here to visit June."


    Grandma blushed and smiled as he pped June''s shoulder.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you''re friends wereing, June?"


    "Because they''re not¡ª"


    "We wanted to watch the seventh episode with June," Jangmoon interrupted.


    "Oh, of course!" Grandma eximed. "We were nning on watching it during dinner too. Would you like to join us?"


    "Sure!"


    "I''m down."


    "We''d be honored."


    "Absolutely not," June eximed, but Grandma had already held the door open.


    "I''m so excited! This is the first time I''m meeting June''s friends," she pped excitedly. "Wait here. I''ll be ting some food for you guys. Make yourselves at home."


    "We would love to taste your cooking, Grandma!" C-Jay called out as Grandma practically danced to the kitchen.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "I can''t believe you, guys."


    "Don''t worry," Akira said. "We got you this," he handed him a pack of BenBen gummies.


    June lit up as soon as he saw the red packaging, but he quickly neutralized his expression when the other guys sprawled out on the couch, started ying with whatever, and acted like this was their real home.


    Geez. They really made themselves feel at home, huh?


    Just then, Minjun came out from the restroom and looked at the group of guys with raised eyebrows.


    "Aww, there''s a young boy over here!" C-Jay eximed, wanting to pinch his plump cheeks.


    However, Minjun pped his hand away. "Why are they here?" he asked.


    "Ask Grandma," June nonchntly said, taking his ce on the couch.


    Minjun sighed. "They''re filling this ce with unnecessary testosterone."


    The guys looked at Minjun with surprise, amazed that a little kid sounded so eloquent.


    ''He''s definitely smarter than me,'' Jangmoon thought.


    It didn''t take long before Grandma arrived with the food, cing an abundant number of dishes on the living room table. The guys all looked at the food with glistening eyes, wanting to taste the array of dishes sooner.


    "Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in!" Grandma eximed, and the guys didn''t hesitate to devour the dishes.


    ***


    "Oh, goodness. I don''t think I''ve ever felt this full in my life," Zeth said. "You''re lucky for having a Grandma that cooks so well," he tells June.


    "Is she your biological grandma?" Jisung asked.


    "She''s not," Minjun responded. "She''s my grandma."


    "Oh," Jangmoon said. "I thought you guys were family members."


    "We''re not," Minjun teased. "I look so much more handsome than June," he said, causing the others to burst into chuckles.


    June merely scoffed before turning on the TV. It was already past 8:50 p.m., so the intro of Rising Stars was already ying when they tuned in.


    Then, Kang Minho''s figure under the stage lights and in front of the live audience was shown.


    "It is now time for the Concept Mission!"

 Chapter 165 Seventh Episode (2)

    <h4>Chapter 165 Seventh Episode (2)</h4>


    - I''ve been waiting for this all week!


    - I heard some spoilers from my friend, but I''m not going to share it here.


    - Then why say it right now? Show-off.


    - I want to hear the new songs ASAP!


    The first scenes showed the different songsposed by the producers. As expected, they garnered varying reactions from the crowd.


    - Brown Sugar Milk Tea is so cute! I wish June would perform it.


    - Holy shit! Tie Me Up is a masterpiece. As expected from GroovyTunes.


    - No one can beat Skateboard Ride. PCatt has done it again.


    Then, snippets of trainees saying the song they wanted to get were shown. Again, it was expected that most of them wanted to perform Skateboard Ride by PCatt. However, only a few were able to make it to the team. And when the audience saw the members of Skateboard Ride, they were bbergasted by the number of high-rankers included.


    - WTF? What is this line-up? Their performance is about to be goated.


    - I see a sneak, though. Or two sneaks. What are those individual trainees doing there?


    - June strikes again! He''ll win another mission because of the other members'' ranks.


    - Bitch, shut up! June is ranked 11th. There are plenty more members who have lower ranks than him in this team.


    - Yeah, he''s ranked 11th ''cause yo mama voted for him.


    Minjun couldn''t help but let out a hugeugh as he read thatment out loud. "Oh goodness, this is hrious! They''re getting so mad when you didn''t even stay in that team."


    "What the hell?" Mimi stood up from her couch, watching the scene with wide eyes. "Why is June in Skateboard Ride? He performed Tie Me Up!"


    Sasha frowned as she popped some popcorn into her mouth. "Why? Were you a part of the panel that chose their songs for them?"


    "No," Mimi said.


    "Then, how''d you know that he performed Tie Me Up?" L squinted her eyes suspiciously. "Did you go to the live show even though you were busy?"


    "Of course not!" Mimi eximed. "I''m¡ªI''m busy," she stammered. "I just thought June would suit that song more."


    "Oh,e on," Sasha said. "That dude hasn''t rapped in the entirety of the show. He probably can''t evenpose a rap for the song."


    "You don''t know that," Mimi said, clenching her fists.


    June will show them.


    However, deep inside Mimi''s mind, she couldn''t shake off the feeling of sadness. Since June performed a different song, it could only mean one thing¡ªhe was going to be kicked out.


    The show continued, and it seemed like a lot of people were already predicting the oue of the Concept Mission. Ultimately, Team Risers was projected to win.


    After the series of practices was aired, the most exciting part of the team selection was finally shown¡ªthe elimination of trainees.


    As the scene transitioned from day to night, the different teams contemting were shown on screen. For most of the teams, the decision came easy. Team ''Break My Heart'' huddled together, each member clutching a piece of paper with a trainee''s name written on it. Their strategy was simple: the trainee who had the most votes was going to leave the team.


    In the blink of an eye, the papers were drawn and read aloud. "C-Jay," the team leader announced with a shrug. C-Jay, not wanting to look bothered, took the news surprisingly well, even managing to sh a thumbs-up to the camera as he made his graceful exit.


    - We need to make this dude stay. He''s the funniest in the entire show.


    - Damn, he took that elimination like a pro. Maybe he''ll find his true calling as aedian.


    The other teams, too, settled with the voting system, and not much drama was shown despite the nature of the elimination.


    Team Skateboard Ride, on the other hand, gave the production team the needed drama for the episode. They sat in awkward silence, not one daring to break the ice. Then, the signature tension-filled music characterized the scene, making the viewers watch in anticipation.


    - Shit is about to get real.


    - Where''s June?


    - I heard he was in the hospital during this time.


    - Then, he''ll most likely be eliminated.


    - What are you talking about? This is the first time June actually received such nicements during the interim evaluation. The mentors also said that he did a really good job. How can this team kick him out?


    Back in Grandma''s apartment, the guys were engulfed in silence, all of them watching the scene with concentration on their faces. For most of them, this was the first time they saw the scene in full perspective.


    June was curious how they came to such a decision, while the others were curious as to how June took the decision.


    "But as a former teammate, I want to suggest something," Xin spoke.


    "Go ahead," Lin Zhi said.


    "This ising from a good ce," he smiled. "I want the best for your performance, and I also don''t want you guys to have a hard time deciding on who to kick out next. So, why don''t you kick June out instead?"


    June scoffed. So, it was Xin, huh? And to think that June even helped him with the choreography during the practices.


    Whatever.


    June was already over it. He spent a lot of time internalizing his feelings, and he was all better now¡­


    At least, that''s what he thought.


    Until he saw the edit that the editing team did during his arrival.


    With a disheveled appearance, June ran through the hallways of the training grounds. As he reached the door, a somber piano yed in the background, and the scene yed in slow motion.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he watched the scene. He never recalled it to be this dramatic.


    Jaeyong and Zeth turned to June with wide eyes.


    ''He ran there?'' Jaeyong thought, feeling even sadder.


    Then, as June opened the door, the camera focused on his face.


    The current June felt his breath get caught in the back of his throat as he looked at himself on the screen.


    Why does he look so¡­sad?


    "You could have told me first," June calmly said, but there was an underlying shakiness in his voice.


    Zeth cleared his throat. "That''s our mistake, little bro," he warily said. "We should have contacted you about the decision."


    "So, it''s final?" June asked.


    "It''s final," Lin Zhi said, his voice cutting through the air. "You should meet the production crew in the training center so you can choose the song you''ll perform."


    "Alright," June said in a sad tone.


    There was a collective gasp in the room as they looked into June''s eyes through the screen.


    In the depths of his eyes, a sea of sorrow resided, hidden beneath his sternposure. At first nce, one might mistake them for eyes devoid of emotion. Yet, within those windows to the soul, there lies a disappointment that dances in the shadows.


    - June huhuhuhu. I''m fucking crying. I can''t believe they kicked him out.


    - Alright, I actually feel pretty bad for the dude now.


    - If you feel sad for him, then vote for June on the Azure app!


    - Don''t be sad, ck kitty. I''ll send you all my stars.


    - That was not cool at all. And am I the only one who found it weird how Lin Zhi didn''t even sound apologetic after all?


    - And that Xin guy. He should have been voted out along with the other independent trainees.


    - I''ve never seen June so¡­sad.

 Chapter 166 Seventh Episode (3)

    <h4>Chapter 166 Seventh Episode (3)</h4>


    "Will you stop crying?" Sasha pped Mimi''s back. "Five teams have already performed, and you''re still crying over June getting kicked out?"


    "But he looked so sad!" Mimi eximed. "And now, it looks like everything is going well for Team Risers!"


    - Kyaaah! Skateboard Ride is the best.


    - I feel bad for the team who will performst. They won the arm-wrestlingpetition, but they chose to perform right after this team? What a joke.


    - Is it just me who found Lin Zhi''s high note weird? Why didn''t it focus on his face?


    - I thought I was the only one who noticed. It looked almost lip-synced.


    - What are you talking about? His lips literally moved. It''s live.


    - I can even hear his breathing through the microphone. I''m a professional vocal teacher. It was not lip-synced, and the note was fully-supported.


    - Nah, man. I''m a fan of Lin Zhi, but that looked lip-synced.


    - Whatever! Skateboard Ride performed the best out of everyone. I''m sure they''ll win.


    After ''Skateboard Ride,'' it was time for Team Aglet to perform. A snippet of them looking nervous backstage was shown, with June patting them on the back and reassuring them they can do it.


    "I''m curious about this one," Jangmoon said. "Nobody really knew what was going on in your practice room."


    "That''s because we were located at the very back," C-Jay retorted. "You''d even have to pass through the Janitor''s closet before reaching our training room."


    They turned their attention back to the screen. The stage was set, enveloped in a soft glow. As the lights illuminated, revealing the team standing in formation, the footage on the screen shifted.


    It was the moment where the team was first assigned their roles, and June was given his Main Rapper position.


    - Main Rapper? That''s a joke! Does he even know how to rap?


    - Alright, I love June. But why are they making him rap?


    - Is he even a rapper? He''s going to put GroovyTune''s song to shame at this point.


    Truly, the rapper duo GROOVYTUNES, who were currently watching the episode in thefort of their own studio, began to feel nervous. They were yet to meet the team and record the full song, so they didn''t know what to expect. Honestly, they wanted higher-ranked trainees with more experience in rapping to perform their song, so they couldn''t help but feel disappointed after seeing the trainees that were actually performing it.


    After settling their positions, the scene showed the team struggling with their choreography.


    The editing team even ced creaking sounds and some "boings" whenever the trainees struggled with the movements.


    The boys burst intoughter when they saw C-Jay attempt the wave move in the chorus.


    - Well, this team is definitely fucked. It''s just the rehearsal, but I can''t dare watch it.


    - I guess I should give out an early congrattions to Team Risers.


    - Good job to Team Risers. You''ve proven that trainees at the top will always remain on top.


    After that, more of Team Aglet''s struggles were shown ¨C how they stumbled and tripped over each other and how their movements were out of sync. The editing team definitely did their best making them look pathetic.


    The next shot focused on June, who sat alone in the corner of the room, a nk sheet of paper and a pen in his hand. His brows furrowed in concentration as he tried to put his thoughts into words. His fellow trainees watched him, some skeptical, others worried.


    - Give up, boy. Just focus on being a Main Vocalist.


    - It''s confirmed. He''s not rapper-material.


    The montage continued, showcasing the moments of doubt and frustration the team had experienced. From the looks of it, their performance was going to be the worst out of all.


    "How long does this have to go on for?" C-Jay eximed. "We''ve had some good times, too!"


    It just got worse after that.


    Because the next scene showed how Sun-Y shitted on them during the interim evaluations.


    "I still don''t understand why you guys got Sun-Y as a mentor," Akira said. "We got Kiera from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION."


    "And we got Rhino," Zeth said. "He was really cool."


    C-Jayughed sarcastically. "Good for you guys, then."


    They focused once more on the screen, where the Team Aglet was seen standing before the stern-faced mentor. As theyunched into their performance, the initial strains of the song filled the room. The lyrics seemed disjointed, the flow awkward, and the harmony nonexistent.


    "Oh, this is bad," Minjun said, breaking the silence. "I bet June''s going to be worse."


    The camera panned to June, and almost everyone held their breaths in anticipation. The guys were expecting him to do well¡ªsince he killed it during the actual performance. June closed his eyes since he already knew what to expect.


    He wanted to get this scene over and done with, but it seemed like the editing team wanted to stretch it out as far as they could.


    Why the hell do they have to repeat the scene and exaggerate each breath that came from June''s lips? Right now, it looks like those Bollywood dramas where a single drop of a coin suddenly leads to the female main character getting hit by a car with a curtain wrapped around her neck.


    Then, it came.


    June flinched as he heard his nonchnt tone. His voice wavered, and his lyrics came out in a mumbled mess.


    - Yikes. HAHAHAHA. Knew it. Bye-bye, June! Let''s go back to the 30th rank.


    - Worst. Rapper. On. The..


    - He isn''t even that bad! It''s his first time rapping.


    - I just know this performance is going to be hrious.


    Mimi watched the scene with confusion while Sasha and L guffawed by her side.


    "I''m sorry," L apologized. "I know he''s your favorite, but he can''t rap for shit."


    Mimi continued watching the tense scene before her. L and Sasha were confused as to why Mimi didn''t retaliate at all.


    "Hey, did I take it too far?" L asked.


    "He''s¡­terrible," Mimi said, causing the other two to look at each other in surprise. Mimi can actually say a bad thing about June?


    "Uh, yeah. But are you alright?"


    "It''s weird," Mimi said. "Because he was really fucking good during the performance.," she whispered.


    Insults for June were thrown left and right. And as June watched how he rapped just now, he thought that maybe he did deserve it.


    But then, he snapped out of his thoughts when he saw a familiar staircase on the screen. The silence of the scene caused the others to watch silently, too, but dread filled June''s mind.


    "Ah, fuck," he whispered.


    June forgot about it¡ªthe camera on the staircase.


    And just like that, his sincere conversation with Sehun was shown, surprising the viewers with his sudden show of vulnerability. With each confession he made, tears swelled up in Jangmoon''s and C-Jay''s eyes (Zeth''s and Jaeyong''s, too, but let''s pretend we don''t know that).


    "I didn''t know you thought that way, bro," C-Jay sniffed.


    Jangmoon pped the back of Jaeyong''s and Zeth''s head. "You gave my big bro such a hard time."


    Zeth scratched the back of his head while Jaeyong guiltily looked down at hisp.


    June held his breath as the scenes continued on. He knew being evil-edited was bad, but he hated being pity-edited, too! Thements under the livestream weren''t any better.


    - June¡­Just how much did you endure all alone?


    - He''s being a crybaby.


    - Fuck, now I''m rooting for this team. Please, please, please do better!


    The montage continued, shifting from the mentors'' harsh critique to scenes of the trainees practicing relentlessly. Despite the setbacks and criticism, there was a sense of camaraderie among them, and they shared moments ofughter and support.


    As the montage continued, it showed June practicingte into the night, his determination unbeatable. The clips revealed a side of him that the audience hadn''t seen before¡ªthe tireless work ethic and the burning desire to prove himself.


    - Why does this look like a documentary of an underdog indie band that made it into the big scene?


    - Team Aglet, you''ve got my support.


    - June''s actually hardworking?


    - What do you think so, dimwit? He''s improved the most out of thepetition.


    C-Jay turned to June with wide eyes as the scene finished. Nobody from Team Aglet knew about histe-night practice session.


    "You practiced more?" he asked in disbelief. C-Jay expected June to just be good at everything he does.? For C-Jay, June was the type of person who didn''t have to work hard. He was just born with it.


    But seeing him tirelessly practice his lines while the rest of the team slept made C-Jay respect June even more.


    Finally, the screen faded to ck, and the spotlight returned to the stage.


    Then, June smirked.


    June proved the live audience wrong once.


    And boy, was he ready to do it for the second time.

 Chapter 167 Seventh Episode (4)

    <h4>Chapter 167 Seventh Episode (4)</h4>


    - Tell me when it''s over.


    - I can''t do this. I can''t watch June fail.


    - Oh, I can''t wait to see this. I don''t me the others for not wanting to watch the performance. I was the same during the live shows. Get ready to be surprised!


    "I''m so sorry. I don''t want to watch this," L said, closing her eyes and covering ears. "I''m reminded of the time our team had a disastrous performance."


    "Me too," Sasha said. "I feel like this''ll make me cringe."


    Mimi smirked. "Just watch," she said.


    "Aren''t you even worried about his performance?" Sasha asked. "It feels like you really know something we don''t."


    "I don''t," Mimi quickly said. "I just trust him, that''s all."


    "Well, you have a lot of trust in him," Sasha said. "The dude couldn''t rap just moments ago."


    "Shh," Mimi said as their silhouettes were shown on screen. "Just watch."


    The two other members of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION continued to watch the screen with hesitancy.


    But when Sehun opened his mouth to rap, their past expectations were instantly shattered.


    - Who''s this guy? He ain''t that bad.


    - This is my first time noticing him. He might actually be the saving grace of his team.


    - But are you seeing them move, though? June is devouring those body waves!


    Sasha''s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at June. It appears like Sehun is the team''s Main Dancer, but Sasha couldn''t help but let her eyes gravitate toward June.


    During thest mission, his dancing had already improved a lot¡ªand Sasha could even call him a Lead Dancer at that point. However, now, he moved more like a Main Dancer. Just how much will this guy improve?


    It just sucks because he''ll probably ruin the performance with his rapping.


    - I''m covering my ears. I can''t bear to watch this performance.


    - Here it goes! Cover your ears, guys.


    - Uncover your ears, you amateurs!


    The editing of the scene didn''t help the tension that everyone felt. There was a slight pause before June''s voice was heard over the microphone, and when he finally rapped, L and Sasha quickly swallowed their insults.


    They flinched with his first word, but it eventually led to confusion, then bewilderment.


    They watched the scene with wide mouths, looking at June like he was a heaven-sent.


    Mimi smirked as she nced at her former teammates.


    "He''s actually¡­good?" Sasha said with skepticism.


    "He is," L mindlessly said. She was also a rapper in GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, and hearing June made her feel confused. He did not sound like that a while ago. And usually, trainees who improve don''t improve to this extent.


    Is he actually a genius?


    - Is it over yet?


    - Uncover your ears, bitches! June is eating the verses up.


    - Holy Moly! How the hell did he improve so fast?


    - June is officially breaking my bias list.


    - He''s just speaking really fast. You can''t count that as rapping!


    - Haters are hating, but June''s actually pretty decent. I might even call him good at this point.


    - I can''t believe a Main Vocalist like him can also be a Main Rapper.


    - Add Main Dancer to the equation. He''s grinding like he''s in Magic Mike!


    The viewers continued to be amazed by the team''s performance, all of their past prejudices going straight to the garbage.


    June smirked as he watched the performance. He knew that he did a good job, but damn, he actually exceeded his own expectations. As the bridge approached and his sexy blindfolded dance came on screen, he quickly covered Minjun''s eyes and restrained the little kid in his arms.


    "What are you doing?" Minjun struggled in his arms.


    "This ain''t for a kid," June said. Then, he nced at Grandma, whose eyes were glued to the screen. He felt weirded out that the old woman was watching him grind on the floor, so he quickly turned the other way.


    However, what met him on the other side wasn''t any better. His friends watched the scene with agape mouths, their eyes reflecting the red hue of the screen.


    "Dang, bro," Akira said. "When did you learn to move your hips like that?"


    Jisung nodded. "He was as stiff as a board when I first met him. Now, he can even do such moves."


    June merely clicked his tongue and focused his attention back on the screen.


    As their performance continued, it was evident that Team Aglet had poured everything into this particr performance. As Zeth and Jaeyong locked gazes, there was amon emotion in their eyes¡ªeptance.


    Team Aglet''s win was well-deserved.


    And a miserable person still didn''t want to acknowledge that.


    As he sat in his cold, dark room, Hoon shook in anger as he watched their performance.


    Hoon hated the fact that he already knew how the Concept Mission would end¡ªwith Team Aglet taking the victory.


    However, what he hated more was the fact that they were doing so well.


    "How could this bastard perform like this after being stabbed?" he muttered under his breath.


    And as he read thements on the livestream, his anger escted further.


    - I''m rooting for this team now.


    - I can''t believe I''m saying this, but #TeamAglet


    A verifiedment also popped up on the screen, making many viewers surprised.


    - GROOVYTUNES: This is fire! Can''t wait to release it to the public.


    - What the hell? GroovyTunes actuallymented?


    - That just shows that the team nailed it.


    - I''m torn. I still want to root for Skateboard Ride, but my heart is screaming for Tie Me Up!


    The scene progressed until the awaited announcement of the winner. Like the crowd in the live show, a lot were conflicted about who was going to win. Thement section flowed like the Niagra Falls as thousands ofments sent support to the teams they were rooting for.


    Tie Me Up: 589


    Skateboard Ride: 491


    Hoon looked away as soon as he saw the numbers on the screen. He even went as far as covering his ears so he wouldn''t hear the cheers that came from Team Aglet and the audience.


    For him, the worst sounds in the world are:


    1. His mother''s nagging


    2. June''s voice


    3. The sound of others rejoicing in victory


    However, no matter how hard he covered his ears, he could still hear the cheers¡ªcheers that he thought should be meant for him.


    Honestly, he could just turn his speakers off.


    But in the end, he continued to bask in his own miserable thoughts.


    - They managed to pull it off. June once again proves the haters wrong!


    - Where are the other people saying that June only won thest mission because he was with the top-ranked trainees? Look where he is right now!


    - June''s the highest-ranking in his team, and most of his teammates are in the 40th, but they still won!


    - Skateboard Ride was better.


    - Tie Me Up still won.


    Hoon pursed his lips as he clicked on thement box and started typing out of anger.


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - What the hell? Why''s this Alpha dude spamming?


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - He''s filling thement section with nonsense!


    - I think this dude has a point. Would it make sense for a team with such low ranks to beat a team with trainees in the top 10?


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    - AlphaMaleHoon69: Rigged.


    "It''s rigged," Hoon smirked, a manic chuckleing out of his lips.


    "I''ll fucking show you."

 Chapter 168 Recording Day

    <h4>Chapter 168 Recording Day</h4>


    "This is so cool," Sehun whispered by June''s side.


    Currently, they were at an entric-looking building in Seoul, specifically in the recording studio of Lower Music, thebel of the renowned rapper/producer duo GROOVYTUNES.


    "Have you tried recording in a booth before?" Jakob asked.


    "Of course," the other members answered. "We''re all trainees, so we definitely had some experience recording in a professional studio."


    "I don''t," June said. "So, how do these things work?"


    "Didn''t you record songs during your time as a Phoenix Trainee?" C-Jay asked.


    "Uh, no?" June said.


    "Well, that sucks. I guess our poorpany''s still better than Phoenix," C-Jay said. "Well, there really isn''t something special about it. You just try to get it over and done with in one take."


    Just then, their conversation was halted when GROOVYTUNES came into the room.


    ording to June''s research, the duo wasposed of Kevin and Lil Naughty. The guys looked at them with starstruck eyes as they entered. They couldn''t believe they were going to record with the renowned duo!


    Kevin, the shorter guy, immediately bowed when he saw the guys. Lil Naughty, on the other hand, observed them one by one until his eyesnded on June. His nted eyes locked with June''s, and at that moment, June thought Lil Naughty had something bad to say about him.


    However, he was surprised when the rapper suddenly shook his hand.


    "It''s nice to meet you. Kevin and I enjoyed the verses you''ve written," he said.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Uh, it''s my pleasure to work with you," he politely said. "The entire team worked hard to bring your song justice."


    "Of course," Kevin eximed. "And we''re thankful that you guys were the ones who got to perform our song."


    "Well, let''s not dy this any further. Why don''t we start with the first verse," Lil Naughty suggested. "Sehun, was it?"


    "Yes, sir," Sehun nervously said.


    "Don''t be so nervous," Kevin chuckled. "You can just perform like how you did during the performance."


    Sehun nodded and entered the booth, putting on headphones while listening to the producers'' instructions.


    June couldn''t help but look at the scene before him in amazement. The recording studio¡ªit was his dream to enter one when he was a child.


    A rush of memories flooded his mind, and he couldn''t help but reminisce about his past self. He thought about the person he used to be before his life took a sharp turn into the unforgiving world of crime.


    Even before he became entangled in the world of gangs and illegal dealings, June had always carried a different passion within him. He had always dreamed of being on a stage, under bright lights, singing his heart out for the world to hear. Music had been his sanctuary.


    June could still remember the countless nights he had spent in the shabby orphanage, ying their out-of-tune piano while singing in the silent night. During that time, he was convinced that his talent would pave the way to a better life.


    But life had other ns for him. The world had shown him its cold, unforgiving face, where only the privileged could afford to chase their dreams. Money and connections seemed to be the prerequisites for sess, and June had none of those.


    As June stared at the recording studio, an unexinable emotion welled up inside him. It was as if a long-forgotten part of his soul had been awakened by the mere sight of the ce where his dreams used to live.


    Before he could fully internalize this surge of emotion, Kevin spoke.


    "June, we''re ready for you!" he eximed.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and entered the booth without giving it a second thought.


    He saw the encouraging looks on his teammates'' faces, so he pushed aside the weight of his past and focused on the microphone in front of him.


    "You ready?" Lil Naughty asked.


    "Yeah," June said.


    "What do you want to start with? The rap part or thest chorus?" he asked.


    "Umm, can I start with thest chorus?" June asked, wanting to sing first before rapping.


    "Sure, that''ll do. Let me y just right after the bridge, then enter during thest chorus, got it?"


    "Got it," June said.


    As the music yed in the background, June continued to look around the booth. The recording equipment, the soundproof walls, and the rows of instruments looked like relics from a distant dream. June took a deep breath, letting himself be transported to the body of the young boy who had once enjoyed singing with a bright dream.


    He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the microphone against his lips. Then, without hesitation, he began to sing.


    His voice, smooth and full of emotion, filled the studio.


    "What the hell?" Lil Naughty whispered to Kevin. "I thought this kid was a rapper?"


    Kevin nodded, still amazed. "He''s a damn good singer, too."


    Lil Naughty shook his head in disbelief as he watched the young man sing effortlessly. "Do you think we can recruit him in thepany?"


    As the final note hung in the air, June opened his eyes. "Was that good?"


    What met him was amazed stares and silence. C-Jay put out a thumbs up. "You did great," he mouthed.


    The others snapped out of their dazes and started cheering, too. However, with the soundproof walls, they looked a little bit crazy.


    June shook his head and chuckled, a big smile on his face, instantly brightening up the studio.


    Then, at that moment, Jakob''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "He smiled. He actually smiled!" he screamed, causing the others to be shocked too.


    Kevin and Lil Naughty continued looking at June. "And he''s handsome, too. Damn, we just lost a big star to Azure."


    ***


    Tap. Tap. Tap.


    The soft hum of theputer and the tapping of the keyboard were the only sounds that filled the air, piercing through eerie silence. Hoon, hunched over his desk, nced at the calendar on his screen. It was Sunday, 11 PM, and he had been stuck in hisputer chair since Friday, the airing of the seventh episode of Rising Stars.


    Stubble clung to his pale, scraggly face, giving him the appearance of a madman. His eyes, bloodshot and sunken, showed the torment he had endured. The stench of the room, a mixture of cold sweat and unwashed despair, made his eyes water, but he didn''t care. The world outside had ceased to exist for him.


    With trembling hands, he muttered a mantra of desperation, "It''s over, it''s over." His fingers hovered over the "send" button like a condemned man awaiting the executioner''s de. He had gathered aption of damning evidence¡ªall pointing to June having powerful sponsors in the industry.


    And then, he clicked "send."


    *Bannchu has seen your message*


    A maniacalughter escaped his cracked lips, echoing through the deste room. It was theugh of a monster who had found his prey, ready to exact his vengeance.


    "It''s over for you, Choi Joon-ho."

 Chapter 169 Boo Bear

    <h4>Chapter 169 Boo Bear</h4>


    "Everyone, let us wee our new head of the editing team¡ªCindy Jung."


    A woman in her 50s bowed her head as the Rising Stars team warmly weed her. After Chris had been found out to be the person who assisted Alex and Hyunwoo in their ns to stab June, Yena and Yejin quickly searched far and wide for a talented editor to join their team.


    And they just so happened to find Cindy Jung¡ªan editing pioneer in the entertainment industry. For a long time, she had been with the "Crawling Man" team on a different TV station. However, there had been news that her contract was expiring with that certain TV station, so Azure did their best to recruit her.


    "Thank you for weing me," Cindy bowed. "Let''s keep Rising Stars at number 1!"


    Cheers resounded in the room as they weed the famous editor.


    "There are donuts in the lobby," Yejin said. "Take a break before going back to work."


    The employees eagerly exited the meeting room and went to the lobby to devour the donuts. Yejin and Yena stayed behind to talk to Cindy.


    "Thank you so much for joining the team," Yena said.


    "No need to mention it," Cindy kindly smiled. "I have been working in the same workce for more than ten years already, and honestly, it has taken a lot of time. However, the Azure building is much closer to my daughter''s dorm. So, I might take this opportunity to hang out with her more."


    "Oh, you have a daughter?" Yejin pleasantly asked. "I bet she''s as pretty as you."


    "You can say that," Cindy smiled.


    "Well then, don''t hesitate to call our attention if you have any requests. The team wees you warmly."


    "Thank you," Cindy said. "Do you mind if I make a call? I haven''t informed my daughter about the move yet."


    "Go ahead," Yena said. "We''ll be with the other crew members in the meantime."


    As Yena and Yejin left the room, Cindy whipped out her phone and dialed "Boo Bear." Her eyes sparkled as the ringtone rang, excited to talk with her daughter.


    "What?" her lovely daughterzily asked.


    "Where are you right now?" Cindy asked.


    "At the dorms. We have sses next week so I''m going through our reading assignment."


    "It''s still next week," Cindy said. "So, why don''t you hang out with your mother dearest in the meantime?"


    The young woman groanedzily. "I don''t want to travel an hour just to see you."


    Cindy clicked her tongue. "Lazy girl. You don''t have to travel anymore. I''m actually near your school."


    "What?" her daughter eximed over the phone. "When did youe here?"


    ''"Surprise! I have something big to tell you," Cindy excitedly eximed. "So, why don''t you meet your mama, huh? Jia-bear?"


    ***


    It was a Monday morning, and it was time for people to go back to their workces. For some students, it was still summer break, so they had some time to rest and engage in leisure activities.


    And that''s what Jia was nning to do.


    Today, the songs from the Concept Mission were going to be uploaded on Durian Music, thergest music hub in South Korea. A lot of fans anticipated the official release of the songs, with ''Tie Me Up'' and ''Skateboard Ride'' garnering the most attention.


    As the clock struck 12, Jia scrolled past through the other songs and clicked on ''Tie Me Up'' without any hesitation. She saw June''s name under the credits, and it made her proud to see hime so far.


    When her mother called a while ago, she was lying when she said she was doing a reading assignment.


    In reality, she was busy counting down the minutes to the release of ''Tie Me Up.'' And that''s also the reason why she settled on meeting her over dinner instead of lunch.


    June was far more important.


    As the familiar intro resounded in her room, Jia''s heart beat faster in her chest. And when June''s part came, it seemed as if her heart stopped.


    It was almost like June was rapping the words straight into her soul.


    As the song ended, she quickly scrambled to y it all over again. Jia let the song y in the background while she went on her stan ount on Navel.


    The first thing that greeted her was the trends list, and she was pleasantly surprised to see June''s name on the very top.


    1. Choi Joon-ho


    Jia clicked on the trend, excited to read the supportivements that June had gotten for the song. However, as she scrolled through the posts, all that greeted her were cryptic tweets that seemed to be sending him hate.


    - June was thest person I expected to have a sponsor.


    - It''s not really a sponsor. It''s his parents. He''s fucking loaded!


    - Bro, did you see those MJ shoes? That itself already proves that he shouldn''t be joining an idol survival show. He can just paypanies to make him debut.


    - His parents had something to do with the rigging ofst year''s Rising Stars? That''s a big hit. I don''t know how he''s going to recover from that.


    - Why are we blindly believing this? It hasn''t even been proven that June is rted to The Chois!


    - Choi Joon-ho is a Choi. The evidence is already in front of us. Can a trainee even afford to go to Pierre?


    - I hate June. He''s dragging Jisung into this mess.


    - Eat the rich, bitches!


    - Are we all forgetting the fact that this is from BannChu? This site has a reputation for exaggerating their stories.


    "BannChu?" Jia muttered. She quickly exited the trends list and went to BanChu''s profile.


    The pinned post with over 300,000 interactions immediately caught her attention since it was a photo coge of June seemingly going to Pierre and a picture of him sitting on a little duck swing with a bright red arrow pointing to his shoes.


    She got distracted for a second because June looked cute while sitting on the duck swing.


    However, she quickly snapped out of her thoughts when she read the article title.


    "June, the Rising Star, Unveiled as the Son of the Investor Couple "Choi", Living La Vida Luxury! Did he Pay his Way to the Top?"


    Jia''s eyes widened in horror.


    Looks like she has to postpone her dinner date with her mom, too.

 Chapter 170 The Chois

    <h4>Chapter 170 The Chois</h4>


    Choi Min-ah and Choi Si-woo, two prominent tycoons and one of the shareholders of the entertainment giant Azure, have been embroiled in a major corruption scandal.


    The revtions came to light on Thursday when Azure''s internal auditing team discovered a web of unauthorized transactions and hical dealings, prompting a swift investigation byw enforcement agencies.


    The scandal revolves around a series of dubious financial transactions,vish spending, and alleged collusion with influential entertainmentpanies. Here are the key developments in this unfolding scandal:


    Although not that surprising, Choi Min-ah and Choi Si-woo jointly held a million-dor membership at the prestigious Pierre Country Club, known for its exclusive clientele and exorbitant fees. The scandal takes a darker turn, however, with allegations of collusion between the millionaire tycoons and some of the entertainment industry''s biggest yers. Notably,panies like StarBoat, JellyShrimp, and Cylinder are under scrutiny for their involvement. The investigation has revealed that these entertainment giants allegedly yed a role in rigging trainees that participated in the third season of the popr talent show, ''Rising Stars'' into the final group.


    Both tycoons have been subjected to questioning, and their financial records are being meticulously scrutinized. The authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of their involvement in these alleged corrupt practices.


    June, a trainee who catapulted to stardom on the fourth season of ''Rising Stars,'' has been a subject of fascination for fans and industry insiders alike due to his meteoric rise from the lowest ranks to a remarkable 11th ce. However, the recent stabbing incident involving June and his fellow trainees revealed that he is Choi Joon-ho, a past Phoenix trainee.


    Spections arise that Choi Joon-ho may be the son of the influential Choi couple. Choi Joon-ho''s past remains clouded in mystery, with virtually no trace of his life avable online. This has only fueled rumors and conjecture about his connection to the Choi family.


    An anonymous source under the name "AlphaMale" has providedpelling evidence suggesting that June has been living a life of luxury. The anonymous source submitted a series of photos that depict June adorned in high-end, luxury shoes valued at over a hundred thousand dors, casually gifting Colexx watches, and dining at the exclusive Pierre restaurant.


    Many are now questioning whether June''s rise in ''Rising Stars'' truly reflects his talent and hard work or if it is instead the result of his family''s deep pockets. Adding fuel to the fire is June''s recent win against the most popr team in thest mission of ''Rising Stars.''


    Does June really deserve his rank on ''Rising Stars?''


    Or is he yet another nepo baby?


    "June! June!" Minjun banged on the older guy''s door as he finished reading the article that BannChu had posted.


    "What?" June asked with his earphones on. He had been listening to ''Tie Me Up'' since it was revealed, and he has been lost in his own world ever since.


    "You have to see this," Minjun said in a serious voice.


    June clicked his tongue as he realized the seriousness in Minjun''s tone.


    "What?" he repeated, opening the door and looking down at the small kid.


    "Something bad is happening," Minjun barged into his room and plopped down on the hard floor. He showed June the article posted on BannChu and June read it with furrowed eyebrows.


    Minjun gauged his reaction, trying to figure out his feelings.


    He''s probably disappointed, right? He had made it this far into the show with his pure hard work, but he''s being used of being a nepo baby and rigging the show.


    However, Minjun was surprised when June suddenly burst intoughter.


    "What the heck?" Minjun eximed. "Can''t you see thements? They''re terrorizing you right now! This might even be worse than the bullying you dealt withst mission."


    June covered his mouth and tried to calm himself down. However, he couldn''t help but find the situation funny.


    "I don''t have any parents," June said in amusement.


    "You don''t know that!" Minjun eximed. "What if you were a long lost son of this powerful tycoon couple, but you just didn''t know? And then you recently found out! That''s how you were able to afford those shoes and eat at Pierre."


    "That''s ridiculous. We look nothing alike," June said, pointing to the picture of the not-so-physically-pleasant couple on the screen. One look and June already knew who their real son was.


    "Besides," June said. "I know their real son."


    "You do?" Minjun asked.


    "Yeah," June nodded. "It''s Choi Pablo."


    Minjun looked at June like he had grown a third head. "Sure, keep telling yourself that you''ve met Choi Pablo."


    "I have," June said.


    "Oh, please," Minjunughed. "Choi Pablo wouldn''t even dare to look your way."


    ***


    "Choi Pablo had been crying ever since you left and didn''t contact him," Esther said as soon as June entered the door.


    "Not even a greeting?" June asked.


    "I just wanted to get it out of the way," she said. "This is the first time my boss has been so desperate to get someone''s pictures. He had been staring at your pictures for the past few days, tears streaming down his eyes, so he wasn''t even able to edit it."


    June pursed his lips.


    That''s¡­weird.


    "Where is he?" June asked.


    "Where you first met him," Esther said. "Be careful," she warned. "He might jump you."


    June sighed and shook his head before walking over to the huge, white door. He didn''t even bother to knock and went straight in.


    Choi Pablo lifted his head, annoyance seen in his features. However, when he saw that it was June who walked in, his face lit up like it had been sted by the sun.


    "June?"


    June sighed and took a step back, assuming a fighting stance before the crazy photographer could encase him in a hug.


    "Stay back," June warned, causing Pablo to sigh in disappointment. However, he kept looking at June with bright eyes.


    "Are you finally here to be my muse?"


    "No," June snapped, shattering Pablo''s expectations. "I''m here to talk about something else¨Cyour parents."


    Surprisingly, Pablo''s awestruck expression was reced with aloofness, and he suddenly looked annoyed by June''s statement.


    "My parents?" he raised his eyebrows. "I don''t know those people."


    "I think you know what I''m talking about," June said. "It''s all over Navel."


    "Like I said¡ªI''ve been having a social media detox these days. I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah," June said. "All the gifts that you''ve given me are probably from them, am I right?"


    Choi Pablo didn''t respond.


    "And you didn''t give me those things because you truly wanted to, but because you wanted to get rid of them, am I right?"


    Again, the photographer didn''t respond.


    "Answer me," June deeply said, causing Pablo to sigh.


    "So what?" he asked. "They''re my biological parents, but I don''t want to associate myself with them anymore."


    June sighed. "I''m getting involved in your family drama. The people are using me of being their son and rigging the results of the show I am on."


    "Rising Stars," Pablo said. "I''ve watched it," he shyly confessed. "Your Tie Me Up performance was really sexy."


    June clicked his tongue. "That''s not the point! The point is¡ªyou need toe clean and say that you''re the real son of the Chois, not me."


    June hoped that Pablo''s fascination with him would lead him to quickly agree.


    However, Pablo crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked away from June.


    "No."

 Chapter 171 Let’s Have Fun

    <h4>Chapter 171 Let''s Have Fun</h4>


    "No?"


    "No," Choi Pablo repeated with resolution. "I haven''t talked with those people for years."


    "You''re lying," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Your mother still contacts you from time to time," he said, remembering how ''Choi Birth-Giver'' called Pablo the first time they met.? "The fact that you still have her contact number saved instead of blocked already speaks a lot."


    Choi Pablo sighed. "Fine. You got me there. My mom still contacts me sometimes. But that doesn''t mean we have a good rtionship."


    "Let me guess," June smirked, already reading into the situation. "They want you to pursue this business world shit, but you want to pursue a career in photography, huh?"


    Pablo froze, so June knew he was right on the dot.


    "And this corruption issue is probably something you already knew, hence your social media detox," he continued, looking into the photographer''s eyes.


    Choi Pablo gulped and looked away from June''s eyes. It felt as if his entire life was being read right in front of him.


    "It''s not that simple," he said.


    Indeed, it was really that simple.


    June hit it right on the nail.


    "Whatever you say," June said. "I don''t really care what''s happening in your family, but since I''m stuck between all of this, I would appreciate it if you stepped out and rified everything."


    "I told you¡ªI don''t want to associate myself with my parents anymore," Pablo said. "I''ve worked so hard without getting their help, and I want the world to know that I didn''t get to where I am right now just because of them."


    "You''re in a different field," June sighed. "Plenty of popr artists wille to your aid¡ªI''m sure of that. I, on the other hand, am a part of Rising Stars, the show that your parents allegedly had a hand in riggingst year."


    "Right," Pablo muttered under his breath. "Did you know? Entertainmentpanies are actually really rich. They can pay up to a million dors just to ensure a spot in the debut team."


    "You''re getting off-topic here," June deadpanned.


    Pablo sighed before turning back to June, looking more serious than ever.


    "I consider you as my new muse," Pablo said. "But there''s also a limit to what I can do for my muse. I can''t help you on this one."


    June pursed his lips in frustration. He was certain that convincing Choi Pablo would be much easier than this, but seeing the resolution on his face made him think otherwise.


    "You don''t want anything from me?"


    "No," Pablo said without any hesitation.


    "I''m afraid nothing can change my mind."


    ***


    June sighed in frustration as he sat in front of their apartmentplex, kicking a tiny, innocent pebble beneath his feet.


    He visited Navel as he arrived, and the situation was much worse than he anticipated.


    The reactions of the public might even be worse than the bullying usation. Alex and Hyunwoo didn''t have any proof back then, but with the solid proof that BannChu hadid out, a lot of people are convinced that June got his rank merely because of his connection with the Chois.


    Time was also ticking.


    Tomorrow was the day of the filming of the elimination episode (courtesy of the stabbing ident that happened a week ago), and June wondered if the production crew would take this rumor lightly.


    As he continued thinking about his next course of action, Minjun suddenly showed up from school.


    June looked at the little kid from afar, wearing his yellow backpack with a multi-colored cap over his head. June softly smiled. It was at moments like this that he was reminded that Minjun was still a little kid, and behind his amazing writing skills and snarky personality, he could actually look a bit cute.


    "Yo loser," Minjun called out, causing June''s smile to drop.


    He was cute when he didn''t speak.


    "What are you doing sitting there like a loser?" Minjun asked, sitting next to him.


    "Now, you''re sitting next to that said loser."


    Minjun rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he scoffed. "I just didn''t want you to look as pathetic as you already are. Did you know? I even overheard my teachers talking about you during recess."


    "What did they say?" June said.


    "They fully believe that you''re the son of the Chois. They say that a face like yours could only belong to a young master."


    June shook his head and chuckled in amusement. "Well, I guess I''ll take that reason."


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Still," he continued. "They think you don''t deserve your rank¡ªsomething about only using your connections to make your way to the top. It was honestly frustrating. How could everyone just believe everything they see on the inte?"


    "That''s how the world came to be, little kid," June said. "People just want to believe what they want to believe."


    Minjun sighed. "Tell me about. So, what do you want to do now?"


    June shrugged nonchntly. "I already talked with Choi Pablo. I might be able to convince him until the airing of the elimination episode."


    "But isn''t the elimination episode going to be filmed tomorrow?" Minjun said. "Don''t you think you''d drop in ranks because of this?"


    June sighed. "I''ve already expected it," he said. "Right now, I just need to prove that I''m not affiliated with the Chois in any way."


    "You know there''s one certain way on how you can do that," Minjun retorted.


    June stayed silent.


    "Tell them that your parents are dead," Minjun said. "It''s the easiest way out. Just try and gain their sympathy."


    June sighed and remained silent, feeling conflicted.


    He knew that was the easiest way out. June still didn''t know the real identity of his parents, as there was no sign of Choi Joon-ho''s past life in his phone and in his belongings. But again, gaining sympathy was definitely the easiest way out.


    Before he could respond, Minjun continued talking.


    "I don''t care if you don''t have any parents," Minjun said. "I honestly didn''t even bat an eysh when you revealed that you were an orphan."


    June listened intently.


    "It must have been very hard for you," Minjun softly said. "My parents got a divorce when I was really young, so I don''t even remember a time when they got along. People told me I was lucky since my parents had a peaceful separation¡ªbut is any separation peaceful after all? Sure, it must have been peaceful for them, but it wasn''t for me," he admitted.


    "I didn''t cry when they separated. I didn''t even act like I was sad, but deep inside my heart, all I wanted was aplete family. Was that too much to ask for?" the little kid continued to rant.


    "Why do other kids have both of their parents when they got awards, but I only got my Grandma? But then again, I''m thankful that I still have my Grandma," he smiled. "She''s the one I love the most, and? I''m thankful that she came to each of my awards¡ªeven when they were just small."


    Then, Minjun nced at June before showing a sad smile.


    June felt a tug at his heartstrings. That was the very first time that Minjun had looked at him like that.


    "That''s why I admire you a lot, big bro," he said. "You didn''t have anyone beside you. You didn''t have someone like Grandma, but you still made it this far. So, I just want to say that I''m proud of you."


    "People will hate on you no matter what. You''ve got rich parents? You''re a nepo baby. You came from a middle-ie family? You''re just ordinary. You''re an orphan? You''re pitiful. So, just fuck it all and gain pity from the public. Who the hell cares?"


    June covered Minjun''s mouth. "Grandma will murder me if he hears you say that."


    Minjun red at June, but he just found it endearing.


    "You actually care about me, don''t you?" June teased.


    Minjun''s face became red as he aggressively shook his head. "Of course not," he scoffed. "I just wanted you to snap out of your stupid thoughts."


    "Thanks, little kid," June ruffled his hair. "You eased my mind a little bit."


    "So, what now?" Minjun asked. "Do you want me to counter that BannChu guy and make an article about the truth?"


    "No," June said, making Minjun sigh in frustration.


    "Why not? Just let me help you out."


    "That''d be too easy," June smirked, his mind racing with thoughts on how to do this the right way...the satisfying way.


    Now that he didn''t mind actually being pitied, there was one certain thought in his mind¡ª


    Let''s have fun with this.

 Chapter 172 Upper Hand

    <h4>Chapter 172 Upper Hand</h4>


    As the 50 trainees gathered in Azure''s studio center, numerous gossips filled the dressing rooms. Instead of the usual anxiousness they felt before the elimination, today was very different.


    "Have you read BannChu''s post?"


    "Who hasn''t seen that post? I''m sure all of us know about it now."


    "Do you think he''lle today?"


    "He has a lot of guts if he shows up after everything that''s been revealed in the media."


    "There''s not a week that has passed where he isn''t involved in some kind of issue."


    "And he manages to survive every single time. Do you think it''s because of his parents?"


    In one of the dressing rooms, Jisung, C-Jay, Jangmoon, and Akira all stood with perplexed faces.


    "So, he''s really the son of Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah?" Akira asked.


    "I don''t know," Jisung said. "I feel like he would have told us if that was the case."


    "Why would he even tell us?" Jangmoon asked. "It''s not like he''s obligated to. Besides, I think it was already obvious since the time he wore those MJ shoes."


    C-Jay clicked his tongue. "The more I think about it, the more I think that something is wrong."


    Jangmoon sighed and leaned his head against the wall. "I feel a little bit¡­betrayed. Do you think he got his rank because of his parents?"


    Jisung frowned. "Let''s not use him of that," he said. "June works harder than everybody else. I''m sure you already know that."


    "Still," Akira sighed. "He should have given us a heads up."


    "I agree," C-Jay said. "And I do feel that he''s improving faster than everybody else. I wonder if he gets overly-expensive lessons to improve his skills."


    June sighed as he stood outside the door, listening to their conversation. The article was very believable, and if he was a normal citizen, June must have believed it, too.


    His friends weren''t an exception to that.


    "Where is June anyway?" Akira asked. "We''re going to film in less than half an hour."


    There''s still half an hour left.


    June moved away from the door and started walking through the other dressing rooms. He stopped when he saw a familiar guy standing next to the mirror with a smug look on his face.


    June smirked.


    Xin looks very happy, doesn''t he?


    "Xin," June said, causing thetter to look at him.


    Xin frowned as soon as he saw June. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    "For the same reason why you''re here," June said. "I''m still a part of Rising Stars."


    Xin scoffed, disbelief evident on his face. "Well, of course. You''re still here because your precious parents paid Azure big bucks to keep you in, huh?"


    Xin expected June to be annoyed, but surprisingly, June leaned against the wall, his posture rxed.


    "Oh, really?" he replied in a mocking tone. "Did my parents really do that?"


    Unfazed by hisck of reaction, Xin pressed on, determined to rattle June. "Well, I bet your parents paid off the production team so you can get such a high rank. They''re the reason you''re still here. Nepotism, anyone?"


    June''s calm demeanor persisted, and he offered him a faint smile. "Xin," he said softly. "You''re brave for someone who pathetically followed me just to get those pictures."


    June smirked as he watched Xin''s eyes widen in rm and the color drain from his face.


    June knew.


    Of course, he knew.


    He had been tailed numerous times to not realize that someone was following them that morning. Besides, Xin wasn''t slick at all. His camera shed every time he took those pictures.


    Xin felt his heart race inside his chest, but he tried to look as calm as possible.


    June continued, his voice like ice. "And if I tell the production crew that you have been following me like a freak, do you think they''ll take it lightly?"


    Xin stammered, his annoyance turning into anxiety. "I...I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    June finally pushed himself off the wall, his eyes boring holes into Xin''s skull. "You can y your games, Xin, but remember, I y to win."


    "You... You can''t prove anything," Xin stammered, trying to regain hisposure. "It might have been your crazy fan or something. Why would you put the me on me?"


    "So, you''re my fan now?" June raised his eyebrows.


    Xin''s annoyance red anew, but June''s nonchnt attitude had him off bnce. He decided to change his tactics, wanting to faze him in a different way.


    Leaning in closer to June, he sneered, "You might be able to handle me, but the public? They won''t be so kind with your little nepotism scandal. Just like your parents, you''re going to go down in mes, and they''ll tear you apart online. Oh wait, they already are," Xin said. "And you''re going to tell the production crew about me? News sh. They also believe what was posted online. In fact, all the trainees here believe it¡ªeven your so-called friends."


    June felt his lip twitch.


    Fun.


    This was so fucking fun.


    June''s expression remained calm, but he decided to give Xin a taste of his own medicine. He feigned a look of concern, his voice soft and trembling. "Oh, Xin, you really think so? I mean, I need to debut. But how can I do that when even my friends are against me?"


    Xin couldn''t contain his satisfaction. He thought he had finally cracked June''s facade, and it fueled his confidence. "That''s right, June. You better be worried. Your parents won''t be able to save you when the world turns against you."


    June''s expression remained concerned, but he knew exactly what he was doing. By letting Xin believe he had the upper hand, he was ying a long game, biding his time for the right moment to strike back.


    "So, watch it," Xin smirked. "Or I might just take your ce."


    With a self-satisfied grin, Xin eventually turned and walked away. He couldn''t help but feel proud of himself, believing that he had gained the upper hand.


    As Xin''s figure receded into the distance, June''s icyposure thawed, and a subtle smirk graced his lips.


    "Bastard."

 Chapter 173 Undeserving

    <h4>Chapter 173 Undeserving</h4>


    "Trainees, settle down and gather backstage. We are starting in 5 minutes!" a crew member yelled.


    Everything was set for the elimination episode filming, yet June was still not seen.


    "Is he really noting?" C-Jay asked.


    "I''m here," June said, appearing behind their backs.


    Jangmoon and Jisung jumped in surprise. Jisung enthusiastically turned around and greeted June while the others merely gave him awkward smiles and greetings.


    June shook his head. It seemed like Xin was right to some extent. His friends were ufortable with his presence.


    The other trainees who noticed his arrival also started whispering among themselves.


    "Damn, he''s really brave foring here."


    "Do you think he paid for his rank this time too?"


    "Most probably."


    The trainees started going to their seats team by team. Yena and Yejin conversed among themselves while they were busy filming the opening.


    "What are we going to do about this?" Yena asked.


    "I honestly don''t know," Yejin exined. "We''ve already hired a third-party vote counter this year, and we''re trying hard to gain the public''s trust after what happenedst year. Now I''m afraid that everything''s going to go down the drain."


    Yena sighed deeply. "What should we do with his footage? He''s one of the trainees who garner the most screen time and the highest ratings."


    "Let''s lessen them for now," Yejin said. "I think it''s best if we show that we don''t have any preferential treatment toward him. I''ll inform Cindy about the decision."


    ***


    After the mentors settled down, the special mentor of the week peeked through the stage and saw the trainees nervously talking with each other. Then, his eye strayed toward one of the trainees.


    Choi Joon-ho.


    Robby, ranked 4th during the third season of ''Rising Stars,'' clicked his tongue as soon as he saw him. It was because of trainees like June that their debut didn''t push through. They were supposed to be the next big thing, but all his efforts were wasted after those imbeciles paid their way into the group. It was fortunate that he was given a career to be a soloist, but he still felt a pang in his heart every time he saw idol groups performing on stage before him.


    As he continued gazing at June, he felt a sense of hatred in his heart.


    Someone like him doesn''t deserve to be here.


    "Hey, are you alright?" Jihyun asked, patting Robby''s shoulder.


    Robby quickly snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at the beautiful mentor. "Of course, Mentor."


    Jihyun chuckled. "You don''t have to call me that anymore, you know? We''re colleagues now."


    "You''re still forever a mentor for me," Robby cheekily said.


    "Well, you were one of my favorite students in the entirety of Rising Stars," she smiled. "I''m d you still got to work in the industry."


    "Then, am I your most favorite?" Robby asked, buttering up to Jihyun.


    Jihyun merely chuckled before ncing at the trainees. "Let''s say you were my favorite during the third season."


    Robby chuckled softly, but he felt a bit of resentment in his heart when he saw Jihyun''s gaze travel to June. Jihyun had a concerned look on her face, and it didn''t take a genius to see that she was worried about the rich trainee.


    Robby clicked his tongue, causing Jihyun to snap out of her thoughts.


    Honestly, she had been worried about June ever since the article came out. When she first read the post, she also thought that it was very believable, but in the end, she decided to trust June. Nothing has been confirmed yet, and Jihyun knew how hard June worked to get to where he is right now.


    "We''re starting in 3...2...1...," a crew member gave a signal to the hosts of the night.


    Robby offered his hand, and Jihyun quietly took it. Then, they walked out ofrge LED screen and onto the stage.


    "Robby? The guy from Rising Stars?"


    "Damn, he got more handsome than when he was on the show."


    "It''s sad that their debut fell through, though."


    "Yeah, now he''s still sessful, but I bet he would have be more sessful if he was in an idol group."


    Robby felt his eye twitch as he heard the trainees'' gossip fill the room, and it made his heart swell with even more bitterness than before.


    "Good day, trainees!" Jihyun eximed through the mic, her cheerful voice a sharp contrast against the nervous energy in the room. "Due to some unfortunate circumstances during the live eliminations, starting this week, we''ll be pre-filming the elimination episode! Don''t worry, of course. Thest episode will still be broadcasted live with an audience!"


    "You heard that right, trainees. With your numbers getting smaller, we are nearing the end of your journey as trainees. And today, marks yet another start for the 25 trainees who are going to make it," Robby enthusiastically said.


    "As of the moment, the votes are stilling in, but with the end of this countdown, the voting shalle to a halt," Jihyun announced, and a timer for one minute was shown on screen.


    June stared at the screen and leaned against his knees.


    The article would have definitely made an impact on his rank. Most likely, a lot of his supporters are disappointed with the thought of him being sponsored by the Chois.


    However, as the article came out on Monday, there was still adequate time for the public to vote for June after the ''Tie Me Up'' performance.


    June wasn''t sure if that was enough to make him retain his current rank, but he believed that it would still keep him in thepetition.


    "3...2...1...! All the votes are in, and we are now ready to announce the trainees who made it into the top 25!" Robby eximed.


    "Starting with the 24th rank," Jihyun said, and the number 24 was shown on screen.


    C-Jay yed with his fingers, already feeling a sense of defeat in his heart. He nced at June by his side and saw him still with a nonchnt expression.


    Is that why he never felt nervous during eliminations?


    Is it because he already knew that he was going to make it?


    C-Jay shook his head and looked down at hisp with a bitter smile. It must be nice.


    Truly, C-Jay didn''t want to be suspicious of June. He even believed him during the bullying incident, but with the number of trainees getting smaller and smaller with his rank still staying in the same spot, he couldn''t help but feel anxious.


    As he lifted his head, his eyes met with a trainee who mirrored his expression.


    Jangmoon.


    They both had smiles on their faces, but they didn''t feel genuine at all, and beneath their hopeful expressions was a look of eptance.


    They probably wouldn''t make it, huh?


    Jangmoon smiled from the other side of the room as ifforting C-Jay and telling him that it was going to be okay.


    "This trainee had surprised the starlights and the mentorsst week, piercing through the hearts of many with his hard work and professionalism."


    The two couldn''t even hear what Jihyun was currently saying. In their minds, they were already trying to ept the bitter truth.


    "Congrattions, trainee Jangmoon. You have jumped 26 ces and are now ranked 24th!"

 Chapter 174 Third Eliminations

    <h4>Chapter 174 Third Eliminations</h4>


    The studio center turned silent with the utterance of Jangmoon''s name.


    June smirked as he watched the bbergasted trainee get pushed to the stage by his fellow trainees. Then, his eyes strayed toward Xin, who looked like he had seen a ghost.


    He was so focused on June that he almost forgot that his chances of staying in the show were very slim.


    Jangmoon walked up the stage with wide eyes, still not processing everything that was happening.


    C-Jay watched his friend with a smile on his face. However, deep inside his heart was also disappointment. It was true that Jangmoon had worked hard to get to where he is right now, and between him and C-Jay, Jangmoon definitely garnered a more positive response from the starlights.


    "I¡ªI don''t know what to say," Jangmoon said, his hands shaking. He always had humor lingering in his words whenever he was called out during eliminations, but today, he couldn''t utter a single joke.


    "Thank you for believing in me," he said, trying his hardest not to cry. "I never knew I would get this far, but now that I am given the chance to continue on with the show, I''ll try my best to make it until the end."


    A soft apuse filled the room, many still shocked because of Jangmoon''s jump in ranks.


    "Shit, he took my spot," one of them whispered. "You really can''t guess what''s going to happen next in Rising Stars."


    "Now, let us go straight to the top 20!" Jihyun eximed.


    June heard Sehun let out a deep breath, causing him to nce at the nervous trainee. June then looked at his other teammates and felt uncertain. Aside from Sehun, he wasn''t sure if all of them were going to make it.


    Now that he thought about it, 25 was such a small number. There were still a lot of popr trainees that weren''t called out, so the chances of all of them making it into the top 25 were very slim.


    However, if there was one person who could make it, then it would be Sehun.


    "Trainee Sehun, congrattions! You are still in the running to be a member of the debut group!"


    Sehun jumped in his seat as soon as his name was called. He looked at his teammates with wide eyes, and the group genuinely congratted him. June and Sehun locked gazes, and although it felt pretty awkward because of June''s ongoing rumors, Sehun managed a small smile.


    "Thanks, June," he whispered. "I couldn''t have done it without you."


    June softly nodded before sitting back down.


    The announcements went by surprisingly fast, with Robby and Jihyun giving brief descriptions about the trainees who made it.


    Now, the 16th rank was about to be announced, and Akira was the most nervous of all. He was ranked 20thst week, so he was in an ambiguous spot. However, June was certain that the Japanese trainee would most likely survive. He became the main topic of their team, so there was a mere 1% chance of him not making it into the top 25.


    "Trainee Akira, congrattions! Once again, you have jumped in the ranks and are now in the top 16. With this progress, you are getting closer to debuting."


    Akira stood, a small smile ying on his lips. Jaeyong smiled at his former teammate, obviously looking proud. Akira went up to the stage and gave a small speech before going up to his seat.


    The trainees announced after Akira were definitely expected.


    "15th¡ªBin."


    "14th¡ªJinsol."


    13th ce?


    June expects his rank to have regressed by two ces. Again, the scandal would have made his votes drop, but it wouldn''t have dropped that much since he probably gained quite a lot of votes after their ''Tie Me Up'' performance.


    Robby frowned as he was given the cue card for the 13th trainee. It was getting nearer and nearer to the top 10, yet June''s name still hasn''t appeared. Meanwhile, Jihyun felt joy swell in her heart.


    "13th¡ªSteel," Robby reluctantly announced, ncing at June with a subtle re.


    June didn''t notice Robby''s action since he was also surprised by the turn of events.


    Why could he always guess the others'' ranks right, but never his?


    "Onto the 11th trainee," Robby continued opening yet another cue card. He was aware that 11th ce was June''sst rank, and he would feel disappointed if ever he was to retain his ce even after such a big blow to his name.


    However, it would also make him feel a bit satisfied since he''s still not in the debuting ranks.


    Robby carefully opened the envelope, his face unreadable as he read the name inside.


    "11th ce¡ªYuri."


    The announcement of the 11th-ced trainee garnered the most intense reaction yet.


    "11th? What the hell? But he''s always been in the top 10!"


    "How can Yuri be kicked out of the top 10? It doesn''t make sense. Unless¡­"


    There was amon thought that circted the room.


    It must be June.


    If June wasn''t in 11th ce, then it could only mean one thing¡ªhe had risen in ranks once more.


    However, instead of his hard work and improvement being recognized, his connection with his "parents" became the most prominent reason for his rise.


    June nced around the room as he felt many judging eyes burning holes into his skin.


    Shit. This was bad.


    He should have dropped in the ranks.


    Jihyun saw the slight distress on June''s face, so she quickly picked up the microphone to announce the 10th ce.


    "10th¡ªLin Zhi."


    However, even with the announcement of Lin Zhi''s rank, their focus was still on June.


    "He''s not 10th? Just how much did he rise?"


    "Do you think this is fair?"


    "Why isn''t the production crew doing anything?"


    Robby opened the next envelope, and June, who wasn''t a religious person, started praying to every god out there.


    ''Please let my name get called.''


    ''Please just let my name get called.''


    Yet again, what did June expect? The gods had it out for him.


    Because as Robby uttered the next name, the studio center practically turned upside down.


    "9th¡ªRen."


    The tired-looking trainee wasn''t even shocked as his name was called. He calmly stood up and walked to the front, his dark under eyes making him look a bit pitiful. He gave a generic thank you speech before going up to the 9th seat.


    At this point, June was cursing Fu in his mind.


    [What do I even have to do with this?]


    As the ranks continued to rise, Robby''s frown became more evident on his face. And when he opened the next envelope, he felt a sense of relief yet resentment in his heart.


    He picked up the mic, and let out a small sigh, before locking gazes with June.


    "8th¡ªJune."

 Chapter 175 Hot Seat

    <h4>Chapter 175 Hot Seat</h4>


    8th ce?!


    That was more than what June had hoped for.


    Compared to the other trainees who were met with apuse when they stood up, June was met with mere whispers.


    "Gosh, he actually rose in ranks?"


    "So, it''s true then? I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I guess his parents are really sponsoring him."


    "He''s even higher than Ren. Is that possible?"


    June slowly walked up the stage, his eyes meeting with Robby for a second.


    Despite the passive look on his face, June noticed the slight disdain that was hidden behind Robby''s eyes. Again, he was well familiar with Robby since Mei Ling also watched the third season of Rising Stars. From what June remembers, Robby was a very hard worker who came from a smallpany. However, he was able to make it into the final group, evennding the 4th rank.


    As he continued gazing into Robby''s eyes, June could guess the reason behind his hateful stare.


    Robby also believed the rumors¡ªand he must think that June is a scum on this earth.


    June then made eye contact with Jihyun, and it seemed like she was pretty happy with his rise in the ranks.


    At least, one mentor still believed in him.


    The studio was still filled with silence as June made his way to the front. It got so quiet to the point that you could hear his footsteps on the fiberss stage.


    Then, he faced the trainees who were looking at him with skeptical expressions. June gazed at his friends and also saw some hesitancy in their faces.


    He looked down at the ground, a small smirk ying on his lips, before lifting his head with a regretful expression.


    "Do you have anything to say, June?" Jihyun softly asked.


    June brought the mic to his lips to say a brief speech of gratitude, but he stopped when he continued to hear the others talk among themselves. Their whispers weren''t too soft, so they filled the silent studio.


    "Do you see the look on his face? Isn''t it obvious that he''s guilty?"


    "He looks pretty sad, in my opinion."


    "Sad? Try living my life. My mom owns a noodle shop. I should be sadder than him."


    "Your noodle shop has franchises all over Korea."


    "Shut up."


    "I feel bad for Team Risers. They should have won that benefit."


    "I feel bad for Team Aglet, too. I would have felt betrayed. Is that why June had the most screen time in the song?"


    "Now that you''ve mentioned it, you''re right."


    "He doesn''t deserve his rank."


    June looked at the resentful looks on the trainees'' faces, and as he continued wandering his eyes, his gaze focused on Xin.


    Xin, who had been nervous this entire elimination episode because of his rank, now had a smug look on his face.


    Even if he doesn''t end up making it into the top 25, seeing June in such a vulnerable state already made him feel happy. Xin couldn''t wait to ry the news to Hoon.


    As June continued to hear such hurtful words being thrown at him, he brought the mic down and took a deep breath.


    "June?" Jihyun repeated. "Do you want to say something?"


    June shook his head, and the others gasped softly in surprise.


    June ced the microphone back on the stand and was about to walk to his seat when Robby suddenly spoke.


    It seemed like the soloist couldn''t take it anymore as he said his next words. Moreover, since this wasn''t a live show, Robby just had the urge to humiliate June in front of the other trainees.


    "Then, would you mind addressing the news that has been floating on Navel? About how you''re the son of the Chois?"


    June froze in his spot, while the others were also stunned to silence. The production crew, too, didn''t expect such a statement toe from Robby''s lips.


    June stayed silent, so Robby pressed on.


    "I think it''s best to address the elephant in the room¡ªwhat do you feel about having parents that riggedst year''s Rising Stars?" he asked, bitterness heard in his voice.


    June pursed his lips together as he gazed into the others'' eyes.


    It seemed like all of them were waiting for his answer.


    The cameras all panned to June''s face as if urging him to address the issue right then and there.


    And to make things worse, Robby continued spouting questions that only heightened the tension in the room.


    "Robby," Jihyun held onto the younger''s shoulder.


    "I''m just asking out of pure curiosity," Robby innocently answered. "I''m sure most of us are wondering the same thing. Don''t you think it''s only fair that June addresses such concerns? Especially to his fans who have been supporting him from the very start."


    June lifted his head and looked into Robby''s eyes.


    There was still a regretful look in June''s eyes, but for some reason, Robby felt a chill run down his spine. June appeared like he knew something else¡­something that only he knew about.


    However, Robby straightened his back and kept hisposure strong.


    "Trainee June," he said, his voice getting louder. "It is unfair to have the other trainees work hard for their ranks while other trainees are merely handed their ranks."


    June bit his lip, wanting to curse this man out loud, but he knew that doing so would only put him in a bad ce.


    So, he looked away from Robby instead and secured the mic on the stand. He took a step back and bowed 90 degrees.


    One second.


    Two seconds¡­


    Until it went on for thirty seconds.


    The others were wondering why he was bowing for such a long time. Is this his way of apologizing and admitting that everything was true?


    Robby watched the scene before him with contempt. "Pathetic," he said, the mic away from his lips.


    However, June, who was also on stage, heard it crystal clear.


    He bit his lip in frustration but decided to control himself.


    This wasn''t the right time.


    So, he straightened his back, and with slumped shoulders, he walked to his spot¡ªthe 8th seat. He kept his gaze at the front, but he could still feel the others'' stares behind his back and on the side of his face.


    And one thing was certain as he sat on his seat.


    They didn''t think that June deserved it.

 Chapter 176 June’s Plan

    <h4>Chapter 176 June''s n</h4>


    "Alright, we''ll call some of the boys for the interviews tonight," Yejin announced. "Once we announce your name, pleasee backstage so we can prepare you for an interview."


    "Ren...Zeth...Sehun...C-Jay....and Yuri! We''ll be waiting backstage. We''ll start off with Ren," she continued before going down the stage.


    Ren quickly followed Yejin backstage for an interview. This was amon tradition in the past seasons of Rising Stars. Since all elimination episodes were pre-recorded back then, trainees were asked to share their feelings after the elimination, and it was edited in a way that gained the viewers'' sympathy.


    As Ren walked backstage, June clicked his tongue in annoyance. It was obvious that they weren''t going to give him a chance to exin himself and his real situation.


    With that in mind, June sat up from his seat and observed the 24 remaining boys. As expected, Zeth remained in the number one spot while Casper followed in second. Jisung retained his seventh rank, and the others were shuffled but were still in the top 10.


    C-Jay, who was still emotional afternding the 25th ce, continued sobbing in his seat. However, as his friends walked to his seat, he instantly felt better.


    "I thought I wasn''t going to make it," he whispered. Jangmoon pped the back of his head.


    "I fucking made it. Why''d you think you weren''t going to?" he asked.


    C-Jay chuckled, wiping the snot from his nose. "You''re right. There''s no way that I''ll get eliminated before you."


    Theyughed loudly, and June watched them as he went down the stairs to join them.


    "Hey," June said, causing them to stopughing. They turned to June and the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Everybody seemed to be wary of his presence¡ªexcept for Jisung.


    "Congrattions, bro!" he smiled. "You''ve worked hard."


    "Thanks," June muttered. "You''ve worked hard, too."


    Then, he faced the others. Jaeyong and Zeth were still with them, and it seemed like the two were purposely evading June''s gaze.


    June sighed. They thought the same, too.


    They were conversing pretty loudly before June came, but now, there was a hint of awkwardness in the air.


    June knew he was the reason for the awkwardness, so he cleared his throat to break the silence.


    "I''ll go now," he said.


    "Are you going to your real home? Or your apartment?" Jangmoon asked, causing June to purse his lips.


    "To my apartment¡ªmy real home," June vaguely answered before turning his back.


    Jisung nudged Jangmoon''s shoulder as June walked away from them.


    "What?" Jangmoon asked, scratching the back of his head. "I was just curious."


    Jisung felt frustrated as he looked at their suspicious faces. "Look, I don''t know the real story behind June''s life. I''m sure nobody has a clue since he doesn''t share these things with us, but do you really think so lowly of him?"


    C-Jay pursed his lips. "I just don''t know what to believe. He doesn''t tell us anything, and the evidence is very very convincing. Why else would he have taken us to Pierre?"


    "Yeah," Akira said. "And the Colexx watch, too. I like June, I really do. But this is just something I can''tprehend."


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "Can''t you be thankful for once? He gave you a watch," he gestured to C-Jay. "And he all treated us for brunch. You''re talking as if everything is already confirmed!"


    They all stayed silent, causing Jisung to be even more frustrated. For the first time in a while, he had learned what it felt like to be angry.


    The shy trainee rarely experienced such emotion, but the presence of his friends, who were currently doubting June, made him snap.


    "You''re talking as if June hasn''t helped us at all. Do you remember how he helped you during the Mafia Melodies performance? Or how heforted Zeth before the second mission? June had also gone out of his way to help us improve our skills."


    "He''s very loved by his fans," Jisung continued, his voice suddenly turning softer. "And that''s because he works hard. It isn''t so obvious since he doesn''t like bragging about his hard work, but he''s been one of the people who have deliberately helped us when we were down¡ªeven when he was also having a hard time."


    The others were surprised to hear Jisung speak such long sentences without stuttering.


    "So before anything is confirmed, I''m going to believe in June," Jisung said with resolution.


    "And I''ll believe in him even if it gets proven right."


    With that, he walked away from them, his shyness suddenly hitting him.


    ***


    Contrary to what June had said, he wasn''t nning on going home straight away.


    The airing of the elimination episode was going to be on Friday, and if he wanted his n to go exactly like he wanted, June needed someone on his side.


    So, with a stealthy stance, he started walking backstage, where the mentors were staying.


    However, on his way there, he suddenly saw that the Janitor''s closet was open. Curiosity got the best of him, so he peeked inside. Then, he smirked when he saw Xin, who appeared to be crying on the phone. Again, it was on loudspeaker, so June could hear the person Xin was talking to.


    "I didn''t make it, Hoon," he sobbed, tears streaming down his face, making his foundation run.


    Hoon sighed through the phone. "It''s alright."


    "You weren''t even supposed to make it that far into thepetition anyway," Hoon muttered, so Xin wasn''t able to hear it.


    "Did June get humiliated at least?" Hoon asked.


    Xin sniffed and wiped his tears with his blue sleeve, causing the foundation to scatter on his clothes.


    "Yes," Xin said, a hint of joy in his voice. "Robby asked him some questions regarding his parents, and he wasn''t able to answer them. June wasn''t able to give a speech, too. This is the very first time I''ve seen him look so down and humiliated."


    Hoonughed out loud, his walls shaking. "Ah, I wish I could have seen it."


    "You''ll get to see it on Friday," Xin said. "I bet the editing team is going to milk the shit out of it. There''s no way they''re going to let this pass quite easily."


    "Hmm, you''re right," Hoon said. "The editing team could be quite cruel. Well, you better get home. It''s already gettingte."


    Xin sighed with slumped shoulders. "I guess I''ll go back to school. I don''t think I can continued being an idol. You should do the same, Hoon."


    Hoon chuckled and shook his head. "No way. I''m nning to be a professional gamer now. I''m pretty good."


    Hoon was, indeed, not good at all.


    "That''s great," Xin genuinelyplimented. "Don''t forget about me when you get famous, bro."


    "Of course," Hoon said. "How could I forget the guy who helped me with June''s downfall. You did a really great job capturing those photos."


    With that, their phone call ended, and Xin held onto the doorknob. However, he was surprised when he saw that it was agape.


    Hmm, he must have forgotten to close it.


    Then, Xin made his way outside. However, he jumped when he saw June leaning against the wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He jumped in surprise as the two of them made eye contact.


    "What are you doing here?" Xin suspiciously asked.


    "Shouldn''t I be the one asking you that?" June asked with raised eyebrows.


    Xin frowned in confusion. The June he saw a while ago looked so down. However now, he was back to his nonchnt self. Did he move on that easily from the humiliation he faced?


    Xin kept his head high as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What do you want?"


    "You just admitted it," June said. "You took those pictures, huh? And it seemed like you were following Hoon''s orders."


    ''Shit. He heard that?'' Xin cursed in his mind.


    "And so?" he smugly asked. "As I said, you don''t have any proof that we did it, so you can talk shit for all you want, but no one''s going to believe you."


    "Okay," June calmly said. "You got me there. I don''t have any proof that you? guys did it."


    Xin internally sighed in relief. "Bastard," he snickered. "You''re still acting calm, huh? Let''s see you act calm once you get eliminated next week. I''m sure the public would stop voting for you now."


    June merely nodded, and that brought immense satisfaction to Xin''s heart.


    "See you outside, rich bastard," Xin chuckled, smugly waving his hand as he walked away from June.


    June watched his retreating back and smiled. Then, he opened the Janitor''s closer once more.


    He thought he was merely seeing things when he nced inside a while ago.


    But June was right.


    There was a blinking red dot in the corner of the room, hidden in the dark.

 Chapter 177 No Love Affair!

    <h4>Chapter 177 No Love Affair!</h4>


    With Xin''s departure, June continued to make his way to where the mentors were. He weaved through the guards expertly, and he even saw the bucktooth guard trying to remove some stuck spinach in his teeth as June literally just walked past him.


    Rising Stars truly needed to get better security.


    Without much effort, June made his way in front of a door with huge signage that said¡ªJihyun.


    Jihyun, who was currently having her make-up taken off, gossiped with her make-up artist while scrolling through Navel. She scrolled through June''s topic and felt pained every time she saw a new hatement pop up.


    "This kid never catches a break," Jihyun said. "Can you believe he''s been the center of controversies for two weeks in a row?"


    Yoonjin, the young make-up artist, nced over her shoulder and shook her head. "I also read the article. I think it''s true that June has a sponsor. I mean, his parents are literally Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah."


    "June looks nothing like these two, though," Jihyun said, zooming in on the rich couple''s faces. Jihyun didn''t want to be rude, but they looked¡­like someone from the animal kingdom?


    Let''s just say that god is fair. He gave the Chois a shit ton of money, but their looks are¡­questionable.


    "You''re right," Yoonjin said. "But I can''t think of any other exnation as to how June would be able to enter Pierre and afford those MJ shoes and a Colexx. Even rich trainees can''t get on his level."


    "I really don''t get that vibe from June," Jihyun continued to defend him. "I''ve been observing him for quite some time, and he hasn''t worn any designer clothes up until those photos. His clothes are always tacky, too."


    "Now that you''ve mentioned it," Yoonjin said. "He really does dress very simply. He always wears the same ck hoodie, too."


    "See?" Jihyun eximed. "It doesn''t make sense that he''s a rich guy."


    "Well, rich dudes always seem to dress down. I''ve never seen a billionaire who dresses well before. Just look at Egon Crust and Markus Zapperburger!"


    Jihyun clicked her tongue. "Whatever. I still believe that there''s something else going on."


    As the two of them continued to converse, the door suddenly opened.


    "Gosh, can''t people knock?" Jihyun asked, her eyes still focused on her phone. "What is it?"


    The door closed behind her, but the person still didn''t answer. So, she sighed in frustration and lifted her head, seeing the person through the mirror.


    Jihyun screamed in shock when she saw the person they were talking about just standing behind her.


    Her scream also surprised Yoonjin as he ripped hershes off quite harshly, causing some of her realshes to fall off.


    "Jihyun!" Yoonjin eximed. However, the older artist didn''t care about that at all. She stood up and turned around, only to be faced with June.


    "June?" Jihyun asked.


    Yoonjin, too, turned around and gasped in shock when she saw the handsome trainee. This was the very first time she had seen him up close, and she could say that the cameras weren''t doing him any justice.


    "What are you doing here?" Jihyun asked. If it was any other trainee, she would have called security right away. However, Jihyun could never do that to June.


    "Can I speak with you for a moment, Mentor?" he asked.


    Jihyun nced at Yoonjin, who still had a starstruck look on her face, and quickly gathered all her items.


    "You should go home now," Jihyun said.


    Yoonjin finally snapped out of her daze and looked at Jihyun, confused. "Hmm, what? All your make-up still hasn''t been taken off."


    "I insist," Jihyun said, wanting to spend time with June all alone. "See you on the next filming day."


    With that, Jihyun practically shoved the young make-up artist outside of the room.


    Then, she proceeded to lock the door while staring at June''s back.


    Jihyun felt her heart beating fast in her chest. She felt like a teenage girl who was in the midst of her favorite idol in the 2000s!


    "You may sit down," Jihyun said, her voice shaking a little bit.


    She pinched the inside of her arm to get her act together. She shouldn''t be acting this way! Between the two of them, she was the bigger star!


    Jihyun then cleared her throat. "Is there something you need from me?"


    "There is," June said without any hesitation, looking into her eyes.


    Jihyun gulped as she locked eyes with the fine, young man. She had never felt this way ever since she met her husband for the first time!


    "This is something that only you can help me with," he said, his voice piercing through her soul.


    Jihyun felt her heart beat even faster in her chest (if that was even possible). She might end up in SupraVentricr Tachycardia at this point.


    Jihyun''s mind raced with a thousand thoughts, and none of them seemed innocent.


    ''I have a husband! But maybe I can make an exception for this young man?''


    ''No! He''s way too young for me. Although, he is already in his 20s.''


    ''That''s ridiculous! How can I even think about having an affair with him? His career hasn''t even started yet!''


    "So, can you help me?" June asked, causing Jihyun to jolt in surprise.


    "Yes. U¨Cuh, I''ll be your sugar¡ªI mean, yes, I''ll help you with what you need," she said, although she was already cursing inside her mind since she honestly didn''t hear what June had said just now.


    June weirdly looked at the vocal mentor but brushed it off.


    June then stood up from his seat, causing Jihyun to be even more confused.


    "Let''s go then, Mentor," June said, walking to the door.


    ''Oh gosh. Where are we going? Don''t tell me¡ªare my assumptions right?"


    Those thoughts raced inside Jihyun''s mind once more.


    "Umm, where are we going again?" Jihyun warily asked.


    "I just told you," June deadpanned.


    "Oh, you know me," Jihyun nervously chuckled. "I''m in myte 30s. I''m forgetting a lot of thingstely."


    June pursed his lips. "To the headquarters," he rified.


    "You''re going to help me get inside Azure''s headquarters."


    "WHAT?"

 Chapter 178 Big Favor

    <h4>Chapter 178 Big Favor</h4>


    Jihyun was nk-minded as she used her ID pass to enter Azure''s headquarters. It was already past office hours, so there weren''t a lot of employees inside the ''Rising Stars'' section anymore.


    Although the editing team was currently the busiest, with some of their members already sorting through the footage of the elimination episode.


    "We''re here," Jihyun said, still not believing how she could go to such lengths for a trainee.


    "Do you need me to apany you to where you''re going?" she asked.


    June shook his head. "May I know where the room for the editing team is?"


    Jihyun sighed. It seemed like June really came to her for this objective¡ªnot the one she was imagining.


    "It''s on the farthest right," she said. "Is that really all you want to ask me?"


    "Yes," June nonchntly said. "Thank you so much, Mentor," he bowed his head.


    Jihyun pursed her lips, all her hopes crushed. "Alright," she said, disappointment heard in her voice.


    "I''ll get going then," she said. "But before I leave, I want to ask you something."


    June nodded and waited for her to shoot her question.


    "Why are you doing all of this? Does it have something to do with the usations you''ve been facing?"


    June hesitated to answer, but since Jihyun had kindly helped him, he eventually nodded.


    "You could say that," he said.


    "Then, is it true?" Jihyun asked out of curiosity. "Are you really affiliated with Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah?"


    June didn''t respond. Instead, he diverted the topic. "Umm, is this a new style that you''re trying out?"


    Jihyun frowned and looked down at her clothes. "New style?" she asked. "These are the usual clothes that I wear."


    "Not your clothes," June said. "Your make-up. Is half a face with make-up the trend nowadays?"


    The color on Jihyun''s face drained as she felt dread pass through her heart. She was so caught up with June that she didn''t even realize that half of her make-up still hadn''t been taken off!


    Jihyun quickly covered half of her face and looked down at the ground.


    "Well, I think I should go. I still have to cook dinner," she chuckled nervously. "You don''t need a pass to get out of here, so you can leave whenever you want!"


    With that, she practically bolted away from June.


    June smirked since he sessfully diverted the topic and wasn''t forced to exin his current situation.


    Now that he was all alone, he was determined to fulfill his objective. June started navigating his way inside therge office. There were still some workers around, but they didn''t seem to notice June since he was wearing casual clothes.


    Then, he arrived at the editing team''s area, and he saw plenty of people on theirputers browsing through the footage they filmed just a while ago.


    It seemed like this team had it pretty tough, especially after filming days. They had less than two days to cote every footage and turn it into the episode!


    June passed by all of them since he was looking for another person.


    And then, he arrived right in front of the door of the person who would help him execute his n.


    Cindy Jung¡ªhead of the editing team.


    ***


    "Are you already there?" Cindy asked as she typed something into their work group chat. She was instructing her underlings to sort through the footage, cut through the dead air, andpile them chronologically. Tomorrow, she''ll instruct the team on what effects shall be added.


    Then, in the end, she''ll be the one to add the finishing touches.


    That was Cindy Jung''s recipe for a sessful episode. Usually, she would have stayed with the team during this time, but there''s something more important on her list for tonight.


    "I''m still getting ready, Mom," Jia whined over the phone. "I don''t even know why you''re so insistent on meeting me when I''m so busy."


    "Busy with what?" Cindy exasperatedly asked. "Your sses start on Monday. I believe you''ve already enrolled, too. I''m sure there isn''t much on your te right now."


    Jia groaned as she put a sweater on. She did have a lot on her te right now! June''s name still hadn''t been cleared, and she had spent her time trying to look for something that would prove his innocence. However, June''s life was like a nk canvas! There''s not much material on his past life on the inte at all.


    "Anyway," Cindy said. "I''m about to head out to my office. I''ll meet you at the hot pot restaurant, alright?"


    "Just as long as you''re paying," Jia said.


    "Oh, honey. When did you ever pay for our meals?"


    Jis snickered as she ced on her shoes. "Never! Well, I''m about to head out now. See you there, mom."


    "See you there, bear!" Cindy fondly eximed, turning off the phone and cing her belongings inside her bag.


    Cindy was about to leave her office when the door suddenly opened and a man wearing all ck came into the room.


    She screamed in shock and backed away, cing her purse in front of her body.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the horror-filled expression on the older woman''s face. Now that he thought about it, it does look like he''d be a suspicious person. A ck sweater, ck mask, and ck jeans? It looked like he was about to rob her.


    So, he quickly removed his hood and mask, revealing the handsome face hidden beneath.


    Cindy looked at the young man with furrowed eyebrows. Then, her fear turned to confusion as she recognized the man before her.


    "Rising Stars'' June?"


    "You recognize me?" June asked.


    Cindy rxed when she realized that the young man was a mere trainee.


    "Of course," she said in a professional tone. "I am the new head of the editing team of Rising Stars. It''s only natural that I know the people that I am editing. And how could I not recognize you? I heard from my subordinates that they have suffered greatly in the past three weeks because of you."


    June puffed up his cheeks. "It wasn''t my intention."


    Cindy narrowed her eyes at him. "I''m sure it wasn''t¡­I''m afraid you''ll be giving my team a hard time this time, too," she continued, aware of the issue that June was currently facing. "If you came here to ask me to edit you better, then you''vee to the wrong person. I''m not afraid of you or your parents. I''ve seen some of your footage, and I already have something great stored for you," she smirked, her mind racing with some evil ideas.


    One thing about Cindy is she doesn''t suck up to anybody¡ªand that''s probably why the show she was in had always been sessful. She knew how to make a damn good show, and it was evident in every episode.


    Cindy wasn''t afraid of doing the same to Rising Stars.


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. It seemed like he had bumped into a formidable opponent.


    "Well, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to tell me what you want?" she coldly asked.


    "Miss Cindy Jung¡ªI need you to do me a big favor. Edit me pitifully, please."

 Chapter 179 Emotional Hot Pot

    <h4>Chapter 179 Emotional Hot Pot</h4>


    "No, absolutely not," Cindy Jung immediately said before June could even exin his sentiments.


    June sighed deeply. "If you listen to what I''m about to say, then I''m sure you wouldn''t hesitate to push through with my idea."


    June knew that the public was anticipating the release of the elimination episode after his supposed connection with the Chois had been revealed.


    Right now, there are only three ways on how the episode will pan out¡ªthe rumor will be debunked, confirmed, or ignored.


    And the editing would be stupid if they chose to ignore the situation.


    "What? Did youe here to ask me to edit you in a good light?" Cindy asked.


    "Yes," June unhesitatingly answered. "Because I am not affiliated with the Chois in any way, and I have a n to show that to the viewers."


    "I''m not stupid enough to believe you," the middle-aged woman strongly said. "The evidence is right under our noses."


    June sighed in frustration. "If you would just listen to my exnation..."


    Cindy raised her finger to cut him off. "Unluckily for you, I don''t have any time to listen to you right now. I have an important meeting to attend to."


    With her statement, her phone suddenly rang.


    Cindy clicked ''answer'' and ced her phone beside her ear.


    "Where are you? I''m almost at the restaurant," Jia urged.


    "I''ming. Wait for me inside," Cindy responded.


    Jia clicked her tongue. "I''m ordering already if I arrive first."


    Cindy fondly chuckled. "Alright. Alright. I''ll be there soon."


    Cindy ended the call and went back to her cold self. "I don''t have anything else to say to you," she said.


    "I do," June stubbornly said.


    Cindy clicked her tongue. "Young man, I am warning you for thest time. Leave now. Otherwise, I''ll be calling security, and you''ll have another issue under your belt."


    June sighed in frustration as he took a step back.


    "Alright," June said in defeat. "I''ll be leaving my number with you, then. If you change your mind, then don''t hesitate to contact me."


    With that, June turned around and left the room peacefully.


    Cindy sighed in relief since the young man didn''t put up a desperate fight. It was unfortunate. June appeared to be a decent young man, but what Cindy hated the most was people who tried to use their wealth to get what they wanted.


    As an editor of more than ten years, she had encountered such scoundrels who wanted to enhance their reputations through her editing skills.


    And she never conformed to them. In fact, Cindy did the opposite of what they had asked for.


    June was no exception.


    Cindy left her office and went to the editing room, where she saw a decent amount of employees still working.


    "Miss Jung," the supervisor bowed his head. "You still haven''t left?"


    "I''m about to," Cindy said. "But I have some instructions for you to carry out until tomorrow."


    "Sure, Miss," the supervisor responded. "You can tell it to me, and I''ll ry it to the team. We''ll make sure to turn the footage over to you tomorrow."


    "That young man¡ªJune, was it?"


    "Ah, yes. The supposed son of Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah? Have you thought about how to edit the video? The special mentor of the night had put him under the hot seat during the filming."


    Cindy smirked as she tapped her foot on the floor.


    "Include it all," she mischievously said. "Edit his scene and make him look as guilty as possible."


    "So, evil-edit him?" the supervisor confirmed.


    "Evil-edit him. Make it look like he really paid his way to the top."


    ***


    Jia popped a piece of lettuce in her mouth as she waited for her mother to arrive.


    For someone who was excited to meet her, she sure iste.


    The broth was already boiling, and all of the ingredients had beenid out on their table!


    "I''m sorry, Jia-bear," she heard a familiar voice. "I got caught up with something annoying."


    Jia clicked her tongue. "Don''t call me that in public," she said.


    "Why not?" Cindy cheekily asked. "You''d always be my Boo Bear."


    Jia rolled her eyes at the cringy nickname. "Why''d you call me out tonight?" she asked as she poured the meat and vegetables into the broth, greedily scooping them into her mouth like she had been starved for days.


    "Why?" Cindy asked. "Can''t I just go out of my way and see my beautiful daughter?"


    "You work one hour away from my school," Jia said, her mouth still full. "You called me on a casual workday. That''s unlike you. You rarely visit."


    Cindy sadly sighed as she looked at her precious daughter. It felt like it had been years since shest saw her, and it made her wonder if she was so caught up with work that she already forgot what her daughter looked like.


    Cindy admits that she had been a workaholic ever since Jia was young. Jia lived with her father in the province when she was a child while Cindy rarely visited because of her workload.


    One of the reasons why she didn''t renew her contract with her pastpany is definitely because of Jia. Now that Cindy''s in her 50s, she wanted to stray away from work and focus more on her family.


    She wanted to make it up to Jia, too.


    "Mom," Jia said, snapping her out of her thoughts.


    "Huh?" Cindy asked. "What was that?"


    "Why do you have a sad look in your eyes?" Jia asked, weirded out. "I just asked you a simple question¡ªwhy''d youe here despite your busy schedule?"


    Cindy smiled and decided to open up to Jia.


    "I really wanted to see you," she said. "It''s been a while since we''ve seen each other, right?"


    "I think it was Christmas?" Jia asked. "We celebrated it in the province with dad."


    "Yeah, it was fun," Cindy said. "Do you want to go back to the province next month?"


    ''Alright, this is really getting weird,'' Jia thought.


    "It''s alright," Jia said. "I know you''re busy. I can visit Dad on my own. You can juste with us during Christmas. It''s always been like that."


    Cindy sighed. "It has always been like that, huh?" she sadly said. "I''m sorry, bear."


    Jia almost choked after her mom''s sincere apology.


    Why did the atmosphere turn emotional all of a sudden?


    "I know I haven''t been that present in your life, but I want to change that. I want to make it up to you. I hope it''s not toote," Cindy shakily said.


    Jia felt so awkward that she continued spooning hot soup into her mouth.


    "Yeah, yeah. It''s not toote," she said. "Don''t sweat about it, Mom."


    Cindy sighed in relief after her daughter''s nonchnt response. She was really determined to make it up to her one and only daughter.


    Jia, on the other hand, was determined to change the topic.


    "So, uh, why''d youe here again?" she asked for the third time.


    "Ah, right!" Cindy excitedly said. "I''m working with a differentpany now¡ªAzure¡ªare you familiar with them?"


    "Wait, what?" Jia asked, the ss of water against her lips.


    "Yeah, Azure! I signed a contract to be their editor. Under ''Rising Stars,'' to be specific!"

 Chapter 180 Half-Naked Shoot?

    <h4>Chapter 180 Half-Naked Shoot?</h4>


    "Rising Stars?" Jia asked, her mouth agape.


    Her mother had always been with ''Crawling Man,'' yet now she''s a part of Azure and ''Rising Stars?''


    "Yes," Cindy cheerfully eximed. "Have you heard of that show? I know you''re not fond of idols, but you may want to give it a shot now that your mom is editing the show."


    "Uh, sure, yeah," Jia awkwardly said, reaching for the ss of water. "So, you were in the Azure headquarters just now?"


    "Yeah," Cindy answered. "We''re busy editing the elimination episode. Actually, the reason why I came sote is because of this one trainee. He suddenly barged into my office and asked me to give him a good edit. Can you believe it? He''s a fool if he thinks I''ll conform to his requests," Cindy scoffed.


    "Who is it?" Jia asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. She wasn''t interested in any other trainee except for June, but she still wanted to keep up with the drama of the show.


    "I think you might be familiar with him even if you don''t watch Rising Stars. He''s been all over the news these days. June, was it? That trainee¡ª"


    Water spilled out from Jia''s mouth like a water fountain, wetting the ingredientsid out on the table.


    "Jia!" Cindy eximed, quickly retrieving a napkin. "What was that for?"


    Jia ignored her mother''s scolding and harshly wiped the water on the corner of her lips.


    "June? June, you said?" Jia rified.


    Cindy was still confused as to why her daughter was acting that way. She continued to wipe the table as she answered Jia.


    "Yes, June. Choi Joon-ho," her mother said. "Does that name ring a bell?"


    Jia felt her heart stop, and then she leaned against her chair to properly internalize the news her mom had shared.


    June? The love of her life, June, personally went to her mom''s office...and she wasn''t there?


    This was preposterous!


    "So, do you know him?" Cindy asked.


    "Know him?" Jia eximed. She practically breathes in June! June is her life!


    "Well, as I said, he told me to edit him well on the elimination episode. But there''s no way I''m going to do that," Cindy continued.


    "Did you at least listen to his reason?" Jia asked.


    "There''s no use," Cindy responded. "I don''t want to talk with the likes of him. He thinks that he could order me around just because his parents are Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah."


    "It hasn''t been proven," Jia quickly defended.


    "What?" Cindy asked.


    "It hasn''t been proven yet," Jia repeated, slower this time. "Sure, there is evidence out there. But there''s nothing that directly points June as the son of the Chois."


    Cindy suspiciously raised his eyebrows. "You seem to know an awful lot about this issue."


    Jia merely sighed. "Besides, there''s nothing wrong with being the son of rich investors."


    "There is a problem," Cindy countered. "Especially when said parents are the ones responsible for rigging thest season of the show he''s currently in."


    "You don''t know his backstory," Jia stubbornly said.


    "And you don''t know his backstory, too," Cindy countered. "I''m sensing something here. Do you know this guy?"


    "I know him better than you," Jia stuck her chin up.


    "Since when did you be a fan of idols?" Cindy asked. "I thought you weren''t interested in any of that."


    "Well, you thought wrong," Jia said. "Things have changed, and maybe if you would have contacted me more often, then you would know about my hobbies."


    Cindy let out a deep sigh. "That''s why I said I''m going to make it up to you, right?"


    "You want to make it up to me, huh?" Jia asked.


    Cindy nodded. "Yes."


    Jia smirked as she looked her mom in the eyes. "If you really want to make it up to me¡­then do this for me, Mom."


    ***


    June sighed in frustration as he walked out of the Azure headquarters.


    After Minjun gave him a cute little speech about his parents, he suddenly felt awakened.


    June cared too much about something he couldn''t change, and it was amazing how a pep talk with a little kid was the only thing that changed his mind.


    Of course, he could have done this the easier way. June could have taken up Minjun''s offer to post June''s real story, and that would have eased the situation a little bit. It would also be the faster route. However, this method wouldn''t really ensure that people are going to believe in the post. In their minds, June was already the son of rich tycoons who didn''t have a sense of humanity.


    So, in the end, he decided to go for the longer, more satisfying route.


    While filming the elimination episode, June was itching to curse Robby off and tell everyone the truth. However, he held back.


    June made a conscious decision to remain silent during the elimination episode to remain ambiguous. He knew that by not revealing his thoughts, he had kept everyone guessing.


    His decision to stay silent wasn''t just about ambiguity; it was also a strategic move. June understood the power of perception. By not speaking, he had made himself appear more pitiful, and right now, he knew that sympathy would be his most valuable currency.


    June''s n was to ask for an interview simr to the one that Ren and the others had ¡ª one that only he and the editing team would know about.


    However, that n all went down the drain after Cindy didn''t even bother listening to his proposition. June was sure that he''d melt the older woman''s heart once she heard about his real situation.


    Luckily for June, he had a backup n.


    He''s very determined to show everyone that they are wrong, and he can even go as far as doing this.


    June brought out his phone along with a calling card from his wallet. Then, he dialed the number. It didn''t take long before the person answered.


    "Who the fuck is calling me at night?" the man cursed.


    "It''s me," June said in a deep voice.


    "June?"


    "Yes," he confirmed. "Are you still down for that half-naked shoot?"

 Chapter 181 Change of Mind

    <h4>Chapter 181 Change of Mind</h4>


    "No touching!" June scolded Choi Pablo as he tried to touch his bare skin.


    Pablo''s mouth watered as he stared at the beauty in front of him. June''s skin looked so white and silky that it appeared to have been painted by god himself. As his eyes traced down his body, they were drawn to his abdomen, which showcased a bnce of muscr definition without excessive bulging. His toned abs were like finely chiseled marble but still maintaining a sense of elegance.


    Then, his eyes strayed to his arms. They were not overly bulky, but the lean muscles beneath the skin proved his strength and grace. June''s shoulders broadened his frame, and they provided a foundation for the rest of his physique. Yet, even with the broadness, they still preserved the beauty thatplemented the entirety of his body.


    For Choi Pablo, this was the perfect body.


    And he couldn''t wait to capture it with his camera.


    "Wait," June said, covering the lens. Pablo looked at him with skepticism.


    "What?" the photographer asked.


    "You promise to post the truth on your ount after this is over, right?"


    "Yes, yes," Pablo said. "We''ve already gone through the terms. I signed a contract, too! I''m not going back on my words."


    "You better," June said.


    He was sacrificing his sanity for this half-naked shoot.


    "Let''s get this over and done with, then," June said, removing his hand from the lens and taking a step back. The light from the window hit his body perfectly, and Pablo quickly snapped a picture.


    "Don''t post this too, alright?" June warned.


    "I know," Pablo said. "This is for my own enjoyment," he smirked, continuing to take pictures of June.


    Pablo decided to continue speaking with June since he realized that the photos got awkward when June was aware of the camera.


    June, in his natural state, was definitely the best version of June.


    "So, what made you change your mind?" Pablo asked. "I thought you didn''t want to do a half-naked shoot."


    "I''m still ufortable with it," June said, but Pablo begs to differ. He looked great in these photos!


    "But in the end, this is the best way to convince you to post the truth about your parents."


    "You''re right," Pablo smirked. "I''m d I refused your offer a few days ago."


    June clicked his tongue. "What about you? What made you change your mind? I thought you didn''t want to be associated with your parents anymore."


    "Hmm," Pablo hummed. "Honestly, I thought long and hard about it. I can never get away from my parents until I acknowledge their presence in my life. It always feels like I''m hiding a dark secret, and right now, I just want to be honest. I know some people would hate me for it, but I already have an established career, unlike you."


    "By revealing this, I''d finally get to live a life of true freedom. Besides, my parents are in jail as of the moment. They''re probably going to pay the bail and start a new life in an unknown European country, but at least I''ll be free from them now¡­both in public and private. I''ve blocked my mother too, by the way."


    June let out a deep sigh. "So, you would have revealed the truth even if I didn''t propose a half-naked photoshoot?"


    Pablo smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! This is one great bonus, though."


    "Fuck this," June muttered. Although it was toote to back down now.


    "I think that''s enough now," June said, picking his shirt from the floor and quickly wearing it.


    Pablo sighed in disappointment but didn''t feel too bad since he already got what he wanted.


    Having these photos in his archive was already enough to make the rest of his year.


    He clicked through the photos with a Cheshire grin, and June looked at him weirdly.


    However, June''s thoughts were cut off when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket.


    June retrieved his phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID.


    ''Unknown.''


    He frowned. Who would be calling him during this time? He never recalled giving his number away to anyone.


    Except for one person¡­


    June quickly pressed the answer button and ced the phone against his ear.


    "Hello?" he said.


    "Choi Joon-ho?"


    June smirked when he recognized the voice behind the phone.


    Cindy Jung. You called, huh?


    "Yes, this is June speaking."


    Cindy sighed, then June heard what seemed to be bickering through the phone. June''s eyebrows furrowed when the bickers began sounding like they were mixed with some squeals.


    "Are you okay?" June asked.


    Cindy cleared his throat, her voice bing crystal clear. "Everything is alright."


    "So, why''d you call?"


    "Yesterday," Cindy said through gritted teeth. "I believe I didn''t give you a fair chance to exin your situation. So, I am giving you a chance to tell your side, and I''ll see what I''ll be able to do with it."


    A soft smile yed on June''s lips.


    "Set the meeting ce and time."


    "Come to the interview room in the Azure building. Come at 1 p.m. sharp. No dys, and make sure you don''t get caught," she strictly said.


    "Interview room, 1 p.m., got it. I''ll see you there."


    There was yet another set of squeals from Cindy''s end, but before June could ask what was going on, Cindy quickly ended the call.


    June smirked as he ced his phone back into his pocket.


    "So, I''ll post your headshots along with an exnationter, am I right?" Pablo asked, making June turn around and face the crazy photographer.


    "Hmm?" June asked.


    "The photos and the truth?" Pablo repeated. "I''ll have Esther arrange a post to be revealed on my ountter in the night. I''ll make sure to clear your name. That''s what we agreed on, right?"


    "Hold that thought," June said, cing his hand under his chin. "On another note, can you not post it tonight?"


    Pablo frowned in confusion. "What? Then, how are you going to prove yourself to the public before the airing of the elimination episode? Won''t it get worse if we dy it any further?"


    "Trust me," June said with a smirk, causing Pablo to freeze.


    ''He''s so handsome!''


    "Okay," Pablo said without any hesitation. "I''ll do what you say. When shall I post it then?"


    "You''re going to watch Rising Stars, right?" June asked.


    "Wouldn''t miss it for you!" Pablo eximed.


    "Then, upload it as I go up to my seat. Don''t upload it until then."

 Chapter 182 Subway Girl

    <h4>Chapter 182 Subway Girl</h4>


    Jia squealed as soon as the call ended.


    "What time is it?" she asked, ncing at the clock. She gasped in surprise when she saw that it was already 10 minutes past 12.


    "I need to get my makeup done," she said, scrambling to the bathroom to retouch her makeup.


    Cindy clicked her tongue as she watched her daughter. Jia had never acted this way for a man...let alone an idol! To think that June got her wrapped around his finger was amazing.


    Cindy sighed and shook her head, not wanting Jia to be a fan of such a trainee.


    However, she did say that she was going to make it up to her daughter, so Cindy reluctantly listened to her request.


    It pained her to call June back and give him a chance, but Jia was more important to Cindy.


    After a couple of minutes, Jia went out of the restroom, all made up.


    "I''m ready," she said, flipping her hair.


    Cindy sighed as she stood up from her seat. "Let''s go to the meeting ce."


    ***


    June left Itaewon to go to the Azure building. They weren''t required toe back until Sunday for the announcement of the next mission, so fortunately, there weren''t any trainees or crew members around the ce.


    Only the bucktooth guard was familiar to June, but then again, he wasn''t that good with his job, so June was able to get in without any trouble.


    He started navigating his way through the hallways, making sure not to be seen by the cameras. He nced at his watch and saw that there were still 3 minutes before 1 p.m., so he sighed in relief when he finally made it to the interview room.


    June didn''t hesitate to open the door and enter the room.


    A small smile yed on his lips when he saw Cindy''s figure sitting behind the camera. However, next to her was a young woman that June couldn''t recognize.


    As June closed the door, the two women looked over his way.


    June tilted his head to the side as he locked gazes with the younger woman. He saw the resemnce between the two, but that wasn''t the first thing he noticed.


    Jia felt her heart racing inside her chest and her cheeks heating up as her favorite trainee stared into her eyes.


    "Subway girl?" June asked.


    Jia felt her heart race even faster. June remembered her?


    "We met once, right?" June confirmed, walking closer to them.


    "Umm, yes," Jia said, tucking her hair behind her ears.


    June chuckled as he observed the shy woman. "I hope you didn''t skip your meals for me."


    "I didn''t," Jia quickly answered. "I still gave you stars while eating my meals on time."


    "That''s good," June said.


    Cindy watched the two interact with raised eyebrows. They seemed awfully close!


    She cleared her throat loudly, causing the two to snap out of their conversation.


    "Are you here to exin your side or what?" Cindy asked.


    June took a step back and locked gazes with Cindy instead.


    "Are you going to listen to me this time around?"


    "Not if you keep talking to my daughter¡ª? "


    "Yes," Jia quickly interrupted her mother. "We''ll listen to what you have to say."


    June nodded before pulling a chair toward his way. "Let''s talk then. I''m sure you have a lot of questions you want to ask."


    The three of them sat in the small interview room, with Jia staring at June with sparkly eyes and Cindy still looking at him with suspicion.


    "Let''s start with the most important question," Cindy said, crossing her arms in front of her chest and leaning against the chair.


    "Did you pay Azure to secure your rank?" she bluntly asked.


    June mirrored her stance. "No," he quickly denied.


    "Are you sure?" Cindy pressed. "You might think you secured your rank all by yourself, but your parents might have utilized their money and power to keep you afloat in thepetition."


    "Mom," Jia whispered, tapping herp. "Don''t be rude."


    "I''m not being rude," Cindy defended loudly. "I''m just asking a question."


    "My parents wouldn''t do that," June sighed.


    "Again, how are you so sure?" Cindy asked. "Your parents riggedst year''s Rising Stars. There''s a high possibility of them repeating their sins."


    "How can they repeat a sin they haven''t evenmitted before?" June asked, causing the twodies to look at him with confusion.


    "My parents are not Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah," June said, rendering the two speechless. "My parents are dead."


    A chilling atmosphere enveloped the room, and as Cindy stared into the young man''s eyes, she couldn''t find a hint of a lie.


    However, Cindy had to make sure.


    She had met plenty of good actors during her time in the industry.


    "And what about the shoes? The Colexx? And eating at Pierre?"


    June looked down at hisp and yed with his fingers. At that moment, Jia felt her heart swell with sadness.


    June looked...pitiful.


    "They weren''t mine. They were gifted to me by somebody else."


    "Does somebody just give those luxurious things away?" Cindy asked.


    "I know it might be hard to believe, but that''s really the case. I''m not in the position to reveal who I got it from right now, but that person is going to reveal it in due time. I just hope you would trust me during this time," June said.


    Cindy was about to ask another question, but Jia pinched her side and spoke before her mom could.


    "Your parents...can I ask what happened to them?" Jia asked.


    June paused for a moment as he tried hard toe up with a believable story. Truthfully, he didn''t know who Choi Joon-ho''s parents were, nor did he know the full details of their deaths.


    However, based on his memory, Hana told him a little bit of what happened in his past.


    "A car crash," June said, recalling his past conversation with Hana.


    "They died in the car crash."


    With June''s eyebrows furrowed in frustration, he appeared to be in emotional distress.


    "I didn''t even get to see them anymore," June softly said, looking down at hisp.


    Cindy''s and Jia''s breaths got caught in the back of their throats as they looked at June.


    "Why did you only say this now?" Cindy asked her tone now softer than before.


    "Because nobody would have believed me anyway," June honestly said.


    "I couldn''t even talk with my friends," he continued. "You didn''t even give me a chance when we first met," he said, looking into Cindy''s eyes.


    Cindy was met with a wave of guilt, so she quickly looked away from the young man''s gaze.


    "But I''m thankful that you still gave me a chance," June said. "Now, I want to prove to everybody else that I''m not the son of the Chois."


    "I''m just Choi Joon-ho, an aspiring idol."


    There was a moment of silence before? Cindy cleared her throat, still avoiding his gaze.


    "So, what''s the n now?" she softly asked.


    June''s lip twitched as he tried hard to hide a smirk.


    "Those pitiful interviews that trainees get when their ranks are unexpected...can you allow me to do one of those, too?"

 Chapter 183 Awkward Interview

    <h4>Chapter 183 Awkward Interview</h4>


    "Alright, 3¡­.2¡­.1¡­, and we''re rolling!" Cindy eximed, operating the camera herself.


    As June looked too pitiful when he asked for the favor, Cindy had no choice but to heed his request. She had acted rashly when she made the decision to evil-edit June, but now that she thought about it, his downfall might also lead to the show''s destruction.


    Moreover, she felt guilty for assuming his story without listening to his side.


    "I''m going to be asking some questions," Cindy started off. "You can just answer them sincerely."


    June nodded, although he felt a little bit pressured with the camera right in front of his face. His emotional speech went down the drain as he stared into the device.


    "So, why did you join Rising Stars?" Cindy started with some light questions.


    June scratched the back of his head. "Umm, to debut?"


    Cindy gestured for June to continue, causing the trainee to frown.


    That was it.


    What was he supposed to say? That he came here to be a janitor?


    Cindy sighed in frustration while June dumbly looked at her.


    "What else?" she coaxed. "Has this been your dream since you were younger?"


    "Uhh, no," June said. "I wanted to be a firetruck if I recall. That was my first dream."


    "A firetruck?" Cindy asked in exasperation.


    "That''s cute," Jia muttered under her breath.


    "Yeah, not a fireman. A firetruck," he innocently said.


    Cindy sighed once more. "Alright, let''s try a different question. What do your parents mean to you?"


    Choi Joon-ho''s parents? They''re just some people June came to be affiliated with as he transmigrated into this body.


    "They''re okay, I guess," he took a guess. "They died when I was younger, so I don''t really remember," he stiffly answered.


    "Have they supported you in this dream ever since?"? she continued to ask.


    "Hmm, I don''t know. They probably weren''t against it."


    Why else would Joon-ho continue being a trainee for so many years if they were against it?


    "I think they were supportive," June concluded.


    "You think?" Cindy asked.


    "Yeah, I think so. It''s been a while since I''ve seen them, so¡­," he trailed off.


    For the third time, Cindy let out a deep sigh. Where was the pitiful trainee that had asked her for a favor just now?


    The footage they had filmed probably couldn''t even be used!


    "Okay, now tell me what you feel about people using you of such things when they aren''t even true?" Cindy asked the question she thought would elicit something from the trainee.


    However, he continued to answer stiffly.


    "It sucks," he said. "A lot of people just believe what they want to believe, but it''s not true. I''ve never even met Choi Si-woo or Choi Min-ah. We don''t look alike, either."


    "Alright, that''s enough," Cindy eximed in frustration, turning the camera off.


    June visibly rxed after the camera was turned off.


    "Can you be more sincere?" Cindy asked.


    June blinked his eyes at her. "I am being sincere. All my answers are a hundred percent honest."


    "Well, it doesn''t seem like it," Cindy snapped. "The public isn''t going to believe you if we continue like this."


    June pursed his lips. "What am I going to do then?"


    "Just be yourself," Cindy advised. "Cliche as it may seem, it''ll be the best way to capture the audience''s heart. Answer more sincerely, and if you could, open up a bit more."


    "It''s difficult," June sighed then pursed his lips. "I feel tense when the camera is around."


    Jia frowned in confusion. "But you''ve been doing so well on the missions," she intervened. "Haven''t you gotten used to the camera yet?"


    "That''s different," June responded. "We''re performing on stage. I already expect that there are going to be cameras. But spilling my feelings in front of a camera feels¡­awkward. I don''t know how to act," he shyly said.


    It felt like a lightning bolt struck Jia''s heart. So cute!


    June''s so cute!


    Cindy sighed, feeling for the young trainee. "Just keep what I said in mind," she said. "Act like the camera isn''t even there."


    "Like the camera isn''t even there," June muttered. "Got it."


    "Alright, we''ll film again in 3¡­2¡­"


    *Ring ring*


    Cindy''s cue was cut off with the sound of her ringtone. She cursed under her breath since she hated being interrupted while shooting.


    "What?" she snapped through the phone.


    "Uh¡ªthe editing of the episode is almost finished, Ma''am. But we don''t know how to edit the interviews of the trainees. Could you help us for a moment?" the supervisor of the editing team asked.


    Cindy sighed. "Wait a second," she said, covering the speakers and turning to the two young adults.


    "I''ll answer this really quickly," she said. "In the meantime, rx yourself, June. When Ie back, I expect you to be ready, okay?"


    June nodded while Jia looked at her mom with wide eyes. She was going to leave the two of them here?


    Jia doesn''t think her heart could take it!


    However, before she could even ask her mom to answer the phone call in the room, Cindy had already made her way outside.


    Jia was forced to sit back in her seat, shyly looking at June.


    "So, your mom''s an editor, huh?" June asked, trying to engage in small talk.


    "Yeah," Jia said, tucking her hair behind her ears. "It''s pretty cool."


    "Yeah," June shortly answered.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, so Jia was on a mission to salvage it.


    "How about you?" she quickly asked. "What¡ªWhat did your parents do before they passed?" she stammered.


    June pursed his lips and ced his hands on hisp.


    All this parent talk was making him remember his parents¡ªhis real parents.


    Chen Yu Ze and Chen Mei Lien.


    June didn''t answer for a while, appearing to be deep in thought, so Jia thought she must have hit a nerve.


    "You don''t have to answer it if you don''t want to," she eximed, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    "Hmm?" he hummed.


    "Umm, if you''re ufortable with the question, then feel free to skip it," she said.


    June shook his head with a light smile. "It''s alright," he said.


    Somehow, knowing that the cameras weren''t rolling made him want to share his feelings about his real parents.


    It wouldn''t hurt to tell her, right?


    These feelings have been bottled up inside June''s heart since he was a child.


    "I''ll answer the question," he said, so Jia remained silent.


    "My dad''s a construction worker," June smiled.


    "And my mom? She''s the most beautiful person in the entire world."

 Chapter 184 Most Beautiful Thing

    <h4>Chapter 184 Most Beautiful Thing</h4>


    Jia remained silent as she looked at June''s reminiscing face.


    It seemed like the trainee had unlocked something within himself¡ªa memory he had hidden deep inside his heart.


    June softly smiled as he recalled his happy days with his parents. It wasn''t a long time, nor did he remember every detail of his childhood. It must not have been so beautiful during those times, too¡­as his parents always fought whenever they thought June wasn''t listening.


    However, since it was such a short time, June wanted to hold onto those memories, distorting them to be beautiful for the sake of his sanity.


    June wanted it to be beautiful.


    It was the only time he had ever felt his parents'' love, so right now, he didn''t care at all about how his mother died because they couldn''t afford to take her to the hospital or how his father overdosed due to his sadness.


    He wanted to focus on the beautiful things.


    "We didn''t have a lot growing up," June said, the words spilling out of his mouth without any warning.


    "We were a simple family living in the suburbs of the city. There were times when my dad couldn''t make enough money to feed our family, so my mom would pretend she wasn''t hungry," he chuckled.


    Jia felt an ache in her chest. Although June chuckled, there was an underlying sadness in his voice.


    "My dad never let her go hungry, though," he continued. "My mom had always been sickly since she was young, so my dad paid extra attention to her. Before I even knew it, I started paying extra attention to my mom, too. For me, she''s the strongest person in the entire world."


    "I watched her get yelled at by ourndy and cried as she begged for us to stay another month. I watched as she endured my dad''s hot temper whenever he didn''t receive enoughpensation for his work. I watched as she still smiled during dinner time after I came back from school¡­even when she was hurting inside."


    "Truly," June sighed, looking down at hisp. "My mom''s the most beautiful person in the entire world."


    "Or should I say¡­was the most beautiful person," he said, his voice turning softer.


    Jia felt a lump forming in the back of her throat.


    June stayed silent, his thoughts drifting back to the time when his mom was pregnant with Mei Ling. These were the words he couldn''t say in front of Jia anymore.


    His mom tried hard to endure her pregnancy despite their circumstances and she made a promise with June that they''ll take care of his little sister no matter what.


    "We''ll be Mei Mei''s greatest protectors!" her mom''s cheerful voice echoed in his mind. "Do you promise to protect your little sister, my Jun Hao?"


    Little Jun Hao nodded enthusiastically as he caressed his mom''s baby bump.


    It was a promise they sealed with their pinkies.


    But in the end, June was left all alone to protect Mei Ling.


    Her mother died that night after giving birth.


    They couldn''t afford to go to the hospital.


    They couldn''t afford to save his mom.


    June smiled, looking back up to Jia.


    Jia softly gasped when he saw tears glistening in his eyes. June chuckled out loud as he felt himself getting emotional.


    "Ah," he said, quickly wiping away his tears before they could even fall. "I¡ªI don''t know what to say anymore," he shakily said.


    "I just¡ªI just wish that things would have gone differently," he said with all sincerity.


    "Then, maybe the world would still have the most beautiful person."


    Jia nodded, looking down as she felt a tear fall from her eyes.


    "But then again, that''s not how the world works," June said, his voice sounding defeated.


    "We can never really go back in time. We can''t change what''s already been done. In the end, we just learn to ept it."


    "B¨CBut it''s unfair," Jia suddenly said, causing June to focus his attention on her.


    "Hmm?" June asked. "Unfair?"


    "They''re so unfair to you," she shakily said. "They don''t know your real story, yet they assume that they do."


    June nodded. "That''s also the reality of life. It''s unfair? Yes, it is. But can I me them for believing it? I don''t know."


    "So, right now, I just want to get my story across."


    "Because I don''t want to be seen as the son of somebody who has a lot," he said.


    "I''m my mom''s son," he said, a small smile forming on his face.


    "My mom, who didn''t have a lot, but gave me everything I could ask for."


    "And now," he said, looking into Jia''s eyes. "I''m fulfilling my dream so I can continue fulfilling my mom''s promise."


    To protect Mei Ling.


    The room turned silent as June said his final words. There wasn''t a need for words.


    Jia, whose heart felt for June, gained a newfound respect for the trainee. Even though he was portrayed as a nonchnt and straightforward trainee who had a lot of weird charms, there was something else hidden within him.


    Something beautiful.


    And just as she was about to open her mouth and sayforting words, the door suddenly opened, and her mom came into the room while cursing under her breath.


    "Do they have to ask me every single thing? Might as well give them a short course on the functions of editing software if they''d ask me even the smallest things!" she exasperatedly eximed as she sat on the chair.


    Cindy groaned in frustration and looked at the two young adults with narrowed eyes.


    "You didn''t do anything while I was away, did you?"


    "Mom!" Jia eximed, her cheeks burning up. "We didn''t. We just¡­talked."


    What would they even do?


    "Hmm," Cindy said, still a tad bit suspicious.


    "Well, looks like I have to re-edit the majority of the interviews because those people can''t edit sad scenes for shit," she said. "So, we need to get this done and over with."


    She turned to June and raised her eyebrows. "Are you ready now?"


    June cleared his throat and straightened his back.


    "I''m ready."

 Chapter 185 Gold Content

    <h4>Chapter 185 Gold Content</h4>


    "Therefore, I am not affiliated with the Chois in any way¡­since my real parents are dead," June concluded, and with that, Cindy finally sighed in relief.


    "Was that alright?" June asked.


    Cindy silently nodded as she removed the memory card from the camera.


    There were some pretty decent clips. It also appeared like June was speaking out of his heart, so the public might believe him once Cindy uses some of her magic with the footage.


    June still looked pretty stiff in some moments, but Cindy thinks it''s definitely better than nothing. It''s not something that blue color-grading and sad piano music can''t fix.


    "This is alright," Cindy said. "For now, I suggest youy low before the elimination episode. I''ll edit it in a way that will gain the viewers'' sympathy. You''re alright with that, right?"


    If this was June fromst week, he would have said no.


    However, today''s June confidently nodded. "Yes, I''m looking forward to it."


    Cindy sighed as she stared at the memory card. Now, she has to face herputer screen to polish the entire episode and edit June''s scene.


    Cindy faced Jia with a disappointed expression. "I''m sorry, bear. I don''t think I can grab dinner with you. I''ll have to start editing the episode now before I send it to the broadcasting station."


    "It''s alright, Mom," Jia said, pushing Cindy out the door. "Just contact me when you''re done."


    Cindy stopped for a while and looked at Jia with raised eyebrows. "Is it just me, or are you excited to kick me out?"


    "It''s just you," Jia quickly answered as she closed the door.


    Cindy shook her head as she looked at the closed door.


    On the other hand, Jia fiddled with her fingers as she looked at June, who was busy reading something on his phone.


    Jia peeked over his shoulders and saw that the Navel app was open. She felt sad once more since June must be reading hatements.


    In the meantime, June was looking through the "gang" topic¡ªhis guilty pleasure.


    He clicked his tongue as he scrolled through the photos. These weren''t real gangs! All these posts consist of high schoolers posting on the streets with high MJ shoes and weird hand signs.


    And their captions were all¡ª"Gang Gang!"


    June shook his head in disappointment. Gangs these days have changed!


    Jia mustered up the courage to tap June''s shoulder, causing thetter to turn off his phone and look her way.


    "Yes?" he asked.


    Jia bit her lip as a thousand thoughts raced in her mind.


    ''Just do it! When will you ever have the opportunity to grab dinner with your favorite trainee?''


    With that thought in mind, Jia let out a deep breath and looked June in the eyes.


    "Umm, do you want to apany me to¡ª"


    June listened intently to Jia, but that was practically impossible when a pop-up suddenly luded his view.


    [You have a new side quest! Operation Tomb Raider: Locate your Parents.]


    [Do you ept or decline this quest?]


    "I ept," June uttered, causing Jia''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    "Really? That''s great! I know a ce that makes really good Kimchi Jiggae. If you want¡ª"


    "Wait, what?" June asked, finally snapping out of his thoughts.


    "You''ll go and have dinner with me, right?" the girl asked with wide eyes.


    June pursed his lips and cursed inside his mind.


    "Umm, can I get a rain check?" June asked. "I have something important to do right now."


    "Oh," Jia said, not being able to hide her disappointment.


    "Sorry," June apologized, but Jia quickly shook her head.


    "No, it''s alright! You have something more important to do. I''m rooting for you."


    "Thanks," June smiled. "I''ll see you around, I guess?"


    "Yeah," Jia shyly said. "I''ll see you around."


    With that, June left the room and settled in an area without any people.


    "I ept," he repeated.


    [Congrattions! You have epted the side quest: Operation Tomb Raider. Deadline of mission: 72 hours. And since Parents'' Day ising up, Fu is kind enough to not give any repercussions this time!]


    June scoffed. "It''s been long overdue. What''s the mission?"


    For a while, Fu didn''t respond. And if Fu was a real person, June could practically see him smiling widely before him.


    [Did you know? Fu loves the color pink!]


    ***


    Cindy sighed in exhaustion as she finished editing the other trainees'' interviews.


    It was quite hard to aplish since all of them had varying reactions. Ren looked numb. Jangmoon was ted yet emotional. Zeth looked more passionate than ever. And Yuri appeared to be very disappointed.


    In the end, Cindy had to set different tones for each of the interviews.


    She nced at the clock and saw that it was already 10 in the evening. She decided to take a quick break from editing, brewed herself some tea, and microwaved a zed donut.


    Then, she sat back down on her chair while munching on the donut.


    "Let''s see the footage we filmed first," she said as she continued snacking.


    She opened the very first clips they filmed and shook her head in disapproval.


    "This really won''t do," she said, her hand hovering above the delete button. Without any hesitation, she deleted the clip from her archive.


    Then, she clicked on thest clip they filmed. It was a 40-minute clip that consisted of June answering Cindy''s questions. She skimmed through the scenes and tilted her head to the side.


    "This will be very hard to edit," she muttered, her mouth filled with the pastry. "But I guess it''s better than nothing."


    Cindy was about to drag the clip to the editing software when she saw that there was another clip just right before this one.


    She frowned and clicked on it without any hesitation. It was a 20-minute clip, and Jia''s voice echoed in the room as soon as it was yed.


    Cindy''s frown deepened. "When was this filmed?" she asked, leaning closer to the monitor.


    She thought that it was some kind of mistake¡ªmaybe Jia identally turned on the camera when she wasn''t around.


    However, as Cindy continued watching the video, her eyes widened with every word that came out from June''s lips.


    Cindy had stumbled upon gold content.

 Chapter 186 I Want to Dye

    <h4>Chapter 186 I Want to Dye</h4>


    June went back to his apartment while busily scrolling through his phone.


    After hearing about his next side quest, he searched Seoul for a hair salon that would dye his hair pink.


    You heard that right.


    He had to dye his hair pink¡ªjust so he could see Choi Joon-ho''s parents'' graves.


    June wanted to get the mission done and over with, so he tried to look for a salon that could dye his hair pink during this hour. Since it took quite a long time for them to finish filming, it was already past 7 p.m. when June was able to leave the Azure building.


    It seemed like the salons had closed at this hour, and if they were open, it either cost a lot of money (which June was currently short of), or they were based on an appointment system.


    So, he decided to go back home and reserve a slot for a salon that could dye his hair at an affordable price.


    June clicked his tongue as he sat on the hard floor.


    400 dors.


    250 dors.


    120 dors.


    "Why the hell are these so expensive?" June asked.


    June contemted on whether to just dye his hair himself, but that was just a recipe for disaster. So, he sorted the salons from lowest priced to highest and clicked on the very first option.


    "Customers Dye Here?" June muttered under his breath.


    Customers Dye Here.


    5/5 stars. 21 reviews.


    HairEater: Oh, my hairballs! I recently visited this salon, and let me tell you, it was a wild ride from start to finish. I walked in with the ambition of getting a sleek, sophisticated bob, but I walked out looking like a cross between Einstein and a Poodle! Now, you might be thinking, "That sounds like a disaster!" But hold your hairbrushes, my friends, because the genius hairdresser at this ce managed to turn my hair mishap into a work of art. I mean, who needs a PhD when you can have a "Poodle Hair Degree"?


    CurlWhisperer: I recently visited this salon since they have the lowest rates, and I was not disappointed! I came in with a picture of a chic, short pixie cut, and left with a hairstyle that can only be described as "Pixar meets Picasso." It''s like the hairdresser decided to take artistic liberties and create a 3D masterpiece on my head!


    BrutallyHonest: Let me tell you¡ªthe hairdresser, Kumo, is a genius. I came in with the intention of getting a ssic bob, but I left with something that can only be described as "Bob meets Bob Ross." I absolutely love it!


    June frowned in confusion as he scrolled through the reviews. All of them seemed to be positive, but why does it feel like there''s something weird going on?


    June sighed and looked at the price¡ª75 dors. Then, he opened his wallet and saw a sad 100-dor bill inside.


    "Whatever," June said, booking the earliest avable slot, which appeared to be 7 p.m.


    June clicked his tongue. He wouldn''t be able to watch Rising Stars, but he had to aplish this side quest in order to tick off one of his missions.


    ''Your slot has been confirmed! Pleasee to the salon 30 minutes before your appointment.''


    ***


    June popped a piece of candied sweet potato in his mouth as he nced at the clock. It was nearing 6 p.m., so he quickly stood from the couch and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth.


    He had spent so much time in Minjun''s and Grandma''s apartment that they even bought him his own toothbrush! Then, he washed his face before stealing a bo from their cabs.


    June threw his jacket over his body and put on some socks. Minjun and Grandma looked at him with confused expressions.


    "Are you going somewhere?" Grandma asked.


    "Yeah," June said, checking his keys and wallet. "I have something¡­important booked," he bluffed.


    For some reason, June couldn''t say that he made an appointment to dye his hair pink.


    "Well, will you be back before Rising Stars airs?" Minjun asked.


    "Hmm, it''s hard to tell," June said. "I''ll try to make it, but if I don''t, you guys can just watch it. I''ll head out then!" June called, opening the door and softly closing it.


    Minjun and Grandma looked at each other with knowing gazes.


    Did June not want to watch the episode because of all the rumors going on?


    Minjun sighed in disappointment. He really doesn''t understand why his big bro doesn''t want him to help!


    The night continued, and Minjun kept ncing at the clock as he waited for June toe back. As the clock struck 8:30 p.m., someone finally knocked on the door.


    "Is June back?" Grandma asked as she watched the dishes from the kitchen. "I thought he''de hometer?"


    "Maybe it was canceled!" Minjun excitedly said, practically bolting to the door.


    He quickly reced his excited expression with a neutral one¡ªhe didn''t want June to see he was excited even though he truly was.


    With that, Minjun ced his hand on the door handle with an unconcerned face but an excited heart.


    He heard some whispers outside the door, causing him to frown. Those voices didn''t sound like June, though.


    "I think this is a bad idea," Jangmoon said. "I still feel pretty awkward."


    Jisung pped the back of his head. "That''s why we''re going to apologize to him."


    C-Jay sighed. "I was pretty out of line. I admit that. But can wee back tomorrow? I don''t know what to say to him."


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his head. "I want to apologize, too. I felt like I was ying safe with my silence. I should have defended him as Jisung did. I think it''s best we speak with him now."


    Akira didn''t say anything and merely looked down at the ground with a guilty expression.


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "This has been our tradition since the first episode. I suggest you guys swallow your pride for now and just watch the episode with June."


    Minjun finally opened the door, causing them to stop talking.


    The little kid looked at the five dudes in their doorway with a disappointed gaze.


    "What are all of you doing here?" he snapped.


    Jangmoon shivered as he looked into the little kid''s eyes.


    "Umm, is June here?" Jisung warily asked. "Can we watch Rising Stars together?"

 Chapter 187 Pink!

    <h4>Chapter 187 Pink!</h4>


    "Four hours?" June asked with wide eyes.


    Dyeing your hair can take up to four freaking hours?


    "Oui," Kumo, a guy with rainbow-colored hair chopped weirdly in some ces, responded.


    June was skeptical at first when he saw the hairdresser.


    Do you know how hard it is to trust a hairdresser who has weird hair?


    Very hard.


    This guy also spoke in a heavy French ent, which was definitely weird since he looked even more native than the first Koreans to be ever born in thisnd.


    "Perfect hair takes time," Kumo responded. "Dyeing the hair very fast makes it damaged. If you don''t want to be balding by 30, then I suggest you follow my suggestion."


    June sighed. "Fine," he said. "But please, can you make it a muted pink? Don''t make it too bright," June requested, pulling out his phone to show him the inspiration he found.


    It was a picture of a guy who had brown roots, which faded into a muted pink.


    Kumo squinted his eyes as he observed the picture. "Oui, oui! Kumo had done this plenty of times. You just need to put your trust in me."


    June pursed his lips. "Can I ask something, though? Why don''t you have a mirror?"


    Kumo clicked his tongue and sighed in frustration. "I like surprising my clients. You''ll only see yourself in the end."


    This salon was getting sketchier as time passed by. Nheless, June had no choice since this was the only salon in the area that was also inside his budget range.


    "Fine."


    ***


    It was strange.


    Usually, performance episodes would garner the most viewers in the the past seasons of ''Rising Stars.''


    However, today marked theirrgest viewership yet.


    Yena and Yejin, who were currently in the broadcasting station, monitoring the ratings of the show, stared at each other in disbelief as they saw a whopping 27% real-time rating as the intro of the show yed.


    "This is¡­so much more than I expected," Yena said.


    "I don''t know if it''s a good or bad thing," Yejin responded. "The Chois had be a national issue, so I bet a lot of people who don''t even watch Rising Stars are also watching."


    Lo and behold, the two of them were right.


    - Who''s here because of the Choi rigging issue?


    - Me! Who''s their son again? Choi Joon-ho?


    - He''s June! He''s the oneing in right now.


    - Oh, he''s handsome.


    - Too bad. I would have stanned if he was actually talented.


    - He is talented! You should watch the show sometimes.


    Jia bit her lip in nervousness as she stared at the screen. For some reason, her mom didn''t let her watch the episode beforehand, so she was more anxious than ever.


    Honestly, she was afraid that June''s thoughts weren''t going to be understood well. There were a lot of stupid people on this, and even if an issue had been debunked, they would still believe what they wanted to believe. Moreover, the clips they filmed yesterday didn''t do any justice to June''s feelings.


    Although Jia felt special that she was the only one to ever learn about June''s real story and feelings, there was a part of her that wanted to share their personal conversation with the world.


    "Are you alright?" Wei asked, caressing Jia''s back.


    Since the semester was going to start soon, her three friends, Wei, Soo-min, and Na-ri, had now returned to the dorms and joined Jia in watching the third official eliminations.


    "She''s nervous," Na-ri said. "A lot has happened during our break, and June just happened to be the center of all that drama!"


    "I''m kind of nervous, too," Soo-min admitted. "I wonder how Rising Stars will go about this issue. So many people are watching even through the livestream!"


    On the other hand, Hoon was chuckling to himself as the intro finally ended. His room was still dark, still smelled like pee and cheese-vored chips, and was messier than the life of a college student who just had a bad break-up while studying for their finals. Beside him was Xin, who had been holding his breath since he came to Hoon''s room.


    His mother slightly opened the door to look at her son''s face and sighed in disappointment when she saw him with crumbs all over his face, greasy hair, and a beard that could be mistaken as pubes.


    She silently closed the door and shook her head.


    "I really should have urged my husband to use those condoms."


    In grandma''s house, the five boys squeezed themselves into the cozy couch. Minjun continued to re at them, not liking the vibe they were emanating.


    C-Jay cleared his throat. "Uh¨Cdid we do anything wrong, little kid?"


    "Yeah," Minjun deadpanned. "You were born."


    C-Jay let out an exaggerated gasp while Grandma gently squeezed the little kid''s side.


    "Minjun, be respectful."


    Minjun continued to look at them with narrowed eyes. "I bet you didn''t believe June, too. That''s why he looks sad these days."


    Jisung frowned as he leaned his elbows against his knees. "June looks¡­sad?"


    Minjun didn''t respond to his question. "Well, I don''t have anything to exin to you. I just want you to know that my big bro told the truth. He didn''t try to deceive anyone."


    Jangmoon shakily raised his hand. "May I ask a question?"


    "Yes, you may," Minjun strictly said. "But keep it under ten words."


    Jangmoon squeaked in fear as he internally counted the words in his mind.


    "So, June is not the son of the Chois?"


    Minjun sighed and shook his head. "So, you idiots really believed that post, huh?" he muttered as he looked down at the floor.


    Then, he lifted his head and looked them in the eyes.


    "Let''s watch the episode," he said, terminating the conversation.


    Minjun then turned to face the TV, muttering something under his breath.


    "Please prove those rumors wrong," he whispered. "Or I might just do something by myself."


    The others, too, focused their attention on the screen.


    Right now, Jihyun and Robby had already been introduced, and the voting hade to an end.


    "We started with 100 trainees, and tonight, we''ll be down to 25! Let us nowmence the third elimination!"

 Chapter 188 Eighth Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 188 Eighth Episode (1)</h4>


    - Stop with the babbling! When are they going to show that June guy?


    - Damn, I''ve never watched this show before, but it''s pretty damn interesting. The editing is so dramatic that I can''t look away!


    - Wee to the world of Rising Stars! This is the start of your insanity.


    - Who here is watching to see that June guy get trashed?


    Minjun clicked his tongue as he read through thements. Grandma, too, sighed in disappointment.


    "It''s saddening to see people being so harsh on June," she said in a sad tone. "I wish more people would believe in him. The young man had gone through a lot to get to where he is today."


    Jisung nced at his friends, who were all guiltily looking away.


    He clicked his tongue. Serves them right! Jisung believed in June from the very start.


    "It''s your turn," C-Jay said, nudging Jangmoon. The screen showed the number 24.


    "This trainee had surprised the starlights and the mentorsst week, piercing through the hearts of many with his hard work and professionalism. Congrattions, trainee Jangmoon. You have jumped 26 ces and are now ranked 24th!" Jihyun eximed.


    There was a moment of silence like nobody could believe that Jangmoon had actually made it.


    Then, a piano score that sounded like a mixture of victory and sadness filled the room.


    Jangmoon stood up, the camera focusing on his expression of disbelief. Then, he started walking to the stage, the piano sound only getting louder as he looked into the camera.


    "Didn''t you get an interview, too?" Akira asked. "How did that go?"


    Jangmoon shrugged. "I honestly just answered a bunch of questions. I wondered how they edited it."


    They didn''t have to wait long since the video clip yed just as Jangmoon sat down on the 24th seat.


    Jangmoon sat in front of a white wall, his shoulders slumped and his eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    "Did you cry inside the interview room?" C-Jay asked in disbelief.


    "No!" Jangmoon eximed. "I was nervous. I didn''t even think about crying."


    The editing team knew exactly how to tug at the heartstrings of the viewers. The footage was slowed down, capturing every quiver of his lip and every bead of sweat on his forehead.


    The music continued to y as a caption was shown on the screen¡ª "Jangmoon, how do you feel right now?"


    A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "I can''t believe I made it this far," he admitted. "I was 50th justst week, and now I''m 24th. It''s been a dreame true."


    The editing team skillfully made the background music louder, enhancing the already inspiring mood. With a final zoom-in on Jangmoon''s eyes, the camera faded to another scene, leaving viewers with a deep sense of empathy for the previouslyst-ranked contestant.


    "Damn," Jaeyong said as the scene finished. "They did a great job at editing this."


    "For real," C-Jay agreed. "I almost cried."


    - Let''s continue voting for this kid! He had improved so much.


    - Kinda wanted to cry there. Who the hell ced the background music?


    The other announcements took a more neutral and joyous route. It was filled with the happy moments of the trainees making it into the top 25.


    A lot of the viewers seemed very happy to see Sehun and Akira rise in the ranks.


    - I voted for Sehun! I want to thank June for introducing me to such a? talented trainee!


    - June didn''t do shit.


    - Akira, you have gone so far! I voted for you from the very beginning!


    - These are the trainees who deserve to be in the higher ranks. Not those who only relied on their parents'' wealth.


    However, as soon as the top 11 was announced, the editing took a more intense route.


    - Yo, is it finally June''s turn?


    - My fingers are ready to shit on this guy.


    - Did he maintain his rank even after the rumors got out? What a joke.


    - People are fucking disgusting. Those rumors were never proven true.


    The show''s editing team went into overdrive to maximize the emotional impact of Yuri''s unexpected drop in rank from thepetition. The camera panned over the anxious faces of the remaining contestants, their expressions reflecting the shock of seeing someone who had consistently been in the top ranks now fall to 11th ce.


    Intense music yed in the background, a powerful orchestral score that added to the heat of the moment. Cindy employed a dramatic split-screen effect, with one side showing Yuri''s solemn face and the other with the trainees looking at him with disbelief.


    The trainees gasped audibly, and the camera immediately cut to Yuri, who was standing there with a stiff smile stered on his face. His eyes betrayed the disappointment he felt as he clutched his microphone tightly.


    "Thank you," he said in a soft, almost robotic tone. It was clear that this wasn''t how he had expected the eliminations to turn out, and his forced gratitude only served to intensify the shock in the room.


    The scene then transitioned to an interview with Yuri backstage. He sat alone in a well-lit room, and his eyes cast downward. He barely spoke, his disappointment hanging in the heavy silence.


    "I don''t know what happened," Yuri finally murmured, his voice barely audible.


    "I can''t breathe," Wei whispered. "This is so fucking intense."


    "But damn, I really didn''t expect it. How could Yuri drop to 11th ce?" Soo-min asked.


    "Then, does that mean¡­" Na-ri trailed off, her gaze panning to Jia.


    Jia bit her lip as she focused on the screen. However, her eyes weren''t watching Yuri''s interview. Instead, it was in thement section¡ªwhich was filled with hatements for June.


    Sure, there were still plenty of fans defending him. However, since plenty of people who haven''t watched the show before also tuned in, the hate he was receiving was through the roof!


    Jia found herself getting angrier by the second.


    - Ya''ll didn''t expect this? Of course, that bastard went up. His parents are rig-masters.


    - Shut the fuck up! I voted for June.


    - I voted for June, too.


    - HAHAHA June fans are still so delusional. Wake up! Your fave is a nepotism baby.


    - Untalented, too.


    - June is boring as fuck.


    - June paid his way to the top.


    - I hate to say this, but I''m not voting for June anymore.


    The hatements only intensified after Ren was revealed to be in 9th ce. Having a loyal fanbase along with Zeth, many people didn''t like how Ren dropped in the ranks while June supposedly rose.


    "I almost fell out of my seat when they announced Ren''s rank," Jisung admitted. "He alwayspeted with Zeth and Casper for the ranks."


    "I know, right?" Akira agreed. "I wonder what happened?"


    Minjun sighed in frustration. "You guys have such slow brains. You would know the answer if you watched the show intently. That guy is clearly losing confidence since his rank has been going down ever since the second mission. He didn''t even trend during the Concept Mission."


    The others looked at each other and realized that the little kid was right. Ren didy low after he fell down in ranks after thest elimination episode.


    Jaeyong was about to say something when Minjun held out his hand and let out a loud "shh."


    "Don''t speak," Minjun said, his gaze focused on the screen.


    "Now, we have the trainee who had been rising from the very start. He could even be called the ''Rising Star'' of ''Rising Stars.'' In 8th ce¡­.we have trainee June!"

 Chapter 189 Eighth Episode (2)

    <h4>Chapter 189 Eighth Episode (2)</h4>


    - Eighth? Why not first, huh, rich boy?


    - Eyy, that would be too obvious then. Eighth ce is just right to keep his fangirls and fan grandmas delusional!


    - Oh my gosh! June went up until 8th ce? I''m so proud. He just keeps rising every week!


    - You must be proud of his parents, too!


    - Thisment section is hrious. Feel kinda bad for the dude, though.


    - This is the most awaited moment of the night! I can''t wait to see how Rising Stars went with this.


    Jia bit her lip as she watched June stand up from his seat. Unlike the other trainees, who were instantly adorned with some type of background music when they stood up, June was greeted with silence.


    It felt more ''raw,'' as if it was a live show despite being pre-recorded.


    The camera focused on June, who slowly pushed himself up from his seat. The silence in the air was deafening, as though the entire room had fallen mute. Step by agonizing step, he began to make his way towards the stage. The fiberss floor beneath him amplified the sound of his footsteps, each click-ck of his shoes resonating like a heartbeat.


    June''s gaze remained fixed straight ahead, the scene focusing on his unreadable eyes. Then, it panned out to his fellow trainees, who had expressions that ranged from envy, resentment, and anxiousness. They hadn''t expected him to rank so high, and it was clear they didn''t like it.


    Even Robby was shown on screen, and he wore furrowed eyebrows as he looked at June.


    "The silence is killing me," Wei whispered. "Why didn''t they put any background music?"


    Soo-min nodded in agreement. "Whoever edited this did a damn good job. I feel like I''m watching a soap opera."


    Jia would haveughed since they were talking about her mom, but right now, she couldn''t hear anything. She merely focused on June¡ªwho appeared to be lost on stage.


    As June reached for the mic, the background noise in the room seemed to morph into a slight white noise, a buzz that only added to the tension. The camera, seemingly sentient, zoomed in on his trembling hands.


    The trainees, still watching with narrowed eyes, exchanged anxious nces among themselves. There was a moment of silence that prolonged the cruelty of the situation.


    The microphone hovered in front of June''s lips, but no words came out. The silence was no longer just tense; it had be deafening¡­.suffocating¡­


    Then, with a heavy heart and a sinking feeling, June slowly lowered the microphone, breaking the silence with a faint, almost indecipherable sigh.


    Then June''s head dropped as he bowed, and time stretched as he held that position for what felt like an eternity.


    - He''s not even going to say anything? What a punk.


    - Is this his way of apologizing? Fucking coward.


    - June :(. My heart goes out to you!


    - I don''t know what''s happening. Are they really not going to give us an exnation?


    Xin and Hoon, who were in the confines of Hoon''s room, watched the scene with satisfied smiles on their faces.


    "Ah, this is gold," Hoon chuckled. This has been the happiest day of his life ever since he was eliminated. Seeing June bow his head and get humiliated in front of thousands, potentially even millions of people, brought him immense satisfaction.


    "And it gets even better," Xin said. "Robby puts him under the spotlight, and he couldn''t even utter a single word."


    Joy swelled in Hoon''s heart as he focused his gaze on the screen, waiting for June to get even more humiliated.


    However, just as the tension seemed to reach its peak, the scene suddenly faded into a different one¡­


    Jia frowned in confusion as the shot merely showed June''s hands nervously intertwining with each other. Then, a heavy sigh was heard. At this point, there still wasn''t any background music.


    Then, the scene focused on June''s eyes, which were glistening with tears before zooming out to his entire face.


    "Ah," June said, his voice breaking through the silence. He harshly wiped his eyes, and although there was a small smile ying on his lips, it appeared as if he was carrying such a huge burden. "I¡ªI don''t know what to say anymore,"


    Wait...could this be?


    Jia''s eyes widened in recognition when she finally realized what scene was currently ying.


    In the broadcasting station, Yena and Yejin looked at each other in confusion. Their eyes silentlymunicated¡ªthey didn''t recall preparing June for an interview!


    "Ah, so stupid!" Minjun practically screamed at the TV as the scene of June bowing for a long time was shown. "He should have revealed the truth by now!"


    The little kid continued to rant in frustration, but when the scene changed, he turned silent.


    "What¡ªWhat is this?" C-Jay asked.


    "Did June also get an interview?" Akira asked Jangmoon.


    Jangmoon shook his head. "No, he wasn''t even called."


    "Shh!" Minjun eximed, his attention solely on the screen. The others followed suit, wondering what the scene had to offer.


    "We didn''t have a lot growing up," June said, the camera now fixed. Unlike the other interviews, which had been cut and edited to be more emotional or intense, June''s interview felt uncut.


    It was the original footage of his conversation with Jia.


    The group of guys, along with Minjun and Grandma, watched the scene with profound silence. They were used to seeing the annoyed, serious, and even the clueless side of June.


    But to see and hear him speaking with so much emotion brought unexinable feelings inside their hearts.


    - What is this? They didn''t have a lot growing up?


    - But the Chois were already rich to begin with. They have generational wealth.


    - People are really tone-deaf. Why can''t it click that he might not be talking about the Chois?


    - Bro, if that really happens, then this is fucking wild.


    "Truly," June sighed, even his breath sounding heartbroken. "My mom''s the most beautiful person in the entire world."


    "Or should I say¡­was the most beautiful person," he said.


    And at that hushed moment, a sad tune weaved through the scene, gently tugging at the strings of the soul. As the first chords echoed through the air, a quiet pondering settled over the viewers.


    Minjun, who didn''t even cry when his parents got a divorce, felt something forming in his eyes, a painful lump also felt in his throat.


    "I just¡ªI just wish that things would have gone differently," June said, looking into the camera with utmost sincerity. His eyes were so clear that you couldn''t see a hint of a lie in them.


    "Then, maybe the world would still have the most beautiful person."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips as he felt a tear run down his cheek.


    Fifth time. This was the fifth time that June had made him cry.


    Jisung, even though he believed in June until the end, still felt guilty as he looked into June''s eyes. There was a story hidden behind them¡­something he failed to see from the very beginning.


    "But then again, that''s not how the world works. We can never really go back in time. We can''t change what''s already been done. In the end, we just learn to ept it."


    The hauntingly beautiful strains of the background music let out a mournful wail. And with every rise and fall of the melody, the viewers delved into the depths of June''s heart.


    There was a moment of silence before June began speaking once more.


    "It''s unfair? Yes, it is. But can I me them for believing it? I don''t know. So, right now, I just want to get my story across."


    "Because I don''t want to be seen as the son of somebody who has a lot," he said, his voice sounding clearer.


    "I''m my mom''s son," June said, a small smile forming on his face.


    Thement section, which moved at an impable speed when June''s name was called, had now turned still¡­


    "My mom, who didn''t have a lot but gave me everything I could ask for."


    "And now," he said, looking into the camera and piercing through the hearts of every viewer. "I''m fulfilling my dream so I can continue fulfilling my mom''s promise."


    As the final notes lingered in the air, there was a bittersweet sense of closure.


    Then, the scene faded back to June bowing before the trainees.


    The bow that they had misconstrued in their distorted realities now blossomed into the bow that gently caressed their hearts.

 Chapter 190 Eighth Episode (3)

    <h4>Chapter 190 Eighth Episode (3)</h4>


    "Oui, oui! Perfection!" Kumo eximed, kissing his fingers.


    June was jolted awake by the hairdresser''s loud voice. "It''s over?" he asked, yawning.


    June honestly didn''t know what happened. He remembered sitting down, getting his hair washed and dried, and then after that, everything just became a blur.


    "Oui!" Kumo said. "I made it fast for you, customer. I noticed your face and was motivated by your handsome looks! Are you, perhaps, that trainee from Rising Stars?"


    "Uh, yeah," June said, still a little bit out of it. "How much was it? 75 dors, right?"


    He stood from the chair and offered Kumo the money.


    "Why are you in such a rush?" he asked. "You still haven''t seen the final result!"


    "Right," June said, scratching the back of his neck. "I''ll be satisfied as long as you follow the photo inspiration I showed you."


    Kumo merely smiled, which should have been a warning sign to June already.


    Kumo went to the mirror and quickly removed the ck sheet covering it. June waited in anticipation. He had never dyed his hair before, and thankfully, he slept through most of the process so he didn''t feel his scalp burn like what others had testified online.


    "Heed my masterpiece!" Kumo eximed.


    June nonchntly looked at the mirror, fully expecting a head of brown and muted pink.


    However, his eyes widened in surprise when he caught a glimpse of his hair.


    "What do you think? It''s perfect, right?" Kumo proudly said. "I''ll give you a discount since I really like how it came out. How about 50 dors, huh?"


    50 dors?


    This guy should be paying June at this point.


    Because his hair wasn''t muted at all.


    It was bright fucking pink. Like cotton candy.


    [Yay! This is the pink I was looking for. You havepleted your side quest: Dye your hair pink. Now, you can raid your parents'' tombs!]


    ***


    In the households that had ''Rising Stars'' ying on their television, there were two emotions that stood out: shame and sympathy.


    Jia sniffed as the scene transitioned to June bowing on stage. It continued on with the sad music still ying in the background, and as he fixed his gaze to the front, the people who once threw hate on him began to cry.


    - Umm¡­


    - I feel¡­ashamed?


    - Fuck, I''m crying. What the hell are these emotions?


    - Is it toote now to say sorry?


    - My mom''s crying. My sister''s crying. I can''t deny it. I''m crying, too.


    - Nobody told me that this show was a tearjerker.


    Undoubtedly, the people who cried the most were encased in the small apartmentplex.


    Jangmoon practically wailed as he looked at June''s bowing figure. C-Jay, too, held Jangmoon for support, crying just as loud as he was.


    Jisung, on the other hand, looked up at the ceiling to hold his tears. Akira cried silently by his side while Jaeyong sobbed like a little baby. Minjun clicked his tongue as he observed the five grown guys.


    "Grow up," Minjun said, although deep inside, he wanted to cry too.


    June has been through a lot, yet they were so insensitive about the situation.


    "I want to see June right now," C-Jay sniffed. "I can''t believe I doubted him for a second."


    "Let''s not doubt him anymore, hmm?" Jangmoon said. "Now that I think about it, everything he said turned out to be true."


    Akira smiled in shame. "It was. I don''t even think I can be called his friend now."


    "Me too," Jaeyong muttered.


    "You weren''t friends to begin with," C-Jay said whilst crying, causing Jaeyong to sulk like a little kid in the corner of the couch.


    Grandma sighed and shook her head as she listened in on their conversation. She grabbed a box of tissues from the drawers and gave them to the young men.


    "June is a good person," Grandma said. "It may not seem like it because he doesn''t have a bright personality, but he''s very understanding and forgiving. He cares a lot about his friends. He cares about Minjun and I¡­and he''s one of the kindest boys I''ve ever met."


    "I''m sure he''d warm up to you if you apologize sincerely," she said. "But let me warn you¡­If you hurt my little Junie once more, I''ll have my old friends go in front of your houses to y Mahjong all night. I assure you¡­your neighborhood wouldn''t be able to sleep for a whole week."


    The five looked at the old woman with wide, horror-filled eyes.


    "You got that?" Grandma threatened.


    They quickly nodded, evading their eyes away from her.


    Then, they focused their attention back on the screen. Right now, June''s bow had just finished, and the background music had gradually faded.


    He turned around, every step he took to his seat still sounding sad.


    - I''m so sorry for not believing in you, June! I''ll gift you 1,000 stars in return.


    - I might actually continue watching this show and root for this guy. He seems like a very genuine guy.


    - Welp. I came here to shit on the guy, but now I''ve be a fan.


    - Let''s make him trend, guys! #JuneOurRisingStar


    - #JuneOurRisingStar


    - It hasn''t even been proven yet. We''re just believing these guys'' words?


    - SHUT UP! The kid is mourning. I can''t believe people are still questioning his sincerity.


    - Holy shit. Look at Choi Pablo''s page. It seems like this guy''s telling the truth!


    "What''s that?" Jia asked as thement section began speeding up once more. Na-ri went near the TV to get a better view.


    "Choi Pablo? They''re telling us to check Choi Pablo''s Navel page," she said.


    Jia wasted no time in opening her Navel ount to go to Pablo''s page. It was a very popr page, with over 700k followers. Then, she refreshed the page to see histest post.


    Her friends hovered above her to look at the post. They let a collective gasp when they saw June''s face stered on his wall.


    For a second, they became distracted as they observed the photo.


    "So¡­handsome," Jia said in a daze.


    Soo-min chuckled. "Guys, snap out of it and read the post."


    "Right," Jia said, snapping out of her daze. "Let me read it out loud."

 Chapter 191 Sorries and Regrets

    <h4>Chapter 191 Sorries and Regrets</h4>


    Jia cleared her throat as she read the post.


    "Good evening, this is Choi Pablo."


    "I hope this message finds you well. There have been some rumors circting recently, and I think it''s time I set the record straight. You may have heard that Choi Si-woo and Choi Min-ah are June''s parents, but in reality, they''re mine. I know this mighte as a shock to some of you, but yes, Ie from a well-off family. However, I want to make it clear that everything I have achieved in my life, all my sesses, is owed to me and my hard work. I am my own person, and I''ve worked tirelessly to build my own identity."


    "I want to apologize for taking so long to address this situation. I was afraid of the public''s reaction, and that fear held me back. But today, I found the strength to speak out and rify the truth."


    "I also want to express my gratitude to June. Amidst all the confusion and spection, he has been incredibly brave and understanding. Thank you, June, for enduring the hate!"


    "Now, to lighten the mood a bit and as a way of apologizing for keeping you all in the dark, here''s a photo of June! My little cutie pie June is both cute and handsome, and I couldn''t be prouder to have him as my muse."


    "Let''s move forward together, stronger and united. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. #FamilySucks #JuneIsAwesome #JuneWhiteAbs"


    "What was thest hashtag?" Na-ri asked.


    "Must be a typo," Jia brushed off. She was way too focused on the post to think about the hashtags. Then, a wide smile appeared on her face.


    June had done it once again.


    "June is a genius," Minjun muttered with a smirk as he read the post. Then, he looked at thement section.


    With Choi Pablo''s post, almost all of the hatements had been eradicated. Instead, they were filled with praises for June.


    - Okay, so it''s actually Choi Pablo. Makes sense. He does look like those two rich bitches.


    - I''M SO STUPID! WHY DIDN''T I REALIZE IT SOONER?


    - WE''RE so stupid. People should really work on theirprehension skills more.


    - You say that, but I''m sure another issue will arise next time.


    - You''re right. People never learn. But hey, at least, I believe in June now!


    - #JuneOurRisingStar! But did you guys see how handsome he is in the photo that Choi Pablo uploaded?


    - Yes, damn. I thought I was the only one who noticed.


    "He''s even met¡­Choi Pablo?" Jangmoon absent-mindedly said. "THE Choi Pablo?"


    C-Jayughed in disbelief.


    Minjun proudly smirked and pointed at all of them. "Don''t underestimate my big brother! He might seem stupid at times, but he could obliterate you with one click!"


    Just then, the door opened, and the star of the show appeared right before their eyes.


    Minjun brightened up as soon as he saw June. "Big bro!" the little kid eximed. "You''re back!"


    June, who was wearing a bo to hide his cotton candy pink hair, looked at the scene before him with confusion.


    While he caressed Minjun''s hair, he looked at the group of guys with furrowed eyebrows.


    "What are you guys doing here?" he asked.


    June didn''t even have any time to react as the five of them charged toward him. His eyes widened in surprise when Jangmoon opened his arms and nted a huge, wet kiss on his forehead.


    "Big bro, I''m so sorry!" he sobbed.


    C-Jay, on the other hand, wrapped his arms around June''s leg like a sloth hanging from a tree branch. "I''ll serve you my entire life if you forgive me, brother. I promise you my loyalty for life!"


    Jaeyong stood by his side, shyly tugging his shirt. "I¡ªI''m sorry," he stammered. "Forgive me?"


    Jisung continued to cry in front of him, not being able to even utter a word.


    Akira was on his other side, practically rapping with how fast he was uttering apologies.


    In summary, June was in a sensory overload¡­and it wasn''t any good.


    "Alright!" he eximed. "Just get off me," he said, taking a step back. He still held onto Minjun, though. June was very fond of the little kid.


    "We''re really sorry," Jangmoon said with all sincerity. "I just¡ªI was stupid. I know you don''t share a lot about your life, but that doesn''t give us the right to judge you for something we''re ignorant of."


    June sighed. He wasn''t the type to hold grudges (he actually is). June''ll probably forget about it tomorrow (he''ll bring it up during the pettiest fights). But then again, June was pretty chill¡­especially with matters like this.


    "Alright," he said. "I''m not disappointed anymore. I''ll see you on Sunday for the filming."


    Although June didn''t tantly say that he forgave them, it was already enough for his friends to know that June was nning on seeing them on the next filming day.


    "Now leave," June said. "Rest well."


    Minjun shook his head as he looked up at the older man. ''He''s so cool,'' he thought.


    "Umm, before we leave," Akira said, raising his hand. "I was just wondering..."


    "Yes?" June asked.


    "How did yound a photoshoot with Choi Pablo?" he asked.


    "For real," C-Jay said. "You asked us about him, but I wasn''t expecting you to actuallynd a photoshoot with THE Choi Pablo¡­.You looked very handsome in those photos, by the way."


    "Yeah, you looked smoking hot," Jangmoon agreed.


    "What?" June asked with wide eyes.


    "Huh, what?" Jangmoon cluelessly asked back.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose before responding.


    "I don''t know," June said. "I just asked?"


    "You just asked?" Jisung rified.


    "Yeah, then he took pictures of me."


    The five of them nced at each other. This seemed like Deja Vu. They also felt this way when they met Hana Lim for the first time.


    June is really on another level.


    ***


    The small, cluttered room, which was initially filled with sadistic joy, had now be tense.


    Hoon and Xin sat huddled on the couch, their eyes fixed on the now static screen.


    "H¡ªHoon?" Xin shakily said. "Are you alright?"


    "What do you think?" the stubbled loser said, his calm voice making Xin even more afraid.


    "You told me that June was going to be humiliated."


    "H¡ªhe was," Xin stammered. "I saw it with my own eyes. I was there. Robby humiliated him!"


    Hoon''s fists clenched in anger, and his face contorted with a terrifying rage. He jumped to his feet and sent the coffee table and its contents crashing to the floor. Xin gasped, his eyes wide with fear.


    "Hoon, please, calm down! It''s just a show!" Xin said before he could stop himself.


    Hoon turned to him with wide, bloodshot eyes. "It''s just a show? It''s just a fucking show, huh? THIS SHOW WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY TIME TO SHINE!"


    Hoon''s anger knew no bounds. He started throwing anything he could get his hands on¡ªpillows, DVDs, and even the bottles of pee under hisputer. The room turned into a chaotic mess as he punched the wall, his knuckles bleeding.


    "Hoon, stop, bro! You''re fucking scaring me!"


    But Hoon paid no heed to Xin''s pleas. Xin rushed forward and grabbed Hoon''s arm, attempting to pull him away from the destruction. Hoon wrestled with Xin, causing the two of them to stumble towards the bed, knocking over more furniture along the way.


    "Ugh! Let go," Hoon struggled.


    "Fuck," Xin cursed as he tried to fight Hoon''s strength.


    Meanwhile, Hoon''s mom was awakened by the noise inside her son''s room. She couldn''t take it anymore, so she peeked inside.


    She gasped softly when she saw pieces of furniture scattered around the room. However, that wasn''t the most shocking part.


    Her son was in bed with another young man, groaning and moaning with their hair and clothes a mess.


    She quickly shut the door and shook her head, walking back to her room with wide eyes. "I don''t even know anymore," she muttered.


    Hoon wrapped his hand around Xin''s neck, pressing until thetter was gasping for breath.


    "H¡ªHoon, s¨Cstop," Xin gasped, but Hoon persisted.


    "You''re fucking useless," he spat.


    "Now," Hoon whispered, leaning closer to Xin''s face. "Be useful for once and make sure that nobody finds out about this...not a single fucking soul."

 Chapter 192 Gangwon Getaway

    <h4>Chapter 192 Gangwon Getaway</h4>


    At this point, June''s name was stered all across social media, with #JuneOurRisingStar taking the number 1 spot in the South Korean trends for more than 8 hours.


    Netizens and even celebrities came out to show their support for June, and there was no doubt that the trainee had risen to fame once again, with people from different generations praising him. His interview clip had gone viral on several tforms, and it instantly became a part of those "Try Not To Cry: Kpop Edition" type ofptions.


    However, June didn''t think about that at all. Right now, he had two priorities in mind:


    1. His cotton-candy pink hair.


    2. Choi Joon-ho''s parents.


    June stared at his status window and sighed as he read the address.


    [117 Goseung-gun, Gangwon Province, South Korea]


    He stood from his bed and decided to ask for Minjun''s help. He didn''t bother knocking and just entered their apartment.


    "Kid!" he called from the living room.


    "What?" Minjun emerged from his bedroom, yawning as he scrolled through his phone.


    "Can you locate this address for me?" June asked. "I''m looking for something."


    Minjun clicked his tongue as he scanned the address and typed it into his maps application.


    "What are you even looking for?" Minjun asked as they waited for the app to load.


    "A grave," June nonchntly said.


    Minjun frowned as he zoomed into his phone. "A grave?" he asked.


    "Hmm, I need to visit someone."


    "Your parents?" Minjun rified.


    "Yes," June responded. "Is the address a cemetery in Gangwon Province?"


    Minjun tilted his head to the side in confusion. "It''s not a cemetery."


    "What is it then?" June asked.


    "It''s a house," Minjun said, showing him the photo of an old wooden house located in what seemed to be Lavender farm?


    June frowned in confusion as he gazed at the photo.


    A house? Was Fu messing with him?


    ***


    "You don''t have toe," June said, putting on his backpack.


    "Grandma allowed me to go," Minjun boasted, mirroring the older man''s actions. "So, I''m going to Gangwon Province with you. Besides, this trip is sponsored by Grandma! You can''t say no."


    June rolled his eyes and ced a cap over Minjun''s head. "Fine, kid. But behave, okay? I don''t want you whining now."


    "When do I ever whine?" Minjun asked with a sly smile. "I''ll stay quiet, promise!"


    ***


    "Are we there yet?" Minjun whined as he stared outside the bus. They were now on their way to Gangwon to look for Joon-ho''s parents, and Minjun quickly broke his promise as soon as they boarded the bus. "It feels like we''ve been here for hours!"


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It''s been 20 minutes," he deadpanned. "Just sleep. I''ll wake you up when we get there."


    "But I can''t sleep!" Minjun eximed. "I want those oranges right there," he said, pointing to the trolley filled with treats.


    "Will that keep you quiet?" June asked.


    Minjun enthusiastically nodded.


    June sighed and opened his wallet, which contained the change he had from dyeing his hair. "Fine, buy those oranges," he said, handing Minjun a 20-dor bill. "Give me back the change, okay?"


    The little kid excitedly stood up and went to the trolley. June shook his head in amusement as he stared at his cute silhouette.


    Oh, goodness. He''s turning soft for the demon''s child.


    After a while, Minjun went back with not only oranges but a bag filled with candy, corn, and boiled eggs?


    "Where''s my change?" June asked.


    "I spent it all," Minjun nonchntly said.


    June sighed in disbelief. "You''re richer than me. You could just ask your parents for more allowance."


    "But that''s not fun," Minjun smiled. "Besides, I spent it all on game skins and magic castles for my favorite authors already."


    June clicked his tongue and was about to scold the little kid when Minjun handed him a clumsily peeled orange, causing his annoyance to crumble. He ruffled Minjun''s hair and popped a piece of orange in his mouth.


    "Fine, you win," June said, touched by the little kid''s gesture (don''t tell Minjun, though).


    ***


    A little over an hourter, they finally arrived at their destination.


    "Are you sure we''re in the right ce?" Minjun asked as he looked around the ce.


    "We''re here," June said, looking at the navigation system. "This seems to be the ce we saw on the maps thing."


    "It is," Minjun agreed.


    Indeed, the ce hadvender covering the entire area. There were a few houses in far proximity, but aside from that, only animals andvender filled the neighborhood.


    "You have arrived at your destination," the navigation application spoke, startling June.


    "Huh?" Minjun said. "We''re really here."


    The two of them stood at an empty lot. It was weird how it wasn''t covered in anyvender despite it being an empty piece ofnd. However, as June looked around the area, he saw some remnants of what seemed to be a house scattered around the lot.


    "Where''s the house we saw online?" Minjun asked.


    "It''s burnt," June responded, his eyes focused on the ash-covered wood surrounding him.


    "Burnt?" Minjun asked.


    "Oh my goodness! Joon-ho? Joon-ho, is that you?"


    Their conversation was interrupted when they heard the voice of an olddying from afar. The two of them faced the direction where the voice wasing from.


    June locked gazes with a kind-looking old woman wearing work boots and a huge sun hat.


    "Omo, it really is you!" the olddy eximed. "Joon-ho!"


    This was good. It seemed like the olddy recognized June and probably knew where his parents were.


    "Umm, hello?" June warily said, walking closer to the olddy.


    However, before he could even speak to her, the olddy began screaming loudly.


    "Joon-ho is here! Our little star is here!" she eximed in such a loud voice that it could probably be heard all the way to Seoul.


    And just like that, a dozen of olddies started popping out of nowhere.


    "Joon-ho?"


    "Omo, Joon-ho from Rising Stars?"


    "June?"


    "June! I haven''t seen him in so long! He was this big when I saw him, but now he''s the same age as my granddaughter. I should set them up."


    "Shut up, Linda. My granddaughter is a better fit for him!"


    "June? I watched you grind on the stage!"


    June froze as he stared at the flock of olddies running toward his way.

 Chapter 193 Be Happy

    <h4>Chapter 193 Be Happy</h4>


    June rubbed his sore cheeks as he sat on the small couch. Not even an hour had passed since they had arrived, yet they were already ambushed by a bunch of olddies.


    It seemed like June''s fame knew no bounds and had reached even the most rural parts of Gangwon Province.


    "Sorry about that," the olddy named Bok-soon said as she offered the two boys some homemade sweet tea. "Thedies are just excited to see youe back. We all watch Rising Stars in my house on Fridays, and we are huge fans. We were sad when you were being used of being the Chois'' son when you''re not. I''m really d you came back."


    "It''s alright," June said despite his sore cheeks. "Thank you for supporting me on the show."


    "We''re all hoping for your debut! Although we don''t really know how to give you any stars," she admitted.


    June softly chuckled. "Again, it''s alright. Just having you watch me is already enough."


    "So, why''d youe here?" Bok-soon asked. "It''s been a while since we''vest seen you. I think it''s already been two or three years?" she recalled. "There was even a time you came here was with a young man and woman. The woman became famous now, I believe. What was her name again? Hani? Hanbeom?"


    "Hana," June said. "Hana Lim?"


    "Ah, yes, her! Thest time you came here with them, sheughed and took photos of your childhood pictures."


    Minjun''s eyes widened with the mention of June''s childhood pictures. "Can I see them too?" he excitedly asked.


    Bok-soon sadly smiled. "Unfortunately, they have been lost in the fire," she said. "I''m sorry, June. We couldn''t protect your parents'' sanctuary. We don''t know what happened, but some timest year, the house was burned down to mes¡ªtaking away your family''s precious memories."


    June nodded in understanding. "There wasn''t anything you could do," June said. "But can I ask where my parents are buried right now?"


    Bok-soon chuckled. "Has it been that long that you already forgot?"


    "I guess so," June softly said.


    "They''re by the oak tree near your old house," Bok-soon said. "Do you want me to apany you there?"


    June shook his head as he stood up. "It''s alright. I''ll visit them for a bit."


    "Let mee with you," Minjun said, his mouth filled with snacks that Bok-soon had prepared.


    "I''ll be waiting," the olddy smiled. As the two of them made their way outside her house, she let out a sad smile.


    "Did hee back for Parents'' Day?" she asked herself.


    Minjun and June walked back to the empty lot, and only then did June see the oak tree perched just behind the field ofvender.


    "Can you wait here for a minute, kid?" June asked.


    Minjun saw the sincerity in June''s eyes and nodded. "I''ll y with the pretty flowers."


    "You do that," June said. Then he started walking to the oak tree, where he saw two white crosses made from wood anchored on the soil.


    He sighed and picked avender stem before looking down at the writing on the cross.


    Choi Dae-hyeon and Choi Chin-mae.


    A devoted father. A loving mother.


    June felt a wave of sadness hit him. He didn''t know these people, nor can he recall any memories with them. But standing there, with the body of Choi Joon-ho, made him feel like they were connected in a way.


    "Umm, hello," he warily said, sitting down on the small patch of grass.


    "Your son visited, I guess?" June chuckled, observing the flower in his hand. "But you guys must know that I''m not really your son, huh?"


    "Your son''s in a better ce now¡­I hope," he continued. "I''vee to take care of his body and his dream."


    "Have you met?" June then asked, the sound of the breeze making his heart even sadder.


    "You must have met, hmm? I hope all of you are in a better ce now. Your son has been giving me a hard time ever since I came here. He left so many questions unanswered. Please p the back of his head for me."


    June chuckled at his ridiculousness. "But in all seriousness, I feel like your son has been lonely ever since you passed. He must be happy now. I hope he''s happy now," he sighed. "He gets to spend this Parents'' Day with his parents."


    "At least one of us is able to celebrate it," he whispered.


    "Umm, if you have time, please do visit my mom and dad, too. You can tell them that Mei Ling is doing well. I''m doing well, too, I guess. It''s been tough sometimes, but it''s not too bad. At least, my heart does a little jump of joy whenever I perform on stage. That''s a good sign, right?"


    He smiled and traced some shapes on the soil. "Your son has seriously been rubbing on me. I didn''t feel this way back then."


    "Well, I better go now," June said, finally standing up. "Happy Parents'' Day."


    With that, he ced the single stem ofvender between the two crosses. He stared at it for a while, feeling a sense of relief. It''s as if Choi Joon-ho''s parents were thanking him for continuing their son''s dream¡­and it sent a weird feeling in June''s stomach.


    "Are you done?" Minjun asked, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    "Yeah," June said, clearing his throat. "Let''s go back."


    Minjun smiled, a meaningful look in his eyes. June suspiciously narrowed his eyes at him.


    "What?" the little kid innocently asked.


    "It looks like you did something."


    "What did I do? I just yed with the pretty flowers!" Minjun eximed with wide eyes.


    "I know that look," June said. "You better not have done anything."


    "I haven''t!" Minjun said. "Let''s just go back."


    The two of them made their way back to Bok-soon''s house.


    "Oh, you''re back?" Bok-soon asked. "Did you see your parents?"


    "Hmm," June hummed. Then, he suddenly saw something in the corner of her living room.


    "Do you mind if I use that?" June asked, pointing to therge instrument.


    "The piano? Sure! Have you learned how to y it?" she asked.


    June nodded, feeling like the off-white keys were calling his name.


    "Go ahead," Bok-soon said. "I''ll just give some of our neighbors these rice cakes I''ve made."


    "Thank you," June said, sitting on the worn-out leather chair. He ran his hands through the keys, smiling when he felt the familiar cold ivory tiles. It had been a while since he yed the piano.


    "Hey, kid," he said, calling Minjun over. "Can you film me ying a song?"

 Chapter 194 Kitty Plays Debussy

    <h4>Chapter 194 Kitty ys Debussy</h4>


    "Here," June said, handing Minjun his phone.


    "No thanks," Minjun responded, pulling out his own phone. "I''m afraid it''ll burst into mes if I film more than a minute with that ancient phone."


    June clicked his tongue and put his phone away. He couldn''t even counter Minjun since he knew the little kid was right.


    "What are you even going to y?" Minjun asked. "A Little Meow Meow song?"


    June smirked while shaking his head, cing his hands in a familiar position.


    ir de Lune by Debussy.


    June doesn''t know to what extent Fu knows about his past life as Chen Jun Hao, but it seems like his past frequently intertwined with the present.


    He was very familiar with ir de Lune. It was his mother''s favorite piano piece¡ªone that she would y when little Jun Hao had trouble sleeping. He hadn''t heard the song in a long time after his mother died but coincidentally heard it in a fancy bar when he was tasked to lead a diamond raid. It has stuck with him ever since.


    Amidst the chaotic gunning, he was reminded of his mother, which led to a sessful mission.


    However, he didn''t think about any of those anymore.


    "I''m filming now," Minjun said, bored, waiting for June to start ying.


    June ced his fingers on the cold keys, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before ying the familiar intro.


    The first parts of the song didn''t require much skill, but it still captured Minjun''s attention.


    How could a couple of simple notes sound¡­lonely?


    The room was cast by a warm glow, courtesy of the suning through the sheerce curtains.


    The first few notes of ir de Lune filled the room just as the breeze brushed over the curtains. In his imagination, he found himself on top of a hill, bathed in the serene blue hues of the sky, where wisps of white clouds flowed like sweet cotton candy.


    Three continuous notes with silence in between¡­then he found himself ascending above the hill, where he saw two white figures at a distance.


    They were unfamiliar, yet a deep, unexinable connection tugged at his heart. It was as if he had known them all his life¡ªhis parents, perhaps. June had the urge to run to them, wanting to feel the warmth of a family that wasn''t even his.


    But before he could even take one step, he saw another man approaching them, a radiant smile on his face.


    Choi Joon-ho.


    June''s heart raced, and he called out to them, but they didn''t turn around. Instead, they continued to smile as if they were unaware of his presence, lost in their own world. The piano''s melody grew louder, mirroring the loneliness that filled June''s heart.


    However, amidst the chaos, a voice called his name.


    "Jun Hao."


    He froze when he heard the familiar voice before slowly turning around.


    There, he saw her¡ªhis real mother.


    Tears welled up in his eyes as he gazed at her loving, familiar face. She spoke, her words tender andforting, "I''m so proud of what you''ve be."


    June''s voice trembled as he responded, "Even if I''m not a good person?"


    His mother continued to smile, and June wanted her to hold him, but his mom took a step back.


    "My Jun Hao, you''re a good person," she reassured. "Deep down, you''ve always been a good person."


    There was a moment of silence before June continued ying.


    "You''ve done such a great job protecting your sister," she smiled, a tear falling down her cheek. "You''ve always lived for others."


    June nodded. "I have."


    "But now I want you to live your dream too," she whispered, finally reaching out her hand to touch June''s face. "Be happy, my son."


    However, before their skin could touch, his mother gradually faded from view, like a fleeting dream. The room around him began to reassemble, and the sound of the piano gently dwindled. June''s fingers continued to dance across the keys, but June couldn''t help but reflect on the message from his mother. And with the final press of a key, he stared at his faded reflection on the shiny mahogany.


    "Live my dream?" he muttered, a bit breathless.


    "What the hell? You''re actually a great piano yer?" Minjun eximed, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    "Uh, what?" June asked.


    "Holy Moly," the little kid eximed. "You''re actually talented now. You''re not the same person who sang a Little Meow Meow song during his audition!


    June chuckled softly, although he felt a bit ttered. "Then, do you think I should upload this to my ount?"


    "That June ount with more haters than pineapple on pizza? No! This kind of talent is something you want to gatekeep until ites in handy!" he eximed.


    "Gatekeep?" June asked. "What the hell would I need to gatekeep my piano skills? It''s not like I''m an owner of a system or a corporate boss."


    [I am your owner!]


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "You don''t even know modern ng, huh? Whatever. I''ll keep this to myself first."


    June groaned. "I need to post it, kid. It''s for something important."


    "You just need to post it, right?" Minjun mischievously asked.


    "Yes," June said. "So send it to meter."


    "Sure, sure," Minjun brushed him off.


    ***


    "Wake me up when we''re near," June yawned, feeling more tired than usual. It seemed like all the drama had finally caught up with him and only sleep weighed in his mind.


    "Sure, sure," Minjun said. "By the way, why have you been wearing caps and beanies since yesterday night?"


    June froze, but he acted like nothing was wrong. "No reason," he stiffly said. "I feel like I''m developing a cold."


    "Oh," Minjun said. "Whatever then. Rest well."


    "Hmm," June hummed, finding afortable position. Minjun sat silently for a couple of minutes, waiting for June to fall into slumber.


    "That''s right," he muttered with a smirk. "Sleep now, innocent child," he silently chuckled, his shoulders shaking with everyughter.


    An old man looked at the little kid with a frightened expression. "I''m going crazy," he whispered. "Maybe I should really go to the elderly home."


    Minjun took onest nce at June and even snapped his fingers in front of his face.


    When he confirmed that June was indeed sleeping, he opened his phone and went to a video-editing app.


    "I''ll make you even more famous, big bro," he muttered under his breath, ready to work his magic.


    ***


    "We''re here," Minjun said, shaking June awake.


    June slowly blinked his eyes open and saw the familiarndscape from outside the window.


    "What time is it?" he groggily asked.


    "It''s nearing¡ª"


    However, June couldn''t hear Minjun''s response because a pop-up distracted him.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted two of your missions: Celebrate Parents'' Day with your Parents and y ''ir de Lune'' by Debussy and post it online. You may now choose 2 aspects to improve!]


    June''s eyes widened in surprise before he looked at Minjun with narrowed eyes.


    "What did you do?"

 Chapter 195 Goated

    <h4>Chapter 195 Goated</h4>


    "Minjun, take it down," June whined as they entered Minjun''s and Grandma''s apartment. Between the two, he seemed more like a little kid than Minjun.


    Grandma went out of her room, her phone in hand, with tears streaming down her face.


    June ran to her in concern. "Did something happen?" he asked, looking for any sign of injury on Grandma''s body.


    Grandma pursed her lips and gently hit June''s shoulder. "I should be the one asking you that! Are you okay? I saw what Minjun posted."


    "And you cried because of it?" June asked.


    "I told you, it''s really good!" Minjun eximed. "I''ve been learning how to edit videos these days, too, and I must say¡ªI did a pretty good job."


    June clicked his tongue and finally opened his phone. He went to MinMin''s page and clicked on thetest post.


    "What the hell?" he asked. "Why does it already have more than 50,000 likes?"


    "Because I''m a genius," Minjun boasted. "Just watch it, bro."


    June sighed and sat on the couch. The opening of the video instantly made him confused.


    It was in thevender field¡­no, it was the view of the Oak tree where Choi Joon-ho''s parents were buried.


    "When did you even film this?" June softly asked, gazing at the video which merely showed his back. His face wasn''t shown, yet he could still feel a profound longing just from his stance alone.


    "When you were talking with your parents, duh," Minjun responded, though his voice took a softer turn as he said his next words. "And I wanted to capture it for you," he shyly admitted. "It''s a remembrance for Parents'' Day."


    June continued watching the video, feeling a strange sense of serenity as the sound of the breeze flowed through the speakers. Then, as he sat down on the grass, the breeze was reced by the sound of ir de Lune by Debussy.


    June couldn''t help but let out a small smile. It was actually¡­beautiful. His piano skills weren''t crazily good, but based on the audio itself, one could tell how much emotion the yer had ced into it.


    Then, he scrolled up to read what Minjun had written. The satiric content creator, who usually posted issues for shits and giggles, actually took the simpler route this time.


    "Happy Parents'' Day! May all parents feel the love from their children, no matter how far they are."


    "Featuring my pick from Rising Stars¡ªJune <3."


    June finally looked up at Minjun. "You''ve really gained a soft spot for me, huh, kid?" he asked.


    Minjun pursed his lips. "I was just practicing my editing skills," he defended.


    "Sure," June smiled. "Let''s just say I believe you."


    "Do you still want me to take it down?" Minjun asked.


    June scrolled through thements and reposts and saw only positivements from the people who had seen it.


    "You can keep it," June said. "Thanks, kid. You did a great job."


    ***


    Sunday, where God supposedly rested, should have been a time for June to rest, too.


    However, he wasn''t God, nor was he a son of rich tycoons, so he got up from his bed and prepared to go to the Azure building for the announcement of their next mission.


    He quickly showered and got dressed in his usualzy outfit before staring at himself in the mirror. He didn''t forget to wear his beanie, of course! June still hadn''te to terms with his cotton candy pink hair.


    "Right, the upgrades," June muttered, almost forgetting yesterday''s upgrades.


    "Fu, upgrade dance and visual."


    [Wise choice, host! Visual +1. Dance +1. Your current grades are: Visual: A-, Dance: A-]


    June looked at his stats and nodded in satisfaction. Aside from ''Rap'' and ''Leadership,'' all his other stats were now in the A-tier. It makes him wonder if it was the reason why Fu had been more sluggish with giving him his missions.


    Was it because he was getting closer to maxing out his skills?


    If he does attain an A+ in an aspect, then what would happen after that?


    June shook his head to get rid of such thoughts. It was still too early to think about things like those. He still has to focus on the next mission (which he still doesn''t have a clue about).


    ***


    June arrived at the Azure building with still an hour to spare. They were supposed to film by 9 a.m., but there were already a lot of trainees loitering around the training center.


    As soon as June entered the room, the trainees looked over his way. It felt like Deja Vu, yet right now, instead of disdainful stares and envious whispers, regretful gazes and silent apologies were thrown his way instead.


    June tried his best to hide his smirk.


    ''In your faces, bitches!'' he wanted to shout but decided not to since he has a reputation to keep.


    Instead, he settled on a nearby corner and scrolled through Navel. As time passed by, June was getting more and more addicted to social media. He had never appreciated the appeal of it when he was still working in the gang, but boy, was it fun.


    Right now, he was obsessed with going through the ''#CuteAnimals'' and ''#YummyCandy'' topics.


    "June!" Jisung eximed, causing him to quickly turn off his phone. He lifted his head and saw the five men who had visited his apartmentplex just a few days back.


    "You came here early," Jisung said.


    "Yeah," June responded. "Had to take the bus."


    The other four, who still felt quite guilty about judging June during thest few days, didn''t speak and continued looking at him with regretful eyes.


    June sighed. "Are you just going to stand there or what?"


    C-Jay quickly went down to his knees. "I''m really sorry, bro! I wasn''t able to sleep all night because I reflected upon all my actions. I was a douchebag. You can kick me in the nuts if you want."


    "Me too," Jangmoon said, kneeling next to C-Jay. "I''ll even sacrifice my life for you at this point."


    Akira nodded. "I''ll name my first child after you!"


    June sighed and shook his head. "You are going overboard. Just¡­don''t do it again," he said.


    "We won''t!" Jaeyong eximed.


    "I''m not talking about you," June said. "We''re just acquaintances."


    "Ha!" C-Jay screamed, pointing at Jaeyong''s sulky face.


    "Go back to your normal antics," June said. "It''s weird having you suck up to me."


    C-Jay smiled and wrapped one arm around June. "Don''t mind if I do! Have you seen the trendstely, bro? You''re fucking killing it. Every time I open my Navel app, you''re the topmost post."


    "You''re a goat!" Akira smiled, excitedly shaking June''s shoulders.


    June frowned and stepped back, offended. "A goat?" he asked. "You calling me ugly or something?"


    Akira''s eyes widened. "What? No! You got even more handsome since thest time I saw you¡­which was a day ago¡­which is honestly weird because how can you be even more handsome when you''re already VERY handsome¡ª"


    "Get to the point," June said. "I''m not a fucking goat. I don''t even like goats!"


    "Oh goodness," Jisung muttered. "Do you not know what a goat is, bro?"


    "Of course, I know," June responded. "I''ve seen some in my lifetime," he seriously said.


    The five of them looked at June silently, causing June to be even more confused.


    "The goat you''re talking about is the animal, huh?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Is there any other goat in this world?" June snapped.


    Then, after another moment of silence, the five of them burst outughing.


    "Greatest Of All Time! That''s G.O.A.T! You don''t know what that is, bro?" C-Jay asked.


    "Oh," June said, suddenly feeling embarrassed. But then again, who knew they were talking about an acronym?


    He was about to curse them out when he suddenly saw a shiny material moving in the corner of the training center.


    The shiny material in question was a head.


    And not just any other head¡­it was the janitor''s head.


    June smirked when he remembered that he still had to make two people pay for what they had done.


    Guess it''s time to meet the real goat.

 Chapter 196 Production Mission

    <h4>Chapter 196 Production Mission</h4>


    "Where are you going, bro?" Jisung asked. "It''s not long before the filming officially starts."


    "I''ll be quick," June said, standing up and running toward the exit. His friends tried to call out for him, but he was already running out the door before they could ask him what was happening.


    He looked left and right to catch a glimpse of the janitor and frowned when he didn''t see his shiny bald head anymore. So, June decided to go to the ce where the janitor most likely was during his break times.


    The Janitor''s Closet.


    June walked toward the small room located on the right wing of the Azure building. He smirked when he saw that the door was slightly agape¡ªwhich could only mean one thing.


    The janitor hated it when his door wasn''t fully closed.


    June wasted no time in entering the small room, his nostrils burning with the smell of bleach, varnish, and kimchi?


    His smirk widened when he saw the blinking red dot in the corner of the room, still where he first saw it.


    "I know you''re here," June said, breaking the silence.


    There was a slight ruffling sound from behind the cab¡ªjust right where the big trash can was located. It was barely noticeable, but with June''s keen senses, he noticed right away.


    He sighed before walking over to the big trash can, removing the lid, and smiling when he saw the familiar shiny head inside.


    "There you are," June said with a smile.


    The bald janitor red up at him, a jar of kimchi with chopsticks in his hands.


    "What are you doing in my sanctuary?" he asked in a deep voice.


    "Do you always stay inside the trash can?" June asked, a bit weirded out.


    The janitor huffed and made his way outside, still not letting go of his kimchi. "It''s cozy inside, and I can spy on the people that have been infiltrating my closet. I thought that it would be peaceful once those secret boyfriend trainees were eliminated, but intruders stille here all the time!"


    "Secret boyfriend trainees?" June asked in confusion before shaking his head. "Whatever, that''s none of my business. You''ve been filming the people who have beening here, right?"


    The bald janitor took a step back as he raised one of his eyebrows. "How do you know that?"


    June nonchntly pointed at the hidden camera, causing the bald janitor to nod in approval.


    "You''re good," he said. "Those secret boyfriends didn''t notice it."


    "Yeah?" June chuckled. "Well, since I''m good¡­why don''t you spare me a favor and give me the footage you''ve gathered?"


    He narrowed his eyes at June. "What are you going to do with them?"


    June sighed. "I''m sure you already know what happened. Those two were responsible for spreading misinformation about my family life."


    "I do know," he said, lifting his chin. "But you see, I''m not concerned with any of that. I would have be a guard if I wanted to be involved in the drama. But I''m a janitor at heart! All I''m passionate about is cleaning and kimchi. Unless you give me something that piques my interest, then I''m not sharing it with you."


    June clicked his tongue in frustration. Then, he was suddenly struck with a great idea.


    Bleach¡­


    He still had one bottle of unopened bleach in his room since he wasn''t able to take it home.


    "Hey," he said. "Do you like ''Drink'' bleach?" June asked, referring to the expensive brand of bleach he won during the Self-PR missions.


    The janitor, despite trying hard not to look interested, perked up when he heard the famous bleach brand.


    "I have a fresh, new bottle just for you," June said like he was coaxing a big puppy. "What about a trade, huh?"


    The janitor hesitated for a while, and June smirked as he saw the turmoil in his eyes.


    "Unopened?" he meekly asked.


    "Unopened. With the seal and all," June continued to convince.


    In the end, the janitor sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Fine! You may take the videos, but don''t tell anyone that you got it from me."


    June smiled and nodded. "Got it, Mr. Janitor. Can I transfer the videos right now?"


    "There''s a cord in the upper cab," he responded. "And don''t call me Mr. Janitor no more," he said. "Call me by my name."


    "Well, what''s your name?" June asked as he transferred the videos on his phone. Minjun was going to have a field day with this one.


    "My surname is Ing.? My name is Klin. Ing Klin."


    "Ing Klin? Klin Ing?" June asked.


    "Yes," the janitor proudly said. "But you can call me Mr. Klin."


    ***


    June practically ran to the training center after giving Mr. Klin his bleach and sending the videos to Minjun.


    When he arrived, all of the trainees were already in the room, lined up by their ranks.


    They looked over June''s way as he entered, and as he got closer, some trainees started whispering among themselves.


    June froze. Shit, did his pink hair peek through his beanie?


    "Is it just me, or is June getting more handsome?"


    "I don''t know. He''s been handsome ever since. But he did rise on my bias list after the episodest Friday. Boy, I bawled like a baby."


    "Same, kinda want to apologize, but we''re not that close, so¡­"


    "He has gotten more handsome. Should I ask him for a skincare routine?"


    "Or maybe his surgeon?"


    June sighed in relief when they merely talked about his visuals. He guessed it was a good idea to upgrade the aspect, especially since the finals wereing up.


    It seemed like June came right on time since the mentors came in just after he settled on the 8th spot.


    "Hey, bro," Jisung greeted.


    June nodded in acknowledgment. He then nced at his other side and saw Ren, who looked even worse thanst week. June frowned. Has this kid been sleeping at all?


    His thoughts were cut off when Minho''s voice pierced through the speakers. This time, he was apanied by Bone, who appeared to have gotten a haircut.


    "Good morning, trainees!" Minho greeted, looking at the small number of trainees before him. "Ah, I thought 50 trainees were a small number, but you''ve gotten even smaller."


    "That only means one thing," Bone said. "We are getting close to the finals! However, we still have onest mission for you before the live shows!"


    The trainees murmured among themselves, trying toe up with theories on the mission they were going to face. Usually, during this time, they were already preparing for the finale. However, it seemed like Azure decided to add an extra mission¡ªone that would set it apart from the other seasons of Rising Stars.


    "What could it be?" Jisung asked. "I really can''t predict what they are going to do."


    June sighed. He, too, didn''t have any idea on the next mission.


    "I''m sure all of you are curious about your next mission, so we won''t prolong this any further," Bone excitedly said.


    The two mentors locked gazes with each other before cing the microphone on their lips, simultaneously speaking to add to the dramatic effect.


    "It is now time for the Production Mission!"

 Chapter 197 Retribution

    <h4>Chapter 197 Retribution</h4>


    Hoon hasn''t showered in 16 days.


    16 full days.


    His underwear felt like it had been dipped in concrete at this point, yet he didn''t care.


    Hoon''s rage still hadn''t simmered down after June''s real story had been revealed. The ordinary person would probably feel pity for the guy, but Hoon wasn''t ordinary at all.? His anger only escted every time he opened the Navel app and saw June''s face and name? sttered on the trends and his featured page.


    So, he decided to dedicate his time to his new dream¡ªto be a pro gamer.


    It had been going quite well, and he had even risen to the top 20 in the server after ying for 76 straight hours. Honestly, any person would make it to that rank if they spent that much timepleting missions and the like.


    As a result, hended an interview with a third-tier professional team. They were probably the worst team in the league, but for Hoon, it was better than nothing. Today was his supposed contract signing with the team manager, so he made an effort to wash his face and hair.


    The remaining parts of his body remained unwashed, though.


    He sat in front of hisputer, waiting for them to call. Finally, his ringtone rang, and he excitedly answered the call. However, instead of the team manager, it was Xin that emerged on his screen.


    Hoon groaned in annoyance. "What?" he snapped at the miserabled.


    "Bro," Xin shakily whispered. "It''s bad. It''s really bad."


    "What are you yapping about? I have an important meeting waiting in line!" Hoon snapped, reaching for a bottle of soda from his mini fridge.


    "Have you checked Navel?" Xin asked.


    "No," Hoon snapped. "That app is fucking trash. I''m focusing on my growth in pro-gaming."


    "I think you should really check it, Hoon," Xin said. "They found out¡­My school had contacted my mom, and I think they''re going to kick me out," he frantically said.


    "What?" Hoon asked.


    "They know, Hoon."


    "They discovered our n," Xin responded. "There are videos circting online¡­about us talking about revealing June''s background."


    Hoon quickly opened his Navel app. His eyes widened when he saw his name trending along with Xin''s. This was the first time he had trended on social media in his entire career.


    However, it wasn''t the morous trend he was expecting.


    Instead, on top of the trend was a post by the user ''MinMin,'' who had uploaded a clear video of him and Xin talking on multiple asions about how to bring June''s career down.


    Hoon gradually became numb as he read through the thousands of hatements.


    "What have I done?" he muttered, wide-eyed as his actions began to sink in.


    Then, a notification popped up from his personal ount¡ªit was from the gaming team that had contacted him.


    His heart swelled with hope. At least he still has a chance with this one, right?


    Right?


    "Dear Sim Kwang-hoon, we regret to inform you that the Liu Sir guild is no longer looking for new members. Thank you for your understanding!


    Sincerely,


    Team Manager Sir Liu"


    Hoon slumped like a lifeless corpse on his squeakyputer chair.


    It was over.


    "I''m over," he muttered. Feeling defeated by it all, Hoon opened the cold bottle of soda and brought it to his lips.


    However, he quickly spat it out when he didn''t taste the familiar sweet soda.


    "What the fuck!" he eximed, the taste of chlorine, cheese, and armpit gunk lingering on his taste buds.


    Hoon looked at the cold, clear bottle with wide eyes.


    It was, indeed, his own bottle of pee.


    ***


    In the Azure building...


    "Production Mission? Please tell me it isn''t what I''m thinking about."


    "Oh, I think we already know the answer to that."


    June sighed when he realized what type of mission they were going to have just from the title alone.


    "As you all know, the Cherry Blossom Concert will be next Friday. Azure had been chosen to host the said concert, so Rising Stars wouldn''t be airing this week. However, this is actually good news for you, trainees! You will be given a whole two weeks for the preparation of the mission!" Bone announced.


    "I don''t know if that''s a good thing or bad thing."


    "If it''s what I''m expecting, then they should give us a month at least."


    "I don''t know shit about producing."


    "I''m already hearing some guesses," Minho chuckled. "And I hope you wouldn''t be afraid of this mission, trainees. Think of it as your stepping stone to the finals!"


    Bone nodded. "As you all know, idols these days are expected to be more than just performers. They are expected to be all-rounders with skills that go beyond the stage. You have been testimonies of that, trainees. You have shown your versatility by aplishing pastplex missions."


    "That''s right, Bone," Minho chimed. "That''s why today, we''re here to introduce the Production Mission¡ªa mission that will test not only your abilities as performers but also your skills behind the scenes. In the modern music industry, idols are not just performers; they''re also involved in production, lyric-writing, arranging, and more."


    Bone continued, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "This mission is an opportunity for you to step into the shoes of a true artist. You''ll be responsible for creating aplete performance, from concept to execution. You''ll write your own lyrics,pose your music, design your stage, and choreograph your moves. It''s a chance for you to showcase your creativity and prove that you can be more than just a performer."


    "We believe in each and every one of you, so we are giving you the freedom to do this. This mission will test your versatility, creativity, and teamwork. So, embrace this challenge, and let your artistic spirit shine," Minho added with a reassuring smile.


    June internally scoffed.


    Freedom? There can never truly be freedom in Rising Stars.


    "But, of course, this is Rising Stars, and we like to keep things challenging," Minho continued. "In addition to creating your performances from scratch, each team will be assigned a specific genre¡ª a mandatory aspect that you must incorporate into your performance."


    "5? teams, 5 genres, 5 members each. We expect nothing but a 5/5 performance. This is the Production Mission!" Bone announced.


    "How about the rewards? How many stars are at stake this time?" Lin Zhi asked.


    Bone and Minho smirked at each other. "That, trainees, will be a question we will answer after the live shows!"

 Chapter 198 Field Day

    <h4>Chapter 198 Field Day</h4>


    "Luckily for you, trainees, the teams aren''t pre-determined this time. We will be going back to the traditional route and have the highest-ranked trainee pick their team," Bone announced.


    The other trainees, especially those in the lower ranks, groaned in defeat.


    "Ah, I wanted to have Ren on my team, but I guess Zeth will take him now."


    "Having Ren in your team is a cheat sheet. You can just sit there and do nothing while waiting for him to produce a song."


    "Right? That''s what I wanted to do in the first ce."


    June clicked his tongue as he nced at the trainees behind him. They could have lowered their voices or something. Ren definitely heard what they were talking about.


    "So, we then call for Zeth, the ever-consistent first-ranked trainee in ''Rising Stars'' since the beginning of the show," Minho called, and the other trainees burst into cheers.


    Untouchable. Right now, Zeth waspletely untouchable.


    "You may pick 4 other trainees for your team," Bone instructed.


    Zeth nodded and took the mic from him. He wandered his eyes around the room, looking a bit conflicted. It seemed like being in the top 25 had made even the first-ranked trainee nervous.


    In fact, everybody was more nervous than usual.


    The thought that the finale was right in front of their eyes made them feel like the stakes were higher this time.


    "First, Yuri," Zeth said, making the 11th-ced trainee sigh in relief.


    June nodded in acknowledgment. Aside from Ren, Yuri was the other trainee who had a legitimate background in making and arranging songs.


    "I''ll also take Jaeyong," Zeth continued.


    And at that moment, June knew that something was¡­strange.


    June nced at the trainee to his right and frowned. Is Zeth not going to pick Ren?


    "Jaxon, you''re in my team, bro," Zeth said, causing the loud trainee to rejoice while running to the front. The two of them did a "bro-hug" before Zeth picked hisst member.


    "Andst but not the least¡­."


    The other trainees held their breaths. There wasn''t any doubt that they would like to be chosen by Zeth. It was like a one-way ticket to the finale. A performance with him meant that they could suck up to Zetherealists and maybe make it to the debut line.


    "Akira," he said.


    Akira looked at Zeth with wide eyes, pointing at himself. "Me?" he asked. The others chuckled at his surprised reaction. Akira slowly made his way to the front, with the others murmuring in envy for their team.


    "Akira writes harmonies really well, too. I''m jealous."


    "And Jaeyong is good at rap-making. Their song is going to be fire."


    "But why didn''t he pick Ren? Did something happen?"


    "Casper, it''s your turn," Minho said. The tall and handsome trainee confidently walked to the front. June frowned as he looked at the trainee''s broad shoulders.


    Ah, they had simr builds when he was still Jun Hao.


    No¡­Jun Hao''s body was definitely better, but the kid didn''tg behind.


    ''Must be nice,'' June thought.


    It was frustrating since no matter how hard June tried to build muscle in this body, he still looked lean!


    "Who do you pick as your first member?" Bone asked.


    "Ren," Casper said without any hesitation.


    Ren, who appeared to have been in a daze, looked up when he heard his name.


    "You were called," June said.


    "Oh," Ren said, his voice quite hoarse. "Thanks for that."


    With that, he started walking to the front. June frowned as he observed Ren. There was definitely something strange going on with him.


    "Daeho," Casper continued. The serious trainee walked to the front with a calm expression, patting Casper''s shoulder as a sign of gratitude.


    "Hmm," Casper said, thinking of the next person to choose. He wanted a good vocalist and someone who would match the aesthetics of the team.


    Casper and Daeho were both tall with athletic builds. Ren was also on the taller side, just bordering 6 feet, but he had a leaner body. Casper continued looking around the room until he saw him.


    "Jangmoon," he said.


    The room suddenly turned quiet¡ªlike they couldn''t believe that Jangmoon had been picked to join Casper''s team.


    "He called me, right?" Jangmoon absent-mindedly asked C-Jay.


    C-Jay sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Lucky bastard. Go to the front."


    "Yay!" Jangmoon practically skipped as he went to his team.


    June looked at the team before him and shook his head. It would have been pretty cool to team up with Ren, considering his production skills, but June knew he couldn''t fit into their aesthetic.


    He needed to overdose on BenBen gummies first to do that.


    However, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine when Casper locked gazes with him. For some reason, Casper''s gaze looked¡­meaningful, causing horror to fill June''s mind.


    Oh no.


    Truth be told, Casper had one member in mind who he really wanted to perform with. He was secretly praying a while back for Zeth not to take his desired member and had to restrain himself from doing a happy dance when Zeth actually didn''t.


    He picked the three other members on a whim since he merely focused on his most desired teammate.


    Then, Casper brought the mic to his lips.


    "Thest member of my team will be¡­June."


    ***


    June pursed his lips as he stood between four tall pirs. Sure, hegged a couple of inches from his teammates, but he was still taller than the average Asian guy. He even reached up to the upper portion of Jangmoon''s neck!


    June was not short.


    But did they have to make him stand in the very middle? Now, he looked shorter than he actually was!


    "I''m so happy that we''re performing together once more, big bro," Jangmoon snuggled up at him.


    June merely sighed and epted his fate. He nced at his side and saw Casper looking at him like he wanted to say something. June raised his eyebrows in inquiry, but Casper quickly looked away.


    What a strange kid.


    "Now that you have been divided into 5 teams, we will now decide what genre you''re going to incorporate into your performances," Minho announced, capturing the trainees'' attention.


    "Please don''t let the higher-ranked trainees pick the genre first again," C-Jay shouted from across the room.


    "Don''t worry!" Bone eximed. "The choosing of genres wouldn''t be based on ranks this time."


    A collective sigh of relief was heard in the room.


    "How is it going to be decided then?" Bin asked.


    Minho and Gun excitedly looked at each other. "Of course, we can not forgo yet another staple in Rising Stars! This time, however, the stakes are much higher. You can win not only cool prizes but also the opportunity to choose your performance''s genre first!"


    "Get dressed in your respective shirts and meet us at the back of the Azure building in 15 minutes. It''s time for a Field Day!"

 Chapter 199 Not Cute, Not Me

    <h4>Chapter 199 Not Cute, Not Me</h4>


    "Wooh!" Jangmoon cheered as he sat at the very back of the bus. "I''ve always wanted to sit here when I was in high school."


    "Me too," Casper chuckled.


    Jangmoon narrowed his eyes at him. "I bet you always sat at the back of the bus."


    "I was homeschooled," Casper said, causing Jangmoon to nod in understanding.


    "I''ve always sat in the back of the bus," June said, sitting next to them. The other four guys looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "So, you were a popr kid?" Jangmoon asked before sighing in defeat. "It must have been nice."


    June frowned. Popr kids always sat at the back? He merely sat at the back because other kids didn''t want to sit with him.


    "Have you guys watched the other field days before?" Daeho brought up. "It had really cool prizes."


    Casper chuckled as he looked at Daeho''s fiery expression. "Why? Do you want to win the prizes?"


    "Yes," Daeho said without any hesitation. "And to get the privilege to choose the genre first. Don''t you think that''s a great advantage?"


    "It is," Jangmoon responded. "But I''m more excited for the prizes. Last year, they gave out those really expensive headphones."


    June tuned them out and started scrolling through his phone. He silently brightened up when he saw aption of cute animals disyed on his front page. However, as he scrolled down, he suddenly saw a rmended topic underneath a ''ck cat'' post.


    "Is it just me, or is June losing his cuteness?"


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he clicked on the topic. As of the moment, it had over 12,000 likes and 2,000ments. He read the original post, his frown deepening with every word.


    Before anything else, I just want to post a disimer. I adore June with all my heart! I even vote for him every week. But let''s talk about his transformation from "cutie-pie" to"smoldering hunk" in the blink of an eye!


    Remember June''s adorable antics during the auditions? It felt like he was all about those cute moves, and we were here for it! Buttely, it''s like he''s been performing serious and sexy songs with dark concepts.


    Of course, I support the emo in him! I also had that phase, but I do miss his Little Meow Meow era. Am I the only one who feels this way?


    - I agree! From Mermaid Melodies to that sad bad song, then to Tie Me Up. All of them were pretty serious concepts.


    - But June really excels in those. I believe I''m speaking for everyone when I say his audition was iconic, but it was pretty cringe! He tried really hard to act cute, but wasn''t too good at it.


    - Yeah, he suits the serious concept more. It kind of makes me wonder about his versatility. June''s very talented, though!


    - Well, June''s never been cute, to begin with. He has cute visuals, but he doesn''t use them well. He''s more handsome than cute! Have you all seen Choi Pablo''s post?


    "I''m not cute?" he muttered under his breath. Then, he quickly left Navel to text Minjun.


    June: Hey, am I cute?


    Since Minjun was like any other kid in today''s generation, it didn''t take long for him to respond.


    Minjun: Cute? Oh, hell no. A piece of chewed-up broli is cuter than you.


    June looked at the text with disbelief. Somehow, he felt offended by Minjun''s statement.


    Sure, he wasn''t cute! He had never thought of himself as cute. But to bepared to a piece of chewed-up broli was preposterous!


    "Hey, we''re here," Jangmoon said, nudging his shoulder. "What''s gotten you so busy?"


    June sighed and looked Jangmoon in the eyes. He wanted to ask Jangmoon the same question he asked Minjun, but his pride didn''t let him in the end.


    "Nothing, let''s go."


    ***


    The sun beat down on the wild field as the idol trainees gathered for Rising Stars'' Field Day.


    Excited conversations filled the air, and almost all trainees were eager to start the day''s festivities.


    Whenever Mei Ling would force June to watch Rising Stars, this was his favorite portion to watch since he got to see the trainees make a fool of themselves. However, now that he was in the situation, June felt quite weird.


    Based on his memory, Rising Stars always had weird games.


    There was a well-made stage at the center of the field adorned with colorful banners and sparkly lights. As the excitement continued to buzz, two beautiful figures suddenly emerged from behind the stage.


    The trainees squinted their eyes to get a better look, and their eyes widened in surprise when they saw who it was.


    Mimi and Kiera, former members of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, stepped onto the stage, sending waves of excitement through the crowd. The sight of two beautiful women in cheerleader uniforms instantly lifted the moods of the trainees.


    "I¡ªI''ve had this dream before."


    "I think my briefs are wet."


    "Their skin¡­it''s sparkling!"


    June nced at the other trainees with disgust. Who the fuck wets their pants just at the sight of two women?


    Jangmoon, apparently. He was practically bouncing as he looked at the two women on stage.


    However, the two women didn''t even pay the other trainees any attention. Kiera and Mimi nced at June, who didn''t even bother looking at them as they walked out.


    In June''s mind¡ª''Too young. They''re almost the same age as Mei Ling.''


    Kiera nudged Mimi''s shoulder and quietly said, "Stop staring," she chuckled.


    Mimi shook her head and focused on her task. With a radiant smile and an infectious energy, she grabbed the microphone. "Hello, everyone!" Mimi eximed, her voice echoing through the speakers. "Are you all ready for a day of fun andpetition?"


    The trainees erupted in cheers, sounding like a troop of military men.


    "We''ve got some fantastic games lined up for you today," Kiera announced, her eyes twinkling under the sun. "And remember, there are some major points at stake!"


    Mimi nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the crowd of trainees. "That''s right! In each of the three games we''ve prepared, the winner will receive a whopping 10 points, second ce gets 8 points, third ce 6 points, fourth ce 4 points, and, well, thest ce gets a not-so-happy 2 points. The points will be tallied in the end, and the team who has the most points gets to win some exciting prizes and the privilege to pick their song genre for the next mission!


    Kiera leaned in closer to the microphone, her melodious voice serving as music to the trainees'' ears. "Now, trainees, let''s get this party started! Our first game is..."


    Mimi and Kiera looked at each other before simultaneously introducing the first game. "Protect the Princess!"


    Mimi took the microphone once again, her eyes showing excitement. "Here''s how it''s going to be yed, folks. Each team will have two representatives: a knight and a princess. The princess will wear a special princess crown, one that they have to protect at all costs, along with their knight. The princess will get on top of the knight in a piggyback ride, and together, they will attack other teams and take their crowns. Thest team standing bes the winner!"


    "Let''s choose our representatives for the first round! Choose your fearless princess and valiant knights!" Kiera eximed.


    The teams instantly started strategizing.


    "I''ll be the knight," Zeth said, flexing his muscles.


    "Dang!" Jaxon eximed. "We got this one in the bag, man. Your muscles make me want to be put in a chokehold."


    "Jisung!" the other team shouted. "Be the princess. You''re the most flexible one here."


    Jisung, quite shy to counter his teammates'' requests, eventually nodded.


    On the other hand, June''s team had a hard time looking for a knight since three of their members had athletic builds.


    "Jangmoon, you go," Daeho said. "You have the biggest body here."


    "But I''m not that strong," Jangmoon scratched the back of his head. "June''s probably stronger than me."


    "I''ll do it then," Casper said. "I''ve been working out these days."


    "Go ahead," Daeho responded. "I''m sure you''ll do well. For the princess¡­we definitely need someone light."


    June was still caught up in his conversation with Minjun a while, so he missed most of the team''s conversation. However, when he felt their gazes right at his face, he snapped out of his thoughts.


    Then, June''s eyes widened in horror when he realized what his team was insinuating.


    "Oh, hell no!"

 Chapter 200 Princess June

    <h4>Chapter 200 Princess June</h4>


    The battlefield stretched out before them, a vast expanse of blood-soaked soil and billowing smog. Five knights, each a paragon of their respective factions, rode forth to meet their destiny. Heaven and hell themselves seemed to hold their breath as they prepared for the battle of a lifetime.


    The knights, resplendent in their gleaming silver armor, soared through the winds to meet their mighty rivals. The princesses clung to their backs, each with different colored gems perched on their crowns.


    A thunderous roar came from their lips as their hunking figures collided with each other, none wanting to lose in the battle of strength. The sh of bodies and their heavy footsteps filled the air as the five knights and princesses fought valiantly against their enemies'' forces.


    Dodging and weaving, they disyed their unique strengths inbat.


    And beside them were noble gentlemen screaming for their bets.


    "June, you''re so pretty!" Akira screamed beforeughing alongside his teammates.


    The other knights and princesses also burst intoughter after Akira made hisment.


    Pretty? Not cute?


    What a joke.


    June shook his head and ignored theirughter, focusing on his objective.


    "Casper," he patted the trainee''s back. "Let''s target C-Jay and Jisung."


    "Got it," Casper said. "But don''t you want to remove your beanie so the crown has more grip?"


    "Don''t speak. Just do it," June urged, holding onto his crown while Casper raced toward Jisung.


    Jisung and C-Jay had their backs turned, busy fighting with Zeth and Jaxon. June took that as an opportunity to attack behind their backs and capture the crown from Jisung''s head.


    The whistle blew, and Mimi''s voice was heard in the field. "C-Jay and Jisung, out!"


    Their teammates all eximed in disappointment while June''s team rejoiced. June smirked to himself as he threw the crown to the side, facing yet another opponent. With four teams left,


    Zeth faced Lin Zhi. Casper and June, on the other hand, faced Sehun and Leo.


    "Bring it on," Leo smirked, coaxing June to take his crown.


    June silently scoffed as he looked into Leo''s confident eyes. This body must have lost its strength, but his speed and instincts were still impable.


    Sehun and Leo didn''t know what hit them. For a second, they stood before the pair. However, the next second, Leo''s crown was already off his head.


    Leo''s eyes widened in shock. "What the heck? How did that happen?"


    June smirked as he twirled the crown in his finger before tossing it to the side.


    "Sehun and Leo, out!"


    "Lin Zhi and Steel, out!"


    With only two teams left, the tension only seemed to increase.


    "Zeth and Casper are, indeed, true rivals. How can they be the top 2 even during events like this?"


    "Who are you guys rooting for?"


    "Jaxon and Zeth seem stronger."


    "No," Akira shook his head as he gazed at June, who looked more determined than ever.


    Hispetitive side was finally showing through.


    June didn''t like ying games, but when he did¡­he could be verypetitive.


    "The real star of the game is June," he said, pointing toward his way. The others turned their gazes to June, and he was truly on fire. They had never seen June so determined before!


    It actually took a princess game for him to finally show hispetitive side.


    The two pairs circled each other, their eyes locked in an unrelenting gaze. It seemed like sparks flew between their gazes, and the ground beneath them trembled with every attempted attack.


    For a time,? the two teams appeared evenly matched. June''s swift strikes danced around Jaxon''s heavy swings, and Zeth withstood Casper''s strong pushes. The onlookers watched in breathless anticipation as the two battled with an intensity like titans trying to eat people.


    But then, as the dust settled and the sun rose even higher, the tide of the battle began to turn. June, with his fluid and precise movements, found an opening in Jaxon''s defenses. With a lightning-fast strike, he sent Jaxon''s crown flying through the air.


    The crown seemed to fly in slow motion, with each trainee following its trajectory. Then, it fell to the ground, along with the sound of the whistle.


    "The game has ended. Congrattions to Casper and June! Your team has officially won 10 points."


    ***


    However, the rest of the games weren''t an easy feat.


    The production team was determined to squeeze the trainees'' energy to their very core with the games they had prepared.


    For starters, the second game was ''Tug of War.''


    Just a ssic, fun game of ''Tug of War.''


    Wrong! They had to drench their hands in oil before thepetition, leading to a slippery mess. In the end, Zeth''s team won first ce, while June''s merelynded third ce.


    The third game, however, was to June''s advantage. It was a baton racing game, but they had to wear scuba flippers while running. Again, it was a ridiculous game, but June''s team managed to win in the end.


    His teammates cheered as June dashed through thestp.


    "Damn, he''s on fire," Jangmoon said. "He''s so fucking fast."


    "Were you a cheetah in your past life?" Jangmoon joked while June tried to catch his breath.


    June then focused his gaze on the field, his eyes narrowing when he saw Zeth getting closer to the finish line.


    "Zeth''s teames second!" Kiera announced.


    The other teams quickly followed, but they already didn''t have the chance of winning the prizes and the privilege to choose the genres of their song.


    As June watched Zeth''s team rejoice, he heaved a sigh.


    "It''s a tie," he muttered, tallying the points they acquired in his mind. Indeed, the two of them acquired 26 points each.


    "Oh my," Mimi eximed as she looked at the current results. "It seems like we have a tie!"


    The production crew, of course, was prepared for any kind of circumstances. They handed Kiera a cue card, and the beautiful idol quickly announced it to the trainees.


    "Since we only have room for one winner, we have decided to conduct a tie-breaker!"''


    Jangmoon and Daeho groaned in annoyance.


    "Ugh," Jangmoonined. "I''m hungry¡­and tired! Why couldn''t we have just won?"


    Ren, on the other hand, just sighed heavily. He had been quiet for most of the time they had yed, but he still did participate in the games.


    "And since we''ve established your speed, strength, and strategy, let us now test your aim! The tie-breaker game will involve...darts! Pick a trainee from your team, and the one closest to the bullseye wins the Field Day!" Mimi excitedly announced.

 Chapter 201 Sharp Shooter

    <h4>Chapter 201 Sharp Shooter</h4>


    "I can''t do it," Bo Wen sighed as he hid behind the wall.


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue. "Our men are waiting outside to ambush. We just need to tranquilize Shen," he said, referring to the corrupt businessman known for sexually trafficking young women.


    "Why can''t we just shoot the guy?" Bo Wen asked. "This fucking dart is too hard to aim."


    "We can''t kill the guy," Jun Hao whisper-shouted. "The boss instructed us to take him back alive. There''s something our boss needs from him."


    "You do it then," Bo Wen handed him the dartced with a potent sedative mixed with a neuromuscr blocking agent. Even a drop of the drug that enters the victim''s bloodstream can make him fall asleep in seconds.


    Jun Hao sighed and carefully took the dart from Bo Wen. "I should be promoted at this point," he muttered as he peeked through the wall, seeing the hairy man with a bulging stomach, surrounded by girls who seemed appalled by his breath.


    He closed one eye, focusing on the neck of the hairy monster.


    "Don''t miss," Bo Wen whispered, his fishy dinner evading Jun Hao''s nostrils.


    "Then don''t speak," Jun Hao quietly snapped, going back to his zone.


    Jun Hao let out a deep breath. 3...2...1...


    "You got this, June!" Jangmoon screamed at the top of his lungs just as June was about to throw the dart to the board.


    He was ying against Jaeyong, and that bastard did a damn good job. His dartnded only millimeters away from the bullseye.


    "Do you think he''ll be able to do it?" Jaxon asked Zeth, looking at the target board.


    "Nah," Zeth said. "June was on fire during the past games, but Jaeyong did too much of a good job here. There''s less than a 5% chance for June to actually hit the middle."


    "We''ve got this one in the bag," Akira chimed. "Let''s take first ce and pick the genre we want."


    For the others watching, it seemed like the winner was already set in stone.


    But not on June''s watch. He smirked and nced at the onlookers before focusing his attention back on the board.


    It would be a shame to his family if he didn''tnd the bullseye.


    "3...2...1....," he whispered before throwing the dart to the board.


    The dart flew in the air, seemingly moving in slow motion.


    The trainees focused their gazes on the dart, holding their breaths.


    However, one individual''s gaze never strayed away from June''s face. She internally squealed when June threw the dart.


    ''He''s so handsome even without make-up!'' Mimi thought. ''But why is he wearing a beanie? Is he cold?''


    The dart continued its path, and the other trainees continued holding their breaths.


    Then, the dart hit the board.


    And along with that was another dart falling to the ground.


    The trainees'' eyes widened as they gazed at the sole dart on the board. June''s dart hadnded straight in the middle, knocking Jaeyong''s out of the board.


    "Is that even possible?" Akira whispered.


    C-Jay shook his head in amazement as he looked back and forth between the board and June. "He''s truly a monster. How can he even be good at this?"


    Kiera and Mimi, too, were amazed by June''s precision. Mimi was about to squeal right then and there, but Kiera held her back and spoke into the mic.


    "We have a winner!" she eximed. "The team formed by trainee Casper has won the prizes and the privilege to choose their song genre for the Production Mission!"


    "And just like that, our Field Day had officiallye to an end. But before that, we are going to be revealing the prizes for the winners!" Mimi eximed.


    The production crew wheeled in a table covered with white cloth.


    June''s heart began to race in excitement. In the first season, the girls were given expensive speakers. The boys in the second season were given handsome sneakers, while those in the third season were given high-quality headphones and film cameras.


    It seemed like the prizes were getting more grand as time went by, and June was hoping for one single thing.


    A new phone.


    Kiera and Mimi walked over to the covered table, with Mimi''s eyes still lingering on June.


    "May we have the winners reveal the prizes themselves," Kiera said, coaxing the five trainees toe to the front.


    "Ah, so lucky."


    "They get to win prizes and stand next to two beauties? What a life."


    "I wonder what Kiera smells like."


    The five of them went to the front, with June being the most excited. He tried really hard not to show it, though.


    "You may now reveal the prizes!"


    Casper held onto the end of the white cloth and swiftly revealed the items.


    The trainees gasped as soon as they saw the array of technology before them.


    "A fast-charging charger! Camera lens attachment! And an exclusive game skin for ''Benshim Infarct'' will be granted to the winners. Congrattions!" Mimi excitedly said, still ted that June won the games.


    His teammates looked at the prizes in awe.


    June, on the other hand, was speechless as soon as he saw the items.


    Most of these essories wouldn''t even work on his ancient phone.


    And he didn''t y whichever game they just mentioned.


    But hey, at least he won a charger, right?


    With a forced smile, he grabbed the port of the charger and inserted it into his phone.


    It doesn''t fit.


    ***


    Jangmoon excitedly used the new essories, his phone adorned with thetest technology.


    "Hey, why aren''t you using yours?" he asked June.


    June clicked his tongue and didn''t respond. Instead, he went to Navel to release his stress.


    However, it seemed like his stress only escted further when he saw the discussion about his ''non-cuteness'' on the trending page.


    June clicked his tongue and poked Jangmoon''s shoulder.


    "Hey," he said, his tone serious as ever.


    Jangmoon removed his Bluetooth earphones and looked at June with raised eyebrows.


    "What''s up, big bro?"


    Without any hesitation, June asked the question:


    "Am I cute?"


    Jangmoonically blinked his eyes as he stared at June. "Umm, was that a trick question?"


    "Just answer the question!" June snapped. "Am I cute?" he repeated, holding onto Jangmoon''s arm and squeezing for dear life.


    "Ow!" Jangmoon eximed. "You''re not!" he shouted, trying to remove his arm from June''s grip.


    June''s hold loosened. "I''m not?" he asked.


    "You''re not," another voice responded. June turned to his side and narrowed his eyes at Daeho.


    "Why do you say so?" June asked.


    Daeho shrugged. "It''s just the vibe that I''m getting. Your visuals are on the cuter side, but your personality isn''t. There''s nothing wrong with that," he responded.


    "Yup," Jangmoon nodded in agreement. "You''re very manly! Your performances have all been really dark, and you suit the concept well."


    "I sang a Little Meow Meow song," June deadpanned.


    "But you turned it dark, too," Daeho said. "I never thought of arranging a kid''s song like that."


    "You''re cute," Casper suddenly interrupted, causing the three to look at him with raised eyebrows.


    "You remind me of my cat," Casper continued.


    June shook his head and decided to ignore hisment.


    "What about you?" June said, turning to Ren. "Do you think I''ve only been performing dark songs until now?"


    "Huh?" Ren said, looking a bit out of it. "Yeah, I guess. They''re all different, but somehow all of them are...emotional and...dark....like an emo."


    June sighed and leaned against his seat.


    "Do you think I can do it...pull off a lively song?" he asked.


    Daeho let out a little chuckle. "Honestly, I can''t see it. You rarely smile, and that''s a prerequisite for a cute performance. Don''t worry, though. You''re still doing well. Your performances have been great so far."


    Don''t worry?


    June was, indeed, quite worried.

 Chapter 202 Genre Introduction

    <h4>Chapter 202 Genre Introduction</h4>


    "Wee back, trainees!" Minho eximed as the trainees returned to the training center.


    Most of them reeked of sweat and grass, but the production crew didn''t want to waste any time.


    "Did you all have fun?" Bone asked.


    There were indecipherable murmurs in the room. The trainees were tired at this point, but they had to speed up since they had less than two weeks toplete their songs and stages.


    "Since the team who would first choose their genre had been determined, let us now introduce the genres you can choose from! These genres were handpicked by our producers, taking into mind thetest trends in the K-pop industry," Bone announced.


    Minho hovered his hand over the first sticker-covered sign and quickly ripped it off.


    "First¡ªElectro-Techno," Bone eximed. "It is a sub-genre of electronic dance music thatbines elements of both electronic music and techno. It emerged in the 1980s and has since evolved, incorporating various substyles and influences. Electro-Techno is characterized by its driving beats, synthesized sounds, and a futuristic, often dystopian, atmosphere. Some examples under this genre are ''Naughty Boy by G-DINOSAUR and TAEOLD,'' ''Llie by SunMeme,'' and ''y it Hot by EX MONSTA ft. STEVEN ENOKI.''"


    "Second," Minho eximed, capturing the trainees'' attention once more. "Grunge Pop-Rock. It is a fusion of grunge and pop music elements. Itbines the raw, guitar-driven sound of grunge with the catchy melodies of pop music. Grunge Pop represents a softer and more melodic side of the grunge movement, offering a bnce between the edginess of alternative rock and the mainstream appeal of pop. Songs that have this style are ''Just a Loser by TNT,'' ''Crossed-Eyed by DREAMRELEASER,'' and ''Bird Poop on My Sweater by TREEZ.''"


    "And we''re down to three," Bone said. "The next genre is Trap K-Pop. This genre prominently features the use of trap beats, characterized by their heavy use of hi-hats, snare rolls, and 808 basslines. Despite the trap influence, this genre ces a strong emphasis on melodic and catchy hooks, often delivered by the vocalists. This style can be heard in songs like ''Sane by 1MINUTE,'' ''Cold by LOONEY,'' and ''1st Sense by NTC YOU.''"


    June frowned as the third genre has been mentioned. As of the moment, these genres had one thing inmon¡ªthey were all darker concepts. In simpler terms, these were genres that June had more or less incorporated into his past performances.


    "The second to thest genre is Moombahton!" Minho smiled. "Personally, I really love listening to songs in this genre. Moombahton is yet another sub-genre of electronic dance music. Arising from the 2010s, itbines the rhythmic and percussive elements of reggaeton with the energetic beats of house music. Examples are ''Icon by BST featuring Micki Mijam,'' ''NonoGege by MAMAMO,'' and ''Tla by G-ACTIVE.''"


    By this time, the other trainees were already discussing what genre they''d like to take.


    "I think we can pull off Trap K-Pop really well," Jaxon suggested to Zeth. "It''s been the trend these days."


    "Hmm," Zeth agreed. "Ren might take liking to the genre, too, so we need to think of a second choice. Thankfully, most of these concepts are right up our alley."


    "I actually like most of the concepts this time," C-Jay said.


    "Yeah, you like them. But can we even make them?" Leo asked.


    "Settle down, trainees," Bone said. "We still have one genre left, and that is¡ªBubblegum Pop."


    The mere mention of the genre sent the other trainees intoughter.


    "Bubblegum Pop? Oh, hell no! I had enough of that Brown Sugar Milktea shit. I was called cringy for days after the performance aired," a trainee quietlyined.


    "Yeah, that''s definitely something we want to avoid."


    "Bubblegum Pop is known for its cheerful, lightweight, and often sugary sound. It is characterized by cute and joyful melodies with light undertones. Bubblegum Pop is designed to be fun, easy to sing along to, and widely essible, making it a staple of pop music culture. Fun fact! Bubblegum Pop music is statistically proven to do better on music charts than any other genre!" Bone eximed. "Some examples include ''Geez by GIRLS'' EVOLUTION,'' ''Pop It by THRICE''S NAYOWN,'' and ''Shoes by ITZME.''"


    "Now that we have introduced all the genres, we will be giving you 10 minutes to discuss what you want to pick with your team. And the timer starts now!" Minho eximed, a timer appearing on therge LED screen.


    June''s team faced each other, and they all had varying opinions.


    "Moombahton is the best choice," Casper tried to convince his team.


    "Don''t you think Grunge Pop-Rock is the best?" Daeho countered. "We can cater to people who like rock, too."


    "Trap K-Pop is arguably the most popr genre right now. Groups havee out with songs under this genre for the past year," Ren calmly suggested.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his head. "But Electro-Techno will be really fun to perform. Just imagine the audience jumping with us to the beat."


    "Well, dang," Daeho said. "It seems like we all disagree. Our choices don''t even ovep."


    "June hasn''t said anything yet," Casper pointed out. "What do you want to perform?" he asked June.


    June looked at his teammates in the eye one by one, and they all seemed to be saying the same thing¡ª'' pick the genre I picked.''


    In the end, June merely shrugged.


    Jangmoon nced at the timer and saw there were only three minutes left. "We need to make a decision now," he said. "But how are we going toe to a conclusion if we all have varying opinions?"


    The team stayed silent for a couple of seconds.


    "How about this?" Casper suggested. "Since June was the one who practically won us the privilege of choosing the genre first, why don''t we give him a chance to pick what he wants?"


    Daeho sighed. "I don''t see a problem with that. It''s better than us fighting for the genre we want."


    "It''s fine with me, too," Ren mumbled.


    "Well, I trust big bro with all my heart, so I''m all for it," Jangmoon smiled.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You''re really going to give me the authority to do this?"


    "Sure," Casper said. "I don''t see anything wrong with it. Just choose what you''d like to perform."


    A small smirk emerged from June''s lips.


    "Don''t regret your decision, alright?"


    Casper chuckled. "We won''t."

 Chapter 203 Concept Misconception

    <h4>Chapter 203 Concept Misconception</h4>


    "Time is up! The representative for Casper''s team, pleasee up to the stage," Minho said.


    "Wooh, go, June!" Jangmoon cheered. The others talked among themselves as they watched June walk to the front.


    "Woah, he''s actually going to pick their genre first? He''s always been unfortunate when choosing songs," Steel said.


    "Yeah," a trainee chuckled. "It seems like everything he performed was out of his will. But now, he gets to choose first."


    "I feel pretty proud of the guy," Bin said. "He''ll finally get to perform a song and genre he actually likes."


    Lin Zhi held back a scoff as he looked at June''s figure.


    Their team should have won the prizes and the privilege. He had underestimated June and his skills while they were ying a while ago. He seemed to have a lean body, but how did he move with such speed and precision during the games?


    ''Whatever,'' Lin Zhi thought.


    Just as long as he doesn''t take Moombahton or Trap K-Pop, then Lin Zhi could forgive him. His pride still hadn''t epted the fact that June had now surpassed him in ranks, so he wanted to outperform June in this mission.


    June stood at the center of all the choices, ncing at each signage. He walked over each signage, the others holding their breaths, silently hoping that June wouldn''t seize their preferred genre.


    "I think he''s gonna go for Trap K-Pop. A lot of the teams here would love to take that genre."


    "Any genre is fine with me as long as it isn''t Bubblegum Pop."


    "It sucks for Jisung''s team. They might actually get stuck with Bubblegum Pop."


    June only pretended to think, but in reality, he already had a genre in mind.


    Without any hesitation, he walked to the fifth option.


    "Wait¡­is he really going to take that?"


    "What the hell? Does he want to fail or something?"


    Minho and Bone looked at each other, surprised that June unexpectedly took the least wanted genre among the choices.


    His teammates, too, watched June with wide eyes as he took the sign that had ''Bubblegum Pop'' written on it.


    They seemed to be regretting it now.


    ***


    The five men sat in the practice room in a circle. They all stared at the pink signage in the middle. The words ''BUBBLEGUM POP'' written in capital letters and a bold font greeted them, and dread seemed to fill their hearts.


    June sighed and pped, making his teammates snap out of their dazes.


    "Bubblegum Pop? We''re going to make a cute pop song?" Daeho asked, looking like he had lost it.


    Jangmoon chuckled absent-mindedly. "I like watching girl groups do aegyo, but are you saying I''ll be the one to do it now?"


    Ren kept silent, his lips pursed out of disbelief.


    "You guys said I can have the privilege to choose our genre," June deadpanned.


    "Yes," Daeho said. "But we didn''t expect you to pick something like this. I mean, look at us!" he eximed, gesturing to the four tall trainees.


    June looked at them one by one and was suddenly struck with reality.


    Jangmoon with his ''rugged'' looks.


    Daeho with his ''serious'' face.


    Casper with an ''actor'' face and an athletic build.


    And Ren with a more ''elegant'' look.


    Right, there was one thing June didn''t consider¡ªtheir aesthetics. However, he was determined to make this stage work, so he crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "What do you mean?" June asked, taking a deep breath before saying his next words. "Y¡ªyou guys are c¡ªcu¡­cut¡­c¡ªcu."


    June tried to sound confident in calling his teammates cute, but in the end, he couldn''t do it.


    "See!" Jangmoon eximed. "You can''t even say it. We''re not bubblegum material. Honestly, we''re tough like beef jerky," he said.


    "Hey," Casper and Daeho said in unison, a bit offended by what Jangmoon had said.


    Jangmoon sighed. "I''m just telling the truth. It''d be hard for us to look cute when we look like¡­this," he gestured to his face.


    "Hey, bro, leave me out of it," Daeho said. "I may not be cute, but my face is still pretty good."


    "Oh, whatever," Jangmoon chimed. "You know what I mean."


    June sighed. "Well, there''s nothing we can do. We can''t just trade our genre with another team."


    "Do you want me to ask C-Jay?" Jangmoon asked.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I need you guys to listen to me for a second. This concept¡ªI believe that this is something we can pull off. Besides, don''t you guys recognize a pattern in all the missions?" he asked.


    "Pattern?" Daeho asked.


    "There''s usually an outlier in all of the songs¡ªa ''controversial'' song if we can call it that," June started exining. "For example, the girl group songs during the first mission, the sole bad on the second mission, and the only sexy song among the choices in the third mission. There''s a pattern. There''s always a song that''s bound to stand out."


    His teammates listened intently.


    "Moombahton, Trap, Grunge, Electro-Techo¡ªthese genres are under a gray area. Of course, they''re still different genres, but if not executed well, it can sound just like the other genres. It''s monotone. And with rookies like us, it''s easy tobine elements that will make our song generic."


    "Bubblegum Pop is the only genre that has a distinct sound," June continued. "So, I chose this one to make our team stand out."


    His teammates were stunned to silence after June finished exining. Now that they have thought about it, June seemed to be right.


    And that was also the reason why all of June''s performances had been iconic¡ªbecause it was the most different.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I''m down for the challenge. I just don''t know where to start."


    "What are we worried about?" June asked.


    "We have the trainee who has the best song-production skills on our team," he said, ncing at Ren, who was busy drawing circles on the floor.


    His other teammates also looked at Ren, causing the trainee to look up.


    "Wait, me?" Ren asked with raised eyebrows.

 Chapter 204 Smile

    <h4>Chapter 204 Smile</h4>


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue as he looked at his useless teammates. "So, none of you have experience in producing a song? Not even writing one?"


    "No," Steel said. "I have experience in making choreography, though. I can help with that," he suggested.


    "How about you?" he asked Johnny.


    "I also don''t have any experience with it," the trainee honestly said. "I''ve written poems before, but have never really produced a song."


    These teammates were truly useless.


    Lin Zhi shook his head in disappointment. He tried hard not to show his disappointment, though. The finale wasing up, and if he wanted to retain his rank, he had to keep his image squeaky clean.


    "Don''t arise any suspicion," the words of hismander echoed in the back of his mind.


    Just then, Lin Zhi thought of a brilliant idea¡ªsomething that would establish his reputation as a talented trainee.


    "How about you, Lin Zhi?" Steel asked. "Do you know to produce a song?"


    Song production? Of course, Lin Zhi had no clue about those things at all.


    He has been a drug-dealer for most of his life. Making songs was something he never even thought of. Besides, singers are singers; producers are producers. Why would he bother learning about other people''s jobs?


    "I do," Lin Zhi confidently said.


    His teammates sighed in relief. "We''re saved, then. Just tell us when you need help with something."


    "Of course," Lin Zhi said. "But you guys focus on the other aspects of the performance. I''ll try really hard to make us a good song."


    "Thank you, Lin Zhi!" Steel excitedly said. His other teammates thanked him sincerely too.


    "I''ll head to the restroom first, if you don''t mind," Lin Zhi said. "I can''t really make a song with a full dder."


    "Go ahead," Bin said.


    Lin Zhi stood up and quickly fled the room, holding his phone in his hand. He peeked inside the restroom but saw a couple of trainees speaking among themselves. Therefore, he settled on a secluded area instead.


    He nced around and made sure he wasn''t being captured by cameras. Then, he dialed the first name on his contact list. It only took a couple of rings before the other person responded.


    "Hello, Laohu?"


    ***


    In the practice room filled with cuteness, the team of five watched the screen with unreadable expressions.


    "I love you! My little boo!


    You make my days not so blue.


    Let''s spread the love, oh, me and you


    Boo, my little boo, I''m so into you!"


    "What the fuck is that?" Jangmoon cursed, causing Daeho to cover his mouth.


    "Don''t be disrespectful to our seniors," Daeho said through gritted teeth.


    Jangmoon removed Daeho''s hand from his mouth and sheepishly smiled. "Right, sorry. This is very cute and fresh and fun! I love their concept very much! Even though they look like they acquired a Magnesium deficiency with how often they''re winking!"


    "But the viewers seem to love it," June pointed out. "Just read thements."


    - Kyaah! Their winks stepped, spat, and killed me all at the same time.


    - Ah, there''s nothing more satisfying than seeing men act cute for money.


    - This is so cute! I wish more boy groups would employ this concept.


    - This song is iconic! It''s their most popr song, too.


    Casper clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Still, the more I think about it, the more I think we should go another route on this one."


    "Bubblegum pop doesn''t necessarily mean something obnoxiously cute," Ren said. "It can be on the more refreshing and sweeter side."


    "I agree," June said. "Do you have any idea how to execute that?"


    Ren pursed his lips. "I could try," he muttered under his breath. "But I can''t guarantee that it''ll be good."


    Ren looked down at the ground, his confidence dropping. Truth be told, the trainee has been having a hard time since his past teams relied on him a lot; and when Ren didn''t meet their expectations, it seemed like they med it all on him.


    "Hey, it''s okay," June said, patting the poor trainee''s back. "Just do what you can. We''re a team anyway."


    Ren lifted his head and looked at June with wide, surprised eyes.


    "Really?" he asked.


    June nodded with sincerity. "No pressure."


    "Okay," Ren said, feeling a bit relieved.


    "I usually produce music when I''m alone," he continued. "Would you mind if I step out a bit? I think I can give you a draft by tonight."


    "Again, no pressure," June said. "We''ll think of a concept while you''re making a song."


    Ren softly smiled before leaving the room. June stared at his figure and felt that Ren was still a bit down.


    "What are we going to do now?" Daeho asked. "I believe we can only think of a concept once we actually have the draft of the song."


    "Yeah," June said. "For now, do you guys want to practice¡­smiling?" he asked.


    The three looked at him with confusion. "Smiling?" Jangmoon asked. "Like this?" he demonstrated, showing off a wide smile that showed his dimples.


    June pursed his lips. Jangmoon didn''t look too bad when he smiled.


    "How about you?" June tapped Casper. "Don''t you have any trouble smiling?"


    Casper smiled, his pearly whites on disy. June didn''t even know why he bothered asking the 2nd-ranked trainee to demonstrate a smile. It was obvious that he would be good at it! He had even starred in a toothpastemercial before entering ''Rising Stars.''


    June sighed, feeling pressured. However, he was sure that Daeho would have a pretty awkward smile like himself. The trainee didn''t seem like a smiley person, so June hoped that he had someone he can practice smiling with.


    "You try," he instructed.


    Daeho, although a little bit confused, followed June''s instruction. He didn''t show his teeth like Jangmoon and Casper but it still looked natural.


    "Not you, too!" June said, feeling defeated.


    "You try it too, big bro," Jangmoon chimed.


    June felt his heart race inside his chest. He didn''t know why he was so nervous. There wasn''t anything to be nervous about!


    June had a great smile. He even looked handsome in the photo Choi Pablo took!


    However, smiling during a performance was something he was unfamiliar with. In the video of the K-pop group they watched just a while ago, the members were smiling for a whole three minutes. That in itself was already a challenge for June.


    However, he knew that this was a challenge he needed to ovee. He thought about thements that questioned his versatility and was determined to prove them wrong.


    So, with a heavy sigh, he faced the mirrors.


    June''s lips slowly curved into a smile, then he turned to the side to show the smile to his teammates.


    The three of them looked at him nkly.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked when they didn''t speak.


    "Bro, were you Jeff the Killer in your past life?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Dude, no homo, you''re a very handsome guy," Daeho said. "But your smile is¡­questionable."


    June turned to Casper, who had never insulted him up to this day. "What do you think?"


    "Umm, was that a smile?"

 Chapter 205 Doctor Kim

    <h4>Chapter 205 Doctor Kim</h4>


    "It''s finished," Ren said, entering the room aroundte afternoon.


    "You''ve finished it? I thought you''d be der," Daeho asked with wide eyes. "You really are a genius."


    "What more can we expect from Ren? He''s always dependable!" Jangmoon eximed.


    Ren pursed his lips. Back then, thosements would have made him feel proud. But right now, he merely felt pressured. However, he still tried his best to smile.


    Ren didn''t want to be criticized for being too uptight anymore.


    "It''s just a rough draft," Ren said, sitting on the floor.


    "You''ve already done enough," June said. "Let''s listen to it."


    Casper nodded, also sitting on the floor as Ren opened hisptop and clicked the audio file.


    There was no doubt that the team was expecting a lot. Ren has a lot of producing credit under his belt. As a trainee of Top Star Management, it has been rumored that he sang plenty of demos for great hits, too. Truly, he had a knack for good music.


    So, when a gritty beat came from theptop''s speakers, the other four trainees in the room didn''t know how to react.


    Jangmoon, being a very transparent person, looked at his teammates, wondering if he was the only one who thought the song was¡­substandard.


    The beat that flowed through the speakers was nothing short of wonky and out of ce. Instead of the vibrant, bubbly pop sound they had envisioned, it felt more like a disorganized nursery rhyme gone wrong.


    June pursed his lips to hide his emotions. Again, he wasn''t skilled in music production, and Ren was probably years ahead of him with his experience alone, but as a normal listener, it sounded¡­bad.


    A sigh of relief was heard in the room when the beat finally stopped. Ren then looked at them with wide, almost teary eyes. "So, how was it?" he asked.


    The four of them didn''t speak for a while. However, as Ren continued gazing at them in a pitiful state, Jangmoon quickly spoke.


    "It was¡ªIt was great!" he eximed. "It''s¡­alternative...and different! Like my sister. She''s not a ray of sunshine. Instead, she''s a ray of UV light! That''s how I feel about the song."


    "It''s bad," Daeho bluntly said, causing Ren''s shoulders to slump.


    "I know," Ren sighed. "It''s bad. I can''t even lie."


    Jangmoon sighed. "Oh, thank god. I thought you were going to insist that it''s a good beat."


    Casper massaged his nose bridge. "Are you alright, Ren?" he asked.


    Ren held back his tears as he nodded. "Y¡ªyeah," he stammered. "Just¡­I don''t have any inspiration to produce anything. I didn''t want to disappoint you, guys, but I don''t think I can do this. I''m so sorry," he said, on the verge of breaking down.


    June looked at Ren and inferred that there must be something else going on with him. However, he didn''t want to pry further since it seemed like Ren would burst into tears if June asked him right now.


    "Hey, it''s alright," he said, tapping Ren''s back. "It''s still the first day. We also can''t just rely on you for making the song."


    Ren let out a deep breath. "I''m really sorry¡­"


    "You don''t have to apologize," Casper said.


    "Yeah," Jangmoon agreed. "If it makes you feel better, I can''t produce anything for shit! I can''t even y that piano game well¡ªthe one where you click the ck tiles. I''ve been stuck on the beginner level for 2 years!"


    "I''m sure we cane up with something," Daeho said. "There''s someone else who has experience in producing here, right?" he asked.


    "Right," Jangmoon chuckled. "It''s not me, though."


    "I haven''t tried it, too," Casper said. "Arranging? Yes. Butposing and producing is a skill I am yet to learn."


    "We''re on the same track," Daeho added. "I''m not that big on technology, too."


    "And you, June?" Daeho asked.


    June remained silent.


    He only recently learned how to change his username on Navel! How would he know the basics of sound engineering?


    ***


    In a small clinic in the heart of Gangnam, Doctor Kim leaned back against his leather chair.


    He hasn''t had patients ever since he started live-streaming, yet he wasn''tining.


    Truth be told, being a livestreamer brought him more money than being a doctor.


    He looked at his face in the camera and smoldered. His perfectly coifed hair, the result of meticulous care and a discreet hair transnt, framed his face that was done by a more skilled stic surgeon.


    "Hello, my lovely viewers," he purred, his voice practically oozing honey. "I''m back from my snack break."


    - OMG! You''re as handsome as always, doctor!


    - I was waiting the entire time!


    - Are you still taking requests today, doctor?


    "Why, yes, of course!" Doctor Kim eximed. "That''s the point of my livestream, isn''t it? Just send 100 hearts, and you''ll be granted the privilege to send me pictures of a certain artist, and I''ll determine the areas where they had stic surgery."


    - TowerNose: I''m still broke from my rhinosty, but I''ll send a hundred hearts because I''m really curious about Steel from Rising Stars. His nose is way too high for a Korean man.


    The doctor adjusted thepel of his immacte white coat, casting a quick nce at the digital ticker that disyed the names of the generous souls who had sent their love.


    "TowerNose has sent in a request! Hmm, Steel from Rising Stars? Well, it seems I''ve already covered quite a lot of trainees from them on this livestream. But rules are rules!"


    "Let''s see," he said, pulling up two pictures on the screen¡ªone was Steel''s predebut picture, and the other was a screenshot from thetest episode of Rising Stars. "Well, from the first nce, we can already tell that something had happened here. Steel had definitely undergone a rhinosty procedure to refine his nose''s appearance. The overall contour appears quite harmonious, with a well-bnced bridge and dorsum. The surgeon has skillfully addressed any dorsal humps, providing a smoother transition from the forehead down to the tip. Ideally, we''d like to see a bit more definition in the tip region, perhaps a slight increase in projection and refinement of the nasal lobule."


    "But it''s official, my lovely viewers. Steel is also a stic!"


    - I knew it! I''ve seen him clean his nostrils with cotton swabs in one of the episodes. He definitely can''t clean it carelessly like the rest of us.


    - Damn, you even pay attention to that?


    - TowerNose: Ew! He''s a stic!


    - Didn''t this dude say he just got a rhinosty?


    "Oh my! What do we have here?" Doctor Kim asked, his eyes shining as he stared at his new heart bnce. "Someone just gifted 1,000 hearts! And ites from the user ''sticJune.'' Send your photo, user. I''ll give you a very detailed description for your generosity!"


    Doctor Kim looked at the pictures sent to his ount, and a wide smile appeared on his face. He shed his teeth, looking whiter than Mr. Klin''s tiles.


    "What do we have here? June from Rising Stars?" he said, showing the pictures from the livestream.


    - What the heck? That''s June? I''ve never seen that photo of him.


    - It looks like him, though!


    - He''s very handsome now. Did he really look like that back then?


    "Let''s talk about June, shall we? June, June, June. What can I say? Do I even have to analyze this? His face is mostly stic!"

 Chapter 206 Baby Mugshot

    <h4>Chapter 206 Baby Mugshot</h4>


    June continued practicing his smile even when they were having lunch in the cafeteria. He was still seated with his teammates. Ren was teaching Daeho and Casper how to navigate his audio software, but the two appeared like they had been stuck in a Calculus ss for intermediate students¡­when they were, in fact, merely beginners.


    Jisung and C-Jay joined their table, the two of them staring at June as he stared at his reflection on his phone.


    "You don''t have anything stuck on your teeth, bro," Jisung innocently said.


    "What did you say?" June asked, snapping his eyes at him.


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "Uh, I was just saying¡ªit''s alright if you don''t check your teeth as often. They''re clean."


    June sighed and slumped on the table. Was his smile that atrocious?


    He decided to stop practicing his smile and popped a piece of potato in his mouth. Daeho was about to speak when there was amotion heard at the other table.


    "Woah, this famous doctor actually made a video about us," Bin eximed.


    "I don''t know if that''s a good or bad thing. This doctor is a stic surgeon, and he analyzes people''s faces for clout," Steel said.


    "You''re the first one on the list!" Bin said,ughing as he pointed at Steel.


    Steel clicked his tongue and shook his head. "It''s not like there''s anything wrong with it. I just got my nose done! Just my nose."


    Being a natural-born gossipper, C-Jay called for their attention. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?"


    Bin and Steel looked over their way. "Oh, it''s the new livestream highlights that Doctor Kim posted."


    Jangmoon frowned. "Oh, I''ve watched that doctor before! He exposed top actors of getting surgery, didn''t he?"


    "Yup," Bin responded. "And he made a video on some of the trainees on Rising Stars."


    "Am I there?" C-Jay asked.


    "Don''t even ask," Steel chuckled. "You aren''t famous enough to be here."


    C-Jay huffed. "Well, who''s there?"


    "Hmm, let''s see. Steel, Zeth, Casper, and June are here," Bin said. "Wait, Leo and Yuri are here too. They''re being dubbed as the ''Nose'' brothers. Doctor Kim insinuated that the two of them had the same doctor."


    June stopped chewing when he heard his name.


    "Doctor Kim?" June asked.


    "Don''t tell me you don''t know that guy again," C-Jay said.


    "I don''t," June nonchntly said.


    C-Jay sighed and brought out his phone. "Let me introduce you to him, then." He opened Doctor Kim''s YouWatch profile, which had over 500,000 subscribers. C-Jay clicked on thetest video, which was a highlight of yesterday''s livestream.


    It was entitled: ''Rising Stars: Unveiling stic Fantasies - A Nose Dive into the Glitz and Nips!''


    The video started, and it seemed like the doctor was determined to find every w on their faces. By this point, Casper, Ren, and Daeho paid attention to the video, too.


    "This doctor is speaking out of his ass," Casper said. "I didn''t get any surgery done. That''s just a weird predebut picture."


    "Yeah, his viewers send in the worst pictures forparison," Jangmoon said. "Oh, hey. It''s your turn, June."


    June paid extra attention. He didn''t mind being used of having stic surgery. It was evident that his looks had improved a lot through the course of thepetition.


    However, he didn''t look drastically different. His features were still the same, but Fu made him grow more handsomely into them.


    June, however, was curious about what picture they used as aparison. He had tried searching high and low for his past pictures but couldn''t find a single one. Aside from his identification card, which was probably not taken that long ago, he didn''t have anything.


    He was expecting a slightly uglier version of himself, but what he didn''t expect was a very unfamiliar face.


    "What the heck?" C-Jay eximed. "Is that you?"


    June paused the video and squinted his eyes to get a better look. The photo was very blurred¡ªlike it had been zoomed from a wide picture. However, it was evident that the guy in the photo wasn''t physically attractive. It didn''t look like June right now. However, their body build and eyes were definitely simr.


    "I don''t think that''s me," June truthfully said.


    "Don''t listen to that guy anymore," Casper said. "He''s just spouting nonsense."


    "You''re right," June said, shrugging. He wasn''t one to fixate on a person''s looks. It seemed like a lot of people still do, though. Most of the doctor''s followers were smoking the trainees in thement section, acting like insulting other people''s looks would add to their own.


    So, June wasn''t too affected by it.


    Doctor Kim was a wormpared to the snakes he had encountered.


    "But I''m curious," Jangmoon said. "Did any of you get stic surgery? I had my eyes and nose done!" he proudly said.


    "Should you be saying that?" Casper asked.


    "Why not?" Jangmoon said. "I''m sure a lot of these guys had surgery. Right, Daeho?"


    "I didn''t," Daeho said. "I''m scared of knives."


    Jangmoon clicked his tongue. "Well, I''m sure C-Jay did."


    "Yup!" the trainee smiled. "My teeth are fake, too! I got veneers and a nose job in Turkey."


    "You even went to Turkey for that?" Jisung asked.


    "Yes," C-Jay nodded. "It was the day after my girlfriend sold my ring to meet a more handsome guy. I used his pictures as my inspiration."


    The table turned silent for a while but brushed it off in the end. C-Jay was weird. That was already established.


    "Well, what about you, June?" Jangmoon asked. "Did you get any procedures done on your face? C-Jay told me that big entertainmentpanies usually sponsor cosmetic surgery for their trainees. Did you get one from Phoenix?"


    June paused for a while. He discreetly wiped his nose but didn''t feel an imnt.


    He wasn''t aware if Choi Joon-ho had any surgeries before as his past pictures were nowhere to be found, so June settled on the safest answer.


    "I don''t think so," he said.


    "You''re unsure?" Daeho asked.


    June sighed. "Let''s not speak about the topic anymore. Didn''t we already agree that Doctor Kim is a quack?"


    "Yeah," Casper said. "It''s best to ignore the issue. That''s what other actors did, and it eventually died down."


    June nodded in agreement. There were more important issues to address¡ªlike their song. So, ignoring it would be the best course of action.


    However, that seemed to be impossible when Fu showed up just as he drank his Banana Milk.


    [Special Mission! Add another aspect to your skill: Music Production.]


    [The starting grade will be B+]


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. Was Fu actually getting better with his job?


    [Does the host ept the mission?]


    June looked at the people sitting around the table and saw they were back to their usual antics.


    ''I ept,'' he internally said.


    [Special Mission has been epted.]


    [The special mission is: Baby Mugshot. Locate your childhood/teenage photos! Deadline for the mission: 72 hours. Failure to aplish the mission entails having one of your skill aspects taken.]

 Chapter 207 Center

    <h4>Chapter 207 Center</h4>


    June clicked his tongue as he gazed at the timer at the corner of the disy. Fortunately, Fu gave him adequate time. However, he still didn''t have a clue how to aplish his mission.


    [Deadline for Baby Mugshot: 70 hours, 15 minutes, and 43 seconds]


    "Is it that bad?" Casper asked, turning the volume down.


    After breakfast, they returned to their practice rooms and were now trying toe up with a draft of their song.


    However, even with five heads thinking as one, it seemed like none of them coulde up with a decent song...much less a tune.


    "I don''t have any idea how to do this," Daeho groaned. "I''ve watched every cute K-pop stage there isst night, and I''m still convinced that we need a whole year to practice being cute."


    "What we need is a cute song that we can actually pull off," Casper said. "But right now, it seems like nobody has an idea on what to do."


    "I''m sorry," Ren apologized. "I feel like I''ve regressed to the times when I didn''t even know how to produce anything."


    "You don''t have to apologize," Daeho said. "We''re a team, so we''re all responsible for the oue of our song."


    "Right, June?" Daeho said.


    "Huh? Oh yeah, right," June absent-mindedly said, still fixated on his mission.


    "But don''t you have any experience arranging songs, big bro?" Jangmoon asked. "You were the one who spoke with the producers when we performed Mermaid Melodies. In the end, it was your idea to turn it into a darker concept."


    "Really?" Ren asked with wide eyes. "I''ve always thought your performance was really cool. Do you actually know how to produce music?"


    June shrugged, not denying or confirming anything. If he denied having knowledge of producing music and suddenly acquired skills through Fu''s mission, it would definitely be weird. In the same light, if he admitted having music production skills right now, he would sound cocky if he ended up not aplishing his mission.


    However, June couldn''t afford to lose this mission.


    Not only were his music production skills on the line, but one of his existing skills was, too.


    So, he needed to aplish it at all costs. The mission sounded very simple¡ªlocate his old photos. However, knowing the secrecy of Choi Joon-ho''s life, June knew it would be a difficult task.


    In addition, their house back in Gangwon was also burnt to the ground, leaving no trace of his past life.


    Just then, Bok-soon''s words echoed in his mind¡ª"There was even a time you came here with a young man and woman. The woman became famous now, I believe. What was her name again? Hani? Hanbeom?"


    "Hana," June muttered under his breath.


    "What?" Jangmoon asked, causing June to snap out of his thoughts. "You want to be the center?"


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. "What?" he asked.


    "We were listing down the roles already. One is for the center. Two is for the leader. You just said ''hana,'' so¡­," Daeho trailed off. "You''ll be the center of the performance."


    June gaped at the piece of paper, which indeed contained the writings:


    1. Center - ?


    2. Leader - Casper


    June was so lost in his thoughts that he didn''t even notice they were already delegating roles!


    "I didn''t say anything about that!" June eximed.


    Casper chuckled and wrote June''s name next to the ''center'' role. "Well, as your leader, take-backs are prohibited."


    June was stillprehending the situation when all of them cheered.


    "It''s settled then," C-Jay said. "June will be our center!"


    ***


    "So, tomorrow''s going to be a rest day?" C-Jay rified.


    The trainees have gathered in the training center for the announcement of their official schedule.


    "Yes," Yena responded. "We have posted the schedule on the bulletin board. We are giving you this time to find inspiration for your songs. However, producing the song outside the Azure premises is strictly prohibited. Trainees who are caught seeking help from others will immediately be disqualified."


    Lin Zhi nodded. "That''s a great condition," he said. "We should all y fair and square here."


    June quietly scoffed as he nced at the killer trainee. It seemed like he had adopted a ''good boy'' image now that the finale was closing in.


    It didn''t suit him, though.


    June could see the evilness behind his eyes.


    "By Thursday, the Mentors, along with some renowned producers, will conduct the interim evaluation. The final lyrics aren''t expected from you, but a rough draft of the lyrics and your full backtrack will be judged," Yejin added.


    "Take all the rest you can get, trainees. This will be yourst one until the finale. You may go home tonight if you''d like, but please be back by Wednesday, 8 a.m. sharp. Clear?"


    The trainees shouted a robust ''yes.''


    A rest day.


    Just June''s luck. He needed to meet Hana for those pictures so he could finally help his team with the production of their song.


    ***


    June: Hana, I need to meet with you.


    June: Reply to this once you have the time. I need your help.


    June: Hana?


    June sighed since Hana hadn''t responded to his texts. So, he decided to call her once and for all. He nced at Jisung and Jaeyong and saw they were fast asleep.


    With that, he waited for Hana to answer his call. However, multiple ringster, Hana still hadn''t responded.


    June clicked his tongue and went to Navel to check her profile instead. There must be a reason why she wasn''t replying to him.


    He saw that herst post was a week ago, which was rare since the famous actress usually posted every couple of days.


    Then, when June read herst post, everything suddenly made sense.


    Filming in the Joseon Dynasty!


    Hey everyone!


    I hope this post finds you all in great spirits. I am currently on the set of mytest project, and I can''t wait for you guys to see it. Our director wants us fully immersed, so no phones for three weeks! See you all on the other side, and can''t wait to share this epic adventure with you. Stay curious!


    With love,


    Hana Lim

 Chapter 208 Drama Set

    <h4>Chapter 208 Drama Set</h4>


    "Hana Lim? I believe they''re filming in Dae Jang Geum Park. It''s where most historical dramas are found," Minjun said.


    And that''s how June found himself standing before the historical filming site.


    He wore his signature clothes¡ªa ck sweater, mask, and now, a beanie to hide his pink hair. There were plenty of fans outside, holding colorful banners and gifts while screaming their favorite artist''s name.


    June tapped a girl''s shoulder to ask if he was in the right ce.


    "What?" the young girl snapped. "Get away from me, weirdo."


    June looked at her in disbelief. How could she have such a foul mouth? However, June ignored her rude behavior and asked a question anyway.


    "Is this where Hana Lim is filming?"


    The young girl suspiciously looked at him. "Why? Are you one of those creeps that would beg for a piece of her hair or something?"


    June clicked his tongue. "Just answer the question."


    She rolled her eyes. "It is. How could you call yourself a fan if you don''t even know the filming site of your favorite celebrity?"


    "Thanks," June quickly said, leaving the bitterdy alone. At least, he had now established that this was, indeed, where Hana Lim was.


    The problem now was how to get in.


    There were a total of four guards at the entrance. They weren''t too big-built, so June could have definitely taken them in a fight if he had his old body.


    However, that wasn''t the case. He also couldn''t afford to get arrested.


    "Would walking in work?" he muttered under his breath.


    "It won''t," a voice said from behind him.


    June frowned and nced behind him, only to see a familiar face. June had seen her plenty of times before, but he couldn''t pinpoint where.


    "June, huh?" Ann asked.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You recognize me?"


    "I''ve been so used to seeing you with a mask that I have now recognized your body. Pathetic, aren''t I?" she chuckled.


    "Uh¡ª," June didn''t know what to say.


    "It''s me," Ann said. "The intern."


    Realization hit June. "Ah! Intern, you''re here? It feels like it''s been a while since I''ve seen you."


    "Well, I had some trouble in the middle of the show, so I decided to leave. I wouldn''t have left if I knew that Chris guy went to jail after pulling that stunt with Alex and Hyunwoo, but I''m still interning in a TV station, so it''s all good."


    "You work here?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Ann nonchntly said.


    "Great," June said, a small smile appearing on his face. "I need you to get me inside."


    "What?" Ann asked in disbelief. "Get you in? For what?"


    June shrugged. "I''m just¡­curious. Besides, I have someone to talk with inside."


    "Who might you know inside?" she asked.


    "Hana Lim," June decided to be honest. "I need something from her."


    Ann''s eyes gradually widened. "Oh¡­oh? So, you''re actually dating a famous actress?" she gasped.


    June clicked his tongue. "It isn''t anything like that."


    Ann sighed, feeling a sense of relief. "That''s great."


    "What?" June asked.


    "Huh? Nothing! That''s great, yeah¡­you''re single, I guess?" she chuckled nervously.


    "I don''t have time for a rtionship," June bluntly said. He already had a lot on his te.


    Ann, trying to hide her joy, pursed her lips.? "It''ll be quite difficult for me to get you inside, though. As an intern, I don''t have much authority," she exined.


    "But you still have a pass to get inside, right? I just need something from her, literally. So, can you please take me inside?" he asked, pulling down his mask a bit to look at Ann with wide, pleading eyes.


    Ann bit her lip, trying to keep her heart calm.


    Damn, he looked really cute.


    June''s puppy eyes were something she definitely couldn''t resist.


    ***


    Cherry blossoms danced gently in the breeze, and the air was filled with a symphony of chirping birds and rustling leaves. It was a picture-perfect day for filming, and the crew of "Love in the Time of Royalty" was determined to capture the perfect scene.


    Seobin Park and Hana Lim, the two lead actors, stood facing each other on the ornate bridge that spanned a tranquil pond. Their eyes locked in a moment of undeniable chemistry, and as they leaned closer, the world seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of their impending kiss.


    However, just as their lips were about to meet, a suddenmotion erupted from the nearby bushes. A lean figure emerged, d in ck clothes and a bandit mask. With a dramatic movement, he whisked Hana into his arms, interrupting the romantic scene.


    "Cut!" Director Jam''s voice boomed across the set, and the ambiance shattered like ss. The director marched toward the ''bandit'' with an exasperated expression, his brows furrowed and a megaphone clenched in his hand.


    "I told you to get me good extras!" he shouted, looking at everyone.


    They were in thest course of their filming, so Director Jam, an award-winning director for historical dramas both in Korea and China, was more frustrated than usual. He had a total of three outbursts that day, and his hypertension medication hadn''t been working well.


    "What in the name of all that''s holy was that?" Director Jam scolded the extra, who yed the role of the bandit. Thenky young man removed his mask; and with a trembling lower lip, he tried to speak but only stammered incoherently.


    Director Jam continued his rant, his voice rising in frustration. "You''re supposed to be a menacing bandit, not a bumbling fool! Look at yourself! You look like a wimp who wandered onto the set by ident."


    The extra''s shoulders slumped, and he mumbled an apology, barely audible over the director''s voice.


    "Get me another one!" Jam screamed at his assistant.


    "B¡ªbut sir," his poor assistant exined. "We don''t have any more extras for the bandit role. You got rid of them all."


    Director Jam massaged the bridge of his nose. "Take fifteen, everyone!" Director Jam shouted, throwing his hands up in anger.


    The crew members scattered, and the actors stepped away from each other, trying to suppress theirughter.


    Hana chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I guess we''ll have to wait for our kiss."


    "Yeah," Seobin said. "See you in fifteen."


    Hana nodded and started walking back to her personal tent.


    "Get me some coconut water, Vince," she said to her assistant. The cold beverage was ced in front of her, but she paused when she didn''t recognize the hand holding it.


    Vince had stubby hands.


    Hana looked up to look at the intruder, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw a handsome face.


    "June?"

 Chapter 209 Everything Comes With A Price

    <h4>Chapter 209 Everything Comes With A Price</h4>


    Hana couldn''t believe her eyes. Standing before her was June, dressed in very simple clothes yet somehow looking even more handsome than what she had remembered.


    "Your skin is magnificent," Hana said before she could stop herself.


    "Thanks," June took thepliment.


    Hana finally snapped out of her daze and stood from her seat, pointing at June. "What are you doing here?"


    "I needed to see you," June said without any hesitation.


    Hana froze as she looked into June''s sincere eyes. "I¡ªI¡ª"


    She couldn''t even form a coherent sentence since her heart was racing inside her chest. Was June actually in love with her? Sure, Hana had imagined a ''childhood friends-to-lovers'' type of story, but she never imagined that it would be with June!


    Not that she wasining.


    It was just too tough at the moment since her career was popping off. However, maybe she could make it work?


    "I need you to give me my childhood photos," June bluntly said,pletely shattering Hana''s fantasies.


    "Uh¡ªwhat?" Hana asked with wide eyes.


    "My childhood photos," June said. "Do you still have them with you? I know you went with me to Gangwon Province and photographed some of my pictures back then."


    Hana pursed her lips in embarrassment. Right, June needed something from her.


    "Childhood photos? You came here just for that? You could have just texted me, you know?" she said, sulking a little bit.


    "I did," June said. "I checked your Navel, and you said you weren''t allowed to use your phone."


    "Oh, that''s only when I''m not filming," she chuckled. "People kept asking me for updates, and I got tired of doing them, so I posted that. I was knocked outst night, so I didn''t get to see my texts and calls."


    June sighed. So, he came for nothing?


    "What do you even need it for?" Hana asked. "I thought you hated your childhood photos, even though you were so cute in them."


    June perked up. "Cute?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Hana chuckled. "You look even purer back then. It was really cute. I keep your photos in my phone for when I need a little boost."


    June suspiciously narrowed his eyes at her. "You''ve been keeping it in your phone all these years?"


    Hana quickly shook her head. "It isn''t like that, you idiot! I just recently transferred them from my old phone when we met after a long time. It''s for memory''s sake," she defended.


    "Sure, whatever you say," June said. "Well, can I see them?"


    Hana chuckled and retrieved her phone from the pocket of her hanged sweater, opening the gallery and going to an album entitled ''Cute.''


    June tilted his head to the side once he saw the title. Did Hana actually think he was cute?


    Hana opened a photo and turned her phone to show it to June.


    June was pleasantly surprised. It seemed like the photo sent to Doctor Kim during his livestream wasn''t real since June actually looked pretty decent when he was younger.


    There was no doubt that he was more handsome now, but the kid in the photo looked¡­cute? He had a wide smile that seemed genuine, and he held onto arge lollipop.


    "See?" Hana said. "You were cute. This was the cutest, most genuine smile I''ve ever seen you in, so I decided to snap a photo."


    "Hmm, I must have had a pretty good childhood then," June inferred. "Do you have any other photos?"


    "Yeah," Hana said, scrolling through the photos. There was a photo of June in a pool, then crying in front of a ssroom, and a photo that appeared to have been taken in a practice room.


    June smirked. This dude, Choi Joon-ho, actually looked like an idol when he was younger. If he had taken care of himself better, he must have grown into what June currently looked like.


    Doctor Kim was speaking out of his ass when he used June of having a rhinosty, double eyelid surgery, a chin imnt, and even ear reduction. It was obvious that he just wanted to feed his miserable viewers'' delusions.


    June wasn''t against stic surgery. He couldn''t care less about what other people wanted to do with their faces. It was their life, not his. However, he didn''t enjoy being used of doing something he didn''t do.


    Unless Fu actually finished medical school and obtained a legitimate cosmetic surgery license, then June hadn''t undergone the knife at all.


    "Send them to me," June said, bringing out his phone.


    "You don''t think I''ll just send these photos to you so easily, hmm?" Hana smiled cheekily.


    June narrowed his eyes at Hana. "What do you want?"


    "Hmm," Hana said, cing a finger under her chin. She thought of something she wanted from June when her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Director Jam''s screams.


    "Wait a second," Hana said, stepping outside her tent and observing themotion.


    Director Jam stood in the middle of the set, his face contorted in frustration. The crew had just brought in a trio of civilians, hoping to find the perfect recement for the extra who had ruined the previous scene.


    There stood a muscle-bound man, a short man, and a towering giant.


    "This guy looks like he belongs in a wrestling ring. His biceps would bust the seams of the attire we''ve prepared," Jam said to the first candidate.


    "And this guy," he said, walking to the man with the short stature. "I''ll change my name to Peanut Butter if he manages to scare off Seobin. He doesn''t look threatening at all!"


    "And you," Jam pointed at the tall guy. "They''re making a real-life version of Slenderman next year. Wait for your time, then.? But right now, get out of my set! Don''t we have any more candidates?" he screamed.


    His assistant shakily walked closer to him. "Uh¡ªdo you want me to recruit a bodyguard or a cameraman, Director? Maybe we can make something work."


    Director Jam''s blood pressure began to rise, and his face turned a shade of crimson that rivaled the costumes on set. "This is not what I''m looking for!" he bellowed, causing the crew members to exchange nervous nces. "Is it so hard to find a man with a lean body?"


    Just then, Hana thought of a brilliant, beyond brilliant idea.


    She ran back to the tent and saw June patiently waiting for her.


    "Sure, I''ll give you the photos," Hana smiled, a bit breathless.


    "Really?" June asked.


    "Yup," she said. "But you have to do me a favor."


    June sighed. "I knew it. Well, I''ll be stuck in Azure after this day, so it must be something easy to aplish."


    "Oh, don''t worry," Hana said. "You can finish the favor today."


    "Fine," June said. "What do you want?"


    "Be a bandit for me."

 Chapter 210 Handsome Bandit

    <h4>Chapter 210 Handsome Bandit</h4>


    "Director!" Hana called as she walked over to where he was sitting. His assistants surrounded him, fanning him with random objects.


    "What?" he eximed in anger but toned it down when he saw it was Hana. "Oh, it''s you. I think we should prolong our break, Hana. We''re still looking for someone to take over the role of that stupid bandit."


    "Well," Hana trailed off. "I found a guy outside and thought he''d be a perfect fit."


    Jam raised one of his eyebrows. "You went outside?"


    Hana froze. "Vince! My assistant, Vince, went outside, and I instructed him to look for someone. You know I want the best for the show and wouldn''t want us to dy our filming."


    That seemed to do the trick.


    "I need to see this guy first," Jam said, already expecting the worst.


    "Of course," Hana chimed. Then, he coaxed over June, who was standing behind the crew.


    June sighed and shook his head. The things he was willing to do toplete his mission were ridiculous.


    The people looked at him as he passed by, murmuring to themselves. Director Jam, too, squinted his eyes to take a proper look at the aspiring actor.


    "Hmm," he hummed as June stood before him. "His height is alright¡ªjust perfect for the role. His body is also the type I''m looking for. However, I need to see his face. I can''t even see his eyes with how low his hood is," he said.


    June turned to Hana and nudged her side.


    "Uhm, he''s pretty shy!" Hana said. "My manager was able to coax him to join us with the condition that his face isn''t shown. Besides, the bandit wears a ck cloth over his lips and mouth, right? There''s no need to see his face."


    Director Jam clicked his tongue. "Well, we don''t seem to have much of a choice. Get him to change into the bandit costume."


    "Got it," Hana excitedly eximed, pulling June to her tent while an assistant brought his clothes.


    "I''ll take it from here," Hana said, taking the clothes from the assistant before zipping the tent close.


    June sighed and started removing his hoodie. "I can''t believe you''re making me do this. I don''t even know shit about acting."


    Hana chuckled. "It''s not technically acting. You don''t even have many speaking lines. It''s just one line. Most of it is you fighting with the male lead."


    June shook his head as he removed his beanie. "Whatever. I''ll leave after my scene. Just send me the pictures after we''re done, okay?"


    He was about to put on the fitted ck attire, yet Hana still hadn''t responded. So, he looked up to see why she wasn''t responding. As he looked up, he saw Hana gazing at him with wide eyes.


    "What?" June asked.


    "Your hair¡­"


    June''s eyes widened. He had totally forgotten about his hair!


    "You dyed it pink?" she loudly eximed.


    "Don''t tell anyone about it yet," June said.


    "What the heck, June?" she said, holding onto her heart. "Are you trying to kill your fans or something? Why do you suit pink hair so much?"


    ***


    Director Jam impatiently tapped his foot as he waited for the characters to arrive. He nced at his watch and clicked his tongue.


    "What is taking them so long?" he muttered under his breath.


    "I''m here, director," Seobin, the male lead actor, said, dazzling everyone with his handsome looks.


    The assistants behind the director all sighed dreamily as they gazed at him. With his refreshing looks, Seobin just took away the crew''s tiredness.


    "I''m here too," Hana said, looking freshly made up. "We''re ready to film the scene."


    "Where''s the bandit?" Jam asked.


    "Here."


    June emerged from behind the crew, and soft gasps swept through the set. Director Jam was stunned for a moment as he looked at the neer''s figure.


    This bandit was every bit the embodiment of the menacing bandit he had been searching for¡ª lean body, not overly broad but defined strong-looking shoulders, and a narrow waist.? He exuded an aura that demanded attention.


    This neer was, without a doubt, the epitome of what Jam had wanted for the bandit. The all-ck attire entuated every contour of his physique, making him appear formidable and mysterious.


    However, Jam didn''t want to feel satisfied too quickly. He still needed to see this neer''s performance.


    "All right, everyone, here''s how the scene is going to y out," he began, his voice strict. "As Seobin and Hana are about to kiss, you''re going to leap dramatically from the wall and hold Hana''s neck, cing a knife at her throat. Then, deliver your line. You already know about it, I assume?"


    June silently nodded.


    "Good," the director said. "Afterward, engage in a fierce fight with Seobin. But make sure to lose and flee after some scuffling."


    June held out an okay sign, causing the director to nod.


    "Alright, Ready? Quiet on the set and action!"


    June let out a deep breath as he settled behind the wall. There was a small opening so he could determine when it was time for him toe out.


    June had never thought of acting in his whole life. He was a fan of action movies (and a bit of romance), but acting was something he never dabbled in.


    If this was any other role, June was guaranteed to have a hard time.


    However, the role given to him right now wasn''t too bad. He had done a couple of raids like this one before. One time, he even had to capture their main suspect while he was having sex with someone! So, this felt quite familiar to June.


    He watched the scene before him, waiting for the perfect timing. The two main actors were still speaking, professing their love to each other.


    "Can''t they make it faster?" June clicked his tongue.


    Fortunately, their profession of love ended not long after. Hana and Seobin encased each other in a hug before breaking away, and then they paused, gazing meaningfully into each other''s eyes.


    It was time.


    With the expertise of a past gang member, June leaped over the wall and perfectlynded on the ground.

 Chapter 211 Who is He?

    <h4>Chapter 211 Who is He?</h4>


    Director Jam prepared himself to shout "cut" as soon as the neer leaped over the wall.


    However, he was stunned when he saw the bandit''s figurend gracefully on the ground. June''s feet barely made a sound as he swiftly ran to where Hana was.


    June skillfully wrapped his arm around Hana, encasing her neck between his bicep and a fake knife. For a brief moment, Hana was taken aback by June''s serious acting and the sweet yet manly scent that seemed to emanate from him.


    ''Why the hell does he smell so good?'' she thought.


    However, Hana quickly snapped back to her acting, her eyes reflecting fear as she tried to escape his hold.


    Seobin and June gazed at each other with matching intensities. The neer''s eyes, which weren''t seen during his introduction, were now put on full disy. Jam let out a small gasp as he watched the scene unfold before him.


    ''His eyes. They''re perfect!''


    Then, something unexpected happened. As June continued to lock gazes with Seobin, an icy chill ran down the male lead''s spine. There was an underlying evilness in June''s gaze¡ªan authenticity that he couldn''t exin. It was as if the bandit had tapped into a darker, more sinister side of the character, one that shouldn''t be expected from a mere extra.


    The three actors continued to hold their positions, the intensity of their performance sending waves of excitement through the cast and crew.


    "I knew who sent you," Seobin said, his voice resonating with anger. "Reveal where Prince Yeon-woo is, and maybe I''ll spare your life."


    A deep, ominous chuckle rumbled from June''s throat, sending a shiver down Hana''s spine.


    She didn''t expect June to take this acting gig so seriously!


    With the intensity of the moment reaching its peak, Seobin couldn''t hold back any longer. He wielded his baston and leaped forward, engaging June in a battle. He hit the knife in June''s hand, causing it to fly to the bushes.


    ''Shit, I don''t have a weapon,'' June thought. Their bias toward the main character was painfully obvious. How could a bandit lose his weapon at the very beginning of a fight?


    June momentarily let go of Hana and skillfully evaded Seobin''s attacks. Seobin''s fighting skills were definitely amateurish. June could see every movement, so he was able to deflect them with ease. However, since he was instructed to let the main actor win at all costs, he decided to get hit a couple of times.


    "Did they practice this scene beforehand?" an assistant asked.


    Ann, who had been observing since the very beginning, shook her head. It seemed like the trainee was more talented than she expected. "No, June is¡ªI mean, the bandit is just amazing."


    The two men fought with an uncanny synchrony. It felt like they were engaged in a real fight, and every move seemed nned. Seobin couldn''t help but be amazed by the neer''s skill.


    Whoever this bandit was, there was one thing certain¡ªhe was very talented.


    It seemed as if he was leading Seobin in the fight scene, making it easy for the main lead to engross himself in the character. As the battle reached its climax, June executed a calcted move, acting as if Seobin hadnded a powerful hit on his shoulder. He winced in pain, clutching his wounded limb.


    June red at Seobin, and with the most pained voice he could muster, he whispered, "This isn''t over yet."


    Then, with a sudden burst of agility, he disengaged from the fight and swiftly retreated, disappearing into the shadows of the set.


    The camera continued to roll for a few moments, the onlookers still stunned by the neer''s performance.


    "It''s over, director," the assistant whispered, causing Jam to snap out of his trance.


    He finally shouted, "Cut!" bringing the scene to a close.


    The actors and crew members paused, still caught in the aftermath of the intense moment they had just portrayed.


    "How was that, director?" Hana asked. Honestly, she was so engrossed in her role that she even forgot they were acting. The fact that June was immersed in his role impressed her to the core.


    After a moment of silence, Jam finally spoke.


    "It was¡­perfect!" the director eximed, standing from his seat. "That''s what I have been looking for since earlier. The bandit¡­what is his name?" he asked.


    Hana looked around for June, hoping to catch a glimpse of the handsome trainee. However, he left without a trace, causing Hana to shake her head in amusement.


    June kept his word and really left after the scene.


    "Umm, I don''t know him, Director," Hana lied, knowing June wouldn''t like it if his identity was exposed. "He was a mere stranger recruited by my assistant."


    "WHAT?" Director Jam eximed. "He hasn''t even been paid!"


    However, his pay was the least of Director Jam''s concerns. In the end, he wanted to know the actor''s name. The nameless neer''s acting¡ªit was one of the best acting he had seen in his career! He seemed like a true bandit!


    "I''m sorry, director," Hana said. "But, at least we''ve already captured the scene, right?"


    "We did," he said, disappointment evident in his voice.


    Director Jam heaved a sigh before heavily sitting back on his chair.


    "I can''t believe I let such talent go."


    ***


    Meanwhile, June caught his breath after he sneaked out of the set. Hana''s assistant was in the tent when he tried to change back into his clothes; so June barely escaped without being caught by anyone else. He tried to make his way outside but saw many fans luding the entrance.


    Therefore, he climbed up a random house and jumped down the wall, finally leaving the chaotic TV set.


    In his hurry, he didn''t even get to change into his old clothes. June really didn''t want to re-film the scene. Although it didn''t feel like he was acting (since fighting was normal for him), getting hit with a baston numerous times was still painful.


    That bastard main actor was definitely serious in the end!


    June shook his head and got changed in a nearby bathroom, cing the all-ck attire in his bag. Just then, his phone vibrated, so he quickly opened it.


    June smirked when he saw numerous childhood/teenage photos sent by Hana.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted the special mission: Baby Mugshot. A new skill has been added to your status window. Here are your current stats:]


    - Vocals: A


    - Dance: A-


    - Visual: A-


    - Rap: B-


    - Leadership: C+


    - Music Production: B+

 Chapter 212 Ice Cream Man

    <h4>Chapter 212 Ice Cream Man</h4>


    June sat on a bench as he scrolled through the photos Hana had sent. Indeed, the photo that Doctor Kim used in his livestream was most likely fake.


    "Ice cream! Mister, would you like some ice cream?"


    A cute voice interrupted June''s sce, and he was ready to tell off the interrupter when he saw tworge eyes staring at him. It was a girl, no more than seven, with a mop of unruly curls and eyes that sparkled with innocent curiosity.


    June pursed his lips and swallowed his harsh words. Alright, this kid was pretty cute.


    "What did you say?" June asked, his voice sounding softer than he had expected.


    "Ice cream," the little girl smiled, showing off a toothless grin. She tugged at June''s sleeve, her voice high-pitched and filled with excitement, "Mister, would you buy some ice cream from my papa? It''s the best in town!


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry.


    The little girl pointed to a very pink ice cream truck. It was only then that June saw a middle-aged man with an ice cream hat looking at the passersby with a weing smile,


    The truck looked a bit run-down, but it was filled with cute little decorations. A sweet, repetitive tone came from its busted megaphones, causing June to cover his ears.


    "La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream."


    It seemed like his ears had be more sensitive after he acquired the music production skills.


    "My dad sells ice cream," she said. "And he''s sad because no one is buying."


    "Tell him to improve his marketing strategy," June said.


    "What?" the little girl asked, confused. "I''m just sad since my papa is sad."


    June clicked his tongue as he looked back and forth between the little girl and the pink truck.


    Why the hell was he born with an innate soft spot for children?


    As June''s eyes fell upon the kid, with her face aglow with hope and wonder, he couldn''t help but feel admiration for her. Children should be worry-free, lost in the splendors of their youth, not peddling ice cream for their fathers on a busy sidewalk.


    However, even with those worries, the little girl managed to smile with such genuineness. As much as June didn''t want to say it out loud, it softened his heart.


    June reached inside his pocket and retrieved a few crumpled bills. "Fine," he grumbled, standing from the bench and walking to the beat-up truck.


    "Yay!" the little girl cheered, her dimpled cheeks creasing into a radiant grin. The little girl held onto June''s wrist, causing his heart to soften even more.


    It was a good thing June wasn''t a serial killer. Otherwise, this kid would have been long gone.


    As June walked to the truck, his ears started hurting more as the music became louder.


    "La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream."


    He clicked his tongue and massaged his ringing ears. "Umm, can you tone it down a bit?" he asked.


    The man, who appeared to be the same age as his father when he was still alive, smiled apologetically and turned the music down. However, the tune continued to evade June''s eardrums even after that. Thankfully, it didn''t make his ears ring anymore.


    "L? What are you doing there?" her dad asked, looking at the child with rmed eyes. "I''m so sorry for that, sir," he said. "Come back here now, my daughter."


    L pouted but eventually let go of June''s wrist and entered the truck.


    "I''m really sorry for my daughter," he apologized. "Their sses were canceled, so I had no choice but to bring her here."


    "It''s fine," June said.


    "Well, what can I whip up for you today?" he asked, his voice joyful because June was his very first customer.


    June looked over the menu and frowned when he saw the words written beside the colorful ice cream. What the hell was this?


    "So¡­.do you see anything you like?" he asked in a hopeful voice.


    June pursed his lips. There was no way he''d say these menu items.


    ''Ticklish Tummy Tornado''


    ''Funky Monkey Monkey Business Sundae''


    ''Ridiculous Rumplestiltskin Ripple


    ''Hootin'' Hooligan Hootenanny''


    "You''re going to buy something, right?" L asked, looking at June with wide eyes.


    June let out a long sigh before saying through gritted teeth, "I''ll have the Befuddled Bubblegum Bonanza st," he mumbled the menu item.


    "What was that?" the man asked, leaning closer. "I''m getting old, so my hearing''s been getting pretty bad."


    "This one," June quickly pointed at the menu item.


    "Hmm, I''m sorry, customer. I can''t base orders based on pointing. I''ve made plenty of mistakes because of that. Can you say it out loud once more?"


    With annoyance coursing through his veins, June loudly said, "The Befuddled Bubblegum Bonanza st!"


    "Oh," the man said, a bit shocked by the young man''s enthusiasm. "I''m surprised. It''s mostly children who love that vor. One Bubblegum sting right up!" he said, going to the back of his truck to make the ice cream.


    June slumped his shoulders as he waited for his ice cream. Who knew saying a menu item would be so exhausting?


    Right now, he was left again with the little girl, who hadn''t stopped staring at him since earlier.


    "Do I have something on my face?" he asked.


    "Nothing," she beamed. "I really like your eyes! You''re like a cat."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. His cat reputation had now transcended even to the younger generation.


    "Here it is!" the man emerged, giving June a generous serving of pastel pink and blue soft serve ice cream. It had a pink heart on top and a stick of blue candy on the side. Overall, it seemed pretty generous for a 2-dor ice cream.


    "Here," June said, handing them the money. Then, he removed his mask so he could taste the ice cream.


    "Wow, you''re a handsome kid," the manplimented, and L nodded in agreement.


    A small smile of acknowledgment appeared on June''s face.


    June had always been fond of sweet things, so it wasn''t that hard to impress him with dessert. However, as he took his first bite, his taste buds exploded in a symphony of vors.


    The ice cream was a sweet, cool embrace, causing him to close his eyes.


    At that moment, it felt like he was transported back to the days of his childhood when the local candy shop was his sanctuary. The bubblegum-infused ice cream was a time machine, and it felt like he was a wide-eyed child once again.


    Before he even knew it, a sweet smile appeared across June''s face, like a child who had discovered a treasure trove of candy.


    However, June''s thoughts snapped back into reality when the man spoke.


    "I''m d you like it," he said. "Seeing you smile brightened my day, young man."

 Chapter 213 Stuck

    <h4>Chapter 213 Stuck</h4>


    June walked inside Grandma''s and Minjun''s apartment, looking a bit dazed after the ice cream man''spliment.


    His smile actually brightened someone''s day?


    June tried recreating the smile just now but failed despite numerous attempts. A while ago, the smile came naturally to him when he tasted the sweet ice cream. Right after it was over, he tasted the bitterness of life again¡ªone that he couldn''t escape no matter how hard he tried.


    June was exaggerating, but you get the point.


    "Oh, goodie," Grandma eximed when she saw June enter the door. "I''m d you came here. I was about to eat dinner by myself."


    "All by yourself?" June asked. "Is the little devil not here?"


    Grandma shook her head in amusement. "You call Minjun a little devil, but I know you like the kid."


    June shrugged. "Well, where is the cute little devil?"


    "He''s out and about," Grandma responded.


    "Bummer," June said. "I was going to ask him for a favor, but I guess I''ll post it myself."


    A while ago, after June finished his ice cream, he quickly snapped a photo of the ice cream truck.? June did it because he thought the little kid, L, would definitely be happier if his dad got more customers.


    June didn''t do it out of pity, of course. He genuinely thought that their ice cream was good.


    It was affordable, too.


    So, he wanted MinMin to make an exclusive post about the truck. However, since he was not here, June might as well post it on ''Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5.'' It has been a while since he used that ount, and although he still got death threats on a daily basis, he had grown quite a following there, too.


    "You can ask him when he gets back from his dad''s," Grandma said. "It''ll only be for a week anyway."


    June nodded, then hummed in confusion. "Minjun''s dad? But isn''t he working abroad along with his mom?"


    "He is," Grandma said, arranging the array of tasty dishes on the table. "But Minjun''s dad goes back and forth between Korea and the States. You know that his parents had gotten a divorce, right?"


    "Yes," June said.


    "Well, a part of the reason is because of their work. They''re both busy people. If Minjun''s dad was in Korea, then his mom would be in another country, and vice versa. The two of them aren''t bad people. Somehow, they just never worked out."


    "Oh," June said. "So, Minjun is staying with his dad for a week?"


    "Yes," she smiled. "Minjun and his dad have a pretty awkward rtionship, but I can tell that Minjun gets excited whenever one of his parentses home. He just doesn''t like to show it."


    June chuckled and shook his head. "He really doesn''t."


    Minjun was the same with June.? As much as the little kid tried to hide it, June knew he was very fond of his presence.


    "Well, more food for me then, I guess," June said, sitting on the chair and shoving the delicious food in his mouth.


    Grandmaughed and patted June''s back. "You have the same personality as Minjun, too. Did you know that?"


    The two of them ate peacefully¡ªlike a real family. June never thought he''d get something like this from an olddy and a young kid, but here he was.


    "I''m stuffed," June said. "You always make the greatest food, Grandma."


    "I''m d you enjoyed it," Grandma said. "By the way, are you going back to Azure tomorrow?"


    June groaned. "I am," he said, finally remembering the song that his team still hadn''t produced.


    "Well, you better sleep early," she said. "Will you be having a break next week?"


    "I don''t think so," June said. "After next week, I believe it''ll be the finale. We won''t have any more breaks until then."


    "That''s a bummer," Grandma disappointedly sighed. "Well, I''m going to visit all my friends to tell them to vote for you. You better debut, young man."


    June chuckled. "Thanks, Grandma. I''ll pay you back plenty when I do."


    Grandma smiled and patted June''s head. "You''ll make it. We''ll see you in the finals."


    "See you," June softly said, waving his hand and leaving their apartment.


    He yawned as soon as he entered his room. This day had gone longer than he had expected.


    June wanted to get started on the song tonight after acquiring his song production skills, but he was too tired to do so.


    "Let''s sleep," he muttered after brushing his teeth, plopping on the hard bed.


    June closed his eyes and prepared to taste the sweet slumber.


    However, just as he was about to capture sleep by its throat, an annoying tune echoed in his mind¡­


    "La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream."


    ***


    In a spacious training room in the Azure building¡­


    "Woah!" Jangmoon eximed as soon as he saw June. "Big bro, I thought we would try our best to look cute these days. Why do you look more rugged?"


    "Did you even get any sleep?" Ren asked, although his under eyes weren''t much different from June''s.


    "Damn," Daeho said. "Grab a pillow and take a nap."


    "We can''t afford to rest right now," Casper chimed, emerging from the door. "But woah! You look like you haven''t slept in weeks."


    June sighed and red at all of them. "Did you alle up with something during the break?" June asked, changing the subject.


    Casper sighed and leaned against the mirror. "I tried to," he said. "But I don''t know if it''s any good."


    "I have an idea, too," Daeho said. "I don''t know if it''ll fit the Bubblegum Pop genre, though."


    "Well, we need to hurry up," Jangmoon said. "I heard Lin Zhi''s team already had a song idea even before the break."


    "Umm, then, do you guys want to produce something individually?" Ren proposed. "This was something we did during production workshops. We''lle up with a short mix¡ªmostly the ''hook'' of the song, then critique each other''s works afterward. We were given an hour at most, and it gave birth to quite a number of hit songs."


    Jangmoon shrugged. "I''m down. I also watched a tutorial on how to produce music for dummies on YouWatch, so I got this one in the bag."


    "Sure," Casper said. "I think that''s a good idea."


    "Then, let''s borrow someptops from the crew," Daeho said. Thankfully, the crew had prepared it beforehand since they knew the trainees were bound to finish their songs just in time for the interim evaluations tomorrow.


    "Are you down for that, June?" Ren asked.


    June silently nodded, grabbing theptop from Ren''s hand.


    With that, the five of them settled on different corners of the room, each wearing headphones for optimal music production.


    June opened the audio software and smirked when it felt familiar to his hands and mind.


    Fu had done a great job. June actually knew the functions of each button now.


    He just had toe up with a good tune¡ªa strong base for their song.


    The pointer hovered above the elements of the song. However, before he could even drag an element to the soundboard, the annoying tune that kept him awake all night echoed in his mind.


    "La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream."

 Chapter 214 Cats in my Bed

    <h4>Chapter 214 Cats in my Bed</h4>


    "Get out of my head," June muttered as the tune continued invading his brain.


    He nced at his members and saw all of them with concentrated looks. Even Jangmoon appeared to be in his zone.


    However, June was stuck with the atrocious ice cream song he heard yesterday.


    To be frank, the tune wasn''t too bad. One could definitely tell it was produced by an amateur. With its miscalcted beats, gritty sound, and resonance overuse, it sounded straight out of a mixtape from an ''underground rapper'' who imed his music was ''fire.''


    However, despite its heinousness, it couldn''t escape June''s mind .


    Maybe if the song was actually produced by someone good, then it would be a hit song.


    June paused when the thought hit him.


    Maybe if it was produced by someone knowledgeable, then it could be a good song.


    A small smirk appeared on June''s lips; and before he knew it, he started clicking the buttons andbining elements together.


    ***


    "Time''s up," Ren said, sighing as he felt he didn''t do a good job.


    Jangmoon smiled proudly at his creation. He removed his headphones and smiled at his teammates. "I think I actually did a great job?"


    "Why don''t we start with you then?" Casper suggested, scooting over to the center and coaxing the others to sit with him.


    "Nu-uh," Jangmoon said, hugging theptop. "I''m saving the best forst."


    Ren sighed and shook his head, cing hisptop in the middle of the circle they''d formed. "Let''s start with mine, I guess. I''m not too proud of this one anyway."


    Ren pressed the ''y'' button, and a beat resonated in the room. June recognized it to be a moderate tempo, approximately ranging between 100 to 120 beats per minute. The rhythmic structure was straightforward, following a standard 4/4 time signature, making it easy to groove to. Ren''s choice of instruments included electronic synthesizers and sampled drum sounds.


    However, theposition employed a basic chord progression, which led to the perception of it being somewhat generic. This was definitely an improvementpared to Ren''s previous work, though, which made June think that the trainee was slowly gaining his confidence.


    "You did great," June said, causing Ren to beam. "But I don''t think we can use this for our song. It''s not going to stand out."


    Casper nodded. Ren silently agreed, too.


    "I can''t say anything about it production-wise," Daeho said. "In that aspect, I think yours is much better than mine. However, I agree that it sounds pretty¡­ordinary."


    "Let''s scrap that for now. Why don''t we listen to Daeho''s?" Ren asked.


    "Sure," Daeho said, clearing his throat. "Don''t judge me, alright?"


    Daeho''s music took on a slower tempo, which contributed to the "flowery" and somewhat rxed vibe of theposition. This tempo choice aligned more with pop and bad genres rather than upbeat dance music.


    Considering Daeho''s rtiveck of experience, the overall quality of the music wasmendable. However, like Ren''s music, it might stillck the unique elements that would make it stand out as something special within the Production Mission.


    "Hey, you''ve improved so fast," Renplimented.


    Daeho scratched the back of his neck. "Thanks. It''s actually pretty enjoyable."


    "I think we went the same route," Casper said, pulling out his song next. "Why don''t we judge them together?"


    Casper yed what he had mixed, and indeed, it sounded pretty simr to Daeho''s.


    "It''s good," June said. "But then again, if the two of you thought like this, it might contribute to the audience''s thoughts of our song being predictable."


    "You''re right," Ren said. "When the mentors first introduced ''Bubblegum Pop,'' this was the type of music that automatically entered my mind. I think it might be better suited for a girl group, too."


    "Hmm," Casper hummed. "I get where you''reing from. Should we listen to the next one then? This might be our best bet if nothing elsees to mind, though."


    "I''ll go next!" Jangmoon eximed, harshly cing hisptop in the middle.


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry. "I thought you wanted to gost."


    "I did," Jangmoon said. "But I respect you so much, big bro! You''re the best, so you''re goingst," he chuckled.


    June scoffed and shook his head.


    "The Bluetooth device had been sessfully paired."


    "What are you doing?" Casper asked.


    "Masterpieces like mine need to be listened to at full st," Jangmoon boasted, maxing out the volume on theptop and the speakers.


    "Oh goodness," Daeho massaged his temples.


    "Listen to my masterpiece!" Jangmoon proudly said as he clicked ''y.''


    June immediately covered his ears once the first note yed. His teammates also grimaced, leaning away from the source of the sound. Jangmoon, on the other hand, remained oblivious to this all and jammed to the atrocious beat.


    Jangmoon''s music can be best described as a wild concoction of noise and cat sounds? There were definitely some ''meows'' in there. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg.


    The beat was characterized by dissonant and shing tones. It was noisy and chaotic, with an unintentionalck of consideration for ''Bubblegum Pop.''


    June had to give him some props, though.


    Jangmoon even took the liberty to add in his own lyrics and vocals.


    "Meow, Meow, I like pussycats


    But those pussycats, their eyshes don''t even bat


    So, I''ll use a bat instead


    To get them to my bed."


    In the other room, where Lin Zhi''s team was staying, a crowd of five trainees leaned on the wall, listening to the song that they had desperately been trying to hear since day one.


    "Is that¡­their song?" Steel asked, still shocked.? Lin Zhi tried his best to hide his smirk as he leaned away from the wall, pping to capture his team''s attention.


    "That''s enough," Lin Zhi said. "Why don''t we go right ahead to our lyrics? We want to impress the judges by tomorrow."


    "Right," Johnny said. "Thanks to you, we''re writing the lyrics now. You did a really great job producing the song."


    "Yeah," Steel agreed. "Watching you a while back was fascinating. You''ve ced a couple of beats together, and then it already sounded like a pre-made song."


    Lin Zhi gratefully smiled. "Of course," he said. "Anything for this team."


    "Alright, time''s up," Casper said, shutting theptop close. "We''re not going to be using that."


    Jangmoon looked at him in exasperation. "What? My masterpiece is what we''re looking for! It''s catchy, unique, and I actually have lyrics written already!"


    "Well, it''s definitely unique," June muttered.


    Jangmoon snapped his gaze at June. "Oh, it isn''t that bad, big bro. Why don''t we listen to yours, huh? Then, we''ll see who did a better job."


    June smirked and gently ced hisptop in the middle.


    "dly."

 Chapter 215 Taking Credit

    <h4>Chapter 215 Taking Credit</h4>


    "Good morning, trainees!" Kang Minho brightly greeted as he walked through the double doors.


    The 25 trainees had now gathered in the training center for the interim evaluations. The mentors entered the door one by one, shining like real celebrities. They were all made up and were wearing stage clothes while the trainees had only woken up.


    Just then, 3 new people entered the room, making the trainees perk up. For June, they weren''t familiar faces, but they seemed to be a big deal since Ren let out a small gasp.


    "Do you know them?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Ren whispered. "You don''t?"


    June shook his head.


    "Well, they''re some of the biggest producer names in Korea. That guy, Sven, is my mentor," he pointed to a fairly-young guy wearing heavy chains and heavily-tinted sunsses.


    "He must be good then," June inferred.


    "He is," Ren responded. "He knows a lot about the technical aspects of producing."


    Minho cleared his throat, capturing the trainees'' attention.


    "Well, it''s been over three days since we''ve announced the Production Mission," Minho started off. "I acknowledge that producing a song in that duration is quite difficult, even for the experts that had graced us with our presence today. But this is a challenge you need to ovee."


    "Therefore," Jihyun chimed. "We havee here today to give you some pointers for improvement. You are getting closer to your debut, and we want nothing but the best for you."


    Jihyun''s eyes strayed toward June. ''I want nothing but the best for you,'' she thought but quickly shook her head and went back to professional mode.


    "Exactly," Woo-jin said. "We don''t want to take up too much of your time, so why don''t we get started?" he asked.


    "Hmm, who wants to go first?" Gun asked, looking around the room.


    Without any hesitation, Lin Zhi confidently raised his hand. "We can go first, mentor."


    The other trainees eximed in admiration, while Gun looked pleasantly surprised.


    "I like the confidence," Gun said. "Come here first, then," he gestured to the center of the room.


    Lin Zhi nodded and gave hisptop to the production crew. Meanwhile, June looked at the trainee''s back with disdain.


    Lin Zhi''s change in attitude hadn''t gone past June. It seemed like the drug dealer was truly trying his best to debut.


    As the first notes were heard in the room, the mentors, as well as the producers, looked pleasantly surprised despite only the intro being yed.


    Lin Zhi stood confidently at the center, and that was when June knew something was wrong.


    Now, he didn''t know a lot about Lin Zhi''s musicality. It was only when he transmigrated into the body of Choi Joon-ho that he learned Lin Zhi could actually hold a tune and dance to a certain beat. However, he knew that Lin Zhi probably never learned how to produce any music.


    So, when June heard a professional-sounding track filled with intricate synths and well-made basslines, he started bing suspicious.


    ''In the neon city lights, wee alive,


    Dancing beneath the stars, the music makes us jive.


    It''s a wild, electric night, I can''t deny,


    We''re partying like it''s the end, up until sunrise.''


    "Wait, they actually already wrote the lyrics?"


    "What the hell? How''d they manage to do it so fast?"


    "I heard Lin Zhi is actually talented in producing."


    The trainees watching couldn''t hold back their amazement as aplete soundtrack resonated in the training center.


    The mentors, too, exchanged surprised nces. The trainees weren''t required to incorporate their singing into the backtrack, but this team actually managed to do it.


    ''Life''s a blur; in this moment we''re unfurled,


    Gonna do what we want in this crazy world.


    The clock''s ticking fast, so let''s embrace the ride,


    Tonight we''ll spread our wings and let our dreams collide.''


    ''We''re partying like it''s the end of the world,


    Life''s a rollercoaster; let the colors swirl.


    With hearts on fire, we tear life by the seams.


    Together, we''ll chase our wildest dreams.''


    June frowned. Their lyrics sounded pretty good too. Then, he stared at Lin Zhi''s smug expression. Was this guy actually talented in music production?


    The well-made production ended on a good note, with both mentors and trainees amazed by the effort and quality of the supposedly amateur-made song.


    "Holy crap. They did such a good job. Lin Zhi really wants to debut, huh?" Jangmoon whispered.


    Even Ren, who wasn''t easily surprised, nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Your genre is Electro-Techo, am I right?" Samba, one of the producers, asked.


    "Yes," Lin Zhi proudly said. "Despite being Electro-Techno, I tried my best to incorporate K-pop elements into the song."


    "I?" Hyerin asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Did you make this song all by yourself?"


    Lin Zhi humbly shook his head. "Ah, wait. It''s a mistake. I produced the beat and wrote 90% of the lyrics, but my teammates helped a lot, too," he said sheepishly, looking genuinely shy.


    Samba nodded, his expression satisfied.


    "Well, you''ve done a good job," he said. "I like how it sounds a bit like the EDM songs from the West."


    "Yes," Gun added. "You''re actually a very talented producer, Lin Zhi. I believe your team doesn''t have anything to worry about."


    "Thank you, mentors and producers," Lin Zhi gratefully bowed.


    With that, the first evaluation hade to an end. The other teams who followed also seemed to be doing pretty well. They were now down to 25 trainees, so it was expected that the performances would have improved a lot by now.


    "The synths overpower the song," Svenmented on Jisung''s team. "But other than that, It''s good."


    "Thank you," Jisung bowed while the others followed.


    And just like that, four teams had already been evaluated.


    June''s team was the only one left.


    "Hmm, Bubblegum Pop?" Samba said. "That''s a hard one."


    "Right?" Jihyun chimed. "That''s a genre I''ve always avoided, even when I was younger."


    "It doesn''t suit you anyway," Gun joked. "It suits Hyerin more."


    Jihyun clicked her tongue and acted like she was going to hit Gun. However, when she saw June through her peripheral gaze, she quickly turned demure.


    Casper handed their audio file to the production team and waited for it to y.


    While waiting for it to y, the trainees and mentors conversed among themselves.


    "I still can''t believe June chose this genre," C-Jay whispered.


    "Have you heard the song? Do you think it''s going to be good?" a trainee quietly asked.


    Lin Zhi heard their whispered conversation and smirked. His team overheard the song yesterday, and it brought immense satisfaction to Lin Zhi''s heart.


    It was definitely going to be bad


    "I''m looking forward to their team," Hyerin whispered.


    "I''m excited, too," Jihyun said.


    However, in the minds of these two women, they weren''t excited for the song. Instead, they were excited to see June act all cute with the ''Bubblegum Pop'' concept.


    "I''m really curious how they did this," Samba said.


    "Hmm," Sven merely hummed.


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long. The other songs, despite being different genres, definitely had simr vibes to each other. That wasn''t necessarily bad, but aside from Lin Zhi''s team, who had already written their own lyrics, none seemed to stand out to the producers.


    However, June''s team definitely stood out.


    Especially when a sweet and dreamy tune came from the speakers.

 Chapter 216 Producer June

    <h4>Chapter 216 Producer June</h4>


    Lin Zhi was confident that June''s team was going to embarrass themselves. It was already June''s trademark at this point. Aside from the time he gotpliments during their performance for ''Skateboard Ride,'' June only ever had bad interim evaluations.


    Lin Zhi was sure it wouldn''t be different this time around.


    So, imagine his shock when a delightful sound came from the speakers.


    Lin Zhi''s back straightened in surprise, and his teammates, too, looked shocked since it was drastically different from the song they heard yesterday.


    Of course, it would be different.


    June smirked as he listened to his own creation from the high-quality speakers. He still remembered how his teammates reacted when he first yed the song.


    "You¡­are you actually a genius?" Daeho asked, looking shocked out of his mind.


    Jangmoon couldn''t even close his mouth as he looked at June. "Singing, dancing, rapping¡­and now producing! What kind of talents are you still hiding, big bro?"


    June shrugged. It was true that Fu equipped him with the technical skills of music production. However, he couldn''t help but think that the talent of music had always been innate in him. He already knew what elements to put together¡­he just didn''t know how to do that.


    So, with the technical skills given to him by Fu, June was able to execute the song he had in mind wlessly.


    "Have you taken any sses?" Ren asked with wide eyes. "Who''s your mentor?"


    "I don''t have one," June said. "I just heard a tune when I was walking around yesterday. I built the chorus around that."


    ''La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream.''


    Who knew that an annoying ice cream song would be his source of inspiration?


    "Don''t worry, though," June disimed. "I didn''t copy the entire progression, so we don''t have to be worried about giarism and the like."


    "Oh, I''m not worried about that," Jangmoon eximed. "I''m more worried about your talents, big bro. We were supposed to be zero-star buddies forever!"


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Is it that good?"


    "It is," Casper responded, speaking for the first time after June yed his song. "You''re a very talented cat."


    June shook his head as the memory reyed in his mind. Casper was still as weird as ever, but he hadn''t done anything to June, so all was good.


    He snapped back to reality when he heard the catchy melody that seemed to charm the mentors and producers from the first notes.


    It was important to note that June took some things into consideration before producing the song.


    Despite it falling into the ''Bubblegum Pop'' genre, June avoided the trap of the song being overly sweet. He knew that it wouldn''t suit their team. So, he instead offered a taste simr to a zesty lemon lollipop¡ªsweet but with a tangy twist that kept it from being too sugary.


    The absence of lyrics didn''t diminish the overall quality of theposition. Before the listeners even knew it, the refreshing beat and melody had everyone in the room tapping their feet and nodding to the rhythm.


    Even Lin Zhi couldn''t deny that the song was good. However, knowing that they still didn''t have any lyrics, he felt like their team still did the best.


    As the song reached its chorus, it truly hit its stride. The melody was catchy, and the arrangement kept the energy high, making it impossible not to join in the fun.


    Ren nced at June, smiling at the clueless trainee.


    June truly made a hit.


    The bridge of the song was a standout moment, where the music took a turn, bing almost touching and nostalgic. It was as if June had tapped into a well of emotions and injected them into the tune, adding depth to the otherwise lighthearted genre.


    The ending of the song was just as satisfying as its beginning, wrapping things up on a good, refreshing note. As the final notes yed, the melody of the chorus lingered in the minds of the listeners, leaving them with an addicting and memorable tune that they couldn''t help but hum long after the music had stopped.


    It felt like a worm dug its way into their eardrums, reying the tune of the song over and over.


    June was no exception to the earworm. Even now, ''La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream,'' still echoes in his mind.


    "Holy crap. That was actually so good."


    "That chorus part is stuck in my mind now."


    "I thought their song was going to be atrocious. But then again, Ren''s very talented. He must have produced the song all by himself."


    Zeth looked at his friend from the side, a frown forming on his face. After theirst conversation, Ren still hadn''t spoken with him.


    Zeth knew that Ren had been having a hard time after the second mission. It seemed like Ren lost the spark of doing one thing he really loved¡ªproducing music. However, listening to their song right now, it seemed like Ren had ovee his slump.


    Minho cleared his throat, breaking the silence. He was about to say something when Sven suddenly raised his hand and spoke, shocking most of the people in the room.


    "Can I say something first?" he asked.


    The mentors looked at each other in surprise. The other producers, too, didn''t expect their senior producer toment first.


    Throughout the evaluations, Sven hadn''t spoken much. He merely added to what the other producers and mentors had already said. However, he actually took the initiative to start the evaluation this time?


    "This genre, Bubblegum Pop, is a very easy genre to mess up," Sven started off. "So, I''m going to be honest. When I first saw the genre written on your paper, I thought for sure that you would need a lot of guidance. I even wrote some tips beforehand just in case I missed something."


    "However," he said, letting out a deep breath. "I am pleasantly surprised. This seems like a song produced by a professional. I believe that this song has even surpassed my skills in the Bubblegum Pop genre. It''s truly impable."


    June''s team was ted to hear such praises from a renowned producer. They had been struggling for the past few days; and Casper even thought that this would be the performance that would lead his rank to finally drop.


    However, after hearing June''s production yesterday, he had changed his mind.


    Casper truly didn''t have any regrets recruiting the cat-like trainee into his team.


    "I''m very impressed," Sven continued. "And I also can''t help but feel proud knowing my student had probably produced the song," he said, pointing at Ren.


    The team stiffened while the trainees and mentors looked at Ren with admiration.


    "You had always been a great student, but I never knew you had this in you," Sven said.


    June pursed his lips. He thought it was a shame¡ªhe was the one who did majority of the production anyway. However, he couldn''t me the producers, mentors, and trainees for their train of thought.


    Ren had always been known as a good producer.


    It wouldn''t be strange for them to assume that it was him who made the song.


    June decided to let it go for now¡ªespecially since he knew Ren was currently having a hard time. It had been rare to see him smile for the past couple of days, but he had a wide smile yesterday when they were producing the song together.


    However, June was surprised when Ren suddenly spoke.


    "It wasn''t me," he admitted, his voice shaky.


    "It was June who produced the song."

 Chapter 217 Compliment Shower

    <h4>Chapter 217 Compliment Shower</h4>


    June looked at Ren, surprised that he actually admitted the truth. Ren then nced at June and smiled softly.


    "June made the song. It was his idea and production," he continued.


    The room turned silent after Ren''s confession.


    In the end, nobody expected the song to be produced by none other than June¡ªthe individual trainee who sang a Little Meow Meow song at his auditions.


    It was true that June had proved his talents over and over again for the past missions. However, he was involved in scandals not long after. To some extent, June''s talent had been overshadowed by the bullying, stabbing, and rigging incident.


    And since he had a nonchnt personality, people assumed he didn''t work as hard as the other trainees.


    However, as they internalized Ren''s confession, they realized that June hase so far. He was probably the trainee who improved the most out of everybody else.


    Who knew an individual trainee who even dropped as far as zero-stars would make it this far?


    Even Gun, who always thought of June whenever he took a shit, found himself smiling when he watched the trainee''s performances. June was the epitome of growth¡ªand Gun wasn''t afraid to admit that right now.


    Sven raised his eyebrows in surprise. "It wasn''t you?" he asked in disbelief.


    He was sure that his precious student would have produced the song they had heard just now. Heck, even the other trainees and mentors believed so.


    However, Ren stood his ground and nodded as he gestured toward June. "It was all June," he said with full honesty.


    "Is that right?" Bone asked.


    June pursed his lips as he felt everybody''s eyes on him. Then, he eventually nodded.


    The mentors and trainees whispered among themselves.


    "Is June actually talented in music production?" Zeth asked.


    "Well, he was the one who arranged our performance back then," C-Jay responded. "He didn''t technically arrange it himself, but his vision was taken into consideration."


    "He''s really getting better than I had imagined," Hyerin whispered to Jihyun.


    Jihyun nodded, appearing to have fallen even deeper for the charming trainee.


    Lin Zhi, on the other hand, clenched his fists under his legs. June could write music, too?


    What a fucking joke. Lin Zhi had to orchestrate a whole scene just for him to show the production crew that he was the one who produced their song when, in fact, he got help from a powerful person to aplish it. Meanwhile, June was able to pull this kind of song right out of his ass?


    "Ridiculous," Lin Zhi whispered.


    As the whispers progressed, June raised his hand. "Umm, I just want to rify that it wasn''t just me who made the song. My team coborated to create this piece. Ren helped me a lot, too, since he has more experience in music production."


    Ren nced at June, looking at his side profile. At the beginning of the show, Ren was sure that June was the type of trainee who cked off because he had such a nonchnt vibe.


    However, seeing him speak up for the team made Ren respect June even more.


    June was actually a good guy.


    "Well," Sven said, cing down his sheet ofments. "I can''t say I''m not surprised. I really am. How long have you been producing music?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips and thought of a reasonable answer. "This year," he said.


    The producers nced at each other with surprised looks.


    "Only this year?" Samba rified.


    June nodded, wondering if he had made the time too short.


    "So, it''s been less than a year?" Sven muttered. "This kid must be a genius."


    However, he kept thement to himself so the others didn''t seem to hear it.


    "Well," Sven continued. "As I said, I was expecting the worst, but I believe you guys did the best. It was a well-produced song, and the chorus is still stuck in my head."


    June hid his smirk as he bowed his head in gratitude.


    Getting ice cream that day was definitely his saving grace. June will definitely post the review of the ice cream truck after the mission as his way to repay the father-and-daughter pair.


    "I have nothing to say, too," Woo-jin said. "I already want the song to be produced fully so I can add it to my ylist. However, I do want to say that even though you made a good foundation for your song, this doesn''t mean that everything is already set in stone. You still need the other elements to make your performance unforgettable."


    Hyerin nodded in agreement. "The choreography is a very important element to your performance, too. Try to make it fit the song without it being too cringy. Don''t bite off more than you can chew."


    "Yes," Gun said. "As this is the time to show your skills as versatile artists, you should also take your concept more seriously. The choreography is one way to elevate your performance. But other than that," he continued, looking at June. "You guys did a good job. It''s a good song."


    Gun then quickly looked away, his neck red from embarrassment afterplimenting June.


    He had finallye to terms with the fact that he became a fan of the trainee who he had badly scolded in the past. However, Gun wasn''t ready to admit it out loud just yet.


    "Your lyrics, too," Samba added. "Your production has a lot of potential, so I wish you''d incorporate fitting lyrics for it, too."


    "Thank you, mentors and producers," Casper said, bowing his head. "We''ll take all yourments into mind."


    "Thank you, mentors," his members followed, bowing their heads too.


    "Good job, guys," the mentors pped, and the trainees followed suit.


    June nced around the room and was overwhelmed by the feeling of being apuded. It finally felt like he was being¡­epted?


    He couldn''t verbalize the feeling well, but it definitely sparked something in his heart.


    "Right, one more thing before you go," Jihyun said, clearing her throat and capturing the trainees'' attention.


    "This genre and cuteness are paired hand-in-hand," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.


    "Have you guys worked on your cuteness yet?"

 Chapter 218 When I Was Happy

    <h4>Chapter 218 When I Was Happy</h4>


    "There''s three things we need to settle today," Casper said, pacing back and forth in front of his teammates.


    After the positive interim evaluation, the team was undoubtedly in a good mood. However, when reality hit them that their performance was going to be in six days, the atmosphere suddenly turned serious.


    "Now, I believe we have a strong foundation," Casper said. "However, like the mentors said, it would be useless if we don''t focus on the other aspects too."


    "So, the three things we need to settle are?" Daeho asked.


    "First, Choreography," Casper enumerated. "But I believe it''ll be the easiest to execute among the three. I am confident in my choreography skills, and I also know you''ve dabbled in choreography, Daeho."


    "I have," Daeho confirmed.


    "Good," Casper nodded. "The second one is Concept," he continued. "It''s already been established that we''re going to do a bright performance."


    "Which is a good thing," Jangmoon pointed out. "It seems like June was right. The other four songs are on the gray line. They have the same vibes, and I can already feel their concepts intersecting with one another just from the sound of their songs alone."


    "That''s true," Ren agreed. "The Moombahton and Trap K-Pop songs definitely sounded simr to each other. Grunge Pop-Rock and Electro-Techno, on the other hand, have different vibes, but they''re both pretty upbeat, with music drops as their main point. I believe we have an edge on this one."


    "Yet it''s a double-edged sword," Junen added. "If we can''t execute it right, then it''s going to bite us back."


    Casper sighed and nodded. "Yes," he said. "Which brings me to the third point¡ªLyrics. I''ve done some research, and almost all songs under this genre talk about being cute, being in love, food, and a random sport nobody has ever heard about."


    Jangmoon clicked his tongue. "Now that I think about it, you''re right. Should we go the same route? I already have something about pussycats¡ª"


    "I think we should take a different route," Daeho quickly cut him off, causing Jangmoon to re at him.


    "Well, do you have any other ideas?" Jangmoon asked out of spite.


    Daeho pursed his lips. "No idea. Maybe love?"


    "Who has experience with love from us here?" Jangmoon retorted. "Do you guys have girlfriends right now?"


    "Bro, you can''t ask that question," Daeho countered. "We''re aspiring idols. Fans are going to me us to the ground with a mere mention of a girlfriend."


    "What do you mean?" Jangmoon asked. "C-Jay mentioned a girl once, but he didn''t even get any hate."


    "Oh, trust me," Ren chuckled. "I bet everyone will rejoice if C-Jay manages to get a girlfriend."


    Jangmoon pursed his lips before nodding enthusiastically. "You''re right. My bad."


    "Going back to the topic," Casper said. "What do you think we should write about? Do you have any other ideas, Ren?"


    Ren let out a deep breath before shaking his head. "Believe it or not, writing is actually my weakest skill in music production. Mixing beats and rhythms has always been bliss to me, but I''ve never been a good writer."


    Casper clicked his tongue. "I can make a really good rap, but most of the stuff I''ve written is something dark, cool, or borderline crazy. It definitely wouldn''t fit our song."


    "I think we''re forgetting someone very important," Jangmoon chimed, causing his teammates to look at him. "June''s a good writer."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when he heard thepliment.


    "I''m not," he denied.


    "What do you mean?" Jangmoon asked. "You literally wrote the lyrics for ''Tie Me Up.'' That song was a hit."


    "Wait," Casper said, the thought finally hitting him. "You did! It was one of the best lyrics I''ve heard on the show. I heard the producers liked it very much, too."


    "Where did you hear that?" June asked.


    "Umm," Casper nervously muttered. "Just from someone."


    In reality, he had been scrolling through June''s topic on Navel, and that''s where he learned it from.


    June sighed and leaned against the mirror. "I don''t even know how I managed to write those lyrics. I just got pretty angry those days¡ªespecially after you guys kicked me out of the team," he pointed out, causing Casper and Daeho to look at their shoes.


    "So, I channeled that emotion and wrote something that came from my heart."


    Jangmoon looked at June with wide eyes. "You''re really cool, bro. You always manage to say the right words."


    June scoffed. "I didn''t even say anything significant. Putting that aside, I also think we shouldn''t write something that''s already expected of us."


    "Then, what should we write about?" Daeho asked.


    June ced his hand under his chin and hummed. Then, an idea hit him.


    Maybe his past method would actually be useful this time around, too.


    "Answer this question," June said. "What makes you happy?"


    Silence resonated in the room after June asked the question.


    "Woah," Jangmoon chuckled, breaking the silence. "I didn''t think we''d be getting serious today."


    "Just answer the question," June urged. "This was how I wrote my lyrics for ''Tie Me Up.'' Even if we don''t know what we want to write about just yet, I''m sure we all agree that we want to make the audience happy with our performance, right?"


    They all nodded in agreement.


    "So, for that to happen, we need to channel our happiness. I know it''s been tough being in thepetition, but maybe we can go back to the times when we genuinely felt happy¡­without any worries."


    "Well, mine was when I won a ser game during my Elementary years," Daeho said, starting things off. "It was just an inter-ss game. The prize was a fake gold trophy, but being awarded first brought immense happiness to my heart. Being rewarded with chocte right after was also unforgettable."


    "I had a simr experience," Ren chimed, looking the happiest he''d ever been for the entire duration of the mission. "I won second on a singing recital and was in a bad mood afterward, but my aunt made me feel like I was the winner of the entire event. It was really nice."


    Casper smiled after Ren''s story. "I remember those times, too. When I was younger, my mom missed almost all of my events. However, one time, she actually came to my school y. I yed a tree¡ªa mere tree, but I was the happiest tree on the. Who knew that a parent''s presence could do so much to your happiness?"


    Jangmoon smiled and nodded in agreement. "Gosh, you guys are taking me back to my childhood. I also remember the time I got hurt while riding a swing and attempting a 360-degree flip. I thought my mom was going to scold me afterward, but she just bought me ice cream and told me never to try it again¡ªbecause she didn''t want me to get hurt."


    As June looked at the group of guys, all having genuine smiles on their faces, he couldn''t help but let out a small smile, too.


    Somehow, there wasn''t any envy in his heart. Even though he rarely got to experience what they had experienced, it still took him to the simple, happy times¡ªwhen he was allowed to go to the candy store when he got satisfactory marks on his exams.


    It seemed like being a child had been a happy time for all of them.


    June paused as he repeated the thought inside his head.


    Then, he looked at his teammates once more.


    "Hey guys, why don''t we take it back to the past?"

 Chapter 219 A Good Team

    <h4>Chapter 219 A Good Team</h4>


    "The past?" Casper asked. The other members, too, were confused by June''s sudden suggestion.


    June now knew why he had performed dark and emotional songs up until now. It reflected the life he had.


    It was also the reason why he had been struggling to connect with the concept they were trying to portray¡ªa cute, jolly person who was supposed to be carefree and full of the joys of life.


    The times when he tried to push a smile onto his face and failed was because he couldn''t help but feel the weight of reality pressing down on him. For most people, life had beplicated, and genuine smiles were hard to recreate, especially when you were not in the moment.


    But as June nced at his member''s faces, he realized that their concept may have been hidden in their hearts all along.


    As June looked back on it, he remembered the days of his childhood when he would run to a candy shop and buy one piece with a measly coin.


    The times he had genuinely smiled were when he was reminiscing about his childhood. The ice cream¡­the candies¡­.singing¡­, and the feeling of family from Grandma and Minjun. All of those triggered his sweet memories, a window into his genuine happiness.


    And Hana''s words also resounded in his mind¡ª"You were cute. This was the cutest, most genuine smile I''ve ever seen you in, so I decided to snap a photo."


    And it seemed like his teammates had simr experiences. Everything they shared all tuned back to the time when they were young.


    He remembered how, in their rehearsals, they would often share stories from their past, moments from their childhoods when they were cute and innocent before life''splexities had taken hold.


    "We can''t do a retro theme," Jangmoon whined, snapping June out of his thoughts. "It''s already so overused¡­and my mom lived in the 70s. I don''t want to act to act like my mom."


    "True," Ren said. "And the team performing Grunge Pop-Rock is also employing a retro theme, I think."


    "Not like that," June said. "Not retro¡­Not the 80s¡­but our childhood. All of your sharings¡­they all point to your childhood. And what''s cuter than being an innocent child in this cruel world?" he asked.


    As his teammates didn''t respond, June continued speaking.


    He stared off into the distance as he tapped into his heart, trying to convince his teammates that this was, quite possibly, the best way they could tackle their performance.


    "In the garden of our youth, we reveled in the joy of our innocence," he started off. "Where every moment was a treasure and happiness was our constantpanion. Yet, as we grow old, we find our hearts are not weighed by the richness of what we possess, but by the lightness we once had."


    "We''re so focused on our objectives that we fail to see what the real objective is¡ªto be happy. So, for us to emanate that happiness, maybe we can remember our past. For in the echoes of our childhoodughter, we find that, maybe, the truest essence of happiness is reminding us that our most precious treasures are not the things weck, but the memories we hold."


    The lone cameraman filming the scene was stunned by June''s words. The young adult was merely in his 20s, yet he already spoke with so much wisdom.


    He had filmed quite a number of teams during the show, yet there wasn''t a single trainee who came close to June when it came to creating concepts.


    His teammates stayed silent as June''s words resonated in their minds.


    "You¡­you said you weren''t great at writing!" Ren eximed, feeling betrayed.


    "I''m not," June defended.


    "Then why the heck are you so good with your words? Were you a poet in your past life?"


    June shook his head. Nope, he was just a thug.


    Jangmoon attacked June with a tight hug, causing thetter to groan in pain.


    "Let me go," he said, pushing Jangmoon away.


    The tall trainee looked at him with puppy eyes. "You really are my big brother. I can''t believe those words came freely from your mouth. Now, I''m inspired to not write about pussycats anymore!"


    Casper shook his head in disbelief after hearing June say those words.


    At the start, when he watched June perform the Little Meow Meow song, he was reminded of his precious ck cat¡ªLuther. And that was the main reason why he had grown interested in June from the start.


    However, he never really thought that June would be a contender for the debuting idol team.


    It was only when he performed in the second mission that Casper realized June might be more talented than he had expected.


    However, even now, June has exceeded his expectations.


    From the start, he thought Zeth was his born rival. Even as trainees, they had always beenpared with each other. They had simr builds; they both dabbled in rap and dance; and they were the faces of the trainees in their respectivepanies.


    However, hearing June''s words and even knowing that he produced the song they were going to perform, Casper realized that he and Zeth were facing a very scary trainee.


    And if he looked back to the days when June struggled to even keep up with the beat of the song, Casper couldn''t help but feel amazed.


    Just how much was he going to improve?


    "I like it," Daeho shyly admitted. "I think we can even use some of your words for our lyrics. I also got a burst of inspiration for the choreography, too."


    Casper nodded, snapping out of his thoughts. "Thank you for everything you''ve contributed, June," he sincerely said. "I honestly wouldn''t know what to do if you weren''t in our team."


    June scoffed. "Well, you''d definitely be happier if I wasn''t on your team. You guys would have chosen a different genre and wouldn''t be struggling as much as this."


    "But I don''t regret it," Ren chimed. "I think you guys have noticed that my mood has been pretty down for a while now, and I guess I was just losing confidence as thepetition progressed. There was a time when I even wondered if I wanted to be an idol in the first ce. But being in this team, I felt the joys of performing once more."


    Daeho smiled at Ren. "This is also the first time I''m going to perform something like this, but I''m looking forward to it."


    Casper chuckled. "So, we''ve got our concept down. I guess we just need to divide our team so somebody can do the choreography and the lyrics at the same time?"


    "I''ll help June with the lyrics," Ren suggested.


    "Me too," Jangmoon chimed.


    "Then, Daeho and I will create the choreography and formation. Will that be alright?" Casper asked.


    "It''s more than fine!" Jangmoon eximed, feeling more happy than ever. He nced at June and felt happiness and admiration swell inside his heart.


    Jangmoon had been in June''s team for a total of two times, and in those two times, he realized that being with June was the best.


    "Let''s do this!" Jangmoon screamed, all hyped up. "Let''s show these bitches that we, beef jerky-like trainees, can be as sweet as bubblegum."


    Daeho clicked his tongue and shook his head. "That''s just you."

 Chapter 220 Broom-tiful

    <h4>Chapter 220 Broom-tiful</h4>


    "5, 6, 7, and 8¡­," Casper counted, teaching his members the choreography they had created.


    Things were progressing smoothly for the team. Their lyrics were already set, and they were now learning the choreography.


    There were four days left until the actual performance, which was ample time for them to polish their performance and put on a great stage.


    June once again felt a tingly feeling in his heart, simr to the time he performed ''Tie Me Up.'' And until now, he still wondered what the feeling was.


    ''Maybe I should get a check-up,'' he thought.


    However, even if things were smoothly falling into ce, it couldn''t be denied that there was an elephant in the room.


    June still couldn''t act cute for shit.


    Ren sighed as he guided June''s index fingers to his cheeks, poking the plump and fair flesh.


    "Like this¡­just smile!" he said, demonstrating a bright smile. "Then sway your hips side to side."


    June pursed his lips and looked at his reflection in the mirror, quickly doing what he was instructed to do.


    "Oh damn, that was really bad," Jangmoon said, causing June to re at him.


    June groaned as he slumped on the floor. "I can''t believe the two of you came up with this choreography," June eximed, pointing at Casper and Daeho.


    "And I can''t believe you can''t pull it off," Daeho chuckled. "You have the softest visuals out of all of us right here. How can Jangmoon even be better at this cute thing than you?"


    June nced at Jangmoon, who was currently practicing the choreography while staring at himself in the mirror. He was appalled to see the tall trainee shamelessly swaying his ass while winking at his reflection.


    He felt goosebumps form on his skin.


    "Do it like this," Casper said, demonstrating once more. Daeho quickly followed, and June felt betrayed by all his teammates.


    They had all improved so much after they established their concept, yet June was stuck with his not-cute self.


    June hated to admit it.


    But maybe thements were right.


    Maybe he wasn''t cute at all.


    As a child, he was never really cute, either. He was taller than most of his peers, and he had multiple scars on his face by high school due to the fights he engaged with.


    In short, cute was not in June''s dictionary.


    "Channel your inner child!" Ren eximed. "You''re the one who established this concept. I thought you''d be the best one at this."


    "It''s not that simple," June whined.


    "Alright, let''s take a break," Casper said. "It''s almost lunch, too. So, why don''t we eat first?"


    "Sure, I''m starving," Jangmoon said, snapping out of his cute trance.


    "Let me go with you, too," Daeho said.


    "Me too," Ren joyfully said.


    "I''ll stay here first," June said, still feeling frustrated that he was the only person in their team who still hadn''t embodied their concept.


    "Are you sure?" Jangmoon asked. "Do you want me to grab you anything?"


    June shook his head. "I''ll follow after practicing."


    "Okay," Jangmoon smiled. "We''ll go ahead, then!"


    June then looked at the cameraman who had been filming them this morning.


    "You may go too, sir," June said. "It''s almost lunchtime."


    The cameraman smiled and excused himself to eat lunch. So, right now, June was all alone in their practice room. He stared at his reflection, determined to get his ''cuteness'' down.


    He smiled at himself, trying to remember how he smiled as a child, then started performing their song.


    As June continued to dance, he suddenly heard the door open, making him stop dancing to nce at the intruder.


    "What are you doing?" Mr. Klin asked as he stared at June with disgust.


    "Janitor!" June eximed, surprised that he hade into the practice room. "What are you doing here?"


    Mr. Klin clicked his tongue. "What else would I be doing? Of course, I''m going to clean. All trainees are in the cafeteria right now."


    "Oh," June said. "Well, I''ll be here in the corner. You can do what you want."


    Mr. Klin shook his head and brought out his cleaning supplies, happily sweeping the floor and wiping the mirrors.


    June, on the other hand, continued practicing his gestures and facial expressions.


    "What the hell was that?" Mr. Klin asked.


    "Huh?" June asked, turning around to face the bald janitor.


    "What were you doing just now? Was that for your performance?"


    June wordlessly nodded.


    "It''s awful," Mr. Klin said. "You got a cute concept, right? You weren''t cute at all."


    June clicked his tongue and red at him. "It''s not like you can do any better."


    The janitor scoffed in disbelief. "Me? I can''t do any better? You have a naive mind, kid."


    June raised one of his eyebrows in inquiry. "Why? Do you have any experience dancing and acting cute?"


    Mr. Klin held onto his mop and walked toward June. "Come here," he said.


    June frowned yet nheless followed his instruction. "Let me tell you one thing. Cleaning is actually my third most advanced skill. The first one is dancing. The second is acting cute."


    June wanted tough out loud since the bald janitor looked so serious as he said those words.


    "Back in my day, I was in a boy group," he said, looking into the distance, nostalgia in his gaze. "Ah, those were some good times."


    June shook his head in disbelief. "And what? Did you guys have a janitor concept?" he joked.


    "Yes," Mr. Klin said without any hesitation, causing June to pause.


    "Wait, you''re serious?" he asked.


    "More than serious," the janitor responded. "And we did better than what you demonstrated a while back. We were the cutest acts in town!"


    "My stage name was KlinChi since I loved KimChi very much," he continued. "We were a trio, but our career ended not long after."


    "However, I can still remember those days. The days when we were still¡ªthe Balditors," he stretched out his arms, standing near the curtains, which acted like a makeshift spotlight.


    "The Bald, the Beautiful, and the Broom-tiful."

 Chapter 221 Holy Cute

    <h4>Chapter 221 Holy Cute</h4>


    June couldn''t hold back hisugh anymore. He couldn''t imagine the janitor being in a boy group and performing cute songs in front of a crowd at all.


    Mr. Klin red at June before moving his mop, swaying his hips as he did so. June''s eyes widened in shock as he observed the utter shamelessness of the janitor. It was painful to watch.


    However, June couldn''t deny it.


    Mr. Klin was actually good at this stuff. His eyes sparkled when he danced with his mop, and it seemed like cute gestures and expressions were natural to him.


    He must not be lying, then.


    "This is a secret I''ve kept for so long," Mr. Klin said. "I miss it sometimes, but in the end, my passion for cleaning triumphed."


    "You¡ªhow did you do that?" June stammered, looking scared out of his wits.


    Mr. Klin smirked as he cast his mop aside. "Do you want me to teach you?"


    June nodded enthusiastically. He was desperate at this point.


    The janitor scoffed confidently as he stretched his body. "Well, since you gave me the expensive bottle of bleach, I will grant you another favor."


    "Please do," June said.


    Mr. Klin patted his shiny bald head and grinned. "First things first, June. You''ve got to believe you''re cute. Confidence is the key to cuteness, my boy."


    June scratched his head. "I''m not sure I can do that, Mr. Klin."


    "Of course you can!" Mr. Klin chirped. "Now, imagine you''re the most adorable thing in the world. Channel your inner kitten. Be a baby panda on a slide. Trust me, it works."


    June closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I''m cute," he muttered under his breath.


    Mr. Klin chuckled. "Good, good. Now, onto tip number two: winks, kisses, and sweet gestures are your secret weapons. Try winking at me, June."


    June attempted a wink, but it looked more like a spasm of the eye. Mr. Klin tried not tough but couldn''t help a snicker. "Not quite. You have to be smooth like this."


    Mr. Klin demonstrated a suave wink, followed by an exaggerated kiss blown into the air. He then winked again, shooting June a toothy grin.


    June wanted to apud the bald janitor out of amazement. Damn, this was a talent in itself.


    "Andst but not the least," Mr. Klin said, his voice lowering."This is the most important rule of it all¡ªLet it all go."


    "Let it go?" June asked.


    "Let it go," Mr. Klin strutted with cuteness, swaying his hips. "Have no shame."


    Have no shame?


    June was actually good at that.


    Back when he was working as a thug, he had to go through so much ridicule that he didn''t even know what shame was. It was only when he was promoted that he inculcated shame back into his life.


    Looking back now, it seemed like he hadn''t let go of those inhibitions¡ªespecially with the pressure of other people watching.


    However, he could never forget that during his lowest times, he really had no shame.


    "Nowbine all those three, and you''ve got the perfect form for a cute performance!"


    Mr. Klin eximed. "And your smile¡ªdon''t exaggerate it. Let it flow freely."


    June sighed and faced the mirror, determined to do this once and for all. He closed his eyes and envisioned himself as a bundle of pure cuteness.


    Shameless.


    And then, he let loose.


    June did all the movements without feeling awkward. He moved ording to their choreography, his hips moving in ways one never thought possible. And with a twirl, he stared into his eyes, smiling without any inhibitions.


    For a moment, he merely stared at himself, feeling like he had actually done a great job.


    Then, he turned to Mr. Klin, who looked at him with wide eyes.


    "Well, how was it?" June asked.


    Mr. Klin shook his head and sighed, causing June to feel a bit nervous.


    "Was it that bad?" June asked.


    The janitor clicked his tongue and held onto his mop once more. "Maybe I actually shouldn''t have given you those tips."


    "Why?" June frowned in confusion.


    Mr. Klin smirked and strongly patted June''s back. "Because you''ve already surpassed me. I knew you had that cuteness inside you."


    ***


    "You didn''t follow after us," Jangmoon said as he entered the practice room. He picked his teeth with a toothpick and then ate the food remnants that he retrieved with the stick.


    June grimaced as he watched him.


    "I practiced," June responded.


    "Well, you''re working harder than anyone else," Daeho said.


    June shrugged. He believed he already had their performance in the bag. After the session with Mr. Klin, his confidence was boosted a lot.


    However, he felt exhausted afterward.


    It seemed like he could only act cute for a certain period of time. June felt like he needed at least three days to recharge after what he had just done.


    "So, is everybody ready to go back to practice?" Casper asked, stretching his legs.


    "Yup," Ren eximed. "Let''s get it done and over with. Let''s practice our vocalster in the afternoon."


    "Sure¡ª"


    Jangmoon''s words were cut off when someone suddenly came into the room. They were surprised to see it was Yejin, one of the head producers of the show.


    They all bowed in respect as they weed their superior.


    "Team Bubblegum Pop," she started off. "It''s now your turn."


    The team looked at each other with confusion. "Our turn?" Daeho asked in confusion.


    "Weren''t you informed?" she asked. "The Production Mission does not only involve making music. You''ll be assigned with your outfits and stage appearance, too."


    "Right," Casper said. "I forgot to tell the guys. Is it our turn now?"


    "Yes," Yejin responded. "You have two hours in total before another team enters the design room. I wish you good luck."


    With that, Yejin guided the team to the design room. The guys looked at the room with wonder. It was filled with countless clothing pieces and essories.


    "After you''re done picking an outfit, you can go inside that room and speak with the design team so they can prepare an entire set for your team. You can also talk with them about the stage design," she pointed to the room right next to this one.


    "Thank you," Casper said as Yejin left them all alone.


    "There are so many options to choose from," Daeho said, looking through the clothes.


    "Since we''re going with a cute concept, why don''t we try this one?" Jangmoon asked, pulling out a set of clothes that looked straight out of a fairy movie. It seemed like the clothes that Peter Pan wore but in different colors. There was even a hat that had a feather on the very end.


    "Come on!" Jangmoon eximed, walking over to June while holding onto the hat.


    "Why don''t you try it out, big bro? It looks like your size."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Have Casper try it or something."


    "No, he''s not Peter Pan. He''s a friendly ghost," Jangmoon stubbornly said. "You need to try it."


    June was about to retaliate when Jangmoon suddenly held onto his beanie and removed it from his head.


    His teammates all looked at him with wide eyes.


    "YOUR HAIR IS PINK?"

 Chapter 222 Elementary

    <h4>Chapter 222 Elementary</h4>


    June''s teammates couldn''t stop looking at him. Their eyes were practically burning holes into his skull, causing him to sigh.


    "What?" June asked.


    "Since when have you dyed your hair?" Ren asked.


    "Before the field day," June nonchntly responded.


    Jangmoon''s eyes widened in surprise. "It''s been that long? So, your hair has been dyed when we went to your house to cry?"


    Casper swiftly turned to him. "You guys went to June''s house to hang out?"


    Jangmoon clicked his tongue. "Why? Don''t tell me you want to join us next time."


    Casper pursed his lips and refrained from speaking.


    "Well, it doesn''t matter," June said. "I might dye my hair back to ck before our performance."


    Since he already aplished the mission, there was no way Fu was going to retaliate.


    However, much to June''s surprise, his teammates simultaneously eximed, "No!"


    Jangmoon let out a deep breath like something was brewing inside him, and then he jumped up and ruffled June''s hair.


    "I was holding back a while ago, but you look really good with pink hair, bro! You''re like those tiny, naked dolls that people put on the back of their phones."


    "Sonny Devils?" Daeho asked.


    "Yup!" Jangmoon eximed. "I believe this will be our key to victory. You can''t dye your hair back. Pink is your color!"


    "Cute," Casper chimed, but June ignored him.


    Ren nodded enthusiastically. "You really suit it well. It''s like we''re back in your pink mask era."


    "And that was an iconic era!" Jangmoon said. "But why is your hair so soft even when it''s dyed? Thest time I got my hair dyed, it felt like literal hay. I was balding in three spots."


    "Really cute," Casper repeated in a louder voice this time, but his teammates ignored him again.


    "His hair stylist must have been really good," Daeho said.


    June shrugged. It seemed like Kumo actually knew what he was doing.


    "Pink is cute!" Casper eximed even louder, startling his teammates. "You look like a little kid."


    June looked at him weirdly before shaking his head. Meanwhile, Casper was thinking if he should dye his cat, Luther, pink too.


    Just then, Ren started rummaging through the outfits. He pulled out a hanger and ced it before June before squinting his eyes.


    Then, there was a dinging sound in his mind¡ªlike he had hit the jackpot.


    "This is it," Ren excitedly said. "Little kids! Let''s be literal kids."


    "Oof, I don''t know if I want that," Jangmoon said. "That must be some kind of kink or something."


    Ren clicked his tongue and showed them the outfit he had put together.


    June looked at the outfit and let out a small smile. This uniform is the type that Minjun wore. That little devil managed to worm his way into June''s mind again. It was true that Minjun looked really cute in it.


    So, June nodded in approval. "I want to go with this one."


    Casper agreed quickly, too. "Let''s go with this one."


    Jangmoon groaned as he slumped down on the chair. "But Peter Pan!" heined.


    Daeho shook his head. "You''re on your own, bud. I''m going with this one too."


    Jangmoon clicked his tongue and stood up, ring at his teammates. "Fine," he scoffed. "But I''lle up with our team name. I already have something in mind."


    "Will that make you quiet?" Casper asked.


    "Yes," Jangmoon smiled.


    "Fine," Casper sighed. "What''s our team name."


    Jangmoon smiled cheekily at them, and maybe June should have stapled Jangmoon''s lips close at that point.


    "No take-backs, okay?" he excitedly said.


    "We''ll be¡ªTeam Adorbz!"


    ***


    The sun beat down on the crowd gathered outside the massive building. A sea of colorful banners filled the air as people lined up to the entrance, where the trainees of ''Rising Stars'' were going to perform for their next mission.


    The amount of starlights waiting outside the venue was already groundbreaking. The line had reached out near the roads, and the parking areas adjacent to Azure were all filled with enthusiastic fans. Even people who were unfortunate to not get any tickets stood outside the venue to cheer for their favorite trainees.


    The fan gathering had reached the sidewalks, and some grumbling middle-aged men were growing impatient.


    Jia and her friends weren''t able to get to the front of the line this time around. They hade at dawn, but there was already a line of fans waiting even though they came early.


    "What the hell is this even for?" a man that smelled of cigarette smoke eximed. Then, he nced at the banner on the entrance.


    "Some K-Pop gay shit, huh? Can''t believe teens actually line up for something like this," another man with a beer belly guffawed out loud, some of the hamburger crumbs from his mouth sttering to the ground.


    Jia grimaced and red at the imposing group of men. They were wearing suits and seemed to be going to work, yet they looked less respectable than a jobless man.


    The men noticed Jia''s re, causing them to walk toward her group.


    "Shit," Na-ri cursed. "Don''t look their way."


    "Well, well, what are some prettydies doing out here lining up for puny boys? Why don''t you join us instead, huh?" the third guy with yellowing teeth smiled charmingly at the group ofdies.


    However, Jia red at them even harder and then looked away.


    "Oh, what''s this?" the beer-belly guy said. "You should be ttered that we''re even noticing your presence, you crazy chicks."


    "Move along," Bora said, finally snapping. "If I wanted to experience a bellyugh and bad odor, I''d watch aedy show in a sewer!"


    "What did you say?" he asked, getting angry.


    However, before they could create a scene, a group of silver-haired olddies strutted onto the scene with confidence that would put even the most seasoned idols to shame. Their attire, ''I <3 June crop tops with sparkly sneakers red at the three men.


    "What''s going on here?" one of them asked. "Are these men bothering you,dies?"


    Jia''s group nodded, still looking astonished by the group ofdies.


    "What the hell do we have here? A cougar house?" the yellow-teeth guy chuckled.


    Cigarette-breath guy was about to disrespect the olddies once more but stopped when he saw one of thedies in the group.


    He tapped both his aplices and pointed at the olddy adorned in expensive jewelry with a designer bag on her shoulders.


    "Holy shit! CEO?"

 Chapter 223 Production Mission Commences

    <h4>Chapter 223 Production Mission Commences</h4>


    Jihyun looked at the crowd of peopleing in. "Why does it feel like there are more people than usual?" she asked.


    "Because there are literally more people who bought the tickets," Woo-jin responded. "I heard the production crew had to maximize the seating capacity since there were a great number of fans wanting to watch the live performances."


    Hyerin shook her head in disbelief. "This is the first season where they did that, right?"


    Gun nodded. "Well, without a doubt, this has been the most popr season. Even my little cousins are watching the show."


    "What do you think the reason for the sess is?" Bone asked, joining their conversation. "I thought this season would be significantly less popr than the past seasons because of the scandal that happenedst year."


    "I think there''s a definite reason," Jihyun said, her eyes wandering to one of the photos disyed on the LED screen.


    June.


    "Must be the amount of popr trainees, right?" Woo-jin asked. "There are so many great bets for the debut position."


    "Sure," Jihyun said, not saying her real thoughts. Maybe people still underestimated June because he doesn''te from a bigpany, but since Jihyun had been observing him from the start, she had be certain.


    As she looked around the venue, her thoughts merely strengthened.


    At the beginning of the show, the banners in the venue were dominated by the trainees at the top¡ªthose who came from bigpanies or who had fans even before the show.


    However, right now, there was a fairly good saturation of banners for different trainees.


    And from an amateur''s eye, they might think that June had no contribution to this. How could a single trainee manipte the fan ratio of the show?


    However, looking back on it, some of the trainees who teamed up with June weren''t projected to make it this far into thepetition.


    C-Jay¡­Jangmoon¡­Akira¡­Sehun.


    All of these trainees would have never made it to the top 25 if they didn''t get to meet June and perform with him. In the same light, it seemed like the higher-ranked trainees had been working harder, not beingcent, since the rise of these trainees was now threatening their positions.


    As Jihyun continued looking around, she noticed something. If, back then, Zeth and Casper had significantly more banners than the rest of the top-ranked trainees, it seemed like June''s banners were now on equal footing with them.


    Jihyun shook her head in disbelief. "He''s really amazing," she muttered.


    "Am I the only one who''s a bit worried?" Hyerin asked, causing Jihyun to snap out of her thoughts.


    "Why?" Gun asked.


    "Well, after the interim evaluations, we haven''t seen the progress of the trainees," she responded.


    "Yeah," Bone sighed. "This is also the first time we''ve done this. I believe the trainees don''t have any idea about the other teams'' stages as well. The production crew is really ying on the ''surprise'' aspect of the performances."


    "I think it''s best if we trust them," Woo-jin said. "They''re already in the top 25, and this is their time to show their independence. I''m actually pretty excited."


    "Me too," Gun said, his mind straying to June. "I wonder how they''re going to perform their self-made songs."


    "Well, now, I''m not too worried because they all did well during the interim evaluations. I just wish they worked hard for the other elements, too, since some of the songs had simr vibes with each other," Bone added.


    Jihyun agreed. "Two songs stood out for me¡ªJune''s team and Lin Zhi''s team. I believe it''ll be a battle between them."


    Just then, loud screams filled the venue, halting the mentors'' conversation. They turned to the stage and saw Minho looking as dashing as ever. He stood at the center of the stage, bathed in dazzling lights, with his megawatt smile radiating irresistible charm.


    Gun sighed as he looked at the glowing aura of the actor. "I wonder what it''s like to be born like that," he said.


    Bone chuckled and nudged his shoulder. "Let''s try harder in our next life."


    "Good morning,dies and gentlemen!" Kang Minho''s voice boomed over the roaring apuse. The crowd erupted into louder cheers and apuse, their enthusiasm shaking the foundations of the building.


    As the apuse subsided, Kang Minho began to speak. "Tonight," he dered, "We have something truly special in store for you all. This is the first time such a mission has been conducted in Rising Stars. We unveil to you¡ªthe Production Mission!"


    The letters spelling ''Production Mission'' appeared in bold, glittering letters behind him, further elevating the excitement in the room.


    Minho continued, "For this mission, our trainees were givenplete independence. They were tasked with creating their own songs, lyrics, choreography, and even designing their stage outfits. It''s an opportunity to show their creativity, individuality, and potential to be true artists."


    The audience murmured among themselves as they exchanged thoughts on what to expect from the trainees'' self-produced performances.


    "This is going to be exciting."


    "I can''t wait to hear their songs."


    "Minho, I love you, but please stop talking and introduce the first performance already."


    "I want someone to take their shirt off."


    "But that''s not all," he said, leaning in. "After every performance, we will ask you, our incredible starlights, to cast your votes for the trainee who stood out the most. And trust me, this vote will have a very, very important impact on thepetition ahead. So, choose wisely."


    "Then, after all the performances, you''re also going to vote for your favorite team, and they, too, will win another benefit," he added.


    The trainees listening in their respective rooms also paid extra attention to what Minho had said.


    "They still haven''t unveiled the reward of the highest-cing trainee, right?" Zeth asked.


    "They haven''t," Leo responded. "Which is very weird. This is the first time they''ve held the benefit until the end of the mission."


    Zeth shrugged. "Maybe it''ll be a million stars?"


    "Then, that''s already a gateway to the finals."


    "Now," Minho''s voice filled the venue. "Without further ado, let''s get started with the Production Mission! For the very first performance, let me call on a team that will shake the venue with their powerful beats. Performing a song under the Electro-Techno genre, let us wee the Team Party Animals!"

 Chapter 224 Black Kitten Bag

    <h4>Chapter 224 ck Kitten Bag</h4>


    June sighed as he heard Lin Zhi''s voice over the speakers of the television in their room. Each team was given singr rooms this time, where they could watch the other team''s performances without being spoiled by their outfits and concepts.


    June had just finished with hair and make-up, and he was thest one of his team to get dressed. There wasn''t any rush for them, though.


    His team got to performst again. The order was done by drawing lots, and Ren was lucky enough to draw thest number.


    "Our team has worked very hard for this performance," Lin Zhi said, his voice shaking a bit.


    Even if June couldn''t see his face, he could already imagine the pitiful act that Lin Zhi was putting on.


    Lin Zhi choked back a sob, and ''awws'' filled the venue. "I''m so happy that I''vee this far, and it''s all thanks to your guys'' support. Please continue to support me¡ªI mean, us, until the end of thepetition. Thank you so much."


    June shook his head and scoffed as he finished putting on the bow tie on his cor. He felt a chill run down his spine since the material was pretty thin, but nheless, he felt satisfied with his appearance.


    As he looked at his reflection, he pursed his lips in disbelief. Then, he smiled¡ªtaking into mind the tips that Mr. Klin had given.


    He looked really young¡ªlike a real kid.


    Well, that was the concept they were going for, so June wasn''t disappointed.


    Suddenly, a ck, furry item made its way into his view, causing him to frown.


    "Hey, guys?" he called out from inside the dressing room.


    "What''s up?" Jangmoon asked.


    "Did somebody leave their bag in the dressing room?"


    "Bag?" Casper chimed in. "Nope," he said. "I didn''t even bring my bag this morning."


    "Then, how about the others?" June asked.


    "Oh," Jangmoon said, the realization hitting him. "Oh! You''re talking about THAT bag. That''s for you, big bro. I ordered it specifically for this mission. It reminded me of you, so I got it."


    "I''m not wearing it," June said, looking at the bag that was shaped like a kitten''s face on the floor. It stared at June with its big, googly eyes and wide grin.


    "Oh,e on, big bro," Jangmoon whined. "I even paid an extra 12 dors just to expedite the shipping. It came from overseas, you know?"


    "Still not wearing it," June said.


    "Just wear it," Daeho and Ren said in unison, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise. Why were they so adamant about making him wear it?


    "It was pretty expensive, big bro," Jangmoon said, his voice turning softer. June felt a pang inside his chest. Was Jangmoon actually sad about it?


    "So, my mom paid for it," he continued. "My poor mom gave his 24-year-old son money because he didn''t have any. Don''t you pity her?"


    June groaned in annoyance.


    He did not just pull out the ''mother'' card. Now, June had no choice but to wear the kitty bag.


    He turned to the side to see what it looked like and groaned once more when he saw its small legs dangling with every little movement.


    "Whatever," June sighed. It was for Jangmoon''s mother.


    With a final look in the mirror, June opened the curtains of their makeshift dressing room and left the tiny era.


    He dusted off his clothes and made sure all buttons were in ce. He also hiked up his socks so they weren''t sagging on his ankles.


    June could hear Lin Zhi''s team performing in the background, but aside from that, the room was dead silent.


    He frowned as he looked up, wondering why his teammates suddenly turned quiet when they were nothing but a group of rowdy kids just a while ago.


    However, June took a step back out of surprise when he saw all of them looking at him with wide, sparkling eyes.


    "What?" June asked, fixing the strap of the bags, causing the kittens'' little legs to move once again.


    "So cute!" Jangmoon squealed out loud that his voice even pierced through the wall and was heard by the teams next to them.


    C-Jay jolted in surprise when he heard the sound. "Shit," he cursed. "Did a pig just get ughtered?"


    "Cute! Cute! Cute!" Jangmoon continued eximing as he shook June''s shoulders.


    "Let go!" June eximed, ring at Jangmoon.


    "Oh, gosh, this is bad," Jangmoon said. "You look like a cute little kid even when you''re frowning. Your fans are going to have a heart attack. You''re going to make my fans faint, too!"


    "What fans?" Daeho asked from the side. However, Jangmoon chose to ignore him and continued fawning over June.


    Casper stared at June with wonder, wanting to keep him in a cage so Luther would have a ymate.


    However, he quickly snapped out of his thoughts since maybe, just maybe, that was pretty weird.


    "Maybe our team might actually win," Ren added softly. It has been a long time since Ren had tasted victory, and he was more than excited.


    As Ren looked back on his past, he couldn''t help but think that all his victories since he became a trainee were attributed to Zeth.


    Even during the monthly trainee evaluations in theirpany, Ren never had the chance to take first ce when Zeth was hispetitor. However, he was able to garner the most positive response when he performed with Zeth.


    "We will," Casper said with conviction, fully believing in their team. "Team Adorbz all the way."


    June groaned in annoyance. "I still hate our name, though."


    "Hey!" Jangmoone eximed, offended. "Anyone who hates on our name is against peace. Are you against peace, big bro?"


    "Shut up," June retorted.


    "I think it''ll be pretty difficult to win, though," Daeho suddenly said, causing his members to pay attention to him.


    "Huh?" Casper asked.


    "Look," Daeho said, pointing at the television. It was only then that they realized the loud screamsing from the fans.


    However, that was only the tip of the iceberg.


    Because center-screen was Lin Zhi, standing with a confident smirk and eyes filled with pride.


    And the worst part about this?


    He had his shirt off.

 Chapter 225 Lin Zhi’s Life

    <h4>Chapter 225 Lin Zhi''s Life</h4>


    Lin Zhi felt prouder than anyone else as he revealed his well-defined abs to the public. The fangirls screamed at his feet, feeding onto his already high ego.


    This was the life he wanted to live.


    He could still remember the days when he dreamed of bing an idol.


    You see, Lin Zhi never had a lot growing up. He was born in the slums of Shanghai, and his parents both worked low-ie jobs. He had a lot of ambitions, but his parents always made excuses.


    "Next time, my child."


    "When I hit it big, I''ll buy you something."


    "We''re sorry, son. We can''t afford to send you to school anymore."


    "Just a little bit more. We can make it."


    Because of those words, Lin Zhi always questioned his existence. Why was he born with parents who weren''t ready to raise a child? Why were others born with significantly more while he was stuck with nearly nothing?


    Life was fucking unfair.


    So, he ran away. He joined the White Tiger gang to finally live his dream. From a young age, he always wanted to go into entertainment. He wasn''t interested in singing, dancing, acting, and the like.


    But for him, being a celebrity meant that he''d finally get attention¡ªthe level of attention he craved from his parents.


    Then, Lin Zhi became a ve to attention.


    So when K-Pop idols suddenly went viral worldwide, he knew that it''d be the best way to get all that attention¡­and maybe some good money, too.


    Thus, Lin Zhi did everything he could. Fortunately, Laohu gave him the opportunity to be a drug distributor, and not those measly errand boys in their gang.


    Even as a neer, he was given quite a lot of privileges.


    He understood that it was unfair.


    But life was unfair, and his members just had to deal with it.


    He worked his ass off for more than a year yet his money still wasn''t enough to take him to Korea and have a good life. He couldn''t get recruited by a decentpany, and he was miserable.


    So, when an opportunity was ced before him, he had no choice but to ept it.


    Even if it meant betraying the people who trusted him.


    Even if it meant killing Jun Hao.


    Because, then again, life was unfair.


    And for Lin Zhi, life was just paying him back for the unfairness he experienced when he was a child.


    It''s been more than a year since he killed that guy¡ªJun Hao. For Lin Zhi, he was honestly a very good brother, but he understood why Laohu wanted to kill him.


    That guy had been in the gang for years, and he knew the ups and downs of White Tiger more than anyone else¡­probably even more than Laohu himself. They had their eyes on Jun Hao for a while now, and Laohu even promoted that poor bastard¡­only to observe him closer.


    And maybe it was for his own enjoyment too.


    It was more fun to see people crumble when they were at their highest.


    So, even if Lin Zhi remembered Jun Hao''s face from time to time, he just brushed it off and continued with his life.


    In the end, he was able to live his dream because of his death.


    A part of him will always be grateful for Jun Hao, but a bigger part of him believed that he deserved to live this kind of life.


    And now, he was so close to it.


    Top 25¡ªhe knew he would get it this far. And taking off his shirt was definitely the push he needed to get him to the finals.


    With a final bow, his team left the stage with the sound of lingering screams from the background. Lin Zhi''s heart swelled with pride as most of the audience screamed his name.


    He got this one in the bag.


    Meanwhile, inside Team Adorbz''s dressing room¡­


    They all stood while watching Lin Zhi bathe in all the attention.


    "Umm, I think we might actually lose," Jangmoon suddenly said, holding onto his abdomen. "How the hell did he get such a well-defined six pack?"


    "It''s unfair," Jangmoon continued to whine. "That''s like a cheat sheet! Their team might just win right now."


    June merely sighed as he continued watching the show.


    The next team, Jisung''s team, started performing on stage.


    For their performance, the stage was bathed in a kaleidoscope of beaming lights. They performed their song ''Retro Revive'' with a 90s concept. Their well-gelled hair shimmered under the spotlight, and their pastel-colored outfits and neon essories elevated their performance. As it reached thest chorus, the crowd began to sing along to their easy lyrics.


    However, even with all of that, it seemed like their performance becameckluster, with the audience already expecting them to do something as drastic as what Lin Zhi did.


    June sat at the couch and continued watching the rest of the performances. His teammates, too, turned silent as their performance got nearer.


    The next team also did well.


    Zeth''s team, ''TrapKings,'' plunged into darkness, punctuated only by the asional sh of strobe lights. The atmosphere shifted to something more ''street'' and ''cool.'' Zeth''s rap in the beginning, apanied by the thumping bass, captured the audience in an instant. They were yet another contender for first ce.


    Now, there was only one team left until Team Adorbz''s performance, and this one was significantly less exciting than the rest of the stages.


    "Hey," Daeho suddenly said as he looked at his phone. "That doctor who dissed some of the trainees is posting various shit on his Navel ount."


    "Doctor Kim?" June frowned.


    "Yeah, him," Daeho said, showing them his screen. "It seems like he came to watch the live show. He has almost 30,000 likes on this one. That''s ridiculous. He''s spouting nonsense again."


    They gathered around Daeho and read what the doctor had posted.


    DoctorK: See? I told you this trainee got a lot of stic surgery. His lips are not even moving. It''s because his face is stiff with all the silicone.


    DoctorK: I think June''s performance is up next. I''ll make an in depth analysis of his face while watching the performance. He''s the one who got the most stic surgery among everyone, so I wonder how he''s going to perform.


    Casper clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Isn''t he a doctor? Why is he posting content like this?"


    June sighed and turned off Daeho''s phone. "Let''s not waste our time with people like those."


    Jangmoon and Ren nodded.


    Just then, the door opened, and a male intern poked his head through the door.


    "Team Adorbz?" the intern said, his tone turning hesitant as he read their team name.


    "Please head backstage and get ready for your performance."

 Chapter 226 Pink Mop

    <h4>Chapter 226 Pink Mop</h4>


    As Team Adorbz walked backstage to wait for their time to perform, the crew members couldn''t help but look at the pink energy that stood out among his team.


    June was covered by his tall teammates, but his pink hair red at the onlookers.


    As he continued walking, he suddenly saw a color simr to his hair in his peripheral vision.


    He stopped for a moment and nced to the side.


    He raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Mr. Klin holding a brand-new mop. However, instead of his usual yellow mop, this one was covered in pink, sparkly details.


    June couldn''t help but smile as Mr. Klin showed him a thumbs-up. ''Good luck,'' he mouthed.


    June nodded in appreciation before catching up to his teammates.


    At this point, the fourth team was still performing, so they waited patiently while trying to shake the nerves away.


    The team had been pretty confident with their performance, especially since June appeared to have gotten morefortable being their center. But little did they know June was yet to unleash the power of the lessons he received from Mr. Klin.


    "I''m actually pretty nervous," Casper suddenly said, causing his members to look at him with surprise.


    Casper, the ever-calm trainee who always had an air of confidence around him, was actually nervous?


    "Bro, don''t say that," Jangmoon said, pping his shoulder. "If you''re nervous, then I feel like I should be nervous too."


    Ren also started shaking his hands in nervousness. "It''s going to be alright, right? Gosh, I''m feeling the pressure of being thest performer."


    "Fuck," Daeho cursed under his breath. "Why are you guys suddenly being like this? Now, I''m doubting if I can perform well on stage."


    June sighed as he looked at his trembling teammates.


    "What are you even nervous for?" he asked, causing the four of them to turn to him.


    "Failure? Bad feedback? Messing up?" June asked. "You know, you''ll most likely mess up if your mindset is already like that. The world gives you what you manifest."


    That wasn''t true. Up until now, June still hasn''t gotten a new phone.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his neck. "I guess it''s better to not have any expectations after all, right? That way, we wouldn''t be disappointed."


    June clicked his tongue. "That''s a statement only applicable to those who aren''t ready. We worked hard for this, so naturally, we''d expect something good with our performance."


    Casper sighed, looking down at the ground. "I guess the nerves are just getting to us. I can''t believe this is ourst mission before the finale."


    "Exactly," June said, smiling at them. "We''vee a long way, and that''s for no good reason. For the past missions, we worked our hardest to give the audience a satisfying stage."


    "For now, why don''t we perform for ourselves? This stage requires us to have fun¡ªbecause this, too, will be a memory for us in the future. Let''s make it memorable, shall we?"


    "Damn," Jangmoon muttered. "I should have said that."


    June shook his head. "We practiced for this more than a hundred times now. It''s going to be okay," he assured them, turning to Ren since he knew he needed the most assurance.


    "You did great with the revisions for the production," Juneplimented, causing Ren to beam, his nervousness quickly fading away.


    Just then, the song of the other team halted and was reced by the loud cheers of the crowd. The team all looked at the stage with determined gazes.


    "This is it," Casper said, more motivated than before.


    "Let''s do this," Daeho said, pping his hands as the other team exited the stage.


    As the other team walked away, they couldn''t help but sigh in disappointment. There had been quite a number of mistakes in their stage, and theirst practice was also better than their actual performance.


    "We could have done a better job," Leo said, massaging the bridge of his nose.


    Sehun patted his back. "We did the best we can," heforted their leader. "It seems like the audience still loved our performance., so it''s alright."


    "Yeah, we did great!" his other members chimed, alleviating the heaviness in Leo''s chest.


    However, as they passed by June''s team, they suddenly halted, looking back at them, who were now standing on the very dark stage.


    "Wait," Leo eximed, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "Is it just me, or is one of them pink?"


    Meanwhile, the stage was veiled in inky ckness, and all that could be seen were five shadow figures standing in a tight-knit group.


    The starlights, despite not seeing the faces of the trainees, erupted into deafening roars and screams. They already knew who thest performer was.


    The mentors covered their ears as the cheers continued.


    Jia, too, couldn''t believe what she was hearing. She had been there from the very first live performances, and the difference in June''s fans was phenomenal. If back then, Jia felt like she was the only one cheering for him, now, it seemed like more than half of the audience held his banners.


    In the control room backstage, Minho''s voice boomed through the speakers, silencing the crowd as they got ready to watch the performance.


    "This is thest, but certainly not the least team, performing one of our favorite genres¡ªBubblegum Pop," he dered."Get ready for a burst of charming vor that will leave you craving for more. Let us all wee ¡ªTeam Adorbz!"


    The audience once again became noisy after the introduction.


    "Shit. Casper''s going to perform a cute song?"


    "Nah, Casper can pull it off. But June? June actually chose to perform this?"


    "Did June see that post about him not being cute or something?"


    "What was their team name again?"


    Even Doctor Kim, who was currently in the crowd, waited in anticipation. He wanted to see just how botched this June trainee''s face was.


    His content had been falling for thest couple of months, and he had only gained impable traction when he started talking about the trainees¡ªespecially June.


    So, Doctor Kim was more than excited to watch their performance and make yet another trending topic.


    As the sound of their mic checks echoed in the room, the audience turned silent.


    At that moment, it seemed like the studio was filled with hearts beating as one, waiting for the well-anticipated performance to finally start.


    Once again, Minho''s voice pierced through the air.


    "This is¡ªMemories."


    The lights in the studio blinked, and then, burst into dazzling brilliance.


    June smiled as the spotlight illuminated their figures.


    "It''s showtime."

 Chapter 227 Memories (1)

    <h4>Chapter 227 Memories (1)</h4>


    The teams backstage couldn''t deny it. This was probably the most-anticipated performance of the night. Since all of them had finished performing, they settled in their seats, their eyes focused on therge television screens that Azure had kindly set up for them.


    "It''s finally here," Zeth said, leaning against his knees.


    Akira and Jaeyong, too, plopped down on the couch, their eyes never straying away from the television.


    "I wonder how June will perform this time," Akira said. "I bet this is the hardest performance for him yet."


    "Oh really?" Jaxon asked, sitting next to them. "I watched all the episodes, and June had the worst time in all of the stages. Do you remember your first performance? It was fucking disastrous. None of you listened well."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Well, have you seen the second mission with Zeth? His teammates had such big heads, and they couldn''t take any suggestions from each other. And let''s not get started on the third mission. These two," he pointed at Zeth and Jaeyong, "kicked June out of their team."


    Jaxon chuckled. "He had some of the most bizarre moments in Rising Stars."


    "But they all turned out to be okay," Akira said. "They were perfect, even. So, I think they''ll actually do well. I''m just not sure about the cute aspect."


    Meanwhile, in the other rooms¡­


    "Do you think they''ll do well?" C-Jay asked.


    Jisung nodded. "They will. June always does well."


    "But I haven''t seen June smile that much," their teammate responded. "His forte is on dark, emotional songs."


    "I agree," another teammate said. "I feel like this is a recipe for disaster¡­even if their team did very well on the interim evaluations."


    "Hmm," another chimed. "I think Lin Zhi''s team will actually win this one. The impact of their performance lingered even during our stage. I think he can even beat Zeth with that shirtless tactic."


    Jisung pursed his lips. "I think it all lies upon how they execute their concept. I can''t wait to see their performance."


    Just then, like perfect timing, the stage became fully illuminated, and June''s smile was the very first thing the viewers saw. Zeth stood up from his seat as June''s smile and pink hair were revealed. "What the hell? His hair is pink?"


    Akira and Jaeyong looked at each other with wide eyes. Being a June fanatic themselves, they couldn''t help but be amazed.


    Pink? That was totally June''s color.


    The other teams weren''t any better. They were instantaneously shocked to see the pink, cotton-candy hair on top of June''s head.


    Cheers filled the studio, startling even the trainees inside their respective rooms.


    "Holy shit," C-Jay eximed. "The studio is going to burst from these screams."


    It was already so loud in their confined rooms. Just how loud was the audience screaming inside the studio?


    The trainees stared at the screen in disbelief. June''s smile was natural¡ªlike this was his natural state and not the grumpy, blunt, and nonchnt trainee they had filmed with for the past month.


    Even Jisung and C-Jay, who had seen June smile a couple of times, still felt amazed. He actually looked¡­cute?


    C-Jay shook his head as he turned to his teammate who said June''s forte was on dark, emotional songs. "June doesn''t have a forte, bro," he said. "That scary guy is probably good at everything."


    Meanwhile, the reactions of the audience weren''t any different. In fact, it seemed like the venue had gone crazy after June''s hair was revealed. Even Jihyun couldn''t hold back a scream as she stared at his face on therge LED screen.


    Doctor Kim, who was determined to shit on June''s face as soon as it was shown, halted and merely stared at him. He shook his head and squinted his eyes to take a better look.


    This boy¡ªhe looked better in real life. Doctor Kim''s eyes sparkled as he looked at June''s delicate features. This was the type of face he always wanted to have!


    However, the audience didn''t have much time to dwell on their thoughts as the speakers started ying a bright, melodious tune that instantly engulfed the venue in sweetness.


    If the past four performances felt like fire, the intro of this song sounded more mellow¡ªlike a warm hug.


    The stage was bathed in the soft glow of gentle, golden light. It wrapped around the five boys, casting a warm radiance upon their school uniforms, creating a contrast against the backdrop of an old-looking school building. The youngds, each in their shorts and bow ties, stood there with hearts as bright as the sun itself.


    A hush fell over the audience as they concentrated on the performance. Smiles filled with adoration adorned their faces as they took in the sight before them. These five boys were a picture of innocence, embodying the beauty of youth in all its simplicity. The cherry blossoms danced behind them on the LED screen, the petals like gentle confetti falling from the heavens.


    As the sweet, innocent melody wafted through the air, the five boys began moving to the beat. It wasn''t what the audience expected, but it was a delightful surprise, like discovering a hidden treasure in in sight. Their movements were reminiscent of childhood games¡ª pping hands¡ªsimple yet so synchronized.


    June, standing in the center, let it all go.


    There was a radiant smile on his face as he gracefully executed the cute gestures of the performance. His teammates, who had practiced endlessly with him, couldn''t help but be surprised by this transformation.


    They had seen June reach his limit during rehearsals, but now, under the warm lights, it felt like he was the cutest among them all.


    June was the epitome of their song, and in that moment, his teammates were fueled to do even better.


    With their preliminary danceing to an end, June made his way to the front, clutching onto his ck kitten bag with two hands, looking like a lost little kid on his first day of school.


    And then, he sang.

 Chapter 228 Memories (2)

    <h4>Chapter 228 Memories (2)</h4>


    "I chased the sun on endless summer days.


    Iughed with friends, engaged in fun and ys."


    June''s voice, clear and crisp, reached the audience through the speakers. It was like a melody plucked from a dream, a sweet and soothing serenade that wrapped around the hearts of those in the audience. As he sang, his smile embodied pure joy, a radiant light that drew everyone''s gazes.


    "With my hands, I grasped at dreams so high.


    In the blue sky, I spread my wings to fly."


    Ren took over, his voice carrying a unique nasal quality yet nheless soft vibe. His vocal tone added a contrast, contributing a fresh vor to the song. His confidence was evident, quite different from the person he was before, and June couldn''t help but feel proud of him.


    "Recess bells would ring, and the yground felt so wide.


    In games so fun, I''d leap, I''d cry, I''d hide.


    The taste of candy on my eager lips,


    Sweet nostalgia, in my memory, it sits."


    Jangmoon, the once-stiff performer who had drastically improved over the course of thepetition, followed with his vocals. His voice was still underdeveloped, but it was a great addition to the song, only adding to the childlike aspect of their performance.


    "Oh, when I was a child, such a sweet chime.


    Yet I yearned to grow up, one day, some time."


    Ren once again sang the pre-chorus before blending into the chorus.


    "Now I yearn for days when life was pure and free,


    But time''s river flows and I can only see,


    The past through the prism of what used to be,


    A beautiful, fading dream, in my heart, a memory."


    The chorus was led by Casper, whose baritone voice was an unexpected but beautiful surprise. His voice was like a rich, velvetyyer thatplemented the sweetness of the song. Despite his deep vocal timbre, the chorus sounded surprisingly cute.


    Throughout the performance, the boys danced with infectious excitement, their movements reflecting the joy of children ying.


    The unexpected performance was a fun, heartwarming experience that left the audience, trainees, and mentors alike in awe. The boys, whom they never thought would pull such a concept off, were actually performing with so much ease.


    As the second verse of the song began, Daeho stepped up to the center. He had written this verse himself, and his passion for the lyrics was heard in his delivery. The audience, already entranced by the performance, listened intently as Daeho''s heartfelt words flowed.


    "In the flicker of a campfire, beneath the night''s cloak,


    We''d share stories,ughter, and tales bespoke,


    Marshmallows toasted to a golden, sweet delight,


    Underneath the endless starry night."


    Casper followed, delivering his own verse with a deep, resonant tone.


    "We''d build castles in the sand, by the ocean''s sway,


    With dreams and hopes that never fade away,


    With seashells and sunsets, whispers in the breeze,


    Oh, those days of wonder make our hearts at ease."


    June, dancing at the side during the verses, couldn''t have been prouder of his teammates. He knew they had done a great job with their verses, and he acknowledged it with a warm smile.


    He only sang one line at this point, but he didn''t mind it. The focus wasn''t on individual lines or parts; but on the beauty of their performance.


    "Oh, when we were children, such a sweet chime.


    Yet we yearned to grow up, one day, some time."


    As the performance continued, June found himself swept up in the joy of the moment. The audience''s positive energy only fueled his own enjoyment. His smile widened as Daeho sang the pre-chorus. June was in his element, looking ecstatic to be sharing the stage with his team and basking in the cheers of the audience.


    On their elevated seats, the mentors discussed June''s performance, noting that he was truly shining on stage and looking cuter than ever. The trainees, too, saw that they were fully immersed in the moment, and despite hoping that Team Adorbz wouldn''t do too good, they couldn''t help but root for them since their genuine happiness was contagious.


    The audience also couldn''t help but be captivated by the transformation they were witnessing. This type of concept actually suited June very much, and they were all silenced by his aura that radiated pure cuteness and joy.


    As the next chorus arrived, Ren and Jangmoon took the lead, their voices blending beautifully with each other in a harmonious duet.


    "Now I yearn for days when life was pure and free,


    But time''s river flows and I can only see,


    The past through the prism of what used to be,


    A beautiful, fading dream, in my heart, a memory."


    Meanwhile, a pair dance began, with the the members showcasing their synchronized movements. June stood in the middle, and he danced naturally, swaying his hips to the beat.


    He performed a series of cute gestures that added a charmingyer to the performance, making the audience go wild with excitement. His yful expressions and endearing moves were like a burst of sunshine, drawing smiles from all who watched.


    As the chorus ended with its usual sweet and upbeat melody, there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The other instruments began to tune down, gradually fading into the background, leaving a sense of anticipation in the air. Then, like a gentle music box that had been wound up, a lone xylophone and piano piece emerged, casting a spell of nostalgia that enveloped the watchers.


    The ethereal, haunting notes of the music box took people on a journey through time, evoking memories of a bygone era. The melody was bittersweet, like a window into the past, and the ''Bubblegum Pop'' song suddenly felt¡­lonely?


    It was time.


    This was the moment that June had been waiting for. Throughout the song, he had only one line, but he knew that the bridge and the outro were where he truly belonged. The other aspects of the song, including the verses and chorus, had been brilliantly written by his teammates. However, the bridge and the outro were written by him, and it carried a certain emotional depth that June felt a strong connection to.


    And so, with mellow dance moves, June once again stood at the center and sang the lines that came from his heart.

 Chapter 229 Memories (3)

    <h4>Chapter 229 Memories (3)</h4>


    The studio, bright as ever, focused on the sparkling eyes of June. The lights, devoid of fanciful colors, invited brightness, much like the sun on azy afternoon. And at that moment, the crowd turned dead silent.


    They felt like they should scream June''s name as his handsome face was shown on screen, but somethingpelled them to stay silent¡ªto listen.


    June closed his eyes, a smile that seemed happy yet sad adorning his lips. Then, he let out a deep, shaky breath as he thought of the lyrics he had written.


    June''s voice, filled with raw emotion, echoed through the venue as he began the bridge.


    "Though years have passed, and we''ve grown apart,


    The treasures of my childhood still fill my heart.


    In the quiet moments, I close my eyes,


    And hope I find my way back to that paradise.


    When I cried because I fell and stumbled¡­


    And not because my mind had crumbled.


    When happiness was a piece of candy,


    But now, no matter what, happiness can''t reach me."


    The audience was held captive by the sincerity in his words. The bridge was the heart of the song, and June had poured his heart into every note.


    It reflected the thoughts of everyone in the room¡ªone they always thought about but never verbalized. And now, June had captured their inner feelings and beautifully incorporated it into the song.


    As the song neared its conclusion, June''s voice carried the weight of the emotions, and he led the group into the final parts of the performance.


    "Now I yearn for days when life was pure and free,


    But time''s river flows and I can only see,


    The past through the prism of what used to be,


    A beautiful, fading dream, in my heart, a memory."


    They sang the chorus once more, the past upbeat melody sounding more nostalgic despite it being the same.


    Tears glistened in some eyes while smiles adorned others. It was a powerful variation, testifying that their performance had evoked both joy and sorrow in equal measure. The boys on stage seemed to be in perfect harmony with this emotional moment, their voices carrying theplexity of their well-written lyrics.


    Then, without warning, the music abruptly stopped, leaving the audience in a state of suspense. The silence hung in the air, a breath held by all. But just as quickly as it had ceased, the music began again, sounding even more stripped back and raw.


    The change was startling, and it brought intimacy to the performance.


    Then, the stage turned dark, causing a murmur of confusion to sweep through the audience.


    The trainees watching in their respective rooms became confused, too.


    Has the performancee to an end? But the speakers were still ying a sweet yet haunting melody that lingered in the air.


    Then, just when they thought the performance had ended, the darkness descended, and the studio lit up again. It now revealed a new backdrop, unlike the old school building from the beginning of the performance.


    Instead, it was a coge of photographs¡ªphotographs of the five boys in their childhood.


    The gasps that echoed through the studio brought immense happiness to the boys'' hearts.


    Even Casper and Daeho, who had never felt emotional during the show, felt pain erupt in their chests¡ªthe good kind.


    The faces of little Casper, Jangmoon, Ren, Daeho, and June filled the screen, their childhood smiles captured in time. The audience was enamored, their hearts touched by the innocence and pure joy that emanated from the photos.


    The images passed by in a sh, holding the boys'' memories and emotions. Then, the lights turned on, and the camera settled on June''s face once more. This time, he was hand in hand with the other boys, walking like little kids on an adventure, their faces beaming with genuine happiness.


    June''s voice, filled with a depth of emotion that could onlye from the heart, began to sing the final parts of the song. Thebination of the nostalgic images and the heartfelt performance was a touching moment, and tears welled up in the eyes of many. The performance had taken them on a journey through time and emotion, from the innocence of childhood to the shared experiences of the present.


    "But as I lingered on these thoughts, I failed to see.


    The things that were in front of me.


    So, I sit back, reflect, and think for a while.


    And realized that there are reasons to smile.


    The sun, the wind, my mom, my dad,


    I need to focus on what I have before they turn to what I had.


    And I need to know that these memories I hold dearly¡­


    Will only die if I let them be."


    Then, the chorus yed once more, but now, all of their voices became one. There wasn''t a need for fancy harmonies this time. The simplicity of their voices was enough.


    They moved in perfect harmony, smiles brightening the stage.


    The audience''s hearts swelled with the joy and sadness of the performance. The voices of the five boys were like a gentle embrace, wrapping the audience in a cocoon offort, their hearts being carried to a ce of innocence and joy.


    In that fleeting moment, under the warm, bright lights, surrounded by artificial cherry blossoms, everyone felt as though they were on a journey back to their own carefree school days, where every sunny afternoon spent with friends was a cherished memory.


    Then, as the song''s final notes lingered in the air, the audience was left in a state of silence.


    The five boys were captured on camera, and their childhood photos were shown once more.


    Now, they stood side by side, with the images of their childhood selves shown above them.


    Their current smiles resemble their childhood smiles, and as they looked at each other with proud gazes, the audience couldn''t help but think they were watching the ending of a teen movie¡ªa bittersweet one.


    Truly, this performance captivated everybody in the room. It felt like a moment that transcended mere entertainment.


    And all the other performances slowly crumbled into oblivion.

 Chapter 230 Amazed

    <h4>Chapter 230 Amazed</h4>


    Amazed.


    Everyone was amazed.


    This performance was something the audience expected to squeal to.


    They definitely didn''t expect it to make them emotional.


    The faces of the five trainees were shown on screen, their smiles brighter than the spotlight.


    With a subtle emotional piano in the background, they bowed before leaving the stage.


    Then, a deafening apuse was heard in the entire studio.


    Jia sniffed as she looked at her friends, who had equally teary eyes as they all met gazes.


    June had done it once again.


    The cute yet emotional performance wormed its way into everyone''s hearts. The group of olddies situated at the very front nced at each other with nostalgic smiles, the performance reminding them of the good old days.


    Then, as their lingering feelings started to subside, the addictive tune of the chorus yed in their minds, already engraved in their memories.


    Meanwhile, in the trainees'' rooms¡­.


    In Zeth''s team, where the room had turned silent, a lone sniff was heard.


    Akira felt tears welling up in his eyes, but he halted when the sniffing continued, even when the stage was over. A smirk emerged from his lips as he turned to his side, where Jaeyong was, appearing to be crying once again.


    "That''s the sixth time," Akira chuckled. "Or maybe seventh? I can''t keep count anymore since you''ve cried so much because of June."


    Akira continued teasing the crying Jaeyong, who still couldn''t calm himself down.


    On the other hand, Zeth stayed silent as he kept looking at the screen.


    The television had turned ck at this point, but his mind raced with a thousand thoughts.


    For all the missions, he couldn''t help but pay more attention to Casper. It was inevitable.


    Casper was always behind him, on the verge of passing his rank.


    And in this performance, there were two people whom he wanted to focus on¡ªRen and Casper. Casper for the same reasons as before and Ren because they haven''t talked after the third mission.


    However, no matter how much he tried to focus on those two, one person still managed to capture his full attention from the start of the performance.


    Zeth felt his heart beating faster in his chest, an ominous feeling brewing in his heart. He already felt June''s potential when they worked together, but now, June could be likened to the Trojan horse with how unexpected his growth was.


    In the other room, C-Jay and Jisung exchanged knowing nces.


    Jisung, despite being disappointed by his performance, felt joy in his heart after watching June''s performance.


    He was very proud of June and his progress. He could even remember the times when June would ask him to teach him how to dance.


    Yet now, Jisung felt like June was at par with his dancing skills.


    C-Jay, on the other hand, felt regret swell in his heart.


    Maybe the reason why he mistrusted Junest week was because of his own insecurities.


    The two of them were in zero-stars during the start of the show, but now, June hade so far.


    Maybe C-Jay wanted the reason for June''s improvement and rise in ranking to be his parents. It hurt his pride knowing they both started from zero, but June could nowpete with the five stars.


    However, C-Jay now understood that June deserved all of it. There was no one to me but his own insecurities.


    On the other hand, in another room, Lin Zhi clenched his fists as he red at the screen.


    He was sure that this would be his time to shine. Heck, he even took off his shirt just to make the crowd go crazy!


    As Lin Zhi watched the other performances, he felt his confidence swell. In his mind, not even Zeth''s team was able to outdo their performance.


    And when June''s team took the stage, Lin Zhi became even more certain.


    Fans loved hot and spicy stages more than cute ones¡ªthat''s a fact he knew about. However, after their performance, it seemed like the audience was only fixated on the cute yet emotional stage.


    Lin Zhi''s thoughts snapped back to reality when someone started pping in their room. He nced to the side and saw Steel looking at the screen with amazed eyes.


    "What are you pping for?" Lin Zhi couldn''t help but ask.


    "They were amazing," Steel smiled. "I thought it was a performance by a real idol team. I can''t believe they pulled off such a stage."


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips in anger.


    "I thought we were going to win this time," Steel continued. "But now, I won''t be mad if their team wins. I feel like they deserve it."


    Lin Zhi then let out a deep breath as he felt his anger bubbling over.


    Unlike Steel, he was, in fact, going to be mad if June''s team managed to win this mission. Lin Zhi deserved to win¡ªthere were no other options.


    The mentors, who were left in a state of shock as Team Adorbz exited, all had looks of disbelief on their faces.


    Gun nced around the studio and felt the warmth that the performance left among the audience¡ªthe smiles, teary eyes, and hums that resonated with the bubbly tune.


    Gun smiled as he shook his head. "June," he muttered under his breath. "I really thought wrong of you."


    Hyerin and Jihyun, on the other hand, continued sniffing even after the performance ended.


    Having experienced being in the entertainment industry at a young age was something the two of them had inmon.


    And they had rted well with the message of the song. They had quite a lot of regrets when they were young¡ªbut in the end, they were all still memorable.


    Jihyun realized that even during those tough moments, she wouldn''t have it any other way.


    And now, her thoughts of June¡ªwhich she merely felt was infatuation and brief amazement had shifted into something more, something lifelong.


    Truly, she had be a fan.


    And truly, she wasn''t the only one.


    Because at that moment, it seemed like the performance opened the hearts of many¡ªeven those who closed their hearts off for June from the very start.

 Chapter 231 Sweet Victory

    <h4>Chapter 231 Sweet Victory</h4>


    "Single file, please. Single file!" the bucktooth guard shouted as the fans left the venue one by one. To ensure the safety of everyone, the guards, led by the bucktooth guy, organized the crowd to exit in a single line.


    However, one man seemed more hurried than others.


    Doctor Kim looked down at his phone while biting his lips in anxiousness. His lips, which were filled with fillers, bled as he couldn''t stop the nervous action.


    He scrolled through his Navel feed and found countless people, even those who supported his channel, cursing him on his page.


    When June''s team performed, Doctor Kim was determined to get an exclusive scoop about the independent trainee''s face. However, he was immediately captivated by their performance.


    He only snapped out of his daze when he saw their childhood photos during the bridge of the song. For a second, Doctor Kim felt touched, and he thought that it was a genius idea to incorporate such elements into their performance.


    However, he came to realize the implications of those pictures.


    The childhood photo¡ªit still looked like the current June.


    Doctor Kim felt icy cold after the realization hit him, and now, he couldn''t wait to go home and make an exnation video.


    He can just me it on the user who sent in the wrong photo. Granted, he had been exaggerating other people''s procedures from the very start since he realized it garnered more views.


    So, he cursed the bucktooth guard in his head when they was instructed to line up in an organized manner.


    Doctor Kim clicked his tongue and pulled his hat down to cover more of his face. He couldn''t risk getting seen right now.


    "Alright, keep the distance. We don''t want anyone passing out now," the bucktooth guard said, his lisp resounding in the studio.


    The guard nodded in satisfaction as the fans listened to his instructions well. However, one person, a man wearing a very suspicious outfit, caught his attention. He was way too close to the girls before him, and it seemed like the group of girls were increasingly bing ufortable.


    "Hey, you," the bucktooth guard said, pointing his baton to the man.


    Doctor Kim froze as the guard confronted him. He cursed under his breath and decided to move even closer to the group of girls, causing them to exim in horror.


    The guard shouted as he pointed his baton to the guy''s chest. "What the hell is your problem?"


    Doctor Kim pursed his lips. "I need to go," he insisted.


    However, the bucktooth guard was more insistent. He ced his baton under the strange man''s cap, and in one swift motion, he removed it from his face, revealing the doctor''s well-made face.


    The people around them started noticing themotion, and they quickly closed in on what was happening.


    However, Jia paused when she recognized the strange man who was suspiciously close to her.


    "Doctor Kim?" she said his name out loud.


    That seemed to trigger the people left inside the venue, causing them to turn to the scene like wild meerkats.


    The people who were most interested were the group of olddies, though. Their leader looked at Doctor Kim with narrowed eyes, circling around him like a predator would do to their prey.


    Doctor Kim started sweating out of his ass. He looked around for an exit, but he was surrounded by a wall of olddies.


    "Shit," he muttered with wide eyes as the furious olddy pointed at him.


    "Attack!"


    ***


    As the fans left the venue, the trainees gathered in the studio once more, waiting for the announcement of the victors of each performance.


    The teams were lined up, with their leaders in front.


    "Did you hear what happened? I heard there was a brawl a while ago."


    "News has traveled that it''s a pervert."


    "Well, his nose got broken by a group of olddies, I believe. Then his nose imnt got dislodged so bad that they called an ambnce."


    "Damn, old people are really scary as fuck. We better treat June well from now on. I don''t want to lose my nose, too."


    June kept his gaze at the front, still feeling ted from their performance. An hour had already passed, but his heart was still racing inside his chest.


    He wasn''t tired at all, yet when his mind yed their performance over and over again, his heart couldn''t help but race even faster.


    Maybe he should really get that check-up.


    Maybe he can even get a free check-up from that doctor who wanted to experiment on him.


    June snapped out of his daze when he suddenly felt an arm around his shoulder. He nced behind him and saw Ren smiling at him.


    "Do you need anything?" June asked.


    Ren shook his head. "Nothing," he smiled even wider. "I just wanted to thank you."


    June shook off Ren''s arm and turned to him with raised eyebrows. "What did I do?"


    "A lot," Ren said. "I feel like I''ll be happy even if I lose to you. Wait, no, I''ll be sad if another person from our team wins."


    June nonchntly shrugged. "Every one of us deserves to win, honestly."


    "But you deserve it the most," Ren smiled.


    Just then, Minho arrived in?the room with cue cards in his hands. The trainees turned silent as he stood center-stage.


    "Good afternoon, trainees! Just like that, the Production Mission is now over. It hasn''t been easy for all teams, so I just want to say I''m very proud of you."


    ''Awws'' filled the room along with small teases due to Minho''s emotional statement.


    Minho chuckled as he shook his head. "Well, I am here to break some special news for you. It''s time for me to reveal the top team of the mission."


    Murmurs of hope filled the room, all teams wanting their names to be called.


    In the group of twenty-five trainees, two trainees were having a silent battle.


    June and Lin Zhi focused their gazes on the front, but in their minds, they were both talking bad about the other.


    ''I need to win,'' Lin Zhi said. ''No, I have to win.''


    June nced at Lin Zhi but quickly looked away. That guy wasn''t even worth it. His performance wasckluster, and if he didn''t take off his shirt, June was sure that he wouldn''t even stand a chance against Steel, who performed the best in their team.


    At the start, he wanted to win to show Lin Zhi that showing off wouldn''t automatically mean taking the victory.


    However, as June looked at his teammate''s faces, his mindset changed.


    He wanted to win this one¡ªnot to prove that bastard Lin Zhi wrong, but to taste sweet victory with the teammates he had worked hard with.


    "Garnering more than 70% of the votes, the team who won the entire Production Mission is¡­"


    The trainees held their breaths.


    Minho silently shook his head as he read the name on the cue card. It was still pretty awkward to say, but he didn''t have any choice.


    "Team Adorbz!"

 Chapter 232 Choice In Your Hands

    <h4>Chapter 232 Choice In Your Hands</h4>


    The stage was aze with energy as Team Adorbz emerged victorious in the Production Mission. As he listened to his teammates'' ted screams, June couldn''t help but feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.


    June knew just how hard they worked for this. A part of him knew they were bound to win, but the magnitude of this victory was still surreal.


    They hugged, high-fived, and exchanged victorious nces. The other teams pped for the team, most of them thinking they deserved it.


    June also knew how much this victory meant for his teammates.


    For Jangmoon, this victory was an important motivator. The memories of Xin looking down on him during the past mission still haunted him up to this day. And now, he believed that Xin would finally eat his words. Jangmoon wasn''t useless after all.


    Daeho, the serious guy in the group, also couldn''t contain his excitement. As their team''s name was announced as the winner, he even leaped into the air, surprising his past teammates. He had always been serious from the start, so it was a new sight to the other trainees.


    Ren, who doubted himself in the beginning, felt genuine happiness and pride in his heart. Personally, this was a very significant moment. It was the very first victory he had achieved without Zeth, whom he had alwaysgged behind.


    The ghost of his past failures and insecurities seemed to have been exorcised at this moment. He looked at his teammates, especially June, and felt a deep sense of gratitude. They had believed in him when he, himself, didn''t. Now, they have finally done it.


    As Ren continued celebrating, he identally locked gazes with Zeth. It couldn''t be denied that there was an awkward tension between them, serving as a reminder that they still weren''t on speaking terms.


    However, at that moment, they both smiled, a silent acknowledgment of each other.


    Meanwhile, Casper saw this opportunity to express his joy in ways he had always wanted to. He moved in to hug June, just as he would lift his cat, Luther. With his strength, he hoisted June in the air, causing thetter to exim in shock.


    June, taken by surprise, reacted instinctively and kicked Casper''s jewels, causing him to release his grip.


    "Watch it, Casper. Or I might just turn your future babies into ghosts," June warned, pointing at him with narrowed eyes.


    Casper pursed his lips and silently moved away, still clutching onto his crotch as he felt the wind get knocked out of his body.


    The victorious atmosphere quieted down as Minho chuckled and raised his hand. "Settle down now, trainees. We still have more things to discuss. I shall now reveal the trainees who won in their respective groups."


    His words were met with silence, with the trainees now eagerly waiting for the announcement of the individual winners.


    "For the Electro-Techno team," Minho paused for effect, "the winner is... Lin Zhi!" Apuse and cheers erupted from the Electro-Techno team''s corner, and Lin Zhi stepped forward with a wide smile, confidently epting the recognition.


    He was in a bad mood just a while back because his team didn''t win, but hearing he won the individual benefit appeased his anger a bit.


    "Moving on to the Grunge Pop-Rock team," Minho continued, "the winner is... Jisung!" Jisung''s face lit up with delight as he made his way to the front, where his team cheered him on enthusiastically.


    "Next up is the Trap K-Pop team¡­we have Zeth!" Minho dered. Zeth humbly smiled and stood at the front, his teammates giving him a pat on the back.


    "The winner for the Moombahton team is... Sehun!" Cheers and apuse once again filled the room as Sehun shyly stepped forward, scratching the back of his neck. He hadn''t expected to win against a high-ranking trainee like Leo, so this was a pleasant surprise.


    "It''s you," Ren whispered as the announcement for their team was next. His other teammates also looked back at June, all expecting him to win.


    "June," Minho smiled, locking gazes with the trainee. "You''ve done it once more. You had the highest votes among all the trainees in this evening."


    June''s teammates surrounded him, offering their hearty congrattions with warm smiles.


    The support from his teammates was heartwarming, but June felt a bit overwhelmed by the attention. He simply nodded in gratitude before making his way to the front.


    "Now, for the team benefit," Kang Minho announced, "June''s team, congrattions once again. You have the incredible opportunity to have your song posted on Durian, thergest music tform in Korea!"


    The studio fell into envious awe.


    "Fuck, we could have done a better job."


    "I wish that was us."


    "Maybe we should have picked Bubblegum Pop."


    "And give the audience a heart attack? No thanks."


    "Now, onto the individual benefits," Minho said, causing the trainees to turn silent once more.


    Usually, the benefits would be revealed during the start of the mission. However, the production crew has kept it until now. As a result, the trainees were more curious than ever.


    Minho''s gaze shifted to the words written on his cue cards, and a look of unease passed through his eyes. It was for a mere second, so most of the trainees didn''t notice it.


    June, however, frowned when he noticed this.


    "Honestly," Minho began, "I wish I didn''t have to say this, but I must. Only the top 20 contestants will be making it to the finals."


    "However, we won''t be holding a voting this week, so there will be no direct eliminations based on the current rankings."


    The trainees exchanged puzzled nces, trying to decipher the show''s intentions. If not through voting, then how would the remaining contestants be whittled down to the top 20?


    "Do you remember when I said a while ago that the trainees with the highest votes will have a vital impact on the course of the show?" he asked, and the trainees murmured in agreement.


    June finally realized what was happening.


    "The trainee who garners the most votes in their team," Minho began, his voice filled with intensity, "will have the responsibility of eliminating one of their own members."


    "For the five trainees standing in front, the choice is now in your hands," he concluded.

 Chapter 233 Dream Crusher

    <h4>Chapter 233 Dream Crusher</h4>


    June sighed as he stared at the envelope the production crew had handed him.


    All of the individual winners of the group were gathered in a small room and given an hour to pick someone from their team to eliminate.


    June never expected this to happen.


    As expected, Azure was just as bad as Fu, who hasn''t even given him a mission afterpleting thest two.


    [I''m working on it!]


    But right now, it seemed like Azure took the cake.


    Nothing could beat the twist they came up with. June wished baldness for the person who came up with the concept.


    Meanwhile, in Cindy''s office, she suddenly felt an itch on the right side of her head.


    June was having a hard time. No matter how much he thought about it, June couldn''t think of a member of their team who deserved to be eliminated.


    He nced at the other winners and saw that they seemed calmer than he had expected.


    Lin Zhi, who appeared to be in a bad mood, quickly stood up and dropped his envelope inside the clear box.


    Then, he got up and left the room.


    All other four winners stared at his retreating figure. It seemed like he didn''t even have a hard time choosing a teammate to eliminate.


    Then, a heavy sigh was heard in the room. Sehun quickly wrote a name¡ªsomeone he thought worked significantly less than most of his teammates. Afterward, he stood up and ced the envelope inside the box.


    Jisung, feeling pressured by the two of them, wrote the name of the teammate who had a lot of sidements for the other trainees¡ªthe guy who underestimated June even after their amazing performance.


    With that, he stood up and smiled at June as he ced the envelope inside the box and left the room.


    And then, there were two.


    Zeth also had a hard time choosing a teammate to eliminate. Akira...Jaeyong...Jaxon...Yuri. All of them brought something to the table, and he knew how much their team had worked hard for this.


    However, there was a reason why they were not at the forefront during this mission, and Zeth knew that one person contributed most to that reason.


    So, with a heavy sigh, Zeth wrote down his name and went out of the room, nodding at June in acknowledgment as he left.


    Now, June was the only one left.


    He sighed in defeat as he slumped on the floor.


    How the hell did those traineese up with a decision in such a short amount of time?


    Maybe June was the weird one for thinking so much about his teammates'' feelings.


    June nced at the timer and saw he still had 40 minutes left.


    "Let''s think about this," he muttered, leaning against the wall.


    Daeho...he was the one who came up with the choreography along with Casper, and he also wrote his own lyrics. When Jangmoon joked around, he was the one who snapped the group back to serious mode. Although he was silent most of the time, only asionally saying his opinions, June could see that Daeho worked harder than anybody else. He was the one who didn''t suit the concept based on his looks, but he blended seamlessly with the group.


    Casper led the team withoutining. He was the one who coted their ideas and made sure the team always met in the middle. June also didn''t have anyints about his leadership since Casper truly did his best. He did say some weirdments from time to time, but it wasn''t a deal breaker.


    Besides, Casper had the secondrgest fanbase in the show. Eliminating him meant that June would make a lot of enemies.


    Ren, on the other hand, was also a vital part of the team. Not only did he edit their song to make it sound more professional, but he also had a lot of input in the lyrics. Moreover, he recently gained his confidence back. June would most likely feel like shit if Ren lost it because of him.


    Andstly, Jangmoon¡ªone of the people he considered his friend in thepetition. There were times when June wanted nothing but to hit Jangmoon with all his might, but June held back since he knew Jangmoon never meant any harm.


    Besides, Jangmoon had shown impable improvement throughout the show. Although his personality was happy-go-lucky, June could tell he cared a lot about the people around him.


    Despitecking in the talent department, Jangmoonpensated with his hard work. June also knew that Jangmoon loved performing and being an idol in general. He would have nevere this far if that wasn''t the case.


    "I''m fucked," June muttered in defeat, looking at the ticking clock that showed less than 30 minutes.


    30 minutes?


    That was still a decent amount of time.


    He turned to the single crew member left inside the room and stood up.


    "I just have to turn this envelope in within the time limit, right?"


    "Yes," she answered.


    "Then, I can go wherever I want first?" he asked.


    The crew member scratched the back of her neck. Honestly, she wasn''t oriented about the details of the elimination process. She only knew that she had to take the envelopes to Yejin and Yena after the given deadline.


    "Umm, sure," she hesitatingly said.


    June muttered a small ''thanks'' before leaving the room, quickly running through the hallways and to their practice room.


    He barged through the doors, wanting to see his teammates so he could finally make his mind.


    However, June froze when he realized their practice room was empty. He looked around the ce where they tirelessly practiced for the past week and felt even more conflicted.


    He would be the reason for someone''s dream ending today.


    And June didn''t want to make the decision.


    This should have been an easy decision for him. Being in the gang for so long, he was used to disposing people who didn''t have any use for the gang.


    However, this wasn''t the White Tiger gang, and June wasn''t the same man he was before.


    Or maybe he had always been this warm-hearted. He just never realized it in the first ce.


    "Fuck," he cursed loudly while staring at his reflection in the mirror.


    June knew time was ticking, but every time he thought of someone to eliminate, that certain someone''s smile popped into his mind, and he was back to square one.


    June shook his head and decided to vacate his heart of any feelings.


    Then, he turned around, taking a deep breath as he prepared to leave the room.


    However, at that moment, the door opened, and he was met with eyes that were filled with nothing but happiness.


    "What are you doing here?" June asked.


    "Just wanted to talk to my big bro."

 Chapter 234 Big Bro

    <h4>Chapter 234 Big Bro</h4>


    June sighed and felt a pang in his chest. "Where are the others?" he asked.


    "In their rooms," Jangmoon responded, closing the door and walking toward June. "The trainees were all advised to wait inside their rooms while the winners decided whom to eliminate."


    "Then¡­why are you here?" June asked.


    Jangmoon shrugged, sitting on the cold, wooden floor. Then, he nced up at June and patted the spot next to him.


    June pursed his lips and hesitatingly sat next to him.


    "Have you made your decision?" Jangmoon asked.


    June slowly shook his head.


    "I figured," Jangmoon chuckled. "It must be killing you, huh?"


    June groaned in agreement, leaning his elbows against his knees. "You have no idea. I shouldn''t have won if I knew it was going to be like this."


    "But you''re the only one who can make the choice," Jangmoon said. "It''s in your hands, big bro."


    "And I''m telling you, I don''t want it."


    Jangmoon smiled as he shook his head. "You''re really amazing."


    "What do you mean?" June furrowed his eyebrows in frustration.


    "Others would love to have this opportunity. Everybody is praying to go to the finals, and you are basically given a free pass to it," Jangmoon responded.


    "It''s too much of a responsibility," June responded, tracing circles on the ground. "I don''t think any of you deserve to go home. Maybe...Maybe I should just..."


    "Stop it," Jangmoon firmly said before June can even finish his sentence. "Don''t you dare finish that sentence."


    June chuckled. "You don''t even know what I was going to say."


    "You must be thinking of eliminating yourself, huh?" Jangmoon asked, causing June to purse his lips.


    Jangmoon then sighed as he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts already cemented.


    "Pick me," he said in such a soft voice, making June wonder if he heard him right.


    "What?" June asked, snapping his gaze at his tall friend.


    Jangmoon blinked back his tears and looked back at June, a sincere smile on his face.


    "Pick me," Jangmoon repeated. "Write my name."


    June''s frown deepened as he gazed at Jangmoon with disbelief. "Are you crazy? This is your dream. You joke a lot about these things, but I know you want this life."


    "I do," Jangmoon nodded, his throat aching. "But so does everybody else. I''m not special."


    June sighed. "Jangmoon¡­don''t say that."


    "I''m kidding," Jangmoon chuckled, although it sounded a bit lonely. "But I''m being serious right now. You can write my name on the paper."


    June clicked his tongue and clenched and unclenched his fists, appearing to be conflicted.


    Jangmoon sighed since he knew June wouldn''t be so easily convinced.


    "Big bro," Jangmoon started, staring into the distance. "Do you know why I always call you bro?"


    June snapped out of his thoughts and listened intently. He shook his head, causing Jangmoon to smile.


    "It''s because you remind me of my big brother¡ªmy real brother," Jangmoon shakily said, tears glistening in his eyes.


    June stayed silent, not knowing what to say.


    "He was four years older than me, and he was the one who wanted to get into the entertainment industry. He did everything he could to break through the harsh environment, but in the end, his body was too weak to aplish his dream. He died of cancer when he was 24," he continued.


    June looked away from Jangmoon. This was the first time he had heard of the trainee''s story, and it was more devastating than he had thought.


    Indeed, people had different stories to tell.


    "He died without getting to live his dream¡ªand I couldn''t bear that. So, in the end, I decided to live his dream for him."


    Jangmoon chuckled as he remembered the day he decided to be an idol trainee. "I think it came naturally. I wasn''t good at anything. I was bad at school. I didn''t have any talent in sports despite my height. I had a short attention span. So, in the end, I decided to give it a try¡ªI decided to be an idol."


    "However," he quickly added. "It wasn''t as easy as I had thought. I thought it was just singing, dancing, and looking attractive, but boy, I was wrong. But with my happy-go-lucky personality, I braved through all the hardships I faced. There were plenty of times when I doubted myself. I even thought of giving up. Was this even the right field for me? But then again, I was never really passionate about anything else, so I decided to keep pursuing this path."


    "And I don''t regret it," Jangmoon said, a sad smile emerging from his lips. "During the start of the show, I didn''t enjoy performing on stage. But when we performed together for the first time," he said, recalling those days. "I actually felt like the stage was a nice ce, and being apuded by people was a heartwarming feeling."


    Jangmoon nced at June with a sincere smile. "So, in a way, you made me realize that this might also be my dream."


    June let out a deep breath and softly said, "Then, why are you telling me to eliminate you?"


    "Because I deserve it," Jangmoon said. "I didn''t believe in youst week. I couldn''t even imagine how betrayed you must have felt."


    "I''ve already forgiven you for that," June groaned.


    "But I haven''t forgiven myself," Jangmoon said. "I still feel like a shitty person."


    "We both know you''re not," June insisted.


    Jangmoon shook his head. "You''re really so stubborn," he said. "During these times, I really remember my big bro. You''re both so stubborn."


    "I''m not stubborn," June defended.


    "See!" Jangmoon eximed with a chuckle, finding June''s irony hrious.


    "Fine," he sighed after a while.?"If you don''t want to ept that reason, then ept this."


    "I want you to make it," he said with pure sincerity, his voice even breaking in the end. "This might be my dream, but this is your destiny. You need to continue on with the show, big bro. You have to debut."


    "And by eliminating me, I know you''d have a bigger chance."


    "But¡ªbut your dreams," June stammered. "I can''t let them turn into memories."


    Jangmoon sniffed as he wiped a lone tear from the corner of his eyes. "I told you earlier¡ªI have a short attention span. I''m sure I''ll find something to fawn overter."


    June shook his head in amusement. However, the heavy feeling in his heart couldn''t be shaken off.


    "Besides," Jangmoon said, causing June to look at him. "You''ve already said it in our song¡ªmy memories will only die if I let them be."

 Chapter 235 You Have To Debut

    <h4>Chapter 235 You Have To Debut</h4>


    With less than a minute left, June ran through the doors and walked to the box that contained the names of the eliminated. June dropped the envelope inside the box, his heart heavy yet decided.


    Jangmoon looked heartbroken when he suggested to be the one to eliminate. But June knew this was the best choice.


    He watched as the production crew carried the box away, preparing to inform the eliminated trainees of their fate.


    Then, the sound of the inte was heard through the dorms.


    "Trainees, pleasee to the training center. I repeat, trainees, pleasee to the training in ten minutes."


    June sighed as he walked heavily in the direction of the training center. The other trainees, too, seemed to be in a dampened mood.


    With heavy feet, they all entered the training center. June was thest one to enter, and his team was already there waiting for him. He was expecting them to look sad or disappointed, but he was surprised to see them smiling while calling him over.


    "Make it fast!" Jangmoon eximed like he had gone back to his previous mood.


    June shook his head and stood next to them.


    Minho once again made his way to the stage with the envelopes containing the names of the eliminated ones.


    The remaining trainees felt dread fill their hearts as they prayed for their names not to be called.


    Minho took the mic and sighed deeply, setting the tone for the awaited announcement. Just then, some sad music yed in the background¡ªthe slow, instrumental version of their signal song.


    It was a song they dreaded during the first episodes, but now, it took them back when times were simpler.


    The trainees started getting emotional even before Minho spoke, and it hit them that this was it¡ªthe names that would be called would be eliminated, while the remaining trainees would be a part of the finale and, quite possibly, the debut group.


    "I guess this is it," Minho said, the background music turning softer. "The individual winners of each group hade to a decision. Unfortunately, that means five of you will be leaving tonight."


    "But do not fret," Minho quickly added. "This is only the end of your journey on Rising Stars. I hope to see you again in the future."


    "I really don''t want to do this," he sighed, going through the enveloples.


    June''s members gave him reassuring smiles as if telling him that whatever his decision was, it was going to be okay.


    "For Lin Zhi''s team," Minho started off. "Steel, unfortunately, this is yourst day with us."


    The other trainees turned to their team with wide eyes, in disbelief, that Steel, the trainee who undoubtedly did his best to create the choreography and lead the team''s dance, was now eliminated.


    As Steel nced at Lin Zhi, thetter quickly looked away.


    Lin Zhi admitted that it was a spur-of-the-moment type of decision. He didn''t like how Steel mentioned that June''s team deserved to win. However, Lin Zhi doesn''t regret his decision.


    Steel also has a great chance to debut, and eliminating him from thepetition meant eliminating anotherpetitor.


    Steel, who still appeared wide-eyed, made his way to the front, curiosity seen on his face.


    Minho pursed his lips as he said another name. "For Zeth''s Team¡­Yuri, you have been chosen. Pleasee to the front."


    Once again, the trainees were shocked. However, some already expected the result. Zeth''s team was filled with powerhouses¡ªtrainees who were all likely to debut.


    After the second mission, Yuri had fallen off the ranks along with Leo, and the team also knew that Yuri had a share of unfairments to the team. So, in the end, Yuri quietly walked to the front with pursed lips, not daring to meet anyone''s eyes.


    "Next...for Jisung''s team," Minho said. "Gyeorae, you have been eliminated from the show. Please join us right now."


    Gyeorae sighed and nodded in defeat. Deep inside his heart, he already expected the oue. Compared to the other trainees here, he didn''t work as hard, nor was he a natural during performances. So, he wasn''t too hurt when his name was called.


    "For Sehun''s team," Minho continued. "Hansol, pleasee to the front. Your journey ends here."


    Leo looked at Sehun with wide eyes. He was fully expecting his name to be written since hecked in many aspects as their leader. However, Sehun merely smiled and nodded, making Leo smile too.


    "Andstly," Minho said, the mood now even more dampened. He opened the envelope and felt a tug in his heartstrings. He had never been close to this particr trainee, but watching him on the show was always a delight.


    He was a mood-maker of some sort. And with him gone, Minho was sure he''d be missing his sidements from time to time.


    "Jangmoon," Minho softly said his name.


    June looked down at the ground as the trainees whispered among themselves. It was a well-known fact that June and Jangmoon were friends, so hearing his decision was the most shocking of all.


    However, Jisung, C-Jay, and Akira were surprisingly calm about June''s decision. It felt as if Jangmoon had already told them his goodbyes.


    C-Jay pursed his lips and looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop the tears in his eyes from falling.


    The room turned silent as the sound of the sad piano music engulfed the studio. The five eliminated trainees now felt that their elimination was official.


    "Trainees," Minho said, also getting emotional. "Can you say yourst words before leaving the show?"


    "Oh,e on, Mentor," Jangmoon joked despite the heavy mood. "What do you mean byst words? We aren''t dying."


    June shook his head and chuckled. The atmosphere became lighter as Jangmoon cracked a joke.


    "Well, since these four are already bawling, why don''t I go first?" Jangmoon said, getting the microphone from Minho.


    He cleared his throat and smiled, looking at every friend he made along the way. Jangmoon never expected to have made it this far, so he was thankful to all the people he had met.


    They were the ones who made his time memorable in this ce.


    "Umm," Jangmoon started off, finding the right words to say. Despite putting on a brave face, it couldn''t be denied that Jangmoon sounded emotional.


    "I just want to take this time to say thank you, I guess," he chuckled to keep his emotions at bay.


    "I want to thank my fans. Little you guys may be, but you''re the best," Jangmoon smiled. "You made me feel loved. You made me feel that pursuing the idol life is worthwhile."


    He let out a deep breath.


    "Now, I''d like to take a moment to thank some very special people who have made this journey all the more incredible. Jisung, thank you for being a friend who has been a constant source of support. You have a heart of gold, bro," he smiled, and Jisung smiled in return.


    "Akira, you''ve been my ego-yer, but I still want to thank you. You always kept me grounded when I start floating too high," Jangmoon chuckled along with Akira.


    "And I guess I''ll mention Jaeyong too," he said in a reluctant tone, causing the others tough. "But in all seriousness, you''ve been a great addition to the team. I thought you were an asshole at first, but now, you''re a soft asshole," Jangmoon teased, causing Jaeyong to shake his head.


    "And C-Jay," he continued with a wide smile. "My partner in crime, mypadre in chaos¡ªyou''re the person I love to hate the most in this show."


    "I hate you, too!" C-Jay called out, but everyone could tell the sadness in his voice.


    Jangmoon chuckled sadly. "I''ll miss you, ugly. Get eliminated quickly so we can meet each other again."


    "Andstly, June, my big bro," he said, turning to the trainee he wanted to thank the most.


    "Or shall I say, little bro? I''ve always thought you were older than me in wisdom, but now, I want to take this time to say something to you as an older brother."


    June listened intently.


    "Remember, I''m watching you from the sidelines, and I''ve got high expectations. You better debut, and don''t you dare feel bad about my elimination."


    June smiled softly and nodded.


    As Jangmoon let out a deep, shaky breath, he said hisst words. "Some dreams aren''t meant to be fulfilled, but they''ll always have a special ce in our memories. So, it''s not the end of the road for us," he gestured to the eliminated contestants. "We just have a different path. I wish all of you the best of luck. Thank you for theughter, tears, and unforgettable moments we''ve shared."


    "Goodbye, for now, but not forever. Until we meet again on different stages and in different dreams."

 Chapter 236 Eight

    <h4>Chapter 236 Eight</h4>


    As sad as the five trainees'' departure may be, the show must always go on.


    Because as soon as the trainees had left the vicinity of the room, the sad background music was reced by an intense string instrument sound, startling most of the trainees.


    Then, the lights turned off, the spotlight focusing only on Minho. The dark atmosphere, paired with the music, made the trainees nervous.


    "What is it now?" Ren groaned from behind June.


    June sighed and shook his head. What more did they expect from Azure?


    "And then there were twenty," Minho announced, the microphone now having a strong echo and resonance effect.


    "Dear trainees, have you ever imagined making it this far?" he asked, the music getting louder.


    June clicked his tongue, looking to the side since he felt that this was too dramatic.


    "It feels like yesterday when we started this journey with a hundred talented trainees, each with dreams of bing a star. But today, my trainees, we are down to the final twenty. And while we thought the magic number was ten, we have decided to turn the tables on our contestants once more. The magic number now¡­is eight."


    June snapped his gaze to the front when he heard Minho mention a new number.


    "That''s right, thepetition has be even more intense. After much deliberation, we have decided that only eight of you will have the privilege of debuting in the spotlight you''ve been fighting so hard for."


    Chaos ensued in the room, and there was one thought that everybody agreed on¡ªreducing the number of trainees debuting meant reducing their chances of bing an idol.


    "What the hell? Isn''t this unfair? They''ve always told us that ten trainees will debut."


    "And all the other seasons debuted with ten members each. Why are they changing it all of a sudden?"


    "I heard another rumor from my mom''s boyfriend."


    "Thatst boyfriend you talked about?"


    "No, a new one," the trainee smiled. "Apparently, he works as a guard in Azure, and he overheard some of the workers saying that it came from a higher-up. It seemed like they didn''t want to invest too much money into the group because of what happenedst year. So, the production crew didn''t have a choice but to cut down the number of members."


    "That''s bullshit. Why would they do that when this season has gone so well?"


    "Settle down, trainees," Minho cleared his throat, silencing the trainees. "So, as I was saying, only eight trainees will be debuting this season, and the starlights will be fully responsible for determining the members who will debut!"


    Then, a giant countdown was seen on screen, apanied by a loud booming sound. The trainees were once again startled as they stared at the big, bold numbers.


    The trainees looked at the countdown, confused as to what it was for.


    Then, when the number zero was shown, the room turned bright, making the trainees squint their eyes.


    "That, my trainees, was the countdown for the start of the voting. As of the moment, the voting hasmenced, and it will continue until next week''s live show on Friday at 6:00 PM KST," Minho excitedly eximed.


    "The voting will be closed at exactly 8:00 PM, and shortly after, the names of the eight trainees who will debut will be announced. With this change, the stakes have never been higher, and the oue has never been more uncertain," Minho seriously said.


    "So prepare yourselves next week, Friday at 6:00 PM KST, for a live show like no other, as we unveil the chosen eight who will make their mark in the K-Pop industry. It''s time for the real stars to shine!"


    ***


    Lin Zhi repeatedly cursed under his breath as he walked through the hallways. Some of the trainees he passed congratted him, but he didn''t have the energy to talk to anyone.


    He needed to talk to one person and one person only.


    He arrived at a secluded area where he was certain nobody would catch him in the act.


    "Laohu?" he urgently said, pacing back and forth.


    "What?" Laohu snapped, appearing to be as urgent as Lin Zhi. "I told you to call me only for important matters. I''m in a meeting right now."


    "This is very important," Lin Zhi said, his anxiety rising through the roof.


    "Speak," Laohu said.


    "It''s bad," Lin Zhi started off.


    Laohu clicked his tongue. "Are you short of money again? I told you to just use the bank ount I gave you. Just don''t forget to be my puppet once you be an idol."


    "That''s the problem," Lin Zhi said, biting his lip. "I don''t think I can be an idol at this point."


    "What do you mean?"


    "They changed something," Lin Zhi said. "Only the top eight will be included in the debut team."


    "What?" Laohu eximed, his voice lowering an octave. "When did you hear this?"


    "Just now," Lin Zhi responded. "It''s an official statement."


    Laohu sighed heavily. "Do you know how fucking hard it was keeping you in the top 10 ranks? It was a pain to hack into their system just for your rank to be 10th every time."


    "I know," Lin Zhi sighed. "But I''m trying my best. I even took off my shirt during the show tonight. I must have gained quite a lot of votes from the people who watched the live performances."


    "You''re 13th," Laohu deadpanned. "You''re 13th in real-time rankings right now."


    Lin Zhi''s eyes widened. "You''re lying."


    "I''m not," Laohu said. "I''m in Mintellect right now¡ªthat votingpany that''s responsible for your show and plenty of big corporations. I''m looking at the results."


    "Fuck," Lin Zhi cursed, clenching his fists then banging it on the wall, causing it to crack slightly.


    Lin Zhi couldn''t believe he was five ranks away from the debut spot, even when he already put on such a racy performance.


    "What the hell am I going to do? You''re going to do something, right?" he asked Laohu desperately. "We can''t let our efforts go to waste. We have something we need from someone in the entertainment industry."


    "Indeed, we do," Laohu sighed in frustration. "I''ll do something. Just give me time."


    Lin Zhi finally sighed in relief. "Thank you. I promise to help you until the end."


    "You better."


    With that, Laohu ended the call, and Lin Zhi leaned against the wall, feeling more certain.


    He had to debut.


    No.


    He will debut¡­


    No matter what it takes.

 Chapter 237 Bribe

    <h4>Chapter 237 Bribe</h4>


    Laohu entered a small, dark room inside therge building. The hallways should have been empty at this point, but two individuals remained.


    The sound of keyboard clicks resonated in the room, and only the monitor screen illuminated the entire ce.


    "I''ve thought about it," a man with a bowl cut stood and faced the tall guy who had been pestering him ever since ''Rising Stars'' started.


    "I don''t think I can do it. Lin Zhi''s rank had been dropping every week, and it''s getting harder to keep him in the top ten, much more the top eight. It would be too suspicious," he said.


    "You can just do what you''ve always done, Jo," Laohu said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You just need to click a few buttons."


    "It''s easier said than done," Jo sighed. "With the gap getting bigger and bigger, it''s harder to make it less obvious that everything''s not what it seems."


    "Do you need anything?" Laohu asked, already brewing a n in his mind.


    "I don''t," Jo shook his head. "I just need to keep this job. It pays better than any other office job out there. Besides, I''ve worked so hard to get to this position. I want to keep it."


    Laohu clicked his tongue. "I''ll pay you more than fifty percent of our agreed payment."


    Jo clicked his tongue, his hand hovering over the mouse. The monitor was showing the real-time rankings of the trainees, and at that moment, Lin Zhi''s name shifted down, his rank now being fourteenth.


    "See," Jo gestured to the screen. "I can''t just move him six ranks up."


    "I''m not talking about merely six ranks here," Laohu said. "Move him even further."


    "You''re asking for the impossible," Jo said. "Our CEO just came back and did an inspection this morning, so everyone''s on edge. He''s a very fair-minded man, so if somebody finds out that I''m doing this, I''ll get fired."


    Laohu clicked his tongue as he pulled something out from his pocket¡ªa nk check.


    "Nothing''s impossible in this world," Laohu said, a smirk appearing on his face.


    He knew that every boulder could be moved with the right motivation.


    And that motivation was usually the same for most people¡ªespecially those with weak minds.


    "Here," Laohu said, tossing the piece of paper with numerous zeroes in Jo''s direction.


    Jo frowned as he looked at the piece of paper in his hands. The number of zeroes was definitely tempting. It was quadruple his monthly sry!


    "Nobody has to know about this transaction," Laohu convinced Jo. "No one has ever caught us until now. We''re already in the finals, aren''t we?"


    Jo bit his lip, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.


    Laohu smirked as he watched Jo''s conflicting expressions. Then, Jo sighed, and that''s when Laohu knew that his n had worked.


    In the end, everybody was truly a ve for money.


    "Alright," Jo said. "What do you want me to do?"


    ***


    In one of Azure''s dorm rooms, a smallptop was propped on a low desk. A group of trainees sat in a circle, their eyes focused on the countdown disyed on the screen.


    The trainees decided to watch the show in this room because it oddly smelled like¡­choctes? It was June''s favorite scent, so he had sprayed it all over the room. And maybe that''s the reason why Akira, Jisung, C-Jay, and Jaeyong decided to watch the ninth episode in his room¡ªit smelled oddlyforting.


    Or maybe because the other rooms looked like a mess and smelled of wet feet.


    "I thought only the five of us would be watching?" June asked, ncing at the three additional trainees in the room.


    "I told them not toe!" C-Jay eximed. "But that guy," he pointed at Casper, then whispered, "was creepy as hell. He kept telling me that he wanted to watch it with us."


    "I can hear you," Casper deadpanned.


    "Good," C-Jay smiled. "You''re really weird, bro. I don''t do well with weird people."


    June clicked his tongue. C-Jay was probably the weirdest in the room right now.


    "How about you two?" June asked, looking at Ren and Zeth, who appeared to be in a better statepared to the past few days.


    "Didn''t you guys have a fight?" Jisung innocently pointed out, causing Akira to nudge his side.


    "You can''t just ask that," Akira whispered.


    Zeth chuckled as he shook his head. "No, it''s alright. We didn''t fight. We just had an intense conversation."


    "It was my fault," Ren said. "I was too insecure since Zeth kept beating me in everything."


    "It''s also my fault," Zeth said. "I was insensitive with my words, and I also have a bragging tendency."


    "You don''t say," Casper coughed, causing Zeth to re at him.


    "But we''re okay now. We talked it out," Zeth smiled.


    "You didn''t answer my question," June said, reverting the topic. "Why are you here?"


    "We wanted to watch it with you, too," Ren shyly said. "Are we not allowed?"


    June pursed his lips. How could he deny Ren when he looked so pure while asking that question?


    "Fine," June groaned. "You can stay. But we''re watching it silently, alright?" he said.


    The other guys nodded enthusiastically, already feeling ted that June agreed to watch the episode with him.


    The happiest in the room was undoubtedly Casper, who reached out his hand to try and pet June''s pink hair. However, Jisung quickly saw the action and pped his hand away before it could touch June''s hair.


    Casper looked at Jisung with wide eyes. The younger trainee narrowed his eyes at Casper before cing two of his fingers in front of his eyes¡ªlike an "I''m watching you" gesture.


    Casper felt a shiver run down his spine as Jisung continued looking at him. Then, he turned away his gaze and focused on the small screen.


    ''Damn, these people are scary,'' Casper said in his mind.


    "Shh!" C-Jay eximed loudly, startling the other boys. "Keep quiet. The episode is starting."


    Akira weirdly looked at C-Jay. "We weren''t even talking¡ª"


    "Shh!" C-Jay covered Akira''s mouth with his salty hand.


    Wait, salty?


    Akira pushed his hand away and drank some water, ring at the oblivious trainee.


    "Ah, fuck," C-Jay suddenly said, holding onto his stomach. "This diarrhea is killing me. I swear the cafeteriadies have it out for me. I''ll be back in a bit. Just need to use the restroom."


    Akira looked at C-Jay with wide eyes as he ran to the bathroom.


    "It''s starting," Jaeyong said, making the wide-eyed Akira face theptop screen.


    Then, Kang Minho was shown on screen. Thements burst just in time with C-Jay''s diarrhea, causing the others to exim in disgust.


    "Oh, that felt good," C-Jay sighed in satisfaction.


    "I present to you¡ªthe Production Mission!"

 Chapter 238 Ninth Episode (1)

    <h4>Chapter 238 Ninth Episode (1)</h4>


    Minjun sat on the wide, soft couch. It was definitely softer than the couch they had in Grandma''s apartment¡ªit must be more expensive, too.


    But for some reason, Minjun liked their cheap couch better.


    "What are we watching again?" his dad asked, sitting next to him after he finished preparing snacks for his beloved child.


    Minjun sighed. "I already told you a while ago, Dad. It''s Rising Stars! You don''t pay attention to anything," he softly muttered.


    Minjun''s dad scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit guilty. Somehow, what Minjun said felt like it held another meaning¡ªhe never paid attention.


    And while it was true that he focused on his career more than he focused on his child, he still loved Minjun very much.


    Minjun noticed his dad''s silence, causing him to bite his lips, wondering if what he said was too far.


    "But thanks for the snacks," Minjun quickly said. "These are all my favorites."


    He popped a piece of candied chocte in his mouth and gave his dad an awkward smile.


    The older man smiled, feeling satisfied that he finally got something right.


    "Rising Stars, huh? Where have I heard that again?" his dad asked, his curiosity piqued. "That name sounds oddly familiar."


    "Because it''s very popr," Minjun said. "It''s starting!"


    The intro song yed, and the older man tried his best to pay attention.


    "Wait," he said. "This is an idol survival show?"


    Minjun slowly nodded.


    "Since when have you been into idols?" his dad asked. "Do you want to be an idol?"


    Minjun grimaced as he quickly shook his head. "No," he denied. "Of course not. But our neighbor is participating in the show."


    "Your neighbor?" his dad raised both eyebrows. "Your neighbor in that shabby old ce that I want you to move out of?"


    "Yes, that apartment," Minjun said. "The ce that I''m never leaving," he emphasized.


    His dad smiled and shook his head. "You really got your mom''s personality."


    "Oh, thank goodness," Minjun said, looking relieved. "I was lucky then."


    The man chuckled and ruffled his son''s hair. "Well, why don''t you give me a bit of a background on this neighbor?"


    "I don''t want to," Minjun stubbornly said. "You''re a harsh critic. I don''t want my big bro to be criticized by you."


    Minjun''s dad was even more surprised. His son actually took a liking to somebody else?


    "Big bro?" he asked.


    Minjun enthusiastically nodded. "Don''t tell him this¡ªbut I really like him. I want to be like him when I get older. Not that I want to be an idol. I just want to be as cool and kind as him."


    "Again," Minjun red at his father. "Don''t tell him any of this, alright?"


    "It''s not like we''re ever going to meet," his dad chuckled. "Besides, you don''t even want to divulge his identity to me."


    Minjun smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Right, I almost forgot about that."


    "Whatever," his dad said. "I''ll just watch your face. I''m sure it''s bound to change if you see him."


    Minjun shook his head as he locked eyes with his dad. "Hiding my feelings is one of my strongest fortes, Dad. That''s one thing I got from you."


    ***


    "Why is she with us again?" Na-ri asked as she pointed at Bora, who looked unbothered even as she intruded into their friend group again.


    "You guys have met already," Jia sighed. "She''s a fan of June now, so I called her over so I can have someone I can fangirl with."


    "I''m a fan of June, too," Wei eximed.


    "You like Lin Zhi. You don''t have taste," Bora deadpanned, remembering how the girl screamed Lin Zhi''s name during the live shows.


    Wei pouted. "But it''s true. I''vee to like June, too. Lin Zhi''s just my favorite because I feel a strange connection to him. We''re both Chinese! I''m just supporting my fellow countrymen."


    "Valid," Bora said. "But Lin Zhi''s trash."


    "Well, let''s see if he''s actually trash in this episode," Wei said, putting her chin up high.


    The episode started with them filming the field day, and thements were already bursting through the seams with just the first game alone.


    - Aww, Princess June is so fitting!


    - I can''t believe June is thispetitive.


    - He''s got the moves down. How can he run that fast with scuba flippers?


    The group of girls couldn''t stopughing as they watched the boys engage in games. Jia, who didn''t like the show at first, was now enjoying every second of the episode.


    It seemed just like yesterday when she was reluctant to watch the first episode.


    And now, there was only one episode left until the finale.


    "Woah, is it just me, or is June actually athletic?" Soo-min asked.


    "Yeah, I noticed that too," Na-ri responded. "He looks clumsy, but he may be onto something here."


    "I was expecting Casper and Daeho to carry the games," Bora added. "But it looks like they won because of June."


    "Yeah," Jia muttered.


    Then, that''s when the thought hit her.


    If their team actually won, then does that mean that they got the privilege of choosing their song genre first?


    "Wait," Jia said as June was shown to be deliberating what genre to pick.


    - Ayy, he''s going to pick Moombahton.


    - Or Electro-Techno.


    - I want to see Bubblegum Pop, though.


    - Girlie, that''s almost impossible. June will never deliberately choose to be cute.


    Just then, June walked over to the ''Bubblegum Pop'' cue card and took it off the stand.


    The girls, despite already knowing that June''s team performed the cute genre during the live shows, were still surprised to find out June was the one who picked it.


    Thements were in a frenzy after June''s selection.


    And there was one emotion that lingered in the air¡ªexcitement.


    - Cute June? Cute Casper? Cute Daeho? Cute Ren? Cute Jangmoon?


    - What the heck? This is going to be a disaster.


    - Look at them, keke. They look like a circus act right now.


    - A very handsome circus act.


    - Come on, June. I love you, but will you be able to pull off this kind of concept?

 Chapter 239 Ninth Episode (2)

    <h4>Chapter 239 Ninth Episode (2)</h4>


    After the shock brought by the genre selection died down, the practice time of the different teams was now being shown.


    Lin Zhi''s team was the first to be shown on screen. From the start, it seemed like their team was doing pretty well, with Lin Zhi even taking the lead in making their song.


    Wei eximed in joy when she saw her favorite trainee, causing Bora to scowl at the girl.


    "You really don''t have taste," Bora muttered, but Wei was too busy ogling Lin Zhi to even hear herment.


    Aption was shown, with Lin Zhi clicking a few buttons and then a song being produced. When he first yed it to his team, the girls were surprised that it sounded so professional.


    - Did Lin Zhi actually produce that? If he did, then he''s very talented in music production.


    - It''s kind of iffy, though. He made all that in just a day? Is that even possible for professional music producers?


    - Shut up. Don''t question Lin Zhi''s talent.


    - Nah, man. I reyed the scene just now. He was just pressing the spacebar for most of the time. Who the hell uses that to edit music?


    - It''s not like the entire scene was shown. You don''t know what you''re talking about.


    "See!" Wei eximed. "He''s actually talented."


    Bora narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Whatever. I still don''t like him."


    The scene progressed, with Lin Zhi taking the lead most of the time. However, there was another person who stood out¡ªSteel. There was no doubt that he poured his everything into this performance.


    And when their performance was shown, even though Lin Zhi was in the center, Steel stole the scene with his all-out performance and great dance skills.


    - Alright, fuck it up. This is actually a good performance.


    - Good song, too. Lin Zhi did a good job.


    - Are you guys seeing Steel right now? He''s killing it!


    However, just as thepliments for Steel started pouring in, it was all buried in the sea ofments when Lin Zhi ripped his shirt off at the end of the performance.


    Wei screamed even louder while Bora grimaced. For Bora, seeing it live was atrocious. Such an action was out of ce in the song. Their concept wasn''t even sexy like the ''Tie Me Up'' performance that Team Aglet had.


    However, it couldn''t be denied that the audience loved his n, and even the online viewers couldn''t stop themselves fromplimenting Lin Zhi''s body.


    - He''s buff! Damn, boy.


    - Ooh, some eye candy. This is what I''m looking for.


    - Kyaah! I''m going to vote for Lin Zhi starting today.


    - *Shaking my head.* We lost them, fes.


    As their performance finished, the viewers continued talking about Lin Zhi''s abs. It was a simr situation during the live shows. And Lin Zhi, who was watching alone in his room, smirked when he saw thements praising his body.


    He sighed in satisfaction as he leaned against the wall.


    Being praised was definitely his favorite thing in the world¡ªafter money, of course.


    "When the hell are they going to stop talking about his body?" C-Jay asked, frustrated that the people still weren''t over their performance. "Sehun''s team is already performing, for fuck''s sake. It''s been four performances already. Get over it!" he ranted.


    Ren chuckled and patted C-Jay''s back. "Rx," he said. "Oh, our team is on now!"


    "Thank goodness, it''s almost over," C-Jay sighed in relief. However, when he saw Jangmoon''s face on the screen, he couldn''t help but smile.


    That bastard still looked annoying, but he strangely missed him.


    Akira nudged his side and smirked. "You miss him, huh?"


    "What do you mean?" C-Jay scoffed. "My time had been quieter after he left."


    The others shook their heads. It was obvious that C-Jay missed Jangmoon. In fact, most of them did. And even if June tried to deny it, he, too, missed the goofy trainee who called him big bro.


    "I''m most curious about your production process," Zeth said. "Nobody knew what you were cooking up."


    "That''s because we weren''t cooking up anything for the first three days," Casper chuckled. "It was only after the break that we had started producing the song."


    "Really?" Zeth asked. "I thought you would havee up with something then," he nudged Ren.


    "I thought so, too," Ren said. "But I was having a hard time, okay? We even fought about this."


    "Right," Zeth scratched the back of his head. "Sorry."


    Ren chuckled and shook his head. "I''m fine now. I was even able to make a new beat yesterday."


    "It looks like the viewers are thinking the same," Jisung pointed out.


    - Yo, Ren. Carry this team again.


    - I just know their team is settled. Ren''s the goat.


    - Ren will make another hit song.


    - Ren looks like he''s having a hard time, though. He''s been awfully quiet throughout the show.


    "You okay?" Zeth asked, patting his friend''s back.


    Ren nodded, looking unfazed. "I''m great," he responded with a wide smile. "I already told you¡ªI''m fine. Comments like these don''t even faze me anymore."


    "Damn, you''re strong," C-Jay said. "I would have started bawling if people expected so much from me."


    "And that''s the reason why I broke downst week, too. People expected too much from me, but I felt like I never lived up to everybody''s expectations¡ªincluding myself. However, I''vee to realize that it''s okay to not meet your expectations sometimes. And people who talk shit like this are people who never supported me in the first ce."


    "Here, here," Akira eximed in agreement.


    "I''m just d that June was there to help us make a song," Ren added. "He looked like a genius when he first revealed that song to us."


    The scene on the screen continued, with June looking more concentrated than ever. His editing scene was longer (courtesy of Cindy), and it was believable that heposed the song itself.


    "When did you learn how to edit music?" Jisung asked, amazed at how great June''s music was.


    June shrugged. "Tried it out the first time during this mission, actually."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "You''re really unfair. It''s like you''ve been blessed with the demi-gods or something."


    [Did he just call me a demi-god? Omo!]


    June shook his head. ''You onlye out at times like this?''


    "I''m not," June said. Fu was definitely not a demi-god. He was an intern, at most.


    "Then, you must have been born to do this," Jaeyong chimed. "I really like the song¡­and the lyrics."


    Akira chuckled as he pped Jaeyong''s back. "This dude cried again after the performance."


    "Woah, you''re worse than me. I almost cried, but held it back," Jisung, the official crybaby of their friend group, said.


    "It was an emotional song, okay?" Jaeyong snapped, causing the others to chuckle.


    "I was just wondering where you got your inspiration from," Jaeyong added, diverting the topic.


    "Ice cream," June said without any hesitation.


    "Ice cream?" they eximed in unison.


    "Ah, right! I almost forgot," June said, bringing out his century-old phone and typing something into his Navel ount. He didn''t forget to attach the photo he took of the atrocious truck.


    Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5 has a new post.


    Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5: If you''re anywhere near Jongno Street, do visit the pink ice cream truck with a banana split on top of it. Forgot its name, but it''s really good. Don''t miss the chance because it''s June-approved.

 Chapter 240 Never On Our Level

    <h4>Chapter 240 Never On Our Level</h4>


    June thought that his haters would have gone down at this point, but it seemed like more people had it out for him.


    - This loser is still acting like June?


    - What does he mean by ''June-approved?'' He''s more of an August if we''re being honest.


    - Loser. Stop acting like June.


    - The ice cream truck looks pretty nice, though.


    - Maybe we should actually visit the ice cream ce. This guy must be doing some reverse psychology type of shit for us to stop supporting a business.


    June scoffed and shook his head. They were reading too much into the situation!


    - Yeah, let''s do that.


    - I was actually craving ice cream. I might go there tomorrow.


    But, in the end, June shrugged since his objectives were seemingly met. Sure, they threw insults toward his way, but at least they were still going to support the ice cream truck.


    "It''s your performance already!" Jisung excitedly eximed, causing June to stop looking at his phone. He nced at the other boys in the room and found them waiting patiently in excitement.


    "I know I''ve already seen this, but I can''t help but want to watch it again," Zeth said.


    "Yeah," Akira agreed. "Your performance is going to get viral again, June."


    "And pairing it with his pink hair, it''s practically over," C-Jay eximed.


    Truly, as soon as June was shown on screen, the online viewers went into a frenzy.


    - Pink June? Pink in June. June in pink. What the hell is this?


    - I can''t take this. Are you trying to kill me, June?


    - IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO BE THIS CUTE YET HOT AT THE SAME TIME?


    - Bro, no homo, bro. But you''re kinda cute.


    - They''re all so cute! They''re wearing the uniforms we used to wear when we were younger.


    "Yeah, this was legendary," Jaeyong said. "Who even thought of a school concept?"


    "June thought of the ''memories'' concept," Ren said. "But I came up with the schoolboy concept."


    "That was a genius move," Zeth whistled. "I should have brought you to our team."


    "If you had done that, we still wouldn''t be on speaking terms," Ren chuckled, causing Zeth to chuckle too.


    "I chased the sun on endless summer days.


    Iughed with friends, engaged in fun and ys."


    Mimi, who didn''t have the opportunity to watch the live shows because of a personal schedule, watched their performance intently as she snacked on some peas.


    She was all alone tonight since Sasha and L were both busy. However, Mimi wasn''tining. Now, she could scream in peace as June continued to act cute.


    It felt like only yesterday when seeing him smile was a rare urrence. Now, he looked like the cute high school boy who everyone had a crush on but was too shy to admit it.


    - Fuck, I''m falling.


    - Is everyone hearing these lyrics? How can June turn such a cute song into a sad one?


    - Bro, he always makes things emo, I swear.


    - True. He got me grinding while crying to Tie Me Up, too. Now, I''m skipping around the house with tears streaming down my face.


    Mimi was so focused on the cute aspect of their performance that she didn''t even notice the depth of their lyrics. However, as June''s part came up, she was stunned to silence by the amount of emotion that came from his voice and lyrics.


    "Though years have passed, and we''ve grown apart,


    The treasures of my childhood still fill my heart.


    In the quiet moments, I close my eyes,


    I hope I find my way back to that paradise.


    When I cried because I fell and stumbled¡­


    And not because my mind had crumbled.


    When happiness was a piece of candy,


    But now, no matter what, happiness can''t reach me."


    "I still can''t believe you wrote these lyrics," Ren pointed out.


    "You wrote all of this, bro?" Jisung asked with wide eyes.


    June nodded nonchntly.


    "No wonder it made me cry," Jaeyong whispered, but Akira still heard it.


    "How do you evene up with these lyrics?" C-Jay asked. "It''s like you''ve lived more than one life with how you write."


    June smirked as he shook his head. They had no idea.


    - Is someone cutting onions?


    - The screen''s getting blurry. Why can''t I see it clearly?


    - I didn''t expect a group of boys acting cute to make me cry, but here I am.


    - Ah, I missed the good old days.


    - Hi. I''m a 64-year-old casual watcher from the province. My granddaughter only recently taught me how to use my cellphone, and since I like singing and dancing, she rmended this to me. I know idols, of course. However, I never really liked idol music. No offense to the other performers, but I didn''t click well with their songs. This song, however, reminded me of when times were simpler. I didn''t expect to gain such happiness from a group of young, aspiring trainees. Thanks for taking good old me to the past!


    Thement section was filled with heartwarmingments, with people sharing their own experiences when they were younger.


    June couldn''t help but smile.


    It seemed like being an idol was actually a pretty inspiring job.


    He never realized that being an entertainer would have so much impact on other people, but June was happy that people found joy in their performance. Even after the song ended, the feeling of happiness still lingered in the air.


    People who were watching the show over their dinner tables (courtesy of their daughters who had the biggest say in the household) felt a heartwarming vibe in their homes.


    It was a song that could be enjoyed by people who weren''t even fans of idols.


    In another building, simr to Azure, a group of five boys were hanging around the lounge room, their luxurious outfits appearing to havee out straight from the magazines.


    "Can you turn that off?" the blonde-haired guy, who had shining blue contacts, snapped. "Why are you even watching that?"


    "It''s my first time watching this show since you told us not to watch it, but it''s actually pretty good," a handsome guy with bunny-like teeth said. "They''re getting so popr, so I just got curious."


    "Popr?" a red-haired boy scoffed. "Mildly popr, you mean. It''s just the hype around the show. Let''s see, once the group debuts, I''m sure they''ll fail just like the group from the third season."


    The bunny-teeth guy sighed and finally turned off the TV. "You guys are so bitter."


    "We''re not bitter," another guy in the team, wearing sses, nonchntly said as he flipped through a thick book. "We''re just telling the truth. The group thates from Rising Stars will probably never get on our level."


    "Let''s stop talking about that show," their ck-haired leader said. "We''re about to perform."


    Like perfect timing, a production crew member knocked on their door.


    "CHAOS! Pleasee backstage and prepare for your performance."

 Chapter 241 At All Costs

    <h4>Chapter 241 At All Costs</h4>


    The group of friends pped as Team Adorbz''s performance came to an end. Even when they have already watched it before, it still couldn''t be denied that their performance was the best among the rest.


    After the performances, the elimination of the trainees were shown, and once again, it brought tears to the eyes of the viewers.


    Because of it, two trainees shot up the trending list on Navel. Jangmoon and Steel were overjoyed when they saw their names on the trending page. Most of the people were praising June and Jangmoon for the emotional conversation they had before the elimination.


    On the other hand, Steel received sympathy since they thought he was unfairly eliminated by Lin Zhi.


    "Ah, my back hurts," C-Jay said, stretching his body as he stood up from the floor.


    The other trainees, too, started cleaning up their mess, knowing the episode hade to an end.


    However, Jaeyong''s gaze remained on the screen. "It''s not over," he said, causing the other trainees to halt.


    They turned to the screen, where a new announcement was shown.


    "The midway rankings will now be shown. Here is the status of your favorite idols!"


    The group of eight sat down once more, looking at the screen with wide eyes.


    "They''re going to show this right now?" Ren asked in disbelief.


    "Fuck, I''m nervous," Akira said, cing his hand in front of his beating chest.


    "You''re going to rise," Jaeyong assured, patting his back.


    Just then, the first number was shown on screen¡ª1st.


    They were all even more surprised. "They''re starting with the first?" Casper asked. "That''s a first. They always start with announcing the second to thest trainee."


    1st¡ªZeth.


    "No surprise about that," Jisung said. "You''re going to debut as the center at this point."


    Zeth scratched the back of his neck, feeling shy yet proud at the same time.


    2nd¡ªCasper.


    "Again, no surprise about that," Ren chuckled. "Your ranks are already cemented. Congrattions on debuting, brothers," he smiled at Zeth and Casper.


    Casper shook his head. "Nothing''s certain at this point."


    3rd¡ªRen.


    "Congrats, bro," Jaeyong sincerely congratted Ren despite being surpassed.


    Ren''s eyes widened, obviously not expecting the rise in his ranks.


    "You deserve it," June said. "Don''t doubt yourself now."


    "Yeah, congrattions, bro!" C-Jay eximed, wrapping one arm around Ren''s neck.


    4th¡ªJaeyong.


    "Eyy, you''re still in the upper ranks," Akira teased. "I would have thought you lost some fans because of how much of a crybaby you are."


    Jaeyong red at him. "Stop teasing me about that."


    "But really," Casper said. "I already knew about your group when you first debuted. You had such a strong facade back then. You didn''t even cry when you earned your first music show win."


    "That''s what I thought, too," C-Jay chimed. "You must have kept it for years, huh?"


    "I don''t cry," Jaeyong said. "There''s just a certain someone¡­I mean, something that makes me cry."


    They all turned to him suspiciously. "Sure," Akira teased. "But congrattions, leader. You''ve also secured a spot in the debut team."


    Jaeyong sighed. "Just like Casper said, there''s nothing certain at this point."


    Just then, some shouts of surprise were heard in the other rooms, surprising the group of eight.


    June, who had kept his gaze on the screen throughout their conversations, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the next rank.


    5th¡ªLin Zhi.


    "Nothing is really certain at this point," June muttered, causing the others to turn to the screen too.


    Their eyes widened in surprise, wondering how Lin Zhi could have risen in ranks so much when he was always been on the border of the debut group.


    Lin Zhi, who also didn''t have a clue that he would rise this far, looked at the screen with wide eyes.


    His roommates patted his back. "Congrattions, Lin Zhi. You''ve worked hard."


    After getting over the initial shock, a small smirk emerged from Lin Zhi''s lips.


    "Indeed, I''ve worked hard," he whispered.


    Back in June''s room, his friends still weren''t over the fact that Lin Zhi was now fifth in ranks.


    "Is that possible?" C-Jay asked. "Should I have taken my shirt off too?"


    "Something''s not¡­right," Zeth pointed out. "But then again, he did take off his shirt during thest performance."


    Jisung pouted. Then, does that mean that Lin Zhi''s rank was higher than June''s? Jisung thought June deserved the fifth spot.


    "This is yours, bro," Jisung said, nudging June''s shoulder.


    June, too, had some hope in his heart. He knew he wasn''t as popr as those in the top four, but he also gained quite a number of fans during his time in Rising Stars.


    Again, his goal was to debut in at least thest debut spot, which is now 8th ce, since he knew how much pressure the higher-ranked trainees would be in.


    But then again, debuting in 6th ce wouldn''t be too bad, too.


    It was actually the perfect number.


    June wanted his name to be shown at the point.


    6th¡ªAkira.


    June frowned as he looked at Akira''s name on the screen. Don''t get him wrong. He was happy for his friend''s rise in ranks, but it didn''t make sense to him.


    "Holy? I earned a spot in the debuting team?" Akira asked, wide-eyed.


    His friends, despite being shocked that Akira had surpassed June, congratted him sincerely.


    7th¡ªJisung.


    Jisung shyly looked down at hisp while his friends congratted him. However, even if they were happy for each other''s ranks, there was still an elephant in the room.


    Surely, June would be the next person on the debut list, right?


    8th¡ªJaxon.


    June stayed silent. The room turned awkward, nobody daring to say the first words. This was all too strange for them.


    June did very well during the Production Mission, undoubtedly showing the best performance in the entire episode.


    9th¡ªDaeho.


    10th¡ªLeo.


    11th¡ªSehun.


    June''s frown deepened with every name being shown on the screen. His heart beat faster in his chest, and for the very first time in the show, he actually felt¡­threatened.


    There was less than a week until the finals, yet his rank had dropped so much.


    The viewers, too, were finding this strange. However, even if June had plenty of supporters, he also had plenty of haters.


    - Does this make sense? How can June drop this low?


    - People can''t ept the truth. Now that we''re only allowed to vote for one trainee using one ount, it''s showing that June doesn''t have a lot of solo fans.


    - True. His fans must have been fans of other trainees, too. And now that we''re in the finals, there are significantly fewer people voting for him.


    - Shut the fuck up. Everyone I know voted for him.


    - My friends and I voted for him, too. Are we really that small in number?


    12th¡ªJune.


    June pursed his lips, the silence in the room deafening.


    For Lin Zhi, this was much better than he had thought. He had never understood why he felt something off with June right from the start, or maybe he just reminded him of the friend he killed a year ago, but he was d that June''s rank had dropped so much.


    "Hey, it''s okay," C-Jay said, snapping June out of his trance.


    June nced at his friends, who all looked concerned for him.


    June, although feeling concerned, merely nodded in eptance.


    "It''s alright," he nonchntly shrugged. "It''s just the midway results," he said, trying to assure himself. However, deep inside his mind, June knew it would be even more difficult to rise in the ranks since the next episode would already be the final one.


    His friends continued acting concerned for him, and he was about to reassure them that everything was okay when a pop-up from Fu suddenly showed.


    [This is yourst survival show mission.]


    June paused.


    [You have to debut at all costs. Otherwise, there will be consequences.]


    June frowned. He wasn''t used to Fu speaking in this tone, so whatever this next mission was, it must be vital.


    [The title of the mission is Project A+. Lin Zhi must not make his debut in Rising Stars. Stop his debut...at all costs.]


    [By aplishing this mission, all skill aspects will be increased to A+. Failure to aplish the mission will make the host go back to his original state¡ªbefore all of the upgrades.]

 Chapter 242 Tattoo

    <h4>Chapter 242 Tattoo</h4>


    Six.


    There were six days left until the finale¡ªthe event everybody was waiting for.


    June also had six days to aplish his, quite possibly,st mission in Rising Stars¡ªto stop Lin Zhi from debuting at all costs.


    However, as he stood one line behind him, he realized how tough of a situation he was currently in.


    "Hey, are you alright?" Sehun asked, nudging his shoulder. Sehun, ranking eleventh during the midway results, was naturally next to June. He had a concerned look on his face like he was the one who dropped in ranks rather than June.


    "Peachy," June said.


    "I don''t deserve to stand next to you," Sehun sighed.


    June frowned as he looked at Sehun. "What do you mean?"


    "You don''t deserve to be here. You''re supposed to stand over there," he said, pointing to the first line, where the top five currently were.


    June pursed his lips. He''ll get there¡­he hoped.


    Their conversation halted when all the mentors came on stage. The trainees cheered as they stood in a line.


    It was a rare urrence to see all the mentors during normal days like this.


    And it just emphasized the fact that they were truly near the finale.


    Jihyun looked around the room until her eyesnded on June. She frowned because he was too far from her view right now. June should have stood at the front. She was already nning to buy more stars for him when she got hometer.


    "Trainees," Minho greeted. "Such a small number you are right now."


    "And you''re only going to get smaller," Gun said, looking proud of the group of boys.


    "There''s six more days until the eight of you will venture into another world."


    "But before that, we''ll have to stick to our traditions," Jihyun said. "We will still have to prepare for your final stages."


    The trainees listened intently. A lot of them already expected to prepare for another stage.


    Again, during the past seasons, they were usually divided into three separate teams for theirst stage¡ªthe final signal song performance.


    "This season, you will be divided into two teams," Hyerin announced. "And each team will arrange the signal song to their liking. It could be sexy, sweet, emotional¡­anything you like!"


    "The stage will only be revealed during the final stages. This means there won''t be an interim evaluation this time. So, surprise us during the finale, dear trainees," Bone said.


    "Do you have any questions?" Minho asked.


    C-Jay bravely raised his hand. "Are the teams going to be randomly picked like thest seasons?"


    "Right," Minho said. "We almost forgot about that. The teams have already been decided. In fact, you''re already standing with your teams."


    June looked around.


    They were standing in four rows, with five people in each row.


    June pursed his lips. So, it was going to be like this?


    "Rising Stars values ranks very much, and from the very beginning, everything has something to do with your ranks. So, we won''t be wasting any more time by dividing you into groups. Instead, you''ll perform with the trainees in your rank bracket," Minho announced. "The top ten will be performing as one team, and the others will form another team."


    June silently scoffed. Others?


    Great, he was being referred to as merely ''others'' right now.


    He looked at his teammates and saw the dejected looks on their faces. Aside from C-Jay, Bin, and Sehun, he had never performed with these people. And it looked like they were already losing hope.


    On the other hand, the people in the top ten cheered¡ªlike they had already won the entire show.


    The happiest, without a doubt, was Lin Zhi.


    June shook his head as he gazed at the side of his face.


    Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi.


    ''How am I going to stop you from debuting?''


    After the midway results were shown yesterday, June couldn''t help but think there was something wrong with all of this.


    He knew that Rising Stars took extra precautions to ensure that the results of the voting would be fair¡ªespecially with what happenedst year.


    They even hired a third-party voter this time around, but then again, that doesn''t guarantee that everything going on behind the scenes was going to be fair and square.


    June couldn''t stand still.


    So, as soon as the gathering was over, he started following Lin Zhi. The trainee seemed to be in a hurry, so June already had a suspicion that something was going on.


    June trailed behind Lin Zhi, careful so he wouldn''t be caught. Lin Zhi was talking to someone on the phone, and although June couldn''t hear their conversation, he knew that it was something urgent.


    Lin Zhi had now gone outside using the backdoor, and June was about to follow him when the bucktooth guard suddenly spotted him.


    "Hey, you," the guard said, pointing at June. "You''re a trainee from Rising Stars, right?"


    June pursed his lips. Out of all times, why did he have to run to the bucktooth guard right now?


    "No," June tried to lie, but he was wearing their official shirt, so it wasn''t very convincing.


    The guard clicked his tongue. "Go back to the dorms. The trainees aren''t allowed to leave the building for the time being."


    June sighed. "I''m going toe back after a few," he said, tapping his foot on the ground.


    "And I''m telling you that it''s not possible," the guard stubbornly said, sticking his chin up high.


    June sighed deeply and was about to make a run for it when a loud sound was suddenly heard in thefort room.


    "Help! Help! I''ve copsed. Please help!" a familiar scream was heard.


    The bucktooth guard''s eyes widened in surprise. And being the righteous person he was, he decided to help the person in need.


    The guard narrowed his eyes at June. "Go back now, alright?" he said in a threatening manner. However, he was as threatening as a hamster with food stuffed in his cheeks.


    As the guard ran in the direction of thefort room, June smirked.


    "Thanks, Mr. Klin," he muttered before going through the back door.


    He opened the door gently, trying not to make a sound just in case Lin Zhi was there.


    And indeed, he was there. Lin Zhi stood in the corner of the buildinf, just parallel to the door.


    However, he wasn''t alone.


    Lin Zhi was with a man June had never seen before¡ªor at least that was what he thought.


    June wasn''t able to make out what the man actually looked like because he was in the midst of leaving.


    However, June didn''t miss the mark on the man''s lower posterior arm.


    A white tiger tattoo.

 Chapter 243 Next Big Thing

    <h4>Chapter 243 Next Big Thing</h4>


    "Your debut is certain," Laohu said, causing Lin Zhi to smirk.


    "Did I actually rank 5thst night?" Lin Zhi asked, hope swelling in his heart.


    Laohu scoffed as he shook his head. "Of course not. You ranked 12th. I had someone swap your rank with that popr trainee June."


    Lin Zhi, despite feeling disappointed that he wasn''t remotely close to the debut spot, felt satisfied that it was June he exchanged ranks with.


    "That''s good," he smiled. "Continue swapping our ranks from now on."


    Laohu shook his head. "That can''t be. We can''t do something like that again. It''s too risky. There are already some people questioning why you rose in ranks so much and why June sank down."


    "Then, why did you do it in the first ce?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "You''re really not the brightest, aren''t you?" Laohu asked through gritted teeth. "This will make people believe that June isn''t as popr, while more people will start paying more attention to you. It''s a tactic. People like to jump on the bandwagon¡ªpeople who don''t have conviction will more likely jump on the winner''s side."


    "You''re a genius," Lin Zhiplimented. "Then, why can''t you do it during the finale too?"


    "Don''t bite off more than you can chew," he responded. "You''re already set to debut at 8th ce. Be thankful for that."


    "8th," Lin Zhi muttered under his breath. "Then does that mean there''s a possibility I''m going to be debuting with June?"


    Laohu shrugged. "I don''t know. Why? Do you have something with that kid?"


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue. "I don''t know. I just don''t like him for some reason. He reminds me of someone I know."


    "Well, that''s not my problem," Laohu snapped. "I don''t care who your teammates are. After you debut, we''re going to continue with our mission."


    "The briefcase?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "The briefcase," Laohu confirmed. "I wonder where that bastard had kept it. I can''t believe I trusted him for that mission."


    "It''s strange," Lin Zhi said. "It''s not in his home. We can''t even find his sister."


    "Whatever," Laohu said. "That bastard is dead. We just need to focus on our present objectives."


    "You''re right," Lin Zhi said. "I''ll make sure to prepare my eptance speech for the finale."


    Laohu nodded, ncing at his watch. "I need to go," he urgently said.


    Lin Zhi nodded in agreement. Then, Laohu left. However, something pink entered his peripheral vision as he left.


    He stopped in his tracks as he felt the impable aura from that pink object.


    "Weird," he muttered as he walked to his luxury car.


    ***


    June felt like his world stopped right then and there.


    He had been so caught up in thepetition, actually enjoying the performances, that he almost forgot how he got here in the first ce.


    Laohu.


    That was what their boss was called.


    Laohu, meaning Tiger in Chinese, was the most powerful man in their region.


    Anything he says goes.


    And now, as June looked back on it, maybe he should have predicted his death after he was promoted to be his right-hand man. There were plenty of them, dispatched to every district of the region.


    While the others followed Laohu religiously, Jun Hao was the brave soul who wanted to fix the ws of the White Tiger gang¡ªws that Laohu never deemed as ws.


    However, his gang members couldn''t hate him because Jun Hao, in that short year that he became the right-hand man, had the most achievements out of every right-hand man in their gang.


    And now, June felt like he was back to those times.


    That tattoo¡ªhe couldn''t be mistaken.


    That was the tattoo of the man who had ordered to kill him.


    Laohu was actually in South Korea, and worse, he was with Lin Zhi.


    For June, that only meant one thing.


    There was something going on behind the scenes.


    "Well, well, what do we have here?"


    June''s thoughts were snapped back to reality when he heard Lin Zhi''s voice not far away from him.


    "Shit," he cursed under his breath.


    "Woah," Lin Zhi raised his hands, chuckling as he observed June. "I was expecting a greeting; not to be cursed at."


    This was the first time they interacted so closely after performing together during the second mission. And while they were civil during their practice and performance back then, there was an undeniable tension between them right now.


    Lin Zhi''s aura suddenly turned serious as he narrowed his eyes at June.


    "How much did you hear?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips as he subtly reached for his pocket, where his phone was.


    "Nothing much," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "But aren''t you ashamed?"


    Lin Zhi frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "What it''s like paying your way to the top?" June cryptically asked, causing Lin Zhi''s frown to deepen.


    "You''ve been listening this entire time," Lin Zhi said, a small chuckle escaping his lips.


    June merely shrugged, looking as rxed as ever. In reality, he didn''t hear what they talked about.


    In fact, he was boiling with rage right now. After seeing Laohu, the man who brutally killed him, he wanted nothing more but to run to where he was and kill him, too.


    However, June knew that was a rash decision.


    He wasn''t Jun Hao anymore.


    But, he still had great instincts. And his instincts told him that there was, indeed, some foul y going on.


    And based on Lin Zhi''s response, June must be right.


    June was expecting to see Lin Zhi crumble. Thetter always had a weak personality. He was easily swayed by varying situations¡ªthat''s probably the reason why he killed Jun Hao, too.


    However, what was scary about Lin Zhi was that he would do everything to reach his objective.


    But then again, June was the same.


    So, in this battle of wits, they stood there in silence, gauging each other''s minds. They both wondered what the other was thinking about, yet nobody dared to show their weakness.


    "What are you going to do about it?" Lin Zhi asked in a deep voice. "Do you have any proof that I''ve paid my way to the top?"


    June smirked since he knew his phone was recording the conversation at the moment.


    "I don''t," June said. "But you already know¡­cheaters will never reign."


    "Oh, I think we both know you''re wrong about that," Lin Zhi smirked. "While I''m here, reigning in victory, you''re here thinking whether you''re going to be debuting next week."


    "That''s right," Lin Zhi admitted, walking closer to June, his finger poking his chest. However, June didn''t back down, equally matching Lin Zhi''s intense eyes. "I''m going to debut, June. That''s already certain."


    "And you might not¡­or you might. But one thing''s for sure¡­you''ll see a lot more of me in the future."


    June clenched his fists in anger, wanting to knock the shit out of Lin Zhi.


    June closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. However, that seemed to have been a mistake because Lin Zhi quickly sneaked his hand into his back pocket and reached for his phone.


    June''s eyes widened as he reached for his phone.


    However, it was toote.


    Lin Zhi threw his old phone to the ground, the shitty electronics shattering to a thousand pieces. To add fuel to the fire, Lin Zhi stepped on the debris, crushing even the memory card and rendering it useless.


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I didn''t know you had such petty tricks up your sleeves. I guess I''m not the only cunning person in thispetition," he winked.


    Then, Lin Zhi walked away, but not before patting June''s shoulder.


    It was an insulting action, and June felt like he had gone back to the days when Lin Zhi had killed him.


    "Behave now, June," Lin Zhi said, his voice low next to June''s ears. "You don''t want to mess with the next big thing."

 Chapter 244 Team Spirit

    <h4>Chapter 244 Team Spirit</h4>


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen him act this way," Akira whispered to C-Jay.


    "I''ve seen him like this," C-Jay said in an equally quiet voice. "When he was frustrated with us during the signal song and the first performance. However, it wasn''t to this extent. How many chocte bars has he eaten right now?"


    "Eight," Jisung responded.


    The others turned to him with raised eyebrows, causing his cheeks to heat up.


    "I was counting," he chuckled.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Is he frustrated because we aren''t on the same team? I would have liked to perform the signal song one more time with him, too."


    "We''re in the same team," C-Jay butted in.


    "That''s even worse," the other two said in unison.


    "I can hear you," June said, his voice hoarse after all the chocte bars he had eaten. He took every sweet thing he could find in the cafeteria. It was his guilty pleasure¡ªsomething he does when he was frustrated.


    And he was very frustrated right now.


    Enraged, even.


    Not only did Lin Zhi step on his pride, but he also stepped on his phone! The phone he wanted to vanish but was secretly addicted to.


    Now, how was he going to scroll through his favorite topics on Navel?


    "What are you doing here?" June snapped, wondering why the three were bothering him in such a frustrating time.


    "Didn''t you hear the announcement?" Akira asked. "It''s time to start practicing for thest performance."


    June sighed. Right, they still have to redo the signal song once again. And on top of that, his mission with Fu was still pending.


    "Are you worried, bro?" C-Jay asked, walking over to June and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Don''t worry. We''ll destroy the top ten! They won''t even get close to us."


    June pursed his lips and pushed C-Jay away.


    "Let''s just go," he said in a quiet voice.


    With that, he left the room, leaving his three friends to gaze at his back with confused expressions.


    Sure, June looked angry.


    But he also looked determined?


    Jisung and Akira nced at each other, a shared thought running through their mind.


    They had to step it up. It seemed like June was ready to bring his A-game.


    "Wait for me!" C-Jay shouted as he ran after June.


    ***


    "There they are!" Sehun eximed when June and C-Jay entered the room.


    The other trainee''s faces lit up as soon as they saw June. For some reason, June was like the beacon of hope within their group.


    It was already expected that the other team would have a good performance, considering the amount of ''ready-to-debut'' people within their team.


    However, in their team right now, it couldn''t be denied that June was that person.


    "It''s been a while, handsome bro," Minx said, practically bouncing on his feet as he walked over to June.


    June nodded in acknowledgment of the young teen. At 16 years old, he had already aplished so much. June could still remember how Minx helped him with one of his very first missions back in the day.


    "Yeah," Bin smiled, his eyes turning to crescent moons. "It seems like the first mission was forever ago. I still enjoy ''Mermaid Melodies'' out of all the performances I''ve put out."


    "Same," Minx eximed. "That was legendary."


    The other trainees wanted to join in on the fun, too.


    "I''ve always wanted to perform with you!" Anthony eximed. "But I never really got the chance to. I guess your rank going down was good for one thing."


    A collective chuckle was heard in the room, and even Juneughed at Anthony''s joke.


    "Yeah, your performances were all great. I even enjoyed the Little Meow Meow ones," Evan said. "I''m kind of jealous you hit it off with Akira and Jaeyong but not me. I''m a RAVEN member, too."


    The room once again burst into chuckles. A small smile appeared on June''s lips.


    "Umm, sorry to bother you," Zachary said, interrupting the joyous atmosphere. "But can I have your autograph?"


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise, causing Zachary to scratch the back of his neck.


    "Look, dude. I won''t do anything weird with it. Just¡­my grandma wanted me to ask you. I already told her we aren''t close, but she keeps on insisting. You don''t have to do it if you want¡ª"


    "Where should I sign?" June shyly asked.


    Zachary looked at June with wide eyes. "Wait, you''re actually a very decent dude. I thought they were exaggerating when the other trainees said you were kind, but I guess they were right. You can just sign here," he said, bringing out a small piece of hard paper.


    June quickly signed it, even cing a star.


    "Umm, there," he said, handing it back to Zachary.


    "Sweet," Zachary eximed. "Thanks, man. If it makes you feel better, my grandma is voting for you and not her grandson."


    Once again, the othersughed.


    All in all, the atmosphere in the room was bright and harmonious. June looked at the nine other trainees'' smiles and was pleasantly happy about the situation.


    Maybe this wasn''t too bad after all.


    June even forgot about Lin Zhi as he conversed with these people.


    "Well, this is going to be ourst performance," Johnny said, the sadness in his voice evident. Being 19th during the midway rankings, he was slightly losing hope in thepetition. However, the people around him weren''t going to let him think like that.


    "Hey, don''t say that," C-Jay said. "We''ll still have plenty of chances to perform in the future."


    Johnny smiled softly. "I guess you''re right. What I meant was¡ªthis is going to be ourst performance in Rising Stars."


    "Hmm," Sehun nodded in agreement.


    "Well, I don''t know about you, guys, but I want to blow the audience away with this performance," Zachary said.


    "Not just that," C-Jay added. "I want to blow the other team away. Heck, I need their jaws to drop once they see our performance."


    "Heck yeah!"


    "Oh, that''ll be good."


    "Let''s show them."


    The team spirit had gone up, and the trainees were now morepetitive than ever.


    June was also fired up, and he wanted to channel his frustrations for Lin Zhi to this performance.


    He''ll show him who''ll be the next big thing.


    "But, uh," Minx said, scratching his neck. "How are we going to do that?"


    Just then, June saw a huge piano sitting in the corner of the practice room. June tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Has that always been there?


    Then, an idea lit up in his mind.


    June smirked as he recalled the time he went to his Gangwon province with Minjun¡ªwhere he first showed off his piano skills to somebody else.


    "This kind of talent is something you want to gatekeep until ites in handy!" the little kid''s voice echoed in his mind.


    Well, it seemed like the time had finallye.

 Chapter 245 Beat It

    <h4>Chapter 245 Beat It</h4>


    Things were tough when June was a thug.


    Things were just as tough when June was a trainee.


    Therefore, we can conclude that June was meant to live a tough life.


    And now that his life as a thug and as an idol was mixed together, things were even tougher.


    There were two things on his te right now:


    1. Confront his past by finding a way to stop Lin Zhi''s debut.


    2. Lead their team in performing the signal song performance.


    He wanted to take it easy on his second task, but why the heck was he voted as the leader and center when he didn''t even apply for it?


    "It''s settled then," Sehun said. "June will be our leader and center."


    The trainees pped in joy as they stuck the stickers onto June''s chest.


    June sighed and nudged Sehun. "Why didn''t you be the leader?"


    "We want to take your lead," Sehun smiled.


    "Yeah," Johnny chimed. "All of your performances have been legendary so far. I want to be a part of it too."


    "I watched all of the episodes intently," Minx said. "And every time you suggested something, people were reluctant at first. However, in the end, they all regretted not listening to you earlier."


    "It''s like you have a face-pping system within you!" the young teen eximed.


    [That little gremlin did not just call me a face-pping system.]


    "But I learned my lesson through those episodes," Minx added. "I''ll listen to you well."


    "Me too," the others chimed, fullymitted to making their performance better than the other team.


    There wasn''t a benefit this time around. This wasn''t even categorized as a mission anymore. However, the team was more fired up than ever.


    On the other hand, the people in the next team were having a hard time deciding their center since most of them wanted to take the position.


    Ren, being their leader, sighed in frustration as they couldn''te to an agreement.


    "I want to be the center for thest stage," Zeth said with conviction. "I have the most experience being the center out of everyone in the show."


    "I want to try being the center this time, too," Casper said, not wanting to lose to Zeth. He believed this could be his chance to finally surpass his rival and take the number one rank in the finale.


    "Umm, I want to be the center too," Jisung shyly said. "I have good memories of the signal song, and I think I''ll be able to perform it well."


    "Believe it or not, I haven''t been the center throughout the show," Jaxon added, scratching the back of his neck. "So, I want to take this opportunity now."


    Lin Zhi sighed as he felt greed fill his heart. His debut was already certain, but he couldn''t help but want to show off onest time.


    He smirked as he remembered June''s annoyed face when he ruined his phone.


    That guy definitely knew more than Lin Zhi had expected.


    However, June was no match for the people Lin Zhi met when he was still a part of the White Tiger gang.


    June was just a trainee.


    And in the end, Lin Zhi knew he was in a more advantageous position.


    So, unless June knew a more influential person than Laohu, then Lin Zhi''s debut was already a hundred percent certain.


    So, he cleared his throat and raised his hand, causing the others to look at him.


    "I think I''m the best bet for the center here. Zeth, no offense, but you''ve already been the center way too many times. Same for Casper," he said in the most respectful tone he could muster. "I think it''s best you give chances to others."


    Casper and Zeth looked down at the ground, suddenly feeling ashamed.


    "However, we also don''t want someone who doesn''t have any experience being the center to take this spot," Lin Zhi added, pertaining to Jaxon. "It''s already thest stage, and we don''t want to go in blindfolded."


    Jaxon pursed his lips, not wanting to be the center anymore.


    "And we also need someone who is confident enough to take the center position," Lin Zhi said, hitting Jisung''s ego.


    "So, in conclusion, we need someone confident, who had experience being the center, but not to the point where they''ve been the center numerous times," he said, all signs pointing toward himself.


    In the end, the only person left in the criteria was him, and that was his n all along.


    "So, you want to be the center?" Ren asked.


    "Yes," Lin Zhi said, a confident smile on his face.


    "And I already have an idea of what to do with our stage."


    "What do you have in mind?" Zeth asked, still feeling uneasy about how Lin Zhi seemed to have gaslit their team.


    As much as they tried to deny it, Lin Zhi was damn charismatic.


    Somehow, at that moment, Casper was reminded of June. However, Lin Zhi seemed like a copycat of June, one who was less genuine.


    It was true that Lin Zhi adopted one of his member''s personalities in the gang---that guy was damn cool despite being a loser.


    "We just need to trace who the people are in that team," Lin Zhi started his ''speech.''


    " There''s one person in that team who had been dubbed as a person whoes up with great concepts¡ªJune," he said.


    June''s friends within the group were weirded out by how Lin Zhi was talking about him.


    "I acknowledge that hees up with great concepts," Lin Zhi said. "But by watching all his performances, we can already predict how they''re going to perform."


    "It''s going to be emotional," he said, and the others couldn''t help but think that Lin Zhi was actually right.


    The dark concept...


    The sexy concept...


    The cute concept...


    All of them had one thing inmon---they were all emotional somehow.


    The trainees didn''t know whether June was a philosopher in his past life, but all his performances have been emotional so far.


    "As far as I know, we have the benefit of choosing the order of performance," Lin Zhi said. "What if we pick to go first and perform something the other team is also likely to perform?"


    "So, you''re saying we should go the emotional route?" Ren asked, feeling a bit iffy about it.


    June''s friends could see that there was something hidden behind Lin Zhi''s gaze---like he wanted to perform an emotional performance not because he wanted to, but because he wanted to beat June?


    However, the other trainees thought it wasn''t too bad of an idea. For the trainees, June''s form seemed to be a winning piece, and if they could perform a winning piece, the team was willing to do it.


    Lin Zhi nodded, proud that he hade up with an idea.


    "We''ll perform an emotional performance before them."


    ''And beat them at their own game.''

 Chapter 246 Elements

    <h4>Chapter 246 Elements</h4>


    "We''re not going to do an emotional performance."


    "What?" Anthony eximed. "But I was looking forward to making the audience cry already," he pouted.


    "Why aren''t we going to go the emotional route this time?" Bin asked. "I also wanted to perform another stage like that with you."


    June sighed, not expecting such an uproar when he said he didn''t want to perform an emotional this time around.


    Honestly, the main reason was that he was tired ofing up with an emotional concept.


    Making people cry was more taxing than he had thought.


    However, as June thought about it, there were plenty of reasons why they couldn''t perform an emotional song.


    He thought back on the finales of the past seasons of Rising Stars.


    June remembered the 4-hour episodes that made him feel sleepier than a Math ss on a Monday morning.


    However, he had no choice but to pay attention since Mei Ling would literally p his cheek if he fell asleep in the middle of the show.


    But it seemed like that was actually beneficial for June right now.


    His teammates were still trying to convince him to perform an emotional performance.


    However, June shook his head, imposing his leaderial authority.


    "Listen to me," June said. "We need to take things into consideration."


    June sighed in relief when his teammates finally quieted down.


    "First," June said, cing his elbows against his knees. "Timing."


    "The signal song performances are going to be performed first thing in the show¡ªafter the introductions of the mentors," June started off, recalling the times he used to watch the finale episodes of Rising Stars.


    "The finale episode is the most nervewracking moment for the trainees. Everybody''s on edge at that point...especially in the beginning. We''ll also be performing in arge venue, which will only heighten our nervousness."


    "So, no matter how much we try to channel our emotional spirits, I''m sure our nervousness will be more apparent¡ªespecially during the first few moments. That''s why most idols don''t start their concerts with a bad. It will only dampen the mood."


    "Moreover," June continued, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "The audience will be nervous too, and an emotional performance wouldn''t resonate well with them. Instead, it will look more mundane...forgettable."


    It seemed like June wasn''t just a philosopher.


    He must have been a debater in his past life, too.


    "Second," June said. "Impact. I''m sure we already know that the other team will be given the chance to pick the order of performances. If ever they perform first, we''re going to have to do something drastically different from their stage. And if we''re chosen to go first, we need to do something very impactful so their stage would look mediocre inparison."


    "But we have to take note of this," June quickly added. "We don''t know what they''re going to do, and an emotional song would not be our best bet because I believe if my instincts are right, that they are going to do exactly what I''m thinking of."


    June smirked, remembering the people on that team.


    Lin Zhi would definitely want to perform an emotional song to spite him.


    "That makes sense," Sehun said, cing his hand under his chin. "What do you suggest we do, then?"


    June smirked, looking as rxed as ever.


    "It''s the finale," June said. "As I said a while ago, artists rarely start a concert with a bad. Instead, they show off."


    "They show off their skills like no other. And with the skills we''ve acquired all throughout thepetition, I know this is the best time for us to show off everything we''ve learned, too."


    "So what you''re saying is..," C-Jay said, still not getting it.


    June sighed in frustration.


    "We show them who''s boss. Let''s start the finale with a bang with an epic performance," June said.


    "You''re a damn good speaker," Bin said. "I''m actually convinced that an epic performance is the way to go."


    C-Jay rubbed his hands together. "Oooh, I''m already excited for this one."


    "Me too," Johnny smiled. "But I have one question. How are we going to aplish that epic performance?"


    June, without saying a word, walked over to the piano and sat down in front of the expensive instrument.


    "Wait, you know how to y the piano?" C-Jay asked but June didn''t respond.


    Then, he recalled the first iconic notes of their signal song. June ced his fingers on the cold ivory, pressing to see what sound it made.


    He nodded in approval. It was definitely a well-tuned piano.


    Then, as the notes yed in his head, he decided to y through with the piano. June stepped on the pedals at times, emphasizing the right notes.


    Then, it happened.


    The signal song hastened in his mind, and as if a bolt of inspiration had struck him, he adjusted his ying to match the rhythm in his mind.


    He took a deep breath and, in his imagination, the lyrics flowed not in its usual melody, but in a rap style, the delivery sharp and intense.


    Only June had a vivid picture in his mind, but his teammates still watched him with admiration. Despite it being a spontaneous performance, it mesmerized them to the core.


    It was as if he was already on a grand stage, bathed in an imaginary lights.


    The sunlight that filtered through the curtains danced, creating a makeshift spotlight that pulsated with every beat.


    For a brief moment, the room was transformed into a stage of their dreams, and June was its star.


    June sat there, his eyes closed as the image of their performance was created in his mind, contemting how to take it to the next level. Suddenly, it felt like a lightning bolt had struck him.


    ''Wait, a lightning bolt?'' he thought, his eyes snapping open.


    His teammates had been so engrossed in his performance that they were taken aback when June abruptly ended it. As he stood up, the chair scraped loudly against the floor.


    "June?" C-Jay hesitantly asked.


    However, June was in his zone.


    "Elements..."

 Chapter 247 Urine

    <h4>Chapter 247 Urine</h4>


    "Jun Hao, I really didn''t mean to do it," Lin Zhi said, holding onto the older man''s shoulder. "You believe me, don''t you?"


    "Lin Zhi," Jun Hao sighed. "You divulged my address to the members of the gang. That''s the one thing I wanted to keep to myself."


    Lin Zhi sighed in frustration. "Why are you even keeping it from them in the first ce?"


    Jun Hao raked his fingers through his hair. His home address was one thing he kept from his gang. It wasn''t because he was keeping secrets, but it was because he wanted to keep Mei Ling safe...even for a little bit.


    Despite Jun Hao being in this dangerous life, he doesn''t want Mei Ling to be involved in it in any way.


    However, when Lin Zhi was kicked out of his apartment for not paying the rent, Jun Hao was kind enough to bring him into their home.


    With one condition¡ªLin Zhi would never share his real address with their gang.


    "But we''re prohibited to have secret addresses," Lin Zhi said. "I was just telling the truth. There weren''t any bad intentions."


    "I know," Jun Hao said, trying to stay calm. "But I was kind enough to let you stay in my home while you could have stayed in this rotten ce."


    Lin Zhi looked down at the ground, looking somewhat guilty.


    Jun Hao sighed in frustration, about to scold Lin Zhi, when Bo Wen suddenly came in.


    "Jun Hao, the boss is waiting for you in the basement," he said in a shaky voice, soJun Hao knew that the news had already reached Laohu.


    "I''m sorry, Jun Hao," Lin Zhi apologized.


    Jun Hao stood up. "It''s alright," he said in the end. "Just...don''t do it again."


    ***


    June clicked his tongue when he suddenly remembered that memory.


    From the start, Laohu had definitely favored Lin Zhi. How could he have missed that piece of information all this time?


    Jun Hao was beaten for hours that day, acquiring scars that would put every man to shame.


    That didn''t stop the old Jun Hao from having another secret address, though.


    Being beaten was bad, but putting Mei Ling at risk was worse.


    In the end, he had to rent two properties¡ªa small, shitty apartment in the city where he stayed from time to time and a humble unit located in a gatedmunity that was mostly resided by old, retired couples.


    It was quite expensive, but it kept Mei Ling safe.


    And as June thought about it, Mei Ling must still be staying there right now.


    However, Mei Ling wasn''t June''s focus right now.


    It was Lin Zhi.


    June sat alone in his room, trying toe up with something that would have Lin Zhi kicked out of thepetition or have him drop out of the debut spot.


    June reached out for his phone...


    Then, he realized that his old phone, the one he hated so much, was now gone.


    You truly don''t see an item''s importance until it''s gone.


    It was the key to him exposing Lin Zhi''s rigging incident, too.


    June stood up from the bed and walked through the hallways. He tried to look for something...anything...when he was suddenly pulled into a small room.


    His eyes widened in surprise, and he raised his fist, ready to hit the person who had pulled him inside the janitor''s closet.


    Mr. Klin squealed, letting June go and covering his body with his arms.


    June rxed when he saw the shining bald head before him.


    "Oh," June said. "It''s just you."


    The janitor sighed in relief when June brought his fist down.


    "I almost died," the bald-headed, buff man said.


    "Well, to my defense, I thought you meant harm," June said.


    Mr. Klin clicked his tongue, turning on the lights.


    "And here I am, with good intentions of helping you."


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry.


    Mr. Klin let out a deep breath, his aura suddenly turning serious. Then, he looked into June''s eyes.


    "I heard Lin Zhi...talking to someone."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, staying silent as he listened to Mr. Klin''s revtion.


    "I was cleaning the restroom that day," the Janitor started off. "You know? The one that the security guards use. It was damn filthy. They have bad fucking aims. My work boots were so sticky from the urine that was all over the ce..."


    "Get to the point," June impatiently said.


    "Right," Mr. Klin said. "So, I was all alone when I suddenly started hearing voices¡ªand it''s not like the ones I hear at night in my mind when I''m alone in my dark, cold room. The guard''s restroom is quite detached from the building, and their venttion window is quite huge, so I was able to hear it¡ªLin Zhi''s voice, " he said.


    "I started watching the show because of you, and I''ve binged it all. Trust me, I already know the trainees by their voices, so I wasn''t mistaken."


    "Who was he talking to?" June asked.


    "It wasn''t clear," Mr. Klin said. "They were speaking in Chinese."


    June scoffed softly. So, it was real. He wasn''t hallucinating after all.


    It was definitely Laohu.


    "It was a good thing I still remembered some Chinese words from when I studied it in university. However, there were some things I missed," the Janitor continued.


    "One thing was certain, though¡ªhe''s going to debut in 8th ce," Mr. Klin said, looking anxious. "That was the only clear statement I remember. And I wasn''t able to record it because my hands were covered in urine."


    June sighed in disappointment. He was hoping for this to be their proof.


    "However," Mr. Klin quickly added, causing June to look back at him.


    "When I was cleaning my closet, I suddenly came across my camera," he said, pointing to the blinking red dot in the corner.


    "I forgot about it after you asked me for the clips of those two trainees. But, it was still recording."


    June held his breath, hoping for the best.


    "And when I went through the footage I''ve filmed, I realized that I''m a very forgetful person. I forgot to lock my closet multiple times already! I have been drinking these supplements for memory retention, but I guess they''re a scam..."


    "You''re getting off-topic again," June cut him off, amused yet impatient at the same time.


    "Right," Mr. Klin chuckled, then he suddenly turned serious,ing closer to June. "Back to what I was saying."


    "However, even if I left it close, only one person came into the room," he whispered.


    "And it seems like my closet is a ma for crimes because it just turns out to be Lin Zhi¡ªand his crime of having their song during the Production Mission produced by a professional producer."

 Chapter 248 Going Down

    248 Going Down


    June grasped on the sh drive tightly. Since his phone was now gone, Mr. Klin took the liberty to transfer the needed videos to the sh drive, with the original copies of the videos remaining in the janitor''s closet.


    <nullb>Five days.


    There were five days left until the finale.


    And with their practices still going on, June had no choice but to aplish this particr mission at night after their practices.


    Thankfully, their practices were going smoothly since most of the trainees in the top 20 were already talented. C-Jay, too, didn''t seem to be having a hard time keeping up with their choreography.


    "Alright, in this section, we''ll be embodying fire," June said, leading the team. "So, we''re going to incorporate some rock elements into the song. The movements during the bridge are actually perfect for this part, but it still needs some tweaking."


    "Anthony," June said. "Do you want to be in charge of this part?"


    Anthony raised his eyebrows in surprise. "This is the very first time someone had asked me that."


    June frowned. "What do you mean?"


    Anthony shrugged. "Nothing much. Just, in the past teams I''ve been in, the leaders usually just assigned the roles. I was never asked what I wanted to do."


    "Well, do you want to do this one?" June asked.


    "Sure," Anthony chimed. "Can Bin help me do it?"


    "Yes," June said. "Then, teach uster after lunch."


    "In the meantime, do you think you can prepare this part, Jinsol? You''ve dabbled in ballet, so I think you''re suited to be the center during this part," June suggested.


    Jinsol''s eyes widened. "Center? But you''re the center, bro."


    June sighed, then pped, capturing the other''s attention.


    "Look," he said. "You might have given me the center position, but that doesn''t mean I have to be at the center at all times. We''re a team," he said.


    "And besides, it''s the final performance. We want everyone to shine on the stage that, quite possibly, will be thest time we''ll be performing together. So, instead of a singr center, we should all take turns being the center instead."


    "This is OUR stage; not mine alone," June nonchntly said. "And we''ll make thisst stage memorable."


    In reality, June just didn''t want to take full responsibility for bing the center. He already had a lot on his te¡ªwith Lin Zhi''s situation and all.


    However, his teammates were touched by his words, and before he even knew it, he was attacked by none other than C-Jay, rubbing his head on June''s shoulder like a cat in heat.


    "What the heck?" June eximed, pushing him away.


    "We''ll do our best, bro!"


    ***


    June closed his eyes for a moment, resting his head against the wall. He was damn tired and wanted nothing but sleep, but he still had another objective to fulfill.


    With the help of Mr. Klin''s janitor pass, June was able to enter the headquarters.


    He went straight to the person he knew inside the office.


    June didn''t bother knocking and just entered her room.


    Cindy jolted in shock when June entered her room.


    "What are you doing here?" Cindy asked, cing her hand in front of her chest.


    "I wanted to see you," June teased, causing Cindy to re at him. However, it couldn''t be denied that the young trainee was very charming.


    <nulli>There was no wonder Jia liked him so much.


    "You shouldn''t be here, you know?" Cindy said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "How''d you even get here?"


    "That''s not important," June said. "I need to see Yena and Yejin."


    Cindy''s frown deepened. "The main producers of this show? They''re very hard to meet, even as the head editor of this show."


    "There''s something I need to bring up," June said, bringing out the sh drive from his pocket. "It''s about Lin Zhi."


    "The trainee who''s in 5th ce right now?" Cindy asked. "Jia hates that guy."


    June smirked, a small chuckleing out from his lips. "And rightfully so."


    "Why? Is there a problem with him?" she asked.


    "Long story short," June said. "There is some foul y going on behind the scenes. Lin Zhi employed a professional''s help during the Production Mission, and there''s also an issue with his present rank, but I don''t have any proof of that just yet."


    "What?" Cindy eximed with wide eyes. "H¡ªhow did that happen?"


    Cindy was about to question the genuineness of his usation, but she remembered thest time she questioned June...


    In the end, Cindy decided to believe in him.


    "Lin Zhi has people behind him," June vaguely said. "And it''s unfair for the other trainees if he gets to stay despite these anomalies."


    "Well, how can I help? I don''t have much say on the trainees'' eliminations and disqualifications. I also can''t evil-edit him right now since the final episode will be live," Cindy said.


    "I''m aware," June said. "I just need to talk to Yena and Yejin and show them my proof."


    Cindy sighed. "Their office is located in the opposite wing. I cannot assure you that they''ll be there since everything is so hectic with the finaleing up."


    "Thanks," June said before quickly leaving the room.


    With a determined look on his face, he walked toward the opposite wing of the building.


    It was alreadyte at night, so there weren''t a lot of employees around. However, the people who were still there halted when they felt someone walk by.


    An intern turned to the side to see if someone truly did pass by. But there was no one there aside from his other co-worker.


    A chill ran through his spine, goosebumps arising from his skin.


    <nulli>''A pink ghost?''


    Meanwhile, June had already arrived in front of Yena and Yejin''s office. Simr to Cindy''s, their room was definitely on the fancier side.


    It seemed like Azure took care of their employees well despite being shitty at times.


    With a determined look in his eyes, June knocked on the door, the sh drive tightly gripped in his other hand.


    He waited for a while. However, nobody responded.


    So, without any hesitation, he ced his hand on the door handle, turning it until the door creaked.


    Then, he saw a figure sitting in the corner of the room, illuminated only by a weak officemp.


    June smirked as he yed with the sh drive in his hand, walking discretely toward that person.


    <nulli>Lin Zhi was going down.

 Chapter 249 For Real

    249 For Real


    The skies were usually filled with smog, luding the view of the Earth to the other gxies above. However, tonight, the dark skies were clear. The moon and the stars lit up the sky, and it was perfectly seen from the windows of the producers'' office.


    However, Yena and Yejin weren''t there to enjoy it.


    Instead, they were in the dome where the finale of Rising Stars was usually held, stressing since there was so much to do.


    "Who are you?" June and the unfamiliar man said at the same time, looking at each other under the moonlight.


    "Oh," the unfamiliar man said when he recognized the trainee with the pink hair. "June?"


    June cautiously nodded. "Yes, sir. And you are?"


    The unfamiliar man chuckled. "Well, I guess I haven''t been as vocal as Yena and Yejin. My name''s Tony. Tony Park. I''m one of the main producers of the show, along with Yena and Yejin. But I handle the more internal side of the production¡ªspeaking with the authorities in Azure and all."


    June''s eyes brightened as soon as he heard Tony''s introduction.


    He thought he was unlucky for not finding Yena and Yejin in their office, but instead, he must havended on the right person after all.


    "Wait," Tony said, narrowing his eyes. "What are you doing here, young man? Trainees usually don''t have any ess toe here."


    "I was granted permission," June vaguely said.


    "I''m sorry, but you weren''t granted permission in this office. I have to call security," he said, his finger hovering above the security button.


    "Wait," June said, showing Tony the sh drive in his hand. "I have a report. That''s a valid reason to go here, right?"


    Tony pursed his lips as he looked at the sh drive suspiciously.


    "And since you said you''re involved in the internal affairs of thepany," June continued. "I''m sure you can''t miss this information since it involves a trainee unfairly getting help from outside sources when it wasn''t allowed for us to do so."


    Tony raised his eyebrows in surprise before crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "borate."


    "I think it''s better for me to show you," June said. "Do you mind if I use yourptop?"


    Tony, although still a bit suspicious, slowly nodded. "You better not be wasting my time here, kid. My aunt loves you, but that doesn''t mean I''ll cut you some ck."


    June chuckled as he inserted the sh drive into hisptop, quickly opening the videos inside it.


    Lin Zhi''s voice was heard in the room as June yed the video.


    <nulli>"I''m still waiting," Lin Zhi said, pacing back and forth inside the janitor''s closet.


    <nulli>"It''s sending," a voice that June recognized as Laohu said. "You''re so impatient."


    <nulli>"I''m just nervous. I''m sorry," Lin Zhi quickly apologized. "My teammates are shit. They don''t even know anything about music production."


    <nulli>Laohu clicked his tongue. "And you can''t do shit, too. Just be thankful that I already have a song for you."


    <nulli>Lin Zhi smiled sheepishly.


    <nulli>"It''s sent," Laohu said.


    <nulli>After that, Lin Zhi ended the call, and he was seen scrolling frantically through his phone. Then, a small smirk appeared on his lips as he tapped his phone, the song they performed during the Production Mission reverberating in the small closet.


    Tony gasped softly, causing June to smirk.


    "This is¡ªThis is uneptable," he stammered, looking at the now ck screen in disbelief.


    "This action is subject to disqualification, am I right?" June asked.


    Tony nodded frantically. "Absolutely. I have to take these clips to my superiors. Are these the only ones you have?"


    "There''s more in the sh drive," June said. "It proves how Lin Zhi truly got help from a professional producer during the Production Mission."


    Tony smiled in appreciation, patting June''s back. "I''ll be talking to Yena and Yejin about this first thing in the morning," he said, getting the sh drive. "Then, we''ll talk with our superiors about the consequences of Lin Zhi''s action."


    "This is absolutely uneptable," Tony said with a clenched jaw. "I''m sure Lin Zhi wouldn''t even make it to the finale once they find out about this."


    June bit his lip to hide his smirk. "Then, I''m expecting the proper repercussions, producer."


    Tony nodded. "Absolutely."


    ***


    June woke up with a smile on his face. However, when he remembered he still didn''t have a phone, his smile was quickly reced with a frown.


    It''s been two days since his phone was destroyed by that bastard, Lin Zhi, and he has been so bored ever since.


    He wondered how the #gangs topic had progressed now.


    However, as June remembered his conversation with Tony yesterday, he was suddenly brought to life. He stood up from his bed, freshened up, determined to see Lin Zhi suffer the right consequences.


    There wasn''t anything too strange when June walked through the hallways. But then again, it was early in the morning, so the higher-ups were probably stilling to a decision.


    June wanted them to make it fast, though.


    Not only did he want Lin Zhi to be kicked out of the show, but he also wanted to upgrade all his skills before the finale. Aside from that, he wanted to give the other team some time to adjust their performance if Lin Zhi was going to be kicked out.


    Speaking of the devil, June found Lin Zhi near the janitor''s closet, scrolling through his phone.


    Without any hesitation, June walked over to him.


    Lin Zhi, hearing June''s footsteps, lifted his head. He had an air of superiority surrounding him, and he smirked as June settled before him.


    "Well, there''s my favorite rival," Lin Zhi mocked.


    June merely raised one eyebrow, causing Lin Zhi to chuckle.


    "You know, June," Lin Zhi began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe you should spend a little more time practicing with your group of substandard trainees if you want to stay in thispetition. Being in 12th ce isn''t exactly a reason to be so rxed, don''t you think?"


    Lin Zhi said those words to gain a reaction from June¡ªsomething like anger or annoyance. However, Lin Zhi was surprised when June mirrored his smirk.


    It was a smirk not born of insecurity but of confidence. June leaned closer to Lin Zhi, and for the first time, thetter actually felt a chill run down his spine. There was something unsettling about the way June held his gaze.


    "It''s over," June whispered, his voice low and icy. Lin Zhi''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    He couldn''tprehend what June meant by those words, but he had a feeling he was about to find out.


    June took a step closer, and in a tone that sent shivers down Lin Zhi''s spine, he continued, "I know what you did."


    Lin Zhi gulped as June continued speaking.


    "You had your song in the Production Mission made by a professional producer. You should have been more careful where you were having conversations about your little crime. You didn''t think anyone would notice, did you?"


    Lin Zhi''s eyes widened in shock as the realization of what June had uncovered washed over him.


    With a triumphant smirk, June leaned in even closer, his voice a menacing whisper. "And you best believe I''ve reported it to the higher-ups. Say goodbye to thepetition, Lin Zhi."


    Lin Zhi''s arrogance quickly crumbled, reced by fear and disbelief.


    As June walked away, leaving Lin Zhi in stunned silence, he couldn''t help but add one final piece of advice.


    "Don''t worry," June smiled. "I''ll work really hard in here."


    "Maybe you should work hard, too¡­when you''re outside thepetition," June said, his wordsced with satisfaction. "That''s the only way you''ll have a chance at redemption."


    Going down for real.

 Chapter 250 Betrayal

    250 Betrayal


    Four days.


    June''s team was more fired up than ever. Their practice was going really well, with most of the details already implemented. June took the liberty to arrange their song, too, and his music production skills came in handy once again. The team had recorded their performance, and their smiles were visible in the video.


    June nodded in satisfaction.


    Their performance was almostplete.


    "This is the best," Johnny said. "I''m so d to be part of this performance."


    "I can''t imagine how epic this will be once the effects actually take ce," C-Jay said, already stoked for the performance.


    Meanwhile, the other team was struggling to practice their emotional performance. Lin Zhi came into the practice room in a very sour mood, and it seemed like he had also affected the other members.


    "Lin Zhi," Ren sighed, having enough of his mood. "You''re the center. Do better this time."


    Lin Zhi sighed heavily, simply nodding.


    However, even after that confrontation, nothing changed. The stripped-back piano that Ren had tastefully arranged now left a bitter taste in their mouths. With Lin Zhi singing and dancing with an angry expression, they looked like a bunch of amateurs.


    Zeth sighed and stopped dancing, causing a ripple effect on the other members. They stopped dancing, too, and the atmosphere in the room became even more tense.


    Lin Zhi noticed the silence in the room and stopped. After his conversation with June this morning, Lin Zhi had been on edge. His fingernails even had bite marks all over them due to his anxiousness.


    "What''s your problem?" Casper calmly asked, but Lin Zhi continued to be consumed by his thoughts.


    <nulli>''Am I going to be eliminated?''


    <nulli>''That June is much more tenacious than I thought.''


    <nulli>''Fuck, fuck, fuck!''


    "Lin Zhi," Daeho said loudly, causing Lin Zhi to snap out of his thoughts. Lin Zhi felt his vision darken as he looked at his teammates. They all looked annoying in his eyes, somehow. So, without saying anything, Lin Zhi left the room. The teammates he left looked at each other in confusion. Then, Ren sighed in disappointment. "Let''s go back to practice."


    ***


    A full day had passed with June''s team practicing for their stage. They didn''t want to settle for anything less than perfection. So, they rarely took any breaks.


    Because of this, June didn''t have any time to check on Lin Zhi and if he had finally received the retribution he deserved.


    They were taking a break before they left the practice room, and in one corner of the room, C-Jay, Sehun, and Minx wereughing while scrolling through Navel. Suddenly, C-Jay let out a loud gasp, capturing everybody''s attention in the room.


    "What happened?" Anthony asked.


    "Holy shit! Lin Zhi," C-Jay eximed, causing June to snap his gaze to them. Then, a small smirk appeared on his lips. <nulli>Was it finally time?


    "He''s trending on Navel," Sehun said.


    "What? Really?" Johnny eximed. "Why would he even trend at this time?"


    They all flocked to C-Jay''s phone. June, on the other hand, walked calmly toward them.


    "Look, June," C-Jay said, handing him the phone. June looked at the phone, expecting the worst. He read the title of the trending article¡ªwith over 25,000 likes at this point.


    ''Lin Zhi from Rising Stars¡ªa genius producer?''


    But then, it turned out to be the best.


    <nulli>Young Trainee Lin Zhi Impresses with Godlike Producing Skills but Faces Narrow Defeat


    <nulli>Enter Lin Zhi, a trainee who has taken the industry by storm with his godlike producing skills and lightning-fast pace that even seasoned professionals find awe-inspiring. Lin Zhi''s recent project in thetest mission of ''Rising Stars'' showcased his remarkable talents, producing a song that carried his teammates to new heights, but it was a bittersweet ending as another team emerged victorious.


    <nulli>Lin Zhi has now captured the attention of the K-popmunity with his remarkably fast-producing skills. We are looking forward to his improvement once he debuts...So go vote for him if you haven''t yet, starlights! We need a godlike producer in the debut team.


    It was posted by one of thergest fanbases of Rising Stars, dating even back to the very first season. Thements were disabled, though, which was once again strange.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he continued looking at the article. Meanwhile, his other teammates were discussing its contents.


    "It''s kind of strange that he''s the one who got the article," Sehun said.


    "It isn''t an official ount. Anything could be posted," Anthony said. "But then again, this ount has more than 500,000 followers."


    "I meant, it should have been June," Sehun said. "His song was the best, but it seemed like the article was saying that their team didn''t deserve to win."


    June couldn''t hear anything except for a ringing sound that seemed to only grow louder with every passing second.


    "Right, June?"


    Every voice was muffled by the sound of his thoughts.


    "June?"


    June snapped back to reality. He stared at his teammates'' eyes and suddenly felt like he couldn''t take it.


    "I''ll see you guys tomorrow," June said, a murderous intent hidden in his voice. It sent shivers down everyone''s spine, and they couldn''t breathe until June left the room.


    "Damn, that was scary," Minx sighed in relief as soon as he was gone.


    June''s hurried footsteps reverberated through the dimly lit hallways, casting long, eerie shadows with every step he took. The building was already silent, and it had dawned on him that their team had practiced until night.


    He had one purpose in mind, one person he needed to confront¡ªTony.


    Doubt gnawed at him; perhaps trusting Tony had been a grave mistake. June pushed forward, determined to find Mr. Klin so he could get a pass and reach the headquarters once again.


    As he turned a corner, his heart leaped into his throat. Two shadowy figures stood at the end of the path, their features concealed by the enveloping darkness. An unsettling feeling of dread washed over him. Their presence was unmistakably familiar, and that familiarity only deepened his unease.


    A ghastly light flickered, momentarily illuminating their faces. June clenched his jaw as the sinister truth was revealed.


    It was Lin Zhi and Tony.


    The person he loathed.


    And the person he thought he could trust.


    It seemed like time had ceased, and everything turned to slow motion in June''s vision. Tony''s hand descended on Lin Zhi''s shoulder, an unsettling, creepy grin still etched on his face.


    Then, as if Lin Zhi had magically noticed his presence, he turned his head to the side¡ªwhere June was. And with mocking intent, Lin Zhi smiled.


    "It''s over," Lin Zhi mouthed.

 Chapter 251 Trust No One

    251 Trust No One


    June stood in the middle of the hallway, frozen. It felt like a cold bucket of water had been poured all over his body.


    Lin Zhi and Tony stood at the end of the hallway, the pale light illuminating their indulgent smiles. Tony patted Lin Zhi on the back while Lin Zhi bowed his head in respect.


    The two of them looked like good old buddies from where June was standing.


    And they probably were.


    This wasn''t the first betrayal he had encountered in his life, but damn, did this one hit him like a bull.


    June admitted that he had been hasty amidst all of this. He wasn''t perfect. And he was hurried.


    So, when he saw an opening¡­for Lin Zhi to finally get kicked out of thepetition, June trusted Tony. He thought this world wouldn''t be too harsh like the world he lived in.


    But it was definitely harsh. The world was in harsh.


    Lin Zhi took onest nce at June, a smirk still ying on his lips, and June felt¡­defeated.


    June needed to do something. So, when Lin Zhi walked away, with an air of confidence in every step he took, June didn''t hesitate to run after Tony¡ªthe guy he trusted.


    The old man, who had a kind and determined smile on his face when they first conversed, now had a smile that could be likened to a snake. Tony raised one eyebrow in surprise. Then, when he saw it was June, a smirk emerged from his lips.


    "Oh," he said, his voice with an underlying cunningness.


    "Oh," June repeated, his exmation filled with resentment.


    Tony faced June fully, arms crossed in front of his chest.


    "Well, how can I help you today?" Tony asked like he hadn''t done anything wrong.


    June scoffed in disbelief. "You¡­and Lin Zhi," he started off.


    "My favorite trainee, Lin Zhi, you mean?" Tony chuckled. "Well, he has been my favorite from the very beginning, you see. In this world where money reigns supreme, you should choose wisely which side you''re going to be on."


    "You''re the head producer of the show," June said in an obvious tone. "This will merely backfire if people find out about what you''re doing."


    "But I''m still here," Tony said. "Stronger than ever. And I don''t have any regrets doing what I''ve done."


    June clenched his jaw in anger. Tony saw the trainee clench his fists, too, causing him to chuckle.


    "Go ahead, boy. Hit me," Tony said, mockingly pointing to his cheek. "Then maybe I''ll also let you off like I did with Lin Zhi. Think of it as my thank you for handing me those files."


    June bit his lip, his fists shaking in rage. He wanted nothing but to plunge his fist into his ugly face, but he knew better. <nulli>People like Tony couldn''t be trusted.


    "You don''t want to?" Tony asked. "Well, that''s too bad. Time''s up. You just lost your chance."


    June let out a deep breath. "You''ll pay for this," he calmly said, causing Tony to be a bit surprised.


    He enjoyed watching June get angry, but right now, he appeared as though he meant his words¡­a hundred percent.


    But then again, Tony didn''t have anything to fear for. Tony might not be the most powerful person in Azure, but he knew damn well that he was stronger than June¡ªa mere trainee who didn''t even have a bigpany to back him up.


    "Well, I don''t have plenty of time," Tony said, a chill running down his spine as June continued ring at him. "I guess we''ll see each other in the finals. You might not see me, but I''m definitely going to see you. Maybe I''ll root for you, too! Why don''t you make up with Lin Zhi since he''s going to be your teammate, huh?" he chuckled.


    "That is¡­if you debut."


    Tony''s unrepentantughter echoed through the hallways.


    "But," he quickly added, walking closer to June and cing his hand on his shoulder. He gave it a tight squeeze, but June didn''t flinch. "I have onest piece of advice for you before we part."


    Tony went even closer to June, his mustache-dirtied upper lip brushing against June''s smooth ear.


    "Don''t trust anyone here, my boy. You''ll only regret it in the end."


    With that, the trashy producer left June all alone, wallowing in his thoughts.


    June let out a deep breath as he leaned against the rough wall. He wanted to go on a rampage to release his anger. But June knew he didn''t have time for that. Instead, he needed toe up with a new n¡­a better n. This show was more corrupt than he had expected.


    And if they didn''t want to help him, then June would go the dirtier route¡­the public route.


    "Mr. Klin," he muttered under his breath, standing straight before practically bolting to the janitor''s closet. His phone was broken, so he didn''t have an extra copy of the videos Mr. Klin had saved. But at least the original files were still with the bald janitor.


    June ran through the quiet hallways, and seeing the yellow, beat-up door instantly made him sigh in relief. June knew Mr. Klin rarely took day-offs, so he must still be here. Mr. Klin was the only guy who had the original videos, and June felt like he was hisst hope.


    June rapidly knocked on the wood before opening the door, expecting to see his oasis.


    "Mr. Klin," he said, his voice filled with hope. The weak light illuminated the dark interior of the janitor''s closet. There was a man inside, and June felt his heart race inside his chest.


    "Mr. Klin, I need your help."


    However, when the man turned around, it felt like the world stopped moving for June.


    Because by his silhouette alone, he looked very unfamiliar.


    A scrawny, younger-looking guy with plenty of thick hair looked back at June. June observed the guy''s attire and saw that his uniform was the same as Mr. Klin''s. He also had a te that said ''janitor'' on his chest.


    <nulli>However, this wasn''t Mr. Klin.


    "Umm, who are you?" the ''janitor'' asked.


    DOUBLE SORRY. Again, another disimer! June is not perfect. He¡¯s in a rush. He makes mistakes. He¡¯s a little cat, don¡¯t be too harsh on him!

 Chapter 252 Fired and Fired Up

    <h4>Chapter 252 Fired and Fired Up</h4>


    June stared into the janitor''s asymmetrical, inquiring eyes. He was looking at him with raised eyebrows, looking very unweing.


    "Look, kid. I still have to clean the toilets. If you need anything, can you just tell me what it is?" he impatiently asked.


    "You¡ªyou work here?" June stammered.


    "Yes," the janitor sighed. "Just started today, and you''re already making my job difficult to manage. What do you need?"


    "Another janitor is working here," June said, hope still present in his heart. "Did he take a day off, perhaps?"


    Thenky janitor frowned. "As far as I know, I''m the only one working here right now. Just reced a bald guy a while ago."


    June''s ears perked up with the mention of a bald guy.


    "What was his name again?" he asked, cing his hand under his chin. "It was a weird name. Clinton? Klint?"


    "Mr. Klin," June whispered.


    "Right¡ªthat man," the janitor eximed. "He made quite a scene a while ago, so the guards had to drag him away. I''ve never found a person who loves cleaning so much than him."


    June was in denial. Without saying anything, he bypassed the new janitor and went to where the cameras were originally hidden.


    June rummaged through the clutter, causing the new janitor to exim.


    "Kid! Stop it. I just fixed that."


    "The cameras," June said, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Where did you ce the cameras?"


    "Cameras?" he frowned. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. This room was clean when I got here. Those guards took away Mr. Klin and his belongings."


    "Shit," June muttered under his breath, causing the janitor to weirdly look at him.


    "Well, are we done here?" he asked. "As I said, I still need to clean the toilets."


    June stood there, looking at the now unfamiliar setup of the closet, and felt an ache inside his heart.


    "What''s your name?" June quietly asked.


    The janitor sighed. "Will that make you leave my closet? If so, then my name is Dorothy," he said.


    June frowned.


    "I know," the janitor chuckled. "It sounds like a woman''s name, and I resent my parents for that. That''s why I don''t go by that name. You can just call me Mr. Dorthy."


    <nulli>Mr. Dorthy.


    June shook his head.


    <nulli>Mr. Klin was better.


    "How about you?" the janitor asked. "What''s your name, kid?"


    "June," he said, still without any emotions.


    Mr. Dorthy raised his eyebrows in surprise. "June, huh? Then it must be you. That bald guy actually left me with something."


    June felt hope swell in his heart as he turned to Mr. Dorthy.


    Mr. Dorthy reached for his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a crumpled note.


    "That weird guy asked me to hand this to the trainee whose name was a month. I''m guessing that''s you."


    June unhesitatingly took the note from Mr. Dorthy.


    "Well, I guess I''ll be leaving," Mr. Dorthy said. "Those toilets wouldn''t clean themselves. Just lock my closet, will you?"


    June nodded, not even bothering to look at the new janitor as he opened the crumpled note.


    <nulli>Dear June,


    June smiled as he read the messy handwriting of the janitor. It hasn''t been long since they''ve met, but it felt like they had been friends for a long time already.


    As much as June tried to deny it, he had grown attached to the janitor who helped him during the most unexpected moments.


    The smile on his face quickly dropped, however, as he continued reading the letter.


    <nulli>If you''re reading this right now, I must be long gone. I never thought I''d find myself penning this letter, but the janitor has to say goodbye. I arrived at work today and found my closet empty, and shortly after, they handed me a notice that I was fired. They didn''t even give me a choice, June. They kicked me out mercilessly, just like that.


    <nulli>I want to apologize to you, June because I couldn''t keep the cameras and the footage of Lin Zhi''s incident. It was my responsibility, and I failed you. You see, at first, I wasn''t too fond of you.


    June chuckled softly.


    <nulli>I thought you were just another idol trainee passing through, but something changed along the way. I started to see the fire in your eyes, your dedication, and your spirit. I couldn''t help but be your fan.


    <nulli>So, as I write this with a heavy heart, I want to tell you to fly high, June. You''ve got all it takes to be an idol, and I''ll be watching every step of the way, even if it''s from a distance.


    <nulli>I am a janitor through and through, and I''ll continue to be one¡ªno matter what life throws at me.


    <nulli>So, you must be an idol¡ªno matter what. Keep chasing your dreams because you have the talent and heart to make theme true.


    <nulli>I''ll miss the days when I taught you how to be cute¡­when you gifted me bleach¡­and how we aplished missions like detectives. Those days will surely be missed, and never forgotten.


    <nulli>Take care, my dear friend, and never forget the janitor who believed in you from the bottom of his heart.


    <nulli>From my pink mop to your pink hair,


    <nulli>Mr. Klin


    June closed the letter with shaky hands. He had never expected a letter from the janitor to affect him so much, yet here he was.


    June felt¡­sad. He suddenly remembered the people he had been with during the course of thepetition.


    June suddenly felt that he was not only carrying his mission with him.


    He was carrying the dreams of plenty of others.


    June had alreadye this far¡­and the people he met along the way all believed in him.


    Minjun and Grandma.


    Jangmoon.


    The janitor.


    Mei Ling.


    June''s journey to bing an idol wasn''t for him alone, and now, he was more determined than ever.


    June clenched his fists, then stared at himself in the tiny mirror pasted on the wall of the janitor''s closet.


    He had one thought in his mind.


    June will avenge these people.

 Chapter 253 Three Days

    <h4>Chapter 253 Three Days</h4>


    But then again, that was easier said than done.


    <nullb>Three days.


    Three days were left until the finale, and June was still yet to find something that would bring Lin Zhi down to the pits of hell.


    He was still looking for a way to find those lost footages, but there wasn''t a lot of time left.


    June''s team had gathered once more for their practice, and it was evident that June''s mood wasn''t the best. However, he still tried his best to put on a good show for his teammates.


    It was still obvious, though.


    And Sehun was the very first to notice that.


    "Hey, are you okay?" Sehun asked, sitting beside June.


    June lost in his thoughts, looked up at the smiling trainee and nodded slightly.


    "Yeah, just thinking about something," June said.


    "That''s good," Sehun said. "It''s good to collect your thoughts sometime."


    "Hmm," June hummed, then went back to being silent.


    "You know," Sehun said, breaking the silence. "I can tell that you''ve carried a lot of burdens on your back, and that made you the strongest trainee in thepetition¡­at least, for me, you are," he chuckled.


    "We''re also relying on you a lot for this performance, too," Sehun added. "But you''ve never crumbled under pressure. You always put on your best show, and in that way, I could tell that you''ll be a very good idol."


    June chuckled as he looked at Sehun. "Why are you telling this to me?"


    Sehun shrugged. "I don''t know. Just wanted to give you a little booster, I guess. You look quite down."


    "Yeah," June sighed. "Kind of worried."


    "Well, you can talk to me when you''re worried," Sehun smiled.


    June nodded in gratitude.


    Just then, C-Jay''s booming voice was heard in their practice room. "Why are you worried, bro? Do you want me to give you a massage?" he loudly asked.


    June chuckled as he shook his head. "Shut up. You''re making my head hurt."


    C-Jay pouted as he sprawled his body across the floor. "You shouldn''t be worried, bro. Your debut spot is already certain."


    "Nothing''s certain at this point," June said. "I''m in 12th ce."


    C-Jay clicked his tongue. "You''re right. I still find that pretty weird, though. You performed a great stagest week. Why were you suddenly in 12th ce?"


    "Do you think there''s any foul y going on?" Anthony asked.


    June clenched his jaw.


    <nulli>There definitely was.


    "Hey, do you think we can talk about things like that?" Zachary asked.


    C-Jay shrugged. "Why not? We''re not ndering anyone''s name. But, I do think it''s still possible for a rigging incident to ur."


    "Most definitely," Sehun agreed. "But I think there''s a lesser chance this time. In the past few seasons, Azure was the one who counted the votes. They could have easily manipted it to their liking for the sake of their favorite trainees. Now, we have an outsidepany doing that for us."


    "That isn''t a guarantee, though," Johnny said. "There might still be something going on with thatpany and other externalpanies."


    C-Jay sat up, stretching his limbs. "But I heard from someone that the CEO of thatpany is a very honest man, though."


    "Where did you hear this?" Sehun asked.


    "Oh, I hear a lot of things. I''m your source for all gossip, basically! And I heard that the owner of thepany has lots of otherpanies that work for good causes. So, I have high hopes for them. I really wish nothing weird happens with the votes this time around."


    June paused, an idea suddenly dawning upon him.


    He already tried asking for help from Azure¡­and that didn''t turn out great at all. June knew not to make the same mistake again.


    So, maybe he can ask help from someone who was actually closer to the votes.


    "What''s the name of thepany again?" June asked, knowing C-Jay would have the answer.


    "Mintellect," C-Jay responded.


    ***


    "Mintellect," June muttered under his breath.


    He was about to borrow Sehun''s phone so he could research thepany and find a way to meet its owner when an intern suddenly came into the room.


    "Trainees, please proceed to the Audio Visual Room," he eximed. "We have something special in store for you."


    With that, he closed the door, leaving the group of trainees confused.


    Then, June''s teammates stood up and started heading to the room. June entered, and he saw that the other team was already there.


    A small smile yed on his lips as his friends waved at him. It''s been a while since they''ve seen each other like this since they were all busy preparing for the signal song performance.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw Lin Zhi sitting in the middle of the room, looking more arrogant than ever.


    Lin Zhi smiled, his eyes creasing as he looked at June.


    June ignored his presence and sat next to his teammates, settling at the very end of the line.


    The trainees chattered among themselves, curious as to why they were asked to gather suddenly.


    "What are we even doing here?" Jaeyong asked.


    "We need to go and practice," Akira sighed worriedly.


    "Hey, do you think it''ll be that?" C-Jay suddenly asked.


    Bin groaned. "Oh, please. I don''t want to cry today."


    Just then, all of the lights turned off, and a beautiful melody filled the room.


    June sighed as he realized what was going on.


    Towards the end of Rising Stars, the trainees were asked to gather so they could look back at the journey they have embarked on. This was usually the time when their auditions wereshown, and it was also an opportunity for the trainees to ry their sincere messages to their fellow trainees.


    It was definitely an emotional time, and C-Jay was already sniffing when the intro was yed.


    It was aption of their performances, slowed down with a ck-and-white filter.


    And June couldn''t deny that it was very well-edited, appearing like their lives were straight out of a movie.


    Then, the segments that everyone dreaded finally came.


    Akira was shown on screen, causing the Japanese trainee to hide his face with his hands.


    "Umm," Akira on the screen said. "This feels awkward. A message for a trainee, huh? Do I have to say just one?"


    Akira groaned. "I guess I''ll go with our leader," he said. "Jaeyong, if you''re watching this. I hope we still debut together. Not as RAVEN, but as a new group with new people. Let''s debut, leader."

 Chapter 254 Dear June

    <h4>Chapter 254 Dear June</h4>


    Akira nced at Jaeyong, fully expecting him to cry. However, a small smile was on his face, causing Akira to sulk.


    <nulli>Does he really only cry because of June?


    After that, Jisung was shown next. It wasn''t too hard to guess who he left his message to.


    "Hi, bro!" he eximed with a wide smile. "June was the very first trainee I spoke with on the show. I was so nervous during the auditions, and I thought I wouldn''t be making any friends at all. However, I was d I chose the spot right next to you! Thank you for being my best bro in thepetition. Let''s debut together soon."


    June nced at Jisung, who had a warm smile. June smiled slightly before looking away.


    Now, Zeth and Ren were simultaneously shown on screen, causing the others to tease them.


    "What''s this? A K-drama?"


    "It looks like they''re going to confess each other''s feelings!"


    Zeth and Ren acted disgusted, but it didn''t take a genius to see they were happy to have picked each other for their messages.


    "Umm, hey, Ren!" Zeth started off. "It''s always beenfortable speaking with you. We''ve already known each other for four years, and those times have been a st. I wish we''d spent a few more years with each other. Not as trainees¡­but as idols."


    "Hey, Zeth," Ren was now shown fully. "Fighting with you is exhausting. Let''s not do that again," he chuckled. "Well, I just want to take this time to thank you for everything we''ve gone through together. You haven''t left my side since then, as annoying as that is¡­"


    The room burst into chuckles.


    "But I don''t mind your presence at all," Ren smiled. "Let''s debut, number one prick."


    After those two, Casper was shown on screen.


    "June," Casper said, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    <nulli>Why would Casper send him a message?


    They haven''t even known each other for too long. They''ve also only performed one stage together!


    "Hi," Casper shyly said. "If trainees could vote, then I would vote for you a hundred percent."


    The room was silent for a while, but then the trainees burst intoughter.


    "Are youing out as June''s fan or something?" Zeth asked, pping the back of Casper''s head.


    Casper looked away, ignoring their teases.


    In truth, Casper just really missed Luther.


    After that, the other trainees were shown too. Then, Sehun was shown on the screen, shyly scratching the back of his neck.


    "Umm, he''s probably not expecting a message from me," he started off. "But hey, June! It''s been a while. We only performed once, but I still dream of that performance."


    "That''s the third message June has gotten."


    "Damn, he''s popr here, too."


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi cracked his neck joints in annoyance. A lot of the trainees had already been shown, but he still hadn''t received a message.


    "As cheesy as this may sound," Sehun chuckled, "but you made me realize my dream once more. Before our performance, I was anxious with every stage I dealt with. But after that, I gained a more positive outlook. Thank you for showing me that I truly want to be an idol."


    June looked down at hisp, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the messages he had received.


    However, it wasn''t over yet.


    Because C-Jay was next shown on the screen.


    "I wanted to send one to that tree-like trainee, Jangmoon, but he''s gone now, so I''ll send one to my greatest idol, June!" C-Jay said before looking into the camera.


    "That''s the fourth one already!"


    "June''s really made his mark among the trainees, hasn''t he?"


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips in anger. It was getting harder to control his facial expressions, but since a camera was filming him directly, he had no choice but to keep a neutral face on.


    "I still remember when you scolded our zero-star team for losing hope all too quickly," C-Jay chuckled.


    June shook his head, vaguely remembering their past conflicts. During that time, June thought they were the greatest enemies he''d have to face.


    But they turned out to be his great friends instead.


    "Being in the zero-star ss, I really thought I was bound to go home. Now, I still can''t believe that I''m part of the top 20. Every time I wake up, I feel like I''m stuck in a dream. However, I realized that if I can stand during the finale, then a lot of people can."


    "June made me realize that," C-Jay chuckled. "From being in zero-stars together to now being in the finale¡­you''ve really made such a great impact in my life, bro. Let''s walk together toward the debut stage. Thank you for snapping me out of my misery back then!"


    "Love you, bro!" C-Jay shouted, causing the others tough in amusement.


    June reciprocated C-Jay''s smile, causing thetter to beam.


    Since four people had sent their messages to June, they were looking forward to seeing June''s video message. However, the screen turned ck, signaling the end of the video messages.


    "What the heck?" C-Jay eximed. "Where''s yours, bro?"


    June shrugged. He wasn''t interviewed at all!


    At that moment, the interns looked at each other in horror.


    "We forgot June!"


    Ann would have never made that mistake.


    The others, too, sighed in disappointment since the video messages were now over.


    They started fixing their things, preparing to leave the room when the screen suddenly lit up again.


    "What''s this?" Johnny asked.


    In the past seasons, it usually ended after the video messages were over.


    However, a newption was shown on screen¡ªsome footage they hadn''t seen before.


    Then, a video of Zeth, who looked a bit innocentpared to his current looks, was shown.


    "Hi, I''m Zeth, a trainee of Top Star Entertainment. I''m going to be rapping today."


    "Wait," Zeth said loudly, his eyes filled with horror. "Not my preliminary audition!"


    The traineesughed at Zeth, amused by his humiliation. However, theirughter quickly died when a coge of introductions followed after Zeth''s.


    <nulli>''Let''s take it back to the start!'' the screen showed some text.


    ''I present to you¡ªthe auditions of the trainees before they be a part of Rising Stars!''

 Chapter 255 To My Future Self

    <h4>Chapter 255 To My Future Self</h4>


    "Ah, please! End this misery," Zeth eximed as his audition piece was shown first. He showed off his rap skills with a self-made rap, and it wasn''t as bad as he made it out to be.


    Zeth, who still had ck hair during this time, looked significantly younger, even if only a year had passed.


    <nulli>"In the spotlight, dreams so bright, but it''s a fight,


    <nulli>Idol trainee life, every day and every night.


    <nulli>Behind the scenes, the sweat and tears, we give our all,


    <nulli>It''s not as easy as it seems; don''t want to fall."


    "What are you embarrassed for?" Jaxon chuckled. "You did great. You''ve always been great."


    "True," Daeho said. "I don''t even remember what I sent, but I don''t want it to be shown at all."


    The next person to be shown was Ren, causing him to cover his face in embarrassment.


    However, like Zeth, he had an impressive audition piece.


    He had a full set-up in front of him, with synths, a keyboard, and those loop recording equipment. Ren pressed some buttons, yed some instruments, and then recorded and looped it to his liking.


    The other trainees grooved to the beat he had made.


    "Woah, this is really good, bro," Jisung shyly said. "Teach me how to do it sometime."


    "Sure," Ren said, equally shy.


    The next person shown was Casper, and he didn''t even bother introducing himself. Instead, he went straight to showing one of his specialties¡ªbreak dancing.


    The other trainees were impressed by his powerful yet precise movements. Every turn was powerful, and it appeared like he didn''t even break an ounce of sweat after the performance.


    Zeth nodded in acknowledgment. Casper was truly his rival.


    However, the impressive stages ended right then and there because the next person to be shown was C-Jay.


    The others burst intoughter from the sight of his outfit alone. He was wearing the stereotypical rapper''s outfit¡ªwith fake grills, a bandana wrapped around an inverted baseball cap, a basketball jersey on top of a white shirt, and big sneakers.


    "What were you even thinking?" Akira called out from the other side, stifling hisughter.


    C-Jay scratched the back of his head. "I thought it was cool at that time!" he defended himself.


    However, his embarrassment merely escted when he started rapping to the beat.


    Or maybe¡­away from the beat.


    <nulli>"Yo¡­yo, mic check¡­1¡­2¡­check mic.


    <nulli>Give me a bike.


    <nulli>Don''t want a trike.


    <nulli>Just got me a like.


    <nulli>Sike! People don''t like me."


    The room was filled withughter as C-Jay continued rapping. Even June couldn''t contain a chuckle. His words were so poorly-written that they could be mistaken for a grade schooler''s poem.


    "Are you afraid of the beat or something?" Zachary teased. "How can you be so bad at this?"


    "Shut up," C-Jay said. "I''ve improved a lot!"


    "That''s because June rebranded you as a singer," Anthony said. "You must be d you''ve met June. Otherwise, you''ll still be a wannabe rapper."


    "I know," C-Jay scoffed. "That''s why I''m very thankful for him."


    The other auditions weren''t as impressive as the first three, but it wasn''t as bad as C-Jay''s, too.


    June was increasingly getting more curious about his audition piece. He had never really seen it, but he guessed it must be at least decent for him to make it into the show.


    It seemed like they were saving his audition forst, though. Fortunately, the other auditions passed by quickly, and June''s was the only one not shown.


    Just then, a new video was shown on the screen. The trainees were also expectant for it since they knew it would be June''s. However, when the video was shed, they couldn''t help but squint their eyes.


    "Why is it so blurry?" Sehun asked. "Is that really you, June?


    June, however, knew it was him. Not only because they had the same body built but because this was the quality his old phone had.


    "It''s me," June muttered under his breath.


    However, he quickly regretted saying those words when the music suddenly yed. His eyes widened in surprise, and the others, too, were perplexed by his music choice.


    "A girl group song?" C-Jay asked.


    It was so out of June''s personality to choose a bubbly girl group song. But there he was, dancing cutely to the beat of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION''s hit song¡ªGeez.


    The trainee on the screen appeared to be doing his best. However, it was obvious that he was far from natural.


    The other trainees were cracking up inughter as June''s cute yet clumsy movements were shown on screen.


    "So, you''re actually a GIRLS'' EVOLUTION fan? You must have been happy when we performed it during the first mission," Minx teased.


    "This must be why you chose to perform Bubblegum Pop, too, huh?" Akira also teased from afar.


    June sighed and looked away from the screen, massaging his temples.


    Choi Joon-ho was more brazen than he had thought.


    <nulli>How could he send this as an audition piece?


    The other trainees continuedughing and teasing June, clearly enjoying his misery.


    Meanwhile, behind the curtains, the interns were currently panicking since they weren''t able to include June''s interview during the video messages.


    "How can we forget about that?" Xiao asked. "The fans are going to be upset if we don''t include his footage."


    "Should we include these ones, then?" Jumi asked. "The videos were actually pretty touching when I first saw it."


    "But this hasn''t been done before," Xiao responded. "Do you think we can just add it?"


    Jumi shrugged. "Why not? The editors can just edit them out if they don''t like it."


    Xiao bit her lip before nodding. "Let''s do it then. Let''s start with June''s."


    Jumi nodded, queueing the video she edited tediously right after this one.


    Coming into this room, the production team expected the trainees to cry their eyes out because of sadness and nostalgia.


    However, now, they were crying withughter because of June''s audition.


    June sighed in relief when the video finally ended.


    "Thank goodness," he whispered, not bothering to look at the other trainees. June knew he was just going to be teased about it.


    So, he kept his gaze on hisp.


    However, he was surprised when his fellow trainees suddenly started praising him.


    "You''ve improved so much," Anthony said. "You''re like a monster now."


    "How can you transform your skills in such a short amount of time?" Johnny asked.


    Zeth and Casper nced at each other, the two of them having the same thought¡ªJune was truly scary.


    If he had improved this much in just a span of a few months, then who knew how much he could improve even further?


    The trainees were about to leave once again, but another video was shown. A collective groan was heard in the room.


    "What now?" they asked, looks of exhaustion etched on their faces.


    Once again, a soft, steady piano melody began to fill the room, each note resonating with mncholy and hope. The trainees exchanged curious nces. <nulli>Wasn''t the emotional segment over now?


    Then, the ck screen flickered to life, revealing bold white writing in an elegant script that read,<nulli> ''To my future self¡­''


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. Now, he had no clue about this one.


    Just as June was about to voice his questions, his own face appeared on the screen, illuminated by a soft, glowing light. His eyes widened, and he watched, captivated, as a genuine smile slowly spread across his own face.


    This wasn''t him.


    This was Choi Joon-ho.

 Chapter 256 Let’s Make It

    <h4>Chapter 256 Let''s Make It</h4>


    The person on the screen was almost unrecognizable.


    Yes, Joon-ho merely looked like a younger, more tired, and more miserable image of the present June. Still, it felt like June was looking at apletely different person.


    And he really was.


    This was the very first time he had met Choi Joon-ho, even if it was through a video.


    "Why does he look so¡­sad?" Jisung muttered under his breath, looking at the moving image of June.


    "Is that really you?" C-Jay asked. "You look so innocent and cute!"


    "You''re fidgeting, too," Sehun said. "Were you nervous?"


    June didn''t respond. It still felt surreal that he was watching the person he was before.


    The screen disyed Joon-ho seated in front of the camera, his expression filled with nervousness. His voice quivered as he began to speak.


    "Umm¡­hi?" Joon-ho said in an uncertain tone, causing an uproar among the trainees.


    "What the hell? Were you always this soft-spoken?" Akira asked in disbelief.


    "You actually sound pretty shy," Bin said.


    "Yeah, you''re very confident now," C-Jay pointed out, causing June to re at him.


    C-Jay raised his hands in surrender. "It''s apliment, don''t worry!"


    "Shh," Jaeyong eximed, causing the others to stop talking. He wanted to pay attention to June''s words. He felt something bubbling inside his heart, but he ignored the feeling and continued watching.


    June, too, focused his eyes and ears on the screen.


    Joon-ho cleared his throat. "Hi, there, future me," he began, his eyes darting away from the camera. "I know this might be strange, but I''ve always wanted to do this¡­to talk to you, my future self."


    He paused for a moment, his fingers fiddling with the edges of his shirt.


    "I guess you already know how much this means to me. The dream of bing something more¡­it''s been with me since I was a kid," he continued, his voice trembling.


    It felt like the room held its breath as the former June continued speaking.


    Even Lin Zhi, who resented the current June, felt pity for the man speaking on the screen.


    "There have been so many times when I thought it was impossible. Countless failures, rejection, and missed opportunities¡­it must have been tough."


    Tears welled up in Joon-ho''s eyes, but he blinked them away. "But here I am. I made it this far, and I guess that counts for something. I''ve tried my best, you know? Even when there were moments I wanted to give up, I thought of the young, hopeful me, the one with dreams and ambitions¡­the one who had sacrificed so much¡­


    the one who my parents were proud of," he let out a shaky breath.


    June, at that moment, let out a shaky breath, too¡ªlike they were one.


    The feelings in his heart right now weren''t his alone, but he felt like the former, innocent Joon-ho was with him at that moment.


    Joon-ho''s voice grew steadier as he continued.


    "I hope you''re like that too, future June. I hope you''ve held onto our dreams and ambitions. Because, honestly, it''s getting really hard right now, and I''m not sure how much longer I can hold on."


    June pursed his lips. He knew Joon-ho didn''t hold on longer after that.


    "But it''s okay," Joon-ho sighed."I''m June. And June is alsoing, maybe even now... Maybe he''ll be a better month, a brighter month."


    June started piecing the timeline together. This must have been taken just a month before he transmigrated. Because, as he could recall, he transmigrated into Joon-ho''s body byte June.


    A sad smile touched Joon-ho''s lips. "For the future, June, I hope you still have your dreams. I hope you haven''t let them slip away, and I hope you''re living a life that you''re proud of. I hope that, despite all the struggles, you''ve found the happiness you''ve been searching for."


    He took a deep breath, his voice quivering once more, "I hope we make it."


    With that, Joon-ho wiped away the single tear that had escaped, and the screen went dark, leaving the room filled with a profound, heavy silence, each trainee deep in thought, touched by the words of the nervous trainee.


    From the first video messages alone, when the trainees sent videos to each other, the production crew was already expecting the trainees to bawl their eyes out. They wanted to create a touching, sad moment for theirst moments in thepetition.


    However, only a few of the trainees cried, causing the production team and interns to be disappointed.


    But their disappointment didn''tst long after June''s message.


    Sniffs were heard all across the room. Even the people behind the curtains sniffed as the video finished.


    "Ah, fuck. I don''t remember this being so emotional," Jumi, the intern, said.


    June stared at the ck screen, the former Joon-ho''s voice still lingering in his mind.


    He felt that they were so different yet simr at the same time.


    June almost cried after Joon-ho''s message, but he held himself back. He could feel the pain behind the trainee''s voice and words, and it became yet another driving force for June.


    His thoughts were cut off when he felt a strong nudge on his shoulder. June red at the culprit but raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw snot running down C-Jay''s nose.


    It seemed like the former Joon-ho had a talent for making people cry, too.


    "I told myself I wouldn''t cry when the production team pulls off something like this, but look at what you''ve done," he med June.


    Sehun, too, looked down at the ground, feeling touched by June''s words. It made him reflect on his journey, too, and now, he was more than determined to make it into the debut team.


    Jisung sniffed, using his sleeve to wipe the tears from his eyes. His admiration for June shot through the sky, and now, he wanted to call June his role model.


    Zeth pursed his lips to keep his tears from falling down. Casper looked to the side since he felt that if he looked at the others crying, then he''d cry, too.


    There was one person who couldn''t control himself, though.


    Akira sighed as he gave Jaeyong his handkerchief. "You didn''t even cry during my personal message," he sulked.


    Jaeyong ignored him and continued to cry.


    After that, the other''s messages were shown too. However, it wasn''t as emotional as June''s.


    But since they were already in an emotional state, the cry fest continued on, and the production team was more satisfied than ever.


    By the end of it all, most of the guys looked like puffer fishes with their swollen eyes, red noses, and quivering lips.


    June smiled in amusement.


    "You didn''t cry?" C-Jay asked, looking the puffiest of them all (after Jaeyong, of course).


    June merely shrugged, causing C-Jay to groan.


    "That''s unfair! We look miserable while you still look handsome."


    "Oh, gosh. Please, enough," Jisung shyly said. "I really can''t cry anymore."


    However, that wasn''t the end yet.


    Rising Stars still had onest surprise for the trainees¡ªone that would make the bawl even harder.


    The next thing they knew, the white curtains to their side were suddenly let down, revealing familiar silhouettes.


    Then, the lights turned on, illuminating these people.


    The trainees looked to the side, surprised.


    "Mom? Dad?"

 Chapter 257 Family

    <h4>Chapter 257 Family</h4>


    Jisung was the very first one to stand up and run to his parents, the tall couple, a splitting image of their shy child.


    Then, the other trainees started standing up, too.


    "Ren," a kind voice called out. Ren turned to his mom, surprised to see her there.


    "Mom?" he said in a small voice, sounding more vulnerable than ever. His mother had never epted his dreams¡­she had always wanted him to go a more conventional route.


    To be awyer or to be a doctor.


    So, in the end, Ren still didn''t feel satisfied with himself despite reaching great achievements.


    "Ren," his mother repeated. "Your mom''s here."


    With those words, Ren ran to his mom, wrapping her in a tight hug.


    "I''m here now," she whispered into his ear. "Your mom''s here to support you now."


    Casper, whose parents were working outside of the country, smiled when he saw his three sisters with teasing looks on their faces.


    "Come here, loser," the eldest sister said.


    Casper shook his head and walked toward them, acting like he didn''t appreciate their presence. However, in reality, he did¡­very much so.


    C-Jay was bawling on his mom''s shoulder, who appeared to be a female version of C-Jay.


    "Calm down, will you?" his mother snapped, pping his butt, causing him to yelp.


    "You saw me during your break. How can you cry like this when all you do isze around in the house?"


    Lin Zhi, too, smiled when he saw the friend he made when he trained for a short while in Korea.


    "You''re here?" Lin Zhi said.


    "Well, I wanted to congratte you before your debut," his friend chuckled.


    June watched the scene before him with a small smile on his face. Seeing these trainees interact with their family and friends, he realized that they, too, had stories to tell.


    And he also knew that nobody probably came for him.


    June didn''t have any family members.


    And the friends he made were all part of thepetition.


    June was about to sit back down to hide his slight disappointment when he heard a familiar voice from across the room.


    "Aren''t you even going to greet us?"


    June turned around and saw the little devil that somehow wormed his way into his heart.


    Beside him was Grandma, with a weing smile on her face.


    "Come here, June," Grandma said, coaxing June toe closer.


    A wide smile now appeared on June''s face as he walked eagerly to the two of them.


    Again, June wasn''t used to the concept of family. Mei Ling was the only family member he had left.


    However, seeing Minjun and Grandma made June feel like he had a family in this life.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and gave June a small hug, causing the trainee to smile.


    "You missed me, huh?" June teased.


    "Of course not," Minjun scoffed. "That was a good luck hug. You ced twelfth when I wasn''t around. You must have been cking off."


    June chuckled. "That''s right."


    Grandma shook her head. "Don''t listen to this twerp, June," he said. "You''ve done very well. Yourst stage was my favorite so far."


    "Thanks, Grandma," June smiled.


    "Rising Stars has prepared a meal for the trainees and their loved ones," someone from the crew said, interrupting the emotional moment. "Please go to the next room and sit at your designated tables."


    The trainees wasted no time in dragging their family members and friends to the next room, excited to talk about the current happenings in their lives.


    June, too, was excited to talk with Minjun and Grandma. However, he didn''t show it too much since he had the same stubbornness as Minjun.


    The three of them sat at a small table, where numerous dishes wereid out for them.


    Minjun excitedly dug in. However, he slowed down as he took the first bite.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked.


    "Grandma makes better food," the kid said.


    June, too, took a bite of the food and quickly nodded in agreement. "You''re right."


    Grandma chuckled. "You boys are ttering me too much. Just eat since they graciously prepared it for us."


    "I mean, I''ll still eat it," Minjun shrugged, going back to eating the food.


    They had a natural conversation, and for a moment, June forgot about his frustrations with Lin Zhi and Tony.


    Instead, he genuinely enjoyed their time together.


    As the meal neared its end, Grandma suddenly nudged Minjun''s side, causing the little kid to whine.


    "What is it, Grandma?"


    Grandma clicked his tongue. "You were going to give something to June, right?"


    June smirked. "You prepared a gift for me, twerp?"


    Minjun shyly looked down at the table, but he quickly regained hisposure and red at June.


    "I didn''t. You¡ªyou weren''t answering my calls," Minjun stammered. "So I thought your ancient phone must have exploded or something."


    Well, it did explode. But not in the way Minjun thought.


    "You''re quite right about that," June chuckled.


    "I knew it," the kid muttered under his breath. "Well, I went to my dad''sst week."


    "Yeah, I heard from Grandma," June said. "That''s why I felt like we hadn''t seen each other in a long time."


    "Just a disimer," Minjun said. "I''m not giving this to you because I want to, but because my dad gave me a new model already."


    June felt his heart pound inside his chest.


    He felt excited.


    He hadn''t felt like this since seeing the very first anime girl that awakened his heart.


    Minjun brought out something from his pocket, sliding it over to June.


    "Here," he said, still not looking at June. "You can have my old phone. It''s too slow for me now."


    June''s eyes brightened¡ªeven brighter than Mr. Klin''s forehead.


    He looked at the phone in wonder. It might be old in Minjun''s perspective, but anything was better than the phone June once had.


    R.I.P. to that phone.


    But still, fuck that phone.


    "Is this really¡­mine?" June asked in disbelief.


    "Yes," Minjun groaned. "Just ept it. It''ll be weird if you refuse."


    "Of course, I won''t refuse," June said, grabbing the phone on the table. "You can''t take this back now."


    Minjun chuckled. "I won''t. Don''t worry. I already uninstalled my apps installed the ones you like. Besides," he said, bringing out his new phone, "why would I waste my time on a phone like that when I already have something like this?"


    June clicked his tongue in annoyance. However, in the end, his happiness shone through.


    June finally had a new phone! He can finally make use of those essories he won during the field day.


    He tested out the camera and almost screamed in joy.


    It was clear!


    He could actually see the dimensions of his nose.


    June continued inspecting the phone, a genuine smile on his face. Minjun and Grandma watched him with amused expressions.


    However, June tilted his head to the side when he saw a card behind the phone''s clear case.


    "What''s this?" he asked.


    "Oh," Minjun eximed. "I guess I left it there. My dad gave me his calling card so I can save his number on my new phone. I stored it there for a while and forgot about it. You can just throw it out if you want."


    June shrugged, popping the case open.


    "How was your stay with your dad, by the way?" June engaged in small talk.


    Minjun shrugged. "It was pretty fun. But he was pretty busy. He left me a couple of times because he wanted to oversee hispany''s conditions. He''s a workaholic, really. He also handles a lot ofpanies, so it''s hard to meet him at times. But, I guess I like the fact he named one of hispanies after me."


    "Hmm, really?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Minjun beamed. "The name is on the calling card you''re holding."


    June, without giving it much thought, flipped the card to read his dad''spany''s name.


    However, he almost fell out of his seat when he saw the big, bold letters written on the card.


    "Mintellect?"


    "Yeah! Minjun the Intellectual. Pretty cool, right?"

 Chapter 258 Stars

    <h4>Chapter 258 Stars</h4>


    Amidst a sprawling open field next to the finale''s venue, thousands of excited yet nervous souls had gathered. People stood clustered outside a colossal, translucent dome, their hums of excitement reverberating through the air.


    The atmosphere was alive with anticipation as friends and foes alike gathered. Laughter, and animated discussions painted the background for a grand event about to unfold.


    The Gummy Sky Dome, with a capacity of 8,000 people, has been Azure''s pick for every Rising Stars finale. And this season wasn''t any different.


    However, undoubtedly, there were more people waiting to get inside this time around. Vibrant banners of assorted colors, each one bearing the image of a beloved trainee, fluttered in the gentle breeze.


    The fans of these trainees documented every detail, capturing photographs that would be cherished forever in their galleries. These fans had assembled from all corners of the country, and almost every continent was represented.


    Despite the sun still dominating the afternoon sky, a long line had already begun to form, snaking around the perimeter of the dome. The weather yed the role of a good host, bestowing upon them a day that was perfect¡ªneither too hot nor too cold.


    The golden sun kissed their skin with gentle warmth, and it seemed to be a very blessed day. Around the venue, a multitude of stalls had sprung to life, offering a variety of delectable treats.


    The smell of buttered popcorn wafted through the air, serving as a temptation to everyone who passed by. One vendor spun fluffy cotton candy into sugary clouds of different shapes and colors, capturing the eyes of children and adults alike.


    One stall was particrly popr, though. A father-and-daughter pair were busily whipping out new batches of ice cream as fans flocked to their truck. The music from the truck that echoed through the bouts of people was familiar, but they couldn''t pinpoint where they heard it.


    "We''ve sold so much ice cream, Dad," L smiled. Her dad reciprocated her bright smile, ruffling the little girl''s hair.


    Jia, with her four idol-crazed friends, looked at the people lining up with raised eyebrows. "What are they even lining up for?" Bora asked. "We have assigned seats."


    "Beats me," Jia said. "Those fans at the very front are wearing cowboy hats. I think they''re C-Jay''s fans?"


    Bora shook her head in disappointment. "Well, I guess fans, too, take after their idols."


    The four of them chuckled, continuing to walk around the proximities of the dome. Jia nced down at her outfit. She was wearing a white sundress with matching pink cat ears.


    She was embarrassed to wear it out in public, but remembering that June wore a pink mask during the beginning of the show gave her a boost in confidence.


    "Wait," Jia said, bringing out her phone. "Let''s sit first. I have to do something."


    Her four friends followed after her. "What are you even doing?" Soo-min asked.


    "The stars," Jia frantically said. "My mom gave me more money, so I''m going to buy June some stars."


    Nari chuckled and shook her head. "June''s so popr. He''s definitely going to debut."


    "You don''t know that," Wei said. "He''s twelfth right now. He might not make it."


    Jia red at her friend before purchasing a whopping 1,000 stars. "He''ll make it. He has to make it."


    Meanwhile, a group of olddies, all wearing pink cat-themed uniforms, all huddled in a group. There was a frightened young man standing in the middle, shaking in his boots as he gave them a live tutorial on how to send stars to June.


    "Umm, you press this one," he shakily said, pointing at the purchase button. "Then, you specify how many s¨Cstars you want to buy."


    "Ah, this is so difficult," one of them whined. "My son does this for me every time."


    "Mine too," another chimed. "This kid is a bad teacher. Where did you even get him."


    "I¡ªI was just passing by¡ª," he stammered.


    "Teach us more," he was cut off by another olddy.


    "How much does 10,000 stars cost?" one of them asked.


    "1,000 dors," the scared guy responded.


    "Oh, great. Let me buy 30,000."


    "You''re rich. I''ll only buy 10,000!"


    "I just won''t buy a bag this month. I''ll buy 20,000."


    The scared teen looked at the old crowd that surrounded him with wide eyes.


    "Frightening," he muttered under his breath.


    Meanwhile, inside the Azure building, the trainees'' family members and friends were already waiting inside. Their seats were located near the stage, and Grandma was proud that she got the very front seat. Well, it was all thanks to Minjun, who showed off his puppy eyes to the people who also wanted sit at the front.


    "We have a great view here," Grandma eximed with a smile.


    "Of course," Minjun said. "Big bro needs to see us well."


    Just then, a group of trainees entered the dome, sitting next to the trainees'' significant others.


    "Oh my," Jisung''s mom said, pping her husband''s chest. "There are so many handsome boys right now."


    Casper''s sisters were practically bursting with joy as they looked at the big group of handsome trainees sitting next to them. It was the eliminated trainees!


    Jangmoon, who sat closest to the significant others'' seats, waved enthusiastically when he saw Minjun.


    However, the young kid who was currently undergoing puberty merely narrowed his eyes at him before swiftly looking away.


    Jangmoon pursed his lips together. <nulli>''What did I ever do to that kid?''


    "I thought your dad wasing with us to watch," Grandma said, capturing Minjun''s attention.


    "Oh, he can''te right now," Minjun said.


    "Why not? Did something happen?"


    "Nope," Minjun said. "I told him not toe."


    Grandma raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why not? I thought you wanted to watch it with him."


    Minjun smirked as he leaned back against his seat.


    "Well, I changed my mind. Right now, he has to do something more important."


    Grandma suspiciously looked at her grandson. "Did you do something?"


    "I didn''t," Minjun innocently said. "Dad just has a job to do, that''s all."

 Chapter 259 The Finale, Finally

    <h4>Chapter 259 The Finale, Finally</h4>


    "Why are we here again?" Sasha asked as her personal stylist zipped her up. She went out of the dressing room and faced her teammates¡ªrather, her former teammates.


    Nine beautifuldies were scattered across the room. Some of them getting their make-up done¡­some of them eating¡­and one of them busily buying stars for her favorite trainee.


    Looking at them made Sasha feel a bit emotional. It has been a while since they disbanded, two years to be precise, and being with them took Sasha back to the times when they were still active as a group.


    Now, they all had their different things.


    However, being with them still felt natural.


    "Ask Mimi," Kiera responded to Sasha''s question, smacking her lips after reapplying her lip gloss. "I''m also surprised that we were invited toe here. I thought BOYMYSTIC woulde alone."


    Sera groaned as she leaned her head against the wall. "I could have been sleeping this time around, yet here we are¡ªwitnessing yet another season of Rising Stars. I thought we were done with this already."


    Mimi clicked her tongue as she finished voting for June.


    "Come on, girls. Don''t you want to witness the show that brought us to where we are today?" she enthusiastically asked.


    "No."


    "Yeah, no."


    "It was one of the worst times in my life."


    "Fuck Azure. But still, thanks for helping me pay my bills."


    Mimi groaned in annoyance. "I asked, practically begged Yena and Yejin to bring us here. So, you''re all going to smile and ept the fact that we''re watching this year''s Rising Stars finale."


    "Why would you even do that?" Yasmin asked. "Were L and Sasha actually right? You have a trainee you''re rooting for?"


    "Yes," Mimi smiled. "And you''re all going to cheer for him, too."


    "June, was it?" Sera asked. "I was too busy to watch the show, so I searched him up. He''s pretty cute."


    "Yeah," Sasha agreed. "I didn''t expect much before starting the show, but that June guy grew on me, too. His rap skills are really good."


    "Oh, more reason to like him then," Sera smiled.


    Mimi red at her former teammate.


    "What?" Sera raised her hands in surrender. "You told us to support him. That''s what I''m doing right now."


    "Yes, you can support him,"Mimi snapped. "But don''t call him cute."


    Kiera shook her head in amusement. "Just wait until Nico hears about this one."


    "Oh, don''t mention that guy''s name," Mimi scowled.


    ***


    "Bro, why are you peeking outside the door? You look like a creep," Jordan, the current center of BOYMYSTIC, said to his teammate, Nico.


    "I haven''t seen Mimi yet," Nico anxiously said. "I thought they were going toe here too."


    "They''re here," Sunwoo said. "Mimi just probably doesn''t want to see you."


    The group of ten boys chuckled, finding joy in teasing their lovestruck teammate.


    "Fuck off," Nico said, plopping on the couch.


    "You''ve been chasing her for over a year now," Moon teased. "Don''t you think it''s time to stop?"


    Nico shook his head. "Unless Mimi finds someone who genuinely loves her for who she is, then I''m not going to stop."


    "Gosh, you''re truly a fallen soldier," Jordan said. "Well, that''s not my problem. You just have to behave while we''re filming, alright?"


    "I don''t know why we''re here, though," Sunwoo whined. "We still have a festivalto attend tomorrow."


    "It''s mandatory," Jordan said. "We came from Rising Stars, so it''s only fair we support the new group it will put out. That''s why GIRLS'' EVOLUTION came during our finale, too."


    "Yeah, but after that, they disbanded," Moon retorted. "We''ll disband soon, too. Our contract is ending in a year."


    Jordan nonchntly shrugged. "I have a solo career already, bros. I''m set for life."


    Nico clicked his tongue. "Arrogant bastard. Whatever," he said. "If this new group isn''t as sessful as Azure had projected, then they''re bound to give them fewer resources. We already have an established fanbase, so they might extend our contract once more."


    "Well, have you seen the episodes?" Moon asked.


    Nico shook his head. "Nope! And I don''t n to. I don''t want to give our futurepetitors even more exposure."


    "I haven''t watched a full episode either," Sunwoo said. "I know about those famous trainees, though. Zeth and Casper, I think. But I''ve also seen some of the viral clips on Navel and YouWatch. Somehow, one guy always snakes his way into the trending spot. What was his name again? Joon-ho?"


    "June," Jordan said, suddenly turning serious.


    For some reason, when he first met the trainee when he was a special MC during one of the elimination episodes, Jordan already felt that June was special.


    June was the underdog of thepetition.


    But as Jordan continued watching the other episodes, he couldn''t help but feel scared of June''s immense improvement.


    Jordan quickly shook his head to get rid of such thoughts.


    "Hey, you okay?" Moon asked, pinching his ear.


    "Yup," Jordan smiled. "Shall we go?"


    Nico excitedly stood up. "Let''s go. I can''t wait to see my honey!"


    ***


    8,000 seats were packed to capacity, and countless more fans mored outside, yearning to be a part of the awaited event.


    Tonight, dreams would be made, and stars would be born.


    As the lights dimmed to a soft hush, the LED screen on stage sprung to life. It flickered and glitched, building suspense, and then burst forth a disy of futuristic lights that painted the dome in a rainbow of colors.


    The audience gasped and cheered in unison as the vibrant hues danced across the wide hall, casting ethereal patterns that left everyone in awe.


    Suddenly, with a ground-shaking rumble, a tform rose from beneath the stage.


    Smoke swirled around it, creating an exceptional illusion. Amidst the dramatic entrance, a man emerged, appearing to havee straight out of a superhero movie.


    Kang Minho, a renowned actor, stood tall and handsome. His chiseled features and toned body were entuated by a form-fitting all-ck suit.


    The surround sound system enveloped the entire venue, sending vibrations through the audience''s bodies, making their hearts race with excitement.


    The cheers grew louder, echoing within the walls.


    Kang Minho lifted a microphone to his lips, and his voice, like honey, filled every corner of the dome.


    "It''s time to shine!"

 Chapter 260 Smug Balladeer

    <h4>Chapter 260 Smug Badeer</h4>


    One by one, the mentors made their grand entrances. They descended from the ceiling on tforms, wearing spectacr dresses and suits that could rival the most morous red carpet attire. The first to descend was Jihyun, who appeared in a flowing gown that shimmered with every step. Next came Bone, the charismatic rapper, who strutted down the tform and stood next to Jihyun. Woojin emerged not long after, an all-white suit reflecting the lights that illuminated the stage. Gun and Hyerin came down as a pair, both wearing red. Hyerin looked sexy under the stage lights, while Gun was nothing short of dazzling. The six mentors stood on the stage, their presence overwhelming. Even those seated at the topmost floors strained their necks to catch a glimpse of mentors on the LED screen attached to the ceiling. The screams and apuse were deafening, almost drowning out the music ying in the background. It was already so loud with the mention of the mentors alone. What more if the trainees were actually going to be shown? Meanwhile, some of the trainees backstage were already shaking in nervousness. C-Jay let out a deep breath, gazing at the audience with wide eyes. The others, too, weren''t used to thisrge of an audience. The studio center in Azure, where they usually held the missions, only had a 1,000-person capacity at most. Having more than quadruple of that number was nerve-wracking for the trainees. Even Zeth, the experienced trainee, felt his hands tremble as he took the hand-held mic from one of the interns. They were going to perform first, and they couldn''t wait to show their performance to the public. "Good luck," June said, patting Jisung''s back. The shy trainee turned around and smiled. "Thanks, bro. I really needed that."


    "I''m looking forward to your performance," June genuinely said. "Me too," Jisung responded. Meanwhile, the trainees from June''s team started hyping up theirpetitors too.


    Although they wanted to have a better stage than them, they still wanted to wish them luck. As they conversed, June''s gaze locked with Lin Zhi. A smirk appeared on thetter''s face, causing June to internally scoff. Lin Zhi slowly walked to where June was, weaving through the sea of trainees. "Hey," Lin Zhi said. "Surprised to still see me here?" "Nope," June nonchntly responded. "It would be more surprising if you didn''t make it here with all the connections you got right under your belt." Lin Zhi chuckled, not even ashamed of the dirty tricks he had yed. "These connections will also lead me to the top eight. Don''t forget to congratte me, okay?" he boastfully said. "Sure," June smiled fakely. Lin Zhi shook his head in amusement, feeling like June had finally surrendered to his game. "The first team, please get ready," one of the crew members said. The top ten trainees gathered near the stage while those in the bottom ten watched intently. As expected, the crowd burst into a thunderous roar once they made their way to the stage. The other trainees even had to cover their ears. "Gosh," C-Jay said. "Will we have cheers like that?" "If we get even half the amount of cheers they have, I''ll be happy," Johnny said. "Don''t settle for less," June said. "That''s right," Sehun backed him up. "Besides, I''m sure the cheers will subside after they finish their performance," June said. C-Jay frowned. "How are you so sure, bro? Will they really perform an emotional version of the song like you had predicted?" June smirked as the top ten trainees assumed their positions. They stood in a single file, with hand-held mics in their hands. "Just watch," June said, gesturing to the screen. The stage was bathed in a mesmerizing sea of blue lights, casting an enchanting glow on the handsome trainees. The audience held their breaths, excited to hear the upbeat, energetic intro of the signal song they''vee to love. However, instead of an energetic opening, a lone violin began to y, its slow notes filling the vast space. The bottom ten trainees suppressed the gasp that threatened to escape their lips.


    However, C-Jay had no shame. He gasped loudly, pointing at June like he was some kind of psychic. "It''s just as you predicted." June shrugged, his eyes focused on the screen. Lin Zhi, to an extent, was still predictable. The unexpected choice slightly dampened the excited atmosphere, but the audience''s love for their chosen trainees prevailed, and they still erupted in supportive cheers. The person at the center of the stage, Lin Zhi, stood with the confidence of a lone star. He began to sing, his voice rich and deep. The others joined in, harmonizing around him, creating a chorus that filled the dome. "In the depths of my mind, I had a vision so clear,


    A dream so vivid it fueled my fears.


    But I knew deep down I couldn''t do it alone,


    I needed the strength of those who called me their own."


    It was definitely beautiful, like a choir, but not without ws.


    Amidst the harmonious sound, there was a subtle shakiness in their voices, a nervous energy that betrayed the immense pressure they were under. The imperfections in their performance, magnified by the simplicity of their presentation, became more obvious. "Hmm," Jihyun hummed, looking at the top ten trainees with an ambiguous expression. As the chorus approached, the trainees transitioned from their melodic singing to an elegant contemporary dance routine. Their movements were a breathtaking disy of grace. Every step, every gesture, was definitely executed wlessly.


    Jisung and Zeth stood at the center this time, and June wanted to apud them for doing such a great job. "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    Hand in hand, in stormy weather.


    With the people around, we''ll reach for the sky,


    United as one, our spirits flying high.


    United as one, our spirits flying high!"


    The chorus, however, proved to be a challenge for the audience. Itsplexity, filled with harmonies, left the crowd unable to sing along. The song had also slowed down from its original tempo, so they weren''t able to show their excitement.


    As the bridge approached, the tempo dropped even further. The trainees used this opportunity to channel their inner feelings and emotions. June shook his head. Lin Zhi should have known better than to beat him at his own game. This stage was ruined from the very start because of two reasons¡ªthe top ten trainees were too nervous, and they didn''t have a concrete concept. They just wanted it to be emotional. That was it. The trainees'' expressions conveyed sadness, their dance moves reflecting their memories from their time on Rising Stars, where they had invested their hearts and souls. Yet, like June expected, there lingered a hint of nervousness in their voices and movements, sensing the audience''s less excited response. As the bottom ten trainees watched the performance through the screen, they realized the importance of June''s words. Starting the night with a bad was a risk, and the crowd definitely struggled to immerse themselves in the atmosphere they wanted to build. Lin Zhi, standing at the center of the stage, noticed the audience''s reluctance to fully engage in their performance. Frowning, he knew they had to change tactics to connect on a deeper level.


    The beautiful arrangement, the well-prepared props with white ents, and the floating clouds on the LED screens were all tasteful, but it seemed they needed something more to touch the audience''s hearts.


    Determined to win over the crowd, Lin Zhi took a deep breath and decided it was time to break out the big guns.


    As the bridge reached its climax, Lin Zhi, driven by the desire to capture the audience''s attention, made a bold move. He belted out a high note that pierced through the emotional atmosphere of the performance. However, this unexpected change disrupted the harmony of the group. The other trainees, startled by the abrupt shift, looked away, their faces revealing their unease.


    Though Lin Zhi was proud of his vocal feat, his fellow members were not as thrilled. The unity that had characterized their act started to crumble.


    June looked away, too, suddenly feeling bad for his friends in the top ten. However, it was good they maintained their professionalism and didn''t make any mistakes. With that, their performance ended on an ambiguous note. And the audience''s cheers were significantly weaker than when they first entered the stage¡ªjust as June had predicted.

 Chapter 261 Piano Man

    <h4>Chapter 261 Piano Man</h4>


    - Umm, I don''t know how to feel. - Me too. It was kind ofckluster.


    - I expected more. They were all very good, though! As expected from the top ten. - I loved Zeth and Jisung''s pair dance. - I like the arrangement, too. But it would have been perfect if they performed it at the right time. Performing it at the very beginning seems quite forced. "Well, that was ass," Nico bluntly said, making Jordan p his hand over his teammate''s mouth. "You really don''t have a filter, do you?" Jordan sighed. "What would you have done if the camera panned to you at that very moment?" "But it didn''t," Nico smirked. "You''ve got to admit, bro. It was shit. My audition was better than that." "You were in F-ss, Nico," Moon chimed. "But I agree, it wasn''t finale-worthy. I was expecting more from them because they have so many front-runners." "Well, you guys better shut up," Jordan said. "The next team is going to perform now." The two finally shut up, focusing their gazes on the stage. However, Nico groaned once more when a piano was brought to the stage. "Oh, great," he faked a yawn. "Another emotional performance. When are they going to learn that starting a show with a bad kills the mood? But I guess this team''s a bit better. Did they ask the music team to y piano for them?"


    Jordan was about to scold Nico for being so negative but halted when he saw a trainee with pink hair sitting in front of the piano. The stage was dark, but his pink hair was too vibrant not to notice. "June¡­ys the piano?" he muttered. - Piano? Will someone y the piano this time? - Is it Johnny? I think he ys the piano. - Johnny posted a piano cover of a nursery rhyme when he was in middle school. I don''t think that counts. - Wait¡­June''s sitting in front. - Really? How can you even see? - Look, it''s his pink hair! - Holy crap. It really is June! I just wish they don''t perform another bad. I''m going to sleep in boredom if that happens.


    Meanwhile, Kiera had to hold Mimi down just so she wouldn''t jump in excitement. "Piano?" she whisper-shouted. "Does he know how to y the piano?" The audience started murmuring to themselves, too, wondering if the trainee actually knew how to y the piano or if it was just part of their concept. "I haven''t researched about this," Jia panicked, looking through her notes app for all the facts about June she had jotted down. "Does he y the piano? Oh gosh, I''m a sucker for men who y musical instruments." "Calm down," Bora chuckled. "We''ll know once the performance starts." Minjun crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against his seat, a proud look on his face. "Show them, big bro." Meanwhile, the top ten trainees, who were still feeling disappointed in their performance, watched the screen with serious expressions. "Hey, does June y the piano?" Akira asked Jisung. Jisung shrugged. "I don''t know. Bro has never mentioned it." "It would be insane if he knew how to y it, though," Akira said. "It would be unfair, too," Jaxon whined. "He already has level 1000 charisma. If he even knew how to y the piano, then it''d be a sin to humankind." Lin Zhi pursed his lips as he wiped the sweat off his brow. Then, he smirked. Lin Zhi couldn''t care less if June knew how to y the piano. He knew that June had lots of skills up his sleeves¡ªones that he hadn''t revealed yet. He was merely happy that he had predicted it right. With the piano on stage, it was most likely that June''s team was going to perform an emotional performance. "It''s going to be a bad, too," Lin Zhi loudly said, capturing the other''s attention. "Huh?" Casper asked, still annoyed by Lin Zhi''s high note a while ago. "It''s just as I expected," Lin Zhi smirked. "We beat them at their own game." His teammates didn''t say anything. Instead, they focused their full attention on the screen, wondering what kind of stage the bottom ten trainees hade up with¡­and if Lin Zhi was actually right about his assumptions. The stage was shrouded in darkness, in obsidian. Then, a lone spotlight slowly poised at the center of the stage. In the glow of the solitary beam, June sat in front of a grand piano. Hushed whispers swept through the audience, doubt and intrigue in their minds.


    Many had presumed the piano to be a mere stage prop¡ªonly a decoration for their performance. However, June scooted forward, cing his fingers on top of the cold ivory keys.


    Then, his lips settled on the microphone propped on top of the piano. He let out an audible exhale, and in contrast, the audience held their breaths. "He''ll really y the piano," Mimi whispered to herself. The enchantment began.


    June''s fingers danced across the keys beautifully, caressing the ivory with a gentleness that resonated throughout the dome.


    Akira shook his head as he watched his fellow trainee. "Damn," he whispered. "That''s another skill added to his roster." With every key he stroked, the piano spoke. Its notes were tender, the melody like a heartfelt bad that whispered to the hearts of the audience. However, some were disappointed that it was yet another slow, emotional performance. One person undoubtedly enjoyed it, though¡ªLin Zhi. "Got you," Lin Zhi muttered under his breath. June''s eyes remained fixed on the piano, his face showing utmost concentration. Just as the audience settled into the serenity of what they presumed to be another typical bad, there was a slight shift in the way June yed the piano. The spotlight, initially steady, flickered like lightning. And in that moment, a deafening thunderous sound erupted, startling the audience in their seats. Lin Zhi frowned at the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "Wait," Ren said, his eyebrows furrowing. The gentle piano, once a soothing apaniment, transformed into something far more intense. The thunderous sounds that had startled them earlier now served as themanding bassline to a crescendo of musical madness.


    A hurricane was brewing, and the audience found themselves caught in the eye of the storm.


    June, with a sly and knowing smirk, locked eyes with the camera. It was as if he had heard everyone''s thoughts¡ªthe preconceptions of their performance. "It''s not a bad," Zeth said. As the thunderous rhythm continued, June yed the piano with the same rhythm and intensity. It was definitely not a bad. Because the next thing they knew, June brought his lips to the microphone. Then, he began to rap.

 Chapter 262 Avatar

    <h4>Chapter 262 Avatar</h4>


    - He''s rapping? - Damn, I missed him rapping. - What the heck? Did he get better at rapping, too? - I started watching after June''s rigging scandal was debunked. I am shocked, to say the least. He can rap? - Bro, he''s even ying the piano while rapping. Do you know how impressive that is? "In the depths of my mind, I had a vision so clear,


    A dream so vivid it fueled my fears.


    But I knew deep down I couldn''t do it alone,


    I needed the strength of those who called me their own."


    June struck the keys with intensity. One could evenpare it to the sound of a drumbeat echoing through the hall. Each note he yed was an explosion of emotion. And as the melody flowed from the piano, he continued to rap, spitting out the lyrics in a clear, powerful voice. He kept up with the rhythm wlessly, as if he wasn''t multitasking after all. And then, just when they thought it couldn''t be more impressive, June began to rap in triple beats. His words poured out like a waterfall without pausing for breath. Yet, it didn''t look like he was having any trouble at all. "Genius," Casper whispered, gazing at the screen with sparkling eyes. The lightning bolts that momentarily illuminated the stage now fully lit it up, casting the team with a brilliant light. At that moment, other instruments joined in, too, with drumbeats and electric guitars dominating the sound. There was a slight pause, with the other members waiting for June to assume his spot. However, it wasn''t awkward at all. It just gave the watchers more time to appreciate the beautiful, well-arranged instrumentals they''d never expected toe out of the signal song. As the chorus approached, C-Jay assumed his position in the center. Then, with a hard stomp of the feet, the LED screen behind them began to crack like ice¡ªsharp and stunning. The icy-cold atmosphere was enhanced by the fog effect that danced at their feet. "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    Hand in hand, in stormy weather.


    With the people around, we''ll reach for the sky,


    United as one, our spirits flying high.


    United as one, our spirits flying high!"


    Like ice, they moved like stiff robots, their movements perfectly synchronized.


    None of their dance lines were out of ce, and it seemed like their hours of practice had really shone through. They looked like a group performing in a mega dance crewpetition! As the performance transitioned into the second verse, the tempo slowed down, yet the electric guitar continued to add a rock-inspired edge. However, the drumbeat was now reced with a delicate harp sound. The crowd gasped as Johnny and Jinsol took center stage, performing ballet movements that defied gravity. The members behind them employed simple movements, which made their performance stand out even further. Their every step was like poetry in motion, and the added wind effect gently touched their hair, adding an ethereal quality to their performance.


    Sehun joined in for a mesmerizingbination, their movements resembling a tug of war between three opposing forces¡ªthree elements. Then, a trio of piano sounds resounded, filling the air with a haunting melody. The stage transformed as if the very earth itself was responding to the music. For the second chorus, tforms rose and fell like majestic mountains, yet even when the members were on varying tforms, their dance was still very synchronized. "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    United as one, our spirits flying high!"


    Their stomps and powerful footwork reverberated like thunder, and it was in time with the beat of the song, entuating the arrangement further. In the determination to showcase all of the elements, a fiery disy burst forth during the bridge, startling the audience as an explosion illuminated the stage. At this point, their movements became even more intense, and it felt like the very stage would shatter under the power of their dance moves. "They say dreams are just fantasies, illusions we chase,


    But with the right people, they be our saving grace.


    Together, we rise, we conquer, and we soar,


    As dreamse true, we''ll shout it out and so much more.


    So let''s celebrate the dreams thate true,


    With faithful friends, there''s nothing we can''t do.


    My dreams and I forever entwine.


    My dream to be an idol on cloud nine." Despite the intensity of their movements, their vocals remained live, and June''s voice, in particr, resonated with rity even as he reached the highest notes. Thest chorus arrived, with all previous effects being stripped down. But it was precisely what the audience needed at that moment. It allowed them to catch their breaths and enjoy all of the elements they''d watched previously. With only a few lines left, they stepped forward, giving it everything they got. They exchanged looks with each other, and it was a touching moment as all of them had smiles on their faces. The team wasn''t nervous at all. Instead, they were actually enjoying the performance. And for June, that was more than enough. Oh, who was he kidding? June wanted to take a peek backstage and take a look at Lin Zhi''s face so he can scream¡ª''suck it, fucker!'' "Dreamse true when we''re together,


    With the people around, we''ll reach for the sky,


    United as one, our spirits flying high." For the people in the bottom ten, they felt like they had nothing to lose. Some of them had already stripped the hope in their hearts, knowing that debuting would be like reaching the stars. However, with this performance alone, they already felt satisfied. Instead, they wanted to root for the person who made this stage possible. With the performance reaching its end, all of them stood on the stage, their chests heaving. They stood in one line, delivering theirst line with intensity. "Now and tomorrow, remember my name.


    Starlights shine bright, our me. Through every trial, I''vee this far.


    I''m your Rising Star!"

 Chapter 263 Legendary

    <h4>Chapter 263 Legendary</h4>


    June made a legendary performance once again. However, this time, not only the trainees were satisfied with their performance. The crew and all of the people involved in creating the effects on the stage were satisfied with themselves, too. It was a performance that had a lot of elements, which the props and special effects team had worked hard for. The screams were deafening as the bottom ten trainees bowed their heads, smiling and waving at the fans who appeared to have lost their minds. - Now, that''s how you open a show! - I like this one better, even if the other team had higher-ranked trainees. - Kind of wished they performed first.


    - Well, that totally woke me up. The BOYMYSTIC members were speechless as soon as the stage was finished.


    Jordan, who already had an idea of June''s talent, was surprised nheless. He believed none of the performances during their season could evene close to this one. Meanwhile, the members who hadn''t watched the show before or merely saw clips online were more surprised than ever. "That June guy," Moon whispered to Sunwoo. "I thought he was just a meme." "Damn, he''s really good," Sunwoo said. "I remember his audition. How did he improve so fast? I thought Nico had the most improvement out of all the trainees in every season. But it looks like someone beat him now." Nico, who was awestruck by the performance, snapped out of his daze when he heard his name. Then, he red at his teammates, scoffing. "I''m definitely better," he boasted. The GIRLS'' EVOLUTION members weren''t any better. Kiera pped gracefully, very fitting for her prestige and elegant image. Mimi, on the other hand, held her breath so she wouldn''t scream so loud. "Let me go, please. I''m going to burst in excitement," Mimi whisper-shouted to Sasha and L, her cheeks red from warmth. "Mimi, you''re a celebrity. Keep it down," Sera chuckled. "But I do agree that it was very impressive. And that June guy is much cuter in real life." Mimi red at Sera, causing thetter to chuckle even louder. "I told you not to call him cute. I''m the only one who can call June cute," she reprimanded her teammate.


    However, it seemed like Mimi had failed to control her voice. She felt someone burning holes in the back of her head, so she turned around.


    Mimi''s eyes widened when she locked gazes with Nico, who appeared to have heard what she just said. Mimi quickly looked away, focusing her eyes on the stage instead. Meanwhile, Nico was fuming in his seat. "Mimi likes that guy?" he whispered, fire almosting out of his nose. "Uh-oh," Moon said. Meanwhile, Grandma and Minjun were being devoured withpliments after their performance. "June''s such a great kid. I watched the episode, and I like that he''s friends with Jisung," the kind middle-aged man said. "I''m sorry for my brother''s weird behavior," one of Casper''s sisters said. "He''s just very fond of June because he looks like a cat." "That was a really good performance," Ren''s mom said. "I would have wanted Ren to be with them." Grandma thanked everyone who talked to them. Meanwhile, Minjun had a smug smirk on his face. "Of course, he''s good. He''s my big bro!" he proudly said. The audience, too, couldn''t stop talking about their performance. "I see it now," Wei said. "I''ve been converted into a June stan." Bora clicked her tongue. "I''m sorry. We don''t ept Lin Zhi stans into this fandom." Wei pouted and held onto Bora''s arm. "I didn''t even vote for him anymore! I was contemting on breaking my piggy bank to vote for him but decided not to in the end." Bora shook her head. "The fact that you even had that thought is already uneptable!" ***


    Backstage, where the top ten trainees were waiting, Zeth was the first one to break the silence. He pped while his gaze was still focused on the screen. "We lost," Zeth chuckled. "That was a really cool stage." Ren smiled, already feeling better after watching June''s performance. "Yeah, it was really cool. I would have loved to be a part of it." "Ah," Jaxon said, stretching his body. "They got us there. I wholeheartedly concede defeat." Jisung nodded. "It''s like an opening to a concert."


    Lin Zhi looked at his teammates in disbelief, not believing the words that wereing out of their mouths. How could theypliment their rivals so freely? "We didn''t lose anything," Lin Zhi calmly said. "It''s not even a mission." Casper sighed. "Just ept it," he said. "You were wrong. June didn''t do an emotional performance this time, and it was the right decision." Lin Zhi pursed his lips. He hated admitting he was wrong. So, he was about to retaliate once more, but the bottom ten trainees descended from the stage, and his words were cut off by cheers. "You guys did such a great job!" Jisung shyly said, bouncing to where they were. "I really like the fire elements." "I thought I was watching a fantasy series for a second," Daeho said. "It was really cool." "Yeah," Ren said. "And who knew you could y the piano?" he nudged June''s shoulder. June merely shrugged, not wanting to exin himself. Akira clicked his tongue and gently pinched June''s side, causing thetter to re at him. "What was that for?" June asked. "Singing. Dancing. Rapping. ying piano. Stop acquiring so many skills and leave some for the rest of us, will you?" Akira teased. June shook his head. "It''s not that special," he muttered. "Whatever you say," Akira said. "Well, I think we should go. Some clips are going to be shown before the announcement of trainees, I believe." "Let''s go! I want to see what they''re going to show," Johnny chimed. The group started walking to their designated seats backstage, where they could watch what was happening with the audience. Meanwhile, June stayed at the very end of the line, where Lin Zhi currently was. June nudged his side while Lin Zhi red at him. June smirked. "It wasn''t what you expected, huh?" Lin Zhi didn''t respond. "Sucks," June teased. "I totally expected you''d go for an emotional concept. It was pretty obvious, actually. I didn''t even have to think too hard." Lin Zhi bit his lip in anger before closing his eyes, trying to calm himself down. There was no way he was letting June say the final words. "You can talk shit all you want," Lin Zhi calmly said. "But that won''t change the fact that I''m still going to debut at the eighth spot."

 Chapter 264 My Visual Pick

    <h4>Chapter 264 My Visual Pick</h4>


    Lin Zhi walked away before June could say anything. June shook his head, following after him nonchntly. He entered the room and sat on the seat that had his name. They were seated ording to their ranks, so he sat at the second seat on the second row. There was a wide screen before them and numerous cameras capturing their reactions. Then, the screen lit up, revealing the stage they just performed on. Minho stood at the very center, a proud smile on his face. "Truly, the trainees havee so far," he started off. "I still remember when they struggled to sing the signal song andined about the difficult dance. However, now, they sang and danced with ease. Proud is an understatement of what I''m currently feeling. Let us give them a round of apuse!" The audience cheered loudly, and the trainees backstage, too, pped for themselves. "Well, the night is still young, and we still have plenty of time before the voting officially closes," Minho said. "The time right here," he pointed to the leftmost screen, "is indicative of the time left when you can send stars for your favorite trainees! Make use of this time well, starlights. One vote can make a huge difference!" "Now," Minho said. "To ease your nerves a bit, Rising Stars has prepared some clips for you, dear starlights¡ªunreleased clips you have never seen before!" With that, the lights on the stage turned dark, and the LED screen lit up. The television for the trainees showed the video, too. - I wonder what it is this year.


    - I hope they do that ranking thing again. - Oh, they''re definitely doing the ranking again. It''s iconic! Whimsical and yful music filled the dome, and the screen showed the photos of the 20 trainees, all cut in circles and disyed on the wall. One by one, the trainees entered the room, each with their unique personality. The audienceughed when C-Jay entered doing a moonwalk, and not even a secondter, Daeho came in, stopping when he saw the dirty trail that C-Jay had made. "Ah, who''s the loser who did the moonwalk?" Daeho eximed. C-Jay pouted and pointed at the tall trainee. "You''re just jealous you can''t do a moonwalk!" The trainees'' faces were shown in a coge, then blurred out. Right after, the words¡ª"Who''s your visual pick?" were shown on the screen. - I knew it! I love this segment so much. - True, true. It''s as important as a debut spot if we''re being honest. Each trainee would pick one trainee¡ªone they found the most handsome. Then, the top 5 would only be revealed today!


    C-Jay smiled mischievously as soon as it was announced. "Can I pick myself? After all, I am quite handsome." "No," the crew member deadpanned, causing C-Jay to sigh in disappointment.


    Anthony couldn''t help but pursed his lips. "This is unfair. Nobody''s going to pick me!" Johnny, on the other hand, confidently winked at the camera. "Oh, I''m definitely in there. In fact, I''m counting on all of you to make me number one!"


    The room was filled withughter, the tension of thepetition melting away for a second.


    Bin emerged from the screen with a yful grin. He began describing his personal visual pick. "Well, he''s a bit of a character. He''s tall, kind of built like a wall," he chuckled. "Now, I don''t want to be this one," Johnny said. "Built like a wall?" C-Jay eximed. "That''s definitely Daeho!" "His hair is always fluffy, too¡ªlike a dog. However, he''s got a chin that''s narrow on the ends, and he also kinda looks like an emo skater boy." "I already know who it is," Akira chuckled. "It''s definitely not me," Johnny said. "My chin is not narrow." Top 5¡ªJohnny. The traineesughed at Johnny, teasing him for even aspiring to take first ce. "Shut up! My chin is really not narrow. And what? An emo skater boy? I don''t even know how to skate!" he defended himself. Hisints were quickly drowned out when new trainees came to the screen. Anthony stepped forward with a blurred-out photo in his hands. "I wish I could be reborn as this guy. He''s tall, with a face that couldunch a thousand ships. But he kind of smiles like a fool." - HAHAHA. Why are the trainees throwing out insults here and there? -They''re all very handsome, though!


    Zeth was the next one to speak. "You know when I first met this dude, I thought he was pretty handsome. But boy, does he have a temper!" Top 4¡ªRen.


    And just like that, the camera panned to Ren, and the crowd burst intoughter since Ren was seen scolding Zeth, proving that he really had a short fuse. However, when he noticed the camera, he smiled¡ªlike a fool, causing the trainees tough out loud once more. June enjoyed watching these types of rankings. He was definitely not expecting to be a part of it in any way. He remembered voting for Jisung since he was the first trainee he saw, and he thought that he was very handsome. He also didn''t want to be called since it seemed like the trainees who were part of the ranking were slightly being roasted, too. However, dread filled his heart when he saw Casper on the screen. "I like his eyes. They''re like a cat''s," Casper smiled, causing June to sigh. C-Jay was shown next. "I mean, let''s be real, I was definitely more handsome than this guy when the show started out." "He''s charming," Jisung smiled. "And he has a smile that could light up the whole room!" C-Jay, never one to shy away from expressing his thoughts, chimed in, "It''s insane how much he''s improved. I saw his face glow and improve in a split second, and it wasn''t just my imagination."


    He then leaned closer to the mic and whispered. "I swear, it was like his face was charging up like a superhero." The audienceughed, thinking everything was a joke. However, it really wasn''t. C-Jay, indeed, saw June''s upgrade in real life. Amid theughter from the audience, Jinsol shared his own memorable encounter. "I didn''t notice him at first, but one day, we crossed paths in the hallways, and I had to stop because his skin and face were practically glowing. Please spill your skincare routine. Your face is smoother than a baby''s butt." Top 3¡ªJune.


    June covered his face, feeling a bit embarrassed. - He really improved so much. My baby June. - I still remember his pink mask face. I thought he was ugly back then since he covered his face. - Oh, that was forever ago. If this was a book, then more than 200 chapters would have passed already!

 Chapter 265 Real Time Ranking

    265 Real Time Ranking


    "You could have taken the first ce," Jisung shouted, causing the others to exim in agreement. June turned to Jisung and almost squinted at how dazzling he looked. They had simr stats in visuals right now, but Jisung had always carried it well. The difference is that Jisung had been born handsome, while June had to work hard to get to where he was right now. With the anticipation building, the time to reveal the top two visual picks had finallye. This time, the trainees'' names were revealed first, and the audience was nothing short of surprised. Jisung vs. Zeth. Leo, who appeared on the screen, groaned loudly. "Zeth¡ªI mean,e on, this guy is like a cheat code. It''s just not fair." Sehun sighed in defeat. "Honestly, nobody should be born with that face and that amount of talent. And did you notice he''s tall, too, and his hair always appears like it''s in ce? It''s like he''s a character from a video game."


    Zeth looked humbled and a bit taken aback by thepliments. However, he grinned knowingly, already aware that he was handsome at birth. Akira shared his own perspective on Jisung, saying, "I''ve seen this guy with and without makeup, and honestly, he looks the same either way. It''s just not fair."


    "He''s handsome," June briefly shared, causing a light chuckle to be heard in the dome. It was so fitting for June''s character to only say two words. "You know, Jisung definitely knows he''s handsome," Minx added, to which Jisung quickly denied. "He''s just acting shy and modest about it! There''s no way he isn''t aware of his handsome looks when he wakes up in the morning." Finally, the first ce was revealed, and it was none other than Zeth. Jisung sincerely pped for his rival, already touched that he was able to get second ce in a ranking like this. "He ced first again?" Moon asked. "That guy''s like Jordan and Kiera. It must be annoying to have someone like him in their season, too." Jordan clicked his tongue and red at his teammates. "So, were you annoyed that I joined our season?" "Kind of," Sunwoo smiled. "You basically took first ce most of the time. But hey, this Zeth dude has been a consistent first cer since the first episode. He''s definitely worse. His center position is already secured." The visual ranking clip made the audience and trainees avert their nervousness for a second. However, as Minho made his way back to the stage, the nervousness all came crashing down on them. "Did you enjoy the video clip, starlights?" Minho asked, and a resounding ''yes'' was heard in the venue. "I''m d you did," he smiled. "I have something that you might enjoy even further." With that, the LED background changed, and it now revealed the number eight. "As we speak, there''s less than an hour left before the voting closes. So, we''re going to show you the trainee who''s on the verge of debuting and bing eliminated¡ªthe eighth ce." The trainees held their breaths. It was finally getting serious, and a lot of them wished for their name to be called. Even June was secretly hoping for it to be him. If Minjun''s dad had finally found out who was manipting the votes, then there might be a chance that June''s name would be called out. Meanwhile, Lin Zhi looked as calm as ever. He tried to control his facial expression, but a smile still managed to worm its way onto his lips. "Please show us the trainee who''s currently in eighth ce!" Tension-filled music yed in the venue, making the audience''s hearts race in nervousness. The famous background music they dreaded in their homes came alive, and they were now hearing it live. It was as nerve-wracking as they had remembered. Just then, a trainee''s face was shown on therge screen. Lin Zhi raised his eyebrows in surprise, acting like he didn''t expect this at all. He ced his hand on his chest as if asking if the happenings were real. "Ah, shit," Bora cursed. "That fucker is in eighth ce?" A mother covered her daughter''s ears after Bora cursed out loud. However, the teen didn''t care. She hated Lin Zhi, from his hair to his small intestines to the hairs on his big toe. Minjun frowned as he looked at the trainee''s face. His dad had promised him that he''d take care of everything after Minjun told him that there might be some foul y going on in Mintellect. Minjun knew his father was a diligent man who was good at his work. However, there were also times when his promises fell through, and that was what Minjun was most afraid of. June frowned for a second, but he quickly smoothed out the lines on his forehead when a camera panned toward his way. "Congrattions, Lin Zhi." "Congrats, bro." The room was filled with reluctant praises. However, June noticed that the trainees in the upper ranks, especially his friends, didn''t bother congratting him at all. Lin Zhi smiled, wanting to bask in this moment a little longer. However, the spotlight was quickly taken away from him when Minho spoke once again. It seemed like Rising Stars was addicted to making the audience feel many different emotions at once. Just a while ago, during the signal song performance, they were screaming and jumping in excitement. Then, theyughed their asses off during the visual ranking. Quickly after, their hearts almost beat out of their chest because of nervousness. And now, the production team was determined to make them cry. The next segment was the scene the trainees filled during the Audio Visual Room, and a collective groan was heard amongst the audience. They started bringing out their tissues, already expecting the worst. June shook his head as soon as they were shown to be entering the Audio Visual Room. He just wished they wouldn''t show his preliminary audition piece. "Hey," Sehun nudged his side. "Why is the camera focusing so much on you?" he whispered, subtly pointing to the camera that was supposed to film five trainees at once. June paused. Then, he heard a familiar GIRLS'' EVOLUTION song y on the screen. "They''re starting out with the preliminary auditions?" Zeth asked. June''s eye twitched. "Cindy," he muttered under his breath. So LZ is still 8th


    SandKastle

 Chapter 266 Soft Spot

    <h4>Chapter 266 Soft Spot</h4>


    GIRLS'' EVOLUTION was surprised when they suddenly heard their hit song y inside the venue. They never expected it to y at a time like this. Mimi secretly hated that song since it was one of their early releases. Not to mention the fact that it was an overly cute concept but with sexy undertones¡ªa concept she hated. She pursed her lips in annoyance as the familiar intro yed. However, when she recognized the trainee on the screen, she quickly halted. "June?" she whispered. "Oh gosh. That is him," L whispered by her side.


    The others also couldn''t believe what they were seeing. The trainee, although a bit blurry, appeared to have the same body build and features as June. He looked younger then, and it only made his fans squeal in excitement. "So cute! So baby!" Jia eximed, losing her sanity. The group of grandmas pulled out theirtest phones, zooming in to take pictures so they could fangirl a littleter in their homes. "Guys," Sasha said. "Mimi has stopped working." Again, she wasn''t able to modte her voice well, so BOYMYSTIC was able to hear her. Nico, on the other hand, had been watching Mimi from the very start. He was hoping that his hunch was wrong¡ªor that he heard wrong a while ago. But it was definitely real. Mimi liked that month guy, and Nico was not having it. "He''s so cute," Mimi muttered continuously.


    Sera nodded in agreement, also being sucked into June''s vortex. "I want to steal him and then make him into a little charm for my bracelet." "Oh gosh," Kiera muttered. "We''ve lost both of them." - This is so cute! But he was such a bad dancer then.


    - It makes me look back on the times when June was a really bad dancer. Remember when he was being scolded by Gun back then? - Yeah, he couldn''t keep up with the beat. Now, it seems like Gun has a soft spot for him. The trainees backstage stillughed despite this being the second time they had watched the clip. Cindy took the liberty to add effects such as hearts, bouncing cats, and over-the-top sound effects to his performance, so it only added to the bizarreness of the scene. June looked down at hisp, drowning out the sound of the music andughter. Did he have to suffer through this again? Once was already enough! June sighed in relief when his turn was finally done. The spotlight now was on Zeth, but his audition wasn''t bad at all! So June didn''t know why he was reacting like he had performed a bad song. It was likeparing a past band kid''s teen photos to the guy who had always been part of the football team! - These auditions were so precious. - These can be ced in a museum with how ancient they are. - This was literally months ago. But I get it. They look so young!


    - They''ve reallye so far. I''m so proud of these boys <3. <i>


    After the never-endingughter, the waterworks finally came. It started off with the video messages, which were edited more drastically to elicit an emotional response from the audience. Jia sniffed as C-Jay spoke. Why did her mom have to edit it in such an emotional way? They thought that would be it, simr to what the trainees had felt when they first gathered in the Audio Visual Room, so they were surprised when the video clip continued on, with a younger-looking Jisung shyly looking down at his palms. - Omo. What''s this? - Was there anything like this in the past seasons? - I don''t think so! Azure is kicking it up a notch this year. The past contestants of Rising Stars were also curious as to what it was. They didn''t have anything like it during their season, so they paid extra attention. Then, the words¡ª'' To My Future Self'' were shown. ''Awws'' and curses filled the venue. It was time to bring out the tissues once more. "H¨Chi, Jisung?" he stammered, still not looking up to the camera. "Umm, you''ve always been a shy person, and that''s okay. It''s a part of who you are, but I hope you''ve found the courage to be more confident in yourself and in your abilities."


    Jisung smiled shyly, finally looking up. The current Jisung looked embarrassed to see himself, but he also felt proud since he definitely gained more confidence throughout thepetition. "One of your wishes was to make more friends. I hope you''ve reached out to people who appreciate your true self and have formed meaningful connections. Remember, it''s not about having many friends but having the right ones who support and believe in you. You''ve met them, right?" he asked. "I have," Jisung whispered to himself, looking at the people he met along the way. Next was Sehun, who still had a bright smile. It was awesome to see that his smile hasn''t changed until now. "Dear Sehun," he started off, chuckling since it sounded ridiculous to address a video message to himself. "I know you''ve faced many challenges and made sacrifices on your journey towards your dream. I''m sure you''re wondering if you''ve finally reached it. I hope that the answer is ''yes.'' Because if not, you should shave your head and prepare to go to the military now," he lightheartedly joked. And although the audienceughed along with him, they also couldn''t help but feel sad about its connotation. - Please let Sehun debut. We can''t waste his talent like this. - Sehun needs to debut, please! He''s not as popr, but he''s really good too. Sehun had left the audience with bittersweet feelings. C-Jay was the next to be shown, and as expected, he made the audienceugh with his first line. "Crush your opponents," he started off, looking more determined than ever. "You''re a rap god. You''re worth more than what they tell you. You''re basically a mentor at this point!" "Just how big-headed is this guy?" Moon cracked up. "Surprisingly, I don''t hate him at all, though." However, his speech quickly took a turn when he let out a deep sigh.


    "But, in all seriousness, don''t lose your humor, okay?" he chuckled, although sounding a bit sad. "It''s the very essence of who you are¡­


    and it''s also what keeps you sane. Stay true to yourself, and don''t change. Make friends, even when the pressure is high."


    "Andstly, do your best! This year, we''re going to show our mom that our dreams have finally be a reality. Fighting!" - This guy can actually be serious when he needs to be. - Now, I don''t know what to feel. So few stars, so many trainees to vote for! The letters of the others were also edited sadly, and the audience was already sobbing by the end of Ren''s speech. Cindy incorporated some scenes in the middle of it all, which added to the dramatic effect of the video. However, when June''s scene was shown, they couldn''t help but sob even harder. It seemed like Cindy had paid extra attention to June''s scene, in particr. His words were the same¡ªthey still made his fellow trainees emotional. However, in the middle of his speech, clips of his hard work were shown, and the audience gasped when they saw the never-before-seen clips. June, too, frowned in confusion since he had never seen those scenes before. It was when he treated the zero-star trainees to pizza.


    When he gave Akira a warm hug after their conversation. When he meticulously helped Sehun teach the new members their movements during ''Tie Me Up.''


    When June stayed upte until night to finish their song during the production mission. It showed the difficult yet beautiful journey that June had been on. - Who the fuck is cutting onions? - Bro, I''ve never cried this hard for an idol survival show. Are you even supposed to cry during these shows?


    - Please, Azure. Enough. I won''t be able to watch the announcement at this point. However, Azure didn''t give the audience any time to recover. As soon as the clip was over, and tears, snot, and saliva were still found on the audience''s and trainees'' faces, Minho took the center spot with a wide smile on his face. He nced at the timer and then nodded to himself. 10


    9


    8


    7


    6


    5


    4


    3


    2


    1


    "Starlights, trainees, and esteemed mentors¡­ After months of sweat, tears, and fiercepetition, the moment you''ve all been waiting for has finally arrived. Tonight, under the dazzling spotlight, the fate of our idol survival show will be sealed as we announce the birth of an extraordinary idol group. It''s time for the announcement of the debut team!"

 Chapter 267 Debut Team (1)

    <h4>Chapter 267 Debut Team (1)</h4>


    Ragged breaths.


    Hearts beating as one. A low, ambient, yet tension-filled sound that encapsted the entire dome. It was time. The birth of a new generation of idols was finally going to take ce. The trainees had now moved to the stage, arranged in the circr tform like candles on a birthday cake. It ever-so-slightly rotated, making the already nauseous trainees even dizzier. The audience and mentors weren''t any different. They felt like their hearts had dropped to the pit of their stomachs, so they couldn''t imagine how the trainees felt on the stage. Kang Minho, too, felt the nerves in his blood. Yet, he kept a professional stance. The cards were delivered right to his hand¡ªeight special envelopes that contained the names of the chosen ones. The music only grew louder as Kang Minho took a step forward. - This is really it. - I''m about to shit my pants. - I don''t remember ever being this nervous in my entire life. I wasn''t even this nervous during my first pregnancy! "Let us start with the seventh ce," Minho announced, a loud thud heard from the speakers. He looked at the trainees once before focusing his gaze on the cameras. Minho let out a deep breath, paused, and then described the trainee who made it to seventh ce.


    "This trainee¡­has been in the top five," he started off. ''So, it''s not me,'' June said, already feeling nervous. His hands trembled, so he ced them inside his pockets. June had never been sure of his specific ranking¡­, but in the past missions, he was certain that he was going to make it into the next round. June only ever had second thoughts of making it during the very first ranking. And now, during thest ranking, he was also uncertain. He didn''t know to what extent Lin Zhi had manipted the votes, but if his ranking was truly twelfth ce during thest ranking, then he didn''t have any time to rx. His rank was at a very dangerous ce. "He is known for his vocal prowess," Minho continued. "However, he is a well-known all-rounder in thepetition, with plenty of skills under his belt." June could think of a lot of people right now. But there were two most probable candidates¡ªRen and Akira. However, since Akira had never made it into the top five, it only meant one thing. "Ren," June muttered under his breath. At the same time, Minho called out a name. "Ren!" he eximed in a loud voice, breaking the tension. Ren''s shoulders visibly rxed as his name was called. He held onto Jisung, who was next to him, for support while the trainees congratted him. - He made it! Our little producer made it <3. <i>


    - Oh gosh. He was so worriedst week. I''m so d he''s here now. - You''ve worked hard, Ren.


    With the hope-filled music, Ren walked down the circr tform, trudging forward to the pyramid-like stage adjacent to them. There were eight seats in total, shaped like a triangle. The seats had numbers on them, with the number one seat on the very apex. Ren''s fans, although a bit disappointed that he didn''t rank higher, were still happy that he made it. Ren couldn''t be happier with his rank, though. He was already too nervous, and waiting for his name to be called was torture to him. So, being called first was a blessing for Ren. He let out a deep breath as he took the mic. "I stand before you a heart full of gratitude. I want to express my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your unwavering support, even during the times when I couldn''t showcase my best. Your belief in me has been my driving force, and I promise to work harder than ever to be deserving of this honor."


    "To my dear mom, the one who has always been there for me, I want to say this with all my heart: please don''t cry. Your son has made it, and even though you weren''t there to support me from the start, I want to say that I forgive you¡­but please be with me from now on," Ren ended his speech with teary eyes. His mom was shown on screen, too, appearing to be in the same state as Ren. With that, Ren ced the microphone back on the stand before walking over to his seat¡ªseventh. He locked his position with a wide smile, and just like that, one member had been confirmed. The hope-filled music abruptly stopped, and the tension-filled music came back. "Let us now move on to the sixth ce," Minho said in a serious voice. Nerves once again rose as the drumbeat filled their hearts. "This trainee started with a rank below the 20s," Minho started off. The trainees chattered, hope filling their hearts. It was a sign that it wasn''t someone they expected. Most of the trainees in the bottom ten had ranks below the 20s, so June couldn''t guess who it would be. June was still hoping for it to be him, though¡ªsince he had also experienced being in the 30s ranks at the beginning of the show. For June, sixth ce was the perfect spot to debut. It wasn''t too far from thest ce, and it wasn''t near the first ce. There wasn''t a lot of pressure for sixth ce, and if he was going to be an idol, he wanted to live a peaceful life. "Akira, you have earned a spot in the debut team," Minho loudly announced, shattering June''s hope. Nheless, he pped and smiled at his dear friend, even giving him a pat on the back. "You''ve worked hard," June mouthed as the tearful Akira turned around. Jaeyong and Evan, who were his past bandmates in RAVEN, encased him in a hug, whispering words of encouragement. "I''ll see you on the stage," Akira emotionally said to his teammates before turning around and walking to the stage. His family, who traveled from Japan, waved their banner in the air, wide smiles on their faces. Akira turned to them with a grateful smile.


    "I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of you for giving me what some might call a ''second chance.'' But I refuse to see it that way. This, to me, is not a second chance, but my first real opportunity to show you the true passion of a new idol," he said with conviction. "I promise to approach this with the same fire and enthusiasm as if it were my very first time. Thank you to you all." - RAVEN hugged, ya''ll. I''m crying. They were my ult group back then. - Akira, please be happy from now on! I hope, this time, everything works out well for the group. With that, Akira took a step back and went to his seat just right beside Ren. They meaningfully smiled at each other. "Moving onto the fifth ce," Minho eximed, surprising the people who were still emotional about Akira''s debut. June turned serious once more, his head calcting the possibilities of him debuting. The highest rank he has gotten was eighth, which was just the border of the debut line this time. There were still a lot of trainees to be called, so June was feeling more anxious. In the end, he concluded that he needed to be called for this rank. Otherwise, he might not be able to make it. "For fifth ce, we have none other than¡ªJaeyong!"

 Chapter 268 Debut Team (2)

    <h4>Chapter 268 Debut Team (2)</h4>


    ''Fuck,'' June said in his mind. Jaeyong took fifth ce¡­which only meant one thing. June had to wait until the eighth rank for his name to be called. He knew he was popr, but he also knew he wasn''t popr enough to get into the top four. However, Jaeyong being in the top five was quite shocking since he was only ever been third or fourth all throughout thepetition. Akira burst into tears as soon as his teammate was called. Jaeyong, too, didn''t expect his name to be called so early on. However, he was grateful to be a part of the team nheless. He turned to his fellow trainees with a grateful smile. However, his smile quickly fell when he locked gazes with Evan. There was eptance in thetter''s eyes, causing Jaeyong''s breath to get caught in the back of his throat. Evan patted his shoulder. "I know the two of you would make it," he said. "Bro," Jaeyong couldn''t even formte a sentence. He knew it would be difficult for Evan to debut, too. "Good luck¡­to the both of you," Evan said, his voice hinting at closure. Pursing his lips, Jaeyong nodded, giving his teammate onest hug before going to the pyramid-like stage. Each step he took was heavy, yet it also felt like he was going through a different portal¡ªa new beginning. Jaeyong took the mic and looked around the wide dome, smiling to himself. He made it. "From the very beginning, being an idol has been my lifelong dream. I''ve never been able to imagine myself pursuing any other profession. But the path to get here wasn''t easy," he started off. "Even when I finally captured my dream, I realized that it could still be snatched away at any moment. It''s in moments like these that we truly understand the value of what we have and the importance of the people who stand by us. Today, I want to express my deepest gratitude for allowing me to keep pursuing my passion." "I also want to take a moment to thank my dear past teammate, Evan," he pointed at his past teammate. Evan smiled gratefully, posing for a camera. "Please continue to support him as well." Jaeyong ended his speech on a bittersweet note, turning around to walk to his seat¡ªfifth ce. With a wide smile, he waved at the camera, forever grateful for the opportunity he was given. Minho smiled before continuing. "We''re almost halfway through the trainees! The next trainee has secured quite a high ranking¡ªfourth ce." June got rid of any hope in his heart. "Eighth ce," he muttered under his breath. "We need to take eighth ce." However, Lin Zhi was able to hear him, and with a smug smile, he leaned closer to June. "I''m sorry, bro," he whispered. "I''m taking that ce." June kept his gaze to the front, not losing focus. "The fourth ce trainee has been popr from the very beginning," Minho described the trainee. "He has been a crowd favorite for his shy and cute personality, making everyone want to take care of him." June shook his head. Minho wasn''t so subtle in his description this time around. "Congrats, Jisung," he said before Minho could even call out a name. Jisung turned around, looking at June with raised eyebrows. "Jisung, congrattions! You have made it into the debut team." With that, the camera panned toward Jisung. However, he was looking straight at June, so June quickly pointed to the camera. Jisung turned around with a surprised look, causing the audience to coo at him. "My baby boy made it," his mom fawned over on her seat while his dad had a proud smile. The other trainees chuckled in amusement as Jisung still appeared like he couldn''t believe it. C-Jay quickly pushed him to the front, and that''s when he snapped out of his trance. With a shy yet determined smile, he walked to the front. He took the mic with shaky hands and began to speak. "Hi," he started off, causing another round of ''awws'' to go around the dome. "You see, I''ve always been a person of a shy and reserved nature. I rarely believe in myself, and I''m my harshest critic." - Jisungie, don''t be so hard on yourself from now on!


    - There''s nothing to critique about you. You''re perfect. - Who made my son feel this way? "It''s been a long, challenging road, and even right now, I can''t help but wonder if I truly deserve this high spot I find myself in. Even now, I struggle to ept that I did well. But deep down, I know I did my best¡ªthat I poured my heart and soul into every performance. Jisungie did well," he cutely said, making the audience squeal in excitement. After that, he went back to his shy self, taking small steps to his designated seat, just right above Akira. "And just like that, we have four members of the debut team¡­and four more to go! We finally arrived at the upper ranks¡ªthe top three." The music seemed to be getting faster and louder with every passing moment. June wracked his mind on who could be taking the third spot. There were three trainees June could think of. The trainees who were currently in the top eight, except for Akira, had always been in the debut range. However, there had been some unexpected mix-ups, with Jaeyong and Ren ranking lower than expected. So, by logic, the trainees who were in the lower ranks of the debut line most likely made it to the third spot. Leo.


    Jaxon. Daeho. These three had been popr since the very beginning, and it wouldn''t be strange if they rose in ranks. As Minho opened the envelope, he couldn''t contain his surprise. It was definitely a surprising twist; nheless, he felt happy that the trainee made it into the debuting team. "Taking the third spot, we have¡­" The trainees held their breaths, especially the three trainees June had enumerated.


    They were getting more nervous by the minute since their names still hadn''t been called. They knew they had to secure this spot since Casper and Zeth would take the first two spots. Otherwise, the only chance they had left was the eighth spot. "Casper!"

 Chapter 269 Debut Team (3)

    <h4>Chapter 269 Debut Team (3)</h4>


    The moment Casper''s name left Minho''s lips, a strange silence swept through the dome. Casper, who had been second throughout thepetition, had now slipped to third. Many couldn''t believe their ears. For the first time in the night, the audience was stunned to silence.


    It wasn''t too big of a drop, but it was something they didn''t expect at all. - Casper at third? Who the hell is second, then? - Holy shit. I never expected this. The eliminated trainees couldn''t believe it, too. Jangmoon almost fell out of his seat as Casper walked to the front. "What if¡­," Jangmoon whispered to himself. Stepping forward, Casper took the microphone with grace. His voice was steady as he addressed the hushed crowd. "Thank you, everyone. It''s an honor to be standing here tonight. You''ve all worked hard to get me to reach this point. However, I just want to say that it''s not about the rank we''ve achieved but the journey that brought us here." Casper said those words, but in reality, he wanted to scream in agony. He was aiming for first ce tonight! But now, he has dropped to third. "At the end of the day, we''ll all be one team," Casper continued. "So, I encourage all of you to support our team and to cheer for us as a collective. Because we''re only as strong as the support we receive from you." - Third? This dude definitely does not deserve just third ce. - Oh,e on. He''s still in the group! - Whoever reced Casper should get ready¡­to be hated. - Oh gosh. The dude just told us to support their team as a collective. I guess the battle of the solo stans has now started. After Casper''s speech, the silence that had fallen over the audience now shifted into apuse and cheers. Casper sat at his seat, taking his ce on the left side of the apex of the triangle. June, still bewildered by Casper''s unexpected third-ce finish, tried to piece together what had happened. His predictions had now turned to dust, and he wondered who had risen so high to overtake the former frontrunner. Minho stepped forward, his voice filled with excitement and tension. "Starlights, it''s the moment you''ve all been waiting for. The center position, the heart of the team, will now be announced. Let me share with you the contenders for this position." The mentors had started creating theories among themselves. "I don''t know anymore," Hyerin said. "I was certain about two ranks


    ¡ªthe first and second. However, now, I''m thrown away." "Who do you think got Casper''s spot?" Bone asked. "I can''t think of anyone right now." Gun pursed his lips. "I can think of someone."


    June, too, wracked his mind for some theories. He hadn''t given much thought to the center position, as it was Zeth to begin with. Aside from that, he had his eyes firmly on the eighth seat. However, he still couldn''t help but grow curious about who the contenders for the centers were. Minho continued, "The first name we''re calling is no surprise to anyone. He''s been a constant presence in the top rankings. Zeth!"


    The audience erupted in apuse as Zeth made his way to the stage. - This is already expected. Please, just reveal who the next trainee is. - Guys, what if it''s C-Jay? - Stop dreaming, kid. The trainees, too, couldn''t keep silent as they looked around the group. June''s eyes strayed toward Jaxon, whom he believed could make it to the top two.


    He was, undoubtedly, very popr. However, he feared a bit for his sanity since Casper''s fans were also known to be brutal creatures¡ª


    and they wouldn''t be too kind if Jaxon took their favorite trainee''s ce. June''s thoughts were abruptly cut off when he heard a familiar name. His heart raced, and for a moment, he stood frozen. ''Nah,'' he shook his head. It was probably just his imagination. This announcement was making him hear things! However, as he felt everybody''s eyes on him, he started feeling more anxious. "It''s you," Sehun said, making his ears ring. The spotlight now shone on him, and the other trainees urged him to walk to where Zeth was. "June," Minho repeated, chuckling. "Please join Zeth on the stage." June''s eyes widened as he pointed at himself. "Me?" he eximed, looking almostical. - JUNE? MY JUNE IS TOP TWO? - WTH! I was about to get mad at the person who took Casper''s ce, but now I can''t get mad at June. Jia and Bora screamed so loud that they busted the eardrums of the people next to them. It was an exhrating moment¡ªone they had never expected before. Mimi, too, couldn''t help but stand up from her seat when June''s name was called.


    Sasha quickly pulled her down before the camera panned to her, though. Hana, who was watching in the luxury of her home, spilled her popcorn all over the couch when her childhood friend''s name was called. "June, you made it!" Grandma and Minjun hugged each other warmly since June had finally made it¡ªhe was going to debut. However, despite the joy that enveloped the room, there were people who weren''t too happy with the announcement¡ªtwo people, in fact. First was Lin Zhi. He pursed his lips to hide his scowl. He knew that June was popr and that his debut wouldn''t be too strange. However, debuting at such a high spot was preposterous. And the other one was June himself. He didn''t want to debut in such a high rank, and now, he was thrust into a spotlight he wasn''t prepared for. [Yay! You''re second.] ''Shut the fuck up, Fu.'' Numb and still surprised, June walked to where Zeth was. Zeth''s wide smile, paired with the audience''s cheers, only heightened June''s disorientation. He stood there, his expression nk, as a million thoughts raced in his mind. Facing each other at the heart of the stage, Zeth and June were urged to hold hands by the crew member below them. Great, now they looked like those contestants in Miss Universe. The spotlight focused on the two of them, and June continued cursing in his mind.


    He was, perhaps, the very first trainee who didn''t want to hear his name called. ''Alright, let''s debut second,'' he said, trying to calm himself down. Zeth would definitely be the center. That was the rule of life! If, somehow, the universe broke it, then the bnce of all humankind will also be thrown off. [Sure, keep telling yourself that.] ''Shut the fuck up!'' "We have two amazing trainees with us today¡ªboth with exquisite talent. However, only one of them would be the center of the debut team." ''And that would be Zeth,'' June repeatedly said in his mind. "I won''t prolong this any further," Minho announced, opening the envelope of the first-ce trainee. "The center of the debut group is¡­

 Chapter 270 Center

    <h4>Chapter 270 Center</h4>


    The bnce of the world has been disrupted. You know that iconic moment in Miss Universe when the host mixed up the names of the contestants and identally announced the wrong winner? Yeah, June was still hoping for something like that to happen. June sat at the first seat, on the very apex of the triangle. Meanwhile, Casper and Zeth sat below him¡ªthe two unstoppable forces during the entire show. June sat there, still wide-eyed from the announcement. He could still hear Minho''s voice lingering in his mind from a while ago. "The center of the debut group is¡­.June!" Minho announced, and for the second time of the night, the crowd was silenced. However, the screams became deafening when it hit them that June had taken the first ce. June stood there, not believing his ears. Then, he felt someone''s strong arms wrap around him. Zeth patted his back and whispered in his ear, "Congrattions. You deserve it." June''s eyes widened, and his mind was in shambles. Deserved it? June definitely didn''t deserve it! - Holy crap. I think June girlbossed way too hard to the sun because how the hell did he be the center? - HAHAHA oh my goodness, I am crying. Are you guys seeing his face? - Why does he look constipated? - He''s so lucky and unlucky at the same time. Why do I feel like he - Why does he look constipated? - He''s so lucky and unlucky at the same time. Why do I feel like he doesn''t want to take the first ce? - Well, if he doesn''t want it, then Zeth could just be the center. I don''t even know how June managed to debut as the center. Jia and her friends rejoiced, screaming in their seats like it was the end of the world. Meanwhile, Jihyun stood up from her seat, covering her mouth in shock. She felt tears brimming in her eyes. However, when she realized her husband was watching from the side, she quickly wiped her tears and pped with a joyous smile. "Wooh! Go, June," she cheered like a mentor would for her student. Jordan also couldn''t keep still in his seat. In his mind, Zeth was the eternal center of this season of Rising Stars. He has been the frontrunner for all of the missions! Then, suddenly, this June trainee came and surpassed him with godly speed. Minjun and Grandma, too, looked at each other with wide, surprised eyes. They had been engaging in rituals for the past few days¡ªone that would make June debut. They didn''t think these rituals would actually make him take the first ce! "That''s my big bro!" Jangmoon screamed, jumping in his seat. Casper, too, smiled widely as June''s name was called to be the center. He was still pretty bitter that he ended up in third ce, but knowing that Zeth was also beaten made him feel that it was fair. The venue was filled with joy. However, the center himself couldn''t help but think how unfortunate he truly was. June''s eye twitched as Zeth delivered his speech. He couldn''t hear anything but the sound of his responsibilities. Being the center meant being in the spotlight. Unlike Lin Zhi, June wasn''t a fiend for attention. Right now, performing already brought immense joy to his heart. However, from what he recalled, the center position entailed more than just performing. Of course, being in an idol group meant he''d have to engage in other work. However, it was way worse for the center! ''Gosh, this is bad,'' June said in his mind. However, he had no time to dwell on his thoughts since his name was called by Minho. It was only then that June realized Zeth was no longer beside him and had taken his seat next to Casper. "And would our lovely center please say a speech to all our starlights?" Minho smiled, feeling proud of June. June was, in fact, the very first trainee without apany to debut as a center in Rising Stars. June wasn''t in the right mind to say anything. However, as he thought of the people who had supported him until now, he decided to at least give a decent speech. So, he momentarily swallowed his pride and spoke from the heart. "As I reflect on this journey, one thing is clear," he started off, causing the audience to listen intently. "I didn''t anticipate any of this when I first walked into the world of idol survival." Yeah, because he was merely expecting to debut¡ªnot to be the center! June cleared his throat. "I wasn''t sure how to be an idol, nor did I have any grand aspirations. My initial goal was simply toplete the missions and make it through. I still remember my pink cat mask, my trustypanion, which helped me hide the facial expressions that would have probably gotten me kicked out early in thepetition." The crowd and the trainees chuckled. "But I guess something happened as the days turned into weeks. I found support among the trainees. I began to help and seek help from one others, forming bonds I never would have thought would be possible. It wasn''t just about surviving anymore¡­but thriving together." "Oh gosh," Jaeyong whispered to himself. "I''m not going to cry." "In the process," June continued. "I found satisfaction in creating stages that resonated with the viewers'' hearts. The joy of performing, the connection with the audience, and the shared dreams we carried are only a few things I will cherish deeply." That was supposed to be the end of his speech. It was something June had carefully writtenst night, even if he wasn''t sure if he would debut. However, he continued to speak his mind before he could stop himself. June wanted to say something to someone¡­someone who was probably not listening. He wanted to say these words to himself, or in this case, to Choi Joon-ho. The current June wanted to respond to the words Choi Joon-ho had said to his future self. "To my past self, I didn''t give up. We grew, we learned, and we met friends in the process. I hope I''ve made you proud." "We made it¡­against all odds," he smiled, looking up at the translucent ceiling of the dome. From his view, he saw the stars and one of them twinkled brightly more than the others. "And as I stand here today, I want you to know that your hard work wasn''t for nothing. Thank you, my past self, for never giving up. This is our victory," June said. "We made it, Joon-ho," he whispered. Then, he snapped out of his emotional state, looking a bit disgusted with the words he had just said. With that, June bowed deeply before bolting to the very top seat. He was met with roaring apuse, and as he looked at his teammates from his view on the apex, it hit him. This was it. June finally debuted. "It''s not over yet, folks," Minho said, taking his attention away from his current teammates. "Because we still have one member to add to the group!" Right, it still wasn''t over. He looked at the remaining trainees on the circr stage, his gaze hardening. The eighth ce.

 Chapter 271 Last Member

    <h4>Chapter 271 Last Member</h4>


    "The envelope has been delivered sessfully," Jo smugly said, his voice filled with excitement. He watched from his seat, one where the Mintellect employees were assigned to, and he narrowed his eyes at the stage, reflecting his satisfaction. "Excellent, Jo. You''ve done well."


    In one of the dimly lit areas of the dome, Laohu smiled in satisfaction. He sat back in his seat, a wicked smile curling his lips.


    Just right before him, Tony remained a stoic and loyal aplice, monitoring the scene through the screen. He smirked and nodded in approval, confirming that the critical phase of their n was underway. Laohu''s smile grew wider as he imagined the imminent sess of their grand scheme. Tonight, everything will fall into ce, and Lin Zhi will finally make his debut. At this point, June''s rank had just been called, and Laohu watched the pink-haired trainee with curiosity. This was the trainee that Lin Zhi wasn''t fond of. He had been monitoring the show closely because of Lin Zhi, and he understood why Lin Zhi averted away from him¡ªfrom June. June felt like the type of person who was blessed with natural charisma, someone born to be in the spotlight. Those types of people were definitely annoying. However, since this pink-haired trainee had made it into the debut group, even as the center of it, Lin Zhi would need to learn how to get along with him, or at least pretend to. June kept his gaze at the front, where the remaining uncalled trainees were. He still couldn''t believe he debuted as the center just moments ago, but he decided to forgo the thought since an important event was about to happen...undoubtedly even more important than his center position. "I will be announcing the three trainees who are in the running for thest ce on the debut team!" Minho announced, the music behind him escting even further. - Gosh, I''ll feel so bad for the trainees who aren''t going to make it. - I''ll close my eyes and ears for a second. Please call for my attention when everything''s over.


    - I don''t know who to root for, guys. There are still so many good trainees left.


    - I hate this so...freaking...much. June groaned as he leaned back against his seat. He always found this segment of the show to be insufferable. Why call three trainees when only one was going to make it? It was like they were giving the two other trainees false hope¡ª


    something to hold onto for a couple of moments beforepletely obliterating that hope. It was cruel. But then again, Azure had always been cruel. "Sehun!" Minho announced, causing the oldest trainee in thepetition to cover his face. The other trainees turned to him, surprised. He had nevere close to the debut spot, and in his mind, he had already given up. However, now, he wanted nothing more but to debut and live his dream. Sehun took a step forward, tears brimming in his eyes.


    "C-Jay!" Minho eximed the second name, shocking the watchers once more. "Me?" C-Jay asked, pointing to himself in disbelief. The first two contenders weren''t who they envisioned, and honestly, June wouldn''t mind having either of them in the group. "Andst but not the least¡ªLin Zhi!" Minho loudly said. Lin Zhi took a step forward, a smug smile on his face. Compared to the other two, it seemed like he already expected to be called.


    Lin Zhi''s gaze locked with June''s, and he quickly smirked, throwing the newly-crowned center a subtle thumbs up. June clenched his fists in frustration, and then he nced at Minjun. The little kid appeared to be in the same state as him, and that made June nervous. His dad would have fixed it by now, right? "Shit," June cursed under his breath. - I can''t choose. I didn''t vote for these three. Who''s the best among them, guys? - Gosh, it''s over for the other trainees. Daeho, you''ve worked hard! I also don''t know who to root for right now. - C-Jay, please debut! Your personality will be a great addition to the team, especially in variety shows. - I don''t think C-Jay is ready to debut with the team yet. He significantlycks talent than the rest. Don''t get me wrong. I like him as a trainee! But if we''re talking about skillsets, Sehun deserves this spot.


    - Nobody deserves it more than Lin Zhi. He''s also in fifth ce right now, so he''s definitely making it in. - I think so too :(. I liked Lin Zhi before, but right now, why don''t I want him in the group? Minho looked at the three trainees on the front of the circr tform. He also couldn''t predict who would make it into the group, but he had a trainee he was secretly rooting for. Minho had always been a fan of underdogs, and he wanted Rising Stars to have some kind of twist. He opened the envelope, holding his breath as he brought out the sturdy card, which contained the name of thest-ced trainee. As he silently read the name on the card, Minho''s eyebrow twitched, feeling a bit disappointed. It was just as expected. It wasn''t the person Minho was rooting for. Maybe he felt too hopeful for a show that rarely had twists. Sometimes, things do go as expected. June had given him some hope¡ªsince someone without apany actually debuted as a center. However, he must have gotten his hopes a little too high this time. Trying his best to sound as excited as possible, Minho brought the microphone to his lips. His little thinking session had prolonged further than he had imagined, and almost everyone in the venue and in thement section was already cursing him and his ancestors. - Minho, I am praying for your future work because a lot of people are against you right now. - Please, it''s been more than three hours. End my suffering. - MINHO, JUST ANNOUNCE IT. - You''re never going to have a wife. Minho cleared his throat with a smile. "Let me announce thest-ranked trainee."


    Lin Zhi subconsciously took a step forward. "Thest member of the debut team is¡­"

 Chapter 272 Beginning

    <h4>Chapter 272 Beginning</h4>


    Hey, do you remember that Miss Universe moment that June was waiting for? Maybe it wasn''t toote for that. It didn''t directly involve him, though, but June felt hopeful nheless. Just as the tension in the dome and in the online streaming tforms had reached its peak, someone from the crew stopped Minho''s announcement. - Shit. Shit. Shit. Who the hell is that? - Why are they stopping Minho in the middle of an announcement? Can''t they wait untilter?


    - I''m going insane. - Who''s daddy is that? "Dad?" Minjun''s eyes widened when he saw the familiar man''s back on the stage. The middle-aged man quickly handed Minho a new envelope, took the old one, and then trudged away from the stage. "It is dad," Minjun muttered, a small smile appearing on his face. He didn''t miss how his dad winked at him before he left the stage, causing the little kid''s smile to grow even bigger.


    Meanwhile, Jo, who had been chilling peacefully in his seat, straightened his posture when he saw his boss on stage. "What the fuck," he muttered under his breath. And then, he felt his phone go off¡ªa notification. Jo froze as he dreaded the mysterious man''s message. Now, he didn''t know why his boss went to the stage or what he handed Minho, but he didn''t have a good feeling about it. Jo shakily opened his phone and clicked on thetest e-mail he had gotten. Maybe the mysterious man''s message would have been better. Because right now, in the middle of the show, Jo was sent a termination letter by none other than his boss. Jo looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the esteemed man, but it seemed like he had disappeared into thin air. For a second, he made eye contact with the mysterious man he had been illegally transacting with since the beginning of thepetition, silently asking what was going on. However, Jo found him irrelevant at that moment. He needed to find his boss. So, Jo got up from his seat and looked around the dome, hoping to ask for a second chance. Laohu frowned as his aplice left him. However, he settled in his seat, knowing that everything was already done and paid for. "Sorry for the interruption," Minho announced, clearing his throat. "I''ll go right ahead with the announcement." He opened the envelope, his eyebrows raising in surprise as soon as he saw the first syble. Then, Minho smiled. "Congrattions, Sehun! You are thest member of the debut team. Pleasee up to the pyramid stage," he announced. Sehun felt his ears ring as his name was called. However, he wasn''t the only one. Lin Zhi took another step forward, ready to surge to the pyramid stage and im his title. Then, he quickly stopped when Sehun went before him, surpassing him and leaving him in his shadows. Tony almost fell down as soon as Sehun''s name was announced. Then, he nced back at Laohu. However, he frowned when he saw that the Chinese man was already out of sight.


    Then, Tony felt a chill run down his spine. Does that mean he wouldn''t be getting his cut? Sehun walked over to the pyramid stage, his seven other members weing him with bright smiles. This was it. This was their team. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he faced the audience and shakily took the microphone from the stand. "It''s me, Sehun," he started off, his voice cracking right away. - I have never voted for this guy, but why do I feel that he deserves this slot?


    - Bro, I''m so happy right now. Sehun actually fits the debut group so well. - Sehun, I''ll be a fan from now on!


    There were a lot of people who were happy about the oue of the results.


    However, as much as there were supporters, there were also a lot of fans who were angry that their favorite trainees weren''t able to make it. - I''m just waiting for the rigged usations at this point. June at first? This dude at eighth? Is that even possible? - I can''t ept the fact that Jaxon isn''t here. I just can''t. - Fuck this line-up. These are absolutely Azure''s favorite trainees. Sehun continued his speech. "I stand before you today as someone who, to be honest, never quite believed I''d make it to this stage," he started off. "I''ve had my doubts along the way, questioned my abilities, and wondered if I truly deserved to be here. However, it''s your support and belief that has kept me going. You guys inspired me, challenged me, and made me a better artist. I would also like to acknowledge my fellow teammates, especially June," he said, ncing behind him at the highest seat. June was pleasantly surprised by the personal call-out. "Our time as a team may have been short, but it was with you that I had my greatest stages. I''m so d you debuted as a center. You truly deserve it." June smiled and gave a thumbs-up. However, deep inside, he still felt unlucky that he ended up as the center of the team. Sehun sighed deeply before he continued. "I may be the oldest one in the group, but I swear to be the greatest older brother to them, to guide and protect them as we continue this amazing journey together." He looked at each of his teammates and felt emotional. "As I look to the future, I''m filled with excitement. The stages that lie ahead already spark my heart with fire. I can''t wait to share our music, our passion, and our art with you." "It''s a journey that''s just begun," he softly said. "And we promise we''ll give it our all." With those words, Sehun ended his speech. Everything seemed to turn into slow motion as June looked around the venue. Wild smiles, tears of joy and disappointment, and hugs offort were seen all around. The crowd burst into deafening cheers¡ªlike this was the long-awaited resolution of a movie.


    However, June knew the movie was far from over. In fact, it felt like the movie was just about to begin.

 Chapter 273 Level-Up

    <h4>Chapter 273 Level-Up</h4>


    However, just like the movies, we cannot escape the bitter moments of life. While other people rejoiced, there were trainees who held their tears. And maybe that was why June couldn''t bear himself to smile. One, because he debuted as the unfortunate center. And two, because he knew he wouldn''t see the people he had called his friends as often as he would like from now on. The tension-filled background music now changed to a mncholic one, silencing the happy crowd. They all turned to the circr stage, where twelve young trainees stood heartbroken. "C-Jay," Minho started off, capturing his full attention. He had a wide smile on his face, but there was a lingering sadness in his eyes. "Would you like to say something to the debut team?" Jangmoon, who watched from the side, couldn''t hold back his tears. His eyes met C-Jay''s for a second, the ugly trainee he now considered his best friend, and he felt¡­sad. Maybe the two of them weren''t meant to live out their dreams. "Hello, everyone," C-Jay said, still trying to sound as jolly as ever. "First of all, I want to congratte the debut team. I knew you would make it. You''re a very good team, and I''ll be sure to support you every step of the way. I''ll probably mute your team name on Navel because I''m still bitter about it, but hey, I''ll probably get over it in a week," he joked, causing the audience tough. "I''m guessing you all know me by my happy-go-lucky personality, and honestly, it''s been quite a joy to be the resident meme of the show with Jangmoon over there," he pointed at the crying trainee. "It''s an honor to crack jokes and bring smiles to your faces," he sincerely said. "But what most of you don''t know is that I''ve often put up this front because, deep down, I wanted to give people what I couldn''t give myself¡ªgenuine happiness." June pursed his lips. He couldn''t cry. "But something incredibly happened during my time on this show. I found that happiness right here, with all of you. The support, friendship, and cheers filled that void in my heart. I may not have the skills that some of the other contestants possess, but I have something even more invaluable¡ªyourughter. And for that, I''m eternally grateful," he said, bowing his head. "I guess Jangmoon''s voodoo rituals hade through, and it now led to me getting eliminated," he managed to joke amidst the serious atmosphere. "Well, I''m here now, you bastard. Let''s find our dreams together." Jangmoon roughly wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded at his friend. C-Jay smiled while the audience apuded his courage. June, too, apuded his friend¡ªsomeone he would dearly miss.


    Minho smiled at C-Jay, too, silently thanking him for all the joy he had brought to the show. "Lin Zhi," Minho said to the other eliminated trainee. "Do you want to say anything before the night ends?" C-Jay handed Lin Zhi the mic. However, he just stood there¡ª


    unresponsive and frozen. C-Jay and Minho frowned as Lin Zhi kept his gaze at the front. It seemed as if he couldn''t hear anything. And that was truly the case. Lin Zhi''s ears were ringing. Sehun''s name being called as thest member of the team reyed in his mind, and until now, he still couldn''t believe that he was defeated.


    Utterly defeated. "I see," Minho said, quickly diverting the topic. "Well, that ends the announcement of the debut team¡ªthe new generation of idols that will take the world by storm." Nico scoffed in his seat. "That''s what they said about our group, too. We didn''t be as big as those idol groups from bigger agencies." Jordan red at Nico. "Stop being so bitter, dude. Be thankful we were given an opportunity like this." Nico crossed his arms in front of his chest and sulked in his seat. In reality, he was just feeling more bitter since that June guy debuted as the team''s center. It was supposed to be Zeth! Now, Mimi looked even more interested in that puny, little, pink-haired guy. Jia and Bora were now bawling in their seats. They held each other firmly, tears streaming down their cheeks. They couldn''t believe their favorite trainees had made it into the debut group. Jia also couldn''t believe that June was called to be the center of the team! It seemed like yesterday when he was an unknown trainee whose face was covered with a pink mask. Minjun gazed at the screen with bright eyes, where the pyramid-like seats were shown. With all the seats now filled, the lights beneath them were illuminated, making the debut team appear like stars in the sky. And that''s what they were¡ªstars. "So cool," he muttered under his breath, his eyes focused on the pink apex. "The night ising to an end," Minho said, capturing the audience''s attention once more. "However, we can''t leave without revealing the very name of the debut team!" The people started chattering among themselves. The present idol groups also started discussing what their name would be. "I need them to have an ugly ass name," Nico said. "I thought BOYMYSTIC was really cool when it was first revealed, but now, people around us keep reading it as BOMBASTIC!" "Tell me about it," Moon nodded in agreement. "And our name abbreviation was supposed to be BM. That''s what my mom calls her daily bowel movement." Jordan clicked his tongue. "Pay attention, kids." "Please turn to the screen," Minho said, pointing behind him. "The team''s name is¡­" June pursed his lips in attention. He knew just how unlucky he was. However, he secretly prayed that their group''s name wouldn''t be affected by hisck of luck.


    A cool animation was shown on screen, with a cartoonized trainee going up the stairs and gathering stars until he reached the very top. Then, the letters started to form when the cartoonized trainee reached the top.


    "LEVEL-UP!" [Congrattions, host. You have seeded in your mission: Stop Lin Zhi from debuting at all costs.] [You have now leveled-up all existing skills to A+.]

 Chapter 274 I Know What You Did

    <h4>Chapter 274 I Know What You Did</h4>


    [Oh, jinx!] LEVEL-UP? It was way better than June had expected. It was a bit of a mouthful, but it fitted well with his personal concept. Now, he wondered if Fu had any say in the group name. Then, the letters started shifting until only three letters were visible. June raised his eyebrows, looking pleasantly surprised. EVE. "We have our team name!" Minho eximed. "After much deliberation, the producers have decided that this eight-member idol group would be named LEVEL-UP, with the abbreviation EVE." - Damn, that''s actually pretty good. Easy on the mouth, too. - EVE! Consider me a fan from now on. - What an upgrade from BOYMYSTIC. Nico groaned in annoyance after their name was announced. "Alright, this is fucking unfair," he muttered under his breath. "LEVEL-UP has been chosen as it signifies the group''s limitless journey of growth and progress in the world of music and entertainment. The group ispelled to challenge themselves to reach higher levels of skill, and there are no limits to what they can achieve." June pursed his lips, feeling like he was in a bizarre situation. Was it just a coincidence, or did Minho perfectly describe what Fu was to June? [That''s all I am to you?] Minho continued, "The abbreviation, EVE, carries the connection to their goal of unlimited growth. EVE is the beginning, the start of something new and unexplored. It symbolizes the endless opportunities that lies ahead for LEVEL-UP. Just as the first day of creation, EVE represents a fresh start, a chance to redefine oneself with music and talent." "And now, we have our EVE," Minho eximed in a loud voice. "Although the show has ended, it is only the beginning for them," he said, the music bing more mellow. The cameras focused on the eight dazzling new idols, and the dome erupted into cheers. "This has been Rising Stars," Minho said hisst words. "Please look forward to LEVEL-UP!" And just like that, the show had ended. The cameramen turned off their cameras, and the audience started speaking loudly, excited for what was about toe. The families of the trainees who didn''t make it ran to the stage,forting their heartbroken children. Jangmoon ran to C-Jay and hugged him, whisperingforting words into his ear. "You''ve worked hard," Jangmoon said. C-Jay shook his head and pulled away. "We''ve worked hard." Meanwhile, the members of EVE stayed in their seats, still finding everything surreal. Sehun looked at the scene before him with tears brimming in his eyes. However, when their pink-haired center quickly moved down the pyramid stage, they all quickly snapped out of their emotional states. June didn''t want to stay in his seat any longer since it was too high. So, he turned around, the light illuminating his face. Then, he smiled softly at his new members. "Let''s go?" he said.


    The seven other trainees smiled back at him and nodded. They stood up and left their seats, now going to new heights. They were greeted by their family members and friends. June felt someone hug his waist, so he nced down and saw Minjun beaming up at him with a bright smile. June chuckled as he ruffled his hair. "You look even happier than me." "And you look disappointed for someone who debuted as the center," Minjun pointed out. June pursed his lips. That''s because he still didn''t want to be the group''s center! "You made it, dear child," Grandma said, snapping him out of his thoughts. June turned around and smiled at the old woman, opening his arms so she could also give him a hug. Grandma, with tears in her eyes, wrapped her arms around the handsome young man. June chuckled, his shoulders shaking, as Grandma continued to sob against his chest. "Why are you crying for, Grandma?" he asked. Grandma sniffed, wiping her tears with a floral handkerchief. She moved away for a second and proudly smiled at June. "I''m just really happy," she sincerely said. "I can''t believe the skinny kid who always ate over at our ce now became an idol." "I can''t believe it, too," June muttered. "We''re going to be seeing each other less often now," she smiled sadly, and Minjun, too, slumped his shoulders. "You won''t be getting rid of me anytime soon," June said in a resolute voice. "You''re stuck with me for life." "Bummer," Minjun said, trying to hide his disappointment. "You should really get busy, so we''ll only get to see each other on special asions." "Oh, you''ll definitely like that, won''t you?" June sarcastically asked. "I will," Minjun proudly smiled. "I won''t miss you at all." Meanwhile, in the corner of the stage stood Lin Zhi. No one came for him for the finale, and that was fine for him¡ªhe didn''t need his real family anyway. However, as he nced to the side where Laohu should be sitting, he frowned in disappointment when he saw that he, too, wasn''t there. Lin Zhi felt alone¡­and defeated. It still didn''t hit him that their fool-proof n actually failed. That man¡ªthe one who gave the envelope to Minho at the veryst moment¡ªwas definitely the one responsible for his failure. But now, Lin Zhi wondered who that man could be and if there was someone involved behind it all. As he continued gazing in the distance, his eyes met a pink item. Lin Zhi''s eyes focused on June, who was staring right at him with a smug smirk. Lin Zhi clenched his jaw. So, it was probably him, huh? June walked over to where Lin Zhi was, and at that moment, it felt like only the two of them were in the dome, the background noise simply turning to static. Lin Zhi continued ring at June with profound hatred, but thetter wasn''t fazed at all. "So, it''s you," Lin Zhi coldly said as June settled before him. "What are you talking about?" June innocently asked. "I''m sure you have something to do with this," Lin Zhi said. "I underestimated you, but hear this: I''m not letting you get away with it." "What are you going to do?" June asked. "You don''t want to mess with the next big thing, you know?" June boasted, throwing Lin Zhi''s past words right back at him. Lin Zhi''s nostrils red, but he kept himself calm. "Now that you''ve achieved greater heights, your downfall will be much more painful," he cryptically said, looking at the people who continued to cheer for June. "Is that so?" June asked, looking Lin Zhi dead in the eyes. Lin Zhi froze as June''s tone changed.


    He seemed like a totally different person just now. June smirked and took a step closer to Lin Zhi, leaning closer to his ear. Then, he whispered¡­ "Murderer."

 Chapter 275 It’s Over

    <h4>Chapter 275 It''s Over</h4>


    With that, June walked away from Lin Zhi, leaving the boy frozen on the stage.


    Then, he opened his phone and texted someone. June: You may now post it. June smirked, his footsteps heavy with satisfaction. And then, he was pulled back into reality when Yena held onto his arm. "You have a meeting in the waiting room in ten minutes. Please tell your other members." June''s eyes widened in surprise. It has started. June pursed his lips and went to his members. And then, the eight of them went to the waiting room that already had their group name posted on the door. "Dang, we''re already having a meeting during our first day?" Akira asked. "At least, let us rest first." The door opened, revealing the main producers of the show, along with Cindy. Cindy threw June a big thumbs up, to which June merely nodded. "Ah, seeing the eight of you somewhat feels refreshing," Yejin smiled in satisfaction. "Right?" Yena asked. "It''s been a while since we''ve had a new group, and I want nothing but the best for you, guys." "Thanks, producers," Jisung shyly said. "Well," Yejin pped. "We won''t be seeing each other as often from now on since the management rights of your team will be handed over to the talent team of Azure Entertainment. However, I have some announcements before the transfer." The members of EVE listened intently. "First of all, congrattions. You are now a part of LEVEL-UP, an eight-member idol group under Azure Entertainment. The duration of your contract will be discussed on the contract signing." "You already know that being an idol entails lots of sacrifices," Yena added. "That is why we are giving you a heads-up. You aren''t going to just be idols. You''ll be dealing with a lot more than just performing. So, please prepare yourselves for that. Especially you," she nced at June. June felt dread fill his heart. This was what he was afraid of. "Unless nothing happens, hopefully, nothing does," Yejin said, recalling thest season''s mishaps, "then you''ll be able to promote peacefully for at least two years. So, try your best not to get into any scandals then." "Yup," Yena said. "Especially the three D''s." Sehun raised his hand. "Umm, the three D''s?"


    "Yes!" Yena eximed. "Don''t ever forget about the three D''s¡ª


    Dating, Drugs, and Driving Under the Influence. Those three are warranted to tarnish a group''s reputation." June shook his head in disbelief. It was quite strange how dating was grouped under literal crimes. But then again, the entertainment world had always been unforgiving to idols who dated. "Well, that was just a quick orientation," Cindy chimed. "For now, you might want to get a good night''s sleep. Tomorrow, you shall go to Azure''s entertainment section, where you''ll be given a more in-depth orientation. Oh, make sure to bring your personal items, too." "For what?" June asked. Cindy chuckled. "Well, if it isn''t really obvious. You are all going to be living with each other!" Jisung and Casper perked up while June felt horror fill his veins. "Yay!" Akira eximed. ***


    Lin Zhi entered the luxurious apartment, shutting the door with a loud ''bang.'' The air smelled like whiskey and cigarette smoke, so he knew that Laohu was already inside. "I told you not to barge inside without my permission," a deep voice said. Lin Zhi halted in his tracks. However, since his anger was already through the roof, he opened the lights and stared straight into Laohu''s angry eyes. "Jun Hao," Lin Zhi said, still shaken up. "I saw Jun Hao just now." Laohu frowned, straightening his posture. "You''re insane. That guy is buried god knows where. He''s not going toe back from the dead." "But he knows," Lin Zhi exasperatedly eximed. "That June guy knows that I killed someone¡ªthat we murdered someone!" Laohu looked at Lin Zhi, gauging his honesty. Then, he let out a small chuckle, which eventually turned to full-blownughter. "You¡ªyou''ve gone crazy, kid," he said amidst hisughter. "I was about to scold you foring in here without my permission, but I''ll let you off since you gave me a goodugh." "I''m being serious," Lin Zhi exasperatedly said. "I don''t know how June knows, but he does! And he stared at me just like Jun Hao did when he knew I did something wrong. I''m not going crazy." "Lin Zhi," Laohu calmly said. "Don''t let him get into your head. That''s exactly what he wants. I can''t believe a mere idol trainee was able to manipte a gang member like you." "I''m telling the truth," Lin Zhi softly defended himself. "Well, I''m also telling the truth," Laohu said. "Don''t let him get into your head. You should be more level-headed. Your pride is the reason why you didn''t debut tonight." "My fault?" Lin Zhi asked. "I thought everything was taken care of! We both know that my debut will be beneficial for both of us. But you left your post¡ªyou left me hanging alone." "That''s because I know my limits," Laohu said, taking a swig of the whiskey. "That guy who handed the envelope a while ago¡ªhe was the owner of Mintellect." Lin Zhi froze. "O¡ªowner?" he stammered. "Then, does he know that my rank had been switched?" "He does," Laohu confirmed, making Lin Zhi sit down. "How does he know?" "We don''t know," Laohu said. "But it''s a good thing only Jo was caught in the act. It''d be more difficult for us if they also found out that you had something to do with the rigging of results." "So, that''s why you didn''t do anything?" Lin Zhi scoffed. "But it''s not over yet, right? We can still fight back. It''s impossible for June to be the first-ranked trainee," he rambled, sounding insane. "We''ll find something against that June guy, then we''ll use it to destroy his group. I¡ªI can''t bear to watch the group that I was supposed to debut in being sessful. I JUST CAN''T¡ª" "Lin Zhi," Laohu calmly said, downing the rest of his whiskey. "It''s over." Lin Zhi''s body stiffened as he gazed into Laohu''s eyes. "It''s over."

 Chapter 276 For Now

    <h4>Chapter 276 For Now</h4>


    "What¡­do you mean?" Lin Zhi asked. "We aren''t even going to fight back? I need to be on EVE."


    Laohu sighed, bringing out his phone and showing it to Lin Zhi. "I''m assuming you haven''t seen this," Laohu said. Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes and looked at the post that Laohu was referring to. His eyes widened in horror as he took the phone from him. He turned the volume to the highest setting and watched the video of him inside the janitor''s closet. It was the video of him getting help from Laohu during the production mission. "I thought you got these deleted?" Lin Zhi eximed. "See?" Laohu said. "It''s over. You can''t be a part of that group anymore. Be thankful that this is the only thing they''ve exposed." Lin Zhi frowned as he looked at the uploader. "Who the fuck is this bucktooth guy?" he eximed. Laohu chuckled, causing Lin Zhi to re at him. "W¡ªWhat are we going to do now? Are we just giving up?" Laohu stopped mid-chuckle and then looked at Lin Zhi with a nk stare. The way his lifeless eyes bore into Lin Zhi''s made the young guy shiver and look away, unable to hold his gaze. "Give up?" Laohu asked, his voice turning cold. "Giving up is for the dead." "But you said it was over," Lin Zhi said in a small voice. "It is over," Laohu confirmed. "It''s over for your career in EVE. However, it''s not the only way we can locate the briefcase." "It''s only over¡­for now." ***


    [Current stats: - Vocals: A+


    - Dance: A+


    - Visual: A+


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: A+]


    Juneid in his bed, looking up at the dust-filled ceiling. He was tired out of his mind, yet he couldn''t bring himself to sleep. Instead, today''s events kept reying in his mind. Up until now, June was wondering if everything was real. He finally aplished the mission he desperately worked for. He finally finished his objective¡ªto debut. June sat up from his bed when those words were internalized in his mind. "Hey, Fu," he loudly said. "I aplished the mission. Does that mean I''ll go back to my original body now?" June''s heart ached a bit with the thought of going back to his original body. Even if he tried hard to deny it, performing had been something he enjoyed. And maybe, just maybe, being June was more enjoyable than being Jun Hao. [...] "Or meet my sister?" June asked. "You told me I could meet my sister after I debuted." He still wanted to meet his sister, though¡ªjust to be reassured she was doing alright. [Correction, host. I told you that there''s a possibility that you''d meet your sister once you aplish your main objective.] "Well, I''ve done it," June said. "I''ve debuted. You''ll keep her safe, right?" [Of course, host. That is all part of the contract. However, you still haven''t aplished your mission.] June frowned, his eyebrows creasing. "What do you mean? I''ve already debuted." [And I sincerely congratte you for that, host. However, that wasn''t the objective.] June remained silent, his mind going back to the first time he met Fu. [The title of your objective is: Be A Top Idol. Please continue to work hard until you reach this objective.] June''s eye twitched as he looked at the topmost portion of his user interface. Indeed, the title was: Be A Top Idol. [Bing the center means you''re one step closer to our objective.] June covered his face with a pillow and pressed hard, hoping it would make him pass out and forget about his frustrations. However, in the end, his annoyance fell through, and he screamed into the hard pillow. "I can''t believe this," he muttered, looking a bit insane. "I''ve already maxed out all my skills, too. What more can I do to be a top idol?" "And I don''t even want to be the center! That Jordan guy speaks for most of their interviews. I bet he can''t even sleep at night with the amount of work he has," June continued toin. It seemed like he was finally saying the words he couldn''t say when he was still in the concert dome. "Ah, fuck. I don''t even know what to do. I still need to pack my bags and move to a unit for eight guys. I just know the fucking smell is going to be atrocious." "However, myndy is still demanding for me to pay the rent for the rest of the month even though I''m moving out tomorrow! I still don''t have any fucking money to do that. Now, I need to ask for money from Grandma once more," he continued to rant. "Well, at least that bucktooth guard saved Lin Zhi''s video and posted it without asking for anything. But still, this is probably one of the unluckiest days in my life. How the hell did I debut as the center of the team?" Fu ignored June''sints and continued exining the next course of action. [This time, missions would not pop up spontaneously and will need to be sought.] June stopped when he saw Fu''s new instructions. "Sought?" [Missions will arise in different locations. If an upgrade is direly needed, the host needs to hunt these missions. However, take note that the missions will not spawn in the same ces.] [One location=one mission.]


    Great. Now, it has gotten even moreplicated. June was basically ying the real-life version of the video game that went viral a few years back¡ªthe one where everyone was busy hunting those ugly creatures in different locations. [Boosters and side quests will still pop up spontaneously.] At least June still had those. [Good luck, host. I''m looking forward to seeing you be a top idol.] [Don''t stray away from your path. Always remember that your sister''s safety is at stake if you rebel against the system.] June sighed, already epting defeat. There wasn''t anything he could do, so he''d just have to be Fu''s ve once again. At least, it wasn''t too bad this time around since he already found joy in performing. "Fine," June grumbled. "I''ll try to make my way to the top."


    [Great! Fu looks forward to cooperating with the host.] [Now initiating phase two of the mission: Be A Top Idol¡ª


    conquer the world with your talent!]

 Chapter 277 Feet

    <h4>Chapter 277 Feet</h4>


    Feet. Everything smelled like feet. And armpits, and sweat, and clothes that haven''t been dried under the sun. It had only been two days since the members of EVE had started living together, and June felt like he was already living in an inferno. It wasn''t this bad when they were living in Azure''s dorm. Or maybe that was because there were cameras filming them at most points. And now, the guys were free to do whatever they wanted. And June was about to burst into mes. Living with eight men was truly an experience he couldn''t rmend to anyone. He couldn''t even wish it upon Lin Zhi. June sighed and cleaned up the mess they had madest night, all while trying to wake them up since they had to go to Azure early today. "Bro," Jisung said,ing out from the bathroom. "Aren''t we going to go yet?" June sighed in relief when he saw that it was Jisung. Out of the eight men here, Jisung was the one he could count on when it came to cleanliness¡ªhim and Ren. "Can you wake them up? We have to go through our contract today," June said. Jisung scratched the back of his head. "I already tried," he said. "But they''re deadbeat after the meetingst night." June let out a long sigh before going over to their rooms. He had enough. He filled up a cup with cold water and went to their rooms one by one. Then, like a domino, June started pouring cold water on their faces without any mercy. A series of screams were heard in their respective rooms, but June didn''t heed their cries. "Time to get up," he nonchntly yet loudly said. Jaeyong looked at the clock and groaned. "It''s so early in the morning." June clicked his tongue. "You''ve been an idol before. I''m sure you already know that we have more extreme schedules than this. Now, get your asses up and get dressed. We need to go to thepany." Jaeyong pursed his lips, sitting up. Honestly, Rising Stars had just sucked out everyst bit of their energy, and it felt like the tiredness was finally catching up to them. So, now they didn''t even have any energy to unpack and clean their dorm. However, knowing that June was right, they reluctantly got up and started getting ready. ***


    "Well, there''s our next big stars!" the middle-aged man with a receding hairline named Mr. Ong, the CEO of Azure Entertainment, greeted from his chair. Azure was divided into four enterprises¡ªAzure Entertainment, Azure Broadcasting Station, Azure Foods, and Azure Electronics. Rising Stars was under Azure Broadcasting Station. And now, their team would be under Azure Entertainment¡ªwhich Mr. Ong was the CEO of. The other subsidiaries also have different CEOs, but the team was informed that thepany was part of arger corporation that was based outside of the country. In short, Azure was one hell of aplicated system. Mr. Ong used the wheels on his chair to go to the front of the table. He had a heightplex, so it was rare to see him standing up. The group had met him the day after their team had been formed, but it was only for a brief moment. Now, they were going to tackle what was needed for their debut and what courses of action they were going to take next. "Take a seat, my big stars," Mr. Ong buttered them up. The members of EVE shyly took their seats. They all didn''t want to sit next to Mr. Ong, so June was left with no choice but to sit next to him. There were other employees inside the room, but they merely took notes and photos of the important event. "Today is a very important day," Mr. Ong started off. "We will now go through your contract, and we''ll also be talking about the important preliminaries before your group officially debuts. Will you pass this around?" he said, handing Zeth a set of folders. Zeth nodded and passed it on to his members. June quickly took one that had his name on it. "Let''s get started," Mr. Ong said, opening the folder. "So, you''ll see your job description here." June looked through the use. Then, he paused when he saw the phrase¡ª"And all other tasks that encapste being an idol." June shook his head. It was already predatory from the beginning. However, seeing that his members didn''t think much about it, June also didn''t speak. He already expected to be doing a whole lot of shit even though he was just an idol. "All of your works need to be reviewed by the upper management before approval," Mr. Ong continued. "That means you cannot ept any brand deals, acting gigs, or any other work outside of our knowledge." The rookie idol members nodded. "And the duration of your contract will be three years," he said, going to thest page. June raised his eyebrows in surprise. Three years? Usually, it was two years. GIRLS'' EVOLUTION only got a two-year contract and disbanded right after. BOYMYSTIC was also originally given a two-year contract. However, since the group did better than expected, they were offered a two-year extension. The failed group from thest season was also only given two years. It seemed like the upper management already saw the potential of EVE to be one of the biggest K-Pop idol groups of the generation, so they prolonged the contract. "Now, do you have any questions?" Mr. Ong asked, closing his copy of the contract. "No questions?" he asked after a couple of seconds. "Then, go ahead and sign the contract," he excitedly said. Jisung was the first one to sign, quickly followed by the others. June looked at them and sighed before signing his name on the contract, too. Before he could close it himself, an employee took it from behind him, surprising him.


    "Yay!" Mr. Ong excitedly said, pping loudly. "Wee to Azure, my boys." "Now, we have our next courses of action," he said. "We have alreadyunched your social media tforms, and you are set to have a live stream tonight." "After the live stream, you will be discussing as a group who will be the leader. Afterward, you''ll also decide the name of your fandom. Oh, before all of that, we''ll also be discussing your personal social media ounts as well as your stage names. There are people here who need their names tweaked." Mr. Ong continued speaking with no signs of stopping. His spit had already umted on the table, and June couldn''t help but stare at the white bubbles on the corner of his mouth. It distracted him a bit from how much work they needed to do. "We need to settle those until tomorrow because the day after that, we need to meet with the producers of your first mini-album. You''ll listen to a bunch of songs and pick your title track." "Wait, everything''s going so fast," Akira chuckled. "Don''t tell me we''re going to debut right away." "Oh, it''s not right away, don''t worry," Mr. Ong smiled, causing the idols to sigh in relief. "It will be next month!"

 Chapter 278 Stage Name

    <h4>Chapter 278 Stage Name</h4>


    The eight members of EVE stared into oblivion, already feeling stressed about the amount of work they had to do in such a short amount of time.


    "Gosh, what did we sign up for?" Casper asked. "We can''t overwork cats," he said, pointing to June.


    June red at him before sighing in defeat, knowing that Casper was right. Aeback in less than a month already sounded impossible. However, knowing Azure, they''d try to make it possible¡­even if it meant overworking their artists.


    "Hey," Sehun cheered them up. "At least, we''re idols now, right? And we''ll be having our very first live! Isn''t that exciting?"


    "I guess it is," Akira said. "I can''t wait to meet our fans."


    Just then, the door opened, and Mr. Ong (who was still in his chair) came in with a new person¡ªa man appearing to be in his early 30s entered the room with a curt smile.


    "Right, he just arrived, so I wasn''t able to introduce him to you earlier," Mr. Ong said. "This is Lee Chul, your manager starting from today."


    June observed the seemingly innocent-looking man and bowed his head in respect.


    Chul made eye contact with everyone, greeting them with bright smiles. However, when he locked gazes with June, he merely gave him a nod of acknowledgment.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, but he let it go since it could have been a mere coincidence.


    "I still have a lot of work to do," Mr. Ong said. "So Chul will be going over everything you need to know before your live."


    As soon as Mr. Ong left the room, Chul slumped on the couch. "I''m a huge fan of the show," he started off. "Can I get your autograph, Zeth and Casper? I''ve always been a big fan! It''s a shame Jaxon and Jinsol aren''t here," he muttered under his breath.


    Zeth and Casper looked a bit weirded out, but they gave their autographs nheless.


    "Thank you for this," their new manager excitedly said, pocketing their autographs.


    "Let''s first start off with your personal ounts," Chul said, going back to professional mode. "We will not ask you to delete your ounts or forbid you from posting on it. However, you need to ask permission whenever you want to post something."


    They nodded in understanding.


    "As far as I know, all of you have personal ounts except for June, right?" Chul asked.


    "I have a personal ount," June said.


    "Oh, you do? What''s your name?" Jisung excitedly asked.


    "I can''t say it," June said. "I need to write it."


    "Let''s talk about that some other time since we have a live scheduled in half an hour. I''m assuming it''s only for your personal endeavors?" Chul inquired. "If that''s the case, then I suggest you don''t use it anymore."


    June frowned, feeling like Chul became more hostile when he talked to him. Did this guy not like him or something?


    "Now, we''re going with your stage names. Some of you have simr names to existing idols, so we need to change it a bit."


    "First, Jisung," Chul said. "We''ll go with Ji. It''s short, straight to the point, and it''s also your nickname."


    Jisung smiled and gave Chul a thumbs-up.


    Ji sounded pretty cute.


    "Next, Sehun," Chul continued. "Hmm, I don''t think we need to change your name, actually. It''s alright. You can keep your name."


    Sehun sighed in relief.


    "The other members can also keep their names," Chul said. "I quite like your names."


    "Ah, but wait," he quickly added. "We need to change your name, June. There are a lot of active idols with simr names¡ªJun, to be precise."


    June frowned. He always thought his name was fitting for his image. Besides, most idols weren''t in ''Jun.'' They had prefixes before it¡ªRenjun, Junhui, Junmyeon, Joon...


    "So, June¡­Choi Joon-ho¡­your stage name is going to be¡­"


    "Hoho."


    Yup, this dude definitely had something against June.


    ***


    Hoho.


    June thought the challenges would dial down a bit once he secured a debut spot in Rising Stars.


    However, that seemed to be a misconception.


    His members couldn''t stopughing after their manager left the room.


    Jisung wiped his eyes after a great round ofughter, almost falling out of his seat.


    "Are you done now?" June asked, not finding the situation enjoyable.


    "Oh gosh," Akira eximed amidst hisughter. "Hoho? Are they serious about that?"


    "The center of a new idol team is actually going to be named Hoho? I don''t know about you, but that sounds quite iconic," Zeth chimed. "Ah, I''m d I''m not in the center now."


    June red at Zeth, causing thetter tough even harder.


    "I thought they were great at making names. Nico, whose name was originally Paul Ni¡­Ni Paul benefited from getting a good stage name," Sehun said.


    "Where''d you even learn that? And is he mixed?" Ren asked.


    "From C-Jay. That kid knows everything¡­and yes, I believe. I think he''s half Nepalese," Sehun responded.


    "Well, that exins it," Jaeyong said. "Seriously, though, do you think they''re serious about June''s name? I don''t think I can take him seriously if that happens."


    "They''re not serious," Casper said. "They definitely can''t be serious."


    June hoped so.


    However, once the door opened and Chul came in with a tripod, June knew that they were being serious.


    "Hoho, set this up," he said, giving the tripod to June.


    "Gosh," Jisung whispered. "I think they''re serious."


    June pursed his lips in frustration. Were centers usually treated like this?


    He set up the tripod (after much difficulty) and propped the phone on the stand. However, Jisung quickly came to his aid since June didn''t know how to set up a live stream.


    "We''re rolling!" Jisung eximed, pulling June back to the couch.


    The members of the new idol group perked up, looking at the camera like lost meerkats waiting for their next prey.


    "How does this work again?" June whispered to Jisung.


    "We''re waiting for people toe in," Jisung whispered back. "Oh, I think they''re here. We have 10,000 viewers now! Let''s greet them."


    Zeth looked around and cleared his throat.


    "Hi, guys!" he eximed. "We are the members of EVE. Thanks for tuning in to our first live!"

 Chapter 279 First Live

    <h4>Chapter 279 First Live</h4>


    - It''s EVE! I love your guys'' music!


    - They haven''t even released any music.


    - I love your faces!


    "Hey," Casper waved at the camera. "We just wanted to drop by and greet you, guys. I feel like it''s been too long since we''ve spoken to each other."


    "We haven''t spoken at all, actually," Akira chimed.


    Casper scoffed and pushed Akira away. "Don''t listen to this guy. We missed you, guys!"


    "We''re going to answer a few of your questions," Sehun said. "As long as it''s not a spoiler."


    "We don''t even have anything to spoil," Ren said. "We''re still clueless about everything!"


    - Gosh, it''s only been a few minutes, but they''re already so loud.


    - I thought C-Jay being voted out would make the group more tame, but I have been proven wrong.


    - When are you going to debut?


    "We got a question, guys!" Jaeyong said, trying to tame the wild kids. "When are we going to debut?"


    "There''s not an exact date," Zeth responded professionally. "But, we''ll be seeing you guys soon¡­very, very soon."


    ''Too soon,'' June thought.


    - Do you guys live together now?


    "Oh, this question is asking about our living situation! We actually live in separate rooms in one huge dorm!" Jisung responded.


    "Fortunately," June muttered under his breath. Thankfully, they all had separate rooms. Their shared living rooms and bathrooms were still a nightmare, though.


    - Who cooks in the house?


    Ren clicked his tongue. "Right now, we just order food and call it a day. However, there''s free food at ourpany during breakfast and lunch, so we only order during dinner!"


    "I wish someone would cook for us, though," Zeth chimed. "But I think these guys can''t cook at all."


    June didn''t say anything. He knew how to cook. He also enjoyed cooking.


    But cooking for eight people every night was something he wasn''t looking forward to.


    So, in the end, he decided that ordering was the best way to go, too.


    - Do you already have a concept for your debut?


    "A concept, huh?" Ren asked. Then, Chul cleared his throat and gestured for them not to answer the question.


    Zeth pursed his lips and took the initiative to answer for the team. "You guys must be curious, right? Well, you just have to stay tuned to our debut. Again, it won''t be too long, so prepare yourselves."


    The live stream continued with the members answering the questions. June, on the other hand, still had his mind on his stage name, so he wasn''t able to participate enthusiastically.


    - I''m so excited for you guys to debut. My money is ready to buy a tonne of your albums.


    Jaeyong chuckled but quickly shook his head. "Don''t do that. Save your money for better things."


    "Yeah," Zeth chimed. "One album is enough!"


    - When are you going to reveal the leader of the group?


    "Perfect timing!" Jaeyong said. "We''re about to decide that, actually. We''ll tell it to you in due time."


    Chul stood up from his seat and gestured for the team to finish the live. Casper quickly cleared his throat and smiled.


    "Well, I guess that''s it for today, guys. We''ll be seeing you very soon! Bye!"


    "Bye, everyone!"


    The members enthusiastically waved at the camera while June gave them a small wave.


    With that, their first live had finally ended.


    "My cheeks are hurting from smiling too much," Akira said, massaging his face.


    "But that was so much fun," Jisung enthusiastically said. "I feel like a real idol now."


    Sehun chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it kind of feels surreal, too."


    "June, you didn''t talk much," Ren pointed out. "Are you okay¡ª"


    "Alright," Chul pped, cutting their conversation short. "We need to settle the leader situation now. You guys can just vote for whoever you want, then we''ll see how it works out."


    June raised his hand.


    "Are the stage names final now?" he asked.


    "It''s final," Chul said. "Your names will be revealed once the teaser images are posted."


    June clenched his fists and restrained himself from punching their manager. Their team name might have been pretty good, but if his stage name was going to be Hoho for the next three years, then June might rethink bing an idol after all.


    "So, let''s not dwell on that," Chul said. "Who do you vote for as your leader?"


    June continued to stay silent while his members meaningfully looked at each other. From their living situation now, it seemed like June was the most fit to be their leader.


    It wouldn''t be too strange for him to be the leader too.


    Kiera was the leader of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION.


    Jordan was the leader of BOYMYSTIC.


    It would only make sense for June to also be their leader.


    Jisung raised his hand. "I think June would be best fitted to be our leader."


    "Yeah, I think so, too," Akira said.


    "I''d like June to be our leader, too," Jaeyong chimed.


    However, there were people who weren''t too fond of that idea.


    Two people, in fact¡ªChul and June.


    "Umm, do you guys have other nominees?" Chul asked.


    June quickly raised his hand. "I think Jaeyong should be the leader," he quickly said. "He''s one of the oldest here, and he also has experience bing a leader in RAVEN."


    Jaeyong turned to June, surprised to hear his suggestion. It couldn''t be denied that he was quite touched, too. Jaeyong definitely missed being the leader of their group, and it made him feel ttered to hear June acknowledging it.


    Chul quickly nodded in agreement.


    "Alright," he said. "We''ll go with that. Jaeyong''s going to be the official leader then."


    June sighed in relief, leaning back against his chair.


    "Okay," the others quickly agreed, not minding the decision.


    However, Jisung nudged June''s shoulder, looking a bit concerned. "You okay?" he asked.


    June gave him two big thumbs up. He has never felt happier knowing he wasn''t going to be their leader.


    Being the center was already tough.


    He didn''t need another title to go along with it.


    "I don''t like our new manager," Jisung whispered.


    June frowned and nced at their manager, who was subtly looking at June with a weird expression.


    "Do you need anything, Hoho?" Chul asked, raising his eyebrows when he caught June staring at him.


    June pursed his lips and looked away. "Nothing," he muttered.


    June doesn''t like their new manager, too.

 Chapter 280 Debut Song

    <h4>Chapter 280 Debut Song</h4>


    In the dimly lit yet wide recording studio, the eight members of EVE gathered to listen to the probable title track of their debut album.


    After selecting the group''s leader, fandom name, and stage names (June is still bitter about this), they were now going to listen to a bunch of songs and pick a title track.


    "Have you done this before?" Zeth asked Jaeyong.


    "We have," Jaeyong said. "But it''s not to this extent. We were usually just given one song, then they asked if it was okay with us."


    "Yeah," Akira nodded. "But now, we''re selecting from a bunch of pre-made songs already."


    Chul sat near the control booth and opened his notepad. "The overall album still doesn''t have a definitive concept, but the creative team will work on it once we agree on a title track. We have the A&R team with us today," he pointed to the two women next to him.


    The members greeted them respectfully.


    "They have coted a total of six songs for this mini-album. However, there would be eight songs in total for you to record. The two other songs will be the signal song from Rising Stars and ''Tie Me Up,'' since it was the most streamed song in the show aside from the signal song."


    June and Sehun nced at each other, pleasantly surprised. They didn''t know their song had performed that well on the domestic charts.


    "We have chosen six songs from different producers that we think match well with the group. Most of these have simr themes¡ªbeginning. This is a new start for you, guys, so we want to open your career on a good note," one of the producers said. "These aren''t theplete versions, but listen to them carefully and tell us what you think."


    The members nodded. June leaned back against his seat. However, he couldn''t deny that excitement was coursing through his veins. Having the privilege to choose their title track made him forget about his stage name dilemma for a second.


    "Let''s start with the first song¡ªFirst Love."


    June pursed his lips. He already didn''t like the song based on the title. However, when the song yed, he was pleasantly surprised. It sounded like one of those Korean drama soundtracks.


    It evoked the feeling of a refreshing and innocent new romance, reminiscent of high school days. The melody was gentle and soothing, carried by the soft strumming of an acoustic guitar and the subtle, calm percussion in the background.


    The overall sound was warm and inviting, perfectlyplementing the lyrical theme of young love.


    However, in June''s opinion, it wasn''t fit for the title track. It was too calm and tame. Moreover, it was best suited for idol groups with younger members.


    In EVE, June and Jisung were basically the youngest. Although they all had very fresh visuals, a more mature sound would be a better fit for the group.


    "The next song is entitled¡ªRestart."


    This time, a song with a groovy house-trap sound resonated in the recording studio.


    Jaeyong and Akira nced at each other, already liking the sound of this song better. It was high-energy, hip-hop-infused with a catchy chorus, with the word ''Restart'' being repeated throughout the track.


    It was definitely a trendy genre, with most of the uing songs from K-pop groups, especially male ones, incorporating this type of concept.


    "I like this one a lot," Jaeyong pointed out.


    Akira nodded in agreement. "Me too."


    The two RAVEN members found the song very enticing, which wasn''t surprising for June since RAVEN employed this type of sound when they were still active as a group.


    "Let''s go with the next one¡ªCaffeine."


    Truly, trap hip-hop songs with repetitive elements were dominating the K-pop scene. Groups like SPRAY TEENS, ORTEEZ, and HIKERS use this type of sound often, and it has been proven to be popr with K-Pop enjoyers. It wasn''t too popr with the general public, but it still garnered a lot of interest.


    This genre was definitely the safest route the group could take if they wanted a semi-sessful debut.


    The next two songs were simr to the very first one, which made the group even more confused.


    "I don''t know what to pick now," Jisung chuckled. "They''re all pretty good, in my opinion."


    "Yeah," Ren agreed. "I can already imagine us employing very powerful choreography for these three songs."


    At this point, the fifth song was already ying. However, the members of EVE weren''t paying much attention since thest few songs were far more impactfulpared to this one.


    However, amidst their conversation, June listened intently to the fifth song.


    It was entitled ''Oasis,'' and it sounded exactly like its name.


    The song was the embodiment of serenity and refreshment. The track immersed June in a peaceful, almost hypnotic scene with sunset vibes that make you feel like you''re wandering through the hot dunes, desperately seeking refreshment.


    The lyrics were also quite good.


    June tapped his foot to the beat, enjoying how the music flowed through his ears.


    It definitely wasn''t ''title-track'' material based on today''s standards, but it was still a pretty decent¡­no, with a couple of edits, it could be a very good song.


    However, it seemed like the producers were eager to skip to the next song since thest song yed during thest chorus of ''Oasis.''


    Thest song, ''Red Moon,'' was once again under the hip-hop genre, with a beat that hit harder than the other songs.


    The members, who had been conversing during ''Oasis'', now stopped and paid attention to thest song, bobbing their heads to the beat.


    Zeth ced his hand over his chest when he felt the bass thump inside his heart.


    "I like this one the most," he said with resolution.


    "It''s too intense," Jaeyong countered. "I think we should still go with the second song."


    Ren pursed his lips. "Caffeine actually sounds the most addicting. I think it''s best suited for us."


    Multiple opinions were heard in the room, none of them yielding.


    June looked around, observing the mess.


    He thought that choosing the debut song would be one of the easier tasks.


    It turned out he was wrong.

 Chapter 281 Mini Contest

    <h4>Chapter 281 Mini Contest</h4>


    Things started getting more hectic. The group was divided into three groups with three different song options¡ªRestart, Caffeine, and Red Moon.


    "Red Moon is literally the perfect debut song for us," Zeth said. "It''s epic. It''s addictive, and the possibilities for the choreography are endless."


    "You can say the same thing about Restart," Jaeyong argued. "It was the second song we heard, and it left the most impact. Red Moon is too intense for a debut song. Restart is just the perfect mix of hip-hop and chill."


    "Restart is pretty repetitive, though," Ren countered. "Red Moon is too¡­and although they sound like hit songs, they''re not necessarily artistic? Yes, that''s the right word. It merely sounds like a popr genre. Caffeine is both hype and artistic."


    "I agree," Jisung said. "I like that Caffeine makes you feel like you''ve dunked some shots of espresso."


    "Art?" Akira asked. "The real art here is Restart. I believe we have different definitions of art, so we can''t really judge on what''s artistic or not."


    "But if we''re talking impact, then Red Moon is the best choice," Sehun chimed in.


    However, while the others were busy arguing, June was busy staring at the new pop-up in his user interface.


    [You have earned a booster! The booster is entitled Hit Song Maker. Find out which song would be the best hit.]


    [This is a free booster, so it is not a hundred percent certain. Use with discretion. Expires in 24 hours.]


    Woah, Fu actually gave out freebies now?


    That in itself was already a major upgrade.


    [Use booster: Hit Song Maker. Selected songs: Restart, Caffeine, Red Moon¡­Oasis]


    June contemted on whether to add Oasis to the list, especially since none of his members didn''t even appear to be interested in the song. However, June felt something special about the song, so he decided to add it.


    There was no harm in trying, right?


    "June hasn''t spoken since earlier," Casper pointed out. "I''d just go with whatever he chooses."


    Zeth groaned. "Oh,e on, man. Just pick a side so we can have a majority."


    "Let''s ask June," Casper said. However, June was too busy watching the graphics on his user interface.


    "June? What song do you prefer?" Casper repeated.


    [Integrating songs¡­Analyzing¡­]


    [Analyzed.]


    [The hit song from the group is Oasis.]


    "Oasis," June unconsciously said, causing his members to turn to him, surprised.


    June finally snapped out of his thoughts when he felt their gazes on his face. He raised his eyebrows, silently asking why they were giving him such weird looks.


    "Oasis?" Zeth asked. "You want to go with Oasis?"


    June nodded without any hesitation. He already felt something when he first heard the song. However, knowing the system had told him that it was the most probable hit song out of the four merely strengthened his belief.


    "Yes," he said. "Oasis will be a great title track."


    Chul frowned, interrupting the conversation. "Oasis¡­this song was merely added to the list as a filler. Right, producers?" he asked.


    The long-haired producer scratched the back of her neck. "Yes. Oasis is still not finished¡ªthat''s why it sounds a bit empty."


    The other producer nodded in agreement. "Aside from that, this song was originally written for CHAOS'' new album. However, they rejected it."


    "And now it''s with us?" Ren asked.


    Chul nodded. "So, I suggest you think about it again."


    The other six started arguing once more, insisting their favorite songs be the title track.


    Chul sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Casper, Hoho, pick a side already so we can go with the majority."


    Currently, the team was divided into three teams with two members each for chosen songs. June looked at their expectant faces and sighed.


    June didn''t mind making a fourth team.


    "I still stand by what I said," June stubbornly said. "I think Oasis is the best song for the team."


    Chul shook his head and turned to Casper instead. "What about you? Would you mind breaking the tie so we cane to an agreement?"


    Casper pursed his lips, looking around the studio. June sat there quietly, merely looking at Casper.


    Then, Casper sighed. "I''ll go with Oasis, too."


    Casper definitely liked Restart or Caffeine better. However, somethingpelled him to side with June. Maybe it was the way he looked at him with such pitiful eyes (June was normally looking at him), or maybe it was because June always had ingenious ideas that most people brushed off in the beginning but ended up being the most sessful.


    So, in the end, Casper chose June.


    Chul sighed in frustration as he slumped on his seat. "We''re not going toe to an agreement, are we?" he asked.


    The members shook their heads.


    "Alright," Chul said. "Since we are given until tomorrow to choose the debut song, I suggest we have a minipetition."


    "Tomorrow morning, we''re going to gather in Conference Room A and discuss the title track of the album. Since you''re divided into four sides, I''ll be giving all of you 15 minutes each to discuss why your chosen song should be the title track," Chul continued.


    The members looked at each other, feeling a bitpetitive.


    "I''ll be calling some members from the Creative team, A&R team, and Marketing team to oversee the minipetition. Then, we''re going to hold a vote on what the title track will be. Is that alright with all of you?" Chul asked.


    Exmations of agreement were heard in the room.


    "And while you''re on it," Chul continued. "Think of a concept for your chosen song, too, okay? So that we''ll better visualize what you want with the song."


    The other members already started excitedly discussing their songs and concepts.


    Meanwhile, Casper and June sat silently in the corner of the couch.


    Casper cleared his throat and nudged June''s side, breaking the silence. "Hey, I''m sure you already have a clue about the concept, right? You''ve always been great at those."


    June started off into the distance and chuckled coldly.


    "You have a concept, right?" Casper repeated.


    June pursed his lips and then shrugged.


    He''ll figure something out.

 Chapter 282 Wet

    <h4>Chapter 282 Wet</h4>


    "Gosh. Why is it so hot these days?" Akirained, cranking up their air conditioner.


    After their long unresolved debate in the recording studio, they were now back in their dorm. Fortunately, after June burst out about the guys smelling like wet dogs, the dorm had been tidied up to an eptable extent.


    The eight of them sat on the couch. They had just finished eating, so they were nowzing around while watching TV. The news anchor speaking about the weather became their background sound.


    Coincidentally, or maybe not, they were seated ording to their title track preferences.


    Zeth and Sehun.


    Ren and Jisung.


    Jaeyong and Akira.


    June and Casper.


    "Due to global warming and climate change, the weather has been bing more difficult to predict. In this graph, we can see that the heat index has increased again this year and will continue to rise until the end of November. Hopefully, December will be a much cooler month," the weatherman said.


    Jaeyong groaned in annoyance. "We have to endure this heat until November?"


    "And it doesn''t help that our air conditioning is shit," Akira added. "They didn''t skimp on the rooms, but the electronics really suck."


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "Stopining and think about your presentation for tomorrow. We''re about to crush you at this point."


    Jaeyong scoffed. "Oh, dream on, buddy. I heard what you were conceptualizing. A lunar eclipse? That''s so predictable for a song called Red Moon."


    Sehun red at Jaeyong''s team. "It''s revolutionary," he defended. "At least it isn''t a cafe theme for a song called Caffeine," he subtly called the other team out.


    Ren clicked his tongue. "We''re minding our own business here. Let''s just see which song will win tomorrow. I''m pretty sure nothing''s certain yet."


    "I think it''s already certain that Oasis is not going to be the title track, though," Zeth joked, causing the six members to chuckle.


    They turned to June''s and Casper''s team and continued to tease them.


    "Why did you even pick that song, June?" Ren asked. "I don''t even remember it."


    "Me too," Jisung shyly admitted. "Itcks impact for a debut song."


    "You guys were just not listening," June said.


    "Well, do you already have a concept for the song?" Sehun asked.


    Casper and June remained silent. Before they could continue to tease the pair, June stood up from the couch, wiping his sweat with the back of his hand.


    "It''s so hot," June said, diverting the topic. "I''m going to wash my face."


    "Sure, go ahead," Akira chuckled. "Maybe you''ll get some inspiration then."


    June ignored their teases and went to one of their shared bathrooms. June leaned on the sink, looking at his reflection.


    It was so hot in their dorm that sweat had formed on his hairline. His cheeks were red from the warmth, too, and he felt ufortable just looking at himself.


    So, he quickly opened the faucet so he could ssh his face with some water.


    However, it seemed like the world had it out for him since water didn''te out from the faucet.


    Akira wasn''t lying. The electronics and amenities in their dorm were all shitty. They had been told that this was BOYMYSTIC''s dorm before and hasn''t been repaired ever since.


    "What the hell," he cursed under his breath, repeatedly turning the sink on and off.


    Then, like the unlucky ck cat he was, the water burst out from the sink full st at the most unexpected moment, causing the water to stter all over him and his shirt.


    June cursed once more before turning off the sink. He took a step back and nced at himself in the mirror.


    His chin had be wet, and his white shirt had be transparent.


    "Great," he chuckled coldly, already feeling annoyed since he just changed his shirt a while ago.


    He was about to leave the bathroom but stopped when he caught a glimpse of his body in the mirror. He looked down and saw that his muscles had be more defined. When he had a shoot with Choi Pablo, he looked¡­softer.


    However, now, the lines on his abdomen have be more noticeable. It seemed like being on Rising Stars was actually pretty beneficial for his body.


    ''I do look pretty cool like this,'' he thought.


    As he gazed at the water-soaked fabric clinging to his skin, something sparked within him. He couldn''t quite exin it, but the sensation of being wet changed from being annoying to something oddly refreshing.


    The lyrics of the song ''Oasis'' began to echo in his mind, the words fitting perfectly with his current mood.


    June sang softly to himself.


    "A life lived in water, forever wanting more."


    Then, like a bolt of lightning, another thought pierced through his consciousness. He remembered the news he had seen earlier in the morning¡ªabout the rapidly rising temperatures and scorching heat waves that would continue until November.


    "The world''s getting hotter, day by day," he whispered.


    The convergence of these thoughts¡ªthe cooling sensation of his wet shirt, climate change, and an oasis.


    June smirked, the annoyance leaving his system.


    He went out of the restroom and shouted, "Casper, we need to talk!"


    ***


    Chul yawned as the group of eight men entered therge conference room. The rookie idols bowed their heads when they saw it wasn''t just their manager waiting in the room.


    "Come in, boys," Chul said, "and take a seat."


    The members quickly took their seats ording to their teams.


    "Let me introduce you to the team who will judge your presentations today," Chul started off. "We have two representatives from the A&R team¡ªyou''ve met them yesterday. We also have members from the Creative team who will focus on your concepts. Lastly, we have two people from the Marketing team to assess whether theeback will be profitable."


    Casper sighed when he saw the panel of serious-looking people.


    "I hate this," he whispered to June. "I feel like I''m back at school."


    June merely shook his head in amusement.


    "Well, who wants to start?" Chul asked.


    Without any hesitation, Zeth and Sehun raised their hands.


    "We''ll be going first," Zeth confidently said.


    The staff were pleasantly surprised by their confidence. The two of them stood up and hooked their presentation to the screen.


    "Good morning, everyone," Zeth started off, already oozing with charisma.


    June had to give it to this kid¡ªhe was definitely born to be famous.


    "We''re here to show you the reasons why Red Moon should be the title track," Sehun continued.


    "First," Zeth quickly added. "Werewolves¡ªwe can be sexy werewolves under the red moonlight!"

 Chapter 283 Furry Kink

    <h4>Chapter 283 Furry Kink</h4>


    Werewolves?


    "A furry kink?" June muttered under his breath. However, Casper heard him, eliciting a chuckle from the taller idol.


    The furry duo exchanged nces before addressing the panel of judges.


    Zeth presented the next slide, and maybe June''s guess wasn''t too far off.


    In the slide was a pair of furry werewolf ears, which wereicallyrge, and they looked like something you''d find in a Halloween costume store.


    The other members pursed their lips to suppress theirughter.


    June, too, couldn''t help but shake his head in disbelief.


    "Don''t worry," Sehun said. "This is just an exaggeration. However, we do want to employ a more realistic werewolf concept by involving wolf-ish movements in the chorus."


    A new slide was shown, showing a stage bathed in blood-red light. It looked like a scene reminiscent of a B-grade horror movie.


    These two didn''t do such a great job looking for their reference photos.


    However, as they continued with their presentation, it was clear that this would be a performance to remember.


    "For the bridge, we''re taking it up a notch," Zeth proudly said. Then, he crouched down, surprising the members and judges.


    Then, he leaped around the room, imitating wolves with exaggerated movements.


    Once again, this kid was blessed by the gods. He actually looked pretty epic while executing the move.


    However, as June imagined the eight of them doing the movement on stage, he shivered in disgust.


    It was a sight not fit for the eyes.


    "And that''s why Red Moon should be our title track," Sehun ended before taking a bow.


    The other members pped, yet they still held back theirughter.


    The judges merely talked among themselves, not saying anything about their presentation.


    "The next team, please," Chul said.


    Ren and Akira quickly stood up, quarreling to take the stage. However, Ren reigned in the end, causing Akira to sit in a bitter mood.


    "Judges, fellow members, allow us to present the best option for our title track¡ªCaffeine," Ren confidently said.


    They showed a photo of a cafe in a warm, cozy setting. They then showed barista uniforms,plete with aprons and colorful berets.


    They had gone for a somewhat more predictable approach, but it had its own charm.


    Jisung, despite feeling a bit shy, addressed the judges. "Ladies and gentlemen, we''re taking you to the edgiest cafe in town. Caffeine, like its bitter name, will show a story of a rebellious part-timer who''s had enough of the corporate evils."


    "And we''re here to stir things up with a cup of strong brew," Ren mischievously added. "We''re going to embrace the angsty teenager vibe, and our cafe will be all about breaking the boundaries."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was actually a pretty cool concept, but still, debuting as angsty teenagers while the group came from a show like Rising Stars didn''t feel too appealing.


    "The rebellion should burst during the beat drop," Ren continued. "And we can thrash this cafe, throw coffee cups all around, and break the walls!" he excitedly said.


    It seemed like the judges were pleased by their suggestion, though, nodding while conversing quietly.


    "Alright, thank you for that. May we have the next team?" Chul asked.


    "Should we go?" Casper asked.


    Before June could even answer, Jaeyong and Akira had already raced to the front.


    June shrugged. "Let''s just gost," he said.


    Team Restart definitely took a more serious route, which was evident because of their experience being real K-pop idols years ago.


    They started with an all-ck backdrop, setting their presentation for the powerful and fierce concept they had chosen for their title track.


    "It can''t be denied. Restart already sounds like a hit¡ªsimr to the trending songs in K-Pop today," Jaeyong started off. "It has a strong bass line and an impactful drop, which is why we have chosen these outfits."


    They showed ck leather outfits,plete with studs and spikes.


    Akira stepped forward. "We''re going all-in with fierce and dark aesthetics. Picture an all-ck leather-d gang ready to conquer the stage."


    If June had cat ears, they would have definitely perked up.


    "Gangs?" he whispered.


    "With a synchronized, powerful dance, we can show that we are more than eager to show our talents," Jaeyong continued.


    The two of them continued to show photos that they''d described to be part of a gangster''s lifestyle, and June couldn''t help but shake his head in disappointment.


    If this was how a gang lived, then he would have been a happier gangster!


    They presented a gangster''s life to be so morous. It definitely wasn''t an urate representation. They showed motorcycles, aesthetic warehouses, and chandeliers. In reality, gangsters had cars from junk shops, actual warehouses, and busted lights.


    To drive their point home, Jaeyong yed a video on the big screen, showing a group that had already debuted with a simr concept. The video depicted a group d in all-ck, performing intricate and intense choreography that perfectlyplemented the dark, fierce theme. They watched attentively as this other group sessfully captured the essence of the concept Team ''Restart'' was proposing.


    "That song was nominated by an American award show," Akira boasted. "So, we''ll leave you with that."


    Zeth groaned after their presentation. It couldn''t be denied that they had convincing points.


    "Okay," Chul sighed, looking a bit tired. He didn''t even bother looking up as he called the next team. "Thest team, please make it fast."


    June and Casper stood and hooked their presentation to therge monitor. Fortunately, Casper was literate with media and gadgets, so they were able to create a nice presentation.


    Most of the members were passively watching the two of them, looking particrly bored since they didn''t like the idea of Oasis being their title track.


    The judges, too, didn''t seem to like the song as they conversed among themselves, not even bothering to look at the presenters.


    Chul, on the other hand, appeared to beughing at something on his phone.


    June pursed his lips and looked at all the inattentive people in the room.


    So, with annoyance coursing through his veins, he banged his fist on the table before them, startling everyone in their seats. Even Casper was surprised by his sudden outburst.


    Then, when he finally got their attention, he put on a fake smile and said his opening statement...


    "The world is fucked."

 Chapter 284 Oasis

    <h4>Chapter 284 Oasis</h4>


    If they weren''t paying attention just moments ago, then they were definitely paying attention now.


    They looked at June with big, wide eyes. Despite the smile on his face, there was an underlying annoyance in the tone of his voice.


    Everyone was stunned to silence.


    "People are starving, dying, and the economy is slowly turning to shit," he continued.


    "We are also currently facing a very apparent problem¡ªGlobal Warming."


    Casper, despite still feeling shocked, chimed in when June nudged his side.


    "That''s right. The refreshing autumn should have started by now. However, we are still in the midst of the hot summer. And the heat will continue until November," Casper said. "That is why, for our debut, instead of bringing the heat with intense songs like the other members had presented, why don''t we bring the people what they want¡ªto feel refreshed?"


    They fully paid attention to their presentation.


    "Oasis," June boldly said. "The is heating up, and it''s time for us to provide an oasis¡ªa refreshing escape from the heat."


    "We have devised three reasons as to why Oasis needs to be our title track," Casper said. "And the first reason is the lyrics."


    "The lyrics of Oasis are meaningful, and the timing is perfect for the hot weather. It exudes a beachy vibe that can transport the audience to a tranquil paradise," Casper charismatically said.


    The members haven''t paid attention to the song before. However, as they read the lyrics from the papers the employees had kindly provided, they found out that Casper was right.


    It was, indeed, very well-written.


    "Second," June said, walking back and forth in a rxed manner. "Impact."


    Zeth raised his hand. June nodded in acknowledgment, silently allowing him to speak.


    "I don''t remember this song at all, actually," Zeth said. "So, how can it be impactful?"


    "That''s because you weren''t paying attention," June truthfully said. "You guys were dead set on having a fierce concept¡ªa trending concept. However, these days, most groups opt for epic and strong concepts, but we''re daring to be different."


    "Our refreshing concept will stand out. The catchy melody and easy-on-the-ear tune is the key to our sess. It will, if done well, be a hit song," June confidently said. His confidence was backed up by Fu''s analysis.


    "Thest reason¡ªour concept," Casper said. "We''re a young group, but we''re not the youngest."


    The members and judges were once again intrigued by this statement. Most of the members merely looked at the surface level, and they didn''t take these issues into consideration.


    "In our group, Sehun, the oldest, is 25," Casper said, pointing to Sehun, causing thetter to slump his shoulders since he knew he was considered old as a rookie idol.


    "And our youngest members, which are Jisung and June, are both 21. In other rookie groups, 21 is already the age of their oldest member¡ªas morepanies are now debuting minors."


    The judges nodded in agreement.


    "However, that''s not something we should be ashamed of," June continued. "Instead, it''s our edge. Oasis is a refreshing song. However, we can twist it to something...sexier."


    "And this is where our outfitse in," June said, presenting the next slide.


    The others were expecting a lot..so when a white t-shirt was disyed on the screen, they couldn''t help but chuckle in disbelief.


    Chul frowned deeply. "A white shirt? Do you think this is a joke?"


    June matched his steady gaze. "No," he seriously said. "I''m very serious right now."


    Chul was about to refute once again, but June spoke before he could even open his mouth.


    "Oasis¡ªwhat''s the first word thates to your mind when you hear that word?" June asked.


    "Water?" Jisung asked.


    "Correct," June chimed. "Water," he presented the next slide, which showed a beautiful beach.


    "Imagine this," he continued. "A hot summer day in a cool, sandy beach. Eight trainees with refreshing visuals wearing simple white t-shirts."


    June painted a vivid picture of their concept, and it was as if the listeners were transported to the beach itself, feeling refreshed with the mere thought.


    The judges, too, couldn''t deny that it painted a very beautiful picture.


    "Sshing around the water...with the sun kissing their skins," June narrated. "It''s a concept that has never been done for a boy group debut before... It''s wet, wild, and fun."


    They finished their presentation with that impactful sentence. The members of EVE, who were originally uninterested in Oasis, now had intrigued looks on their faces.


    June and Casper were about to sit down. However, Chul''s voice broke through the silence. This was the first time he had asked a question to the presenters.


    This strengthened June''s thought that their manager wasn''t too fond of him.


    "This was originally a rejected song from Phoenix Entertainment," he said, looking June in the eyes. The other staff members were alerted by this statement.


    Originally, it seemed like they had taken a liking to June''s and Casper''s presentation, and they were convinced that Oasis might be the best bet for the title track.


    "A reject?" one of the members of the marketing team asked.


    "Yes," a producer answered. "This was originally for CHAOS."


    "Exactly," Chul chimed in. "How can a rejected song be the title track? Moreover, this song is from an unknown young artist. The other songs were made by more renowned producers."


    Something clicked in June''s mind. So, that''s what it was? Despite it being a great song, it didn''t get the attention it deserved because it came from an unknown producer.


    "All the more reason why we should make it our title track," June said, not being fazed. "A rejected song bing a hit song? That''s like a p on the face for Phoenix."


    Chul scoffed. "And how are you so sure that this is going to be a hit song?"


    June shrugged. "I just know."


    And Fu told him so.


    Although Fu wasn''t the best system¡ªhe was awful, even. However, he has significantly helped June until now, so June knew that his analysis wasn''t for nothing.


    June sighed, looking at the unconvinced faces of their manager and the judges.


    "I''m saying this with all due respect," June started off.


    "Red Moon is a great song¡ªthere''s no doubt. However, the werewolf concept could be easily perceived as cheesy. It''s also been done before by a senior group called XO before."


    Zeth and Sehun nodded, getting June''s point.


    "Caffeine also employed a new concept. However, if we''re basing it on the overall concept we have, which is ''beginning,'' then it''s not ideal. It''s not fresh, and a rebellious concept for a debut wouldn''t leave a good impression."


    "Lastly, Restart¡ªyou guys had the best concept out of the three. However, you''ve already mentioned it in your presentation¡ªthis has been done before by many boy groups. Don''t you want to start a new trend?"


    "So, now, I want you to think," June meaningfully said.


    "Oasis may be our greatest shot."

 Chapter 285 Convinced

    <h4>Chapter 285 Convinced</h4>


    For a brief moment, everybody was silent.


    Akira shook his head as he observed June''s nonchnt yet confident expression. June had always been a good speaker, and Akira admired him for that.


    Chul let out a deep breath.


    "Alright, that''s enough. Sit back down," he coldly said.


    June sighed before sitting back on his seat. Casper quickly followed, too.


    "Let''s do this the formal way," Chul said. "Let''s cote all opinions from the members of the team."


    "I think Restart should be the title track," Chul firmly said. He made eye contact with June for a second, and then a small smirk made its way to his face.


    "Does anybody agree with me?" Chul asked.


    Two staff members raised their hands, causing Chul''s smirk to widen.


    "Alright, that''s three," he said. "What about Red Moon?"


    The two members of the Marketing team raised their hands.


    "Two? Okay, for Caffeine?"


    The remaining two staff members raised their hands.


    Chul shrugged. "Well, I guess it''s official, boys. Restart will be our title track."


    June sighed in disappointment. He didn''t bother ncing at Jaeyong and Akira since they were probably be jumping with joy.


    It was a shame.


    However, much to his surprise, Jaeyong suddenly spoke.


    "You aren''t going to ask for our opinions?" he asked.


    Chul raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You vouched for Restart," he stated the obvious. "You guys did a great job."


    "I''ve changed my mind," Jaeyong said. "We can also participate in the voting, right?"


    "What do you mean?" Chul asked with an apparent frown.


    "Well, it''s going to be our title track. You also said a while ago that all members of the team will be asked about their opinions."


    Chul pursed his lips since he couldn''t refute what Jaeyong had said.


    "Fine," Chul sighed. "I didn''t include you in the voting at first since you already chose your sides."


    "We should still vote," Zeth chimed.


    Chul pursed his lips, feeling like he had no other choice.


    "Who votes for Red Moon?" he begrudgingly asked.


    June was expecting Zeth and Sehun to vote for the song. However, surprisingly, they kept still. Chul was confused, too.


    "Caffeine?"


    Again, nobody raised their hands.


    "Restart?"


    June nced at Jaeyong and Akira, but they kept their gazes to the front, unmoving.


    Chul became more annoyed.


    "...Oasis?" he softly asked.


    June and Casper calmly raised their hands. However, surprisingly, his six other members also raised their hands.


    June looked at his teammates in disbelief.


    Chul was stunned to silence. The other staff members uneasily nced at each other, then someone from the Marketing team raised their hand.


    "I think Oasis would also be a profitable song," she said. "There are three other boy groupsing back this month, and most of them have the same sound as the other three songs."


    "Ah, right. BOYMYSTIC is also having aeback next month. I doubt it''s going to be the same week as EVE''s, but they''re probably going to go with the trendy trap genre," another staff member spoke.


    Chul didn''t speak, obviously not expecting things to turn around at thest minute.


    "I quite like Oasis, too," a producer said. "But it''s still not finished. The ending isn''t impactfulpared to the rest."


    "I''ll take responsibility," June suddenly said. They all turned to them, surprised.


    "If you give Oasis a chance, then I''ll take responsibility with the outro."


    "I think that sounds good," one of them chimed. "Being involved in the album can increase its poprity, too."


    "So," Jaeyong said. "Does that mean that Oasis will be our title track?"


    "Yes," a producer responded before Chul could even speak. "We''ll forward the raw version to June, and we''ll expect it early next week. Is that alright?"


    June smirked, feeling victorious.


    "Duly noted."


    ***


    Alright.


    Maybe June was regretting it a bit.


    June didn''t have a clue what to do with the outro of the song. He has always been good at this! All of his outros in Rising Stars were considered iconic. Yet now, he couldn''t think of anything.


    He nced at the clock and saw that it was already 4 AM.


    They had a schedule at 6 AM, so he got up early since he didn''t want to fight his members for the bathroom.


    They were going to have their jacket shoot, and June was already dreading it.


    June really didn''t like his photos being taken.


    June had just gone out of the bathroom after a long shower. He was currently drying his hair, a white towel wrapped around his waist.


    He walked through the living room to get to his room when he felt a chill run down his spine.


    June paused, then he frowned.


    Someone was inside their dorm. He slowly turned around and saw a shadow near their shoe rack.


    He frowned. It definitely wasn''t his members since they were still dead asleep at the moment.


    So, there were only two options:


    1. An intruder.


    2. A ghost.


    But since June didn''t believe in ghosts, it was most definitely an intruder.


    He took a cautious step forward, his wet hair clinging to his neck as he nced around the room. The dawn''s moonlight seeped through the curtains, causing the shadow to be even more evident.


    That''s when he noticed it¡ªthe faintest hint of movement by the shoe rack in the corner.


    June froze in his tracks. With painstaking care, he inched closer, his bare feet making no sound on the cold tiles.


    That person seemed to be rummaging through something. He remembered cing his MJ shoes on that rack. Was it because of that?


    Those MJ shoes were damnfy.


    It became June''s favorite pair, so it couldn''t be taken!


    He saw the guy''s figure from where he was standing.


    Then, with a swift, expert motion, June lunged at the intruder. He grappled with the dark silhouette, aiming to suppress him. Their bodies collided, and for a moment, June was the predator, his thug instincts taking over.


    As the struggle intensified, June had no choice but to step on the intruder''s head, causing him to groan.


    "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" June asked.


    The man struggled to speak underneath him. June continued to press down on his head with his foot, making sure it was painful.


    However, much to his surprise, the intruder actually didn''t make a sound!


    Was this guy a masochist or something?


    June''s frown deepened as he tried to make out the intruder''s face.


    Then, June paled as the moonlight illuminated the the supposed ''intruder'' face.


    "Manager?"


    June quickly removed his foot from their manager''s head and took a step back. Chul stood up and red at him, dusting off his clothes.


    Well¡­if the manager already disliked June, then he definitely hated him now.

 Chapter 286 Beach Lover

    <h4>Chapter 286 Beach Lover</h4>


    June warily walked through the living room. Chul was seated on the couch, holding a bag of peas on his bruising temple, and he subtly red at June whenever he passed by.


    It was already 5:30 AM, and the boys were almost ready. Some of them were already in the car, while June just had to ce his shoes on.


    He had already prepared his socks the night before, but when he reached inside his shoes, he frowned when he noticed that one of his socks was missing.


    June frowned and checked once more. However, his sock was really missing. Jisung stood beside him and had the same dilemma.


    "Bro, do you know where my sock went?" he asked.


    "I also lost mine," June said.


    "Weird, I''m missing a sock too," Zeth said, already putting on his shoes. "But I don''t think it''s weird since I lose my socks all the time."


    "True," Jisung said, putting on a new pair. "Socks disappear for some reason."


    June sighed and went back to his room to get a new pair. They were yet to receive their first paycheck, so June was poor with socks. Most of them were in his dirtyundry, too. So, he decided to wear different pairs instead.


    ***


    The sun cast its golden rays upon the coastal paradise with the clear, blue water that shined like a radiant Apatite along the shoreline. The sand, almost as white as snow, glowed like silver, rivaling the brilliance of the sun itself.


    The smell of salt hung in the air while the sounds of the waves served as serene background music. The air was thick with humidity, wrapping around rookie idols like a warm, loving embrace.


    "Wooh! We''re on the beach," Akira rejoiced, jumping around and kicking the sand with his feet. Jisung quickly followed him, and the two of them chased each other around on the warm sand.


    Jaeyong sighed and shook his head. "Sometimes, I feel like those two absorbed Jangmoon''s and C-Jay''s personality."


    Casper looked at them with horror. "Oh, please, no."


    June shook his head and looked around the beach. It had been a while since he went to the beach. Actually, it felt like he had never gone to one before.


    So, this was his first time.


    And he actually didn''t like it.


    You know how June doesn''t like the cold? Aside from being cold, June, too, doesn''t like the feeling of wet heat and pesky sand.


    He was already sweating despite not doing anything, so he went under the shade while his members yed around.


    Chul gestured for them to follow him to a tent, and June sighed in relief when he saw an air conditioner inside. He sat on his seat while Chul briefed them on what they were going to do.


    "Alright," Chul started off. "Oasis had been approved by the higher-ups to be the title track..surprisingly," he muttered thest word under his breath. "So, they have decided to employ a beach theme for the album that symbolizes your beginning."


    "There would be solo shoots and group shoots. These photos will be posted by the first week of November after your music video shoot. You''ve received the timetable, right?" Chul asked.


    Jaeyong nodded. "We''ve already gone through it. Theeback will be on the third week of November."


    "Yes," Chul said. "BOYMYSTIC and two other decent boy groups are going to being back in the same month, so make sure to do your best. Rising Stars already gave you good leverage, so you just have to live up to their expectations."


    "Got it," Zeth enthusiastically said. "We''ll definitely blow them away."


    "Good," Chul nodded. "Now, go ahead and get changed into your outfits. I''ll be seeing you outside so you can meet with the crew and the photographer."


    With that, Chul left the tent. The eight members excitedly went to their clothes rack, where their respective outfits were hung.


    "I really like this concept now," Zeth said. "And my outfit''s really cool, too."


    Their outfits were all variations of white. Zeth had a loose white tank top with light-wash denim jeans and an embroidered scarf. Meanwhile, Casper had a loose white shirt, linen shorts, and a beret.


    Just looking at their outfits was already refreshing. However, when June got to his, he immediately frowned. It was a long-sleeve white button-up with a navy tie and navy shorts that had the same material as work trousers.


    It wasn''t a bad outfit. However,pared to the others, it was a little bit out of ce. June would look like an intern if he wore this outfit.


    The others excitedly put on their clothes. Meanwhile, he already felt suffocated when he tightened the tie around his neck, so he loosened it a bit.


    ''Still handsome,'' he thought.


    The members stood in front of therge mirror, observing themselves. At least June didn''t look too far out of ce since his outfit was still white.


    "Let''s go," Jaeyong said, gesturing for them to go outside.


    The members followed after him like little chicks, and the crew members all turned toward their way as the eight of them walked.


    "Dazzling," Rei, a newly hired employee in the Creative team, whispered as she looked at all of them. "Too dazzling."


    Chul pursed his lips when he saw them. "How is he still so handsome?" he whispered


    The other crew members couldn''t help swooning, too. Azure had definitely hit the jackpot with these boys. They already looked straight out of the magazine, even without getting their hair and make-up done.


    "Boys," Chul called them over. They walked to where Chul was standing. "Before you go to hair and make-up, let me introduce you to the crew members. These are the boys," he said, gesturing to the eight handsome men.


    The members bowed while the crew members continued to gush at them.


    "Where''s the photographer?" Chul asked.


    Rei looked around. "He was just here seconds ago."


    June looked at the crew members and didn''t find anyone familiar. That was until he caught a glimpse of a ck aura standing in the very back.


    Wait¡­that girl actually looked familiar.


    "Esther?" he muttered.


    However, before June could even confirm his thoughts, he was suddenly tackled to the ground by a big, heavy dog.


    "My muse!"


    June''s eyes widened when he saw the big dog gazing at him with bright eyes and a wide smile.


    "Pablo?"

 Chapter 287 Make You Bald

    <h4>Chapter 287 Make You Bald</h4>


    June swiftly pushed off the overbearing man, stood up, and took a step back.


    "What are you doing here?" June asked with wide eyes.


    Pablo smirked as he stood up, dusting off the sand from his clothes. "What do you think I''m doing here, darling? I''m the photographer, of course!"


    Pablo looked at the equally shocked faces of the other members of EVE, his expression instantly brightening after seeing their handsome faces. To add to that, they were all wearing white¡ªhis favorite color!


    "I feel blessed. You are all so handsome, but June''s still my favorite," he boasted. Then, Pablo looked back at June, intently observing him.


    "You got even more handsome, too. It''s like you''re evolving every time I see you!" Pablo eximed.


    "Well, that''s enough," Chul said, cutting their conversation. "This is Choi Pablo, your photographer for today. I''m sure all of you already know him."


    Jisung enthusiastically nodded. "I can''t believe I''m having my photos taken by THE Choi Pablo."


    Pablo chuckled, obviously ttered. "I''ll do some of my magic on your group to ensure a sessful debut. I usually don''t take gigs like this. No, I really don''t take gigs like this, but I can''t pass the opportunity to take pictures of my muse," he said, referring to June.


    "Hoho''s your Muse?" Chul asked with a frown.


    Pablo turned to Chul, almost getting whished. "Hoho? Who the fuck is Hoho?"


    "Him," Chul said. "It''s his name from now on."


    Pablo looked at June with wide eyes, pity evident in his gaze. "Oh gosh. I can''t¡­I want to cry."


    "There''s no time for that," Chul said, casting Pablo to the side. "Zeth, Casper, go to hair and make-up since the two of you will be having your solo and duo shoots. Afterward, the other members will go."


    Jisung raised his hand. "But, wouldn''t it be better for June to go with Zeth since the two of them ranked first and second?" he asked. Casper nodded in agreement.


    Chul sighed. "It''s what has been written," he exined. "Zeth and Casper will be the first pair. Then, Sehun will pair up with June."


    "Sounds fine to me," June said, not really minding it. He wasn''t ready to get his photos taken anyway.


    "Good," Chul smiled. "Now, go, since we have a tight schedule."


    The eight members went back to their tent, where two make-up artists were already waiting.


    The two young women blushed upon the arrival of the eight handsome men.


    Zeth and Casper took their seats in front of the mirror while the others freely conversed.


    Meanwhile, June stood in front of the mirror and tried to simte a photoshoot.


    Smiling had be easier for him. However, it couldn''t be denied that he still wasn''t used to getting his photos taken.


    He also tried other facial expressions, but they just turned out to be more awkward. Was there a booster for being good at photoshoots?


    [Nope.]


    ***


    Five beautiful girls walked on the sandy beach, their radiant skin glowing under the yellow sun. However, there was an underlying gloominess in their aura, making even the sun ashamed to shine down on them.


    "I thought being on vacation would fill the void in my heart," Jia absent-mindedly said as she helped Bora assemble their beach nket. "But now, I feel even lonelier under this bright fucking sun."


    "Hey, don''t curse at the sun. He''s just doing his job," Na-ri said.


    "Yeah, he''s doing such a great job that he''s here until the end of November," Bora bitterly said, plopping down on the nket.


    "It''s not his fault, though," Soo-min chimed. "It''s the actions of the humans on this Earth."


    "Yeah, you''re right," Bora said. "Maybe we do deserve to get burned by the sun."


    Wei chuckled and gracefully sat down. "You guys are such Debbie downers. We came here to beat the heat, eat some ice cream, and maybe meet some cute boys! Don''t look so devastated."


    "Well, I am devastated," Jia said. "The love of my life hasn''t updated after the finale of Rising Stars. I took the show for granted, and now, I''m miserable."


    "Cheer up," Soo-min patted her back. "They''reing back very soon."


    "How soon are we talking?" Jia asked.


    "I don''t know," Soo-min shrugged. "Zeth said that it''ll be very soon. They can''t debut right away. They must be in the midst of preparations."


    Jia sighed and tucked her chin on top of her knees. "You''re right. I guess I''m just a bit sad that June doesn''t have a personal ount. The other members post from time to time, but we basically don''t have anything about June. Is he actually the center of EVE?"


    "Ren posted a photo this morning," Bora said. "I think June''s hair was captured in that photo."


    "Where?" Jia asked, automatically perking up.


    Bora brought out her phone and showed Jia the photo. Indeed, there was a pink tuft in the corner of the photo, making Jia instantly melt.


    "Oh, gosh. He''s so cute," she whispered.


    Na-ri looked at her, weirded out. "It''s his hair. It might even get mistaken as his pubes with how little is showing."


    Wei red at Na-ri. "You''re disgusting! But hey¡­do you think June dyed his pubes pink?"


    "What even is this conversation?" Soo-min eximed. "Just let Jia be. She''s having withdrawal symptoms, so seeing even a strand of his hair already makes her happy."


    "Honestly, I can''t me her," Soo-min continued. "I''m the same with Zeth. But the thing is, Zeth posts a lot¡­and I mean, A LOT of his selfies, so I''m always well-fed."


    "I guess we''re all just crazy fangirls, aren''t we?" Wei asked. "How lucky would we be if we just saw them right here and right now."


    "Super lucky," Bora said. "I''d shave my head if that happens."


    Jia, who finally snapped out of her trance after staring the photo for a couple of minutes, turned to the side when she heard amotion.


    "That''s right. That''s it. Beautiful, my boy!" someone eximed.


    Jia turned to the side and saw a bunch of cameras and a familiar-looking boy leaning against a huge rock.


    "Oh, he''s handsome," she muttered under her breath as she gazed at the ck-haired boy.


    Then, it hit her.


    Jia''s eyes widened in surprise when she finally recognized who it was.


    "Sehun?"


    She pped herself to see if she was dreaming, but to her surprise, nothing happened.


    "Oh gosh," Jia said.


    "What?" Bora asked.


    "Bring out the scissors and clippers because I''m going to make you bald."

 Chapter 288 Ticklish Seaweed

    <h4>Chapter 288 Ticklish Seaweed</h4>


    The handsome guy leaned against the weathered rock, his tan skin kissed by the sun. His arms, toned and smooth, were stained with sand. His linen pants were touched by the waves, looking effortlessly stylish. His crisp white shirt flowed in the ocean breeze, dancing with the winds.


    "Damn, Sehun''s hot," Bora said as she continued looking at the handsome idol through her binocrs.


    "I''m adding him to my bias list," Wei said. "Howe I''ve never noticed him on the show?"


    "Cause you guys are blind," Jia chimed. "I''ve noticed him after his performance with June."


    "Oh, don''t lie. If he didn''t perform with June, then you wouldn''t have known about him," Soo-min teased.


    Jia clicked her tongue and brought her binocrs down. "Why do we have binocrs again?"


    Na-ri shrugged. "I don''t know. Ask Wei."


    "Well," Wei said. "I was thinking we could go stargazingter at night. But I''m already looking at a star," she cheerfully said, continually observing Sehun.


    "Oh my gosh," Bora said, causing the others to turn to her.


    "What?" Jia asked.


    "There! 9 o''clock," she eximed, pointing to the direction she was pertaining to.


    Jia froze as she looked through her binocrs. Walking over to the set was June, his pink hair flowing through the wind. His eyes were squinted due to the sun, and it seemed like he didn''t want to get his photos taken, but he looked handsome nheless.


    Jia''s hands shook as she followed him with her eyes. Na-ri looked at her in horror before holding onto her shoulder.


    "Guys, I think Jia''s malfunctioning!" she eximed.


    "Yo, are you alright?" Bora asked.


    Jia repeatedly shook her head. "He¡ªHe''s so precious. My precious little guy."


    "Gosh. Talk about luck," Soo-min said. "Our favorite idols are actually here."


    "I''ve definitely used up all my luck for this moment," Wei said. "Should we go up there and talk to them?"


    "No," Bora and Jia said at the same time.


    Soo-min raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Don''t you want to meet them?"


    Jia shook her head. Although she loved June to the core, she knew the boundaries of their rtionship. June was an idol. She was a fangirl.


    "They have a professional schedule, it seems," Jia stated, still looking at him through the binocrs. "I don''t want to put any burden on them. They came here to work¡ªnot to meet fans."


    Wei sighed, nodding in agreement. "You''re right. Besides, watching them from afar is already enough."


    "Yeah," Jia whispered.


    Watching from afar was already enough.


    ***


    "You did a great job," June said as Sehun left the set. Sehun smiled brightly and patted June''s back.


    "I''m sure you''ll do even better," Sehun smiled.


    "I highly doubt that," June responded.


    "I''ll call the others so we can cheer you on!" Sehun excitedly suggested. "Wait here!"


    "Sehun, no¡ª"


    However, Sehun already ran back to the tent before June could refute him. He already felt ufortable with getting his photos taken, and his teammates watching him would just be an added pressure.


    June was thest person to get his photos taken. He was told that their photos would be posted based on the time they had been taken. So, Zeth, who was the first on the set, would also be the first one posted.


    June found it weird that they were going to post their photos by consecutive ranks, but he didn''t mind it at all. Being postedst meant he still had time to get his atrocious stage name changed.


    "June, darling. Yoohoo! Come here now," Pablo eximed, calling him over.


    With a sigh, June turned around and walked to where Pablo was. They were currently moving the cameras to a different location, so June walked with them.


    "Where will I take my photos?" June asked.


    "Over there," Pablo said. "It''s a bit in, but I''m sure you''ll pull it off," Pablo said.


    "Right here?" June asked, settling right next to the shoreline. The beach and the sun were behind him, casting a warm glow onto his skin.


    "Yes," Pablo said. "It''s already really good. I''ll start taking photos now."


    Pablo clicked away while June stood where he was, practically unmoving. To make matters worse, he saw his members walking toward the set, all with wide smiles on their faces.


    "Wooh, go, June!" Jisung cheered, causing June to be even more stiff.


    However, his handsome and pretty face saved him since the photos were still decent.


    Still, Choi Pablo wasn''t satisfied with them.


    "June, remember when we had our photoshootst time?" Pablo asked.


    June silently nodded.


    "Can you think about the thing that made you happy again?"


    BenBen gummies?


    June outgrew them.


    It''s because they didn''t make him grow.


    He thought constantly eating those yummy red gummies would make him taller. However, it betrayed him and merely gave him a toothache.


    In the end, he was still the shortest in their team.


    Again, he wasn''t short. He was almost 5''10! His teammates were just giants, with Casper, the tallest, standing at 6''3.


    The thought made him frown, which wasn''t what Pablo wanted.


    Pablo sighed and put down his camera. "Do you want to take a break?"


    "Break?" June asked. "But we just started?"


    "Well, I need one. I''m craving a c," Pablo said. "So, why don''t we take five while I drink my refreshing soda."


    June shrugged. "Sure."


    Pablo sat on his seat and waited for Esther to fetch him a c. Meanwhile, June sat on the sand and watched the bright sun.


    The afternoon was already nearing, so the sun wasn''t as harsh as before. Instead, it felt more rxing, which eased June''s mood a bit.


    However, his peace was instantly broken when Jisung and Akira sat next to him. They had mischievous looks on their faces, which made June back up a bit.


    "What are you nning?" he asked. Just then, the two of them stood up and started chasing June around.


    Esther came with a can of cool c, handing it to Pablo before sitting next to him. She observed his eyes and clicked her tongue. Pablow was currently watching the scene before him with a wide smile.


    "You''re enjoying this a little too much," Esther said.


    "What can I say?" Pablo asked. "That kid," he said, pointing to June. "Is definitely going to be a star someday. I just feel it."


    "You say that about every person you''ve photographed."


    "And what happened to them?" Pablo boasted. "They became stars just like I predicted."


    Just then, Jisung ced a long piece of seaweed into the back of June''s shirt, causing June to shriek in panic (it was a manly shriek, of course).


    "What the fuck is that?" he shouted, trying to get it off his body. June loosened his tie and wriggled to get it out of his shirt. However, it clung to him like a second skin, causing him to struggle even harder.


    Then, he couldn''t control it.


    Heughed when the seaweed brushed his abdomen.


    Jisung and Akira looked at him in surprise, confused as to why he was suddenlyughing.


    Here''s another fun fact about June: he was extremely ticklish.


    So, he struggled to get it off, all with a smile on his face.


    "June, watch out!" Jisung eximed.


    Amidst his struggle, June tripped on his own feet and fell into the shallow water. The world seemed to freeze as he sat, drenching in the salty water. Half of his white, thin polo was drenched with water, making the lines on his abdomen visible.


    Akira and Jisung looked at each other in horror before bolting to help him.


    However, Pablo''s voice suddenly broke the silence.


    "Wait!" he shouted.


    "This is genius!"

 Chapter 289 Golden

    <h4>Chapter 289 Golden</h4>


    The sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the beautiful beach. The gentle wavespped at the shore, apanied by the soft breeze.


    June stood waist-deep in the crystal-like water, his milky white skin glistening under the sun.


    His white polo shirt, nowpletely drenched and almost transparent, clung to him like a second skin. The waves gently kissed his body, leaving behind droplets that sparkled like diamonds in the golden light.


    The tie, once neatly knotted around his neck, now hung loosely, teasingly draping over his abdomen like an invitation. However, it also covered his abdominal muscles, leaving many things to one''s imagination.


    June''s hair, once meticulously styled, had been drenched by the salty water, making it look wavy. The salt-streaked locks framed his face, making him look more natural.


    However, amidst the serene beauty of the beach, June''s expression showed annoyance and indifference.


    His brown eyes held exasperation¡ªa silentint about the sand and water infiltrating his underwear.


    ''This is going to be a pain to removeter.''


    He already felt particles of sand going to ces where they shouldn''t be.


    "Perfect! Oh gosh, I want to keep this for myself," Pablo eximed, pleased by the oue of the photos.


    A bemused smile made its way to June''s face. At least, it seemed like everything was going well.


    Pablo gasped and quickly snapped a photo when June smiled. "This is it!" he eximed, looking at the shot with wide eyes.


    In the photo, the warm sun cast a diffused light that created a soft glow around June. The illumination enveloped him, entuating the contours of his form while, at the same time, casting a subtle shadow on the waters behind him.


    His face was slightly to the side, but his captivating eyes, which appeared more golden, were locked onto the camera lens. It was as if he could see through the camera and into the soul of the viewer.


    Each hair strand appeared perfectly disheveled, only adding to his ethereal charm and making him look like a mythical being that had risen from the depths of the ocean.


    June''s bemused smile was the cherry on top¡ªit felt like an invitation to join him in this secret moment of beauty¡ªto drown in the enchantment of the sea.


    Meanwhile, his teammates silently watched at the side, sitting on the sand.


    "Hey," Akira said, breaking the silence. "Isn''t it peculiar to silently watch your homie get photographed while wet?"


    Jisung looked down at his feet and sighed in relief.


    "Good thing I''m wearing socks."


    ***


    The group photoshoot had just finished, and the boys were all exhausted.


    "Good job, boys," Chul said, pping. The other crew members quickly followed. "That is the end of your jacket shoot. We endedter than usual, and since we still need to travel two hours to get back to the city, we decided to book a nearby hotel for you to rest. We''ll be going back to Seoul tomorrow¡ªwhere you''ll start recording the songs on your album."


    "June," Chul said, making the pink-haired guy snap out of his daze.


    "Hmm?"


    "Oasis¡ªthe producers need it the day after tomorrow."


    "Got it," June said. Although, he knew he was fucked since he still hadn''t started it until now.


    "Well, here are your room cards," Chul said, handing Jaeyong three cards. "You can decide who to room with. There are four beds in one room."


    "Dibs on June!" Jisung eximed.


    "Me too," Casper said.


    "Nah, not you," Jisung pushed him away. "We need to separate the snorers from the non-snorers."


    "Sweet," Ren said, joining Jisung and June. "I''ll stay here then."


    "Can I join?" Zeth asked.


    "No," the three of them eximed, since Zeth was a very notorious snorer.


    ***


    They had now settled in their rooms, and June''s three roommates were knocked out in their respective beds. He, too, was tired from all the work they had done, but he couldn''t bring himself to sleep.


    He brought out theptop he borrowed from Ren, plugged in some earphones, and listened to Oasis with closed eyes.


    Indeed, hearing the song while in the presence of the beach was different. The young producer did a great job encapsting the essence of a refreshing summer in a three-minute song.


    However, June also couldn''t deny that there was something missing¡ªlike the producer stopped halfway through because of discouragement. June tried to search for the producer''s other works and found that he hadn''t produced any other music for idol groups. Instead, he was more focused on making instrumentals. They were pretty good, but they gave June nothing.


    June wanted to speak with the producer to find the missing puzzle piece, but he could only do so much with his busy schedule.


    Even after listening to the song a second time, June couldn''t point out what was truly missing. So, with careful movements, he stood up from his bed and left the room.


    Fortunately, all of his roommates were very heavy sleepers, so they didn''t wake up amidst June''s departure.


    June mindlessly let his feet take him to a ce. Surprisingly, he found himself on the beach¡ªwhere he had his photoshoot.


    Standing there during the night felt more calming. So, June unhesitatingly took a seat on the sand. He closed his eyes and felt the gentle breeze against his skin while inhaling the salty air.


    Hey, maybe the beach wasn''t so bad after all.


    He continued closing his eyes, just listening to the sound of the waves, when he suddenly heard a familiar voiceing near him.


    "Yes, mom. We''re okay," she said in an annoyed tone. "I know¡ªI can''t swim. I didn''t even touch the water at all. You know I''m deathly afraid."


    "Yes, we ate dinner well. I was about to go to sleep when you called."


    June squinted his eyes to get a better look at the youngdy.


    "I know. I know. We''ll stay safe. We''ll go back tomorrow," she continued, appearing to be tired of the caller.


    "Yup. Love you. I''m going to sleep now."


    June smirked as she ended the call. Then, he spoke, startling thedy.


    "Lying to Cindy isn''t necessarily nice, you know?"

 Chapter 290 Natural

    <h4>Chapter 290 Natural</h4>


    "Jia, right?"


    Jia almost copsed when June said her name. She went out just to get some fresh air, but now she stumbled upon a very fresh snack.


    She subtly pinched her forearm and cursed inside her mind.


    Bad Jia!


    "Umm, yeah," Jia said, not daring to look into his eyes. She already felt nervous at the thought of being with June. "Well, uh¡ªI guess I got to go?"


    She chuckled nervously before turning around and walking away. She definitely wanted to stay with June and speak with him more. However, her nervousness got the best of her.


    "Wait," June said, making her halt. "Why don''t you stay a bit?"


    Her heart raced inside her chest, her cheeks instantly flushing. She slightly turned around and asked in a small voice, "Really?"


    June chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, sure. Come here," he patted the spot next to him.


    Jia bit her lip and eagerly sat next to the handsome idol. She praised every deity out there, giving thanks for the blessing she had received.


    The two of them sat in silence. However, it wasn''t awkward. Instead, it was quite peaceful¡ªwith the sound of the waves breaking through their silence.


    "This is nice," Jia said, looking at the stars in the sky.


    June followed her gaze and softly smiled. "Yeah," he said, his voice almost a whisper.


    "Hey," June suddenly said, causing Jia to snap her gaze at him. June kept looking at the stars while Jia continued observing his face.


    "Yeah?"


    "You voted for me, right? On Rising Stars?" he asked.


    "Yes!" Jia enthusiastically said. "Every day! You know, my mom makes lots of money, so I asked her for ''stars allowance'' during those days."


    June chuckled in amusement. "Why did you vote for me? I''m not as handsome as Casper or Zeth back then. I also wasn''t the most talented."


    Jia was left speechless by June''s question. Then, she started looking back on the days when June came into her life.


    "Hmm," she hummed, thinking of the right words to say.


    Jia hasn''t concluded it until now.


    Why did she start liking idols?


    She failed to acknowledge it back then, but now it has be clear.


    The truth was, she was going through a tough time, but not in the way most people might think.


    It wasn''t because she had it worse than others. In fact, she always considered herself lucky. She had food on the table, supportive friends, and aplete family¡ªeven though they were often busy with their lives.


    But there was something else.


    She couldn''t acknowledge the emptiness she felt because she always thought she didn''t deserve it. Why would she be sad when others were sadder?


    But then, Jia realized that the source of her turmoil was herself. She was too tough, too hard on herself, and it was taking a toll on her mental well-being.


    Then, one day, June came into her life. She never really understood why idols were so popr back then. She couldn''t grasp why people went crazy over them, fawning over their every move.


    But when she met June, it all just clicked into ce.


    It wasn''t because those people just wanted some eye candy and someone to fangirl over.


    They weren''t crazy, and she realized she wasn''t either.


    It was like stepping into a whole new world¡ªa world where she could escape from the harsh realities that had been weighing her down.


    In this world, she could be the happiest version of herself.


    She was surrounded by people who shared the same interests as she did.


    And it was a world where she didn''t have to be so hard on herself.


    In today''s time, there are still people out there who might consider fangirling and niche hobbies to be cringy, but she didn''t care.


    This was her world, and June was at the very center of it.


    June made her happy in a way she couldn''t have imagined.


    It wasn''t just about his looks or his talent; it was about themunity that formed around the shared love for him and the group. It was about the joy they found in supporting and celebrating someone who had be an inspiration in their lives. It was about the escape from the relentless pressure she put on herself and the chance to be a part of something bigger.


    It was a reminder that it''s okay to let go, to be passionate about something, and to find happiness in the little things. June helped Jia see that, and she''ll forever be grateful for the world he introduced her to¡ªthe world that became her escape from her own relentless self-criticism.


    So, when she looked back at June, with him still staring at the stars, she couldn''t help but smile.


    June was the star himself.


    "Why?" she asked after a while, breaking the silence. "I honestly don''t know. It came naturally, I guess."


    "Naturally?" June asked, finally snapping his gaze away from the stars and staring into Jia''s eyes.


    "Yeah," Jia smiled, avoiding his gaze and looking at the waves.


    "You''re like the waves of the sea?" Jia chuckled at her metaphor. "I''ve always thought I was lucky, but beneath the surface, there was a storm. Then, you came into my life¡­naturally. You''re like a gentle wave. Ah, I don''t know. Is that weird?"


    June stayed silent for a moment.


    "No, it isn''t weird."


    "Just¡ªyou''re not hard to like," Jia said. "I feel like you were born to be a star. You''re a natural."


    June nodded, feeling a bit flustered with her touching words.


    "A natural?" he whispered to himself.


    Then, at that moment, everything became clear.


    The sound of the waves.


    The sand trickled along with the wind.


    The melody of the trees of the leaves that ever-so-lightly danced to the rhythm of the gentle breeze.


    "Natural," he repeated, sounding sure.


    Then, he stood up, surprising Jia.


    "Where are you going?" she asked.


    June looked down at Jia and smiled. "Thanks, you just gave me an answer."


    "Uh, you''re wee?" Jia asked.


    Natural.


    That''s what he was missing.

 Chapter 291 Male Genitalia, Poop, and Luther

    <h4>Chapter 291 Male Genitalia, Poop, and Luther</h4>


    June didn''t get a wink of sleepst night. He was so busy editing their song that morning hade before he even noticed.


    So, when they drove back to Seoul, he was knocked out the entire trip.


    And when he woke up and saw himself in the car''s mirror, he cursed loudly when he saw atrocious doodles all over his face.


    He should have known better than to sleep in a car filled with hooligans.


    "What the fuck?" he eximed, looking at the others, enraged.


    He observed his face once more and felt his eye twitch.


    "Fucking boys," he cursed, looking at the poorly-drawn male genitalia on his right cheek.


    The others held back theirughter while looking at him.


    His forehead was also drawn on with poop and flies, then his other cheek had an identified ck blob?


    "That''s Luther," Casper said, confessing his crimes.


    June clenched his fist and couldn''t hold himself back. He drove his fist to the person next to him, who, by ugly coincidence, was their sleeping manager.


    Right then and there, it felt like the world had stopped.


    Chul woke up and felt like his internal organs were bleeding.


    He looked at the boys with wide eyes, then turned to June. Chul was about to scold him when he saw the state of his face.


    Chul looked at June with a disgusted expression and shook his head. "You know what? I don''t even want to talk about it."


    June pursed his lips, smoke almosting out of his ears, and stayed silent until they reached their destination.


    They didn''t have any wipes nearby, so he was stuck with that kind of face for the rest of the car ride.


    Jisung looked through the tinted car window and frowned. "Wait, we''re not going back to the dorms?"


    "I already told you yesterday," Chul said, flinching when he fixed his posture. His damn head and abdomen were hurting because of June, and it only fueled his dislike of the pink-haired idol.


    "We''re going to be recording some of your songs today. We only have less than a month until youreback, so we''re in a rush."


    Akira groaned and thrashed around his seat like a little kid. "But, I''m so tired, manager. We haven''t even had breakfast yet."


    "Eat there," Chul said. "We have sandwiches prepared for everyone. And you," he pointed to


    June. "Wash your face before you go to the recording studio."


    June merely nodded, still angered by the situation.


    With that, Chul left the car while the others quickly followed. June pulled his hood down so his entire face wouldn''t be visible.


    Then, without saying anything, he went to one of the restrooms to wash his face clean while the other members headed straight to the studio.


    After washing his face, June quickly followed after them. They were already eating their sandwiches while the producers briefed them on what they were going to do.


    "So, we''ll take it easy with the first song and record First Love. We''ll normally start with recording the title track first, but since it''s still not finished, we''ll go with the easiest track on the album."


    "I''ve finished it," June said, interrupting their conversation. He was still standing near the doorway, so they all turned to him, surprised, when he spoke.


    Chul frowned. "You''ve already finished it? Your teammates said you haven''t started it."


    "Yeah," Ren said, confused. "You told me you haven''t even started on anything yet."


    June shrugged, bringing out Ren''sptop from his backpack. "I just finished it yesterday night. I recorded the lyrics for the outro, too."


    "And you did that in just one night?" Rody, one of the producers, asked.


    June nonchntly nodded.


    Ren looked at June in disbelief. He always thought June had the potential to be a great producer after the Production Mission. However, he never expected June to improve this fast.


    "Well, let''s hear it," Cody, the other producer, said.


    "Do we even have time for this?" Chul asked.


    "We do," Cody said. "We''re going to be doing this tomorrow anyway. It''s best to hear it now so the boys can familiarize themselves with the song."


    Chul clicked his tongue and eventually agreed.


    Meanwhile, June set up theptop, asking Jisung''s help to connect it to Zeth''s loud and expensive speakers.


    Then, without any hesitation, he clicked y.


    The members of EVE paid more attention than usual since this was the very first time they''d be hearing the song after theirst meeting.


    It definitely sounded way better than they had imagined.


    Jaeyong, who was so dead set on Restart, failed to realize that this song was, indeed, what June had made it out to be.


    It was refreshing yet hot all at the same time.


    However, for the keen hearing of the producers, they felt like the song was¡­different.


    And it was better.


    "What is this?" Rody whispered to Cody.


    "I don''t know, but it sounds moreplete."


    June couldn''t help but smile as he listened to his masterpiece.


    He had been in a creative slump for a while, and he struggled to find the missing element of the song.


    The pressure to create a hit and to live up to Fu''s words had overwhelmed him, and he realized that he''d been overplicating things.


    However, after his conversation with Jia, he had an epiphany.


    June was a natural.


    So, he added nature.


    He incorporated elements into the song¡ªthe sound of waves crashing and the ambient sounds of the beach.


    "This kid¡­has talent," Cody absent-mindedly said.


    Chul heard him and felt somewhat bitter. He always thought June never deserved to be the center, and he didn''t want to act impartially to a person who didn''t deserve their position.


    However, it was getting harder and harder to give him unfair treatment when the people around them seemed to like this June kid so much.


    Chul continued with his pessimistic thoughts. However, when the outro of the song came, it was as if his mind had be clear.


    He stopped and listened intently to the soothing melody.


    The others, too, paid more attention to the added part of the song.


    And then, when it was over, Jisung and Akira couldn''t help but p.


    "Damn," Zeth chuckled. "You just made a hit song."

 Chapter 292 Dislike

    <h4>Chapter 292 Dislike</h4>


    EVE''s preparations went faster than they anticipated, and now, almost all of the songs had been recorded.


    With some inevitable frustrating moments and a couple more missing sockster, EVE was now going to film their music video.


    June looked at the calendar with a distressed look, biting his lips in anxiousness.


    "Yo, are you alright?" Zeth asked, patting his back.


    June sighed and turned to Zeth. "It''s already November 1st."


    Zeth smiled. "Yeah, can you believe it? We started with Rising Stars back in July, and three monthster, we''re filming our music video!"


    June clicked his tongue. "Do you know what this means?"


    "That it sucks we can''t attend any Halloween parties this year?" Zeth warily asked.


    "No!" June eximed. "It means I''m going to be Hoho in a couple of days! November 4th, to be exact."


    "Oh," Zeth scratched the back of his head. "I forgot about that."


    "And to add to that, my fucking sock is missing again," June ranted. "I don''t know why they keep disappearing. Do you guys devour socks or something? My dirtyundry was filled with socks just yesterday!"


    Zeth pursed his lips. "Look, man. I''m losing socks, too. It''s just the rule of life."


    "What''s gotten June so heated up?" Akira asked, popping from his room.


    "Nothing," June sighed, trying to calm down.


    "Well, we need to go. Chul is waiting downstairs," Akira said. "Don''t worry, bro. I''ll buy you plenty of socks when we get our first paycheck!"


    "Alright, I''ll keep your word on that," June said. "Let''s go."


    The eight of them went out of their dorms and into the tinted van, where Chul was waiting.


    "You''rete," Chul said before instructing the driver to get going.


    "Sorry," Jaeyong apologized. "Jisung couldn''t find his sock."


    Chul sighed and handed them a stack of papers. "Well, we won''t have any time to orient you in the shooting set anymore, so read this."


    Jaeyong distributed the papers, where the mood boards of their music video were shown.


    June looked through the papers and raised his eyebrows in pleasant surprise. Their Creative team definitely did a great job with the concept this time. They perfectly captured the mood of ''Oasis,'' and June was genuinely excited to film it.


    "We''re going to a different beach this time," Chul said. "We rented the entire venue for today and tomorrow, so we''ll have the ce by ourselves."


    "Woah, talk about the budget!" Akira eximed.


    "Yes," Chul said. "So, make sure to do your best. It''s rare for groups to have this much budget these days."


    June shook his head. Of course, their group deserved a big budget. With the amount of money Azure had gained from Rising Stars, it should be a given for them to get a decent budget.


    "Familiarize yourselves with the filming concept," Chul instructed. "We''ll arrive in about two hours, and we''ll film right away when we get there. Got it?"


    "Got it."


    ***


    They finally arrived at the beach, and it was more beautiful than the members had imagined.


    The water stretched along the coastline; and since Azure had rented the entire ce, it felt like a secluded paradise hidden from the hustle of the world.


    It was definitely different from the beach where they had their concept shoot. If that beach felt like a vacation spot where people yed beach volleyball, walked around in bikinis, and drank sweet coconuts, then this one felt more like home¡ªwhere someone grew up swimming with their friends.


    Surrounding the beach was lush tropical grass that climbed the edges of the cliffs that framed the cove. The vibrant greens contrasted deeply with the earthy tones of the cliffs. The scent of saltwater mixed with the sweet aroma of flowers which wrapped the area in a dreamlike atmosphere.


    The water was so blue that it practically mingled with the sky. It was difficult to determine where the water ended where they were standing.


    This wasn''t just a beach¡ªit felt like an ind of memories. The shoreline seemed to hold echoes of childhoodughter and footprints of those who wandered its length over the years.


    It was already afternoon, so the sun was almost setting, only adding to the beauty of the natural paradise.


    "Was there a ce like this in Korea?" Ren asked with wide eyes. "This feels like the eighth wonder of the world!"


    "The Creative team tried really hard to find a suitable ce," Chul said. "You can thank Rei over there for finding a ce."


    The eight members turned to the young woman, around the same age as them, and smiled in gratefulness.


    June shed her a bright smile, genuinely appreciative of what she had done, and Rei felt her heart skip a beat.


    "Well," Chul pped. "Time to go to your posts. You already know what to do, right?"


    "Yes," Jaeyong responded. "June will start filming first."


    Chul pursed his lips and nodded. "I''ll be in my own tent," he said. "Don''t look for me unless it''s really urgent."


    The members of EVE nodded.


    "Meanwhile, the other members can go to thatrge cabin over there," Chul pointed to a beautiful wooden cabin. "You''ll also be sleeping there for tonight, so choose your rooms."


    The members'' expressions instantly brightened when they saw their house for the night.


    They ran to the cabin like little kids while June shook his head in amusement.


    Chul and June were left all alone, and there was a sense of hostility in the air. They had never been alone in each other''s presence aside from the time when June thought he was an intruder.


    Chul nonchntly picked on his nails while June stood there, just observing him.


    "Well?" Chul asked after a while. "Are you just going to stand there? You need to change into your clothes so we won''t have any dys. We need to finish all individual shoots this afternoon until the evening."


    "I know," June said.


    "Then, go," Chul said.


    "I just have a question," June said, taking a step closer to him.


    "What?" Chul raised his eyebrows, feeling strange from the way June looked at him.


    "If you dislike me, then say it right to my face, manager."

 Chapter 293 His Dark Secret

    <h4>Chapter 293 His Dark Secret</h4>


    Chul was surprised by June''s bluntness. However, he quickly recovered from his surprise since this wasn''t too uncharacteristic of June''s personality.


    Chul watched the entirety of Rising Stars, and he knew June was known for having a blunt, clear-cut personality.


    "What do you mean?" he innocently asked.


    June remained calm, holding his gaze. "I don''t mind if you dislike me."


    "What made you say that I dislike you?" Chul asked.


    "I''m not stupid, manager. My stage name itself is already proof that you''re not too fond of me."


    Chul merely smiled, not confirming nor denying anything.


    "I don''t know what you mean," he innocently said. "I''m just doing my job as your manager. I haven''t done anything out of line, have I?"


    June pursed his lips since he knew Chul was right.


    He made somements here and there, but they were too vague to be considered ''targeted.''


    "See?" Chul smirked. "I''ve been a good manager. I always keep your team up-to-date, and I also make sure that you get the best treatment possible from thepany. Just look at the budget you have for this music video," he boasted.


    "So, I suggest you go now¡­" he leaned closer to June and looked him in the eyes.


    "Hoho."


    ***


    June was fucking annoyed.


    No, that was an understatement.


    He was enraged.


    He couldn''t even internalize the director''s instructions with how enraged he felt.


    After Chul left him, the anger he felt escted further. Even the make-up artist felt suffocated because of June''s mood.


    And now, he was sitting on the shoreline, looking at the setting sun.


    May, the director of the music video, smiled as she observed June''s facial expression. He had a slight frown on his face, but the glow of the sun made him look a bit soft, almost reminiscent.


    This was the expression she was looking for!


    "This kid''s really good," she whispered to Rei. "How can he capture the mood right away?"


    Rei smiled, her cheeks warming up as she looked at June. "Yeah," she softly said. "He''s really good."


    "Continue filming," May whispered to the cameraman.


    Everybody stayed silent as June continued with the scene.


    June leaned with one hand while the other yed with the sand. Meanwhile, his legs were sprawled straight in front of him.


    The sun descended with warm tones, casting a gentle glow over June''s face. His eyes, reflecting a golden light, glistened with longing. There was an ache in his gaze¡ªan unspoken narrative of a heart yearning for something lost.


    Director May was captivated by the raw emotioning from June.


    The breeze yed with his hair as if it also felt the sorrow of the young adult.


    As the scene unfolded, it became evident that June carried a burden in his heart¡ªan unresolved ache. His every movement and every nuance of his expression spoke of a soul yearning for something irretrievably lost.


    And then, a flicker of anger shed across June''s eyes, causing May and Rei to gasp in surprise. They sensed the power of this moment, and although May didn''t initially expect the scene to unfold in this direction, she wasn''t mad.


    Instead, it was the cherry on top!


    "Perfect. Just perfect!" she whispered, not wanting to break June from his trance.


    Meanwhile, June was still thinking about Chul.


    At first, he felt lost¡­since his name, his identity will be lost in three days.


    Then, he anger began bubbling in his chest. Chul''s face shed in his mind, and it annoyed him to the core, wanting to pound his face and make his nose cave in.


    "Cut!" May shouted after a while, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    "That was amazing," she eximed, walking to where June was. "I thought we were going to take a long time filming this scene, but you nailed it in one take."


    June paused, looking at the crew with wide eyes. They all had appreciative looks on their faces, silently praising June for his performance.


    ''Wait,'' June thought.


    ''We already started?''


    ***


    "Action!"


    The setting had now changed from the nostalgic shoreline to an intimate cabin nestled among the trees on the quiet beach.


    The thick foliage made it nearly impossible for the sun to prate through the windows of the cabin, so it was strangely dark.


    June stood alone in the semi-darkness, the only illuminationing from the muted glow of a solitarymp.


    The director continued to instruct June even after the cameras started rolling.


    "Think of someone you want to do sinister things to," she said.


    June didn''t need further instructions. His thoughts immediately went to Chul, and just like that, he waspletely immersed.


    Slowly, June''s face morphed into a haunting portrait of dark contemtion.


    "Holy shit," May eximed. "He really is good."


    The room was filled with eeriness as June continued to stare at a distance. The subtle y of shadows entuated the contours of his face, only adding to the tension of the moment.


    "Cut!" May eximed. "We''re done," she said, pping. "You nailed it, June."


    June smiled, although he felt he didn''t even do anything since he was genuinely feeling those emotions at the moment.


    "Thank you, director," he politely bowed.


    She patted his back. "I look forward to working with you again. But for now, can you call for Zeth and Ren? We''ll move on to the next set."


    June nodded and left the small cabin to go to therge cabin where his teammates were supposedly waiting.


    However, when he opened the door, he was surprised to find nobody there.


    "Guys?" he called, but truly, there were no people in the room.


    "Hmm," he hummed, cing his hand under his chin. He did end earlier than expected, so the guys must have yed around the beach thinking he was going to end a little bitter.


    So, with much hesitation, June walked toward Chul''s tent to tell him about the problem.


    There was a ''do not disturb'' sign outside of the tent, but June merely looked at it and shrugged before brushing the p open.


    "Hey¡­," he softly said, but his words were cut off when he saw what Chul was doing inside.


    In the corner of the tent...sat Chul, his leg on top of hisp.


    And his toes?


    They were inside his mouth.

 Chapter 294 Yummy Toes

    <h4>Chapter 294 Yummy Toes</h4>


    Chul seemed to be lost in his own world while sucking his own toes. He didn''t even notice Juneing in!


    Chul started with the pinky, then to the big one. He gave all his toes equal attention, the little limbs glistening after removing them from his mouth; then he continuedpping on it like a dog who had been starved for days.


    There were some stains on his toenails that looked like mold, and June felt his lunching up. However, he held it in and silently brought out his phone from his pocket, pressing record.


    June couldn''t fathom how his toes were able to reach his mouth since Chul was a pretty tall guy, but that was definitely the least of his worries right now.


    June took another step closer, but it seemed like Chul finally noticed his presence and looked up, a startled look on his face.


    Chul quickly removed his big toe from his mouth and looked at June with wide eyes.


    Meanwhile, June wore a smug smirk.


    Bingo.


    June was a little bit disgusted¡­


    No, he was really disgusted.


    However, he couldn''t help but smile since he felt like he finally found his oasis.


    Chul looked at the phone in June''s hand and stood up, swiftly trying to steal it from June.


    June knew better, though.


    He wasn''t going to make the same mistake again.


    He ced his phone inside his pocket and took a step back, looking at Chul with raised eyebrows.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked.


    "You¡ª," Chul said through red nostrils. "I told you not toe here except for urgent matters."


    "This is an urgent matter," June nonchntly said. "I finished my video shoot, but I couldn''t find the other members."


    Chul pursed his lips, his entire face looking like a hot chili pepper. "You could have called them using your phone," he said through gritted teeth.


    "Oh," June pped,ughing sarcastically. "Why didn''t I think of that? I''m so stupid."


    "But I''m d I came here instead," June''s smirk widened. "If I didn''t, then I wouldn''t have been graced with such a¡­peculiar performance."


    Chul felt his breath get caught in the back of his throat. "How much did you see?''


    "Just enough to see you sucking your toes."


    Chul massaged the bridge of his nose. "It''s not what you think. It''s a misunderstanding."


    June felt immense satisfaction while looking at Chul''s panicked face. It was only a while ago when Chul was the one with the upper hand, and now, June felt like he was on top of the world.


    "Really?" June exaggeratedly asked. "So, your toes were definitely not in your mouth just now?"


    Chul appeared to be getting more frustrated by the minute, only fueling June''s satisfaction.


    "No, it''s just¡ª"


    June cut him off before he could finish his sentence.


    "Look, man," he said, raising his hands. "I''m not one to shame people on their kinks. If it makes you happy and it isn''t harming anyone, then by all means, do what you want. I''m not a kink-shamer."


    "Hoho," Chul said in a warning tone, but June continued talking.


    "I mean, it is pretty weird to suck your own toes, but it''s your toes. So, you do you. I believe the other members, or maybe the members of the crew, will also understand you. The world has gotten more epting these days."


    "June!" Chul loudly eximed, causing June to smile.


    He finally called him by his real name.


    "What?" June innocently asked.


    Chul closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long, deep breath to calm himself down.


    Then, when his anger had dialed down a bit, he opened his eyes and locked gazes with June.


    "What do you need?" he calmly asked.


    There it was¡ªwhat June really wanted.


    "Well¡ªyou know that statement, right? An eye for an eye?"


    Chul wordlessly nodded.


    "My stage name¡­change it," June said, his expression turning serious.


    Chul''s gaze faltered, and for a second, he looked unsure.


    "But it''s what the upper management wants¡ª"


    "I don''t care," June said. "Talk to them. I''m not going to debut as Hoho. I''m June. Just June. I can''t ept anything else."


    "What will you do if that doesn''t happen?" Chul asked.


    June smirked and tilted his head to the side. "Let''s just say your toe-sucking incident will be known by the entire group¡ªwait, no¡ªthe entirepany."


    Chul bit his lip, feeling at a loss.


    June continued staring at him, which made Chul feel even more pressured.


    Then, after a while, he let out a defeated sigh.


    "Fine," Chul said. "You''re going to be June."


    June smirked. "Well, you''re easy to talk to today."


    "But you''ll delete the video, alright?"


    "Of course," June said. "As long as you change my name from Hoho to June."


    "You got yourself a deal," Chul said.


    "Delete it right now, then," Chul insisted, walking closer to June. However, June took a step back and shook his head, cing his palm against Chul''s chest.


    "Don''t be so eager now, manager," he smiled, "I''ll delete it once the concept photos are uploaded."


    Chul groaned and massaged his temples. "That''s three days from now."


    "Wait for three days then," June nonchntly said.


    "Fuck," Chul cursed.


    "You better keep your word," Chul warned him, pointing a finger to his face. "If you don''t¡­then you''re not going to like it."


    Chul said it in a threatening tone, but June didn''t feel anxious at all. Instead, satisfaction built up inside his heart.


    This definitely went down in the books as one of the happiest moments in his entire life (which was strange).


    "Of course," June ced his hand over his heart. "I''m a man of my word. I''m sure you also are."


    "I am," Chul said through gritted teeth. "I''ll see you in three days. You better fucking delete it," he couldn''t control his anger and cursed his June.


    "Got it," June said. "Now, if you''ll excuse me¡­"


    June left the tent, a smirk still gracing his face.


    He was definitely going to make another copy.


    June continued to walk, a bright smile on his face. He felt so happy he could actually jump into the beach.


    Then, he paused when he felt like he had forgotten something.


    "Oh, shit," June said with wide eyes.


    The music video shoot!

 Chapter 295 Good Old Friends

    <h4>Chapter 295 Good Old Friends</h4>


    It was already the next day, and June still couldn''t hide his happiness.


    He was June.


    Not that fuck-ass Hoho hoe.


    Fortunately, they finished the individual shoots yesterday, even with the dys they had experienced.


    Now, they were going to film the group and choreography shots for their music video.


    June got up a bitter than usual since he slept deeply. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled.


    "Handsome," he muttered under his breath.


    Then, he went out, where he saw his members already eating breakfast.


    "You''re prettyte today," Akira pointed out. "Did you do somethingst night?" he teased, expecting June to be annoyed.


    However, to their surprise, June merely smiled. "Good morning, dear members. I''ll be heading to the showers now. It''s a great day to work, so let''s all cheer up and work hard for the day!" he enthusiastically eximed.


    Then, he walked cheerfully to the bathroom to take a shower.


    Meanwhile, his members stared into oblivion with shocked looks on their faces.


    Casper''s hand trembled, causing his fork to fall from his hand.


    "Oh gosh," Zeth whispered. "Is June okay?"


    "No," Ren shook his head. "He''s definitely not okay. I think we need to go to the hospital."


    "Don''t be so dramatic, guys," Sehun said. "He''s just in a good mood."


    "That''s the problem, though," Jaeyong said. "He''s never in a good mood. He''s either in a neutral mood or a bad mood. There''s no in between."


    Jisung shook his head. "You''re making bro appear like he has emotional issues. He''s fine! I like him like this."


    Just then, June popped his head from the bathroom, causing the others to go back to what they were doing. However, Zeth held onto his fork the wrong way, causing him to curse under his breath.


    "Do you need anything, bro?" Jisung sweetly asked.


    "You''ve all showered, right?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Akira responded. "We''re heading to shoot in less than half an hour, so we all took showers already."


    "Then the hairs on the drain," June calmly said. "These are yours, right?"


    The group of seven men froze, dreading June''s scolding. He had lectured them plenty of times to clear the drain of their hair as soon as they were done!


    "I''ll go clean it up," Jisung quickly stood up.


    However, June merely chuckled, causing horror to fill their veins.


    "No, it''s okay," he calmly said. "I already cleaned it up. Just make sure to do it next time, okay?"


    With that, he closed the door, humming the tune of their title track.


    "I take it back," Sehun said with wide eyes. "There''s really something wrong with him."


    ***


    June''s weird, happy mood continued even during their video shoot.


    Chul was watching them from the side, and he couldn''t help but look away whenever he locked eyes with the pink-haired center of EVE.


    This morning, they were going to film the group scenes under the zing sun.


    "Just have fun," Rei instructed. "Run around, ssh some water on each other...but don''t get each other too wet yet. We''re doing thatter."


    "Yeah," May chimed. "Act like you''ve lived here your entire lives, and these are the people you grew up with," she gestured to the eight members.


    "Act like we''re not here," Rei quickly added. "Is that clear?"


    "Crystal!" Akira chimed. "Let''s do this."


    "Lights¡­Camera¡­Action!"


    June would usually have a hard time employing this kind of concept, especially since the sun was beating too harshly on them, and the sand was once again going to ces it shouldn''t be.


    However, nothing could ruin his mood at the moment.


    So, he yed with his members without any hesitation.


    The crew members couldn''t help smiling as they watched the scene before them. Even if they hadn''t been together for a long time, it seemed like the group already had a great rtionship with each other.


    They naturally yed in the sand and water like good old friends. The sand shone like diamonds under the golden light, and it mimicked fairy dust as it scattered when they ran.


    Zeth scooped up a handful of water and threw it toward Ren''s way.


    Ren looked at him, dumbfounded, before smirking, taking two handfuls of water and throwing it in Zeth''s direction.


    However, Zeth expertly dodged the water, so it went to Casper instead.


    That started a full-blown fight among the members, sttering water with each other without any mercy. They definitely became wetter than May had intended them to be, but she didn''t stop them.


    What they were doing right now was perfect.


    Just looking at them already made the viewers refreshed!


    June couldn''t help butugh at his members'' misery. However, Akira quickly noticed that June was still pretty dry, so they started targeting him instead.


    June continued tough as he ran from his members, the camera quickly following their movements.


    He felt like he had neverughed this hard in his entire life...and to think it was because of his manager having a toe-sucking kink.


    For his members, this was a rare sight to see. So, they decided to make the most of it.


    The show continued without any interruptions, and for May, who had worked with plenty of idol groups before, this was an experience to remember.


    EVE was definitely not the easiest idol group to work with.


    They were even more on the childish side.


    However, this was easily her most favorite shoot. Her creative juices just continued flowing when they were filming, and she could already imagine the music video being a great one.


    They shot the group scenes until after lunch. They decided not to take any breaks since they didn''t want to break the momentum.


    Their stomachs were grumbling by the end of it all, but surprisingly, they didn''t mind it.


    "And that''s a wrap!" May shouted. "Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful cooperation!"


    Apuse was heard around the secluded beach.


    "You boys did a great job," Mayplimented. "I''m really d to work with you."


    "Thank you, director," Jaeyong respectfully bowed his head. "We look forward to seeing you in the future."


    "Me too," May smiled.


    Now that the shoot was finished, the members felt happier than ever.


    Akira, who saw June walking toward their cabin, ran to where he was and practically lunged at him.


    However, the clueless June didn''t anticipate Akira''s attack, so he wasn''t able to support his weight.


    Instead, he toppled down, causing Akira to quickly take a step back and watch as June dived face-first into the sand.


    The first thing June noticed was the gritty feeling inside his mouth.


    Then, as he stood up, his vision had be blurry from the sand particles resting on his eyshes.


    He slowly turned around and saw his members looking at him with wide eyes.


    However, Akira quicklyughed since he knew June was in a good mood today.


    "Oh gosh," Akira continuedughing. "How does sand taste like, bro?"


    He was expecting June tough it off or maybe give him a little push.


    However, Akira was surprised when June suddenly held onto the back of his neck, brought him down, and shoved his face into the sand.


    The other six members watched the scene before them with horror-filled eyes.


    Sehun suddenly pped, startling the others.


    "Yay! June''s back to normal!"

 Chapter 296 Mouthwatering

    <h4>Chapter 296 Mouthwatering</h4>


    In a tall condominium in the heart of Seoul, where the rent was more expensive than an aspiring doctor''s tuition fee, sat a woman with newly dyed blonde hair tied up into a messy bun. She was sprawled out on the couch with a bag of chips over her abdomen.


    Hereback had just finished, so she had some time to rest¡ªto fangirl.


    Her phone was cast on therge television so she could enjoy the view even more.


    The clock read 11:58 PM¡ªonly two minutes left until LEVEL-UP''s concept photos and debut schedule were going to be posted.


    Her heart beat faster in her chest, hoping June would be posted first. However, she also felt like she wasn''t ready to see his photos, so maybe being postedst wouldn''t be too bad.


    Just with a minute left, her phone suddenly rang, causing the screen to shift from EVE''s official Navel page to the caller ID.


    She quickly answered the phone.


    "Don''t disturb me, Sasha," she eximed in a frustrated tone before ending the call.


    For a second, the screen turned ck, and she saw her reflection through it.


    Mimi looked insane with her messy hair and pimple creamden face.


    However, she didn''t care.


    No one else was in her apartment anyway.


    She couldn''t wait for EVE''s concept photos to be posted so she can finally have something to smile about. After Rising Stars, she felt like a void had been created in her heart. However, now, that void was slowly being filled just with the thought of seeing her favorite idol again.


    Mimi tried snooping around, asking people what EVE''s concept could be, but nobody seemed to know what the group was cooking.


    As the clock hit midnight, Mimi repeatedly refreshed their Navel page.


    She gasped when she saw the first photo¡ªZeth.


    Despite not being a dedicated fan of the other members, Mimi couldn''t deny that EVE was truly a team filled with visuals.


    The other members also grew on her as she continued watching the show. Although, nobody could still rece June in her heart.


    He was wearing a thin tank top and was leaning against a palm tree. The hem of his top slightly lifted up, revealing a bit of skin.


    - Oh my gosh. It''s here.


    - I''m thirsty for Zeth.


    - A fucking beach concept? We''re going to die.


    - Who the hell thought of this concept? I need to have a conversation with them.


    Casper''s photo was posted three minutester, and it had the same beachy vibe as the one with Zeth.


    Mimi was pleasantly surprised by their concept.


    As far as she knows, the beach concept wasn''t toomon with boy groups.


    Girl groups had put out a lot of beach concepts, especially during the summer. GIRLS EVOLUTION even had a song that employed a fresh beach concept. It was one of her favorites since she got to travel with the girls. It was also fairly popr with the general public since almost everybody sought a fresh song amidst the hot summer.


    Again, it was surprising that EVE employed a beach concept just as November had started.


    However, with the current heat the country was currently experiencing, it wasn''t too strange.


    Instead, it was a genius idea. There wasn''t anyoneing out with a fresh song in this heat, and EVE was the first one to do it.


    Three boy groups were already confirmed to have aeback this November, and EVE was definitely the most different out of all.


    Mimi wanted to apud whoever thought of their concept since it seemed like they had put a lot of thought into it.


    She nced back to her television screen and almost fell out of her couch.


    Mimi was so preupied with her thoughts that she didn''t even notice it was already Ren''s turn! She scrolled through the other photos and sighed in relief when she saw that June still hadn''t been posted.


    Mimi continued to wait patiently but was amazed by how fast the likes for their photos were rising. Indeed,ing from a popr like Rising Stars gave them an edge because not even a minute had passed since Ren''s photo was posted, but it had already garnered 10,000 likes.


    It wasn''t on the level of the current popr male idol groups in the market, but for a debuting group, it was definitely an impressive number.


    Sehun''s photo was posted next, and Mimi couldn''t contain her gasp as she observed his semi-tan skin almost sparkling under the sun.


    It seemed like his skin had beenthered on with some kind of body shimmer mixed with oil, so he looked like a modern-day vampire!


    - Smoking hot. I''m Sehun''s fan from now on.


    - I can''t believe I''ve never noticed this hottie on the show before.


    - We could have lost such a face to the military, y''all.


    Mimi was so busy ogling Sehun''s photo that she got startled when the page automatically refreshed to show a new post.


    This time, she fell from her couch, causing her to exim in pain.


    Mimi was about to get up and back to the couch but stopped when she saw the photo on the screen. Her eyesically widened. From her view of the floor, June looked like a blessing from the gods.


    With his messy pink hair, almost transparent shirt, and sparkling eyes¡ªall while being half submerged in the water¡ªMimi didn''t even have the strength to get up on the floor.


    She stared at the photo, her mouth watering like the sea that June was submerged in.


    "Holy fuck," she whispered, her voice filled with awe.


    - I was refreshed by the other photos, and now I feel hot!


    - Where the hell is this beach? I need to drink the water June has been in.


    - Drink? Girl, just keep it as a souvenir.


    - Oh gosh. This beach is going to be drained soon with the amount of fangirls who will collect its water.


    - And fanboys! I''ll fill up a gallon!


    - Does June need CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? I''m professionally trained in it.


    - Us, grandmas, approve of this photo.


    There was no denying that EVE''s concept photos were a hit with fans from Rising Stars as well as other K-pop enjoyers.


    The team, who hadn''t seen their photos before, were amazed when June''s photo was posted.


    "Bro, you look like a mermaid!" Jisung excitedly eximed.


    "Wet cat," Casper chimed.


    "You look really good," Zeth nudged. "Almost as good as me."


    Ren rolled his eyes.


    "Bro," Akira eximed. "Thank us for putting that seaweed into your shirt!"


    However, June didn''t bother listening to their banter. Instead, he continued looking at the screen with a smile.


    "He seems really happy with the photo," Sehun said. "Let him have his moment."


    In reality, June wasn''t even staring at his photo. He practically saw himself every day anyway!


    Instead, his eyes were focused on the caption.


    #JUNE #LEVELUP #EVE.


    June was just happy he finally got his name back.

 Chapter 297 Not Safe

    <h4>Chapter 297 Not Safe</h4>


    It seemed like the toe-sucking incident had benefited June more than he expected.


    Not only did Chul stop calling him ''Hoho,'' but he also started ignoring June''s existence!


    It was definitely not ideal to ignore your artist as a manager, but June liked it better than Chul being passive-aggressive.


    Two days had passed since they posted their teaser photos, and the boys were busier than ever.


    The pressure of living up to their debut had finally hit them, especially after their concept photos had garnered a hefty amount of likes for a rookie idol group. All of the individual photos garnered more than 100,000 likes each, and their group photo even peaked at 212,000 likes.


    Even now, when there were still two weeks left until their debut, the boys were working harder than usual.


    Their choreographer, who was under the same agency as Gun, watched them with hawk eyes as they reached the final chorus of the song.


    June stared at himself in the mirror, sweat dripping from his temples. It was already afternoon, and they had been practicing since morning, so the boys felt more tired than usual.


    However, since the choreographer promised them that this would be theirst round, the boys bust their best moves, all eager to go home.


    June also observed his other teammates, a satisfied look passing through his eyes.


    They really looked like a real K-pop group now. June hasn''t seen their stats ever since Rising Stars ended, but June could tell that they''ve also improved by a lot.


    As thest notes of the song faded, Akira fell to the ground, panting like a thirsty dog.


    "Oh gosh," he gasped. "That''s the hardest I''ve ever danced today. I''m definitely not going to do that again."


    "We should, though," June said. "We looked really good just now."


    "You were observing our group dance?" Ren asked, surprised. "I was too tired to even look at myself."


    "June''s right," Tank, their choreographer, said. June didn''t know if it was a requirement in theirpany to have weapons as names, but he found it quite ridiculous.


    "That was your best performance just now," he continued. "Gun wasn''t lying when he said you guys were talented. Keep this up, and I think you''ll be ready for your debut stage."


    Zeth proudly smiled. "Thanks, Tank."


    "No worries. Just make sure to control your breathing well so you''ll have stable vocals," Tank smiled. "Well, I need to head home now. My wife''s calling. Don''t forget to cool down and stretch before going home, alright?"


    "We will," Jaeyong said, although that was a tant lie. They were all too tired to even move their pinkies.


    "I''m going first," Tank said, waving goodbye and leaving the room.


    The cameramen, who were filming the process of their debut, also left the room, leaving the eight boys all alone.


    As soon as the others were gone, they sighed and acted morefortably. Casper even inserted his hand inside his sweatpants and scratched his itchy butt.


    "I''m hungry," Jisung said. "Should we order some food?"


    "Should we? What do you want to eat?" Ren asked in a baby tone, acting like Jisung was a child. As the dynamics of their group started kicking in, it was obvious that Jisung was going to be the baby of the bunch.


    He was the youngest member of the team, only two months younger than June, and he also had a really soft personality.


    Ren, in particr, was very fond of treating June like a younger brother. On the other hand, Akira was the cool ''older brother'' who coaxed Jisung to move out of hisfort zone andmit borderline crimes.


    "Yo, Ji," Akira nudged his shoulder. "You want spicy fried chicken, right? That''s what I''m craving."


    Ren clicked his tongue and pushed Akira away. "I''m not asking you. Jisung, respond."


    "I''m fine with anything," Jisung softly said.


    "See?" Akira eximed. "He''s fine with anything. Let''s just get spicy fried chicken."


    "Call!" Zeth eximed.


    "But I want Jajangmyeon," Ren whined. "We had fried chicken yesterday. Y''all are going to reduce our stamina with the amount of fried food we''ve been eating."


    "You''re speaking like Jajangmyeon is healthier," Akira scoffed.


    "Yeah, I''m kinda sick of fried chicken, too," Jaeyong chimed. "Let''s get some Tangsuyuk along with the Jajangmyeon."


    "I''m not in the mood for noodles," Akira whined. "Let''s just buy from separate ces."


    "It''s a hassle!" Jaeyong interfered. "And our meal allowance is getting depleted. You guys eat like people who haven''t eaten for days."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "Then, what should we order?"


    "Ask June," Zeth said.


    They all turned to their second youngest member. In their eyes, June was the oldest in their group. However, there were also times when they wanted to take care of him.


    "Barley Rice and Whole Chicken Soup," June responded.


    The room turned silent, the other members still internalizing June''s words.


    "Isn''t that what old people eat?" Akira asked, breaking the silence.


    ***


    In the end, they decided to take June''s suggestions. By this time, they already knew that trusting June would be the best decision for the group.


    Akira groaned in satisfaction as he took a bit out of the chicken leg. "Thank goodness you suggested this, bro! We''ve been so fatigued these days, and this feels like the remedy."


    Zeth nodded in agreement. "I''m reminded of the times I visited the province. My grandparents would feed me a whole chicken, and I''ll be energetic for the entire day."


    June continued eating in silence¡ªlike the real connoisseur he was.?The group continued eating their meal when Sehun suddenly brought up their debut.


    "There''s like less than two weeks until our debut stage," Sehun said, causing Akira to spit out the soup he had just sipped.


    It sttered all over Ren.


    "What the fuck?"


    However, Akira ignored him and shook Sehun''s shoulders.


    "Don''t say that!" he eximed. "My heart jumps whenever I think of our debut."


    "What are you so nervous about?" Ren asked, still wiping his soupy arm with some wet wipes. "You''ve already debuted before."


    "Everything!" Akira eximed. "Just¡ªIt''s different when you''re there, you know? Right now, it feelsfortable because we''re by ourselves, but once you see the other idols performing, you''ll be nervous¡­and uncertain¡­and it just cascades to questioning your self-worth!"


    "Is it that bad?" Jisung asked, almost shaking.


    Jaeyong chuckled. "This dude is just exaggerating. It is very nerve-wracking, though¡ªespecially when we have a big grouping back the same week."


    "BOYMYSTIC''sing back next week," Jaeyong pointed out. "Do you think we''ll run into them?"


    "Most probably," Casper said. "But it wouldn''t be too bad since their nomination week will be our debut week. That means we can still get some music show wins."


    "Casper''s right," Akira said. "Come to think of it, they''re our biggestpetitor for the month. Oh wait, there''s LUNIX, too!"


    "LUNIX ising back?" Sehun asked with wide eyes. "I love their songs."


    "Well, it seems like somebody hasn''t been monitoring social media," Ren said. "Yeah, they''reing back the same week as BOYMYSTIC. I''m a fan of them, too."


    "Oh, good," Sehun said. "So, there are no other groups debuting at the same time as us?"


    "Not that I remember," Jaeyong said. "There are other groupsing back, but they''re from rtively smallerpanies. So, I think we''re safe."


    Meanwhile, Zeth scrolled through his phone as his members conversed.


    His feed was filled with photo edits, video edits, velocity edits, and fanart of himself.


    Zeth''s heart couldn''t help but swell in happiness as he scrolled through the posts.


    However, he stopped scrolling when he saw an eye-catching post from StarSync, a very popr Korean Entertainment News Media Outlet.


    "Oh, we''re definitely not safe."

 Chapter 298 New Competition

    <h4>Chapter 298 New Competition</h4>


    Eight boys huddled over one phone, those at the back squinting their eyes since Zeth chose a very small phone model for his big ass hands.


    "Oh, I''m sick of this," Akira eximed. "One of you just read it out loud."


    Zeth cleared his throat and loudly read the contents of the article.


    "K-Pop Fever Hits November with BOYMYSTIC, LUNIX, EVE, and the Dry Deserts of OCTA"


    "What the hell is an Octa?" Ren asked.


    Akira quickly covered his mouth. "Shut up and listen."


    Zeth continued reading.


    "It''s the spooky month of November, but for K-pop lovers, it''s nothing but sparkly as their favorite groups are gearing up forebacks and debuts that promise to leave fans bewitched."


    "Leading the charge next week are the famous ten-member group BOYMYSTIC and the ever-lovely LUNIX, who are ready to set the stage on fire with their much-anticipated performances."


    "Oh, I see our name," Zeth chuckled, feeling proud.


    "Continue reading," Casper grumbled, causing Zeth to quickly snap back to his original task.


    "In this sparkly month, EVE, the boy group born from the popr survival show ''Rising Stars,'' is ready to cast its spell on the K-pop scene. Get ready for their debut on November 21, 2023, where they''ll be bringing a whole new vor with a ''pool boy'' concept. Will they make waves or just a ssh?"


    Sehun scoffed. "Who wrote this article? They can''t even get it right. It''s a beach concept¡­not pool boys."


    "But wait, there''s more!" Zeth dramatically eximed. "As if November couldn''t get any more exciting, a new sensation is about to hit the town. Introducing OCTA, an eight-member boy group from Esper Entertainment, who are not just here to make a debut but to make all K-pop fans thirsty with their concept photos!"


    June frowned and leaned closer, looking at the photo of the supposed new boy group.


    "What the fuck?" Akira eximed. "Esper Entertainment?"


    June leaned back against his seat and wondered where he had heard such a name.


    Then, it dawned on him.


    The big guns.


    Remember how there were big guns during their time on Rising Stars?


    Well, let''s just say that Esper Entertainment has a whole ass army.


    StarMuse, Top Star, Harmony, and the like were hugepanies for a show like Rising Stars.


    However, in the real world, there were biggerpanies¡ªones who couldn''t even be bothered to join such shows since thepany itself already has an established fanbase.


    Esper was one of thosepanies.


    So, even Zeth, the most confident and borderline narcissistic member of their team, felt threatened when he read the article.


    "It has been a while since Esper Entertainment debuted a boy group, right?" Ren asked.


    "Yes," Jaeyong said, looking more serious than ever. "And it just so happens to be in the same month as us."


    "Is there more?" Jisung warily asked.


    "Uh¡­yeah," Zeth said, his voice a bit shaky. "Let me read it."


    "Fans are already causing an uproar after the teaser photos had been posted. The theme? A sandy desert concept as dry as your love lives!"


    Akira couldn''t contain himself and let out a chuckle.


    Ren red at him. "Do you find this situation funny?"


    "No!" Akira eximed. "But you have to admit, that was a funny line."


    "Yeah, ''cause it''s true," Ren said. "You probably haven''t dated anyone in your life," he retorted.


    "Oh, shut up," Akira snapped. "You were busy rivaling Zeth your entire teenage life. You haven''t even spoken with a girl with how fixated you are on him."


    "I was not!" Ren defended. "I''m a chick ma, for your information."


    "Shut up," June calmly said, causing the two of them to purse their lips together. "Continue," he patted Zeth''s shoulder.


    "We have two anticipated debuts this November. Who do you think will take the cake¡ªor should we say, the sand castle? Whether they''ll be EVE, who''s going to quench your thirst, or OCTA, who''s going to make you thirsty, there''s only one thing certain¡ªNovember is about to be hotter than ever!"


    "They''re already pitting us against each other," Jaeyong said. "What do thements say?"


    Zeth scrolled down the article while the others leaned closer to his phone.


    As expected, the fanwars have already started.


    - Esper Entertainment never disappoints. I think we already know the answer to the question.


    - I watched Rising Stars, but I''m also an Esper stan. I loved XO from theirpany, so I''m definitely going to support their junior group.


    - Damn, the ''Rookie of the Year'' award is going to be tough this year.


    - Pitting them together is unfair, though. EVE is like a group of puny little shrimpspared to a group from Esper Entertainment.


    - Bro, you don''t know the impact of Rising Stars. They literally gained the fastest likes for a debut group photo.


    - Nah, we''re beating that tonight. We''re almost halfway there! Let''s show OCTA our love and support even before their debut!


    "Go to their page," June instructed, and Zeth quickly followed.


    The others became silent as Zeth scrolled through their concept photos.


    "They''re handsome," Zeth sighed in defeat. "I think this guy''s more handsome than me!" he eximed, pointing to a photo of the idol named ''Uno.''


    "I''m going to book another facial appointment," he continued, pinching his skin.


    "You look fine," Ren sighed. "These photos are edited. Of course, they''re going to look better than your real-life bare face."


    "Besides," Sehun added. "Esper is known for their visuals. I don''t think weg way too behind, though."


    "Yeah," Jisung eximed. "Look, June''s even sparkling right now!"


    The boys looked at June, who was busy looking at OCTA''s concept photos, and eximed in amazement to find that Jisung was right.


    "How can he look that good even after practicing?" Casper asked.


    "Yeah, he doesn''t look tired at all," Jaeyong observed.


    "I swear, I was more handsome than June during the earlier parts of the show," Akira clicked his tongue.


    "Dream on," Ren retorted.


    June tuned them out and continued looking at the group''s photos. Indeed, their concept photos were quite simr, but at the same time, theplete opposite of each other.


    June doesn''t know much about Esper Entertainment, but he was very familiar with the groups it gave birth to.


    They were coined as the pioneers of K-pop, so naturally, groups from Esper Entertainment already had good reputations even before they debuted.


    "We''re fucked," Akira groaned. "I really wanted a music show win for our debut."


    "We still have a chance," Casper pointed out. "As long as they''re not debuting the same day, then we can still grab a trophy or two."


    June pursed his lips as he stared at the ring debut date of OCTA.


    November 21, 2023.

 Chapter 299 Uno

    <h4>Chapter 299 Uno</h4>


    Meanwhile, in a tall building with a yellow interior, stood eight young idols in a star formation.


    "Dos, you''re not aligned with Tres," Uno, their leader, said, manually moving his fellow member to the right position. "We need to make sure that everything''s perfect."


    "Of course," Quattro eximed. "We won''t settle for anything less than perfect."


    Just then, the door of the prestigious practice room opened, revealing their smiley manager.


    "I have good news, boys!" Kun eximed, stumbling on his feet as he entered the room.


    Uno sighed as he looked at their hopeless manager. "What is it this time?"


    "Well, you''re happy to see me," Kun sarcastically said. "Like I said, I''ve got some good news! Your group debut photo tied with the numbers EVE had achieved."


    "Really?" Tres eximed. "Did we beat them?"


    "We don''t know that," Kun said. "Navel doesn''t show the whole number. But the two of you ended at 212,000 likes in 24 hours. It''s honestly insane how that happened."


    "Dang, that''s a lot," Cinco eximed.


    "Of course, it''s a lot," Ocho said, wiping his sweat as he leaned against the mirror. "You shouldn''t expect anything less than that. We should have beaten them."


    "Loosen up," Seven said. "Those are great numbers."


    "I can''t loosen up," Ocho snapped. "Why are you named ''Seven'' while I''m stuck with Ocho? It''s fucking unfair."


    "We''ve already gone through this," Kun massaged the bridge of his nose. "You''re sticking with the number concept. Don''t you think it''s pretty cool?"


    "I think it''s cool," Seven eximed.


    "Well, try being in my shoes," Ocho eximed. "I sound like a chocte snack."


    "That''s a good thing, though," Seven pointed out. "Lots of people like chocte."


    "It can''t be changed," Kun sighed. "Your concept photos have already been posted. Besides, we can''t call Seven ''Siete.'' It''s too close to shitty."


    "That''s a good thing, though," Six eximed, causing Seven to stick his tongue out at him.


    "Whatever, let''s go back to your good news," Ocho rolled his eyes. "Is that all? It''s not even good if we didn''t beat EVE."


    "Ocho''s right," Uno said. "It''s a shame we couldn''t beat their record."


    With Uno''s utterance, the seven other boys turned silent.


    As their leader and official center, Uno had a lot of influence in the group. Having trained the longest and undoubtedly having the most talent, his opinions were held in the highest regard.


    Seven, who trained for only three months before joining the group, was about to speak, but Six quickly covered his mouth and shook his head.


    In the end, Seven sumbed to the pressure.


    "Well, that just means we have to work harder," Uno said, sounding more determined.


    "That''s right," Kun proudly smiled. "You guys just work hard. Thepany will provide everything for you."


    Uno nodded. "Good," he said. His presence was even more overwhelming than that of their manager itself.


    "Now," Uno said in a serious tone, "get to work."


    ***


    Weeks turned into days, and now, the time left for their debut wasing close.


    Three days, to be exact.


    The group was currently in one of thepany''s conference rooms, waiting for their teaser to be released.


    Coincidentally, OCTA was in the same situation. In a bigger conference room than EVE''s, they silently waited for their teaser video to be released.


    "It''s out," Uno calmly said.


    Kun yed the video while the group of eight boys watched intently. All of them had serious looks on their faces, wanting the best for their teaser.


    Even with just their teaser, the viewers could tell that their song and music video was going to be hot and intense.


    Dos observed Uno and frowned. It was hard to gauge their center''s expression. He couldn''t tell if Uno liked their teaser or not.


    The group felt more anxious than usual since their debut was pushed earlier than expected.


    They were supposed to debut on the first week of December, but it was moved to November 21st instead.


    It wasn''t that big of an adjustment, but it still rattled their mindset to some degree.


    However, as their teaser ended, the members couldn''t help but exim in satisfaction.


    "It''s good," Ocho said. "It''s going to be a hit."


    "I think so, too," Six said. "Songs like these are trending these days. BOYMYSTIC''s release, which did rtively well, also has this sound."


    "Well, this sound is a guarantee for sess," Cinco said. "So, I think we don''t have anything to worry about."


    Uno nodded in agreement. "This is good. I feel confident."


    "Hey," Seven suddenly spoke. "I heard EVE was going to be posting their music video teaser tonight, too. Do you guys want to watch it?"


    Ocho quickly turned to look at him. "You''re insane for suggesting that."


    "I think it''s alright," Uno said, causing Ocho to quickly shut his mouth.


    "Should I?" Dos asked.


    Uno nodded.


    Dos quickly navigated the interface and went to EVE''s page.


    The members couldn''t hide their smirks when they saw their view count was behind a couple of thousand viewers.


    Dos quickly clicked on the video while the others waited in anticipation.


    At first, Uno thought their concept was unique and very wise. However, as he thought harder about it, he realized that a beach concept wouldn''t seed in a boy group if there wasn''t anything unique about it.


    The teaser finally yed, and a refreshing tune resonated in the conference room.


    The members watched intently, looking even more serious than when they were watching their own teaser.


    Their teaser definitely didn''t give out a lot¡ªjust a couple of individual scenes in front of the beach and them dancing some of the choreography.


    Uno smirked, feeling a bit more confident as the screen turned ck.


    In those twenty seconds, he couldn''t find anything special.


    ***


    "I can''t believe they hid the production from us," Akira whined. "I don''t have a clue how the music video will turn out."


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "It''s like we''re watching the process of our debut with our fans in real-time."


    "But it''s pretty cool," Ren said. "Oh, it''s posted!"


    The eight of them excitedly turned to the screen. Even June couldn''t contain his excitement.


    He fiddled with his fingers under the table as Jaeyong yed their video on the screen.


    He felt his heart thump inside his chest.


    The teaser was only twenty seconds, but it already encapsted what June wanted from the song.


    Wait, no.


    It wasn''t entirely captured. There was something missing¡­but June wasn''t disappointed.


    In fact, it was perfect.


    It gave just the right amount of anticipation.


    "They didn''t show THAT yet, huh?" Akira asked.


    "Yeah," Zeth sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping to see THAT already."


    "I think it''s all good," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "It''s just...right."

 Chapter 300 University Festival Season

    <h4>Chapter 300 University Festival Season</h4>


    "Rehearsals?" Jaeyong asked. "Why weren''t we informed about this beforehand?"


    The boys were still in the conference room, celebrating the sess of their teaser, when Chul came in and asked them about a schedule they were clueless about.


    Chul pursed his lips. "Didn''t I tell you the week before?"


    "No," Jaeyong deadpanned.


    "Oh," Chul said, scratching the back off his neck. Ever since June caught him sucking his toes, Chul had been out of it.


    Before he knew it, he became wary of interacting with them, which resulted in theirck of awareness of their new schedule.


    "Well, then I guess I''ll inform you right now. Your first music show performance will still be on Friday. So, to fill in that gap, thepany booked a gig for you the day after your music video is aired. As you all know, it''s festival season for universities this month, and you''ve been invited to perform at Y University for the Abracadabra Festival. I''m sure you''ve heard about it."


    "Of course, we have," Akira eximed. "That festival is iconic. The line-ups every year are crazy. Did you guys know? CHAOS was already crazy popr, but they became even more popr after performing in that festival."


    "Well, you''re going to perform there," Chul said.


    "What the hell?" Ren eximed. "You could have given us more time to prepare for it!"


    "You still have some time to prepare for it," Chul nonchntly said. "But you need to join the rehearsals tomorrow."


    "Tomorrow?" Akira asked, almost falling out of his chair.


    "Yes," Chul confirmed. "Just perform what you''ve been practicing."


    "A little heads-up would be nice," Jisung muttered.


    "This is my heads-up," Chul sighed, getting impatient. "Since you''re a rookie group, you were arranged to rehearse first. Make sure to prepare yourselves by 2 AM."


    "What?" Akira loudly eximed. "It''s already midnight!"


    "Oh yeah," Chul said. "Go back to your dorms then. I''lle pick you up exactly at 2 AM."


    Sehun leaned against his seat and sighed. "I don''t know what to feel."


    "Who else are going to perform?" June asked, speaking for the first time.


    Chul nced at him then quickly looked away.


    "Well, there''s LUNIX, BOYMYSTIC, INZI, RO5Y, OCTA....some irrelevent others. Oh, that guy who sang Gangnam Spice is alsoing. There''ll be ten artists in total, and you''ll be performing in the middle."


    ***


    Chul fulfilled his promise and fetched the boys at exactly 2 AM.


    All of them were still grumpy as they entered the car. Even June, the known early bird of the group, felt like a 2 AM rehearsal was just inhumane.


    It was already past midnight when they got to their dorms yesterday, so most of them were running on an hour''s worth of sleep, while some of them didn''t get any sleep at all.


    June was one of those members, so he closed his eyes and leaned against the car window to get some rest before they arrived at the university.


    However, the car ride was shorter than he had anticipated, and before he even knew it, they had already arrived in therge campus.


    The skies were eerily dark and the wind was colder than usual. The vicinity was silent, except for the sound of mic checks and moving of equipment.


    As the group walked to the open field, they found that only a few crew members were there.


    It seemed like they, too, were unprepared for the event during this time.


    Just then, a bubbly man approached them.


    "EVE! I''ve been meaning to meet you," Mr. Park, the main organizer of the Abracadabra Festival and plenty of other university festivals, greeted them with a wide smile.


    "I''m d you came here at this time during your busy schedule," he said, patting Zeth''s back. "The other groups had schedulesst night, so we scheduled you for the earliest rehearsal. We have to finish before the gates open so that the students wouldn''t be spoiled of your performances. They''re only going to announce the line-up tomorrow!"


    "It''s alright. Is everything set?" Chul asked.


    "Uh," Mr. Park scratched the back of his neck. "The stage effects haven''t been set up yet. It''s not anything special¡ªjust an LED screen that matches the group''s aesthetic. The effects yout team had requested will be implemented on the day of the live show itself to save resources."


    Chul sighed but eventually nodded. "Shall we head to the stage, then?"


    "Go ahead," Mr. Park said. "The microphones are ready for the boys. Please do stay until the end of the rehearsals so we can practice the ending stage with the other teams. Is that alright?"


    "Does that mean we''re going to be here all morning?" Ren asked.


    "We have a lounge inside. The names of the groups are just right outside the doors. Feel free to use it to your liking," Mr. Park said.


    Ren nodded, still a bit disappointed that they wouldn''t be able to fully rest afterward.


    "Let''s start then," Chul said, pping and pushing the boys to the stage.


    The boys were still pretty clueless on what to do, especially since everything looked unprepared.


    However, Jaeyong quickly took the lead and arranged the members into their formation.


    "June," he said. "The ''X'' mark right here is the center of the stage, so make sure you stay at center at all times to avoid a sloppy performance."


    "Got it," June said, taking his position at the center.


    "You guys ready?" the guy operating the music said over the mic.


    Jaeyong gave out an okay sign before assuming his position.


    Then, the song yed.


    The people inside the stadium were undoubtedly tired, especially with the early schedule. Most of them were already dozing off in their seats. However, when the music yed, it seemed like the entire stadium was sshed with refreshing water.


    The sound itself was unexpected for a boy group debuting in November.


    "I don''t normally like boy group songs since they sound too intense, but I like this one," a staff member said.


    "Sounds a bit normal, though," the other chimed.


    "Yeah, and it seems like EVE hasn''t warmed up yet. Their voices are still husky," they pointed out.


    Indeed, EVE wasn''t in their best condition due to theirck of sleep mixed with their nervousness and the inadequacy of the overall preparations.


    June, too, couldn''t help but strain during the chorus since his voice was not projecting as loudly as he liked.


    Nheless, they still sounded good. However, it couldn''t be denied that they were significantly better during their time on Rising Stars.


    "The song''s good, but I''m not sure about the performance."


    "They''re good for a rookie group, though. I''m surprised they''re fully singing live. Most of the rookies we have will sing with a loud backtrack. Even BOYMYSTIC has a backtrack in their chorus."


    "Still, I think having a backtrack will benefit them."


    EVE continued with their performance despite the circumstances.


    June focused his gaze to the front, feeling a bit disappointed with his performance. However, he was determined to finish it with earnest.


    However, he couldn''t miss the movementing from the other side of the field. There was amotion, with Mr. Park hurriedly running to greet the new guests.


    June subtly squinted his eyes to get a better look of the neers.


    Then, from a distance, he locked gazes with a guy with ice cold eyes that matched his icy white hair.


    That''s when it hit June.


    The center of OCTA was staring straight into his eyes.

 Chapter 301 S

    <h4>Chapter 301 S</h4>


    "It''s too early!" Seven whined as they made their way to the venue. The other members trudged behind him, looking more well-rested than Seven.


    "It''s your fault," Ocho said. "Kun told you to sleep early but you insisted on ying games all night. You better not mess up the rehearsalter. New and senior groups alike are going to monitor our performance."


    "I won''t," Seven said. "You already know I never mess up our performances. I debuted with just three months of training under my belt. You trained for three years. I think you should use your advice for yourself."


    Ocho clicked his tongue and was about to hit the back of Seven''s head, but Uno cleared his throat, making the others stand in attention.


    "Don''t bicker. Let''s head inside and get ready," he coldly said.


    The group entered the venue with their manager and two guards and was immediately bombarded with attention.


    A jolly man skipped over to where they were, his eyes sparkling with excitement.


    "OCTA! I''ve heard a lot about you."


    "Mr. Park," Uno respectfully bowed. "Thank you for having us here."


    "No," Mr. Park shook his head. "I should be the one thanking you for gracing us with your wonderful presence. Your CEO had told me to take care of you well."


    Uno smiled. "We look forward to working with you."


    "It''s an honor," the jolly man said. "Well, EVE are still rehearsing, so I suggest you guys head to the lounge to rest first. RO5Y and MORPH3D are going to rehearse before you, so one of my staff members will personally fetch you when it''s your turn."


    "EVE?" Seven couldn''t help but react. "They''re already here?"


    The others turned to the side and saw the rookie group that became their unspoken rival performing on stage.


    They watched them perform with much struggle, and Ocho couldn''t help but smirk before turning away.


    "Should we go?" Ocho asked, not finding them worthy to be called their ''rival.''


    "Yeah," Uno absent-mindedly said, his eyes not leaving the stage.


    "But I want to watch more," Seven pouted.


    "Just go," Dos insisted, pushing him inside.


    Meanwhile, Uno continued looking at the stage, feeling a sense of rivalry fill his veins. Just then, his dark brown eyes met with the light brown ones of the pink-haired center on the stage.


    It seemed like they were performing the bridge of the song, and their fatigue had caught up with them.


    The most affected one was definitely June. As the main vocalist of the group, he was given the highest parts of the song during the bridge. However, it was right after an intense dance break.


    So, as his high note neared, he couldn''t control his breathing.


    In the end, the full high note was sang in falsetto, causing Uno to smirk.


    He then stopped watching their performance and made his way inside


    "Where did you go?" Dos asked, patting his back. "You weren''t behind us when I turned around."


    "Nothing," Uno shrugged. "Just watched something that''s not worth watching."


    ***


    "Gosh, that was so hard," Akira groaned, plopping down on the couch. However, he quickly groaned when he felt the hard material.


    "What is this couch made of? Ren''s face? Why the hell is it so hard?" he dramatically eximed.


    Ren clicked his tongue before sitting on a wooden chair.


    "You guys had rehearsals like this before, though," Zeth pointed out. "Was this one more difficult?"


    "Well, yeah," Akira said. "First of all...it''s 2 AM. We''re also preparing for our debut, and we didn''t get any sleep!"


    "Makes sense," Zeth said.


    "Wait," Akira sat up, looking at Zeth. "Wait...I just realized. It looks like you haven''t sweat at all!"


    "I don''t sweat," Zeth nonchntly said.


    "What?" Sehun asked, confused. "How can you not sweat? It''s anatomically and physiologically impossible for someone not to sweat."


    "I just don''t," Zeth said.


    "He doesn''t," Ren said at the same time.


    Akira looked at Zeth, a bit disgusted. "How can you have all these attributes? It''s like you were born to be a star or something."


    Zeth smiled, feeling ted with thepliment. "Thanks!"


    Akira rolled his eyes and turned away from him.


    Meanwhile, June sat at the furthest seat, resting his elbows against his knees and appearing to be deep in thought.


    "Are you alright, bro?" Jisung asked, nudging his shoulder.


    "Yeah," June softly said.


    "Don''t worry," Jisung said, sensing June''s distress. "We''re all fatigued at the moment. The microphones weren''t as loud as I expected, too. It was hard to project our voices. I''m sure we''ll do better during the actual performance."


    June nodded. However, he still couldn''t shake off his feelings.


    His performance today disappointed him more than he expected. June knew it was just a rehearsal, but he felt like he still didn''t deliver his best.


    And when OCTA arrived at the field, it felt like they were being cast away by the crew...merely focusing on the new group from a bigpany.


    Well, Azure was also known for debuting big idols.


    GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC were the testament to that. However, there was definitely a barrier between K-pop groups who debuted from apanypared with a survival show.


    First, longevity.


    Most people didn''t want to stan a group they knew wouldn''tst anyway.


    Second, biases.


    People who watched the show would certainly have biases, and if their bias didn''t make it, then those fans would turn into future haters of the group. EVE already felt that with thements they''ve received on their concept photos.


    Some people weren''t happy with theposition of the line-up, and they weren''t afraid to show their disdain.


    Last but not the least, Azure wasn''t known for their K-pop groups. Most of the famous talents from Azure were variety showedians, hosts, and soloists. So, it was harder for their K-pop groups to break through the general public.


    In the end, most of their fans came from the fans of Rising Star itself.


    "Do you guys want to watch the other groups'' rehearsals?" Jaeyong asked, standing from his seat.


    "Sure," Akira chimed. "Who''s performing right now?"


    "RO5Y, I think? Their song is ying right now," Ren responded.


    "Let''s go then," Akira said, his smile reaching his eyes.


    Jaeyong shook his head. "You''re definitely going back here once RO5Y''s setlist is finished."


    Akira exaggeratedly gasped. "How did you know? Oh, wait. I might stay until LUNIX too."


    Zeth chuckled as he shook his head. "Well, I''m staying here. I''m going to get some sleep since I wasn''t able tost night."


    "Me too," Jisung said with a yawn.


    "If Jisung''s staying here, then I''m staying too," Ren said.


    "Alright, suit yourselves," Jaeyong said. "Are the othersing then?"


    "Let''s go," Sehun said.


    June silently nodded, following after them.


    The five members went out of the lounge room and to the spectators'' seats.


    As expected, the rookie girl group, RO5Y, were performing on stage. From June''s view, he could clearly see their stats.


    Their center, Rose, had the highest stats among them all. Her position was definitely well-deserved.


    [Rose Lee


    Vocals: B-


    Dance: A-


    Rap: C+


    Visuals: A]


    Their performance ended with Akira apuding the loudest. The girls looked over their way, one of their members blushing. June quickly covered his face since he felt embarrassed for Akira.


    However, the Japanese idol continued waving at the rookie girl group, yellingpliments from a distance.


    Thankfully, Jaeyong subdued him before Akira could embarrass himself further.


    "Gosh, I hate being with you," Jaeyong groaned.


    Amidst their bickering, a new group came to the stage.


    Sehun, who had beenughing at Akira and Jaeyong, now turned serious when he saw who the next group was.


    "OCTA," he whispered.


    June, too, turned to the stage, his eyebrows furrowing as their center calmlymanded his members.


    It seemed like they still hadn''t noticed EVE''s presence since they kept their gazes to the front.


    June straightened his posture and paid more attention to their stage. Then, when the intense music started paired with very strong choreography, their stats popped up above their heads.


    June leaned forward, trying to get a better glimpse of their stats¡ªespecially their center.


    [Dos


    Vocals: B+


    Dance: A+


    Rap: A-


    Visuals: A]


    [Seven


    Vocals: B-


    Dance: A-


    Rap: C-


    Visuals A-]


    The members had very good stats, especially for a rookie group. June observed his teammates a while ago and inferred that their stats were mostly the same with the members of OCTA. It was quite frightening how alike the groups were in terms of their stats.


    However, when June finally caught a glimpse of their center''s stats, he almost fell out of his chair.


    "S?"

 Chapter 302 Breath of Eternity

    <h4>Chapter 302 Breath of Eternity</h4>


    June rubbed his eyes in case he was merely seeing things. However, even after those measures, Uno''s status window remained the same.


    [Uno, born in 2002


    Vocals: A+


    Dance: S+


    Rap: C+


    Visuals: S]


    He almost couldn''t believe what he was seeing.


    It was June''s first time seeing the ''S-tier'' in one''s stats. He fully thought A+ was the maximum grade one can have¡ªsince that was how it was in the educational system.


    However, seeing Uno''s stats made him think otherwise.


    "Do I need to get a haircut?" Zeth asked, also staring at Uno. "That guy is really handsome. I can''t believe this."


    "You''re just being paranoid. You have different charms," Jaeyong reassured his teammate. "You''re both good looking."


    While that was true, it couldn''t be denied that Zeth''s paranoia was based on reality.


    This guy, Uno, was objectively more handsome than him.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and focused on their performance. His eyebrows furrowed as he watched their center dance. Truly, he was worthy to be on the S-tier.


    There was something different about the way he danced.


    His other members didn''tg too far behind. However, Uno definitely took everyone''s attention with his undeniable talent. He also appeared to have more experience than June in performing, too.


    They had a quiet backtrack, but their live vocals could also be heard. Uno sang most of the song, but he didn''t sound tired at all.


    It made June reflect about his own skills.


    Then, as their performance ended, June locked gazes with Uno once more. He had the same icy expression, but there was a hint of smugness in his eyes. June wasn''t sure if he was merely hallucinating, but it seemed like this Uno guy was silently saying¡ª''I''m better than you.''


    They left the stage, yet June still couldn''t move.


    The others rehearsed their songs, and June continued looking at their stats.


    LUNIX was up next, and Akira tried to stand to get their attention, but Jaeyong pulled him down and covered his mouth before he could do so.


    Meanwhile, June intently looked at two of their members.


    Amira and Darcy.


    They, too, had S-tiers in their stats.


    Amira was an S- in singing while Darcy was an S+ in dancing.


    He couldn''t take his eyes away from Amira, since this was the first time he saw someone''s vocals at the S-tier.


    The 25-year-old seasoned idol couldn''t shake off the feeling she was being watched. So, when she wasn''t at the center, she nced to her side.


    Amira''s eyes widened when she saw June looking straight at her. Then, her cheeks warmed up before abruptly looking away.


    ''Does that handsome rookie like me?''


    After LUNIX, it was finally time for BOYMYSTIC to take the stage. June paid more attention than usual since they also came from Rising Stars.


    As expected, they also had an S-tier member.


    Jordan Lee, the center of BOYMYSTIC.


    [Jordan Lee


    Vocals: S-


    Dance: S


    Rap: B+


    Visuals: A+]


    With these revtions, it seemed like S-tiers weren''t too umon especially with older idols. However, to think that Uno, a guy his age who was also debuting as a rookie, had already achieved an S-tier stat, made June a bit nervous.


    He was definitely satisfied with his skill set. Even among older idols, he would be considered very talented. However, June acknowledged that he still had a lot of room for improvement, especially with hisck of experience.


    Moreover,?ever since Rising Stars ended, June hasn''t hunted any missions yet.


    It seemed like Fu was determined to make him suffer even more by making the missions impossible to seek.


    BOYMYSTIC''s stage finally ended, and Jaeyong decided to go back to their lounge area.


    June silently followed after his teammates, still pondering upon his new revtion.


    They entered their lounge and saw their other teammates sleeping. June sat on the couch and thought about their debut.


    He already knew it was going to be difficult especially with their newpetitor. After watching OCTA''s performance, there was a slight nervousness that budded inside his heart.


    Their groups were more simr than he had thought.


    The public will definitelypare them with each other after their debut. Heck, they were alreadyparing the two groups when they haven''t even debuted yet.


    With that thought in mind, June wanted to do better for their uing festival performance. He wasn''t able to do his best during the rehearsals, and although he was sure he was going to do better on the actual performance itself¡­there was a part of him that knew he needed more time.


    June was still an amateur.


    He didn''t have any background in singing except when he was still a thug who silently aspired to be a singer.


    He also didn''t have any formal training on it.


    If you think about it, Rising Stars was the only time he ever got mentored for his skills. The other guys, including Uno, had been training for years already. So, there was still a gap in their skills despite June having straight A+''s for his stats.


    Just then, like Fu heard his thoughts, his interface popped-up right before him.


    It had been a while since he had a mission, so he was surprised at first.


    [A side quest had opened!]


    June sighed in disappointment when he saw it was merely a side quest. What he really wanted right now was a real mission so he could improve one of his stats and also move to the S-tier.


    [The title of this side quest is: Unli-Oxygen]


    [Reward: Breath of Eternity]


    [Breath of Eternity is a booster that stabilizes vocals during critical segments, providing 20 seconds of precise air/breathing regtion.]


    June took his words back.


    This booster might actually be what he needed at the moment.


    [Host will gain one Breath of Eternity once the side quest is aplished. Does the host ept the quest?]


    ''I ept,'' June internally said without any hesitation.


    [Great choice, host. The side quest will be simple!]


    [Get autographs from four artists with at least one S-tier stat. Deadline of side quest: 1 hour]

 Chapter 303 Pink Mania

    <h4>Chapter 303 Pink Mania</h4>


    In a wide lounge room, a group of ten rowdy boys gathered while they waited for the team rehearsals for the Abracadabra festival. They had arrived at the university by dawn, and now, the sun was already rising and seeping through the curtains.


    However, despite feeling tired, the group of boys were rowdier than ever. In one corner, half of them were ying games while cursing at each other. Meanwhile, the other half were scrolling through their social media feeds.


    "Have you guys seen these teasers?" Moon asked, opening his YouWatch ount.


    "You haven''t even said the groups'' names, but I already know who you''re talking about," Sunwoo said, plopping next to him. "EVE''s and OCTA''s, am I right?"


    "Yeah," Moon said. "They''re the hottest topic right now. Their fans are already fighting when the two groups haven''t even debuted yet."


    Nico clicked his tongue and brought his phone down to look at his two other teammates. "We''re the hottest topic right now!" he defended.


    "Well, that''s already a given," Jordan smirked, knowing the uproar he caused for taking off his shirt in their music video.


    "Cocky bastard," Moon clicked his tongue. "Well, I haven''t seen them since we''ve been so busy. Do you guys want to watch it right now?"


    "Sure," Sunwoo said. "We still have half an hour tops before we''re called for the team rehearsal."


    Jordan nodded. "I''m curious, too."


    Sunwoo went to OCTA''s channel first, clicking on their only video. It already had more than a million views despite only being posted yesterday night.


    Nico, who acted like he didn''t care at first, intently watched Sunwoo''s phone screen.


    As the video yed, an intense beat resonated in the room. Moon wasn''t surprised since he expected that type of sound toe from a boy group. The fourth generation of male idols employed the experimental, hip-hop, intense sound that had a massive beat drop into theirebacks.


    Moon couldn''t criticize them for it, though.


    It was definitely a recipe for sess.


    And since these boys were from Esper Entertainment, their sess was already 75% secured.


    "It sounds good," Jordan said.


    "That''s all you have to say about it?" Sunwoo asked. "I think it''s fire."


    "Yeah," Jordan shrugged. "You know I don''t like dark songs like this."


    "Yeah," Nico chuckled. "That''s why you aren''t fond of oureback this time, too."


    Jordan smiled. "What can I say? I like songs by girl groups better."


    "Taste," Moon said. "Well, I guess you''ll like EVE''s song better then. I''ve seen their teaser photos and saw they were employing a beach concept."


    "I was almost jealous of their concept," Sunwoo said. "I want to get wet and y on the beach too."


    "Stop yapping and y their teaser," Nico said, turning serious.


    Moon chuckled and shook his head. "I thought you didn''t care about them?"


    Nico clicked his tongue and clicked their video instead.


    Although the two groups'' concepts were simr to each other¡ªbeing they both involved nature and hot boys under the sun. The sound of their music was a stark contrast.


    EVE''s sound was much lighter¡ªperfectly fit for the hot weather.


    However, it couldn''t be denied that since it was on the lighter side, it didn''t leave as big of an impact as OCTA did.


    "I like it," Jordan said, putting his thumbs out to show his approval.


    "As expected from a girl group stan," Moon said. "It does sound pretty nice. I just wish it had¡­more? I don''t know. I think it''scking something."


    "Well, it''s just a teaser. There are songs whose teasers are better than the actual songs. On the contrary, some songs are better than their teasers. The second one, in my opinion, is much better," Jordan pointed out.


    "Well, we didn''t get to watch any of their performances a while back, so I guess we''ll have to wait until their debut date," Moon said.


    Just then, someone knocked on their door, causing Nico to groan in annoyance.


    "Don''t tell me another rookie group is going to give their albums to us. I''m tired!" he eximed.


    Jordan red at him and went to fetch the door. "Act nice," he told the other boys.


    He was expecting yet another rookie group to greet their team and hand them their album. However, much to his surprise, only one person was seen outside the door.


    A pink-haired individual.


    The others perked up when they saw June standing in their doorway. He had a nonchnt look on his face while clutching a small notebook.


    "June?" Jordan asked in surprise.


    "June?" Nico asked, frowning. "What is he doing here?"


    He still couldn''t forget how Mimi looked at June during the finale of Rising Stars. So, since then, he''s held a prejudice against the rookie idol.


    Nico smirked and stood from the couch, heading over to the door and resting his elbow against Jordan''s shoulder, looking smug as ever.


    His other teammates held in theirughter while watching Nico act tough.


    Nico felt his ego rise as he looked at June.


    He felt pretty down after Mimi rejected him for the hundredth time; but now, seeing June in front of their door, probably wanting an autograph from their team, boosted his ego.


    Although, he couldn''t deny that this June guy was much more handsome up close. Nico felt pretty threatened, but he made sure not to show it.


    "I see that the center of EVE has graced us with his presence," Nico said. "Why did youe here, huh? Did you want us to sign your debut album for good luck?" he asked, chuckling.


    "Come on, hand me your album so I can sign it for you."


    Nico confidently held out his hand, but June merely looked at it.


    "Our albumes out in two days," June deadpanned. "So, I don''t have a copy right now. If you want, you can pre-order it online or line-up to buy it in music stores."


    "Huh?" Nico asked, confused.


    "Your album has been released, right?" June asked. "If you want, I can sign that for you."


    "What?" Nico repeated, looking offended.


    By this time, Moon and Sunwoo couldn''t hold in theirughter. June''s personality was definitely fresh for an idol!


    "Why the hell would I want your autograph?" Nico asked.


    "Oh," June said. "Alright then."


    Jordan cleared his throat and pushed Nico to the side. "Umm, hi, June! It''s a pleasure to meet you. You were one of my favorites during Rising Stars."


    "Thank you, senior," June bowed.


    Jordan chuckled and patted June''s shoulder. "No need for that. Just call me Jordan."


    "Alright¡­Jordan."


    "What made youe here?" Jordan asked.


    June showed him his small notebook and pen. The notebook was embedded with pink, sparkly details since he got it from a young intern. The pen was pink, too.


    "Well, that''s¡­nice," Jordan awkwardly chuckled. "I''m guessing you like pink."


    "It was the only one avable. I just need your autograph," June said, handing him the notebook and pen.


    Nico went to Jordan''s side once more, scoffing in disbelief.


    "See! You wanted our autographs in the first ce," he said, about to take the notebook and pen from June. However, June quickly retreated his hand and shook his head.


    "Not you¡­Just Jordan," he personally ced them in Jordan''s hand.


    Although a bit confused, Jordan signed the pink sparkly notebook.


    With that, June took the notebook and pen from him and bowed 90 degrees.


    "Thank you, Jordan," he nonchntly said. "Thank you, seniors," he bowed to the other members except for Nico.


    And just like that, he went on his way.


    Nico, who still couldn''t believe he had just been snubbed by an idol who hadn''t even debuted, snapped out of his trance when June finally left.


    He clenched his teeth in anger.


    "That cheeky bastard!"

 Chapter 304 He Definitely Likes Her

    <h4>Chapter 304 He Definitely Likes Her</h4>


    June practically zoomed through the hallways since Fu decided to be a little shit and only give him one hour for the side quest.


    [Time left for side quest: 48 minutes, 7 seconds]


    It was a good thing Jordan signed his notebook right away. He would have done it faster if that Nico guy hadn''t interrupted, but June was able to aplish it nheless.


    He could feel that Nico wasn''t too fond of him, but he really didn''t care.


    Nico seemed harmless enough.


    Just then, he heard a couple of gigglesing from the sports room of the building. He quickly went to the source of the sound and sighed in relief when he saw LUNIX inside.


    The five-member girl groupughed happily as they yed a ping pong game, the scene looking straight out of a fairy tale. The sun seeped through the curtains and illuminated their ethereal faces.


    If other men saw the sight before them, then most would faint from the amount of beauty in the room.


    However, June wasn''t like most men¡­and he had a side quest to aplish.


    So, without any hesitation, he knocked on the ajar door and took a step forward.


    The girls stopped giggling and put their paddles down, turning to the intruder. They looked surprised to see a male rookie idol (who was very handsome) standing outside the door.


    Amira, the leader of the team, recognized it to be the pink-haired idol who was staring at her during their rehearsal. Although she was used to the attention, she felt herself blush since nobody was ever that bold to stare at her for an entire performance.


    And to think that this rookie idol personally came to their room!


    ''Does he like me that much?'' Amira thought.


    However, despite feeling giddy that she had made yet another rookie idol fall for her, Amira tried her hardest not to show that she was ttered. Instead, she protectively went in front of her teammates and crossed her arms in front of her chest.


    "Yes? Do you need anything?" she asked.


    June fully opened the door and respectfully bowed.


    "Good morning, seniors. Thank you for acknowledging my presence," he said before lifting his head and looking Amira straight in the eyes. "My name is June. I''m from a rookie group called EVE."


    "We know you, of course!" Darcy eximed. "I watched all the episodes of Rising Stars! Can I have your autograph?"


    Amira''s eyes widened in surprise. She gently nudged her teammate. How could she ask for his autograph when he was a mere rookie?


    To their surprise, June handled the situation pretty well.


    He chuckled handsomely and smiled. "Sure, senior. Just as long as you give me your autograph first."


    [Smooth, host. Very smooth.]


    June internally smirked once Darcy agreed.


    "Sure!" she eximed. "It would be my honor."


    Darcy stared at his pink, sparkly notebook, feeling a bit weirded out. However, she shook her head and quickly signed her name on a nk page.


    Who was she to judge if men liked pink, sparkly things?


    Meanwhile, Amira felt like her ego had been stepped on. Did this rookie idole here for Darcy and not her?


    June patted her shoulder, causing Amira to re at him.


    "What?" she snapped, still disappointed.


    "Can I also get your autograph?" he softly asked, causing Amira''s breath to get caught in the back of her throat.


    Her stubborn facade crumbled as she silently took the notebook from his hand, their skin brushing against each other.


    Warm.


    His hands felt warm.


    Amira pursed her lips and signed the notebook, slowing down on purpose so she could enjoy this moment a tiny bit longer


    However, the moment quickly ended as June took back his notebook and pen.


    "Thanks," he genuinely smiled.


    Amira once again felt her heart skip a beat.


    "Well, that would be all, seniors," June bowed. "I just wanted to greet all of you."


    Amira still hasn''t recovered from her shock and wasn''t able to respond. Fortunately, Darcy took the lead and smiled back at June.


    "It was nice meeting you! We''ll be rooting for youreback," she eximed.


    "Thank you, seniors," June said, waving goodbye and locking eyes with Amira before he left.


    Amira was only able to breathe properly when June was out of the room.


    She turned to her members, wide-eyed and still in disbelief at what she just witnessed.


    Darcy weirdly looked at her. "Are you alright?" she asked.


    "No," Amira shook her head. "Did he ask for your autograph?" she asked the three other members.


    They all shook their heads, causing Amira''s heart to race even faster in her chest.


    "Then, did he smile at you when he left?"


    "Umm, no," one of her members said. "Or maybe I just wasn''t paying attention."


    A small smirk appeared on Amira''s face, and if this was an anime, there would be rainbows forming over her head.


    She shook her head and leaned against the ping pong table, loving the feeling of wind that came from the windows threading through her hair.


    ''Ah, he definitely likes me.''


    ***


    Meanwhile, June couldn''t help but smile since he already had three autographs.


    Only one more to go.


    However, he quickly frowned when he felt a sudden pain in his stomach apanied by some grumbling.


    "Oh,e on," he whispered. "Why right now?"


    [Time left for side quest: 34 minutes, 57 seconds]


    He suddenly felt the call of nature when there was only half an hour left for his side quest.


    "It can''t be helped."


    June really needed to go right now. He quickly trudged through the hallways and went to the nearestfort room. He was pleasantly surprised to find that their bathroom was very clean and even had a bidet!


    When he was still studying in high school, all they had were doors that didn''t have locks, walls filled with vandals, umted pee on the floor, and buckets filled with water! They didn''t have an automatic flush, so they had to collect some water from the bucket to use as flushing material!


    This was definitely a big upgrade.


    He went inside one of the cubicles and immediately felt relieved.


    June cleaned himself well, flushed the toilet, and was about to leave the cubicle when the door suddenly opened and three people came in.


    "Gangnam Spice is really iconic!" one of them eximed.


    They sounded familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. June halted and listened in on their conversation.


    "You''re so noisy," another one grumbled.


    The first guy whined. "You''re always so mean to me! Shouldn''t you report this to the manager, Uno?"

 Chapter 305 Belittled

    <h4>Chapter 305 Belittled</h4>


    June knew he should have opened the door right then and there. However, curiosity got the best of him, and now, he wanted to hear more of their conversation.


    There was more or less half an hour left until the end of his side quest, so June waspelled to stay.


    "What would Kun even say about the situation? He''s afraid of Uno," the second guy said.


    "You''re looking down on our manager," the first guy scoffed. "Wait until I let him hear about this."


    Just then, another person sighed. It didn''t take a genius to discover that this was Uno.


    "Why''d you evene here when all you''d do is bicker?" he asked.


    "It''s Ocho''s fault!" the first guy eximed. "He''s always picking on me and shit."


    So, the second guy was most probably Ocho.


    "Language," Uno said.


    The first guy clicked his tongue, and then silence followed. Afterward, the trickling of liquid against the ceramic of the urinals filled the room.


    "By the way," Ocho broke the silence.


    "Did you watch EVE''s performance a while back?" he asked.


    Now, June was intrigued. He leaned closer to the door, hoping to hear their conversation better.


    "I didn''t," the first guy said. "You guys pushed me inside before I could catch a glimpse of their performance."


    "Well, I watched it for a second. It wasn''t as good as I expected. Rising Stars gave them a very good reputation, but they''re not that good."


    "I thought you didn''t even watch that show," the first guy chimed, causing June to smirk.


    "W¡ªwhat? I didn''t," Ocho defended, obviously flustered. "I just saw some clips online. However, their live performance yesterday was a stark contrast to the performances they had on the show."


    "And what are you insinuating?" the first guy asked.


    "That we don''t have to worry about EVE after all," Ocho confidently responded. "Their center can''t hold up a fire against Uno."


    June pursed his lips in annoyance. He knew people were entitled to their own opinions, but that doesn''t mean he can''t get offended by them.


    "Hey!" the first guy eximed. "I really like June. He was my favorite on Rising Stars."


    "I can''t believe you watched that show," Ocho scoffed.


    "Enough," Uno finally spoke, his voice resonating in the wide rest room.


    One word seemed to do the trick for the two.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. He didn''t really know the group''s dynamics well. However, he could already conclude that this Uno guy must have a lot of influence on their team.


    There was something¡­strange about their dynamics. But June couldn''t pinpoint it just yet.


    He leaned against the door to think about it further but didn''t expect the lock to have gone loose. In the end, he revealed himself to the three members of OCTA.


    They all turned around and looked at June. Ocho and the first guy, who June recognized to be Seven, looked at him with wide eyes while Uno gazed at him with his usually icy stare.


    "June!" Seven eximed, finally snapping out of his surprise. "You''re June, right?"


    June silently nodded.


    "I''m a big fan," Seven said in a giddy voice. "I''ve been wanting to meet you ever since you sang that Little Meow Meow song!"


    "Uh, thanks," June awkwardly said.


    Ocho sighed, looking a bit bitter, before holding onto Seven''s cor and pulling him out of the room like arge dog.


    "Let me go! I still haven''t washed my hands," Seven eximed. However, Ocho continued dragging him until they were out of thefort room.


    With that, only Uno and June were left inside.


    Two centers of promising group.


    Their mere auras were enough to light up the room, and there was a strange fragranceing from them¡ªperhaps, the fragrance of talent.


    June walked to the sink, where Uno was already washing his hands. They silently washed their hands, not daring to look at each other.


    [Time left for side quest: 28 minutes, 33 seconds]


    Uno finished washing his hands first, and that''s when June took the cue.


    "Hey."


    Uno paused and reluctantly turned around, raising his eyebrows and not even bothering to speak.


    June, too, didn''t want to dilly-dally any further, so he brought out his notebook and moved to a nk page.


    "Give me your signature," he bluntly said.


    Uno was surprised and took a step back. He was used to being asked for his autograph, especially by the younger trainees in thepany. He was also admired by a lot of people when he was in high school.


    However, it was rather strange that June would ask him for an autograph out of the blue.


    "I beg your pardon?" Uno asked.


    "Signature. Here," June simply said in case Uno didn''t understand his first instruction.


    "I understood the first time you said it," Uno sighed. "But why would I give you my signature?"


    "Just cause," June shrugged.


    Just because he needed a Breath of Eternity, of course!


    ''Just sign the damn notebook!'' he repeated in his mind.


    Uno stared at him for quite some time, and then, it finally hit him.


    He chuckled, looking at June with amusement in his eyes. June was confused, wondering what had happened for Uno to be looking at him with such¡­mockery.


    "What?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    "If you were a fan, then you could have said so," Uno said.


    June bit his lip to suppress his annoyance. "I''m not, though," he said. "Just¡­just sign it, won''t you?"


    "And if I don''t?" Uno asked, appearing to be looking down on June. He wasn''t tant about it, but for some reason, June felt it.


    This guy definitely thought he was better than June.


    "Look, man," June said, calming himself down. "I''m sure you understand the concept of autographs. You can sign the notebook, and I''ll be on my way."


    "I don''t want to," Uno said.


    June paused before locking gazes with Uno.


    "Sorry," Uno said. "I don''t give my signature to non-fans. And a piece of advice, June," Uno said, walking closer to June and cing his hand over his shoulder.


    "Have some self-respect, will you?"


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Uno''s hand. He gripped his shoulder with mature strength, but June didn''t dare falter.


    "You''re a very popr rookie," Uno said. "Asking for my autograph seems pretty shameless...especially since we haven''t met each other before."


    "Or maybe you''ve seen the posts that called us rivals?" Uno continued, now letting go of June before looking him straight in the eyes.


    "But in all honestly, I really don''t appreciate being called your rival," Uno smirked.


    "Because we''re on entirely different levels."

 Chapter 306 Fresh Face

    <h4>Chapter 306 Fresh Face</h4>


    Uno left the room, feeling more satisfied than ever. He merely wanted to shake thepetition¡ªthat being June. However, it seemed like he failed to control his words and said something belittling.


    Nheless, Uno felt like there was no use befriending an idol who would debut the same day as them.


    As soon as he entered their lounge room, his rowdy teammates became quiet.


    Out of the seven of them, only Dos and Tres have trained with him for a long time.


    So, it couldn''t be denied that he still wasn''t close to his other teammates.


    "Perfect timing," Dos said, getting up from his seat. "Mr. Park just called for us. It''s time for the team rehearsals."


    Uno nodded, smoothing out his shirt. "Let''s go, then."


    Meanwhile, June was still in thefort room, sshing his face with cold water to cool himself down.


    He thought Uno would be a decent dude, especially since June had never done anything to him before! Heck, they haven''t even met once!


    June closed his eyes and used his shirt to wipe his face clean.


    Just then, someone entered the room.


    "Oh, there he is! I told you he''d be in here," Akira eximed, trudging to where June was and wrapping an arm around his shoulder.


    "It''s time for thest song," Akira said. "Let''s go together."


    June sighed and grabbed the pink notebook and pen he ced right on top of the counter.


    Jaeyong also popped his head in, pausing to stare at June.


    "What happened to you?" he asked.


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    "Woah!" Akira eximed. "You look¡­fresh."


    June turned to the mirror and stared at his bare face, slightly wet hair, and crumpled t-shirt. The light make-up he wore was now non-existent, and with this type of look, June was sure he''d stand out in a group of made-up idols.


    "It''s alright!" Akira assured him, showing a thumbs up. "You still look good!"


    "Whatever," June muttered under his breath. "Let''s just go."


    They arrived at the stage on the open field, where the artists were already waiting.


    When June arrived, they couldn''t help but stare at his current state.


    Seven, who saw this, felt his admiration for June increase.


    ''He actually came here without being made up? That''s so cool!''


    Amira, on the other hand, couldn''t help but steal nces at the rookie idol. Ever since she came to the conclusion (or delusion) that June liked her, she started binging all his content. She wasn''t interested in watching Rising Stars before, but now, she wanted to watch all the episodes!


    Mr. Park stood at the center to give the artists the instructions for thest performance.


    "I''m sure most of you are familiar with joint endings in concerts or music shows. However, for the rookie idols in the group, let me give you a brief exnation. We will be singing ''Caterpir'' by Woojin," he said.


    "It''s our mentor!" Jisung excitedly said by June''s side. "I love this song."


    "You have been given two mics each. It''s up to you who''ll sing in your groups. We have divided the song into two sections¡ªthe first part until the first chorus will be for the girls. While the second verse until the second chorus will be sung by the boys. The bridge and beyond that will be sung simultaneously."


    "Poison will take the lead during these group parts," Mr. Park said, pertaining to the artist who made the iconic Gangnam Spice.


    "Let''s end this quickly since the gates for the students are about to open! And music¡­cue!"


    The hope-filled music resonated in the open field. With the sun rising to the horizon, it felt like a scene straight out of a movie.


    Ren handed one of the microphones to June, but he shook his head. Ren shrugged and handed the mic to Akira instead. Uno and Dos, who were right beside them near the front, saw this.


    Uno couldn''t help but shake his head.


    "Don''t you want to sing?" Jisung whispered.


    "I don''t know this song," June truthfully answered.


    "Oh," Jisung chuckled. "Chul didn''t give us any details, so it makes sense. However, most people know this song. Are you a foreigner or something?" Jisung joked.


    Jisung''s usation was true to some extent.


    But aside from not knowing the song, June still has to aplish hisst task.


    [Time left for the side quest: 6 minutes, 12 seconds.]


    Since that little shit Uno didn''t want to give June his autograph, June was now on the hunt to find another S-tier artist.


    Fortunately, he didn''t need to look any further.


    Poison, who was right in front of him, had an S-tier stat on an unexpected skill.


    [Poison


    Vocals: B+


    Dance: A-


    Rap: B-


    Visuals: E-


    Stage Presence: S]


    It was the first time June saw the stat for ''Stage Presence.'' It made June realize that there were plenty of skills out there¡­some he would never know of.


    June stayed still the entire performance, ready to bolt to Poison as soon as they were done.


    Every second felt like an eternity, and before June knew it, there were only two minutes left until the end of his side quest. There wasn''t any sanction for not being able to aplish it, but June wanted that Breath of Eternity booster.


    So, as soon as the song was done, he practically leaped to the front¡ªwhere Poison was standing.


    The middle-aged guy was stunned when a pink notebook was nearly shoved to his face, but when he saw an equally pink boy who looked as fresh as the morning sun respectfully looking at him, he quickly smiled.


    "I''m assuming you want my signature?"


    June enthusiastically nodded.


    Only a minute left!


    Poison chuckled and took the notebook and pen from June. He signed it quickly, causing June to sigh in relief.


    "June, right?" Poison asked, handing him back the notebook.


    "Yes, sir," June politely responded.


    "I''ve heard some things about you, but I''ve never seen you perform," Poison said.


    "You can look forward to my team''s performance, sir," June confidently said.


    "Hmm," Poison hummed. "Will do. I''ll be watching your performance well."


    With that, June bowed his head and went back to his teammates, where he was teased for being such a shy fanboy.


    However, June didn''t pay them any attention since he was waiting for Fu''s notification.


    [Congrattions! You havepleted the side quest: Unli-oxygen.]


    [Breath of Eternity +1]

 Chapter 307 Hot Like Desert

    <h4>Chapter 307 Hot Like Desert</h4>


    "Hey,dies."


    The group of four turned around, looking at the self-proimed ''popr'' boy who legally changed his name into one of the most cliche Western Korean names out there.


    Na-ri turned around with a sigh. "What are you doing here, Byungho?"


    The guy wearing arge hoodie paired with a red snapback and blocky, dark sunsses and jeans that showed a part of his ass crack shook his head in disappointment. He removed his sunsses and revealed his unusually kind-looking eyes.


    "Babies, I told you¡ªI''m no longer Byungho. It''s Daniel. Daniel Kim," he said, biting his lip.


    Jia sighed and turned to face him. "Alright, Daniel. Do you need something? We''re kind of in a hurry."


    They were rushing to go home since they still had to set up their gadgets to stream EVE''s music video. There were still more than six hours left until their music video was released, but Jia wanted to prepare herself for as long as possible.


    "d you asked, Jia," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. However, Jia was a tad bit taller than him, so it felt a bit awkward.


    "Are you guys going to the Abracadabra Festival? he asked. "It''s thest one before we graduate."


    Soo-min nodded. "I''m going!" she eximed. "In fact, the three of us already thought of going. Only Jia right here hasn''t confirmed her attendance."


    "Why aren''t you going?" Daniel asked, feeling particrly sad that Jia wasn''t going.


    Jia shrugged and took a step back, causing Daniel''s arm to fall from her shoulders.


    "I don''t know," she said. "I''m not big on festivals and stuff like that."


    Wei chuckled and shook her head. "And yet you watched every live performance of Rising Stars there is."


    "It''s¡­different," Jia smiled, remembering June''s face.


    June was a different case. She''d swim through a sewer if it meant getting to watch June perform.


    "But you should go," Daniel insisted, taking another step toward her. "The line-up this time is crazy! Well, it''s crazy every year, but you really shouldn''t miss this one."


    "The line-up has already been announced?" Wei asked with wide eyes. "I thought it was going to be announcedter in the afternoon?"


    Daniel smirked and leaned against the wall. However, he missed and stumbled like a fool instead. He quickly caught himself and acted like nothing happened.


    "Well, you see¡­I''m part of the technicalmittee, so I got to watch their rehearsals yesterday morning."


    "Well, who is joining?" Soo-min excitedly asked, bouncing on her feet.


    "Hmm," Daniel hummed. "There''s Poison, that new group OCTA, LUNIX, BOYMYSTIC¡­"


    "Oh, there''s EVE, too."


    Jia, who had tuned out their conversation mere seconds ago, now fully paid attention.


    "What did you just say?" Jia asked, holding onto Daniel''s shoulder.


    The ''hip'' guy blushed, surprised by Jia''s bold action. "Umm, the performers for tomorrow?"


    "Yeah," Jia eximed. "The artist you mentionedst¡­"


    "EVE?"


    Jia let go of Daniel and faced her friends. "I''m going," she said.


    Daniel perked up and went to her side once more. "You''re going?"


    "We''re definitely going," Jia nodded, already excited for the festival she didn''t care about during her former years of college.


    "Then," Daniel said, biting his lip and cing his sunsses on. "Do you want to go with me as my date¡ª"


    "Let''s go!" Jia excitedly eximed, not even looking at Daniel. "Let''s go back to our dorms. I need to pick an outfit for June!"


    Daniel paused. "Jia, I just asked you out on a¡ª"


    "What were you saying?" Jia asked, cutting him off. "Wait, never mind. We really need to go back. Thanks for telling us about the line-up, Daniel!"


    With that, she held onto Wei''s arm and dragged her back to the dorms.


    Meanwhile, Daniel, whose pants were now on the verge of falling from his ass, clenched his jaw as he watched their retreating figures.


    He could hear how Jia talked about this ''June'' guy like a god¡­


    And he didn''t like it at all.


    ***


    "Let''s watch the music video," Akira said, turning on the TV after he gathered all his members in the living room.


    "It''s noon," Jaeyong deadpanned,?taking a bite of the chicken they had just ordered.


    Ren looked at the fried thing in disgust but, nheless, ate the oily goodness. Akira''s chicken addiction has be more intense since they''ve been eating fried chicken almost every day.


    "So?" Akira asked, popping the chicken''s butt inside his mouth. It was his favorite part!


    "You are aware that our music videoes out at 6 PM, right?" Ren asked.


    "Of course," Akira smiled.


    "Then, why''d you gather us so early?" Sehun asked. "Are we going to wait six hours or something?"


    "We''re not going to watch our music video, dummy! We''re going to watch OCTA''s."


    "What? OCTA?" Zeth asked. "Why are we watching the music video of ourpetitor?"


    "Exactly," Akira smiled, patting Zeth''s back.


    The group turned silent as they looked at Akira like he had gone crazy. Each and every day, he really became more like C-Jay and Jangmoon. Ren was afraid Jisung was going to be influenced by him, too.


    "Your response doesn''t make any sense whatsoever," Ren deadpanned.


    "Exactly, Zeth!" he repeated himself. "They''re ourpetitors¡ªso it''s wise to watch their stuff. If you guys want, we could watch a pirated version of their music video so we won''t contribute to the views."


    Jisung chuckled and shook his head. "That''s so uncool, bro."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Who are you calling uncool?"


    "Shut up and y the video," June said, his eyes already focused on the television.


    He was a bit annoyed when Akira interrupted his alone time, but now, he wanted to watch OCTA''s music video too.


    Although he had heard the live version of their song during the rehearsals yesterday, he was still curious about the look and sound they were going for.


    "I''ll do the honors then," Akira said, navigating the page to YouWatch and going to OCTA''s page. Akira clicked his tongue in annoyance when he saw they had a 2,000 subscriber count difference.


    Then, he scrolled down to click on theirtest video.


    ''HEATWAVE by OCTA''

 Chapter 308 Heatwave

    <h4>Chapter 308 Heatwave</h4>


    The sun was high in the cloudless sky, casting an intense heat upon the vast expanse of a dry desert. The viewers, despite not being in the same location, already felt like a heatwave wasing their way.


    The sand, fine as powder, danced with the wind, creating smoke-like effects as the camera was brought down to the eight handsome members of OCTA. From a distance, the roar of engines echoed, growing louder as the convoy of high-speed luxury cars emerged from the horizon.


    If EVE thought they had a good budget for their music video, then OCTA must have had a field day with their music video.


    The price of the cars itself was probably equal to the amount Azure had spent on the entire production of EVE''s album!


    Well, that may be an exaggeration.


    However, it was expected that Esper Entertainment would invest more in their idol groups than Azure.


    As the vehicles raced forward in a tight formation, a triangr shape formed with Uno at its center. The cars kicked up clouds of dust, creating a blurry filter on the group of boys.


    A sudden beat drop signaled the beginning of the song, and Uno, d in a weathered leather jacket, walked closer to the screen.


    The scene shifted, and he was now sprawled on the scorching sand, appearing unfazed by the heat as he sang the first lines of the song.


    "g on the summit, waving in the breeze,


    We''re the heatwave, bringing you to your knees.


    We rise like mercury; can''t you feel the surge?


    In the heat of the moment, an emperor will emerge."


    The other members of the group followed suit, each taking their ce in the formation. The camera transitioned between each member, capturing their unique style and energy. Uno, Dos, and Tres moved synchronized to the beats, creating an appealing visual against the hot, deserted background.


    Cars continued to race behind them, leaving trails of smoke that mingled with the dust that the group created with their group choreography.


    As the chorus hit, Uno''s voice echoed through the desert with a powerful shout.


    "HEATWAVE!"


    The intensity increased, and the group broke into a dance break. The sand appeared alive, swirling along with the infectious rhythm of the music. Each member disyed precision in their movements, their synchronized dance almost making them look like robots.


    "No shade can shield, no oasis can hide,


    Heat''s the conqueror; your hands are tied.


    Heatwave, Heatwave, can''t escape this ze,


    We''re the inferno that leaves you amazed."


    June raised one eyebrow when their song title was mentioned in their lyrics. He was sure this was going to be yet another trigger for a fan war.


    The second verse and chorus were more or less the same as the first one. However, during the bridge, Dos took the spotlight, his muscles flexing under the sun.


    The camera lingered on his impressive disy, seemingly a deliberate move that was sure to set the fangirls aze.


    As the song reached itsst chorus, employing the same intense sound during their dance break, the group raced towards the summit of a sandy desert mountain.


    The cars that had been racing behind them earlier were now parked in a line at the base.


    The camera focused on the members'' faces, all ascending with determination.


    "This is so unrealistic! They don''t even look tired," Akirained. "Not an ounce of sweat is on their skin. Do they not have sweat nds like Zeth?"


    "Shh," Ren said, cing his hand over Akira''s mouth.


    June focused his gaze on the screen. They had now reached the final chorus, an addition of grand string instruments making the song sound more grand.


    Uno was the first one to reach the pinnacle. He stood there for a while, the sun casting shadows behind his back. Then, like magic, a g appeared in his hands. He nted the g at the summit, making the thin cloth ripped in the wind, proudly disying their group''s emblem.


    The camera panned out, capturing the entirety of the desert. The other members gathered around Uno, forming a sporadic yet cohesive formation.


    The music faded, leaving only the sound of the wind and the distant engines.


    The final scene lingered on Uno with the g waving triumphantly behind him.


    And then, the screen turned ck.


    For a moment, the boys didn''t speak. The silence spoke for itself.


    "Hmm, I don''t know what to feel," Akira said, scratching the back of his neck. "It''s good? Yeah, it''s good. Esper Entertainment is known for good music."


    "There''s only one thing I''m thinking of right now," Zeth started off. He turned to June and suddenly gave him a hug, causing thetter to push him to the ground.


    "What''s your problem?" June asked, ring at Zeth.


    Zeth chuckled and shook his head, standing back up to go to his seat. "I''m just thankful. If we would have done any of the songs we suggested, then it would be morepared with OCTA."


    "Yeah," Sehun smiled. "And if wepare their budget for this music video alone, then we would have undoubtedly lost."


    "Thanks, bro!" Jisung chimed. "I think Oasis was the perfect choice for us. I just wish the general public would like it as much as I do."


    "Of course!" Ren proudly eximed, ruffling June''s hair. "If Jisung likes it, then I''m sure most people will like it."


    Akira scoffed. "So, you''re saying that Jisung is ordinary?"


    Ren pursed his lips. "One day, I''ll go to your room and tie a knife to your light so you''ll get stabbed when you wake up."


    "Go ahead," Akira teasingly said.


    "What about you, June?" Casper asked, already used to Akira''s and Ren''s bickering. "What do you think of their music video?"


    June shrugged, looking more rxed than ever.


    "It''s alright."


    "Alright?" Zeth asked. "Can you borate more on that?"


    "It''s good, of course," June said, nonchntly picking at his nails. "I''m sure it''s going to be a hit on the charts."


    "Holy shit. You''re right!" Akira eximed. "They''re currently #1 on Durian''s search list. Their song debuted at #14 too. That''s super big for a rookie male idol group, especially since the charts are being dominated by girl groups these days."


    Sehun bit his lip in anxiousness.


    "Hey, do you think we can aplish that?" he asked June.


    June pursed his lips since he honestly didn''t know the answer to that question.


    "Only time could tell."

 Chapter 309 Hit Sound

    <h4>Chapter 309 Hit Sound</h4>


    "Congrattions, boys! It''s a hit," Kun walked into the room with a wide smile.


    "You''ve officially entered the top ten of the Durian chart!" he eximed. "You''re the first debuting boy group to do it since 2018!"


    Seven cheered loudly while Uno merely nodded in acknowledgment. The others exchanged satisfied smiles, happy with the results they had garnered.


    "We already hit three million views despite the view freeze, too," Seven eximed, still streaming their video. "The ads ourpany had put out seem to be working!"


    "It also looks like you''ve already bagged a music show win," Kun said, wrapping his arm around Seven. "Good job, boys. Prepare your eptance speech well."


    "Has the album sales been revealed yet?" Ocho asked.


    "Not yet," Kun said. "It''s most likely going to be revealed tomorrow. But I''m sure you can expect something good."


    "Well, I''m going," Kun said. "I have to treat those interns to Korean BBQ since your album was a sess. See youter, boys."


    "See you, manager!" Seven eximed.


    With that, Kun left the room, leaving the eight members to rejoice. However, Seven was the only one tant about his happiness.


    "This is great!" Seven nearly squealed. "Do you guys want to hold a celebration tonight?"


    They all turned to Uno.


    Uno pursed his lips while the other members looked at him with anticipation.


    Uno sighed before nodding. "Fine, order fried chicken."


    ***


    OCTA, d in their pajamas, gathered in their living room to celebrate the sess of their new album.


    It was nearing 6 PM, and Seven took the initiative to order eight boxes of fried chicken and three boxes of beer.


    His members looked at the disy in disbelief.


    "What are you doing?" Seven asked. "Sit down and eat already."


    Dos shrugged and sat on the floor, joining Seven in his feast. It didn''t take long before the other members joined them.


    The television was turned on, but it merely showed static, causing Tres to frown.


    "What are we watching?"


    Seven smirked and opened his YouWatch ount before casting it on the television.


    Ocho''s eyebrows furrowed when Seven clicked on a channel he didn''t expect to see.


    "Why are you in EVE''s channel?" he warily asked. "And why are you subscribed to them?"


    "What else, dummy?" Seven eximed. "We''re going to watch their music video, of course!"


    Ocho clicked his tongue and was about to stand up, but Dos pulled him down.


    Ocho looked at his teammate in disbelief.


    "You actually want to watch this?" he asked.


    Dos shrugged, leaning against the couch.


    "There''s nothing wrong with it. We''re monitoring ourpetition," he said. "Right, Uno?"


    Uno merely stared at the screen, so Ocho took that as a sign to sit back down.


    "Sweet!" Seven eximed when nobody else revolted. "Let''s watch it!"


    Seven clicked on the music video, his heart beating with anticipation.


    However, a long ad yed before their video, causing him to sigh in disappointment.


    "Just skip it," Six snapped.


    "No!" Seven eximed, protecting his phone. "Skipping ads aren''t good for the creators. I''m not skipping ads for June''s group."


    The group sighed and shook their heads.


    Thankfully, the ad passed quickly, and by that time, the live countdown was already finished, so the music video automatically yed.


    ''OASIS by LEVEL-UP''


    The sun touched the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the paradise-like beach. The water shined like diamonds under the sky, and the beach looked straight out of a fairytale.


    Seven gasped as he watched the scene. "Is there a ce like this in South Korea? This looks like paradise! Adam and Eve''s paradise! Oh, EVE''s paradise! Did you see what I did there?"


    Ocho covered his mouth and focused on the music video.


    The video started with ambient silence. Only the rhythmic symphony of waves crashing against the scene could be heard. It felt more like an ASMR video, and it set the tone that this was going to be a refreshing andforting music video.


    The scene carried a faint feeling of nostalgia, as if the waters were the ones they swam in when they were younger.


    Yet, the color palette of the scene bore something...deeper. The sky, while painted in hues of pink and orange, held a secret shadow, creating a subtle eeriness that clung to the edges of the beautifulndscape.


    It was a beauty-tinged unspoken mystery.


    As the waves continued their gentle luby, the camera panned to reveal a distant gathering on the shore.


    Eight small silhouettes, barely discernible against the fading sunlight, were engaged inughter and y. The innocence of theirughter echoed through the air, a melody thatplemented the waves.


    The live viewers held their breaths in anticipation. The video was barely ten seconds in, but most of them already didn''t know what to expect.


    - This feels more like a movie


    - What do we expect from the queen of drama, June, himself?


    - For some reason, I feel like this is going to be iconic.


    Uno frowned as he tried to predict how the music video would progress. He thought it was going to be a simple music video of the members ying and dancing on the beautiful beach.


    However, there was something more.


    There seemed to be a storyline.


    He focused his attention back on the music video.


    Then, in the ce of the carefree children emerged eight figures, now grown and captivating.


    The warm hues of the scene intensified as the camera lingered on the group of handsome young men¡ªEVE.


    The soft hum of the waves transformed into the subtle melody of the music. It began as a gentle whisper, the first notes creating ripples in the air.


    Each member was given a time to shine. The camera panned from one member to the other, refreshing smiles on their faces.


    Their smiles, a reflection of shared memories, illuminated the beach like stars in the afternoon sky.


    Then, June emerged from the scene, his back turned to the camera.


    As he turned around, he sang the first lyrics with a wide smile.


    "In the embrace of waves, where the sun meets the shore,


    A life lived in water, forever wanting more."

 Chapter 310 Pearls of Peril

    <h4>Chapter 310 Pearls of Peril</h4>


    - It just started, and I''m already wet.


    - Girl, chill.


    - June got even more handsome.


    - They got filters for days. #OCTA, natural kings.


    Casper rapped the next verse, an equally bright smile on his face.


    "Rise like the sun. Rise with the tides.


    Hold on tight for this hot, wild ride."


    It was a bit unsettling seeing Casper with a cute concept, but it wasn''t bad at all. It showed Casper''s experience as a well-trained idol and how he could emanate various concepts.


    "Underneath the moon, we share our stories.


    In the blue embrace, unforgettable memories.


    Experiences we''ve shared held by the sandy shore.


    Our oasis, forever we adore."


    The bubbly melody of summer filled the air, a perfect apaniment to the vibrant scenes ying out on the beach. Scenes unfolded like cherished memories.


    The flickering glow of campfires painted their smiling faces with a warm hue. Sleepovers in the cozy cabins filled withughter transitioned from one scene to another.


    "Oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, my life is


    Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love is deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, I''ve found my true home."


    The camera danced with the group as they busted out their moves with carefree expressions.


    With the arrival of the tempo, the bright melody was entuated by the sound of distant waves.


    The members sprinted toward the inviting waters, their feet sttering refreshing water that fans werepelled to drink.


    - Damn, I''m seeing their grippers for free. It''s a win for me.


    - I love these boys so much. I''ll do anything for them.


    - Look at their precious smiles :).


    - This song takes me back to a time I don''t even know. EVE, our fifth-generation leaders.


    In the shallows, they began to dance. The chorus became a showcase of sshes, as if cooling the audience with the water from the blue beach.


    However joyful as the first part of the song may be, the second verse unfolded like a regretful narrative.


    It slowed down a bit, the percussiveyers softening.


    The faces of the boys appeared one by one, melting into each other with a smooth transition.


    They had smiles on their faces, but it was somewhat bittersweet. It felt like their smiles were a reflection of the passage of time.


    They stood together on the beach, gazing at the setting sun. One by one, they began to leave, shadows of the past dispersing like grains of sand carried away by the gentle breeze.


    "But a home bes a stranger at one point.


    Love leaves, and friendships disappoint.


    Life gets in the way; there''s nothing we can do.


    But ept the bitter truth that we all grew."


    The music, once lively, came to a sudden halt, leaving only the whispers of the sea.


    Amidst the fading music, only one figure remained.


    June, with a gaze filled with longing, stared out to the horizon.


    "The warm sun bes cold.


    The cool water bes warm.


    Memories turn old.


    Summers turn to a storm."


    The camera zoomed into June''s light brown eyes, capturing the depth of emotions within. At that moment, it felt like the viewers were transported into his world, feeling the weight of time and the importance of his memories.


    Even Ocho, who originally didn''t want to be immersed in the song, watched intently, curious as to what was going to happen next.


    Just as the music had ceased, the screen plunged into a quiet pause, allowing the sound of waves and silent yearning to envelop the scene.


    Then, the light returned to June''s eyes, and the music surged back to life.


    "Oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, my life is


    Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love is deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, I''ve found my true home."


    The scene erupted into a burst of color and movement. Once again, the group appeared, each member radiating the joy of yesterday.


    As the bridge unfolded, nostalgia enveloped the scene. Memories of their childhood began to resurface, each frame a recreation of their shared moments. Smiles adorned their faces as the montage continued, capturing not just the joys but also the times of despair that forged bonds even stronger.


    From this point forward, everything was written and produced by June. So, one could already guess that it was going to be iconic.


    "Yet water remains in the oasis we shared.


    And a home is a home, even if it changed.


    Laughter echoes in the oasis of our past.


    A timeless reverie, forever tost."


    The screen flickered with glimpses of their first drinks, as well as the other celebration of milestones and shared experiences that spoke of their journey from innocence to maturity.


    Despite the challenges they faced, all of them wore smiles. Theughter and enduring friendship persisted, transcending the trials of growing up.


    "Oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, our life is


    Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love so deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by our side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, we''ve found our true home."


    - Aww, I love this song <3.


    - This is the freshest and most unique song of the year. I love it so much.


    - OCTA outsold.


    - I can''t believe it''s over!


    - It''s not stopping, though. There''s more?


    Viewers thought thest chorus would mark the end of the song. However, a gripping outro yed, the mood taking an unexpected, unsettling turn.


    The bright mood waspletely cut off, and they found their way in a dimly lit cabin.


    Initially, the members of EVE all looked away, a collective avoidance of the camera.


    "Home...where we spent most of our days.


    Home...where no one goes away.


    Home...where we make each other stay."


    Then, one by one, they turned to face the camera.


    In this part, June incorporated the sound of the waves at night, more chilling than that of the morning. Along with that, he also employed a music box sound, which, although sounded cute and nostalgic, also sounded haunting.


    Their gazes held an unspoken plea, a desperate call for something undefined.


    The air grew heavy as the scenes from earlier reyed, each now containing only the silhouette of one person.


    A solitary figure amidst the echoes of the past.


    Like he was the only one there after all his friends left.


    Like all of this was just part of his delusion.


    "Oh, oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, oh, all I can say is..."


    Blood-like special effects adorned the floor and the walls, handprints and puddles of red hidden in the dark. The music box sound, although bright and nostalgic, merely added to the eerieness of the scene.


    "Beware the Oasis in the desert of need.


    For in its seemingly quenching waters lies the peril of drowning.


    In the heat, none perish, but within the embrace of a deceptive sanctuary...


    The true danger unfolds."


    The camera slowly moved to the front of the cabin, where only one person remained¡ªJune.


    Thest frame revealed June, his gaze fixed on the camera, now with ck eyes that seemed to pierce through the screen.


    "Oasis, the home we perceived.


    Oasis, our home, where no one leaves."


    Then, a small smirk emerged from his lips before the screen turned ck.

 Chapter 311 Beware: This Will Make You Wet

    <h4>Chapter 311 Beware: This Will Make You Wet</h4>


    "Fire?" Akira asked.


    "mes!" Jisung innocently responded.


    Ren looked at them with a disgusted expression. "You taught him that?"


    Akira proudly nodded with a smile.


    Ren shook his head before turning to June with an excited smile. "You were so good in thest part. I literally got chills!"


    "Was that the scene you filmed by yourself?" Zeth asked.


    June nodded.


    "You should go into acting," Zeth patted his back. "I won''t be offended if you were the first one to act in our team."


    June quickly shook his head. He wasn''t even acting during the music video. June genuinely had those feelings¡ªhe wanted to harm Chul, and it became evident in his facial expression.


    "What do you think happened during thest part?" Sehun asked.


    "Nobody knows!" Jisung eximed. "I think June killed us, though."


    "The fans are going to create theories like crazy for this video," Jaeyong said.


    Indeed, the fan theories had already started.


    Most of them were really satisfied with EVE''seback. It was something they expected, yet nothing they expected to be at the same time.


    - This video made me wet. In the first part, wet down there (scrumptious boys, yum yum!). In the second part, wet in my eyes (boys go bye-bye, me sad). In the third part, wet from pee (what the hell? June''s so scary).


    - How could a happy song make me feel so many different emotions all at the same time?


    - June''s acting *sobs*


    - Such a rollercoaster of emotions!


    - I came here to monitor OCTA''s rivals. However, now, I think I became a fan of EVE. Their story line is unbeatable.


    - The story line is superior. I''ll be making a four-part theory on Navel if anyone wants to see it. My username is @Choi_Jussy


    - Can we talk about the song for a second? I think this will be popr with the general public!


    ***


    Jia and the girls were speechless as soon as the music video ended.


    They were expecting it to be all rainbows and sunshines based on the concept photos. However, it held a depth...a horror they didn''t expect.


    "That...was...amazing," Jia robotically said.


    "I feel breathless," Bora said, holding onto her chest. "Take me to the hospital."


    "That was insane," Wei asked, also a bit breathless. "I felt like I was watching a thriller show."


    "Did June kill them in the end or something?" Soo-min asked.


    "No!" Jia eximed. "My sugar plum can never hurt a soul."


    Na-ri rolled her eyes. "Oh, she''s at it again."


    ***


    Mimi, alone in her apartment, had an ambnce on call just in case she couldn''t handle the music video''s impact.


    She almost didn''t make it.


    Mimi felt like she started hallucinating in the middle of the song.


    And although the music video ended on an eerie note, she couldn''t help but feel attracted to June''s character.


    "I''m going crazy," she muttered under her breath.


    ***


    Meanwhile, the members of BOYMYSTIC also gathered to watch EVE''s music video.


    "Wow," Jordan said after a while. They were stunned to silence after the music video ended.


    Nico pursed his lips and didn''t want to admit that their music video was pretty cool. He also found the song ying in his mind right after it ended.


    "Do you think this is fair?" he suddenly eximed, iling like a fish out of water.


    "We filmed in a studio for our debut music video!"


    "I heard from one of the staff members that a member of their team was the one who suggested they film at a beach," Moon said. "All of us justplied with what thepany liked back then."


    "Well, whoever came up with it must be a genius," Jordan said. "I already feel like it''s going to be a hit song."


    Sunwoo tilted his head to the side as he looked at the view count.


    "Surprisingly, the views are not rising as fast as OCTA''s," he said.


    Jordan pursed his lips, disappointed by the results.


    "They did it for the arts, not for the charts," Jordan said.


    His teammates turned to him, surprised.


    "You''ve been lurking way too much on Navel," Nico said.


    Jordan scratched the back of his head. "In all honesty, this was a really good debut. It might be one of the best in ours and their generation."


    "And if K-pop fans don''t see that," he continued, "Then they''re missing out."


    ***


    Hana, who was currently taking a break after her period drama ended, lounged on her couch while eating some cheeseballs.


    She was aware that her friend was going to debut today, so she cleared out all her meetings just to watch his group''s music video.


    Hana had a smile on her face throughout the video. She was amazed by the concept they employed.


    However, the feeling that triumphed out of all was her proudness of June.


    She had watched him struggle during their youth, and now, he had finally reached his dreams.


    Hana knew it was only the beginning.


    With June''s luck, which had always been bad ever since they were young, she was sure he was going to encounter more troubles.


    However, as she got to the end of the video, she felt her heart drop.


    Looking at June''s expression like this, there was one ongoing thought in her head.


    June looked like a good actor.


    ***


    Uno stood from the couch as soon as the music video was done.


    "That was so cool!" Seven eximed. "Wait, Uno. Where are you going?"


    "Up," Uno said. "I''m tired, and we have the Abracadabra Festival tomorrow."


    Uno went back to his room and sat on his bed, reflecting on the video he had seen.


    He was going to be honest and say that he had underestimated June when he first heard their live performance.


    Uno still didn''t know if their performance for the festival tomorrow would be any better than the one he saw, but right now, he admired the way their music video panned out.


    As he watched the video, he felt a bit...jealous?


    Not only did the boys look like they were enjoying themselves, but the storyline and the music weren''tpensated in any way.


    Uno always thought that one would have to be sacrificed for sess.


    And in the end, he sacrifices his enjoyment.


    Don''t get him wrong.


    He enjoyed performing. It has been his dream since he was younger.


    However, his results weren''t satisfactory when he had fun.


    And other people always had too much to say.


    You should do this...do that.


    Uno had to do contradictory things just to satisfy everybody.


    But all Uno wanted was to have fun while fulfilling his dream.


    However, people continued to be brutal.


    Then, he came to realize that he needed to let go of his enjoyment if it meant reaching his dream.


    But seeing EVE''s music video, their bond, and the genuine smiles on their faces made Uno think he wanted that, too.


    However, before he could drown in his delusions, he quickly shook his head.


    Right now, it seemed like OCTA''s results were better than EVE''s.


    EVE debuted in the 5-minute chart at #20, which was still high for the debut of a boy group but not as high as the one OCTA achieved.


    In the end, results will always matter.


    And tomorrow, during the Abracabra Festival, Uno will also prove it.

 Chapter 312 Not A Competition

    <h4>Chapter 312 Not A Competition</h4>


    June smiled widely as he stared at the now ck screen. He felt satisfied with what they had put out. From the very first moment he saw the storyboard, he thought it was the perfect concept for the song he had produced.


    It was about a group of friends living near the waters, growing up together, and celebrating the milestones of their lives. However, they, too, got caught up in the reality of life, and before they knew it, they started leaving the ce they call home¡ªtheir Oasis.


    But somehow, the Oasis always stayed as their home...and they always came back.


    June thought it was already good when he first read it.


    However, since he incorporated the music box sound in thest part, he felt like something was missing.


    And that''s when he took the initiative to ry his suggestions to his teammates.


    They loved it right away, so Chul (reluctantly) suggested it to the Creative Team, and they also agreed to employ the concept.


    So, now, it gave birth to the music video that contained everything June loved.


    Friendship.


    Good music.


    The cool breeze.


    Murder.


    Just kidding! June was already past that phase. He hasn''t even thought about murder for two entire days!


    "I like it so much," Jisung nearly sobbed. "I didn''t think it could turn out this way."


    "The editing team did such a great job," Ren said.


    "And you did a great job, too, June," he patted June''s back. "I''m d we listened to your suggestions."


    June smirked, leaning against the couch. "What can I say? You guys better listen to me from now on."


    Akira raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Did June just act smug? Is that another emotion added to his list?"


    June scoffed and shook his head.


    He has always been smug. He never just showed it since he couldn''t be bothered.


    "Aww, I didn''t see it!" Casper eximed. "Can you do it one more time?"


    June red at Casper before turning back to the screen. "I want to watch it again."


    "Should we?" Ren asked. "I feel like it''s the type of song and video that gets better when you watch it again."


    "Wait!" Sehun interrupted their conversation. "Let''s look at the charts before doing that."


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his neck. "Yes, I almost forgot about that. How did we do?"


    Sehun pulled out his Durian app and went to the real-time rankings. He smiled when he saw their group name on the very first on the search list.


    "Well, for starters, we''re first on the search list."


    "Wooh!" Akira rejoiced. "It''s off to a good start."


    Sehun then clicked on the top 100 list. He couldn''t see their song on the top five, which was honestly expected since it was very difficult to achieve such a high ranking.


    For the past three years, popr girl groups have infiltrated the top five of the charts.


    Badeers like Woojin also managed to break through it.


    Popr K-drama soundtracks even had an easier time.


    Lil'' Mil Woong, a top-tier trot artist who has a massive older fanbase, was also an artist who was guaranteed to break through the top five.


    The boy group who always had top-one songs on Durian were now in the military to serve the country, so it has been a rough year for boy groups on the charts.


    But of the current boy groups, only CHAOS was able to break through during the past two years. But even then, they were only able to catch the third spot.


    "It''s...20th," Sehun said, looking a bit disappointed.


    June was pleasantly surprised. Entering the top 100 for their first song was already huge, so he didn''t get why his other members looked down.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat, trying to lighten the atmosphere despite feeling disappointed.


    "Yeah, what''s wrong, guys? We did a great job!" Jaeyong excitedly said.


    "I know," Akira said, sighing while cing his chin on his knees. "I saw OCTA''s rank just now. They''re 8th."


    Ren chuckled lifelessly and shook his head in disbelief. "How can a debuting boy groupnd such a great number on the charts?"


    "Our fans will be disappointed," Zeth said, fiddling with his fingers.


    June sighed as he looked at his dejected teammates.


    "Why are we evenparing ourselves with them?"


    His teammates didn''t respond and continued looking down at the ground.


    June leaned against the couch, not looking at them anymore.


    He tapped inside his heart and found the words he wanted to say.


    Not only to his teammates.


    But also to himself.


    "I was also anxious while waiting for the music video," June confessed.


    Jisung turned to him with wide eyes, not expecting the feeling of anxiousnessing from June. It felt like June was always calm, always reliable.


    He didn''t retaliate.


    He didn''t speak much.


    He forgave easily (on the surface level).


    But in the end, he was still human, and he felt various emotions, too.


    He just wasn''t used to expressing them well since he was never given a chance to when he was younger.


    He continued speaking, staring at the ceiling.


    "We often find ourselves caught inparison. We measure our journey against the ascent of others. Their swift rise to sess, which seems almost predestined, feels impossible to us."


    "But there also exists a reality that reminds me that all of us embark on unique paths¡ªfor that is the essence of life. We all can''t have the same journey. It''s not some kind of game that has a fixed ending."


    "The only rivals we have is ourselves," June said. "Are we a better version than yesterday? Did we give our best?"


    "Did we have fun?"


    "We did," Jaeyong said, finally smiling. "It was really fun with you guys. I''ve neverughed as hard when Zeth identally ate a pile of sand."


    "That wasn''t funny at all," Zeth said. "But aside from that part, I had fun too. When I was a trainee, I never thought I had any...friends."


    "Poor Ren," Akira butted in, causing Ren to re at him.


    "No offense," Zeth quickly said. "Ren was a goodpanion. However, there had always been a barrier between us¡ªsome kind ofpetition. We were both anxious to debut, and we also knew that we could be each other''s reason for not debuting."


    "But, when I was with you on the beach, I thought our friendship had blossomed into something so beautiful."


    "Aww, Zethy poo!" Akira almost screamed. "That''s so cute!"


    "I had fun, too," Jisung shyly admitted.


    Before they knew it, the eight of them started talking about the fun times they shared during their shoots.


    "I think that''s what matters the most," June concluded. "Our journey will not be a relentless race against the footsteps of others. It is, instead, a journey with oneself."


    "And at the end of the day, once the curtain closes, we finally realize that the world may be apetition, but only if we grant it the power to be."


    "Perhaps the truepetition lies not in outpacing others but in the realization of bing the realest, the happiest version of ourselves."

 Chapter 313 Abracadabra

    <h4>Chapter 313 Abracadabra</h4>


    "A debater. A dancer. A rapper. A gangster...and now an English and Philosophy major? What other professions are you hiding from us, bro?" Akira asked, wrapping one arm around June.


    "That was so beautifully said!" heplimented. "I bet Jaeyong didn''t even understand half of the words you said!"


    Jaeyong red at Akira before nudging his side. "Shut up."


    "Did you know?" Akira suddenly said. "Jaeyong was always the most leader-like trainee in ourpany, but he was such a bad student! If you saw his grades back then, you''d all faint."


    "What?" Jisung asked with wide eyes. "You were a bad student? You always came off intelligent for some reason."


    "It''s his facade," Akira smirked. "In real life, he''s as ditzy as Patrick the Star."


    Jaeyong rolled his eyes and let Akira be.


    "Did you get good grades in school or something?" Akira asked, turning to June.


    They all looked at June, pondering upon Akira''s question before collectively shaking their heads.


    "I feel like June will beat me up if we went to the same high school together," Casper said.


    Ren rolled his eyes. "Who would even beat you up? You look intimidating for no reason. Meanwhile, June looks...sweet."


    "He bites, though," Zeth said. "I''m afraid of June sometimes."


    June clicked his tongue. "Want me to make you even more afraid of me?" he asked.


    Zeth quickly hid behind Sehun''s back and cowered in fear.


    "Well," June said. "I''ll head out for a while. Don''t look for me."


    "Where are you going? Shouldn''t we rest now since we have a schedule tomorrow?"


    "I''ll be back soon," June said, cing on a jacket before leaving their dorm. He made sure his hood and mask were secure before walking out of the building.


    Thest thing he wanted was to get caught by some fans.


    He walked to a ce he discovered when they roamed around the neighborhood¡ªa children''s yground.


    As expected, since it was already evening, the park was empty.


    He sat on one of the swings and closed his eyes to practice the bridge part of their song.


    They had a studio-type room on the floor of their dorm, but June wasn''t in the mood to use it.


    He also wanted to get some fresh air, so this ce was just perfect. Moreover, since tomorrow''s festival was going to be held in an open field, he felt that this could simte the performance better.


    "Laughter echoes in the oasis of our past.


    A timeless reverie, forever tost."


    June clicked his tongue since, although it sounded good, it felt like he could do so much better. So, he repeated the line over and over again.


    Then, when he hit the satisfying note without any struggle, he was finally able to smile.


    However, he still wasn''t satisfied.


    June started running around the park, doing push-ups, going down the slide, and even going through the monkey bars just so he could tire himself out.


    A little kid who bribed his older brother to go to the park stopped when they saw the scene before them. His older brother clicked his tongue and quickly covered the little boy''s eyes.


    "See? I told you that weirdose here at night."


    With that, June was left all alone once again. He practiced all night long, wanting the best for their performance tomorrow.


    It was going to be his very first live performance as a member of EVE, and although he had done plenty of live performances in Rising Stars before, performing as an idol felt entirely different.


    And even though he has the Breath of Eternity booster, he still wanted to make the most of the skills he had built.


    June practiced multiple times until he felt it was enough. He even went as far as singing the entirety of their song, all while dancing their choreography, just so he could perfect his performance.


    When he felt like the wind was getting too cold, he zipped up his jacket, drank some warm water, and headed back to the dorm.


    As he went inside their dorm, he found that the living room was now empty. He nced at the wall clock and almost fell when he saw it was nearing midnight.


    Has he been practicing that long?


    No wonder he felt so tired.


    With that, June went to his room,id down on his bed, and closed his eyes. He let go of his phone, causing it to fall on the ground.


    His screen showed him streaming their album. Actually, he had been streaming the album the moment it came out.


    He talked big about notpeting with other groups, but in his mind, he still wanted to have good results for the album they worked hard for.


    June left his phone on for the entire night.


    That night, he also had a sweet dream.


    He dreamed he was performing on stage.


    ***


    It was a whopping 30¡ãC, arguably one of the hottest days of the year. Everybody wore cool and fresh outfits with mini-fans hanging on their necks.


    The atmosphere was filled with excitement as the student body gathered for a rare moment of enjoyment.


    Y University, one of the most prestigious universities in Korea, was admired by many. With an eptance rate of 16%, its grounds were sprawled with intelligence and talent.


    However, today, those brilliant minds were going to take a break from their academic pursuits and enjoy the simple joys of being a college student.


    The bleachers were filling up quickly, and the standing sections were already packed with students eager to witness the uing event. Laughter and chatter echoed across the fields as friends gathered.


    In the sea of faces, Jia and her friends upied the front row of the bleachers.


    "We should have been in the standing section instead," Jia sulked.


    "Those people have been camping here since the school gates opened," Soo-min said. "With this hot weather, I bet it smells like armpits there already."


    Na-ri chuckled at Soo-min''s graphic description. "I also don''t want to stand all night long."


    "Yeah," Wei agreed. "We bagged a pretty good spot. The extended stage is so near!"


    Jia, although still disappointed, didn''t retaliate any further.


    The sun was still high in the sky because noon had just passed. The official start time of the event was 3 PM, so right now, unknown school bands and dance troupes were the ones who took the stage.


    The bands on stage, d in various costumes, excitedly showed their talents. Some yed rock tunes that had the crowd on their feet, while others delivered soulful bads that resonated with the audience.


    Jia and her friends cheered along with the rest of the crowd, their usual academic stresses momentarily forgotten.


    As the previous band left the stage, a new figure emerged, drawing every eye in the field.


    It was none other than Minji, the popr senior who was also a trainee in a famous idolpany. A loud cheer, especiallying from the boys, erupted as she stepped into the spotlight.


    Minji, with her striking ck hair swept by the wind and her pale skin glowing under the sun, confidently waved at the audience.


    The cheers got louder as her beautiful face was shown on therge LED screen.


    "She''s so pretty," Jia whispered.


    "Coming from you?" Wei asked. "You''re pretty as hell, too!"


    With a smile, Minji took a moment to let the cheers subside before leaning into the microphone.


    "Hey, everyone!" she greeted, the crowd''s cheers growing once more. "I hope everyone''s enjoying the event so far."


    "Let''s make some memories and enjoy the most awaited event of the year¡ªthe Abracadabra Festival! Get ready for a magical experience filled with music, dance, and surprises. Keep your eyes open because you don''t want to miss a single moment!"

 Chapter 314 Two Stupid Vans

    <h4>Chapter 314 Two Stupid Vans</h4>


    Two vans raced through the streets. ck-tinted windows rolled down as the people inside danced in celebration.


    Loud music could be heard in the background, both songsing from the rookie idol group EVE.


    "Light it up, bro! Drop it down," a guy loudly eximed, almost sticking his head out of the window.


    Jisung pulled Akira back, looking worried.


    "You could lose your head, bro!"


    Akira ignored Jisung and continued crazily dancing inside the van. Zeth hyped him up while Casper quietly danced to the beat.


    Meanwhile, the other van was also hyped up, all in celebratory moods.


    Sehun led the celebration in this car, toasting their water bottles like wine sses in a bar.


    Ren and Jaeyong, who were considered the serious members of the team, loosened up and danced to their new song. Chul, too, nodded to the beat as he scrolled through his tablet.


    However, it couldn''t be denied that the other van was crazier. Makeshift confetti was all over the car floor, and the driver''s head was already throbbing from all the noise they were making.


    "June would hate it if he was in our car," Zeth suddenly said, chuckling at the thought of June already scolding them for being too loud.


    "But I think it''ll be fun. Do you think I''ll be able to convince him to dance like this with us?" Akira asked.


    "I think the world will turn upside down before that happens," Casper said.


    "Is that a challenge?" Akira asked.


    Casper raised his chin. "Take it as you want."


    Akira smirked. "Challenge epted."


    He once again popped his head out of the window.


    "Stop the car and have Junee here!" he shouted at Sehun.


    "What?" Sehun shouted back, tilting his head in confusion.


    "June!" Akira shouted louder. "Make hime here."


    Sehun''s frown deepened. "June? Isn''t he with you guys already?"


    Akira froze as he turned around to look at the present members'' faces.


    "June''s not here," he said, turning back to Sehun.


    Sehun''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "June''s not here, either."


    ***


    June woke up feeling refreshed. Despite sleepingte yesterday, he felt weirdly well-rested.


    He stood from his bed and leisurely went to the kitchen to drink some water.


    June rubbed his eyes awake and looked around, feeling like the dorm was unusually quiet.


    Did he wake up early again?


    He brought out his phone from his pocket, his eyes almost falling from his head when he saw the current time.


    2:30 PM.


    He also had 56 missed calls from multiple members.


    As he continued gazing at his phone, another call came, and he quickly answered it.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed.


    "June answered?" he heard Sehun from the background.


    "June''s here, guys," Casper said.


    "June! Come quickly," Akira shouted.


    "Why didn''t you guys wake me up?" June asked.


    Jisung nervously chuckled. "We took two cars today, so we thought you were in one car and vice versa."


    June sighed and massaged his nose bridge.


    "Are you guys there already?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "Chul''s going toe back and get you."


    Chul?


    "No need," June said. "I''ll get there by myself. We''re performing fifth, aren''t we?"


    "Yes," Jisung responded. "Chul says we''ll perform around 5-6 PM. But you need to hurry since you''re still going to change and get your hair and make-up done. Are you sure you don''t want Chul to get you?"


    "It''s fine," June said. "I''m heading out right now."


    June quickly took a shower before gathering his items and leaving their dorm.


    There were ten minutes until 3 PM, the official start of the event, and it took 20 minutes to arrive at Y University.


    It was a good thing they weren''t performing first. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have made it.


    He got on the bus, just like old times. However, he quickly frowned when he saw that the seats were almost full.


    Fortunately, there was one seat avable at the front, so he quickly sat on it.


    He brought out his phone to update Jisung on his whereabouts when it suddenly turned off.


    June sighed in frustration as it couldn''t be turned on. It seemed like he left it on all night and forgot to charge it.


    Whatever.


    He was still going to arrive at the university anyway.


    Just then, a pregnant woman with a huge bag of groceries entered the bus. She had one hand behind her back while she struggled to hold the grocery bag in the other.


    She looked around for a seat and pursed her lips in disappointment when she didn''t see an empty one. So, she stood at the aisle and held onto the hand grip instead.


    June clicked his tongue and was about to stand up when a pop-up appeared before him.


    [You hunted a lucky mission!]


    [Good deedies!]


    [Do a good deed.]


    [Aplish the mission to get +1 on one skill set of choice.]


    [Failure to aplish the mission entails regression of one skill.]


    June smirked and confidently stood from his seat.


    What a perfect timing!


    Although he was wearing a mask, he made sure to smile at the pregnant woman to seem kinder.


    "Please take a seat," June said.


    The pregnant woman smiled in relief before taking June''s seat.


    June helped her carry her bag and ced it right beside her seat.


    "Thank you so much, young man," the woman said. "I had to go to the grocery really quickly to buy milk and snacks for my older son."


    June smiled as he held onto the hand grip.


    "I''m sure he''ll be happy drinking and eating these."


    "I hope so," the pregnant woman said. "It''s rare for me to have moments like this because I can''t really leave him alone. Cons of a single mom, I guess."


    "Oh," June said. "Well, you''re a great mom for still doing your best."


    The pregnant woman smiled up at him, looking touched.


    "Thanks," she said. "Haven''t heard that in a while."


    June merely nodded before looking away.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted the mission: Good Deedies!]


    [Please choose one aspect to improve.]


    ''Vocals.''


    [Vocals +1. Current grade: S-]


    June was busy cackling in his mind when the pregnant woman tapped him.


    "Can you get the button?" she asked. "My stop''s here."


    June smiled, already in a good mood. "Sure."


    He pressed the button, and the bus stopped.


    The pregnant woman waved and sincerely smiled at June before leaving the bus.


    June reciprocated her smile and sat back down on his seat.


    He sighed in relief, feeling satisfied that he now had an S-tier skill.


    It was perfect timing for the Abracadabra Festival, too.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he felt something near his feet. He nced to the side and saw a grocery bag filled with milk and snacks.


    It was the pregnant woman''s grocery bag.


    June froze and closed his eyes.


    He looked around to see if anybody noticed, but no one else was looking his way except for a couple of young girls giggling as they met with June''s eyes.


    June bit his lip and looked at the digital clock on the bus.


    3:10 PM.


    The event must have started already, and he was sure his phone was getting bombarded with messages.


    However, the grocery bag couldn''t escape his view.


    "It''s rare for me to have moments like this because I can''t really leave him alone. Cons of a single mom, I guess," her words echoed in his mind.


    ''Don''t,'' he said in his mind.


    ''You''ve already aplished your mission! You don''t need to do a good deed anymore!''


    ''And you have a performance in more or less an hour!''


    However, as June thought about the little kid''s disappointed face after finding out his mom didn''t bring home any milk or snacks, his heart softened.


    "Oh, fuck it," he whispered, standing up and pressing the button.

 Chapter 315 Standby

    <h4>Chapter 315 Standby</h4>


    The seven members of EVE tapped their feet on the ground, almost at a collective beat. They nced at the door and the clock like watching a tennis match, wondering where June went and what was taking him so long.


    The event had already started, and INZI had just finished opening the show. For now, RO5Y was the one on stage.


    The time for EVE to perform was getting nearer and nearer, yet June was still out of sight.


    "Did Chul arrive at the dorm?" Zeth asked, biting his nails.


    "Yes," Jaeyong said, looking at the most recent text Chul had sent. "He''s not there."


    "What?" Akira eximed.


    "Oh gosh," Jisung worriedly said, getting up and pacing back and forth. "Was he kidnapped or something?"


    "Or, maybe he got ran over," Akira sadly suggested.


    His teammates red at him, causing him to raise his hands in surrender. "I''m just stating the possibilities. In the end, he isn''t answering our calls either."


    "We''ll make sure to avenge his death," Jisung said with determination.


    "Stop it. I''m sure he didn''t die," Casper said. "With June''s luck, he must have run into some kind of mishap."


    "It''s our debut stage," Ren said, also growing anxious by the minute. "You don''t think he''d fluke out on us, would he?"


    "He wouldn''t," Sehun said. "June''s not like that. He worked the hardest out of all of us for this debut. He''lle, I''m sure."


    ***


    Meanwhile, June was running through the university grounds like a madman.


    He took longer than expected since he couldn''t find the pregnant woman, and when he did, a bunch of olddies recognized who he was. They fed him with homemade snacks, and in the end, he couldn''t help but ept their hospitality.


    Fortunately, he made it to the university grounds just in time.


    He showed his face to the man guarding the artists'' area, and he was quickly let in.


    There were artists and crew members scattered around the hallways, but he paid them no attention.


    June had to go to their waiting room fast.


    However, multiple people stopped him on his way there.


    "Hey, June. Congrats!"


    "Congrattions, June."


    "Oh, you''re June, right? Congrattions, man!"


    He even ran into Jordan along the way.


    "June," Jordan said, patting his back. "Congrats, bro."


    June was increasingly bing confused. The greetings didn''t stop with Jordan, too. Amira, who had a passive yet shy look on her face, nudged his shoulder.


    "Congrattions, I guess," she softly said.


    "Thanks?" June said in a confused tone.


    For a second, he saw a member of OCTA outside their room. Ocho, was it?


    However, when he locked gazes with June, he gave him a quick re before going back to their room.


    Finally, after much struggle, he finally made it into their waiting room. He opened the door and saw his teammates already dressed in their stage outfits.


    They wore beachy outfits simr to the ones they wore during their concept shoot. However, they all wore light-wash denim of different styles to tie their look together.


    They collectively looked at June when he arrived, relieved looks gracing their faces.


    "Everyone''s acting weird," June started off, still feeling breathless. "Everybody kept on congratting me as I passed by¡ª"


    "We don''t have time," Jaeyong said, shoving June his clothes. "Get ready and meet us backstage. We''re the next performers."


    June''s eyes widened before swiftly changing into his clothes. It was once again a button-up shirt, but it wasn''t as stiff as the one he wore during the concept shoot.


    He went out of the dressing room and was greeted by an anxious make-up artist.


    "Sit down, sir," she said. "I need to get your make-up done in less than ten minutes."


    June closed his eyes and let her do her magic. She was being aggressive with the sponges and brushes, but June guessed it was the consequence of beingte.


    "I think this is the best I could do for now," she said after a few minutes.


    June opened his eyes and observed his face.


    "It''s a good thing you don''t need much make-up. Otherwise, we would have been in a lot of trouble," she chuckled.


    June nodded in approval before standing up.


    "Thanks, I have to go now."


    "Good luck with your first stage," she called from a distance.


    June paused for a while.


    Their debut stage.


    It had only hit him that this was their very first stage¡ªthe first time they were going to perform ''Oasis'' in front of arge audience.


    June arrived backstage, where he saw his teammates anxiously looking at the stage.


    MORPH3D was still performing, but it seemed like their set was about to finish.


    June felt his heart race inside his chest as he joined his members.


    Jaeyong, despite feeling nervous himself, patted June''s back.


    "I''m d you made it. We couldn''t have performed this song without you."


    "Sorry, I ran into something," June apologized.


    Akira chuckled and shook his head. "You and your bad luck. I swear, that will kill you someday."


    June merely scoffed before focusing his gaze on the stage. MORPH3D was already saying their goodbyes to the audience, causing their cheers to get louder.


    The grounds seemed to shake with the students'' shouts, causing the members of EVE to be excited yet anxious at the same time.


    Will they get the same reaction as MORPH3D did?


    Minji went back to the stage to introduce the next performer. She turned to the side and saw the handsome eight-member idol group already waiting near the stage.


    She smiled before cing the mic near her lips.


    "Are you all still having fun?" she asked.


    The audience answered with a loud ''yes.''


    "Well, the night is only going to get hotter with our next performer."


    "Hailing from the heart of thepetitive music scene, they''re not just a rookie group¡ªthey are the chosen ones, the rising stars of the nation! Let''s wee none other than LEVEL-UP, otherwise known as EVE!"


    The team, despite receiving plenty of cheers during their time on Rising Stars, didn''t expect the intensity of the cheers they were currently getting.


    As they assumed their positions on stage, they couldn''t help but exchange surprised nces at each other.


    There were still a lot of students who didn''t bother cheering for them, especially since they were the fifth set of the night and the students were getting a bit tired.


    However, it was much more than they had expected.


    They were already at par with the previous performers!


    June looked around the sea of green, which was the official color of the school, and let out a deep breath. He made sure he was centered before closing his eyes and saying a silent prayer.


    Everything seemed to turn into slow motion as they were gestured to stand by.


    This was it.


    June opened his eyes before staring right into the camera in the middle.


    "3¡­2¡­1¡­"

 Chapter 316 Debut Stage

    <h4>Chapter 316 Debut Stage</h4>


    "We got this," Jaeyong said from behind June, causing a small smile to erupt on his face.


    Yeah, they got this.


    As the fifth performer of the night, it couldn''t be denied that the audience was less energetic than the previous performances. The order of their performance wasn''t really ideal.


    June had been performingst on Rising Stars for a good reason¡ªand this was one of them.


    However, June thought this was the perfect time to have their performance. They had the honor of performing during the sunset. It was simr to the scene in their music video¡ªhues of pink and orange across the sky.


    The LED screen illuminated, transforming the stage into a virtual beach paradise,plete with palm trees swaying in the breeze.


    The audience, who continued fanning themselves because of the relentless heat, was refreshed with the visuals presented to them.


    Jia watched silently, her eyes sparkling underneath the darkening skies.


    "Let everything go smoothly," she whispered, hoping the best for her favorite group and idol.


    The light beat of their debut song echoed through the venue, and smiles adorned the members'' faces.


    As the first note of their debut song filled the air, EVE moved in perfect unison.


    Then, June, their main vocalist, stepped forward, his face now shown on therge screen.


    "Ooh."


    It was the first time during the festival that the audience reacted in such a way for a boy group member. His face was practically glowing under the setting sun. Those who have seen him only on television were shocked by his real-life visuals.


    Actually, it was already shocking to have a group filled with visuals.


    "In the embrace of waves, where the sun meets the shore,


    A life lived in water, forever wanting more."


    June''s voice resonated in the open field. Despite it not being the ideal venue to showcase their vocals due to itsck of natural reverb, June''s voice still managed to fill the entirety of the field.


    Some of the audience members who didn''t watch Rising Stars and were originally not paying attention found themselves looking up from their phones to see the person who just sang.


    "Was that live just now?"


    "I think so."


    "No, I don''t think it''s live. It was too stable that it sounded like a recording."


    Jia turned around to a group of skeptical freshmen and smiled.


    "It''s live. It''s most definitely live," she said with resolution.


    Although Jia also found it hard to believe in the beginning, she caught a subtle breath in June''s voice.


    It was her indication that this performance was indeed live.


    The tedious practice and the S-tier upgrade for his vocals did June a really good favor.


    "Rise like the sun. Rise with the tides.


    Hold on tight for this hot, wild ride."


    Casper took the center and rapped in an equally stable voice. He rallied back and forth with Zeth, none of their voices faltering despite the jumpy choreography.


    Ren and Akira harmonized during the pre-chorus, and it sent chills down the audience''s spine.


    "Hey, I don''t think they have a backtrack," Soo-min said, amazed by their performance. "The other artists have one, and the second group who performed was even lip-syncing."


    "I think you''re right," Wei said. "How good are these rookies? They''re giving everyone a run for their money."


    Na-ri nodded, not speaking since she was recording a fancam to upload after the event was over.


    "Oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, my life is


    Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love is deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, I''ve found my true home."


    As the chorus hit, confetti cannons exploded, surprising the audience and showering them in a cascade of colorful paper.


    The students, momentarily forgetting the heat, cheered with enthusiasm.


    The other members joined June at the front, and then they broke out in a synchronized dance.


    However, despite the synchronization, their individual styles couldn''t be hidden.


    Oasis was the type of song that didn''t require robotic movements, so the fact they could incorporate each individual style into a synchronized dance was definitely impressive.


    Sehun''s grin spread as he led the group in the dance break section, his movements showing joy and exhration.


    Those feelings didn''t go past the audience, and they slowly started getting more into the song.


    "I saw the music video yesterday. Is this really the same song?"


    "I feel so happy right now. I can''t describe it."


    "The song definitely deserves its achievements."


    The second verse brought a change in excitement, the members slowly busting out a more intricate dance sequence.


    Despite theplexity of the moves, they maintained an air of effortlessness.


    "But a home bes a stranger at one point.


    Love leaves, and friendships disappoint.


    Life gets in the way; there''s nothing we can do.


    But ept the bitter truth that we all grew."


    Jaeyong rapped with his heart, making the audience feel the weight of his words.


    It was the perfect lyrics for university students¡ªespecially those away from their homes.


    It took them back to the times when they were mere teenagers, wanting to be more independent and live on their own.


    However, despite the initial fun they had being alone, they also missed their home¡ªwhere they could eat homemade food for their meals and not gummy bears and some kind of instant soup.


    Their nostalgia increased as the chorus yed once more, having an entirely different meaningpared to the first one despite having the same lyrics.


    The choreography continued with a yful mix of spins, jumps, and rhythmic footwork. It was the most dreaded part for the group since it sucked out their energy.


    However, they pushed through their fatigue and continued dancing with smiles on their faces.


    Their breaths could be slightly heard over the speakers, which only strengthened the allegations that they were, indeed, singing live.


    Jisung took the center for the next dance break, and June was right behind him.


    As he was not as seen in his current location, he took the time to activate the Breath of Eternity as the high note for the bridge was fast approaching.


    June was already out of breath, but he tried to pace himself for the uing high note.


    His part came faster than expected, and before he knew it, he was back to the center.


    Ren had just finished his part of the bridge, and now, it was June''s turn to show off what he had practiced.


    ''Activate Breath of Eternity.''


    Meanwhile, the technical team was having a great time listening to EVE''s song.


    "This seems like an entirely different performance than the one they had during their rehearsals," one member said.


    "Yeah," the other agreed. "They must have not warmed up during that time."


    "I''m dreading this part, though. We added a very light backtrack, but the pressure is still on for June."


    Daniel carefully listened to their conversation.


    Being the head of the technical team, he had the important task of controlling the music for the artists.


    He knew just how important his role was.


    However, Daniel was the type of person who couldn''t handle being rejected.


    And Jia, the girl he had liked for six months, liked the guy who was currently centerstage.


    Daniel stared at the control panel and felt an evil thought evade his mind.


    "Just for a second," he muttered under his breath.


    And with that, he ced his hand on the music volume control and brought it down.

 Chapter 317 Dumb Daniel

    <h4>Chapter 317 Dumb Daniel</h4>


    Breath of Eternity? Check.


    Handsome smile? Check.


    Clear throat? Check.


    June was ready for the high note.


    The 15-second note, which was practically impossible to sing after the intense dance break, was one of the things June dreaded during their practices.


    Despite having high-tier skills, June still had limits as a human.


    However, with the Breath of Eternity booster and the vocal upgrade he got earlier, June felt more confident.


    He once again took the center and smiled, cing the head-worn microphone closer to his lips.


    However, just as he was about to open his mouth to sing, the music abruptly stopped.


    June''s eyebrows momentarily raised in surprise. The audience, too, eximed in shock as the music stopped.


    "What the hell?"


    "Who the fuck turned it off?"


    "Aww, it stopped at this moment? Poor EVE."


    "Will they start the performance all over again?"


    The technical booth was in a frenzy after the music had been muted. The other members flocked to the control booth while Daniel acted frantic as well.


    "I¡ªI don''t know what happened, dude," he coolly said. "I was just chilling here, then it turned off."


    June, however, knew he couldn''t afford to fuck up this performance.


    The silence was deafening, but without missing a beat, June took a deep breath, shoulders squared as he held his gaze on the audience.


    "Laughter echoes in the oasis of our past.


    A timeless reverie, forever tost."


    The audience snapped their gazes back to the stage, looking at June with agape mouths.


    His voice, soft yet powerful, filled the void left by the absent music. The high note meant to be supported by a low backing track now relied solely on June''s vocal skill.


    He sustained the note, a seemingly impossible feat, and the audience watched in awe as the 15-second note unfolded before their eyes.


    June''s voice soared, resonating through the venue with a rity that surpassed their expectations.


    Jisung and Akira nced at each other, smirking, before singing the next lines of the song.


    The group relied on the beat inside their minds as they continued the song.


    At that moment, they sang in acape, debunking all lip-syncing allegations.


    The audience, initially taken aback by June''s high note, erupted into apuse. However, one girl remained silent through it all¡ªJia.


    Her gaze was focused on June, falling deeper in love with the idol.


    How could he surprise her every single day?


    Daniel, who initially felt smug after lowering the music''s volume, now listened to their set with awe.


    "Idiot!" one of the members eximed, pping the back of his head and making him snap out of his thoughts.


    "The volume''s turned down."


    The other member took the initiative to turn the music up, and just like that, the apaniment perfectly synced with EVE''s singing.


    Not only was it impressive that they managed to sing well despite their difficult choreography. However, it was almost as impressive for them to be able to keep the beat of the song without the backtrack.


    "I''ll man the control booth," a girl pushed Daniel away, causing him to plop to the ground, his pants falling and fully showing his ass crack.


    The technical booth erupted into shrieks while Daniel quickly covered the crack with his hands. He looked at the disgusted looks on his members'' faces and quickly ran away from the booth while pulling up his pants.


    He initially wanted to enjoy the rest of the festival, especially since LUNIX still hasn''t performed.


    However, that night, Daniel decided that staying home was the best idea.


    "Beware the Oasis in the desert of need.


    For in its seemingly quenching waters lies the peril of drowning.


    In the heat, none perish, but within the embrace of a deceptive sanctuary...


    The true danger unfolds."


    Some of the artists who were watching the livestream of the festival on their respective phones were amazed by what just happened.


    Jordan stared at June and shook his head. He always thought that he, himself, was the most talented center that came out of Rising Stars.


    However, he was doubting that now.


    "We can definitely do that," Nico said, crossing his arms in front of her chest.


    "Jordan can," Moon teased. "You definitely can''t. You have the loudest backtrack among us."


    Nico red at him. "Fuck off."


    Meanwhile, Amira''s eyes were practically zing. She quickly wrote her number on a small piece of paper and tucked it into her handkerchief.


    She initially didn''t want to make the first move because, quite frankly, boys begged for her number¡ªnot the other way around.


    However, seeing as June must be shy (he was definitely not), she decided to make the first move and hand him her handkerchief after their performance.


    "Oasis, the home we perceived.


    Oasis, our home, where no one leaves."


    The final notes of the song lingered in the air as EVE struck a triumphant pose, basking in the cheers and apuse of the exhrated audience.


    Despite the dark connotation of the song and the murderous theme it had in the music video, the audience didn''t feel such horror in their performance.


    It may be because the boys looked really happy while performing the song¡­


    Or maybe they''ve been held captive by the song, and they were now experiencing Stockholm Syndrome.


    Or maybe even both!


    However, one thing was certain.


    EVE''s debut stage was a hit, and people have already started sharing the videos they''ve taken on online tforms.


    EVE stayed in their positions for a while, looking straight into the audience with wide smiles on their faces.


    Then, when a staff member gave them the cue, they quickly bowed and left the stage. Since they only came out with their album yesterday and were nning to showcase their B-side track on a music show, they only got to perform one song.


    Others had two to three songs, but honestly, it didn''t matter.


    That one song made a great impact on the audience as it is.


    As they went down the stage, June exchanged knowing nces with his fellow members.


    They all had amon expression¡ªthe satisfaction of a sessful debut written across their faces.


    The stage, now absent of the traces of the sunset, held the magic of a summer evening in November¡ªone that would be remembered by the members for years toe.

 Chapter 318 Number Five

    <h4>Chapter 318 Number Five</h4>


    As EVE went down the stage, they passed by OCTA, who was set to perform next.


    Seven, who wasn''t acquainted with EVE, waved his hand at June, to which June waved back.


    He didn''t know much about him, but he seemed to be a good kid.


    Then, at the very end of the line, June saw Uno, who was looking at him with an iprehensible expression.


    June remembered how Uno talked to him in thefort room¡ªwhen he didn''t think they were on the same level.


    Sucks for this guy! They were both S-tiers now.


    So, June did what he thought would annoy Uno even more¡ªand that was to smile at him.


    Kill them with kindness, as they say.


    With a smile, June passed OCTA confidently. His teammates excitedly spoke among themselves, still not over the thrill of the performance.


    "That was so good! We were so good," Zeth ranted. "That was definitely the most handsome performance we''ve had."


    "I had so much fun," Sehun said.


    "And it''s just the beginning," Jaeyong said. "Good job to everyone."


    June smiled as he listened to his teammates while wiping the sweat dripping from his temples. He was about to bring out his handkerchief when he felt a pat on his shoulder.


    June stopped, causing his other teammates to stop, too. Akira''s eyes widened when he saw Amira by June''s side, holding a handkerchief toward his way.


    He was about to speak when Jaeyong covered his mouth and dragged him in the direction of their lounge. His other members also quietly went to their lounge, not wanting to interrupt June and Amira''s moment.


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry.


    "Yes, senior?" he politely asked.


    Amira blushed with the sound of his voice. She made sure the piece of paper that contained her number was in the handkerchief before pushing it closer to June.


    "Here," she said. "Wipe your sweat or something. It''s dripping everywhere."


    June chuckled and looked at his surroundings. "I think it''s all good. The floor''s clean."


    Amira pursed her lips. "Just take it."


    June shook his head before pulling out his very own handkerchief from his pocket and showing it to Amira with a proud smile.


    "I have mine."


    With that, he wiped away his sweat with his handkerchief. Amira looked at him, dumbfounded by the situation.


    "Thanks for offering, though. I''ll get going then, senior."


    June waved goodbye before leaving Amira in the same spot, still not snapping out of her daze.


    After a while, she finally realized what happened.


    "Did he just reject me?"


    June entered their room and was immediately greeted with teases.


    "You traitor!" Akira eximed, catching June in a chokehold. However, June had been choked plenty of times, and by instinct, he flipped Akira over.


    His members'' eyes widened at the scene before them, and June finally realized his actions as he looked at the shocked Akira on the ground.


    "Where the hell did you learn that?" Sehun asked.


    June cleared his throat and sat on the couch. "It was just¡­instincts," he vaguely answered.


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "Whatever. What happened with you and Amira? How does she even know you?"


    June shrugged, leaning against the backrest of the couch. "I stumbled upon her group when we were rehearsing. She just wanted to give me her handkerchief."


    His members were once again shocked by his revtion.


    "Well, did you take it?" Akira asked, shaking June''s shoulders.


    June looked at him with confusion. "Of course not. I have my own," he said, showing them the handkerchief.


    "I don''t want to borrow hers and then be responsible for giving it back."


    Akira pursed his lips and shook his head in disappointment.


    "I can''t believe you have this kind of luck with thedies. I should have been the one born with it," he sadly said.


    Casper chuckled. "Well, you can have his entire luck if you want."


    Akira quickly shook his head. "Nah, I don''t want to die young."


    "Enough about this talk," Jaeyong said. "What do you guys want to orderter? It''s my treat."


    "Woah!" Jisung eximed. "As expected from our leader. I want sushi this time."


    "I want beef! The expensive one," Casper said.


    "Oh, can we get wine, too?" Ren asked. "It''s been a while since we drank."


    "Nope," Jaeyong shook his head. "No alcohol. We still have to practice tomorrow for the music show on Friday."


    "What are we celebrating?" June asked. "Is it the sess of our first stage?"


    "Well, that''s one," Jaeyong responded. "We did really well earlier, by the way. I thought June wouldn''t pull off that high note."


    "Ey," Akira said, bumping shoulders with Jaeyong. "Are you doubting June''s skills now?"


    "No," Jaeyong said. "It''s a hard note for anyone. I was just worried, but he did it well¡­very well, in fact. You''re trending on Navel again."


    "Gosh, our center is doing such a great job," Zeth said. "I''m so d you debuted as the center in the end."


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Well, what else are we celebrating then? Everyone was congratting me even before our performance ended, so it was pretty confusing¡­"


    His members nkly stared at him.


    "What?" June asked.


    "You don''t know yet?"


    "What?" June repeated.


    "Didn''t you check the charts earlier?" Ren asked.


    "No," June responded. "I woke upte, and my phone died when I was on the bus. I didn''t have the opportunity to check on anything."


    "That''s why you''re so confused," Jisung chuckled. "You should check it as soon as possible, bro. I''m sure you''ll like what you''ll see very much."


    June sighed in impatience. "Just tell me."


    His members exchanged knowing nces before gesturing to Jaeyong to do the honors.


    "We sold a million albums," he started off. "We weren''t able to beat OCTA''s record of 1.3 million albums, but it''s alright."


    June was pleasantly surprised. Honestly, he already expected it since it was easier to get a million physical album sales in this era. He would have been more shocked if they didn''t reach it.


    However, Jaeyong''s next statement was something he would have never expected.


    "Oh, and our song is now number five on the Durian charts."

 Chapter 319 Unused

    <h4>Chapter 319 Unused</h4>


    "Why is everybody talking about our rejected song?" Xion asked, entering their conference room.


    The three other members of CHAOS were already there, busily scrolling through their phones. They were gathered by their manager to talk about their uing tour, but it seemed like the employees of thepany had something more important to talk about.


    "Do you live under a rock?" Gideon asked. "Check Durian."


    Xion frowned as he sat on one of the chairs and scrolled through his phone. He smiled when he saw their song still on the third spot. However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw the song below them.


    Just one song below them, to be specific.


    "They actually managed to break through the top five?" Xion eximed.


    Kwon leaned against his seat and nodded.


    "A lot of new groups have achieved that, though," Xion defended.


    "Yeah," Nashon, their main rapper, said. "But all of them have been girl groups. Boy groups don''t have a chance these days."


    Xion bit his lip.


    "And to make matters worse, the song that managed to get this achievement is Oasis," Gideon said.


    "Oasis, where have I heard that again?" Xion ced his hands over his head. "Don''t tell me...is it the song we rejected?"


    Gideon nodded. "That''s why the staff are causing a frenzy. They''re bickering about who let the song go when it could have been another hit. None of our other songs on the albums managed to get into the top 20 of the charts this time, so it''s kind of hectic."


    Just then, another member entered the room, a frown on his face.


    "Why''s everyone so noisy?" he asked.


    "Haruki!" Xion eximed. "Have you seen this?" he asked, showing Haruki his phone.


    Haruki sighed before nonchntly sitting. "Is this what it''s all about?"


    "Why do you look unfazed?" Kwon asked. "The song we rejected is upying the fifth spot on the charts right now."


    "Did it beat our rank?" Haruki asked, inspecting his nails.


    "No," Xion said. "But still¡­"


    "Then, I don''t care," Haruki said. "You guys are way too threatened by a rookie group. If you ask me, I''ll be more afraid of OCTA. They''re from Esper Entertainment. That EVE group will disband in the end¡­and if something bad happens, they might end up disbanding earlier."


    His teammates didn''t speak anymore.


    "So, let''s stop talking about them," Haruki said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "And let''s focus on our tour instead."


    ***


    June continued gazing at the Durian chart like a little kid in a candy store.


    The other members, on the other hand, were busy watching their uploaded fan cams on Navel.


    The smiles on their faces couldn''t be painted with how happy they were. Not only were they able to aplish much more than they had expected, but the mishap in their performance a while ago was also quickly bing viral.


    "Our name''s on top of the trends list," Sehun giddily said.


    "OCTA and the other groups are trailing behind us, but I don''t think they''ll catch up anytime soon," Zeth observed. "I thought they would reach number one during their performance, too."


    Indeed, although the other performances after EVEs were impressive, it couldn''t be denied that the impact of their acape singing outshone the seeding performances.


    June stood from his seat and let out an iprehensible noise, causing the other members to shift their focus from their phones to their pink-haired center.


    "What?" Zeth asked.


    "Our song," June said.


    "It just moved to fourth ce."


    His members quickly went to where he was to confirm the revtion. Indeed, their song was now on the fourth spot in Durian''s Hot 100 songs.


    Ren and Akira, who couldn''t contain their happiness, encased each other in manly hugs. However, when they realized who they were hugging, they quickly let go of each other.


    Jisung squeezed June''s bicep, but thetter didn''t flinch. He was too focused on looking at their song on the fourth spot.


    Zeth and Sehun jumped like high school girls, while Casper immediately called his sisters to tell them the good news. Jaeyong, on the other hand, observed his teammates with a fond smile.


    Their celebration was cut off, however, when a staff member entered the room and called them for thest stage of the night.


    The group excitedly trudged to the hallways, not giving a damn if the other artists were giving them envious looks.


    They also ran along BOYMYSTIC, and Nico looked at June with a bitter expression.


    "You must be happy, huh?" Nico started off. "You got lucky right there, buddy. If we would have gotten the technical difficulty, then I would have nailed it too¡ª"


    "Hey, Ji," June said, not bothering to look at Nico. "How do you take a picture of the screen again?"


    "You mean screen capture?" Jisung asked.


    "Yes, that," June said. "I forgot."


    Nico pursed his lips in anger and was about to speak once more when Jordan covered his mouth and shook his head.


    "Stop being petty," he reprimanded his youngest teammate.


    As they waited for Poison to finish hisst song of the night¡ªGangnam Spice, OCTA emerged from behind EVE.


    June made eye contact with Uno, and just as June was about to smile, Uno quickly looked away.


    June shrugged and went back to sending his achievement to Grandma and Minjun.


    Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait long before the final stage of the night. All the artists went out to the stage, garnering the loudest screams of the night.


    The iconic intro of Woojin''s Caterpir yed through the speakers, and the students all eximed in nostalgia.


    As the artists simultaneously sang the first lines, the audience sang along with them too.


    Ren once again offered the microphone to June, but thetter quickly shook his head.


    June knew he had forgotten something.


    He forgot to learn theirst song.


    June looked at his user interface to see if there was something that could help him learn songs faster, even though he knew he didn''t have any boosters left.


    However, much to his surprise, there was one booster remaining.


    [Breath of Eternity - 1]


    He frowned as he selected the booster. Didn''t he use this during the bridge''s high note?


    [Breath of Eternity. Expiring in 3 days]


    [To activate, do three consecutive hip thrusts.]


    June stared at it in disbelief before shaking his head. Due to his busyness yesterday, he forgot to learn how to activate the booster.


    "Huh," he whispered, not quite believing that he still had the booster.


    How was he able to pull off the high note, then?

 Chapter 320 Debut Domination

    <h4>Chapter 320 Debut Domination</h4>


    EVE, the Debut Dynamite¡ªBreaking Records with their Beats!


    Wee to the wild world of K-pop, where music is hotter than the sun and idols are more important than your parents. In the midst of the hot weather emerges a new sensation¡ªEVE. These boys aren''t just here to sing¡ªthey''re here to conquer with their debut title track, Oasis!


    In this hot November, EVE came to quench your thirst and your thirsty minds. But hold on, before you dive into the chill vibes of ''Oasis,'' EVE wants you to remember the environment.


    Protect the environment, idiots! I want to enjoy a cold winter!


    Going back to the regr programming, let''s talk about the salient points of the group''s strong debut.


    Oasis: The Coolest Cure


    The track has be the unofficial cool-down anthem. It''s so good; even the sun is jealous.


    Record-Breaking Debut: A Million Preorders and Counting


    EVE isn''t just making music; they''re making history. Their debut album racked up a staggering one million preorders, and on the first day of its release, it danced its way into the hearts of half a million fans. It''s like the entire K-pop world collectively hit the preorder button simultaneously. The only thing faster than EVE''s rise to stardom is how quickly their fans are snatching up their albums.


    Durian Chart Domination: Fourth ce and Still Smelling Sweet


    Breaking into the top five of the infamous Durian chart is no small feat. EVE not only did it, but they did it with style,nding at a sweet fourth ce at its peak. Forget the pungent smell; EVE''s sess is the only aroma we''re interested in.


    Live Magic at the Abracadabra Festival


    EVE isn''t just about studio magic; they''ve got some live tricks up their sleeves, too. At the Abracadabra Festival, the group wowed the crowd by singingpletely live. No autotune, no safetys¡ªjust pure talent. The performance became an instant hit, spreading like wildfire across Navel, LikLok, and Y. With over five million viewsbined, EVE is now a name on everyone''s lips.


    In summary, EVE is definitely an idol group you should look out for. Preorder their album and stream their songs on every tform!


    Peace Out,


    MinMin


    June smiled as he read the article Minjun had sent him this morning. He was now at 700,000 followers, and his post about EVE garnered over 20,000 retweets from different fandoms.


    "What are you reading that''s making you smile so much?" Akira asked, plopping next to him. "Don''t tell me¡ªdid you get a girlfriend?"


    "Girlfriend?" Jaeyong asked, turning his head faster than lightning. "Look, I know you''re good-looking, June, and there are a lot of good-looking idols out there, but we can''t date in these three years."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "You don''t have to worry. I''m not dating anyone. If you need to lecture someone, then lecture Akira. I saw him talking to a RO5Y member a while ago."


    Akira squeaked as Jaeyong looked at him with murderous eyes.


    Today was the day they presented their debut single on a music show. They weren''t nominated for first ce yet, as the tracking of their song still hasn''t ended, but performing in front of their fans was already enough for the members of EVE¡­at least, for now.


    They were currently resting while waiting for the other artists to finish performing so they could go back to the stage for the winner''s announcement.


    June was busy scrolling through his phone when someone knocked on their door.


    Jaeyong stopped chasing Akira around and opened the door. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw five beautifuldies standing outside their door.


    "LUNIX?" Jaeyong loudly said, causing the others to stand at attention.


    June, on the other hand, casually looked over their way. They had met once, so he wasn''t too surprised by their arrival.


    "June!" Darcy eximed. "It''s nice seeing you again."


    His members looked at him with wide eyes, amazed by how casually Darcy addressed him.


    June nodded as he stood. "What brought you here, seniors?"


    "I told you not to call us seniors, right?" Darcy chuckled. ''"It makes us sound old."


    "Right¡­Darcy. What brought you here?"


    "Oh, we just wanted to give you guys our album. If you want, you can give us your album too. We''re definitely not here because a certain someone wants to see June¡ª"


    Amira quickly nudged Darcy''s shoulder, subtly ring at her.


    "Of course!" Akira quickly said, bringing out the albums Chul had prepared for them to swap with other artists.


    "Here, senior¡­I mean, Darcy."


    Darcy looked at the album and smiled. However, as she turned to Akira, her expression turned serious.


    "We debuted earlier than RAVEN," she said. "Call us seniors."


    Akira''s mouth went agape. "B¡ªbut why did you tell June¡ª"


    "Amira has something to give June, too," Darcy said, cutting off Akira. "Right, Amira?"


    Amira''s eyes widened as 12 pairs of eyes all turned to her. She brought out a bunch of snacks from her bag and gave it to Jaeyong.


    "Here," she said. "Have something sweet before heading back to the stage."


    The boys looked at her treat with wide eyes. Ren tried to open a packet, but Akira pped his hand and shook his head.


    "This should be safely kept," he whispered.


    While the other boys physically fought for the snacks that Amira had bought (except for Zeth and Casper since they were too cool for that), the beautiful girl quietly approached June and brought out a special trinket from her bag.


    "Here," Amira said, feeling like her pride was being stepped on.


    However, as she gazed into June''s eyes, she quickly swallowed her pride.


    "Perepo?" June muttered.


    "It''s for you. Take it," Amira said, practically shoving it in his hands before taking Darcy''s arm and leaving the room.


    As the door shut, the boys finally stopped fighting for the snacks, Akira reigning with more than half of what Amira had brought.


    "Aww, man," Akira said when he noticed their absence. "They already left? I was just about to say my pick-up line."


    "Which is?" Casper asked.


    "Hey, Amira. I''m Akira. I think we should make an Alira."


    His members looked at him with nonchnt expressions.


    Akira chuckled at his own line. "Get it? Cause L is in the middle of M and K? And that''s the only difference in our name. So, technically, if we have a daughter, she''d be named Alira."


    "We get it," Ren said with a disgusted expression.


    "And we''re not amused," Sehun added.


    Just then, Akira saw June opening what seemed to be a Perepo snack box.


    "What''s that?'' he asked, letting go of his other snacks. "Did Amira give you that?"


    June shrugged, opening the box.


    At the very top of the box interior, he saw a pick-up line.


    ''Who coborated with Karl Marx to produce ''The Communist Manifesto''?''


    June froze since it was in English. However, he tried really hard to understand all the letters.


    ''You, because you''re a Friedrich¡ª"


    Before he could finish reading the pick-up line, Akira grabbed the box from June and kept it in his pocket.


    "This is mine now," Akira smiled.


    "You already have plenty of admirers under your roster. Leave some for the rest of us."

 Chapter 321 Idol Sniper

    <h4>Chapter 321 Idol Sniper</h4>


    Attractive K-pop idols gathered, all with wide smiles on their faces. Surrounding them were cameras filming every angle and lights that were almost blinding.


    The hosts, Lee Taemin and Ong Manchae, two promising young artists who were quickly rising to fame in their respective fields, waited for the director''s cue.


    They had cue cards in one of their hands and a sparkly mic in the other.


    BOYMYSTIC and LUNIX, the nominated first cers for today''s music show, stood at the very front. Meanwhile, OCTA and EVE were behind them, also anticipating the winner''s announcement.


    Varying lightsticks from different fandoms were seen in the crowd. Best believe that Jia and her friends were there since they couldn''t miss EVE''s first official music show stage. However, since they were a rtively new group, EVE still didn''t have a lightstick.


    As a result, Jia brought a pink kitty lightstick from the dor store and used it to cheer for them instead.


    Finally, the director gave Manchae and Taemin the cue, and they quickly wore bright smiles on their faces.


    "Sharing music all over the world¡ªthe pride of K-pop," Taemin started off.


    "This is¡­"


    "Music Apex!" the two of them simultaneously said.


    "Tonight, we have our two lovely nominees¡ªLUNIX''s Fairy Lights and BOYMYSTIC''s One Stop Shop. Who is going to reign on top? Let''s see their scoreboard," Manchae said.


    Their stats with moving numbers were shown on screen, the two nominated artists watching in anticipation.


    "Music Streams¡­"


    LUNIX took the cake.


    "Album Sales¡­"


    BOYMYSTIC won this aspect by andslide.


    "Broadcast Score¡­"


    "Viewer''s Choice¡­"


    "And the winner for this week is¡­," Manchae said, waiting for their score to be totaled on the screen.


    "BOYMYSTIC!" she eximed. "Congrattions, you have won this week''s Music Apex. Here''s your trophy."


    Akira, who was entrusted to give the team their flowers and trophy, happily handed them to Jordan.


    Confetti flew everywhere, scaring most of the artists. Some of them faked their reactions just so they could make it into those ''Cute Idol Shocked Moments'' posted on different video tforms.


    "Uh, thank you so much for giving us our second win for this song," Jordan started off. "We''re so happy that you''ve been with us since the very beginning."


    Just then, he started tearing up, causing the other artists to turn toward their way.


    His teammates, too, were shocked by the sudden waterworks.


    "Umm, I don''t know if this is going to be oursteback," Jordan said amidst his tears,?"but all I know is that all of you made it memorable."


    "For our bombastics, thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to make you happy for more than two years."


    Fans in the audience started crying, and the other members tried their hardest not to cry.


    Nico, however, was fully sobbing after the speech of their center and leader.


    June looked at their team, allforting each other with wide smiles on their faces. Then, he looked at the trophy in Jordan''s hands, the shiny fake gold glistening under the stage lights.


    June felt something tug at his heart as he watched their reactions to their shared victory.


    He smiled and shook his head.


    Somehow, he really wanted that too.


    ***


    The boys were waiting for Chul toe to pick them up when Akira called Jisung to watch some videos on LikLok.


    Akiraughed as he scrolled through the videos, causing Jisung to frown.


    "Why are youughing, bro? If I were ced in one of theseptions, I would be very sad," he dejectedly said.


    Akiraughed even louder as he ruffled Jisung''s hair. "Oh gosh. You really are our youngest. Loosen up. His contents'' just for fun."


    "No, it''s not!" Jisung eximed. "This Idol Sniper guy is literally taking out idols one by one."


    "But it''s not for serious scandals," Akira countered.


    "Idol Sniper?" Zeth asked. "Is that the guy who exposes idols for the stupidest things?"


    "Yeah," Akira said. "I''ve beenughing my ass off since morning because of his videos."


    "I hate that guy," Zeth sulked. "He ced me in one of hisptions."


    "Well, was it a good one?" Casper asked. "I was in the ''Hunky Daddy Idols''ption."


    "No," Zeth deadpanned. "I was in the ''Idols Who Seem Like Narcissists'' one."


    "He isn''t wrong, though," Ren said, causing Zeth to re at him.


    "At least you weren''t in those insecurityptions," Sehun said. "I was in the ''Kpop Idols Who Have Your Insecurities: t Nose'' one."


    "Oof," Jaeyong said. "I saw one of mine, too."


    "What is it?" Akira asked.


    "Idols who look smart," Jaeyong responded.


    Akira pursed his lips. "Well, he''s not ALWAYS urate, I give him that. It''s a good thing I haven''t been ced in one of hisptions."


    "What do you mean?" Ren asked. "You were. I saw something two days ago, I think?"


    Akira''s eyes widened in surprise. "What? And you didn''t bother to tell me?"


    Ren shrugged, looking for the video on ''Idol Sniper''s'' profile so he could show it to Akira. "I didn''t want you to make such a big fuss about it."


    Akira smirked as he took Ren''s phone. "I''m assuming it''s a good one¡ª"


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw the title. It was under the same series as Sehun. However, instead of ''t nose,'' it was changed to ''big mouth.''


    Akira tossed Ren''s phone to the table and pouted. "I don''t have a big mouth, do I?"


    His teammates didn''t respond.


    "Ah, whatever!" Akira eximed. "At least I''m not in his Friday specials. I don''t know where this Idol Sniper guy gets his information, but it''s insane how much he has found out."


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "I sawst week''s special. Was it about that guy in DEN? They debuted not long ago, but he was already exposed for having stinky feet."


    "Yikes," Ren said. "I wouldn''t be able to show my face to the public afterward."


    "It came with screenshots from his college friends and a pair of his socks, too," Casper said.


    "Geez," Akira said. "My big mouth doesn''t seem too bad now. But, speaking of his Friday specials, isn''t it about time that he posted something...right about now?"


    Just then, a notification popped up on Akira''s feed, causing Jisung to re at him.


    "You have your notifications turned on for this dude?"


    Akira scratched the back of his neck. "He''s funny."


    Jaeyong scoffed. "You just want to see if you made it into one of his goodptions."


    "Shut up," Akira said. "I''m going to see who his victim is this time."


    Akira was about to click on the video when he saw who was in the thumbnail.


    "What?" Jaeyong asked. "I''m curious now. Who is it?"


    Akira''s eyes searched the room before theynded on pink hair.


    "It''s June."

 Chapter 322 Bad Grades

    <h4>Chapter 322 Bad Grades</h4>


    June finally lifted his head when he felt his members'' gazes on him.


    "What?" he asked.


    "Were you even listening?" Akira asked.


    "What?" June repeated.


    "You''re hopeless. Here we are, concerned for your career, but you''re here without a care in the world," Akira said.


    "What happened?" June asked, standing from his seat and sitting next to Akira.


    "Idol Sniper made a video about you; it''s not just any other video. It''s one of his Friday specials!" Ren eximed.


    "And so?" June asked. "Who is this guy?"


    "And so¡­you''re fucked," Akira said. "This guy is notorious for exposing idols for the pettiest things. It''s not cancel-worthy, but it''s something you''ll be stuck with for the rest of your career."


    June turned to Jisung. "Is he telling the truth?"


    Jisung nodded. "Yeah, one time, he made an exposing video for a guy who repeats his underwear. He showed such convincing evidence that the guy is still on hiatus because of it."


    "Oh," June said. "What''s my video all about then?"


    June wasn''t too scared of having a hygiene issue since he was a pretty neat man¡­very neat, in fact. Now, he didn''t know about Choi Joon-ho''s hygiene, but it seemed pretty good since his apartment was well-kept when he first transmigrated into his body.


    "I''m scared to watch it. What if you have to go on hiatus, too?" Jisung asked.


    June sighed and reached his hand over to y the video. "How bad can it be?"


    The video yed with a sped-up K-pop song as the background music. It didn''t have a voice-over, just pure text that transitioned with the chosen photos.


    ''Exposing your favorite idols pt. 23.''


    ''This week: June of EVE.''


    ''One of your most beloved idols has¡­''


    The members held their breaths in anticipation. They were expecting the worst¡ªmaybe bad breath, a BDSM kink, an emo phase¡­


    ''Bad grades.''


    They looked at the bold text on the screen.


    Akira sighed in relief when it wasn''t as bad as he imagined. "Oh, thank goodness," he said. "I thought it was something drastic."


    June kept his gaze on the screen. A report card with his name on top was shown, and it revealed the grades he had when he was in his second year of high school. His highest grade was a C-, which definitely wasn''t great. His overall GPA was 1.7, causing June to shake his head in disappointment.


    Choi Joon-ho''s grades were the lowest of the low. It was a miracle he even graduated high school with these grades!


    "I thought Jaeyong was bad," Akira said. "But damn, you take the cake."


    "Are kitties dumb?" Casper asked.


    "Shut up," June said. "What do thements say?"


    Akira opened thement section while the members brought their heads closer to each other to read it together.


    - I finally have something inmon with June.


    - The grandmas are going to be mad about this one. They hate it when their grandchildren have bad grades.


    - Us, grandmas, are disappointed.


    - I can''t believe young people idolize idols like this. They aren''t great influences.


    - That''s why he became an idol, didn''t he? He''s not going to be a doctor. He doesn''t need exceptional grades when all he does is sing and dance.


    - I would hate for my daughter to be a fan of someone like him. He''ll influence her to do even worse in school.


    - Instead of scrolling here, go educate your daughter.


    - I don''t know why people are mad. It''s just his high school grades. Who cares if he''s dumb?


    - My dumb pookie.


    - We love dumb people!


    - I don''t think we should glorify dumbness. It''s rooted in elitist perspectives, and it''s also the reason why smart shaming exists!


    "Hmm," Ren hummed. "Well, some are giving you backhandedpliments, some are disappointed, some find it funny, and some are making it too serious. It''s just another normal day on the inte!"


    "Agreed," Sehun said. "So, let''s just ignore it."


    June shrugged, not necessarily fazed by being called dumb. Maybe Choi Joon-ho wasn''t able to do well in school because of all the shit that happened during that time. He was already a trainee, and his parents must have died around that time, too.


    Just then, the door opened, and Chul made his way inside. He paused when he saw the boys'' current position, shaking his head since he was assigned to a weird bunch.


    "What are you guys doing?" he asked, sounding tired.


    "Oh, we were just watching Idol Sniper. June was featured on his profile," Akira responded.


    Chul raised his eyebrows in curiosity. After the toe-sucking incident, he distanced himself from June since he was afraid the idol would do something crazy if he pushed his limits.


    However, he knew the Idol Sniper guy, and if it was something as embarrassing as his toe-sucking tendencies, then Chul thought it wouldn''t be too bad to exploit it.


    "What is it?" Chul calmly asked.


    "Bad grades," Jaeyong responded. "His high school report card was exposed."


    "Oh," Chul said, a bit disappointed. It wasn''t as nearly as bad as his kink, so he quickly changed the subject.


    "I''m just going to ry your schedule tomorrow before we leave. At dawn, you''ll have your pre-recorded performance for another music show. Afterward, you''re going to attend the live show in the afternoon."


    "Sweet," Ren said. "So, we can rest while waiting for the live show, right?"


    "No," Chul said. "You''re going to gather in one of the practice rooms to film a dance practice video. Afterward, you''re going to have a livestream."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "After the music show, we can take a rest, then?" he asked.


    Chul shook his head. "No, we need to go back to the Azure building because we have a meeting with the marketing team."


    "What are we going to talk about?" Jaeyong asked.


    "You''ll know tomorrow. After sending you to the dorms today, I''m still going to meet with them for a preliminary meeting."


    Jaeyong shrugged. "Can we know what the content of the live stream will be, then?"


    "Oh, you''re finally going to reveal your official greeting, fandom name, and fandom color!"

 Chapter 323 Fandom

    <h4>Chapter 323 Fandom</h4>


    "Shoot to the Top! Hello, everyone. We''re LEVEL-UP!" Jaeyong led their team greeting, all of them bowing and lifting their heads at the same time.


    As they said their greeting, they all pointed to the heavens, signifying their intent of making it to the top. Currently, the eight members of EVE were gathered in Azure''s practice room. It was a formal live stream with a proper camera, lights, reflectors, and boom microphones. They had just finished recording their dance practice, so most of them already felt tired. However, seeing more than 100,000 people watching them on their live stream quickly woke them up. - I missed you, guys! - Girl, we see them almost every day because of their promotions. - I need to see EVE every second of the day. - I think this is the first time they revealed their official greeting? It''s so cool.


    - We''ll definitely shoot to the top!


    - What if they shoot inside me¡­


    "Oh gosh. You guys are quickly rising," Sehun said. "There''s 150,00 viewers right now." "Wow, as expected from our starlights," Zeth said. Casper clicked his tongue and nudged Zeth''s shoulder. "They''re not our starlights anymore." "Ah, you''re right! This isn''t Rising Stars," Zeth chuckled. "But that''s why we came here today. We''re going to be revealing very important details about our fandom." - Is the lightsticking out yet? "Lightstick?" Jisung asked, turning to Chul. Chul shook his head. "We''re still developing our lightstick!" Jisung shyly said. "Right," Jaeyong backed him up. "Actually, Azure is holding a special event for our lightstick. You can send in your designs to the attached link on their website, and if your design is picked, you''re going to be sent a special signed album from us!" "I''ll make sure to kiss it well, my lovelies," Akira winked. Jaeyong shook his head while thement section went crazy. - Akira winked at me. It''s official: we''re married. - What do you mean, married? I literally have our marriage papers in my room right now. - Tsk. Just marriage papers? I have our child on myp right now. - Oh, wow. I can''t beat that. - Where''s the hospital when you need it? "We''re actually going to tell you about the fandom name today," June said, wanting to get it over with so they can rest before heading back to the TV station for the live show. "Your fandom name is¡ª" Akira covered June''s mouth before he could reveal their fandom name. "Wow! You''ve said that in such a thrilling way," Akira sarcastically said. June sighed and removed Akira''s hand from his mouth. "We actually have to tell them other important stuff before getting to the fandom name," Ren chimed. - I swear, you all became Minho at one point (except for June). Stop edging us and give us what we want! - Just tell us our name. I''m having an identity crisis. "First, let''s start off with the leader of the group," Zeth said. "I think it''s pretty obvious from our greetings and the events we''ve done, but I think we should formally announce it." "It''s Jaeyong," June nonchntly said. They all turned to June, face-palming since he once again said it in a non-exciting way. Jaeyong chuckled before turning to the camera. "That''s right, it''s me! I''ll lead these silly boys from now on," he smiled. - Why not June? He''s the center. - Yeah, or Sehun? He''s the oldest. - We love leader Jaeyong! Sehun saw one of thements and raised his hands in surrender. "Don''t tag me in this leader thing, guys. I''m not a natural leader." "They''re saying you''re the oldest, though," Akira teased. "Don''t be so old-fashioned now," Sehun said. "Just because I''m the oldest in the group doesn''t automatically mean I should be the leader." "Yeah!" Ren agreed. "And June didn''t want to be the leader, right?" June calmly nodded. "I can''t lead these little kids," June deadpanned. "Hey!" "We''re not little kids!" "I''m a big boy." Jaeyong shook his head, now regretting the responsibility of taking care of such a rowdy bunch. - I understand June now. - Yeah, I love EVE, but being their leader feels like I''ll be babysitting all day. - Jaeyong''s perfect for this! He''s such a great leader. "But in all honesty," June said. "Jaeyong suits the leader position the most in this team. He''s a silent worker, but his efforts are very apparent." Akira nodded in agreement. "He''s a bit of a crybaby, but it''s alright! He''s our great leader."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue before moving on to the next agenda. "Our fandom color is up now," he said. "I saw many theories online," Casper said. "But most of them were wrong! I was hoping that it''s ck, though, but it''s not." Zeth weirdly looked at him. "Why would you even want a ck lightstick? It won''t even be seen at night. "My cat''s ck," he nonchntly said. - Oh my gosh. Is it the famous Luther? - I''ve been hearing so much about this cat, but I''ve never seen him until now. - Show us Luther! Casper chuckled. "I''ll show him to you when I get home. We''re very busy right now, so we don''t have the opportunity to go home." "Going back to our fandom color," Jisung said, "it''s a color that June likes very much." June pursed his lips, not denying it. "Do the honors, June," Jisung nudged him.


    "It''s pink," June said. "That''s right," Jaeyong excitedly said. "Our fandom color will be pink. Cotton candy pastel pink, to be exact. We''re going with the lighter pink since it''s easier on the eyes." - Pink for a boy group? Heck yes! - My favorite color is pink. My favorite member is June. I''m so happy right now <3. - We''re definitely going to make a pink ocean in the year-end awards next year! - Let''s go, pink boys! "And it''s finally time for the most awaited announcement of the night," Sehun eximed.


    "Are you guys ready to hear your fandom name?" - Yes, we''ve been ready since the very start! - Hit us! - I''m ready to be reborn. "We thought really hard about your name," Ren said. "It was definitely difficult to think about something that would represent our team name¡ªLEVEL-UP, our abbreviation¡ªEVE, and the show we came from¡ªRising Stars. However, we were able toe up with a perfect name." "Jisung was the one who came up with it," he continued. "Our little baby chick is such a genius!" Jisung blushed as he hid his face from the camera. "Say it, Ji," Akira said. "You''re not allowed to hate on your name, alright? You almost became STEVEs." "That was your idea," Ren sighed. Akira smiled. "It would have been funny." "Jisung, just say it," June said. Jisung nodded as he faced the camera. "The official fandom name will be¡­" "Astra!"

 Chapter 324 Variety Show Season

    324 Variety Show Season


    "Our dear astras," Akira cooed. "Don''t you think it''s so cute?" - That''s it. I''m legally changing my name to Astra. - Astra sounds so cute. But what does it mean? "Zeth, do the honors of exining the fandom name," Jaeyong said. "First," Zeth started off. "Astra means ''star'' in Latin. You are our precious stars! In other cultures, it also means ''extraordinary weapon.'' In this sense, you are the people who help us level up in the idol world." "That''s right," Jisung said. "It is also rted to our group name abbreviation, EVE, since stars can better be seen during the evening. That means you shine with us, and we also shine with you." "Lastly," Ren continued. "We want to remember our humble beginnings. We will never forget we came from Rising Stars, and I know that most of you have supported us since the beginning of the show. You were our starlights, and now, you''re our astras!" - I love the meaning! Ji, let me kiss you. - Proud astra here! - #OCTA still outsold. - Your fandom name is literally ''octopus.'' I don''t think you have the right to speak. "Well, we''ll be going back to the Show Show Song in a while, so we''ll be saying our goodbyes now," Jaeyong said after Chul gestured for them to end the live. - Aww, don''t go! - We want to speak with you more. - Let''s watch them during the live show, guys! Have fun, my boys. "We''ll see you next time," Casper said. "Thank you for tuning in, astras!" "Bye, astras!" Akira loudly eximed. The other members waved their hands goodbye, too. Then, the live stream ended. Chul pped as he stood from his seat. "Great job, boys. Let''s go back to the Show Show Song filming site now." Akira groaned as he leaned his head against Jisung. "Can we rest for a couple of minutes?"


    "You can rest when we get there," Chul said. ***


    The live show had finally ended, and the group was on their way to Azure to have the meeting Chul had told them about yesterday.


    LUNIX took the crown this time because they had a higher broadcast score. It was their very first win for thiseback, so they, too, were emotional when they received their trophy. EVE finally arrived at Azure, their eyes already weary from their nonstop schedules. It was now nearing the evening, and they hadn''t gotten the opportunity to rest ever since. They entered the conference room with Chul, and they saw three people, who were most likely from the marketing team. Chul smirked once he saw them, taking a seat next to them. They faced the boys, all with serious expressions, causing the members to be nervous. "Uh, did we do something wrong?" Jaeyong asked. "Of course not," Chul said, breaking the tense atmosphere. "We actually have some pretty exciting news for you." The boys let out sighs of relief, visibly rxing in their seats. "Remi will brief you on what to do," Chul said, gesturing to the only woman from the marketing team. Remi nodded in acknowledgment. "First of all, I want to take this time to congratte you for finally debuting andmencing your promotion period." The boys pped for themselves, smiles appearing on their tired faces. "Your song did pretty well, especially for a boy group debut. This means that you''ve captured even the general public''s heart. However, for you to be more recognized by the general public, there''s an essential step we must take," she continued. "And that is¡ªvariety shows." Akira tapped his foot on the ground, growing more excited with their announcement. He had always wanted to go on variety shows. As a member of RAVEN, theirpany didn''t give them plenty of opportunities to go on variety shows. However, now being under Azure, he knew he would finally fulfill his dream. "We have prepared three variety shows for you to attend next week," she said. "We weren''t able to book a whole gig for the entire team, so we divided you into three teams. Two teams with three members and one team with two." Jisung pursed his lips, a bit disappointed they wouldn''t be able to promote their album on a variety show altogether. "These are opportunities some rookies are dying to have," Remi continued. "So, we suggest you do your best and capture the hosts'' and the viewers'' hearts. Through that, you can increase your poprity not only as a group but also as an individual." After hearing Remi''s words, the boys grew increasingly ambitious. June, too, felt pretty excited. He wasn''t excited to join such variety shows, per se. He was just an avid fan of these types of shows when he was still in his old body. If Mei Ling''s hobby was K-pop, then Jun Hao''s was variety shows. He enjoyed watching different people and artists making a fool of themselves, and it also became his stress reliever when things got too hectic in his life. June watched more Chinese variety shows, but he also dabbled in Korean ones from time to time. ''Crawling Man'' and ''3 Days, 2 Nights'' were some of his favorites. "Chul delegated you to the variety shows based on your personalities¡ªsince we believe he knows you best," Remi continued. Chul nodded and smiled. "Today, I''m going to tell you which variety show you''re going to be joining," Chul said. "The filming will take ce next week, and the airing time will vary between shows. Expect it to be aired a week or two weeks after filming, though." The boys nodded, excited to find out which variety show they were assigned to. "First is ''Forgetting Sisters.'' They have an ''International Stars'' theme next week, so we decided to send Ren, Akira, and Casper," he announced. "Forgetting Sisters? I love that show," Sehun eximed. "My little brother watches it every week." June has never watched the show, but he has seen viral clips from the show on Navel. It was more popr for K-pop enthusiasts since they often invited idols to their shows. It employed a ssroom setup, where the participants took turns asking questions about their ridiculous experiences while others tried to guess them. Idols were also given opportunities to show off their skills during the talent sections. All in all, it was a trendy show, especially for the younger generation.


    "Are we forgetting that Casper''s not a foreigner?" Ren raised his hand. "He studied in the States when he was younger, right?" Chul asked. Casper nodded. "In middle school." "That''s good enough," Chul said. "The next variety show on our roster is ''Idol Space.'' They didn''t have a slot for a whole group, so the three representatives will be filming with other rookie idols," he said. "For this corner, we''ll have Zeth, Jisung, and Sehun." June nodded in agreement. He believed those three would best represent the team on a show that only has idols. It involved different talent corners and games, highlighting idols'' charms and wit. The three mentioned members were the mostpetitive members in the group (surprisingly), so June was sure they''d stand out in a room full of idols. "Now, for thest variety show¡­" Chul said, a smirk reappearing on his face. For some reason, he appeared happierpared to the other announcements, causing June to narrow his eyes in suspicion. Jaeyong and June were the only ones left without an assigned variety show, so it automatically meant they were going to take thest one. "We have¡ªQuiz God." What variety shows do you like watching? I like Running Man, Knowing Bros, Master in the House, 2 days 1 night, and How Do You y.

 Chapter 325 Quiz God

    <h4>Chapter 325 Quiz God</h4>


    Quiz God.


    It was one of the most popr TV shows in South Korea. However, contrary to the first two shows Chul had mentioned, this one was more popr with the general public.


    If the other two shows were more popr with K-pop enthusiasts and a niche audience, Quiz God was something everybody could enjoy.


    In Quiz God, 50 people are enjoined in a huge venue, each with designated ces. There was a theme every week¡ªteachers, doctors, students, etc.


    There would be a series of questions, simr to Jeopardy, and the person who wins the preliminary rounds will get the chance to choose which category they want the question to emerge from.


    Then, the participants will be given a timeframe to answer the question based on its difficulty.


    June was very familiar with the show since it also has a Chinese franchise¡ªone he watched often.


    There was a problem with the show, however. Once you get a question wrong, you''re immediately eliminated from the show. So, for stars who want to capture the audience''s hearts, it wasn''t the ideal show to join.


    Especially since avid fans of the show wereplete ''know-it-alls'' and wouldn''t hesitate to shit on a participant for getting a question wrong.


    "We had been invited to the show because this week''s theme is ''Rising Stars.'' It''s quite funny since it has the same name as the survival show you came from, but I think it''s very fitting," Chul smiled.


    Jisung raised his hand. "Is there a reason why June and Jaeyong were picked for this particr show?"


    Chul looked at Jaeyong and shrugged. "Of course, we want to send the smartest member of our team," he said, causing Jaeyong to freeze.


    "Smartest?" Akira guffawed. "Oh, gosh. You''re in trouble, buddy."


    "As for June," Chul continued, his smile widening with his ingenious n. "It was luck. He was the only one left, so we decided to make him join this one."


    "Oh, alright," Jisung said, going back to the teammates he''ll be filming ''Idols Space'' with.


    Meanwhile, June continued looking at Chul, to which thetter merely smirked.


    June internally scoffed.


    He knew it.


    There was something else going on inside their manager''s mind.


    And truly, there was.


    When Chul learned that June had bad grades as a student, he didn''t think much about it.


    However, when he saw that the group was scheduled to attend ''Quiz God,'' a highly popr show that made people look either really smart or dumb, a genius n came to his mind.


    June had to attend it.


    The two of them locked gazes, neither backing down.


    Chul had a smug look on his face¡ªlike he had one-upped June once and for all.


    June''s expression, on the other hand, couldn''t be deciphered.


    Chul felt a bit confused, but he didn''t let it show.


    ''Bring it on.''


    ***


    "How was it?" June asked as soon as Ren and the others got home. They had just finished filming for ''Forgetting Sisters,'' and all of them had wide smiles on their faces.


    "It was so fun," Ren giddily said. "I got to sing, and the hosts were really funny. Casper didn''t talk much, but they ganged up on him!"


    Casper clicked his tongue.


    "Yeah," Akira chuckled. "They called me a variety genius or something. One of my dreams has finally been fulfilled!"


    "Wait," Akira said, noticing Jaeyong standing in the corner of the room. "What''s wrong with him?"


    "Oh, we''re going to film Quiz Godter in the afternoon," June responded.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Yikes. He''s been studying nonstop ever since you two were chosen to join the show."


    "Why don''t you look nervous, though?" Ren asked.


    "Why would I be nervous?" June asked. "It''s just a show."


    Akira empathetically patted June''s back. "That''s the spirit! You need confidence for these types of shows. I''m still confused as to why you two were sent to the show, but it''s alright! There''s a first for everything."


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    Casper, too, patted June''s back. "Don''t be too harsh on yourself when you get the question wrong on the first round."


    June sighed, shaking his head.


    "Whatever, we have to go now. Chul is waiting downstairs," June said, walking to where Jaeyong was and pulling him to the door.


    "Good luck!" Ren eximed.


    "Have fun," Casper said.


    "Let''s see the rise of the dummies!" Akira dramatically eximed.


    June ignored the three of them and went to the carpark with Jaeyong. Their leader still wasn''t saying anything, and it just showed how nervous he was for the show.


    As they entered the car, they saw Chul in the driver''s seat, looking jolly as ever.


    He definitely looked suspiciously happy for someone who had been working since the morning.


    "Are you ready, boys?" Chul cheerily asked.


    The two of them didn''t answer, but Chul was still in a good mood, humming to himself as he drove to the TV station.


    June looked out of the window and closed his eyes.


    It had been a while since he went to school¡ª12 years, to be exact. He dropped out during hisst year of high school because he joined the White Tiger Gang.


    Contrary to his image, June actually liked school.


    He liked learning.


    However, the people in his school made it more difficult for June to love school.


    Jaeyong anxiously bit his nails, so June clicked his tongue and brought his hand away from his mouth.


    "Don''t be so nervous," June advised. "You''re going to nk out if you''re nervous."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips before scooting closer to June.


    "Akira wasn''t joking when he said I was dumb," he whispered.


    "I know," June said, causing Jaeyong to re at him.


    "It doesn''t matter. Some questions have multiple choice answers," June said, sharing his well-versed knowledge of the show.


    "Most of the time, the answer is letter C. However, that only works when you don''t really know the answer. If you have a hunch of what the answer is, eliminate all possible wrong answers first. Then for Mathematics questions, the answer is most likely 0 or 1 even if the equation looksplicated," June advised.


    Jaeyong listened intently, even taking notes with his phone.


    "0...1...Letter C, got it," Jaeyong whispered. "But what if it isn''t a multiple-choice answer?" he asked.


    "Go with your gut," he said. "Your mind is more powerful than you think. It holds plenty of knowledge. So, don''t think too much about it, and write the very first thing thates to your mind."


    Jaeyong smiled, now appearing less nervous.


    "You''ll be able to make it into three rounds, at least," June said. "You can also do well on the preliminary rounds, so you can choose the category for the questions."


    "Duly noted," Jaeyong smiled, looking at his notes app with hope.


    Meanwhile, Chul shook his head as he listened to their conversation. How could a dummy give advice to someone smarter than him?


    He pulled up to the parking lot of the TV station, picked the closest spot, and turned off the engine.


    "We''re here, boys."

 Chapter 326 Dumb and Dumber

    <h4>Chapter 326 Dumb and Dumber</h4>


    In the studio adorned with a mysterious dark purple theme, the bright white lights illuminated the excited faces of the live audience. 100 seats were filled to the brim, waiting for the awaited show to finally start.


    50 empty seats situated in front of the audience, each seat designated for tonight''s participants. However, one particr seat drew their attention. It was positioned beneath the 50 seats, like a throne amid the court.


    The god''s table, as it was called, stood out with its regal design. The fancy chair at the center awaited the arrival of the Quiz God, the mastermind behind the show, ready to pose questions that would challenge the intellects of the participants and entertain the eager audience.


    Meanwhile, June and Jaeyong waited patiently behind the stage.


    The 50 participants were already on standby, and June took the time to observe his futurepetitors.


    Truly, the theme of ''Rising Stars'' was best fitted for the types of people in the studio.


    June noticed twins roaming around backstage, greeting all of the other participants. They had big bows tied in their hair, and he recognized them to be the dancing twins on LikLok.


    They seemed to have very jolly personalities, so June hoped they wouldn''t bother going up to him and Jaeyong.


    However, much to his dismay, he made eye contact with one of them, and before he knew it, the twins were skipping over to where they were.


    "Hi, there," the one with yellow bows greeted. "We''ve seen you a lot on TV."


    "Um, I''ve seen you too," June awkwardly answered.


    "You''re more handsome in real life," the one with blue bows said.


    "Thanks," June said, taking a step back to hopefully end the conversation.


    However, they followed his movements and continued staring at him.


    "My name''s Fei," the yellow-bow girl said. "This is my twin sister, Kei."


    "Nice to meet you," June said, nudging Jaeyong so he could take him out of the situation.


    However, his teammate was busy answering practice questions on his phone.


    "You did really well on your performance in the Abracadabra Festival. Your high note was amazing," Keiplimented.


    "Ah, yeah. You guys are good at dancing," June responded.


    "Thanks!" Fei beamed. "I''m sure you''re better than us, though. We just make covers on LikLok."


    June merely nodded.


    "It''s like you''re a perfect human being," Kei continued.


    "He''s not perfect," Fei countered.


    "Yeah, nobody''s perfect," June agreed.


    "He''s dumb," Fei said. "Have you seen his report card circting around the inte?"


    "Oh, right. He''s that guy," Kei chuckled. "I almost forgot since he''s so handsome. So, I guess nobody can really be perfect, huh?"


    June frowned, not liking how they were talking about him like he wasn''t even there.


    "Well, cheer up," Kei said. "You might stand out during the show...as someone who won''t get any of the answers right."


    The twins giggled, sounding like hyenas in the wild.


    "Yeah, don''t try too hard," Fei said. "The winner is already decided anyway. We''re just here to show off our dances during the preliminary rounds."


    June''s frown deepened. "Decided? Is this show rigged or something?"


    "No, silly," Kei said. "Zibo of MORPH3D is joining, so it''s already decided."


    "How do you say so?" he asked.


    "Duh," Fei said. "Zibo is currently studying at Seoul University for a music degree. It''s a liberal arts degree, but getting into SU already means he''s smart. I also heard he studied in a prestigious private school in China."


    "Yeah, and he has been featured on Idol Sniper as a genius idol, too," Kei added. "Theplete opposite of you!"


    June looked around until his eyes met a familiar face. He had never talked to the guy, but he had seen him during the Abracadabra Festival. It appeared like he came with one of his members, too.


    To June''s surprise, it seemed like they were looking in their direction, too, a subtle re in Zibo''s eyes.


    Kei gasped. "Don''t look toward their way!"


    June shrugged. "Anyone could have a chance to win this thing."


    "True," Fei said. "Maybe, except for you."


    June chuckled as he shook his head.


    "But since you were kind to us, I''ll do you a favor. If one of us wins the preliminary rounds with our dance, then we''re going to pick a topic you''re confident in," Kei said.


    "Sure," June smiled.


    Making allies in this ce wouldn''t be such a bad idea.


    "Choose Math," June said.


    The twins looked at each other with wide eyes. "That''s unexpected. I like your confidence."


    "Is that a deal?" June asked.


    "Deal!"


    With that, the two of them went to bother the other participants.


    June continued looking around until his eyesnded on a bubbly person practically running to where they were.


    "Bro!" Seven eximed, smiling up at June.


    "Umm, hi?" June asked, surprised that he was acting so friendly already.


    Jaeyong finally stopped reviewing when he noticed Seven''s presence.


    "You guys are here?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Yeah," Seven beamed. "It''s a shame we''re in such a boring variety show like this. Uno got to attend?''Crawling Man'' by himself."


    Jaeyong''s eyes widened in surprise. ''Crawling Man'' was one of the hardest variety shows to enter as a rookie idol. Even seasoned idols have a hard time being invited there.


    As expected, Esper Entertainment was definitely on another level.


    "Quiz God has good ratings too, though," June chimed.


    "You''re right about that," Seven said. "My parents watch it all the time. They force me to watch with them, too, but I can''t handle stuff that has something to do with using my brain. Maybe I should have listened to them, though."


    Jaeyong chuckled. "We''re on the same page then."


    "What?" Seven eximed. "I thought you were totally smart. I believe June and I are on the same page. We have the same grades!"


    "You''re still studying?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Seven smiled. "I''m in 11th grade."


    "Dang," Jaeyong said. "I can''t believe you still have time for this."


    "It''s an Arts school," Seven smiled. "They give me lots of free absences."


    "Well, good luck to you," Jaeyong patted the younger''s back. "Good luck to your teammate, too," he gestured to Ocho, who was leaning against the wall while impatiently waiting for Seven.


    "He doesn''t need your good luck," Seven said. "He''s one of the smarties on the show."


    "Are there any other people we should look out for?" June asked.


    "Well, Ocho''s one," he said. "He graduated tenth in their batch in high school. Zibo is one, too! I met him once, but I didn''t like him. He seems to be a very intelligent guy with a big ego."


    "It seems like it," Jaeyong said, ncing at Zibo, who was currently surrounded by a bunch of other rookies who already wanted to get on his good side.


    "Those twins are pretty smart too. We go to the same school," Seven continued. "Oh, and that girl from EXIT is also really smart. Honey''s her name, I think. Aside from that, the others are just aspiring to show off their talents."


    "You know a lot for a kid," June said.


    "We''re only four years apart," Seven defended. "But I''ll take that as apliment."


    "Participants! Please take your seats. We will be filming in five minutes!"

 Chapter 327 Mocked Mechanics

    <h4>Chapter 327 Mocked Mechanics</h4>


    The stage was set, the lights dimmed, and the studio became silent as the 50 participants took their seats. As of now, the identity of the participants was still a mystery to the audience, so they excitedly waited for the revtion.


    Each contestant had a pristine whiteboard and marker before them. June took the time to observe the materials, bemused to see the things he had only seen on television.


    The silence was shattered when smoke rolled in, shrouding the entrance of two giant LED screen doors.


    Kim San, a popr MC in Korea otherwise known as the Quiz God, entered the room with a wide smile. The crowd went crazy, their cheers echoing off the walls. Kim San emerged from the mist wearing a regal crown and a formal suit and tie.


    "Wee, my brilliant minds and avid watchers," Kim San''s voice resonated through the smoke-filled room.


    "Today, we have yet another episode of Quiz God¡ªa show where nothing but your intellect and luck matters. We will be witnessing these participants sh in the ultimate battle of knowledge. This is Quiz God!"


    The audience''s excitement heightened as the participants behind Kim San were finally illuminated. To some of the audience members, the people before them weren''t too familiar.


    Most of them were in their mid-30s to 40s, so it was expected they didn''t know the rookie artists in the room. However, all of them were still excited to be graced with the presence of good-looking people.


    There were a couple of grandmas at the very front, and they squealed when they saw the familiar pink-haired idol they had rooted for in Rising Stars.


    "And, for today''s special episode, we have none other than the ''rising stars'' among us. The brightest rookies that will eventually turn into stars¡ªwho will show the brilliance of their minds?" Kim San asked.


    "Before we get into the mechanics of the game, why don''t we interview a couple of these promising young artists?"


    The crowd cheered in agreement.


    "First," Kim San said, walking over to June''s row,?"this guy has been causing a frenzy backstage. I believe most of the participants are looking forward to his intellectual performance."


    The guy beside June smiled, looking down at his whiteboard.


    "Zibo of MORPH3D," Kim San announced, eliciting apuse from the audience. "You came here with the sole objective to win, right?"


    Zibo nodded. "Why else would I join this show?"


    "Ooh," the audience eximed.


    "Confident," Kim San nodded, "I like it. Well, I heard from a little birdie backstage that you''re currently studying at Seoul University."


    Zibo''s shoulders squared in confidence as the audience eximed in amazement. For most of the audience members, it was their dream to send their children or grandchildren to a university as prestigious as Seoul University.


    "You managed to enter the university while being an idol?" Kim San asked.


    Zibo nonchntly shrugged. "I bnce my education and passion pretty well. I studied during the short breaks I had, so when I took the entrance test, it wasn''t as hard as I imagined."


    "Wow, what a responsible young man," Kim San patted his back. "I''m looking forward to your performanceter."


    Zibo nodded. "And while you''re at it, why don''t you check out my group''s actual performance? It''s entitled ''Cramped,'' and I''m sure you''ll also like it very much."


    Smooth.


    Very smooth.


    This guy already managed to promote their song with the casual conversation.


    June was thinking about how he could promote their song, too, since Chul instructed them to include their title track if they ever had a conversation with Kim San.


    However, before he could think of a decent way, Kim San was already in front of him.


    "Ah, this guy," San said, "Your face is almost blinding, young man. What kind of soap do you use?"


    June smiled, acting professionally. "The skincare set my grandma bought me."


    The audience chuckled at June''s witty answer. They thought he was joking, but June was actually being serious.


    "This guy knows how to gatekeep," Kim San chuckled. "I''ve actually seen your name circting around, June. You were very popr in Rising Stars."


    June pursed his lips. "It''s because of the people who continued supporting me."


    That earned him some cheers from the older women in the audience.


    "However, your name has gotten popr these days for a different reason¡ªyour grades."


    "You''ve seen them, right?" Kim San asked.


    "Yeah," June stiffly answered.


    Kim San let out a huge chuckle. "Has the audience seen it too?" he asked, turning to the audience.


    The audience started whispering to themselves,ing to the conclusion that June was the rookie idol exposed for having very bad grades. Most of them, especially those in their mid-40s, shook their heads in disappointment.


    "Well, I''m going to ask what everybody is dying to ask in their minds," San said. "Why did you join this program?"


    "I was chosen by ourpany," June bluntly said, eliciting yet another round of chuckles from the audience and the participants.


    "But aside from that," June continued, silencing them, "I came here to win."


    Kim San raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow, that''s one great ambition."


    June stayed silent. When Zibo said the same words, the audience didn''t react badly. However, when June did, it seemed like the others were looking down on him.


    "Well, good luck to you, June. As I said a while ago, this isn''t just a battle of intellect, but also a battle of luck. Maybe you''ll get lucky and win."


    With that, Kim San moved on to interview the other participants. However, June stared at his own whiteboard and marker, feeling a new sense of determination.


    He heard someone scoff beside him, causing him to lift his head in inquiry. June found Zibo staring at June with humor in his eyes.


    "Is there something you''d like to say?" June calmly asked.


    "Nothing," Zibo smiled, albeit fake. "Good luck."


    June smirked. "Good luck, too."


    Zibo shook his head as he turned away from his seatmate. How could June even have the audacity to smirk when he was going to be eliminated right away anyway?


    Kim San finally stopped interviewing the participants after Seven, and he made his way back to the center to tell everyone the mechanics of the game.


    "Here''s how it''s going to work," he announced.


    "We''ll start with a preliminary round for each question ¨C a warm-up if you will. It could be a simple dance, a question fit for a 5th grader, or a riddle that''ll tease your neurons. The one who emerges victorious in each preliminary round gets to choose a category they feel unbeatable in."


    He gestured toward the whiteboards in front of each participant. "All 50 of you will answer the question, but those who falter, s, must bid farewell to their seats and join the eliminated ranks, watching the rest of the show unfold."


    Participants exchanged nervous and determined nces, readying themselves for the intellectual battlefield ahead.


    "Without further ado," Kim San dered, "let the quizzing begin! May the gods of knowledge be ever in your favor!"

 Chapter 328 Euler’s Identity

    <h4>Chapter 328 Euler''s Identity</h4>


    The game finallymenced.


    Managers on the side rooted for their artists. However, one manager seemed particrly excited for the show to start.


    Chul knew the members of EVE didn''t have any chances to win. Looking at the other contestants'' profiles already proved that. He thought Jaeyong was pretty smart based on his looks; but after doing a quick background check, he found out he wasn''t the brightest either.


    However, he had more hopes for Jaeyong to make it farther into thepetition than June.


    What he was looking forward to was June getting eliminated in the first round and possibly making a fool of himself with a ridiculous answer.


    "Let us start with the first preliminary round. Our buzzer for this round is¡ªBring me! Bring me white?hair!"


    The contestants were baffled by the ridiculous buzzer. However, Jaeyong, who was behind a female idol who had dyed her hair white, quickly snatched a piece and went to the front.


    "Wow! With no hesitation at all, Jaeyong from EVE had given us the white hair. Please go back to your seat and pick a category."


    The girl red at Jaeyong as he passed by, so he shyly looked away.


    As he settled in his seat, he looked through the categories.


    "Nature," he said without any hesitation. He might not have been the brightest student, but he has always been fond of nature! He just wished it was a multiple-choice question so he could pass at least one round.


    "Nature," Kim San announced. "Let''s see the question."


    The contestants waited in anticipation, nervous for the very first question of the night.


    "In the desert, what is the mostmon way of dying?" San asked.


    A 60-second timer was shown on the screen. Others wrote with confidence while some others hesitated to write their answers.


    Zibo was one of those who confidently wrote his answer. It was a rtively easy question but a very tricky one. He was sure June wouldn''t know the answer to the question, but when he nced to his side, it seemed like June was already done writing his answer!


    Jaeyong, on the other hand, bit his lips in anxiousness. He turned to June and was surprised to see his teammate staring right at him.


    Much to his surprise, June was rying a message¡ª''you know this,'' or somewhere along those lines.


    Jaeyong closed his eyes and tried to look for an answer. However, only ''Oasis'' yed in his mind. Why couldn''t they have asked something rted to their song instead?


    Then, he stopped.


    Something sparked inside his mind, and he unhesitatingly wrote the answer that first popped up.


    Maybe it was rted after all.


    "Boards up!" Kim San eximed.


    The participants quickly raised their boards up to have them checked.


    "Hmm, let me read some answers. Hyperthermia...Dehydration...Heatstroke...very convincing answers, but unfortunately, these are wrong."


    "Those who answered such will be escorted by my assistants to the eliminated seats," he said.


    "The correct answer is¡ªdrowning! Contrary to popr belief, drowning is the mostmon way of dying in the desert. When they find their oasis, they are often excited to see a drop of water. However, most don''t know that it may be the start of a sh flood."


    Jaeyong turned excitedly to June while showing him his answer.


    They both got it right!


    Chul was surprised to see that June actually gave the correct answer. But then again, this was a topic rted to theirtest title track, so maybe it was just a pure coincidence.


    "Congrattions to those who have made it into the next round. Jaeyong," Kim San said. "You must be happy to get the correct answer. I wonder...have you studied about this?"


    "Not necessarily," Jaeyong said. "But our title track, Oasis, speaks of the dangers of drowning in the desert...It was written figuratively, but I was able to get it right because of our song."


    June smirked at Jaeyong''s smooth promotion. Chul, too, proudly nodded as the audience grew more curious about their song.


    "Oasis, huh?" Kim San asked. "I''ll be d to check that out when I get home."


    "Let''s move on to the second round!" Kim San eximed.


    Only 43 remained, and now, the buzzer had something to do with dancing.


    A familiar tune yed, and the others hesitated on what to do. However, the bubbly twins didn''t hesitate to go to the front and dance the full choreography of the song. The audience pped as the adorable twins danced their way into their hearts.


    "Fei and Kei!" Kim San smiled. "What an adorable duo. Since the two of you gave your best, I''ll give you both the power to choose a category."


    "What might it be?" San asked.


    The twins nced at June before confidently saying¡ª"Math."


    June smirked as the two of them made their way back to their seats.


    Most of the contestants were already dreading the question. Jaeyong was one of them.


    June, on the other hand, felt happy that the twins kept their deal.


    Math was one of his favorite subjects in high school.


    "e^i?? + 1 ="


    The audience gasped when they saw the question. For them, it was just a jumble of letters on the screen. Most of the contestants, too, haven''t seen an equation like this before. So, most of them struggled despite the two-minute timer.


    Zibo smirked as he confidently solved the answer. Meanwhile, June continued staring at the board, looking a bit lost.


    Honey, one of the smartest contestants, also wrote the answer quicker than others.


    Ocho searched his mind from where he had seen the equation before. Then, he smirked when he finally remembered it from one of his sses. It was a good thing they weren''t asked to show the solution because Ocho merely remembered the answer.


    "It''s a crime for it not to have numbers," Seven eximed.


    "It has the number one," Ocho deadpanned, causing the younger member to pout.


    June finally wrote down his answer after the one-minute mark was passed.


    He nced at Jaeyong, but it seemed like his teammate was already writing his answer.


    ''That''s right. Just keep what I said in mind,'' June thought.


    "3...2...1.... Raise your boards!" Kim San eximed.


    It was evident that the contestants were less confident this round. They weren''t expecting such a hard question toe by so early on the show.


    Kim San shook his head as he looked through the variety of answers.


    "More people got it wrong this round," he said. "If you didn''t get the correct answer, please escort yourselves to the eliminated seats."


    "The correct answer is ¡ª zero!"


    This time, 11 contestants went down the stage, leaving only 32 contestants left.


    Zibo nced to the side, expecting June to go down. However, to his surprise, he saw the circr number on June''s whiteboard.


    He frowned, and Chul, who was watching backstage, frowned too. Maybe it was yet another coincidence since answering zero when you didn''t know the answer was prettymon.


    Jaeyong sighed in relief when he found out he got the right answer. He remembered June''s advice ¡ªit was either 0 or 1 for Math questions...and he was right! Jaeyong gave June a thumbs up, to which the pink-haired man merely smiled.


    "That was a tough question, huh?" Kim San said. "I''m sure some have guessed the answer, but can someone exin why the answer is 0? The one who answers correctly will decide the category for the next round."


    Without any hesitation, Zibo raised his hand.


    "Yes, Zibo?"


    "I believe this is an equation. I forgot what it was called, but basically, e and pi are transcendental numbers. This means they have unending decimals...an infinite number, if you may call it," he started off.


    Right off the bat, the audience was captivated by his exnation.


    Jaeyong, who merely got the answer because of pure luck, already felt confused.


    "Meanwhile, i is an iota, which mathematically means that it''s the square root of negative one. Bybining these numbers, we essentially get a negative one. And if we add another positive one to the equation, then the answer bes zero."


    The audience and the contestants pped in amazement while Zibo tried his hardest to hide his smirk.


    "Well said!" Kim San eximed. "Let''s give this bright young man a round of apuse."


    Zibo smiled as he turned to June. "Your luck is pretty good," he said. "That may be the reason why you ranked first?on Rising Stars."


    June kept his gaze at the front.


    "Your luck came in handy this time too. It''s a good thing you answered zero, huh?" Zibo joked, although there was an underlying mockery in his tone.


    "It''s Euler''s identity," June said, his gaze still focused on the front.


    "Huh?" Zibo asked, his smile dropping.


    June finally faced him.


    "Euler''s identity¡ªit''s the equation you were talking about."

 Chapter 329 Lucky Brain

    <h4>Chapter 329 Lucky Brain</h4>


    Easy.


    It was easier than June thought.


    Some of the questions were recycled from the Chinese version of the show, while some were easy enough to guess. It might also be the reason why Zibo was dominating the game.


    June quickly wrote down the answer to the question ¡ª"If you nted the seeds of a Quercus robur, what would grow?"


    Zibo seemed to be more aware of his presence after June pointed out the math equation he failed to remember.


    Euler''s identity.


    To Zibo, who has seen June''s grades circting online, it seemed like June''s correct answers were abination of luck and coincidence.


    Chul was even more bewildered. Seven rounds had passed with over half of the contestants gone, yet June and Jaeyong were still in the running to be the victor.


    June raised his whiteboard¡ª"Trees."


    "Trees!" Kim San eximed. "That''s the right answer."


    Five contestants dejectedly brought their whiteboards down, one of them being Jaeyong.


    However, he was relieved to be eliminated after seven rounds since the questions were getting harder and harder. Jaeyong made it thus far because of pure luck, and it seemed like his luck had finally run out.


    The next preliminary round was won by Honey, one of the front runners of thepetition.


    "Let''s go with Korean history," she said, wanting to eliminate the foreign contestants like Zibo.


    ''Shit,'' June cursed inside his mind. He wasn''t well-versed in Korean history since he spent his childhood in China.


    "Who was the first ruler of the Joseon Dynasty?" Kim San asked.


    A. King Taejo


    B. King Sejeong


    C. King Gwanggaeto


    June sighed in relief since it was a multiple-answer question. The Koreans in thepetition quickly wrote down their answers.


    Meanwhile, June analyzed the given choices.


    It definitely wasn''t King Sejeong. He was famous even outside of Korea, and June was sure he wasn''t the first ruler of the Joseon Dynasty.


    It was between A and C.


    June would have followed his personalw and chosen the letter C, but for some reason, somethingpelled him to choose the letter A.


    The timer was quickly ticking, so June wrote the first letter that came to his mind.


    "Raise your boards!" Kim San nearly shouted.


    The remaining 19 contestants raised their boards. June looked around and smirked when he saw that the majority of the people answered ''King Taejo.''


    "Most of you are correct," Kim San said. "The four people who got it wrong, please make your way down the stage."


    Chul''s eye twitched as he looked at June''s rxed face. How can this guy be so lucky?


    Jaeyong and Seven, who were sitting next to each other, rooted for their teammates to take the crown.


    "You weren''t joking when you said Ocho was smart," Jaeyong said.


    "Now, you guys were lying when you said June was dumb," Seven said. "It''s unfair! I thought we were on the same page."


    Jaeyong sighed and leaned against his seat while looking at June.


    "I also don''t know," Jaeyong said. "That guy is strangely good at everything."


    "He''s like Uno then," Seven said. "Uno always tries hard, and he always gets what he wants."


    Jaeyong tilted his head to the side. "June works hard, too, don''t get me wrong. But for some reason, it just feels like he was made for this."


    "Made for quiz shows?" Seven asked.


    "No," Jaeyong shook his head.


    "Made for stardom."


    "We have another Math question chosen by Zibo," Kim Sam announced. "You''ll only be given 30 seconds for this particr problem, so make sure to keep your eyes open."


    The 19 participants paid more attention, knowing this could make or break their victory.


    "When multiplied by itself, which number is equal to 12,345,678,987,654,321?"


    A. 1,111,111


    B. 111,111,111


    C. 11,111,111,111


    D. 111,111,111,111


    Seven almost fell out of his seat. "30 seconds for that problem?"


    "I know, right," Jaeyong chimed. "It''s a good thing I dropped out before getting to that question."


    Chul narrowed his eyes. It was yet another multiple-choice question. The probability of June getting it correct was once again heightened. However, getting this far, Chul wondered if June was purely relying on luck.


    Most of the contestants scrambled to solve every choice given. However, those who knew of the pattern quickly wrote down the answer.


    "Time''s up!" Kim San eximed.


    Those 30 seconds definitely weren''t enough.


    Zibo confidently raised his answer¡ªB. 111,111,111.


    He pursed his lips, however, when he saw June with the same answer.


    Jaeyong and Seven looked at each other, amazed that June had made it this far.


    "Is he actually a genius?" Jaeyong muttered under his breath.


    With the tough question, more than half of the contestants were eliminated.


    Now, there were only eight left¡ªZibo, June, Honey, Kei, Ocho, and three other rookie actors.


    Kim San looked at the contestants, his eyes lingering on June for a couple seconds longer.


    It was an understatement to say he was confused.


    Kim San was baffled.


    June was definitely a hidden underdog among the roster of smart contestants. The audience who saw June''s report card online was equally confused.


    This time, Ocho was able to win the preliminary round after showing some breakdancing moves.


    There were only four categories left on the screen.


    "General Knowledge," Ocho said, causing June to sigh in relief.


    He was confident in three of those categories. However, one category red at him¡ªknowing he wouldn''t know shit about it.


    "In Ancient Egyptian Mythology, who was the god of the sun?"


    60 seconds were seen on the clock.


    Ocho frowned in confusion, raising his hands.


    "Yes?" Kim San asked.


    "Where are the choices?" Ocho asked.


    Kim San chuckled. "There are no choices, young man. This is an identification problem."


    The audience murmured among themselves. None of them seem to know the right answer. They also wondered how this mythology question was under General Knowledge.


    It was clear that it wasn''t something you would encounter in real life!


    Without the choices, the contestants werepelled to make intelligent guesses.


    Ocho wrote ''Osiris,'' hoping it would be the right answer.


    Meanwhile, Chul continued looking at June as he rxedly wrote his answer.


    Chul shook his head. Now that the choices were gone, it was most likely June was going to be eliminated.


    In the end, his luck will definitely run out.


    "Raise your boards!" Kim San eximed.


    The remaining eight contestants raised their boards, most of them unsure of their answers.


    "Ra?" Chul chuckled, reading June''s answer. "What the hell is a Ra?"


    However, his eyes quickly widened when he saw Zibo''s answer right next to June''s.


    "I''m only seeing three right answers here," Kim San said, biting his lip.


    "The correct answer is¡ªRa."


    June smiled, nodding in satisfaction.


    Chul''s mouth dropped to the ground with how shocked he was.


    Jaeyong and Seven, too, couldn''t believe their eyes.


    "Well, it seems like we have our top three!" Kim San excitedly said.


    "Honey, the ever-beautiful member of EXIT."


    "Zibo, the smart dancer of MORPH3D."


    "...and June, the captivating center of EVE."

 Chapter 330 Chinese History

    <h4>Chapter 330 Chinese History</h4>


    "It''s starting. It''s starting!" Akira excitedly eximed when the intro of Quiz God was finally shown.


    "Quiz god¡­Quiz god¡­Who''s smart, and who''s dumb?" Jisung and Ren excitedly sang to the tune.


    "I still can''t believe that''s the real theme song," Casper chuckled, popping popcorn in his mouth.


    Sehun took the initiative to cook some popcorn for the boys as they all gathered to watch the anticipated show that Jaeyong and June joined.


    It was the veryst variety show they were waiting for to air.


    ''Forgetting Sisters'' and ''Idol Space'' aired in one day in different time slots, and the members also watched them together.


    The members who joined the aforementioned variety shows made a good impression on its audience. Akira definitely made a huge mark on the show, having most of the screen time among the guests.


    His crazy personality became more apparent, and the editors seemed to like his unhingedments.


    Meanwhile, the three members who went on ''Idol Space'' trended on Navel because of their handsome looks.


    In short, even if their song had fallen down from the top five of the Durian charts, they were still sitting pretty at the 7th spot because of the members'' efforts on those two variety shows.


    However, even after these two shows had aired, it couldn''t be denied that the group was the most excited for Quiz God.


    "Are you still not going to spoil the show?" Akira asked Jaeyong.


    Jaeyong shook his head, focusing his eyes on the TV.


    Zeth groaned in frustration. "You''ve been keeping it to yourself sincest week. Chul isn''t saying anything, too. I almost messaged Ocho about the oue of the show, but I held myself back because I didn''t want my pride getting hurt."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "For real. What happened during the show? You two were silent the moment you came back from filming."


    "It was tiring," June nonchntly said. "There were too many rounds."


    Jaeyong chuckled and nodded in agreement.


    Akira scoffed. "For all I know, the two of you are just ashamed you were eliminated in the first round. Come on, tell your dearest members. We promise we won''t judge you," he smiled.


    June raised his eyebrows in suspicion.


    Akira chuckled. "Alright, maybe we''llugh a tiny bit, but it''s just some friendly teasing! It''s not going to be serious."


    June shook his head. "Just watch the show."


    His teammates collectively sighed before turning to the television.


    - I''m here for June!


    - June''s probably not going to make it too far. That boy is talented, but I''ve seen his grades.


    - You''re right. But hey, at least we''re being graced with EVE''s handsome faces.


    The show finally started, and Jaeyong felt his heart pumping like it did back on the actual filming set of Quiz God.


    Surprisingly, the other members stayed silent as they watched the show.


    After the first question was asked, Akira was surprised to see that his teammates passed with flying colors.


    "Eyy, you got lucky," he nudged Jaeyong''s shoulders. "It''s actually rted to our title track."


    "Yeah, I was really lucky," Jaeyong said. "I was lucky up until the 7th question."


    His members'' eyes widened with Jaeyong''s short spoiler.


    "You made it that far?" Akira asked with wide eyes.


    His teammates almost couldn''t believe it.


    Jaeyong really made it to seven full rounds.


    However, what was more shocking was that June was actually doing better than most of the participants.


    "Bro," Jisung nudged his shoulder. "You look really smart."


    Jaeyong smirked as he looked at his teammates'' bewildered faces. He, too, was in a simr state when he watched the show live.


    At this point of the show, there were only three contestants left¡ªand one of them was June.


    - What is this? I thought June and I were both dumb.


    - I can''t believe he got to the top three.


    - I''m not sure whether this is luck or something¡­but it''s very impressive.


    - It''s definitely not luck. You should watch Rising Stars. He''s a famous ck kitty.


    - I''m actually not familiar with these idols, but I might give the show a watch. This episode is so entertaining for some reason.


    There were four categories left on the board.


    Zibo smirked as he nced at hispetitors.


    "Chinese history," he said with confidence.


    Honey visibly sighed in disappointment while Zibo remained looking victorious.


    Clips of the audience were shown while the assistant pulled out the question.


    "It''s over," a middle-aged man said.


    "It would have been fun to watch a showdown, but I guess the show ends here," another said.


    "Zibo''s Chinese, right? The other two are Korean. I feel like the winner is already decided."


    Zibo once again nced at June. He couldn''t help but want to show off to the pink-haired idol.


    When they performed at the Abracadabra festival, their performance waspletely overshadowed by EVE''s performance.


    Because of their technical difficulty that turned into a perfect harmony, Zibo felt like MORPH3D lost their chance to trend on Navel. So, he wanted to get back at EVE''s center in some kind of way.


    Zibo expected June to be taken aback; however, he was surprised to see June''s nonchnt expression.


    All throughout the game, he found it pretty hard to read June.


    He also wasn''t sure whether the ''Euler''s identity'' incident was just a wild guess, but Zibo knew he was unbeatable in this area.


    For Zibo, a question about Chinese history was something he could only answer.


    Meanwhile, June tried his hardest not to show an evil smile.


    First, it would scare off the audience.


    Second, it would show that he was actually happy with the chosen category.


    He was praying in his mind for it to be chosen, and it seemed like his prayers had been granted.


    He loved Chinese history!


    "Let''s see the question!" Kim San announced.


    The members of EVE held their breaths. Although they couldn''t believe that June made it this far, they also rooted for their fellow teammate.


    "Everyone knows that Beijing is China''s capital, but it was not a capital for a long period before. Which three dynasties was it a capital of? Write the answer in chronological order."


    Zibo confidently wrote the answer without even thinking for a second.


    Out of the three finalists, it was obvious that Honey struggled the most. She was proficient and confident in all the other categories except for this one, and Zibo just had to choose it.


    - It was a good run, my June.


    - It definitely ends here.


    - Zibo''s confidence can''t be defeated! He''s got this one in the bag.


    June wrote slowly, not wanting to give anything away.


    They were only given 30 seconds for the question, so it passed by in a blink of an eye.


    "Let go of your pens," Kim San smiled, "let''s reveal the answers one by one."


    "Let''s start off with Honey," he said.


    Honey pursed her lips before showing her whiteboard, shaking her head in disappointment.


    The audience murmured among themselves as they saw the nk board.


    June subtly shook his head as he looked at their disappointed faces. June would like to see them do better than Honey!


    "Ah, I''m sorry, my dear," San apologetically said.


    "This is the end of your journey in Quiz God. Do not fret. We will give you some goodies before you go since you made it into the top three."


    Honey bowed. "Thank you for giving me this great opportunity. It was really fun," she said despite her disappointment.


    Kim San nodded in acknowledgment before turning to the two boys left on the seats.


    "And then, there were two," he said. "yer Zibo, please raise your board."


    ''Yuan, Ming, Qing''


    June looked at Zibo''s board and internally cursed.


    Meanwhile, Kim San nodded in approval.


    "As expected," he said. "You got it correct, Zibo. Now, if June gets this question wrong, Zibo will automatically take the crown. However, if June manages to get it right, we''re going to conduct the showdown!"


    The members of EVE were enthralled by the show.


    "There''s no way," Zeth muttered under his breath.


    "Did you get it wrong this time?" Akira nervously asked.


    June, for the first time in the night, appeared to be in distress. His eyes darted everywhere, and his fingers fidgeted on top of the table.


    "yer June, please raise your board."


    With a wavering gaze, June hesitantly raised his board.

 Chapter 331 Finalist

    <h4>Chapter 331 Finalist</h4>


    June could still remember what he felt right at that moment.


    He thought he was seeing things.


    However, when a bald man wearing an all-pink uniform passed by behind the audience, June couldn''t stop his heart from racing.


    His eyes tried to follow the man. However, it seemed like he disappeared in a split second.


    Could it be?


    "June," Kim San repeated, snapping June out of his daze. "Please raise your board."


    June pursed his lips and decided to let it go at that moment. Even though the man strangely looked like Mr. Klin, he still had a show to film.


    Zibo smirked by his side, almost certain that he was going to win the show.


    Everyone seemed to hold their breaths as June raised his board. Zibo, too, adjusted his position so he could see June''s answer clearly.


    ''Yuan, Ming, Qing''


    A buzzing sound was heard in the room, followed by murmurs of surprise.


    Akira nearly pped June''s face but held back and lightly pushed his shoulder again.


    "How the hell do you even know that?" he incredulously asked.


    "I learned it," June said.


    "Where?" Zeth asked. "I don''t recall having those kinds of subjects in school."


    "Maybe you just weren''t listening," June deadpanned.


    - Alright, this is getting out of hand. Maybe this isn''t luck after all.


    - It hasn''t been luck for a while, bud.


    - Who the hell exposed June''s grades? They were definitely lying. My boy is smart.


    - Is there anything June can''t do?


    Zibo''s jaw dropped. Even the eliminated contestants couldn''t believe what they were watching.


    Kei and Fei looked at each other with wide eyes, feeling a bit ashamed that they had called June dumb just a while ago.


    Who were they calling dumb?


    June was more of a genius!


    Ocho clicked his tongue while Seven gazed at June with sparkling eyes.


    "So cool," he whispered.


    Seven then turned to Jaeyong and squeezed his shoulders.


    "Oww, what?" Jaeyong asked, snapping out of his amazement.


    "Can you give me June''s number?"


    Jaeyong suspiciously narrowed his eyes at the younger idol. "Why?"


    "I think he just became my idol," Seven smiled.


    Jaeyong chuckled and shook his head. It seemed like June gained yet another fan. Jisung will have a field day with this one!


    As expected, the crew didn''t miss to include the clip on the actual show, causing Jisung to frown.


    "Are you guys close now?" Jisung asked, turning to June.


    June shrugged. "I gave him my number."


    Jisung pursed his lips before crossing his arms in front of his chest. Akira chuckled and patted their youngest member''s head.


    "Don''t worry, Ji. I won''t cheat on you," Akira seriously said.


    Jisung stared him in the eyes. "I don''t care if you do."


    Akira gasped as he looked at Jisung with betrayal.


    "Shh," Casper said. "It''s getting good."


    They turned their attention back to the screen. Now, Zibo and June were asked to sit on the showdown table, where they were now facing each other with the Quiz God sitting right in the middle.


    - It''s been a while since the showdown table was used. I bet the ratings are soaring at this point!


    - For the first time, I caved into my mom''s request to watch Quiz God. I always thought it was pretty boring. But then, I saw June! Now, I''m a new fan. My mom''s slowly turning into one, too.


    - Zibo''s going to win anyway.


    - I''m still not sure whether June is smart or not.


    - You guys are just in denial at this point. Someone''s grades don''t fully reflect their intellect. Maybe June was just a busy trainee back then!


    The two sat, locking gazes as the music in the background intensified. Two smoke screens were in front of them, making the setting more thrilling.


    "After three weeks, we''re back to the showdown table! I''ve missed being here," Kim San started off. "Since it has been a while, let me brief you on the mechanics."


    "Every round, we will y ''rock, paper, scissors'' to determine who can choose the category. The categories won''t be reset. So, the ones left on the screen will be used. However, you can choose one category multiple times."


    June pursed his lips.


    There was still one category in the roster he wasn''t confident in.


    "Every question is equivalent to one point. Instead of writing down the answer, press the button before you and say the answer. You will be given ten seconds to answer, and if you fail to give the correct answer during this time, your opponent will automatically get the chance to answer."


    "The first person who scores three points will be dered as the Quiz King, and they''ll be taking home 1,000 dors!"


    June''s eyes brightened with the mention of the prize money. Zibo, too, became even more fired up.


    "Let us start with the very first question."


    The two boysid out their fists to y ''rock, paper, scissors.''


    June pursed his lips in frustration as his scissors werepletely obliterated by Zibo''s rock.


    Sehun let out a chuckle.


    "You really have no luck," he said.


    "Let''s go with another General Knowledge question," he said.


    "General Knowledge!" Kim San eximed. "Here it is¡ªWho was the first human to journey into space?"


    Zibo pressed the buzzer before June couldprehend the question.


    "Neil Armstrong," Zibo confidently answered.


    "Ah, that was so easy!" Akira eximed. "I could have gotten that in a split second."


    "Idiot," Jaeyong muttered under his breath.


    "Neil Armstrong," Kim San said. "Unfortunately, that answer is incorrect. June, you are given the chance to answer."


    "What?" Zeth eximed. "It''s not Neil Armstrong? My whole life has been a lie!"


    June leaned closer to the microphone.


    "Yuri Gagarin."


    The smoke screens exploded, signifying that June had given the correct answer.


    "Who the hell is that?" Akira asked.


    June leaned back against his seat.


    "The first person in space is Yuri Gagarin. Neil Armstrong was the first person on the moon," he said.


    Akira looked at him with wide eyes. "Omo. You''re really smart."


    Zibo pursed his lips as the people rejoiced at June''s correct answer. At the start, it felt like he had more people rooting for him. However, now, the cheers for June were simr to those for a concert.


    "Let''s y another round!" Kim San excitedly announced.


    As expected, June lost this round of ''rock, paper, scissors,'' too, causing his members tough at his dejected expression being shown on screen. However, they quickly turned serious as Zibo thought of a category to pick.


    At this point, everybody was holding their breaths. This was definitely one of the most exciting episodes Quiz God had put out!


    However, Zibo decided to be an absolute shit and pick ''English'' for the next two rounds.


    As a result, he was now leading with one point.


    "Bro, why aren''t you pressing the buzzer?" Ren frustratedly asked.


    The answer was simple¡ªJune simply didn''t know the answer.


    Before he could even read the question, Zibo had already pressed the buzzer!


    Reading the unfamiliar English letters was difficult for June, so he lost those two points really quickly.


    For the third round, Zibo once again won the ''rock, paper, scissors'' game.


    "Damn," Akira said. "Will you win even one round of this?"


    "No," June tantly said.


    "Let''s go with another English question," Zibo said.


    June sighed in frustration while Zibo smirked. It seemed like he had finally found June''s weakness.


    "Ah, this is quite difficult," Kim San said, making the audience grow nervous. "This is actually a special question."


    The whiteboards made their way to the two finalists, causing them to frown.


    "The spelling must be correct for it to be considered right," Kim San said. "However, you will be given 30 seconds for this particr question. If you both answered correctly, then the first person who raises the board will take the point."


    ''Well, shit,'' June said in his mind.


    "If yer Zibo answers correctly, then he wins this week''s title of Quiz King!"


    June held his breath as Kim San read the next question.


    "Who coborated with Karl Marx to produce ''The Communist Manifesto''?"

 Chapter 332 Angels

    <h4>Chapter 332 Angels</h4>


    The question was familiar¡ªvery familiar, in fact.


    Then, it hit him.


    The Perepo box that Amira gave him.


    The exact same question was printed on top of the box.


    June quickly nced at Zibo and saw he was also struggling to find the right answer. Then, he nced at the timer, watching as it started ticking.


    He remembered the man''s first name.


    Friedrich.


    He quickly wrote it down.


    However, he could only vaguely remember hisst name since Akira took away the Perepo box from him just as he was about to finish reading it.


    Shoot, what was it again?


    Angels!


    Friedrich Angels!


    So, Amira was saying he was an angel? But he hasn''t done anything kind to her at all!


    Alright, back to the show.


    June was about to write it on the whiteboard but stopped when he suddenly felt unsure.


    "Angels," he muttered under his breath.


    How the hell do you write that in English again? June was sure he would have written it without hesitation if it weren''t for the timer ticking in the background. However, as much as he didn''t show it, he felt pressured because of everybody''s eyes watching him.


    From the very start, June knew he would be able to make it far with his current knowledge. However, he never expected to reach as far as the finale!


    June concealed his knowledge in the beginning since he knew that Chul most likely thought this would tarnish his reputation to some degree.


    June thought Chul was finally tamed after the toe-sucking incident, but it seemed like their manager still hadn''t learned his lesson.


    Maybe June has to teach him a lesson.


    He was getting off-topic again, so he pinched his forearm to focus his attention back to the show.


    As the timer reached the ten-second mark, June quickly wrote down what he felt was the right spelling of the word¡ª''Angels.''


    "Times up," Kim San eximed.


    June raised his head and didn''t realize that Zibo had already raised his board.


    "Zibo had raised his board first. However, his answer, ''Adam Smith,'' is incorrect. If June gets this right, then we have onest question!"


    June nced at Jaeyong, feeling a bit doubtful with his answer.


    Nheless, he raised his board.


    "Friedrich¡­"


    "Engels¡­"


    "That is correct!" Kim San loudly eximed, and the audience erupted in the loudest apuse of the night.


    Their showdown was more thrilling than expected, and the show quickly rose in the ratings, pleasing even the producers.


    "You even know about that?" Akira eximed, staring at the TV with wide eyes. "You''re not just smart. You''re a genius, aren''t you?"


    June stayed silent.


    He was proud of all his other answers.


    However, after getting home that night and searching for the actual spelling of ''angels,'' he felt quite ashamed.


    "It''s down to ourst question," Kim San eximed.


    "However, before we get to it," he said, building anticipation. "I have a special announcement for everyone in the room."


    "As you all know, the holidays areing in. With less than three weeks left for the year, we have decided to conduct a special. The next two episodes will highlight the specials of the entire year¡­and for the veryst episode of 2023, we''re going to have a special episode¡ªAn ''All-Star'' episode with all the winners from this year," Kim San announced.


    June''s teammates turned to him with wide eyes.


    "Don''t tell me¡ªyou''re actually going to join the special?" Ren asked.


    "When''s the filming?" Zeth asked.


    "December 26th," Jaeyong answered. "They said it off-camera."


    "Just in time for our break, too! We don''t have any schedules for that day, right?" Ren excitedly asked.


    "You better win this one, bro!" Akira said, already engrossed with the show.


    "Going back to thest question," Kim San said. "It has already been determined by our panel of experts; thus, there will be no ''rock, paper, scissors'' for this round. However, I am going to give you the question type¡ªit''s going to be an all-enumeration question! One must enumerate all answers included in the question to get the point and win the title of this week''s Quiz King!"


    June nodded, but it seemed like there was something lingering in his mind.


    December 26th, huh?


    Zibo leaned closer to his buzzer, preparing himself to answer.


    "Here''s the question!"


    "What are the five states of matter?"


    - Five states? Aren''t there three states only?


    - Bro, it was only three states when I was in third grade. Did they upgrade it now?


    - Oh, gosh. I forgot the fifth one.


    - At least you still know the fourth one.


    Zibo quickly pressed the buzzer.


    "Solid¡­Liquid¡­Gas¡­sma¡­and¡­"


    Zibo paused for a while, feeling a bit rushed. He knew of the fifth state of matter, but he couldn''t recall it in the back of his head.


    Kim San started counting down, causing Zibo to bite his lip in anxiety.


    "Time''s up! The turn automatically goes to June," he said, turning to the nonchnt trainee.


    At that moment, there was a lot going on inside June''s mind.


    December 26th.


    "I bet you know this! You definitely know this," Akira eximed.


    "June?" Kim San called his name, causing June to focus. His eyebrows lightly furrowed, making him look more handsome under the stage lights.


    - I''m sorry, but I can''t concentrate on anything aside from June''s face.


    - Having that kind of face should be illegal.


    - I want his face for our child.


    - These posts for this week''s episode are wild! We usually get old people criticizing the participants. Why is it filled with thirsty teens now?


    "Liquid, Gas, sma, and..."


    "Bose-Einstein Condensate," he said with confidence, causing Zibo to purse his lips in frustration.


    He couldn''t believe he lost to a guy whose report card was worse than an elementary student trying to survive in high school!


    The crowd started cheering at this point, knowing June had taken the cake.


    Jaeyong and Seven hugged each other like good friends, feeling the thrill of June''s victory.


    The members watching were also ted, shouting praises and fist-bumping like they were the ones who won the show.


    Kim San, however, remained calm.


    "You merely mentioned four," he said. "You need to mention thest one to get it right."


    "Ah," June said, scratching the back of his neck. "I forgot about it."


    The cheering automatically stopped. They turned to June with wide eyes, in disbelief at what they were hearing.


    "What?" Akira eximed. "Bro, Zibo just listed it out before you! And even then, ''solid'' is the easiest state of matter there is!"


    Time ticked slowly, and with each passing second, those who were watching felt confused.


    Even Zibo couldn''t hide his confusion.


    "Time''s up," Kim San nkly said.


    Zibo quickly pressed the buzzer. "Solid, Liquid, Gas, sma, and Bose-Einstein Condensate."


    "Correct!" Kim San eximed.


    The confetti exploded, and just like that, the show hailed its winner.


    However, for some reason, it wasn''t as celebratory as they had anticipated.


    The members of EVE watched the rolling credits with nk stares.


    "What¡­was that?" Ren asked. "Why did you forfeit your answer to your opponent?"


    "Oh, I have something to do on December 26th," June said, finally breaking his silence.


    "How important could it be?" Akira eximed. "We don''t have any schedules that day."


    "It''s very important," June smiled.


    "I''m meeting my grandma and my little brother that day."

 Chapter 333 Shake Your Booty

    <h4>Chapter 333 Shake Your Booty</h4>


    Jisung looked at June with wide, sparkling eyes.


    "You were hiding your real abilities, right? You''re actually really smart, but you wanted to show the people who underestimated you that they shouldn''t talk bad about other people because of their grades! Is that right?" he excitedly asked.


    June chuckled as he stood from the couch.


    "This isn''t a manga or an anime, Jisung. I''m not some kind of protagonist," June answered.


    Jisung pursed his lips. "You are a protagonist in my heart."


    "Oh gosh," Jaeyong chuckled. "You said the same thing as Seven."


    Jisung turned his head to Jaeyong. "Don''tpare me with that idiot!"


    "Woah, Jisung actually cursed someone out?" Ren asked with wide eyes.


    June shook his head as he listened to their banter. "I''m heading to bed now," he said.


    "We have another music show tomorrow, so it''s best we get some rest."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement, also rising from the couch. "Yeah, and I heard we might be nominated for first ce tomorrow."


    Their eyes widened in surprise.


    "No way," Jisung said. "We''re nominated for tomorrow again?"


    Jaeyong chuckled. "Don''t get your hopes up. This is just based on those prediction ounts. However, we have a really good chance to be nominated along with OCTA."


    "Them again?" Zeth groaned. "They already got two trophiesst week. This is ourst week of preparations, so I really want us to get a win."


    "Me too," the others dejectedly agreed.


    Last week, during their second week of preparations, OCTA and EVE proved once again they were rivals when they were nominated for two of the top music shows in Korea.


    Unfortunately, since Uno''s guesting on ''Crawling Man'' was rtively received well, their song shot up in the charts, securing their spot in the top ten once more. It still didn''t reach EVE''s spot on the charts. However, that, along with the voting and album sales, made OCTA the winners ofst week''s music shows.


    June would be lying if he said he wasn''t disappointed with the results. However, he still had hope left inside his heart.


    "Maybe we''ll get one tomorrow," June meaningfully said.


    "Yeah, let''s hope for something," Jaeyong said, cheering up his teammates.


    "I have high hopes," Sehun said. "Our song just shot up to the fourth spot again after Quiz God ended. I think your guesting actually made a really good impact."


    "Well, it''ste. Time to hit the hay, guys," Ren said. "I''ll see you all tomorrow."


    The eight of them went to their respective rooms, with June thinking about their first-ce nomination.


    He could still remember the feeling of being nominatedst week. He had some high hopes since they had higher streaming points than OCTA.


    However, they lost both battles, which took a toll on his confidence.


    After watching Quiz God and seeing so many people praise him for his intellect, he felt like he was slowly regaining that confidence.


    Seeing his two S-tier stats also ced a smile on his face.


    [- Vocals: S-


    - Dance: S-


    - Visual: A+


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: A+]


    That''s right.


    He now had two S-tier skills.


    ***


    One week ago, TCN Broadcasting Station


    "And cut!"


    The cameras finally stopped rolling after the six-hour-long filming.


    Zibo went down the stage first, holding the bouquet of flowers in his arms. He went over to the eliminated contestants and expected to be greeted enthusiastically for his victory.


    However, none of them seemed to be looking at him.


    Instead, they were all focused on June, who nonchntly went down the stage and fetched Jaeyong so they could finally leave.


    "Why''d you lose on purpose?" Jaeyong asked as they walked backstage.


    June shrugged. "I have something lined up during the day of the filming."


    Jaeyong sighed and shook his head.


    The contestants and the audience members watched them as they passed by. The two boys suddenly looked more attractive than they were before!


    It almost seemed like flowers fell from where they walked!


    Seven was about to run to June to congratte him, but Ocho pulled him back and shook his head.


    They arrived backstage, where they saw Chul''s pale face. It was as if he had seen two ghosts doing the dirty with how shocked he looked.


    "Are you feeling okay?" Jaeyong warily asked.


    Chul didn''t answer and continued staring nkly on the ground.


    "Umm, do we need to take you to the hospital or something?" Jaeyong asked in a concerned tone.


    "He''s fine," June said.


    "He''s just recovering from shock," he smirked, patting Chul''s head like an owner would do to his small, ugly dog.


    "Shock from what?" Jaeyong asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Doesn''t matter," June said, getting the keys hanging from Chul''s bag and giving it to Jaeyong.


    "You can drive, right? Why don''t we head out first?" he asked.


    "But what about Chul?" Jaeyong asked.


    "He''s a big boy. He can go home by himself," June said. "Let''s go!"


    Although Jaeyong was still a little bit confused, he also wanted to go home quickly, so he followed June''s orders.


    The two of them went to the basement parking lot, feeling more ted than ever.


    Jaeyong continued talking about how cool June was during the filming, and June merely listened to him with a smile.


    [Congrattions! You have stumbled upon a lucky mission. The title is Shake Your Booty!]


    June paused when he saw Fu pop up before him.


    "Shake your booty?" he muttered under his breath.


    [This is a mission solely for the dance aspect! Fulfill the mission and get the chance to upgrade your dance aspect!]


    "June?" Jaeyong asked, stopping when he didn''t feel June''s presence by his side.


    "Umm, I actually have to do something for a bit. Can you wait for me in the car?"


    "Will it take long?" Jaeyong asked.


    "No," June shook his head, "just a couple of minutes."


    Jaeyong nodded before heading to the car by himself. Meanwhile, June went to the corner of the parking lot and read the contents of the mission.


    [Twerk for one whole minute to get the upgrade.]


    "What the fuck?" he couldn''t help but exim loudly.


    Why were his missions getting more ridiculous as time passed by? He could still remember his first missions¡ªmaking a friend, encouraging others, and the like. He even had to do a good deedst week!


    Now, why was Fu asking him to twerk?


    [Systems need to have fun too.]


    June pursed his lips in frustration. He looked around the parking lot and made sure nobody was around.


    Now, he doesn''t have any experience with twerking, but he has seen some videos online (not intentionally, of course).


    So, he crouched down and started shaking his ass.


    [Twerk Timer: 58 seconds]


    At that moment, his user interface started lighting up in different colors, mimicking a party.


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    [Twerk Timer: 41 seconds]


    "Ugh, this whole damn minute feels like an eternity!"


    Meanwhile, Zibo and his teammate went to the parking lot to go back to their living quarters. Zibo, despite winning, was in a bad mood since the people who sucked up to him during the beginning of the show practically ignored him after it ended!


    What a bunch of hypocrites.


    He was about to enter their car when he saw a silhouette at the corner of the lot.


    Zibo frowned and took a step forward to get a better look.


    He swore he saw something pink moving in a very weird manner.


    Then, at that moment, he saw June shaking his ass with a displeased look on his face.


    Zibo would have recorded it right then and there, but he was too shocked to move.


    "I can''t believe I lost to a person like him," he whispered.

 Chapter 334 First Win

    <h4>Chapter 334 First Win</h4>


    It was the final week of promotions for EVE, and they were more stirred up than ever. Even now, at the live shows, it seemed like they were giving their absolute best for their performance.


    Of course, they try to always exert their best efforts for every performance. However, since this was their veryst music show, they wanted to prove something to those watching.


    The audience members, especially those who weren''t astras, were shocked to see the amount of passion in the members'' eyes.


    A pair, whose ult groups were OCTA and LUNIX, stood at the very front.


    "Don''t you think they got better at performing?" the girl asked her boy best friend. "Their center is absolutely killing it."


    "Yes," the guy responded. "We''ve been going to these music shows for the past week, and it feels like they''re improving as every week passes."


    Truly, the group continued practicing even after their tiring promotions. They stayed upte at night to continuously upgrade their skills, which became the reason for their improvement for every performance.


    Today, they not only wanted to show they were deserving of a music show win, but they also wanted to give their best performance to their fans as a thank-you gift for supporting them from the very start.


    Zeth saw June in his peripheral vision and felt a bit confused. Was it just him, or were his dance lines more beautiful this time around?


    They ended the stage with their final pose, a bit breathless from performing two songs. The crowd cheered louder than they had expected. Even non-fans were cheering for them!


    Jaeyong smiled at all of them, leading their final greetings before leaving the stage.


    "Don''t you think we had more cheers than usual?" Ren excitedly asked, still a bit breathless from their performance.


    "Yeah," Sehun responded, downing a bottle of water. "I think we really have a chance to win today''s music show."


    They walked back to their waiting room but stumbled upon OCTA, who were set to perform next.


    There was an undeniable tension between the two groups, and even Seven, who smiled cheerfully at June and Jaeyong, felt more tense than usual.


    "Good luck, guys," Jaeyong smiled.


    Uno didn''t say anything but smiled back.


    The two groups parted ways, the suffocating air slowly being cleared as EVE entered their waiting room.


    "I can''t do this," Zeth said, plopping on the couch. "We really need to win."


    Even with three weeks of promotions, EVE hadn''t received a music show win. While it was true that they had more streaming points than OCTA, thetter group had more fans in general.


    They had more album sales and more dedicated fanbases, and the support from theirpany with all the advertisements and promotions was rtively better.


    "We have to win," Ren said with determination. "It''s our veryst chance to win for thiseback."


    Jaeyong leaned against his seat, sighing as he stared at hisp.


    "Let''s hope for the best."


    ***


    "Offering you trending music in thefort of your homes¡ªthis is Music Gayo!"


    The three MCs of the popr music show, ''Music Gayo,'' smiled cheerfully at the camera.


    They all held microphones that had their names in pink, sparkly writing.


    "For this week, we have two hot rookies with us!" Wonhyuk eximed.


    "They were alsost week''s nominees," Jihyo continued, "I wonder who will take the trophy this time?"


    "Will it be OCTA¡ªwho will secure their double crown on the show? Or will it be EVE¡ªwho will finally get their first win?"


    June watched their scoreboard intently.


    Of all the music shows they had attended, June was definitely the most nervous for this one.


    Not only because it was their veryst music show for this particreback but also because he held some kind of hope in his heart that they may actually win.


    When he woke up this morning, he was bombarded withpliments for his guesting on Quiz God. It also made ''Oasis'' rise up in the charts. Moreover, there were numerous posts online of new fanbases dedicated to EVE.


    So, their chances of winning was higher this time around.


    "Let''s see their scores!" Jihyo eximed.


    "Music streaming¡­"


    The members of EVE held their breaths as the numbers were shown. A small smile appeared on June''s lips when he saw they were already leading with 500 points.


    The members of OCTA, despite having two wins under their belt, wanted to take their third win.


    "Album sales¡­"


    As expected, OCTA led in that certain category. However, it seemed like EVE was still leading in terms of total score.


    "Online votes¡­"


    For the past music shows, OCTA dominated the ''online votes'' category. However, today, there was a mere one-digit difference between the two.


    Zeth and Ren turned to each other with wide eyes, not expecting such a huge jump in their online votes.


    "Andstly, broadcast score¡­"


    The two groups watched the scoreboard intently. It was hard to predict the winner of today''s music show. EVE was actually leading with 56 points! This was the highest score they had gotten out of all the music shows they attended.


    So, ambition continued to fill their hearts, all of them praying for a music show win.


    The hard work they had poured into their debut shed back into their minds¡ªfrom the song picking to the dance and vocal practices and even up to the music video filming.


    There were some regrets along the way. However, it couldn''t be denied that they had done their best for thiseback.


    The fans in the audience sped their hands together, hoping for the best for their favorite artist.


    Astras knew that EVE deserved it more than anyone else.


    It''s not because OCTA doesn''t deserve it at all, but ending EVE''seback without a music show win would be unbelievable.


    Jia couldn''t make it to the live show this time because she had her sses. However, she was watching it under her desk with her wireless earphones in.


    "Let''s see the total!" Wonhyuk eximed.


    Time seemed to move slower as their final scores were finally shown.


    9878 vs. 9763


    "Congrattions to OCTA! You have achieved a double crown on Music Gayo!"

 Chapter 335 Jealousy, Jealousy

    <h4>Chapter 335 Jealousy, Jealousy</h4>


    The disappointment could be felt in the audience. Astras started crying because they felt like they had disappointed the boys. Fans of other groups also weren''t too ted with OCTA''s win. They actually thought EVE deserved it this time. - I can''t watch this. I''m so sorry, boys. We couldn''t even give you a single win. - Gosh, my heart is hurting looking at these boys. There are smiles on their faces, but they still look sad. - I watched the show for MORPH3D, but damn, do I feel sad for EVE. I watched June and Jaeyong on Quiz God because Zibo was in it, and I thought they were really charming. - Eyes never lie. I''m so sorry, EVE. - Jisung''s about to cry!


    June heard a sniff from beside him, so he ced his hand over Jisung''s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Don''t cry here," June said, knowing how brutal the media was with weak-hearted people. "You can cryter, alright?" he whispered. Jisung pursed his lips and nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Thank you, our octopuses. Your support means everything to us," Tres said. "We would have never achieved three wins without you!" "Till our nexteback, octopuses," Seven cheerfully said, waving at the camera.


    OCTA ended their speech with wide smiles. They were then given individual microphones for their encore performance. The other artists moved down the stage while the winner got to stay on stage. For a moment, June''s gaze lingered on OCTA''s happy faces as they performed their song. It was also theirst music show guesting, and they ended it with a win.


    He felt jealous. Jaeyong held onto his arm and gently pulled him down the stage, causing him to snap out of his thoughts. "Are you alright?" Jaeyong asked. "Are you?" June asked back. Jaeyong showed him a tight-lipped smile. "I would be lying if I said I was," he sadly said. They went back to their waiting room, all in dejected moods. As they sat down in their seats, silence filled the room. No words were needed. It was obvious that the boys were disappointed with the oue of their veryst music show. Sure, June had given them the whole pep talk about not seeing everything as apetition. However, they just felt like all of their hard work was for nothing. They would have been happy with one win. Just one win.


    Chul entered the room with the same disappointed expression. June was expecting him tofort the group in some way, but once he spoke, June wanted nothing but to shove dog poop into his mouth to stop him from speaking.


    "The CEO just called," Chul sighed. "He''s disappointed because you didn''t get your first win. GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC got at least one win for their debut. Heck, even that failed group from the third season got a win. I think we need to reevaluate some things here," he continued. The members of EVE looked down to the ground, feeling more dejected than they did a few moments ago. "I''m not saying all of this to discourage you," Chul said, "this is all for your own good. I think something went wrong during the preparations since thepany gave you all the resources you need. Maybe it was the title track


    ¡ª"


    "Look," June said, having enough of his insensitive words.


    "If you don''t have anything good to say, then I suggest you shut your mouth. Or do you want me to shut it for you?" Chul and the other members were taken aback.


    "Excuse me?" he asked. "That is not the way you should be speaking to your manager!" "And you shouldn''t be speaking with your artists this way," June countered. "We''re disappointed. I''m sure you are, too. Everybody''s disappointed. Now, can you give us some time to process our feelings before getting all up in our faces and talking shit?" June snapped. His members proudly looked at him. June perfectly said what the other members wanted to convey. Chul shook his head in disbelief, his face getting red since he felt insulted by June''s words. "June, one word from me, and thepany will discipline you," he warned. "What are they going to do? Spank me?" June asked, standing up. "Or are they going to disband our group the same way they did for thest group?" "Stop fucking joking, Chul. We''re the money makers of thepany now. I''m sure you can''t afford to let us go." Chul couldn''t counter June''s points. Everything he said was right. EVE was now Azure''s most anticipated artist. If they didn''t debut with OCTA, who was from a bigger and richerpany, they would undoubtedly sweep all of the music show awards. However, circumstances weren''t favorable for them, which resulted in their current situation. With that, June stood from his seat and went to the door. "Where are you going, bro?" Jisung asked, already crying his eyes out. "Out," June briefly said. He mmed the door shut before walking away from their waiting room. June didn''t know where to go, but all he knew was he needed to get out. Otherwise, he would have exploded right then and there. He went to a secluded corner of the building to cool his head off. "Did I say too much?" he muttered under his breath. His feet led him to a secluded flight of stairs in the building, simr to the one in Rising Stars. He sat down on one of the steps and leaned his elbows against hisp, thinking about everything that happened today. "It''s alright," June said, talking to himself. He found that talking to himself was therapeutic. He automatically felt better with self-assurance, so he continued speaking. "There will be other chances for our group to win. It''s only the beginning¡ª" June''s self-talk was cut off when someone cleared his throat from behind him. He swiftly turned around and found none other than Uno sitting at the very top of the stairs, looking at him with a subtle re. "What are you doing here?" Uno asked. "Shouldn''t I be the one asking you that?" June countered. Uno shook his head and stood up, leaving June all alone. However, June''s next statement made Uno stop in his tracks. "For someone who won three music shows, you look awfully disappointed."

 Chapter 336 Next Time

    <h4>Chapter 336 Next Time</h4>


    Uno turned back around and looked at June with narrowed eyes.


    "What are you trying to say?" he asked. June shrugged, leaning against the railings of the stairs. He nonchntly yed with his shoces as he continued speaking. "You look pressured," June said, observing Uno''s face. "You must not feel satisfied with your win, don''t you?" Uno fully turned around and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You''re acting like a mind-reader," he said. "It''s not that hard to read your mind right now," June said, able to see Uno''s real feelings. "It''s written all over your face." Uno couldn''t hold back his surprise. His fingers shook in slight nervousness, so he cracked his knuckles. Uno thought he was a very hard person to read.


    June was the only person who saw right through his facade and guessed what he was truly feeling. "Are you saying I''m easy to understand?" Uno asked. "No," June said. "People aren''t books. You can''t just look at them and understand everything they''re going through. However, in given situations, I can guess what other people might feel based on all our previous encounters." "Let me take a wild guess," June said, enjoying how Uno appeared to pay more attention to his words.


    "You''re disappointed because even though you achieved three music show wins, you don''t feel aplete sense of victory?" June guessed. Uno took a sharp breath, so June continued. "You''ve worked for this dream for so long, and you gave up almost everything to get to where you are. However, now that you''re here, it''s not as you imagined," June smiled, a bit reminiscent. "Happiness bes a fleeting concept. You ask yourself¡ª


    what''s the point of reveling in happiness if it''s just going to disappear? It''s like that Uno card game," June chuckled at his wise wordy while Uno scoffed.


    "You draw, y your hand, and someone wins. The game ends, then another one starts. The happiness fluctuates, so you start thinking that maybe there''s no use in being happy at all. In the end, you start questioning if you ever wanted to y the game in the first ce," he softly said.


    Uno''s expression gradually softened, feeling the sincerity in June''s words. "I bet you''re experiencing the paradox of happiness. You''re so afraid of being happy since you''re going to lose it anyway. So, in the end, you put pressure on yourself to constantly achieve something¡­to continuously do something without rest¡­so that you''d be able to maintain that happiness." "You sound like you''re speaking from experience," Uno said. June softly smiled. "Maybe because I am," he said, remembering his dark days as a member of the White Tiger gang. "Yeah, right," Uno scoffed, sitting next to him but still keeping a distance. "You don''t look like you''d understand what I''m going through." "And why is that?" June asked. He couldn''t believe he was ying therapist with a person he wasn''t even close with, but Uno vaguely reminded him of his past self¡ªJun Hao. "You''re so¡­carefree and nonchnt. You look like you don''t care, even if you don''t win. Even if you made that mistake in the festival, you didn''t even bat an eye." "That technical mistake benefitted us, though," June smiled. "I know," Uno said. "But how the hell do you keep being so positive all the time?" Now, it was June''s turn to be surprised. "Positive? In no way in this lifetime would I be considered a positive person," June chuckled. "Look," Uno sighed. "These three wins were something I already expected our group to earn." "Cocky," June gave a sidement. "But, why do I feel like you guys won anyway?" Uno asked, finally baring his true feelings. June raised his eyebrows. "Howe? Our group is hoping to have at least one win," June said. "You took them all, fucker. Your group didn''t even give us a chance." Uno chuckled and shook his head. "Your song is higher on the charts, fucker." "Yeah, because our song is better than yours," June smirked. "And I''m a better vocalist than all of youbined." "Now, you''re the cocky one," Uno smirked. "You''re brave for a person whose group didn''t even get a single win for theireback." "Whatever," June shrugged. "We''re going to take back that win in the future." "Idiot," Uno said. "This is ourst music show. I heard from my manager that this is yourst show too. There''s no way you''re still going to win next week."


    "I''m not talking about next week," June said. "Next time, we''ll sweep all of the music show wins and leave you speechless." "Are you saying you''re going to have aeback the same time around us again? Shouldn''t you be scared to face us now?" Uno confidently asked. "I might just ask our management team to do so," June countered. "How else am I going to shove our victories down your face?" Uno shook his head, a small smile ying on his lips. "Are you feeling better now?" June asked, subtly changing the subject. Uno cleared his throat and straightened his back. "I''ve been fine since a while ago." "Sure," June sarcastically said. Uno smiled, a bit wider this time. However, his actions quickly caught up to him. Why was he speaking so casually with his enemy again?


    Uno stood up from the stairs and took a step back. "This conversation doesn''t mean we''re friends, alright?" Uno said, quickly setting the boundaries of their rtionship. June scoffed. "Who said I wanted to be friends with an arrogant little kid like you?" Uno frowned. "We''re the same age." "Don''t worry," June said, also standing and walking to where Uno was. June ced his hand over Uno''s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I don''t have any intentions of being friends with you." "Good," Uno said. "Good," June smiled. "I don''t want to be friends with someone who''s not on my level anyway," June added, throwing back the insulting words Uno had told him when the two of them first officially met. Uno looked at him with wide eyes. "You¡ª" "See you next time!" June smirked, walking away while waving goodbye. "We''ll definitely beat you when we meet again."

 Chapter 337 Finding Secrets

    <h4>Chapter 337 Finding Secrets</h4>


    June went back to their waiting room and found Jisung crying on Akira''s shoulder.


    They raised their heads when June made his way inside, instantly brightening up.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed, going over to where he was and squeezing his shoulders. "Were you mad?"


    June sighed before shaking his head.


    "Where''s Chul?" he asked.


    "He wanted to go without you," Zeth said. "But of course, we didn''t let that happen. He''s


    probably waiting in the car."


    June smiled. "Thanks for staying."


    "You don''t have to mention it," Jaeyong said. "We''re a team. Of course, we were going to wait for you."


    "But are you alright now?" Ren asked. "Jisung''s been crying because he feels like you''re angry because we didn''t win."


    "I''m not angry because of that," June said, causing Jisung to sigh in relief. "We can just take back those wins the next time we have aeback."


    They smiled, feeling a bit better than before.


    "I was angry because of Chul," June continued. "I wanted to punch him a while ago, so I left."


    His members'' eyes widened in surprise.


    "Me too," Sehun said, causing June to smirk.


    "Alright, we can''t punch our manager," Jaeyong said, calming down the situation.


    "Even just a little bit?" June asked. "I already kicked and kneed his face before."


    Once again, his members were surprised.


    "What the hell?" Casper eximed. "You did that to Chul before me?"


    "Ignore him," Akira said. "Did you catch it in video? I would pay to see that."


    "You guys are getting off-topic," Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "When did that happen?"


    "When we had an early schedule¡­I woke up earlier than usual since I didn''t want to fight with you guys for the bathroom. I saw him near our door that night like a weirdo," June narrated the encounter.


    "Why would he go there so early in the morning?" Sehun asked. "He usuallyes on time since he hates waiting."


    "I don''t know," June said. "But I feel like something''s weird with him."


    "He''s just in weird," Sehun said. "It might not be obvious with the other members, but he''s a bit more aloof with June and I."


    "Really?" Zeth asked. "Why didn''t you guys say so?"


    "I thought I was being over-dramatic," Sehun confessed. "I didn''t want to create any more drama since he seems to be alright with you guys. Besides, he ignores my existence rather than antagonizing it like June."


    Jisung sniffed. "Even if he doesn''t do anything to me, I still don''t like him. Ever since the Hoho incident, I felt like he was a bit unkind to June and Sehun."


    "I almost forgot about that," Ren said. "June ended up debuting with his original stage name, though. Does anybody know why that happened?"


    June smirked as he brought out his phone.


    June was a man of his word. However, once triggered, that might change in the blink of an eye.


    He had kept Chul''s secret because of his personal principles, but he didn''t dare delete the video of him sucking his toes for moments like this.


    June had enough.


    He gave Chul a chance since he seemed quite decent with his work, but there was only so much June could take.


    "June looks like he''s nning something evil," Casper said, making all the other members shift their attention to June.


    "Hey, do you think we can rece our manager?" June casually asked.


    Jaeyong frowned. "Right now? I don''t think so. We''re still rookies in the industry, and thepany actually really likes Chul."


    "But what if we find something really disturbing about him?" June asked, already conjuring up a n.


    "Oh gosh," Jaeyong groaned. "What do you have in mind?"


    June smirked.


    "Let''s just say that I want a new manager."


    ***


    The other members were still hesitant to join in on June''s n. Fortunately, he had two other members who were insane enough to join him on his undisclosed n.


    Akira: Yo, what are we going to do about Chul?


    Jisung: Chul looks like an angry bird. It''s a good thing I didn''t sit at the front.


    June held back a chuckle as he read the messages on their new group chat.


    Akira took the liberty to name their group chat ''Chul''s Demons,'' all with the aim of kicking out their unprofessional manager. The three of them were sitting together, all busily texting on their phones.


    June: You can''t back out from our n now.


    Akira: Of course! I love challenges.


    Jisung: What are we going to do anyway?


    June: *sent a video*


    June didn''t waste any time and sent the video of Chul sucking his toes during their music video filming.


    Akira and Jisung nced at each other in confusion before clicking on the video. For a second, Akira''s phone had the sound, so he quickly turned it down.


    Jisung and Akira intently watched the video, wondering what they were looking at. However, once Chul''s crouched figure became clear, the two of them couldn''t hide their shock.


    "What the fuck?" Akira loudly eximed, turning to June and giving him a push due to the shock and disgust of seeing the video. Since June didn''t expect the push, his phone fell from his hand and to the car''s floor.


    June red at him and quickly covered his mouth.


    "Shut up," June whispered.


    Meanwhile, Jisung stared off into the distance, looking traumatized.


    "What''s going on there?" Chul asked with a frown, ncing back at them.


    Jisung was about to respond but stopped when he caught a glimpse of Chul''s mouth. The video yed back in his mind, causing Jisung to cover his mouth and silently gag.


    "Are you guys okay?" Jaeyong asked, also looking at them with a weirded-out expression.


    "Everything''s good," June calmly said. "My phone just fell."


    "Well, you better quiet down," Chul said, clicking his tongue.


    June sighed before reaching his hand on the car floor. He wandered his hand around, but he couldn''t quite reach it.


    So, he decided to kneel down, causing the other members toin about theck of space.


    June ignored theirints and leaned his head down to visualize his phone better under the seats.


    It was a bit dark, abination of the setting sun and the overly-tinted windows, making the ck phone harder to see.


    However, once June leaned down, he caught a glimpse of something white¡ªsomething familiar.


    It was a in, small material, but June couldn''t miss the little "J" with cat ears sewed onto its corner.


    It was, indeed, his sock.

 Chapter 338 Sock Thief

    <h4>Chapter 338 Sock Thief</h4>


    "How many socks have you lost?" June asked as soon as they got home.


    "Since I was born? Around twenty pairs," Casper casually responded.


    "No," June clicked his tongue. "How many socks have you guys lost since we started living here?"


    "Well, you''re asking the important questions," Jaeyong chuckled, finding their conversation ridiculous.


    "I''m being serious," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Umm, I don''t know¡­I lost count after the third one," Jisung said.


    "I lost one," Akira said. "I don''t usually wear socks."


    Zeth looked at him, disgusted. "So, that''s why the practice room smells like crap after a full day of practicing. Wear some damn socks from now on."


    Akira raised an using finger toward Zeth''s way. "You also don''t wear socks with your rubber shoes sometimes!"


    "That''s different," Zeth smirked. "I don''t sweat. My feet are not an exception, so they always smell fresh and clean!"


    "Lucky bastard," Akira muttered.


    "Well, for those twenty pairs, I think I lost around four here already¡­which is an abnormallyrge amount considering I''ve been living in this world for 23 years," Casper responded.


    "I''ve never lost my socks beforeing here," June said. "But ever since we moved to this dorm, I''ve lost around five socks now. That''s why I decided to embroider my initials on my remaining socks."


    "Wait, wait, wait¡­Why are we talking about socks again?" Ren asked, feeling a bit confused.


    "Yeah," Jaeyong chuckled. "Don''t you think we have more important things to discuss? Like our New Year''s Eve performance!" he eximed.


    "Do you really want Chul to be our manager until next year?" June asked.


    His other members didn''t respond.


    "Look at this," June said, bringing out the sock he saw under the car seat just a while ago. "I found this at our van."


    "Umm, why''d you leave your sock there?" Zeth asked.


    June clicked his tongue in frustration.


    "Why would I even take off my sock and leave it in the car?" June asked. "All I''m saying is¡ªChul uses that car, even outside of our work schedules."


    Ren, the smartest (aside from June) in their team, gasped loudly.


    "So, you''re saying¡ªhe might be a sock thief?" he asked.


    "He is the sock thief," June said with conviction.


    "How are you so sure?" Ren asked.


    "Akira, Jisung, show them what I sent you."


    "Aww, man!" Akira eximed. "I do not want to see that video again."


    "You''re keeping secrets from us?" Casper eximed.


    "Shut up," June said. "You didn''t want to join in on my n earlier. I was going to show you anyway."


    Jisung braved his fears and opened the video for his other members to see.


    June could hear the sucking sounds from where he was standing, so he quickly pursed his lips to keep the contents of his stomach from regurgitating. He had seen plenty of grotesque things in his life, but this one just triggered him to another extent for some reason.


    However, he smirked when he saw his members'' disgusted expressions. They finally knew what June was feeling!


    "Turn that thing off!" Ren eximed. "What the hell? Why did you keep this to yourself?"


    "Why do you think my stage name changed all of a sudden?" June asked.


    "You ckmailed him?" Akira eximed. "Good job, bro. I''ve raised you well."


    June shook his head with a smile. "Do you guys believe me now?"


    Murmurs of agreement were heard inside the room, the members still disgusted with what they had seen.


    "So, what are we going to do now?" Zeth asked.


    June pursed his lips while Casper raised his hand.


    "I know where Chul lives."


    ***


    In a luminous apartment in the heart of Seoul, a typical office worker''s decor embellished the walls¡ªarge LED screen TV, a sleek ck couch, picture frames of achievements, and family members donned on top of an expensive-looking wood drawer.


    In the kitchen, a huge chunk of roast beef was roasting in the oven, filling the apartment with a heavenly smell.


    It was the type of ce office workers would dream of having.


    However, in the mundane humdrum of the normal apartment, one room stood in contrast. It loomed at the center, covered in an unnatural brightness that defied the otherwise bright and modern interior.


    The walls inside were adorned with familiar faces frozen in time within picture frames¡ªthe smiling snapshots of K-pop idols. The idols stared down from their photos, their glossy eyes holding a misced vibrancy in the dimness of the room.


    Yet, something far more unsettling awaited beneath those seemingly innocent images.


    ck bags, misshapen and filled with an unknown material, hung beneath the posters.


    Next to it was a huge bed¡ªwhere the owner would usually sleep in. Other people would want to hide their secrets in the unseen parts of their homes. However, this person proudly showed it off in his master bedroom.


    The owner, a strange man whose features were obscured by the shadows, hunched over in the middle of the room with an unsettling calmness. He was sitting on the floor, ssical music ying in the background.


    In his dominant hand, he cradled a cup of coffee. It was his fourth cup of the day, and his breath smelled distinctive of that bad coffee breath.


    He started at the TV, which was the only source of light in the room. The TV was ying a familiar performance of a rising idol group. However, it was muted, as the sound of ssical music was the only thing being heard in the room.


    With an unnatural calmness, the man reached into one of the ck bags. His fingers fumbled with the material before extracting the most unexpected item¡ªa sock.


    Then, the man brought the sock to his face. With slow and deliberate movements, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes to enjoy the sweet aroma of the white sock. He inhaled more deeply as if savoring the essence of the sock''s owner.


    Chul clicked his tongue, opening his eyes to stare at the photo of today''s victim.


    "Your socks were always the sweetest to smell," he whispered. "But you''ve been a very bad boy," he chuckled, his evilness filling the dark room.


    Meanwhile, June''s concept photo for their debut album stared back at him.

 Chapter 339 Jisung’s First Crime

    <h4>Chapter 339 Jisung''s First Crime</h4>


    It was another sunny day for the members of EVE. As their promotion week had already ended, they had significantly fewer schedules.


    However, they had some shoots and small brand endorsements here and there. They were also busily preparing for the New Year''s Eve performance that happened every end of the year.


    They would have also started preparing for the award shows this time around. However, since they debuted inte November, the tracking period for their records for the entire year wasn''t sufficient. The same went for OCTA. So, it meant that the group would probably only be able to attend actual award shows next year.


    Today, Zeth had a solo brand endorsement for a coffee brand.


    "Alright, we''re doing this," Akira said, walking out of his room to reveal his all-ck outfit, which had cut-holes in his torso, slightly showing his abs.


    June, with a simple ck hoodie and sweatpants, stared at him, unimpressed.


    "What are you wearing?" June asked.


    Akira gave him a twirl. "Isn''t it cool? This is what gangsters wear when they have missions and stuff."


    June scoffed. "We¡ªI mean, they most definitely don''t wear that."


    "Whatever," Akira said. "You''re just jealous my outfit''s cooler than yours."


    June shook his head. "Where are Casper and Jisung?"


    "Here," two voices said at the same time.


    June turned around and saw his other two aplices, who fortunately wore normal outfits.


    The four of them were set to go to Chul''s house to find some kind of proof that he was, instead, the sock thief. June knew that a mere foot fetish wouldn''t get him fired. However, once June proved that he was an actual creep who stole his artists'' socks, he was sure Chul was going to lose this battle.


    "Are you all ready?" June asked.


    "Yup," Jisung chimed. "This is so exciting! I''ve never done something like this before."


    Akira smiled and wrapped his arm around Jisung''s shoulder. "Congrats, bro. This is going to be your very first crime!"


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "This is a crime?"


    "Well, of course," Akira said. "We''re going to break inside someone''s apartment. I don''t think that''s legal."


    Jisung started hupping, unaware of what they were truly doing.


    June clicked his tongue and pinched Akira''s side, causing thetter to exim in pain.


    "Don''t scare him. This won''t be a real crime if it isn''t discovered." June reprimanded.


    Akira chuckled but quickly turned serious. "Wait. How do you know that?"


    June ignored Akira and turned to Casper.


    "Did Zeth give the go signal?" he asked.


    "Yes," Casper responded. "They''ve already started driving to the shoot''s location. We have half a day to aplish our mission."


    "Good. Let''s go then," June said, walking to the door.


    "Wait, June. How do you know that?" Akira asked, running after him.


    ***


    The four of them arrived at a huge condominium withvish greenery outside its huge doors.


    They looked up at it in amazement, wondering how Chul was able to live in such a nice ce.


    "Are you sure this is the right ce?" June asked Casper.


    "Yeah, I''m sure," Casper said. "He mentioned his address once. He lives near the penthouse."


    Akira raised his eyebrows in suspicion. "And how do you know that?"


    Casper shrugged. "I just asked, and he answered. I feel like he''s a big fan of me."


    "Well, let''s get going," June said, leading the group and walking to the back entrance.


    "Wait, where are we going?" Jisung asked.


    "These condominiums have tight security, so we''re going through the back windows where guards usually don''t watch over," June nonchntly said.


    The other three members looked at each other with confused expressions.


    "You know an awful lot about these things," Akira said.


    As expected, there really weren''t any guards in the spot that June rmended. However, as they fixed their postures, they saw an old woman looking at them with wide eyes.


    "Oops," Akira said as he faced the old woman.


    She was about to call the security guards but stopped when she saw the familiar face of the pink-haired man.


    "June?" she asked, her voice a bit raspy.


    June smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Hi, how are you?" he asked, working his charms.


    "Oh goodness. It really is you!" she eximed. "I''m such a big fan. I''m friends with your grandma."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    June knew Grandma had some pretty rich friends, but bumping into one of them while they were trying to break into Chul''s ce was absurd.


    "Can I take a picture with all of you? I''m going to boast about it to my friends," she excitedly said.


    "Sure," June said.


    The old woman moved closer to the four of them. She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. At that moment, June saw the room number on her key card.


    "Wait, you live on the 15th floor?" June asked.


    "Yes," the grandma smiled. "My daughter bought the ce for me and my husband. Although, it''s a bit too high for old people like us. Fortunately, the elevator always works in this ce."


    "Doesn''t Chul live on the 15th floor?" June whispered to Casper.


    Casper nodded. "Yes, room 156."


    "Perfect," June said, looking at the number on her card¡ª155.


    "I can''t wait to show this to everyone," the olddy continued, gushing at their picture on her phone.


    June cleared his throat and stepped closer to her, causing her to lift her head.


    "Umm, we actually need your help for something. Will that be alright with you?"


    "Of course," she beamed. "Anything for you! Your grandma told me you were a very kind boy, so I wouldn''t hesitate to help you."


    ***


    With the old woman''s help, the members of EVE were able to enter Chul''s apartment without any worry.


    Although Akira almost died when he missed a step from the old woman''s balcony to Chul''s, it was alright. Casper pulled him in just in time!


    Jisung held his breath as he opened the balcony doors. "It''s unlocked," he said, sighing in relief.


    "As expected," June said. "People always leave their balcony doors open."


    "Yeah," Akira said, still traumatized. "Because normal people wouldn''t even think of going through their balconies! I almost died back there."


    "But you didn''t," Casper said. "And this was actually a good idea. We wouldn''t have been able to enter Chul''s apartment otherwise."


    Akira clicked his tongue, still thinking about his near-death experience.


    "Find something strange," June said. "Anything that would prove that he is, indeed, a fucking creep."


    His members nodded.


    They searched the entire apartment, opening drawers and rummaging through stuff, all without disorganizing it too much.


    "Hey, all the other rooms are unlocked except for this one," Akira said, calling his members over.


    June stopped looking through the bathroom and went to where Akira was.


    "Did you guys find anything yet?" he asked the other two members.


    "Nope," Jisung said.


    "Not yet," Casper said. "All of it''s pretty normal for now."


    "Me too," Akira said. "But I think there''s something strange in this room. It smells somewhat¡­unique."


    "I thought I was the only one," Casper said. "It smells just like our practice room when you remove your shoes to air your feet out."


    Akira red at him. "Shut up. My feet don''t stink that bad."


    "Casper," Jisung sarcastically said.


    "How are we going to open the door, though?" Akira asked, changing the subject. "Should we start looking for the key?"


    The three boys looked around the ce.


    However, June quickly kneeled down to the ground and bought something from his pocket¡ªa safety pin, causing them to halt their search.


    June shaped the metal material to his liking before inserting it through the keyhole and picking the lock.


    His members looked at him, bewildered.


    Then, not even secondster, a click was heard, and the doorknob fully twisted.


    "Alright," Akira eximed. "This is getting pretty weird now. How do you know how to pick locks, too?"


    June once again ignored his question and opened the door fully.


    Akira was about to continue interrogating June. However, he was quickly stunned into silence as June turned on the lights.


    They looked at the room with baffled expressions.


    "What the hell?"

 Chapter 340 Vomit Center

    <h4>Chapter 340 Vomit Center</h4>


    Their own photos stared back at them, their names written in an illegible font. Below them were ck stic bags that the boys couldn''t wait to unravel. However, a pungent smell led them to step back, observing the room with furrowed eyebrows.


    "This is worse than I thought," Jisung said, about to throw up.


    "Oh, gosh," Akira gagged. "I see my photo at the corner."


    "All of our photos are here," Casper said, his frown deepening as he observed the room.


    "Other groups are also here."


    June looked to where Casper was pointing and saw that; indeed, there were photos of K-pop idols from other groups. It was a rtivelyrge room, and June counted at least 23 photos inside.


    "What are these ck bags for?" Casper asked, finally having the courage to open one of them up.


    It just so happened to be a girl group member''s designated ck bag.


    Casper unraveled the bag while the others waited in anticipation. As Casper opened it, he quickly let it go in shock.


    The contents of the bag sprawled out on the ground, causing the others to exim in shock.


    "Fuck," Akira covered his mouth. "He''s really a sock thief. I can''t believe this."


    "I think he''s more than a thief at this point," Casper said. "He''s insane."


    June was speechless. He walked over to where his picture was located and peeked inside the bag.


    He took a step back and cursed under his breath.


    "Can we go home?" Jisung asked, tugging on Akira''s sleeve. "I don''t feel so good."


    "Hold it in," Akira snapped. "We''re not yet done with our objective."


    "First, let''s take videos," June said, bringing out his phone.


    However, before he could do that, they heard a sounding from outside of the room.


    They looked at each other with wide eyes while June looked at his watch with a confused expression.


    "It''s still early. Who might it be?" he asked.


    Casper brought out his phone and saw over 25 missed calls from Zeth and an infinite amount of text messages. His eyes widened in surprise as he clicked on one of the messages.


    Zeth: The shoot was moved to tomorrow. Chul''s on his way back now.


    Zeth: Bro, answer! He''s really on his way back.


    Zeth: Casper, you ghosted me! Don''t get caught now.


    "Chul''s back," Casper whispered, looking out of it. "The shoot was cancelled!"


    "What?" June eximed, quickly pulling out his phone and recording everything in a brief minute.


    However, he had to quickly stop when they heard Chul''s familiar voice singing a very familiar song¡ªtheir title track.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "And he says he''s not a fan of this song."


    "Shh," Jisung said, covering his mouth. "Oh gosh. We''re going to get caught. I''m going to get convicted. This really will be my first crime."


    "Calm down," June said. "Let''s quickly move out through the balcony. Make it fast, alright?"


    "I''ll go first," Akira said, quickly going out to the balcony as they heard Chul''s voiceing closer and closer.


    June quickly pushed the others outside while he stayed behind, making sure to get footage in the process.


    Time seemed to slow down as Chul''s footsteps neared. Akira already made his way to the the old woman''s balcony, and Jisung was halfway through. Fortunately, Casper didn''t take too long to cross over, which gave June more time to escape.


    However, as June lifted his leg over the railings, someone''s silhouette was seen through the curtains, startling him.


    "Shit," he muttered under his breath.


    No doubt, it was Chul''s lingering figure. Before June could process everything, the balcony door slid open, and it felt like time froze.


    "Yeah, yeah. I''m setting things up," Chul''s voice was heard. "I think I''m going to get that promotion. Yeah, the boys are doing well, so the directors are favoring me. I don''t like the group''s center, though. I think they''d be better off without him."


    The balcony door opened; however, it showed Chul''s back figure. June sighed in relief since it seemed like he hadn''t noticed his presence.


    His teammates frantically coaxed him over. June moved at the speed of light and made his way to the old woman''s balcony.


    Chul heard a subtle thud behind him, causing him to pause.


    "Wait a second," Chul said to the phone and quickly turned around.


    The other boys froze as they stared at the person before them.


    "Why are you back so early, boys?" the old woman asked, startled to see the four boys staring at her and her husband. They were sharing a kiss when the four of them entered, which made Jisung fully retch.


    Akira squeezed his side. "Bro, swallow back your vomit right now."


    Jisung nodded and kept it in.


    "Umm," Casper scratched the back of his head. "We''re about to head out."


    "Yeah," June said. "Thank you so much for all the help."


    "Oh, no need to mention it," the old woman said, still clinging to her husband. "Do you want


    to join us for lunch?"


    "No need," Akira squeezed out. "Jisung over here just ate," he chuckled.


    "Oh, I see," she said. "Well, you cane back whenever you want!"


    "Will do," June politely smiled. "We''ll be taking our leave then."


    The four of them quickly scurried out of the room, quickly heaving sighs of relief as they walked through the hallways.


    "That was so damn close," Akira eximed. "I thought we were going to get caught."


    "I''m sorry, guys," Casper scratched the back of his head. "I didn''t see Zeth''s message on time."


    "It''s alright," June sighed. "It''s done."


    "Did we get something good?" Jisung asked, finally calming down.


    June brought out his phone and watched the footage he filmed. It was really shaky, but nheless, it showed how much of a creep Chul really was.


    "But how can we prove that this is really Chul''s room?" Akira asked. "Will people believe us without any solid proof?"


    June kept silent and showed them another footage.


    His members looked at him with wide eyes.


    "Where did thate from?" Akira eximed.


    "Hey, Chul. You still there?" the person on the other side of the phone asked.


    "Yeah, still here," Chul said, shaking his head since it might just be his imagination. "What were we talking about again?"


    "Your promotion. Do you think you can help me enter thepany once you get promoted?"


    "Of course," Chul smirked, going back inside his room. "I promised you, yeah? I''ll definitely get you that position."


    "Yeah, and then¡­I''ll give you something in return, too," the other person said in a seductive tone.


    Chul bit his lips. "And what might that be?"


    The other person in the line continued talking in a seductive tone. Chul intently listened.


    However, he was quickly distracted when he saw something on the floor¡ªone of his precious socks.


    He frowned and walked over to where it was.


    It was one of his favorite socks¡ªJune''s. He sped onto the material tightly and shook his head.


    Chul was careless with his other belongings¡­but never with his socks.


    He smirked and clenched his jaw before looking at the CCTV footage in the corner of the room.

 Chapter 341 Summoned

    <h4>Chapter 341 Summoned</h4>


    "We need to be more synchronized during this part," Jaeyong said. "So, it''s one, two, and three for the counting. This one''s not a full step, but a half-step."


    June nodded and quickly followed their leader''s instruction.


    They repeated the move and smiled in satisfaction since they looked more synchronized than before.


    "I''m so excited for this performance. I really want to see our fans again," Akira said.


    "Me too," Zeth said. "I want them to fawn over my handsomeness again."


    The other members shook their heads in disbelief.


    The eight of them were practicing for their year-end performance, where they will perform two songs¡ªOasis and Red Moon. They still had about two weeks before the performance, but they wanted to give their best since multiple artists would be present during the show.


    The current hottest artists, as well as entertainment veterans, were going to be performing alongside them, so they felt morepetitive than usual.


    They were about to practice once again when Chul came into the room with a piece of paper.


    He had a smirk on his face as he walked over to where they were.


    "Good morning, boys," he cheerfully greeted.


    "Morning," the boys unenthusiastically answered. However, it didn''t really dampen the atmosphere. Instead, it made Chul even happier.


    "Is there anything wrong?" Jaeyong asked.


    "No," Chul said. "I just came here to give this to June."


    June frowned as Chul handed him the piece of paper.


    "Well, I''m going to go," Chul said. "I still have a meeting with the board of directors about the uing meeting."


    However, before he left, he leaned closer to June and whispered something in his ear.


    "You should know better before breaking into my ce," he whispered, causing June to freeze.


    Chul smirked as he locked gazes with June. After that, he waved his hand goodbye and happily left their practice room.


    "What is that?" Akira asked, snatching the piece of paper from June''s hand.


    The other members also curiously looked at it.


    "What?" Akira eximed. "A disciplinary meeting because of employee misconduct?"


    "Is it against Chul?" Zeth asked.


    "No," June shook his head. "It''s against me."


    "What?" Jisung eximed. "What for? You didn''t do anything wrong!"


    "It might be because of my outburst during ourst music show," he said. "And he also found out about us breaking into his apartment."


    His three aplices froze while Jaeyong massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "I gave you guys the permission to do whatever you want with the condition that you won''t get caught," their leader said. "What are we going to do now?"


    "Damn," Akira whispered. "Jisung really didmit his first crime."


    Jisung groaned. "That''s fine with me! But why is June the only one being summoned?"


    "Because he hates me. He sure loves my socks, though," June smirked, making light of the situation.


    Casper let out a chuckle, but Jaeyong remained serious.


    "Stop joking. This could make or break your career," he said.


    "What even happens after these disciplinary meetings?" Sehun asked.


    "Since this is an internal problem, June''s probably going to have to sign another contract where the higher-ups can control his personality for the brand. That means June would lose his individuality as a person. It''s such a sad urrence whenever these things happen. That''s the reason why so many idols lose their spark for the profession¡ªbecause they''re forced to always show their best side without thinking about their mental well-being," he said.


    "That''s what happened to our group after our member had a scandal," Jaeyong continued.


    Akira pursed his lips, knowing that Jaeyong had it the hardest when they were still in RAVEN.


    "We can''t have them do that to June!" Jisung eximed.


    "I know," June said. "I won''t let that happen."


    "Which is why I need your help," he added, turning to Jisung.


    "Anything. I''ll do anything," Jisung said, cing his hand over his heart.


    "You''ve always been good with technology, right?" June asked.


    "I guess," Jisung responded.


    "What do you need me to do?"


    ***


    On the highest floor of the building, multiple directors gathered for a disciplinary meeting set by one of their well-respected managers, Chul.


    The air was filled with the stench of rich people and their greed, all fakeughing at each other to hide the fact that they hated each other''s guts.


    Chul sat in the very middle, his chin high up in the air. He had gotten his make-up and hair done at the salon to impress the board of directors, so he was very pleased to hear thepliments from the group of old men and women.


    The room turned silent, however, when the door opened, revealing a vibrant and dazzling person who outshone everyone in the room.


    He was bare-faced and wore a simple shirt and jeans. However, he was definitely the most good-looking person in the room. Even Chul, who had prepared for more than two hours, couldn''t hold up a candle against June.


    June ignored their gazes and whispers and sat next to Chul, not giving anything away with his expression and gestures.


    "We have gathered today to discuss the behaviors of June, an artist within ourpany. Their manager, Chul, had filed for a disciplinary meeting today, in which we will discuss the proper repercussions for Chul''s usations," Mr. Ong said, looking more serious than ever.


    "We may now start."


    Chul got up from his seat and stood at the front of the room, his demeanor stern and unwavering. He shuffled through a stack of papers, preparing to present the list of vitionsmitted by June. He also prepared a visual presentation to strengthen his points.


    Chul cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on June. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gathering. We are here today to address the serious misconduct of one of our artists, June."


    "For the past years, Azure has been one of the leading corporations in the entirety of South Korea. From Azure Electronics, Azure Foods, and now, Azure Entertainment. Although we are a rtively young Entertainmentpany, we have already produced plenty of promising artists from our hit TV show, Rising Stars."


    "We take pride in disciplining our artists so they may be able to show their best images to the public," Chul continued.


    "However, I am here to talk about June, the current center of LEVEL-UP, otherwise known as EVE, the group I am currently handling. There had been a lot of controversy surrounding June''s character ever since the beginning of Rising Stars."


    June raised his eyebrows in amusement.


    "Is that so?" one of the directors asked.


    "Yes," Chul said. "He had been involved in bullying scandals, rigging allegations, and up until recently, his grades have been exposed for being a negative influence to fans, especially young fans, around the world."


    "All of those issues have been debunked," June calmly said.


    Chul purses his lips, looking a bit pissed. "I''m still not done with my presentation."


    June raised his hands in surrender, still looking amused.


    "And I do believe that he is a great performer. However, I do not believe this is the way a center should be acting," Chul said, showing off the vitions that June had done¡ªtalking back, physical assault, and ckmailing.


    June chuckled at the evidence Chul had posted. They were all screenshots of Chul''s conversation with another person! There wasn''t any solid evidence for his usations.


    "Those aren''t real," June countered. "We''ve never had any personal conversations as such."


    "Is that so?" another director asked.


    Was that all they could say?


    "We suggest you show more concrete pieces of evidence, Mr. Chul," Mr. Ong said.


    "Concrete evidence?" he asked. "Don''t mind if I do. This, my directors, is a video of June breaking into my very apartment."


    A collective gasp was heard in the room.


    "This is a serious allegation, Chul," Mr. Ong said. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, June?" he asked.


    "Let''s see the evidence first," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Chul exited from his presentation and logged into his CCTV camera application to show them the concrete evidence that June had indeed broken into his apartment.


    However, when he reached the CCTV feed of the alleged break-in, murmurs were heard all over the room.


    Chul''s brow furrowed as he noticed the corrupted video files. He mumbled, "Wait for one moment," as he frantically tried to troubleshoot the issue. The tension in the room heightened, with everyone awaiting the crucial evidence that could seal June''s fate.


    Despite Chul''s efforts, the footage remained corrupted. Frustration etched his face while a smirk emerged from June''s.


    However, undeterred, Chul pulled out a USB file, iming to have a backup of the incriminating footage.


    June''s eyes widened slightly, and his heart raced as Chul inserted the USB into theptop.


    ''Shit.''


    "Now," June muttered under his breath.


    Chul smirked as he clicked on one of the videos. However, before the video could y, the screen glitched, and an unexpected clip began to y.


    Moans of pleasure were heard in the room, causing Chul to freeze.


    The board of directors gasped and covered their eyes with the atrocity ying before them.


    "Ah, this smells so good," Chul''s voice in the video resonated, causing him to turn around at therge projector with wide eyes.


    Chul now turned to June, who was casually taking a sip from his water cup.


    "You¡ª," Chul angrily said, but June remained calm.


    "Was this the evidence you were talking about?"

 Chapter 342 Savage

    <h4>Chapter 342 Savage</h4>


    "You hacked into his CCTV camera?" his members eximed, looking at June with wide eyes.


    "Alright, I''m out. He''s like an expert in crime or something! He''s been pulling off these kind of tricks ever since we broke into Chul''s apartment!" Akira eximed, shaking his head in disbelief. "How do you how to hack a CCTV camera but not take a screenshot?"


    "My skills are actually useful in real life," June said, opening up the videos from Chul''s hacked CCTV camera.


    "Yeah, because hacking CCTV cameras are definitely the norm," Zeth sarcastically said.


    "However, I do need your help to present these videos to the board of directors during the disciplinary meeting," June said, ignoring their statements.


    "That''s like a hundred times easier than hacking a CCTV camera," Jisung eximed. "I just have to intercept the connection by removing the HDMI cable from the stage projector."


    "Sure, do that," June said.


    And that''s how they were able to aplish their simple yet effective mission¡ªto have Chul make a fool of himself in front of the board of directors.


    "This is¡ªthis is a misunderstanding," Chul stammered, trying to find a way to stop the projector from ying the video.


    Meanwhile, Jisung and Casper covered their eyes as the scene yed on the screen. They were on the elevated tform, where the projector was, casting the vile scenes of Chul sniffing socks, sucking his toes, and just being aplete creep.


    The board of directors all eximed in shock as the video progressed to Chul sucking his own toes, enjoying every bit of the flesh¡ªfrom the ends of his toenails to the little curly hairs protruding from his skin.


    "No¡ªno, this is not what it looks like," Chul tried to defend himself. "June really did break into my apartment!"


    Mr. Ong mmed his fist on the table and red at Chul. However, despite all that, he still didn''t stand up from his chair due to his heightplex.


    "This is uneptable behavior from our managers," he said.


    "I can exin! It''s a passion of mine," Chul desperately said, moving down from the stage and to the seats.


    The directors all evaded his touch and ignored his pleas, looking more disgusted than ever.


    Amidst this all, June remained calm and watched the scene in front of him.


    ''Ah, this is such a great show,'' June thought, leaning back in a rxed manner as he watched the chaos unfold before him.


    "Passion?" Mr. Ong asked, even more disgusted. "I can''t take this anymore. Call security."


    The guards waiting outside entered the room, causing Chul''s eyes to widen in shock.


    "No!" he eximed. "What about my promotion?"


    "We have the right to terminate your contract for what you have done," Mr. Ong said. "This will be the end of the discussion."


    With that, Chul was dragged out by a couple of guards, all while screaming for forgiveness.


    He locked eyes with June for a second, and June raised his hand in a ''cheers'' position, causing Chul to scream in rage.


    As soon as Chul was out of the room, the board of directors went back to their usual etiquette.


    "Aren''t we going to turn this off?" one of the directors asked, still looking disgusted.


    "Ah, right," June chuckled.


    "Shut down," he said in a loud voice, causing the projector to turn off.


    Casper and Jisung gave each other a satisfied thumbs up as they watched the scene from above.


    Mr. Ong frowned in confusion. "Our projector has a function like that?"


    He''ll definitely try it next time!


    "Anyway," he cleared his throat. "I think it''s best to say that this meeting has been adjourned."


    June smiled, standing up from his seat. "Then, can I go back to our practice room now?"


    "Go ahead," Mr. Ong said. "You had been falsely used by Mr. Chul. We''ll handle the recement process in a couple of days, so be patient. In the meantime, do your best for the year-end show. We want to make good impressions with the sponsors, so you can also bag some endorsements."


    June nodded, about to leave.


    "Oh, by the way," Mr. Ong added, causing June to halt. "I''m quite disappointed that your group hasn''t gotten a win."


    The board of directors nodded, agreeing with Mr. Ong.


    "We have ced a lot of resources in your group, so we would appreciate it if you also got good results."


    June pursed his lips. Their song was doing well on the charts, and they''ve been working hard for theireback, but as usual, these people only cared about the results.


    "Will do," June said with gritted teeth.


    With that, he left the room with a satisfied yet annoyed heart.


    He went down to the practice room and saw his teammates waiting for him.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed. "We did it. We really did it!"


    "Is he out? For real?" Sehun asked with hopeful eyes.


    June smirked and nodded.


    "Chul''s out!"


    ***


    It had been two days since the disciplinary meeting, and Chul hadn''t bothered them ever since. It seemed like thepany hadpletely stripped him of his position and also took away his incentives as a manager¡ªlike his car and apartment.


    Word about his fetish had also gotten around the office, so most of his past friends had turned their backs on him. June thought that, maybe, he had done too much, but then he realized that Chul definitely deserved it.


    Today, even during Christmas, the boys were practicing for their year-end performance. Red Moon was something they hadn''t performed before, so they paid more attention to perfecting it.


    They were in the practice room, watching theirtest practice video, when somebody knocked on the door.


    The boys lifted their heads and were surprised to see Mr. Ong, still in his trusty chair, rolling over into their room.


    Jaeyong bowed deeply, and the others quickly followed.


    "Good evening, sir," Jaeyong greeted.


    "Good evening, boys. I see that you''re working very hard despite it being Christmas Eve. That''s the spirit! Idols really never do rest," he smiled. "I was just about to head home to celebrate Christmas with my family, but I had to stop here."


    "Umm, did youe here for something, sir?" Zeth asked.


    Mr. Ong nodded. "I''ve been working hard to look for a recement for your manager and finally found a suitable person."


    "Oh," Ren eximed. "When are we going to meet him?"


    "Right now, actually. He''s on his way here," Mr. Ong responded.


    The boys nced at each other, excited yet nervous to meet their new manager. June honestly thought that anyone would be better than Chul, but he was also hoping for someonepetent andpassionate.


    "He''s here," Mr. Ong said. "Come here, young man," he called over their new manager from behind the door.


    Then, the man came in, dressed in a red suit set paired with a snake-skin tie.


    The members'' eyes widened in surprise as they stared at the person before them.


    Alright, maybe someone was actually worse than Chul.


    "What are you doing here?"

 Chapter 343 New Manager

    <h4>Chapter 343 New Manager</h4>


    "I''ll leave you all to mingle."


    "Mr. Song Shin Jae, over here, has kindly joined you even though it is a holiday, so make sure to treat him well since he''s new to thepany," Mr. Ong said, proudly showing off their new manager.


    With that, he left the room, leaving the members in shock at the person sitting before them.


    "What the fuck are you doing here?" Akira couldn''t help but curse.


    Shin Jae pursed his lips and shook his head. "That is not the way you should be speaking to your new manager, Akira."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Answer the question seriously, C-Jay."


    C-Jay beamed at the members of EVE before responding.


    "I was hired here. Oh, and try calling me Jay from now on. I''ve outgrown the name that you''ve mentioned."


    "No shit!" Zeth eximed. "Our new manager? Are we getting pranked or something?" he asked, looking around the room.


    Jisung continued staring at C-Jay, or rather, Jay, in disbelief at his new look. He still looked quite tacky, especially with the red suit and snake-skin tie. However, his hair, which was usually messy when they were trainees, was now slicked back with probably a whole bottle of gel. He also had sses with thick, ck frames, making him look like a ridiculous cosy of a mafia boss.


    "I swear, C-Jay," June said, still in disbelief. "If this is some kind of joke, you better leave while we''re still talking peacefully."


    "I told you¡ªit''s Jay, and this is a hundred percent serious. Mr. Ong even personally escorted me in," Jay defended.


    "I still can''t believe this," Akira said, staring off into the distance. "Why aren''t you shocked about this?" he asked, hitting Casper''s shoulder.


    Casper shrugged. "Well, Jay did finish a degree in Communications."


    "What?" the other members eximed loudly.


    Jay proudly nodded, tightening his tie and straightening his back.


    "Indeed, I have a Bachelor''s degree in Communications and an Associates in International Rtions," he boasted.


    "That''s the biggest plot twist of the year," Akira said. "Why were you so stupid when we were together in Rising Stars, then?"


    "Oh, that was because I was trying to be an idol. I''m quite academically intelligent," Jay smiled. "I graduated as a Cum Laude, actually."


    "This is getting more ridiculous," Ren whispered.


    June raised his hand, causing the others to look at him.


    "Can we decline a manager? I think Jaeyong''s handling us just fine," he said.


    The others chuckled while Jay shook his head in disappointment.


    "You''re saying that now, but your team needs me," Jay said.


    "And why is that?" Zeth asked. "Come on, sell yourself to us. I still find it awkward how you''re going to be our manager when we''ve been on the same show."


    Jay scoffed. "Come on, stop acting like we weren''t close back then."


    "We weren''t," June said.


    Jay whined and clung onto June''s arms like a Ko, finally revealing his true colors.


    "But you were my bestest friend! Are you still holding a grudge after not believing you during the rigging allegations?" he asked.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed him away.


    "I forgot about that now," June truthfully said. "But now that you''ve mentioned it¡­"


    "Nope!" Jay quickly shook his head. "Don''t think about it anymore."


    "Why did you evene here? I thought you wanted to be a rapper or something," Zeth said.


    "Yeah, that was before I realized that my dream is to actually be on top of things," Jay said, looking into the distance with bright eyes.


    "So, you want to make adult film videos?" Akira asked, a teasing smile on his lips.


    Jay ignored him and continued speaking like a main character in an anime film.


    "I thought I wanted to be a rapper! But I actually wanted to speak, to gossip, to organize stuff for other people. I hated my mom for forcing me to continue my college education even when I was a trainee, but now I''m very grateful. I got into thispany because of it!"


    "I only realized it after Jangmoon said about finding another dream on another stage. This is my dream and my stage. I just never expected you guys to still be in it!" he eximed.


    The others watched their past fellow trainee with ambiguous expressions, so Jay continued speaking.


    "Moreover, I would treat you better than yourst manager did. I may be a loser, but I''m not a creep. I can assure you I would never suck my toes¡­maybe someone else''s toes. That is, if they would like it."


    The members looked at each other in confusion.


    "Not in the casual setting, but in the bedroom setting, of course. Anyway, what I''m saying is, I will be as professional as I can while being a good friend to you guys!"


    "How do you even know about our past manager''s issue when you''ve only entered thepany?" Zeth asked.


    Jay smirked, leaning against his seat.


    "That is another strength of mine. One key to the entertainment industry is information. The one who has more information is more powerful¡­and you already know I always know thetest information," he boasted.


    June bit his lips. At first, he didn''t know if Jay would be a suitable manager for their team.


    June had always seen him as their happy-go-lucky, borderline-crazy friend who unnecessarily had more information than the regr person.


    However, looking at him now, it didn''t seem too bad.


    "I promise, I''ve changed," Jay continued since the members still weren''t speaking.


    "Well, I''m still the same to some extent, but I''m really serious about this profession. I wasn''t too serious about bing an idol, so you can already imagine how much hard work I''m going to put into this job," he said, almost going down on his knees.


    "Are you a good driver?" June asked.


    "Yes!" Jay eximed. "I can drive for two straight days without having any bathroom breaks."


    "I don''t think that''s healthy for your dder," Sehun said.


    "Or your butt," Zeth added.


    The members nced at each other, all exchanging silent conversations. Ultimately, as Jaeyong nodded, they had already formed their answer.


    June sighed and shook his head before offering his hand to Jay.


    "Wee to the team, I guess."

 Chapter 344 Fangirl Chronicles

    <h4>Chapter 344 Fangirl Chronicles</h4>


    Despite the fine dust warnings in Seoul, the air feltpletely pure on Christmas day.


    Or it might just be their delusion since they wanted a perfect celebration.


    Nheless, despite the cold weather and fine dust in the air, couples wearing matching outfits roamed the streets, all looking lovey-dovey with each other. With pretty snacks in their rugged hands, the men fed their girlfriends as if their lovers'' arms were amputated.


    The scent of love filled the air, and in this glorious celebration, individuals were expected to spend it with their significant other.


    However, since the group of girls had an impossible set of standards because of their love for idols, they were stuck with each other''spany in a cheap fast-food chain.


    "I thought you said that couples wouldn''t be here during this day," Bora groaned, popping a fry in her mouth.


    "That''s what I thought," Wei scratched the back of her neck. Then, she looked around the ce, looking apologetic for suggesting it to them.


    "But we''re surrounded by couples. Sorry, guys," she apologized.


    Soo-min waved it off. "It''s alright. That''s not our real focus, anyway. The most important thing is¡ªwe finally got our albums!"


    Jia looked at the pile of albums in front of them and sighed dreamily.


    "They took so long, but they''re finally here," she said, almost hugging the stic materials.


    "We should have just bought some from the actual store," Nari said. "Who knew pre-ordering online would take three weeks to arrive at our address?"


    "There''s no use," Bora said, her mouth full of greasy fast food. "The album''s sold out everywhere. Azure clearly underestimated EVE''s power since they understocked the albums despite them having a million pre-orders."


    "That''s true," Nari agreed. "OCTA still has albums on the shelves, and they essentially had the same amount of pre-orders as EVE. Maybe that''s also the reason why EVE''s album sales are lower than theirs."


    Jia clenched her fist and banged it on the table, causing the couple next to them to jump in surprise. The young couple then noticed the mountain of albums on top of their table and quickly gestured to move to another seat.


    "Those fucking bastards. They''re underestimating my babies just because they''re rookies! I would never watch a show from Azure again," Jia ranted.


    "Damn, girl," Bora raised her hands. "You don''t need to go that far."


    Jia clicked her tongue. "Every corporation is trash. However, Azure is trashier than others. Have you seen the issue with EVE''s manager?"


    "Yeah," Nari shivered in disgust. "I can''t believe he was collecting their socks. SOCKS! I mean, I would also like a collection of their socks, but not to THAT extent!"


    Bora shook her head. "I''m going to disregard thest sentence you said, but yeah, Azure is known for their shitty management. I mean, it''s not the worst, but it''s definitely not good at all. I think it''s also the reason why GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC haven''t broken the top K-pop idols'' records."


    "EVE has the potential to do that, though," Soo-min said. "Let''s hope their management actually does something good for them."


    "Let''s not talk about thepany anymore," Nari said, halting their conversation. "We have these beautiful albums before us. Let''s start opening them!"


    "I stayed off of Navel to avoid the spoilers for their photocards," Jia said. "I really hope I get June''s photocards."


    "Me too," Bora said.


    Soo-min, Nari, and Wei also nodded in agreement, causing Jia to raise her eyebrows in surprise.


    "You''re also aiming for June''s photocard?" she asked.


    "Well, yeah," Bora responded. "You already know that June has my heart along with Casper and Ren. You''re probably the bigger fan among the two of us, but I''m not going to trade June''s photocard once I get my hands on it."


    "And how about you guys?" Jia asked, turning to her three other friends. "I thought June wasn''t even in your bias lists!"


    "He grew on me after watching Quiz God," Nari shamelessly admitted.


    "I don''t know. I just started feeling sparks after their Abracadabra performance," Wei admitted.


    "You finally have decent taste in men!" Bora enthusiastically pped.


    Wei chuckled and shook her head.


    "And you?" Jia asked, turning to Soo-min. "I thought you were a loyal Zetherealist. You said you''d die on his ship and only on his ship."


    "That still stands," Soo-min said. "But like Nari, my mom started liking June after Quiz God. She scolded me for buying plenty of EVE''s albums, but now, she''s practically begging for June''s photocard."


    Jia sighed and massaged her temples. "So, you''re telling me¡ªI can''t trade photocards with you guys anymore?"


    "Well, if I get a duplicate of June''s, I''ll give it to you," Bora said.


    "Yeah, me too."


    "Me three!"


    "I''ll do that too."


    Jia sighed in relief, looking at the pile in front of them. They bought five albums each, which meant they had twenty albums right now.


    June''s photocard will definitely be among them, right?


    Wrong!


    Jia was currently on her third album, and she had gotten most of the members at this point, but not June!


    "Bingo!" Bora eximed, pulling out the very first June photocard of the night.


    The others looked at her with envy, wanting to get his photocard too.


    "Let me see," Jia eximed, trying to get it out of her grasp, but Bora shook her head and pulled her hand back.


    "No touching," he said.


    Jia clicked her tongue and stared at June''s photo. The other three also stared at it with wonder.


    "Wait," Nari said. "Is it just me, or is this photocard¡­shitty?"


    Jia immediately pushed Nari''s shoulder, causing thetter to chuckle.


    "I''m not talking about June! He looks very handsome. I''m talking about the angle. It''s actually a miracle that he looks this good with this type of photo," she rified her statement.


    "Hmm, now that you''ve mentioned it, you''re right. This is how my parents take pictures," Bora said.


    Jia observed the photo and couldn''t counter their statements.


    Indeed, June''s photo was the epitome of Generation X''s selfie style.


    The phone was way too close, at a downward angle, and it was obvious that he was staring at the phone screen and not at the camera.


    "If you don''t want it, then I''ll dly have it," Jia said.


    "No way," Bora said. "The fact that he took the photo like an old man already makes it more special!"


    Jia sighed in disappointment as she stared at her two remaining albums. She still has a shot with these two!


    Again, she was wrong.


    As her friends opened theirst albums, it seemed like a holy spirit had granted their wishes and given all of them June photocards.


    "My mom''s going to be so happy with this," Soo-min smiled.


    "It''s the same one as Bora''s!" Nari eximed. "I''ll treasure this forever."


    "This one''s taken in the same angle, but he''s wearing a different outfit," Wei chuckled.


    "I think he only took it at one angle," Soo-min said, giggling to herself.


    Jia groaned in misery, squeezing thest album in her hand.


    "This is myst chance!" she eximed. "I better get his photocard."


    "We''re rooting for you," Bora said, still eating.


    "You''ll definitely get it," Wei said, assuring Jia.


    Jia, with a determined expression, opened the album. The photocard quickly fell out, so Jia looked away and covered it with her hand.


    Back then, she thought her friends were crazy for spending so much money on a piece of hard paper with a printed picture of an idol.


    Oh, she ate her words really quickly.


    She let out a deep breath and finally removed her hand from the photocard, revealing herst chance of the night.


    "It''s¡­"


    "...nk."


    Bora chuckled, some crumbs falling from her lips.


    "I think you got a defective one."

 Chapter 345 Angsty

    <h4>Chapter 345 Angsty</h4>


    With Jay as their new manager, June couldn''t predict how their next projects would be.


    There was one thing certain, though. Things are going to be crazy¡ªhopefully, in a good way.


    For now, June didn''t want to think about anything work-rted since they were finally granted a break.


    It was only one day, though, since they were going to have meetings in the next few days for their uing projects next year.


    Nheless, June was still thankful for the short break since it meant he was finally going to see Grandma and Minjun.


    It had been a while since June had seen them. Thest time June personally interacted with them was during thest episode of Rising Stars.


    It had also been a while since he had chatted with Minjun. After June messaged him for the article he wrote for EVE''s debut, they hadn''t chatted at all.


    June stood outside the beat-down apartment with a giddy heart, wondering how they''d react once they saw him.


    He entered the apartmentplex and went to their floor. He decided to knock since he didn''t want to give Grandma a heart attack, especially since her age was very susceptible to illnesses.


    He could hear familiar footstepsing near the door, so he put on his best smile and opened his arms.


    The door opened, revealing Minjun, who appeared taller than before.


    He was expecting the little kid to jump in joy and greet him with a warm hug, but Minjun merely raised one of his eyebrows.


    "Oh, you''re here?" he nonchntly asked.


    June was taken aback by his voice. It also sounded deeper!


    "What the hell happened to you?" June asked, looking at Minjun with wide eyes.


    Minjun frowned and shook his head. "Weird," he said, leaving June with his mouth agape on the doorway.


    "Who''s that, Minjun?" he heard Grandma''s voice.


    "No one," Minjun said, making June even more confused.


    What happened to his cute little devil?


    June entered through the door and found Minjun on the couch while watching some type of rock band. They were screaming iprehensible words, but Minjun nodded his head to the beat.


    June watched him with wide eyes, but Minjun merely ignored him.


    Grandma went out of the kitchen, still looking like the personification of sunshine.


    Her eyes brightened up when she saw June. She immediately ced down the pot of soup on the table and went to the pink-haired idol to give him a warm hug.


    June, forgetting about Minjun for a moment, also wrapped his arms around Grandma and melted into her embrace.


    "Oh, it''s been such a long time," Grandma eximed, rubbing his back. "You''ve be even more handsome."


    June smiled. "Thanks, Grandma. I''ve missed you."


    Grandma let go of June and observed his face.


    "Indeed, you''ve be more handsome, but you look tired," she sadly said. "Have you been getting enough sleep?"


    June didn''t respond. He was getting sleep.


    It definitely wasn''t adequate, but he still got some rest.


    "Have you been eating well?" she softly asked.


    "Does fried chicken count?" June chuckled.


    Grandma clicked her tongue and shook her head. "That can''t be. You should bring home some side dishes when you go back to your dorms. I''ll pack them for you."


    "You came right on time, too," she said. "I just finished cooking our lunch. However, I wasn''t able to cook a lot since I thought you''d be arriving in the afternoon."


    "It''s alright, Grandma," June assured. "Anything you make is excellent."


    Grandma widely smiled as she patted his shoulder.


    "Minjun! Set the table. Your older brother is here," Grandma eximed.


    "Pfft, older brother," Minjun said, a frown on his face.


    June turned to Grandma with a distressed expression.


    "Did something happen with Minjun?" June whispered.


    Grandma sighed, looking a bit troubled.


    "I honestly don''t know," she said. "I think he''s going through puberty."


    "When did this start?" June asked.


    "It has been a while," Grandma said. "After you left, his father also flew back to the States. I started noticing his shift in attitude starting then."


    "But he still wrote a sweet article about our debut back then," he said.


    "It wasn''t this bad in the beginning," she said. "But now, he doesn''t even use his ''MinMin'' Navel ount anymore."


    "Have you talked to him?" June asked.


    "Plenty of times," Grandma responded. "But I feel like he''s getting worse."


    June sighed, running his fingers through his hair.


    "I''ll try talking to him," June said.


    ***


    Their lunch, despite being one of the most vorful meals June had eaten, didn''t taste so good since Minjun was on his phone most of the time.


    "You boys continue chatting," Grandma said. "I''ll take care of washing the dishes."


    "So, uh, what are your hobbies now?" June warily asked, trying to strike up a conversation.


    Minjun shook his head. "I don''t have any hobbies."


    "Games. You like games, right?" June asked. "I just got my first paycheck, so why don''t you pick one of those game skinnies you were talking about so I can buy them for you."


    "They''re called skins," Minjun deadpanned. "And are you sure? The one I like is 2,000 dors."


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. "What?" he eximed. "What''s it for?"


    "For the game character to wear," Minjun responded.


    "It''s not even real clothes, but it''s 2,000 dors? These game people must be nuts!"


    "Are you going to buy it or not?" Minjun impatiently asked.


    "Well, you see¡­I thought being an idol paid well, but we''re just starting out, so¡­would you like some ice cream instead? I''ll get you the expensive one," June bargained.


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Nevermind. I''ll just tell my mom to buy it."


    June pursed his lips in frustration. This was harder than he thought! He had gone through a simr experience when Mei Ling was in her ''emo'' phase, and during that moment, June knew that young teens were the scariest, most angsty people he would ever meet.


    He had to walk on eggshells for an entire year because of it! Thankfully, she found K-pop, which made her forget about her ''emo'' phase and venture into the fangirling world.


    June didn''t want Minjun tost a year acting like this, so he continued pestering him to talk. He held onto Minjun''s arm and practically dragged him away from his chair.


    "Wait, where are we going?" Minjun eximed with wide eyes.


    "Come on, kid," June smiled, helping him put on his jacket.


    "I''ll treat you to some ice cream."

 Chapter 346 Social Media King

    <h4>Chapter 346 Social Media King</h4>


    "Damn, I spent 60 dors for this," June said, looking at the expensive ice cream cone with gold leaves hanging from its side.


    "You should have told me you were still broke," Minjun said, appearing to be enjoying the expensive ice cream.


    June sighed and shook his head. At least the little kid was enjoying it!


    Despite Minjun''s reluctance, June was able to convince him to join for some ice cream. June even let Minun pick the ice cream ce, but he quickly regretted it when he saw the price list inside the shop.


    Now, they were sitting on a park bench, the sound of children''sughter filling the air.


    "I''ll probably get more money next month," June said. "I''ll treat you to something like this again."


    Minjun scoffed. "You''re probably going to be very busy."


    June pursed his lips and didn''t respond since he, too, couldn''t predict his schedule for the next year. It would definitely be a busy year, though¡ªthat was certain.


    "So, uh, what are you up to these days?" June asked, making small talk.


    Minjun sighed, leaning against the bench and observing the ying little kids. It seemed like yesterday when he was one of them, but now, he was halfway through 7th grade.


    "Nothing much," Minjun responded. "Just school and stuff."


    "You''re not writing on MinMin anymore?" June asked. "You have over 700,000 followers thest time I checked."


    Minjun bitterly chuckled. "What''s the point? It''s not fun anymore."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "I thought writing was the most fun for you back then."


    "Well, it''s different now," Minjun firmly said.


    June pursed his lips and stayed silent, sensing the aggravation in Minjun''s voice. This led June to think that something happened with the little kid.


    He used to be so sweet (not really), so innocent (definitely not), and so loving (he loved watching June suffer), and now, he just seemed¡­lifeless.


    "Hey, little kid," June said, breaking the awkward silence.


    Minjun red at him, finishing off his ice cream. "I''m not a little kid," he spat.


    June rolled his eyes and also finished his ice cream before fully facing Minjun.


    "Be honest with me," June said, looking into his eyes. "Are you okay?" he sincerely asked, his tone turning soft.


    Minjun''s gaze softened, and for a second, he looked like the innocent boy that June considered his precious little brother.


    However, it was gone in an instant as Minjun broke their gaze.


    "Why do you even care anyway?" he softly asked.


    "Of course, I care," June exasperatedly said. "I''m worried. Your grandmother''s worried, too. You know you can tell me anything, right? I''ll help you with whatever."


    Minjun sighed and stood up from the bench.


    "Let''s just go home," he said, changing the subject.


    "Minjun," June said in a warning tone. "We''re not going to leave here until you tell me what''s wrong."


    "What''s the point?" Minjun snapped, ring at June.


    "You''re all going to leave me anyway," he whispered thest statement, so June wasn''t able to hear it.


    "What was that?" June rified.


    "Nothing," Minjun said. "Let''s go home."


    "And I told you, we''re not going home until¡ª"


    "Oh my gosh! That is June. June!"


    "I thought I was hallucinating for a moment. June!"


    "June? Goodness! I love you!"


    June''s eyes widened when he heard a bunch of screamsing near them. He turned to the side and saw a flock of young girls running over to where they were.


    "Shit," he muttered under his breath before grabbing onto Minjun''s hoodie and running away from the park.


    The young boy allowed himself to be dragged until they made their way to a secluded alleyway in their neighborhood.


    June paused for a moment and peeked from the wall, finally sighing in relief when he didn''t see anyone running after them.


    "I think we lost them," June said, still holding onto Minjun.


    Minjun sighed and shook his head before removing June''s hold from his shoulder.


    "So, is it alright if we go home now?" the young boy asked.


    June frowned, looking into his unreadable eyes.


    "Until when are you going to act like this?" June asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "You know you''re giving your grandma a hard time, right?" June said in a reprimanding tone, hoping Minjun would snap out of it if he brought up his grandma.


    However, Minjun merely rolled his eyes.


    "Let her leave me alone then," he snapped, walking away from the alleyway.


    June''s frown deepened. "Minjun!" he scolded, but the young boy didn''t bother turning around.


    June was about to run after him when Fu suddenly showed up before him.


    [Congrattions, you have stumbled upon a lucky mission!]


    June groaned in frustration.


    ''Gosh, you always have such great timing, don''t you?''


    [Thank you, host.]


    [Anyway, the title of your mission is Social Media King.]


    June froze, already dreading the mission even before the details had been divulged.


    [Social media is a must for all idols! With this in mind, here is your mission: Gain over 100,000 followers on your current Navel ount. Make ''''Hi_ImKittyJunexxR1s1ingSt4r5'' rise to fame!]


    June read the instructions with a nk stare. It has been such a long time since he used that ount, so he almost forgot about it.


    Now, looking at his username, June felt like he really did such a bad job making it. There was no wonder the public didn''t take him seriously when he introduced himself in the ount back then.


    "Can''t I change my username?" June asked.


    [No changes, host. Keep the username as it is.]


    "You''re asking for the impossible," June whined. "I''m not even on Rising Stars anymore!"


    Fu ignored hisints and continued exining the mission.


    [This is a special mission with fun consequences and augmentations.]


    "That tells me that it isn''t going to be fun," June sighed.


    [Fu has a few conditions for this mission:


    1. The host must not get help from external sources. No follows from fellow teammates. No asking for help from other social media holders. The 100,000 followers must be organically farmed!


    2. No changing of username. However, the host may change his username once the goal has been achieved.


    3. No mention of your social media handle on other tforms. Use Navel and Navel only.]


    "Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Since when did you give out conditions for regr missions?" June asked in exasperation.


    [This is a special mission! Once the mission is achieved, the host will be given the opportunity to increase one skill stat. And here''s the exciting part! Once the host aplishes twice the given number in the mission, he will be granted a random skill from a wheel of skills!]


    "What if I vite the conditions?" June asked.


    [Vition of the conditions will result in a regression of skill by one grade.]

 Chapter 347 Special Performance

    <h4>Chapter 347 Special Performance</h4>


    "Make sure to visit again," Grandma said, holding onto both of June''s shoulders, giving it a light squeeze.


    "Will do," June said, although he was unsure when they''d have a break the next time.


    June nced behind Grandma and saw Minjun, who was looking down at the ground.


    "I''m sorry, too," June added. "I wasn''t able to talk to Minjun properly."


    Grandma smiled sadly. "It''s alright, dear. At least you still tried."


    "Call me when you have trouble with anything," June said.


    "Oh, I don''t want to be a bother," Grandma said. "Just focus on your work. I know you''re very busy."


    "Nonsense," June smiled. "Just call me, alright? I''ll be sure to teach the little guy a lesson if he causes trouble."


    Grandma chuckled despite the worry in her eyes. "Alright, get going now then. I''m sure your teammates are waiting for you! Make sure to let them taste the side dishes I''ve prepared."


    "They will definitely devour this in less than a day," June said.


    "Thanks, Grandma! See you in a while, Minjun," he waved at the young boy, but Minjun merely nodded in acknowledgment.


    June sighed and shook his head before leaving their apartmentplex.


    ***


    June stood outside their dorms and clicked his tongue when he heard themotion inside.


    The others must have been back already, and he was dreading their chaos.


    With hesitation, June entered the room and expected to see his teammates inside.


    However, much to his surprise, an additional person was in the room. His hair was still slicked back despite the casual setting, which made June even more confused.


    "What is he doing here?" June asked, pointing at Jay.


    "Bro!" Jay eximed, standing from the couch and greeting him with a warm hug.


    "Move away," June said, taking a step back. "I thought you wanted to maintain a professional rtionship?"


    "Oh, that''s when we''re working, of course," Jay smiled. "For now, I''m also on my break, so I''m going to act casual with you guys."


    June shook his head and gave him the bags of side dishes Grandma had prepared. "Here," June said.


    Jay looked through the bag, his eyes widening in delight.


    "Sweet! We just ordered fried chicken, so this will be a great addition to the meal," he said.


    "Sit, bro," Jisung said, patting the seat before him. "We''re watching the special live broadcast of Quiz God."


    June sat next to Jisung and shrugged. He felt tired, but for some reason, he wanted to hang out with the boys for a short moment.


    "You would have destroyed everyone on the show if you won," Jaeyong said. "Zibo was already eliminated in the first round!"


    "I probably would have been eliminated earlier on, too," June said, his eyes focused on the screen.


    The participants this time ranged from long-timewyers and talented doctors to young geniuses. June, although smart for an idol, knew he would only be ordinary among these people.


    Zibo, alone, had already proved that.


    In the end, June actually made a pretty good decision of deliberately losing!


    Just then, Jay''s phone rang, signaling the arrival of their fried chicken. "I''ll head down to get our order."


    As Jay left the room, June opened up the topic of Navel ounts.


    "Hey," June started off. "You all have Navel ounts, right?"


    "Yeah," Zeth smiled. "I''ve had it since we were trainees."


    "How many followers do you have right now?" June asked.


    "Around 500,000," Zeth said, causing June''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    "Damn, that''s a lot," Jaeyong said. "I have 600,000, but that''s only because I was already active on Navel when I was in RAVEN."


    "I''m surprised yourpanies allowed you to have Navel ounts even as trainees," Sehun said. "I was only allowed to open one when I joined Rising Stars, so I only have around 250,000."


    "Not too bad," Ren said. "Companies these days are more open to their trainees having ess to social media¡ªgranted that they''d also have ess to their ounts. I have around 400,000 followers now."


    "Why do you guys have so many followers?" June asked in disbelief.


    "That''s not even a lot," Zeth said. "The truly popr idols have more than 3 million. Uno even gained 1 million followers already."


    June pursed his lips, suddenly feelingpetitive when he heard Uno''s name.


    "You don''t have a Navel ount, right?" Zeth asked.


    "I saw him scrolling on Navel, though," Akira said. "He was scrolling through a bunch of cake decorating videos."


    June pursed his lips as Zeth nudged his shoulder. "Don''t tell me¡ªyou secretly like cute things, don''t you?"


    "Fuck off," June said. "I do have a Navel ount."


    "Why won''t you use it then?" Jisung asked.


    "I do use it," June muttered under his breath. "I''ve even posted on it during Rising Stars."


    "Well, the fans must not know that it''s you. Tell me your username so I can follow you," Zeth said.


    June was about to type his username into Zeth''s phone when he suddenly remembered Fu''s first condition¡ªthe host must not get help from external sources.


    June let out a frustrated sigh. "You''ll know in due time," he cryptically said.


    Zeth raised one eyebrow. "Alright, then. Whatever you want."


    With that, their conversation came to an end. June continueding up with a strategy to grow his social media ount when Jay entered the room with four boxes of fried chicken in his arms.


    "Time to eat!" he eximed, causing the others to cheer.


    As they ate their greasy dinner, June continued to think about his Navel ount. Currently, he only had around 15,000 followers¡ªand those followers were people who thought he was a June impostor. Up to this day, he still got death threats from his own enthusiastic fans!


    "Hey, June," Jay said, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    "Hmm?"


    "You know what''s funny?" their manager chuckled. "I was looking through the emails on your group''s professional ount and found plenty of endorsement opportunities rejected by your past manager."


    "What?" Jisung asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Yeah," Jay said, scratching the back of his head. "You were even asked by a sojupany. That would have been such a huge deal."


    "Thankfully, I was able to bag you a gig despite Chul''s past rejection," Jay cheerfully added.


    "What is it?" June asked.


    The other members also paid attention.


    "You know those special dance stages in those year-end award shows?" Jay asked.


    "Yeah," June said.


    "Well, you''re not going to perform in those," Jay chuckled, making the others groan in annoyance.


    "Instead, you''re going to be performing a special vocal stage with a veteran in the industry!"

 Chapter 348 The Vocal Team

    <h4>Chapter 348 The Vocal Team</h4>


    Year-end performances.


    It was the dream of plenty of idols to perform in such an esteemed event. Held by one of the biggest TV stations in Korea, SBBS, it was the most awaited event of the year.


    The fact that EVE was included in the line-up was already a great honor.


    It wasn''t just an event where idols perform for their fans. Different sponsors also attended the show, scouting their new ambassadors for the year.


    This may be the reason whypanies push their idols to perform their best during the year-end show¡ªto attract more brands and earn more money.


    Aside from the usual idol stages, veterans also performed alongside these idols, providing an opportunity to mix the old and new. Undoubtedly, these performances were the most popr segments of the year-end show since the older generations also tuned in.


    Every year, there were three special stages¡ªa joint girl group performance, a joint boy group performance, and a performance with a well-known veteran in the industry.


    Last year, MYAE, a popr girl group from Esper Entertainment, was given the opportunity to perform with SISTERZ, a 90''s girl group that took South Korea by storm in their generation.


    Their performance garnered over 10 million views and was well-loved by the public!


    The year before that, popr boy group members had a rap performance with the iconic LION KJ. Again, it was the most popr performance toe out of the show.


    This year, they were finally going to have a vocal performance¡ªand June was fortunate enough to join their performance at thest minute.


    "We''re here," Jay said, parking the car in SBBS''s building.


    It was already the 28th, so the performance was in less than three days.


    "Are you nervous?" Jay asked.


    June shrugged, not particrly feeling anything at the moment. He would be lying if he said he wasn''t excited, but he wasn''t necessarily nervous, either.


    He felt it was a great opportunity to finally show his vocal skills, especially since they were going to be performing with a very famous badeer¡ªLee Sik. June knew plenty of his songs, which spoke well about the veteran''s poprity.


    "Are you not going to tell me about the other special people in this performance?" June asked.


    "Well, then it wouldn''t be so fun, right?" Jay asked. "They''re mostly from groups who debuted before you, so make sure you greet them well, okay?"


    June groaned before nodding.


    "They''ve already had their practices during the 24th and 26th, so you might feel out of ce for a while," Jay reminded. "I was only able to convince them to have you join on the 26th, so just be thankful they''re still amodating us."


    "Yeah," June said, a bit disappointed since he would have practiced earlier if it wasn''t been for Chul.


    "This will also be yourst practice, as per Mr. Lee Sik''s schedule, so do your best," Jay said. "Although, I don''t have to worry about that since I know you''re a very good vocalist!"


    June smiled.


    "Let''s go," Jay said.


    "Wait," June said, opening his phone camera to take a quick picture.


    "What was that for?" Jay asked.


    "Nothing," June vaguely responded as he uploaded the picture on Navel. For now, his strategy was to post as many pictures of him as possible to convince his fans that he was, indeed, June.


    Maybe then, he would be able to gain followers and aplish his mission.


    "Alright, let''s go," June said, about to leave.


    "Wait, no!" Jay shouted, causing him to halt.


    Then, their manager went to June''s door and opened it, even bowing like an esteemed butler.


    June clicked his tongue. "You don''t have to do this, you know?"


    "But I want to," Jay smiled. "I promise to serve you well."


    The two of them went to the practice room on the third floor, and only then did June feel the nervousness creep into his stomach.


    Now that he thought about it, joining in after they''d already practiced meant that they had made some adjustments just for him.


    "Well, I can''t go inside," Jay said, patting June''s back. "I''ll be gossiping with the other managers while waiting for you. Just give me a call if you need something."


    June nodded while Jay skipped to the lounge room, excited to extract more information.


    June stood outside of the door for a while, taking a deep breath before knocking and making his way inside.


    He could hear faint chuckles as he opened the door. However, they quickly stopped when he poked his head in.


    June was met with three other people¡ªtwo boys and one girl. The atmosphere quickly turned cold as he fully made his way inside.


    ''Oh my gosh. What is he doing here?'' Mimi thought as she looked at the pink-haired idol before her.


    When she first found out she was going to perform with the legendary Lee Sik for the year-end show, she was more ted with the fact she''d probably see June since EVE was also in the line-up.


    When she also heard there was going to be another member added to the special performance''s line-up even after they''d practiced, she felt pretty bitter since they had to rearrange the parts of the song.


    However, seeing the new member made all of those bitter feelings go away.


    It was June! The love of her life, June!


    "Oh, hell no. It''s you?" the man next to Mimi said.


    Mimi clicked his tongue and nudged Nico''s side.


    "Be nice," she reprimanded.


    "Nice to meet you all," June bowed. "I''m sorry for onlying this day."


    "Damn right, you should be sorry," Nico scoffed.


    Meanwhile, Mimi stood up and led June to one of the seats¡ªthe one next to her.


    "You don''t need to apologize. It must have been tough with the situation with your manager, right?" she asked.


    June nodded. "Everything''s alright now, though."


    "That''s good," Mimi said. "I was worried for you."


    The three boys looked at her with raised eyebrows.


    "For your team, of course!" Mimi awkwardly chuckled. "We''re from the same show. How can I not worry about my own juniors?"


    "I''m your junior, too," Nico said. "Why aren''t you worried about me?"


    Mimi ignored Nico''s statement and turned to their other member. "Have you guys met before?" she asked.


    June looked at the other guy and curtly nodded.


    "We''ve seen each other," Tres said.


    "It''s good to see you," June said, to which Tres responded with a tight-lipped smile.


    The atmosphere quickly turned awkward as they all sat in silence.


    "Are we only waiting for Mr. Lee Sik now?" June asked.


    "Yeah¡­ but we''re also waiting for another person," Mimi responded.


    "There''s one more?" June asked.


    Mimi chuckled as she nodded, finding June cute. He was even more good-looking up close, and she was already palpitating just from the sight of his face!


    "Didn''t your manager tell you about the people in the line-up?" Mimi asked.


    June shook his head.


    "Well, we still have one more member. He''s¡ª"


    Her statement was cut off when the door suddenly opened, signifying the arrival of theirst member.


    "There he is," Mimi smiled.


    "Xion, our new member is here!"

 Chapter 349 Lee Sik

    <h4>Chapter 349 Lee Sik</h4>


    Tres quickly stood from his seat and bowed at Xion, the popr vocalist of the idol group CHAOS.


    June, although not recognizing the idol, also stood and bowed in respect.


    Meanwhile, Xion stood at the doorway, observing the neer in the room. When he first found out they were going to add another member to the line-up, he was quite annoyed.


    Why didn''t this so-called ''neer''e to their first practice?


    When he saw that it was June, the member of the idol group he had been wary of, his annoyance escted even further. However, it was also paired with curiosity¡ªjust how good was this guy?


    "You''rete," Nico jokingly said, standing up and giving Xion a man-hug.


    "Aww,e on. Mr. Lee Sik isn''t even here," Xion chuckled.


    Mimi, being the most senior idol of the group, didn''t bother standing and just smiled at Xion.


    "We''replete now," she said. "Why don''t we introduce ourselves to our new member?"


    They all sat and started introducing themselves.


    "The name''s Tres," he started off. "I''m from OCTA. Nice to meet you."


    "Hi, June! I''m Mimi," she enthusiastically offered her hand to June.


    June shook it with gratitude, and Mimi felt her heart explode with how cute June was. Her cheeks visibly reddened, causing Nico to click his tongue and break their contact.


    "My turn," Nico said. "I''m sure you already know me since you went to our waiting room during the Abracadabra Festival."


    June stared at the person before him and found he wasn''t familiar at all. He knew he was from BOYMYSTIC, but aside from Jordan, he wasn''t too familiar with their members.


    "I''m sorry, senior," June apologized. "I don''t think I caught your name."


    Nico''s eyes widened, and he suddenly felt annoyance build inside his heart.


    "You¡ª"


    "He''s Nico," Mimi quickly cut the annoyed guy off. "Don''t pay attention to him too much. Life is bitter for him."


    "Mimi," Nico whined, causing June to chuckle.


    "Nice to meet you, senior," June respectfully bowed.


    Then, he turned to thest person¡ªXion.


    Xion, despite being a loud guy, was silent all throughout the exchange. Mimi found it quite weird since he was usually on the same wavelength as Nico. Now, he wasn''t being his usual self.


    "Xion," Mimi said, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    "Ah, right," Xion said, clearing his throat. "I''m Xion from CHAOS."


    June nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for weing me warmly. My name is June, and I am from the group EVE. I also apologize for the inconvenience I''ve caused. Let''s work together from now on."


    "Nonsense!" Mimi cheerfully said. "You''re very wee here. Right, guys?"


    The three guys didn''t respond, causing Mimi to shake her head.


    "Sorry, June," she whispered. "They''re just a bit grumpy because of the new arrangement."


    "It''s okay," June whispered back, his minty breath brushing against Mimi''s cheek, causing her stomach to erupt into butterflies.


    "By the way," Nico suddenly said. "You also trained in Phoenix, right?" he asked.


    Mimi turned to him, confused. "How do you know that? I thought you didn''t keep up with this season''s Rising Stars."


    Nico''s eyes widened in panic. He cleared his throat and collected himself. "Of course, I didn''t!" he eximed. "I just saw it on the¡­news. Yeah, on the news! It was big news back then."


    "I did," June said, answering Nico''s question.


    "Then, did the two of you meet back then?" Mimi asked, looking between June and Xion.


    June remained silent since he genuinely didn''t know the answer to the question. Moreover, he was curious about Xion''s answer.


    June knew that CHAOS was the group Joon-ho was supposed to debut in. He was already aware of his rtionship with Alex and Hyunwoo, but his rtionship with the CHAOS members was still hidden in the dark.


    "I did see him around back then," Xion said, causing June to be even more curious. "But we weren''t acquainted. I was practicing to be in CHAOS back then, and he wasn''t."


    "Ah, I see," Mimi said. "I guess that makes all of us new friends then."


    "Friends?" Nico scoffed. "How about more than friends?" he said, smiling as he leaned closer to Mimi.


    However, Mimi scooted further away from Nico and closer to June.


    She just hit two birds with one stone¡ªshe got away from Nico while getting to stay close to June!


    Just then, the door opened, revealing the legendary artist¡ªLee Sik.


    The five idols immediately stood and bowed deeply, showing their utmost respect for the veteran singer.


    Lee Sik chuckled, his deep voice resonating in the room. His short hair, now in the color of salt and pepper, was spiked on top of his head. He was wearing a shirt in the style of a modern hanbok, and it was paired with white trousers.


    June could already feel the immense amount of energy from the older man even when he hadn''t spoken at all.


    Lee Sik, the 52-year-old singer, had been in the industry for more than 30 years. He first started singing when he was in high school and joined the longest-running songpetition in South Korea¡ªKaraoke King.


    At a young age, he already had a passion for traditional pansori music, so he incorporated those sounds into his songs. He was also a great lyricist, painting the struggles of many generations, which made most of his songs emotional and rtable.


    After his venture into Karaoke King, he was recognized by the Prime Minister of South Korea, who had him sing on his birthday. That was the start of his mind-blowing career.


    He had released over 20 albums in his career, and the title tracks of these albums were all great hits. Undoubtedly, the greatest hit he had written was ''Father,'' which was the song they were going to be singing for the year-end show.


    "I''m sorry for beingte," he said. "Father duties."


    The idols stopped bowing.


    "It''s no problem, senior," Nico smiled, appearing kinder than he was before. "We can wait all day for you."


    Lee Sik chuckled, patting Nico''s shoulder.


    Then, he turned to the new face in the room. His expression held some kind of hostility for the neer. Nheless, June bowed and greeted him kindly.


    "My name is June, sir," he said. "Thank you for weing me into your team."


    "Hmm," Lee Sik merely hummed, causing the atmosphere to dampen.


    It wasn''t that hard to notice that Lee Sik wasn''t too happy with the sudden changes, too.


    "Should we get started with ourst practice?" he asked.


    They enthusiastically nodded and took their ces on the elevated stage. Meanwhile, June didn''t know where to go. He was just given the music sheet and the lines he was supposed to sing, so he had no clue about the other details.


    "Umm, where is June supposed to go?" Mimi asked, feeling concerned.


    Lee Sik sighed as he stood at the center.


    "Why don''t you sit down and listen to us first, young man?" he asked. "Then, you''ll see how great our performance is."

 Chapter 350 Powerhouses

    <h4>Chapter 350 Powerhouses</h4>


    June looked at the four people on the stage. He was sitting below them, and although near, he felt like the gap between them was too far.


    He didn''t know the impact of the past practices they had, but June felt that it was huge¡ªone that put him behind them.


    He stared at the music sheet in his hands and read the highlighted parts.


    For now, he only had three lines, all with limited words. He wasn''t even going to sing in any of the choruses except for thest one, so the arrangement wasn''t even altered to a ridiculous extent.


    But then again, he was just a neer to the group, so he felt like he had no choice but to ept what was given to him. Being invited to a glorious stage was already a great opportunity for a rookie like him.


    The music started, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    It wasn''t the type of song to have a grand beginning. In contrast, it was a song that employed only two instruments¡ªthe piano and the traditional gayageum.


    Some might argue that the song sounded empty, but for June, the strengthid in its strong, emotional lyrics. The song was perfect as it is. If any other instruments were added, then the lyrics would have been overpowered.


    This may also be the reason why ''Father'' is Lee Sik''s greatest hit, worming its way into the hearts of many.


    With the sound of the mncholic piano and gayageum, June immersed himself in the song.


    "Oh, the sun would rise, and I saw a world so bright.


    Through my innocent eyes, I admired your might."


    June immediately got goosebumps once Lee Sik started the song. His voice was warm, rich with emotion, with just the right amount of quiver. He had the power to sing as if he was merely speaking, which touched June''s heart on unspeakable levels.


    However, he quickly snapped out of his emotions when he saw the pop-up above the veteran singer''s head.


    [Lee Sik


    Vocals: SSS


    Visual: C+]


    June could have never imagined an SSS stat in this lifetime. He thought he was a big shot for having two S-tiers, but now, he felt like a mere pawn in the veteran''s game.


    Mimi started the next verse, her high voice contrasting well with Lee Sik''s rich and deep one.


    She had her eyes closed, also feeling the lyrics of the song.


    "In your shadow, I was happy to stand.


    I was happy to hold onto your rough hands."


    [Mimi


    Vocals: S+


    Dance: S


    Rap: D


    Visual: A]


    June was once again baffled. He had seen Mimi during their field day in Rising Stars, but he never expected the idol to have such great stats.


    The first chorus started with Tres and Nico harmonizing with each other, their voices a perfect blend.


    "I love you, father.


    You made me wonder.


    If I had another life, I would want you again."


    [Tres


    Vocals: A+


    Dance: A+


    Rap: B-


    Visual: A+]


    [Nico


    Vocals: S-


    Dance: B+


    Rap: C


    Visual: A-]


    June stared at Nico''s stats, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He vaguely remembered Nico''s stats from when they performed during the Abracadabra Festival.


    Nico definitely did not have any S-tier skills back then. However, his vocal aspect was now the same as June''s.


    June didn''t have any time to ponder upon it, however, since Xion began to sing the next verse.


    "But clouds did gather, storms did brew.


    The father I once loved was not the father I knew."


    [Xion


    Vocals: SS


    Dance: S


    Rap: C-


    Visual: S]


    June felt his heart race as he stared at the three S-tier skills on Xion''s status window. It was the very first time he had met a person with three S-tiers, and again, it made him think that the skills he was proud of were nothingpared to these people.


    June was just a little shrimp, after all.


    As they sang thest chorus together, all of their pop-ups showed at the same time.


    June stared at all of their status windows and suddenly felt an impending sense of doom.


    Their aurasbined felt even scarier than before.


    The people before him were powerhouses...immovable forces.


    And as their voices harmonized with each other, June wondered if he had a ce in this line-up after all.


    The song ended still with the piano and the gayageum, the echoes of its string resonating in the room.


    There was a moment of silence that followed after the end of the song, all of them appearing to still be immersed in its emotions.


    June, too, was speechless and unmoving, touched by the performance he had witnessed.


    Was this how his fans felt when they watched his performances?


    June pped, causing the others to snap out of their reverie.


    Mimi smiled as she stared at the pink-haired idol on the seats. She was very proud of their performance, and to be able to show it off to the person she liked was a euphoric experience.


    Nico smirked proudly as he looked down at June.


    "That was good, right?" he asked, boasting a bit since he knew he put on a great performance.


    Tres and Xion kept straight faces as they met gazes with June. However, they gave each other curt smiles, to which June furrowed his eyebrows.


    Meanwhile, Lee Sik was still lost in the feelings of his own song.


    June stared at the veteran singer and felt a newfound respect for him. Even if the idols did a great job emting his song, no one couldpare to him.


    Lee Sik sang with the most emotion, and June was the most immersed during his parts.


    After a while, Lee Sik finally snapped out of his feelings. Then, he faced June, a challenging smile gracing his lips.


    "How was the performance, young man?" he asked.


    "It was¡­good," June said, still a bit speechless.


    Lee Sik felt the sincerity in June''s voice, causing him to chuckle.


    "That''s the standard I''m looking for in the idols I perform with. Do you think you got what it takes?"


    June paused for a moment, not knowing whether the question was some kind of test.


    Ultimately, he thought that being confident was better than being reluctant.


    So, he nodded.


    "Yes, sir," he said with confidence.


    Lee Sik smirked. "Very well."


    "Then, why don''t youe up to the stage and show us what you got?"

 Chapter 351 Worthy

    <h4>Chapter 351 Worthy</h4>


    June was taken aback by Lee Sik''s suggestion, or rather,mand. The other idols on the stage were also surprised. However, they were also curious¡ªwas June really worthy of joining their stage?


    "I only allow great singers on my team," Mr. Lee Sik said. "The production team might have agreed for you to sing with us, but I can''t blindly ept a person who hasn''t been here since the beginning."


    June pursed his lips, hesitating on what to do.


    "So, unless you show me that you''re worthy of singing my song, I have no choice but to show you hostility," Lee Sik added.


    The two of them locked gazes, the middle-aged man almost burning with passion.


    "Are you up for the challenge, young man?"


    The room was silent for a couple of seconds. However, it was broken by the sound of wood scraping against the floor. June stood from his chair and walked toward the stage, his gaze still on Lee Sik.


    Lee Sik smirked and made way for June on the centerstage.


    "No mics. No anything. Just you and the instrumental," the veteran singer said.


    June nodded while the others made their way down the elevated tform. They settled in their original seats and intently watched June, whose face couldn''t be read from where they were sitting.


    Nico smirked as he looked at the idol. He might seem confident now, but he''ll soon crumble if he doesn''t show Lee Sik a great performance.


    During their very first practice, the production team actually enjoined a lot of idols to perform with the one and only Lee Sik. Nico was confused at first¡ªhe thought he had already been chosen to be a part of the final line-up.


    However, it was an audition of some sort. From 25 idols, Lee Sik narrowed it to 4.


    Lee Sik believed he had made the greatest line-up from the list of idols he was given, so now that June barged into the picture, he didn''t want to give him any special treatment.


    He first needed to prove that he was deserving to sing ''Father.''


    "Whenever you''re ready," Lee Sik said, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    For a moment, June was lost in his thoughts as he stared at the music sheet.


    "Am I going to sing my lines?" June asked.


    "No," Lee Sik smirked. "Sing the third chorus."


    June read the lyrics of the third chorus and felt a pang in his chest.


    When Jay first informed him of the lines he was going to sing, he was disappointed with how scarce it was. However, he was thankful at the same time¡ªsince he didn''t have to sing the third chorus.


    ''Father'' was a very special song because its lyrics portrayed an unspoken truth. It was about the sweet rtionship of a child with his father and how it turned bitter in the end. It was even more touching as it was written from the first person''s point of view.


    June wasn''t too fond of it because it reminded him too much of home.


    In Rising Stars, he hade to terms with the loss of his mother¡ªhis beautiful mother whom he treated like home.


    His father, on the other hand, was a gray topic.


    "I''m ready," June said.


    Lee Sik nodded, went to the music yer, and fast-forwarded it to the second verse.


    As the lonely tune of the piano and the gayageum yed, June closed his eyes and felt the emotions of the wordless instrumental.


    At first, he didn''t want to sing with the weight of his past¡ªhe didn''t want to get emotional.


    However, as he stared into Lee Sik''s eyes a while back, June felt like it was what he was looking for.


    The chorus neared, so June took a deep breath and rid his mind of any distractions.


    It was only him and the song.


    The room fell into a hushed silence as they listened to the melody that enveloped them like a familiar embrace.


    "I watched the strong man use his strength¡­


    ¡­to inflict wounds within arm''s length."


    The first few words tumbled from his lips, and a ripple of uncertainty swept through the room. His voice cracked at the word¡ª''wounds,'' causing the others to exchange nces.


    Nico was satisfied, but at the same time, he kept his gaze on June, who didn''t seem bothered by his slip-up.


    Xion frowned as he watched June, his heart feeling strange.


    Mimi, on the other hand, was ready to fall in love again. With the utterance of his first words, she was already enamored.


    "I stood, I watched, I couldn''t do anything,


    But resent the man who became my nothing."


    As June continued, it made sense to the people watching that the crack of his voice was deliberate. He was able to deliver the lines just like how a broken child would sing it under the moon.


    His voice was pleasant and soft, pleasing to the ears yet painful to the heart; and even without the fancy runs and well-rounded belts, he had captured the hearts of everyone in the room.


    It was as if he had tapped into an unseen well of emotion.


    The room fell silent as he sang thest two lines of the third chorus.


    Lee Sik, who once had a disinterested look, now watched the stage intently.


    When the veteran singer was given the chance to perform at the year-end show, he knew he wanted to make a tribute to his biggest hit¡ª''Father.'' It was a song embedded deep within his heart because it spoke of his personal story.


    However, despite it being his greatest hit, he had only performed it live once. For the young Lee Sik, singing it was far too painful.


    As time healed all wounds, he realized that singing the song didn''t hurt as much anymore. But now, as he listened to June''s version of the chorus he painstakingly wrote, he couldn''t help but feel an ache within his heart.


    It was as if he was transported back to the past, where he was a mere teenager, writing a resentful letter to his father.


    When the short vocal performance ended, the room remained in a state of suspended silence. Xion looked down at hisp and shook his head in disbelief at what he just heard.


    Nico felt emotional; however, he kept it in since he didn''t want to give June the satisfaction of seeing him being touched by his performance.


    Mimi looked at June with ssy eyes, wanting to run to the stage and give him aforting hug.


    Tres, on the other hand, nodded in acknowledgment. He admitted he was a bit biased when June suddenly joined the line-up for the special performance. However, as he listened to the short chorus, he realized that they needed June.


    He also remembered Uno''s words about June¡ª''We''re on the same level now, but I don''t know until when. So, I have to work even harder than before.''


    June cleared his throat, causing the others to snap out of their thoughts.


    Then, he gazed into Lee Sik''s eyes once more.


    "Was I worthy?" he asked.

 Chapter 352 Chosen One

    <h4>Chapter 352 Chosen One</h4>


    June knew he didn''t get to showcase his best vocal ability due to the shakiness of his voice.


    Thinking about his father while singing definitelypromised his S-tier vocal ability.


    Nheless, despite these slip-ups, he felt like his performance was still decent.


    He didn''t know if it would appease the legendary Lee Sik, but June inferred he needed some confidence to show he was worthy of being part of the line-up.


    Everybody watched Lee Sik, gauging his reaction. However, his face remained nk as he stared at June.


    Then, he stood up.


    "Get ready for thest practice," he said, not answering June''s question.


    However, June already knew the answer, causing him to smirk.


    Mimi pped excitedly as June made his way down the stage. Nico scoffed while Tres merely smiled in eptance. Xion, like Lee Sik, also has an unreadable expression.


    They all assembled in a line with Lee Sik in the very center, and they prepared for their veryst rehearsal.


    June, despite not having many lines, was able to stand out in those few lines.


    Lee Sik couldn''t help but watch him more closely every time he sang, and that made the others morepetitive for Lee Sik''s attention, too.


    In turn, their performance was maximized to the very best. They practiced untilte in the afternoon, and even though June merely joined on the veryst rehearsal, he didn''t fall behind the other idols.


    "Umm," Mimi said, scratching the back of her neck. "Can I have your number?" she asked.


    She felt like her heart was going to explode with the nervousness she was feeling. Since this morning, she had wanted to ask for June''s number, and now, she finally got the courage to ask him.


    "Oh, sure," June said, typing his number into her phone.


    Mimi''s cheeks heated up as June gave her back her phone. Mimi quickly saved it as ''Idol <3'' and giddily ced her phone back into her pocket.


    "I just texted you," Mimi said with a wide smile.


    June brought out his phone and nodded. "Ah, yes. I received it. I''ll save your number right now."


    Mimi''s heart raced as she watched June save her number in his contacts. She pursed her lips, anticipating the contact name he would give her.


    Will it be something cute?


    Or will he add a heart emoji simr to what she did?


    However, her fantasies were quickly shattered when she caught a peek at her contact name.


    ''Senior Mimi.''


    Disappointed struck Mimi, causing her to freeze on the spot.


    Nico watched their exchange from the side with red nostrils, and when he had enough, he quickly held onto her wrist.


    "Let''s eat dinner together," he said.


    Mimi clicked her tongue. "Eat dinner by yourself."


    Nico smirked he continued holding onto her wrist.


    "My manager told me that your manager is joining in for dinner, so you don''t have a choice," he teased.


    Mimi groaned and let herself get dragged away by the annoying BOYMYSTIC member.


    Tres left at the earliest since OCTA had a schedule for another music festival.


    Meanwhile, Xion didn''t bother greeting June and left by himself after saying farewell to Mr. Lee Sik.


    June bowed at Lee Sik in gratitude. "Thank you for today, senior," he said before turning to the door to leave the room.


    However, Lee Sik''s voice made him halt before he could leave.


    "June," Lee Sik said.


    June turned around, confused by his sudden call.


    "Yes, sir?"


    Only the two of them were left inside the practice room, the lights illuminating the otherwise dim room.


    Lee Sik sat on one of the seats and then pulled another chair close to him. He then patted the said chair.


    "Let''s talk for a moment."


    June raised his eyebrows in confusion. Even so, he followed Lee Sik''s instructions and sat on the chair next to him.


    The two of them were stuck in awkward silence before Lee Sik cleared his throat and started the conversation.


    "I sincerely apologize for my hostility a while ago," he said. "It was just a test of mine since I want this performance to be as perfect as possible."


    June softly smiled. "It''s alright, senior. I understand."


    Then, the two of them were engulfed in silence once more.


    "Do you know why I wrote this song?" Lee Sik suddenly asked.


    June turned to him and hummed. "I don''t know much about the history of the song. However, it must be from your personal experiences. A song like this can only be written by a person who has experienced it."


    Lee Sik chuckled. "As expected, you''re very sharp."


    "Indeed, I wrote this song when I was 14 years old," Lee Sik continued.


    June''s eyes widened. "14? You''ve been talented with writing since you were young then."


    Lee Sik smiled. "You''re ttering me, young man."


    "I''m just telling the truth," June said.


    "I think you''re wrong, though," Lee Sik countered his im. "I wasn''t a talented writer when I was younger. I just wrote what I felt¡­and I think that''s what made my writing good."


    "Not a lot of people can write their feelings well," June said. "In that sense, you''re a talented writer."


    "You seem like a pretty stubborn person, so I''ll take thepliment well," Lee Sik chuckled.


    June merely smiled.


    "Well, as I was saying, I wrote this song when I was younger¡ªwhen I truly resented my father. Did you know? I only performed this song live once in my entire life."


    June was surprised. He thought Lee Sik would have performed his hit song more than a hundred times now.


    "I know it''s surprising, but it''s the truth," Lee Sik continued. "The song hurt too much for me to sing, and when my father¡­the subject of this song died, I felt like an evil person for even thinking of singing it when he was already dead."


    June nodded in understanding.


    He, too, felt guilty whenever he felt resentment for his father, who was probably burning in hell already.


    "So, ever since my father died, I started writing¡­and I was able to write this," he said, handing June a crumpled piece of paper.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he carefully unraveled the piece of paper and read the contents inside. It was a draft¡ªa very rough one, but June felt the pain hidden behind the words written on the crumpled paper.


    "I wanted to show this verse to the rest of the world. However, during the audition process for this special performance, I couldn''t find the right voice to sing it. In the end, I decided to keep it to myself until I find the right person."


    June raised his head and finally met eyes with Lee Sik.


    "But I think I''ve found him now."

 Chapter 353 Magic Mama

    <h4>Chapter 353 Magic Mama</h4>


    "It''s you," Lee Sik said, looking into June''s eyes.


    "I''ve finally found the right voice for the words I have written," he continued.


    June frowned, feeling confused.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "The words written on the paper are the words I wanted to say to my father for a long time," Lee Sik exined, looking a bit emotional.


    "At first, I wanted to add another verse to the performance¡ªa second bridge, if you call it. However, like I said, I couldn''t find the right voice. But now that you''re here, I believe the world is ready to hear it¡ªthis special verse."


    June stayed silent as he read the written lyrics once more. He knew Lee Sik was a great writer, but these lyrics were on another level.


    "Are you willing to sing it for me?" Lee Sik asked, hope heard in his voice.


    June smirked as he looked up from the lyric sheet and stared into Lee Sik''s eyes.


    "I will be honored."


    Lee Sik smiled, patting June''s back. "Alright, so here''s how it will go."


    ***


    It waste in the evening when the veteran singer and the rookie idol finished with their practice. Unshed tears were seen in their eyes, both of them unwilling to reveal their vulnerability.


    In the end, none of them cried because of their pride despite the overwhelming feelings brewing in their hearts.


    "I knew you were the right voice for this song," Lee Sikmended, already feeling fond of the nonchnt idol.


    At first, Lee Sik didn''t see his charm. However, as they practiced together, he realized that the young man was cute¡ªsimr to his son at home.


    "Thanks," June said, feeling good about beingplimented.


    He definitely appreciatedpliments about his voice the most, even during Rising Stars.


    Although being called handsome was a great ego-booster, nothing couldpare to how peopleplimented him for the one aspect he was very proud of.


    "However," Lee Sik said, causing June''s smile to drop.


    "Even though your vocal techniques are nice, I believe you still have room for improvement," he continued.


    "And these are?" June asked, genuinely curious.


    "I can''t pinpoint it since I''m not a vocal coach, but I think you''re still not fullyfortable with singing. Your voice is well-rounded, but your skills are¡­in?"


    "in?" June asked with raised eyebrows.


    That was thest thing he expected to hear about his voice.


    He had to admit that it hurt his pride.


    June was pretty confident with his voice because he received so much praise when he was in Rising Stars and and in their debut stage.


    So, having his voice called in, especially by a veteran, made him rethink his perceptions about his skills.


    "Why don''t you find another person to sing it then?" June asked, standing from his seat and sulking like a little kid.


    Lee Sik chuckled and pulled him back to sit down.


    "I didn''t mean it in a bad way. As I said, your voice is perfect for the song. You don''t have the best technical aspects, but you sing with so much emotion, which makes the listeners forget about these ws. If it weren''t for my sensitive ears, I also wouldn''t have heard such blemishes," he exined.


    "I believe you''re a great singer," Lee Sik continued. "You also sing with the most emotion out of everyone in the current line-up. However, I also believe that a great singer will sing with emotion withoutpromising any of the technical skills. Do you know what I mean?"


    June sighed and nodded in defeat.


    As much as his pride was hurt, he had to admit that Lee Sik was right.


    Although his skill had improved a lot because of his own efforts, June had to admit that most of it was because of Fu''s level-up system.


    Sure, he sounded great for his level, but sometimes, he just didn''t know how to actually execute the technical vocal abilities because it was already inherent in his system.


    "What do you suggest I do then?" June asked.


    Lee Sik gestured for June to wait before bringing out something from his wallet¡ªa small piece of paper of some sort.


    "Here," Lee Sik said. "This is the calling card of the vocal coach that helped me when I was in a slump."


    June stared at the calling card and found it quite strange. It wasn''t the usual sleek and sturdy cardboard cut into a pocket-sized piece.


    Instead, it was made out of toilet paper?


    "Magic Mama?" June asked, staring suspiciously at Lee Sik.


    The veteran singer chuckled before patting June''s back.


    "I know it sounds pretty strange, but I assure you that you won''t regret going to her ce. It''s located in Seoul, so you might want to visit her when you have the time," he said.


    "Can I visit her tomorrow?" June asked, curious about the vocal coach.


    "Don''t you think that''s too soon? We have a performance in two days."


    "It''s alright," June said, nodding with conviction.


    He had a little bit of free time after EVE''s practice tomorrow, and he wanted to improve his vocal skills before the actual performance.


    "Well, I can give her a call and tell you''re dropping by. Will that be alright for you?"


    June nodded.


    "Great," Lee Sik smiled. "I''m d someone''s so enthusiastic to meet her. I''ve referred a few artists to her, but you were the only one who was up for the challenge."


    "Challenge?" June asked.


    Why would going to a vocal coach be a challenge?


    Lee Sik waved his hand. "Don''t think about it. She''s great! She''s one of the reasons why I''m still relevant in the industry after so long."


    June, although still a little bit suspicious, decided to let it go.


    How bad could ''Magic Mama'' be?


    "I think it''s time for us to go now," Lee Sik said, ncing at his phone. "My manager''s calling already."


    June nodded. "My manager''s sleeping in the lounge room."


    "Poor guy. See you on the 31st, June. I''m looking forward to our stage," Lee Sik said, standing and holding out his hand for June.


    "Me too," June said, taking Sik''s hand and squeezing it tight.


    With that, the two of them separated and went to their respective managers.


    Indeed, Jay was sleeping on the expensive leather couch, his saliva pooling on the ck material.


    June shook him awake, causing him to assume a fighting stance.


    "It''s just me," June deadpanned. "Let''s go."


    "Oh," Jay said, wiping the saliva from his face. "What took you so long?"


    "I had to do some extra practice," June said.


    "That''s alright then," Jay said. "Let''s go home. I''m beat after all that gossipping."


    The two of them made their way to the parking lot while making small talk.


    They entered the car, and Jay immediately yed his favorite rap songs on the radio.


    Meanwhile, June opened his phone since he wasn''t able to check it all day.


    His eyes widened when he saw multiple notifications from his Navel ount.


    June opened the app and hoped he had reached 100,000 followers because of the selfie he posted.


    However, he quickly became disappointed when he saw he was once again ratioed for histest post.


    - People are using AI to make them look like artists now. This is scary!


    - It doesn''t look like AI, though. Maybe he just really looks like June.


    - This is AI-generated.


    - When are you going to stop impersonating June?


    - I hope you identally slip into a manhole and never get discovered.

 Chapter 354 Met his Match

    <h4>Chapter 354 Met his Match</h4>


    June kept sighing as he gazed at his phone. Jay nced at him through the rearview mirror and wondered what had caused his demise.


    Was he having trouble with his girlfriend?


    But he shouldn''t have a girlfriend!


    Or maybe he was reading hatefulments?


    Jay''s expression softened as he continued to stare at June.


    Even if he acts nonchntly most of the time, he still must be hurting from all the hate he''s receiving.


    As the center of EVE, June definitely received the most hate out of all the members.


    "Hey," Jay said, breaking the silence. "Are you alright?"


    "Huh?" June raised his head, looking lost. "Ah, yeah. I''m alright."


    Jay was once again saddened. June appeared to be out of it!


    Meanwhile, June was taking down notes on the roasts he had received on his personal ount.


    - Sleep on a highway.


    - Yo, this guy''s actually pretty handsome.


    - Yeah, because he''s using June''s face andbining it with his real face.


    - You will never beat the original!


    - June would spit on you in real life.


    People were very creative these days, and June would have found it funny if it weren''t for the decrease in his follower count.


    At this point, he wasn''t going to finish his mission!


    "You can tell me anything, June," Jay said. "I''m your confidant now."


    June scoffed as he turned off his phone.


    "You''re being too sweet. I don''t like it," he deadpanned.


    Jay chuckled. "I''m just doing my job as a manager. Come on, tell Papa Jay what''s bugging your mind."


    June shook his head. "Never refer to yourself as ''Papa'' again."


    "Alright," Jay chuckled. "I won''t. Can you tell me what''s on your mind now?"


    June sighed before opening up to his manager.


    "How many followers do you have on Navel?" he asked.


    "Weird question," Jay pointed out. "But around 80,000."


    "What?" June eximed loudly, surprising Jay.


    "Why?" he asked, holding onto his chest. "Is it that surprising?"


    "Where did you get those followers?" June asked.


    "During Rising Stars," Jay said. "I was pretty active then."


    "And your username is?" June asked.


    "BigDaddyJay," he nonchntly responded. "But I changed it to ''JustJay'' now."


    June pursed his lips since he couldn''t believe Jay had more followers than him, even with his equally atrocious, if not more atrocious, username.


    "In a hypothetical situation," June continued. "How will you increase your follower count?"


    "Hmm," Jay hummed. "Well, at first, I posted my raps on there. Nobody really paid attention to them, but when I joined Rising Stars, more people started tuning in."


    "Most of it was hatements," Jay chuckled. "But they also continued tuning in to my content, so I wasn''t too mad. I stopped uploading after the show, though, so my follower count has been sluggish ever since."


    "But if I would give you some advice, I say start posting content that you enjoy putting out," he advised.


    Then, he nced back at June.


    "I don''t think you would have any trouble increasing your follower count, though. Just post your picture, and people will automatically follow you."


    ''I already did that,'' June thought.


    "Or if you''re having a hard time growing it on your own, just ask thepany or your members to help you," Jay continued.


    ''I also can''t ask for help because of the stupid conditions Fu had set,'' June sighed.


    "Making your username catchy yet simple also helps. Sometimes changing it does all the work."


    June pursed his lips in frustration.


    That was three for three!


    He couldn''t do any of those!


    ***


    It was alreadyte in the afternoon when EVE finished with their practice.


    June got permission from Jay to get supplementary lessons from a vocal coach, and fortunately, he was also able to convince thepany to let him go.


    So, now, June was standing outside a suspicious-looking house with vines all over its walls and gates.


    Jay looked at the house from inside the car, peeking his head out to inspect the strange infrastructure.


    "Are you sure we''re in the right ce?" Jay asked. "This looks straight out of a murder documentary."


    "Yeah, this is the ce," June said, looking at the photo Lee Sik had sent andparing it with the house before him.


    "Alright then. I have to go. Sehun has a photo shoot for an underwearpany," Jay said. "I''ll pick you up at 6 PM."


    June waved his hand goodbye as Jay sped through the rocky road.


    June stared at the house before him and let out a deep breath before raising his hand and hovering it above the doorbell.


    He was about to press it when the gate suddenly opened, causing him to take a step back in surprise.


    A short woman with long hair pushed into a tight bun stood before him. Her head was significantly bigger than the rest of her body, and a frown graced her face. Her eyes were donned with vivid dark blue eye shadow, and two differentrge gemstones dangled from her ears.


    For some reason, she reminded June of Yubaba from ''Spirited Away.''


    "June, right?" she asked, her voice sounding deeper than he thought.


    June wordlessly nodded.


    She then looked him up and down as if scrutinizing his appearance¡ªjudging every fiber of his being.


    "Pink," she said in a bitter tone. "I hate that color."


    June pursed his lips and didn''t bother responding.


    "I don''t usually take students thiste, but my best student highly rmended you, so I decided to break my rules," she continued.


    "Make sure you''re worth my time," she pointed a finger at him before slowly widening the gate''s gap, making him enter the entric-looking house.


    June meekly entered the house with Magic Mama trailing behind him. He could feel her gaze burning holes in his back, causing him to feel even more scared.


    Yes, June was scared.


    The old woman was so overwhelmingly powerful that June felt like a little kid in her presence.


    "Stop there," the old woman said when they reached what seemed to be a musical room.


    It was filled with musical instruments of different sorts¡ªpiano, violins, guitars, drum sets, and taxidermied lizards made into flutes?


    June stood frozen in the same spot as Magic Mama made her way before him.


    She then sat in front of the piano and started ying without any warning.


    "Do you know this song?" she asked.


    June recognized it to be one of Lee Sik''s songs, so he nodded.


    "You have a voice box. Speak," shemanded. "Unless you want me to rip your throat open. Now, let me repeat myself¡ªdo you recognize this song?"


    "Yes, ma''am," June subconsciously answered.


    "Good. Sing it," Magic Mama said.


    June was once againpelled to follow the old woman''s orders.


    He started singing the song, sometimes stumbling on his words because of the unexpected test.


    June was just about to sing the chorus when she suddenly stopped ying, the piano creating a dissonant sound.


    June pursed his lips and ced his hands behind his back as the room was engulfed in silence.


    He looked at the ground as he felt Magic Mama''s gaze on his face.


    She scoffed.


    "Your voice is shit."

 Chapter 355 Test: Passed, Heart: Trespassed

    <h4>Chapter 355 Test: Passed, Heart: Trespassed</h4>


    Never in June''s life was his voicepared to shit. Even as a gangster, he receivedpliments from those who heard him sing.


    Even Mei Ling enjoyed his singing despite her unusually high standards. Not to mention, Lee Sik was also impressed when he first heard June sing! Heck, he was even able to capture the heart of one of the greatest actress-singers of all time, Jihyun!


    How could this old woman call his voice shit when he had only sung a few lines of a song he didn''t even prepare for?


    "I''ll sing again then," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Magic Mama stood from the piano chair and made her way to the couch, sitting with a loud thud while checking her dark blue nails.


    "Nah, that''s fine," she said. "Call your manager and ask him to take you home. I''ve heard enough."


    June clicked his tongue. "You didn''t even give me enough time to prepare!"


    Magic Mama stopped looking at her nails and stared June in the eyes.


    "A great singer will always be prepared," she smiled.


    Then, June was taken aback when she suddenly started singing an opera song, her controlled voice resonating in the room. Even though she was sitting down with her feet propped up on the small table before her, it did notpromise the quality of her voice.


    [Magic Mama


    Vocals: SSS+]


    June''s eyes widened as he saw her stats paired with the sound of her amazing voice.


    Lee Sik wasn''t joking when he said she was the best singer he had ever met.


    Her voice was out of this world! Almost like a siren and an angelbined!


    She finished the song with a proud smile, looking at June like she wanted to teach him a lesson.


    "That''s how a great singer sounds," she boasted. "You sounded like a meek little sheep just now. I don''t take little sheep as my students. So, go home and think about your career. Oh, wait? You''re an idol, right? Then, I guess you don''t have to worry. Just continue looking pretty for the camera, and your audience will continue supporting you."


    June frowned at the old woman''s discriminatory words.


    "Being an idol is so much more than that," he defended.


    "Yeah, convince me that idols don''t just sexualize and infantalize themselves in front of the camera," she smirked. "It doesn''t matter if you have talent anyway, you just need to look good and you''re good to go! You have it easy, kid. Just admit it."


    At first, he also had the same mindset as Magic Mama. However, after Rising Stars ended and he experienced the real life of an idol, he realized it was more than what the public deemed it to be.


    "Idols need to sing well, dance well, look well, and always act well," June started off, looking into Magic Mama''s eyes.


    "We need to sing while dancing. We can''t lip sync a word, but sometimes, people will say that it''s better for us to lip sync. We can be good-looking but not too good-looking because then we would have gotten stic surgery."


    "We should always be thankful, but we also shouldn''t show that we''re too thankful because we seem boastful. We should enjoy the music we put out, but the public needs to enjoy it more."


    "We can''t fall in love. We can''t freely walk down the streets. We can''t smell even if we''ve practiced the entire day. We can''t just be human!"


    "They want us to be perfect¡ªsing like angels, dance like it''s magic, look like movie stars. And sure, we signed up for this, but sometimes it feels like we''re juggling with a million expectations!"


    "The pursuit of perfection? It''s like chasing a rainbow¡ªyou never quite catch it no matter how hard you try! So, no, I can''t just sit still and look pretty while waiting for my paycheck," he ended his speech with a deep breath.


    June was expecting Magic Mama to apologize for his assumptions. However, he was surprised when he saw her picking her teeth.


    "Were you even listening?" June asked, making her snap back to reality.


    "Oh," she said, finally looking at June. "You''re finally done?"


    June''s frown deepened. "What do you mean by finally?"


    She smiled as she tilted her head to the side. "I didn''t listen to any of that. It was too long. I''m happy for you, I guess¡­or I''m sorry that happened."


    June looked at her with disbelief.


    "Now that you''re finished with your little boy rant, why don''t you get going? This old woman will get herself some grapes, wine, and cheese!" she eximed, standing from the couch.


    June pursed his lips in anger and remained in his position.


    Magic Mama looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "You''re not going to leave?" she asked.


    June didn''t respond and sat before the piano.


    "Hey, don''t touch my¡ª"


    June cut her off as he started ying the piano loudly. She halted as he continued angrily hitting the piano, his fingers not missing a single note.


    Then, he started singing with his heart, trying to get rid of the frustrations he was currently feeling.


    "I''m a canvas of dreams, but they paint their own,


    Lost in the crowd, just a face unknown.


    They say, "Be perfect," but perfect is a lie,


    Struggling for attention, under the spotlight."


    June red at Magic Mama as he continued singing.


    "A puppet on strings, they pull every chord,


    In a world so loud, my voice is ignored.


    They say, "Be grateful," but what for, I ask?


    In this sea of neglect, I''m drowning, unmasked."


    He ended the song with heavy breaths, still looking into the old woman''s eyes.


    The two of them were stuck in silence for quite some time before Magic Mama started pping, a small smile creeping on her lips.


    June''s frown deepened.


    "What are you pping for?" he snapped.


    "Did that feel good?" she asked.


    June sighed in annoyance. "What do you mean?"


    "You sounded very restricted during the first time you sang. I didn''t see much potential in you. However, now I see why Lee Sik had rmended you."


    June''s frown lines slowly smoothened.


    Seeing the smile on her face, June''s heart felt more at ease. It was as if the scary woman''s personality had dialed down by a fraction.


    "Congrattions," she pped, the smile not leaving her face. "Not many people make it to this part of the test."


    "Test?" June asked.


    She went closer to him and patted his back.


    "You passed the test!"

 Chapter 356 Two Birds, One Plan

    <h4>Chapter 356 Two Birds, One n</h4>


    "As a new student of mine, I will show you how to be the best singer you can be," Magic Mama said. "But remember, all of this depends on you. I will only?be your guide."


    "I understand," June responded.


    "Good," she pped, taking some grapes and cheese and popping it into her mouth.


    "Our first lesson will be simple," she started off. "Just sing a song you hate."


    "A song I hate?" June rified.


    "But I''m going to be performing ''Father'' on the 31st with Lee Sik and other idols. I need some feedback on that song first."


    "Oh, no, no!" Magic Mama eximed. "We can''t have you practice the song you''re going to perform."


    June frowned. "Why not? I want it to be as perfect as possible."


    "Ah, that''s another w of yours," Magic Mama said. "Singing will never be perfect and should never be perfect."


    "If I wanted students who sang perfectly, then I would have gathered robots instead. Perfect singing will only exist when a song is devoid of any emotion. Only techniques can be perfect, but singing itself will never be perfect."


    June nodded, understanding every word she said. Magic Mama truly knew what she was talking about.


    "Besides," she continued. "I don''t let my students sing the song they''re going to perform on a big stage. I feel like it takes away too many emotions from the actual stage. You grow immune to it, and it bes muscle memory. While this may be beneficial to more cheerful songs, I don''t want you to sing ''Father'' with your muscle memory. It''s a song that needs the genuine feelings of a child to his father."


    "Why do you want me to sing a song I hate then?" June asked.


    "It''s because you''ll remember it even more," Magic Mama said.


    "Often, in life, we remember the extremes ¡ªthose we love and those we hate. Anything in the middle is a gray area. I want you to sing something you hate, in particr, because ''Father'' is a song with a lot of contempt. However, in the end, it slowly resolves. By the end of our lesson today, I want you to grow fond of a song you hate and channel these feelings to your performance on the 31st."


    June wanted to apud the old woman. Anything that came out of her mouth was so valuable that June didn''t even think of countering it.


    "Come on," she said, her mouth filled with fruit and dairy.


    Magic Mama then sat before the piano before looking at June.


    "What''s one song you hate singing?" she asked.


    June pursed his lips as he thought of a song he resented. Without a doubt, it was the Little Meow Meow song.


    "Meow Meow," he answered.


    Magic Mama raised her eyebrows in confusion.


    "Meow Meow? By who?"


    "Little Meow Meow," June responded.


    The vocal coach sighed as she shook her head.


    "Please give me a real song, June," she deadpanned.


    June scratched the back of his head.


    "A Love Twice Lost," he responded after a while.


    Magic Mama was once again surprised.


    "Is it the Chinese Song by Ryan Huang?" she asked.


    June nodded.


    "I''m surprised you know this song," she said. "It''s actually one of my favorite Chinese songs. I''m curious as to why you hate it."


    June pursed his lips and didn''t respond.


    He remembered singing it dead drunk in a karaoke bar in the middle of the night.


    June also remembered the reason behind his resentment for the song, but that was a story for another day.


    "It''s a private reason," he responded.


    Magic Mama shrugged. "Fair enough. Try to sing it then."


    June, despite his reluctance, sang the song as best as he could. Fortunately, Magic Mama didn''t stop him in the middle of the song this time.


    As the song ended, June opened his eyes and found Magic Mama with a contemting expression.


    "You have a really good voice," she started off. "It''s soft yet powerful at the same time, and it also has a Rhythm & Blues undertone, which makes it versatile for a variety of genres. I could hear some techniques in your singing, but I feel like you aren''t aware of it. Am I right?"


    "I know the basics," June said. "But I feel like thosee to me naturally. Sometimes, I just find myself singing without knowing what the technique is called."


    "I knew it," she smiled. "I think we should do an overview of the basic techniques first. Then, as our lessons progress, I''m going to teach you moreplex skills that you can use in yourter performances."


    June nodded enthusiastically.


    "Alright, so let''s start off with the different voice sources¡ªchest, head, and mixed."


    ***


    June felt like he had learned around two years of material from Magic Mama in less than two hours.


    Although he already knew some of the basic concepts, June was now more knowledgeable on how to do vibrato, switching voice mixes, simple vowels, and the like.


    "My manager''s on his way," June said, looking at Jay''stest text message.


    "We''ll continue this another time then. Take one of my calling cards outside before you leave."


    June nodded.


    "Do you have any questions before you go?"


    "Hmm," June started off. "I honestly don''t know if I cane back any time soon because of my hectic schedule. I''ll make sure toe back as soon as I can, though."


    "It''s alright," she smiled. "I won''t leave this ce anyway."


    "Well, while I''m waiting for our next lesson, do you have any tips on how I can improve my singing on my own?"


    Magic Mama ced her finger under her chin.


    "I guess you can continue singing in thefort of your own home. However, I suggest getting other people''s opinions as well. But don''t ask for opinions from people who personally know you. You also can''t ask your fans for their opinion."


    "Their critique will be very biased because they''re wary of you, and your fans are just too delusional to say any valid criticisms."


    "Oh," June said, instantly understanding her intention.


    "So, I guess you can ask strangers'' perspectives on your singing¡ªthose who don''t really know that you''re June."


    *Ding*


    A loud sound rang in June''s mind.


    ''Eureka!''

 Chapter 357 Under the Covers

    <h4>Chapter 357 Under the Covers</h4>


    - This user''s ount is still up? Let''s continue reporting his ount until it''s gone!


    - His face is yummy, though.


    - Just look at June''s fancams if you want something yummy.


    - But I want June''s selfies :<.


    - He''s not the real June! Don''t be unfaithful to our ever-idol!


    - I''m going to send this to June''s fan base so they can arrange a mass report. Let''s tear this guy down!


    - Good idea.


    June shook his head as he read thements under thetest photo he posted. Why the hell were so many people doubting his identity when he had already proved it was him plenty of times?


    It was already the 30th, which meant tomorrow was the big day¡ªthe year-end performances. Until now, June still hasn''t aplished his mission and is still receiving hatements from multiple people.


    Nheless, despite the hate, he wanted to film and post a cover on his personal ount to:


    1. Hopefully, gain some followers.


    2. Get insights about his voice from a group of brutally honest people.


    "Let''s do this," June muttered under his breath.


    He stood from his bed and propped the phone on the wobbly nightstand that faced his window. The sun was already set, so the skies were dark except for a few stars. The breeze was cool as it flowed through the sheer white curtains.


    He had borrowed Jisung''s tablet to search for a song to cover, and he waited for his members to sleep before starting the recording.


    His face couldn''t be seen because the lights were turned off. Instead, only his silhouette with the stars and the dark blue sky was seen in the camera.


    He pressed record and sat on the window sill, gazing at the tablet. The soft instrumental yed through the silent night, enveloping the room in aforting embrace.


    The sound of crickets was crystal clear, but it only added ambiance to the video.


    As the intro yed out, June began to sing.


    "Even in our darkest, deepest scar.


    The stars endure, guiding from afar.


    For, in the end, a truth to mar,


    The stars endure, no matter how far."


    June turned to the stars as he sang that particr line, the silhouette of his face revealed on the screen. His prominent yet soft jawline, longshes, and high nose bridge were all shown, showcasing a very handsome side profile despite hisck of features.


    "The fog, thick and gray


    Threatens to steal the stars away.


    But remember, in your heart, so true


    The stars endure; they''re here with you."


    June stood and pressed the ''end recording'' button before ying it back.


    He nodded in approval as his voice sounded soft and soothing, perfect for the song and the setting.


    With that, he decided to post it on his Navel page with the caption¡ª''We''re all under the same stars.''


    He waited for a few seconds to gauge his followers''/haters'' reactions, but as expected, it was filled withints as soon as the video was uploaded.


    - You''re still uploading stuff?


    - Such a thick face you have. You''re even posting videos now?


    - It''s too dark. I can''t see shit.


    - Is this dude actually singing?


    June shook his head and turned off his phone, tossing it to the nightstand.


    He was tired after practicing all day, so he really couldn''t be bothered to read any more hatements.


    In the end, he decided to sleep, missing the chaos he had caused with that singr video.


    ***


    "Let''s go," Jay said, doing a head count as the EVE members entered the van.


    After he found out that June was left in the dorm all by himself during the Abracadabra Festival, Jay made an effort to do a head count every time they had group schedules.


    How he got that piece of information was honestly a mystery. None of the members told him about it!


    "Alright, boys," Jay said, rubbing the steering wheel excitedly. "You''re finally going to reveal the performance you''ve worked hard for!"


    Jisung held onto Akira''s shoulders while thetter patted his head.


    "This little chicken is nervous," Akira chuckled, although his voice was also shaky.


    Jaeyong scoffed. "You''re nervous, too. I heard you puked this morning out of nervousness."


    Akira red at him while the rest chuckled.


    "What''s gotten you guys so nervous?" Jay asked. "You''ve performed a lot in Rising Stars and during your music show performances. Aren''t you used to the stage yet?"


    "I don''t think I can ever get used to the stage," Sehun said. "Besides, performing in the year-end show is definitely different from all the shows we''ve done."


    Ren nodded in agreement. "For starters, more than 20 artists are performing tonight, and some of them are veteran singers and very famous idol groups. CHAOS is going to be there!"


    "Well, they are the hottest boy group right now," Jay pointed out. "They''re probably performingst."


    "Nah," Akira shook his head. "I believe senior Lee Sik is performingst."


    "Yeah," June said. "Our performance will be thest one before the ending group stage."


    Zeth raised his eyebrows in suspicion.


    "I almost forgot you''re going to perform with them with how calm you are," he said. "You don''t look nervous at all."


    June didn''t respond because he was, in fact, very nervous.


    He had slept well yesterday night after posting his cover; however, as he woke up this morning, everything hit him all at once.


    Since Magic Mama advised him not to practice ''Father'' any further, he was even more nervous to make a mistake.


    "I''m sure June will do great," Sehun said, causing June to feel more pressured.


    "By the way," Akira said, ncing at June''s phone, which rested on hisp. "I noticed that your phone has been sting with notifications since this morning. Have you checked it out?"


    "Hmm?" June asked, a bit absent-minded.


    "Your phone," Akira deadpanned. "You have multiple notifications right now."


    June finally snapped out of his nervousness and checked his lock screen.


    Most of the notifications were from Navel, causing him to frown. Was he receiving hatements again?


    However, as he opened the app, his eyes almost bulged out of his head when he saw his follower count.


    50,000?

 Chapter 358 Good Luck

    <h4>Chapter 358 Good Luck</h4>


    As the skies turned dark, households across the city buzzed with excitement.


    2023 had been a year where many struggled, but it also couldn''t be denied that it was memorable. It was one for the books.


    The year passed by in the blink of an eye, but at the same time, it felt gruelingly slow. It could bepared to the junior year, a.k.a the worst year in high school¡ªsses and requirements just never seemed to end, but looking back on it, one would realize there was so much more that could have been done.


    After a whole year of celebrations and defeats, the year had finally ended.


    And while some might miss it for the memories it birthed, it was safe to say that most are happy to mark a new beginning in their lives.


    The cold air was filled with the aroma of delectable dishes. Families gathered around their kitchen, preparing the feasts they were going to indulge in after the countdown.


    In one particr household, the Jung family, adorned in ugly Christmas sweaters, exchanged heartfelt wishes as they clinked sses of sparkling cider. The matriarch, Mrs. Jung, couldn''t help but nce at the empty spot on the couch where her daughter usually sat.


    "Where''s Jia again?" Cindy asked her husband, who she hadn''t seen for months because of her work.


    "She went to some kind of year-end festival or something," Mr. Jung answered.


    Cindy sighed and shook her head, refilling her ss with red wine.


    "That girl, really. Why is she so obsessed with idols nowadays?" she grumbled.


    "She''s only obsessed with one, though," Mr. Jung said.


    "June," the two of them said at the same time, causing them to chuckle.


    "Yeah," Cindy said. "She talks about him all the time whenever I call her."


    "Well, she had always been pretty stubborn," Mr. Jung said. "If she likes something, she''ll be dead set on making it hers. I believe she got that from you."


    Cindy clicked her tongue and shook her head.


    "I just want us to celebrate the New Year together," she said.


    "Don''t worry. Jia wille back tomorrow. We can celebrate then," heforted her.


    "In the meantime, while she''s away, why don''t we¡ªyou know?" he suggestively asked.


    Cindy paused, her heart racing inside her chest. She ced down her wine ss on the table while gazing at her husband.


    "Should we?" she shyly asked.


    Mr. Jung nodded, bringing out something from under the table, his movements slow and sensual.


    Mrs. Jung bit her lip as she watched her husband''s muscles flex under the artificial light.


    "Here," he said.


    "Let''s continue our scrabble battle!"


    ***


    The awaited year-end show was finally here!


    The stadium was filled with a sea of fans, each holding personalized banners of different artists. Jia and her friends were once again able to book front-row seats because of Bora''s luck, and they all excitedly screamed as the first idol group ended their performance.


    "When is EVE going to perform again?" Jia asked.


    "Seventh," Bora said. "The first page of the setlist was leaked, so I know they''re going to be performing after OCTA."


    "Oh gosh. I''m so excited," Wei said. "I want to see June really quickly."


    Jia clicked her tongue, subtly ring at her friend. After her infatuation with Lin Zhi during Rising Stars, she was now currently obsessed with June, which Jia wasn''t too happy about.


    Wei now had more June photocards than Jia!


    Backstage, the next artists were preparing for their performances, all of them eager to show off their talents and efforts.


    Aside from impressing the sponsors watching, they also wanted to show off to their fellow artists. Since so many stars were gathered in one ce, it was only expected they wanted to be the best among the rest.


    Every waiting room had arge LED screen TV, where the live performances were being aired. While waiting for their time to perform, EVE watched the current performers on the screen, all with serious expressions.


    "Why are idols so good these days?" Akira asked. "Most of them are almost pro at dancing. Back when we debuted, singing was the most important."


    "Yeah," Sehun said. "I feel like the 4th and 5th generation of idols rely more on their dancing and visuals rather than their vocal skills. I''m not saying it''s necessarily bad, but it''s just different."


    "I get what you mean," Jaeyong said. "Since social media is so rampant, idols'' mistakes are getting yed over and over again¡ªvocal cracks, nervous breakdowns, and the like. I think that led idols to be more conscious of their performances, which resulted in lesser live singing."


    "Well, you guys are having a serious conversation," Jay said, entering the room with bags of boba milk tea in his arms.


    "Can I have one of those?" Jisung excitedly asked.


    "No can do, young chicken," Jay said. "You''re going to be performing in less than 20 minutes. We don''t want your throat to get cold."


    "Who are these for then?" June asked.


    "For the crew members, of course. I''m going to be extracting information like how a mage extracts souls or something like that!"


    The members shook their heads at their manager''s ridiculousment.


    "Well, off I go with my quest," Jay said. "Someone wille get you when it''s your turn to perform. I''ll be watching well, so do a good job, and don''t forget to have fun!"


    Jaeyong nodded. "Have fun extracting souls, too."


    "Will do," Jay said, waving goodbye as he disappeared from their sight.


    They continued talking about the nuances of the newer generations of idols when the door suddenly opened.


    "EVE, please standby."


    Jaeyong quickly stood from his seat and led his members out of their waiting room.


    OCTA was now performing theirst song, so they settled backstage while conditioning their minds.


    They were pretty nervous since more artists and fandoms were going to watch their performance.?Moreover, this was going to be the very first time they were going to perform Red Moon ever since their debut album was released.


    OCTA''sst song flew by faster than they had anticipated, and before they knew it, their fellow rookie group was already trudging down the stairs.


    June''s eyes met with Uno, and for the very first time, thetter actually stopped.


    "Good luck," he said.


    June smirked.


    "Thanks, but I don''t need it."

 Chapter 359 Red Moon

    <h4>Chapter 359 Red Moon</h4>


    EVE took the stage, and the audience cheered in anticipation. It was definitely not as loud as their cheers during the Abracadabra Festival, but it was still decent.


    Nheless, Jia and her friends cheered loudly,pensating for the others who weren''t cheering.


    The members assumed their positions, their silhouettes being the only things seen under the unlit stage.


    "Have you seen this formation before?" Wei asked as she gazed at the stage.


    "No," Jia shook her head. "I''ve watched every performance of EVE more than ten times now. I''ve never seen this formation."


    "Shit," Bora cursed. "Is it an unperformed song on the album?"


    Their question was quickly answered when a loud bass sound was heard through the speakers, reverberating through the audience''s heart.


    The stage finally lit up, showing the group''s outfits.


    "LEATHER?" Jia eximed, not believing her eyes. That seemed to capture the other audience members''s attention in their area, causing them to focus on the stage of the rookie idol group.


    The leather-d heartthrobs stood on the stage with an aura of confidence, each outfit carefully chosen to entuate their individual styles. Having Jay as their manager was definitely a positive shift. Even the stylists were doing their job better!


    June, with his rebellious charm, sported a leather jacket that hugged his frame with a white tank top underneath. Paired with it were ripped leather jeans that added an edgy ir to his ensemble.


    Jisung, their youngest, wore a tight-fitting, long-sleeved v-neck that emphasized his toned physique, making the fans in the audience question whether he was the innocent chick they once knew.


    And then there was Casper, the member with the most developed body, pushing boundaries with a leather tank top that left little to the imagination.


    Screams of excitement were heard in the crowd, undoubtedly louder than before.


    As the powerful intro yed through the stadium, red lights bathed the stage¡ªsimr to an eclipse. Smoke screens were behind them, adding an ethereal yet eerie quality to the performance.


    The stadium transformed into a surreal realm as bat sounds echoed around. Simultaneously, bat effects danced across therge LED screens, casting shadows that seemed toe alive.


    "Red Moon," Casper started the song, his biceps flexing under the red light.


    The artists watching in their respective rooms were taken aback by their introduction. EVE, who sang a cheerful, beachy song for their title track, was showing something entirely different!


    They had provided a new meaning of ''red'' for the holidays¡ªit was now sexy and dangerous!


    Meanwhile, Lee Sik, who had just arrived and was getting his make-up done, gestured for the make-up artist to stop for a moment.


    "Is there anything wrong, sir?" the make-up artist asked.


    "Wait a moment," he smiled, his gaze fixed on the screen. "I just need to watch this performance."


    "In shadows deep, where darkness swoons,


    A crimson orb, the red moon looms."


    Zeth sang the first lines, causing his army of Zetherealists to scream.


    - Gosh, I love Zeth so much.


    - Zeth, please let me have just a piece of your hair!


    - I love Red Moon so much. I''m so d they''re performing this song!


    "Nocturnal hero, dark and free,


    A symbol of justice, in shadows he''ll be."


    Akira sang the next lines, doing a body wave as he moved across the stage. Fans and non-fans alike eximed at the grace of his movements.


    They had never done a stage like this together before, so they were eager to show their new side to the public.


    When they were choosing a song to perform for the year-end show, they all collectively agreed for it to be Red Moon.


    Zeth was insistent on using the werewolf concept they hade up with during the album preparations, but he quickly lost with theints of his teammates.


    Now, June, being the master of concepts, employed a simr concept to theirs.


    As he read the lyrics, it seemed like its meaning was more inclined to bats rather than wolves.


    And that''s how they came up with a ''Batman'' concept, where they were all dark superheroes of the night.


    "A guardian prowling through the night,


    In the city''s shadows, where wrong meets right.


    A savage beauty under the light.


    In the red moon''s glow, a fearsome sight."


    Jaeyong rapped the next verse, his explosive voice ringing through the ears of the audience.


    Most of the old people in the audience, who were fans of Lee Sik and simr singers, covered their ears as the chorus approached. The song was definitely on the experimental side, so it was understandable that it might not be other people''s cup of tea.


    Nheless, the fans loved it, capturing every moment of EVE''s synchronized dance with their phones.


    Jisung stood at the center, leading their dance like the pro he was. June watched him from behind, a small smile appearing on his lips as Jisung busted out his best movements.


    "In the pursuit of right, shadows persist,


    And the red moon observes, a silent witness."


    June started the bridge, the camera zooming into his murderous re.


    Lee Sik leaned back against his seat, surprised to see the sudden shift in June''s persona.


    The young idol was great at singing bads, so Lee Sik was sure he would have a harder time singing more intense songs such as this. However, he executed it very well!


    "As expected from my student," Lee Sik smiled, feeling satisfied with their group''s performance.


    Lee Sik had watched plenty of idol performances in his day, and he could confidently say that EVE was on the better spectrum. Even as rookies, they were already at par with those who debuted for one to two years.


    Lee Sik also believed this wasn''t their full potential, which felt a bit scary considering the amount of talent the group was already holding.


    "A city''s sins etched in the scarlet hue,


    As the red moon roots for the misguided few.


    In the crimson reflection, a truth unfurls,


    The red moon weeps for a fractured world."


    They ended the song with a powerful dance, causing the stage to shake. The people in the front row were in awe, and Jia, who was watching June and the entire team, felt strange since she wanted to go on stage and get stepped on.


    "Damn," she muttered under her breath.


    "I''m turning into those crazy fangirls."

 Chapter 360 Talent Monsters

    <h4>Chapter 360 Talent Monsters</h4>


    "Bastard," Uno muttered with a smile as June was shown bowing on the screen.


    EVE had just finished their performance, and it showcased their contrasting charm.?Oasis showed off a fresh and fun concept while Red Moon revealed a sexy and dangerous one.


    "Uno''s smiling at EVE''s performance," Seven loudly eximed, causing his members to turn to him with raised eyebrows.


    Uno quickly dropped his smile and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "Stop talking nonsense," he snapped.


    "Yeah," Dos said, nudging Seven''s shoulder. "Stop messing with Uno."


    "I''m not, though," Seven pouted. "I''m telling the truth! I even saw Uno talking with June during ourst music show performance. It should''ve been me!"


    Uno''s eyes widened, but he quickly regained hisposure. His other members remained skeptical before shaking their heads.


    "Uno? Speaking with June?" Ocho deadpanned. "You''re delusional."


    Seven clicked his tongue and tilted his head to the side.


    "Was it just my imagination?" he whispered.


    Meanwhile, EVE cheered as they went down the stage.


    "That was so good!" Jisung eximed, feeling the most excited after pulling off a ''sexy'' concept. It definitely wasn''t at the level of other groups, but for the little chick who has been called cute and innocent his entire life, getting to act cool and sexy felt very euphoric.


    "You did a great job," Ren said, ruffling his hair.


    "I can''t believe it''s over," Akira said. "We practiced so hard for it."


    "Wouldn''t this be thest time we''ll be performing this song?" Sehun asked in a sad tone.


    "Well, it''ll be thest one for the year," June joked, causing his members to turn to him in surprise.


    "Did you just crack a joke?" Zeth asked.


    June cleared his throat before shaking his head. "I was just telling the truth."


    Zeth sighed in relief. "I was worried for a while there. You''re really not funny."


    June clicked his tongue and opened the door to their waiting room.


    "It''s quite disappointing we weren''t invited to go to any award shows this year," Jisung said as he sat on the couch.


    "It''s only expected," Casper answered. "We debutedte November. Other artists had an entire year to build their records."


    "You''re right," Jisung said. "OCTA hasn''t gone to any award shows too."


    "We still have a chance next year," Jaeyong said. "For now, let''s enjoy the New Year with everybody else."


    June tuned out their conversation and scrolled through thements on the cover he postedst night.


    Contrary to what he thought, it actually received more praises than hate. However, there was still an underlying sassiness in most of thements.


    - This impostor has a pretty nice voice. Almost sounds like June too.


    - I listened to this thinking it was June <3. It felt nice.


    - I felt shivers down my spine, impostor. Good job.


    - Your voice brought me to sleep. Post more covers in the future! Maybe we''ll actually like you if you do that.


    - Sounds like a rookie singer.


    - Too much vibrato!


    - It was weak in some parts, but your voice is pretty nice. If you weren''t June''s impostor, I feel like I''d like you more.


    June ignored the sassyments and focused on the valid criticisms.


    "Lessen the vibrato..."


    "Weak in some parts," he muttered under his breath.


    ***


    The 18th performers of the night took the stage. It was none other than than the girl group who took the world by storm during thest year¡ªFRESHIES.


    Their retro pop sound became a hit to many, and they were the youngest girl group to break multiple records in the K-pop world.?So, despite only debuting for one and a half year, they became one of the enders of the year-end show.


    To be fair, girl groups had been killing it for the past two years. It was definitely their era, and it was just EVE''s luck that they debuted during it.


    June was still busy scrolling through his phone when he heard the MC introduce the next group.


    "Undoubtedly, they are the most awaited performers of the night. The most popr boy group of the year¡ªCHAOS!"


    The stadium erupted into cheers, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow. It was definitely the loudest cheers of the night. Even in their waiting room, the cheers were so evident.


    Come to think of it, June saw plenty of blue lightsticks during their performance.


    Blue was the official color of CHAOS¡ªas per Jay, which meant that the stadium was dominated by their fans.


    June watched the television intently as the five members of CHAOS took their positions.


    Out of all of them he only recognized Xion. However, he also knew they were all probably familiar to Jun Hao.


    The lights shone down upon them, casting a glow on their handsome faces.


    The song started with Xion''s singing, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    He already knew Xion was a great singer, but June was still taken aback by his voice. It seemed like it was better suited for pop songs rather than bads, fully showcasing his SS vocal skills.


    The second guy also sang, and he didn''tg behind Xion. June couldn''t see his status window through the screen, but if he could guess, then this guy would also be in the S-tier.


    With the third guy''s rap verse, June was even more amazed. Whoever this guy was, his rapping must also be in the S-tier.


    Their fourth member appeared to be the main dancer of the team, appearing even more graceful than Jisung.


    The dancers in EVE also watched him intently, feeling a sense of inferiority as they watched his controlled movements.


    "Gideon''s really good," Zeth said. "We were together in dance camp once, and he teared us all up."


    The fact that this Gideon guy actually beat Zeth when they were younger was insane, especially when Zeth was already known as a monster during his trainee days.


    Right, monsters.


    That''s what they were.


    CHAOS must be a bunch of talented monsters.


    Theirst member, who June hasn''t gauged yet, was hidden in the dark even as the chorus approached; so, June grew more curious about this mysterious member. Even with his shadow, June could already feel an unspeakable force emanating from him.


    June leaned closer to the television, resting his elbows against hisp while waiting for the reveal of thest member.


    "June?" a crew member suddenly opened the door, interrupting the moment. "It''s time for you to prepare for thest performance."


    June turned back to the television, but the camera was already focused on another member.


    "Ah, yeah," June said, standing and following the crew member.


    "Good luck, June!" Sehun eximed.


    "You''re going to kill it, bro," Jisung said.


    "m their faces on the floor," Akira aggressively cheered, causing June to shake his head.


    "We''ll be watching well," Ren smiled, and June softly smiled back.


    This was it.


    June realized how great of a support his members were on stage. Even if he was nervous for some stages, his confidence triumphed since he knew he was performing with reliable people.


    Now, he was performing with people he barely knew, making him feel more nervous.


    However, he tried to show to his teammates that he was somewhat confident.


    "I''ll be back, guys."

 Chapter 361 Father (1)

    <h4>Chapter 361 Father (1)</h4>


    By the time June arrived backstage, the other members, with the exception of Xion, were already there.


    "There you are," Lee Sik smiled. "What took you so long?" he asked.


    "My teammates were a pain," June muttered, wiping the saliva left on his cheeks. They all wished him luck in a very weird and affectionate manner¡ªkisses on the cheek, so he had to wipe off the lipstick marks on his face before heading backstage.


    "I''m jealous," Mimi muttered under her breath as she noticed a lone kiss mark on June''s jawline.


    Nico frowned. "Of what?" he suspiciously asked.


    ''I want to kiss him too!'' she eximed in her mind. However, as she felt June''s gaze on her face, she quickly came up with an excuse.


    "I miss my teammates, of course!" she said. "At times like this, I also remember those rowdy girls. Treasure your teammates while they''re still there. It may be annoying at times, but you''ll definitely look back on it and wish you cherished the moments more."


    The team was silent for a moment before Nico burst outughing.


    "Nah, I''m definitely not going to miss those bastards'' teasing," he said, referring to the BOYMYSTIC members.


    Their conversation was cut short when CHAOS exited the stage, signaling the end of their performance.


    Xion quickly joined them, his skin glistening with sweat. The crew members flocked to him, wiping his sweat and fanning him with makeshift fans. Meanwhile, the other members of the special stage congratted him for a performance well done, even though they didn''t even get to watch the majority of it.


    June, however, couldn''t quite concentrate on the conversation before him since he felt a chilling sensation down his spine as one of the CHAOS members¡ªthe one he didn''t get to see perform¡ªpassed by him in a sh.


    There was something¡­indescribable about his aura.


    June turned around but only saw the back of his head.


    "Red," he muttered under his breath, staring at the fiery red hair of the mysterious man.


    "June," Lee Sik said, causing June to snap back to reality.


    "It''s time for us to perform," the veteran singer said, giving him a reassuring smile.


    June nodded in response.


    "Don''t be too nervous while singing, guys," Lee advised the entire team. "Sing with emotion while taking note of the original intent of the song."


    "And June," he added.


    "Hmm?" June hummed.


    "Don''t forget what we practiced."


    June nodded with determination. Meanwhile, the other idols looked at the two of them in suspicion.


    "What does this mean?" Mimi asked in confusion.


    Lee Sik chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing. Just remember¡ªwhatever happens on stage, just go with the flow."


    Although the others were still confused, they nodded in understanding.


    "Let''s go," Lee Sik said, leading the pack to the stage.


    The lights on the stage were turned off as they entered, making the special line-up of the most awaited coboration stage of the night remain a mystery.


    The audience knew that Lee Sik was the protagonist of this year''s special stage, so people from all generations anticipated the coboration.


    Cindy, who was a big fan of the veteran singer, also tuned into the livestream.


    June stared at the sea of people before ncing at therge clock at the very end of the stadium. There were only 15 minutes left until the New Year countdown, and they were the closing performers of the night.


    He felt his heart race faster, so he ced his hand over his chest and closed his eyes.


    The stage was finally lit with a soft, white light, causing screams of excitement to wave through the audience. Lee Sik was with some of the most popr rookie and seasoned idols of the year!


    - Xion is going to be singing with THE Lee Sik? He made it so far!


    - Imagine Tres'' excitement right now. He''s always been vocal about Lee Sik''s influence on his career as an idol.


    - I wonder what song they''re going to sing.


    - I can''t believe there is a representative for every sessful season of Rising Stars on the stage right now.


    - June, my ck kitty, please don''t mess up the stage!


    - There''s a sneak in the group. He''s the only one with a vibrant hair color.


    - Xion is going to tear this stage up. He''s even singing right after performing two tiring songs!


    A in white background shed on the LED screens, enhancing the aura of purity and simplicity. The audience''s conversations gradually faded away as they waited for the long-awaited performance tomence.


    As the lights ever-so-slightly dimmed, a lone piano emerged from the silence, its delicate notes piercing through the quiet audience like a crystalline stream.


    The audience immediately eximed in nostalgia, the intro of the song being too iconic for them not to recognize it.


    Jia pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on June. She loved this song, and the fact that the idol she loved very much was going to sing it meant a lot to her.


    Just as the audience began to surrender to the enchanting piano, the gayageum joined theposition. Its strings resonated through the stadium with an ethereal elegance,plementing the piano''s melody with a distinctly Eastern style.


    The performers, despite being d in diverse outfits, somehow harmonized into a singr aesthetic. They stood an arm''s length distance away from each other, with the spotlight shining on the first singer¡ªLee Sik.


    The veteran singer, the maestro of the performance, closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him.


    "Oh, the sun would rise, and I saw a world so bright.


    Through my innocent eyes, I admired your might."


    Lee Sik''s voice carried the weight of years of experience and the depth of heartfelt emotion. The audience, drawn into the singer''s rendition, found themselves captivated by the vivid lyrics that unfolded like a timeless story.


    - I watched this show for the idols, but damn, Lee Sik is on another level.


    - There''s actually someone in this world with a voice like this?


    - I only ever heard this through other people''s covers. Now, I regret not listening to his version first. Nothing will really beat the original.


    In the waiting rooms backstage, the other artists halted in their tracks. The beauty of the song had transcended the confines of the stage, reaching through the monitors and touching the hearts of those inside the waiting rooms.


    It was only a few seconds in, but the people watching already knew it was bound to be a legendary performance.

 Chapter 362 Father (2)

    <h4>Chapter 362 Father (2)</h4>


    June, too, watched Lee Sik from his side of the stage, admiring the vocal techniques and emotions he poured into the song.


    Mimi sang the next lines, her spotlight increasing with brightness. Her smooth skin sparkled under the light, and the shimmer in her eyes entuated the unshed tears hidden inside them.


    Mimi couldn''t quite rte to the song since she had a great family growing up, but she worked really hard to channel her feelings through other people''s stories.


    "In your shadow, I was happy to stand.


    For me, Dad, you were the strongest in thend."


    The pre-chorus was sung by Xion, earning some screams from his fans but quickly being shushed by other audience members.


    "And I know you''ll listen to this with a smile on your face,


    So, stop filling up your suitcase."


    Tres and Nico sang the chorus, harmonizing while looking at each other. Their expressions spoke of the emotion they were singing, projecting it well so the audience could fully feel the meaning of Lee Sik''s masterpiece.


    "I love you, father.


    You made me wonder.


    If I had another life, I would want you again."


    June knew his part was yet toe¡ªin the next pre-chorus and the third verse, to be exact. So, for now, he closed his eyes, enjoyed their raw voices, and channeled the feelings buried deep within his heart.


    "But clouds did gather, storms did brew.


    The father I once loved was not the father I knew."


    Growing up, he had heard this song multiple times. His mother listened to it quite often, and June always thought the lyrics were too painful from a father''s perspective. As a young and innocent child, he thought he would only ever rte to the first parts of the song¡ªwhere his father was considered a hero.


    However, a few yearster, he found himself rting to the song more and more. Listening to it wasforting yet painful at the same time. It wasforting to know there were other people who went through the same experiences as him, but it was also painful since he wondered what he did to deserve any of it.


    "I watched the strong man use his strength¡­


    ¡­to inflict wounds within arm''s length."


    His father neverid a hand on his mother, but June knew his mother struggled with his father''sck of emotional support.


    He imed he always did his best, but June knew his father was just making excuses.


    With these thoughts running inside his mind, he brought the microphone to his lips to sing his very first lines of the song.


    "And I know you wouldn''t listen to a word I would say,


    So, fill up the suitcase; I won''t make you stay."


    Lee Sik was taken aback by June''s delivery. His voice held a delicate ache, and it felt like the ''father'' in the song was truly June''s. It was even more emotionalpared to their rehearsals.


    The members of EVE, all watching backstage, were annoyed in the beginning since June appeared to not have any lines.


    However, their frustrations were quickly reced with amazement as the camera panned away from June after his short line.


    It was so short, yet so powerful, and Jaeyong found himself getting choked up with tears.


    The audience, too, was now fully immersed in the song. People from all generations, even those who couldn''t rte to the lyrics of the song, felt empathetic.


    The singers on stage were not only singing¡ªbut they were also telling a story.


    And in June''s mind, he was telling his.


    "I''m starting to unlove you, Father.


    You made me wonder.


    If I had another life, I''d pray for another."


    The third verse was once again started by Lee Sik, his voice bing even more powerful than before. The painful message of the song has reached its peak, with the protagonist fully realizing the resentment he had for the father he once loved.


    "Behind closed doors, a secret pain,


    My young heart, it couldn''t contain.


    The strongest man was a coward instead.


    And I cried every night, alone in my bed."


    June harmonized with Lee Sik during thest two lines, their voices blending perfectly with each other.


    Now, not only was Jaeyong felt emotional among the artists watching in their respective waiting rooms, but multiple idols began to get choked-up, tears welling up in their eyes.


    Amira, whose father left their family when she were young, was one of them.


    In that second, she forgone all the romantic feelings she felt for June. At that moment, all she felt was pain¡ªpain for the two of them.


    With this song, it felt like she was understood.


    "And I hope you listen to every word,


    I hope you feel the pain you deserve.


    I wish someone would exin if this is how it really feels¡­


    Does having a father mean you''ll never heal?"


    June had listened to the song plenty of times during their rehearsals, but these lyrics still brought chills down his spine every time he heard it.


    "I hate you, father.


    To the point where I don''t want to wonder.


    If I had another life, I wish I''d never met you."


    The stage was bathed in a warm glow, the in white backdrop now infused with some gold to add to the emotional resonance of the performance.


    As thest verse approached, the emotion in the stadium reached its peak. Mimi stood straight to deliver her next lines, feeling the gaze of the audience fixated on her.


    Yet, just as Mimi prepared to grace the audience with her vocals, an unexpected and unfamiliar tune resonated through the air. The melody was like a sudden breeze, catching the idols on stage off guard. Confusion etched across their faces as they exchanged uncertain nces, questioning the deviation from the familiar script.


    However, amidst the perplexed expressions of the idols, two figures remainedposed¡ªLee Sik and June.


    And that''s when Mimi realized the meaning of Lee Sik''s words a while ago¡ª"whatever happens on stage, just go with the flow."


    Her eyes met with June, a silent understanding passing between them.


    With that, Mimi brought her microphone down and went with the flow.


    "What''s this?" Jia whispered, her gaze still fixed on the stage.


    "Have you heard this before?"


    "This doesn''t sound familiar anymore."


    Murmurs of confusion were heard amidst the sobs in the audience. However, it quickly became silent when Lee Sik and June stepped forward, the spotlights following their figures.


    They took one step closer¡­and closer¡­until they met each other face to face.


    With that, Lee Sik prepared himself to deliver the hidden bridge he had written after the subject of this very song, his father, died.


    He felt like his heart was being squeezed. However, as he gazed into the young man''s eyes before him, he knew he needed to do his best.


    Because currently, it looked like June was in his element.

 Chapter 363 Father (3)

    <h4>Chapter 363 Father (3)</h4>


    Lee Sik looked at June and saw himself in his eyes¡ªbroken, lost, and just wanting to be loved. Then, he sang the words he wished he heard from his father when he was younger.


    (Father)


    "I still don''t know much about life.


    You were my first child; she was my first wife.


    And I know, child, I didn''t do my best to you.


    But remember, this is my first life, too."


    His singing style was powerful, vibrating with the right amount of emotion. Each word was delivered with a seeking intensity, unraveling theyers of a long-buried story.


    The audience, initially taken aback by the added bridge, now found themselves captivated by the raw, emotional force emanating from the veteran singer.


    June, for some reason, heard his real father''s voice in Lee Sik''s, making him feel more immersed in the performance. He tried hard to forget about everything his father did, but in the end, the reality was he just suppressed those memories in the back of his mind.


    It never really left him.


    With the emotions surging in his heart, he finally sang his response.


    (Son)


    "I was a child. I didn''t know better.


    I just wanted a good life¡­a good father.


    Was that too much to ask?


    From a broken child looking at your casket."


    When June began to sing, it was as if a gentle breeze had swept through the room. His voice, soft yet with a surprising power, felt like a real-life conversation between a father and a son.


    The lyrics flowed effortlessly like they were a reflection of his own experiences¡ªand they were.


    It was almost unbelievable that this idol, who was known for his cool and refreshing performances, could deliver such an emotional bad.


    Lee Sik felt tears umting in his eyes, so the camera zoomed into them. That led the audience to be even more touched, feeling the sincerity of the performance even from a distance.


    The piano and gayageum, already soft, became even softer to emphasize the emotion in Lee Sik''s singing.


    "Can you forgive me for not being a good father?"


    June quickly answered.


    "I can''t promise you forgiveness."


    Lee Sik once again sang, the two of them going back and forth.


    "I hope I can promise to be better."


    "But you can''t; you''re lying lifeless," June sang, his voice barely a whisper. Nheless, it resonated in the wide stadium, who seemed to hold their breaths as they watched the performance unfold.


    June continued to sing¡ªwith more intensity this time. His soft voice actually became more powerful if he tried, and he incorporated the lessons he received from Magic Mama withoutpromising the delivery of his emotions.


    "As I looked at your cold body, it dawned on me.


    The resentment in my heart wasn''t as much as I expected it to be.


    Maybe, Father, you still have a ce in my heart.


    But, in the end, I chose for our ways to part."


    The instrumental became silent for a second as Lee Sik breathed into the mic.


    "Is this a goodbye, my child?"


    June, with a soft, subtle smile on his lips, finally looked away from Lee Sik and focused on the stars and the moon up above.


    "This is goodbye, my dad."


    A soft gasp swept over the stadium, tears streaming down majority of the audience''s cheeks. However, the song wasn''t finished, and there were more tears toe.


    "To the man I''ve forgiven but will never forget,


    I won''t be like you.


    I''ll be a better dad."


    Mimi, despite being on stage, couldn''t help but have her emotions swayed. The original performance was already emotional, to begin with, yet watching June and Lee Sik perform the secret bridge together made her feel like a mess.


    The other three male idols weren''t any different. Nico looked up to the dark sky to stop the tears from falling from his eyes. Meanwhile, Tres subtly wiped a lone tear from the corner of his eyes. Xion remained expressionless, but his eyes held a ssy shine.


    The idols watching backstage were practically sobbing. Jaeyong had his face buried in his knees. He didn''t have the greatest rtionship with his father, but it was never asplex as the song described it to be.


    Jaeyong had actually been doing pretty well the entire performance. He felt emotional in some parts, but it was not up to the point where tears fell from his cheeks.


    However, his efforts went to waste as June and Lee Sik did the back-and-forth singing.


    It was¡­indescribable.


    Despite being in the same group as June, he couldn''t help but admire him.


    The exchange between the two voices, filled with the tension of a troubled rtionship, resonated with the audience. The hate in June''s words was overshadowed by love and forgiveness that seeped through the cracks, marking the end of the bittersweet bridge.


    As Mimi heard the familiar instrumental of thest verse and chorus, she quickly regainedposure.


    "I''ll break the chains, the cycle ends,


    In love and kindness, my heart amends."


    Tres entered with a shaky voice.


    "Now I stand, a man with open eyes,


    The strongest man, with a weakened guise."


    Nico continued, closing his eyes as he sang with conviction.


    "A promise made to the child in me,


    I''ll be the father I wished you''d be."


    Xion also sang with a choked-up voice despite his calm demeanor.


    "So here''s my letter, a pledge I send,


    To the wounded child that I''ll mend."


    June sang next, his eyes still focused on the moon and the stars, hoping his father would hear his voice.


    "Thank you, Father, for this life,


    For the strength to ovee the strife."


    Lee Sik sang thest lines, a small smile on his face.


    He felt proud of the people standing with him on stage¡­


    And he also felt proud of the person he became.


    "Our paths may differ, our destiny spun,


    But now, in my world, a father''s love has begun."


    With that, the image of his children shed in his mind, causing his smile to widen.


    "A father''s love has now begun¡­"

 Chapter 364 Puffer Fish

    <h4>Chapter 364 Puffer Fish</h4>


    As thest line lingered through the air, white feathers fell from the stage. The camera focused on each of the singers one by one, all of them having ssy eyes. The audience was so moved to the core that they didn''t even cheer when their favorite artists were shown on the screen.


    The performance just now wasn''t just a showcase of talent and skill.


    It felt like a p of reality that ended with a warm hug.


    It was a depiction of real life.


    And that was the beauty of the stage they had presented tonight.


    On New Year''s Eve, when most of the people watching were with their families, they felt a surge of joy and gratitude in their homes.


    Parents who knew they didn''t do their best for their children felt guilty. Meanwhile, children who felt like they were too harsh on their parents felt empathetic. At the end of the day, each and everyone has their own struggles, so it wouldn''t be too bad to be kinder to each other.


    Cindy blew her nose while her husband caressed her back.


    "It''s just a performance, honey," Mr. Jung chuckled.


    "It''s not just a performance," Cindy snapped, ring at her husband. "Now, I miss Jia even more. I want to hug my boo bear so bad."


    Jia, who sessfully held her tears until the end of the performance, looked up at the sky, simr to where June had his gaze directed, and let out a small smile.


    She missed her parents too.


    Minjun, who sulkily (but willingly) watched the show with his grandma, pursed his lips and looked up to the ceiling. The old woman nced at her precious grandson and softly ruffled his hair.


    A lone tear fell from Minjun''s eyes. He was still too young to fully understand every word of the song, but somehow, he could rte to its meaning.


    However, as another tear fell from his eyes, he quickly got up from the couch and harshly wiped his cheeks. He cleared his throat to make it seem like he wasn''t touched by the performance at all.


    Grandma looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "What''s wrong?"


    "I''m gonna go," Minjun said, his voice scratchy.


    "What do you mean?" Grandma''s frown deepened. "Aren''t you going to wait for the countdown? It''s in a couple of minutes. After that, the fireworks are going to go off, and we can eat cake together. You like fireworks, right? Your dad sent us some sparklers, too."


    "I''m not a kid anymore, Grandma," Minjun snapped. "I''m tired. Waiting for the countdown is useless. It''s just another year anyway. Nothing''s going to change."


    With that, he walked to his room and mmed it close. Grandma heard the lock turning, causing her to shake her head in despondency.


    The idols watching backstage were undoubtedly the most immersed in the performance. Even the people who auditioned for a spot in the special performance felt their hearts clear from jealousy.


    It was the perfect stage with the perfect line-up.


    Every one of them contributed to the performance, and the lines they had were tailored to their singing styles.


    Seven sobbed while leaning against Ocho''s shoulder.


    "Tres is so good," he sniffed. "I can''t believe he''s my teammate. But I have to say, June was my favorite in this performance."


    Dos shook his head. "I''m going to tell on you."


    "No, please!" Seven eximed. "I loved all of them. June just sang it with more¡­emotion? I don''t know! I just felt like it was real."


    Uno continued to stare at the screen, his throat hurting because of the tears he held back.


    It was a great stage.


    For a second, he wanted to be a part of it.


    However, as he listened to June''s and Lee Sik''s exchange near the end of the song, all of those thoughts went away.


    If he was a part of the stage, he would have beenpletely obliterated by June.


    "How about you, Uno?" Seven asked, now back to his energetic self. "Who was your favorite member on this stage."


    Uno smirked. "Tres, of course."


    Meanwhile, EVE''s waiting room was practically a mess.


    "I don''t know why I''m crying. My dad''s really good to our family and I couldn''t even rte to the song," Jisung cried, hupping as he spoke.


    "Lucky," Sehun said. "My dad hasn''t supported my dream ever since, so this performance hits close to home."


    "Why aren''t you crying then?" Akira asked, snot falling from his nose, causing Ren to look at him with disgust.


    Sehun chukled and ruffled his hair. "You''re just a little kid. This is the strength of your oldest member!"


    "Jaeyong''s one of our older members, too," Casper pointed out.


    They all looked at their leader who now had swollen eyes and a red nose. His make-up was practically non-existent, and his hair had be a mess.


    "Oh gosh," Akira said. "I thought I was bad. He looks like he needs utter help."


    Jaeyong couldn''t hear a word they were saying. He was still too immersed in his feelings.


    Just then, Jay entered the room, his eyes also swollen from watching the performance in the public lounge with all the managers.


    When he saw Jaeyong, his eyes quickly widened.


    "Goodness. What happened to you?" he eximed.


    Jaeyong red at him. "Should you really be asking that when you also look like a puffer fish?"


    "Well, at least I don''t need to go on stage," Jay said. "The countdown is about to start, so you all need to go to the stage right now."


    Silence hailed in thergest waiting room where CHAOS was situated.


    Gideon tried his hardest not to cry, but a lone tear still escaped his eyes.


    "What did you guys think of the performance?" Kwon asked, also with unshed tears.


    Nashon, their main rapper, nodded in approval. "It was good. As expected from Xion, he killed it again. I was touched all throughout the performance."


    "That rookie, Tres, is quite good, too," he added. "Mimi and Nico are already expected to be good singers. However, Nico has improved since thest time I''ve seen him."


    "Yeah," Gideon agreed. "Mr. Lee Sik''s voice almost had me there, especially when he sang during the middle with June."


    Kwon nced at their leader before clearing his throat. "June was pretty¡­good, right?" he meekly asked.


    Haruki, whose face was devoid of any emotion, stood from his seat.


    "Let''s go," he said. "The countdown is in five minutes."


    He walked to the door but halted when Kwon asked another question.


    "How did you find the performance, Haruki? Did June exceed your expectations? He really improved a lot since our trainee days."


    Haruki paused for a while but didn''t bother turning around.


    "Kwon," he said, his voice deepening.


    "Don''t say that name in front of me again."

 Chapter 365 New Year’s EVE

    <h4>Chapter 365 New Year''s EVE</h4>


    "All artists are now on stage. Prepare for the countdown in two minutes," the head of the crew said over his mic.


    Only four minutes left until the end of 2023, and the crew members were all busy arranging the artists on the stage. Since there were 20 acts that performed tonight, the stage was jam-packed with good-looking and talented people. There was barely any space left since the 42-member girl group that debuted early this year was with them.


    The veteran singers stood at the very front in respect for the everything they''ve done for the entertainment industry. Other artists were then arranged by seniority and poprity.


    CHAOS was at the very front, along with FRESHIES. BOYMYSTIC, LUNIX, Mimi, and other popr and older groups were in the second row. Meanwhile, senior groups that have debuted for more than five years were in the third row, feeling quite bitter about their position.


    In the very middle was EVE, their faces barely visible from the view of the audience.


    Jia went on her tiptoes to get a better glimpse of her favorite idols but only saw the top of June''s pink hair instead.


    However, despite theirck of exposure, Jaeyong felt quite grateful. His puffy eyes still hadn''t subsided from crying during the ''Father'' performance, so being in the middle meant his reputation of being a cool leader wouldn''t be too ruined.


    Seven, who was next to them, however, quickly pointed out Jaeyong''s appearance.


    "Why do you look like that?" he asked,ughing while pping his knees.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue while Tres pped the back of his teammates'' heads.


    "You look the same, idiot."


    Seven pouted and pointed toward June.


    "It''s because June did so well a while ago," he said.


    "Bro!" Seven excitedly waved his hand at June, catching thetter''s attention. "I''ve be your fan again!"


    June smiled gratefully, still feeling the aftermath of their performance.


    Meanwhile, Jisung red at Seven, causing the youngest member of OCTA to cower in fear.


    Just then, a loud sound startled the artists on stage, causing them to look back to the source of the sound.


    There, they saw the 60-second countdown on therge LED screen, every second passing defined by a loud ticking sound.


    60...


    59¡­


    58¡­


    57¡­


    June looked around and saw the happy faces of the artists. Groups excitedly spoke with their members while individual artists waved at their fans in the sea of audience.


    Excitement filled the air as they waited for the new year tomence.


    The audience members started talking excitedly, filling the venue with joyous chatter.


    40¡­


    39¡­


    As June continued looking around, everything that happened in the past year suddenly dawned on him.


    Come to think of it, six months had passed since he transmigrated to Choi Joon-ho''s body.


    A lot has happened since then, so June doubted the duration of his life here.


    From his transmigration¡­to Rising Stars¡­to multiple disproved scandals¡­ to an undeserving manager¡­and now bing an official member of EVE, all of it felt too overwhelming.


    Sometimes, he wondered how he got this far.


    There were still a lot of questions left inside his mind.


    Why did he transmigrate to Choi Joon-ho''s body?


    How was his sister doing?


    Did Laohu and Lin Zhi finally give up?


    Where was his real body?


    What would his fate be in the future?


    Does he truly deserve any of this?


    These thoughts hit him like a truck, and before he knew it, he found himself overthinking about his situation.


    19¡­


    18¡­


    However, his thoughts were quickly cut off when Jaeyong and Akira wrapped their arms around his shoulder. June looked around him and saw his teammates in a circle, all looking at each other with wide smiles.


    "June''s back to Earth," Akira said.


    "d to have you back, bro," Ren chuckled.


    "Yeah, I thought we lost you for a moment," Zeth joked.


    "If you''re worried about your performance, then don''t be," Casper assured. "You did the best out of everyone tonight."


    "Yeah!" Akira eximed. "You''re the best, June! Don''t look so worried on New Year''s Eve."


    A small smile emerged from June''s lips, and he felt all the worry inside his heart quickly melting away.


    "I wasn''t worried," June said, convincing his teammates as well as himself.


    "It''s a new year," he continued.


    "With new beginnings."


    "Exactly," Jaeyong said, his eyes still looking swollen. "We still have a lot ahead of us."


    "Ten!"


    As the ten-second timer kicked off, the audience started chanting the numbers loudly. The members of EVE also chanted along with the audience.


    "Nine!"


    The fireworks and sparklers were on standby, the crew members waiting until the end of the countdown to set them off.


    "Three!"


    "Two!"


    "One!"


    "Zero!"


    "Happy New Year!"


    The greeting resounded in the wide stadium, radiating to the streets outside.


    A loud exploding sound was heard, causing the people to look up at the sky to watch the beautiful disy of colors and lights. Different hues of red, gold, and blue danced in the sky, falling beautifully on the dark canvas.


    June watched it silently, his smile widening.


    "Pretty," he muttered under his breath.


    It may be hard to believe, but this was the first time June had witnessed fireworks in real life.


    He had heard them from a distance in his past home, but he never bothered watching it through his window.


    Actually, June rarely celebrated the holidays. He would be out of the house byte evening because of the demands of his work, so waiting until midnight to celebrate holidays wasn''t too familiar to him.


    For him, the status quo was the explosion of guns, the shattering of ss, and the sound of fists hitting flesh.


    He rarely got to see these kinds of moments¡ªthe ''corny'' moments, as he called them.


    However, despite it being ''corny'' in his book, he couldn''t stop smiling.


    The fans who supported him.


    The friends he called his teammates.


    The fireworks that illuminated the darkness.


    The feeling of euphoria after performing.


    All of them pointed to one thing¡ªhappiness.


    "So, this is how life really is."

 Chapter 366 Alligator Green

    <h4>Chapter 366 Alligator Green</h4>


    As the sun rose from the skies, Jay entered the messy dorm with boxes of donuts in his arms. It was a new year, and the air seemed fresher than usual. He had a cheery smile on his face despite his early awakening.


    He was already d in an alligator-colored suit, light brown trousers, and his shades were in the shape of cat eyes. In short, he looked like a tacky yakuza member. However, his confidence impably covered the grotesqueness of his outfit.


    He brought out his phone and connected it to the dorm''s speakers.


    A karaoke version of a nursery rhyme yed loudly in the dorm, and he sang the lyrics passionately to wake up the members of EVE.


    "Rise and shine, little bugs."


    Rise and shine, I have hugs!


    Rise and shine, there''s so much love.


    Rise and shine, or you''ll ascend to the heavens above!"


    June, being the lightest sleeper out of all of them, quickly woke up to the sound of C-Jay''s voice. It seemed like he focused solely on being a manager since his voice has degraded since his participation in Rising Stars.


    June woke up with a gasp, feeling like the devil had entered his room. However, when he opened his eyes, he was even more surprised.


    "What the fuck?" he eximed loudly, causing the other members to wake up rmingly.


    Casper, hearing June''s endangered voice, entered his room like a superhero tumbling into a scene. He assumed a fighting stance, his eyes zeroing in on the foreign body in the room¡ªJay.


    "Wait, wait!" Jay eximed. "It''s just me," he said, removing his kitty sunsses.


    June massaged his forehead before removing the covers from his body.


    "What are you even doing here?" he snapped.


    "To wake you up, of course! We have a meeting with Mr. Ong and some directors!" Jay cheerily eximed.


    June nced at the clock and saw it was merely 6 AM.


    "This early?" he asked.


    Jay shrugged. "It''s what Mr. Ong requested. I think he''s going golfing afterward, so he scheduled it early."


    Just then, Akira and Jaeyong entered the room, and the two of them simultaneously eximed in surprise.


    "Oh gosh. What is that creature doing here?" Akira asked in disgust.


    "Creature?" Jay eximed, appearing offended.


    "What are you wearing?" Jaeyong frowned. "You look like a tree with that colorbination."


    Jay looked at them with furrowed eyebrows before looking down at his outfit.


    "These are the lucky colors of the year¡ªalligator green and nipple brown!"


    Jisung entered right then and there, but he quickly halted when he heard Jay''sst statement.


    "Alright, I''m going now," he said, leaving the room even though he just arrived.


    Jay ignored the members'' rude stares and exined they had a meeting for their projects for the year.


    "Tell your members to get ready," Jay instructed Jaeyong. "We''re leaving in 45 minutes."


    Jaeyong sighed but nodded nheless.


    ***


    The members of EVE were currently in their van, driving to Azure Entertainment. Most of them were still tired, so they decided to sleep during the short trip.


    Meanwhile, June popped his earphones in and listened to the cover he had filmed before the year-end show started.


    It was ''A Love Twice Lost'' by Ryan Huang¡ªthe song he hated for a well-kept reason.


    What Magic Mama said was right. As he kept singing the song, it started to grow on him, and by his tenth time singing it, he found himself filming it and wanting to post it on his ount.


    June quickly posted the short video and smiled when he saw positivements right off the bat.


    - He''s fluent in Chinese?


    - Why the hell is he hiding behind June''s persona when he is a catch himself?


    - If I can''t have June, then I''ll have June''s impostor.


    - It feels like he''s singing this for his first love. Poor guy.


    - Okay, he''s growing on me.


    - This just confirms that the dude behind this ount isn''t June. For all I know, June doesn''t know how to speak Chinese this fluently.


    It seemed like they still didn''t believe he was June, though, which was honestly alright. He currently had around 75,000 followers, so June was sure he was going to aplish his mission soon.


    They finally arrived at the building, which looked a bit empty since it was only 7 AM.


    They went to Mr. Ong''s room and found a couple of important-looking people inside. The members entered while bowing respectfully.


    Mr. Ong, in his signature swivel chair, enthusiastically greeted the boys.


    "There you are! Thank you foring this early," he smiled.


    He was already in his golf attire, so June quietly sighed in disbelief.


    "I watched your performance during the year-end show. I enjoyed it very much! I particrly liked June''s performance in ''Father.'' It brought me back to the times when my father was still around¡­"


    Mr. Ong''s voice got quieter as the sentence progressed, his gaze bing absent. It seemed like he was remembering a very dark time, simr to the scene of the critique guy in that rat movie when he first tasted the dish the rat had made.


    "Mr. Ong?" Jay asked, causing him to snap out of his thoughts.


    Like a light switch, the CEO smiled once again.


    "Sorry," he said, looking at Jay. "Hey, wait. Is that an alligator green coat?"


    Jay proudly smiled. "It is," he smiled.


    "It''s pretty. I might buy one for myself."


    As expected, weird people had simr tastes.


    "Well," Mr. Ong said, changing the topic. "Sit down, boys. This meeting won''t be long. We''re just going to discuss your major projects for the first half of the year."


    The boys excitedly sat down despite their tiredness.


    This meeting had been dyed for quite some time, so they were looking forward to the projects they were going to be doing this year.


    "First things first," Mr. Ong said. "I''ll just get it out right away."


    The members listened intently.


    "I know you debuted not that long ago, but we''re now thinking of preparing for a new album."


    "You''re going to have aeback during the first quarter of the year!"


    The members looked at each other with wide eyes, not expecting theireback to arrive so fast. However, from a marketing perspective, it was pretty intelligent.


    The group only had three years as a group, so they had to maximize their time together.


    "Don''t worry," Mr. Ong said. "It would be at the end of the first quarter¡ªso around March to April."


    The members sighed in relief, Akira looking the most visibly rxed.


    Preparing for their debut album has been tiring, so he couldn''t imagine preparing for it right away.


    "However, we''re going to start with the preparations earlier this time," Mr. Ong continued. "We''re already looking for producers to coborate with."


    June suddenly raised his hand, causing the others to turn to him.


    "The title track," he started off. "Is it possible for it to be self-produced?"

 Chapter 367 Brand Deal

    <h4>Chapter 367 Brand Deal</h4>


    The room became silent as soon as June asked that particr question.


    His members looked pleased with his suggestion, wanting to create something they could proudly call their own.


    It wasn''t rare for idols to create their own songs, but rarely did this be the title track of the album. Moreover, since the market had be verypetitive,panies and idols relied on expert producers to make songs for them.


    June thought the directors were seriously pondering upon his question since they werepletely silent. However, his hopes were quickly shattered when Mr. Ong let out a loudugh, followed by the chuckles of the other directors.


    Mr. Ong continuedughing until there were tears in his eyes, but none of the members, as well as Jay, didn''t find it funny.


    "Oh gosh," he said, wiping the tears in his eyes. "That was such a good joke, June."


    "I wasn''t joking," June quickly said.


    Mr. Ong halted, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. Then, a professional smile emerged from his face.


    "Well then," he said. "I don''t think we can take your suggestion into consideration. Self-produced title tracks are a rarity in this industry. Unless you want to go solo, which you can''t at the moment, I''m afraid a self-produced title track wouldn''t be possible."


    Ren raised his hand, intercepting his statement. "But June already produced some parts of Oasis. For this next title track, it wouldn''t just be him who''ll be making the song. I''ll help, too. In fact, the other members can also help with the lyric-writing and all."


    Mr. Ong pursed his lips, annoyance evident in his features.


    "It''s final," Mr. Ong said. "This time, a more well-known producer will be making your song."


    "Now," he continued, going to the next topic before anyone could interrupt him.


    "Let''s talk about your major projects of the year."


    June sighed and focused on the presentation before him. He decided to forgo the issue for now since the preparations still hadn''t started. Maybe he''ll be able to convince the higher management to let them have a self-produced songter on.


    "There are three major projects for this year," Mr. Ong started off. "First, the most important one¡ªyoureback. The second is show guesting and participation. And third is brand deals."


    "You all had an opportunity to go to different variety shows, and it made a positive impact on the group''s poprity. So, we have contacted different variety shows to see if they could amodate you, but none of them have responded yet."


    June understood Mr. Ong''s sentiment.


    Back then, seeing idols in variety shows was moremonpared to now.?Currently, there were too many artists wanting to be invited to the popr shows, so TV stations were definitely pickier with their guests.


    "There''s something huge lined up for the year, but we can''t divulge the information to you until it has been confirmed," he continued.


    "For now, we''re going to be uploading the process of your debut album on YouWatch so people can know you more."


    "Moving onto the third agenda for today¡ªbrand deals," Mr. Ong smiled, showing a slide of all the brand deals they''d done during the past year.


    "I''m happy to report that your team bagged 6 brand dealsst year, with Zeth having the most."


    Zeth smiled proudly as his members congratted him.


    In particr, Zeth had represented a coffee brand and an air purifier. His looks were already enough to capture buyers'' attention. He created a frenzy in appliance stores after he made a cameo in an air purifiermercial!


    The four other brand deals were distributed to the other members.


    Ren had a photoshoot with a headphones brand because of his ''producer'' reputation during Rising Stars.


    Casper modeled for a trendy t-shirt shop along with Dos from OCTA.


    Jisung also modeled for a school uniform brand in Korea because of his fresh visuals and tall physique.


    Andstly, Sehun was part of an underwear campaign where he showed off his toned abs.


    June was yet to receive a brand deal since Chul blocked off his opportunities when he was still their manager.


    Meanwhile, the other members, despite not saying it explicitly, were quite disappointed they hadn''t done any brand deals either.


    "This brand contacted us after they saw your performance during the year-end show. I''m d you made a good impression on them."


    "Who''s going to be starring in the brand deal?" Akira asked, hoping he''d be included since he hadn''t done one ever since they debuted.


    Mr. Ong smiled and pped excitedly.


    "I''m happy to inform you that the brand has requested for all of you to be their brand ambassadors!" he eximed, causing the members to look at each other with wide eyes.


    June, too, was surprised.


    It was rare for brands to hire an entire group since it was generally more expensive. Having all of them as ambassadors meant that the brand was a big force in the industry!


    "And get this¡ªyou''re also going to be starring in amercial film for the brand! This is huge, guys."


    Jay smiled at the boys, pride filling his eyes.


    "I''m so excited," Jisung said. "What brand are we going to represent?"


    The members were giddy in their seats as they imagined the type ofmercial they were going to film.


    OCTA already had their ownmercial, and it was for a soda brand that made use of its ''heatwave'' concept. It was fun, refreshing, and youthful!


    Zeth stared off into the distance as he imagined how it was going to turn out.?He really wanted to do a perfumemercial and show off the group''s sexy side!


    Meanwhile, Akira wanted to do a sojumercial since all of them were already of legal age. Moreover, soju was considered a staple in Korea. Being brand ambassadors of any soju brand meant they had made it big in the industry!


    "I hope it''s something about cats," Casper said, causing everyone in the room to look at him weirdly.


    "Please ignore him," Jay, the equally weird person, formally said.


    Mr. Ong cleared his throat.


    "I''m sure you''re all curious as to what product you''re going to represent."


    The members nodded.


    "Well, I''m not going to make you wait any longer."


    June leaned against the table, actually looking forward to their very first brand deal.


    Mr. Ong smiled widely as he pressed on the next slide, the room being engulfed in a familiar orange hue.


    "It''s none other than¡ªcheese balls!"

 Chapter 368 Say Cheeze

    <h4>Chapter 368 Say Cheeze</h4>


    The eight members of EVE, along with Jay, went back to their dorm, all with indecipherable expressions. They wanted to retaliate when Mr. Ong revealed they were going to represent a cheese ball brand, but Jay quickly got them off before they could.


    Jay looked at the absent-minded members and sighed.


    "Alright, you can speak now," he said, closing the door behind him.


    "Cheese balls? CHEESE BALLS?"


    "OCTA gets a soda ad, and we get cheese balls?"


    "I love cheese balls. I could eat a thousand of those bad boys in one sitting, but being in a cheese ballmercial is where I draw the line."


    "I''ve never even had a cheese ball!"


    The room was filled withints, and Jay sighed impatiently as he waited for them to finish.


    "Are you guys done now?" he asked after a while.


    The members breathed heavily as they finished their rants. Meanwhile, June, who was still hung up on the title track of their next album, was silent all throughout the ordeal.


    "No, I''m not yet done," Zeth said. "How can they make us do a cheese ballmercial?"


    "It''s a famous cheese ball brand," Jay defended. "Almost everyone buys it for their households. You can''t deny their influence in the country, and being a part of their brand means you''ll get more exposure from the public."


    "Moreover," Jay continued. "All of theirmercials have been great hits because of the unique concepts."


    "You mean that one time the child was getting chased by little cheese ball monsters?" Ren asked.


    "Or that one time they had a guy drown in a pool of cheese balls, and the only way to save himself was to eat all of them?" Sehun added.


    "Oh, and don''t forget that one time a woman divorced her husband because he was cheating on her with ady made of cheese balls!" Zeth said.


    "See!" Jay eximed. "You remember it! This means they''re really memorable."


    Zeth massaged the bridge of his nose.?"Oh no," he started his rant. "I''m going to lose my ''cool guy'' persona. What if people think I''m funny or something?"


    "Gosh," Ren scoffed. "He''s really self-absorbed."


    Jay sighed. "Well, I don''t think you have a choice. Thepany has already signed an agreement. Besides, a cheese ballmercial would be fun to film! Isn''t that the most important?"


    The others were still skeptical, so Jay pointed at June.


    "Look at June!" he eximed. "He seems very amiable to the idea. Do you love cheese balls, June?"


    June finally snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "Uh, yeah, sure. Whatever you said."


    "That''s the spirit," Jay excitedly said. "This is your very first group brand deal, and you''re fortunate enough for it to be a big brand. Cheer up!"


    Zeth groaned. "I guess it''s alright. Just as long as I stille out handsome in themercial, then it''s fine by me."


    Ren sighed. "I do really like their product."


    "Let''s give it a try," Sehun said, convincing his other members.


    Jay''s smile widened.


    "That''s what I''m talking about! I don''t know the full details of themercial just yet, but it''s going to be short. They''re going to send us the script tomorrow, and then the filming will take ce the day after."


    ***


    Jay gathered the boys for a meeting with someone from ''Cheeze,'' the cheese ball brand they were going to represent. Compared to the day before, they were definitely more excited. It seemed they had finally epted the fact they were going to film a cheese ballmercial.


    They were in a conference room in Azure Entertainment, waiting for the representative from ''Cheeze'' to personally exin the concept of theirmercial.


    June was pretty wary about it. The team watched the previousmercials from the brand, and they were¡­different.


    The door opened, revealing a woman with unruly curly hair and a t-shirt that said ''Cheese balls rocks!''


    She greeted them excitedly as she entered.


    "Oh gosh. I felt like I just entered heaven. Look at the handsome men surrounding me!" she eximed.


    EVE smiled and bowed respectfully as she sat down.


    "Well, my name is Parm, but you can call me Parm," she introduced herself. "I am the head of the marketing department of ''Cheeze.'' I was also the one who suggested you to be ambassadors of our brand. I really liked your performance during the year-end show!"


    "Did she just say Parm? Like parmesan?" Akira whispered by Jaeyong''s side, so thetter nudged his side.


    Then, Jaeyong respectfully smiled. "Thank you for granting us this opportunity, Ms. Parm."


    "It seems like you were made for this, Ms. Parm," Jay said.


    "Oh, tell me about it," she smiled. "I have been a cheese lover since birth!"


    Jay chuckled, a bit weirded out. "That''s great. So, is there already a concept or storyline for my boys right here?"


    "Of course," she answered. "I''ve been formting themercial ever since I saw the boys perform and came up with the perfect concept for them!"


    She brought out a stack of papers from her bag and started distributing them to the boys.


    The members of EVE were definitely expecting the worst; however, when they saw the title of the project on the cover page, they weren''t too appalled by the idea.


    It actually seemed pretty cool! Compared to the othermercials they had put out, it was quite tame.


    "Basketball?" Jay asked.


    "That''s right!" Ms. Parm eximed. "For this year''smercial, we decided to employ a sports theme because the Olympics areing up. Moreover, it''s a good thing that cheese balls kind of look like basketballs!"


    Zeth smiled, obviously pleased with the concept. He thought he wasn''t going to have the opportunity to act cool for themercial, but he might actually get to do so!


    "It''s going to be a shortmercial, less than a minute, and it would feature the boys ying basketball against a formidable team," she exined.


    "Please move to the next page," Ms. Parm said.


    The members followed her instructions, already excited about the storyline. However, when they read through the next page, it felt like the room was drenched in ice cold water.


    It was stupid for them to think it was going to be a normalmercial.

 Chapter 369 Cheese Ball Tournament

    <h4>Chapter 369 Cheese Ball Tournament</h4>


    The crew set up the cameras in a basketball court they had rented for an entire day. They were pleased with the weather since the sun was high up in the sky, making it perfect for a basketball tournament. It was pretty blinding, but it was definitely better than a gloomy atmosphere!


    "Our ambassadors are here!" Ms. Parm eximed, catching the attention of the crew members. As they turned toward the idol group, it appeared like they were more blinding than the sun itself.


    EVE, d in their casual clothes, lit the set up with their handsome looks.


    "It''s illegal to have a group with that many handsome members."


    "I can''t believe they''re here."


    "Ms. Parm did a great job casting them. I already want to eat balls¡ªI mean, cheese balls at the moment."


    "Good morning, everyone," Jaeyong said, stepping forward and greeting everyone on behalf of EVE. "We are EVE, and we are very d to be with you today. Let''s all work hard!"


    The crew members pped, weing the team excitedly.


    Ms. Parm beamed, capturing the attention of the members. "So, this is where the scenes are going to be filmed. We''ll start off with the first scene, so go ahead and get dressed in our provided tent."


    The members of EVE quickly went to their designated tent and saw matching orange jerseys inside.


    Jaeyong chuckled as soon as he saw them. Aside from the atrocious neon orange color, it was evident that the team made it very well.


    The members got dressed quickly before putting on their essories.


    Zeth, their supposed captain, had an armband on, entuating his biceps.


    Meanwhile, June looked at the orange headband and put it over his head, causing his hair to go in all directions.


    "Hey, guys," he said. "Is this how you wear this?"


    His members turned to him, and June instantly regretted asking the question when they noisily flocked over to him.


    "Omo, what is this?" Akira asked. "June looks like our youngest member."


    "You look like a literal baby," Ren chuckled. "Why are your cheeks so plump with this on?"


    June groaned in frustration as Jisung started pinching his cheeks.


    "You''re younger than me!" he eximed.


    "But you really look like a little brother," Jisung excitedly eximed.


    Meanwhile, Casper stood before him and started petting his hair, so June quickly held onto his wrist and ced it behind his back.


    "Oww!" Casper eximed. "I didn''t do anything wrong!"


    "You''re all so weird," June snapped. "Just tell me how you do this."


    Sehun, being their oldest and most mature member, chuckled and went closer to June. "You should tuck some of the pieces under the headband so they don''t go in all directions. There!" he said. "All done."


    June looked at himself in the mirror and nodded in approval.


    "Aww," Akia eximed in disappointment. "I liked the other set-up better."


    "Shut up," June snapped. "Let''s get this over with."


    The team made their way outside, and the crew was once again amazed by their appearance. How could they look so good in vibrant orange jerseys? It was almost impossible to pull the color off, but they managed to do it!


    Ms. Parm excitedly pped when she saw them, and she quickly coaxed them over to the court.


    "Alright," she said. "We need to finish all the scenes until the sun sets, so let''s get started. Let''s start off with the game shots."


    The boys assumed their positions and followed her instructions. They were already aware of the entire script, so they had practiced beforehand. Fortunately, even though most of them weren''t familiar with basketball, they were very experienced in acting cool.


    "3¡­2¡­1¡­and we''re rolling!"


    The boys immediately sprang into action, showcasing their athletic ability (orck thereof).


    They shot at the hoop, most of them missing, yet somehow, their poses still looked cool. The clumsy dribbling wasn''t any better, but then again, their faces really did all the work.


    June, not being familiar with ying the game, shot at the hoop with his back turned away, a smug expression on his face. The ball was going to be edited to go in. However, he was surprised when he suddenly heard cheers from the crew members.


    He turned around and saw that he had made it in!


    The team celebrated, and the camera captured it all.


    The warm sun cast a golden glow over the scene as they rejoiced, dribbled basketballs, and shot hoops while running across the court.


    As the tempo picked up, Ms. Parm signaled for a close-up. Beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads and arms, and the crew marveled at how effortlessly the boys embodied the refreshing vibe of themercial they aimed to capture.


    However, the cool scenes were only the beginning¡ªthe easy parts, to be specific.


    As the camera zoomed out, it was revealed that the boys were losing drastically to the other team with a score of 98-16.


    Now, it was time for them to bring out the big guns. In the end, Cheeze really couldn''t create a normalmercial.


    "Time for the shift!" Ms. Parm eximed, and everything started moving at a quick pace. The boys were handed a bowl of cheese balls each, and they looked at them with dread, already knowing what wasing next.


    "Your boosters are here," Ms. Parm said. "Let''s start with the first person. Ren, eat the cheese balls on camera, and run around the court so we can edit you with super speed."


    Zethughed out loud, but he quickly halted when he realized the power he was given¡ª''sticity.''


    The members went to the bench as Ren had his solo shoot. He ate the cheese balls with gusto, and the members couldn''t even chuckle because they knew they were next.


    "He looks stupid," Zeth eximed.


    "Shut up," Akira said. "I wish I had his power. I have ''multiple arms'' as a power. I''m going to look ridiculous!"


    "You suit it well, though," Jisung said.


    "Jisung''s calm because his power is ''precise shooting.'' What a lucky bastard," Jaeyong grumbled.


    "You''re also on the better end of the spectrum!" Sehun eximed. "How is yours ''incredible jump'' while mine is ''ball telekinesis?'' That''s unfair!"


    "At least you''re not going to have ''cheesy fingers.'' The ball will literally stick to my fingers with cheese," Casper said.


    The team chuckled at their ridiculous powers, but one of them remained silent. The team turned to June, who looked absent-minded.


    They all pursed their lips when they remembered what superpower June had drawn.


    When they saw the list of superpowers curated by Ms. Parm, the members quickly fought for the ''normal'' powers. However, since they couldn''te to an agreement, they decided to draw lots instead.


    June should have refused to do so.


    His ck cat luck still hadn''t left him from his time on Rising Stars.


    "What was your skill again?" Casper asked.


    "How could you forget?" Akira clicked his tongue. "It''s ''ball.''"


    "Ball?"


    "He''s literally going to shape shift into a ball and shoot himself into the ring."

 Chapter 370 Limited Edition

    <h4>Chapter 370 Limited Edition</h4>


    More embarrassing momentster, and EVE was finally done with their solo shoots. Acting out their ''superpowers'' had taken a toll on them, so they were now silently eating cheese balls in their tent as they waited for Jay to take them home.


    "I can''t believe they''ll edit you into a ball," Jisung absentmindedly said, stuffing his face with cheese balls. He started the shoot not liking how they tasted, but now, he was quite addicted.


    "He also became cheese balls in the end, and we had to eat him," Ren added.


    Akira mindlessly chuckled. "I think our astras will like that very much, though. I see plenty of posts on Navel saying they''d like to eat June."


    June turned to him with raised eyebrows, obviously weirded out.


    "What?" Akira eximed. "It''s how they show their affection."


    June sighed and shook his head. "I''m just d it''s already over."


    Jay entered the room with a wide, suspicious smile, causing the members to warily look at him.


    "What is it again?" Jaeyong asked.


    Jay looked at him with confusion. "I haven''t even said anything yet."


    "I could already tell by the look on your face," Jaeyong said.


    "Well, I''m d I''m an open book," Jay smiled. "The shoot still isn''t finished!"


    The boys groaned, their shoulders slumping in disappointment.


    "I want to go home," Casper whined.


    Jay ignored his statement and continued exining the situation.


    "Ms. Parm went over the clips and was satisfied. However, she believes themercial needs something more¡­bizarre for it to be a greater hit!"


    "What is it now?" Zeth groaned. "I don''t want to act like I have ultra-flexible limbs again!"


    "Don''t worry," Jay chuckled. "This clip won''t involve your powers. In fact, only one of you needs to act the scene out."


    "June," Jisung quickly said. "June should do it. He''s our center!"


    June red at their youngest member and threw a cheese ball toward his way.


    "I already had to act out being a ball!" he defended. "Anyone but me should do it."


    "But you''re the star of EVE," Zeth said, shocking his members since he was the self-proimed ''star'' of their group. "You should definitely do it."


    "I know you want to do it, Zeth," June said.


    "Nah," Zeth shook his head. "I''m fine with my screen time. I think you''ll do a great job at it!"


    "Yeah," Ren said. "You also have plenty of skills. I bet you''re great at acting, too. Maybe we can go home faster if you do it."


    The other members agreed, pushing June off the couch so he could join Jay.


    "Great! So it''s June, then?" Jay said, holding onto his shoulder.


    June red at all of them. "I''ll remember this day."


    Jay chuckled and patted his back. "Don''t worry. It''s just one line, they said. Channel your inner actor so we can go home faster."


    June shook his head and defeatedly followed after Jay.


    Channel his inner actor? That was a joke!


    Sure, June had his fair share of acting in Rising Stars, but that was because he was performing on stage.


    The two acting projects he has done¡ªthe Oasis music video and the bandit role he was forced to take¡ªfelt natural because he was just being his real self.


    In reality, June didn''t know anything about acting!


    June arrived at the set, and Ms. Parm immediately perked up as soon as she saw June''s pink hair from a distance.


    "Just what I had in mind!" she eximed. "June will be perfect for thest line!"


    "Umm, will it be quick?" June asked.


    "Of course," Ms. Parm said. "It''s just one line. You just need to say it in a bubbly and victorious manner."


    June pursed his lips, already dreading saying it.


    "Here," she said, handing him a piece of paper. "Stand next to the ring and hold these cheese balls. Afterward, say this line with a wide smile on your face."


    June read the line, his eyes immediately widening.


    "I have to say¡­this?" he asked out of shock.


    ***


    The announcement of the coboration between EVE and ''Cheeze'' took the K-pop world by storm. It was the very first time a K-pop idol was asked to represent a cheese ball brand. Not only that, but a cheese ball brand that was known for its weirdly memorablemercials!


    "I love these cheese balls," Seven said, eating the snack on the couch of their dorm.


    OCTA was currently in their dorm, waiting for their very own variety show to air. It was during these times they didn''t mind being in ESPER entertainment. Although thepany was far from perfect, they were definitely given more opportunitiespared to other groups from smallerpanies.


    "I kind of hope we''ve gotten the deal instead of them," Seven said.


    Tres shook his head and popped a cheese ball in his mouth. "I think this is the first time I''m not jealous of somebody else''s brand deal."


    "But hey," he quickly added, popping another cheese ball in his mouth. "These are pretty good."


    "Right?" Seven asked. "And these are very popr too. I''m definitely going to buy the limited pink edition they announced. It''s EVE''s official color!"


    Ocho raised his eyebrows. "Just switch groups at this point."


    "I wish I could," Seven groaned. "I watched June''s fancams yesterday, and he''s really legendary! He doesn''t try to stand out, but he just does. I feel like he''s very underrated."


    "He''s the center of EVE," Dos countered. "How can he be underrated?"


    "I just feel like he is," Seven said. "Someone like him needs to be more appreciated."


    For once, Uno agreed with Seven''s statement. Although June''s poprity was no joke, Uno believed he wasn''t as appreciated for his skillspared to other idols.


    Meanwhile, in a smaller dorm at a well-known university, Jia and her friends waited for a certainmercial to air.


    "Are you sure it wille on tonight?" Bora asked.


    "Yes," Jia snapped, looking at her watch. "My mom said it''ll be aired tonight at 11:17 PM."


    "Why is it so specific?" Soo-min asked.


    "My mom works in a TV station," Jia vaguely said.


    "What? No way!" Wei eximed. "Is it Azure?"


    "Yeah," Jia casually said.


    The other girls gasped in shock. "What? Then she must have met June already. Lucky her."


    ''I''ve met him too. I''ve even spoken with him!''


    Jia pursed her lips, her nares ring as she thought of the times she had met June. She wanted to share it with her friends, but she knew she''d be called delusional if she did so.


    In the end, she decided to keep the secret to herself.


    ''That''s right. These peasants don''t know they''re friends with the girl who inspired June to finish Oasis!''


    "Jia''s being weird again," Bora said, already eating the pink-colored cheese balls they bought from the store.


    Jia snapped out of it when she saw this, quickly pping Bora''s hand and cing the cheese ball back in the container before closing it.


    "Don''t eat this!"


    Bora looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. "They''re literally meant for eating!"


    "This is a representation of June," Jia said, staring at the pink puffy balls with adoring eyes. "We need to treasure it."


    "Oh gosh," Bora said. "It''s just cheese balls. We can buy some from the store again."


    "We can''t do that, though," Wei said. "The pink ones are sold out everywhere."


    "Shut up!" Soo-min eximed, cutting their conversation short. "I think it''s here!"

 Chapter 371 A Line You Won’t Forget

    <h4>Chapter 371 A Line You Won''t Forget</h4>


    Under the bright midday sun, the basketball court came alive with the sound of dribbles echoing through the air. The court''s surface was almost glistening with sweat because of how hot and bright the sun was.


    Then, handsome boys, all dressed in neon orange jerseys, were shown on full disy.


    Jia gasped, pointing at the screen. "Athlete June?"


    "This is even better than I thought," Bora said. "They all look so hot."


    "If this is how our school''s varsity team looks like, then I would have watched every game," Nari added.


    The camera zoomed in on Zeth, the charismatic captain of the team. With a chiseled jawline and a confident grin, Zeth led his teammates. His eyes sparkled with determination as he gathered the team.


    "Let''s do this!" his voice resonated.


    A montage was then shown with the boys individually showing their skills. Ren, with an infectious smile, dribbled his way to the court. Casper, appearing to be a powerhouse, cracked his knuckles with a quiet intensity. His muscr frame was entuated by the sleeveless jersey that hugged his body very well.


    Meanwhile, June became the epitome of coolness as he shot the ball without even looking at the ring! His pink hair fell stylishly across his forehead as he smirked with confidence.


    "Kyaah!" Jia eximed, holding onto Bora and excessively shaking her.


    "Calm down!" Bora eximed, her eyes also focused on the screen.


    "But they''re so cool," Jia said, almost breathless.


    However, she had to swallow her words not even secondster because as the camera zoomed out, it was revealed that the opposing team was actually in the lead.


    In fact, they were leading with a very huge gap.


    OCTA, who also luckily stumbled upon themercial, shook their heads in ridiculousness.


    "I knew it was too normal in the beginning," Ocho said.


    Seven chuckled out loud. "I could already tell this is going to be hrious!"


    And they weren''t wrong.


    The intense and cool music shifted to a cartoonish one, revealing the real intent of themercial.


    Zeth, sensing the urgency of the situation, gathered his teammates with a serious expression.


    In a huddle, Zeth dered¡ª"It''s time to unleash our secret weapon."


    The boys exchanged determined nces, and then Zeth produced a bag of cheese balls from seemingly nowhere.


    The boys from OCTAughed loudly as that particr scene unfolded. It was ridiculous watching a group of boys referring to cheese balls as their secret weapon!


    With a mischievous gin, Zeth handed out the cheesy snacks to his teammates. The boys, seemingly finding the situation normal, dug with enthusiasm, savoring the deliciousness of the cheese balls. The camera captured their expressions of delight as the orange dust from the snacks adorned their faces.


    As the boys enjoyed their snack, the atmosphere became even more lighthearted.


    Suddenly, Ren, fueled by an unexpected burst of energy, sprinted across the court with superhuman speed, leaving everyone in the dust.


    Zeth''s arms then elongated, effortlessly making shots from impossible angles.


    Akira sprouted multiple arms, orchestrating a one-man show of precise passes and rebounds.


    Jaeyong leaped to incredible heights, executing gravity-defying dunks that left the opposing team in awe.


    All of their skills were definitely fouls in a real-life basketball game. It was even more outrageous that they were ying as a seven-man team. However, nobody was really focused on the technical aspect of the game because they were already weirded out.


    The children watching in their homes were also amused,ughing and pping at the television.


    "I can''t believe they had them do this," Bora said, tears streaming down her face fromughter.


    "I would pay to see how they reacted to this in real life," Soomin added, also bursting intoughter.


    In the final moments of the game, with the score tight and only two points behind, June finally emerged and took center stage.


    Despite the roster of ridiculous powers they had already showcased, nobody would have guessed June''s personal power.


    The handsome yer morphed into a vibrant pink ball, capturing the attention of everyone on the court.


    The viewers watched in disbelief as June, now a rosy orb, prepared for an unprecedented move.


    Positioning himself at the 3-point line, Juneunched into the air with incredible force. As he soared towards the basket, the pink ball maneuvered skillfully, navigating through the defenders with grace.


    Seven watched the screen in disbelief, a cheese ball falling from his mouth.


    "Did he¡­Did he just be a ball?" he stammered.


    June scored a perfect three-pointer, overtaking their opponent. And then, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the game.


    Just when people thought it couldn''t get any weirder, it did.


    June gracefully descended to the ground, only to disintegrate into a shower of perfect little pink cheese balls.


    Zeth and the rest of the team caught up in the surreal victory with loud cheers. They wasted no time picking up the pink cheese balls and eating their fellow teammate out of happiness.


    As the celebratory atmosphere filled the air and themercial seemed to be wrapping up, a careless foot stepped onto the scattered remains of the pink cheese balls, crushing them into a mess on the court.


    As the camera panned upward, it was revealed that the culprit was none other than June, now holding onto his own bowl of pink cheese balls.


    Jia gasped as his handsome face was entuated on the screen. June undoubtedly looked great under the sun, his face flushed from its warmth.


    However, everything went downhill when he opened his mouth to deliver thest line.


    He looked directly into the camera, the victorious smile he was supposed to portray looking like a plea for help. Even his handsome looks couldn''t hide the cringe-worthy acting.


    With a forced grin and an unmistakably amateurish attempt at acting, June finally spoke.


    "I love these balls!" June dered.


    The screen lingered on June''s awkward expression for a moment before transitioning to the photo of the actual limited edition product of ''Cheeze'' in coboration with EVE.


    With that, themercial ended.?However, the impact of June''s line lingered in many households.


    "What did he just say?" Bora asked in confusion.

 Chapter 372 Ball Sensation

    <h4>Chapter 372 Ball Sensation</h4>


    The dorm was filled withughter as anothermercial rolled in. Even Uno, who wasn''t easily amused, let out a loud chuckle.


    "Oh gosh," Seven said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "That was legendary."


    "Did he just say he loves balls?" Dos asked, still not believing what he just heard.


    "How much did they pay him to do this?" Ocho asked, a small smile ying on his lips.


    "I wish there was a rey button for it," Seven said, stillughing.


    "Thankfully, there''s a thing called social media," Tres smirked. "I bet it''s the talk of the town right now.


    Indeed, EVE''s cheese ballmercial became a trending topic in the country after it was aired. Multiple clips were already circted online, all of them having one thing inmon¡ªthey were clowning June.


    - I was babysitting my nephew when themercial suddenly came on. I thought I was hallucinating when I saw EVE with bouncing cheese balls.


    - I''m already calling it. June''s ''I love balls'' is going to be the meme of the year.


    - As expected, Cheeze does not disappoint with theirmercials. Now, I know that June loves balls!


    - Please, someone make a short clip out of it.


    - The brand just posted an HD version. Time to meme the hell out of it!


    - I''m dying! Why the hell did they let him say those lines at the end?


    - Can we talk about his acting, though? I think we should all agree that he needs to stay away from the acting industry!


    - It''s a good thing he''s a good singer and dancer.


    - June, do a good job at being an idol because you can''t be an actor!


    - I just sent the clip to my friends, and they sent it to our school''s group chat!


    - EVE, you''re going to be even more famous. Thanks to Cheeze for making it happen!


    - Can they quickly restock the pink cheese balls, though? They''re already sold out in my local grocery store!


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE couldn''t contain theirughter after themercial finished airing. At first, they were all silent, cringing at their own acting.


    However, it was quickly reced with amusement when they saw thest clip of June saying he loved balls.


    "That''s why you didn''t want to tell us about it?" Zeth chuckled, pping his knee.


    "I''m so grateful it wasn''t me," Akira said, tears spilling from his eyes. "Gosh, I want to see it again!"


    "Luther also likes balls," Casper added.


    "Man, every time you open your mouth, you say something weird," Sehun said.


    "But he does like balls," Casper defended. "He likes chasing them around."


    The members ignored them and went back to the original topic.


    "Hey, there are clips circting online already. Damn. There''s already a 24-hour edit about it!" Jaeyong eximed.


    Ren looked at the video with wide eyes. "What the hell? Are these people magicians or something? How can they do that in minutes?"


    Jaeyong chuckled. "I honestly don''t know. Our astras are on another level."


    Then, he cast the 24-hour loop of June''s ''I love balls'' on the screen.


    June groaned in annoyance, closing his eyes and covering his ears.


    "Are you guys having fun torturing me?" he eximed.


    "Very," Akira said. "I''m going to make this my rm from now on!"


    "Look at thements on the video," Zeth chuckled. "They''re having fun torturing you too."


    June finally had enough, so he stood from the couch and red at all of them.


    "Don''t speak about this ever again, or else," he warned them.


    "Or else what?" Akira stuck his chin up. "Are you going to kick us in the balls?"


    June closed his eyes in frustration and went over to where Akira was sitting. He then ced his hand over his pressure point and pressed firmly, causing Akira''s body to fall limp on the couch.


    "What the hell?" Zeth eximed in shock. "Did you just kill him?"


    "He''s going to wake up in a few hours or so," June said. "Whoever speaks about this incident will suffer the same fate as him."


    With that, he left the living room and locked himself inside his door, leaving his teammates silently afraid.


    Then, he plopped on the bed and closed his eyes.


    "Let''s just sleep," he muttered under his breath. He fixed his position on the bed and evened out his breathing, but in the end, he couldn''t sleep.


    His line, like a haunting melody, echoed in the back of his mind.


    ''I love these balls.''


    ''I love these balls.''


    ''I love these balls.''


    June groaned and covered his face with a pillow. "Get out of my head!"


    ***


    In the end, June wasn''t able to sleep at all. His phone rang with notifications the entire night, but he simply ignored them.


    However, as the sun finally rose and filtered through his curtains, he picked up his phone and finally decided to check it.


    June could already hear his members'' voices outside the room, with Akira''s being the loudest. He was still repeatedly saying, ''I love these balls,'' so June knew he hadn''t learned his lesson.


    He opened his Navel app and first went to his profile.


    99,000.


    Only 1,000 followers left until he finally reached his goal, yet he wasn''t happy at all.


    Why? Because almost all of the posts on his feed were rted to their cheese ballmercial!


    - Can you imitate June''s ''I love these balls'' line, please?


    - Have you seen EVE''smercial? If not, go watch it right now. We''re trying to stream it to a million views!


    - I don''t think we even need to stream it, girlie. The general public is already streaming it for us.


    - You''re right. It''s so close to a million!


    Overnight, June became a sensational meme, especially with the younger generation.


    June shook his head and left the app to check his texts instead. However, it seemed like the situation with his texts wasn''t any better.


    Jay: You''re a star! Congrattions for making it this far.


    Gun: Do you really love balls?


    Hana: I thought you were a good actor, but it turns out you just love balls.


    Jangmoon: I can''t judge you. Balls are the best!


    There were multiple other texts that contained simr content. June was about to stop scrolling through his text messages when he saw something that appeared different from the rest.


    It was from Grandma.


    Grandma: June, I know you''re busy, but can you pleasee to Seoul Hospital? Minjun''s currently injured.

 Chapter 373 Don’t Need Your Help

    <h4>Chapter 373 Don''t Need Your Help</h4>


    June busted out of his room, messily dressed in casual clothing. He frantically pocketed his phone and looked for his wallet in the living room. He heard his members preparing breakfast in the kitchen but didn''t bother ncing at them.


    "June," Akira greeted brightly. "We made rice balls just for you! Have one."


    "I need to go," June said, looking more worried as he put on his shoes.


    His members looked at each other with confusion, wondering if they had taken the teasing too far.


    Jisung quietly approached June. "Bro, are you upset?"


    June sighed and faced his teammates, who were currently looking down at the ground.


    "I''m not mad," he said. "I just have somewhere to go."


    "Where are you going?" Jaeyong asked with a frown. "Have you informed Jay about it yet?"


    "No," June said. "I need to go to the hospital."


    "What?" Jisung eximed in shock. "Are you hurt?"


    "No," June shook his head, "but Minjun is."


    Their expressions instantly softened as soon as June mentioned the little kid.


    "What happened?" Ren worriedly asked.


    "I don''t know," June responded. "But I''m going to Seoul Hospital to find out. So, keep this from Jay and thepany. I don''t want any dys as it is."


    "Sure," Jaeyong said. "But be careful, alright. Fans might be lurking¡ª"


    June left the room before Jaeyong could even finish his sentence, causing his members to grow even more concerned.


    "Should we follow after him?" Sehun asked.


    Akira shook his head. "I don''t think he''ll appreciate it. Let''s just hope the little kid is alright."


    ***


    June finally arrived at the hospital, going to the floor Grandma had mentioned. He didn''t know the particr room they were staying in, so he headed to the nurse''s station.


    There, he saw them watching what appeared to be theirmercial. They were giggling to themselves, reying thest scene over and over again.


    If this was any other situation, June would have been annoyed.


    However, his sense of urgency overcame his annoyance, so he cleared his throat and quickly asked, "May I know where Minjun Lee is currently staying?" he asked.


    The nurses closed the YouWatch tab and faced June.


    "May I know your rtionship with the patient?" one of the nurses asked, clearing her throat.


    "I''m his older brother," June unhesitatingly answered.


    "Oh," the nurse said. "Good genes must run in the family. Your little brother looks as handsome as you."


    "Can you please tell me where his room is?" he asked, ignoring thepliment.


    "709," she answered.


    "Thanks," June quietly muttered before leaving the station and heading to Minjun''s room.


    Meanwhile, the nurses looked at each other with confusion.


    "Is it just me, or is that guy familiar?"


    June entered the room, expecting to see an injured Minjun and a worried Grandma. However, he was surprised when he saw another person in the room¡ªan unfamiliar woman.


    Minjun was sitting on the bed with a bandage wrapped around his head. June quietly sighed in relief when he didn''t see any other evident injuries on Minjun''s body. Meanwhile, Grandma was standing in the corner, watching the interaction between the woman and Minjun.


    It seemed like none of them noticed June''s presence since they continued with their conversation.


    "What are we going to do with you, young man?" the unfamiliar woman asked in a scolding but caring tone. "It''s been a while since I''ve been home, and now I found out you got into a fight? That''s not how you were raised."


    Minjun kept his gaze on hisp while fiddling with his fingers.


    The woman sighed and ced her hand over his hair. "I''m just concerned for you, honey. You know that I care a lot, right?"


    Minjun softly nodded.


    "I don''t want you getting hurt anymore. Your grandma often tells me you don''t even eat meals in the house. Do you want to tell me why that is?"


    Minjun just let out a deep breath but didn''t respond.


    The woman was about to say something again when her phone rang.


    She sighed and fetched it from her pocket before answering.


    "What?" she snapped.


    "Right now? I''m busy¡­," she said.


    "It''s urgent? I''ll go back then."


    She ended the call and faced Minjun. At that moment, June thought it was the perfect time to close the door. However, the sound of the door closing caused the three of them to turn toward his way.


    "June," Grandma said, her eyes teary.


    June stiffly smiled as the woman turned around, revealing her beauty. She was definitely young, probably around the same age or a couple of years older than June when he was Jun Hao.


    "Ah, you''re June?" she asked.


    June stiffly nodded, walking over their way.


    "I''ve heard some things about you," she said. "My name is Lena, and I am Minjun''s mother."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when she introduced herself as Minjun''s mom. She definitely looked too young to be one!


    "Good day, ma''am," he respectfully greeted.


    "Well, I have to go," she said, cutting their conversation short. "My assistant just called me."


    Lena turned back to Minjun and ced a kiss on his forehead. "Be good, okay? I''lle visit the house tomorrow when I''m not busy."


    Again, Minjun wordlessly nodded, causing his mom to sigh in disappointment.


    With that, Lena left the room, leaving June with Grandma and Minjun.


    "What happened?" he finally asked, looking at Minjun''s injured figure.


    "I was at home when I suddenly got a call," Grandma said. "The teacher told me that Minjun got into a fight. When I arrived, he had ss stuck to his forehead! The school just gave him some pain relievers, so I took him to the hospital right away."


    June sighed and shook his head, sitting on the hospital bed to inspect Minjun''s appearance further.


    "Are you alright?" he asked, worry evident in his tone.


    Minjun turned away from him, a subtle re in his eyes.


    Grandma clicked her tongue. "He asked you a question, Minjun."


    Minjun rolled his eyes and finally faced June.


    "What are you even doing here?" he asked. "Aren''t you busy or something?"


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "I came because I was worried," he sincerely responded. "I thought you could use my help."


    "Well, I don''t," Minjun said.


    "I don''t need your help, so just leave."

 Chapter 374 The Only One

    <h4>Chapter 374 The Only One</h4>


    "Minjun," Grandma finally snapped. "That is not how you respond to your elders."


    Minjun turned away from the two of them, his arms crossed in front of his chest.


    June sighed and shook his head, sensing the tension in the atmosphere. With that, he stood from the hospital bed. He brought out Minjun''s favorite candies and ced it next to the injured kid.


    "Here," June softly said with a smile. "I know you like eating these when you''re upset."


    Minjun continued to ignore June, but thetter kept a small smile on his face.


    Grandma shook her head and massaged her temples. June walked over to her and gave her shoulders a light squeeze.


    "Rx, Grandma," he said in aforting tone.


    "I just¡ªI just don''t know what to do anymore," she defeatedly stammered.


    June pursed his lips, also sensing that Minjun had only gotten worse. June knew the little kid had always been the spawn of satan, but he was a sweet one. Now, he was just¡­cold.


    "Don''t think about it too much," June said. "I think Minjun''s just going through something."


    The two of them spoke in whispers, so Minjun wasn''t able to hear them.


    Grandma sighed, her shoulders slumping.


    "Do you think he''ll get better?" she asked.


    June nced at Minjun and didn''t respond. In the end, he also didn''t know when and how to let Minjun open up to him.


    "I hope so," June said in the end.


    "Grandma, peel me some apples," Minjun said, causing the older woman to beam. Having his grandson act like a little master was definitely better than him not asking for anything at all.


    June smiled at their interaction.


    "Well, I think I have to go now," he said.


    Grandma smiled. "Have a safe travel. Make sure to wear your mask and cap at all times."


    June nodded, cing his mask back on.


    "Call me when something happens, Grandma," he said, walking over to the door.


    "Get well soon, Minjun," he added before leaving the room.


    As expected, Minjun didn''t reply to his farewell.


    For a moment, June stood outside his door, his gaze settling on the knob. He wanted to do something about the situation, but he didn''t know the exact steps to take.


    June was about to leave when he heard someone clearing their throat next to him.


    He turned to the side in surprise, only to see Lena leaning against the wall and looking at him with a serious expression.


    "Ma''am?" June warily asked, straightening his back.


    She chuckled, yet the aura of powering from her didn''t diminish.


    "We''re not in the workce. You don''t have to call me ''ma''am,''" she said.


    "Miss?" June tried his luck.


    "Lena," she responded. "Just call me Lena."


    "Alright, Ms. Lena," June said, notfortable with calling her just by her first name.


    Lena shook her head in defeat. "So stubborn. Now I see why mom says you''re simr to Minjun," she muttered, so June wasn''t able to hear her.


    "Sorry, what was that?" he asked.


    She waved her off. "It''s nothing," Lena said. "Do you have some time?"


    June froze, feeling a chill in his spine. "I thought you had some work to attend to?" he asked, not really wanting to be alone with her.


    "It could wait," she said. "For now, I need to talk to you. Come."


    Lena started walking away, coaxing June to follow her. June pursed his lips and followed the charismaticdy. For some reason, she just made it seem like June couldn''t refuse her invitation.


    Lena and June arrived at the hospital''s cafeteria, and Lena quickly picked a bunch of snacks and paid for them at the counter. June looked at the ck card she was using and shook his head.


    Minjun''s family was really loaded.


    "Let''s sit here," Lena said, sitting in an isted booth in the cafeteria.


    June stiffly sat in front of her, obviously ufortable with the set-up.


    "June, right? My son talked a lot about you back then," Lena started, taking a sip of her iced americano.


    June nodded. "Yeah, that''s me."


    "And you''re an idol?" she asked.


    June once again nodded.


    "Interesting," she said. "You don''t give off that vibe."


    June frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked.


    Lena shrugged, leaning against her seat.


    "I don''t mean anything bad about it. I meet a lot of idols in my line of work, and most of them have...softer and brighter auras."


    "And mine?" June asked.


    Lena didn''t respond and just stared at him for a while.


    "Yours is¡­dark," she said, her expression twisting into something iprehensible. The two of them stared at each other for a while, the tension heightening in the air.


    The other passersby didn''t even dare nce toward their way because of the powerful auras they were emanating.


    "But that''s not why I asked you toe here," Lena said, quickly snapping the tension.


    "Why did you ask me toe here then?" June asked out of curiosity.


    "You care for Minjun, right?" she suddenly asked.


    June nodded with sincerity. He was annoyed by the kid when he first met him, but June couldn''t deny that he grew to love Minjun. Now, he genuinely thought of him as his little brother.


    "Do you know what happened with him?" Lena asked.


    June let out a sigh. "He hasn''t told me anything," he honestly answered. "I''ve also been quite busy since I''ve just debuted. If there''s someone who knows about his situation, shouldn''t it be you?"


    Lena''s expression softened, a sense of guilt in her eyes. However, it was gone in a split second, and her charismatic gaze returned.


    "I had Minjun when I was very young," she said. "I was 18, to be exact."


    June wasn''t too surprised about that. Lena looked really young to have a son as big as Minjun. It just meant she must have had him when she was young, too.


    "I was a young girl with a lot of dreams, and although his father and I tried to make our rtionship work, I couldn''t deny there was an underlying resentment between the two of us," she continued.


    "The careers we both dreamed of came to a halt because of Minjun''s addition. Don''t get me wrong," she quickly added. "I don''t regret it one bit. Having Minjun was one of the happiest moments of my life. It still is. However, my dream lingered in the back of my mind, and I didn''t want to let it go."


    "In the end, I chose my own happiness," she said. "His father and I separated to live out our separate dreams, and Minjun was in the middle to witness it all."


    "I know I''m not the best mother," Lena sighed. "I''m not even close to being a good one, but I care a lot about my son. He''s the person I love the most in the entire world. I never want to lose him."


    June continued listening to Lena''s story, but he was suddenly distracted when he saw a shiny bald head at the corner of the cafeteria.


    Mr. Klin?


    June rubbed his eyes to check if he was hallucinating or not. However, as he opened his eyes, the janitor suddenly turned around, now revealing someone with very luscious hair.


    "Huh, strange," he whispered.


    It was already the second time he felt like he had seen Mr. Klin.


    Once during the ''Quiz God'' filming, and right now.


    Was he imagining things because he missed the bald janitor?


    "Are you listening?" Lena asked, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    June shook his head and finally faced her.


    "What was that?"


    "Are you willing to take on the mission?" she asked.


    "Mission?" June rified.


    "Yes," Lena responded. "You''re the only one who could help me."

 Chapter 375 That’s Your Job

    <h4>Chapter 375 That''s Your Job</h4>


    June cleared his throat, straightening his posture as Lena continued speaking.


    "I originally came to Korea for a business trip, and along with that, I wanted to visit Minjun. My mom had been telling me he hasn''t been in the same state after his father had left¡ªthat bastard, really," she made a sidement.


    "But Minjun hasn''t opened up to anyone about it," she said. "This is where youe in. I need your help keeping an eye on him.


    "I can''t be a parent for Minjun," June said. "That''s your job."


    Lena pursed her lips, not being able to counter the young man''s words. She wanted to be a better mother for Minjun, but her job only allowed her to do so much.


    She couldn''t leave the job she had undertaken for good reasons.


    "Should you be saying that when we just met?" she asked, a bit offended.


    "Should you be asking my help for something you can do?" he threw back, knowing that Minjun was secretly hurting because even though his mother was around, she wasn''t truly around.


    "I love my son," she defended.


    "I know," June said, fully believing her. It didn''t take a genius to see that she truly loves Minjun.


    "Then, you must know that I''m sincere about asking you for help," Lena continued.


    June sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose as Lena leaned closer and looked him intensely in the eyes.


    "I''ll give you anything you want in return," she said.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. He wasn''t expecting her to go down this route.


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    "I''m assuming you need something," Lena said, crossing her arms in front of her chest, a small smirk emerging from her lips.


    "What do you need? A new car? A check? Or maybe you want your group to represent a luxury brand?"


    June couldn''t believe the words that came out of her mouth.


    "Are you hearing yourself?" he asked.


    "What?" she asked, feigning innocence. "I have the resources to give you all of this. It seems like you don''t want to help me for a simple favor, so I''m assuming you want something bigger."


    June shook his head, feeling an ache in his heart for Minjun.


    "I''m going to find out what''s causing Minjun''s pain," June said with resolution.


    "Good," Lena said. "So, what do you want?"


    "But not because you''re going to give me anything in return," he quickly added. "I''m going to find out about it because I care about him."


    Lena was stunned to silence, her mouth slightly agape. It was the very first time someone had turned down her bribe!


    This guy¡ªwho is he?


    With that, June stood from the couch and dusted his pants.


    "Now, if you excuse me, I''m going to take my leave."


    June left Lena all alone, still in a state of shock. To make matters worse, June didn''t even touch any of the food she had bought for him.


    ***


    "What a woman," June muttered under his breath as he entered the Azure building. He was informed they were currently in a conference room for another meeting, so he didn''t bother going back to their dorms.


    The people around him stared at him, most of them looking at him with teasing gazes.


    He could hear the word ''balls'' being passed around, so he knew they were talking about theirmercial.


    However, June didn''t bother looking at them since his thoughts were preupied with Lena.


    June could tell that Lena probably tried her best to give Minjun everything he wanted¡ªall the physical things, that is. From their short interaction, June also thought she was a good mother.


    However, a good mother can also be a bad person. How could she throw her money around just so someone could help her with something she could do?


    It seemed like she was already rich enough! Can''t she take a day off and spend more time with Minjun to find it out herself instead?


    June shook his head, already wanting to forget about their interaction.


    He just needed to make more sacrifices to find out what was truly going on with Minjun.


    June finally arrived at the conference room and was immediately bombarded by questions from his members.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed, instantly brightening up.


    "Is the little twerp alright?" Akira asked, wanting to crack a ''ball'' joke but ultimately decided against it.


    "What happened to him?" Jaeyong asked.


    "He''s fine," June said. "It''s just a minor abrasion on the head. He''s going home tomorrow, I believe."


    The boys visibly sighed in relief after June said the good news.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing a very concerned Jay.


    "Oh, good. You''re here," he said. "I heard that something happened to the little kid."


    June subtly red at his members for not keeping their word and rying the news to Jay.


    Jay noticed this and nudged his shoulder.


    "Don''t me them," he said. "They were just concerned for you. Don''t worry. I''m worried, too. I didn''t dare tell thepany about you sneaking out. However, I would appreciate it if you called me next time so I could ensure you''re safe."


    June silently nodded.


    "Good," Jay smiled. "Is Minjun alright?"


    "He''s still feisty," June said. "So, I think he''s going to be alright."


    "That''s good," Jay said.


    "Well, let''s go back to professional mode for a minute. I have another announcement for all of you."


    The members settled in their seats, with June trying his best to concentrate on the meeting despite the bucket of thoughts racing in his mind.


    "Thepany wants tomend you because the ''Cheeze''mercial was a hit! Almost all stores in Korea are asking for more stocks of the limited edition pink cheese balls!"


    The members pped for themselves, smiling happily and congratting each other.


    "However, aside from that, a famous YouWatch show has invited you to their program!" he excitedly announced.


    "And here we were, regretting taking up the opportunity from Cheeze," Zeth said. "It was actually a great opportunity!"


    Ren shook his head in amusement. "You were the one whoined the most," he said, but Zeth just ignored him.


    "What is it?" Akira excitedly asked.


    "It''s School Invasion!"

 Chapter 376 School Invasion

    <h4>Chapter 376 School Invasion</h4>


    School Invasion.


    You might already guess what it''s about based on its name.


    And no, it isn''t really as bad as it seems.


    School Invasion is a popr web show airing exclusively on YouWatch. It has been going on for six years, and they release an episode every month where an artist or an idol group aplishes missions in a school, may it be a high school or a university, in order for them to get a chance to perform in front of its students!


    It was a fun concept with pretty easy missions, so artists most likely performed at the very end of the episode. It was also a great way to encourage a younger audience to stay tuned to their promotions.


    Three days had passed since Jay announced they were going to be doing the show, and now, EVE was on their way to the school they were going to invade.


    "We''re here," Jay said, parking the van in an empty spot.


    It was already past the first bell, so the grounds were pretty much deserted. June and the others got out of the car and observed therge buildings before them.


    June looked around the campus, feeling it was strangely familiar. He hadn''t been here before, but for some reason, he felt like he had seen it in his dreams.


    Just then, they were bombarded by a very enthusiastic host and a couple of cameras.


    "Aplishing missions in thend of education¡ªthis is School Invasion!" the MC loudly introduced the show.


    "Here I am, DJ Dog, your very own MC for this legendary web show! Right now, we have very handsome guests with us. It is none other than LEVEL-UP or EVE, as most of you know them," he was almost rapping with how fast he was speaking.


    DJ Dog was also very animated with his movements, making June wonder where he got his energy from. If June acted like that for a mere second, he''d have to take a full week of rest to recover.


    "The handsome boys aren''t saying anything; I think we''ve shocked him," he obnoxiously chuckled, his saliva sttering everywhere. "Well, that''s okay! That''s usually the first impression I give off to neers."


    Jaeyong smiled respectfully, maintaining a professional stance on camera.


    "Thank you for having us here, DJ Dog. We''re very thankful for the opportunity you gave us," he said.


    "No, no, no! I should be the one thanking you foring here," DJ Dog eximed. "I enjoyed yourmercial very well¡ªespecially thest part."


    June froze as he felt one of the cameras panning toward his way.


    "Speaking of yourmercial, why don''t you give us a little refresher, June? I really liked yourst line!"


    June''s eye twitched, and he wanted to run off camera right then and there. However, he saw Jay on the side, signaling for him to just do it.


    June pursed his lips before facing the camera, an awkward smile on his face.


    "I love cheese balls," he said in a fake enthusiastic tone.


    "Eyy," DJ Dog said, patting his shoulder. "That''s not what you said during themercial! But seeing as you look like you''ve been constipated for days, I''m going to drop it for now."


    Hisment made the other members of EVE chuckle, lightening the atmosphere.


    Meanwhile, June was silently praying that they move onto a different topic.


    Thankfully, DJ Dog didn''t pry any further.


    "Well, today, we''re here at Sunshine Arts Middle School and High School! It''s one of thergest schools in school as it integrates both middle-schoolers," he pointed to the building on their left, "and high-schoolers," he pointed to the one on their right.


    "And this is where EVE''s School Invasion will take ce! Are you guys excited?" he asked.


    "Very!" Akira eximed. "I can''t wait to perform and meet the students."


    "Not too fast!" DJ Dog said. "Before you get to perform for the student body, you still need to aplish a bunch of missions. You''re already aware of that, right?"


    "Yes," Ren responded. "We''re going to kill it!"


    DJ Dog raised his eyebrows in amusement. "You''ve got some confidence! I like it. Let''s just hope it actually trantes well into your missions! For now, let''s head to your designated room so you can uncover your missions."


    The crew led the members of EVE to a secluded passage that led them to a music room of some sort. It was in the basement of the high school building, and the other rooms on the floor didn''t have any students.


    The group made their way inside, settling in their seats.


    DJ Dog now took a rest, as he only appears in the beginning and at the school assembly itself.


    In the meantime, the main producer took the initiative to give EVE their bowl of missions.


    "These are the missions you have to aplish," she exined.


    "Oh, wow. We''re really doing this," Sehun said, feeling a bit nervous.


    "Aww, is our oldest member nervous?" Akira teased, leaning against his shoulder.


    Sehun shook his head. "Stop teasing me. I bet you''re nervous, too."


    The producer cleared her throat, cutting their conversation short. "There are three missions you have to aplish. Inside these blue balls¡­"


    The members looked at June as soon as she mentioned balls, causing him to shake his head and re at them.


    "...are papers with different colors. Every mission will contain a location, an action, and the number of people who need to aplish it."


    "The blue paper signifies a group mission, so four of you will head out and aplish the mission. The yellow paper is a trio mission, so three of you will do it; andst but not least, whoever picks the pink paper will aplish the mission all alone!"


    June felt his stomach drop. His teammates also turned to him once again


    They hadn''t picked a mission just yet, but he already had a feeling of what was going to happen.


    "No," he muttered under his breath. "Let''s not manifest it."


    "Failure to aplish the three missions will result in a cancetion of your performance. So, please do your best to aplish all of them," she said.


    "Now, why don''t you pick out your missions?"


    June raised his hand.


    "I''ll pick first," he courageously said.


    He was almost certain the pink paper would end up with him if he endedst, so he quickly retrieved the ball at the very bottom.


    His teammates chuckled at his enthusiasm before reaching for their own missions.


    Now, all of the members held a blue ball, and they were tasked to open it at the same time.


    Zeth opened his first, revealing a yellow paper. "Yes!" he eximed. "I''m not doing it alone."


    The other members also started opening the balls, yet June didn''t have the heart to open his.


    Why was this making him so nervous?


    Jaeyong revealed his blue paper to the camera with a wide smile.


    Shortly after that, Sehun and Jisung also revealed their yellow papers, meaning the trio group had already been filled.


    June pursed his lips and waited for his other two members to open theirs before opening his.


    "It''s blue," Ren smiled.


    June held his breath as he waited for Akira to reveal his paper to the camera. However, when he saw the smirk on Akira''s face, he already knew.


    "I got blue," Akira said in a teasing manner.

 Chapter 377 Cream Bread

    <h4>Chapter 377 Cream Bread</h4>


    June shouldn''t even be surprised at this point. From the moment they exined the mechanics of the mission, he should have known he was going to get the unlucky card.


    "Great!" the producer eximed. "Can you please show your missions to the camera?"


    "Us first," Akira eximed, opening the paper and showing it to the camera.


    "In the high school library¡­leave your signature on the bulletin board in the given timeframe," Zeth read.


    "Sweet," Ren said. "That sounds pretty easy."


    "You will be given 30 minutes to aplish the mission," the producer exined. "You have to be back here within exactly 30 minutes for it to count as a?sess."


    "I think we can do it," Jaeyong said. "We just have to find where the library is."


    "Now, for the trio, can you please introduce your mission?" the producer asked.


    Sehun opened the paper and showed it to the camera.


    "Take a Proid photo and leave it in the bag of an avid fan in ss 8-A! Make sure she doesn''t find out about it until after the school assembly," he read.


    The trio looked at the producer with curious gazes, wondering who this fan was.


    "Kim Hyewon, an 8th grader in ss A, is said to be the biggest fan of EVE in their ss. Later, after Team Blue aplishes their mission, her ss will go to the gym for their P.E. ss. Take this opportunity to smuggle the Proid into her bag!"


    "Aww, that sounds sweet," Akira said. "I wish we would have gotten that."


    "Yeah, I wonder what her reaction will be," Jisung excitedly said.


    "We will include a clip of her reaction once this episode airs on Wednesday," the producer said.


    "Lastly, can June please reveal the pink mission?" she asked.


    June quietly sighed before opening the paper, his heart racing inside his chest.


    ''Please let it be an easy one,'' he pleaded in his mind.


    "In the joint cafeteria, buy a snack ande back to the music room," he slowly read.


    "That''s so easy!" Zeth eximed, causing June to smile in relief.


    He could definitely do that!


    "There''s something written in the back," the producer added, causing June''s smile to drop.


    He turned the paper around and read the additional writing.


    "However, you can''t get caught by a high-schooler."


    "But isn''t it a joint cafeteria?" Ren asked, and the producer nodded.


    "So, both the high schoolers and middle schoolers are going to be there?" June rified.


    "Yes," the producer said. "Some students buy their snacks even when it isn''t the break time. However, by 9:30 AM, there''s a general recess for all the students. I would suggest finishing the mission until then."


    June nced at his watch and saw it was already past 8 AM.


    "We need to start then," he quickly urged.


    "There''s another condition," the producer said, causing June to lean back against his seat in defeat.


    One of her assistants handed her arge piece of paper that contained a photo of some type of bread. It was white and had powdered sugar on top. There was a simple writing on the clear stic that said ''cream bread.''


    "You have to buy this specific snack beforeing back. It''s one of the most popr snacks with the students, so you have to buy one until it runs out."


    "Now," she quickly said before June could evenin. "Why don''t we get started with the first mission? Team blue, please wear yourpels and grab your personal cameras with you!"


    The members of Team Blue excitedly prepared for their mission while June strategized how to do his.


    It was at times like this when he wanted to have his teammates by his side.


    His introverted self was already quaking from the thought of seeing young students!


    If it was adults, then he''d honestly be fine.


    However, kids were another breed. June didn''t dare mess with them.


    Fortunately, his teammates didn''t take too long to finish their missions. Team Blue finished theirs with ten minutes to spare, while Team Yellow arrived exactly at 9:10 AM.


    "That was so fun!" Jisung eximed. "We saw a 7th grader along the way, and she was so sweet. She even directed us to Hyewon''s seat."


    "The students here are really nice," Zeth added. "Even the high schoolers helped us locate the library. They didn''t make a fuss or any like that!"


    June listened to their conversation as he prepared for his mission. They equipped him with a walkie-talkie in case he ran into some trouble, and they gave them a small camera attached to a selfie stick so he could film himself without the help of a cameraman.


    "I feel really bad for him sometimes," Akira said, observing his friend. "I wonder if he has a birthmark on his ass."


    Ren weirdly looked at him. "Why would you even wonder that?"


    "Because he has such bad luck!" Akira answered. "Don''t think of anything weird. I''m not like Casper or anything."


    Casper shook his head.


    "I''m heading out," June said, trying to sound as brave as possible.


    "Will you be alright?" Zeth asked.


    "I hope so," June said before finally leaving the room and embarking on his mission.


    He walked through the hallways, and fortunately, it seemed like most of the students still had their sses since he didn''t run into anyone.


    Moreover, he didn''t struggle to find the cafeteria since it was a separate building located between the two buildings that separated the different grades.


    "Alright, this is easy," he spoke to himself.


    June entered the cafeteria and once again sighed in relief when he didn''t find anyone there.


    He quickly went to the snack section and looked for the cream bread he was supposed to buy.


    He heard angels sing when he saw one on top of a shelf, so he quickly ran to where it was to grab it.


    However, just as he held onto its packaging, another hand (a significantly smaller one) also reached out for the bread, causing him to freeze in dread.


    June paused for a moment before turning to the side, meeting the eyes of his rival.


    "This is my cream bread!"

 Chapter 378 A Scary Generation

    <h4>Chapter 378 A Scary Generation</h4>


    A petite girl with bangs and short hair tied into pigtails stared intensely into June''s eyes. Her lips were glossy, and her eyelids glittery. She was also chewing gum while standing on one foot. Surrounding her were three boys, all appearing to be head over heels for her. One of them was fanning her with a folder, while the other two were ready to jump at June.


    June looked at their uniforms and sighed in relief when he saw the words ''middle school'' written on it. The only good thing about this was that he didn''t run into a high-schooler.


    "Hey, June. 15 minutes until their recess starts," Akira said through his in-ear monitor.


    "I''ve run into some trouble," June whispered through the walkie-talkie while still holding onto the cream bread.


    "I''m talking to you," the little girl said, one of her eyebrows raised.


    June awkwardly chuckled, feeling unnecessarily feeble under the gaze of a 13-year-old.


    "Look, kid," he started off.


    "I''m not a kid," she snapped, causing June to raise his hands in surrender.


    "Right," he said. "Look, Miss."


    She nodded in approval and gestured for him to continue.


    "I don''t know if you know me, but let me introduce myself," he started off.


    "My name is June. I''m from an idol group called EVE."


    "Oh, the group that my sister likes," she said, causing June to beam.


    "Your sister likes us?" he smiled. "That''s great! Maybe I can give you a signature and you can give it to her as a gift¡ª"


    "Why would I do that?" she asked, going back to her nonchnt face. "I''ve never watched any of your videos, so I don''t like you. I''m not going to give your signature to my sister. I''m just going to brag that I met you once this episode of School Invasion airs."


    June''s eyes widened in surprise, wondering how this little kid knew about them filming for the show. As far as he knew, the students were clueless about the video shoot!


    "I''m sure you''re wondering why I know," she smirked. "Well, I''m not stupid. I saw you guys outside since I waste."


    June pursed his lips, finding this more difficult than anticipated.


    "What''s your name?" June asked.


    "Me?" she beamed. "It''s Yunha. Bang Yunha."


    "Alright, Yunha. That''s a pretty name," June said,plimenting her through gritted teeth.


    "And what about you guys?" he asked the boys.


    "They don''t go by names," Yunha answered for them.


    "This is my boyfriend," she pointed to the tallest one.


    "And these two are his boyfriends."


    "Pardon?" June eximed loudly, looking at the three boys with wide eyes.


    "His friends that are boys, duh!" Yunha eximed.


    "Theye along with us to keep me safe. Right, boys?" she asked.


    "Yes, ma''am!" they said in a loud voice.


    June felt like he was part of some simtion. Was this how kids really act these days?


    He thought Generation Z was the scariest generation, but it turned out Generation Alpha was a different breed.


    "So, Yunha," June said, going back to the cream bread.


    "I really need to buy this cream bread so we can perform for you in the school''s assembly," he cheerily said.


    "Oh," she smiled. "So, you need to buy it so you can perform for us?"


    "Yes!" June enthusiastically said, feeling like she finally caught on to what was happening.


    He nced at his watch and saw there were only ten minutes left until their recess.


    June really needed to buy the cream bread; otherwise, his team wouldn''t be able to perform in front of the students!


    "So, if you don''t buy this, you won''t be able to perform? Sweet! That means we don''t have to watch your long performance," she smiled.


    June stood dumbfounded, having had enough of their conversation.


    He sighed and clutched onto the cream bread, taking it from the shelf.


    "I''m taking this one," he said with resolution, walking away from the four tweens.


    "Not so fast!" Yunha eximed, and just like that, her trio of little boys surrounded June, linking their arms together so he was stuck between them.


    June sighed in defeat.


    "What now? I really need to go, kid. My team is waiting, and frankly, I''m thest person to aplish the mission," June said.


    "That''s not my problem," Yunha said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "That cream bread is my favorite thing in the entire world. I always have it every day."


    "Just this once," June said. "I won''t be here again tomorrow."


    Yunha ced her hand under her chin.


    "Well, then. It shouldn''t be free. It muste with a price."


    June shook his head, wanting to escape from the little boys'' holds. However, he knew it would hurt them in the process, so he held back.


    "What do you want me to do?" June asked in defeat.


    Yunha smirked, and June felt a chill run down his spine.


    He nced once more at his watch and saw there was a little over five minutes left.


    "Entertain us," Yunha said.


    June groaned and threw his head back in frustration.


    "You know, you really shouldn''t be speaking like this to your elders," he said.


    "Get moving, old man," she urged. "You want EVE to perform for the school, don''t you?"


    June pursed his lips and weighed out the pros and cons of the situation.


    If he stayed still, he''d probably get caught by the high-schoolers, and they wouldn''t get to perform.


    If he breaks away from their hold, he''d most likely be reported to the principal.


    If he entertained them, his dignity would be trampled on.


    Plus, he didn''t know if Yunha would truly keep her word.


    "I''m waiting," Yunha impatiently said.


    June sighed in defeat. "Loosen your hold then," he said.


    Yunha smiled in satisfaction as June started to perform. He decided to sing ''Oasis'' since it wouldn''t be too shameful, and he would get to promote their song to these little tweens.


    "Not that!" Yunha immediately said, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow.


    "What do you want?" June exasperatedly asked.


    "Didn''t youe from Rising Stars?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "Yeah, I remember my sister watching it, too," her boyfriend said.


    Yunha pped. "Perfect! Sing us the Little Meow Meow song you did in your auditions!"

 Chapter 379 Bullies

    <h4>Chapter 379 Bullies</h4>


    June was in a predicament.


    His pride was on the line, and the one holding onto it was a 13-year-old girl with pigtails.


    Three minutes.


    Only three minutes and his fate will be sealed.


    ''Fuck it,'' he thought.


    June channeled the inner cuteness hidden in his heart and started moving like he did during his auditions.


    "Meow, meow, a timeless call,


    Unveiling mysteries, standing tall or small.


    Beneath the surface, secrets lie,


    In the depths of a feline''s eye."


    Thest time he sang this song was during his Rising Stars audition, and he definitely felt the improvement in his voice.


    June continued to sing while the tweens surrounding him pped happily. Right


    now, it seemed like he was the youngest out of all of them!


    "In each meow, a story untold,


    Whispers of wisdom age-old.


    They dance between worlds unseen,


    Guiding us to ces serene.


    (Meow, meow, meow¡­)"


    "Omo, our little June did so good!" Yunha eximed as soon as he was done.


    One minute.


    "Can I go now?" June hurriedly asked, bouncing on his feet.


    Yunha hummed and looked up at the ceiling.


    Forty seconds.


    "Well, since you did such a great job, I''ll let you off the hook! I''ll just buy my cream bread tomorrow. Release him, boys," she ordered.


    Atst, June was finally free.


    He dashed to the counter and quickly paid for the cream bread. He didn''t even bother taking the change since he was in a hurry.


    June was about to leave through the front door when the bell rang all throughout the school, signaling the start of their recess.


    The events happened quick, and before June knew it, he could hear the eager footsteps of hungry, youthful teens running to the cafeteria. June''s eyes widened when he saw the approaching crowd through the ss doors.


    Was everything he did all in vain?


    As the teenagers approached, he felt a small hand sped onto his wrist.


    "Idiot," Yunha said, dragging June to the other side of the cafeteria.


    June didn''t know where the spoiled girl was taking him, but maybe it was better than being flocked by both the middle-schoolers and high-schoolers alike.


    "Quick!" Yunha urged. "There''s a secret passage here."


    She opened the fire exit that led to the dumpster area of the school, and she quickly closed it as the students flocked to the cafeteria.


    June sighed in relief, catching his breath as he leaned against the cold brick wall.


    "You''re stupid," he heard Yunha say. "Wasn''t your mission not to get caught or something?"


    June shook his head in disbelief. "How do you know these things?"


    "I watch School Invasion a lot," she said. "There''s a pattern in their missions. I''m sure you got the one where you can''t get caught by the high-schoolers."


    "It was a good thing I was there, right?" she shed a smile. "If not, you wouldn''t be able to perform."


    A small smile appeared on June''s face. Maybe this kid wasn''t too bad after all.


    "Honestly, I just realized I like Zeth from your group. He''s the one from the coffeemercial, right? I think he''s really handsome! He should have been your center," Yunha quickly added, causing June to lose all hope.


    Alright, this kid was really bad.


    "Besides, my sister''s going to be really happy once she sees you guys perform. She''s going to graduate next year, so I want to give her a memorable year," she sweetly said.


    "Are you still alive?" he heard Casper say through his in-ear monitor.


    June sighed and spoke to the walkie-talkie. "I''m fine. I''m on my way back."


    "I assume you need to go?" Yunha asked.


    June nodded. "I think I need to let the recess pass, though. I don''t want to risk getting caught by anyone else."


    "That''s in thirty minutes," Yunha said. "If you want, you can follow the path right here."


    She pointed to the grassy path that was seemingly abandoned.


    "Nobody really hangs out here since it''s grassy and itchy, so I think you''ll be safe."


    June smiled, standing straight.


    "Thanks for the help, even though I would have finished the mission ages ago if you hadn''t shown up," he muttered thetter part under his breath.


    "You were saying something?" Yunha asked with one eyebrow raised.


    June cleared his throat.


    "Nothing. Thanks. I''ll see you around, I guess," June said, waving goodbye to the tween.


    "Bye, June!" she eximed.


    Surprisingly, Yunha wasn''t lying when she said nobody really hung around this path since June had a peaceful walk.


    He clutched onto the cream bread in his hand and red at the round pastry.


    "Just how good are you that I''ve run into this trouble?"


    Wanting to satiate his curiosity, he decided to open the cream bread and take a small bite.


    As he bit into the pastry, which was still quite warm, he felt the luscious cream ooze out. The cream wasn''t too sweet, but it was rich, filled with vors that shouldn''t be confined in a school cafeteria.


    He had to stop for a second because the vor took him by surprise.


    "Huh," he said.


    It was actually really good.


    June took another small bite and nodded in approval.


    Now, he understood why Bang Yunha was obsessed with this bread.


    After savoring two bites, he decided to seal the package and continue his journey.


    However, as he took another step, he heard a couple of voices from the wall adjacent to his.


    "What? Do you want to report us to the school?" a boy, whose voice sounded like it still hadn''t fully developed, said in a threatening tone.


    "Or are you going to run back to your parents and tell on us?" another voice said in a mocking tone. "Oh, wait. They don''t care about you, right?"


    June frowned.


    He couldn''t really watch the scene from his position, but he could already tell that these kids weren''t good news.


    "You''re smart, right? Why won''t you do our homework for us?" the first kid said.


    "You''re even our teacher''s favorite," another boy said. "Did your parents buy her something? I''m sure life is easy when you''re rich, huh?"


    June shook his head, having enough of the situation.


    So, he decided to intercept. He was about to move out of his spot but quickly stopped when he heard another person speak.


    "Just let me go."


    June froze.


    "Minjun," he whispered.

 Chapter 380 Outlier

    <h4>Chapter 380 Outlier</h4>


    No wonder the school seemed familiar. June had never been to Minjun''s school before, but the uniforms were identical to the ones that Minjun wore.


    There was no doubt.


    The kid they were bullying was none other than Minjun.


    June stood there for a while, not knowing what to do. It dawned on him why Minjun had a shift in his attitude. He had always been bright, snarky, and never took anyone''s shit.


    However, the Minjun he saw in the hospital was distant, cold, and passive.


    June snapped out of his thoughts when he heard what seemed to be a punch. His eyes widened, and he was about to intervene when he heard another voice.


    "Hey!" a girl''s voice, still young but undoubtedly older than Minjun, intercepted the scene.


    "What the hell are you kids doing?" she asked.


    June peeked from his spot and saw a trio of teenagers, appearing to be in high school, looking at the three bullies with reprimanding stares.


    "Why are you ganging up on him?" the girl who originally stopped the fight asked.


    She continued to reprimand the bullies along with her two other friends, but June couldn''t hear a thing they were saying.


    Instead, his gaze was focused on Minjun.


    June''s jaw clenched when he saw a forming bruise on his arm. Minjun clutched onto the discolored area, his eyes cast to the ground with a subtle re. His lips were pursed together, and he was breathing heavily as if he was holding back his emotions.


    June snapped out of his thoughts when the bullies spoke again.


    "This is not over, Minjun," one of them said.


    June''s eyes narrowed on the kid, his eyes focused on the nametag attached to his uniform.


    "Kim Duri," he muttered under his breath.


    "Kids these days, really," the girl said as she red at the bullies'' figures from a distance.


    Then, she walked to where Minjun was, cing a hand on his shoulder.


    "Are you okay?" she softly asked.


    However, Minjun didn''t respond and broke away from her hold before she could ensure his safety.


    June''s frown deepened as he followed Minjun''s figure.


    "Little bro," he said but quickly hid in his spot when the trio seemed to have heard his words.


    "Did you guys hear that?" the girl asked.


    "I didn''t," another responded.


    "Do you guys think it''s a ghost?" a new voice asked.


    "Who cares?" the second person said. "Let''s go to the cafeteria. I want some cream bread."


    With that, June waited for their footsteps to grow distant before he walked back to the music room.


    He finally arrived at the music room with a half-eaten cream bread in his hand.


    "There you are!" Zeth eximed. "That took so long. We thought you got caught."


    "I didn''t," June mindlessly said, his thoughts still focused on what he saw a while ago.


    "You can check the footage I''ve filmed," he added. "I didn''t run into any high-schoolers."


    "And the bread?" Ren asked.


    June showed them the crumpled bread in his hand, causing the members and the staff members tough.


    "Aww, did you grow hungry?" Jaeyong teased.


    "You should have bought more for us," Akira added.


    June merely smiled, not having the energy to respond to their teases.


    "Congrattions, EVE!" the producer eximed, confetti falling over the members'' heads.


    "You havepleted all of your missions and are now granted permission to perform at the school''s assembly!"


    "This assembly willprise of the highest years from the middle school and high school department. So, only the seniors and 8th-graders will be a part of it."


    June''s shoulders slumped in disappointment.


    Minjun was in 7th grade.


    June was hoping he''d see him, but it seemed like fate didn''t allow it.


    "Now, go ahead and get ready for the performance!"


    ***


    "What''s this for?" Yoonhee asked as she entered the assembly hall with her friends.


    "Beats me," Jaekyung, her closest male friend, shrugged. "It''s weird that they''re linking us with the 8th-graders, though."


    "Speaking of 8th-graders," Nami, her other friend, pointed to the little tweens in front of them, "I think your sister is stirring some drama again."


    Yoonhee shook her head as she observed her sister. The 8th-grader was surrounded by a bunch of boys, two of them fawning over her like a queen.


    "I swear, Yunha is theplete opposite of you," Jaekyung said.


    "Tell me about it," Nami chuckled. "I''m scared of her even though she''s younger than me."


    Yoonhee sighed in defeat, crossing her arms in front of her chest.


    "I''m just d she isn''t like those 7th grade bullies we met during the break."


    "Yeah," Nami sighed. "I felt so bad for the other kid. It seems like it has been going on for a while."


    Their conversation was cut short as their principal''s voice resounded through the hall.


    "Students," he started off. "Thank you foring here despite the short notice. I have a few announcements that involve your grades, so please listen well."


    Yoonhee groaned, leaning her head against Jaekyung. The teenage boy blushed, cing his hand over his heart as he felt it racing.


    "A few announcements mean we''ll be here until lunch," sheined.


    Nami looked at Jaekyung, her heart aching as he watched her being giddy over Yunha.


    However, she cleared her throat and quickly responded to Yunha.


    "Yeah," Nami said. "His announcements always stray to his life stories."


    "Well, at least we wouldn''t have to take the quiz with Mrs. Sim," Jaekyung chimed.


    Yoonhee chuckled. "Yeah, you''re right."


    "Now, settle down," their principal said.


    "My first announcement is¡ª"


    Just then, cameras emerged from left and right, and a new voice resounded through the hall.


    People started screaming as they saw a familiar faceing up the stage, greeting their principal with a wide smile.


    "DJ Dog?" Nami eximed, standing from her seat.


    "Aplishing missions in thend of education¡ªthis is School Invasion!" DJ Dog loudly said the tagline of the show, some of the students chanting along with him.


    "Oh my gosh. School Invasion?"


    "Fuck, I never thought the day woulde."


    "This is the very first time I didn''t regreting to school."


    The crowd was in shambles as DJ Dog continued speaking.


    Yoonhee stopped leaning on Jaekyung, causing thetter to be disappointed.


    She kept her gaze on the stage, curious as to who was going to invade their school.


    Yoonhee was a fan of Korean rap and hip-hop, so she wasn''t too interested in idols. However, there was one outlier in her usual taste.


    Nami, on the other hand, was a hardcore fan of every K-pop group out there.


    "Without further ado," DJ Dog said, his voice bursting through the speakers, "I present to you¡ªEVE!"

 Chapter 381 First Love

    <h4>Chapter 381 First Love</h4>


    The curtains opened, revealing the eight handsome members of EVE.


    Cheers enveloped the hall, with fans and non-fans alike amazed at their appearance. Fans cheered for their names as ''Oasis'' started ying, and they even joined in on the fan chant.


    Meanwhile, the students who weren''t too familiar with them looked at the group with wide eyes and agape mouths.


    "I''ve never seen so many handsome people in my life."


    "I might consider stanning at this point."


    Yoonhee almost fell from her seat as she gazed at the handsome men. Her eyes automatically locked onto her bias, his pink hair taking most of her attention.


    Her eyes sparkled in glee as she looked him up and down. Oh, how she wished to have a conversation with him in real life.


    Meanwhile, her little sister smirked as she looked at June.


    "He''s actually pretty cute," she whispered.


    However, her attention was quickly stolen by Zeth, her most beloved member of the group.


    Their performance continued, and the cheers just didn''t stop. June decided to forget about what he saw a while ago and focus on performing since he didn''t want to give the crowd a half-assed show.


    EVE was bound to perform three songs for tonight.


    One was ''Oasis,'' their title track, and their B-side track, ''Caffeine,'' quickly followed.


    Jisung wanted to perform Red Moon since he wanted to show off his sexy side once again, but the group ultimately decided not to include it since they were performing in front minors.


    Their two songs ended, and it was now time for their introductions.


    "Shoot to the top! Hello, guys, we are LEVEL-UP!"


    The students once again screamed, some bing borderline hysterical.


    Yoonhee, however, stayed still in her seat, her gaze focused in front. She already believed this was the happiest day of her life!


    "We came here to send you strength, especially for the graduating students. I know it''s tough, but hang in there! You''re almost close to the finish line," Sehun encouraged them.


    Jisung shyly smiled at the crowd. "Thank you for the warm wee. We really appreciate it!"


    "He''s so cute!"


    "Are you sure he''s older than us?"


    "He''s like a baby chick!"


    Their youngest member was greeted with coos, causing the older members to teasingly nce at him.


    "June, do you want to say something?" Jaeyong asked, handing the microphone to their center.


    "It''s the cheese balls guy!"


    "Did you guys see themercial? It was so funny."


    "Balls!"


    June pursed his lips and ignored theirments. He almost forgot how popr themercial was, especially with the younger generation.


    "Umm, hi guys! Study hard," he quickly said since he didn''t want to be the center of attention anymore.


    While some people cheered, most of the students were hung up on themercial. As a result, June received a lukewarm response.


    Yoonhee looked around and saw that it was only her and Nami who were cheering in their row.


    She frowned. "What is wrong with these people?" she asked.


    June may be popr with the older generation, but he wasn''t too popr with the teens. In a survey conducted online, it was found that June''s fans were mostlyprised of college students or retired senior citizens.


    June wasn''t surprised about it. Even in his past life, he wasn''t too popr with the kids. It seemed to have transcended to this life. His first interactions with Minjun and Yunha were already testaments to that.


    Jaeyong took the microphone from June and smiled.


    "It''s unfortunate to announce that this will be ourst song for today," he said.


    The venue was filled with ''awws'' of disappointment after Jaeyong''s statement.


    "But don''t worry!" Zeth eximed. "Thisst performance is going to be a special performance."


    Murmurs of excitement filled the hall.


    "We''re going to be performing one of the songs from our album entitled ''First Love,'' and you are the very first people to see it live," he said.


    The crowd cheered, already feeling excited with the title of the song alone.


    When the team was deciding on what to perform, they agreed to sing the most youthful song in their album¡ª''First Love.''


    It was a rtively new concept for all the members, but they practiced hard to emte the feeling of the song.


    "Let''s go!" Jisung eximed before the members took their positions.


    Despite theck of stage effects, it appeared like EVE had a rosy mist engulfing them and flower petals falling all over their head.


    They were the epitome of a youngster''s first love.


    As the music started, a soft melody apanied by gentle harmonies filled the air, creating an instant connection with the young audience.


    Jisung stepped forward, and the crowd went crazy as he sang the first lines.


    "As I walk down the halls, I nce at your room.


    Your smile reminds me of flowers in bloom."


    With the first lines alone, the young students immediately mored to add the song to their ylists.


    "Why have I never heard this song before?"


    "Should I send this to her?"


    "When will my first lovee?"


    The members exchanged nces, feeling a sense of nostalgia hit them.


    It was evident that most of them didn''t have a normal high school lives because of their training period, so in a way, they wanted to channel their inner desires to the song to make it more rtable to the students.


    "I passed notes around just to get you to smile.


    Getting scolded by the teacher became worthwhile."


    The choreography unfolded with graceful simplicity, mirroring the uplicated beauty of a first love. The members moved with charming effortlessness, drawing the audience into their narrative. The students also began to follow the easy, synchronized dance.


    "Sweating under the sun;ughing under the rain.


    A stolen nce, a heartbeat''s refrain."


    The chorus arrived, and the stage was filled with innocent energy. The students, swept up in the performance, found themselves drawn into the rhythm.


    "You were my first love.


    You make me think of...


    The grass that tickles my soles.


    Who knew you''d capture my soul?"


    June led the second chorus, and as expected, the cheers weakened once more.


    "You were my first love.


    You make me think of...


    Never wanting to depart.


    Who knew you''d capture my heart?"


    June took a step back and made way for Zeth''s lines. He slightly frowned when the cheers returned, wondering what he did to make the kids hostile to him.


    Meanwhile, Yunha looked around and felt quite bad for June. Contrary to what she said a while ago, she actually listened to EVE''s song quite a lot.


    June had never captured her attention since she never watched any of their live performances. Yunha did see his cheese ballmercial, which she found hrious, and she also watched their ''Oasis'' music video.


    For some reason, June just never really stood out to her.


    Meanwhile, as June danced behind Casper, a holographic disy appeared before him.


    [Congrattions, host! You have sessfully reached 100,000 followers on your Navel ount. Please choose an aspect to improve.]


    June stared at the screen with determination before choosing an aspect.


    ''Visuals.''


    [Wise choice. Visuals +1. Current stat: S-]


    If these kids didn''t want to cheer for him, then June would just leave them speechless.

 Chapter 382 Instant Bias

    <h4>Chapter 382 Instant Bias</h4>


    Jay watched EVE''s performance backstage, smiling at the group of boys. Training with them in Rising Stars and now seeing them perform in front of an eager audience made him feel like a proud dad.


    "They grew up so well," he said, wiping a lone tear from the corner of his eyes.


    June turned around as he waited for his part in the bridge, still dancing along with his members.


    Jay''s eyes met with June''s for a second, so he waved at him enthusiastically like a fan.


    However, it seemed like June was preupied with his thoughts since he didn''t acknowledge Jay.


    But then, the craziest thing happened.


    Jay''s smile quickly dropped when a bright, white aura suddenly emanated from June. His features, which were originally very handsome already, became even more¡­captivating?


    Jay''s mouth slightly went agape as he continued to stare at June.


    He rubbed his eyes to determine if he was hallucinating, but he definitely wasn''t.


    Jay felt a sense of deja vu. It felt like he had seen this once before during their time in Rising Stars!


    "I''m going crazy," he whispered.


    Jay couldn''t take his eyes off of him even after he had already turned around.


    Yunha, who was watching Zeth dance in the center, sighed dreamily with her hands sped in front of her chest. He was the first love she had always wanted!


    However, the chorus quickly ended, and Zeth stepped back, making way for the member in charge of the bridge.


    June faced the audience while his members surrounded him. There was an audible gasp as the music mellowed down, and June sang hia linwa.


    "My first love, a dagger, sharp and deep.


    A wound of innocence I tried to keep.


    Yet in the pain, a lesson learned,


    A chapter in the book of love turned."


    His pink hair cascaded down his shoulders like a midnight waterfall, framing a face that was sculpted by the gods themselves. His eyes were hypnotic, and they caught the sunlight, making it gleam with radiance.


    June''s features were a delicate bnce between the demonic and angelic. His sharp jawline and piercing gaze set the students'' hearts aze while his lips curved into a subtle smile.


    "I still cherish our first embrace,


    A memory of a simple space.


    Where your smile could conquer, heal, and break.


    You are my favorite mistake."


    The sound of June''s voice filled the hall, a velvety melody that wrapped around the audience like a warm embrace.


    Yunha felt her heart quicken its pace, an unexpected reaction that left her momentarily stunned.


    "What the hell?" she muttered, her eyes locked on June even after he left the center.


    "What is this?" she continued to ask.


    Again, Yunha had never considered June as her bias before. However, right now, he seemed¡­different.


    There was a maic force emanating from him, and as he smiled at the audience, Yunha found herself captivated.


    It seemed like she wasn''t alone, though,


    The rose-tinted sses manifested among many in the audience, casting a warm hue over their perception of June.


    "That''s the guy who said he loves balls in the cheese ballmercial?"


    "Now, why is he so handsome?"


    "I thought my grandma was crazy for liking him. Now, I fully get it."


    "He''s such a bad actor but such a good performer!"


    "I think I love him."


    Yunha, however, was definitely the most affected out of all.


    ''Maybe I should have taken his offer on the signature.''


    Meanwhile, Yoonhee didn''t think it was possible to fall for June even more. However, here she was, speechless as she stared at June.


    The song had already ended, and EVE was already saying their goodbyes, but all she could hear was a love song ying in the back of her mind.


    Jaekyung watched her and shook his head.


    ''I have no chance, don''t I?'' he thought.


    ***


    EVE made their way backstage, and they were congratted by the staff members of School Invasion as well as the workers of the school. The teachers and administrators all flocked toward them, wanting to take a picture with the handsome idol group.


    June''s poprity was definitely the highest among the older generation (as expected).


    However, today, his poprity has also transcended to the younger generation, with most of the students searching him up on their phones.


    Jay watched from the sidelines, his gaze still focused on June.


    He ced his hand under his chin and thought intensely about his sudden improvement in the visual department.


    June felt his gaze, so he walked toward Jay.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked. "Is there something on my face?"


    "Handsomeness," Jay absent-mindedly said.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    Jay quickly caught himself and cleared his throat.


    "Nothing," he awkwardly answered, feeling giddy under June''s gaze. "You did really well just now."


    June showed a small smile. "Thanks," he said.


    June''s mind was actually in another ce while he was performing. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on their performance, he couldn''t shake off what he witnessed a while back.


    Minjun.


    June thought he was merely going through puberty, but now, there was definitely something else going on.


    Was he being bullied?


    If so, how long has he been enduring this?


    June''s heart ached with the thought of Minjun suffering, and he wanted nothing more but to take all of Minjun''s pain to himself.


    June looked down at the ground and shook his head. He had definitely grown more attached to the little kid than he had ever imagined.


    "Hey, Jay," June said, capturing his attention. "Do we have something to do after this one?"


    "Not that I know of," Jay said. "I do have a meeting with the higher-ups for an impending project for the group. Why?"


    "So, it''s a free day?" June asked.


    "Kind of," Jay responded. "But I would suggest staying in the dorms since I''m not around. You guys should rest since you''ll be very busy once this project is confirmed."


    "I see," June vaguely said.


    Jay narrowed his eyes suspiciously at June.


    "Why?" he asked.


    "Nothing," June innocently smiled.

 Chapter 383 Puppy June

    <h4>Chapter 383 Puppy June</h4>


    Nothing, my ass.


    June was impatiently waiting for Jay to leave their dorm for that damned meeting he was talking about.


    "Well, it seems like our meeting got dyed because Mr. Ong''s favorite chair broke. Time to take a rest here," he said, plopping on the couch.


    June internally groaned as Jay made himself feel at home. He stuffed his mouth with the pink-colored cheese balls that ''Cheeze'' sent the boys (they still had over ten buckets inside their dorm), while waiting for Akira to set up the TV.


    "Let''s y video games," Akira suggested, and Jay enthusiastically agreed.


    "Let me join, too," Jisung said, sitting next to them.


    June nced at the clock and saw it was nearing Minjun''s dismissal time.


    He wanted to discover more about what was truly happening and hopefully put an end to it, but Jay was too good at his job and didn''t allow them to go out on their own, especially during these periods.


    However, since June really wanted to see how Minjun was doing, he sneakily walked to the door in hopes of escaping from Jay.


    "Where are you going?"


    June halted when he felt three burning gazes on the side of his face. He turned to his teammates and pursed his lips together.


    "Are you going somewhere?" Akira asked.


    "Can wee with you?" Jisung excitedly said.


    June sighed before going back to his room. He''ll just wait until Jay leaves.


    ***


    June made a mistake¡ªa really huge mistake.


    He merely wanted to wait for Jay to leave so he could sneak out of their dorm, but he fell asleep in his room in the process.


    "Shit," he cursed, turning on his phone to look at the time.


    However, before he could even check, somebody''s caller ID appeared on the screen.


    June frowned when he saw Grandma''s name. She usually didn''t call without any warning, so June had an ominous feeling.


    He quickly answered the call.


    "Grandma?" he said.


    "June, oh, thank goodness, you picked up the phone. I''ve been calling different people, and they haven''t even answered. Minjun''s mom also isn''t picking up," the old woman ranted.


    "What happened?" June worriedly asked.


    "Minjun still hasn''te home," she said.


    June cursed as he now looked at the time. It was already past 8:00 PM.


    "I don''t know what to do. I tried calling the police, but they say they can''t file a missing person case since it hasn''t been 24 hours yet," she desperately said.


    June ced on his jacket, cap, and mask before heading out of his room.


    "I''m going to find him," he said with conviction.


    "Where will you start?" Grandma sobbed.


    "I don''t know," June truthfully said, "but I''m going to find him."


    June was greeted by his teammates who were seated at the dining table, but he didn''t pay them any attention.


    "Where are you going? It''s almost past our curfew!" Jaeyong called.


    "I''ll be back," June merely said before sprinting out of their dorm.


    He was immediately greeted by the cold air, but he braved through it and started searching for Minjun. June definitely didn''t know where to start, but he was desperate¡­and he wasn''t going to stop until he found his little brother.


    More alleys, roads, and ygroundster, and June finally arrived near Sunshine Arts School.


    He believed it was the most usible ce for Minjun''s whereabouts since this was thest ce he has seen him.


    June entered the back gate and went to the secluded passage Yunha told him about.


    "You think you''re tough, huh? Why would you tell our teacher that I cheated on the exam?"


    June''s eyebrows furrowed when he recognized the little kid''s voice.


    Kim Duri¡ªthe little bastard he met a while ago.


    "Let me go! I didn''t do anything wrong," he heard Minjun say. "I was just telling the truth."


    June quickened his pace until he finally arrived at the scene. June was expecting to see only the two young teens; however, his frown deepened when he saw that Minjun was also surrounded by three adults.


    "Hey, kid," one of them said. "You''re a pussy, aren''t you? Just because my brother cheats doesn''t mean you''re a better person than him."


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest as he observed the scene before him.


    "Does ganging up on a little kid when you''re a full-grown adult make you a better person then?" June asked, his deep yet soft voice resonating in the dark night.


    The five of them turned towards June. June walked to where Minjun was, immediately cing the teen behind his back. Then, he gazed at the three older men, his eyes lingering on Kim Duri''s brother for a little longer.


    June''s face was fully covered except for his eyes, but his gaze was enough to rattle the three men.


    However, as their eyes met, June quickly felt that something was wrong.


    These men¡­


    "Well, well, well, if it isn''t Choi Joon-ho," one of them said.


    June couldn''t believe how fate worked.


    These were the three men who pestered him during his time in Rising Stars. Those three bastards who were always hanging around their neighborhood.


    "Remember us?" Kim Duri''s brother said. "Or are you too famous to recognize us now?"


    "I don''t remember the insignificant people I meet," June said.


    The imbecile''s jaw clenched, and he took a step closer to June.


    "Well, let me remind you. My name is Kim Jeong, and I am your greatest nightmare," he smirked.


    June removed his mask, revealing his unimpressed face to the three men.


    "Minjun could make better lines than you," he said, chuckling


    They should have been offended by June''s nonchnce, but they were entranced for a second.


    "Damn, handsome," theckey behind Kim Jeong said.


    Jeong nudged his side, causing theckey to double over in pain.


    "You must think you''re on another level since you''ve finally debuted, huh?"


    "I know I''m on another level," June confidently said.


    Kim Jeong let out a loudugh, his eyes crinkling in amusement, and then his smile dropped quickly as he stepped forward.


    "Then, do I need to remind you of your ce again, huh?" Jeong threateningly asked.


    "Puppy June?"

 Chapter 384 Past Meets Present

    <h4>Chapter 384 Past Meets Present</h4>


    Year 2021


    It was dark.


    The skies were void of any stars.


    It was as if the day was meant to be gruesome.


    Joon-ho stood at the rooftop and started looking back on the friends he made along the way after he was kicked out of Phoenix.


    Kim Jeong was one of them.


    Lee Mansik and Do Bonggi also came to his life like a flicker of a me.


    They were the people who he confided with when he was mercilessly removed from the debut group¡ªthe people who made him feel like he belonged.


    However, Joon-ho was blinded.


    They didn''t turn out to be good people.


    In the end, the friendship he cherished turned into the friendship that bit him back in the ass.


    And it made him forget the real friendship that he should have cherished more.


    In front of him was a tall figure standing on the railings of the balcony, the wind blowing through his unkempt hair.


    "No," Joon-ho said, taking a step forward.


    "Don''t," the man, whose face was unrecognizable, said. "I''ve decided."


    "Please, don''t do this," Joon-ho pleaded, going on his knees. "I''m here for you. You''re not alone."


    "I don''t care," the man hopelessly said. "At the end of the day, I will just be¡­forgotten."


    With that, the man fell from the balcony, almost ten floors down. Joon-ho scrambled to get to him, trying to hold onto something¡­anything¡­but it was toote.


    The body lurched forward andnded on the cold, hard concrete.


    "You killed him."


    "This is your fault."


    "Murderer."


    "There''s no one to me but you, puppy June."


    "Puppy June!"


    June snapped out of his trance when he felt a stinging pain on his right cheek.


    "Bro!" Minjun eximed, looking at him with concern before ring at Kim Jeong.


    Kim Jeong manically chuckled while Mansik and Bonggi doubled over inughter.


    "What are you going to do, kid? Report us to your teacher?" he asked.


    Duri tugged on his brother''s sleeve, and softly said, "He always gets away with what he wants because his parents are rich."


    "Oh," Kim Jeong said with raised eyebrows. "It seems like wended on a gold mine. Why don''t you cough up some money, kid? Our family''s a bit tight on funds these days."


    June covered Minjun once more and spat out, his saliva tainted with blood. He chuckled coldly before touching his sore cheek. He was sure it was going to bruise by tomorrow.


    "You know when they say that an idol''s asset is his looks," June cryptically said.


    "What are you spouting?" Mansik asked.


    "Well, you should never hurt someone''s asset," June said, ring at the two beforending a punch on Kim Jeong''s face.


    Their eyes widened in shock as they looked at June''s determined expression. Kim Jeong held onto his jaw as he felt the pain radiate to his head.


    "Shit," he cursed, also spitting out some blood.


    ''This guy packs a punch,'' he thought.


    "Are you insane?" Bonggi eximed. "Your career is over once this gets out!" he threatened.


    June smirked and nonchntly looked at his fist. "That is¡ªif you manage to get out of here."


    Bonggi felt a chill run down his spine as June gazed into his eyes.


    This didn''t feel like the timid Choi Joon-ho they once knew.


    "Bro," Minjun said, holding onto his wrist. "Let''s just go, huh?"


    "Not so fast," Kim Jeong said. "There''s no way in hell you''re leaving this ce after what you just did."


    June nced at Minjun and decided it wasn''t the best idea to fight his past demons while he was around.


    "Alright," June softly said, ignoring the idiots in front of him. "Let''s go."


    June held onto Minjun''s hand and was about to pull him away, when Kim Jeong went in front of him.


    "Duri, take this," he said, handing his little brother some money. "Take the bus and go home."


    Duri smirked as he took the money from his brother. Then, he gazed at Minjun with a victorious look before walking away from the scene, even managing to hum a tune under his breath.


    June cursed as he looked at the teen, disgusted at his actions. It seemed like cruelty ran in their family.


    "Now, let''s get this party started," Jeong said, circling around the two like a predator would do to its prey.


    June stayed still, while Minjun clung to him for dear life.


    "Let us go," June said. "If you want, we can talk about this among ourselves. Leave Minjun out of it."


    "Well, then where''s the fun in that?" Jeong eximed.


    "Since the little one is here, why don''t we tell him an interesting story," he started off.


    "Shut up¡ª," June said, but was quickly cut off by Jeong.


    "Once upon a time, there lived an aspiring idol who always did his best. ording to him, he was supposed to debut in a group, but honestly, he didn''t really have what it takes," Jeong chuckled.


    It was obvious they were talking about Joon-ho.


    "And then, like the world had turned its back on him, his parents died, he got kicked out of thepany, and he started seeking friends. Three little guys were kind enough to take him under their belt, but he was ungrateful and didn''t want to do the things the three kind guys wanted him to do," he continued.


    June guessed that Joon-ho still upheld his morals even though he was forced to do immoral acts by these guys.


    "But, of course, the three guys always had a back-up n. If the little puppy didn''t have what it takes, then they decided to deflower his little friend instead."


    June froze. Now, this was new information for him. There were still a lot of gray areas in Choi Joon-ho''s past, but everything was bing clear one-by-one.


    ...why he was so timid.


    ...why a poem was in his phone entitled¡ª''I Shouldn''t Have Seen What I Saw.''


    ...and why these guys are still pestering him up until now.


    "His little friend couldn''t take the pressure, though," Mansik chuckled.


    "Yeah, if only the little puppy would have obeyed the three kind guys in the first ce, then his little friend wouldn''t have suffered in the end," Bonggi added.


    Minjun frowned, already guessing they were talking about June''s past. He was a smart kid so he pieced it all together.


    "So, in the end," Jeong said, his eyes holding a dark glint, "it was the little puppy''s fault why his little friend suffered, but now¡ªhere he is, now living his life as an idol without any regard to the sins he hasmitted."


    Jeong was sure June was going to be shaken up by his recollection of the past, but June''s eyes continued to hold nonchnce, making him frown.


    "Are you done?" June asked, taking even Minjun by surprise.


    "W¡ªwhat?" Jeong stammered.


    "The only thing I''m getting here is that it''s all your fault," June started off, "don''t me other men for your sins."


    "And besides," June smirked, leaning closer to Jeong.


    "I''m a kitty, idiot."

 Chapter 385 Magnet for Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 385 Ma for Trouble</h4>


    June pursed his lips, internally cringing with what he said.


    It definitely sounded better in his head just now.


    It seemed like three goons also found it cringy since they burst out intoughter.


    Minjun even took a break from being scared and looked at June with raised eyebrows like he was asking¡ª''really?''


    June pursed his lips.


    "But like I said, let''s do this another day when we''re alone," June quickly said, going back to his serious self.


    Kim Jeong''s expression also turned serious. "Yeah¡­I don''t want to do that."


    And just like that, Jeong raised his fist andnded another punch on June''s face.


    He used his other fist, which had a ring on, so June''s skin was cut when hended the punch.


    June let out a deep breath before cing Minjun to the side.


    "Wait here," June said.


    He cracked his knuckles and clenched his jaw, causing the trio to chuckle.


    "Come on, pretty boy," Mansik said. "Why don''t you show us your moves?"


    June smirked, unhesitatingly punching Jeong in the nose. A crack was heard, and it bled at an instantaneous speed.


    The three were shocked for a moment. However, with Jeong''s wail, they quickly snapped out of it.


    "Bastard!" Bonggi screamed.


    The twockeys lunged at June, trying tond as many punches and kicks as possible. However, June evaded them with great speed and agility. His body moved like a feather as he expertly moved around the two, making them look like hooligans who knew nothing about fighting.


    Kim Jeong watched from the side as he tended to his bleeding nose. However, seeing as hisckeys weren''t doing any damage, he decided to take matters to his own hands.


    "Move," he said, pushing the two away.


    Jeong mirrored the smirk on June''s lips.


    There was no way this bastard was enjoying this!


    Jeong tried to punch June, but it missed him by a hair. June was a bit surprised. Kim Jeong was definitely better than his twockeys.


    However, in the end, he was no better than June.


    The two of themnded punches left and right, with Junending most of them.


    Although Jeong managed to punch June a couple of times, it didn''t do enough damage to the idol.


    ''Who is this guy?'' Jeong asked, looking at June''s face.


    However, his thoughts were quickly snapped back to reality when Junended a punch to his abdomen, making him fall to the ground in rage.


    Now, it was time to y dirty.


    "Help me, you idiots!" Jeong eximed.


    Mansik and Bonggi went to restrain June while Jeong rained punches on June''s body.


    "Bro!" Minjun eximed, trying to go to him, but June aggressively shook his head.


    "Don''t!" June shouted. "Go get help."


    The young teen ran at a great speed to get some help.


    Meanwhile, June tried his best to evade the punches, but he could only do so much with two guys restraining him.


    "Get the kid," Jeong said, insanelyughing as he looked at Minjun''s figure.


    June''s eyes widened when Bonggi ran after Minjun and captured him in his arms.


    "No!" June eximed, breaking away from Mansik''s hold to run after them, too.


    "Let me go!" Minjun screamed in pain as the adult with the mind of a toddler pushed his head to the ground.


    "Leave Minjun out of this," June said, trying to stop whatever Bonggi was doing.


    However, Jeong quickly caught up to him and wrapped his arm around June''s neck.


    "Can Ind a punch too?" Mansik excitedly asked.


    "Go to town," Jeong smirked, allowing theckey tond his very first punch on June.


    Mansik shamelessly punched June''s cheek while thetter shook his head in amusement.


    "Fucking weak," he whispered.


    "What did you just say?" Mansik eximed, about to hurt June once again, but June used his legs to kick Mansik in the balls.


    "Nothing, motherfucker," June spat.


    Then, he was about to move away from Jeong''s hold when he suddenly spoke.


    "One move and the little kid is going to get it."


    June froze while Bonggi smirked, using his nasty hands to shove Minjun''s face into the dirty gravel, hurting him in the process.


    "Stop," June said.


    "Are you going to stay still?" Jeong asked.


    "I will," June said. "Don''t do anything to Minjun."


    Jeong nodded at Bonggi, and thetter stopped pushing Minjun''s cheek to the ground. Instead, he held onto both his arms and restrained his legs with his knees while the litte teen struggled.


    Mansik then got up and red at June, still clutching onto his family jewels.


    "Ah, this is great," Jeong said. "Now, it''s finally quiet."


    June paused for a moment, subtly looking around to look for something that could leverage him in the situation.


    If he was all alone, then he could definitely finish the fight without any trouble.


    However, with Minjun around, his movements were limited.


    If only there was someone who could help him.


    Jeong took a step back, tightening his hold around June''s neck, making him grit his teeth.


    [Wow! You stepped on a lucky side quest.]


    June was startled when Fu suddenly appeared before him.


    ''Fu? Shit. Help me!'' he eximed in his mind.


    [The title of this side quest is: The Gift of Sacrifice.]


    [The gift of the new year is here! What better way to start the new year than through the act of sacrifice.]


    "Fuck you," June said, not being able to control his emotions.


    "Fuck you?" Jeong asked. "Mansik, punch him again for me."


    June pursed his lips in frustration as he continued to read the content of the side quest.


    He was a fool for thinking that Fu was going to be useful for a second!


    [Seek out a hidden sanctuary and learn more about the art of sacrifice! Roam the city and identity causes in need. These could range from helping impoverished neighbors, rescuing lost pets, or assisting local craftsmen with their tasks. Fulfill the quest, and you''ll have the opportunity to create a new skill!]


    [The more selfless and significant sacrifice, the greater the potential for a powerful skill. Potions may also be given based on the scale of the sacrifice!]

 Chapter 386 Offer Your Sacrifice

    <h4>Chapter 386 Offer Your Sacrifice</h4>


    "What are we even going to do to him?" Mansik asked, the question suddenly dawning on him.


    Good question.


    June let out a chuckle, fully casting Fu to the side. There was no way he could depend on his system to actually help him, so he''d have to do things by himself.


    "Well, since the kid''s rich, let''s just rob him," Jeong said, causing June to shake his head in disappointment.


    He knew the bar was low, but he didn''t think it could get any lower.


    "And about this guy," Jeong said, his breath wafting through June''s nostrils.


    It was a mixture of que, cigarettes, and sausages, causing him to grimace in disgust.


    "Let''s take away everything he worked hard for. Why don''t we film a scandal that will make him lose his title in the idol world?" he asked.


    June''s expression darkened, already expecting them to take it this far.


    Bonggi smiled. "I have the perfect idea."


    There were mischievous glints in their eyes, and June tried to guess what they were going to do.


    "Just like old times?" Mansik asked.


    "Just like old times," Jeong confirmed.


    Just then, Mansik brought something out of his pocket¡ªa ziplock with what seemed to be white powder in it.


    June stared at the packet, already finding it familiar.


    It was something he had seen hundreds, even thousands of times when he was still in his old body.


    "You''ve tried this before, haven''t you?" Jeong said, causing June to frown.


    He assessed his situation once more. Minjun was still on the ground with Bonggi on top of him.


    Mansik was by June''s side, preparing the white powder to be inhaled.


    Jeong kept him in a tight grip¡ªone which would be impossible to get out of without force.


    "Shit," he cursed as Mansik brought out his phone and started filming the process of preparing the drugs, then he panned it toward June.


    "This is what your idol likes, everybody."


    Mansik prepared it quickly like an expert before bringing it close to June''s face.


    His eyes widened, and he struggled, but he saw how Bonggi ced force on Minjun every time he did.


    ''Fuck, fuck, fuck.''


    The curse word repeated over and over in his mind, feeling at a loss.


    He locked gazes with Minjun, and he seemed to be just as desperate.


    June held his breath as Mansik forced the powder onto June.


    "Just take it. I know you fucking like it," Jeong spat, his breath even worse than before.


    There was only much that June could do in this situation.


    Was it going to end just like this?


    "Fuck you!" a familiar voice eximed.


    Just then, Bonggi screamed in agony, interrupting the crime.


    June turned to them, looking at the neer with wide eyes.


    "Casper?"


    Ren quickly took Minjun to his side and cradled him in his arms, protecting the young teen.


    "You''re here, too?"


    Mansik quickly left his sight as Zeth kicked him on his side.


    "What the hell?" June eximed, looking at them with wide eyes.


    "Why are you here too?" he asked Jay, who came along while holding a baseball bat.


    His teammates, along with Jay, appeared before him with worried expressions.


    "We told Jay you went away on your own," Jaeyong said.


    "Don''t be mad, but I ced a GPS app on your phone," Jay said. "But it''s beneficial, isn''t it? We found you right on time!"


    Sehun nudged their manager''s side. "I don''t think this is the right time to be talking about it."


    Jeong looked at the new group of men with shaking pupils, observing their impable strengths in restraining his twockeys.


    ''What idol group is this good at fighting?'' he asked in his mind.


    They didn''t even use any nasty tricks like ganging up on them. Casper fully restrained Bonggi with his strength alone while Mansik was still wriggling in pain after Zeth''s kick.


    However, despite all of this, Jeong wanted to appear unfazed.


    He kept his hold on June, even holding him tighter, choking June in the process.


    Jisung, who had tears in his eyes, quickly pointed at them.


    "Let him go!" Jay courageously said, although his voice was shaking in nervousness.


    "We''ve got the police on the way," Sehun calmly said. "Let him go, and you''ll face lighter charges."


    Jeong''s conviction shook, but he decided to choose his pride in the end.


    He hade too far to back out now.


    Just then, he brought something out of his pocket and ced it against June''s temple.


    The members gasped as they looked at the gun right beside their center''s head.


    June also froze, wondering why this bastard even thought of bringing a gun in the first ce.


    If June hadn''te, what would have happened to Minjun?


    Jay was fully shaking in his boots as he took a step forward.


    "Don''t do this, man. You''ve got a bright future ahead of you," he tried to convince Jeong.


    "Shut up!" Jeong eximed, pushing the gun to June''s temple, making June bite his lip in pain.


    He had taken way too many hits tonight and he knew his face will definitely be fucked-up tomorrow.


    "Don''t move, or I''ll fucking shoot. I''ll kill all of you, too," he said.


    June shook his head.


    Jeong had gone insane.


    "W¡ªwhat do you want us to do?" Jisung shakily asked.


    "Call the police and tell them to note," he said.


    Jay pursed his lips. "Well, you see...we may be charged with misdemeanor if we im it''s a prank call. So, I''m afraid we can''t do that."


    Jaeyong massaged his temples while listening to their manager''s exnation.


    "I don''t care," Jeong spat. "Tell them to note. Otherwise, I''ll fucking pull the trigger."


    Jay hesitated on what to do, but Jaeyong gave him a signal to just do it.


    "We can''t let them escape," Jay whisper-shouted.


    "And we can''t have June die," Jaeyong deadpanned.


    "Make it fast!" Jeong urged.


    Jaeyong sighed and took the phone from Jay, dialing the local police''s number.


    Meanwhile, June channeled his past self and thought of the times he was in the same position.


    He nced at Minjun and saw he was already safe with Ren.


    Bonggi was also restrained by Casper, and Mansik was now out cold on the ground.


    The police answered the call, but June couldn''t quite hear their conversation.


    He was too focused on his next movements to decipher what they were talking about.


    With his past expertise, June quickly held onto the gun, twisting Jeong''s wrist in the process and making him drop it to the ground.


    Jeong''s eyes widened in shock as he felt June''s strength. He tried to run after the gun, but June kicked it away from them.


    The members also looked at the scene with wide eyes, wondering where June learned such skills.


    Akira was the most baffled. He was well aware that June could pick locks, hack into CCTV cameras, and knew a lot about crimes. However, he didn''t expect him to be able to do this too!


    June quickly switched their positions, with Jeong now on the ground.


    Then, he heard Jaeyong''s voice.


    "You''re here? Please hurry. We''re in the back," he urgently said.


    Jeong screamed under June''s hold, causing June to smirk in delight.


    Oh, how he loved hearing the screams of his enemies.


    Just then, the sirens of police cars neared, so June smirked, leaning closer to Jeong.


    "It''s over," he whispered.


    He was greeted with a chuckle, causing him to frown.


    June stared at Jeong''s dirty face, his frown deepening when he saw the murderous glint in his eyes.


    *Click*


    He heard the sound of the gun clicking, and his gaze quickly darted in the direction of the sound.


    Mansik, who was now awake, had the gun aimed right at June''s head.


    "No!" Jaeyong eximed.


    *Bang*


    [Congrattions, host. You have seeded in the side quest: The Gift of Sacrifice.]


    [Type of sacrifice: Self]

 Chapter 387 Rest in Peace

    <h4>Chapter 387 Rest in Peace</h4>


    *Beep Beep Beep*


    "Shit, he''s bleeding out."


    "He''s really pale, and I barely feel a pulse."


    "Don''t let go of his wound, you idiot!"


    "I''m going to faint. June''s blood is on my hands."


    "It''s his precious blood. Keep pressing hard!"


    June could hear his surroundings¡ªfrom the frantic cries of his members to the sound of the hospital machinery.


    He could also smell the sterility of the room, but he couldn''t seem to open his eyes nor say what he was feeling.


    ''It fucking hurts,'' he thought.


    June felt a cold hand grasp onto his, and he instantly recognized it as Minjun. He wanted to tighten his hand around the young teen''s, but June couldn''t find the strength to do so.


    "Bro. I''m sorry. Please wake up. I''ll tell you everything!"


    "Oh gosh, he''s crying. June''s crying!" Akira eximed.


    "You''re right! Tears areing out of the corner of his eyes," Zeth said, concern heard in his voice.


    What the hell?


    ''I''m crying?'' June thought.


    "What would we do if he dies? Will Zeth be our center? I don''t want that."


    "Don''t even think about it!"


    "My big bro''s not going to die!"


    June could still hear what they were saying, but it was slowly growing more quiet.


    Just then, he felt himself being transferred to a harder surface.


    "We''ll take it from here," an unfamiliar voice said.


    "Please take care of him well," Jay said, worry evident in his voice.


    The sound of the machines became louder, and the voices became softer.


    And then, he finally found the strength to open her eyes.


    However, all he saw was white.


    "Fuck," he managed to whisper.


    He slowly became numb, with the pain of his body fading away.


    No more noise.


    No more pain.


    ''This feels nice.''


    ***


    "In the noisy corners of the world of entertainment, a hush has descended as we bid farewell to a truly extraordinary talent. His recent passing has left a void in our hearts, but we are also grateful for having the privilege of experiencing his performances."


    A silent sob was heard in the room.


    "His journey was not paved with privilege from the outset. Rather, it was a climb, a climb fueled by his burning desire to share his unique perspective with the world. Through the highs and lows, he remained resolute, demonstrating that sess is not a destination but a continuous, evolving odyssey."


    "He was well loved by his friends, and maybe that''s why his passing hurt even more¡ªbecause only when we love will we be able to feel pain. And that''s the beauty and cruelty of life."


    "Now, as we reflect on his short legacy, it''s impossible not to be moved by his voice and the radiance of his smile. The world feels dimmer without the vibrant colors he brought to it."


    "We are forever grateful for the spirit that fueled his journey and for the beauty he shared with our lives."


    "You will always be remembered..."


    "Choi Min-gi."


    "Don''t read things like that while June is still in the hospital, you bastard!" Jaeyong eximed, pping the back of Akira''s head.


    Akira sniffed, wiping his tear-stricken cheeks.


    "But he was my favorite actor," Akira said.


    "My mom loves him too," Jisung said, sniffing along with Akira.


    Jaeyong shook his head and sat on the couch.


    "I thought you were talking about June for a second," he worriedly said.


    Zeth smiled, patting his thigh.


    "His vitals are stable now," he assured. "I''m sure he''ll be alright in no time. June''s a fighter."


    "I know," Jaeyong whispered. "I''m just worried because he hasn''t woken up yet."


    "Me too," Ren said. "I want to visit him quickly."


    "I want that too," Jay said,ing back to the living room after attempting to get Casper out of his room. "But thepany told me that there are way too many media outlets outside the hospital right now."


    At the veryst moment, before the police came, Mansik was able to capture the gun and shoot it at June.


    It was perfectly aimed at June''s head, but with his instincts, June was able to evade the headshot.


    However, since the events happened too fast, June''s shoulder was still hit in the process.


    "I''m just d the media didn''t paint us to be the bad guys," Sehun said. "It would be the worst if we had to deal with hatements along with an injured member."


    "Some are still hating on us, though," Jisung said.


    "But the majority are on our side," Zeth said. "I scrolled through Navel a while ago and saw that mostments aremending us for standing up for what is right."


    "I really thought we''d receive harsher bacsh," Akira said. "But because of MinMin''s post, the public found out the truth."


    "I wonder who the guy behind the ount is," Zeth said. "Their posts alwayse up to my feed, and they seem to be a good fan. They also know quite a lot about current events. It''s shocking how he exposed Minjun''s bullying incident with evidence and all. It even contained some of the footage of our fight that night!"


    They all turned to one person.


    "Is it you?" Jisung asked Jay.


    Jay disappointedly shook his head.


    "I hope it was me," Jay said, "but this guy is definitely better than me."


    Akira nodded in agreement. "Jay''s not that smart, you guys."


    Jay red at Akira while thetter chuckled.


    "By the way," Ren said, changing the subject. "Is Casper really noting out of his room?"


    "I tried to get him out, but he says he''s on a strike," Jay said.


    "A strike for what?" Casper incredulously asked.


    "He said he won''t go out of his room until June wakes up."


    ***


    It was hard to breathe.


    It felt like something was luding his nostrils, rendering him breathless.


    He tried to catch his breath, but it was no use.


    The lusion was still there.


    "Doctor! I think he''s waking up!" he heard Grandma''s voice, causing a small smile to emerge from his face.


    "Big bro?" Minjun said, his voice shaky.


    He opened his eyes, but all he saw was a dim white.


    June frowned.


    He was certain he heard Grandma''s and Minjun''s voices. He could also feel the warmth of somebody''s hold on his hands.


    However, his surroundings didn''t make sense.


    Did he actually die and was now recalling his past memories?


    He heard frantic footstepsing out before the dim whiteness became lighter.


    Then, he saw familiar and unfamiliar faces looking down on him, smiles ying on their lips.


    June stared at the white-haired doctor who was holding onto a white cloth in his hands.


    "Why did you cover me with a white cloth again, Dr. Oh?"


    "Oh, goodie! He''s awake."

 Chapter 388 Angel’s Breath

    <h4>Chapter 388 Angel''s Breath</h4>


    "I really thought you weren''t going to wake up since the bullet missed a major organ by only a tiny bit," Dr. Oh chuckled.


    "But, look! You''re awake. I was nervous during the operation for no good reason," he added.


    June stared at him incredulously before shaking his head.


    Why was he brought to this hospital again?


    "Bro," he heard Minjun''s voice.


    June snapped his gaze to the little kid and immediately brightened up.


    "Minjun," he said, flinching as he tried to sit up.


    "I advise you not to do that," Dr. Oh quickly said. "This is more severe than the stab wound you incurred back then, so you''re inplete bed rest for now."


    June groaned, ignoring what the doctor said and coaxing Minjun toe closer to him.


    The little kid slowly walked toward him, a guilty expression on his face.


    "Are you alright?" June asked.


    "I''m not the one on a hospital bed with a gunshot wound," Minjun said, causing June to smile.


    "Touche," he chuckled, but that itself was already a bit painful.


    Dr. Oh and the nurses watched the scene before them, a bit perplexed about how the idol still looked good after being unarousable for days.


    "Idols are really different," one of the nurses whispered.


    "Yeah," the other agreed. "He looks like he''s fresh out of the shower."


    "And his breath smells like flowers, too," Dr. Oh chimed. "It''s amazing!"


    "You do know I hear you, right?" June asked, making them clear their throats.


    Dr. Oh smiled, acting like he didn''t say something weird.


    "Well, I guess we''ll leave you to mingle then," Dr. Oh said.


    "When can I leave this ce?" June asked, already wanting to go back to their dorm.


    "You just woke up, and you''re already thinking of going back?" Grandma asked in a scolding tone.


    "In order to heal your injuries, you need to stay for at least two weeks in the hospital," Dr. Oh said.


    "Two weeks?" June asked with wide eyes. "That''s a wholeeback!?I can''t miss two weeks of work."


    "Yourpany has already agreed," Dr. Oh said. "I have talked with your manager as well, and they decided that you''d sit out of EVE''s schedules for the next two weeks."


    June groaned, feeling a bit stressed.


    He knew he alwaysined whenever they were too busy, but he had grown to like the loudness of his life as an idol.


    "Well, that''s settled. For now, you need to stay here so we can change your wound dressings every day. You''ll alsoplete a full course of antibiotics to decrease the chances ofplications," Dr. Oh said.


    With that, he left the room with the nurses, leaving June alone with Grandma and Minjun.


    "Can''t I really go back to work?" June asked, looking at Grandma with doe eyes.


    Grandma clicked his tongue. "Don''t even think about it. You''re going to stay hereu ntil you''re fully healed."


    June sighed heavily.


    "But I''ll miss so many schedules," Juneined.


    "And you''ll miss a lot more," Grandma said. "Rest your mind a bit. For now, I''ll send Minjun back to school. He has already missed a lot of days since he didn''t want to leave you."


    "But Grandma," Minjun whined. "I don''t want to go back yet."


    "We''lle backter after your sses," Grandma said. "You can''t miss another day of school."


    "But it''s just one more day," Minjunined.


    June smiled, ruffling Minjun''s hair with his good arm.


    "Yeah, Grandma. I think missing a day of school is alright."


    "A day?" Grandma asked.


    "What are you talking about? He already missed school for four days!"


    "Four days?!"


    ***


    June continued to stare at the white wall, his mind flying off into the abyss as he tried to internalize what had happened thest couple of days.


    His thoughts were interrupted, however, when his phone rang.


    June quickly answered the iing video call from Jay.


    June was greeted by a messy dorm, with the members fighting for the camera''s frame.


    "He answered. Oh my gosh! He''s really alive," Akira eximed.


    "Oh my gosh. He''s gotten thinner. Have you been eating well?" Jisung asked.


    "We thought we lost you! They said you lost a lot of blood," Zeth said.


    "Wait, guys. Let me ce this on the stand," Jay said, pushing the guys away.


    Jay perched the phone on the stand, making all of the guys visible in one frame.


    "Are you guys done now?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Jay smiled, then he started to bawl.


    "June! We missed you," he sobbed and wriggled on the floor like a fish out of water.


    June smirked, looking at his precious members. He didn''t want to say it out loud, but he missed them too.


    Then, as he counted the members, he found that one of them was missing.


    "Where''s Casper?" June asked.


    Just then, nging sounds were heard in the background, causing June to frown in confusion.


    After a few seconds, Casper emerged on the screen, his hair and beard unkempt.


    "Why does he look like the one who got into aa?" June asked.


    "He stayed in his room the entire time after the ident," Zeth said.


    "He didn''t even take a shower or go out to eat proper meals," Ren added.


    "I think all he''s had for the past four days is the pink cheese balls they sent us," Akira chuckled.


    "Why?" June asked.


    Casper didn''t answer and munched on some food while staring guiltily at the screen.


    "He thinks it''s his fault for not being able to protect you," Sehun said.


    June chuckled in amusement.


    "You didn''t do anything wrong, though. Those guys are at fault."


    Casper continued to munch on the take-out food like a little hamster, his cheeks filled to the brim.


    Then, the guilty look in his eyes started to subside.


    "Speaking of," June said, "Where are those guys now?"


    "Oh, they got arrested," Jay said. "They were actually wanted for quite a while now for distributing illegal drugs. The policemended us for catching them in the act!"


    "And the public took this well?" June asked.


    "Very well!" Jay smiled. "Most are praising us for standing up to a bullied kid and catching real criminals!"


    June smirked.


    It seemed like everything turned out well in the end.


    "It''s also the reason why we can''t visit you today or in the uing days," Jaeyong said.


    "Why not?" June frowned.


    "We''re going to be shooting a campaign against anti-drugs," Ren eximed happily.


    "Oh, and our performance of First Love went viral, so they''re asking us to perform it in another school festival!" Sehun added.


    "And we also have some content to film with ''Cheeze.'' They say we''ll y games and stuff," Jisung excitedly chimed.


    June''s face dropped with every statement.


    "You''re doing all of this without me?" June eximed.


    "There''s nothing we can do!" Jay defended. "These deals just came to us after the incident."


    June sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose.


    Why was his luck so bad?

 Chapter 389 New Skills and Potions

    <h4>Chapter 389 New Skills and Potions</h4>


    "Well, we need to go now," Jay said. "We''re going to start preparing for the school festival performance!"


    June looked at his members'' excited faces and quickly ended the call before they could even say goodbye.


    He tossed his phone to the side and sighed in frustration.


    June knew his members needed to continue working despite him being absent.


    However, he couldn''t help but feel upset.


    He wanted to perform with him too! He was also bored out of his mind since he didn''t have anything to do in the hospital.


    June opened his user interface out of boredom and scrolled through his skills.


    [ - Vocals: S-


    - Dance: S-


    - Visual: S-


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: A+


    - Pending: ?]


    June frowned when he saw a ''pending'' skill in his status window.


    Then, it hit him.


    He aplished the side quest right before he was shot!


    If he recalled, the prize for aplishing the side quest was a new skill.


    June clicked on the ''pending'' skill and was surprised when a colorful wheel suddenly appeared before him.


    "What''s this?" he whispered.


    [Wee to the Wheel of Skills! Since the host aplished the side quest: The Gift of Sacrifice, the system gifts the host with a wheel of skills!]


    June read the skills, his eyebrows raising in disbelief with some of them.


    Humor?


    Fashion?


    Selfie?


    Why would he need selfie skills?


    [Below are skills that are indispensable to bing an idol. Some skills are also added because the system finds it fun!]


    "Clearly," June said.


    Why was ''juggling'' even an option in this wheel?


    [The host can only spin the wheel one time, and whichever skill itnds on will be added to his status window!]


    June shrugged. He didn''t think the prize of the side quest was worth getting shot for, but it wasn''t too bad.


    However, there were a lot of useless skills like ''juggling,'' ''baking,'' and undry'' on the roster, so June was a bit hesitant.


    [Spin the Wheel of Skills?]


    [Yes or No]


    June sighed and pressed on the ''yes'' button.


    The wheel started spinning while June watched in anticipation.


    He held his breath when it zed over the useless skills, hoping it wouldn''tnd on them.


    Then, it began to slow down, June''s eyes following every movement.


    [A skill has been chosen!]


    [The chosen skill is: Acting.]


    [Congrattions! Acting has been added to the status window.]


    [Because of the hosts'' self-sacrifice, the starting grade of the new skill is C+.]


    "Acting, huh?"


    June wasn''t necessarily happy or upset about his new skill. He didn''t know where he''d be able to use it for now aside from his performances, but at least it wasn''t one of the useless skills on the roster.


    Besides, a C+ wasn''t too bad. It definitely wasn''t good, but he reckoned a lot of newbie actors also had the same grade in acting.


    [Aside from the new skill, the host is awarded with new potions because of hismendable act of self-sacrifice.]


    June''s eyes widened as he quickly scrolled through his inventory.


    He might actually recover faster if he received a healing potion.


    [Potions: 2]


    June smiled as soon as he saw the number of potions.


    Damn, Fu was spoiling him today.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw what kind of potions he was granted.


    [WhimsiLust Potion: 1]


    [The WhimsiLust Potion is a potent love potion that guarantees a day of heart-eyed enchantment! Just one minute of intense eye contact, and watch as the sparks fly. It can be used for multiple people in one day! Warning: use with caution as it may cause a flock of admirers.]


    [Beautify Potion: 1]


    [The Beautify Potion is a filter in a bottle! This magical potion works like a charm, erasing e, fading scars, smoothing hyperpigmentation, and even bidding farewell to that pesky double chin. Embrace your radiant transformation and shine with newfound confidence.]


    "These are useless!" June eximed, casting his user interface away.


    [Fu hopes the host loves his potions <3.]


    June sighed.


    It looked like he was really going to be stuck here for two weeks.


    ***


    The afternoon came, and June was bored out of his mind.


    Thankfully, right before the sunset, Minjun made his way inside, instantly brightening the mood.


    "Minjun," June smiled, patting the spot next to him.


    Minjun softly smiled, cing his school bag on the couch and sitting on June''s bed.


    "Are you alright now?" Minjun asked.


    June nodded.


    "I''m fine. It hurts a bit, but it''s not anything I can take," he said.


    Minjun narrowed his eyes at June before shaking his head.


    "Then, why''d I hear they had to stitch your wound again?" he asked.


    June sheepishly smiled, scratching the back of his neck.


    "I might have tried to take a shower by myself," June smiled.


    "They said they caught you dancing on the CCTV," Minjun deadpanned.


    June''s eyes widened, and he looked around the room, where he spotted a small CCTV camera in the corner.


    "What the hell? Isn''t that an invasion of privacy?"


    "It''s to monitor the patients," Minjun sighed. "Why did you even attempt to dance when you already know that you''re injured?"


    June sighed, covering his face in embarrassment. Honestly, he just had the urge to dance after seeing his member''s live performances at the school festival they were talking about.


    "I just wanted to see if I could perform," he admitted.


    Minjun clicked his tongue.


    "You''ll be able to perform once you fully recover. Just focus on recovering for now."


    June rxed in his bed and nodded like a little kid.


    The two were engulfed in silence for a while, none of them finding the right words to say.


    "So..."


    "So..."


    They spoke at the same time, causing them to chuckle.


    "You go first," June said, but Minjun shook his head.


    "No, you go first. I need some time to collect myself," the young teen said.


    June smiled in understanding.


    "I just wanted to ask if you were alright. I also want to say sorry because you witnessed such atrocity during that night. I never want to expose you to anything like that ever again."


    "It''s alright," Minjun said. "Honestly, it''s also my fault. I should have told you from the beginning."


    "Why didn''t you?" June softly asked.


    "I was...scared," Minjun admitted, looking down at hisp and fiddling with his fingers.


    "Well, are you ready to talk about it now?"


    Minjun pursed his lips, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.


    Then, he nodded.


    "I''m ready."

 Chapter 390 Brotherhood

    <h4>Chapter 390 Brotherhood</h4>


    June stayed silent, giving Minjun as much time to process his thoughts and feelings as possible.


    Then, he ced his hand on the younger''s shoulder and gave him a reassuring nod.


    "I guess it started when my dad went back to the States. Then, you had to go, too. I know we don''t even see each other as often because you were busy with Rising Stars, but I just felt like we''ll see each other even lesser than before," Minjun started off.


    "Then, before I even knew it, I started feeling...different," he sighed.


    "I used to enjoy being alone since I could y games or even write articles for my page, but all of those just started losing their sparks."


    "The silence in my room grew so loud that I just wanted to escape," he said, his voice breaking in the end.


    June pursed his lips and looked away from the young teen, feeling a burning sensation in the back of his throat.


    "Everything I enjoyed felt like chores," Minjun continued. "And I felt like I had no one there to talk about my feelings. I know I should have talked with Grandma. I bet she would have understood...but she''s been understanding me since I was young. I didn''t want to give her any more burden."


    "I just felt alone...and sad, and trust me when I say I tried to fight it. I really did. Who chooses to be sad anyway?" he chuckled, a lone tear falling from his eyes.


    June reached out and wiped the younger''s cheeks, silently encouraging him to speak more.


    "But it just became worse," Minjun concluded.


    "There was one time we had a y at school, and I didn''tnd a major role since I''m not really a good actor," he chuckled, but there was still an underlying sadness in his voice.


    "I yed one of the animals on the side, and I merely had one line. It was one of the times I became excited since I made some friends. But then, they told us to bring our parents, and I just knew that no one woulde for me," he smiled.


    "I told my parents, but just as usual, they couldn''t really fly back to Korea just because of a measly y."


    "Why didn''t you tell Grandma?" June asked. "Or me?"


    "Grandma wasn''t feeling too great," Minjun said. "And you...I know you also wouldn''t havee. You were too busy with your promotions back then."


    June pursed his lips, feeling an ache in his heart.


    If only he could turn back time, he would have dropped everything to watch Minjun on stage.


    "It was alright," Minjun said. "I wasn''t too sad about it. I was used to it. It''s always been like that since I was younger," he smiled.


    June shook his head. Nobody should be used to being alone.


    "What happened after was definitely worse," Minjun said. "I never really had friends in school because they thought I was too ''smart.'' I''m not saying this to brag," he quickly added.


    "I just felt it. My ssmates were wary of my presence."


    "So, I stayed quietly on the side, just doing my best. But, they still managed to find a way to rattle my quiet life."


    "Kim Duri?" June asked.


    Minjun nodded.


    "I guess it was also my fault. I''ve been on edge for the past months, and I had him and his friends as my groupmates since nobody wanted to team up with them or me. They didn''t help me at all, so I submitted the assignment with just my name on it."


    "Rightfully so," June chimed.


    Minjun smiled.


    "I tried consulting them about it, and I also warned them beforehand, but they never listened. However, thinking back, maybe I shouldn''t have done it," he sighed.


    "You did the right thing," June assured.


    "Did I really?" Minjun asked. "Because after that, I became their target. They insulted me for not having my parents around. They called me ''Grandma''s boy'' because she''s all I had. I tried to be strong, but it was just too much."


    "I started acting distant. Everything made me angry. I just felt like what they were saying were...right," he defeatedly said.


    "What did they say?" June asked.


    "That I''m not good at all. That I''m just good at school so I can show my parents I can do a good job...but in the end, they''ll never really notice."


    "That everyone will leave me in the end," Minjun cast his eyes to hisp, and June watched as tears fell freely from his eyes, wetting his trousers.


    "Like how my parents left me."


    "...how Grandma''s time is limited, and she''ll also leave me in the end."


    "...and how you''re going to reach your dreams and eventually leave me too."


    "I''ve been telling myself that this is just how life is. Everyone has their own battles to fight. Peoplee and go. People lose people all the time, and I''m no special," Minjun sobbed.


    "But I can''t help but ask¡ªwhy me? Why is it me out of all people?"


    "Then it hit me," he said, harshly wiping the tears from his eyes.


    "Maybe the problem is...me. Maybe there''s something wrong with me. That''s why people always leave."


    June couldn''t help it anymore. Despite the ache on his shoulder, he wrapped Minjun in a warm and tight embrace, letting the young teen cry in his arms.


    June let out a deep breath as he ced his chin over Minjun''s head.


    "I''m sorry," June whispered. "I''m so sorry."


    Minjun continued to sob as June held him.


    The two of them sat there for a while, Minjun''s sobs being the only sound heard in the small, white room.


    "You didn''t do anything wrong," Minjun said. "It''s my fault. I shouldn''t feel so alone."


    "It''s not your fault," June quickly cut him off.


    "It''s not your fault," he repeated.


    "Life is unfair, and it''s easy to internalize the struggles we face as if they are somehow our own doing. But I want you to know that it''s not. The world throws challenges our way that we didn''t choose," June said. "It''s bullshit when people say we are only given challenges to make us stronger."


    "Sometimes, they''re just there because they are. Some grow strong from it, while some grow weak and never recover," June continued.


    "I should have done more to make you feel like you weren''t alone. I''m really sorry."


    "But you also have your own life," Minjun said.


    "Still, there''s always more each of us could do. So, from now on, please promise me that you''ll share your struggles. You don''t have to bear the weight of it all alone. It''s not a burden for me. You were there during my darkest times, too, and I want to make you feel like how you made me feel."


    At that moment, Minjun sobbed even harder.


    Then, he wrapped his arms around June''s shoulder, reciprocating his hug.


    "I''ll always be here for you even when I''m not physically present," June sincerely said.


    "You got that, little bro?"

 Chapter 391 Never Too Late?

    <h4>Chapter 391 Never Too Late?</h4>


    Silence.


    There were no words needed between the two.


    They sat there in each other''s arms, savoring the newfound brotherhood they had formed.


    Minjun always wanted a real brother, and now, he had June.


    Meanwhile, June never thought he''d have another sibling in this lifetime aside from Mei Ling, but Minjun proved that wrong.


    As they continued to bask in the beauty of silence, there was another person trying to stay as silent as possible.


    She covered her mouth to choke back a sob.


    Lena leaned against the wall and peeked inside the room, her heart aching as she looked at her broken child.


    After June rejected her offer to find out what was truly going on with her son, Lena did a background check on June.


    She had found out some pretty interesting things¡ªsome that could potentially ruin his career.


    June was the very first person who made Lena question her worth as a parent, and she admits that she acted rashly with her decisions.


    However, after hearing their conversation, she felt a newfound respect for the idol.


    Never in her life had she seen Minjun cry as hard as he did just now. Aside from the times when he was a toddler, Minjun didn''t cry much. He didn''t even cry when Lena got divorced with his dad.


    So, Lena always thought Minjun was stronger than most kids.


    She admired him for that.


    Lena didn''t pay much attention to Minjun''s feelings because she thought he could handle them better than the average child.


    Yet, in the end, she was wrong.


    Minjun was still a child¡ªa broken child who only put up a brave facade.


    Was it for himself?


    Or maybe it was for his parents?


    Lena shook her head, looking at the sh drive that had always been in her pocket after the background search she did on June. She quickly destroyed the sh drive before tossing it into the trash, walking away from the room with a heavy heart.


    As she walked, she bumped into her mom, who was shocked to see her presence.


    "Lena?" Grandma eximed, cing down the food she had prepared on a nearby seat. "What are you doing here?"


    Lena didn''t say anything and just wrapped her arms around her mother, leaning into her embrace.


    Grandma was stunned for a moment, but she also wrapped her arms around her child, resting her chin against her shoulder.


    The older woman smiled and rubbed Lena''s back,forting her daughter.


    "Oh, you fool," Grandma said. "What have you gotten yourself into?"


    Lena let out a deep breath before gently breaking their hug.


    "What did I do to Minjun, Mom?"


    "You weren''t there," Grandma said. "Although I tried to fill the void of your absence in his heart, I just know it could never be reced."


    Lena looked down at the ground in disappointment.


    The life she had chosen¡ªit made it harder for her to pay attention to her child.


    However, hearing Minjun''s honest confession, Lena wanted to try harder as a mother.


    "Is it toote now?" Lena asked, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Grandma smiled, cing a hand over her shoulder.


    "It''s never toote," Grandma said.


    Then, she rummaged through her pockets before bringing out a crumpled piece of paper and handing it to Lena.


    Lena looked at the piece of paper in confusion.


    "What''s this?" she asked.


    "Open it," Grandma said.


    Lena carefully uncrumpled the paper and read the contents written inside.


    "I found this in Minjun''s trash can the other day," Grandma said. "Maybe you should consider going."


    Lena smiled softly as she looked at therge, bold writing on top of the letter.


    ''Family Day on January 16, 2024.''


    Lena folded it neatly and ced it inside her bag.


    Maybe she''ll extend her trip a little longer.


    Grandma also smiled when she saw her daughter''s meaningful look.


    "Are you going now?" Grandma asked. "Minjun and I are having dinner with June."


    Lena shook her head. "It''s alright. I''ll join you on another day."


    "Are you sure?" Grandma asked.


    Lena nodded.


    "I''m sure. For now, can you give me that pink-haired guy''s number?"


    ***


    "Are you done crying now?" June asked, looking at Minjun''s swollen eyes.


    He looked like a puffer fish, so June pinched his cheeks out of cuteness aggression.


    "Stop teasing me," Minjun said, pushing June''s hands away from his face as he chewed his meal.


    June shook his head in amusement before taking a bite out of the homemade meal.


    He groaned in delight and gave Grandma two thumbs up.


    "You''re seriously the best. I feel like I haven''t eaten real food in a while."


    Grandma chuckled and ruffled his hair.


    "You should stop by more often then. You''ve be skinnier, too. What are you eating in your dorm?"


    "A whole lot of fried chicken," June said, stuffing his mouth with the delicious food.


    Grandma gasped in surprise. "That''s not enough to fill your daily nutrients! I''ll make you food for the next two weeks, so eat as much as you want."


    "You''re a life savior, Grandma," June smiled. "But do I really have to stay here for a full two weeks?"


    Grandma clicked his tongue. "We''ve already had this conversation. How can you even think of going back when you can''t even move your left arm? It''s going to take a lot more than two weeks for you to be able to dance the way you used to before."


    June groaned, leaning against the bed rest.


    "I''m bored."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll y with you while you''re here," Minjun smirked.


    "What are you talking about, young man?" Grandma chuckled. "You have sses already. You can''t miss out on them anymore."


    Minjun, too, groaned in disappointment.


    "Now, be good and finish all your food."


    The two brothers finished their food in silence despite wanting toin further.


    After they finished their food, Grandma started cleaning up the mess while the two conversed like old times.


    "Are you posting on MinMin again?" June asked.


    "Yup," Minjun smiled, showing him his phone. "I have a million followers now. That article I wrote about you is off the charts!"


    "I hope you didn''t exaggerate it," June said. "I can''t have other people thinking I''m dead again."


    "Don''t worry," Minjun smiled. "Thepany already disclosed you were alive. I did say you almost bled to death, though."


    "Minjun!" June eximed.


    "What?" Minjun innocently said. "I was just telling the truth. Besides, it made the public empathize with you even more. Although, some haters definitely wanted you to have incurred more injuries."


    "People are cruel," June said, shaking his head.


    "Yeah," Minjun said. "But you know what''s more cruel?"


    "What?" June asked.


    "Your cheese ballmercial," Minjun smiled.


    "You suck at acting, bro."

 Chapter 392 Another One

    <h4>Chapter 392 Another One</h4>


    "We have been selected for the project," Mr. Ong said, merrily spinning around his chair while ying with a zygote-shaped stress ball.


    Yes, a zygote-shaped stress ball.


    Jay bowed his head with a smile.


    "Thank you, sir. I will ry this to the members," he said.


    "How are they doing, by the way?" Mr. Ong asked.


    "They''re doing okay," Jay said. "They seem pretty tired with all the work they had to do for the past week, but they''re coping well."


    "Good," Mr. Ong said, still ying with his stress ball, now tossing it high in the air.


    "And how''s their center doing?"


    "He''s still in the hospital, sir," Jay responded. "I visited him yesterday, and he seemed to be recovering well. The doctor also said he''s recovering faster than the average person."


    "That''s nice," Mr. Ong chimed.


    Jay cleared his throat. "This project¡ªhow do we go with it while June is still in the hospital?"


    "Beats me," Mr. Ong chuckled, causing Jay''s eyebrows to furrow. "I say we start preparing for it now. We can''t really dy anything since we''re also going to be preparing for theireback at the end of the first quarter."


    "Do you think we can dy this project a little longer to wait for him? He''s an integral part of the team," Jay insisted.


    "They can''t push back the date anymore. Other groups are already settled. They''ve known about it sincest December. June will just have to adjust once hees back. He can join the group when he''s okay," Mr. Ong concluded.


    Jay pursed his lips in frustration.


    "Make sure they do well, okay?" Mr. Ong smiled, rolling over to where Jay was standing and cing a hand on his hip. Then, the older man tightened his hold on Jay''s hips, squeezing tightly.


    Jay flinched, feeling the pain radiate through his leg.


    "I let the shooting incident pass since it gave many opportunities for ambassadorships. I just hope you don''tmit the same mistake," he said, a wide smile on his face.


    However, despite his happy expression, his eyes held a glint of seriousness, making Jay quiver.


    Jay quickly nodded.


    "That is noted, sir."


    "Good," Mr. Ong eximed, removing his hold from Jay''s hip.


    "I''m looking forward to their performances."


    ***


    One week had passed since June woke up, and he was now feeling better than ever. There was still an ache on his left shoulder, but it didn''t debilitate him from doing his daily activities.


    He could even dance with minimal pain now!


    However, he was still bored out of his mind.


    He even became more active on their group chat, but it seemed like all his members were busy since they only repliedte into the night.


    Minjun diligently went to school, too, so June was all alone in his boring room.


    Dr. Oh came a few times to pester him into participating in a ''human'' project, but June didn''t find it interesting or ethical.


    So, for now, he was stuck scrolling on Navel to satiate his boredom.


    - I know thepany said that June was alive and well, but I''m still worried.


    - June, are you really alive?


    - We haven''t heard from him ever since the incident. I feel like he''s severely injured.


    - June, we miss you! When are youing back?


    As days passed, astras were getting more and more worried for June.


    "Right," June said. "Let''s send them a photo, at least."


    June opened his back camera and took a picture of his hand doing a thumbs-up with the hospital room in the background.


    He quickly posted it with the caption: ''I''m doing good, guys. I''ll be back in no time.''


    June thought the reactions would be more positive since he started receiving praise for his covers, but he was definitely mistaken.


    - You''re still on about this June impersonating shit?


    - I can''t believe this guy also got injured like June.


    - I think he needs genuine help.


    - Guys, it looks like he''s in the same hospital as June. Should we report this to Azure?


    June shook his head as he looked at hundreds of doubtfulments.


    When are they going to believe that he was June?


    "My username," June whispered, the thought suddenly dawning on him.


    Now that his previous mission was finished, he could actually change his username.


    He still couldn''t forget how hard it was to create a username back then, so he was surprised when the first thing he typed was actually epted.


    "Hmm," he satisfyingly smiled as he looked at his new username.


    ''That should do it,'' he thought.


    A pop-up appeared on the screen.


    Are you sure you want to change your username? This could only be done one time.


    June pressed the ''ept'' button on the screen and watched as the magic unfolded.


    Then, he sent a screenshot of his page with his new username to Minjun.


    June: Hey, kid, how''d you like my new username?


    June didn''t expect Minjun to reply right away since he was still in his ss. However, he did, and June anticipated his reaction.


    Minjun: As expected, you''re shitty at this.


    June frowned, staring at the screenshot he sent.


    What was wrong with ''Hi_ImJune_from_3V3''?


    ***


    A couple more dayster, June was now practically injury-free.


    He was definitely still not at his 100%, but the beautify potion came in handy with repairing the bruises on his face as well as the scarring on his left shoulder.


    Dr. Oh stared at the beautiful creature before him with sparkling eyes.


    "Mama Mia! He looks fresh out of the womb," Dr. Oh muttered.


    "See? I''m all better now," June said, showing him his gunshot wound. It was non-existent at this point because of the Beautify potion. However, the potion merely healed the aesthetics of his injuries. In the end, they still pretty much hurt.


    "You really must be part lizard," Dr. Oh said. "I''ve never seen a patient recover this fast before."


    June sighed, cing his backpack on.


    "So, I''m free to go now, right?" June asked.


    "You still have about three days of recovery, but from what I''m seeing, I think you can go back."


    June smiled. "That''s great! Where do I pay my bills then?"


    "Don''t worry," Dr. Oh said. "The bills have already been paid by thepany."


    "Sweet," June eximed. "I''m gonna go now, then."


    "Wait," Dr. Oh said, causing June to halt. "You''re not going to call for your manager?"


    "They''re probably busy. I''ll just take a cab," June said.


    "Are you sure?" Dr. Oh asked. "I can give you a ride to thepany, and we can talk about...research matters," he suggested.


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "I''m not participating in your human research, Dr. Oh."


    The doctor slumped in disappointment while June happily skipped out of the hospital room.


    It felt like he had been stuck there for years, so just merely seeing the sun had already brought a smile to his face.


    He quickly hailed a cab to take him to the Azure building. He saw from the group chat that his members were practicing for a performance (one he didn''t know of), so he decided to give them a surprise.


    June arrived at the building and wasted no time in going to their designated practice room.


    He stood outside the door for a while, listening to his members'' friendly bickering.


    "I think you should stay here in the middle," Akira said.


    "I don''t suit this part," Jaeyong said. "Why don''t we have Ren try it?"


    "But I''m already in the middle for the part before this," Ren sighed.


    "I think June would suit this part the best, honestly," Jisung said, causing June to smile.


    It seemed like his members missed him quite a bit.


    With that, June opened the door, revealing himself to his members.


    They were baffled, to say the least.


    They were nning on fetching June from the hospital on the day of his discharge, yet here he was!


    "What are you doing here?" Jaeyong asked, still perplexed.


    "I''m all better now," June said, making his way inside. "I see you''re having a hard time without me," he smirked.


    The members stared at him for a while before he was bombarded with hugs.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed, practically throwing himself at June. "You''re here!"


    Casper silently walked to his side and gave him a little poke.


    "You all better now?" he asked.


    June nodded.


    "I''m so d you''re here," Zeth said. "It was so hard acting as a center proxy for our previous performances."


    June chuckled, looking at the relieved faces of his teammates.


    "I see that you''re all working hard," Junemended them. "You guys took a lot of projects while I was gone."


    "Tell me about it," Akira sighed. "We haven''t gotten any rest for the past weeks. Not to mention, we still have to alter our opening performance now that you''re here."


    June frowned in confusion, tilting his head to the side.


    "Opening performance? For what?" he asked.


    "For King of Kings," Sehun said.


    June frowned. "King of Kings?"


    His members looked at each other with perplexed expressions before turning toward him.


    "King of Kings," Zeth repeated. "The new survival show we''re going to participate in!"

 Chapter 393 Survival Deja Vu

    <h4>Chapter 393 Survival Deja Vu</h4>


    King of Kings.


    June had never heard of it before. However, as his teammates yed themercial for the K-pop survival show on the TV in their practice room, everything started making sense.


    Still images of the stage were shown on screen. It was reminiscent of the stage they had during Rising Stars. However, this time, it was definitely more grand¡ªmore fit for idols and not mere trainees.


    Then, a female robotic voice started speaking as the lights danced on the stage.


    "The prince, adorned in music''s grace."


    "Bows to seek the king in this sacred space."


    A loud bass resonated in the room, startling the members of EVE.


    "A throne awaits, anointed with song."


    "The king''s identity, to whom does it belong?"


    "Holy shit. This is so cool," Akira eximed as the camera panned to Kim Wonbin, a popr host andedian in Korea, standing at the center of therge stage.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to the ultimate battleground of K-pop excellence! Get ready for a musical spectacle like no other!"


    "It''s time to determine the king of kings!"


    With that, themercial came to an end, leaving the group to chat excitedly with one another.


    June, however, stayed silent, trying to internalize what he just watched.


    King of Kings.


    It was definitely the first time he had heard its title. However, it dawned on him that it was a franchise of the popr survival show ''Queen of Queens.''


    Mei Ling was a fan of survival shows, so June also recalled her watching it. However, it wasn''t the type of show she religiously watched, so June didn''t know much about it.


    All he knew was that chosen girl groups or soloistspeted with performances, remixes, covers, and even original songs to determine who was the best among the group.


    June also remembered it having a lot of drama, which was Mei Ling''s favorite aspect of the show.


    Aside from that, June recalled GIRLS'' EVOLUTION joining the first season of the show. They got third ce out of seven artists, but they also made quite a lot of enemies. Up to this day, there were rumors that most of the groups who participated in the first season of ''Queen of Queens'' were still not on speaking terms.


    "I can''t believe this," June muttered, already feeling lightheaded.


    He was still recovering from Rising Stars, and now, they were going to participate in another survival show?


    Not only that, but they were probably going topete with a bunch of older and more experienced groups!


    June could already feel the pressure of thepetition even though it hasn''t started yet.


    "June''s broken again," Jisung said, poking June''s cheek.


    It didn''t elicit a reaction from thetter, causing the group to burst intoughter.


    "He''s just shocked," Jaeyong said, wrapping one arm around June. "We were the same when we first heard about it."


    Jaeyong continued to observe June''s shocked expression but tilted his head to the side when he saw how clear his skin was up close.


    "Did you really juste from the hospital?" Jaeyong asked.


    June finally snapped out of his thoughts and wordlessly nodded.


    "Damn. Your skin is immacte! Does the hospital have some special kind of air?" he asked, also poking June''s cheek.


    Akira went closer to June, narrowing his eyes.


    "You got more handsome, too," he said. "It looks like you weren''t even shot at all."


    "And your cheeks aren''t hollowed now," Ren added. "What did they feed you there?"


    June sighed, pushing their faces away from his.


    He definitely looked and felt a lot better because of Grandma''s homemade meals, along with the Beautify potion. At least Fu was still useful in some sense.


    "Come on. Tell us your secret," Akira urged. "I feel so haggard, especially since we have so many things to do. Aside from practicing for the opening performance, thepany''s also starting to formte the concept of our next album."


    "Tell me about it," Jaeyong sighed. "I feel like the day isn''t even enough with what we have to do."


    "And to make matters worse, we don''t even know who we''repeting with," Sehun added.


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    "They haven''t told us who we''re going to bepeting with yet?" June asked.


    "I don''t think they''re going to tell us until the day of the filming," Zeth said. "I heard from Kiera that everything was a surprise to them back then. She also said it was fun but very stressful, so let''s brace ourselves,"


    "Could it be more stressful than Rising Stars?" Akira chuckled.


    "Wait," Ren suddenly said. "You''re speaking with Kiera?"


    Zeth froze while the other members suspiciously stared at him.


    "You got her number, right?" Casper suddenly said, making the members even more suspicious.


    Zeth cleared his throat. "That''s not what''s important. What''s important is we start practicing for the opening performance again. We need to change a lot of things since June''s back."


    Although they were still suspicious, the members decided to forgo the issue...for now.


    "I still don''t think we''re heading the right route, though," Ren said. "I feel like we could do so much more for our opening performance."


    "That''s true," Jisung sighed. "It''s because we heard about the show quitete. I heard from Jay that some of the groups already knew they were going to be part of the project since December ofst year."


    "Wait, when did you guys hear about this?" June asked, joining the conversation.


    "About a week ago," Sehun responded.


    "Howe I didn''t hear about it?" June asked.


    Ren frowned in confusion. "Didn''t Jay tell you about it?"


    "He didn''t," June said.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat. "Actually, Jay told me he didn''t tell you about it."


    June frowned. "Why not? I''m part of the group, aren''t I?"


    "That''s what I also told him," Jaeyong said. "But he said it was an order from the higher-ups. They were expecting you not to be able to join the first episode anyway, so they said it was no use."


    "No use?" June asked. "I was projected to be discharged from the hospital three days from now, though. I''m sure we still have time."


    His members stayed silent, ncing at each other with knowing looks.


    "What?" June asked in confusion.


    Jaeyong awkwardly chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.


    "Well, the thing is...we don''t have much time."


    "The first episode will be filmed one week from now."


    June''s jaw dropped.


    It felt like Rising Stars all over again!

 Chapter 394 Undisclosed Identities

    <h4>Chapter 394 Undisclosed Identities</h4>


    "Are you guys excited?" Jay eximed as he drove the van to the filming site of the first episode of ''King of Kings.'' A resounding groan was heard inside the van, making Jay smile. "I''m d you guys are happy," he chimed. The members were, indeed, not that happy. They were running on about two hours of sleep because they had to prepare for their opening performance. Once June came back, they ultimately decided that the performance they had curated wasn''t going to cut it for the survival show. So, they scrapped it altogether. They had less than five days to prepare an epic performance¡ªone that would impress their opponents as well as the viewers. Along with this, they had meetings for their album, other small brand deals, and promotion videos for their new ambassadorships. In summary, the members were quite tired. However, Jaeyong, being their leader, cheered his members up. "Come on, guys," he said. "Let''s be more excited." Akira smiled, sitting straight. "I''m very excited to perform on grand stages again. I think we''re all just quite tired." Ren pped his cheeks to keep himself awake. "Nheless, we''ll give them a very good performance," he said. "We definitely will," Sehun chimed. "With the amount of effort we poured into this, there''s no way we''re settling for a mediocre performance." "I''m just wondering who our opponents are," Zeth said. "I feel like there will be a lot of scary people." "You were the scariest when we were in Rising Stars," Jisung said. Akiraughed out loud. "Now, you''ll know how we felt." Zeth chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. June shook his head in amusement. It felt like yesterday when they werepeting against each other, and now, they werepeting with each other. "Are you not going to give us a spoiler on who''s going to be there?" Jaeyong asked Jay. "I wish I could," Jay said. "But I''m also clueless about the show''s details." Akira gasped, pointing an using finger at Jay. "You, out of all people, don''t have any information?" Jay sighed deeply. "I know. I''m disappointed in myself, too." "I guess we''ll just see when we get there," Ren sighed, suddenly feeling nervous as they pulled up into arge building¡ªevenrger than that of Azure Entertainment. SBC Entertainment. Without a doubt, it was the biggest TV station in the entire country. Although Azure''s assets were bigger in the entire market, SBC got them beat in the entertainment aspect. While more K-pop enjoyers tuned in to Azure''s shows, SBC Entertainment had a broader audience, enjoining even those who don''t enjoy K-pop as their viewers. Most of their shows were dramas that were popr with domestic and international audiences. However, they also had talent shows that were less popr than their dramas but nheless still popr. One of these shows was Queen of Queens. It had two sessful seasons, and now, they dabbled in creating the male version of the show. "We''re here," Jay smiled, turning off the engine of the van. June snapped out of his thoughts as his teammates started going out of the van. He followed them out and looked around the building, admiring its futuristic interior. Even their underground parking lot was very modern! As they entered the lobby, they were once again surprised when huge LED screens that contained their most popr shows were disyed on the walls. In the middle of the floor, a beautiful clear fountain stood, and holograms of their characters surrounded it. "I feel like I''m in the future," Akira said, his mouth agape. "Hey," Jisung said, nudging his shoulder and pointing to one of the holograms. "There''s your friend." June smiled when he saw Hana''s hologram. He brought out his phone and snapped a photo to send to her once their filming ended. "Friend?" Zeth asked, perplexed. "Who?" Ren narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Hana Lim?" Casper raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You''re friends with Hana Lim?"


    Zeth chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. Ren, Sehun, and Jaeyong also appeared amused. "Casper''s so gullible," Sehun smiled. "How could June be friends with Hana Lim?" "June must be a fan," Zeth chimed. "Yeah," Ren chuckled. "I''m a big fan of her too. She was so charming in ''Cherry Blossoms.''" Jisung, Akira, and Jay looked at each other knowingly. "They''re friends, though," Jisung muttered. "Let''s just go," Jay said, leading the members to the filming site of the show.


    They were greeted with smiles as soon as they entered, and the members bowed their heads in respect, also greeting the staff members. "My fatigue is gone. They''re so handsome."


    "Do you think they''re willing to date a staff member?" "You''re crazy. They probably have a dating ban contract." "I mean, thepany doesn''t have to find out."


    Jay led them to a hallway with multiple waiting rooms of some sort. The ck doors all had colored paper stuck to them, causing June to frown. Normally, the artists'' names were stuck onto the door, so June thought they would finally find out their opponents once they saw the waiting rooms. However, it seemed like SBC was determined to keep the thrill of the show to the maximum since there wasn''t a hint of the artists'' identities on their waiting room doors.


    "This is ours," Jay said, opening the door with a green-colored paper stuck to it. It also seemed like the colors weren''t rted to the group at all. Pink was more representative of EVE, yet they merely passed by the door with the pink-colored paper. "It''s weird," Akira said as they entered the room. "I thought the call time was 11 AM. Why aren''t the other artists here yet?" "I think they gave us different call times," June said. "That way, we wouldn''t run into each other." "Damn," Zeth said. "They''re really determined to keep the surprise factor." Zeth closed the door, being thest one to enter the room. However, just as the door shut, they heard a clicking sounding from outside the room. June frowned, his gaze turning to the door. "Did they just lock us inside here?"

 Chapter 395 Ace of Spades

    <h4>Chapter 395 Ace of Spades</h4>


    Indeed, the staff locked EVE inside their respective waiting room. Akira, Jisung, and Jay pressed their ear against the door, trying to decipher any kind of sound that would reveal their opponents. However, it was no use. The rooms were soundproofed. Akira groaned in frustration. "When are we going to start filming? I''m dying of anticipation already." Jay sighed and sat on the floor. "Let''s just wait for now." And so, they waited. Seconds turned into minutes...and an hourter, they were finally called by one of the producers to exit their room. The members sighed in relief, but they also felt a surge of nervousness in their hearts. They followed the staff member, walking warily as they made their way to the stage set-up they had seen in the show''s trailer. June noticed the shoe marks on the smooth fiberss floor and inferred they weren''t the first people to arrive. A thick ck-out curtain separated them from the stage, and they couldn''t wait to enter. Just then, a loud horn resounded in the venue, startling most of the members. Afterward, a female robotic voice, the one heard in the trailer, spoke. "You may now enter the king''s dungeon." Jaeyong, despite feeling nervous, let out a deep breath and opened the curtains, revealing a dazzling pathway that lit up as soon as they stepped inside. June was right behind Jaeyong, so he caught a glimpse of the stage right away. He was baffled by the LED screens that surrounded the area. It was as if they were some kind of simtion¡ªtruly, a king''s dungeon. The members behind him also gawked at the electronic disy, eyes wide and mouths slightly agape. June caught a movement from his peripheral vision, so he quickly looked to the side. They were so preupied with the venue that they didn''t even realize the eight people sitting on the side of the aisle, covering their faces with their hands but miserably failing. "It''s OCTA," June said, pointing to their direction. His members snapped out of their dazes and looked at their rival group with wide eyes. June chuckled when he saw Uno hiding behind Seven. However, his white hair made him very recognizable. "You know we could see you, right?" Akira chuckled, slowly walking to the familiar idol group. Uno cleared his throat and finally stopped hiding behind Seven''s back. The other members quickly followed, finally revealing their faces. "Alright, that was kind of embarrassing," Cinco awkwardly said. "I thought you guys weren''t going to recognize us."


    "How can we not?" Zeth chuckled. "Uno''s white hair was already a dead giveaway." Seven, however, continued hiding his face, thinking he was slick. However, he just looked ridiculous. Jisung silently scoffed at him. Ocho clicked his tongue and tapped their youngest member. "It''s over. They know it''s us." Seven finally removed his hands from his face, gazing at the members of EVE. His eyes automatically locked in on June, his smile widening. "Bro, it''s you! It feels like we haven''t seen each other in a long time," he greeted. June smiled and nodded at the teenager. "LEVEL-UP, please take a seat in your designated area," the female robot said, cutting their conversation short.


    Their team''s logo appeared on the seats right in front of OCTA, so they quickly sat. Just then, the loud horn sounded once more, startling some of the members. Akira ced his hand over his heart. "That''s twice now," he whined. "I''m not going to let that horn fool me again." Then, familiar faces entered the room, and the two groups immediately stood to pay respects to their senior group. Jordan chuckled before gesturing for their junior groups to sit down.


    "Good afternoon. Thank you for greeting us so enthusiastically," he happily said. Sunwoo nudged Moon''s side. "We''re in trouble," he whispered. "We''repeting with two monster rookies."


    Nico clicked his tongue once he heard this. "Don''t you have any faith in our group? We have more than two years of experience under our belt." Moon chuckled. "I think you''re the most tense, though. Stop looking at June and sit down already." Nico shook his head and sat next to his teammates. "I wasn''t staring at him," Nico muttered. June wanted to apud Azure once he saw BOYMYSTIC entering the room. Since they were from the samepany, it would have been leaked that they were going to participate in the same show. However, the employees kept the secret very well. Nheless, June wasn''t too surprised they were joining the show. BOYMYSTIC''s contract was ending this year, so Azure was pushing as many projects for the group. His thoughts were once again interrupted when the annoying loud sound repeated. Akira, Jaeyong, and Jisung once again jumped in their seats. They were, in fact, fooled for the third time. This time, the group that entered wasn''t too familiar to June¡ªaside from one member. Zibo stood at the very back of the line, a small smirk ying on his lips.


    Their group''s name, MORPH3D, appeared on the screen behind them, and June finally recognized their group. They, too, debuted this year, but earlier than EVE and OCTA. They were a group that was heavily influenced by band and rock sounds, sometimes emotional pop, so they were quite popr with fans who liked the genre. They didn''t get popr right away after their debut, but after one of their members, Rex, was shown belting a rock song, their fame skyrocketed. MORPH3D took the spot next to EVE, and just like that, they have now met three of their opponents. Jisung''s hands shook, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the situation. Ren noticed this and threw him aforting smile. However, it was also evident in Ren''s expression that he, too, was nervous. June looked around the room and saw three spots still unfilled. "Three groups left," he muttered. The horn sounded once again, and fortunately, Akira was able to prepare himself this time. A group of four entered, and all of the groups immediately stood in respect. Murmurs were heard in the room. However, they were quickly silenced once the group''s leader threw them stern looks. SPADES. June''s eyebrows furrowed. ''What was a group who debuted in 2013 doing here?''

 Chapter 396 Unleash the Storm

    <h4>Chapter 396 Unleash the Storm </h4>


    As they settled in their seats, silence remained. The arrival of a very big senior had stunned the three groups, leaving them confused and nervous. Even as the stage lights dimmed, SPADES'' aura couldn''t be denied. It was also emphasized by the fact they were wearing all-white suits, adding to their mour. Debuting in 2013 under StarMuse, a prominent entertainmentpany, SPADES stood as one of the pioneers of their generation, leading the onset of the third wave of K-pop idols. They debuted alongside other boy groups such as XO, BTC, and B2B, and girl groups like BLACKBUNS, EXIT, and OMO GIRLFRIEND. Despite not being the frontrunners of their time, their unique bad-dance performances left a mark in the hearts of the general public.


    Now, SPADES found themselves in the midst of the fourth and fifth generation of idols. It was impressive how their poprity had endured, especially among the broader audience. They definitely weren''t as popr as they were before, but there was no doubt that the ten years in the industry had seasoned them. Out of all the groups in the room, their songs were the most known by the general public, which already gave them a slight advantage. Two of their members have evenpleted their military service, while the other two were currently serving. That is why they entered the show as only four members, as opposed to their six original members.


    Jisung leaned closer to June. "I''m so d they''re sitting next to BOYMYSTIC. I don''t think I''d be able to handle their aura at all." June chuckled, nodding his head toward Nico. "That guy also looks like he can''t handle it, too," he whispered. Since the room was so silent, June''s chuckle was heard by none other than the leader of SPADES.


    For a second, June thought he was hallucinating when Y, their leader and center, red at him. However, he quickly shook off the feeling since he never recalled ever meeting the senior idol. Y softly scoffed as he turned to his teammate, Hyunbin. "That June guy just chuckled at us." Hyunbin frowned. "Are you sure?" Y nodded, a smirk ying on his lips. "He was definitely looking our way." June, in fact, was just chuckling at Nico. Hyunbin shook his head. "As expected, young idols these days don''t have any respect. Back then, we almost kissed the ground with how deep we bowed at our seniors." Y clicked his tongue. "Let''s show them the prowess of the third generation of idols." Once everything settled, the horn was heard once again, making the groups focus on the room''s entrance. Only one person entered, surprising the groups. Since all of thepetitors have been groups until now, they were expecting yet another group to enter. However, this time, a soloist entered. A very familiar soloist. June''s eyes narrowed as he stared into the man''s seemingly innocent eyes. "Robby?" Sehun whispered. "Robby," June confirmed, still remembering his name. How could June forget the name of the man who put him on the hot seat when he was facing rigging allegations? Robby observed hispetitors'' faces, a bright smile on his lips. He bowed earnestly, that is, until his eyes met with a familiar pink head. "June," he smirked. They met again. As the spotlight shifted, Robby made his entrance wearing a dark red suit. Almost everyone in the room was aware of Robby''s story, so they empathized with the soloist. His journey traced back to the failed season of Rising Stars, where the flow of fortune led to the disbandment of his group. However, Robby, not wanting to ept his fate, ventured into the realms of acting and singing. His appearance on Rising Stars definitely gave him leverage since hended many side character roles and even had the privilege of performing in intimate concerts just a month after his debut.


    Now, he had a prettyrge following. Histest drama, ''Stuck Under Your Bed,'' in which he yed the brother of the main character, was also well-received by the public, which boosted his poprity. He was also quite sessful as a soloist, with two of his songs making it into the top ten on the Durian chart. Moreover, he had plenty of coborations with popr artists, specifically K-rappers, which made him more recognized by K-hip hop fans. Nheless, he still had a desire in his heart to be a part of an idol group. Idol groups were more desired, more thirsted over, and more profitable.


    That was why there was a slight resentment in Robby''s heart. His group would have been the next big thing. Not EVE. So, now, he was ready to beat them at their own game. Robby''s spotlight was quickly taken away with the arrival of the next team. For some reason, June already knew the next team was going to be the most unexpected. As they say, the main character always appears at the very end. The lights seemed more vibrant as the group entered, gasps immediately filling the room. If the reaction for SPADES was amazing, then the reaction for the next group was explosive. Even the producers and writers sitting outside the cameras'' frame all gushed as the spotlight hit the next group. Jordan''s mouth went agape as he gazed at the group''s unwavering center. "What are they doing here?" he muttered. "Is this fair? They''re already the kings of the fourth generation. What more do they need to prove?" "I want to go home." "They''re going to tear up the stage." Murmurs of admiration were heard in the room as the group of five lined up before them.


    They sophistically bowed, and even SPADES, their senior group, couldn''t help but bow at the popr team. June gazed at the familiar faces of the members, but his eyes focused on the tall man at the very center. He was the only unfamiliar face out of all of them. However, June wondered why he couldn''t remember such a face. A face like his was definitely at the SS levels¡ªunforgettable. Then, he opened his mouth to speak, charisma practically spilling from his lips. "1...2..." "Unleash the storm. Good day, everyone. We are CHAOS!"

 Chapter 397 Let the Battle Begin

    <h4>Chapter 397 Let the Battle Begin</h4>


    There was an undeniable air of supremacy surrounding CHAOS. It was amazing how BOYMYSTIC, despite debuting around the same time as them, bowed their heads like CHAOS were their seniors. It seemed like they had acknowledged a hierarchical order that had naturally formed because of CHAOS'' poprity. Debuting in early 2021 under Phoenix Entertainment, one of the ''four giants'' in the entertainment industry, CHAOS quickly made a name for themselves in the industry. In the early 2010s, Phoenix was more known for its actors and actresses, but that all changed when it debuted one of the most prominent girl groups in the industry¡ªPURPLE21. They were their money bags for more than seven years, but as the girl group became the biggest girl group not only in Korea but also in the entire world, they didn''t renew their contract, which put Phoenix in a bind. However, in their struggle, the boy group CHAOS emerged¡ªa gamble that paid off handsomely.


    Unlike the gradual ascents of other groups, CHAOS catapulted to stardom with unbeatable speed. Their debut single, ''Chaos,'' swiftly climbed the Durian charts, securing a spot in the top four. Their debut album also had a whopping 2 million sales, the highest-ever sales for an idol''s debut. Aside from these, they won the ''Rookie of the Year'' award from all the major Korean music award shows, making them a household name in their second year as idols.


    Phoenix was definitely smart for debuting them right when the biggest third-generation boy groups were upied with their military service. In the end, CHAOS filled the voids in the hearts of third-generation fans, making them dominate both Domestic and Western markets.


    In simpler terms, CHAOS stood as the reigning kings of the present generation, even boasting an impressive collection of local and international awards.


    Without a doubt, they were definitely the most popr artists out of everyone present in the room. That is why it was almost impossible to believe they were evenpeting in a survival show. How does June know all of this? Of course, it''s from none other than the prince of information himself¡ªJay. June wasn''t originally curious about the group since he wanted to put them in the past. Choi Joon-ho was supposed to debut in the group, after all. However, he mistakenly heard Jay''s and Zeth''s conversation about them, so he got a gist of how they were created. CHAOS was designated to sit next to them, so the members of EVE stiffened in the presence of a very popr senior group. It was a good thing June was sitting at the other edge of the seats, so he was far from the members of CHAOS. With CHAOS settling down, the sevenpetitors of King of Kings had finally beenpleted.


    June looked around and observed everyone''s determined faces. He now felt the intensity of thepetition. He wasn''t battling with mere amateurs. Some of hispetitors were considered veterans, while the others were monsters in the industry. Just then, the lights all turned on, and a glowing pathway was made with the LED screens. They gasped at the spectacle before them, and their gasps only became louder when two familiar faces emerged from the entrance. Kim Wonbin, the charismaticedian and the face of the show''s trailer, entered with a charming smile. Beside him was Jee Haemin, the revered idol dancer of the second generation, who brought an aura of unmatched greatness that captivated the idols in attendance. Jisung covered his mouth in shock, pointing at the artist with shaky hands. "Jee Haemin?" he quietly eximed. "He''s the reason why I became an idol in the first ce!"


    "I can''t believe my idol is in front of me." "Pinch me, please. I''m definitely dreaming." "This is my first time seeing him, and he''s truly blessed by the deities." Praises for Jee Haemin were heard in the room, causing the seasoned idol to smile. As the crowd hushed, the hosts began to unravel the rules of the thrilling TV show.


    Kim Wonbin smirked, looking straight into the camera. Just in time, epic music started ying, setting the idols''petitive spirits. "Gentlemen, wee to the show of a lifetime! I''m Kim Wonbin, and this here is the legendary Jee Haemin." The idols all burst into cheers. "Aren''t we lucky to be in the presence of such greatness, Haemin?" Wonbin asked.


    Jee Haemin nodded. "Absolutely, Wonbin. It''s an honor to be here, witnessing the incredible talents gathered in this room. Now, let''s get down to business."


    "I''m sure you''ve heard of Queen of Queens," Wonbin started off. "In that manner, you''ll know that this survival show does not have any eliminations." Indeed, it was one of the merits of the show.


    "However, we''ve also employed twists that will keep you on the edge of your seats. For the next four weeks, all of you will be given a theme, and you will curate your performance based on that theme. It''s like a musical adventure, and I can''t wait to see what you, talented folks,e up with!" Haemin smiled. "And that''s not all!" Wonbin added. "Brace yourselves for some heart-pounding missions¡ªexciting ones with rewards that might just change the game."


    The crowd erupted into whispers, curious about these missions. As far as they know, the girl version of the show merely had performances.


    The hosts exchanged knowing looks before continuing.


    "For the first three performances, there won''t be any special judges. Nope, we''re leaving it all in the hands of the people. The audience gets to decide the fate of the performers. Their votes will determine the points, and we all know points make prizes, right?" Haemin grinned. "Absolutely, Haemin! Points, points, points! And by the end of it all, we''ll tally those points up, and the artist with the highest score will be crowned the king of kings. A title that''s not just for show, but a ticket to K-pop glory! We also have an exciting prize for the winner¡ªone you don''t want to miss out on!"


    The hosts exchanged a dramatic pause, letting the weight of their words sink in. "Step into the melodic arena, where dreams are sung, skills are waged, and only one will rise as the undisputed King of Kings! Are you ready for the battle?"

 Chapter 398 Their Performances (1)

    <h4>Chapter 398 Their Performances (1)</h4>


    The idols erupted into cheers, nervous yet excited for what was about toe.


    CHAOS, however, remained poised amidst all of this. It felt like they didn''t feel any pressureing into thepetition. "Your first performance starts now! We will upload your performances on YouWatch tomorrow, and we will have a special voting poll on the SBC website! The voting will only be open for 24 hours. After which, the votes will be finalized and will be revealed the next day!" Haemin exined. "Now, who wants to go first?" Kim Wonbin asked. MORPH3D raised their arms at lightning speed¡ªas if they already knew the hosts were going to ask that particr question. Jee Haemin''s eyebrows raised, appearing pleasantly surprised. He brought the mic to his lips. "I like your guys'' confidence," he said, making the group smile. "I always admire people who want to go first. Please take the stage!" MORPH3D confidently walked to the front, pleased with the senior''spliment. Meanwhile, the otherpetitors watched them with envy, now regretting not volunteering faster. June sensed the tension in the room. It seemed like the war of nerves had finally started. MORPH3D took their positions, the seven-member group standing in a straight line. Drums pounded, guitars wailed, and bass notes reverberated through the venue, setting the stage for a rock band-inspired idol performance. "It''s ''Pull the Trigger,''" Jaeyong whispered, recognizing the group''s biggest hit. As determined earlier, MORPH3D''s sound was heavily influenced by this genre, so the arrangement wasn''t too surprising. What was surprising, however, was the wless cartwheel that Zibo executed during the intro. His graceful and fluid movements, which were heavily influenced by Eastern/Chinese dance, stood as a sharp contrast with the intense music. However, it didn''t look bad at all. Instead, the unexpectedness of the dance merely added to the quality of their performance.


    "Rising like a viin, anger in our eyes. The world''s injustice, our hearts despise." The spotlight shifted to the center stage, where Rex, undoubtedly the most popr member of the group, sang the first lines. "Fueled by the whispers, venom we inhale. In the dark sea, revenge sets sail." June was pleasantly surprised. It was no wonder he became the saving grace of their team. His voice was perfect for their genre¡ªraspy yet full. "Pull the trigger, break the chains,


    In this realm, we''ve gone insane. Through the tempest, the lightning guide,


    Strength united, nowhere to hide." As the final chorus echoed in the room, MORPH3D took their bow, and the idols pped in respect. June couldn''t count it as an outstanding performance, but there were some outstanding moments. The killing parts consisted mostly of Zibo and Rex, with the others appering like background dancers. Nheless, it was a good performance. "What an opening performance by MORPH3D!" Wonbin eximed. "I''m sure you made the next performers nervous." "Speaking of, who will be our next performers of the night?" Haemin asked. "Since MORPH3D courageously performed first, they would also be given the privilege to choose the next idol to perform!" MORPH3D looked around the room, and most of the idols evaded their gazes. June locked eyes with Zibo for a second and felt they were going to perform next.


    However, he sighed in relief when Rex called out the next performer''s name. "We''ll go with with a senior we respect¡ªBOYMYSTIC!" he happily said. Nico groaned loudly, causing the room to burst into chuckles. "It seems like Nico here doesn''t want to perform first," Haemin chimed. A mic was given to Nico, so he responded. "I would have liked to gost," he said, "But since we''ve been called, we''re going to raise the bar even higher." "Oooh." Exims of amusement were heard, and MORPH3D was slightly intimidated. "Show us what you got!" Wonbin said, gesturing for them to take the stage. BOYMYSTIC didn''t hesitate to take the stage. Their experience was evident since they appeared more rxed than MORPH3D, and as the music started, their skills definitely did not disappoint. They looked morefortable with the camera¡ªsomething that wascking in MORPH3D performance. Moreover, their synergy as a team felt more natural, probably since they''ve performed longer than the former group. However, like MORPH3D''s stage, it also had its ws. They didn''t put any surprising elements into their performance. Maybe they were too busy since thepany was squeezing their schedules tight because they had only until the second quarter of the year for their contract, or maybe they just didn''t think about it at all. Although it was a good performance, it was very simr with the other performances they had shown in their career so far. Their stage ended with Jordan in the middle, panting after their strenuous choreography. The room burst into apuse as they made their way back to their seats, bowing in gratitude for theirpetitors'' support. "As expected from the very first boy group born from Rising Stars. You guys proved why you were the chosen ones!" Haemin smiled, showing a thumbs-up. They smiled cheerily. "Now, it''s your turn to pick the next performer," Wonbin said. BOYMYSTIC discussed for a while before deciding who will perform next. June was certain their name wasn''t going to get called since they didn''t even look their way for a second. ¡­and he was right. Jordan took the mic and cleared his throat. "We picked this group since we''re genuinely excited for what they are going to perform. We would like to preface that we''re huge fans, and we''ve listened to a lot of their songs," he said. June concluded that it was either SPADES or CHAOS. He, too, was the most curious about these two''s stages¡ªnot that he didn''t care for his otherpetitors, but those groups were the only ones he wasn''t too familiar with. "We''ll go with our beloved senior group, SPADES," Jordan smiled. The idols gasped in surprise. They were almost certain that SPADES would performst based on seniority. However, it also couldn''t be denied they couldn''t wait for their stage. Y, their leader, chuckled into the mic. "We also wanted to gost," he said. "But I guess it''s time for us to show the power of ten years of experience."

 Chapter 399 Their Performances (2)

    399 Their Performances (2)


    "I watched their performances when I was in Elementary school." "Damn, Seven''s really young." "I performed one of their songs during the trainee evaluations." "Same! It was really hard to pull off."


    "How many people do you know can pull off a one-letter stage name? Not a lot! Y is a legendary senior." Praises were heard in the studio as SPADES prepared for their stage. They had hand-held microphones in their hands, which probably meant they weren''t going to be using any backtrack for their performance. They stood in a straight line, a bit spaced out since they only had four members.


    Nheless, despite theirck of members, they still filled the stage with their presence. June paid more attention to their performance, especially the one in the middle¡ªY. The stage plunged into darkness. Four spotlights illuminated the quartet, showing off their glowing skin. Then, a nostalgic tone resounded in the studio, making the participants, staff members, and hosts exim in delight. The bad, ''Sweet Poison,'' had definitely been etched into the hearts of many Koreans. It was a popr song that was sung at karaoke bars, especially after drinking sessions. So, the fact that they were singing this was already a huge advantage for the team. "The taste of your absence, a bitter afterglow,


    Yet, I cling to the burning touch, reluctant to let go." Hyunbin, their oldest member, started off the song, immediately captivating the entire studio. His voice held experience¡ªone that nobody could replicate in the room except for Jee Haemin. It was as if he had experienced a real poisonous love, and he was singing the song to a past lover. His vocal skill, which was in the same vocal tier as June''s, left many in awe, including June himself. "I tried to let go, but the fire wouldn''t relent. Holding onto the fragments that our hearts spent."


    Another member sang, his voice like honey velvet. It wrapped around the audience with heartache and longing. The simplicity of the piano and the sad strings served as the perfect instrumental, enhancing the painful narrative of the song. The members, d in elegant all-white suits that mirrored the song''s emotional richness, stood like statues of grace. They were immersed in the depths of their own thoughts. For the entire verse, they didn''t dance¡ªwhich June found a bit strange since he knew the song had an original choreography. However, as the chorus approached, the members of SPADES finally executed their choreography. Their dance, although not as intense as MORH3D''s or BOYMYSTIC''s, possessed a different kind of charm. It was a delicate waltz of movement, easy on the eyes. As June observed the members, he could tell that dancing wasn''t their strongest front.


    However, Y definitely showed his skill in dancing despite the simple movements. Then, as he opened his mouth to sing, June nodded in acknowledgment. The man was better than him. "Sweet poison, hoping our love remains. Burning bridges, yet I''m still holding the chain. I''ll drink the poison, though it scorches my soul. In the ruins of us, where broken hearts take their toll."


    [Y, 1989


    Vocals: SS


    Dance: S-


    Visual: A- Rap: D] June was once again reminded that he wasn''t battling with amateurs this time. As thest note resounded, the studio immediately burst into apuse. "Ah, fuck. My heart did a little dance of happiness." "It''s so much better than I would ever imagine." "I can''t believe I witnessed that live!" "Is it toote to drop out of thepetition?" SPADES received the most praise out of all the groups that had performed, making them the frontrunner for the first benefit. SPADES went back to their seats, satisfaction seen on their faces. Then, when asked who they wanted to perform next, they didn''t hesitate to give out an answer. "We''ll go with OCTA," Y said. "I think they''re the most promising rookie group out there." The members of EVE subtly looked at each other, wondering if his statement was meant to diss them in some kind of way. Akira leaned closer to Jaeyong and whispered. "Don''t act offended. You were the same to June during Rising Stars." Jaeyong awkwardly chuckled before looking apologetically at June. Despite feeling a bit nervous to perform right after a huge senior, OCTA still took on the challenge. They performed HEATWAVE, their debut single and the highest-charting song out of their discography. EVE was very familiar with the song and their performance since they saw it during their promotion period. Nheless, OCTA incorporated quite a lot of surprise elements with their props and stage effects. In the chorus, Uno held a torch high in the air while intensely dancing to their choreography.


    Then, right after the chorus, the bridge came, and they had Dos and Tres remove their jackets to show off their toned bodies. "Alright, that''s unfair. How do they get their bodies like that?" "I really need to start going to the gym." June looked down at his body and poked his arm. Yeah, he also needed to build his body more. As OCTA sang thest chorus, June focused his gaze on Uno''s status window and smirked. "Monster," he muttered, looking at his improved dance aspect. June wondered why his status didn''t move up despite the amount of practice he poured into his skills, but he guessed he needed to work even harder. He already had two sessions with Magic Mama, so his knowledge of singing had drastically improved. However, he also knew he still had a long way to go. OCTA''s performance was greeted with a loud round of apuse. Uno''s and June''s eyes met for a couple of seconds, and the former threw him a confident smile. June sat straight, already knowing what wasing..


    They were definitely going to be performing next. "Do you need some time to discuss who you''re going to choose?" Haemin asked. Uno quickly shook his head. "We''ve already decided." "It''s us," June said, making his teammates sit in attention. "EVE will be up next," Uno smirked. Haemin nodded, looking over EVE''s way. "Alright. Let''s have EVE on the stage!"

 Chapter 400 Siren

    <h4>Chapter 400 Siren</h4>


    The tension increased as EVE assembled on the stage. "I wonder what they''re going to show." "I watched them since Rising Stars. They''ve already performed a variety of genres. Would they be able to surprise us again?" "They''re great live performers." Jee Haemin, who was a secret fan of the fourth season of Rising Stars, anticipated EVE''s performance the most. He felt a bit guilty since OCTA was in the samepany as him.


    However, he couldn''t help but feel giddy as he waited for EVE to start their performance. At first, he was drawn to Jisung, who he felt had the same dancing style as him. As a well-known main dancer, he was always on the lookout for talented young artists. However, as he continued watching the show, he felt drawn to all the members. He felt that their group had the potential to be one of the greatest groups of all time¡ªthat is if they don''t lose that potential. Jaeyong oversaw their formation and nodded, also taking his position. Then, he nodded at one of the producers, signaling they were ready for the performance. The stage transformed into a dreamscape as the lights bathed EVE in a surreal glow. For a second, the room remained silent, making the participants confused. "Why isn''t the instrumental ying?" Seven whispered to Ocho, feeling concerned for EVE. Uno, too, frowned in confusion. He wanted to one-up EVE in their performance, but not in this way. Robby smirked at the thought of EVE''s technical difficulty. Meanwhile, Jee Haemin looked at the staff members with furrowed eyebrows, wondering why it was taking such a long time to y EVE''s instrumental. "Home...where we spent most of our days. Home...where no one goes away. Home...where we make each other stay." They snapped their focus back to the stage when June''s voice resonated through the venue. His lines were a departure from his usual range, dripping with a velvety allure that sent chills down the listener''s spines. He had been working on expanding his range after his vocal lessons with Magic Mama, and it definitely paid off. Although not all the low notes were fully supported, they still sounded great to the ears. Then, just as they thought the music was going to y after June''s intro...it didn''t. Instead, Ren''s higher tone interwoven with June''s, the air thickening with a haunting elegance.


    "Beware the Oasis in the desert of need.


    For in its seemingly quenching waters lies the peril of drowning." Casper''s and Zeth''s natural low voices added a mysterious undertone, a rumble that echoed like distant thunder. "In the heat, none perish, but within the embrace of a deceptive sanctuary...


    The true danger unfolds." Jordan softly gasped. "Acape?" he whispered. "Why didn''t we think of that?" Nico muttered under his breath. Y thought ill of the group''s pink-haired center because of his insulting chuckle during the opening. However, he couldn''t deny that June was talented, and his voice served as the foundation of their harmonies. The absence of the instrumental apaniment magnified the voices of EVE and how they all contributed to creating their sound. "Has this song always been this scary?" Seven quietly asked. "The music video was eerie," Dos answered, "But their performances had always been bubbly, so I wasn''t expecting it." Just when they thought it couldn''t get any better, June started yet another harmony. "Ahhh..." The members all took turns singing in different octaves, with the former members sustaining their notes. Smoke arose from the ground, apanied by the sound of loud waves. It was different from the original song. Instead, it sounded like a ship sailing in a stormy sea, only adding to the haunting aspect of the performance.


    "Oh, oh, Oasis... Oh, oh, my life is..." They sang the chorus together, still in different octaves. However, the main vocalists'' voices undoubtedly led the song, which made the performance more harmonious. "Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love is deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, I''ve found my true home."


    Thest line was sung by June, sustaining a high note while his members went around him in a circle. Jee Haemin watched the spectacle before him, his heart racing in excitement. He was brought back to the days when their team was still very active. It made him want to perform something like this with his members. And then, as his high note ended, June stared right into the camera before doing a body pop. That body pop became the ''trigger'' of the instrumental, startling some of the participants. In contrast with the bubbly introduction of Oasis, this one was intense¡ªvery fit for a dance break. Jisung went to the center along with Zeth and Sehun and moved gracefully yet powerfully to the beats. The other members served as their shadows, moving subtly to give more emphasis to intense choreography. As the others watched, they finally realized what EVE was trying to portray. "Sirens," Uno concluded. His members heard his conclusion, and everything made sense. "Genius," Seven said, already admitting defeat. They never thought a bubbly water concept could be interpreted in such a way. Now, EVE didn''t look like hot boys on the beach. They appeared like dangerous male sirens in the wild ocean, ready to capture everyone that woulde their way. The waves crashing in the background grew louder, surpassing the recorded version''s intensity. The audience was swept away on a sonic tide, lost in the ocean of emotion crafted by EVE.


    June smirked as he looked at his teammates, already satisfied with what they had put out. At first, they decided to perform a remix version of Oasis, one that showcased its usual bubbly charm. However, as they thought hard about it, they realized that they needed something more intimidating to show theirpetitors. And that''s when the concept of sirens was brought up by Jaeyong. It was brought up as a joke at first, but June insisted it could work. In the end, it exceeded their expectations, and by the look of the watchers'' faces, it also exceeded theirs. Each performer was given less than three minutes for their performance, so EVE had to cut their performance short after the first chorus. So, as thest notes echoed in the venue, there was a collective thought in the participants'' minds¡ª


    "It''s too short," Jee Haemin muttered.

 Chapter 401 Chaos Ensues Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 401 Chaos Ensues Chaos</h4>


    EVE went back to their seats as praises continued to be thrown over their way. Y even unconsciously raised his hand to p, wondering where they got such a fresh idea from. "Can we perform something like that too?" Seven whispered to Uno. Uno merely smirked. Jordan pped loudly, feeling proud of their juniorbel-mates. Although he didn''t really contribute to their current sess, he still felt like a proud dad. Nico, on the other hand, pursed his lips and pped despite the envy he felt in his heart. The episode hasn''t even aired yet, but he was already sure that Mimi was going to be gushing about June for days! Jee Haemin smiled widely as he went back to the center with Wonbin. "I only have onement for the performance¡ªwow," Haemin said, feeling very satisfied with their performance. His heart did a little giddy dance as EVE bowed at him, but he tried his hardest to stay calm. Of course, Haemin still wanted to keep his reputation of being a cool, untouchable senior!


    "I agree," Wonbin said. "The acape bit gave me goosebumps! I wish I could watch the performance all over again."


    The members of EVE happily looked at each other. Having someone say they want to see their performance again was such a hugepliment. "However," Wonbin quickly said. "We must move on for now. EVE, do you have anyone in mind?" The members all turned to Jaeyong, relying on their leader. However, Jaeyong turned toward June, wanting to hear his opinion. June subtly nodded toward the direction of the performer he wanted to go next. Jaeyong smiled and nodded. "We''ll go with CHAOS," Jaeyong said, surprising even the members of EVE. June smiled, thankful that Jaeyong took his suggestion. Meanwhile, the others were in shock that CHAOS wasn''t going to be performingst. Some of the staff members also frowned, wanting CHAOS to be the grand enders of the show. As the popr main characters of the show, they HAD to performst. It was an unspoken rule inside the studio. However, this was something June took into consideration. June didn''t want them to be the main characters. Performingst would give them too much of an advantage¡ªespecially if they perform right after Robby. It''s also another reason why June wanted CHAOS to go next. June still hadn''t forgotten what Robby did to him when he was facing the rigging allegations, so he wanted to give the soloist more pressure. Indeed, Robby was already fidgeting in his seat, subtly ring at EVE but going back to his usual innocent smile when the camera panned toward his way. "Well, well, well," Haemin said. "This is unexpected. How do you feel about this CHAOS?" he asked. Xion took the mic and smiled. "Honestly, we''ve been ready since the beginning. So, we''re not too shocked about it. The order of the performance doesn''t matter anyway. Our performance will always be treated as thest performance," he confidently said, causing the other participants to exim in amusement. "Fuck, that sounded cocky but cool." "I would get a lot of hate if I said that, but it''s CHAOS. Their confidence is backed up by their skill." "I can''t wait to see this." The members of CHAOS stood, and the first thing June noticed was their simr heights. All of them appeared to be beyond the 185 cm mark. ''It''s definitely a good thing I didn''t debut in this group,'' he thought. Their tall heights added to their stage presence, and they looked more like models than idols. However, June already knew that these guys were talented, so they definitely weren''t just about their visuals. The guy June was most curious about stood at the center, and June''s curiosity grew evenrger. ''How good is this guy?'' June didn''t have to wait any longer because the five figures burst onto the stage with acrobatic flips and energetic movements as soon as the music started. The audience was taken aback by the intense routine. The group was moving around the stage like a circus act! However, it wasn''t humorous at all. Instead, it was just cool¡ªa very handsome circus act. June squinted his eyes to get a better look at their center''s status window, but his vision was shitty, and they were moving too much for him to see his level. "In the shadows, chaos whispers, a storm on the rise. Fear grips the hearts as darkness in disguise.


    A song of mayhem, echoed through the night,


    No escape, no refuge from the impending fright." Finally, they stayed still, and June caught a glimpse of his status window. [Haruki, born in 2001


    Vocals: SS


    Dance: SS


    Visual: SS


    Rap: A] "Holy shit," June couldn''t help but say, the triple-SS level ring at him. Jisung nced at June before patting his back. "They''re good, aren''t they?" June wordlessly nodded, still speechless after seeing Haruki''s levels. It was undoubtedly a humbling experience.


    "Beware the thunderous footsteps, chaos draws near. A harmony of destruction, ringing crystal clear.


    It''s futile to resist, we''ll conquer with might,


    No sanctuary remains, swallowed by the night." The group took center stage after their disy of acrobatic movements, now showcasing their synchronized choreography. "Chaos is here, a force you can''t deny. An inevitable disorder, reaching for the sky.


    Don''t resist, surrender to the wave. In the end, we im, only chaos will brave." The chorus was led by Haruki, and June now knew why his vocals were at the SS level. He knew that Xion was already a great vocalist, but their center was clearly on another level. As the bridge approached, multiple effects engulfed the stage. Smoke screens, shing LED lights, and fake weapons enhanced their performance, and it seemed like all the elements of the other stages were encapsted into theirs. "No hero emerges, no savior in sight,


    Screams of horror drown out the fight.


    Embrace the pain, let go of control,


    In the midst of the storm, chaos takes it all." The rebellious spirit intensified as the group stood united, proiming their dominance. Live vocals fill the venue, each member delivering powerful lyrics with unwavering confidence. "The whispers grow louder, a cacophony of fear. No sanctuary left as chaos draws near."


    The group unleashed a burst of pyrotechnics, illuminating the stage with sparks. The chaos metaphorically came to life, engulfing the performers in bright fire and loud sound.


    As the performance approaches its end, the stage is bathed in a fiery glow. The group adopts a poised stance, creating suspense. CHAOS stood still, each with different weapons in their hands. They stared intensely into the camera as the fire subsided. Then, like the center he was, Haruki sang the final lines. "As the chaos subsides, a new era begins,


    In the aftermath, only chaos grins."


    The studio turned ck with only the light shining upon the members of CHAOS¡ªthe lyrics of their song bing true. Only chaos grins. June was still shocked, not a single thought urring in his head. Then, it dawned on him, a small smile ying on his lips. "Ah, we lost."

 Chapter 402 Evil Editing 2.0

    <h4>Chapter 402 Evil Editing 2.0</h4>


    June finally felt what his teammates felt during their time on Rising Stars. In the past, it was he who left them speechless.


    However, now, another idol group left him questioning his talent. Their center, Haruki, is undoubtedly the most talented idol he has ever encountered. He didn''t know what to do with the information. However, he feltpetitive¡ªhe needed to improve faster. Jee Haemin, who thought EVE''s performance wasn''t going to be topped, was proven wrong.


    CHAOS showed why they were the most popr boy group of the fourth generation. Wonbin cleared his throat into the mic, making the participants snap out of their daze. "We''re speechless," he chuckled. "That was such a good performance." Haemin nodded. "A performance fit for a king." Haruki humbly smiled, taking a bow. Zeth sharply inhaled behind him, so June turned to his temples.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked. "Was that what I was like during Rising Stars?" he shakily asked. Akira chuckled, joining in on their conversation. "Don''t let your head get too big," he said. "Haruki is definitely scarier." Zeth nodded, feeling a bit humbled. In his mind, he still had a long way to go. "Well, that marks the end of the first performances!" Haemin eximed. "Time passed by quickly because all of the performances were all worth watching." "Indeed," Wonbin agreed. "Now, our crew will take the time to edit your footage and upload it on YouWatch tomorrow. The voting will then start as soon as all performances are uploaded." "And the results?" Y asked, his hand raised. "It will be revealed a dayter during the first episode of the show," Haemin smiled. ***


    The announcement of the participants of King of Kings led many K-pop manias to be excited. SBC announced the line-up right after they finished filming the first episode, and the reaction was already massive.


    - So many daddies in one ce! I''m definitely tuning in. - The only real daddies in thepetition are SPADES. What are they doing in this survival show when they''re way past their beekeeping age? - I''m a proud fan of these old men. Shouldn''t you feel more ashamed to be a fan of high schoolers? I bet Seven could be your child. - Astras can''t rte. All of our men are legal and fresh. - EVE''s going to trash the show. They haven''t even gotten their first win yet. - Am I the only Robby fan in the audience? - Yes.


    - CHAOS rocks! - CHAOS will win in the end. - All the other fandoms arguing in thement section, but chaotics are calm. We already know our boys are going to nail it! Jia and her friends, too, couldn''t believe that EVE was going to participate in another survival show. One thing was for sure, though¡ªthey were going to vote for EVE until the end of thepetition. They were currently in their school''s library, having just finished watching EVE''s performance.


    Jia almost passed out from holding her squeals in, and she immediately went to SBC''s voting website to cast her votes for EVE.


    "Don''t you think we should watch the other performances?" Soomin whispered. "What for?" Wei asked. "We only like EVE out of all these groups." Nari sighed. "But then, wouldn''t it be unfair?" "How?" Jia whispered back. "It''s not like we''re rigging their votes. We do need to make more email ounts so we can vote for them multiple times. It is said on the website that the winner will get a benefit for the next mission." "Yeah, it''s not unfair," Bora said, having transferred to their school for the semester. "It''s just the way survival shows are¡ªespecially one that already has idols with established fandoms. In the end, they''ll vote for their favorite group." "I guess you''re right," Nari said, scratching the back of her neck. "But then, isn''t the winner decided already?" Soomin said. "If we''re basing it on poprity, then CHAOS would win." The group paused, not being able to say anything. Indeed, CHAOS'' chaotics were far greater in number than EVE''s astras. "Maybe the only way someone else would win in King of Kings is if they get the general public on their side," Soomin added. "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves," Jia said, feeling hopeful about the situation. "Maybe the result will not be as everyone expected."


    ***


    EVE gathered around their living room to watch the first episode of King of Kings. They were pretty excited to watch their performance, especially since they felt proud of the ''siren'' concept they came up with. However, their excitement all came crashing down when the idols'' entrance was shown on screen. As SPADES entered, tension-filled music resounded through the speakers. They made it as intense as possible, showing even a slowed-down video of Seven gulping his water nervously. Then, it also showed Jaeyong nervously fiddling with his fingers.


    "Man, I thought SBC would be better in terms of editing, but they''re the same as Azure,"


    Jaeyong sighed.


    However, just when they thought it couldn''t get worse¡­it did. Because right then and there, June was shown on screen. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. All of the participants were interviewed right after the performances to get their insights about theirpetitors. June was confused since he didn''t recall ever saying anything about SPADES'' entrance. The June on screen crossed his arms in front of his chest and sighed. "What are they doing here?" he said. His members'' eyes widened in surprise, and they turned to him with shaky gazes. June''s frown deepened, and he also sat straight up. "Holy crap. You really said that about them?" Akira asked. June shook his head. "No," he denied. "I only said positive things during my interview." "Then, what''s this?" Ren asked. "I didn''t say this about SPADES. I recalled saying this for BOYMYSTIC. I said I was shocked when they entered since we''re both from the samepany. I had to ask myself, ''What are they doing here?'' since we just met a day before the filming," he exined.


    "Then¡­does that mean?" Jisung implied. "Yes," June sighed, massaging his teammates.


    SBC had cut out his response to make it look like he said it to SPADES. It seemed like the evil editing had started once again.

 Chapter 403 Ball Addiction

    <h4>Chapter 403 Ball Addiction</h4>


    June misses Cindy. Cindy would have never betrayed him like this (even though, she almost did). - Damn. I thought June was a good person. - Maybe the fame got to his head. SPADES has been around before you even grew pubes, boy.


    June bit his lip at thatment. He was practically the same age as Y! Sure, they were 13 years apart in this body, but they could be buddies in his past life. - Thank goodness I didn''t vote for EVE! "They''re ming you in thements," Akira chuckled, reading the hriousments on the side of the video. However, he quickly halted when he became the next victim of the evil editing.


    It was when Robby came in, and Akira was shown allegedlyughing at him. His eyes widened in surprise as he pointed to the TV. "I was justughing at Jaeyong''s joke at that part!" he eximed. - So, it seems like the entire group doesn''t have manners. - Jaeyong should manage his team better. Jaeyong gestured to himself. "Me? What the heck do I have to do with this?" Fortunately, their team wasn''t the only one who was evil-edited. It seemed like the editors have it out for the rookie idols since EVE, OCTA, and MORPH3D became the center of the evil editing. However, in the end, with his bad luck, June took the biggest hit among them because of his editedment.


    - The fifth generation of idols is wild. Stay humble. You haven''t even achieved anything in your career just yet. - Geez. Now, I see why a lot of older idols talk about young idols. A lot are very disrespectful. - OCTA didn''t even bow when SPADES came in! - June is worse than everyone, though. At least OCTA didn''t say anything. - Robby literally snickered while BOYMYSTIC was performing! - Yeah, and June literally said that SPADES shouldn''t even join the show. "This is a mess," Jaeyong said, leaning back against his seat. "I feel like everyone''s not even paying attention to the performances." Akira nodded in agreement. "Well, as they say, people are addicted to entertainment¡ªand the best entertainment is drama."


    The performances ended with the audience still arguing about who was the most disrespectful idol in the show. Of course, there were praises for the performances here and there, but like the other seasons, most people tuned in for the drama. As the video of the stage faded, Wonbin appeared on the screen. Behind him were the participants'' emblems, all with status bars under their names. "King of Kings has officially started! Your votes are in, and we are now going to determine who are the first kings!" he eximed. "In the 24-hour period, we had coted more than 30 million votes¡ªthat''s already the most votes we gathered in the history of the show!" "30 million votes on the first episode? That''s insane," Zeth eximed. "Right?" Ren said in disbelief. "I believe I only had a million votes on the first elimination of Rising Stars." The status bars started filling up, showing the person who received the least votes. "Robby is in 7th ce," Wonbin started off. June smirked. He deserved it. "MORPH3D at 6th!" Wonbin continued. Sehun sighed shakily. "Alright, I''m good. At least we aren''t at thest two ces." "SPADES at 5th!" - What the hell? The rookie groups actually beat SPADES?


    - I''m so sad. This is SPADES'' first show after a long hiatus. We should have voted for them harder. "4th. I''m alright with 4th," Ren said. "BOYMYSTIC at 4th." "Surely, 3rd," June said. "EVE at 3rd!" His teammates turned to him, surprised. "How''d you predict that?" Akira eximed. "Views," June simply answered. "I reckon the amount of views would also be the same as the number of votes¡­and I''m right." "Now, it''s between OCTA and CHAOS!" Wonbin said. The two status bars moved at a turtle''s pace. However, most of the watchers already knew who was going to win in the end. "CHAOS, congrattions! With 10 million votes, you be the first king of the dungeon! Meanwhile, OCTA takes second ce with 5 million votes." Jisung stared at the screen with wide eyes, looking at the amount of votes for CHAOS. "There''s a five million gap," he mindlessly said. "Why aren''t you fazed about this?" Zeth asked, patting Casper, who was busy munching on cheese balls. Their stock of pink cheese balls had long been gone, but it seemed like Casper developed an addiction to them. Now, he stocked up on the regr kind. "It''s expected," Casper said, popping another cheeseball in his mouth. "By Navel followers alone, CHAOS beats us by 9 million. And just like June had said, they have the most views out of everybody." June nodded, still looking at their votes on the screen. CHAOS had a third of the votes, while OCTA took 5 million. EVE''s votes weren''t too far from OCTA''s¡ªonly a few thousand gaps. The other 10 million views were shared by the other four artists. Jaeyong suddenly pped, capturing their attention. "Honestly, we shouldn''t be too sad about this one," Jaeyong said. "We have more than 4 million votes. Don''t you think that''s huge for a rookie group?" A small smile appeared on Zeth''s lips. "You''re right. I never would have even imaginedpeting with SPADES or CHAOS." "That''s true," Casper said. "I think we should be more worried for June." Akira chuckled, nudging June''s shoulder. "Damn. Was this what you dealt with during Rising Stars? You had it rough, bro." June sighed, already imagining the amount of hate he was getting on Navel. "Don''tugh," Jaeyong said. "You''re involved in it too." Akira''s smile dropped, and he slumped on the couch like a little toddler. "I was justughing at your poor joke! These SBC editors are the spawn of devils!" June let out a deep breath, standing from the couch. "I''ll go and take the trash out." "Thanks, June!" Sehun smiled.


    "Thanks, bro. I''ll definitely bring out the trash next year," Akira cheekily grinned. June clicked his tongue and pped the back of his head before heading out of their dorm. He went down to the building''s dumping area and hauled the heavy trash bag inside the dumpster beforethering on a sanitizer. June was about to leave when he stepped on a water bottle, the crunchy sound resonating in the quiet night. Then, like it had been triggered by the sound of the water bottle, Fu appeared before him. [Special mission found. The mission''s title is: ASS!] June''s eyebrows furrowed. "Ass?" he eximed. [Ate that SS! Gain friendship from an artist with an SS status and mirror their rank!]

 Chapter 404 Blank

    <h4>Chapter 404 nk</h4>


    The participants gathered once again for the announcement of the second mission. They were in a smaller studio this time, still extravagant butcking the grand stage during the first episode. The tension undoubtedly increasedpared to the filming of the first episode. It must be attributed to the backstagements that they made on theirpetitors. SBC definitely made it a mission to create as much drama in the show as possible, and their ns worked. June kept his gaze to the front, but he could feel whispers being thrown his way. He finally nced to the side and saw Y giving him a subtle re, so he quickly looked away. He then caught a glimpse of Haruki, CHAOS'' center, who was also looking at him with an indecipherable emotion. One thing was certain, though¡ªHaruki''s stare wasn''t friendly at all.


    June pursed his lips and settled his gaze to the front once more. It was almostical how the two contestants with SS skills didn''t see him in a good light. He could understand Y''s sentiment, especially after the evil editing fiasco that SBC did. However, June couldn''t understand why Haruki seemed to hate him. There was only one usible answer¡ªhe must be acquainted with the former Choi Joon-ho. June''s thoughts came to a halt when Jee Haemin entered the room with a wide smile. The participants quickly stood, bowing at their senior idol. "Thank you, guys, foring here despite your busy schedules," he started off. "I know we just finished filming for the first episode, but we don''t have any time to waste. We are going straight to the second mission!" The participants muttered excitedly, wondering what kind of mission they were going to undertake. For those who participated in Rising Stars before, it wasn''t a foreign concept. However, it wasn''t really an advantage. It seemed like those who already experienced survival shows were more nervous than excited. "But first and foremost, let''s congratte CHAOS for taking first ce for the opening mission!" he eximed, gesturing to the popr group.


    The other participants pped. It was definitely expected, but it didn''t take away their desire to take first ce in the next mission. "Like we saidst week, we will give you a benefit that could change the course of thepetition," Haemin continued. The members of CHAOS confidently exchanged nces. "Even without the benefit, I think we''re still going to win," Xion whispered to Gideon. Gideon smirked. "But that doesn''t mean we''re not going to enjoy the benefit." "But before we reveal the benefit, let me first brief you on the next mission," Haemin said, unveiling the clothed board behind him. "I just got transported back during our song selection in Rising Stars," Akira chuckled, finding the situation funny. "Yeah, let''s not make June pick our songs this time," Jaeyong chimed. Four cards were on the board, each luded with a sticker cover. "The next mission is entitled ''st from the Past.'' We''re diving deep into the roots of K-pop, where the pioneers of idol music left their mark. The first, second, and third generations of idols paved the way for the glittering careers you''re all dreaming of right now," Haemin smiled. "Your mission is to pay homage to the legends who paved the way for us. Each of you will be performing a song from the first three generations of K-pop. These are the songs that set the stage for the industry we have today, and you''ll be the bridge to the next generation of idols."


    Haemin raised an eyebrow, teasing the contestants with suspense before announcing the first song. "The first track is a timeless ssic from the first generation. It''s Candy Shop by C.O.L.D!"


    Gasps of surprise and excitement rippled through the contestants, and the pressure of performing a song from a legendary group hit them. The name ''C.O.L.D.'' echoed through the studio, an acknowledgment of the original visual boy group that emerged from ESPER Entertainment. "My mom loves this song." "Do you think we can pull this off? The lyrics are insanely paradoxical with the tune." "Yeah, it''s like a happy break-up song." "I think we can pull this one off," Jisung whispered. "June could be our center, and he can do the iconic butt-pping dance." June shook his head as his members teased him. Haemin surveyed the room, meeting the gazes of the contestants. "You have the creative freedom to arrange the song as you see fit, maybe even create new choreography, but remember, the original lyrics and overall tone of the song must be preserved."


    With a dramatic pause, Haemin raised his hand, ready to unveil the next song. "And now, brace yourselves for the second-generation anthem that shook the industry¡ªthe intense and aggressive love song, ''You''re Mine'' by FINITE!"


    The mention of FINITE elicited nods of recognition and admiration from the contestants. The group was synonymous with the raw passion and emotional depth that characterized the second generation of K-pop. June could already see some of the participants wanting to perform the song for themselves. "Moving onto the third generation," Haemin said, revealing the next song. Gasps rippled through the participants as they gazed at the familiar song. Then, their eyes collectively turned to one of the participating groups. "And now, prepare yourselves for a surprise from the third generation¡ªa true pop gem that encapstes the morous life of an idol during their prime. Get ready for ''Prime'' by SPADES!"


    SPADES, themselves, were shocked to see their song in the list of choices. There were definitely other idol groups who were more popr than them during their generation, so they were honored to be the chosen representatives. "How can we perform this song when the original artist is here?" Seven asked, already dreading performing it in front of SPADES. However, it wasn''t over yet. There was one more song on the board. The atmosphere crackled with curiosity since the participants were unsure of what to expect. Haemin merely mentioned the first three generations to be a part of the mission.


    For what was the fourth one, then?


    Haemin finally revealed thest card while eyeing the contestants with a mysterious smile. The participants frowned in confusion. It was nk.

 Chapter 405 Forced Proximities

    405 Forced Proximities


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "A wildcard," he muttered. He had already deduced what was happening¡ªit was a chance for CHAOS. "I have already presented to you three representative songs from the three generations. However, there are still a lot of songs that define these iconic times," Haemin exined. "That is why we came up with this nk card. The participant who chooses this card will have the freedom to choose whatever song they like from any of the three generations!" "I want that card." "I need that card." "Don''t tell me we''re going to run to get that card." "I don''t care. I just really need that card." Just then, Jaeyong raised his hand. "Yes?" Haemin asked, pointing to him. The other participants also paid attention to Jaeyong. "There''s only four songs," he said. "Does that mean some groups will perform the same song?" Haemin smirked. "While the title of the mission is ''st from the Past,'' it will also incorporate teamwork. However, the teamwork I''m talking about is not only within your group but also with people you aren''t familiar with. In this industry, we must learn to work outside of ourfort zones!" The participants frowned, dreading where this was going. "This is also a ''Mixture Battle,'' which means you will be teaming up with another team to perform one of these songs!" "I''m an introvert. I can''t do that." "Imagine being paired up with CHAOS." "Oh, they''re going to eat us right up." "Bro, imagine getting paired up with SPADES! I don''t think I would be able to speak at all." "I''d rather chew my own shoe than do that." It was safe to say that the twist in the mission was something the participants weren''t too fond of. "However, not all of you need to pair up," Haemin quickly added, causing most of the participants to sigh in relief.


    June was also hoping not to be paired up with another artist. In this show, coborating with the other participants felt like a recipe for disaster. June could already imagine the amount of misunderstandings and antagonisms that could happen. Not only that, but they''d have to adjust to each other''s schedules, too. It just seemed like performing alone as a group was the best choice. June really hoped for EVE to perform by themselves and for them to get the wildcard. However, that hope came crashing down with Haemin''s next announcement. "And that''s where CHAOS'' benefitse in," he smiled, some already groaning in disappointment. "As our very first kings, CHAOS gets to decide who they can team up with¡ªthat is if they want to team up with someone. They also get to choose the song they''re going to perform!"


    Haemin said. "Maybe we should have worked harder on our opening stage," Rex said. "I think it doesn''t matter. We could practice for two more years, but CHAOS will still probably get the benefit," Zibo sighed. The members of CHAOS smiled at each other. Haruki, however, still appeared calm¡ªlike he already expected their benefit. "Not only that," Haemin added. "There''s more?" Seven eximed loudly, causing Haemin to chuckle. "We''re just showing you the importance of these benefits so all of you will be more motivated to win them during the next ones," he smiled. "Going back to what I was saying¡ªnot only will CHAOS get the chance to choose a team and pick their own song, but they''ll also delegate it to the other teams as well."


    Haruki''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He also wasn''t expecting such a great benefit. However, he wasn''tining at all. As soon as the mission was announced, he had already painted a stage for his team.


    "So, basically, we don''t have a choice," Robby quietly scoffed. The four other members of CHAOS turned to their leader, already expecting him to make the right decision. "So, CHAOS, are you ready to make your decision?" Haemin asked. "Yes," Haruki said without any hesitation. "Then, pleasee to the middle." The members of CHAOS walked to where Haemin was standing, meeting the gazes of the other participants. Haruki smirked when he saw some desperate looks from them. It felt like he had control of the situation¡ªwhich he liked. However, one person didn''t even bother looking his way. June stared down at the hair strand that fell from his head. He could already see his ck hair peeking from the roots and the color gradually fading. ''Should I dye my hair again?'' he asked himself. Haruki shook his head and went back to professional mode. He turned to his teammates and quietly asked them a question. They all nodded in agreement, so he took the microphone from Haemin and spoke. "We''re starting off with our song and team," Haruki said. "We''ll be taking the wildcard," he smiled, "and we''ll also prefer performing alone." The others slumped in disappointment, their desired choice already going to CHAOS'' powerful hands.


    "Now, for the teams," Haruki started off. June finally stopped inspecting his hair to pay attention to what was happening. He couldn''t predict the teams that CHAOS would form. However, he was secretly hoping for it to be OCTA. "We''ll go in consecutive order. So, the first formed team will be taking the first generation song and so on," Haruki prefaced. Haemin nodded, gesturing for him to go on.


    "The first team will be BOYMYSTIC and Robby," he said. Robby turned to the senior group, bowing his head in respect. Unlike his disdain for EVE, he was actually a pretty big fan of BOYMYSTIC and diligently watched their season, so he was happy with the decision. "The second team is MORPH3D and OCTA," Haruki smirked, already seeing contrasting emotions from the participants. June also froze. That would only mean one thing. "Fuck," Akira whispered by his side. June looked at Haruki''s calm expression and pursed his lips together. Not only was he talented, but apparently, he was also cunning.


    "And thest team will be SPADES and EVE."

 Chapter 406 Stepdad June

    <h4>Chapter 406 Stepdad June</h4>


    "So, what are we going to do now?" Jaeyong asked, courageously breaking the silence.


    After the team and song selection, they now had the chance to talk about their performance. However, the tension between the two groups couldn''t be denied. Aside from their tant age and generation gap, thement that June "made" during the first episode only rubbed salt to the wound. "Do you guys know this song?" Hanbin asked. Jisung excitedly nodded. "I performed this song during one of our monthly evaluations!" "The lyrics of the song also made me want to be an idol," Zeth added. "It described the dazzling life of an idol so well." "Yeah, I saw the song being performed on different shows. You guys were everywhere during that time," Akira said. A disgruntled look passed by Y''s face, causing June to frown. However, Y reverted to his poker face in just a few seconds. "My mom also loves the song," Jisung chimed. "It''s one of her favorite ones! It''s when she started epting my dream of bing an idol because she saw how happy it would make me feel." Y''s look intensified, and he pursed his lips. "Well, it looks like you guys know the song well enough," Y said.


    Afterward, he stood up, causing the members of EVE to look at each other in confusion. "Let''s cut this meeting short then. We apologize, but we''re preparing for a grandeback next month, so we don''t have much time to practice," he added. Jaeyong subtly frowned as their senior idols stood. He nced at the other teams and saw them still talking about their performances. CHAOS even appeared to be marking their formation already. "When are we going to practice then?" Jaeyong asked. Y brought a calling card from his wallet and showed it to the members of EVE. "This is my number," he prefaced. "We''re going to record some songs tomorrow, so we won''t be able to meet you until the day after. I''ll contact you when we''ll meet." Jaeyong pursed his lips and nodded. June was the closest to the calling card, so he tried to take it from Y. However, much to his surprise, Y pulled the card back and handed it to Jaeyong instead. "We''ll get going then," Y nonchntly said. However, one of their members, Chan, stayed back and smiled apologetically to the members of EVE. He seemed to be the friendliest out of all of them. "I apologize for their hostility," he said. "They''re friendlier than you''d expect. It''s just that¡ª" Chan leaned closer to EVE and whispered, "Y''s quite sensitive about his mom." "Chan," Y''s voice pierced through their conversation. Chan stood at attention, quickly following his members. With that, SPADES left the studio.


    For a moment, the members of EVE didn''t say anything. "Well, he really hates us now," Akira remarked. ***


    June stood outside the familiar gate and sighed. They should have been practicing for the performance today, but SPADES had different ns. It was a good thing the episodes were spaced two weeks apart. Otherwise, June wasn''t sure if they''d be able to deliver a decent performance. He was about to ring the doorbell when he felt his phone vibrate.


    June took his phone from his back pocket and smiled when he saw a new text message from Minjun. Little bro: Bro, look! *sent a photo* June: Your mom came? Little bro: Yeah! I thought she went back to the States, but she surprised me.


    June: Are you happy? Little bro: Very! This is the first time my mom came to one of these. She says she''s going next year, too. June: I''m d then.


    His smile couldn''t be shaken off as he observed the picture Minjun sent. He had never seen Minjun smile so brightly before. Truly, there was a certain kind of happiness that could only be brought by your real family.


    However, his smile slightly dropped when he saw an iing text from an unknown member. His eyebrows furrowed, and he wondered if Akira really did paste his number in a random restroom like he told him so. Unknown: Is this June? June: Who''s this? Unknown: It''s Lena. Lena Kim.


    June''s frown deepened, wondering why Minjun''s mom was contacting him. Then, he raised his eyebrows in surprise. She''s not asking him to be Minjun''s stepdad or anything like that, right? June: What do you need? Devil Mom: Tsk. How dare you speak like that to an older person? June: Just get to the point. Devil Mom: I just wanted to thank you. June sighed in relief since it wasn''t what he expected. June: Alright. Devil Mom: Alright? That''s it?


    June: What? Do you want me jump in joy or something?


    Devil Mom: You''re so stubborn. I really don''t get what my son sees in you. June: Well, he definitely sees me more than he sees you. June smirked since Lena hadn''t responded for a good few moments. Devil Mom: And here I was, thinking I could do you a favor. June: Favor? Devil Mom: It''s a payment¡ªfor making Minjun go back to his original self. June: I told you already¡ªyou don''t have to pay me. I did it out of my own ord. Devil Mom: And I don''t like being indebted to anyone. Don''t think of it as payment. Just think of it as my debt to you. June: I don''t want anything right now. Devil Mom: Then, save my number and tell me when there''s anything you need. Consider yourself lucky that I''m even giving you this opportunity.


    June shook his head in amusement after reading herst text. It seemed like Minjun actually got his snarkiness from his mother. "Are you going to stand there like an idiot, or are youing in?" June lifted his head and saw the morous old woman leaning against her gate with a cup of tea in her hand. "I was about to ring the doorbell," June said. "Liar," Magic Mama smiled. "You''ve been standing here for a long time, texting on your phone with an amused smile. Did you finally get a girlfriend?" June''s eyes widened in horror, and he quickly shook his head. "Not even close." Magic Mama chuckled. "You don''t have to be so defensive about it." "I''m not," June denied once again, feeling repulsed by the idea of getting together with Lena. "Fine," Magic Mama said, although it appeared like she was going to continue teasing June about it in the future. "Come on in, then. I have plenty of lessons to teach you today."

 Chapter 407 Turtle Maracas

    <h4>Chapter 407 Turtle Maracas</h4>


    "Wait here for a second," Magic Mama said as she led June to her music room. "I need to refill my tea. Feel free to look around, but don''t touch anything, okay?" June chuckled and nodded. Magic Mama sang an operatic song while going to her kitchen. Meanwhile, June took the luxury of wandering around her music room. Thest time he went here, he was in a rush, so he didn''t get to explore the fascinating items inside. And the first time he was here, he was scared shitless to even notice anything. For starters, there was a treadmill at the back of the room and a small television perched on top of it. There were also taxidermied animals hanging on her walls, and most of them were converted into musical instruments. A squirrel banjo. A turtle maracas. A dog guitar. A cat drumset. Don''t ask June how all of this could be possible. He also didn''t know the answer. There was arge shelf in the corner of the room, and it contained photos of what seemed to be Magic Mama when she was young. Aside from that, photos of her students'' achievements were also framed, causing June to smile. Maybe he''d make it onto this shelf one day. However, what caught his attention the most was an old photo on the very bottom of the shelf. It was hiding amongst the other photos, but it stood out since the color was already fading. It appeared to be the oldest photo in her collection. He kneeled down, taking the frame in his hands and inspecting it with narrowed eyes. There were three people¡ªMagic Mama, an unknown man, and a strangely familiar little boy. "Jang Yang-Jin''s graduation, 2000," June muttered, reading the writing engraved on the wood of the frame. Was Magic Mama married? June''s thoughts were cut off when he heard Magic Mama''s footsteps nearing the room. He quickly ced the frame back into ce and casually looked around to avoid arousing suspicion.


    "Are you ready for the next lesson?" she asked. June smiled, nodding. "Yeah, let''s go." "Alright," she said, cing her tea on top of the piano before sitting in front of the grand instrument. "Today, we''re going to be talking about stability," she started off. "It''s one of the indispensable skills of vocalists¡ªespecially idols. There are plenty of MR removed performances on the inte, and almost all rookie idols are being shown to be ipetent." "Have you watched one of yours?" she asked. "Yeah," June said. "I don''t think we''re too bad." "That''s right," Magic Mama smiled. "You''re not. Your team''s actually pretty good. I think Rising Stars did a good job in shaping how you all perform." "However," June said before Magic Mama could even point it out. "It''s not perfect." She smirked. "You already know what I''m going to say." "What do you think my main problem is?" June asked. "Experience, definitely," she quickly responded. "I watched your performances during Rising Stars, and I noticed that you mostly sang during introductions, bridges, and outros. You also back up the chorus, but that doesn''t count since you have a backing track." "You''re right," June said. "We have backing tracks for the choruses since it''s hard to sing with the intense choreography." "It''s definitely difficult," she acknowledged. "But it isn''t impossible." "You''ve been used to singing while doing slower-paced choreography, so you haven''t been deemed as an ''unstable'' vocalist by an amateur''s ears. However, I watched your Red Moon performance and heard some instabilities here and there." "How do I build my stability then?" June asked. "Proper breathing," Magic Mama smirked. "You need to train your body to breathe properly when you''re singing with intense choreography. Once that happens, you''d be able to do it like muscle memory." "And the perfect way to do that is to run while singing," she smiled, pointing to the treadmill at the very back of the room. June chuckled. "So, that''s why a treadmill''s there."


    "It''s not what you think," Magic Mama said. "I use that for exercising." "Oh," June said. "But since you''re my first idol student, I reckoned it''d be useful for you," she smiled. "Now, chop chop! Go ahead and set it to the highest speed." June unhesitatingly went on the treadmill and cranked it up to the highest setting. He definitely underestimated the speed of this thing, though. It almost seemed like he was sprinting. Magic Mama started ying the piano¡ªa famous pop song from a soloist. "Start in 3¡­2¡­1¡­" ***


    June''s clothes were drenched as soon as they were finished. Magic Mama truly pushed him to his limit and made him sing for more than an hour while running on the treadmill. She said it was good for when they finally did concerts, and although June understood her sentiment, he couldn''t help but resent her a little bit after it was over. "Oh goodness. Do you have an extra shirt?" she asked, observing his drenched shirt. June shook his head while gulping down water. "No. I wasn''t really expecting to sweat during a vocal lesson." Magic Mama chuckled and stood up. "No worries. I have an extra shirt lying around here." "Oh no¡ª" June said, dreading to wear something from Magic Mama''s closet. However, much to his surprise, she brought out a simple white shirt from her cab and handed it to June. "That must be your size, right?" He unraveled the white shirt and nodded. "Are these your husband''s?" he asked, gauging her reaction. The photo he saw a while ago still didn''t leave his mind, and he was curious about the people she was with. He couldn''t shake off the feeling that he knew one of them.


    "No," she said, sitting back on her couch. "I live alone. My husband and I separated a long time ago." "Oh," June said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "You really were married?" "Why? Do I look like the type of woman who couldn''t find a man?" she chuckled. "No," June shook his head. "I was just¡­surprised, that''s all."


    "I get it," she sadly smiled. "But men are easier to fool than you''d think. Just throw them a smile, feed them, and don''t bug them when they''re doing their hobbies, and you got yourself a man. They''re easy to lose, though," she muttered thest sentence. "I have another question," June said, finally easing into his breath. "That''s yourst one for the night," she joked. June chuckled. "Why don''t you ept idols as students?" he asked.


    Magic Mama went silent for a couple of seconds, then her eyes strayed to the shelf that contained her picture frames. June followed her gaze and saw her staring right at the family photo at the very bottom. "It''s not that I don''t want to," Magic Mama started, her voiceing out more vulnerable than she expected. "First of all, not a lot of idols know who I am, and those who have reached out to me wanted to improve at an impossible pace." "However," she quickly added, letting out a deep breath, "I guess the main reason why I haven''t taken in any idol students for now is because I''m still hoping my son will be the first in that category." "Your son¡­" June whispered. "Yes," she sadly smiled. "My son is an idol."

 Chapter 408 Awkward Silences

    <h4>Chapter 408 Awkward Silences</h4>


    Twelve attractive idols were gathered in a studio provided by SBC, their visuals overflowing despite the casual setting. The cameramen and producers present in the room couldn''t help but gush at their appearance. "I don''t see a single pore on their skin," the cameraman whispered. "How do these idols maintain their appearances so well?" another asked. "I think you have to be born with it." "Ipletely agree. I definitely heard one of the CHAOS members fart, and it smelled like flowers. FLOWERS!" he whisper-shouted. Jaeyong cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence between the two teams. "So, uh, how do we go about with the performance?" he asked. Chan kindly smiled. "You guys already know the song, right?" The members of EVE all nodded. June wasn''t too familiar with the song, but he took the time to research about it. "What do you guys think it portrays?" Hanbin asked. "It''s a flexing song, " Akira smiled. "I think it represents the morous side of being an idol well."


    "I think it''s a song that shows haters that idols are still sessful even if they hate on us," Zeth added.


    "It does sound like that, doesn''t it?" Chan chuckled, looking at the lyric sheet in his hands. "Hanbin and Y wrote this when we were still rookies," Eric, theirst unidentified member, chuckled. "We weren''t even that popr when this was released, but I think we manifested too close to the sun since we really did hit our prime." Some of the members chuckled at Eric''s anecdote.


    "There''s one main problem about this song, though," Hanbin quickly added. "This song is rap-heavy, which isn''t really our style," he said. "Moreover, our only two rappers are currently in the military." "That''s not a problem," Jaeyong said. "We have five rappers in our team." "Five?" Chan asked, a bit confused. He didn''t watch Rising Stars, so he wasn''t familiar with their positions. However, based on their first performance, only four people truly rapped¡ªZeth, Casper, Jaeyong, and Sehun. Aside from that, it was pretty absurd to have a team where more than half of the members could rap. "Yeah," Zeth chuckled. "June raps extremely well, too." The members of SPADES were surprised. June didn''t look like a good rapper at all. "June is a good rapper," Ren quickly added. "And having him rap will equalize the parts more. We''ll have five rappers and seven vocalists." Eric leaned closer to Chan and whispered, "I''m still skeptical about his rap skills." "Yeah," Chan agreed, also whispering. "He''s too good of a singer to be able to rap well, too." "Well, June can take sub-rapper 5 then," Y quickly said. It had the least amount of lines and didn''t jive well with June''s style. Sehun frowned. "I think I could take that one," he quickly countered. "I''m more of a mellow rapper, so it''ll suit me better." "Actually, June suits the main rapper part pretty well," Casper said. "I can take the fourth sub-rapper role." "I''ll take the third one then," Jaeyong chimed. "Sweet!" Zeth eximed. "I''m actually eyeing the second part." "Is that alright with you, bro?" Jisung asked. June nodded. "Anything''s fine with me." Y pursed his lips together, not really liking how this wasing together. After seeing the first episode, he was certain June was looking down on their team. Joining thepetition wasn''t an easy decision for SPADES. Even when the lineup was first revealed, they had already received so much criticism from both fans and non-fans alike. ''What are they even going to do there?'' ''A third generation grouppeting with the younger generations? Don''t they have any shame?'' Honestly, they joined thepetition because they wanted to stay relevant. Even though they have a loyal fanbase, they were slowly bing irrelevant in the industry, and since they''ve been on a semi-hiatus as a group for two and a half years because of their military service, they were more than eager to make it back to the spotlight. Thement that June had made stepped on Y''s pride. They had been in the industry for so long, and he didn''t want a snarky young idol looking down on their group. "I think Casper suits the main rapper role," Y quickly intercepted. "You''ll take it, right?" he asked, looking intensely into Casper''s eyes. "Umm," Casper said, feeling awkward about the situation. "June said he''s fine with anything," Y nonchntly said. "That''s what you said," he stared into June''s eyes as if he was challenging him. June kept his guard up and smiled softly. "I''m fine with anything." "Good," Y said. "It''s settled then. You''ll be the fourth sub-rapper, and Casper will be the main rapper." June was telling the truth when he said he didn''t mind any particr part. For now, they werepeting as a team¡ªnot as individuals. There were no benefits for each member, so what was important for him was the overall performance. However, it also didn''t feel good being cast aside by Y. Ever since their practice started, it was evident that the senior idol had it out for him. They continued dividing the vocal parts, and afterward, they finally practiced the choreography. Y took the center role¡ªas expected, since he was the original center of the song, while June was at the very back.


    It was almost absurd since he was once again pushed to the back, even during his solo line. June observed their performance from behind and couldn''t help but feel dissatisfied. Despite the talented individuals in the team, it couldn''t be denied that they were from two separate teams.


    As they danced to the chorus, which Y led, June halted. "We look separated," June said, stopping mid-performance. Y frowned, turning off the music. "Practice was ongoing. Why did you stop halfway through?" June sighed. "I just wanted to voice out my opinion, senior. This is our third round, and we still don''t look like a team." "That''s because we aren''t from the same team," Y massaged the bridge of his nose. Chan ced his hand over Y''s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "As much as I hate to say it, June''s right," he said. "We really don''t look like a team at all." Eric nodded. "There''s only so much our talent can take us." "So, you''re siding with him?" Y asked in disbelief.


    The room turned silent after Y''s statement. June caught a glimpse of the producers sitting at the side, their eyes shining like diamonds. He sighed, already knowing where this was going. The production crew released exclusive clips of idols interacting on their channel to build anticipation for the next episode, and let''s just say they were far from pleasant. Robby was the victim yesterday, with him being painted as the ''uncooperative'' soloist. He probably was uncooperative, but June was sure SBC exaggerated it. It definitely became favorable to them, though. Most of the viewers couldn''t wait for the next episode to find out the entire situation.


    Now, with what just happened, June was sure they were going to be the hottest topic tomorrow. With theck of response from his members, Y sighed. "I''m going to the restroom," he said, leaving the eleven idols in a state of awkwardness.

 Chapter 409 Isn’t that Right?

    <h4>Chapter 409 Isn''t that Right?</h4>


    "Well, that just happened," Akira said before he could stop himself. His members threw him res while he showed an apologetic peace sign. Hanbin sighed, sitting on the floor. "I already know things aren''t going to go well since it''s this song we''re performing," he said. "Bro," Eric said, gesturing to the cameras. Hanbin raised his head and subtly red at the production crew. "Can you stop filming for a moment? I''m sure you already got the footage you wanted." The way he said it sent chills to the staff members'' spines, so they quickly nodded. They were already satisfied with the clips anyway, so they reckoned leaving would be okay. "What do you mean by that?" June asked as soon as the production crew left the room. Eric and Chan uneasily nced at each other before nudging their oldest member. "Can we tell them?" he asked. The members of EVE were the most confused they''ve ever been. Hanbin sighed. "Nah," he said. "It''s not our story to tell. I''ll call for Y since we want to finish learning the choreography today." Hanbin was about to leave the room when June ced a hand on his shoulder. The older idol looked at him, confused. "I''ll do it," June offered. "What?" Chan asked, awkwardly chuckling. "I think it''s best if Hanbin calls him." June shook his head. "I insist. I think I also have to apologize for thement that was airedst week." Hanbin''s jaw tightened. "Yeah, we''re still pretty annoyed by that." "Well, if it makes you feel better¡ªI didn''t actually say it," June honestly said. "You can ask my teammates. I would have never said that about any of the participants." Hanbin''s gaze softened while Chan and Eric smiled at each other. "I had a hunch," Chan said. "I''m d you cleared it up." "Yeah. I was waiting for the crew to leave before I told you guys," June said. "So, can I go and talk to senior Y for a moment? I''ll make sure to bring him back in one piece." June asked. Hanbin chuckled, finally loosening up. "I think you should be more worried about staying in one piece." June smiled. "I''ll be back in no time."


    June left the practice room, went to the restroom, and smirked. It didn''t go exactly as he had nned, but he was d he had the opportunity to talk to Y within the day. After his practice with Magic Mama, his vocal status went up from an S- to an S. However, June was presented with a faster way to get his vocal status to an SS¡ªand that was to befriend a person with an SS status. In thepetition, only two people had it¡ªY and Haruki. Haruki definitely had more SS stats, but June pondered it would be harder to befriend him than Y. Nheless, befriending Y was also a challenge, especially after the evil editing fiasco that SBC did. However, it seemed like the universe was on his side when he found the perfect opportunity to befriend the older idol. ***


    *shback to June''stest vocal lesson.*


    "And I''m assuming he''s the one in the photo?" June asked, pointing to the picture frame on the lowest part of the shelves. Magic Mama chuckled, albeit sadly. "I told you not to touch anything." "I just looked," June bluffed. "I can''t help that I''m such an observant person and all." She shook her head and sighed. "Yeah," she said. "He''s my son." "Where is he now?" June asked. "In the spotlight," Magic Mama said. "I loved watching him sing when he was a kid, and I still love watching him now¡ªeven from afar." "Why won''t you reach out to him then?" "Because I don''t think he wants to see me," she honestly said. "Why not?" June frowned. "My son is my greatest treasure," she smiled, looking at the distance. It seemed like she was reminiscing about the times when she was still with her son.


    "I grew up from a poor family while my husband had always been rich. It wasn''t all rainbows and sunshine in our rtionship. His family was always against a poor woman marrying their one and only son," she started off. "However, we were determined to make it work¡­we wanted to fight for our love, for us. I thought we''d be able to do it¡ªand we did. We had a good run for the first 11 years of my son''s life," she chuckled. "But in the end, his love for his family triumphed. He basically didn''t get any of theirpany''s shares after he married me, and he worked as an ordinary office worker. That was his driving point. He didn''t want that kind of life." "In the end, he went back to his family¡ªleaving me behind," Magic Mama sadly smiled. June pursed his lips together and continued listening. "He gave me a choice," she continued. "Actually, his family gave me a choice. They wanted to know if I wanted to keep my son or not. I wanted to, of course. Like I said, he is my greatest treasure." "However," she breathed deeply. "They made me feel like I wouldn''t be able to raise him on my own. At that time, I really thought I couldn''t. I was a housewife while he was a sryman. I sang in pubs from time to time, but that wasn''t really enough to raise a child." "In the end, I didn''t get to keep my treasure¡ªand that''s alright," she smiled in eptance. "Because he''s an idol¡ªsomeone I can watch from afar." "My Jang Yang-Jin." ***


    June snapped out of his thoughts when he finally reached the restroom. There, he saw Y washing his hands with a deep frown. June chuckled, causing Y to turn toward his way. Y sighed and wiped his hands off on his trousers. "I was about to head back," he coldly said. "You didn''t have to fetch me." With that, Y started walking away, bypassing June and going to the door. "But then, I wouldn''t have the opportunity to apologize for thement that airedst week," June said. "It doesn''t matter whether you think we deserve to be here or not," Y said. "I''ve had enough of younger idols discrediting our work." "It was an evil edit," June exined. "I didn''t say that about your group. I think it''s cool that you''re joining apetition like this." "Sure," Y chuckled in annoyance. "Keep telling that to yourself." Y reached for the door handle and was about to twist it open when June spoke once again. "I do think you''re more on edge than usual because we''re performing Prime," June said. Y paused. "What do you mean?" "Isn''t that the time when you wrote your mom a letter?" June nonchntly asked. "Isn''t that right¡­Jang Yang-Jin?"

 Chapter 410 Your Mama

    <h4>Chapter 410 Your Mama</h4>


    "H¡ªhow did you¡ª" Y stammered while June casually leaned against the sink. The older idol continued to look at June¡ªin disbelief of what he just said. Their conversation was cut short, however, when Chan entered. Chan sighed in relief when he saw their current state. "Thank goodness," he said. "Hanbin was worried since you guys were taking so long. He thought you were engaged in a physical fight." June chuckled, standing straight. "I wouldn''t do that to senior Y," he innocently said. "We''re about to head back to the practice room, actually." "That''s good," Chan said. "We only have around two hours of practice since your manager said you have some stuff to talk about." June nodded. "Let''s head back then." "Wait," Y suddenly said, causing the two to halt. Chan looked at him with inquiring eyes while June remained nonchnt. "Is there anything you need, senior?" June asked, a small smirk gracing his lips.


    Y stared into June''s eyes before sighing deeply. "Nothing. Let''s go," he defeatedly said, following after them. They went back to the practice room and continued learning Prime''s choreography. Since they had a little more than a week before the actual performance, they merely focused on the dance this time around. Now, they were scattered across the room, catching their breaths after intensely dancing. "When is Jay going to pick us up?" Akira asked. "In less than an hour," Jaeyong said. "We''re going to be talking about a track on our album." "Oh, they''ve already acquired a song?" Zeth asked. "I''m not sure," Jaeyong sighed. "I wish they''d tell us more about the production process of our album." Ren pursed his lips. "We could only wish." June also wished they''d be more involved in their album production process¡ªespecially since he and Ren had some background in music production. However, June knew how hard it was for idols, especially rookies, to be given musical freedom in their work. Just then, the light was blocked as someone stood before them. June lifted his head and saw Y looking at him with furrowed eyebrows. "Do you need anything, senior?" he asked. Y clicked his tongue. "Let''s talk. Move out." The room suddenly turned silent once Y spoke. The production crew hade back when they resumed practicing, so they quickly panned the camera toward their way. Hanbin frowned and stood, cing his hand over Y''s shoulder. "I don''t think it''s wise to talk right now," he nervously chuckled. "Yeah," Jaeyong agreed. "You guys can talk here if it''s about the performance." Y sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It''s not what you''re thinking about," he calmly said. "I just need to talk to him."


    June stood despite the others'' reluctance. "Sure, let''s talk," June said, dusting off his jogging pants. Y turned to the cameras and subtly red. "Don''t follow us." With that, Y turned to leave the room while June quietly followed. June''s members were still concerned for his well-being, but June turned around and gave them a reassuring nod. He wasn''t going to get into trouble! He was just going to make a new friend!


    Y led June to an isted area without any cameras¡ªthe stairs. It seemed like June was really cursed with stairs. Almost all of his emotional conversations happened in areas like this.


    "I''m cutting to the chase," Y said as soon as they arrived. "How do you know my real name?" he asked. June crossed his arms in front of his chest and sat on one of the steps. "That''s easy¡ªsomeone told me." "Who? Is it Chan?" Y asked, feeling confused. He had never used his real name in his endeavors. Even the one he has on his description page was an alias. Only his current members knew about his name.


    June shook his head. "Don''t worry," he said. "I didn''t get your name from anyone in yourpany. I also didn''t go snooping around to find out your real name." "Then, answer my question." "I learned it from Hong Sungye," June said, finally revealing Magic Mama''s real name. Y paused, feeling chills run down his spine. He slowly turned to June with a subtle re. "You¡ªAre you that obsessed with my life?" "It''s not what you''re thinking," June quickly prefaced. "She''s my vocal teacher." A chuckle bubbled up from Y''s chest, and then it turned to full-blownughter. "Your vocal teacher?" he asked in disbelief. "I''ve been looking for her for years! Yet, you''re telling me¡ªshe''s just your vocal teacher?" "Well, she lives deep inside a forest. She''s honestly really hard to find," June said. "I''m not in the mood for jokes," Y snapped. "Neither am I," June smiled. "I''m just telling the truth. I saw your photo at her house during one of my vocal lessons, and then she proceeded to tell me about her life story. Oh, nice letter, by the way. It was a tearjerker." "Bastard," Y said, holding onto June''s cor and pulling him up. June didn''t even bother retaliating and let the senior idol vent his feelings. "Did you only find out about her existence when you released Prime?" June continued. "Your father must have hidden that information from you, right?" Y''s gaze shook, and his grip loosened. He brought his fist up to attempt to punch June''s annoying face, but he couldn''t bring himself to do so. Because in the end¡ªJune was right. "What do you want?" Y whispered, finally letting go of June''s cor. "Are you telling all of this to ckmail me?" "No," June said. "Frankly, I don''t care about your family matters." "Then why? Why are you bringing this up?" he nearly shouted. "I just wanted to be friends," June said, already thinking of recing his S stat in vocals with an SS. "Friends?" Y scoffed. "Is this how you make friends, bastard?" "Not really," June chimed. "They usually ask me to be their friend first, but I guess you''re a special case." Y impatiently sighed, not knowing where the conversation was going. "Here," June suddenly said, handing him a piece of paper. "What now?" Y exasperatedly asked. "I''ll be there tomorrow for another vocal lesson," June said. Y looked down at the paper and saw a messily scribbled address on it. "10 AM," June cryptically said. And with that, he turned away and left Y all alone to ponder on his words.

 Chapter 411 Must Be Nice

    411 Must Be Nice


    June shook his head as he rewatched thetest exclusive video SBC had put out. As expected, they had released the clip of SPADES'' and EVE''s tension-filled practice, and it quickly rose to the trends list just minutes after its release. Everything seemed to be going well¡ªwith the members practicing the dance routine as usual. Then, the camera zoomed in on June, apanied by a thrilling sound. His sigh was exaggerated by slowing the video as much as possible. Then, it was repeated multiple times from different angles. "We look separated," he said. The jolly music turned silent, and then intense music started ying. Y slowly turned around, a subtle re in his eyes. "June''s right," Chan said, a slight echo in his voice. "There''s only so much our talent can take us," Eric chimed. Just then, a series of clips were shown at a quick pace, all cutting off in climatic events. Then, at the very end of the video was the clip where Y asked June to speak with him outside the practice room. - Damn, this is one of the best dramas SBC has put out since 2023. - So, June still hasn''t learned his lesson? - June just told Y they looked separated. What do you mean by learning his lesson? - He''s disrespecting his seniors. - Fuck June. June shook his head with a small smile as he read their assumptions. Truly, everyone on the inte was somewhat insane. "You''re talking to your girlfriend again?" Magic Mama asked, opening the gate. June ced his phone back in his pocket. "I told you¡ªI don''t have a girlfriend." "Well, you should get one," Magic Mama said. "Your genes would be a waste if you don''t have children in the future." "You sound like a conservative aunt," June pointed out. "Gross," Magic Mama said. "I take back what I said then." "You booked another lesson quite quickly," she said, changing the subject. "It''s only been a day since ourst lesson. Do you have any events to go to?" "Nothing in particr," June said, making his way inside along with Magic Mama. "I just want to see your face when you see my surprise for you." "Surprise?" Magic Mama asked, closing the door. Just then, the doorbell rang, causing the two of them to halt.


    Magic Mama''s frown deepened, and she held out her hand to open the door and tend to the surprise visitor.


    However, June stopped her before she could open the door. "I''ll do it," June said. "Sit down first and prepare your heart." "Prepare my heart?" Magic Mama asked. "You didn''t hire anyone to kill me, didn''t you? I mean, I thought we got along well." June chuckled and shook his head. "It''s not any of that sort," he exined. With that, June left the house to open the gate. There, he saw Y, or Jang Yang-jin, as he had previously discovered. June smugly looked at the senior idol. "So, you really dide?" he asked. Y sneered. "You better not be messing around. This ce was damn hard to find. I almost got chased by a squirrel."


    "Getting chased by a squirrel? That''s on you," June said. Y sighed. "I came here for a reason." "I know," June smirked. "Come in." June opened the gate wider for Y to enter, and the older idol was instantly fascinated by the lush greenery in Magic Mama''s garden. However, his fascination was quickly reced with nervousness when he saw the ajar door of the small house. "Is¡­she inside?" he slowly asked. "Find out for yourself," June said, leading him the way. Y took small steps as if afraid to venture into an unknown realm. Since Y was taking too long, June entered before him, sighing impatiently. "Make it fast," June snapped. Y red at him despite his nervousness. "June? Who is that?" Magic Mama asked from the living room, sensing another person''s footsteps. Y froze as soon as he heard the woman''s voice, feeling like the one thing he had always longed for was now within arm''s reach. Just then, slow, deliberate footsteps could be heard, and Magic Mama revealed herself to the two idols. "You''re acting really suspicious¡ª" Magic Mama paused when she saw the familiar yet unfamiliar man before her. She couldn''t even finish her sentence, and the teacup from her hand fell mercilessly to the ground. He was familiar since she had seen him plenty of times on the inte and on the television. However, thest time she had seen her face in person was when he was a child, making him unfamiliar.


    "Yang-jin," she whispered. Without any hesitation, Y ran to where his mother was and engulfed her in a warm hug. "Mom," he sobbed, a stark contrast to his cold and uptight personality. "Son," Magic Mama cried, resting her head on her adult son''s shoulder. June watched them for a few moments, then he decided to give them some time alone. ''There goes one of my vocal lessons,'' June thought. He walked away from the living room to give them some privacy. However, he couldn''t help but overhear their conversation as he stood in the hallway. "It really is you," Magic Mama said, catching up to her breath. "I''ve been looking for you for such a long time," Y said, sounding like a little kid.


    "I''m sorry. I''m sorry, my son. I thought you didn''t want to see me anymore," she apologized.


    "How could you say that? I looked for you as soon as I learned about your identity from Dad. How could you leave us? How could you leave me?"


    "Sorry," Magic Mama apologized again. "I thought it was the best decision back then. Your father was the one who can give you a good life." "I didn''t want a good life," Y countered. "I needed you¡ªmy mom."


    Magic Mama sobbed louder, feeling her son''s pain. "I''m sorry. I''m really sorry. Forgive me, please," she continued to mutter, not finding the right words to say. "I thought I wouldn''t be able to forgive you once we met," Y continued. "But I think I wouldn''t want to live another day resenting you when all I''ve been longing for is your love." "I forgive you, Mom," Y muttered. "Please don''t leave me from now on. I can take care of myself now. I don''t need dad''s money. I don''t need his support now." "I understand," Magic Mama said. "I''ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you." Y let out a shaky breath. "You don''t have to do that. All you have to do is be present when I need you." June leaned against the cold wall outside of the house with a bittersweet smile. He stared up into the sky, the sun bright and the birds freely flying. Then, he looked down at his own hands. "It must be nice," he whispered.

 Chapter 412 Play the Beat

    <h4>Chapter 412 y the Beat</h4>


    "Damn flies," June said, swatting away the pesky little insects that were biting his skin. The afternoon hade, yet June was still waiting for Y and Magic Mama to finish their conversation. He could hear their happy chatter from inside the house while he was sitting on the narrow elevation of the gate. June yawned as he felt sleepiness get to him. He nced at his watch and saw he had been waiting for more than four hours already. Thankfully, the gate finally opened half an hourter, revealing a happy Y with swollen eyes. "Oh, thank goodness," June said, standing from his small seat and stretching his body. Y was startled when he saw June waiting for him.


    "What are you still doing here?" he pointed at June. "I was waiting for you, of course," June said, yawning once again. "I didn''t know you''d take that long." "You could have just left," Y deadpanned. "Yeah, but I''m afraid you''d get chased by squirrels again," June teased, causing Y to shake his head. "What do you really want?" Y asked. "To be friends," June smiled, cing his hands inside his pockets. Y disbelievingly looked at him. "You waited for more than four hours just to ask me to be friends?" "Well, it does sound prettyme if you put it like that¡ªbut yes," June said. "And aside from that, I think I''m paying the price for thement I made during the first episode. Although technically, I didn''t even direct those words to your group." "Fine," Y said. "I believe you." "Good," June chimed. "So¡­friends?" June offered his hand to Y, but the older idol merely looked at it. Then, he shook his head before walking away from June. "Friends, my ass," he muttered. [Congrattions! You have aplished the mission: ASS!] [Vocal skill is now mirrored from Jang Yang-Jin.] [Current Grade: SS] June smirked, looking at the older idol''s silhouette. "It''s this way," June called, pointing in the opposite direction from where Y was walking. Y paused and let out an embarrassed sigh. "I knew that," he quietly muttered before going in the right direction. ***


    EVE was the first to arrive for their second practice. The production crew was already there, waiting for another opportunity for a killer teaser. SPADES arrived not long after, rendering the members of EVE silent. They looked back and forth between their center and SPADES'' center, who seemed to still have tension between them. Just then, Y started walking to where June was sitting, making the others hold their breaths. June, however, was preupied with staring at a hair strand once again. His dark brown roots were definitely getting longer. It could now be seen when he bowed down. "June," Y said, making him snap out of his thoughts. The cameramen zoomed in on the action. They couldn''t believe they would be getting something juicy so early in the morning! "Here," Y said, handing June a gift of some sort. June stood and inspected the wrapped present. "This isn''t an explosive or anything like that, right?" he warily asked. Y sighed and shook his head. "It''s not from me. It''s from my mom. She wanted to give it to you as a thank-you gift or whatever." "Ah," June said. "It must be great then. I''ll open it when we get back to the dorm." "Wait, you went there this morning? I thought you had to record another song for your album?" June asked. Y smirked. "I still have time to go to my mom, though." The two of them continued to converse casually. Meanwhile, the others stared at them with agape mouths, wondering if what they were seeing was real. "Pinch me," Hanbin said. Chan didn''t hesitate to do so. "It''s real," Hanbin whispered. "Since when did these two act so friendly with each other?" "There must be some kind of glitch in the system," Akira whispered to Jisung. Jisung pursed his lips. "Why is June so friendly with everyone?" The production crew was also shocked, wondering if they got it wrong all along. Were these two actually friends? June noticed the silence in the room, so he cleared his throat. "Should we start the practice?" he asked. Y looked around and also nodded. "Yeah, sure. Let''s go over our solo parts today." Jaeyong snapped out of his daze and also stood. "Alright, let''s start the practice, guys," he said. The members, despite finding the situation surreal, lined up for their formation. Y went to the music yer to start the music but was interrupted when Casper raised his hand. "Yeah?" Y asked, seemingly friendlier than before. "Are our parts final?" he asked. Y pursed his lips. "Yeah. I don''t see why not." "I practiced the fourth sub-rapper role, though," Casper sheepishly smiled. "But you''re the main rapper," June said, confused.


    "Nah, I don''t want to be the main rapper," Casper said. "I think it''s best if June bes the main rapper. He hasn''t rapped much after we debuted, and I think this would be a good chance to give the audience some kind of surprise." "People who watched Rising Stars would know that June raps, but I feel like he''s still being overlooked as a rapper," Casper continued. "Moreover, I believe that most of your fans also don''t know that June raps. He''s been such a great vocalist, so they''d be stunned once they hear him rap." The room was silent for a moment, and June, despite finding Casper weird most of the time, felt touched by his words. June still didn''t consider himself a ''rapper,'' but he would be lying if he said he didn''t enjoy it. Moreover, he had just upgraded his vocal skills to SS. He didn''t want to reveal it just yet for the second mission. "Well," Chan said, scratching the back of his head. "It''s not that I don''t trust your words, but we''ve never really heard June rap." "That''s true," Hanbin said. "Maybe we could listen to a bar or two so we can decide if he fits the role well." "Are you alright with that, June?" Casper asked. The members of EVE knowingly looked at each other, expecting to see the reactions of their senior idols. June nodded before clearing his throat. "Sure," he said. "y the beat."

 Chapter 413 Abolish Unity

    <h4>Chapter 413 Abolish Unity</h4>


    Truth be told, the members of SPADES really weren''t expecting a lot. However, as June opened his mouth to rap, their prejudices were thrown into oblivion. "Haters talkin'', but it''s just engagement,


    I turn their hate into fuel; yeah, that''s my arrangement.


    Money talks and I speak thatnguage,


    Stayin'' icy while they''re stuck in anguish." June rapped the verse with his own style, the words crystal clear despite the fast tempo. Jaeyong and Zeth looked at each other in surprise. It had been a while since they heard June rap, too; and it seemed like he had gotten even better. "He''s better than me now," Casper muttered. Meanwhile, the members of SPADES stood there dumbfounded. "Why are you the main vocalist when you can rap like this?" Chan asked. June nonchntly shrugged. "I like singing better." "When did you start learning how to rap?" Hanbin asked. "During Rising Stars," June casually responded. "I had to perform a rap song in a group of non-rappers, so I was basically forced to take the main rapper position." Hanbin pursed his lips after June''s response. "Life''s not fair," he whispered, thinking about his failed attempts at learning how to rap after their rappers left for the military. "So, it''s settled then?" Casper pped, capturing their attention. "June''s going to be the main rapper." They all turned to Y, whose face was still unreadable. Y smiled in amusement before nodding. "Yeah, June suits it well. It''s almost unbelievable how good you are at rapping when you''re the main vocalist." "Tell me about it," Eric said. "You''re the first idol after Haruki to make me feel this way." Zeth pursed his lips. "June is amazing, though," he said. "I was sure I was better than him during Rising Stars, but he improved in such a short amount of time. Sometimes I wonder what his limits are." June chuckled, shaking his head. "Let''s stop talking about me. Let''s start practicing. The performance is in six days," he said. "June''s right," Y said. "Get to your positions."


    The twelve idols went to their positions and waited for the beat to y. As the exciting music resounded in the studio, they found themselves getting immersed in the song. And now that the atmosphere was much better, it couldn''t be denied that the chemistry between the two teams had drastically improved. "Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Won''t ept mediocrity, I''ll settle for sublime." June smirked as he watched their synchronized movements. This was definitely the most exciting song he had performed. It was a song that was directed to people who weren''t fond of idols, so it had to be sung with an underlying boastfulness. Thankfully, boasting was something June was good at. He went to the front for his part and sang his lines perfectly. Akira watched him and shook his head. June was in his element once again. The song continued without any errors, and by the end of thest dance break, they were all breathless. June, however, was pretty calm. It seemed like the stability lesson with Magic Mama had paid off. Moreover, he didn''t actually sing in the song, so it didn''t tire him out as much as the other members. "Let''s take a break," Hanbin heaved. "My 32-year-old self can''t handle this song anymore." The room burst intoughter after Hanbin''s joke, finding it ridiculous that he was making fun of his age. They drank water and ate some light snacks while catching their breaths. Meanwhile, Y, Jaeyong, and June monitored their performance on the tablet they filmed their performance with. June frowned as he watched the performance. He enjoyed the practice a bit too much that he didn''t even realize the ws of their stage. Y and Jaeyong, too, had ambiguous facial expressions. "I feel like there''s something wrong," Jaeyong muttered. "Right," Y said, his gaze focused on the screen. "I just can''t seem to point it out." "Guys," Jaeyong said, calling the other members. He propped the tablet on the table as the members of EVE and SPADES gathered around. "Y and I think there''s something wrong with the performance," Jaeyong started off. "Hmm?" Hanbin hummed in confusion. "I thought it was pretty good." "That''s what I thought so, too," Y said. "But there''s something strange about it." Y yed the video to give the others an opportunity to monitor their performance, too. They watched silently as the video yed. June paid more attention this time around, finallying to a conclusion after watching it for the second time. "You''re right," Chan said, a frown on his face. "There is something wrong¡­" "It doesn''t feel as exciting as I anticipated," Sehun added. "We''re separated," June finally said, making the other members turn to him. "Separated?" Y asked. "Like the problem you said we had during our first practice?" June nodded.


    "But we''ve gotten closer this time around," Chan protested. "We''ve been working hard to improve our chemistry."


    June nodded thoughtfully, "I see that, but it''s not enough to bridge the gap. We guys just haven''t worked together long enough. And this concept is all about boasting about our achievements, but it''s getting dampened because of theck of unity. We look coordinated and synchronized, but we''re too big of a group during the choruses. It feels like the members at the back are nothing more than backup dancers."


    "We''re only twelve, though," Jaeyong chimed. "Other groups have thirteen members. Heck, one group has more than twenty members now because of their infinite concept!" "Yeah, but that group with thirteen members has been practicing together for a long time. Meanwhile, thetter group you''ve mentioned is actually divided into subgroups, which makes it easier for them during performances." "That''s not our only problem," June continued, walking between the two groups. "The transitions, especially from the vocals to the rap, are too separated. The flow isn''t seamless. It''s like there''s a gap that needs to be filled." "So, let''s fill the gap," Y said. "Let''s practice more so we can show off our unity." "Or¡­" June smirked, turning to all of them, "...we could forget about unity." Hanbin frowned. "Forget about unity? But we''re one group now¡ªeven if we''re from two separate groups." June smiled, leaning against the mirror. "What''s better than a battle?" he suddenly asked, making the others confused. Then, he answered his own question. "A battle within a battle."

 Chapter 414 June the Bandit Pops Up

    414 June the Bandit Pops Up


    The members had nowe back to their dorm, appearing to be in good moods. Their practice went better than they had anticipated, so they decided to celebrate by lounging in the living room while eating their favorite food¡ªfried chicken. Jay also invited himself to the party, iming he couldn''t miss out on what they were going to watch.


    They were lounging on the couch, with some of the members on the carpeted floor. Their dorm was covered with dirtyundry, dust, and a couple of food boxes since they had been so busy for the past weeks. Thankfully, they didn''t have to worry about losing socks this time around after Chul''s removal from thepany. June had given up on nagging them about their mess after the new year. In the end, he rotted along with the other apples. He just settled with keeping his own room clean for now. "What are we even watching?" Sehun asked, gnawing on a chicken leg. Akira exaggeratedly gasped, looking at him like he hadmitted a crime. "You don''t know what this is?" he asked. "It''s the hottest drama on TV these days!" "For a hot drama, it seems to not be making any noise," Jaeyong chimed. "I haven''t heard about it at all." Jisung shook his head, feeling slightly offended. "As expected, Jaeyong and Sehun don''t know about the trends. Their ages are showing." "Ya!" Sehun eximed. "We''re not that old. I''m only three years older than Akira!" Ren and Zeth chuckled as they continued to argue. "Three years is a long time. You could have a child in those three years," Akira deadpanned. "This is the gap between the babies of the 00s and the 90s." "That''s right," Jay agreed, his mouth filled with chicken. Jaeyong shook his head. "You''re older than Sehun." Jay sheepishly smiled. "Age is useless," Sehun argued. "I bet June doesn''t even know about this." They all turned to June, who was snacking on the radish cubes that the fried chicken came with.


    "Don''t bother asking. I don''t know what it is," June deadpanned before they could even ask him. "See!" Jaeyong smirked. "That doesn''t count," Zeth said. "June is an old man trapped in a pretty boy''s body. He''s an exception. Just ept that you''re getting older, bros." Sehun and Jaeyong defeatedly looked at each other before shaking their heads. "Shut up now," Jay snapped. "The show''s starting. Thest episode ended when they were about to kiss!" After the mellow soundtrack ended, a beautiful garden surrounded by falling cherry blossom petals was shown on screen. Then, two good-looking actors appeared, appearing to be in a serious conversation. That''s when June recognized the drama that was ying. June shook his head. Talk about coincidences.


    It was thetest drama that Hana Lim filmed! Moreover, it appeared to be the exact episode where he yed the bandit. June never thought he''d be seeing this scene on the big screen, but here he was now. The avid fans in the team watched the scene with puckered lips as the two main cast members leaned their faces closer to one another. "Kiss. Just Kiss," Akira passionately whispered. "It''s been 8 episodes," Jay muttered. "They need to kiss!" ''I have bad news for you,'' June thought. Their faces inched closer to one another, their lips merely a hair''s width away. However, before their tender flesh could truly touch, a bandit emerged from the bushes,nding perfectly on the ground. "Oh, fuck off!" Jay couldn''t help but curse. "Who the heck is this bandit?" Just then, a close-up shot of the bandit''s eyes was shown, making the others stunned. June raised his eyebrows in surprise. He didn''t expect a close-up shot as he recalled being filmed from afar. Then, he nced at his teammates, who all seemed to realize something. ''Shit,'' he thought. Did they figure out it was him? "Is it just me¡­or is the bandit familiar?" Casper suddenly asked. June froze for a moment. "I don''t know about that," Jay said, tilting his head to the side. "But he''s really handsome." "You''re right," Ren chimed. "How could they hire such a handsome extra?" "How do you know he''s handsome?" Sehun asked. "You only see his eyes." "He has a handsome vibe," Jisung said. "And he''s really good at fighting." "Holy Moly, you''re right," Jay eximed. "He''s moving like Bruce Lee!" They watched, mesmerized by the bandit''s light movement. Meanwhile, June half-covered his eyes as he noticed all of his mistakes. If he was in his old body, he would have moved with more precision! "The bandit''s really familiar," Casper continued, but no one seemed to be listening to him. All of them were captivated by the show and how it was being executed. It seemed like they weren''t the only ones captivated, though. Fans of the show rushed to take screenshots of the handsome masked bandit and posted them on Navel. - My eyes were on him instead of the main characters. - If I can''t have the prince, then I''ll have the bandit instead. - Why is this bandit so handsome? - Such tight-fitting clothes. Yum yum! - Please! I need the bandit''s name. Tell me the bandit''s name! June sighed in relief when he finally fled the scene and amercial yed. Even though his face wasn''t shown, he couldn''t help but cringe at his own acting. He did look pretty handsome in those clips despite his face being covered, though¡ªwhich was the upside to the situation. "Damn, that was good," Jay said as themercials yed. "I was ready to throw hands because the bandit interrupted their kissing scene, but I got to admit he was pretty cool." "He''s definitely going to be a hot topic tomorrow," Jisung said. "Guys," Casper eximed loudly, making the others turn to him. "What are you yelling for?" Zeth asked, confused. "The bandit!" he continued. "Isn''t he familiar?" The members looked at each other, perplexed, while June stayed silent. "Well, he does look like an actor with that piercing gaze of his," Jay trailed off. "Not an actor," Casper sighed. "He looks like an idol. He looks like June!" he eximed, pointing at their member. June''s eyebrows momentarily raised in surprise as they all turned to him with inquiring eyes. It was silent for a moment, with them just observing June''s features. Then, aside from Casper, they came to a collective agreement. "Nah," they shook their heads. "June can''t act like that," Zeth chuckled. "Zeth''s right," Ren chimed. "No offense, June, but you''re not the best in acting. Our cheeseballmercial is a living testament to that." "As much as I think June''s talented, there''s no way that''s him," Jay added. "Truly, there''s no way," Akira solidified the point. June nervously chuckled, focusing his gaze back on the television. "Yeah¡­there''s no way."

 Chapter 415 A Face Only A Mother Would Love full

    415 A Face Only A Mother Would Love


    Today was the day of their group performance. SPADES and EVE were lounging backstage in their waiting room, waiting for the show to finally start. Fortunately, the nerves hadn''t kicked in yet since they were bound to performst. Apparently, aside from a mother, Y had another thing June didn''t have¡ªluck. So, when the groups were asked to y rock, paper, and scissors to determine the order of performances, Y quickly won with only one round. "Damn," Akira said, scrolling through his phone. "This bandit guy is blowing up more than I expected." "True," Ren agreed. "He''s been the talk of the town after that episode aired. I can''t believe he overthrew Hana''s and Seobin''s first kiss. The fans had even been waiting for it for eight episodes! But this bandit guy took the cake in the end." "Well, the director is even hyping up the bandit," Akira said. "In his most recent interview, the reporters asked who the bandit guy was, but it turns out he doesn''t even know him. He seems to also be looking for him." "Hmm," Zeth hummed. "I think that contributed to the poprity of the show. A lot of people are also looking for that bandit." June smirked, casually scrolling through his phone as he listened to their conversation. They were never going to find out. "It''s a good thing, though," Jisung chimed. "Now, the show''s more popr, and I have more people to talk about it with!" "You''re also watching that drama starring Hana Lim?" Chan asked with sparkling eyes. The biggest fans, Akira and Jisung, turned to him excitedly and nodded. "Yeah! Even if we''re busy, we can''t miss any of the episodes," Akira said. "Eric got me hooked on it," Chan said. "But I''ve always been a big fan of Hana Lim. She''s the first woman after my mom that makes me have tingly feelings in my stomach." "Wait, what?" Jisung asked, a bit weirded out, but Chan brushed him off. "I''ve watched all of her projects," he continued. "Me too," Ren chimed. "She''s my celebrity crush." "I think she''s everyone''s celebrity crush," Eric joined in on the conversation. "Y, who has a heart of steel, likes her very much, too!" They all turned to Y, who appeared to have blushing cheeks. "I respect you, senior bro," Akira said, standing and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "But Hana Lim is mine!" Y smirked, sizing up Akira. "Sucks for you, buddy. I heard she likes men her age." Akira clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Well, have you ever talked to her in real life? I have!" The members who weren''t aware of June''s friendship with Hana all turned to him, surprised. "You''re lying," Zeth scoffed. "He''s not," Jaeyong said. "I was there too." "Yeah," Jisung nodded. "She''s super pretty¡ªeven prettier in real life." "I can attest to that," Jay casually added.


    "What the heck? You guys have spoken to her, and you haven''t told us?" Sehun asked. "Well, technically, we didn''t really speak," Akira mumbled. "June was the one who¡­" June cleared his throat, cutting their conversation short. "Enough about Hana Lim," he said. "The show''s about to start." ***


    Jia thought she wouldn''t have to go to another TV station to fight with other people from different fandoms. Yet, here she was now. A group of girls, seemingly older than them, cut through the line and even stepped on her shoes. Her friends frowned, and Bora was about to confront the group of girls, but Jia shook her head. "Excuse me," Jia said, trying to get their attention. However, they merely ignored her. "Excuse me," Jia repeated, louder this time. Fortunately, the group of girls finally turned around, not looking apologetic in the slightest. "Yes?" one of them asked, raising her eyebrow. "The line is back there," Jia said. "People here have been waiting for a long time, so please go to the back of the line." The group looked at each other with humorous expressions. "We''re older than you," she said. "We have the privilege of cutting through the line." "Bitch, that doesn''t even make sense," Bora chimed from the back.


    Their eyes widened in shock. "Bitch? Did this young woman just call us a bitch? How are your mothers raising you?" "At least I don''t have a face only a mother would love," Bora snapped. Jia held in her chuckle while the other three held Bora back. This girl truly had no filter. "Look, we mean no disrespect," Jia said. "We lined up early in the morning and even missed our sses for this. We just want to get the spot we deserve." It seemed like thedies weren''t listening to her at all, though. "That''s not our problem," one of them said, making Jia extremely frustrated. "I''m going to drag your asses back there if you don''t start moving now," Bora snapped. They shook their heads and looked at Jia''s group with disgusted expressions. "I can''t believe there are fans like this out here. Let''s see¡ªwhose fans are you?" They recognized the pink lightsticks in their hands and startedughing. "Ah, as expected," thedy in the middle said. "You guys are astras. You know what they say¡ªlike idols, like fans." Jia''s eyebrows furrowed as they continued saying condescending words. "Your center, June, disrespected our beloved Y. I see where you get your disrespectful attitude from." "Oh, you think this is disrespectful? I''ll show you something truly disrespectful¡ª" Jia stopped Bora before she could pull on the older girl''s hair. It seemed like it was already thinning, so Jia took pity on her. "Let''s drop it," Jia sighed, making her friends look at her with wide eyes. Was the queen of Astras and June''s self-proimed wife actually allowing someone to speak ill of June? This was new! "They''re only three anyway," Jia said. "Let''s just run to the barricade." "But they called June disrespectful!" Soomin whisper-shouted. Jia sighed, facing the trio once again. "I''m sure everyone is entitled to everyone''s opinion, but I''m sure you don''t know June as much as we do. If what you say is true¡ªlike idols, like fans, then SPADES should be ashamed," Jia calmly said. "What are you talking about?" the girl with thinning hair asked. "If I were a part of SPADES, I wouldn''t want to be associated with a couple of bitches like you."

 Chapter 416 Colossus

    <h4>Chapter 416 Colossus</h4>


    Thankfully, Jia and her friends were able to secure the barricade. The older group was two rows behind them, causing Bora to snicker. Although Jia was forgiving, Bora wasn''t. In the end, she resorted to physical means and tripped one of the girls so they weren''t able to run to the barricade. As the crowd began to settle, Jee Haemin emerged with a charismatic smile, his eyes twinkling with confidence. The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name in unison. Jee Haemin raised his hands, signaling for the crowd to quiet down.


    "Hello, amazing fans!" he eximed. "Are you ready for the ultimate showdown, where idols will battle it out to be crowned the King of Kings?"


    The crowd''s roar intensified, affirming their enthusiasm. Jee Haemin chuckled, enjoying the energy in the studio.


    "Fantastic! But before we jump into the performances, let''s wee our esteemed judges for this week. Three legends from different generations in the idol world!" Jee Haemin gestured towards the panel of judges, each seated on a sleek, modern-looking bench.


    Contrary to Rising Stars, which had a fixed set of judges, King of Kings will invite different judges every week. "First up, we have Kang from C.O.L.D!" The crowd cheered as Kang acknowledged them with a nod and a confident smile.


    "Next, the dazzling Sunggi from Finite!" Jee Haemin announced, prompting another wave of cheers as Sunggi gracefully waved at the crowd.


    "Andst but not least, the charismatic Baek from XO!" The crowd''s excitement reached a new height as Baek waved with a smirk, embodying the aura of a seasoned idol.


    "For this season, the rules are simple¡ªthe judges would pick their favorite performances, but the ultimate decisiony in the hands of the audience." "There would be no onsite voting," Haemin continued. "After the performances are revealed to the public tomorrow, you will all have three days to vote for your favorite performances."


    "Tonight, we have four exciting performances for you!" Haemin eximed. The audience murmured in confusion, wondering why there were only four performances when there were seven participants. Jee Haemin continued, "In this mission, our talented performers had teamed up for a duo group performance, bringing back the magic of the first to third generations of K-pop! It''s to test their ability to make these songs their own and to work with idols who aren''t familiar to them." Exims of understanding filled the studio. Some others were excited about the coboration stages, while others were hesitant to see their favorite idols sharing the spotlight with another group. "I wonder who EVE teamed up with," Soomin whispered. "I want it to be OCTA," Nari chuckled. "They appear like rivals, but I feel like they''re pretty good friends." Haemin cleared his throat, causing the audience to dial down.


    "But, CHAOS, our reigning champions fromst week, have decided to take on the mission solo. And not only that, they''ve chosen their own song."


    With the mere mention of CHAOS'' name, the studio was filled with loud cheers. Jia and her friends were amazed by the sound of their cheers, wondering how many chaotics were inside the venue. Even now, they could see their blue lightstick dominating the studio. "Now, let the games begin!" Haemin eximed, eliciting a louder cheer from the audience. "Our first performer for the day is someone most of you are anticipating to watch," he started off. "It''s CHAOS," Jia muttered. "Proimed as the fourth-generation kings, let us wee CHAOS to the stage!" Haemin announced. The members of CHAOS confidently strutted onto the stage, their presencemanding attention. Each member acknowledged the crowd with a wave, a gesture that sent their fans squealing in excitement. Jee Haemin joined them at the center of the stage, a microphone in hand. "CHAOS, you guys are turning the tables on us this week. Why the solo performance?"


    Xion smirked. "Last week was just a taste. We''re here to prove that CHAOS doesn''t need a partner to dominate the stage."


    The crowd cheered even louder at Xion''s bold statement. Jee Haemin chuckled, "Confident as always! Alright, let''s see what CHAOS has in store for us. Take it away!"


    The anticipation reached its peak as the lights dimmed. The opening notes of XO''s iconic song ''Colossus'' echoed through the venue, making the others gasp in surprise.


    Baek, who didn''t expect their song to be sung, leaned against the table to take a closer look at their performance. Despite their many hits, ''Colossus'' was definitely a stand-out song. It may have even started the fierce EDM sound that quickly became a staple in the K-pop industry. The spotlight focused on Haruki, and muffled screams echoed in the studio. Zeth pursed his lips in defeat. "He''s so handsome," he muttered. The crowd gasped when Haruki finally opened his eyes, showing off the piercing red lenses that weren''t there during their introduction. As the beat intensified, a mad glint was seen in his eyes. He grinned¡ªa mischievous smile that hinted at the madness that was about to unfold. The crowd fell into an awed hush, captivated by the charisma Haruki exuded.


    "I stumbled closer, captivated by her gaze.


    A predator masked by a delicate face."


    The music swirled around them, and with the precision of a well-oiled machine, CHAOS broke into a choreography that seemed to defy thews of physics. Gideon, the main dancer, took the center and moved like a creature straight out of a zombie movie¡ªbreaking bones and all. "As the night surrenders to the dawn''s cold breath,


    They vanish in the shadows, leaving nothing but death."


    The stage came alive with dark energy as the members of CHAOS embodied the colossus that XO''s song portrayed. Each step, each twist, and each turn were executed with a bone-chilling intensity that left the audience in awe. Even Jia, who vowed not to love any other group aside from EVE, was impressed with their performance. No wonder they were called the kings of the fourth generation. As the chorus hit, the explosive choreography matched the intensity of the music. Haruki''s vocals soared, cutting through the intense beats like a sharp de. "A monstrous ballet, a cruel masquerade,


    Where the colossus and the creature find their shade.


    He''s a creature of the dark, a savage at her side,


    In the dance of damnation, their souls are tied." The members of EVE and SPADES silently watched their performance, finding themselves enthralled by it. As expected, CHAOS didn''t disappoint. "Ah, they''re so good," Ren sighed. "Maybe we should have gone first." June continued to watch with furrowed eyebrows, a thought brewing in his mind. There was no doubt¡ªCHAOS brought the heat to the stage. However, since they were covering such an iconic song, there was one thing they couldn''t escapeparison. June smirked, finally rxing as CHAOS ended their performance. It wasn''t better than the original. Colossus is inspired by ''Monster by EXO!''

 Chapter 417 Small Change

    <h4>Chapter 417 Small Change</h4>


    "Baek, as the original singer of the song, do you have anything to say to CHAOS?" Haemin asked. The crowd cheered as the famous, seasoned idol took the mic. "Well, first of all, I want to congratte you for an amazing performance," Baek started off. The members of CHAOS turned to each other with satisfied expressions. "You really embodied the colossus that our song was pertaining to," Baek continued. ''However,'' June thought. "However," Baek said, causing the fans in the audience to mutter in surprise. "Wait," Akira said, sitting on the edge of his seat. "Baek has something negative to say about their performance? I thought it was perfect." "And he''s saying this about CHAOS? He''s truly brave," Eric nodded. Y clicked his tongue. "Senior Baek is undoubtedly on the same level of fame as CHAOS. He''s also the original artist of the song, so he has every right toment on their performance. Besides, I also felt like something was missing in their performance."


    June nodded. It seemed like Y also caught on to what was happening. "I would have liked to see something different from you, guys," Baek said, causing CHAOS'' faces to fall. "It''s not that I want aplete remodeling of the song. However, in apetition where you''re performing your senior artists'' music, it would be nice for it to feel like a revamp rather than a mere cover. In that sense, your performance wouldn''t bepared as drastically to ours." Haruki, always calm andposed, nodded in understanding. "Thank you for your wise words, senior," he humbly said. "Nheless, you guys did a very good job." With that, CHAOS left the stage with bittersweet feelings. While waiting for their next performance, June took a picture of his hair and uploaded it on his Navel ount. He was bombarded with notifications as soon as he posted it. However, he ignored them to focus on the next stages. BOYMYSTIC and Robby now took the stage, and it seemed like they still haven''t shaken off the tension between them. This resulted in quite a bit of a disappointing performance¡ªespecially since the song they chose needed to be performed with genuine joy. OCTA and MORPH3D, however, performed ''You''re Mine'' by FINITE pretty well. They put their own innocent twist to it since they were all young with minimal experience in love. In the end, it turned out pretty cute yet enchanting. However, despite CHAOS receiving some criticism from Baek, it seemed like they were still the front-runners of the mission. June was determined to change that, though. When OCTA and MORPH3D were receiving theirments, June''s team made their way out of the holding room, silently giving each other supportive looks. Meanwhile, the audience was already in a frenzy. "What the heck? They really put SPADES and EVE together?"


    "Where have you been? They already uploaded the teasers!" "I don''t want EVE performing with those dinosaur-age idols." "SPADES deserves better teammates." "SPADES is doing charity work once again." "I bet EVE disrespected SPADES during their practice." "That''s already certain. It''s all over the previews that SBC had put out." Jia frowned as she heard the conversations around her. She had also seen all of the teaser videos, and it really did seem like putting EVE and SPADES together was a recipe for a disaster. "It''s going to be tough for them," Wei said. Bora nodded in agreement. "Will they be able to perform as a team?" Spections went around the room, with most people doubting the oue of thest team''s performance. The other participants, now done with their performance, also watched the screen intently, wondering what kind of stage the two would put out. Even during the song and team selection, they appeared to have a strained rtionship. Robby smirked as he leaned against his seat. He knew their performance wasn''t the best, but he was confident that SPADES and EVE would also fuck up their performance with theirck of unity. Finally, OCTA and MORPH3D left the stage, passing by EVE and SPADES with respectful nods. Uno raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw June. Seven, too, stopped as he came face to face with the idol he respected. "Wait¡ª" Seven eximed. "Let''s do this," June said, ignoring their stares. "Thest performance of the night has finallye!" Haemin eximed, taking center stage. "I''m sure most of you didn''t expect thisbination, but I''m also sure that most of you are excited about their performance," he continued. "Coming from different generations, let us all wee¡ªEVE and SPADES." The crowd burst into cheers, surprisingly louder than they had anticipated. It seemed like fans of EVE and SPADES made their cheers apetition, determined to scream the loudest between the two fandoms. It benefitted EVE and SPADES pretty well, and their morale was quickly boosted as they heard their fans'' voices. June ran his hands through his hair as the members started entering the stage. He clicked his tongue when some hair strands fell out. His scalp had been feeling sore since the morning, and he wondered why idols deliberately do these to themselves.


    The screams became louder as June entered, being thest one in the line. However, their screams quickly turned to gasps when the camera focused on him, cing him on the big screen. Jay smirked and confidently crossed his arms in front of his chest as squeals were heard even in the holding room. Robby was captivated for a second when June was shown on the screen. However, he quickly frowned when Jordan chuckled. "He suits it really well," he said. "What do you mean?" Nico scoffed. "I looked better when I had that hair color." The members of EVE and SPADES looked at June, amused, as his cheeks reddened from embarrassment. He even turned around to look at himself on the LED screen, subtly shaking his head for the camera to stop focusing on him. Meanwhile, Jia''s eyes widened, and her mouth instantly watered. "Calm down. Calm down," Bora said, already expecting the worst from her friend. Jia turned to her, still with wide eyes. "Calm down? How can I calm down when he''s blonde?"

 Chapter 418 Prime (1)

    <h4>Chapter 418 Prime (1)</h4>


    Haemin, a secret fan of EVE, held back his smile as he continued observing June. Although he still stands by the fact that June is a natural pinkhead, having him dye his hair blonde was also a great choice. Under the stage lights, he looked like an angel, and Haemin had to pinch himself to get back to professional mode. "SPADES and EVE, what an unexpectedbination. How did you guys find the preparation?" Haemin asked. Y took the microphone and smiled. "We got into a fistfight," he seriously said, causing the judges and the audience to exim in shock. "Stay tuned to that on tomorrow''s broadcast," he teased, making them wonder whether he was telling the truth or not. Hanbin shook his head and took the mic from him. "There were some tense moments," he said. "But we''ve be closer the more we practice. EVE are really great idols, so I hope you won''t believe everything you see on the inte." "Of course," Haemin said. "Wise words from Hanbin over here. Now, June, why the sudden change in hair color?" June pursed his lips as the microphone was handed to him. "I just thought it was a nice change. My roots were showing, so I asked my hairdresser to dye my hair back to my natural color. However, in the end, I woke up with blonde hair." The crowd chuckled at June''s anecdote. It was true, though. June fell asleep while getting his hair dyed, and before he even knew it, Kumo had already done his magic. Haemin smiled and faced the camera. "Well, I can''t dy this any further. Let us now watch EVE''s and SPADES'' performance!" The crowd cheered once again as the stage became pitch ck. Then, subtle sounds were heard as the production crew brought out the props for their performance. June smirked as he touched the sleek material of their prop. Although SBC was shit at editing, they definitely had a lot of budget. After a few minutes, the members finally took their positions. Then, the stage lights flickered to life, revealing a metallic backdrop adorned with sparkling bedazzles. The members'' outfits, which had a simr concept to their backdrop, caught the spotlight and dazzlingly shimmered under it. Although they were inside a studio where the stars couldn''t be seen, it felt like the members were the stars themselves. The stage was also adorned with props, and there, in all its glory, was a sleek car¡ªa metallic convertible that left the audience in awe.


    "They got a car?" Seven eximed, standing from his seat. Uno smirked. "They''re really determined to win, huh?" June, with one of his sleeves provocatively cut off, revealed his lean biceps, which were entuated under the stage lights.


    "What a tease," Bora shook her head. Meanwhile, Jia was already too lost in the void. She couldn''t even hear the noise around her. Her focus was solely on June.


    The other members were no less captivating, d in tight-fitting clothes that had even non-fans cheering in awe.


    As the music''s trap beat filled the studio, the formation of EVE and SPADES took shape. Six members lined up on one side, and the other six on the opposite, staring each other down. The spotlight intensified as they stood face to face. Y''s vocals kicked in while they continued gazing at each other with boastful expressions, each member radiating aid-back charm. "I''m in my zone, haters on mute.


    Focused on the future, no time for disputes.


    Money in the bank, unbothered and paid,


    They can talk that talk, but my sess won''t fade." Then, they began to dance as the percussion kicked in. However, it wasn''t the type of synchronized dance the audience had anticipated. Instead, it felt more like a rally. It felt familiar¡ªlike the Step-up movies that everyone wanted to be a part of when they were younger. Kang, one of the judges, raised his eyebrows in surprise. SPADES'' and EVE''s choreography was different from the original one. However, it didn''t leave a bad taste in his mouth. They incorporated quite a lot of styles in their dance¡ªmixing first-generation movements in a third-generation song. "This concept," Gideon muttered, trying to figure out what was happening. It was damn cool, though, and he wondered what it would feel like to join in on their stage. "It''s a battle," Haruki said, feeling a bit defeated. "A battle within a battle." As the chorus hit, their coolness took another level. That was the only word the watchers could think of¡ª''cool.'' It was the type of coolness that made them wish they were idols. "Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Won''t ept mediocrity, I''ll settle for sublime.


    Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Being the best¡ªI''m guilty of that crime." Even during the first chorus, they didn''t dance the same choreography. However, surprisingly, they didn''t look separated at all. Their dance was synergistic¡ªthe two groups almost building off of the other''s movements.


    "I''m on another level, watch me elevate,


    They can yap, but I''m sealin'' my fate.


    Every hater''s just a step on my stairway,


    To the top, where the real yers stay."


    The beat calmed down for a couple of seconds until it became even faster than before. "Why does June not have any parts yet?" Soomin couldn''t help but ask. "Yeah, almost all of the vocalists have already sung. He hasn''t even done any doubling yet. He didn''t even sing during the chorus," Bora observed. Haruki frowned, also finding it strange that EVE''s center hadn''t gone yet. "Xion," he said. "Yup?" Xion asked, his eyes focused on the screen. Out of everyone in the room, Xion was the one who knew the most about Rising Stars. "June," Haruki started off. "Does he rap?" Xion''s eyes widened, now knowing why June hadn''t sung yet.


    "He does," he mindlessly responded. Haruki pursed his lips and nodded. Nashon, the member with the shortest training time, turned to Haruki. "Was he a good rapper when you were trainees?" he asked. Haruki merely shook his head, feeling a bit skeptical.


    Choi Joon-ho wasn''t good at rapping at all. June, knowing his part wasing next, immersed himself in the song. He smirked as the camera focused on him, causing the cheers to grow louder. "He''s so hot," Jia groaned, squeezing Bora''s arm so tight it started losing cirction. With confidence, June strutted toward the convertible, his hand tracing the sleek contours of the car.


    Then, he ced his hand on the edge of the convertible, leaning in with a smirk that could rival any movie star. In one smooth motion, he entered the car, fingers brushing against the steering wheel as if iming the throne of the stage. "Wait. This is a rap part, right?" "He''s going to rap?" "I didn''t know he could rap!" June leaned back against the seat, one hand on the steering wheel Then, he faced the camera, ready to show them the versatility of EVE''s center.

 Chapter 419 Prime (2)

    419 Prime (2)


    "Haters talkin'', but it''s just engagement,


    I turn their hate into fuel; yeah, that''s my arrangement.


    Money talks and I speak thatnguage,


    Stayin'' icy while they''re stuck in anguish." As June took control of the rap verse, the crowd''s astonishment echoed through the auditorium. Those who only knew him as the charismatic vocalist of EVE were taken aback by the raw talent he unleashed as a rapper. A question lingered in the minds of the audience¡ªhow could June be a skilled rapper when he was primarily known as a vocalist?


    The question was promptly answered with each word he spat. He was simply good. "Flexin'' on the grind, haters in the rearview,


    Laughin'' at the doubters while my vision''s clear, too.


    Cry all you want, make me drown in your weeps. But I''ll drown you out with a fucking ''beep beep.''"


    As the verse reached the iconic ''beep beep'' line, June didn''t miss a beat. With a mischievous grin, he reached over to the convertible''s dashboard and yfully beeped the horn, drowning out the curse word in the song and creating his own makeshift censor. It was a small, unexpected moment that showcased June''s creativity in his performances.


    The idols watching backstage couldn''t help but exim in awe. "How did he even think of that?" Jordan asked, shaking his head in disbelief. As the spotlight shifted to other members, June gracefully exited the car, leaving the stage to the other rappers of EVE. From the sidelines, he became the enthusiastic hype man, injecting energy into the performance with simple yet powerful choreography. The second chorus arrived, and one group initiated a set of powerful steps, and like a butterfly effect, the other group mirrored the sequence. "Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Being the best¡ªI''m guilty of that crime." "Bora," Jia said, still staring at June. He had a confident smirk on his face, and he seemed to be enjoying the stage so much. She couldn''t help but tear up, wiping her eyes with the edge of her sleeves. Her friends stared at her like she had gone crazy. "Why the heck are you crying?" Bora asked. "This is the most unemotional performance June has put out!" "But look at him," Jia eximed, gesturing to the shining blonde boy on the stage.


    "He''s enjoying the stage so much," she whispered, focused on his smile. Indeed, being with people who enjoyed the stage as much as him, June began to gain more energy. From the start, he really wasn''t sure where idols got their happiness. However, as time passed, he finally understood¡ªperforming itself was happiness. The song reached its bridge, and it was different from the usual vocal interlude that EVE''s songs had. It was a rap-heavy verse, but the group decided to add moreyers to it. The lights dimmed, and only two spotlights illuminated the stage. Casper and Junes stood face-to-face in the center, their hand-held mics against their lips. Then, their eyes locked, simultaneously rapping with precision.


    "I turn negativity into my inspiration,


    Fuel for the fire, no room for hesitation.


    I''m in the game, yin'' my cards right,


    Stackin'' up victories every day and night.


    Keep talkin'', it''s just background noise,


    Call me Andy; ya''ll are my toys.


    Livingrge, with a pocket full of dreams,


    My sess will tear you at the seams." June''s voice took the harmonious route, riding the rhythm like a wave. On the other hand, Casper countered with a deep rap, his words cutting through the melody and adding an unexined depth.


    It was a rap duel that left the audience in awe, making them marvel at how these two contrasting stylesplemented each other so well.


    As the bridge became even more intense, June and Casper tossed their microphones into the air. The crowd gasped as the mics descended through the air, only to be caught perfectly as June and Casper effortlesslynded them in each other''s outstretched arms.


    The mic exchange marked the end of the rap bridge, and with a burst of energy, the entire group transitioned into a dance break. Compared to theid-back vibe of the song, their dance break was intense.


    Nheless, it appeared like they were executing the moves effortlessly¡ªmaking it look way less hard than it actually was. Lights flickered in tandem with the beats, casting shadows that danced along with the performers.


    Then, without giving them a break, the chorus arrived once more.


    "Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Won''t ept mediocrity, I''ll settle for sublime.


    Prime, prime, prime. This is my prime, prime, prime. Being the best¡ªI''m guilty of that crime." In the background, Y and Ren added adlibs that soared above the melody. However, June, ever perceptive to the nuances of the performance, noticed a slight struggle among the remaining vocalists as they sang the chorus after the challenging dance break. So, June, who was in the very back for thest formation, joined the other vocalists in singing, his voice filling the gaps and giving the chorus a newfound stability.


    "I''m on another level, watch me elevate,


    They can yap, but I''m sealin'' my fate.


    Every hater''s just a step on my stairway,


    To the top, where the real yers stay."


    The audience, unaware of the subtle change, could feel the song gaining an extrayer of richness. Y noticed this, and a small smile emerged from his lips. He couldn''t believe he thought ill of June in the beginning. In the end, although the younger guy was pretty annoying, Y could tell he was a good person.


    The final notes lingered in the air, hanging like a sweet echo of victory. EVE and SPADES, now standing in a circle at the center of the stage, locked eyes for a fleeting moment, a silent acknowledgment of the journey they had just undertaken together.


    As the music faded into a gentle hum, the members of EVE and SPADES turned away in unison, each walking in a different direction. The dispersal hinted at the individual paths they would tread beyond the stage. It was an acknowledgment that their time together in this performance was both fleeting and precious.


    In the end, they were from different teams, and this might be thest performance they''d have with one another. If you want to watch rap performances, try ''Breathe SMTM10 live stage'' and ''Pauwi Na Ko by OC Dogs on the Wish bus.''


    SandKastle

 Chapter 420 The Truth Prevails

    <h4>Chapter 420 The Truth Prevails</h4>


    Smiles adorned their faces as they made their way back to a line. The members of EVE and SPADES nced at each other, feeling satisfied with their performance. Y turned to June from the opposite end, giving him a thumbs-up. In his mind, this was the most fun performance they had put out in a while¡ªand none of it would have been possible if it weren''t for June. It started out pretty rough, but it all turned out good in the end.


    Some audience members saw Y''s gesture. The trio of girls that Jia and her friends fought with also saw their interaction. They turned to each other with pursed lips, wondering if they thought wrong of the young idol. "Wow," Haemin eximed, calming the cheers of the audience. "I can''t believe I got to witness that in real-time. It went by so fast; I want to watch it again!"


    "Thank you, senior," Y bowed, and the others followed suit. "I should be the one saying thank you. It''s an honor to watch your performance, and I''m sure the judges will agree with me. Isn''t that right?" he asked, turning to the panel. Kang, Sunggi, and Baek knowingly nced at each other. Sunggi took the mic to speak first. "That''s right," he agreed with Haemin. "The panel and I have spoken¡ªand we agree that this is our favorite performance of the night." The crowd pped, acknowledging the performance that SPADES and EVE had put out. However, some of CHAOS'' fans didn''t p for their team, feeling bitter that other groups were gettingplimented.


    "June," Sunggi called. "You''re such a great rapper. I first saw you during your ''Father'' performance, and you blew me away with your vocals then. I never expected you to be great at rapping, too."


    June bowed in respect, feeling grateful for such a hugepliment. "Let me also take this time to mention the group''s dancing," Kang butted in. "I observed that you''ve incorporated a lot of first-generation idol movements in your performance. It was very well-orchestrated, and it also took me back to the times when I was still an idol."


    "This, truly, is a performance that could be enjoyed by K-pop fans from different generations," he ended. Baek was thest to take the mic, and June felt a bit nervous. Out of everyone in the panel, he had said the most criticisms so far. So, it wouldn''t be strange for their performance to also receive some criticism. "I''m only going to point out one thing," Baek said, causing the members to pay more attention. "I think the vocals became weaker during thest chorus." The team nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a bit disappointed. "However, it was great that someone was able to support it in the end," he continued, taking away some of their disappointment. "Like Sunggi said, this is definitely my favorite stage of the night," Baek smiled. "I wish we could have some power over who will win this particr mission, but we have to leave it to the audience." "However, given the chance, I would definitely pick your team to be the winners." ***


    EVE was now in their van, driving back to their dorm after a long day of filming. Despite feeling tired, they also felt satisfied. They had performed better than they had expected, and the feedback they got from the special judges was also the best among the participants. Jisung chuckled as he showed them a picture of June''s new hair on his phone. "Your new hair color is already posted," Jisung pointed out. "Everyone''s calling you an angel," Zeth chuckled. "If they only knew, you''re far from being an angel." "June''s an angel," Casper said, but they paid him no attention. "You suit your hair really well, though," Akira chimed. "I almost hit you this morning since I thought an intruder came in." "Who even did your hair?" Ren asked, ying with June''s strands. "They did such a great job." June shrugged. "He told me not to disclose his identity to others." "Why not?" Ren frowned in confusion. "He ims he has to be ''sought'' and not to be ''shared.'' I don''t get it. He''s a weird guy," June said, remembering Kumo''s words. "Some people are talking about a random guy under the trend, though," Jaeyong said. "Have you heard of this guy¡ªHi_ImJune_from_3V3?" Jisung sat straight, a small frown gracing his face. "I''ve heard of that guy! He''s famous for impersonating June," he said. "Oh, that guy?" Akira asked. "It''s a shame. I watched one of his covers and discovered he has a pretty voice, too. I think he could be famous if he stopped impersonating June." "I swear¡ªhe''s such a creep," Ren said. "I saw some of his posts, and sometimes, it really does seem like he''s in the same ce as June. He''s a creep." June''s eyebrows furrowed as he listened to their words.


    "Why are they talking about him now?" Sehun asked. "Well, he posted this photo a few hours ago¡ªeven before our live performance," Jaeyong said, showing them a blurry photo of a blonde scalp. They squinted their eyes to get a better look at the photo. "What the hell are we looking at?" Zeth asked. "It''s hair," June deadpanned.


    "Yeah," Jaeyong said. "He''s showing off a new hairstyle¡ªone that is identical to June''s."


    They all turned to June. "You don''t find this strange at all?" Jaeyong asked. "What''s so strange about it?" June defended. "He''s just showing off his daily life like the rest of you. You guys share even weirder stuff. Remember when Zeth posted his toe because he imed it looked handsome?" Zeth pursed his lips. "But it really did look handsome," he muttered. "That''s different. You have a stalker," Akira said. "Howe he knew about your hair color even before we went on stage?" Then, he dramatically gasped. "Don''t tell me¡ªwas he hiding in our waiting room?" June shook his head in disappointment. "Why are you guys being so mean?" he asked.


    "What do you mean?" Jaeyong asked. "We''re just protecting you from a potential stalker."


    "He''s not a stalker," June sighed. "How do you even know that?" Zeth asked. "Because that guy is me."

 Chapter 421 3V3

    <h4>Chapter 421 3V3</h4>


    Jay stepped on the brakes, causing all the members of EVE to jolt forward. However, only June seemed to be fazed by the near-death experience. He turned around to see if there were any cars behind them and sighed in relief when he saw that the road was empty. "What the hell?" June eximed. "That could have caused a serious ident!" However, they continued looking at June with wide eyes. "I refuse to believe this," Akira mindlessly said. Jisung, on the other hand, covered his mouth and repeatedly pped it. "I can''t believe I said those words about June! Forgive me, bro. I didn''t know it was really you."


    "This doesn''t make sense!" Zeth eximed. June sighed and brought out his phone, opening his Navel ount and showing it to his members. "Here," he said, scrolling up and down. "Is that big enough of a proof? I told you¡ªthis is my ount." "Hell," Jay chuckled. "I can''t believe someone as cool as June has ame-ass username." "Shut up, BigDaddyCJay," June retorted, pertaining to his past username. "But being a loser is part of Jay''s brand," Sehun said. "I really didn''t expect such a username toe from you." Jaeyong chuckled as he scrolled through June''sments. "It seems like his fans don''t believe him either. It appears like you''ve had this ount since Rising Stars, but nobody believes it''s really you." "Well, you didn''t even believe me," June retorted. "I mean¡ªwhy would you spell EVE with threes?" Ren couldn''t help but chuckle. "It''s pretty cute," June muttered, feeling offended. Why did it seem like nobody liked his username?


    "It is cute," Casper quickly said. "Yeah!" Jisung eximed, despite insulting his ount just moments ago. "It''s the cutest username ever!"


    A small smile appeared on June''s lips. "Go ahead and follow me then. I think it''s time our fans know that my ount is real," June said. His members skeptically looked at each other. "Are you sure?" Zeth asked. "I already did it," Casper said, already cing his phone back in his pocket. "Well," Akira pursed his lips. "I guess we''re left with no choice." June smirked as he saw the notifications pop up on his phone. Jay also brought out his phone and followed him before continuing to drive back to their dorm. At that moment, all hell broke loose. June scrolled through hisments with a knowing smile. His follow count skyrocketed at that moment, and astras who doubted him from the very beginning flocked to hisments. - Guys, all members of EVE, along with their manager, are following this ount. - Is it April 1st today? - I wish! I think this is really June''s ount. - It''s been confirmed at this point. - I''m dyingughing over the past posts June made. He was practically screaming at us to believe him. - Yet no one believed him :(


    - I''m so ashamed.


    - To be fair, it is an ugly username. - Don''t call it ugly! It''s unique. - Yeah¡ªunique. That''s what my dad calls me, too. Meanwhile, Jia and her friends, who were walking back to their school dorm, halted when Bora saw the issue on her phone. "What?" Jia asked the wide-eyed Bora. "June," Bora merely said, causing Jia to internally panic. "June?" she asked. "What about June? Did he get into an ident on his way back?" Soomin, Nari, and Wei also stopped with concerned looks on their faces. "It''s worse," Bora said shakily. "What?" the four eximed. "What happened?" Jia shouted. "He just got shot! Why is the universe so cruel to June?" "Do you know that guy that''s been getting a lot of hate for impersonating June?" Bora asked. "Yeah," Jia sighed. "That fucking loser still hadn''t stopped." "Don''t tell me¡ªdid he harm June?" Jia asked. "No," Bora said. "He is June." Jia felt like she was hit in the head with a cement block. "What?" she mindlessly asked. "That guy¡ªhe''s June." That day, June took over the trends list¡ªone, for his blonde hair; two, for their performance; and three, for his atrocious username. ***


    The participants of King of Kings had gathered once again for some important announcements.


    June thought that only his fans knew about his whole username fiasco. However, as their group entered inside, he could feel the other participants staring at him.


    SPADES, whom the group had gotten closer to for the past days, guffawed as soon as they saw June. Before Y could start teasing him, June held his hand up. "Shut up," June said. "I don''t care what you think about my username." "How''d you know I was going to bring it up?" Y asked. "I could tell by the look in your eyes," June said. "Hey, did you know¡ªyour username has been ranked as the worst idol username on Navel," Chan chimed. June sighed and shook his head before settling in EVE''s seat. Just then, the curtains opened, revealing Wonbin with a wide smile on his face. The idols stood and bowed at the famousedian. "Good morning, guys!" he eximed. Greetings were thrown around in the room. "Thank you foring here again for your second to thest mission! I know this journey is a short one, but I do hope that it''s memorable," he continued. "Before I introduce the next mission, I am going to reveal the winner of thest mission." "Here is the current scoreboard," Wonbin said, revealing a table that contained the votes from the very first mission.


    "As we can see, CHAOS is leading with 10,061,113 votes. Next is OCTA, who has 5,678,903. Third is EVE with 5,525,098." EVE and OCTA nced at each other, finding themselves in another minipetition. Meanwhile, CHAOS was satisfied with the huge gap they had created with the teams. It was astronomical how there was more than a 9 million gap between the first ce and thest ce¡ªwith Robby earning merely 658,065 points from the first mission. "Here in my hands is the result ofst week''s mission...and let me tell you¡ªit''s close. I, myself, was surprised when I first saw it." June sat straight, feeling hope bloom in his heart. If it was a close call and if Wonbin was surprised, then their team might have a chance to win against CHAOS. Moreover, fans of EVE and SPADES joined hands together to vote for them, giving them a better chance at winning. "Now, let''s start with thest ce," Wonbin started off. "With 2,345,678 votes, we have BOYMYSTIC and Robby!" he eximed. BOYMYSTIC nodded in acknowledgment. It seemed like they had already epted their loss, but Robby, who was the primary reason their performance failed, couldn''t believe he was inst ce again. "In third ce¡ªOCTA and MORPH3D, who had 5,897,134 votes."


    Again, OCTA and MORPH3D weren''t too surprised with their ranking. It seemed like most of them already knew who was going to be the top two teams. The cameras focused on the three groups as Wonbin built anticipation for the winner''s announcement. "And the first ce for the second mission is..."

 Chapter 422 Lil’ Fanboys

    <h4>Chapter 422 Lil'' Fanboys</h4>


    June knew neither EVE nor SPADES could rival CHAOS'' poprity at the moment. However, June hoped for a miracle. "CHAOS!" Wonbin eximed. But then again, miracles rarely happened. June pursed his lips and epted the result. His members, however, slumped down, finding it hard to be happy in the given situation. The judges even said they had the best performance out of all the participants, but they still didn''t win in the end. "CHAOS gained 7,890,432 votes for this round, while EVE and SPADES gathered 7,832,765 votes. It was a close call, but CHAOS reigned on top in the end!" Wonbin continued. June was pleasantly surprised by the small gap. He didn''t know it would be this close, and it took away some of his disappointment. The second mission''s scores were added to the existing scoreboard on the screen, and EVE now overtook OCTA with a much bigger gap. However, the gap between CHAOS and EVE was still quiterge¡ªwith CHAOS having a five million lead. "Here is the current scoreboard," Wonbin gestured. "If you see your names at the bottom, don''t be discouraged. You can always climb your way to the top. Just look at June¡ªhe became EVE''s center after hanging around in the bottom for some time." June shyly looked to the side as their attention turned to him. His members teased him, and he subtly red to get them to stop. "Now, since CHAOS won thest mission, they have yet another benefit." "Is it going to be a big one again?" "These benefits need to be nerfed. They give CHAOS such a big advantage." "Don''t worry!" Wonbin chuckled, hearing theirints. "This week''s advantage will not directly affect the third performance. Instead, CHAOS will only be given an advantage on your very first pre-mission!" "Pre-mission?" Robby asked, raising his hand. "Yes!" Wonbin responded. "Aside from shaping your performance skills, King of Kings also aims to make you into well-rounded artists! These pre-missions will not only give you certain advantages, but they''ll also help you build new skills." "And we''ll have a pre-mission this week?" Jordan asked. "Yes," Wonbin responded. "In fact, you''ll have it today!" "Today?" Nico eximed, baffled by the speed of the events. "But before we get to that, let me introduce the second mission," Wonbin said. "Please turn to the screen." The contestants exchanged curious nces as therge screen behind Wonbin flickered to life. In bold letters, the word "IDOL" appeared.


    "Idol?" "That''s it?" "What are they thinking of?" "Now, before you think this is just a spelling bee, let me exin further," Wonbin announced. "What is an idol?" he asked. The participants fell into a hush as they let the question sink in. What is an idol?


    "I''m sure you have some answers in your mind, but I''m also sure that most of you can''t define what an idol is with just mere thoughts. As idols, we believe that the best way you can answer this question is through a performance!" The participants started to understand SBC''s intention. However, June was still not convinced that it was going to be as simple as that. "However," Wonbin quickly added. "You''ll all be given the same chord progression¡ªthe same tune." "The same chord progression? Then, it''ll feel like we''re performing the same song!" "I''m d we don''t have to make a song from scratch, but isn''t this too much? They should have given us different tunes." Ren leaned closer to June. "This is going to be difficult," he muttered.


    June nodded in agreement. "Original lyrics, original choreography, but the same foundation. Show us how you can redefine what an idol is!" The participants couldn''t help but p as Wonbin finished his speech. Even if the mission sounded like a pain in the ass, they couldn''t deny that it was also a genius idea. "However, before we reveal the chord progression, we''re going to have the pre-mission!" The participants were getting overwhelmed by the information being bombarded to them. Wonbin nced at his watch and smirked. "Right now, special guests have arrived in the next room, and they''re going to judge you in this pre-mission." "But first, let me tell you about the advantages you can win so you be encouraged to win the pre-mission. First¡ªthe winner will have the privilege of listening to the chord progression two days before everyone else! Not only that, but they''ll also pick the sequence of performances," Wonbin said. The members of EVE turned to each other, determined. Although it sounded trivial, hearing the chord progression ahead of everybody else would give them more time to curate their performance. "Now, do you have any questions?" Wonbin asked. Nashon raised his hand. "What about our benefit for winningst week?" he asked. "You''ll find out when we''re in the next room," Wonbin answered. "Other questions?" The room turned silent, so Wonbin took the opportunity to end the conversation. "Since there are no more questions, let''s now move to the next room," he eximed. The participants stood, still reluctant since they didn''t know what to expect. "Do you guys have any idea what we''re doing?" Akira asked. "No idea," Jaeyong said. They entered the room and were immediately surprised when they saw familiar people inside. "Kim Seobin?" Jisung eximed, his mouth agape. He felt shocked to see the lead male actor of the show he was currently obsessed with. He turned to Akira, and they held hands before dilly-dallying like little girls. The other participants looked at them weirdly, but they didn''t care at all. "Minho?" Jaeyong called, recognizing the person beside Seobin. Minho stood and proudly smiled at the boys. "EVE! It''s been a while. I hope the group is doing well." "What''s going on?" "Why are Seobin and Minho here?" "What is SBC nning again?" The others were still confused about the arrival of the two actors, but June already figured it out. [Lucky! You''ve stepped on a mission. Impress the three actors to improve one chosen aspect!] "Three?" June whispered. Just then, the door opened, and a breathless, beautiful woman came in, making all of the boys turn toward the door. She closed the door before turning to the boys, her hair cascading down her waist. "I''m sorry, I''mte. I had a meeting with my manager," she apologized, still breathless. Akira nearly dropped to the ground. "H¡ªHana Lim?"

 Chapter 423 Idol Acting

    <h4>Chapter 423 Idol Acting</h4>


    Standing before the boys was the beautiful Hana Lim in all her glory. The room turned silent as they continued to stare at her, not believing she woulde and visit their show. Wonbin smiled and weed Hana inside, brushing the boys aside and leading her to her designated seat. For a moment, her eyes met with June, and a knowing smirk appeared on her lips. Meanwhile, June also smiled while subtly shaking his head. "Boys," Wonbin said once Hana was all settled. "Why don''t you take your seats too?" The boys mindlessly walked to their designated seats, their gazes still focused on Hana. As idols, they get to see a lot of good-looking people. However, meeting actors, especially those who have established themselves in the industry, was quite rare. Hana Lim, despite bing an A-list actress only recently, had left a mark in the hearts of many with her loveable characters. Her first work as a lead actress was the highest-rated show of the year, and it also led her to win the ''Best Actress'' and ''Best New Actress'' awards. Not many people had achieved her feats, so Hana Lim was definitely amazing. On the other hand, Kim Seobin and Kang Minho have been in the industry for longer, and they''ve also established their names as excellent actors. Seobin focused on dramas and films, while Minho ventured out into the variety sector.


    Nheless, they were known as good friends in the industry who diligently supported each other''s projects. "She''s gotten prettier since thest time I saw her," Akira whispered to his members. Zeth clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I still don''t believe you''ve met her. She''s in so many projects! It''s almost impossible to meet her." "We really did, though," Jisung whispered. "She''s close with¡ª" "Alright, boys. Now that you''re settled down, let me formally introduce you to our special guests," Wonbin eximed, cutting their conversation short. They all shifted their focus to the front, looking like a bunch of curious meerkats. Even CHAOS, who had a ''cool'' and ''untouchable'' aura, became a sucker for the actors in front. "First, let me introduce you to the country''s heartthrob, the multi-talented actor of our generation¡ªKang Minho!" The participants pped loudly as Minho stood and took a small bow. "It''s nice to see familiar faces," Minho said, referring those who have participated in Rising Stars. "I''m also looking forward to getting to know the unfamiliar faces in the room." Wonbin nodded. "I''m sure we''ll get the chance to interactter in the pre-mission." "Now, we have here two actors who were very hard to cast," Wonbin said, causing the pair of actors to chuckle. "They are currently starring in the popr drama ''Love in the Time of Royalty,'' which is airing on our very own SBC channel. They had garnered increasing ratings each week, and they show no signs of stopping!" Wonbin grandly introduced. "Who among you here have watched their drama?" he asked. Over half of the participants raised their hands, with Jisung and Akira being the most enthusiastic. "We have very enthusiastic fans, I see," Wonbin chuckled. "Well, I won''t dy this any further. Let''s start off with the male lead of the drama¡ªKim Seobin!" Seobin stood and was met with enthusiastic cheers. "Thank you for inviting us here," he charismatically said. "I''m excited to introduce the pre-missionter on." Wonbin smiled. "The guys are going to like it for sure." "And,st but not least, we have the beautiful, most sought-after actress of the year¡ªHana Lim!" The boys already started to cheer even before Wonbin''s introduction ended. June shook his head in amusement as he nced at the enthusiastic participants. Y, who was usually calm, stood along with his members and gazed at Hana with sparkling eyes. He definitely wasn''t lying when he said she was her ideal type. June, on the other hand, settled with polite pping. As his gaze strayed to the participants, one person''s gaze focused on him, a small smile appearing on her lips as she took in his new appearance. ''Blonde hair suits him a lot,'' Hana thought. She was lost in her thoughts, so she didn''t hear Wonbin calling her name. "Miss Hana?" Wonbin repeated. Hana snapped out of her thoughts and shyly stood. "Sorry. I''m a bit out of it. I''ve been reading a script since the early morning," she apologized. "Don''t apologize!" "It''s alright!" "You''re cute!" Praises were heard in the room, causing Minho and Seobin to turn to each other and shake their heads. "Since my colleagues have already said what I wanted to say, I guess I''ll advise you to have fun on this mission. It may be out of yourfort zone, but it''s also a skill that you could use in the future," she smiled. With that, she sat back down, leaving the participants wondering what the kind of mission they were going to undertake. "I''m sure all of you are dying to find out what this pre-mission is," Wonbin smirked, and the participants eximed in agreement. "Minho and Seobin will introduce the pre-mission," he said. "Afterward, I''m going to exin the benefit that CHAOS had earned from topping thest mission." "Gentlemen," Wonbin turned to Seobin and Minho. Minho nodded and nced at his cue card. "Idols nowadays are not mere performers," he started off. "Singing, dancing, rapping¡ªidols these days have these skills, making them stand out in the industry. Truly, this generation has birthed ''multi-talented'' idols," Minho started off.


    "However, what if you aim to be multi-industrial?" Seobin asked. "What if you be multi-talented not only in the idol industry but also in other industries?" Minho smirked. "The acting industry, perhaps?" Seobin nodded in agreement.


    "More and more idols are venturing out in the acting industry, and while some have been poorly received, there are also some stand-out artists like Do Sookyung from XO, Woonryo from SPF9, Cha Bunwoo from ASTROBOY, and the beautiful soloist UI." June pursed his lips. It seemed like he was actually going to use his new skill. "This is why we have created this pre-mission for you," Minho smiled. "This is the Idol Acting mission!"

 Chapter 424 Bunch of Bad Actors

    <h4>Chapter 424 Bunch of Bad Actors</h4>


    "Yes!" the members of MORPH3D eximed as soon as the pre-mission was announced.


    One of their members, Ryan, actually majored in theatrical acting right before bing an idol, so they thought they already had an edge in the pre-mission. Meanwhile, Robby quietly smirked to himself. Out of all the participants in the room, he definitely had the most experience and work of being an actor. Although he hadn''tnded any lead roles in his career, he still had decent lines and screen times in the projects he had done, so he was confident he would win the mission. BOYMYSTIC, on the other hand, didn''t have any members with acting experience. Aside from the usualmercials they had been in, almost all of them didn''t know anything about acting. "Ocho can go," Seven excitedly said, nudging his shoulder. "Weren''t you a child actor or something?"


    Ocho groaned as he recalled his dark past. "It was for a kids'' show," he said. "We didn''t actually ''act.'' We were just told to y and sometimes portray a very simple emotion." Uno patted his back. "You still have more experience than we do, so good luck!" Ocho sighed and shook his head. CHAOS, who had also been very focused on their idol careers since the very beginning, felt a bit conflicted with their mission. They weren''t sure if they would be able to do it.


    However, they also had a slight advantage since Phoenix gave them a short series where they yed themselves and had to act out as boyfriends for their fans. It was a cringy time for them, but the fans loved the videos, which might be a good sign that they weren''t such bad actors.


    "Well, we''re doomed," Jaeyong said, sighing as his members all turned to him. "Don''t lose hope just yet," Akira cheered. "We might be good at this!" Sehun pursed his lips. "Not to bring our team down or anything¡ªbut we''re really not good at acting. I''ll probably stutter. Zeth can only act handsome. Ren''s better off as a producer. Everything Akira does turns into aedy. Jisung will definitely freeze up. Casper is weird. Jaeyong will cry before it even starts. And don''t even get me started with June. We''ve all seen the cheeseballmercial." "I don''t know if I should be offended or not," Akira muttered. Ren sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "It''s not like we don''t act at all! We acted pretty well during our music video filming." "You have to admit¡ªthat''s quite different," Jaeyong remarked. "This acting mission will definitely have lines." "You''re right," Ren sighed, slumping his shoulders in disappointment. "Maybe they''ll have us act like bad actors," Casper chimed. "We''ll definitely win if that''s the case." Akira turned to his same-aged friend. "You know, there was a time when I thought you were really cool," he said. "It seems so distant right now."


    Casper merely shrugged. "Focus here now, boys," Wonbin pped, getting their attention. "I still have to exin the other mechanics of the pre-mission." The participants became silent as Wonbin cleared his throat. "This won''t be a simple Idol Acting challenge. There are seven envelopes on the table. Each envelope has a scenario and a short script inside. These scenarios are adapted from different iconic movies or series, and you will be recreating them." "There will only be one representative from each group. Since Robby is a soloist, he''ll automatically be the one to undertake the challenge. The chosen members will then act the scene out with our very special guests." Murmurs of excitement and nervousness were heard in the room. Most of them were already nervous at the thought of acting in front of talented actors, but now, they were going to act WITH them? It was simply surreal. "The judges will grade you based on your acting ability, willingness, and potential of bing a great actor."


    "Now, herees CHAOS'' advantage," Wonbin continued. "I''m sure some of you already have certain members in mind," he said. "However, in this pre-mission, CHAOS will be given the privilege of choosing the member who will act out the scenario." Aside from Robby, the other groups slumped in disappointment. "We will give CHAOS a few moments to talk about this, and afterward, I''ll have them choose the representatives." Haruki nodded, and he turned to his teammates to speak for a brief moment. After a while, they finally stopped talking and turned to Wonbin with a nod.


    "Alright, you may write the representatives you''ve chosen on this piece of paper, and I''ll announce it for everybody to hear." As CHAOS began to write down the names, June and Hana made eye contact. June gazed at her as if asking¡ª''what are you doing here?'' She shrugged, understanding his gaze. Then, she subtly gave him a thumbs-up, to which June shook his head. Truth be told, Hana didn''t have time to participate in a show like this. She was quite busy promoting ''Love in the Time of Royalty,'' and aside from that, she was currently in the process of taking another drama series.


    However, she quickly cleared her schedule when she found out it was King of Kings she was going to guest in. Due to their busy schedules, June and Hana hadn''t met or even spoken over the phone for quite a while now. In a way, she wanted to surprise him. Moreover, she was also curious to see any new talents in the group of participants. She knew that June had potential in acting after his bandit escapade and his role in the ''Oasis'' music video. However, after seeing their cheeseballmercial, it made her think twice. Maybe June wasn''t that good of an actor after all. "Here in my hands are the people who will participate in the pre-mission!" Wonbin eximed, causing Hana to shift her focus back to the front. "First, CHAOS has chosen Gideon as their representative."


    "For BOYMYSTIC¡ªNico!" Nico pursed his lips in excitement. He actually didn''t have any background in acting, but he was excited to act with one of the actors.


    "For OCTA¡ªOcho!" The members of OCTA were pleasantly surprised. They thought CHAOS was going to pick someone who didn''t know anything about acting, but they actually picked their best bet. "Y will take on the challenge for SPADES." Y nearly jumped in his seat. He wasn''t actually excited about acting. He just wanted to act with Hana. "For MORPH3D, it will be Ryan." Again, it was a surprise for the members. CHAOS was actually kind enough to pick the only member with an acting background. June nced at his teammates, and it seemed like none of them also knew who was going to be chosen. They just prayed it wouldn''t be June so they could have a chance to win the pre-mission. "And for EVE, CHAOS had chosen¡­" "...June."

 Chapter 425 Bad Luck Stealer

    <h4>Chapter 425 Bad Luck Stealer</h4>


    "Alright, let''s think of a concept for the next performance already. We''ll just listen to the chord progression two days after the winner has been chosen," Akira said, softly pping. June turned to him and chuckled. "Am I really such a bad actor?" "Yes," Akira deadpanned. "And that''s honestly okay! You''re talented in many different aspects. Being good at acting will be a cheat code." "Yeah," Sehun chuckled. "We think you''re amazing as is. You don''t need to be a good actor at all." "June will be able to do it," Casper said, nudging June''s shoulder, "right?" June pursed his lips and didn''t respond. Honestly, he also didn''t know the answer to Casper''s question. The first two times he acted, he actually didn''t consider it as ''acting.'' As a bandit, he had his face covered, and he only had to fight. Meanwhile, during their music video filming, Chul heavily steered his emotions, which made it easier for him to channel what the director wanted. The cheese ballmercial was definitely more resonant with his potential in acting. So, in short, June wasn''t really confident. Moreover, he had gained the ''acting'' skill not too long ago, and he hadn''t used it since then. "Will the chosen representatives pleasee to the front and pick their evelopes?" Wonbin asked, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    They trudged to the front, with June trailing behind. Robby and Nico held onto the same envelope, having a small fight, with Robby ultimately winning in the end. June reached his hand for the envelope in the middle, but Nico quickly snatched it before his skin could even touch the piece of paper. June shook his head and got the veryst envelope at the end of the table instead. He didn''t understand Nico''s and Robby''s logic since they couldn''t even see what was written inside the envelope. In the end, the chosen scenario will all boil down to luck. "First, open the p of your envelope and see the corresponding number written," Wonbin instructed. "However, don''t take out the scripts just yet." June opened his envelope and saw the number ''7'' inside. "What did you get, June?" Wonbin asked. "Seven," June said. Wonbin smiled and patted his back. "Congrattions! You will be thest performer of the day!" June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, wondering why his luck suddenly changed. Then, he heard a whine from beside him, and when he nced to his side, he saw Nico''s envelope, which had the number ''1'' written on it. "Looks like Nico will start things out for us," Wonbin chuckled, causing the idol toin further. June shook his head in disbelief. He was about to take that one just a while ago. It seemed like his bad luck didn''tpletely go away, but Nico just momentarily stole it from him. "The numbers written inside the p of your envelopes correspond to the sequence of the performances," Wonbin said. "Now, aside from Nico, please vacate this area," Wonbin gestured to the middle part of the room. "Still, don''t take your scripts out. We want to be as fair as possible, so you''ll only get to see it once it''s your turn."


    "Nico, please take out your script and read the title out loud for us," he instructed. Nico felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he clutched the script in his hands. "The proposal scene in ''Chasing Weddings,''" he read out loud, and the other participants eximed in nostalgia as they recalled the iconic scene. "You will have five minutes to prepare yourself," Nico said, "and the timer starts now!" The chosen scene from ''Chasing Weddings'' was notorious for its emotional rollercoaster, and he had just five minutes to internalize everything before he was thrust into the spotlight. ''Chasing Weddings'' is a love story between a divorce attorney and a wedding nner, and the entire movie has a whole lot of angst and misunderstandings.


    They watched as Nico frantically flipped through the pages, muttering lines under his breath like a madman.


    "Come on, Nico, you got this!" Jordan cheered, but Nico stayed focused. When the buzzer finally sounded, he snapped his eyes open. "Let us begin," Wonbin said, and even the idols who weren''t chosen to act felt chills run down their spine out of nervousness.


    Just then, Hana Lim stood, and the others now eximed in envy. "I would have gone first if I knew it would be Hana Lim who would be acting alongside me," Y muttered, causing his members to chuckle. Nico''s nervousness slightly faded away as the beautiful actress smiled encouragingly at him. However, his nervousness quickly returned when Hana began to read her lines. "Donghyuck, can''t you see? Love is the foundation of everything beautiful, the essence of life. I create magical moments that celebrate that very love. It''s the reason peoplee to me: to find happiness. You, on the other hand, deal with the aftermath when that foundation crumbles. We''re different. I create love. You end it." The audience was immediately enamored even after her first lines. It was as if Hana Lim had stepped into the shoes of her character effortlessly, embodying the essence of a wedding nner conflicted by love. Her eyes sparkled with hope and uncertainty, and her words hit their hearts with sincerity. Nico cleared his throat, attempting to regain hisposure. He straightened his tie and took a deep breath. But the moment he opened his mouth to speak the first line, a jumble of words stumbled out. The awkward silence that followed was punctuated by a few sympathetic looks from his members.


    "Uh, sorry, let me try that again." Nico scratched the back of his head, stealing a nce at Hana, who was still in character, patiently waiting for him to catch up.


    "I¡ªIt''s my job. People change, circumstances change, and so does love."


    The second attempt didn''t fare much better. Nico''s stammering persisted, and it became increasingly evident that he was struggling to match the intensity and sincerity Hana had effortlessly brought to the scene. Hana, ever the professional, continued with her lines. "If you think love is destined to end, then perhaps our love should just end, too."


    The audience was taken on an emotional rollercoaster¡ªliterally. They would be immersed during Hana''s lines but would feel awkward once it was Nico''s turn.


    "And scene!" Wonbin eximed as Nico said hisst lines. Nico sighed in relief, thankful that it was finally over. He threw an apologetic look at Hana, but the young actress just brushed it off. "Wooh! We''ll definitely takest ce," Sunwoo joked, causing the participants to burst intoughter. Nico shook his head in amusement as he sat back in his seat. "I''d like to see the other participants do better."

 Chapter 426 Life of a Criminal (1)

    <h4>Chapter 426 Life of a Criminal (1)</h4>


    The other participants definitely did better than Nico. The second one to go was none other than Ryan¡ªone of the few people who actually had some background in acting.


    Although he wasn''t on par with Kang Minho, he was definitely able to channel his chosen character betterpared to Nico. His members pped for him as soon as the scene was finished, and he smiled proudly, thinking he got it in the bag. Gideon was the next one to go¡­and let''s just say he was better off being a main dancer than an actor. He was on the same spectrum as Nico, if not even worse. He was stiff, almost robotic, and even Seobin, whom he had partnered with for the short skit, couldn''t help but chuckle at his non-existent acting skills. "Next," Wonbin said, and Y excitedly stood up. For some reason, Y had a good feeling that he was going to act with Hana. "Please read your scenario," Wonbin instructed. "The confession scene in ''Love Knows No Boundaries,''" he said, a small smirk appearing on his lips. The scenario he picked was from a romance K-drama in 2019, and it definitely became one of the most famous confessions up to date. It was a heart-fluttering confession between a kindergarten teacher and a single father, and it gave birth to a lot of parodies that wanted to recreate the feeling.


    Y was a hundred percent sure he was going to act the scenario out with Hana Lim. Their eyes met for a brief second, and Y swore he saw Hana smile at him. He felt his heart flutter, wondering how such a beautiful woman could exist.


    Truth be told, Y didn''t have a lot of opportunities to date in his younger years. It was attributed to the fact that they were discouraged to date by theirpany, and along with that was the fear of losing fans due to having a rtionship. However, now that he was in his early 30s, he started thinking of romance more seriously. Hana Lim was the closest person to his ideal type, and he wanted to take this chance to get to know her better. "Five minutes is up," Robby said, causing Y to smile. It was time. Y stood in the middle, waiting for his partner to apany him. However, his smile quickly dropped when Minho stood instead of Hana. "Wait," Y said, taking a step back. "We''re performing a romantic scene." Minho smirked as he stood next to him. "We''re aware. We''re just taking the title of the drama to another level. Love truly has no boundaries," Minho winked, leaving Y stunned. His members snickered in their seats, enjoying seeing their leader suffer. "I don''t care if you have a child. I love you," Minho said, fully immersing himself into character and even caressing Y''s cheek. Y froze and didn''t get to deliver his lines. In his heart, he had already epted he had lost two things¡ªthe challenge and the chance to win Hana Lim''s heart. Wonbin chuckled as their scene ended. It seemed more like a one-sided confession than a romantic one. "Let''s call the next one," Wonbin said. Robby stood confidently and went to the center. "Good morning, judges," he bowed. "I have chosen the cheating scene from ''Basement.''"


    "Oh, that''s a hard one," Akira whispered. "I feel like he can do it, though," Jisung whispered. "He''s yed a simr role before." Indeed, Robby had yed a simr role in one of his drama series. In the scenario he picked, he was going to act like he had caught his long-term girlfriend cheating on him with his best friend. In a recent drama he filmed, he was also cheated on. So, he already felt like acting out the scene would be a piece of cake. "Alright, let''s start," Wonbin said. "Hana Lim would be ying as your girlfriend." Y pursed his lips to stop himself from cursing out loud. Hana walked to the front and stood before Robby. They were going to start the scene right after he had caught her cheating on him. The two quickly snapped into their characters, already a sharp contrast from the past acting performances. Robby held onto Hana''s wrist, causing thetter''s eyes to widen. She attempted to pull away from Robby, a flush creeping up her cheeks. Robby''s jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists as he struggled to process the sight before him.


    "What the hell is going on here?" Robby''s voice trembled with anger and disbelief. The silence that followed was deafening, and the others were also immersed in their performance. "I don''t want to talk about it," Hana said. "Don''t want to talk about it?" Robby scoffed. "I saw you kissing my best friend on the couch I bought with my money." Hana sighed impatiently, her eyes finally meeting Robby''s. "I''m not happy with you. I''m not satisfied. Is it a sin to feel loved?" Robby''s eyes narrowed, his voice strained with hurt. "Yes. It is a sin when the love you crave isn''t the one I''m giving you. You don''t care that I give you love; you just want it from someone else."


    Hana bit her lip, a tear escaping her eye. "Look, I didn''t mean for it to happen like this. I just needed something more, something different."


    The participants softly gasped as they observed Hana. How could she break into tears so easily? Meanwhile, in Y''s mind¡ª''she''s still so pretty even if she cries.''


    Robby''s frustration bubbled over. "Different? You chose my best friend! How much more different can it get?"


    "Sorry," she muttered.


    "Sorry? That''s all you have to say? You betray me, and all you can muster is a half-hearted apology?" Robby eximed. "And scene!" Wonbin eximed with a wide smile, causing the two of them to snap back to reality. Hana wiped her cheeks and smiled at Robby, giving him a silent affirmation. The other participants pped loudly, knowing Robby nailed the role he had chosen. "I must say, I''m not surprised," Seobin said. "I always thought you were a decent actor from the projects I''ve watched, and I''m definitely not mistaken." June nodded in acknowledgment. Even if he still doesn''t like Robby, he couldn''t deny that he had the best performance out of everyone yet. Robby smiled and bowed once more before going back to his seat. A small smirk yed on his lips¡ªas if already certain of his victory. Meanwhile, June stood from his seat while the others continued to praise Robby. He stood at the center, getting the others'' attention. "June," Wonbin smiled. "Are you ready to reveal your scenario?" June nodded, gently taking out the piece of paper from the envelope. He knew that beating Robby in this field would be quite difficult, especially since he had more experience. ''To hell with it,'' he thought, finally revealing the content of his script. "Please read it out loud," Wonbin instructed. June pursed his lips and showed the piece of paper to the judges. "It''s the confrontation scene from ''Life of a Criminal.''

 Chapter 427 Life of a Criminal (2)

    <h4>Chapter 427 Life of a Criminal (2)</h4>


    June didn''t know if he was lucky or unlucky. ''Life of a Criminal'' was a movie he enjoyed because it was one of the few movies that actually portrayed the world of crime realistically. It was filled with dramatic scenes that showed that criminals aren''t exactly as heartless as other people make them out to be. It hit close to home once again. June knew he hadmitted plenty of crimes in his life, but most of those were executed due to the inescapable cruelty of life itself. The others murmured among themselves as soon as June revealed the scenario he had chosen. "Poor June," Y said. "That''s definitely the hardest scenario today." "Man, I love that movie," Zibo said. "I really hope June doesn''t ruin it for me."


    "I thought I was unlucky," Nico sighed in relief. "Turns out, he''s much unluckier than I am. I can''t even imagine acting out that scene."


    "That scene made me cry really bad," Jaeyong said. "That''s not a surprise," Akira retorted. Jaeyong pped the back of his head. "I didn''t even cry much before I met June." Jisung chuckled at their leader. "He''s finally admitting that he became a crybaby after meeting June."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "You''ve been a crybaby even before you met him. I don''t think you have the right to talk." Jisung pursed his lips and focused his gaze on June. His five minutes had just started, but it didn''t seem like he was studying the script. Instead, his gaze was merely focused on the piece of paper, appearing to be thinking about something deep. Jisung frowned, wondering what June was thinking about. Did he give up on the challenge already?


    Hana, too, felt quite uneasy as she gazed at June. "This is a hard scene," Seobin said, getting ready to act as June''s counterpart. "When I was a rookie actor, I found this quite difficult to act out." Minho nodded in agreement. "I don''t even think I''ll be able to do it today. I feel like this role requires a lot of immersion into the character. It''s hard to understand the life of a criminal when you haven''t experienced being one." "One minute," Wonbin said, causing June to snap out of his thoughts. It was only at that moment that June began reading the contents of the script. June felt a pang in his chest as he read his lines. ''Life of a Criminal'' was a cinematic gem released in the early 2000s. It was the tale of an ex-convict who had just been released from prison after ten years. It revolved around the protagonist''s quest for a fresh start, only to be caught in a web of crimes involving his own little brother. It was portrayed by an actor who had a real-life brush with thew in his youth, so it was a film that resonated with authenticity.


    In the movie, the main character witnesses his little brother get involved in criminal activities, and he tries to stop him at all costs. However, the younger sibling remains oblivious to his sibling''s identity due to the years of separation. The movie captures the emotionalplexities of the main character as he protects his brother from a simr fate.


    The scene June and Seobin were going to recreate was when the little brother finds out his real identity and convinces him to leave him alone and start a new life. "Ready," Wonbin said, making the others focus their attention on the middle. However, some of them, undoubtedly, weren''t expecting much from June''s performance. After Robby''s impressive disy, they had already epted that he would win the pre-mission.


    June stood in the middle with Seobin, only an arm''s length away. "Start," Wonbin said, sitting back in his seat as he waited for the scene to unfold. The two were stuck in silence for a couple of moments, and that gave June the time to think about his next course of action. Honestly, he definitely wouldn''t have the chance to beat Robby in the challenge if he had chosen any other role. However, since he was given something he was familiar with, he might as well channel his past experiences to the scene. Then, Seobin sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. At that moment, he genuinely looked vulnerable as he processed the information slowly. "You''re my brother," he softly said, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken truth. June pursed his lips and also got into character. He maintained a stoic expression and responded, "It doesn''t matter." With that one line, the others were intrigued. The members of EVE nced at each other, wondering if they all heard it right. Robby, too, who wasn''t expecting anything from June, frowned in confusion. Although he merely said a short line, it felt as if he really meant those words.


    Confusion was evident on Seobin''s face as he questioned, "Then why? Why are you doing all of this if you don''t care? Why are you covering for my crimes?"


    A heavy silence settled, broken only by June''s exasperated sigh. He found himself transported back to a time when he had a simr conversation with Mei Ling. It was the time she wanted him to break away from the gang, but that meant they would lose their house and everything Jun Hao had worked hard for. "Just go home," June dismissed. "I''ll handle it. I''ll surrender myself to the police." Anger sparked in Seobin''s eyes. "You didn''t do anything wrong! Why are you giving up everything for me? It doesn''t make sense!"


    June looked away and shook his head. "It''s not about what I did. It''s about what I could''ve prevented. I can''t let you go down the same path I did."


    "Then, what? You''ll go back to that rotting prison to pay for the sins you didn''t even do?" Seobin asked. A small smile appeared on June''s lips, but his eyes were a different story. They were filled with sadness, and they glistened with unshed tears. Hana gasped softly as she stared into his eyes.


    "I deserve it," June defeatedly said.

 Chapter 428 Life of a Criminal (3)

    <h4>Chapter 428 Life of a Criminal (3)</h4>


    Seobin was stunned for a moment that he forgot his lines.


    June said those words differently from the original actor. While the original actor was filled with rage when he delivered that particr line, June said it so softly¡ªlike he truly believed he deserved that kind of punishment. Seobin only snapped back to reality when June nudged him softly. He cleared his throat, almost in disbelief that he had broken out of character because of an idol who didn''t even have any experience in acting. "Then, I deserve it too," Seobin said in an equally vulnerable voice. June sighed and massaged his temples, getting ready for the monologue that touched the hearts of many. He turned away from Seobin, unable to meet his eyes. He nced down at his script but quickly brought it down, already recalling the words in the back of his mind. "Ten years," he started off. "Ten years of solitude. Ten years of missed opportunities. Ten years of dreams slipping away like sand through my fingers." June sighed deeply, staring off into the distance. "You see, the world outside continued while I was stuck in those four walls. I became a mere spectator, with the gaps in the bars serving as my only connection to a life that once was. Cruel, right? They ced bars in the prison so criminals could see what they had missed. Maybe then, they''ll be able to repent." "I saw the sun dip below the horizon, casting its shine on a world that increasingly became distant. Theughter, the freedom, the taste of fresh air became a luxury for me," he continued. Seobin focused on June, feeling something different from the young idol. It was as if he wasn''t acting anymore. "But, perhaps, the cruelest part of this existence isn''t the physical prison that surrounded me. It''s the prison that takes root within my own mind."


    The room turned silent, and they felt like they were watching apletely different film.


    However, the feeling was there, and June was able to execute it beyond their expectations. "I''ve grown ustomed to this life, the routine, the predictability," he whispered, almost to himself.


    "But you, you''re out here, free," June smiled, finally gazing into Seobin''s eyes. At that moment, Seobin couldn''t help but tear up as he felt the sincerity in June''s words. He wasn''t supposed to cry at this part, but he waspelled to. "I know you didn''t choose this life, and I certainly never wanted it for you. You know, the choices we make are sometimes dictated by the circumstances we find ourselves in. Sometimes, a bad person isn''t a bad person because they want to¡­but they have to."


    "Seobin," June said, using his real name. "I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. I wasn''t there during your first day of high school; when you had your first serious crush or when you needed a guiding hand through the storm that was our upbringing. I was trapped in a prison of my own making, just as you were imprisoned by our family." "It hurts, my brother," June took a deep breath. "It hurts more than you can imagine to know I couldn''t shield you from the pain."


    Tears fell silently from Jaeyong''s eyes, but Akira didn''t have the heart to tease him because his gaze was focused on the scene before him. "You escaped that other prison, the one forged by the mistakes of our parents. You rose above, and I couldn''t be prouder. You''re creating a life for yourself, a family where love will be the foundation. You''re breaking free from the chains that bound us both, and for that, I am grateful beyond words." "Maybe, just maybe, if I had been around, things could have been different for both of us. But life doesn''t deal its cards with fairness, and we each have our own battles to fight," he said. June pursed his lips and found himself getting carried away by his emotions. Haruki cast his head to the ground, feeling like June''s words hit too close to his heart. Meanwhile, Uno tilted his head to the side in confusion. ''Does he have that many lines?'' he thought. ''Or was he saying these from his heart?''


    "I am a criminal through and through, and I will continue to be a criminal," June concluded, pushing back his emotions.


    "Live the life I couldn''t. Build the family I never had the chance to. And if you find it in your heart, forgive me, not for my sake, but for yours. You''re free now, little brother, so go out there and live a life unburdened by the chains of our past." The room was silent for a couple of seconds, and Wonbin, who had fully immersed himself in their performance, also missed the timing to end the scene. "And scene," Minho said, taking his line The people inside seemed to snap out of their dazes after Minho''s utterance. Then, the silence was broken when Hana stood, pping proudly at her friend. June''s eyebrows raised in surprise as the apuse only became louder. He turned around and saw the others looking at him with admiring eyes. His members, on the other hand, looked like proud little dads. Jaeyong, however, covered his face while sobbing, causing June to shake his head. Robby, who hadn''t expected anything from June, was the most stunned. "Life''s really unfair," Robby muttered under his breath. Akira shook his head in disbelief. "This is getting ridiculous. He''s good at acting, too!"


    Casper smirked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against the chair. "I told you," he boasted. Seobin smiled and patted June''s back.


    "That was great," heplimented. "I think we should work together on a project soon." June softly shook his head. Again, the role he undertook just now didn''t really feel like acting. It just felt like he was speaking from the heart. Hana felt her heart race inside her chest as she watched Seobin and June freely converse.


    Her current leading man was in front, yet her gaze was only focused on the idol she trained with in the past.


    Seobin went back to his seat with a small smile, still feeling the thrill of their acting performance just now. Then, Minho cleared his throat, making the room turn silent. "June," he started off. "That monologue just now¡ªdid you create some of it?"

 Chapter 429 Big Big Potential

    <h4>Chapter 429 Big Big Potential</h4>


    June pursed his lips, feeling like he had been caught red-handed. Before he even knew it, he found himself lost in the role, and he started blurting out words that weren''t even part of the script. "Yes," June said. "I apologize. I didn''t mean to." "What the hell? He made the script right on the spot?" Chan asked. "We were in the presence of an acting monster, but we failed to acknowledge him," Eric chimed. "Nico, you should get his autograph before he bes a well-known actor," Sunwoo teased. "Shut up. He''s just as good as I am," Nico boasted, causing his teammates to shake their heads. "Don''t apologize," Seobin chuckled. "I enjoyed what you did. I, myself, admit that I got immersed in the performance." "Yeah," Minho smiled. "I didn''t know June was a good actor. His cheese ballmercial had left a mark inside my mind." The room burst into soft chuckles while Hana shook her head in amusement. "Have you acted before?" Seobin asked. June nced at Hana before replying. "Not to this extent," he said. "Impressive," Seobin smiled, making June smile too. "It definitely wasn''t perfect. However, for someone with no proper acting background, you did really well. The improvisation of the lines was a good touch, too." "Thank you," June slightly bowed. "Hana," Minho called. "Do you have anything to say?" Hana cleared her throat as she thought of the proper words to say. She had to stop herself from showering him withpliments because it would sound suspicious. "I like you¡ªI mean, the performance. You did a really good job," Hana smiled, melting the hearts of the other participants. "She didn''t smile at me like that," Y silently whined. Meanwhile, the members of EVE who didn''t know Hana and June were acquainted nced at each other with raised eyebrows.


    "The way you delivered the lines was far from the original. It was much softer, I guess?" Hana chuckled. "But it was surprisingly pleasant. I didn''t think it could be interpreted in such a way. It almost seems like you were speaking to a little sister than a little brother." June looked down at the ground and subtly shook his head. It was almost scary how Hana urately interpreted his performance. "Thank you, judges," June bowed for thest time before going back to his seat. He was greeted with proud smiles from his teammates, patting him on the back for a job well done. "June''s good at everything," Casper said, a small smile ying on his lips. Akira pursed his lips before sighing. "You know, I''ll automatically think you''re good at everything now." "I think that''s his default setting," Sehun remarked. June shook his head before focusing his gaze on the ground. Honestly, his acting skills were insufficient. However, since he was ying a familiar role, that gave him quite an edge. If he had yed the other scenarios, then Robby would have a hundred percent won. "The judges are done deliberating," Wonbin said, making everyone focus on their table. Minho and Seobin nodded at Hana, silently gesturing for her to announce the winner of the pre-mission. "Let me start off by saying that all of you did a good job. The fact that you undertook this mission while being an active idol is already a great feat. I know I wouldn''t be able to sing and dance as well as you acted just now," she smiled. June smirked. She definitely could. The two of them trained as idols back then for a reason. "I wish I could give all of you an award for participating in this mission, but unfortunately, there could only be one winner. It wasn''t an easy decision, but the three of us agreed that this person has the most potential in acting," she said, lifting her head to meet Robby''s eyes. For a moment, June thought he had lost. Technically speaking, Robby definitely did a better job. He had fewer stumbles, and his line projection was overall better. "EVE," Hana said, shifting her gaze to their team at the veryst minute. "Congrattions! You are given the power to decide the next mission''s sequence and hear the chord progression two days before every other participant!" she eximed. The members of EVE wasted no time in hugging June, giving him light and heavy squeezes.


    June was overwhelmed with their cheers and affection, but he couldn''t help but smile with the thought of winning the pre-mission. The other participants amicably pped for their team. Even Robby pped for a few seconds before dejectedly slumping in his seat.


    "Well, this concludes the very first pre-mission of King of Kings!" Wonbin eximed, making his way back to the center. "This pre-mission episode will be aired tomorrow as a special gift to the fans, so make sure to tune in." "EVE, our production team will be sending you the chord progression tomorrow evening, while the others will get it two days after. In the meantime, please start thinking of concepts for your performance," he instructed. With that, the cameras stopped rolling, and the special judges stood from their seats. The participants, however, were rooted in their seats, their gazes focused on one particr woman. Sheughed with her co-actors, and she looked unreal before their very eyes. Jisung and Akira brought out the napkins they got from the bathroom, along with a pen. "Let''s get their autographs," Akira said, determined. Gideon, also a huge fan of their show, shook his hands in nervousness. "Do you think I can ask for a picture?" he asked his members. Haruki chuckled in amusement. "Go ahead. She seems very kind." "I want to talk to her," Nico said, wanting to make the first move. Jordan raised one of his eyebrows in surprise. "What about Mimi?" Nico nced at him with a nonchnt expression. "What about her?" he coldly asked. "Dang," Sunwoo chuckled. "I thought you were loyal to her or something." Nico sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "Well, all she''s been talking about is June whenever we meet up, so I don''t want to talk about her anymore." Meanwhile, Y grasped his phone tightly in his hand as he continued staring at Hana. "I''m going to get her number," he said as if encouraging himself. "Go ahead," Chan said. "It''s time for you to get a girlfriend." As these people hesitated to approach her, Hana started walking near them, causing their eyes to widen in surprise. Zeth squeaked as he stared at the beautiful woman before him. "Is it just me, or is she walking toward my way?" he asked. "I mean, I knew I was handsome, but Haruki is more¡ª" His words were cut off when Hana walked past him and went to thest row, where June was seated. Hana smiled as she brought something out from her bag. "Here," she said, handing June a small gift.

 Chapter 430 You Betrayed Me

    <h4>Chapter 430 You Betrayed Me</h4>


    The others halted their movements as soon as Hana spoke to June. June felt their gazes on the two of them, but he decided to ignore them. The cameramen were already out of the room anyway, so there was no use keeping their friendship in the shadows.


    "You should have told me you wereing," June said as he took the small paper bag. "What would you have done?" Hana chuckled. "Would you have prepared an entourage or something?" "Only if you wanted to," June teased.


    June smiled in amusement as he opened the paper bag and brought out the bright red pack inside. "Really?" he asked, chuckling as he looked up at her. Hana fondly smiled at him, making the others even more stunned. Why was she looking at him that way? "What?" Hana chuckled along with him. "You like those, right?" June opened the package and popped one gummy in his mouth. "I can''t believe you got me BenBen gummies," June said. "It''s been a while since I''ve had them." "Well, do you still like it?" Hana asked in a hopeful voice. "Yeah," June said, popping another one in his mouth. "I almost forgot how good these were." "I''m d you like them," Hana meaningfully said. She was about to say something more when Seobin called her name. "Hana! Your manager''s looking for you already," he called. Hana nced back and bit her lips in disappointment before turning back to June. "I have to go now," she pursed her lips.


    June hummed and nodded. "See you around." "Yeah," she softly said, sounding a bit disappointed. The both of them knew it would be hard to see each other around. In a way, Hana wanted to continue their conversation and spend more time with each other. However, their schedules didn''t really allow it. Hana waved at June, and thetter reciprocated it with a small smile. She left the room along with the other actors, chattering among themselves. Meanwhile, the participants, especially those who wanted to get closer to Hana, were baffled. Y stood from his seat and went to June, holding him by the cor. June raised his eyebrows in surprise and took a step back, holding onto Y''s wrist. "Calm down," June chuckled, already aware of why the older idol was doing this. "You know her?" Y asked in an exasperated tone. "Yeah," June said. "She''s a good friend." "A friend?" Nico eximed, joining in on themotion. "That''s not how friends act with each other! Have you seen the way she looks at you?" June nkly stared at him. "What look?" he innocently asked. Nico pursed his lips and leaned against Sunwoo''s shoulder, alreadymenting. "I can''t believe I lost another woman to June," he muttered in a defeated voice.


    "What the heck?" Ren asked. "Since when have you known her?" "We trained together," June honestly said. "She was in Phoenix when we were younger." "How the hell don''t I know this?" Zeth asked, still in disbelief. "Oh, she probably doesn''t want the media to pry further," June responded.


    Gideon turned to Haruki, the member who had trained the longest in their team. "She trained in Phoenix?" he whispered. "Howe I''ve never seen her?" The other members also turned to Haruki, appearing curious.


    Haruki sighed. "It was before you guys joined thepany," he answered. "Oh," Gideon said. "So, did you train with her?" They waited for their leader to answer, but Haruki merely pursed his lips together and didn''t respond. "What did she give you?" Y asked, still in despair. "Oh, just some gummies," June nonchntly answered. "Just some gummies?" Chan eximed. "You really don''t know how lucky you are." "Yeah," Y chimed. "Give me those gummies if you don''t think they''re special!" Y was about to snatch the paper bag from June''s hand, but he quickly moved it away.


    "No can do," June shook his head. "I missed these gummies." Y shook his head in disappointment. "Do you have her number then?" "Naturally," June responded, making the others even more jealous than they actually were. Zeth turned to Akira, Jisung, and Jaeyong with raised eyebrows, confused by their calm demeanors. "Why aren''t you shocked about this?" he asked. "I told you already," Akira chuckled. "We''ve met her before because of June. She was so kind, and she gave June some gifts then, too."


    Ren looked at them with wide eyes, feeling stupid for not believing Akira''s words. Akira smugly smirked and nudged his shoulder. "I''m not a chronic liar like you think I am," he smiled. Ren merely shook his head and massaged his aching temples. Seven watched them bicker with a wide smile. "I can''t believe June and THE Hana Lim actually know each other," he said. "It''s abo I''ve never expected." "Yeah," Dos agreed. "It seems like they''re pretty close, too." "Oh, that''s already obvious," Seven said. "I don''t think Hana Lim will give anyone a gift if she''s not close with them, and have you seen the way she talked to him? It''s like she''s in love or something. June is truly on another level," he sighed. "Let''s go," Uno coldly said, standing from his seat. Seven frowned at Uno''s tone. "Are you alright, bro?" he asked.


    Uno sighed and nced at June before shaking his head. "Do you think she really likes him?" he muttered, but it was barely audible. "Huh?" Seven asked, leaning closer to him. Uno clicked his tongue. "Let''s just go." The members of OCTA were still confused, but they followed their leader nheless.


    CHAOS, MORPH3D, and Robby followed not long after. BOYMYSTIC still had to drag Nico away from June, so it took longer for them to leave. Meanwhile, SPADES couldn''t convince their leader to go since Y clung to June like a Ko. "Come on," Y urged. "Give me her number. I''ll be very respectful." June shook his head in amusement. "And I told you already¡ªno. I can''t just give out her number without her permission." Y narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Do you like her or something? I''d back off if you do." June was perplexed. "Of course, I like her!" The people inside the room were baffled. "I knew it," Akira said. "June is a big boy already." Jisung pursed his lips in disappointment. "As long as it''s Hana Lim, I''ll be okay."


    "Damn, Y just lost to a rookie," Hanbin remarked.


    Casper, on the other hand, became wide-eyed in his seat. Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "It''s alright to deal with feelings and stuff, but just know that we have a dating ban," he advised. June''s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at all of them. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked, confused. "You just confessed your feelings for Hana Lim," Jaeyong pointed out. "It''s a good thing there are no cameras around here. Otherwise, you would have been in big trouble." "Why would I be in trouble? It''s not like I like her like that," June said. "Huh?" The others were now equally confused. "But it just came out of your mouth that you like her," Zeth said. "Yeah, like a sister," June smiled. "I like her like a sister."

 Chapter 431 Emo Bubbles

    <h4>Chapter 431 Emo Bubbles</h4>


    [Current Status: - Vocals: SS


    - Dance: S-


    - Visual: S-


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: A+


    - Acting: B-] Since Junepleted his past mission through acting, he decided to upgrade his acting skill, too. "Have they sent it yet?" Ren asked, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    Jaeyong refreshed their group email and nodded. "Yup, it''s in," he smiled. The special episode of King of Kings was currently airing on the SBC channel. However, the members of EVE had something more important to do. Akira smiled widely as he sat on the floor next to June. "I can''t believe we''re hearing this in advance because of June." "Well, he nailed the acting challenge," Zeth remarked. "I wish we could watch the episode, but I''m more curious about the chord progression." "We can just watch a recorded copy on Navel or something," June said, preparing himself to listen to the chord progression. It had been a while since he utilized his music production skills, and with Azure keeping them in the dark for their new album, June wasn''t sure if he''d be able to utilize them soon. However, with this opportunity presented to them, he can finally bust out his skills andbine them with Ren''s. "I''m going to y it," Jaeyong said. The others nodded, waiting for the melody to y. They didn''t know what they were expecting, but it definitely wasn''t this. They were taken aback by the intensity of the sound as soon as it was yed. You know those songs that suddenlye onto your ylist when it''s on shuffle and startle the heck out of you? It was that type of sound. The instruments included were piano, guitar, and simple percussion. It felt a bit familiar, but June couldn''t quite pinpoint where he had heard it from. Fortunately, it was pretty good and had the others jiving until the end.


    However, they were engulfed in silence not long after. There was a collective thought in their minds, and they were afraid to say it out loud. "This is too hard to revise," Ren said, addressing the elephant in the room. Jaeyong pursed his lips and nodded. "It''s already tooplicated," he added. "The most we can do with this is liven it up with more percussion instruments." "SBC really made it difficult for us to change it," Akira said, plopping on the floor. "How could we turn that into a different song? It''s almostplete." June nodded in agreement. "I feel like adding more percussion is going to be amon thought among the participants."


    "Well, the theme is ''idol.'' It''s supposed to be lively and exciting," Sehun said, making June halt. "But, what if it doesn''t have to be?" June suddenly asked, making his members stop and think, too. "What are you thinking about?" Akira hesitatingly asked. Jisung excitedly pped as he observed June''s enlightened face. "I think emo June is back!" ***


    A director in herte-20s was stuck in her officete at night, scrolling through the stack of applicants who wanted to apply for her new short drama. "I''m more handsome than this guy." "He gives me creepy vibes." "The main actress is taller than him." "Didn''t this guy audition already but failed?" "What the heck is up with this guy''s hair?" The director let go of the stack of papers in frustration, causing it to scatter all around the table. Just then, the door opened, revealing her meek assistant, who had been searching for new male lead prospects ever since they lost thest one. "C¡ªcoffee, Director Nana?" he asked. "Make that three, Bubbles!" she eximed, already feeling tired. Bubbles, whose real name was Bob Lee, pursed his lips when he heard his dreaded nickname. "Have you found a suitable person for the lead role from this list of applicants?" Bubbles asked, trying to shake the nickname away. "No," Nana said, gulping down the hot coffee like it was cold water. Her assistant looked at her, concerned, but he didn''t dare say anything. Director Nana was definitely a beast to face when she was frustrated. "Why did that guy have to get the Herpes virus in the middle of filming? He was damn handsome, too," she muttered. "And he was also the one whom Arin liked the most!" she said, pertaining to the main actress of the web drama. "Some sponsors have already pulled out because of the dys in filming while some sponsors are urging us to find a new male lead. I don''t know what to do anymore," she said in an exasperated tone.


    "Do you want me to recruit more auditionees?" Bubbles asked. "I heard some idols want to venture into the acting industry to boost their poprity." "Idols?" Nana asked, perking up in her seat. She didn''t have a lot of good experiences with idols from her past projects. Most of them only knew how to act pretty and were afraid to act out emotions that would ruin their ''perfect'' persona. In the end, she strayed away from casting idols in her dramas.


    "Well, if we have no other choice," she grumbled. "Great!" the assistant chimed. "I''ll get that ready for you tomorrow." "Yeah," Nana sighed. "You should go ahead and rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." "We sure do," the assistant sighed, bowing his head before leaving the room. Meanwhile, Nana drank another cup of hot coffee and sighed in frustration. "Let''s watch something first," she muttered, turning on the television. She usually didn''t watch television during this time, so she wasn''t familiar with the shows airing. As she opened the television, the SBC channel was the first one to pop out. They were known for their romance dramas that became popr overseas, so Nana expected one of those shows to be airing. However, much to her surprise, a group of good-looking guys were shown in a small room with popr actors. "Hana Lim?" she muttered. Nana tried casting her for this very project, but the actress was too busy, so she declined. What was she doing in a show like this, though?


    Then, she looked to the bottom right corner of the screen, where the logo of the show was shown. "King of Kings?" she said, tilting her head to the side in confusion. She had never heard of it! She didn''t even know SBC was putting out shows like this. However, she saw a familiar group in the middle. "Ah, CHAOS," she smiled. "It''s an idol show, huh?" "Oh, there''s SPADES, too," she said, noticing the idol group of her generation. Nana wasn''t interested in shows like this, but since it appeared like they were doing some sort of acting challenge, she felt like she had to stay. She didn''t regret it one bit, either. The editing was cracked, and their horrible acting brought joy to her very frustrating life. Robby, a soloist she had seen from time to time, was the best among all who had acted yet. However, Nana wasn''t fully intrigued. Robby didn''t have the face she was looking for. Just then, an ethereal being with blonde hair emerged on the screen, taking Nana by surprise. Again, he was familiar, but she had never purposely searched him before. "A face like this is a cheat card," she muttered, shaking her head. Nana could already predict the disaster that was going to happen. Faces like those tend to be robotic when it came to acting. A lot of handsome idol actors became testaments to that. She picked up her third coffee and brought it to her lips, taking arge gulp. However, as he started acting, the coffee spluttered from her lips, and she watched the scene with wide eyes. She was stuck in the same position all throughout the scene, finding herself enamored by his acting. As soon as it was over, she snapped back to reality. "Bubbles!"

 Chapter 432 King of King’s Special Episode

    <h4>Chapter 432 King of King''s Special Episode</h4>


    Mimi wasn''t expecting a special episode of King of Kings to air tonight. Fortunately, her concert had ended two days ago, and she was now free to do whatever she wanted. So, with a bowl of pink cheese balls in one hand and a bowl of BenBen gummies in the other, she opened the television and went straight to the SBC channel. Her phone went off, and she saw a new text message pop up. Nico: You have poor taste in men. Mimi shook her head and decided to ignore the stupid boy who had been pestering her since yesterday. She thought her tant rejection would finally get him to stop, but he started messaging her out of nowhere once again! Nheless, Mimi didn''t want to think about Nico anymore. All she wanted to think about was the beautiful blonde boy on her screen. - I rewatched Rising Stars yesterday and was baffled by how good-looking June is right now. I need some glow-up tips. - He has been very handsome since then, though. He just looked very young and amateurish. - June looks scrumptious now. - June looks like my ex-boyfriend! - Keep dreaming, girlie. Wonbin was talking about some kind of pre-mission, but again, Mimi was only focused on June. She only snapped back to reality when the boys started moving to a different room. Then, they revealed the special guests of the night, making Mimi''s eyes go wide. "Hana Lim and Kim Seobin?" she eximed, in disbelief that SBC was able to cast the very busy actors on their show. - Hana Lim is so pretty! - Ack, my heart. I can''t believe they came here. Love in the Time of Royalty is my favorite show ever! - The idols are baffled. I mean, I would be, too, if I was in the presence of THE Hana Lim. There were glimpses of Hana Lim here and there, and Mimi couldn''t help but sigh. "She''s so pretty," she muttered. Then, she nced to the side where arge mirror was perched. She was startled for a moment when she saw her messy appearance. However, she quickly gave herself a pat on the back. "I''m pretty, too!" she eximed confidently. "There''s no need to feel jealous." The next scene, however, quickly made Mimi swallow her words. A small smile emerged from Hana Lim''s lips, and she gave a small thumbs-up to one of the idols. Upon closer inspection, Mimi realized that June was the one smiling back at her.


    It wasn''t the main focus of the frame. However, Mimi, with her bionic eyes, was able to see what the two were doing on the side of the screen. She wasn''t the only person who noticed this. Jia stood from her seat and pointed at the television with wide eyes, looking at her friends like a deer caught in headlights. "What?" Bora asked, confused. "You guys saw that, right? Tell me you saw it!" she eximed. "Saw what?" Soomin asked. "That the boys were fangirling over Hana Lim? I would too, to be honest." "Not that!" Jia said. "June and Hana Lim just flirted with each other." Her friends looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Nah, you''re going crazy," Bora said. "June didn''t even open his mouth to speak yet."


    Jiaughed mindlessly, her eyes staring off into the distance. "I''m not going crazy, aren''t I?" "You''ve been crazy ever since June came into your life; now sit down," Bora said, pulling her down by the sleeve.


    Thankfully, Mimi''s and Jia''s delusions (or not) were briefly forgotten when the idols started the challenge. The people watching couldn''t help butugh at their poor attempts at acting. - Poor Nico. He looked so bad with Hana Lim. - Gideon, please stick to being an idol! - Ryan''s actually pretty good! Seobin still ate him up, though.


    - I can''t. This is so funny! Y''s face when Minho stepped up to act with him was hrious. - Robby''s got this one in the bag. The dude can act!


    Now, it was finally June''s turn, and a lot of people, even non-fans, were anticipating his acting performance. EVE''s cheese ballmercial was very popr with the general public, so June was quicklybeled as a ''bad actor'' by the vast majority.


    Mimi was happy that June was chosen to act, but at the same time, she felt nervous for him. She knew she''d find him cute regardless, but she also wanted him to nail the challenge. Mimi stayed silent, even cing her bowl of cheese balls to the side as she watched June get into character. "Ten years," June started off. "Ten years of solitude. Ten years of missed opportunities. Ten years of dreams slipping away like sand through my fingers." Mimi''s posture quickly straightened, and she leaned her elbows against her thighs to get a better look at June''s acting. - What the heck? He isn''t bad. - Are we seeing the same guy who said ''I love balls'' in a cheese ballmercial? - This is why you bitches shouldn''t be doubting June! He proves you wrong every single time. - I''m still going to doubt him for the plot, but you''re right.


    "I am a criminal through and through, and I will continue to be a criminal," June concluded. "Live the life I couldn''t. Build the family I never had the chance to. And if you find it in your heart, forgive me, not for my sake, but for yours. You''re free now, little brother, so go out there and live a life unburdened by the chains of our past." - He''s eating this up! Was he good at acting all along? - June has always been the member who immersed himself the most in performances. It''s not much of a surprise that he''s a good actor. - Gosh, there''s another reason to love him. - June, I told my mom about us. - June is happy while reading yourments! He''s right beside me, and he wants to ry his thanks to everyone. Mimi leaned back against her couch, taken aback. June had debuted in less than a year, but he has already shown so many talents in that short span. It was the very reason why Mimi became drawn to him. However, this was much more than she had expected.


    "Just how many talents do you have?" she muttered. Her thoughts were quickly snapped back to reality when Hana Lim startedplimenting June, making thement section go crazy. - Ayo, are we seeing how she''s looking at my guy? - Why do they look good together? - June''s mine! Back off, Hana Lim! Mimi''s eyes widened as Hana continued to stare at June like he had saved the world in his previous life. She pursed her lips and shook her head in disbelief. Meanwhile, Jia continued pointing at the screen while Hana gave out herments to June. "Do you guys believe me now? She definitely likes him!" Jia eximed. Bora shrugged. "What made you think so?" Jia let out a deep breath. "She looks at him the same way I do!"

 Chapter 433 Cast Away!

    <h4>Chapter 433 Cast Away!</h4>


    In a small and cozy home in the middle of a gated vige¡­


    "Honey, please bring the soup to the table!" an old woman shouted from the kitchen. The young girl, with her gaze focused on the television screen, shouted back, "Just a second, Grandma! I''m waiting for themercials to hit." She gazed at the television with sparkling eyes, observing the handsome faces on the screen. She felt her heart race inside her chest as she dreamed what it would be like to live her life under the spotlight. The old woman made her way out of the kitchen and smiled fondly at the young girl sitting on the floor. When a particr idol was shown on screen, she sighed and quickly stood. "Alright, let''s eat now," she said, turning around to greet her grandma with a wide smile. "I thought you wanted to wait for themercials?" the old woman asked. The young girl shrugged, ncing back at the television for a couple of seconds. A frown formed on her forehead as she gazed into the idol''s uneasy eyes. "It''s alright," she said. "This part doesn''t really pique my interest. Besides, Grandpa is already hungry and waiting, I''m sure." The old woman shook her head, amused. "Let''s go then." ***


    Ren and June were currently working on the music score for their uing performance, and they nced at each other, satisfied as they listened to the rough draft. It was a good thing Azure was toozy to meddle with their performance for King of Kings; otherwise, June was sure they were going to dictate what they wanted for this particr performance. "You''re a genius for suggesting we go down this route," Renplimented. "It already sounds so different from the original chord progression." Jaeyong, who had been with them since morning to write the lyrics of the song, nodded in agreement. "It''s something others wouldn''t expect to be a performance that defines what an idol is," he chimed. "Well, being an idol isn''t always exciting," Akira said, also helping with the lyric writing. While the four of them joined hands together to create the song, their other four members cooperated in making their choreography. Even if only a little time had passed since they had been a team, it was evident that their teamwork had drastically improved in those few months. "I think this is the very first time we''ve had a smooth preparation for a performance," Ren pointed out, causing the others to frown at him. "Don''t say that," Jaeyong said. "You might jinx it or something." Ren chuckled and shook his head. "I''m not saying it''s a bad thing! I''m just saying¡ªthis has been quite a happy preparation." "And it will stay that way," June said, already locking in his words. Just then, the four other members of the team entered the room with worried expressions. "What happened?" Jaeyong asked with furrowed eyebrows. Zeth scratched the back of his head, appearing hesitant to say his next words. "Oh gosh," Ren whispered. "Maybe I really did speak too soon." Akira pped the back of Ren''s head. "If something happens, then it''s all your fault." "Is there something wrong?" June asked. "We don''t know," Zeth sighed. "But Jay came up to us with a worried expression. He says the CEO is looking for you." "Looking for me?" June asked, perplexed. "Did you do something wrong?" Akira eximed. "Oh goodness. Did they find out we broke into Chul''s home back then?" Jisung froze, appearing pale. "Am I going to have a criminal record?"


    Jaeyong sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Alright, let''s not get into conclusions. It''s best if June goes there right now and finds out what''s really happening." June nodded, although feeling a bit uneasy. "I''m going then," he said, standing from his seat and leaving his anxious members. As far as he recalled, he hadn''t done anything wrong for the past few weeks. Thest scruffle he encountered was when he was shot by Kim Jeong. Other than that, he has been pretty clear.


    He arrived at the Mr. Ong''s office and knocked on his door. "Come in," he heard, so he made his way inside. There, he saw Jay sitting next to Mr. Ong with an anxious expression, making June feel even more uneasy. "I''m d you''re here," Mr. Ong smiled, rolling his chair around the room until he got to where June was seated. "How''s the preparation for King of Kings going? I heard you guys are second ce," he said. June pursed his lips and nodded. "It''s going great. We''re currently preparing for the third mission." "Well, that''s good," Mr. Ong chimed. "I do hope you try and take the crown, though. That would make ourpany a whole lot bigger than it is!" he eximed. "But then again, CHAOS is pretty hard to topple over. Those Phoenix bastards must be putting cocaine in their albums," he muttered thest statement under his breath. June cleared his throat. "Why did you call for me, sir?" he asked, going straight to the point.


    "Ah, right," Mr. Ong pped. "You want to get straight into business, huh?" "Well, it''s not much. You don''t have to be nervous," he smiled. "I even told Jay, right here, to calm down, but look at him! He still looks anxious as ever," Mr. Ongughed, patting Jay''s back. However, June didn''t find it funny, so he kept a straight face. Mr. Ong noticed this and clicked his tongue, finally going into professional mode. "I know that you have been working hard for the past few months that you''ve been signed with Azure. Your hands are also full with King of Kings and with the uing preparation of your second album," Mr. Ong started off. "However, here at Azure, we believe that our artists'' talents need to be exploited¡ªI mean, taken care of! Which is why I have epted this project for you." "Project?" June asked, confused. "Congrattions, June!" Mr. Ong eximed. "You have been chosen by a rising director to be a part of her new short drama!"

 Chapter 434 Hate To Love You

    <h4>Chapter 434 Hate To Love You</h4>


    "June''s really a big boy now," Akira fake-sobbed, leaning against Ren. Ren clicked his tongue and pushed him away. June fixed his cor and faced his members. They all seemed to be looking forward to this role more than June, and Casper even bought him an expensive polo shirt for his very first meeting with the crew. "Light pink reallypliments you well," Casper said, feeling proud of his choice. "How much did you buy that for?" Zeth whispered. Casper merely smiled and didn''t respond. He definitely spent more than he had expected, but June deserved it. "You guys are making a big deal out of this," June said, amused. "It is a big deal," Jisung eximed. "You have been recruited by Director Nana! She''s a popr webtoonist who became a director. Now, she''s know for her live-action webtoon adaptations!" "I still don''t know who she is," June said. "Do you even watch romance dramas?" June didn''t respond, which confirmed their suspicions. "He doesn''t have a romantic bone in his body," Akira chuckled. "That''s why he can''t see that Hana Lim is interested in him," he whispered thetter part to Jisung. "Well, do you know who you''re going to act with?" Sehun asked. June shook his head. "I''m honestly in the shadows. They only sent me the script, but all the other details are only known by Mr. Ong."


    "What webtoon is it?" Akira excitedly asked. "Hate To Love You," June responded, making the others surprised. "What the heck? Why didn''t you tell us earlier?" Akira eximed.


    "I fucking love that webtoon," Jisung cursed, causing Ren''s eyes to widen. He looked at their youngest member with a reprimanding stare.


    "Who taught you that?" Ren asked. Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "I''ve been cursing since high school, though." Ren''s eyes widened, and he ced his hand over his heart before leaning against Zeth. "Reprimand your child!" he said to Zeth, pointing toward Jisung''s direction.


    Zeth chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Have you read the script yet?" Sehun asked. "A little bit," June answered, cing his essentials inside his pockets. "Ren and I were busy finalizing our song, so I didn''t get to study it as much." Jaeyong stood next to June and ced an arm around his shoulder. "Leave it all to us, bro. You''ve already done a lot for the performance," he said. June turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "Are you sure?" June asked. "Of course," Jaeyong responded. "We''re also quite good at preparing performances, you know?" "Yeah," Akira nodded. "We''ve relied on you plenty of times already, so you can rely on us for now. Besides, Ren could honestly do it all alone," he teased. Ren clicked his tongue but nodded nheless. "Yeah, I''ll finalize it," Ren said. "Go ahead and focus on this project." June smiled. "Thanks, guys. I honestly wouldn''t have taken up the project, but Mr. Ong already agreed to it." "You deserve it, though," Casper said. "Besides, wouldn''t it be fun to learn a new skill?" June pursed his lips. "I guess." The door opened, revealing Jay in another obnoxious suit. "You ready?" he asked. "Yeah," June said, ncing at himself in the mirror once more before heading to the door. "Let''s go then," Jay said, opening the door for June like a good butler. The two of them entered the car and engaged in a casual conversation. "Can you believe this? You''re going to star in a drama!" "It''s a short drama," June responded. "Who cares? It''s still a drama! Have you gone over your script?" he asked. June sighed before nodding. "It''s...different than what I expected." "What do you mean?" Jay asked. "It''s a romance," June said. "Yeah! Exciting, right? You even have a kissing scene!" "What?" June eximed. "A kissing scene? Where the hell did you read that from?" he asked, flipping through the pages of his script. "Oops," Jay chuckled nervously. "There was a kissing scene in the webtoon. I don''t know if it''s part of the script, but I''m hoping it is." June frowned in confusion. "Why are you even hoping for that?" Jay pursed his lips and kept the weird thoughts inside his mind. "No particr reason," he muttered. "Oh, by the way," Jay said, quickly changing the subject. "You''re joining the production quitete, you know?" "No, I don''t know that, in fact," June said. "You guys didn''t brief me about it." "Sorry," Jay apologized. "The preparations were honestly very rushed. Apparently, they had already started filming with the original male lead, but he got some type of virus? So, they scrapped out all of the scenes he was included in and decided to start anew." "They''ve been looking for a new male lead for weeks, but they couldn''t find a suitable one. Fortunately, the director stumbled upon King of Kings during the acting pre-mission and decided you were the one."


    "That''s surprising," June said. "They hired me for a romance drama when I acted like a broken criminal?" Jay shrugged. "They also said, and I quote, he has a face that could move mountains." June couldn''t help but chuckle. "We''re here," Jay said, parking the car in the open lot. June opened the door and gazed at the building before him¡ªa school. It was still snowing, so the cherry blossom trees were sparse. However, it didn''t take away from the beauty of the ce. The school appeared like something out of a dream, and June wondered what it would be like to actually study in the institution. However, his thoughts were cut off when he heard a shrill scream behind him. Then, he felt a warm, wet substance on his chest, causing his eyes to go wide.


    "June!" Jay eximed. June looked down at himself and saw the new shirt that Casper had bought for him covered in water. Thank goodness, it was just water. June could already imagine Casper sulking like a cat if the shirt got ruined.


    The girl in front of him, wearing an all-white outfit with matching pink bows in her hair, looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows. June raised his eyebrows in surprise. Why was she ring at him like June was the one at fault?


    "Watch where you''re going," she snapped, turning around and not even apologizing for what she had done. "What the heck is her problem?" Jay eximed, wiping June''s shirt with his handkerchief. "Do you want me to pour water on her too?" June smirked before shaking his head. "Nah, it''s alright. Let''s just go inside."

 Chapter 435 Unbearable Co-Star

    <h4>Chapter 435 Unbearable Co-Star</h4>


    June arrived at the set and was instantly overwhelmed by the number of people who flocked to him.


    "Do you need water?" "You''re more handsome up close." "Thank you so much for saving this drama." "Your skin is poreless." "Alright, break it up, people. Don''t smother our savior. I still need to brief him about what needs to be done," Director Nana said, parting the people like the Red Sea. The others sighed in disappointment as they left Director Nana with the handsome idol. "Good day," Director Nana eximed, a wide smile on her face. June also smiled, bowing his head in respect. "Good day, director. Thank you for granting me this opportunity," June said. "Oh, I should be the one thanking you! You literally saved this production," she eximed. "I think it''s too early to say that," June chuckled. "Just seeing your face is already a great blessing for the set," Nana said. "Right, Bubbles?" she nudged the guy beside her, who nervously nodded. "Bubbles?" June asked, unsure if he had heard his name right. "Umm, Bob Lee," the guy introduced himself. "Otherwise known as Bubbles," Nana chimed. "He''s my assistant, and he will be the onemunicating with you most of the time. We know you''re very busy as an idol, so we''ll try to work around your schedule." "Thank you," June said. Meanwhile, inside the make-up booth, a beautiful young woman was getting her make-up retouched. She clicked her tongue as she heard themotion outside. It seemed like her new co-star has finally arrived.


    "I still don''t understand why we can''t just use the original clips we''ve filmed," she told her make-up artist. "Well, we can''t really wait for the past lead actor to recover from his Herpes sores, can''t we?" the make-up artist chuckled. "But we had really good chemistry!" she eximed. "And he was really handsome, too. Besides, the footage we''ve filmed will all go to waste if that happens." "Have you seen your new leading man? He''s even more handsome! I''m sure he''s also your type, Arin," the make-up artist shyly said. "Watch him be a bad actor," Arin scoffed, already feeling prejudiced after she found out an idol would rece her past partner. "He was really good in that show, though," the make-up artist muttered. "Howe you know him already?" Arin asked. "Don''t you know him?" the make-up artist asked. "No," Arin sighed. "I heard his name. Chen Jun-hao? I''ve never heard of him before." "Well, of course, he''s not using that name anymore." Arin sighed and leaned back against her seat. "Ah, whatever. Let''s finish my make-up so we can continue filming. I have another auditionter." "Well, you''re a busy bee," the make-up artist chuckled. "Although, why did your make-up get ruined first thing in the morning? I thought you had it done in the salon already." "I did," Arin grumbled. "But I stumbled upon a stupid guy. I was slipping on ice, and I told him to move away, but he stayed there like an idiot! I bumped into him and ruined my make-up in the process. I even spilled my special lemon water because of him."


    "Looks like someone had a bad day," her make-up artist chimed. "Tell me about it," Arin muttered. "Let''s just hope we don''t see him again." ***


    "You?" Arin eximed as soon as she came face to face with her supposed leading man. Seeing him up close like this, Arin actually felt her heart flutter. However, she quickly swallowed those feelings and held her head up high. In her mind, the person who deserved the lead role was the original actor. Not this idol actor. It wasn''t his fault he contracted the Herpes virus! Arin has been acting in web dramas since she turned 18, and this was actually her first project that will make it onto the big screen. Granted, it wasn''t going to be aired in a huge station like other dramas. However, it has been the biggest opportunity for Arin yet. Everything went smoothly when she acted with her former actor, Kim Jongsuk, and she thought this show would be her big break. However, he happened to contract Herpes halfway through the filming and was inevitably kicked out of the drama. Now, she was stuck with an idol she didn''t even know! Idols were known to get into dramas because of their good looks andpany''s support, so Arin was quite prejudiced against them. And to add to that, he was the same person who annoyed her this morning!


    "The two of you will be acting alongside each other for the next few weeks," Director Nana said, standing between the two of them. June could feel the woman''s cold stare, but he decided to ignore her.


    "The filming had been dyed for a couple of days because of some unforeseen incidents, so we had to rush through some things. I have some faith in the two of you since you two are good actors," Nana said. "With that in mind, shall we start now?" she asked. June was started for a second, and he turned to Jay, who seemed as confused as him. "I think he''s unprepared," Arin said, already foreseeing the situation. "Oh," Director Nana said, pursing her lips together. June sighed and took a step forward. "I can do it," he said. "Great!" Nana pped, already excited to see the chemistry between the two. "Why don''t you get dressed?" she asked, pushing June to the dressing room.


    Jay quickly followed June inside, already panicking. "Gosh, do you know how to do this scene?" the manager ranted. "I can," June said. "I went over the first few pagesst night. I don''t have many lines in the first scenes, anyway. I''m a bad boy who speaks only when needed," he chuckled.


    Jay sighed in relief. "I know I can count on you...but that girl¡ªI didn''t expect her to be your partner. I heard from the other crew members that she was the most upset when the original actor left. She thought they were the perfect match," Jay said, already filled with information even from their short stay on the set. "Well, that exins it," June sighed. "She already seems to hate my guts when I didn''t even do anything wrong to her." "Maybe she''s attracted to you," Jay remarked. June stopped putting on his school uniform costume and looked at Jay with raised eyebrows. "Do people act like that when they''re attracted to someone?" June asked. "Oh," Jay chuckled, cing an arm around June''s shoulder. "Innocent, Innocent June. Have you never had a rtionship before?" "No time," June muttered, removing Jay''s arm from his shoulder.


    "Well, you''ll finally have your very first rtionship¡ªit''s fictional, but it''s probably better than my real ones," Jay dejectedly said, recalling his past experiences. "I''m done," June said, loosening his tie to add to that ''bad boy'' look. Jay stopped for a moment to look at June. "If I were a girl, I would have liked you¡ªa hundred percent. I mean, it also wouldn''t be hard to like you as a man." "Alright, that''s it," June said, shaking his head and going out of the dressing room without waiting for Jay.


    "There he is!" Director Nana eximed, making the others turn toward his way. June raked his hands through his hair, and the sun filtered through the curtains, making him glow. Arin pursed her lips as she gazed at him. Alright, maybe he was pretty attractive.

 Chapter 436 The Chemistry is Chemistrying

    <h4>Chapter 436 The Chemistry is Chemistrying</h4>


    The sun peeked through the long, white curtains, casting shadows across the prestigious New Heights Academy. The greatness of the school was only rivaled by the elite students who roamed its hallways.


    As the clock struck the golden hour, three figures emerged from the bottom of the staircase that led to the main entrance. A luminous white light embraced them, highlighting their handsome looks. At the side, there was Eli, a mysterious figure with a guitar case slung casually over his shoulder. His raven-ck hair fell over his equally dark eyes, and from one look, you could tell that he smelled like the night sea. On the other side, with an intellectual sophistication, was Maxwell. A book was tucked under his arm, the foreign letters on the leather cover gleaming in the fading sunlight. In the middle of the duo, undoubtedly exuding the most charisma, was Jin. His blonde hair was slightly tousled, and his light brown eyes glimmered under the sun, making it appear like golden honey that you just wanted to sip. One strap of his bag dangled carelessly from his shoulder, symbolizing his nonchnt and cool attitude.


    As the trio ascended the staircase, whispers swept through the crowd. The students of New Heights Academy couldn''t help but gawk and fawn at the three captivating figures making their way to the school''s bulletin board. A small smirk appeared on Jin''s face, making the girls on the side nearly faint in amazement. June internally shook his head at the ridiculousness of the scene. Were popr guys really treated like this in high school?


    Nheless, he actually enjoyed the attention. Maybe he has been hanging out with Zeth one too many times over the past week, or maybe he was reliving the high school experience he didn''t get to enjoy. They finally arrived at the bulletin board where the rankings of the recent exams were disyed for all to see. The students gathered around the board, eagerly searching for their names among the list of academic achievers, quickly parted once the trio arrived. As Jin scanned the list, a triumphant smirk curled at the corner of his lips. There it was¡ªhis name¡ªwritten at the very top. A soft voice interrupted his self-appreciation. "Why?" asked a pretty girl standing beside him. Naeyon, her soft brown hair tied up into a ponytail, showing off her smooth and thin neck, pursed her lips in disappointment. Then, Nayeon, noticing Jin''s presence, turned to him with a profound re. However, Jin merely smirked, even leaning closer to the prettydy. "Better luck next time," he said with a yful tone before leaving the bulletin board with his two friends. "...and cut!" Director Nana''s voice resonated in the hallway, making the actors snap back to their original personalities. June was still on the director''s screen, and she couldn''t help but exim as she observed his features. "We hit the jackpot with him, Bubbles! He''s like the real-life version of the main character in the manhwa," Nana said. Bob Lee, despite being displeased with his nickname again, nodded in agreement. June truly embodied the main character of ''Hate To Love You'' really well. Director Nana walked over to the two main actors, giving them both a pat on the back. "You guys did well for the first scene!" sheplimented. "I was worried about your chemistry for a moment, but I definitely don''t have anything to worry about! The two of you looked like you really hated each other''s guts just now." June smirked while Arin subtly rolled her eyes. Oh, they definitely didn''t have to act for that part.


    "Well, we don''t want to shock June with filming too many scenes, so we''ll continue this tomorrow. I''m just d we got your very first interaction. I can''t wait for the other scenes!" "Sure, can''t wait," Arin said through gritted teeth. "Well, off you go, then. You guys are free tomorrow morning, right? We''ll shoot the pool scene then," Nana said. June nodded. "I''ll only be avable in the afternoon since I have to practice with my members for our uing performance." Arin sighed deeply next to him. "Of course," she muttered. "That''s alright," Nana said. "We''ll film the other parts while you''re not around." "Thank you for understanding," June said. "No need," Nana said. "Just prepare yourself for tomorrow since we''ll be filming untilte at night." June nodded. "Got it." With that, the crowd finally dispersed. Arin quickly left June''s side, still looking displeased. June looked at her retreating figure and shook his head. "Let''s go. I''m hungry," Jay said, standing by his side. "Yeah. I''ll just change, and we''ll go." June went to the dressing room to quickly get changed to his original clothes before meeting Jay at the parking lot. "Let''s buy some food for the boys," June said, bringing out his wallet. "My treat." "Eyy, you''re finally getting that good paycheck, hm?" Jay teased while June merely shook his head. He was definitely earning better than he had anticipated, but it still wasn''t as much as most people expect. "What do you mean you won''t be able to get me?" a familiar voice eximed, not far from them.


    "But it''s snowing already. I can''t go to the bus stop at this point," Arin said, appearing frustrated. June continued observing Arin before their eyes finally met. Arin''s eyes immediately narrowed at June, causing him to shake his head.


    "Fine. Go and tend to your other artists. I''ll go by myself," Arin said, turning off the phone and walking away from June. June sighed as he watched her shivering figure. June knew the reason why they acted quite well together in the given scene was because their feelings for each other were genuine¡ªthey were both annoyed at each other. However, June also knew that those feelings wouldn''t be beneficial in the end once their characters finally fall in love with each other. With that, June swallowed his pride and opened the car door. "Come in." Arin looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "Are you crazy? Why the hell would I enter your car?" "Look," June sighed. "I don''t know what I did to you, but will you quit acting difficult for a second? It''s snowing pretty bad, so I suggest you go in." "And if I don''t?" she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. June shrugged. "Suit yourself." He entered the car and was about to shut it close when he heard her voice once again. "Wait," Arin softly said, feeling the snow getting heavier


    "Drop me off at Vista Apartment House."

 Chapter 437 Where It All Started Full

    437 Where It All Started


    "Right there," Arin muttered, still embarrassed for taking up June''s help.


    She was about to leave the car when June suddenly held onto her wrist. Arin''s eyes widened, and she felt her heart''s pace quicken. "What is wrong with you?" she eximed, quickly retracting her hand away.


    "You can''t go out here," June said. "There are people around. We''ll go inside the carpark." Arin pursed her lips, feeling a bit disappointed. "Ah, right. I almost forgot¡ªyou''re an idol," she muttered. Jay drove to the underground parking lot and surveyed the area before opening the door. "You can go now," June said. Arin rolled her eyes and muttered a small "thanks" before leaving the car. Jay shook his head, chuckling as the two of them drove away from the apartmentplex. "I still don''t know why she''s acting like that," June said. "I still believe she''s attracted to you," Jay responded in a sing-song voice. ***


    The two finally arrived at the dorm, where they saw the members of EVE having a small snack. "Our star is back!" Jisung eximed, and the others turned to June with wide smiles. June smiled softly as he gazed at the seven boys on the table. He didn''t know how it happened, but at one point, he started looking forward to seeing them. June didn''t have a lot of friends growing up¡ªor possibly, he didn''t have any friends at all. However, with these people he worked with, he finally realized what it was like to have friends. And although they were an annoying bunch, June felt endeared to his members.


    "We saved you some chicken," Akira chimed, causing June to sigh in disappointment. "When is this fried chicken phase going to end?" heined. Nheless, he still sat down with them to eat. Casper was next to June, munching on a chicken breast while observing everything around him. Casper wasn''t much of a talker, but he was an observer...and at that moment, he observed something interesting. Casper nced at June and saw what seemed to be a red stain on the polo shirt he bought for him. 21:56


    Casper squinted his eyes to take a better look at the stain, wondering if it was blood.


    Casper nced at June and saw what seemed to be a red stain on the polo shirt he bought for him. Casper squinted his eyes to take a better look at the stain, wondering if it was blood.


    However, upon closer inspection, he saw that it was lipstick! Casper''s eyes widened, and he slowly ced down the chicken breast on the table. "Casper, what''s wrong?" Akira asked, noticing the weird guy''s even weirder behavior. Casper shook his head and stood from the table, throwing June a re before leaving the table. The others were surprised. Casper practically praised the ground June walked on! How could he just re at him? "Did you guys do something to him?" June asked. Akira shook his head. "Nah, just let him be." ***


    June woke up early in the morning to learn the choreography that his members had prepared. Zeth had filmed it on his tablet so June could go over it in his free time. June mimicked their movements, finding it surprisingly easy to learn the choreography. He could still remember when it took him days to memorize a choreography. Now, he could learn a certain dance by practicing only a few times. "You''re awake already?" Jaeyong grumbled as he went out of his room, rubbing his eyes awake. "Yeah, have been for a while now," June said. "I was practicing the dance you guys did. It''s really good, by the way." Jaeyong proudly smiled. "Of course it is," he boasted, causing June to shake his head. "Well, let me wake the other boys up so we can go to the practice room," Jaeyong said, leaving for the other guys'' rooms. After a while, they finally made their way to the practice room so they could polish their performance as a whole team. Ren yed the instrumental of the song while June listened intently. He sat on the couch, his gaze on the ground, and he wanted to apud Ren for doing such a good job on their song. Thest version of the song sounded a bit empty, but with Ren''s magic touches, he added string instruments and more percussion, elevating the overall quality of the song. "How is it?" Ren asked, a bit nervous to hear June''s opinion. "It''s great," June smiled, giving him two thumbs-up. Ren sighed in relief, sprawling on the couch. "I was worried for a moment." "Why would you be? You''ve always been a great producer," June smiled. Ren smiled down at the ground, feeling ted by his teammate''spliment. "June," Jaeyong said, interrupting their conversation. "Hmm?" June asked, looking up at their leader. "We left your part nk," he said. "We finished writing the lyrics of the song, and the others helped with their parts, too. But we felt like you''re the only one who can write the bridge." "Yeah, I got it," June said. "Do you want to watch our performance first?" Zeth asked. "We wereing up with a storyline yesterday but couldn''t think of one." "Let''s see," June said, straightening his posture as his members assembled in their formation. The music started once again, with Zeth starting the song. Simr to their ''Prime'' performance, this performance was also rap-heavy. It seemed like a lot of people really enjoyed June''s rapping, so he decided to rap for this performance, too. Moreover, he wanted to save his vocal skills for their veryst performance. The performance started, and June quickly became captivated. The lyrics were well-written, and it resonated well with what an idol truly was¡ªnot on the surface level, but what it actually felt like to always be under the spotlight. The performance itself probably didn''t need a concept. Just them performing the song would be enough. However, they werepeting against a group that had a five million lead, which meant they had to take it to another level. June continued to watch their performance, his eyebrows furrowing as ideas came to his mind. Then, when it ended, it finally hit him. June stood and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I feel like this song symbolizes growth," June started off. "We start with the perspective of a trainee desiring to be an idol." Jaeyong nodded. "That was the aim that we had. We also didn''t know how to finish it off, so we decided to leave the bridge to you." June smiled. "That''s a genius idea! From being trainees to participating in Rising Stars and now in King of Kings, we have undoubtedly grown." "So, in order to show this growth, I feel like we should go back to our roots..." "To where it all started."

 Chapter 438 You Might Fall full

    438 You Might Fall


    "You ready?" June asked the woman beside him. Arin merely sighed before stretching her arms. "We have no choice, don''t we?" she muttered. June smirked. "You really don''t like me, huh?" Arin didn''t respond. "Make sure we get this in one take." Director Nana called for silence in the set before Bubbles prepared to te. "In 3...2...1...Action!" It was alreadyte in the afternoon, but June and Arin, in character as Jin and Nayeon, begrudgingly found themselves side by side in the elegant poolside. The blue water sparkled, oblivious to the tension that burned between them. Nayeon disdainfully clicked her tongue as she maneuvered through the pool, scooping up the debris. Her eyes narrowed as she observed June mimicking her movements.


    She sighed impatiently, breaking the silence. "I should have been home by now," Nayeon said. Jin smirked, momentarily stopping what he was doing. "Well, I''m not the one who escted the discussion about meteorites into my annoying existence now, aren''t I?" Jin scoffed. Nayeon shot him a withering nce, trash dripping from her. "Well, Jin, maybe if you weren''t everywhere, people could actually enjoy their space."


    Jin chuckled, leaning on his. "But admit it, you like having me around. Adds a bit of excitement to your dull routine."


    Nayeon scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Excitement? More like irritation. You''re like a persistent mosquito, buzzing in my ear."


    Jin grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And yet, you can''t resist the buzz."


    Nayeon paused, shooting him a sharp look. "Don''t get toofortable. I wouldn''t mind if you disappeared."


    Jin''s eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Really? You''d miss me."


    Nayeon''s eyes narrowed. "No, I mean, I genuinely want you to disappear," she said with sincerity. The others watched, enamored by their acting. It really did seem like they weren''t fond of each other (because they really aren''t), and Director Nana found herself imagining the awards this drama would receive. Arin really yed Nayeon''s part very well¡ªa spoiled princess who wanted nothing but to be loved by her parents. No matter how hard she tried, it was never enough. Despite having everything in the world, shecked the one thing she wanted the most¡ªher parents'' approval. And the very person in front of her was the reason why she couldn''t get to the top. "I really...really hate you," Nayeon muttered, looking at the sparkling water with profound hatred.


    Jin halted, his tone suddenly serious. "Do you really mean that, Nayeon?"


    Nayeon scoffed, tossing trash into a bag with more force than necessary. "Of course I do. You''re everywhere, and everyonepares me to you. I can never be as good as Jin, the golden boy with the best grades and charming smile, and you don''t even seem to care. You don''t study. You don''t mind what other people tell you. You¡ªyou are infuriating," she ranted, finally saying the words inside her heart. Jin watched her, his expression softening. "You do know that we''re different, right? And that''s okay."


    Nayeon''s frustration spilled out. "You don''t understand. My family expects me to be like you. I''m suffocating under their expectations, and I can''t stand being constantly reminded of how I''ll never measure up."


    The camera focused on June, and on the director''s screen, his cold yet empathetic eyes were disyed. Nana, her mouth agape, stared satisfyingly at the screen. She sensed the vulnerability beneath his arrogant gaze.


    "He''s so good," Bubbles muttered, immersed in their performance. At that certain moment, June thought of the time when he wouldpare himself to his ssmates who had their parents to take care of them. After the acting challenge, June realized what set good and bad acting apart. It was the authenticity of the feeling. June didn''t consider himself as a ''good'' actor just yet. Even though his stat was at a B-, his experience as an actor was very limited. Nheless, he had gone through a lot in his past and present life, so the best way he could channel those feelings was through rting them to his experiences. In the midst of her emotional outburst, Nayeon''s footing betrayed her on the slippery poolside. A gasp spilled from her lips as she teetered on the edge, close to falling into the water. However, just as she was about to fall down, Jin''s reflexes kicked in. He reached out and grasped onto Naeyon''s wrist. Nayeon found herself pulled to Jin''s chest, her heart racing inside her chest. This was the part where they had to look into each other''s eyes, but June wasn''t entirelyfortable with that. So, he nced at Arin''s lips and kept his gaze there (without any malicious intentions, of course). However, that action made Arin, not Nayeon, shy. "Be careful," Jin murmured, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You might fall."


    That was Arin''s tipping point.


    She broke away from June''s hold and took a step back, and before she couldprehend her actions, she had already pushed June backward into the pool. The ssh echoed through the air as June plummeted into the pool, his white polo shirt now clinging to his body. June''s eyebrows furrowed. That wasn''t part of the script!


    The other crew members, who also realized they were deviating from the script, turned to Director Nana, expecting her to shout for a ''cut.''


    However, Director Nana held up a hand, an approving smile ying on her lips. "No, keep rolling," she whispered. Arin watched from the side, wide-eyed after the unexpected blunder. She knew it wasn''t part of the script, but at that moment, she just couldn''t help herself. June emerged from the pool, water cascading down his soaked frame. The white polo, now transparent, clung to his toned physique. Months of training as an idol definitely toned his body even more. His disheveled blonde hair also clung to his forehead, making him appear sexier under the warm, golden sun. Arin couldn''t tear her eyes away, her heart racing even faster in her chest.


    He shot Arin a look of disbelief, water droplets sliding down his face. "What was that for?" he eximed. Arin, who had snapped out of the character she had ying, stammered, "I-I didn''t mean to... It was just... You were annoying, and I¡ª"


    June shook his head, already hating how the water felt cold against his skin. He raked his fingers through his hair as he walked away from the pool, leaving a stunned Arin behind. In the girl''s mind, June''s words echoed¡ª


    "You might fall." Nobody can escape June''s charms!


    SandKastle

 Chapter 439 Halo Halo

    <h4>Chapter 439 Halo Halo</h4>


    "Do you hate me less after nearly drowning me?" June asked, sitting next to Arin, who was currently getting her make-up retouched. "You''re being dramatic," Arin rolled her eyes. "You were fine." June shook his head. "Well, this is thest day you can act like you hate me, so try to make the most of it," he teased. "Why can''t I just hate you until the end?" Arin asked although she sounded a bit hesitant.


    After the pool scene where she had seen June''s body, she had felt warier of his presence. June stood from his seat, still with a teasing smile. He was already done with his make-up, so he decided to walk around while waiting for Arin. They were currently in a forest near the city where an overnight camp was set up. It was alreadyte at night, so the moon was high in the sky, casting a gentle glow on the makeshift campsite in the peaceful forest.


    Fairy lights were hung on the trees, illuminating the dark site. They had just finished filming the first part of the scene and were now waiting to film the most important part of the drama. The short drama was only four episodes long (much to the fans dismay), so Director Nana had a hard time choosing which scenes to adapt to the show. However, this particr scene they were going to film undoubtedly needed to be included in the show¡ªthat''s how important it was. As June walked through the forest, Fu appeared before him. [Side quest is open!] [First, I would like to congratte the host for utilizing his new skill of acting.] [As a small gift, Fu has a side quest that will help with the host''s acting adventures!] [The title of the side quest is: Halo Light. Gain two Halo Lights from one quest!] [Gain a shining light while you are acting! This booster enhances visuals and emotions. Good for ten minutes.] [Say "halo" to five extras! It will definitely make their day!] [Deadline: ten minutes.]


    [Failure to achieve side quest entails a downgrade in the acting aspect.] Ten minutes? Fortunately, the side quest wasn''t too difficult to aplish. It was pretty childish with the ''halo'' pun, but it was better than that twerking side quest from a while back. June nonchntly walked to the section where the extras were resting and bowed his head. There were exactly seven of them in the area, so he was sure he would aplish the quest in one go. "Halo," he said, biting his lip after the greeting.


    Fortunately, the extras seemed to find him endearing, and the woman at the very front even blushed. [Congrattions! You havepleted the side quest: Halo Light.] [You have gained two Halo Lights and may use it every time you want.] [To activate: Bite the lips and close the eyes for three seconds.] June shook off the ridiculousmand and continued speaking with the extras. "I just wanted to say you guys did a good job on the scene a while ago," Juneplimented. "Thank you," the girl at the front said. "You did a great job, too. Are you sure this is your first role in acting?" "Yeah," June responded. "It is pretty fun, though." "We''re d then," she replied. "By the way, my friends and I are going to watch your performance for King of Kings tomorrow. We can''t wait to see what you guys are going to perform this time." June smiled, freely conversing with the extras. Meanwhile, Arin, who just had her makeup done, looked at the scene before her with narrowed eyes. This felt reminiscent of the scene they were filming just now. Her character, Nayeon, got jealous after seeing someone confess to Jin. To make matters worse, the person who June was talking to was the same person who confessed to him in the show. "Why don''t we start?" Arin asked Director Nana, feeling a bit irked. "Oh, you''re done getting retouched? Let''s start, then. Everybody standby!" she eximed, causing everybody to go back to their designated ces. June waved at the extras before making his way next to Arin, just right beside the campfire.


    Arin clicked her tongue as soon as their eyes met, but June ignored her. That only seemed to escte Arin''s annoyance, though. "Action!" Director Nana eximed. "So, Mia finally confessed to you, huh?" Nayeon asked in a bitter tone. Her heart was hurting, but she masked her emotions behind a stoic facade. "Well, that must be great news for you. Congrattions."


    Jin sighed and looked down at the forest floor. "You don''t seem happy about it at all." "What do you mean?" Nayeon asked, but Jin kept silent. Nayeon read between the lines, and when she finally understood what Jin was insinuating, she quickly scoffed. "Oh, you must think I like you too, huh? Well, of course!" she sarcastically eximed, finally having enough of it.


    "Zoom in onto June''s face," Nana instructed one of the cameramen. "This is going to be a difficult scene, so let''s prepare for many shots and takes," she told the others working behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Arin continued with her long-awaited monologue. "You must think everybody likes you! You''ve always been the center of attention¡ªthe one everyone wants. You must think nobodypares to you, huh?" Jin sighed and held onto Nayeon''s wrist. "Calm down, Nayeon," he softly said.


    "Calm down?" Nayeon eximed, feeling jealousy swell in her heart. "How can I calm down when you''ve taken the one thing my parents loved me for?" she whispered. "How can I calm down when you have what I want, but you don''t seem to care about it at all?" How can I calm down when you''ve taken my heart, too? June sighed and closed his eyes, bit his lip as if he was contemting, and counted to three in his mind. [Halo Light Activated.] Then, he opened his eyes, the crew gasping as they stared at his figure on the screen. "Why¡ªwhy is he glowing?" Nana muttered. "I''m not hallucinating, right?" Bubbles shook his head, also amazed by how June looked on camera. "Because that''s all I have," Jin eximed, finally breaking out of his cold and arrogant exterior. "It''s all I have."

 Chapter 440 I’m In Trouble, I’m An Addict

    <h4>Chapter 440 I''m In Trouble, I''m An Addict</h4>


    The set turned eerily silent as June uttered those words. For this particr scene, Nana expected them to retake it plenty of times because of itsplexity. Jin, June''s character, was the golden boy of New Heights Academy. His life was supposedly ''perfect.'' He had good looks, was the top student of the school, and was adored by everyone in the school¡ªexcept Nayeon. However, what they didn''t know was Jin''s life wasn''t golden as it seemed. Unlike the students of New Heights Academy, who were born with golden spoons in their mouths, Jin was only able to enter because of an academic schrship. Behind his sparkly looks was a poor life. Of course, the author had to give him a sad backstory so people would fall in love with him even more! This scene was pivotal for the drama because it showed Jin''s facade being broken. This was the very first time he was breaking out of his ''cool'' persona, so it was a fan favorite among those who read the webtoon. June was aware of this fact because Jisung and Akira had given him a crash course on ''Hate To Love You.'' He realized that this scene was vital to the drama, so he wanted to give justice to his character. So, during his very limited breaks, he called Hana to ask her for some tips on how to project such emotions better on the screen. "You think I enjoy being the center of attention, Nayeon? You think it''s easy being ''Jin''?" his voice rose with frustration. For a moment, Arin was stunned. The two had acted together for a couple of days now, and Arin couldn''t deny that June was a decent actor. However, it was still obvious that June was an amateur, especially during moreplex and intimate scenes. However, the scene he was portraying right now was a different story. Arin snapped back to her character, taken aback, before shaking her head. "I never said that, Jin. I just¡­" "That''s all I have," Jin cut her words early. He took a deep breath, and in that moment of vulnerability, he dug deep into the feelings he had buried deep within his heart.


    "I need this schrship, Nayeon," he finally revealed the truth.


    Director Nana and Bubbles held their breaths as they waited for his next line. It definitely wasn''t perfect. It was awkward at some points. However, there was a certain charm to June''s acting. Every scene he portrayed felt like it wasn''t truly ''acting,'' but an extension of his real self instead. The extras watching were also surprised by June''s hidden talent. They were all familiar with June because of Rising Stars and King of Kings, and they never expected someone who was good at singing and dancing to also be great at acting. Jin raked his hands through his hair, and that seemed to make the Halo Light more obvious.


    It wasn''t a tant light that floated around him. However, it gave him a certain ''aura'' that made those watching unable to tear their gazes away from him. Even Arin, who was supposed to not be able to meet June''s eyes, was captivated. It felt like she was locked into his gaze. "I can''t afford tuition; my family can''t. I don''t have the luxury to let my guard down or to care about what people think. I work after school and studyte into the night." "I thought you, of all people, would understand what it would feel like to be exhausted all the time," Jin continued. "I thought you understood me," Jin said, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, making him look like a pitiful deer caught under the headlights. Director Nana''s heart raced inside her chest. A knowing smile appeared on her lips as she gazed into the night sky. Contrary to the past nights when the skies were usually dark, it was filled with stars at this very moment. However, the shiniest star that night was none other than the handsome boy with blonde hair, who she hastily cast after watching a show she wasn''t even interested in. Nayeon''s eyes widened, absorbing his revtion. The moonlight traced the contours of Jin''s face, highlighting the shadows of weariness on his features. "I¡ªI''m sorry," she spoke hesitantly. "Jin, I didn''t know. I didn''t know you were going through all this." "You''ve never bothered to ask," Jin chuckled bitterly. Nayeon looked down at the ground, her eyes watering with guilt. Arin, not in her character, also felt guilty for how she had been treating June for thest couple of days. There was no usible reason for her hostility to him in the first ce. She had to admit she was just pretty disappointed they had to film the scenes over again with an actor who didn''t have any experience. However, now, it felt like she was the amateur. "I''m sorry," Nayeon continued to apologize. "I¡ªI didn''t mean to. I''m just so exhausted," she also confessed. "It''s so tiring to put up this facade, to alwayspete with you when I never wanted to in the first ce. I just want to prove to my parents that I''m worth more than what they see me as," she said. Jin''s eyes visibly softened, and then he stepped forward. His lips were right on top of Nayeon''s forehead, and as she gazed up at him, she felt his hot breath against her skin. The pace of Arin''s heart doubled in speed. ''Frick.'' Jin tucked her hair behind her ears before speaking. His voice was softer this time but filled with even more intensity.


    "So, isn''t it exhausting to live in a facade, Nayeon? Why don''t we escape together?" "Just the two of us?"


    Arin''s breath got caught in the back of her throat. ''Frick, frick, frick.'' "...and cut!" Director Nana eximed, very satisfied with the oue of the scene. Like the magic had instantly ended, June''s eyes lost their softness, and he took a step back. He smiled robotically at Arin before leaving the set. However, what he didn''t know was that the magic wasn''t really over for Arin. "I''m in trouble," she whispered.

 Chapter 441 Baby Chick

    <h4>Chapter 441 Baby Chick </h4>


    After sessfully filming the important scenest night, June had be more interested in acting. He found himself watching iconic movies and studying their techniques during his free time, which surprised even himself since he had never really been interested in acting.


    However, thinking about it now, pretending to be a different person was actually pretty fun.


    They only had a few days left of filming for ''Hate To Love You'', so he wanted to make the most of it.


    Today, though, June had to set those thoughts aside to focus on their next performance for King of Kings.


    They were currently in the van to go to the filming site, with the boys being rowdy as always.


    However, one person, in particr, seemed restless among the group of noisy boys.


    Jisung, sitting in the very middle, fiddled with his fingers and nervously bounced his leg.


    June had enough of the shaking, so he ced his hand over Jisung''s thigh and looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "Is there something wrong?" June asked.


    The other boys stopped whatever they were doing and turned to their two youngest members.


    "Jisung''s been restless since morning," Jaeyong pointed out.


    "Aww, is the baby chick nervous?" Akira teased.


    Jisung pursed his lips before bringing out his phone.


    "I¡ªI was just wondering¡­," he stammered.


    The others paid close attention to him.


    "Spill it, Ji," Sehun encouraged. "Don''t act shy around us now."


    Jisung sighed and pressed something on his phone. Then, the boys received simultaneous notifications.


    "What''s this?" June asked when he saw the video Jisung had sent to their group chat.


    "It''s a present," Jisung said. "I thought it would be nice if we yed this video during June''s part in the bridge."


    The members silently yed the video, concentrating from start to finish.


    Then, when it ended, June faced Jisung with a proud smile.


    "You''re a genius, Ji," heplimented.


    ***


    It was almost a ritual for K-pop fans to sacrifice their time and effort to watch their favorite artists perform on stage.


    However, for one person in the line, this was the very first time she had done something like this.


    "Gosh, what am I even doing here?" she whispered, slightly regrettinging to this ce.


    She could see June''s face on some of the banners, causing her to shake her head.


    It was supposed to be her day off today, yet here she was, lining up with K-pop enthusiasts just so she could watch June perform on stage.


    Last night, after they had filmed, her heart continued to feel fuzzy even when she got home.


    She didn''t even get an ounce of sleep because every time she closed her eyes, June''s face would appear!


    Arin had a very big pride, so she wanted to prove to herself that these lingering feelings were for Jin, June''s character, and not June himself.


    "Yeah, that''s right," she muttered. "You''re doing this because you don''t like him."


    "I wonder what they''re going to perform this time," a girl said behind her, causing Arin to turn around.


    There, she saw a group of four girls who all seemed to be fans of EVE. It was quite obvious with their lightsticks and therge banner that said ''June'' on it.


    "I don''t know, but I bet I''m going to fall in love all over again," a very pretty girl with long brown hair and bangs said, leaning against her shorter friend.


    "You fall in love every single time you see him, though," the shorter friend chimed.


    Arin''s eyes widened in surprise. Was June just someone you''d fall in love with easily?


    ***


    The studio was now filled to the brim as enthusiasts waited for the performances tomence.


    The idols backstage practiced for thest time, quite nervous to perform their original songs in front of the audience. Moreover, SBC did a really great job keeping their performances from the other artists, so they had no clue what each other''s songs would sound like!


    "I just hope our song doesn''t sound like everybody else''s," Seven sighed, shaking his hands in nervousness since they were going to perform first.


    "Do you think our song will sound simr to the other teams?" Zibo asked his members, also feeling nervous.


    "It won''t matter if our song sounds simr to the other teams," Xion said. "Just as long as we''re able to show them that we''re the best, then it''ll all be good."


    Their conversations were interrupted when Kim Wonbin appeared on the stage, ready to announce the mission and mechanics to the audience.


    "Good morning to everyone!" he eximed, and the crowd erupted into cheers.


    "We are now down to the third mission of King of Kings, and this week, our beloved participants will be showing us what it''s like to be an idol!" he exined.


    "For this week, we have all members of THRICE as our special judges!" he gestured to the nine beautiful members of the popr girl group sitting at the judge''s table.


    The audience enthusiastically weed them, wondering how such beautiful women could exist in this cruel world.


    Hyo, their leader, took the mic and smiled gratefully at the audience. "Thank you so much for inviting us to the show. Sunny is a very huge fan and has been watching every week!"


    Sunny shyly nodded as she took the mic. "Every time I watch this show, I get inspired to perform better as an idol. I know that they''re all capable of great performances, so I''m looking forward to watching them all live."


    Wonbin smiled. "Our very talented participants have curated their own songs this week. However, the twist is¡ªthey were given the same chord progression to work with."


    The audience murmured and eximed in surprise, finding the mission very interesting.


    "So, today, you will not only see performances that show what an idol is, but you''ll also get to see the uniqueness each group brings to the table. Are you guys ready?"


    The audience enthusiastically shouted, "Yes."


    "Without further ado, let us now start the IDOL mission!"

 Chapter 442 Battle of Sounds

    <h4>Chapter 442 Battle of Sounds </h4>


    The stage was aze with a neon green glow, making it appear like the audience was in some kind of alien simtion. OCTA was the first one to perform, arising from the stage with futuristic visuals. Their arrangement was characterized by an energetic synth beat, and their dance was intensely executed. The bass of the song thumped with power, mirroring OCTA''s signature style.


    Meanwhile, MORPH3D unleashed a rock-infused energy with their arrangement. Guitars wailed, drums thundered, and Rex, the group''s main vocalist, belted out the lyrics like a true rock artist. Nheless, their lyrics had a simr vibe to OCTA''s¡ª focused on the shy life of an idol and how being on stage was the greatest feeling in the world.


    SPADES chose a different path, focusing on their vocal prowess, almost simr to a choir. Their stage was bathed in softer hues with a more angelic quality. The beat, though still upbeat, incorporated softer rock elements thatplemented the vocal-centric performance.


    However, the simrity to MORPH3D''s arrangement didn''t go unnoticed. They essentially used the same rock-infused instruments, with SPADES just going for the softer route.


    CHAOS also didn''t stray away from their usual concept. As always, their concept was enigmatic and dark. Their name, CHAOS, was truly represented well in every performance they gave out. The performance had a lot of electronic beats and ominous melodies that the audience loved. Their lyrics, too, were quite arrogant in nature, as they portrayed an idol as being the ''best'' on the stage.


    On the other hand, BOYMYSTIC took a bubblier route, almost the opposite of what CHAOS had done. Their stage had a lot of bright colors and upbeat choreography that had the audience pping along. The melody was light and carefree, and the lyrics spoke of the love they had for their fans. It was a performance that radiated positivity, uplifting the crowd.


    Arin was startled for the hundredth time in the night as the audience erupted into cheers once again. She couldn''t deny that these idols were very talented and that she had a newfound respect for their work. Dancing, singing, and entertaining an audience truly wasn''t an easy job.


    However, she wanted nothing more than to finish the other performances so she could watch EVE''s performance. Arin had held herself back from watching their performances online since she didn''t want toe off as crazy as she already was.


    So, their performance today would be the very first performance she would watch from their team¡ªand she didn''t know what to expect.


    Backstage, the members of EVE were getting ready as they waited for BOYMYSTIC''s performance to end.


    As expected, all of their rivals performed a concept that they werefortable with. It definitely wasn''t unpleasant. A group needed a certain level offort with a concept so they could execute it properly.


    The concept they had chosen was also something they were veryfortable with.


    However, it was definitely still unexpected¡ªespecially for a mission where ''idol'' is the central theme.


    The members of EVE were in a circle, pumping themselves up for yet another performance.


    "It''s our second to thest performance," Ren smiled, looking at his members.


    "Stop, you''re making this cheesy," Akira teased. However, deep inside his mind, he liked moments like these with his members.


    "Yeah, you better stop, or Jaeyong will start crying," Jisung teased, nudging their leader.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue and shook his head as the others began to tease him.


    "I didn''t want to say this because I want Jaeyong to keep his pride, but he was crying secretly after watching the video you edited," Akira said to Jisung.


    "I think Sehun teared up a little too," Zeth chimed. "Our oldies are very emotional."


    "Yeah, those two cried when June sang the bridge to us too," Ren teased.


    Sehun rolled his eyes while Jaeyong just epted his fate.


    Casper, on the other hand, has still been acting weird after seeing the lipstick on June''s polo.


    June clicked his tongue and nudged his shoulder.


    "Whatever it is that you''re thinking about, set it aside for the performance," June whispered.


    Casper sighed but nodded nheless.


    "Umm, can we have a group hug?" Jisung shyly asked, making the others coo.


    "Aww, does our baby chick want a hug?" Akira asked in a baby tone.


    "Shut up," Ren said, nudging Akira''s shoulder. "I''m sure you''d like one too."


    Akira shook his head but opened his arms nheless.


    "Come on, guys. Let''s hug it out like real bros. Are you all wearing socks?" he asked.


    "I''m not," Casper chimed.


    Akira shook his head and wrapped his arms around Jaeyong and Ren, who were next to him.


    The others quickly followed, bringing themselves closer to each other.


    The warmth of their hug spread to their hearts, and despite the ''fake'' displeased looks on their faces, they actually enjoyed each other''spany.


    Even June, who wasn''t a huge fan of skinship, feltforted by his teammates.


    He felt like that certain hug lifted their spirits up, setting the perfect tone for their performance. They broke away secondster when BOYMYSTIC went down the stage. At first, the senior groups were confused when they saw EVE huddled together like a bunch of little ducklings, but when they realized they were hugging, they silently made their way back to their waiting room.


    The group of eight now turned to the entrance of the stage, where the light entered the dark waiting area.


    "Standby," one of the crew members said.


    They shook their hands and warmed up their voices as Kim Wonbinid out their introduction. June was at the very end of the line, and a small smile emerged from his face.


    "Please wee the final performers of the night¡ªEVE!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers as the eight attractive members of the rookie group made their way to the stage.


    Arin craned her neck to get a better look at them, but in reality, she was only looking for one person in the group.


    The audience was in a frenzy as the cameraman zoomed in on their faces, showcasing their handsome looks on the screen.


    However, that wasn''t really the main reason for their screams.


    There was something else that set their hearts aze.


    Jia and her friends turned to each other with wide eyes as they realized the outfits EVE was wearing.


    "Bora," Jia mindlessly pulled on her friend''s sleeve.


    "Is it just me, or are they wearing the uniforms from Rising Stars?"

 Chapter 443 Dear Little Me (1)

    <h4>Chapter 443 Dear Little Me (1) </h4>


    Jia definitely wasn''t hallucinating.


    The eight boys on stage were d in elegant school uniforms with navy blue zers, reminiscent of the days they were in Rising Stars.


    It wasn''t a hundred percent simr, but it was enough to shake the hearts of those who have been fans since their times in the survival show.


    Haruki frowned as EVE did their group greeting on the stage. He wondered what type of concept they were going to employ with such outfits.


    The members of BOYMYSTIC, who had worn simr outfits during their time on Rising Stars, felt nostalgic.


    "What are they going to do?" Jordan muttered, already intrigued.


    The boys took their positions amidst the confused screams. There was a couch in the middle, and as the spotlight turned on, EVE was cast in a radiant glow. Positioned on the center of the simple couch were the three oldest members. On the ledge sat Zeth and Akira, small yet beautiful smiles adorning their faces. Meanwhile, the three youngest members stood at the back, their eyes on the backrest of the couch.


    Finally, the opening chords of the song resonated through the venue. As expected, the chord progression was familiar. However, this time, it carried an ambiguous feeling that made the audience even more confused.


    The idols watching backstage were also surprised by the route that they took. The chord progression they were originally given was quite intense, almost perfect for a dance song.


    However, EVE was able to transform it into a solemn masterpiece.


    Some astras knew that EVE, especially June, had a knack for performing emotional songs.


    However, they still didn''t expect it here. How could they perform this genre when they were tasked to define what an idol was?


    However, as Ren opened the song, their questions were all answered.


    "Dear little me, this is for you.


    Did you wait a long time for your dreams toe true?


    Hang in there; it won''t be once in a blue moon.


    We''d get there somehow, not now, but soon."


    Ren''s voice, smooth as silk, carried the emotional essence of the lyrics. The choreography unfolded with a series of graceful movements around the couch and simple yet impactful gestures. It was a dance that mirrored the lyrics, expressing the journey of chasing dreams and the challenges faced in the pursuit of an idol''s life.


    Akira followed not long after, standing from his seat and walking as he gazed up at the lights. The bright white light caught his eyes, making them shine.


    "Dear little me, do you still have the same dream?


    I know it''s not as easy as it may seem.


    But the bright days areing; I feel it somehow.


    Soon, little me, and that soon is now."


    The song''s chorus began, and like their hearts beat as one, all eight members sang in perfect harmony. Their voices intertwined, and each note sang with the sincerity of their experiences.


    Instead of focusing on the morous life of an idol, they decided to perform a song that would paint their journeys from the very beginning¡ªfrom their dreams.


    "Are you proud of what I''ve be?


    Looking back at where we came from.


    We''ve been waiting for so long, I know¡­


    ¡­But there''s still a long way to go."


    The genuine smiles on their faces radiated a joy that transcended the morous facade of the idol life.


    At the start of the second verse, it only seemed like the lyrics were getting more mncholic.


    The idols watching backstage forgot about thepetition for a minute as they listened. The lyrics EVE had written beautifully encapsted what they felt as idols.


    "Dear little me, you''re not so little now.


    Each day on the stage, you end with a bow.


    The dreams we''ve only dreamt of finally came true.


    But why does the spotlight still feel so blue?"


    Zeth and June harmonized during this part, thebination of their voices only making it sound more emotional.


    "Dear little me, now you make others smile.


    Does it finally feel like you''re doing something worthwhile?


    Or do you go the extra mile to disy happiness on the shelf?


    When you can''t even give happiness to yourself?"


    The choreography portrayed the sad undertone of the lyrics, yet paradoxically, the members of EVE danced with joy that captivated the audience. Their smiles persisted all throughout the performance, and it seemed as if they were acting out the message of their song¡ªto stay happy even when you''re not.


    Seven sniffed as he continued watching their performance. He had always performed with a smile on his face, forgoing the internal battles he felt for the sake of giving other people happiness. However, at the end of the day, he was still human¡­


    and listening to the song reminded him that it was okay to feel sad at times.


    Uno, who had struggled a lot since his days as a trainee, couldn''t tear his eyes away from the screen. While all the other groups portrayed what idols were on the surface level, EVE was able to dig deeper into theplexities of their job¡ªone that they weren''t even aware of.


    "Are you proud of what I''ve be?


    Looking back at where we came from.


    We''ve been waiting for so long, I know¡­


    ¡­But there''s still a long way to go."


    As the second chorus unfolded, the music was enriched with a new arrangement of instruments. The harmony of guitars, keyboards, and drums added depth to the performance, making it echo through the hearts of the audience.


    As the music transitioned into the bridge, the members of EVE clutched onto a small white cloth. The ethereal lights intensified, casting a soft glow on the scene. Then, in a synchronized disy of beauty and emotion, the members unfolded the white cloth and twirled them through the air.


    The fabric seemed to dance with a life of its own, capturing the essence of the dream they held within their hearts.


    Then, the lights dimmed, and they let go of the white cloths all at the same time. It cascaded to the ground, simr to rainfall, before the screen behind them lit up.


    The sound ofughter echoed in the silent studio before a video that seemed unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time was shown.


    There, the members of EVE were shown, seemingly preparing for their very firsteback.


    They had excited smiles on their faces, lighting up the practice room with their dreams.


    However, the scene didn''tst long as it transitioned to another clip¡­


    When they first met¡­


    Where their dreams finally began¡­

 Chapter 444 Dear Little Me (2)

    <h4>Chapter 444 Dear Little Me (2) </h4>


    Snippets of their journey during Rising Stars were shown on the big screen. From the moment they entered the big stage to the times they performed together and until their names were called for the debut spot. Afterward, a few clips of their preparation for the debut stage were also incorporated, showing off the hard work that couldn''t be seen from behind the scenes.


    It felt like those montage videos of the beautiful wife who died in a crime movie¡­or a shback to the beautiful, much simpler times in superhero movies.


    As cliche as it may seem, the boys and their fans loved it very much.


    Those who had supported them since the very beginning were the most emotional. It was unreal how people get attached to certain people so quickly, even if they haven''t personally met.


    But this is what an idol is.


    Watching a short video or having a small update from them was enough to make your day.


    As EVE''s journeys were disyed on the screen, the fans were transported back to the time when they were just getting to know them¡ªthe feeling of excitement and new territory.


    Proud was an understatement for what Jia felt.


    Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at the screen. Truly, the boys had be a part of her mundane life, and she was ready to be with them until her love faded.


    The audience was snapped back to reality when June stepped forward, cing the mic before his lips.


    Arin''s breath got caught as she looked at the man standing in the very middle of the stage.


    He looked a lot like Jin, his character, with the uniform he was wearing. However, Arin''s focus was on June¡ªjust June.


    June, with solemn eyes, delivered a melodic rap that made even the members of EVE tear up.


    "Dear Little Me, take a look around.


    In the quiet whispers, hear a distant sound.


    Now, you''ve got people who love you¡ªin the audience they reside.


    Or maybe they''re the people who''re right by your side."


    June nced at his members with a fond smile. He didn''t have many opportunities to thank them for the friendship they had granted him, so he took this moment to portray his inner feelings. He knew he wouldn''t be able to tell them in a casual conversation otherwise.


    "Met strangers with dreams, chasing the same sun.


    Now we''re running together; our journeys'' have just begun.


    Who knew a simple dream could change the course of fate.


    Who knew a simple smile could turn into something so great."


    The members of EVE had heard June''s bridge plenty of times during their practice, but it still managed to touch their hearts.


    The idols watching backstage and in the audience felt more grateful to their teammates.


    Their friendship wasn''t something that was explicitly addressed, but deep inside their hearts, they knew that these people had be very important in their lives.


    It seemed like EVE''s performance had transcended thepetition. All of them had realized


    what being an idol truly was.


    Haruki nodded to himself, already epting his defeat. He was yet again determined to win the mission and widen their gap from other groups even further. However, as EVE''s performance progressed, he realized he wouldn''t be mad if they won.


    They deserved it.


    "Dear little me, keep embracing your dreams.


    The sadness in the journey is not as bad as it seems.


    There''s still a long way to go, and that''s okay.


    Because in the end, you''ve alsoe a long way."


    "Keep it in," Akira humorously whispered to Jaeyong when he noticed his teary eyes. Their leader pursed his lips and let out a deep breath before walking to the front for their final formation.


    The video ended along with June''s rap, and then it segued into thest chorus with the members of EVE in a tight-knit formation that resembled a group hug.


    As they broke away from each other, the smiles on their faces spoke volumes. The journey to bing an idol may have been tough, but they were thankful for all the support they''d received and the friendships they''d built along the way.


    Thest chorus came, and it was different from the former ones. It appeared to be a response to the questions asked within the chorus, and it served as a great closure to the song.


    "I''m proud of what we''ve be.


    Let''s look back at where we came from.


    We''vee a long way, I know¡­


    ¡­and there''s still a long way to go."


    As the final notes echoed in the venue, the lights dimmed once again. The members, breathless but ted, took their final bow.


    And at that moment, the apuse thundered. It felt like a celebration of not only their performance but of their shared dreams, struggles, and their friendship.


    The lingering smiles on their faces show their fulfillment of the performance, and it touched even the hearts of the people who didn''t know much about their group.


    However, in contrast with the loud cheers in the studio, the idols backstage were stunned into silence.


    They weren''t expecting to feel so touched in a mission where they thought only upbeat performances would be arranged.


    "Ah, I don''t think we deserve to be called their rivals anymore," Seven sniffed, thankful that they performed first since he would definitely be a mess if they performed right now.


    "They''re so good. How can they think of such a concept?" he continued.


    Ocho, who had always been wary of EVE''s presence since they werebeled as ''rivals'' from the get-go, also pursed his lips in acknowledgment.


    Uno smirked as he leaned back against his chest. He knew EVE had never beaten them in terms of records, album sales, views, and even music shows. However, Uno conceded defeat at this very moment.


    As he gazed at June, his rival, he felt his heart pumping with excitement. He found yet another reason to continue improving himself.


    The members of SPADES collectively sighed as soon as their performance ended.


    "Rookies these days are so scary," Chan said. "Why do they feel like seasoned idols already?"


    "I think it''s just this group," Y muttered. "How could such abination of peoplee to be? It''s like they were chosen from the best of the best."


    "I think we can disband peacefully now," Jordan said, standing from his seat and facing his members.


    His members'' eyes widened in surprise.


    "What are you talking about?" Nico asked. "We still have a couple of months!"


    "I know," Jordan smiled, a mncholic glint in his eyes. "I''m just hopeful¡ªI believe EVE will achieve the things we wanted to achieve but failed to do so."


    Those in the audience were still captivated even after THRICE had finished giving theirments. The feeling lingered even after Kim Wonbin dered the end of the shooting.


    Arin, who was in the middle of the room, couldn''t get herself to move her feet.


    Other people were already making their way out of the venue, yet she remained.


    As she gazed at the stage, EVE''s performance repeated over and over again in her mind.


    The reason why she came today was because she wanted to prove she wasn''t going crazy because of June.


    However, in the end, she proved something else.


    "Maybe I am crazy, after all," she muttered.

 Chapter 445 Awkward Romance

    <h4>Chapter 445 Awkward Romance </h4>


    "That girl is acting weirder than usual," June said, taking a bite out of the banana that the staff had provided him.


    Meanwhile, Jay opened his mouth and followed the action. June noticed this from his peripheral vision and turned to him with furrowed eyebrows.


    "What the heck are you doing?" June asked.


    Jay shook his head with a smile.


    "Can you spare me one banana?"


    June sighed heavily before giving the half-eaten banana to his manager. "Just take it," he grumbled.


    "Thanks," Jay chimed like he had won the world''s greatest prize. "What were you talking about again?" he asked, his cheeks filling like a greedy hamster.


    "Arin," June said, nodding toward her way. "She''s acting weird."


    "She''s always been weird," Jay responded. "She''s sweet to the other crew members, but she''s hellish with you."


    "Yeah, but she''s acting even weirder than usual. She keeps evading my gaze every time our eyes meet," June said.


    Jay smirked, tossing the banana peel into the trash. "You really have no clue, hmm?"


    June turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "Clue about what?"


    Jay shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. It''s more fun if you find out for yourself," he muttered.


    June sighed, squeezing his hands together as he waited for the crew to finish setting things up on the school''s rooftop. Today was their second to thest day of filming, and they were going to film Jin asking Nayeon out for their very first date.


    "Are you alright?" Jay asked, sensing June''s nervousness.


    June stiffly nodded, not really answering his question.


    Truth be told, he was the most nervous to film these types of scenes when he first read the script. It was definitely less intense than the scene they filmed in the forest, yet somehow, June still felt it was the hardest to portray.


    Well, of course, it would be difficult to emanate an emotion he had never felt before¡ªlove.


    Not just any kind of love, but romantic love.


    June could only act well in the other scenes because he had felt something simr before in his past life. However, he was afraid he couldn''t really fake this certain emotion.


    June tried thinking of Mei Ling when he practiced the lines, but before he could even begin, he quickly became weirded out.


    He wasn''t an anime protagonist who could feel something like that for his sister!


    "Are you sure you''re alright?"Jay asked, still finding June''s behavior a bit weird.


    "I''m fine," June dismissed him.


    "Actors, please go to your areas!" Director Nana shouted.


    June and Arin moved hesitantly to the middle of the rooftop. A while ago, only Arin was unable to meet June''s eyes; now, June also felt the pressure of filming the scene, subsequently making him feel awkward around her.


    "Are you guys ready?" Director Nana asked.


    June and Arin wordlessly nodded.


    "Alright, let''s do this," Director Nana said, excited for the romantic scenes.


    She got behind the camera and shouted, "3¡­2¡­1¡­Action!"


    The set turned quiet; only the sound of the soft wind was heard.


    The camera panned to where Jin and Nayeon were standing. They were facing each other with shy and hesitant smiles on their faces.


    The sun was bearing down on them; however, it wasn''t really unpleasant since the weather was still cold. Behind them were blue skies and some fluffy clouds, setting the perfect environment for a proposal for a first date.


    Fortunately, the characters were supposed to be awkward with each other for the first part of the scene since they were stilling to terms with their feelings.


    Jin cleared his throat, looking at anywhere but Nayeon''s eyes. Meanwhile, Nayeon looked down at the ground, a soft blush adorning her cheeks.


    Director Nana smiled from behind the camera. The two had perfectly encapsted the feeling of awkwardness after a fresh confession.


    In Arin''s mind, a million thoughts raced¡ª


    "Goodness, why is he so handsome today out of all days?''


    ''My heart is going to explode.''


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t have watched his fancamste in the night.''


    ''Gosh, when is this going to end?''


    ''...But maybe I don''t want it to end.''


    ''Wait, he''s evading my eyes too. Does that mean he''s harboring some feelings?''


    ''Maybe I''m delusional, but he must be thinking of me!''


    Meanwhile, June''s head was also filled with thoughts¡ª


    ''How do you act in-love?''


    ''They never taught me this at school.''


    They continued to engage in an awkward conversation, which made the onlookers endeared to the young couple.


    June didn''t have a hard time acting this out since he felt truly awkward.


    However, he knew what wasing next.


    Nayeon, only wearing her uniform, shivered in the cold wind. June froze. This was the part he was dreading.


    June tried to show a fond smile, but it came out stiffer than he had imagined.


    Nayeon, too, froze as June started taking off his jacket, almost robotic in movement.


    Director Nana tilted her head in confusion before looking at Bubbles for some kind of validation.


    Bubbles, too, appeared perplexed. They had never had any major setbacks in the shoot¡ªonly a few retakes to get the right emotion. However, seeing the two on the screen right now, it seemed like they wereplete amateurs!


    June walked closer to Arin, yet somehow, the space was still toorge. June opened the jacket and wrapped it around her body.


    "There," he stiffly said. "You shouldn''t be cold."


    "Thanks," Arin responded in an equally stiff voice.


    Jay, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn''t help but shake his head in amusement.


    So, this was the reason why June was acting awkward, huh?


    Director Nana decided to wait it out for a couple of minutes to see if their acting would get any better. However, it didn''t.


    "Go on a date with me," June said without any emotion, saying the line as if he were casually asking one of his members to go grocery shopping with him.


    "Alright, this can''t go on like this," Director Nana muttered, holding her hand high in the air.


    "Cut!"

 Chapter 446 June, The Mind Reader

    <h4>Chapter 446 June, The Mind Reader </h4>


    June pursed his lips as he waited for Director Nana to get to where they were standing.


    She had shouted "cut" several times now, yet it seemed like Arin and June still didn''t know how to act out the scene.


    "What is going on with the two of you?" Director Nana asked, sounding disappointed.


    "Our filmings had always been smooth since the start, so why the sudden change? I thought you would be morefortable with each other now."


    "Sorry, Director," June apologized.


    Arin, too, bowed her head in shame as an apology.


    "I know your guys'' potential, so I won''t hold this against you. Maybe this is just a bad day...or maybe you''re not used to filming such scenes?"


    June enthusiastically nodded.


    "I see," Nana sighed. "Well, it wouldn''t be strange since it''s your first time acting. However, Arin, you''ve been in plenty of short romance dramas before."


    Arin ced her hand behind her neck, feeling shy.


    "Sorry, Director. I''ll work harder."


    Nana sighed and nodded. "Alright, let''s take ten for now. I say, go over the script and think of how to channel these feelings. The first part is already great. However, you can''t act awkward all throughout the scene."


    "You''ve been acting as rivals since the beginning of the show, so you should do justice to the romantic parts. The fans will surely appreciate it if you nail this performance."


    June and Arin nodded in agreement.


    "Alright! Let''s take ten, everybody," Director Nana shouted.


    The crew members dispersed for a while, getting a cup of coffee or chattering with their friends to make use of the ten-minute break.


    June turned to Arin so they could talk about breaking down the awkwardness between them, but she was already gone in the blink of an eye.


    June sighed before walking over to where Jay was. The manager had an amused smile on his face, causing June to shake his head.


    "Well, you look happy despite my failures," June pointed out.


    "It''s nice to see you fail sometimes," Jay said. "I felt like something was wrong during the past shoots, but I get it now. It was too perfect! It''s unlike you to have great circumstances all the time."


    June sat beside him.


    "I honestly don''t know how to portray this scene," he confessed.


    "Just do what you''ve been doing from the start. Channel your inner experiences. Have you never asked someone out before?"


    June pursed his lips.


    He came close to¡­.once in his life.


    However, he quickly shook his head at the distant memory.


    "Figures," Jay said. "That''s why the scene was so awkward then. You don''t know how to portray it."


    June nodded.


    "Well, do you have someone in mind right now¡ªsomeone you want to ask out on a date? It''s not that I''m encouraging you to have these thoughts. Mr. Ong will kill me if he finds out you''re dating someone so early into your career¡­"


    "I don''t," June said, cutting Jay''s rant off.


    "Well, that''s good," Jay sighed in relief. "Wait, that''s not good at all¡­How would you be able to channel these feelings then?"


    June didn''t respond since he also didn''t know what to do.


    They were silent for a couple of seconds until Jay pped, standing from his seat.


    June looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "What?" June asked.


    Jay smirked, feeling proud that he hade up with a genius idea. He gestured for June toe closer, but thetter hesitated to do so.


    Honestly, he didn''t know if listening to Jay, someone who had the worst luck in dating, would be a wise choice.


    "No offense, but I don''t trust you when ites to love," June said.


    Jay rolled his eyes and continued gesturing for him toe closer.


    "I''ll pretend I didn''t hear that. At least I got some experience under my belt!" he boasted.


    "Now, do you want to listen to my suggestion?"


    June shrugged and stood. He felt like he didn''t have any choice anyway.


    Jay smiled before making his suggestion.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    It actually wasn''t so bad.


    ***


    There were still five minutes left into their break, so June decided to look for Arin to test out Jay''s suggestion. He had a hard time finding her in the sea of staff members, but fortunately, he finally saw her sitting on the covered part of the rooftop.


    June observed her as she talked with herself. It seemed like she had plenty of frustrations as she continued talking to the air.


    June shook his head, amused, as he walked to where she was.


    "Have you gone crazy or something?" June asked.


    "Ah, I''m crazy!" Arin eximed, startled by June''s sudden appearance.


    She felt her heart race and her cheeks redden once more. She cursed in her mind as she looked into his teasing eyes.


    Arin was only able to calm herself down a couple of moments ago, yet here June was to shake her up again!


    "What are you doing here?" Arin asked, feigning a disappointed tone to hide her true feelings.


    "Can''t we talk?"


    "Talk about what?" Arin asked, feeling nervous.


    Perhaps talk about their rtionship?


    "Talk about the scene, of course," June obviously said, shattering Arin''s fantasies.


    "Right," Arin cleared her throat."What do we even have to talk about? Let''s just stop acting awkward with each other."


    "How can we do that when you can''t even look into my eyes?" June asked.


    Arin clicked her tongue, not wanting to let go of her pride.


    "Of course I can," she confidently said, finally facing June to look him in the eyes.


    Meanwhile, at that very moment, June tested Jay''s suggestion. Surprisingly, it actually worked pretty well! He didn''t feel awkward looking into her eyes anymore, and he felt like he could actually do the prompts on his script!


    However, their eye contact was quickly broken when Arin pushed June away.


    "You''re too close!" she eximed, sounding breathless.


    June thought for a couple of seconds. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Arin must still hate him.


    It was the opposite, actually.


    Why would she be acting so hostile, then?


    Because she felt like she was going crazy.


    Yeah, she definitely hates him! June felt proud foring to the conclusion. He couldn''t read people''s feelings too well, but now, he felt like a mind reader!


    He still wasn''t good at gauging other people''s feelings.


    June wanted to film an excellent scene for the readers of ''Hate To Love You,'' so he went through his user interface to find something that could help him.


    That''s when he saw it¡ªa glowing red dot in his inventory.


    The Love Potion.

 Chapter 447 WhimsiLust

    <h4>Chapter 447 WhimsiLust </h4>


    [WhimsiLust Potion: 1]


    [The WhimsiLust Potion is a potent love potion that guarantees a day of heart-eyed enchantment! Just one minute of intense eye contact, and watch as the sparks fly. It can be used for multiple people in one day! Warning: use with caution as it may cause a flock of admirers.]


    In all honestly, June didn''t want to use this potion since he felt like it was somehow illegal.


    However, he was in a desperate situation. Their team had a meetingter in the afternoon, so he didn''t have any time to spare.


    ''Are the effects temporary?'' June asked Fu.


    [Effects from the WhimsiLust Potion are temporary.]


    ''How long will itst?''


    [Effects will end at the same time the potion expires. Remember to use wisely.]


    June sighed in relief when he discovered it only had temporary effects. As much as he found Arin annoying, he also didn''t want to subject her to permanent lovesickness since he knew he wouldn''t be able to reciprocate her feelings.


    "Arin, look into my eyes," June said without hesitation.


    Arin felt like her heart exploded, and she quickly felt a nosebleeding. Her eyes almost bulged out of her head as she moved away from June.


    However, June acted fast and held onto both of her wrists, holding her tightly but making sure he wasn''t hurting her.


    "What are you doing?" Arin eximed, unable to look into his eyes.


    June anchored his feet on the ground and continued holding onto Arin''s wrist.


    "Seriously, what is your problem?" Arin asked, her cheeks red like a basketball.


    In her mind she thought¡ª


    ''He was also hesitant to make eye contact just a while ago, yet why was he so proactive now?''


    "We need to break down the barrier between us," he said, determined. "So, look into my eyes for one whole minute."


    "How will that even help?" Arin asked. It would officially kill her if that happened!


    "Just, just trust me," June exasperatedly said, watching the crew members from afar already setting things up again. From his view, he could also see Director Nana looking around the set¡ªprobably for the two of them.


    "June, I can''t," Arin said, still trying to move away from him. "I physically can''t look into your eyes."


    "You need to," June said. "I''ll continue to pester you for the rest of the filming if we don''t do this. You know we wouldn''t be able to film the scene if it continues like this."


    Arin bit her lip, already dreading being pestered by June. The man wasn''t good for her heart! She has been trying to mask the feelings that had surfaced in the span of days¡ªDAYS!


    It was ridiculous how she fell for him in just a short amount of time.


    "After this, don''t pester me anymore, okay?" Arin asked, finally resigning to her fate.


    June''s hold on her wrists loosened, and he let out a small smile.


    "Promise," June said.


    Arin pursed her lips as he spoke to her.


    "Close your eyes for a moment," he said, his voice nearly a whisper.


    Arin followed without anyints. With her eyes closed, she could hear the sound of his breathing better.


    "Now, open them," June said.


    For a moment, Arin hesitated. However, wanting to get it over with, she finally opened her eyes and locked gazes with him.


    Arin felt breathless as she looked into his soft brown eyes. From a distance, they looked like standard brown eyes. However, it was still a lighter brown than most people of Asian descent, so they looked very special.


    Looking into his eyes like this made them even more beautiful.


    The sun was shining down on his irises, making them look like honey-filled pools. His eyshes were incredibly long, and they were lightly curled, only on the edges, adding depth to his gaze. It was astounding how his bottomshes were also long, softening his intense gaze and making him look like an obedient puppy.


    They were the type of eyes that were incredibly difficult to draw.


    If June could hear Arin''s thoughts now, then he''d be able to realize her feelings for him.


    Arin hoped that he, too, was brewing descriptions of her eyes in his mind.


    However, June''s thoughts only resonated with a countdown.


    30...


    29...


    28...


    As he looked into Arin''s eyes, he saw nothing but two ck dots. They were simr to targets he had to hit when his gang wanted to use their guns for fun.


    16...


    15...


    14...


    Only a few seconds more, and they could finally build their connection for the scene.


    June extended the time for a couple of seconds to ensure the effects of the potion.


    When it was a little over a minute, he finally stepped away, breaking eye contact with Arin.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 1]


    [Time of eye contact: 60 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 24 hours]


    June held out his hand for Arin, and like a hypnotized person, she reached out and held onto his warm hand.


    "Let''s go?" June asked.


    Arin wordlessly nodded and let herself be gently taken away by the handsome individual.


    She didn''t know what happened in those 60 seconds, but it felt like her feelings were cemented after it was over.


    Everything became clear, and the skies seemed brighter, too. The chirping of the birds sounded sweet, and the scent of the air seemed fresh and clean.


    If this was the feeling of being in love, then Arin didn''t want to escape.


    The two finally arrived at the set, and Director Nana sighed in relief when she finally saw them.


    "There you are!" she eximed. "Where have you guys been?"


    June smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Director. Arin and I just had a talk on how to act out the scene. We realized we still had some barriers between us, so we took a few moments to step over those boundaries."


    Director Nana nodded in understanding. "That''s alright, then¡ª


    as long as the two of you are safe."


    "Since the two of you have talked, I''m assuming you''re ready to film the scene then."


    June nodded, looking down at their hands.


    Director Nana, too, looked down and saw June holding onto Arin''s hand. A proud smile emerged from her lips.


    They were such professional actors!


    "I''m expecting a lot then," she said.


    June nodded while Arin was still in a daze.


    "Get to your positions, everyone! Let''s film thest scene for today."

 Chapter 448 Thinking ’Bout You

    <h4>Chapter 448 Thinking ''Bout You </h4>


    The two actors definitely felt morefortablepared to the previous takes.


    The onlookers also felt the shift in theirposure, making them impressed of June''s and Arin''s professionalism.


    June had a sweet smile, one that would make his fangirls melt in a heartbeat.


    Jay shook his head as he watched June in his element, wondering how the guy was filled with so much talent. He didn''t expect him to improve so fast after his suggestion.


    Arin, too, embodied the shy Nayeon who didn''t have a lot of experience with love. However, her eyes were filled with so much love¡ªone that others couldn''t deny.


    "Arin is killing it," Nana whispered, liking the look on the actress'' face.


    However, her expression wasrgely attributed to the fact that she wasn''t really acting.


    She just really liked June.


    June took a step forward...and another...and another...until they were only a foot away from each other. There was still a gap between them since they wanted to keep the drama PG-13.


    Nheless, there was something heart-fluttering about their distance.


    It was something only teenagers in high school could portray.


    It took them back to the times when love was much simpler, and Director Nana wanted to portray that sweet love in the short drama.


    "Tomorrow, wear whatever you''refortable with," Jin said, looking into Nayeon''s eyes.


    Nayeon shyly tucked her hair behind her ears.


    "For what?" she asked.


    Jin paused for a moment, internally gathering his courage to finally ask the question.


    "Our first date¡ªlet''s have it tomorrow."


    Jin sighed in relief after he finally dropped the question. It was fascinating how June was able to act on the nuances of Jin''s character.


    He was really just a shy little boy despite his cool exterior. The onlookers were endeared by Jin''s personality and June''s portrayal.


    The others watching felt like a star was being born right before their eyes. It was rare to find idols who could act as well as June, and although Director Nana wanted to gatekeep his talent so she could continue to work with him, she also knew that the world deserved to see June in bigger projects.


    "You should tell me more than that," Nayeon said.


    "What do you want to know?" June cheekily asked. "It may not be much since I''m saving up, but I think we can still have a fun time."


    Nayeon sighed before shaking her head.


    "You know I don''t care about that. I can even pay for the date if you want."


    "No," Jin shook his head. "Please, let me spoil you."


    Arin pursed her lips to hide her widening smile. She wanted to scream like a lunatic right then and there, but her character still needed to actposed!


    Nayeon didn''t argue with him further; she was actually ted to be spoiled by another person other than her family.


    "What do I wear then?" Nayeon asked, sounding more excited.


    "It doesn''t matter," Jin smiled. "You can wear whatever you''refortable in."


    "No," Nayeon shook his head. "You need to tell me the theme."


    "What for?" Jin chuckled. "It''s a casual, fun date. Anything you wear would be fine."


    Nayeon clicked her tongue. "Then, it would be alright if I wore my pajamas?"


    "If you''refortable with it, then go ahead," Jin said.


    "You''re making me look bad then," Nayeon sulked. "How could I stand next to you while wearing pajamas! I''d look like an utter fool."


    "An utter fool who''s utterly beautiful," Jin answered, making Nayeon blush once again.


    "Really, though," Jin said, taking another step forward. His lips were close to her forehead, sending goosebumps all over Nayeon''s skin.


    "Just being with you is enough," Jin whispered.


    The breeze had gotten stronger, and it made their hair sway in the wind. Since Nayeon only reached up to the bottom of June''s nose, she had to lift her head slightly so she could meet his eyes.


    "Thank you for giving me a chance," Jin continued.


    Nayeon slightly nodded, her smile softening.


    "See you tomorrow."


    "Cut!" Director Nana eximed, fully satisfied with their scene.


    The other crew members also started pping, looking proud of the two for oveing their barriers.


    June took a step back and bowed at them, thanking each one for the hard work they had contributed to the scene.


    "That''s a wrap for today, people!" Nana shouted. "We''ll continue this the day after tomorrow since June has another schedule."


    "It will be our veryst filming," Nana said, making others relieved yet disappointed at the same time. They were happy that there was only one day of filming, but at the same time, it was a shame that it ended in such a short time.


    "See you then," Director Nana said, ending her speech. She went back to Bubbles and excitedly talked about the editing period of the drama.


    June was about to head to where Jay was when Arin suddenly held onto his bicep.


    June raised his eyebrows as he looked at the lovestruck maiden.


    The way she looked at him was definitely different. The WhimsiLust potion undoubtedly did its job, but June also felt burdened since their filming had already ended.


    "Do you need anything?" June asked.


    "Are you going somewhere? Let''s have dinner together," Arin asked without any hesitation.


    June pursed his lips and removed her arms around his bicep.


    "I have a meeting with ourpany in a while," June responded.


    "Tomorrow then," Arin said, not giving up.


    "I need to film King of Kings."


    "Then the day after tomorrow," Arin eximed.


    "We''re filming that day," June smiled.


    Arin sighed. "After the filming," she insisted. "Treat me to dinner."


    June looked into her eyes and felt like the girl wouldn''t give up until he agreed.


    "Fine," he said.


    June was sure the effects of the WhimsiLust potion would have ended by then, so he just agreed. Arin, in her normal state, would for sure forget about it after the potion''s effect ended.


    Arin smiled brightly.


    "See you then...baby boy!" she sweetly whispered thest part of the statement, causing June to freeze.


    A shiver ran down his spine¡ªand it wasn''t the good kind.


    "I can''t wait for that potion to expire," June muttered as he walked to where Jay was sitting.


    "Well, that was interesting," Jay teased.


    June sighed. "Let''s go. Don''t we have a meeting with the producers?"


    Jay nodded as the two started walking back to the parking lot. "Yeah, they have another song for the album."


    June pursed his lips, following Jay.


    "Why do you look disappointed?" Jay asked. "Aren''t you happy about your new album?"


    "I am," June said. "It''s just that¡ªI wish they''d give us more opportunities to show our creativity. The first two songs of the album are decent, but I just feel like there''s something missing. They don''t even listen to our suggestions."


    Jay sighed, silently agreeing. He felt a little bit ashamed that he couldn''t change the situation, so he kept quiet.


    "By the way," Jay said as they got to the car. "Did you implement my suggestion when you were acting just now? I was surprised by your sudden improvement."


    "I did," June smirked.


    "Thanks for telling me to think of astras while acting with Arin."

 Chapter 449 Teddy Bear

    <h4>Chapter 449 Teddy Bear </h4>


    June arrivedter than his other members for their meeting with the producers. They were already speaking with Ted, their new in-house producer, and it seemed to be a serious discussion.


    Jisung and Akira quietly made space for June on the couch and patted the empty spot beside them.


    Jisung leaned closer to June and whispered, "They''re going to present our title track."


    June was surprised. He thought the title track of their song would be revealedter on, so he was hopeful that Jay could convince the higher-ups to let the group create their own title track.


    However, it seemed like it had already been decided.


    Ted frowned as June arrived, and he didn''t even bother greeting the idol.


    "As I was saying, this song was produced by none other than myself," Ted said. "Two other producers helped me, and one of them is supposed to meet you guys today, too," he muttered, looking at his watch.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing a prettydy, maybe aroundte-20s or mid-30s.


    Ted smiled as he weed thedy, surprising the members of EVE.


    In their experiences with the producer, they had never seen Ted smile that warmly before.


    "Mari, you''re here," he said, leading her to the seat beside him.


    Mari smiled at the boys while they bowed in respect. Her gaze lingered longer on one of them, an excited glint in her eyes.


    "Sorry, I''mte. I ran into some traffic," she said.


    "Oh, that''s fine," Ted said, acting like he didn''t just snub June when he waste for a valid reason. "We were just getting started anyway."


    "By all means, continue with what you''re doing. I''m just here to see what the boys think of the song we produced," she said.


    "Let me introduce you to the boys first," Ted excitedly said.


    "Boys, this is Mari Kim, my partner."


    June internally chuckled. Well, that exined why Ted was acting all giddy.


    "Partner producer," Mari quickly corrected him.


    June''s internal chuckle intensified as Ted''s face fell. He was in an unrequited love!


    "I have been hired by Azure this month as another in-house producer. From now on, Ted and I will be producing for thepany as well as overseeing the production of your album," she said.


    The members of EVE warmly weed her.


    Ted looked at Mari like she saved the entire world. He even ced his hand under his chin, and June swore he saw his pupils dte. He stayed in that state for a couple of seconds, so the atmosphere was quite awkward in those moments.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat, finally snapping Ted back to his original, grumpy state.


    "Right, where was I?" Ted muttered.


    "Your title track," he eximed. "You will be hearing it for the first time today. It is already in its finished state, so expect that changes after this moment will only be considered if they are very needed. Otherwise, the version you''re hearing today will be the one released on youreback."


    June frowned. He didn''t like how Ted subtly insinuated that they wouldn''t listen to the members'' suggestions in case they didn''t like something about the title track.


    Truly, Ted''s ego was the thing he treasured the most.


    Ted was once a part of a biggerpany. He had hit after hit after hit, and the group he mainly produced for became one of the biggest girl groups in their generation¡ªBLOODYRED.


    However, they disbanded after a disagreement with theirpany. Ted continued to work with thepany even after the group disbanded, but it wasn''t the same as before. His works had degraded with other groups, and it seemed like he couldn''t break away from his usual sound.


    In the end, these groups were heavily criticized for having the same sound as BLOODYRED.


    So, naturally, Ted was kicked out of his pastpany. Azure, being the leech that it is, quickly snatched Ted away with a price lower than his usualmission.


    He joined thepany only this year, so this was the very first album he worked on with Azure.


    The past two songs Ted had presented to EVE were made by different producers, so they didn''t have his signature sound.


    However, what June was afraid of had finallye.


    As Ted yed the song, June could already see the articlesing out about EVE releasing a song that sounded heavily influenced by BLOODYRED.


    June looked around the room to gauge his members'' reactions and saw that they had simr looks on their faces.


    They already had this discussion before, and they thought Azure knew better than anyone else about Ted''s reputation. However, it seemed like they were more focused on making noise for the team¡ªeven if it wasn''t good noise.


    The song ended with Ted looking proud, Mari looking wary, and the members of EVE looking disappointed.


    They were given a chance to choose their title track during their debut album. However, they weren''t given any more freedom after that.


    "What do you think?" Ted asked. However, even after asking that question, it seemed like he didn''t really care about EVE''s opinions.


    "It''s a good song," June said, surprising his members.


    Ted, too, was pleasantly surprised, and he was about to thank June for thepliment, but thetter spoke once more.


    "But it''s not a good song for our team," June added.


    Ted''s eyebrows furrowed, and Mari, too, seemed a bit disappointed.


    "Can you borate more on that?" Mari asked.


    "I don''t know if you''re aware of this, Sir Ted, but it seems like every song you put out is simr to BLOODYRED''s sound," June bluntly said.


    The members of EVE, as well as Jay, looked at June with wide eyes, surprised by his bluntness.


    They were relieved to hear June say the words they wanted to say, but at the same time, they were concerned for his well-


    being.


    Ted didn''t like to be disrespected.


    "I don''t think you know what you''re talking about," Ted said, biting his lip in anger.


    "I''m not saying this to spite you," June sighed. "I''m just telling my honest opinion. This sounds like something that BLOODYRED would put out. Sadly, they''ve disbanded and are now sessful models, actresses, and soloists. However, they still have a lot of fans. They wouldn''t be too happy if we adopted their sound."


    "So, you''re going to disregard my work?" Ted asked. "Just because it sounds like that group''s song doesn''t mean that it''s not any good."


    June sighed. "I didn''t say it was bad. I just said it wasn''t suited for us. It may pass as a B-side track, but I don''t think we can use it as a title track."


    Ted scoffed before pursing his lips together in frustration.


    "What do you suggest then? That you produce your own song?" Ted sarcastically asked.


    However, June took the question seriously.


    "Yes," June said. "That''s exactly what I''m suggesting."

 Chapter 450 Eye Crusties

    <h4>Chapter 450 Eye Crusties </h4>


    Ted couldn''t believe the audacity of the rookie idol who was staring straight into his eyes.


    He had been alive for 29 years and had been a producer for 9 of those years, and thest time he was challenged like this was during the first years of his career.


    He had garnered awards left and right.


    However, looking into this rookie''s eyes, it felt like June thought of him like they were equals¡ªand he didn''t like that.


    He was aware of the issues he was facing¡ªwith his songs sounding repetitive and all that.


    However, he was determined to resuscitate his career.


    Ted wanted to try over and over again...


    ...and he didn''t care who he has to sacrifice to get there.


    June, on the other hand, was staring at the white eye crusties on Ted''s right eye.


    He wondered if he was the only person who saw it.


    It was sorge that June wondered if it was humanly possible to create such huge eye crusties in such a short amount of time.


    It didn''t look like something that an eye produced¡ªbut something more like a boil?


    June wanted to wipe it off but was also disgusted to do so.


    June quickly looked away after a couple of seconds, causing Ted to smirk.


    "This is not a matter to joke about," Ted said, his head held up high.


    "I''m not joking," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Ted''s smile quickly dropped. He was about to say something more when the other members of EVE interrupted him.


    "I think it would be nice if it didn''t sound too noisy," Jisung shyly but savagely suggested.


    "The drop is a bit underwhelming," Jaeyong added.


    "The chorus is repetitive too," Akira chimed.


    Ted''s face reddened in embarrassment while Mari pursed her lips in disappointment. Even if she was open to constructive criticism, she also felt disappointed that none of them seemed to like the song that she participated in writing.


    Truth be told, Mari was a huge fan of EVE. They were a talented bunch, and she wanted to write a song for them since she felt like they would do it justice.


    She was a fan of one particr person. He had the talent to embody a song in ways one didn''t think would be possible.


    However, it also seemed like the member she liked was the most hostile toward the song they produced.


    Ted sighed as the others continued toment on the song.


    "It''s final," he said in a resolute voice. "This album will be spearheaded by me and Mari. You can tell us your suggestions, but we''re not obligated to use them. We have years of experience in the industry, while you just debuted only three months ago."


    "Now, let me ask¡ªwhat do you know about creating hits in the industry?" Ted asked.


    June pursed his lips in frustration as Ted continued to be stubborn.


    He knew more about the K-pop industry than the average person. Being the brother of the biggest fangirl in the entire world had its perks¡ªand this was one of them.


    June had heard plenty of K-pop songs in his life, witnessed plenty of dramas in the industry, and even became a part of such dramas in his current body.


    He was confident about his knowledge of trends.


    The song Ted created will only create bad noise and potentially tarnish EVE''s career once it gets released.


    As June nced at the stubborn producer, he knew that he wouldn''t be able to change his mind.


    But¡­someone else could.


    June turned his gaze toward Mari, and much to his surprise, she was staring straight at him, too.


    Their eyes met, and June silently pleaded with her for a chance to create a song their group could proudly call theirs.


    However, seconds passed, and June saw a shift in Mari''s eyes.


    He tilted his head to the side in confusion when her gaze suddenly turned loving.


    Then, his eyes widened when he realized what was happening.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 2]


    [Time of eye contact: 30 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 19 hours]


    June''s eyes widened when Fu appeared before him. He didn''t even stare at her that long, so how could it be activated?


    He quickly went through his interface and clicked on the potions.


    [WhimsiLust Potion: Active]


    There, he saw a hidden portion at the very bottom. June frowned and scrolled until he reached the hidden use.


    [Seconds of eye contact needed for activation will decrease by half after every affected person]


    ''Why the heck would you hide this use from me?'' June scolded Fu in his mind.


    [...]


    June sighed before massaging his temples.


    "Are you alright?" Jisung asked when he noticed June''s frustrations.


    June pursed his lips before nodding. Fu will be the death of him one of these days.


    June lifted his head to look at Mari once more and saw her in the same state. She looked at him like she was infatuated¡ª


    simr to Arin.


    However, he was suddenly struck with a bright idea after seeing Mari''s disposition.


    This might be their chance to finally get their voices heard.


    June continued to look into Mari''s eyes, silentlymunicating his desires to the older woman. She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment. However, Mari couldn''t resist the look June was giving her.


    Jisung raised his hand since he also didn''t want to settle for the song that Ted had made.


    "Our group also has a lot of good producers and lyric-makers," he proudly said.


    "Ren''s mentor is a very famous producer, while June has been praised by plenty of great producers since our time on Rising Stars. If you didn''t know, he also produced the bridge of our song in Oasis," Jisung continued.


    "And like I said, everything is final¡ª," Ted said, but was cut off by an unexpected person.


    "What if we let them produce something?" Mari suddenly asked, surprising Ted and the members of EVE.


    June, on the other hand, pursed his lips and breathed deeply to hide his happiness.


    "What?" Ted asked in disbelief after hearing Mari''s statement.


    "Let''s have the boys create something for their album. Who knows? They might make a better title track than us."

 Chapter 451 June’s Unusual Harem

    <h4>Chapter 451 June''s Unusual Harem </h4>


    Ted was appalled.


    He couldn''t believe the girl he liked was actually suggesting something so vile.


    "So, you''re proposing that a rookie group produce their own song for their very firsteback?" Ted couldn''t watch his tone, so he sounded angrier than expected.


    Mari pursed her lips. This was the exact reason why she didn''t want to speak up in the first ce.


    However, as of the moment, she felt like she could do anything for June.


    She could even drink toilet water or jump off a train if he asked her to do just that.


    "Well, I feel like it''s notmon, but it''s not impossible," Mari smiled. "If they want to do just that, then what could we lose?"


    Ted pursed his lips.


    He would lose everything!


    He cannot, for his sake, have this song scrapped after working hard on it.


    "We could potentially lose this title track," Ted said.


    "It''s not definitive," Mari responded. "We can improve this song, so EVE would like it more."


    Ted opened his mouth to argue, but with Mari looking at him with her cute cat-like eyes, he found it hard to refute his suggestions.


    "Right, Ted. We can improve the song even more, hmm?" she asked in a sweet tone, making Ted''s breath get caught in the back of his throat.


    Ted wordlessly nodded as if hypnotized.


    June watched the scene before him with an amused smile. It seemed like Mari had a WhimsiLust potion of her own!


    June never thought the potion would be of any use, but he actually benefited from it for two situations already.


    Ted sighed as he faced the members of EVE. He felt humiliated, but his heart was dancing with joy since Mari talked to him so sweetly.


    "Fine," he grumbled. "You can create a song or whatever. This song will still be the title track for now, but the A&R team will listen to the song you''ve produced and take it from there."


    Relieved smiles arose on EVE''s faces, and they were ted for the rare opportunity.


    Ren patted June''s back while June nodded in acknowledgment.


    "If you don''t have anything else to say, then let''s end this meeting," Ted begrudgingly said before standing from his seat and walking out of the room.


    However, as soon as he got out, his face reddened, and his knees buckled like a shy anime girl. He held onto the railings and felt himself gushing in happiness.


    The door opened behind him, revealing Mari, who quickly paused when she saw Ted''s position.


    "Umm, are you alright?" Mari asked.


    Ted froze and averted his gaze. He cleared his throat and straightened his posture before zooming out of the hallways out of embarrassment.


    ***


    June sighed in relief as soon as the two producers were gone.


    "I can''t believe that just happened," Jay uttered, rxing in his seat. "I''ve been trying to convince them to get you to produce even just one song, but they refused every time. I wonder what happened now."


    "It was because of Mari," Ren replied. "We should thank her for giving us the opportunity."


    "And we should create a good song for the opportunity they gave us," Jaeyong chimed.


    "You should focus on yourst performance for King of Kings for now," Jay advised. "I''ll try to convince them to give you some more time to produce the song since theeback is still in two months."


    The members nodded, putting the topic aside for now.


    Just then, June felt someone staring at him. He turned to the side and saw Casper looking at him with a slight re.


    June narrowed his eyes in suspicion.


    Casper had been acting weird since June started filming ''Hate to Love You.'' He had been strangely hostile every time they ran into each other in the dorms, and June also caught Casper staring at him multiple times without saying anything.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 3]


    [Time of eye contact: 15 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]


    Well, shit.


    He forgot about the potion again!


    Casper stood from his seat and suddenly walked over to June. He gave him a small hug before going back to his seat.


    The members'' eyes widened after Casper''s actions.


    "Aww, Casper''s not sulking anymore!" Akira eximed.


    Just then, Casper stood once again, walking over to June and now ruffling his hair. June''s hair was as soft as Luther''s fur!


    "I want to do it too," Jisung said, walking over to where June was to ruffle his hair.


    However, in the midst of that, his eyes met with June''s.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 4]


    [Time of eye contact: 7.5 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]


    "June is so cute!" Jisung suddenly gushed.


    June turned to Jay to ask for help.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 5]


    [Time of eye contact: 3.75 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]


    June quickly closed his eyes as Jay flocked to him, too.


    "June is mine!" Jay eximed.


    The other members watched the scene before them with bewildered expressions.


    "What the hell is going on?" Zeth muttered.


    June turned to the side where he thought nobody would be sitting.


    Then, he opened his eyes for a couple of seconds to find a way to escape.


    However, much to his surprise, Sehun was sitting there, and their eyes met for a brief second.


    However, that was already enough.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 6]


    [Time of eye contact: 1.875 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]


    "Fuck!" June eximed loudly, turning to the other side.


    However, Ren was sitting there, and although their eyes met for only a minuscule mooment, the effect was instantaneous.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 6]


    [Time of eye contact: 0.9375 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]


    June closed his eyes once more and elbowed everyone who was touching him.


    He took back everything he said about the WhimsiLust potion.


    It was shit.


    He forcefully stood from his seat, still with his eyes closed. Then, without saying anything, he ran away from the infatuated members.


    He could hear them following after him, so June quickened his face despite his closed eyes.


    He navigated through the hallways of Azure Entertainment but halted when he bumped into a person.


    ....or rather...a group of people.


    June opened his eyes for a moment to gauge what was going on.


    As he lifted his head, he saw old, corporate people who looked miserable.


    However, their expressions brightened as June stared back at them.


    [WhimsiLust effect: 23]


    [Time of eye contact: 0.46875 seconds]


    [Remaining duration for effectivity: 18 hours]

 Chapter 452 Haruki Hates You

    <h4>Chapter 452 Haruki Hates You </h4>


    "June, I cleaned every hair in the bathroom!"


    "June, I made you breakfast."


    "June, listen to this song. I wrote it just for you."


    *Intensely staring*


    "B¡ªbro, you''re very handsome today."


    "Did you get new sunsses? Where did you buy them so we could be matching!"


    June sighed in relief when they finally arrived at the SBC building for yet another King of Kings episode.


    The WhimsiLust potion had gotten him more trouble than he expected. After making those corporate people fall in love with him, the needed time for eye contact boiled down to a mere 0.001 seconds.


    In the end, June had to resort to wearing dark sunsses to avoid everyone''s gazes.


    He affected 157 people in the process, though¡ªan old man selling fishcake on the street, a street sweeper, a bunch of garbagemen, Sunwoo from BOYMYSTIC, another producer, and a street cat.


    Now, he was determined to get through the filming without triggering the potion.


    There were less than three hours before it expired, so he just had to wait until then.


    June felt his teammates trailing behind him, much closer than he would like. So, he turned around with a re, causing all of them to stop.


    He pointed his index finger at all of them.


    "You better behave," June said.


    "Will you hold our hands if we behave?" Casper asked, causing June to sigh in defeat.


    "Yes," June resigned.


    The potion would expire by then anyway, so June just agreed to get it over with.


    Happy smiles appeared on their faces, and they finally maintained an eptable distance from June.


    June entered the studio and found everyone except for CHAOS waiting inside already.


    SPADES approached them as soon as they entered. Chan wrapped one arm around June and smiled.


    "Nice sunsses, bro. Where''d you buy it?" he asked.


    "My little brother got it for me," June proudly said.


    Chan looked closer at the sses and gasped when he saw the small logo engraved on the frame.


    "The new limited edition Ferrarigummy sses? How''d your little brother afford this?" he eximed.


    June shrugged. He wasn''t aware of the brand, but Minjun just gave it away since it was too big for him.


    "Holy schnitzel. Can I borrow it?" Chan eximed, holding onto the edge of the sunsses to try and take it away from June.


    However, June stepped back before he could do so.


    And at that moment, he bumped into someone from behind him. June even stepped on the person''s foot, so he quickly apologized.


    "Watch where you''re going," a familiar voice grumbled.


    [Congrattions! You''ve stepped on a special mission!]


    June turned around and saw Haruki staring down at him with a displeased expression.


    [Haruki hates you.]


    ''You don''t have to state the obvious.''


    [Haruki hates you, Choi Joon-ho.]


    June frowned at Fu''s message. It seemed like his user interface dimmed out a bit.


    He had never seen Fu like this, and he was slightly unnerved by his change in character.


    [Find out why.]


    June felt more unnerved. It was such a straight-to-the-point statement.


    Only three words, yet June felt its impact.


    [Reward: Upgrade skills faster with the host''s hard work and effort]


    [After the mission''s aplishment, you can now earn hard work points]


    [50 hard work points can be converted for further upgrades]


    [Deadline: 2 weeks]


    "Are you just going to stand there?" Haruki snapped.


    June pursed his lips and stepped backward, bowing his head in a silent apology.


    Haruki sighed and shook his head as he walked away from the group.


    Akira broke the silence after CHAOS settled in their respective area.


    "Who is he to talk to our king like that?" Akira asked, bowing down to dust June''s shoes.


    June clicked his tongue and forced Akira to stand.


    "Dang, he''s really not fond of you, huh? Did you do something to him in your past life or something?" Chan asked.


    June''s eyebrows were slightly furrowed.


    That was what he needed to find out.


    "Anyway, can I try on those sses? I''ve been eyeing them since it came out," Chan said, reaching out for the sses once more.


    "No!" June eximed, shocking both the members of EVE and SPADES.


    "Why not?" Chan whined.


    June pursed his lips toe up with some kind of excuse. His members being infatuated with him was already enough.


    "Pink eye!" June said.


    "Right," June nodded. "I have pink eye."


    "You do?" Zeth eximed.


    "We failed to protect you," Sehun pursed his lips in disappointment.


    "You can look into my eyes, so we''ll have matching pink eyes," Casper chimed, walking closer.


    June held out his hand before Casper could take another step forward.


    Chan nodded in disappointment.


    "That''s a bummer. Maybe next time, then," Chan said.


    June nodded, relieved that he got out of the situation.


    One of the staff members called for them to settle down, so SPADES and EVE went to their respective seats.


    After a while, Jee Haemin went to the stage, so the participants quickly stood and bowed their heads in respect.


    "I feel like it''s been a while," Haemin said. "I watched all of your performances during thest mission in thefort of my own home, and I enjoyed every bit," he said, ncing specifically at EVE.


    "Today, we''re going to determine the winners of the idol mission."


    June cleared his mind of his pending mission and focused on the topic at hand.


    He gazed at the screen, where their current rankings were shown.


    The five million gap between them and CHAOS was jarring, and June felt like it was impossible to catch up to them.


    "Let me first announce thest ce," Haemin said.


    "Robby!" he eximed, making the soloist sigh. He wasn''t too surprised anymore since he had cedst for the majority of the missions.


    The other rankings were also expected. BOYMYSTIC took the fifth ce while SPADES took the fourth.


    Now, OCTA, CHAOS, and EVE were the groups in the running for the first ce.


    "For third ce¡ªOCTA! Congrattions. You have acquired more than 3 million votes for this mission."


    Uno pursed his lips but nheless nodded in eptance.


    He wasn''t too upset with the results since he knew they didn''t get to perform their best.


    Uno, however, would be upset if the group he was rooting for didn''t end up in the first ce.


    "It''s CHAOS against EVE again for this week," Haemin said, building tension as the numbers went haywire on the screen.


    Jaeyong looked down at hisp, not wanting to expect anything. He was really proud of the stage they created for this particr mission, but he wondered if it was enough to topple the monster that was CHAOS.


    "With 11 million votes..."


    The participants gasped as the number of votes was revealed.


    It was already the highest votes anyone had acquired in the entirepetition!


    "The winner of the idol mission is..."

 Chapter 453 The Everything-Nothing Challenge

    <h4>Chapter 453 The Everything-Nothing Challenge </h4>


    June yet again hoped for a miracle.


    He saw the impact of their performance after it was aired. Fans and non-fans alike loved the performance, and it garnered the most views out of all the videos posted.


    Their team name even trended higher than CHAOS, and those who weren''t fans of EVE but watched Rising Stars were encouraged to vote for them on the SBC website.


    Fans of Rising Stars were brought back to the much simpler, happier times, and they joined hands with astras to try to give EVE their very first win on King of Kings.


    However, June didn''t know if these efforts were enough to overthrow CHAOS. In the end, the gap between their views was only less than 600,000.


    "EVE!" Haemin eximed, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    He lifted his head and saw the participants looking at their group.


    He realized he had been out of focus for a few minutes, so he didn''t know if Haemin called their name for the first ce or the second ce.


    June gazed at the screen and saw CHAOS'' group name still on top. So, for a second, he thought they had garnered those 11 million votes.


    However,?once he saw the numbers beside their group name, June realized that maybe, just maybe, miracles do happen sometimes.


    "...and with 8 million votes, we have CHAOS!" Haemin concluded.


    The members of CHAOS put up a professional front as the present votes were added to their score.


    They had over 18 million votes at the moment, and trailing behind them was EVE...with 16 million votes.


    "Holy mother of goats," Akira muttered in disbelief at the turn of events.


    "Is this really happening?" Jisung asked, appearing absent-minded.


    Y shook his head as he looked at the baffled looks on EVE''s face.


    He couldn''t deny that he was pretty envious of what they had achieved. However, he knew that the group deserved it. So, he couldn''t really hate them for achieving such great heights.


    Uno, too, would have felt envious if this circumstance happened in the past.


    However, after getting to know June, he felt like he had be more rxed. Instead of hating EVE for achieving something they wanted to achieve, Uno took it as a driving force to do better next time.


    After recovering from their shock, the members turned to their muse¡ªJune.


    However, June already guarded his body before they could vite him.


    "You made our victory possible, bro," Jisung admiringly said.


    June slowly let his guard down before shaking his head.


    "You guys made our song," June proudly said. "We all contributed to our victory¡ªnot just me."


    The members nodded, epting their victory with grace. Their morale was already boosted for the next mission, and they couldn''t wait for what was in store for the team.


    "Now that the ranks have been established, let''s go to our next mission," Haemin eximed, capturing the participants'' attention.


    "I''m sure most of you are excited for this show to finally end," Haemin said.


    Chuckles filled the room.


    "However, I must say, the prize in the end will definitely be worth the hard work and effort you''ve poured into the show."


    The participants murmured excitedly, wondering what it could be.


    In thest season of ''Queen of Queens,'' the reigning champions were given an exclusive tour to a European country. June hadn''t gone overseas in his entire life (except for his transmigration, of course), so he was looking forward to winning a simr prize.


    "Thisst mission will involve your creativity," Haemin continued. "Your creativity has been tested all throughout thepetition, but I believe it is the most needed in this mission!"


    "The title of this mission is the King''s Stage!"


    The studio turned dim, and intense music resounded in the studio after Haemin announced the mission''s name. Spotlights of different colors danced around the room, heightening the tension and excitement felt by the participants.


    "As idols, you are expected to do everything¡ªlike a king," Haemin continued.


    "However, the greatest kings are those who came from nothing," he meaningfully smiled. "So, for this mission, that''s exactly what you''ll have¡ªnothing."


    "We won''t be giving you anything at all. No fancy effects. No props. Nothing. Just the standard stage lights, you, the instrumental, and your talents. You will perform yourtest title track, and it''s up to you how to make it remarkable without any special effects."


    June smirked in satisfaction. It was another genius concept by SBC. It was the type of stage that would show the bare talents of each group.


    To be able to see the bigger picture, sometimes, we should go back to where we started¡ªfrom nothing.


    "And since EVE won this week''s mission, they will be given a special advantage in the next pre-mission," Haemin smirked as the idols visibly slumped in their seats.


    They could still remember the repercussions of the previous acting challenge. Those who participated were clowned up until this day, and they were sure those atrocious acting clips were going to be brought up even years into their careers.


    However, it also gave June the opportunity to participate in another project¡ªone that the people in the room didn''t know of. Of course, there were spections that June was recruited for an acting project, but since there haven''t been any official articles, only EVE and those involved in Azure knew of the project.


    "Don''t worry," Haemin chuckled. "This is not another acting challenge."


    A lot of the idols sighed in relief.


    "However, it will involve a test of strength, endurance, and decision-making. You might not see the link of this pre-mission to your present job, but I assure you, the principles of the mission are very much aligned with what an idol does."


    June didn''t have a clue about what they would be doing for the next pre-mission.


    "As you all know, idols need to be fit since it is a physically demanding job. So, we have devised this pre-mission to strengthen your stamina and overall physical well-being as idols."


    June pursed his lips when he finally realized what they were going to do.


    "For today, we will have a sports day!"

 Chapter 454 Act Cute

    <h4>Chapter 454 Act Cute </h4>


    June was reminded of their Field Day in Rising Stars.


    He could still remember the phone essories he won. His phone was worse than a rock from the 1800s during that time, and now, he had a phone that heated up whenever he used it too much.


    But who was he toin? It was definitely an upgrade from his past phone.


    June could now admit that their Field Day was actually pretty fun. Just as long as he didn''t have to dress up like a princess this time around, then June would be perfectly fine.


    "As the winner of thest mission, EVE will have the privilege to choose the sport you are all going topete in," Haemin announced, capturing the participants'' attention once more.


    The members of EVE nced at each other, satisfied looks in their eyes. They never expected to win a mission against CHAOS, so they would take any advantage they were given.


    "The first option is¡ªvolleyball," Haemin started off.


    June instantly shook his head.


    June knew a lot about volleyball. He enjoyed it, even. However, the only reason why he knew about the sport was because of that popr volleyball anime that he became obsessed with and watched secretly in his free time.


    He didn''t think he would cry because of a sports anime, but let''s just say he quickly took his words back once the third season rolled around.


    Nheless, even if he loved that certain anime, he felt like choosing the game wouldn''t give their team any advantage.


    "Next is tennis!" Haemin eximed.


    June wasn''t sure if they chose these sports around him, but he also enjoyed watching a certain tennis anime when he was younger.


    "The third option is basketball," Haemin continued.


    June subtly shook his head in disagreement. Ever since their cheese ballmercial, he had never looked at basketballs the same way before. Now, in his mind, they''re all circles made of solid cheese.


    "Andstly, is Taekwondo," Haemin concluded.


    Since the members of EVE were all infatuated with their center at the moment, they all turned to him to ask his decision.


    "Should we y tennis?" Jisung excitedly asked. "I feel like you''ll be good at it!"


    "Or volleyball!" Casper excitedly said. "We can hold hands whenever we win against a team."


    June sighed before shaking his head.


    "Let''s pick Taekwondo," June said, already certain of his decision.


    Even if they were infatuated, the members couldn''t hide their confusion.


    "Taekwondo?" Zeth asked. "Are you good at fighting?"


    June smirked, crossing his arms in front of their chest.


    These guys didn''t know¡­


    June was the best at fighting. He didn''t know a lot about Taekwondo, but if it meant taking your opponent down, then he was confident they were going to win.


    "Are you questioning June?" Ren asked, a frown on his face.


    The others also turned to Zeth with disappointed expressions.


    "We''re going to kick you out of this club without hesitation," Jaeyong warned, pointing his index finger at him.


    "Club?" June asked, confused.


    "The June lovers club," Jisung innocently smiled.


    June sighed before massaging his nose bridge.


    He couldn''t wait for the WhimsiLust potion to expire.


    "Have you made your decision?" Haemin asked, interrupting their conversation.


    The members nodded, taking June''s suggestion with high regard.


    "We''ll go with Taekwondo," Jaeyong said, causing some of the participants to groan in disappointment.


    "Nice choice," Haemin smiled. "Taekwondo is a sport that entails a lot of discipline and agility. Please move to the next room and get ready to choose your representatives."


    The participants moved to the next room, and much to their surprise, the production crew had already set things up for a Taekwondo match. It was as if they had prepared it beforehand!


    A referee came from the back, and the participants bowed as he made his way to the center.


    Haemin stood beside him and took out his cue cards, ready to exin the mechanics of the game.


    "This will be a 1v1 game with the chosen representatives from your groups. It is an elimination round, which means that once your teammate loses, then you''re automatically disqualified from winning this week''s advantage."


    "Each team will face another team. There would only be one round of two minutes. In those two minutes, you mustnd kicks on either your opponent''s abdomen or head. The abdomen ounts for three points, while the head is for five. The person who scores the highest poins will then advance to the next round," Haemin continued to exin.


    The participants nodded in understanding.


    "However, since there are seven teams, EVE will automatically advance to the top three teams as part of their advantage. These three semi-finalists will then y rock, paper, scissors to determine who will automatically advance to the final round," he concluded.


    June nodded in satisfaction. They were only going to y at least two rounds, at least, so they definitely had the biggest advantage to win.


    "For the six other teams, please pick a ball from the fishbowl to determine your opponents," Haemin instructed.


    While the others were choosing their opponents, June turned to his teammates to determine who wouldpete in the semi-final round.


    He looked at them one by one before his eyes settled on a tall, muscr frame.


    "You," June said, nodding his head toward Casper.


    "y during the semi-finals," he instructed.


    Since the WhimsiLust potion was still active, June was certain Casper was going to agree right away.


    The others slumped in disappointment, and Jisung even threw June a betrayed look.


    "That should be me," Akira whispered, clenching his fist before biting it with his mouth.


    "So dramatic," June whispered.


    Meanwhile, Casper kept silent, making June frown.


    "You''re going to y, right?" June repeated.


    A small smirk appeared on Casper''s lips, and then he winked at June.


    June stepped back as he felt shivers run down his spine. He could really never tell what Casper was thinking about.


    "I will¡ªin one condition," Casper''s smirk widened while June''s nervousness heightened.


    "Act cute for us, June!"

 Chapter 455 Sus

    <h4>Chapter 455 Sus </h4>


    The color on June''s face drained, and his members turned to him with excited expressions.


    His members looked at him like a pack of hyenas, ready to pounce at him at any given chance.


    Don''t get them wrong. They might act suspiciously, but they didn''t have any bad intentions.


    They just genuinely wanted to see their homie act cute (and suffer in the process).


    June looked around and saw that the other participants were already getting ready for the first game.


    "I''ll do it at home," June triedpromising. However, his members were as stubborn as bulls, and with all seven of them intensely gazing at him, June knew he couldn''t escape without giving them what they wanted.


    So, he hesitatingly did a finger heart and showed it for a split second. If there was something June wasn''t good at, then it would be aegyo. He never really got the concept around aegyo, but it seemed like fans and other people enjoyed watching it¡ªespecially from idols.


    It was borderline creepy how even old men would watch fan cams of underaged K-pop girls just for their cute acts.


    "There," June said, already feeling embarrassed.


    "Eyy, that''s not aegyo," Jaeyong said. "Akira, show him how it''s done."


    Akira nodded excitedly, stepping forward so he could show June what it was like to truly act cute.


    Akira twisted his feet, his arms, his fingers, and any extremity that could be twisted. He then pouted before bringing his chin closer to his neck, making his eyes bigger in the process. Afterward, he puffed up his cheeks and blinked rapidly, like dust was stuck in his eyes.


    June quickly covered his eyes, not wanting to watch such an atrocity.


    "Why do you even like these things?" June quietly eximed.


    Meanwhile, OCTA, who was still deliberating on who to send against SPADES, noticed what EVE was doing.


    At that moment, Jisung was demonstrating yet another cute act, and it appeared like Akira wasn''t backing down either.


    "Gosh, what are they doing?" Seven asked, looking appalled.


    "You''re more appalling," Ocho whispered.


    Uno looked at their group and gestured to his teammates to step back.


    "What a bunch of weird guys," Uno muttered.


    "Enough!" June eximed. "I get it. I get it. Will you y if I do as they did?" June asked Casper.


    Casper excitedly nodded, putting his hands together in anticipation.


    June let out a deep breath before taking a look around. Fortunately, all of the cameras were turned toward the middle, where Y and Tres were getting ready for the first game.


    With that in mind, June faced his members and closed his eyes for a moment. It was a good thing he was wearing sunsses; otherwise, he would have felt more embarrassed.


    Taking a deep breath, he channeled the cuteness that was hidden inside his heart¡­


    ¡­and with everything he got, he put out two peace signs, pouted his lips, and puffed up his cheeks. He stood on one leg in order to look like a cute anime girl before shooting arrow hearts at his teammates.


    At that moment, it felt like sparkles exploded in the studio. The members watching had wide smiles on their faces, looking like proud dads in their son''s very first recital.


    Casper ced his hand over his heart, feeling satisfied with June''s service.


    After the cute act, June quickly went back to his original state.


    "You''llpete now, right?" June asked, almost breathless from the shameless, cute act.


    Casper enthusiastically nodded, now facing the middle to watch the first game.


    Meanwhile, June turned around and performed deep breathing exercises to recover from the shame he felt.


    However, at that moment, he saw a camera focused on their team.


    His eyes widened slightly in surprise, and then he locked gazes with the cameraman.


    The camera probably didn''t catch him in the act, right?


    ¡­right?


    ***


    June was the representative for their team to y rock, paper, scissors.


    You could already guess how that went.


    June just wanted to gauge his luck since things were actually going pretty well for him these days. However, it seemed like it hadn''t changed¡ªhe still had shitty luck.


    In the end, Casper had to y with CHAOS for the semi-final round.


    Fortunately, Casper performed within June''s expectations. He practically plummeted Nashon to the ground after seeing June''s cute act.


    Now, only the final round was left.


    The members of EVE were deciding who to send, and it appeared like they were picking between two people.


    The first candidate was Sehun, the member who undoubtedly had the biggest body in the team. He also had long legs, which would be an advantage when it came to kicking.


    The second candidate was Zeth, the resident gymd of EVE. He was someone who valued his looks a lot, so he couldn''t skip one day of working out despite their busy schedules. Moreover, he really liked seeing himself in front of therge mirrors of the gym, all sexy and all.


    Just then, Ocho stepped out from his team, walking to the middle and putting on his sparring gear.


    "Aww dang, Ocho''s going?" Akira asked. "Zeth should go then¡­


    they have simr builds anyway."


    "But Sehun''s taller," Ren countered.


    Zeth narrowed his eyes at Ren. "Only by a centimeter!"


    June clicked his tongue, cutting their conversation short.


    "I''m going," he confidently said.


    "You?" Jaeyong couldn''t help but exim. The other members, too, looked at him with wide eyes, wondering why he volunteered for such a rough sport.


    June shrugged. "What''s wrong with mepeting?" June asked.


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his head.


    "It''s not that we''re underestimating you or anything," Jaeyong said. "We''ve already learned not to do that at any cost," he added.


    "But you''re going to get hurt!"


    June sighed before shaking his head.


    "What do you take me for?"


    The members of EVE turned silent.Looking at June''s physique, he was definitely more suited for other sports¡ªmaybe figure skating, fencing, or even swimming!


    They couldn''t imagine their center doing any contact sports.


    June smirked as he observed their hesitant faces.


    "Watch and learn."

 Chapter 456 I Lost

    <h4>Chapter 456 I Lost </h4>


    June and Ocho stood before each other, each in their full sparring gear. From the audience''s viewpoint, it already seemed like Ocho would win. He had a fitter body than June, and his legs were also quite long.


    June cracked his knuckles from behind his back.


    He actually couldn''t wait for the game to start since he missed engaging in contact fighting.


    Being a trainee and, consequently, an idol definitely had its perks, but it also took away some of the hobbies that June enjoyed during his past life.


    June technically didn''t know how to y Taekwondo, but he learned a lot after watching the previous games.


    "You''re going to keep your sunsses on?" Ocho asked.


    June wordlessly nodded. It was definitely a disadvantage, but he couldn''t afford anyone falling for him at that very moment.


    The eight boys on the side moving like perky little cheerleaders were already too much for June to handle.


    The room turned silent as the referee signaled the start of the game. June and Ocho bowed at each other, and then they bounced on their feet, circling each other on the soft mat.


    June, with a confident glint in his eyes, observed Ocho''s every move. The faintest hint of a smirk yed on his lips as he mentally noted Ocho''s defensive stances and reflexes.


    They continued to circle each other, with Ochonding most of the hits on June''s abdomen.


    The members of OCTA watched the match intently, asionally cheering for Ocho whenever hended a hit.


    However, Uno remained silent, his gaze focused on his member''s opponent. June looked way too calm for someone who was seemingly losing.


    The members of EVE flinched every time Ochonded a hit on June''s abdomen.


    Jaeyong held Jisung back since he wanted to fight Ocho right then and there. Jaeyong leaned closer to Jisung''s ears.


    "This isn''t you, Jisung. Calm down," he dramatically whispered.


    Ochonded another kick, stronger than the ones before. At that moment, June became sure. Ocho definitely had experience with the sport. He didn''t move like a professional, but Ocho probably knew more about Taekwondo than the ordinary citizen.


    If June wasn''t wearing any sparring gear, then he was sure he''d bruise on the spots Ocho had kicked. He felt a slight pain in his ribs, but it wasn''t anything rming.


    June was used to getting kicked.


    During his first year as a thug, he underwent multiple hazing activities that led him to have chronic back issues. So, being kicked like this almost felt like a p on the wrist.


    For nearly a minute, Ocho dominated the game.


    However, in that minute, June analyzed Ocho''s ying style.


    June realized that Ocho didn''t kick too well with his left leg, so that gave him the opportunity to take advantage of the idol''s weak side.


    June''s smirk reappeared.


    Now, it was showtime.


    With a swift motion, he aimed a powerful kick at Ocho''s abdomen, testing the waters.


    Ocho paused for a moment, stunned by the power that came from someone who had a lean body like June.


    The others watching were also taken aback. The sound of June''s foot hitting Ocho''s gear sounded like it hurt, so they wondered if June was hiding his potential in the sport after all.


    Undeterred, June followed up with a lightning-quick kick to Ocho''s head.


    The onlookers gasped at the precision of the move. Nobody hadnded a kick to the head in the past rounds since none of them had experience with Taekwondo.


    However, June, someone shorter than Ocho by nine centimeters, actually ovee their gap andnded a kick on his head!


    It was almost unbelievable.


    Ocho was once again caught off guard, so June took that moment to exploit the situation.


    Hended kicks on his abdomen left and right, not giving Ocho the time and chance to fight back.


    June smirked as he felt the thrill of fighting course through his veins. It had been a while since he felt like this, so he wanted to ride on the high of it for longer.


    However, there were only less than twenty seconds left.


    June made the most of it bynding another kick to Ocho''s head.


    Ocho managed tond a kick to June''s abdomen, but June paid it back three times more. At that point, the producers on the side also started losing count of the points June had gathered.


    Five seconds left, and June wanted tond onest kick to Ocho''s head.


    So, he positioned himself, bent his knees, and turned to one side. He delivered the kick with precision; however, much to his surprise, he didn''t feel the exhrating feeling of his footnding on the soft padding. It didn''t make a satisfying sound, either.


    Instead, he felt an unusual force on his ankles¡ªlike someone had wrapped their hand around them.


    June''s eyes widened slightly as he realized the situation.


    The whistle blew, signaling the end of the game.


    The referee pointed at June, signifying he had won the final round.


    The members of EVE cheered his name, even holding hands like they had won the World Cup.


    However, that wasn''t really important for June. As Ocho continued grasping on his ankle, he felt himself losing bnce.


    And before he even knew it, he was already toppling to the ground.


    Ocho let go of his ankle but also lost bnce in the process.


    In the end, the two of them found themselves on the floor, with June right on top of Ocho.


    The room once again turned silent from the unexpected turn of events. The members of EVE were heartbroken as they watched the scene.


    June groaned and tried getting up. However, he felt another strange sensation¡ªlike there was something missing from his body.


    He looked down at Ocho and found the world looking incredibly bright.


    Then, that''s when it hit him.


    He quickly turned to the side and saw his sunsses on the floor, just right next to them.


    June closed his eyes to salvage the situation, but it was already toote.


    Ocho''s eyes were practically shooting hearts as he looked at June.


    June won the game that day¡­


    ¡­but if you asked him, it felt like he had utterly lost.

 Chapter 457 Snapped Back To Reality

    <h4>Chapter 457 Snapped Back To Reality </h4>


    "We should make a Navel ount dedicated to hating Ocho," Akira proposed as soon as they got to the car.


    Akira held the prize June had won in his hands, determined to make Ocho''s career topple to the ground.


    June massaged his temples. Aside from the initial benefits, this potion had been nothing but a pain in the ass. Ocho even tried kissing his cheeks before they left, causing an uproar among the members of OCTA and EVE.


    [Time left for WhimisLust potion: 3 minutes]


    Thankfully, June only had to endure three minutes of annoyance before it finally ended.


    Three grueling minutes.


    "Don''t," June said, ring at all of them. "Just let it go."


    "But why? He tried kissing you on the cheek!" Jisung eximed.


    "We won, though," Zeth excitedly said. "And now, we have Korean beef!"


    June sighed once again. That was another problem. He thought they were going to win another benefit. However, aside from getting to pick the order of performances, the only other thing they won was Korean beef.


    Just then, June felt the emotion shift inside the car.


    Jisung was holding onto his arm at that moment while Ren was patting his head like a little cat.


    Then, like something snapped back to their original ce, the members of EVE halted. Even Jay, who was driving the car, stepped on the brakes.


    June shook his head and turned around to see if there were cars nearby.


    "You really need to stop doing that," June scolded. "It''s already the second time this has happened! We''ll die if this happens for the third time."


    However, it seemed like Jay was still lost in his thoughts.


    Jay stared into the distance before cing his hand over his chest.


    "I¡­feel strange," he said.


    "Same," Ren quickly agreed, also staring off into the distance.


    Jisung sniffed next to him, making June feel even more weirded out.


    "I felt like I lost a first love...," their youngest member whispered.


    "But you don''t remember who they are¡­," Akira finished his statement for him.


    Jisung nodded in agreement.


    Zeth pursed his lips. "Why does it feel like I''ve cheated on Kiera?" he whispered, but June was able to hear it.


    He turned to his member with raised eyebrows, but Zeth merely ignored him.


    "Where are we?" Sehun suddenly asked, looking outside the window.


    "What are we doing here?" he continued to ask.


    "Did we film for King of Kings already?"


    "Wait¡­what are we?" he asked, suddenly having an existential crisis.


    Akira eximed happily when he saw the pack of red meat on hisp.


    "Dang, we actually won beef for that mission? Heck yeah!" he shouted, going back to his original self.


    June sighed in relief when he saw his members in their original states. No matter how annoying they were, he''d take these versions of them any day.


    "Thank goodness," June muttered, thanking the heavens for ending his torture.


    However, it seemed like he spoke too soon.


    At that moment, Casper reached out his hand and ruffled June''s hair, making thetter freeze. The members noticed this and started teasing them.


    "Eyy, the two of you had made up now?" Akira asked. "That''s good! Now, I don''t have to hear Casper sting emo songs from the 2000s in his room every night."


    June''s eye twitched as he turned to Casper. There was still a strange glint in his eyes, making June baffled.


    Why the hell was the potion still working on Casper?


    ***


    Fortunately, it seemed like the potion did be less potent for Casper. He was still weird, but it was something June could tolerate.


    Or maybe Casper was just a weird person.


    June shook his head to clear his mind. What mattered was the potion had finally expired, and he could live without burdening other people''s feelings.


    Now, it was thest day of their filming for ''Hate To Love You,'' and Director Nana had rented out an entire cafe for their shoot.


    It was Jin and Nayeon''s first date, so it would be a day filled with lovestruck emotions.


    June was pretty worried since the potion would have expired by now, so he wasn''t sure if they would get the emotions right. However, as long as June thought about astras while acting with Arin, then he believed he would be fine.


    He just wasn''t sure if Arin would befortable acting like that with him.


    "Sorry, I''mte!" Arin eximed, walking inside the cafe. "The salon took longer than usual for my makeup."


    Director Nana sighed in relief once she saw Arin. She quickly led Arin next to June so they could start filming right away.


    "Alright, we''ll start right away. This cafe only allowed us to film for two hours, so we don''t have any time to spare," Director Nana said.


    Bubbles went in front of the cameras and prepared the te before June and Arin could even engage in a conversation.


    "Action!" Director Nana eximed.


    June and Arin didn''t waste any time getting into their characters. June channeled the feelings he had for astras, while Arin channeled her real feelings.


    Much to June''s surprise, Arin wasn''t afraid to meet his eyes this time around.


    He was even the one who felt awkward when he had to feed Arin for one of the scenes.


    Fortunately, Director Nana didn''t mind it too much and continued rolling with the scene.


    Some more sweet conversationster, and they finally finished filming the scenes of the drama.


    "...and cut!" Director Nana eximed.


    The crew members and other actors cheered, one of them even popping the confetti they had prepared.


    June smiled as he observed the people who had helped him drastically with his acting for the past few weeks.


    It was a short experience, but it was definitely memorable.


    It was June''s first acting gig, and it left him wanting to do more projects in the future.


    He stood from his seat, dusting his jeans off the crumbs that had fallen down when he fed Arin for a certain scene.


    Suddenly, he felt a soft, cold hand hold onto his arm, making him turn around.


    June frowned in confusion when he saw Arin''s smiling face. She usually had a permanent frown whenever they interacted, so this was definitely unexpected.


    "What?" June bluntly asked.


    Arin smiled even bigger, walking closer to June.


    June had to step back since she became too close.


    "Let''s go have dinner like you promised me," she said.

 Chapter 458 Korean Barbecue

    <h4>Chapter 458 Korean Barbecue </h4>


    Arin stared at the smoke in front of her, wriggling like a white worm. The scent of beef and pork attacked her senses, but somehow, it didn''t really stimte her appetite. It just made her more nauseous than she already was.


    "You know, when you say you''d take me to dinner, I didn''t really expect this," Arin said, feeling disappointed.


    June ate nonchntly in front of her. Being able to eat other meat aside from chicken had boosted his appetite, so he ate with gusto.


    "What do you mean?" June asked. "Don''t you like Korean barbecue?"


    Arin pursed her lips and said through gritted teeth, "Of course I do. But you invited everyone to eat with us!"


    "Let''s make a toast for June and Arin! This drama wouldn''t be sessful without them!"


    Director Nana excitedly stood, a little bit tipsy, and raised her ss filled with soju in the air.


    The other crew members followed. June shyly pursed his lips and also raised his ss as they continued to shower him with praises. Arin, on the other hand, just downed the soju straight from the bottle.


    She thought this would be their first date. Arin was expecting something fancier, so when she got an invite from June to have dinner at a Korean barbecue ce, she thought it wasn''t really an ideal ce for a first date.


    However, it was with June¡ªTHE June. So, who was she toin? They could eat next to an irrigation, and she''d still be happy if she was with him.


    But when she arrived, she saw plenty of familiar faces¡ªthe other actors and crew members involved in the production of ''Hate To Love You.''


    All in all, there were thirty other people in the small room¡ªthirty more people than Arin expected.


    "You''re right," June suddenly said, causing Arin to perk up.


    "I''m right?" Arin asked.


    June nodded. "I should have invited fewer people."


    Arin smirked. It should have only been her, right?


    "Now, my wallet''s going to be emptied," June said, slumping on his seat.


    Arin''s eye instantly twitched, wondering how dense June really was.


    June sighed once more before shrugging. "But, it''s alright. They''re paying me pretty well for this role, so it''s a good deal."


    With that, he ate quietly once again, leaving Arin''s mind in shambles.


    Arin shook her head, stared at the enticing green bottle before holding it with both hands and drinking it in one go.


    June looked at her, surprised. He wanted to stop her since intoxication was bad for the mind and the body, but since her manager was letting her do what she wanted, June decided to let it go.


    June stared at his co-actor as she drank.


    June thought it was weird that she still had that lovestruck look in her eyes after the potion had expired. However, thinking that Casper was also the same, he once again decided to let it pass.


    Maybe the potion faded in different durations for different people.


    Or maybe Arin finally felt sorry for nearly drowning June in the pool that one time.


    Arin stared at June, a subtle re in her eyes. ''He has no clue, doesn''t he?'' she internally asked.


    Just then, as June was grilling his third batch of beef, he felt someone''s arms wrap around him.


    "Here''s the star of the night!" she eximed, sitting next to them.


    June chuckled before making more space for the excited director.


    "You''re the star of the night, Director," June countered. "You''re the reason why this production became possible."


    Director Nana waved him off. "This production was on the brink of death before you came! Investors were about to pull out since I couldn''t find the perfect Jin. However, I stumbled upon you on King of Kings and knew right away. I almost couldn''t believe you''re an idol with such skills!"


    "I just followed the script well," June humbly said.


    "Which is amazing! You got into character pretty well. It''s almost like you experienced Jin''s problems," she observed.


    June chuckled. That was, indeed, very true.


    "I''m looking forward to seeing more of your acting work."


    June nodded. "I''ll be busy from now on, though. We have to prepare for theeback."


    "I''m looking forward to that, too," Nana smiled.


    "But mark my words¡ªyou''re going to make it big in the acting industry! Don''t let yourself be bullied when you''re in bigger productions. This production is quite small, so I was able to monitor the set really well, but other productions, especially those airing in bigger stations, are not as kind as this."


    June nodded in understanding. "I''ll take that into mind."


    "Oh, and don''t forget me when you make it big, alright?" she jokingly red, pointing her index finger at the idol.


    June chuckled in amusement. "Of course, Director. I will never forget you."


    Arin watched the scene before her with narrowed eyes. Then, she stabbed the meat on her te with a fork, making a loud sound. Those on their table and the table nearby were startled, and June''s and Nana''s conversation was also interrupted.


    "Well, looks like Arin is drunk," Director Nana chuckled.


    "I''ll go back to my table then. Thanks for the treat," the director eximed, waving goodbye.


    June merely smiled before turning to his jealous co-actor.


    However, he didn''t console her at all. Instead, he stood from his seat because he felt the call of nature.


    Arin let out a deep breath as he walked away from their table, feeling like the entire world had turned its back on her.


    "I hate him," she muttered.


    ''No, you don''t,'' a voice inside her mind said.


    Then, she slumped on the table, her hair sprawling on the surface.


    "No, I don''t," she whispered, letting out another deep breath as she closed her eyes.


    Just then, the people at the table smelled something burning.


    "What''s that?" an extra asked.


    "Something''s¡­burning," Arin''s manager said, his cheeks filled with garlic and lettuce.


    "The meat''s fine, though," another extra chimed, even stabbing one of the pork pieces and devouring it in a second.


    However, the burning smell remained, so they finally turned their gazes to the side¡ªwhere Arin was.


    There, they saw the pretty actress with her hair next to the grill, the tips of it already in mes.


    Her manager''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Arin, you''re in trouble!" he eximed.


    Arin lifted her head and red at her manager.


    "I know that!" she nearly shouted. She was stuck in an unrequited love with the most dense person on Earth.


    However, she quickly snapped back to her senses when she felt something hot on her shoulder. She gazed to the side and saw her hair in mes.


    Then, she let out the biggest scream known to man.

 Chapter 459 That Boy is Mine

    <h4>Chapter 459 That Boy is Mine </h4>


    "What made you invite us to eat Korean barbecue anyway?" Nari asked, patting her stomach that had bulged after the hefty meal.


    Jia raised her eyebrows. "Why? Are youining? Vomit it out then," Jia joked.


    Nari chuckled and shook her head.


    "I''m just wondering. You never really treat us out."


    Jia shrugged, a small smile appearing on her face.


    "It''s to celebrate EVE''s first win in King of Kings. My mom gave me an extra allowance this week since she knows I''ve been voting for EVE. There''s still some money left, so I decided to treat you guys," she exined.


    "Wow," Bora said, still picking some of the food stuck between her teeth. "EVE actually managed to get this stingy girl to spend her money on us."


    Jia clicked her tongue.


    "I''m not stingy," she snapped.


    Her friends turned to each other with knowing looks.


    "Whatever you say," they said in unison.


    Just then, they heard a loud scream from inside one of the rooms. The restaurant was the type where you could rent an entire room with your friends and eat in the peace of your ownpany.


    The four friends turned to the door before gazing at each other with raised eyebrows.


    "What was that?" Jia asked.


    Bora shrugged. "Beats me. It sounded like a pig getting ughtered. What''s that smell, though?" she sniffed. "Smells delicious."


    Soomin looked at her, disgusted. "What do you mean? It smells like a salon."


    "Yeah," Wei nodded, covering her nose. "Smells a bit like burning hair."


    "Smells good to me," Bora smiled.


    Just then, Jia felt someone bump into her. It hurt pretty bad since the person seemed to be carrying a camera, so the hard object was indented on her abdomen.


    "Oof," Jia eximed, and she even fell down to the ground. The person who bumped into her fell down on top of her, doubling the impact Jia felt.


    Jia''s friends turned to the scene with wide eyes.


    Jia then opened her eyes and saw a girl wearing a ck cap that covered her face. She smelled strangely of mold and clothes that didn''t get to fully dry in the sun, so Jia unconsciously held her breath.


    Her friends finally snapped out of their surprise and helped the two get up. However, before Bora could even make contact with the strange girl, she quickly stood up, hands shaking and all.


    Jia stood, still in pain but holding it in.


    "Sorry for that," Jia said. "My friends and I weren''t looking."


    The girl didn''t say anything and just bolted away from them.


    The four girls turned to each other in surprise, finding the situation weird.


    Meanwhile, June, who had just finished peeing and was now washing his hands, heard a scream from outside. His eyebrows raised in surprise since the scream sounded familiar.


    However, washing his hands clean was the most important thing for now.


    Then, he went outside and went to the cashier. He decided to pay while his co-actors and the crew members were still eating. As he made his way to the cashier, he felt a strange shadow pass him. However, as he turned his gaze to where the shadow had been, it quickly disappeared.


    He stopped walking for a couple of seconds, feeling chills run down his spine. Then, he shrugged before walking to the cashier.


    The old woman manning it instantly recognized June, and she eximed loudly when he smiled at her.


    "Omo, I thought my servers were joking when they said they saw my favorite idol, but here you are!" she pped loudly.


    June smiled kindly before handing her his card.


    "Thank you for serving us well. The food was really good," June said.


    The old woman swiped his card and smiled widely.


    "Come here whenever you get hungry. I''ll give you a meal for free," she said.


    June chuckled. "Sure, I''ll do that."


    She handed him back his card, but she continued speaking fondly to him. Since June was already full, he decided to entertain her queries for a bit.


    Meanwhile, Jia and her friends, who were also on their way to pay the bill, quickly halted when they saw a familiar figure standing in front of the cashier.


    "Holy balls," Bora eximed, causing June to look toward their way.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he looked at the group of girls.


    "That''s June, isn''t it?" Nari continuously said.


    "I''m fucking dreaming," Wei whispered. "Or maybe I''m in heaven. There''s an angel in front of me."


    The four girls couldn''t believe what was currently happening.


    Then, June suddenly smiled, making them even more surprised.


    "Oh gosh, he smiled at me. June smiled at me!" Soomin muttered.


    "Does he recognize us from all the shows we attended?" Wei asked.


    "It''s you," June said, pointing a finger at them.


    Bora ced her hand over her heart. "Is it just me, or is June from EVE flirting with us?"


    June walked over to where they were and patted Jia''s shoulder, taking all of her friends by surprise. They watched the scene before them with wide eyes, in disbelief at what was happening.


    "Jia," June said her name, making the scene even more surreal.


    Jia''s friends had never seen June this close, but all the testimonies they saw online were correct. He didn''t have a single pore on his face, and he strangely sparkled like a vampire.


    "How''s your mom?" he asked.


    "Good," Jia said, still out of it.


    June nodded. "That''s great. Greet Cindy for me."


    Jia mindlessly nodded.


    "Did you guys eat here?" June asked.


    They all nodded, not being able to say a single word.


    "Hmm," June hummed, walking back to the cashier. "I''ll pay for them, too," he said.


    The old woman smiled. "What a good young man you are!"


    After paying, June waved his hands goodbye at the four girls. However, they were still in the same spot, frozen and in disbelief.


    Bora pinched herself to determine if she was dreaming, but she was clearly awake. Then, she slowly turned to Jia, whose face had reddened immensely.


    "When were you nning to tell us that THE June knows you?" she eximed.


    That seemed to snap them out of their stupor, and her friends continuously asked her questions.


    Jia, however, was silent, the blush and smile on her face intensifying.


    She didn''t care.


    She was just happy.


    However, it seemed like someone else wasn''t.


    Hidden behind a small post was a small figure wearing all ck. She breathed heavily, not being able to contain her hunger.


    Then, she clenched her fists together, causing her palms to bleed.


    "He''s mine," she whispered.

 Chapter 460 Korean Beef

    <h4>Chapter 460 Korean Beef </h4>


    The aroma of savory meat filled their dorms, making those inside salivate from the delicious scent. Various spices adorned the piece of meat, and the tenderness of it could be seen from a mile away.


    June, standing before the stove top, tossed the meat with grace. Then, he turned to the other dish¡ªa spicy stew of some sort, and he tasted a little bit with a small spoon, nodding to himself since it tasted just as he expected.


    Then, he turned to thest dish¡ªthe beef steak. June smiled as he flipped it over, basting it with the butter inside the cast iron pan. The scent in the dorm intensified further, and those watching couldn''t tear their eyes away.


    The other members of EVE, who were already sitting at the dining table, gulped collectively when June started cing the dishes one by one on the table. They sizzled, steamed, and sparkled under the artificial kitchen light.


    They held their utensils in their hands, ready to dig into the feast that June had created.


    The Hanwoo beef, indigenous to Korea, was one of the most rare and expensive types of beef in the world. At first, the boys were pretty disappointed that they won meat for the pre-mission. However, looking at the array of dishes before them quickly changed their mind.


    "I can''t believe June has been hiding his cooking skills from us," Zeth whispered.


    June shook his head. "This is the only time I''ll be cooking for you guys," he grumbled, sitting at the head of the table. He could already foresee his members asking him to constantly cook for them, and that was the reason why he wanted to keep his cooking skills to himself.


    However, being presented with such a luxurious ingredient made him step forward. There was no way he was going to let his clumsy members handle the expensive beef and turn it into something that could be sold for merely a dor.


    "Dig in," June smiled.


    The members didn''t have to be instructed any further. They quickly dug in, not even wasting a second.


    The luxurious yet homey taste instantly invaded their taste buds, and a collective groan of appreciation was heard in the room.


    They didn''t even have any time toment on the taste since they were too busy shoveling food into their mouths.


    June, on the other hand, ate like the connoisseur that he was. He observed his members and shook his head.


    "Slow down, will you?" he said.


    The members stopped for a second, and with that, they finally started eating much slower to fully appreciate the taste of the expensive cut of meat.


    "When did you learn how to cook?" Ren asked. "You cook better than my mom!"


    Zeth smirked, nudging Ren''s shoulder. "I''m going to tell your mom you said that when I see her again."


    Ren clicked his tongue and subtly red at his teammate. "Don''t you dare," he warned.


    June shrugged to answer Ren''s question.


    "It''s been a long time," June said. "I cooked a lot for my sister, and she was a very picky eater, so I had to cook a lot of dishes."


    His members turned to him, surprised.


    "Sister?" Akira loudly eximed. "You have a sister?"


    June froze, and his ears started ringing. He had let his guard down since cooking brought back a lot of good memories.


    Jisung turned to him and even held onto his shoulder.


    "We''ve been friends since Rising Stars, but you haven''t told me about it," he said. "You actually have a sister?"


    The members anticipated his answer, even taking a break from eating the scrumptious meals.


    "Uh¡ªyeah," June said. "By sister, I mean a distant cousin, yeah. A girl cousin that I call sister. Yeah, her."


    "Oh," the members said, finally going back to eating.


    "Well, is she pretty?" Akira asked, wiggling his eyebrows.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, and he elbowed Akira''s side.


    "Just go back to eating," June grumbled. The thought of Akira evening close to Mei Ling was already a disaster.


    Akira held onto his side and sighed in disappointment. "I was just curious," he muttered.


    The members finally dropped the subject, so June sighed in relief.


    That was close. He had been thinking of Mei Ling less and less as he became busier as an idol, but in simple times like this, he also couldn''t help but remember her.


    "What if we talk about our uing performance?" Jaeyong asked. "We''re bound to practice tomorrow, but we still don''t have any idea how we''re going to execute the stage."


    Akira ced his chopsticks down and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "It''s difficult," he said, finally going into professional mode. "We have to perform on a bare stage with our bare talents. There''s not much we can do with nothing on stage."


    Sehun nodded in agreement. "A storyline would also be difficult to execute since we don''t have anything else to get the story across. Unless we''re all good actors like June, I don''t think we should go with that route."


    June pursed his lips. "I don''t think I can even do that," he said.


    "And to add to that, we''re singing ''Oasis'' again. It''s a song we already performed at the beginning of the show, so it''ll be harder to beat that performance without any special effects," Zeth remarked.


    Jaeyong rested his chin on his palm.


    "What should we do then?" their leader sighed.


    "I think we need to look at this differently," Casper suddenly chimed, surprising all of the members.


    He really wasn''t much of a talker, especially during these conversations, so he must really be determined to win if he was joining in.


    "Well, you''re fired up," Akira noted.


    Casper shrugged, leaning against his chair. "I just saw somements on Navel saying that there wasn''t any purpose for us to work hard since CHAOS would win in the end anyway."


    "So, do you have a concept in mind?" Jaeyong asked, filled with hope.


    The other members also leaned on the table to hear Casper''s suggestion better. Casper opened his mouth to speak, and the members waited in anticipation.


    "No," Casper innocently smiled.


    "I''m just suggesting we look at it differently."

 Chapter 461 Chameleon

    <h4>Chapter 461 Chameleon </h4>


    The members sighed in disappointment, leaning back against their seats and continuing with their meal.


    Casper chuckled when he saw their reactions. "I still don''t have an idea how we''re going to execute the stage, but I suggest we start looking at our opponents'' stages first."


    The members turned to him, intrigued.


    "What do you mean by that?" Zeth asked.


    "We might not know how our stage will turn out, but maybe we could guess how their stages would be," Casper continued. "That way, we can create a stage that will stand out among the rest."


    Despite their initial disappointment with Casper''s suggestion, the members were pleasantly surprised by what he said next.


    "That''s honestly a great idea," Sehun said.


    Casper smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You''re looking at the person who ranked second almost all throughout Rising Stars," he boasted.


    Akira chuckled, his cheeks filled with food. "I almost forgot about that. Your personality was really different when we were on that show."


    "What do you mean?" Casper asked. "I was the same. You just didn''t know me that well back then."


    Akira sighed in relief, cing his hand over his heart. "And I''m thankful for that."


    Casper clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.


    As the two continued to bicker, June started thinking about Casper''s question.


    How would the others execute their stages?


    "Well, OCTA will certainly perform something very intense and dance-heavy," June said. "Synchronized dancing is their biggest strength, so they will definitely do a remix of their dance break to make it even more intense."


    "I can already imagine that," Jaeyong said, picturing their stage. "They might wear racing outfits too."


    "SPADES, on the other hand, will go back to their roots," Jisung chimed.


    "Theirtest title track isn''t that well-known, so this is the best time for them to promote it. They didn''t even perform it during the first stage, so I believe they''ll keep the same concept. It''ll be an upbeat bad with graceful dancing," he continued.


    "With handheld mics and all!" Akira eximed. "It''ll be a very impressive stage. I honestly can''t wait to watch it."


    Jisung nodded enthusiastically.


    "MORPH3D will go with the rock band approach," Casper joined in. "It''s been their signature sound since debut, and I don''t see them straying away from it anytime soon."


    "I''m guessing they would have wanted to bring a guitar and some other instruments in their performance if it weren''t for the restrictions," he added.


    "Robby¡­hmm, I honestly don''t know. Histest solo release was R&B in nature. He''s good at singing the genre, too, but he stands out more during bads," Ren said.


    "He''s definitely going to stick with the RnB concept, though," Sehunmented.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    "BOYMYSTIC¡­this one''s pretty hard. They''re very experimental with their concepts, too,"


    Zeth said, rubbing his chin. "But they have a simr concept with OCTA, just more tamed."


    "Yeah, I can see them making their song bubblier. They''ve been doing that for the past missions, and I could see they''re enjoying it well."


    "CHAOS," June muttered, capturing the others'' attention.


    They all became silent for a moment when they heard CHAOS'' team name.


    "Their group is the hardest to grasp,"


    Jaeyong said. "Although they''ve only been doing dark, chaotic themes for the past weeks, I somehow see them changing it up in thest week."


    "Hmm," Jisung hummed.


    "And the thing is, I don''t know what they''re going to change their concept into," Zeth said. "They somehow fit all of the concepts since they''re a very talented group."


    "We''re talented too," Akira defended.


    Zeth nodded with a boastful smirk. "I know that, of course. That''s why I believe the others will also have a hard time figuring out what we''re going to perform. We''ve done quite a lot of concepts, even on Rising Stars, so I don''t think we have a signature sound."


    "That''s not a bad thing, is it?" Ren said, biting his lip.


    "I don''t think it''s a bad thing," Jaeyong responded. "It just means we adapt well to all the concepts."


    "So, what you''re telling me is that we''re a bunch of chameleons?" Akira jokingly asked, making the othersugh.


    "Well, Zeth does look like a chameleon," Ren teased, causing Zeth to turn to him at an otherworldly speed.


    The one thing you couldn''t insult about Zeth was his looks. He could take everything else, but his looks were off-limits!


    "Take that back!" Zeth eximed, shaking Ren''s shoulders.


    "Chameleons," June whispered.


    "We''re chameleons," he repeated, louder this time.


    Zeth red at him. "Stop saying that word!" he said.


    June ignored him and turned to his teammates.


    "That''s it! Our concept¡ªchameleons!" he excitedly said.


    His members were stunned to silence before Akira chuckled to break the ice.


    "You know, I said that as a joke, right?"


    June shook his head. "But it isn''t. It''s a genius idea."


    "It is?" Akira asked, confused.


    "Yes. Since we can''t figure out a concept of our own, what if we adopt other groups'' styles?" he asked.


    It seemed like a bell rang over their heads as they finally realized what June was suggesting.


    "Think about it," June continued.


    "Casper suggested we brainstorm about our opponents'' stages, and that''s exactly what we did. We gave each of them definitive identities¡ªones that they excel in," he started off.


    "We can all agree that these groups are extremely talented, and it would be difficult to defeat them at their own game¡ªtheir own concept. However, like you guys said, we''re chameleons. Chameleons are creatures who adapt well to their environment, making them survive in even the most extreme weather conditions."


    "We might not have done these concepts as EVE, but we''ve definitely dabbled in them during Rising Stars. It may not be our signature sound or style, but it''s not anything unfamiliar, so I know we''ll be able to do it."


    The other members listened intently, already liking June''s suggestion.


    "Besides, we''re going to be performingst, so I believe we have the greatest advantage of showing the most grand stage¡ª"


    "A stage that has nothing but everything at the same time."

 Chapter 462 June’s Acting Debut

    <h4>Chapter 462 June''s Acting Debut </h4>


    "Everyone''s going crazy on Navel because of you," Akira said as June ced the fried eggs on the table.


    June vowed to cook for his members only that one time, but they practically glued his shoes to the kitchen to get June to cook them breakfast.


    They insisted they had to taste June''s cooking once again after the scrumptious dinner he prepared yesterday.


    It was against his will since thepany served breakfast for the employees in the cafeteria, yet the other members insisted it tasted like cardboard and bathwater. In the end, June felt like he had no choice but to whip up a simple breakfast for the group.


    "Why is that?" June asked, settling in his seat.


    Akira passed him his phone, his spoon already in his mouth.


    June took the phone from Akira, his eyebrows raising in surprise when he saw the article posted by MinMin. Then, he became even more surprised when he saw the headline of the article.


    "You look surprised," Akira noticed. "Weren''t you informed that it was going to be revealed today?"


    June tilted his head to the side in surprise.


    "No," he said, clicking on the article to finally read its contents.


    ''EVE''s June Dives into Acting ¨C Love, Rivalry, and Laughter Await in ''Hate To Love You'' Adaptation!''


    Greetings, K-pop enthusiasts and drama aficionados! Grab your popcorn and prepare to be enchanted because our favorite rising idol, June from the rookie group EVE, is set to make his debut in the acting world.


    If you''ve been living under a rock or too busy belting out EVE''s chart-topping hits, let me fill you in on thetest gossip that''s hotter than a cup of ramen in a K-drama: June is taking a plunge into the world of acting!


    So, what''s the scoop? Well, our dear June recently faced the ultimate acting challenge on the notorious show ''King of Kings.'' Despite the funny failures of his colleagues, June showed a performance that didn''t disappoint.


    In fact, it did just the opposite. Even Director Nana, the director behind hit live-action webtoon adaptations like ''Fake Beauty'' and ''The Lord of High School'' took an interest in the rookie idol''s acting. In an exclusive interview, she revealed that she personally contacted thepany to cast June for the infamous romance webtoon, ''Hate To Love You.''


    Now, if you''re not familiar with the webtoon, let me give you the lowdown. ''Hate To Love You'' employs the ssic enemies-to-lovers trope. Picture this: high school, academic rivalry, and two characters at each other''s throats. But wait, there''s a twist! As the story unfolds, they realize they''re more simr than they thought despite their contrasting social statuses. Cue the awws, theughter, and maybe a tear or two.


    Director Nana, known for her knack for turning webtoons into small-screen gold, has chosen ''Hate To Love You'' as her next conquest. And who better to bring the main character, Jin, to life than our very own June?


    That''s right¨CJune will be gracing our screens as the heartthrob Jin, ready to steal not just his on-screen counterpart''s heart but ours, too.


    Now, the burning question is: would you tune in? Of course you would! It''s like asking if you''d decline an invitation to a free K-pop concert.


    And here''s another exclusive scoop. Mark your calendars and set your rms because the cast of ''Hate To Love You'' is going to have their very first press conference on February 25th!


    - It''s still too early for June to be acting in romance dramas. I don''t think I can take it.


    - June''s mine! Please, no kissing scene.


    - Guys, he''s a grown man. He can kiss whoever he likes.


    - Gosh, the drama hasn''t even started, but the delusional fans are already at it.


    - I''m so happy June can show off his new talent! I knew he was special when I saw his acting challenge on King of Kings.


    June''s eyes widened as he read thest statement.


    That, too, was foreign news to him.


    "It''s a good thing the press conference is on the 25th," Akira chimed. "We have the live finale of King of Kings on the 27th."


    June sighed before proceeding to text Minjun.


    June: Your new article.


    Minjun: What about it? I wrote it pretty nicely. I didn''t want to roast you on your very first acting gig.


    June: Not that, little devil. How''d you get those exclusive scoops?


    Minjun: Oh, Director Nana told me. She''s really nice!


    June: -.-


    Minjun: Anyways, Grandma''s thinking of going to that press conference. I told her not to, though. Her hips have been hurting these days.


    June: Tell her not toe. I''ll visit with herbal tea once King of Kings is done.


    Minjun: K.


    June shook his head, cing his phone down.


    "I guess I have a press conference on Thursday. We need to prepare the arrangement for thest performanceter," he said to Ren.


    Ren nodded. "Yeah, I already started it yesterday. I got some inspiration while watching a K-drama."


    June nodded, his mind also filled with ideas on how to execute the arrangement.


    However, he saw a hovering notification on his user interface.


    [Find out why Haruki hates you.]


    [Deadline: 1 week and 1 day]


    He sighed when he realized he still had another thing to aplish. It would have been easier if he had conversed with Haruki before, but June was convinced that the popr idol hated him to a very great extent.


    "June''s trending again!'' Casper said, a small smile ying on his lips.


    "Yeah, we already know about that," Akira said. "A lot of people are excited for his new drama."


    "Not that," Casper happily said. "He''s trending because ofst night''s special episode, too."


    "Right," Zeth chuckled. "I almost forgot about that since we were so busy discussing the details of our performance."


    "It just showed who won thest mission," Casper said. "Oh, and it also showed the Taekwondo episode. People are calling us simps for June or something like that."


    "I saw some clips on Navel yesterday night, too," Sehun chimed. "We were acting so weird."


    "Weird? How?" Zeth asked.


    "Like¡­Casper-weird," Sehun responded.


    The six members collectively gasped.


    "Oh goodness, that is weird," Ren muttered.


    "That''s not important, though," Casper said, cutting their conversation short. "What''s important is June''s aegyo was aired!"


    June stopped mid-chew when he heard what Casper said.


    "Aegyo?" June eximed, standing from his seat and walking over to where Casper was.


    His eyebrows furrowed when he saw a clip that had over 20,000 likes on Casper''s screen.


    Then, his face paled, and his lips dried up when he saw himself shooting arrow hearts at his members.


    "Fuck," June whispered.

 Chapter 463 Arrow Hearts

    <h4>Chapter 463 Arrow Hearts </h4>


    "Arrow hearts! Do arrow hearts, please!" one of the reporters eximed as June arrived in front of the photo wall.


    He pursed his lips and hesitated for a few seconds.


    It was now the press conference for ''Hate To Love You'', and reporters, drama enthusiasts, and K-pop fans gathered for the big event.


    The small conference hall was filled to the brim, and June was greeted with the loudest screams of the night.


    His fellow actors turned to each other, pleasantly surprised by the idol''s poprity.


    "An idol''s poprity is really different," Arin muttered, admiring June from afar.


    Meanwhile, June was still having a dilemma. Since the aegyo clip from thetest special episode of King of Kings'' was aired, June''s fans made it a mission to make him suffer by making a meme out of his cute acts.


    It became an inside joke between June''s fans at first, but then it became a huge thing within the fandom.


    Then, before June knew it, K-pop fans who didn''t even stan their group were already using the gif version in various online circumstances.


    In short, June couldn''t escape the aegyo.


    He pursed his lips and internally sighed before pointing at the camera and shooting two small hearts.


    The cameramen and reporters smiled in satisfaction while the lucky fans who were able to secure tickets broke into cheers, gushing at the cuteness of the blonde idol.


    Afterward, Director Nana came in, looking more sophisticated than ever.


    June was finally able to take a seat with his co-stars, with Arin right next to him.


    Arin had the urge to reach out and hold his hand, but she held herself back since she knew June wouldn''t befortable. Plus, there were plenty of cameras around, and thest thing she wanted was to stir unnecessary controversy.


    The other producers came in with Director Nana, and as they sat down on the left part of the stage, the onlookers began to settle down.


    Director Nana took the microphone from the small table to greet everyone in the room.


    "Good morning, everyone!" she eximed. "Thank you so much foring to this press conference. I honestly didn''t expect a full house for such a short drama, but here we are."


    At that moment, the camera focused on June, causing another frenzy in the room.


    The producers and the other actors were surprised. However, as they nced at the screen behind them, they realized what themotion was all about.


    June, who was nkly sipping his water with a straw, appeared cute on the screen.


    The people watching the live stream in thefort of their own homes also couldn''t help butment on his cute look.


    - Ah! I want to devour him.


    - Look at his cheekies.


    - So cute! I want to put him in my pocket.


    - Someone makes aption of June with cute cheeks.


    - I can''t believe we''re talking about a grown man like this.


    "This project had a lot of setbacks, so I thought it would be airedter in the year. Thankfully, we turned the flow of the production around and are able to release it on time. I''m already excited for all of you to see it!" Director Nana said.


    With her statement, it was now time for the reporters and fans to ask questions about the drama.


    "You," Director Nana pointed to a reporter with an orange beanie and ck sses.


    The reporter bowed in gratitude before speaking into the microphone.


    "We know that you''re the queen of webtoon adaptations. What made you decide to take on this particr project?" he asked.


    One of the producers answered.


    "It was a collective decision by the sponsors, the production team, and Director Nana. Hate To Love You has always been popr, especially with the younger generation of teens. It''s light, sweet, and offers a refreshing change from the dark dramas that are currently airing," he started off.


    "Although we only have four episodes, the series aims to give these teens a taste of what a first love feels like¡ªand along with that is the bitterness of life," he ended.


    June nodded, still appearing a bit absent-minded.


    In reality, he only had a couple hours of sleep because EVE was busy preparing for theirst performance on King of Kings. His members insisted he slept earlier since he had a schedule the next day, but June couldn''t do that.


    It was theirst stage¡ªthest chance for them to catch up to CHAOS and capture the throne.


    Aside from that, June''s thoughts were preupied with the production of their title track. Although Jay told them they should focus on King of Kings first, June still couldn''t shake it off his mind. Up until now, he didn''t know what type of song to produce.


    June was once again shown on screen, still with that absent-


    minded look.


    However, at that moment, the people watching didn''t receive it well.


    - Is it just me, or does June look pretty tired?


    - If he''s going to ck off, then he shouldn''t havee to the press conference.


    - This is why idols shouldn''t be actors. He looks like he doesn''t want to be there at all.


    - Why is everyone switching up suddenly? June''s working hard on King of Kings and this project. I''d like to see you try having that schedule.


    - June shouldn''t have taken it then. It should have been a real actor.


    - He''s only given this role because he''s an idol.


    The actors, oblivious to the discourse going online, kept answering their questions without a worry in the world.


    Arin had just finished answering a question regarding the drama being her big break, so Nana called another reporter to ask a question.


    She looked at their raised hands before pointing to a guy who had dark sunsses and an army green hat. He was pretty short and thin, so it appeared like his huge camera swallowed his figure. From their view, he seemed like an innocent reporter.


    "This question''s for June," he said, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    He paid greater attention to the reporter since this was his first solo question of the night.


    The seemingly innocent reporter stayed silent for a moment, building anticipation for June''s first question.


    "The original actor chosen auditioned for the role of Jin, and he rightfully got it with his own skill," he started off.


    The reporter''s tone shifted as he said those words, so June already felt like something was wrong.


    "However, you got epted in the production without any struggle. You didn''t even audition despite this being your first acting piece."


    "Now," the reporter smirked.


    "How do you feel about that?"

 Chapter 464 Such A Player

    <h4>Chapter 464 Such A yer </h4>


    - Who the hell is asking that question?


    - What the heck? They should have stopped him before he could even finish the question.


    - I''m curious about June''s answer, though.


    - Yeah, there was a rumor that someone else was supposed to star in this with Arin.


    The hall turned silent as soon as the reporter asked that question. Moments like this weren''t new to the film industry. Critiques present their views left and right, some of them asking the most ridiculous questions.


    Then, the people murmured among each other. Some of them were curious about June''s answer, while others were appalled by the audacity of the reporter to ask a question in a supposed celebration.


    Director Nana pursed her lips as she looked at the silent June.


    Then, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She took the mic from the table and spoke.


    "Next question, ple¡ª"


    However, before she could finish her question, June snapped out of his trance.


    "No, it''s alright. I''ll answer it," he calmly said, surprising the onlookers with hisposure.


    The reporter subtly frowned as he gazed at June''s calm eyes. He was prepared to stump the idol and create a great headline, but June''s initial reaction wasn''t what he expected.


    June ced the microphone before his lips, a small smile ying on them.


    "Honestly, I also have the same question," June answered, turning to Director Nana.


    "Why did you pick me to be Jin when I had no experience in acting?"


    The audience was surprised by how June took the reporter''s question.


    Instead of acting displeased, June even managed to crack a joke. The tension in the room started subsiding, causing the reporter to frown in disappointment.


    Director Nana smiled, impressed by June''s professionalism.


    "It was my call as a director," Nana exined. "I didn''t let June audition anymore after I saw his performance in the acting challenge on King of Kings. If some of you haven''t seen it yet, then I suggest you do."


    "June captured my attention from the very first line. I knew I was engaging in a gamble because he technically didn''t have any acting experience and he was also very busy with an ongoing show. However, in the end, I thought it was still worth it to cast him."


    "Are you sure you''re not saying that because Azure paid you to cast June?" the reporter bluntly asked.


    June shook his head at the ridiculous question.


    Azure didn''t even care much about June or their other artists. All they cared about was the profit their artists generated for them. There was no way in hell that Azure paid for June to join the production.


    "It''s the opposite, actually," Director Nana smiled. "I wanted June to be Jin so bad that I was willing to give everything I had."


    "I just knew that June had to be a part of this production," Director Nana said with conviction.


    - Dang, she''s giving him such high praises. I wonder just how good he is at acting.


    - Her past dramas had nd leads. I''m not expecting much this time around.


    - Director Nana is a goat! She knows what she''s talking about.


    "Let me also add my input," June said after Director Nana finished talking.


    He faced the reporter and looked into his eyes. The reporter quickly looked away, feeling slightly intimidated.


    "The original actor had some¡­unfortunate circumstances. I didn''t pray for it to happen to him or to anyone else for that matter."


    Maybe to Lin Zhi¡­but that was beside the point.


    "However, I was given the chance to be a part of a production that valued skill and cooperation. It would be a shame for me to miss out on such an opportunity."


    "Then, would you say that you are worthy to be a part of this production?" the reporter continued to ask, seemingly not wanting to back down.


    June paused for a moment, and that was when the reporter thought he had finally stumped June.


    However, a smirk appeared on June''s lips, and he rxed back in his seat.


    "Well, why don''t you tune into the first episode to find out?" he cheekily asked, earning admiring smiles from his fellow actors as well as the non-fans in the audience.


    - Alright, I have to admit. That was really smooth.


    - I wanted to put him in my pocket a while ago, but now, I want him to put something into my pocket.


    - I want him so much that it hurts.


    - I wonder what your mothers will feel if she sees yourments.


    Thankfully, the security guard forced the bitter reporter to sit, not giving him any more chances to ask other questions.


    Meanwhile, the actors and the producers continued answering questions, even entertaining some of the audience''s queries.


    "Will there be a kissing scene?" one of the audience members asked.


    Arin''s cheeks heated up while June merely smiled. It seemed like the woman was a fan of June''s, so he took the initiative to answer.


    "Would you like for it to have one?" he asked in a naturally flirty tone.


    June was honestly not trying to flirt, but it came naturally to him. His charisma was truly on another level.


    The fan''s cheeks reddened, even more apparent than Arin''s, and she quickly shook her head.


    "You also have to tune in to find out," June vaguely answered, looking into the fan''s eyes.


    "However, no matter what happens, I hope you still support me," he cutely said, causing the fans in the audience to squeal.


    Arin watched their interaction with pursed lips. How was he kinder to a stranger than he was to her? It was almost unbelievable!


    Meanwhile, in the field of reporters was a woman wearing an all-ck fit. She had bags of unknown materials by her side, and her face and eyes were covered by a bucket hat. Her camera, rtively smaller than the rest, was focused on June, snapping photos like there was no tomorrow.


    A small, breathy chuckle escaped from her dry, cracked lips.


    Then, she ced down her camera for a second, scrutinizing June with her bare eyes.


    "What a yer," she whispered.

 Chapter 465 It’s Me, Hi!

    <h4>Chapter 465 It''s Me, Hi! </h4>


    Fortunately, aside from the incident with the pesky reporter, the press conference went smoothly.


    "Congrattions, everyone!" Director Nana eximed. "The first episode will be airing on March 1st, and almost all the preparations are done. It might not be promoted like a regr drama, but it has already garnered a lot of good noise."


    "Congrattions!"


    "We''re trending number one on Navel!"


    "Look forward to the first episode, guys!"


    Greetings and praises were heard in the room, and June smiled curtly, already feeling drained.


    His introverted self wanted to go back to the dorm and bask in the sanctuary he called his room.


    Arin wanted to approach June but noticed his sleepy eyes. In the end, she decided to let him go.


    June said his polite goodbyes and made his way to the parking lot where Jay was waiting.


    He sighed in relief when he saw the familiar ck van but stopped for a moment when he felt someone''s presence behind him.


    June frowned, feeling something was strange. Actually, he had been feeling like someone had been watching him for thest couple of days...like there was a shadow following him around.


    Yet, as he turned around, the feeling also disappeared.


    June''s frown deepened, and he continued walking. Fortunately, the feeling passed, and he safely arrived in their van.


    "Are you okay?" Jay asked, looking concerned. "I saw you stopped for a moment before you came here."


    June sighed. "I just feel like someone''s been watching me these days, that''s all."


    "WHERE?" Jay asked, looking around frantically.


    June was startled for a moment, shaking his head at Jay''s dramatic ass.


    "Calm down," June said, removing his suit jacket since it was ufortable. "It''s not something I can''t handle."


    "You don''t know that!" Jay eximed.


    "Do you know how crazy sasaengs are?" he asked. "One time, during a fan sign, they put super glue in the idol''s drink. He almost died! Not only that, but another one wrote the name of her bias on her wrist with a de."


    "People are crazy nowadays, I tell you," Jay sighed.


    "I know," June said. "I''ll be more careful."


    "You do that. Tell me when something happens, too."


    June nodded before staring out at the window, wondering if he was just being paranoid or if he was truly being followed.


    Nheless, he really needed to be more careful.


    He didn''t want to boast (he slightly does), but their group was bing more and more famous as each day passed.


    Their appearance on King of Kings definitely boosted their poprity and with June''s role in ''Hate To Love You,'' June was expecting their poprity to get even bigger.


    "We''re here," Jay said, pulling up to their dorms. "I can''t apany you upstairs since I need to go to the studio. Ted has been on my ass after I asked him to give you guys more time on the song."


    June pursed his lips. "Thanks for doing this," he said.


    "It''s no hassle," Jay smiled. "I just want to bonk his head with a frying pan most of the time, but aside from that, I''m happy to be helping you guys."


    "Makes me feel like I''m part of the team," Jay muttered.


    June smirked, patting his shoulder. "Of course, you''re part of the team," he said.


    Jay smiled down at hisp. "Yeah," he whispered.


    "I''ll go now, then," Jay said. "Just call me if you run into any trouble."


    June nodded, getting out of the car to take the elevator up their dorms.


    June shook his head when he saw it was out of order. Although Azure''s building, which was only on the next block, appeared sophisticated and modern, their dorms were shitty as hell.


    He clicked his tongue and took the stairs instead. June hummed ''Oasis'' under his breath but stopped when the strange feeling of being followed emerged once again.


    June was already in their hallway, looking behind him from time to time.


    June must say, whoever this person was, they were good at hiding.


    The fact that they got through security was also impressive.


    However, at that moment, he saw a ck figure behind arge post.


    June shook his head. So, he was really being tailed. It wasn''t a foreign experience to him, so when he saw the figure hiding, June also took the time to hide behind another post.


    Then, he just had to wait.


    A few minutester, he heard footstepsing near him. Then, the ck figure emerged, looking around the ce, seemingly looking for June.


    "Got you," June whispered before swiftly walking over to the figure and wrapping his arm around their neck.


    June tightened his grip around the woman, causing her to exim in shock. However, since her airway was being luded, she couldn''t scream.


    Instead, she pped June''s arm to escape.


    "Do you think I didn''t notice you following me, huh?" June whispered, almost cynically.


    He saw the camera hung around her neck and shook his head. Was she some kind of paparazzi or something?


    The woman continued trying to escape June''s hold, but thetter didn''t let her.


    "Joon-ho," she managed to whisper.


    "Who are you, and why are you doing this?" June asked, tightening his hold as he heard his real name.


    "I¡ªIt''s me, M¡ªMario!" she managed to joke despite the circumstance, making June frown.


    "What the heck?" he muttered, letting his guard down for a second.


    That was enough time for the woman to break away from June''s hold. Then, she brought down her ck hood and red at the blonde idol.


    "Gosh, since when were you so strong?" she asked, massaging her sore neck.


    June didn''t speak and continued looking at the woman.


    Somehow, she seemed familiar, but June couldn''t quite pinpoint where he had seen her before.


    "Dang, you got really handsome," she said, tapping his shoulder.


    "I thought you didn''t have the potential to get this handsome, but it turns out I was wrong."


    "You got stronger too. I remember beating you in wrestling back then. Did you get a revamp after debuting or something?"


    June turned his head to the side.


    "How were you able to enter?" June asked.


    "Oh, I just entered," she said. "They didn''t stop me or something."


    June massaged his temples. Their security guard was really really useless at times.


    "Why are you even acting like I''m a stalker or something?" she asked.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "You''ve been following me."


    "I was going to approach you normally, but your manager is always on the lookout."


    "Why are you even doing this?" June asked, already feeling tired.


    The woman frowned. "Why are you acting so unfamiliar?"


    "You''re acting like we didn''t y together when we were children."


    "Huh?" June asked, getting more confused,


    "Gosh, did everything but your memory get an upgrade or something?" she grumbled.


    "It''s me, Jenny...your cousin!"

 Chapter 466 Casper Just Died (Casper the Ghost)

    <h4>Chapter 466 Casper Just Died (Casper the Ghost)</h4>


    "I don''t know a Jenny," June deadpanned, still pointing toward the exit to make her feel like she wasn''t wee in their dorm building.


    "Fine, it''s me, Garam¡ªyour older cousin. But I legally changed my name to Jenny since I look a lot like the popr girl group member," she boasted. "So, call me Jenny from now on."


    June narrowed his eyes in suspicion.


    Surely, it wasn''t the Jenny he was thinking about, right?


    She looked nothing like her!


    "And I still don''t know you," June repeated. "You may now leave before I call security."


    "Gosh," Jenny said. "Since when have you been so uptight? I remember you being so meek when we were younger."


    "Are you still angry that I wasn''t able to attend your parents'' funeral?" she asked, causing June to frown.


    "You know my parents are shitty as hell. I wanted to go, but they wouldn''t let me."


    June let out a deep sigh. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    Jenny mischievously smiled. "Can''t I visit my baby cousin without any reason? Maybe I just


    missed you."


    June looked at her with raised eyebrows. From her statements a while ago, it seemed like their families had a strained rtionship.


    There was no way she came here to greet him casually.


    June did feel pretty relieved that the person who had been following him for thest couple of days was a rtive instead of a stranger.


    "Be honest," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Jenny kept up her front for a couple of moments. However, she soon crumbled afterward.


    "There''s really not much to it," she started off.


    "I just wanted to say that I finally moved to Seoul."


    June''s eyes narrowed, wondering how this would concern him in any way.


    "This is the first time I''m moving away from my parents, so it''s a big step. They threw me curses and insults left and right before I left, but I''m over it now," she chuckled.


    "Why are you telling me this?" June sighed.


    Jenny pursed her lips before holding onto the camera around her neck and showing it to June.


    "I finally reached my dream of being a photographer," she said. "Well, technically, I''m part of the paparazzi, but that''s better than nothing, right?"


    Jenny chuckled, fiddling with the camera in her hands.


    "Honestly, I didn''t actually n on approaching you. I know it''s been such a long time since we talked, so it would be strange if I approached you out of the blue."


    "But then, I had the opportunity to attend your press conference, and I was reminded of how you dreamed of being an idol at a young age. Our rtives didn''t believe in you...and at one point, I started thinking your dream was ridiculous too," she sadly smiled.


    "You worked so hard. You lost so much, and everyone but your parents really thought you wouldn''t be able to make it. Yet here you are, shining like the brightest star. You were the center of attention in the press conference a while ago," sheplimented while June listened intently.


    "Your dream had always been unconventional, yet somehow you were able to reach it. As I watched you on Rising Stars, I was reminded of my unconventional dream, too. In the end, I started pursuing it again for the sake of my own happiness."


    "And now, I''m here," she smiled brightly. "I guess I just wanted to thank you for reviving my dream."


    "Oh, and I also want to congratte you for doing so well," she quickly added. "Everyone''s gushing about you! My coworkers didn''t even believe me when I said we were cousins."


    June nced at his watch and nodded.


    "Are you done now?" he asked.


    Jenny clicked her tongue and shook her head.


    "Dang, I was being emotional for nothing. You really changed a lot...That''s a good thing, though," she said. "You were always too kind for your own good."


    "I listened to your statements really well," June said. "Now, go. We don''t want others seeing you here."


    "Geez. No need to rush. Let''s take a photo together first so I can show it to my coworkers," she said, turning on his camera.


    However, June shook his head, not wanting his photo to be taken.


    Jenny clicked her tongue and brought her camera up, snapping a quick photo of the blonde idol.


    June''s eyes widened as she looked at the photo she had taken.


    "You got really handsome," she muttered.


    "Well, your parents had always been the most good-looking couple out of everyone in our family. Maybe that''s part of the reason why our rtives were so harsh to them," she continued.


    "But then again, I felt like your parents leaving the family was for the better. That tree is filled with the most racist, colorist, body-shaming, and overall discriminatory people on earth. If I wanted my self-esteem obliterated, I would just join a family dinner once," she ranted.


    "Your transformation is still amazing, though," Jenny said, still observing June''s photo. "You''re practically poreless! And your nose had gotten taller, too," she said, getting on her tiptoes to visualize his nose better.


    "Did you get stic surgery? You better hit me up with your surgeon since it looks so natural," she chimed.


    June sighed and held onto his nose before moving it back and forth. "I didn''t get it done," he grumbled.


    Jenny raised both eyebrows in surprise. Then, before June could react, she reached out her arm and held onto his nose, giving it a good squeeze.


    June''s eyes widened, and she tried to push her away. However, he quickly froze when he saw his members standing at the end of the hallway, looking at the two with wide eyes.


    From their view, it appeared like the two of them were standing really close to one another.


    Jenny had his hands on June''s face while June had both hands on her shoulders, attempting to push her away.


    However, it didn''t appear like that to his members.


    "It''s not what it looks like," June tried to exin, but the members were already making their own spections.


    "J¡ªJune''s dating someone?" Jisung stammered, not believing his eyes.


    "I can''t believe this," Jaeyong whispered under his breath, feeling somewhat betrayed.


    Meanwhile, Casper stared into oblivion, looking the most out of it.


    Then, his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his body went limp.


    A loud thud resounded in the hallways, and they turned to the copsed member on the floor.


    "I think Casper just died."

 Chapter 467 Meat Buns and Ideal Harems

    <h4>Chapter 467 Meat Buns and Ideal Harems </h4>


    Jenny was surrounded by eight handsome men.


    One was her cousin, so she eliminated him right away. However, she also couldn''t deny that her cousin grew up to be a very fine man. Jenny was sure that June was popr with thedies but was oblivious to the fact.


    That left seven very handsome, very hot, very sexy men with different charms surrounding her.


    Zeth with a manly charm. He was the type of man who would love himself more than you, but his looks would make up for it. If you were going to date someone as handsome as Zeth, you better be prepared for the consequences.


    Ren with a boy-next-door vibe. He, on the other hand, would be someone who would care more about his work than his lover. However, how could you hate a career man?


    Jaeyong with a great leadership trait. Now, he was someone who would take the lead in the rtionship. He would definitely sh with Jenny''s personality since she also liked taking the lead¡ªa dominant, in simpler terms. However, if it was Jaeyong, she wouldn''t mind getting dominated.


    Sehun with the hottest body. His face was already very handsome, but Jenny thought she could date Sehun even if he didn''t have a head. That''s how hot his body is!


    Casper with a handsome, borderline insane vibe. He was the type of person you''d fall in love with on the first meeting. You would question every single existence in the universe if you were with him, but that doesn''t matter. He''s Casper, and he''s handsome as hell!


    Jisung, being the man you want to take care of the most. He was more like a little brother than a boyfriend, but for Jenny, who liked taking the lead, Jisung was the perfect person to date. However, she also couldn''t deny that she would definitely scare off the young man only seconds into their rtionship,


    Akira, the man who would make youugh to death. Jenny was afraid to die. However, if she could pick how to die, then she would definitely choose this. Having Akira''s face as thest thing you see when you die would be a blessing.


    Surrounded by these guys, in a dorm filled with used socks and the scent of day-old meat lingering in the air, was the ideal harem.


    Jenny felt all hot and flustered with the thought of these men fighting over her.


    However, as they looked at her suspiciously, that was when it hit her.


    She had no chance of partaking in this harem.


    From the looks of it, her cousin had the highest chance of being involved in it.


    Jenny sighed and subtly shook her head. There goes her wildest dreams.


    Just then, Akira harshly pped Casper, jolting him awake.


    Jenny was startled, but it seemed like the circumstance was normal for EVE.


    "What if he gets a concussion?" Jenny couldn''t help but ask.


    "He''ll be fine," Akira said. "A concussion should be the least of our worries."


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "Honestly, a concussion should be afraid of Casper."


    Casper awoke secondster¡ªalmost like a dyed reaction. Then, he looked around before his eyesnded on Jenny.


    "What is she doing here?" he asked with narrowed eyes.


    "Right," Zeth said, turning to Jenny. "Who is she? You were lucky we were the ones who caught you together. Otherwise, things would have gone south really quickly."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "We have a dating ban, but we''ll give you a chance to exin¡ª"


    "She''s my cousin," June deadpanned.


    Looks of realization were seen in the members'' faces, and they collectively sighed in relief.


    "Oh, she''s the older cousin you always cooked for?" Akira excitedly asked.


    Jenny frowned in confusion. "Cooked for? I don''t think I''ve ever


    ¡ª"


    June grabbed a meat bun from the table and stuffed it into Jenny''s mouth before she could finish her statement.


    June then nodded. "Yeah, she''s the one I was talking about," he casually said.


    "I see!" Casper eximed, finally going back to his normal, not-


    so-normal self.


    "It''s nice to meet you! This is the first time we''re meeting June''s rtive," he said, acting like he wasn''t passed-out just seconds ago.


    "I would have never guessed that you guys are rted," Jisung pointed out. "You look very different from each other."


    June smirked, leaning against the couch.


    "That''s because I got the superior end of the genes," he boasted. "She got the short end of the stick."


    Jenny shook her head, finally being able to swallow the ginormous meat bun that June had stuffed into her mouth.


    "Yeah, he''s blessed in the looks department. However, when we were younger, he used to pee himself in bed whenever we watched horror films together," Jenny revealed.


    June''s eyes widened, wondering how Jenny knew of that information.


    As a young child, Jun Hao was also afraid of horror films. Wetting the bed was one of his deepest, darkest secrets, yet Jenny revealed it with no hesitation!


    "June was a bedwetter?" Akira eximed. "I can''t believe we had something inmon! I used to wet the bed, too."


    June strangely looked at Akira, wondering how he could confess to that without shame.


    "June also had this huge crush on one of his fellow trainees, and he would call me crying sometimes because she looked so beautiful," she continued.


    June stuffed another meat bun into Jenn''y mouth, rendering her unable to speak.


    "You? A crush on someone? Somehow, that sounds unbelievable," Zeth said.


    "Yeah, a lot of girls like June, but I never see him showing interest," Ren added.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at them with confusion.


    "Girls...like me?" he muttered, doubting their words.


    Nobody had ever told him that he liked him, so that was very unlikely!


    Meanwhile, Jenny red at June as she continued chewing on her second meat bun of the day. Then, she thought of a mischievous idea, making her smirk.


    As she continued chewing, she brought out her phone and clicked on a particr album. She came prepared for this day, but honestly, she didn''t think she would be able to utilize the weapons she had picked. It was June''s meat bun that triggered her to do this.


    She swallowed the meat bun, albeit struggling, and smiled widely at the members.


    "Who wants to see June''s baby pictures?"

 Chapter 468 Baby June

    <h4>Chapter 468 Baby June</h4>


    "Aww!"


    Coos were heard in the room as Jenny continued showing them June''s baby pictures.


    June had to admit that Choi Joon-ho was pretty cute as a kid. However, he didn''t enjoy his members'' obnoxious praises. They sounded like proud little parents on their kid''s first day at school.


    "Are you done?" June asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "I have one more photo to show you," she eximed.


    The members waited in anticipation, and June, too, craned his neck to get a better look at the photo.


    June''s eyes widened when he saw his baby self dressed in nothing but Shrek underwear.


    "Aww!"


    He tried to get the phone out of Jenny''s hand, but Jisung held him back.


    June, however, broke free from the younger member''s hold and attempted to get Jenny''s phone once more.


    However, it seemed like his members made it a pact to embarrass him as they restrained him as a group.


    "Delete that!" June eximed, trying to get away from four of his members.


    "Dang, you''re really strong," Akira said. "We need Casper up in here."


    However, Casper was busy exchanging contacts with Jenny so she could send June''s photos to him.


    June''s eyes widened, already sensing dread as Casper mischievously gazed at his phone screen.


    "Stop him!" June said.


    Casper turned his phone to the members and showed the posted photo on his feed.


    "I posted it," he innocently said.


    June slumped into his members'' arms. However, they merelyughed at his misery, even praising Casper for the witty caption he formted.


    June opened his phone and went to Casper''s profile.


    There, he saw one of his baby photos uploaded. Fortunately, it wasn''t the photo of him in his Shrek undies. Instead, it was a photo of him eating a root vegetable of some sort.


    Nheless, the caption was still appalling.


    ''Baby June''


    The reactions quickly piled up, and most of them were cooing at June''s cuteness.


    - If this was my child, I would feed him expensive food every day.


    - I feel like I could never say no to this child.


    - Why is June so cute?


    - Everyone''s talking about June being cute (he really is), but can we talk about the caption?


    - Baby June? Is Casper saying June is his baby?


    - What''s their ship name? #JunePer


    - That''s an ugly ass name.


    - Oh goodness. The shippers are here. I thought we''d be free for a couple more months, but I guess we can never escape from them.


    - #JunePer


    June slumped on the couch, cing his phone on the couch before going to where Jenny was.


    He held onto her wrist and dragged her out of the dorm despite her and the member''s refusal.


    June pulled her in front of the elevator, a subtle re still evident in his eyes.


    Jenny continued tough, not even looking bothered that June''s baby photos were causing yet another uproar.


    "You should go home," June said, pointing at the elevator.


    "Aww, is baby June upset?" Jenny continued to tease, causing June to let out a deep breath.


    "You already got your objective. Stop bothering me...and stop following me around," he bluntly said.


    Jenny, instead of being offended by June''s bluntness, smiled widely.


    June looked at her with narrowed eyes.


    "Ah, it''s good seeing you like this," Jenny said, nostalgia evident in her voice."Since we were young, you always let other people step on you. Now, you speak your mind. I feel very proud," she said.


    "I feel like your mom and dad will be proud too."


    June''s expression softened when he heard those words.


    Somehow, Jenny, insinuating that his parents would be proud, made his heart swell with joy.


    A small smile appeared on his lips.


    "However, I''m still worried," Jenny said, making June''s smile drop.


    "I wasn''t beingpletely honest when I told you the reason why I wanted to speak with you," she started off.


    "I know it''s been a long time, but I still remember ourst phone call," she said, softer this time.


    "Phone call?" June asked, trying to recall the distant memory but to no avail.


    "It was a dark...rainy day," she whispered. "And you sounded so scared."


    June frowned as he observed the shift in her attitude. It was only moments ago when she was teasing him for his baby photos, yet now, she appeared to be in distress.


    June could hear footstepsing to where they were, so he quickly opened the elevator and pushed her in.


    Then, he brought out one of the calling cards that Jay had crafted for him. It was filled with pink cats, cheese balls, and gummy bears. It definitely didn''t look professional at all, but it was better than nothing.


    "Here''s my number. Save it and text me. We''ll talk more about what you said," he said.


    "June!" Jordan''s voice resonated in the halls as he greeted the younger idol.


    June threw onest look toward Jenny as the elevator doors closed before turning to Jordan with a curt smile.


    Jenny let out a deep breath as soon as the doors closed.


    She leaned against the cold metal and slightly smiled.


    "He''s changed so much," she whispered.


    Then, she looked down at his calling card and smiled even wider.


    "But he still likes cute things."


    "I guess some aspects of him are still the same."


    The elevator door opened, and Jenny felt like a huge thorn was removed from her heart.


    Her rtionship with June became more strained as they grew up because her rtives were not fond of June''s parents.


    That led June''s family to be isted from their n.


    If you asked Jenny, then she would say it was for the best.


    Their family tree wasn''t great anyway.


    That led to Jenny''s rtionship with June growing even more distant, and as he became a trainee, they rarely got to talk aside from a couple of phone calls here and there.


    Jenny left the building, feeling relieved. She hummed to herself, almost skipping in joy after the reunion with her dear cousin.


    She was waiting for the pedestrian street light to turn green before she crossed, looking left and right.


    However, she suddenly felt a push behind her, making her eyes go wide.


    She was pushed onto the pedestrianne while the light was still red, and she saw a caring her way.


    Jenny fell down to the ground, closing her eyes and shielding her head with her arms.


    Dang, was she going to die on the day she met her beloved cousin? She always bashed those people who got hit by a car for no good reason in TV dramas. For her, it appeared like they still had a lot of time to escape.


    However, now that she was in the situation, she realized it was definitely easier said than done.


    She closed her eyes and waited for the impact, but it never came. Instead, she felt a pat on her shoulder.


    "Hey, youngdy, are you alright?" an old man asked, looking concerned for her safety.


    There, she saw that the car had stopped right before it could hit her.


    Then, she stood, looking around for whoever pushed her.


    However, aside from the old man, nobody else was there.

 Chapter 469 Unsolved Mysteries

    <h4>Chapter 469 Unsolved Mysteries </h4>


    "Dang, you''re earning a lot of money, but the first ce you brought me to was an abandoned building?" Jenny asked, looking around the ce with furrowed eyebrows.


    June shook his head, passing her an ice cream bar.


    "And wow, an ice cream bar," she sarcastically said. "I''m dirt poor, and I can afford this."


    "Do you want it or not?" June asked, looking at her with furrowed eyebrows.


    Jenny clicked her tongue and opened the cold packet before biting on the ice cream.


    "Why''d you call me here for? Don''t you have a performanceter in the evening?" she asked.


    "I do," June said, looking at his user interface.


    [Mission: Find out why Haruki hates you.]


    [Deadline: 23 hours]


    June escaped from his members to meet Jenny for a few minutes. At first, he didn''t see the reason for their reunion. However, in this life, it seemed like everything happened for a reason.


    "Tell me everything you know," June said, getting straight to the point.


    Jenny, currently having a brain freeze, looked at him with confusion.


    "About what?" she asked. "About my near-death experience?"


    "Near-death what?" June frowned. "Not that. What you told me about yesterday¡ªourst phone call."


    Jenny stopped mid-bite, and she slowly brought down the ice cream, her face turning serious.


    She paused for a moment, recalling the phone call that had happened years before.


    "It was after you left Phoenix," she started off, setting the tone.


    "You had the most difficult times when you were a trainee."


    "Despite theck of opportunities in thepany, you always maintained a brave face. You didn''t call often. I was the one who initiated the calls since my parents would get mad whenever they found out you called," she continued.


    "Every time I called, you always told me some frustrating story of you getting bullied by your fellow trainees. I would always get mad and ask you to leave that damn forsaken ce. However, afterward, you would follow it up with how your friends made it bearable and how you couldn''t give up your dream."


    "In the end, all I needed to do was listen to your rants."


    "However," she said, her eyes bing nk.


    "One day, you were the one who called."


    A ringing sound resonated in June''s ears, and faint memories started shing right before his eyes. It made his head hurt, but he braved the pain and continued listening to Jenny''s sorry.


    "At that point, I already thought it was strange."


    "You never called," she nkly said.


    "At first, I thought it was a mistake. All I heard was static and the sound of heavy rain."


    The images vividly appeared in front of June, and it felt like he was transported back to that certain time.


    It was familiar. He had seen this dream before¡ªwhen he saw a staggering figure on a dark, rainy rooftop. June wanted to run to him, but the soles of his shoes seemed to be glued onto the ground.


    "Then, I heard your voice. I instantly knew that something was wrong."


    "What did I say?" June asked, feeling rushed.


    "That was the problem...you didn''t say much," she whispered.


    June''s frown deepened. "Then, if I didn''t say anything, how did youe to the conclusion that something was wrong?"


    "No...you were still saying something," she said, recalling the scary night.


    "But it was only one word...a name."


    "Haru..."


    "Haru...," she muttered repeatedly.


    June felt a chill run through his spine, and at that moment, he realized that meeting at an abandoned building near their dorm wasn''t the smartest decision. It just added to the eeriness of Jenny''s story.


    "Haruki?" June asked.


    "I don''t know," Jenny honestly said.


    "You only said that certain name. Only those two sybles."


    "What happened after?" June probed even further.


    "A loud scream was heard¡ªsomething that depicted agony...the deepest pain a person could feel."


    "Then, the call ended before I could ask any questions."


    "That phone call stayed in my mind for a good couple of months...haunting me even in my sleep. Then, I tried calling you again, but you never picked up. It was strange. It seemed like you fell off the face of the earth."


    "So, I was really relieved when I saw you on Rising Stars. I was d that you were still alive."


    "Because that night," she softly said, looking down at the ground.


    "I felt like someone died."


    ***


    "I felt like someone died."


    "...died."


    Died.


    Death.


    Jenny''s words echoed in the back of June''s mind as he prepared for thest live broadcast of King of Kings.


    He was trying toe up with hypotheses on what really happened that night but couldn''te up with even one.


    "Bro?" Jisung asked, nudging his shoulder.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and stared up at their youngest member. He had already dressed up in their attire, and June couldn''t help but nod in admiration.


    "You look nice in that," June said.


    Jisung smiled, proudly showing off his outfit.


    "These outfits were a good call. It''s the best possible outfit we could wear for the finale," he said.


    June nodded and stood from his seat.


    "I''ll go ahead and change too."


    June went to the dressing room, finding himself alone. All the other members were already done dressing up, so he had the room all to himself.


    He observed the piece of clothing for a moment. It was red with gold details and plenty of buttons. The material was velvet, yet it didn''t feel cheap at all. On his back was another velvet material, but lighter this time.


    He observed himself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.


    Their team had worked hard for theirst performance, so June decided to forget about Haruki until the end of the show.


    June went out of the dressing room and saw his teammates in simr outfits. A small smile appeared on June''s lips, feeling excited to show off the stage they had worked hard for.


    "June!" Akira eximed, running to where he was. "You look great."


    June chuckled, looking down at his outfit.


    "We''re practically wearing the same thing," June deadpanned.


    "But you look better," Akiraplimented. "Maybe I should dye my hair blonde for thiseback," he said, raking his fingers through his hair.


    Just then, a stylist shouted.


    "Don''t!"


    However, it was toote. Akira had already messed up his hair. The hairstylist shook her head as she led Akira in front of the mirror once again.


    June chuckled with the other members, waiting for Akira to finish getting his hair retouched.


    Fortunately, they were going to performst, so the stylist didn''t have to rush.


    They continued their conversations, discussing the finishing touches of their performance.


    Then, when Wonbin and Haemin emerged from the stage, they turned silent.


    The two hosts looked at each other before bringing the microphone up to their lips.


    "Wee to thest song,st dance,st performance¡ªthe King''s stage!"

 Chapter 470 Glimmering Prize

    <h4>Chapter 470 Glimmering Prize</h4>


    "I can''t believe I spent more money on these tickets than my tuition," Bora sighed as she slumped down in the front-row seat.


    "You''re a schr," Nari pointed out.


    Bora smirked, taking out the popcorn she hid in her bra and eating the stale snack. However, she still ate it deliciously despite its current state.


    "Oh yeah," Bora said, her mouth full of chewed-up popcorn.


    Soomin looked at her in disgust before shaking her head.


    "I sometimes wonder why you''re a schr," she muttered.


    "Shh," Jia shushed her friends, causing them to frown.


    "It''s noisy as hell in here," Bora said. "Who are you even shushing?"


    Jia clicked her tongue and shook her head, appearing more nervous than the contestants backstage. For some reason, she felt really nervous about the results of the show.


    While watching Rising Stars, she was pretty sure that June was going to make it.


    However, she was unsure of EVE''s ranking at this very moment. The prize for winning the show hasn''t even been revealed, but Jia already wanted EVE to take the crown.


    Just then, Haemin and Wonbin came to the stage, making the audience go crazy. It was the first time the two hosts were seen together in a live show, and their handsome visuals shook the entire venue.


    They smiled widely as they greeted the audience.


    "Ah, the studio is packed more than ever," Haemin started off.


    "We also have more than one million viewers from all over the world on the livestream!"


    Haemin added. "Please continuementing and sending support to your favorite idols."


    - Time to find out who''s the best of the best, bitches!


    - I think we already know who''s going to win.


    - The gap between CHAOS and EVE is really small. Please vote for CHAOS at all costs.


    - I''m a casual watcher. I''ve been collecting voting tickets since the beginning and will only vote for the best performer at the very end!


    - Honestly, I just want to watch these handsome boys grind on stage.


    - I think you came to the wrong show.


    Wonbin nodded excitedly. "It seems like everyone is dying to know who the final king will be in the end."


    "Well, you''re in luck. Today is the live finale of King of Kings¡ªthe moment all of you have been waiting for!" Haemin eximed.


    "As of the moment, the votes are stilling in and will end ten minutes after thest performance!"


    Jisung nervously turned to his teammates, suddenly feeling out of breath.


    "Aren''t we at a disadvantage?" he asked. "We''ll only be able to perform in the end, so we''ll get the least amount of time to have the audience vote for us."


    "That doesn''t matter," June nonchntly eximed.


    Jaeyong nodded despite feeling nervous, too. "I believe our performance will be enough to catch up to the possible gaps."


    The others, too, started nodding in agreement, trying to keep theirposure. In the end, Jisung had no choice but to calm down. However, that was nearly impossible when he saw familiar faces grace the screen.


    "Wh¡ªWhat are they doing here?" Jisung stammered.


    "We have very special guests here with us!" Haemin eximed. "I honestly didn''t expect such great faces to bless us with their presence, yet here they are!"


    "That''s right," Wonbin chimed. "We have the greatest K-pop stars of their generation with us tonight. They will be evaluating each performance fairly, and their scores will be added directly to the participants'' votes."


    Haemin smiled. "You heard that right! This week, not only will the audience''s votes matter, but we will also take these experts'' evaluations. They are given the privilege to score each performance from 1 to 10. Then, these scores will be multiplied by 10,000 before being added to the participants'' votes."


    The audience started murmuring to themselves.


    "I don''t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing," Soomin remarked.


    "I think it''s a good thing," Bora said. "EVE has always impressed the judges from the first episode. I believe they''ll make a good impression on this set of judges, too."


    "Are we sure?" Nari nervously asked. "They look so hard to please."


    The expert idols were shown on the screen one by one.


    J-Mope.


    Liza.


    These two idols were some of the greatest idol dancers in the industry. They had changed the meaning of what it was like to dance as an idol, and a lot of rookies admired them for their skill. Just the thought of being evaluated by the two was already nerve-wracking.


    Bookwan.


    Lendy.


    Now, these two were considered vocal powerhouses, even exceeding their roles as idols andpeting with pure singers in the entertainment industry. They reminded fans that the best idols were those who had great singing skills.


    Bark Lee.


    Soyeoff.


    Aside from singing and dancing, rapping had be one of the staples of K-pop songs. These two idols broke away from idol stereotypes and showed that even good-looking people canpete in the rap industry.


    Jang Wonold.


    Park Hoonie.


    Thest two panel members weren''t really known for their exceptional talent. However, people couldn''t deny the charm that they had. Their looks and overall personality just drew people in, making them indispensable members of their groups.


    - How much budget does SBC have? These powerhouses are out of the charts!


    - Good luck to everyone! I hope the judges y fairly and choose who really deserves to be the king.


    - Gosh, I would be trembling if I were one of the participants.


    Truly, the participants backstage became even more nervous after the judges were announced.


    Even CHAOS, a popr group, couldn''t believe they were performing before these people. It was rare to see them all in one event, yet here they were!


    Wonbin took the microphone once again for the next announcement.


    "Now, let me announce the most awaited prize for King of Kings," he said.


    The participants set aside their nervousness for a moment to focus on the prize that had been hidden from them from the very start.


    Haemin and Wonbin looked at each other knowingly before the screen behind them lit up with an unfamiliar logo.


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    "The King''s Joker?" he muttered under his breath.


    "Without further ado, we reveal to you¡ªThe King''s Joker!" Haemin loudly eximed.


    "A bi-monthly variety show that would air exclusively on SBC. This show will feature the winners'' of King of Kings and give them more exposure on their very own show!"

 Chapter 471 Unexpected Performance

    <h4>Chapter 471 Unexpected Performance </h4>


    There was amotion backstage as the prize was revealed.


    "Our own variety show?" Seven asked, his eyes glimmering with hope.


    "And it''s going to be aired early in the evening?" Tres added. "That''s basically free promotion!"


    "I don''t know if we still have the chance to get such an honor," Rex sighed. "But it would be really nice if we did."


    Robby nced at the screen before turning his attention back to his phone.


    In the beginning, he wanted to show off his poprity to the younger groups participating.


    However, now, he had finally epted that he had no chance of winning.?In the end, EVE still managed to beat him even though they''d only debuted for about three months.


    Meanwhile, June slumped in his seat in disappointment after the revtion of the prize.


    Akira pped his shoulder with wide eyes, making June re at the older member.


    "What?" June asked.


    "Why are you sighing in disappointment?" Akira asked.


    June shrugged, taking a sip from his water. "I was expecting an overseas trip."


    Akira face-palmed before turning back to June. "You''re clueless. Our own variety show will be big! Imagine the amount of new fans we''ll get."


    "I guess," June said, still not getting the appeal of the variety show.


    Jia''s eyes sparkled as she heard the precious prize. If EVE wins, she''ll be seeing them two times more in a month. She couldn''t wait for them to win the benefit! She brought out her phone and started pestering her mom to vote for EVE until the voting ended.


    However, Jia smelled something familiar¡ªlike old clothes and dried saliva, making her grimace. She looked around the venue but didn''t see anyone familiar. In the end, she brushed it off and focused her gaze on the stage.


    The first performer of the night was Robby, and it seemed like he had given up. He performed histest song the usual way without much innovation. Sure, they weren''t given anything for this particr mission. However, his performance was definitely not worthy of a finale.


    He lip-synced during the choruses when he didn''t even have to dance that hard.


    In the end, only his fans (which were only a few) voted for him.


    - Alright, we''re onto ackluster start.


    - Maybe Robby should focus on his acting career instead of his idol career.


    - Yeah, he doesn''t seem passionate at all.


    - Let''s pack it up, Robby!


    Fortunately, the second performer of the night was BOYMYSTIC, who livened up the atmosphere as soon as their performance started.


    The members of EVE nced at each other with satisfied looks on their faces. Their predictions had been right for thest two performances. BOYMYSTIC actually stuck to the bubbly yet EDM-inspired genre.


    Their experience shone on stage, and even without special effects, they managed to make the audience members jive to the beat of their song. Even the judges gave them quite a lot ofpliments. It seemed to be the best performance for BOYMSTIC in the duration of the show.


    The next performers, however, undoubtedly overshadowed BOYMYSTIC.


    Well, what more did June expect from their rival group OCTA?


    They had been improving with every mission, and June could see their determination to win despite the huge gap in the score between their group and CHAOS.


    EVE watched their performance silently, taking note of their improvements and arrangement choices. June had already acknowledged his rivalry with Uno. However, the other members, too, couldn''t help but feel more fired up after seeing OCTA''s performance.


    "That was really good," Jisung whispered, staring at the youngest member of OCTA as he appeared on the screen. "Seven stood out in this performance."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "And he''s only 17, too. What a scary youngd. It makes me think of his potential to improve."


    Sehun pursed his lips. "The younger boys are really scary these days," he said, his eyes straying to June.


    "I think it''s more amazing that we''re three for three right now," Zeth pointed out. "How can we guess their concepts so perfectly?"


    Ren nodded. "They''re even wearing racing outfits like we had predicted."


    "Maybe we''re psychics or something," Zethughed. "Or maybe we have someone who transmigrated among us and knows everything about the future!" he joked, but June froze as soon as he heard the word ''transmigration.''


    Well, he got half of it right. June couldn''t really see the future, but he indeed transmigrated to Choi Joon-ho''s body.


    The performances continued, and the stage continued to heat up.


    It was almost unbelievable how EVE guessed the concepts of all the performances so far.


    MORPH3D performed with their usual rock band sound while SPADES kept their ''chorale'' brand.


    Now, it was time for CHAOS to take the stage.


    As expected, the cheers were on a different scale than those of the rest of the performers. They wore their signature dark outfits, and they strutted to the middle with confident smirks.


    When they were deciding the order of performances, half of the members of EVE wanted to have CHAOS perform first. However, June strongly disagreed with the idea.


    Having CHAOS perform first would only mean they''d set the expectations for the rest of the performances. The first andst performers always make the moststing impressions, so June didn''t want to give CHAOS that kind of benefit.


    Moreover, he didn''t want CHAOS to have the most time to garner votes after their performance. If they performed just right before EVE, then maybe, just maybe, EVE would be able to change some of the viewers'' perspectives.


    "Shh," Akira eximed, even though none of the members of EVE were talking.


    They all paid attention to the stage, wondering if they had also guessed CHAOS'' concept correctly.


    June hoped they did.


    Only then will their n be perfect.


    As the members of CHAOS took their positions, June held his breath. Their formation was the same as their past performances of the song, so June was quite sure they were going to employ the same dark concept, too.


    However, as the lights illuminated the stage, June''s breath got caught in the back of his throat.


    It wasn''t what they expected.

 Chapter 472 Past, Present, and Future Monsters

    <h4>Chapter 472 Past, Present, and Future Monsters</h4>


    - Has anyone seen CHAOS perform something like this before? I know I haven''t!


    - Holy Moly! They''re delving into this kind of concept for the finale?


    - King behavior only. I can''t believe they pulled this kind of concept with all-ck outfits.


    - I could hear Haruki''s voice so well. He sings and raps like a beast!


    - We can definitely end the show right now. CHAOS has already taken the throne.


    EVE watched as CHAOS took over the genre they excelled in the most¡ªan emotional stage.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as the camera focused on Haruki''s eyes, filled with unspoken emotion.


    Theirtest title track, ''Day by Day by Day,'' was about a post-apocalyptic rtionship where the guy seeks out his long, lost love. The music video had a dark, zombie theme, which many fans and even non-fans liked.


    It has an intense EDM sound with an underlying R&B influence, which added a sexy re to the song. June never expected it to be performed this way. However, listening to the lyrics, he realized it was very possible.


    June shook his head before crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    He had to admit¡ªhe didn''t see iting.


    Despite it being a trick he had done plenty of times, he still didn''t expect another group to do something so simr.


    As the camera panned to the audience, revealing their captivated expressions, June felt first-hand how other participants felt during Rising Stars when he pulled the same stunt.


    "So this is how it feels, huh?" he whispered, a small smile emerging from his lips.


    EVE continued intently watching the performance, nodding in acknowledgment during the highlights of the song. CHAOS'' talent couldn''t be denied, and EVE had to admit that the group had something they didn''t¡ªseasoned experience.


    They had been a team for much longer, had performed on bigger stages, and had way more experience handling the crowd, and June felt a slight difference in their performance with EVEs.


    As their performance ended, two of the judges stood in excitement.


    The audience, too, burst into deafening cheers. Meanwhile, EVE was stunned into silence, not knowing how to feel about their performance.


    Jisung bit his lip as he looked at his fellow members.


    "What are we going to do now?" he asked.


    "What do you mean?" June said, already standing from his seat to do a quick stretch.


    "They didn''t utilize the dark concept that we predicted," Akira sighed, also feeling nervous.


    "Does that matter?" June nonchntly asked.


    His members turned to June, confused by his calm demeanor.


    "Did you watch their performance just now?" Jaeyong asked. "Do you think we can beat that?"


    "Well, we wouldn''t know if we tried, won''t we?" June asked.


    The members looked at each other before standing from their seats as well.


    June sighed as he looked at their nervous expressions.


    "This is a big stage for us," June started off, cracking his knuckles.


    "I know that we''re battling with giant monsters, but it was also yesterday when I was battling with monsters like you," June chuckled, pointing at all of them.


    At one point, all of them seemed like skyscrapers to June. During Rising Stars, he didn''t even think of beating the present members of EVE with his skill, yet now, he was performing on the same stage as them.


    The other members visibly loosened with June''s statement. Somehow, it gave them confidence that a monster like June also considered themselves to be monsters.


    "If I could topple such monsters down," June continued. "Then, I''m sure we''ll be able to do so too¡ªespecially now that we''re already joining hands," he smiled.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips before nodding.


    "June''s right," he agreed. "This is ourst stage¡ªsomething we worked very hard on despite our busy schedule. Let''s go out on that stage with the aim of showing our talent and hard work to the viewers."


    "Yeah!" Akira eximed loudly, shaking his hands to get rid of the nervousness.


    "Let''s bring it in," Jaeyong said, trying to get the team spirit up.


    He stretched his arm out and ced his hand in the middle while his members looked at him with confusion.


    "What are you doing?" Sehun asked.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue and coaxed for them toe closer.


    "Let''s do a group cheer," he said.


    Akira and Ren groaned simultaneously.


    "That''s such a millennial thing to do," Ren pointed out.


    Jaeyong narrowed his eyes. "I''ll pretend you didn''t just say that. Just bring your hand in. It''s the leader''s order," he smirked.


    June ced his hand over Jaeyong to get it over with.


    Despite their initial hesitation, the other members enthusiastically joined in on the circle when June initiated it. Casper clicked his tongue in annoyance when Akira overtook him and ced his hand over June''s.


    Jaeyong sighed as he watched his eager members. "You guys have such double standards," he muttered.


    Seven hands were joined together, waiting for thest member to join in on the circle.


    They all turned to Jisung, who was nervously fiddling with his fingers.


    "What are you waiting for?" Akira asked. "Come here."


    Jisung, however, continued looking nervous. Their youngest member was truly the youngest in heart. June shook his head and felt quite bad for him.


    "Come on," June softly said. "What are you so afraid of?"


    Jisung pursed his lips before responding.


    "CHAOS has more experience than us," he muttered. "I''m afraid we won''t be able to beat that."


    June sighed and raked his free hand over his hair. However, he grimaced when he felt the hair gel on his fingers.


    "June!" Akira eximed. "You just ruined your hair."


    The other members, too, fussed about the unexpected disaster. However, as they looked at their blonde member, they stopped, tilting their heads to the side in confusion.


    "Wait, you actually look pretty good like this," Ren said.


    "Yeah¡­In fact, I think you suit this better," Akira remarked.


    June smirked, trusting their judgment. Then, he turned back to Jisung, whose nervousness only seemed to heighten because of the mishap with June''s hair.


    "They might have something we don''t have," June started, looking straight into Jisung''s eyes so he could feel his sincerity.


    "But that''s just the rule of life. Someone will always be better. Once we learn to ept that, we''ll be able to progress even further."


    "However, life is fair. It gives, and it takes. So, even though someone might be better in one aspect, they will never be the best in others," June continued.


    Akira shook his head as he listened to June''s speech. For him, it seemed as though June''s statement was incorrect.


    Because one could truly be the best in everything.


    June was the living proof of it.


    He wasn''t there yet.


    But in his mind, June will get there soon.

 Chapter 473 Undefeatable Vocal Skills

    <h4>Chapter 473 Undefeatable Vocal Skills </h4>


    "Make it faster."


    One of the crew members urged EVE to go to the stage. Due to their dramatic group discussion, they werete for their performance. In the end, Haemin and Wonbin had to do more ad-libs than usual to fill in their absence.


    They didn''t have time to speak with the audience, either, so they went to their formation right away.


    The audience murmured in confusion, wondering why EVE didn''t introduce themselves, unlike the other groups. However, they quickly dialed down in anticipation of their performance.


    - My mind is still hung up on CHAOS'' performance.


    - CHAOS'' performance will not be topped. Mark my words.


    - Stfu. EVE isn''t even done performing yet.


    - By the way, why did EVE not introduce themselves?


    - My dad works as a crew member in SBC. He said that the EVE kids had way too much fun talking among themselves that they missed their cue. They can''t afford to extend since it''s a live show, so they decided to forgo the group''s introduction.


    - If that''s true, then they''re really cute!


    - Ya''ll believe everything on the inte these days.


    "I can''t see them," Jia whispered to Bora, who was right by her side.


    Bora clicked her tongue and poked her friend''s shoulder. "Of course, you can''t. The lights are off!"


    Meanwhile, the idols backstage waited for EVE to reveal their outfits. CHAOS, who settled backstage to watch EVE''s performance, also paid great attention to therge screen before them.


    As much as Haruki hated to admit it, EVE came up with the greatest concepts out of everybody in the entire show. Each week, they brought something different to the table. Sometimes, it made him want to perform on such stages, too.


    EVE was also the reason why CHAOS went for the emotional route this time. Haruki was determined to show the audience that they, too, could pull off that kind of concept.


    Finally, the stage was illuminated by simple white lights, casting a glow on the members of EVE.


    The members were standing in the middle the stage, lined up horizontally. It wasn''t their usual formation for Oasis, so it left the audience guessing how they were going to perform the song.


    However, their focus was brought away from EVE''s formation when they saw the kind of outfits they were wearing.


    Gasps and murmurs rippled across the audience as they finally realized the type of clothing that the members of EVE had.


    "Kings?" Jia muttered, feeling breathless as she stared at the handsome men in the very middle of the stage.


    - My prince charmings! They''re so handsome <3.


    - There are so many eye candies on the screen. I don''t know where to focus my gaze.


    - They really dressed like kings for King of Kings. Genius behavior!


    - Everyone, look at them. How can you hate these kings?


    - I have to admit, they have the best outfits among all the participants right now.


    - Their outfits are fit for kings. But will their performance live up to it?


    EVE was d in regal attires¡ªon-brand with the title of the show ''King of Kings.'' They wanted to show the audience and the participants that they were the Kings of K-pop¡ªliterally.


    Their red velvet sweaters, adorned with intricate ck buckles, draped over their frames like robes of royalty. Each member wore fitted cks that entuated their lean forms, the fabric hugging their legs like a second skin, elongating their stature to godlike proportions.


    However, their hair was a sharp contrast to their outfits. They were tousled in controlled chaos and spoke rebellion against the conventional image of a king¡ªa defiance that only enhanced their allures.


    June, at the center, had a crooked grin. He excluded an aura like a mad king¡ªa ruler untamed by society''s norms. However, he didn''t look unkempt at all. His handsome features still made him look like a king despite his disheveled locks.


    The cherry on top were the capes behind their backs, a darker crimson than their velvet sweaters. Even under the simple lights, they appeared like rulers of the world.


    - I wouldn''t mind being dominated by them.


    - You mean, ruled?


    - No¡­dominated.


    - Oh goodness, the world is truly ending.


    As the first strains of music filled the air, the audience braced themselves for the familiar beats of Oasis¡ªthe bright anthem that was still in the charts even three months after its release.


    However, they frowned in confusion when a simple and ambient melody was revealed. It was slightly haunting, almost something you would hear from a church. However, at the same time, it sounded beautiful.


    Y frowned as he felt something brew inside of him. They hadn''t sung yet, but he already had a feeling that he was going to be blown away by their performance.


    Shivers ran down the spines of the spectators as the ambient sounds enveloped them.


    Though the room was devoid of any air conditioning, it felt as though a gust of wind had swept through, stirring their very souls.


    Then, as if emerging from the depths of a forgotten dream, June''s voice pierced through the ambient silence.


    It was a departure from the norm that left the audience, especially the fans, surprised.


    For June to take the lead in the song''s intro was unprecedented. Typically, the center''s parts were focused on the bridges and endings of their performances. His sudden ascent to the first part of the song was an unexpected yet delightful treat.


    However, that wasn''t really what impressed the audience the most.


    What truly captivated them was the power in his voice. June''s voice had been on the softer, more stylistic side, even during Rising Stars. Sure, he has done quite a lot of high notes, which suited him well, but being able to belt them was another story.


    However, right now, as he sang the chorus of the song almost half an octave higher than the original key, those who knew of his original talent were blown away.


    Uno''s eyebrows furrowed as he leaned against his knees, staring at the screen with piercing eyes.


    "What''s this?" he muttered under his breath.


    Had June somehow surpassed his own limits and transcended the boundaries of his singing skills once again?

 Chapter 474 Switch (1)

    <h4>Chapter 474 Switch (1)</h4>


    - Are we hearing him right now?


    - What the heck? Since when did June sound like this?


    - I realized I hadn''t heard June sing in such a long time.


    - Yeah, now that I think about it, he''s been rapping for the past two weeks.


    - I don''t think he ever sounded like this in his life.


    Xion, too, couldn''t help but pay more attention as June stretched the high note of thest part of the chorus.


    When they performed ''Father'' together, he had to admit that June had a great voice. It was the type of voice that would draw you in the moment you heard it.


    Xion honestly thought that his natural voice was a cheat. Anybody who had that great natural tone would be considered a great singer. However, it still had some limitations.


    June''s soft and R&B type of voice wasn''t suited for songs with more powerful and more ''belty'' parts.


    However, for this particr performance, it seemed like he had broken out of that barrier and sang without those limitations.


    It made Xion wonder if he had made a mistake in judging the versatility of June''s voice.


    Meanwhile, June, who had just finished with the introduction part of their performance, internally smirked as he saw the agape mouths of the audience members. Even those holding other groups'' lightsticks looked at him with sparkly eyes, making him proud of the progress he had made with his vocal skills.


    The improvement was definitely linked to the upgrades he had gotten, which led him to have a vocal skill grade of SS. However, he also wanted to pat himself on the back because he wouldn''t have improved in such a short amount of time without the vocal lessons with Magic Mama.


    June reimed his rightful ce at the center of the stage. The rest of EVE converged around him before joining June in singing the first verses of the song.


    "In the embrace of waves, where the sun meets the shore,


    A life lived in water, forever wanting more.


    Rise like the sun. Rise with the tides.


    Hold on tight for this hot, wild ride."


    Their voices blended in perfect harmony. There was a transcendent quality of their performance, almost like the audience was listening to a performance in a king''s castle.


    It was reminiscent of a chorale, with the baritones and tenors singing together without outshining the others. In this stage, all of them shined brightly, contributing to the harmony that serenaded the audience.


    "Underneath the moon, we share our stories.


    In the blue embrace, unforgettable memories.


    Experiences we''ve shared held by the sandy shore.


    Our oasis, forever we adore."


    The first verses ended, and just as the audience settled into the hypnotic rhythm of the chorale arrangement, a sudden change in the music sent shockwaves through the studio.


    It was a startling sound, making even the participants watching backstage jump in their seats.


    Seven ced his hand over his heart and tried to steady his breath.


    "What the heck? That came out of nowhere!" he eximed.


    The 17-year-old idol was sure that EVE was going to continue with the royal chorale concept, yet now, the ambient sounds faded into the background, reced by a surge of intense synth beats.


    However, despite the sharp change, it didn''t sound like a chaotic cacophony. Thanks to June''s and Ren''s masterful production skills, the transition between the serene and the intense sound was executed seamlessly.


    It almost seemed like the audience was watching a royal kingdom burst into mes after a peaceful gathering¡ªlike the calm before the storm.


    As the music grew louder, EVE unleashed the storm on the stage. After their harmonious singing, they now broke into an intense dance break that was as synchronized as dance crews.


    It was a mesmerizing disy of agility and control that left the audience breathless in its wake. They jumped high in the air, yet their feet were still on the same level despite their different heights.


    Hours of practice-led EVE to achieve this kind of synchronization. It was definitely a tiring run, especially for June, who had to go to different schedules because of his new role in acting. However, it was all worth it in the end as they saw the audience''s amazed expressions.


    - I just took a screenshot of their jump. All of their knees are on the same freaking level! Do you know how hard that is?


    - It''s like they''re moving as one. EVE has such different dancing styles, yet they still manage to make it work.


    - I love CHAOS, but dang, this is good.


    - And it isn''t even over yet!


    Truly, it wasn''t over yet.


    EVE wasted no time in delivering yet another masterpiece as the genre shifted once again.


    The intense synth beats that dominated the previous segment gave way to the primal pounding of organic drums. The sudden shift in sound transformed the atmosphere, infusing it with the raw, untamed energy of a rock band.


    The chorus erupted like a volcano, and EVE sang the chorus with ease despite the intensity of their dance break just seconds ago.


    "Oh, oh, oasis


    Oh, oh, my life is


    Where the waters intertwine...


    Where love is deep, like the ocean''s endless line.


    With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,


    In this haven, I''ve found my true home."


    They continued to dance; however, the intense gyrations of the dance break were reced by a stylish choreography that oozed the effortless charisma of a seasoned rock band.


    The audience members started to stand, allowing themselves to enjoy the performance more by jumping with the members of EVE.


    Haruki''s eyes narrowed as he watched the scene before him. They had performed three genres so far, yet it still felt like one singr performance.


    Meanwhile, MORPH3D, who had been intently watching from the start, bobbed their heads to the beat once the chorus hit.


    "This beat is really nice," Rex said.


    Zibo pursed his lips before nodding in agreement. Despite not wanting to admit that EVE''s performance was good because of his past interactions with June, he still couldn''t deny that this certain arrangement was also his preferred style.


    Meanwhile, in OCTA''s room, Ocho suddenly stood like he just had an epiphany.


    His members were shocked, turning to him with wide eyes.


    "What''s wrong?" Seven asked, confused by his behavior.


    Ocho was silent for a moment before finally responding.


    "The second part of the song," Ocho started off.


    His members intently listened to him.


    "I think it''s us."

 Chapter 475 Switch (2)

    <h4>Chapter 475 Switch (2) </h4>


    "What are you talking about?" Seven asked, feeling confused.


    "The styles," Ocho pointed out. "Don''t they remind you of certain groups? And not just any random groups¡ªbut groups participating in this very show."


    Uno''s ears started ringing as he gazed at EVE. They were currently employing a bubbly EDM concept for the second verse.


    It sounded strangely like BOYMYSTIC mixed with EVE''s style.


    Then, Uno thought back on the previous styles they employed in their performance.


    The first part was a chorale. The second part was an intense dance break. The first chorus was characterized by a rock band sound.


    "You''re right," Uno said, finally getting what EVE was trying to do. At first, he was merely amazed that they were employing so many concepts in one song without it being too much.


    However, now, he finally understood.


    - Do you know any other group who is as versatile as EVE?


    - How many genres are they going to perform?


    - I feel like I''m watching all the groups in one performance.


    - Wait a minute. You might be onto something.


    As the bridge approached, the audience anticipated another shift in the genre.


    And true to form, the group delivered yet another twist in the tale, plunging the studio into darkness as the music took on a sinister edge.


    Gone were the pulsating beats and rocking rhythms of before, reced instead by a haunting melody that seemed to emanate from the depths of the abyss itself. It was a sound both eerie and enchanting, and paired with their heavenly vocals, the audience felt goosebumps arise from their skin.


    "Home...where we spent most of our days.


    Home...where no one goes away.


    Home...where we make each other stay."


    It was a concept that perfectly suited the music video that had apanied the song. At that moment, EVE had finally embraced a concept that was congruent with their music video, one they had never done before.


    CHAOS'' dark concept was perfect for this certain part.


    Haruki''s posture straightened when he recognized the style they were employing.


    Then, it hit him.


    He had a hunch on what they were trying to do for their performance. However, it was only now that he realized his hunches were right.


    "Beware the Oasis in the desert of need.


    For in its seemingly quenching waters lies the peril of drowning.


    In the heat, none perish, but within the embrace of a deceptive sanctuary...


    The true danger unfolds."


    A small chuckle escaped his lips as EVE emanated CHAOS'' vibe. The song arrangement, instrumentation, and even the stylistic vocal choices that they made reminded Haruki of their own performances.


    He thought he had one-upped EVE by adapting their signature concept for their final performance.


    However, not only did EVE one-up them, but they also overrun the other groups in thepetition.


    Haruki had to admit that he focused only on EVE since they were the group that had the highest chance of surpassing their score. However, June took it to another level by involving their otherpetitors.


    Haruki had to apud them for thinking of such a great concept.


    As the final chorus approached, a sense of familiarity washed over EVE. It felt like slipping into a well-worn pair of shoes after a long journey¡ªlike they had returned home.


    They were back to thefort of their original style, where every note and step felt like second nature.


    They had performed this song plenty of times, so it might seem mundane for people who have watched their performance before.


    However, with June''s elevated vocal skill that exploded with background ad-libs, the song was taken to another level.


    They embraced the familiar rhythm and melody, their movements fluid as they danced across the stage. Since it was the final chorus, they gave it their all despite feeling fatigued.


    June felt a cramp on his calf, causing him to purse his lips. However, he braved the pain and continued ad-libbing not even a secondter.


    It was thest part of the song, theirst performance on King of Kings, and theirst chance to prove they were deserving of bing the winners.


    So, June pushed himself to the limit.


    Even though he wanted the prize to be an all-expense paid trip to Europe instead of a variety show, he still gave it his all since his members appeared to be very eager about the prize.


    The music engulfed the studio with warmth and light as EVE delivered the bright, almost summery tune.


    The audience, still on their feet, joined EVE in singing thest chorus, their voices resonating along with the handsome idols.


    Those at the front also started jumping and dancing along with the music.


    Even the judges couldn''t help but join in on the excitement, some of them rising from their seats and pping along with the crowd.


    It was as if they had forgotten they were there to judge apetition, swept away by the joy of EVE''s performance.


    Instead of apetition, it felt more like a mini-concert, and the fact that EVE performed plenty of genres in one song only added to the feeling.


    Despite theck of stage effects, it felt like a hundred spotlights shone on EVE. Truly, the stage was where they shone the most, and it was evident in their faces that they enjoyed performing.


    - Fuck, I should have been there too.


    - I curse everyone who had the privilege to watch this performance live. I hate all of you.


    - I love this performance so much. This just shows that EVE is capable of executing plenty of concepts.


    - It makes me wonder what their concept would be on theireback!


    - Just thinking about aeback got me trembling.


    - I''m a new fan of EVE. I can''t wait for theireback, too.


    - Gosh, I feel sick knowing that I have more people topete with to get to see EVE.


    The final notes of the song ended, and EVE grouped up in the middle for their final formation.


    They were breathless, sweat dripping from their temples (except Zeth, of course), and they looked like the hottest kings to ever grace thend.


    Then, as the song ended, the camera focused on their faces, which had wide and satisfied smiles.


    It was such a beautiful scene that the audience couldn''t help but apud.


    It was a stage that contained nothing, but at the same time, it felt so full.


    Because in the state of nothingness, they utilized their rawtalents...and in the end, they were able to show everything.

 Chapter 476 You Did Great

    <h4>Chapter 476 You Did Great</h4>


    - I''m so proud of EVE. They''vee so far since Rising Stars.


    - Is this why they are named ''LEVEL-UP?'' They always level up every time we see them.


    - That was a rollercoaster ride! I experienced so many emtoions in one sitting.


    - I think I''m going to vote for EVE with all these stars I''ve collected. They deserve it!


    The apuse continued even after EVE settled in a line. They received nothing but praise from the judges, making them feel like all of their hard work was worth it.


    "It was a stage I would have never imagined," Hoonie said, a wide smile ying on his lips.


    "I honestly don''t know how you guys crammed so many genres into a three-minute song, but it was impressive," he continued.


    "That''s right," Lendy agreed. "Bymitting to so many genres, it''s so easy for the performance toe out messy. However, the music production was seamless, so it seemed like you were telling a story instead."


    "Yeah," Bark nodded in agreement. "From my perspective, it seemed like a lonely king who peacefully ruled over a kingdom. However, chaos ensued, and you had to resort to war. However, the preparation for war was dark and scary, yet in the end, you were still able to find peace...or maybe even happiness."


    June listened to his story intently. That wasn''t their objective, but he presumed it may be interpreted like that. It was honestly amazing how music could take you to so many ces.


    "That''s such a hugepliment," Haemin said. "But it was definitely a performance deserving of such praises."


    "Thank you so much, EVE, for giving us a performance fit for the ending," Wonbin said, walking to the middle as EVE made their way backstage.


    They had smiles on their faces that couldn''t be painted. They felt relieved yet nostalgic at the same time. However, the feeling of nervousness overtook their emotions.


    Other idols were also waiting backstage as Haemin and Wonbin started the countdown for thest minutes of voting.


    - I''m going to fracture my pointer finger with how fast I''m voting for EVE.


    - That''s nice. My bank ount is fractured now.


    - I can''t believe we''re all being enved by capitalism right now.


    - I burned more than a thousand dors on this show. My mom''s going to kill me.


    - CHAOS, im the throne that''s always been yours!


    - This is most likely BOYMYSTIC''sst variety show, so maybe we can convince Azure to extend their contract again if they win this particr show!


    - Imagine OCTA winning this. They''ll be so happy, so please continue voting.


    - Let''s show them the power of third-generation fans and vote for SPADES!


    - I''m still voting for MORPH3D even though they''re second tost in the ranking.


    - EVE will continue rising. Mark my words.


    - Hmm, why is nobody rooting for Robby?


    Themercial breaks kicked in, giving the participants more time to prepare for the awaited announcement.


    Some participants had already given up¡ªparticrly Robby, MORPH3D, and BOYMYSTIC.


    "The best we could do is root for EVE," Jordan said, a wide smile on his face. There wasn''t an ounce of bitterness in his expression, just pure eptance.


    Nico, however, was as bitter as a bitter gourd. He clicked his tongue and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "No. I''m rooting for OCTA," he stubbornly said.


    Jordan shook his head as he turned toward the front. Nico was just being a tsundere. From how he watched EVE''s performance a while ago, it was obvious that he liked their performance the most.


    Meanwhile, Uno tapped June''s shoulder, causing thetter to look at him with raised eyebrows.


    "What are you doing here?" June bluntly asked.


    Uno pursed his lips. "Can''t I approach you now?"


    June smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Yeah¡ª


    if it isn''t for a good reason."


    Uno shook his head. "I just wanted to ask¡ªhave you been taking any vocal lessons?"


    "Yeah," June said, a bit confused by his question. "Why''d you ask?"


    Uno pursed his lips. He definitely had to book more vocal lessons now.


    "No reason," he brushed June''s question off. However, he still stood there, making June raise his eyebrows in inquiry.


    "Well, do you still have anything to say?"


    Uno hesitated for a moment before muttering a quick statement, almost inaudible.


    "You did great," Uno muttered before zooming back to his team.


    June didn''t even catch his statement, so he shook his head in amusement.


    ''That guy''s really confusing sometimes,'' he thought.


    However, his amused expression quickly fell when he felt someone staring at him from his peripheral vision.


    There, he saw Haruki subtly ring at him. Yet, when June turned his head, Haruki also quickly turned away.


    June clicked his tongue and looked at his user interface.


    The opportunity to get hard work points and upgrade his skills faster with his own effort was on the brink of death.


    Moreover, he was getting more and more curious about Choi Joon-ho''s past. He thought he was a simple trainee, but it seemed like there was more than what meets the eye.


    He has to find out the reason why Haruki hates him.


    It was now or never.


    June walked up to CHAOS, surprising the members.


    EVE''s members, too, looked at June with wide eyes, wondering why their teammate suddenly approached the senior group.


    However, June ignored their stares and stood before Haruki.


    An ambiguous glint was seen in Haruki''s eyes; however, the hatred in his gaze was more evident now that June was looking at him up close.


    "What are you¡ª"


    Haruki wasn''t even able to finish his statement because he was surprised by what June did next. Since Haruki was taller, June went on his tiptoes and leaned closer to him.


    "What the heck? Is he going to kiss him?" Akira whispered. However, with his loud-ass voice, the other participants and even some of the crew members were able to hear him.


    Haruki took a step back, but June held onto his shoulder, pinning him in ce.


    Haruki frowned when he felt June''s strength, unable to get away from his grip.


    Then, June leaned closer and closer until he reached Haruki''s ear.


    He only said one word, but that in itself already made Haruki freeze.


    "Rooftop."

 Chapter 477 Close Enough

    <h4>Chapter 477 Close Enough</h4>


    June knew right then and there that his visions were right. He was a bit hesitant on believing Jenny''s words because her initial approach didn''t leave a good impression. However, June could now confirm that her words had some truth in them.


    Haruki was definitely involved in that rooftop incident.


    It was still unclear how he partook in it, but it must also be the reason why Haruki hates him.


    Before he could pry further, a crew member went backstage and signalled for the participants toe up the stage.


    The tension was cut short as June made his way back to where EVE was standing. The other members pestered him about what he said to Haruki, but June ignored them.


    "Let''s go," he said, leading the team to go to the stage.


    The audience screamed as soon as the groups made their way to the stage. It was the loudest screams of the night since the different fandoms were trying to out scream each other.


    Not Robby''s fans, though.


    They didn''t evene.


    "Ten minutes passed by so quickly, didn''t it, Haemin?" Wonbin asked, the two hosts converging in the middle.


    "I agree," Haemin chimed. "Or maybe we''re just in denial that the show is finallying to an end."


    Wonbin ced his hand over his heart and sighed. "You got me on that one."


    "Well, it seems like the participants can''t wait for it to end, though," Haemin joked. However, none of the participants even chuckled. They were all too nervous to even consider it as a joke.


    Haemin chuckled awkwardly before facing the front.


    "Then, lets not prolong this agony any longer. Let''s go ahead and check the current rankings," he seriously said.


    The LED screen lit up behind them with the current rankings of the participants.


    The crowd murmured as when they saw CHAOS current score.


    18, 978, 456


    - Look at that. They''re social distancing.


    - As expected, CHAOS had already won.


    - I genuinely feel bad for the other teams. They haven''t even reached the ten million mark yet some of them are hoping to win.


    - Not Robby, though. He hasn''t even reached five million.


    - Social distancing where? EVE is literally trailing behind them with only a two million gap


    Indeed, EVE was the closest in terms of scoring with CHAOS. However, it couldn''t really be denied that the two million gap was still prettyrge¡ªespecially with CHAOS''rge fandom.


    Nheless, June clenched his fists together and waited for the new votes toe in.


    Wonbin and Haemin received the envelope that contained the final ranking of the participants.


    They opened it and looked at it at the same time.


    Their expressions couldn''t be painted, so it was hard to predict the oue of thest mission.


    "Before we announce thest official rankings, let us first thank you all for your dedication to watching this show," Wonbin said.


    "We have garnered yet again thergest amount of votes for this mission, exceeding fifty million votes in total!"


    The crowd gasped when they heard the number of votes.


    - Dang, people really got nothing to do with their money anymore.


    - How much is that? You could buy two houses with the prize of those votes.


    - Is it bad that I contributed 500,000 of those votes?


    - What the heck? Are you a son of a billionaire or something?


    - You could say so.


    - Who did you vote for then?


    - EVE, of course.


    "Now, let''s start with thest ce!" Wonbin eximed.


    The lights turned dim and the spotlight focused on the two hosts. The participants became even more serious as the music intensified further.


    June sighed in frustration since he knew it was going to be another long show.


    He had shback during Rising Stars when the hosts would take too long to announce the rankings.


    "He gave his all to the show; however, he had unfortunate results," Haemin started off.


    "In seventh ce, with more than four million votes, we have¡ª


    Robby!"


    Curt ps were heard in the room.


    Everybody already expected it.


    As much as CHAOS was the obvious winner, Robby was also the obvious loser.


    - We already knew that.


    - Move to the next rank please.


    - Yeah yeah, that''s expected.


    - Actually, the next rank is pretty expected too.


    "In sixth ce, we have MORPH3D!"


    Indeed thest two ces were quite predictable based on the number of votes throughout the show.


    "The fifth and fourth ce only has a 200,000 vote difference, so we''ll be announcing them together," Haemin said.


    "In fifth ce is BOYMYSTIC, and following after them is SPADES!"


    Disappointed sighs were heard in the studio, but was quickly filled with proud ps.


    SPADES and BOYMYSTIC bowed in front of the audience, knowing how hard their fans worked hard for them. Nico, the prideful member, teared up as their fans showed them their colorful banners.


    Jordan chuckled and gave Nico a hug despite feeling emotional. Deep inside Jordan''s mind, he knew that their group was nearing their end.


    "Now, for the awaited third ce¡ªthe bronze medalist," Wonbin started off.


    June nced at OCTA before looking down at the ground.


    As much as he wanted to stay humble, he was almost a hundred percent sure they were going to make it to the final two. The eleven million votes they garnered during thest mission set them aside from OCTA with over five million votes.


    "OCTA is our bronze medalist!" Haemin announced, causing June to nod.


    If EVE didn''t make it into the final two ranks based on his predictions, then he was ready to shave his head for being so confident.


    However, now that it was confirmed they were in the final two, he felt his heart beating even faster inside his chest.


    It wasn''t only him but the rest of the members of EVE, too.


    Even Jia, who was sure she was currently experiencing a heart arrhythmia, felt like she was going to pass out at any second.


    CHAOS, however, remainedposed, most of the members thinking they had it in the bag.


    It definitely wasn''t unreasonable. They''ve been on top for the entire duration of the show, and they were most likely going to stay on top until the very end.


    However, June didn''t want to lose any hope.


    "It''s close," Wonbin sighed.


    "Too close," Haemin eximed .


    "Please turn to the screen," he said, directing everyone''s gazes to therge LED screen behind them.


    The numbers beside CHAOS and EVE started going haywire, and the onlookers held their breaths in anticipation of the awaited reveal.


    Then, it finally happened.


    The numbers on the screen froze, revealing the final kings of the show.


    Wonbin and Haemin were right.


    It was close.


    Too close.

 Chapter 478 Tried Our Best

    <h4>Chapter 478 Tried Our Best</h4>


    Twenty thousand.


    Exactly twenty thousand votes determined the results of the show.


    June turned to the side as he heard the members of CHAOS cheer. They had wide smiles on their faces, satisfied with the results of the show. He quickly turned away since he felt his heart ache.


    Truly, one of the worst feelings in the world was seeing your opponents cheer after their victory.


    The chaotics in the audience cheered while the astras slumped in disappointment. Jia felt her ears ring before she copsed on Bora.


    Bora''s eyes widened as she felt Jia''s weight on her shoulder. "What the heck? Did she just pass out?"


    - Aww, EVE. You did great.


    - My predictions were right. CHAOS did such a great job!


    - It was a damn close fight, though. There''s actually a rookie group that could hold a candle against CHAOS? That''s so impressive.


    - That''s so true! Chaotics should be scared of astras from now on. They have so much potential to grow and be thergest fandom in K-pop.


    - We''re already growing so fast. I can''t believe EVE is second in a show like this.


    - As much as I am disappointed with the results, it''s also very impressive that they got this far.


    June nced at his teammates and saw their dejected expressions. Jaeyong looked the mostposed, trying to channel his ''leader energy.'' However, June could see the sadness behind his eyes.


    He sighed and patted the members by his side on the back.


    Then he looked everyone in the eyes with a reassuring smile.


    We tried our best.


    "However!" Wonbin eximed, halting the hollers of celebration and disappointment in the audience.


    CHAOS, too, halted as the host loudly said the word.


    The judges turned to each other, wondering what was going on.


    "The scores on the screen right now only consist of the votes from the general public," Haemin said.


    Sharp intakes of breath resounded in the studio when they realized that the fight still wasn''t over.


    The members of EVE turned to each other, their eyes filling with brightness and hope.


    Meanwhile, CHAOS went back to theirposed selves, but there was a sense of disappointment in their eyes.


    - What the heck? That''s so unfair to CHAOS!


    - CHAOS looked like idiots rejoicing when the winner hasn''t been revealed yet.


    - The only idiot in here is you.


    - Now, I don''t know how this will turn out.


    "One by one, we will be revealing who the judges have voted for," Wonbin said.


    The intense music came back, and the people were once again ced in a traumatic headspace.


    - If I go crazy, I''m going to be suing SBC.


    - I thought Azure was evil, but SBC takes the te.


    - Are you sure about that? I think Azure is still the most evil.


    - Yeah, I guess. I still remember how they screwed up GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC.


    Bora tried shaking Jia awake, but the girl was still unresponsive. She ced her hand over Jia''s nostrils and sighed in relief when she felt airing out of the two holes.


    "Should we go?" Soomin worriedly asked.


    "Or should we call the paramedics?" Nari frantically looked around.


    Wei, on the other hand, fanned Jia with her hands. However, it really wasn''t much of a help.


    "Nah," Bora said, supporting Jia''s weight. "She''s still alive."


    "She''s passed out!" Wei eximed.


    "But the announcement still isn''t over," Bora said.


    "If Jia was awake, she''d want us to stay here," she determinedly added.


    The three friends turned to each other with hesitant gazes, and then they collectively nodded.


    As much as Bora sounded crazy, they couldn''t refute her statement. Jia would be disappointed if they didn''t finish watching the show.


    The audience now turned to the back, biting their lips in nervousness.


    Uno nced at June and silently rooted for him. As much as he thought of him as a rival, Uno also wanted to see June win. In that sense, that would mean that his rival was a very worthy person.


    "Lendy had voted for EVE," Wonbin started off.


    A loud ding was heard behind them, so they turned to the LED screen once again. There, they saw EVE''s points increase by ten thousand votes.


    June pursed his lips.


    Only ten thousand more.


    Next, the screen below Bookwan lit up, showing the group they voted for.


    The crowd gasped when the words EVE showed up. It was their second vote of the night, which only increased their chances of winning even more.


    Jisung turned to June, silently asking the question¡ª''can we do this?''


    June pursed his lips and turned his attention back to the judges.


    Only time will tell.


    Wonold was up next, and June couldn''t help but sigh in disappointment when CHAOS'' team name was shown on the screen.


    The members of CHAOS silently rejoiced as the gap widened once more. They could already taste victory by how close it was.


    Jaeyong looked away since he couldn''t take the tension. The thumping bass of the instrumental didn''t help one bit, and he almost wished that they would reveal the total scores altogether and not one by one.


    However, they continued with this method.


    J-Mope was up next, and fortunately, his screen once again showed EVE.


    If this trend continued, then they may be able to snatch the crown.


    Hoonie was the next one up, making June more hopeful. He had nothing but praise for the group, so it would be strange if he didn''t vote for them.


    However, as his screen lit up, the word ''CHAOS'' were seen.


    Sighs of disappointment and screams of victory resonated in the studio. The chaotics in the audience prayed to every being out there while astras started bargaining their love lives to the unseen supernatural creatures of the world just to have EVE win.


    CHAOS had two votes, while EVE had three.


    The gap was merely ten thousand, so Liza''s vote would determine tonight''s winner.


    CHAOS still had the biggest chance to win because of their lead, but June prayed that they would somehow turn it around.


    However, June felt pretty conflicted since Liza was up next. She had said good things to both groups, so it was harder to gauge her vote. When her screen lit up and showed who she voted for, all hell broke loose.


    "How could this be?" Bora whispered, looking at therge LED screen in wonder.


    It was a tie.

 Chapter 479 Tied Up, Tied Down

    <h4>Chapter 479 Tied Up, Tied Down </h4>


    - Is this really happening right now?


    - Wow, I never thought I''d live to see the day that someone woulde close to CHAOS'' poprity.


    - And it''s a rookie group, too. Sheesh.


    - Oh, the fight between Astras and Chaotics is going to be good.


    - We, chaotics, will never stoop at the level of astras.


    - Bitch, you don''t even have to stoop low since you''re already there.


    - I''m a bombastic (BOYMYSTIC fan) reading thements and having fun!


    Bora screamed so loudly that it busted her seatmates'' eardrums. She then turned toward Jia but found she was still passed out.


    Bora shook her head and turned to Wei instead, shaking her shoulders vigorously.


    "Why are you acting like Jia?" Soomin asked out of confusion.


    "Yeah, you''re usually pretty calm during these announcements," Nari pointed out.


    "Oh, I just wanted to channel Jia''s energy since she''s still passed out," Bora nonchntly said, finally going back to her real personality.


    "She''d be upset if nobody screamed like her in the audience," she quickly added.


    However, the other fans as well as the participants on the stage didn''t have the heart to celebrate.


    The votes were tied, and they didn''t know what this implicated.


    Jaeyong finally looked at the LED screen behind him and couldn''t believe his eyes for a moment. He even rubbed them, smudging some of his makeup, just to ensure he wasn''t hallucinating.


    "What''s this?" Jisung whispered.


    Akira, ever the joker, also stayed silent, waiting for the hosts to rify what was happening.


    It seemed like they, too, were taken aback by the results. The moment Wonbin and Haemin saw the results inside the envelope, they tried their hardest not to show that there had been a tie.


    However, now, they didn''t really know what to do.


    They went down to the producers'' area and started discussing the results.


    Honestly, it was something that they, too, didn''t anticipate.


    The possibility of a tie was almost near impossible, so they didn''t think that far into their n.


    June nced at CHAOS and saw frowns of disappointment on their faces. If a while ago, they hid their expressions pretty well, now, it was tant that they really weren''t happy with the results.


    June, too, wasn''t the most ted with sharing the ''King'' title with CHAOS, but he''d take any title he could get.


    In the end, they were still hailed as winners.


    The title was honestly easy to share; however, the prize of having their own variety show was going to be difficult.


    Finally, after a couple of moments, Wonbin and Haemin finally made their way back to the stage.


    The crowd turned silent as they waited for them to announce the producers'' decision.


    "What a crazy night it has been," Haemin started off.


    "This is a result that everyone didn''t expect. Truly, impossible things could happen any time of the day," Wonbin continued.


    "Since the result ended in a tie, we announce to you the two kings¡ªEVE and CHAOS!"


    Hesitant ps filled the venue as the two teams walked forward, the two of them separated by the hosts. They were being illuminated by spotlights, and from the audience''s view, it seemed like they were being graced by gods from the otherworld.


    - Honestly, they look pretty good together.


    - Yeah. I would love to have them perform together sometime!


    - Definitely not. CHAOS does not perform with anyone that''s not on their level. EVE is a low-level group.


    - Well, the so-called low-level group you called is at par with CHAOS. Does that make CHAOS a low-level group, too?


    - What are they going to do about the variety show, though?


    "The two of them will receive the lovely prize of their very own variety show. They would get one episode each every month and will be airing for a total of three months!" Haemin announced.


    EVE was pretty satisfied with how everything turned out. Not only were they crowned as kings, but they still got their own variety show, even if it was shared.


    June thought that an overseas trip to Europe was still the best prize, though.


    "Not only that!" Wonbin quickly added. "Since we initially promised the winners two episodes per month, we want to keep our promise. So, CHAOS and EVE will have another episode to themselves¡­," he said.


    Akira''s smile widened. "So, we''ll get to film two episodes in the end anyway."


    "...Together!" Wonbin continued.


    CHAOS and EVE both turned to the hosts with wide eyes.


    "That''s right! CHAOS and EVE will also be coborating on special joint episodes for those three months," Haemin excitedly said.


    He was definitely the only one excited about it, though.


    The thought of filming together already made the members feel awkward.


    Their fans, too, didn''t seem to like the idea.


    - I honestly don''t want to see it.


    - Yuck. I''d have no choice but to interact with astras every night then.


    - Chaotics truly live up to their name. You guys can''t even stay civil for once.


    - Why don''t you live up to your name, too, and move to the Milky Way?


    - Damn, that was pretty good, not gonna lie.


    - Ah, reading these fan wars is honestly so therapeutic.


    "And just like that, King of Kings has ended!" Haemin eximed, setting the tone for the final moments of the show.


    "It has been a short yet meaningful journey, but now, we have determined the kings at the very top of the hierarchy," Wonbin continued.


    "However, the journey isn''t over yet. Follow these two kings in the new show ''King''s Joker'' where you''ll be having a lot more fun!" Haemin said.


    "This has been Haemin¡­"


    "And this has been Wonbin¡­"


    "And we proudly present¡ªthe King of Kings," they said simultaneously.


    The lights, aside from the ones focused on CHAOS and EVE, dimmed down, making the two groups glow among the rest.


    Then, a te was heard, signaling the end of the show.


    ps were heard in the studio as the groups started making their way backstage.


    The victory still felt surreal, but at the same time, June wanted to bask more in the feeling.


    However, he knew it wasn''t over yet.


    He saw Haruki walking swiftly to the restroom, so June excused himself from the group and followed after him.


    Haruki appeared to be in distress¡ªa sharp contrast from his usual calm and collected self.


    Haruki entered the restroom while June weaved through the sea of idols and crew members to follow after him.


    Then, he abruptly opened the door, revealing Haruki, who had a drenched face and sleeves.


    His heavy breaths filled the room as he gripped the sink, his knuckles almost turning white.


    June frowned in confusion, wondering what got him to react so dramatically to the situation.


    June knew Haruki could feel his presence, yet the more experienced idol didn''t bother looking at him.


    "Do you hate the idea of sharing the victory so much?" June asked, finally breaking the silence.


    Haruki finally lifted his head, looking June straight into his eyes.He paused for a moment, his silence adding to the sizzling tension in the room.


    Then, he finally spoke.


    "Why are you acting all innocent when you already recall the rooftop incident?"


    June couldn''t say anything since, in reality, he didn''t know what really happened at that rooftop.


    "If you want me to answer, then yes," he shakily said.


    "I hate the idea of sharing my victory..."


    "...especially if it''s with a murderer."

 Chapter 480 Chaotic Interview

    <h4>Chapter 480 Chaotic Interview</h4>


    Murder.


    June froze as soon as he heard those words.


    He definitely murdered someone before¡ªbut only for very good reasons. Most of the people he killed were those who deserved it.


    However, someone like Choi Joon-ho didn''t feel like he had the guts to murder someone.


    Yet, here he was now.


    [Congrattions!]


    [You have aplished the mission: Find out why Haruki hates you.]


    [Reason: Murder.]


    [You have now earned hard work points.]


    [50 hard work points can be converted to an upgrade. Have fun upgrading!]


    June knew he should be happy to aplish the mission, yet he didn''t have the heart to smile.


    It only led his mind to have more questions.


    He lifted his head, wanting to rify it right then and there. However, as he looked around the restroom, he realized that he was now all alone.


    He cursed under his breath and left the bathroom to look for Haruki. However, as he opened the door, Akira and Casper appeared before him.


    "Oh, you''re here!" Akira eximed.


    Then, he turned to Casper and patted his back.


    "I knew I could trust you," Akira proudlyplimented the taller member.


    June frowned as he tried to gauge what the two were doing.


    "What are you two doing?" June asked.


    "Oh, I had Casper sniff you out like the dogs in the airport that sniff drugs," Akira said. "It worked!"


    June paused for a moment after he heard Akira''s statement. Then, he shook his head and started walking away from them, determined to find Haruki.


    However, the two didn''t give June a chance to escape as they ced their arms under his armpits and carried him like a princess.


    "Put me down," June deadpanned, pinching both their arms. However, they withheld the pain and continued carrying June to their waiting room.


    "We''re going to celebrate!" Akira eximed. "Jay brought fried chicken for everyone."


    June groaned in annoyance. It wasn''t as if they weren''t eating fried chicken every day already!


    They arrived at their waiting room, ready to celebrate their victory. However, Jay quickly covered Akira''s mouth before he could scream.


    "The three other members are here!" Jay eximed.


    Akira looked at him with confusion. Jay subtly gestured to the two new people in their room, causing Akira to finally calm down.


    June and Casper stared at the duo, wearing suits and professional smiles on their faces.


    "They''re reporters from SBC," Jay said. "They''re going to air a special video about your win, so they have a few questions to ask."


    Jay then leaned closer to the three most problematic members of EVE.


    "Behave," he warned.


    Honestly, all of the members of EVE were problematic, but Jay was worried about these three''s responses the most.


    June quietly sighed before sitting in the center seat. He wanted to sit at the corner since he really wasn''t nning on speaking a lot. However, Akira and Casper rushed to the two other empty seats on the side, leaving June no choice.


    "Hi!" the woman excitedly said, looking excited for the interview.


    "I''m Lee Dami, and this is my cameraman," she said, pointing to the man by his side.


    "I will only be asking a few questions, so I hope this won''t be too much of a hassle," she shyly said.


    "Go ahead. We can take as long as you''d like," Akira said, smiling at the pretty reporter.


    Jay shook his head as soon as Akira opened his mouth. The interview merely started, yet he was already causing trouble.


    He clearly whispered to Akira that Lee Dami was his type.


    In the end, it was clear that not only the members were crazy, but their manager, too, was on the same wavelength.


    "Let''s start off from the beginning!" Dami said, still blushing from Akira''s greeting.


    "Why did you guys decide to join King of Kings when it hasn''t been that long since you joined Rising Stars?"


    "Ourpany made us join!" Sehun eximed, causing Jay''s eyes to widen.


    He wasn''t expecting Sehun to be a problem, but he answered so bluntly.


    "Yeah," Zeth agreed, making Jay even more stressed. "We weren''t nning on joining, then bam! We were here because the CEO told us too. We didn''t really have a choice."


    "We don''t regret it, though," Jaeyong said, sensing Jay''s stress from behind the camera. "I felt like we grew a lot as a team and even strengthened our friendship during the show. It was a great opportunity to hone our skills and mingle with other artists in the industry."


    Jay finally calmed down after Jaeyong salvaged their answers.


    "Now, you were hailed as ''The King of Concepts'' by your fans," Dami started the next question. "How do youe up with such great concepts?"


    They all turned to one particr member¡ªJune.


    He was the so-called ''concept-maker'' of their team, so he was the only one who could answer the question.


    However, he was busy picking at a stubborn piece of skin sticking out of his nails. He tried to cut it short, but it only elongated, making him feel even more stressed.


    "June," Jaeyong coughed, tapping his shoulder.


    June finally lifted his head and found most of the people in the room looking at him in anticipation.


    "Yeah?" he asked, not really getting the question.


    Dami chuckled at June''s cuteness.


    "Your concepts are great," she repeated. "All of us are curious how you are able toe up with such great concepts."


    "Oh," June said. That was an easy question.


    "With my mind, of course," June seriously responded.


    It took a while for his answer to sink in. Then, Damiughed awkwardly.


    "Sorry, what was that?" she asked, wondering if she heard wrong.


    "With my brain. I think of the concepts with my brain. I don''t think there''s any possible way," June borated. "Oh, sometimes, theye from my heart. Not the literal heart, but the metaphorical heart," he even rified.


    Casper chuckled while the other members stared at him in disbelief.


    Jay felt his blood pressure rising up, so he held onto the back of his neck and leaned closer to Dami.


    "Next question, please," he whispered.


    "Right," Dami said, going back to professional mode.


    "It hasn''t even been half a year since you guys debuted, yet you''ve already made so many records," Damiplimented, making the members smile.


    "Tell me¡ªwhat are you most thankful for in this journey?"


    "That''s easy!" Jisung said. "My family."


    The crew members in the room nearly cooed at Jisung''s cute answer.


    "All of the mentors," Ren said. "From when I was a trainee, to the mentors on Rising Stars, and down to the people who are helping us right now. We wouldn''t havee so far without them."


    "I''m thankful for my members," Jaeyong said, earning some teases from his members.


    "Aside from everything I''ve mentioned, I''m very thankful for astras," Akira quickly added, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the team. "We wouldn''t be here without them!"


    Jay sighed in relief.


    At least, this question seemed to be going right.


    However, he must have spoken too soon.


    "Luther," Casper suddenly said.


    It was the very first time he spoke in the interview, so Dami''s attention was quickly captured.


    "Huh?" she asked. "Luther?"


    "Yeah¡ªLuther," Casper seriously said. "I''m really thankful for my cat, Luther. If it weren''t for him, I wouldn''t have been an idol."


    Jay pped his cheeks to wake him from this nightmare.


    These boys seriously needed some media training.

 Chapter 481 Now, What?

    <h4>Chapter 481 Now, What? </h4>


    "Thank goodness, that''s over," Jay sighed as soon as the interview was finished.


    "I couldn''t have taken any more of that interview. It was horrendous!" he continued ranting.


    Jay had just arrived from the restroom, his face still damp from washing it with cold water. He seriously felt like he developed hypertension throughout the interview.


    If it weren''t for the pretty reporter, Jay would have stopped the interview before it even finished.


    The members didn''t respond. Instead, they stared at him nkly¡ªas if they were silentlymunicating with him.


    "What are you staring at?" Jay asked, leaning against the wall and picking at his nose.


    June subtly pointed at his right side, so Jay led his gaze to where he was pointing.


    Jay''s eyes widened when he saw the pretty reporter fixing her things next to him. Her eyes were wide in horror as she looked at Jay.


    Meanwhile, Jay felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on him.


    Dami swiftly packed her belongings and ced her bag over her shoulder, even though some of her stuff was still messy.


    "Well," she started off. "Thank you for your time, boys. I hope the interview wasn''t as horrendous as I had imagined," she said, emphasizing the word ''horrendous.''


    Jay gulped as she nced at him, disdain seen in her gaze.


    "Oh, don''t worry. You were the best!" Akira charmed.


    Dami managed to smile before leaving the room, leaving Jay in a state of despair.


    As soon as she was out of the vicinity, he fell to the ground and started dramatically sobbing.


    Then, he red at the members of EVE. "You guys should have told me that she was still here!" he eximed.


    "Well, to be fair, you started yapping as soon as you entered through the door," Zeth deadpanned.


    "That could have been my chance!" Jay continued to cry. "Now, I''ll be forever alone!"


    "Oh, stop being so dramatic," Akira deadpanned. "It''s not like you have any chance with her anyway. You could zip your mouth shut for the rest of your life, and she still wouldn''t like you."


    Jay instantly stopped crying after Akira said those words. It hurt, but he knew it was the truth.


    "Yeah," Ren chimed. "She kept on staring at June all throughout the interview! I think she was pretty upset that she couldn''t milk out more answers from him."


    Jay wiped his tears and clicked his tongue. "Him again," he whispered.


    "Lucky, lucky man," Jay loudly said.


    The other members turned to June, who seemed to be lost in his own headspace.


    "He''s clueless as hell, though," Sehun said. "I feel like he already broke so many hearts with his nonchnce."


    "You''re right," Jaeyong chuckled. "He doesn''t even know we''re talking about him right now."


    Indeed, June couldn''t hear his surroundings. He was busy?thinking about what Haruki said at the restroom a while back.


    He kept thinking about it all throughout the interview, so he wasn''t really able to answer the given questions to his best extent.


    He went to his browser and searched for the possible keywords that could lead to the answers to his questions.


    ''Rooftop¡­ident¡­Idol trainees.''


    He pressed enter and waited for the results to show up.


    "An ident Was Made On The Rooftop? Past Idol Trainees Talk About How Their First Child Was Conceived," he muttered, shaking his head.


    What kind of news article was this? How could they call their first child an ident?


    June decided to try out another keyword.


    ''Rooftop¡­Murder¡­Idol Trainees¡­Phoenix.''


    "A Phoenix Murders Three Idol Trainees on a Rooftop: Birdie Went Crazy," he muttered, getting more confused by the minute.


    How could a singr Phoenix even murder three humans?


    "What are you doing?" Jisung asked, sitting next to June.


    June quickly shut off his phone and ced it in his pocket.


    "Nothing," June said.


    "Hmm, okay!" Jisung innocently said, not suspecting him at all.


    June sighed and leaned his elbows against hisp. He was still stuck in a haze, but at least now he had an idea of why Haruki hated him.


    June was just a bit worried about how this would impact his career in the near future.


    If it was really murder like Haruki had implicated, then he didn''t know what would happen.


    "Anyway, now that King of Kings is done, what are we going to do?" Jaeyong asked, opening up the topic.


    "Well, we need to think about theeback, of course!" Jay chimed. "We have around two months left to prepare for it."


    "No¡ªlike now. What are we going to do right now?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Oh," Jay said. "Well, I guess you guys could rest."


    The members gasped when they heard the forbidden R-word.


    "R¡ªrest?" Zeth asked, cing his hand over his chest.


    "It seems like forever since I heard that word," Akira dramatically remarked.


    Jay chuckled. "You should sleep in for tomorrow. I don''t think we have any other group schedules lined up until the day of theeback."


    "Oh, thank goodness!" Sehun nearly shouted. "I can finally fix these dark eyebags."


    June, too, sighed in relief. It felt like it had been a while since he got eight hours of sleep.


    Their preparation for King of Kings had been tedious, and even though he was fast asleep after their practices, he was still thinking of their uing performances in his dreams.


    The thought that they could rest for even just one day already sounded like a luxury.


    Jay felt his heart swell with joy as he looked at the relieved looks on the members'' faces.


    It was one of his greatest sources of happiness¡ªto see them happy in their work.


    Just then, he felt his phone vibrate, so he quickly brought it out of his pocket.


    He saw the new message and the contact name, causing him to instantly frown.


    ''Tiddy Bear.''


    It was none other than Teddy, the producer with the most punchable face in thepany.


    He begrudgingly opened his message and froze when he saw the contents.


    ''Have EVE meet me tomorrow at 5 AM. We need to discuss the song they''re producing.''


    Jay slowly lifted his head and felt dejected when he saw the members discussing how they were going to sleep once they arrived at the dorms.


    "Guys," Jay hesitantly said.


    The members stopped talking and turned to him with raised eyebrows.


    "You know that I love you, right? I love you more than my friends in college! Well, I didn''t really have real friends, so I think it doesn''t count. I love you more than my mom. Wait, no. That''s not possible. She''ll have to be dead for that to happen. Although, I feel like her ghost will still haunt me even if she was already a jar of ashes."


    "Get to the point," Casper snapped.


    "Anyway, I love you¡ªmore than my first goldfish in the first grade."


    "So, don''t hate me for saying this¡­"


    "But you have work tomorrow at 5 AM."

 Chapter 482 Tiddy Bear

    <h4>Chapter 482 Tiddy Bear</h4>


    "Look at all thesements. They''re very hical," Bora said, shaking her head as she scrolled through her Navel ount.


    "Stop reading them," Nari sighed. "It''s not good for one''s mental health."


    "Yeah," Soomin nodded in agreement. "Chaotics and astras are basically on each other''s throats because of the shared win. Can''t they just be happy that two groups won instead of one?"


    "Tell me about it," Wei chimed. "People nowadays really hate sharing. What has our worlde to be?"


    "Oh, I''m definitely not going to stop reading," Bora chuckled in amusement. "Reading these fan wars is really fun. I haven''t had this much fun since the day I fought one of Lin Zhi''s fans on Navel during Rising Stars."


    Soomin shook her head in amusement. "Ah, right¡ªLin Zhi. I almost forgot about that guy. How is he doing right now?"


    "Well, after it has been leaked that he cheated during the show, he had been pretty inactive," Wei said.


    "Thank goodness!" Bora sighed. "He should stay inactive until the rest of his life."


    "Bora, that''s mean," Wei said. "You don''t even know the guy."


    "You don''t, too," Bora deadpanned. "He cheated on the show. He manipted his rankings. Who knows what he''s capable of? He might even be a murderer or something."


    Wei, being a fan of Lin Zhi in the past, clicked her tongue. "Well, Phoenix released a statement that it was one of their staff members who did the ranking maniption without Lin Zhi''s consent. In the end, he was only med for getting help from a producer during the production mission."


    "That''s bullcrap," Bora said. "He''s a grown man with grown pubes. Of course, he''s aware of such things."


    "Again, we don''t know that," Wei said. "He also came out with a public apology and has been spotted in temples plenty of times since Rising Stars had ended. It seems like he''s repenting for his mistakes sincerely."


    Bora narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Wei.


    "And why do you know this?" Bora asked.


    Wei scratched the back of her head. "Well, I''m still following his hashtag on Navel. I just see his news from time to time."


    Bora clicked her tongue and slowly shook her head. "Traitor. You really have the worst taste in men."


    Just then, their conversation was interrupted by a loud groan.


    They all turned to the source of the noise and saw Jia getting up.


    Bora pped loudly as Jia looked around her surroundings.


    "The princess is finally awake!" Bora eximed.


    Jia frowned when she realized she was already back in her dorm room.


    "What happened?" she muttered, holding onto her aching head.


    "The live show ended, so we brought you back here. Carrying you was a pain, by the way. Even though you were unconscious, you were so hard to drag away," Bora sighed.


    Jia''s memories started resurfacing¡ªof EVE''s performance, the winner''s announcement, and the unfortunate ending.


    "Right," Jia sighed. "It''s a shame, isn''t it?"


    "What is?" Bora asked.


    "That EVE didn''t win. I was so excited for their uing variety show," Jia dejectedly said.


    "Oh, you don''t have to worry about that one," Bora smiled. "They''re going to film the variety show anyway."


    Jia''s eyes widened. "Huh? Did Azure announce that they''ll be having their own show?"


    "No, silly," Bora chuckled. "They won¡ªthat''s why they imed the prize of having a variety show."


    "What?" Jia asked, still looking a bit dazed.


    "Oh, right. You were passed out," Bora muttered.


    "Long story short, it ended with a tie, so EVE and CHAOS are going to be filming a variety show both separately and together!" Bora excitedly shared.


    Bora definitely shouldn''t have said it so fast, though.


    Jia''s heart wasn''t prepared for such announcements.


    So, in the end, Jia''s eyes rolled to the back of her head once again.


    "Not again!" Bora eximed.


    ***


    The morning after.


    In Azure''s recording studio¡­


    "In short, we need that song in two days," Ted concluded, making the members feel even more miserable.


    They already felt miserable since they had to wake up at 4 AM and didn''t even get to celebrate our win.


    "Geez. Not even a congrattions or something?" Akira deadpanned.


    "Is this what we get after winning King of Kings? Where''s our special treatment?" he exasperatedly asked.


    The members nodded in agreement.


    Ted sighed before leaning against his chair.


    "Be thankful that you even have the opportunity to produce a song," Ted said, thinking about Mari and her beautiful face.


    If it weren''t for her, Ted would not have let EVE even touch the production process of their songs.


    June sighed, raking his hands through his hair.


    "Could you move the deadline then?" hepromised. "You have to understand that we just finished another survival show."


    Ted sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose.


    He was the most appalled by June since he seemed to be the member that Mari liked the most.


    "Yes," Ted smirked. "The deadline will be in two days'' time. If ever, only if ever, your song gets to be picked as the title track, then we need to hire choreographers, think of a concept video, formte the album design, and the like."


    "So, give us the song in two days. We already gave you an ample amount of time."


    June clicked his tongue before bringing out his phone.


    "I guess I''ll call Mari and ask her for a favor then," he said, subtly making his voice louder so Ted could hear him clearly.


    Akira turned to him with wide eyes.


    "You have her number?"


    June shrugged. "She just gave it to me."


    Ted spluttered as he struggled to find the right words to say. He practically had to find her resume and application letter just to get her personal number!


    She wasn''tfortable giving it to Ted and only gave him her work number, so he had to do a whole investigation.


    Yet now, you''re telling him that Mari just gave away her number to June?


    "It''s probably her work number," he muttered, snatching the phone out of June''s hand without his consent.


    He read the numbers on the screen, his eye uncontrobly twitching when he realized it was, indeed, her personal number.


    How''d he know? He memorized it, of course!


    "Can you give that back?" June asked.


    "Fine!" Ted eximed. "You have three days," he said. "Just¡ª


    just don''t message Mari anymore."


    June smirked. "Got it. Three days."


    With that, he stood even without Ted adjourning the meeting.


    "Let''s go, boys. We have a song to make."

 Chapter 483 Girls, Zoos, Bodies, and Flowers

    <h4>Chapter 483 Girls, Zoos, Bodies, and Flowers</h4>


    The ticking of the clock was the only sound that could be heard inside EVE''s living room. The eight members sat together in a small circle on the floor, each with a gadget or a notebook and pen in front of them.


    It had been two hours since they started brainstorming, yet it seemed like they were going nowhere. "So¡­," Zeth started off. Sehun pursed his lips. "So¡­" "Um, yeah," Akira awkwardly chuckled. "How are you guys doing?" "Any progress yet?" Jisung worriedly asked. Jaeyong sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair. "Alright, individual brainstorming is done. Let''s start brainstorming as a group. Maybe then, we''d find something we all want to create," Jaeyong said. Akira brought up his notebook and looked at the tiny writing embedded in it. "So, uh, I wrote here¡ªgirl¡­romance¡­kissing scene in the music video," Akira started off. The members all turned to him, the silence bing more evident before they all collectively sighed and moved on to the next person. Fortunately, the person next to Akira was Ren, so Jaeyong thought he would give a more decent answer. Ren hummed for a while, not finding the right words to say. In reality, his audio editing software was devoid of any elements. He had been trying to formte a tune for a while, but he really wasn''t in the right headspace. "Hmm¡­" "Umm¡­" "Oh¡­hmm¡­" Akira finally snapped and pped the back of Ren''s head. "Dude! Stop moaning. I don''t want to ruin my day because of your iprehensible sounds."


    Ren sighed as he red at Akira. "Fine, I have nothing!" Jaeyong also sighed before moving on to the next person. "I think a song where we could show off our bodies would actually be good. Maybe a shirtless¨C" "Nope," Jaeyong quickly cut Zeth off. It was too early for them to do those kinds of things.


    Besides, Jisung wasn''t even ready to show off his biceps. How could Zeth suggest for them to take their shirts off? "How about you?" Jaeyong asked the person sitting beside Zeth.


    Sehun, one of the more normal members, sighed before responding.


    "I want to say we should do a summery-type of song again since flowers are going to start to bloom during that time," Sehun started off. "But we already did that with Oasis, so I think many fans would be disappointed if we decided to employ the same concept." "However, at the same time, it was a great hit that many people loved. It''s tempting to use the same concept again since I feel like it''s a safe choice," he continued. "I don''t know," Sehun concluded. "It''s honestly very difficult to decide right now." Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "Let''s hold your suggestion for now. I think we can still think of something better." June also wrote down ''flowers'' and ''summer'' in his notebook, hoping he''d get some inspiration from Sehun''s suggestion. Jaeyong then turned to the next person. "Next," Jaeyong said before Casper could even open his mouth. Casper dejectedly slumped his shoulders but didn''t argue in the end. He crossed out the ''zoo-themed song'' written on his notebook and waited for the others'' suggestions. "Jisung, do you have anything in mind?" Jaeyong asked their youngest member. "I don''t have any particr genre in mind, but I do have genres I want to stay away from," Jisung said. "First, I feel like repeating a summery concept like Oasis wouldn''t really show off our versatility as K-pop idols. Sure, it builds our sound, but as a group whose known for embodying a lot of concepts, I believe it wouldn''t be a good decision," he started off. The other members nodded in agreement. Sehun, too, who made the suggestion, couldn''t help but agree with what Jisung had said. That seemed to take them back to zero, though, since Sehun''s suggestion was now scrapped. "Next, I think we should also stray away from the ''noise'' type of music too. Those types of songs don''t chart well during those months. Moreover, the song Ted had made is also simr to ''noise'' music done wrong, so if ites down to thepany choosing a song between the two, I feel like they''d still go with Teddy''s work since he''s a more well-known name." Jisung, yet again, made another great point. June was pleasantly surprised that Jisung didn''t stutter all throughout his statement. It just showed that he was also growing as an artist. Ren nearly sniffed as he watched Jisung make another suggestion. "Time flies by so fast," he whispered, looking up at the ceiling to stop his tears from falling. "I know, our son grew up to be such a smartd," Akira also fake-sobbed. Jisung shook his head in amusement. "I still have another genre I don''t want to perform." "Jisung''s in his angsty teenager phase. He doesn''t want to do a lot of things," Jaeyong joked, causing the members to chuckle. "Jaeyong actually made a pretty good joke for once," Akira deadpanned. "Anyway," Jisung intercepted before Jaeyong could throw his shoe in Akira''s direction. "I''ve been thinking about this sincest night since I really want our song to be chosen as the album''s title track. Not only because Ted''s song isn''t that good, but also because I want to have a song we could proudly call ours¡ªjust ours."


    The other members nodded in agreement, inspired by their youngest members'' words. "With that in mind, I feel like we shouldn''t do an emotional concept too. It''s already within ourfort zone, and I want to try breaking out of that," he concluded. "Yeah," June said. "We shouldn''t do an emotional song for thiseback. We could maybe do that for a winter album, but not for our very firsteback." They all seemed to agree with everything that Jisung had said. "Well, we have established what we don''t want to do. So, now, what genre should we do?" Jaeyong asked. The room turned silent once again, making them all sigh. It seemed like they still didn''t have an idea of what to really do for their nexteback. Casper raised his hand and began speaking even though he wasn''t called. "I think¡ª" "No, Casper, we can''t do a zoo-themed song," Akira interrupted. "No!" Casper eximed. "It''s not a zoo-themed song anymore. I changed it." The other members turned to him, suddenly expectant. Casper smiled widely. "Cats. I really, really think we should make a song about cats."

 Chapter 484 Simplicity is Beauty

    <h4>Chapter 484 Simplicity is Beauty</h4>


    June stood from his seat, interrupting any curses that the members were ready to throw toward Casper''s way. "Alright, this won''t do," he said, fearing that their time to finish the song was getting shorter and shorter. He packed his belongings and shoved them inside his bag before flinging it over his shoulder. June also grabbed his face mask and cap before walking away from his members. "Where are you going?" Jaeyong asked. "I need to find some inspiration," June said, not bothering to exin himself further. "Does Jay know about this?" Jaeyong worriedly asked. June smirked. "He won''t if you don''t tell him." With that, he walked out of the door, smiling to himself when none of his members followed after him. "Should we follow him?" Jisung asked. Jaeyong shook his head and sat back down. "He''ll be okay. He has sneaked out plenty of times before, so I trust him." "Now," Jaeyong cracked his neck, sighing when he heard the satisfying pop. "Should we go back to what we were talking about?" Casper raised his hand once more. "So, nobody wants to listen to my cat-concept suggestion?" "Shut up, Casper!" ***


    June knew he said he was going to look for some inspiration. However, he found himself walking to a very familiar ce instead. He gazed up at the worn-out building and entered excitedly through the rusty gate. Then, he walked up the stairs, two steps at a time, before knocking on the door. Luckily, he didn''t have to wait long as the door opened, revealing a significantly taller Minjun. June''s eyes widened when he saw that Minjun was only a few centimeters shorter than him. "What the heck? What are you drinking?" June couldn''t help but exim. "Oh, you''re here?" the 13-year-old asked, his voice also deeper than before. "It''s been like a month since thest time I saw you, but you''ve gotten more mature," June pointed out, entering their house like it was his second home. "Well, yeah," Minjun scratched the back of his head. "My teacher also said I''ve been growing at a significantly faster pace than my peers. Must be those BenBen gummies I always eat." June froze, feeling betrayed. "So, they do work," he muttered. "I should have taken them earlier," he dejectedly said. June plopped down on the couch while Minjun handed him some snacks. Even though it had been a while since theyst saw each other, the two acted naturally like real brothers. "Right, where''s Grandma?" June asked, chewing on the potato chips that Minjun had given him.


    "She''s asleep," Minjun responded. June frowned in confusion. "At this time of the day? She''s usually cooking by this time," he said, ncing at the wall clock and seeing that it was nearing lunchtime. "She already cooked this morning," Minjun said. "You can pack some if you want. She''s just not feeling well these days. Her body is aching more than usual." June frowned in confusion. "Have you taken her to a doctor?" "You know grandma. She''s very stubborn. I tried convincing her to visit the hospital, but she doesn''t want to. She says it''s just a normal part of aging¡ªweak bones and muscles or something like that," Minjun said. June sighed. "Well, you should convince her harder." "I will," Minjun said. "I already told my mom, and she might ask a doctor toe around and visit our house." June nodded, feeling a bit relieved after Minjun''s statement. "How about you?" Minjun asked, leaning against the couch. "What are you doing here? King of Kings had just ended, and I believe it''s about time for you guys to have aeback." "How do you even know that? Our schedules are not leaked yet," June said. "Well, answer my question," Minjun said. "I''m sure you barely have enough time to practice, so what are you doing here?" Minjun pointed to his mind, smirking confidently. "I''m a genius, remember?" June shook his head in amusement. "Cheeky bastard," he muttered. "Well, answer my question," Minjun said. "I''m sure you barely have enough time to practice, so what are you doing here?" June sighed, also leaning against the couch. "I don''t know. I just wanted to escape for a minute." "Why? Is fame finally getting to you?" Minjun teased. "No," June honestly said. "I just don''t know what to do. We were given the opportunity to create a title track for the new album, and nothinges to my mind."


    "Woah," Minjun asked, surprised. "Azure is letting you produce your own title track? That''s new!" "Yes," June sighed. "It took a lot of convincing, but it came to this. We''re only given until the day after tomorrow to finish it, though, and I still don''t have an idea."


    "And your teammates?" Minjun asked. June thought back on his members'' answers¡ªzoos, cats, kissing scenes, shirtless shots¡­


    "Yeah, they don''t have any ideas too," June said.


    Minjun hummed, trying toe up with something in his genius mind. "Well, there''s a genre that''s trending nowadays," he said, bringing out his phone. "There is?" June asked, unaware of it. "It''s not really a genre," Minjun disclosed. "It''s more like a trend. Although other people and evenpanies might not be aware of it." "Tell me," June urged. "Simple music," Minjun said. "Simple music?" June rified. "Yeah," he nodded. "Look at this." Minjun went to a video app and started showing June the songs under the trend he was pertaining to. "I feel like K-pop has be moreplex nowadays, withpanies wanting to one-up each other with songs that have multiple elements," Minjun said. "But these songs that have simple pop elements have gotten the most attention from K-pop fans and people from the West!" June frowned. There was a trend like that?


    "Look here," Minjun said, directing June''s focus on his phone.


    "We have here Psyche by FORTY-FORTY." "Picture Love by ENDASH." "Eight by COOKJUNG" "Super Confident by OLDSWEATS." "At one look, they might look different, but once you listen to them, you''ll understand that they have something inmon¡ªthey sound very simple." June hummed, finally getting what Minjun was trying to say. He wanted to incorporate so many things into this new production that it started jumbling altogether. Was he making this much moreplicated than it actually was? "Simple, huh?"

 Chapter 485 My Lovely June

    <h4>Chapter 485 My Lovely June </h4>


    "I still don''t know how I''ll do that, though," June groaned with the thought of making a simple song.


    For him, it was definitely harder to make a simple song sound good because of the bareness of the elements. It would take a whole lot more artistry to be able to pull it off.


    Minjun chuckled, patting his older brother''s back. "I''m sure you''ll figure it out. You always figure things out!"


    "That just makes me feel more pressured," June deadpanned.


    "Hey, at least I already gave you an idea," Minjun said. "I''m sure you came here because your teammates are saying useless shit again."


    June looked at him with narrowed eyes. "And you''re cursing now, too?"


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Everybody around my age is already cursing, Grandpa."


    June clicked his tongue since he couldn''t refute Minjun''s statement.


    Minjun sighed, trying toe up with more ways to help June.


    "This might seem like a generic advice, but I think you should try looking for sounds in nature," Minjun said. "I assume you''ve done that before?"


    "Yeah," June nodded. "In Oasis'' bridge, I incorporated the sounds of the waves from our filming site."


    "You can try doing that again," Minjun suggested. "It doesn''t have to be as obvious as it was before. However, you can try listening to the sounds of nature, and maybe then, you''lle up with a tune."


    "That sounds reallyplicated," June whined.


    Minjun shook his head in amusement. "You seem to be the one going into puberty. Just do whatever feels right."


    "Whatever feels right," June repeated. "You''re right. I think I shouldn''t overthink this too much."


    "Hmm," Minjun hummed. "Sometimes, the most beautiful thingse when you least expect them to."


    June smiled, turning to the once-little kid and ruffling his hair.


    Minjun groaned in annoyance and took a step back.


    "Stop it. You''re going to ruin my style," Minjunined.


    June shook his head as Minjun continued fixing his hair.


    "They really do grow up so fast," he whispered.


    Just then, he felt his phone vibrate continuously. June frowned as he retrieved the phone from his pocket, pursing his lips when he saw Jay''s frantic messages.


    Jay: June, get back here right now.


    Jay: Get your ass back here right now.


    Jay: Sorry, was thest text message a bit too harsh? I was just concerned.


    Jay: Pleasee back. I want to keep my job.


    Jay: I have a future family to feed.


    Jay: Please, June.


    June sighed once again before typing out a reply.


    June: K.


    "I''m assuming you have to go back?" Minjun asked, peering over June''s shoulder.


    June nodded as he ced his phone back in his pocket.


    "Yeah. I want to stay a bit longer, but duty calls."


    "Do you want to see Grandma for a bit?" Minjun asked.


    June hesitated to answer but eventually shook his head.


    "It''s all good. I think it''s much better if she rests."


    "Yeah," Minjun nodded. "I''ll tell her you visited, though."


    "You do that. I''ll head out now, then," June said, waving goodbye to Minjun before leaving their apartment.


    Even as he walked to the train station, he continued thinking aboutMinjun''s words.


    "A simple song that''s inspired by nature?" June asked under his breath.


    Just then, he bumped into a frail person, causing his eyes to go wide. He was so preupied with his thoughts that he didn''t notice the person before him.


    He pulled his cap down and his mask up before he helped the sickly woman get up.


    "Sorry about that," he said, making his voice deeper than usual to disguise his identity further. "I wasn''t really paying attention."


    The sickly woman, who was also wearing a mask like him, had her bangs stuck on her forehead. She shakily held onto June''s arms, almost gripping it. However, June stepped back as soon as her posture was stable.


    "Are you alright?" June asked, looking at her shaking figure.


    "Y¨Cyeah," she stammered. "S¡ªsorry too."


    "It''s fine," June said. "Have a safe way back home!"


    With that, he went on his way, leaving the girl all alone.


    However, as he continued walking, he felt a weird, painful sensation on his sideburn.


    He paused for a while before rubbing the sore part.


    "Strange," he muttered.


    ***


    The dimly lit room appeared like the embodiment of decay and abandonment, its walls cloaked in shadows. The air smelled like the musty scent of damp fabric and stagnant air, mingled with the sickly sweet aroma from the solitary candle that flickered in the corner.


    In the center of the room sat a figure hunched over a makeshift worktable littered with scraps of cloth and tangled threads. Her silhouette was shrouded in darkness, the only discernible features being the erratic movements of her hands as she stabbed at a doll with a needle. Each puncture of the needle echoed through the room like a real stab wound, apanied by the soft whimpering of the doll''s fabric form.


    "Shh, shh. Don''t cry," she muttered continuously under her breath.


    The woman rocked back and forth in the rhythm of her sewing. Her hair, greasy and unkempt, hung on her face, obscuring her features in a veil of darkness.


    Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air as the woman pricked her finger on the needle, a single drop of blood welling up from the wound.


    However, instead of recoiling in pain, she threw her head back andughed.


    Some of the blood got onto the doll''s hand, causing her tough even louder.


    "It''s like we''re connected," she whispered, her gnarly breath wafting over the doll.


    If the doll was sentient, then it''d definitely recoil back from the scent.


    Then, with trembling hands, she lifted the doll up to the flickering light of the candle, revealing her masterpiece.


    The face, cleanly stitched on the fabric doll, seemed¡­human.


    And atop its head, strands of shining blonde hair gleamed in the candlelight, a sharp contrast to the darkness that surrounded it.


    "So pretty," the woman muttered, her voice barely more than a whisper as she caressed the doll''s disfigured face.


    "My lovely June."

 Chapter 486 Losing A Friend

    <h4>Chapter 486 Losing A Friend</h4>


    Take inspiration from everyday life.


    That was what Minjun had told him.


    However, it was definitely easier said than done.


    For that to happen, June decided to be one with nature and listen to the sounds that it created.


    [Music Production Skills: + 0.5]


    [44.5 points more for an upgrade.]


    June closed his eyes to tune out Fu''s interruptions. Fu had been adding small increments to his music production skill score since yesterday, almost teasing him for not being able toe up with any decent music.


    "Hmm," June hummed, hoping he''d find a nice tune.


    [Music Production Skills + 1]


    [43.5 points more for an upgrade.]


    "Fuck off!" June eximed. "I don''t need you to inform me of every single increase! Just tell me when I actually reach the needed points for an upgrade."


    [For this to happen, please wink and pout into the distance.]


    June sighed, feeling more frustrated by the minute. He was already stressed because he couldn''te up with a decent song even after Minjun suggested something to him.


    And Fu wasn''t helping with the situation at all.


    So, he faced the window, closed one eye, and pouted for a quick second.


    Fu finally stopped bothering him, making him sigh in relief.


    Then, he closed both eyes again, trying to concentrate on the sounds surrounding him.


    He heard the sound of engine revs and car horns from the distance...


    The sound of the drama show that Akira and Jisung were watching...


    The sniffs of a distressed man...


    Wait.


    June opened his eyes when he heard a sound that was different from the usual sounds he heard in his dorm room.


    He tried concentrating again, but the sniffs became louder and louder, snapping him out of his reverie.


    June clicked his tongue and stood from his bed, opening the door.


    He thought it was Akira and Jisung since they were fans of watching tearjerker dramas. However, it seemed like they were watching aedy show instead, filling the dorm with their unhingedughter.


    However, even amidst their loudughter, June still heard the sniffing sound the loudest.


    "Do you guys hear that?" June asked.


    "Hear what?" Akira asked, not even looking away from the screen.


    June clicked his tongue and weaved through the dorm to find the source of the sound.


    The others seemed to still be asleep, so they were silent. However, as June arrived in front of Casper''s room, he heard the sniffing sound.


    June paused, finding it weird how the weird sounds wereing from Casper''s room.


    He never saw the guy cry¡ªnot even when he won third on Rising Stars.


    June''s curiosity got the best of him, and he knocked on the door before he could stop himself.


    The door slowly opened, revealing a teary-eyed Casper.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise since he really didn''t expect such circumstances. If this was Jaeyong or any other member, June would have even joked about it.


    "What happened?" June asked, genuinely concerned.


    As much as Casper was weird, made June ufortable, and was borderline crazy, he was also the member who appreciated June the most.


    He believed in June the most.


    He always encouraged June through his weird ways.


    Somehow, he also became the glue of the team even though no one explicitly acknowledged it.


    Casper sniffed and opened the door wider, silently telling June toe in.


    June went in as Casper made his way back to the bed, covering hisrge figure with a nket.


    June sighed and sat next to him. The two were engulfed in silence for a couple of moments since June didn''t know how tofort a crying person.


    Finally, after a few minutes, he finally had the courage to speak.


    "Are you alright?" he asked.


    Casper snuggled deeper into the nket before shaking his head.


    June pursed his lips and scooted closer to him.


    "Can I ask what happened?"


    Casper stayed silent for a few moments before saying one name.


    "Luther," he whispered, causing June to freeze.


    He had never seen the infamous cat, but he knew how important he was to Casper.


    Heck, he seemed to be the most important aspect of his life.


    "I¡ªI never thought this day woulde," Casper started opening up.


    "I love Luther so much," he nearly whispered.


    June really didn''t know what to say, so he kept quiet, knowing that his presence would be the best thing he could offer.


    "I know it might sound stupid how I could love an animal this much, but I just do," Casper continued.


    "His presence itself is enough to make me smile. Even though he can''t respond to what I''m saying, I feel like he''s always listening...something that humans are sometimes unable to do," he whispered in thetter part.


    "Am I making sense?" Casper vulnerably asked.


    June nodded in understanding.


    He has never had a pet before, but Mei Ling always insisted that they get one.


    "It''s not stupid," June assured.


    "Luther is your friend. Losing your pet is like losing a friend," June smiled.


    Casper choked back a sob.


    "I don''t want to lose him," Casper sighed.


    "I know," June said, cing his hand behind his back and patting it gently.


    "But we need to understand that almost everything in this world is finite," he continued.


    "As much as it hurts, pets aren''t immune to that. However, that doesn''t erase the happy memories that they contributed to our life."


    Casper''s tears fell freely, burying his face in between his knees as he sobbed.


    "I heard this saying one time¡ªa pet''s departure is the prize we have to pay for the happiness they shared during their short time in this world."


    Casper continued to sob, and June wondered if he was making the situation worse with his words.


    "I want to see him," Casper said, finally revealing his face.


    June pitied his teammate since he looked so brokenhearted,


    "Let''s go and see him then," June unhesitatingly suggested.


    "But we have a song to produce," Casper sighed. "I can''t possibly leave when it hasn''t even been started."


    "It doesn''t matter," June said. "We can go right now. Who cares about the song when Luther''s in trouble."


    A small smile finally appeared on Casper''s face.


    "Will you apany me?" Casper asked, hope evident in his voice.


    June pursed his lips before nodding in agreement.


    "Sure," he said, making Casper smile even wider.


    "Don''t go back on your word now," Casper said, and June nodded once again.


    "I won''t," June said, standing from Casper''s bed. The taller idol quickly followed after June.


    "Now, where is Luther buried?" June asked.


    Casper stopped in his tracks, causing June to stop, too.


    "Buried?" Casper eximed.


    "Yeah," June nodded. "Or is he not buried yet?"


    "I''m not getting what you''re asking," Casper said.


    "Huh?" June frowned in confusion.


    "Why would he be buried when he''s just stuck in a tree?"

 Chapter 487 Pretty Cats Only

    <h4>Chapter 487 Pretty Cats Only </h4>


    June stared up at a tall tree in the middle of a neighborhood and sighed deeply before ring at the teary-eyed Casper.


    "You said you lost him!" June eximed, noticing the ck blob sitting on one of the three branches, seemingly judging the two handsome idols beneath him.


    "I did!" Casper defended. "Well, technically, my sister lost him. But that''s beside the point. He still got lost!"


    "He''s literally right there," June sighed, pointing at the supposed Luther.


    "Well, he''s always been a good cat. Ever since he was young, he stayed at our house, bathed bi-weekly with shampoo that smelled like cookies, and was fed premium raw cat food from a famous veterinarian! Nothing like this has happened before," Casper said.


    "I thought you lost him forever," June sighed.


    "Oh no. Don''t even go there. I might not be able to function for an entire week if that happens," Casper said. "Maybe...even for the rest of my life."


    June sighed in frustration, raking his fingers through his hair.


    "Goodness. Why don''t we call the fire department to get him down?" he asked,


    "We can''t!" Casper argued. "Luther is very sensitive to other people. He''s only friendly to me and pretty cats."


    "Not even your sisters?" June asked.


    "No," Casper shook his head. "Why do you think my sisters called me here? He really doesn''t like anyone except me."


    "And pretty cats?" June rified.


    "And pretty cats," Casper confirmed.


    June pursed his lips and closed his eyes, wondering why he took Casper seriously.


    He should have known better and listened more to his story before promising Casper that he''d join him.


    [Aww, such a sweet friend!]


    ''Sweet friend, my ass.''


    June would have continued brainstorming for their song production if it weren''t for Casper.


    [You don''t even have an idea how to start it.]


    ''Why are you suddenly so noisy? Do you have nothing to do?''


    [I was summoned by a cute kitty! Look at him.]


    June sighed and stared up at the tree branch where Luther was chilling.


    There, the ck cat with round, equally-ck eyes and a pink nose sat elegantly at the distal area of a tree branch.


    If he wasn''t so high up, then June would have let him be since he seemed veryfortable¡ªlike he was sitting on his very own throne.


    Looking at him now, he actually looked pretty cute.


    He won''t let Casper know that, though.


    Casper might ask him to co-parent the ck cat if heplimented him.


    "What are we going to do now?" Casper asked. "We don''t even have adder."


    June sighed in frustration.


    "Here, kitty!" he loudly called, even clicking his tongue repeatedly to call for the cute ck cat.


    Casper covered June''s mouth, looking at him with wide eyes.


    "What are you doing?" Casper eximed.


    June red at Casper and removed his hand from his mouth.


    "I''m calling him down!" June obviously said. "Isn''t that what you want?"


    "No," Casper deadpanned. "What if he jumps and dies?"


    "He''s a cat!" June eximed. "He probably climbed it himself, so he can most definitelye down. Besides, he probably still have nine lives left."


    "He can''t," Casper insisted. "We need to go and get him."


    June sighed in frustration before massaging his temples.


    "How are we going to go up there? Like you said, we don''t even have adder," June said.


    Casper bit his lip and thought for a while.


    "I''ll climb up," Casper said.


    June opened his mouth to argue, but when he realized he didn''t have a better idea to propose, he kept his mouth shut.


    Moreover, an injury to the head might make Casper act more normally.


    [...]


    Maybe that was a bit too much.


    [Oh, who are you kidding? Casper acting like a normal person would be scary.]


    June shook his head to get rid of Fu''s notifications.


    "Go ahead then," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest and taking a step back.


    Casper stood before the tree and gulped when he saw how high it was.


    He was a pretty fearless person. He had no trouble swimming in deep waters, and he could even sleep in a room filled with spiders if he wanted to.


    In his head, spiders were also friends¡ªmisunderstood friends.


    However, heights were another topic.


    Falling was probably his biggest fear in life, and a tree that was as high as a two-story house was definitely a nightmare to climb.


    June clicked his tongue and nced at his watch.


    "Well, we don''t have all day," June deadpanned.


    Casper ced his hand on the tree and hesitated to climb.


    In the end, he couldn''t do it.


    He let go of the tree trunk and took a step back.


    "Alright, I can''t do it," Casper said, defeated.


    June sighed and turned around. "Let''s go then. He looks happy there."


    "No!" Casper eximed, pinning June in ce by gripping his shoulders.


    "June, help me! You promise to help me. I''m going to be sting emo songs in the dorm if you don''t help me."


    Oh, that was going to be really annoying.


    June face palmed and pushed his hand away.


    "After this, don''t ask for my help ever again," June warned.


    Casper silently nodded.


    June sighed deeply as he calcted how he was going to climb the tree.


    Climbing things was pretty easy for him. He even climbed concrete buildings without any safety gear.


    Thankfully, the tree had small branches as low as one meter off the trunk, so June didn''t have a hard time using his arm and core strength to hoist himself up.


    Casper''s eyes widened when he saw how June swiftly and expertly climbed the tree, appearing like he had done it plenty of times before.


    "Wooh! Go, June!" Casper cheered at the bottom of the tree as June got nearer to Luther.


    June shook his head as he nced at Casper, wondering why he was going to such extreme lengths to help his teammate.


    "Luther!" June carefully called the cat''s name as he arrived at the branch he was sitting on.


    The ck cat stayed in ce, not even bothering to nce at June.


    June clicked his tongue and called his name again. Luther meowed, causing June''s heart to swell with hope. However, like before, he stayed in the same position.


    June was slowly growing impatient.


    However, just then, he heard another meow that didn''t sound like Luther.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, scooting closer to where Luther was to get a better look at what was truly happening.


    There, he saw another cat¡ªalmost as pure as snow, sitting at the branch next to Luther.


    "Pretty cat," June whispered, remembering Casper''s words.


    Casper, who was waiting patiently on the ground, suddenly had an epiphany, causing him to gasp loudly.


    He was so desperate to get Luther down that he sent June up the tree without considering Luther''s past behavior.


    Luther nearly mauled a man who tried to pet him on his stroller!


    Casper looked up to the tree and ced both hands next to his mouth.


    "June! Luther will attack!"


    "I repeat¡ªLuther will attack!"

 Chapter 488 June Saves The Day

    <h4>Chapter 488 June Saves The Day</h4>


    "Shh!" June eximed loudly, making Casper zip his mouth shut.


    Casper pursed his lips andrgely gestured for him to stop approaching Luther instead. As much as Casper would love to get Luther down to the ground, he also didn''t want June to be mauled and permanently scarred because of his cute, ck cat.


    However, June continued to inch forward, trying to keep as silent as possible.


    Then, he brought out his phone and pressed on the video recording, wanting to capture the sound that resonated under the tree branches.


    It was the subtle meowing of cats mating, and June never expected for him to get inspiration from such an absurd event.


    However, he did.


    Aside from all the strengths that Casper had listed, it also seemed like Luther had a cute voice. To add to that, the white female cat on another tree branch responded well to Luther''s cute meowing.


    The two of them had a back-and-forth, almost sounding too cute to handle.


    However, June kept calm and tried to record the sound for as long as possible, even liking how it was progressing.


    Then, a small smile appeared on his lips.


    Maybe Luther getting lost didn''t happen for no good reason.


    June could now understand what Minjun had been telling him¡ªa simple song with a lot of appeal.


    June closed his eyes and savored the moment, almost getting serenaded by the sounds of their meowing.


    However, his bliss was cut short when the sound suddenly halted.


    June opened his eyes and saw the ck cat staring straight at him.


    And worse than that, he was inching closer and closer to June.


    June''s eyes widened, finally realizing why Casper was going crazy on the ground.


    Luther only likes pretty cats.


    June scooted back, suddenly feeling fearful.


    "Luther, no!" Casper eximed, suddenly speaking into a megaphone.


    Wait...a megaphone?


    June looked down at the ground and saw Casper with what seemed to be policemen or firemen on the ground.


    It wasn''t only that. Surrounding him were a handful of locals, all seemingly curious about what was happening.


    "Fuck," June muttered under his breath.


    Then, he felt the small creature pounce at him, making him close his eyes.


    ''It''s alright,'' heforted himself.


    ''You''ve already been shot, stabbed, kicked, and even died. How bad would being molested by a cat get?'' he thought.


    June waited for the impact, but nothing came.


    He still felt a slight weight on hisp, though, so he wasn''t sure if Luther was only waiting for the right moment to attack.


    June hesitatingly opened his eyes and saw the ck cat on top of his ck pants. His ck eyes were staring right at him, and June held back the urge to coo.


    "You are pretty cute," he whispered, lifting his hand to pet Luther.


    Now, June had a hunch about why Casper was obsessed with the pretty cat.


    "Let''s go down now, shall we?" he whispered, cradling Luther in his arms.


    Then, ignoring the stares and whispers of the people downstairs, he swiftly and skillfully went down the tree, still in a good mood despite Casper''s dramatic ass.


    At least he got some inspiration for their song production.


    He made sure to put his mask back on before jumping to the ground.


    There, he saw Casper running to where he was.


    June was hesitant to let Luther go, but he didn''t want to show Casper that he had be fond of his cat in that short interaction.


    "Luther!" Casper eximed, cradling the cat and cing kisses on his head.


    Just then, the people on the street burst into ps.


    "Wooh! What a brave young man!"


    "You are a hero!"


    "Thank you for saving our dearest Luther!"


    "Such a good person!"


    June''s face palmed as he shied away from the attention. Meanwhile, Casper continued crying as he now held Luther high up into the air and twirled him around.


    June clicked his tongue and held onto Casper''s sleeve, pulling him into a secluded area.


    Casper, on the other hand, was still smitten with Luther.


    "You called the police department," June deadpanned.


    "Only because I thought you were going to be mauled," Casper responded.


    "And the fire department," June added.


    "They had the longdder," Casper smiled.


    "And an audience," June sighed.


    "They came on their own ord. They must have been fascinated by my handsomeness."


    "You''re wearing a mask...and a cap. It definitely wasn''t your handsomeness but your loud-ass voice that captured their attention."


    "Whatever," June sighed. "It didn''t seem like they were recording anyway."


    From what June saw, the people who watched what happened were from the older generation. So, Casper was most probably not lying.


    "At least Luther''s now safe," June said, holding back the urge to pat him.


    "Right?" Casper excitedly eximed.


    "Oh...I almost forgot to introduce the two of you," Casper started off.


    June waved him off."There''s no need. He''s just a cat anyway. He probably doesn''t understand¡ª"


    "June, this is Luther," Casper said, ignoring June''s words.


    "And Luther, this is June."


    Much to June''s surprise, Luther meowed softly, almost sounding like a ''hi.''


    His eyebrows raised as Luther gazed up at him. There was a small bit of white under his eyes, making him look sentient.


    June stepped back.


    It really did seem like Luther understood Casper''s introduction.


    "I really thought you got severely injured since you didn''t appear for a while," Casper started off.


    "I was just...observing," June muttered. "Luther appeared to be wooing another cat."


    Casper''s eyes widened, looking at the cat with betrayal.


    "You''re growing up so fast!" he whispered to the cat. Then, he turned to June.


    "Was she pretty, at least?"


    "Yes," June sighed.


    "She also made pretty sounds," he whispered, causing Casper to step back in surprise.


    "That''s what she said," Casper couldn''t help himself from saying.


    "Oh, shut up," June snapped.


    Casper zipped his mouth shut and merely smiled.


    "Thank you, June," he sincerely said, deviating from his crazy self.


    "It really, really means a lot."


    "I didn''t tell this to other people since I thought they weren''t going to take me seriously. I knew that Luther getting stuck on a tree isn''t the biggest problem in the world¡ªor maybe it isn''t even a problem for other people, but you have to understand that I consider Luther as my first genuine friend."


    "He was there when no one else wasn''t, and I want to be there for him whenever he needs me," he whispered.


    June sighed, nodding in acknowledgement. "It''s alright," he said. "I know that he''s important to you."


    "I just have one question," June added.


    "I thought he only liked you and pretty cats. I think you must have been mistaken on that part. He was pretty calm when he approached me."


    Casper smirked, lifting Luther so he was near June''s face.


    "I wasn''t lying."


    "Luther must think that you''re a very pretty cat."


    June''s face fell.


    "Isn''t that right, Luther?"


    "Meow."

 Chapter 489 The Infected One

    <h4>Chapter 489 The Infected One</h4>


    ''Sometimes, the most beautiful thingse when you least expect them to.''


    June was in a good mood as he made his way back to the dorms with Casper.


    The smile couldn''t be shaken off his face even when he saw his members'' and their manager''s worried faces when they opened the door.


    Jay sighed deeply in relief and practically copsed on the couch.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong stood and inspected the two for any sort of injuries.


    "What the heck happened? Why''d you run off so suddenly?" he eximed.


    June sighed and removed Jaeyong''s hands from his body.


    "We weren''t even gone for too long. We just had some important matters to attend to."


    Casper nodded in agreement. "How did you guys even find out that we were out and about?"


    "Well, for one, you weren''t here," Jisung said.


    "And two, Jay found a post that looked like the two of you posted on Navel," he quickly added.


    "What?" June asked, his eyebrows furrowing.


    Jisung nudged Akira, so thetter pulled out his phone and showed them a post that, indeed, resembled the two of them very much.


    It was actually the two of them.


    Casper and June were photographed in very close proximity. It was the time when Casper introduced June and Luther to each other, so the cat was brought near June''s face, which naturally brought Casper closer, too.


    June face palmed and red at Casper.


    "I thought you said no one had photographed us!" he said.


    The members turned to each other in surprise.


    "Wait, this is really the two of you?" Zeth asked.


    "So, the cat must be¡­"


    "Luther!" they all simultaneously eximed.


    "You finally met Luther?" Ren asked, also wanting to meet the ck cat.


    June sighed before nodding.


    "Was he as cute as Casper described him as?" Sehun asked.


    The members all turned to June with expectant expressions. They practically knew Luther''s life story, his quirks, and cute acts because of Casper''s stories. They even know the story of his birth!


    "Yes," June quietly muttered.


    Casper smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up.


    "I knew it. No one can resist Luther''s charm!" the tall idol eximed.


    "I was right," Jay suddenly stood, pacing back and forth like a madman. "I should have followed my guts and went after you after all."


    "I''m a bad manager," he continuously whispered, now having a dilemma.


    They all watched their manager but didn''t botherforting him.


    "It seems like not only Jay thinks this is the two of you, though," Akira said. "Look! The replies are filled with astras."


    June read the replies along with his other members and almost regretted doing so.


    - Omo. Doesn''t this strangely look like Casper and June from EVE?


    - I wasn''t nning on saying it, but now that somebody else has, then yes.


    - And the ck cat¡­what if it''s Luther?


    June felt a shiver run down his spine as their fans urately predicted what had happened. People on the inte are really one of the scariest creatures out there.


    - Aww, that''s so cute! #LoveWins


    - Guys, what if this is really June and Casper?


    - Then, I''m going to die. I''m a #JunePer shipper for life.


    - As long as I''m alive, #JunePer shall thrive.


    - Nah, #JiJune is still the best.


    - Fuck off. This isn''t about you. We love Casper and June the most!


    - I will draw them furry fanart. Go follow my page!


    "Alright, that''s enough inte for the day," June said, forcefully turning off Akira''s phone.


    He knew that their team wouldn''t be immune to the subgroup of fans that every fandom had¡ªshippers; but it was still a bit strange to see them when they were about you.


    June didn''t have much of a problem with it unless it got really weird¡­


    And some people¡­


    Some people are very, very weird.


    "But it was getting really good!" Akira eximed.


    "We should have visited their page to check if what they were saying was true," Jay said from behind them.


    June turned around and red at Jay.


    "Bad manager," June scolded, making Jay go back into a frenzy.


    "So, what even happened with Luther?" Ren asked, going back to the topic.


    "He was stuck on a tree," Casper said. "So June climbed up and got him down for me!"


    Zeth chuckled, leaning back against the couch.


    "I can''t believe all of that happened, and we still didn''t get to start our song," he sighed.


    Sehun nodded in agreement, also sitting back down on the couch.


    Sehun nodded in agreement, also sitting back down on the couch.


    "Well, that killed the vibe. It''s due tomorrow, by the way."


    Jay snapped out of his dilemma once more and showed the members the multiple notifications on his phone.


    "And that Tiddy guy keeps on sending me messages, pestering me to pressure you guys to finish the song faster."


    June smirked as he brought out his phone and clicked on his audio files. His fingers hovered above the y button as he gazed at his teammates.


    "Hey, guys," he started off, capturing their attention.


    "What?" Zeth asked.


    "Remember Casper''s suggestion about our song?" June suddenly asked.


    Ren frowned in confusion. "About making a song about the zoo?"


    "Not that," June said. "The other one."


    "The cat one?" Akira asked.


    June nodded. "Yes, the cat one."


    "Like that makes it better," Akira chuckled, making the others, including Casper, chuckle, too.


    "Yeah," Casper said, scratching the back of his head. "I must have been out of my mind at that moment¡ª"


    01:51


    "You''re always out of your mind," Akira said, annoyingly smiling.


    Casper continued to smile despite all of this. "Thanks," he epted thepliment.


    "Anyways, I couldn''t really think of anything except for Luther during that moment, so I suggested it from the back of my mind. It was definitely ridiculous," Casper continued tp chuckle.


    "It''s not ridiculous," June suddenly intercepted, surprising his members.


    "It''s not?" Casper asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.


    "It''s not," June confirmed.


    "In fact, I think it''s a genius idea!"


    He was met with the sound of crickets.


    "What if we really made a song centered around cats?" June eximed.


    Akira leaned closer to Jisung and whispered¡ª-


    "I think Casper infected June."

 Chapter 490 Humongous Meow Meow

    <h4>Chapter 490 Humongous Meow Meow</h4>


    The members awkwardly chuckled since they didn''t want to make June feel bad about his suggestion.


    "Umm, I just wanted to ask," Akira said. "Did you, perhaps, get bitten by Luther and acquired rabies or something?"


    Casper clicked his tongue. "For your information, Luther is fully vinated against any illness that may arise in the future. He''s tested every month for any illness or infestations, and he also probably eats better than you," he snapped.


    "Dang," Jay muttered. "My mom better take some notes."


    June sighed before shaking his head.


    "I''m not joking. I know it sounds ridiculous right now, but I feel like we should really employ this concept," June said, easing the tension.


    "Bro, I know you like Little Meow Meow a lot," Akira prefaced. "But don''t you think this is a bit of a stretch? We''re going to look like Humongous Meow Meows if we make a song about cats."


    "You suggested having a kissing scene in the music video," June deadpanned, causing Akira to go silent.


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. He believed in June very much. Heck, he was a fan of June.


    However, having a cat-themed song as an idol group whose youngest member was 21 didn''t make sense to him.


    "Umm, maybe we can listen more about your suggestion?" Jisung kindly asked.


    June pursed his lips, still noticing their hesitation. He couldn''t really me them since he only gave out a vague description.


    "I don''t have any better suggestions, so let''s hear it," Zeth said, propping his elbows on top of his knees.


    June nodded, starting to walk back and forth like he was in some kind of talk. He decided to fill in his members of the current ''hidden'' trend that Minjun was pertaining to.


    "Super Confident. Eight. Picture Love. PpiPpi. What do all of these songs have inmon?" June asked.


    The members were confused by the sudden question-and-answer portion. Nheless, they still answered June seriously.


    "Umm, they were all big hits?" Jisung guessed.


    "Aside from that?" June asked.


    "They''re all songs I listen to when I''m in the shower," Zeth answered.


    June sighed in frustration.


    "Think¡­ production-wise," June continued.


    Ren pursed his lips as he tried thinking of the simrities of the songs. Aside from their pop elements, he couldn''t really think of anything more.


    "I don''t know if this makes sense," Sehun started off, causing the others to turn to their oldest member. "But they sound easy on the ears. They aren''t superplicated. In fact, not a lot of people reallyment on these songs production-wise. However, they''re still big hits¡ªwhich is kind of strange."


    "Except it''s not," June said, smiling since one of his members seemed to understand the song''s simrities too.


    "You''re right when you said that the music production aspect isn''t superplicated. In fact, it is quite simple. You got yourself an addictive beat, with easy-to-understand lyrics that almost seem cute but romantic¡­and then you got yourself a great hit."


    "When I said we should make a song about cats, I didn''t mean it literally," June started off, making the members visibly sigh in relief.


    "However, while I was rescuing Luther on the three a while ago, I suddenly had an epiphany," June continued.


    He then pressed the y button on the audio file he recorded.


    June was waiting for the melodic meowing sounds to resonate in the room. However, an audio of him singing a Little Meow Meow song was yed instead.


    His eyes widened, and he quickly paused the audio file. However, his teammates had already heard it.


    They were confused for a moment before bursting into joyousughter.


    "I knew it!" Akira eximed. "You want us to be Humongous Meow Meows!"


    June clicked his tongue and turned on the phone again to search for the right audio file.


    "Why were you recording a Little Meow Meow cover, by the way?" Jaeyong asked out of curiosity. "Are you nning on posting it to your Navel?"


    June didn''t bother answering the question.


    He only had one answer in mind¡ªit was really catchy and he couldn''t get out of his head.


    In the end, he decided to make a cover of it so he''d stop thinking about it.


    "Going back," June cleared his throat, now finally ying the right audio track.


    Just then, the sound of meowing filled the room. The others were confused for a moment.


    However, Ren quickly understood what June was trying to say.


    The notes¡­


    The progression¡­


    Sure, it sounded like cats meowing right at the moment. It didn''t really sound like a song.


    However, the potential it had was impable!


    If it was produced in a way like those hit songs June pertaining to was produced, then Ren had no doubt that it was also going to be a hit song.


    "I don''t get it," Jay said as soon as the audio was finished.


    He was already feeling nervous since he told Teddy that EVE was cooking up one of the best hits of the generation. Now, he was fearing for his pride since it didn''t seem that way.


    "Of course, you won''t," June said, causing Jay to pout.


    "So, what do you guys think?" June asked, turning to his members instead.


    The reaction was still lukewarm. However, Ren gave a very positive reaction.


    "I''m in," he smiled, already feeling inspired.


    June smiled back, already knowing that Ren would instantly understand the potential of the audio. In the end, the two of them had the most sensitive ears in the group.


    Jaeyong, despite still not knowing what to do, also nodded.


    "I''m in, too. I think we can make it work."


    "I guess I''m in," Zeth scratched the back of his head.


    Jisung nodded. "I trust you guys with my life. I''m in."


    Jay sighed nervously as the members all seemed to agree to use the audio file for their title track.


    "Wait, guys," Jay said, trying to assess the situation. "Don''t you guys need more time about this?"


    June sighed as he nced at the wall clock. "Time is a luxury we don''t have. We have barely more than a day to finish a whole song."


    Jay scratched the back of his head and still appeared hesitant.


    "What are you even so afraid of?" Ren asked.


    ''Of being criticized by Ted,'' Jay thought.


    "It''s just that¡ªhow are you going to turn that into a song when it''s literally just meowing?" Jay asked out loud instead.


    June smirked, turning to Ren with a knowing glint in his eyes.


    "Oh, Jay," June chuckled.


    "Anything could turn into a song if we wanted to."

 Chapter 491 Our Precious, His Precious Daughter

    <h4>Chapter 491 Our Precious, His Precious Daughter </h4>


    The members of EVE smiled victoriously as they held the finished product in their hands.


    "Finally," Zeth whispered, feeling like his body was going to drop at any given time.


    "Our precious," Akira creepily said, stroking theptop with his index finger with a wide smile.


    Ren stretched his arms and felt his back crack in five different ces. He groaned and slumped on the table, finally being hit with sleepiness after the long night.


    "I can''t believe we finished it," Sehun said, also looking out of it.


    The members of EVE stayed up for more than 24 hours so they could finish the song they needed to present in front of the producers. They had to sacrifice their time, effort, sanity, and a little bit of their soul in the process, but it was all worth it.


    As the sun peeked through the curtains, hitting Akira''s forehead with a dash of sunlight, the man quickly cowered in fear and even made a sound that strangely resembled a hiss.


    The others, too, groaned out of annoyance as they felt their heads hurting after hours without rest. They all looked like zombies fresh from an apocalypse.


    However, one person stood as a sharp contrast among them.


    Despite not drinking coffee or energy drinks or even relying on sugar to boost his energy, June appeared like the person who had the most rest among them.


    In fact, he even looked like he got eight hours of sleep!


    The members stared at him as he listened to the song with his earphones. Then, a collective sigh escaped their lips.


    "The world is unfair," Akira muttered, finally allowing himself to lie down on the cold, hard floor.


    "It''s officially done," June smiled, now feeling more rxed than ever.


    After King of Kings, they were pressured to create a song in three days'' time. Because of this, June hasn''t been getting any sleep. Aside from naps here and there, he felt like he didn''t have the luxury to sleep.


    Now, he felt like he could finally rest.


    Theptop screen turned ck, and June saw his reflection on it. Surprisingly, he still looked very fresh, making him smile. It seemed like his visual aspect was really putting itself to work.


    Then, as he gazed up at his teammates while removing his earphones, he nearly got the biggest scare in his life when he saw their ragged looks.


    "Can we sleep now?" Ren asked.


    Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a very happy Jay holding a box of donuts and warm soya milk on the other hand.


    "Rise and shine¡ªholy mother of gremlins," he eximed when he saw the members'' current situation.


    He ced the box of food on the table, and they crawled to eat like hungry zombies, eating greedily and gulping at an alien-like pace.


    Jay continued to watch them, perplexed by what happened. Then, he turned to June, who appeared like a beacon of light amidst the carriers of darkness.


    "Well, you look fresh and nice," Jay said.


    "Thanks," June smirked as he epted thepliment. He elegantly took a donut from the box and ate gracefully like the king he was.


    Jay continued observing the boys, his eyes widening when he realized they were in the same position he had left them during the night.


    "Wait," Jay said. "Did you guys not get any sleep?" he asked.


    "Nope," Jisung said with a popping ''p'' sound, crumbs falling off his mouth.


    "Gosh," Jay sighed. "Theeback period hasn''t even started, yet you guys are already like this."


    "It''s alright," Ren said. "We were able to finish the song."


    "Yeah," June smiled. "Do you want to hear it?"


    He wanted to see the look on Jay''s face once he realized that the meowing sounds could, indeed, be turned into a hit song.


    "I''ll just listen to it at the studio," Jay said. "We''re going to meet with the producerster anyway."


    "Right," Akira said, his mouth filled with sugary goodness. "What time was that again? Is it in the afternoon? I was nning on getting some sleep before the meeting."


    "What do you mean?" Jay asked, even chuckling. "It''s this morning, silly. That''s why I came around and brought you guys some breakfast."


    "What?" the members eximed.


    Ren, who had a mouthful of soy milk, sttered it all over the person in front of him, who unluckily turned out to be Akira.


    "Yeah," Jay smiled. "Get ready within an hour so we can get there on time."


    ***


    "I thought you said they''d be here already," Akira deadpanned, feeling like he was aging drastically at the moment.


    Jay clicked his tongue and looked at Ted''stest messages.


    "Well, Tiddy Bear told me he was here. I guess he was lying after all¡ª"


    "Tiddy bear?" a voice suddenly asked, causing Jay''s eyes to widen.


    There, in the producer''s booth, they saw Ted cleaning up the equipment. The members'' eyes widened since they didn''t notice his presence when they entered. He then made his way out and continued ring at Jay.


    "Well?" Ted asked.


    "My¡­cat," Jay quickly made up an excuse. "My cat¡­Tiddy Bear. Isn''t it a cute name?"


    "Now, why would your cat tell you that he''ll be here?" Ted frowned.


    "It''s just this roley thing we have. I miss my cat from time to time, so the members of EVE act like he''s her with us," he chuckled. "We''re crazy like that, you know?"


    "Yeah," Casper excitedly chimed.


    Ted looked at them with subtle disgust.


    "Yeah, you sure are crazy," he muttered.


    His expression, however, lightened up when he saw Mari walk through the door.


    "Good morning, guys," she smiled, her gaze instantly going to June.


    She pursed her lips to keep herself from smiling too much since June appeared even more handsome today.


    It seemed like he got plenty of sleep¡ªwhich Mari was delighted about.


    Ted was about to greet Mari with a very happy, very sweet ''good morning'' when the door suddenly opened, revealing another person.


    Collective gasps filled the room as they were graced by the presence of a woman with what seemed to be a lot of experience.


    "Minzy?" Ren whispered, making the members even more surprised than they already were.


    Indeed, it was one of the senior producerd of Azure Entertainment who had ventured into other idolpanies, and none other than Mr. Ong''s daughter¡ªMinzy Ong.

 Chapter 492 Minor Improvements

    <h4>Chapter 492 Minor Improvements</h4>


    "Minzy Ong, despite only being in her mid-30s, is a well-respected producer in the country."


    "Contrary to her father''s wishes, she didn''t stay in Azure Entertainment to work as their sole producer. Instead, she went frompany topany or where her talent was needed."


    "In the end, she was able to establish a name for herself outside of her father''s achievements."


    "You know, you don''t have to whisper these things to me when the person we''re talking about is literally sitting in front of us," June whispered into Jay''s ear.


    The manager shrugged before leaning closer to June, speaking a bit louder this time.


    "I just thought you wanted some information or something. You''re pretty clueless about these things," he said.


    June opened his mouth to argue but realized that Jay was right. He didn''t have a clue who the woman was when she first entered. He would have also never guessed that she was Mr. Ong''s daughter based on how she looked.


    It seemed like she took after her mother.


    Minzy sat straight, her gaze impartial. June pursed his lips since it seemed like Minzy was a very objective being. Unlike Mari, who was confirmed to be a fan of them, June felt like Minzy was the type of person who didn''t mingle her personal interests into the professional setting.


    "Good morning, boys," Minzy said. "Ted called me here despite my busy schedule to listen to two songs."


    The members turned to each other in surprise.


    "Two?" Jay asked, speaking for the members.


    Mari smiled at the members of EVE as if to reassure them.


    "We also wanted to show her the song we produced. We tweaked it based on your guys'' suggestions," she said.


    Jay sighed in relief when he realized that EVE didn''t have to make two songs.


    June, however, was hit with the fact that Ted''s proposed title track still existed. Again, it wasn''t a bad song, but it wasn''t the song for EVE. However, if what Mari had said was right and they had revised it based on EVE''sments, then he was expecting some improvement.


    "Anyway, as I am a very busy person, I believe we don''t have time for any introductions," Minzy said.


    "So, let''s head straight to the listening party. What song are you going to present to me first?" she asked.


    "Mine," Ted quickly said.


    Mari turned to him with raised eyebrows, so he cleared his throat as he looked away from her. He was so enthusiastic to go first that he didn''t get to keep his cool persona in front of Mari.


    That is if he really did have a cool persona.


    Ted just really wanted to go first so he could show EVE how it was really done.


    At first, he didn''t even think of revising the song since he felt like the first song hepleted was already wless. However, with Mari''s insistence, he caved in.


    "We''re going to show you what we did first," Ted said, pulling out hisptop and cing it on the table.


    Minzy nodded and brought out a small notepad from her bag, prepared to take notes so she could discuss themter.


    Ted finally yed the song, and the familiar strong intro resounded in the room. June listened intently to what changes they might have made. Fortunately, he was able to pinpoint it right away.


    Ted''s signature noise sound was dampened in this particr production. The synths didn''t feel like they were all over the ce, so it had a much ''cleaner'' vibepared to before.


    The tone and lyrics were still the same, talking about being the best, which resonated well with the grandeur feel of the song.


    Mari nodded her head to the beat, liking how this song soundedpared to before. Back then, she also felt like it couldn''t be improved further. However, as she revised the song in the studio based on EVE''sments, she realized that the original song had a lot of ws.


    Zeth, who was also fond of listening to such songs, nodded in acknowledgment as he found himself enjoying this one better.


    June kept still and silent, leaning against the couch with a finger below his lower lip.


    Then, he nced at Mari, who seemed to be enjoying the song the most.


    ''She must have been the one to implement the changes,'' he thought.


    The song ended, and curt ps resonated in the room. June, too, pped for Mari to praise her for what she had done. It didn''t sound like a song solely produced by Ted anymore. He was d to be able to break free from that sound.


    It also seemed like Mari had taken EVE''sments very seriously and indeed made the changes based on theirments.


    "Well, how is it?" Ted excitedly asked, already knowing that they couldn''t refute it was a great K-pop song.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips and nced at his members.


    "It''s an improvement," Jaeyong said. "I could actually see myself performing this particr song."


    Ted smirked, delighted by the positivement.


    Then, Ted turned to June, wanting to hear hisment too.


    The other members, Mari and Minzy, focused on June, too, genuinely curious about what he thought about the song.


    June paused for a moment, wanting to build suspense.


    "I must say, it really is much better than before," he honestly said. "It wouldn''t be strange for this song to be in the album."


    "However, I still stand by our song," June smiled.


    "I believe it is still the better option among the two."


    Ted''s smile quickly dropped after June''sment.


    Ted then turned to Minzy with a determined gaze.


    "What about you, producer?" he asked, knowing that Minzy also wrote songs that had simr styles to the one that had just yed.


    Minzy pursed her lips before turning her notepad to a new page. She scribbled plenty ofments for this song, but she felt it wasn''t the time to divulge her thoughts about it.


    "I don''t want to give myments right away," she said, turning to EVE.


    "Why don''t we hear the next song first and see if it''s really the better option among the two?"

 Chapter 493 The Thing Speaks For Itself

    <h4>Chapter 493 The Thing Speaks For Itself </h4>


    "dly," June said, smiling at the well-known producer.


    Jisung prepared the audio file while June continued thinking about the song Ted had created.


    It was surreal how it was almost theplete opposite of the song they had made.


    If Ted''s song wasplicated, then EVE''s was simple.


    Ren fiddled with his fingers as he found himself getting nervous. The other members, too, felt like they were being ced on a chokehold with how nervous they were.


    Jisung finally clicked on the y button, and the song resounded in the small studio.


    However, when the song yed, it felt like their nervousness slowly melted away.


    Res ipsa loquitur.


    Or ''the thing speaks for itself.''


    The song already sounded great¡­so they asked themselves¡ªwhy should they be nervous?


    The song will speak for itself.


    From the get-go, Mari and Ted turned to each other with confused gazes. The sound had a light pop sound that made it seem like a song made for a Western artist. They were immediately drawn by the subtle bassline, crisp percussion, and shimmering synthters.


    Even with only a few seconds in, they could already tell that the song was well-produced. Even Jay was confused on how EVE managed to make a song of such caliber when they only had less than a day to do it.


    Of course, he knew that they were talented. However, it was almost astounding to have such talent in just one group.


    The production was meticulously crafted, with Ren and June making sure there weren''t any loopholes to criticize when it came to the timing and cleanliness of the synths. Each sonic element served a specific purpose in building the song''s tension and atmosphere.


    The verses were pretty subdued, so the producers were expecting a more explosive chorus.


    However, the chorus focused more on yful instrumentation and youthful energy. Romantic guitar chords and infectious grooves were added to the bassline, making the sound more vibrant than it already was.


    Yet, beneath its pop exterior, the lyrics of the chorus also surprised Minzy, who was also well-known for being a lyricist in otherpanies.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m surprised...


    Every single time I look into your eyes.


    You know? I''ll be by your side.


    In my heart¡­right here¡­for life.


    Cause I''m hypnotized and, and I see sparks fly


    Is it normal to feel this way? Oh my. "


    The lyrics were the one thing that the members of EVE didn''t pay much attention to since they felt they could still revise it in theing days. It definitely wasn''t perfect, and June wanted it to have been more yful or witty.


    However, they could only do so much with the time they were given. In the end, they settled on writing cute, romantic lyrics that still boded well with the song. If vocal harmonies and subtle production flourishes were added to the depth and dimension of the track, then June felt like the current lyrics could pass as the ones in the final track.


    The track continued, easy on the ears. The lyrics, talking about human emotion and connection, exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and the fleeting nature of youth, all jived together into the pop masterpiece.


    June leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes, admiring what the group had done in 24 hours.


    He could already imagine the song being yed on the radio, which felt like a really good sign.


    Ted''s and Mari''s expressions, however, couldn''t be painted. Even Minzy had a poker face on, so it was hard to decipher what they were truly feeling at the moment.


    Meanwhile, Jay, who was still trying to look for the meowing sounds that he didn''t want EVE to use beforehand, had an epiphany when the second chorus came around.


    It was subtle¡­almost too subtle.


    If Jay hadn''t listened to the meowing sounds yesterday, then he would have never guessed that animal sounds were incorporated into the song.


    He shook his head and wanted to apud EVE for what they had done.


    June really wasn''t lying when he said that he could turn anything into a song.


    The song ended, and the members of EVE all turned to each other with proud smiles. In a way, they were in good moods since they felt like all their suffering was worth it. Aside from this, the song truly had an infectious energy that really made you want to smile.


    Mari, after contemting for a few moments, finally pped. She smiled at the members of EVE, a bit defeated since she felt like the song they had created was better than the one she had made.


    At first, she felt like the song was too simple. However, as it progressed, she could hear the nuances in the production that made it sound great despite being simple.


    "That was it?" Ted asked, a small smirk appearing on his lips.


    June frowned at his condescending tone, and Mari, who had already been turned off by Ted right from the start, also subtly shook her head.


    "Yes," June confidently said. "That''s the song."


    Ted''s smirk widened as he turned to Minzy, who now appeared to be in deep thought.


    "Well, what can you say about the songs, producer?" Ted asked.


    Minzy didn''t respond since she was still contemting on what to say.


    His smile fell for a moment as doubts filled his mind. He couldn''t deny that EVE''s song was infectious, and it was well-produced, even better than some of the producers he knew in the industry.


    So, what if¡­


    ''No,'' he shook his head to get rid of such doubts.


    He had worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let a moment of uncertainty derail his aspirations of gaining back his fame.


    To Ted, it was a simple equation.


    His song embodied the very essence of 4th-generation K-pop, with its loud rhythms andplicated melodies. EVE''s, on the other hand, fell short, deemed too simplistic topete on the grand stage of the industry.


    Its simple melody would only be heard echoing through a quaint caf¨¦ or drifting softly down a busy street. Itcked the grandeur and allure necessary for a music video production.


    The smirk reappeared on his face.


    That was right.


    EVE failed to notice these elements.


    In the end, they thought too simply.


    It was far too simple.

 Chapter 494 The Final Decision

    <h4>Chapter 494 The Final Decision</h4>


    The opposing teams waited for Minzy''sments. However, the talented producer seemed to be in a slump.


    Then, she sighed, breaking the silence.


    "Let''s start with Ted''s song," she started off.


    Ted and Mari sat in attention as Minzy flipped a page in her notebook.


    "Alright, the good thing about it is the seamless integration of the elements. Although, I still feel that it sounds a bit noisy, which is going out of trend nowadays," she started off.


    Ted pursed his lips since he felt like his song was just called outdated.


    "Aside from that, the lyrics are a bit too cliche. Work with the lyricists in thepany to improve that."


    Mari jotted down Minzy''sments while Ted continued feeling bitter.


    Minzy was truly a nitpicker. She had everything to say about a song¡ªalways with ament.


    "Nheless, it definitely sounds like a title track fit for the album. Somehow, it ties the whole album together. It could also be the chance for EVE to have a grand?royalty concept after the bright concept they had in their debut."


    A smile appeared on Mari''s and Ted''s faces. Even then, they still got some positivements from Mari.


    That, in itself, was already a great achievement.


    Minzy was someone who wouldn''t give outpliments if others didn''t deserve them.


    Ren knew of this fact from his producer friends. So, he pursed his lips when twopliments were given to the producer team.


    "Now, for EVE," she muttered, flipping through her notebook once more to look at thements she made for EVE.


    Then, she sighed, making the members of EVE grow even more curious and nervous.


    However, Minzy continued to stay silent, staring at her notebook with a meaningful expression.


    She always had something to say.


    It was usually negative.


    She sprinkled positivements from time to time, but only when those qualities stood out.


    Minzy believed that most people praise others for the bare minimum when they were already expected to do a good job anyway.


    A producer making a song?


    Of course! What else is being done by a producer?


    However, for the first time in her entire career, Minzy had nothing to say.


    Not a negative aspect written.


    But not a positive aspect either.


    Just nk.


    So, in the end, she couldn''t fully decipher whether their song was extraordinary or in bad.


    If she looked at it from an audience''s perspective, then it was very good.


    It was easy on the ears, and it was a song you''d find in your ylist as a casual listen.


    However, from a K-pop producer''s perspective, it seemed a bit...simple¡ªespecially with groups from Azure who usually employed moreplicated sounds.


    "Producer Minzy?" Jay cleared his throat, finally snapping her away from her daze.


    "Hmm," she hummed, looking up and cing her notebook down, trying toe up with what toment about EVE''s song.


    "These two songs are very different," she started off. "Like two songs from opposite spectrums."


    "I must say, EVE''s song was more pleasant to the ears," she admitted.


    Ted''s eyes widened with the tantpliment that Minzy had made for a team that didn''t even have professional producers.


    "It''s a song that feels familiar but something I haven''t heard much in K-pop boy groups, especially title tracks, thus far," Minzy said.


    June smiled in satisfaction. If this was how thements were going to progress, then EVE had a bigger chance of getting their song chosen over Ted''s


    June was already giddy with the thought of their very own song bing their title track.


    "Honestly, I don''t have much to say about it. It''s a good song," she said.


    Ted''s blood pressure started rising, and he felt himself getting more frustrated by the minute.


    "However, " she said, making the members of EVE more attentive.


    "I feel like this doesn''t sound like a title track," she said.


    A small smirk appeared on Ted''s lips as he crossed his arms and turned to EVE, who all had frowns on their faces.


    Jay noticed this behavior, so he let go of his professionalism for a moment and stuck his tongue out at Ted.


    Ted''s eyes widened, but Jay paid him no attention.


    Jay had been holding his frustrations since the day he presented the title track, and if it weren''t for Mari or Minzy, then he would have drop-kicked him for disrespecting his boys.


    "Actually,"Minzy sighed, recalling something from the back of her mind.


    She was too preupied with analyzing EVE''s song that she forgot about her main objective.


    "I don''t think this even has a ce in the album," she said.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed deeper. He turned to his teammates and found them wearing the same expressions.


    It seemed like Minzy was only giving positivements. However, she suddenly mentioned that the song didn''t have a ce in the album.


    June felt that something was suspicious.


    "What do you mean?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    "This song deviates from the overall energy of the album. Almost every song has a grandeur sound," Minzy started off.


    "Although your song is, frankly, a very good song, it doesn''t fit the album''s concept. Moreover, you guys are fighting for it to be your title track. It sounds far too simple for it to have a music video," she said.


    Ted smirked since his assumptions were right. ''As expected, I''m a genius,'' he thought.


    "We can make it work," June said, determined to change her mind.


    "There are songs out there that had employed the same concept for their pre-releases, post-releases, and singles. It''s not impossible," June argued.


    "I think you''re already countering your point," Ted joined in on the conversation. "Indeed, songs like these are only for the categories you have mentioned."


    "I''m not talking to you," June deadpanned, causing Ted to go silent.


    He turned to Mari after a few seconds, pointing to himself with a look of disbelief.


    "Did he just¡ª"


    "Shh," Mari said, also having enough of the cocky producer.


    June gazed into Minzy''s eyes and tried to find something...anything that would convince her that they needed to do the particr song.


    He had done it with Oasis, and he was hopeful he''d be able to do it again with this song.


    "We can set another trend again," June said, trying to convince her further.


    Minzy looked away from his piercing gaze before sighing deeply.


    "My decision is final," she said, her voice filled with conviction.


    "The title track will be the song that Ted and Mari produced."

 Chapter 495 I Did As You Told

    <h4>Chapter 495 I Did As You Told </h4>


    June thought they had this one in the bag.


    It was a mistake on his part to act so confidently when nothing was really certain.


    He turned to his teammates and saw the disappointed looks on their faces.


    It felt like everything they had worked hard on for the past few days went down the drain as Minzy announced her final verdict.


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, leaning against the couch.


    For once, he didn''t know what to say.


    Jay cleared his throat as he didn''t pay the rejoicing Ted on the other side of the room any attention.


    "Is that the only reason why you think the song shouldn''t be the title track?" he asked, making Minzy silent.


    She sighed and thought about it for a while.


    There''s really¡­something about the song that she couldn''t really pinpoint.


    It was the first time a song had left her speechless¡ªand she wasn''t sure if it was in a good or bad way.


    Minzy still stood by the belief that it wasn''t fit to be the title track because of its simplicity.


    Moreover, it really didn''t fit well with the rest of the songs on the album.


    However, as she gazed at the members, pity swelled in her heart.


    She had faced plenty of rejections before, and some of them didn''t feel deserved.


    Now, Minzy felt like she was on the other side of the spectrum¡ªthe one making others feel undeserving.


    "It may not be worthy of a title track," she started off, causing the members of EVE to lift their heads.


    Ted also stopped rejoicing in his seat, slowly calming down when he realized that Minzy still had something to say.


    Minzy hesitated to say the next words but ultimately decided that it was for the best.


    "However," she added. "I think it''s a song we can''t miss out on. Let''s put it into the album."


    The members looked at each other, all surprised by her sudden change of decision.


    They still felt disappointed since they wanted it to be the title track of their new album, but they also knew the limitations they had as artists under apany''s contract.


    Ted quietly clicked his tongue since he wanted the song to stay away from his masterpiece.


    However, he still learned to ept it since it was only going to be a part of the album anyway.


    Minzy sighed, still appearing to be in deep thought.


    "On second thought," she quickly said.


    "Let''s make this the B-side track that you''ll be performing along with the main song," Minzy decided.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He was alreadying to terms with the disappointment of the song being rejected for the title track.


    Although a promoted B-side track wasn''t as exposed to the publicpared to the title track, it is still the second song in the album to be given the most exposure.


    So, June felt like he was being brought to life when Minzy decided that they''d be making it the promoted B-side track of the album.


    "Are you sure about this?" Ted asked, standing from his seat.


    "It''s already decided that the promoted B-side track is ''Baby, Good Night'' by my dear friend Doug," he countered.


    "That isn''t final," Minzy said. "I think we should give the boys a chance to showcase their talents not only in performing but also in producing. I already gave you the privilege of having the title track; give this one to the boys, won''t you?"


    Jay smirked and stuck his tongue out at Ted once again.


    Ted pointed at him with wide eyes, about to reprimand the immature manager, when Mari held onto his shoulder.


    "That''s fine with me! EVE did a really good job with this song," sheplimented, giving the group a thumbs up.


    June smiled gratefully as the members'' moods began to rise. Again, they were still pretty disappointed that they didn''t achieve their main objective; however, a promoted B-side track wasn''t too bad either.


    "But, Mr. Ong¡ª" Ted tried to counter, but Minzy cut him off before he could even finish his statement.


    "I''ll talk to my father," Minzy said, shutting down the entire conversation.


    Ted pursed his lips and didn''t talk any further.


    Minzy then turned to the members of EVE and smiled.


    "Congrattions to all of you," she said. "It''s my first time hearing such aplete song made by a K-pop group. It''s impressive how I didn''t find anything I wanted to revise in your song."


    Jaeyong stood and bowed at her gratefully.


    "Thank you for giving the song a chance. We''ll make sure to give it a great performance during oureback season," he said.


    "Well, I should have asked this from the very beginning¡ªbut have you thought of a title for it?" she asked.


    Jaeyong turned to his members for confirmation before shaking his head.


    "It''s a work in progress," he honestly responded.


    Minzy nodded. "That''s alright. The title will be the least of your worries. The lyrics are already good, but I think you can make it even better. I like the cute, romantic aspects of it. I''m looking forward to seeing how you guys are going to perform it," she said.


    "Although I might not even be here to see it," she whispered, causing Jaeyong to lean closer.


    "What was that?" he asked.


    Minzy smiled and shook her head. "Nothing," she smiled. "The lyrics¡ªimprove it further."


    "That is duly noted," Jaeyong said, being one of the members who had experience in songwriting.


    "Well, I guess I''ll go now. I still have another schedule to attend."


    The other members of EVE stood and bowed to the talented producer as she left the room.


    Then, when she was a few meters away, she looked back to see if anyone was following her.


    When she saw that the coast was clear, she quickly changed her direction and went to Mr. Ong''s office instead.


    She opened the door and saw Mr. Ong, a.k.a. her dad, on his chair, spinning around like a lunatic.


    When he heard the familiar footsteps of his daughter, he quickly lifted his head, a wide smile emerging on his lips.


    "There''s my princess!" he eximed, opening his arms and rolling to where she was.


    However, Minzy quickly sat and anchored her legs under the table to escape her father''s grasp.


    Mr. Ong clicked his tongue and rolled to the front, intecing his fingers and cing them on top of the table instead.


    "Well, what can I do for you?" he asked, his voice still sounding excited despite the tant rejection from his child.


    "I did what you told me to do," Minzy said, making the atmosphere more serious.


    Mr. Ong''s smile turned into a smirk as he leaned against his chair.


    "The title track was already decided anyway. This will be Ted''s big break, I''m sure."


    Minzy sighed impatiently as she leaned closer to the table.


    "That''s not what I came here for. I want to see if you did as you promised."


    Mr. Ong clicked his tongue and brought out some papers from underneath the table.


    "You''re always in a rush to leave your father, aren''t you? You''re really just like your mom," he deadpanned.


    "Thank goodness," Minzy whispered, thankful that she took after her beautiful mom instead.


    She started reading the contents of the paper. Then, when she realized that her father had kept her word and severed her seven-year contract affiliation with Azure Entertainment, a loud sigh of relief escaped her lips.


    "You also look really happy to be leaving this ce," he noted.


    ''That''s because I am,'' Minzy thought.


    "Whatever," Mr. Ong brushed her off. "I already have a new head producer to rece you anyway¡ªTed. So, I guess your presence isn''t very needed in thepany anymore."


    "I don''t even get why you had to make me choose between the two of them anyway. It was already obvious that Ted''s song was going to be the title track anyway," Minzy deadpanned.


    "That, my dear, is business," Mr. Ong smiled.


    "EVE is a bunch of rowdy boys¡ªtoo rowdy, in my opinion. They always speak their mind, and they never want to settle for less. Somehow, they always seem to have an opinion."


    "That isn''t good as artists," he continued. "When you''re too free, you''re looking down on yourpany. So, I needed to make thempliant¡ªand what else would make them ept the result better than being judged by an acimed producer?" he smirked.


    Minzy shook her head in disbelief, standing from her seat.


    As always, her father merely used her to his advantage.


    "I''m going," she said, heading to the door.


    However, she halted when she heard her father''s words.


    "I know you gave EVE the privilege to use their song as the promoted B-side track," he started off.


    "What a naughty, naughty girl you are¡­very smart too. I tell you not to give them the title track position, but you give them the promoted B-side instead."


    "However, since I''m in a good mood, I''m letting this one go," he said, all humor leaving his voice. "Just think of it as my parting gift to you, my daughter."


    "EVE''s song," Minzy started off. "Watch out for it."


    Mr. Ong chuckled. "Watch out for what?" he asked. "I heard from Ted that it is very...very simple. Maybe, this will teach them a lesson. Their own insistence will lead to the downfall of that B-


    side track. Just wait and see."


    Minzy tried searching her mind for the answer. However, in the end, she kept silent.


    Even now, she still doesn''t know why she feels strange about the song.

 Chapter 496 Bloody Addicting

    <h4>Chapter 496 Bloody Addicting</h4>


    "In my heart....right here...right now," Ted muttered as he leaned his elbows against his knees.


    He was currently in the bathroom, trying to pass stool that had been stuck in his colon for the past three days. He held his breath as he felt it pushing out. However, it quickly went back in when he realized that he was singing EVE''s song.


    "Shit," he cursed, feeling wronged.


    "Why is that song stuck inside my head?" he eximed, frustrated in the office''s restroom.


    Meanwhile, Mari wasing up with newer, fresher lyrics for EVE''s chosen title track. She had taken Minzy''s suggestion more seriously, so she went ahead and wrote the lyrics right away.


    However, she couldn''t find the right words. She wanted to do her best for EVE since she was aiming for yet another sessfuleback.


    After a few seconds, some words appeared in her head.


    She quickly jotted them down, liking how it sounded in her mind.


    ''Cause I''m tongue-tied...and I''m hypnotized,'' she wrote.


    Then, she halted, looking at the familiar words with narrowed eyes.


    "This is...," she muttered, the tune suddenly resounding in her mind. She shook her head when she realized what she was currently writing.


    "Gosh, I can''t get their song out of my head."


    Minzy went to the mall to get herself a new bag for her recent freedom from her dad. A song was ying through the mall''s speakers, but she was humming another song under her breath¡ªone that hadn''t been released yet.


    She halted when she realized it was, indeed, the song that EVE had presented to her mere moments ago.


    Minzy shook her head to get rid of the song in her head.


    "Why is it still ying in my head?" she muttered before going on her way.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied..."


    "And I''m surprised..."


    "Every single time you look into my eyes..."


    "Yeah, you make me want to fly...."


    [Music Production Skills +1. Congrattions on earning a fifty work points.]


    [Current stat: S-]


    "Will you guys stop singing the song?" June asked as they sang the unreleased track in the car.


    At first, he felt proud because he wrote most of the lyrics of the chorus. Moreover, being able to upgrade it with his own hard work felt satisfying.


    However, his members sang it even when they talked to the choreographers, had lunch outside their dorm, had collective bathroom breaks (don''t ask them why), and now, as they were driving back to their dorm.


    "I can''t help that it''s so addicting, though," Jaeyong muttered.


    "Yeah, did we put a crack into that song or something?" Akira asked. "This is the first time in a while that I''ve been so fixated on a song."


    "You guys did a really great job," Jay said, giving the guys a thumbs up as he parked their car in front of their dorms.


    "We might not have reached our main objective, which is to have it as a title track, but I''m still d we can promote it alongside the title track. I''ll try to ask the higher-ups if we can make a special video about it once theeback seasones," Jay said.


    "You aren''t that useless after all!" Akira joked, saying it as a way to show appreciation for their manager.


    "Well, you better head up now. Tomorrow will officially start your untiring preparations for theeback," Jay said, chuckling.


    The boys were about to leave the car.


    "Oh, and before I forget, June''s drama is going to air its first episode tonight on YouWatch.?You guys might want to watch it," he smiled.


    The other boys, except for June, perked up with the thought of seeing one of their members on the big screen.


    "Can we not watch it?" June groaned.


    "Why not?" Jisung asked. "I''m sure you did a great job on it!"


    That wasn''t the issue for June.


    He hasn''t seen any clips yet, and he has stayed away from the trailers despite people hyping it up.


    He didn''t think it was particrly an issue with his acting but more that he was embarrassed seeing himself y another character.


    "Nobody''s going to watch it tonight," he warned the other members, causing them to slump in disappointment.


    "I know I won''t be missing it!" Jay chimed.


    With that, the members of EVE made their way back to their dorm.


    They talked happily amongst themselves, still ted with the fact that their song had been chosen to be promoted. Moreover, they were also excited about June''s drama.


    As they got near their door, however, June felt that something was...off.


    There wasn''t anything significantly out of ce, per se...except his shoes.


    June was very particr with his items. It would be linked back to the time in Rising Stars when he remembered his items getting disced because of that one loser on the show.


    Moreover, he was the cleanest member in the entire dorm.


    He wouldn''t leave his shoes just lying around the floor.


    As they walked inside, with the other members stillughing happily, June quickly made his way to his room.


    He twisted the doorknob and sighed in relief when he found it was still locked.


    However, his thoughts were cut off when he heard a shrill scream that seemed to havee from a little girl from the other side of the dorm.


    June''s fight or flight responses kicked in as he quickly made his way out to the sound of the scream.


    There, he saw Casper, who was standing still in front of his door.


    The other members started arriving, too, rmed by the sound.


    "Did that screame from you?" Akira asked, pointing at Casper.


    Casper merely stepped back, not responding to his question. That pretty much confirmed it, though.


    "What happened?" Sehun asked.


    Casper pointed to his room, so the oldest member took the courage to step inside.


    However, he cursed loudly and quickly made his way outside when he saw the scene before him.


    June frowned in confusion, wondering what could be there to have his teammates react as such.


    "If Sehun and Casper are scared of it, then I''m most likely sure I would be too," Jisung said.


    "Don''t worry," Akira patted his back. "Nobody''s expecting you to go in there."


    They turned to their leader but quickly looked away since they knew he was probably even more of a scaredy-cat than Jisung.


    So, naturally, they turned to June, one of their youngest members.


    June didn''t have to think twice.


    He entered the room without any hesitation.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed when he saw the scene before him.


    On the wall, in the middle of the room, there was a realistic ck cat taped on. Alongside it was big, red letters just right below.


    He went closer as his members peeked inside, gasping when they saw the situation in Casper''s room.


    June swiped his finger on the writing and frowned when it stained his hand.


    Then, he brought it to his nose to give it a whiff before turning back to his teammates.


    "It''s blood," June deadpanned.

 Chapter 497 All The Synonyms For Crazy

    <h4>Chapter 497 All The Synonyms For Crazy </h4>


    "He''s mine?" Akira scoffed. "What grade-schooler wrote such a threat on the wall?"


    Jisung shook his head. "Grade-schooler? You were shaking in fear a while ago."


    Akira pursed his lips since he couldn''t really refute Jisung''s words. He sat on the couch and waited for Casper to finish his call.


    As he went in, the members in the living room all turned to him.


    "Well?" Jaeyong asked. "Is Luther alright?"


    Casper nodded, relieved. "Thankfully, he''s safe in the house. It would be strange if the person who did this could enter our house. There''s a pupil recognition installed on the door for a reason."


    "Pupil recognition?" Ren asked. However, since it was Casper, he quickly brushed the thought away.


    It would honestly be weirder if Casper and his family had a normal lock in their house.


    Then, June arrived, wiping his hands on his pants as he went out of theundry room.


    "I already cleaned the blood," he said. "I also cleaned your sheets. I used soap and cold water so it would wash out without problem," he turned to Casper.


    June then crossed his arms before his chest, leaning against the couch like he had encountered this type of circumstance plenty of times before.


    News sh: he definitely has. He had to clean a lot of blood-stained clothes in his past life!


    Akira leaned closer to Jisung.


    "At times like this, I really feel like June was a psychopath in his past life," he whispered to Jisung.


    However, Akira definitely chose the best person to say that to.


    "What do you mean?" Jisung happily asked. "June is a bucket of sunshine and rainbows!"


    The two of them turned to June, who appeared deep in thought. His eyebrows were furrowed, his blonde hair a mess, and he looked to be plotting an evil n.


    Akira felt a shiver run down his spine. "Sure¡ªsunshine and rainbows."


    "Are we going to report this to the police?" Jaeyong suddenly asked. "I already told Jay."


    June clicked his tongue before shaking his head.?Alerting the authorities would only stray them further away from the suspect. Moreover, June was sure that people would still twist the story and show EVE in a negative light.


    June didn''t want that since they were getting close to their firsteback.


    "We can''t report an incident that we do not have proof of," he stated as an excuse.


    "Is Jay panicking now?"


    "Yeah," Jaeyong said. "He''s on his way."


    "Good," June said. "We should get him to force the security guard to show us the security footage of our dorm."


    Like someone in the upper universe had heard his statement, Jay busted through the dorms, panting heavily like he had just run a 21 km marathon.


    "Oh gosh. What happened to my boys?" he eximed, looking at them one by one with wide eyes, even going as far as shaking June''s figure just to get him to answer.


    "We''re fine," June sighed. "Someone broke into the apartment. We need to head to the security area to check the cameras and find out the intruder."


    Jay fervently nodded as he led the boys to the security area. Thankfully, they had a working CCTV camera outside the boys'' dorm. The security guard gave them time to look over the footage and went outside for a little while.


    June sat in the very middle and watched the footage that the security guard had pulled up. At first, it seemed like no one intruded into their home.


    "Why does it feel like nobody intruded, though?" Jaeyong muttered, not finding any signs of breakage.


    However, June expertly navigated through the footage until itnded on a suspicious moment.


    Then, he paused just as a person¡ªa woman entered into their room.


    "There," he said, narrowing his eyes at the suspect.


    The other members also leaned forward.


    "The cleaningdy?" Ren asked.


    June nodded. "She''s the only one who came into the room. No one else."


    "But someone could have gone up the windows," Akira pointed out.


    "That''s all the more reason that we could have found out about it. Climbing up our dorms will get her nuked right away," June countered.


    The other members nodded in agreement to June''s logic. Instances like these weren''t really umon in his past job, so he was confident it was her who did the crime.


    June yed the video once more, and there, they saw the housekeepingdy enter the room.


    June frowned as he looked for more footage in the security personnel''sputer. Then, his eyesnded on a familiarndscape¡ªtheir room hallway.


    He quickly yed the video and forwarded it to the same timeframe as that in the former footage.


    "We have cameras there?" Akira eximed, already thinking of the times we walked butt-naked in those very hallways.


    "Shh," all of his members shushed, causing him to feel even more embarrassed.


    However, he quickly reverted his focus back to the video as the housekeeper went to every room to clean it.


    Jisung felt a shiver run down his spine. "I can''t believe she went to my room, too."


    "Did you find something strange in your room?" June asked, not averting his eyes away from the screen.


    Jisung shook his head. "Not that I know of. I checked my room and didn''t find anything weird."


    "Me too," Sehun chimed. "It makes me wonder¡ªis she truly the one who did that to Casper''s room?"


    Just then, the housekeeper entered Casper''s room and came out looking the same as she did when she went out of the other rooms.


    Zeth narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, it makes me wonder. It really seems like she''s doing her own job. It just doesn''t feel like she has a vendetta against any of us. My room was also squeaky clean!"


    June shook his head at his teammates'' innocence.


    Of course, she looked normal.


    Most people got away with their crimes because they knew how to act calmly after the act.


    "Watch closely," June said, making all of them turn to theputer once more.


    There, they saw the woman in front of June''s door, appearing to be deep in thought. Then, she ced her hand over the doorknob and tried to open it. However, it didn''t budge at all.


    His members now turned to him.


    "You lock your doors?" Ren asked.


    June nodded. "My room is clean, unlike you guys. I didn''t want other people touching my stuff, so I took the measure of locking my door. Turns out, it was for a greater reason," June whispered.


    In front of June''s door, the woman''s movements were jerky, almost mechanical, as if she were a marite being manipted by unseen hands. Suddenly, something shifted in her demeanor, a subtle change that sent a shiver through those watching.


    She held onto both door knobs with her hands as her body shook rapidly, forcing June''s door to open. Strands of her hair escaped from its confines, framing her face in disarray. In the ck-and-white footage, she appeared wild, unhinged, and not the calmdy that she was just seconds ago.


    Then, she slowly raised her head. The crackle of static filled the air, adding to the ominous atmosphere.


    Her eyes, ck like the void, bore into the camera.


    "Alright, I take it back," Zeth said, closing his eyes since he felt a little bit of pee escape from him.


    "This woman is crazy."

 Chapter 498 Bad, Bad Company

    <h4>Chapter 498 Bad, Bad Company</h4>


    "Are you guys sure we shouldn''t call the police?" Jay asked, biting his lips in nervousness.


    The boys were now back in their dorms after nicking the footage from the security room and keeping it to themselves.


    June pursed his lips and thought about his next move. It was hasty for him to clean up the crime scene, but his past instincts kicked in before he could stop himself.


    You always clean up the crime scene.


    However, he was on the opposite spectrum now¡ªhe was a victim.


    June tossed his phone to Jay, revealing the multiple videos he took of the scene.


    "Here. You can also show them the video footage of the break-in."


    "I don''t know how the referral system works in thepany, but I''m guessing you need to speak with the higher-ups before reporting it.," he said.


    Jay pursed his lips. "Yeah," he sighed. "Anything that happens with you guys is to be reported to the higher-ups, or else I can lose my job."


    Aside from all the reasons he mentioned, this was the main reason why he was so hesitant to share such information.


    It didn''t take him long to realize that Azure wasn''t the bestpany out there. In fact, they weren''t even good. They were the type ofpany that didn''t care much about their artists'' well-being. BOYMYSTIC and GIRLS'' EVOLUTION were a testimony to that. They were famous because of their loyal fans, but they endured so much from thepany that it also hindered their growth.


    June could still remember Jordan''s story of when they were being chased by a crazy fan in their car but were only reprimanded for sneaking out past their curfew.


    "Let''s hope they do something," June sighed.


    However, he wasn''t hoping for anything at all.


    If thepany does nothing, then he''d take the matters into his own hands.


    "I still don''t get her message, though," Sehun said, pacing back and forth in the room.


    They were now in their dorms after nicking the footage from the security room and keeping it to themselves.


    "He''s mine?" Casper asked, also confused. "Are they saying that Luther is theirs? I haven''t even publicly revealed him yet. Now, I don''t know if I ever want to."


    "Who are they talking about then?" Zeth asked. "Did you do anything unusual? Maybe it''s a personal vendetta since she didn''t touch any of our things?"


    "That doesn''t exin why she went crazy after not being able to open June''s room, though," Ren remarked.


    June sighed, standing as he continued looking at the woman''s photo saved on his phone.


    It was blurry because of the shitty quality of the CCTV camera. There wasn''t a way to recognize her by the photo alone. Jay also called the housekeeping facility, but they said that they weren''t scheduled to clean EVE''s room today.


    So, for now, they didn''t have a clue about the woman''s identity.


    "You said she didn''t take anything, right?" June asked, standing before his teammates.


    "Yeah?" Zeth asked. "I''m not sure. There isn''t anything missing, right?"


    "There is," June calmly said. "She took my socks."


    The guys turned to each other with furrowed eyebrows, creeped out by their past, familiar trauma.


    "Oh gosh. Don''t tell me that it''s Chul in a wig," Jisung said, his face ghostly white.


    "It''s not," June said before his members started panicking. The picture wasn''t clear, but it was certain that the intruder was a woman.


    "It''s the person that has been following me for a while now," June exined, finally piecing the puzzle together.


    "What?" Jay eximed. "But I thought that was your cousin?"


    "In the beginning, I thought so, too," June said, his eyebrows furrowing. "But as I recalled it, my cousin''s only been following me on the day of the press conference. I''ve had a feeling of being followed even as far as the filming of Hate to Love You," he confessed.


    "So, the attack on Casper is because of¡­," Ren muttered.


    "Me," June nodded in acknowledgment.


    Akira snorted, causing the others to frown at him.


    "This isn''t funny," Ren deadpanned. "June''s life could be in danger¡­as well as ours."


    "Sorry," Akira sincerely apologized. "I just find it funny how a crazy fan is jealous of Casper, of all people. But yeah, we could die."


    Jay sighed, also panicking as he read a new text on his phone. "Oh gosh, what am I going to do? Mr. Ong just texted me and said to keep this matter to ourselves for now. He said that other artists go through worse things and that we should be used to it since it will be more rampant in the future."


    June smirked, already expecting such a response.


    "Goodness," Jaeyong said. "So, he''s telling us to forget about it?"


    "Yes," Jay confirmed. "I''m sorry, boys. I really need to keep this job. If it were up to me, I would have this sent to the FBI."


    And so, it seemed like June would really take matters into his own hands.


    "For now, don''t have anyonee into our room," June said. "Take the keys from the housekeeping facility too. Only have a spare key on you," he instructed Jay.


    "I could do that," Jay said.


    "We''ll be cleaning our own rooms for now," June warned. "If this dorm bes a pig sty again, then I''m going to start burning your clothes."


    His members nodded obediently.


    "Don''t go anywhere without telling Jay, and make sure to be wary of your surroundings," he continued.


    "Andstly¡­don''t trust people so easily now. Not even our fans," June said.


    The members looked at each other with hesitation before eventually agreeing.


    It was truly a cruel world out there.


    "Now, let''s all go and rest. We have to record the title track tomorrow and learn the choreography. We also have to finish our own song so we could forward it to the A&R team."


    "Yeah," Jay sighed. "You all had a long day. I''ll be here early tomorrow toe fetch you guys."


    "Good night, guys."


    "See you all tomorrow."


    "Can I stay with¡ª"


    "Yes, you can sleep in my room, Jisung."


    The members dispersed and went to their own rooms.


    June, too, stood and finally unlocked his door. Truly, there wasn''t anything out of ce, so he knew that the woman wasn''t able to break in.


    Then, as he walked to his window to open it and get some fresh air, Fu popped up before him.


    [Congrattions on your first crazy (literally) fan!]


    "Is that really something to congratte me about?" June muttered.


    [However, crazy fans are bad for your health!]


    [So, the system has a special mission for the host. The title of the mission is: Literally Crazy For You.]


    [Get rid of the crazy fan and have the chance to earn another skill!]


    [Skill at stake: Stage presence]


    [Deadline: 96 hours]


    [Failure to get rid of said fan will lead to a multiplication of crazy fans!]

 Chapter 499 First Episode

    <h4>Chapter 499 First Episode </h4>


    June didn''t know whether Fu was encouraging him to get rid of the fan or if he was praying on his downfall.


    Nheless, June was now really determined to get rid of the sasaeng fan after seeing the benefits and the punishment for his new mission.


    A tangible aspect of his stage presence would really be helpful, especially with their neweback just right around the corner. Moreover, the punishment of having a multitude of crazy fans seemed inhumane to him.


    "Fuck you, really," June sighed.


    [Hihi. Good luck!]


    June plopped down on his bed and covered his body with theforter. He was so caught up on everything happening that he nearly forgot he hadn''t been able to sleep for more than thirty hours now.


    So, even with the thoughts swirling around his mind, he was able to fall into a deep slumber only a few seconds after his head hit the pillow.


    ***


    June awoke with his phone going off at the speed of light. He jolted in his bed and assumed a fighting position but instantly calmed down when he realized that the sounds merely came from his phone.


    He frowned and quickly saw numerous texts on his lock screen.


    It made him think that Azure actually did something aboutst night''s incident, and that was why people were bombarding him and asking him if everything was alright.


    However, he was a fool to think that Azure was a goodpany. They most likely kept the incident to themselves because they didn''t want to show their ipetence to the public.


    Aside from that, he forgot quite an important aspectst night because of the crazy circumstances.


    Pablo (Do Not Interact): You were so yummy on Hate To Love Youst night! Can you please allow me to take pictures of you wearing a school uniform?


    Hana: It was a bit cringy at times, but good job nheless! Call me when you need more acting advice.


    Little Brother (Still a Devil): I puked three times, but my girl ssmates can''t help talking about you. So, good job, I guess. By the way, do you know Yunha? She keeps asking me about you, and it''s annoying.


    Jordan: Great job on Hate To Love You, man! The boys loved it, too (even Nico, even though he didn''t want to say it). We thought of watching it with you guys, but we heard strange sounds in your dorms, so we decided to leave you guys alone for now.


    Uno: Good.


    Jay (Crazy #1): I feel like I''ll squeal when we meet again. Kyah, it''s June!


    Arin: Hey. You still haven''t replied to myst message. Treat me to a meal since the show did really well.


    Mari: You did really, really great! All of the producers in thepany already like the show.


    Grandma: Come by for a meal with my olddy friends. Some of them don''t believe that you''re my grandson!


    Jangmoon (Crazy #2): Bro, we haven''t spoken in a while, but I just want to say you did a good job out there. I''m doing my own thing for now, and you''re inspiring me to do even better. By the way, how''s Jay doing? I heard he''s pestering you until now. p the back of his head for me, will you?


    June, despite feeling wired since he nearly forgot that his very first drama aired its first episodest night, smiled as he scrolled through the messages. These were the people he met all throughout his journey, and although they all had their quirks that made June want to ignore them most of the time (except for Grandma, of course), he was still very thankful that they supported him for this project.


    While he was in his bed, he decided to check thements too.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw it was in the trends list with more than a hundred thousand posts.


    - I thought June wasn''t going to pull it off, but he actually did. Kudos to June.


    - Now, everyone will swallow their words about June''s acting. My man''s shining!


    - I''m an acting major, and June didn''t really do a good job. His face did all of the work, if we''re being honest.


    - A role like this isn''t even that hard. You just have to be handsome and be able to talk. June has both of those, so it would be embarrassing if he can''t even pull the role off.


    - All I''m hearing is that you find June handsome.


    - Here we go again with people downying June''s skills. Have we not learned from all the times he had proven us wrong?


    - I''m afraid people like them will continue to multiply now that June and EVE are bing more popr.


    - Yummy, yummy June. I licked my screen plenty of times, and now it smells like saliva!


    - I can''t wait for the next episodes. I''m not even a fan of June or EVE, but I just watched because I really liked the webtoon. Good job to the team since they captured the essence of it. I was giddy in my seats all throughout!


    - But guys¡­are we not going to talk about the obvious¡­


    thing?


    - Oh, the obvious thing? Yes, please. Let''s talk about it.


    June''s smile widened as he scrolled through thements. Despite the inevitable hatements that he was honestly used to, there were also lots of fans and even non-fans who supported him. He was a bit confused with thest fewments he read, but he inferred that it was something about the webtoon, so he brushed it off.


    Having had enough of reading, June went out of the room and saw his members all awake. It was strange since he was usually the first person to be awake. However, when he saw his drama ying on the screen, with the members'' eyes glued to it like moths to the me, he finally realized what was going on.


    The scene where Jin and Nayeon were bickering in the pool was currently showing, and the part where June fell to the pool hadmenced.


    The members hadn''t realized his presence just yet because they were so enamored with the scene.


    "No!" Casper eximed. "Why did she push June into the pool?"


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "She''s just as annoying in the webtoon, so the actress did a great job¡ª"


    His words were cut off when June rose from the pool, revealing his figure. The editors exaggerated his handsomeness by adding a slow-motion effect and subtle ''glittery'' color-grading.


    June sighed and was about to cover the screen since he didn''t want his members to see him all wet.


    However, he halted when Akira suddenly eximed.


    "Holy bulge!"

 Chapter 500 Big Boy

    <h4>Chapter 500 Big Boy</h4>


    So....


    That ''thing'' that people were talking about was actually his bulge.


    He dropped his phone to the ground, in shock of what he was seeing.


    His teammates weren''t fazed by the sound and kept their eyes on the screen.


    The editing team really milked out the footage as they even panned the camera from June''s face to his bulge.


    "Are we sure this is family friendly?" Akira asked, not being able to tear his eyes away.


    Then, as it panned up to his face, June''s light brown eyes reflected the clear, blue waters, causing them to look more seductive. Afterward, a shot of him running his fingers through his hair was inserted, and the romantic outro started ying, increasing his handsomeness by a thousand points,


    "Again! Again!" Casper eximed.


    Akira followed hismand earnestly as he went ahead and reyed the scene.


    June saw the translucent trajectory above the video bar, and there he saw that it was the most reyed scene in the entire video.


    Akira fumbled, though, and he identally exited the video, showing the current views that the episode had.


    June''s eyes widened when he saw that the episode nearly had two million views.


    Two million people saw his bulge.


    It was only uploadedst night, yet so many people had watched it already.


    Jisung turned around and saw June standing behind them with an agape mouth.


    "June. You''re here?" he eximed, genuinely not knowing that June was watching from the very beginning.


    "Did you know? Your bulge is trending online!" Jisung added with a wide smile.


    June was still yet to recover from the shock. When he saw the word ''Bulge'' on the trends list along with the drama name this morning, he didn''t think much about it.


    However, in the end, it was about him.


    Just then, the door burst open, showing Jay who appeared like he didn''t get any sleep.


    However, once he saw June, he brightened up, a wide smile appearing on his face.


    "There''s our big bulge boy!" he greeted, patting June on the back as he sat with the members of EVE.


    June cringed once he heard his nickname.


    He thought ''ball boy'' was the worst, but now, it seemed like another nickname took the cake.


    "Were you erect¡ª"


    "We''re not going to be talking about that," June said, ring at his members and finally closing the topic.


    He sat along with his members, his eyebrows still furrowed in case someone brought up the topic again.


    Thankfully, it seemed like they weren''t going to bring it up anymore, so he eased his expression.


    "Why are you here so early again?" Jaeyong asked. "We were about to head to the recording studio."


    "Like June saidst night, you guys shouldn''t leave the dorm without my guidance," Jay said. "Besides, I have some good and bad news for you guys."


    "Hit us with the bad news first," Zeth groaned.


    "Well, as I had predicted, the higher-ups of Azure doesn''t want the matter with the sasaeng being broadcasted to the public. They said that it wasn''t good publicity for theeback."


    June thought like so in the beginning, too. However, now that he thought about it, not only will it shed light on the issue and possible help halt it, but it would also direct the public''s attention to them, which was going to serve as publicity for their uingeback.


    "Is that really the reason?" June inquired. "Isn''t Azure a fan of publicity no matter what form or shape it takes?"


    The other members nodded in agreement.


    Jay sighed. "That''s what they said. But I think its deeper than that. Since it concerns one of their esteemed buildings, they don''t want the public knowing that the security of their artists in the dorms are shitty. In the end, I feel like they don''t want their ipetence to be shown to the public."


    "That''s what I think too," June said.


    "What''s the good news then?" Sehun asked, already feeling bummed.


    "Well, it seemed like they felt bad for you after I showed them the footage of what happened and the extent of its damage, so they decided to set up your very first fan meeting!" Jay eximed.


    The members'' eyes widened since they didn''t expect the news at all.


    "Really?" Ren eximed. "At this point of time?"


    Aside from their music show and debut stage, they haven''t gotten the chance to have an intimate meeting with their fans.


    "It has been in the talks for a while now, but thepany pushed it back due to your appearance on King of Kings. However, now that you''re free, they believe it''ll be good to meet your fans up close!"


    "The people who bought the most albums will be the ones invited to the fansign!"


    ***


    The boys were gathered in a small conference hall, only able to hold about fifty people.


    The fans who bought the most albums were lined up outside, armed with their albums, banners, and expensive photocards.


    Jia looked around and sighed when she saw plenty of June''s photocards slung on people''s bags. She was still bitter after getting a nk photocard despite buying more than fifty albums.


    Still, it brought good luck, though.


    Just not to her.


    "Make sure to get his signature, okay?" Jia said, massaging Bora''s shoulders as she settled at the very back.


    "Yes," Bora sighed. "I''m going to ask for all of their signatures anyway."


    "Get an extra one just for me," Jia insisted. "I know you''re going to keep June''s signature to yourself too."


    "You''re not wrong about that," Bora smiled. "Fine, I''ll get an extra one for you. You should have used your ount to buy all those albums. Then, you could have been the one in my ce right now."


    "You have the most money in your ount," Jia remarked.


    "You''re not wrong about that," Bora repeated.


    "I don''t even know why you''re longing for his signature when he knows you," Bora said. "By the way, you still haven''t told us how you guys met."


    Jia sighed, ignoring hertter statement. "It''s different. I''m still a fan despite him knowing my identity."


    Bora patted her back and smiled at her pitifully.


    "Such a good fan you are. Other fans would die for June to know them. They''d probably exploit the fact, too. I know I would."


    Jia shook her head. "You definitely wouldn''t. We''re decent people no matter how judgmental we are."


    "That''s what judgmental people say to make them feel better about themselves," Bora deadpanned.


    "Oh, shut up, let us have this moment," Jia said.


    "To all the fansigning participants, please proceed inside. Keep a straight line and follow your seating arrangement," an employee said as she peeked her head outside.


    "That''s our cue," Bora said.


    "Don''t forget¡ª"


    "Yes, yes," Bora smiled. "I''ll get his signature."


    "Good," Jia said. "Have fun out there!"


    The line started moving and Bora went in along with the other participants.


    Jia sighed and smiled happily as Bora made her way inside. Instead of feeling jealous, she felt quite happy to see her friend meet her most favorite idols.


    She just wished she could have gone with her, but it was still a happy moment.


    Jia was about to leave, but halted when she suddenly smelled a familiar scent.


    "It''s that stale scent again," she muttered.


    "It seems like its following me wherever I go."

 Chapter 501 Fansign Escapades

    <h4>Chapter 501 Fansign Escapades </h4>


    "Alright, boys," Jay pped excitedly. "I know you didn''t have much time to prepare for the fansign because it was only announced two days ago, but don''t worry too much and just enjoy it. You don''t have to perform in front of them today. Just act like you''re interacting with your friends."


    "However, be sure to stay professional. These are still your fans," he quickly added.


    "Got it," Jaeyong nodded, already having discussed this with his membersst night.


    "Now, go out there and have fun," Jay said, urging the members to go to the stage.


    Despite their excitement, they were still a little bit nervous since this was the first time they were going to be interacting with their fans in such close proximity.


    As Jaeyong led their group to the stage, muffled screams were heard in the small conference room.


    The members waved at their fans, and even June, who wasn''t a huge aficionado of fanservice, smiled at them.


    It was strange how June could now see their faces up close. Unconsciously, he started looking for a familiar face in the room. All throughout his journey as an idol, there was one person who always seemed to support him.


    Cindy''s daughter.


    June searched for Jia''s face in the crowd, kind of hoping that she would be there.


    He sighed softly when he realized that the girl wasn''t in the room. She probably wasn''t fortunate enough to be chosen along with the fifty fans.


    "Why don''t we sit down?" Akira eximed, acting as the host for their intimate fansigning event.


    The astras couldn''t help but gush at everything the boys did. Even when they were just sitting down and ying with the propsid out on the table, they couldn''t help but find them cute.


    "Thank you foring here despite the short notice," Jaeyong said. "I know that some of you still came from far ces."


    "It''s all worth it!" a girl at the back shouted, causing the group to chuckle in amusement.


    "Well, before we start with the fansigning event, allow us to greet you first," Jaeyong said before starting their group introduction.


    "Shoot to the Top! Hi, we''re LEVEL-UP!" the group eximed in unison.


    The room was filled with cheers once again.


    After their greeting,pany personnel went to their positions so the boys could start the event.


    Fansign events were typically intimate events where fans get their albums signed by their favorite artists. Event-goers are picked on a lottery basis, where the fans who bought the most albums would be included in the roster.


    It was a time for fans to have their albums or goodies signed, converse with idols for a short time, ask them for general favors, get a little bit of spoilers for their uing projects, and even get a chance to give them gifts based on thepany''s policy!


    Each fan was given exactly thirty seconds with each member, and they would go to another member afterward. Once all members had been met, they would go back to their seats and wait until all other fans were finished.


    It was a pretty simple concept, but many fans would die for an opportunity.


    The fansign officially started as the first girl kneeled in front of Sehun. They were inversely arranged by their final ranking on Rising Stars, so June sat at the very end next to Zeth.


    "Have you done this before?" June asked Zeth, who was excitedly bouncing his knees under the table.


    "Of course," Zeth boasted. "I held mini-fan meetings even when I was in high school."


    June rolled his eyes and yed with the pen in his hands.


    Finally, the first girl arrived before June, and he saw Casper''s photocards disyed on almost all of her belongings.


    "I see you like Casper," June said, signing the album as he started a casual conversation.


    "Don''t worry," the girl winked. "I like you and Casper together much, much better."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as the girl stood just as the timer went off.


    Alright, that was weird.


    The next girl sat in front of him with trembling fingers. She handed June her album, but it clumsily fell from her hands, causing Zeth''s drink to topple over.


    "Oops!" she eximed with wide eyes, her hands shaking even more aggressively.


    June calmly asked the personnel for some paper towels while he signed her album.


    "Don''t sweat about it," June reassured the nervous fan. "It''s alright."


    "T¡ªThanks," she stammered, standing from the seat to give way for the next person.


    However, it seemed like her nervousness still shone through as her legs bumped into the long table, causing it to be disced. The other members'' drinks toppled over, causing yet another mini-disaster.


    The girl profusely apologized as she zoomed out of the stage. The personnel behind June sighed in frustration as he instructed the other personnel to clean up the mess brought by the girl.


    However, June continued to gaze at the fan to reassure her that it was all alright.


    June could only imagine her nervousness on seeing her idols in real life, so he wasn''t too mad about it.


    He wasn''t going to lie¡ªit was still pretty strange, though.


    Truth be told, almost all of the fans he met just now were a bit weird.


    A familiar-looking girl with bangs and red highlights sat before him with a cool expression.


    "Sup, June!" she casually greeted, even dappering him up naturally.


    "What''s up?" June greeted in an unsure tone.


    "Can you sign two albums for me, yeah?" Bora asked. "The other one''s for Jia."


    June perked up with the mention of the familiar girl.


    "Jia? You''re friends with her?" June asked.


    Bora nodded. "Yeah," she smiled. "Write something sweet for her, won''t you?"


    June chuckled at the young woman''s proactiveness. June wrote two letters¡ªone for Jia and one for herself¡ªbefore handing them back.


    Then, Bora brought something out of her pocket and slid it over to June.


    "Here, by the way," she whispered. "Here''s her number in case you want to use it," she winked.


    However, before it could even reach June, the personnel had already captured it and ced it in his back pocket, shaking his head in disapproval.


    Bora clicked her tongue and stood from the chair.


    "Party pooper," she stuck her tongue out at the personnel. Afterward, she coolly waved at June before leaving the stage.


    "Our fans are really¡­special," June muttered, a small smile on his face.


    Then, a seemingly normal-looking boy sat before him. June smiled at him as he signed his album. From his initial approach, it seemed like June finally met a normal fan.


    However, as the boy lifted his sleeve and showed his inked skin, June realized that a normal astra might not exist in this universe.


    "June, look!" the boy excitedly eximed. "I have your face tattooed on my arm."

 Chapter 502 Never Ever

    <h4>Chapter 502 Never Ever</h4>


    For once, June was at a loss for words.


    It seemed like his own reflection stared back at him as the boy''s tattoo continued to be exposed.


    June quickly instructed him to bring his sleeve down, which, fortunately, the boy followed without anyint.


    "Do you like it?" the boy excitedly asked.


    June pursed his lips and nodded despite feeling weird. "It''s very¡­realistic," June said.


    "Right? I had a really good tattoo artist do it, so it feels like you''re with me all the time!"


    "Aren''t you going to regret it?" June pried. "Especially in the next few years or so?"


    "Nope!" the boy eximed. "I''m in this astra shit for life, baby!"


    With his tant cursing, the boy was then escorted off the stage.


    June heaved a sigh as they were given a short break before proceeding with thest ten fans in the audience.


    June lifted his head and saw the giddy expressions of the fans that were up next. However, there was one certain person who couldn''t be read. In fact, it felt like she couldn''t even be seen. She had a bucket hat on, and her eyes were covered by it. Along with that, she was wearing a ck mask.


    It almost seemed like she was the celebrity among the two. If it weren''t for some of her long ck hair peeking through her bucket hat, it would even be difficult to determine whether she was a woman or a man.


    Just then, she stood, causing June''s frown to deepen since they were going to resume the fansign any minute now. He followed her figure and saw that she was heading to the restrooms. June grew more curious about the mysterious girl, feeling like something was off.


    However, his thoughts were interrupted when a personnel suddenly approached them with a bag of drinks, all with their names on it.


    "Sweet!" Akira eximed. "I''ve been feeling thirsty since our drinks toppled over," he joked, even ncing at the fan who knocked over their drinks.


    Nheless, Akira didn''t make her feel like she was the one at fault. Instead, he even joked about it.


    "Don''t worry. None of us are mad!" he chimed. "In fact, I bet Ren''s very thankful since you gave him the opportunity to wash himself. He hasn''t been able to do that for a while now!"


    The members of EVE, as well as the fans in the audience, chuckled at Akira''s wit. Ren, however, merely shook his head in annoyance, already used to Akira''s behavior.


    Akira distributed the drinks to the members, and June grimaced when he saw that he was given a pure Iced Americano.


    He didn''t want to look stuck-up, but almost all of the employees in theirpany knew that June didn''t like bitter things. Sure, he liked a lot of vegetables, but drinks were another story.


    He was a sweet tooth at heart, so he would prefer getting frappucinos and other sweet drinks rather than a in Americano.


    "Who got this for us?" June asked out of the blue, suddenly feeling curious.


    "I don''t know," Zeth shrugged. "Probably one of the employees."


    Probably one of the employees.


    June watched as Zeth ced the straw in between his lips, about to take a sip. However, June''s eyes widened when he realized that there was something wrong with Zeth''s statement.


    If it was one of the employees, then they would know that June didn''t like bitter drinks. Only people who knew him on the surface level would get him such a drink.


    June pped Zeth''s drink away from his hands and spoke in a resolute voice.


    "Don''t drink it."


    The chattering in the hall immediately stopped as soon as June said those words.


    Fortunately, it seemed like his members had only drank a small portion or were in the process of preparing their drink¡­


    ¡­except for one person.


    Akira''s eyes widened as he looked at his half-empty Americano in his hand.


    "Don''t drink it?" he muttered.


    Just then, he doubled over in pain, holding onto the table as he couldn''t take the feeling in his stomach.


    The members stood to aid Akira while amotion was created in the fans'' section, wondering what was happening. Some of them attempted to film the happenings, but the personnel acted quickly and forbade them from taking videos.


    They quickly controlled the damage by shutting the curtains and escorting the fans out of the venue. Meanwhile, the members were still in distress as they tried to find out what was wrong with Akira.


    "Take him to the hospital quickly," June firmly instructed. Jaeyong nodded and carried Akira with the help of the other members.


    "Careful! Careful!" Akira shouted as they escorted him to their car.


    Meanwhile, June stayed behind, looking in the direction of the restroom.


    "Aren''t you going to join us?" Jay called out.


    "Text me the address of the hospital," June quickly said. "I''ll follow after you guys."


    "What?" Jay exasperatedly asked. "It would be dangerous for you to be here on your own!"


    June shook his head, giving Jay a reassuring smile.


    "I can handle myself," he resolutely said, leaving Jay no choice but to believe his words.


    "Alright," he caved in. "But make sure you meet us at the hospital in less than an hour. If not, I''m calling the police. I don''t care if I have to get fired."


    "You won''t get fired," June said.


    With that, he ran in the direction of the restroom¡ªwhere he was sure the strangedy had gone a few moments ago.


    June didn''t realize it at first, but the more he stared at her, the more he realized why he seemed familiar.


    He had seen her a total of four times.


    One at the meat ce when they celebrated the end of their filming for Hate to Love You.


    Another was when he was on his way home from Minjun''s and Grandma''s ce.


    The third one was her hysterical episode in their dorm room, which was caught by the CCTV camera.


    And the fourth one was now.


    June burst through the girls'' bathroom to catch a glimpse of her but frowned when he saw that it was empty.


    However, at the corner of the room, where the soap and hand dryer were, was a yellow material that seemed to have fallen.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he picked up the item.


    Then, a small smirk appeared on his lips.


    There was another rule he always followed when he was a part of the White Tiger gang¡ªnever ever leave traces of your identity.


    However, this time, it seemed like the culprit made a grave mistake in doing so.

 Chapter 503 Akira’s Noble Problem

    <h4>Chapter 503 Akira''s Noble Problem </h4>


    "Thankfully, it appears to just bexatives," the doctor said once all of Akira''s diagnostics were in.


    "Thankfully?" Akira eximed, offended.


    Ren hit Akira''s shoulder. "He''s just saying you should be thankful it''s justxatives. You could have died with rat poison or something."


    "Well, being drugged withxatives is still not the most fun, is it? I felt like I''ve pooped a month''s worth," Akirained.


    "And that''s why you''re going to stay here for at least a night until the effects of the medicine subsides. We don''t want you getting dehydrated," the doctor chimed.


    Akira pouted, looking at his members. "Will you all stay with me?" he said with wide, hopeful eyes.


    "Only two visitors are allowed in the room," the doctor said.


    The members turned to each other, not really wanting to stay in the hospital.


    Jaeyong sighed, feeling responsible for his member. "Fine, I''ll stay."


    "Jaeyong," Akira fake-sobbed.


    "I''ll stay too," Jay said. "Although I would have to go back and forth from thepany to here to report what had happened. I''m sure the fans are already specting about what''s happening."


    "We''re going to be left alone?" Zeth excitedly asked, his hands already shaking in excitement.


    Jay quickly turned to Sehun and pointed a finger at him.


    "Sehun, act as their guardian while the both of us aren''t around," Jay instructed.


    The oldest member chuckled but nodded nheless.


    Just then, June entered the room, causing Jay to sigh in relief.


    "Oh, thank goodness you''re here. Your hour was about to expire," Jay said, walking over to June and patting his back.


    "Yeah, it''s all good," June said, stroking the evidence in his front pocket. "I had one of the personnel drive me here."


    "That''s good," Jay said, relieved that June didn''t encounter any trouble. "Well, Akira needs to stay here for the night to rehydrate. It seems like someone really did drug your drinks withxatives¡­except for yours," he quickly added.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, as did the other members.


    "Except for June''s?" Casper asked. "Then, does that mean that the person behind this doesn''t have a personal vendetta against him like we had originally thought?"


    "Maybe," Jay said, biting his lip. "Or maybe she''s obsessed about June to the point that she wants to hurt everyone who gets close to him."


    June felt a stinging pain in his chest after Jay verbalized those words.


    If that was true, then he needed to get rid of the crazy fan as soon as possible¡­


    ¡­before more of his teammates got hurt.


    "For now, I''m going to thepany to ask them to have this matter investigated," Jay said, already feeling dreadful. "I''ve texted another employee to bring you back to your dorms, so rest well. Tomorrow''s a new day, and we can''t afford you guys getting hurt."


    Sehun nodded. "I''ll bring these guys back safe and sound."


    "Thanks, Sehun," Jay said, giving his shoulder a squeeze before leaving the hospital room.


    "Should we head back, too?" June asked, already wanting to get to the bottom of this.


    "Yeah," Sehun nodded. "We''ll see the two of you tomorrow," he said to Jaeyong and Akira.


    The two of them nodded. "Don''t have too much fun without me!" Akira eximed, causing the members to chuckle in amusement.


    June, too, smiled in relief. It was a relief that Akira was still okay despite being drugged withxatives. Nheless, if this certain person was capable of the things she had done, then June believed she wouldn''t hesitate to do more.


    As they turned to leave the room, June noticed a white figure in the corner of the room.


    He stepped back in surprise, looking into the familiar man''s eyes.


    "Were you here the whole time, Dr. Oh?"


    Dr. Oh smiled. "I''ve been waiting for you, June!"


    ***


    "I swear, that doctor must be obsessed with you or something," Zeth said as soon as they arrived at their dorms.


    "Yeah," Ren agreed. "And what does he mean by a human experiment?"


    June ignored their words and went to his room. His members were a bit confused, but all shrugged since it was June. Getting ignored by June was something they were already used to!


    June entered his room and locked the door before bringing out the IDce from his front pocket.


    "Y university," June muttered, clenching it in his fingers.


    Unfortunately, the IDce didn''t contain an identification card. Instead, it had a photocard of him and a Proid of what seemed to be a young woman. It appeared to have been taken in the middle of the night, so her features were washed out.


    It honestly appeared like a blurry picture of Jeff the Killer.


    Nheless, despite the awful quality of the picture, June could tell that the woman was the one that had been following him for the past few weeks.


    It wasn''t definitive evidence, but at least he already had a lead.


    The only problem was how he could find ande into contact with this person. If only he had some of his investigator friends in his past life, then everything would definitely be easier.


    He could also try talking to thepany to get them to find this girl, but June was certain that they still weren''t going to do anything at this point.


    June sighed and sat on his bed, raking his fingers through his hair.


    He yed with the IDce in his hand but stopped when he caught a whiff of his fingers.


    His eyebrows furrowed as he dropped it to the ground.


    "Smells like grease and staleundry," he said.


    June observed the IDce from afar and felt that it was familiar


    ¡ªlike he had seen it just today.


    Then, that was when it hit him.


    The cool girl with red highlights was wearing the exact samenyard during the fansign!


    June remembered the girl saying she was friends with a certain someone, and that was when June realized what he had to do.


    He quickly brought out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number he didn''t expect he would dial anymore after Rising Stars came to an end.


    It rang a few times before somebody finally picked up from the other side.


    "Hello?" she hesitatingly asked.


    "Hello, Cindy?"

 Chapter 504 Y University

    <h4>Chapter 504 Y University</h4>


    Jia paced back and forth after her mom informed her that June wanted to meet at Azure''s building.


    She was a bit hesitant to believe her mom at first, but Jia felt the sincerity behind her words.


    It was almost impossible to believe that June, out of all people, would like to see her on a random Thursday! However, she held onto her mom''s words, and came to the building right away.


    It was after lunch, and Jia had a ss in a few minutes. However, she decided not to attend.


    Who cares about her ss when June was expecting her?


    She was currently in her mom''s office, waiting for the handsome idol to arrive. She paced back and forth to calm her palpitating heart, but it was no use. Just the thought of seeing June was enough to send her into cardiac arrest!


    It seemed almost surreal since she was just wishing to attend the fansigning event this morning.


    Luck was definitely on her side since she was going to have an exclusive fanmeet right about now!


    After a few minutes, the door finally opened, revealing the handsome, most honorable, most loveable man in the world¡ªJune.


    Jia felt her knees buckle, but she held herself up using her mom''s table.


    "You''re here," he smiled, the action instantly brightening up the room. "Don''t you have ss?" he asked.


    "I do," Jia mindlessly said.


    June scratched the back of his head. "Oh, sorry for being an interruption."


    ''Don''t say sorry, Pookie!'' Jia eximed in her mind.


    However, she wanted to keep her cool, so she smiled shakily and shook her head. "It''s no worries," she said. "We don''t have anything important to do right now anyway."


    They definitely did.


    They had a quiz on a particr subject, but then again, it wouldn''t really matter if Jia missed it. She was already passing with flying colors! She can miss a ss for June any time!


    "So, uh, why did you call for me?" Jia hesitatingly asked.


    Maybe he wanted to have a muse for theireback.


    Or maybe he realized that he was irrevocably in love with her since she had been there for him since the very beginning?


    Jia shook her head to get rid of such delusions and turned earnest when she saw June''s serious expression.


    "Is¡­there anything wrong?" she asked with hesitation.


    "Umm, I know this might be too big of a favor to ask, but I don''t know who else to approach. I believe you''re the only one who could help me with this."


    Jia pursed her lips, feeling touched that June even remembered her.


    "Of course," she said. "I''m d to help you¡ªas long as it''s not illegal," she joked, chuckling at her own words. However, she quickly halted when she saw that June''s expression was still serious.


    Oh.


    Oh.


    Jia started panicking internally. Was June going to ask her to do something illegal?


    She thought hard about it. Well, if it wasn''t something immoral, then she could definitely help. But is there an illegal, moral thing? Maybe? Like Robin Hood or something?


    "Oh, it''s not illegal," June quickly rified, seeing the panicked look on Jia''s face.


    Jia visibly rxed.


    "Well, it''s not technically illegal. There''s not aw that forbids it. However, the school might have rules against it," June added.


    "Can you tell me more about it?" she asked.


    June nodded. "Have you seen the rumors this morning?"


    "About the fansign?" Jia asked. "Yeah, I read something about it on Navel. It''s from the famous blogger called MinMin or something. Have you heard about him?"


    June hid his smile as he nodded. "Yeah, he writes really good articles."


    Jia nodded in agreement. "I was immersed when I was reading his article. However, it seems like it has been taken down quickly after it was posted."


    June frowned and quickly opened his phone. He wasn''t aware of this matter, so he checked Minjun''s page.


    Indeed, the article, which had over ten thousand reactions when he first saw it, had been deleted.


    However, it seemed like people were still specting about it.


    - Have you guys heard? EVE encountered some trouble during their first fansign this morning.


    - What? What happened? I don''t see any articles about it.


    - That blogger, MinMin, posted about it a while ago, but it was quickly taken down. I wasn''t able to save it.


    - Me too. Other reliable news outlets are also not reporting it. Maybe it really didn''t happen.


    - I was one of the people who won in the fansign. It was also unclear what had happened, but the boys were given drinks, and after a few seconds, June told his members not to drink it. However, Akira, being the silly little rat he is, had already downed more than half of his drink. Then, his stomach started hurting, and before we knew it, we were being escorted out of the room!


    - Proof or it didn''t happen.


    - Are we just going to ignore the fact that he called Akira a silly little rat?


    - My proof? I''m June''s biggest fan! Visit my page, and you''ll see that I have his face tattooed on my arm!


    June shook his head as he ced his phone back into his pocket.


    "Truth be told, I feel like somebody''s been following me for a while now," June confessed.


    Jia frowned, feeling her protective instincts kick in.


    "Who? What? Where? Why?" she continuously eximed before she could stop herself.


    June chuckled and patted her shoulder, causing her cheeks to turn into the color of ripe tomatoes.


    "Calm down," he said with a smile. "I was hoping to answer those questions with your help."


    Jia nodded, now more enthusiastic than ever. At first, she was hesitant to help June since it entailed breaking the rules of her university. However, now, she could do anything if it meant safekeeping June!


    "I already have a hunch on who has been following me," June started off, bringing out Y University''snyard from his front pocket.


    "That''s¡ª"


    June nodded before Jia could finish her statement.


    "I found this in the restroom of the conference hall where he had our fansign. I believe this belongs to the culprit."


    Jia''s gaze turned serious.


    "What do you need me to do?"


    "Can you sneak me into your school?"

 Chapter 505 Stale Girl

    <h4>Chapter 505 Stale Girl </h4>


    Jia and June were currently in their house, alone in one room.


    "Make sure it''s unlocked!" Cindy eximed from the kitchen. "On another note, don''t even close the door."


    Jia''s face reddened as her mom''s voice resonated in the entire house.


    "We got it, Mom!" she shouted back, wanting nothing but to crawl into a hole and die there.


    How could her mom say those words when June was right in front of Jia?


    "Maybe Cindy wants toe inter, so she wants us to keep the door open," June innocently said, causing Jia to halt.


    Alright, maybe it wasn''t too bad since June didn''t get what her mom was insinuating.


    Jia merely nodded as she opened her dad''s closet.


    They were currently in her parents'' room, looking for clothes that would make June less¡­June.


    However, no matter how many clothes Jia had him try, he still looked like a handsome, dazzling idol.


    "Ugh, this isn''t working. You still look very handsome," she muttered, hoping June wouldn''t hear it.


    However, unfortunately for her, June heard her crystal clear.


    "So, you think I''m handsome?" he asked, looking into her eyes.


    Jia''s already-red face reddened even more, so she stepped back and cleared her throat, allowing her face to cool down.


    "Everybody would think that," she nervously chuckled. "People who don''t think you''re attractive have serious problems."


    June chuckled loudly, finding the girl amusing. Then, he went ahead and started looking for something that would disguise him really well.


    At the very back of Jia''s parents'' closet, he saw a rainbow-colored sweater that would most likely swallow his whole figure. Then, he saw a bunny hat¡ªthe ones you press and its ears would automatically go up. Afterward, he also saw a red scarf, simr to what a popr pop star wore on one of her albums.


    He hurriedly ced the items on, looking at himself in the mirror and nodding when he saw it was the best out of everything he tried. He messed up his hair and put on some sses, making him look more unrecognizable.


    Then, he turned around to show Jia the final product.


    Well, he definitely didn''t look like himself anymore.


    "How does it look?" June cutely asked, making Jia swallow her words.


    "You look¡­great," she said through a fake smile.


    "Right?" June smiled. "I almost couldn''t recognize myself."


    "Me too," Jia chuckled.


    June nodded in approval, cing his hands inside the pockets of the rainbow sweater.


    However, he felt something inside one of its pockets. He frowned and brought out the stic packet.


    There, he saw another rainbow material.


    Jia''s eyes widened as she quickly took it away from her hands.


    "Well, I''m happy that your mom and dad have a healthy nightlife."


    Jia groaned in embarrassment, face-palming in the process.


    "Please, let''s just go."


    ***


    June and Jia finally arrived at the campus, and with a little convincing, they were able to make the guard believe that June was an exchange student who was yet to receive his identification card.


    As the two of them walked around, June felt the scrutinizing stares of the students.


    June nudged Jia''s shoulder, causing thetter to stop walking.


    "What''s wrong?" she asked.


    "They''re looking at me," June said. "Do you think they recognize that it''s me?"


    Jia looked around and saw that June, indeed, was the center of everybody''s attention.


    However, none of the students approached them. Instead, they just threw the two of them nasty stares.


    "I don''t think that''s the reason why they''re looking at us," Jia chuckled, ncing at June''s atrocious outfit.


    June sighed in relief.


    "That''s good then," he said. "I just really need to find this culprit."


    One, so he could finally have his peace of mind.


    Two, so the people around him wouldn''t be harmed or inconvenienced anymore.


    And three, so he could have a tangible ''stage presence'' aspect.


    "Then, what are you going to do after you catch her?" she asked.


    June smiled. "Show her all the evidence I''ve gathered and threaten to get her kicked out of the school."


    Jia raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw the sinister glint in June''s eyes. She always thought that he was a sweet, innocent cat (he never was any of those, except for the cat part), but it seemed like he knew more than he let on.


    "I just don''t know where to start, though," June muttered, looking around the campus.


    He only realized it now, but the campus was bigger than he expected. He could see cabs and other forms of transportation, meaning that the campus extended far beyond what he was currently seeing.


    "How many students are on the campus again?" June asked.


    "Around 40,000," Jia responded.


    June sighed in frustration as he nced at his watch. Thete afternoon had just rolled in, and he needed to finish the mission in less than two days'' time if he wanted to seed.


    "Don''t you have another ss?" June asked, remembering Jia''s words when they were at Cindy''s house.


    "Yeah," Jia scratched the back of her head. "But I still have some time. I''m going to help you in the meantime."


    June gratefully smiled at the young woman.


    "You mentioned that you have a photo of her, right?" she asked.


    June nodded, bringing out thenyard from his pocket before handing it to Jia.


    "Here," he said. "I''m not sure if it would be of any great help, though. It''s like a white silhouette at this point. I''m sure I''ll be able to recognize her once I see her, though."


    "Hmm," Jia hummed, inspecting the photo from a closer view.


    "She feels¡­familiar," she muttered.


    June perked up after hearing Jia''s statement. Hope swelled in his heart as he felt himself getting closer and closer to the culprit.


    "Almost too familiar," she continued.


    Then, she ced the photo far away, and something finally clicked inside her mind.


    "Stale girl," she eximed.


    "Stale girl?" June repeated. Even with those two words, June could already tell they were thinking about the same person.


    "I think you''re on the right track. Do you know where I could find her?"


    "We," Jia quickly corrected him. "I know where WE could find her."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "It''s alright. I can go on my own. You should go to your ss. You already missed one because of me."


    Jia stubbornly shook her head.


    "I''m still going to my ss," she said, "and you''reing with me."


    June finally understood what she was trying to say.


    "Stale girl is in my ss."

 Chapter 506 My Cousin, Carl

    <h4>Chapter 506 My Cousin, Carl</h4>


    "Are you sure I can stay here?" June whispered into Jia''s ears, causing her to recoil and squeak in shock. The students in the room all turned to the two of them, causing Jia to throw them apologetic looks.


    Their eyes lingered longer on June, silently asking who the neer was.


    Jia merely smiled and scooted closer to June in hopes of covering him. However, it was no use. He was too colorful not to be noticed.


    "If you wore a less eye-catching color, then maybe we can pull this off," Jia muttered under her breath.


    June leaned closer to Jia, their noses almost touching. She let out a small gasp while he continued to look unfazed.


    "What was that?" he whispered. "I didn''t hear what you said."


    Jia ced her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away.


    "Nothing," she awkwardly chuckled. "Just stay put until the end of the ss so you won''t be noticed, okay? Then, we''ll go and follow the girl right afterward."


    June held out an okay sign with his fingers and sat back on his seat, rxed.


    June looked around the room and found himself marveling at the new, foreign environment.


    It had been a while since he properly sat in a ssroom.


    Truth be told, he had never actually stepped foot in a university before. He had always thought of going but never got the chance to due to his tough life circumstances.


    So, he wanted to enjoy it until the end.


    However, June also didn''t forget his main objective. Right after this ss, he will confront the woman who has been stalking him for quite some time.


    He continued looking around but didn''t find a trace of her.


    He then nced at the wall clock and saw there were only a few minutes before Jia''s ss started. Maybe, she was runningte.


    "Are you sure she''s in this ss?" June asked, nudging Jia''s shoulder once more.


    The pretty girl turned to him, her cheeks almost a permanent shade of red.


    June noticed that her cheeks had been red for a while. Was she sick but still helped him with his ridiculous mission?


    June felt a bit guilty.


    He definitely needed to make it up to her after all of this ended.


    "She''s already here," Jia said, oveing her shyness.


    June sat straight and looked around the room once more. There, in the corner, huddled like a little mouse, was the girl he had been looking for. If Jia hadn''t pointed it out, then he would have never noticed her. From his view, she just looked like a very dirty mop.


    Mr. Klin would definitely not approve of her.


    "I know," Jia whispered, seeing the look on June''s face. "I almost never notice her too. If you ask our ssmates, then I believe they also wouldn''t be able to recognize her."


    "I should be more observant then," June said, disappointed that he couldn''t see her right away.


    However, he had no time to be disappointed once an old, wrinkly man came into the room.


    For some reason, June felt himself getting nervous. He sank down into his seat, hoping that the old man''s eyesight would prevent him from seeing June at all.


    "Good afternoon, ss," he greeted. "Pass your assignments."


    June froze as Jia brought out her assignment and passed it to the person in front. He didn''t even bother greeting them!


    The others also quickly obeyed his instruction, making June feel like the old man was quite principled.


    "What subject is this again?" June asked.


    "It''s Foreign Studies," Jia whispered back. "It''s an elective I have to finish in order to graduate. However, I feel like it''ll finish me instead," Jia joked.


    June chuckled and nodded in understanding.


    However, that small movement seemed to be a mistake since the old man''s sharp eyes immediately caught it.


    His eyes narrowed, and although June and Jia were sitting at the very back, he caught a glimpse of the weird-looking student trying to hide himself under the table.


    "You there," he said, pointing his long stick to the very back.


    "Oh no," Jia whispered, already dreading their interaction.


    June pointed to himself, and the old man slowly nodded, building the tension in the room.


    "Yes, you," the old man said, fixing his sses. "I don''t recall seeing you around here."


    June found himself spacing out as the students all turned toward his way. The stale girl, too, turned toward him, and fortunately, it seemed like she couldn''t really recognize him with his current get-up.


    Jia also felt suffocated by the attention June was currently getting, so she closed her eyes and decided to take one for the team.


    She stood from her seat, the chair scraping on the floor and making a loud noise.


    "He''s a visitor, Sir Park," Jia loudly eximed.


    Sir Park raised his eyebrows in surprise as he found Jia, one of his top students, eximing so enthusiastically in his ss. She was usually calm and only spoke when needed.


    "A visitor?" Sir Park asked. "And who might this visitor be, Jia? I don''t recall ever allowing non-enrollees in my ss."


    "I know, sir," Jia sighed, trying toe up with an excuse. "But my cousin just arrived from the airport and had no time to change, you see," she chuckled, gesturing to June''s ridiculous outfit.


    "You could have left him alone," Sir Park insisted. "Let him go. I don''t have time to entertain non-enrollees in my ss."


    June was about to leave, not wanting to make a fuss. He could just stand outside their ssroom and wait until Stale Girl came out.


    However, Jia knew Stale Girl better. She was very hard to see.


    Jia didn''t want all of her and June''s hard work to go down the drain, so she came up with another excuse.


    "I''m afraid I can''t do that, sir," she said in a resolute voice.


    "My cousin¡­Carl," she said when she saw the Karl Marx book on her table, "is from another country, so he doesn''t know how to speak ournguage."


    June''s eyes widened slightly.


    "I can''t let him go loose since he doesn''t know his way around here."


    "A foreigner? Carl, you say?" Sir Park wondered.


    Jia nodded, ncing at June. "Yeah, he¡ªhe can only speak Eng


    ¡ª"


    June frantically shook her head, so Jia instantly knew not to finish her sentence.


    "Ch¨CChinese!" she said out of nervousness.


    "My Cousin, Carl, who only knows how to speak Chinese, yes!" Jia awkwardly chuckled.


    "You can''t let him leave," she insisted.


    "So, let me get this straight," Sir Park said, slowly pacing back and forth.


    "Your cousin, Carl¡ªwhich is a Western name, by the way, can only speak Chinese and no othernguage, so you brought him to our ss instead of letting him wait for you in the student''s lounge?" he rified.


    Jia pursed her lips, now realizing how ridiculous her story sounded.


    "Yes?" she said, sounding unsure.


    Sir Park paused for a moment, and it seemed like the world was going to burst into mes at any point.


    However, a wide smile suddenly appeared on his face, making Jia confused.


    "What a nice surprise, then!" Sir Park eximed. "My wife''s Chinese, so I''m fluent in thenguage."


    "So¡­why don''t you engage with me in a conversation, Carl?" he smirked.

 Chapter 507 Maybe We Got Lost In Translation

    <h4>Chapter 507 Maybe We Got Lost In Trantion </h4>


    Jia felt like the whole world turned over as soon as Sir Park said those words. She definitely didn''t think this far, and she felt guilty knowing she would be the reason for their mission''s downfall.


    "I''m sorry, June," she whispered, already thinking of other ways to get through this.


    ''Maybe we could run?'' she silently asked herself


    ''Or maybe I could just say that he''s mute.''


    ''Nah, it''s toote for that now.''


    ''We''re ruined.''


    As far as she knew, June was fully Korean. She had searched every tform on the inte, and all of them were congruent with that information. She even checked unreliable sites just to be sure!


    Jia even caught a bug on her tablet because of it and hasn''t been able to delete it until now!


    From time to time, a pop-up of an old man''s picture with the caption ''nk is only three miles away!'' appeared when she reviewed her notes.


    So, Jia was definitely sure that June wasn''t able to speak any othernguages aside from Korean.


    He hasn''t traveled to other countries, too, and was much less able to speak Chinese.


    "Come on, young man," Sir Park continued. "My wife is conducting research in a foreign country and has been away for quite some time now. Frankly, I miss speaking hernguage."


    The ssroom turned silent as all eyes turned to June.


    He swallowed, and Jia interpreted that as him being nervous.


    "Um, nihao?" June ventured tentatively, causing the ss to burst into chuckles.


    He made his voice deeper than usual so others wouldn''t be able to recognize him. However, that seemed to throw his ent off a little bit.


    The long-haired girl in the corner of the room suddenly froze, bing more attentive to the neer in the room.


    She had noticed him the moment he came in but was immediately appalled by his colorful clothes. She hated color¡­until her favorite idol wore it.


    However, once he spoke, she felt like she was being filled with delusions. Was it just her, or did this person sound a little bit like June?


    A small smirk appeared on Sir Park''s face, feeling like he had caught them red-handed.


    He wasn''t stupid.


    He didn''t get a Ph.D. just to be fooled by a smart student.


    From the very beginning, he could already tell that Jia was just covering up for her friend. Sir Park didn''t know the reason behind it, but frankly, he felt like it didn''t matter.


    "Very good," he said, still in Korean.


    "Now," he continued, now speaking in Chinese. "Can you tell me the difference between traditional and simplified Chinese characters?"


    Jia bit her lips nervously, silently urging June toe up with something, anything, to salvage the situation. But to her horror, June remained silent.


    Jia couldn''t really me him since she didn''t even understand his question. She believed no one in the ssroom even understood it.


    Time seemed to stand still as the seconds ticked by.


    The long-haired girl anticipated the neer''s answer. If he wasn''t able to speak Chinese, then she had all the reason to believe that June was in her ss. It was a little bit delusional for her to think that he came just for her, but her mind was already brewing up countless fantasies.


    Sir Park''s smirk widened, about to ask him to leave the ss once more.


    "Alright, Carl. As I said earlier, I don''t ept¡ª"


    "In traditional Chinese characters, the strokes are moreplex and detailed, whereas in simplified Chinese characters, many of these strokes have been reduced or omitted for easier readability," he exined confidently, his words flowing effortlessly from his lips.


    It had been a while since he spoke Chinese, so it felt a bit unnatural. However, by the second sentence, he felt a sense of ''home.''


    He missed having such conversations.


    Sir Park stopped pacing, and the ssroom erupted into murmurs of amazement.


    Meanwhile, Jia stared at June in disbelief.


    He spoke Chinese fluently, with the ease of a native speaker. How was that even possible?


    "You actually know how to speak Chinese?" Sir Park asked, still flustered.


    June chuckled. "Well, my friend did say so, didn''t she? I''m sorry for barging into your ss, but I can''t afford to lose Jia right now. We have something to do afterward."


    Sir Park chuckled when June called Jia her friend. They continued to speak in Chinese, and none of the other students were able toprehend them.


    "Friend? I thought you were her cousin. There must be a lie in your story then.Is Jia actually your girlfriend?" Sir Park chimed.


    June shook her head, chuckling along with the old professor.


    "No, sir. She''s just a good friend. I don''t see her in that light."


    Sir Park shook his head. "Well, you should reconsider it. That girl is smart, pretty, and has a good attitude."


    The ss continued to look at them. From their point of view, it seemed like the two of them had now be good friends.


    Jia, on the other hand, couldn''t close her mouth out of amazement.


    "Fine, you may stay," Sir Park said, now going back to speaking Korean.


    With that, he turned around and faced the whiteboard, going back to his previous topic.


    However, Jia couldn''t care less about their lesson and leaned closer to June instead.


    "How did you do that?" she whisper-shouted


    "Do what?" June asked like he didn''t just speak anothernguage fluently.


    Jia shook her head and felt herself falling deeper in love with the man in front of her.


    "You''re really amazing," she whispered, now turning her gaze to the front to calm her beating heart.


    ***


    After an hour, the ss had finally ended.


    June had learned more than he expected, and he found himself enjoying the ss and Sir Park''s teaching style. Given the chance, he truly wanted to go back and listen to another lecture.


    However, that was the least of his worries at this moment.


    Now that all of this was over, he could finally reach his main objective.


    June kept his eyes on the long-haired woman and saw how she quickly stood from her seat, bolting out of the door without even getting noticed by her other ssmates.


    If it weren''t for his fast eyes, then June wouldn''t have noticed her as well.


    "Let''s go," he whispered to Jia, swiftly walking so they could follow the suspicious woman.


    The long-haired woman seemed giddy as she went back to her dorm room, even skipping on the grass.


    Then, they finally arrived.


    However, Jia quickly halted when she realized where they had stopped.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked, also halting but not keeping his eyes away from the strange woman.


    "This dorm room," Jia whispered.


    "It''s the same as ours."

 Chapter 508 Worse Than Chul

    <h4>Chapter 508 Worse Than Chul</h4>


    "Howe I''ve never noticed her before?" Jia clicked her tongue as the two of them hid behind a wide post.


    "Her presence must be really diminished," June whispered back.


    "Well, what are we going to do now? Are we going to barge into her room?" she asked.


    June shook his head. "I don''t think that''s legal."


    "Technically, following her isn''t legal, too," Jia said. "Should we just do it?"


    June thought for a while, weighing the consequences of breaking into the Stale Girl''s room.


    To hell with it.


    "Let''s do it," June said, bringing his hand up to Jia''s hair.


    Jia froze and felt a nosebleeding as June ran his fingers through her hair.


    "What are you doing?" she asked, her heart palpitating.


    "I need this," June smiled, taking out the bobby pin from her head.


    With that, he turned back around and surveyed the area to see if anybody was there. Once the coast was clear, he went in front of Stale Girl''s room and quickly picked the lock.


    Meanwhile, Jia was still recovering from June''s initial action. He already had multiple offenses on this day only! It seemed like he was deliberately making her fall deeper in love with him!


    Just then, she heard a small click, making her turn around.


    There, she saw June with a mutted bobby pin and an open door. She was confused about how he was able to open the door with such a technique; however, she decided not to question him in the end. Right now, she epted that June was just great at a lot of things.


    The two of them entered Stale Girl''s room and were immediately bombarded with her signature scent.


    June covered his nose and shook his head. The smell was even worse than that of Akira''s feet right after their dance practices.


    "Dang," Jia whispered. "What kind of ce is this?"


    The interior was simr to their dorm room; however, it was dark and decorated weirdly.


    From the moment you enter, it was already apparent that she was a fan of June.


    Jia couldn''t really me her. If June saw her dorm, then he''d also see the posters hung up in her hallways.


    They navigated their way into the room, but June quickly halted once he saw her identification card lying on the cupboard. He quickly retrieved it and inspected the hard piece of stic.


    "Kim Sua," he muttered, showing the card to Jia.


    "Yeah, I''ve never heard of her," Jia whispered.


    They continued their way inside, and June felt creeped-out with only seeing his face around the room. Even the picture frames on her shelves were filled with photos of him. It almost seemed like her world merely revolved around June.


    "Where is she?" Jia whispered, finding it strange that they hadn''t seen her throughout their journey.


    However, as they got near a room and heard the sound of water flowing, June inferred that she must be in the shower.


    The room''s door was ajar, so June''s curiosity got the best of him.


    The first thing he saw was a stic door, where the flowing sound of water wasing from.


    This must be the bathroom.


    However, his thoughts quickly strayed away once he saw what was inside the room.


    Jia froze as soon as she entered.


    "Goodness," she whispered, feeling a shiver run down her spine.


    The room wasn''t any different from the living room. It was still filled with June''s photos.


    However, what made it different was that these photos weren''t released publicly. These photos were seemingly taken when June didn''t have an official schedule.


    Even photos of him and Minjun were hung on the wall!


    However, before he could internalize what was happening, he saw another atrocious thing on top of her dusty bed.


    It was a doll, but not any ordinary doll. It was a doll with a picture of his face sewed in. He went closer to touch it but flinched when he saw the blonde locks it had.


    There was no mistaking it.


    "This is my hair," he whispered, making Jia feel even more creeped-out than she already was.


    June hated to admit it, but this might be worse than Chul.


    "Fuck," Jia couldn''t help but curse. "What are we going to do now?"


    June thought for a moment, looking around the room. At first, he thought that confronting her and asking her to stop would be the best option. However, seeing all of this now made him take back his words.


    A simple conversation would not get this girl to stop.


    Kim Sua needed some serious help.


    So, he quickly brought something out of his pocket and ced it on her bedside table¡ªalmost like a hidden egg.


    Then, he brought out his phone and proceeded to take photos of the room.


    Jia merely watched him, notprehending what he was trying to do.


    "Let''s leave," June said after a while, surprising Jia.


    "What?" she asked. "But I thought you wanted to confront her?"


    "It''s okay," June assured her. "I''ve got all the evidence that I need."


    "Are you sure?" Jia asked.


    June nodded.


    With that, the two of them decided to leave the room. However, before they could even take another step forward, the bathroom door utched, causing both of their eyes to widen in surprise.


    It seemed like everything turned to slow motion as the bathroom door slowly opened.


    Jia looked at June with wide eyes, silently asking what they were going to do.


    June looked around and acted quickly. It was a cliche move, but he believed it was their only option for now.


    Without thinking twice, June held onto Jia''s wrist and pulled her down to the ground.


    Then, just as Kim Sua fully opened the door, the two of them had already hidden right underneath her bed.


    "Ah, that was refreshing," she whispered with a smile, not bothering to open the lights.


    To her, darkness was the mostforting thing in the entire world. The light merely gave way to her insecurities, so she wanted to stay in the dark most of the time.


    She stopped, however, when she noticed that something was off in her room.


    The usual stale scent thatforted her was mixed with something sweet.


    Sua narrowed her eyes in suspicion.


    "Did somebody enter my sanctuary?"

 Chapter 509 The Dark Fandom

    <h4>Chapter 509 The Dark Fandom </h4>


    Jia knew she should be scared shitless with everything going on. However, how could she do that with June lying right by her side, covering her lips with his fragrant hands and holding her so closely!


    "Did somebody enter my sanctuary?"


    Kim Sua''s voice snapped her out of her fantasies, though, and it hit her with the realization that they were in the presence of a crazy, crazy woman.


    June looked into her eyes, silently saying to keep silent for now.


    Jia nodded in understanding.


    Sua paused for a while, still not liking the scent of sweetness in her room.


    "Must be those neighbors again," she muttered, making the two individuals under her bed sigh in relief.


    The room was silent once again. Then, the two of them felt a slight pressure on their backs, indicating that Kim Sua was now lying down on her bed.


    Jia felt herself getting more impatient. The stench of Sua''s room was getting to her senses, and she wanted nothing more but to leave.


    However, being in June''s arms wasn''t that bad of an idea either.


    "Did you know?" Sua suddenly started speaking, causing the two of them to hold their breaths.


    "I thought I saw you a while ago."


    June frowned in confusion. Was she talking to someone on the phone?


    "But I knew that it wasn''t you. I would recognize you from a mile away," she chuckled.


    "I even saw you this morning!" she joyfully said. "Your eyes strayed longer on me than usual. Did you find me pretty?"


    June found it weird that he wasn''t able to hear the other caller''s voice.


    "But you didn''t even drink the drink I prepared. Was it not to your liking? I prepared it earnestly for you and your teammates."


    June''s frown deepened when he finally realized who she was talking to.


    Kim Sua was talking to him, particrly to his doll.


    June shook his head in disbelief. He knew that the K-pop world had some of the craziest fans out there. However, seeing one before his eyes made it seem even more unbelievable. How did such peoplee to be?


    "I was almost busted, you know?" she continued, acting like the doll figure was her friend.


    "I heard some of the employees talking to the media people outside the conference hall after it happened, and I was thankful that yourpany paid them to not talk about it. Well, in the end, their reputation as apany is clearly more important," she continued.


    Jia turned to June with raised eyebrows. She had never been a fan of Azure or K-poppanies in general, but it seemed like their situation was worse than she thought.


    "However, that MinMin guy had to post about it," Sua angrily eximed. "Thankfully, it was taken down before people became suspicious. I would have confronted that little boy if it meant being able to shut him up," she continued.


    June froze at the mention of Minjun.


    Kim Sua definitely knew more than what she let on. Even June''s past enemies never found out that Minjun was MinMin.


    "I really don''t like hurting the people you love, June," she continued. "But they''re making it difficult for me."


    "They''re too touchy with you. Nobody else can get touchy with you except for me, okay? You promised me in my dreams," she said.


    Jia''s eyes twitched in annoyance. She thought she and her friends were delusional, but this woman definitely took the cake. They didn''t evene close.


    "Come to think of it, it has been a while since we made love, have we?" she asked.


    The two individuals under her bed turned to each other with wide eyes.


    She was not going to do what they thought she was going to do, right?


    However, it seemed like their worst nightmares came true once the sound of ruffling sheets resonated in the room.


    Then, articles of clothing started dropping to the ground, making June close his eyes in disgust.


    ''Fuck,'' he internally cursed. He really needed to get out of here fast.


    He stopped the record button and thought of a way to get out. However, it felt like they were trapped.


    Her moans echoed in the room, and Jia covered her ears so she could escape the madness.


    "Soomin! Where''s my rice cake!"


    Just then, a familiar voice was heard inside the room.


    "I told you to buy me rice cakes before youe home!"


    Bora''s voice echoed through the halls like the madwoman she was. During these times, Jia really wanted to staple her loud mouth shut since she knew that the neighbors would be bombarded with her voice. However, Jia was now thankful for her loud mouth since it halted Kim Sua''s lovemaking session.


    "I forgot!" Soomin shouted in an equally loud voice.


    Sua tried to get back into the mood, but Bora''s and Soomin''s fight continued.


    "Get back there and buy me rice cake!"


    "Buy it yourself, you dimwit!"


    Kim Sua sighed in frustration as she stood from her bed. "Stupid, stupid neighbors!" she eximed before leaving her bedroom.


    June turned to Jia and nodded.


    This was their chance.


    So, with swift movements, they finally escaped the room of nightmares.


    ***


    The two of them had now separated, but the impact of what they had witnessed moments ago still lingered.


    June was back in his dorm room, but he couldn''t sleep since Sua''s moans still echoed in his mind. He shook his head, got rid of such thoughts, and focused on his next ns instead.


    Heid out all the evidence he gathered and paced back and forth in front of his bed.


    At first, he thought it was strange that nobody reported what had happened during the fan sign. However, once Sua revealed that Azure had some hand in it, everything finally made sense.


    They couldn''t risk the public knowing of their ipetencies as apany. It will affect not only Azure Entertainment but also Azure as a whole.


    With that, he thought of speaking with Minjun so he could write up a new article. However, June valued his safety more. He didn''t want him to get involved with a crazy person like Sua.


    At this moment, he needed someone who was backed up by apany, had a thick face, and would ultimately follow his request.


    Fortunately, he had just the right person.


    Truly, everything happens for a reason.


    June picked up his phone and dialed an unsaved number.


    Then, after a few rings, he brought it close to his ears.


    "Jenny, do me a favor."

 Chapter 510 Banana Phone

    <h4>Chapter 510 Banana Phone</h4>


    Cousin: I did it.


    June smirked as he gazed at Jenny''stest text message.


    June: Good.


    Cousin: Good? That''s it? After all of this, I could get fired, you know?


    June: I''ll send you some monthly allowance then.


    Cousin: You better keep your word.


    Cousin: But really, I think I''m going to get fired.


    "June''s smiling while texting! He has a girlfriend," Akira eximed, causing the others to turn to him.


    June sighed and shook his head, cing his phone back into his pocket.


    "I don''t," June deadpanned.


    "You''re hiding something from us," Akira narrowed his eyes. "The guys said you weren''t around for dinnerst night. This morning, you smelled sweet, too. You must have been with a woman!"


    Well, Akira wasn''t wrong about that. Jia''s sweet scent rubbed off on him, and it didn''t go away even after he showered.


    "You know, maybe thexative they used should have been stronger," June said.


    "Hey!" Akira said, offended.


    "Agreed," the other members collectively said, making the team''s joker slump in his seat.


    "Whatever!" Akira eximed. "You''re all saying that, but I know that you also want the culprit to be caught. Up until now, Jay still doesn''t have a clue how he would catch the culprit without alerting the media or the police."


    "Well, Azure''s quite shitty, aren''t they? They want their ipetencies to be hidden," Casper said. "If it wasn''t written in the contract that we couldn''t defame thepany publicly, then I would have done so a long time ago."


    Ted and Mari turned around and looked at the members with raised eyebrows.


    "You know that we''re here, right?" Ted asked.


    Casper shrugged, not giving a damn in the world.


    They were currently recording the song they wrote, and although it had been hectic for the past few days, they were finally able to finalize the song with full satisfaction. It was also thest song they had to record before they wrapped up their recording and proceeded to the other aspects of theeback.


    Zeth was the one in the booth, currently killing his rap verses.


    June was the only one who hadn''t recorded yet, so he was waiting patiently for his turn.


    In the meantime, the members of EVE conversed about their sasaeng issue.


    "I just wish someone, anyone, would help us with this one. We don''t even know the identity of the sasaeng," Ren sighed.


    ''I already do,'' June thought with a smile.


    "I''ve be so paranoid these days. I don''t even take out the trash anymore. I ask Nico to take it out," Jisung chimed.


    "Why do you still look so calm?" Sehun asked, nudging June''s shoulder.


    "Do you even have to question that?" Jisung asked. "June''s always calm. It makes me think he''s older than me by a lot of years!"


    June smirked, leaning against the couch.


    He thought long and hard about how to execute his nst night, and with Jenny''s help, he was sure that Kim Sua would finally meet her demise.


    "June, you''re up next," Ted grumbled.


    With that, June stood from the couch with a wide smile.


    He nced at his teammates and gestured to the door.


    "You know, you don''t have to wait for me, you know? You should go ahead and have lunch at the cafeteria downstairs."


    "But we want to wait for you!" Akira eximed. "I heard they''re serving shrimps this lunch, and we know how much you love seafood."


    "But it''s already past 12," June said, ncing at the clock.


    "Ah, who cares," Ren said. "After this, we''re done with the recording of the album! It''s our turn to celebrate as a group."


    Sehun nodded in agreement.


    "Besides, we can''t just leave you behind, can''t we?"


    A small smile appeared on June''s lips as he directed his gaze to the ground.


    He couldn''t deny that, at first, he felt like the stage presence aspect would be the greatest advantage he could gain from getting rid of Sua.


    However, seeing his teammates care for him made him feel like his sacrifices were all worth it.


    June entered the room, still with a small smile, ready to record the love song they had curated.


    It felt pretty nice singing a love song when you were in a good mood. So, as soon as the music started, June didn''t even struggle to portray the feeling of giddiness.


    The members were enamored as soon as June sang the words. It was only a moment ago when he was acting nonchnt, yet now, he was able to portray the love song effortlessly.


    If the members of EVE were all chameleons, then June was the master of chameleons.


    The way he could immerse himself in different concepts was truly impable.


    "See that?" Akira whispered. "He''s singing with so much love. He must have a girlfriend!"


    Mari turned to Ted, who appeared to be concentrating on making June''s voice better.


    However, June didn''t even need that much help. His voice was already a craft in itself.


    "Do you have anything to say about his voice?" Mari asked, a small, knowing smirk ying on her lips.


    Ted merely pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    He hated to admit it, but June was one of the few idols that was on the way to mastering his artistry.


    ***


    The eight members of EVE were currently in the building''s cafeteria, mountains of foodid out on their table.


    Shrimp shells were scattered on their table, and the boys continued to eat with their bare hands.


    The people around nced at them as they walked by. However, they weren''t disgusted.


    Instead, they were baffled by how handsome the group of men was despite their messy surroundings.


    However, sitting as a sharp contrast among them was June, sitting in the corner with an unstained white cloth tucked into his shirt. He also had a fork and knife in his hands, not wanting to get himself dirty before their dance practice that afternoon.


    It seemed like he was the only one being shined on with a ray of light, too, making him stand out against the dirty men.


    "June is always so sophisticated," Jisung said in admiration.


    His members continuedplimenting him, with Casper even cing a peeled shrimp on his te.


    However, June continued to eat without minding them.


    In fact, his mind was on another thing.


    He was impatiently waiting for the impact of what Jenny had done to finallymence.


    "Any minute now," he muttered, his eyes darting around the cafeteria where most of the employees were currently having their lunch.


    Then, among the sound of utensils and useless chatter, a loud gasp broke through.


    A small smirk appeared on June''s face as he nced at a woman who worked for thepany''s public rtions.


    After a while, people in the room started giving the same reactions.


    The members of EVE, aside from June, observed their surroundings with confusion.


    "Omo," Akira suddenly said.


    "Is the new Banana Phone finallying out?"

 Chapter 511 Everybody’s Worst Enemy: The Public

    <h4>Chapter 511 Everybody''s Worst Enemy: The Public </h4>


    Jay pulled the members to an empty conference hall as the entire Azure Entertainment building went to mes with the release of a single article.


    Akira raised his hand, but Jay quickly shut him down.


    "No, Akira. The new Banana phone is still in the works. We''re going through more serious matters here!" Jay eximed, pacing back and forth in nervousness.


    "Oh, you''re talking about this article then," Jisung said, showing the article that Jenny had posted.


    June smirked as he saw the chaos that Jenny had caused online. She was working for a rtively small paparazzipany, but even then, they still had more than a hundred thousand followers on Navel.


    Only being posted half an hour ago, it had already garnered over fifty thousand reactions from fans and non-fans alike. Even people who didn''t like EVE were intrigued by the creepy news.


    As June scrolled through the article, he couldn''t help but apud Jenny''s choice of words.


    Although it wasn''t obvious, it seemed like his cousin had some talent for writing, too.


    It appeared like Minjun actually had somepetition!


    In the article, evidence of the break-in, the unfortunate incident in the fan sign, and the photo of Sua''s room were all included. So, it became more convincing than the article that Minjun had posted.


    "As far as I know, only people within thepany have the details for the two incidents. What if this reflects back to me? Other departments are already under fire for the damage caused by the article. A lot of them are trying to take it down. Goodness, I''m going to get fired," Jay muttered.


    "You wouldn''t," June said, a small smirk ying on his lips.


    "What do you mean?" Jay asked, looking at him with a small frown.


    The other members also turned to him with curious gazes. The room was silent for a moment, all of them seemingly analyzing June''s bodynguage.


    Then, a small gasp escaped from Jay''s lips as he pointed at June with shaky fingers.


    "Don''t tell me¡ªyou''re the one behind all of this?" he asked.


    June observed their faces and felt it was no use keeping all of this from them, especially since everything was now in n.


    "And if I say yes?" June asked, spinning around his chair.


    The room turned silent once again before Jaeyong broke it.


    "You''re insane," he whispered. "Who did you evenmission to do this kind of work? From what I know, thepany had paid the media not to talk about these incidents."


    June smirked and finally stopped spinning his chair.


    "Azure might have turned a blind eye to this situation, but I wasn''t going to sit back and let it continue. From the start, it was already obvious that thepany cared a lot about its reputation. That''s not a surprise. Almost allpanies do."


    "However, Azure is at an all-time low for keeping this under the dark when their artists are already in danger. We could have been more tant about this, but I was thinking of Jay over here," he continued. "I believe he''ll have the short end of the string if we retaliate against thepany."


    "So, you took matters into your own hands and gathered all of this evidence?" Jisung asked.


    "Exactly," June smirked. "But that''s not all. We already have the evidence, but that''s just the first step. We need exposure, and that''s where our partnership with the paparazzi sitees in."


    "But won''t thepany try to shut down any media coverage?" Ren asked.


    "They''ll certainly try," June said. "Actually, they already have¡ªas per Jaeyong''s statement just a few moments ago. See, ourpany''s good at keeping the media quiet with their deep pockets, but there''s always someone willing to take a risk for the truth," he smirked, thinking about his cousin.


    Jenny was also crooked and definitely didn''t have the right principles, but she owed him, so June got her to agree to the n.


    The team exchanged curious nces, waiting for June to reveal more.


    "So, what''s the n? How is this going to stop the stalker when her identity hasn''t even been revealed? At this point, this just shows Azure''s ipetence in handling their artists," Jay said, biting his lips in nervousness.


    June brought out his phone and clicked on one of the photos that Jenny had posted. Then, he ced it down on the table, gesturing toward the screen.


    "Take a close look at this photo," June said. "See anything interesting?"


    The members studied the photo intently, noticing a subtle detail on the bedside table in the background.


    "Is that¡­an ID card?" Casper asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Bingo," June smirked, now ying with a stress ball he found inside one of the tables. From his members'' point of view, he appeared like a crazy genius who was painting the bigger picture of his ns.


    "I made sure to nt that little gem when I raided her room. It''s a small touch, but it''s enough to pique the public''s curiosity," June continued.


    "But why not just reveal her identity outright?" Akira asked.


    June shook his head while clicking his tongue.


    "Because that, in itself, would be tasteless. Besides, it''s more effective in this way. A hidden clue like this is bound to get people talking, and once the public starts digging, there''s no telling what they''ll find."


    The members started seeing June''s painting. Casper leaned against his chair with crossed arms, feeling like they were truly in the presence of a genius.


    "So¡­we''re counting on the public to do our dirty work for us?" Jaeyong asked, already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel


    June nodded.


    "You could say that. But make no mistake, we''re the ones pulling the strings. We''re painting the bigger picture here, and when it alles together, Kim Sua and Azure wouldn''t know what would hit them."


    "Omo," Jisung whispered, pping Akira, who was right by his side. "That''s awesome."


    June''s smirk widened as he leaned back against his seat, gazing confidently into the distance.


    "And that''s why Azure wouldn''t be able to touch you either," he said, pertaining to Jay.


    "Because at the end of the day, there''s one scary thing that people could never escape¡­"


    "...and that is, people, themselves."


    "The public will always be our worst enemy."

 Chapter 512 He, Who Never Stood

    <h4>Chapter 512 He, Who Never Stood</h4>


    Mr. Ong received calls left and right, his expression getting dimmer as more and more people came to his office to fix the mess that Azure was currently facing. People around him loudly spoke to their phones, not leaving him any space and time to properly think.


    "No, those aren''t true!"


    "Yes, we''re working on it."


    "The CEO is not avable to talk."


    "No, the members of EVE are currently unavable. You can talk with our representatives instead."


    "We care about our artists very much. We give them top-notch quality care!"


    "Please take down your article! We already had an agreement that you wouldn''t expose it to the public!"


    Employees'' voices rang in his office, and Mr. Ong felt his blood pressure rising.


    He clenched his fists and pursed his lips together to keep his anger at bay.


    "You!" he eximed to one of the interns. "Jay. Someone, fetch me, Jay!"


    The intern shakily nodded as he left the CEO''s room.


    In the meantime, Mr. Ong went to his Navel ount to see how the public was reacting to the issue.


    - Did you see the ID card at the corner? Kim Sua of Y University? She''s insane! She needs to be checked into an asylum.


    - The article is so well-made. I don''t see any loopholes. The author is anonymous, though, so I feel like Azure has been keeping this from us for a while now. What a bunch of dickheads.


    - Kim Sua? Oh, my goodness. I know her. She''s in my ss! I always thought she was weird, but dang, she was actually like this.


    - I dug in and found that she''s a Marketing major. People at Y University should watch out.


    - If I were Azure, I would send the police to the school right now and have her investigated. This is not normal behavior!


    - What is their manager doing? Why is he neglecting EVE?


    Mr. Ong smirked once he saw that particrment. However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw it didn''t have any likes and that the user was being martyred by real fans of EVE.


    - Don''te for Jay, please. He''s one of the best managers out there! We should me Azure instead for keeping this from us.


    - Yeah! Companies are the worst. Jay is doing his best to protect the boys.


    - Why do I feel like Azure will me him, though? I really don''t want the boys to go through such trauma. I still haven''t forgotten the fact that they hired a manager who had a massive foot fetish for EVE when they just debuted.


    - Let''s see them try to fire Jay. We''re going to send multiple trucks in front of thepany.


    - We, Grandmas for June, agree. We are all in this together.


    - And while we''re on that, we should demand that they investigate this Sua girl, too.


    - Yes please! Let''s start a trend! #AzureTreatEVEBetter


    - #AzureTreatEVEBetter


    The hashtag quickly rose to the top of the trends, and Mr. Ong felt that his condition wasn''t just normal hypertension any more. He might actually be getting an aneurysm.


    Just then, the shaky intern entered the room, and in a meek voice, he spoke.


    "Umm, I''m sorry, sir. I couldn''t find Jay¡ª"


    "Shut up," Mr. Ong said with contempt, his voice merely a whisper. The usual smile he had on his face was reced with a weary frown as he continued massaging his aching head.


    "Sorry, sir. What was that?"


    "Shut up!" Mr. Ong repeated, standing from his seat.


    The employees'' eyes widened.


    He was standing, but it still appeared like he was sitting.


    However, that wasn''t the most important thing.


    Mr. Ong was actually standing! He never stood.


    "Shut up. Shut up. ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!" he screamed, his voice resonating throughout the office.


    The employees speaking on the phones quickly turned silent, and even the janitor, who was merely mopping, also stopped when he heard Mr. Ong''s loud scream.


    Mr. Ong breathed heavily, already looking out of it.


    It seemed like he finally snapped, and his eyes showed that his temper had been burned away.


    Then, after a while, his breathing finally evened out. However, there was still a fiery glint in his eyes.


    "Call the police," he calmly said after a while.


    "Sir?" the intern meekly asked.


    Mr. Ong red at him, which caused him to step back.


    "But what about Mr. Jay?"


    "Let him be," Mr. Ong impatiently said. "Just¡ªjust call the police," he exasperatedly asked.


    "And have them investigate Kim Sua."


    ***


    Jay and the members of EVE stopped talking when they heard what seemed to be a scream.


    Jisung''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Was that a tractor?"


    "Might be," Jay said, already calm after June''s reassurance. "They''re doing some kind of construction next door."


    They shrugged and went back to their conversations.


    "How sure are you that Azure is going to initiate the investigation on Kim Sua?" Jay asked.


    "A hundred¡ªwait, nothing is a hundred percent in this world. Around ny percent?" June chimed.


    "There''s still a ten percent chance¡ª"


    "Don''t you believe in me?" June asked, looking into Jay''s eyes.


    Jay was taken back to the time when he doubted June because of his rich background. From that day on, he vowed to always believe in June, so he quickly shut his mouth and didn''t inquire further.


    If June said so, then he had no reason not to believe it.


    "I think the real question is¡ªare they going to find Kim Sua?" Jaeyong asked.


    "From your stories, she seems to be quite stealthy. Once she sees the article, wouldn''t she have fled already?"


    The other members nodded in agreement, seeing it as a potential issue, too.


    However, June still remained calm, even checking his nails for any dirt.


    "Don''t tell me you have something for this, too," Zeth groaned, already feeling overwhelmed by June''s ingenuity.


    "Then, I''m not going to speak anymore," June said.


    The other members shook their heads in disbelief. Akira even gave him a slow apuse.


    "What do you have this time?" he inquired.


    "It''s not me," June said.


    "But I have quite a pretty person helping us."


    "I''m sure she wouldn''t let Kim Sua escape."

 Chapter 513 Center of Attention

    <h4>Chapter 513 Center of Attention</h4>


    "What are we doing again?" Bora asked as they stood outside of the school''s gymnasium.


    "Being good fans," Jia said, ncing at her phone.


    KittyJune: Jay and the police are on their way.


    "Are we forgetting that Kim Sua is on the loose? The school advised us not to loiter around too much since she might still be here. Don''t forget that she lived in the same dorm building as us," Bora pointed out.


    "That''s why my best friend who has a triple ck belt in jiu-jitsu is with me, am I right?"


    "I was in eighth grade!" Bora exasperatedly said. "And it wasn''t a triple ck belt. My mom just bought two more ck belts in case I lost one."


    Jia shrugged. "It''s still a ck belt. You''re much better than me."


    Bora sighed and shook her head. "Sometimes, I wonder if my life would have been more peaceful if we didn''t get to be friends," she jokingly said.


    Jia clicked her tongue and nudged Bora''s shoulder.


    "Shut up. You would have been miserable without me," Jia smiled.


    Bora rolled her eyes as she leaned against a tree.


    "Fine. Fine. I guess I''ll boost your ego for now. But¡­what are we really going to do?"


    Jia looked around the area to see if there was anyoneing and smiled when she saw a bunch of students wandering around the area.


    "Bingo," Jia said.


    "We''re ying Bingo?" Bora asked in confusion.


    "No," Jia deadpanned. "I''m arranging an exclusive fanmeeting with June right now."


    Bora stopped for a moment before narrowing her eyes in suspicion.


    "I know that he knows you, but you know this is a reach, right?"


    "I''m not lying!" Jia eximed. "June really came to me for help. Right now, the police can''t find Sua. They did find her room, and there were other evidence that showed she had been following June for a while now; however, she fled right after that article was posted."


    "And the solution to that is to arrange a fanmeeting in the school?" Bora asked, finding the situation ridiculous.


    "Yes," Jia excitedly chimed. "June asked me to help lure Kim Sua, and that''s exactly what I''m doing."


    A small frown graced Bora''s forehead, so Jia continued exining.


    "Kim Sua is definitely afraid of getting caught," Jia started off.


    "However, I could tell that she wasn''t guilty. I heard firsthand what she thinks about June, and I believe she''s doing all of this out of her own volition."


    "She won''t stop just because she''s on the verge of getting caught," she continued.


    "So, I set up this trap of some sort."


    Bora raised her eyebrows in surprise.


    "Because where June goes, Kim Sua goes," Jia concluded.


    She sighed and looked off into the distance, feeling proud of herself. She could still remember her conversation with June on the day they parted. At that moment, they seemed like good friends who had known each other for quite some time.


    Despite Jia''s giddiness, there wasn''t any awkwardness between the two of them¡ªjust pure bliss.


    She also had to admit that they were a pretty good team.


    June came up with the idea of luring Kim Sua out once the article had been posted¡ªand that was to make fans believe that he was going to have a mini fanmeeting at Y university.


    He even posted a cryptic message on Navel this morning!


    It was definitely hard to believe, especially with the stalker issueing out. However, fans didn''t know any better. They would hold onto that little hope and go to great lengths just to meet their favorite idols.


    So, this was how Jia found herself in the middle of the campus, surrounded by fangirls and fanboys who were waiting for June to arrive.


    "He''s not going toe, is he?" Bora asked after Jia''s exnation.


    "Nope," Jia excitedly shook her head. "That would be too dangerous for him."


    Bora clicked her tongue. "You''re saying that while you''re out here trying to lure in a stalker."


    "Don''t worry," Jia said. "What you''re thinking of is not going to happen."


    Jia waited for a couple more moments before she finally saw a familiar silhouette.


    "Caught you," Jia whispered as she continued staring at the girl. She had shorter hair, almost up to the lobes of her ears. However, Jia could still recognize the creepy woman from a mile away. What she did in her room definitely left a mark on Jia''s heart.


    Jia: She''s here.


    KittyJune: Got it.


    "Is June really going toe? I have a hard time believing that when his stalker had just been discovered in our school," a fan said.


    "What''s there to lose?" another chimed. "We don''t have any ss anyway!"


    "Yeah! Besides, June posted something this morning. See you soon in Y? What else could it mean aside from himing here?"


    Jia smirked in satisfaction as more and more people were convinced of the mini fanmeeting.


    Kim Sua approached closer, bringing her cap down so she could hide her identity.


    However, it was toote.


    Jay, who had just arrived after June texted him a certain location, saw the crowd and recognized the girl even from far away. He alerted the officers he was with, and they quickly moved to where she was.


    Without any warning, they cuffed her, causing Sua''s eyes to widen in shock.


    Her cap fell off, exposing her face to the crowd that had formed.


    Screams of surprise were heard as they all stepped away. However, they brought out their phones to record what was happening. Some of them couldn''t wait to post it on the inte for the world to see!


    Sua tried to retaliate from the officers, but it was no use.


    Jia smiled in satisfaction. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and enjoyed the scene before her.


    Bora observed Jia and shook her head.


    "You''re quite cunning, aren''t you?"


    Jia shrugged, appearing unfazed.


    "She deserves it," she said with a smile.


    However, her smile dropped when her eyes locked with Sua''s.


    For a moment, the crazy girl just stared at her. Then, a hint of recognition was seen in Sua''s eyes.


    Then, while the officers were dragging her away, she pointed in Jia''s direction.


    "You!" she screamed, causing the others to turn in the direction she was pointing at.


    Jia quickly became the center of attention.


    "You''re the one who stole June away from me!"

 Chapter 514 Birds Of The Same Feather

    <h4>Chapter 514 Birds Of The Same Feather</h4>


    The people started whispering as they nced toward Jia''s way. Jia felt her hands sweat as Kim Sua continued to scream at her.


    "She seduced June!" she eximed.


    "You should all be careful around this woman," she said, her eyes showing a murderous intent.


    "She came to school with June and thought nobody would realize it. I also realized itte, but it''s her! She''s the one you should apprehend for corrupting June''s mind. Not me!" she screamed.


    "What a crazy bitch. She''s still spouting nonsense up until now," Bora suddenly snapped, causing Jia to look at her with wide eyes.


    Sua''s eyebrows furrowed as the people''s views began to shift.


    "She''s going too far."


    "Poor Jia. She''s just a fan. Why would she be used of going out with June?"


    "I''m d the police are here to take her away."


    "Believe me!" Sua continued to scream, still trying to get away from the police officers'' hold.


    However, they dragged her into the car and shoved her in, her screams finally drowning as the police car drove away from the scene.


    People started chattering as soon as she was gone, and most of them finally realized that June probably wasn''t going toe to their school, so they dispersed.


    Jia sighed in relief once the people started leaving. She ced her hand over her chest and rested one arm on Bora''s shoulder.


    "Thank goodness you''re here," Jia said. "That Sua girl is truly on another level."


    Bora shook her head as she cracked her knuckles. "It''s a shame I didn''t get to use my jiu-jitsu skills."


    Jia chuckled in amusement.


    She really thought that Kim Sua would expose her endeavors with June. However, judging from the fact that she realized itte, Jia thought that she might not have any evidence.


    The pair was about to leave when a strange man suddenly approached them. He was wearing an all-ck outfit paired with a ck mask and a ck cap.


    Jia jolted in surprise once he touched her shoulder.


    From a mere nce, it almost seemed like the person was June.


    However, Jia and Bora knew better.


    "Maybe I will get to use my jiu-jitsu skills after all," Bora whispered, stepping forward so she could protect Jia.


    The man''s eyes widened in surprise, and he swiftly brought down his mask.


    "I don''t mean any harm!" he quickly said.


    Jay looked at the small woman with fearful eyes, his hands even shaking with the thought of getting beat up.


    "C-Jay?" the two girls eximed, causing Jay to scratch the back of his head.


    "It''s Jay now," he sheepishly said. "Although, I''m quite happy that you guys still recall my past stage name."


    "Right¡ªJay," Jia eximed, feeling apologetic for thinking that EVE''s manager was a strange man.


    Well, to be frank, Jay is quite strange.


    Not creepy¡­but definitely weird.


    "Well, what are you doing here?" Jia asked.


    "Ah, right," Jay said, bringing something out of his backpack. "I came here because June told me I had an important mission to do. I wasn''t really expecting to bump into you, but I''m d I did."


    "You really are pretty like he described you to be," Jay whispered thest part, causing Jia to lean closer to him.


    "What was that?" she asked, not hearing what he just said.


    "Nothing," Jay cheekily smiled.


    Then, he brought something out of his pocket.


    "Here," Jay said. "June brought this for you as a sort of thanks for helping him with this Sua situation."


    Jia''s eyes widened when Jay handed her a bunch of sweet snacks. They all reminded her of June, and that caused a fluttery feeling inside her chest.


    "He didn''t have to," Jia muttered.


    "This is definitely not enough," Jay quickly said. "I heard about what you went through, and it''s amazing how you were willing to help him until the end."


    Jia scratched the back of her neck.


    "Well, you know¡­That''s just what a fan does, I guess," she smiled.


    Jay mirrored her smile and brought another item from his backpack.


    Jia''s eyes widened in anticipation.


    There was more?


    "This isn''t from June," Jay said. "It''s from me."


    "I reckoned you would love June''s gift, but I also want to give you something you can keep forever."


    Jay handed her a small card before waving his hand goodbye.


    "I better go now! I still have to follow the officers to the police station," he said.


    With that, he went away before Jia could even see the card.


    Bora leaned closer to Jia so they could look at it together.


    Jia already had a hunch about what it was because of the size of the card.


    It wasn''t any ordinary card¡ªit was a photocard.


    Then, as she flipped over the card, a loud gasp escaped her lips.


    Staring back at her was a photo of June with a kitty filter.


    Bora was also surprised. "I haven''t seen that picture before."


    Jia held the photocard like it was the most precious thing in the entire world.


    She nodded as she cradled it like her first baby.


    "You''re right," she responded. "This isn''t part of the album."


    It was an exclusive photocard¡ªjust for her.


    "Can I have the snacks then?"


    ***


    The sun sank behind the tall walls of the hospital, casting shadows across the cracked pavement. The air was heavy with the scent of dampness and decay, and the wind flowed through the rusted bars of the windows.


    Outside, the sky was painted in shades of deep purple and ominous gray, as if the heavens themselves were mourning the souls trapped within these walls. The faint sound ofughter echoed through the hall, mingling with the sound of hushed conversations.


    One girl, her face pale, sat huddled in a corner, her arms wrapped tightly around her trembling frame. Her eyes were wide with fear, darting frantically from one darkened corner to the next.


    "I shouldn''t be here," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper. "I shouldn''t be here. I don''t need help. I''m fine. I really am."


    A figure appeared out of the gloom, sliding silently onto the bench beside her.


    She didn''t dare lift her head to turn to the neer. However, she knew it was a man.


    "We''ve all been there," he softly said, his words sending a shiver down her spine. "We''ve all felt that way at one time or another. However, you get used to it."


    Sua finally lifted her head to look at the man, her eyebrows furrowing when she realized he looked familiar.


    Then, a smirk arose from his cracked lips.


    "But that doesn''t mean we ept it," he continued.


    "What are you here for, youngdy?" he asked.


    "Love," Sua said without any hesitation. "I just love a man, and they now want to get me tested."


    "Ah," he eximed, leaning back against his seat. "We''re in the same boat then."


    "You also love a man?" she asked.


    The man red at her.


    "No," he snapped. "I don''t love anyone. I just love a particr aspect of people¡­probably more than what other people could understand."


    "What do you love then?" Sua asked.


    He smirked as he looked down to the ground, right where her shoes were.


    Then, he pointed to her feet.

 Chapter 515 Beautiful Monster

    <h4>Chapter 515 Beautiful Monster </h4>


    [Congrattions! You havepleted the mission of eradicating your first sasaeng.]


    [What a journey it has been. I will definitely miss it.]


    June shook his head as Fu popped up before him.


    "Crazy bastard," he muttered, a small smile forming on his lips with the thought of getting a new aspect added to his stats.


    [You have collected an aspect: Stage Presence.]


    [Stage Presence is the ability tomand the stage with confidence, leaving asting impression on every eye and ear in the venue.]


    [The host''s current Stage Presence grade will be adopted.]


    [Stage Presence: A-]


    [Current Stats:


    - Vocals: SS


    - Dance: S-


    - Visual: S-


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: S-


    - Acting: B-


    - Stage Presence: A-]


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise since he was expecting to start at a lower level. Nheless, he was happy that he actually had a satisfactory stage presence already.


    June went out of his room and was met with the sight of his teammates.


    "You were right!" Akira eximed. "Kim Sua has finally been detained."


    June smirked as he rested his hand against the couch.


    "What did I tell you?" he asked.


    Jisung walked to where he was and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.


    "I never doubted you¡ªnot even for a second," he smiled.


    June merely smiled, feeling thankful for their youngest member.


    "Well, I hate to break it to you, but we have to go back to practicing now," Jaeyong said, shattering the celebratory atmosphere.


    Akira groaned as heid down on the couch. "Can''t they make us rest for one day? Just one day, please? We''ve been through so much these days."


    Jaeyong sighed and hoisted Akira up.


    "As much as I want that to happen, you have to understand that theeback date is near. We can''t afford to lose any more time."


    June nodded in agreement. "We are still yet to make a choreography for our B-side track. It seems like thepany didn''t push through with having it made by a choreography team."


    "As expected," Sehun said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "They really don''t pay any mind to this song after we''ve produced it. It seems like their main focus is on the title track."


    "That isn''t necessarily a bad thing, though," Ren chimed. "I feel like we''re finally given the freedom to incorporate our artistry into the album. It''s only for one song, but it''s better than nothing, right?"


    "Yup," Jisung said. "Since you guys produced the song, I''ll spearhead the choreography-making."


    "Thanks, Ji," Jaeyong said, patting his back.


    "Shall we go then?" the leader asked. "Tank is already waiting for us."


    "Let''s go."


    ***


    The eight members of EVE finally arrived at their dance practice room, where they saw Tank and another familiar face.


    Their eyes widened in surprise when they realized who it was.


    "Gun?" they eximed in unison.


    June, who was at the very back, halted when he looked into a pair of familiar eyes.


    He was taken back to the time when these very eyes looked at him with scrutiny. Now, they were looking at him so warmly.


    "It''s been a long time," Gun said. "It''s great seeing you all in good shape. I''ve been monitoring you guys since the show ended."


    The guys finally snapped out of their surprise and excitedly went to their dance mentor. The others warmly greeted him, and Jisung and Akira even hugged him. However, June stayed at the back, not really knowing what to do.


    "Were you the one who created the choreography for our title track?" Jisung excitedly said, almost bouncing on his feet.


    Gun chuckled as he nodded.


    "Yes. I had my team make the choreography for your guys'' song. At first, I was a bit hesitant since the song wasn''t to my liking. However, after the improvements, I could dly say that it''s going to be a great song. So, we also vamped up your performance."


    "Sweet!" Zeth eximed. "Does it involve removing our shirts?"


    Gun''s eyebrows furrowed as Ren covered Zeth''s mouth.


    "Don''t listen to him, Mentor," Ren said. "He''s just in the wrong headspace."


    Gun shook his head at the members'' antics. It seemed like they were trulyfortable around each other, which was great for their team dynamics.


    "Shall we start then?" Gun asked. "Tank will teach you the foundation of the choreography, and I''ll be watching for important details."


    The members nodded enthusiastically, switching to their professional modes.


    Tank started teaching the members the choreography and the formations. He had a rtively easy time since EVE was a bunch of fast learners.


    Tank always enjoyed working with EVE because, aside from them being nice, they were also very easy to teach. Moreover, they portrayed their choreography with a lot of artistry, making the teaching session even more satisfying.


    As Tank continued teaching the boys, Gun stayed on the side, watching their every move.


    Gun pursed his lips and nced at June, feeling amazed by the idol''s transformation.


    The aura he had now was so different from the one he had back on the show.


    At first, Gun was truly prejudiced against him because of the cat mask he wore. Moreover, it seemed like he didn''t have any promising talent¡ªespecially in dancing.


    Gun wasn''t lying when he said he had been monitoring EVE since the day Rising Stars had ended. Even if he was too shy to admit it, he became a fan of the group he was once aloof to.


    It was great seeing them transform from merepetitive trainees topetent idols.


    However, as Gun continued observing June, he couldn''t deny that the idol must have passed the stage ofpetence.


    He was almostplete.


    June effortlessly followed the choreography, and although he was merely looking at himself in the mirror, it already seemed like he was performing in front of a real, live audience.


    Gun would have never expected June to improve this much, especially with the state of his talent at the beginning of Rising Stars. Aside from singing, it really did seem like he didn''t have any natural-born talent.


    However, looking at him now, Gun was baffled.


    Because it seemed like he was better at dancing than Gun himself.


    "Is this what they call a monster idol?" he muttered.

 Chapter 516 A Teenie, Tiny Detail

    <h4>Chapter 516 A Teenie, Tiny Detail</h4>


    "That was tough, Mentor Gun," Akira said, lying down on the practice room floor. He was about to take off his shoes to air out his feet, but June red at him, causing him to withdraw his hand away.


    "Yeah," even the main dancer, Jisung, said, out of breath.


    June sat on the floor and drank some water. He couldn''t deny that the choreography was amazing. However, it was definitely tiring. His stamina was challenged as soon as the second chorus hit.


    They would definitely need to practice a lot if they wanted to perform the song near to perfection. It didn''t help that the song had quite a lot of high notes, making it even tougher to perform.


    "It is harder than the usual choreographies I had made," Gun admitted. "However, it''s only because I know you guys could do it."


    The members were encouraged by Gun''spliment.


    "June," Gun suddenly said.


    June raised his head to look at their mentor.


    "Yes?" June asked. Somehow, even until now, June could still remember the shit incident they had during Rising Stars.


    "Have you been taking any dance sses these days?"


    June paused for a moment and reflected on Gun''s question. He realized that he had been neglecting his dance skills a little bit. Maybe he should find a dance mentor.


    "No," June shook his head, making Gun surprised.


    Did he actually improve this much with his own effort?


    "Well, if ever you want to join sses, you cane to the studio," Gun proposed.


    June was pleasantly surprised. He never expected Gun to actually invite him to his dance studio, knowing that they weren''t even close during the show.


    "I''ll think about it," June said, although he was seriously considering it.


    Gun was a bit saddened that June didn''t agree right away, but he quickly shook off the thought since he shouldn''t be feeling this way for a grown man.


    "Well, that''s it for today," Tank said. "I''lle back tomorrow so we can work more on the details."


    "You''re not going toe tomorrow?" Jaeyong asked Gun.


    Gun shook his head.


    "I have to teach a dance ss. More and more people are bing interested in dancing because of idols, so the business is booming."


    "That''s a shame," Jaeyong said. "We''ll make sure to do your choreography justice."


    Gun smirked and patted his shoulder.


    "I''m sure you will," Gun confidently said.


    The two dance mentors prepared to leave, but they turned back when they saw that EVE was still sitting on the wooden floor.


    "Aren''t you going to leave too?" Gun asked.


    Jaeyong shook his head.


    "We have to work on another choreography," he said.


    "Oh, for that B-side track you produced?" Tank asked.


    Ren nodded. "Yeah. Thepany didn''t hire a third-party choreographer, so we''re taking the initiative to do it ourselves."


    "Do you even have any time to do that?" Tank asked.


    "Barely," Akira sighed. "We have a jacket shootter in the afternoon, and we also have another photoshoot tomorrow."


    "That''s tough," Tank said. "Just tell us when you need some help."


    "It''s alright," Jisung said. "We would like to take on the challenge despite the busy schedule. We already produced the song, so we want to make the choreography too."


    "Well, you already have experience during Rising Stars," Gun remarked. "You wouldn''t struggle much, I believe."


    "Hopefully," June whispered.


    "Well, what''s the song called? I still haven''t heard it until now," Tank said.


    The members of EVE paused for a while after Tank''s question.


    It was weird since they had never been asked this question before.


    "What was that?" Jaeyong couldn''t help but ask.


    "The title?" Tank repeated. "So I know what song to look out for once the album is released."


    The members turned to each other, all of them having a realization.


    "Why?" Tank asked, confused by the members'' reactions.


    "We might have forgotten a teenie, tiny detail about the song," Jaeyong chuckled nervously.


    ***


    "How could we forget the one of the most important aspects of the song?" Akira eximed.


    "And howe no one has ever asked us about the title?" Jisung chimed.


    "They really don''t care about this song," Sehun sighed. "No one dared remind us."


    "Well, honestly, I also don''t know how to name the song," Jaeyong said.


    "You''re right," Zeth sighed. "It''s so amazing that I feel like it cannot be summed up into a few words."


    "Well, let''s decide on the title right now before we get started on the choreography," June said.


    The other members nodded enthusiastically, diving into their minds toe up with great titles.


    "So, our title track''s name is ''Skyrocket.'' The album''s name is ''Starlight.'' What could be a good adjunct to this?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Somehow, all of this is rted to space. Even our team name and fandom name are rted to the stars and universe of some sort," Jisung pointed out.


    "I like our lore," Akira smiled. "We even came from a show named Rising Stars. I think we''re really meant to be stars of the universe!"


    "We''re going off-topic now," Zeth said.


    "What were we talking about again?" Akira asked. "Oh, right. The Directly support the authors on WebNovel!


    title!"


    "What about ''Counting Stars''?" he suggested.


    The members tilted their heads in confusion.


    "Isn''t that a song that exists already?" Sehun asked.


    Akira pursed his lips.


    "Umm, what about Pat A Trick Star?" Jisung suggested.


    "Pat A Trick Star? Patrick Star?" Zeth asked. "What does that even mean?"


    Jisung pursed his lips. "I just thought it was pretty cute."


    "Why are we so hung up on stars?" Ren asked.


    "Let''s try something else. Maybe something like¡ª''Shining Bright Like A Diamond?''" he asked.


    "That also sounds like an existing song," Zeth pointed out.


    "Nah, it''s just a lyric," Sehun chuckled.


    "Do you have any other ideas then?" Ren asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Hmm," Zeth ced his fingers under his chin. "I Am The Bestest Star?"


    "That''s a shitty ass name," Akira said.


    "Yeah, and it''s not even grammatically correct," Jisung added.


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "Alright, Patrick Star," he retorted.


    They continued brainstorming the titles of the song, but all of their suggestions seemed useless.


    Suddenly, Casper eximed loudly.


    "Luther!"


    The other members stopped conversing and turned to their weirdest member.


    Ren sighed. "We know you love your cat very much, but we can''t name our song his name."


    "Yeah," Jisung nodded.


    "His moans are already in the song," Akira chimed. "It would be excessive to let him be the title too."


    "Oh no. That wasn''t what I was suggesting," Casper shook his head. "My sister just sent a photo. Look!" he eximed, showing off his cat d in a diamond tiara.


    "Are those...real diamonds?" Zeth asked, squinting to get a better look.


    "Yes," Casper nonchntly said. "Nothing but real diamonds for the king."


    They gushed at Luther and his expensive diamonds while June was still busy thinking of a title.


    Luther...


    Diamonds...


    Stars...


    Then, it struck him¡ªthe perfect name.


    "Luster!"

 Chapter 517 I Lust You

    <h4>Chapter 517 I Lust You </h4>


    "Luster?" Jaeyong asked. "But the song''s not talking about lust!"


    Akira shook his head, massaging his nose bridge as he looked at his stupid teammate.


    "Idiot! Luster is not about lust. It''s the shortcut name of that mouthwash brand."


    June face palmed as he watched the two idiots argue.


    "I wonder how the two of you ended up in the same group twice in your lives. You are utter idiots."


    June began to exin the meaning of the title.


    "Luster is the property where light reflects against a surface. It can be a rock, mineral, or crystal. Since our song talks about a love interest shining among others, I think it''s a good representation. Moreover, we can''t deny Luther''s influence in the song, and naming it simrly to his name is paying him great tribute," June exined.


    "Luster," Sehun said, trying it out with his tongue. "It does sound pretty nice."


    "Yeah, it''s addicting to say," Zeth chimed. "I think we can go with this one."


    "I agree!" Jisung excitedly said since it was a name suggested by June.


    Jaeyong, still embarrassed with his first question, gauged the other members'' reactions. It seemed like all of them were amenable to the title.


    "It''s final then. The B-side track will be entitled¡ªLuster."


    The other members nodded in agreement, satisfied with the name of the song.


    "Let''s proceed with the choreography then," Jisung shyly said. "As I said, I will spearhead the creation. However, I will still need your guys'' help."


    "Of course," Ren said, ruffling their youngest members'' hair. "Let''s do this all together. We still have a few hours before we go for the jacket shoot this afternoon."


    They started brainstorming for the choreography, and it seemed to be going well. The verses were quickly done since the group had quite a lot of ideas. It looked easy-going, but it was also intricate. It involved a lot of carefree movements and individualized gestures.


    However, as they got to the chorus, the difficulty started rising.


    "How are we going to do this?" June asked.


    The members mimed some movements, but they all felt pretty wrong.


    "I can''te up with anything," Casper sighed.


    "Me too," Zeth said. "I''m stumped."


    "Should we move on to the next verses?" Jaeyong suggested.


    The other members agreed, so they proceeded with the other verses.


    It seemed like the curse was merely stuck to the chorus since they seamlessly choreographed the second verse and the bridge, too.


    "That was surprisingly fast," Zeth said, sitting on the floor.


    "We did that in less than two hours!" Ren eximed.


    "But we still don''t have a choreography for the chorus. Up until now, I don''t have any idea what to do," Jisung sighed, a bit disappointed.


    "It''s alright," Jaeyong said. "We already made good progress. Theeback date is more than a month away, so we still have some time. We''re going to be busier once it approaches, so it''s good that we have already aplished more than half of the song."


    Sehun nced at the clock and saw that it was already lunchtime.


    "I think we need to go. We still have to eat lunch and meet Jay to go to the jacket shoot site," he said.


    "Yeah, let''s call it a day for now. We all worked hard."


    ***


    Currently, the members of EVE were in the van on their way to the studio for their jacket shoot.


    June was on his phone, texting Jenny.


    Cousin: I got fired.


    June: Yourpany was shitty anyway. They keep the truth in exchange for bribes.


    Cousin: Bitch, everything revolves around money.


    Cousin: Now, I don''t have any money.


    Cousin: You should stay true to your word and send me a monthly allowance from now on.


    June: *sent a screenshot*


    Cousin: Holy...


    Cousin: You sent me 1,000 dors?


    June: My sry just came in.


    Cousin: Holy mother of cats! You really are rich now.


    June shrugged. He saw his sry arrive this morning, and it was much more than he expected. It was probably because of the brand deals they had done in the past month.


    It still wasn''t as much as other idols probably made, but it was more than enough for June, who didn''t have a high-


    maintenance lifestyle. So, he didn''t felt to bad giving some to Jenny.


    They arrived at Itaewon, where they parked at a familiar studio. The other members enthusiastically went in, while June dreaded going.


    They were greeted by a woman, who chicly led them inside. She stopped once she saw June.


    June sighed as the two of them made eye contact.


    "You''re still working here?" June asked.


    Esther shrugged. "It pays really well. However, I''ve already filed for an application outside of the country. I already got my visa and will be flying in two weeks."


    June shook his head. "Good for you. Is he in?"


    "He is," Esther smirked. "He''s been waiting for you."


    June shook his head as she led them inside the studio.


    What greeted him was an extravagant disy of royal and metallic ents. There were also pretty outfitsid on the side, and June inferred these were the clothes they were going to wear.


    It was quite impressive that the studio was decorated as such when the photographer was known for his simple, white-


    background photoshoots.


    However, June didn''t have any chance to dwell on it further when he felt a wet kiss on his cheek.


    His eyes widened, and he quickly shoved away the familiar figure.


    "Pablo, what the heck?" he eximed, wiping his cheek of the photographer''s saliva.


    "It''s been a while. Howe you''re even more handsome?" Pablo asked, observing June''s face.


    June merely sighed and didn''t respond.


    "Oh, and I''m diligently watching your series. I don''t like that Nayeon girl, but your bulge was very deli¡ª"


    "Shut up," June said, ring at him.


    Pablo pursed his lips and didn''t dare continue his statement.


    Jay cleared his throat and went in between them. "So, I''m sure you''ve all met Pablo. He was the one who took your photos during your debut, and he''ll be the one to take them again for this album."


    "That''s right," Pablo excitedly eximed.


    "I had my studio redecorated based on how I felt your album would look like. They gave me the title track, and I loved it. Well, I love anything with June in it, so even if it''s hot trash, I''ll still probably listen to it."


    Jay looked around the studio, amazed. "Did you pay for all of this? I recall thepany not giving any budget for the props. I thought it was going to be a in photoshoot."


    "Well, of course!" Pablo proudly eximed.


    "EVE does not deserve a in photoshoot!"


    "They deserve everything in the world!" he enthusiastically said.


    "And...maybe I want June to have an underwear photoshoot in exchange," he sheepishly added.

 Chapter 518 I Know Someone

    <h4>Chapter 518 I Know Someone</h4>


    "We can discuss that," Jay said, also wanting to see that kind of shoot.


    "Can I watch?" Casper raised his hand.


    June clicked his tongue.


    "No underwear shoot is going to happen," he firmly said. "Can we please just go ahead with the jacket shoot?"


    "Whatever June requests, I will follow," Pablo said. "Let''s get started with Jisung!"


    The styling and makeup team started preparing the boys and proceeded with the photoshoot right away.


    Setting aside his crazy antics, Pablo was truly a talented photographer.


    June, who had just finished getting his makeup done, was now monitoring Akira. He was posing before the camera, and Pablo made him appear like he had a serious aura.


    Akira definitely didn''t have that kind of aura, so that, in itself, was already a talent.


    He was waiting for his turn, and it seemed like Choi Pablo was, too. Pablo nearly squealed as June took centerstage.


    "You look like a diamond!" Pablo eximed. "I definitely chose the right outfit for you. I scolded your stylist to style you better in future schedules. Your beautiful looks are being limited with such simple outfits!"


    "I like the simple outfits," June deadpanned.


    "I do, too," Pablo smiled. "But being mmed up like this is also nice from time to time, right?"


    "Now,e on! Look pretty for Pablo!" he said.


    June sighed and posed in front of the camera. Pablo was pleasantly surprised since June had improved since thest time they had a photoshoot. He still looked a bit awkward at times, but there were also a lot of outstanding shots.


    "Handsome! Handsome!" Pablo continued to exim.


    June smirked in satisfaction, and at that moment, Pablo quickly captured the shot.


    "This is it," Pablo said. "I don''t need any more shots!"


    With that, June''s photoshoot quickly ended. For thest part of the shoot, the members grouped together to get their photos taken.


    The atmosphere in the studio was lively and harmonious, with all of the members enjoying the photoshoot with Choi Pablo.


    They were thankful that the photographer made the shoot very enjoyable. It almost felt like they weren''t working for most of the time.


    After a while, the shoot finally ended, and the members were now getting dressed in their normal clothes.


    The skies had already turned dark, and they were making ns to have dinner.


    "Why don''t we go to a pork belly ce?" Pablo suggested, not wanting to let June go just yet.


    "Your treat?" Akira shamelessly asked.


    Ren clicked his tongue and pped Akira''s arm out of embarrassment.


    However, Pablo enthusiastically agreed.


    "Of course!" Pablo eximed. "Let''s go. All of the staff members shoulde too."


    June sighed at the thought of being with Pablo even after work hours. The photographer was very talented, but he also annoyed June to the max.


    Even now, he was pointing to his crotch, silently convincing June to have the underwear photoshoot.


    June firmly shook his head, causing Pablo to visibly slump his shoulders.


    Fortunately, they were in different cars as they went to the pork belly ce. However, Pablo didn''t give June much space to breathe as he sat next to him in the restaurant.


    "Under¡ª"


    "No," June deadpanned. "I''m never going to do it."


    Pablo shook his head,ing up with new strategies on how to encourage June for that photoshoot. After ''Hate To Love You''s'' first episode aired, June''s image had been stuck in his head.


    "Why not?" Pablo asked out of disappointment.


    "Thepany doesn''t allow it," June said to finally get Pablo to stop talking about the underwear shoot.


    Just then, Jay inserted himself into the narrative.


    "I can probably convince them," he said.


    Pablo''s eyes sparkled in excitement.


    "Even then, I still won''t do it," June stubbornly said.


    Pablo clicked his tongue and finally dropped the topic.


    As the meat arrived, Pablo started grilling it for June.


    June didn''tin. This was his job when he was part of the White Tiger Gang¡ªgrilling the meat for his superiors. So, being served was a great change.


    "How''s theeback preparations going?" Pablo asked, finally saying something normal.


    June shrugged.


    "It''s going pretty smoothly," June said. "There are some problems with thepany here and there, but it''s not something the team can''t handle."


    "That''s great," Pablo genuinely said. "If you have any trouble, just tell me. I may not look like it, but I''m pretty influential. I might not be as rich as Azure, but I''m still pretty rich."


    "Yeah, I know," June chuckled, recalling his past scandal that involved Choi Pablo''s parents.


    "What about you?" June asked. "What are you up to these days?"


    "Photoshoots, as usual," Pablo said. "I found some pretty promising artists, but no one canpare to you."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "However, I am pretty sad that Esther is resigning. That sneaky woman was actually looking for another job while working in my office. Now, I''m stuck looking for a person whose moral ground is skewed. I need someone who''ll do anything for me!"


    June stopped midchew after Pablo''s statement.


    "Right¡­you need a new assistant," June muttered."One that''s thick-faced, down-to-earth, and borderline crazy?" he asked.


    "Exactly!" Pablo eximed. "You get it. I had some applicantse in this morning, and none of them were like that."


    A smirk appeared on June''s face.


    It seemed like he wasn''t actually going to send someone a monthly allowance anymore.


    "I think I know a person like that."


    ***


    Cousin: Why the hell did THE Choi Pablo just email me?


    Cousin: And he''s telling me to convince you to do an underwear photoshoot.


    Cousin: Reply to me!


    Cousin: June!


    June shook his head and tossed his phone aside, ignoring its constant notifications. Instead, he opened his closet and stared at himself in the mirror while miming some movements.


    He wanted to sleep early since they had a long day tomorrow, but he couldn''t shake off Luster''s chorus out of his mind.


    Despite Jaeyong''s assurance that the group still had some time to create the choreography in the uing weeks, June couldn''t keep still knowing that the chorus was still not finished.


    He yed the song in his earphones and tried multiple movements. However, none of them seemed to match with the song. He continued dancing in different styles, but then again, none of them fit.


    June sighed and sat on his bed, suddenly feeling exhausted.


    He brought out his phone and halted when he saw the calling card kept inside his case.


    June pursed his lips and brought out the card, intently staring at its contents.


    ''Trigger Dance Studio.''


    Then, he remembered Gun''s words in the practice room a while ago.


    "I have to teach a dance ss. More and more people are bing interested in dancing because of idols, so the business is booming."


    June hummed.


    Maybe he could spare an hour or two.

 Chapter 519 A Total Beginner

    [Dance: S-] They did quite a lot of preparations for this day. They finished their jacket shoot in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, they attempted to perfect the execution of their title track. Afterward, they practiced the choreography of ''Luster.'' However, it seemed like they were still stuck on the chorus, none of them being able toe up with any choreography. Not only that, but they also tried practicing ''Skyrocket'' and ''Luster'' one after the other, and to sum it up, June struggled to keep up with his breath. With him being the main vocalist, he felt like he was being limited. It was true that he had learned a lot of stability techniques from Magic Mama. However, he realized that his dancing also affected his stability. So, with that, June ultimately decided to join Mentor Gun''s dance ss for the night. He nced at his phone and confirmed today''s schedule. 5 PM: Intermediate


    7 PM: Advanced


    9 PM: Beginner


    June tried to make it into the advanced ss. However, the group insisted they go out for dinner. Therefore, he arrived at the studio at 9 PM. "I''ll be back at exactly 10:30 PM!" Jay eximed from the car. "Don''t take too long since we have an important shoot for tomorrow." "Got it," June said, adjusting his mask and hat as Jay sped into the distance. Then, he stood in front of a three-story building, gazing at the signage on the first floor. ''TRIGGER'' June was familiar with the dance studio since they were well-known for curating choreographies for K-pop idols. Aside from this, they also posted dance covers in their studio on YouWatch. They''re even one of the leading dance studios in terms of views!


    He stood outside the door, which looked very sleek, and hesitated to enter the room. It was already a few minutes past 9 PM, so the ss must have started already. Moreover, this was a beginner''s ss, and June honestly didn''t know how to ssify his dancing skills. Sure, he had S- skills, but his knowledge and background in dance weren''t any better than that of a beginner. He had only started dancing not even a year ago! So, with this in mind, he knocked and waited for someone to open the door. Inside the room, Gun and Katana, looked at each other in confusion. Gun did a quick head count and confirmed that all of the registered applicants were already inside the room. "Is somebody else from the crewing?" Gun asked, confused. The fifteen students in the ss were also confused as their warm-up session was interrupted. "Not that I know of," Katana answered. "Tank already went to Azure this morning, so he''s resting. Dagger is in Japan with his family. Meanwhile, Missile is busy going on another blind date," she whispered. "Hmm," Gun hummed. "Must be a walk-in client. Why don''t you tell them that all slots are already filled up for the night?" Katana nodded and went to the door. She twisted the knob and opened it, revealing a semi-tall figure wearing all-ck clothes. He didn''t look familiar, so she inferred that he truly must be a walk-in student. "Are you nning on joining this ss?" she asked. The man nodded. "Did you register online?" The man paused for a moment, then he shook his head. Of course, June didn''t register online. Gun told him he coulde any time. The woman gave him an apologetic smile. Katana felt pretty bad since his eyes were very pretty. She wanted to teach a handsome student!


    "Umm, I''m sorry. This ss is only for people who have registered online. If you want, we can register you for the uing sses for the following days." June shook his head. He didn''t know if he would have any free time for the next few days. "It''s alright. Thanks," June nonchntly said, about to leave. However, Gun halted the warm-up once again when he recognized the voice. Gun snapped his gaze to the door and found the familiar figure leaving. Without any hesitation, he ran up to the man and held onto his wrist. "June?" he eximed with wide eyes. Katana''s eyes also widened. She acknowledged that his eyes were handsome, but who would have thought it was June¡ªthe multi-talented idol of the 5th generation!


    "I¡ªI," Katana stammered. Meanwhile, the students inside the room craned their necks to get a better look at the situation. June finally removed his cap and mask, causing an uproar inside the room. The nine girls turned to each other and gushed as they were graced by the handsome man. Meanwhile, some of the boys were somehow displeased. Nheless, they were amazed as June stood before them, his face shining among the rest. In the room of average-looking people, June truly stood out.


    Some of them wanted to bring out their phones, but their gadgets were stuck in the locker outside of the room. Gun and Katana continued looking at June with wide eyes, in disbelief that he was in their beginner''s ss. "So, uh, what do you do in here?" June asked, finally breaking the silence.


    Gun cleared his throat and stepped back. "You actually came?" he asked, sounding touched. "Yeah," June nodded. "You told me I coulde any time." "Of course," Gun eximed. "You''re always wee here. I just didn''t expect you toe as early as now." June scratched the back of his neck. The action sent another uproar in the room. June was much more handsome up close¡ªeven if he was just doing simple actions!


    One girl shyly raised her hand. "Umm, are you sure you''re in the right ss?" she asked. "This is the beginner''s ss." June nodded. "Yeah. I started dancing around nine months ago." The students chattered, wondering if June was telling the truth. The people who had seen his performances before couldn''t believe that he had started dancing around the same time as them. One man, who had been dancing for a little over three years and hadn''t seen June''s performances before, smirked to himself. He was already confident with his dancing skills, and the only reason why he was staying in the Beginner''s ss was because it was the only one he could attend with his current schedule. ''Looks like I''ll be the best dancer of the day,'' he thought. "Why don''t we start?" Gun asked, already feeling excited to teach the ss. "Is it alright if we go ahead with the ss? We already warmed up," he said to June. June nodded without any hesitation and went to the very back. He didn''t have anyone in his row, which he was thankful for. "Since we are celebrating girl group week, we will be learning a fun dance song from an uing girl group!" "Let''s all have fun learning ''Boom Up!'' by MOOMOO!"

 Chapter 520 Boom Boom

    June felt like a total beginner. He marked all of the movements without giving it his all since he was sure that he''d look like an amateur if he did. Thest time he attempted to dance something this quirky was during his audition in Rising Stars. ''Hip-Hop ABC'' by Little Meow Meow was simr to the song they were currently learning. However, the main difference was¡ª''Hip-Hop ABC'' was for total beginners. Even 10-year-olds can dance to the song. Meanwhile, ''Boom Up'' was for beginner dancers...especially those who specialized in girl group dancing.


    "One...and....two...and three," Katana said, moving her hips left to right while her hands were crossed in front of her waist.


    June pursed his lips as the students struggled to get the movements right. However, one of the students, particrly the man just right before him, followed Katana without any struggle. He was still a bit stiff. However, out of all of them, it seemed like he was the most confident. June marked the movement once again, causing Gun to frown. However, his frown quickly eased when he inferred that June was just saving his energy. However, in reality, Gun was mistaken. June knew how to do the moves. He even memorized up until the second chorus while almost all of the other students struggled to remember the first few movements. The main problem was that June wasn''t used to this kind of dancing style. He was confident in boy group genres. He could even dabble in contemporary dancing.


    However, girl group dances entailed a gracefulness that took a new level ofmitment.


    "Why don''t we do a rundown for now? Then, we can dance by groupter on?" Katana asked, excited to see the students'' progress. Others groaned, while others were excited to show off their dance moves.


    They did a quick rundown of the dance, with June still marking the movements. Fortunately, one of the male members raised his hand to ask a question. "I''m struggling to do the graceful movements," he said. "Do you have any tips on how to make my moves look more dainty?" June heard the man before him scoff, causing him to frown. He had been observing him since the beginning of the ss, and it seemed like he had a superiorityplex. Gun acknowledged the question and went to the front. "This is actually a frequently asked question," Gun started off. "First, we have to recognize that men and women are anatomically different. It''s something we can''t escape. There are movements that women can do best and vice versa with men. However, that doesn''t mean we can''t make up for the differences." "The first step is to have a thick face," Gun said. "This is more rampant in men, but some are ufortable with doing dainty movements when, in reality, they can do it if they just swallow their pride." June pursed his lips. That definitely was an issue for him. "Second, you need to have good foundations. Bodyrolls, body part istions, and simple rhythmical y are all aspects that one should be familiar with if they want to excel in a lot of genres." June nodded, taking Gun''s words and engraving them into his mind. Then, Gun proceeded to demonstrate the chorus before them. June couldn''t deny the mentor''s talent and experience. He made the move look graceful yet manly at the same time. June marked the movement once again. Then, he finally realized that he was oveplicating the movements. This was a beginner''s ss for a reason. He just needed to let go of his inhibitions and move his body until it felt right. "Alright, we''ve already passed the 45-minute mark. Shall we start with the first demonstration?" Katana asked. "Let''s go!" the students excitedly eximed. "Let''s have groups of five present the dance up until the first chorus," Gun said. "We''ll be choosing the best dancers among all of you, and two people¡ªone man and one woman¡ªwill get the chance to join us in a video with other dancers! It''s part of our anniversary special, so expect some famous faces!" The students chattered excitedly, all wanting the chance to dance with famous dancers. Meanwhile, June was busily marking the movements, wanting to show his best in front of the mentors and students. Truth be told, he didn''t even hear the benefit of being in their anniversary video. Instead, he was focused on showing off and keeping his reputation as an idol. "Why don''t we start with the first group?" Gun asked, leading the first five girls to the front.


    They shyly took their formations; however, once the music started, they moved in unison with the beat. A small smile appeared on June''s face. It was reinforced that he was, indeed, in a beginner''s ss. He could see his past self in the way they moved, but it was impressive how they danced until the end. Katana and Gun, too, pped loudly as the first chorus faded. It seemed like Gun had a change of heart and evenplimented the girls, although they didn''t dance to his expectations. "Let''s have the next group," Gun said. Three girls and two boys went to the front this time. The girls in this group were simr to thest one, their faces showing pure enjoyment. The boys evidently struggled more, with their movements being stiffer than that of thedies. Nheless, June still pped for the effort they had made. The next group was only filled with boys. "Let''s go," Katana excitedly eximed as the music yed. The others looked nervous as they started moving. However, one person stood out. The man, who has been boastful from the start, actually had a reason for his attitude. He wasn''t a beginner but an intermediate dancer at best. However, in a group filled with beginners, his skills were highlighted even more, making him shine under the artificial lights. As the song ended, Gun and Katana nodded at each other in pleasant surprise. "You''ve improved once again, Inseong," Gunplimented. "You should really consider moving up into the intermediate ss." Inseong smirked in satisfaction, loving the way the other boys looked at him with envy. As he walked back to their spot, Inseong''s eyes met with June''s.


    June couldn''t be mistaken. There was a mischievous expression in Inseong''s eyes as if he was saying, ''I''m better than you.'' "June," Gun said, snapping their eye contact. June stood and looked to his side, realizing that he had to dance all alone. "Are you okay with dancing alone?" Katana asked. June smiled, walking to the front and assuming his position. "It doesn''t matter," he said. "I just have to dance, don''t I?"

 Chapter 521 Dance and Decibels

    <h4>Chapter 521 Dance and Decibels </h4>


    June stood in front of the studio while the others stepped back, acting like they were in a concert hall.


    The girls gazed up at him with sparkling eyes, while the others were simply amazed by his handsomeness and presence.


    "I can''t believe we get to see this for free."


    "Me too. I wish I could brag about this to my friends, but Mentor Gun told us not to take pictures."


    "Yeah. I want to take a picture with him, too."


    "Did you see him struggling in the back, though? I think he''s really a beginner."


    "How could you say that? Have you seen his past performances?"


    "No. I only watch girl groups."


    The onlookers looked forward to June''s performance. However, the person who was looking forward to it the most was Gun.


    He wanted to see if June could pull off this genre, too.


    Katana excitedly yed the music and waited for June to start moving.


    June, too, prepared himself to dance to the unfamiliar genre.


    However, as Mumu, the center of MOOMOO, started singing, June suddenly froze.


    [Congrattions! You stepped on a lucky mission]


    [The mission is entitled: Dance the Night Away]


    [Impress the beginner dancers by making them scream]


    [The scream needs to reach a certain decibel in order for it to count as a sess]


    [Needed decibels: 125]


    [Exceed needed decibels and have the chance to earn a special power-up!]


    [Duration: until the end of the dance ss]


    "See?" Inseong chuckled as June stood frozen in front of the room. "He can''t even remember the first step."


    "Was I mistaken about him? Can he not dance anything except for boy group dances?"


    Meanwhile, June was busily cursing Fu inside his mind.


    Here he was again with his unusual timing and ridiculous missions. At this point, June should have been used to it.


    However, it seemed like he could never really get used to Fu.


    "Umm, June?" Gun asked, confused. "Are you okay?"


    June snapped out of his thoughts and focused his gaze on Gun.


    "Yeah," he responded. "I just remembered something for a moment."


    "Do you want to start over?" Katana asked.


    June nodded, clearing his throat and preparing himself to dance the song for real this time.


    As Katana reyed the music, it seemed like the others'' expectations were lowered.


    However, his first move instantlymanded attention. He moved with a grace that seemed effortless.


    Since the movements were fit for a beginner, it appeared like every step was precise, and each movement was deliberate. His body slowed with the rhythm, and his limbs extended and retracted perfectly in time with the beat.


    His moves weren''t just delicate. There was an underlying power in them, but he still appeared light on his feet.


    The audience watched in awe as June brought the girl group''s song to life. Some of them had doubted his ability to perform a genre outside of his usual repertoire, but he proved them wrong with every fluid movement.


    June''s body lines were curved in all the right ces.


    And although the dance was already quite easy, he still made it look easier.


    As the song reached its chorus and the iconic hip-swaying part approached, June performed without any inhibitions.


    He continued to move fluidly, letting go of his embarrassment.


    When the song started nearing its end, June gave it his best since he wanted to aplish his sudden mission.


    However, when the song finally ended, he wasn''t greeted with any apuse.


    Instead, he was met with silence, the people looking up at him in amazement.


    June pursed his lips to hide his disappointment. He was thankful that they looked to be in awe. However, he would appreciate it more if they actually cheered for him!


    After a while, the people started cheering. However, it only got up to 115 decibels.


    "What the heck? Why is he so good?"


    "His hips are bouncier than mine when I''ve already given birth twice!"


    "Boys, I''m in trouble. My heart fluttered."


    Gun couldn''t believe that June was able to pull off this kind of genre, too. From the way he moved during their practice, it almost seemed like he only excelled in boy group dances.


    However, he was truly a versatile performer.


    Katana, too, felt her heart fluttering as she looked at June. His handsome looks and his great dancing skills were a deadlybination!


    June went back to his spot, still a bit disappointed that the screams for his dance didn''t reach 125 decibels. There was only about half an hour left until the ss, so he needed to think quick if he wanted to aplish the mission.


    "Let''s have a small break as we discuss who will join us for the special video."


    June lifted his head, confused. Then, he turned to the girl who was sitting by his side.


    "Special video?" he asked.


    The girl''s cheeks reddened as June looked into her eyes.


    "The people who danced the best would be featured in TRIGGER''s anniversary dance video," she shyly said.


    June pursed his lips. Maybe he should have toned it down a bit.


    There was no doubt that he danced the best among everybody else!


    However, he doesn''t even have time to sleep, so how can he join their anniversary video?


    "Thanks," June mindlessly said to the girl.


    The girl giddily went to her friends, who all gushed about how lucky she was that June talked to her.


    Meanwhile, June was still thinking about the special video.


    However, he quickly set the thought aside and shifted his attention back to his ongoing mission.


    He had less than half an hour now, yet he still didn''t have a clue how to make his fellow students scream with his dancing.


    ''Should I just perform again?'' he thought.


    ''No, that''s just stupid.''


    ''Should I perform our new song?''


    ''Nah, no spoilers.''


    ''Or maybe...''


    June quickly shook away the thought since it was something he couldn''t imagine doing at that moment.


    Meanwhile, Gun and Katana had just finished their conversation.


    Gun pped to capture everyone''s attention.


    "You can continue your break," he said. "I''m just going to announce the two individuals who will be joining us for the anniversary video."


    "First, for thedies, we have Lily!" Katana excitedly eximed, gesturing to thedy who answered June''s question a few moments ago. Her face was still red from their interaction, but it became an even deeper shade of red once her name was called.


    "Thank you, mentors," she bowed. "I''ll make sure to practice well for the anniversary video."


    Gun and Katana smiled at her cutement.


    "And for the men," Gun said, clearing his throat.


    Inseong straightened his posture, getting ready to get called. He was sure he was going to be chosen since he believed he danced the best out of everybody else.


    Besides, choosing June was an obvious choice. It was unfair to give a famous person even more exposure!


    "June, congrattions!" Gun eximed. "You danced the song really well, and TRIGGER will be honored to have you."


    June pursed his lips. He already expected this. However, his stance remained the same.


    He needed to refuse.


    So, June opened his mouth to deny the invitation.


    However, before he could get even a single word out, another person had already spoken.


    "I object!" Inseong eximed.


    They turned to Inseong with wide eyes, surprised at his sudden outburst.


    Gun pursed his lips. "I''m sorry, Inseong. We have already made our decision. We based this on the technicality of your dancing."


    "Then, think about it again," Inseong said.


    Katana frowned in confusion. "What do you suggest we do then?"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when Inseong started walking over to where he was, not daring to break eye contact.


    "You and me," Inseong pointed to June, then to himself.


    "Let''s have a dance battle."

 Chapter 522 Ready for Mature Roles

    <h4>Chapter 522 Ready for Mature Roles</h4>


    June stared into Inseong''s eyes, not fazed by thetter''s challenging gaze. Excited and eager whispers engulfed the room as the two of them maintained eye contact. The tension in the room increased, but so did the excitement.


    "Are you sure you want to do these boys?" Katana asked, her voice excited but cautious.


    "I''m down," Inseong said, having experienced dance battles during his time in the studio.


    June shrugged, silently agreeing to the battle.


    At first, he was also hesitant. He didn''t see the reason for battling with this little shrimp. However, he realized that this was his chance to fulfill his mission.


    He needed to make everyone in this room scream...


    ...and he already had a n on how to do that.


    Meanwhile, Gun went closer to June and softly said, "Are you sure about this?"


    June silently nodded.


    "Do you have any experience in dance battles?" Gun asked.


    June shook his head. He had watched Zeth and Akira battle in their dorm before, and to be frank, they just looked goofy as hell. Aside from that, he doesn''t have any idea how they work.


    "There''s a first for everything, right?" June asked, a small smirk ying on his lips.


    Gun shook his head in amusement before stepping back.


    "Alright, let me exin the rules," he loudly said, capturing everybody''s attention.


    The excited room turned silent as Gun spoke.


    "We''re going to have two rounds," he started off.


    "Each person will have thirty seconds to perform. The songs will be given at random, and you can step out first if you want to dance to the song. Got it?"


    June and Inseong nodded, still not breaking eye contact.


    "By the end of the two rounds, the winner will be determined. To avoid any usations of bias, the students will decide on who danced better."


    "That''s better," Inseong said, confident that he was going to win. He had mingled with the people in this very ss for quite a long time now. Meanwhile, it was only June''s first time in the studio.


    "Let''s start!" Gun excitedly said, already looking forward to the two individuals'' dances.


    Gun had been teaching Inseong for a little over six months now, and he came every week, showing his dedication as a dancer. He already had some background when he joined, so he was one of the best dancers in the ss.


    Meanwhile, June was a student that Gun regarded as one of his precious creations. Gun never expected to fall for June''s idol charms, but he did, and now, he felt like he couldn''t escape.


    He yed the first song, and a quirky girl group tune filled the room. The onlookers burst into cheers as Citrus Chocte by ELENA set the tempo, the infectious melody urging the dancers to dance loosely in their seats.


    June didn''t waste a moment.


    He dove into the dance, incorporating the tips and techniques that Gun and Katana had imparted earlier.


    He hadn''t freestyled before, but in that moment, he let the music guide him, allowing himself to jive and groove without any care in the world.


    The onlookers screamed louder as he moved his hips gracefully, appearing like a real girl group member.


    [Current decibels: 121]


    However, it wasn''t enough to reach the 125 decibels he needed to fulfill the mission.


    "3¡­2¡­1¡­!" Gun screamed, signaling the end of June''s turn.


    There was a wide smile on Gun''s face as June made his way back to his spot. He knew that June was a fast learner. However, the fact that he could incorporate the techniques that they only taught a while ago into a freestyle dance was very impressive.


    As the second song began, a boy group anthem filled the air, signifying Inseong''s turn to shine.


    However, as he took the floor, a few fumbles crept into his routine. Nheless, he remained boastful, ignoring the questioning looks on the audience''s faces.


    The song ended with June being the obvious winner.


    "June killed that."


    "June killed Inseong."


    "It didn''t evene close."


    "Yeah, hasn''t he been dancing for three years?"


    Inseong heard their whispers and suddenly became frustrated.


    As the second round started, Inseong was more determined to show off his skills and defeat June.


    The two of them stood at opposite ends of the studio, with Inseong plotting June''s defeat and June wanting to get this over with.


    As the music started once again, a familiar tune filled the air, sending a surge of excitement through June''s veins. It was none other than Heatwave by OCTA, a song he had always wanted to dance to.


    His mind strayed to Uno. Come to think of it, it had been a while since he had seen or even spoken to his rival. He wondered if they were going to cross paths once again for thiseback.


    However, his thoughts were snapped back to reality when he felt a soft push on his shoulder.


    June finally paid attention to Inseong, who was practically begging for it.


    Heatwave''s chorus yed, and he danced enthusiastically. There was no freestyle this time; instead, Inseong attempted to mimic the original choreography of the song.


    But it was a mistake. His movements were too aggressive, too forced, andcking the fluidity and finesse of the original performers. June shook his head, disappointed by the tastelessness of it all.


    But to his surprise, the other students seemed to eat it up, cheering and apuding as Inseong finished his routine. It was clear that their amateur eyes couldn''t discern the difference between passion and imitation.


    As the next song started, June''s smirk returned.


    This was it.


    This was the moment he had been waiting for.


    He had been plotting since earlier how he could get the people to scream for his performance. All he needed was the right song¡­and fortunately for him, Gun chose the right song for thest round of the battle.


    The opening beats of "Bodyroll" by DR IVAN filled the room, instantly igniting a wave of excitement among the crowd. June stepped forward, his hesitation evident as he nced around at the expectant faces.


    "Fuck it," he whispered.


    June ced his hand on the hem of his shirt and started hoisting it up.


    He couldn''t believe he was about to do this, but he knew it was now or never.


    It was time to bring out his sex appeal.

 Chapter 523 Bringing Sexy Back

    <h4>Chapter 523 Bringing Sexy Back </h4>


    With a deep breath, he surrendered to the rhythm, allowing his body to move in sync with the pulsating beat.


    Originally, DR IVAN incorporated a belt routine into his performance, making it more sensual than the average K-pop song. However, with June''sck of props, he decided to make full use of his body instead.


    His movements were smooth and seductive, each roll and sway drawing the attention of everyone in the room.


    At first, the spectators were stunned, their eyes glued to June as he effortlessly showcased his sexy dance moves.


    "I think my nose is bleeding."


    "I want to bite."


    "This is the best dance ss I have ever attended."


    Just then, when they thought they had seen it all, he did the unexpected.


    Pursing his lips, June hoisted up his shirt, revealing a glimpse of his toned abs to the stunned audience.


    His expression showed his distraught. However, the audience interpreted it as a sexy expression, making them scream in shock.


    [Current decibels: 125]


    Finally, a smirk arose on June''s lips, making him look even sexier.


    [Current decibels: 127]


    He knew he had the looks, and he wasn''t afraid to use them to his advantage. The crowd was mesmerized, their eyes glued to his every move, even the guys finding themselves unable to look away.


    "Is this really June?"


    "Isn''t this the first time he''s showing his abs to the world?"


    "We''re actually the first ones to see it?"


    Just when it seemed like he would reveal all, he brought his shirt back down with a smirk, leaving the audience hanging on the edge of their seats, craving more.


    The damage had already been done, though, the screams echoing in his ears as he basked in the adoration of his fellow students.


    [Current decibels: 128]


    He felt his hair sticking to his forehead, so he ran his fingers through his hair, earning another round of screams.


    [Current decibels: 129]


    However, his hair seemed to have a mind of its own, refusing to cooperate. To his surprise, even his failed attempt at fixing his hair elicited screams from the crowd, their enthusiasm bordering on the absurd.


    [Current decibels: 130]


    June tilted his head. Alright, this was getting ridiculous now.


    ncing at his watch, June realized that the thirty seconds were long over, but Gun had yet to end the song. Frowning in confusion, he made his way over to the mentor, cing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to get his attention.


    But as soon as he made contact, the decibels soared to over 130 as Gun reacted to the unexpected touch.


    June recoiled in surprise as the room suddenly turned awkward.


    "Was that you, Gun?" Katana asked in surprise.


    June shook his head and stepped back, suddenly feeling afraid of his past mentor.


    It turned out he only needed Gun''s scream for him to aplish his mission.


    ***


    [Dance the Night Away: Aplished]


    [Dance +1]


    [Curent Grade: S]


    [As decibels exceed over 125, the host will receive a special add-on]


    [You have gained: Mirrored Dance]


    [Learn choreographies much faster! You may now mirror dances you have only seen for a few moments.]


    [This booster is embedded in the host''s dance skills]


    [Hone it to perfection!]


    June smiled in satisfaction as he looked at his new add-on. This would actuallye in handy when learning new choreographies!


    While June was busy exploring his user interface, the other people in the room were still engrossed by his sexy performance.


    June remained oblivious as they looked toward his way. Their eyes lingered on his abdomen, wondering how such killer abs coulde from a person who looked lean and delicate.


    Even Gun couldn''t help but let out a whispered remark. "I want to do myundry on those abs," he said, earning a weird stare from Katana.


    "Shouldn''t we decide the winner now?" she asked, breaking Gun away from his fantasies.


    "Right," Gun said, clearing his throat.


    "Let''s settle this, don''t we?" he said, breaking the tension in the room.


    "Let''s go with a raise of hands. Those who are in favor of June, keep your hands down. Meanwhile, those who are in favor of Inseong, raise your hands."


    Two people stood out among the rest. Inseong and a friend he convinced to vote for him were the only people with raised arms. When they realized they were the only ones deviating from the rest, they quickly brought it down.


    Inseong clicked his tongue and bitterly looked down at the ground. He wanted to contest it again. However, he couldn''t argue with thirteen other people.


    June, on the other hand, felt disappointed. He had already forgotten that the winner of the dance battle was going to join TRIGGER''s special video¡ªsomething he wanted to avoid.


    However, as the people in the room started congratting him, he realized that he didn''t have any choice.


    "I''ll ry this to thepany," Gun excitedly eximed. "It''s still over two weeks away, so you can focus on your current projects."


    June nodded, unable to refuse after seeing Gun''s excitement.


    The people continued to congratte him, to which he smiled in response.


    However, June''s moment of victory was interrupted by the buzz of his phone, signaling a message from his manager. With a furrowed brow, he nced at the screen, his eyebrows raising in surprise as he realized it was already 11 PM.


    He hadn''t realized howte it had gotten.


    Jay: I''m being devoured by flies. Where are you?


    June shook his head and intended to take onest sip of water before leaving.


    However, he paused when he overheard snippets of conversation from the others nearby.


    They were currently talking about a new song from a girl group, expressing their disappointments.


    "I wish we could learn dances like this," one of them sighed wistfully.


    "Yeah, but let''s be real, those moves looked insanely hard," another chimed in, her brows furrowed in concentration as she tried to imitate the intricate steps.


    A third girl nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "True, but as idols, their title tracks need to be well-


    choreographed. It''s part of their image."


    "I know, but sometimes I just wish idols would tone it down a little bit," the first girl admitted with a sigh. "I mean, it''s great for them, but for us beginners, it can be really intimidating trying to keep up."


    "I agree," Lily eximed."Sometimes, I also want them to just keep it simple."


    The sentiment was echoed by the others, a collective sigh of frustration mingling with admiration for the talented people they idolized.


    Meanwhile, June, who hadn''t even had a chance to quench his thirst with a sip of water, was struck by a sudden realization. "Keep it simple," he muttered to himself, the words ringing in his ears like a revtion.


    With newfound determination, he rose to his feet, catching the attention of everyone in the room.


    The others, still eager to capture a moment with the famous idol, moved closer, their cameras poised and ready.


    But before they could ask for a photo or a signature, June held up his hand.


    "Thanks for having me tonight, guys. I had fun," he said, waving goodbye.


    He turned to Gun and Katana and bowed in gratitude.


    Before Gun could even say his goodbyes, June was already out of the room.


    "Simple," he repeated, a small smile on his face.


    "We need to keep it simple."

 Chapter 524 Up All Night

    <h4>Chapter 524 Up All Night</h4>


    June stayed up all night trying toe up with a simple choreography for Luster. He realized that the group was overplicating the choreography in the chorus because they wanted to show their fans an overwhelming performance.


    However, he realized that their title track was the overwhelming performance they were looking for.


    This meant that the B-side track was the time to slow it down, keep it simple, and just have a good time.


    Being in the beginner''s ss not only helped him upgrade his dance skills but also gave him exactly what he needed¡ªa simple choreography that lots of people could dance to.


    June even thoroughly scrolled through LikLok, an app where idols uploaded their dances and silly little challenges, to get more inspiration. He found that songs with simple choreography was a great hit to the general public.


    This merely strengthened his belief that their choreography needed to be simple.


    So, he took the initiative to finish the chorus'' choreography so he could show it to his members tomorrow.


    However, being preupied with making the choreography, he became oblivious to a discourse happening online.


    ''June in TRIGGER''s beginner''s ss! Fluke or Fact?''


    - I was one of the dancers! He really was in the studio tonight. I wasn''t able to take photos because Mentor Gun forbade us from doing so.


    - Please describe what he looks like in real life!


    - He''s ethereal! The others were right when they said he didn''t have any pores. He also smelled very good¡ªlike manly baby powder.


    - Manly baby powder? That''s exactly what I feel June would smell like.


    - Are we just going to believe that this happened? There are literally no photos that suggest it''s a fact!


    - Please take my word for it! I won''t lie about this. I''m just very happy to share what happened tonight.


    - Then, tell us more about what happened.


    - Let''s see¡­June danced to Boom Up! by MOOMOO, and he nailed it. I honestly thought he wouldn''t be able to pull it off because he was already great at boy group dances, but he was very graceful. I believe he''s shaping up to be EVE''s main dancer!


    - A main vocalist also being a main dancer? How is that possible?


    - Girl, we better add ''main visual'' too. He''s really much more handsome in real life!


    - He''s really an all-rounder, isn''t he?


    - I''m not satisfied. I need more stories.


    - The user upstairs is so demanding.


    - Fine! This is a bomb, so prepare yourselves. June danced to ''Bodyroll,'' and he showed his abs! They were very toned.


    - ¡­


    - I believed the user from the beginning, but I feel like they''re lying now!


    - Yeah, you almost had us there. I was genuinely happy that June visited the dance studio, but it seemed like it was all a fantasy.


    - What the heck? I''m telling the truth!


    - June showing his abs? That''s impossible.


    - Literally. Impossible.


    ***


    "What''s with these posts saying you revealed your abs to the world?" Casper asked as soon as June went out of his room.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed when he saw Casper lying by himself on the couch, in the same position he saw him yesterday.


    "Did you even sleep?" June asked.


    Casper didn''t respond and continued scrolling through his phone.


    "So¡­I know you went to the dance studio yesterday. Did you really show your abs?" he repeated.


    June sighed, not really knowing why Casper was asking such questions.


    "No," June lied.


    Since there wasn''t any evidence that June indeed revealed his abs to the beginner''s ss yesterday, he decided to bury the incident in the sand. He would just act like it didn''t happen in the first ce.


    Casper sighed in relief. "That''s what I thought."


    June shook his head and looked around the dorm room.


    "Why don''t you wake the members up? I have to show you guys the choreography I came up with for Luster."


    Casper''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "You already did it? We also tried brainstormingst night while you were in the dance studio, but we couldn''t really think of anything," he confessed.


    "I think I got it," June smirked. "I believe we''ve been over-


    plicating things, and that''s why we were having a hard time creating the choreography."


    "You might be onto something," Casper said, nodding in agreement. "A simple dance actually goes better with the song."


    June also nodded. "Do you want me to show you?" he asked.


    Casper shook his head, making June''s eyebrows furrowed.


    "Why don''t you show it to uster once we arrive home? We''re going to have an important shoot today."


    "Right, I nearly forgot," June said. "We have to film something again, right? Although, I wasn''t really paying attention when Jay was exining what we should do."


    "Was it a teaser? Or the music video?" June asked, still trying to recall what they were going to film today.


    Casper chuckled in amusement.


    "Silly," Casper said. "We have to film ''The King''s Joker'' today! How could you forget?"


    June froze when he heard the familiar name.


    "The King''s Joker?" he muttered, suddenly feeling apprehensive.


    Oh no.


    That only meant one thing.


    He was going to see CHAOS once again.


    ***


    They arrived at the studio with the seven members feeling excited and June feeling hesitant.


    As they walked to the filming site, he began to think about hisst interaction with Haruki.


    A murderer.


    That was what Haruki called him.


    It seemed like he had temporarily forgotten about this because of the busyeback preparations. However, it all came back to him now.


    They finally arrived at the filming site, arge studio simr to that of King of Kings. However, this time, instead of the dark interior, the room was all-white, almost like an escape room.


    It didn''t take long before the members of CHAOS arrived, bowing in unison as they greeted the staff members. They also greeted the members of EVE; however, it was evident that the two groups were awkward with each other.


    Being unable to see each other for more than two weeks also contributed to their awkwardness. As June nced at each of the members, he was reminded of the monstrous talent that they had.


    However, he smirked proudly when he realized that their team was already at par with these monstrous idols.


    June suddenly felt a burning stare on the side of his face, causing him to evade his gaze from the other members. There, he saw Haruki staring at him with a nk expression.


    Haruki kept his emotions well.


    However, June couldn''t be mistaken.


    Haruki still hated him.

 Chapter 525 The Last Laugh (1)

    <h4>Chapter 525 The Last Laugh (1)</h4>


    June continued to look around the white room where the thirteen idols stood, surrounded by the enthusiastic staff. The room was quite strange, almost like an asylum with the whiteness that engulfed it. However, the floor was something else. It had faint gray grids that made June wonder what kind of activity SBC was going to make them do today.


    "I hope we go on a trip," Akira muttered excitedly.


    "Yeah, or fun games!" Jisung eximed. "Like those in Crawling Man."


    Gideon heard Jisung''s excitement and strangely found the younger idol adorable.


    "I''d like that, too," Gideon said, breaking the ice between the two teams.


    "I''m sure we''d destroy you guys, though!" Nashon chimed, causing chuckles to erupt in the room.


    A small smile appeared on June''s lips as he watched his members get along with CHAOS. Now that they weren''t pressured by thepetitive spirit of ''King of Kings,'' they were morefortable interacting with each other.


    Except for two of their members, of course.


    Haruki and June stood at the very back, letting their members do all of the talking.


    As their members continued chattering, however, the two couldn''t shake off the feeling of unease.


    June watched as the staff began to leave one by one, their expressions unreadable as they fled the room. His eyebrows furrowed once the cameramen followed suit, abandoning their equipment.


    "The aura behind us is amazing," June heard Akira say, feeling their gazes on both Haruki and him. However, he didn''t pay them any attention. His attention was still on the singr staff member left in the room.


    "I know, right?" Kwon chimed. "These two''s auras are unbeatable. It feels like they''re filled with so much talent!"


    Haruki, too, wasn''t paying any attention.


    "See!" Nashon eximed. "They''re even ignoring us."


    June''s frown deepened when he saw the remaining staff member leave the room, ultimately leaving EVE and CHAOS all alone.


    "This is strange," June finally said, making the other boys halt their conversations.


    "Strange? How strange?" Akira asked.


    June opened his mouth to speak.


    However, before he could respond, a sudden sh of light caught their attention.


    Then, a loud booming sound was heard, making them step back and cower in fear.


    Arge "7" illuminated one of the walls, followed by a flurry of smaller numbers and equations.


    "What the heck is going on?" Kwon asked, taking cover behind Haruki''s broad frame.


    "Equations?" Jaeyong asked, bing pale as he gazed at the unfamiliar numbers.


    However, before they could even ponder upon the meaning of the numbers, the room began to fill with water, creeping slowly from the ceiling downwards. Their eyes widened in horror as they realized the gravity of the situation.


    From the start, June was right.


    He felt like the room had an ''escape-room'' vibe, and it seemed like he wasn''t mistaken.


    "It''s an escape room," he said, making the others turn to him.


    "The water isn''t draining, guys," Sehun called out, noticing that the room was being filled with a shallow film of water.


    "Are we going to die?" Akira dramatically eximed.


    Zeth shook his head, although a bit nervous. "They wouldn''t do that, would they?" he awkwardly chuckled.


    None of them answered, causing him to chuckle even louder.


    "Right?" he asked for assurance.


    "It''s our first day on the job! How could they do this to us?" Jisung eximed, already feeling nervous.


    "Stay calm," June said, shaking his head as he continued to assess the situation.


    Haruki, too, instructed his members to stay calm as they figured things out.


    June looked down to the ground and found that, indeed, the water was pooling up on their feet. He went to the door and tried to open it, but to no surprise, it was locked.


    "Should we just destroy the door?" Casper asked, standing next to June.


    "Yes!" Akira enthusiastically eximed. "Step on it, Casper!"


    Casper kicked the door to get it to open. However, before he could continue, a voice echoed through the room, cutting through the chaos with chilling rity.


    "Wee to The King''s Joker: The Last Laugh," the voice proimed.


    "Thestugh?" Ren asked. "Dang, they really want to kill us, don''t they?"


    June shook his head, also finding the situation ridiculous.


    He was expecting something much more different for their variety show.


    Maybe a brunch by the beach¡­or a rxing trip to Jeju ind. Heck, even getting ice cream and eating it near Namsan Tower was something they could have done.


    Yet, here they were, stuck in a game where they didn''t even know what to do.


    "There is only one objective," the voice continued.


    "Survive."


    With that, the room turned silent once more, only the trickling sound of water being heard in the room.


    Then, a countdown emerged above the number ''7'' on the wall, starting at thirty minutes.


    "Great!" Xion said. "We also have a timer."


    "What are we even supposed to do in this room?" Ren asked. "There aren''t any instructions or materials except for these projections on the walls.


    Truly, this wasn''t the ordinary escape room. The room was bare and had no materials to help them figure out how to escape. Only the projections on the screen remained.


    June''s gaze flickered towards therge "7" looming on the wall, a nagging sense of curiosity tugging at his thoughts. Could it hold the key to their escape?


    "What does seven even mean?" Zeth asked.


    Meanwhile, Casper continued trying to open the door. However, the staff must have been very meticulous since it was very sturdy.


    "I can''t do it, guys," Casper, one of the strongest boys among them, said.


    Haruki sighed and continued to look at the number ''7'' on the wall, making the others shift their focus on it too.


    "Let''s just figure out how to escape," he calmly said.


    Meanwhile, while the others were fixated on the number ''7,'' June decided to focus on the smaller numbers adorning the walls.


    There was no mistaking.


    These were equations.


    It had factorials, square roots, differentials, and others that contained concepts of calculus and statistics.


    "Hey," Akira said, breaking the silence. "Is there an equation where an exmation point is used?"


    "I''m confused," Jaeyong said, scratching the back of his head. "Why is there a diamond between these two numbers?"


    "Don''t look at me," Xion said. "I didn''t learn this at school."


    "Whatever!" Zeth eximed. "Let''s try solving it."


    Without any writing utensils at their disposal, they resorted to solving the equations manually, their fingers tracing invisible numbers in the air as they struggled to make sense of theplex forms.


    Amidst the chaos, a soft voice broke through the tension, drawing the attention of the group.


    "-3," "2," "4," "0," June muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the equations.


    "What are you doing?" Xion asked.


    "I''m answering the questions," June calmly said, making all of the remaining members look at him with wide eyes.


    "Are you a genius or something?" Gideon asked.


    "He is," the members of EVE collectively said.

 Chapter 526 The Last Laugh (2)

    <h4>Chapter 526 The Last Laugh (2)</h4>


    "-3"


    "-2"


    "6"


    "-7"


    June continued to blurt the answers like he was merely reciting the alphabet.


    "How do you even know how to solve this?" Xion asked, looking at June with wide eyes.


    "It''s high school arithmetics," June deadpanned. "And I like numbers."


    "We can tell," Zeth said. "I can only solve this one," he pointed to an addition equation on the corner of the left wall.


    "June already solved all 14 equations on the wall," Haruki said. "The only problem is¡ªwhat do these answers have to do with this room?"


    "My 2,000-dor shoes are getting soaked," Akira pouted, causing Jaeyong to p the back of his head.


    "That''s what you''re worried about?" Jaeyong deadpanned.


    Akira pursed his lips. "I''m just concerned for my shoes," he muttered.


    Ren shook his head. "You should be more concerned about your foot odor instead. I''m afraid you would stink up the whole ce after all of this is over."


    Akira didn''t speak any further.


    "Are you guys usually this savage?" Nashon asked, scratching the back of his head.


    "You have no idea," Sehun sighed.


    As the water continued to rise, the tension in the room reached a fever pitch. The water was already up to their ankles, and despite their efforts, they found themselves no closer to escaping the watery prison.


    With each passing moment, the relentless flood threatened to engulf thempletely, urging them to find a solution before it was toote.


    June was worried since he wore light-colored trousers for this particr shoot. If the water would rise even higher, he was sure his pants would be see-through, revealing his bulge yet again.


    He didn''t want his bulge to trend online again.


    "There has to be something," June muttered, ncing around the room.


    Just then, Akira eximed when the water from some of the ports stopped flowing.


    "Look!" he eximed. "Half of the ports on these walls had stopped spurting water."


    Akira moved to inspect what was happening with the ports. However, as soon as he moved, the water started flowing once again.


    "Aww!" he eximed in disappointment. "I thought I had it."


    June kept his gaze on the spot where Akira was once standing, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities.


    Then, he continued to scrutinize the equations on the walls, searching for any clue that might offer a glimmer of hope in their dire situation.


    June then shifted his gaze to the grid lines on the floor, a thought sparking in his mind.


    The lines had to be here for a reason. They would have ced them in a simple, white room if that wasn''t the case instead.


    As he traced the lines with his eyes, he noticed a pair of intersecting lines that stood out from the rest¡ªa subtle yet significant detail that had gone unnoticed until now.


    "A graph," he muttered to himself, his eyes widening slightly with realization.


    "We''re standing on a graph," June eximed, making the others turn to him.


    They also turned their gazes on the ground, the realization dawning on them.


    June''s eyes darted back and forth from the right wall to the left wall. There were seven equations on each wall, and each equation was in line with another equation from the adjacent wall, almost mirroring each other.


    "Then, this must be the coordinates. The numbers on the left wall correspond to the x-axis while those on the right are for the y-axis," June said, finally realizing what the production team was trying to get them to do.


    He had to give it to them.


    They were almost stumped¡­


    ¡­and his bulge was nearly shown again.


    "-6,7," Junebined the answers on the left and right wall. "That''s where Akira was first standing. Now, go back and stand in the same spot again," he instructed.


    Akira, still a bit confused, followed June''s instructions.


    Much to June''s satisfaction, some of the ports stopped spurting water once again.


    "Bingo," June smirked. "Now, someone step on -1 and 2."


    Haruki, being the closest one to that particr coordinate, walked to where it was.


    Again, some of the ports stopped spurting water, only strengthening the thought that June''s conclusion was right.


    "Omo," Gideon whispered to Nashon. "He must really be a genius."


    Just then, they felt someone creep closer to them. "We told you he was," Jisung whispered with a wide smile, feeling proud of his favorite teammate.


    "-3 and 2, Zeth, take care of it," June instructed.


    "Got it!" Zeth smiled, standing on the coordinates.


    He continued to take the lead, instructing those closest to the coordinates to take care of it.


    Then came thest equation.


    "0, 0," June muttered, finding himself closest to the coordinates.


    "This is thest one," he smiled, finally stepping where the most prominent lines intersected.


    Finally, water finally stopped flowing from all of the ports. The water was already near their thighs, so June was very thankful that they managed to survive the mission before it went near his crotch.


    The door finally opened, making the water escape.


    "Sweet!" Akira eximed. "We did it!"


    The others also celebrated, all while praising June for solving the most important aspect of the game.


    Haruki looked away, wondering how he didn''te to the conclusion himself.


    However, even while the others celebrated, June couldn''t shake off the weird feeling inside his chest.


    In this particr game, all of the elements inside the room were used in order to solve the puzzle.


    Except for one thing.


    The number ''7'' continued to re at them, not disappearing despite the equations already being gone.


    Then, without any warning, a gunshot sound was heard inside the room. The others were startled, jumping in their spots.


    They turned in the direction of the sound, only to find Sehun with his shirt stained red.


    Their eyes widened in shock as they stepped back. June, on the other hand, ran to where Sehun was, inspecting the red stain on his shirt. It strangely resembled blood, so, for a moment, he was afraid that Sehun was actually shot.


    However, looking at it closer, the stain was merely red paint.


    Before June could process everything that was happening, another gunshot sound resonated in the room, now targeting Nashon.


    It didn''t stop there.


    The gunshots continued raining until the six of them were stained with red paint.


    That was when the number ''7'' finally made sense.


    The goal of the mission was to survive.


    However, for this round, only seven of them did.

 Chapter 527 The Choice Is Yours

    <h4>Chapter 527 The Choice Is Yours </h4>


    "No!" Gideon dramatically eximed as the seven survivors were escorted out of the room.


    Casper, too, sulked on the side, not liking how he was going to be separated from the other members.


    Nheless, the group of seven survivors waved goodbye, chuckling as they observed the others'' dejected faces.


    "Have fun ying the other games, guys!" Akira eximed with a chuckle.


    The others followed suit in teasing them. They inferred that since they had escaped, the other six had to solve a puzzle once more until they escaped the room.


    However, as the doors closed behind them, the survivors quickly realized that they were the ones with the short end of the string.


    The door mmed shut behind them, sealing their fate once more within the confines of yet another room.


    Contrary to thest room, they found themselves in a dimly lit chamber.


    Akira groaned as soon as he heard the door lock behind them. Then, he also heard the teases from the other members in the next room.


    "I thought we escaped!" Akira eximed to one of the cameras.


    "What do they even want from us?" Xion asked as he sat on the floor. He still felt tired from trying to solve thest room, and now, they were now stuck in another one.


    This room was once again bare, aside from a set of five ropes hanging down from the ceiling.


    Then, the number ''5'' was projected on the wall this time.


    "There must be five survivors," Haruki said while June nodded in agreement.


    While their eyes were fixed on the five strings hanging ominously from the ceiling, the voice echoed from the room once more, its words still brief yet chilling.


    "The king wees you again, jokers," it said.


    "This time, it''s your choice," the voice dered, its tone dripping with malice.


    "It is only your choice."


    The survivors exchanged wary nces, uncertainty clouding their thoughts.


    Meanwhile, the six eliminated contestants from the next roomid leisurely on the couch that the staff had kindly provided. In their hands were different drinks while in front of them were snacks from their childhood.


    Ren smirked as he leaned against the couch.


    "I''m so d we''re eliminated," he said, watching the scene from the projection on the white wall.


    Going back to the miserable survivors in the next room¡­


    "It''s your choice," Haruki muttered.


    Just then, they heard a weird sounding from the ceiling, causing them to turn their gazes above.


    There, they saw rectangr spots in the ceiling opening up, looking like a form of escape in therge, ck room.


    With only five strings and seven of them present, they realized the cruel truth behind the voice''s words¡ªthey would have to choose who among them would be left behind.


    "We have to choose five of us to escape," Jaeyong whispered, his voice barely audible.


    "But what about the others?" Xion asked, his brows furrowed with concern.


    Before anyone could respond, Akira stepped forward, his expression impassive as he addressed the group. "I''ll stay behind," he chimed, even sitting on the ground.


    "It''s just a show anyway. Besides, I''m really, really tired. I don''t think I can climb up that rope."


    Jaeyong shook his head. "Why would you be tired when June did all the thinking in the past room?"


    Akira merely smiled, already wanting to join their rxed teammates in the next room.


    "I stepped on a coordinate!" he reasoned out.


    "Wait¡­do you guys smell that?" Jisung suddenly asked, sniffing the air.


    Xion covered his nose as the foul odor engulfed them.


    "Gosh, it smells awful," he eximed.


    Akira smiled sheepishly as he covered his wet shoes. "Sorry, that''s just my fee¡ª"


    Jaeyong covered Akira''s mouth before he could speak further. He found his teammate annoying, but he also didn''t want him to ruin his reputation in front of astras and chaotics. Although, his reputation was already good as done once Ren mentioned his foot odor in the previous room.


    "It''s not that," June said, also sniffing the air. "It smells like¡­


    smoke."


    "What the heck?" Jisung eximed, his voice trembling with fear.


    They turned towards the source of the smoke, their eyes widening in horror as they realized that a fire had ignited in one corner of the room. With each passing second, the mes spread, and within a few minutes, they were sure that the room was going to be ruthlessly engulfed.


    Without any hesitation, Akira held onto one of the ropes.


    "I''m escaping!" he eximed, taking back his previous words.


    "First, they wanted to drown us, and now they want to set us on fire?" Zeth eximed, finding the situation even more ridiculous.


    June bit his lip, about to volunteer to get left behind.


    However, before he could speak, Jaeyong stepped forward.


    "I''ll take one for the team," Jaeyong smiled at his teammates.


    "Alright," Akira said without any mercy.


    June shook his head, also stepping forward. "Are you sure? I could stay behind. It''s just a show anyway," he whispered.


    Jaeyong shook his head and pushed June toward one of the strings.


    "You go ahead," he said. "You did most of the work in thest room, so you should stay until the end."


    Meanwhile, Xion and Haruki, the only remaining members of CHAOS, also hesitated on who to send. Haruki volunteered to stay behind. Xion, however, refused to let Haruko go, so in the end, he stepped back along with Jaeyong.


    "We''re going then," June said, knowing that the fire would only stop spreading once the five of them escaped.


    The others also nodded, taking their strings and holding onto them tightly.


    They began to climb, and June couldn''t help but feel a sense of exhration as the rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins.


    However, as he neared the top, a sense of dread washed over him, a sinking feeling that something was amiss.


    To his disappointment, June realized that the people beside him had vanished, their strings disappearing into thin air. While he was hanging mid-air, he nced down and saw the others on the ground, their ropes discarded and forgotten.


    From where he was hanging, the number ''5'' became ringly obvious.


    This time, the production crew changed things around.


    For this particr mission, it didn''t mean that five people would survive. It meant that five people were going to be eliminated.


    June was surprised that he didn''t get a defective string, considering his luck.


    However, as June turned to the side, he realized that his unlucky streak was still going.


    Because right beside him was Haruki, the other remaining survivor of the mission.

 Chapter 528 What Haruki Wanted To Say

    <h4>Chapter 528 What Haruki Wanted To Say</h4>


    "So, the number five on the wall was actually the number of people to be eliminated?" Akira asked as he munched on the popcorn like a hungry caveman.


    "I didn''t expect it at all," Sehun said, amazed at the scale of the production.


    "SBC is truly a menace," Akira clicked his tongue while shaking his head.


    Xion turned to him with an amused smile before nudging his shoulder. "You know that the cameras and microphones are on, right? The staff must be listening to our conversation."


    "Of course," Akira deviously smiled. "All the more reason why they should hear meining. I almost drowned and burned to death. They should know that they ced their precious artists in grave danger!"


    "Stopining. We almost suffocated because of your feet but you don''t hear us saying anything," Ren chimed, his cheeks also filled with popcorn.


    "Bro, will you stop saying that?" Akira eximed in frustration. "I told you¡ªmy feet don''t smell any¡ª"


    "Shh," Jaeyong said, stuffing both of his members'' mouths with more popcorn as June and Haruki entered yet another room¡ªa chamber that appeared smaller than the rest of the escape rooms. There was nothing but two chairs facing each other inside. No silly props and no projections on the wall.


    Meanwhile, the eliminated members were living their best lives in the wide, white room where they had their first game. The staff had refilled their snacks and added one more couch for theirfort.


    The scene before them yed on arge projector, letting them watch what was going on in the veryst room.


    "I have to give props to the team, though," Akira chimed. "I was actually scared earlier. I thought I was in ''Scallop Game'' for a second."


    Gideon nodded in agreement. "It''s hard to believe that these two made it in the finale, though."


    "What do you mean?" Jisung asked. "They''re actually the most likely pair to make it into the finale! They contributed the most to the games. They also led us well."


    "I agree," Xion said. "Their auras are no joke. I''m d I''m not in that room anymore. I bet the tension is suffocating. I could feel it even when I''m here!"


    The others collectively nodded in agreement.


    Indeed, they were right.


    The tension in the room was suffocating; the two were almost unable to breathe.


    With their close proximity, Haruki''s hatred for June became even more apparent.


    "Wee to the final stage," the creepy voice resonated in the room.


    "It is a joy to see the two of you here. It went exactly as I had nned."


    The two frowned in confusion at the voice''s cryptic message.


    "It was heartwarming seeing the two teams working together to solve my mind-boggling puzzles. However, what you failed to realize is that this is still a game."


    "You are not a team. You are rivals."


    "And now, you are now representing your respective teams."


    "The winner of this game will win an exciting prize exclusive to your team."


    Those in the white room perked up once they heard that there would be a benefit. They started rooting for their respective members despite not knowing what it was.


    "June all the way!" Jisung cheered.


    Gideon shook his head. "Haruki''s smart too!"


    "The rules are simple," the voice continued while Haruki and June listened attentively.


    "Do not break character."


    Just then, a card flew toward them. They were both surprised since it was moved by an unseeable force.


    "Read the situation."


    Haruki pursed his lips as he hesitatingly grasped the card.


    "Two trainees. One dream," he started off.


    June waited for Haruki to read the next statement. However, after those four words, he paused, confusing June.


    Haruki read the card with his eyes, wondering how they were able toe up with such a situation. It almost seemed like the production crew was also aware of their ongoing conflicts.


    "The two of you are now fighting for a debut spot," Haruki finally continued.


    June felt his heart skip a beat once Haruki said those words. For some reason, he didn''t have a good feeling for this particr game.


    Although he still couldn''t fully decipher Choi Joon-ho''s past, he was aware that the original body also had its fair share of dark secrets.


    His trainee life was, undoubtedly, the darkest of them all.


    "You are willing to do anything to debut," Haruki said, pursing his lips.


    "Betrayal. Hatred. Crime."


    Haruki paused after he said thest word, meaningfully gazing at June in the process. June knew those words were directed at him.


    Just then, another card flew over their way, interrupting their intense stare-down.


    June reached for the card but quickly halted when the voice spoke.


    "Do not open it," the voice instructed.


    "There is a statement within the card¡ªnot more than ten words," the voice continued.


    "Here is the game''s objective: Figure out the statement inside with only your conversation. The first person who states it out loud will be hailed as a winner."


    "Here''s a tip¡ªeverything happens for a reason. Everything you see is there for a reason," the voice meaningfully said.


    "Now, let us start the game," the voice said, a twinge of excitement evident in his tone.


    "And always remember¡ªdo not break character."


    "Dang, I feel like I''m watching a drama," Ren said, already intrigued by what was happening.


    "SBC is insane," Akira said, feeling goosebumps all over his skin. "But I like it! This is so much fun. I really feel like I''m watching a real-life survival game! I bet this is going to be a hit with the audience once ites out."


    "How are they going to figure out the statement without any clues, though?" Nashon asked with a frown.


    "I know, right?" Zeth said. "Are they just going to converse and expect to blurt out the secret message?"


    The two people inside the chamber were also confused. Nheless, this felt like the confrontation that June was secretly hoping to have.


    For a moment, none of them spoke, not really finding the right words to say. However, something shed in Haruki''s eyes, and at that moment, June knew he was going to start the conversation.


    "Why did you do it?" Haruki''s voice sliced through the tense silence, sending chills down everyone''s spine.


    His gaze bore into June, searching for answers in the depths of his eyes.


    June smirked and leaned against his chair.


    Ah, it has finally started.

 Chapter 529 Sweet Betrayal

    <h4>Chapter 529 Sweet Betrayal</h4>


    June, his arms crossed in front of his chest, met Haruki''s gaze with his own challenging stare.


    "Do what?" he asked, wanting to squeeze the answer out of Haruki.


    "You know what you did," Haruki said. "You''re the reason why we''re in this situation in the first ce."


    "I don''t recall ever having a past with you," June honestly said. "So, won''t you care to enlighten me about exactly what I did?"


    Haruki chuckled bitterly as he shook his head.


    "That''s what you''re good at, huh? Forgetting," he retorted.


    June smiled. "I''m good at a lot of things. Not just forgetting. In fact, I''m probably even better than you," he taunted.


    Haruki bit his lip to keep hisposure. "Say that to my face when you''re already on my level."


    In the white room, only the sound of munching could be heard. That is until Akira broke the silence.


    "They''re good," he muttered. "They''re really good."


    Jisung, being the drama enthusiast that he was, nodded in agreement. This was better than most shows airing at the moment!


    "It''s like they''re not acting at all," he said. "They''re projecting their characters very well!"


    The staff members watching in the control room also turned to each other in pleasant surprise.


    "These two are doing much better than I thought," one of the producers said.


    "Hmm," another hummed. "They''re really good actors!"


    "You''d do anything to debut, huh?" Haruki continued, still not letting the topic go. "You''d even go to extreme lengths just to get what you want."


    "Because this is my dream," June sincerely said. "Can you hate a guy for wanting to run after his dreams?"


    "Yes¡ªif it means hurting other people in the process," Haruki responded.


    "Peoplee, and people go. People celebrate, and people get hurt. That''s the rule of life that we can''t escape. Some people will inevitably get hurt in the process," June deadpanned.


    Haruki smirked. "I figured you would say that. You are the type of person to do anything for your dream."


    "Aren''t you the same?" June threw the question back at him.


    Haruki''s smirk dropped as he couldn''t refute June''s words.


    "You and I are not the same," he said with resolution, almost gritting his teeth.


    "Are you sure about that?" June egged on, wanting to know more about their past.


    Right now, it seemed like they were speaking in riddles, and June couldn''t decipher what Haruki was truly trying to say. He also didn''t understand how this game would end.


    "We''re different," Haruki said. "My betrayal would not be as profound as yours. You''re so shameless that you even forgot about what you did."


    Just then, after Haruki uttered those words, a loud screeching sound was heard inside the room, causing the two to cover their ears.


    However, the sound was the least of their worries because right then and there, the walls moved closer to the two of them, threatening to shrink further.


    Those in the white room were shocked by what just happened.


    "Alright, I''m starting to see a pattern here," Ren chimed. "First, they wanted to drown us. Then, they wanted to burn us alive. Now, they want to crush these two to death?"


    Haruki and June started back at the ck wall that nearly touched their respective chairs.


    June paused, wondering why the wall pushed forward. Did they break a rule of some sort?


    "Gosh, this is a nightmare," Haruki muttered. "I can''t wait to wake up from it."


    Just then, the wall moved once more, pushing their chairs closer to each other.


    Their eyebrows furrowed in confusion as the walls showed no signs of stopping. Were they going to be crushed to death by the encroaching walls?


    June''s jaw clenched as he felt the room constricting around them.


    "Don''t break character," June said. "Continue talking."


    Haruki pursed his lips and reverted back to the topic they were talking about earlier.


    "You''ve hurt many people in the process," Haruki said.


    With his statement, the walls finally stopped moving, causing the two to internally sigh in relief. So, it seemed like the walls would cave in once they broke character.


    "Even you?" June asked.


    Haruki paused for a moment while June waited for his answer. However, until the end, Haruki didn''t respond. Instead, he continued talking about June''s betrayal¡ªone that thetter wasn''t fully aware of.


    The conversation between June and Haruki grew increasingly heated, each wordden with usation and resentment. Haruki''s voice trembled with emotion as he med June for shattering his dreams and betraying those around him. June, in turn, defended himself with equal fervor, refusing to back down in the face of Haruki''s usations.


    "This is Oscar-worthy," Sehun said. "I almost believe that they actually have a past as trainees."


    The other CHAOS members turned to each other with wide eyes, wondering if that was really the case. The members of EVE, too, finally realized that June was also once a trainee in Phoenix.


    As the tension reached its breaking point, June''s mind raced, searching for a way to diffuse the situation before it escted further. His gaze flickered to the small engravings on the walls¡ª


    Wait¡­engravings?


    The words ''In,'' ''The,'' ''Of,'' and ''Its'' were engraved on the walls¡ª


    words that seemed out of ce amidst the chaos of their conversation.


    "Everything happens for a reason. Everything you see is there for a reason."


    The weird voice echoed inside June''s mind.


    With a sudden realization, June''s eyes widened in understanding. The engravings held the key to his salvation, a clue hidden in in sight that only he had noticed. But Haruki, too caught up in his character and the intensity of the moment remained oblivious to June''s discovery.


    Haruki uttered the word ''betrayal'' once again, causing the walls of the chamber to close in once more.


    The room shrinked around them, pressing them closer together until their knees were touching.


    "Betrayal," June repeated, his voice barely a whisper as he maintained hisposure. With each passing moment, the walls squeezed tighter, threatening to crush them beneath their weight.


    But then, as if a switch had been flipped in his mind, June pieced together the hidden sentence, the words tumbling from his lips with a sense of urgency.


    "The sweet taste of betrayal, bitter victory in its wake," he dered, his voice ringing out.


    The room turned silent, and even those in the white room were stunned by June''s sudden exmation.


    And with those words, the walls finally returned to their original ce.

 Chapter 530 The Far-Away Ending

    <h4>Chapter 530 The Far-Away Ending</h4>


    "What?" Zeth asked, breaking the silence in the white room. "How did he evene up with those words?"


    Haruki, too, stared at June with wide eyes, wondering how he guessed the statement without a tangible clue in the room.


    The staff members were also surprised with June''s quick wit. They were actually expecting that neither of the two would guess the statement.


    The clues were too vague for them toe up with a definitive answer.


    They were nning to squeeze the two until there wasn''t any space between them. Then, they wanted to give them a fun punishment of performing a medley of girl group dances instead.


    However, with June''s utterance, their ns all went down the drain.


    Even the creepy voice was a bit flustered.


    "We have no choice," the producer said, the door finally opening.


    June smirked as he stood from his seat, still looking at Haruki with a victorious gaze.


    Then, he held out his hand for Haruki, offering to help him stand.


    However, the more experienced idol stood on his own before leaving the room without even looking back.


    June retreated his hand, still with a smirk, before shaking his head and leaving the room.


    It turns out that they were right next to the white room, so he was greeted by his members as soon as he emerged from the chamber.


    "That was so cool!" Jisung eximed, bouncing on his feet.


    "You still amaze me every time," Akira said, slowly pping in his seat. He didn''t bother getting up since he was toofortable on the couch.


    Even the members of CHAOS nodded in agreement. If this was the type of person they werepeting with on ''King of Kings,'' then there was no question that EVE was able to capture the first ce despite being a rookie group.


    "How were you able to guess the statement?" Haruki suddenly asked, surprising everyone, including June, because he sounded genuinely curious.


    June recalled the moment he realized they weren''t in a simple role-ying game.


    "Everything you see is there for a reason," June started off, repeating the voice''s advice before the start of the game.


    "At first, I thought the room was bare. However, when I looked closer, I saw writings on the wall--propositions such as ''If,'' ''In,'' and ''The.'' I knew that they were there for a reason, so I concluded that they must be part of the statement."


    "However, the problem was to figure out the words that these prepositions connected," he continued.


    The others listened attentively, feeling like they were in a crime show.


    "Everything happens for a reason," June said, saying the other advice that the voice had provided.


    "Again, when the wall first moved, I tried to think of the reason why. When Haruki broke character in the middle of the conversation, the wall continuously moved. So, I thought that was it."


    "However, it seemed to be a fluke," June smiled. "The wall still moved even when we were in character. The production team must have set that up as a distraction. The real trigger wasn''t the breaking of character--it was the words in the statement themselves."


    A look of realization passed through their eyes. Haruki, too, straightened his posture, realizing that the walls, indeed, moved when he said a particr word.


    "Sweet."


    "Betrayal."


    "Wake."


    June said the words that triggered the walls to move.


    "Ibined all of these words with the prepositions into a coherent sentence. Then, I just blurted it out," June nonchntly said.


    The others continued to look at him in amazement. However, Haruki''s statement snapped them out of their reverie.


    "Of course, you would have guessed the statement."


    "Betrayal is your expertise."


    Fortunately, the staff members entered before June could pry further.


    "Gosh, Haruki''s still in character," Jisung whispered. "What a dedicated man."


    June shook his head.


    He was definitely not in character anymore. Haruki just couldn''t stop himself from saying those words.


    They set up the camera once more and announced June''s victory.


    "Congrattions to June and EVE for winning the short and fun games we have prepared!"


    "Short and fun? You mean¡ªmurderous," Akira whispered, causing the staff members tough.


    "It must have been tough," the producer said. "However, we devised these games to bring you closer to each other. I hope it broke the ice."


    "It broke more than just the ice," Ren said.


    The others chuckled, and although they were a bit upset that the production crew had subjected them to such cruel games, they also couldn''t deny that it did bring the two groups closer to one another.


    Again, except for two people.


    The members of CHAOS knew that their leader was acting strange. He was usually serious and only sometimes yful; however, his seriousness was taken up a notch whenever June was involved.


    The other four members weren''t around when June still trained in Phoenix, so they don''t really know if the two had a past together. However, judging from their interactions, that must be the case.


    "As a reward, the team will be granted a coffee truck for your fans during your promotion period," the producer said.


    The members of EVE turned to each other with wide smiles, ted with the fact that their fans would be the recipients of June''s hard work.


    With that, the filming for the episode finally ended.


    "See you after two weeks, guys," the producer said. "We''ll be filming the second episode by then."


    They all nodded in agreement before going their separate ways. Jisung and Gideon, who had be closer after talking about dancing, exchanged numbers before they parted ways.


    As they went to their waiting room, where Jay was currently waiting, June couldn''t shake off the strange feeling in his chest.


    For some reason, he felt like there was still a lot to talk about with Haruki¡ªone that shouldn''t happen on camera.


    So, before he could even enter the waiting room, he tapped Jisung''s shoulder.


    "I''ll be going to the restroom," he said.


    Jisung nodded. "Sure. We''ll wait for you."


    June walked away from their room. However, he didn''t go to the restroom like he had told Jisung.


    Instead, he went straight to CHAOS'' waiting room. However, as he stood in front of their door, he started hesitating whether or not this was the right time or not.


    Before he could think further, he heard Haruki''s voice next to the stairs.


    "The stairs again," June sighed, feeling like he had been unusually attached to the stairs since the beginning of his career.


    "I know, mom. I''ll be going home soon. Oureback is in the fall, so I have some time," Haruki said.


    June walked closer to him,pelled to listen to his conversation.


    "Yeah. I know. I miss him too," Haruki sighed, suddenly sounding mncholic.


    "I know he wouldn''t be able to hear it, but I miss him every day."


    "If only that didn''t happen. If only he didn''t have to give up on his dreams, then maybe he''d still be here...," he said, his voice getting weaker.


    At that point, June''s frown deepened, and he felt his palms sweating.


    His head was aching, and his vision started getting blurry, too, as a person who appeared like Haruki invaded his senses.


    "If only because of him...," Haruki said with contempt.


    "Then, you would still be here..."


    ....Haruto."


    And with that, the world turned ck.

 Chapter 531 Still The Beginning

    <h4>Chapter 531 Still The Beginning </h4>


    ''Will I start every arc in the hospital?'' June thought as he opened his eyes, being greeted with the familiar viewpoint.


    He was already used to waking up in the hospital with a white cloth over his face, too, so he removed it and turned to the reason for the lusion.


    "Hi, Dr. Oh," he sighed, feeling the aura of the familiar doctor.


    He raised one eyebrow in inquiry when he saw he wasn''t in his usual white coat and was dressed in a suit instead. June was about to ask him about his get-up but decided not to in the end.


    Dr. Oh was just weird.


    Simple as that.


    "Hey there!" Dr. Oh eximed, smiling as he was greeted with June''s handsome face.


    "Do you even take day-offs?" June asked, sitting from the bed. "You''re always here when I get admitted."


    "Careful," Dr. Oh said. "Your IV line might get dislodged."


    June frowned when he saw the IV fluid attached to him. What even happened?


    "And to answer your question¡ªyes. I maximize my day-offs. However, I heard you were here, so I canceled my wife and I''s date and went here right away!"


    June''s frown deepened.


    "Are you sure that''s okay?" he asked.


    "It''s alright," Dr. Oh enthusiastically said. "She even urged me to go when she found out it was you."


    June shook his head, acting like he didn''t just hear Dr. Oh''s statement.


    Just then, the door burst open, revealing a worried Jay and Jaeyong.


    "He''s awake?" Jay asked. "Thank goodness! I thought you got shot or stabbed again."


    June tried to recall what happened but couldn''t remember anything after Haruki said a name¡ªHaruto.


    When the first of them met, June thought that Haruki looked familiar. However, his name didn''t ring a bell.


    On the other hand, June felt like he was transported back to the past once he heard ''Haruto.''


    "Do you know what happened?" June asked.


    "I don''t know," Jaeyong said. "Jisung said you went to the restroom, but you weren''t there. We started looking for you, but again, we couldn''t find you anywhere. Thankfully, Dr. Oh contacted us that you were here, so Jaeyong and I went right away."


    June turned to Dr. Oh. "Who brought me here?"


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips. "I wasn''t familiar with the man, but he was tall and handsome. He seems to be the same species as you," he responded.


    "Haruki," June whispered, certain that it was him who helped him go to the hospital.


    "So, what happened to him?" Jay asked Dr. Oh.


    June, too, didn''t know what happened to him. He felt like he was a reasonably healthy person with an above average stamina.


    However, being reminded of his past made him dizzy. Then, before he knew it, he had copsed.


    "Well, based on all the findings, his blood sugar was low. It also seems like his body has signs of fatigue. How much sleep have you been getting in the past month?" Dr. Oh asked.


    June pursed his lips. Since the group started producing ''Luster,'' he hasn''t been getting much sleep at all.


    "Around 60?"


    "60 hours in the whole month?" Dr. Oh asked. "Oh, that''s really bad."


    "No," June said. "About sixty minutes a day. Sometimes less."


    "What?" the three eximed in shock.


    June merely pursed his lips. With everything going on, he hadn''t been getting much sleep at all.


    However, his appearance still seemed okay, so he didn''t think much about it.


    "Well, that exins it," Dr. Oh said. "I''m surprised your handsome face still remained. A person getting sixty minutes of sleep a day is definitely not normal. You are advised to rest at least eight hours a day from now on."


    "Furthermore, I advise you to rest for the rest of the day. You got that?"


    "Yeah, sure," June said, knowing he wouldn''t be taking the advice seriously.


    ***


    "Advised to sleep eight hours a day?" Mr. Ong scoffed as Jay reported what had happened to June.


    "Isn''t your music video shoot due tonight?" Mr. Ong asked, spinning around his chair. After taking the blow of June''s stalking incident, he was now back to his normal self.


    However, he had been warier of June ever since that incident. He had a hunch that the idol was more intelligent than he expected...and that he had something to do with the oues of the incident.


    He still didn''t know in what way, but Mr. Ong knew that his hunches were always right.


    "Yes," Jay said through the phone. "However, I''m thinking of letting June rest first beforehand. I could just schedule another shoot tomorrow."


    Mr. Ong clicked his tongue. "Is he in any type of physical distress?"


    Jay paused for a moment before responding.


    "No," he responded hesitantly. "He fainted, though. I think that''s already enough of a testament that he needs more rest."


    "Is he awake right now?" the CEO asked.


    "Yes. We''re heading back to the dorms," Jay said.


    "Then, he must be alright," Mr. Ong concluded."We have booked this venue beforehand, and we can''t afford to book it for another day just because of one member."


    "But the doctor said¡ª"


    "Doctors are quacks sometimes," Mr. Ong chuckled. "You said it yourself¡ªJune is not in any form of distress. He should be okay. Besides, there are still a couple of hours before the evening shoot. He can rest then."


    Jay was about to argue once more, but Mr. Ong had already ended the call, making him sigh in frustration.


    "He said no, right?" June asked from behind him.


    Jay sighed as he nced behind June, feeling even worse for his situation. Looking at him now, he does look a bit exhausted.


    "Yeah," Jay said. "He said that they can''t afford to book the venue for another day."


    "What a scam," Jaeyong muttered. "I''m sure we brought in a lot of money during our debut. Where are they redirecting that budget?"


    "To their pockets, of course," June said, aware of how dirty big corporations were.


    "What are we going to do then?" Jay asked, biting his lip.


    "It''s still in the evening, right?" June asked.


    "I can just rest for a bit until the shoot."


    "But you have another schedule tomorrow," Jay sighed. "You guys have to film promotional videos for your social media pages."


    "I can do it," June said. His head was still aching, but he attributed it to the fact that his past was brought to life once more.


    His physical well-being was honestly the least of his worries right now.


    Instead, he realized that there were a lot of demons in both his and Choi Joon-ho''s past.


    He hasn''t shown his worries much, but LinZhi and Laohu still haven''t left his mind. And with the addition of Haruto, June thought he wouldn''t be able to sleep soundly anyway.


    June sighed, leaning his head and looking out of the window.


    He knew he said it was merely the beginning.


    However, he didn''t expect to find out that he hadn''te far after all.


    "There''s still so much to figure out," he whispered.

 Chapter 532 The Face Of The Man On The Rooftop

    <h4>Chapter 532 The Face Of The Man On The Rooftop</h4>


    "That''s a wrap!" the director shouted once EVE''s music video shoot came to an end.


    After thirteen long hours of filming in a box-like studio with grand props, the shoot finally ended.


    Fortunately, there weren''t any casualties. However, by the end of it, the boys looked like literal zombies with their dark under eyes and fatigued figures. Nheless, their handsome faces still shone through.


    However, again, one person stood out among all of them.


    "Every time I see June, I get humbled," Zeth sighed,ying his head on the make-up artist''s table.


    "Yeah," Akira chimed. "I wonder if he was even hospitalized less than eight hours ago."


    Sehun nodded in agreement. "I feel like the one who has been hospitalized instead."


    June, still shining like the brightest star, looked at himself in the mirror. It was true that he still looked his best, but he certainly didn''t feel his best.


    There were so many things boggling his mind, and he honestly thought he wouldn''t be able to concentrate on filming the music video with his current situation.


    However, since they were going for a ''cold royalty'' vibe, his nonchnt expression worked well with the music video.


    Contrary to their debut, there wasn''t any story line in this particr music video. It seemed like thepany decided to go the more electronic route this time around, employing special effects to emphasize the grandiosity of the song.


    "Do we have some time before filming the promotional videos?" Jaeyong asked, also feeling sleepy.


    "About two hours," Jay unapologetically said. "We have to go to Stupefy''s studio by 4 PM."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. "Alright, let''s head home now then."


    "Yeah," Jay nodded, ncing at June with a worried expression. "June needs some rest, too."


    After saying their final greetings, the members finally left the studio to go back to their dorms and get a little bit of rest.


    Some of the boys plopped down on their beds as soon as they arrived, not even bothering to take off their make-up.


    On the other hand, Zeth still did his whole skincare routine and even put on a face mask before going to sleep.


    However, June, still not feeling the need for sleep, decided to talk to someone whom he felt would answer some of the questions in his mind.


    "Hello, Hana?" June greeted as the famous actress answered his call.


    "June?" Hana asked, a bit breathless.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "Are you free to talk? Or are you busy?"


    "It''s fine," Hana responded, finally catching up to her breath. "I''m just training to audition for a historical fantasy drama. It''s going to be a fusion drama, so I''''m working hard to get the main role."


    "Oh," June said.


    "But we can talk," Hana quickly said. "I''m taking a break right now, so I have some time."


    June sighed in relief. "Thanks," he said. "I''m sure you''ll get the role if you keep working hard like this."


    Hana chuckled, feeling ttered. "I''m looking forward to it then."


    "What is it that you wanted to talk about?" Hana asked.


    June stayed silent for a moment.


    "Can you tell me more about our life as trainees?" he settled with a general question. He didn''t want to shock Hana by going straight to the point.


    Hana chuckled in amusement. "Do you miss being a trainee? Please don''t. It was a fun time because we were young people chasing our dreams, but it was also one of the darkest moments of our lives."


    "Darkest," June muttered. "How do you say so?"


    "Well, I''ve already told you the important aspects before. Some trainees would do anything to get to the top, even if it meant bringing other people down. Alex and Hyunwoo¡ªthose bastards. I''m d that they''re still in prison until now," she said with contempt.


    June nodded. "Yeah, I''m d too."


    "Then, your parents died, and I had to leave because thepany became increasingly shitty and I realized that being an actress was my actual dream," she concluded.


    This was information that June already knew. He needed something more.


    "Is there anything else?" June asked. "I recall you saying that there were three of us back then. However, you never told me anything about the third person in our friend group."


    The other line stayed silent for a while as it seemed like Hana didn''t know what to say.


    "I just thought you didn''t want to talk about him," Hana muttered after a while.


    "You know? After everything that happened, I would guess you wouldn''t want to talk about Haru."


    "Haru," June whispered. "This is not Haruki, I presume?"


    Hana chuckled. "I bet you became close with Haruki of CHAOS now, huh? You''re even bringing him up when we''re talking about another Haru."


    "Good friends?" June scoffed. "As if. That guy hates me."


    "He still does?" Hana asked, a bit worried. "I thought he would understand since it was also Haru''s choice. However, it seems like he still hasn''t forgiven you about it."


    "I mean, I can''t me him. He did lose Haru¡ªhis twin brother," she revealed, causing June to feel another stabbing pain in his head.


    June groaned as he held onto his head. He even bit onto his fist so he could control the sounds threatening toe out of his mouth.


    "June? June? Are you alright?"


    He could hear Hana''s worried voice from the phone, but he couldn''t concentrate on anything aside from the pain he was feeling and the visions that came along with it.


    Glimpses of the past¡ªof someone who looked like Haruki but appeared much kinder, helping him during his darkest times.


    Then, his mind strayed to the familiar rooftop scene that had been haunting him for quite some time now.


    The man finally turned around, and there he saw that it was Haruto. Without any warning, he jumped from the tall building before plummeting to the ground.


    June didn''t have the courage to speak or move. However, he felt the guilt of not being able to stop Haruto¡ªhis dear friend.


    Without any warning, a tear fell down from June''s eyes, and the pain in his head transferred to his chest. His mind didn''t feel the pain, yet his body did.


    These feelings must be Choi Joon-ho''s.


    Hearing Hana''s voice, he braved the pain and held onto the phone before bringing it next to his ear.


    "I''m fine," he shakily said, not wanting to worry Hana further.


    "Are you sure?" Hana asked, obviously concerned. "I heard some sounds a while ago. You can tell me if anything happened."


    "It''s fine," June repeated, still holding onto his chest. "I just stubbed my toe," he bluffed.


    Hana sighed in relief. "That must have hurt. You should be more careful."


    "Yeah," June said.


    "For a second, I thought you were in distress because we''re talking about the past."


    "No," June insisted. "Let''s talk about it more. I need to know more."


    Hana let out a deep breath, still a bit hesitant. However, with June''s insistence, she caved in.


    "I know it was a very traumatic time, especially with Phoenix''s pressure on the two of you. You both had the longest training times, yet they kept you there like prisoners, giving you hope that you were going to debut."


    "I left before it got even worse," Hana continued. "However, the two of you stayed, and although I don''t know the full story of what happened, I heard some rumors that Phoenix had you do some dirty work in exchange for a debut spot in a boy group."


    "But then again, these are just rumors. I knew you were a good person, but I also knew you were desperate to reach your dreams. In that way, I don''t know what really happened."


    "And Haru?" June asked. "What happened to Haru?"


    Hana hesitated before speaking.


    "I think we should stop talking about this, June."


    "No. Tell me. I need to know. Please, Hana," he vulnerably said, leaving thetter with no choice.


    "Before anything else, I just want you to know that it''s not your fault."


    "It''s not your fault that Haru jumped off the building, June."

 Chapter 533 The Present is a Present

    <h4>Chapter 533 The Present is a Present </h4>


    So, he was right.


    Haruki was right.


    June might not have killed anyone, but he contributed to the death of a seemingly innocent person.


    At this point, June recalled the first years of his trainee life--the good times.


    He had also confirmed that the man in his visions was Haruto, none other than Haruki''s twin brother.


    And now, he didn''t know what to do.


    Back then, after somebody was murdered, he even had to bury them or throw them into the water to hide the body.


    June would do it without remorse because he knew of the crimes that theymitted.


    However, this time, he felt entirely guilty even if Hana assured him that it wasn''t his fault.


    Based on all the memories that resurfaced, Haruki was a good man--a man of his word and a very supportive friend.


    Losing someone like him must have felt like losing a family member to the former Joon-ho.


    Even now, June could still feel the pain in his heart, even though he had never met Haruto.


    June sighed, leaning against the bed rest and closing his eyes. It was only then that he felt the exhaustion of everything happening. He was about to fall asleep when someone interrupted him.


    [You have acquired a mission!]


    June''s eyes opened, his brows furrowing when a new mission appeared. He had been sleeping in this very room for more than three months, but a mission had appeared out of nowhere.


    "You always appear at the most inconvenient times," June sighed.


    [It''s my joy in life.]


    [Anyway, here''s your mission! As the season of summer arrives, it is time to leave the cold past behind. The grudges, the bitterness, the anger--it''s time to put them in the past.]


    [The title of your mission is: The Past is the Present. The Present is the Past. The Past is the Past. The Present is a Present.]


    June''s frown deepened as he read the title of his new mission.


    "Are you writing a poem or something? Why is the title so long?" he asked.


    [I worked really hard on it.]


    [You have no choice but to ept it.]


    June sighed deeply as he shook his head.


    "What do I need to do?"


    [In order to have a peaceful present, you need to confront your past. And in order to leave it behind, you must learn to forgive despite everything that happened.]


    [With that said, the host needs to meet with a person from the past and rebuild your friendship!]


    [What better way to rebuild a friendship than a kiss on the cheek!]


    [Fulfill the mission and get the chance to upgrade one aspect by two grades! What a steal!]


    "Wait, wait, wait. Let us backtrack a bit. A what?" June eximed, sitting up straight once he saw the new prompt.


    "You want me to kiss someone on the cheek to rebuild a friendship? Are you insane?"


    [Yes.]


    June raked his hands through his hair in frustration.


    "You do know that I''ve met plenty of people from Choi Joon-ho''s past, right? I could kiss Hana on the cheek, but I''m afraid that would cause more harm than good."


    [Who said it''s the people from Choi Joon-ho''s past?]


    "Huh?"


    [Meet someone from YOUR past.]


    [A person from Chen Jun-hao''s past.]


    [That is your mission.]


    ***


    June yawned as Jay drove them to Stupefy''s office, another leading music tform not only in Korea but also in the entire world. They were going to film some content to promote their album since it was less than three weeks before its release.


    They were bound to announce it tonight, so it meant that the boys were going to be busier than ever¡ªfilming content left and right.


    "Were you able to sleep?" Jay asked, ncing back at June.


    "Sure," June bluffed, knowing that telling the truth would only make Jay unnecessarily worry.


    He was actually nning on resting for a bit after his conversation with Hana.


    However, after Fu revealed his new mission, he found himself unable to rest once again.


    Meet a person from his past¡ªChen Jun Hao''s past¡ªand rebuild friendship?


    That was ridiculous.


    Aside from Mei Ling, he couldn''t think of another living person he deeply cared for in his past life.


    The people whom he thought were his friends turned out to be the people who stabbed him in the back in the end. So, June felt like he couldn''t rebuild any of these friendships.


    Moreover, he couldn''t really look for Mei Ling with what he has right now. He became acquainted with quite a lot of people in this life, but then again, it would be weird if he suddenly asked them to look for a young girl in China and bring her here.


    On the other hand, Lin Zhi and Laohu were the only people he had met here in Korea. There was no way he could forgive the two of them, and even then, he also didn''t know where they currently are. After Rising Stars ended and Lin Zhi''s cheating scandal was revealed, it seemed like theyid low in the entertainment industry.


    "We''re here!" Jay excitedly said, trying to cheer the members up despite their tired bodies.


    "Let''s do this," Jaeyong smiled. "After this, we can go home and sleep again."


    "But then, we have to practice again in the evening for our performances," Akirained.


    "It''seback season," Jaeyong said. "Let''s make the most of it. We''re practicing despite our tired bodies to show our fans and other people that we deserve to perform on the big stage."


    Despite the cheesiness of Jaeyong''s statement, the members couldn''t deny that it also uplifted their moods.


    With that, they enthusiastically got out of the car and went to Stupefy''s studio to film some promotional videos.


    As they arrived inside, they were immediately greeted by the staff members of Stupefy.


    "Thank you foring here," one of them said. "We''re d that the group decided to work with Stupefy. We have been eyeing EVE after your performance in the ABRACADABRA festival, so we''re very honored that you guys are here."


    "It''s an honor to be here too," Jaeyong responded. "We have been told that we''re going to be filming something rted to our fans?"


    "Yes!" the staff eximed.


    "This is actually a very popr segment on our channel. We have consulted with your PR team, and they think that it''s also a great idea."


    "Let''s hear it then," Jisung chimed, already excited.


    There was no doubt that the young idol was a mania for social media, TV shows, movies, and the like. He''s the typical Generation Z representation.


    With that, he had watched a lot of Stupefy''s content, wanting to film a video for the brand, too.


    ''Is it going to be ''Fans Guess Their Favorite Idols?'' Jisung thought.


    ''Or maybe ''Idols Surprise Their Fans?''


    ''Ooh! What about ''Idols Answer Fans'' Questions with Puppies?''


    Just the thought of filming those types of content already made Jisung giddy.


    The Stupefy worker smiled meaningfully as she looked at all of the members.


    "It''s ''Idols Reading Fan''s Thirsty Posts!'' Isn''t it exciting?"

 Chapter 534 Thirsty for EVE

    <h4>Chapter 534 Thirsty for EVE</h4>


    "I have a bad feeling about this," Ren said as the crew set up the equipment before them.


    The members of EVE were now in a small studio where they were going to film a popr series on Stupefy''s channel named ''Artist Reading Fan''s Thirsty Posts!''


    It was a straightforward title, so plenty of people, even non-fans, clicked on it to see the artists'' reaction to such unhinged posts.


    "What do you mean?" Zeth asked, a wide smile on his face. "This is a great way to interact with our fans."


    "Great way, my ass," Akira muttered. "You like this because you enjoy people thirsting over you."


    Zeth raised one eyebrow as he turned to Akira.


    "You''re acting like you don''t."


    A small smile appeared on Akira''s face as he gave Zeth a high-five.


    "You know I do," Akira chuckled.


    Jaeyong shook his head at the two of them. "You guys are hopeless."


    "Remember to act naturally, okay?" Jaeyong advised. "Don''t overreact too much and try not to look too ufortable to avoid any spection."


    "Can I keep a poker face on?" June raised his hand.


    The members turned to him.


    "A poker face is your resting face," Sehun deadpanned. "I think you''re fine."


    "Are you ready, boys?" the head producer excitedly asked as they finished prepping the equipment.


    They were being filmed by numerous cameras, and a huge monitor was right before them to show the posts that the crew had picked out.


    Jaeyong turned to his members and nodded.


    "Yeah, we''re ready!" he enthusiastically said, causing the producer to p in excitement.


    "Let''s start then," she said, already expecting the video to be a great hit.


    "In 3¡­2¡­1¡­, we''re rolling!" she eximed, sitting right next to therge monitor with the other essential crew members.


    "Shoot to the top! Hello, we''re LEVEL-UP! Otherwise known as EVE," Jaeyong led the greeting while the others made their group gesture before simultaneously bowing.


    "Today, we''re here in Stupefy''s studio to film one of your most favorite video series," Zeth started off.


    "You naughty, naughty fans. Why do you like these types of videos?" Akira asked, pointing an using finger to the camera.


    Sehun shook his head as he chuckled. "Anyway, we''re going to be reading some of your¡­interesting posts about us on Navel."


    "But before we start," Zeth quickly added. "Don''t forget to check out our album ''Starlight'' and our title track ''Skyrocket'' on March 27th! It will be avable on Stupefy and various tforms!"


    The others nodded in agreement.


    "And with that, let''s read the first post!" Jaeyong said.


    The crew showed the first post, and the members instantly froze. They knew they said they weren''t going to overreact, but the first post was already too shocking.


    Ren elbowed Jaeyong''s shoulder so he could read the post out loud.


    "Umm, I want to get ruined by all the members of EVE. Yes. All. Members. All. At. The. Same. Time,"


    Jaeyong slowly read, feeling his soul get sucked out of his body.


    "Goodness," Jisung squeaked, covering his eyes.


    Zeth chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that''s a nice way of telling us we''re handsome."


    "Yeah," Sehun scratched the back of his head. "Thank you so much for appreciating our group."


    June frowned in confusion, wondering where his teammates wereing from.


    "I don''t think this user is calling us handsome, though," June deadpanned, causing the members to turn to him with wide eyes.


    "Oh no," Akira muttered.


    They nearly forgot that they had an old man in their midst. Despite June''s social media skills improving as time passed by, he still didn''t know a lot about ng and other trends.


    June turned to the camera and seriously looked into the lens.


    "You do not want your life to be ruined, youngdy. It''s alright to like our group, but don''t like us too much to the point that it destroys you. Focus on yourself, too¡­and finish your studies if you can," he seriously advised.


    The room was silent for a moment, the crew members wondering if June was joking or not.


    Nheless, they found it funny, and they decided to keep the clip in the video no matter what.


    "Oh, I hope this doesn''t make it to the actual video," Jay whispered as he watched from the side.


    "Let''s move on to the next one, should we?" Jisung shakily asked. "I''ll read the next one!"


    The staff showed the next post, and Jisung quickly regretted his previous statement.


    He thought the first post would be the worst one out of the bunch, but the crew managed to find a post that was more unhinged than thest one.


    "Call me little mermaid because I''m always wet when I watch EVE?" Jisung read.


    "Oh goodness," Ren said, scratching the back of his neck. "You guys sure like us a lot, don''t you?"


    "Thank you," Zeth said, even bowing to the camera. "It''s an honor to be given such apliment."


    Ren shook his head. "You''re enjoying this too much, aren''t you?"


    With Ren''s statement, the atmosphere in the room became lighter. They realized that they shouldn''t be too stiff while reading the posts. They can just think of them as jokes!


    "Please step on my neck, June," Ren read another post.


    They turned to June once more, curious about his reaction this time.


    "Are you all sadists or something?" June asked. "Being stepped on the neck is no fun at all."


    "It feels like you''re drowning even when you''re not submerged underwater. Moreover, it''s a very slow way to die. You feel your body being deprived of oxygen second by second until you lose consciousness."


    "Aside from that, being stepped on by someone else is very dirty," he pointed out.


    Again, the room turned silent.


    "Aigoo," Akira said, patting June''s shoulder. "Our lovely June always takes things so literally, doesn''t he?"


    "I''m just giving them advice," June said.


    Jaeyong shook his head with an amused smile. "Let''s read another one."


    The next post emerged from the screen, and this time, it had a different vibe from the rest of the posts. The members pursed their lips as they read it silently.


    Casper, however, didn''t hesitate to read it out loud.


    "I hope in the next music video, we''ll get to see the members kissing each other. We love a polygamous rtionship!"


    "Gosh," Jaeyong whispered.


    Why did their PR team agree to film this video?

 Chapter 535 No Dating Please

    <h4>Chapter 535 No Dating Please</h4>


    "I can''t believe so many people are thirsting over us," Ren sighed, resting on the spacious couch in Stupefy''s lounge room. The others quickly mooched on the snacks, feeling exhausted after reading so many thirsty posts in one day.


    Staff members who wanted to rest in the lounge quickly walked away when they saw the handsome bunch. They were immediately intimidated by their vibe, most of them feeling giddy as they glimpsed at the idol group.


    "I can," Zeth said, eating some gummy bears. June noticed this and took one from his hands. "I''m not saying this to boost your egos or something like that, but we''re a pretty good-looking bunch. I''m not just talking about me. You guys are attractive, too. Sometimes, I even get startled when I look at us in the dance practice mirror."


    "If it came from Zeth, then I''m believing it," Akira smiled. "I needed that extra boost after Amira rejected me again."


    "You''re still after her?" Jaeyong asked. "It''s been more than three months!"


    "What can I say? I like that we have simr names," Akira responded.


    Jay suddenly appeared from behind the couch to re at the members.


    "Goodness!" Akira eximed, cing his hand over his heart. "What are you doing there?"


    "How do you think I get my information?" Jay asked.


    June frowned in confusion. "So, you just chill behind a couch?"


    "No," Jay deadpanned. "I hide behind a couch¡ªthere''s a difference."


    "Sometimes, people don''t willingly give out information because they know I work for Azure now. In the end, I have to resort to hiding behind couches so I can hear thetest news!"


    Ren tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Is that legal?"


    Jay shrugged. "I don''t know. I don''t use the information with ill intent. I just use it to my advantage sometimes."


    "That''s definitely the same thing," Akira whispered to Jaeyong, but the entire group was still able to hear it.


    Jay narrowed his eyes at Akira.


    "You, young man," he said, pointing at him. "Don''t act like I didn''t just hear that you''re talking to Amira."


    Akira scratched the back of his head.


    "What''s wrong with that? They''re just talking," Zeth defended. "Besides, it''s not like Amira would give Akira a chance. From my view, she really likes June."


    June lifted his head in surprise, not believing Zeth''s words.


    Meanwhile, Akira stood, offended by Zeth''s insinuation.


    "Hey, she replies to my texts...after three business days," he muttered thest time. "But she still does!"


    "Wait, you''re right," Jay said, finally calming down. "It probably won''t cause an issue."


    Akira crossed his arms in front of his chest. Somehow, not being reprimanded by Jay made him feel worse than being scolded by him.


    "However," Jay said, pointing at Zeth this time. "I''m still warning you guys. I know that you''ve been talking to Kiera for quite a while now."


    Zeth pursed his lips and couldn''t refute this time around.


    "We''re being careful," Zeth sighed. "We''re not even official yet."


    Jisung watched what was going on with wide, sparkly eyes. This seemed like a real-life K-drama! What a wonderful sight!


    "And I''m advising you not to," Jay sighed. "You know how fans would react once they find out¡ªespecially since you''re still a rookie."


    Zeth looked down at the ground.


    "Is it a sin for idols to love?" he quietly asked, sounding vulnerable.


    The others turned silent while Jay suddenly felt bad.


    "No," Jay said. "It''s not. It never wasn''t."


    "However, people are cruel¡ªthat''s the truth of life. This job is very harsh because it''s limiting. People feel like they have the right to direct how you live just because they support you. I hope you knew that before working in this industry."


    Zeth pursed his lips.


    "Yeah, I get it," he said, trying to shake his sadness away.


    Jay then turned to the other members, but they raised their hands in surrender.


    "I''ve never had a girlfriend before!" Jisung defended himself.


    Sehun, too, shook his head. "I was too busy worrying over my debut that my long-term girlfriend left me in the process."


    Jay then looked at Casper to warn him but quickly halted when he realized that the guy only loved his cat and June.


    "You don''t have to worry about me," Ren raised his hands in surrender. "I think you should be more wary of June over there," he said.


    June lifted his head when he heard his name. He wasn''t really paying attention since it concerned something that never even crossed his mind.


    "You," Jay whispered. "I have a feeling I need to be wary of you."


    "What do you mean?" June asked, confused.


    "You''re so secretive," Jay remarked. "Moreover, you talk to different girls on your phone. You also disappear from time to time without informing me."


    "Different girls?" June asked. "Do you mean Hana? Jia? Mimi? Esther? Mari? Ann? or Mentor Jihyun?"


    "Dang, that was a flex right there," Akira said.


    "You''re talking with these many girls all at the same time?" Jay asked with wide eyes.


    "Yeah," June nonchntly said. "I ask them for advice sometimes."


    "And you don''t feel anything for these people?" Jay asked.


    "No," June said with resolution.


    "We''re friends."


    "We''re all just good friends."


    "I salute you, bro!" Akira said, standing and bowing at June''s direction.


    ***


    After resting for a while, the members of EVE finally decided to leave Stupefy''s studio. They were gracefully provided some merch and other gifts before they went home, so it lifted their moods despite the exhausting filming process.


    Jisung and June were currently in the restroom, peeing side by side, when somebody suddenly entered the room.


    June didn''t bother ncing at the neer and merely focused on his own urinal.


    On the other hand, the trickling sound from Jisung''s urinal stopped as he looked at the person who had juste in.


    Jisung gulped loudly as the hooded man walked to where the two of them were.


    "J¡ªJune," Jisung shakily said, feeling that they were doomed.


    June finally raised his head to meet the eyes of the man who was right beside him already.


    He frowned and quickly zipped up his pants, facing the familiar person.


    "Haruki," he muttered.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Haruki finally removed his hood and continued looking at June with cold eyes. He paused for a while before finally speaking.


    "My brother wants to meet you."

 Chapter 536 Haruto

    <h4>Chapter 536 Haruto</h4>


    536 Haruto


    "Wait, what will I say to the other members?" Jisung asked as Haruki and June cornered him in the restroom.


    From an outsider''s point of view, it appeared like the two were bullying Jisung. However, they were only coaxing him to fool Jay and the other members into thinking that June had somewhere important to be.


    That was the only way that June could go with Haruki without Jay breathing down his neck.


    He knew that their manager was just concerned for his well-


    being, but June genuinely believed that this would be the key to him finally getting a good rest.


    "Tell them I went to Minjun''s and Grandma''s," June said. Despite not being too fond of Haruki, he couldn''t deny that they needed to have this awaited conversation.


    "But I would be lying to them," Jisung innocently said.


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    This little guy.


    "I''m going to be visiting them too," June said. "I''m just going to speak with Haruki for a while."


    Well, June was going to visit them. Just not today.


    "Oh," Jisung said, instantly brightening up.


    "Sure, then! I''ll tell the others. Greet Grandma and Minjun for me," he happily said.


    "I will," June responded. "Now, go ahead. They must be waiting for you. I''ll be back by the evening for our practice, so don''t worry too much."


    "Alright," Jisung smiled. "We''ll be waiting for you then!"


    With that, the youngest member of EVE waved goodbye and skipped out of the room.


    As soon as the bright guy left the restroom, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold¡ªlike how it always was with June and Haruki.


    "Let''s go," Haruki said, throwing June a ck hoodie simr to his.


    "What''s this?" June asked. "Matching hoodies?"


    "Just wear it," Haruki sighed impatiently. "I don''t want anyone discovering that we''re hanging out."


    June shook his head as he wore the hoodie. "Who was the one who invited me in the first ce?"


    Haruki stopped walking and red at him.


    "Are youing or not?"


    "I''ming," June said, throwing his hood up before following Haruki to the underground parking lot. He had a lot of questions in mind, and he wanted all of them answered today. He had a hunch that Haruki was the only person who could satiate his curiosity.


    The two of them entered Haruki''s tinted luxury car. June looked around the fancy exterior and shook his head.


    "If you wanted us to stay out of the public''s eye, you should have bought a less fancy car," June pointed out.


    Haruki clicked his tongue as he started the engine.


    "It doesn''t matter. We''re not going to a crowded ce anyway. Just be thankful you get to ride in a car like this," he deadpanned.


    June shook his head. "How did you even know that I''m here? Do you just know other people''s schedules or things like that?"


    "No," Haruki quickly denied. "I learned from Gideon. He''s been chatting with Jisung after filming ''The King''s Joker,'' and he told us over dinner."


    June silently nodded in understanding.


    "You know, you have an awful lot of questions for someone who willingly followed after me," Haruki deadpanned. "Just tell me if you don''t want to talk."


    June scratched the back of his neck.


    "It''s not that," June muttered, knowing that he had some fault in how their rtionship turned out to be.


    "I''m just curious why you suddenly wanted to talk when you hate me," June said.


    Haruki scoffed. "How do you know that I hate you?"


    "It''s obvious," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You don''t need to say it out loud for me to know it."


    Haruki chuckled coldly. "You''re right¡ªI do hate you. I wouldn''t even allow you inside of my car if he didn''t ask me to bring you there."


    "He?" June muttered.


    Could it be Haruto?


    But then again, who else could it be?


    Then, why did Haruki talk about him like he was still a living person?


    Or maybe he was still in denial that his brother was gone, and he wanted to use him as an excuse to call June over and finally have some closure?


    As Haruki pulled up to a grassy field with raised white figures above the ground, his second thought was confirmed.


    "A cemetery," June said.


    "Congrats," Haruki said as he turned off the car. "You''ve got eyes."


    Was Haruto buried here?


    June sat there for a moment. It finally hit him that he was going to see the grave of one of his most precious friends in his past lifetime.


    The pain in his chest returned.


    No¡ªit was never even removed in the first ce.


    It just intensified.


    He had been feeling this pain¡ªthis void¡ªfor quite some time now, but he didn''t speak or act on it. Instead, he got used to it. He got used to the pain, and it just felt like a normal part of his life.


    However, June knew that it wasn''t normal.


    And hopefully, just hopefully, this pain will ease after meeting Haruto.


    "Well, are you just going to sit there like an idiot?" Haruki called out, already standing outside of the car.


    "Come out here, and let''s have a talk, you idiot."


    June pursed his lips and didn''t bother correcting Haruki for calling him an idiot.


    Instead, he silently got out of the car and followed after the more experienced idol.


    The two of them were silent as they kept walking further away from the parking lot.


    June nced at the gravestones as he walked by, seeing if any of them belonged to Haruto.


    Then, Haruki finally stopped walking. However, since June was too busy looking around the ce, he didn''t notice Haruki''s sudden halt.


    As a result, he bumped into his back.


    Haruki clicked his tongue.


    "I thought you''ve changed a lot," he muttered. "But it turns out you''re still the clumsy trainee I know."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as Haruki sat on the ground, leaning against the raised tombstone.


    However, even if Haruki luded some of the letters on the stone, June still read its letters clearly.


    ''Haruto Abe''

 Chapter 537 New Nothings

    <h4>Chapter 537 New Nothings</h4>


    "Sit," Haruki instructed, patting the spot next to him.


    June pursed his lips and quietly did as Haruki instructed him to. The grass tickled his palms, but he couldn''t focus on the sensation because of everything that was boggling his mind.


    The chilly breeze rustled through the leaves. The sun was just setting, so the orange hue added to the drama of it all.


    June sat silently beside him, his presence a haunting reminder of the bast.


    "It''s been a long time," Haruki began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Since we became trainees, I mean."


    June nodded, ncing behind him to gaze at the engraved letters on the stone.


    "Well, you entered Phoenix even earlier than me. You''re basically a fossil. I can''t believe you also entered earlier than my brother, Haruto."


    June chuckled. "I must have really wanted this dream."


    "Yeah," Haruki clenched his fists. "You must have been very desperate...very, very desperate."


    June sighed as he looked down at his palms.


    "Up until now, I still don''t understand," June honestly said. "Why do you hate me this way--do I even deserve it?"


    Haruki scoffed as he pulled some of the grass from the ground. Then, he closed his eyes before letting out a deep breath, calming himself down before he revealed his past feelings and experiences.


    "I never wanted to be an idol, you know," Haruki started off, his tone bing lighter as he thought about the beautiful past.


    "I dreamed of having a job where I could help people with their suffering...to make them happy," he started off.


    "So, I naturally wanted to be a doctor."


    "My brother, on the other hand, wanted something entirely different. He wanted to go to the entertainment industry because he was great at singing as a kid. He couldn''t find anything he was passionate about aside from singing, so when he was recruited by Phoenix on the streets, he immediately agreed."


    Haruki smiled as the memories flooded back to him.


    "I was happy for him, of course. The two of us had dreams that we wanted to achieve, and our parents were very supportive of it," he smiled even wider this time.


    "Hearing my brother''s stories was really fun at that time. It seemed like he finally found something he was passionate about."


    "However," Haruki continued, his brows furrowing. "Being a trainee was only the first part of his dream. Being an idol was his ultimate goal."


    "Yet, as years passed by, he continued training...and training...and training. Somehow, I saw the spark in his eyes decrease every time he went home. However, whenever I asked him to stop, he always answered the same thing."


    "June''s still with me. If June could endure it, then surely I would be able to. He has trained even longer than I have, yet he''s still here," Haruki meaningfully said, gazing into the distance.


    He paused, his throat tight with emotion. "Years passed by, and the promise of a debut never came for him. Instead, it strayed further and further away. More and more people started stomping down on his dream."


    "But he endured..."


    "...because he had you."


    Haruki''s gaze fell to the ground, his fists clenched in anguish. "At that moment, I liked and disliked you at the same time," he admitted, his voice choked with emotion. "Because you made my brother stay in the profession he loved, but you also kept him in such a dark ce."


    June bowed his head, unable to meet his gaze.


    "So, I decided to trust him," he continued, his voice trembling with bitterness. "That must have been a mistake."


    He paused as the memories of his brother''s suffering burned painfully in his mind. "The spark in his eyes started losing even more," he recounted.


    "And then, that''s when I decided to intervene. I decided to also be an idol trainee."


    June''s breath caught in his throat.


    "I tried to protect him," he whispered, his voice trembling with regret. "But I couldn''t."


    Haruki looked at him. "Even then, I didn''t know what was happening behind the scenes," he confessed. "All I knew was that my brother and you would be called to the office more often than others."


    "And then, it happened," Haruki whispered. "One day, I saw him inside the office, and when he came out, his face was ghastly pale. But he didn''t open up to me. He opened up to you instead."


    June vaguely recalled the memory. At that moment, it did seem like the Haruto he knew wasn''t the same person anymore.


    His mouth moved in his visions, but June couldn''t hear a sound. He couldn''t read his lips, too.


    Haruki''s eyes burned with anger, consuming him. "And then I heard the rumor," he spat out.


    "That they decided that my brother wasn''t going to debut and that you would be debuting instead¡ªbecause you took up the favor that was supposed to be for him."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed deeper. This was new information to him. He thought it was more simple than it looked.


    However, what was this about a favor?


    He looked at June, his eyes using and yet pleading for understanding. "And before I knew it," he whispered.


    "He had jumped from the rooftop, and he lost his dream...while I lost the brother that I knew."


    "You were there that night," Haruki clenched his jaw. "You knew he was suffering. You knew he trusted you. You could have saved him."


    "But you didn''t," his voice broke.


    "I''m sorry," June couldn''t help but apologize even though it wasn''t really him who was with Haruto during that night.


    "I''m really sorry."


    But the apology offered no sce, for the pain of their loss was a wound that could never fully heal.


    They were silent for a moment, with some of June''s questions still not being answered.


    Just then, the loud ringing of Haruki''s phone resounded in the garden.


    "Finally," Haruki whispered, bringing out his phone. "That bastard is here."


    "I can''t believe he told me to meet here when he isn''t even around yet."


    June frowned in confusion, wondering what was happening.


    Haruki wiped the tears from his eyes and answered the phone.


    "You''rete," he deadpanned.


    "We''re by the gravestone."


    Then, he ended the call.


    "Who''s that?" June asked, still confused.


    "My brother."

 Chapter 538 June Was Stupid After All

    <h4>Chapter 538 June Was Stupid After All</h4>


    June froze as soon as Haruko uttered those words.


    His brother?


    What brother was he talking about?


    Was it another brother that June didn''t know about?


    [Maybe, it''s Haruthree this time.]


    ''Shut up. You''re not funny.''


    Or was it one of the members of CHAOS whom he referred to as a brother?


    Or maybe the ''brother'' he was referring to was actually a hitman he hired to get revenge on June?


    Well, he could probably fight them off. However, if they had a gun, then June would be at a disadvantage!


    June found himself increasingly more curious as Haruki stood from the grass with narrowed eyes, looking for his so-called ''brother.''


    Meanwhile, June was on his toes as he prepared for the worst.


    "Faster, you bastard!" Haruki shouted, causing June to tilt his head to the side in confusion.


    He, too, narrowed his eyes when the four-wheeled figure slowly made his way to where the two of them were.


    "What is that? A transformer?" June asked, earning a p on the back of the head from Haruki.


    "You''re such a menace. I can''t believe you''re saying that after everything I''ve shared."


    June pursed his lips, still feeling more confused than ever.


    He lost his 20/20 vision, so the person''s face wasn''t too clear. However, when he got closer and closer to the two of them, June''s face paled, wondering if his eyesight was really that bad.


    "I''m hallucinating," June whispered. Nheless, Haruki was still able to hear him.


    "You''re going crazy," he remarked.


    "I think I am," June muttered. "Because why does that man look like you?"


    Haruki''s brows furrowed in confusion, wondering where June wasing from.


    "Did you lose your memories or something? How could you not recognize him?" Haruki asked.


    June didn''t bother replying since he kept his gaze on the personing toward him. Now that he was closer, he caught a glimpse of the wheelchair he was in. Behind him was a tall man wearing a suit, his get-up screaming that he was a butler.


    The two of them finally arrived, and June still couldn''t believe his eyes.


    "H¡ªHaruto?" June stammered, feeling mistaken.


    Based on his looks, the person before them was definitely Haruto. However, Haruto was buried six feet underground¡ªjust right below where they were standing.


    Haruto smiled and waved at June.


    "It''s been a long time¡­partner," Haruto chimed.


    June pursed his lips and felt the world spinning. He stepped back and found himself losing bnce.


    However, before he could fall, Haruki held onto the small of his back, stabilizing his posture.


    Haruto chuckled loudly, pointing a teasing finger at his long-lost friend.


    "Goodness," Haruto said, holding onto his stomach. "You''re still clumsy like I remembered."


    "But dang, you''re very handsome now. I thought I was the handsome one between us two, but it turns out you have a lot of potential hiding inside you. What a cruel, cruel man you are. Care to share with me some of your beauty secrets? I definitely need them."


    June frowned in confusion before pping himself¡ªstrongly and loudly.


    The twins froze when they saw the red mark on June''s pale skin.


    "What the heck are you doing?" Haruto asked.


    "I¡ªI''m dreaming," June absent-mindedly said.


    Haruto sighed, making his butler push him closer to June so he could hold onto his hand.


    "You''re not," Haruto assured. "I know it''s very hard to believe that I''m here after all the years I''ve been away, but I''m here now. You''ve got your friend back."


    June pursed his lips and looked into Haruto''s eyes. The Haruto in his visions¡ªthe happy Haruto¡ªwas the same person he was looking at right now.


    "But¡­but you''re dead!" June eximed.


    Haruki and Haruto looked at each other with wide eyes.


    "What? You''re killing my brother now?" Haruki eximed.


    "That''s you," June said, pointing at the gravestone.


    Now that Haruki was standing, June could read the letters on the stone clearly.


    "You''re literally buried¡ª"


    June immediately stopped talking when he read the contents of the stone.


    Wait¡­


    Were those numbers always there?


    ''Haruki Abe''


    ''1965-2020''


    June turned to the twins with wide eyes. "This is not you?" he finally asked.


    "No," Haruto shook his head. "That''s my dad. I believe I told you back then, right?"


    June felt like he was ced in a catapult, thrown into a tower of nails, impaled a thousand times, and had gotten tetanus poisoning with everything that was happening.


    "I can''t believe this," June muttered.


    "You said you lost the brother that you knew!" June eximed, pointing an using finger at Haruki.


    Haruki frowned. "I did! Look at him," he pointed at Haruto''s disabled figure. "He can''t even dance like before because of his disability. He lost his dream of being an idol¡ªso he doesn''t have the same spark!"


    Haruto cleared his throat and raised his hand.


    "Well, to be fair, I did fall off a three-story building. I think I''m quite lucky that only my legs were affected, you know?" he chimed, trying to light up the atmosphere.


    "Besides, I''m doing a good job with producing songs now. I can even afford a butler. Marcus, say hi!" he excitedly introduced the tall man.


    "Good to meet you," Marcus briefly said, bowing at the waist in respect.


    However, the two arguing men ignored his greeting.


    "You told your mother that your brother was gone," June remarked.


    Haruki''s frown deepened.


    "I knew it! You were eavesdropping on my phonecall when you passed out that day, huh? Sneaky bastard," Haruki spat.


    "And for your information, Haruto was gone! He stayed in the States to receive treatment, but he still can''t have his walking ability back!"


    "I''m back now, though. Isn''t that exciting?" Haruto eximed happily.


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    "Then, why would you even call me a murderer? I''ve been sleeping less at night knowing that I killed your brother," June nearly shouted.


    "That''s because you are!" Haruki eximed in an equally loud voice.


    "Your brother''s still here," June said, pointing at Haruto.


    "I''m not talking about my brother," Haruki sighed. "You killed someone. Haruto said that you did."


    June turned to his friend with wide eyes.


    Haruto scratched the back of his head as he felt the tension increasing.


    Then, he sighed in resignation.


    "Marcus, go and take a break."


    "Yes, Master," the butler said, bowing once more before walking away with robotic movements.


    "Master?" Haruki whispered to himself.


    "I think it''s time I finally confess the truth," Haruto said, suddenly turning serious.


    "I haven''t beenpletely truthful¡­"


    "There are things I kept from the two of you."

 Chapter 539 The Thorn Gets Pulled Out...Or Does It?

    <h4>Chapter 539 The Thorn Gets Pulled Out...Or Does It? </h4>


    "Are you sure it''s okay if we keep sitting on your father''s grave?" June asked as the three of them settled on the grassy area.


    "It''s alright," Haruto said. "My dad loved getting sat on!"


    "Ay-yo?" June asked, genuinely traumatized.


    "I think we should stop talking about our dad. He''s probably partying in heaven now," Haruto said. "Rest in peace to him."


    "As I said, we need to talk about what I have kept from the two of you for so long."


    June shook off the feeling of guilt from sitting on their dead dad''s grave and focused on Haruto''s story instead.


    Maybe this would finally bring him the answers he thought he could get from Haruki.


    As much as June was enraged that Haruki made him believe he was a murderer, he also felt relieved that Haruto was still alive and well.


    Even though he never really interacted with him in this life, he could feel that Haruto was a good person who deserved a long life.


    "I think a big reason for your hostile rtionship is because of me," Haruto sighed.


    "However, I hope that the two of you understand. My mind wasn''t in a good ce that time, and I felt like I would ruin everything by speaking even one sentence."


    "Now that time has passed, I believe my mind is slowly getting healed. Although I''m afraid that it''s a bit toote to tell the truth," he muttered thest statement, causing June to frown.


    "It''s alright," Haruki sighed. "You should take your time."


    Haruto nodded. "I''m ready now. I''m ready to tell the truth."


    "I''m sure my brother has already filled you in about his story," Haruto said to June.


    June nodded.


    "But my brother still doesn''t know a lot of things," Haruto added. "There are things that I only told Joon-ho, and there are also things that I kept to myself."


    "Do you remember everything that happened?" he asked June.


    June pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "I figured," Haruto chuckled. "It must have been such a traumatizing time that you blocked it all off. I''m d that you forgot. I''m still living with the trauma of remembering until now."


    Haruto sighed and looked down at his hands before continuing.


    "That time¡ªafter Hana left, I thought we were finally going to debut. That''s what Phoenix told us¡ªit was a promise," Haruto started off.


    "We became so desperate to the point that we stayed longer hours, we practiced until our bones cracked, and we did favors for thepany without anypensation."


    "Favors," June repeated.


    Haruki mentioned the favors a while back, which made June even more curious.


    "These favors were?" he asked.


    "At first, it wasn''t too bad. They''d get us to buy coffee for the administration team. They''d have us drive them to important meetings. It was the usual "intern" chores¡ªsomething that I couldn''tprehend because we weren''t there to be interns at all."


    "And then," he said, his voice bing darker. "They started bing bigger and bigger."


    "They''d tell us to deliver papers to their subsidiarypanies. They''d make us go to meetings with old men and women so we could be their ''entertainment.'' At one point, the two of us even went to China with the promise of meeting other trainees. However, we became their ''entertainment'' again," he whispered.


    Haruki turned to his brother, remembering the memory vaguely.


    "Entertainment?" Haruki frowned in confusion. "What kind of entertainment are you talking about? I thought you went to China to practice."


    "It''s not as bad as you are thinking," Haruto sighed. "But it was still bad. The worst thing June experienced was being kissed on the lips by an old investor. It got Phoenix the deal that they wanted, but it was also a traumatizing time."


    June''s frown deepened, finding all of this unbelievable.


    "That''s human trafficking," June remarked. "How were they not penalized for doing this?"


    "I didn''t know at that time," Haruki said. "All I knew was that we were getting closer and closer to our debut. I inferred that hard work wouldn''t help us reach our dreams and that doing favors would do so instead."


    "Alex and Hyunwoo¡ªthose bastards did everything they were told¡ªand they were quickly promised a debut. So, I also thought that our time was near. If we endured a bit more, then we could finally reach our dreams."


    "Howe you never told me?" Haruki softly asked.


    "Because I knew you would take matters into your own hands¡­and you did," Haruto chuckled.


    "You entered thepany while we were in the midst of doing those favors. So, I stayed far away from you.I was ashamed."


    "At one point, I saw how thepany started valuing you more, and I guess I got pretty jealous. You were always naturally talented, and you picked up things well."


    "That''s when I realized that hard work will never beat natural talent¡­and that''s when I started getting more desperate," he recalled.


    "It was the first time I desperately went to the CEO''s office to ask¡ªno, to beg for an opportunity. He rejected me plenty of times, but then, one day, he finally agreed. He had a mission for me¡ªand the prize was to debut."


    "It was simple. I just had to retrieve something from someone


    ¡ªa man I didn''t know. It was due when we had to go to China for another one of their meetings. It was really¡­really simple," Haruto muttered.


    June felt himself palpitate. This dark conversation was bringing him back to the past, and with the mention of his home country, he couldn''t help but feel even more strange.


    "However, you found out," Haruto shakily said. "And you tried to stop me at all costs. You felt that it was enough¡ªthat it wasn''t worth it. But I didn''t listen. The two of us went to China, and I was determined to fulfill the task that the CEO had given me."


    "But then, you stepped in," Haruto sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. "You had a bad feeling about this particr favor, so you did it yourself¡ªwithout telling me."


    "That night, I lost the opportunity to debut, but I felt like I also lost my friend," Haruto sighed.


    "Because that very night, the unknown man that was involved was killed¡ªand we had both witnessed it."


    "In an old, creepy warehouse, where the two of us merely conversed¡ªwe saw a man die."


    Haruki frowned. "So, June didn''t kill anyone?" he asked.


    "No," Haruto shook his head. "But I feel like we contributed to it¡ªbecause we took the supposed treasure of that man."


    June''s breath becamebored as vague scenes of his death shed in his mind.


    "Perhaps¡­what is this item we are talking about?" June asked, trying to calm himself down.


    "A briefcase," Haruto whispered.


    "We had to steal a briefcase and bring it back here."

 Chapter 540 What Happened That Night

    <h4>Chapter 540 What Happened That Night</h4>


    shback¡ªYear 2022, Shanghai, China


    "I can''t believe you''re not telling me where it is," Haruto eximed, holding onto Joon-ho''s shoulders and violently shaking his body.


    They were inside an abandoned warehouse, their voices filling the empty space.


    Meanwhile, the weak-bodied trainee resigned to his friends'' hysteria. He looked into Haruto''s eyes and found the light inside him dimming.


    Joon-ho knew he had to do this if he wanted some of the light in Haruto''s eyes to be retained.


    "I hid it," Joon-ho said. "To a ce where you can''t find it."


    Tears welled up in Haruto''s eyes, and he kneeled on the floor as he felt his knees buckle.


    "Why are you doing this? This was supposed to be our key to debuting! The CEO promised that we''ll finally get to debut once I find the briefcase and bring it to him!" he screamed.


    "Haruto, do you believe he''ll fulfill his promise now?" Joon-ho asked in a weak voice, smiling bitterly.


    "They told us we would debut years ago. They kept us here, trained us, and treated us like ves because we were desperate to debut. They know our weakness¡ªand they''re willing to exploit it any chance that they get."


    "We''ve done plenty of things for them¡ªsome I can tolerate. However, I don''t think I can handle seeing you go down this path, Haruto. The people we''re dealing with right now¡ªI don''t think it''s safe for us to be involved with them," Joon-ho said, his voice still calm despite the weight of his statements.


    "This time, it''s different," Haruto eximed.


    "Why?" Joon-ho bitterly chuckled. "Because they''re involving us in a much deeper web this time? Is that why you feel this way?"


    Haruto pursed his lips, knowing deep inside his mind that Joon-ho was right. However, in the end, his desperation shone through.


    "Don''t you want to debut?" Haruto asked.


    "I do," Joon-ho said without any hesitation. "You know that better than anyone else. I want to debut. This is my dream¡ªbut not in this way."


    "I thought of taking the shortcut after training for years and years, but now, I realize that it''s not worth it. We may have reached our dreams, but we''ll lose ourselves in the process," Joon-ho eximed.


    "That''s why I''m doing this for us," Haruto whispered, standing closer to June.


    "You can just forget about it. I will take full responsibility. I''ll just have to steal the briefcase from that guy''s house and bring it to our CEO. It''s as simple as that; then, we can go home and prepare for our debut."


    Joon-ho chuckled before shaking his head.


    "You know it''s not as simple as that," he said. "From the start, it was alreadyplicated."


    "Joon-ho¡ª"


    Joon-ho cut Haruto off before he could finish his statement.


    "Besides, it''s already done," he said. "I already found the briefcase, and I''m going to keep it in a ce where no one could find it. In that way, we can truly forget about everything and have a new start."


    Haruto ran his fingers through his hair.


    "Why go through all the trouble then?" he eximed in frustration.


    "Because it''s not that I found it," Joon-ho said. "It was given to me."


    "Given?" Harut asked, now more confused than ever.


    Joon-ho nodded.


    "Who? By the man we''re supposed to steal it from¡ªChen Jun Hao?" Haruto asked, finally saying his name.


    Joon-ho froze and opened his mouth, about to respond when the door suddenly opened, revealing a dark figure.


    Their presence was somanding that the two hid behind a wide post, covering their mouths to quiet down their breathing.


    "Who''s that?" Joon-ho asked nervously.


    "Shh," Haruto said, not knowing who the man was but feeling a sense of danger emanating from him.


    "I think we need to leave," Joon-ho whispered, pointing at the only exit in the building.


    However, before Haruto could agree, the door opened, revealing more men going inside.


    Haruto and Joon-ho froze when they saw the guns in their hands, chuckling among themselves as they shot at the walls without a care in the world.


    The two trainees crouched down on the ground in fear, at a loss of what to do.


    It was too dark for them to clearly see the group of people, but it was undeniable that they were up to no good.


    A bald man asked something in Chinese, so they weren''t able to understand him.


    "Yes," the man sitting on the chair responded. "It can''t be helped. He had been keeping that briefcase since he found it in the enemy''s territory. That damn Chen Jun Hao likes ying games, does he? I promoted him after all these years because he was proficient, but it seems like it''s biting me in the ass."


    Haruto and Joon-ho looked at each other with wide eyes, recognizing the name in the conversation despite them speaking a foreignnguage.


    Then, the events unfolded quickly. The men went out of the warehouse once more, and the two trainees wondered if this was their chance to escape. However, before they could think of their next course of action, the door opened once again, revealing a different man this time.


    Since the door was opened for a moment, some of the street lights came in, revealing the man who entered.


    Joon-ho peaked from behind the post and saw a handsome man with a scarred face and a buff body walking toward the man sitting on the chair.


    There was no doubt.


    This was Chen Jun Hao.


    Joon-ho saw him in the picture frame.


    Then, they started speaking in Chinese once again, making Joon-ho feel more frustrated. He wanted to know what they were talking about and if it concerned the briefcase that he had hidden.


    They first engaged in a calm conversation. However, it escted quickly when the group of men from earlier entered the room, surrounding Chen Jun Hao and pointing their guns toward his way.


    Joon-ho''s and Haruto''s breath got caught in their throats¡­


    and before they knew it, the man was being shot to death.


    It wasn''t just one shot.


    There were numerous shots to make sure that he was dead.


    The two trainees didn''t know what to do, the blood draining from their faces.


    Then, when things couldn''t get any more brutal, the youngest-looking guy out of all of them, walked over to where Jun Hao was, pointed the gun to his head, and fired without any mercy, some of the blood even sttering on his face.


    However, at that moment, some of the moonlight shone through the windows, illuminating the face of the man who had ensured Jun Hao''s death.

 Chapter 541 An Old Friend

    <h4>Chapter 541 An Old Friend </h4>


    "Lin Zhi?" Haruki asked with wide eyes. "You''re telling me that one of the guys who killed Jun Hui, or whatever his name is, was Lin Zhi?"


    "It''s Jun Hao," June quickly corrected him.


    Haruki sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Is that even important right now? You''re telling me that one of the trainees I''ve worked with is actually a murderer?"


    Haruto nodded. "At first, I wasn''t sure. I thought I was merely hallucinating. However, when I saw him on Rising Stars, my thoughts were solidified. I''m surprised you didn''t react, though," he said to June. "Or maybe you didn''t see his face that night."


    "I did," June said, vividly remembering his death.


    Haruto scratched the back of his head. "Well, it would be difficult to indict him since we don''t have any proof of what happened that night. I think we were way too out of it to even think rationally."


    Haruki appeared absent-minded as he leaned against his father''s tombstone.


    "I can''t believe this," he whispered. "I''ve been training with a murderer. All this time, I thought you were the murderer," he said to June.


    "Are you still on that agenda?" June asked.


    "I can''t help it," Haruki said. "All these years, I thought you took the job from my brother, which led to the death of a man and caused him great trauma. Then, when I saw you on Rising Stars, I thought that was the reward that Phoenix had given you."


    "You''re wrong," June sighed. "I joined out of my own ord."


    [Lies.]


    "I know that now," Haruki muttered.


    June smirked, nudging his shoulder. "Do you hate me less now?"


    Haruki clicked his tongue as he red at June.


    "I still hate you."


    "Me too," June deadpanned.


    Haruto chuckled as he watched the two of them argue. "You guys still haven''t changed," he whispered.


    "I want to apologize again," Haruto said, capturing the two''s attention.


    "Apologize for what?" June asked. "You didn''t do anything wrong."


    "I did," Haruto shamefully said. "If I didn''t beg the CEO for a chance to debut, then this might not have happened at all. Then, maybe, just maybe, things could have gone differently for us."


    June was about to speak, but Haruto continued talking.


    "However, at the same time, I''m happy," he genuinely smiled.


    "Now, the two of you are shining brightly on stage," he said with unshed tears in his eyes.


    "There are times when I also want to shine as brightly as you, guys, but I''ve long given up on being an idol. Now, I just want to stay behind the scenes and make you guys shine even brighter."


    "Haruto," Haruki meaningfully whispered.


    Haruto chuckled and nudged his twin''s shoulder. "You don''t have to worry anymore, bro. I''m here. I won''t be going anytime soon."


    Haruki smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over his body.


    June watched the two of them, a small smile also appearing on his face.


    "But what are we going to do now?" Haruki suddenly asked. "I know that our CEO is corrupt¡ªalmost every CEO is. However, I''m not confident that we can go head-to-head with him. That Lin Zhi guy, too¡ªI haven''t seen him in a while, so it''ll be hard to indict him."


    Haruto nodded. "For now, I think there''s nothing we can do except wait."


    "I''ll try my best to look for evidence behind the scenes. However, I can''t assure you anything since I''m also busy," he continued.


    June nodded and finally stood from the grave.


    "I''ll look into it too."


    Haruki sighed and joined June as he stood.


    "Can you afford to do any of this when you''ve just debuted?" he asked June.


    June smirked as he nced at Haruki.


    "Worry about your group first. Who knows? We might even surpass you with thiseback."


    Haruki clicked his tongue and was about to respond when Haruto''s phone rang.


    "Wait a second," he said. "Let me answer this first."


    Haruki sighed and decided not to retaliate anymore.


    Meanwhile, June thought back on the conversation they just had.


    Truly, most of his questions were answered. However, some questions began to arise, too, and he found himself questioning if transmigrating into this body was just a coincidence or if it was a nned fate.


    At first, he thought that Joon-ho was nothing but an aspiring idol. However, now that it was revealed that he was there to witness his death, June felt like he wasn''t only fulfilling his dream but also giving justice to his old body.


    Again, time will tell.


    However, June will make sure that the time taken to achieve all of those goals is shortened.


    "I have to go now, guys. I have a meeting with important clients," Haruto said, snapping June back to reality.


    Marcus, despite not being called, walked over to where his master was¡ªalmost like they were wirelessly connected.


    "I''ll see you guys soon. Let''s all have a meal together once time permits. We can also talk more about what we talked about today."


    Haruki and June nodded as Marcus wheeled Haruto back to his car.


    Meanwhile, the two were once again left all alone. They were already awkward on their way to the cemetery. However, now that everything had been aired out, it seemed like they became even more awkward around each other.


    However, it also felt like a huge throne was removed from both of their hearts. The shackles from the restraining past were slowly getting broken away.


    "So, uh, how will you get home?" Haruki awkwardly asked, scratching the back of his head.


    June chuckled since he had never seen Haruki act this way. He was usually bitter and imposing in June''s presence, so this was a fresh experience.


    "What are youughing about?" Haruki asked with a frown.


    "Do you even have to ask me about that? You brought me here. I''m assuming you''ll be taking me back, too," June deadpanned.


    Haruki clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    "Whatever. Let''s just go."


    The two of them began to walk to the parking lot. However, they halted when Haruki''s phone rang.


    He clicked his tongue and brought out his phone, revealing the contact name¡ª''Bo.''


    "Goodness," Haruki muttered. "I can''t believe he found out this soon."


    "Who''s that?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    "Our new security guard," Haruki answered.


    "You guys have your own guard?" June asked.


    Haruki nodded as he stared at the screen. "They were only contractual at first. We usually only needed guards when we went to official events. However, since more and more fans are bing obsessive, thepany hired a personal security guard for the group."


    June hummed in understanding. "You should answer it then."


    Haruki sighed and finally answered the phone, cing it over his ear.


    June waited patiently, looking around the peaceful cemetery.


    However, after Haruki greeted their personal guard, the peace quickly shattered.


    "Hello, Bo Wen?"

 Chapter 542 Bad Baldie

    <h4>Chapter 542 Bad Baldie</h4>


    Bo Wen.


    That baldie.


    June was a ma for bald people in his life, and they seemed to leave him in the dust every single time.


    Mr. Kli, however, left a goodsting impression with his departure, so June couldn''t reallypare him to Bo Wen, who betrayed him despite their friendship.


    "I''ll be there soon," Haruki sighed. "I know. I should have informed you, but I had to meet my brother."


    "I''m going home now. I just have to bring a friend¡ªI mean, someone home," Haruki continued.


    "No, it''s not a woman," he sighed in frustration.


    June held onto Haruki''s arm, causing him to stop talking.


    "You can drop me off at Phoenix," June said, his curiosity eating him up.


    He wanted to see if the Bo Wen that Haruki was talking about was the Bo Wen he knew.


    Haruki frowned in confusion. "Are you sure?" he asked. "The building is still far from Azure."


    "I''m sure," June said.


    "Fine," Haruki sighed, cing the phone back to his ear.


    "I''ll be going straight to the dorms. Don''t wait up for me¡ª"


    The phone call ended before Haruki could finish his sentence, causing him to shake his head.


    "I swear, it feels like we''re being protected by a thug sometimes," Haruki muttered.


    "Should we go?" he asked.


    June nodded, wanting to see this ''Bo Wen'' as soon as possible.


    June believed he wouldn''t be able to aplish Fu''stest mission unless he went back to China.


    However, it seemed like the world had a funny way of proving June wrong.


    The two drove silently to Phoenix''s building, with June still thinking deeply about the possibility of meeting Bo Wen there.


    When they finally arrived, June couldn''t help himself. He got out of Haruki''s car and looked around the underground parking lot.


    Haruki looked at him in confusion.


    "Do you hate being in my car that much?" he muttered.


    However, June couldn''t hear anything else as his ears rang.


    There, trudging toward him, was Bo Wen¡ªthe Bo Wen he knew...the Bo Wen who killed him...the Bo Wen he considered his friend.


    Bo Wen bypassed June and went to Haruki to observe his body for any injuries.


    "Are you okay?" he asked in a tone that obviously came from a foreigner.


    June chuckled bitterly. Since when did this bastard know how to speak Korean?


    "I''m fine," Haruki responded. "We didn''t go to a populous ce. I just had to meet my brother, whom I haven''t seen in years."


    "You still should have told me," Bo Wen said. "I could have apanied you guys to ensure your safety."


    June wanted tough out loud as Bo Wen said those words.


    Him? Being worried for an idol''s safety?


    What a fucking joke.


    He can kill his friend but can''t even let an idol go and live his normal life.


    "June? June!" Haruki eximed, nudging his shoulder.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the two of them, who were looking at him with concerned expressions.


    "Are you alright? You appeared out of it just now," Haruki said.


    June looked down at the ground before nodding.


    "Yeah, I''m gonna go," June said, not wanting to explode right then and there.


    Haruki held onto his arm.


    "How are you going to go home?" Haruki asked. "I was your ride."


    "I''ll walk," June said without any hesitation. Maybe walking would clear his head so he could think of his next course of action.


    "Are you crazy?" Haruki asked. "EVE might not be as popr as CHAOS, but you still have a lot of fans. You can''t walk by yourself."


    "It doesn''t matter," June said.


    Haruki clicked his tongue. "Get inside the car. I''ll take you to Azure."


    June shook his head, about to disagree, when Bo Wen suddenly spoke.


    "I''ll go with him," he said. "It''s dangerous for you two to be out on your own."


    Haruki sighed and turned to June. "Is that alright with you?"


    June pursed his lips and looked into Bo Wen''s eyes.


    Undoubtedly, he didn''t look like the annoying guy he was friends with in the past. He also didn''t have the murderous look when he contributed to his death that night.


    They were engulfed in deafening silence, waiting for June to respond.


    Then, he finally nodded.


    "Okay," he muttered.


    Bo Wen nodded, taking the keys from Haruki.


    "Stay inside the dorm. You have a personal schedule in the evening, so rest well. Your manager and I will be taking you to the siteter."


    "Got it," Haruki said. "Now go and take him to Azure."


    June walked to the backseat, feeling hatred blooming inside his heart as Bo Wen started driving to Azure''s dorm building.


    He crossed his arms in front of his chest and observed Bo Wen''s face in the rearview mirror.


    Aside from his big, bald head, he appeared to be apletely different person. He was even wearing a suit¡ªone he would never be caught wearing when Jun Hao was still alive.


    "How long have you been a guard?" June asked, his voice as cold as ice.


    Bo Wen was startled by the sudden question. Nheless, he still answered respectfully.


    "Just this year, sir. Only for two weeks, to be exact," he responded.


    "Not that long then," June muttered.


    "What did you do beforeing here?" June asked another question.


    Bo Wen froze but quickly recovered, clearing his throat before responding.


    "Um, I was also a guard of some sort," he awkwardly said.


    ''Guard, my ass.''


    ''Hitman, you mean,'' June thought.


    "I''m assuming you''re not from around here," June continued.


    Bo Wen perked up, ncing at June from the mirror.


    "How did you know?" he asked.


    "Your ent," June said.


    "Ah, yeah, I haven''t started learning Korean for long, so I''m still struggling," Bo Wen said.


    "I came from Shanghai, China," he proudly added.


    "Then, why did youe here?" June asked, his fists clenched in frustration. He couldn''t control his tone in this particr question, so it came out harsher than expected.


    Bo Wen pursed his lips before responding.


    "I needed a job," he muttered. "So, I came here."


    ''A job?'' June thought.


    He was sure that being one of Laohu''s preciousckeys paid better than being a guard.


    Unless...


    June felt like he was hit in the head when he finally had a realization.


    Phoenix must be involved with the White Tiger gang to some extent.


    That would exin why Lin Zhi, Bo Wen, and maybe Laohu was working with them!


    June shook his head, a small smirk appearing on his face.


    If that was the case, then he needed to get Bo Wen on his side at all costs.


    Not only will this bring him closer to getting justice for his death, but it will also answer his questions regarding the White Tiger Gang.


    Fortunately, June knew one of Bo Wen''s weaknesses¡ªone that he wasn''t even aware of himself.


    "Well, that''s great," June smiled, leaning his head against the headrest.


    They had just arrived at Azure''s dorm, and Bo Wen was pulling up to their underground parking lot.


    As Bo Wen parked the car, June spoke.


    "I guess, you need to make a lot of money if you want to meet your family again."

 Chapter 543 Keep Your Friends Close, But Your Enemies Closer

    <h4>Chapter 543 Keep Your Friends Close, But Your Enemies Closer </h4>


    543 Keep Your Friends Close, But Your Enemies Closer


    "What?"


    Bo Wen turned around so fast that he found himself feeling dizzy.


    A smirk graced June''s lips, and at that moment, Bo Wen felt that he was familiar.


    "Jun Hao," he whispered.


    "What was that?" June teasingly asked despite hearing him crystal clear.


    Bo Wen shook his head, his palms and armpits sweating despite the cool air.


    "No," he muttered.


    For a second, the handsome idol appeared like his old friend. Looking at him now, Jun Hao and June smirked the same way.


    However, it couldn''t be.


    Jun Hao was long dead, buried six feet under the ground. That night still haunted him up to this day, wondering if what he did was worth it or not.


    "H¡ªHow''d you know about my family?" Bo Wen asked.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    At first, he thought that provoking Bo Wen wasn''t a good n. However, thinking about it now, he felt like having Bo Wen by his side would be a great leverage against Phoenix, Azure, and other future enemies.


    When they were both in White Tiger, Bo Wen was a crazy informant. He could steal information left and right by luring others into trusting him.


    June was fooled, too.


    He genuinely thought they were friends.


    However, despite this skill of his, he still had some limitations


    ¡ªand that is, he didn''t know where his family was.


    June, however, knew where they were¡ªthat was one thing he kept from Bo Wen.


    It was his family''s choice, and June became their confidant during those difficult times. He would even send them Bo Wen''s whereabouts and such.


    That is, until that day happened. He didn''t have the heart to tell Bo Wen, and he kept it to himself until the day he died.


    June was hesitant to use his family to get Bo Wen to work for him. However, June felt like he had no choice.


    This wasn''t the time to be merciful.


    "I guess I know a lot of things," June vaguely said. "Even about how you killed a friend."


    Bo Wen froze as he continued gazing into June''s eyes.


    There was no doubt now.


    The eyes he was looking into were the same as thepassionate yet brutal friend he had back in Shanghai.


    "Who¡ªWho really are you?" he stuttered.


    "I''m your worst nightmareing to bite you back in the ass," June said.


    Bo Wen''s breath got caught in his throat, and he found himself shaking in nervousness.


    "Long time no see, White Tiger," June continued, rubbing salt onto his wound.


    Bo Wen recoiled in shock, leaning against the steering wheel and identally pressing on the honk in the process.


    "Calm down," June said. "I''m not going to harm you. I have a reputation to keep."


    "That''s why I need you, dirty worker," June continued, a mischievous smirk gracing his lips.


    "J¡ªJun Hao, is that really you?" Bo Wen asked, pointing an using finger at him.


    "Believe what you want to believe," June gave a vague answer.


    "I''m going crazy. I''m literally going crazy," Bo Wen muttered.


    "You''ve gone crazy for a while now," June deadpanned. "Don''t act like this is anything new."


    Bo Wen gasped as June leaned closer to him.


    "Get away! Ghost, get the fuck away!" he screamed.


    June calmly watched him, waiting for his episode to finish.


    "I need to tell this to someone. I need to report this to the police," he muttered, fumbling to get out of the car.


    "To who? To Laohu?" June asked.


    Bo Wen stopped thrashing as he felt his heart beat faster.


    He had seen June plenty of times on television. He was known as the handsome, talented idol who was rising rapidly in poprity.


    However, June, who was in front of him right now, seemed like apletely different person.


    "A¡ªare you really Jun Hao?" he whispered.


    June smirked. "You''re finding it hard to believe it, too, huh?"


    "If that''s the case, what makes you think that other people are going to believe you when you report this to them?" June asked, raising his chin high up in the air.


    Bo Wen swallowed loudly, feeling even more nervous and in disbelief.


    "What do you want from me?" Bo Wen whispered.


    "Everything," June said. "You took away my life, and now you have to pay the prize."


    "It wasn''t my choice," Bo Wen eximed. "I was promised to see my family after I get it done. I didn''t want to do it. You know that I considered you as my friend."


    "Laohu was your friend," June chuckled bitterly. "So, did you see your family after it was over?"


    Bo Wen pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "No," he muttered.


    "See?" June smirked. "You couldn''t have gone to me¡ªthe friend who knew where your family was."


    "B¡ªbut how?" Bo Wen asked. "They left without leaving a trace. My wife, my son¡ªnobody knows where they are."


    June shook his head.


    "You underestimate me, my friend. We entered the gang around the same time, and I met your family plenty of times before they left."


    "Your wife didn''t want you getting into this profession because of the dangers that came along with it. So, she left with your son to ensure his safety."


    Bo Wen felt a lump forming in his throat as June continued speaking.


    "However, she couldn''t do that on her own. In the end, she sought help from me¡ªyour friend. I couldn''t deny her request, so I helped them leave."


    Bo Wen''s brows furrowed, unable to control himself as he held onto June''s cor.


    "All this time, you knew! Yet you kept it away from me," Bo Wen screamed. "Maybe you do deserve to die."


    June shook his head. "You haven''t changed at all, have you?"


    "You still don''t respect your wife''s choice. She didn''t want to tell you. She was afraid¡ªnot only for you but also for your son. She felt that she was your weakness, so she left on her own ord," June exined.


    "Where is she now?" Bo Wen asked, his grip on him loosening.


    June opened his mouth to speak while Bo Wen impatiently waited.


    However, before he could utter a word, he closed his mouth again.


    "Where is she?" Bo Wen desperately asked.


    "Everythinges with a price these days," June nonchntly said. "I can''t possibly give you such valuable information without getting anything in return."


    Bo Wen''s eyebrows furrowed as he finally let go of June''s cor.


    "The files regarding Choi Joon-ho when he was still in Phoenix."


    "Hand them all to me."

 Chapter 544 Disguise Surprise

    <h4>Chapter 544 Disguise Surprise </h4>


    544 Disguise Surprise


    "Are you insane?" Bo Wen eximed, looking at the idol with wide eyes. "Do you want to get me fired?"


    "What?" June chuckled. "You can''t extract information without being caught now? Finally lost your spark, huh?"


    Bo Wen pursed his lips.


    June stepped forward and pointed a finger to his chest.


    "I know that you came to Phoenix for a reason," June meaningfully said, hinting at the possible link between Phoenix and the White Tiger gang.


    Bo Wen froze, merely confirming June''s suspicions.


    "You can betray your friend, but you can''t betray your boss?" June mocked.


    "Besides," he continued while nonchntly looking at his nails. "You need my information more than I need yours."


    Bo Wen still did not respond, causing June to nod.


    "Alright. I''ll give you some time," he said. "By the end of the week, I need a response. If there isn''t any, I''ll just assume you don''t want to cooperate."


    "Oh, and go ahead and tell this to anyone if you want. I''m sure they wouldn''t even believe you in the first ce."


    Bo Wen''s breath got stuck in the back of his throat since he knew June was right.


    "I''ll head up then," June coldly said.


    However, before he could take another step forward, he quickly halted.


    Then, he went back to where Bo Wen was.


    "Before I forget," June said, cing his hand on Bo Wen''s shoulder and nting a kiss on his cheek.


    Bo Wen froze while June shivered in disgust because of the feeling of stubble against his lips.


    "Wee back, friend," June whispered in a sinister tone before walking away without looking back.


    As he turned around, he harshly wiped his lips with his hands and shook his head.


    ''Are you satisfied now?''


    [Congrattions! You have aplished your mission!]


    [Stage Presence: +2]


    [This wille in handy during youreback!]


    [Current Grade: A+]


    As June arrived at the foot of the stairs, he stopped when he saw a familiar figure standing beneath it, looking at him with a pale face and wide eyes.


    June''s eyes also widened as he gulped.


    "Casper," he muttered. "What are you doing here?"


    Casper didn''t respond and only pointed an using finger toward his way.


    June face palmed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "Did you see that?" he asked.


    Again, Casper didn''t respond, causing June to shake his head.


    "Goodness. Why do you have to be here at this very moment?"


    "Jay asked me to get something from the car," Casper muttered.


    "Such perfect timing you have," June said.


    Casper pursed his lips and went closer to June, patting his back and seeminglyforting him.


    June looked at him weirdly. "What are you doing?"


    Casper kindly smiled and continued patting his back.


    "We ept you for who you are."


    ***


    The two entered the dorm room, with Casper stillforting June with what happened.


    June was not having any of it.


    "You know, it''s really alright. We live in the 21st century! We should be free to love who we love. However, I was surprised by your type. I assume you like unique-looking people."


    June halted and red at Casper.


    "Shut up, will you? I''ve told you plenty of times¡ªit''s not like that!"


    "You kissed him on the cheek," Casper deadpanned.


    "It''s for a¡ªfor a¡ª"


    Mission.


    June groaned in frustration since he really couldn''t divulge that information.


    "Just forget about it," June said. "It''s not what you''re thinking of. in and simple."


    "I get it," Casper said, finally nodding in understanding. "You''re still in the denial phase."


    "Bastard," June groaned, already having enough of his teammate.


    They arrived in the living room, where they saw Jay and their members getting ready to go to the practice room.


    "Where are the files I asked you to bring?" Jay asked when he saw Casper and June go inside the room.


    "Oh," Caper said when he realized he forgot his initial objective.


    Jay sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I was about to discuss some things with you before going to the practice room."


    Casper scratched the back of his head. "Sorry. I got distracted."


    Jay nced at June and sighed in defeat.


    "Fine, I''ll let you off the hook. Let''s just talk about it on our way there."


    The other members nodded as they followed Jay to the car.


    They arrived at the car, and Jay immediately handed Jaeyong the files that he had asked Casper to fetch.


    "There''s only one copy, so bear with me," Jay said.


    "It''s alright," Jaeyong said. "We''ll just share."


    "Well, these are just the variety shows that you are bound to go to once youreback periodmences," Jay started off.


    "For starters, the three of you are going to Idol Box. Then, all eight of you will be going to this YouWatch show."


    Akira groaned when he didn''t see the variety shows he was hoping to go on.


    "Where''s Crawling Man?" he asked.


    Jay chuckled as he nced at Akira. "Crawling Man is really hard to get into. Even other popr idols were only able to go on it years after their debut."


    "Uno got to go on it during their debut," June said.


    "That''s because Uno is from a bigpany," Jay responded. "It''s different."


    Akira sighed in disappointment. "Well, I guess this is better than nothing. BOYMYSTIC gets treated like dust these days, so we should be thankful, right?"


    Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah, we should enjoy it while we can."


    June shook his head. ''This darnpany,'' he thought.


    "Before I forget, there''s still one variety show you need to go to," Jay continued as he pulled up to the curb.


    Jaeyong flipped the page, his eyebrows raising in surprise when he saw the popr TV show.


    "Disguise Surprise Singer?" Jaeyong asked as he turned to Jay. "Isn''t that super popr right now?"


    "It is," Jay smirked. "They were the ones who reached out to us, and I tried my best to convince the PR team to get you to go!"


    "I''m assuming only one of us will go, though?" Jaeyong followed-up.


    "Yup," Jay said. "In fact, they''ve already specified who they want to go."


    June was busy fiddling with his phone, impatiently waiting for Bo Wen to confirm his cooperation.


    However, when he felt everybody''s gaze on him, he quickly looked up.


    He had been listening to their conversation this entire time, so he felt like he already knew what Jay was going to say.


    "What?" June still asked.


    "Surprise!" Jay eximed. "You''re going to Disguise Surprise Singer!"

 Chapter 545 All By Myself

    <h4>Chapter 545 All By Myself </h4>


    "All by myself?" June asked, feeling a bit hesitant.


    "Well, of course!" Jay eximed. "Or do you want me to hold your hand while you''re singing on stage?"


    "June would like that," Casper chimed, earning him a p on the back of the head.


    "This is a great opportunity!" Ren eximed. "I''ve always imagined you going on that show."


    "Me too!" Jisung chimed. "It''s the perfect show to unt your vocal skills. Maybe then, people would stop underappreciating your vocals."


    "June is known as a talented vocalist, though," Sehun said.


    "I know," Jisung said. "However, I feel like his skills are still being overlooked! He''s the fifth-generation vocal king! Yet, people on LikLok keep marking his vocals as ''unsupported.'' It''s so frustrating since other people actually believe them."


    Jay shook his head. "I told you to stop watching those LikLok videos. They''re from a bunch of people who don''t know what they''re talking about."


    "But they''re fun," Jisung muttered.?"Anyway! You''ll kill on that show, bro! It''s also very popr, so more people would get to know your vocal skills!"


    June nodded, thinking back on how the show operated.


    Disguise Surprise Singer was an up-anding show that had only been airing for two years. It was a prime-time noon show that aired every weekend, and it showcased singers of different calibers and styles.


    It almost seemed like another survival show, which June has been a ma of, but only focused around singing.


    In each episode, four challengers step into the spotlight, each vying for the chance to dethrone the reigning champion known as the ''Disguised.'' The ''Disguised'' is the formidable singer who triumphed in the previous week''spetition, concealed behind a clever disguise.


    The stakes are high as the challengers strive to impress the audience and panel of judges, all while aiming to earn the opportunity to challenge the reigning ''Disguised'' and im the throne for themselves.


    The ''Disguised'' can retain their title and continue to defend their reign week after week, creating an ongoing narrative as new challengers emerge and thepetition heats up.


    The ultimate twist is that the challengers, as well as the ''Disguised'', hide their identities until they are finally eliminated.?This element of the show made it popr since it kept the viewers guessing and engaged until the very end.


    June sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I''ll be singing by myself, though."


    "Yeah," Zeth said. "You''re great at singing. Haven''t you sung by yourself at all? I''m sure you''ve done trainee evaluations and such."


    June frowned and thought back on all of the stages he curated and wondered if he had done a solo stage at all.


    Then, he shook his head.


    "Aside from the Little Meow Meow stage, I don''t think I''ve sung by myself at all. I''ve always sung in groups. Even the ''Father'' stage was with other artists."


    "Well, there''s a first time for everything, right?" Jay excitedly asked.?"The producers specifically asked for you, so we can''t really back down on our word."


    "We''ll also watch the show and help you pick the songs to sing," Sehun added.


    June nodded, still feeling hesitant but excited to take on the new challenge. It seemed like he also needed to go back to Magic Mama and upgrade his vocal skills before joining the show.


    "When is it going to start?" June asked.


    "Well, youreback is in less than two weeks, so in a week!" Jay chimed.


    June sighed and shook his head. He wasn''t surprised at all now.


    "I''m surprised you gave me a week to prepare," June deadpanned.


    "Right? I should have told you the day before," Jay teased.


    They finally arrived at the parking lot. However, Jaeyong continued reading the contents of the files that Jay had given him.


    They were about to get out of the car when Jaeyong suddenly spoke.


    "I thought these were the variety shows we needed to go to," he said.


    Jay turned to him, confused.


    "Yeah," he responded. "Do you have any objections regarding the shows?"


    "No," Jaeyong said. "I do wish we would go on more so we could promote the album. However, I understand the limitations of thepany."


    "What''s wrong then?" Jay asked.


    "It''s this," he said, showing the paper to Jay and his teammates.


    The members of EVE craned their necks to get a glimpse of the paper, their eyebrows furrowing when they read the familiar name.


    "MATCHSTIX? This is a new idol group, right?" Jaeyong asked. "I''ve seen them on TV from time to time."


    "Right," Jay asked. "I forgot to remove that from the bunch."


    Akira narrowed his eyes suspiciously at their manager. "Don''t tell me you''re monitoring underaged boys now."


    "No!" Jay quickly denied it. "Heck no! You know I''m not a fan of minors debuting. I still stand by the fact that the idol life is not fit for those who are underage."


    "Agreed," Jisung said.


    "However, I got curious about their group since they came from a survival show like you guys," Jay continued.


    "Right! That''s where I saw them from," Sehun said. "I think the show did well on SBC. It was apany survival show, so only trainees from thepanypeted against each other. Even then, it was still pretty popr, especially with the Western audience."


    "What can you expect?" Zeth asked. "This group is from Hypeman. They''ve already gained traction as soon as the line-


    up was announced. I believe they even got a magazine front cover even when they haven''t debuted yet."


    "Oh, to be an idol in a bigpany," Akira sighed.


    "Still," he continued, pointing an using finger at their manager. "This doesn''t exin why you have their photo and details printed out. We''ve caught you in the act, mister."


    Jay sighed in frustration.


    "You''re taking things out of context."


    "I just wanted to monitor them since they''re yourpetition," he remarked.


    "They''re a seven-member boy group whose oldest member is Jisung''s age and youngest member is merely 16. I got curious about their skills and watched the show. Surprisingly, they were very good despite their young age," he continued.


    "Aside from all of that, they''re debuting around the same time as youreback."

 Chapter 546 Choosing Songs and Thongs

    <h4>Chapter 546 Choosing Songs and Thongs</h4>


    Unknown: I''ll do it. Give me a week.


    Unknown: Don''t forget to keep your end of the deal.


    June smirked once he saw a new text. He didn''t have to think hard to conclude that it was Bo Wen.


    How he got his number was a mystery, considering he didn''t give it to Haruki or any of the CHAOS members just yet, but Bo Wen has always been great with information, so June wasn''t surprised.


    June: I will...if I''m satisfied.


    Unknown: You''re a menace.


    Unknown: You better tell me where my family is.


    June shook his head as he silenced his phone, cing it in his pocket and going out of his room.


    It was already lunchtime, and some of the members went out to film some promotional content for theireback.


    Currently, only Jisung and Akira were in the dorm with him.


    As June arrived at the living room, he wasn''t surprised when he saw the two of them watching a noontime drama.


    "Another show?" June asked, gazing at the screen.


    "Yup! It''s a fantasy periodical sh historical show!" Jisung eximed, his eyes focused on the screen.


    "After the sess of Hana Lim''s past drama, these types of shows are getting more and more popr!" he added.


    "Is it any good?" June asked, sitting beside him.


    "Of course," Akira said. "Why else would it be popr? Although, this one doesn''te close to Hana Lim''sst project."


    The clock made a loud sound once it hit 12, and so did Jisung''s and Akira''s stomachs.


    "June, make us food," Akira said, holding onto his arm.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed him away.


    "I already made some this morning. It''s in the kitchen," June said.


    "Oh, there is?" Akira asked. "I''ll go get some for us then."


    June shook his head. "You should really start looking for things with your eyes and not with your mouth."


    "Geez," Akira said as he stood. "You sound like my mom."


    June pursed his lips since he did sound very mom-like just now.


    Jisung chuckled and nudged his shoulder.


    "Don''t worry!" Jisung eximed. "We like how you nag us. If you weren''t here, then this house would have turned upside down while being covered with cockroach eggs!"


    Just then, their conversation was cut short by the loud sound of the next show''s soundtrack.


    June and Jisung turned their attention to the screen, looking at the familiar logo.


    "It''s Surprise Disguise Singer," Jisung pointed out. "You''re going to be filming for this show tomorrow, right?"


    "Yeah," June said, scratching the back of his head. "However, I still don''t have any idea what I''m going to sing for the second round."


    "What?" Jisung asked, looking at him with wide eyes. "I thought you were supposed to have submitted your song choices by now!"


    "I have," June said. "They told me I can submit as many songs as I like and pick one tomorrow. However, I still haven''t chosen a song among the roster."


    "What about your duet performance?" Jisung asked.


    "Well, Jay had given me the song and the parts I need to practice. I''ve been practicing it for the past week, so I think I can win against my opponent. It''s the solo stage that I''m worried about."


    During the first round of the show, contestants were paired randomly with another challenger, and they had to sing a duet even without any prior practice.


    Their management would give them the parts they needed to sing, and it was up to them how they were going to sing the joint parts.


    June was nning on approaching Magic Mama to ask for tips on how to shine better in a duet. However, she said she was busy and couldn''t conduct any sses for the next two weeks.


    In the end, June had to practice the song all on his own. He hoped that he could increase his vocal stats before the show was filmed.However, he inferred that it would be pretty hard to move up from SS to an SSS in just a week.


    "We can help you choose one!" Jisung excitedly said.


    Just in time, Akira arrived at the living room with three bowls of curry rice in his arms. He ced them down on the table and eximed excitedly when he saw that Disguise Surprise Singer was on.


    "Are you monitoring the show?" Akira asked, already shoving a spoonful of food inside his mouth.


    June nodded. "I was so busy practicing for the whole week that I didn''t check whose the current ''Disguised.''"


    "What do you mean?" Akira asked. "The ''Disguised'' has been the same person for quite some time now. It''s ''Legendary Guitarman'' with his guitar-shaped mask and signature ripped ck cks!"


    "It''s still him?" Jisung eximed. "Dang. It''s been a while. Has it been seven or eight weeks now?"


    "Nine!" Akira answered. "Guitarman has been the reigning champion for nine weeks. June has some toughpetition, I tell you. He''s the longest-ever ''Disguised'' in the entirety of the show! If he wins today, then he''s going to the double digits."


    The show finally started with the duet rounds, and they could tell right away that the current challenges weren''t up to par with Guitarman.


    June didn''t really monitor the show, but he had heard of a lot of people hyping Guitarman on Navel. The fact that he won nine times was a great testament to that.


    "So, what are yougoing to sing in the first round?" Akira asked.


    "Life of the Party," June said.


    "Oh, it''s a rock song," Akira smiled. "That''s great, then. You haven''t delved much into rock, so I''m looking forward to it."


    "He doesn''t know what to sing for the second round, though," Jisung chimed, causing Akira to choke on a piece of carrot.


    The two merely watched him as he nearly asphyxiated. Then, June merely handed him a ss of water when the choking episode finally finished.


    "Goodness. I feel really loved," Akira sarcastically said.


    June sighed, running his fingers through his hair, and ignroing Akira''s statement.


    "I have a few options, but I honestly don''t know what to choose. I don''t even have a disguise," June said.


    "The filming is tomorrow," Akira deadpanned. "You should have asked for our help!"


    "It escaped my mind," June said. "I was busy practicing and honing my skills."


    "Gosh," Akira said, feeling frustrated. "I guess it''s time for me to whip up my idea."


    "You have a costume in mind?" June asked.


    "Of course. In fact, I already have one made," Akira meaningfully smiled.


    "What do you mean?" June frowned in confusion.


    "I''ve been watching Surprise Disguise Singer ever since it aired, and I''ve noticed that there are two types of participants who always be popr on the show¡ªthose that have exceptional vocal skills and those with an unexpected costume."


    "Oh goodness," June said, already dreading Akira''s suggestion.


    "You already have the first criteria down, so I asked Jay to get his mom to make you a costume after it was announced you had been chosen!" he excitedly eximed.


    Jisung pped excitedly. "You''re such a good friend! I should have thought of that!"


    Meanwhile, June continued being wary.


    "Let''s hear it," June suspiciously said.


    "How about¡­Thongman?"

 Chapter 547 Wrong Item

    <h4>Chapter 547 Wrong Item </h4>


    "Thongman?" June asked, looking at Akira with narrowed eyes.


    "Guitarman is the current winner. Who else can beat him but Thongman?" Akira chimed like he didn''t just suggest the most outrageous costume ever.


    "Umm, a thong is an undergarment, right?" Jisung asked, unsure of what the item was.


    "Yup! I have one in my closet. Do you want me to show you?" Akira asked.


    "Sure--"


    "No one''s going to show anyone a thong," June loudly eximed.


    "So, what do you think of the idea?" Akira excitedly asked.


    "It''s shit," June sincerely said.


    "Well, dang," Jisung muttered.


    Meanwhile, Akira frowned in confusion.


    "What do you mean? It''s a recipe for sess! Who else are they going to talk about rather than ''Thongman'' all week? Not your opponents, I tell you," Akira ranted.


    "And, even if you lose, you''ll leave a mark in the hearts of the viewers. Then, we''d get more engagement for oureback once it''s revealed that it''s you under the mask."


    "I don''t think people are going to take me seriously with a thong over my head," June deadpanned.


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. "If it''s really the underwear I''m thinking of, then I agree with June. He''ll look like a pervert on stage."


    Akira sighed in frustration. "What are we going to do then? Jay has already told his mom."


    "Call him and tell him to cancel it," June bluntly said.


    "But," Akira tried to argue, but June threw him a re, causing him to sigh in defeat.


    Then, he dialed Jay''s number. It didn''t even ring once, yet Jay already answered the call.


    "Hey," Jay worriedly asked. "Why did you call? Do you need anything? Did June escape again?"


    "No," Akira said. "He''s here. There''s nothing to worry about."


    Jay sighed in relief. "What is it then?"


    "About June''s costume," Akira merely prefaced.


    However, with the utterance of those three words, Jay suddenly started ranting excitedly.


    "Ah, you want to know about the progress? It''s almost done!" he said.


    Akira froze as he turned to June, who was still ring at him.


    "My mom worked really hard on it for the past week. She told me that her fingers got pricked a good hundred times, but it was all worth it. She just needs to add some finishing touches!"


    "About that," Akira scratched the back of his head. "Is it really Thongman?"


    "Yeah!" Jay excitedly responded.


    June froze before cing his hand over Akira''s shoulder, urging him to get Jay to change the costume as soon as possible.


    "Again, my mom was pretty confused at first, but she was reallymitted! She stayed up all week and said that she''d do a good job for June. Isn''t that adorable?"


    With each passing statement, June pressed harder on Akira''s shoulder. However, thetter endured the pain and continued listening to Jay''s statements.


    "Absolutely adorable!" Akira squeaked, feeling June''s grip on his bones.


    "So, what do you want to ask me about the costume?" Jay asked.


    Akira nced at June, who now looked more serious than ever. It seemed like he was really determined to change his costume.


    "Well," Akira hesitated. "I just want to praise your mom for STAYING UP ALL NIGHT and SACRIFICING HER TIME without ANY PAY just for JUNE. Yeah, JUST FOR JUNE!" he said louder than usual to make June feel guilty.


    "So, yeah. I''m looking forward to the costume. June says he already likes it very much," Akira said in one breath before turning off the call.


    June''s eyes widened as Akira ced his phone under his butt before looking away like he didn''t do anything wrong.


    "Akira," June warned.


    Akira pursed his lips before turning to June. "I''m innocent!" he eximed, raising both arms in the air.


    June groaned in frustration. "You know I can''t be Thongman! I have a reputation to keep."


    "Your reputation was gone the moment you wore the cat mask in Rising Stars."


    June paused as soon as his cat mask was mentioned.


    "You can''t wear that," Jisung remarked. "People would find out that it''s you right away."


    June groaned once more since he knew that Jisung was right.


    "I still can''t be Thongman!" he exasperated.


    "Come on," Akira said, patting his shoulder. "Trust me on this one. I''ve been analyzing the show, and this is another tactic to increase your chances of winning."


    "Sure, people wouldn''t take you as seriously in the beginning, but that also means that they''re going to let their guards down. Once that happens, they''ll be more blown away with your unexpected singing skills."


    "Besides, the costume was made by Jay''s mother. Didn''t you hear his stories a while ago? His momma is really excited for you to wear her creation. Will you shatter an olddy''s dream like that, huh?" Akira egged him on.


    "She will be very sad," Jisung nodded, merely adding more fuel to the fire.


    "I shouldn''t have talked to you, guys," June muttered, already regretting their conversation.


    "Oh," Jisung suddenly said, looking at the announcement of the new ''Disguised.''


    "It''s still Guitarman," he said in amazement. "He''s actually won ten times now. Looks like you really have some toughpetition."


    June sighed deeply.


    "Not only am I going to wear a Thongman costume tomorrow, but I also missed Guitarman''s performance. I ought to smack you on the head," June said, ring at Akira.


    Akira quickly shielded his body yet did not fail to throw June a sheepish smile.


    "Well, in exchange for all the inconvenience I''ve caused, here''s a piece of advice¡ªthey don''t know who you are, so capitalize on that. Take this time to gain insights from people who don''t know that you''re June."


    "So, don''t y safe. Bring out the big guns and blow them away!"


    ***


    It was early in the morning when June entered their group''s van. He was still pretty grumpy since he didn''t get much sleepst night.


    A running thong whose objective was to strangle him appeared in his dreams, which haunted him until dawn.


    "Well, you look grumpy," Jay observed.


    "But don''t be!" he eximed. "This is a beautiful day to be alive. You''re going on Surprise Disguise Singer!"


    "Yay," June sarcastically said, feeling that his voice was a bit hoarse.


    He clicked his tongue and held onto his throat. Theck of sleep and the intense practice were actually getting to him.


    "Before we go," Jay said, causing June to focus his gaze on him.


    "I have your costume at the back!" he eximed.


    June froze, feeling like a cold bucket of water was thrown over his body.


    ''Thong, thong, thong,'' echoed in his mind, and the image of the murderous thong once again appeared in his visions.


    "My mom worked really hard on it, and she hopes you like it! At first, I was hesitant to follow Akira''s suggestion, but then I realized¡ªyou remind me of this item."


    "I do?" June asked, already feeling out of it.


    "Yeah! You pick things up really fast, and you''re a good item to have in any asion."


    "Huh?" June asked, feeling confused.


    That didn''t sound like a description for thongs.


    "Look," Jay said, pointing at the backseat.


    "My mom prepared you a Tongman costume!"

 Chapter 548 Legendary Guitarman

    <h4>Chapter 548 Legendary Guitarman</h4>


    "It even has a small kitten on the shoulder area, so you wouldn''t forget your roots!" Jay excitedly added.


    June stared at the costume with an ambiguous expression.


    It was definitely well-made. Jay''s mom did a very good job on it.


    However, there was a pair of tongs positioned like a ''V'' on the right side of the head, and a small kitten decorated the shoulder opposite to the tong. Moreover, the costume was a mixture of pastel pink and yellow all throughout, making him look like a power ranger with a weird power.


    Nheless, June believed this was much better than a Thongman costume.


    But then again, he also didn''t know if being Tongman was significantly better.


    They were both pretty unhinged.


    "Well, do you like it?" Jay nervously asked.


    June pursed his lips before sighing in defeat.


    "It looks nice," he said through gritted teeth.


    "Yay!" Jay eximed, pping excitedly. "I was recording your reaction this entire time. I''ll be sure to send it to my mom."


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    He was also pretty relieved that he managed his reaction well. He definitely didn''t want Jay''s mom to be disappointed because of it.


    June was about to get out of the car, but Jay quickly locked the door when he saw another car pass through.


    "What''s wrong?" June asked with a frown.


    "Shh!" Jay said, covering his mouth while looking at the car.


    June sighed before removing Jay''s hand from his lips.


    "This car is soundproof," June deadpanned.


    "Oh, you''re right," Jay chuckled. "I was just nervous for a while there. The production crew told me that I should never EVER reveal your identity to anyone on the show! It''s how they keep things exciting."


    June shook his head. "They''re bound to find out when they see you, though."


    "I thought of that too," Jay sighed. "However, I''m more determined than ever! That''s why I had my mom prepare another costume."


    "Goodness, what is it now?" June asked.


    "Well, I thought of something that could pair well with tongs, so I found a rhyming word¡­in fact, it''s almost a homonym."


    "Please don''t tell me¡ª"


    "I''ll be Thongman!"


    ***


    "Why are we even here on a Sunday morning?" Jia asked, yawning as her mother giddily waved her ''Guitarman'' banner in the air.


    "I should still be asleep," Jia muttered.


    "It''s nearing noon, youngdy," Cindy said, a wide smile on her face like nothing could ruin her mood. "Besides, I don''tin whenever you go on those idol shows that have ridiculously early orte schedules!"


    "But I don''t drag you to those shows," Jiained.


    "Oh, suck it up, Boo Bear," Cindy sweetly said. "I got front-row seats, and your father is sick with the flu. I didn''t want it to go to waste, so I invited you. Besides, isn''t this a great way to meet Guitarman? He''s been popping off on social mediately."


    "Guitarman is for people your age," Jia muttered. However, Cindy merely ignored her and urged her to enter the venue.


    As usual, the medium-sized venue was packed to the brim, ranging from young kids to people with white hair. For a moment, Jia saw an old woman with a June photocard in her expensive bag, making her smile.


    It was crazy how the world always had a way of connecting her to June. Who would have expected that she would see him in photocard form today, too?


    It didn''t take long before the entire venue was filled. After a few minutes, the host, Kim San, emerged through towering LED screens, earning him a loud round of apuse.


    Jia tilted her head to the side in confusion. She was sure she had seen this man before.


    "Isn''t he from God Quiz?" she asked.


    "Quiz God," Cindy corrected. "And yes! Kim San hosts both shows."


    Jia raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Well, he''s making a lot of money."


    "Wee, deardies and gentlemen, for yet another day of talent and excitement!" San announced, earning him a louder round of apuse.


    "This week, we have four new challengers who want to take on the ''Disguised.'' Speaking of that man, let me introduce him to you! Please wee Guitarman!" he gestured toward the back, next to the judges, where a man was sitting on an elevated tform.


    He was wearing his signature guitar-shaped mask and ripped ck cks.


    The people inside the room went ballistic as soon as the spotlight was turned toward his way.


    Cindy, too, lost all control once she saw him. She even held onto Jia''s shoulders and shook her like a ragdoll.


    Jia froze in horror, wondering if she would look like this to her children if June continued being an entertainer for the rest of his life.


    "He''s such a handsome fellow," Cindy muttered, hearts practically shooting out of her eyes.


    "You can''t even see his face," Jia deadpanned. However, she quickly pursed her lips when she remembered that she fell in love with June when his face was still covered with an atrocious kitty mask.


    "Woah!" San eximed, making the screams tune down. "I see that Guitarman is getting more and more popr each week. Well, it is expected since he''s the longest-running ''Disguised'' in the history of the show! He''s currently on a ten-week streak, and nobody has proved themselves worthy of breaking that streak just yet!"


    "Will we finally get a challenger worthy of battling with our Guitarman?"


    "No!" the crowd screamed, already biased toward Guitarman.


    Kim San chuckled before asking Guitarman a question.


    "You are now the most popr ''Disguised'' to ever grace this show. How do you feel about this?"


    "It''s been overwhelming," Guitarman answered, his voice distorted to be deeper so people wouldn''t be able to find out his identity. "It''s been a while since I''ve received this much praise from the public."


    "He must be old then," Jia concluded, causing Cindy to p her knee.


    "There has also been a lot of spections and theories regarding your identity. Tell us¡ªare any of these theories right?"


    Guitarman paused for a while before holding up an ''X'' sign.


    The people started murmuring among themselves.


    "I''ve seen some people guess my identity right. However, it isn''t as prominent as the other theories," Guitarman responded. "I believe a lot of people would still be surprised once they see me."


    "It just makes me more curious to find out your identity!" San eximed.


    "Well, let us make Guitarman rx for now!" he said, turning to the front camera.


    "Let us now wee our first set of challengers!"


    "They will be singing ''Life of the Party'' by the popr band THORNS! Please give them a round of apuse."

 Chapter 549 Pearl Boy

    <h4>Chapter 549 Pearl Boy </h4>


    As the two individuals walked down the hallway, the people around couldn''t help but catch a nce. Within a few seconds, they became a spectacle, almost like zoo animals caught in the wild.


    June felt embarrassed as people started whispering among themselves, evenughing as they passed by.


    "A tong and a thong? They might just be geniuses, I fear."


    "If they wanted to capture the audience''s attention right away, they made the right choice."


    "I bet this challenger is aedian. Who else would have thought of such a costume?"


    "Agreed! Do you know anyedian singers?"


    June sighed as the theories of him being aedian started circting. No one even thought of him being an idol!


    June finally arrived backstage and waited for Kim San, the host, to call the challengers for the first performance.


    Currently, he was all alone, sitting backstage. His opponent was nowhere in sight, and he still had no idea whether they were a man or a woman.


    There was arge screen before him where the panel and the stage were currently being shown.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw many familiar faces among the judges.


    Mimi from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION was the most notable one. There was another actress that he couldn''t name, some other rookie groups that he promoted with, and some veteran singers that fell off but were still relevant in the industry.


    All in all, June already dreaded revealing himself to the panel of judges. He just wished that his opponent would have an equally ridiculous, if not more ridiculous, costume than him, so he wouldn''t be too made fun of.


    Just then, his opponent finally arrived, and it seemed like June''s wishes were all futile.


    Standing about the same height as him, the man appeared more dazzling than the sun itself.


    He merely nced at June, even scoffing, before sitting far away from him.


    June was taken aback by his behavior. However, he still couldn''t believe the fact that his opponent was dressed in pearls, the little white beads looking real, while he had a tong on his head!


    "Must be nice," he bitterly muttered.


    "What''s with the costume?" his opponent suddenly asked, his voice unrecognizable.


    There was one thing June noticed, though¡ªwhoever this person was, he was sure that he''d be pretty young. It was almost as if he had only hit puberty.


    June nodded to himself.


    ''He must be a new idol,'' he inferred.


    "Hey, I''m talking to you," the boy said, causing June to snap out of his thoughts.


    If he was a new idol, then why was he speaking so disrespectfully? June shook his head and faced the pearly boy. However, he didn''t say anything and merely read his bodynguage.


    As expected, this boy must be young¡ªhecked manners and appeared to think he was the best in the room.


    The boy scoffed as June continued staring at him.


    "Are you trying to capture the audience''s attention with your costume right off the bat?" he asked.


    "That''s not cool at all," he muttered.


    "However, it doesn''t matter!" he eximed, standing from his seat and pointing at June.


    "I''m going to show everyone that I, a member of MATCHSTIX, can eradicate anyone whoes my way!"


    June chuckled in amusement after the boy had just revealed his identity. This kid must be here to promote their debut album, too. It was impressive how he got such an opportunity before he even debuted.


    The boy, however, seemed unfazed, merely waiting for Kim San to call them to the stage.


    June, too, couldn''t wait.


    He didn''t respond to the pearly boy because he thought he wasn''t worth it. It seemed like he was just a kid who had a weird superiorityplex.


    However, that doesn''t mean that June wasn''t annoyed at him.


    In fact, June was annoyed as hell.


    However, he didn''t want to retaliate against the young man in case he looked immature. Instead, he''ll just retaliate on stage


    ¡ªwhere he least expected it.


    "Let us now wee our first two challengers!"


    "They will be singing ''Life of the Party'' by the popr band THORNS! Please give them a round of apuse."


    Kim San''s voice rang backstage, followed by the sound of loud apuse.


    Pearl boy shook his hands and stood straight before heading to the stage, not even looking back.


    The crowd gasped in amazement when they saw his costume, pleasantly surprised by its quality. Under the stage lights, the white pearls glistened even more, and although his face couldn''t be seen, they already inferred that the person behind the costume was a dazzling, promising artist.


    However, the crowd''s attention was quickly taken away when June entered in a half-pastel yellow and a half-pastel pink jumpsuit. He took extra precautions to not let his bulge shine through! However, the people continued gazing at him, dumbfounded by the tong on his head and the kitten on his shoulder.


    "What''s he supposed to be?"


    "A tong? That''s such a random item!"


    "Oh, he''s definitely aedian."


    "Tongman? That''s freaking genius. I''m rooting for him now!!"


    "With a costume like that, I''m afraid he might not be so talented."


    Jia covered her mouth as she uncontrobly chuckled. The man before her had a lean but muscr body. However, she couldn''t focus on that because his costume was just in ridiculous!


    "He must be your age," Jia whispered to her mom.


    Cindy shook her head.


    "Come on. Not even people my age would wear that kind of thing," she retorted.


    "We have our first two challengers¡ªPearl Boy and Tongman!" Kim San eximed, earning a round ofughter from the audience.


    Pearl boy clenched one of his fists from behind his back when he saw that most of the people were looking towards Tongman''s way. On the contrary, June wanted the audience to divert their gazes away from him and his costume!


    After a few seconds, the LED screen behind them became dark, setting the mood for the rock song they were about to sing.


    Then, the spotlights shone on the two of them, only emphasizing the differences in their costume.


    The audience continued tough at Tongman as he nodded to the beat.


    However, at that moment, June already tuned them all out.


    His mind was focused solely on performing.


    June felt like he was back in the past, where he was being judged just because of his ridiculous cat costume.


    He proved the audience wrong back then, and he certainly wanted to prove the audience wrong after this performance.

 Chapter 550 Life of the Party (1)

    <h4>Chapter 550 Life of the Party (1)</h4>


    The stage was set, bathed in the sentimental hues of the stage lights. The crowd began to settle down as the first notes of the song resonated in the studio.


    The electric guitar sound made the audience immediately exim, taking them back to the time when they first heard such an iconic intro.


    "Dad used to sing this song at the karaoke, right?" Jia asked with a small smile on her face.


    Cindy nodded, her gaze focused on the stage.


    "I fell in love with him because of this song," she said. "He sang it with such sadness, so despite hisck of vocal skill, I was immediately hooked."


    Mimi ced her hand over her heart. This song was frequently sung during karaoke nights when she had fun with her friends. It was a song she didn''t expect toe out in Surprise Disguise Singer. However, she wasn''tining.


    Meanwhile, June hadn''t heard of the song before. However, the first time he heard it, he was pleasantly surprised. It was released a little less than ten years ago, but it sounded very modern. Nheless, it still held the nostalgic band sound that touched everybody''s heart.


    It was a song that spoke of the dazzling life of a party-goer. However, beneath the shy parties, addictive vices, and plenty of friends he had, nothing could ever fill the void in his heart. It definitely needed to be sung with plenty of emotions, all while keeping the strong, low-to-mid-tone vocals that characterized the song.


    For the first part, Pearl Boy stepped forward, his mask gleaming under the stage lights as he prepared to unleash his voice upon the eager crowd.


    "In the re of neon lights, I stand,


    A figure masked in shadows deep.


    The music pounds, the crowd demand,


    Yet in my soul, a secret I keep."


    With the first few lines, June''s wise guess of Pearl Boy being young was merely strengthened.


    His voice carried a raw innocence that tugged at the heartstrings of those listening. With each note, he painted a vivid picture of longing and yearning.


    However, his singing wasn''t without any ws. It might be because of hisck of experience or his adjusting voice, but the low notes were a little bit shaky. It definitely added to the emotion of the song; however, from an expert''s perspective, it sounded unsupported.


    The veteran singers in the panel tilted their heads to the side, not failing to notice this w, even jotting it down on their notes.


    As his melody faded into the air, Tongman emerged from the shadows, stepping forward so he was now at level with Pearl Boy.


    The people were honestly not expecting a lot, especially with his ridiculous costume. Other contestants with funny costumes were eliminated in the first round, and they expected the same for Tongman.


    June let out a deep breath into the microphone, setting the tone for his first lines. Then, he finally sang.


    "I''m the life of the party, they say,


    But what of the life I lead?


    In the midst of the light, I sway,


    Yet in darkness, I still plead."


    The bass kicked up, merely entuating the rock elements of the song. However, the audience was still caught up with Tongman''s voice.


    His voice, rich yet soothing and with supported lower to mid- tone rock notes, resonated with a maturity beyond his years. With each word, he breathed life into the lyrics, infusing them with a depth that captivated the audience.


    However, his emotions weren''t the most impressive part of his singing.


    Instead, it was his singing skill itself.


    The panel of judges turned to each other with raised eyebrows, wondering how such well-supported notes came from a man with a tong on his head.


    Mimi frowned in confusion, finding his voice familiar. However, she couldn''t pinpoint it in the end.


    Guitarman, too, felt that the pink and yellow figure was someone he knew.


    June smiled as he observed the audience''s agape mouths from beneath his mask.


    Come to think of it, a lot of time had passed since hisst live performance. Thest he could think of was during the finale of ''King of Kings.'' However, from then on, there has been a drastic improvement in June''s voice, with his current status being an SS.


    He was saving up his vocal skill improvement for theireback. However, since he was singing as Tongman and not as June in front of an unfamiliar audience, he felt that it was alright.


    Moreover, he was confident that the people who had heard his voice before would also have a hard time guessing his identity due to the improvement in his vocal skills.


    If back then, he struggled singing low notes, he was now confident in singing them with proper vocal support.


    Jia tilted her head to the side in confusion, looking at Tongman intently¡ªfrom his head to his toe. Then, she let out a small gasp when she finally realized who he was.


    "I''m the life of the party, they im,


    But what of the life I''ve lost?


    In the midst of the cheers, I feign,


    Yet at what cost?"


    As the chorus hit, the audience was treated to a harmonious blend of voices, the contrasting timbres of Pearl Boy and Tongman melding together in perfect synchrony. There was a freshness to their tones¡ªa purity that resonated with each lyric.


    "The shing lights, they blind my sight,


    A lighthouse in the night''s embrace.


    But what lies beyond, shrouded in plight,


    Is a mystery I cannot face."


    However, beneath the surfacey a subtle irony, where they were able to portray the mncholic lifestyle of the ''Life of the Party.''


    The audience enjoyed the two''s rendition of the rock song, especially the raspiness in their voices.


    However, as the song progressed, it became increasingly clear where the audience''s fondnessy.


    Although Pearl Boy''s voice was undeniably enchanting, with its youthful innocence andmendable vocal skills, it was Tongman who effortlesslymanded the stage, drawing the crowd closer to his side.

 Chapter 551 Life of the Party (2)

    <h4>Chapter 551 Life of the Party (2) </h4>


    With each line, Tongman''s poprity soared.


    It seemed like Akira was right.


    The fact that the audience wasn''t expecting a lot from him because of his ridiculous costume contributed to the audience''s shock factor. They weren''t expecting a lot from a man with a tong on his head, so their expectations were quickly exceeded as June sang.


    Pearl Boy didn''t fail to notice the gap in their poprity, and as the bridge approached, he thought of doing something that would set him apart from Tongman.


    A high note.


    Originally, thest part of the bridge was characterized by the low and mid-tone harmonization of the vocalist and the lead guitarist of THORNS.


    However, Pearl Boy was confident that he could take it half-an-octave higher, which would not only make his voice more noticeable but would also show his proficiency in singing high notes.


    "He''s the life of the party, they cheer,


    But what of the life he craves?


    In the midst of the crowd''s veneer,


    Lies the truth he braves."


    Tongman started the first verse of the bridge, portraying it perfectly once again.


    "He''s definitely a veteran singer," Cindy said. "However, despite the maturity in his voice, he still sounds pretty young. He might be a new veteran singer then," she concluded.


    Jia kept silent since she already knew the person behind the mask. She wanted to tell somebody else, but she also wanted to keep the fact to herself to keep the element of surprise when Tongman was finally revealed.


    She bit her lip and pinched her thigh, trying to keep herself from fangirling too much.


    As the second verse of the bridge approached, Pearl Boy finally joined Tongman, taking the higher harmony.


    June frowned in confusion from behind his mask. Pearl Boy''s harmony wasn''t half an octave higher like the original song, but it was actually an octave higher!


    This kid was actually a decent belter!


    The panel turned to each other in surprise, finding Pearl Boy''s high-toned voice to be more supportedpared to the first parts of the song.


    "In the shing lights, he finds his song,


    A melody of hope and despair.


    For, in the end, he belongs,


    To the life he chose to bear."


    However, as Tongman joined in with the bass, his voice echoing through the venue with a chilling power, it was clear who held the upper hand.


    Despite Pearl Boy''s impressive high notes, Tongman''s low notes were deemed more splendid.


    It was almost ridiculous to think that his low notes would reign above Pearl Boy''s high note since it was a known fact that sopranos took the limelight while altos were stuck in the shadows.


    This revtion definitely spoke highly of June''s vocal skills.


    And as the final notes echoed into silence, the crowd erupted into apuse, their admiration for the two challengers, especially Tongman, evident in their thunderous cheers.


    "Wow! What an impressive stage to start us off for the night," Kim San eximed, making his way back to the stage.


    "I think we finally have challengers who are worthy of battling with Guitarman!" he said, genuinely feeling impressed with the rock spectacle they had presented. "How do the two of you feel about this performance?"


    Pearl Boy spoke into the microphone before June could even think of an answer.


    "It was an honor singing THORNS'' song," Pearl Boy said, his voice distorted in the same tone as Guitarman, only a bit higher. "I was nervous singing such a legendary song, but I believe I did¡ªwe did a good job," he corrected himself.


    June rolled his eyes under the mask. The cocky boy suddenly sounded very respectful now that he was in front of an audience.


    "And you? Tongman?" Kim San asked. "I still find it hard to believe that you''re a literal tong. Honestly, that''s the question I want to ask¡ªwhy did you pick to be Tongman?"


    June internallyined since he already had an answer in mind for thest question. Jay told him to answer the questions with poise this time, so he even rehearsed it in his head.


    However, being faced with another question, June had no choice but to answer spontaneously.


    "Because I can pick up a lot of things," he simply said, his voice sounding like a chipmunk.


    He sighed in frustration as he brought the microphone away from his lips. Why did they make him sound so cute?


    Tongman''s simple answer triggered the audience''sughter. Kim San, too, burst into chuckles. He even pped June on the shoulder!


    "Ah, you''re a funny one, aren''t you? It just really makes me more curious about your identity. You''re aedian, aren''t you?" he teased, nudging June''s shoulder.


    June stayed still and didn''t respond, earning another chuckle from the host.


    "Well, before we get to the votes, let''s hear from the panel," Kim San said.


    "That was very refreshing," a woman said.


    June, with his blurry vision, narrowed his eyes when he heard the woman''s familiar voice.


    Then, it clicked to him that it was none other than Ji-hyun¡ª


    his vocal mentor during Rising Stars!


    "I like how their voices are very contrasting," she continued. "Pearl Boy''s voice is as fresh as his costume, while Tongman is just amazing. Honestly, I wasn''t expecting a lot because of his costume¡ªwhich I shouldn''t be doing from now on. I should have learned my mistake from the past shows I''ve attended. I also judged a trainee for his ridiculous costume once," she muttered, her mind straying to the young man who made her heart flutter in those few months.


    Then, she shook her head, trying to shake the thought away.


    She was finally getting over June and was satisfied with watching his content from afar! She couldn''t rpse now!


    The next person to speak was Mimi, who appeared the most excited in the bunch.


    "Well, you look very excited, Mimi," Kim San pointed out.


    "This is one of my favorite songs," she smiled. "I''m just d to hear it today. I don''t have much to say about their vocals since I think they both did well. There were some shaky parts with Pearl Boy, especially in the beginning, but he redeemed himself in the end."


    Pearl Boy looked down to the ground in disappointment.


    "What I''m honestly more curious about is their identities. I think that Pearl Boy is an idol while Tongman is an¡­actor?" she asked, her tone unsure.


    June chuckled. Well, she wasn''t wrong. June had his fair share in acting.


    "I agree with Pearl Boy being an idol!" another panel member said. "However, I think Tongman is aedian¡ªa very talentededian."


    "No!" Jihyun chimed. "He must be a rock singer. He devoured the genre, so he must be used to it."


    "Honestly, he could be any of those," a veteran singer remarked. "However, I strongly believe that he''s one of my friends. His foundation in singing is simr to a fellow veteran singer."


    June could testify that he was definitely not friends with the old man.


    "Well, let''s not dwell much on their identities. We''re going to reveal one of them after this round of voting ends anyway!" Kim San said, cutting the panel''s conversation short.


    "Now," he said, his voice ringing in the venue. "Bring out your clickers and vote for the singer whom you think sang better!"


    "Press 1 for Pearl Boy¡­"


    ¡­and press 2 for Tongman!"

 Chapter 552 Figure It Out

    <h4>Chapter 552 Figure It Out</h4>


    "The votes are now in," Kim San?said after a couple of minutes, finally closing the voting period for the first duet of the first round.


    The audience started discussing their votes as soon as it was closed.


    "Who did you vote for?" Cindy asked her daughter.


    "Tongman," Jia answered without any hesitation. She could watch with her eyes closed and her ears covered, and she would still vote for Tongman without any doubt.


    "How about you?" Jia asked, expecting her mom to have voted for Tongman, too.


    "Pearl Boy," she answered, causing Jia to turn to her with furrowed eyebrows.


    "What are you talking about? Is your hearing impaired? How can you vote for Pearl Boy when Tongman did so well?"


    "That''s exactly the reason," Cindy cryptically said, making Jia frown in confusion.


    "You''re speaking in riddles."


    Cindy sighed. "Look around the venue," she instructed.


    Jia silently followed, her eyes met with a myriad of Guitarman banners.


    "What exactly am I looking for?" Jia asked.


    "You''re looking at a bunch of Guitarman enthusiasts," Cindy pointed out. "Tongman, undoubtedly, did better out of the two of them. However, in the ten weeks that Guitarman had reigned as the ''Disguised,'' he had garnered quite a number of fans."


    "In that sense, they would vote for the least threatening challenger¡ªwhich in this case is Pearl Boy," Cindy exined.


    Jia pursed her lips as she listened to her mom''s exnation. She thought the show was as simple as the alphabet; however, it also involved a lot of favoritism.


    In the beginning, she was confident that Tongman would win. However, now, she feared that Guitarman''s fans would lead to his unfateful and undeserved loss.


    Two numbers appeared on the LED screen¡ªjust right above the two challengers.


    Tongman and Pearl Boy gazed at the back, waiting for the numbers to stop moving.


    Then, one of them finally did, stopping at the number of votes that the challenger had garnered.


    A small smirk emerged from one of the challenger''s lips.


    Then, the victor''s score finally appeared, showing the gap between their scores.


    42-73.


    "Tongman wins the first round and moves to the second round!" Kim Saneximed, causing the crowd to burst into cheers.


    There were some worried fans in the audience; however, some of them ultimately voted for Tongman because they thought he genuinely deserved it with his vocal tone and skill.


    Jia sighed in relief when she saw that Tongman had won, feeling more excited for the next stages toe.


    "Tongman will move on to the next round andpete with the challenger who wins the second duet!" he excitedly said. "Then, if he wins the next round, he will have the opportunity to battle it out with Guitarman. Ooh, I''m already excited just thinking about it."


    "However," Kim Sanquickly added, turning to audience. "I''m really curious about Tongman''s identity. Why don''t you make this guy lose on the next round so we can finally know who he is?"


    The audience, including June, chuckled in amusement.


    Jia, however, sent daggers toward Kim San''s way through her gaze.


    "This darn host," she whispered.


    "Unfortunately, Pearl Boy is eliminated from thepetition and will need to reveal himself to the public. However, to not let his effort go to waste, he will be singing the song he prepared for the second round!"


    The people cheered for Pearl Boy, who bitterly bowed to the crowd. Then, his gaze snapped toward Tongman.


    Although Pearl Boy''s face was covered, June could still feel his scrutinizing re under the thick material.


    June shook his head and went down the stage to give Pearl Boy his time to shine.


    As he walked down the stage, he saw Pearl Boy singing a pop song that suited his voice a lot more than ''Life of the Party,'' making the audience enjoy his performance better than the duet song.


    Then, after the first chorus, a countdown was heard before Pearl Boy finally revealed his identity to the audience.


    June smirked when he saw that it was, indeed, one of the younger members of MATCHSTIX¡ªthe group that Jay had told EVE to watch out for. Simr to them, they debuted through a survival show, so theparison might be even worse than with OCTA''s.


    However, seeing the young man''s cocky attitude, June already thought that there was no use thinking of their team as a rival.


    OCTA was a worthy rival¡­especially Uno.


    June had no time ying with little kids who were nearly Minjun''s age!


    With that, he started walking back to his waiting room.


    However, with only one step forward, Fu appeared before him with a new mission.


    [Lucky mission! Lucky mission! June has stepped on a lucky mission!]


    June sighed and massaged his temples through his disguise as Fu sang inside his mind.


    [The title of the mission is: Steal the Throne!]


    [Disguise Surprise Singer is one of my favorite shows! Congrattions on being invited!]


    [As the host knows, Guitarman has reigned as the ''Disguised'' for ten weeks straight now. Break the streak and take the throne! Improve your vocal aspect as soon as you sit on the throne!]


    [Failure to win against Guitarman would result in vocal skill deduction by two grades.]


    June read Fu''s messages and felt a bit conflicted. At first, he was determined to increase his vocal skill to an SSS purely with his hard work and determination. However, seeing the demerit made him think otherwise.


    It was hard getting his vocal skills to where it was now, and he wanted to protect it at all costs.


    Still, June wanted to increase his stats right before the second round. He had been practicing intently after King of Kings ended, and he was sure that his hard work points must have umted at this time.


    "Show me my current vocal hard work points," June whispered, knowing that Fu was capable of showing his stats whenever they improved, even by a mere fraction.


    [The host requested for it to be shown only when it reached a hundred.]


    June sighed as he shook his head. "That was because you notified me every second when I was trying to write ''Luster'' back then. Now, I need you to go back to that format."


    [No can do.]


    [Figure it out yourself.]

 Chapter 553 Tongman vs. Sunshine Lady

    <h4>Chapter 553 Tongman vs. Sunshine Lady </h4>


    The first round ended with June still not knowing his vocal hard work points. He had pestered Fu continuously in his mind, but the annoying system was insistent on keeping the same format.


    "What a menace," June whispered as he went out of the waiting room, still cursing at Fu in his mind.


    As he arrived backstage, he saw Sunshine Lady, the winner of the second duet, waiting for him in the seats.


    She stood and bowed deeply at Tongman, which surprised June himself.


    Sunshine Lady was acting too respectfully toward June when her singing voice appeared older and more mature!


    ''She''s most definitely in herte 20s,'' he thought, certain that Sunshine Lady was a singer/actress that he had heard the songs of. Her voice was just so distinct that it was hard not to recognize her.


    June believed that even the panel had guessed her identity because her tone was very specific.


    However, it seemed like she did not have a clue about June''s identity since she treated him like a senior singer! Sunshine Lady would definitely be in for a surprise when she realizes that Tongman was a mere 21-year-old who debuted only a few months ago.


    "The second round finally begins!" Kim San?eximed, earning a round of apuse from the audience.


    "The past two performances heated the venue up, and we want to keep the fire burning in this ce! So, without further ado, let''s already call on our final two challengers¡ªSunshine Lady and Tongman!"


    The two challengers arrived at the stage, the ps deafening as the audience was excited for their battle.


    "Let me exin the mechanics of this battle briefly," Kim San?started off. "Unlike the first battle, these two challengers will now sing one song after the other. Sunshine Lady would sing first while Tongman will go second. After Sunshine Lady''s performance, it would immediately shift to Tongman''s song. Both challengers will stay on the stage all throughout the two performances!"


    "Then, after the two songs, we''ll go right ahead with the voting! The person with the highest votes will be the ''Disguised Challenger¡ª'' which means that they''ll have the chance to take away the throne from our ten-week champion, Guitarman!"


    Sunshine Lady and Tongman nodded in understanding.


    "However, before we start, let''s have a mandatory question-and-answer portion!" Kim San?excitedly said.


    "Let''s start off with Sunshine Lady. How do you feel about battling it out with Tongman?"


    "Well, it''s definitely an honor," she said, her voice distorted in the same way as June''s.


    June frowned in confusion. Howe all the other men''s voices were distorted lower while he sounded like a chipmunk like Sunshine Lady?


    "I watched his performance a while back and nearly cried because of his portrayal of the lyrics. I''m secretly hoping that he doesn''t sing a song within his genre so that I''ll have a chance to win," she joked, even chuckling.


    Kim San, too, chuckled in amusement.


    "You sound very fond of Tongman," Kim San?pointed out. "You''re speaking about him with high regard, too. Tell me¡ªdo you secretly know of his identity?"


    Sunshine Lady abruptly shook her head.


    "Oh, it''s not anything like that. The production crew did a very good job in keeping our identities from each other. As I walked into the building this morning, all I saw were people in costumes. So, I''m not a hundred percent sure about Tongman''s identity."


    June turned to Sunshine Lady, surprised that she might actually have a clue about his identity.


    "And who might that be?" Sanasked.


    "It''s hard to tell," Sunshine Lady responded. "However, from the panel''sments a while back, I agree that he might be an old actor or a veteran singer."


    However, June quickly shook his head when he realized that Sunshine Lady actually didn''t have a clue at all.


    "Well, let''s head to Tongman, shall we?" Kim Sanasked, slowly making his way over to the bright figure next to Sunshine Lady.


    As soon as his name was mentioned, screams erupted in the venue, surprising Sanand June himself.


    "Well, it seems like you already have some fans," Sansaid. "That was fast! However, I definitely see the appeal. Who knew that a guy with a tong on his head could sing so beautifully?"


    The audience and the panel chuckled at San''s statement.


    "My question for Tongman is¡ªwhat kind of song are you going to perform for us this afternoon? Sunshine Lady over here already wished that you wouldn''t sing your usual genre."


    June didn''t know how to answer Sanquestion. He, too, wasn''t sure of his song choice until the veryst minute. He was thinking of doing another bad¡ªsince he was great at those.


    However, when Akira told him to go out of hisfort zone and blow the audience away, he quickly changed his song before going up the stage.


    "Um, it''s fun?" Tongman said in an unsure tone, earning chuckles from the listeners.


    "Ah, you must really be aedian. Or maybe a trot artist?" Kim Sanguessed, making some of the panel and audience members exim in agreement.


    "I got you now!" Kim Sansmiled. "You must be singing a trot song, huh?"


    June didn''t respond this time.


    "Well, we can''t wait for your performances. So, without further ado, let''s start with Sunshine Lady!"


    The audience pped curtly as the lights dimmed, with the spotlight only illuminating Sunshine Lady.


    As expected, she sang a bad, one which required a lot of emotion and stability. It was pleasant to the ears and had an endearing message about love.


    June found himself swaying to the sound of her voice, finding it soothing yet controlled at the same time.


    The song ended quicker than expected, and it was now June''s turn to show off his vocal skills.


    The people waited in anticipation as the spotlight shifted to Tongman. Then, they held their breaths as they waited for his long-awaited song choice.


    Most of them guessed it was going to be a bad, simr to Sunshine Lady, since it was the obvious choice during these types of shows.


    Meanwhile, others were influenced by Kim San''s input and expected a joyous trot instrumental to y.


    However, as the first notes of the acoustic guitar apanied by an electric keyboard and soft percussion resounded in the venue, the audience was stunned to silence.


    Ji-Hyun, who fully expected Tongman to be someone of her age or maybe even older, shook her head in disbelief.


    "He''s going to sing an RnB song?"

 Chapter 554 Sugar Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 554 Sugar Kiss</h4>


    June thought hard about it.


    During Rising Stars, he sang a lot of RnB-inspired songs. His voice had always leaned toward a more RnB and acoustic sound. However, after a while, he had grown to sing pop and bads better.


    For this particr stage, he somewhat wanted to use his voice as an advantage. It was pretty agile; however, its agility wasn''t really shown much in their songs and title tracks because they were quite pop-heavy.


    Plus, what Akira told him definitely urged him to choose a song that he usually didn''t sing.


    He believed it would add to the surprise factor of his performance, too.


    As the spotlight illuminated Tongman''s vibrant figure, the audience fell into a hush.


    Then, the opening chords of ''Sugar Kiss'' resonated through the auditorium, sending wavelengths of shock across the audience. The soulful yet sweet instruments left the audience confused¡ªTongman was actually going to sing this song?


    "What the heck? RnB? Isn''t this a very recent song, too?"


    "Yeah, and it''s very trendy in clubs and all that. A veteran singer is actually going to sing such a risque song on this program?"


    Guitarman leaned his elbows against his knees, waiting for Tongman to utter the first words of the song. He had been trying to figure out his identity from the beginning, and although a lot of people had made their assumptions, Guitarman believed that none of them were right.


    "Her lips like honey, so sweet and divine,


    A taste that lingers, like aged red wine.


    With just one touch, I''m lost in a trance,


    A prisoner of her intoxicating romance."


    As June finally began to sing, a loud gasp was heard from the audience, surprising many of them for the sudden shift in his voice.


    From the very first syble, it was clear that this was not the same performance as before. There was a newfound sexiness to his voice, a richness that bloomed with each passing moment. His tone, though unmistakably still his own, was able to take on the genre of RnB without any trouble.


    "Are we still listening to the same person?" Ji-Hyun asked Mimi, who was equally as confused right by her side.


    Mimi frowned as she closed her eyes and listened to his voice.


    "Her kiss, a drug, I can''t resist,


    A bittersweet addiction that I can''t dismiss.


    Lost in the moment, I surrender all control,


    Caught in her sugar-coated soul."


    June smiled, enjoying how his voice sounded through the expensive microphone. He yed with the melody, adding subtle runs and flourishes that spoke well of his vocal skills. His phrasing was also impable, every word dripping with intensity.


    Sunshine Lady, despite being hispetitor, couldn''t help but feel amazed by how Tongman tackled the unexpected genre. It also made her realize that her guess about his identity was way off.


    Most people, especially the panel, felt the same way. With how Tongman was singing, he sounded like a genuine Korean RnB artist. Were they mistaken about him being a veteran, a trot singer, or a badeer?


    Then came the chorus. Tongman''s voice soared effortlessly, his head and chest voice transitioning seamlessly to falsettos, one line after the other.


    "Sugar kiss, oh how you tempt me,


    With your sharine lips, so dangerously sweet.


    Every time she leans in, I feel the rush,


    A wave of euphoria, a feverish crush.


    Her kiss, a curse, yet I can''t break free,


    Enved by desire, lost in ecstasy.


    Blinded by passion, I stumble into the abyss,


    Haunted by her sugar kiss."


    In this round, the challengers were only given a chance to sing up until the chorus. So, the performance ended abruptly after the first chorus, the final notes fading as the stage lights were once again illuminated.


    Yet, at that moment, it seemed like the people were still waiting for Tongman to continue singing¡ªone, because the sound of his voice was as addicting as the sugar kiss he was singing about, and two, because they wanted to find out his real identity.


    Jia heard confused questions around her, all wondering who this talented man was.


    It made her realize that not a lot of people had the privilege of getting to know June, which made her proud that she was able to discover him even before his rise to stardom.


    And now, more people were getting to know him. However, they still had to endure the suffering of oblivion before they got to know who he truly was.


    Honestly, Jia also found it hard to believe that the person who sang just now was June. She was aware of his impable vocal talent. Yet, it seemed like he improved every time he performed on stage.


    If an average fan heard this particr stage, they, too, would be stumped on his identity. They would probably find his voice familiar, but it wouldn''t be enough for them to conclude that it was, indeed, June.


    Jia was just another breed. She felt like she knew everything about June¡ªwithout crossing the boundaries, of course.


    As their apuse faded into the silence, the judges began discussing among themselves, setting chaos within the panel. They were all visibly stunned, their expressions showing awe As their apuse faded into the silence, the judges began discussing among themselves, setting chaos within the panel. and confusion.


    Just who was this masked marvel, and where had he been hiding all this time?


    "Calm down, judges!" Kim Saneximed as they started discussing Tongman''s identity.


    "We''ll go with yourments a whileter. For now, let me interview these two contestants again."


    "Tongman!" Sansaid, walking over to where June was. "That was an unexpected song choice."


    "Yeah," Tongman nonchntly said, earning some chuckles from the audience.


    "Ah, you''re really much more charming than I initially thought," Sansmiled. "How could you sing an RnB song right after a rock song?"


    "Well, the rock song wasn''t my choice; it was just given to me by my manager. I believe the production crew was the one who assigned the song," he honestly said.


    "Goodness," Kim Saughed out loud, tears welling up in his eyes. "You''re an honestd, aren''t you? You even exposed our production crews'' secrets!"


    The audience and panel, too,ughed since this was the first time they heard a contestant being so blunt and straightforward.


    "I know that a lot of people are curious about your identity. Tell me, are any of our guesses correct?"


    "What were the guesses again?" Tongman asked, honestly not paying much attention to theirments regarding his identity.


    "Well, there was a trot singer, a badeer, a rock artist, an actor, and now, I believe you might be an RnB artist."


    June pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "None of those?" Sanasked. "Is there anything remotely close?"


    It suddenly hit June that he had acted before. However, he hasn''t really considered himself an actor yet.


    "Uh, yeah, I guess? Some of them fit."


    "I see. You must be a multi-talented artist then," Kim Sansaid.


    "Speaking of multi-talents," he started off. "This segment has been pretty helpful to the panel and to the audience in guessing the challengers'' identities. Why don''t we conduct a talent portion for Tongman?" Sanasked the audience.


    The audience cheered enthusiastically, even raising their fists in the air as an enthusiastic agreement.


    "Well, the people have spoken," Sansaid, turning to June, who was currently in a dilemma since he didn''t know he had to perform again!


    "Umm, do I just have to sing again?" June asked.


    "Oh no!" Kim Sansaid. "That''s one thing you cannot do in Disguise Surprise Singer''s talent show! For this segment, you are only allowed to show a talent that isn''t rted to singing. For example, Guitarman over there prepared a short guitar performance during his first week."


    June pursed his lips and thought of a talent he could do at the moment.


    "So, Tongman, what are you going to show us today?"


    "I guess, a dance?"

 Chapter 555 A Formidable Opponent

    <h4>Chapter 555 A Formidable Opponent</h4>


    "Dance?" Kim San?repeated in a shocked voice. "Tongman is going to dance for us?"


    "Yes," June responded.


    He thought of ying an instrument like Guitarman did. However, he believed that the production crew couldn''t really bring up a grand piano on stage.


    Aside from that, he also thought of rapping since he was pretty confident at it, too. However, his rapping skills hadn''t improved much since King of Kings, so people were probably going to find out about his identity if he rapped for his talent.


    So, he settled with dancing instead.


    "Alright," Kim San?said, pleasantly surprised. "What song are you going to dance to? We''ll have our sound team y it for you right away."


    "Oa¡ª"


    June quickly stopped himself when he realized he was about to blurt out their debut title track. Dancing to EVE''s song will also be an obvious reveal of his identity, and fortunately, he was able to stop himself before he could say the full title.


    Then, he searched his mind for a dance he knew aside from EVE''s songs. To be frank, he didn''t know a lot of dances¡ªlet''s rephrase that¡ªhe hasn''t memorized any choreographies other than that of EVE and the performances he did during Rising Stars.


    "Tongman?" San?asked, making him snap out of his thoughts. "Do you already have a song in mind?"


    Then, it suddenly hit him.


    He had learned a dance not that long ago.


    "Boom-up," he said before he could stop himself.


    "Boom-up?" San?asked, looking at the production crew. "Is that by MOOMOO by any chance?"


    "Yes," June answered.


    "He''s going to dance to a girl group song?" the others chuckled.


    "I really can''t understand this man''s choices. He''s so unpredictable!"


    Jia was stunned as June stood centerstage. San and Sunshine Lady waited in anticipation at the side of the stage, wondering if Tongman was going to show a serious talent or if he was going for the humorous route.


    The music started at the pre-chorus, and Tongman merely nodded to the beat as he waited for the chorus toe in.


    Then, the chorus finally hit, and June busted out the moves he learned from Gun''s studio a while back. Some people expected Tongman to dance as ridiculously as his costume.


    Moreover, the fact that almost none of them thought of him as an idol only added to the perception that Tongman was a bad dancer.


    However, as he executed the movements effortlessly, the panel and audience were stunned for the third time of the night.


    "He''s¡­good."


    "What the heck? Is he a dancer, too?"


    "Omo! Maybe he''s a backup dancer who wants to be a singer, so he came here to show off his skills?"


    "Don''t tell me¡ªis this Gun? The mentor from Rising Stars?"


    "That''s actually a pretty good guess!"


    "The dance is so simple, yet why does it still look so good?"


    Tongman''s performance ended with the people still at a loss for who he truly was.


    Sunshine Lady found herself bing a fan. At this point, she wanted to lose so she could watch more of Tongman''s performance.


    Kim San pped loudly as June went back to his original ce.


    "Goodness,d," San said, patting his back. "I thought you were going to give us a goodugh, but you were actually great. Is dancing part of your profession?"


    "I guess so," June vaguely answered.


    Mimi shook her head, looking intently at Tongman. Then, she turned to her panel members, bringing down the hand-held microphone to herp before asking them a question.


    "He can sing and dance well," she said, causing the other judges to turn to her. "Do you think he''s an idol?"


    The panel was silent for a couple of moments. They stared at each other for a good fifteen seconds before Ji-Hyun broke the silence.


    "Eyy, there''s no way," Ji-hyun said. "His vocal skills aren''t that of an idol."


    Mimi tilted her head to the side in confusion. "How do you say so?"


    "If he was an idol, then I''m sure I would know of him right away," Ji-hyun said. "An idol like him would already be on international news if he was this good."


    "Yes!" another judge chimed. "I haven''t met an idol like him. I still feel like singing is his one and only profession. He''s way too advanced to be an idol."


    "Is he really not an idol?" Mimi asked herself.


    "Well, that ends the second round," Kim Sansaid. "For now, let us look at the results of the votes!"


    Again, two numbers showed up on the screen before finally revealing the final score.


    32-87.


    "...and Tongman reigns as our victor!" San eximed while the audience burst into apuse.


    "Hey, I¡ª," Cindy started off.


    "I get it," Jia said, cutting her mother off. "You voted for Sunshine Lady again."


    "I didn''t," Cindy said. "I voted for Tongman this time around."


    Jia raised one eyebrow in surprise. "But I thought you didn''t want Guitarman to face a goodpetitor?"


    Cindy smiled sheepishly. "That''s what I thought so in the beginning. However, now, I think that Guitarman would like to face a worthy opponent. Besides, his dancing got me. You know I''m a sucker for good dancers."


    Jia rolled her eyes. "Do you think other people think the same way?"


    "Yeah," Cindy said. "However, aside from that, I think people want a battle worth watching. I''m sure that''s what the production crew wants, too. Besides, I''m really curious about what Tongman is going to sing next."


    Jia smiled. "Me too."


    Sunshine Lady, despite losing, bowed gracefully to the panel and the audience. Honestly, she also believed that Tongman deserved the victory, so she didn''t feel any bitterness in her heart.


    "And with that, we''ll have Tongman sing another song for the third round¡ªthe ''Disguised'' round. However, for now, let us bid our farewell and thanks to Sunshine Lady for singing for us tonight."


    The crowd cheered loudly as Sunshine Lady took another bow.


    "Then, after her identity is revealed, we''ll go to the most awaited performance of the night!"


    The audience burst into cheers¡ªthe loudest they had ever cheered in the night.


    June''s eardrums rang as the cheers started quieting down. Then, he nced at the person who was the reason behind the excited shouts.


    ''Finally, a formidable opponent,'' June thought.


    "Get yourselves ready for Guitarman''s performance!"

 Chapter 556 Last Minute

    <h4>Chapter 556 Last Minute</h4>


    The stage was set, the atmosphere crackling with excitement as Guitarman, the most awaited artist of the night, stepped into the spotlight.


    The audience held their breaths as they waited for the intro of his song to y, wondering what masterpiece he was going to create this week.


    June was situated backstage, sipping some warm water through his mask. Beside him was Jay, who was still very much in character as Thongman.


    "You know, if you wanted to wear panties on your head, you should have just gone with that," June said, not even able to look at him.


    "What do you mean?" Jay asked, not finding anything weird about his costume.


    "I mean--don''t wear thongs on your schlong next time," June said, ncing down at the thong just right over his jumpsuit.


    "It''s trendy," Jay shrugged, not fazed by June''sment.


    June shook his head and focused his gaze on the screen instead. The crew was just making some final preparations before Guitarman''s performance officially started.


    "I''ve only realized now," June started off. "I haven''t actually seen any of Guitarman''s performances."


    Jay nearly dropped the donut that he was eating through the multiple thongs covering his face.


    "You haven''t?" Jay asked. "Have you been living under a rock?"


    "I''ve seen some clips on Navel," June said. "But I never really clicked on them. I was supposed to watch an episode with Akira and Jisung, but we just talked most of the time, so I didn''t get to watch his performance."


    "Well, you''re in for a surprise," Jay said. "Guitarman won for ten straight weeks for a reason."


    June nodded, not expecting any less from him.


    Fortunately, the intro of the song finally started, and the audience held back their squeals when they recognized the ssic song.


    The first chords of ''Drunk Words'' echoed through the venue, the people closing their eyes to feel the weight of its sound. It was a song that was usually sung in karaoke, especially by drunk men who got their hearts broken.


    So, it was a song that not only made women bawl but also made men weak on the knees.


    As the white light surrounded Guitarman, he began to sing, and at that moment, June also understood why he had been the reigning champion for the past ten weeks.


    "In the dead of night, with whiskey in my hand,


    I stumble through the darkness, trying to understand.


    My words, heavy on my tongue,


    But they slip through my fingers, like the setting sun."


    His voice spoke of his experience, and truly, he sounded like a veteran singer with every note he sang.


    The audience''s reaction shed on the screen, showing their smitten expressions for Guitarman.


    They swayed side to side, already loving the performance despite only hearing a single verse.


    However, despite June''s amazement at Guitarman''s vocal skills and portrayal, he couldn''t shake off the nagging feeling inside his mind.


    June¡­knew this person.


    "In my haze, I find the courage to speak,


    Because of my words, you chose not to believe.


    I''m drowning in regret as the truth remains unheard.


    For in the sober light, my love is just drunk words."


    As he sang the chorus, it became all too clear.


    "So, it''s you," June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Jay snapped out of his daze once he heard June utter those words.


    "What do you mean by that?" he asked.


    June turned to Jay. "I think¡ªNo, I definitely know this person."


    "What?" Jay asked with wide eyes. "How were you able to guess his identity when you''ve only heard him sing once? I''ve been guessing for the past ten weeks."


    "That''s because you''re stupid," June seriously responded.


    Jay pursed his lips and paused for a while before nodding.


    "You''re not wrong about that. When you sang a while back, I almost forgot it was you! In the end, I was doing a guessing game in the waiting room," he chimed.


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "Well, who is it?" Jay asked.


    June leaned into Jay''s ear and whispered the identity of Guitarman.


    Jay recoiled in shock, even covering his mouth in the process.


    "You''re right, man! You''re so right. I''m so stupid for not noticing it before," Jay said, bonking his head.


    "Well, it''s unexpected for him to join apetition like this," June said as he leaned against his chair, staring at how Guitarman devoured his stage.


    "Drunk words, sober thoughts,


    But you''re a distant memory in my heart''s vaults.


    I''m shouting into the void, but you refuse to hear,


    My loveid bare, crystal clear."


    "This is going to be tough," June muttered, thinking of a strategy to secure his victory.


    If he loses, his vocal skills would automatically be reduced by two grades, which meant there was a lot at stake for him.


    "What were you going to sing again?" Jay asked.


    "Funkytown," June answered hesitantly, suddenly doubting his song choice.


    "Oooh! That funky song? That''ll be fun. It''s a different color from what Guitarman is singing right now."


    "Different color¡­right," June muttered.


    "Yeah," Jay answered. "If you do it right, then the audience will have a harder time picking a winner from two varying performances. That''s what most of the past challengers had been doing. Since Guitarman''s forte is bads, they believe they can''tpete with him in the genre. So, most people try to stray away from bads during this round."


    Just then, June stood, realizing what he had to do.


    "But¡­what if somebody canpete with him?" June asked.


    Jay frowned in confusion. "What are you insinuating?"


    "Thanks, Jay," June said. "You gave me an idea."


    "I did?" Jay asked. "You''re wee, I guess?"


    June nodded and, without any word, left Jay to go to the production crew.


    If his guess about Guitarman''s identity was right¡ªwhich, he knew was most definitely the case, then he believed he''d have more of a chance to win if he sang the same genre he excelled in.


    Water against water.


    Fire against fire.


    June arrived at the sound team, tapping the shoulder of the person in charge.


    "Can I make ast-minute change to my song?"

 Chapter 557 Sudden Upgrade

    <h4>Chapter 557 Sudden Upgrade </h4>


    Fortunately, the production crew allowed June to make ast-minute change to his song.


    They were a bit hesitant at first since it had already been coordinated with the rest of the team. However, June pleaded with them with the googly eyes pasted on his head and was able to convince them in the end.


    Right now, Guitarman was being interviewed by Kim San, who was praising him nonstop. The panel also appeared to love his performance, wondering how he was able to keep producing iconic stages for the past ten weeks.


    June looked at his reflection through a window, nodding to himself.


    Guitarman was going to be tough to beat.


    However, June reassured himself that he was able to topple great giants in his past, and he wasn''t afraid to do the same thing to Guitarman.


    As San continued interviewing Guitarman, June practiced the song, muttering the lyrics under his breath. He didn''t get to practice the song that much; however, he believed this could also be his strength.


    "It''s okay¡­"


    With that short utterance, Fu once again appeared before him.


    [Congrattions! Your vocal hard work points have reached a hundred.]


    [You are now eligible for an upgrade.]


    [Vocals: +1]


    [Current grade: SSS]


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. Finally, after months of practicing by himself, he was able to upgrade his vocal skills to the highest tier. Not only that, but he did it right before the most important performance of the night, too.


    A small smile appeared on his face.


    Maybe his luck was improving after all.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he realized that he also had an impending upgrade for his vocal skills once he took the throne from Guitarman.


    Does that mean that Fu didn''t believe he could beat Guitarman?


    Or¡­does it mean anything else?


    "Tongman? You have been called on stage," a crew member said.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and nodded, following after him to go to the stage.


    He was surprised when he saw that Kim San and Guitarman were still there.


    "There he is!" San eximed. "You have been summoned by Guitarman. This is the first time he''s done this for the past ten weeks."


    Tongman stood beside Guitarman and bowed deeply in respect.


    "I''m a fan," June sincerely said through the distorted microphone.


    Guitarman, too, bowed to him. "I am, too. Thest two performances have been mind-blowing."


    The people watched in awe as the two talented singers conversed right before their eyes.


    "The aura right now is amazing," San said, also feeling it.


    "I''m curious, though. Why did you call Tongman up the stage?" San asked.


    Guitarman chuckled into the microphone. "I guess I just want to wish him good luck. Honestly, I felt like it''s been a while since I''ve faced a worthy opponent, so I called him here."


    "That is such a greatpliment for Tongman," San said, patting Tongman''s back.


    "And aside from that," Guitarman continued. "I had been on this show for a long time now, ten weeks to be specific."


    "Are you saying that you''re ready to pass the baton to Tongman?" Kim San asked.


    Guitarman confidently chuckled.


    "Of course not," he responded. "What I''m trying to say is that he might be great, but I''m going to protect this title for a long time. I believe he needs more time and practice before he could beat me."


    "Oooh," the audience eximed, loving the heated,petitive atmosphere that Guitarman had created.


    "What do you have to say about that, Tongman?" San asked, instigating thepetition even more.


    Tongman hovered his lips above the microphone.


    "Thank you for patiently holding onto the title for ten weeks," June started off. "Now, it''s time for it to go to its rightful owner."


    "Ooooh," the audience once again eximed.


    "Oh," Guitarman said, turning to Tongman. "So, you believe you can beat me with your current skills?"


    "I do," Tongman said, knowing that his vocal stats were now at par with the person behind the guitar-shaped mask.


    "And aside from that," June continued. "I''ll be using what you''ve taught me, sir. You shouldn''t have imparted such knowledge to me."


    Guitarman tilted his head to the side. Meanwhile, the panel, audience, and even the host were all confused as well. They started murmuring to themselves, wondering what Tongman was talking about.


    "Tongman," San started off. "Are you saying that you know who Guitarman is?"


    Tongman nodded without hesitation.


    Gasps were heard in the venue as they started specting about the rtionship between the two. Guitarman ced his hand over his chest, taken aback and bing even more curious about who Tongman was.


    San chuckled when he noticed Guitarman''s reaction. "Well, it seems like Guitarman didn''t expect it, too."


    "You know me?" Guitarman asked. "Are you sure?"


    "Why don''t you tell him something right now, Tongman?" San asked.


    June smirked and walked over to Guitarman, cing his microphone down so it would not pick up his words.


    "Prepare to pack your bags¡­master," June whispered.


    At that moment, Guitarman froze, finally realizing who the person behind the Tong mask was.


    He pointed at Tongman, still in disbelief.


    "It''s you, huh?" Guitarman said into the mic.


    The people were amazed by the situation. The production crew, too, already imagined their ratings going through the roof.


    "Omo, they actually know each other."


    "What the heck? Why did he put his microphone down? I wanted to hear what he said."


    "I can''t believe this is happening right before my eyes."


    "Ah, I''m so curious about who Tongman is!"


    "This is crazy," Kim San said with wide eyes. "Who would have thought that you two knew each other? What can you say about this now, Guitarman?"


    Guitarman shook his head, a small smile ying on his lips right underneath the mask.


    "It''s been a while," he said. "You''ve gotten more confident since thest time I saw you. You''ve also improved on singing too. I guess I expected nothing less after what I''ve shared with you."


    Tongman bowed in gratitude.


    "Goodness," San said. "This just makes me more curious now. Anyway, I know that you can''t wait¡ªI know I can''t."


    "So, without further ado, let''s head to Tongman''sst performance of the night!"

 Chapter 558 Be Happy

    <h4>Chapter 558 Be Happy</h4>


    June let out a deep breath as he allowed himself to go into the zone.


    This song was the one he wanted to sing the most on the show. However, it was a genre he wasfortable with, so he set it aside for a moment.


    However, he had realized that in order to beat Guitarman, he needed to do something he wasfortable with to have a higher chance of winning--not only because he needed to do something he was good at if he wanted to beat him, but also because he wanted to make the audience feel touched with the message of the song.


    Guitarman singing a love song was actually what June had expected. Love songs were great and all, but they were not something that all people can rte to. This song''s message, however, was something June believed everyone would be able to understand.


    The lights surrounding the audience dimmed, Tongman being the only visible person in the room.


    The opening notes of ''Be Happy'' filled the air, eliciting gasps of recognition from the audience, particrly those who remembered its release in the 1980s. Some of them had forgotten the song already, yet when they heard the opening notes, they couldn''t help but exim in nostalgia.


    "I haven''t heard this song in such a long time," Cindy said, her heart already feeling weary.


    "I''ve heard of this song before," Jia said. "However, I''m not fully familiar with it."


    "You''ll like it," Cindy smiled. "Everybody loved this song when it came out."


    Others closed their eyes to feel the music, being taken back to the time when they first heard it.


    It was the type of song thatforted you when you heard it. However, at the same time, it also left a dull ache, making it the perfect song to elicit emotions from the audience.


    June stood poised in the center of the stage and sang for the people who needed to hear such a message.


    With a deep breath, he began to sing, his voice enveloping the crowd in aforting embrace.


    "Close your eyes.


    And think about the time when you''ve felt at peace...


    Truly at peace.


    Has it been a while?


    Truly been a while."


    Jia let out a small gasp as June uttered those words. For some reason, it felt like his voice had improvedpared to the second stage, which left her wondering what he did to improve in such a short amount of time.


    However, she couldn''t think much of his technical improvement because it was overtaken by the emotions in his voice. He sang just like he was talking, and at that moment, Jia feltforted. She didn''t know about the song''s message before, yet it felt like it was heading straight to her heart.


    "When rest feels like rest...


    When you don''t feel that the world is on your feet.


    Do you miss those times?


    Do you hate the person you''ve be?"


    June took a deep breath to prepare himself for the chorus. This song had a low register in the beginning but soared in the chorus and soared even higher in the bridge. So, it was a great test of vocal skill.


    Nheless, June kept a simr style of singing--the ''talking'' type, where it felt like he was talking to the audience through his voice, making them feel the emotions even more.


    "Take a moment now, let the world fade away,


    Till your heart beats softly, ''till you find the way


    Mistakes are part of the journey we create,


    You''re doing great.


    You''re doing great."


    June sang the song for the people who felt like they hadn''t been themselves for some time--when they felt like they were simply existing and not living.


    ...for those who keep doubting themselves, wondering if they will be able to measure up to the standards of the world.


    ¡­for those who feel like they haven''t rested in a while, where their eyes are closed, but their minds keep running.


    ¡­for the ones who yearn for a moment of peace yet find themselves engulfed in the chaos of the thoughts.


    ¡­for those who lost sight of themselves in the hustle and bustle of life.


    ¡­for those who miss their families.


    ¡­for those being doubted by their families.


    ¡­for those who didn''t have any family.


    It was a song that June wanted to give to the people who felt alone because he, too, felt like like such at one point in his life. He was in a much better ce now, but he also knew that others were still in the dark.


    June sought to touch the hearts of those who needed it most, reminding them that brighter days lie ahead.


    "You''ve endured the toughest times.


    You lost what it meant to be happy."


    As the song progressed, June''s voice soared to new heights. His vocal support was evident with each phrase he delivered, and the people in the audience found themselves sniffing as his words echoed through their minds.


    His voice conveyed that he understood¡­and that things will, indeed, be better in the end.


    Guitarman crossed his arms in front of his chest. He knew that Tongman was a great singer. He proved this when they first met and in the past two performances. However, this particr stage made him shine the brightest.


    Guitarman didn''t want to admit it, but the time hade when his student might actually surpass him. Because, right at this moment, it seemed like they were on the same level.


    "It''s okay to be tired.


    No one will me you.


    It''s okay to take a rest.


    Because everyone needs to.


    I know these are just words that I''ve put into a song.


    But I hope these words touch you and remain with you for long.


    You deserve to live another day with a smile on your face.


    It''s okay.


    You''re okay.


    You''re doing great."


    The bridge of the song was the most emotional part, and June conveyed it perfectly with his well-rounded and emotion-


    filled voice. He even added a slight growl during the climax of the high parts, and that sent a shockwave through the audience.


    As the song began fading, the people found themselves still overwhelmed with emotions.


    June closed his eyes so he could say thest words. In a way, he wasn''t just telling this to the audience but also to himself.


    As he sang the song, he realized that he also needed to hear those words. He had been working nonstop ever since Rising Stars, and there were times when it really felt like he couldn''t rest.


    However, it''s okay.


    You''re okay.


    "You''re doing great."

 Chapter 559 Reigning Disguised

    <h4>Chapter 559 Reigning Disguised </h4>


    The stage flickered back to life, the lights now turned back on. June couldn''t see the audience much when he was performing, but now that the lights brightly shone on their faces, he could see the red eyes and their tear-stricken cheeks.


    He smiled to himself.


    Well, it seemed like his message was delivered.


    Kim San joined him on the stage with pursed lips, his hands folded over the microphone.


    "That was¡­an impable performance," San said. "I didn''t know I needed to hear those words until today. I almost forgot about the existence of the song, yet you made me recall it. I''ll be sure to listen to it when I get back home."


    Jia heard someone sniff beside her, so she directed her gaze to her mom, who appeared to have been touched by Tongman''s performance.


    Jia had tears welling up in her eyes, too; however, she held back in case June saw her in the front rows. Even if she wanted to bawl her eyes out, she had an image to keep!


    "What do you think?" Jia asked her mom.


    "That was¡­amazing," Cindy sighed, feeling a bit hesitant since she felt like Tongman did a better job than Guitarman. There hasn''t been an instance where Guitarman made her cry like this, yet this person¡ªone she wasn''t familiar with¡ªmade her cry like a baby with just one song.


    "Now, shall we go with thements of the panel?" Kim San asked.


    The panel members were shown on screen, most of them with red eyes since they held back their tears.


    Ji-hyun was the very first one to speak.


    "I think Guitarman finally found himself a great rival."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise underneath his mask. He knew that he did a great job. However, to be considered being at Guitarman''s level was astronomical. He had basically been in the industry for more than two decades now!


    Guitarman, however, didn''t seem to be appalled. Instead, he nodded in agreement at Ji-hyun''s words.


    "I felt like I was beingforted by a genuine friend," she continued. "I like how you sang as if you were talking. That emphasized the emotions of the song even more."


    "I''ve fallen in love with your voice," Mimi quickly added, eliciting chuckles from the other panel members.


    "Me too!" Ji-hyun chimed.


    "Like San said, you sang me the words I never knew I needed to hear. It was as if you were right beside me all throughout my life and that you knew of my journey. You''ve touched our hearts in unspeakable terms, and I''m really thankful for the stage you''ve put out today," Mimi concluded herment.


    "I must say¡ªI''m quite jealous," Changjung, a veteran singer, said. "I want to sing as great as you. You carry a unique freshness in your voice, but you don''t lose the emotions in it, too. Moreover, your vocal skills aren''tpromised."


    "I don''t know if the other panel members have noticed this, but I feel like there has been a slight improvement in your voice," he continued. "It''s very subtle, and it made me wonder if this genre is actually your profession and the other two were flukes."


    "Ah!" Ji-hyun eximed. "I was so caught up in the performance that I forgot about his identity for a second. This just makes it more confusing."


    "This just means that he''s capable of doing a lot of genres," Chang-Jung said. "So, I have another reason to believe that he''s a veteran singer who''s somewhat young and started training in an entertainmentpany at a young age."


    "Perhaps, maybe he''s Storm?" he asked.


    The other panel members eximed in agreement, fully agreeing with his guess.


    "Omo, Storm? The first-generation idol?" Cindy asked, suddenly feeling excited.


    The others, too, were open about the idea of Tongman being Storm.


    "He can be Sandeul, too," another chimed.


    "You''re right!" Mimi eximed. "He''s a multi-talented singer who dabbled in a lot of projects, too."


    "So, we''ve narrowed it down to two¡ªSandeul and Storm," Ji-


    hyun said. "I actually believe we got this one in the bag."


    June smirked, subtly shaking his head. June hasn''t even met those people. However, he knew that they had been in the industry for a long time, so being mistaken for them wasn''t bad at all.


    "Now," Kim San eximed, capturing everybody''s attention. "We finally came to thest event of the night¡ªthe voting of the Disguised!"


    The people were so caught up in Tongman''s performance that they nearly forgot they still had to choose between Guitarman and him.


    "Will Guitarman pleasee up to the stage?" San asked.


    Guitarman unwaveringly stood and walked down to the stage, standing right beside June as they waited for the voting to start.


    June nced at him but was surprised when he saw that Guitarman was already looking at him. Guitarman gave him a thumbs-up, to which he nodded in response.


    Kim San cleared his throat and brought the microphone to his lips. A subtle drumming beat could be heard, making the audience and panel members excited yet nervous about the voting period.


    "It''s time for us to vote!" San eximed.


    The spotlight focused on the two singers, both of them deserving of winning the title. The drumming beat became more intense as Kim San introduced the two singers once more.


    "Will it be Guitarman¡ªthe reigning ten-week champion with a voice that''s captured our hearts week after week, or Tongman, the star that came from the shadows, whose identity has caused chaos among the panel and intrigue among our viewers?"


    The audience held their breaths, their eyes darting between the masked figures on stage.


    June nced around and saw plenty of Guitarman banners in the air. There was no denying that this was his homecourt, and for June, this was a battleground where he had to prove his worth.


    A one-minute countdown was shown on the LED screen, giving the audience only a small amount of time to think about who they would vote for. Each passing second was apanied by the drumming beat, and at that moment, it seemed like the audience''s hearts were beating as fast as the sound.


    "In three¡­two¡­one!" Kim San eximed.


    "The voting is now over, and the votes are in."


    "It''s time for us to reveal who is our ''Disguised!''"

 Chapter 560 Hey, Master!

    <h4>Chapter 560 Hey, Master!</h4>


    As the countdown came to an end, Kim San took a deep breath, ready to announce the winner of tonight''s Disguise Surprise Singer.


    Tongman and Guitarman held each other''s hands, prepared to ept whatever the result was.


    The audience and panel members were quite anxious since it was hard to predict the oue of the results.


    "Who did you vote for?" Mimi asked Ji-hyun.


    "Tongman," Ji-hyun responded. "I''m drawn towards him."


    "Me too," Mimi smiled.


    "Goodness, this is such a small gap," Kim San eximed, looking at the cue card that the production team had given him.


    June pursed his lips while Guitarman looked down at the ground.


    "Let me now announce the winner¡­," San said, the spotlights focusing on the twopetitors.


    The LED screen once again showed the escting numbers, and it seemed like the two numbers were moving at an equal pace.


    "With only a one-point gap¡­" Kim San started off. The audience gasped collectively when the results were finally shown.


    "One point? This is crazy! That meant that one person made all the difference!"


    "Goodness, this episode is going to go viral once it airs."


    "It''s been a good run for him¡­"


    "Tongman is our new disguised singer, overtaking the ten-week reign of our precious Guitarman!" San concluded.


    The people were still silent, in shock that Guitarman was defeated. Nheless, they thought that it was a worthy loss. Tongman was a deserving victor, and they didn''t question how he had won.


    Meanwhile, Jia sighed in relief as she stared at the two numbers on the screen.


    66-67. TONGMAN''S VICTORY.


    She turned to her mom and squeezed her arm.


    "Thank you for dragging me out of bed this morning," Jia said.


    Cindy nced at her daughter in confusion. "What are you talking about?"


    Jia didn''t respond and continued looking at the numbers.


    If her mom didn''t force her toe, then the results would have been very different!


    "Unfortunately, this means that Guitarman would no longer be with us," San said, sadness heard in his voice.


    The panel members, too, appeared a bit disappointed to see him go. He has been a constant presence for the past ten weeks, so they''ve gotten used to him being on the throne.


    The audience pped loudly for Guitarman as he humbly bowed on stage. He nced at June before nodding in acknowledgment. June bowed deeply in respect.


    "Do you have anything to say to everyone?" San asked.


    Guitarman nodded and took the microphone from the host.


    "First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who listened to me sing. It has been my passion since I was young, and being able to make you happy, sad, angry, or frustrated with my performances brings me great joy. I hope that even though I am away, you will continue watching my performances," Guitarman said without a trace of regret in his voice.


    "I''ve been here for ten weeks now, and honestly, I believe it''s time for a change. I couldn''t have lost to a better person than Tongman. Please support him just as you''ve supported me¡­if not more. He''s a great person, and I can''t wait to see your guys'' reaction once he finally reveals his identity!"


    Guitarman ended his speech on a good note, eliciting another loud round of apuse apanied by shouts from the audience.


    "Would you tell us Tongman''s identity before you go?" San cheekily asked.


    Guitarman shook his head. "I think it''s great to keep you guys guessing. In the meanwhile, I''ll be the one to reveal myself first!"


    The crowd cheered excitedly, now realizing that they would be finding out the identity of the Guitarman they loved so much.


    "That''s right!" Kim San eximed. "Our beloved Guitarman will finally reveal himself to the world! However, before all of that, can Tongman go up to the tform and sit on the throne?"


    June nodded as he faced the throne at the other end of the room. The spotlights illuminated the narrow pathway in the middle of the studio, and June walked carefully while the audience watched him with bright eyes.


    Then, when he finally arrived, he gracefully sat on the throne where he rightfully belonged. A ringing sound was heard, signifying that a new ''Disguised'' was in town.


    The room erupted into cheers as they congratted Tongman on the new title.


    Afterward, they directed their gazes back to the stage, where Guitarman was getting ready to reveal himself.


    "Without further ado!" Kim San started off. "Guitarman¡ªplease reveal yourself!"


    Guitarman turned around, where some audience members were sitting. The lights dimmed on the stage as the reigning champion removed his mask and turned his back to the majority of the audience.


    Once his mask was off, those before him gasped in surprise. Then, a five-second countdown was shown on screen as Guitarman prepared to turn around.


    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Guitarman revealed himself to the public. The audience eximed in surprise when they saw him, some even standing to confirm if it was really him.


    Some of the panel members covered their mouths in shock, while others nodded in recognition.


    "I knew it," Changjung said. "He really came here, huh?"


    Mimi and the other idols on the tform quickly bowed their heads in respect.


    "The veteran singer for all generations! An iconic songwriter whose songs keep touching our hearts¡ªwe have none other than Lee Sik!" San finally revealed.


    The audience erupted into their loudest cheers of the night, weing Lee Sik into the world.


    June stood from his throne, joining the crowd in their pping. The moment he sang during thest stage, June knew that it was Lee Sik¡ªthe singer he sang ''Father'' with and his vocal master.


    "Ah, I''m not used to facing you guys without a mask," Lee Sik chuckled, feeling shy.


    "It''s really you, Sik," Kim San said. "I had my hunches because your voice sounds very distinct, but I didn''t think you''de here while you''re busy with your kids."


    "Yeah," Sik scratched the back of his head. "Honestly, I was actually nning on being here for only one week; yet I''ve been here for ten weeks now. My wife''s getting impatient, so I''m d that Tongman finally took the throne," he joked, eliciting some chuckles from the audience.


    Kim Sanughed loudly.


    "We''re sorry, Mrs. Lee! We like your husband''s voice very much," he said to one of the cameras.


    "Nheless," Lee Sik quickly added. "I''m really thankful for all of the support that I''ve gotten. I never expected you guys to love my voice so much, so it''s been overwhelming."


    "And to Tongman, who''s currently sitting on the throne, I want to say good luck for the next few weeks! Let''s grab a meal when you have some free time," he smiled.


    Tongman held out an ''okay'' sign while smiling inside his mask.


    "Well, that ends Guitarman''s journey on Disguise Surprise Singer," San said, ready to conclude the shoot.


    "Next week, there won''t be a pre-recorded shoot. Instead, we''ll be going back in two weeks for a special live show of Disguise Surprise Singer for its two-year anniversary. We''ll see you guys there!" he continued.


    The crowd murmured excitedly at the announcement of the live show.


    With that, the shoot finally ended. June walked back down to the stage to talk some more with Lee Sik. However, before he could reach him, a notification appeared right above his head.


    [Congrattions, host!]


    [You have sessfully fulfilled your mission.]


    [You are eligible for a vocal skill upgrade.]


    [Vocal: +1]


    [Current Vocal Stat: X]

 Chapter 561 First Comeback

    <h4>Chapter 561 First Comeback </h4>


    June was now back in their dorms and was determining what his new upgrade meant.


    At first, he thought that his stats would only go up to an A+, simr to a school grading system. However, it surpassed his expectations; and now, almost all his stats were at the S-tier.


    It seemed like it still wasn''t over, though.


    What was X supposed to mean?


    "X?" he muttered, wondering if it was a good thing or not. He tried asking Fu over and over again, but the pesky system didn''t reply.


    He locked his door and opened the window before whipping out his phone and pressing the record button.


    He sang a little bit of ''Luster'' to see if there was a difference in his vocal skill. However, as he yed back the recording, he didn''t find any changes at all. In fact, he could hear a bit of fatigue in his voice due to singing three songs in the past few hours.


    "What the heck?" he asked himself.


    "What does this mean?"


    ***


    One weekter.


    "Wake up! Everybody rise and shine. It''s the day of oureback!" Akira cheerily knocked on all of his teammates'' doors.


    June got up with a small frown. He red at Akira while thetter merely stared at him with innocent eyes.


    "What?" Akira asked.


    "It''s¡­," June nced at the wall clock. "3:30 in the morning."


    "Yeah¡­," Akira trailed off. "So, what?"


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    At that moment, the other members also started going out of their rooms, all of them in grumpy dispositions like June.


    "Akira!" Zeth eximed. "I was having my beauty sleep."


    "I was only about to sleep," Jisung sighed. "You woke me up just when I was feeling myself falling asleep!"


    "What are you even doing at this time?" Ren asked.


    Jisung sheepishly smiled. "ying games."


    Ren shook his head in amusement. "Kids," he muttered.


    Jaeyong pped his cheeks awake while subtly ring at Akira.


    "What the heck did you wake us up so early for!"


    "It''s oureback day!" Akira excitedly said in a sing-song tone, skipping around the room.


    "We know that," June deadpanned. "Now, I''m going back to sleep."


    Akira clicked his tongue and held onto June''s arms. "You don''t look excited at all! Where''s the spirit?"


    "We''ll have the spirit earlier," Sehun said, yawning. "Let us rest, Akira. We still have a scheduleter."


    "Exactly!" Akira eximed. "We''re going to have oureback live and wait for the release of the music video along with our fans."


    "Yeah¡­," Ren said, holding onto Akira''s shoulders and crazily shaking him. "At 5 PM! Our music video is going to be released at 6 in the evening!"


    "Oh," Akira said, covering his mouth in shock. "It wasn''t 5 AM?"


    The members sighed collectively before wordlessly going back to their rooms.


    Akira pursed his lips and held onto Jisung''s arm. "It was an honest mistake?" he said in an unsure tone.


    Jisung shook his head in disappointment before going back to his room.


    "We could still bring up the fighting spirit! The earlier the better! Right, guys?"


    Akira was met with cricket sounds.


    "Guys?"


    ***


    Fortunately, Akira didn''t bother them throughout the day, so they were able to get proper sleep before theireback livestreammenced.


    They were in one of Azure''srge conference rooms, where it was decorated simrly to their music video.


    The staff members busily prepared everything while the cameramen and sound team set up their equipment.


    Meanwhile, sitting in the middle of the room in beanbags were the members of EVE, looking like a bunch of lost chicks in the busy atmosphere.


    "Should we help?" Sehun guiltily asked.


    "Nah," Akira shook his head, eating the snack that the production crew had prepared for them. "Us not moving is helping them. We should just stay still."


    "Yeah," Ren said, nodding in agreement.


    Meanwhile, June was silent throughout their conversation.


    "Are you okay?" Jisung asked, nudging his shoulder.


    "Huh?" June asked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah, I''m fine."


    "No, you''re not," Jisung said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "You haven''t talked all day!"


    The other members, too, eximed in agreement with Jisung''s statement.


    "I don''t normally talk a lot," June deadpanned.


    "Yeah, but you haven''t spoken a word! Not a single one throughout the day except when I annoyed you this morning. At this point, your saliva is going to rot, and you''ll have bad breath," Akira said.


    "June''s breath will never smell!" Casper defended.


    June shook his head, finding their conversation ridiculous.


    "Shut up. I''m just¡ªI''m nervous, I guess," June said the statement really quickly, so it was hard to decipher his words.


    Casper, however, understood it right away.


    "You''re nervous?" Casper eximed.


    The other members gasped in shock.


    "June''s nervous?" Akira asked. "I''m not nervous at all! Should I be worried?" he asked.


    June sighed and leaned against his bean bag.


    It was true that he was nervous. In fact, he was actually even more nervous about thisebackpared to their debut album. They had broken so many records in theirst album, so he felt like they would be very difficult to top. Moreover, they actually participated in writing a song for the album this time, which added to his nervousness.


    "Don''t be nervous!" Casper said. "We''re here."


    "It''s not that," June responded. "I''m nervous about the results of theeback."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. "Now that you''ve said it, I''m quite nervous too. I still feel pretty hesitant about the title track. For some reason, it still doesn''t feel like ''us.'' Still, it''s much better than the first version we''ve heard, so I''m thankful for that."


    "Thepany sucks ass," Akira said. "Luster should have been the title track. Nheless, everything is finished now, so we can''t really do anything about it. Instead, let''s do our best and enjoy thiseback. If we enjoy things, then it''s bound to be great, right? That''s what you told me before, June."


    June smiled at Akira''s sentimental statement.


    "Yeah," he said. "Let''s just enjoy it."


    "Are you boys ready?" Jay asked, interrupting their conversation.


    The crew members cleared out the table of their snacks and prepared to start the livestream.


    It was a livestream with the fans, designed for them to countdown to the time the album dropped, which was an hour away from the current time.


    "We''re ready," Jaeyong responded for the team.


    "Good," Jay said, showing them thumbs up. "We''re going live, boys!"


    "In three¡­two¡­one¡­"

 Chapter 562 Comeback Live

    <h4>Chapter 562 Comeback Live</h4>


    "Are there people yet?" Akira whispered with narrowed eyes, trying to see the viewer count on the TV right before them.


    "I don''t think so," Jisung said. "Maybe the live hasn''t started yet? I''m not seeing anyments."


    - We''re here, guys!


    - Omo! It''s been a while since I saw all my babies together.


    - I love love you guys! Please send me some of your bodily fluids!


    "Welp, there they are!" Jaeyong said, noticing the rowdyments.?"Hi, guys!" Akira eximed while excitedly waving his arms at the camera.


    "It''s been a while. We''re d to have you here!" Sehun shyly said.


    "Aww, our oldest member is shy," Akira said, bumping his shoulder.


    Sehun clicked his tongue and red at Akira. "It''s just been a while since we''ve had a live like this."


    "Yeah," Jisung quickly chimed. "How is everyone doing?"


    - We''re definitely better now that you guys are here!


    - You made us wait too long.


    "It has been too long?" Ren asked. "Yeah, it''s truly been a while. However, we wanted to give you guys some great content, so we took longer."


    "Yeah, and thepany had us go to King of Kings, too, so it was hard to have aeback right away," June quickly added.


    The staff looked at June with wide eyes and held up a notepad that said¡ª'' Refrain from talking bad about thepany.''


    However, June, being the dense boy that he was, read it out loud.


    "Refrain from talking bad about thepany? I didn''t say anything bad, though. I was just stating some facts."


    - June is being savage as usual.


    - Yes, bring Azure to the ground!


    - Get out of thispany, boys. They''re trash!


    The staff members saw the damage that June had caused, so they quickly directed the boys to move to another topic.


    "Right!" Jaeyong eximed, doing some damage control. "Have you guys seen the teasers for our albums?"


    - I''ve seen them all. I''ve printed them all out!


    - Oh, look! Is that EVE? No, I''ve just printed them out!


    - You guys looked amazing like usual.


    - I wished you guys did an outdoor shoot simr to Oasis instead of being in a studio, but I''ll still take it!


    "An outdoor shoot?" Jisung asked. "We wanted to do that too with another song of ours. However, we didn''t have much time, so we rented out a ce!"


    "Don''t worry. It''s all great, though. Choi Pablo helped design the set, and it turned out amazing," he added.


    - Choi Pablo? Is he a set designer now?


    - No, he just loves June.


    "Where are our manners?" Jaeyong suddenly asked. "We haven''t even done our greeting yet."


    "Right!" Zeth eximed. "I nearly forgot!"


    "Shoot to the top! Hey guys, we''re LEVEL-UP!" they excitedly eximed.


    "Now that we''ve greeted them, let''s go straight ahead and tell everybody what they can expect for thiseback," Zeth said, subtly reading the prompt in front of them.


    "Well, for starters, our title track, Skyrocket, is a heavy-bass, pop EDM song with a powerful choreography! It depicts our desire to rise to the top like a skyrocket where no one can stop us," Casper exined.


    "Moreover," Zeth quickly added. "Our album ''Starlight'' will be dropping at the same time as the album, so make sure to check out the B-side tracks too!?We have varying genres and colors that we hope you''d appreciate."


    - Of course! You can release a song of you guys farting, and I''d still listen to it.


    - Same.


    - Same.


    - Same.


    "Should we be concerned about that?" Jisung asked, pointing at thements.


    "Nah," Zeth shook his head. "That''s just them being normal."


    June cleared his throat, capturing the other members'' attention.


    "Do you have anything to say, June?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Yeah," June nodded.


    "I just wanted to tell everyone to look forward to Luster, too. It''s a song that all of the members worked hard on. We made the arrangements, wrote the lyrics, and even made the choreography. It''s the promoted B-side title track of the album, so please look forward to it," he said despite it not being part of the script.


    - You guys wrote a song for the album? Howe we don''t know about this?


    - Yeah! This information is usually released before the day of theeback!


    - We''re going to support it!


    - Azure is being sneaky again.


    - Should we burn them down?


    "And!" Jaeyong nervously chuckled when he saw the displeased looks on the staff''s faces. "We also guested on some variety shows."


    He quietly sighed in relief when he saw thements shift displeased looks on the staff''s faces. "We also guested on some variety shows."


    from being angry to excited once again.


    - Variety shows? What kind? I discovered you guys on Quiz God and have been wanting to watch more of you on variety shows ever since.


    "We don''t want to spoil anything just yet, but you can look forward to it," Ren smiled. "One of us even guested on a very popr show!"


    "Shh," Jisung said. "Can we spoil that?"


    "I think we can!" Zeth said. "There are a lot of popr shows out there. They probably can''t guess what it is."


    - *Narrows eyes.* Are you underestimating us?


    - Only one member? Where could it be? Crawling Man?


    - Crawling Man x EVE would be amazing!


    - Or maybe it''s ''I Live By Myself?''


    - Does someone from EVE even live by themselves?


    "See," Zeth said, teasing the astras in thements. "You guys won''t be able to guess it. We, too, didn''t expect that we could guest there. However, one of our precious members did. We''re very excited about the airing date, just as you guys are!


    "What time is it now?" Jaeyong asked.


    "There''s still forty minutes until six," Ren responded. "We still have plenty of time to y the song previews for you guys!"


    "That''s right!" Casper excitedly chimed. "For all of the people in the live right now, you will have the opportunity to listen to our songs exclusively before anybody else."


    "Just a disimer!" Sehun added. "It''s not the full songs. However, we want to give you a taste of what we''ve been working hard on for the past few months as a thank-you gift for being here."


    "Should we start with the first song?" Zeth asked.


    "Wait," Jisung suddenly said, halting their conversation.


    "What?" Ren asked. "Did something happen?"


    "Our astras are saying something in thements," Jisung said, leaning on his knees so he could get a better look at the wildments.


    "It''s going too fast," Casperined.


    June, on the other hand, saw a glimmeringment, causing his eyebrows to raise in surprise.


    "We have two million pre-orders?"

 Chapter 563 The Starlight Album

    <h4>Chapter 563 The Starlight Album</h4>


    "No way!" Jisung eximed, getting up from his seat and staring at thements as they passed by.


    - Yes, there''s an article written about it!


    - I''m one of those two million pre-orders!


    - Our rookie kings are bing so big! Their pre-order numbers have finally exceeded OCTA''s!


    - They''re doing the best out of all rookie groups right now, I believe.


    - Congrattions to our double million seller boys!


    "It''s real," Jisung said.


    "Really?" the other members asked, also going near the television. However, with their faces close to the camera, thements shifted from congrattions to praises on their looks.


    - Wow, I feel like I''m in a simtion right now. These beautiful boys are looking down on me after I''ve woken up in the hospital!


    - They weren''t kidding when they said that June didn''t have any pores.


    - Are they even human? They''re so fricking hot.


    - The reason that I''m single is because I''m delusional about people who will never acknowledge me as something but words on a screen.


    "Did we really get two million pre-orders?" Jaeyong asked the staff.


    The staff, who also seemed clueless about the situation, checked something on their phone before holding up an ''okay'' sign.


    "Dang!" Akira eximed once it had finally been confirmed. "Two million? That''s twice the number we''ve gotten on our debut album."


    "How much are we going to earn from that?" he asked, amusing thement section.


    Jaeyong smiled proudly as he looked at his team.


    "We did it, boys!" he said, patting them on the backs. "We beat our record once again!"


    "We''ve worked hard for it," June said.


    "We did, huh?" Casper smiled, feeling like all of their sleepless nights were worth it.


    - Guys, this is sweet and all, but we''re still here.


    - When you be the third wheel in your favorite group...


    - It''s not enough to be a fan. I need to be a part of this idol group!


    - For real. I need to have this kind of friendship.


    "I think we need to get back to the live," June said, noticing thements and the impatient look on the staff''s faces.


    "Right!" Jaeyong awkwardly chuckled. "Sorry, we got a bit carried away there. We were just excited to hear about this achievement."


    "Yeah," Ren smiled. "We wouldn''t have done it without you, guys! You are the reason why we''re here right now."


    "Anyway," Zeth cleared his throat. "Since our dearest astras gave us such a wonderful gift tonight, why don''t we go ahead with the previews?"


    "Sure!" Sehun said. "Let''s start with the opening song¡ªShuttle."


    The first song yed, and the audience immediately felt like they were off to a good start. Shuttle was a song that was very fitting for opening the album, setting the tone that this was going to be a great journey.


    "Shuttle through the memories,


    Fading in the melodies,


    In the rush of passing scenes,


    Lost in dreams, lost in schemes."


    Shuttle was a blend of contemporary pop and electronic dance music. It fused together elements of synth-pop and future bass, making the song feel both nostalgic and forward-thinking.


    - Oh, I''m shaking my ass to this one.


    - This would be a great opening for a concert.


    - Guys, it''s just the first song, and it''s so good already!


    "And that''s it!" Sehun eximed. "That one is Jisung''s personal favorite. However, let''s go to my personal favorite song and the second track of the album¡ªSunshine, Stars Shine."


    The second preview yed, and although it had a simr dreamy feel to the first one, it also feltpletely different. It was the kind of song that enveloped listeners in a sondscape. Itbined elements of RnB and electronic pop, which transported the listeners to a celestial realm.


    - Yes!! Our RnB kings.


    - This might be my favorite one.


    - It''s so vibey. I can''t exin it.


    "I like this song a lot, too," Ren said. "However, the next song we''re ying is the one I like the most. You all know that I''m a sucker for cute songs, right?"


    The next song yed was ''Sr Wave,'' which had a buoyant and feel-good energy. It was abination of upbeat pop and tropical warmth, and it radiated warmth and positivity from the very first note.


    - I bet this is also Casper''s favorite.


    "This is my favorite?" Casper asked. "Nope! There''s a song I like better than this one. It''s not the song I''m about to introduce, though. However, I still like this next song a lot."


    "Our third track of the night is ''Spaceman!'' he eximed as the music finally yed.


    ''Spaceman'' took the listeners on an introspective journey as the song was infused with elements of alternative hip-hop and emotive pop. It was a track that delved into theplexities of longing and self-discovery, yet it wasn''t portrayed in a bad form.


    - Shakes my ass sadly in the club?


    - This one''s actually pretty good. It''s not my cup of tea, but EVE nailed it nheless!


    - I love songs like these! I think it really boils down to preference.


    "The next song we''re going to y is none other than the title track," Jaeyong said. "It''s the fifth track on the album, and it''s the most intense one out of all the songs."


    - I can''t wait!


    - I''m so excited. I literally don''t have any idea what the song would sound like based on the previews they''ve posted.


    Finally, the preview of the title track was yed.


    The watchers were startled when Ren''s vocals exploded through the speakers right away without any intro music.


    ''Skyrocket'' was a high-octave song with a fierce energy sound. Infused with pop-rock and EDM, the track ignited the senses with its bold attitude and electrifying beats. It exuded confidence and empowerment, urging listeners to embrace their inner strengths and soar to new heights.


    - This is an anthem!


    - It''s almost like a national anthem. Why does it sound patriotic in a sense?


    - Oh.


    - It''s kind of¡­noisy?


    - I don''t know about you, guys. I really like it.


    - They''re killing the vocals!


    - The vocals are good. I''m just not sure of the arrangement.


    - It''s so good, though! Everybody just has different tastes.


    Fortunately, the members of EVE couldn''t read thements because they were going too fast. In the end, they moved on to the favorite song of most of the members.


    "Thisst track is what June told you about a while ago," Jisung started off.


    June nodded. "It''s the song we all made. It''s our first time coborating on such a huge project, but I believe we did a great job."


    "Yeah!" Ren eximed. "June took some inspiration from Casper''s cat, and we created a great song from it!"


    The staff members who were listening were confused by Ren''s statement.


    "Cat?" a cameraman muttered.


    "Anyway, here''s Luster¡ªa song we''re very proud of," Jaeyong concluded before the song finally yed.


    June bit his lip and concentrated his gaze on thement section as the song continued ying. However, it was moving quite slowly, with people not even talking about the song itself.


    And then, in a split second, it moved at a crazy speed.


    - Omo. Why does this sound like the best song on the album?

 Chapter 564 Everyone’s Favorite Song

    <h4>Chapter 564 Everyone''s Favorite Song</h4>


    "Aaaaah!"


    A loud scream was heard in the female''s dorm. However, it seemed like the people who were currently in their rooms didn''t mind the noise since Jia had already warned them that today was EVE''seback.


    "It''s so good," Jia sobbed, hugging her knees as she rested her head on the floor.


    Meanwhile, Wei walked in circles around the living room, still not over with how good EVE''s title track is.


    "They''re so sexy, I can''t," Soomin sniffed, also feeling emotional despite the song being a powerful anthem.


    Bora clicked her tongue, tilting her head to the side as EVE''s new title track, Skyrocket, yed once more on their television.


    "Is it just me who doesn''t like it that much?" she asked, feeling quite afraid of their reactions.


    "Hey!" Jia immediately said, getting up from the floor and pointing an using finger at her friend. "EVE can never release any disappointing songs."


    "I get that, of course," Bora said. "In essence, I can never be disappointed in them because I love all of their voices and appreciate their talents. However, I still have my preferences in music. I just can''t force myself to like a song that my favorite group releases just because they''re my favorite group."


    Her friends were silenced.


    "I hate that you sound reasonable at the most unexpected times. Why can''t you be like this in other matters too?" Nari asked.


    Bora smirked. "What can I say? It depends on my mood."


    "Anyway, I think this also isn''t my favorite song from EVE," Nari said, finally having the courage to confess her inner feelings because of Bora. "I still really like it. I just like the other songs better, I guess?"


    Jia sighed, crossing her arms in front of her chest.


    "Well, I understand where you''reing from. A song can''t be universally good. It''s just the way that it is."


    "We still have onest song to listen to, though," Jia said, going to her phone and scrolling to the very end of the album.


    "This is the song that EVE wrote and produced," Bora said.


    Jia''s eyes sparkled as she looked at the title¡ªLuster.


    "You guys better not say anything bad about it," Jia warned. "It''s perfect to me, even if I haven''t heard it yet."


    Her friends all raised their hands in surrender.


    Jia finally yed the song, and a refreshing, bubbly intro resounded in their room. In fact, due to the thin walls, their neighbors, too, were listening along with them.


    June''s voice started the song, which was already a great start. Jia gasped in surprise since he sounded so sweet, so different from how he usually sounded.


    Sheid back down on the floor as the song continued, not being able to process how good it was.


    The chorus finally came, and they ambiguously looked at each other.


    Even their neighbor, who was busy crocheting, stopped what she was doing to listen to the song ying next door.


    "Well, that''s catchy," she muttered, nodding her head to the beat as she continued crocheting.


    Her other neighbor, who was catching a cockroach in her living room, also halted for a moment to appreciate the song ying next door.


    "That doesn''t sound like a typical idol''s music," she said before letting out a loud scream as the cockroach flew around the room.


    Meanwhile, the group of friends remained silent until the very end of the song. Even after it was over, they still didn''t say anything. At this point, the first track, Shuttle, yed once more, but they were still silent.


    After a while, Bora finally broke the silence, a wide smile on her face.


    "It''s a bop," she said.


    ***


    Meanwhile, June was getting calls left and right after theeback live. They were now back in their dorms to rest because they had a music show filming tomorrow morning.


    "Yo, bro!" Minjun called, his voice even deeper than before.


    "Have you been doing anything differenttely?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    "What are you talking about?" Minjun asked, confusion heard in his voice.


    "You''re growing up really fast," June muttered. "Anyway, it doesn''t matter. What''s up?"


    "I just want to congratte your team. The album''s doing really well. You have more than two million pre-orders now, and the music video hit one million views in three hours," Minjun said.


    "Thanks, little bro. We worked really hard on it," June smiled.


    "I have to say¡ªLuster is great. I can already see it being sted everywhere."


    "Hopefully, it does," June muttered.


    "Well, that''s it! I know you have a lot of calls, so I''ll end it for now."


    Minjun ended the call before June could even say his goodbyes. He shook his head in amusement, about to text Minjun and reprimand him for having bad manners, when he suddenly received three texts all at once.


    Mimi (Idol friend): Your songs are really good. The girls really like it. I personally like Luster the most. Fighting for all of the promotions!


    Hana (Actress friend): The songs are crazy good this time. However, the song you wrote is the best out of all of them. I''ve been singing it for the past hour. I''ll be ming you if I can''t memorize my lines because your song is ying in my mind!


    Jia (Fan friend): Umm, thank you for making such great music for us. I don''t know if you''ll see this, but I really appreciate you and the group for all of your hard work. I really love the songs and already have them on repeat!


    June smiled when he saw the three texts from the three gorgeousdies.


    Then, he typed out his responses for all three of them before tossing his phone to the bed.


    June: Thanks.


    June: Thanks.


    June: Thanks.


    With that, he finally went out of his room to join his teammates for dinner. He was expecting a celebratory atmosphere when he got there; however, the atmosphere was surprisingly dark as he sat on his designated chair.


    They were all staring at their phones, furiously scrolling as they chewed on their food.


    "What''s¡­going on?" June asked, confused by their behavior.


    Sehun, who was the most reasonable person in the group, sighed before responding to June''s question.


    "They''re monitoring the charts," he responded.


    "Oh," June said, realizing that he hadn''t checked the music charts at all after their album had been released.


    "Well, how is it?" he asked.


    Sehun pursed his lips.


    "Not good."

 Chapter 565 Floppy EVE

    <h4>Chapter 565 Floppy EVE </h4>


    June''s heart dropped as soon as Sehun said those words.


    "Because it''s great?" June asked, trying to see if Sehun was just messing with him.


    However, their oldest member remained serious. June should have figured it out. Sehun rarely made jokes.


    June leaned closer to Jisung and looked at his phone. The youngest member refreshed the page over and over again, hoping that the results would change. However, it remained the same.


    June clicked his tongue and got the phone from Jisung''s hands since thetter couldn''t stay still.


    Then, he finally caught a glimpse of their rank on the music app.


    "10th," June muttered, looking up from the phone. "That''s not so bad. I thought we didn''t chart at all because of your guys'' reaction."


    "But Oasis ced 4th back then," Akira pouted, still feeling a bit disappointed.


    "It took a while before it ced 4th," June said. "Honestly, I''m more disappointed that Luster is only on the 25th spot."


    "I get it, though," he continued. "It hasn''t been promoted yet, and it doesn''t have a music video like Skyrocket."


    Jaeyong sighed, running his fingers through his hair.


    "Yeah, we shouldn''t be too beat down about this. The fact that we''ve ced tenth on our first day already says a lot. It''ll probably go up once we start promoting the song."


    "Honestly, I''m quite happy with the results," Sehun said. "Some of thements we''ve been receiving have just been quite discouraging."


    "True," Akira sighed, scrolling through thements and even reading some of them.


    "This is EVE''s worst song up to date."


    "I had high expectations for theireback because their debut was amazing. However, I''m disappointed after hearing the title track. Now, I don''t even want to listen to the album."


    "I hate noisy music like this."


    "Akira''s so annoying-looking...what?" he muttered in confusion.


    "That''s the only thing I agree with," Ren said.


    Akira ignored him and turned his phone to his members.


    "See?" Akira whined. "They''re not even giving our album a chance! Skyrocket does not give our album a good reputation."


    "A lot of people still enjoy it, though," Jaeyong pointed out. "From what I''ve read, it''s a song that people really love or really hate. No in-between. It''s quite experimental, so I get where the others areing from. Nheless, we should focus on working harder to promote the album so we can have more people listen to the other songs."


    "That''s not the worst part, though!" Jisung eximed, startling the older members of EVE.


    "What''s worse is that they''re alreadyparing us to this rookie group¡ªMATCHSTIX! They''re ranked 8th right now, and they''re saying that it''s shameful that we charted even lower than them."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He looked at Jisung''s phone once more and saw that, indeed, MATCHSTIX''s title track, ''Match Made in Heaven,'' was charting higher than ''Skyrocket.''


    Ren pursed his lips before guiltily confessing something.


    "I listened to it," he said.


    The other members gasped in an exaggerated manner.


    "Traitor!" Akira eximed, pointing at Ren with a shaky finger. "Did you at least listen to a pirated version?"


    "I listened to an official one," Ren muttered.


    Akira shook his head in disappointment. "I need a moment to rethink this friendship."


    "What do you think about it?" June asked, ignoring Akira''s dramatic monologue.


    "I think it''s a good song," Ren admitted, eliciting yet another dramatic gasp from most of his members.


    "borate," June said.


    "It''s a general-public friendly song. It''s produced differentlypared to other songs in the market right now. Frankly, it has the same vibes as Luster¡ªjust a more generic and cookie-


    cutter one, which means that even though they have a smaller fandom, more people are listening due to its ''listenable'' nature. You get what I mean?"


    June nodded, fully understanding where Ren wasing from.


    Ren continued analyzing the situation, and he couldn''t have summed it up more perfectly than it had already.


    "The streams we''re getting right now are definitely from our fans, which already says a lot since we achieved 10th ce just with their support. Due to the song''s experimental nature, it would be hard for us to pull the general public toward our way. I still believe that Luster would have been a better choice for the title track, but we can''t really do anything about it right now."


    "It''ll be harder to promote the song because it is just a B-side track. The fact that it''s already charting while the other songs on MATCHSTIX''s album aren''t is already saying a lot, too," he added.


    "So, what you''re saying is that we need to promote Luster better?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Yeah," Ren sighed. "Although I''m unsure how we''re going to do that when Skyrocket is the main song being pushed right now."


    June nodded, suddenly having a great idea.


    "It''ll rise," he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Ren''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Approximately when?"


    "Next week," June smirked.


    ***


    The boys were currently in the music show studio, having just finished their set for the day. It was nice seeing their fans once again, and the doubts that arosest night quickly vanished with their fans'' enthusiasm.


    This week, they were only bound to promote the title track, so Luster was slowly declining in the charts. Still, June assured his teammates that it would undoubtedly rise again next week, so they stopped dwelling on the fact.


    They were currently having a meal while waiting for the other artists to perform their sets so they could film the ending stage along with them.


    "The chicken leg is mine!" Akira eximed, wrestling with Ren so he could have the other piece of chicken leg.


    Jisung, by default, got the other chicken leg because he was their precious baby chick.


    Jaeyong sighed as he watched the two battling it out on the floor. At this point, the chicken leg had be dirty with their antics.


    "I swear, we should just get chicken legs the next time we order this," Jay said, also watching the two of them and not making any efforts to break off their fight.


    Casper, Sehun, and Zeth all red at Jay.


    "Chicken breasts all the way," Sehun said.


    Jisung shook his head in amusement. "These gym addicts."


    Meanwhile, June was busy eating his chicken wings when he heard a familiar theme song on the television just right before them.


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly got the remote control to turn the volume up.


    As the theme song resounded in the room, the other members began paying attention. Ren and Akira even stopped fighting as they looked at the television with sparkling eyes.


    "Guys! Let''s watch Disguise Surprise Singer together!" Jisung eximed.

 Chapter 566 Holy Schnitzel? You Sound So Good!

    <h4>Chapter 566 Holy Schnitzel? You Sound So Good!</h4>


    "It''s starting!" Akira excitedly eximed as the theme song finally ended.


    There was still a little over an hour before EVE had to be called for the ending of the music show, which gave them plenty of time to watch Disguise Surprise Singer in their waiting room.


    However, they weren''t the only ones watching in the building. Since the show had be very popr due to Guitarman, almost all of the staff members and even some of the idols who were also waiting for the ending segment were watching in their respective waiting rooms.


    "Didn''t Kim San recognize you?" Jaeyong asked since he apanied June to Quiz Godst year.


    "Nope," June said. "Frankly, I don''t think anybody recognized me that night."


    "Howe?" Casper asked. "I think your voice is quite distinct."


    "That''s because you''re obsessed with him," Zeth deadpanned. "Anyway, I think I''ll be able to point out your voice. I think our fans would be able to recognize you too."


    June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Let''s see," he ambiguously said.


    Just then, the first two contestants¡ªPearl Boy and Tongman, arrived on the stage.


    The other members, except for Akira and Jisung, turned to June with wide eyes.


    "What costume is that?" Zeth eximed.


    "Ah, right. You guys haven''t seen it yet," June nonchntly said.


    "A tong? Is that a tong?" Jaeyong asked, fearing for their group''s reputation. "June, you''re a good-looking guy, but I don''t think you can pull off being what? Tongman?" he asked in disbelief.


    "Yeah, that''s exactly what I''m called¡ªTongman," June said, not acting like it was a big deal. Now that the shoot was over, he was just d that he didn''t have to wear a thong on his head.


    - Tongman. Let that sink in.


    - BWAHAHAAHA, THIS IS HILARIOUS. WHOEVER IS BEHIND THAT MASK IS A GENIUS!


    - Okay, this didn''t have any business being this funny.


    - Man, I''m already rooting for him.


    - Seeing him stand next to the expensive-looking pearl costume makes him look even more pathetic. Yet, weirdly, I like it.


    The real-timements were bursting with discussions about June''s costume.


    Akira smiled proudly as he nudged June''s shoulder. "I told you¡ªI did a great job, right? You''re already the main topic when you haven''t even sung yet!"


    "I don''t think that''s necessarily a good thing," Jaeyong deadpanned.


    - Who are these shrimps wanting to fight with our Guitarman?


    - At this point, let''s just end the show and call it ''Guitarman.'' We would dly watch this show if it was all about him.


    - Well, where''s the fun in that?


    - I kind of want to see a singer who''s on Guitarman''s level. A lot of the previous contestants have been disappointing.


    "Oof," Akira said, reading some of the posts about the show on his phone. "It looks like a lot of people have high expectations."


    "That''s only obvious," Sehun said. "They''re going up against Guitarman."


    "Well, I believe in June''s skills!" Jisung proudly said. "Although, I''m still a little bit upset that you haven''t told us about the results. You know we won''t judge you if you lose, right? I know I wouldn''t be able to make it past the first round if I was participating."


    "Yeah," Akira chimed. "Just tell us."


    June shook his head, leaning against his seat.


    "It''s more fun this way," he said.


    His members sighed impatiently.


    Fortunately, their performance began soon, so his members stopped pestering him about the oue of the show.


    Pearl Boy started singing, making his members nod in acknowledgment.


    "Not bad. Not bad," Sehun said. "I feel like his voice doesn''t suit this song, though."


    "He sounds familiar," Jisung said. "Isn''t he the kid with orange hair who was singing a while ago?"


    "Oh yeah!" Ren said. "That kid in MATCHSTIX. What was his stage name again? Bruno? I honestly wouldn''t let that pass if that stage name was given to me."


    "Honestly, he deserves the name," Zeth said. "The kid looked down on me when we met at the restroom a while ago."


    "Shh!"


    Their conversation was cut short when Casper shushed them, wanting to hear June''s voice without any interruption.


    Tongman prepared to sing, and the reaction of the online audience was simr to that of the live one. However, as June began to sing, a lot of them were perplexed¡­even baffled.


    - What the heck? He sounds so good.


    - A rocker that sounds sweet? Who is this man?


    - Goodness, I really like his voice.


    - I hate to say this, but Guitarman has somepetition this week.


    - Eyy, he is good, but he''s not at the level of Guitarman.


    - You''re right, my bad. He sounds so handsome, though. I''m a sucker for handsome voices.


    "Finally, we have a good contestant," one of the producers, who was currently waiting for a performance to end, said.


    "He''s good," the producer beside him said. "Much better than what we''ve listened to throughout this day. Sometimes, these idols'' voices make my ears hurt."


    "Well, idols'' vocals have been getting more stagnant these days. If only the idols of today''s generation could sing like this guy," he remarked.


    "Well, this day is definitely not an idol," the two of them chuckled.


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE couldn''t close their mouths as the performance continued.


    Pearl Boy and Tongman were battling it out, but it seemed like a one-sided fight. June was practically ughtering Pearl Boy with his voice!


    "You sound like this now?" Akira asked, looking at June with wide eyes. "You didn''t sound like that a while ago!"


    "Well, we have a backtrack during music shows, so it''s harder to hear my real voice," June said.


    Jisung ignored June''s response and held onto his shoulders.


    "Bro, since when did you sound like this? You sound so much like yourself, but at the same time, you sound nothing like yourself at all! Does that make sense?"


    "You summed it up really well," Ren said. "The tone of your voice is the same, but it sounds more¡­mature? Fuller? Ah, I don''t know! But you sound like a veteran singer."


    "I take back what I said earlier," Zeth said, his eyes focused on the screen. "If I didn''t know that you were participating in the show, then I wouldn''t even notice that it was you!"


    "What do you mean?" Casper asked in confusion. "He sounds the same to me. Well, not technically, since his voice does sound fuller. I also haven''t heard him sing a pure rock song like this before. However, he still sounds like June. I would be able to tell from a mile away."


    The six members turned to him and simultaneously said¡ª


    "That''s because you''re obsessed with him!"

 Chapter 567 Guessing Game

    <h4>Chapter 567 Guessing Game </h4>


    Tongman''s third performance had just ended, and his members still couldn''t believe the diversity of skills that June had disyed.


    "You''re cruel," Jisung said. "You''re making everybody confused about your identity with your song choices."


    "I just chose what I wanted to sing," June honestly said.


    "Heck," Akira said. "I told you to go beyond yourfort zone, but this is on another level. You sounded very good just now. Did you eat something right before this performance?"


    June shook his head. It was just the vocal upgrade that he got from his hard work points.


    "That was so good," Casper said. "I nearly cried."


    "Well, somebody''s crying," Sehun chuckled, subtly pointing at Jaeyong, whose face was buried in his knees.


    Akira chuckled and nudged his shoulder.


    "Keep it together, leader. We still have to go up the stageter for the final greeting."


    "I can''t help that it''s so good," Jaeyong said. "It''s been a while since I''ve heard June sing such an emotional song. I just¡­really needed to hear it, too. These days have been filled with doubt, and his song reminded me to rx and continue moving forward."


    - Who is this man?


    - I can offer a million-dor incentive to the person who can correctly identify this man''s identity. I have officially be his fan.


    - He is my husband.


    - Well, that''s enough inte for the day.


    "I think you might have beaten him," Jisung said when it was time for the results to be announced.


    "I believe so, too," Akira said. "I''ve doubted June many times, and I''ve been wrong in all of those times. This time, I''m a hundred percent on his side."


    June chuckled in amusement.


    "I''m disappointed, though," Akira continued. "I felt like you would have told us if you had won¡ªespecially against Guitarman!"


    Jisung enthusiastically nodded in agreement.


    "All of my aunts are obsessed with Guitarman. They even asked me to get his autograph, but I can''t really do that when I don''t even know him."


    "You could have asked me," June said.


    "You know him?" Jisung asked with wide eyes. "Then, does that mean¡ª"


    "Just keep watching," June said. "I knew him before the reveal even happened."


    - Omo. These two know each other? Then, they must be in the same age bracket?


    - If that is the case, then my husband will be twenty years older than me. That''s fine with me.


    - How could this be? Do talented people just belong to the same friend group or something like that?


    After more agonizing moments, the winner was finally revealed, and although the members believed in June and knew he would be able to steal the spot away from Guitarman, they were still surprised by the turn of events.


    - This tong guy actually managed to topple down a monster.


    - Who are you? Who is this?


    - Goodness. I''m the most curious about his identity.


    - He sounds familiar. I feel like I''m wrong, though.


    - Surprisingly, there aren''t that many meanments being thrown at Tongman.


    - Well, did you hear what Lee Sik said? His wife is getting angry because he''s been busy for the past ten weeks. Let his wife have his man back!


    - I agree! And¡­above all of this, I feel like Tongman deserves it.


    - He definitely does. It''s an agony to wait for his identity to be revealed, though.


    "I''m so proud," Akira said, wiping the fake tears in his eyes.


    "Congrats, bro! That was totally deserved. You never fail to amaze me with your skills," Jisung said.


    "Right on," Ren agreed. "Your hard work and effort have definitely paid off. You''ve inspired me to practice even more!"


    Zeth sighed, staring off into the distance. "I remember when June struggled to perform on stage. Now, I''m the one aspiring to be like him."


    "Oh, shut up," Ren said. "You''re still a monster."


    "Anyway, I wasn''t able to promote our album because I had to keep my identity undisclosed," June said.


    "Who cares?" Jaeyong asked. "We''re rooting for you all the way."


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Jay, who had just finished gossiping with the other managers in the hallway.


    "It''s time for the ending stage, boys. Let''s go so you can go home and rest for the night. You have another music show tomorrow."


    The boys nodded and followed after Jay. They arrived at the stage and smiled and waved at their fans. Loud screams were heard when EVE arrived on the stage, making the other idols, who were already there, turn to them with envious stares.


    Akira smiled proudly as he continued waving at their fans. Even a while back, the studio was filled with astras. It was almost unbelievable how fast their fandom grew in just a span of a few months.


    The greeting finished quickly, with the hosts announcing the winners of the week. Afterward, the boys made their way down the stage so they could prepare to go back to their dorms.


    However, at that moment, June felt the call of nature. It must have been the gallon of milk tea that Akira bought him this morning.


    "Guys, I need to pee," June said.


    Jay turned around and narrowed his eyes in suspicion.


    "What?" June asked in confusion.


    "Every time you go to the restroom, nothing good ever happens," Jay said, recalling the times when June passed out and snuck out when hest went to the restroom.


    June sighed. "I promise. I just need to pee. I''ll be back in a few minutes."


    "You better be," Jay warned.


    June shook his head and went to the restroom to empty his dder. Fortunately, there wasn''t anyone inside. However, just as he was about to zip up his fly, a familiar orange head entered the room.


    "Pearl Boy," he muttered. However, it seemed like the younger boy had superb hearing since he was able to decipher what June had said.


    "Pearl Boy?" he asked, causing June to halt. "Did you just call me Pearl Boy?"


    June didn''t respond and went to the sink to wash his hands instead.


    "I can''t be mistaken," the young member of MATCHSTIX, named Bruno, said. "You called me Pearl Boy! That means that you watched the episode I was in!"


    June still didn''t say anything. He already beat this boy during Disguise Surprise Singer. He''ll just wait for the moment that he realizes it was June who mercilessly defeated him.


    "Well, I guess your team is monitoring our team," Bruno smiled. "Did you know? Our song is currently ranked seventh, while yours has already dropped to the twenties!"


    June sighed and moved to leave the room. However, the young boy held onto his arm before he could open the door.


    "Just you wait!" Bruno boastfully said. "We''ll take your ce as the most sessful boy group to evere from a survival show!"


    June calmly removed Bruno''s grip from his arm.


    It seemed like Jay was right.


    Nothing good ever happens every time he goes to the restroom.

 Chapter 568 What the Briefcase Means

    <h4>Chapter 568 What the Briefcase Means</h4>


    Bo: It''s here.


    June smirked as soon as he saw those words.


    June: Send it my way.


    Bo: You better keep your promise.


    June: I will.


    Bo: *sent an encrypted file*


    "You''re done eating?" Jisung asked as June stood from the dinner table.


    "Yeah," June said. "I''ll wash the dishes tomorrow. I have something to do tonight."


    Akira looked at June with raised eyebrows.?"I know we have our needs, but don''t make too much noise now. These walls aren''t soundproofed."


    June clicked his tongue and smacked the back of his head.


    "Idiot," he muttered before leaving the dining area and locking himself inside the room.


    For a moment, he merely stared at the file that Bowen had sent. At first, he thought that the baldie wouldn''t cooperate and merely thought he had gone crazy. However, it seemed like he was just as desperate to know the whereabouts of his family.


    After a while, June finally opened the file¡­expecting the worst.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw plenty of evidence hidden within the zip file.


    There were audio clips, transcriptions, and text messages. How Bo Wen was able to find such information was a wonder, but June thought it wasn''t any of his business to meddle with his means of getting information.


    He yed the first audio file.


    "The briefcase. Did our counterpart manage to get it?" a man with a low voice asked.


    "Yes," another man said.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he turned the volume up. He didn''t find these people familiar at all; however, they seemed to be talking about the briefcase that he was instructed to seize that night.


    Up until now, Laohu''s objectives were unclear as to why he asked for the briefcase. However, he said it was ''important'' and ''direly needed.'' In the end, June led the raid to seize the briefcase himself. However, thinking that it was ''important,'' he decided to keep it as coteral for his dyed pay.


    Who knew that the incident would have led to his tragic death?


    "However," the second man continued. "There had been some trouble with the person who managed to seize it from the Dragons."


    "What do you mean?"


    "You see, it wasn''t Laohu himself who stole the briefcase, but one of hisckeys," he responded.


    June''s frown deepened. That pretty much confirmed that the White Tiger Gang had something to do with Phoenix.


    "What a dirty yer," the first man scoffed. "He knew that the first person who delivers the briefcase would get the promotion. I thought he was a brave man. In the end, he decided to use hisckeys, huh?"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. A promotion? For all this time, he thought that Laohu held the highest position in their gang.


    "Well, I guess this is good news for us," the first man sighed. "This means that we''ll have an easier time stealing the briefcase from hisckey."


    As the conversation progressed, June felt even more confused.


    "Did you send those boys to China like I told you to, then?" he asked.


    June paid greater attention this part since it linked his past identity to his current identity.


    "I did," the second man responded.


    "Good. I''m sure they''ll be able to get it. Their desperation would lead them to steal the briefcase in no time. Not only that, but we won''t even be responsible if they get caught since they''re just trainees."


    June scoffed after the first man finished his statement.


    "Trash," he muttered.


    "Weren''t they set to go home today?" the first man asked.


    "They are," the second man responded, a hint of nervousness heard in his voice. "However, there seemed to have been a¡­


    mishap."


    "Mishap?"


    "They''re still looking for the briefcase."


    "Looking? You only look for what is lost."


    There was a long silence before the second man finally responded.


    "It is lost," he concluded.


    "WHAT?" the first man eximed.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Took him long enough to figure it out."


    "The man was killed by Laohu out of his own aggression," the second man exined. "Now, nobody knows where the briefcase is or where it was hidden."


    A sigh of frustration was heard.


    "Well, did they manage to locate his significant others?"


    "As of now, there are no traces of his significant others."


    "Then, how are we supposed to find the goddamn briefcase! You know that its contents are the key to bringing down the Dragons," the first man exploded.


    "I know. I know how important it is."


    Their conversation painted a vague picture for June. Now, he knew that the briefcase held importance as it could have led to the downfall of the Dragons. However, the contents of the briefcase were still unclear.


    "Then, find it¡ªat all costs. We can''t afford anyone else to get a hold of it."


    With that, the first audio clip ended. June went through the other files and found that everything aligned with the first audio clip he listened to.


    The briefcase, whose contents were still unknown, had led directly to his death and, in a way, contributed to Choi Joon-


    ho''s. They had used the trainees'' desperation to get the briefcase.


    Meanwhile, Jun-hao hid the briefcase in their house¡ªthe house that nobody in the gang knew of.


    However, when he looked for it on the day he died, he couldn''t find it in the original ce¡ªlike it had disappeared.


    Based on his memories, Joon-ho managed to get the briefcase just before Jun-hao died. He never told anyone about it¡ªnot even Haruto.


    That meant only one thing.


    He was the only person in this world who knew of the whereabouts of the briefcase.


    "Shit," he cursed, trying to recall his memories for any clues.


    However, no matter how hard he closed his eyes and concentrated, nothing seemed to pop up inside his mind.


    He still didn''t know what the briefcase really contained, but if the most influential people in Phoenix and the White Tiger gang were looking for it, then it might be the tool to finally give justice not only to his death but also to Choi Joon-ho''s.


    However, there was a huge problem.


    "Joon-ho, this bastard," June muttered. "Where did you hide the briefcase?"


    He didn''t know where the briefcase was even if he, himself, was the one who hid it.

 Chapter 569 Mount Everest

    <h4>Chapter 569 Mount Everest </h4>


    June: I''ll meet you at the parking lot of Azure in half an hour.


    It waste at night, almost nearing midnight, but June couldn''t shake off the thoughts inside his head. To add to that, he wanted to keep his end of the deal and tell Bo Wen where his family resided.


    Bo Wen didn''t respond; however, June knew that he was going to meet him regardless. After some more pondering, June threw on some warm clothes and went down to the parking lot.


    He went to an area where he knew didn''t have any security cameras.


    Then, all he had to do was wait.


    A few minutester, he saw a huge figure with his body pressed against the walls. June shook his head in amusement. It seemed like Bo Wen''s past instincts were still alive since he managed to walk through the blind spots of the security cameras.


    Bo Wen looked around until his eyesnded on a lean figure behind the stairs.


    "June," he said, making the idol look up at him.


    "You''re early," June remarked.


    Bo Wen''s jaw clenched. "You know what I''m here for."


    "Eager, are we?" he chuckled. "Well, don''t rush. I still need some answers to my questions."


    "You better make it quick. Haruki has a schedule early in the morning," Bo Wen urged.


    "The briefcase," June went straight to the point. "What''s inside it?"


    Bo Wen scratched the back of his head. "That''s something that none of us know."


    June raised one of his eyebrows in inquiry. "I''m sure Laohu told you what it''s for, at least."


    "He didn''t," Bo Wen said, sincerity heard in his voice. "Nobody, except for Laohu, knows what is inside the briefcase or what it is for. All I know is that it has some important content."


    "Then," June said. "Why do the people in the audio recording you sent know of its contents and purpose?"


    Bo Wen froze, feeling caught in the headlight.


    "You told me that only Laohu knows," June continued to pressure him. "It seems like a lot of people are aware."


    "It''s only them," Bo Wen gulped.


    "I see," June chuckled. "Then, if Laohu didn''t tell you, I''m sure that your new bosses did."


    Bo Wen sighed, rubbing his bald head out of frustration.


    "Phoenix and White Tiger are linked," he finally confessed. It was what June had been waiting to hear.


    "I figured," June smirked. "You, Lin Zhi, and Laohu are there for a reason."


    "Have I answered your questions yet?" Bo Wen asked, already eager to know where his family was.


    "One more question," June said.


    Bo Wen pursed his lips before nodding.


    "The link between Phoenix and White Tiger...," June began. However, even with those few words, Bo Wen already knew what June was going to ask for.


    "They''re our counterparts," Bo Wen quickly divulged. He knew he shouldn''t be telling June these pieces of information--especially since he wasn''t even sure if what the idol was saying was true. However, somethingpelled him to tell June about it.


    "I also only recently figured it out before our gang was dissolved," Bo Wen started off.


    "Dissolved?" June frowned in confusion.


    "Right, you didn''t know," Bo Wen said. "White Tiger in Shanghai has been dissolved. After the briefcase had been lost, the ''head'' dissolved the gang as punishment."


    As Bo Wen continued speaking, June felt like his entire life had been a lie. Why did he know so little of what he has been a part of for most of his life?


    "The head?" June asked.


    Bo Wen chuckled in amusement. "You were really a pure soul back then, weren''t you? You didn''t know much about how we operated. You just did your job well and were loyal to Laohu until the day of your death."


    "Answer my question," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "It might seem that White Tiger is the usual gang that raided clubs, stole money, and extracted information. However, we''re part of a bigger organization. White Tiger is just a fraction of the entire corporation. There are a lot more affiliates, and the umbre is wider than you expect."


    "And Phoenix is a part of this?" June asked.


    Bo Wen nodded. "That''s correct. They''re the biggest fraction and shareholder of the organization. That''s why I was sent here instead of being a beggar on the streets after White Tiger had been dissolved. That''s also the reason why Lin Zhi was able to get into thepany quite fastpared to other trainees."


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    "And what about this ''head'' that you were talking about?" he asked.


    "It''s self-exnatory," Bo Wen said. "If Laohu was the boss of White Tiger, then the ''head'' is the core of the organization. They are the ones at the very top¡ªthe king, in simpler terms."


    June pursed his lips. He thought his biggest enemy was Laohu, but it seemed like this problem ran deeper than he thought.


    "Now, tell me the information I need in exchange for what I''ve told you," Bo Wen said.


    June sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Honestly, Bo Wen revealed more information than he had expected.


    So, he decided to tell him exactly what he needed.


    "Before anything else, you need to promise me something," June said.


    "What?" Bo Wen impatiently asked.


    "Do not go after them. They''re already living a good life without you."


    Bo Wen''s face reddened as he shook his head. "You don''t get to tell me what to do. We had a deal. That promise is not part of the deal."


    June finally sighed in frustration. Nheless, he knew that Bo Wen would swallow his words after his revtion.


    June brought out his phone from his pocket and showed Bo Wen a location¡ªa humble home in Hainan, China.


    "Your son is in this ce," June said.


    "How do I make sure that you''re telling the truth?" Bo Wen suspiciously asked.


    June sighed and pulled out a photo of a woman, his wife''s mother, to be precise, in that very house with a small child in her arms. The child strongly resembled his wife (thank goodness), and he had a wide, toothless grin on his face.


    "Bo," the baldie muttered as he stared at the photo with teary eyes. "He''s gotten so big."


    June allowed him to stare at the photo a little longer before cing his phone back into his pocket.


    "There, I told you already. Now, I don''t owe you anything," June said.


    "Wait," Bo Wen frowned. "My wife. You only showed me a photo of my son. You need to tell me where my wife is."


    June sighed. This was the part he was dreading to reveal.


    "Bring out your phone," he instructed.


    "What are you¡ª"


    "Just do it," June insisted.


    Bo Wen sighed and brought out his phone.


    "Search for Mount Everest," June said.


    Bo Wen looked him dead in the eyes. "You''re joking with me now. Don''t tell me that my wife is currently hiking in Tibet."


    "Not the mountain," June sighed.


    "Mount Ever Rest," he said, enunciating his words.


    Bo Wen froze and typed the location into his phone. Then, he froze.


    "You''re fucking with me."


    "I''m not," June said.


    Bo Wen lifted his head and stared at June with red eyes.


    "This is a cemetery."

 Chapter 570 The Enemy’s Vow

    <h4>Chapter 570 The Enemy''s Vow</h4>


    "You''re messing with me," Bo Wen said, still looking at his phone with furrowed eyebrows.


    June sighed, lowering his voice to convey his seriousness.


    "I''m not. Why would I lie to you about this kind of thing?"


    "I don''t know," Bo Wen bitterly chuckled. "Maybe because I killed you in your past life? Now, you''re getting your revenge by telling me that my wife is currently in a cemetery."


    "You know I won''t do that," June said, subtly reminding him how he was the better friend between the two.


    Bo Wen pursed his lips together. Deep down, he also knew how good of a friend Jun-hao was to him. On the contrary, he was a shitty friend to Jun-hao, but the former never left his side.


    "Why is she here then?" Bo Wen asked in a vulnerable tone.


    "She became a graveyard keeper," June sarcastically said. "What do you think people do in cemeteries?"


    June knew he shouldn''t handle the situation so sarcastically, but he just couldn''t help himself.


    "She''s not dead," Bo Wen said, his voice breaking.


    "She can''t be."


    June let out a deep breath before showing him the photo of his wife''s gravestone.


    As hard as it was to believe, June was telling the truth. He wasn''t cruel enough to fake Bo Wen''s wife''s death, especially when she was nothing but great to him when the two of them were still alive.


    Jing, Bo Wen''s wife, had always been a sweet woman. Bo Wen probably never considered him as a real friend when he was still alive, but Jing did, and for that, Jun-hao was very thankful.


    Oftentimes, he felt that Bo Wen used ck magic to marry a woman like Jing. However, he also knew just how much he loved his wife and his son. So, when they left, he was the most devastated man on Earth.


    Bo Wen looked for the answers through various means; however, what he didn''t know was that the answer was with Jun-hao. Being the only friend of Bo Wen that Jing trusted, she sought help from Jun-hao to escape Bao and start anew.


    "I helped them leave," June confessed.


    A sh of anger passed through Bo Wen''s eyes as he held onto June''s cor.


    "She didn''t do it because she didn''t love you," he continued to exin, ignoring the pain he was feeling in his neck.


    "She did it because she was worried for you and your son."


    "You know that in our job, we aren''t supposed to have any weaknesses. Just as Jing and Bo were your strengths, they were also your weaknesses¡ªone that our enemies would exploit at any given time."


    "That doesn''t exin why you kept that information away from me for all these years," Bo Wen angrily said.


    "Like I said¡ªit was Jing''s request. You know how kind your wife is. You also know that she''s generous and forgiving. The fact that she asked me so sincerely to not tell you of their departure meant that she was really determined."


    "She was afraid that you would follow after her and your son, and in the end, she would cave in and go with you."


    "What is there to worry about? I protected them all these years!" Bo Wen eximed.


    "Yes," June remarked. "You protected them¡ªfrom our enemies. However, you failed to protect them from the people whom you were loyal to."


    "What do you mean?" Bo Wen asked, his grip on June''s cor loosening.


    June sighed and held onto Bo Wen''s hands before pushing him away.


    "Jing is very pretty," June remarked. "The moment Laohu saw her, he wanted her to be his."


    Bo Wen''s frown deepened. This was new information to him.


    Well, of course, June didn''t expect him to know. June also didn''t know until the day that Jing told him.


    "However, Jing was faithful to you. She could never betray you. In the end, Laohu threatened your position in the gang. However, Laohu also knew that you were a vital member of the gang, so he resulted in threatening Bo''s life instead."


    Bo Wen''s breath got caught in the back of his throat.


    Laohu, the man he trusted more than anyone else, was actually his greatest enemy in life?


    "So, she left," June said. "She left so she wouldn''t cause any trouble."


    Bo Wen was still silent, internalizing everything that June had just said. He wanted to believe that June was just making all of these up; however, with respect to his wife, he knew that June was telling the truth.


    "She died of a heart attack," June continued. "Her mother told me that she never recovered from loneliness after she left, and that led her to abandon herself. In the end, she couldn''t take the loneliness and sumbed to her illness."


    "When did she die?" Bo Wen absent-mindedly asked.


    "A few days before my death," June said. "Jing''s mom told me not to tell you. However, I was nning on telling you that day. However, you know, you put a bullet through my head."


    June smirked when Bo Wen chuckled softly before leaning against the hard, cold wall.


    June saw tears welling up in his eyes, so he looked away.


    "I think Bo''s doing well," June said, trying tofort the big man. "Last year, he finally entered school."


    "She did just as what she said," Bo Wen muttered. "She really enrolled Bo early in school because she thought he was a genius."


    June was surprised that Bo Wen took the news better than he thought.


    "Well, if the kid got Jing''s genes, then you don''t have to worry. He''ll have a full head of hair in his 30s, too."


    Bo Wen shook his head.


    "I still want to see him," he said.


    June sighed. "Deep inside your heart, you know that you can''t. This life of ours¡ªwe''re not meant to live normally. It''s a pit that only keeps getting deeper the more we try to climb it. Maybe, just maybe, we''ll be able to live normally in our next lives," he said, facing him with the truth.


    "Our next lives? It''s unfair. You''re already on yours," Bo Wen chuckled.


    June shook his head. "I doubt I''ll be able to live normally in this life, too."


    "Why?" Bo Wen asked. "Is somebody holding you back?"


    "Yup¡ªAzure and my fans. I''ll probably be burned alive if ever I have a family of my own," June said.


    It was true. That was the sad reality of being an idol.


    "I guess we''re on the same boat," Bo Wen said. "I probably won''t ever see my son again, won''t I?"


    "You technically could," June objectively said.


    "How am I supposed to do that?"


    "Uproot the problem," June said. "Have apletely new te, and live a new life with your son. However, that''s way tooplicated, right? You''re still working with Phoenix, so you''re still affiliated with White Tiger."


    Bo Wen paused for a moment before he turned to June with ambitious eyes.


    "That''s what you''re trying to do, right? You''re trying to uproot the problem?" he asked.


    "I''m just nning on getting justice for my death," June responded.


    "But your death is much moreplicated than we thought," Bo Wen remarked. "The only way we can give justice to it is if we uproot the problem."


    "What are you nning?" June suspiciously asked with narrowed eyes.


    "Nothing. You''re the one who''s going to do the nning, of course," he smirked. "You''ve always been great at that."


    "Now, I believe the truth hase to light, and the people I''ve trusted before weren''t the people that deserved my trust. I know I betrayed you in your past life, and I probably do not have the right to be talking to you like this."


    "But, I''ll vow myself to you¡ªas payment for everything I''ve done."


    "Your pretty idol hands can''t pick up dirty work now, so I''ll be your puppet."


    "Use my services as you please."

 Chapter 571 Street Dance Fight

    <h4>Chapter 571 Street Dance Fight </h4>


    With Bo Wen on his side, June thought he''d have a greater chance of getting his revenge. He found it hard to do dirty work as an idol, and although Jay was a great informant with regard to his idol life, having Bo Wen would let him gain a deeper insight into his current situation.


    The first week of the promotion period had already ended, and to be frank, the results of theireback weren''t as great as they expected. Of course, their group was still doing well. However, for someone with two million albums sold, their streams on different music tforms didn''t reflect it. It was true that ''Skyrocket'' wasn''t really a general public-friendly song.


    Nheless, June eased his mind a bit since they were going to be promoting Luster by the second week, which he believed was a song that would be better received by their fans and the public.


    Right now, though, he had another problem to solve.


    "Can I watch inside? I''ve always wanted to meet professional dancers!" Jay eximed. He was d in baggy jeans, an oversized t-shirt with what seemed to be a gang sign but was just ''cute'' in Chinese letters, and a bandana tied around his head.


    "You''re more excited for this than me," June sighed. "I almost forgot about it. I wouldn''t have gone if you didn''t remind me."


    "What?" Jay eximed. "And miss out on meeting the dancers from Street Fight Dance?"


    "Street Fight Dance?" June asked in confusion.


    Jisung, the TV show addict, went out of his room and looked at June with narrowed eyes.


    "You don''t know Street Fight Dance?" he asked.


    "No," June said. "I don''t have much time these days."


    "You should have stayed up with Akira and me so we could watch it together! It airs every Wednesday!" he suggested.


    June shook his head. "No, thank you. I''d much rather sleep than watch a show. Why? Is it popr?"


    "Extremely popr!" Jisung responded. "They have even more views than some idol dance practices these days. It''s basically a show where dance crews battle it out to see who''s the best. They make choreographies and do freestyle dances, but the best part is--there is a lot of drama! SBC edits it in a way that makes you think the dancers hate each others'' asses!"


    "Alright," June said. "What does that have to do with this then?" he asked Jay.


    "Well, the special anniversary video for Gun''s studio is going to feature the leaders of the different dance crews! Isn''t that great?"


    "And where did you hear this information from?" June sighed.


    "Duh! From my informants. Who else?"


    June shook his head and ced his mask and hat on. Honestly, he didn''t know what to expect for the shoot. All he knew was that they were going to dance to some song, and it would be uploaded on Gun''s dance studio''s channel.


    "Can I go in? Please? Please? Please?" Jay continued to chant like an annoying little child, so June sighed and nodded.


    "Fine," he said. "Just don''t bother me."


    "Oh, I won''t even look after you. I''ll be busy looking at all the crew leaders!"


    Jay drove June to the dance studio, all while humming ''Luster.'' Although he had heard it plenty of times, Jay still couldn''t get the song out of his head.


    "We''re here!" Jay said in a sing-song voice.


    June peaked outside the window and frowned in confusion.


    "Why are there so many people outside?" June asked.


    "I told you, man!" Jay eximed. "These people are the shit right now. They have fans like idols, too, and the show''s doing really well because of them."


    June shook his head and made sure his face and hair weren''t visible before going out of the car.


    "Hey, wait for me!" Jay eximed, but June already made his way inside.


    The people didn''t even bother looking toward June''s way because his outfit was too low-key. On the other hand, as Jay attempted to chase June, he was mobbed by a group of people.


    "Wait! Wait!" he eximed, yet it was drowned by screams as the people thought he was one of the dance crew leaders.


    June shook his head and entered the room without knocking. There, he saw the dance crew leaders that Jay was talking about.


    They, too, didn''t notice Juneing inside. June looked around and didn''t find Gun or Tank, so he decided to settle at the corner and wait for the filming to finallymence.


    There were two groups inside the room, one for the men and one for the women. Judging from their looks, they really did appear like dance crew leaders. All of them wore hip clothing, and most of them had piercings that weren''t ced in conventional areas.


    He definitely felt out of ce with his all-ck outfit and worn-out shoes.


    June was situated near the men, and June happened to overhear their conversation. He wasn''t eavesdropping! Their voices were just too loud for him not to notice.


    "Do you already have a special guest for the next mission?" one of them asked.


    "Yeah. I contacted this really dope dancer from LA. He''sing round tomorrow, and he has prepared some sweet moves for us," another responded.


    "Dang. That fast? I''m still looking for someone who will get us the most amount of support."


    "If you want that, then you should just get an idol to feature," the first man said.


    June subtly nodded in agreement. Idols really were the greatest clickbaits for K-pop fans.


    However, much to his surprise, the group of guys suddenlyughed out loud.


    "Yeah, right," one chimed. "An idol will definitely make us win the voting poll, but then, we''d be criticized by actual dancers."


    "That''s true," another agreed. "While idols are great dancers, professional dancers are just different, you know?"


    "Definitely. We wouldn''t be called pros without a reason."


    June shook his head in amusement. While he agreed that professional dancers were on another level, he believed that these dancers had an underlying prejudice against idols. Of course, they were going to be better at dance performances! That was their main job.


    Meanwhile, idols have to juggle different skills all at once, so it would make sense if some of themcked in other areas and excelled in others.


    "It seems like we''re on the same page. Whoever recruits an idol in the next stage will definitely be eliminated then, okay?"


    The others nodded in agreement.


    June pursed his lips. Maybeing here wasn''t that great of an idea after all.


    They looked plenty enough, so Gun probably wouldn''t notice if June wasn''t around, right?


    June nned on going out of the room when Jay, all sweaty and messy-looking, suddenly barged into the room.


    "June! There you are!"

 Chapter 572 Fast Learner

    <h4>Chapter 572 Fast Learner</h4>


    At that moment, the dancers turned to June, finding his name familiar.


    However, what caught their eye more was Jay, who was dressed even more obnoxiously than them.


    June pursed his lips and leaned against the wall. Well, there goes his chance to escape!


    Just then, Gun entered the room with a wide smile on his face. He searched the room with his eyes and smiled even wider when he saw June.


    June shook his head. He thought Gun wouldn''t notice if he left, but it seemed like he was really looking forward to having June in their anniversary video.


    "C-Jay, you''re also here?" Gun asked, scrutinizing the former trainee''s outfit.


    "Can I watch you guys?" he asked with bright eyes.


    Gun scratched the back of his head. "Sure, stay in the corner," he instructed Jay like a little dog.


    Jay obediently followed. Meanwhile, the dance crew leaders were still wondering who this ''June'' was.


    "June?" Christine of PEANUT REPUBLIC said. "Like EVE June?"


    "Let me introduce you to one of my favorite students," Gun said, standing next to June.


    June hesitantly removed his cap and mask before bowing his head.


    "Omo. It''s really June from EVE!"


    "Wow, you''re really handsome!"


    "Is it possible to have such a face?"


    "Dang, you just made the other guys in here look like little shrimps."


    June scratched the back of his head and muttered statements of gratitude aspliments continued being thrown his way.


    "What is he doing here, though?" Dookie of XYG asked.


    "Well, I already told you about this concept, right?" Gun asked.


    "Yeah," the dancer replied. "It''s an evolution of dance. We''ll have beginners, intermediates, and then us experts at the end of the video."


    "Well, June was in the beginner ss," Gun exined. "And he was supposed to represent beginner dancers."


    "I thought the beginner choreography has already been filmed?" Dookie remarked.


    "Yeah," Gun said. "June''s currently having aeback, though, and this is the only free schedule I got from his manager."


    June pursed his lips as he listened to their conversation. Then, he turned to Jay with a subtle re. Why was he never informed of any of this?


    Jay sheepishly smiled. In truth, June was actually free during the ''beginner'' and ''intermediate'' filming days. However, since he heard that the ''expert'' part of the video was going to feature some of his favorite dancers, he couldn''t really pass on the chance.


    "So, he''s going to be filming with us?" Bad Lee, leader of DEDE, asked.


    "Yeah," Gun said, not finding anything weird with it at all. June was still technically a beginner based on the length of his dancing experience, but Gun felt that June''s dancing skills could be considered at a beginner expert level.


    Although they didn''t say anything, June felt that he was being prejudiced. It was true that he didn''t consider himself an expert, but he believed he could still keep up with their dancing.


    "Well, did you see the video I sentst night?" Gun asked.


    Once again, June turned to Gun, who wasn''t even looking at him since he was busy ogling the dance crew leaders.


    "That''s the choreography we''re going to do? It''s pretty tough," Bata of WETHEMEN said.


    "Yeah, it''s going to be a partner choreo, so grab your partners, and we''ll go over some of the dance moves. I''m sure you went over it already, though, so this will be quick."


    June, in fact, did not go over the video. He didn''t even receive it from Jay!


    What was he going to do now?


    His thoughts were cut off when he suddenly felt burning stares on the side of his face. He realized that all of the dancers were already partnered up, but there was no one by his side.


    "Wait, you don''t have a partner?" Gun asked.


    June silently nodded. Gun pursed his lips and wondered if he should take one for the team and act as June''s partner (he would actually like that), but in the end, he decided to just let it be.


    "We''ll have you in the middle then," Gun said, which seemed to have been a bad idea since the dancers grew even more hostile toward June.


    "Can I just stay at the back?" June asked, raising his hand.


    6000, leader of MBLEM, silently scoffed. "He must not be confident with his skills."


    Nheless, June heard him but decided to ignore his bitterness.


    "No," Gun said. "You''re precious¡ªI mean, it wouldn''t look bnced if you were in the back. This is only a short clip anyway, and the original dance was supposed to be a solo dance. I''ll teach you a littleter while the others are practicing."


    June sighed and nodded in defeat.


    After that, Gun went over the dance with the professional dancers. They were truly on another level since they were able to channel the feeling of the dance with just one teaching session. It was a pretty sensual dance, so June was actually grateful that he didn''t have a partner.


    One, it would feel awkward since the dance had some grinding movements.


    And two, his fans would not like it if they saw him doing such dances.


    As the session continued, June marked some dance moves that he thought could be a part of the solo dance. Then, after around half an hour, they decided to call a break before they finally film the video.


    June took this time to learn the dance from Gun.


    "So, how are we going to do this?" June asked.


    "I saw you marking some movements already, and I think it''s also pretty good. Did you watch the video beforehand?"


    June shook his head.


    "Really?" Gun asked in surprise. "But it appears like you''re already familiar with the dance."


    June shrugged since he really didn''t watch the dance video. As his dancing skills improved, he just found himself learning dances at a much quicker pace.


    They yed the music, and Gun started demonstrating the entirety of the section so June would have a better feel for it.


    June watched silently from the side, taking note of the movements and memorizing them.


    Meanwhile, the dancers, who were supposedly having their rest, paid attention to June, still finding it weird how he got the center position when he was supposed to be in the beginners'' video.


    "Alright," June said, nodding to himself.


    "Do you want me to demonstrate again?" Gun asked.


    June shook his head. "Nah, I got it. Just tell me which parts I got wrong."


    Gun and the other dancers were confused. Gun just showed him the dance once, and he was already prepared for a re-


    demonstration?


    "Are you sure?" Gun asked.


    June nodded. "Yeah, I think I got it."


    "y the music, please."

 Chapter 573 Dance Upgrade

    <h4>Chapter 573 Dance Upgrade</h4>


    June knew that the dancers were watching him with hawk eyes. So, in the end, although he hadn''t fully memorized the choreography, he told Gun that he would be able to do it.


    His pride was on the line, and this was a great opportunity to show them that idols weren''t just pretty faces.


    "I''ll y it now," Gun said, still a bit hesitant.


    June gave him an okay sign before standing in the middle of the room, his eyes focused on therge mirror and not anything else.


    Jay finally stopped ogling the dance crew leaders and switched his gaze to June. He also looked forward to June dancing to the song since he rarely danced in a sexy manner now that he was in EVE.


    As the music filled the room, June didn''t hesitate to move. He had memorized the first part pretty well, so he moved with fluidity and grace. Every step, every turn, was executed with a sensual yet sharp precision that surprised the onlookers. His movements were unmistakably idol-like, but at the same time, they were executed very professionally.


    "He''s good," Bad Lee said with a smirk on her face.


    "Of course, he''s good," Gun muttered. "He''s my student, after all."


    "Didn''t you shit on the kid for like half of the show, though?" Christine asked.


    Gun pursed his lips and looked down at the ground in shame.


    Despite not having memorized every detail, June''s improvisation filled in the gaps. He added his own unique ir to the choreography, which was actually a great choice since it fit the song better than the original one.


    Jay was enamored by June''s performance. He had seen June dance plenty of times in the practice room, but now, he seemed like a different person! In fact, he didn''t look out of ce from these professional dancers.


    "Goodness. He can dance this well when he has only learned the dance for less than ten minutes?"


    "I think he''s even better than me."


    "You''re swallowing your words pretty quickly, aren''t you?"


    "And what''s with his face? It''s unfair for him to have a face like that and still dance so well!


    His face, showing concentration, was definitely a cheat code. It amplified the impact of each movement and made the dance appear even more attractive.


    As the music ended, June''s face contorted back to his nk stare, almost like he didn''t just dance so sexily mere seconds ago.


    "Was that good?" he asked, breaking the silence in the practice room.


    Gun snapped out of his thoughts and enthusiastically nodded.


    "Fantastic! That was perfect. You could dance just as it is in the video, and we wouldn''t have any problems," Gun assured him.


    June smiled, feeling fulfilled that he wasplimented on his dancing.


    [Congrattions! You have umted 100 hard-work points for your dance aspect]


    [Dance: +1]


    [Current Grade: SS]


    [Full Stats:


    - Vocals: X


    - Dance: SS


    - Visual: S-


    - Rap: A+


    - Leadership: A+


    - Music Production: S-


    - Acting: B-


    - Stage Presence: A+]


    June smirked once he saw his full stats. Now that it was all on disy, he couldn''t help but admire how far he hade. It seemed like yesterday when he didn''t even have any B-grades, yet now most of his skills were at the S-tier.


    He still didn''t know what ''X'' truly meant, but as long as his vocal skills didn''t regress, then he decided not to think too hard about it.


    "Are you guys ready to film?" Gun asked after a couple of minutes.


    The dancers nodded and went to their positions, readying themselves for the video.


    "Let''s try and finish this within one take, okay?" Gun said. The dancers all hummed in agreement.


    June, feeling a bit awkward standing in the center with the professional dancers, whipped out his mask from inside his pocket to put it on.


    However, Gun quickly stopped him.


    "No! Don''t do that," Gun said. "We need your face on the screen."


    "Why?" June asked. "It won''t affect my dancing in any way."


    "I know," Gun smiled. "I was just thinking of making you the thumbnail. We''ll gain more views that way."


    The people around him, especially the female dancers, enthusiastically agreed, so June felt like he had no choice but to dance bare-faced.


    "Did this guy go to the make-up salon without me?" Jay asked himself as he stared at June''s face. It appeared like he had very subtle make-up done! But then again, June woke upte today, so he definitely wouldn''t have the time. Did that mean that he was just naturally ethereal-looking?


    Jay sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, the world is really unfair. I''ll make sure to be effortlessly handsome in my next life, too."


    The song finally started, and all of the dancers got into character. They were determined to finish the filming in just one take, and they delivered.


    Now, they were watching the recorded take to see if there were any mistakes or parts they needed to go over. However, as they watched through the video, they couldn''t really concentrate on anyone else except for June.


    His movements were the most captivating since he didn''t have a partner, and at that moment, he made the professional dancers look like backup dancers!


    "I think it''s good," Gun said with a proud smile. In fact, he just stared at June, too. The fact that June did well meant that the video was also going to go well.


    "Wait, can you y that again? I wasn''t paying attention," Dookie asked, quite shy to admit that he was also looking at June all throughout the monitoring phase.


    "Nah, it''s all good," Gun said, closing theptop screen and turning to the dancers with a grateful smile.


    "I know all of you are busy since the show is still ongoing, so you guys may go. I''ll go ahead and bring this to the editing team so they can upload it by next week!"


    With that, Gun left the practice room. June sighed in relief since it meant that he was finally going to rest. He went to where Jay was sitting and drank some water.


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry since his manager suddenly had a different, almost loving look in his eyes.


    He gave June a thumbs up and said, "You''re the best."


    June shook his head and urged Jay to take him home when he suddenly felt someone pat his shoulder.


    He looked around and saw two male dance crew leaders¡ªthe two who were badmouthing idols just a while ago¡ªlooking at him with bashful expressions.


    "I got here first," the other said.


    "Nuh-uh, I was nning on asking him since the beginning," another said.


    "Umm, hi. Do you need anything?" June asked.


    "I was wondering," the first person trailed off. "Would you like to be a part of our team for this particr mission in Street Dance Fight? We need to have a special guest, and you''re the perfect fit for our team."


    "Or our team," the second man quickly said.


    Jay excitedly bounced by his side. Even though June''s schedule was filled, he could make some time if it meant he got to be on Street Fight Dance.


    However, much to their surprise, June shook his head.


    "I apologize," he said. "My schedule is packed at the moment, and I don''t think I can take your offer."


    "I can make time¡ª"


    "Besides," June smirked, cutting Jay off. "You''re definitely going to be eliminated if you choose an idol as your special guest, right?"

 Chapter 574 With Me, For Life

    <h4>Chapter 574 With Me, For Life</h4>


    The second week of promotions had finallymenced, and the boys were excited to show everybody their performance for ''Luster.''


    Fans from various fandoms filled the venue as they waited for the show to finally start. EVE opted for a live performance instead of a pre-recorded one for this particr stage because they wanted to perform the song not only to their fans but also to other fandoms.


    Bora, however, wasn''t a fan of that. She groaned as she rested her arms on the barricade. "Why couldn''t they pre-record this performance? Soo-min, Wei, and Nari didn''t make it because of these gremlins," she said while ncing at the other fans in the pit.


    Jia clicked her tongue. "That''s not nice, Bora."


    "I''ve never been nice. They should get used to it. Besides, most of them are on their phones right now. The ce would have been more hyped if only astras were here," she said.


    Jia sighed as she shook her head. As much as Bora was right, she could feel the scrutinizing stares of the other fans in the room.


    So, Jia shut her mouth and focused her gaze on the stage instead. Honestly, she didn''t care if EVE performed at a ditch, an irrigation, or even at a zoo. As long as it''s EVE, Jia was happy to watch.


    Moreover, they spoiled that they were going to perform ''Luster,'' which was Bora''s and Jia''s favorite song on the album. They definitely can''t miss out on the chance.


    Finally, EVE arrived on the stage, bathed in a dazzling array of lights that danced across the excited faces of the crowd.


    Cheers were heard in the venue, making the walls shake as enthusiastic fans raved about their favorite idols.


    The members of EVE smiled warmly at their fans.


    "Hi, guys!" Akira excitedly chimed. "It''s nice seeing you here again. This is ourst week of music show promotions, so let''s enjoy it, okay?"


    The fans eximed in disappointment when Akira said this would be theirst week.


    "Don''t worry, though!" Jaeyong quickly said. "We''ll meet each other more often. This isn''t thest time you''ll be seeing us, so don''t be too sad."


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "Our astras are very pretty, so of course, we have to see them more often."


    That seemed to do the trick as the fans became giddy.


    June shook his head in amusement. His members were truly a force to be reckoned with. How can they say such statements with straight faces?


    Meanwhile, Jia was busy ogling the members and their outfits. Each member of EVE exuded their own unique charm while dressed in whimsical French-inspired ensembles.


    June had a beret perched atop his head and a white jacket tied around his neck. All in all, he looked like a youthful boy-next-door who smelled of cookies and milk.


    "Ah, he''s so cute," Jia couldn''t help but exim.


    Since Jia and Bora were in the front, June was able to hear them. And for a moment, June smiled at Jia and gave her a small wave. However, that seemed to trigger other fans'' delusions as they discussed who the smile was for.


    "Oh gosh. I think June just waved at me."


    "Nuh-uh. He was smiling at me before he waved. That was definitely for me."


    "Guys, it''s me. I''m June''s wife."


    Jia smirked as she nced at the girls behind her and by her side. That was, most definitely, for her.


    "We''re going to show you our performance now," Zeth said. "It''s somewhat different from ''Skyrocket,'' but I hope you guys still enjoy it!"


    As they took their positions on stage, the anticipation hung thick in the air. ''Luster'' was definitely a favorite among the fans. However, other fandoms weren''t familiar with it since it wasn''t EVE''s title track for thiseback.


    With the opening notes of their B-side track, EVEunched into their performance with apletely different energy. They had wide smiles on their faces, and it appeared like they were very proud of this particr song.


    "One, you''re the one for me,


    In your eyes, that''s where I long to be


    Two, you''re too good to be true,


    With every smile, my love for you grew."


    June sang the first verse, once again showing his versatility as a vocalist. His voice sounded sweet yet not too cute. Instead, it sounded supported, healthy, and stable.


    With his utterance, other fandoms became curious. They ced their phones in their pockets and wondered what was in store for their performance.


    Their vocals, smooth as silk and sweet as honey, took the audience on a giddy ride when you first realize you had a growing crush.


    "Three, you''re the light in my dark,


    In your presence, I find my spark.


    Four, you''re my guiding star,


    In your love, I''ve found my avatar."


    Despite theck of borate choreography, EVE''s stage presence drew the audience into their world with every note they sang. It once again showed their raw talents and undeniable charisma that captivated the hearts of the audience.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized.


    Every single time I look into your eyes.


    Yeah, you always make me mesmerized.


    Need you with me, for life."


    As the chorus erupted, the magic of EVE''s performance reached its peak.


    Simple yet addictive, the choreographyprised upper body movements that flowed effortlessly. With how simple it was, the audience could see themselves dancing to the song too!


    "I''m going to explode," Jia said, gripping Bora''s hand for dear life. "I can''t believe they''re doing this. It''s so cute!"


    Bora nodded in agreement, jiving to the beat as EVE proceeded to the second verse. She already liked this performance better than ''Skyrocket,'' and she also saw most of the crowd jamming to the song.


    "You''re the coffee to my mornings, the chocte to my treat.


    With you, life is always sweet.


    You''re the sunshine to my day, the moonlight to my night.


    With you, everything just feels so right."


    "I feel like this song is going to be viral," Bora said, already iming it.


    After the bridge, they sang the chorus one more time. Rainbow-colored confetti scattered the room, adding to the warm and fun vibes that the song emitted.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized.


    Yeah, you always make me mesmerized.


    Need you with me for life."


    Then, June made his way to the middle, a small smile on his face. He looked like an angel that had just descended on Earth, making the audience turn silent so they could focus on his face.


    Then, as thest line approached, his smile widened, his eyes turning into crescent moons.


    "Need you with me...for life."

 Chapter 575 Dragged and Beaten to the Ground

    <h4>Chapter 575 Dragged and Beaten to the Ground </h4>


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized."


    "Need you with me for life."


    "One, you''re the one for me."


    "Every single time you look into my eyes."


    "You''re the coffee to my mornings..."


    Jia sighed in disappointment as they left the studio.


    "I can''t believe they still didn''t win in a music show yet," she said, feeling sad that the boys hadn''t gotten an award for thiseback.


    "I know," Bora sighed. "Butst week, MATCHSTIX''s digitals were definitely better. I won''t worry too much, though."


    "Why?" Jia asked.


    "Just close your eyes for a second and listen intently," Bora instructed.


    Jia clicked her tongue and closed her eyes just as Bora had said. Then her eyebrows raised in surprise when she heard the familiar tune being sung by a number of people.


    Jia opened her eyes and found Bora smirking with her arms crossed in front of her chest.


    "They''re all singing the song," Jia muttered.


    "They are," Bora said. "Which means only one thing¡ªit''s going to be a hit."


    ***


    "Our song is 15th on the charts right now!" Jisung eximed with wide eyes, startling everyone who was in the car.


    "What?" Zeth asked in confusion. "I thought ''Skyrocket'' dropped already. Did it rise to the 15th spot again?"


    "Not ''Skyrocket!'' I''m talking about ''Luster.'' Look," he said, showing his phone to his members.


    They turned to Jisung and looked at his phone with narrowed eyes. Indeed, Luster was on the 15th spot in the music chart, just right below MATCHSTIX''s title track.


    "Not only that, but we''re trending on Navel, too!" Ren eximed. "They must be searching for our song."


    Smiles adorned their faces as they scrolled through their respective phones, readingments that people had left under ''Luster.''


    - I came here because my daughter was humming the song. I really like it.


    - This feels like something I would listen to while in high school!


    - I came to watch a music show a while ago and heard this song for the first time. I couldn''t get it out of my head, so here I am.


    - Honestly, this song''s really good. Probably even better than Skyrocket.


    - More songs like this, please!


    "I knew they were going to like this song better," Akira said. "We should have pushed for it to be the title track."


    Jay smirked. "I think this is better, though. Now, we can prove to that shitty tiddy bear that he made the wrong choice."


    Meanwhile, Ted, who was brushing his teeth, sneezed loudly, causing the foam inside his mouth to stter across his mirror.


    "Aish," he cursed. "Is somebody talking about me?"


    Just then, his work phone rang, and he was ready to yell at whoever was nterrupting his beauty regimen since he was already in a bad mood.


    "Yah! I''m off work right now..."


    "Oh, sorry," Mari apologetically said.


    There was a moment of silence as Ted let the situation sink in. Was that...Mari just now?


    "I guess I''ll just tell you at work tomorrow¡ª"


    "No! No," Ted quickly said, his tone suddenly shifting to a sweet one.


    "What do you need?" he asked, nervously chuckling.


    "Are you sure? We can end this call¡ª"


    "No need," Ted quickly intercepted. "I''m all ears."


    He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, wanting to punish himself for making Mari ufortable.


    "Well, I just wanted to tell you that EVE''s song is rising on the charts. They''re currently in the 8th spot right now."


    "What?" Ted asked with wide eyes. "In the top 10? But I thought they were out of the top 50 now."


    "Yeah, it didn''t chart well in the beginning, but it''s getting some traction after their live performance on a music show was uploaded."


    "So, at this point, the song might even beat Oasis in terms of numbers?" he excitedly asked.


    "If it goes like this, then yes," Mari said. "Aren''t you happy for the boys?"


    A small smirk emerged from Ted''s lips.


    "Of course, I''m happy for the boys," he said.


    But most importantly, he was happy for himself. His song was finally back on the charts, and he was ready to see it rise even higher and higher!


    "We should congratte ourselves, too," Ted continued.


    "For what?" Mari asked in confusion.


    "We also did a great job with the song."


    "Well, I guess we cleaned up some parts. Still, it was the boys who worked the hardest," she said.


    "What do you mean?" Ted asked. "This song wouldn''t have been created without the two of us."


    "It was, though," Mari said.


    Ted was getting more confused by the minute. So, he grabbed his other phone and went straight to the charts. Once he saw the song sitting on the 8th spot, he felt his eye twitch.


    "Mari, the song that you were talking about..."


    "...is ''Luster,'' of course!"


    Ted''s jaw clenched as he gripped his phone tightly. He held himself back so he wouldn''t throw it to the mirror.


    "Then...why did you call me about it?" he asked, trying to calm himself down.


    "Why not?" Mari chuckled. "These boys worked hard for theeback, and we also are the main producers of the album. I just thought you deserved to know."


    Ted''s breathing became ragged as he scrolled down the chart to see where ''Skyrocket'' was. Currently, it is in the 75th spot. It wasn''t too bad since it was still in the top 100 songs. However, the fact that his song was beaten by a B-side track created by the members made him feel like trash.


    "Oh! It just went up to 7th," Mari giddily said. "Goodness, these boys are going to break their records. Maybe we should have really listened to them and made this the title track. Nheless, I think this is also good¡ª"


    "Mari," Ted said, not able to take it anymore.


    "Yeah?" Mari asked.


    "Don''t talk about this anymore," he said before turning off the call.


    Then, he mmed his work phone on the table before resting his palms on the sink. He tried calming his breathing, but it was still prettybored.


    Then, as he nced at his phone, he saw that ''Luster'' was, indeed, already at the 7th spot in the music chart.


    "Fuck," he eximed, grabbing his phone and throwing it to the bathroom wall.


    The gadget exploded into pieces while Ted merely looked at it.


    "I was beaten," he muttered.

 Chapter 576 Tong in my Purse

    <h4>Chapter 576 Tong in my Purse</h4>


    576 Tong in my Purse


    "I can''t believe we''re in the 5th spot right now," Jisung giddily said while June was preparing to film for Disguise Surprise Singer.


    Their promotion period had finally ended, and Luster was now steadily rising in the charts.


    "I''m seeing a lot of people dance to the song on Liklok, too," Jaeyong smiled.


    The atmosphere in the dorm was bright and harmonious, as all of the members were excited about the achievements that the song they produced was getting.


    "I''m also very excited for June''s performanceter," Zeth said. "I heard that a lot of people are tuning in for the live show."


    "Well, it is a very loved show," Ren pointed out. "We''ll also be watching."


    "Why won''t you tell us which song you''re going to perform, though," Akira said, squeezing June''s biceps.


    "Oh," Akira said when he copped a feel, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you working outtely? You''ve be more firm."


    June clicked his tongue and retreated his bicep away from Akira.


    "It''s a surprise," June said.


    "How can you keep such secrets to the person who birthed you as Tongman?" Akira snapped, narrowing his eyes at June.


    "Whatever," June brushed him off. "I''m going."


    "Good luck, June!"


    His members collectively wished him luck as he left the dorm. Then, he went to the parking lot where Jay was waiting for him. He sighed in disappointment when he saw that there was still a Tong right over his head.


    "I''m starting to think you''re enjoying this," June said.


    Jay merely shrugged, letting June believe that what he said was right.


    They drove to an open stadium, where music festivals were usually held, for the very first Disguise Surprise Singer live show.


    The show was bound to startter in the evening, but the stadium was nearly filled to the brim. People of all ages came to watch the show, and the atmosphere felt like a carnival.


    While June prepared backstage, a group of young adults arrived at the stadium.


    "I thought you hated this show," Bora said as she looked around the field.


    "Yeah," Soomin said. "You said it was for middle-aged people with mediocre married lives, single old people, and kids who can''t clean their own asses."


    "I still stand by what I said," Jia smiled. "I just wanted toe here today."


    "Hypocrite," Bora chimed.


    "Oh, shut up and eat your corn dog."


    Bora shook her head and stuffed her mouth with the food items that Jia had bought for her.


    "I was only able to bag second-row tickets, though," Jia said. "But I guess that''s better than nothing, right?"


    "I don''t know what kind of deity you have in your life, but the fact that you got us front-row tickets every time we go to these shows makes me wonder if you saved the world in your past life," Nari said.


    The five of them went to their seats. However, Jia quickly halted when she saw two familiar people in the seats just right before them.


    "Mom?" she eximed.


    Cindy and her husband turned around, looking surprised as well.


    "Boo bear? What are you doing here?"


    "Boo bear," Bora chuckled to herself, causing Jia to pinch her side.


    "Is this the date that you and Dad were supposed to have?" Jia asked.


    "And is this the studying session that you told me you were going to?" Cindy retorted.


    Jia''s eyes narrowed at her mother. "I thought you only watched this show for Guitarman."


    "I thought you didn''t watch this show at all," Cindy pped back.


    Jia sighed and looked at the banner her mother was holding.


    "Tongman? You''re a fan of Tongman now?"


    Cindy sighed. "What? I really liked his performance, okay? I want to see him again."


    Jia shook her head as she sat in her seat. She couldn''t believe that her mom idolized the same person as her now.


    Backstage, the new challengers were busily preparing for the show. Meanwhile, June was asked to go to the side of the stage, where his throne was currently situated.


    June didn''t think much about it. However, as he went to the stage, the stadium erupted into loud cheers, startling him.


    "What the heck?" June muttered as he looked around. Last month, Guitarman dominated the venue with his fans; now, it seemed like all of his fans transferred to Tongman.


    - Tongman, I love you!


    - I became addicted to his performance after it came out.


    - I kind of want him to be eliminated so I can finally see who he is.


    - I fell in love with a man whom I don''t even know.


    June nced to the side and saw the panel members looking at him with intrigue. At the very first seat was Lee Sik, who waved at him before giving him a thumbs up.


    June reciprocated his greeting with the same action as he settled in his seat.


    Just then, Kim San finally arrived at the stage, the people once again bursting into cheers.


    "Good evening, beautiful people!" he eximed loudly. "Thank you so much foring to this live show¡ªthe very first one for Disguise Surprise Singer. It''s honestly a surprise to see so many of you support the show despite the darkening skies. However, I''m sure we''re going to light up your world with the performances of our challengers."


    "However, before all of that, let us first greet our very own Disguised¡ªTongman!"


    - Kyaaah! So handsome.


    - I can''t believe I''m attracted to tongs nowadays.


    - You''re not the only one. I saw a tong in the grocery store and suddenly felt my heart beating.


    - Ya''ll are crazy.


    - I want a tong inside my pu¡ª


    - Please don''t finish that sentence.


    - Purse! I want a tong inside my purse to show everyone that I''m a fan of Tongman.


    Kim San waited for a while until the screams died down, even covering his ears for a second due to the loud noise.


    "Well, I can see that all of you are enthusiastic about this performance," he chuckled in amusement.


    "So, without further ado. Let''s wee the first challengers to the stage!"

 Chapter 577 Genius Song Choice

    <h4>Chapter 577 Genius Song Choice </h4>


    June had a secret.


    He didn''t want to be on this show anymore.


    It wasn''t because he didn''t want to sing in front of a live audience. As a matter of fact, he believed that his vocal skills had improved a lot now that he could sing and fill the stage with just his presence.


    However, he couldn''t see himself going back to the show every week to practice a song and film an episode. His schedule as an idol was too hectic for him to do that.


    Moreover, he didn''t want to be remembered as ''Tongman.'' If he knew he was going to win, then he could have picked a better, cooler option. But then again, he couldn''t really throw away Jay''s mother''s hard work.


    So, he thought that the best way to do that was to end his journey as Tongman today.


    When the first two challengers sang, he realized that he might have to stay for another week.


    However, he sighed in relief when he heard one of the challengers on the second stage.


    Her voice, more powerful than the Hulk himself, blew away the audience with her vocal skills. Her name, ''Mommyriffic,'' was also very unique, which made the audience remember her performance even more.


    Then, as expected, she was the one who won the privilege to be able to battle Tongman. And now, June was preparing himself for his ''defensive stage.''


    He went centerstage, causing the people to go into a frenzy. Some of them even raised tongs in the air, acting like it was a lightstick.


    Jihyun and Mimi, who still weren''t sure about Tongman''s identity, conversed among themselves as they waited for the song to y.


    "What do you think he''s going to sing?" Jihyun said.


    "I''m still not sure of his line of work," Mimi started off. "However, based on the songs he performedst week, I think he''ll go for another bad. He really nailed hisst performance, and I believe he''ll stick to what he''s good at."


    "He''s good at nearly every genre, though," Jihyun said. "It really makes me wonder who he really is."


    Then, the song finally yed, baffling the live audience and the online audience alike.


    They thought that Tongman could no longer surprise them; however, his current song choice was so unexpected that they started wondering if their guesses about his identity were right in the first ce.


    - He''s going to sing this song?


    - I don''t think I''ve even heard of this song.


    - It''s fairly popr nowadays. I heard it in a cafe once and found that it was catchy.


    - How is he going to sing this song, though?


    - It''s an idol''s song, so it''s got to be stylistic.


    - It may sound old-fashioned if he sings this.


    - Oh, the intro sounds nice. What is this song called?


    - Luster by EVE.


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE, who were watching in their dorm, all sat straight when they heard the familiar intro.


    "He''s going to sing OUR song?" Jaeyong asked with wide eyes.


    Akira pursed his lips as he stood from the couch, pping slowly like he had just watched the most amazing movie in existence.


    "Bravo! Brava! I got to give it up to June. This is a genius move!"


    Ren nodded in agreement. "A lot of people are tuning in right now. The song''s already doing well, but it will do even better once June sings it in this show!"


    "One, you''re the one for me,


    In your eyes, that''s where I long to be


    Two, you''re too good to be true,


    With every smile, my love for you grew."


    Finally, June sang the first lines of the song. The people who were expecting his singing style to not fit an idol pop song were pleasantly surprised.


    "I''m about to explode," Bora said. "He sounds just like June!"


    Jia pursed her lips to hide her smile. Of course, he sounded like June. He was June!


    "Three, you''re the light in my dark,


    In your presence, I find my spark.


    Four, you''re my guiding star,


    In your love, I''ve found my avatar."


    The people who knew of the song were surprised by how well Tongman sang it in his own voice. Meanwhile, the people who didn''t know of the song before were surprised at how great it sounded.


    - What''s this song? Why do I like it so much?


    - Guys, it''s Luster by the idol group EVE. Show them some support!


    - This song is from EVE? Is it from their new album?


    - Yes. Yes. It''s a masterpiece of an album.


    - I didn''t listen to it since Skyrocket wasn''t my cup of tea. It looks like I''ll have to revisit the album again.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized.


    Every single time I look into your eyes.


    Yeah, you always make me mesmerized.


    Need you with me for life."


    June was able to sing a song that was meant for eight people all by himself. He struggled in some parts, especially the rap parts; however, most people didn''t even notice this. Instead, they were amazed that he also had some rap skills under his sleeves.


    - What the heck? Can this man do everything?


    - Howe he''s so good at rapping, too!


    - Is this really a veteran singer?


    - He doesn''t sound middle-aged now.


    - Ah, I don''t know what to do anymore. I agree with thedy who said she needed a tong inside her purse.


    - Except this time, I''m not talking about my purse, but my pu¡ª


    "You''re the coffee to my mornings, the chocte to my treat.


    With you, life is always sweet.


    You''re the sunshine to my day, the moonlight to my night.


    With you, everything just feels so right."


    Mimi felt like an utter idiot as she internalized everything that was happening. She couldn''t believe that she didn''t notice it sooner.


    "I know now," she said, catching Jihyun''s attention.


    The older actress was jamming to the beat, familiar with the song because it was from EVE.


    "What was that?" she asked.


    "We''re idiots," Mimi said, looking at Jihyun with teary eyes.


    "I''m a fake fan. I really am," Mimi started ranting, her eyes now focused on June.


    "What are you talking about?" Jihyun asked in confusion.


    "You''ll see it in the reveal," Mimi said, still disappointed in herself.


    "In fact, a lot of people will be shocked."


    "I can''t believe he has improved so much to the point that I can''t even recognize him anymore."

 Chapter 578 Face Reveal Part Two

    <h4>Chapter 578 Face Reveal Part Two</h4>


    "So, this was why you needed me for lessons, huh?" a familiar woman asked from behind June, causing him to turn around and chuckle once he saw her.


    "And this was why you couldn''t see me for two weeks?" June retorted.


    "Probably for more weeks now. I think I''ll be able to beat you today."


    "I hope you do," June sighed.


    "And I will," she confidently said.


    She walked over to where June was and patted his back. "I knew it was you the moment I heard you sing during the third roundst week. At first, I couldn''t believe it since you had improved so fast. However, I just knew you were one of my students."


    "You must be proud, Magic Mama," June chuckled.


    Magic Mama also chuckled in amusement. "Well, of course, I''m happy. That just means that I''ve been an effective teacher. However, I feel that you''re taking vocal lessons with somebody else. How can you improve so fast?"


    "It''s just you and me," June said.


    [...and me.]


    "Do you think you''ll be able to beat me?" she asked.


    June didn''t hesitate to shake his head. He had already beaten one of his mentorsst week. He doesn''t think he could beat Magic Mama with his current skills. For June, she might just be the best singer in the entire world.


    "And I''m happy because of it," June said. "I''m going to take a good rest after all of this is over."


    "The voting finally finishes!"


    The two of them heard Kim San announce from the stage.


    "May I now call ourst standing contestants up to the stage?" he asked.


    Magic Mama and June went up to the stage, the lights immediately shining down upon them. In the dark stage, the two of them shone brightly, the spotlight going back and forth to intensify the moment.


    - I voted for Mommyriffic!


    - I love Tongman so much, but I''m dying of curiosity. Sorry, Tongman. I''ll support you even if you aren''t Tongman anymore.


    - We have the same thought. I like him a lot, but I also have to give it up to Mommyriffic. I genuinely think she did a better job.


    "Who did you vote for?" Jisung asked.


    "Mommyriffic," all of the members said.


    Jisung gasped as if he had been betrayed, even standing from his seat as he pointed at all of his members.


    "You''re not going to support our ever-loving brother, June?" he eximed.


    They didn''t respond to Jisung''s question, making him feel even more betrayed.


    "Even you, Casper?" Jisung asked in disbelief.


    Casper chuckled. "June asked me not to vote for him."


    "Me too."


    "Me three."


    "Yeah, he said he didn''t want to be on the show anymore."


    The others started agreeing.


    Jisung frowned in confusion.


    "Howe he didn''t tell me?" Jisung asked.


    "Because you would have voted for him anyway," Zeth deadpanned.


    Jisung was about to argue, but he quickly shut his mouth.


    They definitely weren''t lying. He was June''s biggest fan, and he would have supported him until the end.


    However, the people watching the show in the stadium and in thefort of their own homes and seemed to have a collective agreement. As much as they loved Tongman as a character, their curiosity for his real identity overpowered such fondness, causing them to vote for Mommyriffic.


    "And the ''Disguised'' for our very first live show is¡­"


    "Mommyriffic!" Kim San eximed, making the stadium erupt into cheers.


    They were cheering for two reasons¡ªone, because they thought Mommyriffic genuinely deserved it, and two, because it meant they were finally going to see the face behind the Tongman mask.


    Meanwhile, June internally celebrated since he didn''t have to prepare for another stage next week on top of their other schedules.


    Mommyriffic took her position on the throne while Tongman stayed on the stage. The people murmured excitedly among themselves, preparing for Tongman''s identity reveal.


    - Goodness. I''ve been thinking about this for the entire week.


    - I can''t believe I''m finally going to see him.


    - I have a feeling that the person behind Tongman is going to be the next big thing.


    - Until now, his identity has been a mystery to me. I can''t even tell how old he is!


    "Ah, we''vee to the most awaited moment of the night," Kim San said.


    The cheers became even louder, arguably the loudest cheers of the night. It was bizarre since they didn''t even react this way in the other performances. However, just with the thought of Tongman''s identity, the venue turned into a frenzy.


    "Tongman, please reveal yourself to the audience!"


    June smirked and turned around, where his face wasn''t seen by any of the audience members. Then, he started removing his mask as the excitement escted in the stadium.


    He felt sweat forming on his temples, and he was sure that his hair woulde out as a mess. He ran his fingers through his hair, the mere action sending the people into delusions.


    - He''s blonde. Goodness.


    - His back is handsome now. Howe I haven''t noticed before?


    - Guys, that doesn''t look like a middle-aged man''s back.


    - I''m going crazy. My mom is thinking of sending me to an asylum.


    Mimi felt her heart race inside her chest since she knew her assumptions were right. She nced at Jihyun and saw her with a perplexed expression, probably still wondering who he truly was.


    Then, it happened.


    Tongman finally turned around.


    And at that moment, all hell broke loose.


    Standing on the stage was June in all of his glory. His blonde, almost white hair glistened under the stage lights. It was messy yet attractive at the same time. His eyes, almost watery, appeared innocent yet strong. Moreover, his lips were bitten red because he hadn''t gotten to putting any lip balm all throughout the show.


    The cameraman did a great job focusing on his face and shing it on the big screen, making the audience exim in amazement.


    - Wow. Just wow.


    - June? Is this really my baby June?


    - I think I saw this guy on a TV show before. He looked good back then, but he looks amazing now.


    - June? I haven''t seen him since Rising Stars.


    - Who is this fine young man?


    - I don''t need a tong anymore. I need him.


    - I''m going feral. I might actually go to an asylum at this point.


    Cindy turned back and looked at Jia with wide eyes. However, Jia already knew. She had a smirk on her face as the people around her started raving about June.


    Jihyun, on the other hand, couldn''t believe what she was seeing. The fluttery feelings she had during Rising Stars came back to her like andslide.


    She was starting to forget about June because they hadn''t seen each other in a long time; however, it felt like her progress went back to zero once she saw him on the big screen.


    Then, she turned to Mimi, her face ghastly pale.


    "My husband''s in trouble."

 Chapter 579 Untouchable, Untouchable

    <h4>Chapter 579 Untouchable, Untouchable</h4>


    ''EVE bes the youngest stars to reach number one on the charts!''


    ''Everyone in the world is currently feeling the fEVEr! Who are these eight boys that stole the hearts of many?''


    ''EVE''s Luster tops the Stupefy charts and other domestic charts!''


    ''Three million album sales in just three weeks? EVE takes the world by storm.''


    ''EVE levels up. They might be the representative K-pop boy group now?''


    ''EVE surpasses CHAOS'' achievements only within five months of debuting!''


    The members of EVE were on their way for a brand advertisement when they suddenly ran into some traffic.


    Jisung craned his neck to see the cause of the traffic and frowned when he saw that it was caused by a huge crowd of people.


    "What''s happening?" he asked. "Why is the traffic so heavy when it''s still early in the morning?"


    Jaeyong, too, opened the windows to peek at what was happening. However, that seemed to be a bad idea as the group of people suddenly started screaming as they ran to their van.


    Jaeyong''s eyes widened in surprise as he quickly closed the window. For a moment, a woman''s arm grabbed his cor and pulled him toward her. However, he was able to push her away, feeling breathless after the experience.


    "What the heck?" Akira asked in confusion. "All of these people--they''re here for us?"


    Jay sighed as he pulled on the handbrake before massaging his temples.


    "I thought the venue for the shoot would be confidential. Howe so many people are here?"


    "It must have been leaked," June said. "Still, it doesn''t exin why so many people are here right now."


    Jay leaned back against his seat.


    "I didn''t think there woulde a time that I would be exining the concept of fame to you, guys. You might not be aware of it, but you guys are blowing up right now--to the point that I can''t evenprehend it."


    "I don''t even think I can handle you as well as before! I''ve been getting brand deals left and right. We used to take them all because they could be done within a month. Now, I even have to pick brands out for you, guys!"


    "Moreover, it''s getting harder and harder to protect your image and security. We definitely need a personal bodyguard with us now that you guys are big stars."


    "Big...stars?" Jisung asked, still confused.


    It had only been a week since June revealed himself during Disguise Surprise Singer, yet somehow, a lot of things had changed.


    First, they sessfully broke into the domestic market, making themselves known in most households--even for those who weren''t fans of K-pop.


    June''s performances on the show had all gathered five million views each, and his face reveal video was watched over ten million times in just three days. People started tuning into their songs, which eventually led ''Luster'' and the other tracks in their album to dominate the music charts.


    Ted was pleased about this; however, Skyrocket ranked the lowest among all of them, which made him feel bitter about the situation.


    Aside from this, one of their fans uploaded a short video with ''Luster'' as the background music on Liklok. With its cheery tune, it quickly became a trend, leading thousands of others to make their own videos to the song.


    In the end, it skyrocketed to fifth ce on the international music charts, making EVE famous all around the world.


    June definitely expected their song to be sessful. He was also a hundred percent sure that his appearance on Disguise Surprise Singer would lead them to have more fans.


    However, he wasn''t expecting it toe to this extent.


    In the span of a week, the lives of EVE were changed, and they didn''t know how to react to it.


    "Man," Zeth smiled as he peered through the window. "These many people love us now. Did you know? I gained 500,000 followers in the past week. Only a week!"


    "June earned two million," Casper chimed, causing Zeth to click his tongue.


    "Let me have my moment, man! June''s on a different level now."


    "I also gained 300,000 followers," Ren said. "It''s honestly insane. I feel like I''m living in a simtion."


    "Is this how big stars feel now?"


    "Let''s talk about thatter," Jay said. "For now, we have to think of a way to get through this crowd and enter the building. We''re going to bete for our shoot at this point."


    "Didn''t they send bodyguards to help us?" Jisung asked.


    "They did," Jay said. "But there''s only two of them. Let''s wait until they get here so we can leave safely."


    "After a while, the two bodyguards finally arrived, one of them appearing familiar.


    "Bucktooth guard?" June muttered.


    What was he doing here, of all ces? Come to think of it, June had seen him plenty of times before in other venues. This bucktooth guard must be making a great amount money.


    However, that wasn''t really the issue. The bucktooth guard was clumsy as hell! June knew he wouldn''t be able to protect them that much.


    He shook his head. "I''ll stay in the back," he said.


    "No! You''re precious," Casper said. "I''ll stay in the back since I''m the biggest among us."


    "I''ll stay at the front since I love attention," Zeth smiled.


    "I''ll stay at the side," Sehun smiled.


    "I''ll stay at the other side then," June said.


    Jay turned around and looked at June with a concerned expression.


    "Are you sure?" he asked, fearing for June''s safety since he was the most famous member of EVE at this point in time.


    June nodded.


    The bodyguards were able to clear a small path, so the members exited the car and walked to the building. However, the path quickly became narrowed as the fangirls and fanboys flocked to where they were, cing their phones near their faces to the point that the boys felt suffocated.


    Jisung held onto June''s arm while June remained calm.


    "We''re almost there," he said.


    June sighed as he felt the fans pulling on his clothes. Was this one of the consequences of fame?


    Fortunately, the entrance to the building was only a couple of feet away, so June just endured the pushing, pulling, and screaming for a little bit.


    However, as they arrived near the entrance, a scream was suddenly heard, rming the crowd.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw a woman about to fall over to where he was.


    Then, as her bodyunched forward, June acted based on his instincts.


    He outstretched his hand and bent his knees until the womannded safely in his arms.

 Chapter 580 Too Fast

    <h4>Chapter 580 Too Fast</h4>


    The crowd became silent, almost like the world froze. The woman, whose face was covered with a mask, was in June''s arms, being cradled in his embrace.


    Fortunately, Jay acted quickly and helped the woman up before swiftly leading the boys inside the building.


    The bodyguards stayed outside to ensure that none of the fans were going to make it in.


    As soon as the group was in the elevator, they heaved collective sighs of relief, leaning against the cold, hard metal.


    "I can''t believe that just happened," Akira said, cing his hand over his chest. "That was my very first experience getting mobbed! Jaeyong and I didn''t even experience this when we were in RAVEN."


    "That''s because your group was only fairly popr," Jay said, making Jaeyong and Akira shake their heads.


    "Anyway," Jay quickly added. "I told you guys¡ªyou''re very popr right now. Almost like CHAOS-popr."


    "How can this happen in just one week?" Jisung asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed.


    "Goodness, are these the consequences of our actions?" Ren asked. "Everybody''s hooked on Luster these days. Even the salon that I usually go to is treating me like a world star now."


    Casper crossed his arms in front of his chest before looking up at the ceiling. "I knew it. Luther is a drug that nobody can escape."


    Zeth chuckled as he observed his members. "Why do you guys sound so upset about this? Isn''t it great that we''re bing more popr?"


    Ren shook his head. "As expected from our narcissistic member. Of course, you love the attention."


    Zeth scratched the back of his head, not really denying Ren''s usations.


    They finally arrived at the shoot, where they were quickly tended to by the staff. Even now, June could feel that there has been a difference in how other people treated them.


    These people treated them like kings¡ªlike they were the next big thing.


    And honestly, June didn''t know what to feel.


    ***


    The shoot had just ended, and they were resting in one of the rooms that the brand had provided.


    Jisung scrolled through his phone and stopped when he saw a post with a huge amount of likes. Then, when he clicked on the video, it was actually June''s video from just a while back!


    "Holy cow!" Jisung eximed. "Even the incident with June a while ago acquired 50,000 likes."


    "Really?" Jay asked, standing from his seat to confirm if what Jisung said was right.


    And indeed, another video of June was going viral around the inte.


    Jay bit his lip and anxiously pressed on thements.


    "Goodness. You might get a lot of hate for this," he muttered.


    June perked up and also stood from his ce to read thements along with his members.


    - Kyaah! This is such a K-drama moment!


    - I can''t believe this happened in real life. Me next, please.


    - This man is so handsome? Who is he?


    - He''s June from EVE. Go follow him here!


    - Such a gentleman.


    - Other idols wouldn''t even help their fans. I''m d that June has good manners.


    "Well," Jay pleasantly surprised. "It seems like you''ve gained more fans."


    June nced at his phone and saw that he had earned yet another 100,000 followers in the past hour.


    He sighed and shook his head before sitting back down on the couch.


    Casper noticed June''s mood and nudged his shoulder.


    "Aren''t you happy about this?" Casper asked.


    June nodded.


    Of course, he was happy that EVE was finally getting the recognition that they deserved.


    However, June just couldn''t help but think that all of this was going too fast.


    The one thing the world does is that it gives¡­but it also takes back¡ªthat was what June believed in for so long.


    You can never be truly happy because, in a way, you''ll be paying the universe back for the happiness you''ve received in one way or another.


    "I just feel like everything''s moving too fast," June confessed.


    Maybe he would appreciate a gradual rise better¡ªsimr to the one he had during Rising Stars.


    "I feel that way too," Ren sighed, already feeling a bit pessimistic. However, he was definitely still grateful for the opportunities being handed to them.


    "I think we should just enjoy it," Zeth said as he patted June''s back. "I know that all of this is hard to believe, but we should make the most of what we have right now."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong nodded. "It won''t always be like this, so let''s live in the moment."


    June nodded¡ªexcept there was still a lingering voice inside his mind.


    Somehow, he just remembered the idols that made it big in the industry¡ªthe ones who became household names even in the West.


    June didn''t think much about them before, but now that he thought about it, he could gradually see the loss of sparks in their eyes. As their songs started charting higher, their morale slowly depleted.


    Truly, the higher you are, the bigger your responsibility is.


    So, June was just being cautious to not let this fame get the best of him since he didn''t want to lose his true essence.


    Just then, his phone rang, so he flipped it over to look at the caller ID.


    There, he saw Minjun''s contact name, causing a small smile to appear on his lips. He missed the little (not so little) kid even more now that he was busier, and he couldn''t wait until they met once again.


    Minjun called June whenever their group achieved new heights, so June smiled at the thought of his little brother congratting him for EVE''s rise in fame.


    He quickly answered the phone and ced it over his ear.


    "Little bro," he started off.


    "June," Minjun said in an urgent tone, causing June to frown.


    He had never heard Minjun speak to him in such a tone before, so he instantly knew that something was wrong.


    "What happened?" June quickly asked.


    "Grandma," Minjun started off.


    June froze after Minjun said those words.


    This was what June was afraid of.


    As expected, the world never fails to give you a break.


    Was it taking away the happiness that it had given so soon?


    "Please, bro. I don''t know what to do. She''s in the hospital."

 Chapter 581 What The World Took

    <h4>Chapter 581 What The World Took </h4>


    June didn''t think twice before leaving the venue of their shoot. Fortunately, Jay and his members understood, so with the help of BOYMYSTIC''s manager, June was able to leave the venue without any problem.


    As he arrived at the hospital, he said a quick ''thanks'' to the other manager before making his way inside. Fortunately, it seemed like none of the people recognized him, so he was able to speak to the nurses without any trouble.


    "809," June muttered, looking for the hospital room that Minjun mentioned.


    Finally, he arrived at the room, wasting no time opening it to see how his grandma was doing.


    His heart nearly dropped when he saw her current state. She was hooked to a cardiac monitor and an oxygen cann, making her look even more feeble than she already was.


    Another thing that June noticed was the drastic weight change she had undergone. He hadn''t seen her in just a few months, but she appeared to be apletely different person.


    However, even then, her eyes and smile were still the same. Her eyes brightened when she saw June enter the room, appearing like she wasn''t even in a hospital bed.


    "Bro," Minjun said, standing from his seat to greet his older brother with a hug.


    June could see Minjun''s tear-stricken cheeks, so he patted his back as a way to tell him that he wasn''t alone now.


    "What did they say?" June asked the teenage boy.


    Minjun pursed his lips before shaking his head. "We just arrived, and we''re waiting for the tests to finish. I--I really didn''t know what to do. I saw Grandma unconscious on the bathroom floors, so I called the ambnce right away."


    June nodded and stroked Minjun''s hair. "You did a great job."


    A small smile appeared on Minjun''s face. However, it didn''t really reach his eyes.


    "June," he heard grandma say. "It''s been a while. I missed you a lot, grandson."


    June lifted his head and gently let go of Minjun before going to Grandma''s bed and sitting right beside her.


    "Grandma," he smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears.


    "Did you miss me?" he asked.


    Grandma weakly hit his chest.


    "Of course I did. Minjun told me you visited around a month ago, but you didn''t wake me up so I could see you!"


    "You were resting," June said. "I didn''t want to interrupt your rest."


    "Who''s interrupting who?" Grandma clicked her tongue.


    "I would have regained my strength the moment I saw you. By the way, I see that your song is charting well these days. My new friends are once again asking for me to introduce you to them. At first, they couldn''t believe that you''re my grandson, so I told them that I''ll most definitely show you to them one day."


    June chuckled endearingly at the old woman. "Of course," he smiled. "We''ll do just that. So, make sure to get all better, okay?"


    Grandma smiled back at June, holding onto his hand and giving it a tight squeeze.


    "I''m very, very proud of what you''ve be," she said. "Who knew that the kid I fed back then would turn out to be a world star?"


    "I''m not a world star," June softly said.


    "You will be...soon...very, very soon."


    "I just hope I''ll still be around to see that," she muttered, so June was unable to hear her.


    "What was that?" June asked.


    "Nothing," Grandma smiled. "Nothing. How are you these days?"


    June sighed as he gave Grandma''s hand a squeeze.


    "I should be the one asking you that. Howe Minjun found you on the bathroom floor?"


    The old woman sheepishly smiled. "Oh, you already know that your grandma''s getting old."


    "Grandma," June warned since he knew that there was definitely more to the situation than what meets the eye.


    Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a familiar doctor.


    June sighed and stood from the bed as soon as he saw him.


    "June?" Dr. Oh eximed. "What are you doing here?"


    June pursed his lips. "Shouldn''t I be the one asking you that? Why do you have so many specialties?"


    "Oh, I have all the specialties!" Dr. Oh eximed. "I have a dermatology clinic and an orthopedic clinic. Oh, I''m also a general and stic surgeon. Don''t forget about my oncology degree!"


    June shook his head. Then, he nced at the papers in his hands.


    "Are those grandma''s results?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh nodded, suddenly turning serious.


    "I''m assuming that the two of you are her present rtives?" he asked.


    "I''m Grandma''s grandson," Minjun said. "My mom and dad are in the States, so they can''te."


    Dr. Oh nced at Grandma, and a meaningful gaze was exchanged between the two of them.


    "Why don''t you go and buy some snacks first, Minjun?" Dr. Oh asked.


    Minjun frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? I thought


    ¡ª"


    "Just do it, Minmin," Grandma endearingly said. "Buy me some too. Your grandma doesn''t like the hospital food."


    Hearing her grandma''s request, Minjun stood and went out of the room.


    "Fine," he muttered as he closed the door.


    As soon as he left, the atmosphere inside the room suddenly became tense.


    Grandma held onto June''s hand, so thetter turned to her.


    "I hope you understand that I don''t want Minjun to hear any of this. As much as he has a mature mind, he is still a little kid."


    June nodded, understanding Grandma''s sentiment.


    "Well, I will make this quick," Dr. Oh started. "I need to ry all of this to you before Minjunes back."


    "First, let''s talk about your blood tests. It seems like your white blood cells are increased while your red blood cells are down. This means that you may have an ongoing infection inside your body, but since there is less oxygen-carrying capacity in your blood, you''re having a harder time fighting it."


    "I have also received someints about back pain," Dr. Oh continued.


    June nodded, remembering Minjun''s stories.


    "Her bones are bing pretty fragile," he said. "Does it have something to do with age?"


    "It does," Dr. Oh said, his eyes still focused on the papers.


    "However, I believe that this has something more to do with it," he said, cing the paper on the bed so the two of them could see it.


    June frowned when he saw the month of the examination.


    February 10, 2024?


    Grandma sighed as soon as she saw it. Then, June continued reading the contents of the paper, making him freeze in shock when he finally internalized what it meant.


    Now, June was no expert in healthcare, but when he saw that particr word, he already knew.


    "You were diagnosed with osteosaast February," Dr. Oh stated.


    June turned to Grandma, whose face still radiated with happiness.


    "You got me there," Grandma smiled.


    "I''ve got cancer!"

 Chapter 582 Ignorance is Bliss

    <h4>Chapter 582 Ignorance is Bliss</h4>


    The room was silent, just as Grandma said those words.


    "Grandma," June quietly said, feeling like his heart dropped to his feet. "This isn''t something to joke about."


    Grandma continued to smile as she squeezed June''s hand.


    "The world is already so serious. Let me put some humor in the things that are supposed to make us feel miserable," she said.


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "You''ve known since February, Grandma," June said, gesturing to the piece of paper on the bed. "Howe you didn''t tell anybody?"


    "Because I know that it was already toote when I found out," she responded. Grandma then nced at Dr. Oh. "Isn''t that right, doctor?"


    "Well, usually, we can never really say if it''s toote," he responded. "However, the cancer is already on stage three, which means that the mass has spread to nearby tissue and lymph nodes. At this point, it still hasn''t migrated to other organs, so that''s something we should look out for."


    "You should get treated, Grandma," June said. "If you''re thinking about the expenses, then I''ll shoulder it all¡ª"


    Grandma pped his hand.


    "Silly child," she said. "My daughter has more than enough money to get me treated. I just know that the prognosis of the disease isn''t good at all. So, I don''t want to prolong this suffering any longer."


    "You''re not going to prolong your suffering if you get the right treatment," June insisted. "You''re going to prolong your life¡ªwhere you''ll see your friends, your daughter, Minjun..."


    "...and me," June vulnerably said.


    June knew he hadn''t lived this life long enough to be considered as Grandma''s real grandson. However, her and Minjun were the people he considered his family in this life.


    His heart also broke with the thought of Minjun not being able to be with his Grandma. She was the one who raised him all these years, so he could only imagine the pain Minjun would be in once he found out that she was critically ill.


    Grandma''s gaze softened as she looked down at her hands.


    "Do I really have a chance?" she asked, looking at Dr. Oh.


    The doctor pursed his lips. "Again, there isn''t a thing such as a hundred percent in the medical field. So, in that sense, yes. However, it still depends on how your body responds to the treatments and such. What I can say is that this hospital has one of the best oncology practices in Korea¡ªthanks to me, of course."


    June shook his head since Dr. Oh even managed to boast about himself in such a serious situation.


    "Then, is it okay if I try?" Grandma asked, causing June to perk up.


    He sat back down on her bed and stroked her hair. "Yes, Grandma. We''ll be with you every step of the way."


    Dr. Oh nodded. "I''ll be speaking with the other doctors about your treatment n. In the meantime, you still have to stay in the hospital since your condition isn''t stable. You might stay here until your first round of treatment," he said.


    "That''s alright, doctor," June said. "I''ll have someone pick up her things. I''m also going to call Lena."


    Grandma nodded once she heard her daughter''s name.


    "Please don''t tell this to Minjun," she quickly said, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow.


    "He also deserves to find out, Grandma," June softly said.


    "I know," Grandma responded.


    "But the kid just got the light back into his eyes. I don''t want to take that away from him. Just have him know that I''ll be staying in the hospital for a little longer so I can recover fully."


    "Grandma¡ª"


    June was about to argue once more when the door opened, revealing Minjun, who looked much better than before.


    "Grandma, I got your favorite snack!" he excitedly said as he made his way to her bed.


    Then, he opened the packet and started feeding Grandma himself.


    "You should eat more if you want to be strong again. You used to be able to carry me, but now you''re so thin," Minjun scolded the old woman.


    Grandma endearingly smiled as she ate what Minjun fed her.


    "Grandma will, Minjun," she said. "I just have to stay in the hospital for a while so I cane back stronger than ever."


    June watched the two of them interact and didn''t have the heart to tell Minjun about her diagnosis.


    Sometimes, ignorance was truly bliss.


    Just then, June''s phone rang, causing the two of them to turn toward his way.


    "Do you have to go now?" Minjun asked.


    June sighed as he nodded. "We have another shoot this evening with CHAOS."


    "Booked and busy, I see," Minjun said. "Well, it can''t be helped. I''ll stay with Grandma in the meantime."


    June nodded. "I''ll have Jay bring you some stuff. Then, I''ll try to visit as frequently as possible."


    "You don''t have to do that, June," Grandma assured. "I''ll be fine as long as I''m here. Minjun did put me in the highest, most expensive room for no reason."


    Minjun showed a thumbs-up. "Of course, I only want what''s best for you! Besides, Mom will pay for it in the end¡­or maybe even big bro! You''ve got a lot of money now, don''t you?"


    June smirked as he ruffled Minjun''s hair.


    "Let''s just say that I can treat you to that ice cream with gold kes now," he smiled.


    "Oh, you''re really on another level now," Minjun said.


    "Well, go ahead and make more money!" the teenage boy said, pushing June out of the room.


    "I''ll call a littleter!" he called out.


    June shook his head in amusement as he walked away from the hospital room. Grandma''s diagnosis still weighed heavily on him, but if Dr. Oh was right¡ªthen she might really have a chance to survive and live to her fullest capacity.


    June entered the elevator and pressed on the underground parking lot, where Jay mentioned he was already waiting.


    The elevator stopped on nearly all of the floors, causing June to sigh impatiently. It also opened on the third floor, where the words ''PSYCHIATRIC WARD'' were seen. At first, June didn''t think much about it.


    However, just as the elevators closed, he saw someone familiar¡ªone he thought he would never see again.


    The world seemed to slow down as June''s gaze followed the person''s figure. The world became blurred, and his ears started ringing.


    At that moment, he could only see him.


    "Lin Zhi."

 Chapter 583 Guess Who’s Back?

    <h4>Chapter 583 Guess Who''s Back?</h4>


    June didn''t even realize that he said those words out loud. The people in the elevator all turned to him in surprise.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi, whom June hadn''t seen since the end of Rising Stars, also turned to the elevator when he heard his name. However, before he could fully see who was inside, the doors were already closed.


    June ignored the weird stares of the people, his mind still preupied with who he saw just now.


    That was most definitely Lin Zhi.


    He appeared older and more tired than he was, but there was no mistaking that it was the man who contributed to his death and tried to sabotage his debut.


    As the doors opened to the underground parking lot, June still couldn''t shake away what he had just seen.


    "Young man, aren''t you going toe out?" an old man asked, causing June to snap out of his thoughts.


    He nodded in acknowledgment before going out of the elevator. He mindlessly walked around, letting his feet take him to wherever ce. However, he felt someone hold onto his shoulders before dragging him inside a car.


    "June?" Jay said. "I''ve been calling for you since a while ago. Some people found out that you''re in this hospital, and some fans are already near the entrance."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    There were too many things going on at once.


    Jay noticed his mood and turned down the radio, which was currently ying their hit song¡ªLuster.


    "Are¡­you alright?" the manager hesitantly asked.


    June didn''t respond for a while.


    "Yeah," he sighed. "Grandma''s just sick."


    ¡­critically sick¡ªand she wanted June to keep the diagnosis to himself.


    Moreover, he just saw the person who killed him before.


    June didn''t know how to react at this point.


    Jay''s eyes showed concern as he started the car engine.


    "Tell me when you need any help," Jay offered. "I can do such things when you''re on schedule."


    June nodded. "Here''s the key to Grandma''s and Minjun''s ce. Can you bring them some of their clothes and utilities? It''ll be a great help."


    "Of course," Jay said, taking the key and cing it in his pocket.


    "I''ll be sure to do that while you''re filming for ''The King''s Joker,''" Jay said.


    With that, Jay merely dropped June off at the filming site before making his way to Grandma''s and Minjun''s ce.


    As soon as he got there, the members started bombarding him with questions.


    "Is she okay?"


    "Can we visit her too?"


    "We''ll bring flowers and fruits!"


    June didn''t respond to any of their questions, so Jaeyong gently pushed the other members away.


    "Guys, let June rest," he said, ncing worriedly at his teammate.


    Fortunately, the other members got the hint that June didn''t want to be disturbed. So, they nodded and waited quietly until the shoot started.


    "I''ll just go to the restroom," June muttered, standing up and walking away from the team.


    On his way there, he saw the members of CHAOS, along with Bo Wen, walking inside the venue.


    Haruki''s shoulders straightened once he saw June. He had been contemting for thest few weeks and realized that he was particrly rude to June, so he decided to apologize.


    "June," Haruki greeted.


    However, June merely walked past him, not even giving him a nce.


    Haruki''s face reddened in embarrassment as his members teased him.


    Meanwhile, June continued walking until he reached where Bo Wen was.


    "Meet me in the restroom," June whispered, to which Bo Wen nodded.


    Haruki nced at the two of them and shook his head. He couldn''t believe he was beaten by his bodyguard!


    June arrived at the restroom and waited for Bo Wen to arrive. Fortunately, it didn''t take long before he did, even bowing at June like he was a king.


    "Yes, sir?" Bo Wen asked.


    June chuckled as Bo Wen greeted him.


    "You''re acting so formally now, huh?" he said. "Drop the honorifics and treat me like how you did back then. Wait, no, scratch that. Continue treating me like you are now."


    June nearly forgot that Bo Wen treated him like shit before.


    Bo Wen nodded in agreement.


    "Yes, sir," he repeated. "Why did you call for me?"


    "I need some information," June said.


    Bo Wen listened intently, ready to give June whatever information he needed.


    "I was in the hospital a while ago," June started off.


    Bo Wen''s eyes widened, and he started inspecting June''s body as if his own life were on the line.


    June clicked his tongue as he pushed him away. Maybe getting Bo Wen on his side was a bad idea. Now, he acted more like his dad than a friend!


    "It wasn''t because of me," June sighed. "Anyway, you don''t need to know why I went to the hospital. However, I saw someone there¡­," he trailed off.


    "Lin Zhi," Bo Wen said, making June snap his gaze at him.


    "How did you know?" June asked with narrowed eyes.


    "Well, I did some digging already," Bo Wen confessed, scratching the back of his head. "After you revealed where my wife and son are, I realized that I needed to be on the lookout for our enemies, too."


    "Lin Zhi is still with thepany, so I didn''t have a hard time getting such information."


    June nodded with a satisfied smirk.


    "Enlighten me then."


    "It seems like he''s going to the hospital for some psychiatric treatments," Bo Wen started off.


    June chuckled bitterly. Well, it was about time that Lin Zhi got some professional help.


    "However, he isn''t going there because he has a problem," he said.


    "What do you mean by that?" June asked.


    "I saw him the other day, and he seemed to be in tip-top shape. It almost seems like everything is just a cover-up."


    "Fortunately, I happened to overhear what he and his new manager were talking about."


    Bo Wen shook his head as he tried to recall the conversation.


    "And in the end, it actually was."


    "Lin Zhi''s been getting consultations to cover up the fact that he has a rotten personality. Instead, they want to me it on mental instability."


    "Then, when the right timees¡­"


    Bo Wen sighed before looking into June''s eyes.


    "...he''s going toe back."

 Chapter 584 White Day

    <h4>Chapter 584 White Day</h4>


    "He''s going toe back."


    Bo Wen''s words echoed in June''s mind even throughout the filming.


    It had just finished, and the members were now preparing to go back to their dorms after a long day.


    June stood from his seat and was about to head to the car when Haruki suddenly approached him.


    June stopped and looked at the more experienced idol with raised eyebrows.


    "What?" June asked.


    Haruki shook his head at June''s passiveness. Shouldn''t he be ted that Haruki was giving him attention now?


    "Here," Haruki said, giving June a chocte bar.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in concentration.


    "What''s this?"


    "A chocte bar," Haruki deadpanned. "Do you not have eyes or something?"


    June clicked his tongue as he ced the chocte bar in his pocket. He wasn''t going to pass up on the chance, of course! He loved sweet things.


    "You should have brought me gummy bears instead," June muttered so Haruki wasn''t able to hear him.


    "What did you say?" Haruki asked.


    "Nothing," June brushed him off. "Why are you giving this to me, though?"


    Haruki pursed his lips and didn''t respond for a while. In reality, he bought the expensive chocte bar as a way to apologize to June for his undeserved hostility.


    "It''s from Haruto," Haruki responded, not wanting to divulge his real intentions. "You know¡ªhe just got back from the States. We had way too many at home."


    "Oh," June said, a small smile finally appearing on his face. "You should have brought more then."


    Haruki shook his head in disbelief. "Be grateful!"


    "I am," June said. "Say thanks to Haruto for me."


    With that, June finally walked away from Haruki, who yet again felt regretful that he didn''t take the time to apologize for his past actions.


    As June arrived at where his members were, they looked at him with inquiring eyes.


    "Did he just give you choctes?" Jisung asked.


    "Yup," June said, already opening the chocte and offering it to his members as they walked to the car.


    "Don''t mind if I do," Akira shamelessly said, chuckling to himself since he knew that the brand of chocte was quite expensive.


    As they arrived at the car, Jisung still couldn''t shake off the weird feeling in his chest.


    "You do know that it''s White Day, right?" he finally asked as Jay started driving back to their dorms.


    "White Day," June muttered. "Never heard of it."


    "You don''t know what White Day is?" Zeth asked in disbelief. "Didn''t you get a lot of choctes when you were in high school?"


    "Nope," June shook his head.


    "I got one from Casper today, though," June said. "And Haruki, apparently."


    "You gave him one?" the members all turned to Casper.


    "I was craving chocte, and June wanted one," Casper said.


    "What even is White Day?" June asked.


    "It''s simr to Valentine''s Day. However, it''s also a famous day for confessions. Usually, men prepare choctes and give them to their loved ones."


    "Oh," June said.


    Jisung chuckled in amusement. "Yeah, oh."


    ***


    The boys finally arrived at their dorms, and they quickly went to the living room so they could watch the pilot episode of ''The King''s Joker.''


    The airing date had been dyed a bit due to CHAOS'' and EVE''s hectic schedule, but it was finally here.


    June was about to head to his room to think about what Bo Wen had said when Jisung dragged him back to the couch.


    "I''m going to shower," June groaned.


    "Do thatter!" Jisung eximed. "Akira''s preparing some snacks. Let''s all gather and watch the show."


    A long time had passed, so the boys honestly couldn''t remember all that happened during the episode.


    So, they were once again surprised when the first mission was shown. The vibe of the show didn''t feel cheap at all. SBC had done a great job editing the clips to the point that it looked like the boys were in real trouble.


    - I''m a new fan of EVE. I came here when I saw the announcement of their show!


    - Goodness, I feel like an old astra now. Why are there so many new fans these days?


    - Isn''t that a great thing, though?


    - The boys are growing up too fast.


    - I feel like I have to do even better during ticketing now.


    - Honestly, I thought this show would focus on idols being pretty. I''m d they took this escape room route for the first episode.


    The part when June was solving the first puzzle was now shown, and the editors edited him very favorably, with shbacks, echoing voices, and numbers shing on the screen.


    "You look like that one meme where the guy has equations floating all over his head," Jisung chuckled.


    "How did we solve this one again?" Jaeyong asked.


    "I barely remember," Akira responded. "However, all I know is that June looks very cool right now."


    - Holy crap. As I said, I''m a new fan of EVE, so I haven''t watched most of their content. Is June actually smart?


    - He is.


    - Oh, the good old times. At one point, we all thought he was dumb, too. However, our handsome cat is actually a genius!


    - What the heck? How can he solve all that by himself?


    - Did he save the world in his past life? Why is he so good at everything?


    Jisung chuckled when he saw that particrment.


    "The fans are asking if you saved the world during your past life."


    June chuckled at the ridiculousness of the question.


    "Not at all," he muttered as he remembered his past self.


    The missions continued, and the viewers grew to appreciate the level of June''s intellect.


    However, when it came to the final mission, where Haruki and June were ced in the same room, the vibe became even¡­


    darker.


    June knew that this hostility was now buried under Haruto Abe''s grave (rest in peace) after they''d talked about their situation.


    However, at that point in time, June could definitely see the tension rising between the two of them.


    It didn''t feel like a variety show anymore, but instead, a drama of two friends who had a falling out.


    Thest time fans saw June act like this was during King of Kings; however, it seemed like he had not only improved on his singing skills since then but also in his acting.


    - I''m not gonna lie; this is pretty good.


    - The plot and everything! Are we sure this isn''t scripted?


    - Are these two enemies or something?


    - I don''t think they are on good terms.


    - They haven''t been on good terms since King of Kings.


    - You all noticed that too?


    - Yeah, Haruki probably hates June''s guts.


    - Aww, these two talented dudes need to link up.


    - I know we''re focusing on June''s and Haruki''s rtionship, but can we talk about their acting skills instead?


    - Yeah, holy crap! June''s acting is the best.

 Chapter 585 Actor June Returns?

    <h4>Chapter 585 Actor June Returns?</h4>


    "Congrattions, Hana! Assistant Director Jen just called to inform me that you''ve gotten the lead role," Hana''s manager eximed through the phone.


    Hana, who was d infortable pajamas and eating sliced cucumbers, stood from her couch and couldn''t help but squeal in excitement. She had worked so hard for this role, preparing for it even though one of her projects was still ongoing, so hearing that she had made it when so many famous actresses auditioned for the role was insane.


    "Did they tell you about the reason why they chose me?" Hana asked.


    "Jen told me that you fit the character the most. The young maiden is innocent yet fierce, and at the same time, she is the only person who stays by the male lead''s side throughout his cultivation. Choosing to audition with an empathetic piece definitely contributed a lot to their decision."


    Hana smiled to herself and plopped down on her couch, enjoying the moment.


    She had heard of this project sincest year and was able to get a hold of the script thanks to her manager. She was instantly hooked as soon as she read the plot, even going as far as doing her own research about the different concepts within the script.


    It was yet another historical movie. However, this time, it incorporated mages, powers, and royal struggle. It was the type of movie that could be popr both in Korea and overseas, and for Hana, who had only broken into the A-list market of the domestic market, this was quite a big deal.


    "Honestly, this might be your biggest break yet! The male lead''s auditions have just finished, and they are screening for your partner. However, the roster of males for the lead role is definitely something to look out for. Anyone could be chosen, and it would still be a big hit!"


    "I''m so excited," Hana said, feeling over the moon.


    "Are there any confirmations about the supporting roles? I''m really looking forward to the person who will y as Yian," she said.


    Her manager hummed, appearing to be thinking.


    "I''ve heard that Julie will be ying one of the supporting roles¡ªthe pretty princess."


    "Julie? The idol?" Hana asked.


    "Yeah," her manager responded. "For Yian, I don''t have any idea. However, there''s a rumor that they''re also closing the auditions for the role soo since a lot of people want to audition for the role of the handsome viin."


    "Apparently, they''re also doing a closed audition for this one. Only people who are invited are able to get into the auditions."


    "I see," Hana said. "I think they should do a great job at casting this particr role. I believe his character is essential for all the other characters even though he doesn''t have thergest role."


    "I agree," her manager said. "I''ll make sure to get back to you if there''s any progress."


    With that, their call ended, and Hana squealed around her room in happiness.


    "Ah," she said, cing her hand over her heart.


    She really had a good feeling that this movie was going to be a great hit. Moreover, it would feature two of the greatest directors in Asia at the moment, which would make it more highly anticipated.


    "I deserve to watch a show," Hana said, turning on the television since she hadn''t been too updated with thetest shows because she was busy preparing for this particr role.


    As soon as she opened the television, June''s face was shown, making her cheeks go red.


    "Goodness," she muttered. "I see that he has gotten even more handsome."


    Hana wasn''t too interested in variety shows and such. She was more of a drama girl herself. However, she stayed to watch the content featuring EVE and CHAOS.


    Surprisingly, she found the show to be well-made. It was edited like a drama, but it also didn''t lose its variety show essence.


    There was a mix of drama from their struggles in trying to solve the missions, but there was also a lot ofughter since Akira was such an amusing member.


    - I honestly aspire to be like Akira. He''s bothered yet unbothered at the same time.


    - It would suck to have a brother like Akira. However, he really brings the mood up for everyone.


    - I discovered EVE through June, but I''m falling in love with the entire group!


    Hana hadn''tughed as hard as he did for the past month, and it was all thanks to the humorous members.


    However, when he got to the part where only Haruki and June were the only people in the room, Hana suddenly turned serious.


    "You know what you did," Haruki said. You''re the reason why we''re in this situation in the first ce!"


    Hana''s eyebrows raised in surprise since Haruki''s words seemed toe from the heart.


    It appeared like he was taking the ''don''t break character rule'' very seriously.


    "I don''t recall ever having a past with you," June coldly said, sending shivers down Hana''s spine.


    He was looking at Haruki with such distant eyes, making Hana wonder if the two of them had a past or if they just hated each other.


    Hana looked at thements and saw that the fans were insinuating that Haruki and June weren''t too fond of each other.


    "Even then," Hana muttered. "They''re acting too good."


    The light in the dark room made it more fitting for their conversation, and June, with the light shining down from above him, appeared like a sinister character.


    ...almost like a viin.


    Hana smiled as she pressed the record button on the remote.


    "That''s what you''re good at, huh? Forgetting," Haruki chuckled bitterly.


    June smiled, his handsome face twisting into something more...creepy. "I''m good at a lot of things. Not just forgetting. In fact, I''m probably even better than you," he taunted.


    "You''ve hurt many people in the process," Haruki said.


    "Even you?" June asked.


    - Oh my gosh! So good.


    - I can''t believe I''m seeing this in a variety show.


    - And June is really a genius.


    - Goodness. He earned more fans now.


    - I''m a chaotic, is it bad if I be an astra too?


    - Yes, astras are dog butts.


    - No! You''re wee to our fandom.


    Hana''s smile widened as June realized the true mechanics and started solving it.


    However, she was definitely happier because of something else.


    Hana saved the video to her television before bringing out her phone to call her manager once again.


    "Hana?" her manager asked, confused. "Did you forget something? Howe you''re calling back?"


    "The auditions for Yian," Hana started off.


    "It isn''t fully closed, right?"

 Chapter 586 Vivi Productions

    <h4>Chapter 586 Vivi Productions</h4>


    "Where are you going to stay?" June asked Minjun as he massaged Grandma''s legs.


    It had been three days since Grandma was admitted to the hospital, and they were currently stabilizing her current infection before they started the chemotherapeutic therapy.


    Lena was already aware of the situation, but she couldn''te home due to her busy schedule.


    Meanwhile, June had visited every night after all of their schedules. Grandma told him that he didn''t have to visit all the time, but June wanted to make sure that she was in good hands.


    Fortunately, Dr. Oh treated Grandma really well, so she already appeared to be in a much better condition than when she was admitted to the hospital.


    The main problem was Minjun.


    Not only was he unaware of Grandma''s diagnosis, but he had been living all alone in their apartment for thest couple of days.


    "Can''t Ie with you?" Minjun asked. "Or maybe I can stay at home by myself. I''ve already done that for two days."


    Grandma clicked her tongue. "You can''t be on your own."


    "And you can''t live at the dorms, too. You''re most likely going to be on your own anyway since we''re very busy these days," June said.


    "I don''t want to live with my mom''s friend, though," Minjun sulked.


    "We''ve already talked about this, Minjun, Grandma said. "You''re only going to stay there temporarily until Grandma recovers fully."


    "How severe is your sickness anyway? You''re already very healthy, so I don''t see a problem with you going home."


    Grandma clicked her tongue. "You already know that Grandma is doing her best to recover. In order to do that, I have to stay at the hospital for a long time. I also want to go home, but your mom insisted that I stay here so the doctors can monitor me better."


    "Aside from that, your mom hired me a personal nurse who will take care of me while you guys aren''t around," she continued.


    "I''m having a hard time because I can''t see my precious grandsons all the time, but I''m enduring it well. I hope you also endure it well, Minjun. We''ll see each other again soon."


    Minjun turned silent after Grandma said those words.


    Then, he nodded in understanding.


    "It''s alright. They don''t have a son, and they''ve been wanting to take care of one, so I''m sure they''ll treat you well," Grandma said.


    June nodded in agreement. "Send me the address, and I''ll visit you from time to time."


    Just then, June''s phone rang, making Minjun chuckle when he saw June''s tired face.


    "You''re really working non-stop these days," he said. "This must be the price of fame."


    "I don''t even know," June said. "We''re doing brand deals left and right, and we can''t even refuse them."


    "Thepany doesn''t screen them out for you?" Minjun asked.


    "They do," June responded. "But you already know¡ªthey will suck you dry if it means they''re going to have money."


    "Sucks," Minjun said. "Well, at least you''re getting paid well."


    "Thepany''s the most well-paid, though," June said.


    "Answer the call," Minjun said, so June pressed the ''answer'' button and brought the phone next to his ear.


    "Jay," June greeted.


    "June. I know you told me toe pick you upter, but I have something important to say. Well, it''s already been decided, but I still feel like you should know about it."


    "Got it," June said, standing from the bed. "I''m on my way down."


    With that, he ended the call and faced Grandma and Minjun with a regretful smile.


    "I need to head out now," he said.


    "Of course, honey," Grandma said. "You''ve already done enough. Do yourself a favor and don''te here tomorrow. You should rest in your free time. I''m sure you''re very busy with all that''s happening."


    "Yeah," Minjun said. "You''re going to lose your handsomeness if you continue like this."


    June chuckled. That definitely wasn''t going to happen. Unless his visual stats would go down, then he''d be eternally handsome.


    "I''ll see you guys when I have more free time then," June said.


    "Good," Grandma said. "I''ll be watching you from the television anyway."


    June chuckled in amusement. "I''ll see you when I see you, Grandma!" With that, June went down to the parking lot and entered their van.


    "June!" Jay eximed in a half-concerned and a half-excited voice.


    Because of this, June didn''t know whether Jay was going to tell him something good or bad.


    June brought down the car mirror and looked at himself while Jay continued beating around the bush.


    He observed his face to see if his visuals had degraded due to all the stress he''d been in. However, he smirked when he saw that he was still handsome and glowing as usual.


    Jay observed him for a moment and sighed while shaking his head.


    "Oh, to have a face like that," Jay muttered.


    After observing his face for a couple more seconds, June finally turned to Jay.


    "So, what did you want to tell me?" he asked.


    "Are you done ogling your face now?" Jay teased.


    "Just tell me," June deadpanned.


    "Right," Jay said. "Well, first of all, I know that you''re very busy with everything going on. But you''ve been given another opportunity by thepany."


    "They''ve already agreed to it, haven''t they?" June asked.


    Jay nodded. "Yeah. Normally, these things go though me, too, and I sometimes have a say whether I believe you fit well with the concept. Fortunately, I think you fit well into this project."


    "The higher-ups also agreed to it because it''s a great opportunity for your talents to get even more well-known. And since your promotions have ended, you can spare some time for it. Well, it''s not yet a done deal since you still need to undergo some processes before it bes official.


    "Tell me about it," June said.


    "Well, thepany was contacted by VIVI productions," Jay started off.


    "Hmm," June hummed, finding the name of the movie production team familiar.


    They have put out famous movies like ''Protozoa,'' ''Bus to Busan,'' ''The Man from Somewhere,'' and many more.


    They were a movie production team that produced movies that became hits not only in the domestic market but also in the West. Still, they had some flops here and there, but they were definitely doing better than most movie production teams at the moment.


    "They currently have an ongoing unnamed project. However, the script is finished. I believe they already have their male lead and female lead actors, too. However, they''re looking for an actor for one of the side characters."


    "I heard that it was very hard to get in since it was a closed audition, but the team contacted thepany themselves."


    "Let me guess," June said. "I have to audition for it?"


    Jay nodded, still looking a bit nervous.


    "And let me take another guess," June sighed. "Is it going to be tomorrow?"


    Jay turned to him in pleasant surprise.


    "How did you know?"


    At this point, June wasn''t surprised anymore.

 Chapter 587 Director Bong’s Modern House

    <h4>Chapter 587 Director Bong''s Modern House </h4>


    It was a sunny day, and it seemed like the world was in a good mood.


    Not June, though.


    He was currently cramming the lines that he needed to audition for.


    After Jay divulged that he was going to audition for this certain role, he was quickly handed a short script. It only consisted of two pages¡ªan overview of the entire story and the character he was auditioning for, Yian, as well as a short dialogue that they supposedly were going to audition with.


    At first, June was hesitant to take the role. He knew that the film was from VIVI Productions, but he was afraid that it was going to have a ridiculous plot. However, as he read the general overview, he realized that it was not the case at all.


    In fact, it was simr to the dramas and movies that he watched when he was younger.


    Moreover, June also wanted to challenge himself in a field he wasn''t familiar with.


    "Are you ready?" Jay asked as he opened the car door for June.


    June weirdly looked at him. "You don''t normally do stuff like this."


    "You''re a big star now," Jay eximed. "I need to start treating you like one."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You better treat me like how you''ve always been treating me. Otherwise, I might just get a new manager."


    Jay chuckled in amusement. "Well, I''ve always praised the ground you walked on, so there''s nothing new about that."


    The two of them made their way up the prestigious-looking house. It was weird since it wasn''t a studio or anything like that. Instead, they were in a two-storey, modern-looking house.


    "This is Director Bong''s house," Jay said when he saw the curiosity in June''s eyes.


    "As I said, this is a closed audition, so he doesn''t want any other people interrupting. So, he decided to hold it in his house instead."


    "I heard there were two directors for this production," June said. "Who''s the other one?"


    "I''m ashamed to say this, but I also don''t know. This project seems to be top-secret since a lot of actors and actresses are aiming for a spot."


    "Got it," June said.


    So, it was safe to say that he was going to have lots ofpetitors today.


    Nheless, June just wanted to challenge himself for this particr role. He wasn''t necessarily passionate or dead-set about getting the role¡ªespecially since he was still a new actor. It would be safe to assume that the production team would eventually hire someone with more experience. Since naturally, they''ll be better at their job, too.


    "Don''t be nervous, though," Jay said, patting his back. "I read through the overview and believe that you suit the role quite well."


    "Are you saying I''m a viin?" June asked out of amusement.


    "I''m saying you have viin-like tendencies," Jay said. "There are some moments when I feel genuinely afraid of you. But then again, I''m a scaredy cat, so who knows?"


    The two of them finally arrived at the entrance of the house, and they were immediately stopped by a huge bodyguard.


    "Invitation, please," he said.


    Jay brought something out from his bag and handed it to the bodyguard. Then, the guard shined some light on it, proving its authentication before nodding to himself.


    He opened the door and gestured for June toe in.


    However, he covered Jay with his arm.


    "Only the auditionees are allowed inside the house," he said. "Pleasee back in two to three hours."


    Jay was a bit disappointed that he wouldn''t get to see the house and June''s acting. However, when he saw the other managers waiting on the side of the house, he smiled to himself.


    Time to gossip!


    "I''ll stay there, June," Jay said, pointing at the group of people who were having coffee by the garden.


    "Alright," June said before finally making his way inside.


    He looked around the interior of the house as he followed the arrows leading to the room designated for the audition. He couldn''t help but feel amazed by its interior and the way it was designed. It was almost certain that the person who owned the house was an artist in his own light.


    Finally, he arrived in front of the room. He didn''t hesitate to go in, and there, he saw some familiar and unfamiliar faces. There seemed to be twenty seats in total, and as soon as he entered, all eyes were on him.


    June recognized some old actors who suddenly lost poprity, newer actors who still haven''t established their names, currently hot actors who were doing lots of projects, actors who only yed as extras...and an idol?


    "Another idol is in here?"


    "Does he have any experience with acting?"


    "I think he was in a web drama. The acting was mediocre at best."


    "His acting was good there, though. However, I think it''s not too hard to portray the character that he did."


    "June?"


    June snapped his gaze to the familiar face and saw Haruki sitting at the back with an empty seat beside him.


    "Haruki?" June greeted in a simrly confused tone.


    The others had already gone back to memorizing their lines and thinking about how to portray them while June made his way to the very back seat where Haruki was currently seated.


    "What are you doing here?" the two of them simultaneously asked in hushed tones.


    "I was invited," June said. "VIVI Productions contacted thepany."


    "Same with me," Haruki said.


    "It''s so confusing since I don''t have any background in acting at all. However, Bo Wen showed me the email that the CEO received, and it seemed like they were fond of our confrontation scene in ''The King''s Joker,'' so they decided to contact ourpanies."


    June shook his head. Azure didn''t even bother showing him that email. If it weren''t for Haruki, then he might not have known the reason at all.


    "However," Haruki said. "I wasn''t even acting at that time. I genuinely hated you."


    June chuckled in amusement. "Well, you better thank me then. Your hatred toward me gave you this rare opportunity."


    "Shut up," Haruki said. "I''m already cringing at the thought of acting. My members helped me with my lines, and they called me stiffer than a man who hasn''t had any physical attention for twenty years."


    "That''s darn specific," June said.


    "They''re just telling the truth. I really can''t act for shit."


    "Why didn''t you turn it down then?" he asked.


    Haruki pursed his lips since he didn''t want to explicitly say the reason.


    At first, thepany was open to rejecting the offer since Haruki didn''t have any background in acting. However, Haruki agreed to it because he felt that June was also going to be invited.


    In the end, he took up the offer because of June¡ªso he could finally apologize to him.


    Haruki sighed and realized it had long been overdue. So, he sighed and decided to get it over with.


    "Actually¡ª"


    However, before he could utter another word, the door opened once more, revealing thest auditionee of the day.


    They all turned to the front, where a tall and handsome man entered.


    June''s body stiffened as he saw him respectfully bowing at the other actors before taking a seat in the front row.


    Bo Wen said he was going toe back...however, June didn''t expect him toe back so soon.


    "What are you doing here, Lin Zhi?" he whispered to himself.

 Chapter 588 The Yians

    <h4>Chapter 588 The Yians</h4>


    June couldn''t stop staring at the back of Lin Zhi''s head.


    Haruki kept yapping by his side, but he couldn''t bring himself to listen to him.


    "I just felt like I was being unfair to you because of my prejudice about your past with Haruto. You can''t really me me...I mean, you can me me for treating you quite badly. However, I want to take this time to apologize to you."


    "After hearing more stories from Haruto, I realized you''re a pretty decent guy. The choctes I gave were actually from my own pocket. I hope that speaks of my sincerity."


    "Anyway," Haruki cleared his throat. "Do you want to be friends?"


    June only snapped out of his daze just as Haruki tapped his shoulder.


    "June?" Haruki softly asked, surprising June with his tone.


    "Why are you speaking like that?" June asked.


    "Like what?" Haruki asked in confusion.


    "Like a friend," June said, causing Haruki''s shoulders to slump.


    "You didn''t hear a word I said just now, right?"


    "Nope," June said, shaking his head.


    Haruki sighed in disappointment, feeling like his chance yet again went down the drain.


    "I really, really hate you," Haruki couldn''t help but say. However, he regretted it right after he said it.


    "I know," June said, not really surprised about it.


    Haruki pursed his lips and followed the trajectory of June''s gaze. There, he saw Lin Zhi speaking with the actors in the front row.


    Haruki''s eyebrows furrowed when he realized who it was.


    "Isn''t that the guy who went to Rising Stars and cheated during the creation mission? Lin Zhi, right?" Haruki asked.


    "He''s done much more than that," June muttered.


    "Well, I didn''t expect him to make aeback in such a?big project after his announcement."


    "Announcement?" June asked, his back straightening in surprise.


    "He trended yesterday because he announced hiseback. Apparently, the guy was mentally unwell throughout the show. It seemed like he was particrly overworked by Azure."


    "He even posted some of his diagnoses, so the people perceived it in a much more positive light. Still, I expected him to audition in a smaller project after his announcement."


    June wanted tough out loud after Haruki''s statements.


    While it was true that Azure was a shittypany who overworked their trainees and their idols, Lin Zhi definitely did not get the short end of the stick.


    He was even able to manipte the votes, which had never been exposed, and cheat his ranking until the veryst moment of the finale.


    "Where did he post it?" June asked.


    "On Navel," Lin Zhi responded.


    June quickly went to his phone and to Lin Zhi''s profile. He raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw that he already had a million followers.


    He clicked his tongue and looked through his followers, only to see plenty of users with weird usernames.


    "He bought followers, too," he muttered.


    Then, June scrolled down until he saw the post that Haruki was talking about.


    "Such a long apology," June chuckled to himself.


    ''Hi, this is Lin Zhi.


    I hope this message finds you well. I write to you today with a heavy heart regarding a matter from the past year. It is with humility and sincerity that I address the usations leveled against me regarding cheating in the show and seeking undue assistance from producers during our creation mission.


    First and foremost, I want to express my deepest apologies for any disappointment my actions may have caused. I take full responsibility for my behavior and the repercussions it has had on the integrity of the show and the trust of its audience. There are no excuses for such conduct, and I understand the gravity of my actions.


    It is important for me to acknowledge that my behavior was not a reflection of my true character but rather a manifestation of my struggles with mental instability during that period. I have since sought professional help and received diagnoses that shed light on the challenges I was facing.


    Furthermore, I must address the role of overwork and the pressure exerted by thepany representing the show.


    I want to assure you that I am taking this opportunity for serious growth. While I may not return as an idol, I am determined to continue my journey as an all-rounded entertainer. My hope is that, through genuine effort and dedication, I can earn back the trust and respect of those who have supported me.''


    June shook his head in disbelief. He was sure that Lin Zhi wasn''t the one who issued the apology because he could never write as eloquently as his post.


    "Pretty good, right?" Haruki asked. "Whoever is on his PR team must be great. They issued a great apology. Although the response isn''t a hundred percent positive, it is better received than I had expected."


    - Hmm, I don''t know much about this guy, but he seems pretty sincere


    - With attached medical evidence, too? Oh, Azure. You will burn in hell.


    - I liked him a lot during Rising Stars. I was disappointed that he cheated on the creation mission. However, after seeing all of this, I now understand. Lin Zhi didn''t deserve the hate he was getting. #AzureApologizetoLinZhi


    - He''s just an overworked baby. #AzureApologizetoLinZhi


    - No matter what happens, I''ll support you. #AzureApologizetoLinZhi


    - Ya''ll really believe anything you see on the inte these days.


    June sighed as he turned off his phone and ced it inside his pocket.


    Reading such positivements put him in a bad mood. The fact that a person like Lin Zhi was getting this kind of treatment was downright outrageous. Meanwhile, actual hardworking trainees were cast to the side just because they didn''t have anyone backing them up.


    Truly, connections ran the world.


    It seemed like Lin Zhi still hadn''t noticed his presence because if he did, June was sure he''d have a cocky look on his face.


    "Are you guys on good terms?" Haruki asked.


    June smirked. "Don''t get me started."


    Just then, the door opened, revealing a small, artistic-looking woman, a tall man in a suit, and Director Bong¡ªall of them exuding powerful auras.


    The actors all stood in the presence of the influential figures.


    Director Bong was particrly intimidating. He didn''t even bother greeting the applicants and went straight to his seat.


    Meanwhile, the woman, who looked like Edna from The Incredibles, went to the front and scanned the room with her eyes.


    "Good morning."


    "Today, one of you will be our Future Yian¡ªthe main viin in this unnamed movie."

 Chapter 589 Acting Audition

    <h4>Chapter 589 Acting Audition </h4>


    "Consider yourself as special people since you were the chosen ones," she continued.


    "Some of you were chosen, some were rmended, or some used their connections," she joked, causing the group of men to burst intoughter.


    June, on the other hand, didn''t find anything amusing about it. Lin Zhi definitely got in because of his connections.


    There was no other usible exnation. Aside from Rising Stars, he doesn''t have any projects at all!


    "Nheless," she continued. "You would only be able to get the role with your skills."


    "Today, we have three people who will be judging you."


    "First is Hanlim Kang," she said. The tall guy stood and bowed at the aspiring Yians.


    "He is the main editor of the film," she said. "He worked on a lot of hit films from VIVI productions and was partly responsible for the creative production of the film. Therefore, he is here with us to find the most favorable aspirant."


    "You also have me, Risa Kang, the writer of the production," she smiled.


    "Oh, they''re married," Haruki giddily said, causing June to shake his head in amusement.


    The more he got to know about Haruki, the more he was convinced that he was just a more serious version of Haruto.


    "Anyway, this is my very first project. This was originally a novel that I''d been plotting for a year; however, it turned out to be a scripted y instead. I showed it to my husband, and it just so happened that the other director of this film read it on his desk."


    "In the end, he really liked the plot and the writing, so he decided to adapt it into a movie. Now, here we are," she smiled.


    "Last but not least, we have Director Bong, one of the directors of the film. He was interested in the production after the main director brought it up, and he volunteered to start the recruitment process."


    Director Bong, a rtively old director in the country, was known for his action films. He had a lot of films under his name; however, only a handful of them became great hits.


    Nheless, those hits definitely made a name for his brand since he could even afford such a beautiful house like this.


    He stood from his seat and silently waved at the actors.


    The aspiring Yians straightened their backs, determined to impress the old director.


    "So, this is how the audition will go," Risa said. "You will all go based on your seat. Therefore, this gentleman will go first, and it will continue to the person next to him."


    "Then, we will end with the gentleman at the very back," she said, ncing at June.


    June shook his head. His main character''s energy was definitely strong on this one. He was going to gost once again!


    "You were all given one scenario¡ªthe part when Yian explodes and brings up his heavy past with the main leads," she continued.


    "And to facilitate this audition better, we have called the lead actress over to run through the lines with you."


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Hana Lim in all her glory. The actors eximed in surprise as her beauty graced the room. Director Bong stood from his seat, a wide smile on his face, and led the actress to her seat.


    For a moment, she nced around, and at one point, her gaze locked with June''s. A small smile appeared on her lips as she nodded toward his way.


    June shook his head since he understood right away what she was trying to say.


    Hana was definitely the reason why he was given the chance to audition for this film.


    "She smiled at you," Haruki said with narrowed eyes. "Is it true that you two are dating?"


    June turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "Where did you get that kind of information?"


    "She gifted something to you during King of Kings," Haruki said.


    June then shook his head. "Nope. I don''t think of her that way."


    "Well," Risa pped, capturing everybody''s attention. "Let''s not dy this any further. Why don''t we call the very first gentleman to the front?"


    The man, whom June recognized as Lee Ha-joon, an up-and-


    ing actor who went viral because of his shirtless scene in a sci-fi movie, took the stage.


    It seemed like the actors in the room were mostly newbies, with the directors probably wanting to give newer actors a chance to portray the supporting characters.


    Lee Ha-joon took his position on the stage, sitting on the chair that they had prepared.


    He sat amidst the remnants of his once-mighty empire, his gaze filled with anger. June tilted his head to the side as he looked at his twisted face.


    This kind of anger seemed pretty forced.


    Then, Hana spoke, acting as the male lead''s proxy.


    "Yian, you brought this upon yourself. Your insatiable thirst for power blinded you to the devastation you left in your wake. We never wished for your downfall, but justice demands ountability."


    Ha-joon''s eyes narrowed, and once again, June found it weird. It felt dramatic...almost too dramatic.


    "And what about you?" he asked. "Do you revel in my demise? Does it bring you satisfaction to see me reduced to this?"


    Hana sighed and delivered her lines impably.


    "We seek not satisfaction, but closure. For all those you''ve wronged, for all those who have suffered beneath the weight of your ambition. You know deep inside your heart that your downfall is the price of your own actions."


    "You cannot me anyone except for yourself," Hanlim continued, speaking for another character.


    "I am the king of the world¡ªof everything that you could ever have!" Ha-joon screamed this time.


    However, the volume of his voice was too loud. It sounded uncontrolled, and it made Risa and Hanlim cover their ears with the sheer loudness of his voice.


    "If it wasn''t for you, then I would have everything! You haunt my mind even when I''m awake, and you took away everything I worked hard for with just a blink of an eye," he continued.


    At this point, the other actors didn''t care much for his acting anymore. All he portrayed was that he was angry¡ªjust that. But then again, Yian was quite an angry character. Time would only tell if this was the direction they wanted the character to go to.


    "Alright, thank you," Hanlim said as soon as Ha-joon was finished.


    The panel gave each other knowing nces before writing something on a piece of paper.


    Then, they didn''t waste any time in calling the next aspiring Yian.


    "Young man," Risa said.


    With that, Lin Zhi stood and went to the front. June kept his gaze on him all throughout, and at that moment, their eyes finally met.


    Lin Zhi froze for a second before a smirk arose on his lips.


    He kept his gaze on June while waiting for his signal to start.


    "So...," he muttered under his breath. "You''re here."

 Chapter 590 A Rotten Personality

    <h4>Chapter 590 A Rotten Personality</h4>


    "Lin Zhi, was it?" Risa asked as she observed his appearance.


    Lin Zhi snapped his gaze away from June and smiled charismatically at the panel.


    Hana''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion since she knew he only issued an apology a few days ago. Now, he was auditioning for one of the biggest movie projects of the year?


    He must have some kind of internal connection.


    Hana looked at the panel and noted that they weren''t too surprised. A small smile also yed on Director Bong''s lips, and for a second, Hana thought that the two of them exchanged meaningful gazes.


    "Hmm," she hummed. However, her thoughts were cut short as the panel conversed about Lin Zhi.


    "He doesn''t have any experience," Risa said. "However, judging from looks alone, I think he suits Yian better than the first challenger."


    Hana nodded in agreement. She certainly couldn''t argue with that sentiment.


    Lin Zhi was quite handsome; however, he also had an underlying ugliness¡ªone that Yian had.


    "Whenever you''re ready," Hanlim said.


    Lin Zhi nodded and closed his eyes. He felt confident that he was going to nail this part because he was, quite literally, a cunning person like Yian. Moreover, since he went after Ha-joon, who only did a mediocre job in his audition, he felt like his acting skills were going to be amplified.


    It had been a while since Lin Zhi was in the spotlight. In fact, he had been itching toe back ever since the second arc.


    However, the circumstances were more drastic than he expected. The person behind the third-party vote counter during Rising Stars was adamant about using Lin Zhi of fraudulent votes. Therefore, he had to lie low for a couple of months while Laohu tried to bury the issue under the ground.


    Fortunately, only his issue in the creation mission was exposed. However, even then, he had to show the public that he had truly repented for his mistakes.


    What better way to show his sincerity than through real medical reports?


    Moreover, ming Azure was actually pretty easy since they were already a shittypany to begin with.


    In the end, it took Lin Zhi over six months to get to where he was now.


    So, when the opportunity opened up for him to be a part of a potentially big production, he wasted no time in capturing the chance.


    He just didn''t expect to see June so soon.


    But then again, he had been monitoring June since his career had started. It seemed like the guy was living his life to the fullest, making Lin Zhi feel even more bitter than usual.


    That should have been him.


    If it weren''t for June, then he might have been able to debut with EVE.


    It also doesn''t help with the fact that June was probably the hottest idol right now. Everywhere Lin Zhi went, he couldn''t escape June. Even the nurses in the psychiatric clinic can''t stop talking about him.


    However, with this opportunity, he wanted to prove to June that money and connections were still the greatest things in the world.


    Channeling his anger for June, Lin Zhi said the first lines, instantly capturing the attention of those watching.


    "I am the king of the world¡ªof everything that you could ever have!" Lin Zhi screamed in a non-remorseful voice, making the others murmur in their seats.


    "Holy crap. He''s really scary."


    "It looks like he has real anger issues."


    "The volume of his voice was perfect just now."


    "Dang, I don''t want to go after him."


    June frowned as he intently observed Lin Zhi.


    Hana and Lin Zhi were exchanging lines, and it seemed like thetter was actually doing a great job. However, June couldn''t pinpoint whether it was because Lin Zhi was a good actor or because the character, who is a scum in the movie, was very simr to his real personality.


    "He''s actually pretty good," Haruki said. "He''s a bit too angry, though," he continued. "I''m not seeing a lot of variety in his expressions."


    June leaned his elbows against his knees and nodded in agreement.


    What Haruki said was right. Since this was a scene that required a lot of anger, Lin Zhi managed to portray the emotion without any trouble. However, hecked the vulnerability that Yian, as a character, contained.


    It seemed like he merely read through his lines and not the background of his character.


    Nheless, the panel seemed to like his acting.


    June actually thought Lin Zhi had be a decent actor. Actually, he had always been a great pretender. He even pretended to be Jun-hao''s friend back then.


    However, based on June''s interpretation of Yian, Lin Zhi was stillcking.


    "Thank you for that," Risa said as soon as he was finished.


    It seemed like June was the only one who thought he wascking since the other applicants pped loudly for him.


    Lin Zhi bowed on the stage, and as he lifted his head, his eyes shifted back to June.


    "Please return to your seat," Risa said.


    Lin Zhi respectfully smiled before going back to his seat, enjoying the praises he received from the actors who were sitting beside him.


    The audition continued on, and it seemed like most of them had the same interpretation of Yian¡ªan angry man who was stuck being a child. All of them were able to show the resentment he had for the main characters, some doing a better job than others.


    Hana sighed as the 19th participant finally arrived on the stage. It was none other than Haruki, whose palms were already as wet as the Niagra Falls.


    "And begin!" Hanlim eximed.


    Haruki wasted no time in saying Yian''s lines. However, after his first statement, the room quickly realized that Haruki wasn''t a good actor at all.


    Hana even held her lips to suppress theughter that threatened toe out of it.


    As much as Haruki was expressive and explosive on stage, he appeared like a robot when it came to acting.


    So, when he was done, the panel didn''t even bother writing anything on his paper.


    Haruki went back to his seat with an embarrassed expression.


    "You''re right. You are pretty bad at this," June deadpanned.


    "Whatever, man," Haruki said, scratching the back of his head. "Let''s see you do better, shall we?"


    "dly," June said, standing from his seat as his name was called.


    "Hmm, June?" Risa asked. "Another idol, huh?"


    "I think idols don''t act that well in films like this," Hanlim said. "That guy Haruki just proved it a while ago."


    "Let''s see," Hana said, interrupting their conversation.


    "He might be better than you expect."

 Chapter 591 The True Villain Is Here

    <h4>Chapter 591 The True Viin Is Here </h4>


    "June¡­Choi Joon-ho?" Risa interviewed June as she looked at his credentials.


    "You''ve acted before?" she asked.


    "Yes, ma''am," June responded. "It''s a four-episode webtoon adaptation that was uploaded on YouWatch."


    Hanlim leaned closer to his wife. "I think I saw that clip before¡ªthe bulge."


    Risa''s eyes widened in recognition. He was the guy who was in the infamous bulge video!


    Risa cleared her throat and continued looking at the piece of paper as she tried to hide her reddening cheeks. He was definitely much more handsome in real life.


    Suddenly, Director Bong spoke, surprising the panel and the auditionees. This was the first time the old man had spoken in a preliminary interview.


    "I see that you''re still a new idol," he started off, gazing into June''s eyes.


    June turned to him and challenged his gaze, not intimidated by the director''s fish-looking eyes.


    "It says here that you merely debutedst November. It also appears that your group is doing well. My granddaughters are all listening to your music," he continued. "You are definitely in your prime of being an idol."


    "Why is it that you decided to partake in a project like this?"


    June thought for a second. Well, after having a little bit of acting experience, he realized that acting was actually quite fun. He didn''t think he couldnd a closed audition in arge production like this, and honestly, he was initially intrigued because he was auditioning for the role of a viin.


    However, seeing Lin Zhi vying for the same role ignited his passion even more.


    "Why did you join this project, sir?" June asked, not answering the director''s question.


    Director Bong''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He wasn''t expecting to be questioned back today.


    The room turned silent for a while before June once again spoke.


    "The answer that''s in your mind¡ªit''s probably the same as my reason," he concluded.


    Hana shook her head in amusement as soon as June said those words.


    "This guy is really something else," she muttered.


    "Dang it," Lin Zhi whispered. That was such a cool answer.


    Risa and Hanlim were also pleasantly surprised by his answer.


    "He''s quite a clever one, isn''t he?" Risa asked. "His height and stature are also perfect for the role."


    Hanlim nodded in agreement. "I''m just worried about his face."


    Hana looked at the editor with wide eyes. "His face? What''s wrong with his face?"


    As far as she knew, June was the most handsome man in this room at the moment.


    "There''s nothing wrong with his face," Hanlim said. "And that''s the problem. I believe he''d be too handsome for the role."


    "Hmm," Risa hummed as she observed June''s face. Indeed, the young man didn''t have any blemishes on his skin. His features were perfectly symmetrical, too, and he didn''t exude the somewhat ugly vibe that Yian gave off.


    "But let''s see," she continued.


    "Start with your audition," she finally said.


    June nodded and walked to the seat that resembled a throne. He took a deep breath before sitting down, preparing himself for what he worked hard on for the past night.


    However, just as he sat down, a notification popped up.


    [You''vended on a lucky mission!]


    [Fu predicts that this project is going to be a big hit.]


    [Earn a role in the production.]


    [Seed in the mission and have the opportunity to upgrade your acting skills by one grade.]


    June smirked as he quickly read the contents of the new mission. He was given yet another reason to work even harder for the role.


    "Start," Director Bong impatiently said, making June snap back to reality.


    He gazed at Hana, who delivered her first line.


    "Yian, you brought this upon yourself. Your insatiable thirst for power blinded you to the devastation you left in your wake. We never wished for your downfall, but justice demands ountability," Hana started off, nailing her line as always.


    The room was surprised when they saw the calm look on June''s face. Contrary to all the other auditionees, who portrayed Yian as an angry viin who didn''t have any control, June portrayed him as cold as stone, almost at peace.


    His eyes scanned the room, sending shivers down the spines of those who dared to meet his gaze.


    Hanlim tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What kind of interpretation is this?" he muttered.


    "And what of you?" he asked as he inspected his nails. "Do you revel in my demise? Does it bring you satisfaction to see me reduced to this?"


    Hana sighed shakily, feeling a bit nauseous with the way June was staring at her.


    "We seek not satisfaction, but closure. For all those you''ve wronged, for all those who have suffered beneath the weight of your ambition. You know deep inside your heart that your downfall is the price of your own actions."


    "You cannot me anyone except for yourself," Hanlim added.


    "You speak of justice," June responded, his voice low and measured. "But what do you know of justice? You, who stand before me now, passing judgment like mere mortals, have the right to condemn a god."


    Hana''s hand clenched in anger. The way June spoke was as if he was looking down at her.


    "You are no god, Yian. You are a tyrant who has trampled upon the lives of countless innocents in your quest for dominion."


    A faint smirk tugged at the corner of June''s lips, his expression showing a hint of amusement. "Innocents, you say? Tell me, who among us is truly innocent? No one in this world is innocent."


    Hana''s resolve wavered for a moment. "I may not be innocent


    ¡ª"


    In the original script, Hana was supposed to say three more lines. However, June cut her off right at the very first one, which added to the impact of the scene.


    June''sughter echoed through the hall. "Righteousness is a luxury afforded only to the weak."


    June continued tough out loud, devoid of any warmth. He appeared like a maniac despite his handsome face.


    "And what? Redemption? Forgiveness? Such concepts are but fleeting illusions, meant tofort the weak-minded. In the end, there is only power and those who wield it."


    With a final, chillingugh, June rose from his throne, his form towering over those who stood before him like a vengeful god. "Perhaps," he said, his voice a low rumble, "Even in defeat, I shall remain. For I am not simply a man. I am the embodiment of all your fears, all your desires, all your darkest impulses. And as long as there is darkness in the hearts of men, I shall never truly be vanquished."

 Chapter 592 Under the Table

    <h4>Chapter 592 Under the Table</h4>


    "Is there a line like that in the script?" the man next to Haruki asked.


    Haruki shook his head, appearing to be in awe. He knew that June was a great actor based on what he had seen in King of Kings. However, even then, it appeared like he was acting.


    The June he was seeing now felt genuinely evil¡ªlike he wasn''t acting at all. Haruki pursed his lips, wanting to take back what he had said just moments ago.


    There was no wonder that June was a hundred times better at acting than him.


    The other applicants also felt strange. At one point, it really did feel like June wasn''t acting. More so than that, he added some impromptu lines here and there based on what he felt during the scene.


    "That was strangely good."


    "Yeah, it was different from most of our interpretations."


    "He said his lines calmly instead of angrily."


    "I don''t know how to feel about it, though. It seems very good in its own light. However, isn''t Yian an angry character?"


    June stood back up, waiting for thements of the panel about his acting.


    Last night, he wondered how he could act out the particr scene. Since they were only given one part of the script, it was hard to gauge Yian''s character. At first, he also thought of portraying him as a petty character with a lot of anger embedded in his heart.


    However, as June read Yian''s character description, he felt like he was a much deeper character. His family was killed by the male lead''s n, and he made a pact to take everything away from the male lead. It was a pretty cliche antagonist plot, which was why most people tried portraying him in such an angry light.


    Yet, June wanted to show the panel that Yian wasn''t an ordinary viin.


    Hana also didn''t expect his interpretation of the character. At first, she really wanted June to be the main viin of the movie since she knew his talent for acting out cold and cunning characters.


    However, the Yian he portrayed just now was on another level. It almost seemed like he was the main character of the movie.


    "So, what do you guys think?" Hana asked the panel, wanting to know their opinion, too.


    "Undoubtedly, he''s the best actor in this room right now," Hanlim said with a pleasant smile. "I thought he wouldn''t be able to show the ugly side of the character because of his perfect looks, but he managed to pull it off."


    "I agree," Hana said. "It was honestly a refreshing take after all of those angry interpretations. It made me feel like Yian has a much deeper character than what I''ve read."


    "Moreover, it makes me more curious about Yian''s real character. I still haven''t read the entire script, so I''m unsure how this would end, but it would be great to y around the dynamics of the viin''s rtionship with the main leads," she continued.


    "What do you think, Miss Risa?" Hana asked.


    Risa pursed her lips and kept reading through the script¡ªthe small description and dialogue that she provided for all of the applicants.


    It was only a short description, but it was honestly impressive that June was able to read through Yian''s character with what he was given. Moreover, the lines he added were perfect to the scene, making her question how she wrote thetter part of her story and if she could incorporate such lines into it.


    The applicants started murmuring since it was taking too long for the panel to discuss what they thought about June''s acting.


    Just then, without any warning, Director Bong picked up the microphone and spoke, his voice booming in therge room.


    "The lines you said just now," he said. "Those are not from the original script."


    June pursed his lips and nodded.


    Director Bong scoffed, surprising most of the applicants.


    "That is unprofessional behavior," he started off.


    Lin Zhi lifted his head, feeling a surge of hope in his heart.


    "The script is there for a reason," Director Bong said. "The fact that you''re the only actor in this room who changed it to your liking speaks a lot of your character."


    "You have disrespected not only the entire movie production but also Miss Risa over here."


    Risa pursed her lips and was about to say something, but Director Bong continued speaking, cutting her off.


    "Moreover, your portrayal of the character ispletely different from what I imagined. Yian is a viin¡ªhe''s supposed to be unlikeable. People don''t like a likable enemy because it makes it harder to empathize with the main leads."


    June frowned in confusion.


    Everything that wasing out of Director Bong''s mouth was utter bullshit.


    He had such a 1900s mindset, not even knowing that people love to see unexpected twists in different characters these days.


    It was no wonder that he hadn''t achieved a great-performing movie for the past ten years.


    If this was the director''s mindset, then June wondered if he wanted to be a part of the production after all.


    Hana pursed her lips in disappointment, also not agreeing with Director Bong''s words. Not only were his statements filled with ws, but the way they said them also felt like he was disrespecting June as a person.


    The room was silent as they let Director Bong''s words sink into their minds.


    Surprisingly, June wasn''t offended. How could he be offended when Director Bong''s wig was moving around on his head as he spoke?


    What stuck out to him was the proud look on Lin Zhi''s face.


    He was staring at Director Bong with sparkling eyes, and that was when June realized that something was wrong.


    June had been observing the two of them since the start of the auditions, and they had been exchanging weird nces here and there¡ªalmost like they knew each other beforehand.


    June scoffed and shook his head as he walked back to his seat.


    It was strange that Director Bong was able to afford such a huge house with his hit-or-miss types of movies.


    However, June now understood where Director Bong might be getting this amount of money.


    It was money exchanged under the table.

 Chapter 593 You are the Yian

    <h4>Chapter 593 You are the Yian </h4>


    The applicants were given a short break while the panel decided who was going to be ''Yian'' of the unnamed project.


    "Feel free to explore the kitchen and the living room," Director Bong boastfully smiled. "However, do not go into the rooms. I can have you disqualified if ever that happens. Be back in half an hour."


    The others excitedly went out of the room to explore Director Bong''s house.


    Meanwhile, June settled on the seats on the balcony, loving the way the wind went through his hair.


    Someone cleared their throat from behind him, causing him to turn around.


    "I need to go now," Haruki said, causing June''s eyebrows to raise in surprise.


    "You''re not going to stay until they reveal who passed as Yian?"


    "I think we both know I don''t have a chance at this," Haruki deadpanned.


    ''I only came here because I wanted to be friends with you!'' Haruki wanted to scream, but he held back, clenching his jaw.


    "Well, you''re right. You suck at acting. It''s great that you''re a talented idol," June said, focusing his gaze right back to the scenery.


    "Shut up," Haruki sighed. "It''s not like you''re going to get the part too! Director Bong''sments were a dead giveaway that he didn''t like your acting."


    Haruki pursed his lips after saying those words. For some reason, he just couldn''t control his words whenever June was involved! Maybe it was his natural instinct to be sassy with the younger idol.


    "I know," June nonchntly said. "I''m going to stay since I want to confirm something."


    He wanted to confirm whether Lin Zhi truly paid his way into the production.


    From an audience''s perspective, there were more people who suited Yian better and were undoubtedly more talented in acting than Lin Zhi. Therefore, if he was to be picked, then June waspelled to believe that something happened behind the scenes.


    "I''m going now, then," Haruki said. "Bo Wen''s waiting for me."


    June nodded. "Tell the baldie that I said hi."


    "Hmm," Haruki hummed. "Before I go, I have something to ask."


    "Go ahead," June said.


    "Are you and Bo Wen friends?" he asked.


    Haruki would feel bitter if June became friends with his bodyguard before he even mended their rtionship!


    "Hell no," June said, causing Haruki to quietly sigh in relief.


    The past was still too fresh for June to consider Bo Wen as his friend.


    "Why does he call you ''master'' then?" Haruki asked as a follow-up question.


    June smirked and turned around. "I don''t know? Maybe he idolizes me?"


    Haruki clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Whatever, man. I''ll get going. I still have a scheduleter."


    "You''ve been saying that for a while now. Just go," June deadpanned.


    With that, Haruki finally left June all alone, making June enjoy the peace of his own presence.


    However, that peace was quickly broken when June felt another presence on the balcony.


    He froze when he realized who it was. He didn''t even need to turn around to know the intruder''s identity. The subtle scent of cigarette smoke, poorly-washedundry, and strong aftershave was a dead giveaway.


    "Lin Zhi," June said, not bothering to turn around to greet him.


    Lin Zhi chuckled in amusement. Then, June felt Lin Zhi''s presence beside him.


    June nced at him and shook his head.


    "Your hiatus didn''t serve you well," June deadpanned. "I thought you would take that time to rest. Why do you look even worse?"


    Lin Zhi''s jaw clenched as he faced June. "And I see that fame is serving you well."


    June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he met his gaze.


    "Oh, you know that I''m always serving well."


    June thought he would be angrier once he came face to face with Lin Zhi. However, he was much calmer than he expected.


    "Well, if it weren''t for a certain someone who wanted to expose my doings in Rising Stars, I would definitely look better," Lin Zhi said.


    "And that''s my fault because?" June nonchntly asked.


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "I see that you''re still the same¡ªstill so nonchnt and annoying as usual."


    "I can say the same thing to you," June smirked.


    "I take it back. You''re much more annoying now," Lin Zhi quickly said.


    "I''m d," June said.


    Lin Zhi wanted to p the smirk away from June''s face. However, knowing what was toe next, his mood was suddenly lifted.


    "You know," Lin Zhi started off. "You may have the fame right now, but your fame will not guarantee your spot in this movie."


    June stood from his seat and faced Lin Zhi.


    "I know," June said. "Money will, right?" he asked.


    Lin Zhi was taken aback for a second. However, he quickly recovered since he felt there was nothing to be surprised about anymore. June always had quick wits¡ªalways one step ahead.


    Therefore, Lin Zhi wanted to capitalize on that.


    "Yes," he smiled. "At the end of the day, money is what makes the world go round."


    "So, pack your bags, June," Lin Zhi said. "After I be a part of this movie, you''ll be seeing a lot more of me¡­"


    "...and who knows? I mighte for what you have right now. So, always watch your back."


    With that, Lin Zhi left the balcony, leaving June all alone.


    Once Lin Zhi was out of the vicinity, June shook his head.


    "Still a bastard, eh?" he muttered, also making his way inside the house and back to the room where the panel was already waiting.


    For a second, he locked eyes with Hana, and there was a regretful look in her eyes.


    At that moment, June already knew.


    Money does make the world go round.


    Director Bong was on the stage, staring at the nervous applicants in their seats. He appeared like he regretted informing them who had passed and who had not.


    However, June knew deep inside his mind that Director Bong had already made up his mind even before the auditions started.


    "I''ll cut to the chase," Director Bong said.


    "We decided that this applicant did the best interpretation of Yian, the main viin of this movie. All of you did a great job, but he was a standout performance," he continued.


    Then, he looked around the room once more, his gaze hardening when his eyes passed by June.


    A small smile appeared on his lips as his gaze settled on Lin Zhi.


    "Lin Zhi, congrattions. You will be our ''Yian'' for this movie."

 Chapter 594 A Much Deeper Character

    <h4>Chapter 594 A Much Deeper Character</h4>


    To some extent, June already expected the results.


    That doesn''t mean he can''t be upset about it, though.


    Lin Zhi stood from his seat and bowed at the judges before bowing to everybody else. He had a fake look of surprise, and Kai thought that maybe, just maybe, he did deserve the part.


    He was darn good at pretending to be innocent.


    With that, the applicants started leaving the extravagant house with heavy hearts. June felt bad for those who did better than Lin Zhi but didn''t pass. And it sucked to think that he couldn''t do anything about it at the moment.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi was called by Director Bong, the two of them appearing to be chummy buddies as they entered a private room together.


    June shook his head and stood from his seat, preparing to leave.


    However, before he could arrive at the door, Hana called his name.


    She had a look of disappointment in her eyes, causing June to chuckle.


    "You look even more upset than I am," June said.


    Hana pursed her lips. "I still think you should have gotten the part. I was genuinely afraid when we did the dialogue a while back. You gave Yian apletely different vor that I think the audience would have liked."


    "But you already got your viin," June said. "Good luck with the movie, I guess. I would wish for it to fail since I didn''t get in, but seeing that you''re in it, I''ll be wishing the movie prosperous results."


    Hana shook her head in amusement. "It''s really a shame. I was the one who rmended that you be part of the list of applicants. You definitely didn''t disappoint. The director just has a different creative judgmentpared to what I expected."


    "It makes me wonder if the other director should have gone here too," she muttered.


    June nced at his watch and saw that it was alreadyte in the afternoon. Jay must be waiting by himself in the garden since most of the applicants had already gone home.


    "I best be going¡ª"


    Before he could finish his statement, another person interrupted and called his name.


    "June," a woman said.


    Hana and June turned to the source of the voice, only to see Miss Risa with a hesitant expression looking at them.


    June immediately bowed as soon as the writer of the show arrived at their spot.


    "Oh, there''s no need for that," Risa said.


    June shook his head. "I''m just paying respect to the person who wrote this production. I only read a small portion of the script and the character detail, but I can tell you''ve put a lot of thought into it."


    Risa scratched the back of her head.


    "I could say the same thing to you," she said. "You added the perfect lines at the very end of your audition just now."


    "I was just carried away by the moment," June said. "I hope you don''t take it to heart that much."


    "Oh, definitely not," Risa said. "In fact, I''m even thinking of adding some of what you''ve said to the script¡ªif that''s okay with you, of course."


    "It''s fine with me," June said. However, he couldn''t even recall the lines he had added just now. It was truly a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing.


    "Well, thank you for this opportunity. I guess I''ll be seeing you around," June said as a final greeting, but it seemed like Risa had other ns.


    She bit her lip before speaking once more.


    "Actually, I came here for another reason," Risa said, making June halt once more and pay full attention to what she was saying


    "Your interpretation a while back was not the direction we were looking for," she started off.


    "The Yian I wrote is truly just a shallow character¡ªan epitome of an enemy that unreasonably took revenge on a person who does not deserve it."


    "Your interpretation, I believe, is almost that of a main character. It wasn''t the Yian we were looking for."


    June nodded in understanding.


    He was still upset that Lin Zhi got the role, but after hearing Risa''s exnation, he felt more at ease. Maybe his understanding of Yian was truly different and inurate.


    "But it might be what I''m looking for in another character," Risa continued, making June narrow his eyes in confusion.


    Hana, too, looked at Risa with wide eyes, hope swelling inside her heart.


    For some reason, she wanted June to participate in this particr project. Maybe it was because she wanted to show the world his acting skills¡­or maybe she just wanted to be in the midst of his presence more often.


    "I still haven''t released the full script," Risa said.


    "Up until now, the script that had been sent to the confirmed actors has been unrevised. However, I''ve been thinking to myself, and I felt like the movie needed something¡­more."


    "So, I took it upon myself to revise the script as I had wanted¡­


    and thankfully, the directors gave me the opportunity to do so until the end of the month."


    "Some changes are already final, while some are ongoing. However, there''s one thing certain¡ªthere''s another interesting character that I want to be portrayed by a good actor."


    "At first, I wanted to find some raw talent on the streets. After all, this is just a minor character. However, even if the role is small, I feel that it is very essential."


    "His name is Jian," Risa continued. "And he''s the brother and closest friend of Yian."


    "With this in mind, I want to offer the role to you, June," she said, looking into his eyes.


    June froze after the offer was made.


    As one door closes, another one opens.


    June didn''t know what this ''Jian'' character would be like. He didn''t even know if he would have any lines since Risa said it was just a minor character.


    However, he knew that he wanted to be a part of the production.


    Not only so he couldplete his mission and show the world his acting skills¡­but also to gain the opportunity to be closer to Lin Zhi and finally destroy him.


    For good this time.


    "This hasn''t beenmunicated with the directors just yet," Risa continued. "But I believe I have the right to make grand decisions for what I have written."


    "And right now¡­I believe you''re perfect for the role."


    "So," she said. "Are you up for the challenge?"


    Hana and Risa looked at June with expectant eyes.


    Then, the handsome man smiled.


    "You know I''m always up for a challenge."

 Chapter 595 Untouched Souls

    <h4>Chapter 595 Untouched Souls</h4>


    June finally entered his room after his members celebrated his new role in the movie.


    There was something strange, though.


    Although he was offered the role of Jian, his mission still hasn''t been aplished, ording to Fu.


    However, he concluded that it must be because he still hadn''t signed the contract, nor did they have their first reading.


    He sat on his bed and clicked on thetest email he received from Miss Risa¡ªa copy of the raw, unfinished script that she talked about a while ago.


    June was excited to read through it since the short character description for Yian was already captivating. What more if he already saw the entire script?


    So, without any hesitation, he clicked on the email and waited for it to download. After a few seconds, he opened the file and eagerly read the contents of the script.


    In the uppermost part, he finally saw the title, ''Untouched Souls.''


    Then, he read the first line, his mind getting transported to the world that Miss Risa meticulously crafted.


    It was a world where emotions reigned supreme, and four factions resided¡ªCrimson, Golden, Shadow, and Ivory. They stand as pirs of the country, each embodying a distinct emotion.


    Shadows are mysterious. Ivories are akin to inner peace. Goldens strive for perfection. Crimsons have very strong mindsets. Moreover, with these emotions, they are able to wield magic powers based on the intensity of the emotion they have unlocked.


    However, despite these differences, they coexist within their own borders, maintaining harmony within thends.


    Enter Seon, the protagonist and the heir to the Ivory n, one of the few people in the country who was able to wield multiple powers due to his understanding of all emotions. He questions the world¡ªwhy are they being confined within the bounds of certain emotions when, in fact, they all had the ability toprehend so much more?


    "Jian stands at the side, pping for his brother," June softly read.


    It was the first time he appeared in the script, and fortunately, it seemed like he was introduced fairly early into the story.


    It was when they were teenagers, and Yian''s birthday was celebrated by the entire n.


    However, even then, their celebration was clouded in mystery¡ªwithughter being as scarce as water during a drought.


    It didn''t take long before June understood Jian''s role.


    He was the illegitimate son of the Shadow Master, and he was also Yian''s greatest confidant.


    Born from a Chinese mother, he was known as a trusted messenger of the Shadow n.


    However, even though his role was essential to the n, it wasn''t really the main focus.


    Instead, Yian was the one who grabbed all of the Shadow Master''s attention while Jian was just¡­there.


    In fact, Yian was the next Shadow Master in line, and he wanted to follow in his father''s footsteps.


    Unbeknownst to the world, the Shadow n harbored dark ambitions. In a bid for power, they orchestrate the assassination of the leaders of the factions. Seon''s father, the ruler of the Ivory n, despite being known for his kindness, takes matters into his own hands and kills the Shadow Master.


    In the end, the Shadow n''s ns fail as their leader sumbs to his demise, and Yian is forced to take the throne with a vengeful heart.


    Fast forward a few years, the ns appeared to be in harmony once again¡­or so they thought.


    Yian devises a n to gather all emotions and use them for the sake of evil. For that to happen, he has to kill the current leaders and eat their hearts so he can learn their emotions and wield their powers. To be able to do that, he started using ck magic so he could sabotage the other leaders.


    He works behind the scenes while Jian follows all his orders¡ªalmost like ackey.


    "Well, if this isn''t me in my past life," June muttered with an amused smile.


    However, the other factions team up to stop Yian at all costs. Seon sessfully kills Yian, but he does not eradicate the shadow n. Instead, he makes people believe that all emotions are necessary for people to feelplete.


    At the end of the day, light does not exist without shadows, while shadows cannot exist without light.


    If that happened, then only darkness would reign and consume the world.


    And Jian?


    Jian dies in the middle of the movie to show his loyalty to Yian. It was honestly a shitty death, but June thought that Jian must have loved Yian as a brother to be able to do it for him.


    "It''s really just like me," June muttered, recalling his death.


    All in all, the story was fascinating, and June could see it topping the box office as soon as it was released.


    Although he could rte to Jian''s character, he also felt that his story could have ended better. But then again, June was just an actor and not the scriptwriter of the movie.


    So, he decided to make the best of what he was given.


    Fortunately, it wouldn''t be too difficult to portray the story of the strong yet overlooked and misguided character.


    For that was his character before¡­and maybe, just maybe, he could see a different end to his story this time.


    ***


    The day of the first reading finally arrived, and the star-


    studded cast arrived at the tall building d in masks and hats, determined to keep the production a secret from the public.


    Risa and Hanlim sat side-by-side as they waited for the other actors and the other director toe.


    Director Bong clicked his tongue as he nced at his watch.


    "What''s taking him so long?" he muttered.


    "We''re only waiting for the other director, right?" Hanlim asked his wife.


    Risa smiled and shook her head. "I also invited another actor toe."


    Hanlim frowned in confusion. "Who?" he asked.


    "Jian," Risa responded.


    Hanlim''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "You''ve already chosen someone for Jian? I thought that would be Director Bong''s choice?"


    "It''s my choice this time," Risa said with a determined voice, not wanting to let this go.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi excitedly chatted with the other actors, even sucking up to the veterans in the industry.


    He even offered his jacket to Hana, but the beautifuldy refused since she didn''t like how he smelled.


    Just then, the door opened, and the people all turned to the door, expecting to see the main director of the movie.


    However, what greeted them was a totally different person¡ª


    one that blinded them with his beauty.


    June paused for a moment as he stared at their perplexed faces.


    "Good morning," he nonchntly said.

 Chapter 596 Pity Party

    <h4>Chapter 596 Pity Party</h4>


    "Is that June?"


    "I heard he auditioned for the role of Yian. I was disappointed when he didn''t get in."


    "What is he doing here, though?"


    "I''m definitely notining. He''s the hottest idol right now!"


    "Do you think I can have him sign my back?"


    "Your back? That''s weird. It will only get erased."


    "I don''t usually wash my back."


    Director Bong frowned as soon as he saw the blonde-haired idol standing by the door. He was about to say something when another person entered the room, revealing the main director of the show.


    June turned around and was met with none other than Director Jam¡ªthe director he worked with when he had a bandit cameo before he even debuted.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise, but it seemed like Director Jam was even more surprised.


    "An angel?" he muttered as he stared at June''s face.


    Miss Risa took the opportunity to guide June to the table, allowing him to join the actors who were still fascinated with his presence.


    Lin Zhi was undoubtedly the most shocked, his mouth still slightly agape as he continued looking at June.


    June met his eyes and smirked, enjoying how stunned Lin Zhi looked.


    "Alright," Director Jam. "It''s my first time seeing the main cast. I had to take a vacation since I knew that the production would be hectic from here on out and I won''t be able to get more than three hours of sleep every night. So, I thank Director Bong for taking over the recruitment process while I was gone."


    "I see some familiar faces," he stared off, ncing at Hana and some of the older actors in the group.


    "But I also see some unfamiliar faces," he said, ncing at the younger actors. His gaze settled longer on June since he was purely fascinated by his face. But then again, Director Jam didn''t want to give him any preferential treatment just because he looked good.


    What mattered the most in this room was one''s acting skills.


    Director Jam finally sat on his chair while the actors opened their scripts. However, before they could even begin, Director Bong addressed the elephant in the room.


    "I think we have an individual who doesn''t have the right to be here," he started off.


    Director Jam turned to him with raised eyebrows.


    Meanwhile, Risa pursed her lips and focused her gaze on the table.


    "What do you mean?" Director Jam asked.


    "This gentleman over here," he said, pointing at June. "Is not part of the cast. He auditioned for the role of Yian and was eliminated. So, there''s no reason for him to be here."


    "Is that so?" Director Jam asked.


    "Then, the Yian you''ve chosen is...Lin Zhi, was it?" Director Jam muttered.


    "Yes," Director Bong said. "He''s the actor that I highly rmended for the role."


    "I''m not here as Yian," June said, making them turn to him.


    "I''m here as Jian," he finally revealed, triggering murmurs around the room.


    "Jian? The new character?"


    "I thought the role still wasn''t filled?"


    Director Bong pursed his lips. "As far as I know, Jian''s actor is still not chosen. Moreover, he''s not a main character, so there''s no reason for you to be here. Still, the most notable issue is that this selection process didn''t go through me."


    Hanlim caressed his wife''s back, giving her the courage to speak up.


    "It was me," she said, capturing their attention.


    "I added Jian to the story by my own ord since I wanted the main viin to have a deeper sense of leadership. Jian is a character who dies before the film even ends. For a role so trivial, don''t you think I also have the right to choose the actor who will portray it?


    Director Bong opened his mouth to argue, but Director Jam quickly stepped in.


    "I understand both of your sentiments," he said.


    "However, in this room, arguments are only done in a narrative form. Therefore, let''s not settle this in a heated conversation. Instead, let us see the actor speak for himself¡ª


    not with his own voice, but with his acting."


    The people once again turned to June, wondering how he was going to portray the cold, overlooked character.


    "But, before all of that, let''s start from the very beginning. Then, we''ll go ahead to the climactic parts so we can see the dynamics of the team. I believe Jian has some lines there, so we''ll get to see how the handsome young man will portray his character."


    Lin Zhi clenched his fists from under the table as the reading finally started. He thought he had one-upped June after Laohu paid for Director Bong''s cooperation.


    However, June must have been a cockroach in his past life¡ªhe was very hard to eradicate.


    Sure, Lin Zhi was granted a much more essential role. However, even then, he couldn''t be truly joyful if he knew June was going to be in the production.


    Deep inside Lin Zhi''s mind, he knew that June would capture the most attention wherever he went...even if that meant he only got a minor role.


    Because of his train of thought, Lin Zhi missed his cue, earning him a click of the tongue from Director Jam.


    He cleared his throat and quickly dived into his character. However, even then, his acting felt pretty stiff because he was thinking of how to remove June from the production.


    Meanwhile, in the first part, June didn''t have much lines except for ''Yes, sir. ''I agree.'' ''I shall get to it right away.''


    The lines weren''t too expressive, so it was hard to gauge his acting skills during the first half.


    Fortunately, as the climactic arc arrived, he was given the opportunity to show what he had practiced for the entire night.


    "Your brother has overshadowed you. He is nothing but someone who uses you for the sake of his own improvement," Taehyun, the main actor of the show and the one ying Seon said in desperation as Jian, June''s character, covered Yian as he crafted some ck magic.


    The room turned silent as they waited for June to respond.


    For some reason, they were the most curious about how June was going to portray his character.


    Director Bong, Hana, Hanlim, and Risa already knew of his acting skills; however, they still anticipated for him to finally start speaking.


    In June''s mind, he didn''t have to portray anything too different after all.


    Just as he said, Jian was a character who resembled his past self.


    He just needed something extra special so he could showcase his acting skills to the best of his abilities and prove to them that he deserved to be in this production.


    [Early Birthday Gift! Early Birthday Gift from Fu!]


    [You have been granted a booster: Pity Party]


    [Activation: Automatic]


    [You have 15 minutes with the booster.]

 Chapter 597 The Shoe Definitely Fits

    <h4>Chapter 597 The Shoe Definitely Fits</h4>


    Just as he needed.


    [Pity Party! Gain the audience''s sympathy. The host is granted an aura that exudes the need for pity.]


    As June dissected the scriptst night, he realized that Jian and Yian were from opposite sides?of the spectrum.


    Yian coped by going against the norms. Meanwhile, Jian stuck to his norms despite all of the adversities that happened in his life.


    With this in mind, June knew that his character had more potential to be liked than Yian...


    ...and that''s exactly what he wanted.


    He wanted to be more likable than Lin Zhi''s character. Only then will he be indispensable to the production team.


    At first nce, it may seem like Jian is just another cannon fodder who does nothing but obey the tyrant''s orders. However, June wanted to portray him as someone who was forced to stay within his norms¡ªnot because he wanted to but because that was how life was for him.


    Pity.


    That was what he needed.


    And fortunately, Fu came through to give him just what he wanted.


    Oh, and his face would definitely do some of the work, too.


    Risa paid close attention to what was happening. She felt quite guilty because deep inside her mind, she knew that she was unsure of Jian''s character. Sure, she wrote him as a way to show that Yian had a loyal confidant and that he wasn''t all alone in this world. However, based on how she wrote Jian, his personality was vague...almost nd...only there to amplify the viin''s story.


    So, she was curious about how June was going to spice him up.


    June''s gaze was directed at the script; however, when he lifted his head to look at


    Taehyun in the eyes, a small gasp escaped from Risa''s lips.


    Taehyun, too, felt a surge of guilt inside his mind. It almost felt like he didn''t want to confront June with how pitiful he looked.


    It seemed like there was a white halo surrounding June, making those watching him feel like they were looking into the eyes of an innocent child.


    "My brother is all I have," he finally said, his voice strong yet trembling at the same time.


    The paradox of his acting was haunting, and the room turned silent as they internalized his words.


    Taehyun paused for a second to collect himself, not wanting to be surpassed by the young idol in terms of acting. With that, he was able to deliver his lines with more emotion, only adding to the impact of the scene.


    "You''re not the only person your brother has," Taehyun finally responded. "You''re nothing but a dispensable item¡ªa tool for him to get what he wants. Do you really want to be a tool for the destruction of the world as we know it?"


    June sighed heavily, a hint of empty amusement in his eyes.


    Hana watched the scene intently, appreciating the nuances that June was portraying in his character.


    "Then I''ll be happy to die knowing that my brother has someone else aside from me," he selflessly said.


    It was supposed to be a stronger statement, one that insinuated that his brother still had lots ofpanions by his side¡ªones that would lead him to victory even if Jian died.


    However, with the way June had said it, those watching felt his resignation.


    "And if my brother faces an unfortunate end, I''ll be happy to die in a time when my brother is still alive," he continued.


    "But that will never happen...I''m making sure it''s not going to happen. That''s why I''m standing before you and not my brother," June said, his voice gradually bing softer.


    Risa felt tears threatening to spill from her eyes. At this point, she thought that Jian would have been screaming¡ªa crack showing in his calm facade. However, June showed a different crack¡ªone that showed his vulnerabilities.


    It was utterly devastating.


    She could already imagine the sobs of the audience in the cinemas once it aired, and at that point, she knew what kind of personality she wanted for Jian.


    This was it.


    "My brother will live eternally," June continued.


    "Because as long as there are vengeful thoughts in the minds of man, the shadows will continue to lurk...and evil will remain," he said, internally smiling since these lines were simr to what he said during his acting audition.


    It was somehowforting that Risa incorporated it into his character and not Yian''s.


    With that, the scene with Jian finally came to an end, but the actors couldn''t find it in themselves to continue to the next scene.


    The feelings still lingered, and it almost felt like their exchange was too short.


    Hana looked down at the table and shook her head.


    "It''s a shame that he doesn''t get many lines," she muttered.


    However, she also couldn''t help but think that June devoured those few lines.


    "So, uh, when are we going to start the next scene?" June asked, finally breaking the silence in the room.


    Director Bong, who was fascinated for a moment, pursed his lips when he realized that June was indeed a great actor. However, even then, his pride shone through.


    "Don''t interrupt the reading," he scolded, causing June to raise his arms in surrender.


    The reading continued up until the ending, yet the scene with June still left the most impact.


    Taehyun, too, found himself enjoying that particr scene the most.


    "That''s a wrap for now," Director Jam said once Taehyun said hisst words.


    Risa''s and June''s eyes met for a second, so the writer quickly showed him a thumbs up before directing her gaze to the directors once again.


    "First of all, I want to thank Director Bong for choosing such talented actors for this movie," Director Jam said.


    "There are still some awkward moments here and there, especially during the viinous parts," he continued, ncing at Lin Zhi.


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips while June wore a subtle smirk.


    "But, with more time and proper practice, we''ll be able to work with it, I guess."


    "And for Jian," he said, looking June in the eyes.


    However, the director got lost in June''s orbs for a second. He had to pinch his thigh to look away! At one point, it felt like his eyes were familiar...or maybe his eyes were truly just beautiful and expressive.


    Well, at that point, the ''Pity Party'' booster was still ongoing, so those that looked into June''s eyes were sucked into his charm.


    "From what I have seen," Director Jam continued.


    "You''re the perfect fit for Jian."

 Chapter 598 Fluent Flamingo

    <h4>Chapter 598 Fluent mingo</h4>


    598 Fluent mingo


    Taehyun, the main actor, nodded in agreement.


    At first, he thought that June was just a pretty face. He hadn''t seen any of June''s works, but he did unintentionally listen to his group''s songs.


    His face was also all over the billboards nowadays, with EVE having brand deals left and right, so it was impossible not to know him.


    Honestly, a face like his was definitely needed in the movie...and even for a minor role, Taehyun felt like he would garner a lot of attention for its publicity.


    Moreover, his acting skills weren''t bad at all. He knew how to use his looks and his character traits to his advantage.


    However, Lin Zhi raised his hand and made a really good point.


    "With all due respect, being a good actor is not enough for Jian''s character," Lin Zhi started off.


    The people inside the room shifted their attention to him.


    "For most of the movie, his role as a messenger is emphasized. Aside from thest few scenes, his character is centered around being a messenger. Therefore, he must be a fluent Chinese speaker like Yian," he said.


    Director Bong nodded in agreement.


    "I know that some people are still questioning why I chose Lin Zhi as Yian," Director Bong started. "But his proficiency in Chinese is also a big factor. He''s the only Chinese native among the applicants, and he was the best one at that."


    "Since we had set such a standard for Yian, don''t you think we should also impose such standards on his brother?" Director Bong asked.


    Risa clicked her tongue and clenched one of her fists under the table.


    Why did she have to make the viins multilingual?


    "Fair enough," Director Bong said.


    "However," Hana quickly intercepted, surprising most of the people in the room.


    She had been silent this entire time, but it appeared like she was determined to defend June''s position until the end.


    "June can learn those lines," she said. "That''s what an actor does¡ªwe learn. Learning anguage is yet another challenge for us."


    "But there are a lot of actors out there who can speak Chinese proficiently already," Lin Zhi argued once more.


    The people in the room who were part of the production team watched them argue back and forth.


    They thought this was going to be an ordinary reading, but the events were much more interesting than they expected!


    This was a show itself!


    "Yet not a lot of those actors can act as well as June did," Hana said.


    "And how do you know that?" Lin Zhi asked. "Maybe you''re just giving him preferential treatment because the two of you have some sort of connection."


    Soft gasps were heard in the room. Ann, the intern from Rising Stars who had nownded a job as a contractual worker in VIVI productions, shook her head in disbelief.


    Even now, June was still caught up in drama wherever he went!


    Hana and Lin Zhi kept going back and forth, making Director Jam sigh in disappointment.


    He was about to interrupt their argument when someone suddenly spoke in a foreignnguage.


    "I think it''s time that you stop arguing with her," June said in his native tongue.


    "You look at her with such lustful eyes, yet your pride is too high to acknowledge that she is right," he continued.


    They turned to June in surprise, wondering if the person who spoke just now was truly him.


    Lin Zhi looked at him with wide eyes. He knew that June could understand Chinese to some extent, but he never expected him to speak thenguage so fluently.


    He had already done some research and knew that June had bad grades and didn''t have an ounce of Chinese blood! So, it was nearly impossible!


    Howe he spoke as well as a native speaker just now?


    Director Bong, too, couldn''t hide his surprise. He thought he would be able to convince Director Jam to find another actor who spoke Chinese well, yet with how June spoke moments ago, he realized that he was just as good as any Chinese folk.


    "You know how to speak Chinese?" Lin Zhi couldn''t help but ask in his nativenguage.


    "Why? Are you surprised?" June asked.


    "I can do a lot more things that you don''t expect," he smirked. "Do you want me to speak to you in Japanese?"


    "Idiot. If I didn''t have a reputation to keep, then I would have said something more insulting," June deadpanned in Japanese this time.


    Hana looked at June with wide eyes, seeing him in another light.


    ''Howe I never knew about this?'' she thought.


    They had been friends for so long, yet the fact that June could fluently speak two othernguages blew her mind.


    He just looked a hundred times more attractive!


    Meanwhile, the other women in the room also swooned.


    Risa found her cheeks reddening just as June said those words.


    His voice became deeper when he spoke in anothernguage!


    Hanlim looked at his wife and shook his head. He feared he just lost some of his wife''s love to the handsome idol.


    "Baka? I understood that. He just called Lin Zhi an idiot!"


    "Well, it was rude for him to bring up June''snguage skills in a role that perfectly suited him. June could have learned thenguage, too! He probably doesn''t want June in the production."


    "Honestly, he should be thankful that June is Jian. If it weren''t for that, then Lin Zhi might not have Yian''s role right now. June could speak fluent Chinese too."


    Lin Zhi heard the whispers around him, making him feel even more resentful. However, even then, he couldn''t say anything about it since he knew it would only aggravate the situation.


    "I guess we don''t have any objections then," Director Jam said. "I also agree that June suits the role of Jian. However, I also agree that he should not have been here as he''s not one of the main characters."


    "But then again, everything''s already finished. There''s no use crying over spilled milk. I guess it''s also good that we established that June is fluent in threenguages."


    "With that, let''s call it a day. The filming will start next week, and we will notify you of your schedules via your managers."


    "June," Director Jam said. "I''ll have mywyers send you the contract for the role."


    "Congrattions," he smiled.


    "You are officially part of Untouched Souls."

 Chapter 599 A Special Day (1)

    <h4>Chapter 599 A Special Day (1)</h4>


    "I''m so bored," Akira groaned as he slumped on the couch.


    The members of EVE were currently in their living room dorm with a new episode of ''The King''s Joker'' ying in the background. It was a rare urrence where they were all gathered in the early afternoon.


    These days, they were only able to go homete in the evening, and they all went to their rooms right after, so it has been a while since they gathered like this.


    "How are you bored with all the work we''ve been putting out?" Sehun asked, on the verge of sleep. "I feel like I need a one week''s worth of vacation with everything that happened!"


    "I don''t even know," Akira sighed. "My body feels tired, too, but my mind wants to do something. It''s only been a week filled with nonstop work, but I already feel like a workaholic!"


    "Imagine how June feels," Zeth said. "I can''t believe he got epted in a movie while we''re doing all these things. Come to think of it now, I probably would not be able to do all of those if I became EVE''s center."


    Ren shook his head. "You probably won''t be offered such opportunities even if you were a center. You suck at acting."


    Zeth raised his hands in surrender.


    "Touche," Zeth said.


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted your Acting Mission.]


    [You are now part of Untouched Souls]


    [You have also reached a hundred hard work points]


    [Acting: +2]


    [Current Grade: A-]


    "I''m really, really bored," Akira continued ranting, causing June to click his tongue.


    "What do you want to do then?" June asked.


    Akira wore a sessful smirk as he nced at his teammates. However, he quickly focused back on June.


    "Why don''t we eat hotpot again? I''ve been craving some for the past week. But we can''t eat outside now because our fans will go batshit crazy."


    "Me too," Jisung chimed. "I want those pre-packed hotpot starter kits from that popr hotpot spot."


    "It''s so far, though," Jaeyong groaned. "I''m toozy to go."


    "Me too," Jisung said once more.


    "Me three," Akira chimed.


    June clicked his tongue. "Why did you even suggest hotpot if you''re toozy to buy the meal kit yourself."


    Akira then gasped in an exaggerated manner, pping at himself like he had juste up with a genius idea.


    "Why don''t we y rock-paper-scissors, and the person who loses will buy the hotpot kit for us," he suggested.


    "Great idea!" Jisung eximed, almost in a robotic voice, causing June to narrow his eyes in suspicion.


    "You guys are acting strange."


    "Strange?" Akira chuckled. "Jisung and I have always been weird."


    June still wasn''t convinced.


    "Yeah, we can do that," Jaeyong chimed. "Jay said we can use the van, so it''ll be easier."


    "Jay''s on this too?" June asked.


    "He''sing byter," Ren nervously chuckled.


    "So, why can''t he be the one to buy the hotpot kit?" June asked.


    Zeth clicked his tongue and leaned closer to Sehun. "He''s way too smart."


    "Come on," Akira whined, his voice filling the entire room. "It''s going to be a fair game of rock-paper-scissors. Why are you so against it?"


    "Fine," June sighed.


    He has been craving hotpot anyway. He felt like he needed it after working hard for the past weeks.


    Akira''s smile quivered. "Alright, let''s do this."


    "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"


    The seven other members showed rock while June showed scissors, making the group cheer.


    June red at them as they gathered in a circle, celebrating like they just won the championships of a basketball game.


    "This is a set-up," June said. "I feel like you''ve nned this."


    "We didn''t," Akira defended.


    "Then, let''s have a rematch," June suggested.


    "No way," Akira awkwardly chuckled, his eyes darting around. "You already lost!"


    "I would only be convinced that you guys didn''t cheat if we have a rematch."


    Akira pursed his lips and nced at the other members.


    "Fine," he sighed. "Just one more game, alright?"


    "Hmm," June hummed, readying his hand to y another round.


    Akira gulped, appearing to be nervous. "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"


    Once again, the other seven members all showed paper while June showed rock.


    The seven members celebrated once again, causing June to slump in disappointment.


    Amidst their cheers, Fu appeared right before June.


    [It''s a special day, bitch!]


    June was taken aback by Fu''s sudden cursing.


    [You have been granted an extra special mission, bitch!]


    ''Can you stop calling me that way?''


    [Anyway, here''s your mission! You have a treasure hunt. Find all of these items within the day, ce them on top of your bed, and be granted a surprise reward!]


    ''A surprise reward? That''s new.''


    ''What''s this even for?'' June asked.


    [It''s a surprise!]


    [Find all of these things:


    1. A sweet, red apple from a woman as pale as snow.


    2. A kiss on the cheek from a crazy witch.


    3. A knife from a jealous jerk.]


    June once again read his mission with a frown.


    Was he a princess of some sort? What are these items?


    Well, at least going out by himself wouldn''t be too bad after all. He could take the time to finish his mission and find out what the real surprise was.


    The seven members finally stopped celebrating when they noticed that June was silent.


    Jisung pursed his lips and approached June, feeling that he was upset.


    In reality, June was just talking to his system.


    "Umm, bro? Is that alright with you?" he asked, making June snap out of his daze.


    June looked up at them and nodded.


    "Yeah, that''s alright," he nonchntly said, making the members feel guilty for celebrating too hard.


    Then, he grabbed his bag along with the car keys before walking away from the members, determined to finish his mission early so he coulde home and they could start their hotpot party sooner.


    "I''ll get going then."


    With that, he walked out of the door. Due to a sudden gush of wind, the door mmed shut, creating a loud sound.


    The members inside froze in surprise.


    Akira bit his lip in nervousness.


    "Oh no, June is upset."

 Chapter 600 A Special Day (2)

    <h4>Chapter 600 A Special Day (2)</h4>


    "Oh goodness. I think he''s really upset," Jisung said, pacing back and forth.


    "If anything happens, then it''s Akira''s fault. He nned all of this," he med.


    "Yah!" Akira eximed. "You all agreed that it was a great idea."


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his head. "Maybe we shouldn''t have nned to y all rock in the first game. I think he realized that we were ganging up on him since then."


    "But the second round was real," Akira said. "We didn''t n to y all paper while he yed rock."


    "Looks like June''s luck is still shitty after all," Zeth said.


    "Anyway, he''ll probably feel better once he sees our surprise for him!" he continued.


    "So, let''s do our best until hees home."


    They all nodded in agreement.


    However, there was still a nagging feeling in Jisung''s mind.


    "I think he''s really upset, though."


    ***


    Meanwhile, June was on his way to retrieve the first item on his list. When the mission was first revealed, June instantly knew where he would get it.


    He arrived at the hospital and entered Grandma''s room. She was all alone while watching a ck-and-white TV show.


    As June made his presence known, Grandma''s eyes instantly widened. She turned down the volume of the TV and excitedly coaxed him over.


    "You''re here?" she asked.


    "Hi, Grandma," June smiled. "I''m sorry that I only came by just now."


    "What are you talking about?" Grandma asked. "I''m surprised you even visited today. You should be celebrating."


    Celebrating?


    "Ah, right. We won in a music show yesterday," June muttered.


    "Anyway, I apologize, but I won''t be able to stay here for long. I''ll actually just drop this off," he said, referring to the fruit basket in his hand.


    "Of course, I understand."


    With that, June stood from her bed and ced the basket of fruits on the table.


    However, he didn''t fail to get the single red apple left on top of it.


    He ced it in his bag and smirked.


    "One item down," he muttered.


    "I''m going now, Grandma," he smiled once the apple was secured in his bag.


    "Hmm," Grandma hummed, waving goodbye.


    "By the way, Happy¡ª"


    June whistled happily as he gently closed the door, ready to retrieve the next item.


    ***


    Now, this was a problem for June.


    A kiss on the cheek from a crazy witch?


    Now, where would he find a crazy witch!


    He had already driven to Itaewon to get the hotpot kit his members were craving and was now looking for a crazy witch that he could ask for a kiss on the cheek.


    However, as he passed by a familiar building, he realized that the crazy witch might not be far after all!


    He didn''t bother knocking at the door as he entered. There, he saw the crazy witch he was pertaining about.


    "I''m sorry, we don''t ept walk-in clients. Mr. Pablo is resting right now," she said.


    "Crazy witch," June said, making Jenny lift her head.


    Her eyes widened in surprise. "June? What are you doing here?"


    June sighed. "I need something from you."


    That made her even more surprised. "You? From me?"


    June nodded, not knowing how to ask Jenny for a kiss on the cheek.


    He had been the most worried about this particr item. First, he couldn''t just kiss a random woman on the cheek. So, Jenny was the perfect woman since it would seem like a kiss to a family member¡ªno strings attached and all.


    "Do you need me to get Pablo for you?" she asked.


    June fervently shook his head. He didn''t need another crazy witch!


    "Just¡ªjust kiss me on the cheek," June said, causing Jenny to scream out loud.


    "What?" she asked, not believing his words.


    "Look¡ªI need it for...something," June muttered. "I don''t have to exin myself! Just do it for a second. Not even a second but for a millisecond."


    "You are insane," Jenny said. "You were cute when we were toddlers, but no way in hell am I going to give you a kiss on the cheek right now."


    "I''ll send you some pictures of Casper sleeping," June deadpanned.


    Jenny pursed her lips together before sighing in defeat.


    "Deal."


    With that, he secured the second item, with some of Jenny''s ck lipstick even staining his skin.


    "Disgusting," June said, wiping it with a disgusted look on his face.


    Jenny red at him. "Fuck off! You were the one who asked me to do it."


    "Whatever," June said. "I''m going now."


    "You came here just for that?" she asked in disbelief.


    "Yeah," June said.


    She sighed and shook her head. "It''s fortunate that it''s your special day. I''m letting you off the hook this time," she said.


    "Bye, crazy witch!" June said, waving goodbye before going back to the car to drive to his final destination.


    ***


    Now, it was onto thest item on his list.


    A knife from a jealous jerk.


    It didn''t take long for June to identify a jealous jerk in his life¡ª


    Lin Zhi.


    However, he wasn''t in the mood to search for Lin Zhi''s address or to get into trouble for breaking into his room.


    So, he settled on the next best thing.


    He entered their dorm building and picked the lock of the unit right next to them.


    He could have just knocked like a normal person, but that wouldn''t be fun now, would it?


    June finally picked the lock and entered BOYMYSTIC''s dorm, looking around the ce with a grimace.


    It seemed like they weren''t too different from the members of EVE. Their dorm also looked like a pigsty!


    June shook his head and went straight to the kitchen, where he saw a rotting piece of pork knuckle dish on the sink.


    "Goodness," June muttered and looked around for a knife.


    Then, he saw a single sharp knife perched on top of their microwave, making him smirk.


    He then looked around to see if any of the members were there


    ¡ªparticrly Nico.


    He was the jealous jerk that June was pertaining about! However, it seemed like no one was there¡ªor so he thought.


    After an hour-long crying session in the shower, Nico emerged from the bathroom. His eyes were swollen and blurry because of the tears, and they continued to fall as he thought of BOYMYSTIC''s impending disbandment.


    However, as he passed by the kitchen, he felt like he saw a ck figure standing in front of their microwave, making him halt.


    Then, he tilted his head to the side in confusion before taking a step back to see if what he saw was real.


    At that moment, June turned around with therge knife in his hand, looking like a psycho murderer straight out of a movie scene.


    Nico''s face paled with the thought of getting stabbed...and before he knew it, he passed out on the cold, hard ground, the towel around his hips unraveling and revealing his schlong.


    June nonchntly watched the scene unfold before him. He secretly enjoyed seeing Nico in such a vulnerable state (not like that, you imbeciles!).


    He felt like Nico was a minor inconvenience in his life¡ªnot one he would consider an enemy, but annoying enough that June wanted to do something petty to him.


    "Thanks for the knife, dude!" he said before stepping over his body, leaving him in the same state.

 Chapter 601 A Special Day (3)

    <h4>Chapter 601 A Special Day (3) </h4>


    A loud shrill scream was heard next door as the members of EVE worriedly paced in their dorms.


    The remaining members of BOYMYSTIC had juste home, and they saw their member with his schlong out in the kitchen, so they were having a hard time processing it.


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE were worried because the skies were already dark, and June still hadn''t returned.


    "I think he''s really upset," Jisung said, already on the verge of tears.


    "June wouldn''t get upset because of such a trivial matter, though," Jaeyong sighed.


    "We don''t know that!" Jisung eximed. "What do you think, Casper?" he asked the member who was practically an expert when it came to June.


    Casper ced his hand on his chin, analyzing the situation.


    "It''s true that June gets upset with a lot of things, but I don''t think he''ll be upset about this," he said, making the members sigh in relief.


    "However," he quickly added, making them tense once again.


    "He has been pretty tired for the past few weeks. I''m not sure if you''ve noticed, but it also looks like he''s going through some personal stuff that he doesn''t want to talk about. So, while his mind is the strongest out of everyone on the team, what we did earlier might have pushed him over the edge."


    "That...or he had been mugged by fans and is now seeking shelter in a remote ce."


    The members were stunned, not knowing how to react.


    Then, Jay dropped to his knees in an exaggerated manner, even cing his hand over his heart.


    "I''m a failure," he whispered. "I shouldn''t have let this happen!"


    Akira, too, felt guilty for orchestrating the entire thing. "I take full responsibility," he said with his eyes directed to the ground. "I only wanted to surprise him on his special day!"


    Jisung''s tears now freely fell from his eyes, some of the salty water dripping on the cake right beneath him.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing June with a knife, an apple, and the hotpot kit that they requested.


    The members looked at him with wide eyes, but June didn''t bother sparing them a nce. Instead, he went straight to his room and mmed the door shut, making Jay and the members feel even guiltier.


    Jisung''s tears were uncontroble at this point, and the once celebratory atmosphere had severely dampened.


    "What are we going to do now?" he asked while sniffing.


    Meanwhile, June was just excited to see what Fu prepared for his surprise.


    He ced the knife and the apple on the bed and waited for something to happen.


    Just then, celebratory music started ying in his mind.


    [You''ve earned your surprise, bitch!]


    June sighed and shook his head. He was still confused by Fu''s sudden shift in personality.


    "Where''s my surprise?" he asked.


    [As Fu is a kind system and the host has given me what I need, I shall grant you three different potions. This will be helpful for your uing projects.]


    [1. Sympathy potion: Earn people''s sympathy for one whole day with this potent potion.]


    [2. Hint potion: A hint will be given when the host needs it. Only one hint will be given.]


    [3. Gift Potion: LOCKED]


    "Locked?" June asked. "Why are you giving me a locked potion?"


    [The gift potion will be unlocked by a certain trigger.]


    "And that is?"


    Fu didn''t respond to his question and moved on to another topic.


    [And, since Fu loves the host very much, I will be giving him one upgrade for each of his skills. This is a rare opportunity, and Fu wants to hear praises for his generosity.]


    [All skills: +1]


    [Current stats:


    - Vocals: X


    - Dance: SSS


    - Visual: SS


    - Rap: S-


    - Leadership: S


    - Music Production: S


    - Acting: A


    - Stage Presence: S-]


    "Geez," he said, almost feeling suffocated when he saw the amount of S-stats in his skills. However, his vocal skill remained as X, and June was still unsure of what it meant.


    [Andstly! Happy¡ª]


    Just then, he heard someone knock on the door, cutting his conversation with Fu short.


    He sighed and opened the door, only to see a dejected Casper standing outside.


    "Sorry," Casper said, and without a word, he walked away from June''s room.


    He frowned in confusion before concluding that the team must be hungry and were slowly losing their minds.


    With that, he grabbed the hotpot kit on the table and proceeded to go to the living room, where he saw the members with disappointed expressions. Jisung was even crying his eyes out!


    June frowned in confusion as he looked at all of them.


    "Guys?" he asked, making them snap out of their daze.


    Then, without any warning, they flocked to June like seagulls to a single breadcrumb.


    "We''re sorry!"


    "We shouldn''t have forced you."


    "Please forgive us."


    "I am a bad manager."


    June''s frown deepened as he pushed away his members.


    "What are you guys talking about?" June asked.


    Akira stepped forward with a guilty look.


    "Aren''t you mad?" he asked.


    "About what?" June deadpanned.


    "About how we made you go out by yourself when it''s your birthday!"


    Jisung sniffed. "We just wanted you out of the dorms because we wanted to prepare a surprise for you," he said, gesturing to the cake on the table.


    There was a ''Happy Birthday to our eternal cat, June! Love, EVE'' messily written on the cake, softening June''s heart.


    Then, he finally noticed the gifts under the table, making him feel more touched than he had expected.


    "It''s my birthday," he muttered, appearing to be in disbelief.


    "Don''t tell me that you forgot about it," Zeth said.


    June pursed his lips, his silence confirming that he indeed forgot about his birthday.


    "Shut up," Ren said. "You forgot your own birthday?"


    June shrugged like it was no big deal.


    "It''s been a long time since I celebrated my birthday," he truthfully said. "Honestly, it feels just like a regr day to me. I think this might be the first time someone had prepared this much for my birthday.


    "That can''t be," Jisung said, feeling sadness swell in his heart. "So, you haven''t had cake for so long?"


    June shook his head, making Jisung feel even sadder than before.


    "Then, it''s all the more reason why we should celebrate it," Jaeyong said, standing next to June.


    "I know it may sound cheesy, but we really appreciate your presence on the team. I know how hard you''ve been working behind the scenes to get EVE to where it is today, and for that, I am eternally grateful."


    Ren nodded in agreement.


    "Not a lot of people can do what you''ve done. We''re proud of you, June."


    "And don''t worry," Casper said. "From now on, we''ll be sure to celebrate your birthday every year."


    June cast his eyes to the ground to suppress the wide smile that threatened to arise from his face.


    How could it be possible to feel this...warm?


    When all they''ve done was prepare him a simple cake and some gifts that didn''t break the bank?


    However, deep inside, June knew the answer to his question.


    He felt warm because these were his friends.


    And at the end of the day, it is the small things in life that make you realize that life is truly worth living.

 Chapter 602 This is the Life

    <h4>Chapter 602 This is the Life</h4>


    "We''re trending again," Jisung said as June went out of his room.


    A week had passed since his birthday, and it was now a brand new month. EVE had gone through a lot for the past month, and their career was currently at its peak.


    June turned to television, where the news was currently ying.


    "Rookie group EVE takes the world by storm with their song--Luster. It has reached number one in all of the domestic charts, and it shows no signs of stopping. Earlier this morning, they''ve also broken into the international market, with their song ranking 197th on the top 200 worldwide songs."


    Akira emerged from his room with wide eyes, immediately going next to Jisung to watch the news with him.


    "We''ve made it to the Bilbong charts?" Akira muttered in disbelief at what he just heard.


    June scratched the back of his head. "Is it that big of a deal?"


    Jisung and Akira quickly turned around. "Is it that big of a deal?" Akira repeated in disbelief.


    "Of course it is," Akira said. "There are groups who are more popr internationally, and they don''t even chart in the top 200 worldwide songs! Do you know what this means?"


    June pursed his lips. "No?"


    "It means that we''re iming the title of the biggest boy group in Korea!"


    Like perfect timing, the news anchor said those exact same words.


    "They are the very first boy group to have a perfect all-kill on all of the domestic charts while charting internationally. Despite the group not having their first-year anniversary yet, they might just snatch the title of the biggest boy group in Korea!"


    Jisung gulped as the news segment ended.


    "Well...that''s a lot of pressure," Jisung chuckled. "I wonder how thepany will react to this."


    Meanwhile, in Azure''s headquarters, Mr. Ong was bathing in the small jacuzzi in his office.


    EVE''s song was ying in the background while he yed a gambling game on hisrgeptop. He waspletely naked, and the floors had gotten wet from his excitement whenever he won, but he didn''t care at all.


    "This is the life," he said, sipping on some champagne that he bought with thepany''s card.


    It had only been a month since EVE''s song popped off, yet it was already the greatest money maker of Azure Entertainment. It has been used inmercials, TV shows, and even in the background of some movies.


    Azure had never been this prosperous with the other groups they''d pushed before...and to think it was because of a song that the members themselves had written.


    Just then, the words ''LOSE'' appeared on his screen, and before he knew it, his bnce was drained of thousands of dors.


    However, even then, he still appeared happier than ever.


    Mr. Ong sighed and leaned against his jacuzzi with a satisfied sigh.


    "That''s alright," he said. "It''s just money. It wille back."


    "As long as my boys are working, I''ll be able to live like this," he confidently said, betting another couple thousand dors on the gambling game.


    Back to EVE''s dorm¡­


    "Today is the first day of the filming, right?" Akira asked once he saw that June was fully dressed.


    June nodded as he ced his script inside his backpack. Honestly, he probably didn''t need it today because they were going to film the opening scenes of the movie¡ªone where he didn''t have many lines.


    Nheless, all of the characters'' introductions will be filmed today, so June had prepared really wellst night despite hisck of lines.


    "Jay''s waiting for me downstairs," June said. "I''ll go right ahead."


    ***


    It didn''t take long before Jay and June arrived at the filming site. It was the same one when June acted as a bandit in Hana''s past historical drama. However, the set was designed to fit the intricacies of the film this time, so it definitely didn''t look like it was the same location.


    As he arrived, he was greeted by Hana and Taehyun, the main characters of the show.


    "Are you ready?" Hana asked. She was already dressed in traditional wear, with her hair unstyled. Since she had done a lot of historical dramas in the past year, it wasn''t much of a surprise to June anymore. She actually looked very natural in this type of costume.


    In his peripheral vision, he saw Lin Zhi getting his hair done. He was d in a ck hanbok, and he was given a white wig that almost looked like gray hair.


    June shook his head. Gray was definitely not his color.


    Before he could even answer Hana''s question, someone from the costume team dragged him inside the changing room.


    "You''rete," the woman with sses said, making him purse his lips.


    "I was informed to be here by this time," June said.


    She shook her head. "You should havee earlier. Since this is a historical drama, it is only basic etiquette that the actorse early so you can get dressed and have your hair and make-up done. This whole process will take about an hour, so the other cast members will already proceed with filming."


    June nodded in understanding. "I apologize," he sincerely said.


    She nodded and got to work, cing June in a costume that was simr to Lin Zhi''s.


    As he emerged from the dressing room, the woman froze and looked at him with raised eyebrows. It suited him very well¡ª


    almost like the hanbok was tailored fit for him. Even though he hadn''t gotten his make-up and hair done yet, he already looked quite dashing.


    Then, June was coaxed over by the hair and make-up artists, and they quickly got to work.


    Thankfully, they didn''t give him a gray wig like Lin Zhi, and they settled for long ck hair pulled into a messy half-up, half-down instead. He could hear Director Jam already shouting from the filming site, so June inferred that the shoot must have started.


    It was a good thing he wasn''t part of the first few scenes, so he wouldn''t be dying the filming of any sort.


    In the middle of it all, June felt sleepy as the make-up artist lightly brushed her tools on his face.


    Then, the make-up artist stopped and stepped back as she looked at her final creation, only to be bombarded with a visual attack.


    She ced her hand over her heart as she felt a strange ache go through her body.


    "How could a viin look this handsome?"

 Chapter 603 Don’t Fret, Little Shrimp

    <h4>Chapter 603 Don''t Fret, Little Shrimp </h4>


    "Alright, we''ll be panning the cameras to the characters one by one. This is where Taehyun''s narrations will be yed, and although your characters aren''t going to be explicitly introduced, you need to show portray your traits without saying anything," Director Jam instructed.


    The actors all nodded in agreement, taking their positions in the chaos-filled set. They were set in the ruins of the vige, showing the aftermath of everything they went through.


    Then, Taehyun''s narration started ying to get the different actors in the mood.


    "In a world where emotions are not mere manifestations of our existence, but tangible entities, we find ourselves in a realm like any other."


    "Here, emotions take on a life of their own, divided into four distinct factions: Crimson, Golden, Shadow, and Ivory. Each faction embodies a fundamental aspect of human emotion, from love to ambition, fear to purity."


    At this point, the camera hadn''t started with their shots just yet.


    June had just gotten his hair and make-up done, emerging from the tent. He was a bit dyed since the make-up artist stared at him a little too long and couldn''t find the heart to wake him up.


    So, he bit his lip when he saw that the filming had already started.


    Ann, seeing the beautiful creature behind the cameras, quickly went up to June.


    "They''ve already started," she said.


    "I know," June said. "Where''s the camera''s blind spot so I can sneak into my spot?"


    Ann smiled and gestured for him to follow after her. She quickly pointed where June was supposed to be, so he briskly walked to his position right behind Lin Zhi.


    Fortunately, the cameras were focused on Hana during that time, so he wasn''t caught by the lens.


    Ann made her way back to her original position with the other ''cinematography'' experts.


    They watched the actors portray the emotions of their characters, nodding in satisfaction after Hana finished her part.


    "Really pretty," one of them said. "However, I could still see the pain and desperation behind her eyes. She''s really suited for this character."


    Director Jam, who was also monitoring the take, nodded in agreement. He wasn''t expecting any less from Hana. This was his second time working with her, so he already knew of her capabilities.


    The narration continued on, with the camera focusing on one character to another.


    "Yet, despite the inherent harmony that should prevail in a world where emotions intertwine, peace remains as a dream."


    "How should one react when the very essence of their being dictates their actions?"


    The camera focused on the leaders of the other factions, getting closer and closer to where June and Lin Zhi were standing.


    Actually, June wasn''t going to be shown in the full shot of this scene. Instead, he would just be in the background of Lin Zhi''s character.


    Lin Zhi was the second to thest one to be shown, with Taehyun being the focal point of this certain scene.


    The camera moved slowly as Taehyun''s voice echoed in the set.


    "In the pursuit of peace, do we sacrifice the very essence of what makes us human? Can harmony coexist with individuality, or is it an illusion that we chase in vain, forever out of reach?"


    Finally, the camera focused on Lin Zhi, and June stood right behind him. At this point, Lin Zhi didn''t pay June much attention. He knew that he was the main focus of the shot, so he pulled out the most resentful face he could muster.


    Director Jam raised his eyebrows in surprise, finding Lin Zhi''s interpretation of Yian spot on. It was the kind of ugly that you wanted to turn away from. Truly, he looked like a very hateful character.


    Meanwhile, June''s character was calm and obedient, so he stayed still and showed his loyalty through his steady gaze.


    For a moment, the camera focused on the two of them, making Ann gasp in surprise once June''s face was shown clearly on the monitoring screen.


    June was already attractive in real life, yet it was getting captured by the camera so well!


    Director Jam was also surprised. At first, he found Lin Zhi''s portrayal of a hateful character impressive; however, for some reason, his gaze strayed to June secondster.


    It just felt like he had a captivating aura that immediately caught your attention.


    "Are we sure he''s part of the viin team?"


    "He''s eating Lin Zhi up with his face card."


    "Honestly, this just makes Yian more unlikeable¡ªwhich is the goal of the film, right?"


    "I agree. The contrast in their furious and calm looks emphasizes that Yian is the true viin of the movie."


    Director Jam nodded in agreement, a small smile emerging from his face. It seemed like he didn''t have to get angry for this specific scene!


    "...and cut!" Director Jam eximed.


    The actors finally dropped their expressions, with Lin Zhi looking the most smug. He didn''t want to say it out loud, but he believed he nailed the specific take.


    Then, he turned around to look at June, only to freeze when he saw how dazzling he was.


    "What the heck," Lin Zhi muttered. "He''s shining."


    June didn''t bother ncing at him as he walked over to therge screen, where the actors were now monitoring their performances.


    He stayed at the very back while Lin Zhi subtly pushed him aside so he could get a better look. June shook his head and settled at the side instead.


    They yed the video, with Director Jam feeling satisfied despite theck of editing in the clip.


    "Now, I''m satisfied with this take," he said. "So, I don''t think there''s a need for us to retake it. I believe it couldn''t get any more genuine than this, so after watching the clip, let''s go ahead and film the first few scenes of the movie."


    The clip continued, and the actors were also satisfied with the take. It seemed like they were all determined to finish this particr scene in just one take since they gave it their all.


    Once it got to Lin Zhi, the others nodded in acknowledgment. He truly did look like a viin.


    Lin Zhi smiled to himself, feeling proud of their reactions. He felt a bit regretful since he believed he could have looked more handsome in the shot, but if the director said it had gone well, then Lin Zhi had no reason to mistrust him.


    However, as the camera unfocused a bit, now showing June in a clearer view, a greater reaction was heard from the other actors.


    Hana looked around until her eyesnded on June, only for it to widen even more when she saw how well he fit the costume they had prepared.


    "You look good on camera," Taehyunplimented.


    June smirked. "Does that mean I don''t look good in real life?"


    Taehyung shook his head in amusement. "You do," he said. "That''s why it''s slightly annoying."


    June chuckled and joked along with the other actors.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi couldn''t tear his eyes away from the screen, his eyes twitching from annoyance as he observed the contrast in their looks.


    ''I look like a shrimp next to him!''

 Chapter 604 Idols Should Be Perfect

    <h4>Chapter 604 Idols Should Be Perfect</h4>


    "Good job a while back," Hana said, patting June''s back as she sat next to him.


    The first day of the filming was finally over, and the actors were resting for a moment. They were able to film a decent amount of scenes, and it seemed like Director Jam was in a good mood because of it.


    June chuckled as he ced his water bottle on the table.


    "I had like three lines just now," June said, wondering how he could have done such a great job in those three lines.


    Hana chuckled. "Well, you nailed those three lines. It''s like you''ve been a servant in your past life with how well you obeyed Yian during those scenes."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    Then, he heard another person agree to Hana''s statement.


    "She''s right."


    The two of them turned around, only to see Taehyun, one of the top actors of the generation, approaching them.


    "You caught my attention even when you don''t have many lines. It makes me more curious about your acting," he said.


    "Well, you''ll be able to watch about four more lines in the entire movie," June said, causing the two actors to chuckle.


    "Things can change," Taehyun said. "The script isn''t always final until the movie has premiered."


    June raised his eyebrows in inquiry. "Really?"


    "Yes," Hana responded. "It''s happened plenty of times before. It''s based on what the director feels and how other producers see your character, too. So, your character might be boosted to ''almost-main character'' if you manage to keep doing well like this."


    June shrugged. "I''m just going to do my best for what is given now."


    "That''s the mindset," Taehyun said.


    "Why don''t you give me your number so I can contact you and give you some tips from time to time?" he asked, giving June his phone.


    June looked at him with skepticism. "Why is a big shot like you asking for my number?"


    Taehyung nodded in amusement. "For all I know, you''re the big shot right here, Mr. Bilbong. I may have an ulterior motive of asking for your autograph for my little cousins and aunts."


    Some actors nearby heard what Taehyun had said.


    "Oh, me too! My wife''s obsessed with June right now. She''s even watching Rising Stars."


    "Even my daughter is infatuated with him. Now, I can see why. You''re quite the talented man, aren''t you?"


    "Give me your autograph for my members too!"


    "Umm, can you also sign this one¡­for me?"


    Meanwhile, a figure loomed over the shadows, his hair disheveled and his appearance envious.


    "What''s this?" he muttered, a manic yet soft chuckle escaping from his lips.


    "I''m the main character," he continued ranting to himself.


    "Why are they acting like that bastard is the big deal here?"


    Lin Zhi''s eyes were wide and devoid of any emotion. His pupils were constricted as if he were holding himself back from doing anything harmful.


    For a moment, Ann nced at him, but she quickly looked away when he saw his cold gaze.


    "Geez," she muttered, feeling goosebumps arise from her skin. "He''s way into his character."


    Lin Zhi couldn''t ept the fact that June was getting all the praise when, in reality, he was also doing his best for the movie production! June only had to utter three lines within the entire day while he had a whole ass introduction scene! How could this be?


    He shook his head and turned away from the scene before leaving the set with clenched fists. He didn''t even bother bidding farewell to the directors or to anyone, for that matter.


    He trudged to the exit and saw a familiar ck car waiting for him.


    Lin Zhi wasted no time in getting inside the car, mming it shut as he settled in the front seat.


    "This is expensive," Laohu said. "Don''t go mming my car door when you don''t even have any money to pay for it."


    That was Lin Zhi''s tipping point.


    He turned to Laohu with murderous eyes.


    "I would have made a lot of money if it weren''t for that bastard!" he eximed.


    "I should have debuted in EVE! I should be the center of EVE! I should be swimming in money! I should be the sole focus of the Shadow n, but here he is again¡ªtaking away every opportunity of mine to shine," he screamed while Laohu drove calmly.


    Laohu didn''t respond for a while as Lin Zhi caught his breath.


    "Are you done?" Laohu asked.


    Lin Zhi sighed and closed his eyes to calm himself down.


    "I''m done," Lin Zhi said. "But I''m not done with that bastard. I need to do something so I can finally shine without him taking the spotlight."


    "You should learn how to level yourself more, Lin Zhi," Laohu said in a cold tone.


    "Your temper will lead to your downfall one of these days. Real viins are calm¡ªones who are not shaken by little emotions such as envy. Instead, we use those emotions as our weapon when ites to destroying our enemies."


    Lin Zhi frowned in confusion. "Aren''t you going to help me with this?"


    "I am," Laohu said. "After all, June is the one who exposed you to be a fraud, which led to your downfall in thepany. If it weren''t for him, we might have gotten a hold of the information of who stole the briefcase and where it is."


    Lin Zhi nodded in agreement. "So, what are we going to do?"


    Laohu smirked as he leaned against the car seat, tapping his phone, which was inside his pocket.


    "You know what''s easier than ruining an idol''s career?" he asked.


    "Umm, breathing?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Nothing," Laohu said. "Nothing is easier."


    "An idol could just be breathing, and people are already ruining their careers as we speak."


    "Because they''re ced on such a high pedestal, everything they do¡ªeven normal everyday things that most people do¡ª


    can be the cause of their downfall."


    "Eating, gaining weight, losing weight,ughing, greeting, studying¡­dating," Laohu smirked.


    "All of these are the things that an idol cannot do right¡­no matter how hard they try."


    "They''re perfect," he continued. "They should be perfect."


    "It''s the life that they chose."


    "And what''s better with June is that he''s currently at the top," Laohu said, finally stopping the car as they arrived at their apartmentplex.


    "And once you''ve reached the top, you can only go to one ce¡ªrock bottom."

 Chapter 605 A Break-up

    <h4>Chapter 605 A Break-up</h4>


    "Nico, one of the members of BOYMYSTIC, is currently dating GIRLS'' EVOLUTION Mimi!"


    Akira burst out of his room with his phone in hand, his hair still messy and his cheeks stained with dried saliva. He walked to the dining table, where his members were already eating breakfast.


    They all lifted their heads when they heard Akira approaching.


    "So, that''s the reason why you weren''t leaving your room a while back?" Jaeyong asked.


    "That doesn''t matter," Akira eximed. "Did you hear what I just said?"


    "Nico''s dating Mimi?" Jisung asked in disbelief. "Didn''t she like June or something?"


    They all turned to June, who was happily eating the pancakes that Casper had prepared.


    "What?" June asked when he felt their stare. "I could care less about who''s dating who. Although, I''m quite surprised that Nico managed to pull Mimi. He''s been pining for so long."


    "He has?" some of his members asked.


    "He has," Zeth confirmed.


    "How do you know about this?" Jisung asked in confusion. "Ah, right. You have that thing going on with Kiera."


    Zeth pursed his lips before scratching the back of his head. "Umm, we broke it off."


    "What?" his members asked.


    June, too, turned to him in surprise. He thought that everything was going well between the two. They have also never been caught, even after seeing each other for more than four months already.


    "Yeah," Zeth said. "It was getting harder and harder to hide the rtionship with how our career is going, so she broke up with me."


    Ren pursed his lips and patted his friend on the back.


    "Wee to the single club, my friend," he said. "It''s quite enjoyable here."


    "Yeah," Jisung chimed. "Let''s all enjoy being single together."


    "That''s right," Akira nodded in agreement. "Cheers to the singlemunity!"


    "Cheers," the members said.


    "Can we talk about this dating scandal, though?" Akira asked, pertaining to the news of Nico and Mimi dating each other.


    "How is it even a scandal?" June asked. "It''s just news."


    Akira scratched his nape. "I guess you''re right. I''m just used to idols revealed to be dating being called a scandal."


    "It''s honestly disheartening," Sehun said. "Nico and Mimi have been working in the industry for so long, so I hope people can just wish them happiness."


    "Yeah," June said. "Especially Mimi. I hope she finds happiness in Nico."


    Zeth shook his head in amusement. "Well, that''s one way to look at it."


    "Fortunately, the reaction isn''t as bad as I had thought," Akira said.


    - Nico and Mimi? Our Rising Stars couple!


    - I knew it. Nico has been looking at Mimi with such love-struck eyes, even when they were rookies.


    - That''s disgusting, then. Why would a rookie lust over his senior?


    - Lust? Nobody''s talking about lust here.


    - You''re so weird. Idols are damn good-looking. Do you guys really think that they don''t date each other?


    - Honestly, idols shouldn''t date. It will feel like they''re cheating on their fans.


    - Cheating? You''re not in a rtionship with them!


    - No, Nico! I can''t support you anymore.


    - I''ll support you, Nico! Be sure to be a great man to Mimi.


    "Well, there are still some nastyments here and there," Akira said. "But more than half of thements are supportive. I think they''re going to be okay."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "I think it''s also attributed to the fact that the two had been in the industry for a long time. Moreover, GIRLS'' EVOLUTION is no longer active while BOYMYSTIC''s contract is going to expire by next month."


    "Is that really a factor? Being in the industry for a long time?" June asked.


    "Of course," Ren eximed. "It can''t be denied that an idol''s career also has a life expectancy. You have a peak, and you also have a teau, where most of your real fans stay after all the things that have happened."


    "Their careers are already at a teau, which means that it''s already stable," Ren continued. "Therefore, a dating scandal will only mildly affect their career."


    "But what happens if an idol is found to be dating during their peak?" June asked, causing his members to turn to him with wide eyes.


    "I can''t believe you asked that question," Akira muttered.


    "Don''t even think about it," Zeth said. "As much as I liked Kiera, I also couldn''t throw our reputation to the ground. I know it''s not a sin to date, but for fans, it is."


    "Zeth''s right," Jaeyong said.


    "Dating at your peak will only lead to one thing."


    "Your downfall."


    June shrugged, feeling like he wouldn''t have any trouble with that since he wasn''t interested in dating at all.


    "Well, I''m going now," June said, standing from the dining table so he could brush his teeth and leave for the filming site once again.


    It was currently their third round of filming, and they had now finished most of the introduction scenes. The main characters were already residing in the quarters provided for them within the filming site, which was where they would be staying until the shoot ended.


    However, since June was just a side character and had to do a lot of idol work behind the scenes, the production crew decided that it would be best for him toe only when he was needed.


    The only time he needed to stay at the filming site was when the battle or the climax was going to be filmed.


    He got out of his room and ced his backpack on before heading to the dining table to say goodbye to his members.


    When he got there, he saw all of them with pale faces, their eyes glued to their phones.


    "Well, it looks like they''re busy," June muttered.


    With that, he left the dorm room without saying goodbye. Then, he went to the car so Jay could drive him to the filming site.


    "I''ll be backter," Jay said, waving goodbye to June.


    June nodded and went to the filming site so he could get his hair, make-up, and wardrobe done.


    Jay then heard endless notifications from his phone, so he checked it before driving off.


    His eyes widened when he saw that it was Mr. Ong who had texted him. Then, his eyes widened even more when he read the contents of the text.


    He quickly turned to where he left June but found that he had already gone inside.


    Meanwhile, as June walked into the filming set, he couldn''t shake off the feeling that he was being stared at and whispered about.


    He tilted his head to the side in confusion. Did he forget anything? Was there something stuck to his face and his clothes?


    Just then, he heard his phone ring, so he retrieved it from his pocket and looked at the caller ID.


    He frowned when he saw that it was Minjun. The young man told him that he''d only call during important matters, so he stepped to the side to answer his call.


    "Hi, little bro¡ª"


    "You''re dating someone?!"

 Chapter 606 Dating is a Sin

    <h4>Chapter 606 Dating is a Sin</h4>


    June, usually calm and collected, couldn''t help but feel shocked when he heard Minjun''s usation. Out of everything he could have been used of, it was dating?


    "You''re kidding me," June deadpanned. "I have an important shoot today, Minjun. I''ll call youter, alright?"


    "I''m not kidding!" Minjun eximed. "A photo of you with a woman is circting around Navel. The woman''s face isn''t clearly seen, but it''s obviously you!"


    "Wait a second," June said, ending their call and promptly going to Navel. However, as soon as he ended the call, plenty more people tried to contact him, which made him believe that Minjun was telling the truth even if he hadn''t seen the photo evidence just yet.


    He cursed as multiple calls appeared, making him unable to scroll through Naver. He ced his phone on ''do not disturb'' before heading to the trends list.


    Indeed, his name was at the very top of the South Korean trends, with over 500,000 posts already.


    "What the heck," June muttered as he clicked on the trend.


    The very first thing he saw was a photo from a pop culture news channel. It was a photo taken outside of a familiar establishment. June''s eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he scrutinized the photos.


    "These are¡­," he muttered, finally realizing where it had been taken.


    This was during his birthday when he asked Jenny to kiss him on the cheek!


    As Minjun said, Jenny''s face was blurred. June''s face in the photo where Jenny kissed him on the cheek was unclear, too. However, his photograph as he walked out of the studio was crystal clear.


    It was really him.


    ''Dating at your peak will only lead to one thing.''


    ''Your downfall.''


    Jaeyong''s words echoed in the back of his mind, making him sigh in frustration. Their group had just started rising to fame, yet he was already being hit by dating news?


    What was more ridiculous about this was that it involved Jenny¡ªhis cousin.


    June sighed and scrolled through the other posts, hoping to see some supportive ones.


    However, it was drowned out by hate and doubt, making him believe that dating was truly a sin for idols.


    - What the heck? Is this where my money is going?


    - I''m going to burn my albums now. *with attached pictures of burned albums*


    - I fcking hate this. Do you know how much money and time I''ve spent on you?


    - This is so disappointing. I''m boycotting.


    - A rookie idol getting into a dating scandal after his song popped off? Wow. Very ungrateful.


    - #BoycottEVE #CancelJune


    - I agree. Let''s make Luster fall off the charts!


    - It''s working, guys. Luster is already out of the top five songs. It''s in the 7th!


    - I''m unfollowing June.


    "Why are people so dramatic?" June asked himself. The dating news wasn''t even confirmed yet, but they were already destroying his career.


    He scrolled through more posts and coincidentally found Jenny''s ount. He frowned and quickly clicked on her profile, only to see that she merely had ten followers. However, hertest post garnered more than 100,000 interactions.


    ''Guys, I''m the woman in the photo. Please don''t misunderstand. We''re cousins, and this was his birthday!''


    - Sure, and my dad''s the president of Mars.


    - Then, I''m also the girl that June kissed on the cheek.


    - Me too. His breath smells really fresh and minty.


    - Whatever you say, girl. We''re all delusional here anyway.


    - Stop being delusional! You look nothing like June.


    - Yeah, and June would never kiss someone as ugly as you.


    June shook his head. Even his cousin was catching strays left and right! She must be fuming right now¡ªnot because she was stuck in this rumor (she actually loves attention), but because she was being called ugly on social media.


    "Goodness," June said. "How am I going to rify this?"


    As far as he knew, he didn''t have any photos of Jenny because they all got lost in the fire in his original home. Moreover, he doubted that Jenny had photos of them together when they were younger. The only one she had was when June was bathing, and that didn''t seem wise to post.


    Jay: Answer me! You have a girlfriend now? The boys are freaking out. They''re getting death threats too!


    June sighed as the situation elerated more than he imagined.


    He turned off the ''do-not-disturb'' button and answered Jay''s call.


    "June!" Jay immediately eximed, causing June to cover his ears. "What is this? How can you do this behind our backs?"


    "What?" June asked, already feeling tired of the situation. "Are you going to cancel me too?"


    "No," Jay quickly answered. "I would have appreciated it if you told us, though. Maybe then, we could have hidden it better. Is this Jia, perhaps? Or Arin? Or Mimi? Or Ji-hyun? Or Amira?"


    June frowned in confusion. Since when has he been associated with so many women?


    "Arin and I are not talking anymore. Mimi''s dating Nico. Ji-


    hyun''s married¡­and who''s Amira again?" he asked.


    "Look," June quickly rified. "I''m not dating anyone. I want you to rify that with thepany."


    "So, it''s Jia?" Jay asked since June hadn''t said anything about her.


    "It''s Jenny," June sighed. "My cousin. The boys had already met her. Whoever took that picture made it seem like she was kissing me sweetly on the cheek. In reality, I pushed her away after."


    "Jenny," Jay muttered. "Your cousin."


    "Yes," June confirmed.


    "Goodness," Jay sighed. "You had me worried for a second there. I wouldn''t resent you for dating someone, but it would entail a lot of consequences. So, I''m quite relieved that it''s just your cousin."


    "It''s still going to be a pain in the ass to rify, though," Jay muttered. "People just want to believe what they want to believe these days."


    "Yeah," June muttered. "I''ll help rify it, too."


    "How?" Jay asked.


    "I''ll figure it out," June said.


    Then, he ended the call, leaning against the wall after the exhausting conversations.


    He closed his eyes for a moment and breathed deeply.


    However, he quickly opened them again when he felt another presence passing through the hallway.


    As he opened his eyes, his gaze met with Lin Zhi''s, who had a smirk and a victorious look in his eyes.


    Lin Zhi didn''t even need to say anything, but June already understood.


    Then, June shook his head as Lin Zhi walked away.


    "Of course," June muttered.


    "You had something to do with this."

 Chapter 607 Bestest Friend and his Tsundere Brother

    <h4>Chapter 607 Bestest Friend and his Tsundere Brother</h4>


    June knew that Lin Zhi wanted him out of the production.


    Scratch that¡ªhe wanted June''s career to be engulfed in mes¡­and he was willing to do anything to achieve that goal.


    Unluckily for him, June was the same.


    However, it seemed like Lin Zhi had the upper hand this time around.


    While June was in the hallway talking to Minjun and Jay, the directors, Risa and Hanlim, and even the main actors came to discuss how they were going to proceed with the production.


    "I don''t mind," Hanlim said. "He''s handsome and young. I think it''s normal that he''s dating someone. Wouldn''t it be more surprising if he isn''t dating anyone with that kind of face?"


    "Right, honey?" he asked, nudging Risa''s shoulder.


    Risa, feeling like a proud mom who wasing to terms with his precious son''s rtionship, nodded in agreement.


    "I feel like it wouldn''t affect the production process, too. June''s a great actor regardless of this," she said.


    Hana, despite having a weird feeling inside her chest, nodded in agreement.


    "It would be a shame to kick him out of the production," Taehyun added. "He''s perfect for his role."


    Director Bong sighed in frustration.


    "You guys are not seeing the big picture of this. A movie production does not merely revolve around an actor''s acting skills. If that was the case, then all movies by great actors would have been major hits."


    "However, there''s more to it than that," Director Bong said.


    "You guys might not know it because you only focus on your own jobs, but being a director means that you take everyone''s role in the production¡ªeven the marketing team."


    "Based on what I''ve seen a while ago, plenty of people are threatening to boycott everything that June does. In that sense, more than a million teenage girls, who are one of our biggest markets, are going to boycott this movie, too," he continued.


    "And it''s not only that! Do you know what''s scarier than resentful teenage girls?" he asked.


    "Nothing!" the director quickly answered his own question. "Nothing is scarier than teenage girls. Once they''ve set their mind on something, they will be able to do it. So, not only will they boycott the movie, but they will convince other people who were initially interested in watching it to boycott it too."


    The others pursed their lips in silence, knowing that Director Bong made a good point. It was true that marketing yed a big role in how sessful a movie would be.


    "But the dating news hasn''t even been confirmed," Hana said. "Besides, it''s not like hemitted a crime."


    "Oh," Director Bong chuckled. "Don''t act innocent now, Hana. The both of us know that dating is a crime in the idol world."


    Hana once again pursed her lips, unable to argue any further.


    "I say we rece June and refilm the scenes we''ve taken. It''s good that he doesn''t have a lot of parts, so we might only take a day to finish all of it."


    Taehyun sighed in frustration. "With all due respect, that''s too much work. And as you said, June only has a minor role. The focus of the movie is us," he said. "We don''t have to kick him out because of a stupid dating scandal."


    Director Bong shook his head. "At the end of the day, the decision will be made by us."


    The other four looked at each other with disappointed gazes.


    Meanwhile, Director Jam hadn''t spoken all throughout their conversation, appearing to be deep in thought.


    "What do you say about this, Director Jam?" Director Bong asked. "We have a use in the contract that states we can terminate it whenever an actor gets involved in something that may harm the movie production."


    Director Jam pursed his lips, still not talking about it.


    Just then, the door busted open, revealing June, who appeared eager to exin his situation.


    "June," Hana said, looking into his weary eyes.


    June walked over to where the directors were and bowed.


    "Good morning, Directors. Apologies for the sudden intrusion. I just have some things to¡ª"


    "Director Jam has something to say to you," Director Bong said before June could even finish his sentence.


    June pursed his lips and faced Director Jam, who now had an ambiguous look on his face.


    Hana held her breath as she waited for Director Jam''s final verdict. She knew that the director was harsh and only settled for perfection. However, she also knew that he was quite objective and didn''t mind trivial matters such as this.


    However, it was a matter of whether he believed this issue was trivial or not.


    June looked into his eyes, and for a second, Director Jam''s gaze wavered.


    Then, he let out a sigh.


    "June," he started off.


    June waited intently.


    "I think it''s best if you go home and take a rest right now."


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a huge apartment in the heart of soul, two brothers were bickering about their matching outfits.


    "What the heck? Why are you wearing the same thing as me?" Haruki asked.


    Haruto twirled around in his wheelchair and smiled at his twin brother.


    "I matched with you," he said. "I went to your room and saw the clothesid out on the bed and decided to wear simr clothes!"


    "Nope," Haruki said. "Definitely not."


    "Why?" Haruto asked. "You don''t love your brother anymore?"


    "Shut up," Haruki said. "I''m getting changed!"


    "No," Haruto stubbornly said. "Matching clothes are great for twins!"


    "Yeah, when you''re below 12," Haruki eximed. "Now, we look stupid."


    Haruto clicked his tongue and finally let go of his brother so he could get changed. In the meantime, he scrolled through his phone, only to see June''s issue taking over the inte.


    "What the heck?" he screamed so loudly that Haruki waspelled to stop walking.


    "June''s dating someone?" he asked, making Haruki go back to where his brother was standing.


    "He is?" Haruki asked with wide eyes.


    Haruto nodded, showing his twin the photo of June and a woman kissing his cheek.


    "I think I know who this is, though," Haruto muttered. "This is even the ce she works in."


    "Who?" Haruki asked out of curiosity.


    "Let''s talk in the car. We''re going to miss our reservation."


    Haruki absent-mindedly nodded and followed his brother and his butler, Marcus, to the car.


    Haruto then tossed his phone to Haruki as they settled in the back seat.


    "I think it''s his cousin¡ªJenny," Haruto said.


    Haruki frowned in confusion as he continued to scrutinize the photo.


    "How do you even know?" Haruki asked.


    "I know everything about June!" Haruto proudly eximed.


    "Jenny visited us from time to time before, and she has the same haircut. She has the same body build, too. We kept in touch after I went back, and I know she''s working in Choi Pablo''s studio. So, it all adds up."


    "So, he''s not dating anyone?" Haruki asked.


    "I''m sure," Haruto answered. "I don''t think June is interested in dating at all."


    Haruki sighed in relief.


    "Anyway, he''s being cooked right now, and his agency isn''t helping at all. So, as his bestest friend in the entire world, I''m going to help him!" Haruto said with determination.


    "I can collect the information that proves that all of this is false," he continued.


    "Although, it would be hard to get the information across since it''s going toe from a stranger on the inte. Instead, it shoulde from someone who has a huge following," he muttered.


    Marcus finally parked the car and thought of a person who could help him.


    "I doubt you''ll help me, though. You still don''t like June, right?"


    Haruki bit his lip and stayed silent.


    "Anyway, that will be my problem. For now, let''s eat."


    The two of them got out of their car, and other people immediately stopped and stared.


    "By the way," Haruto smiled sweetly at his brother. "Thanks for matching with me!"

 Chapter 608 Hot Issue

    <h4>Chapter 608 Hot Issue</h4>


    June burst out the door of their dorm, startling his members. They appeared to be stressed just as he was, already knowing the truth behind the photo that had been posted.


    At the moment, the post has already garnered more than four million views and a two hundred thousand likes. People who weren''t even interested in tuning into the issue flocked to it like hungry hyenas.


    "June?" Jaeyong stood once he saw him. "Is the shoot done already?"


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "I was sent home," June said.


    "What?" Jisung asked. "Is it because of the dating news?"


    "I believe so," June responded.


    "They let you leave only because of that?" Casper eximed. "Show me the people who made you leave! I''ll teach them a lesson."


    June clicked his tongue and ced his hand on Casper''s shoulder, forcefully bringing him down.


    "Behave," June said.


    Ren pursed his lips. "So, what''s going to happen now?"


    June shook his head. "I also don''t know. They told me to go home and nothing else."


    "Goodness," Jaeyong said. "And to think that all of this is happening because of some unconfirmed dating news."


    "Did thepany say something already?" June asked.


    Sehun nodded, already appearing disappointed. "It''s the usualpany response¡ª''we''re looking into it.'' Jay already told them that it''s not true! Them saying that ''they''ll look into it'' will only make the public specte."


    June shook his head, not really expecting much from theirpany. Once again, they wanted to show the public that June''s dating news was his sole decision and not thepany''s.


    "What are we going to do now, then?" Zeth asked.


    "I''m going to rest," June said, leaving his members and going to his bedroom.


    As soon as he got there, however, he didn''t rest at all.


    Instead, he contacted one person whom he should have contacted a while ago¡ªbefore all of this even started.


    It only took a few rings before Bo Wen answered the phone as if he had already been expecting his call.


    "Master!" Bo Wen said with a concerned tone. "Are you alright?"


    "Have you heard?" June asked.


    "Everybody and their mothers have heard," Bo Wen said. "Even the big guys that I work with have been talking about it. They''re saying that your career is ruined."


    "It''s not," June said with confidence. "I''m not dating anyone."


    "You''re not?" Bo Wen asked. "You don''t have to deny it. Your partner will be sad."


    June clicked his tongue. "I''m really not dating anyone. Just¡­help me with something."


    "Yes, whatever you need," Bo Wen said.


    June nodded in satisfaction.


    "I need you to dig into Director Bong Gwan," June said.


    "The director that was paid by Laohu and Lin Zhi?" Bo Wen asked, causing June to smirk.


    "So, you already know?"


    "Of course," Bo Wen sighed. "Eyes and ears are all over thepany. I don''t have any concrete evidence just yet, but I''ll look for some and get back to you tonight."


    "Good," June smiled, causing Bo Wen to beam in happiness. He felt great after beingplimented by his Master!


    "I have one question, though," Bo Wen said. "How will this help debunk your dating news?"


    June shrugged. "It''s not," June said.


    "What¡ª"


    With that, June ended the call, leaving Bo Wen confused.


    He sighed and sat on his bed.


    At first, he thought of some ways to debunk his dating news, just as Bo Wen had said.


    However, putting out a statement while the fire was at its peak will only add to its intensity.


    June was sure that nobody would believe him.


    He also couldn''t ask Jenny for help since his cousin was already going through a lot. As much as Jenny was annoying, she was also his cousin¡ªone who got dragged into the issue without any reason.


    Then, after a string of continuous thoughts, June realized that he, himself, wouldn''t be able to do anything.


    Denying the dating rumors would be thepany''s job.


    Now, what he needed to do was find a greater issue that would top his current one.


    And what better person to expose than Director Bong, one of the most beloved Korean directors of all time?


    ***


    Dawn came, yet June was still waiting for Bo Wen to contact him back.


    Fortunately, just as he was about to fall into slumber, his phone lit up, revealing a text from


    Bo Wen.


    Baldie:Here is what I''ve found about Director Bong.


    Baldie: *sent a file*


    Baldie: I can''t find anything about Lin Zhi and Laohu. Those bastards have been more careful these days. I''ll continue to look for some evidence, but for now, I''m sending this to you. I know that you''re waiting.


    Baldie: I hope that everything goes well for you, Master. I''m rooting for you! No matter what happens, I''ll be right by your side.


    June frowned as he ignored Bo Wen''sst text. Instead, he focused on the one before that¡ªwhere he couldn''t find any evidence against Lin Zhi.


    Nheless, he felt grateful that Bo Wen was able to find some dirt on Director Bong. The photos and files he sent were very powerful, one that could ruin the director''s career in an instant.


    June smirked as he scrolled through the information. Then, he sent the files to Minjun.


    June: Do what you want with it.


    June knew that the kid was probably sleeping, but he wanted it to be the first thing that Minjun sees in the morning.


    This might not lead to Lin Zhi''s and Laohu''s downfall just yet, but June was going to eliminate their connections in the industry....


    ...one by one.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a wide, luxury apartment in Seoul, a troubled figure huddled over hisptop.


    He read over the contents of his post over and over again and hesitated to press the ''post'' button.


    "Maybe I shouldn''t," he muttered. "I''m not even concerned with this! I should just let this be so we can be the most popr boy group again!"


    However, guilt began eating his mind as he thought about the hardships that June was probably going through.


    "Fuck it," he cursed, finally posting the short paragraph that appeared seemingly innocent.


    Then, he shut hisptop close before slumping on the table and closing his eyes.


    "Hopefully, we can finally be friends after all of this," he muttered.

 Chapter 609 An Unexpected Person’s Help

    <h4>Chapter 609 An Unexpected Person''s Help </h4>


    "June?" Jay asked in surprise when he saw June all dressed up early in the morning. "Are you going somewhere?"


    June nodded, cing his bag over his shoulder.


    Akira shook his head when he saw one of the straps'' seams alreadying undone.


    "Since when have you had this?" he asked, poking the ck bag.


    June nced at his back and shrugged.


    "I don''t know," he said. "Probably when I was still a trainee."


    June truly wasn''t sure. This was one of the bags that the original body had, and June started using it as soon as he transmigrated into his body. He was gifted plenty of bags from differentpanies, but this bag was his favorite of all.


    The sad part was that the brand had already rubbed off, so he didn''t know where to buy it again. Therefore, he decided to just use it as it was. It was probably the best bag he had, even with his expensive collection!


    "You''re going to be rich with that mindset," Akira said, patting his back.


    "Where are you going, though?" Jay asked, yawning since he still felt sleepy.


    "To the filming site," June nonchntly answered, causing Jay''s eyes to widen in shock, the urge to sleep draining from his body.


    "What?" he asked. "They don''t have a schedule today based on what they''ve sent."


    "They probably didn''t send you anything anymore," June said. "But Hana told me," he smirked.


    Jay sighed. "You should let the issue die down a bit before you go back. Besides, the directors aren''t expecting you there; they''ll be shocked once they see you."


    "My career will die down if I don''t do anything," June said, determined to go even if he was on his own.


    "Besides," he smirked. "Let them be shocked. They''re going to see something more shockingter."


    Jay pursed his lips before swallowing the bread in his mouth.


    "Fine," Jay sighed. "Wait for me. I''ll go with you."


    "You''re not going to shower?" June asked.


    "Are you going to wait for me?" Jay asked.


    "Nope," June said.


    "Then, I''m not," Jay answered. "Let''s go. You don''t want to bete, do you?."


    June smiled since he knew that Jay would eventually cave in to his requests.


    "I''ll wait for you out here," Jay said as soon as they arrived at the filming site.


    "I might take all day," June remarked.


    "I know. I''ll still be waiting."


    June gratefully waved goodbye before going inside the filming site.


    "What is he doing here?"


    "Didn''t he get kicked out of the production?"


    "Hasn''t the dating news been debunked yet?"


    "Nope. Hispany hasn''t said anything."


    "Why did hee here then?"


    As soon as he got there, he was greeted with questioning stares. Hana''s eyes widened when she saw him, and she quickly stood and led him to the tent where the main actors stayed.


    June nced around and saw Taehyun, some older actors, as well as Lin Zhi inside. His eyebrows raised in inquiry as they stared at them like a tourist attraction.


    "What are you doing here?" Hana asked in a hushed tone. However, it seemed like everybody could hear what she was saying.


    "You sent me your schedule," June said.


    Hana clicked her tongue. "I know. But I didn''t expect you toe here while all this chaos is happening!"


    "Why?" June asked. "Am I not wee here anymore?"


    Hana sighed. "You know that''s not what I mean."


    "I came here because I know I still deserve to be a part of the production," June said.


    "You do," Hana said. "We''re waiting for Director Jam''s final decision, too. It just sucks that yourpany hasn''t outright denied it yet."


    "That''s because they don''t have any evidence to debunk the rumor," Lin Zhi said, interrupting their conversation.


    Hana frowned as she turned around, only to meet the viin''s cocky eyes.


    "You''re not part of this conversation," Hana said.


    "And you''re not part of this production anymore," Lin Zhi said, looking straight into June''s eyes.


    Lin Zhi internally rejoiced since he felt that he was very cool just now. He''ll definitely write that one down!


    The two of them stared at each other intensely, neither of them wanting to back down.


    However, their stare-off was interrupted when Taehyun''s chair scraped on the floor, making a loud noise. Then, he hurriedly walked over to where the three young actors were.


    While all of these were happening, the older actors and some of the staff watched the scene intently.


    "That was your cousin?" Taehyun asked, causing June to break his eye contact with Lin Zhi.


    "Cousin?" Hana also asked.


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion. He thought that Minjun had finally posted about Director Bong''s dirt; however, he must have posted about something else!


    "How did you know?" June asked.


    "It''s trending on Navel right now," Taehyun said, proceeding to read the contents of the trending post.


    "Hi, guys! I know I only post professional stuff out here, but I''ve been seeing my friend suffer for the past hours and decided to step in. The woman in the photo with June is his cousin, Jenny!"


    "Wait, Jenny?" Hana asked with wide eyes, recalling the annoying girl who used to tease June a lot when they were trainees.


    Taehyun continued reading the post while June and the others listened intently.


    "I hope you understand that these rumors could ruin an idol''s life, and it''s not good to spread false information. Moreover, don''t believe everything you see on the inte! Here''s a photo of us with Jenny when we were younger!"


    "Dang," Taehyun said. "So, it was all just a baseless rumor after all. Choi Pablo also backed up the post by showing the front aspect of the photo circting around. You look quite disgusted in this photo," he chuckled.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, not believing anything that was happening right now. None of these were a part of his n, yet somehow, it was all going so well!


    "Give me that," Lin Zhi said, snatching the phone from Taehyun''s grasp.


    His eyes widened, and his jaw became ck when he saw the receipts that the poster had pulled out to debunk June''s dating news.


    June, too, opened his phone and saw yet another flurry of follows and likes on his notifications. Then, he clicked on his trends list and finally saw the person who posted the said photo.


    His eyes widened, simr to Lin Zhi''s.


    "Haruki?"

 Chapter 610 Out and About

    <h4>Chapter 610 Out and About</h4>


    June was dumbfounded as he stared at the post that Haruki had made.


    Out of all the people in the world, Haruki was the most unexpected person to help him!


    ...and that worked out great in the end.


    June and Haruki were known to be ''hostile enemies,'' so the fact that Haruki was the one who debunked the rumor increased its credibility.


    If a person who hated June was defending him, then the public had more reason to believe in the post.


    June took a closer look at the photo and shook his head.


    The person in the photo wasn''t even Haruki, but Haruto. The twins must have nned something to help him.


    He also saw the post that Choi Pablo had made¡ªwhich included the front view of the photo of him and Jenny kissing.


    In the photo that was posted by the anonymous user, June appeared sweet and loving. However, in the one that Pablo posted, he looked outright disgusted¡ªa very fitting reaction for someone who was just kissed by his cousin.


    June wondered why Pablo had only posted it recently, but it still worked out in the end.


    In reality, Pablo was jealous when he saw the post saying that June was dating someone. And to think they even kissed inside his studio building! He nned on talking to June after he got his feelings sorted out, but then he saw that it was actually Jenny, his assistant, and June''s cousin. So, he went through his high-definition surveince cameras and captured a screen.


    June smiled as he read through thements.


    - I swallow my words.


    - I insulted June''s cousin. I am ashamed.


    - I followed you again, June!


    - I never doubted you for a second.


    - The photos look so cute! They appear to be really close with each other.


    - I never knew I needed to see June with his family <3. He rarely talks about them.


    - Because his parents are dead.


    - June, I''m sorry! I''m not going to leave your side from now on.


    - Shaking my head. People are so quick to switch up. You just join the bandwagon as you see fit, huh? What a bunch of hypocrites.


    For what seemed to be the hundredth time in the week, June was trending yet again.


    However, it was for a good reason this time. People were truly easy to manipte. They jump on the bandwagon in order to feel like they ''belong'' in society, and now that there was a lot of praise for June, others who hated him naturally joined to praise him as well.


    Lin Zhi''s hand shook as he observed June''s ted facial expression. He looked way too happy for his liking, and he hated it.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Director Jam, who appeared more serious than ever.


    The actors straightened up as soon as they saw him, the room turning silent as they sensed the coldness from his disposition.


    He looked around until his eyesnded on June.


    "Good, you''re all here," he muttered.


    Then, he cleared his throat. "Conference room¡ªnow," he briefly said before leaving the tent once more.


    The others gulped since they weren''t used to seeing Director Jam so calm and serious. They didn''t waste any time in following after him, lining up like little ducklings.


    They arrived at the conference hall, with Director Bong standing in the very middle.


    June looked around and saw that almost all of the crew members were already inside, wondering why they were all gathered.


    "What''s happening? I''m lost."


    "I think we''re going to talk about June''s issue and if he''s still going to be Jian or not."


    "Dang. In front of everyone? That''s tough."


    "It''s been debunked, though. Haruki from CHAOS already confirmed that it was June''s cousin in the photo."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah, but Director Jam doesn''t change his mind. So, he might still get kicked out of the production even if it had already been debunked."


    Director Jam looked around the room, his eyebrows furrowing when he couldn''t see his partner director.


    Just then, the door opened, and Director Bong sighed in relief once he saw the actors and staff inside the room.


    "There you guys are," he said. "I was starting to think that the shoot was canceled today," he chuckled.


    However, his smile quickly fell when he saw June among the crowd.


    His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    June merely crossed his arms in front of his chest, not wanting to reply to such a shitty person.


    "Answer me," Director Bong said. However, June remained firm.


    Director Jam sighed.


    "Let''s start the meeting," he said, dampening Director Bong''s anger.


    Director Bong clicked his tongue and went beside Director Jam.


    "Let me start off this meeting by saying that a movie production doesn''t solely focus on the story, the acting, and the editing," he said.


    "However, it also branches out to reputation. Everyone in this room can affect how the public views this movie," he continued.


    Director Bong nodded by his side, agreeing with everything that Jam had said.


    "Therefore, I hope you understand that your contract for the movie can be terminated for reasons that could harm the reputation of the film."


    "I agree. I agree," Director Bong said.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, ncing at his phone which showed Minjun''s page and refreshed it over and over again.


    He clicked his tongue when he saw that Minjun hadn''t posted what he had sent him just yet.


    "That is why, before the production progresses any further, I want to take this time to remove such people who only cause harm to this movie," he said, looking around the room until his eyesnded on June.


    June pursed his lips since he couldn''t read the director''s mind.


    Director Bong chuckled as he looked at June.


    "Since we don''t want to shame the person who has done such a thing, I would like to ask that certain person to simply stand and leave the room," Director Jam said, making almost all of the people turn towards June.


    Lin Zhi now had a smirk on his face, certain that Director Jam was pertaining to June.


    However, June stood his ground and kept sitting. For him, he didn''t do anything wrong. His dating news was already considered debunked! And if he was indeed dating somebody, he still believed it wouldn''t be too big of a deal.


    Director Bong scoffed and shook his head as June continued sitting.


    Hana nudged June''s shoulder, but still, June was firm.


    Director Bong cleared his throat and leaned his elbows against the table.


    "June," he said. "You need to leave."


    June lifted his head and met eyes with Director Bong.


    Then, at that moment, he felt his phone vibrate, and the post he was waiting for finally appeared.


    His eyes brightened as he stood, determined to show the proof to everybody else.


    However, before he could utter a single word, Director Jam spoke once again.


    "You need to leave," he coldly said, making Director Bong smirk in satisfaction.


    "Leave now..." Director Jam repeated, his eyes straying away from June andnding on the man right next to him.


    "...Bong Gwan."

 Chapter 611 You’re Next

    <h4>Chapter 611 You''re Next </h4>


    Ann gasped loudly, standing from her seat and pointing at Director Bong with wide eyes.


    The people turned to her in surprise. Meanwhile, June stayed still, his smirk widening.


    "Great timing, Ann," June muttered, having already informed her of what to do when the time came for Minjun to post the issue on Director Bong.


    It was a perfect n.


    June even sent the files to Director Jam through Jisung''s number when he was fast asleep. He was unsure if the director would be able to see it. Still, it seemed like he did, considering he knew the issue earlier than everybody else.


    The other actors and employees opened their phones and clicked on the link that Ann had sent in their professional group chat.


    Hana frowned as she clicked on the link and read through its contents.


    It was once again posted by MinMin, one of the most trusted news sources in the Korean media at the moment. He didn''t post a lot, but when he did, it was a juicy, exclusive story that many people tuned into.


    ''Director Bong is a Big Old Ding-A-Long: From Blockbuster to Blockhead"


    Hana couldn''t help but chuckle as she read the title. Another trademark of his was his silly little titles. However, she knew that he always wrote quality articles, so she wasn''t fooled by the title.


    ''In a plot twist worthy of his own movies, acimed director Bong Gwan finds himself starring in a real-life drama of tax evasion and bribery. Known for cinematic wastes like ''My Wife is My Daughter,'' ''My Brother, My Lover,'' and the eyebrow-raising ''Assman,'' Bong''stest role is the leading man in a scandalous tale of financial misdeeds.''


    ''ording to a tax report, Bong has been moonlighting as a master of evasion, dodging taxes for a staggering eight years. With a tab exceeding 8 million dors, it seems Bong''s creativity extends beyond the screen and into his ounting practices. This must be where his big house came from!''


    ''But wait, there''s more! Bong''s director''s cut of corruption includes a subplot involving bribes from eagerpanies vying to cast their preferred actors in his productions. With names like Phoenix, Pear, and Fireball popping up in his statement ount faster than a high-speed chase scene, it seems Bong was casting roles based on money more than talent.''


    Lin Zhi froze as soon as he saw ''Phoenix'' being mentioned in the article. Then, he bit his lips in nervousness. He wasn''t mentioned in the article, was he?


    ''One small actor, left out in the cold thanks to Bong''s shady dealings, came forward with a testimony. Denied a role because of apetitor backed by big bucks, it seems Bong''s casting couch was more about cold hard cash than casting calls.''


    ''Amidst whispers of his involvement in the highly anticipated ''Untouched Souls,'' a historical-magic fusion film that''s been the talk of the town, one can''t help but wonder: Did some of the cast pay their way in?''


    Director Bong also read the article on his phone, the color draining from his face as all of his past and current wrongdoings came to bite him in the ass.


    From outside of the filming site, Jay greeted the police officers that June told him to call.


    "Is Director Bong inside already?" the handsome police officer asked.


    Jay enthusiastically nodded. "Yeah, he just made his way in."


    The police officers nodded in gratitude before going inside the site.


    Jay''s heart beat faster in excitement as he snapped pictures of the scene before sending them to his group chat of managers whose passion was gossip just like him.


    "This can''t be," Director Bong said.


    He had been hiding under the money he had received for all these years, but with one anonymous post, his career was going down the drain?


    The door opened, revealing the police officers. The others gasped at how fast the situation was escting.


    The police officers showed a warrant of arrest and stated the Miranda Rights before apprehending Director Bong and escorting him out of the room.


    Lin Zhi''s face was pale and nervous as he watched the powerful director being dragged away by the authorities.


    June, on the other hand, knew better. With the money that he has, he could probably pay his way out of jail.


    However, June knew that the public was sometimes fairer than thew. So, although thew might let him go, the public will never forget what he had done.


    He wouldn''t be able to produce any films anymore, and he was practically shunned from the job that he once loved.


    Director Jam pursed his lips as the situation finally calmed down.


    "I hope this serves to be a lesson for all of you," he said.


    "I will not hesitate to remove you from the production no matter who you are. If Director Bong can go, then anyone can go,"he firmly said.


    Lin Zhi''s hands began to shake. He was confident he was going to stay in the production no matter what happened because he had Director Bong backing him up.


    Who would have thought that he would go even before Lin Zhi?


    "And you," Director Jam said, pointing at June.


    "Try not to cause any trouble from now on."


    June nodded, although he still believed that it wasn''t his fault why all of this happened.


    Hana excitedly patted his shoulder.


    "You''re still part of the production," she excitedly whispered.


    With that, the meeting came to an end, with June''s n being executed well.


    Haruki''s post even added to its perfection, so he sent him a quick text to show his gratitude.


    June: Thanks.


    Then, the people started vacating the room, most of them casting apologetic looks at June for acting hostile when they learned about his ''supposed'' rtionship.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi was still stuck in his seat, causing June to smirk.


    June stayed back and continued observing him.


    Hana turned around when she didn''t feel June''s presence beside her.


    "Youing?" she asked.


    "I''ll follow," June said.


    With that, only Lin Zhi and him were left in the room. However, the former still seemed unaware of his presence.


    June smirked and decided to tease the cocky man even further.


    He walked over to where he was and wrapped an arm around his shoulder, causing Lin Zhi to freeze.


    "You''re next," June said in a deep voice before standing and leaving the room.

 Chapter 612 Only for a Bandit

    <h4>Chapter 612 Only for a Bandit</h4>


    Lin Zhi sighed in frustration as he arrived at Laohu''srge apartment.


    Then, he screamed like a little child throwing a tantrum, holding himself back from throwing his boss'' expensive items to the wall.


    "You should really learn how to control your temper," Laohu said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Lin Zhi closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "Did you see the news?" he asked after a while.


    "Of course I did," Laohu said. "June''s back on his feet, isn''t he?"


    "And Director Bong is being investigated for moneyundering and tax evasion," Lin Zhi added.


    Laohu pursed his lips and nodded.


    "It''s strange," Laohu muttered, tapping his fingernails on the marble countertop.


    "June is strange," he continued.


    Lin Zhi''s eyes narrowed. "I believe there''s more to him than what meets the eye. No matter how hard we try, it seems like we can never bring him down."


    "He was a nobody in Rising Stars¡ªone who didn''t even have apany backing him up," Lin Zhi said.


    "He has been powerful since then," Laohu said, making Lin Zhi''s eyebrows furrow.


    "Why else did you think he got to first ce?" he asked.


    Lin Zhi''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Are you saying that he was the one who rigged himself into the upper rankings?" he asked in a hopeful tone.


    "No," Laohu answered. "His ranking was genuine."


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue, feeling bitter that June was able to gain those votes without unfair ys.


    "What do you mean by that, then?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "June didn''t rig his votes; however, there are factors as to how he was able to make it to the top."


    "Don''t you find it strange how he had a connection with Choi Pablo right away? Or how did he know the owner of the third-party voting team responsible during Rising Stars?"


    "And now, he was able to expose Director Bong for his past wrongdoings," he chuckled.


    "There must be something going on," Laohu muttered.


    "June knows more than what an average idol does...almost like he has somebody helping him," he added.


    "So, what are we going to do now?" Lin Zhi asked.


    Laohu sighed before standing straight.


    "I''ll look into it," he said.


    "For now, find some dirt on June¡ªthe kind he can never rise from again."


    ***


    Following the exposure of Director Bong''s wrongdoings, his million-dor house was seized, and he fled to a foreign country to escape his charges.


    After that, Director Jam came out with a statement that ''Untouched Souls'' would be directed solely by him, receiving warm praises from the public.


    Not long after, the cast and general plot of the movie were revealed, and people were instantly hooked.


    - Hana Lim in another historical drama? And this one has magic, too? It''s going to be a hit!


    - This is a star-studded cast. I can''t wait for it toe out at the end of the year.


    - The plot is so good already.


    - This is the writer''s first work, but Director Jam is already working with her. Dare I say¡ªthis must have a really good storyline.


    - June?


    - JUNE IS HERE?


    - I''ve been seeing that blonde guy everywhere. He''s also here, too?


    - I wonder how his character is.


    - He''s been reunited with Lin Zhi for this project. I can''t wait!


    - Girl, those two definitely hate each other.


    - But they''re so cute together! - Stop your delusional ass. Lin Zhi is a dozen¡ªcause he dozen''t know how to do anything. He''s mediocre at best. - Dang, all I''m hearing is facts.


    - Fck y''all. It''s not like June is an exceptional actor, either. - He nailed it in his mini-drama.


    - That was such an easy portrayal. - Just wait and see. June will prove you wrong! Risa read thements and shook her head in amusement. There were a lot of arguments in thement section of the article, but she was still happy that the announcement garnered a lot of attention.


    A lot of people were praising her for the plot, too! However, the most notable person being talked about was June¡ªwith more than half of thements either doubting his acting prowess or showering him with praises.


    "This production is definitely getting a lot of attention because of him," Risa muttered before ncing at the script in her hands.


    "I feel like they''ll be disappointed once they see that he doesn''t have a lot of scenes and lines."


    Risa pursed her lips as she let the thought sink into her mind.


    Truly, June''s role as Jian only ounted for less than fifteen minutes in the film. She wanted the main focus to be Yian, but she also believed that June deserved more scenes in the movie.


    The only problem was that the script she had sent to Director Jam was already considered final.


    Nheless, Risa wanted to negotiate with Director Jam. She really wanted to see her precious, handsome baby in more scenes! (Yes, she became June''s fan at this point. There''s no escaping his charm!)


    Early in the morning, Risa set up a meeting with Director Jam in the conference room.


    "Risa," Director Jam greeted as he entered the room. "You called for a meeting?"


    "Yes, Director," Risa smiled, hoping it would put him in a good mood.


    "Well, what is it? The shoot is going to start soon. We will be filming Yian''s backstory today."


    Risa let out a deep breath and smiled before talking.


    "I know that you said the script is already final," she started off.


    "But the script isn''t final until the movie has premiered, right?"


    Director Jam sighed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Risa, I can only ept minor changes in the script. The script is there for a reason¡ªit makes the filming process more systematic."


    Risa scratched the back of her head.


    "Well, it is a minor change for a minor character," Risa said.


    "Is it for June?" he asked.


    Risa nodded excitedly. "The reaction from the public is very good, and I''m afraid they would be disappointed if June does not have enough screen time."


    Director Jam pursed his lips, looking RIsa in the eyes.


    "We can''t just change Jian''s character because his actor is popr. If that was the case, then other actors should have more lines, too."


    Risa cast her head to the ground. But June was the most popr cast member of the movie at the moment!


    "I''m sure your husband has already told you before," Director Jam continued. "I rarely add any scenes unless I feel that it is crucial for the storyline. I don''t do it for the actor at all."


    "Besides, Jian is a minor character. I believe his screentime is enough."


    "But¡ª" Risa tried to argue, but Director Jam continued speaking.


    "I don''t even do these things for big actors like Taehyun and Hana, so I''m not going to do it just for June."


    Risa pursed her lips and sighed in disappointment.


    "So, you aren''t willing to add any scenes for the sake of the actors?"


    "No¡ª," Director Jam started off. However, he realized that he had a soft spot for one particr actor¡ªone he didn''t even know the name of.


    If he were to meet him again, then he would definitely be the first actor who could change his mind.


    "A bandit," he muttered.


    "I can do it for a bandit."

 Chapter 613 His Manic Dream Came True

    Chapter 613 His Manic Dream Came True


    "This bag is dirty," Jay said, lifting June''s old, ck backpack. He opened it and saw that most of the contents were jumbled inside. As much as June was a clean and organized person, his bag was always messy, as he never took anything out of it. "Let''s see," Jay said, rummaging through the bags that luxurious brands had sent June. There were some from Proda, Luis Baton, Channel, and Door. "Why isn''t he using any of these?" he asked, grabbing therge Channel bag and cing it on his bed. Then, he started transferring June''s items from the old bag to the Channel bag. There was some old unopened gum, some faded receipts, and an old brick phone in his bag. Then, Jay pulled something out¡ªa ck cloth of some sort, making him frown.


    "What is this?" he muttered, stretching the fabric and finding that it appeared like something Catwoman would wear. "Well, well, well," Jay smirked. "June is much more freakier than I expected. Well yed, my friend. Well yed. I don''t kink shame in this household, so I''ll put this in your bag." With that, Jay closed the Channel bag and hoisted it over his shoulder. Then, he tossed the old backpack into theundry. Afterward, he went down the car and waited for June to finish getting ready.


    He sang some of EVE''s songs in the car, even breaking out into choreography with some of them. When June got inside the car, Jay smiled widely. Seeing the artists he managed was truly the light of his day! He could see himself being a manager for more than a hundred years! "Did you get my bag?" June asked just as Jay drove.


    "Yeah," Jay responded. "It''s in the back." June nodded and reached for his familiar backpack. However, his eyebrows furrowed when he felt smooth leather instead. He peeked at the backseat and saw a luxurious bag instead of his favorite backpack, causing his frown to deepen. "That''s not my bag," June deadpanned. "That is one of your bags," Jay answered. "Your bag looks like it hasn''t been washed since 1989, so I ced it in theundry." June sighed in frustration as he rummaged through his bag. "But that bag has everything I need," Juneined. "I ced all of your items in this bag, too," Jay said. "Even the Catwoman costume." He smirked at June and suggestively wiggled his brows.


    June frowned in confusion. "What the heck are you talking about?" June asked. "Nothing. Nothing to be ashamed of in this household," Jay said, pulling up to the filming site. "Anyway, don''t worry. I really ce everything inside that bag," Jay said.


    "I''ll have your bag cleaned and ready for tomorrow." June sighed in defeat before cing the bag on his shoulder. "Fine," June said. "Just as long as I can get it back again tomorrow." Jay chuckled and nodded. "I''m sure. Sometimes, you really are just a small child." June shook his head and left the car to go to the filming site. Meanwhile, at the filming site, Director Jam had just arrived. He had a new, expensive bag from the brand Channel, and he was bombarded withpliments as soon as he ced it down.


    "OMG! That''s the bag that I want." "How much is this?" his assistant asked. "Around 14k," Director Jam proudly said. "Welp," the others sighed in disappointment. "Looks like I''m not going to be able to buy that in this life." "That bag can feed my entire family for ten years."


    "Well, no stalling this time! Is Lin Zhi ready?" Director Jam asked. "I''m here, Director," Lin Zhi said, dressed more simply this time since they were going to film his backstory as a teenager. "Good," Director Jam said. "Let''s get started right away."


    Meanwhile, on his way there, June dropped the 14,000 dor bag like it was just a piece of candy. He stared at it for a couple of seconds before picking it up. "So bulky for no reason," June muttered before going inside. As soon as he got there, he saw that they were already filming, so he quickly ced his bag on a random surface before going to the make-up room. He wore a in ck robe while the make-up artist did his hair and make-up. They used lighter make-up this time since he was going to portray his younger selves. "You don''t look a day older than 18," the make-up artist said as soon as she was done. June smiled at himself in the mirror. He really looked young in this make-up style. Then, he went out of the make-up tent and waited for Lin Zhi''s scene to finish. He was currently eating with his siblings and parents, so June knew that his part wasing next. Therefore, he prepared himself to go into the frame once he was given the cue. The scene was set in a grand hall of a luxurious hanok. It was adorned with gold vases and flickering torches. The main family,prised of Lord Manseok, Lady Eli, and their three children, one of them being Yian, all sat on a wooden table as they ate supper.


    "Yian, my dear, your father and I couldn''t be prouder of your progress in mastering arcane arts," Lady Eli said with a proud smile.


    Yian nodded confidently. "Indeed, Mother. I''ve dedicated myself tirelessly to honing my skills. Why, just yesterday, I summoned a storm that shook the foundations of the forest."


    "Well done, son," Lord Manseok chuckled. "I see that you''re living up to being my heir." "Of course, father," Yian said. "I shall follow your footsteps in suppressing the other emotions. This world is bing too light, and the shadows are getting cast to the side." "We''re already one step toward our goal," Lord Manseok said. "I have nned on eliminating the leader of the Crimson n. Things shall take effect by tomorrow." June mentally said the lines along with Lord Manseok. Then, as he said thest words, he quickly entered the hall, carrying a tray of goblets filled with water. He moved gracefully, his movements almost ethereal.


    Jian bowed respectfully. "My lords, mydy. Might I offer you some refreshments?"


    On the table filled with shadow-like visuals, June lit up the room.


    His soft features and piercing eyes stood out, making him the most handsome person in the room. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Goodness," Hana said as she stared at the screen. "Could a servant look this handsome?" "Just seeing him from this screen is refreshing me already." "I could stare at his face all day." "His lips are so plump!"


    Hana turned around when she heard that particrment, causing the part-time worker to look away with pink cheeks.


    "Ah, Jian," Yian said through clenched teeth. "Did you deliver the message like I told you to?" "Yes, young lord," Jian bowed. "Good," Yian coldly said before clearing his throat. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes! I was about to tell you about the time I single-handedly quelled a dragon''s fury with my mastery of fire magic..."


    Even as the scene continued, Director Jam couldn''t take his eyes away from June. He had a solo shot just now, and he appeared very dashing¡ªalmost familiar. Director Jam fanned himself with his hands as he felt himself getting hot. Then, he stood for a moment to get his bag since his fan was inside. He grabbed the expensive Channel bag and opened it to retrieve his fan. However, he was met with a piece of ck clothing instead¡ªone that looked very familiar. Then, Director Jam froze when he saw the logo on the inner backside of the clothing. "This is the one I''m looking for," he whispered.

 Chapter 614 A New Season Starts

    Chapter 614 A New Season Starts


    Director Jam went back to his seat, his heart beating fast in his chest. He still didn''t know who owned the bag that was the exact same as his, but he was sure that the person who owned it was the one who portrayed his favorite character¡ªthe bandit. He had been looking for him everywhere! He just couldn''t get the look of resentment from his eyes. It wasn''t pure resentment but held a hint of pity, which made you want to root for him. The scene ended, yet Director Jam still didn''t shout ''cut.'' His assistant went by his side and tapped his shoulder. "Director," she said. "The scene is finished." Director Jam snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to the scene, where the actors were already looking at him with expectant eyes.


    Director Jam cleared his throat.


    "Cut," he said in a weaker voicepared to his usual one.


    "Let''s take five," he quickly said, confusing the actors since they were just getting started.


    His assistant was also confused but followed his instructions nheless.


    His assistant was even more confused when Director Jam didn''t leave his seat despite calling for a break.


    "Do you want me to get you a slice of cake?" she asked.


    "Yeah, yeah, sure," Director Jam said, waving her off so he could be left all alone.


    As his assistant left, Director Jam focused his gaze on the Channel bag that was identical to his.


    "I need gum," June muttered as he went to his bag, frowning in confusion when he saw a simr one next to it.


    He quickly opened his bag, retrieved the pack of gum that he had never removed from it, and popped one into his mouth.


    At that moment, a loud gasp was heard on the set, causing the actors and crew to turn to their precious director.


    He seemed to be in a state of shock, looking at June with wide eyes and a pale face.


    June frowned in confusion as he stared back into his eyes.


    His assistant came back and ran to where he was, wondering if he had choked on something.


    However, before she could even ask if he was all right, Director Jam stood and went inside his personal room, mming the door close and leaning against the wall.


    His mouth became dry with the thought of finally meeting the bandit that he had been looking for.


    He opened his phone and stared at his lock screen¡ªwhich was a screen capture of the bandit from histest drama.


    Attached to the corner of the phone was also a bandit keychain.


    No matter how hard he tried to deny it, Director Jam was a fool for the bandit!


    Director Jam opened his door for a moment and peeked through the small hole.


    He instantly felt invigorated the moment he saw June. He had always found the idol attractive, but now, he has be ten times more handsome in his eyes!


    Howe he never connected the dots the moment he looked into his eyes?


    Then, he gasped loudly once again, remembering how he dismissed Risa''s suggestion of adding more scenes for June.


    He couldn''t believe he did that!


    Acting quicker than a madman, he dialed Risa''s number on the phone.


    "Director Jam?" Risa asked, confused. "Why are you calling? I''m just here outside."


    "Risa," Director Jam said, a bit breathless. "June''s scenes," he vaguely added.


    Risa sighed in disappointment.


    "I understand, Director. I didn''t add any more scenes for June."


    "No, no," Director Jam said. "I need you to add more scenes for him."


    "What?" Risa asked, confused. "What changed?"


    ''Everything,'' Director Jam said. ''I just met my favorite actor!''


    "Just add more scenes for him," Director Jam insisted.


    "And if I may, please allow me to suggest some scenes for you."


    ***


    Lin Zhi had some time off after they filmed his backstory. The filming would now focus on the main character''s story, so Laohu fetched him from the filming site.


    While on a red light, he saw arge billboard on the screen, disying an idol group''s performance.


    Lin Zhi''s eyebrows furrowed when he saw eight familiar faces on therge screen.


    Then, on the bottom of the screen, the words ''from Astras'' in shining yellow font was shown.


    EVE''stest performance of Luster was currently being disyed on the big screen, and people stopped to watch the video.


    Little kids pointed excitedly as June appeared, and even older adults pped to the beat of the song.


    Without a doubt, EVE was the hottest K-pop group of the generation...and Lin Zhi resented that he got to witness it with his own two eyes.


    He resented it even more because he could have been a part of it.


    His fists clenched in envy as the billboard continued to be shown, showing that EVE''s fans were willing to pay a couple thousand dors just for their favorite idols.


    The red light turned green, yet Lin Zhi''s heart and face still burned red.


    It made his heart burn with more determination, wanting to bring June down while he was at his peak.


    Meanwhile, on the streets of Seoul, where people were busily busking, making dance covers, and filming harmless prank videos, a prettydy with a ck mask and cap walked around with arge smile.


    "I''m so d to be here," she muttered in crooked Korean.


    She stopped for a moment when she saw a group of girls dancing to a newly released single, and she moved her arms since she also knew of the choreography. Some people turned to her way, but she didn''t pay them any attention and purely enjoyed the moment.


    Then, she continued walking until she arrived at an area where people were dancing, singing, and jiving to a hit song. She nced up to the billboard and pursed her lips when she saw the idols on screen.


    "They''re overrated," she muttered.


    Fortunately, the billboard changed after a couple of seconds, which made the smile return to her face.


    Then, her smile widened even more when a familiar logo¡ªone that she had seen over and over again and the reason why she came to Seoul in the first ce.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Look at that! It''s Rising Stars!"

 Chapter 615 A Great Challenge Awaits

    <h4>Chapter 615 A Great Challenge Awaits </h4>


    "Look, Jia!" Bora eximed once she saw Azure Entertainment''stest post.


    "They''re recruiting new trainees for the fifth season of Rising Stars!" she said, shoving her phone toward Jia''s face.


    "Shut up," Jia said, pushing her phone away and proceeding to look at historical edits of June on Navel. "I''m doing more important things."


    "Oh,e on. I know you''ve been reading June fan fiction set in an ancient world for three hours now," Bora deadpanned.


    Jia narrowed her eyes, acting offended. "It''s getting good, alright! June is about to snatch the throne despite starting as a servant. The power dynamics are immacte!"


    Bora rolled her eyes and snatched her phone before turning it off.


    "Well, before any of that, let''s talk about the new season of Rising Stars!" Bora eximed.


    "What does that have to do with me?" Jia asked.


    "They''re not only looking for trainees training in K-poppanies, but they''re also looking for individual trainees. This is your time to finally be an idol!" Bora said.


    Jia looked at her like she had gone crazy.


    "First of all, it has never been my dream to be an idol."


    "Second, I feel like being an idol is going to suck balls. Unless you''re really into performing, it''s going to be so draining! Imagine training for years, paying so you can perform on music shows, the hectic schedules, and the standard of being perfect! Being an idol is not for the weak," she continued.


    Bora couldn''t help but nod in agreement.


    "And we''re forgetting thest most important thing here¡ªI can''t hold a tune at all," Jia said.


    "At least you''re pretty," Bora said. "That seems to be the only criteria for some idols these days."


    Jia shook her head and grabbed her phone once more.


    "Anyway, I''ll be better off being a fan. I will watch the new season, though. I am a sucker for survival shows."


    "Count me in," Bora said. "I''m ready to stan a girl group!"


    ***


    "So, this is the new script," Risa said, going around the room to give each of the actors a copy of the new script. They were perplexed for a moment, but Risa quickly exined the situation.


    "Do not worry," she quickly said. "The past scenes we''ve filmed hadn''t been touched. In fact, we''ll leave those at that."


    "The only major change in this script is with Jian''s character," she said, causing June to tilt his head to the side in confusion.


    He flipped through the pages and searched for his original scenes. However, much to his surprise, the scenes seemed to be much longer this time. Not only that, but other pages that originally didn''t involve him now included his name.


    What was the most notable, however, was the part in the climax¡ªwhere a plot twist involving his character was incorporated.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise, finding the shift to be tasteful.


    Hana also liked the changes that Risa had made. However, she wondered if Director Jam agreed to such changes since she knew that the director was inflexible when it came to script changes.


    "Are you alright with this, Director?" she asked.


    Director Jam, whose gaze was focused on June, nodded in agreement.


    "Of course! I was even the one who suggested it," he proudly said.


    June bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you for granting me this opportunity."


    "Oh, no!" Director Jam eximed, holding onto his shoulders to stop him from bowing.


    "I should be the one thanking you," he sweetly said.


    June took a small step back, finding Director Jam''s sweet actions a bit strange.


    Then, the director appeared to be showing off his phone¡ªone that contained a ck keychain hanging around its corner. June narrowed his eyes at the keychain and shook his head.


    June didn''t know the director was into phallic shapes.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi remained silent as he stared at the script. The climax was supposed to be his limelight¡ªhis time to shine! It was the part where he was going to be defeated, but it was also going to showcase his skills in acting out a resentful character.


    However, now that June''s character, Jian, was given a lot more depth, he seemed like a measly pest! With the plot twist that had been newly written, it would seem like June was the main character of the Shadow n!


    "Anyway, we''ll still be filming the scenes including Taehyun, Hana, and the other n leaders. I just called all of you here for the formal announcement. Oh, and you can also take this time to practice if you would want," Risa said.


    Director Jam nodded, his gaze still focused on June.


    June smirked as he read through his script. He didn''t even have to do anything, and he was already taking away Lin Zhi''s limelight! He nced at the bitter actor, his smirk widening when he saw his reddening face.


    Just then, June was called by Director Jam, making him even more confused.


    "Yes, Director?" he asked.


    "Do you need help practicing your lines?" Director Jam asked in a hopeful tone.


    "Umm," June stalled. "I think I need to read through them first."


    "But if you need help, you cane and approach me, alright? We''ll make your character the greatest side character to ever exist!"


    June scratched the back of his head and merely nodded awkwardly.


    Meanwhile, Lin Zhi was still staring at the script, his hands clenched around the paper. However, his thoughts were cut short when he heard EVE''s songing from one of the phones on the table.


    He clicked his tongue and shook his head. That just put him in a much worse mood!


    He nced at the phone and saw a in, white background with a single red gummy bear in the very middle as the lockscreem. It didn''t take a genius for Lin Zhi to know that it was June.


    Then, it clicked on him. He waspelled to walk to his phone and look at his iing call.


    Lin Zhi was expecting something¡­anything. He hoped to find some dirt so he could finally bring June to the ground.


    However, he was quickly disappointed when he saw a vague contact name disyed on the screen.


    "Baldie," he muttered, shaking his head in disappointment.


    "Baldie," he repeated, louder this time, causing his eyes to go wide.


    "No way," Lin Zhi said, a small smirk arising from his face.


    "So, that''s where you''ve been getting your information, huh?"

 Chapter 616 The Baldie Gets Tricked

    <h4>Chapter 616 The Baldie Gets Tricked</h4>


    Bo Wen.


    "Oh, Bo Wen," Lin Zhi muttered as he entered theirpany.


    The big old baldie he used to work with¡ªone who swore he would focus on being a guard and remove all aspects of his past life¡ªwas the one he suspected to be helping June in his quest.


    "You''re still a chronic liar up to this day," Lin Zhi said as he waited for Bo Wen to arrive at the coffee machine like he always didte in the afternoon.


    After the White Tiger Gang had been dissolved due to internal issues, the members all dispersed into different career paths. Somepletely left their lives behind without any strings attached, while those who weren''t good at anything else stayed¡­and they were given new jobs by the ''head.''


    Bo Wen was one of those people.


    Bo Wen finally arrived at the coffee machine, causing Lin Zhi to smirk. He quickly stood from his seat and walked to where Bo Wen was.


    "Big Bo," Lin Zhi called the name he used to call him before.


    Bo Wen''s eyes narrowed in suspicion as he nced at Lin Zhi.


    "Lin Zhi," he coldly greeted. "It''s been a while."


    "It''s been a while, indeed," Lin Zhi said. "How are you doing these days?"


    "Better," Bo Wen said. He had made a resolution to serve June and clean his past so he could finally see his son and visit his wife''s grave, and he had never been better.


    "Well, at least one of us is doing better," Lin Zhi sighed.


    Bo Wen pursed his lips. "I''m sure you''re doing better, too. You''re even in Director Jam''s new movie¡ªalthough, I would argue that you got in because of your hard work."


    Lin Zhi raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Now, how do you know about that? Oh, wait! I nearly forgot. You know a lot of things, don''t you, Mr. Information Expert?"


    Bo Wen sighed and shook his head, lifting his hot coffee mug and holding onto both sides with his bare hands.


    "Why are you speaking with me, Lin Zhi? I thought I made it clear that I don''t want to do anything gang-rted anymore. I also don''t want to associate myself with you or Laohu," he sighed.


    Lin Zhi smirked. Yet, somehow, he was still helping June.


    "I know," Lin Zhi said. "I just wanted to say that Haruki''s having a hard time leaving from his shoot."


    "What?" Bo Wen asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "I thought he still had an hour left until the schedule finished?"


    "It ended early," Lin Zhi said. "I saw him on my way here. Poor dude looks terrified."


    Bo Wen cursed under his breath and ced the coffee mug down before walking away from Lin Zhi.


    Lin Zhi smirked as he waited for Bo Wen to leave the vicinity.


    "Oh, baldie," Lin Zhi chuckled. "You must like your current job, don''t you?"


    He craned his neck to confirm that Bo Wen was out of sight, nodding to himself when he didn''t see him anymore.


    Then, he went over to the guard''s quarters¡ªwhere Bo Wen usually stayed when he was in thepany.


    He smirked when he saw that no one else was around. Lin Zhi went over to Bo Wen''s designated seat and opened hisputer.


    As expected, it had a password. However, that wasn''t really a challenge for Lin Zhi. As someone who had known Bo Wen from the start, he knew that his family was the most important to him. So, he quickly typed in Bo Wen''s wife''s birthday and smiled when the home screen was shown.


    "Let''s see," Lin Zhi muttered, digging for something that could help him with his objectives.


    He opened a folder that said, ''Airport,'' and found plenty of CHAOS'' photos in the airport inside. At first, Lin Zhi thought that Bo Wen must treasure the CHAOS boys a lot. However, as he continued scrolling through the photos, he realized that he was included in every photo he saved.


    May it be the corner of his eye, his shining head, or even just a fingertip¡ªBo Wen had saved them all.


    Lin Zhi shook his head in amusement.


    Another folder showed a collection of EVE''s photos, making Lin Zhi frown. It seemed like Bo Wen wasn''t in these pictures, yet somehow, they were saved on hisputer?


    The trend found in these photos was that they all contained June. Lin Zhi even found a poor edit of a photo that had rings, burning tires, and spikes surrounding June, making him shake his head.


    It seemed like Bo Wen was really fond of June, which only strengthened his assumption that Bo Wen was June''s informant. He still didn''t know how the two came into such a rtionship, but nothing was really impossible in this world, right?


    Lin Zhi continued searching theputer, nearly giving up when he couldn''t see anything useful.


    Then, after a lot more searching, he came across a folder that had the title ''My Noodz,'' making Lin Zhi grimace.


    "I definitely do not want to see that," Lin Zhi muttered with a grimace.


    However, not even secondster, he found himself clicking on the folder to see what was inside.


    "Well, I am pretty curious," he whispered. "Just a small peek."


    He was disappointed, however, when he merely saw two files inside the folder.


    "It''s not," Lin Zhi clicked his tongue before begrudgingly clicking on one of the files.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise, and his back straightened when he saw what was inside.


    It was all of the proof used against Director Bong!


    Lin Zhi''s eyebrows furrowed as he scrolled through the file, finding that its contents were indeed the charges pressed against Director Bong.


    Lin Zhi smirked before throwing his head back in utter bliss.


    He came across a powerful mine!


    Lin Zhi didn''t hesitate to click on the next file, wondering what to find next.


    ''This must be the next bullet that June is preparing,'' he thought.


    He believed that if he knew of their next bullet, then he would have an easier time dodging it.


    However, much to his surprise, it seemed like he came across HIS bullet instead.


    Lin Zhi frowned as he scrolled through the file, seeing transcribed conversations and screenshots of conversations.


    "I can''t believe this," he whispered, his eyes wide and his mouth twisted into a malicious smirk.


    "Choi Joon-ho," he muttered, leaning against his chair and crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "It seems like we''re more connected than I thought."

 Chapter 617 Dig Deeper and Deeper

    <h4>Chapter 617 Dig Deeper and Deeper </h4>


    Lin Zhi was acting strange¡ªtoo strange for June''s liking.


    For someone whose lines had just decreased, he seemed awfully happy. He had also been staring at June with a wide smile for a good few minutes now, making June feel ufortable.


    They were filming another scene today¡ªan added scene by Risa where Yian and Jian were going to converse about their evil ns against the other ns.


    They were waiting for Director Jam to arrive so they could finally start the shoot, so June waited patiently in the tent for the main actors. Hana and the others were going toe by in the afternoon, so currently, only Lin Zhi and him were in the tent.


    He scrolled through Navel and found an unusuallyrge amount of fanfiction and edits of him set in an ancient world. After it was announced that he was going to participate in ''Untouched Souls,'' it had been an ongoing trend in their fandom.


    "Do you know what''s strange?" Lin Zhi suddenly said, causing June to lift his head and look at him with raised eyebrows.


    "Everything is connected to everything else¡ªthat is the firstw of ecology," he started off.


    "Honestly, I didn''t believe in it when I was younger. How could everything be connected to everything else? Then, that would mean that we would know every person in this world."


    June frowned, not really knowing where Lin Zhi was going with the conversation.


    "Then, I realized that the scientists were right. Who was I, a person with a normal IQ, dare argue with it?"


    "In this world, we''re truly connected to everything else. First, the sun¡ªwe live under the same sun. However, one might argue that the sun rises and sets differently for each of us. However, even then, it''s still the same sun¡ªand don''t you think we''re already connected in that sense?"


    June pursed his lips. Lin Zhi was actually speaking quite philosophically¡ªso unexpected for someone who has a pea-sized brain.


    "Moreover, I also believe that we indirectly know all people in the world. Of course, it would be impossible to know every name...every birthday...every backstory. However, in a way, we know the person. We''vee across them in ways we don''t even realize. May it be a friend of a friend, a cousin of a friend whose friend went out with your friend''s boyfriend, a teacher''s vet...or in a crime," he smirked, turning to June.


    "Look, if you''re practicing a monologue, then count me out," June sighed.


    "We might have been in the same crime scene," Lin Zhi continued, ignoring June''s words.


    "However, we might not have felt each other''s presence. No¡ªcorrection. One of us must have known the presence of the other...while the other remained oblivious."


    "Crazy, right?" Lin Zhi chuckled.


    "We''re truly connected like everything else."


    June lifted his chin despite already having a hint of what Lin Zhi was talking about.


    "So, that night," Lin Zhi said, standing from his seat and walking to where June was. He ced his hand on the table and leaned closer to June, his eyes filled with determination.


    "You saw me, didn''t you?" he asked.


    June looked into his eyes, not backing down.


    "What night?" June asked, feigning innocence.


    Lin Zhi chuckled bitterly. "The night I killed someone," he said.


    "So, you''re admitting to your sins?" June asked.


    Lin Zhi proudly smirked. "I might have regretted a lot of things, but this is one thing I don''t regret. I would have never made it to Korea if it weren''t for killing that guy."


    June''s jaw clenched when he didn''t see even the tiniest amount of remorse in his eyes.


    "You, on the other hand, are much worse," Lin Zhi said.


    "As much as you try to deny it, you also contributed to his death that day."


    "You could have stopped it," Lin Zhi said.


    "And what? Risk getting killed, too?" June asked.


    Lin Zhi shrugged. "Or maybe...you didn''t want to intervene anymore," he smirked, leaning closer to June.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed his chair back to stand and meet Lin Zhi''s eyes.


    "You didn''t want to intervene anymore since you already got what you needed," Lin Zhi continued.


    June shook his head. As much as Lin Zhi was a dumb piece of shit, he was also very deductive and cunning. It was one of the reasons why Laohu let him stay by his side for so long. He had a lot of ws and was easy to manipte; however, he was just as evil as Laohu.


    "You have the briefcase, don''t you?" Lin Zhi asked.


    June turned to him with furrowed eyebrows, making Lin Zhi burst into loudughter.


    "Goodness," he said, wiping the tears of happiness from his eyes. "I thought I would only be able to fulfill my dreams of bing an actor once I trample on your career, but it seems like I''m getting another benefit, too."


    "You''re making assumptions," June said.


    "The truth is not an assumption. It is, in fact, the truth. You came to China that day with your friend, Haruto, and you were given the mission of getting the briefcase. I saw it all. Haruto was the one who was supposed to do it, but you stepped in¡ª


    like you always do...and that''s the reason why he jumped off of a building after getting kicked out by thepany."


    "You didn''t give Phoenix the briefcase. You made Phoenix believe that you didn''t have the briefcase," he continued to assume. "So, you were also kicked out."


    To be fair, all of his assumptions were correct. However, even then, June still didn''t know where he ced the briefcase. In fact, he was the only person in this world who knew and didn''t at the same time.


    "And so?" June asked, wanting to look unfazed. However, deep inside, he was also worried.


    The proof that Bo Wen provided was fortunately not enough to show that June was truly involved in Jun-hao''s death. However, if Lin Zhi dug deeper, then he feared he would find something that would ruin his career...


    ...for good, this time.

 Chapter 618 What Would You Do?

    <h4>Chapter 618 What Would You Do?</h4>


    "We can release this to the public," Laohu said, causing Lin Zhi to smirk.


    "Do you think this will be enough?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "I believe so," Laohu said. "There is already proof that Choi Joon-ho was with Haruto the day he jumped off of the building. I also happened to find the footage from security cameras that day."


    "Did Choi Joon-ho push him off?" Lin Zhi continued to inquire.


    "No," Laohu responded. "He tried to stop him."


    Lin Zhi frowned in confusion. "Isn''t that a bad thing for us?"


    "It can be," Laohu said. "However, we can always manipte how other people think. People believe everything they see on the inte if it''s even a little bit believable. That''s how stupid the human brain is."


    Lin Zhi smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Laohu swirled the whiskey ss in his hand and looked out of the tall, skyrise buildings in front of them.


    "There are way too many stories in the world¡ªone where people can''t be bothered to know the real truth. So, they believe the most convenient piece of information."


    "I''ll help you," Lin Zhi said.


    Laohu chuckled in amusement. "Of course, you would. You are the stepping stone of our n. You will make the usations, and I shall back it up with proof."


    Lin Zhi nodded, determined to follow everything that Laohu would say.


    "First, you have to im that Choi Joon-ho isn''t as innocent as he seems. He has been dodging the bullet since Rising Stars, but we have to show that he''s no better than Alex and Hyunwoo, the two trainees from Phoenix who got kicked out of the show. In fact, we''ll paint him to be much worse."


    "You will release a statement that you are being bullied by June in the set of ''Untouched Souls.'' During bullying scandals, people usually believe the victim. Once the statement is out, this video clip will circte online."


    Lin Zhi listened intently.


    "Then, we''ll give him a final blow," Laohu smirked. "One that he wouldn''t be able to bounce back from."


    Laohu ced some photos on the table¡ªof someone who appeared very familiar and influential.


    "CEO?" Lin Zhi asked, recognizing the current CEO of Phoenix Entertainment. It was photos of him in various ces with the different women, causing Lin Zhi''s smirk to widen.


    "I''ve gathered these pieces of evidence so we can use it as leverage. Once the CEO ims that June is the same as the character we''ve painted him out to be, then his career is good as done."


    "Then," Laohu smirked, downing the rest of his whiskey and leaning against his cheer. "Once that happens, we''ll have June at the very bottom of the food chain¡ªwhere he would have no choice but to tell us where the briefcase is."


    "And when that happens," Laohu smiled. "We''ll finally take over the Korean Entertainment Company as we know it."


    Laohu chuckled loudly, and Lin Zhi followed not long after. The sound ofughtering from two deranged men sent chills to the spines of those even absent in the room.


    "However," Laohu quickly said, cutting hisughter short.


    He pointed at Lin Zhi and looked him dead in the eyes.


    "You must stay calm," he prefaced.


    "No matter what happens. You have to act as if we''re not nning a thing."


    Lin Zhi''s jaw clenched in determination as he nodded.


    "Got it."


    ***


    June paced back and forth in his room, sneezing as he felt an itchy sensation in his nose.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "Is somebody talking about me?"


    Then, he sat on his bed, bouncing his leg up and down since he was at a loss for what to do.


    Even his acting performance was affected by Lin Zhi''s words a while ago. As a result, their filming schedule was postponed, and they moved it to a weekend.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Casper with a bowl of pasta in his hands.


    "Pasta?" he asked, looking at June with bright eyes as he showed him the colorless pasta.


    June clicked his tongue. "What are you doing here?"


    "Well, you didn''t join us for dinner, so I decided to bring you some to your room," Casper innocently said.


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. Meanwhile, Casper watched him with a hesitant gaze.


    "I know that you''re working hard for the team," Casper said. "In fact, the team has been working non-stop since our debut, and it truly gets exhausting."


    "However, I can''t imagine how tired you truly are. For someone who has twice the amount of work we have, you''re doing extremely well. So, I hope you won''t be too hard on yourself and also rest from time to time."


    June pursed his lips before standing from his bed, taking the colorless pasta from Casper''s hand and shoving a forkful into his mouth.


    Rest? Rest was a luxury for people like him.


    Being an idol was already a very physically demanding job. However, he was also battling his past demons, which made him believe that he didn''t have the luxury of rest.


    Then, June patted his bed, signaling for Casper to sit next to him.


    "Sit," June said.


    Casper was surprised; however, he quicklyplied, seeing it as an opportunity to speak with June for longer.


    "I need your advice," June started off, making Casper even more surprised. Usually, the boys came to June to ask for advice. Moreover, Casper was the veryst person that the members talked to for some rational advice.


    His ideas were even more unhinged than Akira''s!


    June was well-aware of this fact, of course¡ªwhich is why he decided to ask Casper for help in the first ce.


    He had been thinking rationally about how to get back at Lin Zhi. However, he believed that rational thinking wouldn''t cut it this time.


    "What would you do if you needed to destroy a person?" June vaguely asked.


    "Destroy a person?" Casper asked with raised eyebrows.


    June nodded. "The entirety of their being. Their reputation. Their life. Their conscience. Everything."


    Casper scratched the back of his head.


    "That would be hard to do, wouldn''t it? Why would you want to destroy a person''s life?"


    June clicked his tongue. "Look at it this way. What if someone takes an important aspect of your life, and it still hasn''t been given justice?"


    Casper hummed and ced his hand under his chin.


    "Hmm, I''ll tell the authorities?" he asked.


    June sighed in frustration. Casper was not getting his intention at all.


    Then, it clicked to him¡ªthe most perfect question.


    He turned to Casper and looked him in the eyes.


    "What would you do if someone kills Luther, gets away with it, and is now living their best life under the spotlight?"

 Chapter 619 You Owe Me

    <h4>Chapter 619 You Owe Me </h4>


    Casper''s face became pale, and June saw his fists shaking in anger. He leaned back, wondering if he asked an excessive question.


    However, Casper''s response was something June needed to hear.


    "Then, I''ll take revenge," Casper said, his voice deeper than his usual tone.


    "I''ll do everything in my power to show the world what that particr person had done."


    "What are you going to do if that person has more money and influence than you?" June asked.


    "Then, I''ll exhaust all resources...and once they''ve been exhausted, I''ll go for the next best thing¡ªwhich is to find a person who has more resources than I do."


    "We already know that money is the most important thing in the world," Casper continued.


    June listened intently, finding this to be a very rare moment. It seemed like the thought of Luther dying unjustly rewired something in Casper''s brain to make him speak smarter.


    "Money creates influence. Influence creates power...and the powerful always takes a position. So, I''ll look for someone who has all of that," Casper said.


    "Money, influence, and power," June muttered, searching his mind for a person who has all three.


    Then, it hit him.


    He actually knew a person.


    And the best part was?


    That person owed him.


    June smirked and ced the now-empty bowl in Casper''s hand.


    Then, he pushed him away from his room before locking the door.


    Casper stared at the door, confused and lost. Then, he felt himself shaking again.


    "Luther will never die," he muttered before going back to the kitchen to wash June''s dishes.


    Meanwhile, June scrolled through his contacts to look for a particr name. He was hesitant to save it at first since he didn''t know when he would be able to use it. However, he was thankful for his past self for saving it nheless.


    "There it is," June smirked, quickly clicking on the contact.


    However, before he could click on the call button, the word ''Baldie'' suddenly appeared on the screen, making June sigh.


    "Bo Wen, I''m busy," he deadpanned as he answered the call.


    "I know," Bo Wen urgently said. "But this is a very serious matter."


    "What is?" June asked.


    "I think myputer had been messed with. I was suspicious in the past few days, but I checked my webcam, which I forgot was turned on due to personal reasons, and found that Lin Zhi was pestering with myputer the other day!"


    "He must have gotten some important files in myputer."


    June sighed and shook his head. "I know. I think they''re going to reveal it soon¡ªmy real past with Phoenix."


    Bo Wen clicked his tongue. "What are we going to do? I saw Lin Zhi going inside the CEO''s office this morning, and it seemed like they had a serious conversation. So, I went in to see what Lin Zhi presented him and discovered that he was ckmailing him with a cheating incident."


    "Stay calm," June said, finding Lin Zhi''s n to be more thoroughly prepared than he had anticipated.


    "I''m going to do something about it," June said.


    "Can you even crack through the CEO, though?" Bo Wen asked.


    "Who knows," June muttered. "We just have to try."


    "For now, the only thing you need to do is change yourputer password. Stop setting it as your wife''s birthday! Moreover, encrypt the files on yourputer. Only you should know how to open it."


    Bo Wen sighed. "Alright. I''ll keep you in check."


    With that, June ended the call and unhesitatingly clicked on the contact name he had been intending to call in the first ce.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in one of the most expensive penthouse suites in the city, a woman who had just fallen into slumber was interrupted by the sound of her loud ringtone.


    She jolted awake in her bed, startled, and quickly looked for her phone.


    Then, when she saw the time, she cursed under her breath.


    Who was calling her at this hour?


    She didn''t even bother to look at the contact name and merely answered the call, ready to give the person a scolding for interrupting her precious sleep. She had been restless for thest few days for no reason, and now, an unexpected person was calling her?


    She answered the phone and prepared to give him an earful, but he spoke before she was able to.


    "Lena Park," June said, causing Lena to bite her lip in anger.


    "June," she said through gritted teeth. "I never expected you to call at such an hour."


    "Ah, right," June nonchntly said. "It must be dawn where you''re at, right?"


    Lena closed her eyes and let out a deep breath to calm herself down.


    "If you don''t have any reason for calling me, then I''m going to hang up."


    "I do have a valid reason," June quickly said.


    "Is it about Minjun?" Lena asked, the sleepiness suddenly leaving her body.


    "Or my mom?" she fervently asked.


    "Nope," June nonchntly said, making her even more annoyed.


    "Then, what?" she nearly screamed.


    "You have a lot of money, right?" June asked, causing her to frown.


    "You called me at 3 in the morning just to tell me that?" she asked in disbelief.


    "Just answer the question," June said. "You have a lot of money. Your husband does, too."


    Lena sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.


    "Yes! I have a lot of money, power, and influence! And I can probably even buy you if I wanted," she eximed out of anger.


    "Good," June said, making Lena confused.


    "Now, what are you going on about?" she asked, already tired of their conversation.


    "I need you to do something for me."


    Lena''s eyebrows raised in surprise. She couldn''t believe she met someone with such a thick face in this lifetime.


    "What am I? Your servant?"


    June didn''t answer her question and mentioned the favor he needed instead.


    "My career is on the line," June said.


    "Someone from Phoenix is going to release a statement about me one of these days, and the CEO is probably going to back him up," June continued.


    Lena''s eyebrows furrowed once Phoenix was mentioned. She knew that June had been affiliated with Phoenix before, and she also knew about the incidents that led to his departure from thepany. However, why was he still affiliated with them now?


    "So, what do you want me to do?" Lena asked.


    "I don''t know what you truly do, nor do I know the extent of your money or power," June started off. "However, I know that you''re much more powerful than I am."


    "In this sense, I need you to stop the CEO from backing the allegations against me at all costs."


    Lena shook her head. "Why won''t you ask me to block the allegations instead?"


    "Because it will always get out...someway...somehow. However, we may not control how information is going to flow, but we can always manipte how people are going to interpret it."


    Lena pursed her lips. "Granted that I can do this¡ªwhy would I be helping you? You''re not my family. You''re not my friend. We don''t consider each other as important people in each other''s lives."


    "I know," June said, looking out of his window.


    "But you owe me," he continued, causing Lena to frown.


    "You owe me, Miss Lena Park."


    Lena was brought back to the time when June saved Minjun from a near-death experience, causing her to curse under her breath.


    "You''re not going to go back on your word, are you?"

 Chapter 620 It’s Time for a Human Experiment

    <h4>Chapter 620 It''s Time for a Human Experiment</h4>


    June smiled as he arrived at a familiar building. After his long conversation with Lenast night, he decided to visit the hospital.


    He decided to take the bus since it had been a while since he used public transportation. Fortunately, nobody recognized him, and he didn''t have to go through the hassle of being mobbed.


    As he arrived at the hospital, the nurses at the lounge instantly recognized him¡ªnot as June but as the mysterious man who came to visit Grandma from time to time.


    "Grandma''s resting," one of the nurses said. "She just finished her second cycle of chemotherapy, so she might be pretty tired."


    June nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, thank you for all of the hard work."


    Then, he ced the food items he had brought on top of their table.


    "Here''s a small token for working so hard," he said.


    The nurses were surprised, then they bowed their heads at him.


    "Thank you so much, sir. We''ll make sure to enjoy it!"


    "Hmm," June hummed. "You''re wee."


    However, even then, he remained still, leaving the nurses perplexed.


    "Aren''t you going to visit Grandma today, sir?" they asked.


    June didn''t answer their question and asked a question of his own.


    "Is Dr. Oh around?" he asked.


    "Well, yes," the nurses said. "Dr. Oh is always around. He has so many specialties that he''s practically in the hospital all day."


    June smirked. "Can you tell me where he is?"


    One of the nurses pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment.


    "Well, it is his break time right now. It''s his only one throughout the day, so he told us not to interrupt him at all costs."


    "Can''t you tell it for me, please?" June asked, using his idol-like charms.


    Despite his face being covered, his gestures and voice were enough to make the nurses swoon.


    They turned to each other with pink cheeks and caved into his request.


    "He''s in his office. 901," she finally said.


    "Thank you," June said, lifting his cap a bit so they could see the sincerity within his eyes.


    Then, he left to find Dr. Oh''s office, oblivious to the chaos he had caused in the nurses'' hearts.


    "What the heck? Was he always this handsome?"


    "I always thought he was handsome."


    "You haven''t even seen him yet. Dr. Oh also doesn''t let us enter the room when he''s around."


    "Yeah, and the times we''ve seen him inside the room, he''s always wearing a mask."


    "His silhouette is still handsome."


    "And did you see his eye smile! He''s like a cute cat!"


    June finally arrived at the ninth floor and smiled when he recognized Dr. Oh''s office right away. It was thergest in the entire floor and had an entric vibe that screamed it belonged to the doctor.


    Then, he wasted no time in walking inside the room, not even bothering to knock.


    He paused in his tracks, however, when he saw the current state that Dr. Oh was in. He had cucumber over his eyes while eating the rest of it like a bunny eating a carrot. Moreover, ssical versions of modern pop songs yed inside the room.


    The room also strangely smelled of c, lemon, and a little bit of rat poison, making June click his tongue.


    Dr. Oh sighed as he felt another person''s presence in the room.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "This is my only one-hour break of the day! I told you not to interrupt me."


    He removed one of the cucumbers from his eyes to look at the intruder, his eyes immediately going wide when he saw that it was June.


    "June!" he eximed, popping the cucumbers from his eyes into his mouth.


    "Dr. Oh," June said, ignoring his weird antics and sitting on the chair in front of hisrge table.


    Dr. Oh observed him with bright eyes, his eyes folded on the table.


    "You didn''t tell me that you were visiting," the doctor said.


    "It was unnned," June honestly said. "I just thought of visiting the hospital."


    "Well, did you go and see Grandma? She just finished her second cycle and appears to be receiving it well. She''s feeling a lot of the side effects, though, so she will continue to stay here until all of her cycles are finished.


    "Yes," June said. "Her daughter doesn''t have any problem with her staying in the hospital."


    Dr. Oh nodded, impressed. "Must be a rich woman," he muttered.


    "Then," Dr. Oh cleared his throat. "Are you here to ask me anything about Grandma?"


    Dr. Oh really hated being interrupted during his break; however, if it was June, then he could make an exception.


    "I didn''te here to visit Grandma," June said.


    Dr. Oh frowned in confusion. "Then, are you here to get a check-up?" he asked, sounding concerned.


    June shook his head. "No. I came here to see you."


    Dr. Oh''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and he suddenly found himself feeling excited.


    "Me? Just for me?" he asked, fluttering his eyshes.


    "Don''t be ttered," June quickly said. "I came here to ask for a favor."


    "A favor," Dr. Oh said. "As long as it doesn''t cost me my career, then I can help you."


    June opened his bag and brought a piece of paper out of it. Then, he ced it on top of Dr. Oh''s table.


    The white-haired doctor grabbed the paper and read through it.


    "What is this?" he muttered. "This seems like a fake diagnosis."


    "Right?" June asked. "The medical impression doesn''t coincide with the test results. This isn''t a Depressive Disorder or General Anxiety Disorder."


    "Strange," Dr. Oh said. "This is from the hospital, too."


    "Hmm," June nodded. "Can you investigate this for me?"


    "I certainly can," Dr. Oh said, safekeeping the piece of paper. "I''ll make sure to go to the bottom of this. After all, you are talking to the director of the hospital."


    June was surprised, quickly ncing at his namete and confirming that he was, indeed, the director of the hospital.


    So, the doctor that had been pestering him so much actually held a lot of influence!


    "Then, grant me another favor," June said. "After you''re done with your investigation. Can you provide me with more proof that the doctor created a misdiagnosis?"


    Dr. Oh frowned. "That would be too much. I can''t possibly divulge a patient''s test results."


    "Well, you did take the Hippocratic oath," June muttered.


    "But you just need to give me the real diagnosis. Just that," he said.


    Dr. Oh clicked his tongue, still feeling hesitant.


    June sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "I''ll give you something in return."


    Dr. Oh raised his eyebrows in curiosity.


    "I''ll give you a sample of my DNA and tissues. Feel free to study it as you like."

 Chapter 621 Impromptu Backstory

    <h4>Chapter 621 Impromptu Backstory </h4>


    "Not now, though," June said as soon as Director Oh agreed to his n.


    "Let me finish the filming of my movie first, then I''lle back here on my own ord."


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips in disappointment but eventually nodded in agreement.


    "You better keep your word," Dr. Oh said.


    "You have my promise," June said.


    With that, he finally left Dr. Oh''s office.


    As he arrived at the first floor, however, he suddenly felt himself getting lightheaded, with the world spinning around him. His eyes widened in surprise as he quickly ced his hand on the cold, hard wall before leaning against it.


    The world was still spinning, so he closed his eyes to stabilize himself.


    "What is happening?" he muttered, still leaning against the wall for support.


    Truth be told, this was the second time that his dizzy spells happened. The first time was when his dating scandal broke out, so he attributed it to the stress he felt at that time. It seemed like he was getting stressed and fatigued because of everything that was going on, which was why the dizzy spell came back.


    "Goodness," June muttered. "Fu, I really need some of your health potions right now."


    However, Fu didn''t respond, making him shake his head.


    He slowly opened his eyes to see if the world was still spinning. Fortunately, it no longer wasn''t, so June stood straight and stretched his neck.


    Then, from his peripheral vision, he saw a pharmacy. He clicked his tongue and started walking in its direction.


    "Well, it looks like I''ll stick with the real potions this time."


    He bought some medicine for his stress and fatigue and was about to leave the hospital when he suddenly received a phone call.


    He stopped for a moment to answer Hana''s call.


    "Hana, what''s up?" he asked.


    "June," she eximed happily as soon as he answered. "Thank goodness, you answered quickly."


    "Why?" June asked. "Is there anything happening today?"


    "Well, this afternoon is free, and Director Jam wanted to try something. It''s not part of the script, and it would only be a short scene. It also isn''t guaranteed to make it into the final cut of the movie, but he said that he wanted you to try."


    "What scene is it?" June asked.


    "Your backstory," Hana happily said. "If it does make it into the final cut, he said that it was most likely not going to be added to the first parts of the movie where the other background stories are. Instead, it will be shown once the plot twist is revealed."


    "Is there a script?" June asked.


    "The other actors are already being oriented. It won''t have Lin Zhi or anyone like that. It''s just you and your mother."


    "Alright," June said. "I''ll be there in less than an hour."


    "It''s alright. Take your time," Hana said. "We still have to film a few more scenes."


    With that, he ended the call. June quickly hailed a taxi and drank the medications he had brought.


    Meanwhile, in the set, one of the extras heard about June''s added backstory. He pursed his lips and dialed a number on his phone.


    He bit his lips in anxiety as he waited for Lin Zhi to answer.


    "Why are you calling me?" Lin Zhi asked right away, sounding annoyed. "I''m busy."


    The extra scratched the back of his head. "You told me to report the new happenings within the set."


    "Only the important ones," Lin Zhi sighed impatiently. "You''re interrupting something very important right now. You better tell me something worth hearing."


    "Well," the extra bit his lip. "I just heard Director Jam speaking with the main actors today."


    "Get to the point," Lin Zhi snapped.


    "It seems like they''re adding a bonus scene into the movie. It''s not part of the script, and it''s not even guaranteed to make it to the final cut, but I thought you''d just need to know."


    "A bonus scene? For what?" Lin Zhi asked.


    The extra was silent for a while before he responded.


    "For June," he answered. "They''re going to add a backstory for June."


    Now, it was Lin Zhi''s turn to be silent.


    He pursed his lips as he felt anger rushing through his heart.


    "Calm down," he muttered, knowing that his temper was one of his greatest weaknesses. Laohu had also already told him plenty of times about his habit.


    "Calm down," he repeated; however, the extra kept going on and on about what was happening on the set.


    "June just arrived," he said. "They''re all greeting him as if they hadn''t seen him in months. Director Jam is nearly hugging him, too. It looks like he really wants June to nail his backstory so it can make it into the final cut."


    With those statements, Lin Zhi couldn''t contain his anger anymore. He quickly ended the call and mmed the phone on the table, making the tempered ss shatter into pieces.


    He breathed raggedly before throwing the items on his table onto the floor.


    "A backstory? For a side character? You have got to be kidding me!"


    He might as well be the main viin if that was the case!


    Lin Zhi looked outside the window, which only escted his anger when he saw yet another one of June''s billboards hanging outside.


    "Fuck!" he screamed loudly before going back to his table and grabbing hisptop.


    "I''m going to destroy you," he furiously typed. "You''re never going to get back on your feet."


    "I''ll take over everything you have...then, I''ll kill you," heughed manically.


    "I''ll kill you with my own two hands."


    ***


    In the set, where June had just arrived, Director Jam gave him and the other actors an overview of what he wanted to see for Jian''s backstory.


    "You''re going to be abandoned by your mother. She''ll believe you''re just a mistake. Your father takes you in and makes you a messenger because he believes you are still powerful because of his blood," Director Jam said.


    "This scene will show how your mother will leave you and how your father is the first person who will ept you back. This will be the reason why you stayed by Yian''s side despite his evil and irrational ns."


    June and the actress portraying his mother nodded in understanding.


    "So, we don''t get a script at all?" the middle-aged woman asked.


    Director Jam shook his head. "This is my challenge for you. I rarely film these types of scenes, but when I do, they''re always a hit. Remember ''King of Tears?'' The iconic scene with the lead actor is brought about with this kind of set-up."


    June nodded, internalizing his backstory once more.


    Again, it wasn''t too far from what he had experienced. His mother never betrayed him, but she did leave him when he wasn''t ready, so he was going to channel those feelings into the scenes.


    "Are you up for the challenge?"


    June snapped out of his thoughts and looked into Director Jam''s eyes.


    "Of course."

 Chapter 622 Mommy Issues (1)

    <h4>Chapter 622 Mommy Issues (1)</h4>


    Mommy Issues.


    It was something that a lot of people in this generation had.


    It was also a fact June was hugely aware of. Therefore, he wanted to portray the feelings of more than a million teens in Korea and around the world in the scene he was going to act in.


    What was it truly like to be unloved by your mother?


    June felt pretty challenged since he didn''t have a script that would guide him. Fortunately, improvising was a skill he took pride in.


    Director Jam and the other staff gathered behind the cameras as June and the actress ying his mother took their positions.


    Taehyun, Hana, and some of the other actors also decided to stay, curious and intrigued by how June was going to portray this particr scene without a formal script.


    "Quiet on the set," Director Jam eximed.


    "Ready the te."


    "3¡­2¡­1¡­Action!"


    June closed his eyes and got into character. Then, he opened them with a soft sigh before facing the cameras, determined to get this scene in only one take.


    The sun was dipping as Jian made his way back home. His footsteps were lighter than usual as he yet again mastered another skill. He was excited to tell his mother about it, wondering if he could finally enter a school in the city with a schrship.


    His heart beat fast in his chest as he approached the familiar gate of their lords'' extravagant home. He pushed it open and walked into the yard, his eyes immediately drawn to the figure of his mother hangingundry in the fading light.


    Director Jam watched intently, nodding in satisfaction as he saw how June was projected on the screen. His make-up was meticulously done, making him appear younger than his age. It was a plus since they didn''t need to hire a younger actor to portray this particr scene.


    June alone sufficed.


    Moreover, his expression showed a youthful energy, making him look even younger than his age. There was a hint of joyfulness in his eyes that couldn''t be seen in the former scenes they had filmed, which was a small yet profound detail that Director Jam noticed.


    "Mother," Jian called out, his voice tinged with curiosity. "I see you''ve packed some things," he said, ncing at the luggage on the side of the table. "Are we going on a trip?"


    His mother turned to him, her gentle face painted with determination and coldness.


    "Yes, Jian," she replied softly, her voice barely audible over the rusting of the clothes in the breeze.


    "Cool," Jian chimed, sitting under the small pavilion of her mother''s lord. "Where are we going?"


    His mother pursed her lips and stayed silent for a couple of seconds.


    "We''re not going together."


    Confusion clouded Jian''s features. "Not together? Where are you going then?"


    His mother paused, her hands stilling for a moment before she continued to pin a shirt to the line. "You are going to your father," she said, her words devoid of any warmth.


    Jian''s heart skipped a beat. "Father? But... why? I''ve been fine here, haven''t I?"


    Her face remained unchanged as she finally faced Jian, letting go of one of his clothes and letting it fall to the dirty ground.


    A look of hurt flickered across Jian''s face as he watched the piece of white cloth being stained by the gravel. However, it was swiftly masked with what seemed to be hope.


    Hana shook her head as she watched the scene through the screen.


    "This guy, really. He has grown into a good actor in such a short amount of time," she muttered.


    Taehyun also watched intently as he snacked on some sweet chestnut jellies. He felt himself getting sucked into June''s acting, finding himself unable to look away since he felt like he was also learning from the younger actor''s expressions.


    "Your father can offer you a better life, Jian," she exined, her voice steady. "It''s time for you to go to him. I have taken care of you long enough."


    Jian felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath him. His father, whom he barely knew, was suddenly the solution to all their problems?


    It didn''t make sense.


    "But mother," he protested, his voice cracking with emotion.


    "Why? Why now? And why do I have to leave you?"


    June''s gaze showed his protest of the situation. Moreover, it appeared like he was silently telling his mom that it would be all right for him to go to his father¡ªjust as long as she was going to join him.


    His mother''s gaze softened as she met his eyes, but there was a distance there¡ªa coldness that sent shivers down Jian''s spine. "Because it''s what''s best for you, Jian," she whispered. "You must go as soon as possible."


    "They are in need of a new messenger. You are not a useless yielder, so you will be treated nicely by his family," she said.


    Tears welled up in June''s eyes, the feeling of rejection finally hitting him.


    This wasn''t the mother he knew¡ªthe warm and loving woman who had always been there for him.


    She seemed like a stranger, a puppet of fate with her strings pulled by forces beyond her control.


    For a long moment, they stood there in silence, with the only sound being the gentle fluttering of theundry in the evening breeze. Jian wanted to reach out to his mother, to hold her close and never let go, but something held him back. There was a wall between them now, built of secrets and sacrifices, and he didn''t know if he could ever tear it down.


    However, just as the camera focused on June''s face, his expression suddenly turned into that of determination, surprising Director Jam for his sudden shift in portrayal.


    Even though he didn''t give the actors a script, he also already had a plot in mind. Someone who had seen the process of the production would also have this kind of thought.


    Jian is a pushover, and that is why he epts everything that Yian orders him to do for more than half of the movie. That was Jian''s character¡ªone that was strangely kind, easily manipted, yet never clumsy.


    He was the type of character that people would love regardless of their stand on the plot, so Director Jam wondered why June was showing a different character than what most of the staff and even Risa, the writer, had anticipated.


    As he stared at June''s handsome face on the screen, he tilted his head to the side in inquiry.


    "Why¡­does he look so stubborn?" Director Jam muttered.

 Chapter 623 Mommy Issues (2)

    <h4>Chapter 623 Mommy Issues (2) </h4>


    June knew that Jian''s character was supposed to be obedient. However, for him, blind obedience is something that had to be acquired¡ªnot something you were born with.


    People who blindly obey other people either can''t lose something more important¡­or can''t do anything about the situation because they''re with the only people who would ept them.


    Thetter was what June wanted to portray in this certain scene.


    Before Jian became the trusty messenger of the Shadow n, he was also a teen¡ªsomeone who had the same aspirations as others, someone who was stubborn if they wanted to keep something.


    Jian crossed his arms in front of his chest, grabbing the bag from the table and cing it next to him.


    "I''m not going," he stubbornly said, surprising even the actress he was working with.


    She narrowed her eyes at her son.


    "What do you mean you''re not going?" she incredulously asked.


    "I said what I said," Jian said. "I''m not going. I''m staying here no matter what you say."


    "You can''t even attend school in this ce," his mother sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose.


    "I don''t care aboutfort," he whispered, his voice trembling with determination. "I don''t care if our house is small or if we have to serve others. I don''t even care if I have to clean the pig pens or endure the taunts of the lords'' sons. None of it matters¡­"


    "...as long as I''m with you."


    He walked closer to his mother, holding onto her hands.


    His mother pulled back slightly, her eyes still cold.


    "Jian, you deserve better," she protested.


    Jian shook his head, his eyes shining with unshed tears.


    Those watching from the side couldn''t tear their eyes away from the screen.


    "No, Mother," he insisted, his voice gaining strength with every word.


    "I don''t wantfort or opportunity if it means being without you. I don''t want a life where I''m not by your side, where I''m not here to support you...to take care of you."


    "You''re all I need, Mom," he said, finally letting go of himself as a tear fell from his eyes.


    Why was it so hard to show our parents that we aren''t asking for too much?


    "I just want to be by your side," he whispered.


    The actress ying his mother was swayed away by June''s acting, and for a moment, she found herself tearing up at his words. It seemed like she was looking into the eyes of her real son, who was begging her to stay.


    She could sense the profound love that Jian, the character, had for his mother, and it made her want to cave in. However, at the same time, she knew not to break the character that Director Jam had provided her.


    He specifically instructed her not to show any remorse¡ªto be as cold as possible.


    "This ce¡­it''s not for you," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat.


    However, even with her continuous hostility, Jian remained desperate.


    "I can stay," he said with bright eyes. "I won''t be a burden, I promise."


    Just then, his mother''s eyes shed with sudden intensity, making Jian step back in surprise.


    "You don''t understand, Jian," she cried out, her voice raw with emotion.


    "I don''t want you," she finally said.


    The set became dead silent as the actress spoke such painful words.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. This was also something he didn''t expect.


    In fact, it was better than what he had expected.


    This was exactly what he needed to hear¡ªan outright rejection from the woman he treasured the most in the entire world.


    "I never wanted this life," she continued.


    "I never chose to have a son and to be tied down to this ce."


    "If it weren''t for you, I would be free. Free to live as I please and pursue my dreams! But instead, I''m stuck here, suffocating under the weight of responsibilities I never asked for!" she screamed, losing the iciness in her voice and recing it with pure fire.


    Hana gasped loudly, covering her mouth in shock as she waited for the next dialogue. There were already tears threatening to fall down her eyes as she stared at the screen. She didn''t expect to be so moved by such a short scene.


    In fact, she only stayed so she could see how June''s acting had improved. It was hard to gauge his acting skills with what they had filmed so far, yet today, he proved that he was now worthy of being called an actor.


    Not even an idol-actor, but just an actor¡ªone who canpete with them in their own expertise.


    Jian staggered back, his heart shattering into a million pieces at his mother''s words.


    Then, even though he wasn''t much of a crier, tears streamed down his cheeks as he struggled to find his voice.


    Director Jam held his breath as he waited for June''s next line.


    "But¡­but I didn''t choose this life either," he whispered.


    "I didn''t choose to be born or to burden you with my existence."


    He paused, letting his words sink in.


    "However, I did choose to stay," he said in a vulnerable voice.


    "Isn''t that what makes life beautiful?"


    "When we choose to stay even though it''s difficult? When the small bouts of happiness we feel is enough to overshadow the sadness that happens constantly within our lives?"


    Hana let out the breath that she was holding. Again, it was something she wasn''t expecting, yet it was perfect for the scene.


    "I know this is your first life," he continued, smiling bitterly as he gazed at the ground.


    "...and it must be shame."


    Then, he looked up once more, his eyes showing all of the emotions that Director Jam was looking for.


    "There it is," the director whispered, his eyes focused on the screen.


    The expressive eyes that he admired so much. It was fascinating how June was able to portray everything with just a look in his eyes.


    ''Consume sympathy potion,'' June thought, knowing this would be thest, most powerful weapon that he could bring out.


    [Sympathy potion consumed]


    June wasn''t even sure if this scene was going to make it into the final cut, but still, he wanted to show off everything for this scene.


    And just like that, another depth had been added to his gaze, making him look even more pitiful than he was.


    His voice broke as he said his next words.


    "But please be kind to me¡­"


    "...because this is my first life, too."

 Chapter 624 A Very Competent Actor

    <h4>Chapter 624 A Very Competent Actor</h4>


    There was a shift in the actress'' eyes; the facade she had worked hard on building was now crumbling to the ground.


    Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she looked away from her pained son.


    Jian nodded his head as he gazed at the ground, tears falling from his eyes like crystals in a dark cave.


    As he looked up to the camera once more, another tear fell, glistening under the moonlight.


    Ann watched the scene before her and shook her head.


    "His tears are paid actors. Those look like diamonds just now," she muttered.


    It seemed like everybody in the studio held their breaths as they waited for the scene to finish. It was almost like they were already watching the movie in the front row of the cinema for its very first premier.


    Jian, sensing that his mother wasn''t going to change his mind, nodded to himself once again.


    "But if this will make you happier," he started off, grabbing the bag on his side with a heavy heart.


    "Then, I guess I have no choice," he whispered.


    Even if it costs me my own happiness.


    With that, he slung the bag over his shoulder and looked at his mother once more, trying his best to smile.


    However, it was evident in his eyes that he was anything but happy.


    The contrast between his mncholic eyes and the smile ying on his lips was impable, showing what it was like to stay strong when you were in your most vulnerable state.


    With that, Jian walked away from the courtyard, leaving his favorite white robe on the ground.


    His mother''s face was shown on screen, and it showed her real feelings. However, even then, she couldn''t bear to turn around.


    She knew that she didn''t have the right to call his name after all that she had said.


    Moreover, she was afraid that she would ask him toe back if she turned around and saw his retreating figure.


    So, just like that, two people were shown on screen, their backs turned away from each other, one staying still and the other slowly and tearfully walking away.


    "Goodness, this is sadder than my backstory," Taehyun said.


    Hana turned to him and red with teary eyes.


    "You have a fantastic backstory," Hana deadpanned.


    Taehyun covered his mouth as he looked at his co-worker''s face.


    "Are you crying?" he asked.


    "Shut up," Hana said, still not over their scene.


    "They did a great job, didn''t they?" Taehyun asked, looking at June, who still appeared to be in character.


    Hana nodded in agreement.


    "I feel like this wouldn''t have been as good if there was a script. That''s how good it is," she said.


    Director Jam was also pleasantly shocked, unable to cut the scene right away.


    "Cut!" he finally eximed.


    June turned back to face the crew, and at that moment, he went back to his usual nonchnt mood¡ªlike he didn''t just show one of the greatest crying scenes of the entire movie!


    Director Jam shook his head as he continued to look at June through the screen.


    "What a scary young man," he muttered.


    He knew that the scene wasn''t part of the script, and the chance of it making to the final cut was lesser than other scenes.


    However, with what they had filmed, Director Jam was sure that this scene was going to make it in the movie.


    Most definitely.


    ***


    June finally arrived at their dorm after a long day, feeling more tired than usual.


    But at least his acting aspect increased by one, now making it into the A+ range.


    He was greeted by his members as he arrived, appearing to be eating dinner already.


    "Oh, June!" Akira eximed. "You''re home?"


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    June entered the dining room, a small smile appearing on his lips as he looked at his teammates.


    They appeared tired like he was, but he could also see the enjoyment in their eyes.


    "Do you want to eat?" Jisung asked.


    June shook his head. "Director Jam treated us to an expensive dinner."


    "Lucky," Jisung said, ncing at June and subsequently frowning.


    "Wait, are you alright?" he asked.


    June frowned in confusion. "Yeah. Why?"


    Jisung stood to fetch a ss of water and took the opportunity to look at June more closely.


    "You look quite tired," he said.


    June scratched the back of his head."Well, there is a lot of work these days."


    "No. It''s worse than looking tired," Jisung shook his head. "You look pale. Are you even eating well?"


    June pursed his lips and nodded.


    "Yeah. I think I just need to take a rest."


    "You do that," Jaeyong said, also sounding concerned. "You''re doing our schedules on top of your personal schedules. It''s a wonder how you''re even standing right now."


    June nodded. "Got it. I''ll head to bed now. I still need to go back to the set tomorrow."


    His members nodded, feeling saddened that they couldn''t do anything to help June.


    "Didn''t he lose some of the spark in his eyes?" Ren suddenly asked as June walked to his room.


    Jisung awkwardly chuckled. "Eyy, what are you saying? June loves being an idol."


    "Right?" Jisung asked for validation.


    "Of course he does," Zeth responded. "He''s just very tired. Any normal person would be."


    "That''s the problem," Casper muttered.


    "He''s unlike any other normal person."


    June sighed as he closed his door andid down on his bed, not even bothering to wash up after a long day.


    He felt himself getting sleepy, but his eyes quickly opened when he heard two consequent notifications from his phone.


    June groaned as he retrieved his phone from his pocket to check the notifications.


    He instantly sat up when he saw a text from Minjun and Dr. Oh.


    He first opened Dr. Oh''s message, a small smirk appearing on his lips when he saw the real interpretation of Lin Zhi''s test results.


    Crazy Doctor: You didn''t get this from me.


    Crazy Doctor: I already handled the doctor. He will also take ountability for the situation.


    June smiled to himself as he finally got what he wanted. However, even then, he still couldn''t shake off his sleepiness.


    So, with half-opened eyes, he looked at Minjun''s text and once again smiled.


    Minjun: My dad found this. It looks like someone from Lin Zhi''s side really did rig the results.


    Minjun: They tried really hard to hide it, but my dad''s the actual owner, so he was able to get to the bottom of it.


    "I knew it," June muttered, looking at all of the proof that Minjun had sent him.


    He quickly sent Lin Zhi''s real diagnosis to Minjun, making the young man satisfied.


    Little Bro: That''s another exclusive for MinMin!


    Little Bro: I can upload both of these tomorrow, right?


    Just then, he also received a text from Dr. Oh.


    Crazy Doctor: Can youe tomorrow for that blood extraction?


    At this point, his eyes were nearly closed, but he still strived to reply to the two of them.


    June: Yeah.


    June: Nope.

 Chapter 625 Another Great Actor

    <h4>Chapter 625 Another Great Actor </h4>


    "I¡ªI was so scared," Lin Zhi muttered to the camera, his eyes red and his face pale.


    More than a hundred thousand people were watching his midnight live after word got around in Navel.


    He looked down at hisp and broke character for a moment as he watched the view count increase at an exponentially fast speed.


    "I was going to keep it to myself," he continued, even sniffing to add to the drama of it all.


    "But I can''t find myself continuing to work with the person who had caused me so much trauma."


    "Untouched Souls is very special to me. It''s a project I was offered after going through so much painst year."


    "So, when I saw the person who caused a lot of my trauma, I was taken back to a dark ce."


    - Tell us who it is!


    - He doesn''t even need to mention it.


    - Right. Who else was with Lin Zhi during Rising Stars and now in Untouched Souls?


    - Don''t tell me¡ªis it June?


    - There''s no one else.


    "Still, I''m doing my best, guys, so I hope you will continue to support me," Lin Zhi said, trying to act brave despite his teary eyes.


    "I know it will be a very hard fight," he continued. "He''s a very popr figure. I know that most people will take his side. But I just want to get my story out there. If there are other people who feel the same way, then please don''t be afraid to air out your feelings, too.


    - That pretty much confirms it.


    - It''s definitely June.


    - Do you see that video of June circting around?


    - What video? When he was with a trainee who allegedly died?


    - Oh, that creepy rainy rooftop video? I just saw it right now.


    - Where is it posted?


    - Just search on Navel.


    - What are we even looking for in that video?


    - At 1:07, it looks like he''s pushing the guy down the ground.


    - Is it even confirmed that it was June?


    - Not yet, but Phoenix might release a statement soon.


    Lin Zhi finally ended the live video, closing his phone before nonchntly standing from his seat.


    Then, he gazed at himself in the mirror before him and smirked.


    "Ah," he said. "I should be an actor."


    Then, he was silent for a moment before bursting into chuckles.


    "Oh, wait. I already am!"


    ***


    June woke up in the morning feeling brand new. However, his eyes quickly widened when he realized that he was runningte.


    "Shit," he cursed, zooming around his room to pack up his things. Fortunately, his ck bag was back from theundry, which ced him in a good mood.


    After a few minutes, he was done with everything, so he ran out of his room and to the car where Jay was already waiting.


    "Let''s go," June said.


    However, much to his surprise, Jay didn''t start the car right away.


    It was strange. Jay usually made sure that June wasn''tte to any of his schedules. However, it seemed like he was moving slowly today.


    Then Jay turned around with a serious expression, surprising June even more.


    "June," he said, raking his hands through his hair.


    June frowned in confusion. "What? We need to go. I have to film the first scene today."


    "Lin Zhi...," Jay said in a serious tone, causing June to nod in understanding.


    So, he decided to retaliate this early on.


    Well, it was honestly expected.


    The filming for Untouched Souls was already midway through. If they wanted to kick the other out of the production, then they needed to do it now to avoid more losses.


    "What did he say this time?" June asked.


    "He''s iming that you''re bullying him. Then, a video was uploaded of you and your friend when you were trainees. People areing up with a bunch of theories."


    June scoffed with an amused smile. "Bullying? That''s what they came up with?"


    "This is serious, June," Jay said with a deep sigh. "Probably even more serious than your dating scandal."


    June sighed. "I''m not fazed. He''s spewing bullshit."


    "I believe you," Jay said. "But people are talking about you again. It seems like some of your fans are even taking Lin Zhi''s side."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    The public believed Lin Zhi despite the proof he gathered? Just how strong was Lin Zhi''s usation?


    Then, he opened his phone to scroll through Navel but clicked on the text message that popped up instead.


    Crazy Doctor: That''s great! When will youe?


    June frowned in confusion. Then, he scrolled up a bit.


    Crazy Doctor: Can youe tomorrow for that blood extraction?


    June: Yes


    His frown deepened as he clicked on his conversation with Minjun. He sighed in frustration when he saw hisst message.


    Little Bro: I can upload both of these tomorrow, right?


    June: Nope.


    June massaged the bridge of his nose as he quickly typed another reply.


    June: Please upload it as soon as possible.


    However, June knew that there would be some dys because Minjun was currently in school.


    "Goodness," June muttered. "Let''s just go to the filming site."


    Jay sighed and followed June''s instructions.


    As soon as he got there, he was once again the talk of the entire set. It seemed like Deja Vu when his dating scandal broke out.


    However, this time, it felt more serious since he was being used of an actual wrongdoing.


    As expected, there weren''t any actors on the set, so June immediately proceeded to the conference room.


    He opened the doors and saw the main actors, along with the directors and writers, inside.


    They all turned to him as he entered, but June was only looking at one person.


    Lin Zhi.


    He had a ck hoodie on, and it seemed like he was crying his eyes outst night.


    June silently scoffed in disbelief.


    He did a great job making himself look pathetic.


    "June, sit down," Director Jam said, his voice devoid of the warmth that it usually had when he spoke to June.


    June nodded and went to sit on one of the chairs just right in front of Lin Zhi.


    Director Jam sighed as he looked at his actors.


    So far, this has been the most stressful production he had ever partook in, and the movie hasn''t even aired yet.


    "I didn''t know that these things were happening within the set," he started off.


    "Lin Zhi, I hope you know that these usations are serious," he continued.


    Lin Zhi nodded pitifully. "I thought hard about it. It''s way too difficult for me to film with June after everything that happened between us."


    June held back from rolling his eyes.


    "What do you say about this, June?" Director Jam asked.


    "He doesn''t have any proof of his usations."


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips.


    "You also don''t have any proof that you didn''t do those kinds of things."


    "Thepany will post about it soon," Lin Zhi said, a smirk threatening to show on his lips.


    "Will they?" Director Jam asked, wondering how this was going to end.


    Of course, he would be disappointed if Lin Zhi''s usations were all true. Jian undoubtedly became his favorite character in the production.


    However, if Phoenix had proven this to be true, then he would have no choice but to formally expel June from production.


    Ann gasped as some important news broke out.


    The others all turned to Ann. However, June and Lin Zhi continued to stare at each other with narrowed eyes.


    "The CEO of Phoenix has finally spoken."

 Chapter 626 Snapped

    <h4>Chapter 626 Snapped</h4>


    Lin Zhi was confident.


    The only thing that Kim Young Do loved more than money was his reputation.


    It wasn''t his wife that he feared...but the repercussions when the public finds out that he is, indeed, a conniving cheater.


    With the proof that Laohu had gathered on him and his cheating escapades, Lin Zhi knew that he would have no choice but to confirm his statements.


    However, Lin Zhi also knew that June wouldn''t go down without a fight. He might have done something behind his back already.


    Heck, June most probably knew about his n, too, because of his affiliation with Bo Wen.


    However, Lin Zhi knew that June didn''t know a more powerful person than CEO Kim Young Do. Even Mr. Ong, the CEO of Azure Entertainment, wouldn''t be able to do anything about the situation once Kim Young Do dered an official statement.


    So, with that, he was confident that June was finally going to get kicked out of the production.


    June, on the other hand, was unsure if Lena Park could actually help him. He acted a bit hastily by asking her a favor, but she was the first person who came to his mind after Casper suggested the thought.


    It wasn''t like June knew Lena''s background, but all he knew was that she had a lot of money.


    It also wasn''t certain that she''d be able to get in touch with Phoenix''s CEO since her line of work might be different from the industry.


    That was why June gathered two crucial pieces of evidence that could counter Lin Zhi''s im. It wouldn''tpletely debunk it, but it would reduce the credibility of his statements.


    "Read it out loud for us, Ann," Director Jam said.


    The girl gulped in nervousness as she stood in front of the actors. June and Lin Zhi now broke eye contact, anticipating Ann''s words.


    "As CEO, I want to address the recent rumors surrounding our past trainee, Choi Joon-ho."


    June pursed his lips as he awaited the verdict.


    He was already expecting the worst since he knew that Kim Young Do was no better than their current CEO. Moreover, he was one of the people who undoubtedly contributed to Choi Joon-ho''s death, which made him believe that he would support Lin Zhi.


    "After thorough investigation...," Ann stalled, trying to build the anticipation.


    Taehyun sat at the edge of his seat, finding their situation very interesting. It almost seemed like this was a movie of its own!


    "Read faster, Ann," Risa said, feeling like her heart would jump out of her chest at any given moment.


    Ann cleared her throat and sheepishly smiled at them.


    "After a thorough investigation, we found no evidence of bullying by Choi Joon-ho. Regarding the usations from our artist, we believe this is a personal matter and will notment further. Thank you."


    The room was silent for a second.


    No, it was definitely more than just a second. It was for three whole minutes! Yup, Taehyun counted.


    Ann sat back down in her seat with a small smile ying on her lips. She knew that June was a good person based on their interactions in Rising Stars, but she was still relieved to hear that he was truly innocent.


    Meanwhile, Hana sighed in relief, finally able to rx in her seat.


    When Lin Zhi''s usations first came out, she immediately thought that he was spewing bullshit. Hana had known June since their trainee years, and she knew he was incapable of doing such things.


    He was just a small, innocent, cute cat who couldn''t even hurt a fly!


    Oh, how innocent Hana was.


    Director Jam also couldn''t help but sigh in relief. He knew he shouldn''t be too biased against one artist, but he couldn''t help it.


    On the other hand, June was stunned, now feeling like he had been fooled.


    Just how rich and powerful was Lena Park?


    Just then, he received a text, and he quickly checked his phone.


    Lena: I''ve paid my dues. Don''t ask for anything anymore.


    June smirked and turned off his phone before crossing his arms in front of his chest and staring straight into Lin Zhi''s eyes.


    However, he found that Lin Zhi was staring off into the distance, appearing to be in shock.


    "Lin Zhi," Director Jam called.


    "Lin Zhi," he repeated.


    However, Lin Zhi wasn''t responding. He still looked out of it.


    The things he could have achieved shed right before his eyes


    ¡ªperforming as an idol, making it onto big billboards, being on the big screen, and taking over the entertainment industry.


    All of these objectives started fading right before his eyes, and it was all because of one person.


    "Lin Zhi!" June said, louder this time, making Lin Zhi snap out of his thoughts.


    However, that wasn''t the only thing that snapped inside him.


    "Do you have anything to say?" Director Jam asked.


    However, Lin Zhi ignored his question and continued staring at June, his mind going haywire.


    "It''s you," Lin Zhi muttered, standing with closed eyes.


    Director Jam frowned in confusion.


    "Lin Zhi?" he asked, trying to gauge the young actor''s behavior.


    ''Calm down. Your temper would ruin you in the long run.''


    Laohu''s voice echoed in the back of his mind, and yet Lin Zhi still couldn''t control his anger.


    "You ruined everything."


    "It''s all your fault," Lin Zhi muttered, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with venom.


    His mind raced with thoughts of June.


    "He''s not as innocent as he looks," Lin Zhi hissed, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an unseen enemy.


    Taehyun frowned in confusion before nudging Hana''s shoulder.


    "This...isn''t acting, right?"


    "Shh," Hana said, finding the situation serious.


    It seemed like Lin Zhi had truly lost it now.


    "I''ll make you see. I''ll make all of you see."


    With each word, his voice grew louder, echoing off the walls like a mantra of madness. He paced back and forth, the sound of his footsteps like the beating of a demented heart.


    "He...killed someone!" he eximed, his voice quivering in excitement.


    "Little Choi Joon-ho would do anything to debut, so he became the CEO''s little slut and did favors behind the other trainees'' backs. One of which involved murdering someone."


    A twisted smile yed across his lips as he imagined the chaos he could unleash.


    Director Jam stood and stepped back, now realizing the gravity of the situation.


    Were they always in the midst of a psychopath?


    June, however, remained calm, a small smirk even ying on his lips.


    "Even better," he muttered as he continued to watch Lin Zhi''s breakdown.


    "I have connections," he dered, his voice filled with a false sense of authority.


    "You''ll regret ever crossing me."


    Suddenly, hisughter filled the room, a chilling sound that echoed off the walls like a curse.


    "I''ll ruin you all," Lin Zhi vowed, his eyes gleaming with a madness that bordered on obsession.


    "Dang, he should have acted like this when he was asked to," Taehyun even had the nerve to joke around, causing Hana to re at him once more.


    Meanwhile, from the corner of the room, Ann was holding her phone, recording Lin Zhi''s entire rampage.


    Then, she smirked.


    "It''s time for you to go down, you bastard."

 Chapter 627 New Face of the Show

    <h4>Chapter 627 New Face of the Show </h4>


    Fortunately, before Lin Zhi could hurt June, he was taken away by the guards and escorted out of the set.


    Hopefully, for good, this time.


    Ann didn''t hesitate to upload the video to Navel, and it quickly went viral, just as CEO Kim Young Do released his statement.


    The video quickly garnered 100,00 views only five minutes after it was posted. It even garnered more attention than other idol groups''ebacks!


    Moreover, to add salt to the wound, Minjun posted the article he wrotest night, a bit dyed due to June''s initial opposition.


    In a span of a few minutes, the career that Lin Zhi built from the ground crumbled...


    ...and now, it was already buried underground.


    - What the heck? A person like this came close to my precious June?


    - I knew he was a narcissist as soon as he appeared on Rising Stars. I can''t believe he got diagnosed with depression when he''s actually narcissistic.


    - Is June safe? I''m worried for him.


    - I hope he never hurts my kitty cat.


    - June is a strong boy. Imagine getting used of all these things for the past month? He''s really been through it.


    - I''m worried for his health.


    - Goodness, what''s going to happen to ''Untouched Souls'' now?


    - Don''t worry, guys. Director Jam is very strict on the set. Lin Zhi''s as good as done.


    - I heard they''re already midway through the filming.


    - That doesn''t matter for Director Jam.


    "Alright," Director Jam said, massaging his temples as they were already aching.


    "Let''s postpone the filming for today. I need to talk with the investors and the other producers about the recement of Lin Zhi."


    "Wait, he''s going to be reced?" Hana asked.


    "Why?" Director Jam asked. "Are you expecting me to keep him after everything that has been proven?"


    June''s smirk widened, so he quickly covered his mouth to hide his happiness.


    "No," Hana shook her head. "I''m just surprised. It''s usually not this fast."


    Director Jam clenched his fists under the table.


    Indeed, there needed to be more processing before a cast member was expelled from the production. However, thinking about how his precious June was hurt because of Lin Zhi made him speed up his decisions.


    "I''ll see you guys during the weekend," Director Jam said. "We''ll proceed with the other scenes then."


    The others nodded in agreement while Director Jam made his way out of the room, already receiving calls from some of the investors.


    June dusted his hand as the other actors got up and started gossiping about what had just happened, still in disbelief at Lin Zhi''s breakdown.


    "He''s done," June muttered to himself with a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    June was certain that Lin Zhi''s stardom now plummeted to the ground, buried, and with no chance of being revived.


    This might not be enough to get him apprehended, especially with Laohu still backing him up, but June was satisfied for now.


    June finally stood from his seat but suddenly felt dizzy, causing him to lean on one of the chairs for support.


    Taehyun and Hana noticed this, and they quickly went to aid him.


    "Are you okay?" they asked in unison.


    Hana narrowed her eyes in suspicion as Taehyun looked at June with a concerned gaze.


    "This dude," Hana muttered. "Why is he acting so close?"


    June gently removed their arms away from him and nodded despite feeling lightheaded.


    "Yeah, I''m fine," June said. "I think the schedule''s just getting to me."


    Hana nodded in understanding.


    "You should go to the hospital," she said.


    "I just did," June answered.


    "Oh, are you okay?" she asked.


    June nodded despite not even getting checked in the hospital.


    "I already bought some medicine."


    "Continue drinking them," Hana said. "You should eat a lot of soup and meat, too. I was the same when I was starting out as an actress and was an extra in a lot of films and dramas. Take a break when you need to. We have about three days until our next filming."


    "Yeah," June said. "I believe EVE doesn''t have a schedule, too. I''m just going to call Jay."


    "Yeah, you do that," Hana said. "Taehyun and I will practice some lines."


    June nodded and went out of the conference room while calling Jay.


    Fortunately, his manager was eating at a nearby restaurant after dropping Kai off, so Jay quickly finished his meal and went to fetch June.


    June sighed in relief when he saw the van approaching. After thinking of what to do and gathering evidence for the past week, June felt just how tired he was.


    He sat on the passenger seat and closed his eyes, finding the car seat soft andfortable.


    "We don''t have any schedules for the next three days, right?" June asked, still with closed eyes.


    "Yup!" Jay excitedly eximed. "I scheduled this break for you since you''ve been working so hard for the past month. Iknow that it''s been a tough month, so you need to take some rest."


    A small smile appeared on June''s face.


    "However, you guys have another shoot for a make-up brand after the three-day break. Moreover, you''re going to perform at a festival this summer."


    June nodded. "It''s alright."


    Just as long as he was free for the three whole days, then he felt like he could fully recuperate.


    "I also don''t have a schedule," June smiled,almost falling asleep.


    "Really?" Jay asked, sounding too ted.


    "Yeah," June nodded. "The shoot is postponed because of Lin Zhi. I guess I have something to thank that bastard for. I can finally rest after months of working."


    Jay pursed his lips together.


    "Well, you see..."


    June opened his eyes and looked at Jay with a suspicious gaze.


    Uh-oh.


    He knew that kind of gaze.


    "Did you book me for something again?"


    Jay aggressively shook his head, some spit even spilling from the side of his mouth.


    "I didn''t," he eximed. "I really didn''t."


    "Then, why does it seem like I have a schedule for these three days of rest?"


    Jay sheepishly smiled while scratching the back of his head.


    June groaned in frustration as he ran his fingers through his hair.


    "Just tell me," June said, already feeling tired.


    Somehow, he already knew that a three-day break was too good to be true.


    "Do you know that Rising Stars has a new season?"


    June frowned in confusion. "Has it been one year already?"


    "Nope," Jay shook his head. "It''s near, though. Your one-year anniversary ising up, too."


    "I believe they''re going to air it around the same time, maybe a bit earlier, since this one is a girl''s season."


    "You''re over-exining," June deadpanned. "Just tell me."


    "You know the role of Min-ho in your season?" he asked.


    June nodded.


    "Well, Azure had decided to give that role to you this year."

 Chapter 628 Time to Shine

    <h4>Chapter 628 Time to Shine</h4>


    June sighed as he was handed his script. He read it a couple of times before giving it back to the young intern, who blushed as she brushed her fingers with June.


    "Have you memorized it already?" she asked with wide and bright eyes.


    June nodded. "Yeah, it''s all good. I just have to say this in a grandiose way?"


    She nodded excitedly. "Yeah, don''t worry about anything else."


    "Thanks," June said, turning around to practice his lines once.


    After memorizing longer scripts, he found this task particrly easy.


    However, he still felt that it was a shame to be in a studio when it was supposed to be his day off.


    He didn''t even get a lot of sleep because he kept thinking if he already deserved to be the new host of Rising Stars.


    "It''s too soon," he muttered.


    But then again, he couldn''t really deny the role since Azure had already made up their mind. Being under Azure, he didn''t have a choice but toply.


    Just then, a piano sound resonated in the entire studio, making him feel a bit nostalgic.


    It wasn''t the same as their theme song, but it still sounded hopeful and dreamy¡ªa signature sound created by Azure to move the audience.


    June shook his head. They were a damn awfulpany, but they still knew how to make great hits, especially in survival shows.


    Then, he turned around once more, stopping when he saw that the intern was still looking at him with bright eyes.


    "Wait a second," he said, looking into her eyes.


    She stopped for a moment, feeling like her world had just stopped.


    June, THE JUNE, was actually staring into her eyes?


    Did he find her pretty or something like that?


    Goodness! She knew she was attractive, but she didn''t think that June would be captivated by her looks, too.


    In reality, June was just using her pupils as a mirror. She had very ck eyes, almost like a bug, so it was very useful.


    He smiled to himself when he saw that he didn''t look too bad. In fact, he still looked handsome despite his dizzy spells throughout the day.


    June finally stopped staring into her eyes.


    "What''s your name?" he asked, wanting to get close to her like how he got close to Ann back then.


    The past intern has be a great confidant even until now, so he feltpelled to get to know this girl, too.


    "She," the girl answered.


    "She," June hummed. "Thanks for orienting me."


    She shook her with bright red cheeks. "I''m just doing my job," she muttered.


    Just then, the producers¡ªthe ones who also lead Rising Stars in its fourth season, gasped in surprise as soon as they saw June.


    "Oh my goodness!" Yena eximed. "It''s really you. I feel like it''s been too long."


    "You''re so handsome now," Yejin continued, wiping the tears from her eyes in an exaggerated manner. "I still remember when you wore that cat mask of yours."


    "We can say this now since you managed to debut, but we were really hesitant about epting you into the show. However, I thank the universe every day that we decided to ept you in the end," Yejin said.


    Yena nodded in agreement. "We''ve spearheaded three seasons already, and your season was one with the highest viewership. It had the greatest amount of support, too."


    "I doubt that other seasons in the future would be able to surpass that," she said.


    "Honestly, it still feels a bit surreal," June said. "Last year, I was the one watching Min-ho through a small screen in my beat-up apartment. I can''t believe I''m now the one who''s going to be watched on the screen."


    Yejin pushed his shoulder lightly.


    "You act as if you aren''t on the big screens just yet. You''re a star now, June. That''s why we didn''t hesitate to suggest your presence on the show."


    June scratched the back of his head.


    Well, aside from the increased schedules and inability to walk around without getting mobbed, he still felt the same¡ªa guy who just wanted to show off his talents.


    "Well, we won''t take much of your time. I know that you''re busy with EVE and Untouched Souls. Why don''t we start themercial filming?"


    June nodded. "When will thismercial air, by the way?"


    "Probably tomorrow or the day after that," Yejin answered. "It''s just a short video, so expect it on the big screens right away."


    June nodded and walked to the very center of the studio, where the camera was already focused on him.


    "Let''s try to do this in one take," Yena said, signaling the crew to go to their designated ces.


    "In 5...4...3...2...1...Action!"


    The camera flickered to life, and a white light brightly cast on June as he stood at the center of the set.


    His features were chiseled and handsome, the light entuating his perfect face.


    Yena sighed dreamily as she continued to stare at him.


    "He''s so handsome. It looks like he was made out of love and not just from a quick nut."


    As the intense, dramatic music was heard through his in-ears, June looked directly into the camera with a confident smirk.


    "Talents,ughter, andpetition," June began, his voice smooth and captivating. "You will find it all here."


    The camera panned out to reveal the seats behind June, each with a number from 1-100. The writing was glittery pink instead of the blue they had before. However, they still held the same grandiosity as the past season.


    "We''re bringing you the hottest new talents from across the world..." June continued, his voice carrying the excitement of the moment. "...as theypete for the chance to debut in the next big K-pop group."


    At this point, Yejin nned to insert some of the clips of the contestants showcasing their skills in their audition tapes.


    "This is no ordinarypetition," June dered, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "This is Rising Stars Season Five."


    The camera zoomed in on June''s face, capturing his confident smile as he delivered the final line.


    "Where dreams are made, and stars are born," he says, his voice filled with promise and excitement.


    "It''s time to shine."

 Chapter 629 The 31st Trainee

    <h4>Chapter 629 The 31st Trainee </h4>


    "Thank you so much for doing this, June!" Yena eximed as soon as they were done.


    Due to June''s upgraded acting skills, they could finish filming in only one take.


    "No problem," June said.


    ''It''s not like I have a choice.''


    Fortunately, he was going to join the show as a host and a judge this time and not as a participant.


    He would much rather castrate both his big toes, ce them in a grinder, pour them into a rusty cup, and drink the concoction sober and with mouth sores than participate in Rising Stars again.


    That was how stressful it was.


    "Well, these are the confirmed applicants," Yena said. "We will be filming on Friday, and it will be aired two weekster. We''ll be having weekly filming schedules from there on out. However, we won''t bother you too much if you have a prior schedule. We know that you also have a lot on your te."


    "Thanks for being considerate," June said through his teeth. If they knew he had a lot on his te, then they should have called somebody else!


    "May I ask who the new judges are, by the way?" June asked.


    Yena and Yejin smiled at each other. "Well, you''ll be happy to hear that some judges stayed."


    "Ji-Hyun will still be the vocal mentor, and Gun will be the dance mentor."


    "Hmm," June hummed, somehowforted that he was going to work with familiar people.


    "Do they know that I have been chosen as the special host?" June asked.


    Yena excitedly shook her head.


    "I guess they''ll find out once themercials are out."


    June smirked. He wondered how they were going to react.


    Spoiler: They''re going to react ballistically. Those two love June to a great extent now.


    "Bone will also retain as the rap mentor," Yejin continued. "But there are two new people added to the roster."


    "Amira will be the other dance mentor."


    June tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Amira? Who was that again?


    "And Lee Sik will be the other vocal mentor."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He didn''t expect to meet his master in a new show. He felt that the trainees would be really lucky to be able to be taught by him right away.


    "I see," June said. "That''s a great line-up."


    Yejin nodded in agreement. "And with your addition, we have the perfect line-up."


    June chuckled in amusement.


    "We''ll see you on Friday then," Yena said, bringing out something from her bag.


    "This is the list of the confirmed trainees and their short descriptions. We have made sure to recruit a variety of trainees, so I think this season''s going to be fun."


    "More fun than ours?" June teased.


    Yejin and Yena shook their heads.


    "Never as fun as your season," Yena confirmed.


    With that, June made his way back to the dorms, finally having the chance to rx for the entire day.


    As he arrived, his members all huddled toward him.


    "You''re going to be the special host of Rising Stars?" Jisung eximed.


    June nodded. "Jay told you?"


    They all nodded enthusiastically.


    "Yeah," June sighed. "Another project added to the huge line of projects."


    "That''s so cool, though!" Jaeyong eximed.


    "Last year, we were the onespeting on the show, and now you''re going to be the one hosting it."


    "It makes me feel emotional," he said, feeling tears brimming in his eyes. "Our first year anniversary came too fast."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "There goes our emotional leader. When is the first episode going to air? I can''t wait to see how this season goes," he said.


    "Two weeks from now," June responded. "We''re going to film on Friday."


    "Sweet," Ren said. "I guess I''ll have another show to watch."


    "Me too," Akira said with a wide smile. "I can''t wait to see all the prettydies! All the legal ones, though. I wouldn''t even look at the minors."


    June rolled his eyes and ced the food he bought for his members on the table.


    "Here," he said.


    They flocked to the treats like starved dogs. However, in the process, Akira caught a glimpse of the paper that June was holding in his hand.


    ''RISING STARS SEASON 5 TRAINEES.''


    Akira''s eyes widened, and he quickly snatched the paper away from June''s grasp.


    "What is this?" Akira excitedly chimed. "The trainee profiles?"


    June sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "Give it back. I haven''t even read it yet," he said.


    "Then, let me do the honors," Akira said, already flipping through the pages.


    "Oh, what''s this? Jeemin? What a prettydy! She''s my age, too," Akira happily said before flipping through the next page.


    "Jini? So cute! Ooh, she''s a rapper? She doesn''t look like it."


    June sighed and started chasing Akira around the room, but thetter continued flipping through the profiles, hastily skipping through some pages.


    "Nope, that''s a child," Akira said, quickly flipping to the next page.


    Then, when he saw the next one, he quickly stopped, looking at the photo with wide eyes.


    "What?" June asked.


    "So...pretty...," he muttered. "She looks like someone I know."


    "Ooh! She''s your age, June," he eximed, still staring at the photo.


    "Let''s look at her name."


    "May?"


    Akira snapped out of his fantasy as June snatched the paper from his hands, flipping it back to the first page.


    "Stop exploiting the girls," he said.


    "How is that exploiting?" Akira muttered. "I''m just appreciating them."


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "We both know you wouldn''t be able to approach them anyway."


    Akira clicked his tongue. "I know the shy boy isn''t talking."


    Jisung pursed his lips and turned away with red cheeks.


    "Aren''t you going to eat with us?" Zeth asked.


    June shook his head.


    "It''s fine. I bought that for you. I''m way too tired after the filming," June said.


    "Rest well, June," Casper said in a serious tone.


    June nodded and went to his room, got dressed, and plopped onto his bed.


    He closed his eyes for a moment but felt something by his side. He opened his eyes once more and saw the stack of paper that Akira was messing with.


    His curiosity got the best of him, so he quickly grabbed the paper and flipped to the first page.


    "Jeemin," June read. He didn''t pay much attention to their looks since he didn''t want to judge them on the surface level.


    "Her special talent is acrobatics," he muttered, finding it interesting.


    He continued to flip through more pages but found himself getting sleepy on the 30th trainee.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "I underestimated how many a hundred trainees really are."


    He flipped through the next page but found his vision getting blurry.


    "One more," he muttered.


    However, his eyes were fully closed before he could even see the next person.


    "May," he muttered, letting go of the paper and causing it to fall to the ground, the pages flipping and covering the 31st trainee.

 Chapter 630 A Trainee Then, A Mentor Now

    <h4>Chapter 630 A Trainee Then, A Mentor Now</h4>


    The Rising Starsmercial featuring June aired the day after it was filmed, and it became a hot topic not only in Korea but around the world.


    K-pop was already a global phenomenon, so people didn''t only tune in to their favorite artists'' songs but also to survival shows.


    Morepanies were employing the ''survival show'' concept to create their groups, and they also gave birth to a lot of popr groups. It gave them the chance to market their trainees and make them known even though they hadn''t debuted yet.


    Some groups that have debuted in the past year were NTC WHOOSH, TODDLERMONSTER, and ILLEST.


    However, even with the sess of these groups, the most popr survival show was still undoubtedly ''Rising Stars.'' Azure just knew how to create a tension-filled survival show.


    Moreover, with EVE''s rise to fame, people became more aware of Rising Stars. So, now that the fifth season was going tomence, more people were tuning in.


    - It''s Rising Stars season again?


    - I thought this was a once-every-two-year thing?


    - I think Azure just wants to make a new girl group because BOYMYSTIC is disbanding soon.


    - True. True. Do you think it''s going to be rigged again?


    - I don''t thinkst season was rigged. They had that third-party counter.


    - You guys are delusional. All survival shows are rigged to some extent. I''m sure they already have trainees in mind that they want to debut. They may not manipte the votes, but they can always manipte how the public views a certain trainee.


    - Certainly. However, I think June wasn''t pushed forward until the end of the show.


    - Well, that''s June. He''s a different story. He captured all of our hearts despite Azure being a snake and editing him in a weird manner in the earlier episodes.


    "The shoot starts today, right?" Jisung excitedly asked.


    June nodded as he ced on his hoodie. Yena and Yejin said that they prepared an outfit for him so he didn''t need to get dressed before he went there.


    "Yeah," June said.


    "It''s going to be fun," Jisung smiled.


    "Sure," June gave a tight-lipped smile. It would''ve been more fun if he could just rot in bed all day, though.


    They even have to re-shoot the scenes that included Lin Zhi for Untouched Souls tomorrow, so June was already exhausted while thinking about it.


    With that, June left their dorm and went down to the parking lot.


    June and Jay drove to Azure Entertainment''s building, one that was very familiar to them since they practically lived in the building for a little over three months.


    "Ah, this feels nostalgic," Jay said as they made their way to June''s room. "It honestly feels like yesterday when I was walking down the hallways as a trainee. Now, I''m your manager...and you even have your own room!"


    June nodded, looking around the same walls that gave birth to his career.


    "Yeah, feels a bit weird."


    He finally arrived at his room and saw a make-up artist already waiting for him there. However, the make-up artist wasn''t the only person in the room.


    On the couch, already dressed and appearing nervous, were Gun and Ji-hyun.


    June paused in his tracks before bowing in respect.


    "Good morning, Mentors."


    Gun chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.


    "Don''t call us ''mentors'' anymore, June," he said. "You''re also a mentor now."


    Ji-hyun nodded. "Honestly, you can be a mentor for all the aspects! Singing, rapping, dancing, and now, even acting. I can''t believe you''vee this far."


    June chuckled in amusement. "I''m not that good," he humbly said. "Besides, I wouldn''t have made it this far without you, guys."


    Gun shook his head. "What do you mean? I was genuinely awful to you," he said, finally acknowledging his past wrongdoings.


    "You made me want to be better, though," June said. "I wanted to prove you wrong. However, I think we got close after that toilet incident, don''t you think?"


    Gun froze as soon as the toilet incident was mentioned. Ji-


    hyun looked at him curiously, but he cleared his throat and brushed the topic off.


    Meanwhile, June sat on his seat to start getting his make-up done.


    He closed his eyes while the make-up artist ced a headband over his head. Then, she softly clicked her tongue.


    ''This kind of face doesn''t need any make-up,'' she thought.


    "By the way," Gun said, breaking the silence. "Have you went through the trainees'' profiles?"


    Kai froze as soon as Gun asked him that particr question.


    Yesterday, he slept all day long¡ªa whole 18 hours. His members even thought he had a stroke because of how unarousable he was. However, it was something that his body really needed.


    Still, there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind the entire day, subtly reminding him that he had something to do.


    However, he couldn''t pinpoint what it was, so he decided to ignore it.


    It turned out it was this.


    He didn''t read through the trainees'' profiles. He didn''t even know where the papers were!


    Gun and Ji-hyun chuckled as soon as they saw June''s expression in the mirror.


    "It''s alright," Gun said. "I only briefly went through them. They were quite interesting, so I couldn''t put the papers down."


    "Me too," Ji-hyun said. "I even had the privilege of watching some of the audition tapes."


    "You did?" Gun asked in surprise. "Howe I wasn''t informed?"


    "I came as a surprise," Ji-hyun responded. "Anyway, there are a lot of talented trainees, but of course, you can''t erase theedic trainees in the show."


    "Like C-Jay?" Gun asked.


    "Hmm," Ji-hyun nodded.


    Jay chuckled in amusement. "I''m a changed person, Mentors. I even changed my name! It''s only Jay now."


    June sighed. "I went through only about 30 trainees," June chimed. "I''ve been so busy these days that it slipped my mind."


    "It''s okay," Ji-hyun said. "The profiles wouldn''t tell much about the trainees anyway. Besides, wouldn''t it be more fun to get to know the trainees on the stage first?"


    June nodded in agreement. "I guess that works too."


    Just then, the door opened, revealing She, the intern who guided June during the filming of themercial.


    Her cheeks reddened as soon as she saw June''s almost bare face.


    "Yes?" Ji-hyun asked with raised eyebrows, recognizing the look on her face.


    She subtly shook her head. Another soldier has fallen for June.


    "Good morning," She respectfully said. "I just wanted to check up on you and see if you''re almost finished."


    "We''re good," Gun responded.


    "This will take about 20-30 minutes," the make-up artist said, pertaining to June.


    "Alright," She said.


    "I''m just here to inform you that the shoot will finally start. The first trainee is arriving at the set as we speak."

 Chapter 631 Five is the Magic Number

    <h4>Chapter 631 Five is the Magic Number </h4>


    Trainees from differentpanies arrived in front of Azure Entertainment''s building. Some came with celebrity vans, some with normal hatchbacks, and some came through public transportation.


    A girl d in a school uniform with a pink skirt that matched her pink hair loved the attention she got as she stepped down from the celebrity van of theirpany.


    Some looked at her with envy. However, one girl continued walking with her earphones in, practicing the song that she was going to sing for her auditions. She even marked some of the moves, not paying attention to her surroundings.


    The girl with pink hair walked slowly as if she were the main character of the show, also not paying much attention to her surroundings.


    Just then, the two of them collided, causing the pink-haired girl to drop to the ground. Her eyes widened as she looked at the ck figure that bumped into her.


    The other girl, with wired earphones and dressed in a long ck puffer jacket that covered her outfit underneath, stared down at the preppy girl with a nonchnt look.


    "Sorry," she briefly said before proceeding to the venue.


    "What the heck?" the pink-haired girl muttered. "Who even is that?"


    "Jeemin!" her manager eximed. "What happened?"


    The pink-haired girl shook her head as she stood, dusting off her skirt with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Let''s go in," she said, already in a bad mood.


    As the trainees went inside their respective rooms, the special treatment for biggerpanies was still evident. Even a yearter, after all the controversies that Azure had been in, they still didn''t change their system.


    After seeing the sess of EVE, biggerpanies decided to join thepetition. Phoenix, however, decided to withdraw their trainees from joining this year because of the multiple scandals of their trainees in the past season.


    It was a good call from them.


    "Trainees from Harmony! Please line up outside. The trainees from the differentpanies will now go in one by one. Only leave your room once you are instructed to do so. Failure to do so means immediate disqualification from the show," Yena''s voice on the inte resonated in the waiting rooms.


    The trainees felt a wave of nervousness hit them. The reality of the survival show had now hit them, and it was getting clearer that they were going to film the first episode of the show.


    The staff led the first three trainees from Harmony Entertainment to the dark pathway that stood outside the massive set, their hearts pounding in anticipation as they waited to enter.


    "I can''t believe we''re the first ones to enter," Ara, their youngest member, said.


    "Well, our CEO promised us more screen time. We''ll have more exposure since we''re the first ones to enter."


    "Ladies," the staff said, interrupting their conversation. "Please enter the set."


    They gulped in nervousness before nodding. They walked through the pathway, their hands holding each other''s. Each step closer felt like a leap into the unknown, making their hearts beat even faster.


    As they finally crossed the threshold, their eyes widened in awe at the sight before them. The set seemed to stretch into infinity, bathed in a soft, ethereal glow from the countless LED screens that adorned the walls. The floors, too, were illuminated andprised of LED screens, casting a pink hue over the entire room.


    It seemed like Azure was actually putting the money that EVE earned to good use. They increased their production costs yet again!


    The trainees couldn''t but feel like they had stepped into a dream¡ªor perhaps, a simtion, where anything was possible.


    They exchanged nervous nces as they let the moment sink into their minds.


    Backstage, other trainees watched on small televisions, their eyes glued to the screen as they observed the neers with admiration and envy.


    "It would have been nice if we entered first!"


    "Yeah, but it''s Harmony we''re talking about."


    "Hmm, but we''re from the samepany as our seniors, Zeth and Ren. They should have given us more screentime."


    "Don''t you know of the phrase¡ªsave the best forst? We''re going to be thest ones to enter!"


    "You believe so, too?"


    "Of course! Who else is more important than us?"


    "Goodness, you really are a reincarnation of Zeth," their manager muttered.


    Their conversation was cut short as the camera now captured the scale of the set. It was like something out of a futuristic fantasy, far grander than anything they had ever imagined.


    The seats were arranged in a pyramid formation, each one adorned with numbers from 1 to 99 in a dazzling disy of pink, sparkly, glittery font.


    Then, as if on cue, the LED screens burst into life, illuminating a pathway that seemed to lead to the heavens. The music yed, filling the room with its intense yet dreamy melody and sending shivers down the spines of the trainees.


    The pink-haired girl rubbed her hands on her arms as she felt goosebumps arising.


    "I need to make it to the top of the pyramid," she muttered in a determined voice.


    The lights then focused on the seats of the pyramid, the cameras zooming in to capture the grand seats, a different design from the rest, that would hold the future debuting members of the show.


    It panned to the seats one by one while the trainees watched in anticipation, some even holding their breaths.


    However, as the camera focused on the veryst seat of the debut line, they couldn''t help but frown in confusion.


    "That''s...it?"


    "There must be some kind of mistake, right?"


    "Are they pranking us? Is Azure really doing their utmost best to fool us right now?"


    "If so, then it''s quite unfunny."


    However, even after the trainees'' spections, the camera continued focusing on the top seats, making them believe that what they were specting was true.


    "No...way."


    "This isn''t happening."


    The girls stared at the scene before them with horror-filled eyes, wanting to wake up from the nightmare that Azure had subjected them to.


    "Don''t tell me¡ªthey''re only going to debut five members this time?"

 Chapter 632 Battle of the Big Companies

    <h4>Chapter 632 Battle of the Big Companies</h4>


    "Only five members?" June went out of the dressing room as he heard Gun''s, Ji-hyun''s, and Jay''s conversation.


    They still had about 15 minutes before they needed to enter the set, so they?were busy gossiping about the changes in the show.


    They turned to June, who was now all dressed up, and found themselves swooning at his appearance.


    "Dang, all these trainees are going to experience their first love and heartbreak through him," Gun muttered.


    Meanwhile, Jay raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You don''t know about this?" he asked. "You''ve already filmed on the set for themercial, right? You must have noticed that there were only five special seats at the very top of the pyramid."


    June scratched the back of his head.


    "Well, I guess I didn''t notice it," he said.


    "It''s true, though," Ji-hyun said. "They''re only going to debut five members this time. I don''t know if it''s because of budget constrictions or if they want thepetition to be more intense. However, I believe it will be a hot topic once the episodees out, so Azure really knows how to do their job."


    "I think it''s also because of the influx of girl groups with fewer members. It''s a lesser hassle to maintain, and it seems like they''re doing much better thanrger groups, too," June added.


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Jay looked at his watch and hummed.


    "Half of the trainees have probably entered by now, right?" he asked.


    June nodded. "It''s time for the independent trainees to arrive during this time."


    Meanwhile, in the set, the independent trainees indeed started making their way inside the venue.


    Last year, there were only four independent trainees. However, because of June''s sess in the past season, there had been an influx of applicants from independent trainees.


    They seemed to be convinced that they could also take the center spot even as an independent trainee because June was able to do so.


    They starteding in one by one through a line, and the trainees who were already in their seats gasped in surprise when they saw the long line of pretty women.


    Most of them had different styles since they were going to perform different songs. It seemed like there was also some tension going on among them, which was understandable since they wanted to be the greatest independent trainee out of the entire group.


    At the very end of the line was a girl with heavy eyeliner and a punk-rock style.


    The others'' eyes immediately drew toward her way.


    Jeemin, who was still in her room, raised her eyebrows in surprise when she recognized who it was.


    "Isn''t that¡ª," she muttered.


    However, before she could dwell too much on the thought, the camera panned away from the girl with a gothic aesthetic.


    As they made their way to their seats, the others couldn''t help but talk about them.


    "Do you think there''s a second June among them?"


    "That would be terrifying."


    "Truly. He came from the bottom and somehow managed to get the top spot."


    "We need to look out for these independent trainees."


    Their conversations came to a halt, however, when the nextpany logo was shown on screen¡ªTop Star Entertainment.


    The five girls backstage conversed quietly as they waited for their cue to enter.


    "I thought we were going to enterst? I saw that there were still two trainees behind us," Juri muttered.


    Mina, their oldest member, sighed. "I honestly don''t know. This must mean that a bigger entertainmentpany than Top Star is joining this year."


    However, the trainees outside weren''t aware of that. There were currently seven vacant seats in the entire pyramid. The first to fifth spots had already been taken, so those at the bottom and the middle remained.


    So, when they saw Top Star''s logo, they believed they were thestpany to join.


    "Enter," the staff directed, so the fivedies entered the set with confident smiles.


    The other trainees immediately gasped as soon as they saw them.


    "Their aura..."


    "It''s different, isn''t it?"


    "Is that Mina? Didn''t she have a photoshoot with Zeth when they were trainees?"


    "That must mean that she has trained for a long time, too."


    "If Top Star''s male trainees had Zeth, then their female trainees had Mina¡ªdon''t you know that phrase?"


    "She must be really talented then."


    "But wait... there''s only five of them?"


    Meanwhile, the trainees from Top Star looked for their seats and decided to settle at the bottom row, where five empty seats were seen.


    "Do you think Top Star can sit on the bottom?" Juri whispered.


    Mina merely shook her head and led the other trainees to their seats.


    As they settled, the others couldn''t help but talk about thest two trainees.


    "Who could it be?"


    "Argerpany than Top Star? Is there any aside from Phoenix?"


    "But Phoenix said they aren''t joining this year."


    "Then, who else? Don''t tell me¡ªit''s the other big three?"


    "Eyy, no way!"


    They started dismissing their spections. However, when they saw therge ''S'' logo on the screen, they quickly turned silent.


    ESPER ENTERTAINMENT.


    "ESPER? The ESPER?"


    "The one that has OCTA?"


    "They''ve never joined before! What changed?"


    Their amazement increased a thousandfold when a beautiful pink-haired girl entered the venue, all of them immediately standing as they watched her dainty steps.


    She had a humble yet confident smile ying on her lips, and she seemed very sophisticated by the way she carried herself.


    "This is a cheat code."


    "She has already debuted at this point."


    "Doesn''t she look skilled too?"


    "Goodness, I should just go home."


    Jeemin pursed her lips as she heard the whispers around her. However, she tried her best to act like she wasn''t ttered at all. Then, her eyes scanned the room for an avable seat.


    Her smile fell a bit when she saw that there were only two seats on the middle row left, one at the side and one beside it.


    She quickly brought back the smile to her face, not wanting to show any of her ugly sides, as she made her way up to the edge seat. At least, the camera would easily capture her in this seat.


    As she sat, though, she realized that it was strange how the seat next to hers was still empty.


    Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    That just meant that she wasn''t thest trainee to enter!


    "What?" she muttered. How could that be when ESPER Entertainment was undoubtedly the pioneer of K-pop?


    "I can''t. There''s way too many things happening."


    "First, they pulled out Top Star, and now, they show a trainee from ESPER. Who could thest trainee be?"


    "What otherpanies are out there?"


    Just then, bright, bold letters shed on the screen, rendering the trainees silent.


    AZURE ENTERTAINMENT.

 Chapter 633 The Very First Azure Trainee

    <h4>Chapter 633 The Very First Azure Trainee </h4>


    Commotion was heard in the venue, even halting the mentors'' walk.


    They exchanged confused nces at each other.


    "What was that?" Ji-hyun asked, looking around.


    Gun scratched the back of his head. "Did somebody get injured or something?"


    Meanwhile, inside the set, the girls couldn''t help but specte about the identity of Azure Entertainment''s trainee. As far as they knew, Azure never trained any trainees as they were more focused on subjecting trainees from otherpanies to a survival show so they could manage the group on their own.


    "When did Azure start having trainees? And why did they think it was a good idea to let them join?"


    "Yeah, isn''t this going to be rigged then? This means that she already has a spot in the debut team."


    "This season is already so crazy. I can sense the ratings shooting straight through the roof."


    "Ah, I hate this girl already."


    "I advise you to spit out your gum, Miss," the staff said as he looked at the nonchnt girl.


    Unlike the other contestants, she was wearing very simple clothes, almost as if she had juste to watch the show and not to participate in it.


    "Oh, sorry," she said in a soft voice before swallowing the gum that she had been chewing.


    The staff''s eyebrows raised in surprise, causing the trainee to mirror his expression.


    "Did you just¡ª"


    "Don''t worry," the trainee quickly disimed. "That was a chewy candy. I don''t like gum that much."


    He let out a sigh before shaking his head. He couldn''t believe that Azure took in a trainee at the veryst minute and branded her as their own personal trainee!


    "Well," he muttered as he gazed at her side profile. "She is very pretty. She also resembles someone a lot...but I can''t quite put my finger on it."


    Just then, he received a cue, so he patted the pretty trainee''s shoulder and signaled for her to walk in.


    She nodded and made her way inside. Again, she seemed pretty calm about this, not knowing the chaos that was already happening inside the set.


    She took cautious steps, but there was still an underlying nonchnce in her demeanor.


    Then, she finally saw the light, so she followed it until it led her to the set.


    The trainees inside the room didn''t know what they were expecting, but it suddenly wasn''t this.


    Standing before them was a girl, a bit taller than average, and wearing very simple clothes¡ªblue jeans and a white shirt. She was also wearing a in ck jacket that covered the name and her anticipated rank that was stuck on her abdomen.


    Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail¡ªthe one that girls do after their P.E. ss just ended. Moreover, her make-up was quite in, with her lips and eyes being the main point.


    What couldn''t be denied, however, was her pretty face.


    Despite her simple styling, everyone could still see her beauty shining through.


    Jeemin gazed at the new trainee and couldn''t help but furrow her eyebrows. This was the girl who bumped into her this morning!


    The new girl''s eyes wandered around the room until itnded on the empty seat beside Jeemin.


    She started walking, passing by the other trainees without a care in the world. Meanwhile, the others gazed at her as she walked by, finding her even more beautiful up close.


    "I still hate her, though."


    "The fact that she''s from Azure is already the worst."


    "Yeah, an Azure trainee in an Azure show? It''s a sure debut."


    Meanwhile, Jeemin smiled at her, doing her best to secure more screen time on the show. However, the new girl didn''t notice this and continued looking at the front, still amazed by the grandiosity of the set.


    Jeemin pursed her lips and let out a deep breath before turning away from her.


    "Patience," she muttered. "Patience."


    ***


    "Mentors, get ready!" Yena eximed from backstage, watching as the mentors lined up one by one.


    Amira was already there, and when she saw June, she felt her cheeks heating up. It had been a while since shest saw him, and he had gotten even more handsome since thest time they met.


    Meanwhile, Lee Sik patted June''s back.


    "We''re on another program together," Lee Sik said.


    June nodded. "It''s nice working with you again, Master."


    Gun and Ji-hyun nodded at their fellow mentors.


    "Alright, Amira will go in first, and she will introduce all the other mentors," Yejin said.


    Amira nodded in agreement. Then, Yena looked toward June''s way.


    "You''re going to be thest one to enter," she said.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Why is that?" June asked. "Master Lee Sik should go inst. He''s the most senior out of all of us."


    "Ey," Lee Sik said. "I''m not that old. Besides, I don''t want to go inst too. You''re the face of the show! I''m sure the trainees are also anticipating your arrival."


    The other mentors gave him a thumbs up, causing him to sigh in defeat.


    "Let''s just get this over with," he muttered.


    The girls were still busy talking among themselves. However, their conversation was cut short when the music intensified, some of them jumping in their seats.


    "Goodness," Mina said, cing her hand over her heart.


    Then, the LED screen started to rise, causing the girls to exim in excitement. All of them had already seen the teaser with June, so they were expecting him to be the MC of the show¡ªsimr to what Minho didst season.


    However, instead of muscr legs, a thin yet curvy silhouette greeted them instead.


    At first, they were disappointed since it wasn''t June. However, they still cheered when they saw that it was the very beautiful Amira.


    "Good morning, everyone," Amira greeted with a professional smile, making the girls cheer even louder.


    "It''s nice to see such beautiful faces in the morning," she started off.


    "You''re even more beautiful!" a trainee shouted from the seats, causing chuckles to erupt in the venue.


    Amira bowed in gratitude. "I am ttered."


    Then, she suddenly turned serious.


    "However, this isn''t a ce for only pretty faces. This is a ce meant for talented people."


    The girls halted theirughter as soon as Amira said those words.


    Then, Amira smiled once again.


    "But don''t fret. We don''t expect you to be proficient trainees right from the very start. What''s more important is your determination and improvement throughout the show."


    "Of course, we are also not expecting you to do this alone...which is why I am here to introduce you to the mentors of this year''s Rising Stars."


    "Mentors, pleasee out!"

 Chapter 634 Prince of K-Pop

    <h4>Chapter 634 Prince of K-Pop</h4>


    The girls immediately cheered. It felt like they had barely caught their breaths when Gun strode in with confidence. The girls immediately cheered while Gun bowed in gratitude.


    Ji-hyun chuckled as she heard the trainees warmly wee Gun from backstage.


    "He''s being weed differentlypared tost year," she remarked.


    June nodded in agreement. "We were also amazed by his presencest year, but we were also somewhat afraid. It seems like his reputation as a cold mentor in the past season overwhelmed us."


    Lee Sik''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "He doesn''t seem cold at all, though. Did something happen?"


    Ji-hyun chuckled once more. "Yeah¡ªJune happened. After thest season of Rising Stars ended, Gun made a pact to change his ways. He didn''t treat June well during the first few episodes andbeled him as an untalented trainee with no hopes of rising in the ranks. However, June proved him wrong."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He was aware that Gun wasn''t fond of him when he was a trainee, but he didn''t know that it was to that extent.


    "Yeah, June changed his mind," Bone chimed. "He''s be kinder since then. He''s also be more rxed on social media, and I think the girls are aware of the change."


    With that, their conversation came to an end. However, June couldn''t shake off the tingly feeling in his chest. He wasn''t aware that he could influence other people to be...kinder.


    Strange.


    "And now, for our vocal mentors!" Amira announced.


    Lee Sik respectfully held out his hand for Ji-hyun, and thetter gently ced her hand on top of it. Then, they walked to the entrance, where they waited for it to open.


    Jeemin sped her hands in front of her chest as she waited for the vocal mentors to enter. As a self-proimed all-rounder with a specialty in vocals, she was looking forward to meeting the vocal mentors the most.


    When the LED screen opened, she wasn''t disappointed at all.


    Ji-hyun and Lee Sik, two industry veterans whose mere presencemanded respect, greeted them with wide smiles.


    Their years of experience and wisdom were evident in every move they made, and the trainees couldn''t help but feel overwhelmed by their presence. How could they, a group of fresh-faced rookies, ever hope to measure up to such seasoned professionals?


    "Lee Sik? Even Lee Sik is in this season?"


    "How could I sing in front of them now?"


    "Don''t be fooled by Mentor Ji-hyun''s smile. It''s very pretty, but she''s also very lethal."


    "Goodness. I''m palpitating."


    The girl next to Jeemin also smiled as she gazed at Lee Sik, one of her idols when it came to singing. She religiously watched ''Disguise Surprise Singer'' when he was the reigning champion, and her admiration increased a thousand-fold since then.


    Up to this day, she still felt upset that someone unimportant beat her favorite singer.


    The venue was overflowing with energy as they stared at the big stars ahead of them.


    However, the surprises didn''t end there.


    As the trainees caught their breaths, another mentor made his entrance¡ªBone, known for his kindness and expertise in rap. His warm smile and gentle demeanor instantly put the trainees at ease, and they weed him with open arms.


    "I missed him! He was so kind during Rising Stars."


    "I can''t wait to learn more from them."


    "They couldn''t have chosen a better rap mentor."


    "The rap mentor is mentionedst, right? So, Bone is thest one to be called?"


    "Is that it?"


    "No one else ising now?"


    "I think so. They seemplete."


    Amira once again took centerstage, smiling as she read her cue card.


    She pretended that Bone wasst to be called, teasing the trainees with the idea that the lineup was alreadyplete.


    However, they were in for a pleasant surprise.


    June and Amira had schemed this n right before Amira entered, so she waited for June to make a surprise entrance for the trainees.


    However, as she continued stalling, she found that June was taking longer than necessary.


    Meanwhile, backstage, June was about to walk in when he saw a notification from Fu suddenly appear.


    He stopped in his tracks and looked at the screen before him.


    "Really?" June whispered. "You decided to show up now?"


    [Congrattions, you''ve stepped on a lucky mission!]


    [The title of the mission is: Show Off! You Deserve It.]


    [As a multi-talented artist, you can beat everyone with your talents. However, the host doesn''t like unting that much (Fu is disappointed). This mission is designed to unt the host''s talents.]


    [Boast in front of the trainees! The more they feel humbled, the better!]


    [Increase one skill after the aplishment of this mission.]


    [Deadline: 8 hours]


    June massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "Goodness," he muttered. Fu was definitely running out of ideas for missions now.


    "So¡ªuh, I guess I wish you all luck for your audition. Yeah, you only get one chance..."


    June snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Amira''s filler statements.


    He chuckled at her cute attempt to continue speaking with the trainees while waiting for him to enter.


    "Sorry, Amira," he muttered to himself before fixing his cor.


    The trainees on the set began to feel anxious, whispering to their teammates about somest-minute reminders for their performance.


    However, a soft yet deep voice suddenly echoed through the venue, causing everyone to turn in surprise.


    "You didn''t forget about me, did you?"


    Unexpectedly, the LED screen lifted once more, revealing June, the hottest K-pop male idol of the moment. The trainees gasped in awe as theyid eyes on him, instantly captivated by his presence.


    Ji-hyun kept her gaze on the trainees, shaking her head when she saw their lovestruck expressions.


    "I was right," she muttered. They were all going to fall in love with June! No matter how hard they try to deny it, no one can escape his charm!


    Truly, dressed in a silky white button-up, June was the epitome of charm and sophistication, with his glowing skin, tastefully styled blonde hair, and an aura of professionalism that seemed to radiate from every pore.


    As the trainees took in June''s appearance, they couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe.


    Here was a true prince of K-pop.


    And now, he was standing before them. They couldn''t believe it!


    "Surprise," Amira said, cutting through the awe-filled whispers.


    "We have onest special mentor for all of you¡ªnone other than June from EVE! He was in the same ce as youst year, so he''ll be a great help to all of you this season."


    "These are your mentors for Rising Stars Season 5," Amira concluded, gesturing to the big stars on the stage.


    "Now, let''s get started with the auditions."

 Chapter 635 Do You Get Deja Vu?

    Chapter 635 Do You Get Deja Vu?


    ??June looked around the trainees. Most of them were looking toward his way, but he honestly couldn''t tell. His eyesight was getting worse and worse throughout his career, and now he had to squint in order to see things from far away.


    At this point, he could only see the faces of the trainees in the first three rows. The others were a blur to him.


    Then, the mentors finally sat in their respective seats, with June in the very middle.


    He grabbed the papers in front of him¡ªthe trainee''s profiles ced in chronological order based on their performance.


    As he went through the first applicants, his eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "They''re having this group perform first?" Gun asked, a bit confused.


    "That''s new," Ji-hyun muttered. "I''m notining, though. I do want to watch their performance soon."


    Just then, therge logo was shown on the screen, surprising even the trainees.


    To their surprise, the first group to perform was from Top Star Entertainment, one of the toppanies in the industry. The other trainees began exchanging nces, wondering how they could possibly follow such a high standard.


    "Why are they going first?"


    "I''m thankful that we don''t have to go first, but I also don''t want to go second."


    "Right. How could we perform right after Top Star Entertainment?"


    Meanwhile, the Top Star trainees turned to their oldest member, Mina. Mina calmly stood from her seat and nodded at her members, silently telling them to get ready.


    Of course, Mina was also nervous about starting the show. But at the same time, she was grateful for the opportunity to set the bar for the rest of the auditions.


    "Good morning, mentors," Mina led the greeting for their team.


    The mentors nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Whenever you''re ready," Amira said.


    The Top Star trainees nodded before going to their respective positions.


    As they finalized their formation, June couldn''t help but feel a sense of familiarity wash over him as he heard the opening notes of ''Oasis.'' It was a song he knew well, one that held a special ce in his heart. He watched intently as the trainees performed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.


    After the performance, June took the microphone, a curious gleam in his eyes.


    Subtle squeals were heard from the audience, causing Amira to shake her head. The effect that June had on these trainees was honestly insane.


    "That was unexpected," he remarked, his voice filled with genuine surprise. "Why did you choose ''Oasis''?"


    The Top Star trainees exchanged nervous nces before Mina stepped forward to answer. "It''s a song that we all love," she exined. "We thought it was a song that would show off our fresh charms really well."


    June nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, I enjoyed watching your version of the song."


    Despite some minor mishaps and nervous moments, their performance was stable and solid, with each member giving it their all.


    "You guys live up to your name really well," Lee Sikmented. "Zeth and Ren must be proud," he even mentioned the two senior idols from theirpany.


    They all bowed in gratitude.


    "Yeah," Ji-hyun agreed. "There are some stability issues, but it''s understandable. You guys are still trainees. However, I wish you would improve on that throughout the show."


    The trainees nodded.


    "So strict," the others muttered.


    "I thought it was perfect."


    "I guess there are some things that mentors see that trainees do not."


    June heard thest statement and nodded to himself. Truly, if he had watched this particr performancest year, then he would have also failed to notice some of the incongruencies in their performance. However, being an idol for almost one year, he was now more aware of certain areas in which other performers could improve.


    Amira took the microphone after the mentors deliberated.


    "For five stars, we have...Mina," she started off, "and no one else."


    The others slumped in disappointment. However, they also couldn''t deny that their oldest member was the one who deserved the five-star rating the most.


    With that, the Top Star trainees bowed and left the stage.


    As the second group took the stage, the pressure was on.


    After the high standard set by Top Star Entertainment, it would be hard for anyone to break it.


    Fortunately, it was the Harmony trainees who took the stage next.


    "Why are all the bigpanies going first?"


    "This will definitely make us look bad."


    "Will we be okay?"


    "I honestly don''t know. Let''s see how Harmony performs."


    "Obviously, they''re going to perform well. Saint Jisung is on their side!"


    "Saint Jisung?"


    "Yeah, Saint Jisung¡ªthe precious baby that we love and praise."


    As the auditions continued, the Harmony trainees took the stage with confidence. They were told by their senior, Jisung, to have more confidence since that was what hecked during the show.


    They had chosen to perform "Love Leap" by IBE, a song that perfectly captured their charm and energy. With each note, they danced and sang with confidence, which left the audience in awe.


    Their rendition was met with thunderous apuse, the judges nodding in approval at the impressive disy of skill.


    "What''s happening?" Ji-hyun chimed in amusement. "These trainees are very talented too."


    "Hmm," June said, smiling to himself. He could see the traces of his members from the trainees that represented their respectivepanies.


    It made June wonder what it would be like if his members were judging along with him.


    "It would certainly be more fun," he muttered.


    "You all get four stars," Ji-hyun announced, causing the girls to cheer.


    The show was definitely off to a great start, with two big and talentedpanies setting high standards for the other trainees.


    However, as the auditions progressed, it became apparent that not everyone possessed the same level of talent. There were plenty of interesting characters, to be sure, but theck of vocal skills among many of the contestants was undeniable. It seemed as though they were holding auditions for a dance show rather than a K-pop survival program.


    Well, this has been a valid criticism from the public for recently-


    debuted K-pop groups.


    Their vocal skills were trulycking.


    Ji-hyun scratched the back of her head as another dance-


    centric audition finished.


    "I don''t get it," she sighed. "Why wouldpanies send trainees who can''t even hold a tune?"


    "Yeah," Amira said. "I wasn''t born a great singer, too, but I practiced hard to get to where I am today. I''m not seeing that effort from most of the trainees we saw today."


    "Why don''t you say something to them, June?" Lee Sik suddenly suggested, causing the other mentors to turn toward him.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise as he pointed to himself.


    "Me?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Gun nodded. "I think they''d listen to you the most."


    June pursed his lips. He honestly didn''t want to say such words. He would feel guilty since he also wasn''t a great singer or a dancer during his auditions!


    "Why don''t we watch another performance?" he bargained. "If this trainee performs the same as the other ones, then I''ll say something."


    The other mentors thought for a while before nodding.


    "Alright," Lee Sik said. "You better keep your word then."


    "Sure," June said. The production crew wouldn''t put another untalented trainee after a series of untalented trainees, right?


    "Right," he muttered, reassuring himself.


    Then, he settled his gaze on the stack of papers once more, flipping over to the next page.


    However, he paused when he saw familiar words in the trainee''s pany'' category.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Azure?" he muttered.


    However, that wasn''t what surprised him the most.


    What was more surprising was the photo staring back at him.


    "No," he whispered, frowning in confusion as he held the paper closer.


    Oh no.


    This was not happening.


    "Mei Ling?"

 Chapter 636 My Sweetest, Dearest Sister

    Chapter 636 My Sweetest, Dearest Sister


    ??June couldn''t believe his eyes.


    Standing before him was Mei Ling¡ªhis sister whom he hadn''t seen in almost a year.


    He gazed at his sister and felt tears forming in his eyes. He also felt an ache in his heart, making him clutch onto his chest.


    ''What is this?'' he thought.


    He thought of Mei Ling almost every day. However, as he began to be busier with his schedules, he thought about her less and less. It didn''t signify that he didn''t miss her anymore, though.


    Now that she was right in front of his eyes, all of the emotions hit him like a truck.


    Although only a year had passed, he felt that she had changed so much. Her skin was smoother, and she appeared more vibrant. She had gotten skinnier, too, making him shake his head.


    She was already skinny, to begin with. How was she going to withhold the stress of the show if she wasn''t being nourished?


    The most notable thing that changed about her was that she had gotten prettier.


    He almost couldn''t believe it. The sister he was used to seeing was was always bare-faced, foul-mouthed, andzy at showering. Why the heck does she look like a proper idol right now?


    However, that wasn''t the most important thing...


    What was more important was that she was actually trying to be an idol! How did she evene to Korea and be a trainee under Azure Entertainment?


    Just then, Amira nudged his shoulder, causing him to snap out of his thoughts.


    June gazed at her, and Amira''s gaze softened further.


    "Are you okay?" she asked.


    June wasn''t able to answer for the first few seconds. Honestly, he didn''t know the answer to the question, too.


    Of course, he wanted to see his sister in this life. However, seeing her on the show like this made him feel...ambiguous.


    He knew that she had been fond of the idol culture at a very young age, but he never expected her to be interested in bing an idol.


    "Yeah," June said after a while. "I''m okay."


    However, even then, Amira''s frown didn''t ease.


    "Then, why do you look like you''re about to cry?" Amira asked.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He quickly wiped his eyes and found that he, indeed, was on the verge of tears.


    "Oh," he chuckled, trying to mask his real feelings. "This is nothing. I''m just sleepy."


    Amira wasn''t convinced, but she nodded nheless, not wanting to pry further.


    After meeting June at a music show, she found himself watching all of his content¡ªeven Rising Stars.


    She knew that June rarely cried, except for the time he went to a slump in the middle of the show. He didn''t even cry when he won first ce in the entire show!


    So, seeing him tear up now was big news to her.


    Then, Amira nced at the trainees behind her, a small frown forming on her forehead.


    Was June crying because of all the untalented people in the show? If so, then they needed a proper scolding!


    "Could you introduce yourself to us?" Gun finally asked the pretty girl on the stage.


    "Good day, Mentors," she said, her Chinese ent almost unnoticeable in the way she spoke.


    All of that K-pop content and K-dramas definitely paid off since she sounded like a native already.


    "My name is Mei Ling, but you can call me Mei. I''m a trainee for one month, and I came here because I''ve always wanted to be an idol since I was a child," she greeted.


    "Liar," June muttered. Her dream was to be a housewife when she was younger! She said she didn''t want to work and wanted to stay at home while her husband earned money.


    And Mei? Her stage name was going to be Mei? She used to hate it when June shortened her name! She said that her name was given by their mom, so June should utter it fully.


    "A trainee of one month?" Gun asked, his eyebrows raised. "So, it hasn''t been that long."


    "Yes," Mei answered. "I only started with the formal training two weeks ago."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Interesting," Amira said. "I didn''t know that Azure was taking in trainees. Aren''t you pressured that you''re the very first Azure trainee to be revealed on the show?"


    Mei thought for a while before shaking her head.


    "No," she nonchntly said.


    Lee Sik chuckled at the young woman''s bluntness.


    "You''re pretty strong-minded. With you being an Azure trainee, I''m assuming that a lot of the trainees already think that you''re going to receive preferential treatment. This is an Azure show, after all," he continued.


    Yena and Yejin turned to each other with a smile. Lee Sik was asking the most important questions! This was the kind of content that people would love to watch!


    "What can you say about this?" Lee Sik asked.


    The trainees started murmuring among themselves, knowing that they also felt such way.


    For a moment, June wanted to cover Lee Sik''s mouth with his hand. How could he ask his sister such tough questions on the first episode?


    However, Mei remained nonchnt despite the whispers surrounding her.


    Then, she shrugged, shocking most of the people inside the set.


    "I don''t think that''s my problem," she said. "I didn''t choose to be an Azure trainee. They reached out to me and said that they wanted me on the show. They didn''t even train me that much. However, they did pay for everything¡ªincluding my trip to Korea and all that. I also live in their dorms!"


    "Others could continue talking about me, and it will just give me more screen time. Isn''t that how most survival shows work? They need someone they can talk about to make the show more interesting," she said with a straight face.


    The mentors were silent for a moment before they erupted into chuckles.


    Meanwhile, June sighed and covered his face with his palm, biting his lip to restrain himself from scolding his sister.


    "Well, you''re quite honest," Bone said.


    Not only did she diss Azure Entertainment, but she also called out the entertainment industry. Moreover, the trainees who were speaking ill about her were also silenced, knowing that everything she said was right.


    "Thank you," Mei said, even bowing as if that was apliment, making the mentors erupt intoughter this time.


    "Mei Ling," June muttered, continually shaking his head.


    It was only her first appearance, but she was already creating such a topic.


    But then again, June already expected this.


    Why?


    Because Mei Ling had the same personality as him...


    However, the main difference was June was also afraid of Mei Ling.

 Chapter 637 A Lifetime Isnt Enough

    Chapter 637 A Lifetime Isn''t Enough


    ??"You''re definitely memorable," Lee Sik said, his face red from chuckling too much.


    Amira nodded in agreement. She then nudged June''s shoulder.


    "What do you think she''s going to sing?" she asked. "Her clothes don''t give anything away. She''s just wearing a in shirt."


    "We can''t even see her anticipated rank," Ji-hyun said, realizing that they didn''t ask her to reveal it. They were so engrossed in her blunt personality that they forgot to formally ask her.


    "That just makes me more curious," Bone said. "Usually, people who dress more simply are more talented, right?"


    Meanwhile, June remained silent throughout their conversation. He held himself back from saying anything.


    "Anyway," Lee Sik said, pping to end their conversation. "We can''t wait for you to show us your talents. Please take the stage."


    Mei nodded. However, she didn''t move from her spot and just ced the microphone over her lips.


    "She really reminds me of someone," Gun muttered as she continued looking at Mei.


    "Me too," Ji-hyun said, cing her hand under her chin.


    Mei closed her eyes for a moment, the camera focusing on her and shing her on the widescreen.


    The others eximed in amazement once her face was illuminated on the screen.


    "She''s really pretty. I can''t deny it."


    "That''s true. It sucks! I could have been recruited by Azure, too, if I was born prettier."


    Even Jeemin pursed her lips, finding the simple girl beautiful.


    "She''s still weird, though," she muttered.


    Meanwhile, June still couldn''t believe that her sister grew up this way. Between the two of them, Mei Ling was definitely born prettier. However, it wasn''t to this extent!


    The world definitely had their favorites!


    They all anticipated her performance. They couldn''t help but wonder how the very first Azure trainee would perform.


    As Mei Ling finally opened her eyes, the room fell silent, all eyes fixed on her.


    To everyone''s surprise, a mellow song suddenly yed through the speakers¡ªa choice that raised eyebrows among the other trainees. A bad? In the midst of a high-energy audition? It was unexpected, to say the least.


    She was the very first one to sing a bad out of everyone.


    Moreover, the song she chose was the original soundtrack for a tragic love story¡ªa story that ended in death and despair. It was a strange choice, one that left the other trainees puzzled. Why would she choose such a heartbreaking song?


    June, however, instantly recognized the melody. It was from her favorite drama when they were younger¡ªa drama that Mei Ling used to watch with him. He remembered how she would st the song over and over again when they lived together, her voice echoing through the house as she sang along.


    To some extent, June could still predict Mei Ling''s choices. She had always been loyal to her favorites, and it seemed that some things never changed. But as he waited for her to sing, a sense of unease crept over him.


    "I shouldn''t have promised anything to the other mentors," he muttered.


    He closed his eyes and started chanting a prayer under his breath, causing Amira to nce at him with furrowed eyebrows.


    Alright, there was definitely something wrong with him.


    Then, June opened his eyes, waiting for Mei Ling to sing the first lines.


    After an entire year apart, Mei Ling must have changed in other aspects, too...right?


    As Mei opened her mouth to sing, June held his breath, his heart pounding in nervousness.


    He wasn''t even this nervous when he was auditioningst year!


    He hoped against hope that Mei Ling had grown and improved in the year they had been apart. But as the first notes of the song filled the room, June''s hopes were dashed.


    "In the quiet of the night,


    I still hear your voice,


    Echoing through the empty space."


    If June had been blessed with a good voice, then Mei Ling definitely wasn''t. He guessed that the world was still fair after all. She got the good looks while he got the good voice.


    Her voice was shaky and off-key, her pitch wavering as she struggled to hit the right notes. She sang with passion and emotion, but it was clear that she was clumsy as heck.


    "Oh goodness," June muttered, looking at the table.


    The mentors frowned in confusion.


    "Is she...singing?" Ji-hyun couldn''t help but ask.


    "I''ll love you for eternity,


    Though you''re no longer here with me,


    And though we were apart too soon,


    I''ll see you again under the moon."


    The other trainees were also shocked; most of them just watching the stage with agape mouths.


    June''s heart sank as he watched his sister''s performance. He had hoped that she had improved, but it seemed that she was still the same Mei Ling he remembered. She had always been enthusiastic about singing, but talent was another matter altogether.


    As Mei Ling continued to sing, her voice growing increasingly strained. June couldn''t help but purse his lips.


    Why don''t they end the shoot right now, huh? Should he pretend to faint so that she stops singing? Well, he did feel rtively dizzy today.


    Jeemin couldn''t help but chuckle. However, she covered her mouth with her hand so that it wouldn''t be captured by the camera.


    "All of that big talk for this?" she muttered.


    As she reached the chorus, she began to dance.


    ''Right!'' June eximed in his thoughts. ''Mei Ling wasn''t that bad of a dancer, right?''


    Turns out, June was wrong.


    She was also very clumsy at dancing. The routine was simple, so she stayed on beat, at least. However, he could tell that she wasn''t born a great dancer.


    Well, to be fair, June was also awful at dancing when he first entered the show, so he couldn''t criticize her too much.


    However, even then, she should have at least one redeeming aspect!


    ''Maybe she''s better at rapping?'' he thought.


    Then, he sighed before shaking his head.


    "Definitely not," he whispered, remembering how she rapped when they were younger.


    He was just in denial since he wanted the best for his sister, but as he gazed at her status window, he couldn''t help but purse his lips.


    [Vocals: D-


    Dance: D


    Rap: F


    Visuals: S]


    Well, at least she was already an S in visuals.


    However, that doesn''t really make up for the fact that she was a dozen!


    Her stats were even worse than when June was starting out!


    He could already see the hatements floating above her head as she continued her performance.


    "Oh, Mei Ling," he whispered.


    "What are you really doing here?"

 Chapter 638 Just A Pretty Face

    Chapter 638 Just A Pretty Face


    ??June was lost in his thoughts, the echoes of Mei Ling''s song lingering in his mind. He wondered what his sister was truly doing in a show like this when she had no talent as an idol.


    However, he snapped out of his reverie when he heard a faint hum beside him.


    He nced at his master, Lee Sik, and saw him watching the performance intently.


    The other judges seemed to also be engrossed in Mei Ling''s performance.


    "Every moment we shared,


    Everyugh, every tear,


    Feels like it was just yesterday,


    But now you''re so far away."


    June nced behind him and also found the other trainees watching intently. He thought they were going to be repulsed by her performance, but it seemed like they were strangely intrigued.


    June frowned and fully focused on her performance.


    Then, that was when it hit him.


    This girl¡ªshe was singing with raw, unfiltered emotions.


    Sure, shecked the technical skill, but goodness, she was singing like she had been through eight divorces.


    Well, they did live a pretty rough life, and it somehow projected into the way she sang.


    "I''ll cherish every memory,


    Hold them close to me,


    For though you''re gone, you''re still here,


    In every heartbeat, in every tear."


    It was almost heartbreaking.


    June wondered if she was singing the song because she somewhat remembered him. For a moment, she looked at her profile once again, going through her answers.


    Favorite color: Pink


    Favorite hobby: Reading Alternative Universes and Manhwas


    June shook his head in amusement. Yup, she was still pretty much the same.


    However, what made him frown was the next question.


    Something you''ve always wanted: A sibling. It''s hard being an only child.


    June frowned in confusion.


    An only child? Since when was she an only child?


    However, he couldn''t dwell on it too much as Mei began to sing the bridge of the song, her voice faltering during the high notes.


    "A lifetime isn''t enough,


    To spend with you, my love,


    But in the blink of an eye,


    You were gone, and I''m left to cry."


    Despite herck of technical talent, the audience wasn''t repulsed by her performance. On the contrary, they seemed captivated by her vulnerability and drawn to the authenticity of her emotions.


    June couldn''t deny the impact of Mei Ling''s performance. Despite her shorings, she had managed to touch something deep within the hearts of those watching.


    As Mei Ling finished her song, the room fell into silence.


    However, contrary to the apuse he received during his auditions, the audience remained silent, not really knowing how to feel.


    Then, her face shed on the screen, capturing her sorrowful expression.


    "Ah, so pretty," the others still couldn''t help but exim. There were tears brimming in her eyes, making them shine like high-carat gold.


    However, in a split second, her expression turned nonchnt, making them surprised.


    It was as if she didn''t just sing the most heartbreaking song out there.


    Lee Sik covered his mouth, trying hard to notugh. However, some chuckles still escaped his lips.


    "She''s weirdly charming," he muttered.


    But then, at that moment, the screen shed June''s face instead. People barely noticed the shift at first; their attention was still focused on Mei Ling.


    It was only when Amira spoke that they realized June was on the screen.


    "Wait," she said, looking at June and Mei before her eyes widened in disbelief.


    The others also started catching onto what was happening.


    "They look alike!"


    Even the cameraman couldn''t believe his eyes, so the camera zoomed in from June to Mei, highlighting the striking resemnce between the two.


    Gun''s eyes widened in surprise as he nced at the screen, his gaze flickering between her image and June''s.


    So, that was why she looked so familiar!


    It was as if they were mirror images of each other¡ªJune with his sharp features and piercing gaze and Mei with her softer, more delicate features.


    The audience murmured in amazement, some even leaning forward in their seats to get a better look. The resemnce was uncanny, almost eerie in its uracy.


    June, who had been watching the screen, pursed his lips. He had never noticed the resemnce before, but now that it had been pointed out, he couldn''t unsee it.


    How could they even look alike when they weren''t rted in their current bodies?


    "She''s your female version," Gun said as if it weren''t already strikingly obvious.


    "Thank you for your performance," Lee Sik said, finally proceeding with thements.


    "You''re wee," Mei responded respectfully.


    Lee Sik nced at June before smiling.


    "She somehow acts like you, too," he said.


    June pursed his lips. That was what he was afraid of! Having his attitude in the entertainment industry would definitely give her a harder time.


    "So, you''ve only been training for a month?" Lee Sik asked.


    She nodded wordlessly.


    "So, that exins it," Ji-hyun said. "I hope you''re aware that you''re not good at singing."


    The trainees chuckled, finding herment funny. However, once Ji-hyun''s expression was shown on the screen, they pursed their lips.


    It seemed like she was actually dead serious.


    Ji-hyun knew that Mei sang her song with the perfect emotions. However, it still didn''t take away the fact that she wasn''t good at singing at all.


    So, she didn''t daremend her emotional portrayal since she felt like the pretty girl didn''t actually deserve it.


    Amira took the microphone to share her criticisms.


    "Your foundations in dancing are also a mess. It was already simple, yet somehow, you couldn''t execute it properly."


    Gun pursed his lips and nodded in agreement. "I''m not saying that you''re a lost cause because people could definitely improve throughout the show," he started off, ncing at June.


    "However, you have to put in extra effort to improve your skills right now," he said.


    "Honestly, thest auditions have been very disappointing," Bone continued. "It seems like all of you are here for a model or a dancepetition."


    The trainees turned silent as Mentor Bone''s words sunk into their minds. The fact that the kindest mentor in the show said such words meant that they must have been really disappointed.


    Lee Sik nodded in agreement. Then, he turned to June, who was keeping silent until now so that his presence would go unnoticed.


    However, Lee Sik wasn''t going to let him go this time.


    He smiled and nudged June''s shoulder.


    "Don''t forget your promise now," he said.


    "You''re going to scold them, right?"

 Chapter 639 Bad Luck Runs in the Family

    Chapter 639 Bad Luck Runs in the Family


    ??It was official.


    Bad luck definitely ran in their family.


    June definitely shouldn''t have promised to scold the trainees after the next bad trainee. He was convinced that Yena and Yejin wouldn''t cluster too many untalented trainees in one segment.


    However, they did, and now, he was going to pay the consequences.


    Not only that, but he was going to scold none other than his sister.


    If she just auditioned a littleter or a little bit earlier, then this wouldn''t have happened!


    Wait...


    If she didn''t audition at all, then this wouldn''t have happened!


    The mentors looked at June with raised eyebrows, waiting for him to speak.


    June already knew that the hate against Mei Ling would increase once he spoke about her performance. However, he also knew that it was needed¡ªnot only for her but for the other trainees.


    June sighed and took the microphone. The others turned silent, not knowing what to expect from June.


    "Mei Li¡ª," he began but quickly corrected himself.


    "Mei," he said, his voice firm.


    "You have a gift for expressing emotions through your singing, and that''s something to bemended. However, emotions alone aren''t enough. As idols, we need to be well-rounded performers, capable of delivering both emotion and technical skill."


    Mei Ling nced at him with nonchnt eyes, but even then, June couldn''t look at her without feeling a pang of guilt.


    He pursed his lips and looked away from her eyes.


    Why did this little monster have such an effect on him?


    Turning to the rest of the trainees, June decided to offer some advice as a whole.


    "I want to talk to all of you about the importance of vocals in the K-pop industry," he said.


    "You can be a great dancer, but I think dancing isn''t the most important aspect. At the end of the day, you are a singer. No matter how hard you work and how skilled you are at dancing, if you can''t sing, you''ll be deemed as untalented."


    Other trainees looked down at theirps and started fiddling with their fingers, guilty of June''s usations.


    He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "In K-pop, vocals are everything. They''re what sets you apart from the rest. So, don''t neglect your vocal training. Practice every day, hone your skills, and strive for excellence in everything you do."


    "And I know that you might say that there''s auto-tune and voice effects for a reason, but it''s very much different. You have to be able to sing live before the public starts acknowledging you as real idols."


    "I know that he''s giving great advice right now, but I can''t focus. He''s too beautiful."


    "Girl, you got 0 stars. Listen to him."


    "But his lips are all I could focus on!"


    Meanwhile, June felt like a hypocrite as he said those words.


    He definitely wasn''t passionate when he first started in Rising Stars. In fact, he just wanted to make it into the team so that Mei Ling wouldn''t die. Then, he grew to love performing when he realized it was what he always wanted since he was younger.


    To lessen his guilt, he continued to speak.


    "So, be passionate in what you''re doing," he said. "The only excuse where you can''t be passionate is when your life is on the line...or when your loved ones are threatened to die," he quickly added.


    The trainees frowned in confusion after he said hisst statement. However, those words wereing from such a handsome person. Why would they dare question it?


    Gun enthusiastically nodded.


    "That''s also what I felt after watching your performances," he said. "Somehow, I want to give a vocal lesson to all of you right now. However, I''m definitely a worse singer than most of you."


    The trainees chuckled, the atmosphere lightening after Gun''s words.


    Just then, Lee Sik''s eyes brightened.


    "Well, we have June over here," he quickly said. "Why don''t you back up your words and sing for these girls, won''t you?"


    The girls started squealing, in disbelief that June would be singing before them for free!


    June''s eyes widened.


    "What? No!" he eximed, causing the trainees to exim in disappointment.


    "Come on," Ji-hyun said. "The trainees want a concrete example of your advice, right?" she asked, turning to the girls.


    A resounding ''yes'' was heard in the studio.


    The staff members began chuckling as they focused on June''s flustered expression. All of them were enjoying teasing the idol!


    Meanwhile, Mei pursed her lips to hold back her words.


    ''Gosh. Why do I have to stay here while he''s being gushed about?'' she thought.


    Meanwhile, June didn''t know what to do.


    He was being ced under the spotlight once again, with no way out.


    [Come on. Boast! Boast!]


    [I didn''t help you upgrade your skills for nothing!]


    June sighed and realized that he still had a mission with Fu.


    "We''re not going to stop pestering you," Amira said, chuckling along with the other mentors.


    June closed his eyes before shaking his head.


    ''Alright, let''s just get this over with.''


    "Fine," June said, making all of them cheer, except for Mei, of course.


    June paused for a moment and thought of what song to sing.


    Then, the perfect song came to mind.


    He realized that maybe Mei Ling being untalented was actually a good thing. Now that he had experienced being an idol, he didn''t know if it was a life that he wanted for his sister.


    He worked so hard trying to protect her back then.


    He also wanted to protect her now...even though it seemed she wasn''t aware of his presence.


    It was a job that entailed having such great self-esteem. One wrong move, one hatement, or one scandal could make or break a person. Moreover, the schedule was almost inhumane.


    As much as he loved performing, he also didn''t like some of the conditions that came with it.


    It was simr to being part of a gang, somehow.


    So, maybe, if she doesn''t debut through this show, she would be happier.


    With that, he took the microphone and ced it on his lips, determined to dampen her dreams. Then, he started singing without any apaniment.


    "In the quiet of the night,


    I still hear your voice,


    Echoing through the empty space."


    The others gasped in surprise. He was singing the same song that Mei just sang!


    From the first note, the difference between June''s singing and Mei''s was immediately apparent.


    His voice was like velvet, smooth and rich as it soared effortlessly through the air. Every note was perfectly pitched, every phrase perfectly timed.


    As June continued to sing, Mei Ling''s face twisted into a frown.


    "This guy''s really annoying," she muttered.

 Chapter 640 Through and Through

    Chapter 640 Through and Through


    ??June ended his song and was met with a loud round of apuse. He saw himself on the screen and noticed that his cheeks were red from embarrassment.


    He didn''t think much about it when he was singing, but it seemed like he was actually pretty embarrassed to sing in front of the trainees.


    The trainees didn''t fail to notice this, and they started fangirling about June once again.


    "I can''t. I need to take care of him."


    "Why is he so cute?"


    "Seriously, why am I fawning over a grown man?"


    "That face¡ªI want to dominate it."


    "Girl, I sure hope that the cameras didn''t catch what you just said."


    Meanwhile, Lee Sik nudged June''s shoulder.


    "You''re really good at singing now," he said.


    June raised one eyebrow in a teasing manner. "Does that mean that I wasn''t good at singing back then?"


    "You were," Lee Sik said. "But you''re improving so fast. Sometimes, I feel like you''ve debuted for more than ten years."


    June shook his head at Lee Sik''s ridiculous statement.


    "The two of you sang it very simrly," Ji-hyun suddenly said, her hand covering the microphone.


    Gun couldn''t help but exim in disagreement.


    "They didn''t sing alike at all."


    "Well, obviously, their skill set is different," Ji-hyun borated. "But they sang it with the same emotion. Am I making sense? Or is it my menopause talking?"


    Gun chuckled loudly. "Come on. You''re not that old. Now that you''ve mentioned it, they did with the same sentiment."


    Ji-hyun chuckled along with him. "I thought I was going crazy. How are we going to evaluate her, though?"


    Amira pursed her lips. "I can''t talk about her skills. I don''t think she''s ready to be an idol at this time."


    Bone hummed. "However, I do believe that everybody has the potential to improve. Her looks and her stage presence are actually not that bad."


    "Not that bad?" Lee Sik eximed. "It''s actually very impressive. She was singing out of tune most of the time, but did you notice that the audience was still paying attention? You need to have a lot of stage presence for that to happen."


    Gun nodded in agreement. "And her looks are actually phenomenal. I can already tell that she''s going to be popr with the public just based on her appearance."


    "She''s going to get a lot of hate for being unskilled, though," Amira said.


    ''No! No!'' June eximed in his mind. They were saying the things that he didn''t want to hear.


    The fact that they were talking about her for so long already meant that she was going to get a lot of screen time. That wasn''t ideal! Now that Mei Ling is within his grasp, he wants to protect her at all costs.


    What better way to do that than to make her practically unnoticeable so she can be peacefully eliminated? Just like those trainees who be forgettable after the show!


    However, things weren''t looking good for June or for Mei Ling.


    Regardless of what June said, Mei Ling was going to get a lot of attention¡ªboth negatively and positively, more so on the former. People on the inte were honestly ruthless.


    "Based on her potential alone, I think we can give her two stars," Lee Sik said.


    "What?" Ji-hyun asked. "That''s too high."


    "Really?" Bone asked, scratching the back of his head. "I kind of agree with the two stars now that you''ve made your points."


    "How about one star then?" Gun asked, making a suggestion.


    Amira sighed and nced at Mei, who appeared to be wandering off into dreand already.


    "I still think that it''s too high. She can''t keep up with simple dance moves. One-stars already have basic foundations."


    "Goodness, this is the most difficult evaluation today," Ji-hyun muttered.


    "Why aren''t you speaking, though?" Lee Sik suddenly asked, turning to June.


    June was caught off guard, and he stammered.


    "N¡ªnothing," he said. "My voice is getting hoarse."


    "Oh," Ji-hyun said, believing his excuse. "You do need to preserve your voice."


    "What do you think, though?" she couldn''t help but ask. "What rank can we give to this girl?"


    June pursed his lips and thought for a moment. He recalled his rank during Rising Stars. He got three stars for such a mediocre performance.


    When he was in three stars, he had a hard time adjusting to the skill set that the other trainees already had. Maybe that was what Mei Ling needed so she could withdraw from the show.


    It wasn''t toote to run from Azure!


    "Umm, three stars?" he suggested, causing the others to look at him with wide eyes. Even then, he was also unsure.


    "Alright, let''s not ask for your opinion next time," Lee Sik chuckled.


    June scratched the back of his head. At this point, he still didn''t know what to feel or even think of.


    He didn''t get a lot of attention when he was in three-stars because there were more trainees with better skills than him. He only started garnering attention when he was moved to zero stars.


    So, he just wished that Mei Ling wouldn''t end up with the same fate as him. He could still imagine the stress he went through when he was in zero stars.


    "Wait, I just realized. We still haven''t asked her about her predicted rank," Amira suddenly said.


    "Right," Ji-hyun eximed. "I was curious about that! It''s covered by her jacket."


    "Hmm," Lee Sik said. "Why don''t we just follow whatever her predicted rank is since we can''te to an agreement."


    "That''s actually not too bad," Gun said.


    "What if she predicted her rank to be five stars, though?" Amira suddenly asked.


    "Nah," Gun shook his head. "You could tell from the empty white spaces that it can''t be more than four stars."


    Amira shrugged, leaning against her seat in a rxed manner.


    "That''s fine with me, then."


    "I''ll do the honors," Lee Sik said.


    "Mei," he said to the mic after a long deliberation. The other trainees finally paid attention. It seemed like an eternity had passed before the judges spoke!


    "Can we please see your predicted rank?" he asked.


    The others were confused as to why Lee Sik suddenly asked that particr question. Nheless, they were also curious about what Mei thought about her own skills.


    June pursed his lips and waited in anticipation.


    ''Not zero stars,'' he thought.


    ''Please¡ªnot zero stars,'' he said.


    Mei didn''t hesitate to move her jacket to the side, finally revealing her predicted rank.


    Then, she brought the microphone to her lips.


    "It''s zero-stars," she said.


    June felt like he was kicked in the balls.


    Goodness.


    They really were siblings.

 Chapter 641 Its Just A Joke

    Chapter 641 It''s Just A Joke


    ??"Then, you get zero stars," Lee Sik concluded, making the room erupt into whispers.


    "Why did they deliberate so long then?"


    "Ah, I don''t know. I''m just happy that she got what she deserves."


    "Yeah, zero stars seems fitted for her."


    Meanwhile, Mei remained unbothered on the stage.


    "Thank you, mentors," she said, bowing her head in respect. "It''s just what I wanted."


    The mentors turned to each other in surprise before bursting intoughter once more.


    Lee Sik held onto Gun for support as the two of themughed like hyenas.


    June looked at them strangely before shaking his head. Why was his sister making them crack up so much?


    "Ah, she really reminds me of you, June," Gun suddenly said, making June raise his eyebrows.


    Well, he was the one who practically raised Mei Ling. It would be strange if they didn''t act remotely simr to each other. Mei Ling was more outspoken and was definitely more blunt ever since they were younger (which was honestly hard to believe since June was very blunt already), and it seemed to have been retained until now.


    Even then, people would be surprised how such a pretty girl would be capable of saying such harsh words.


    But then again, Mei Ling always acted like she didn''t care. All she worried about was those K-Pop idols she liked so much.


    June nced at Mei Ling and recognized the look on her face. To the average eye, it might seem like she was just casually listening to the conversation. However, being her brother, June recognized her expression right away.


    She wasn''t fond of the topic of the conversation.


    "Yeah, she is like June when he first auditioned on the show."


    "They''re different, though. June wore a mask and was a decent singer."


    "You''re right, but I think their personalities are quite simr."


    "Somehow, that makes her even scarier."


    "Are you sure you don''t have a brother?" Lee Sik suddenly asked, making the trainees and the mentors turn silent.


    The trainees were intrigued since they wanted to know whether this very pretty girl had a brother¡ªa single one, perhaps?


    On the other hand, June listened intently because he was curious about her answer.


    He knew that Mei Ling supposedly lost her memory, ording to Fu, but he also didn''t know to what extent she lost it.


    Did she lose all of it?


    Or was she aware that she had a brother but didn''t know his real identity?


    Mei brought the microphone to her lips before shaking her head.


    "I don''t have a brother," she confirmed, making the trainees sigh in disappointment.


    Meanwhile, June also couldn''t hide his disappointment. He was in a different body, and it would have been impossible for Mei Ling to acknowledge him as a brother in their current situation. However, it would have felt nice if he had acknowledged him in his past body instead.


    "That''s alright," Lee Sik chimed, suddenly patting June''s shoulder.


    "June can pass as your brother instead!" he excitedly said.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. Meanwhile, Mei''s face twisted into hostility once more, making June frown.


    "It''s alright, mentor," Mei said. "I actually like being an only child."


    ''Lies,'' June thought. She clearly stated that she wanted a sibling in her profile! Why did she suddenly hate the idea when Lee Sik suggested that June be her brother?


    June subtly shook his head.


    There was definitely something weird going on.


    Mei Ling seemed to despise his existence!


    "Well, thank you for your time," Gun said, finally ending her long audition process. "We''re looking forward to seeing more of you in the uing missions."


    Mei bowed with a curt smile. "Thank you for watching my performance."


    With that, she finally left the stage.


    However, she didn''t leave June''s mind.


    [Congrattions for boasting! You showed the girls that you have the best vocal skills in the idol industry!]


    [What does the host want to upgrade today?]


    June pursed his lips and focused on Fu while a decent trainee was auditioning. She didn''t really stand out, so June''s mind wandered to his system instead.


    "Dance," he muttered.


    Up to this day, he was curious as to what the ''X'' meant in his vocal skill. He didn''t feel a shift in his skills, so it was weird seeing such a unique rank.


    June wondered if it was just a glitch or if it was deliberate. So, he chose his only SSS skill, which was dance.


    [Congrattions! You have sessfully upgraded your dance aspect!]


    [Dance: +1]


    [Current rank: X]


    June''s eyebrows furrowed.


    So, it wasn''t a glitch of some sort.


    The X rank actually did exist right after the SSS rank.


    ''Hey, Fu. Can you tell me what does this mean now?''


    As expected, Fu didn''t respond, causing June to sigh.


    ''Then, answer this question. You''re a useless system if you don''t answer it.''


    [Oof.]


    ''How much does my sister know?''


    [...do I have to answer it?]


    ''Come on. You''re the only one who knows the answer.''


    [I''m not a deity. I don''t know how other people''s minds work. I''m YOUR system, so it''s only YOU that I can read.]


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    ''But you told me back then that she lost her memories. You already knew, to begin with!''


    [Any human being can discover that.]


    ''But you''re not human.''


    [How do you know?]


    ''Stop ying with me now, Fu. I can''t y this game with you.''


    ''You know everything that''s going on! You even threatened to kill her if I didn''t be an idol!''


    [Oh, you believed that?]


    [It was just a joke.]


    June''s movements halted after Fu revealed thosest words.


    It was just a joke...


    Just a joke...


    A joke...


    A joke?


    Everything was just a fucking joke?


    ''Are you kidding me?''


    Just then, June heard a voice inside his head, making him even more confused.


    There was no doubt¡ªsomeone sighed inside his mind.


    "I''m going crazy," he whispered, looking around to see if he was still in the same reality.


    Then, Fu appeared before him once again.


    [Not everything is a joke.]


    [The universe is a strange ce.]


    [It''s a single reality, but each of us has our own truth, our own dreams buried deep within our unconscious. Systems like mine operate from that unconscious realm, tapping into the potential of the human mind.]


    [You were chosen because you possess a uniquebination of qualities that make you receptive to my guidance. Your journey to bing a top idol and the missions you''ve been given were all part of arger n to awaken something within you.]


    ''This still doesn''t make any sense. Why can''t you just give me a straight answer?''


    [I cannot give you a direct answer, June. But I can leave you with this: People are simple.]


    [They see what they want to see; they live life the way they choose. But when they be aware, the game of life bes more fun.]


    [Always remember the origin.]


    [Life has three strikes.]


    June frowned since hisst two statements seemed out of ce.


    ''What are you even talking about?''


    [It''s the answer to your question.]

 Chapter 642 A Potential Frontrunner

    Chapter 642 A Potential Frontrunner


    ??June let out a deep breath as he leaned against his seat. He thought everything would be much clearer once Fu answered his questions, yet it seemed like he was just getting more confused instead.


    ''Sometimes, I think you''re a great system, but then you make me take back my words every single time.''


    [ :( ]


    Always remember the origin?


    Life has three strikes?


    What does he mean by all of that?


    Just then, June snapped out of his thoughts when Lee Sik suddenly patted his shoulder.


    "What did you think, June?"


    June lifted his head and saw that a new trainee was already on stage. He cursed inside his mind since he wasn''t able to watch her performance at all.


    He could feel the anticipating stares of the other trainees and the mentors, which made him feel even more pressured.


    June cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone.


    "You''ve worked hard," he vaguely said since he didn''t know how the particr trainee performed.


    The mentors looked at him with raised eyebrows, surprised by hisment.


    ''Fuck,'' he thought. ''Was she awful?''


    The trainees were silent, too, not giving anything away.


    Then, they suddenly burst into whispers.


    "He''s so kind! He''s the only one to tell her that she has worked hard."


    "Well, her performance was awful, vomit-inducing, and even nauseating, but I can tell that it was her best."


    "Dang, that''s pretty rude. I''ll cry if I hear that."


    "June is really such a kind soul, though. She''s been training for a long time, but she''s just not talented."


    Gun looked at June with admiration in his eyes, his lips pursed as he held back his tears.


    "I have a lot to learn from him," he muttered.


    Lee Sik also showed a guilty smile, patting his back once again but gentler this time.


    The other mentors only said harsh words to the trainees because she wasn''t decent at all! Meanwhile, June still told her that she had worked hard despite the awful performance.


    What a kind man!


    ''Gosh. Did I say the wrong thing?'' he thought. ''Why are they praising me so much?''


    Then, to make matters worse, the girl on the stage suddenly started crying, catching June off guard.


    He scratched the back of his head before asking her what was wrong.


    The others started empathizing with her while June continued regretting his words.


    "Sorry, mentors," the girl sniffed. "It''s been a while since somebody told me I had worked hard. I also really like June and his group, EVE, so it means a lot to me. Thank you, really."


    June pursed his lips and subtly shook his head.


    Goodness, he was being misunderstood all day long.


    However, he couldn''t really burst her bubble, so he decided to proceed with it.


    "You''ve worked hard up until now," June repeated. "However, I hope you realize that hard work is not enough. You need help from others, and you need to examine where your weaknesses lie. Through that, you''ll be able to improve."


    "If you think you''re working hard enough, then think again. There might be something wrong with how you''re practicing."


    The girl pursed her lips, trying to hold back her tears. Then, she nodded and bowed gratefully before walking away from the stage with zero stars under her name.


    As soon as she was out of the stage, Amira nudged his shoulder.


    "You''re quite the ideal mentor," she said.


    June raised one eyebrow in surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "Nothing," she muttered. "You''re my ideal man too."


    "What did you say?" June asked, not really hearing what she just said.


    Amira shook her head and quickly changed the topic. "Thest contestant ising."


    Everybody started gossiping as thest trainee of the day made her way to the center of the stage.


    Above her was the intimidating logo of herpany, and others began to voice their envy since it was apany that all of them wanted to be epted into.


    "Good afternoon, mentors," the pink-haired girl greeted.


    "My name is Hong Jeemin. I am 19 years old and from ESPER Entertainment," she introduced herself.


    The trainees pped, appearing to be fond of her already.


    Well, she was the embodiment of an idol trainee. Her looks wereparable to Mei''s; however, she had more ''idol-like'' charms. She looked approachable, warm, and had a lot of ambition. Meanwhile, Mei was a cold, blunt beauty that most people would be afraid of.


    "Jeemin," Gun said, reading through her profile. "It''s the first time that a trainee from ESPER entertainment has joined Rising Stars."


    Jeemin smiled and nodded. "I was sent by mypany after seeing the sess that EVE experienced," she said in all honesty.


    Jeemin smiled and nodded. "I was sent by mypany after seeing the sess that EVE experienced," she said in all "There were a lot of trainees who wanted to go, but I was chosen," she continued.


    Lee Sik raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    "You must be really good, then," he said.


    Jeemin shook her head and even stepped back, her cheeks reddening from embarrassment.


    "Ah, no, no. I''m not that good. I was just the most enthusiastic one, so they gave it to me."


    "You''re humble too," Ji-hyun noted, already liking her personality.


    At that moment, June nced back at Mei Ling. He saw that she was almost dozing off, making him shake his head.


    If Jeemin was the embodiment of an idol trainee, then her sister was theplete opposite. Well, he couldn''t really me her since he was also the same up until the end of Rising Stars.


    "Why don''t you start your performance?" Lee Sik said.


    Jeemin nodded and went to the center, immediately assuming her position. She ced her handheld microphone over her lips and tilted her head a bit as she waited for the music to start.


    Then, the loud music began, startling most of the trainees. Even, who had been bored after all the mediocre performances, snapped out of her sleepy state as Jeemin''s voice resonated in the entire studio.


    "Oh, oh, oh, it''s so electric!


    Give me that love, so maic.


    The clock going tick tock tick.


    You can never give me the ick."


    She sang a popr K-pop song with some questionable lyrics, yet she somehow still made it work.


    June looked at her status window and nodded in acknowledgment. It was already the highest he had seen in the day. It seemed like there was a reason why ESPER Entertainment was the pioneer of the K-Pop industry.


    [Vocals: A


    Dance: A+


    Visuals: S


    Rap: B-]


    "She''s good," the other mentors began to say, enjoying her performance.


    June nodded in agreement as he nodded his head to the beat.


    "She''s a potential frontrunner of the show."

 Chapter 643 She Hates His Guts

    Chapter 643 She Hates His Guts


    ??After a long day of filming, the shoot had finally ended.


    "Mentors, this way," the staff instructed, allowing them to go back to their waiting rooms before the girls.


    The trainees started waving goodbye to the mentors, a bit disappointed since they wanted to talk to them for longer.


    Meanwhile, June was stuck in his seat, not finding the strength to stand after everything that had happened.


    Then, he turned around and saw Mei Ling still dozing off in her seat. He shook his head and held himself back from going to her and poking her forehead.


    Why was she dozing off in such an unusual ce?


    "June," Lee Sik said, snapping June out of his thoughts.


    "Let''s go."


    June pursed his lips and eventually stood from his seat to follow after the other mentors.


    When they got backstage, they bid farewell to each other before going to their respective waiting rooms.


    June walked slowly to his waiting room, still reflecting on everything that had happened this day.


    Then, as he stood outside his waiting room, he feltpelled to walk around and look for his sister.


    He ced his hand on the knob and was frozen for a couple of minutes. He hesitated to turn the knob and eventually decided to follow his instincts.


    "Fuck it," he muttered before letting go of the doorknob and walking through the hallways of the studio.


    Fortunately, having experienced living in this very studio, he knew where the trainees currently were. They were probably receiving the t-shirts that corresponded to their ranks!


    June let his feet guide him to the familiar ce. However, when he got there, he saw arge crowd of female trainees, making him halt in his spot once again.


    He was so preupied with the feelings of longing for his sister that he nearly forgot that he had to face the other trainees, too.


    He let out a deep breath and peeked through the small gap on the door as he thought of what to do next.


    June didn''t know what he wanted. He also didn''t know what to say if he met Mei Ling at that very moment. However, all he knew was he wanted to meet his sister.


    It had been far too long since he had seen her.


    "I knew you were strange, to begin with, but I didn''t expect you to be a pervert, too. I guess I should have lowered my expectations more," a familiar voice suddenly said from behind June, causing him to freeze on the spot.


    The girl scoffed. "Are you going to continue peeking at the girls? They''re not going to change their shirts there, you know?"


    June finally had the courage to turn around, seeing the girl who was the very reason why he was an idol today.


    "Mei Ling," he muttered, causing the girl to frown.


    "What did you say?" she asked.


    June pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "Mei," he said her stage name this time.


    "Mentor June," she said with narrowed eyes.


    June bowed slightly, but he couldn''t take his eyes away from her, still in disbelief at everything that was happening.


    Mei''s eyes narrowed further, and she quickly ced her arms over her chest, making June''s eyes widen.


    "I''m not a pervert," he quickly defended himself.


    Mei raised her eyebrows. "That''s something a pervert would say."


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He was d that Mei was still as suspicious as ever. However, it was also quite offensive to be used of being a pervert.


    "Me?" June asked. "A pervert? With this face?"


    "Why?" Mei asked. "Do handsome men have a pass now or something? Someone''s appearance has nothing to do with being a pervert."


    June sighed and scratched the back of his head. "You''re right, but I''m not that kind of person. I was just..."


    ...looking for you.


    "...seeing how you guys were adjusting. I had a pretty tough time when I was a trainee, and I¡ªuh¡ªwanted to give you guys strength."


    Mei''s suspicious look didn''t let up as June continued to talk. He even had to look away from her eyes because he felt like they were piercing into him!


    "Sure, let''s say that I believe you," she said. "That still doesn''t exin why you''re peeking through such a small gap in the door. Don''t you think that action is weird in itself?"


    June pursed his lips since he couldn''t rebut Mei''s suspicions.


    He let out a deep breath. "I know it looks strange, but all I want to say is that I''m not doing anything bad. I''m here for a reason¡ª


    one that I cannot disclose just yet. It doesn''t involve any malicious things," he rified.


    Mei shrugged and started inspecting her nails.


    "Whatever. Just go if you''re not going to do anything else here," she said.


    June clicked his tongue as he continued observing her.


    "You''re not fond of me, are you?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    Mei stopped looking at her nails and focused her attention on June instead.


    "Well, I have no reason to be fond of a pervert, do I?"


    June sighed loudly and subtly red at her. "I''m. Not. A. Pervert," he said.


    Then, he mirrored her suspicious gaze.


    "Have you...met me before?" he asked, causing Mei to freeze for a second. However, she was back to her normal disposition in no time.


    "Yeah," she answered, making June surprised.


    "We have?" June asked.


    She nodded. "I''ve met you plenty of times on the television. Oh, I''ve seen you on billboards too. It''s not that I want to, though. My grandma seems very fond of you, so I can''t escape you at home. Then, when I came here, your face was all over the billboards. It seems like I can''t escape you even here."


    June sighed and shook his head. "I''m not talking about that," he said.


    "I mean¡ªhave we met before? In person?" he asked.


    June felt like they had a connection with each other aside from being siblings. Why else would she be so hostile to him?


    Mei took her time to answer his question.


    Then, eventually, she shook her head.


    "No," she said. "I don''t know if you''re aware of this, but I''m from China. I wouldn''t be able to cross paths with you if you trained here for a long time."


    "I went there, though," he muttered, but Mei was still able to hear him.


    Her expression hardened before shaking her head.


    "Aren''t you going to leave?" she asked.


    June ignored her question and pondered upon a thought.


    "Your grandma," he suddenly brought up. "You don''t have any parents?" he asked.


    Mei raised one of her eyebrows. "Don''t you think that''s too personal?"


    June pursed his lips since he just wanted to know if all of her memory had been erased.


    "I''m just curious," he said.


    Mei shook her head, a small smile of disbelief ying on her lips.


    "Well, don''t be serious," she said, looking him dead in the eyes.


    "I''m not obligated to tell you anything."


    "It''s not like you''re my brother or something."

 Chapter 644 My Pretty Princess

    Chapter 644 My Pretty Princess


    ??"If only you knew," June muttered, making Mei frown even deeper.


    "You''re really weird, you know?" she said, causing June to smile.


    She had always called him as such when he was in his original body.


    June pursed his lips and nodded to himself. He still believed that the two of them had some sort of connection¡ªnot with Jun Hao but with Choi Joon-ho.


    There must be a reason why she suddenly came to Korea and wanted to pursue being an idol.


    He still didn''t agree with her ambition, but at the same time, he was happy to see that she was healthy.


    June had a lot of questions in mind, but he held himself back since he didn''t want to bombard Mei with information.


    What he needed to focus on at the moment was to find out their connection and to stop her from being an idol. Saving her from Azure was also one of his priorities.


    "Well, are you just going to stand there all day?" she asked, making June snap out of his thoughts.


    June chuckled as he shook his head.


    "I''ll get going now," he said. "I guess I''ll see you more while the show progresses."


    Mei pursed her lips before muttering under her breath, "I sure hope not."


    "See youter," June said, waving goodbye before walking away from her. However, he couldn''t hold himself back and turned around to say his final words.


    "Don''t forget to rest. Don''t over-exert yourself too. The food here is really good, so eat a lot of it. Don''t go on a strict diet just so you can keep your image. It''s not healthy."


    "Also," he said, looking Mei in the eyes. "Think about thister before you sleep¡ªdo you really want to be an idol?"


    With that, he turned around and started walking back to his waiting room.


    Meanwhile, Mei was stuck in her spot, still internalizing what June had just said.


    Then, when he was out of the vicinity, she finally let out a breath that she didn''t even know she was holding.


    She held onto her chest, where her heart was, and started massaging it.


    "Why is it so painful?" she muttered, feeling strange that her heart ached whenever June was near.


    She closed her eyes for a second to calm herself down. Then, when she opened them, she looked at where June had stood just moments ago.


    "Why did he say those words, though?" she asked herself.


    "Don''t tell me¡ª," she whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief.


    "Does he like me?"


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a penthouse in the heart of Seoul, the stench of unwashed skin filled a dark room.


    When a small ray of light entered the room, the person inside couldn''t help but scowl.


    "How long are you going to stay there?" Laohu asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest and scowling when the awful scent wafted through his nostrils.


    Lin Zhi, who was buried deep in his nkets, opened his eyes and looked at his boss'' silhouette in the doorway.


    "Until I can act again," Lin Zhi muttered, smelling his own fishy breath. However, he didn''t care.


    The stubble on his face also grew erratically, now looking like a bundle of pubes on his chin and upper lip.


    "Until I can be a star again," he continued, his voice firmer this time.


    Laohu sighed, raking his hands through his hair.


    "You''re not going to achieve that if you rot in this room all day long," he said. "I didn''t bring you to Korea just so you could ruin the opportunities I''ve set up for you."


    Lin Zhi sighed and finally sat up on his bed, his clothes sticking to his musty skin.


    "My opportunities are already ruined, aren''t they? I can''te back to the acting industry. I can''t even be an idol," he chuckled bitterly.


    Laohu smirked. "Who''s fault do you think that is? I told you¡ª


    control your temper. I could have salvaged the situation if you just stayed calm. Yet, you had to go and ruin your own career."


    Lin Zhi red at Laohu. "You don''t have to rub it in my face. If I was so useless, then why don''t you just kill me?"


    Laohu chuckled in amusement. "You want to die when you haven''t even taken your revenge yet?"


    Lin Zhi looked down at hisp, his fists clenched in frustration and anger.


    "You may not be able to be a star anymore," Laohu truthfully said, nonchntly scrolling through his phone.


    There, he saw that June was trending yet again. After it was revealed that he would be the special mentor for Rising Stars, the public couldn''t stop talking about him.


    In fact, he was the most talked about by the public these days, which was a testament to his poprity. He was quickly bing the ''it-boy'' of the industry without even trying.


    Laohu clicked on one of June''s photos and showed it to Lin Zhi.


    "While you''re out here rotting in your own skin, yourpetition is thriving. I don''t know about you, but I wouldn''t be able to live with that."


    Lin Zhi''s jaw clenched in anger when he saw June''s photo. Indeed, it was triggering to see him so sessful while he had nothing left.


    "You still have a chance," Laohu said, causing Lin Zhi to lift his head.


    "I do?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Yes," Laohu smirked. "What would you do if I said that you "I do?" Lin Zhi asked.


    could ruin June''s career and have the opportunity to be at the top of the entertainment industry?"


    Lin Zhi instantly perked up. Honestly, the first objective of ruining June''s career was already enough motivation for him.


    If he couldn''t be a star, then neither should June.


    "We have the knowledge to dominate the entire industry."


    "The briefcase¡ªI''ll tell you what''s inside of it," he said, causing Lin Zhi to pay more attention.


    He only knew that the briefcase held very important files. However, up to this day, he didn''t know what type of files were hidden in that very briefcase.


    "It was coted by a very powerful man in his 80s. He had been the confidant of plenty of entertainmentpanies because of his wealth and his wisdom. He helped plenty ofpanies to be what they are today."


    "However, he was a man who valued values," Laohu continued.


    "The briefcase¡ªhe coted the files within it and was nning to expose it to the public."


    "It was the only copy to exist in the entire world¡ªwith no back-


    ups."


    "However, he died before it could happen, and the briefcase was passed left and right without the people knowing how important the content of it was."


    "Then, his living will was revealed at his funeral, and people started looking for the briefcase."


    "Yet, before any important person could capture it, it had already disappeared into thin air."


    Lin Zhi frowned in confusion. "I thought Jun Hao was able to get it?"


    "He did," Laohu said. "He''s the only person in the world that knows...or so I thought."


    Lin Zhi was even more confused.


    "Does somebody else know?"


    Laohu smirked as he scrolled further on his page beforending on a picture of an innocent-lookingdy.


    ''Spoilers! These are the photos of some trainees in Rising Stars 5! Take it with a grain of salt.''


    He clicked on the photo and showed it to Lin Zhi.


    Lin Zhi''s eyes widened in recognition.


    "Look who showed up," Laohu smirked, looking at the photo once again, the smile on his face widening.


    Then, he stroked his screen with a manic grin.


    "I''ve been looking for you."


    "You''ve gotten even prettier."

 Chapter 645 Just My Type

    Chapter 645 Just My Type


    ??Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, Rising Stars Season 5 was already going to air on national television.


    There were already plenty of spoilers online, with snippets from Azure going viral every day.


    They had edited the teasers in a way that people had no choice but to tune in.


    Even those who promised that they wouldn''t watch the show still opted to watch it through a pirated streaming service.


    Meanwhile, fans of EVE were excited to finally see their favorite group with new juniors whom they could teach.


    Along with that, with BOYMYSTIC''s contract expiring in a few weeks, the people were looking forward to seeing another group from Azure.


    It had been a while since Azure had created a girl season for Rising Stars, so the excitement increased a thousandfold.


    - When is the stream going to start?


    - In a couple of minutes. Please be patient.


    - There should be English subtitles.


    - I love EVE! From Mexico.


    - I tell myself that I shouldn''t watch another survival show for my own sanity. However, here I am again. At this point, I''m addicted.


    The members of EVE were also free during the evening, so they decided to watch the show altogether.


    Akira yawned as he went out of his room, having taken a nap as he waited for the show to start airing. He even set up an rm since he was excited about the show!


    He was expecting to be the first one there. However, as he arrived at their living room, he jumped in surprise when he saw that June was already sitting on the couch.


    June was wearing his sses (yes, he decided to get one because of his worsening vision) and was hugging a pillow while his eyes were focused on the screen.


    Jisung quickly followed after him, also perplexed as to why June was the first one on the couch.


    "Well, this is surprising," Akira said, plopping next to June as he ate the popcorn that thetter had prepared.


    "You''re usually thest one toe to our watching marathons," he pointed out.


    June didn''t respond and continued looking at the screen. He didn''t know what to expect with the show. He knew he should be worried about how the production crew had edited him; however, he was more nervous about seeing Mei Ling.


    He silently wished that she didn''t get any screen time so she wouldn''t be too exposed to the public. He even thought of contacting Cindy and making an official request, but June knew that he would just look weird.


    Moreover, no other person knew about her connection with Mei Ling except for Bo Wen, Laohu, and Lin Zhi.


    Then, he froze in his spot as he recalled his previous thought.


    "Crap," he muttered.


    That was right.


    Lin Zhi and Laohu knew of Mei Ling''s existence.


    He sighed once again before closing his eyes and massaging the bridge of his nose.


    Everything just became even moreplicated.


    The other members started arriving, all of them looking forward to the show. They didn''t enjoy watching the previous season because they still felt the stress of being a participant.


    Now, having survived the show, they were looking forward to watching the fifth season.


    "It''s starting!" Akira eximed, making the members turn their attention to the screen.


    Not June, though. His eyes were already focused on the screen even before Akira said those words.


    - OMG! It''s really here. I''m so excited.


    - I can''t wait to see June and the girls...mostly June.


    - Goodness, it feels like everybody''s watching this show for June.


    - Well, of course! Who would deliberately choose to torture themselves and watch the trainees suffer?


    - I already saw Hong Jeemin''s profilest week on Navel. She''s so pretty!


    - I saw another pretty girl! What was her name again?


    - To be frank, a lot of them are pretty.


    - You''re right. Why can''t mediocre-looking people ever be idols?


    The show started with the girls entering the venue one by one.


    "It''s Harmony!" Akira eximed as the first trainees arrived at the set.


    Then, some snippets of their interview were shown.


    "I hope we can make our senior, Jisung, proud! He gave us a lot of advice before this audition, and we''ve prepared to the best of our ability. I hope you love us as much as you love Jisung!" one of them cutely said.


    As soon as she said those words, the members started teasing Jisung.


    "Eyy, you''re a senior now," Akira said, nudging his shoulder.


    Jisung''s cheeks reddened in embarrassment.


    "It must be nice to have juniors," Sehun said, quite sad that theirpany didn''t join this time.


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. "I hope they''d do well."


    "Of course, they would," Ren said in an almost baby tone. "They''re your juniors, after all."


    Akira shook his head. "You should stop babying him."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "Shut up. You''re just jealous that Jisung''s my favorite."


    Akira rolled his eyes. "Whatever!"


    They continued watching the show, and they were intrigued once again when the Top Star trainees entered the venue.


    "Woah, Mina''s going to join?" Ren asked, surprised.


    Zeth turned to him. "You didn''t know?"


    "Nope," Ren said, shaking his head.


    "Well, she is. It''s long overdue. She''s been training for seven years."


    "Seven years?" Jaeyong asked with wide eyes. "That''s even longer than me."


    "Yeah," Zeth said. "She started very young. She''s very talented, though."


    June nodded in agreement. Aside from Hong Jeemin, Mina was the most talented trainee in the entire show.


    "There''s no doubt that she''s going to debut," Ren said. "She works hard, and she has the skills to back it up."


    Zeth nodded in agreement, also rooting for the beautiful girl.


    When Jeemin, ESPER''s trainee, entered the set, the boys started talking about how she was also a no-brainer-debuter.


    - What the heck? She''s from ESPER?


    - I was rooting for her without knowing about herpany. Now, I like her even more. ESPER''s idols are my favorite.


    - Our talented queen!


    - She hasn''t even performed yet.


    - I just feel it.


    "I can tell that she''s going to be the main character of the season already," Sehun pointed out.


    Jisung nodded. "Agreed. I''m already intimidated by her."


    "What do you mean?" Casper suddenly asked. "She looks sweet."


    The other members turned to him before collectively shaking their heads.


    "Those are the scariest trainees," Akira bluntly said.


    "It''s strange that she''s not thest one to enter, though," Casper pointed out. "Is there a biggerpany than ESPER?"


    "I don''t know," Jisung said. "It''s making me more curious, though."


    "The editing is so intense," Jaeyong sighed. "Won''t you spoil it for us, June?" he asked.


    "Ah, right!" Akira eximed. "I almost forgot that June knows about this already."


    However, June kept silent, not giving anything away.


    Then, Azure Entertainment''s logo was finally shown.


    The boys almost fell out of their seats as they stared at the logo with wide eyes and agape mouths.


    - Azure? THE Azure?


    - What went through Azure''s mind? How can an Azure trainee participate in an Azure show?


    - It''s rigged, after all.


    "Even I think this is unfair," Akira said. "It''s like Jisung participating in the show again!"


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, June sighed in frustration.


    Mei Ling was already garnering so much attention when they hadn''t even shown her yet.


    The boys continued talking about how unfair it was to the other trainees.


    However, as Mei''s entrance was shown on screen, they quickly shut their mouths.


    June frowned in confusion at their sudden silence, about to ask them what was wrong.


    However, Akira''s next words made June want to punch a hole in his face.


    Akira gasped loudly.


    "She''s just my type!"

 Chapter 646 A Slap For You, and You!

    Chapter 646 A p For You, and You!


    ??June couldn''t help himself. Before he couldprehend his next actions, he had already pped the back of Akira''s head.


    It wasn''t the usual p.


    It felt like a bat was used to hit him.


    Akira couldn''t even make a loud sound when he felt the impact.


    Instead, he slowly turned to June with wide eyes, wondering what had just happened.


    Meanwhile, the other members also looked at him with wide eyes.


    "What was that?" Akira asked. "I felt like I was sent to another dimension."


    Jaeyong chuckled in amusement. Then, he turned to the television once more.


    "She''s very girl-next-door vibes. That must be why she appears very attractive. She''s my type, too," he said.


    Again, as if it was already an instinct, June pped the back of his head.


    "What the heck?" Jaeyong eximed, immediately clutching onto the back of his head. "What did I do?"


    "Hey, June. You''ve met her, right? Do you think you can ask for her number?" Zeth asked, which led June to do the same action.


    "Oww!" Zeth eximed. "What is your problem, man?"


    Meanwhile, Akira, despite the ache in the back of his head, gazed at the screen with loving eyes.


    "She''s really pretty," he said in a dreamy tone.


    Casper pursed his lips. "It looks like she''ll spit on you if you approach her."


    Akira smiled even wider. "Much better!"


    June closed his eyes and held himself back from murdering Akira.


    Goodness, Mei Ling was still a child in his eyes! How could they talk about her so freely like this?


    "I think she''s very pretty, too," Casper suddenly said, making June''s eyes widen even more.


    "Even you?" June eximed as he looked at Casper.


    Casper scratched the back of his head, looking at the screen and then at June.


    "She''s pretty because she looks like you," he said, causing his members to mimic his gaze.


    They looked back and forth between Mei and June, their eyes showing recognition the more theypared the two with each other.


    "What the heck!" Zeth eximed. "You really do look alike. Your eyes are the same."


    "Yeah, they''re both scary," Ren said. "Not in a bad way, though! It just feels like you''re not afraid to lose anything."


    "So, that must be why I also find her really pretty," Jisung smiled brightly. "It''s because she looks like you!"


    June closed his eyes once more, feeling like all the energy had just been drained from his body.


    Just then, Jisung''s eyes widened in recognition before turning to June, pointing at him with an using finger.


    "Is she your type, too?" he asked, making June open his eyes and furrow his eyebrows.


    "What are you talking about?" June eximed.


    "Isn''t that why you pped the back of their heads? Do you like her too?"


    June felt bileing up his throat. He couldn''t believe he was being used of such!


    June definitely does not support incest!


    "Aww," Akira said, pouting to himself. "If June''s mypetitor, then I guess I have no choice. I''ll step away like a real man."


    "Yes," June said, wanting him to step away from Mei Ling.


    However, he quickly shook his head. "No¡ªwait, yes! No! I don''t see her like that," he rambled.


    Then, June sighed deeply as he calmed himself down.


    "Yes¡ªyou should step away from him."


    "But no, she''s not my type. She can''t be my type. I''m not yourpetitor."


    Casper visibly sighed in relief, a small smile even ying on his lips.


    "Oh, is she young?" Akira asked.


    "Yes!" June eximed.


    "But she''s only a year younger," Jisung said, pointing at her profile on the screen.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "It doesn''t matter. Nobody dare try something with her," he warned.


    The others were still confused as to why June was being so protective, but it seemed like it didn''t stem from any romantic feelings, so they let him be.


    It was not like his words were going to stop Akira anyway.


    Fortunately, the scene with Mei finally ended, and the show proceeded with the first auditions.


    As expected, those who came from his members''panies did a good job.


    "The girls from Harmony set a very high standard," Sehun remarked. "I wonder if they''d be able to top it."


    When the Top Star contestants stepped on the stage for their performance, Zeth and Ren nodded in approval.


    "The others need more training," Ren said. "But Mina''s good to go."


    "Yeah," Zeth nodded in agreement. "We entered thepany at a simr time, so I''m rooting for her. Honestly, thepany should have let her debut, too. However, they couldn''t find anyone on the same skill set as her."


    "Well, this is finally her chance," Casper said. "She''s quite good."


    Indeed, the Top Star trainees were the best among everyone who had auditioned so far.


    Moreover, having their performance sandwiched between awful auditions amplified their performance even more.


    - I already have two people whom I want to debut! Let''s go, Mina and Ara!


    - I''m rooting for the underrated trainees. Nana and Sana, let''s go!


    - I''m looking forward to the pretty girl''s audition!


    - What do you mean? They''re all pretty.


    - Jeemin hasn''t auditioned yet, but I know that she already killed it!


    - I''m really curious about Mei. She looks a lot like June.


    - Holy crap! Now that you''ve mentioned it, I can''t unsee it.


    - I''m now looking forward to it even more!


    Fortunately, the audience didn''t have to wait for long as Mei was the next performer to go on the stage.


    June nced at the clock and saw that the show was already running for around an hour and a half. It meant that Mei was probably the veryst one to be aired during this episode.


    June let out a deep breath. The fact that they let her be thest auditionee already meant that she was going to have a lot of screen time.


    "Goodness," June muttered, raking his fingers through his hair and biting his lip.


    "Why are you being so charming?" he asked.


    "It''s finally her turn!" Akira said, now sitting on the edge of his seat to get a closer look at Mei.


    The others were also looking forward to her audition, suddenly turning silent as they waited for her to sing.


    However, they couldn''t help but burst into chuckles every time she answered the mentors.


    - This is honestly so eerie. Why does she remind me of June so much?


    - I think about him everywhere I go. I went to a cinnamon shop a little earlier and saw the ze. I somehow miss June because of it.


    - Ay-yo? Keep your thoughts to yourself.


    - I like her already (just based on her personality)


    - What''s more important is skill, of course!


    Akira pped his thigh as he pointed to the screen.


    "She''s got a great sense of humor, too!" he said. "I can already tell that she''s going to be talented."


    June sighed and turned his attention away from the screen.


    He didn''t know if he could handle watching her audition twice.


    "Let''s see!" Zeth said as the song finally yed.

 Chapter 647 The Reason Behind Her Dreams

    Chapter 647 The Reason Behind Her Dreams


    ??As Mei began to sing, the silence in the room increasingly became louder.


    Akira pursed his lips as all his hopes and dreams came crashing down.


    Meanwhile, Ren tried his best to stay respectful, but since his ears were extra sensitive due to his music production skills, he had to cover them with his hands, even grimacing as Mei''s voice cracked once more.


    "Umm, am I the only one who thinks that this song is too high for her?" Casper suddenly asked.


    They all shook their heads while June remained silent.


    He didn''t know what the production and editing team did, but Mei sounded even worse than she did during the live audition. Maybe because all of the noise and the other static elements were removed, her voice was now clearer¡ªclear, not in a positive way, but in a way that showed all of the ws in her voice.


    Nheless, her emotion still shone through in the song that she was singing.


    However, with the cold editing style that they employed, it was hard to feel the emotions that she was trying to portray.


    "It''s okay. It''s okay," Akira chuckled to himself. "Not everyone is perfect! Maybe she''s a great dancer."


    Then, as the chorus arrived, Mei began dancing. She had simr dancing skills when June was also auditioning, so one could already imagine that her dancing couldn''t save her singing at all.


    "Maybe rapping?" Sehun asked, also trying to be optimistic.


    Ren turned to Sehun with raised eyebrows. "Since when did this song have a rap?"


    Sehun scratched the back of his head and inferred that staying silent was the best way to go.


    Although the members of EVE were trying to be nice, thements from the public were already going haywire.


    - I knew it. A face like that couldn''t be talented, too.


    - It''s no excuse. Mina''s very pretty, too, but she''s not as useless as this trainee.


    - Come on. You have to admit that Mei''s on a different level when ites to visuals.


    - Still, it doesn''t make sense why someone who can''t sing or dance would even participate in the show.


    - Don''t be too harsh, guys. She''s just a trainee. She even said that she''s only been training for a few months.


    - Talent is something you are born with, not something you can force. If you can''t sing or dance when you are young, then it''s most likely that you''re also not going to be able to sing when you''re older.


    - Fucking ugly ass bitch. I can''t believe someone like her even came to the show.


    June knew that he shouldn''t have scrolled through thements on the livestream, but he just couldn''t help himself.


    So, he brought out his phone and started scrolling through thements to see the public''s reaction.


    Indeed, it was as worse as he expected¡ªmaybe even worse.


    They weren''t merely cooking her in thement section; they were already burning her!


    - I swear, if someone like her debuts, I''ll have to believe that this show is rigged.


    - Agreed. Azure is a piece of snake, but I couldn''t believe they''d stoop down this low.


    - Kill yourself.


    - Seriously, I hope she jumps from a tall building so we can stop hearing her goat-like voice.


    - Thesements are not it. This girl appears very young, and she''s doing her best to sing and dance despite herck of ability.


    - Well, she should work harder if she doesn''t want to receive any death threats.


    - The song is just too high for her. Her voice is actually not that bad. She just needs to sing something within her range. Moreover, I could see some potential in her dancing. If she had only trained for a month or so, then this is already a great foundation.


    - Too high, my ass. June is singing the song in the same key that she did, and he sounds like an angel!


    June closed his eyes and leaned his head against the couch.


    All right, maybe showing off after Mei Ling''s audition was really a huge mistake.


    The fans that he was grateful for were also the ones throwing hate at the innocent girl!


    "Dang," Jaeyong said. "You definitely showed them how to sing. I nearly cried at your rendition."


    "June is the best singer in the idol industry! It''s unfair topare the trainees to him," Casper remarked.


    June nodded in agreement, still feeling awful about the hatements that were being thrown at his sister.


    Finally, her audition ended, yet the hatements didn''t stop.


    June sighed in relief when he felt that the show was alreadying to an end. However, he nearly forgot that Rising Stars always did aption at the end of the first episodes¡ªones that would elicit pity from the audience so they would continue watching the show.


    The words¡ª''Why did you be an idol?'' were shown on screen, apanied by mellow, mncholic music that made the audience pay greater attention.


    "Because I''m not good at anything else."


    "It''s my passion!"


    "I want to make my parents proud.


    "I want to make other people happy!"


    "I don''t know."


    With the sound of Mei''s voice, June lifted his head, only to be met with Mei''s bare face.


    This was the sweet, innocent sister (not really) that June was aware of. However, it was evident that she had gotten prettier. Her bare face was somehow even more attractive than the one with make-up.


    Mei sat in the white room with which the boys were all too familiar with. The music had now gotten softer, adding even more emotionality to the scene.


    "I don''t know," Mei repeated, her voice soft.


    "For the longest time, I felt like something was missing inside me. Like there was a void in my heart that I couldn''t fill."


    "For a year, I woke up every day with this emptiness gnawing at me. I tried to ignore it, but it was always there."


    "Then one day," she continued, "I saw idols dancing on stage. Their movements were so full of life. And suddenly, I felt this urge, this... longing to be up there with them."


    She looked up, her eyes meeting the camera, making those watching feel her sincerity even more.


    "It was like the missing piece of my heart was right there in front of me," Mei confessed. "But if you ask me why... I don''t know. Maybe it''s because when you''re on stage, you can give happiness to others just by being yourself. Maybe it''s because of the love and adoration you receive from fans."


    "Or maybe... maybe there is no reason. It just... is."

 Chapter 648 Crazy Attracts Crazy

    Chapter 648 Crazy Attracts Crazy


    ??Just then, June heard a sniff from beside him, causing him to look at Jaeyong with raised eyebrows.


    "What are you doing?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    Jaeyong sniffed once more as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.


    "That was so beautifully said," he muttered. "She just...encapsted what it would be like to be an idol. It''s a job that a lot of people misunderstand¡ªlike, why would anyone want to be an idol with all the restrictions thate with it?"


    "But, this is what I want. There''s no other reason. It just...is," he said, another tear falling from his eyes.


    "Goodness," Akira muttered, patting their leader''s back. "I thought you were over your crybaby era, and since when did someone else make you tear up other than June?"


    Jaeyong shrugged. "I don''t know. She speaks very calmly and philosophically. It''s like they''re rted or something."


    June shook his head. It seemed like everybody around them was noticing their simrities. However, Mei was the most oblivious about it.


    Jisung pursed his lips. "I think she really wants to be an idol. I feel her passion oozing out from the screen."


    June couldn''t help but let out a deep breath. "Does she?" he muttered.


    After the show ended, three trainees made it into the local trends list¡ªHeemin, Mina, and Mei.


    Surprisingly, Mei was the most talked about that night.


    While Heemin and Mina mostly receivedpliments for their talents, Mei got mixed reactions.


    - Not going to lie. I quite like her personality.


    - She really reminds me of June.


    - Talent>Personality. Argue with me.


    - If she has a great personality, then she should have been a flight attendant instead.


    - You know damn well that she would get fired on the first day for her job with her blunt personality. It''s not that she appears kind. She just appears passionate. I think that''s what most people like about her.


    - Be honest. They like her because she''s pretty.


    - The other girls are pretty, though, so I don''t know where your argument ising from.


    - Yeah, but she''s the epitome of pretty privilege.


    Meanwhile, in Laohu''s apartment, the two musty men just finished watching the pilot episode of the fifth season of Rising Stars.


    As the credits rolled, the two of them continued to stare at the screen, finding something strange with the entire portion involving Mei.


    "She''s pretty, isn''t she?" Lin Zhi suddenly asked, leaning against the couch. "Jun Hao didn''t look like that. It''s strange that she looks more like June than her brother."


    "Jun Hao was also a good-looking bastard," Laohu said, causing Lin Zhi to purse his lips, feeling bitter.


    He couldn''t really deny it since Jun Hao was definitely on the more attractive side. He had a gruff look, but underneath the surface, when you scrutinize his features, he looked like a rough model.


    Well, he was dead now, so there wasn''t any use in dwelling on his looks.


    "I''m a hundred percent sure that Mei is Mei Ling," Lin Zhi said. "I didn''t see her a lot, but I''ve seen her enough to confirm the truth. However, why is she denying that she has a brother?"


    Laohu also found it strange. However, he also knew that mostly everything they saw in the media was a lie.


    "It doesn''t matter," Laohu said.


    "I''m also sure that it''s Mei Ling," he continued. "I''ve been looking for her everywhere, but it seems like there''s an invisible force protecting her as she cannot be found on the face of the earth."


    "However, it looks like she fell right into our palms."


    Lin Zhi nodded in agreement.


    "Any ns?" he asked.


    "The briefcase is still our key to sess," Laohu said. "And Jun Hao is the only person who knows where the briefcase is."


    "Or June," Lin Zhi said, knowing that he was the one sent by the CEO of Phoenix Entertainment to steal the briefcase when he was a trainee.


    Laohu frowned. "...or June? However, we aren''t sure."


    "Howe?" Lin Zhi asked. "He''s much more powerful than we thought. He must know something."


    "He definitely does," Laohu said. "However, if he had known the information inside the briefcase, then he would have been unstoppable. With the way he is being treated by Azure, we could only assume that he wasn''t able to steal it."


    "Besides, I''m sure that Jun Hao was thest person who had it," he continued.


    Lin Zhi nodded as Laohu''s words made sense.


    Then, Laohu smirked, his eyes fixed on themercial now ying on the TV.


    "However, we might have one more person who knows," Laohu said.


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips. "How do we know that Mei Ling knows?" he asked. "As far as I know, Jun Hao didn''t like involving her sister in the gang."


    "You''re right," Laohu said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.


    "But Mei Ling does," he smirked. "Mei Ling liked meddling in her brother''s business because she always thought she could protect him."


    "What a beautiful sibling rtionship they have¡ªtrying to protect each other," he muttered.


    "So," he continued. "Jun Hao might not have divulged the information to Mei Ling, but her sister would have some kind of information¡ªa clue where the briefcase is."


    Lin Zhi nodded, his thoughts easily manipted by the cunning man.


    "What do you need me to do?" he asked.


    "We''ll employ the same thing that Kim Young-do used on Joon-


    ho and Haruto when they were trainees in Phoenix. Trainees are the most desperate for a chance to debut. So, we''ll offer something she won''t be able to decline¡ªa sure chance."


    "I already learned my lesson with you," Laohu said, cing his hand on Lin Zhi''s shoulder.


    "They have a different third-party vote counter this time because of the errors that happenedst year, and we could grant Mei Ling a chance to debut..."


    "...or a chance to be mine," he muttered.


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips, his thoughts suddenly consumed with uncertainty.


    "And if we''re not able to convince her?"


    Laohu''s smirk widened as he swirled the ss of whiskey in his hand. There wasn''t an ounce of worry on his face, which made Lin Zhi wonder what he had up his sleeve.


    "Then, I guess we''ll have to go the more...traditional route."


    The corner of his lips almost ripped with how wide he was smiling.


    "The violent one."

 Chapter 649 Heck No

    Chapter 649 Heck No


    ??At the set of ''Untouched Souls,'' a handsome and fresh-looking young man d in historical clothes was sitting in one corner with his legs crossed and his hands busily scrolling through his phone.


    A new discussion had opened up about the trainees of the fifth season of Rising Stars, and Mei was quickly bing the most trending topic.


    June clicked his tongue. "Howe she''s getting so much attention already?"


    - Can we talk about Mei''s visuals? She looks like a well-known Chinese actress!


    - Right? Like Angel Baby?


    - Exactly, that''s who she looks like!


    Then, attached to the thread was a coge of the two of them looking simr in some angles.


    "They edited this so well," June muttered. "She only looks like her from the side. Angel Baby is way prettier."


    - Her vocals sound like a dying goat, though. If I was her, I''d go back to my homnd and study at a university instead. However, I highly doubt that she''ll pass the entrance exams since she looks dumb.


    June bit his lip in annoyance.


    "Mei Ling is actually an achiever in school. We inherited our mom''s mind, so the two of us are smart."


    "I''m still smarter, though," he said, still talking to himself.


    - I want Mei to be my girlfriend! You don''t have to be an idol anymore, bub. I already have a stable job, so I can take care of you. Maybe you can sing and dance for me personally instead.


    June''s face twisted into a grimace as he clicked on the profile of the man who said those words, only to find a middle-aged man who appeared to be into NFTs.


    However, all he had on his page were retweet deals that encouraged people to follow him.


    "He should worry about his job instead," he muttered.


    - I want Mei to debut! I feel like she''ll improve a lot on the show. I''m looking forward to it.


    "Don''t look forward to it!" June eximed, his voice sounding a bit louder, causing Ann and some interns whom she was training to look in his direction.


    Ann looked at him weirdly as he continued looking at his phone. However, it seemed like the interns were infatuated as they started taking note of his professionalism.


    "June practices even after their filming is over!" one of them eximed, jotting it down in his notebook.


    "Hmm, he''s very hardworking indeed."


    Ann massaged the bridge of her nose. "What are you even writing?"


    "About how we should work as hard as June!" he eximed.


    Ann was about to tell them that June wasn''t practicing, but she held her words back.


    Maybe this was actually a good thing for him. Passionate employees were great to work with!


    "Sure, sure," she said, patting his back. "Make sure to work hard, okay?"


    The group of interns enthusiastically nodded, causing Ann to smirk.


    Meanwhile, June was still scrolling through posts and muttering to himself whenever he saw something he disagreed with.


    "Seriously, she doesn''t need to debut. She could work as a flight attendant like she always wanted," he muttered.


    "She''s not good at singing at all," he continued.


    - She''s so fucking bad that I want to cut my ears off every time she opens her mouth.


    "Alright, this is too excessive. She has quite a pretty speaking voice!"


    [You know, you should really make up your mind.]


    [Do you support your sister or not?]


    "Fuck off," June cursed.


    "Oh, sorry," a familiar voice suddenly said, causing June to freeze.


    He lifted his head and saw Hana looking at him with an embarrassed expression. Her gaze was focused on his phone, and it seemed like she had been there for a while.


    "That wasn''t for you," June said, quickly turning off his phone and cing it by his side.


    "Oh," Hana muttered. "You weren''t telling me to fuck off?"


    June pursed his lips before clearing his throat.


    "No," June said. "I was just...scrolling through some posts."


    "I did see," Hana said, smiling as she sat next to June.


    June froze as he kept his phone close to his side.


    "You don''t have to hide it," Hana said. "I already saw. You were looking at Mei, right? The pretty trainee from Rising Stars?"


    June turned to her with raised eyebrows. "Are you also tuning in on the show?"


    "Of course," Hana said. "I started bing a survival show fiend after I watched your season. I just love all the drama!"


    June narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You know that they exaggerate the drama, right?"


    "I do," Hana calmly said. "However, it still doesn''t take away the fact that I enjoy it very much. I think Azure does a great job at editing it."


    "Sometimes, the evil editing could be too much, though," she added.


    June sighed as he raked his fingers through his hair.


    "Are you happy that you stopped being a trainee?" he suddenly asked.


    Hana was surprised by June''s sudden question.


    "Well, you''re throwing the deep questions," she said.


    June clicked his tongue. "Just answer it."


    Hana pursed her lips as she hummed.


    "I guess it''s 80 20? I''m 80% happy about my decision," she responded.


    "Howe?" he asked.


    "Well, being an idol was my childhood dream. I''ve always wanted to sing and dance on stage, and there''s still a part of me that wants to do that."


    "However, I don''t regret shifting to the acting industry at all. There are still a lot of restrictions, and we also have to show our best selves on camera. But being an idol is on another level, I think."


    "I don''t know how you guys are able to do it. For us, we have to be perfect on screen. However, idols have to perfect both on- and off-screen, do you get me? As an actor, you act. As an idol, you also act...but as yourself. However, you can''t be yourself. You can just be...perfect."


    "It''s a demanding job¡ªone that requires great passion. Not anyone can be an idol."


    "Sometimes, I look at you and wonder why you''re not miserable."


    "Because I like what I''m doing," June responded. "Singing and dancing is fun. Having people who care about it is also fun."


    "I know that you feel that way," Hana smiled, looking down at herp.


    "But sometimes, it''s not that simple¡ªwait, no. It''s always not that simple," he added.


    June pursed his lips. All of her statements made sense, and it also strengthened his belief that Mei shouldn''t be an idol.


    He couldn''t protect her back then because he died, but now, he was more determined to protect her at all costs¡ªeven from afar.


    As he continued to think, he suddenly felt a nudge to his shoulder.


    "Why are you looking at her photo, though?" Hana suddenly asked.


    June sighed. "I was just monitoring the show," he said.


    Hana raised one eyebrow in suspicion. "Are you sure? You were looking pretty intensely."


    "Yes," June said. "Let''s not talk about it anymore."


    Hana smirked and didn''t let the topic go.


    "Or maybe...she''s your type?"


    June nearly copsed.


    "Heck no!"

 Chapter 650 Her Hardwork Shines Through

    Chapter 650 Her Hardwork Shines Through


    ??After the first episode ended with high ratings and good viewership, thedies were now ready to start filming for the second episode of the show.


    June wasn''t able to monitor how Mei had been doing, but it seemed like they had already received their final ranking after the signal song re-evaluation. He wasn''t able to join the other members in judging the trainees since he had to continue refilming his scenes that previously involved Lin Zhi.


    Fortunately, with all of those refilmed, he could join them for the announcement of the second mission.


    At the moment, they were filming their signal song performance, and this year, Azure decided for the girls to perform altogether, contrary to the separate performances they hadst year.


    June couldn''t help but feel bitter about it. He still remembered how he struggled to lead the zero-stars team to victory with how stubborn they were.


    Now, the show was back to its original format, where trainees from the five-star ss performed on the highest tform and had the most screen time. Meanwhile, those at zero stars would be situated on the floor, and they would be lucky enough to even have a second of screentime.


    June nced around to look for Mei and frowned when he didn''t see her on the ground.


    "Did she rise in ranks?" he muttered, directing his gaze upward so he could continue looking for his sister.


    However, even then, she couldn''t catch a glimpse of her.


    Just then, the mentors cheered by his side, making June turn to the group.


    "The center''s solo part ising next," Ji-hyun said.


    June directed his gaze to the very top of the pyramid, where the hailed center would be performing a dance break.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed when he realized that Mei Ling was the only trainee he hadn''t seen all throughout the performance.


    "Don''t tell me," he muttered, feeling like his heart was going to burst.


    Then, the center finally emerged while June continued watching with a halted breath.


    "It''s Heemin," Gun smiled. "Well, she did very well during the re-evaluation."


    "It''s expected, though. She''s from ESPER Entertainment. Their trainees are famous for being talented and skilled," Bone said.


    June felt like a thorn had been plucked from his lungs when he saw that Mei wasn''t the center for the signal song. First, it would be ridiculous for her to improve at such a fast pace. Second, June believed that she would be even more hated once that happened.


    June cleared his throat, capturing Lee Sik''s attention.


    "Umm, how did my lookalike do?" he asked, trying to be subtle.


    Lee Sik looked at him with amusement. "So, you also acknowledge that the two of you look alike? I bet that makes you more curious about her, huh?"


    June subtly nodded. "Well, how did she do? I don''t think I''ve seen her yet."


    Lee Sik sighed as he looked down at the ground, making June frown in confusion.


    "Well, let''s just say that it''s a shame," Lee Sik started off.


    June''s frown deepened as he continued listening to his master.


    "She''s right there," Lee Sik said, pointing in her direction.


    June looked to where he was pointing and finally saw Mei Ling. She was at the farthest part of the stage, and she almost seemed invisible with how far she was from the center.


    It was obvious that she was struggling with the routine. However, it seemed like she had memorized all of the moves. She even lipsynced the song with a great expression, which led June to believe that his sister worked hard to get to such a point.


    "What happened?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    "I honestly don''t know," Lee Sik said. "She just...didn''t sing. When we asked her what was wrong, she also only responded with gestures."


    "That led Amira to scold her forcking passion. She only danced during her re-evaluation, and although she had significantly improved, it wasn''t really enough to hoist her rank up."


    "In the end, we decided that she did the worst out of everyone, so we ced her at the very back."


    June clicked his tongue. His sister wasn''t the type to give up, so he wondered what had happened.


    But then, his shoulders straightened when he realized that this might be a good thing for him.


    ''That''s right. This is a hard job,'' he thought. ''Give up now before it bes even more difficult.''


    However, as he looked at her, smiling brightly while struggling to dance, June felt a pang in his heart.


    He ced his hand over his chest and massaged it.


    "What''s wrong with me, really," he muttered.


    Then, just like that, the filming of their signal song finally came to an end.


    The camera went around to film for the various ''ending fairies.'' The trainees gave it their all to look the most beautiful out of everyone else.


    Usually, the ''ending fairies'' were the ones who went viral in the signal song performances and not the performance itself, so even those at the lower tiers felt like they had the chance to show off.


    "Alright,dies, great job!" Ji-hyun said through the microphone.


    Thedies pped excitedly, some of them even jumping as they celebrated the end of their signal song performance.


    "The signal song performance would be aired this Friday along with the other half of the auditions and the re-evaluation. Then, after that, we''re going straight to the live performances."


    The girls now chattered to themselves as they realized that thepetition was getting real.


    "So, please go to the main hall and wait for us there. June will be announcing your next mission and the exciting mechanics thate along with it!"


    The girls couldn''t help but squeal at the mere mention of June''s name. He had been absent for the entire week, so seeing his face on the set was truly a blessing.


    With that, they started going to the main hall, where their second official mission was finally going to be announced.


    June followed after them but went through a different entry point. Then, he was handed a cue card that contained the mechanics of the second mission.


    He smiled as he read through the lines that the production crew had prepared. It seemed like they were still very creative with their missions based on what he had read.


    June positioned himself right at the entrance, where the curtain was luding his vision. He could already hear the chatters of thedies outside, so he straightened his back and prepared to emerge before them.


    Then, the staff finally tapped his shoulder.


    "In 3...2...1..., enter!"

 Chapter 651 Two Wise Trainees

    Chapter 651 Two Wise Trainees


    ??The girls once again burst into squeals as June walked to the front of the stage. He looked ridiculously dashing with his casual clothes and unstyled hair, making them feel like they were closer to the idol.


    Mei clicked her tongue. Then, she whispered something to the girl next to her¡ªAra, a trainee from Harmony who fell from three stars to zero stars after her nerves got the best of her.


    "We just saw him earlier," she said.


    Ara clicked her tongue and also whispered into her ear, "It''s different! The lights are making him look ethereal!"


    Mei shook her head since she still didn''t understand what the hype around June was. For her, he just looked...average¡ªlike someone she would see on a daily basis.


    June cleared his throat into the microphone, causing the girls to turn silent. He smiled to himself as he looked at their anticipating eyes.


    Then, he stood at the center of the brightly lit stage, ready to announce the second mission of the fifth season.


    "Ladies," June began, his soft yet deep voice projecting effortlessly through the hall.


    "Your journey has already begun, and yet, there''s still a long way to go."


    A murmur rippled through the crowd as the girls exchanged nervous nces. They knew what wasing next.


    "We''re about to enter the live missions," June continued. "And with thates the eliminations."


    He paused for a while to create some suspense. He had called Minho yesterday to ask for some tips, and the sessful actor told him to ry the announcements as slowly as possible to keep the tension of the show.


    June knew that he was deliberately making it tough for the trainees!


    After a few seconds, June finally spoke.


    "After this mission...only 60 of you will remain!"


    Gasps and whispers erupted amongst the girls, the reality of thepetition sinking in.


    "That''s so unfair! Why are they cutting us off by almost half?"


    "As far as I remember, they always went with the rules of 25. 100 to 75 to 50 and so on! Why are they suddenly changing the rules for us?"


    "Well, in the end, only five are going to debut from a hundred trainees. They want to narrow down the numbers as soon as possible."


    "However, before we get to the scary part," June said, halting their murmurs. "We''re going to have some fun."


    The trainees, although still nervous, were also excited for the next mission.


    "Before I announce the mission, we need to create our teams. For this particr mission, we will have ten teams¡ªall with ten members each."


    "One person would have the chance to choose all of her teammates, and I''m sure you already know who''s going to start us off for today," June said.


    "The center!" the girls immediately eximed.


    "That''s right," June smirked. "Heemin, pleasee to the stage and call out your nine teammates."


    Heemin, acting bashful, walked to the stage and shyly took June''s microphone.


    Heemin was quite confident in herself. In fact, she thought that she was an extremely pretty woman. However, looking at June from up close, she realized that she still had room for improvement. His skin was so wless, and it even glimmered under the artificial lights!


    "Heemin," June said, making her snap out of her thoughts.


    "Right," she chuckled nervously.


    "I''ll start off my team with Riana," she said. The talented vocalist went up the stage with a wide smile, happy to be called first.


    "Then, the next one would be Lia."


    "My fifth member is Zuri."


    She began to choose her teammates, and one by one, they walked to the stage.


    The other girls were hoping for Heemin to choose them. However, it seemed like she was only choosing trainees who did well during the auditions.


    Mei narrowed her eyes in suspicion.


    "Isn''t it strange, though?" she asked Ara, who was praying to be chosen. She felt like being chosen for Heemin''s team was a sure win!


    "What is? That I haven''t been picked yet? If so, then I agree."


    "No," Mei shook his head. "I don''t think she''s going to pick you."


    Ara frowned as she turned to her friend.


    "Why not?" she asked.


    Mei gestured to the stage, where Heemin''s group of ten was standing in an orderly line.


    "Look at the girls she had picked," she continued.


    Ara raised one eyebrow. "What''s wrong with them? They all did well during the auditions and reevaluations."


    "They did," Mei said. "There''s no denying that. However, none of them are from five stars. They''re mostly from three or four stars."


    "If you look at it more closely, all of them are fairly popr, and they''re also talented. However, not as popr or talented as Heemin," Mei continued.


    Ara''s eyes widened in realization.


    "Holy crap. You''re right!"


    Meanwhile, June couldn''t help but smile as he looked at their line-up. With one nce, he realized what Heemin was trying to do.


    She must have watched a lot of survival shows to be able to master the form¡ªexcel in your group, excel in the show.


    Heemin must have been aware of her poprity already despite her audition not even being aired yet, and she was willing to use it to her advantage.


    She deliberately picked out the trainees who were proficient and fairly popr, but not to the point where they could outshine her.


    "What a scary one," June muttered.


    "Thank you, Heemin," he said. "Please walk over to the side and form the first line."


    The ten trainees went down and waited for the other ones toplete their teams.


    "The next-ranked trainee," June continued. "Pleasee up the stage."


    Mina, who was even more popr with the trainees for her skills and leadership, had everyone praying for her to pick them. They all wanted to perform with her once since she seemed great at leading a team!


    Even Mei couldn''t help but think that teaming up with Mina would be the best choice.


    "Well, it seems like a lot of people want to be on your team," June remarked.


    Mina humbly shook her head.


    "Let''s not make them wait any longer, so go ahead and choose your teammates."


    Mina nodded and didn''t hesitate to say the first name.


    "Ara," she said.


    Ara smiled in happiness as she skipped to the stage.


    "Soomi."


    "Lizzy."


    "Yeri."


    By the seventh name, June also realized what kind of strategy Mina was implementing. While Heemin went with the singr spotlight route, then Mina was aiming for a full-blown satellite.


    She was only calling out the names of the trainees who were hot topics on Navel!


    "Yuna."


    Which would only mean one thing.


    June froze when he realized what wasing next.


    Mina ced the mic over her lips to say the name of herst teammate.


    "...and Mei."

 Chapter 652 Team Kill

    Chapter 652 Team Kill


    ??"Those two teams are cheat sheets."


    "I hope theypete with each other and not against us."


    "Agreed. Strong teams should only go against strong teams. That''s just how it is. I don''t make the rules of life."


    June, on the other hand, pursed his lips after calling the third trainee to the stage.


    Mei was actually part of a strong team.


    If this was a normal mission, then June would have been happy. With her current skill set, she was going to be pushed to the back with fewer lines and lesser time to shine.


    At that point, the sole ''visuals'' of the show tend to be forgotten by the public if they don''t prove themselves to be worthy of their rank.


    They might not be eliminated during the first elimination, but they were most likely eliminated during the second or third one, with most of them not making it to the finals.


    However, June knew that this wasn''t a normal mission.


    The chosen trainees were finally done picking their teams, and the ten teams each stood before June in the order that they were formed.


    With the groups formed, June revealed the ten songs they would be performing. Gasps of awe filled the room as the girls realized that all the songs were from famous girl groups.


    June chuckled at their excited expressions. "I see you like the song choices," he remarked.


    The girls started discussing among themselves, excitedly strategizing and nning their performances. June, meanwhile, picked two song choices that he felt would be the best to perform if he were a trainee.


    ''Hate Sick Men'' by PBink and ''Leesh'' by ToddlerMonster.


    The former was a famous song that was released two years ago. It has a nostalgic instrumental and an explosive chorus, which makes it well-loved by the public.


    On the other hand, Leesh was a new release by a rookie girl group that debuted this year. It was characterized by a simple chorus and ''spitting'' rap verses, making listeners unable to skip the song when it randomly came up in streaming sites.


    All in all, the two songs would undoubtedly be the most famous among the audience, too.


    Then, from his peripheral vision, he saw a song perched at the very corner, a dark energy looming from the card.


    June felt a shiver run down his spine as he felt the song''s energy. He was reminded of the time when he was a trainee and had to choose songs for their team.


    For some reason, he never performed a song he ever liked. Well, he almost did once with Skateboard, but then he was kicked out of his team.


    If he was participating in this season, then he was sure he was going to get that song, too.


    Fly High, Butterfly by DOJAMS.


    However, he quickly averted his gaze away since he felt creeped out just by looking at the card.


    "Now, please choose your representatives topete in the race for the song choices," June said.


    Mina''s team all turned to Mei, who was the tallest among them.


    "You already know what to do," Mina said, patting her shoulder.


    Mei nodded and wordlessly went to the front, where she situated herself at the very end.


    The otherdies started lining up too, and as expected, they started fighting for the middle area, where ''Leesh'' and ''Hate Sick Women'' were situated.


    June shook his head in amusement. It seemed like his sister was confident in her running skills since she chose to stand at the side.


    But then again, Mei had been a track and field athlete in high school, so she might just have this one in the bag.


    As the girls took their positions, their teammates cheered them on.


    June blew the whistle, and the girls took off, their footsteps echoing through the hall.


    It was immediately clear that Mei was in the lead, her long strides carrying her effortlessly forward.


    Her teammates watched in awe as she surged ahead and left the others trailing behind.


    June shook his head in amusement as he watched Mei''s performance.


    As Mei approached the wall, the otherdies started giving up on their original song choice.


    "I hope our second option doesn''t get picked."


    "I''ll perform Hate Sick Men in another lifetime."


    "We can still perform Leesh! They can only get one song."


    "Well, at least she has better luck than I do," June muttered, knowing she was going to sing a song that her group actually liked.


    However, much to everyone''s surprise, Mei veered off course, heading in the opposite direction where most of the other girls were going.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he watched her approach a card that no one else had even nced at.


    "Are you serious?" June whispered.


    Mina''s teammates turned to her with doubt, but Mina nodded in reassurance.


    "This stage will get the most attention," she said before ncing at June.


    She knew better than to choose a mainstream song for the first mission. It was actually harder to perform these songs since the public would undoubtedlypare them to the original artists.


    It was human nature¡ªno one could change that.


    If this season hadmencedst year, then Mina would have chosen the two popr songs, too.


    However, June changed the normal trajectory of the show. He made it possible for non-trendy songs to trend once again by putting his own twist to it.


    Mina believed that it was the reason why he was able to debut at the very top spot.


    It was also the very reason why she chose the trendiest trainees despite some of themcking talent.


    So, with this song, Mina was determined to take the show by storm.


    Meanwhile, June couldn''t help but purse his lips as he watched Mei victoriously go to her team and ce the card on the post right in front of them.


    He couldn''t believe she chose the hardest song when she had the chance to literally take everything else!


    The other girls also took their song cards, some of them appearing happier than others.


    Heemin''s team wasn''t able to secure their desired song, but Heemin believed that she could make every song iconic, so anything was fine with them.


    "Settle down," June said once they''ve all made it back, making the trainees go silent.


    "I''m sure all of you are excited to perform your chosen songs," he continued.


    Some cheered, while some were visibly disappointed.


    "With this, let me formally announce the second mission of the show."


    June paused to create some suspense before cing the mic back to his lips again.


    "Sometimes, we do not need to look at the external to find our opponents. Most times, they''re the people beside us."


    The trainees started specting June''s vague words, some of them feeling weirdly nervous.


    "This is the Team Kill Mission!"

 Chapter 653 A Mission for Her, A Challenge for Him

    Chapter 653 A Mission for Her, A Challenge for Him


    ??"Team kill mission? Doesn''t that sound a bit brutal?"


    "I can''t believe they named this mission after a literal crime."


    "I''m curious what it means, though."


    "Team kill¡ªa term frequently used during online games when one teammate kills another teammate. This may be idental or deliberate; however, they both entail the same thing¡ªkilling the one who trusted you the most," June read the dramatic opening statement that the production crew had prepared.


    Mei''s eyes narrowed in suspicion when she finally realized what was going on.


    "For this round, you aren''t going to choose your rival groups," June finally revealed.


    "Instead, your rivals are the people within your own group," he said.


    The girls erupted into erratic whispers, not expecting the twist that Azure had incorporated in their very first live mission!


    Unskilled members felt like they were at a loss, while skilled members internally rejoiced. Heemin appearedposed. However, she was grinning from deep within.


    She knew that no one in her team would be able to surpass her in terms of talent and poprity, so everything was working in her favor.


    Meanwhile, Mina froze after she heard the announcement. She knew that Azure had a lot of tricks up their sleeves, but they just took it up a notch with the unexpected twist.


    She looked at her teammates and knew that they already had fandoms of their own, some bigger and some smaller than others.


    Just then, Heemin raised her hand, so June gestured for her to speak.


    "Do we have the privilege to choose our teammates within the team, too?" she asked.


    The others disagreed with her question, saying that it was unfair. So, when June shook his head, they all sighed in relief.


    Meanwhile, Heemin merely smiled gratefully. For her, it didn''t really matter who her teammates were. She just knew that she would be able to carry them to victory.


    "That will not be the case," June responded.


    "In fact, your representatives already made the choice when they called out your names," he continued.


    Mina''s frown deepened. She nced to her side once more, where Mei was seen with her signature calm expression.


    "The first four trainees would team up with the people who formed their teams. That means that the remaining five trainees will automatically be a team."


    Once again, some groaned in disappointment while others were extremely happy.


    A small smile appeared on Mina''s lips as she looked at her teammates. She didn''t regret choosing them first since they were popr yet also talented.


    "Aww," Ara said by her side as she reached her hand to Mei. "We''d bepeting with each other!"


    Mei merely smiled before shaking her head.


    That was when Mina''s smile fell. However, she quickly smiled again as her members already huddled to talk about their strategy.


    Meanwhile, the remaining five trainees looked at each other warily, knowing that they were the lesser-talented bunch in the group of ten.


    Yeri, who was the most experienced of them all, cleared her throat.


    "Don''t be discouraged," she said. "Mentor June is still not finished with his announcement."


    The other girls nodded, albeit a bit hesitantly, before focusing their gazes on the stage once again.


    "However, it doesn''t end with that," June continued.


    "While it is true that your team is going to be divided into subteams, it still doesn''t take away the fact that you guys are a team. There would only be one performance, but you have to make some adjustments to make it look like you''re a separate team while still maintaining the cohesiveness of the performance."


    Ara held onto her head, suddenly feeling dizzy.


    "Goodness," she muttered. "Those were a lot of words."


    "In short," June smiled, causing Ara to sigh in relief.


    "You guys have to perform as a whole team while showcasing the edges of your subteams," he concluded.


    "At the end of each performance, the live audience will vote for their favorite subteam. Each winning subteam will gain 50,000 stars, which will be added directly to your corresponding votes on the next elimination."


    "50,000 stars? That''s huge!"


    "That''s a small amountpared to the votes that they hadst season. Zeth even went as high as more than a million during the first elimination."


    "Still, 50,000 stars is a lot for people like us. It could make or break our participation in the show."


    "Moreover," June continued. "After all of the performances are over, the audience will vote for the team they like the best out of all the ten performances! The one with the highest votes will get a whopping 100,000 stars."


    The girls were now more intrigued. It seemed like they were all greedy for the team benefit. However, some of them felt that it would be hard to achieve, especially with Heemin''s team.


    So, in the end, most of them focused on their subteam performance.


    "Now," June said. "Are you ready to begin your second mission?" he excitedly asked.


    June was actually getting tired since he had a long shoot yesterday, but he was doing a damn good job acting as if he was excited.


    "Yes, mentor!" the girls eximed.


    "Good," June smiled. "For now, you can distribute lines within your teams and prepare a concept or outline for your performances."


    "Tomorrow, the mentors will visit your respective practice rooms to evaluate and guide your performances," he said.


    The trainees murmured both excitedly and worriedly.


    "Thank you for your time,dies. Please carry on with the shoot without me."


    With that, June finally ced the microphone on the ground while thedies went to their respective areas.


    June was supposed to leave the stage, but it seemed like his feet were anchored to the ground.


    He couldn''t help but let his eyes linger on Mei. He could already see their team dividing themselves, with Mei''s team in an undeniably-awkward atmosphere.


    June sighed and shook his head.


    "Maybe this is for the better," June muttered. "Going against Mina would make her shine less. Although, I''m afraid she''ll have a harder time."


    With that, he finally left the stage.


    However, just as he walked down the small stairs, Fu appeared before him.


    [Congrattions! You have stepped on a lucky mission.]


    [Brotherly love is the best love!]


    June paused and shook his head at his perfect timing once again.


    [Help your sister win the mission.]


    [Seed and have the chance to upgrade one skill by one grade!]


    [Fail and have all skills reduce by one grade.]

 Chapter 654 A Freak Meets A Real Freak

    Chapter 654 A Freak Meets A Real Freak


    ??Mei sighed as she looked at her teammates. They were somehow able to distribute their parts, with Mina equally dividing them to the two subteams.


    Mei''s team was grateful for the equal opportunities, yet at the same time, they felt like the parts that were given to them could only be pulled off by those on the first team.


    Mei pursed her lips as she looked at her lines. She was the subvocalist with the least amount of lines, yet somehow, they were all challenging to sing.


    Their main vocalist, Yeri, was also struggling to sing her lines because of her limited range.


    When Mina chose ''Fly High, Butterfly'' as their song, she already had specific people to sing the specific parts in mind. However, with the announcement that they were going to perform in two separate teams, Mina had to split the killing parts, which she felt suited the members of her subteam more.


    In the end, they practiced individually and decided to call it a night.


    With the cameramen turning off their cameras, Mei decided to stay behind.


    One old cameraman looked back at her in inquiry.


    "Are you not going?" he asked, noting that it was alreadyte.


    Mei shook her head. "You can leave, sir. I''ll be here for a while."


    The cameramen recognized the pretty trainee and asked, "Wait, is your voice okay now?"


    Mei nodded. "Yeah, it''s fine now."


    "Hmm," the cameramen hummed. "Don''t work too hard. You''ll lose your voice again."


    Mei once again nodded while the cameraman smiled.


    Then, he decided to leave a small camera in the corner of the room without Mei''s awareness.


    With that, Mei continued practicing her lines and the song''s dance.


    ''You''re not going to be an idol at this point.''


    ''Did you even work hard?''


    Amira''s words echoed in the back of her mind as she stared at herself in the mirror.


    She was aware that shecked talent more than others.


    She knew that she loved K-Pop based on what her parents had told her. However, after the ident, she suddenly felt like she wanted to pursue the life of being an idol.


    She realized it a bitte, so there was a lot of catching up to do.


    Because of this, she decided to stayte to learn her lines and the dance in advance.


    Mei practiced inside the room for what seemed like forever, and before she knew it, it was already past midnight.


    Her eyebrows shot up in surprise since she didn''t realize it was sote.


    "I need to get some rest," she muttered, wiping her sweat with a small towel before leaving the practice room, still oblivious to the fact that she was being recorded.


    She closed the door and walked back to her room. However, before that could happen, a dark figure suddenly appeared right before Mei.


    Her heart jumped, but she didn''t show it.


    Instead, she stepped back and bowed, ready to leave since she couldn''t be bothered to speak with strange men.


    However, this strange man seemed to be adamant about talking to Mei as he held onto her wrist.


    Mei''s eyes widened, and she immediately pulled away and red at the strange man.


    He was wearing a hood, so she wasn''t able to see himpletely. However, as Mei looked more closely, she finally recognized who the strange man was.


    Her frown deepened.


    "Lin Zhi?" she asked.


    Lin Zhi''s eyes brightened when he mentioned his name.


    "You remember me?" he asked.


    Mei slowly nodded, finding him weird. She took another step back, but Lin Zhi followed her every move. She even went as far as brisk walking, but Lin Zhi caught up to her in no time.


    "Wait. I mean no harm," he said in a suspicious voice.


    Mei''s eyes narrowed at the corner of the room before turning back around with crossed arms.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to calm herself down.


    "Goodness," Lin Zhi smiled. "You did get prettier thest time I saw you."


    "Thest time you saw me?" Mei asked.


    "Why yes," Lin Zhi chuckled. "The first time I saw you was when you were still a minor. I was young back then, too, though. So, you don''t have to worry about that."


    "A minor? You''ve known me since I was a child? The heck? That''s so weird," she bluntly said.


    Lin Zhi paused for a while, then a frown graced his face.


    "Yes," Lin Zhi said after a while. "When you were younger, we''ve met. Don''t tell me that you''ve forgotten. I''ll be hurt if you do," he pouted, causing a shiver of disgust to run down Mei''s spine.


    "No," Mei deadpanned. "I know you because I''ve seen you on the show and on the news."


    "I never recalled seeing you when I was young. My parents don''t let me meet weird people," she said.


    "Your parents?" Lin Zhi asked in surprise. "Your parents are dead."


    Mei couldn''t help but scoff. "Stop making stuff up. I don''t know why you came here and decided to pester me, but you must dead."


    Mei couldn''t help but scoff. "Stop making stuff up. I don''t know have gotten the wrong person."


    "I don''t know you on a personal level, and I honestly don''t have any ns on doing so. With that, let me go back to my room since I still have to practice for our first live performances early in the morning."


    "I''m sure you know since you''ve been on the show," Mei coldly said before preparing to leave.


    However, Lin Zhi wasn''t going to let her.


    "You''re Mei Ling, right? Mei Ling!" he eximed.


    Mei froze since he mentioned herplete first name. She didn''t divulge it on the show or on her social media pages, so it was weird how he knew it.


    "I''m right," Lin Zhi chuckled. "You''re his sister. We''ve been looking for you everywhere."


    Lin Zhi held onto her arm once more, his grip tightening, making her flinch. However, it appeared like he didn''t even care.


    "You need to pay for what your brother had done. You must have seen the briefcase, right? You must know where it is!" he eximed, his voice soft yet manic.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about!" Mei eximed. However, she felt an instant pain in her head as soon as Lin Zhi mentioned her non-existent brother.


    "You know! You''re the only one who knows," he said through gritted teeth.


    Mei''s headache increased in intensity, so she knew she had to do something quick.


    With that, she lifted her hand and removed the hood from his head.


    "There," Mei said, pointing behind him.


    Lin Zhi''s eyes widened with the thought of being caught. So, he turned around without any hesitation.


    Then, he frowned when he saw that no one was there.


    He scoffed and shook his head; however, he froze once again when he saw a CCTV camera pointing directly at the two of them.


    Lin Zhi couldn''t help but feel amazed when he realized that Mei Ling had lured him specifically to this ce.


    Just then, he felt a sharp pain in his spine, causing his knees to buckle to the ground.


    "Crap," he muttered. That hurt like hell! Mei Ling might deny it all she can, but she was definitely Jun Hao''s sister!


    Lin Zhi continued clutching his back before turning around to reprimand the pretty girl.


    However, Mei was looking at him with more resentment.


    "Don''t talk to me again, freak."

 Chapter 655 I Dont Like It

    Chapter 655 I Don''t Like It


    ??June closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as he stood before the practice room. He could already hear the girls'' steps from inside the room, which escted his resentment for Fu even more.


    "I can''t believe you''re making me do this," he muttered.


    [But you love your sister!]


    "You kept her away from me for an entire year, and now you want me to interact with her?"


    "You''re even asking me to help her win the mission when I want her to live a peaceful life. Sometimes, I feel like you really hate me."


    [Nobody loves the host more than Fu.]


    [One day, you''ll realize it.]


    June shook his head. "Why can''t you make me feel it now?"


    "First, you were peeking through the door. Now, you''re even talking to yourself. Are you really the top idol that everybody''s talking about?"


    June turned around and found Mei once again, making him internally curse.


    Why was it that he was caught by his sister at the weirdest times?


    June clicked his tongue and crossed his arms in front of my chest.


    "I was tasked to evaluate your group today," he said, changing the subject.


    Mei clicked her tongue and looked at her arms.


    "Just our luck," she muttered.


    June clicked his tongue, too, about to tell her to be grateful, when he suddenly saw a purplish bruise on her arm and on her wrist.


    June''s eyes widened, and he quickly went to her aid.


    "What happened?" he asked in a concerned tone.


    Mei red at him before taking a step back.


    "Why are people acting as if they know me?" she muttered.


    Then, she ced her arms behind her back. "It doesn''t matter what happened. You shouldn''t be concerned about this."


    June pursed his lips and also stepped back, realizing that he must have overstepped his boundaries.


    However, that still didn''t take away his concern for Mei.


    "Look," he said. "I don''t know what''s going on in your living quarters, but I know how tough it is to thrive in thepetition when you''recking in skill."


    "You shouldn''t work yourself too hard."


    Mei sighed. "This didn''te from practice," she muttered. Although, she was guilty of over-exerting herself in thepetition.


    June frowned as he continued observing Mei. It was fascinating how he could still read her expression even a yearter.


    "Someone hurt you," June said, his mind racing to the possible people who could have hurt Mei. "Who is it?"


    Mei clicked her tongue and tried to y it off.


    "Nobody," she said. "I just fell."


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "Let me give you some advice," June said, looking into her eyes.


    Mei was about to brush him off, but he saw the serious concern in his eyes,pelling her to listen to him.


    "Don''t fully trust anyone in this ce," he started off, making Mei frown.


    "Don''t get me wrong. You will make genuine friends in the show. I know I did. But there are more people who will want to take advantage of you," June started off.


    "Don''t trust them. Be wary. Make full use of the shitty security of Azure and take care of yourself," he seriously said.


    "Be careful of people who want to take advantage of me?" Mei asked, her mind straying to Lin Zhi, who seemed to have had a crazy episodest night.


    "Like you?" she asked before she could stop herself.


    June took another step back, a small smile ying on his lips.


    "I''m d that you''re wary even of me. Keep it up," June said.


    Mei clicked her tongue and shook her head, finding a hard time deciphering June.


    "Go inside," June said. "I''ll go after you."


    Mei pursed her lips and wordlessly followed his instruction.


    As she entered their room, she paused for a moment when she saw that her team was still practicing in their respective subteams.


    "Guys," Mei said, capturing their attention. "Someone''s here."


    They frowned in confusion; however, when they were graced with June, handsome as ever in his casual clothes, they couldn''t help but squeal.


    "June?"


    "Omo."


    Ara immediately went next to Mei and held onto her arms, squeezing for dear life.


    "He''s so handsome. This is my first time seeing him this close."


    Mei clicked her tongue. "He''s...alright," she muttered.


    "Well, you stare at yourself every day in the mirror. I, too, would be immune to his good looks if I were you," she said.


    "Good morning,dies," June greeted with a small smile.


    "Good morning, mentor," the girls greeted and bowed in respect.


    "Come closer," he said. "You don''t have to be so afraid of me."


    Thedies looked at each other shyly, but Mina led them closer to June with her own red cheeks.


    "I''m assuming you already know why I''m here," June said as he pulled a chair and sat next to the music yer.


    The girls murmured to each other, feeling anxious about being evaluated by none other than June.


    "Again, you should not be too scared. I''ve been in your shoes, so I know how nerve-wracking it is. Just do your best, and I will give you my objectivements."


    The cameraman, who had been filming Rising Stars in all five seasons, shook his head in amazement as he nced back and forth at June and the monitor of his camera.


    "His fans are going to go crazy with this clip," he muttered.


    "Let''s start," June said, setting the tone for the initial evaluation.


    Mina nodded and led her teammates to go to their positions. However, only her subteam members followed.


    Yeri noticed this and quickly led her subteam to do the same.


    June tilted his head to the side as he tried to make out the atmosphere in their team.


    Nheless, he didn''t say anything and waited for them to settle down.


    Once everyone was in their ce, June yed the music.


    An upbeat, more girl-group, instrumental version of Fly High, Butterfly resonated in the room as the girls prepared themselves to perform what they had practiced so far.


    Although June promised to be as objective as possible, he couldn''t help but let his gaze stray to Mei.


    His eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise when he saw that she was able to keep up with the dance. She still looked pretty awkward, but it seemed like she had memorized the routine pretty well.


    Moreover, the lines that were given to her seemed to be in her range, so it was much better than her auditions.


    However, aside from that, he also felt that something was...strange about their team.


    There was no doubt that they were all charming despite some of themcking skill more than the others¡ªespecially with Mei''s subteam.


    It was the reason why they were the ''trending'' trainees anyway.


    However, June didn''t find their performance charming at all.


    So, as soon as the music ended, he leaned his elbows against his knees and let out a long hum before looking up at the trainees.


    "I don''t like it."

 Chapter 656 A Sister? Nope, Aunt.

    Chapter 656 A Sister? Nope, Aunt.


    ??June told the girls they shouldn''t be too scared, but with his firm yet handsome expression, they couldn''t help but feel anxious about his words.


    They felt like they didn''t do such a bad job¡ªespecially since they didn''t make any technical mistakes. It was definitely pitchy in some parts, and maybe they were also a bit unsynchronized during the tough dancing moments, but aside from that, everything else was fine.


    However, from a mentor''s perspective, June knew exactly what was going on.


    "I don''t think you guys are aware of the problem," June continued while the trainees remained silent.


    Then, he let out a small sigh, sounding disappointed.


    Back when he was participating in Rising Stars, initial evaluations were always harsh. June thought that the mentors were being too tough on them, especially since they''d only started practicing for a day or two, but now he felt like he understood.


    However, he still believed that Gun had an irrational anger toward him at the start of the show.


    The girls were going in the wrong direction¡ªand they weren''t aware of it.


    In fact, if they had made some technical mistakes or maybe even forgotten a line, then June wouldn''t pay much attention.


    However, their problem ran deeper than he thought.


    If he doesn''t speak up now, then their performance will only get worse as time passes by.


    At first, when he got the mission saying that he should help Mei win the round, he decided to skip it and take the loss. However, Fu took the extra mile to make all of his skills degrade if she didn''t win.


    Fortunately, Fu still had his w, and he didn''t clearly specify how Mei needed to win.


    Fu didn''t say that her subteam had to win. She just had to win in one way or another.


    So, in the end, June settled with leading her entire team to victory. He felt like they had a big chance of winning against the other teams, but after seeing their performance, he couldn''t help but feel worried.


    "You''re acting like two teams right now," June finally revealed, making the girls confused.


    Ara hesitantly raised her hand and said in a respectful tone, "But we are divided into two teams, mentor."


    "Technically, you''re a single team with two subteams. However, that doesn''t negate the fact that you guys are still a team."


    "You''re performing one song on one stage. Don''t you think the audience deserves a cohesive performance?" he asked.


    The girls, who were initially confused as to why June was criticizing them, were finally getting his point.


    "The girls on this sideck in skill," he objectively said. "While I feel that you guys are trying to overpower them with your skills without really thinking about the song''s message," he said to Mina''s subteam.


    "You''ve created an obvious barrier between the two, and it feels like I''m watching two different performances on just one stage. You know what that means, right?" he asked, turning to Mina.


    Mina pursed her lips before responding.


    "We look messy," she muttered.


    "Exactly," June said. "You''re going in the wrong direction. Maybe you''re confused since the mission has deliberately set up apetition within the team. However, at the end of the day, you guys are still a team."


    "You can win greater benefits if you show a good performance as a team¡ªnot just with your subteams."


    The girls started nodding in agreement. Meanwhile, Mei stared at June and pursed her lips.


    She reminded her of someone she knew but didn''t at the same time.


    His words felt familiar, or maybe she had gotten used to his mini-speeches when she watched the show.


    Nheless, Mei saw June''s passion for his job at that moment.


    She realized that June was not a mere weirdo and actually knew what he was talking about.


    "So," June continued, a small smile now gracing his lips to lighten up the atmosphere a bit. "I suggest you start practicing as a team first before focusing on your subteams. Not the other way around."


    Mina nodded enthusiastically. "We''ll take note of that, mentor."


    June smiled. "Good," he said.


    "Now, let''s go in your technicals. I can teach you how to sing with more stability while you''re dancing."


    ***


    "Wow!" the crew eximed as they watched something on their phone.


    June, who just finished removing his makeup, curiously went over to where they were and peered over their shoulders.


    "What are you guys doing?" he asked.


    Hana, Taehyun, and Roni, the actor who reced Lin Zhi in his role, all turned to June as soon as he spoke.


    "There you are," Hana said. "We''re watching some of your reels."


    June looked at them with confusion.


    "My reels? What for?" he asked.


    "People are saying that they miss EVE''s performances. We did, too, so we decided to watch some of your fan cams," Taehyun said.


    June sighed as he sat next to them.


    "You guys are weird."


    Taehyun didn''t mind June''sment and showed him the screen.


    "Look. You have more than three million views on your individual fancam," he said. "Your other members only have around half a million to a million views each."


    June frowned as he looked at the view count of his video and confirmed Taehyun''s statement.


    "Well, EVE is, no doubt, the most popr idol group right now. Even my little cousins are asking for your autograph," Roni said.


    Taehyun nodded in agreement. "Indeed. My mom called me after a long time, and all she said was that I should befriend June."


    Hana shook her head. "My mom scolded me for letting June go when we were younger. She told me that I should have dated you," she said with red cheeks.


    Taehyun and Roni looked at each other with knowing looks before simultaneously nudging Hana''s shoulder, squeezing the pretty actress between them.


    "Stop that," Hana muttered.


    "What do you say about that, June?" Roni asked.


    However, June was busy staring at the thumbnail on Taehyun''s phone. He scrolled through some clips and found that his fancams had the most views out of all the members¡ªnot just with one video but with ALL other videos.


    He tilted his head to the side in confusion.


    Why was there such a big discrepancy between their views?


    "June," Taehyun said, making him snap out of his thoughts.


    "Hmm?" June asked, finally paying attention.


    "What do you say about dating Hana?" he bluntly asked.


    Hana''s cheeks reddened in embarrassment.


    "Yah! Don''t say that," she said while ring at Taehyun. "You don''t need to answer it," she said as she turned to June; however, deep inside her heart, she was secretly hoping for June to answer.


    "Why do I need to refrain from answering it?" June suddenly asked, surprising the three of them.


    Hana''s heart raced inside her chest.


    "It''s not a big deal, right?" he quickly added.


    "It''s not like we''d date. You''re like a sister¡ªwait, you''re older than me by a few years."


    "You''re like an aunt to me."

 Chapter 657 Around the Globe

    Chapter 657 Around the Globe


    ??"It feels like it''s been forever since we ate dinner together!" Akira eximed as he started digging into what June had prepared.


    His eyes immediately brightened as he tasted his cooking.


    "As usual, you''re the best," he sincerely said with a bright smile.


    "Hmm," Jisung also moaned at the taste of the spicy fish stew. "Can you cook for us every night?"


    Sehun chuckled and gently nudged Jisung''s shoulder.


    "You know June can''t do that. He''s very busy. He has a lot of solo schedules on top of the group schedules that we have. He needs to rest too," Sehun said while Casper enthusiastically nodded.


    Jisung clicked his tongue with slumped shoulders.


    "I guess. That''s also the reason why he can''t eat dinner with us most of the time."


    "Don''t be sad, guys," Jay chimed as he sat next to June. "Ie here in ce for June most of the time anyway."


    The boys all sighed in disappointment.


    "I think that''s the main problem," Casper said, making Jay re at him.


    "Goodness, do I feel the love," he sarcastically muttered. "Anyway!" he eximed, quickly changing the topic.


    "Are you still getting dizzy? Hana called me the other day, saying you looked pale."


    June pursed his lips after drinking some water. "I still get some dizzy spells here and there, but it''s better now. It doesn''t bother my work."


    Jay shook his head. "I''m still worried. You should really get checked out by a doctor sometime."


    "Will do..."


    "...after Rising Stars."


    The boys all groaned in disappointment. "That''s still three months away! Why don''t you just do it now?" Jay asked.


    June clicked his tongue. "I really am busy these days. Besides, I visited Dr. Oh to check up on Grandma. He gave me some medicine for fatigue, and that''s been working out nice."


    "You should get some tests done," Jaeyong said.


    June nodded. "I''ll do that as soon as possible."


    Jay narrowed his eyes in suspicion.


    "I don''t believe you. I''m booking you an appointment with Dr. Oh as soon as you''re avable," he said, opening his phone and scrolling through June''s schedule.


    His frown became deeper and deeper as he looked at June''s schedule.


    "What the heck? You even have a schedule on a Sunday evening," he muttered.


    June shrugged. "Told you."


    "Thispany is overworking you," he said. "No wonder you''re getting dizzy."


    "Aha!" he eximed in happiness as soon as he saw a free afternoon.


    "There! You have some free time in four and a half weeks," he said.


    "After a month?" Jaeyong asked.


    Casper scratched the back of his neck. "He''ll probably faint by the time that happens."


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "By that time, the sixth episode of Rising Stars would have already aired. It''ll be halfway finished!"


    "It''s fine," June said. "I can take care of myself."


    He even got shot, punched, and stabbed plenty of times in his past life, but his medical exams were all clear! He definitely has good health genes.


    "Let''s not talk about me anymore," June said.


    Akira nodded before bringing out his phone and showing it to his members.


    "Let''s talk about Sehun reaching a million views in his most recent fancam then! It''s his first ever million, so he excitedly told me about it in my room," Akira said.


    "Wow, congrattions!"


    "Well-deserved."


    "Honestly, it''s long overdue."


    June looked at Sehun and gave him a thumbs up.


    "Nice job," he said.


    Meanwhile, Sehun scratched the back of his head.


    "I told you not to tell them," Sehun said to Akira.


    "Why not?" Akira eximed. "You did great in that fancam. I even watch it in my free time whenever I want to improve my facial expressions. You''ve helped me a lot."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "I''m not being biased or anything, but you did the best during that stage. You were really shining on stage."


    "Yeah!" Zeth said. "I can admit this even as someone who loves his own fancams very much."


    Sehun continued to feel bashful.


    Then, he focused his gaze on hisp.


    "It''s just my first million views," he said, looking up with what seemed to be a genuine smile. "It''s no big deal."


    "June reaches a million in a day while I took more than a month. He even reached four million for that particr stage already," he said.


    The room was silent for a moment, and it seemed like all of them were contemting Sehun''s words.


    Even Jay and Akira didn''t know what to say to Sehun''s statement.


    Jisung cleared his throat. "That''s because June is the most popr member of the team. We can''t help it."


    "Yeah," Akira chuckled. "The other day, I had a solo shoot of my own, and they asked me if I was on the same team as June. We really can''t have EVE without June."


    The others started saying anecdotes on their own, and all of them had a fun time sharing them.


    However, June was the only person who didn''t find it fun at all.


    In fact, it felt like one of his biggest fears of being in a group had nowe to real life.


    June cleared his throat, making all of them turn their attention to him.


    "I hope you guys know that I''m still me," June said.


    "No matter how many views I get," he muttered.


    "Of course!" Jisung eximed. "We''re not saying this because we''re jealous. We''re actually proud of what you''ve be. You''re making the group more popr, and in turn, we get more popr too."


    Zeth nodded in agreement. "Yeah, don''t feel too bad about it."


    The others also nodded in agreement. It seemed like all of them were fine with June''s poprity, but June couldn''t help but feel slightly ufortable.


    "Don''t sweat it," Sehun said with a small smile.


    June nodded after a while.


    "Let''s stop with all this poprity talk and go back to eating," Jay said, and the others followed suit.


    Then, when they were nearly finished with their meal, Jay suddenly remembered that he had to tell something to the boys.


    "Right!" he eximed, startling most of them.


    "I almost forgot to tell you. I came here tonight because I have an important announcement," he said, making the members wait in anticipation.


    "As you all know, EVE is now the biggest boy group in Korea," Jay proudly said.


    "With that, thepany had decided to test out your poprity through a showcase!"


    "A showcase?" the members said in unison.


    "A mini concert!" Jay said. "They want to see your selling power so they can start preparing the venues for your world tour."


    "WORLD TOUR?"

 Chapter 658 Team Kill Mission

    Chapter 658 Team Kill Mission


    ??June smiled to himself as he watched EVE''s very first practice video for their mini-concert. Although it hasn''t been announced yet, they were already preparing to give the best possible show for their fans.


    However, June had to stop when he was called by Director Yejin to go to the stage.


    "The show''s starting," she said, making June turn off his phone before cing it in his pocket.


    June nodded and followed after her.


    As he reached the dark waiting area, he could already hear the bustle of the crowd. June watched the fans through the monitor, most of them excitedly chattering while waving their banners high in the air.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw Jia holding up a banner of what seemed to be Mei.


    Meanwhile, Jia couldn''t contain her excitement in the audience. It has been an entire year since she went back to Azure''s studio, and all of the nostalgia hit her.


    It seemed like yesterday when she was dragged to this very studio by her friends, adamant about not liking idols. However, she became the greatest fan out of all of them, and she even found herself following the Rising Stars franchise.


    "You''re rooting for Mei?" Bora asked as she held onto her Heemin banner.


    Jia shrugged. "Why not? She''s very pretty, and she''s the realest person on the show."


    "You didn''t like her in the beginning," Bora pointed out.


    Jia clicked her tongue. "That''s because I didn''t like how she sang. She had improved a lot in thest episode, though."


    "Improved?" Bora asked. "She wasn''t even able to sing."


    "That''s because she lost her voice from working too hard!" Jia said. "That''s when I realized that she has a lot of potential."


    "Is that really the reason, or is it because she looks like June?" Bora chimed, making Jia pursed her lips.


    "Well, that''s half of the reason," she muttered.


    "But!" she quickly added. "It''s also because I quite like her personality. She''s quiet most of the time, but when she speaks, it just hits hard. She''s very down-to-earth, but I could still feel a lot of passion flowing from her despite herck of skill."


    Bora shrugged. "Fair enough," she said. "You''ve always been a fan of those types of trainees anyway."


    Jia shook her head. "And you''ve always been a fan of fully-furnished trainees."


    "You got that right," Bora smirked.


    Just then, their conversation came to a halt when a dazzling creature graced the stage.


    All of the chatters turned into exmations of amazement as June arrived at the stage, the cameras focusing on him and shing him on the big LED screen.


    "Waaah!"


    "It''s June. He''s really here!"


    "I wasn''t expecting him to be here since he''s still filming for Untouched Souls."


    Jia''s eyes also widened in surprise. It had been a while since shest saw June, and it felt like she was seeing him for the very first time again.


    "Gosh," Bora muttered. "Why does this guy look perfect in every way?"


    "Good evening, everyone!" June greeted, making the crowd erupt into cheers.


    The mentors, who were already settled backstage, covered their ears in surprise as the audience continued to cheer.


    Gun massaged his ears and shook his head.


    "His poprity is even greater than that of Minho during Season 1," he remarked.


    Ji-hyun sighed. "It''s hard to believe that he was one of the trainees we''ve mentored. He''se so far in such a short amount of time."


    "Thank you all foring here tonight," June continued, ncing at his cue cards.


    "I''m d to see new and familiar faces. Honestly, it still feels weird to stand here before you as your host when I''ve only been on this stage as a trainee."


    ''Awws'' were heard from the audience.


    "Nheless, I am also very excited for tonight''s performances."


    "Do you feel the same way?" June asked, and the crowd erupted in cheers of agreement.


    "Well, tonight, there would be a total of ten performances. However, instead of battling with another team, they would be battling within their own teams instead."


    The crowd murmured in confusion, the concept sounding new to almost all of them.


    "Each team has ten members, but they are divided into two subteams with five members each. In every performance, each subteam will wear opposite colors. That''s how you will determine which subteam they are a part of."


    "At the end of each performance, all of you will vote for your preferred subteam. Moreover, at the end of every performance, you will be granted the privilege to vote for the best team of the night!"


    "Azure never runs out of ideas, I swear," Bora muttered.


    Jia nodded in agreement. "If only they weren''t such a shittypany, then they would be even bigger than what they are now.


    "Each winning team will be granted great benefits, so make sure to choose wisely. Choose the best performance not just because your favorite trainee is in it," June teased, knowing that the other audience members already had someone to vote for, although none of the teams had performed yet.


    Some of them chuckled, while some of them felt guilty as charged.


    "So, without further ado, let''s get straight into tonight''s performances."


    "This is the Team Kill Mission!"


    With that, the lights dimmed, and the first team of the show introduced themselves to the audience.


    As usual, those with less popr trainees performed at the beginning, so the reactions weren''t explosive just yet.


    Meanwhile, Azure saved those who had the most fans at the end¡ªjust so people wouldn''t leave in the middle of the show.


    June went backstage to join the other mentors to watch the performances for tonight.


    He felt nervous yet excited at the same time, which was strange since he wasn''t even the one performing on stage.


    Or maybe he just knew the feeling, so it all came back to him at that moment.


    Gun and Lee Sik waved him over, so June quickly sat on the chair between the two of them.


    They watched the performances intently, jotting down the groups'' ws so they could ry them in the next performances.


    Although the girls appeared to be doing their best, it was also evident that they stillcked in skill.


    There were a few stand-out trainees, but all in all, the group performances had been underwhelming.


    Gun clicked his tongue. "I don''t recall the first mission being this badst year."


    "Me too," Ji-hyun chimed, her eyebrows furrowed.


    "Well, they are undertaking a new mission¡ªone that had never been done before¡ªso it must be hard adjusting to it," Bone said.


    "Agreed," Gun said. "This ''team kill'' concept is leading them to desire to outshine the others. However, they''repromising their teamwork through that."


    "That''s it," Amira said. "I was wondering what was strange about the group I''ve mentored, but it turns out that their teamwork iscking. I wasn''t able to point it out during the initial evaluations."


    "Me too," Lee Sik sighed. "I thought it was just some nerves since they were still getting to know each other."


    "Count me in that train," Gun chuckled.


    "Well, it''s safe to say that I''m not fond of most of these performances," Ji-hyun said. "I just hope the next one''s going to be okay."


    "Who''s going to perform next?" Amira asked as she flipped through the next stage.


    June focused his attention on the screen, his legs crossed and his hands tapping his knees in concentration.


    "The team that I''ve mentored."

 Chapter 659 Fly High, Butterfly

    Chapter 659 Fly High, Butterfly


    ??Bora yawned as the eighth performance of the night finally came to an end.


    "Gosh," she muttered. "I didn''t think this would be such a snooze fest."


    Jia pursed her lips before nodding in agreement. As much as she hated to say it, the girls allcked the teamwork that would make their performance more dynamic.


    "They''re too...aggressive," Jia said. "Somehow, that makes their performance even more boring."


    "Yeah," Bora said. "I could feel the tension within their teams, and it''s not giving their performance a good taste."


    "Let''s hope the next one is better," Jia said, having high hopes since her favorite trainee was yet to perform.


    "I told you¡ªyou should have applied for this show," Bora teased, making Jia chuckle out loud.


    "You''re right. I would have devoured them all," she jokingly said before turning her attention to the front once more.


    She yawned, getting infected with Bora''s sleepiness, and closed her eyes for a minute.


    However, they quickly snapped open when she heard the loudest screams of the night.


    She jumped up, startled, and was immediately greeted with the sight of a new team on stage.


    "Wow," she couldn''t help but exim as she saw the pretty and mature-looking trainee right in the middle.


    "She''s so pretty!" Jia muttered, feeling like she was on a different level.


    However, as she nced to her right, she saw someone looming in the shadows.


    Jia couldn''t help but stop and stare. Even though she didn''t get as much spotlight as the rest of the trainees, she still shone the brightest among all of them.


    Jia had always thought that Mei was pretty¡ªespecially when she came to the show with a near-bare face and a very simple outfit. It made her stand out from the rest of the trainees, for sure.


    However, seeing her in real life was another story!


    "She looks like an actress," Jia said, turning to Bora, who was also looking at Mei with wide eyes.


    Then, she finally met Jia''s gaze before nodding her head in recognition.


    "I get it," Bora said.


    "I get you."


    The others seemed to think the same thing, as those who didn''t even like Mei were amazed by her appearance and charisma.


    She hadn''t even said anything yet, but they were already captivated!


    That didn''t take away their dislike for the pretty trainee, though. In fact, it just made them resent her further.


    They believed that she was only getting great results because of her good looks.


    However, the haters were devoured by her fans, and the room erupted into cheers as she was illuminated on the LED screen.


    Her teammates were confused by the suddenmotion, but when they turned around to see Mei''s face on the screen, they quickly understood.


    She was the type to get such a reaction from the audience.


    Nheless, Mei stayed calm and went to her position like the rest of her teammates.


    The lights dimmed, and the stage was bathed in a soft pink glow, setting the scene for the performance that was about to unfold. Mina stepped forward, her heart pounding with excitement as she prepared to start the song. With a deep breath, she began to sing, her voice clear and steady, filling the air with the familiar melody of ''Fly High, Butterfly.''


    Fly High, Butterfly was a famous song by DOJAMS, a popr soloist in the 2010s. She was an unknown singer at first; however, the song quickly became a hit as it was released during school entrance examination season.


    It served as the hope and strength of many students who were afraid of stepping into the unknown. So, until now, the song has been yed once entrance exam season rolled out.


    "In the darkness of the night.


    We hide away, out of sight.


    Afraid to spread our wings and fly.


    But there''s a world beyond the sky."


    As Mina''s voice echoed through the venue, the audience''s attention was captured immediately. The hopeful energy of the song seemed to lift everyone''s spirits.


    She was the perfect choice for the intro since it set the tone for the rest of the performance. Somehow, the audience was already in a good mood because of Mina, and they watched the performance more openly.


    Yeri was next, her voice slightly shaky but filled with determination. It was as if she was embodying the nerves and anticipation of a student facing their entrance exams.


    The rest of the group joined in, their voices blending together in harmony. They moved with grace and precision, their movements simple yet impactful. Each member wore the viral butterfly tops that every idol seemed to be wearing this year, which added an extrayer of visual appeal to the performance.


    As the trainees exchanged lines, the audience began feeling more at ease.


    Somehow, it made them enjoy the performance as one¡ªsince the team was also performing as one.


    At one point, they even wondered if they were divided into two subteams because they felt like a whole team instead!


    Then, it was Mei''s turn.


    As the pre-chorus approached, she took her position at the center, which elicited loud cheers from the audience again.


    June shook his head as his sister''s visuals caused a frenzy among those watching. He couldn''t really me them. She definitely had a timeless beauty appeal to her, which also made her appear ''unattainable.''


    Meanwhile, the audience already began with their spections.


    "Goodness, she''s going to ruin the performance."


    "They shouldn''t have given her any lines and just let her dance in front."


    "Yeah, she''s actually decent in dancing now. Still stiff, but definitely better."


    "Well, of course, she should do better. She''s got so many fans already that it''s ridiculous."


    It was a well-known fact that Mei wasn''t the strongest singer in the group, so all eyes were on her¡ªsome of them even wished for her to mess up to add to the entertainment aspect of the show.


    Jia was nervous, too, being aware of Mei''s reputation and her past performances.


    With a small breath, she finally sang her lines, one of the two that she was given for this song.


    "Life''s too short to stay in one ce.


    So break free, break even, and embrace the race."


    The crowd was silent as she sang her lines, internalizing the tone of her voice and evaluating if she had messed up.


    However, after a while, they came to a conclusion.


    "She''s not bad at all!"

 Chapter 660 Only One of the Three

    Chapter 660 Only One of the Three


    ??Mei''s voice was a little bit hoarse, especially with how much she practiced.


    However, it was actually quite fitted for her part since it was lowerpared to the rest of the song.


    Moreover, her face being illuminated on therge LED screen was also a great helpi n people perceiving her voice to be more beautiful than it actually was.


    Or maybe, their expectations were a bit too low, so hearing her do a decent job was already enough to make them amazed.


    Nheless, Mei''s part, although short, stood out among the rest of the team.


    Meanwhile, June, whose eyes were focused on Mei Ling couldn''t help but watch with a slightly agape mouth.


    "Is this possible?" he muttered as he stared at her stats.


    He was sure that they were still pretty low during the signal song mission. However, why was she now a C in almost all of her talent aspects?


    Her visual aspect had also increased to an SS, which was ridiculous for a trainee who hasn''t even debuted yet.


    "Why is she improving so fast?" June whispered.


    Does she also have a system of her own?


    [...]


    June froze with the thought.


    Was it really possible?


    Before he could ponder about it further, their performance had alreadye to an end, and he was snapped back to reality with the loud cheers of the audience.


    They had the loudest cheers of the night, and rightfully so. They all stood out in their own way withoutpromising the team''s cohesiveness.


    At the end of it all, the audience had a hard time choosing between the two subteams.


    However, it seemed like they were still able to make up their mind in the end.


    Then, thest performers of the night finally graced the stage. Their cheers were at par with thest team. However, what was the most notable was that majority of the cheers were for Jeemin.


    She smiled at the audience, and it caused a frenzy among them. Simr to Mei, Heemin already had a lot of fans. She was able to get the top spot during the very first voting, and she was also the trainee with the highest skill index.


    She was definitely the trainee with the most fans on the show. However, Mei was the trainee that people talked about the most¡ªmay that be negative of positive.


    As expected, Heemin''s group did a great job in their performance. The teamwork was evident, but it was also obvious that Heemin was the star of the show.


    In the end, it was already predicted for her team to take the first ce, which made the other trainees dejected.


    With that, June went back to the stage to bid farewell to the audience. They cheered once more with June''s presence.


    "Once again, thank you all foring tonight. The winners will be revealed to the trainees tonight, but you will only be able to see it this Friday!" he teased, making the audience groan in frustration.


    "I want to know!"


    "It''s between Heemin''s and Mina''s team, honestly."


    "Yeah, I think more people voted for Heemin''s team, though."


    "That''s not true. Mina''s team has more ''famous'' trainees. Meanwhile, Heemin is the only ''famous'' trainee in her team."


    "Well, Heemin still has the most amount of fans, so I definitely see their team winning."


    With the crowd''s spections riveting through the air, June finally made his way down the stage and into the results room, where the trainees were already waiting.


    They took sharp breaths as June made his way inside, holding the envelope that contained the result of the mission.


    He silently made his way to the stage while gripping on the envelope, somehow feeling nervous about the results, too.


    He wanted to reach three objectives for tonight:


    1. Have Mei''s team win.


    2. Have her subteam lose.


    3. Have all of June''s skills remain safe and even have the chance to upgrade one of them.


    "Congrattions, everyone, for finishing your very first mission!" June eximed.


    The girls cheered, although their nervousness was still evident in their voices.


    "First of all, I want to say that you all did a decent job considering the short amount of time that you''ve been on the show . However, with that, you can only aim to go forward. You still have a long way to go," June continued.


    "In this journey, all of our actions will yield results, whether this result is positive or negative now lies in my hands," he said, showing them the envelope.


    The girls whispered among each others once again, some of them holding onto their teammates in their respective subteams.


    "Let''s start off with the overall winner first," June said, opening the envelope and silently reading the first cue card.


    He ced the mic on his lips, ready to announce the winner, but froze when he saw who it was.


    He didn''t know how long he stood there, but in the end, the trainees were already cursing him inside their minds for being so good at keeping the tension.


    Then, June cleared his throat, feeling like it couldn''t be helped.


    "The overall winner for the team kill mission is¡ª"


    "Hate Sick Men!" he eximed.


    Heemin''s team jumped in joy as soon as they heard their song being called. They were shed on the screen, and their happiness was evident in their faces.


    Mina, who actually had lots of hope to win, merely nodded to herself as she tried to ept the results.


    It seemed like their collective poprity was still not enough to throw Heemin off.


    Nheless, it was revealed that they were the team with the second highest votes, which consoled her a little bit.


    June pursed his lips as he flipped to the next cue card.


    It seemed like his first objective of the night already went down the drain.


    At that point, he was sure that his skills were going to downgrade. It would be the very first instance wherein he would fail after Fu became his system, and June couldn''t help but feel upset about it.


    However, he assured himself that it didn''t really matter since he was still going to be skilled nheless.


    With that, June sighed and finally announced the winning subteam for each team in chronological order. Almost all of the winners had been predictable thus far, so June was already certain that Mei''s team was going to lose.


    However, as he got to the ninth announcement, he felt like a bucket of cold water was being poured all over his body.


    "The winner for Fly High, Butterfly is¡ª"


    Was this even possible?


    Even from the audience''s perspective, June felt like the other subteam did a much better job.


    "The red team," he announced.


    The trainees all gasped in surprise as they turned to their team. Meanwhile, Mina looked down at her shoes, which reflected her team color¡ªblue.


    June pursed his lips before sighing in disappointment.


    Well, at least one of his objectives was fulfilled.

 Chapter 661 Game Over

    Chapter 661 Game Over


    ??June honestly thought that having his skills downgraded by one level would be better than Mei''s team winning against Mina''s team.


    As soon as it was announced that they won, there were already lots of spection among the trainees.


    "How?"


    "I mean, Mei''s subteam did a great job, but I can''t believe Mina''s team lost."


    "If we''re going on skill alone, then Mina''s team did better!"


    "However, Mei''s team is honestly more popr.


    "Yeah, because they''re pretty."


    "It''s also because Mei is from Azure."


    With June''s announcement, the girls from Mei''s subteam couldn''t even celebrate.


    Although they weren''t able to hear the other girls'' spections in verbatim, they could somehow feel that the others weren''t pleased with their win.


    Moreover, Mina''s team looked utterly dejected since they fully expected to win against Mei''s subteam.


    In the end, Yeri settled with patting everyone on the back for a job well done.


    However, even then, they couldn''t be genuinely happy.


    After that, June announced Heemin''s subteam''s victory, rendering them with the most acquired benefits in the entire first mission.


    June, who was still stuck on his failures for the night, decided to end the shoot quickly.


    "That''s it for the results of the first mission. Do not be dejected if you didn''t get the results that you wanted. It just means that you still have the opportunity to improve," he continued.


    "All of the benefits will be added directly to your votes on the first elimination, which will be held on Friday morning," he announced. "After that, we will go straight ahead with the announcement of the second mission."


    The trainees nodded, not having the strength to respond after all that had happened.


    With that, June gave back the microphone to the staff before going back to his waiting room.


    As soon as he was alone in his room, he plopped on the couch, let out a deep breath, and closed his eyes.


    He felt dizzy yet again, and he wondered if all of this was happening because he was in such close proximity to his sister.


    Just then, he recalled Mei''s stats in his mind.


    [Vocal: C


    Dance: C


    Rap: C


    Visual: SS]


    It was honestly ridiculous how she was able to improve her skills in such a short amount of time. She was even able to achieve those stats faster than June!


    [Congrattions, host! You havepleted your mission: Brotherly Love!]


    [With that, you are eligible for another skill upgrade.]


    [What would you like to upgrade?]


    "Visual," he said with no hesitation, knowing that it was already in the SSS range.


    [You have upgraded visual!]


    [Visual +1]


    [Current grade: X]


    June''s frown deepened as he stared at the unfathomable grade once more. He looked at his overall stats and saw the three Xs staring back at him.


    He tilted his head to the side as his mind raced of what it could mean.


    Then, just as he was about to click off of his user interface, he suddenly realized that the three Xs were a different color than that of the rest of his grades.


    It was subtle...very subtle that it was almost unnoticeable. However, with June''s keen eyes, he was able to spot it.


    Out of curiosity, he clicked one of them...and before he knew it, his vocal aspect disappeared.


    He stood in surprise, and he repeatedly closed his eyes to see if what he was seeing was right.


    June even rubbed his eyes and tried pping himself to see if everything was a dream.


    However, even with all of those measures, his user interface stayed the same¡ªhis vocal aspect was still gone!


    June internally panicked and decided to sing a song, wondering if it affected his skills in any way.


    "Oh, oh, oasis," he sang a small portion of their very first title track.


    Then, his eyes widened once again.


    "What the heck?" he eximed, holding onto his throat.


    This wasn''t how he sang before!


    He continued to sing different songs, all with different ranges and even found himself having difficulty by the end of it.


    "Fuck," he muttered, pacing back and forth.


    It wasn''t like his voice changed entirely. In fact, it would be barely noticeable to the fans and the audience.


    However, June felt a shift in the ease of using his voice. If before, he could bust out a high note for a good ten seconds without breaking a sweat, he found himself having difficulty this time around.


    "Fu, bring back my vocal aspect," June said.


    However, he didn''t get a response.


    "Fu, I''m not fucking joking," he said, raking his hands through his hair as he felt his frustration bubbling up.


    "Are you really not going to respond?" June asked.


    [First strike.]


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he finally stopped pacing. He stared at Fu''s message and couldn''tprehend what he was trying to say.


    "You''re being philosophical again!" June eximed. "Just tell me what''s happening so I can fix it."


    He went back to his user interface, and out of rage, he clicked on the X next to his dance aspect.


    Like the vocal aspect, it disappeared in the blink of an eye.


    [Second strike.]


    Just then, a wave of realization hit June.


    Strikes.


    "Life has three strikes," he muttered, suddenly remembering what Fu had told him back then.


    It didn''t make sense to him before, and it didn''t make sense to him now, but June felt like he somehow had to receive three strikes to be able to understand everything that was going on.


    So, he went in front of the mirror to look at his face, remembering every aspect of it¡ªevery contour, every slope, and even every pore.


    "Fucking handsome," he cursed as he continued staring at himself, wondering if his next choice would lead to his utter downfall.


    After much hesitation, he went back to his user interface and shakily brought his hands up to thest X next to the visual aspect.


    His hands shook more erratically as he went closer to it. He felt like he would regret choosing to press on the X, but he also wouldn''t be able to answer the questions in his mind if he backed out now.


    "Ah, to hell with it," he muttered, finally pressing the button.


    Then, he focused his gaze on the mirror once again, waiting for a couple of seconds to see if there were any changes.


    "Oh, thank goodness," he muttered when he didn''t see any changes in his face.


    However, his user interface, which was usually blue, suddenly turned red, making him perplexed.


    Then, it shed erratically, causing him to hold onto his head as an ache suddenly emerged.


    [Three strikes.]


    [Game over.]

 Chapter 662 Do You Want To Play A Game?

    Chapter 662 Do You Want To y A Game?


    ??June woke up with a loud gasp, feeling like he was in another dimension.


    He quickly sat up and looked around, ignoring his pounding headache.


    June sighed in relief when he realized that he was in his room.


    Wait¡ªhis room?


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Jay with a ss of water in hand.


    Jay halted when he saw June and sighed in relief. "Oh, you''re awake now."


    June pursed his lips as he took the water from Jay and drank it all in one go.


    "What happened?" June asked.


    "Shouldn''t I be the one asking you that?" Jay asked. "I found you in the waiting room, sleeping, when you said you''d meet me at the parking lot. Then, when I woke you up, you mindlessly walked to the car without exining anything."


    "Afterward, you went here on your own and slept once again," Jay exined.


    "I was supposed to get annoyed since you made me wait for more than an hour, but you must be exhausted, so I''m forgiving you."


    June clicked his tongue before holding onto his head, trying to recall his memories.


    After his system started going haywire, everything just went into a blur.


    Then, that was when it hit him.


    He quickly visualized his user interface to see if everything that had happened was real. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw that Fu was still a different color.


    It was not the ring red that made him copse a while ago, but a grayish interface¡ªone that made him feel uneasy.


    Then, he went back to his stats and found that his vocal, visual, and dance aspects were still gone.


    With that, he started singing once more, ignoring the weirded-out stares from Jay.


    Jay scratched the back of his head as June suddenly stood and busted into a spontaneous dance and song.


    "Maybe I should book that medical check-up sooner," he muttered.


    June performed Luster until the end of the first chorus before smiling to himself. It seemed like he was still okay. Maybe the blunder that happened a while ago was due to hisck of rest.


    Now that he had slept it off, it seemed like his skills were still intact.


    However, he still didn''t know why they suddenly disappeared. What was worse was Fu was keeping him in the darkness¡ªlike he always was.


    "Are you done?" Jay asked, a little bit creeped out.


    June turned to him and nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed for what he had done. However, he felt that it was essential.


    Besides, Jay was definitely weirder than him, even if he had done all that.


    "Join us for dinner then," Jay said. "I''m sure you''re hungry."


    "Yeah," June said, now feeling his stomach grumble after the mention of food.


    As the two of them arrived at the dining area, the members flocked to June.


    "Are you really alright?" Jisung worriedly asked.


    "Yeah," June nonchntly nodded.


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "You ignored us when you first came in."


    Akira nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it almost seems like you were on auto-pilot or something."


    Jay sighed and led June to sit on his usual chair.


    "Let''s eat, guys," he said, changing the subject.


    Fortunately, the guys didn''t pry any further as they all sat back down on their seats. Then, they started eating the Jjampong noodles that Jay bought for the team.


    They slurped the spicy broth and munched the chewy noodles deliciously, feeling their fatigue roll away with its taste.


    June enjoyed the food, too, which made him calm down a bit.


    But then, he felt someone''s gaze on him, so he lifted his head and was met by none other than Casper.


    June narrowed his eyes in confusion.


    "What are you staring at?" June asked, causing the rest of the team to look toward his way.


    "Casper stares at you from time to time," Jisung said like it was a normal thing.


    Well, it was indeed normal. Casper just liked staring at June whenever he missed his cat!


    Casper shook his head before pointing at June''s face.


    "You have something right there," he said.


    June raised his eyebrows. "Oh," he muttered. "Where?"


    "On your nose," Casper said. "There seems to be a red speck. It must be a chili pepper."


    The others looked at June and nodded in agreement.


    "Oh yeah. Want me to get it out for you?" Jisung asked with wide, bright eyes, already reaching out his hand.


    June shook his head. "I''ll do it myself."


    With that, he wiped his nose with his fingers, only to freeze when he felt a tender bump instead of the so-called chili pepper.


    Jaeyong tilted his head to the side as he looked closer at June.


    "That''s not a chili pepper."


    "That''s a pimple."


    ***


    "A pimple?" June eximed as he looked at himself in the mirror, constantly turning his head in all angles to confirm his suspicions, even hoping for it to disappear the more he looked at it.


    He looked at it for a few more minutes before sighing in defeat and sitting on his floor.


    It was, indeed, a pimple.


    "What the heck is happening?" he muttered.


    June wasn''t a stranger to pimples. Everybody had skin problems! When he was participating in Rising Stars, he would have a couple of pimples whenever he got stressed, ate too much unhealthy food, or stayed up toote.


    However, he was different now!


    After his visuals were upgraded to an A+, he hadn''t encountered any skin issues. Even when he pulled all-nighters and drank bottles of sugary energy drinks to keep him awake, a single pimple didn''t appear on his skin.


    However, now that his visual aspect was gone, a pimple suddenly popped up?


    June had no choice but to believe that the two of those were corrted.


    "When are you going to exin what''s happening?" June groaned in frustration, raking his hands through his hair and even pulling at some of the strands.


    He sat there for a while, waiting for a response...until it finally came.


    [The host achieved three strikes.]


    June clicked his tongue when Fu finally responded.


    "Took you long enough," June muttered.


    "And I already know that. But I don''t know what it means."


    [Do you remember what I said to you back then?]


    June frowned in confusion.


    "Yes, you told me two things¡ªlife has three strikes..."


    "...and find the origin."


    [You have unlocked one of the criteria for unlocking the system''s full potential.]


    [However, you can lose before you win.]


    [You can also win without losing.]


    [Andstly, you can lose everything.]


    [Are you willing to y?]

 Chapter 663 The End of June

    Chapter 663 The End of June


    ??June sighed in frustration as he looked at Fu''s consecutive messages.


    "I really don''t like you," he said with deep resentment. "Where''s the stupid, annoying system that gave out missions that made me get into trouble but always ended up being the best for me?


    [Aww, does the host like me that much?]


    June pursed his lips. "I take it back. You''re still there."


    "What is this game you''re speaking of?" June exasperatedly asked. "I don''t know if you know¡ªyou probably do since you''ve been with me all along, but I have a lot on my te right now."


    "I have to think of a way to protect my sister."


    "I need to know how to avenge my old body''s death."


    "I need to find that briefcase and finally eradicate Lin Zhi and Laohu."


    "I have to finish my duties and responsibilities in EVE, Rising Stars, and Untouched Souls."


    "Mind you¡ªI also have to go on a world tour."


    "So, no," June sighed, massaging his nose bridge. "I''m not going to y your stupid, little game."


    Casper, who wanted to give a pimple patch to June, halted when he heard his mini-rant from outside the door.


    He was about to knock but quickly halted when he realized that June might be busy.


    "I can''t believe he''s practicing his lines thiste in the evening," he muttered.


    Then, he crouched in front of his door to insert the pack of pimple patches inside June''s room without disturbing him.


    "You shouldn''t work too hard," he said as he stared at the door.


    With that, he walked away from the room, leaving June to ''practice'' for the night.


    [Congrattions! We''ve really reached our objectives of bing a top idol.]


    June was about to scold Fu for changing the topic once again when he realized what his words might have meant.


    "We''ve finally reached our objective of bing a top idol?" he muttered.


    Then, everything came shing back into his mind¡ªfrom the moment he was shot, to the time he entered Rising Stars, to his debut stage, and to the exponential growth of his poprity.


    All of these were made with the objective of bing a top idol¡ªwhich was his original intention.


    "I became a top idol," June muttered.


    He knew he should be happy about it, but somehow, there was a mncholy inside his heart.


    Now that he has reached his objective, what was there left to do?


    What now?


    What is he living for?


    [I didn''t mean to send you into an existential crisis.]


    [I''m just fulfilling my promises to you.]


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as he tried to recall Fu''s promises to him.


    If he became a top idol, then he would be granted two things¡ªto meet his sister and to go back to his original body.


    "Wait," he muttered. "Am I now meeting Mei because of...you?"


    [The universe works in strange ways.]


    Once again, Fu gave a vague answer¡ªone that June found hard toprehend.


    "Then, does that mean that I''m going to go back to my original body soon?" he whispered, not really knowing how to feel about it.


    If he did be Jun Hao once again, he had no clue what kind of life he would live. The White Tiger gang had now dissolved, and everything he knew and lived for had changed.


    Moreover, he also didn''t know what would happen to his body. Will he just be forgotten like he didn''t exist at all?


    [Unfortunately, I cannot fulfill all of my promises. Sometimes, there are aspects of life that are beyond our control and way beyond the logic of being.]


    "The fact that I''m speaking with a system is already way beyond the logic of being," June muttered.


    [Anyway, I have fulfilled my promises with you.]


    [However, this wille to you in ways you don''t expect¡ªsometimes, in ways that are not literal.]


    "You''re speaking in poetry again," June said. "Just go straight to the point."


    [Now, where''s the fun in that?]


    [I want to tell you this¡ªeverything is connected to everything else.]


    [One objective may lead to another.]


    "I know that," June said. "I''m just failing to see how this could answer all of my questions."


    [You will understand in due time.]


    [However, for now, I have something for you¡ªpossibly yourst mission.]


    June''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Myst mission?" he eximed.


    "Why? Where are you going?"


    [Congrattions!]


    Fu quickly changed the topic once again.


    [You have a special mission.]


    [Three strikes had now been achieved.]


    [Now, you must find the origin.]


    [The origin will lead you to the answers to the questions that are boggling your mind.]


    [Decipher them wisely.]


    [The system trusts in the host.]


    [Once the mission has been fulfilled, the host will be granted a choice¡ªone that would show you the fullest potential of the system.]


    [If failed, then a new system will be granted¡ªone without sentience. Previous stats will be reset afterward.]


    [Deadline: 60 days.]


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He didn''t expect to be granted such a long deadline. In fact, it was the longest deadline that Fu had ever given him, which made June think that this mission was the quintessential mission of his system¡ª


    one that he had to fulfill at all costs.


    However, this was also the vaguest mission that Fu had ever given out.


    Find the origin?


    "You have to tell me more," June said in frustration.


    "Find the origin of what?"


    "The White Tiger Gang? Dinosaurs? Azure?"


    "Or the universe?"


    "You must have more instructions!" he eximed.


    [This is not a farewell.]


    [This is merely a ''see youter.'']


    "Fu, answer me," June said, his mind already in shambles.


    [FInd the origin.]


    [FInd the orIgin.]


    [FInd the orIgIn.]


    [Only then will we be able to meet again.]


    "Fu! Don''t do this to me. You''re being too serious," June sighed.


    "Fu."


    "Fu!"


    However, even then, Fu did not respond. Instead, his system went back to its previous interior¡ªalmost as if they never had such a conversation.


    Almost like everything was back to normal.


    However, June knew that it wasn''t.


    Then, a ringly obvious timer was ced on the upper right corner of his system.


    Deadline: 59 days, 23 hours, 57 minutes


    June counted the days until the deadline.


    Then, he froze when he realized something.


    59 days from now would be the end of June.


    Or maybe...it would be the end of June.

 Chapter 664 A Month, A Name, A Beauty Under the Rain

    Chapter 664 A Month, A Name, A Beauty Under the Rain


    ??"Fuck this pimple," June muttered as he ced a pimple patch over it.


    It was a good thing that Casper bought him the invisible ones, so it wasn''t really noticeable.


    Today was going to be the airing of the third episode of Rising Stars,but June wouldn''t be able to watch it since he had a brand shoot with Akira and Jisung¡ªthe Naked Bearz, as their fans liked to call them.


    June wasn''t sure where their nickname started, but it seemed like he was beingpared to the white pr bear a lot.


    At first, he thought he was a cat; but now, he was a bear?


    "Are you three ready?" Jay asked as he entered their dorm.


    "I''m ready!" Akira eximed, going out of his room with a brown jumper.


    Jisung also came out of his room around the same time wearing a ck-and-white striped shirt.


    Meanwhile, June decided to keep it simple and settled with a in white shirt.


    Jay paused for a while and scrutinized their appearances.


    "You guys actually dressed up as your characters! That''s great," he happily eximed.


    June looked at their outfits and realized that Jay was right.


    "I''m going to get dressed," he deadpanned.


    "No can do," Jay said, holding June''s cor. "We''re going to bete."


    "I love that we''re matching," Jisung giddily said.


    "You''re really like the panda bear," Jay said, feeling fond of the boys.


    Then, he turned around and held onto his chest. "Is this what being a father feels like? Maybe I should have children."


    "What are you doing?" June deadpanned.


    Jay cleared his throat and gestured for them to follow him to the van, acting as if nothing even happened.


    The three of them went to the van, where Jay started sting their songs.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Do you have to y our songs even in the car?"


    "I''m a genuine fan of you guys," Jay eximed. "Sometimes, I even get excited when I go to the dorms."


    The three of them looked at each other with weirded-out expressions.


    "Goodness, you haven''t changed since then," Akira said.


    With that, Jay happily sang to EVE''s song as he drove to the photoshoot site.


    However, as he drove, he suddenly remembered something. With that, he mmed the brakes, startling the members.


    "Right!" he eximed.


    Akira ced his hand over his chest. "A warning would have been nice."


    "Jeebuz. You should be careful," Jisung said. "How many times have you done that already?"


    "You''re really lucky that there aren''t any cars around us when you do that," June said. "I told you that we could get into an ident."


    "But you guys never did," Jay sheepishly said. "Who knows? This might your saving grace in the near future!"


    "Anyway," Jay said, acting like he didn''t do anything wrong. "I have something inside thepartment for you, June."


    June frowned as he opened thepartment. Meanwhile, Jay went back to driving.


    Then, his eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw a familiar item inside.


    "That was given to me by theundrydy when I had your bag cleaned. I forgot that I left it there. She told me to discard it since it could be a explosive hazard."


    June picked up the phone¡ªhis old phone before Minjun gave him a decent one. Now, he had some money to buy thetest model, but he found himselffortable using Minjun''s phone.


    "That''s ancient," Akira said from the backseat. "You can even store it in a museum at this point."


    "You should be careful with it, bro," Jisung said. "It might blow up anytime."


    June inspected the phone and saw that the battery had caused the exterior stic casing to bulge. It did look like a hazard, so it was understandable that theundrydy wanted to discard it.


    June tried his luck and turned on the phone.


    He chuckled in amusement when he saw that it actually turned on!


    "It''s working," June said.


    "Don''t use it," Akira deadpanned.


    June shrugged and nced at the navigation. He saw that they still had around ten minutes before they arrived at the photoshoot site.


    So, he decided to explore his phone further.


    It already got hot even when it was turned on for barely a minute, but something caught June''s attention that made him unable to stop using it.


    He went through his notes and saw the poem he had seen a while ago¡ª'' I Shouldn''t Have Seen What I Did.''


    June inferred that it had something to do with the death of Jun Hao.


    Then, he saw other locked notes in his archive¡ªones that he couldn''t open and had forgotten up until this day.


    However, now that he knew more about Choi Joon-ho, he was able to figure out the passwords and open the notes.


    Mom''s birthday.


    June quickly inputted the numbers.


    "Flowers, a white polo, her favorite cheap cookies from the local mart," he muttered.


    It appeared like a normal grocery list, but June guessed that it must be the items that Joon-ho nned to buy for his mother''s funeral.


    My dearest friend.


    June smirked and inputted the words ''Haruto.''


    "Don''t lose yourself."


    "You''ve already buried your past."


    "You''re okay."


    He said those words in a small voice, but it seemed like Jay had heard him.


    "Aww!" he eximed. "You''re so sweet. I can''t believe you''re saying words of affirmation to me so early in the morning."


    June merely shook his head and clicked thest note on his phone, which seemed to be the most mysterious of all.


    BC


    June hummed. He wondered what it could be.


    The password''s hint was definitely the vaguest out of all.


    "A month and a name. A beauty under the rain," he whispered.


    He sighed as he wracked up his brain with what the riddle could mean. Why did Choi Joon-ho have to be so philosophical, too?


    June clicked his tongue and read the hint once more.


    A month.


    A name.


    He didn''t think much and just started inputting months.


    December.


    Incorrect password. Only four more tries before the note locks.


    He tilted his head to the side since it actually had a limit! How did this phone even have such a feature when it was so ancient?


    November.


    Incorrect password. Only three more tries before the note locks.


    October.


    Incorrect password. One more try before the note locks.


    June sighed in frustration. His strategy was actually to guess all the months of the year.


    However, that was impossible since he only had two tries left.


    And then...he froze when he realized something.


    His name was a month.


    With that, he quickly typed on his phone.


    June.

 Chapter 665 BC

    Chapter 665 BC


    ??It couldn''t be, right?


    Joon-ho couldn''t have foreseen the future, did he?


    Or was he nning to use the name ''June'' as a stage name since then?


    Incorrect password. Only one more try before the note locks.


    "Fuck!" June eximed, startling his members inside the car.


    If it wasn''t June, then what the heck could it be?


    Feeling frustrated, he haphazardly typed in ''May,'' which was the month before June.


    Who cares if the note doesn''t open? All the other notes seem to be unimportant!


    June was prepared to give up when he suddenly saw a white screen with ck scribbles staring back at him.


    He paused for a moment, trying toprehend what just happened.


    Then, he realized that he actually figured it out.


    The password was May all along!


    He didn''t ponder upon the meaning of the password since his curiosity was at its peak.


    What did BC mean, and why did Choi Joon-ho set up such a difficult password for it?


    BC


    A beauty in the rain


    Gave me something I didn''t know I needed


    But it brought immense pain


    That I had it seeded


    Buried, underground


    Where the sun doesn''t shine


    Where life took love


    Where flowers bloom


    ...where it was engulfed in mes


    And in mes, it did engulf.


    June saw something at the bottom¡ªalmost like an address.


    However, before he could even read a single letter, the phone was engulfed in mes¡ªliterally.


    A loud bang was heard inside the car just as Jay parked it.


    Then, the three of them looked at June and saw the exploded phone right on hisp.


    Jay screamed like a little girl as he quickly swatted the phone from June''sp and onto the car floor.


    "It''s going to explode!" he dramatically eximed.


    June sighed and ran his hand through his face. However, at that moment, he felt an adhesive material. He looked at his hand and saw the pimple patch, which had umted some pus, in his hand.


    June clicked his tongue and quickly wrapped it in a napkin before cing it in the van''s trash bin.


    Meanwhile, Jay and Jisung were still out of it!


    "I told you not to use it anymore," Akira said. "Throw it outside! Who knows? It might make the car explode into mes."


    "Oh, please, no," Jay said. "This car costs more than my sry for about five more years."


    June shook his head. "No. Have someone fix it for me," he said, tossing the exploded phone toward Jay''s way, making him squeal once more.


    "Or, at least, have the memory card saved."


    "What for?" Jay groaned as he looked at the phone like it was a bomb.


    "Just do as I say."


    With that, June got out of the car.


    However, he once again underestimated his poprity as fans flocked toward him as soon as he got out.


    "June!"


    "It''s June! It''s June!"


    "Waaah! He''s so handsome."


    "Take his picture, quickly!"


    The ''fans'' started screaming his name and other iprehensible things. Then, June suddenly felt dizzy with all the lights shing in broad daylight. He felt other people touch his body, and he felt defenseless at that point.


    Fortunately, the guards finally arrived, and they held onto June to support him and lead him inside.


    Jay and the others quickly followed, also being mobbed by an array of people. However, June had it worse since he was the first one out of the car.


    As soon as they made their way inside, Jisung patted his back.


    "Are you alright?" he asked. "You should have waited for us."


    June sighed. "Yeah. I wasn''t thinking at that moment. I''m still not used to it. We used to be able to go out of the car without trouble back then."


    "I''ve already told you¡ªthings have changed now," Jay sighed. "Don''t go out of the car on your own ord now, okay?"


    June nodded before following Jay to the make-up room.


    There, June had some time to think about what he had read on the former Joon-ho''s phone.


    He quickly brought out his phone from his pocket and typed what he had remembered.


    "Where the sun doesn''t shine. Where life took love. Where flowers bloom...where it was engulfed in mes," he muttered.


    The make-up artist, who was also a closeted EVE fan, froze as June said those words.


    "A new song?" she muttered, a small smile ying on her lips.


    Then, she proceeded to do his make-up with the brand that EVE was going to represent.


    It was a special edition lip tint that involved the characters in Naked Bearz. The shades were inspired by the bearz and their personalities, while their packaging also showed the bearz themselves.


    Since June was going to represent the pr bear, he would be wearing a muted pink, with hues of blue that represented the icebergs.


    "Oh, you have a pimple here," she said. "Somehow, you still look cute with it."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. Then, he bowed in acknowledgment since he didn''t think a pimple could ever be called cute.


    However, he didn''t really have much energy to ponder upon it since the note was still boggling his mind.


    Beside him were Akira and Jisung, who were also getting their makeup done.


    "Hey, guys," June said, capturing their attention.


    "Yup?"


    "Yeah, bro?"


    He sighed and decided to ask them the question.


    "What do you guys think B.C. means?"


    Akira chuckled loudly. "Oh goodness. You don''t know that? You''re supposed to be smarter than me, aren''t you?"


    "It''s the new channel in Britain," he deadpanned.


    June frowned in confusion.


    Meanwhile, Jisung scoffed. "That''s BBC!"


    "BBC?" Akira muttered. "Doesn''t that stand for something else? Big ck¡ª"


    "I know what it is!" Jisung eximed, cutting Akira off.


    "Isn''t that what we are right now? We have so many things that we''re like bees zooming around."


    "That''s busy," Akira eximed. "I think he''s talking about an acronym."


    "I am," June said, trying to extend his patience as he continued to listen to their nonsense talk.


    "Oh, then it''s British Columbia!" Jisung said.


    "I don''t think it''s a ce," June said.


    Akira chuckled, already feelingpetitive. He wanted to be the first one to say it!


    "I know it now. It''s Before Church. I heard B.C. a lot in the Vatican. Oh, and in history!"


    June was about to rake his fingers through his hair in frustration, but the makeup artist stopped him ahead of time.


    "That''s Before Christ. Goodness, why did I even bother asking you two?"


    "Bird Cage!"


    "Boot Camp?"


    "Ooh, Book Club. My mom is a part of one."


    "What about Bonsai Cultivar?" Akira smirked.


    "You know that, but you don''t even know Before Christ."


    "Buttercream!"


    "Briefcase!"


    June started tuning them out at one point, regretting even bringing up the topic.


    However, with Jisung''s utterance, it finally made sense.


    The briefcase!

 Chapter 666 Dont Forget

    Chapter 666 Don''t Forget


    ??"I think I got the answer," June said, finally halting their conversation.


    Jisung stuck out his tongue at Akira in victory, while Akira held himself back from pulling Jisung''s hair.


    As the two of them engaged in a silent fight, June also stayed silent.


    BC meant briefcase.


    June was sure of it even though there wasn''t a genuine confirmation from Choi Joon-ho.


    Well, he was dead now.


    So, unless June was to die, then he had no choice but to believe that the poem was rted to the briefcase. Moreover, there weren''t any usible reasons.


    The poem must provide clues as to where the briefcase was.


    Where the sun doesn''t shine


    Where life took love


    Where flowers bloom


    ...where it was engulfed in mes


    June thought hard about what the statements could mean, but he couldn''t think of anything right off the top of his head.


    A ce where the sun doesn''t shine? That would be London.


    Where life took love? Definitely Paris.


    Where flowers bloom? Anywhere in the world!


    Where it was engulfed in mes? Their kitchen.


    All of the clues were seemingly unrted to each other, which made June have a harder time deciphering what it could really mean.


    Before he could think too hard about it, though, they were called by one of the staff members to go to the shooting space.


    June was still a bit absent-minded as he walked to the set, so he failed to see who was going to be their photographer.


    "Oh, darling!"


    Before June could react, he felt a kiss on his cheek, making his eyes go wide in surprise.


    "Pablo?" June eximed.


    "Surprise. Surprise! I''m back again. Did you miss me?" he asked, fluttering his eyshes like he had magnesium deficiency.


    June sighed. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."


    "You''re the one who makes me sleep at night," Pablo said. "Now that I''ve seen your face, I''d be having a damn good sleep tonight again."


    June shook his head in amusement. "Is Jenny with you?" June asked, looking around.


    "Yes, she''s getting coffee for everyone," Pablo said. "So, let''s not talk about that woman and get to work! Chop, chop. I want the best for the boys today!"


    June couldn''t help but smile as Pablo directed everything in their shoot. Somehow, he was grateful that it was him once again.


    They had worked with plenty of brands in the past months, and they''ve always been treated well when Pablo was the photographer.


    "Yes, my darlings. That''s great. Pose for me again!"


    He clicked his camera, working his magic as the three members of EVE modeled the special limited edition lip tint.


    "Good, good. Now, why don''t Akira and Jisung put their lips close to each other?"


    "WHAT?!" the two of them eximed.


    "I''ll be willing to do it if it was June," Jisung smiled.


    "Me too," Akira chimed, but June quickly stood and shook his head.


    "I''m kidding!" Pablo eximed. However, deep inside, he also wanted to see it.


    "Just put your heads closer to each other. Make it look like you guys are the real bearz," he instructed.


    The members nodded and followed his instructions well.


    Because of this, they were able to finish the shoot faster than usual, so the members had no choice but to wait for Jay toe and pick them up after the shoot.


    Akira and Jisung were ying games in the corner of the room when Pablo entered through the door with a mountain of snacks in his hands.


    "I brought this for you, my darlings!"


    "Aww, Ji! You absolute idiot! I don''t have any mana. Why would you set up that y?" Akira asked.


    "Don''t me me for yourck of skills. You should have bought the mana boots sooner," Jisung deadpanned.


    "You''re saying that, but you have zero kills," Akira said.


    "I''m a tank, idiot!" Jisung said, his good-boy personality going down the drain. "And tell that to your five deaths."


    The two of them continued trash-talking each other, almost as if they werepeting in two separate teams.


    "Oh," Pablo said as he listened to their conversation. "Well, they''re quite chummy."


    June chuckled in amusement. "You can ce those here," he said, clearing the table.


    "These idiots will clear these snacks in a while, but right now, they''re caught up in their own world. Let me thank you on their behalf," June said.


    "It''s alright," Pablo said. "I came here especially for you."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What for?"


    "Don''t act like I don''t always look for you," Pablo chuckled. "You already know that you''re my favorite idol of all time¡ªeven when you were still a trainee."


    "Yeah," June smiled, looking down at hisp. "You were one of the many people who helped me in the past."


    "As much as I find you annoying, I realize that your presence was actually a great help," June said. "I probably wouldn''t have been able to debut if it weren''t for you."


    Pablo chuckled once more. "You''re giving me way too much credit. You would have been able to debut even if it weren''t for me."


    June thought back on those times before shaking his head. Now that Fu was gone and some of his skills were missing, there was a void in his heart¡ªone that couldn''t be filled even though his sister was already in his midst.


    "I don''t know," June shrugged. "Probably not."


    Pablo sighed as he observed June''s face. He had known him for an entire year, yet somehow, this was the only time he had seen June make such an expression.


    He almost looked...defeated.


    Pablo pursed his lips and brought something out from behind his back¡ªone he kept all throughout their conversation.


    June frowned as Pablo ced the red packet on hisp.


    "What''s this?" he asked.


    "Oh, shush," Pablo said. "I know that you love that stuff."


    June felt his heart skip a beat when he finally recognized the packaging.


    BenBen Gummies?


    How long has it been?


    "It''s...been a while," he muttered. "I think I forgot about the taste of it now."


    Pablo nodded, understanding June''s sentiment.


    "Yeah," Pablo said. "Sometimes, we forget the taste of something¡ªespecially when we haven''t consumed it in a while."


    "Maybe it just slipped our minds, or maybe we got caught in the whirl of life, and we just happen to not have any time to even think about it."


    "However, it''s still there," Pablo smiled, looking into June''s eyes.


    "The origin."


    June''s eyebrows immediately furrowed.


    Origin?


    "What? Origin? Did you just say¡ªorigin?"


    "Yeah," Pablo confirmed. "Your origin."


    June couldn''t believe his eyes and ears.


    "Fu?"

 Chapter 667 Cute Little Gummies Making Their Return

    Chapter 667 Cute Little Gummies Making Their Return


    ??June''s heart raced inside his chest. Fu had asked him to find his origin, and now, Pablo was mentioning it to him.


    Was Pablo Fu all along?


    "F U, too!" Pablo eximed with a confused expression. "Why are you suddenly cursing me out?"


    "I was just telling you to not forget where you came from¡ªwhere your origin lies," Pablo added.


    June''s frown deepened as he observed Pablo''s eyes. It seemed like he was genuinely confused when he called him Fu. Moreover, Pablo, although having a simr personality to Fu, was definitely a different person now that June thought about it.


    Fu loved to make him suffer.


    Pablo suffers because of June¡ªjust because he likes him so much.


    June scratched the back of his head. He might have gotten the wrong idea.


    "Right," he said, going back to the topic. "My origin."


    "Yes," Pablo said. "I know that your group had gotten big¡ªand rightfully so. I could never pass an alley without seeing your face, and it feels like only yesterday when you were begging me to take your profile shots in my studio."


    "Now, it seems like you''re unreachable."


    "However, even then, I hope you don''t forget your origin."


    "I could see that you''re tired," Pablo acknowledged. "It''s human nature. Everybody gets tired at one point¡ªthen, you start questioning why you even started this in the first ce."


    "However, the answer is within your heart¡ªburied," Pablo continued.


    June understood Pablo''s words. However, he felt like he couldn''t really apply it to himself.


    Then, he let out a bitter chuckle. "I don''t even know where I started."


    He was just forced to be an idol in the beginning. He didn''t have an ounce of passion. He didn''t even want to be an idol back then.


    Sometimes, it made him wonder if he truly deserved the spot he was in.


    "It doesn''t matter where," Pablo said, breaking his thoughts.


    "It''s a matter of how, why, and who were the people you were doing it for and the people who helped you reach it," he said.


    "Like I said, it''s hard to look down at the ground when you''re already high up in the clouds, but the skies will clear once the storm subsides."


    "You might be facing a storm right now," Pablo said.


    June didn''t say anything since the photographer was right.


    June was honestly just ignoring it¡ªhis dizzy spells, feeling like ''rest'' wasn''t truly ''rest'' anymore, even hating getting mobbed by his fans.


    However, his love for being an idol still hasn''t disappeared. Maybe it has diminished...or maybe Pablo was right; he just needed to go back to the beginning.


    Although, he still has no clue how he was going to do that.


    "It wouldn''t be easy," Pablo continued. "You might continue walking a flowery path, or this might be the bumpiest ride just yet. However, I want you to know that I''m always here for you¡ªstill waiting for that nude photoshoot."


    With Pablo''s joke, June burst into chuckles.


    However, what he didn''t know was Pablo wasn''t joking at all.


    He was dead serious about that nude photoshoot.


    However, seeing Juneugh like a little kid, Pablo decided that it would be a topic for another day.


    "Anyway," he said, bringing out more packets from his bag. "Here. I stacked up for you. These always seem to be sold out after more and more people discovered that you like them. So, I fought some little girls and brought all of the packets of gummies in the store."


    June looked at the seven packs of gummies in surprise.


    "These are so many. Why give me seven of these?" June couldn''t help but ask.


    Pablo shrugged. "I don''t know. I just bought everything in the store. Besides," he continued. "I think it''s a good number."


    June shrugged and looked at the cute gummy on the front of the packaging.


    "I better go then," Pablo said. "We still have a shoot with the Rising Starsdiester."


    June nodded and waved goodbye. "Thanks, Pablo."


    Pablo quickly gave June a hug before leaving the room.


    As he left, June tore open one of the packets and popped the red gummy into his mouth.


    As soon as the sweet c vor hit his tongue, he couldn''t help but smile.


    "Just as I remembered," he whispered.


    ***


    "I think she''s telling the truth," Lin Zhi said as he ced some files on the table.


    Laohu stopped sipping his tea and ced his cigarette on the ashtray as he went through the papers that Lin Zhi had brought in.


    "Mei," Laohu muttered as he looked at the girls'' supposed birth certificate. Then, he also looked at her application for Rising Stars, seeing that she wrote she didn''t have any siblings.


    "I thought it was weird that she kept denying her brother when I spoke to her that night, but she might not be acting."


    "Look," Lin Zhi said. "These are all photos from Mei''s parents'' ount."


    Laohu went through the photos and found that Mei had indeed been living with them for the past year.


    "These are all recent, though," Laohu said. "Where are the photos from her childhood?"


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue. "That''s something I find strange, too. Right now, I don''t think she''s lying about not knowing where the briefcase is. But then again, I could be wrong. If she''s really Jun Hao''s sister, then she must have some tricks up her sleeves."


    "Hmm," Laohu hummed, tapping his fingers on the table.


    "Moreover, I can''t seem to get close to her while she''s filming for Rising Stars. For some reason, Azure''s security had be tighter this time around. Actually, it''s only Mei that I can''t get close to. It seems like someone''s...protecting her."


    Laohu clicked his tongue as he mmed the papers on the table, surprising Lin Zhi.


    "It doesn''t matter," Laohu said. "Back off from her for now."


    "What?" Lin Zhi asked, his eyes wide with surprise. "How are we going to get the briefcase then?"


    "I''ve gotten some crucial information," Laohu said with a smirk. "Fortunately, a certain make-up artist was in dire need of money, and much to her satisfaction, I have some lying around."


    "Did you do something?" Lin Zhi asked in confusion.


    "Let''s just say that I had her record their conversation during their shoot today."


    Lin Zhi''s eyes widened even more. "What did they say? Did you get some dirt on them?"


    Laohu shook his head, causing Lin Zhi to sigh in disappointment.


    "It was just some nonsense talk."


    "However, I couldn''t miss one of their topics¡ªa briefcase."


    Lin Zhi turned to him while Laohu''s smirk widened further.


    "It seems like you''re right."


    "June must have the briefcase."

 Chapter 668 Elimination, Realization

    Chapter 668 Elimination, Realization


    ??It''s been a whole week since June''s conversation with Pablo, and he has been trying to find his origin ever since.


    However, no matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to get close to the answer.


    What was his origin?


    If he took up the literal and anatomical meaning, then his origin would be the time his parents decided to have sex without protection.


    But June doubted that was the answer.


    If it was the origin of his dream, then it would stem from the moment when he first realized that he actually enjoyed singing and making other people happy.


    However, then again, June didn''t know how exactly the answer would lead him to the sess of his mission.


    So, here he was, still searching his mind for an answer as his deadline continued to tick away.


    [Deadline: 51 days, 17 hours]


    At one point, June even thought that he could just forget about his origin¡ªto let his mission flow with the wind and to take a new system without any sentience.


    After all, Fu was an annoying motherfucker.


    However, his pride wouldn''t let him. He couldn''t stand still and watch his system fade away like it wasn''t the one who brought him here in the first ce.


    So, he must know his origin. He still didn''t know how¡ªbut someway, somehow, he''d be able to find it.


    Before all of that, though, June still had to host the very first elimination of the fifth season of Rising Stars.


    He waited as the girls finished with their self-intros before he entered the stage, dressed in an all-white suit that made the girls and the audience imagine that he was their husband.


    - This is a proposal for me.


    - I''m waiting for him toe home.


    - June, please go home soon. Our babies are waiting for you.


    "Good evening to everyone," June said in a serious tone. "Time has flown by quite fast. One day, you were all singing your audition piece, and now, here we are¡ªat your very first elimination."


    June looked around and saw the nervous faces of the girls. He caught a glimpse of Mei, which wasn''t very hard to do since she stood out from the rest of the girls, before subtly sighing.


    He wanted her to be eliminated so she could save herself from the idol industry, but he knew that it was nearly impossible for that to happen.


    In a span of a week, Mei skyrocketed in poprity. However, that also meant that she was currently the biggest punching bag in the show. She received hate left and right despite it not being her fault.


    This was what June was trying to protect her from.


    However, he felt that she was already in too deep.


    "We have a special mentor here tonight to apany me for the announcements tonight," June said.


    Then, the doors opened, revealing a tall and handsome figure. June couldn''t help but shake his head as the guy walked over to where he was.


    It was times like this that June thought he was actually quite cool and handsome.


    The girls immediately squealed as the guy took his ce next to June.


    "Good evening to everyone," Casper said. "I''m here to support June today. Thank you all for inviting me to the show."


    - OMG! Juneper is sailing.


    - I knew it. They love each other so much.


    - Did you see the way their hands brushed against each other? Oh, and they made eye contact, too.


    - Girl, of course, they need to make eye contact. They''re hosting a show together!


    - People just can''t ept that Juneper is real and they''re in love.


    - I feel like this weird shipping agenda only applies to K-pop artists. What would happen if you suddenly ship Western artists?


    - I''ll try doing that now. I''ll start with Drake and Kanye.


    "We won''t make you wait any longer. We will now announce the trainees who made it from the 41st to the 49th spot!" June professionally said despite the shipping agenda that was happening in thements.


    However, aside from that, another topic arose from the stream.


    - Wait, does June have a pimple?


    - Oh my gosh. You''re right! It''s very subtle, but there''s a small bump of redness on the tip of his nose.


    - Ew. He has a pimple? Wasn''t he known as the poreless idol?


    - He should take better care of himself.


    - Yeah, he looks like a hobo next to Casper with his pimple.


    - Dang, people are really brutal.


    - Pimples are normal. I hope everybody understands that.


    Fortunately, June wasn''t able to read thements at that moment.


    With that, Casper and June announced the surviving trainees back and forth, incorporating Minho''s strategies of making the participants and the audience wait in utter nervousness.


    Before they knew it, they were now down to the top 25 ranks.


    June pursed his lips as he looked at the unopened envelope¡ª


    one that contained those at the higher ranks. He knew that Mei''s rank would be high since she ced within the top ten during the preliminary voting.


    However, June didn''t want her to get past that. In his mind, she didn''t deserve to get such a rank. Moreover, it was going to be another avenue of hate if she was to be ced on the debut team.


    "Before we get into the top 25 ranks," Casper started off. "Let''s first watch this clip! It was a challenge for the girls to raise funds for children who are starving in war areas. People can donate as much as they can to the livestreams, then, the person with the highest profit will be granted a special advantage on the next mission!"


    "Please watch the clips they have posted on YouWatch, as the profit will all go to this cause," Casper said.


    June raised his eyebrows, unaware that something as such had happened.


    However, he wasn''t really surprised. They, too, had the livestreaming mission during their season.


    The video clip yed, so Casper and June sat for a moment to watch with the rest of the girls.


    Contrary to the past season, the girls settled with an intimate livestream that didn''t require them to scavenge for any items. Instead, they were going to talk about their lives while the staff randomly handed them some stuff that they had to incorporate in their stories.


    Heemin, ever as poised, was handed some rat poison. With that, she proceeded to share the value of each life on Earth.


    "Think twice before you ce this in your homes," she seriously said.


    "Then, ask yourself¡ªwhat if the little rat was a father and had a family to go home to?"


    - Aww, Heemin is such a sweetheart.


    - I knew I picked right when I chose her as my favorite!


    Meanwhile, June shook his head in amusement. It was obvious that the girl was only saying those words to elevate her reputation further. However, he couldn''t really me her.


    She was a smart trainee, and she knew how to use it to her advantage.


    Then, June paid more attention when Mei was shown on the screen. Out of a hundred trainees, she was given a cut, which once again spoke of her poprity.


    "I guess I''m here because I want to make a lot of people happy," she said, starting off with why she wanted to join Rising Stars in the first ce.


    "...and I just feel close to this ce¡ªlike it is the gateway topleting myself...and finding something that is lost within me,," she continued.


    Just then, she was handed a single umbre, so she scrutinized it with a small frown.


    June smirked as he leaned back against his seat.


    ''I bet she''s going to say that she loves the rain,'' he thought.


    However, with her next utterance, June was left speechless.


    "I really, really hate the rain."

 Chapter 669 Rainy Days

    Chapter 669 Rainy Days


    ??Rainy days.


    Despite their preferences shing most of the times, Mei Ling and Jun Hao both loved rainy days.


    How the air was colder and more humid.


    How the grass smelled unusually fresh as the first few drops of rain descended from the heavens.


    How you have an excuse to bezy because the surroundings are wet.


    How life sounded more peaceful because the internal noise was drowned out by the pelts of the rain.


    Except for soggy shoes and acid rain, the two of them liked the season a lot.


    However, it seemed like Mei had changed her preference, confusing June.


    "Why is that?" Mei read a question from the chat, cing her hand under her chin.


    "I don''t know if I could say this, but I don''t really mind sharing it," she said.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Did something happen to make Mei hate the rain so much?


    "I had an ident in the rain," she revealed, making him frown even deeper.


    - An ident?


    - What?


    - Why did our precious baby get into an ident?


    "It''s not that serious," Mei quickly said.


    Mei watched the scene from her seat and shook her head. She was already regretting oversharing to the camera.


    "I was just involved in a minor car ident," she continued. "A car ran into me, and the next thing I knew, I was in the hospital with my parents."


    June clicked his tongue. So, it seemed that her lost memories actually had a physiological reason.


    At that moment, it seemed like the producer from behind the camera continued asking her questions.


    "I honestly forgot what I was doing in the rain at that moment," she continued. "But, I just remember running...and running...and running¡ªaway from someone or to someone¡ªI don''t really know."


    She sighed and shook her head. "But that doesn''t matter, does it? It didn''t really take a toll on me that much. I just have this scar on my leg that strangely resembles a number, but aside from that, all is well."


    With that, her scene transitioned to the otherdies, yet June still couldn''t stop thinking about her answer.


    As far as he knew, she had lost her memories on the same day that he died.


    So, does that mean that Mei wasn''t in their home like she told him she was during that day?


    Theyers just kept unraveling and unraveling, yet June couldn''t pinpoint what the importance of eachyer was.


    The clip finally ended, yet June was still a bit dazed.


    "It''s time," Casper said, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    June looked up at Casper and stood before taking the microphone once more.


    "Now, let''s head to the 15th to 25th spots," Casper announced. "We are getting closer and closer to the top five!"


    Once again, Casper and June took turns announcing the trainees who had survived.


    By the tenth spot, June was hoping for Mei''s name to be called.


    "In the tenth," Casper started off. "We have Ara!"


    The cute girl sprung from her seat, excited to have risen in the ranks despite their loss in Team Kill Mission.


    Meanwhile, Mei frowned since she had the tenth spotst time.


    "When am I going to get called?" she muttered, already feeling uneasy.


    June looked at the next trainee on the list.


    "In ninth, we have Sejeong," he said, and the talented trainee went up the stage to give her mini-speech.


    "Just three more spots until the top five," Casper said, building the tension in the room.


    The girls became even more nervous; however, June was even more nervous!


    "Gosh," June muttered. "There''s no way she has dropped, so she could only go higher."


    Casper announced the trainees in eighth ce, and it seemed like June''s nightmare wasing true.


    By the time Casper announced the sixth-ranked trainee, June felt like his sister was once again going to be martyred online.


    "In sixth ce is Mina!" Casper eximed, making the girls turn to each other in surprise, gasps filling the entire ce.


    - What the heck? Mina''s in sixth ce? She deserves the second ce, at least!


    - She''s been training for more than five years. Why does she have such a low rank?


    - Is sixth a low rank? I think it''s pretty decent.


    - She deserves way higher. It''s not even in the debut spots.


    - Goodness, I can see the people who still haven''t been called, and I hate it already.


    - Don''t tell me¡ªTHAT girl is going to ce higher than Mina?


    - THAT girl deserves the 50th spot, to be honest.


    - She doesn''t even deserve to enter the top 50.


    "Umm, thank you all for voting for me," Mina said with a smile.


    However, even with a smile, she appeared to be quite disappointed. June pursed his lips as he empathized with how she felt.


    However, even with a smile, she appeared to be quite disappointed. June pursed his lips as he empathized with how She was the trainee with the longest training time out of all of them, yet she didn''t make it into the top five despite people rooting for her.


    It just seemed like a lot of people liked her, but not a lot of people took the time to vote for her.


    "I''ll work even harder so I can be a part of the debut team," she ended her speech with a sad smile, heading over to her chair.


    - She doesn''t need to work harder.


    - That''s right. She should be able to debut with how talented she is.


    - If anyone needs to work harder, then it''s her.


    - I swear, if she makes it into the top five, I''m going tomit arson in Azure''s building.


    - You guys are so cruel. Why don''t you vote for your fave instead of throwing hate at other trainees?


    June, despite his racing heart, opened the next envelope that contained the top five trainees.


    "We will now be announcing the trainees who made it into the debuting ranks," he started off.


    Then, his breath got caught in the back of his throat when he saw who was the first on the list.


    He clicked his tongue and subtly shook his head.


    High.


    It was higher than what June had achieved during the first eliminations.


    "In fifth ce, we have none other than..."


    "...Mei," June announced.


    The studio turned silent, with only some ps of courtesy from some girls. However, it was evident that they didn''t think Mei deserved such a high rank.


    The people in thements, too, started spamming the chat, which made it unable to be deciphered by a normal human''s eye.


    Mei pursed her lips and went up the stage despite the hostility in the room.


    June stared at her and found that she didn''t have any particr expression on her face. He frowned since she couldn''t read her at that time.


    Then, Mei took the microphone before saying her words¡ªone that June wasn''t expecting at all.


    "Hi," she started off, clearing her throat.


    Then, she proceeded to say one of the most ridiculous opening statements to a speech in the history of the show.


    "I know I don''t deserve this spot."

 Chapter 670 A Self Aware Queen

    Chapter 670 A Self Aware Queen


    ??- Oof. At least she''s self-aware.


    - Well, she is pretty real. I have to give her that.


    - But it''s literally not her fault that she has a high rank. Is it her problem that she''s just too likable?


    - Mina is likable too. However, you have to consider the factors surrounding her massive poprity. She''s the peak definition of pretty privilege.


    - Which isn''t her fault once again.


    - Sure, it is. She must have gotten stic surgery.


    - You need stic surgery.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    Mei looked dead serious, and June was quite afraid of what she was going to say.


    ''Please, reduce your bluntness,'' he said in his mind.


    "You might wonder why I''m even in the top five."


    "However, don''t worry. You''re not alone," she continued. "I''m asking myself that too."


    Casper couldn''t help but chuckle, causing June to click his tongue.


    "I''m not really good at dancing."


    "I''m not good at singing."


    "Rapping is something out of the question."


    "So, why am I even here?" she asked with a chuckle.


    "There''s just one answer," she said, looking straight into the camera. "It''s because of you, guys."


    "The more you talk about me, the more my name gets out there," she smiled.


    "I''m grateful for all the attention, but frankly, I don''t deserve it. There are plenty more girls here who deserve such attention because of their pure talent."


    "So, I suggest you stop talking about me," she said.


    - She''s pulling that reverse psychology shit.


    - She''s a genius. Now, people are going to talk about her even more!


    - I think she''s ying with us.


    - Somehow, this makes me want to talk about her more.


    "Because I don''t want to be the talk of the town with my looks or even my personality¡ªalthough these are important aspects of me," she calmly said.


    "Stop talking about me because of these."


    "Then, when you''re all silent, I''lle back and make you talk about my talents instead," she smiled at the camera, the room suddenly appearing brighter.


    "Before that happens, I''ll make sure to work hard...so you won''t have any choice but to talk about my skills and talents instead."


    - Mic drop?


    - Ngl. She is pretty cool.


    - Scoff. I wonder when that would happen.


    - She was mediocre during the Team Kill Mission, at best. The only reason why her team won was because people set the bar too low for them


    With that, she ced the microphone back on the stand and bowed at the audience before walking up to her seat¡ªwhere the debut line started.


    The debuting line''s chairs were different than that of the others. Instead of the usual transparent chair with the glittery pink number on the front and back, the debut line had cushioned chairs that appeared almost like a throne.


    However, the first-ce chair was definitely the most royal-looking out of all of them.


    Casper and June stood, and the former nudged June''s side as they walked back to the front.


    "She has you beat in the speech department now," Casper teased.


    "But don''t worry¡ªI still like you better," he assured.


    June shook his head and stood at the center with Casper to announce thest few trainees.


    Somehow, Mei''s speech made him feel a bit at ease. It seemed like Mei wasn''t too affected by all the attention that she was getting.


    However, that still doesn''t take away the fact that June didn''t want her to debut.


    The announcement of the other top five trainees was pretty expected, with Heemin taking the top spot.


    And just like that, the first elimination had now ended. The girls went to their eliminated friends, shedding tears and saying theirst goodbyes.


    Casper and June watched them from above, and it also made them reflect back on the times when their friends got eliminated. With that, the two of them left the girls to give them some time to gather their feelings.


    However, as expected, Azure was cruel. So, as soon as the cameras stopped filming, Yena announced that they were going to have an outdoor race at the open parking lot to determine the next teams and songs.


    The girls, still with their teary eyes, reluctantly left their friends to go outside the venue.


    Meanwhile, Casper and June went to their waiting room, where they got dressed and had their makeup removed.


    Casper was already done, and he was now waiting for June to finish getting his makeup removed.


    Then, he nced outside the window before frowning.


    "The girls are filming thiste at night?" he muttered.


    June chuckled. "Azure''s insane. They''re going to work them to the bone. Their next live show is on Wednesday, so they''re not giving them any time to rest. They need to churn out more content, too, since the show is already so popr."


    "I know," Casper said. "It''s insane how we went through it too."


    June closed his eyes and felt himself dozing off as the makeup artist removed his makeup for him. The feeling of something wiping your face was quite rxing.


    However, Casper''s next words led him to snap his eyes wide open.


    "Huh?" Casper muttered. "I didn''t expect it to rain today."


    June turned to Casper with furrowed eyebrows.


    "It''s raining?" he asked. "The forecast said it would be sunny all throughout."


    "That''s what I thought, too," Casper said. "However, sometimes, forecasts are wrong. It''s raining quite strongly."


    Then, he chuckled in amusement. "Look, the girls are all running away."


    June froze when he realized something. He stood from his chair despite his makeup only being half removed.


    "June," the makeup artist eximed in shock, but he ignored her words and went to where Casper was standing and pushed him slightly so he could take a better look at what was happening outside.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw a lone figure in the middle of the parking lot, already drenched in water.


    Although it was dark, June couldn''t be mistaken.


    It was Mei Ling.


    Then, from afar, he saw a car speeding down the road, almost as if he was targeting to go to Azure''s parking lot.


    He wasn''t sure if it was just his delusion, but June knew that Mei''s life was in danger as soon as she went to Korea.


    So, without any hesitation, he ran out of the room, ignoring the shouts from Casper.


    "Shit," he whispered continuously.


    He felt his heart racing inside his chest as he thought of all the possibilities of what could happen.


    Fortunately, it didn''t take him long before he reached where she was.


    As expected, it was Mei Ling, standing in the middle of the rain¡ª


    appearing to be out of it.


    "Mei Ling!"

 Chapter 671 Their Past Connection

    Chapter 671 Their Past Connection


    ??With the utterance of her real name, Mei turned to the culprit.


    There, she saw June standing in the middle of the rain, his clothes stuck to his skin and his hair nearly covering his eyes.


    However, even then, she couldn''t find it within herself to move.


    June, on the other hand, knew that he had to run to where Mei Ling was and pull her under the shade.


    But at that moment, somethingpelled him to stay still.


    Voices.


    Suddenly, there were voices inside his head.


    "Run!"


    "Run away and hide it!"


    "We need to save him!"


    June''s mind raced with memories that weren''t his.


    It was dark, cold, and rainy, like the moment he was currently in. However, it felt like he was in a different body.


    The scene now and the scene in his mind glitched, showing the present reality and what seemed to be a distant, forgotten memory.


    "You need to take this," a woman said, her voice young and beautiful.


    "You need this, right? I heard you talking to your friend and saying that you need it."


    "So, take it before they take it away from my brother."


    With that, the girl handed something to him.


    He looked down at it but didn''t find anything¡ªalmost like the item vanished right before his eyes.


    Then, she started screaming once again.


    However, at that moment, her face became clear.


    A month.


    A name.


    A beauty under the rain.


    "May?" he muttered.


    "Run now!"


    "They''reing!"


    "You need to make it quick!"


    With that, the scene went back to reality, and June now realized that the beauty under the rain might have been Mei.


    ...and that maybe, just maybe, Mei had something to do with the past Joon-ho even before all of this happened.


    With June snapping out of his daze, he went over to where Mei was. The car was getting nearer and nearer to where they were, but it seemed like she had no ns of moving.


    With that, he ran even faster and dragged her away just as the car entered the parking lot.


    June ignored how cold Mei''s body felt as he pulled her toward a secluded spot. Then, he faced her, appearing to be upset.


    "What are you doing?" he couldn''t help but exim in a loud voice.


    Mei looked into the distance as her eyes watered up.


    June sighed as he raked his fingers through his wet hair, trying to calm down.


    "What are you doing?" June repeated in a calm voice.


    Mei finally looked at June, but her eyes showed that she was still afraid.


    "What are YOU doing?" Mei asked, her voice filled with disdain. "We don''t even have anything to do with each other! So, why the hell have you been on my business ever since I entered the show?"


    "In fact, you''ve been on my business ever since! No matter where I went, you''re always there. I wanted to be an idol because I wanted to make other people happy, but they keepparing me to you!"


    "I don''t care if we look alike. You''re a different person, and so am I!"


    "Yes, I started thiste, but who the hell cares? I''m the one suffering. I''m the one practicing. I''m the one working hard for my dreams."


    "However, I''m still here¡ªtrying to figure out why I''m so broken. I can''t even stand in the rain without thinking of someone that looked awfully like you," she ranted.


    June listened intently, trying to digest her words.


    "Maybe it was me," June finally said, holding onto the visions he saw just a while ago.


    "What?" Mei asked in exasperation.


    "I haven''t been out of the country before. There''s no way I''ve seen you if you haven''t been where I''m from."


    "I''ve been to Shanghai," June muttered. "A year ago, before I even joined Rising Stars¡ªI was there."


    "So?" Mei snapped. "Do you think we''ve met when there are so many people in Shanghai?"


    "I believe we met that day," June continued, searching his mind for the answer. "The day you had an ident."


    Mei closed her eyes as she felt a headacheing in.


    "The ident," she muttered.


    "Can you really tell me what happened that day?" June asked, stepping closer to her.


    Mei clicked her tongue. "I don''t know, okay? I genuinely don''t know."


    "After the ident, everything became hazy in my memory. I don''t know who my friends were. I don''t know where I grew up. All I knew was that I was running and running until a car hit me."


    "I thought it was the end of it all, but I woke up in the hospital with my parents waiting for me," she exined.


    "Gosh," she said. "Why am I even sharing this with you?"


    "Come on. Think," June said, ignoring hertter statements. "There must be a reason why you were running. Were you running away from something...or perhaps, someone?"


    "No," she shook her head. "Wait, I don''t know. It felt like I was chasing after someone. However, the car ident happened after the chase had ended. Does that make sense?"


    "So, maybe it was both?" June asked.


    "You were running to someone before running away from another?"


    Mei closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to remember that day.


    For some reason, all of her past memories never came back to her¡ªexcept for this¡ªthe day of the ident.


    It was still pretty hazy in her mind, but with June''s presence, she felt that it was showing more vividly in her dreams.


    "I was running," she said in a soft voice. "I was also holding onto something."


    "I felt...anxious¡ªalmost as if somebody''s life was on the line if I didn''t manage to give away what was in my hands."


    "Then, I finally found him¡ªthe person who could help me. He walked swiftly, but I didn''t give up."


    "Despite the cold rain, I kept pushing through."


    "Then, he finally stopped," she said, a small gasp escaping her lips as the scene before her finally turned clear.


    Her surroundings were more apparent.


    She was outside of what seemed to be a warehouse.


    However, the man before her was still unfamiliar¡ªalmost as if there was a shadow luding his face.


    "Finally, I gave him something," she said, dictating the story that was painting itself in her mind.


    Mei gasped loudly as she opened her eyes, finally looking at June.


    "It''s you!" she eximed, pointing at him.


    June''s breath got caught in the back of his throat.


    Somehow, he already had a hunch. However, it surprised him nheless.


    It seemed like the story ran deeper¡ªmuch, much deeper than he had imagined.


    This web that they were entangled with¡ªit was almost impossible to think that all of it was random.


    It was like fate.


    "I gave you something," she continued.


    The two of them shared a thoughtful look before saying the next words simultaneously.


    "A briefcase."

 Chapter 672 Stop Dictating My Life

    Chapter 672 Stop Dictating My Life


    ??"It really is you," Mei said, her mind in shambles after the huge revtion.


    Meanwhile, June pursed his lips, also in disbelief at the turn of events.


    "So, you were the one who stole and gave away the briefcase. That''s why I couldn''t find it before I went to meet with Laohu," he muttered thest statement, making Mei unable to hear it.


    "What do you mean by stole? I didn''t steal anything," Mei defended herself.


    "What do you even know?" June asked. "You don''t remember anything, right?"


    Mei scoffed. "Why are you suddenly so hostile? I thought you were the one who wanted to know the truth? I don''t get why you''re ming me for something I''m not even fully aware of."


    "I didn''t steal anything. I may not know my past self, but I know well enough that I won''t do anything rash without a valid reason. If I did steal the briefcase, then it would be for the good."


    "For the good of what? You just ced yourself in danger. If you have left it in the ce that I left it, then I would have it by now. However, you have to give it to a stranger, and now I don''t know where to find it," June said, voicing out the frustrations he had been he had been bottling up for quite some time.


    Mei''s frown deepened. Then, she shook her head in disbelief.


    "Wait a minute¡ªwhy are you talking as if you know something about me and my life? I''ve never met you before, and even if I did, I''m sure that we didn''t have that kind of deep connection."


    June sighed in frustration. "Fuck, I don''t know what to do anymore."


    "You don''t know what to do anymore?" Mei eximed in frustration. "If there''s someone who doesn''t know what to do between the two of us, then that''s me!"


    "You''re being so cryptic, and I feel like I''m being left in the dark."


    "You keep acting like we''re close when we''re not."


    "Andst but not least, I have the feeling that you don''t want me to debut at all."


    June was about to interrupt her, but Mei didn''t let him.


    "I really thought you would be different considering the treatment you got from Mentor Gun during the past season, but you''re doing the same thing."


    "You''re not saying it explicitly, but I can feel from your actions that you don''t want me to be here!"


    June sighed. "It''s not like that. I''m just trying to protect you."


    "Protect me from what?"


    "From everything," June said. "Just¡ªjust trust me. You don''t want this. You''ve never wanted this."


    Mei nearly shouted, but she held herself back.


    "What do you know what I want?"


    "I came to this foreign country to pursue my dreams even if my parents disapprove of it. Nobody seems to believe that I am suitable for this dream, but I do. I believe in myself."


    "Isn''t that the most important thing?"


    "It''s not that simple," June said. "There are plenty of things in life that aren''t one- or even two- dimensional. You can''t just want something, and expect to get it."


    "Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don''t. But this particr dream will only put you in danger," June said.


    "Trust me," he whispered.


    Mei was silent for a moment, her eyes cast to the ground before she gazed up at June with stern eyes.


    "I don''t want to," Mei said, causing June to sigh in frustration.


    "Why can''t you just listen?" June asked.


    "Why can''t YOU listen?" Mei threw back the question to June. "Honestly, I don''t even know why I have to exin myself to you, but I''m doing this because I want to be an idol."


    "I don''t care if it''s dangerous. Anything in life is dangerous if you think about it," she said with a resolute voice.


    "And why the hell do you keep on insisting your own wants on me?" Mei asked. "Like I said¡ªwe''re not rted. You''re not my brother. I don''t need you to protect me."


    June closed his eyes and cast his head to the ground.


    Somehow, he knew that Mei''s words made sense. Why was he so concerned about her life when it was HER life¡ªespecially now that they weren''t siblings anymore?


    However, June had this nagging feeling inside his mind¡ª


    why can''t I protect her even in this life?


    He failed to protect her as Jun Hao.


    And now, he felt like he was failing to protect her as Joon-ho.


    He subjected himself to being part of a gang, which undoubtedly made Mei''s life more dangerous. Even though he tried his best not to let her get involved, it was still inevitable in the end.


    Now, he was an idol¡ªarguably much safer than being part of the gang. However, it was still harsh beyond words, and June wanted to protect Mei from the impending trouble that she was going to experience.


    Even now, she was already the punching bag of the show. What more if she actually got to debut?


    Moreover, Azure wasn''t the bestpany in terms of caring for their idols.


    "If you''re not going to say anything else, then I''m going," Mei said.


    "I appreciate youing after me in the rain, but I hope our rtionship ends here. I don''t want you convincing me that I shouldn''t pursue my dreams. I also don''t want you talking about this briefcase, because frankly, I don''t have a clue anymore," she continued, about to walk away.


    June sighed in frustration before speaking.


    "Just answer this question then," June said, causing Mei to stop.


    "Just this question," June repeated, not bothering to look at her.


    "Why did you REALLY be an idol?" he asked.


    Mei pursed her lips. "I already answered the question."


    "You''re not telling the entire truth," June said, already aware of her tone.


    Then, she looked away and yed with her cold fingers.


    "I was telling the truth," she muttered. "I woke up, and suddenly, I felt like I had to go to Korea and find something¡ªanything that would fill the void in my heart."


    "However, I didn''t know what that was, so I decided to explore my passions."


    "Then, that''s when I came across K-Pop and fell in love with it. I knew right away that it wasn''t just the simple emotion of enjoying content and music. It was much more than that¡ªI wanted to be a part of it."


    "So, I worked hard for an entire year so I could go here," she smiled, remembering her struggles of working part-time and convincing her parents to let her do what she wanted.


    "As expected, almost everyone was against what I was pursuing," Mei continued.


    "Why are you even doing all of this?"


    "Life''s alreadyfortable, so why won''t you stay?"


    She chuckled and shook her head as she answered the questions she uttered.


    "No matter howfortable I am, I just know that I won''t be fully happy."


    "There would always be a ''what if'' inside of my mind¡ªwhat if I pursued my real dreams instead?"


    "I didn''t want to have any regrets, so I came here as soon as I was scouted by Azure."


    "However, even now, I can''t really answer your question," she smiled.


    "Simply because¡ªthere is no answer."


    "So now, I''m deflecting the question to you," Mei said, turning around so she could look June in the eyes.


    "Why did you really be an idol?" she asked.


    June didn''t answer the question since he didn''t know how to respond.


    Then, Mei smirked.


    "The answer in your heart¡ªI bet it''s simr to mine."

 Chapter 673 His Last Day As Jian

    Chapter 673 His Last Day As Jian


    ??Mei really wanted to be an idol.


    That thought yed over and over inside June''s mind as hey in his bed awake.


    His rm had already gone off, but he decided to stay in bed¡ªalthough it was quite against his principles.


    June loved being early! However, somehow, he didn''t feel like getting up early at that moment.


    Instead, he stared up at the ceiling as yesterday''s conversation reyed in his mind.


    Maybe it was also because of his aching body and runny nose, but June attributed hisck of motivation to his mind.


    There were too many things going on inside of his head.


    "It seems like she really wants to be an idol," June said, remembering how Mei looked yesterday night.


    "I''ve always supported her since then," he continued. "There were times when I was against her wishes, but somehow, I still caved in. Is this what they call a brotherplex?"


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Jay, who was already in his full get-up. He was wearing an alligator-patterned suit this time, and his hair was styled into neat spikes.


    When he saw that June was still in bed, he stopped in his tracks and looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "You''re still not ready?" Jay asked.


    June groaned and closed his eyes as Jay opened the windows.


    "I got up extra early today because it''s yourst shoot for Untouched Souls!" Jay said.


    "Is it?" June asked, already losing track of his schedules.


    "Yeah," Jay said. "You have to shoot the most integral scene for your character."


    June clicked his tongue and sat up on the bed.


    Jay frowned as he observed his appearance.


    "You look a bit pale," he remarked.


    Then, he walked over to where June was and ced his hand over his forehead. Jay''s eyes widened when he felt June''s temperature.


    "Woah, you''re hot," Jay said, causing June to nod.


    "Thanks. I get that a lot," he said, his eyes half-shut.


    "Yeah, you are hot," Jay chuckled. "But not like that. You''re hot as in hot¡ªlike warm."


    "Oh," June said before checking his temperature. "I guess I am. I didn''t even notice."


    "What did you do yesterday? Did you go frolicking under the rain?"


    June clicked his tongue. "I guess so."


    Jay sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "You should have been more careful."


    June merely shrugged, causing Jay to pursue his lips as he came up with a possible solution.


    Then, he pursed his lips. "Do you want me to tell Director Jam that you''re running a fever?"


    If this was any other shooting day, then June would have agreed. However, the scene they were going to film today was undoubtedly the most important scene for June''s character!


    Moreover, it would be thest scene he would film before his role was finally done, so he decided to just go.


    "It''s alright," June said, standing from the bed to take a shower.


    "Are you sure?" Jay asked, sounding concerned. "I''m sure they could still reschedule it since you have a valid reason. And even if you didn''t have a valid reason, Director Jam will still permit you to do so."


    June once again shook his head.


    "Yeah, it''s alright. Maybe the shower will help me feel better."


    ***


    The shower, in fact, didn''t make June feel any better.


    It actually made him feel sicker than he already was.


    As they arrived at the filming site, Jay had to tap June to awaken him.


    His eyes were droopy, and his skin and lips were paler than usual.


    "I can make a U-turn to go to the hospital, you know? It''s quite near here," Jay said.


    June waved him off. "It''s fine. I''ve been through worse."


    With that, he got out of the car to go to their filming site.


    He was greeted with cheers and farewells as he made his way to the make-up room, where the hair and make-up artist was already waiting for him.


    "June!" she eximed. "Goodness. You should havee earlier. The other actors are already getting dressed."


    "Sorry," June smiled with droopy eyes. "I don''t need much make-up, do I?"


    "You actually do," the make-up artist sighed as she ced some pins on his hair.


    "You''re going to act very sick today, so I need to make you look less vibrant than usual. That would be a pretty hard task since you always seem so handsome and vibrant."


    However, as the make-up artist observed his face, she realized that she might not do a lot after all!


    "Did you put something on your face beforeing here?" she Directly support the authors on WebNovel!


    asked.


    "Nope," June said with closed eyes.


    "Did you put something on your face beforeing here?" she asked.


    "Oh," the make-up artist said as she started with the process. "I guess your face is cooperating with us today. You really don''t need much make-up for your role."


    The make-up artist held up to her word since it only took June a couple of minutes before he was finished. All she had to do waszily tie his hair and dress him in a simple white robe.


    With that, he went out to where they were going to film the scene.


    June was the only person they were waiting for, so they sighed in relief when they finally saw him grace the scene.


    "There''s the main character of the night," Hana said as June weakly walked towards them.


    "Dang," Taehyun said as soon as he saw him. "The make-up artist did a good job on you. You look really sickly."


    June smiled. "Well, I do need to get into character, right?"


    "Yeah," Taehyun chuckled. "The scene hasn''t even started, yet I already pity you."


    The other actors nodded in agreement. Director Jam was also satisfied with June''s look and get-up, so he quickly decided to start the shoot.


    "Good morning, guys!" he greeted. "We''re onto thest hurdles of the filming, and today, we''re going to be filming the climax."


    "This will be June''sst day with us as Jian, so let''s all do our best for today!" he eximed, making the actors and the crew all cheer for June.


    June smiled and bowed at them despite his aching body. After Lin Zhi was kicked out of the set, it seemed like their filming went more smoothly and was more peaceful, which led June to appreciate the production even more.


    Although it had caused him stress and tiredness, June felt that he was still going to miss the filming¡ªespecially with the talented actors and the kind staff members.


    "Thank you, everyone," June said. "Let''s all aim for one take today!"


    He said those as words of encouragement. However, it was also for his own sake. He felt that they needed to finish it in one take if he wanted to rest as soon as possible.


    "Alright," Director Jam said. "Let''s not be too sad that June is going to leave."


    Taehyun chuckled as he nudged Hana''s shoulder. "It seems like he''s the most disappointed," he whispered, causing thetter to chuckle.


    "In 3...2...1..."


    "Action!"

 Chapter 674 Hes Fully In Character!

    Chapter 674 He''s Fully In Character!


    ??The scene they were about to film was the one added by Risa and Director Jam at thest minute. Almost everyone was on the set, from actors to staff alike, wanting to witness this particr scene.


    Moreover, Risa wanted to see if June could pull off the scene that she had written¡ªknowing that he had been improving tremendously throughout their filming process.


    The scene was an integral part of June''s character and also the game changer of the entire movie.


    If, at first, June''s character was going to die a miserable death in the middle of the movie, then Risapletely changed the character.


    Jian was still going to die.


    However, she wrote the scene to make the audience regret hating him in the first ce!


    He will be the key person to help Seon, the main character, to unite all of the emotions together and finally bring peace to theirnd.


    As Director Jam called to start the filming, everybody on the set turned quiet.


    The actors snapped into their characters in an instant, making those watching from the sides amazed by their professionalism.


    They were situated on top of a cliff, where the ruins of a city lie. The war had taken its toll on a small city in the country, taking the lives of many innocent civilians.


    Seon, the leader of the Ivory pack, was saddened because he couldn''t do anything about the situation. However, he believed that the world isn''t a lost cause.


    He might not have stopped the murder of this city, but he shall put an end to it once and for all.


    The air became heavy as Yian, with the leader of the Crimson pack in his grasp, stood poised for power.


    His half-brother Jian, though visibly weakened, stood faithfully by his side¡ªa shadow of his former self.


    Across from them, the leaders of the other factions, bound by both loyalty and love, stood in defiance.


    Yianughs manically as he stared at the two lovers.


    It should have been him who was right by Mika''s side.


    However, Seon had to take that away, too.


    Hisugh sent chills to those watching from the side, and all of them believed that recing Lin Zhi with another actor became another saving grace of the movie.


    Yian believed that if he couldn''t experience love or aplete family, then nobody else in this world should.


    Everything should be fair.


    Nobody gets left behind.


    "Once I consume Red''s soul, hatred will be the only thing that will reign in the world!" he loudly eximed with mockingughter.


    His words dripped with venom as he taunted them with the promise of a future devoid of any warmth, consumed only by the mes of hatred.


    Seon, feeling the weight of his lover''s gaze upon him, finally looked at Mika.


    The camera focused on Hana''s stare, capturing the silent plea that urged Seon toward a desperate choice.


    She didn''t have to say anything for the viewers to understand what she was saying.


    Mika knew that to survive in this merciless game of power, they must embrace the darkness that threatened to consume them all.


    "No," Seon whispered as he shook his head.


    "You need to," Mika whispered back. "The only way you can beat him is if you consume my soul before he does with Red."


    "That''s the only way we can save the world," Mika said.


    Seon pursed his lips. Indeed, this action might save the world...


    ...but he will lose his world instead.


    "Mika, we¡ªwe can''t do this. You have to stay with me, hmm? We have to do this together."


    "We will," Mika said, holding onto his hand. "We''ll continue to do it together..."


    "...just not in the way you''ve imagined."


    "However, even when I''m not physically around, my soul will continue to be with you."


    Seon was about to say something more when Yian''sughter reached a new peak.


    "I knew it," he chuckled. "You wouldn''t be able to do it."


    "You don''t have the guts!" he spat.


    "Do you think you have the right to rule this world when you''re so weak with love?"


    "See¡ªyou made your love a weakness. While I made my love a strength. Now, you''d have no choice but to see me rule the world that you had high hopes for."


    With that, Yian chanted a spell to consume the soul of Red, who was struggling in his hold.


    If, back then, Red could beat Yian, then he felt that Yian was now too strong to defeat.


    Yian continued to chant, feeling the power in his body increasing.


    However, it seemed like he couldn''t fully consume Red''s soul despite his efforts.


    Mika and Seon did not move, afraid of what Yian would do.


    Yet, at that moment, Seon felt that Yian wasn''t as strong as he painted him to be.


    "What''s this?" Yian whispered.


    He tried chanting the spell once more; however, he still couldn''t consume his soul!


    He tried over and over again, yet to no avail.


    Yian sighed in frustration, his hold on Red tightening as he felt Seoning closer to him.


    "Don''te closer!" he eximed, making Seon halt his steps.


    "How can this be?" he muttered.


    He had spent thest few years mastering this technique. He had achieved this with the help of Jian''s potions, lessons, and information from people across the world!


    How could it not work?


    Then, Yian''s eyes shifted, slowly turning to his half-brother.


    The camera focused on June, who weakly coughed while trying to maintain hisposure.


    Director Jam shook his head in amazement. It was such a small action, yet so important to the scene!


    It was a foreshadowing of the fact that Jian had been betraying him by creating faulty potions and spells, which took a toll on his body in the long run.


    "Y¡ªyou didn''t, did you?" Yian asked with narrowed eyes.


    There was no way!


    His brother had always been there¡ªalways supporting him in everything he did.


    He never questioned anything.


    He was kind¡ªunbelievably so.


    He followed every order.


    He was obedient.


    He was thest person in this world that could betray Yian.


    However, at that moment, when the two of them shared eye contact, Yian finally realized.


    "Jian!" he eximed, and the weak boy closed his eyes as he felt the world rock side to side.


    Jian became increasingly pale as he shook his head, trying to get rid of his dizziness.


    "It''s done," he muttered in a cold voice¡ªvery unlikely of his obedient persona.


    Everybody held their breaths as Jian opened his eyes and gazed into the camera.


    "Beautiful," Director Jam muttered. "Just beautiful."


    "It''s over, Yian," he smiled, his pale lips forming into a smile.

 Chapter 675 Maybe He Isn’t Acting After All

    <h4>Chapter 675 Maybe He Isn''t Acting After All</h4>


    A shadow.


    Light cannot exist without a shadow.


    Yian always thought he was the shadow.


    However, it seemed like there was another shadow in his midst¡ªthe one who was truly in the shadows.


    Jian, his half-brother, who had lived behind his spotlight since he could ever remember.


    "You didn''t!" Yian eximed with hatred. "I did everything for you."


    "No," Jian said, having another coughing fit.


    ''Goodness,'' Hana thought. ''He''s really keeping up with this sick persona. How could it be so believable?''


    With June''s passionate acting, almost everyone involved in the scene became more fired up.


    It spiraled even to the extra characters, which led Director Jam to be even more satisfied.


    "I was the one who did everything for you," Jian started off.


    "I was never good at anything," he started off, already sounding defeated. "I never excelled. I was never good enough. I was just¡ªnot bad."


    "However, you always told me that I was very malleable, and for a long time, I thought that was a good thing. It was the very first supetive I had ever heard," he chuckled, his eyes showing unshed tears.


    As Ann watched the scene through the screen, she couldn''t help but feel sad.


    She knew they were talking about fantastical powers and such, but it felt like June was speaking for the people out there who still didn''t know what they wanted¡ªwho they were, what made them happy, and what their purpose in this world was.


    "You''re not bad."


    "This is pretty good."


    "A decent job."


    "Those were the words I heard most of my life, so whenever you called me to bepetent, I felt that I finally had something to contribute to the world."


    "Oh, stop being a sob story, Jian," Yian eximed. "I didn''t say those words with meaning. Stop thinking too much and just stay by my side. Join forces with me so we can rule the world together."


    Jian chuckled, a lone tear escaping his eyes as he bit his lips.


    They were now cracked, bleeding as he continued to bite on them.


    "I know," he said. "I was just...stupid."


    "I believed everything I saw. I followed everything you said. I thought it was the truth¡ªeverything you showed me."


    "I guess they''re right when they say that sheep stay inside their box even if the fence isn''t there."


    "However, I now realize that the fence is invisible and that the shepherd is evil."


    "Yian, for so long, I couldn''t contribute anything to this world."


    "However, now, I feel like I can."


    With that, Jian brought something out of his pocket¡ªa dagger.


    Yian''s eyes widened when he saw the dagger in his hands. It was the only dagger in this world that could kill Yian and his ck magic!


    Then, Jian turned to Seon and Mika.


    "Let the light reign over the shadows," he said, throwing the dagger toward their way.


    "No!" Yian eximed, ready to put up a fight.


    At that moment, he quickly snapped Red''s neck, ready to consume his heart and be even stronger than he was.


    However, Seon had enough.


    Seeing his friendy lifeless on the ground, Seon felt something snap within him.


    Now that he had the means to kill Jian, he felt a surge of strength go through his veins.


    Mika nced at Seon and nodded, using her powers to help her lover win this fight.


    However, it wasn''t without any struggle.


    Despite Jian''s sabotage, Yian was still strong. So, the two of them struggled to fight against him in his current state.


    Yian brought out a dagger of his own¡ªstill a powerful one.


    Jian, on the other hand, tried to help Red. However, it was to no avail.


    He was too weak, clutching onto the ground, as he felt his actions taking a toll on him.


    Jay, who was watching from the side, clutched his hands together.


    "My June is so good at acting," he muttered. "He looks so pitiful. I don''t hate his character at all now! I forgive you!"


    Ann, however, noticed that something was off.


    She nudged Director Jam''s shoulder.


    "Isn''t he acting quite well?" she asked.


    Director Jam nodded, his gaze settling on June.


    "Very much. I guess he meant it when he said we should end this with one take! He looks like he''s really dying."


    "Hmm," Ann muttered, wondering just how good an actor June really was to be doing this so realistically.


    The three faction leaders continued to fight. Although there weren''t any special effects added to the scene, it already looked epic. The staff could already imagine how good the scene would look once they actually added some special effects!


    Then, at that moment, Seon made a grave mistake, leading Yian to get a hold of the deadly dagger that Jian had curated.


    It was the type of dagger that could kill even the strongest in thends¡ªwhich included Seon.


    He pointed the dagger to Seon, a wide smirk appearing on his face.


    Seon narrowed his eyes as he tried toe up with a solution to the ongoing crisis.


    Meanwhile, Yian wanted to see Seon suffer before he finally killed him.


    So, he redirected the sharp edge of the dagger to Mika instead, wanting to see Seon witness the death of his lover.


    Seon''s eyes widened.


    The scene went fast, with Yian flying to Mika, ready to kill her with one blow.


    However, at that moment, just as the de touched Mika''s skin, Jian ran to where they were, allowing himself to take the hit of the dagger.


    Everybody''s eyes widened in surprise, enamored by the scene.


    Yian, too, found himself shocked.


    Seon, on the other hand, didn''t let himself be distracted from his objective.


    He grabbed the dagger from Jian''s abdomen and finally stabbed Jian''s heart, making him freeze on the spot.


    Then, he fell to the ground, a look of betrayal painting across his face.


    Meanwhile, Mika caught Jian in her arms, covering the bloody wound on his abdomen.


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    "Oh goodness," Mika said, trying to save him. "You can''t die. You''ve done so much."


    wound on his abdomen.


    "Oh goodness," Mika said, trying to save him. "You can''t die. Jian chuckled despite the tiredness he felt in his body.


    His eyes were almost closed as the twosting survivors looked at him with pity.


    "Help ising," Seon said. "We''ll get you back to the Ivory pack and go to a healer right away."


    "It doesn''t matter," Jian said with a small smile, the blood from his face quickly draining.


    Ann looked around to see if anyone else had also found it weird that June was increasingly bing more sick-looking!


    However, it seemed like all of them were captivated by the acting performance, feeling like they were watching it in the cinemas already.


    "This dagger¡ªit''s foolproof. I made it," he proudly said.


    "Yeah, yeah," Seon said. "You did a great job. You saved us."


    Jian''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and at that moment, he looked like a child who earned his firstpliment.


    At that moment, everybody realized just how beautiful a soul Jian truly had.


    He wasn''t evil.


    He was just born into it.


    With that, the staff members started praising Risa for a job well done on the script.


    "I did a great job," Jian muttered, looking down at Mika''s hand.


    Then, he slowly removed her hand away from the wound despite Mika''s defiance.


    "It''s okay," he smiled, appearing pitiful.


    "I did a great job," he smiled.


    "I finally contributed something good to this world."


    With that, his eyes slowly closed, and his head lulled to the side, a lone tear escaping the side of his eyes.


    Hana''s sobs were heard in the studio as she cradled June''s limp body.


    Everything hit them¡ªthe people they lost and the things they''ve sacrificed.


    However, it was over.


    They had won.


    Meanwhile, Seon knelt by his lover and held back his tears, the camera unfocusing on them and showing the chaotdscape.


    The set was silent as they took in the scene.


    Then, when the time felt right, Director Jam finally shouted.


    "Cut!"


    The actors stayed there for a while, still caught up in their feelings. Then, after a few seconds, they finally stood and thanked each other for a job well done.


    However, one person remained still.


    "June," Hana chuckled as she shook his body awake. "You''re really into your character now, huh?" she asked, sounding sad that his character had died.


    "June," Taehyun said, ready to shower the idol withpliments.


    However, he remained unmoving.


    Director Jamughed loudly.


    "Goodness, he''s fullymitted to this."


    "June!" he eximed. "Time to wake up, bud."


    However, even then, his eyes were still closed.


    That was when Hana realized that something was wrong.


    Then, she looked up at everyone with wide eyes.


    "I don''t think he''s acting anymore!"

 Chapter 676 Collapsible June

    <h4>Chapter 676 Copsible June </h4>


    "Shit," June muttered as he woke up in a familiar room.


    However, he wasn''t the only person in the room.


    In fact, there were multiple people there¡ªHana, Taehyun, Jay, and Director Jam? They were drinking coffee from the nearby table, talking to each other with worried expressions.


    "Howe I didn''t notice?" Hana muttered.


    "Well, to be fair, I thought he was acting his heart out," Taehyun chuckled.


    June frowned in confusion as he sat up on the bed.


    Surprisingly, he didn''t feel any dizziness. Instead, he felt well-rested¡ªlike he was a new person!


    "He''s awake!" Taehyun eximed when he saw the movement from the corner of his eyes.


    They quickly ced down their cups of coffee and went over to where June was.


    "Is the shoot over?" June asked, his voice deep since he had just woken up.


    Jay shook his head in disappointment and gently nudged his head.


    "Really? That''s the first thing that you ask?"


    June nonchntly shrugged. "Well, it was myst day of filming. It''s only normal that I ask if I was able to aplish my work before I copsed. So, did we get a good enough take, at least?"


    Director Jam sighed before nodding. "It was perfect. We don''t have to retake anything."


    June smiled in satisfaction. "That''s nice."


    "No, it''s not nice," Hana countered. "How can you say that when you''re lying on a hospital bed?"


    June noticed that he was hooked to an IV line.


    "I''m just tired," June said.


    "For weeks now," Jay said, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.


    "Actually¡ªmonths," June smiled, correcting him.


    Hana shook her head. "Well, I could only imagine. How many projects have you done? After Rising Stars, you had to quickly prepare for your debut. Then, you joined King of Kings not long after. Not only that, but you also went to Disguise Surprise Singer and Quiz God. Weren''t you in that webdrama too? Now, after preparing for youreback, you''re participating in Rising Stars once again while filming for Untouched Souls and various projects."


    "Dang," Taehyun said. "How long have you been working again? Has it been years?"


    "11 months," June said, making the actors'' eyes widen in surprise.


    "DANG!" Taehyun repeated, his voice louder this time.


    "Why didn''t you visit the hospital to get checked out?" Hana asked in concern.


    June turned to Jay. "I already had a check-up scheduled. Right, Jay?"


    Jay nodded. "Yeah¡ªhe''ll have it in about a month."


    "A month?" Hana asked with wide eyes.


    Jay scratched the back of his head. "It''s his only free day. That''s how packed his schedule is. I even have to cancel a schedule and move it tomorrow night for this to happen."


    Hana shook her head. "Azure''s overworking him."


    "The other boys, too," Jay said. "But more especially June. He just can''t catch a break."


    "Then, I guess it''s a good thing that he copsed," Director Jam said in a worried tone. "Now, he can get checked by a doctor."


    Jay nodded in agreement. "I''ll stay with him to wait for what the doctor will say. Currently, they think he''s fatigued and somewhat dehydrated. However, I think Dr. Oh still wants to run some other tests."


    Hana nodded. "Yeah, you should get everything checked out now that you have the chance."


    June nonchntly nodded. He really felt that everything was fine! Aside from his dizzy spells and getting the least required amount of sleep for a human being, he felt strangely okay.


    "You guys better go," June said. "You still have to film some other scenes tomorrow, right?"


    Hana nodded, but she was still reluctant to leave June all alone.


    "Are you sure?" Director Jam dramatically asked, even holding onto June''s arm. "We can dy the filming a bit."


    June shook his head. "I''m alright. Jay''s here to take care of me."


    Jay nodded in agreement. "I''ll update you about his status."


    The three of them, despite wanting to stay, eventually agreed since it was getting prettyte.


    "Tell me everything, okay?" Hana eximed as she went out of the door.


    June chuckled in amusement. "Yeah, yeah!" he called out as the three of them left.


    Then, Jay was about to give him an earful about taking care of himself better when his phone suddenly rang, signaling a phone call.


    He looked at the caller ID and saw that Casper was calling him.


    "The guys must be worried," he muttered.


    Then, he turned to June. "I''ll take this real quick. I bet the boys are wondering what happened."


    June nodded, feeling like he was saved. "Yeah, go ahead. Take your time!"


    With that, Jay walked to the door.


    However, before he left, he turned around and narrowed his eyes at June.


    "Don''t try anything funny now, okay?"


    "Stay here in this room and wait for me toe back. Dr. Oh told us to wait for him after he conducts his rounds."


    "Yeah, yeah," June nonchntly said, opening his phone and acting like a behaved little student.


    "I''ll be right here."


    "You better," Jay said, finally leaving the room so he could talk to the panicked boys that he left at home.


    Meanwhile, June shook his head.


    As if he was going to listen to Jay!


    He was in the hospital where Grandma was staying! Of course, he has to visit her.


    With that, he turned off his IV, carefully removed the cann from his vein, and ced a bandaid over the opening.


    "That''s better," he muttered, already feeling familiar with the room he was in.


    It was one of the deluxe rooms (courtesy of Dr. Oh), and only a few people got to stay at the deluxe rooms because of its expenses¡ªone of which, was Grandma!


    After putting on his clothes, he skipped down the hallways until he arrived at a familiar door.


    Then, he knocked.


    "Come in," Grandma said, her voice weaker than June had anticipated, causing him to frown.


    Nheless, he was excited to see her after a while, so he enthusiastically opened the door.


    Much to his surprise, she wasn''t the only one there.


    There was a nurse and a medical technologist inside, drawing some blood from her.


    On the seat next to the bed was Minjun, who appeared to be ying a game on his phone.


    "June!" Grandma eximed, causing the adolescent to lift his head and look at the guy with wide eyes.


    "You''re here?" Minjun asked, cing down his game and walking over to the older guy to give him a bro hug.


    June nodded. "I was in the area, so I decided to visit."


    "Well, sit down. They''re just taking some of my blood so they could run some tests."


    "I''m on my fourth round of chemo already, and they want to see how I''m responding," she smiled.


    However,despite her smile, June could see that she was in a lot of pain. Moreover, her hair was thinner than before, with some bald patches here and there. Nheless, June was grateful that she managed to keep her weight despite the harsh treatment.


    June waited patiently until the two health workers were done.


    "There, all done! Now, we''ll leave you to talk with your grandsons."

 Chapter 677 Everybody Gets Buzzcut!

    <h4>Chapter 677 Everybody Gets Buzzcut!</h4>


    As soon as the two health workers were out of sight, June went over to where Grandma was to give her a tight hug.


    It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like June hadn''t seen her in forever.


    "Grandma," he muttered into their hug.


    Despite her clothes smelling strangely of hospital disinfectant, June could still feel the warmth and hominess of her scent.


    "Oh, my grandson," she smiled. "How I''ve missed you."


    June broke away from their hug and looked at her with bright eyes.


    "Are you feeling okay?" he softly asked.


    "Well, I''ll be honest and say that I''m pretty tired and bored, but seeing you now has gotten me all fired up," she happily said.


    June chuckled in amusement. "Well, I''ll be sure to visit more often then. I''ve already finished filming Untouched Souls, so I''ll have more free time now."


    "That''s great!" she eximed. "When is the movie going to be aired?"


    "I think at the end of the year?" he responded.


    "Let''s watch it together then," Grandma said.


    "Hey, no fair," Minjun said, joining them by sitting on the bed. "I want to watch too."


    "It''s not suitable for children," June teased.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and stood, showing off his height. "I''m all grown now. I''ll probably catch up to your height in two or three more years."


    June shook his head. "Let''s see about that."


    Now that he was back to eating BenBen gummies, June was sure that Minjun wouldn''t surpass him!


    However, from the looks of it, the kid would grow to be more than 180 cm in the future.


    However, he was smaller than June now, so he wanted to enjoy the moment for a little longer.


    Meanwhile, Grandma continued to observe June, noting that he had lost weight and his eyes looked a bit more tired than before. So, she went ahead and touched his hand. However, she frowned when she saw that he had a band-aid over it.


    June was surprised by her sudden touch, so he gently recoiled his hand.


    "Are you alright?" Grandma asked with a concerned frown. "Why do you have a band-aid over your hand?"


    "Well, you know," June chuckled. "I run through different sets¡ªmovies, variety shows, EVE''s content. It''s hard to know where I get these little scrapes."


    Grandma shook her head. "You should be more careful, son."


    "And what''s with you losing weight? Are they not feeding you well in Azure?"


    "And your dark circles! I gave you that eye cream to get rid of them, right? However, it seems like they''re back. That means that you''re not getting enough sleep!"


    June pursed his lips since Grandma hit the nail on the head.


    "I''ve been seeing you all over TV, and you seem to be the busiest idol these days. Can''t you tone it down? You''re already working too hard."


    June scratched the back of his head as Grandma continued to scold him in a loving manner.


    He knew that refuting her wouldn''t be a wise choice, so he decided to divert the topic instead.


    "You shouldn''t be too worried about me," he chuckled. "I''m not the one confined in the hospital right now."


    Well, he technically was, but Grandma didn''t have to find out about that, right?


    "Shouldn''t I be asking you about that instead?" June asked.


    "How have you been?"


    Grandma clicked her tongue. "Silly child. I''m fine, of course. I''ve been getting the expensive treatment that my daughter is paying for. How can I not be fine?"


    "Moreover, I get to see my grandsons every now and then. Life is good. I do wish that I could go back home so I could y Mahjong with my friends every now and then."


    June chuckled in amusement. "I''ll make sure to bring you to y when you''re all better. You can wait until that moment, right?"


    "Well, of course," Grandma said. "I can''t wait for the day that I take back my title as the reigning champion!"


    The two boys chuckled in amusement.


    "But in all seriousness," Minjun suddenly chimed, making June focus on him.


    "Grandma''s been pretty downtely. She won''t tell me the reason why, no matter how much I pester her, but maybe she''ll say it now that you''re here," Minjun said in a sad tone.


    June frowned in confusion as he turned to Grandma, who was now looking down at herp.


    "Grandma?" he asked. "Can you tell us what is making you upset?"


    She shook her head. "It''s nothing," she smiled. However, it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "It''s not that deep."


    "You can tell us anything," June said, holding onto her hand. "We''ll take you seriously."


    Grandma let out a deep breath.


    "It''s just that¡ªI miss my old self," she softly said.


    "You know? I never thought it woulde to this day."


    "I''m old. I know that cancer can''t be healed in a mere drugstore."


    "However, for some reason, I just can''t stop thinking about how life was like before¡ªwhen I didn''t have to worry about seeing another tomorrow."


    "Grandma," Minjun said, tears brimming in his eyes. "Don''t say that."


    Grandma shook her head. "Of course, my grandson. I''m strong enough to live for more tomorrows. However, it does feel pretty far. I don''t feel the improvement in my body."


    "I feel useless sometimes. I feel...helpless," she muttered.


    "Moreover," she said. "I miss my little gray curls. I know I shouldn''t care about my appearance since I''m already this old, but hey, those curls made me feel beautiful."


    June tightened his hold on her hand. "Of course, you can feel upset."


    "However, I want to say that you still look pretty even without your curls," he smiled, trying to be strong for her.


    "Really?" she asked with raised eyebrows. Somehow, hearing apliment from such a handsomed like June boosted their confidence.


    "Yes," June nodded. "Right, Minjun?"


    Minjun, too, nodded enthusiastically in agreement.


    "Hair is just hair! If you want, the two of us can shave our heads," June said.


    Minjun raised his eyebrows in surprise. However, sensing Grandma''s stare, he slowly nodded with hesitation.


    "Y¡ªyeah," he stammered. "I can do that...I guess."


    "I can do it," June said without any reluctance. He could do anything for his grandma.


    "Do you want us to have matching bald heads?" he asked with an amused smile.


    Grandma felt ttered by all their words, feeling a hundred times better already.


    Then, she gently hit his shoulder.


    "Don''t do that. I''m sure you''ll still be handsome with a buzzed head, but your fans will think that you''re prematurely enlisting in the military," she teased, causing June to chuckle.


    "And you," she said, turning to the younger guy. "I know you wouldn''t be able to do that. You''re trying to impress that girl¡ª


    Yunah, was it?"


    Minjun''s eyes widened, and he quickly covered Grandma''s mouth.


    Then, the three of them burst into chuckles, feeling warmth embrace them.


    However, from outside the room, a dark figure loomed, a small smile appearing on his face.


    "So, you do have a family," he muttered.

 Chapter 678 Finally, A Vacation!

    <h4>Chapter 678 Finally, A Vacation! </h4>


    "Is June alright?"


    "Did he get injured again?"


    "I told you! You should have brought him to the hospital."


    "Yeah! He wakes upter these days, and that''s strange!"


    "Should we go there? Is it the same hospital?"


    "Casper, stop getting ready! Let''s wait for what Jay would say."


    Jay sighed as he listened to their nonstop chatter.


    "He''s fine...I think," Jay muttered. "He seems better than before after sleeping and getting rehydrated."


    A collective sigh was heard through the phone.


    "Are youing home soon?" Jisung asked.


    "I don''t know, too," Jay honestly responded. "We''re still waiting for Dr. Oh''s rmendation. However, I''ve moved his schedule tonight for tomorrow, so we also can''t stay here for long."


    Casper clicked his tongue.


    "He should get enough rest. He hasn''t been getting any rest for the past month," he said.


    "I know," Jay sighed. "We''ll see what the doctor says. For now, I have to go back to the room. You know June¡ªhe has a hot ass."


    "Damn right, he does!" Akira spicily eximed.


    Jay hummed. "Yeah, he can''t sit still. He always has to move around and look for trouble."


    Akira chuckled. "We weren''t talking about the same thing, but I guess that works too."


    "What?"


    Before Jay could rify what Akira had said, the call had already ended.


    Jay shook his head as he ced his phone inside his pocket.


    Then, he walked back to June''s room.


    However, he halted his tracks when he noticed that the door was open.


    He felt his heart stop, and his mind went haywire with a thousand imaginations.


    What if he went out on his own for an adventure?


    What if he realized that he was sick of the idol life and jumped out the window so he could finally start anew?


    What if someone broke in and murdered him?


    Jay shook his head to get rid of such thoughts and ran inside the room.


    As he went inside, his heart raced faster when he saw that his bed was empty. Moreover, his IV was still hooked on the pole, whereas June was nowhere in sight.


    His mind went to the scenarios he imagined earlier.


    Then, the door opened behind him, and he hoped for it to be June.


    However, it was actually Dr. Oh, making Jay feel even more distressed than he already was.


    Dr. Oh frowned when he saw the empty bed and the detached IV. "Where''s June?"


    "I don''t know!" Jay eximed. "I went out for a moment so I could talk to the other members of EVE, and when I came back, he wasn''t here anymore!"


    Dr. Oh''s frown deepened while Jay continued panicking.


    Fortunately, before Jay could go into a severe panic state, the door opened once more, revealing June with a wide smile on his face.


    Jay eximed as soon as he saw him.


    "What the heck? Where have you been?"


    June was surprised at his outburst.


    "I just went to visit Grandma," he nonchntly said.


    "You removed your IV! I thought you were murdered¡ªor worse, ran away!" Jay eximed.


    June scratched the back of his head. "Being murdered sounds worse than running away, in my opinion."


    Jay shook his head. "Well, are you alright, at least? Way to make me worried. I feel like I''m aging at a rapid pace because of you."


    "I''m fine," June said. "I don''t even need an IV."


    Jay turned to Dr. Oh for some help, but the doctor merely shook his head.


    He was aware of June''s resistant health and lizard-like wound healing, so he let him be.


    "Sit down, June," Dr. Oh said.


    June followed Dr. Oh''s instructions and waited for his medical advice.


    "Well, based on your physical exam from my resident, it seems like you were dehydrated. I''m assuming you''re not getting enough sleep, too. Moreover, you seem to be running a cold and a low-grade fever."


    June nodded, already aware of it. After arguing with Mei in the rain, he immediately felt awful.


    "So, I''m assuming you''re going to give me some medicine?" June asked.


    "Well, yes," Dro. Oh said. "However, I want to take this time to gather more specimen from you."


    "You do remember our deal, right?" Dr. Oh giddily asked.


    Jay looked at the two of them with wide eyes. "Deal? What deal? Am I aware of this deal?"


    June sighed before shaking his head. "Don''t worry about it."


    "Of course, I should worry about it! Are you guys sharing needles now? And what is this specimen I''m hearing about?"


    June clicked his tongue and turned to Dr. Oh. "Ignore him. Let''s do it while I''m here."


    Dr. Oh smiled, the corners of his lips almost ripping with how happy he was.


    "Great!" he eximed.


    "I''ll have my best medical technologists collect your specimens."


    "It will only take a little bit of time, but the analysis itself would take about a week or more than that to finish. We would get aprehensive panel that is only avable in Germany, and it will also show any of your underlying conditions!"


    Jay listened intently to their conversation before nodding in agreement. He actually thought it was a good idea!


    "I guess that''s good," June said


    "Yeah," Dr. Oh smiled. "I will call you once the resultse back so we can discuss it."


    "I''m busy," June said.


    Dr. Oh chuckled. "Make time for me. I can meet with you even if itste in the evening."


    June shrugged. "That''s fine with me, I guess."


    "Alright. I''ve already paged my medical technologists. You can wait for them here."


    "Then, can I go home after this one?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh nodded. "Yes, you can. You can grab the prescription from the nurse''s station and you can leave. I''ll take care of the bill."


    Jay gave him two thumbs up. "You''re the best, Dr. Oh!"


    "I know I am!" Dr. Oh said.


    "Oh, another thing," Dr. Oh continued. "I nearly forgot to tell you."


    "I''m allowing you to leave the hospital because you have a non-


    urgent case, and your illness could be managed at home."


    "However, I''m still rmending you to rest at home."


    "You have lost weightpared to thest time you visited. Your body is also showing signs of exhaustion. The body doesn''t lie¡ªyou should rest."


    "Yeah¡ªrest," June said. "I''ll be sure to sleep as soon as I get home."


    ''I''m not talking about just that," Dr. Oh said.


    "My medical advice is to rest."


    "For a day?" Jay asked. "I guess I can work with that. It''ll be tough, but I can do it for June!"


    However, Dr. Oh remained serious.


    "Not a day," he said.


    "An entire week!"

 Chapter 679 That’s Too Good To Be True

    <h4>Chapter 679 That''s Too Good To Be True</h4>


    Jay and June were silent as they rode the van back home.


    June had his medicine tucked under his armpit while the gifts he received from Grandma were on hisp.


    A week.


    Dr. Oh rmended for June to take an entire week off.


    June hadn''t been on a break for so long that a week off already felt like an eternity.


    He could just imagine all the sleep that he could get!


    However, ncing at Jay, who seemed to be even more troubled, June shook his head.


    There was no way.


    A week''s break was too good to be true!


    "You don''t have to follow what the doctor said," June said, breaking the silence in the car.


    "It''s just a rmendation. It''s not a mantra," he continued.


    Jay sighed once again before shaking his head.


    "I know," he muttered. "I''m just thinking of your schedule for the next week."


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "Well, I have to film for Rising Stars. I have to practice for our showcase. We also have to prepare some content for our YouWatch."


    "Oh, didn''t we have to perform in that morning show, too?"


    "I guess I also have that photoshoot with a candy brand," he muttered.


    "And I almost forgot¡ªI have to attend someone''s party tomorrow, right?"


    Jay clicked his tongue. Now that June hadid out his entire schedule for the week, he felt that it was really too much.


    Jay felt a bit useless since he wasn''t the one who epted the different events. Instead, he was just responsible for joining June in attending them and making sure he went to every single one.


    "Gosh, that''s a lot," Jay said. "How can you do all of that when you''re fatigued?"


    June shrugged. "It''s something that you have to live with, I guess."


    "I''m used to it now," he continued.


    "You don''t have to, though," Jay muttered. "Dr. Oh told me that your condition will only get worse if you overwork yourself. He also warned me that you need to cut back on your schedules after this break."


    "You know that''s not possible," June said. "Thepany keeps epting and giving me work."


    "I know," Jay muttered, feeling a bit hopeless.


    However, as he nced at June, who didn''t appear as vibrant as he did a few months ago, he felt something shift in his heart.


    "You''ll take the rest," he suddenly said, causing June to turn to him with raised eyebrows.


    "A day''s rest??" June rified.


    "No," Jay shook his head. "A week''s worth of rest!"


    June was taken aback. "And how are you going to do that?"


    Jay pursed his lips before shaking his head.


    "That¡ªI do not know. However, leave it up to me, okay? You''ve been working hard for the entire year, and I need you to rest."


    "Thepany can issue out a statement that you''re not feeling well."


    "They can definitely afford to make you rest with all the profit you''ve contributed to thepany."


    "That nasty-ass CEO Ong should stop exploiting his artists like this," he angrily said.


    "You guys don''t even get paid enough for this shit."


    June was surprised at Jay''s outburst.


    "Well, it seems like you''re prepared to rebel against the CEO," he remarked.


    Jay sighed in frustration. "It''s just sickening, honestly¡ªhow you''re being treated. I know that otherpanies aren''t any better than Azure, but gosh, I can''t help but think that they''re the worst out of the bigpanies."


    June nodded. "You got that right."


    "Anyway," Jay said, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "You should take the week off."


    "They''ll probably still have you practice and stuff. But I won''t let you go to any of the official schedules. Your body needs to recover."


    June smiled, feeling a sense of relief.


    "That''s fine with me," he said, suddenly feeling at peace.


    With that, as he felt the lull of the car, he found himself falling asleep.


    However, even with his tiredness consuming his body, he felt that something was strange.


    During times like this, his pesky little system would pop up and give him a mission at the most inconvenient time.


    Yet, it was quiet.


    Almost too quiet.


    Then, it urred to him.


    A week''s break was definitely too good to be true.


    He might not have any official schedules for the entire week, but he still had to aplish his mission.


    The first step?


    Finding the briefcase.


    ***


    "He has a family," Lin Zhi excitedly said, mming the door to Laohu''s office open.


    Laohu frowned in confusion.


    "I believe his parents are dead," he said. "I did a background check on his past and found that they got involved in a car ident."


    "They did," Lin Zhi said, remembering the scandal that June had during Rising Stars.


    "For so long, I felt that June didn''t have a weakness," Lin Zhi smirked.


    "I know that he cares deeply about his members, but we can''t do anything about them since they''re too exposed to the public."


    "If we do something to harm them, then the people would investigate it to their wit''s end."


    "However," Lin Zhi said, smiling even wider as he ced the printed photos of June, Minjun, and his sick grandma in the hospital.


    "It seems like we''ve finally found his weakness."


    Laohu''s eyebrows raised in surprise as he picked up the photo.


    "I see," he muttered. "This kid¡ªI feel like I''ve seen him before."


    "The little kid and the old woman visited June when we were in Rising Stars. However, the other trainees said that they were just his neighbors, so I didn''t think too much about it."


    Laohu hummed as he tried to analyze the situation.


    Lin Zhi smirked as he continued his statement. " I also have some information that you''re not going to believe. That guy''s father¡ªhe''s the one who owned the third-party votingpany when I was in Rising Stars."


    "That''s why he was able to change the tides at thest minute," Laohu said, finally piecing the puzzle together.


    "Exactly," Lin Zhi said.


    "That''s good then," Laohu said, mirroring Lin Zhi''s smirk. "We can get our revenge by killing two birds with one stone."


    Lin Zhi nodded enthusiastically as Laohu ripped the photo in half, carelessly discarding the old woman''s photo to the ground.


    Then, he ced the other half of the photo, which was Minjun, in the middle of the photo.


    "This young man," he smirked.


    "Let''s see how important he really is to June."

 Chapter 680 Sleeping Beauty

    Chapter 680 Sleeping Beauty


    ??"June''s still sleeping," Jisung said. "Should I go wake him up?"


    Jisung was about to go to June''s room when he suddenly felt a big and strong presence behind him.


    Jisung gulped as he turned around, seeing Casper with a murderous gaze.


    "Don''t. Wake. Him. Up."


    Jisung pursed his lips and sat back down on his chair.


    "Yeah, wasn''t even nning on it," he awkwardly chuckled.


    "It''s been a while since he hasn''t gotten a good rest," Casper continued. "Let him rest."


    Akira scratched the back of his head. "But didn''t Mr. Ong tell him that he should still join our practices? The showcase is a month away. They will even announce itter to the public!"


    "June can catch up quickly," Sehun said. "Let''s leave him for now. It''s the first day of his vacation!"


    "Yeah," Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "I still can''t believe that Mr. Ong agreed to it."


    "Well, Jay had already preempted everyone on his Navel ount that June wasn''t feeling well. In the end, our fans created a hashtag that trended in the country."


    "I saw¡ª#LetJuneRestThisJune, right?" Akira asked, chuckling to himself. "Our fans are really special. They can evene up with such creative hashtags."


    Zeth nodded. "Well, it seems like it worked. Azure had no choice, so they issued a statement that June wouldn''t be able to join any official schedules for the week."


    "Let''s not make him practice, too," Casper said. "Cats need a lot of rest."


    Ren, despite being weirded out by his teammate, nodded in agreement.


    "Let''s go then. We still have a lot of preparations to make."


    With that, the seven members left to go to their practice room, leaving June all alone in his slumber.


    However, June''s slumber wasn''t peaceful at all.


    Even though it was his first official rest day, he couldn''t shake away his responsibilities outside of being an idol.


    In the end, he had no choice but to sit on his bed and stare into oblivion.


    "What am I going to do now?" he muttered.


    Just then, he remembered an important aspect that he had overlooked.


    His gaze hardened as he stared at his phone, looking at the camera footage that he got from the hospital.


    Before he left the hospital after copsing, he decided to hack into the CCTV camera right outside Grandma''s room since he felt that someone was watching them during that time.


    Then, when he saw a familiar dark figure looming over the shadows, he realized that his family''s safety was at risk.


    With that, he dialed Haruto''s number, knowing that his friend had quite a lot of connections.


    His butler, Marcus, was already enough testament to that.


    "June!" Haruto eximed. "It''s been a while. You didn''t contact me after ourst conversation."


    June smirked. "Apologies. I was busy."


    "I saw," Haruto said. "Well, you''ve always been a workaholic, so there''s no surprise about that."


    June chuckled in amusement. "I''m on a short break now, though, so I might be able to meet up with you."


    "Oh, really? That''s great," Haruto said. "Do you have some time tomorrow?"


    "I do," June said. "Would you like to meet up then? I also have some things I want to ask you."


    Especially about the briefcase.


    "Sure," Haruto said. "We can go to my restaurant."


    June''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Well, it seemed like his friend was much richer than he had anticipated. He may not have be an idol, but he might actually be richer than most idols.


    "Just send the address," June said.


    "Yeah, sure."


    "For now, though, I have a favor to ask you," June continued.


    "Go ahead," Haruto said.


    "Where did you get your butler, Marcus?" he asked.


    "Oh, Marcus?" Haruto asked. "Do you want a butler of your own? I can arrange that for you. However, you can''t get Marcus


    ¡ªanyone but Marcus."


    June shook his head. "Don''t worry. I don''t need a butler."


    "However, I do need a guard," June said.


    "A guard," Haruto muttered. "I guess that works. Marcus is also my personal bodyguard, and he has a lot of trusted people in the industry. How many do you need? I''m assuming you need a lot since you''re he famous now."


    "No, not for me," June said. "For my brother."


    Haruto''s eyes widened in surprise. "You have a brother now?"


    "Non-biological," June responded.


    "I see," Haruto said. "Yeah, I can do that for you. I can even pay for the guards myself. Just send me the details. I''ll have them ready by tonight."


    June smiled. "Thanks, Haruto."


    "Anytime," Haruto happily said. "See you tomorrow!"


    "Hmm," June hummed before ending the call.


    Then, he decided to preempt Minjun with what he was nning.


    June: Bought you bodyguards. Take care of them.


    Little bro: Yay, I''ve always wanted more!


    June frowned as he read Minjun''s text. However, he let it go since Minjun was just weird like that.


    With that, he decided to get up from bed and do something productive while he tried to figure out where the briefcase would be.


    He still had the clue saved on his phone, but it clearly wasn''t enough to bring him to the exact ce.


    He was hoping that meeting up with Haruto would let him gain a little bit of insight.


    Just then, his phone went off, and he saw that a lot of people had texted him after the announcement of his hiatus.


    Hana: That''s right! You should rest.


    Jay: I did it! I had thepany arrange a statement for you. Please give me a pat on the butt.


    Jia: Umm, I know it''s been a while, but I hope you''re doing okay! Rest up. We''ll wait for you no matter how long.


    June smiled as he read through the texts. Although Jay''s text weirded him out a bit.


    With that, he decided to do some household chores and clean their dorm. However, he got bored in the middle of it.


    He realized that he had been working so hard for thest couple of months that he had forgotten what rest felt like.


    June thought he was going to enjoy this vacation to the fullest, yet here he was¡ªa million thoughts running inside his head.


    "This won''t do," June muttered, standing from the couch before putting on his ck cap and ck mask.


    It seemed like he was transported back in time¡ªwhen he was beginning to get recognized by the public.


    Somehow, it brought a smile to his face.


    He had reallye such a long waypared to before.


    Then, he paused, feeling genuine happiness bloom inside his heart.


    "Hmm," he hummed.


    "Maybe this is also tracing my origin."


    With that thought in mind, he locked their dorm before heading out.


    He didn''t have a n, nor did he know where he would go.


    However, he wanted to explore the city¡ªhe wanted to see how far he hade.

 Chapter 681 Fulfillment

    Chapter 681 Fulfillment


    ??June walked around the city, finding himself absent-mindedly traversing through the streets.


    From a distance, he could hear the sound of a familiar tune ying, so he let his feet take him to the source of the sound.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw a small store with a pink ice cream logo. It was somewhat familiar, but June couldn''t quite pinpoint where he had seen it.


    Just then, his stomach grumbled, so he decided to buy some ice cream while he was on it.


    "Ice cream for breakfast it is," June said with a small smile.


    "Wee!" a friendly man eximed. "What can we get for you today?"


    "La, Ice cream makes me scream! La, A sugary, sweet daydream."


    June''s ears rang in recognition as the song continued to y. This was the song that inspired him during Rising Stars¡ªthe ice cream song that he couldn''t get out of his head!


    June looked around the ce and felt his heart squeeze. It was a small space, but it was clean and decorated nicely.


    June couldn''t believe it.


    The small beat-up track that he had brought ice cream from had actually transformed into a store like this?


    "Sir?" the friendly middle-aged man asked. "Are you okay?"


    June snapped out of his thoughts and finally went up to the counter. He looked around to see if the little girl who forced him to buy their ice cream back then was there. However, she wasn''t, a small frown forming on June''s face.


    "You zoned out a bit there, sir," the man chuckled.


    "Yeah," June said, making his voice deeper than usual. "Just a tough day, I guess."


    The middle-aged man smiled. "We''ve all been there," he said.


    "However, here''s one thing I can tell you¡ªit gets better."


    "Sometimes, it feels like it doesn''t. It feels like you''re stuck in a maze with no way out."


    "However, you just find an opening when you least expect it," he smiled, trying tofort June.


    "I hope you find your opening soon."


    "Me too," June said.


    "For now, do you want anything? I''m sure our ice cream can help make you feel better."


    ''Ticklish Tummy Tornado''


    ''Funky Monkey Business Sundae''


    ''Ridiculous Rumplestiltskin Ripple


    ''Hootin'' Hooligan Hootenanny''


    June smiled when he saw that the names still hadn''t changed.


    It still pained him to say them out loud, but somehow, he also felt quite happy that they didn''t change it.


    "I''ll have the Befuddled Bubblegum Bonanza st," June said.


    "Ooh, nice choice," the man eximed. "You brought the same thing as June when he first came to our shop."


    June raised his eyebrows when he heard his name. It was a surprise that the man still remembered him after all these months.


    He hadn''t even debuted back then and wasn''t even at the top of the rankings.


    "You''re surprised, right?" the man asked. "He really dide here."


    Then, he pointed to a photo on the wall.


    It was only then that June realized that his photo was on the wall, simr to that of a saint in a religious household.


    "That looks like an altar," June chuckled. "It''s almost as if he died."


    The man chuckled. "Well, the shop did be famous after June posted it on his Navel ount. Actually, we weren''t even a shop back then. It was just a small beat-up truck that I had painted myself."


    "Those were some of the darkest times of my life. However, after June posted his review of our ice cream, we suddenly started getting more customers¡ªmuch more than I had expected."


    "So, the business began to expand. During his era in Rising Stars, so many people came and ordered the same ice cream as you did. So, it became our best-seller."


    "Then, when he debuted, the shop became even more famous," he smiled.


    "Andtely, their group had been doing so well. Everybody''s talking about them, and June''s almost on every billboard in the city."


    "It seems like June is still stringing me along to his sess since our customers increased even more after that. In the end, manning the truck on the street had be too overwhelming, so I opened up this shop just this month."


    June listened to his story intently.


    "Did...June really help you that much?" he asked, finding it strange to be referring to himself in the third person.


    However, June also wanted to hear how the owner truly felt.


    As much as June tried to deny it, he did feel more detached from reality and his fans the more that they became popr.


    He knew that it was inevitable.


    Groups that be bigger than they expected would lose touch with their original intention.


    June saw it happen over and over again.


    "He did," the man said, causing June''s breath to get caught in the back of his throat.


    The man was smiling so genuinely that June didn''t have a choice but to believe in him.


    "He helped us much more than he had realized."


    "I know that we were just another daily encounter for him¡ª probably something insignificant."


    "However, he''s one of the reasons why my life has changed for the better."


    "I don''t even get why some people are painting him out to be a bad guy when he''s clearly not."


    "Sometimes, I wish that I could approach him and tell him how hard he''s worked to get to where he is. Moreover, I want to thank him for being such a great help to my family."


    "He brought some of the light back into my life, and I know that without him, I wouldn''t be experiencing all of this."


    Somehow, their conversation had June all choked up.


    However, he held back his emotions and swallowed the lump in his throat.


    "Well, here you go," the man said, giving him the pink ice cream. "It''s on the house."


    June took the ice cream and shook his head. "No, I should pay for it," he said, reaching into his pocket.


    The man shook his head. "Just take it, young man. Think of it as an act of kindness from a stranger."


    "The kindness I''ve received from June¡ªI''m passing it on to you."


    June smiled and looked down at the ground.


    "I''m sure June would be d once he finds out about it," he said, causing the man to smile.


    "I know," the man smiled. "He is a good guy, after all."


    June pursed his lips and nodded before turning around and tasting the pink ice cream.


    A smile automatically made its way to his lips as the sweet and refreshing taste of bubblegum invaded his taste buds.


    Just then, the door opened, and a little girl in her school uniform came running inside.


    "Dad!" she eximed.


    "L!"


    June halted when he heard the familiar name.


    That was the little girl that persuaded him back then? She was finally going to school?


    "You should be in school by now," he scolded.


    "I know," she giggled. "But I wanted to give you a kiss before I go!"


    June''s smile widened as he took another bite from his ice cream.


    Then, he finally went out of the shop, his heart filled with a strange emotion.


    Fulfillment.

 Chapter 682 Minjun’s Little Date

    <h4>Chapter 682 Minjun''s Little Date </h4>


    "Come on. Just take it," Minjun clicked his tongue as he gave Yunah a singr tulip.


    Yunah rolled her eyes as she continued fixing her hair.


    "I don''t like flowers," she said.


    "I also don''t like teddy bears."


    "If you were to give me something, then it should have been food or cream bread. Anything that isn''t merely for decoration like that," she said with one eyebrow raised.


    Minjun sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, wondering why he even liked the girl in the first ce.


    She was obnoxious, blunt, and liked June a little way too much.


    However, even then, he couldn''t help but be charmed by her.


    Minjun definitely had an inclination of liking things that were hard to achieve.


    He even brought her an expensive piece of tulip that came all the way from Amsterdam! Well, the allowance that his parents sent him was more than enough, but still, he could have used it to buy more game skins!


    And now, she was actually refusing it?


    "It''s from June," Minjun muttered reluctantly, causing Yunah to gasp loudly.


    Then, she took the tulip from his hands, looking at it as if it were the greatest treasure in the world.


    "A tulip from June? I will treasure this all my life!" she happily eximed.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and clenched his fists under the table.


    "I have a hunch that you''re only friends with me because of June," Minjun grumbled.


    "Well, it looks like you''re a smart one," Yunah smiled. "That''s most definitely the reason!"


    "He''s not even that handsome!" Minjun eximed, so Yunah looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    Minjun pursed his lips. Even he, himself, didn''t believe his words.


    June was he handsome.


    "He''s short," Minjun said.


    Yunah narrowed her eyes at him. "You''re shorter than him."


    "Only by a few inches now! I''m going to be taller than him in the next couple of years or so," Minjun defended.


    Yunah shrugged. "It doesn''t matter. He''s still taller than me anyway."


    Minjun sighed in frustration. "He''s too old for you!"


    Yunah smiled. "Leo DiCapricorn only dates people below 25. I think age is the least of my worries."


    Minjun shook his head. Until when was he going to be stuck in this unrequited love?


    "Anyways," Yunah said, sighing dreamily as she sniffed the scentless tulip. "Are you going to visit your grandma today?"


    "Nope," Minjun said. "My mom''s friends are going out for their anniversary date out of the country, so I''ll be home alone. I need to feed their dog while they''re away."


    "Oof, lucky," Yunah said. "I wish my parents would go away for a couple of days."


    Minjun shook his head in amusement. "Let''s just go. I''ll walk you home."


    Yunah smirked as she stood from her seat. "Alrighty! Treat me to some ice cream while we''re on the way."


    Minjunined but would most definitely buy her some ice creamter.


    The two middle-schoolers made their way down the street, enjoying the feeling of the afternoon breeze.


    The people looked toward their way, finding the youngsters sweet as they tasted each other''s ice cream.


    "A middle-schooler''s love life is even better than yours."


    "Shut up. You''re wife left you."


    "She didn''t leave me. I asked her to leave."


    "Yet you cry every night to the sound of her voice."


    "Shhh! The kid is going to notice."


    Minjun halted when he felt that they were being followed.


    Yunah turned to him with raised eyebrows. "Is there something wrong?" she asked.


    Minjun narrowed his eyes in suspicion before slowly turning around.


    The sun was already setting, so there were fewer people on the streets.


    As he turned around, he didn''t find anyone weird¡ªjust a couple of students their age and some people walking their dogs.


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Nothing, I just thought I heard someone talking about us."


    Yunah smirked and flipped her hair. "Oh, they must be saying how pretty I am to be with someone like you."


    Minjun shook his head in amusement. "Let''s just go."


    The two of them continued walking to Yunah''s apartment. Meanwhile, two dark figures were behind a dirty bush, muttering profanities at each other.


    "That was close, you idiot! I told you to be quiet," Steve eximed as he pped the back of his partner''s head.


    "You were the one who brought up my wife!" Stan snapped. "Anyway, he didn''t even see us. We should continue following him. We''re getting paid a high amount for something as simple as following a kid."


    Steve clicked his tongue. "Technically, we aren''t just following him¡ªwe''re going to threaten that little kid, maybe even rough him up a little bit."


    Stan scratched the back of his head. "Don''t you think that''s weird?"


    Steve sighed. "It would be weirder if we don''t fulfill the task. We''re literally going against a middle schooler."


    Stan pursed his lips. "I guess you''re right."


    "Now, let''s go," Steve said. "We''re losing them."


    The two suspicious people continued following the two teens, and Minjun couldn''t help but feel that there was something strange happening as they arrived in front of Yunah''s apartment.


    "Take care, I guess," Yunah said as she made her way inside. "Thanks for the ice cream."


    "You''re going to pay me back," Minjun eximed, teasing the pretty girl.


    Yunah rolled her eyes. "Whatever! Tell June I said hi."


    Minjun shook his head and waved his hand before finally walking away.


    "Finally," Stan sighed. "I was wondering when we''re going to have the opportunity to strike."


    Steve held him back. "There are a lot of people here. Let''s way for him to go home."


    Stan clicked his tongue but nheless nodded in agreement.


    Minjun made his way to his mom''s friend''s house, where he was currently staying in because of Grandma''s situation.


    However, when he saw the arcade down the road, he decided to y for a little while.


    Stan looked at Steve with a frustrated and impatient look. "He''s going to y? I want to finish this as soon as possible."


    Steve clicked his tongue. "Be patient. 5,000 dors is on the line here."


    With the mention of money, Stan kept quiet and hid in the shadows, watching Minjun y to his heart''s extent.


    They waited for minutes...until it turned to an hour.


    Before they knew it, the skies were already getting dark.


    Then, finally, after a while, Minjun came out with a teddy bear that he nned on giving to Yunah.


    Meanwhile, Stan and Steve sighed in relief as they continued with their journey.


    However, they didn''t even get too far when Minjun stopped again.


    "Goodness, what is it now?" Stan whispered in frustration.


    "Don''t tell me¡ªhe''s nning to go there," Stan said. "That''s the restaurant my wife wanted me to take her to!"


    "But everything''s over 500 dors."


    Minjun looked at the luxury restaurant and found himself craving for their lobster and caviar dish.


    He brought out his thick wallet and saw that he had plenty of money left.


    "I should eat it tonight," he whispered before going inside, causing the two stooges to look at each other in surprise.


    Just how loaded was this kid?

 Chapter 683 Stan and Steve

    <h4>Chapter 683 Stan and Steve</h4>


    Minjun hummed happily as he went out of the restaurant.


    Did he just spend around 700 dors for a single meal?


    Yes, he did.


    Were the servers surprised about how a middle schooler went to their restaurant still in his school uniform for some casual take-out?


    Yes, they were.


    And by the end of it all, they were ready to call him ''young master.''


    Andstly, did the two stooges realize that they had stumbled upon gold?


    Definitely.


    "This kid is loaded," Stan whispered, his eyes bright.


    "You''re right," Steve said, feeling even giddier than before. They had the chance to earn more than 5,000 dors for this task!


    That thought strengthened as they arrived at the kid''s neighborhood.


    Almost all of the houses appeared to be on Hollywood Street!


    "Are you sure we''re in Korea right now?" Stan eximed, looking around the neighborhood.


    Then, when they arrived at their house, he realized that the kid might be the richest kid in the entire city!


    In front of them was a two-story house with a fountain in front. Cars wereid out beyond the gate, alling from European brand names.


    "Goodness. I want one of those," Stan happily said. "Do you think we can steal one for tonight?"


    "Focus on the objective first," Steve said. "Threaten him. Leave him a bit scarred, and give him this letter right here," he said, bringing out the messily written note that Lin Zhi had given them.


    "Got it," Stan said. "And after that?"


    "We can do anything we want," Steve smirked.


    ***


    "Their guard is useless," Stan chuckled as they were able to bypass the gate and the sleepy guard that manned it.


    "I told you," Steve said. "Rich people don''t take their security well enough."


    "Now, our only problem is how we''re going to break inside the house," Steve muttered.


    "I think it''s going to be fairly easy," Stan said. "His parents are out of town¡ªon a trip to Paris for their anniversary."


    "Well, it seems like you''re not as useless," Steve smirked. "Let''s go to the back."


    Meanwhile, June heated up his lobster in the microwave while looking at the CCTV footage on his iPad.


    He clicked his tongue and shook his head in amusement, a small smirk ying on his lips.


    "I knew it," he said. "So, there was somebody following me."


    "They even went to the back after seeing the camera in the front," he chuckled, sitting on his swivel chair and spinning around like the true boss baby that he was.


    "They don''t know that there''s cameras all around the ce."


    The dog barked as Minjun chuckled in an evil manner. He turned to the cute little Maltese, his eyes softening as he picked him up onto hisp.


    "Don''t worry, Malt," Minjun said. "We don''t even have to do anything¡ªnot even a single thing."


    Stan sighed in frustration as he couldn''t seem to find the opening of the door.


    "What kind of door is this?" he muttered. "It doesn''t even have a knob or anything like that."


    Steve, too, sighed in frustration. "These modern houses, I tell you."


    "Should we just break it down?" Stan asked.


    Steve shook his head. "No. That''ll alert the neighbors and the guard in front."


    "Then, what are we going to do?" Stan asked.


    "It must have some kind of mechanism," Steve said, looking at the door and noticing there was a button right at the peephole.


    "There," Steve eximed. "I think we should press on it."


    "Ooh!" Stan said. "Fancy. I want to try. I''ve always loved pressing buttons."


    "Clearly," Steve said, making way for his stupid partner to open the door.


    Stan looked at the button before pressing it excitedly.


    "Nothing''s happening," Stan said after a while.


    They waited and waited until something finally happened.


    Just then, aser beam came out of the little button, seemingly scanning Stan''s face.


    "What the heck is this?" Steve incredulously asked.


    He continued looking at theser before he finally realized what it could be.


    "Facial recognition?"


    Just as he said those words, something came out of the peephole¡ªa toxic scent engulfing the two of them.


    Stan stepped back quickly, but the substance still managed to touch his right eye. Meanwhile, Steve''s shoulder was caught, and he instantly felt a burning sensation.


    "Ahhh!" Stan screamed loudly, alerting the guards that were circling around the ce.


    Steve also couldn''t hold himself back as he clutched his shoulder. "What the fuck?" he eximed, suddenly feeling the breeze burn his skin.


    Then, as he looked at his hand, he saw it reddening.


    Directly support the authors on WebNovel!


    "Acid?" he muttered.


    Just then, he heard footstepsing their way, so Steve''s Then, as he looked at his hand, he saw it reddening.


    "Acid?" he muttered.


    eyes widened in alert as he held onto Stan''s arm.


    However, his partner was in too much agony to be thinking straight.


    "Bastard! Come on, let''s go!"


    "Steve! My eyes!" Stan said in excruciating pain.


    Minjun, who couldn''t even hear themotion from the outside, continued stroking Malt''s fur as he watched the scene on his iPad.


    "I knew that suggesting the facial recognition thing was a good choice! Now, we don''t have to worry about the intruders!"


    Just then, he heard frantic footstepsing over his way.


    "Young master," a couple of guards eximed, sighing in relief when they saw that Minjun was still inside, a te of lobster in front of him.


    "Are you okay?"


    "I''m he fine!" Minjun eximed with a thumbs-up. "Just catch those guys for me."


    They nodded obediently before running to where Stan and Steve were.


    Steve, feeling like they were going to get caught, held onto the back of Stan''s sweater and started dragging him away from the house.


    "Stan, let''s go!" he eximed in a panicked state, turning around and seeing a number of guards tailing them.


    Stan, finally feeling his eye pain subside, picked up his pace. However, he felt that there was still something strange.


    "Steve," he said. "I can''t see out of my right eye."


    "Do you want to bepletely blind?" Steve eximed. "Pick up your pace! They''re catching up to us."


    Stan sighed in frustration as he followed after Steve, asking himself what they got themselves into.


    Fortunately, with their tinypetence, they were able to lose the guards in a dark alleyway, and they were finally given an opportunity to catch their breaths.


    "Steve, I think my right eye ispletely blind."


    "Shut up," Stan said. "Be thankful that we made it out of there alive."


    Just then, they felt like they weren''t alone and that the dark alleyway became darker than usual.


    Steve raised his head and saw three unfamiliar men standing before them.


    His breath got caught in the back of his throat as he met their murderous gazes.


    "Are you sure about that?"

 Chapter 684 Unrecognizable Heroes

    Chapter 684 Unrecognizable Heroes


    ??"Young master, are you really alright?" the guards asked after the chase with the two intruders.


    "Did you manage to catch them?" Minjun asked.


    The main guard looked down at the ground.


    "No, young master. They went through a dark alleyway, and we lost them."


    Minjun clicked his tongue before shaking his head, making the guards feel nervous.


    "Maybe I should ask my mom to hire other guards," he muttered.


    "Oh well," he said, looking up at them in his usual jolly attitude. "You can proceed with what you''re doing."


    "But, young master, we failed to see their faces because they were wearing masks. I''m afraid we wouldn''t be able to catch them."


    Minjun waved them off. "It''s alright," he sighed. "Just go. I have something important to do!"


    With that, he went back to typing on his tablet.


    People just tried to rob him, but life must go on!


    EVE''s First Mini-Concert at Seoul Atrium: A Milestone Event


    EVE, the sensational boy group that has taken the music world by storm, is set to hold its first-ever mini-concert at the Seoul Atrium. This highly anticipated event will take ce on June 12th, offering fans an unforgettable experience in a venue that holds up to 8,000 people.


    After skyrocketing to fame with their hit singles and amazing performances, EVE is ready to connect with their fans on a deeper level!


    Tickets for this one-day event will be avable at /tickets starting tomorrow evening. Given EVE''s immense poprity, tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so fans are encouraged to act fast to secure their spot.


    Don''t miss this chance to witness EVE''s first mini-concert and be part of an event that''s sure to be talked about for years toe!


    "There," Minjun muttered. "June should definitely pay me for making his group even more famous."


    Fans quickly flocked to Minjun''s post, showing their excitement and disappointment alike.


    - What is Azure even thinking of putting EVE in Seoul Atrium?


    - Right? They should have ced them in the stadium instead!


    - How am I going to get tickets now?


    - It''s their very first mini-concert! I can''t believe so many people are tuning in.


    - Girl, this post even has over 100,000 engagements. I''m going to guess that the ticketing will be a bloodbath.


    - Azure''s so shitty. They''re underestimating EVE''s poprity!


    - Agreed. They''re the biggest boy group in the country for a reason! Make them perform in a bigger venue!


    - And it''s only for one day? Oh, Azure is going to rot in hell.


    ***


    "Are you sure you''ve hiredpetent people?" Laohu asked as they waited for updates from Stan and Steve.


    "I did," Lin Zhi said. "Those two are the most highly-rated in the ck market."


    Laohu narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You told me to trust you on this, so I did, but why is it taking them so long to give us an update?"


    "They should have finished the task by now. We''ve given them the whole of yesterday already.


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue in frustration as he stared at his phone.


    "Where are they?" he muttered.


    Just then, like the deities had heard his wishes, someone called Lin Zhi.


    He looked at Laohu with a smug expression. "Just because it''s dyed doesn''t mean that they aren''tpetent. I did a great job choosing them."


    Laohu sighed and waited for Lin Zhi to answer the call.


    Lin Zhi quickly pressed the ''answer'' button and ced it on the loudspeaker.


    "Did you do it?" Lin Zhi excitedly asked.


    "We''re at the hospital," Stan said very cautiously as if he was afraid of getting scolded.


    "Hospital?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Seoul Hospital," he vaguely answered before ending the call.


    Laohu looked at Lin Zhi with raised eyebrows.


    "I don''t think they were able to do it," Laohu said. "You should have let me handle it."


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue before grabbing the car keys on the table.


    "I''ll handle it," Lin Zhi said, not wanting to be seen as ipetent. "You should continue gathering evidence against June. I''ll handle finding out where the briefcase is."


    "I don''t know if I could trust your skills," Laohu said with a small smirk, causing Lin Zhi''s face to harden.


    "I can do it," Lin Zhi said with resolution. "I''ll prove it to you."


    With that, Lin Zhi left their loft to go to Seoul Hospital. He made sure to cover himself really well to make sure that nobody would recognize him.


    Then, he walked briskly to the room that Steve had identified through text.


    Lin Zhi entered the room and halted when he saw the current state that they were in.


    "What the heck?" he muttered as he looked at their injured bodies.


    There were contusions, bruises, and cuts all over their skin. Stan even had an eye patch on and a cast on his neck. Meanwhile, Steve''s arm was in a sling while his legs were filled with multiple abrasions.


    Lin Zhi couldn''t believe his eyes.


    He only sent them to threaten Minjun, injure him a bit, and have him deliver a letter to June that coerced him into telling them where the briefcase was.


    However, why does it seem like they were mauled by a bear instead?


    "Lin Zhi," Stan said as soon as he saw him.


    "What the fuck happened?" Lin Zhi eximed in anger.


    Stan and Steve looked down at the ground.


    Lin Zhi sighed in frustration, so Steve quickly got to talking.


    "We did as you said," Steve said. "We followed the kid to his home and was about to enter his house."


    "However, their door had some kind of mechanism that led it to spray acid on us," Steve said.


    Lin Zhi frowned. "That''s fucking ridiculous. Are you in Home Alone or something? Why would their door have acid?"


    "Right, Home Alone!" Stan eximed in recognition. "That''s what I''ve been thinking about all night long. It really did feel like we were in that movie."


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "So, are you saying that you weren''t able to do it?" he asked.


    "We couldn''t," Steve said. "There was no usible way."


    "I don''t know what kind of industry his parents work in, but they seem to be very rich. Their bodyguards tailed us in no time."


    Lin Zhi massaged his temples in frustration. He knew that Minjun was rich based on his dad''s job, but it still didn''t make sense how Stan and Steve were so beaten up like this.


    "Fortunately, we were able to run away before they caught us," Steve continued.


    "We would have been caught by the police if we didn''t manage to lose them."


    Lin Zhi clicked his tongue. "Then, why do you guys look like that? Don''t tell me you got frustrated and started beating each other instead? I thought you were morepetent than that."


    "No," Stan said, shaking his head. "We thought that the kid only had bodyguards around his house."


    "However, three strange men suddenly appeared. They were very strong, by the way. We didn''t even stand the chance."


    Lin Zhi''s frown deepened in confusion.


    "And who are those people?"


    Stan and Steve turned to look at each other.


    "We don''t know."

 Chapter 685 A Kind, Old Woman

    Chapter 685 A Kind, Old Woman


    ??"You don''t know?" Lin Zhi asked in disbelief. "How the heck don''t you know? Are you saying that they attacked you right then and there without a reason?"


    Stan scratched the back of his head. However, he forgot for a second that both his arms were injured, so he eximed in agony before he responded.


    "It did seem like that," Stan muttered. "They literally came out of nowhere. As far as I know, they weren''t part of the group that was guarding the kid''s house."


    Steve nodded in agreement. "Those three¡ªthey seem more skilled than an average guard. Almost as if they were hitmen," he said, shivering with the thought of getting killed.


    Lin Zhi sighed in frustration. "That doesn''t matter. You still should have finished your objectives instead of getting caught up with a bunch of skilled strangers."


    "I don''t think they''re mere strangers. They told us something rted to the kid before we left," Steve said.


    Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes. "Which is?"


    Stan and Steve shivered as they recalled the words of thergest guy that beat them up.


    "Don''t you try and do anything to the little kid from now on," Stan started off.


    "You''re lucky that we''re letting you go. However, the next time that we see you, we''ll make sure that you won''t see the light of day," Steve continued.


    "Tell that to the people who ordered you to do this, too."


    Lin Zhi''s frown deepened. "How do they know that this has been nned?"


    "Look, we''re more lost than you," Steve said. "We were lucky that we didn''t die in their hands. However, we could have really died back there."


    "I can''t even see out of my right eye," Stan muttered.


    Lin Zhi shook his head in disbelief. He wanted to scream at their ipetence. Now, it was going to show that he was ipetent, too.


    He held back his anger and settled on throwing a vase to the wall instead, which made the two stooges startled.


    They looked at the covered guy with wide eyes before Steve spoke.


    "We apologize," Steve said. "We couldn''t do it. This must be the toughest task that we''ve encountered in our entire careers."


    "How difficult could it fucking be?" Lin Zhi spat. "You''re going against an 8th-grader!"


    Steve clicked his tongue. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I''m not exaggerating."


    "Whoever this kid''s parents are¡ªthey must be a great deal. It seems like the kid isn''t a normal one, too. They have more connections than you would expect."


    Lin Zhi shook his head, having talked enough with them. He walked to the door, feeling frustrated about the situation.


    "Whatever," Lin Zhi said. "If you can''t do it, then I''ll do it myself."


    "Watch yourself," Steve said, causing Lin Zhi to halt in the doorway. "It seems like you''re battling against bigger opponents this time."


    Lin Zhi chuckled in amusement, shaking his head at Steve''s statement. He wasn''t aware that Laohu was by his side.


    "Sure," he sarcastically said. "Just know that you wouldn''t get paid for any of this."


    Stan shook his head despite his neck brace. "It''s alright. I just hope you don''t contact us any more about this."


    Steve nodded in agreement. "Even if you pay us 10,000 dors, we won''t agree to it."


    Lin Zhi shook his head as he opened the door and mmed it close.


    "Why the fuck did I even hire those guys?" he muttered angrily as he walked away from their room.


    It felt like he was blinded by anger, so he didn''t notice that he had already bumped into someone.


    "Watch where you''re going!" Lin Zhi angrily eximed.


    The old woman, who was being apanied by a nurse, stumbled but was fortunately caught by her nurse.


    Lin Zhi red at her, still in a bad mood, but he raised his eyebrows in surprise when he recognized the old woman before him.


    It was the same old woman that June had visited the other day.


    "Oh, goodness," the old woman said. "The sun is out, and the day feels great, but why is a handsome young man in such a bad mood?"


    Lin Zhi''s frown lightened after the old womanplimented him.


    "Well, we do have our bad days, so I quite understand," Grandma said. "However, you seem healthy enough to be living your life well. Don''t take out your anger on feeble old women like me."


    Lin Zhi, feeling something tug at his heart, bowed at the old woman.


    "I''m sorry," he apologized. "You''re right¡ªI was just having an awful day."


    Grandma smiled up at him and brought something out from her bag¡ªa small orange.


    "Here," she said, walking up to him and cing the round fruit on his palm before enclosing it with her own hands.


    "Have this treat. I can''t have fresh fruits and vegetables, but people keep bringing me some whenever they visit. Why don''t you take one so it doesn''t rot, hmm?"


    Lin Zhi looked at the orange and pursed his lips. This was his favorite fruit of all time.


    "There''s a smile," Grandma said.


    Lin Zhi straightened his posture and let himself be expressionless.


    "You can''t even see my face," Lin Zhi muttered.


    "But I can see your eyes, handsome young man," Grandmaplimented. "A smile suits you much better than a frown."


    Lin Zhi pursed his lips, not allowing himself to smile.


    Why was this old woman so kind and sweet?


    Almost all of the women in his life did nothing but shun him out of their lives!


    "So, what''s gotten you in such a bad mood? Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.


    "Why are you so curious?" Lin Zhi asked. "We haven''t even met before."


    Grandma shrugged. "Well, I don''t have anything to do. I''m stuck here until I finish my treatment for my disease. So, Grandma has plenty of time to talk."


    "Even with a stranger?" Lin Zhi asked.


    "Much more to a stranger," she happily said, coughing at the end when she felt her throat drying up.


    The nurse quickly gave her some water, to which she nodded in gratitude.


    "Did you know?" she continued despite her dry throat.


    "Opening up to a stranger is sometimes better than talking with people whom you know."


    "Because there''s less judgment," she smiled. "You also don''t have to worry about them talking about your problem with other people!"


    Lin Zhi''s breath got caught in the back of his throat just as he thought of a brilliant idea.


    "I guess I have some time," he finally said, causing Grandma to smile.


    "Well, then, let''s go to my room," she said in a friendly tone. "I have some snacks ready for you there."


    Lin Zhi nodded and went after her, watching her figure from a short distance.


    Then, a small smile appeared on his lips.


    If those two stooges couldn''t do anything...


    Then, Lin Zhi would just take matters into his own hands.

 Chapter 686 Harutos Restaurant

    Chapter 686 Haruto''s Restaurant


    ??June arrived at the restaurant that Haruto owned, feeling wary about somebody recognizing him.


    However, as he arrived, he saw that the restaurant waspletely empty.


    June frowned in confusion.


    Was his business not doing well?


    "June!" Haruto eximed from the bar, so June quickly greeted him with a small wave.


    Haruto wheeled himself to the table that his workers had prepared and gestured for June to sit in front of him.


    June pursed his lips as he looked around the restaurant.


    "You can take off your mask," Haruto said. "I closed the entire restaurant for this particr meeting."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "You shouldn''t have. You could have just vacated it for two hours," June said.


    Haruto shook his head. "Anything for my dearest friend. Moreover, the business is doing very well. It needs a break so that the otherpetition can thrive."


    June chuckled in amusement. It seemed like Haruto was really doing much better than he had expected.


    "Marcus, you could leave," Haruto sternly said, so his butler quickly followed.


    Marcus didn''t leave the restaurant, but he situated himself in the kitchen, providing the two best friends to talk privately.


    "Haruki wanted toe with me so he could see you, but I told him no," Haruto chuckled. "It seems like my twin brother misses you."


    June shook his head. "We''ll meet in a work schedule soon," he said.


    "Well, he''ll be d to hear it," Haruto said.


    Just then, an array of dishes was wheeled over to where they were, ranging from plump seafood to expensive-looking beef.


    June shook his head.


    "You really shouldn''t have prepared so much."


    "I know," Haruto smiled. "But it''s been a long while since we''ve met personally. You''re a very busy person, so I''m assuming that it''s going to be a while until we meet again."


    June nodded. "This week might be the longest break that I''ll have for the rest of the year."


    Haruto hummed in acknowledgment.


    "Well, did youe here to talk about what happened yesterday night?"


    "Oh, but you set the date before yesterday night even happened," Haruto muttered as soon as he realized it.


    June frowned in confusion.


    "Yesterday night?" he asked.


    Haruto''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Oh, are you not aware of what happened?" he asked.


    June shook his head.


    "I guess Minjun didn''t tell you, huh?"


    June''s frown deepened. "Did something happen to Minjun?"


    "Yes," Haruto responded. "Well, technically¡ªno. He didn''t get hurt or anything like that. However, two individuals who have been notorious ckmailers in the ck market attempted to break into the house he was staying in."


    "However, the kid must have done something to lure them away."


    "What?" June muttered. "Why didn''t he tell me about this?"


    "I''m assuming he doesn''t want to worry you," Haruto said. "You already appear to be in distress."


    "However, you do not need to worry. Marcus'' friends came to finish the job. They left them very injured so that they wouldn''t be able to do any tedious tasks for a year, at most."


    Despite Haruto''s assurance, June''s frown remained.


    He was worried about Minjun''s safety.


    "Well, do you know why they decided to break into Minjun''s temporary home?" June asked.


    "There isn''t a definitive exnation," Haruto answered. "They didn''t give anything away, but I''m assuming it''s an inside job. There must be people behind what they are doing."


    June pursed his lips. He already had a clue on who it might be, and it set his heart aze.


    He couldn''t believe that Lin Zhi and Laohu would stoop this low, but then again, they were the lowest scum on earth.


    So, June shouldn''t be too surprised.


    "Do you want me to look into it?" Haruto asked.


    June nodded. "Yes, please. I already have a hunch about who it is, but I need your help suppressing them."


    Haruto frowned in confusion. "Howe you already know these people?"


    June sighed as he looked into Haruto''s eyes.


    "It''s actually why I came to see you today," he answered.


    Haruto nodded and gestured for him to go on.


    "The briefcase," June said, causing Haruto''s expression to harden.


    "You''re still on about this?" Haruto sighed, removing his sses so he could massage his temples.


    "Yes," June said. "I believe it contains something important."


    "I know that," Haruto answered. "Why would CEO Kim Young Do of Phoenix even send out desperate trainees to China just to retrieve it if it wasn''t important?"


    "I also believe that I have it," June continued, causing his eyes to widen.


    June looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I thought you already knew that I had it."


    Haruto let out a deep breath.


    "I had a hunch," he said. "However, I never really knew if you were serious or not."


    "Or....have you been hiding it all along?"


    June shook his head. "No...wait, yes. I mean¡ªI don''t know."


    "Huh?" Haruto asked in confusion.


    June sighed and gathered his thoughts before speaking once again.


    "That night¡ªwhen we watched that man die¡ªI believe I already had the briefcase."


    Haruto looked at him in disbelief.


    "H¡ªhow?" he stammered.


    "Someone gave it to me," June continued. "It was to save the man''s life. Mei¡ªI mean, someone didn''t want it to fall into the hands of someone evil. So, she decided to give it to me¡ªone who wasn''t desperate for its contents."


    Haruto paused for a while, trying to piece the puzzle together.


    "So, what you''re saying is¡ªyou apanied me to China back then so you could ''supposedly'' ensure my safety."


    "No," June shook his head. "I was trying to stop you. I had a bad feeling that they weren''t going to fulfill their promises even if you did retrieve the briefcase."


    "Yeah, that," Haruto said. "You weren''t nning on taking it at all. However, someone came up to you and gave you the briefcase," he continued.


    June nodded as he listened to Haruto narrate the story.


    "You hid it before meeting me in the warehouse, but then we encountered the murder of a man."


    June nodded once again.


    "You didn''t tell anyone about the briefcase''s whereabouts, and you took it back to Korea and hid it from the higher-ups."


    "Yes," June said. "You got it exactly right."


    Haruto gasped and looked at him with wide eyes.


    "So, what you''re saying is that you''re the only person who knows where the briefcase is?"


    "Yes, that''s exactly what I''m saying," June said, suddenly feeling the weight on his shoulders.


    "The people who are trying to harm Minjun are also trying to get a hold of the briefcase," June said. "So, they''re doing everything they can to aplish that."


    "How do they even know that you were the one who hid it?" Haruto asked, confused.


    "It''s a long story," June said. "However, what''s important is that I retrieve it, find out what''s inside, and use that information to my advantage."


    "Well, you''re the only one who can answer that," Haruto said.


    "Where is the briefcase?" he asked.


    June bit his lips before he responded.


    "I don''t know."

 Chapter 687 Ticketing Day

    Chapter 687 Ticketing Day


    ??"You don''t know?" Haruto asked with wide eyes.


    "Howe you don''t know when you were the one who hid it?"


    June sighed as he leaned against the chair.


    "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I believe I had forgotten where I hid it," June said, scratching the back of his head.


    "I''ve been searching my mind for days, but nothinges to mind."


    Haruto shook his head. "Well, it was a traumatic past, so you might have unconsciously blocked that information."


    June nodded, thankful that Haruto didn''t pry further.


    "That''s why I came here," June said. "I believe you''re the only person I could trust regarding this matter."


    "Perhaps. Do you have any idea where I could find the briefcase?" June asked.


    Haruto pursed his lips before sighing.


    "I''m sorry¡ªbut I also don''t have a clue. I believe I tried asking you multiple times about its whereabouts, but you never divulged any information."


    "You were afraid I was going to dig it up and bring it to the higher-ups."


    "In the end, the two of us parted ways before I could find out about anything," Haruto said.


    June raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.


    "You should have told me back then," Haruto said, teasing June to lighten up the atmosphere.


    "I know," June muttered, ming Joon-ho for being such a secretive man.


    "Nah, I''m kidding," Haruto said. "I think it''s for the best that you didn''t tell me. I felt like I would have really dug up where you hid the briefcase if you had told me."


    "Really?" June asked.


    Haruto nodded without any hesitation. "I was far too desperate to debut back then."


    "Moreover, I also became more ambitious after hearing what the briefcase really contained."


    June''s back straightened, and he leaned his elbows on the table as he looked at Haruto with semi-wide eyes.


    "You know about its contents?"


    Haruto clicked his tongue. "Well, I don''t know the exact contents, per se. However, I overheard CEO Kim Young-do and his assistant talking one time¡ªand I believe they were talking about the briefcase."


    "What did they say about it?" June asked, intrigued.


    Haruto paused for a moment, trying to recall their words.


    "I don''t remember exactly," he said.


    "It was the key to dominating the entertainment industry, they said¡ªthe capacity to destroy everyone or something like that."


    June frowned as he deciphered Haruto''s words.


    "What could that mean?" June muttered.


    Haruto shrugged. "I also don''t know. However, I was blinded by the word ''dominate,'' so I wanted to take it from you back then."


    "I guess that was the start of my dominating kink," he happily said.


    June ignored Haruto''sment, even wanting to forget about it since he was too focused on what Haruto had shared about the contents of the briefcase.


    "So, whatever it is that''s inside the briefcase¡ªit must be very important," Haruto concluded.


    "That''s also the reason why a lot of people are after it."


    "However, you are the closest to finding it," Haruto said.


    "You just have to dig deeper into your mind so you can find it."


    "That''s the problem," June sighed in frustration. "I don''t even know where to start."


    Haruto clicked his tongue as he thought of usible solutions.


    "Well, you didn''t go to a lot of ces after the incident. I, too, became a dormant and isted person¡ªhence, leading to my fall," he said, gesturing to his legs with an amused smile.


    "You still went to thepany to practice, then went back to your dorms, visited your original home from time to time, and also ate at your favorite snack bar."


    "So, you weren''t strange nor suspicious during those times¡ªwhich makes it harder for us to know where the briefcase is."


    June groaned in frustration, throwing his head back as the clue he had found in his old phone echoed in his mind.


    "Again, I believe that this is a question that only you can answer," Haruto remarked.


    "I suggest you start from the beginning¡ªwhere you first originated."


    June froze as he said those familiar words once again.


    Origin?


    Why was everybody talking about his origin all of a sudden?


    ''Don''t tell me. Are you perhaps¡ªFu?'' he thought.


    "Or, you could also smack your head on the concrete so your blocked memories cane back," he innocently suggested, causing June to shake his head.


    Never mind.


    ***


    "Five minutes, guys!" Jia eximed as she stretched her arms and cracked her knuckles.


    Bora sighed as she looked around theputer shop.


    "I can''t believe that so many people are nning to go to EVE''s show," she muttered.


    Soomin pursed her lips before slumping in her chair.


    "Our chances are honestly getting slimmer and slimmer. More people areing in to get their tickets!" she eximed.


    "Well, I don''t really trust our inte connection, so I suggesteding here with you guys," Nari said.


    "Let''s hope that we''ll be able to get tickets," Wei nervously said. "There''s only around 8,000 tickets for grabs, so it''s going to be a bloodbath."


    Tonight was the ticketing for EVE''s mini-concert, and as expected, people from around the world wanted to be a part of the important milestone.


    Computer shops in Korea were filled to the brim as fans wanted to secure a ticket for themselves.


    Gamers, who usually y after ss, had no choice but to wait for the multitude of fans to secure their tickets before they were able to grab a seat.


    "Three minutes!" Jia excitedly said, already preparing her hands to click on the link for the ticketing.


    Meanwhile, in an apartment in Seoul, a pretty woman was situated between the thighs of a handsome man.


    "Stop it!" Mimi eximed, pushing Nico away as he tried to kiss her neck.


    Nico sighed as he looked at her phone over his shoulders.


    "What are you even doing? You''ve been staring at your phone all day," he muttered.


    Mimi clicked his tongue. "I wouldn''t have given you a chance if I knew you were going to be this clingy."


    "Hey!" Nico eximed, offended. "I thought you liked my clingy side."


    Mimi rolled her eyes. "It''s whatever. I do like it. However, not for this situation. I really need you to give me some space."


    "There''s only two minutes left!" she anxiously eximed.


    "What exactly are you doing?" Nico asked with a frown.


    Mimi turned to her boyfriend with a wide smile.


    "I''m going to participate in the ticketing for EVE''s mini-concert, of course!"


    Nico''s eyes immediately narrowed.


    Even now, he had topete for his girlfriend''s attention because of EVE?


    "Why don''t you juste to BOYMYSTIC''sst concert instead?"


    "I already have a ticket for that," she smiled. "You''ve reserved one for me, right?"


    "Besides," Mimi said. "This concert will happen after your disbandment."


    Nico clicked his tongue. "Still, should you be so passionate about this ticketing?"


    Mimi didn''t bother responding anymore as she focused her gaze on her phone and refreshed it over and over again.


    "Babe?"


    "Shh!" Mimi sternly said.


    "The ticketing has started!"

 Chapter 688 The Daily Stress of a Fangirl

    Chapter 688 The Daily Stress of a Fangirl


    ??"It''s open!"


    Theputer shop was engulfed in chaos as numerous astras tried to secure their tickets for EVE''s one-day mini-concert.


    Most of them wanted to curse Azure out loud, wondering why EVE was given such a small venue in proportion to the poprity that they had, but they stayed quiet in case the divine beings of the world heard them and decided to punish them for having unholy mouths.


    Bora, on the other hand, didn''t care about such divine beings.


    "They should have made them perform in Jamsil Stadium instead!" she eximed.


    "Those humpty-dumpty looking bastards don''t know what they''re doing!"


    Jia turned to Bora with raised eyebrows.


    "Jamsil Stadium has a 70 thousand-person capacity, and this is a mini-concert," she deadpanned.


    "And so?" Bora asked. "Then, we wouldn''t have to fight so much for the tickets. Who cares if it''s a 70-thousand-capacity venue? EVE could probably sell it out with the amount of fans they have in Korea all alone."


    "Even grimy little kids want to go to their concert," she gestured to the little girls behind them, being apanied by their mothers.


    The mothers turned to Bora with raised eyebrows, but the blunt girl didn''t seem to care.


    As a result, Jia bowed her head and apologized on her behalf.


    Then, she shook her head.


    "You''re right," Jia said. "I can''t believe we''re here instead of preparing for our graduation."


    Bora clicked her tongue. "It''s going to start in ten seconds!"


    Jia put her game face on as she faced theputer, her hand hovering above the mouse.


    "3...2...1," she muttered before clicking the link.


    The screen loaded, with the line seemingly going at a turtle''s pace.


    "Come on," she said in frustration as it took her a full minute before she arrived at the site.


    Just then, the site finally loaded, her eyes brightening as a new pop-up appeared.


    However, her smile quickly dropped when she saw what was written on the pop-up.


    ''You are now in the queue to enter the site.''


    ''Number of people before you: 134,567''


    ''Estimated time of arrival: 72 hours''


    She sat there for a second, wondering where it all went wrong.


    Jia always managed to get good tickets to see EVE¡ªfrom their performances in Rising Stars to their music shows!


    However, it seemed like she had used all her luck for those events, leaving none for their very first mini-concert.


    "It''s over," she whispered.


    Then, she turned to her friends, who seemed to be in a simr state to her.


    "What''s your queue number?" she asked, hope still filling her heart.


    "90,000," Bora absent-mindedly said.


    "180,000," Nari muttered.


    "75,000," Soomin sighed dejectedly.


    "It''s over," they said in unison.


    Then, they heard victorious screams from behind them, causing them to turn around.


    "Yay, we got front seats!" the little girl, not older than 6th grade, eximed.


    "What the fuck? How could these kids who haven''t even gone through puberty get tickets?" Bora eximed, causing their mothers to re at them once again.


    However, this time, Jia didn''t bother to apologize.


    Those tickets should have gone to them instead.


    Meanwhile, in the luxurious apartment in Seoul, Mimi managed to convince Nico to help her secure tickets for the mini-concert.


    "Come on," she pleaded. "Aren''t you friends with him?"


    Nico''s eyes narrowed when he remembered that June was the reason why all of his members saw his schlong out in the open.


    "No way," he said, almost disgusted. "I don''t like that guy."


    "But you like me, right?" she asked, blinking her eyes up at her boyfriend.


    Nico pursed his lips. It was unfair! She knew he was a sucker for that look!


    After looking at her for a while, Nico finally sighed.


    "Fine!" he eximed. "What do I need to do?"


    "Just click on the link that I sent you. Then, once it loads, we''ll get to see our queuing number."


    Nico sighed in frustration as he clicked on the link.


    Fortunately, he didn''t have to wait for a while since it loaded right away.


    "Oh, shocks," Mimi muttered disappointedly. "I have 120,000 as my queue number. I just don''t have any luck with this."


    She was dejected that she couldn''t see EVE. However, Mimi was also amazed to see that over a hundred thousand people actually attempted to get tickets for their mini-concert!


    It wasn''t even a real concert just yet!


    "I thought you said there would be a queue number," Nico said.


    Mimi frowned as she looked at her boyfriend. "There is," she said. "Why? Is yours still not loading? Well, it happens sometimes. The site crashes when too many people are attempting to get into the site¡ª"


    Nico turned his phone toward her, causing Mimi to turn silent.


    She looked at the site with wide eyes.


    "What the heck?"


    "You got in!"


    Nico clicked his tongue since he couldn''t believe he had actually helped Mimi purchase the tickets to the concert that he didn''t want her to attend!


    He was hoping that he would get a queue number above 100,000 so he could pretend it was a shame that he didn''t manage to help her.


    However, EVE just couldn''t leave him alone, could they?


    "Yay, I''m going to see June!" Mimi happily eximed.


    Yet, seeing his girlfriend rejoice like she just won the lottery made Nico smile, too.


    "You''re going with me," Mimi said as she finally checked out the tickets.


    Nico smiled in amusement. "I guess I am."


    Meanwhile, someone from Itaewon didn''t have the same luck as Nico.


    "205,000?" Choi Pablo eximed in anger. "What is this shit? Why are there so many people ahead of me?"


    Jenny turned to him in surprise. "Dang, my cousin''s that popr?"


    Pablo sighed in frustration. "Maybe I shouldn''t have posted that photoshoot with June when he was still a trainee. Maybe then, I would have gatekept him until now."


    Jenny shook her head as she also arrived at the site. It was alreadyte at night, but she still didn''t go home because her boss practically forced her to help him with the ticketing.


    It wasn''t technically a part of her job description, but Pablo looked so pitiful that she decided to help.


    "I''m 20,000 on the line," Jenny said, causing Pablo''s eyes to widen in pleasant surprise.


    "But there are only 8,000 tickets up for grabs," she said, making him slump once again.


    "So, you''re telling me that I won''t be able to watch their concert?" he eximed, falling to the ground in despair.


    Jenny scratched the back of her head as she looked at her boss.


    "Do you want me to ask June for free tickets?"


    Pablo looked at her with desperate eyes. "Can you do that?"


    Jenny pursed her lips since she wasn''t sure.


    "Let me try," she said, quickly texting June and anticipating his reply.


    Jenny: Hey, can you give me two tickets for your mini-


    concert.


    Fortunately, June replied quite fast.


    Rich cousin: No. You''ll sell it.


    Jenny clicked her tongue in frustration. Howe her cousin knew her so well?


    She then turned to Pablo and shook her head.


    "I''m sorry, bud. It looks like you''ll pass on this one."


    Choi Pablo lost a part of himself that night.

 Chapter 689 Fun Amidst The Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 689 Fun Amidst The Chaos</h4>


    "EVE proves their selling power! Tickets sold out in 1.4 seconds!"


    "Is EVE now the biggest boy group in South Korea? From taking over the charts to dominating venues!"


    "EVE''s sensation had surpassed the Korean market. Videos of people from foreignnds be viral as they attempt to grab tickets for the group''s first mini-concert."


    "Azure''s mismanagement of EVE? Do they really think that EVE doesn''t deserve a bigger venue?"


    - It''s crazy. Almost everyone is talking about EVE these days.


    - Yes! Yet their management is sozy. They should have brought out more content this time around.


    -I?agree. However, I think the boys also need to rest. I believe thepany should still invest more in its marketing in order to sustain this poprity.


    -They aren''t doing anything about EVE''s haters, too. They said they would take legal action against their haters, but they haven''t done shit.


    - What do we expect from shitty Azure?


    - Honestly, EVE is justzy. They could be bigger than they are now if they put out more content. June is theziest of them all. How could he take a break while his career is at its peak? We shouldn''t give them a tform like this.


    - ^Exhibit A.


    - EVE works so hard, though. The problem is theirpany''s management. I think they should learn how to prioritize each member so there would be a bnce in their schedules. Moreover, their previousebacks had always been rushed. Nheless, all of them are quality tracks because they are made by EVE.


    "Guys, we''ve sold out the concert in 1.4 seconds," Jaeyong said, still in disbelief after reading the articles.


    He also saw a lot of hate circting online, but he decided not to bring it up because he didn''t want to ruin the mood.


    After EVE became more well-known, it was inevitable that they would have more haters, too.


    At some point, the boys had gotten used to them. However, it also didn''t mean that it wasn''t disheartening to read suchments.


    "How?" Akira loudly eximed, standing from the ground.


    "That''s not even a full breath! 1.4 seconds is barely an inhale!"


    "I know, right?" Jaeyong eximed. "I can''t believe it."


    Zeth smirked as he looked at a trending article. "It says here that over 250,000 people attempted to get tickets. Are we really that big now?"


    "I bet more than half of that is June''s fans," Sehun chuckled.


    "Yeah," Ren said, looking down at hisp.


    "It would be nice to celebrate this milestone with June," he muttered.


    Meanwhile, June, who had taken out the extra food from Haruto''s restaurant, heard their conversation and finally decided to open the door.


    As the door opened, the boys all turned to EVE with wide eyes.


    "June?" Jisung happily eximed, running over to where he was.


    "You''re here?"


    "I didn''t want topletely miss out on practice," June said, a small smile appearing on his lips when he saw how happy his teammates were to see him.


    "But you''re on a break," Jaeyong said. "Shouldn''t you be resting?"


    "It''s fine," June shrugged. "I can still practice with you, guys. It wouldn''t be too tedious."


    "Here," he said, giving them the paper bags of food. "You guys should take a break. You''ve been practicing since morning, right?"


    Akira was already chewing on a piece of bread before June could even finish his sentence.


    "Actually, we have decided to call it a night," Jaeyong said, also grabbing some of the food before his memberspletely devoured it like piranhas.


    "However, seeing that so many people have been fighting over our tickets motivated us to practice even more," he continued.


    Akira lifted his head and looked at their leader with wide eyes.


    "We did? I thought we were going home?"


    Ren pped the back of his head. "Yeah, we''re practicing our intro once again after this. Maybe you would like to join us, June."


    June shrugged and sat alongside them.


    "Sure," he said, knowing that his teammates were working hard to give astras their best performance.


    With that, they ate happily, feeling the weight of their poprity against their shoulders.


    "Guys," Jisung suddenly said. "Should we do a live? It''s been a while since our fans saw all of us together."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. "Shouldn''t we inform thepany before we have a live?"


    Akira groaned, his mouth filled with food. "Why is it that they have to know our every move? It''s not like we''re going to strip or defame someone in the live. We''ll just speak with our fans!"


    "Yeah, I miss talking to them too," Zeth said. "Come on, Jaeyong. Let''s do a live! It''s just going to be a quick one."


    Jaeyong bit his lip and weighed out the consequences.


    June looked at their leader and shook his head.


    It was times like this that June was thankful that he didn''t end up being their leader.


    He could only imagine the amount of stress that Jaeyong had to be in. He has to maintain a neutral standpoint while trying to please both the members and thepany.


    It was a very hard role to fulfill, so June admired him even more because of it.


    "Jaeyong, please," Jisung said with big, puppy eyes.


    Sehun nudged his shoulder. "It''ll only be for a few minutes. We''re going to practice again afterward."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue before finally speaking.


    "Are you guys going to behave?" he asked.


    "Of course!" Jisung sweetly said, already feeling excited.


    "Behave is my middle name," Zeth smirked.


    "I was always the most well-behaved in ss," Ren boasted.


    "Shut up, you weren''t," Akira said. "Don''t worry about me! I''ve always been behaved."


    Jaeyong raked his fingers through his hair. "Alright," he sighed, not thinking about the consequences this time around.


    It was a happy moment, so he also wanted to share their milestone with the fans.


    "Yay!" Jisung eximed, not even having to be told twice before he turned on the live.


    "Hey, guys!" he said to the camera.


    The members of EVE positioned themselves within the frame, squeezing themselves together to be able to be seen.


    "Oww! Someone''s stepping on my little toe!" Casper said.


    "My head is being squished!" Ren eximed.


    "Oh no!" Akira dramatically said. "Now, your small brain is going to be even smaller."


    Ren began to wrestle Akira, making their current position to be a mess.


    "Guys, stop fighting!" Sehun said, trying to control the situation.


    "Ouch! Someone kicked my balls," Zeth said, holding onto his precious jewels.


    June watched them calmly, already used to the chaos after living with them for months.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong felt like his gray hair was starting to grow.


    "Oh gosh," he muttered.


    "I regret agreeing to this already."

 Chapter 690 Please Grant EVE Some Media Training

    <h4>Chapter 690 Please Grant EVE Some Media Training </h4>


    - Oh goodness. It''s already chaotic.


    - Aww, I missed them. I missed my family.


    - How long has it been since we''ve seen them altogether in a casual setting like this?


    - It''s been a while. I miss EVE''s lives :(


    - It''s quite rare these days since the boys are so busy now!


    - Sometimes, I wish we could go back to the old times, to the simpler times.


    - Justice for Zeth''s balls!


    - When are they going to start talking to us?


    - Watching them makes me want to have friends.


    - Yeah, it''s not enough to be an astra. I need to be a part of EVE.


    Jaeyong sighed and spoke loudly to break the silence.


    "Shoot to the top! Hi guys, we''re EVE!"


    Somehow, the greeting snapped the members to their proper selves, almost as if they were on autopilot.


    June shook his head at the ridiculous situation.


    He couldn''t believe he was with such a crazy bunch.


    However, even though he didn''t say it out loud, he loved the crazy bunch and probably couldn''t live without them anymore.


    Jaeyong sighed in relief as June took the phone from Jisung''s hand and propped it onto the table so they would all be seen without squishing each other.


    - Omo. This view of June is so nice.


    - He''s filming from below, but he''s still so handsome.


    - It''s been a while since we''ve seen June. I can''t :(


    - It''s only been two days.


    - Justice for us who look awful from that angle.


    - What if I look awful from every angle?


    - Pray for a good new life.


    "Why didn''t I think of that?" Jisung asked as they were now all shown on the screen.


    "Clearly, June''s the only one with a functioning brain," Casper proudly said.


    - Casper''s simping for June again.


    - Juneper is sailing!


    - Please make babies with each other.


    "Anyway, we came on here while we were practicing," Jaeyong said. "We''re working really hard for the mini-concert, so please look forward to it."


    "See! We''re practicing thiste into the night because we love you!" Akira eximed, pointing at the windows that showed the dark skies.


    Sehun shook his head. "Don''t be fooled, guys. He wants to go home right away after this one!"


    Akira''s eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head at the camera to defend himself.


    - I didn''t manage to get tickets


    - Please, why is the venue so small?


    - I almost lost a lung fighting for those tickets. Luckily, I got one at the veryst row -.-


    - At least you were able to buy one!


    "It seems like a lot of people weren''t able to get any tickets," Akira said. "We should have chosen a bigger venue, huh?"


    - Yes!


    - A hundred percent.


    "Well, unluckily for you and me, we don''t really decide that. Ourpany arranges it," Akira continued.


    Ren hit his side. "Can we say that?" he whispered.


    Akira merely shrugged.


    - I knew it!


    - Fuck Azure, really!!


    Seeing that so many fans were upset, June decided to bring up the topic.


    "Maybe we should ask Azure about adding another date," he suggested.


    "Would you guys like that?" June asked. "Let''s have Jaeyong speak with the higher-ups, should we?" he teased.


    Jaeyong''s eyes widened in surprise, then he gestured for June to cut it off. They weren''t supposed to pressure thepany to do anything!


    - Please, please.


    - June, I''m already holding onto your words.


    - Please make it happen, Azure!


    - Maybe we should make another hashtag.


    Jaeyong let out a soft sigh as thements became chaotic.


    With that, he decided to do some damage control.


    "Well," he chuckled nervously. "Do you guys want to ask us some questions? We''re not going to be here for long, so we''ll take this time to answer your queries."


    - June, when are youing back to Rising Stars?


    - Until when are you taking a break, June?


    - Will June write another song for the album?


    "The people are curious when you''re going toe back, June," Zeth said, scrolling through the plethora ofments that only mentioned June.


    "In a week," June said. "I''m just resting for a bit, guys. I''ll be back soon."


    "Don''t pressure him too much, guys," Casper said. "He needs a lot of rest."


    - June, I want you toe back!


    - June, please dye your hair again.


    - What are the members'' first impressions of June?


    June, noticing that thements were only talking about him, frowned.


    "You can ask the other guys questions, you know?" he asked, sounding a bit annoyed.


    - Oh no. Is he mad?


    - There are too many people in the live right now. Almost all of them are June''s solo fans.


    - June, leave the group and go solo! They''re hindering you.


    - That''s true. If you didn''t do EVE''s projects, then you would have more time for your solo schedules.


    "What the heck?" Akira couldn''t help but exim as thement section became increasingly toxic.


    "Umm," Jisung muttered, also feeling like he couldn''t say anything about the situation.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue and wondered if they should abruptly end their lives.


    However, before that could happen, the door opened, revealing a very unexpected person.


    "Mr. Ong?" Akira muttered.


    With that, June acted fast and turned off the live, leaving plenty of the fans confused.


    Fans flocked to Navel as soon as the live was finished.


    - What the heck just happened?


    - Mr. Ong? Isn''t that the CEO of Azure Entertainment?


    - Oh goodness. Did the boys get into trouble?


    - I don''t know what to feel. It seems like I shouldugh, but not at the same time.


    - Bring Azure down!


    "So, you guys were here," Mr. Ong said.


    The boy''s eyes widened in surprise since there was something very strange about the CEO.


    Then, it hit them.


    Akira stood with a loud gasp, pointing at their CEO.


    "You don''t have your chair!" he eximed.


    Mr. Ong remained stoic as the boys looked at him with wide eyes.


    "Oh, you''re actually really short," Akira said, not being able to stop himself.


    Jaeyong quickly pped his hand over Akira''s mouth and led him to sit back down.


    "Shut up," Jaeyong said, feeling his heart beat faster in his chest.


    Mr. Ong stayed silent for a while before speaking in a menacing tone.


    "My office."


    "Now."

 Chapter 691 You Are The Main Character

    <h4>Chapter 691 You Are The Main Character</h4>


    The boys were all silent as they waited for Mr. Ong to speak.


    He was still standing¡ªalthough it wasn''t too obvious since he was around the same height as Casper even though Casper was sitting.


    Nheless, he was still intimidating despite his small presence.


    Mr. Ong tapped his pen on the table before mming it down.


    "You had a live without our permission?" he asked in a calm tone¡ªtoo calmly if you asked the members of EVE.


    The members all turned to Jaeyong, who cleared his throat and responded for the team.


    "It was just for a short while, sir," he answered. "We wanted to celebrate our new achievements with our fans."


    "That didn''t seem like a celebration to me," Mr. Ong said. "It almost seems like you were bashing thepany."


    They now turned to Akira, who shook his head with wide eyes.


    "It isn''t anything like that," he chuckled awkwardly. "There were just a lot of fans who didn''t get a ticket, so¡ª"


    "We''re not satisfied with the concert venue," June bluntly said, causing his members to turn to him with wide eyes.


    "June," Jaeyong nervously muttered while pinching his thigh.


    However, June remained nonchnt, even casually leaning against his chair with crossed arms.


    "We''re practicing very hard for the mini-concert, and we want a lot of fans to be able to see it," June continued.


    "The venue you''ve picked for us is even smaller than that of other newly-debuted groups," he deadpanned.


    "I''m not boasting or anything like that¡ªbut EVE''s poprity had skyrocketed at an immense pace in thest few months."


    The other members nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment with June.


    "I don''t know what''s going on inside the headquarters, but I believe this is a disrespect to our hard work," June continued, wanting to let all of his emotions out.


    "Aren''t all of you hungry for money? If so, then you would have booked us a bigger ce. Or maybe you''re nning on saving money by booking a smaller venue yet pricing the concert tickets unreasonably high?" he asked with raised eyebrows.


    "Oh damn," Akira muttered. "That''s a burn."


    Ren turned to him with a frown. However, his eyes quickly widened when Mr. Ong heavily sat on his swivel chair, making a loud sound.


    Mr. Ong gazed at June''s eyes, not wanting to back down.


    "Managing a group requires a lot of hard work and resources," Mr. Ong started off.


    "GIRLS'' EVOLUTION had disbanded years ago. BOYMYSTIC is going to have their final concert this week. We''re the only ones left in Azure¡ªbasically, we''re yourst moneymakers until the time the girls in the fifth season of Rising Stars debuts. So, why are you struggling so much?" June asked.


    The members all turned silent, finally realizing the gravity of the situation.


    June didn''t know where he gathered his courage, but all he knew was that he was sick of the situation they were in.


    He was happy being an idol, but it wasn''t as simple as it seemed.


    Mr. Ong sighed, realizing that he couldn''t win against June.


    With that, he decided to change the topic.


    "I can forgive you for that live," Mr. Ong said.


    June sighed in frustration since Mr. Ong wasn''t answering any of his queries.


    "Aside from the kicking of balls thing from Zeth, I believe you guys are safe," he continued.


    "I actually went to your practice room for another reason," he smiled, acting as if he wasn''t just mad at the boys mere seconds ago.


    "Umm, what is it, sir?" Jaeyong asked, still trying to be polite.


    Just then, he turned on the television behind him, making the members turn their attention toward it.


    "I know that all of you are working hard for the concert," he started off.


    "But, I want you to know that thepany is also working hard," he said, emphasizing the point and looking at June for a second.


    June continued to frown as Mr. Ong navigated the television.


    "So, I asked our in-house producers to make you a song regarding your journey to the top," he said. "It will be a gift to the fans and will be the final song you will sing in the mini-concert."


    June pursed his lips. It actually seemed like a good idea. That still didn''t take away the fact that he despised Mr. Ong, though.


    "The lyrics will be shown on screen," Mr. Ong continued. "And along with that, the member who will sing it will also appear."


    The members nodded in understanding, appearing to be excited for their new song.


    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Ong yed the video.


    The room was engulfed in a nostalgic tune, simr to the theme song during their season of Rising Stars.


    June smirked as he rxed in his seat.


    As expected, Azure was good atposing such stuff.


    He could already imagine their fans bawling their eyes out to such a nostalgic tune.


    "When I closed my eyes, I could see my dream.


    So far, it seems.


    Yet, I''m already standing in the spotlight.


    Under the bright lights."


    "When it seemed like I couldn''t reach too far.


    I aimed for the moon.


    Then, Inded on the stars.


    Sote, yet so soon."


    June focused on the lyrics, finding them vague yet touching at the same time.


    It was the kind of song that allowed many interpretations.


    However, its vagueness also contributed to its emotional the same time.


    It was the kind of song that allowed many interpretations.


    factor.


    June was so focused on the lyrics that he didn''t find anything strange in the past two stanzas.


    However, as soon as the chorus hit, he realized that something was wrong¡ªvery wrong.


    "With strangers turned to family,


    I found my life''s meaning.


    And even when darknesses eventually,


    I don''t find myself leaving."


    "It couldn''t be," he muttered.


    June continued to watch the video, wanting to prove his assumptions wrong.


    However, as the song continued to y, he realized that he was right.


    "What is this?" he couldn''t help but say out loud.


    "What?" Mr. Ong asked, surprised that he had interrupted their listening party. "It''s a good song. I even had Ren write some of the lyrics."


    June turned to Ren, who was now looking down at hisp and fiddling with his fingers.


    So, that was why the song sounded so touching.


    "Something''s very wrong," June deadpanned.


    "This song¡ªI have way too many lines."


    Mr. Ong raised his eyebrows in surprise. Usually, idol members would want to have as many lines as possible.


    Was June actuallyining that he was getting the majority of the lines?


    "And so?" Mr. Ong asked in disbelief.


    "It''s only normal," he continued.


    "You are the main character of EVE, after all."

 Chapter 692 The Most Popular Member

    Chapter 692 The Most Popr Member


    ??June was aware of such a phenomenon.


    In a group, there would always be a main character.


    However, some groups have it worse than others.


    Most of the time, the most good-looking member garnered the most attention, which, in turn, opened up more opportunities for them.


    In such groups, the ''main character'' was given the most lines, the most center parts, and the most schedules, leading them to miss quite a lot of group activities.


    Sometimes, they were even more well-known in their solo content. Therefore, when they were back in their teams, quite a lot of people would be surprised that they, in fact, belonged to a team.


    June was confident that EVE was not going to be one of the groups where one member considerably outshone the others.


    They were all too talented for that to happen. None of themgged behind in talents, and although they had different visuals, they can all still be considered as a main visual.


    However, the circumstances were forcing June to be the main character of EVE.


    "Guys, don''t believe what he said," June said as Jay drove them back to their dorms.


    Jay turned to them with raised eyebrows, already aware of the weird atmosphere as soon as the members of EVE came in.


    They were quiet as they entered the car.


    When, in fact, they were never quiet!


    "Are you guys alright?" Jay asked with a worried tone.


    None of them answered him, making him feel frustrated.


    He was about to pry more when Jaeyong spoke.


    "I have a bad feeling about it," he honestly said. "I feel like they''re going to punish us for the live we did."


    "You guys did a live?" Jay asked.


    However, they continued to ignore him.


    "I think it''s alright," Akira said. "Thepany''s just acting strange with the concert venue and all. The song is also weird. Almost half of the song would be sang by June."


    "What?" Jay eximed. "They already revealed the song to you? I thought they would wait until tomorrow."


    Zeth shook his head. "Ren wrote most of the song, too."


    "It''s only obvious, though," Sehun sighed, feeling a bit upset that he only got around four seconds of the song.


    Not only that, but two seconds of that was an adlib.


    "June is the main character of EVE," he muttered.


    The car turned silent once again, making Jay even more frustrated.


    "You are all the main characters of EVE," Jay said.


    "We are all the main characters of EVE," June said right after him.


    Jay clicked his tongue. "Do you guys even hear me?"


    Jisung scratched the back of his head.


    "That''s not true," he said, causing June to sigh in frustration.


    He couldn''t really me his members. Moreover, Jisung said it with such innocence that June couldn''t bring himself to feel bitter about it.


    They genuinely thought that he was the main character of their team when he didn''t want to be!


    Zeth nodded in agreement. "He has the most schedules."


    June turned to him with wide eyes. Even Zeth, who believed that he was the most popr, most handsome, and most desirable man on earth, also agreed with their sentiment?


    "He also has the most fans," Ren continued.


    "Hmm," Jaeyong hummed. "His follower count is even more than that of our official ount."


    June pursed his lips as he recalled his ten million Navel followers.


    "He is the main character," Casper concluded, making June slump in his seat.


    "Guys, I''m really not," he defended himself. "I don''t want you thinking like that. I could probably leave the team, and you would still function well."


    "No on will leave the team," Jay said. "Don''t worry. I will speak with thepany about this."


    "No, we won''t," Jisung said. "It''s impossible. It''s the other way around. You can stay in EVE, and it will still be sessful."


    "That''s not the case!" Jay eximed, but the car was engulfed in silence once again.


    "Look," June said. "I think all of this is happening because thepany started giving me the most schedules. I know that I''m the center of EVE, but sometimes, it''s just excessive. So, I''m sorry."


    "It''s not your fault, though," Sehun said.


    "You''re just meant to be a star. Some people are born with it, some people are not. It''s how it goes," Sehun muttered.


    June knew that Sehun didn''t mean any harm with his statement, but June couldn''t help but feel bad about it.


    He hated seeing his teammates lose confidence because of this.


    June was about to argue with them once more when the car came to an abrupt stop, causing the members to jolt forward.


    Jaeyong, who was in the front seat, groaned in pain as the seatbelt dug into his ribs.


    Akira and Jisung even toppled over, hitting their heads on the seats right in front of them.


    Meanwhile, the other members felt like they had been whished by how abrupt the stop was.


    "Jay, what the heck?" Akira eximed as he knelt on the car floor before settling back in his seat. He felt quite dizzy from the impact, so he closed his eyes as he continued ranting.


    "I told you to stop doing that!"


    Jisung also closed his eyes as he felt his world spinning.


    "That was the most intense stop you''ve done. I know you''ve done this plenty of times, but I still can''t get used to it."


    "It''s because we weren''t paying attention to him," Zeth said, chuckling as he turned to the side and looked at the dark skies. The sky was devoid of any stars today, so it seemed darker than usual.


    June shook his head. "I told you, Jay. You shouldn''t do that anymore. What if we die at one point?"


    "Guys," Jay said, his eyes focused on the front. "I know you have been ignoring me these past few minutes, but listen now."


    The members all turned silent.


    "I think I might have just saved our lives," he said.


    "What?" Ren asked in a confused tone, finally looking at the front.


    Then, he instantly froze when he saw what was in front of them.


    The other members also started snapping out of their shock.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed when he finally saw why Jay hade to an abrupt stop.


    "Wait," he muttered.


    In front of them was a ck van simr to theirs. It had tinted ck windows, adding to its mysterious aura.


    However, what was the most noticeable was that they were very close to their van¡ªonly a few centimeters away.


    Then, when it felt like it couldn''t get any worse, the doors opened, causing the members to freeze.


    Six people wearing all-ck outfits and holding bats came out of the van, slowly approaching them.

 Chapter 693 In This Mafia Ordeal

    Chapter 693 In This Mafia Ordeal


    ??"Oh shit," Jay muttered, preparing to start the van so they could escape the scene.


    However, before that could happen, two of them had already situated themselves behind their van, making them unable to leave.


    Jisung couldn''t help but shake in fear, so Ren held onto him like a nurturing mother.


    "What''s happening?" he whispered.


    "I don''t know," Ren said in an equally scared voice.


    "Are we in some kind of mafia shit?" Akira asked quietly, earning him a p on the back of the head from Jaeyong.


    "Sorry," Akira muttered. "I forgot that we''re in a serious mood."


    Jay squeaked as one of the men tapped the window with the bat.


    "Open up," the man shouted.


    However, Jay remained unmoving, not knowing what to do.


    June, on the other hand, tried to assess the situation.


    The car that almost collided with them...


    The clothed men holding bats...


    This seemed like the usual ckmailing scheme.


    He had done this before.


    "Open up!" the man repeated, getting impatient.


    "What am I going to do?" Jay frantically asked.


    "I don''t know!" Zeth eximed.


    "I''ve never been in such a situation before," Jaeyong muttered, almost on the brink of tears.


    "Open it," June calmly said, making the members turn to him with wide eyes.


    "What?" Sehun eximed.


    "Are you crazy?" Ren chimed. "What if they do something to us?"


    June pursed his lips.


    "If they wanted to kill us, then they would have done so already," June said.


    "The fact that they''re doing this means that they only want two things¡ªa robbery or some kind of threat¡ªa warning, perhaps," he muttered.


    "A warning?" Casper asked. "For what?"


    June already had a hunch on who it was. However, he didn''t want to string hism embers along his issues.


    The fact that they were being threatened at the moment already made him feel guilty.


    "They wouldn''t let us leave until we give them what they want," June said. "So, open the window."


    Jay shakily ced his hand over the electric button.


    However, before he could even press it, a loud breaking sound was heard.


    Their eyes widened when they saw that the window right next to June was now broken.


    Jisung gasped in surprise, and although he was fearful, he pulled June to his side to protect him.


    June subtly shook his head. How sweet was Jisung to be thinking of June even up to this point?


    The other members were still frozen, so June took the time to gently pry Jisung''s arms away from his body to face the perpetrators.


    The perpetrators, dressed in the usual ck bo and mask, looked at June with narrowed eyes.


    Their boss told them that he was quite the nonchnt man, but the fact that he wasn''t even fazed with their raid made them believe that June was a different breed.


    "Give us what we want," one of them said.


    "Money?" June asked with raised eyebrows, still appearing calm.


    The other members feared for their lives, yet June was handling it with suchposure that they felt shivers run down their spines.


    It was times like this that they were reminded of how scary June could be.


    "No," another chimed, amusement heard in his voice.


    "You know what we want," he said. "The case."


    June pursed his lips. So, he was right.


    It had finally started.


    First, they tried to attack Minjun, and now they were targeting his members.


    "I don''t have it," June deadpanned, telling the truth.


    "You have a week," the person before him said. "Bring it to him."


    "Or else...he will extract it from you."


    "Don''t tell anyone about this...or they will also suffer."


    With that, they went back to their ck van and sped away, leaving Jay and the members of EVE with a traumatic experience.


    The car was engulfed in silence for a few moments before Jay finally broke it.


    "What was that?" he asked before starting the car and speeding to their dorm.


    He was scared out of his wits, but his desire to protect the members of EVE outweighed his fears.


    None of them spoke on the way there¡ªalmost as if they were still traumatized about what had happened.


    However, as soon as they got to the parking lot, the members seemed to snap out of their daze.


    "What the heck just happened?" Zeth eximed.


    "We''re we just robbed? But they didn''t even take our money!"


    "That would have been better! Why did they threaten June instead?" Jisung asked.


    Sehun turned to EVE with a small frown. "What was that?" he asked.


    June sighed before raking his fingers through his hair.


    He knew that he could protect himself. Minjun, too, would be protected by the amount of guards that his mom and Haruto had provided him.


    However, his members were a different case. They were under the public''s eyes¡ªwhich meant that they were more vulnerable to both physical and mental attacks.


    With that, June shook his head.


    "We''re all tired," he said.


    "Let''s go up, hmm?"


    "Jisung," he said, holding the younger guy''s shoulders. "I''ll make you your favorite hot chocte."


    ***


    The members were now back in their dorm,already in their respective rooms after the traumatic experience.


    June, on the other hand, remained on the couch, the television ying an ambient sound.


    He sipped on the extra hot chocte that he had made for Jisung. However, he couldn''t really taste it with the amount of thoughts running inside his head.


    He wasn''t paying attention to the show. Instead, he gazed at the distance, trying to make sense of what had happened that day.


    It seemed like an entire week had passed, but it had only been a day.


    He learned clues from Haruto.


    He reached a new milestone with his teammates.


    They were presented with a new song.


    However, that led his members to believe that he was the main character of the group.


    And to top it all off, they were threatened on their way back.


    June had all the reasons to believe that it was orchestrated by Laohu and Lin Zhi.


    It seemed like they were getting more desperate for the briefcase. However, after hearing what it could contain from Haruto, June didn''t want to give it away.


    For some reason, he felt like the briefcase would have all the answers to his questions.


    So, he needed to find it as soon as possible.


    However, before he could start brainstorming once again about where the briefcase would be, Jisung arrived at the couch.


    Jisung looked at June with wide and red eyes¡ªalmost as if he had just stopped crying.


    "Bro," he called.


    "Do you want to talk?"

 Chapter 694 Brothers for Life

    Chapter 694 Brothers for Life


    ??"Why did you cry?" June asked, ruffling the younger guy''s hair.


    Jisung pursed his lips and looked away from June.


    Even though they were only a few months apart, Jisung found June to be a wiser older brother.


    Well, of course, June''s mental age was far greater than Jisung''s. However, as they''vee a long way, June also found that Jisung was a good friend.


    "I didn''t cry, though," he muttered.


    "Come on," June said. "I''ve known you for a long time. You''re a bigger crybaby than Jaeyong."


    Jisung sniffed and shook his head. "That''s not true. He looks like he got stung by a bee after each of his crying sessions!"


    June smiled in amusement. "He does cry more intensely. However, you cry more than him, bro."


    The line made Jisung smile. "It''s been a while since you called me that."


    "What¡ªbro?" June asked.


    "Hmm," Jisung hummed. "Feels nostalgic, honestly. I kind of miss it¡ªthose times on Rising Stars."


    June looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I don''t," he deadpanned,


    "Coming up with new performances was quite stressful," June chuckled.


    "But it was still fun, right?" Jisung asked. "It makes me miss when our problems were like that."


    June looked down at hisp. That was the time when he didn''t want to be an idol just yet. However, it did feel like he was facing smaller enemies back then.


    "Who knew, right?" Jisung asked, chuckling to himself.


    "I thought that when I debuted¡ªthat would be it. All of my problems will be solved. All the questions in my mind will be answered. All of my desires will finally be fulfilled," he continued.


    "However, it isn''t anything like that. Debuting isn''t the end of it all. We have so many problems to face now. However, I guess it''s fine since I have you guys by my side."


    June nodded to himself.


    At some point, he also wanted to share his problems with the members.


    However, knowing the possibility of them getting hurt because of him made him hold back his words.


    He cared about them too much to be stringing them along to his problems.


    "What happened a while ago was really scary, you know?" Jisung asked. "That was the first time I felt like my life was really on the line."


    Jisung''s statement solidified it further.


    "However, you know what made me more upset?" Jisung asked.


    June turned to him with raised eyebrows.


    "How you must have felt when we were calling you the main character of the team," he said.


    "I should have been more concerned about the guys dressed in ck who were seemingly about to attack us. However, I couldn''t take your expression away from my mind."


    "You looked very...sad," Jisung said. "I thought you were going to be happy that we called you the most famous one in EVE. However, you seemed very upset."


    "That''s because I don''t want to be that kind of person," June said, looking up at the ceiling.


    "We''re a team," he continued.


    "Sehun looked quite disappointed. Ren, too, seemed pretty upset. I mean, it''s justified. I, too, would be quite upset if I didn''t get enough credit for the song I wrote."


    "I saw that, too," Jisung said, looking down at hisp.


    "But it''s not your fault," someone said from behind him.


    June raised his eyebrows and saw Akira hovering above them.


    June narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Since when were you here?"


    Akira smiled and jumped over the couch to sit next to June. He evenid his head down on hisp and peered up at June.


    In another circumstance, June would have pushed him away.


    However, seeing how happy he was lying on hisp, he let Akira be.


    June was close to all members of EVE, but Akira and Jisung were the very first people he became close with, which made him even feel morefortable.


    "It''s not your fault that you''re being called the main character," Akira continued. "I hope you don''t feel so bad about it."


    "That''s the point, though. I don''t want this kind of attention," June continued. "I want it for the entire team¡ªnot just for me."


    "We want that, too," Akira muttered. "But what can we do? Thepany is giving you the most schedules and opportunities."


    "I think it''s a double-edged sword, though. You''re the most tired out of all of us because of it," Akira chuckled.


    June and Jisung chuckled alongside him.


    "The other members appreciate you a lot. Although it would be normal to be a little bit upset about the situation, I believe that the other members still love you."


    "I know that," June muttered. "I never want you guys to feel like you are anything less than you are."


    "Give them some time," Jisung said. "I sometimes think about it, too. What if you leave the group? Would I have more screen time? But then, I felt like we wouldn''t be EVE without you."


    "Sorry," June said, looking up at the ceiling.


    Akira clicked his tongue and pinched his side.


    "I told you to stop apologizing. It''s not your fault. It''s thepany''s," Akira said.


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "The only way we''ll be able to solve this is if we leave Azure."


    The thought made Akira and Jisungugh. They still had around two years left in their contract, and breaking it would entail a lot of money and mess, so it was pretty much impossible.


    However, June remained silent, causing Akira to sit up straight.


    He looked at June with narrowed eyes. "You''re not thinking about it, right?"


    June pursed his lips and didn''t say anything, causing Akira to feel even more nervous.


    "Goodness," Akira muttered. "I really can''t predict what you''re thinking about sometimes."


    "When you stay silent like this, I can''t help but think you''re serious," he continued.


    "Well, it would be difficult," June said. "But it''s not impossible."


    "You''re right when you said that leaving Azure would solve a lot of our problems."


    "But it would also create a bunch of new ones," Jisung reasoned out.


    "Who would even take us in if we break off the contract? I know that we''ve made a decent amount of money, but it wouldn''t be enough to counter against Azure."


    "Last but not least, we wouldn''t even be able to keep our name!"


    June sighed and rxed back in his seat.


    "You''re right," he muttered. "Let''s just hope that Mr. Ong gets into an ident and is reced by a new and kinder CEO."


    "Bro," Jisung said, feeling that hisment was unhinged.


    "I pray for that every night," Akira said.


    Just then, a familiar theme song was heard through the television, causing the three of them to focus their attention to the front.


    "Oh, right. There''s going to be a special episode for Rising Stars today," Akira said, fixing his position.


    "I almost forgot since we were so caught up with everything."


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "You know what that means!" Jisung eximed.


    "Let''s watch it altogether!"

 Chapter 695 Just Give Up!

    Chapter 695 Just Give Up!


    ??"Special episode?" June asked, unaware of the fact.


    "It was just announced yesterday," Jisung said. "You probably didn''t catch it since you were resting really well."


    "What''s the special episode going to be about, though?" June asked.


    "I think they''re going to have some sort of field day¡ªlike that one we had," Akira answered.


    "Oh," June said, remembering those times. He won those unusable phone essories!


    "Let''s watch it, I guess," he muttered, curious as to what they were going to show.


    Just as Akira said, they were going to have their field day.


    June''s eyes immediately went to Mei, who appeared to be teamed up with the most talented people in the show.


    He shook his head as the camera panned towards their team multiple times.


    It was obvious that they were going to have the most screen time and would probably performst in the next episode.


    - Those five are together? That''s amazing!


    - I see one impostor in that group.


    - Jeemin and Mina are in one team! That''s a recipe for sess.


    - Not if someone makes it into a recipe for disaster.


    June sighed since it appeared like Mei was still receiving a lot of hate. He wasn''t able to join them this week for the filming, but there was something different about her.


    She was awfully quiet¡ªalthough she was known to only speak whenever it was needed. Nheless, June still found her disposition quite strange.


    "My ideal type is here again," Akira dreamily sighed, causing June to re at him.


    "Do you want me to remove your teeth one by one?" June asked.


    Akira raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, that''s brutal."


    June shook his head. "Don''t talk about her like that."


    Akira narrowed his eyes at June in suspicion.


    "You know¡ªI really think there''s something going on between the two of you. From the very beginning, you didn''t like it when we talked about her," Akira said.


    "Don''t tell me¡ªyou''re really dating this trainee?"


    June couldn''t help himself. He pped the back of Akira''s head so hard that he lost his sense of speech for a second.


    "What the heck?"Jisung asked, also surprised.


    "Look, I don''t know what''s going on inside your head, but it''s not that," June said, already cringing at the thought of being with his sister.


    He wasn''t a delusional anime protagonist, even if he looked like one!


    Akira massaged the back of his head. "Geez, I get it. You didn''t have to p me so hard."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Just¡ªjust don''t talk about her that way. She''s like a sister to me."


    Akira turned to him. "Ah, I see," he said. "I nearly forgot that you''re not capable of disying romantic feelings."


    "All of the women that have been linked to you had all been ''sister-zoned.'' Rest in peace to all of them."


    June sighed. "She''s really, really, really a sister to me," he emphasized.


    Akira raised his hands in surrender.


    "I get it, dude," he chuckled. "You don''t have to do a triple kill on her now."


    June shook his head and gave up on exining himself.


    "I won''t talk about her like that anymore," Akira said, making June sigh in relief.


    "However," he continued. "Can we talk about how much spark she lost in her eyes?"


    June''s posture straightened as he directed his gaze to the screen.


    He already had a feeling about it, but the fact that another person had pointed it out made it even feel more real.


    "Right?" Jisung asked. "It''s only been around a month, too. Didn''t you go through this phase, June?"


    "I did," June admitted, remembering the time when he was unreasonably kicked out of the ''Skateboard'' team.


    "But it''s strange," Jisung continued. "I felt like she was the type of person to be really passionate about this. Mei had shown her passion since the very beginning. It''s quite disheartening to see her so...sad."


    - Is Mei okay? She''s not participating in any games.


    - Well, maybe she''s bad at that, too.


    - Don''t ruin the group, Mei! You''ve already ruined a lot of this for us.


    - I can''t believe she''s going to work with such talented people.


    - It''s a good thing, though. People are finally going to open their eyes and see that Mei shouldn''t be on the show.


    - Fuck, I feel bad for her, man. She looks so...lost.


    The three of them continued to watch the show, appearing entertained by all the drama that Azure had included.


    Then, after Field Day, which determined the song they were going to perform and the order in which they would perform, some clips of their practice were shown on screen.


    Different scenarios were portrayed, but most people couldn''t wait for Jeemin''s team to appear.


    "I wonder what their practice is going to be like," Jisung said, now on his third ss of hot chocte.


    "Hmm," Akira said. "It would be interesting to see if Mei could keep up with them."


    June watched the show silently, already feeling that it wasn''t going to go well.


    Finally, after what seemed like forever, Jeemin''s team was shown.


    They were going to be performing ''Into A New Reality'' by GOOD GAME. They were a girl group from ESPER Entertainment and undoubtedly one of the most iconic ones of all time.


    The song was their debut song, and Jeemin picked it because it required a lot of skill and talent.


    "Let''s start, shall we?" Mina asked as their leader.


    Jeemin and the rest nodded, already marking the movements. It was a well-loved song, so lots of trainees knew or were at least familiar with its lyrics and choreography.


    However, Mei, having the least training time among them, wasn''t too familiar with the movements.


    As a result, she looked much more unskilledpared to the rest of them.


    June clenched his fists on hisp as the editors capitalized on her mistakes.


    "Cindy," he muttered before shaking his head.


    However, he also knew that they were just doing their job. Azure''s editing style has always been as such, and people eat it up every time.


    Nheless, June found it upsetting to see so much hate for his sister when she was trying so hard.


    He knew that he wanted her to be eliminated so she could go back to her safe space. However, he didn''t want it to end like this.


    - Just go back to your home country.


    - She''s so embarrassing. I can''t believe she made it into the top five.


    - Mina''s so stable. Mei could never do that!


    - What the heck is this shit show?


    - Guys, this is their first day practicing. She''s not familiar with the song, so how do you expect that she''s going to be great right away?


    - Excuses.


    June clicked his tongue as the scene continued on.


    "I think I know why she looks so down now," Akira said.


    Then, just as he uttered those words, another scene shed, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    It was Mei in a familiar room¡ªthe white room that was meant for pouring out all of your feelings.


    Then, some sad ambient music was heard, setting the tone.


    "I don''t know if I can do this anymore."

 Chapter 696 Home

    <h4>Chapter 696 Home </h4>


    June froze as soon as Lina said those words.


    He even felt his heart stop as he looked into her hopeless eyes. He hadn''t seen her like that before.


    Not even when she couldn''t join their high school field trip.


    Not even when she got scammed by a K-Pop album seller.


    Not even when their parents died.


    Although, she was a bit too young toprehend what was truly happening back then.


    June could guess that she was also devastated when he died, but he didn''t live long enough to see it.


    Nheless, this was the most dejected that June had ever seen Mei Ling.


    "Poor girl," Akira said. "She must feel so pressured."


    "I know that I''m less skilled than everybody else," she sighed.


    "I also said that I want to prove myself to all of you and show my improved skills," she continued, still looking down at herp.


    "But why is it so hard?" she asked.


    "I''m trying my best," Mei chuckled, although her voice was devoid of any happiness.


    "Or at least I think I''m trying my best. However, it just feels like my best isn''t good enough."


    - Are you guys happy now? This beautiful girl is breaking down because of all the pressure she is feeling.


    - She set herself up. She told everyone she would improve.


    - It''s been one week! Do you think she''s June or something?


    - June improved so fast, though. Why can''t she do it?


    June looked down at hisp as thement section were bombarded with Mei beingpared with him.


    He felt guilt consume his heart.


    The main reason why he improved so fast was because he had Fu. However, his sister was being unjustlypared to him.


    "I feel like nobody''s supporting me in this dream," she continued, making June lift his head.


    There were tears brimming in her eyes, making June feel even guiltier than he already was.


    "I came here out of my own ord because I want to be an idol, but it seems like a lot of people are against me going for my dream¡ªeven those who don''t know much about me," she muttered.


    June pursed his lips since he knew that he was one of those people.


    He only wanted what was best for her sister, but as he thought back on those times, he realized that he must have hurt his feelings.


    "However, I don''t want toin any further," Mei continued, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.


    Then, she looked into the camera.


    "I went into this show knowing that it wouldn''t be easy," she said with resolution.


    "So, for now, I will just focus on myself..."


    "...and go back to where I came from¡ªto my origin."


    With that, the clip ended, yet Mei''s words continued to echo in his mind.


    "Origin," he muttered.


    There was that word again.


    He didn''t realize how much that word was thrown around up until he received histest mission from Fu.


    "She''s right," Jisung sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "When everything gets tough, you just have to go back to your roots."


    "Ask yourself¡ªhow did you get here? Where did youe from? Where does your home lie?" he continued.


    "You''ve also reminded us that plenty of times before, right, June?" he asked, nudging June''s shoulder.


    June looked at Jisung, his mind still racing with a thousand thoughts.


    How he got here.


    Where he came from.


    Where his home lies.


    Just then, June''s head started hurting, causing him to hold onto his temples.


    Jisung and Akira noticed this and quickly went to his aid.


    "Bro," Jisung said in a concerned tone. "Are you alright?"


    "Oh goodness," Akira panicked. "Is this because you practiced with us? You should have really stayed at home and kept on resting!"


    June shook his head and opened his eyes, finally finding the answer to the question that had been lingering in his mind.


    "I got it," June muttered, causing the two to look at each other in confusion.


    "What?" Jisung asked.


    June retrieved his phone from his pocket and opened his notes app, where the poem entitled BC was hidden.


    A beauty in the rain


    It had already been established that Mei was the beauty under the rain. Her name also sounded like ''May,'' which strengthened the point even more.


    Gave me something I didn''t know I needed


    She gave Choi Joon-ho the briefcase in fear of itnding in the hands of the wrong people.


    But it brought immense pain.


    It brought immense pain since he witnessed the death of Chen Jun Hao. Aside from that, he also saw Haruto slowly losing himself and his dream¡ªeven going as far as trying to take his life by jumping off of a building.


    That I had it seeded


    Buried, underground


    June interpreted this literally. The briefcase must be buried underground¡ªaway from prying eyes and evil hands.


    Where the sun doesn''t shine


    The sun didn''t shine in his original home that much. It was a pretty rainy province except for the summer, and it had been called as the ''Wet City'' ever since.


    Where life took love


    Where his parents died¡ªthe people that Choi Joon-ho truly loved.


    Where flowers bloom


    Their graves were embellished with flowers scattered around the area to honor the beauty of their lives.


    ...where it was engulfed in mes


    Their house had been burned down by unknown people, so everything he knew and loved had turned to ashes.


    It was an ingenious clue¡ªone that only Choi Joon-ho would know about.


    Fortunately for June, although he wasn''t Choi Joon-ho himself, there would always be a part of him that June would understand.


    So, he was able to decipher the clue and possibly the location of the briefcase.


    "Finally," June muttered with a small smile.


    He was finally going to find the answers to his questions!


    "June," Jisung said, snapping him back to reality. "You shouldn''te with us to practice tomorrow."


    "Yeah," Akira agreed. "You should rest."


    June couldn''t shake the smile off of his face as he sat back down on the couch.


    "Yeah¡ªrest," he muttered.


    Akira and Jisung turned to each other, finding June''s tone suspicious.


    "Are...you alright?" Jisung asked.


    June nodded. "Of course," he said. "I''m going to rest tomorrow."


    June just won''t tell them where he would rest.


    It would be in his hometown¡ªGangwon Province.

 Chapter 697 The Challenge That Keeps On Giving

    <h4>Chapter 697 The Challenge That Keeps On Giving</h4>


    [117 Goseung-gun, Gangwon Province, South Korea]


    The first time he went to this ce was to visit his parents'' graves.


    Minjun came along with him during that time, so it was only natural that Minjun came along with him this time, too. Of course, their trusty bodyguards came, too. They weren''t going to risk getting harmed while they were on a short vacation!


    "Why did you drag me out here?" Minjun whined, peeling some oranges and eating them in one whole piece.


    June clicked his tongue. "You practically begged me to take you here when you were younger."


    Minjun stuck his tongue out at him. "I was immature back then! I was also an entire foot shorter than my current height."


    "It''s been a year," June deadpanned.


    "And so?" Minjun asked. "Boys tend to grow quickly."


    June shook his head in amusement. "I could still remember that day. You were a very cute devil."


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Don''t call me that anymore. I''m already in 8th grade."


    June sighed in nostalgia. "Oh, how time had passed. Now, you have a bigger ego than Zeth."


    Minjun scoffed. "Don''tpare me to him. I''m much more handsome."


    June smirked. "Point proven."


    After a few more minutes, the two finally arrived at a familiar scenery.


    "What are we doing here again?" Minjun asked as they got out of the van.


    "I''m looking for something," June vaguely answered.


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Don''t tell me that you''re finding yourself here. I ain''t about to hear such cheesy stuff from you."


    June smiled and nudged the boy''s shoulder.


    "What if I told you that I''m doing just that?"


    Minjun cringed. "Get away from me, boomer."


    June shook his head in amusement. "Kids," he muttered.


    Just then, he heard a familiar voice calling them over.


    June lifted his head and saw Grandma Bok-Soon, the grandma who had taken them in when they had gone here for the first time.


    "Joon-ho!" she called his real name. "Over here!"


    The bodyguards stayed behind, seemingly having their own ce to stay in.


    Haruto''s connections was just great like that!


    June ced his bag over his shoulder and called Minjun over.


    "Let''s go," he said.


    Minjun, being the shy 8th-grader that he was, hesitantly followed after him.


    "Omo," the old woman eximed as soon as she saw the two of them.


    "The two of you had gotten even more handsome! How is that possible?"


    "You''re really an idol now," she said while looking at June.


    "And you," she said, turning to Minjun, who still appeared shy. "Are you the little boy that came with Junest year? You''ve grown so well! You''re very handsome, too."


    Minjun pursed his lips, trying to hide his smile. However, it still peeked through his supposedly ''nonchnt'' personality.


    "Are you nning on bing an idol?" she asked.


    Minjun frantically shook his head. As much as he enjoyed being called handsome, he could nevermit to being an idol!


    It was way too much pressure and work.


    "Oh, that''s alright," Bok-soon said. "Why don''t you go to my house and ce down your stuff? You said that you''re going to stay for a night, right?"


    June nodded. "If that isn''t too much."


    "Of course not," Bok-soon said. "Even though you only contacted mest night, you can stay here for a couple more days if you''d like."


    June shook his head. "A night would be enough."


    Bok-soon smiled. "Alright, then. Let''s go to my humble home."


    Minjun and June went to Grandma Bok-soon''s house to unload their stuff and settle down. They were given some refreshments as they arrived, which made them feel very weed.


    However, June felt like he couldn''t waste any time, so as soon as he finished his drink, he stood on the floor.


    Grandma Bok-soon looked up at him.


    "Are you going now?"


    June nodded. "I want to visit my parents'' graves."


    "Hmm," Bok-soon said. "They''re always the first ones you want to see whenever youe here. Make sure to wear a hat since the weather''s pretty hot today."


    June nodded and took the hat from Grandma Bok-soon.


    "Do you have another one for the kid?" he asked.


    "Of course," she smiled. "Here, little one."


    Minjun pursed his lips, obviously not happy with how he was being called.


    Nheless, he wore the hat that Grandma Bok-soon had provided.


    The two were about to leave when June remembered something.


    "Perhaps, do you have a shovel?"


    ***


    "A shovel?" Minjun asked. "What the heck are you going to do with a shovel?"


    "Just keep quiet," June said. "I''ll stay here. You stay there and wait for me."


    Minjun clicked his tongue and sat on a log.


    "Look, if you''re going to dig up your parents'' bodies, then count me out. I don''t want to see any dead people today," he said.


    June sighed as he looked at the t ground, looking for a starting point.


    "Don''t worry. That''s not my goal, too," June muttered.


    He looked around the area, wondering where he would be able to find the briefcase.


    "This is going to be tough," June said, already having a hunch that finding the briefcase would be a harder task than he had expected.


    "How long are you going to stand there?" Minjun asked.


    "Do you want me to start digging for you?"


    "Stay quiet, kid," June said, causing Minjun to shake his head.


    Then, Minjun stood, grabbing the shovel from June''s hand and pressing it onto the ground.


    As soon as he did that, a metal sound was heard, causing their eyes to widen in surprise.


    Minjun stepped back while June quickly took the shovel to dig even deeper. As he hit the ground once more, he felt the item underground.


    Well, that was actually easier than he had thought.


    Minjun actually had a lot of luck!


    June couldn''t rte.


    He continued digging until he created a small hole.


    There, he saw what seemed to be ck steel material buried under the ground.


    June knelt down and quickly grabbed the case before sitting on the log that Minjun had previously sat on.


    The young teen went to where he was and poked the steel briefcase.


    "What''s that?" he asked.


    June smirked as he shook the briefcase. There was no doubt. It was the same briefcase that he had stolen from another gang a year ago!


    The very briefcase that caused all of this chaos in the first ce.


    "A treasure," June responded, getting ready to open the briefcase.


    He pressed the buttons.


    "Finally," he muttered.


    However, the buttons couldn''t be pressed. They were rock-


    hard.


    June frowned and flipped the briefcase so that the buttons were facing him.


    Then, it hit him.


    The answers weren''t in his hands just yet.


    "What''s the passcode?" Minjun asked.

 Chapter 698 Buzzhead, Pinky, and Curly

    Chapter 698 Buzzhead, Pinky, and Curly


    ??"Bring the hammer," June said, coaxing Minjun to help him open the dreaded briefcase.


    He thought he would finally get the answers to his questions, but there was another challenge that came his way.


    A six-digit code was needed for the briefcase to be opened.


    Minjun clicked his tongue as he gave him the hammer.


    "Why are you so surprised that there''s a code, though?" he asked. "It''s a briefcase! Of course, it''s going to have a passcode."


    June shook his head as he held the hammer in his hands.


    "I forgot, alright?" June asked.


    "And it''s not like I knew the passcode right at the beginning."


    Minjun frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Isn''t it yours?"


    June shrugged, finally hitting the briefcase with good strength. He didn''t want to exert too much effort since something might break inside.


    However, whoever made the briefcase must have put their everything into it.


    The material didn''t even budge!


    "Hey, answer me," Minjun said. "This briefcase is yours, right?"


    "Technically," June vaguely answered.


    "Step back," June said, preparing himself to hit the briefcase harder.


    Minjun sighed and stepped back, covering his ears for what was about to happen.


    June hit it with all of his might. However, the material didn''t budge once again.


    "What the heck?" he eximed before repeatedly hitting the case.


    "Stop it!" Minjun screamed.


    June, feeling breathless, let go of the hammer and copsed on the ground.


    "People are going to think that we''re doing some kind of crime in here," heined.


    June shook his head. "What the heck is that briefcase made out of?"


    "Probably Zeth''s face," Minjun said, leaning down to knock on the hard material.


    "This seems very foolproof, almost like the ones that safes are made out of. You should just make it explode," he continued.


    "And risk losing the content inside?" June asked. "No thanks. I just need to keep on trying."


    With that, he stood once more and started hitting it once again, feeling like this was the toughest opponent he had faced in his entire life.


    Just then, Grandma Bok-soon came out of her house with a confused look.


    "What are you two boys even doing here?" she asked, looking frightened when she saw June holding a hammer with a determined expression.


    June sighed and let go of the hammer. "Just trying to open this."


    Grandma Bok-soon frowned and inspected the briefcase.


    "Oh, honey. This is a safe briefcase. It''s made out of unbreakable material. It''s even waterproof and fireproof! Where did you find something like this? It must have been expensive," she said.


    June pursed his lips. "Well, do you know how I can open it?"


    "Through the passcode, of course," she chimed. "Or make it explode. Although, that would probablypromise the contents inside since it looks sopact."


    June sighed in defeat and once again copsed on the ground.


    "So, what I''m hearing is¡ªI need to find the passcode?" he asked.


    "Yes!" she eximed. "That''s the only way."


    June shook his head, not minding that the dirt was staining his clothes.


    Of course, he should have known that it wouldn''t be as easy as it seemed!


    Fu would never give him such a simple task!


    "Well, get up now. I''ve made lunch. You didn''t get to eat thest time you visited, so I made a feast!"


    June sighed and stood once again, feeling a little bitforted by the thought of home-cooked food.


    "Alright," he said, grabbing the briefcase and going inside along with Minjun.


    He cleaned the briefcase and ced it in his luggage.


    He would think about the passcodeter on. For now, he felt more secure since the briefcase was already in his hands.


    June could already hear the utensils nging from the kitchen, so he quickly washed his hands and went outside.


    His stomach grumbled as soon as the delicious scent of food wafted through his nostrils.


    He followed the source of the scent but stopped when he saw that Minjun and Grandma Bok-soon weren''t alone.


    "Olddies," he muttered, feeling a sense of fear run through his body.


    Of course, June was still aware of his poprity among olddies.


    In a survey done for olderdies, he was the most popr idol!


    He was definitely honored, but a small part of him was also scared.


    Thest time he casually encountered olddies, he was chased down the road while they were on their scooters!


    "Omo," the curly-haired grandma eximed, letting go of the te and running to where June was.


    "It''s really Joon-ho! Howe you''re so handsome now?" she excitedly asked.


    June chuckled awkwardly. "Skincare, I guess."


    Another old woman stood, now in a buzz-cut. "I watched all of Rising Stars because of you! I almost couldn''t believe it when Bok-soon said she knew you, but you''re really here."


    June scratched the back of his head.


    "I guess I am," he muttered.


    "Can you sing and dance for us?" another old woman, who was dressed in all-pink, clutched her hands in front of her chest.


    June pursed his lips and turned to Minjun for help. However, the young teen''s cheeks were currently being assaulted by two other old women.


    However, despite that, he had an evil look on his face, almost as if he was happy that June was being tortured alongside him.


    "Come on, honey. Don''t be shy," Buzzhead said, also pinching his cheeks.


    "Omo! Your cheeks are so smooth¡ªlike a baby''s butt. No wonder your fans adore you so much."


    "Sing Oasis! Oh, wait, no. Luster! My grandkids love that song," Pinky smiled.


    "Make space for him," Curly eximed.


    The three grandmas stepped back and pped their hands while waiting for June to perform.


    Minjun''s smirk widened when he saw how awkward June looked.


    June shook his head. He couldn''t believe he was going to do this for free!


    However, he couldn''t really deny the grandma''s request since they looked genuinely interested in him.


    With that, he closed his eyes and got rid of any shame in his body.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied and I''m surprised


    Every single time I look into your eyes.


    You know? You''re the one that I want for life.


    In my heart¡­right here¡­right now."

 Chapter 699 Im an Idol

    Chapter 699 I''m an Idol


    ??"What a good boy you are!"


    Now, you might think that these words would be directed to Minjun...or maybe a dog who did a simple trick.


    However, that wasn''t the case.


    Those words were directed to June.


    He was eating the vegetables that Grandma Bok-soon had prepared, his cheeks filled like a hamster''s.


    "So cute! So cute!"


    June felt like he was transported back to his infant era.


    No¡ªhe wasn''t even treated like this when he was a baby! He had always been mature!


    "Is the food good, Joon-ho?" Grandma Bok-soon asked.


    June nodded. "Yeah," he smiled. "It''s been a while since I''ve eaten like this."


    The grandmas all frowned. "What? Howe?"


    June pursed his lips. "Well, it just gets busy being an idol, I guess. Most of the time, I eat outside. When I''m back in the dorms, we also get takeout. Then, when I''m too tired, I just sleep instead of eating."


    Their frowns deepened.


    "What kind of schedule is that? You should eat like this every day! How would you get your nutrition, then?"


    "It''s the same for all of us, though," June said.


    "That''s not true," Minjun said. "Jay cooks for the boys at the dorm sometimes. You''re out most of the time, so you eat outside food."


    The grandmas started scolding him.


    "Tell yourpany to give you a more rxed schedule!"


    "Are you going to work until you die?"


    "What if you get an illness and suddenly can''t work?"


    June smiled, trying to calm them all down.


    "I''m fine, grandmas," he assured. "I''m on vacation right now, so I''m getting a lot of rest."


    "Yes, yes," Grandma Bok-soon said. "You''ll stay the night, so I''m going to prepare a good dinner for both of you again."


    The three grandmas who stayed after lunch nodded in agreement.


    "Oh," Pinky grandma eximed. "I almost forgot! Don''t we have a small celebrationter?"


    "Yes," Buzzhead''s grandma said. "Some local artists are going to perform! There''s also going to be a lot of food from the people in the area. Why don''t you go, hmm?"


    June hesitated to answer.


    "Umm, I don''t know. I can''t really go out to public events without thepany knowing."


    "Oh, who cares about them?" Grandma Bok-soon eximed.


    "The people here, especially the old ones, practically live in the 80s! We don''t record everything on our phones; instead, we enjoy the moment."


    "Don''t worry," Curly grandma said. "We''ll make sure that you won''t get mobbed. Although, I bet there would be a lot of grandmas pinching your cheeks."


    June froze after she said those words.


    Oh no!


    His cheeks were already sore from all of their pinching. He didn''t know if he could endure another round of that!


    "Let''s just go," Minjun said. "I want to see some pretty girls my age."


    "And finally, forget Yunah, who keeps rejecting my feelings," he muttered.


    June pursed his lips before nodding.


    "Alright, we''ll go."


    ***


    When the grandmas told June to be prepared to be a cheek-pinching attraction, he knew that they were telling the truth.


    However, he didn''t think that it would be to this extent.


    Almost every person in the town had already pinched his cheeks!


    It seemed like people came to the festival just for his cheeks!


    "So soft and cute!" another grandma eximed.


    "It''s so nice seeing a handsome young man in our small festival. Make sure to enjoy it, alright?"


    June awkwardly smiled despite his aching cheeks.


    Just then, he felt someone tug at his arm.


    He looked behind him and saw a small grandma looking at him with bright eyes.


    "You''re June, right? This is my granddaughter, Sami. Say hi!" she eximed, pulling a girl that was around his age closer to the two of them.


    Sami smiled at June shyly, to which June just awkwardly waved back.


    "Dang it, Linda! My daughter came first! You should give June to her because she''s nearing 40 already!" another grandma eximed, pulling an older woman who was looking at June seductively.


    June felt a shiver run down his spine.


    Alright, he didn''t sign up for this!


    That somehow created a domino effect as more and more grandmas tried to introduce their daughters and granddaughters to the handsome idol.


    Fortunately, after a few more minutes of torture, Grandma Bok-soon broke the crowd.


    "Alright, alright! That''s enough. None of you have a chance with Joon-ho. You should have flirted with him before he went to the city to be an idol," she said.


    "Now, he''s prettier than all of you," she chimed.


    "So, go away! He''s here to enjoy the festival. None of you pester him from now on."


    Sighs of disappointment were heard all around. However, they seemed to bepliant with Grandma Bok-soon''s words as they dispersed after that.


    June sighed in relief as he was finally able to sit.


    Grandma Bok-soon gave him some food and a drink.


    "Thanks," he muttered, cing them on hisp.


    Then, he looked around and realized that he didn''t have the little devil around him.


    "Where''s Minjun?" he frantically asked.


    "Don''t worry," Grandma Bok-soon smiled. "He''s being fed over there," she pointed.


    June looked toward where Grandma Bok-soon was pointing and shook his head in amusement when he saw Minjun surrounded by olddies who appeared like they missed their grandsons. It seemed like his quest to find a pretty girl in the province went down the drain!


    "I hope you feelfortable," Grandma Bok-soon said.


    June smiled and nodded. "Aside from my sore cheeks, I''m quite alright. The people here are nice."


    "They are," Bok-soon smiled. "They may be a little overbearing at first, but that''s only because they want to wee you warmly. However, they know when to set their limits. They won''t bother you now that I''ve told them about it."


    June smiled at her gratefully, before turning to the performer on stage.


    June wasn''t familiar with him, but he seemed to have a good voice. He sang in a very old-fashioned way despite looking young.


    Just then, Buzzhead grandma frantically went over to where the two of them were.


    "What?" Grandma Bok-soon asked, sensing her panic.


    "There''s a problem," Buzzhead grandma eximed.


    "The idol group that originally promised to perform here couldn''te because of another schedule!"


    "Huh?" Bok-soon asked with furrowed eyebrows. "But, weren''t they paid already?"


    Buzzhead grandma clicked her tongue. "Not yet," she muttered.


    "But, what are we going to do now? The people are expecting a performance!"


    June pursed his lips, wondering if it was appropriate to present himself.


    However, thinking that he wanted to go back to his origin and probablye to love performing even more, he raised his hand and pointed to himself.


    "Well...I''m an idol."

 Chapter 700 Little Bird

    <h4>Chapter 700 Little Bird </h4>


    "Are you really doing this?" Grandma Bok-soon asked as she helped June with his hair.


    The townspeople were excited about the idol group gracing their vige. June knew that they were going to be disappointed if they didn''t perform, so he took the initiative to perform for them.


    It had been a while since he performed in front of a live audience, so he kind of missed it, too.


    However, thinking that he would be performing in front of a normal crowd and not in front of his fans was quite nerve-wracking.


    June smiled as he looked at himself in the small mirror.


    "Who''s going to perform if I don''t?" he asked.


    Grandma Bok-soon chuckled. "Will this be okay with Azure?"


    June turned to her with a smirk.


    "I thought you didn''t like Azure?" he asked.


    "That''s true," she chuckled. "But I care about you a lot. I don''t want you to be scolded."


    June shrugged. "It''s okay. I''ve already broken a lot of rules anyway."


    "This doesn''t even count as a vition in my book," Grandma Bok-soon chimed.


    "You''re right," June said, now fixing his cor.


    Grandma Bok-soon looked at me fondly.


    "You''ve really grown up to be such a fine gentleman."


    June smiled, feeling reassured.


    "There, I''m done," he said, preparing himself for the performance.


    "Perfect," Grandma Bok-soon eximed. "The only problem is that your roots are growing in. How about you try a different hairstyle next time?"


    June looked at his hair and found that it had grown quite a lot already.


    With that, he nodded in agreement.


    "Sure," he said. "I''ll bring it up with thepany."


    "But, for now," he continued, finally facing her. "Let''s get this show on the road."


    ***


    "Thank you for that wonderful performance, Melon!" Buzzhead grandma eximed, pertaining to thest performer before June.


    It was a young girl from the next town who aspired to be an idol, and she made everyone love her with such a short performance.


    As she went backstage, she was met by none other than June, which made her freeze on the spot.


    She believed that the town must have been very rich for them to invite someone like June from EVE!


    "Ourst performer of the night is someone you''ve already seen," Buzzhead grandma introduced.


    The townspeople turned to each other in confusion.


    "But we thought it was going to be the idol group!"


    "Where is the idol group?"


    "I want some young blood in here!"


    Buzzhead grandma smirked as she stepped to the left.


    "Let us wee¡ªJune from EVE!"


    The introduction immediately shut them up, and they burst into cheers.


    "It''s June! He''s going to perform!"


    "What is he going to perform?"


    "I''m so excited! We''re getting this for free when EVE''s tickets retail for more than 1,000 dors right now!"


    June went up the stage, a professional smile gracing his lips.


    He didn''t introduce himself and just let the music y.


    The people were expecting him to sing one of his group''s songs. However, contrary to their beliefs, he was actually going to sing a trot song!


    They immediately became more excited.


    A handsome young man singing such an old yet exciting song?


    Sign them right up!


    June let out a deep breath, not wanting to show his nervousness.


    With that, he brought the wired microphone to his lips and started singing.


    "In the wide blue sky, a bird flew high.


    Dreams in his wings, he kissed the sky."


    With the utterance of the first lines, the crowd was immediately stood.


    It was a genre that they didn''t expect from June, but somehow, he still made it work.


    It seemed like his voice was just made for every genre.


    He walked back and forth on the stage, acting out the gestures of the simple lyrics.


    "Sunshine on his feathers, bright and warm.


    He danced with the clouds, free from harm."


    June could still remember where he first heard the song.


    It was on his dad''s old radio, and it yed while he was helping him with house repairs.


    It was the type of song that you would think to be a nursery rhyme. When he was younger, he thought it was just about a bird flying high.


    However, now that he had grown, he realized that the meaning was much deeper than it seemed.


    Sometimes, the simpler the words, the more open they were for interpretation.


    "Oh, little bird, with wings so wide.


    Fly through the heavens, on the winds you ride."


    When dark cloudse and you descend,


    Remember, little bird, this is not the end."


    The crowd started dancing along to the song.


    June made up some simple movements that they could follow, which they clumsily did.


    He couldn''t help but smile as he watched the crowd enjoy his performance.


    Amidst all of this, Sami, the granddaughter that her grandma wanted to introduce to June, watched the performance with red cheeks.


    And in her hand was her old phone, filming the entire scene and going live on her personal ount.


    She only had three viewers, and all hermenters were trolls who clearlycked attention from their mothers, but she didn''t care.


    She enjoyed the performance very much!


    "The wind turned cold, and the night drew near.


    But somehow, it brought the little bird here.


    Wings clipped, he fell to the ground.


    In the still of the night, without a sound."


    June''s eyes brightened as he went down to the crowd, dancing with the olddies as they joyouslyughed.


    "In the quiet earth, where he now rests.


    A new life grows from his messy nest.


    New wings sprout from sorrow''s deep.


    In every ending are the dreams he keep."


    At that moment, it seemed like everything slowed down.


    The people around him emanated such a joyous vibe that he couldn''t help but feel happy.


    So, this was why people loved to perform...


    ...because others also loved watching.


    "Oh, little bird, with wings so wide,


    Fly through the heavens, on the winds you ride.


    When dark cloudse and you descend,


    Remember, little bird, this is not the end."


    As the final lines approached, he quickly went up the stage and settled down.


    He stood under the lights, making him appear like the shining little bird in the song.


    "The sky remains, stars softly glow,


    In each goodbye, new hellos grow.


    Oh, little bird, your spirit flies,


    Beyond the clouds, where no one dies."

 Chapter 701 Happy Once Again

    <h4>Chapter 701 Happy Once Again</h4>


    "Well, you look happy," Minjun said, going out of the house and sitting on the patio next to June.


    June smiled as he looked up at the night sky.


    It was filled with stars, contrary to that of the city.


    The skies were clear, and the winds were fresh. June felt that he wanted to stay here, but he also knew that he couldn''t leave his current life.


    "Of course," June said.


    Minjun smiled and looked down at hisp.


    "I''m d then," Minjun said. "You seemed pretty down these days."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    "I was?" he asked.


    However, as he thought back on the past weeks, he realized that he truly was.


    It felt like he was just existing...or merelyplying with his schedules.


    Because his entire day was so packed with schedules, he didn''t even have any time to reflect on what he truly felt.


    "I guess I was," June muttered.


    "But you look very happy right now," Minjun said. "Almost like you''ve found your origin."


    June lifted his head and sighed in frustration.


    "You''re like...the third person who had told me that word," he grumbled. "What''s with my origin?"


    Minjun shrugged. "I don''t know. It''s a prettymon word."


    "Yet I still don''t know what the real definition of it truly is," he said, staring into the night sky.


    This ce was his origin, so this was where he found the briefcase.


    However, now, he had to find a passcode.


    Did that have something to do with his origin once again?


    "I also don''t know, big bro," Minjun said. "Life isn''t as simple as it seems. I''vee to realize that as I grow older."


    June clicked his tongue. "You''re in 8th grade," he deadpanned.


    Minjun smirked. "I''ve been told that my mental capacity isrger than my peers."


    "Well, I can''t argue with that," June chuckled.


    "Anyway," he continued, now lying on the floor. "We''re going back tomorrow. Always be careful in the city, alright?"


    Minjun smirked andid down next to him.


    "I''m assuming you heard what happened."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "You should have told me about what had happened, you know?"


    "And what?" Minjun asked. "Give you another thing to stress about? I know that you already have a lot on your te."


    "Still," June sighed. "I thought we were going to share everything to each other from now on."


    "You already hired me bodyguards anyway," Minjun shrugged. "My mother also bought more bodyguards after I told her what happened."


    "Bought?" June frowned.


    "Oh¡ªhired," Minjun chuckled. "You get what I mean."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "You know, I''m still confused as to what your mom truly does. It seems like you guys are too rich for your own good."


    Minjun hummed. "Well, I honestly don''t know. My dad has multiple businesses, so that''s already enough to get us by¡ªmore than enough."


    "However, my mom''s richer. She has a lot more connections," he continued.


    "I could see that," June said, recalling Lena Park helping him with his past situation with Lin Zhi.


    "Must be nice," he muttered.


    Minjun shrugged. "Eh, I would rather have aplete family."


    "However, I have everything I could ever want in concrete terms. Honestly, it would be unfair if I had both. So, I guess I''ve juste to live with it."


    June chuckled, finding himself closing his eyes despite the cold hardwood against his back.


    "Hey," Minjun said, also sounding groggy.


    "Am I the only one who feels sleepy?"


    June took a while to respond. "No," he quietly said.


    "Hmm," Minjun hummed, also closing his eyes.


    With that, the two brothers fell asleep on the hard floor under the stars.


    ***


    Sami woke up with a wide smile. She could still remember June''s performancest night, and it was enough to get her by for an entire year¡ªmaybe even two.


    However, her smile dropped when she saw that she had many notifications.


    "What''s this?" she muttered.


    She opened her phone and saw that her Navel page was being bombarded. She had over a thousand notifications!


    She quickly clicked on her notifications and saw plenty ofments on her recent live.


    Sami clicked her tongue. Her trolls didn''t increase, did they?


    However, when she clicked on the live, she saw plenty of likes and hearts.


    "Ooh, what''s this?" she excitedly eximed.


    The live had over a hundred thousand views and fifty thousand likes! Aside from that, big ounts also shared it, garnering even more views on their pages.


    With that, she shot up from her bed and ran to their living room.


    "Grandma, I''m famous!"


    Meanwhile, Grandma Bok-sook was confused as to why the bed she had prepared was empty.


    She clicked her tongue and ced her hands on her hips.


    "Now, where are those two?" she muttered.


    "Did they go home early?"


    Then, she shook her head. "They should have told me so I could have prepared breakfast earlier."


    With that, she went outside to sweep her backyard. However, she was surprised when she saw two bodies lying on her patio.


    "Omo!" she eximed. "What are you two doing here?"


    The sound made Minjun and June wake up, looking at Grandma Bok-soon''s surprised expression.


    "Oh, good morning," June said, yawning and stretching his body.


    However, he stopped when he felt an ache go through his body.


    Minjun also woke up next to him, groggily blinking away his sleepy state.


    "Ah, that was a good rest," Minjun said, appearing to be in good condition.


    June looked at him and shook his head.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "I already have signs of aging."


    Grandma Bok-soon clicked her tongue and helped them get up.


    "I thought you guys left already," she said.


    June shook his head. "Someone''s going to pick us up a bitter."


    She smiled and shook her head. "Alright. Go to the dining room now. I''ve already prepared breakfast."


    With the mention of food, the two young men went to the dining area and quickly dug in.


    The hot soup and chewy noodles stimted their appetites, and they found themselves having seconds.


    Grandma Bok-soon watched them lovingly.


    "You seem happy," she chimed. "Is it because you saw your viral video?"


    June froze after Grandma Bok-soon said those words.


    "Viral video?" he asked.


    "Oh, you haven''t seen it yet?" she asked. "It''s on Navel. Sami, the granddaughter of the grandma next to our house, did a live yesterday."


    June quickly opened his phone and saw the video on top of his featured page.


    He opened it and saw that it had already passed half a million views and was still steadily increasing.


    Thements were also filled with new people and fans alike.


    - Who is this fine young man?


    - No one. He''s a staff member.


    - I didn''t know June could sing trot so well!


    - He''s really a well-rounded performer.


    - I still feel bitter that they get to witness June this close, though.


    - True. I paid 2,000 dors for my tickets to go see EVE.


    - Girl, you got scammed.


    - It''s worth it.


    June shook his head at the ridiculousments. However, he couldn''t shake the smile off his face when he realized that they were mostly positive.


    He had been receiving so many hatements and death threats for the past weeks, so having so many goodments eased his heart a bit.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw a text from their CEO.


    Mr. Ong: Come back. Right this instant.

 Chapter 702 Dont You Know That Im A Savage?

    Chapter 702 Don''t You Know That I''m A Savage?


    ??June wasn''t threatened.


    Not in the slightest.


    Mr. Ong was too cute to be intimidating. Moreover, after his trip to Gangwon, he decided that he should demand better terms from theirpany.


    So, instead of rushing to go to thepany, June took his time.


    Minjun scratched the back of his head as June got out of the car.


    "Are you sure this is okay?" the younger boy asked.


    June nodded. "Don''t worry about it," he said.


    "Besides, I''m trending for all the right reasons right now."


    Minjun smirked and shook his head. "Cocky," he said.


    "Bye, little guy," June said, waving his hand. "Keep in touch and always stay safe."


    Minjun held out an okay sign.


    "Take care of yourself, too."


    With that, June went inside the Azure building, the smile quickly fading from his face.


    He saw people looking toward his way as he made his way to Mr. Ong''s office. However, he didn''t pay them any attention.


    With that, June barged into Mr. Ong''s office, causing the CEO to jump in shock.


    Mr. Ong ced his hand over his chest and turned to June with a profound re.


    Meanwhile, June sat on the couch and waited for Mr. Ong to start speaking.


    He knew that he wasn''t being respected by thepany, so he decided to give back the same energy. June realized that he had be so kind ever since he became an idol, and the main reason was because he cared a lot for the people surrounding him.


    However, he realized that if he wanted to give his members better treatment and provide an easier time to their fans, then he needed to go back to his roots.


    Mr. Ong clicked his tongue as June sipped on his bottle of water.


    "Where have you been?" he calmly asked.


    "I''m on a break," June said. "That means that I have the privilege to rest in my hometown."


    "You performed at a festival," Mr. Ong eximed. "Free of charge, at that! Fortunately, the footage didn''t reveal anything suspicious. Otherwise, we will be facing major losses."


    "It''s actually going viral for all the right reasons," June countered with a small smirk.


    "It seems to me that you''re just a little bit upset that I performed for free," he remarked.


    Mr. Ong pursed his lips. "Azure cares about your well-being."


    "If you truly cared about my well-being, then you would stop giving me so many schedules and give my other members opportunities to shine on their own," June deadpanned, finally revealing what had been on his mind since the moment their group started blowing up.


    Mr. Ong frowned before chuckling loudly.


    "It sounds to me that you''re ungrateful for all the opportunities that thepany has provided you," he said.


    "I opened those opportunities," June smirked. "You only epted them for me."


    Mr. Ong''s face progressively got redder as their conversation continued.


    The CEO observed June''s cocky face and frowned.


    He wasn''t like this in the beginning.


    He had always been stubborn¡ªeven dating back to the time that he joined Rising Stars.


    However, it seemed like he had gotten more stubborn this time around¡ªsomeone hard to control.


    Mr. Ong''s frown deepened.


    He didn''t like it in the slightest.


    The best artists were the artists that he could control.


    He had done so for GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC. He wasn''t afraid to do so for EVE once again.


    He had been sessful thus far, but June was proving himself to be a nasty candidate.


    Mr. Ong smirked.


    "I see," he said. "Now that you''ve gotten big, you''re rebelling against thepany."


    "I''m not going to rebel if I believe you''re doing a good job," June remarked.


    Mr. Ong let out a deep breath. He was slowly losing patience!


    Howe June''s words felt so sharp?


    The CEO shook his head. "Whatever it is that you want, just tell me. We can make things work as long as they''re reasonable."


    June leaned against the couch and smirked.


    This was what he was waiting for!


    "First," June said. "I need you to add another date for our mini-


    concert."


    Mr. Ong clicked his tongue. "Thepany has already thought about that. We know that the demand is high, so we''re nning on getting a second date in the same venue."


    June shook his head.


    "Find a bigger venue¡ªone that can hold up to at least 11,000 people."


    Mr. Ong frowned. "That''s a whole dome!"


    June nodded. "Lower the prices, too."


    The CEO shook his head in disbelief.


    "Why don''t you sit on my chair too, huh?" he eximed.


    "dly," June said. "But I don''t want to stunt my growth like you."


    Mr. Ong''s mouth went agape. Out of every topic in the entire world, his height was the most sensitive one.


    He couldn''t let anyone just speak on his height!


    Taking advantage of Mr. Ong''s shock, June continued to demand better terms.


    "Reduce my brand deals, too. It wouldn''t look too good if I endorsed everything. It lessens my credibility," he said.


    "Instead, focus on brands that are actually great."


    "Then, give it to my members first instead of me. I''m sure most of the brands would like them, too."


    Mr. Ong couldn''t even speak since he was still stuck on the heightment.


    At that moment, he realized that June was far too brave.


    "June," he said, cutting the idol short.


    "I didn''t ask you toe here to demand," he continued. "If you want to keep your position as an idol, then continue following what thepany wants."


    Even after the threateningment, June''s expression didn''t change.


    Instead, his smirk got even wider, feeling more confident.


    "And what?" June asked. "You''ll risk losing your cash cow?"


    Mr. Ong froze.


    "The reason why you''re increasing the ticket prizes and giving me most of the brand deals is because of money, right?" June asked.


    "You''re aware of my value."


    Mr. Ong couldn''t respond since he knew that June was right.


    As of the moment, June was their most prized possession¡ªthe one who brought most of their money in.


    "I know you can''t afford to lose me," June smiled.


    "So, think about what I''ve said."


    With that, June stood from the couch and walked to the exit.


    Even then, Mr. Ong couldn''t speak or move. Instead, his fists merely clenched, feeling frustration consume him.


    "If you don''tply..."


    "...then I might just do something to ruin thepany''s reputation even more."


    As he said those final words, June gently closed the door and walked away from the office.


    However, he didn''t miss the frustrated scream that came from Mr. Ong.


    He continued walking away with a wide smile.


    "What a good day to be alive."

 Chapter 703 Demand And You Shall Receive

    Chapter 703 Demand And You Shall Receive


    ??"EVE has a new concert date!" Bora eximed, causing the group of friends to turn silent.


    Jia quickly retrieved her phone and saw that Azure had, indeed, posted a new concert date for EVE.


    "It''s two weeks after the first date, and it''s not in the same venue," she muttered.


    Bora smiled. "It''s in a bigger venue! The tickets are cheaper, too."


    Jia''s heart beat faster in her chest, feeling a new sense of determination.


    "When is the ticketing?" Jia excitedly asked.


    "Tomorrow night," Bora said.


    Jia smirked, cracking her knuckles with a determined gaze. Meanwhile, her other friends also started strategizing how they were going to book their tickets.


    "Let''s go," Jia said, downing her coffee and standing from her chair.


    Bora frowned in confusion.


    "Where are we going?" she asked.


    "To the electronics store!" Jia eximed. "I shall buy a LAN connection."


    Her friends looked at her like she had gone crazy. However, they were nearly as crazy as she was, so they supported Jia in her decision.


    Bora shoved thest donut into her mouth before raising her fist into the air.


    "We wouldn''t let those little girls rise above us anymore!"


    ***


    "They added a new concert date?" Jisung asked just as he had woken up. His hair was still disheveled, and his expression showed his disbelief.


    Casper busted out of his room, also appearing perplexed.


    "...and it''s in a bigger venue?" he asked.


    Akira, too, went out of his room.


    "What is going on with Azure?"


    Meanwhile, June was already sitting on the dining table, drinking some barley tea while reading the morning news on his phone. There was also breakfast prepared on the table, which woke the other members up with its delicious aroma.


    The members were perplexed as soon as they saw him.


    For the past weeks, it was rare to see June during breakfast because he either had work early or was too tired to get up so early.


    However, it seemed like he was finally back to his usual routine!


    "Good morning, bro!" Jisung eximed, nearly bolting to the table to eat the breakfast that June had prepared.


    "You''re up early today," he said.


    "Well, I have a scheduled filming for Rising Starster. So, I decided to visit Grandma before my schedule."


    Casper''s eyebrows raised in surprise, sitting right next to June. However, Akira shoved him away and led him to sit in front of June instead.


    "Your break is already over?" Akira asked.


    "Hmm," June hummed. "It''s already been a week."


    Casper clicked his tongue. "Well, that was too fast."


    June shrugged. "I don''t mind it. I''ve gotten better, and I don''t even have those dizzy spells anymore."


    His trip back to his hometown reminded him why he loved performing so much.


    "Well, as long as you''re happy," Casper said.


    June nodded. "Yes," he said. "I''m definitely happier now."


    Jisung slung an arm around his shoulder.


    "I''m d that you are," he said. "I missed your smile!"


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "Anyway," Akira chimed, his cheeks filled with kimchi fried rice. "Have you heard? Azure decided to give us a new concert date," he excitedly said.


    June smirked. "Yeah, I saw."


    "It''s unbelievable, isn''t it?" Jisung said. "It''s like they''re being held hostage with a gun. Why are they suddenly acting ording to our wants?"


    June shrugged. "I talked to Mr. Ong."


    Some utensils dropped to their tes, and his members turned to him with wide eyes.


    "You went to talk to Mr. Ong?" Zeth eximed. "All by yourself?"


    June nonchntly nodded. "Yeah. I asked him to add another concert date in a bigger venue. I knew that they wouldply with it somehow. I just didn''t think they would release a statement so soon."


    Jaeyong couldn''t believe his ears. He had tried hard to convince the CEO to provide their group another concert date, but he only turned him down!


    Granted, Jaeyong asked for the favor nicely¡ªtoo nicely, even.


    "What did you say?" he asked.


    "Just some things here and there," June said. "I think the best way to get ourpany to do something is if we threaten them a little bit."


    They were silent for a moment before Akira stood and saluted June.


    "Atta boy! You''re my idol," he said.


    Meanwhile, Casper ced his hand under his chin.


    "Maybe I should do that too," he muttered.


    Jaeyong shook his head in amusement.


    "I can''t believe that worked," he said. "Thanks, though. It was able to bring swift improvements."


    June shrugged. "I just have to do what I got to do for the team, you know?"


    "Aww," Akira said, turning to him with pouty lips. "You love us!"


    June clicked his tongue and shoved his face away.


    "I don''t want to see that," June grumbled.


    "Thanks, June," Ren said, smiling softly at him.


    "Yeah, thanks," Sehun said, sounding sincere.


    It was the first time they had talked after what happened with Mr. Ong, so June couldn''t help but smile since he felt that their rtionship had eased a little bit.


    "You did a good job," Jaeyong said, patting his back as he brought the dishes to the sink.


    "However, be careful, alright? As much as I want to have good conditions for our group, I also want us to have a smooth career."


    "At the end of the day, they''re still our bosses, so we should talk to them as respectfully as we can."


    June nodded in agreement, although that would be impossible for him to do.


    At times like this, it became more prominent why Jaeyong was the leader of their team.


    "Anyway," June said, standing from the table. "I''m done. I need to go visit Grandma now."


    "Alright, see youter, bro!" Jisung eximed. "Make sure not to over-exert yourself again, okay?"


    June nodded. "See youter."


    With that, June made his way to the hospital for a quick visit.


    He wore his usual disguise¡ªone that couldn''t be recognized anymore (maybe only by Jia).


    The nurses weed him warmly as he entered the elevator.


    However, just as the doors were about to close, a person snuck their arm in.


    The doors opened, revealing one of the people that June resented the most.


    June''s gaze instantly hardened as Lin Zhi came in with a small smirk ying on his lips.


    "Long time no see, June."

 Chapter 704 Getting Better

    <h4>Chapter 704 Getting Better </h4>


    The two of them rode the elevator in silence.


    June didn''t want to say anything to him, even wanting to forget his existence.


    However, Lin Zhi had different ns.


    "Did you like my little surprise for you?" he asked, turning to June with a wide smile.


    June kept his gaze at the front and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "If you wanted to threaten me, then you should have hired better people instead. They couldn''t even break a window properly."


    Lin Zhi continued smirking. "It seems like your members were frightened, though."


    June shook his head.


    "Not even a little boy would be frightened by your antics."


    "Oh, wait!" June eximed in a fake, excited tone. "That''s already been proven. How embarrassing it is that your people lost against an 8th-grader?"


    Lin Zhi''s smirk fell, feeling anger bubbling inside him.


    "I know you have the briefcase," Lin Zhi said, getting straight to the point.


    "What briefcase?" June tilted his head to the side, feigning innocence.


    Lin Zhi''s jaw clenched. "I know you have it. There''s no other person who could have it."


    "So, I suggest you bring it to me at the given deadline¡ªor else, there will be repercussions," Lin Zhi warned.


    With that, the elevator doors opened on the sixth floor.


    Lin Zhi stood straight and exited the elevator.


    However, he ced both hands on the sides of the door to keep it open.


    "Now, if you excuse me, I need to visit my psychiatrist," he said, going back to smirking.


    With that, he moved away from the elevator, allowing it to close.


    June shook his head before leaning against the elevator walls.


    "Goodness," June muttered. "When the heck is he going to disappear for good?"


    The elevator rose to the highest floor, so June shook away his thoughts of Lin Zhi and smiled widely as he walked to Grandma''s room.


    He knocked and waited for a few seconds before going inside.


    June paused for a moment when he saw Grandma''s current state. Her head was now smooth, devoid of her curly hair. It seemed like she had gotten paler and thinner than before, too, which was concerning since she was already pale and thin thest time he saw her.


    "How long has it been?" he muttered, a small frown forming on his face.


    However, when he heard Grandma shifting in her bed, he quickly put on a smile.


    "June?" she asked, blinking her eyes awake.


    Her voice had gotten huskier, too¡ªmost likely an adverse effect of the chemotherapy.


    "Grandma," June said, walking over to her and hugging her tightly.


    He pursed his lips when he felt how cold her body was.


    "Are you okay?" June asked, concern heard in his voice.


    Grandma gently broke their hug before hitting his shoulder.


    "Don''t sound so pitiful," she said. "I''m fine! I''m still alive, aren''t I?"


    June shook his head in amusement. "Of course, you''re still alive. I just want to know how you''re feeling."


    "Good, of course," she smiled despite her aching body.


    "Have you been eating well?" June asked


    "...or sleeping well?"


    "Are they taking care of you well here?"


    "Do you need more nurses to care for you?"


    "What kind of meals have you been eating?"


    Grandma chuckled as she ced her cold hands over June''s.


    "One by one," she said with a little bit of struggle.


    "I''m fine. I''m resting really well, although my appetite isn''t as great as before. The food here at the hospital just isn''t that good."


    June chuckled along with her.


    "And no," she smiled. "I don''t need anything else. My daughter provides me with everything that I need."


    "Besides, don''t let my looks fool you. Dr. Oh just visited me and informed me of mytestboratory results!"


    June felt his heart drop.


    "What did he say?"


    Grandma continued smiling. "Don''t look too dreadful. Go get it in the drawers."


    June opened the drawers, his eyes quickly scanning the results.


    Then, he sighed in relief when he saw that none of them were drastically out of the normal values.


    "See?" she eximed. "I''m much better now. My hemoglobin and hematocrit are still a little bit low, which is indicative of Anemia. My white blood cell count is also a bit high, which means that I have an ongoing infection."


    "However, aside from that, I''m responding quite well to my treatment."


    June ced the paper back in the drawers and ran to the bed, giving Grandma another warm hug.


    The old woman chuckled fondly, patting June''s back.


    "Were you worried?" she softly asked.


    "Of course," June said. "I care about you a lot."


    "Well, you don''t have to worry at all. Grandma is recovering well. Don''t worry about me too much, hmm?" she said, holding onto June''s cheeks and caressing them.


    Her hands were cold, but the gesture felt very warm.


    "To make you feel better, I''ve also made some new friends," she smiled.


    June raised his eyebrows in pleasant surprise.


    "You have?" he asked.


    "Hmm," she nodded. "I go to the garden with my nurse every morning to get some sunlight, so I became friends with the gardener."


    "My nurse and I have also be closer."


    "The sick old man in the room next to ours also became my friend! Although, we only talk from a six-foot distance because we don''t want to make each other sicker than we already are."


    "Andst but not the least! I have a young patient who visits me from time to time. He has a lot of worries in life, so hees to me for advice."


    "Oh," June said. "Well, isn''t it too tiring for you?"


    "Of course not," Grandma chimed. "I actually look forward to it. I love listening to other people''s problems!"


    "What''s his name?" June asked.


    Grandma ced her hand under her chin. "Zin!" she said. "The young guy''s name is Zin. He''s very nice."


    June couldn''t help but smile since Grandma looked so happy.


    "Well, just tell me if you run into any trouble with them."


    Grandma shook her head. "I''m a good judge of character, you know?"


    June also shook his head. "That''s not true. You''re too kind for your own good."


    Just then, he heard his rm go off, reminding him that he had to go back to Azure to film for Rising Stars.


    "I''m assuming you have to go?" Grandma asked.


    June nodded with a disappointed sigh. "Yeah, I do."


    "Well, off you go. It''s your first work schedule after a while, right?"


    "Yeah," June said, finally standing up from her bed. "I''ll see you soon, Grandma."


    "Will do!" she eximed. "The next time you see me, I''ll be up and running."


    June''s smile widened.


    "I''ll hold onto that promise."


    The old woman fondly nodded and waved goodbye as June left the room.


    She felt overwhelmingly tired after their interaction, so sheid back down on the bed.


    However, the door suddenly opened, causing Grandma to raise her head.


    She was expecting it to be June¡ªprobably having forgotten something.


    However, she was surprised when she saw Dr. Oh instead.


    He was breathless and sweaty, almost as if he was in aplete rush.


    "June is here?" he asked without any prior greeting.


    Grandma nodded in confusion. "Well, he was here. He just left."


    Dr. Oh''s face twisted into a grimace.


    "Oh no," he muttered.


    With that, he bolted out of Grandma''s room, leaving the old woman very confused.

 Chapter 705 Losing My Brain Cells

    <h4>Chapter 705 Losing My Brain Cells</h4>


    June arrived at the set of Rising Stars, and he was immediately bombarded with questions as soon as he appeared.


    Gun held onto his shoulders and shook him like a c bottle.


    "Are you okay? Does anything hurt? I heard you copsed!" he eximed.


    Ji-hyun covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at June.


    "Oh, stop it," June said.


    However, it was toote. She was already sobbing, with Amiraing to her aid.


    Lee Sik also looked quite concerned¡ªalmost like a father gazing at his long, lost son.


    "You should take care of yourself better. I know you have a lot of work, but there''s a limit to how much you can take," he said.


    June nodded. "I know that now."


    "However, I''m much better," he said, stepping back to create some distance between him and Gun.


    "I just had the flu, and I was advised to take a rest. Now, I''ve recuperated for the entire week and am fit to go back to work."


    The mentors sighed in relief.


    "Still, you shouldn''t over-exert yourself too much," Gun said, to which June nodded inpliance.


    "Anyway, enough talking about me," June said. "What happened while I was gone?"


    "Well, they''ve already performed," Ji-hyun said, her voice still shaky from her crying session. "Didn''t you watch the episode?"


    June shook his head. "I wasn''t able to watch it. I only watched the special episode."


    "Well, that''s good. The special episode pretty much predicted who was going to win anyway," she said.


    "So, I''m assuming that Jeemin''s team won?" June asked.


    "Yup," Gun said. "Although, it was a shame what happened with their team."


    "Why? What happened?" June asked. He wasn''t able to keep up with the past episode because he was too busy trying to decode the briefcase''s passcode.


    He had tried several six-digitbinations, but it seemed impossible to guess.


    "Mei crumbled down," Gun said. "The poor girl must be under a lot of pressure. I can see the spark slowly draining from her eyes."


    "Yeah, it''s unfortunate," Lee Sik chimed. "She''s one of the most hardworking trainees in the show. It''s a bit frustrating to see that she isn''t improving as fast as the others, but she''s just starting out."


    "It almost seems like Azure knew she was going to be a hot topic because of her looks, charisma, and passion, so she was brought into the show despite her being unprepared."


    Lee Sik couldn''t have summed it up better.


    "Well, how did the performance go?" June asked, sounding a bit anxious.


    "It went fine, of course," Amira said. "The girls still held up well. That''s the reason why they won in the first ce."


    "However, you could definitely tell that Mei has a lot going on inside her mind. For that reason, she didn''t stand out at all. It just felt like she was...there," she continued.


    "That''s also the main reason why she ended up inst ce," she continued.


    June pursed his lips. He honestly didn''t know how to feel.


    This was what he wanted in the first ce...but why wasn''t he happy at all?


    "Anyway, you''re going to announce the new mission today," Gun said.


    "It''s going to be a tough one since we''re announcing the mission even before their elimination," Amira chimed.


    "Wait, what?" June asked.


    "You heard that right," Ji-hyun said. "Azure is back with their cruel antics once again."


    "There are still 50 girls in thepetition at the moment. However, this Friday, only 25 of them will remain. However, we''re already announcing the mission and dividing them into five teams. Then, after the elimination, the girls have to figure out among themselves how they''re going to continue the performance."


    "Something like this happened before," June muttered.


    "Yeah, I still remember," Gun said. "You were kicked out of your team, weren''t you?"


    June nodded, remembering one of his darkest times in thepetition.


    "Well, we''ll head to our respective waiting rooms while you announce the mission," Ji-hyun said.


    June nodded and read the script that the staff had provided for him before he went and announced the mission.


    ***


    The shoot was finally done, and June noticed that Mei was indeed worse than before.


    She looked even worsepared to the special episode, which meant that there must be a lot going on inside her mind.


    June wanted to approach her a while back, but she stayed with her team the whole time.


    Unlike her past groups, which were filled with powerhouses, Mei was grouped with a bunch of nobodies this time around.


    They were the trainees ranked from 40th to 50th, so the atmosphere in their team wasn''t the best when June observed them.


    It seemed like all of the hope was drained from their bodies.


    Nheless, June knew that Mei was strong, and if she truly wanted to be an idol, then she would be able to ovee it.


    However, June was ready to intervene when it got too much.


    He was still her big brother, after all.


    At the moment, however, June still had another problem to solve¡ªthe passcode of the briefcase.


    He was now outside of his room, not minding that Akira and Jisung watched him as he tried to figure it out.


    He had a notebook on hisp and a pen resting on his ear.


    June inputted another code and sighed in frustration when it didn''t open once again.


    "What are you doing again?" Jisung asked.


    Akira pped the back of Jisung''s head. "He''s trying to figure out the passcode, of course."


    Jisung clicked his tongue as he massaged his head. "I swear, I''m losing brain cells because of your hits."


    "There isn''t a lot to lose anyway," Akira smiled.


    Jisung shook his head. "I know what he''s doing," he deadpanned. "I just don''t get why he has a notebook and is writing all these numbers."


    June pursed his lips before exining what he was doing. He continued to try different codes while speaking.


    "This has a six-digit code," June started off.


    "First, you guys should understand the possiblebinations that can be generated."


    "Each digit can range from 0 to 9, providing ten possible choices for each position in the sequence. Since the digits can repeat and the passcode can start with zero, we are dealing with a situation where each of the six positions in the passcode has ten possible options."


    "To determine the total number of unique passcodes, we use the concept of permutations."


    "Mutations, what?" Jisung whispered.


    "I think it was permasturbation. I''m not sure. Just listen," Akira whispered back.


    "Specifically, because each of the six digits is chosen independently from others, I''ve calcted the total number ofbinations, which is ten, to the power of the number of positions, which is six."


    "Therefore," he said, sighing deeply as another password was crossed out from his list.


    "There are a million possible six-digit passcodes."


    Jisung chuckled emptily as he stared into the distance.


    "I think I just lost my remaining brain cells."

 Chapter 706 Glow in the Dark

    <h4>Chapter 706 Glow in the Dark </h4>


    "You know, sometimes I wonder if we''re created by the same higher being," Akira said. "Howe you get the good looks, the good talents, and a good mind, too?"


    "Don''t sell yourself short, Akira," Jisung said. "Although, he''s right. What did your parents feed you while growing up?"


    "Nails," June responded, causing the two to turn to each other in confusion.


    Then, June clicked his tongue. "Anyway, I''ll be here for a little longer, so you guys might as well get some sleep."


    Jisung shook his head, wanting to support June until the end.


    "You said earlier that this has a million possiblebinations," Jisung said. "How many have you tried so far?"


    June flipped through his notebook and sighed in frustration.


    "354," he answered.


    Akira whistled. "Well, that''s a lot, but you still have a lot more to go."


    June sighed. Would he be able to do it until the end of the month?


    "Wait," Akira said, sensing June''s determination. "Don''t tell me that you''re going to try a millionbinations just to open the briefcase."


    "That''s the n," June muttered, not really having a better idea.


    "Wait!" Akira repeated, cing his hand over June''s. "I thought you were smarter than this. I bet you''d die before you even open that damn thing."


    "There are a million possibilities, but that doesn''t mean I will only be able to open it on the millionth try," June reasoned.


    "What if my 500thbination is the real one?" June asked. "Or maybe even this one," he said, his heart filled with hope.


    However, as he attempted anotherbination, he was once again disappointed that it didn''t open.


    "Well, considering your luck, it might just be the millionth try," Akira chuckled.


    "Hmm," June said, cing his hand under his chin and stroking it. "So, you''re telling me that I should work my way backward."


    "No," Akira and Jisung said at the same time.


    "The universe has it out for you. No matter what order you take, you''ll still probably end up guessing a million times before you open this damn thing," Jisung said.


    June clicked his tongue. "What do you suggest I do then? I feel like I''ve tried everything."


    Akira shrugged. "Well, I don''t know. I just don''t think that trying a million codes is a good idea at all."


    Jisung sighed, also feeling lost.


    "What is even in this briefcase that''s making you go insane?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips and looked at the scratched briefcase.


    "Everything," he said. "I believe it could contain everything."


    Jisung hummed. "Then, it must be something very important."


    June nodded. "You could say so."


    "Well, if I die and ever n on leaving something important in such a briefcase, I wouldn''t randomly select the numbers," Jisung said.


    "What do you mean?" Akira asked.


    "It seems like the item inside the briefcase is quite important, so I would want thebination to be something valuable to me, too."


    "So, instead of looking at others, I''d look at the owner of the briefcase," Jisung continued.


    "I''d look into their life and what was important to them."


    "What do numbers have to do with it, though?" Akira asked.


    For a moment, Jisung''s words made sense. However, Akira''s question snapped June back to reality.


    June didn''t even know who really owned the briefcase.


    Akira sighed and stood from the floor. "Well, now that I think about it, a millionbinations might actually be the best idea."


    June groaned in frustration.


    "Well, I''m tired. Our concert is the day after tomorrow, so I need some beauty sleep," he said.


    Jisung sighed and also stood. "I guess my suggestion didn''t make sense, hmm?"


    "Anyway, I''ll also go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow with the rehearsals and all."


    "Aren''t you going to sleep yet, bro?" Jisung asked. "You need more sleep than the rest of us."


    June nodded. "Just a few more minutes," he said. "I''ll go to bed right after, I promise."


    "Alright," Akira shrugged. "Make sure to sleep before midnight, okay?"


    June nodded, waving at them before turning his attention to the briefcase.


    "Alright, the 387thbination," he muttered.


    However, before he could input it, the lights suddenly shut off, engulfing the room in darkness.


    "What the heck?" he muttered. "A power outage at this moment?"


    He waited for a few moments for the power toe back on, but to no avail.


    June clicked his tongue. "Azure doesn''t even have an efficient generator?"


    "Maybe this is a sign from the universe telling me to go to sleep."


    With that, June stood from the couch to walk to his room amidst theplete darkness.


    However, just as he stood, he found something strange about the briefcase.


    There seemed to be something glowing from the metal material.


    June frowned and sat back down on the couch, squinting his eyes to see what was glowing.


    Then, he froze when he realized what it was.


    "It''s glow in the dark," he muttered.


    It seemed like there were really clues in the briefcase that he failed to see!


    With that, he brought the briefcase closer to his face to see the symbol.


    However, they were actually letters!


    GMJEPK


    "What the heck does this mean?" he muttered.


    He retrieved his phone from his pocket and turned on the shlight. Then, he wrote down the letters in his notebook, assigning the letters with a corresponding value based on their order in the alphabet.


    "Is it this?" he muttered, feeling hopeful.


    Was it as easy as this?


    However, it didn''t open once again, making June sigh in disappointment.


    Of course, it wouldn''t be that easy.


    With that, he closed his shlight, trying to look for something else.


    June wasn''t hopeful. So, when he saw another set of letters on the other side of the briefcase, he was once again surprised.


    Compared to the letters from the beginning, this particr one was actually a coherent word.


    June squinted since it was more faded than the past letters.


    "Y," he muttered.


    "O."


    "U."


    June frowned in confusion. Then, the lights came back on.


    At that moment, the letters disappeared.


    However, with his surroundings lit up, June could now see his reflection on the metal material of the briefcase.


    "Me?"

 Chapter 707 EVE’s Mini-Concert

    <h4>Chapter 707 EVE''s Mini-Concert</h4>


    "Right now, we are here outside of Seoul Atrium, the venue for EVE''s first mini-concert," a reporter said from outside of the venue.


    Fans wearing the group''s color, which was pink, surrounded him, wanting a chance to appear on television.


    They waved shyly at the camera while the reporter continued to speak.


    "Fans came early to support their favorite group! EVE, one of the fastest-rising stars of the generation, garnered attention with their amazing live performances, refreshing songs that dominate the charts, and the loveable members," he continued.


    "In the ticketing period, there were nearly 3.5 million attempts to enter the site reported by Navel tickets, which once again proves their prowess in the domestic and international markets."


    "With the demand, tickets had been resold for more than 2,000 dors. With this, EVE has added a new date on Seoul Dome on June 30th, which also sold out in less than a minute."


    "This has been Kang Haneul, back to you."


    With that, the camera turned off, and the fans dispersed to go to the different booths.


    It was a happy time.


    However, five individuals seemed to be engulfed in a dark mood as they sat on one of the benches.


    A little girl approached them.


    "Free June bracelets?" she asked in a sweet voice.


    However, Bora wasn''t in the mood to interact with little girls.


    "No one wants those ugly bracelets," she deadpanned, causing the little girl to cry and run back to her mother.


    "Bora," Soomin said, warning her friend to behave.


    "What?" Bora asked. "Do you think it''s fair that 12-year-olds are dominating the venue right now? They won''t even remember this memory in the future!"


    "They can''t even scream well. The venue will be filled with shrill squeals because of these little girls."


    Jia pursed her lips. "I wanted that June bracelet, though," she muttered.


    Wei ced her hand over Jia''s. "Don''t worry. I''ll make you one."


    "Why did we have toe here, though?" Nari asked. "We''re already miserable as it is since we didn''t get any tickets."


    Jia clicked her tongue and crossed her arms in front of her chest.


    "We need to support EVE even from far away!" she eximed.


    "Do you think they need our support?" Bora asked. "Look at the number of people here. The venue''s capacity is 8,000, but there are at least 20,000 people walking around."


    Jia shook her head. "Our presence is different than theirs."


    "I don''t really get you," Bora said, facing her friend. "You have June''s number. If you want, you could even catch his solo performance..."


    "...maybe even on yourp."


    Jia''s eyes widened in surprise. "What the heck did you just say?"


    Bora shrugged. "I just know that if I had June''s number, then I would put it to good use."


    Jia sighed and shook her head.


    "I told you¡ªI''m just a fan," Jia said with a small smile. "I''m happy with my role in June''s life."


    Her friends simultaneously shook their heads.


    "For someone so insane, you''re the kindest fangirl ever," Bora said.


    "Anyway, I don''t need a solo performance from June," Jia said, her smile widening.


    "We''re going to be watching them at the end of the month anyway."


    Her friends smiled, happy to know that they had secured front-row tickets for EVE''s concert at the 30th.


    Meanwhile, there was quite a chaos inside the concert venue.


    Stylists and make-up artists ran around, trying to look for missing articles of clothing.


    Producers and filmographers shouted at each other, trying to get their messages across.


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE sat in the very middle of the chaos, not knowing what to do.


    "Is it really like this?" Jisung asked, wide-eyed.


    The group turned to Akira and Jaeyong, and they silently shook their heads.


    "Don''t look at us," Jaeyong said. "We never had a concert like this. The concert we had was much more organized."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "Well, the preparations had been a mess until now. It''s great that they gave us a new concert date at a bigger venue, but I feel like they''re casting this concert date aside already."


    Zeth sighed before nodding in agreement.


    "It''s good that we''re able to prepare well, though," Zeth said. "We''ll just have to blow them away with our skills."


    "It doesn''t have to be always like that, though," June said just as his make-up had finished.


    He faced his members, and Jisung and Casper immediately started praising him.


    "I like the cat eye," Casper said.


    "Woah, look so good, bro!" Jisung eximed.


    "What do you mean by that?" Akira asked. "Could we ask them to do something about this?"


    June shook his head.


    "It''s toote for us to ask something from them for this particr concert date," he responded. "My apologies. I should have added this in my requests.."


    "However, don''t worry, let''s blow them away with our skills today despite Azure''sck of effort. Then, at the end of the month, we''ll have a better set and a more organized structure," he said, his voice filled with promise.


    One of the staff members turned to EVE and shook her head.


    Well, it seemed like the group wasn''t too afraid of their CEO!


    Meanwhile, Jisung bounced his legs just as he heard the sound of the crowd shouting.


    "There''s only 15 minutes left," he said. "I could already hear them."


    Ren walked over to where he was and patted his back.


    "I want tofort you, but I''m nervous, too," he said.


    "Don''t be too nervous," Zeth said, awkwardly chuckling. "We''ve performed for our fans plenty of times before."


    "You''re saying that, but you''re shaking like a dried leaf," Akira teased. However, he didn''t look too good either.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips before letting out a deep breath to get rid of his nervousness.


    "It''s normal to be nervous," he started off. "This is, in fact, our very first concert¡ªif we could even call it as such."


    "However, we know how much effort we have ced into this. We have also prepared so much, so let''s not waste it by being too nervous."


    "Instead, let''s embrace our nervousness and channel that to perform even better than practice."


    The boys started nodding in agreement.


    June''s heart also started beating faster inside his chest. He couldn''t deny that he also felt quite nervous.


    "So, with that, let''s get this show on¡ª"


    "EVE! EVE! EVE! EVE!"


    Jaeyong speech came to an abrupt halt when they heard a bone-chilling chant from the audience.


    "EVE," a staff member said, already gesturing for them toe out of the make-up room.


    "It''s time."


    "Please take your positions under the stage and prepare for the performance in five minutes."

 Chapter 708 The Grand Opening

    <h4>Chapter 708 The Grand Opening </h4>


    The arena was cloaked in darkness. The crowd held their breaths as they couldn''t see anything in front of them.


    There was only one thing running inside their minds¡ªthe show was about to start.


    For most people, this was the first time they were going to watch EVE''s live performance.


    They had drastically risen in poprity in the past month, and they hadn''t performed live ever since.


    So, the anticipation was even greater this time around.


    Meanwhile, the people outside the venue and those in their respective homes who weren''t fortunate enough to secure a ticket, watched the livestream on their gadgets.


    - To all the people inside right now¡ªhow does it feel to be god''s favorite?


    - Goodness, I''m not even there, and my heart is palpitating.


    The silence extended for a couple more moments.


    Then, without a warning, a loud, bounding sound choked through the space. It reverberated through the walls and into the very bones of those present.


    Haze began to seep from the edges of the stage, swirling around and sending goosebumps down their spines.


    Those at the back couldn''t quite see it, but due to the silence of the venue, they could somewhat hear its sound.


    From the darkness, the outlines of the members of EVE started to form.


    They stood in perfect stillness, their silhouettes sharp against the backdrop of mist and shadow.


    The audience erupted into cheers, but the members remained motionless, with their features still hidden from view.


    - Shut the hell up, everyone!


    - Goodness, the screams. It sounds like it''s all little girls.


    - I''m jealous. I''m jealous of the little girls.


    - Seriously, one cheer is enough. They should stay quiet so we can watch the boys better.


    Fortunately, people started quieting down after a while.


    However, that was the calm before the storm¡ªthe moment before the explosion of light and sound that would bring the night to life.


    One by one, the lights flickered on.


    The first revealed was Zeth, his strong jawline and intense gaze instantly recognizable.


    However, staining his face was a bunch of red marks and cuts¡ªalmost like he just got into a fight.


    - Oh my gosh. What happened?


    - Let me fight them for you, baby.


    - Zeth may forgive, but I don''t.


    - Oh goodness. K-pop fans are truly the most delusional people in the entire world. It''s their concept!


    - Well, you must be fun at parties.


    The next illuminated was Ren, followed by Akira, whose smiles and sparkling eyes drew roars of approval.


    As the other two members were revealed, it became apparent that all of them had cuts and bruises on their faces. It made the people wonder what song they were going to perform.


    - Do they have a song to be doing all of this?


    - Yeah, I wonder.I don''t think they have tried a rebellious concept yet.


    - OMG! Is it a new song?


    - I highly doubt it. I''m so excited, though.


    Then came Casper, tall andposed. For a moment, the astras forgot about his crazy, borderline weird personality and focused on his magnificent visuals.


    Following him were Jisung and Sehun, whose charisma and charm seemed to light up the entire stage on their own.


    After that was Jaeyong, the reliable leader, whose hair was now dyed red. That once again elicited a louder cheer from the audience.


    Thest one was their center, June, who had garnered the most cheers out of all of his members.


    - Omo. What''s this? Why are the screams asymmetrical?


    - If I was there, I would have screamed my heart out for all of the members of EVE!


    - EVE deserves better fans.


    There was another apparent thing on June''s face. Aside from his manly beauty, a part of his left eyebrow was partially shaved, making him look like a real bad boy!


    When the makeup artist first suggested covering a part of his eyebrows with foundation, June thought that shaving them for real would be even better.


    The makeup artist was against it since thepany hadn''t agreed to a semi-permanent change, but June took it upon himself to shave a part of his eyebrows himself.


    The makeup artist was shocked, and so were the other members, but they couldn''t deny that he suited it very well.


    It also felt familiar to June since he had a simr look in his previous life. However, it was due to a permanent scar.


    A small frown formed on June''s face as he heard the discrepancy in the volume of the cheers.


    However, the very action made the audience cheer even louder.


    It was already expected since he had the most solo stans in the audience, but it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Somehow, he wanted to tell the audience to give them the same treatment. However, he knew that it would only ruin their performance.


    So, with that, he just decided to show them how great of a group EVE truly was¡ªeach and every one of them.


    Each member of EVE stood revealed, their handsomeness undeniable.


    - Is it possible to have a group filled with so many visuals?


    - When people ask why EVE is so popr, just show them this screenshot. Then, catch them off guard and show them their talents, too.


    - They''re all god''s favorites.


    As the final light clicked on, bathing the stage in brilliance, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd.


    The members of EVE, now fully visible, stood poised and ready.


    The camera finally zoomed out, showing the audience their entire get-up.


    At that moment, the screams became even louder¡ªespecially those at the front, making those at the back confused.


    The people watching on their phones didn''t know why the crowd was going crazy.


    "What the heck is happening?" Jia asked. "I can''t see anything."


    "I swear. The cameraman needs to get fired," Bora said, clicking her tongue. "And what''s with the lights? It''s weirdly dim!"


    Jia''s friends huddled over the screen of her tablet, and when the camera zoomed in closer, they finally realized the reason behind their screams.


    "The time hase," Jia said, looking up at the sky with her fist inside her mouth.


    "They''re wearing crop tops."

 Chapter 709 Sunshine, Stars Shine

    <h4>Chapter 709 Sunshine, Stars Shine</h4>


    "I knew it!" Bora eximed. "Those little girls really shouldn''t be allowed to watch the show. EVE''s happy trails are out in the open!"


    "They''re going crazy. Their moms are probably the same age as us," Soomin pointed out.


    Wei chuckled in amusement. "Don''t exaggerate now."


    Meanwhile, Jia shook her head in disbelief. "I can''t believe they get to see their abdomens in person before me."


    - What the heck is this?


    - No, my babies! Cover up, please.


    - This is my view every night. I''ll be patiently waiting for you at home, June! Don''t show them everything, my love.


    - Here we go again.


    As the lights continued to dance around the stage, the atmosphere in the arena grew even more exciting.


    The melody of ''Sunshine, Stars Shine'' had just begun¡ªa smooth and tantalizing RnB track that came from theirtest album, Starlight.


    The song hadn''t been performed live just yet, so many people were looking forward to it.


    However, most of them were confused since they couldn''t really corrte the song to the ''bad boy'' concept that EVE was currently employing.


    The deep, resonant bass paired with synths created a soundscape that promised an unforgettable performance.


    Then, cutting through theyered instrumental like a sharp knife came June''s voice.


    Soft yet powerful, his siren-like tones enveloped the entire venue, sending shivers down the audience''s spine.


    "In the shadows, whispers call my name,


    Through the darkness, I''ve yed their game.


    Broken dreams and shattered nights,


    But in silence, I''ll find my light."


    His vocal runs were effortless, each note flowing into the next without any effort.


    June felt proud of himself. Despite Fu being inactive for weeks already, he still managed to maintain his skills.


    Although, he still acknowledged that he wouldn''t get to where he was without his system.


    The crowd was enchanted; their cheers momentarily halted as June''s voice faded.


    The other members of EVE joined in with their rich harmonies, adding depth to the song.


    Each member brought something unique to the mix, and their improved teamwork became more evident in this particr performance.


    It was proof of the countless hours they had spent perfecting their craft together.


    "When the world tries to bring me down,


    I''ll rise above, won''t touch the ground.


    Like the stars in the night sky,


    Reach me now, but you''ll only ever get to try."


    The choreography was equally mesmerizing.


    As the song reached its first chorus, the members of EVE paired together, making the crowd scream.


    - Omo. What are these pairings?


    - It''s a crime that I''m not there to witness the performance.


    - Guys, shut up! June and Casper are paired together.


    - Whoever made these pairings, I hope you''re happy in all aspects.


    Ren and Akira, the ever-bickering duo, were paired up.


    Zeth and Jisung, their two main dancers, were also together on the side of the stage.


    Sehun and Jaeyong, the oldies of the group, danced in the very middle.


    To their side were Casper and June, undoubtedly the most popr pairing in the entire group.


    As Casper and June stepped forward, the crowd was immediately sent into a frenzy.


    Their movements were sharp and precise. However, this was no ordinary dance routine.


    The choreography had an intensity that bordered onbat, their movements reminiscent of a well-choreographed fight scene. They circled each other, their expressions fierce and determined.


    Once again, the audience wondered if ''Sunshine, Stars Shine'' was a song that had such a message. However, as June rapped the next verse, they realized that EVE took their title as ''concept masters'' to a new level since they interpreted it in such a creative way.


    "Let the stars shine through the darkest skies,


    We''ll be the light that never dies.


    Rising up from the ashes grey,


    With astras from the gxying our way."


    The crowd went crazy as their fandom name was mentioned. EVE actually took the time to change the lyrics so that they could include their beloved fans.


    The song, deceptively titled ''Sunshine, Stars Shine,'' was a song that talked about rising above adversity. The lyrics spoke of their journey to the top and their determination to shine brightly even when surrounded by darkness.


    It was a message that resonated deeply with the fans, many of whom had followed EVE through their own ups and downs.


    The performance, however, was a new side of EVE. It seemed more mature and intense.


    Their outfits reinforced this image¡ªripped jeans, distressed leather jackets, crop tops, and artfully applied makeup that gave the impression of cuts and bruises.


    They looked likeplete troublemakers, and the fans were eating it right up.


    As the performance neared its climax, the energy in the arena became unmatchable.


    The music increased in volume while the lights erratically shed. The members poured their hearts into every note and every movement.


    And although they were doing such an intense choreography, their vocals never missed.


    - What the heck? They''ve all improved so much!


    - I agree. They''re different now. Sometimes, fame gets into people''s heads and makes themcent in their performances, but not EVE.


    - I''m so proud to be with them since day one.


    - I''m jealous. I wish I was there at the very beginning. I only became a fan this month.


    - I can''t believe my boys have made it this far. I was convinced they were going to be an underrated team until their contract ended.


    - EVE won''t let that happen. Theirpany might suck, but people will find their raw talents through and through.


    -They deserve every praise in the world.


    The members of EVE now stood in a straight line, unmoving but with heavy breaths.


    Then, Ren and Akira sang the first two lines of the outro in harmony, and June joined them at the veryst line.


    "So let the stars shine, let them guide us home,


    In the night, we''re never alone.


    In our hearts, the fire''s bright,


    We''ll shine forever through the darkest night."


    With a final, powerful chord, the stage was plunged into darkness once more.


    The sudden contrast was jarring, but the spotlight remained, casting its beam on the eight members of EVE.


    They stood still, their figures against the ck backdrop, embodying the very essence of the song''s message.


    EVE were the stars shining in the darkness.

 Chapter 710 Forever With You

    Chapter 710 Forever With You


    ??"Congrattions, everyone," Jaeyong said with a wide smile as they arrived backstage.


    The team pped loudly, showing their support for the team.


    "Great job, EVE!"


    "I''m so proud of you, boys."


    "All of your hardwork paid off."


    The members of EVE smiled as they heardpliments from the concert team. As much as they hated the upper management team, the people who worked with them more closely seemed to love them a lot.


    Most of them had been there since the beginning, and they truly wanted the best for EVE.


    It was evident in how they prepared for the concert despite theck of time and resources.


    The members of EVE, all sweaty and tired, went to their make-up room, feeling a sense of nostalgia hit them.


    The concert had just ended a few moments ago, yet most of them had already missed it.


    There were a lot of regrettable moments, especially with the favoritism of the audience in the beginning. The line distribution during thest song was also very strange, and if June could change something about the entire experience, then it would be these two.


    However, even then, he couldn''t shake away his happiness.


    It was his first time performing on such arge stage with only astras watching.


    "Is it normal to feel this empty?" Jisung asked, staring at the ceiling.


    "The post-concert depression has already hit you, huh?" Akira said, chuckling.


    "Same," he said, suddenly turning serious. "Now, I''m thinking about the meaning of life."


    Jaeyong shook his head and patted both of their shoulders.


    "This is just the beginning," he said with a small smile.


    "I know you guys already miss the stage, but we''re going to have plenty more chances to perform as a team," he continued.


    "In the span of three years," Ren chimed. "Well, around two years now."


    The atmosphere dampened as soon as Ren said those words.


    Somehow, they realized that everything they had would be temporary.


    "Don''t say that, man," Zeth said, feeling a pang in his chest.


    "We just finished a happy event. No need to think about the near future," he continued.


    Ren sighed and nodded. "You''re right. I guess I''m just feeling emotional."


    "I''ve had many of my firsts with you," he said.


    "Hmm?" Akira asked. "What kind of firsts?"


    Sehun shook his head. "Way to ruin the moment, Akira."


    Akira shrugged. "Well, I haven''t had those firsts yet. So, I''m curious."


    Ren clicked his tongue. "It''s not that, you green-minded idiot! I''m just talking about this. Our first performance. Our first song. Our first concert."


    "One day, we''ll be looking back at this and realize what we had was so special," he smiled.


    "It doesn''t have to be like that, right?" Jisung asked, looking at his members with wide eyes. "They can renew our contract like BOYMYSTIC."


    "You''re right," June said,forting their youngest member since he seemed to be on the verge of tears.


    "It doesn''t have to be like that," he smiled.


    "We don''t have to settle with what''s only given to us."


    Jisung smiled widely. "Then, we could stay forever as EVE! Honestly, I don''t care if we be the biggest boy group in the world. I don''t even care if we''re not in a well-knownpany."


    "I just want all of us to be together¡ªperforming and making music together."


    "This has always been my dream since I was a kid, and to think that we''re here makes it feel so surreal. I truly love what I''m doing," he ended.


    "Me too," Casper said, a wide smile on his face. "I know that I don''t show it as much, but I really love performing¡ªespecially if it''s with you, guys."


    With Jisung''s and Casper''s statements, the atmosphere in the room became lighter.


    At that moment, they weren''t EVE, the top K-Pop group of their generation.


    Instead, they were EVE, the boys who loved performing with each other and were fortunate enough to have other people love them.


    ***


    After the concert ended, June felt like he saw the world in apletely different light.


    He realized that this was what he wanted to do¡ªto perform in front of everyone and make them feel the emotions of the song he was performing.


    Acting, modeling, and others were also fun, but being an idol had be his lifelong dream.


    However, he had encountered another problem.


    He decided to monitor Grandma''s surveince camera once again to get to know her so-called new friends.


    Her nurse and her next-door neighbor were pretty much harmless, but this ''Zin'' guy was truly suspicious.


    When he saw a hooded guying in at the weirdest times, June knew that he was right to be suspicious.


    There was no doubt¡ªthis was Lin Zhi.


    June shook his head in disbelief, throwing his head back.


    "I see," June said. "You''re involving everyone, huh?"


    Then, he smirked. "But I''m always one step ahead of you."


    With that, he decided to contact Dr. Oh.


    It didn''t even take two rings before Dr. Oh answered the call.


    "June!" Dr. Oh eximed. "Oh, thank goodness. I''ve been trying to contact you for the past few days."


    "I''ve been busy," June said. "We just ended our concert."


    "I saw," Dr. Oh said, sounding nervous. "You guys did a good job. Honestly, you killed it."


    "But there''s something important¡ª"


    "Do me a favor," June said before Dr. Oh could even finish his statement.


    Dr. Oh sighed in frustration. "June, you should reallye here to my office as soon as possible."


    June clicked his tongue. "Can''t you send it by text?"


    "No," Dr. Oh said. "I can''t. I need to tell you in person."


    June frowned, sensing the seriousness in his voice.


    "Then, does it concern Grandma, Minjun, or any of my members?" June asked.


    "What?" Dr. Oh asked, confused. "No. It''s not that, but it''s really important."


    June clicked his tongue. "Do this for me first, then. Ban Lin Zhi froming inside Grandma''s room."


    "Lin Zhi?" Dr. Oh asked. "Why is Lin Zhi visiting Grandma?"


    "He has a reason¡ªa very sinister one," June said. "So, I need someone from the hospital to ban him from visiting Grandma from now on. I''ll also hire bodyguards, but I just want the health workers to be informed."


    Dr. Oh clicked his tongue. "I got it. I''ll make sure he doesn''t visit anymore."


    June sighed in relief. "Good. I''lle visit soon."


    "Wait, just listen¡ª"


    With that, June ended the call, a deep frown still on his face.


    He was d that he was able to catch Lin Zhi before the situation escted further.


    If he had caught itter, then he wouldn''t have forgiven himself if something happened to Grandma.

 Chapter 711 The Five-Point Drop

    Chapter 711 The Five-Point Drop


    ??The venue was filled with nervousness as the girls gathered once more for the second elimination of the fifth reason of Rising Stars.


    The studio already felt empty because there were only fifty girls left. However, knowing that they were going to be halved once again, felt like a cruel punishment.


    Ara sat next to Mei and nudged her shoulder.


    "Are you alright?" she asked, looking concerned for her friend.


    Mei looked at Ara and noted her bright aura. Well, of course, she would be in a good mood. She was paired with the ''killing'' team, otherwise known as the powerhouses of the show.


    Meanwhile, Mei looked like the light had left her eyes.


    Nheless, Ara still found her very pretty.


    "Were you able to sleep?" Ara asked.


    Mei pursed her lips and nodded in silence. However, Ara knew that her friend probably didn''t get any sleep at all.


    Ara sighed in frustration. "You must be having a hard time. However, don''t bottle it up, okay? Talk to other people about what you feel."


    Once again, Mei nodded in response, causing Ara to be even more frustrated.


    Just then, the girls erupted into nervous squeals as June arrived at the stage.


    No matter how many times they had seen him, it seemed like they were still starstruck because of his unmatchable beauty.


    Moreover, most of the girls watched EVE''s mini-concert through their phones, which made them admire June even more.


    Even though he was the least-trained trainee and came from an independentpany, he had improved so much all throughout the show until he became a top idol.


    "Good evening, everyone," June started off. "First, I would like to say thank you for waiting for me for such a long time."


    "It was only a week," he chuckled. "But I needed that time to recover physically. For the people concerned, do not worry too much. I''m much better now and am fit to go back to work," he said as he was instructed to by Yena and Yejin.


    "Now, enough about me," he said. "Today, we shall get straight to the rankings!"


    "Last week''s benefits had been added to the winners'' votes, so the ranking is reflective of their collective points," June said.


    "We have 50 girls with us tonight, but only 25 will remain by the end of this episode."


    "The stakes are high because thedies have started practicing for their third mission. Thus, those who are eliminated won''t get the chance to perform what they''ve practiced hard for."


    The girls, especially those at the lower ranks, slumped their shoulders in defeat.


    They were already seated ording to their current teams, and Mei''s team had the darkest atmosphere.


    Mei appeared like she was out of it. Meanwhile, her teammates looked like they had already epted their defeat.


    - Azure is cruel as usual.


    - Are we seeing Mei''s team right now?


    - I wouldn''t mind if they all get kicked out.


    - Don''t you think it would be funny if they were all eliminated except for Mei?


    - No. That''s not funny at all.


    "For this week, we have another special guest," June said, turning his gaze to the back.


    "Please wee Mimi from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, another sessful idol who came from Rising Stars!"


    Mimi came out from the back, and she was immediately greeted with gasps and squeals.


    "Oh my gosh! She''s so pretty!"


    "I loved her during the first season."


    "Don''t they look cute together?"


    Nico, who was watching from Mimi''s apartment, stood from his seat with clenched fists when he heard that trainee''sment.


    "Oh, I sure hope she gets eliminated," he muttered under his breath.


    Going back to the elimination...


    "Thank you for having me here," Mimi said. "I''ve been here in almost every season, and I can''t miss the opportunity to be the special host with June."


    June smiled at her, and she felt her cheeks redden.


    Oh goodness. June still had such an effect on her!


    However, she shook her head since she was now ever-loyal to her boyfriend, Nico.


    "Let''s finally start," June said, taking out the cue card for the first ten trainees to be announced.


    "Starting off with the 24th ce," he continued, staying silent for a few seconds to add to the suspense.


    "We have...Somin!"


    The previously 30th-rank trainee sighed in relief as her name was called, feeling like a thorn had just been removed from her throat.


    Mimi and June took turns announcing the members, and as they got to the 11th spot, the girls at the bottom ranks had already lost hope.


    Mei nced at her teammates'' rankings and pursed her lips.


    43...


    47...


    49...


    50...


    With only 11 spots left, it seemed like an almost impossible feat.


    Unless they had June''s genes, it was most definitely out of the question.


    "For the 11th spot, we have Yeri!" Mimi eximed, making Mei''s members slump further in their seats, some of them even chuckling in eptance.


    - Yes! Yeri is at the 11th spot. She deserves it so much.


    - I''m telling you, guys. Yeri is the dark horse of this season. She''s silently hardworking, and she''s always stable. This was proven during her performance in the first round, but she was overshadowed by Mei and Mina!


    - She honestly deserves a higher spot.


    - It sucks that other people who aren''t ready to debut yet, cough Mei cough, get into the top five.


    - Mei is hardworking, though. I''m sick of people saying that she isn''t working hard when she puts in double the amount of effort to improve herself.


    - Mei simp.


    - The world is so cruel and unforgiving.


    Yeri stood from her seat with a wide smile. It wasn''t as high as she had wanted, but she was already happy to be included within the top 25.


    She had a little speech before going over to her seat.


    Meanwhile, June opened the next envelope for the top ten trainees.


    He nced at the bottom of the list and froze since he saw something very unexpected.


    His throat felt dry, and it took him a while to snap back to reality.


    The audience, however, took that as a deliberate action to increase the suspense even more.


    - Come on, June. I love you, but please just tell us the top ten!


    - These are the people who are most likely going to debut!


    - There are only around three or four weeks left. I''m so excited!


    June pursed his lips and finally lifted his head, bringing the microphone close to his lips.


    "In the tenth spot is..."


    "Mei."

 Chapter 712 Focus On Your Wife

    Chapter 712 Focus On Your Wife


    ??- The most unexpected twist of the night is Mei being in tenth ce.


    - I don''t know, man. I think she deserves to be in the tenth ce. It''s where she belongs.


    - I think this might be better. Skillwise, she shouldn''t even be in the top ten.


    - I just know that she''s very sad. It looks like she''s numb. She didn''t even have any reaction when her name was called.


    June couldn''t take his eyes away from Mei even after the cameras stopped rolling.


    As expected, Jeemin had retained her number one spot, and Mina managed to get into the top five.


    Meanwhile, Ara took Mei''s previous spot, while Mei had gone down by five ranks.


    It was a shocking fact since most of them had already instilled in their minds that Mei was going to be in the top five.


    However, Mei appeared like she didn''t care about her rank at all.


    Instead, she feltpletely lost because her teammates were now gone, and she was all alone in her team.


    To add fuel to the fire, Yena went up the stage for a new, cruel announcement.


    "Tomorrow morning, please get up at 5AM and go to your respective practice rooms. You shall now group up for your final teams for the next mission."


    "Teams who have extra teammates, please choose who shall leave. Then, those kicked out shall pick a team they want to join. The faster you are kicked out, the faster you can pick a new team."


    With that, she went down the stage, making Mimi shake her head in disbelief.


    "They''re still cruel, huh?" she asked. "But they do know how to make a good show¡ªI''ll give them that."


    June also shook his head. "They''re not letting the girls grieve."


    Mimi clicked her tongue. "But then, I guess, this seems much kinderpared to the reality of bing an idol. I''m sure you feel it too, hmm?"


    June pursed his lips and nodded.


    Mimi sighed before continuing her rant.


    "People think that being an idol just involves singing, dancing, and acting pretty...However, it''s much moreplex than that."


    "We have to be literally perfect," she chuckled.


    "We can''t make the same mistakes that all people do just because we''re idols. We can''t have a single pimple or body hair, but those who criticize us can."


    "It''s ironic, isn''t it?" she said in a bitter tone.


    "A part of me is thankful that GIRLS'' EVOLUTION didn''t grow as big as the other K-Pop groups in our generation. The bigger you are, the bigger the burden. I''ve seen plenty of big stars lose themselves in the industry, and I don''t want that to happen to me."


    Then, Mimi nced at June, who seemed to be deep in thought.


    "I don''t want you to lose yourself, too."


    June turned to Mimi and tilted his head to the side.


    "What do you mean by that?" June asked.


    Mimi shrugged. "I don''t know. Just¡ªdon''t lose yourself. It''s an easy advice, but I bet it''d be hard to do."


    "Don''t forget how you started¡ªyour origin."


    June sighed, already sick of hearing that particr word.


    What was the use of the word when he didn''t even know the real meaning of it?


    "Are you Fu?" June bluntly asked, causing Mimi to raise her eyebrows in surprise.


    "Fu?" she asked, sounding confused. "Who''s that? A cartoon character or something?"


    June smirked in amusement before shaking his head.


    "Never mind," June said.


    "You should head home," he continued, changing the topic.


    "I bet Nico is waiting for you already."


    ***


    June was on his way to the parking lot when he received another call from Dr. Oh.


    He sighed and answered it.


    Dr. Oh didn''t even greet him when he answered the phone.


    "Please, please, please, juste to where I am," Dr. Oh said.


    June sighed in frustration. "What now? I just visited the hospital recently."


    "I know," Dr. Oh said. "But you have to hear this."


    "Just tell me over the phone," June insisted.


    "I can''t!" Dr. Oh eximed.


    June shook his head. "Well, did you at least do the favor I asked you to?"


    "Yes," Dr. Oh eximed. "He tried toe here earlier, but those guards you hired stopped him. The nurses also know not to let him in now."


    June nodded in acknowledgment. "Good. You did a good job."


    "Just please,e here to the restaurant where my wife and I are having dinner. I''ll send you the address, then we can talk. I promise¡ª"


    June ended the call before Dr. Oh could finish his statement.


    There was no way he was going to interrupt Dr. Oh''s date with his wife!


    It seemed like the woman wasn''t too fond of him already because Dr. Oh always came running to his aid.


    However, Dr. Oh was stubborn, so he called June once again.


    "June,e on. My wife said it''s okay¡ª"


    "Have fun with your wife. n for another child or something," June quickly said before ending the call once more.


    He shook his head and continued his way to the parking lot.


    However, his phone rang once more, making him sigh in frustration.


    "Make your wife happy!" June eximed, ready to turn off the call once again.


    However, another voice spoke, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow.


    "Finally."


    June let out a small sigh.


    "Laohu," June said, out of instinct, causing Laohu to stay silent for a couple of seconds.


    June''s eyebrows raised in panic since he realized that he shouldn''t have known his name...


    ...not in this life.


    "How do you know my name?" he asked, sounding suspicious.


    June pursed his lips and quickly came up with an excuse.


    "You should really teach Lin Zhi how to keep his mouth shut," June said. "He''s not a goodckey."


    Laohu chuckled in amusement.


    "I see," he said. "Well, he''s always been a little bit ipetent. I can''t get rid of him, though."


    June frowned. Even back then, Lin Zhi had been mediocre in his tasks. He had quite a lot of charisma, but he definitely wasn''t as efficient as Jun Hao. However, he was highly praised within their gang. He was also promoted quickly by Laohu.


    Meanwhile, Jun Hao was the most hardworking and undoubtedly had the most sess in his missions. However, he was given the bare minimum for a considerable amount of years!


    "What do you want?" June asked, going back to business.


    "I know that Lin Zhi''s threats hadn''t worked on you," he said. "He was upset once again this morning for a reason I don''t know."


    June smirked. It must be because he wasn''t allowed to go inside Grandma''s room.


    "Moreover, those guards you hired for that little kid are quite efficient. It''s disappointing that we weren''t even able to leave a traumatic mark," he continued.


    "Get straight to the fucking point," June snapped.


    "Oh," Laohu said, chuckling. "Such dirty wordsing from a pretty idol."


    "Well, I also don''t have much time, so I''ll say this only once."


    "Hand me the briefcase," he said, his voice deeper this time.


    "I know that you have it."


    "Once you hand it to me, the rightful owner, then we shall finally leave you alone."


    June smirked. He knew that Laohu was spouting nonsense. With everything that had happened, Lin Zhi would definitely not let this go.


    "I know that Lin Zhi''s threats are not much of a threat to you."


    "However, I''m different."


    "I''m much...more...different."

 Chapter 713 That’s Sick And Twisted

    <h4>Chapter 713 That''s Sick And Twisted</h4>


    "I''m extending the deadline. You have until the end of the month to bring it to me. I''ll text you the address. Otherwise, there would be consequences."


    Laohu''s words echoed in the back of June''s mind.


    His deadline was once again the end of June.


    It felt pretty symbolic at that point.


    With that, he entered Grandma''s room as he had some time to visit her once again after his schedule had been reduced.


    "Grandma," June happily eximed as he arrived at her room.


    However, his smile quickly fell when he saw Grandma''s state. Somehow, she had gotten even skinnier and paler than before.


    June saw all herboratory results, and it was, indeed, getting much better. However, it wasn''t obvious in her current appearance.


    "June," she said, having a coughing fit right after she said those words. "How are you? It hasn''t been that long since youst visited."


    June handed her a ss of water and allowed her to drink.


    "Well, I missed my favorite grandma in the entire world," June smiled despite feeling concerned.


    Grandma shook her head in amusement. "Now, you''re making me feel really old."


    "What do you mean?" June asked. "You aren''t too old. You still have a lot of time in this world. Once you''re 90, you can say that you''re really old."


    Grandma smiled. "Well, what brought you here today?"


    "As always," June said, sitting on her bed. "I wanted to ask how you were doing and if you need anything else."


    Grandma paused before shaking her head. "There''s not much that I want in this hospital."


    "I just want to recover quickly so I can go back to my daily routine," she smiled.


    "However, there has been one thing going ontely," she muttered. "That young man I told you about¡ªZin. He hasn''t visited in thest couple of days. Sometimes, I feel like I hear him outside of my door, but he doesn''te in. It''s strange, isn''t it?"


    June pursed his lips. "It isn''t strange, Grandma," he said.


    "You have to keep in mind not to trust just anyone, okay?" June softly said, holding onto her hands.


    Grandma frowned. "But Zin is a nice young man. I can tell that he is quite troubled. It also feels like he has a lot of desires¡ªsome of which are quite unreasonable. But, I see something behind his eyes, some kind of pain that his broken, young self must have gone through."


    "Whenever hees here, he talks about his brother and how he always feel ipetent. I try to reassure him that not everybody is the same and that he''ll only free himself from pain if he stopsparing himself with others and being jealous of what others have."


    June shook his head. That sounded like Lin Zhi, alright.


    However, June was confused. Lin Zhi had a brother? He had never known of such information.


    "Anyway," June said, shaking his head. "Don''t look for him anymore. He seems to be an evil character."


    "Besides," he quickly chimed before Grandma could speak once more. "I''ll get jealous if you start doting on another young man my age. Aren''t I enough, Grandma?"


    Grandma shook her head and ruffled June''s hair.


    "Of course, no one would everpare to you," Grandma smiled. "I''m just wondering where that young man is."


    "He''ll be alright," June said. "What''s important is that you''re doing alright."


    "Of course I am," Grandma smiled.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing a very breathless and tired-looking Dr. Oh.


    June raised his eyebrows as he took in his disheveled appearance. It had been a while since theyst saw each other, but it appeared like Dr. Oh had lost some weight.


    Moreover, the doctor always looked neat and kempt whenever they met. However, at that moment, he looked like a crazy scientist whose experiment just blew over right at his face.


    "Dr. Oh," Grandma said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"


    Dr. Oh sighed in relief as soon as he saw that June was inside.


    "Oh, thank goodness," Dr. Oh said. "I''ve been looking for you for the entire week! Now, you''re finally in my hands."


    June shook his head and stood from the bed. "Is this about what you wanted to tell me?"


    Dr. Oh nodded. "Please, don''t tell me you have a schedule after this one."


    June shook his head. "My next schedule is tomorrow."


    Dr. Oh sighed in relief. "Let''s talk about it now then."


    June nodded, sitting once more on the bed and gesturing to the seat before him.


    Dr. Oh shook his head and held onto June''s arm before dragging him out of the room.


    His eyes widened in surprise, and Grandma was also confused.


    Dr. Oh turned around and threw Grandma a wide smile. "I''ll bring him backter!"


    "Sure, sure," Grandma said despite feeling a little bit confused.


    June let himself get dragged to Dr. Oh''s office, still wondering what he even wanted to talk about.


    As soon as they arrived, Dr. Oh sat on his seat, appearing more serious than ever.


    June, on the other hand, looked around his messy office.


    "Well," June said in a humorous tone. "It looks like you''ve been busy."


    Dr. Oh didn''t find this amusing, though. Instead, he continued having a poker face, making June even more confused.


    June cleared his throat and settled in his seat, realizing that Dr. Oh must be dead serious if he was acting as such.


    "What did you want to talk about?" June asked, getting straight to the point.


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips before bringing out something from his drawers. It was a thin stack of papers.


    June looked down at it for a second and saw that his name was on top of it.


    "What''s this?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh sighed. "Your test results came back."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise, picking up the papers and reading through their contents.


    He almost forgot about it.


    "Oh, the ones from Germany?" he asked with a small smile.


    "Yes," Dr. Oh responded. "Theprehensive tests."


    June''s smile quickly fell when he read the results.


    He wasn''t an expert in medical terminologies, but he had a hunch when something was abnormal.


    Dr. Oh continued to exin his results, but June could only hear him faintly.


    "As you can see there, you have some myelosuppression. That means that your body isn''t protecting you quite well. If you see some of the imaging results, it appears like there is a starting auto-immune process, where even normal cells are engulfed by the protective cells."


    "This is the reason why I couldn''t tell you this over text."


    "Tell it to me in simple terms," June deadpanned, the world finally bing clear as he ced down the stack of papers.


    Dr. Oh sighed, appearing to be in distress.


    "You''re sick, June," he said.


    "Very, very sick."

 Chapter 714 Plot Twist Of The Year

    <h4>Chapter 714 Plot Twist Of The Year </h4>


    June''s ears rang, and at that moment, he couldn''t hear anything but the beating of his heart.


    The beating¡ªhe might not even hear it soon if Dr. Oh was right.


    "What...do you mean?" June asked, still in disbelief.


    Dr. Oh sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "I also don''t know," he said.


    June clicked his tongue. "How could you not know?"


    Dr. Oh shook his head. "Based on these test results, you shouldn''t even have enough energy to sit right now. In fact, you should take very special precautions, just like your Grandma, if you want to continue living."


    "However, you''re here¡ªappearing asymptomatic aside from those dizzy spells and headaches you asionally have."


    "Maybe you''re really part lizard. It''s amazing how healthy you look right now!" Dr. Oh eximed.


    June sighed in frustration. "Just tell me what I have...and what I can do to solve this problem."


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips.


    "Well, we still need to undergo a few more tests if we want to know your specific disease. However, based on your blood tests and imaging results all alone, it is likely that you have a simr disease to your Grandma."


    "In fact, it''s much worse. It looks like you''re in thetter stages," Dr. Oh said.


    June looked up at the ceiling, not knowing what to feel.


    "And, in terms of what we can do, it has been rmended by the Germanboratory to go for palliative care."


    "Palliative?" June asked. "Supportive, you mean? Does that mean I''m going to die?"


    Dr. Oh looked down at hisp. "Well, all people die at one point, right? Some just die earlier than others."


    "Based on your CT scan, some tumors have also grown, which might exin some of the headaches you have gotten. However, these tumors are so fine, barely noticeable, that it would be hard to get them out without damaging the other areas," Dr. Oh continued.


    "So, I can''t have surgery, too?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh once again pursed his lips. "We can always try. However, the oue is not determined. There is a possibility that you''ll get better, but there''s also a possibility that you''ll get worse, get stuck in aa, or even die. It''s all undecided until we try it ourselves."


    June let out a shaky breath, looking down at his pale hands.


    Death.


    It had never scared him much.


    In fact, if it weren''t for Mei Ling, June wouldn''t have minded death when he was in his past body.


    However, he now had met people he loved very dearly, a job he was passionate about, and millions of people who relied on him for strength.


    Now, death has be a scary concept.


    "How many months?" June asked, his voice losing strength.


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips, finding the situation weirdly emotional. He knew he should always stay neutral when talking to patients, but Dr. Oh felt that it was such a shame.


    "I don''t know," he said.


    "A month?" he continued.


    "Three months?"


    "Maybe, even by the end of June, based on the severity."


    "But then again, we will never know," Dr. Oh concluded.


    June chuckled, staring off into the distance.


    Dr. Oh pursed his lips and looked down at hisp as June erupted into full-blownughter.


    It was funny.


    In fact, June found the entire situation hrious.


    "End of June, huh?" he muttered with a small smile.


    Dr. Oh reached out for his hand and squeezed it tight.


    "It doesn''t have to be your end, June."


    June softly sighed.


    "But it could be," he said. "You said so already. Nothing is certain."


    Dr. Oh sighed in frustration, leaning against his seat.


    "The human body works in mysterious ways," he started off. "There might be a miracle."


    "Do miracles really exist?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh scratched the back of his head. "I''ve witnessed it plenty of times."


    "What will happen if I get any treatment?" June asked.


    Dr. Oh sighed.


    "Well, as I said, surgery is out of the options. It''s too risky, and I''m afraid that you''d only get stuck in this hospital and continuously pay the bills. However, you don''t have to worry about that. As the owner of this hospital, I''ll make sure to treat you for free¡ª"


    June impatiently sighed.


    "Just get back to the point, please."


    "Chemotherapy is another option," Dr. Oh said. "However, that, too, would be risky since you already have a starting auto-


    immune response. This means that your normal cells might deplete too much to the point that you''d be a vegetable...or Jake Gyllenhaal in that movie where he was stuck in a bubble for most of his entire life."


    "Dr. Oh," June warned, causing the crazy doctor to chuckle.


    However, deep inside, this was his coping mechanism.


    Even if they weren''t rted, Dr. Oh had be closer to June.


    Finding him in such a situation was heartbreaking for the doctor.


    "Right," he said, finally getting back to the point. "Radiation therapy might also work but not without any risks. These are all the treatment modalities that we can try."


    "Do I have to stop working?" June asked.


    "That''s a given," Dr. Oh said. "You have to take a long break¡ªnot the week-long one that you just had. In fact, you''d have to rest for much longer if the treatments do work."


    June sighed, feeling at a loss.


    He looked around the office and finally realized why Dr. Oh was in shambles.


    It seemed like he was finding the cure to June''s sickness.


    "At the end of the day," Dr. Oh continued. "It will be your decision. I will send you the list of treatment modalities and their pros and cons, and get back to me when you''re ready."


    "However, don''t take too long. Time is your enemy here," he continued.


    "How am I even going to make a decision?" June muttered.


    "I know that it''s very difficult," Dr. Oh said. "In fact, I wouldn''t be able to make a decision if I was in your shoes, too."


    "However, whatever you choose, I''ll make sure to support you with full efforts. You don''t have to worry about the treatment¡ª


    that''s my job."


    "Just....just think about what you want and what will make you really happy," Dr. Oh said, feeling a lump in his throat when he saw June''s defeated expression.


    The two of them sat in silence for a few more minutes, none of them daring to break it.


    Then, Dr. Oh cleared his throat and stood from his seat.


    "Do you want me to apany you back to Grandma''s room?"


    June shook his head and stood from his seat, still absent-


    minded.


    Because of this, he stumbled on his own feet, causing Dr. Oh''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    Dr. Oh quickly went to his aid and held onto his arms.


    "Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned, almost pitiful tone, causing June to click his tongue.


    "I''m fine," he said firmly before standing on his own.


    "I''m fine," he repeated in a much calmer voice this time.


    "You don''t have to see me out," June continued, walking over to the door.


    "June," Dr. Oh called, causing June to halt. However, he didn''t turn around.


    "Take care of yourself, okay?"


    June pursed his lips. How could he take care of himself when he was literally dying?


    "Got it."

 Chapter 715 The Stages Of Grief

    <h4>Chapter 715 The Stages Of Grief</h4>


    June stared up at the ceiling, not being able to sleep.


    His body was tired, but his mind wasn''t.


    It ran with a thousand thoughts, circting with one main topic¡ªdeath.


    Who knew that his dizzy spells?and headaches actually meant something?


    "What the heck," June muttered, standing from his seat and walking to his full-length mirror.


    He looked at himself and found that he still looked fine¡ªhandsome as hell, even.


    "Is this the face of a dying man?" June asked.


    Then, he jumped around, banging his chest with his fists like a gori.


    "Nothing hurts," he continued. "Is it really true?"


    Denial.


    That was the first stage of grieving.


    "Why the heck did I even get sick in the first ce? I eat the best out of every member of EVE! I haven''t even touched a stick of cigarette or vape ever since I transmigrated to this body!" he eximed.


    Anger.


    June sighed in frustration. "But then again, I''ve been over-exerting myself these past few months. I don''t even know how I was able to do it. Maybe this is the price I''m paying for not taking care of myself well."


    Bargaining.


    June plopped to the ground, his eyes nk.


    "Goodness, I don''t even want to do anything anymore."


    Depression.


    "I should just die."


    eptance.


    "Are you practicing for a new role?"


    June shot up in surprise when he heard Jisung speak from behind him.


    "How long have you been there?" June asked with wide eyes.


    "Since you started jumping around in circles while banging your chest. Did Jay offer you a new acting audition? Is it about a man who dies? Or maybe an ape invasion?" he excitedly asked.


    "That was very convincing, by the way! I almost believed that you would actually be dying," he continued.


    June pursed his lips.


    If only he knew.


    "Anyway, I just came here to call you for lunch. I know you have a shoot with Rising Stars today, so I called you since you weren''t going out of your room."


    "What?" June asked. "It''s noon already?"


    "Yup," Jisung said. "So,e on. Jay wille pick you up in a few."


    June nodded, standing from the ground and following after Jisung.


    He looked at the table and saw the scrumptious food. However, for some reason, he didn''t have any appetite.


    "Isn''t this your favorite?" Jisung asked. "We ordered it just for you!"


    June chuckled nervously before shoving the food inside his mouth.


    As expected, it didn''t taste like anything because his mind was in shambles.


    So, after a few more bites, he stood from his chair.


    Akira frowned in confusion. "Where are you going?" he asked.


    "To shower," June responded. "I''ll be heading out soon."


    With that, June went to shower. He turned it on, not even adjusting the temperature.


    He felt the cold water pelt against his skin, but then again, he couldn''t feel anything.


    It was as if he became immune to it.


    After that, he got dressed and went to the parking lot, where Jay was already waiting.


    "Let''s go!" Jay excitedly eximed.


    "Yeah," June muttered, looking out of the window. His windows were tinted, so the world seemed dull, ck-and-white, andcking of life...


    ...just like him.


    Then, he finally arrived at the set of Rising Stars, so Jay left him all alone to gossip with the staff members.


    June went to where Yena and Yejin were and didn''t realize that he had passed them already.


    "June!" Yena eximed. "Over here," she chuckled. "You look out of it."


    June pursed his lips. "Sorry, I didn''t sleep well."


    "Nah, it''s alright. We all have those days," Yejin said. "Anyway, you''re going to mentor the team that performs ''We''re All Going To Die.''"


    June raised his head at lightning speed.


    Then, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment.


    ''Really? Do you want to rub it in my face?''


    "Is that alright with you?" Yena asked.


    ''No!'' June wanted to say. However, he couldn''t bring himself to do so.


    Instead, he reluctantly nodded in agreement.


    "Great," Yejin eximed, pping in excitement. "You may go to practice room number five. The other mentors have already started.


    June nodded once more and went to the team that he would mentor.


    He opened the door, already expecting to see one familiar face.


    Mei.


    Then, the others gasped once they saw June.


    "Mentor June!" Ara eximed, taking a step back.


    Yeri, too, smiled shyly at the handsome idol.


    Meanwhile, Zonya, theirst member, bowed deeply, as if she had just seen a deity.


    Mei, on the other hand, pursed her lips and slightly bowed her head.


    June observed her for a moment and noted that she looked betterpared to the night of the eliminations.


    "Good morning, girls," June said, picking up a chair and cing it in the middle of the practice room.


    "Well, it looks like I''ll be your mentor for this particr stage."


    "Lucky us," Ara said, already giggly like the bright girl she was. "I bet they''re all jealous of us!"


    June chuckled in amusement.


    "Sit down for a moment," he said, and the girls immediately followed, sitting before him with bright eyes.


    "So, how have you prepared so far?" June asked.


    Yeri pursed her lips before responding. "We haven''t done much. Mei was just teaching us the choreography of the song. We''re the eliminated ones, so we haven''t had much time to practice."


    "I see," June said, cing his hand under his chin.


    "Only Mei is the original member of this group, right?" he asked.


    Mei nodded. "Yeah," she said.


    "All of us are new ones¡ªthe rejected ones!" Ara excitedly said.


    "But it''s not like I hate it," Ara said. "Myst group had a very badass concept, and it doesn''t suit my image. I suit cuter songs more! However, I wanted to join Mei for a mission, so I came here."


    "I forgot that her team chose a very sad song, though," she said, scratching the back of her head.


    "Yeah," Yeri said, agreeing with Ara''s sentiment. "Even the title of the song is so tantly sad."


    "We''re all going to die," she continued. "It''s so emo."


    "Hmm," Mei hummed. "But isn''t that your specialty?" she asked, turning to June.


    The other girls also turned to June, realizing that June was, indeed, the master of emotional performances!


    However, there was a question that circted in June''s mind¡ª


    one that he wanted to ask the group of girls.


    "Hey, I have a question," he suddenly said, making the girls curious.


    June let out a deep breath before asking the question.


    "If you were only given three months, maybe even a month to live¡ªwhat would you do?"

 Chapter 716 Death

    Chapter 716 Death


    ??What is the essence of death?


    June knew that every person on this very earth thought about death.


    If you ask a child, death might be the separation from those they love.


    It''s the loss of a warm hand they hold, a goldfish flushed down the toilet, a pet who just wouldn''t die finally passing, a familiar voice, and aforting presence that will be eventually forgotten.


    This absence is shallowly felt, for a child''s mind is simple.


    What''s gone is gone.


    For those who had the taste of the good, good life, death often brings an intense fear.


    It''s the silent reminder of our fragility. People be obsessed with health, trying to eat right, exercise, and avoid the risk of death.


    We live with a constant worry, always aware that our time will end at any moment.


    The fear wasn''t just about dying but about the unknown that death represents.


    On the other hand, people who have slowly grown tired of life are thankful for death.


    It''s an escape¡ªsomething that would take them out of their misery...like a permanent, deep sleep.


    As June asked that question, the girls all turned silent.


    They weren''t expecting such a hard-hitting question.


    Zonya cleared her throat and broke the silence.


    "Well, first, I''d look for a cure," she said.


    "....and if the cure is just as deadly?" June asked.


    Zonya scratched the back of her head, wondering why June was even asking them such a question in the first ce.


    "Why are you¡ª"


    Mei cut Zonya off before she could finish her question.


    "I''d ept it, I guess," Mei said, leaning against the mirror and looking down at her hands.


    "If it''s inevitable, then what''s the use of even fighting?" she asked. "It''s like you have a deadline. So, might as well just get it over with. You can''t do anything else."


    June let out a deep breath. That was exactly what he was thinking.


    It seemed like they were really siblings through and through.


    "Hey, now," Yeri said, joining the conversation. "It doesn''t have to sound so depressing. You might have a deadline, but that doesn''t mean that you just have to wait for it."


    "I agree!" Ara eximed. "If I were going to die by the end of the month, I''d probably have no fears."


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    That was a refreshing take from the bubbly girl.


    "Care to borate?" June asked, curious about her reasoning.


    "Well, if I''m going to die at the end of the month, then what more should I be afraid of? Getting arrested? Getting killed? Getting publicly scrutinized? None of those! I''m already going to die. They could kiss my ass in heaven or hell if they want to!" she excitedly said.


    "Ara," Mei said, sounding amused.


    "What?" Ara asked, chuckling. "I''m just telling the truth. There''s nothing to be afraid of."


    Yeri shook her head in amusement. "I kind of agree¡ªalthough I''m not that extreme. I guess I would just spend it with the people I love, do the things I have never done before, and take the risks that I''ve always been hesitant to take."


    "Through that, I will see how beautiful my life has been and not how scary death truly is," she continued. "Death doesn''t have to be so sad."


    "That was my point in the beginning, though," Mei chimed. "Once you ept death, I believe you''ve alsoe to ept that it''s not the dark and scary thing that most people perceive it as."


    "Rather, it''s a beautiful thing that signifies a new beginning," she ended.


    June felt like his eyes were being opened to a new reality.


    He was so focused on the linear definition of death that he failed to realize what it truly meant.


    Just then, Ara gasped, pointing at June with bright eyes.


    "Did you ask us that question so we coulde to that conclusion?" she asked.


    June smirked and nodded in agreement.


    It wasn''t the truth, but it seemed like the girls were amazed.


    "I see," Yeri said, looking at June with admiration.


    "Death doesn''t have to be so sad. In that manner, our performance doesn''t have to be sad, too," she said.


    "The happiness of death?" Mei asked, causing her teammates to nod excitedly in agreement.


    June smiled, feeling like a huge weight was removed from his shoulders.


    Death.


    The girls were right. Death didn''t have to be so sad.


    With that, he started speaking about what he realized in his heart.


    "Maybe, in the shadow of death, always lied the shining truth," he said, making the girls turn theirplete attention to him.


    "We spend our lives searching for meaning, often overlooking the simple fact that death gives life its value. Without the end, would we appreciate the journey as much?"


    "It''s the knowledge that our finite existence makes every moment precious. This awarenesspels us to live fully, love deeply, and find joy in every day."


    "Death teaches us to live. It reminds us to savor each sunrise, to hold our loved ones close, and to chase our dreams with passion."


    "In this way, life and death are intertwined. However, they are not opposites, rather partners."


    "Death, then, is life''s greatest teacher. It shows us that our time here is limited, but that''s what makes it so precious. Life is a fleeting gift, and death is a gentle reminder to live it well. In this understanding, we find the true essence of both life and death, which is the beauty of our existence."


    He ended his speech with a deep breath.


    The girls were silent for a moment before Ara pped loudly, even getting up on her feet to give June a standing ovation.


    June snapped out of her reverie and looked at the group of girls with warm cheeks.


    He hadn''t realized that he had been ranting.


    "Did I say too much?" June asked.


    "Nope!" Ara eximed. "You said the right things. Now, I''m even more enlightened!"


    "No wonder they call you the master of emotional performances!"


    "Say," Ara continued, narrowing her eyes at June.


    "Did you have an emo phase of some sort?"

 Chapter 717 Going Back To Black

    Chapter 717 Going Back To ck


    ??Three days.


    Three days had passed since June found out he was potentially dying by the end of the month.


    He finally came to a decision.


    ''Fuck it,'' he muttered, standing from his bed and getting ready for the day.


    He showered and grabbed a snack before taking the keys of the van from Jay''s hidden stash. He thought he was slick for hiding it, but the members knew all along.


    June knew not to break the rules, but now that his time was quite limited, he decided that he wanted to do the things he had never done before.


    Moreover, he wanted to give his members and the people he loved a great gift, even if he wasn''t there anymore¡ªthe gift offort and protection.


    With that, he decided to take one extra step to give EVE the best terms possible.


    He knew he had a lot to lose, but he was about to lose his life! Is there anything more he could lose aside from that?


    With that, June drove to a particr, familiar ce.


    He stepped out of the car and sighed in relief when he didn''t see anyone around.


    Well, to be fair, nobody sane woulde to the ce that June would.


    He opened the door and saw a familiar man inside.


    The man, appearing to be having coffee, didn''t bother turning around.


    "The salon''s not open yet," he said, taking another sip from his coffee.


    June clicked his tongue and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "I need a haircut."


    As Kumo heard the familiar voice, he quickly turned around.


    "Oh my!" Kumo eximed, cing his coffee on the dresser and standing from his seat.


    "You finally came back here!" he continued, circling around June like a predator observing its prey.


    "It''s been a while," June said.


    "It has," Kumo said. "You''ve gotten much more famous since thest time you came here. I told my other customers that you get your hair done here, but none of them believed me! I realized that I didn''t take a photo with you every time you came here."


    June shook his head in amusement. "The more surprising thing is that you still get customers."


    "And don''t worry," June added, walking to the chair and sitting on it. "We can take a photo right after you give me a haircut."


    Kumo smirked. "I''ll have you know that I''m fully booked for the day! However, since you came extra early, I can just push back my first appointment."


    June nodded in acknowledgment.


    "Thanks," he muttered. "I just want something simple, so it won''t take too long."


    "Alright," Kumo said, whipping out his apron and wearing it like a doctor wearing theirbgown.


    Then, he brought out his scissors and dramatically twirled them in his fingers.


    "What can I do for you?"


    "A dye job?"


    "A mohawk?"


    "Or a mullet? Those are quite trendy these days, right?"


    "There''s also another one I want to try! Zigzag hair!"


    June quickly shook his head, not even wanting to imagine what zigzag hair looked like.


    "I said something simple," June deadpanned.


    Kumo clicked his tongue and gestured for him to continue.


    "First of all, I want to dye my hair back to my original color," June said.


    "Ooh!" Kumo eximed. "I could do that for you. Your roots are already growing in. Moreover, you will always be most suitable for your natural hair color! However, since you''re so handsome, you''ll look good in anything."


    "For the haircut?" Kumo asked.


    "Shave it off," June said with a straight face, causing Kumo to stay silent for a couple of moments.


    "Like military short?" Kumo asked. "Are you going to enlist early? I thought EVE was doing quite well."


    June clicked his tongue, bringing out his phone and showing it to Kumo.


    Kumo raised his eyebrows in surprise.


    "You can do this for me, right? Or is it too simple?" June asked.


    Kumo smirked, suddenly feeling challenged.


    "Of course," Kumo said. "Leave it all to Kumo!"


    ***


    As expected, June fell asleep as Kumo was doing his hair.


    He only woke up when Kumo tapped his shoulder.


    "It''s done," Kumo said. "It''s a masterpiece!"


    June opened his eyes and blinked away his sleepiness.


    The first thing he saw was his reflection, making him halt.


    "What do you think?" Kumo asked. "I did a good job, right?"


    June smirked. "I guess there''s a reason why you''re always fully booked."


    Kumo smiled, feeling a sense of aplishment.


    With that, June stood from his seat and gave Kumo some cash.


    Kumo raised his hands in the hair, not wanting to take the payment.


    "I''ll do this for free," Kumo said.


    June clicked his tongue, took his hand, and ced the money in his palms.


    "Just take it," June said. "I''m doing much better these days anyway," he smirked.


    Kumo shook his head in amusement. "Well, you must be making a lot."


    June had definitely started earning a lot because of their poprity. However, in his opinion, it was still not what the group deserved.


    Azure took too much from them.


    "Anyway, I''ll get going," June said, waving his hands goodbye.


    "Just in time," Kumo said. "I believe my first customer is here."


    "Hmm," June said, waving once more before leaving the small salon.


    However, on his way out, another customer went in¡ªa woman around June''s age.


    They met eyes for a second, so June bowed before passing her.


    On the other hand, the woman paused, not being able to move from her spot.


    "So handsome," she said, appearing starstruck.


    After a while, she snapped out of her daze, but the handsome man''s face still didn''t leave her mind.


    She sat on Kumo''s chair with a mind that thought of nothing except for June''s good looks.


    "I asked¡ªwhat do you want?" Kumo asked, causing the customer to snap back to reality.


    "Say, does an idol get his hair done here?" she asked, not really answering Kumo''s question.


    Kumo smiled. "Well, of course! The customer who went before you was June from EVE."


    "June from EVE?" she eximed with wide eyes, about to fall from the chair.


    "Yes," Kumo smiled. "Do you want to see our photo?"


    With that, Kumo whipped out his phone.


    However, he quickly halted when he realized something.


    "Gosh darn it!" he loudly eximed, making the customer surprised.


    "I forgot to take a photo with him!"

 Chapter 718 Crying

    Chapter 718 Crying


    ??June stared at himself in the rearview mirror just as he started the car.


    Then, a small smile arose from his lips.


    "Handsome as hell," June said, even pointing at the mirror and giving himself a small wink.


    Then, when reality hit him, he felt like wanting to crawl into a hole and dying inside.


    However, he might just get buried in a hole not long from now, so June thought that having such cringy moments would be alright sometimes.


    Then, he finally stepped on the gas to go back to their dorm.


    He couldn''t help but nce at himself in the mirror from time to time.


    The reason behind this was that he felt he looked quite familiar.


    The haircut he had at the moment was the haircut he had when he died as Jun Hao.


    It was his signature hairstyle¡ªsharp dark hair that was on the shorter side.


    He finally arrived at the dorm, and he ignored how the guards tried to stop and interrogate him.


    With that, he went to their dorm.


    It was alreadyte in the morning, so June was sure that his members would be awake.


    As he opened the door, he already heard their chaotic conversation.


    "Jaeyong, this tastes like ass!"


    "How do you even know what ass tastes like?"


    "June should have been here to cook for us."


    "Where is June? Should I wake him up?"


    "I told you not to wake him up! He''s a kitten who needs a lot of sleep."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    It was the type of noise that woke him up in the morning, but it was also the noise that he wouldn''t trade for anything in the entire world.


    He ced his bag on the couch before heading to the dining room.


    The members had their backs turned from June. However, Casper, being the best June detector on the, turned to the side as soon as he felt June''s presence.


    He was about to speak.


    However, his words got caught in the back of his throat as soon as he saw June.


    Jisung, noticing Casper''s weird behavior, turned to where he was gazing at.


    Then, his eyes widened the same way as Casper''s.


    "Bro!" he eximed.


    The other members finally turned to June, all staring at him with wide eyes.


    June pursed his lips, suddenly finding the attention quite burdensome.


    "You got a haircut?" Ren asked in surprise.


    June scratched the back of his head.


    "Yeah," he muttered. "Does it look okay?"


    "Okay?" Akira eximed. "You look he fine, my man!"


    June smirked before shaking his head, finally rxing.


    Then, he walked to his designated spot and took a seat.


    "I was worried for a second there," June said. "I thought I looked bad."


    "I don''t think it''s possible for you to look bad," Zeth grumbled. "You can have zigzag hair, and you''d still look good."


    Jisung continued staring at him, wanting to apud.


    "You look very good in this hairstyle," he said. "It''s something I didn''t imagine you to have, but it just looks very natural. I bet our fans are going to love this."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. However, he couldn''t help but ask a question.


    "Did thepany allow you to change your hair?"


    June smirked before shaking his head, causing Jaeyong to nod.


    "It''s alright," he said. "They can''t oppose it. You look really good."


    June nodded this time.


    "I just realized that life is too short for us to dwell on such trivial things," June said, taking a sip from his water.


    "Let''s not take life so seriously. It''s going to end anyway, so we might as well do the things that we''ve always wanted to do," he continued, causing the members to turn to him with raised eyebrows.


    "Well, that was philosophical," Sehun said.


    "It''s not surprising, though," Jisung said. "Bro has always been philosophical."


    "I know that," Akira chuckled. "However, that sounds like a dying man''sst words."


    June stopped drinking. Then, he ced down the ss with a warm smile.


    "Does it?" June asked.


    "Well, I''ll be careful with my words from now on."


    ***


    After days of grueling hard work, it was now time for the girls to show everyone the performance they''d worked hard for.


    Mei, despite feeling down for the past few weeks, wanted to do better than anybody else.


    She thought she would get stuck in the dark ce in her mind until the end of the show, but somehow, meeting her current teammates and having June mentor them made her feel excited to perform once again.


    With that, she smiled at herself in the mirror.


    "Let''s do this," she muttered before joining the other teams in the viewing room.


    Meanwhile, the audience was also excited about how the performances were going to pan out.


    The girls watched the scene from the monitor, watching as the doors opened and revealed their ever-handsome MC, June.


    However, their cheers weren''t as loud as usual, and it was because of one reason¡ªthey were speechless because of his new appearance.


    Jia, who decided to watch the performances live, felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest as she continued staring at June.


    "What the heck," she muttered.


    "He''s so handsome. I want his kids inside me."


    "If I can''t be with him, then please just take me out of my misery."


    "He looks so good!"


    "Not a lot of people could pull this hairstyle off. June''s face card never declines!"


    "You''re so right! Most people would look like humpty-dumpty with this hairstyle, but it just emphasizes his handsomeness even more!"


    Meanwhile, the girls in the viewing room squealed as the camera focused on June.


    Ara even held onto Mei''s arms and squeezed it tight.


    "I still can''t believe we had such a handsome mentor guide us for our performance," she said.


    "Say," she continued. "The two of you seem pretty close based on my observations."


    "Do you think you can set me up with him?" she asked.


    However, Mei couldn''t respond.


    As she stared at June in his new haircut, another man''s face shed in her mind¡ªone that she wasn''t familiar with.


    However, this man seemed to have an effect on her heart despite her not knowing him.


    Ara broke away from Mei, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw how Mei currently looked.


    "Hey, why are you crying?"

 Chapter 719 Were All Going To Die (1)

    Chapter 719 We''re All Going To Die (1)


    ??Mei quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, feeling like she had encountered the strangest moment in her life.


    Why did the mere sight of June in his new haircut bring her to tears?


    Was it because June looked utterly handsome?


    Indeed, he looked very handsome, but Mei wasn''t that shallow to cry over a man''s beauty!


    "Hey, are you alright?" Ara asked in concern, cing aforting hand on her shoulder.


    Mei nodded, fanning her eyes to stop the tears from flowing.


    "I''m fine. Something just went inside my eye," she said as an excuse, even rubbing them to make a point.


    "Alright," Ara sighed, stopping Mei from rubbing her eyes. "We''ll be performing soon. We don''t want you to ruin your makeup."


    "Right," Mei muttered, looking down at her hands.


    Ara didn''t look convinced that Mei was doing okay, but she let it go since Mei appeared like she didn''t want to talk about it.


    Mei definitely didn''t want to talk about it.


    She, herself, didn''t know the reason behind her tears.


    All she knew was that she felt a sense of familiarity after seeing June in his new hairstyle.


    An older man.


    However, what was strange was that the familiar man was still unfamiliar to her.


    Ironic, right?


    "First team, please go up the stage," one of the staff members said, causing Mei to snap back to reality.


    She nced at her teammates and nodded.


    They were the first team to perform. It was her first time opening the show since she had always been grouped with the likes of Jeemin and Mina. Therefore, she was extra nervous.


    Nheless, she knew that she did her best in their practices and rehearsals, so she didn''t want to waste her team''s hardwork.


    With that, she took her spot on the stage, the audience eximing as the first set of idols stood in the dark.


    "Who is it?"


    "Who''s going to perform first?"


    "I''m so excited! The song choices were already revealed, and I''m looking forward to the unique songs¡ªespecially ''We''re All Going To Die.'' That song is superior."


    "Agreed! I wonder who joined Mei''s team."


    "It better be good trainees. Otherwise, she''ll definitely get eliminated."


    June joined the other mentors, sitting behind the audience to watch the team''s performance live.


    Amira turned to him with bright red cheeks, nodding in acknowledgement. Meanwhile, Ji-hyun pursed her lips and clenched her fists, holding herself back from squishing June''s handsome face.


    Meanwhile, June was focused on the stage, feeling breathless.


    For some reason, he was also nervous even though he wasn''t actually performing.


    He had guided the girls for the past week, and he could tell that they''ve poured their everything into the stage.


    The stage lights were fully turned off, which made the audience silent.


    A soft golden glow gradually illuminated the five trainees, their faces framed by halos of light.


    The audience initially screamed when they saw the trainee in the center¡ªMei.


    Her face alone moved the audience.


    However, they were more shocked when they realized that the first stage of the night was ''We''re All Going To Die''¡ªthe team who struggled the most in the past episode.


    The audience gasped as the unexpected sight registered.


    The girls were dressed in bright yellow, flowy dresses, which was in contrast to their song''s ominous title.


    The color choice seemed almost too cheerful¡ªtoo bright for a performance of ''We''re All Going To Die.''


    Released in 2023, the song quickly rose to fame because of its beautiful harmony filled with piano, harp, and bells, which made it have a cheerful, almost christmasy bad vibe. However, what struck them the most was the painful lyrics, one that spoke openly about death.


    It was the kind of song that moved people without them even noticing it. Then, before they knew it, they had repeated the song over and over again.


    As the first notes of the piano paired with the delicate bells rang out, the studio filled with an ethereal, almost magical atmosphere.


    The people eximed, covering their mouths with their hands as they felt the tune tug at their heartstrings. It was aforting tune, but it also felt weirdly sad.


    Mei stood at the front, her hands trembling slightly as she took a deep breath.


    Her eyes scanned the crowd beforending on a familiar face.


    June.


    He was sitting at the very middle of the mentor''s table, his face devoid of any emotion.


    However, even then, Mei felt like he could hear his calm voice reminding her of his advice: ''the less you care about what other people think, the better you''ll do.''


    Mei closed her eyes, allowing his words to soothe her nerves.


    When she opened them again, she felt like she was ready.


    "We''re all going to die.


    But who decided that?


    Why make us live?


    When you''ll take it away in the end."


    The first few words left her lips softly, tentatively.


    Her voice wavered but held steady, guided by the breathing techniques June had drilled into her during their practice sessions.


    "We''re all going to die.


    When did that happen?


    What was the use of theughter and the cries?


    Did I just imagine?"


    The notes were in tune, and with each passing sound, her confidence grew.


    June watched from his seat, a proud smile forming on his face. He had seen Mei struggle and had witnessed her fight to ovee her insecurities.


    Now, seeing her on the stage with her voice sounding more robust than before, he felt a surge of pride in his heart.


    She was doing it.


    She was really doing it.


    For long, he thought that bing an idol wouldn''t be suited for Mei.


    June wanted to protect her.


    However, how could he protect her from the thing she loved?


    It was obvious in her gaze that she wanted to be an idol, and June regretted even thinking of taking it away from her.


    So, with a small smile, he finally nodded.


    And along with that nod was a sigh of defeat.


    "That''s my sister," he whispered.


    "She''s grown up so well...even without me."

 Chapter 720 Were All Going To Die (2)

    Chapter 720 We''re All Going To Die (2)


    ??Yeri stepped forward, her voice light and airy. It was enchanting to hear such weighty lyrics with the voice she was portraying.


    "Now, I''m lying on the bed that I didn''t want to get out of.


    That was in the past.


    Now, the bed is my permanent home.


    One that wouldst.


    Was it too hard to bring back the before?


    Was this all I''ve lived for?"


    She spoke of regrets, of the moments one wished they could reim on their deathbed.


    As she moved gracefully across the stage, it appeared she was nting invisible seeds. White, little butterflies flew across the LED screen, adding to the gentleness of her gestures.


    The other girls followed her lead, their hands brushing the air as if tending to the seeds Yeri had sown.


    Their movements were fluid, less like a rehearsed dance and more like a natural progression of actions.


    It didn''t feel like choreography.


    It was a story.


    Yeri''s solo transitioned to the chorus, where all five girls joined their voices in beautiful harmony.


    "Was this all I''ve lived for?


    I worked hard for days and nights.


    Yet, this was how it was going to end.


    In the bed, all alone, with no one to hold.


    With no one to turn to by myself.


    The light is getting closer, yet I don''t want to go.


    Who knew that life would be this shallow?


    We''re all going to die, that I know.


    But what is the use of the nts that grow?


    When I will leave it all behind...


    I will leave it all behind."


    The contrast between their cheerful delivery and the longing of the lyrics was striking.


    Each girl brought her own unique tone to the harmony, blending perfectly to create a sound that lifted the audience to a cold yetforting ce.


    Almost like they were standing at the gates of heaven themselves.


    As the second stanza began, Ara took center stage.


    She gracefully sat on the ground, her movements deliberate while the other girls encircled her.


    Their presence was like rays of sunlight nurturing a fragile seed.


    Ara''s voice carried the same blend of sorrow and reflection that characterized the song.


    Her eyes were closed as she sang to the fleeting nature of life¡ªthe question that lingered when time was running out.


    "I''ve nted seeds,


    I''ve watered them,


    I''ve waited for the harvest,


    Only to see everything taken away.


    Thend, the sunlight, the water¡ª


    All gone, leaving me in nothingness."


    The other girls moved around Ara, their movements synchronized yet organic. Their yellow costumes shimmered under the stage lights, creating a surreal effect. The audience could see the metaphor of life and death, growth and decay, ying out before their eyes. The contrast between their bright costumes and the somber lyrics only served to deepen the impact, making the performance unforgettable.


    When the chorus came around again, the harmony was even more powerful, the voices of the five girls melded together with a sense of longing and inevitability. The audience could feel the intensity building and the emotions of the song reaching their peak. It was as if the girls were singing not just with their voices but with their hearts and souls.


    "Yet, in this death lies the essence of life.


    Would life hold meaning without death?


    The nt grew, it served its purpose,


    Its absence does not erase its worth."


    The light-hearted bridge followed, offering a brief rest from the emotional intensity of the performance. The girls'' voices lightened, the music bing more whimsical yet still retaining that undercurrent of sadness. It was a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there can be light and hope.


    "Now, I see the light,


    I''m ready to go.


    The light is the one I''ve been looking for my entire life.


    Now, I understand."


    "Would life hold any meaning


    Without the certainty of goodbye?"


    Mei sang the particr lyric while looking at June.


    June held his breath, feeling emotional. He rarely cried during performances. Heck, he only cried during their performance because he got something stuck in his eyes.


    However, it felt like Mei was singing those words to him.


    He was going to leave soon...


    "The nt, it grew, it blossomed,


    In the sunshine and the rain.


    It served a silent purpose,


    Even as it faced the end."


    The bridge continued, its melody softer and more tender.


    On stage, it appeared as if the invisible seeds Yeri had nted earlier had finally flourished into a full-grown nt. A gentle wind effect swept across the stage, causing the flowy yellow dresses of the girls to sway. The audience was entranced by the sight, the delicate harmony of the girls'' voices blending perfectly with the gentle movement of their dresses.


    The softer bridge allowed the girls to sing in unison once more. June had devised this strategy, knowing that while individually the girls might struggle with their vocal foundations, together they created a sound that sounded full.


    "So why do we have to die?


    To give our lives a frame,


    To cherish every moment,


    And find meaning in the same.


    Life is not just in the living,


    But in knowing it will fade.


    It''s the love we share, the memories,


    In the light and in the shade."


    As thest chorus approached, the music shifted, now imbued with a sense of hopefulness that contrasted with the song''s somber themes. The instrumentalyer became increasingly simple, almost minimalist, allowing the girls'' harmonies to shine even more. They danced in circles, their movements light and joyful, smiles gracing their faces as if the protagonist''s inevitable end wasn''t tragic but rather a natural, beautiful conclusion.


    "The nt grew and served its purpose,


    In its beauty and its grace.


    And though it''s gone, it leaves behind


    A truth we can embrace."


    This transformation from sorrow to eptance resonated deeply with the audience. Despite the tears streaming down many faces, there were smiles too. The performance conveyed a profound truth: life was beautiful precisely because it was finite.


    In the fleeting nature of our days,


    We find a precious truth.


    Life''s value is in its passing,


    In every moment, in its proof.


    In this final breath, I whisper,


    As my soul begins to soar,


    "Life''s a journey to the light,


    And now I''m home once more."

 Chapter 721 Initials

    Chapter 721 Initials


    ??The lights dimmedpletely, and the stage plunged into darkness.


    For a moment, the only sound in the studio was the soft rustle of anticipation.


    Then, the LED screen behind the stage flickered to life. Slowly, a hauntingly beautiful scene emerged: five gravestones, each surrounded by a bed of flowers. The audience watched in silence, the emotional weight of the performance still fresh in their minds.


    As the screen continued to change, faded letters began to appear above each gravestone. The letters were faint at first, barely discernible, but gradually they became clearer.


    YAMZH


    The audience murmured in confusion, the meaning of the letters unclear.


    "Yams? Like sweet potatoes?"


    "Please don''t ruin this experience for me."


    June, too, frowned in confusion.


    He had mentored the team for two whole days, but the girls failed to mention it to him.


    Therefore, the meaning was unclear to him.


    Fortunately, it seemed like Gun actually had a sharp mind as he let out a small gasp.


    "It''s their names," he said. "The girls are standing below their own names."


    June, sitting at the back, felt a sudden ringing in his ears. He blinked, trying to clear his mind, and looked around. The glow-in-the-dark light sticks held by the audience members created a soft sea of light, like stars twinkling in the night sky. He couldn''t shake the feeling that there was something more to these initials.


    His eyes returned to the screen once again.


    YAMZH. It was an oddbination, but then realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. They were initials. The initials of the girls: Yeri. Ara. Mei. Zonya. Hyuna.


    June''s mind raced as he considered the glow-in-the-dark light sticks. What if they formed some kind of pattern or message, much like the initials on the screen? He turned his head, trying to see the bigger picture, trying to piece together this sudden revtion.


    Then, the briefcase shed in his mind, the glow-in-the-dark letters suddenly making more sense.


    They appeared like nothing but jumbled letters, but what if they were initials?


    June''s thoughts were interrupted as Mei''s team went down the stage and was reced by the second performer.


    The other teams took their turns on stage, each bringing their own strengths to their performances. Despite their efforts, none could quite capture the vibe that Mei''s team had provided. The magic of ''We''re All Going to Die'' still lingered in the air.


    However, Jeemin and Mina''s team brought the house down with their energetic and nearly wless performance of Kaleidoscope. Their song was upbeat and catchy, and the audience responded with the loudest cheers of the night.


    June watched with a knowing smile.


    Although he felt that Mei''s team did the best in terms of concept and performance, June couldn''t deny that Jeemin''s and Mina''s poprity were unrivaled.


    As thest performance ended, the staff escorted the audience out of the studio.


    Then, Yena provided the mentors with a copy of the results.


    Amira held the envelope in her hand, about to open it, when Lee Sik suddenly stopped her.


    "Before all of that, I want us to guess," he smiled.


    "It''s June''s team," Gun and Ji-hyun said at the same time.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and he quickly bowed at the two of them.


    Ji-hyun, not being able to take his handsomeness, reached her hand and pinched his cheek, causing June''s eyes to widen.


    Lee Sik clicked his tongue. "Your opinions are invalid. The two of you are the greatest June simps."


    Amira scratched the back of her neck. "I think the first performers also did the best. Although the other girls had undoubtedly did their best, I felt something in the first performance that I didn''t quite feel from the others."


    "Who knew that death was actually so beautiful?" she asked.


    "Not if it''s for the people you love, though," Ji-hyun muttered. "Imagine June dying. Thousands¡ªI mean, millions of fans would be devastated."


    June shook his head in amusement. "Will that really be the case?"


    "Of course!" Gun eximed. "I''d be the first one to cry and visit your funeral if ever that happens. However, you''re not allowed to get sick. You''re going to outlive us!" he eximed, causing June''s heart to have a dull ache.


    "Ah, whatever," Lee Sik said. "I made all that fuss, but I agree with you, guys."


    "They captured the essence of ''Were All Going To Die'' perfectly. I don''t say that word so easily¡ªespecially since they made some technical mistakes. But, from an emotional perspective, it was brilliant."


    "You already know how it is," Bone chuckled. "I also like the first performer, but I also already have a hunch on who won."


    The other mentors nodded, watching Amira open the envelope.


    June peered over her shoulders and saw the song that had won.


    Kaleidoscope.


    "Ah, I knew it," Lee Sik said. "They did good, too."


    "Well, of course," Gun smirked. "I mentored them! Although, they were already a talented bunch, so I don''t have much to say."


    "You just said you liked June''s team the most," Ji-hyun chuckled.


    "That''s out of the question," Gun smirked. "I like everything involving June."


    ***


    June was now back in their dorm. He still had to shoot for Rising Stars tomorrow for yet another announcement, but he was looking at the glow-in-the-dark letters of the briefcase instead.


    GMJEPK.


    "G," June muttered. "What starts with the letter G?"


    He stayed silent for a moment before his head tilted to the side.


    "Grandma?" he asked.


    Then, he burst into chuckles, finding his conclusion ridiculous.


    However, as he tried to decipher the other letters, it seemed like it wasn''t a joke after all.


    "G for Grandma," June muted.


    "M for Minjun?" he continued.


    "J? Do I even know a J?" he asked.


    "Jay? Nah!"


    Then, his mind immediately strayed to a particr pretty girl who helped him at the most unexpected times.


    "Jia," he smiled.


    "E? I think that''s for EVE."


    "And P is definitely for Pablo," he continued.


    "What about K?" June muttered. "Could it be Kumo?"


    June felt that such things were ridiculous, but as he turned the fourth number to the number eight, which was the number of members in EVE, the panel suddenly lit up, causing June to let go of the briefcase.


    It fell to the floor with a loud bang.


    Then, the door and lights immediately opened.


    "Are you alright?" Casper worriedly asked.


    June stayed silent and continued looking at the briefcase. Now that the lights were turned on, June could see his reflection clearly on the metal briefcase.


    "You," he muttered.


    "Is this briefcase intended to be mine?"

 Chapter 722 Your Favorite Number

    Chapter 722 Your Favorite Number


    ??Jia woke up in the middle of the night because of her loud ringtone.


    It was June''s parts in all of EVE''s songspiled in one ten-second clip.


    Imagine how chaotic that sounded.


    Nheless, Jia loved it very much¡ªjust not at three in the morning.


    Her eyes squinted, and she looked like a dehydrated roon with her messy hair and dark undereyes.


    "Who the heck?" she muttered, not even bothering to look at the caller ID as she pressed the answer button and ced it next to her ear.


    Nobody called her during these times except for her friends anyway.


    "This better be good," she warned.


    "I swear¡ªyou better have something good to say, or you could say goodbye to your ability to stand. I''ll curse you and the three generations after you," she continued.


    "Well, that''s a lot of generations," a deep yet soft voice suddenly said, causing Jia''s eyebrows to raise in surprise.


    Well, that definitely wasn''t one of her friends.


    She removed the phone from beside her ears and stared at the caller ID. Her eyes were still blurry from all the crusties, but as soon as she saw the name on the screen, everything became crystal clear.


    June, My Boo-Bear, KittyWitty, Precious Idol, Must Protect


    "June?" she eximed in such a loud voice that her neighbors were probably able to hear her.


    June chuckled in amusement. "Well, you sound awake now."


    Jia sat straight and fixed her hair even though June couldn''t even see her.


    "I just want to ask a question," June started off. "I know it''s not that important. I could have definitely dyed it until tomorrow morning, but I just couldn''t help it."


    "I hope you only curse me and not my next three generations," June said, causing Jia''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    "Oh, no," Jia said. "It''s not anything like that! I was just joking. You know me and my jokes. I''m quite the joker, aren''t I?" she chuckled nervously.


    June chuckled along with her. "Well, you''re very amusing."


    Jia''s cheeks reddened as she twisted like a caterpir in her bed.


    "Thanks," she muttered. "What is it that you need?"


    "Can you give me a number?" June said, making Jia confused.


    "A number? A single one?"


    "Yeah," June said, scratching the back of his head. "Just anything thates to mind whenever you think of me."


    "Oh," Jia said. "Six, I guess."


    June smiled. "Well, that was fast. What made you think of six?"


    "It''s what I''ve always associated with you," Jia reasoned out.


    "June is the sixth month of the year. You joined Rising Stars around June, too."


    "The first time I saw you was during the month of June," she continued.


    "We also first met personally on the sixth," she muttered, making June unable to hear her.


    "And not to mention, you''re sexy," Jia said before she could stop himself.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Oh," he said. "Thanks, I guess."


    Jia''s eyes widened once more. "Wait¡ªscrap that. Wait, no. It''s not that you''re not sexy. I''m just¡ª"


    "I get it," June chuckled. "Good night, Jia. Sleep well."


    With that, June turned off the call, leaving Jia in a dazed state.


    "How could I sleep well after all of that?" she whispered.


    Meanwhile, June quickly spun the lock to the number six, a small smile arising from his face as soon as he saw that the panel turned green once more.


    ***


    June was once again in the hospital to visit Grandma and Minjun.


    He decided to call the little devil so that he''d kill two birds with one stone.


    With that, he arrived at Grandma''s room with a wide smile, feeling brand new despite his illness.


    Sometimes, he still felt in denial since he felt so healthy. However, he decided not to question his illness as it could hit him anytime soon.


    "Why did you make mee here so early?" Minjun muttered.


    June shook his head and bought out a shoebox to give to Minjun.


    Minjun clicked his tongue as he stared at the new shoes. "I already have this. My mom bought it for me," he said, making June sigh.


    "Fine, I''ll exchange it for something else," he said, attempting to take it away from the younger boy.


    However, Minjun took it away and ced it under his chair.


    "I really like it, though. It''s quitefortable. I might just like two pairs," he muttered.


    June shook his head in amusement, ruffling Minjun''s hair. "No matter how much you grow, you''ll always feel like a nine-year-


    old to me," he teased.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and pushed June''s hand away. "Don''t mess up the hair, man."


    June chuckled. However, he halted when he saw that Minjun was wearing a varsity jacket that had the same number that he had mentioned a while ago.


    Nine.


    Minjun must be nine.


    With that, he turned his attention to Grandma, who appeared to be sleeping.


    "Grandma," June softly said, making the old woman stir awake.


    "Oh, June," she said in a hoarse and weak voice. "You''re here again?"


    "Hmm," June hummed. "I have something to ask you."


    Grandma nodded, her eyes closing once more.


    "Go ahead and ask it, son. Let Grandma close her eyes since the light is hurting them."


    June hummed, getting straight to the point.


    "What''s your favorite number, Grandma?" he asked.


    Minjun turned to June with raised eyebrows. "You came here just for that?" he asked. "This could have been a text message or something."


    June clicked his tongue and red at Minjun, who just stuck his tongue out at him.


    Grandma shook her head in amusement. "The two of you are still so sibling-like," she said.


    "These instances are the ones I will miss the most when I''m gone," she said, causing June and Minjun to turn to her with wide eyes.


    "What are you saying?" Minjun asked, his voice a bit shaky.


    Grandma smiled. "I''m just saying," she said. "Wouldn''t you miss it, too?"


    June pursed his lips. "I would," he muttered. "Very much."


    Minjun turned to him in surprise. "Why are you speaking in the same tone?"


    June shrugged. "Nothing," he said. "I just...like how we are right now."


    Grandma smiled. "Me too," she said.


    "And to answer your question," she continued, going back to the topic.


    "I think it would be one," she smiled.


    "One?" Minjun smirked. "As expected! You always like to ce first during Mahjong."


    Grandma chuckled. "You''re right about that. However, aside from that, I''ve always found one to be a pretty number. In fact, when I die, I want to die at the very first of the month!"


    June''s and Minjun''s eyes widened. They were about toin, but Grandma cut them off before they could.


    "Andst but not least¡ªit''s because the two of you are number one in my heart."

 Chapter 723 Jang To The Moon

    Chapter 723 Jang To The Moon


    ??"Give me a number," June deadpanned as Pablo picked up the call.


    There was silence in the other line before Pablo spoke in a flirty tone.


    "Why don''t you give me your number? Wink wink!"


    June massaged the bridge of his nose. "Goodness," he muttered in frustration. "Did you just say ''wink wink'' out loud? And you already have my number! How would I be able to call you if that wasn''t the case?"


    "Oh, right," Pablo chuckled. "Why do you want a number, anyway? Is this your weird way of asking me out?"


    "Just give me a number, or I''ll block you," June deadpanned.


    Pablo clicked his tongue. "So cold and impatient as always. Fine¡ªseven."


    "Why?"June couldn''t help but ask.


    "Well, I don''t know," Pablo said. "You were the one who asked me to give you a number."


    "However, for some strange reason, I already had that number in my mind before you asked for it."


    "Yeah, but what was the reason?" June pried further.


    Pablo sighed. "I gave you seven packs of BenBen gummies," he said.


    "However, the real reason is¡ªMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Seven days a week. Every hour, every minute. You know, night after night, you''ll be fuc¡ª"


    June ended the call before Pablo could even finish his statement.


    Then, he went to his briefcase and inputted the number seven on the fifth slot.


    As expected, the light turned green, which meant that he already had five out of six digits of the passcode.


    He smiled and observed as there was only one left.


    "I could just turn it to all the numbers until it turns green," he said, feeling like a genius.


    However, as he tried to turn the wheel, it didn''t budge at all.


    "What the heck?" he muttered.


    He tried once more, but it was to no avail.


    It still couldn''t be moved.


    With that, June clicked his tongue and decided to text Kumo.


    June: Give me a number.


    Kumo: June! We forgot to take a picture together.


    June: Give. Me. A. Number.


    Kumo: WHAT''S 4+4


    June: 8?


    Kumo: Ate! Exactly!


    Kumo: Now, can we talk about that photo...


    June shook his head, not really understanding Kumo''s humor.


    Nheless, he decided to turn the wheel to the number eight.


    Surprisingly, the wheel turned, making him smile. This meant that June really had to get the number from an individual for it to work.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw that thest panel remained red.


    "Hmm," June hummed. "Is it not Kumo?"


    "June!"


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Jay in a fox-printed suit.


    June quickly ced the briefcase under his bed and stood.


    "It''s time," Jay said. "You have a special announcement for thedies."


    "Yeah, let''s go," June said, cing his backpack on.


    Then, he followed Jay to the van. The two of them drove to the set, and June couldn''t help but ask Jay about his situation.


    As much as the guy was unserious, he also gave some good advice.


    "Hey," June said.


    "Yup?" Jay asked, humming EVE''s new special song under his breath.


    "I have a question," he started off.


    "Go ahead," Jay said, halting his hum.


    "What would you do if someone from EVE died?" he asked.


    Jay pressed on the brakes, causing June to jolt forward with wide eyes. He looked around and saw that there weren''t any passing cars.


    He ced his hand over his heart. "What the heck? You''d get me killed before I actually die from my¡ª"


    "I mean," June corrected himself, clearing his throat. "You''d make my statement a reality with what you just did."


    Jay, who appeared to be in distress, looked at June with teary eyes.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. Then, he awkwardly chuckled.


    "It''s just a hypothetical question!" June eximed, suddenly feeling bad. "It''s not like one of us is going to die...soon," he muttered.


    Jay pursed his lips and started driving once more, wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.


    "Then you shouldn''t have asked that question at all," Jay said. "It almost killed me just thinking about it."


    "My heart aches knowing that I wouldn''t be able to protect you, guys," he continued.


    "I know that you''ve been on the brink of death plenty of times, but you always manage to bounce back from it. Continue doing just that. The other members also have to stay healthy," he said in a firm voice.


    "Yeah," June muttered. "Are you going to miss us, though?"


    "Is that even a question?" Jay asked. "That''s already a given. I love you, guys. I think of you as my real family."


    "In the event that one of you really dies, I won''t be the same person that I am today," he continued.


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "You don''t have to feel guilty about it, though," June said. "It''s not your fault...if ever that happens."


    Jay clicked his tongue. "Let''s not talk about this anymore! You have a show to shoot."


    Kai pursed his lips as he stared at Azure''s building.


    "Yeah," he said. "Let''s go."


    The two of them arrived at the set, where the other mentors were already excitingly conversing among themselves.


    "What''s happening here?" June asked.


    "June!" Gun eximed.


    Ji-hyun turned to him and was hit with his handsomeness. Howe he looked more handsome every time she saw him?


    Amira, too, bowed at June with warm, red cheeks.


    "Did you hear something from Yena and Yejin?" Lee Sik asked, standing next to him.


    June frowned in confusion. "Nope," he said. "Not that I know of."


    Lee Sik sighed. "Well, neither have we. They''re not giving us a script, too. They just want us to go to the main hall along with the trainees."


    "Huh?" June asked, tilting his head to the side. "That''s new. We don''t usuallye together just for announcements."


    "Right?" Amira said. "It''s almost as if they have something in store for us, too."


    Just in time, Yena and Yejin went to where they were.


    "Good, you''re all here," Yena said. "The trainees are already waiting in the room. Please join them for the announcement."


    June raised his hand with a small frown. "Who''s going to announce it, though? You guys didn''t tell us anything."


    "We have a special guest today! Don''t worry," Yejin said, making June and the other mentors even more confused.


    "Please head inside," she said, directing them despite their confusion.


    They entered the room and were met with excited greetings from the girls.


    "Good day, mentors!"


    "Oh, this must be a special day. What are they all doing here?"


    "I still can''t get over June''s hair."


    The mentors took the stage and waited for further instructions.


    Just then, amotion was heard from the back of the room, causing June to direct his gaze there.


    Then, his eyes widened, feeling like he was hit by a fast-paced truck.


    "Jangmoon?" he muttered.

 Chapter 724 The Mentor Mission

    Chapter 724 The Mentor Mission


    ??June squinted his eyes to get a better look at the towering figure who slowly made his way toward them.


    June had pretty bad eyesight, but he couldn''t be mistaken.


    His hair...his mischievous eyes...and the way he walked was still the same.


    The towering figure was definitely Jangmoon.


    He looked a bit different¡ªhe was a bit more kempt, and it seemed like he actually started taking care of his looks.


    However, amidst these changes, there was no doubt that it was still Jangmoon.


    As he got closer to the stage, June''s hunch was proven right.


    Gun''s and Ji-hyun''s eyes widened in surprise as they saw him.


    "Omo," Ji-hyun said. "If it isn''t one of the greatest troublemakers in thest season."


    Gun scratched the back of his head. It was once again one of the trainees that he didn''t like too much during the show. However, rewatching it made Gun admire Jangmoon after his backstory was revealed.


    Jangmoon raised his hands in surrender as he arrived at the stage. "I''vee to redeem myself," he said, standing next to June in the center.


    June, appearing baffled, continued to look at Jangmoon with absent eyes.


    The tall trainee, now turned self-made rapper, chuckled at June''s reaction.


    "Well, you seem surprised to see me. Did our near-fights sh in your mind?" he said, making the trainees chuckle.


    June snapped out of his reverie and shook his head in amusement.


    "Bastard," he muttered. "What are you doing here?"


    "I was invited," Jangmoon said, covering the mic so the others wouldn''t be able to hear. "And I also wanted to see you."


    June couldn''t help but smile.


    It seemed like the people who contributed to his identity were slowly appearing in his life once again now that he was on the brink of death.


    "Anyway," Jangmoon said, clearing his throat before cing the microphone before his lips.


    "I assume that all of you are confused," he started off.


    "Why is such a tall, handsome, dashing young man doing in front of everybody today?" he asked, making June click his tongue.


    Well, at least his personality was still unchanged.


    "Fear not! I have a very special announcement for all of you," he continued.


    "However, before all of that, let me introduce myself. My name is Jangmoon, now otherwise known as Jang. I joined Rising Starsst year and became one of June''s biggest headaches along with my good friend, Jay."


    Jay, who was gossipping with the other managers, sneezed three consecutive times as he drank some coffee, making some of the dark liquide out of his nose.


    He clicked his tongue and wiped himself with a napkin despite the others'' disgust.


    "Somebody''s talking about me," he muttered with narrowed eyes.


    "I was so adamant about being a vocalist, so I gave June a very hard time during the first mission," he continued. "However, he made me rap, which made me resent him a little bit. However, who knew that it would be the greatest experience in my life?"


    "As much as I feared June, he was the person who made me realize my real dream¡ªto be a rapper."


    "Now, I''m making music on my own and am fortunate enough to get paid for it," he said. "However, it would be better if I were recruited by biggerpanies so my music could have a bigger budget. I''m looking at all the big entertainmentpanies out there," he said, making the trainees chuckle even louder.


    June smirked. However, deep inside, he was pretty touched.


    "Anyway, enough about me," he said. "I have to tell you guys the special announcement."


    "Take into mind that your mentors don''t know about this, too."


    "However, I have a hunch that June would be able to catch itter on," Jangmoon chuckled. "He''s always been like that."


    June couldn''t help but chuckle since Jangmoon had told the truth.


    He, indeed, already had a hunch of what the mission was going to be.


    It became evident when he saw that thedies were still grouped ording tost week''s performances.


    "Let''s start things off with some very exciting news!" Jangmoon eximed.


    "Rising Stars Season Five is down to 25 trainees, and all of you have drastically improved since the day of your auditions. As a way of thanking you for making the show a sess, we won''t have any eliminations this week!"


    The room burst into chaos after Jangmoon''s announcement.


    "Really? Or am I dreaming?"


    "My prayers finally worked!"


    "What the heck is happening? Is Azure having a change of heart now?"


    "As if! I think they just want to make more money from us."


    "However," Jangmoon continued. "After this week''s performances, we would head straight into the finale. This means that from 25 trainees, we will have the 5 members of Azure''s new biggest girl group!"


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. Now, he wasn''t expecting that.


    He thought that Azure would stretch it out for another episode, but they must be really eager to have another girl group now that BOYMYSTIC had disbanded.


    Lee Sik raised his hand. "What are we doing here, then?" he asked.


    Jangmoon smiled and turned his cue card.


    "Well, I was just getting into that, sir!" he said. "If you would have waited a second, then you would know."


    June shook his head.


    Oh, Jangmoon and his blunt and stupid personality.


    "This week''s mission is not any ordinary one," Jangmoon started off.


    "Our mentors are here with us for a reason."


    "For the past stages, they had directed you in your performances, giving you instructions and such. Sometimes, it makes you wonder¡ªwhat if they were in our shoes?"


    June smirked.


    It seemed like he had guessed the mission right.


    The other mentors, however, had just started catching up¡ª


    and they were surprised, to say the least.


    "For next week, your mentors will be your teammates!" Jangmoon finally revealed, earning whispers among the crowd.


    "The Mentor Mission is an opportunity for the trainees to perform with our very own mentors¡ªnot just on the sidelines, but along with them on the very stage!"


    "Five teams. Five mentors. Five different performances."


    "Here we have¡ªthe Mentor Mission!"

 Chapter 725 Fus Hiatus

    Chapter 725 Fu''s Hiatus


    ??"You already knew about that, didn''t you?" Jangmoon whispered by June''s side.


    June smirked and nodded, making Jangmoon shake his head in amusement.


    "Man, you''re always so smart," he said.


    June clicked his tongue and gestured for him to continue his announcement.


    Although the two of them hadn''t met personally in a while, there was no awkward air between the two.


    Just then, Jeemin raised her hand, capturing Jangmoon''s attention.


    "Yes?" Jangmoon asked.


    "How are the teams going to be divided?"


    Jangmoon smirked and waited for a few seconds before responding.


    "You guys are already with your teams," he said, making the girls exim in surprise.


    For some, they were ted. However, most of them wanted to switch teams and have the opportunity to perform with the ''more famous'' trainees.


    Mei, on the other hand, nced at her teammates and smiled.


    She actually didn''t mind being with them.


    Out of everyone she teamed up with on the show, they were the ones she enjoyed performing with the most.


    "Now, now," Jangmoon said, trying to calm down thedies. "I know that you have a lot of opinions about this, but it has already been decided."


    "In fact," Jangmoon continued. "Your mentors have already been decided, too!"


    Ara felt her heart race inside her chest. She had a feeling that they were going to perform with June!


    "The mentor that helped you for thest stage will be your teammate for the following mission," he continued.


    "Yes!" Ara eximed loudly, capturing the attention of many others.


    The girls from the other teams turned to Mei''s team with envious looks.


    Jeemin pursed her lips since she was actually looking forward to performing with June after the mission had been announced.


    She was confident in their skills, but she also knew the power that June held.


    The team he was in had the highest chance of winning!


    The other mentors also turned to June with amused smiles.


    "Well, I guess we''repeting for second ce," Lee Sik remarked, making the other mentors chuckle.


    June, on the other hand, shook his head.


    "It still boils down to the performance," he said.


    Jangmoon cleared his throat into the microphone, grabbing their attention once again.


    "However, it isn''t going to be such an easy mission," he continued.


    "In Rising Stars, we give high value to the concepts that you choose."


    "With this, Rising Stars has provided five new songs just for you," he concluded.


    "Oh, is this like the production mission?" Mina asked. "They''re making our songs this time."


    "Well, it was unfair during thest season," Jeemin chimed. "That Lin Zhi guy got help from a real producer and passed it off as his. I think this is the best decision."


    "We will be showing you the songs in a couple of moments. However, before all of that, the mentors will already choose the song after only seeing their initials!"


    Jangmoon said.


    The mentors turned to each other in surprise.


    "Just the initials? Not even the genre?" Amira asked, feeling like there was a lot at stake.


    "Yup!" Jangmoon said. "You guys give the girls such a hard time, so Azure decided to give you a difficult task, too."


    The girls chuckled in amusement.


    Meanwhile, the mentors were still wondering how they were going to gauge the song''s genre just by its initials.


    It was inevitable that they had strengths of their own, and it would be nice if they were able to perform a song within theirpetencies.


    "Please direct your gazes to the back," Jangmoon said.


    The mentors walked to the side to allow the girls to see the five initials.


    June shook his head. There it was again¡ªthose damn initials.


    It reminded him that he still had to figure out who ''K'' truly was in order for him to finally solve the passcode!


    Just then, five initials were shown on the screen.


    CLITS.


    SL.


    TETS.


    PUBES.


    ASS.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "What the heck are these titles?" he muttered, feeling like they were being pranked.


    He looked around to see everyone''s reactions, but it seemed like he was the only one who found the situation strange.


    "Am I the strange one?" he whispered.


    "These songs are within different genres," Jangmoon continued with a straight face.


    June shook his head. He had hopes that Jangmoon was going to find them strange, but it was to no avail!


    "Let me ask the mentors what they would like to perform," he said, walking over to Lee Sik and handing him the microphone.


    Lee Sik chuckled nervously.


    "Well, I sure hope that we don''t get an idol song," he said. "I know that my girls are all-rounders, but your old man isn''t good at dancing at all. So, if we get a bad of some sort, that would be really nice."


    June smirked in amusement. He was very much hoping to see Lee Sik busting out some moves.


    "What about you, Amira?" Jangmoon continued.


    "Well, I want theplete opposite of what senior Lee Sik had said. I want a full, girly, pop song that would take the audience on a refreshing ride," she answered.


    "Mentor Gun," Jangmoon said, now standing before him. "Of course, I can''t miss you."


    Gun chuckled. "I think the answer is already pretty obvious. I want a dance-heavy song¡ªone that would allow me to show my strengths and amplify the girls'' skills," he said.


    "Well said," Jangmoon chimed, now turning to June.


    "Somehow, I don''t want to ask June since everything he says turns out to be jinxed," he said.


    June clicked his tongue. "Don''t say that," he remarked, making the girls chuckle.


    They found him to be utterly adorable!


    "I guess anything is fine," June said.


    "Ooh!"


    "He''s confident."


    "Well, he has a reason to be confident."


    A collective exmation was heard in the room, making June shake his head.


    "Everything''s fine except for one genre," he added, causing them to turn their attention to June once more.


    "I don''t want to perform an emotional song this time around," he said.


    "Ahh," Jangmoon said in understanding. "Is that because the girls already performed itst week?"


    June nodded. "I also don''t think that performance can be topped. So, we need something a little bit more different."


    "I hear you," Jangmoon said. "Because of this, are you down to pick first? Is that alright with everybody?"


    "Yeah, sure," Lee Sik said, already aware of June''s bad reputation with luck.


    June looked around and clicked his tongue when he saw that they weren''t threatened at all!


    Did they really think too low of his luck?


    June shook his head.


    Now that Fu was on hiatus, his luck would have improved, right?


    Right?

 Chapter 726 An Icon Of Bad Luck

    Chapter 726 An Icon Of Bad Luck


    ??"So, what is your decision?" Jangmoon asked, pressuring June.


    June clicked his tongue and finally decided on one.


    He couldn''t really say the other acronyms out loud without bursting intoughter, so he picked the most normal-looking one.


    "SL," June said.


    "Ooh, SL! Good choice," Jangmoon said before going over to Gun.


    "And you, sir?"


    "Hmm," Gun stroked his chin. "I''ll have to go with TETS."


    June pursed his lips. How could he keep such a straight face while saying that word?


    The same is true with Ji-Hyun, who chose ''PUBES.''


    Then, Amira chose CLITS, making June fan himself.


    His face was red from holding in hisughter. He was usually a nonchnt person, but the names were too hrious for him to stay serious.


    "I''ll choose ASS. I will always choose ASS. It''s been in my mind since you revealed it," Lee Sik said in a serious tone, causing June to feel lightheaded.


    ''Oh goodness,'' he thought.


    ''Is it my disease, or is this just hrious?''


    "It seems like we have all of the song choices ready!" Jangmoon eximed. "Now, we will reveal them one by one in reverse order," he continued.


    Lee Sik''s team held their hands in front of their chests, feeling like their hearts were going to explode at any given time.


    "ASS!" Jangmoon eximed.


    The letters were amplified on the screen before they separated and formed a song title.


    "A Sad Sonata," Jangmoon read, making June''s eyebrows furrow.


    "Well, that sounds surprisingly normal," he muttered.


    Lee Sik couldn''t help but smile as soon as he saw the title. Even though it was just a title, it seemed like it was already well-fitted for his team.


    ''A Sad Sonata,'' otherwise known as ASS, was a heartfelt bad driven by a mncholic piano melody. The song seemed to capture deep emotions, which was perfect for Lee Sik and his team to showcase their talent.


    The ssical feel and rich harmonies gave it a timeless quality. The title said it all--it was a truly sad piece. The structure also allowed for plenty of improvisation, letting the musicians add their own touch.


    In short, it was perfect for Lee Sik.


    "Well, it appears like Mentor Lee Sik is happy," Jangmoon chimed. "Now, let''s go to Mentor Amira''s choice--CLITS."


    A nostalgic RnB sound was heard in the hall, making the girls nod their heads to the beat.


    Then, the acronym came to life--''Citylights in the Summer.''


    June''s frown deepened. Once again, the title was actually quite normalpared to its acronym, making him have a bad feeling about his choice.


    ''Citylights in the Summer'' had a groovy vibe that captured the essence of nightlife. However, it also carried an emotional depth. The track felt like aing-of-age anthem, perfect for girl groups to perform. Its smooth rhythm and catchy melodies evoked warm summer nights in the city.


    "I can''t quite pinpoint whether you like it or not," Jangmoon said, causing Amira to snap out of her reverie.


    Then, he gave Jangmoon a thumbs up. "I like it a lot, actually. I think it''s different from what I''m used to, but it''s a song we can pull off well."


    "That''s the spirit," Jangmoon eximed.


    "With that, let us head to our third song¡ªPUBES."


    The intro of ''PUBES'' yed, making some of the girls jump in surprise.


    ''Please UnBreak Each Spell'' was shown on the screen, and it was a dramatic pop song with a powerful, emotional punch.


    It featured plenty of opportunities for high notes, which was perfect for showcasing vocal range and intensity. The instrumentals felt like it was telling a story of two lovers trapped in an unbreakable spell, unable to escape each other.


    Ji-hyun''s eyes sparkled as she could already feel herself creating a masterpiece with the song.


    June, too, couldn''t help but think that the song was perfect for her. Aside from her powerful voice, she was also a well-


    known theater performer, so songs as such were right up her alley.


    "I couldn''t have asked for a better song," she said, making Jangmoon smile.


    "I''m d you like it," he said.


    "Now, let''s head onto the next song¡ªTETS."


    It was Gun''s turn, and he couldn''t help but feel nervous. He wasn''t vocally inclined, so he hoped that the song he chose was a groovy anthem instead.


    As the song yed, he wasn''t disappointed when he heard a vibrant jazz-pop melody with a groove reminiscent of Bruno Neptune.


    ''Tell Everybody To Stop'' appeared on the screen, causing his smile to widen even more.


    It had an upbeat tempo and catchy rhythm that was perfect for dancing. The beat urged everyone to stop what they were doing and dance their hearts out! The track captured the energetic, fun vibe of the ''Step-up'' movies, and it was ideal for getting people on their feet and moving.


    Gun couldn''t look happier after the song preview ended.


    Then, Jangmoon walked over to June, cing one arm around his shoulder.


    June bit his lip and suddenly felt nervous. For some reason, the mentors ended up with the perfect songs for their strengths!


    That meant that June was also going to bag a good song, right? The others had already taken their perfect genres, anyway!


    "He seems the most nervous," Jangmoon chuckled, patting June''s back.


    "Well, June didn''t have the best luck with song choices since our season," he continued, making the girls chuckle, too.


    "However, it all worked out in the end anyway, so I don''t even know what he''s nervous about," Jangmoon chimed. "Please y thest song!"


    June and the girls waited in anticipation for ''SL.''


    The first few notes of a charming piano were heard, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    It was....cute.


    Now, he wasn''t a foreigner to cute concepts since he could swallow his pride and actually embody cuteness. The song was already exuding so much sweetness, and June could already imagine the teasing he would get from his members.


    However, he didn''t think it was too bad.


    It could actually be worse.


    However, as the acronym showed what it really meant, June realized that he had spoken too soon.


    ''Sibling''s Love.''


    "Oh,e on," he muttered.

 Chapter 727 An Only Child Club

    Chapter 727 An ''Only Child'' Club


    ??"Oof, he still has pretty bad luck."


    "How could he have a song with that kind of title?"


    "Are you guys thinking of what I''m thinking?"


    "Incest is not wincest. Stop it."


    "Well, there aren''t any lyrics just yet, so they might still have a chance."


    "Now," Jangmoon continued amidst the chaotic conversations.


    "You might have noticed that the songs didn''t have any lyrics just yet."


    June''s frown deepened.


    "That is because we are giving you the opportunity to write the lyrics of the songs! Aside from that, you also have the freedom to create your own choreographies as you see fit."


    "However," he prefaced. "You still have to take your concepts and song titles into mind. You must not stray away from the title as this will entail immediate disqualification from the benefits."


    June pursed his lips and looked down at his shoes.


    The world was so ironic.


    How could he sing a song with the title ''Sibling''s Love'' with his literal sister from his past life?


    "Speaking of the benefits," Jangmoon chimed. "The winning team will have their song released on Durian!"


    The girls were amazed at the first prize alone. Having their song avable on a popr music streaming tform was surely going to boost their poprity.


    "Aside from that, we also have the usual star benefits. The group with the most votes by the end of the performances will be granted 100,000 stars each! This will be added to their final score for the finale of the show!"


    "What the heck? That''s so plenty!"


    "Is that fair? Why would they get a benefit for the finale?"


    "I think it''s unfair. June''s team is obviously going to win. His fans are going to vote for him in the end."


    "True. I also wish that June was our mentor."


    "Do you think we can exchange our mentors?"


    Hearing such spections from the girls made June frown.


    Somehow, he didn''t like what they were insinuating.


    June didn''t want to win just because he was popr.


    He wanted to win because his team had the greatest and most memorable performance instead.


    "With that," Jangmoon said. "You shall now go to your respective practice rooms. Your mentors will follow you shortly for a brainstorming session."


    The girls, despite having someints, stood from the floor and went to their waiting rooms.


    Meanwhile, the mentors readied themselves to join their teams. Most of them already had concepts in mind, and they were all ready to show the audience what they were truly made of.


    Before heading to his team, June faced Jangmoon, who was already looking at him with bright eyes.


    "It''s been a while," June said, a small smile ying on his lips.


    "Right?" Jangmoon eximed. "I think you grew taller!"


    June pursed his lips to hide his widening grin.


    Well, it seemed like those BenBen gummies were actually pretty effective!


    "Let''s talkter," Jangmoon continued. "You have to be with your team for now."


    June nodded. "Yeah, let''s see each otherter."


    "Hmm," Jangmoon hummed in agreement. "In the meantime, I''ll go to Jay. I have a lot of catching up to do with that bastard."


    June chuckled, knowing that the two of them were still attached to the hip despite their busy schedules.


    With that, Jangmoon waved his hand goodbye.


    "We''ll see you in your waiting room," he called out before leaving to go to where Jay was.


    Meanwhile, June sighed as he was faced with reality once more.


    He had to perform a song entitled ''Sibling''s Love'' with Mei and her teammates.


    June stood outside the practice room for a few seconds before finally entering.


    There, he saw that the team had already formed a circle. However, they were eerily silent, making June sigh guiltily.


    The team turned to June, their eyes pleading for help as he sat within the circle.


    "I''m sorry, guys," June started off. "I should have picked another song."


    Ara shook her head. "You wouldn''t have known!"


    "Besides," she continued. "The instrumental of the song is just to my liking. I''m still unsure of the concept since it''s about being siblings, but I do love the feel of the song."


    "Same here," Yeri agreed. "This will be the first time I''m going to perfume such a cute song. I believe this is a great way to show some of my hidden charms."


    Zonya scratched the back of her head. "Would you be able to do it, Mentor?"


    Ara clicked her tongue and nudged Zonya''s shoulder. "Why do you even bother asking that? Of course, he would be good at it! He''s good at everything."


    Mei, on the other hand, was awfully quiet.


    June frowned since he thought she had gotten a lot better after theirst performance. However, she seemed pretty out of it. With that, he tapped her shoulder. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked.


    Mei looked at June, suddenly having the urge to cry once again.


    Then, she looked away before shaking her head, trying to suppress her tears.


    "I''m fine," she said, subtly sniffing. "However, I also don''t know how we can make such a cute song from a title called ''Sibling''s Love."


    Hyuna nodded. "Do you think it''s possible? They gave the others such generic titles. Meanwhile, ours is so specific. It revolves around the concept of family, too¡ªwhich isn''t reallymon in the K-Pop scene."


    June pursed his lips.


    "Well, why don''t we start off with sharing our ideas? What do you think a sibling''s love means?" June asked.


    Hyuna awkwardly chuckled.


    "I don''t have a sibling. I''m an only child," she smiled.


    Zonya shyly raised her hand. "I''m adopted, and my parents are infertile, so I really don''t know what it''s like to have a sibling."


    Yeri cleared her throat. "Well, this is awkward," she muttered.


    "My parents are divorced, and my brother lives with my dad in another city. We haven''t seen each other since then, so I also consider myself as an only child."


    They all turned to Ara, who aggressively shook her head.


    "All of my siblings are animals. My parents are quite old, so they never really thought of having another child."


    "Oh goodness," Yeri eximed. "What''s with this weird coincidence? How about you, Mei?" she asked, feeling hopeful that Mei had a sibling.


    Mei''s eyebrows furrowed.


    For some reason, she waspelled to say yes.


    However, objectively speaking, she didn''t have a sibling.


    So, with that, she shook her head.


    "No," she said.


    "I''m an only child, too."

 Chapter 728 What Janitor?

    <h4>Chapter 728 What Janitor? </h4>


    "I''ll leave this as an assignment for you, guys," June said. "Let''s think about it overnight ande up with something tomorrow."


    "For now, you can stay here or go to your room to rest."


    "Thanks, Mentor," the girls said, bowing at June as he left.


    June shook his head as soon as he closed the door, feeling at a loss.


    He knew exactly what having a sibling was like. However, he couldn''t imagine incorporating it into the song that they were provided.


    With that, he walked to the waiting room where Jangmoon and Jay were conversing.


    "So, I bought her a new, expensive watch and said¡ª''Now, you have more time for me.'' Cool, right? Her face went all red after I said it," Jay proudly said with squared shoulders.


    Jangmoon sighed and massaged his nose bridge. "Are you still seeing her now?"


    "Nope," Jay said, innocently shaking his head.


    "Well, did you take the watch back?"


    "Why would I take it back? It''s hers. I''m just waiting for her to call me back. Although, it seems like she changed her number. Maybe she got robbed or something."


    Jangmoon shook his head. "You''re hopeless. You''ll really die alone at this point."


    As June shut the door, the two of them turned to where he was.


    Their eyes immediately brightened as soon as they saw him.


    June also couldn''t help but smile. He decided to let go of his concerns at the moment and savor what was in front of him.


    This was a rare moment¡ªseeing the two stupid boys together.


    It might be thest time he was going to see such a view, so he wanted to memorize every detail.


    "Well, what are you doing just standing there?" Jangmoon asked, chuckling. "Come here, and let''s talk!"


    June shook his head and joined the two of them on the couch.


    Jangmoon quickly jumped closer to him, acting like a clingy puppy.


    "How''ve you been?" he asked.


    June shrugged. "It''s been nice, I guess. EVE is doing well."


    "Oh, I could definitely see that," Jangmoon said. "Everywhere I go, I see you, guys. Sometimes, it doesn''t even feel like we haven''t met in a long time because I see your guys'' photos on the streets and on Navel all the time."


    June smirked. "Well, what about you? You also seem to be doing well.


    Jangmoon sheepishly smiled. "Things actually turned out alright," he answered. "I thought I would continue my schooling, but I put out a rap song that I recorded in my basement, and the results weren''t bad at all."


    "My earnings are definitely not a lot, but it''s enough to keep me going each day," he continued.


    "Although, it would be nice if I had an agency who would help me with all of the process. If ever a spot opens in Azure, please do hire me," he said with hopeful eyes.


    Jay and June turned to each other with knowing looks.


    "I think you should look into a newpany," June advised, causing Jangmoon to chuckle.


    "Well, if ever you open a newpany, let mee with you," he concluded.


    Jay chuckled out loud. "That''s the dream, but it''s honestly impossible. When I get there, I''ll make sure to recruit you first."


    "I''m holding onto that promise," Jangmoon said.


    The three of them were stuck in silence for a couple of minutes.


    However, it wasn''t the awkward kind.


    In fact, it felt somewhatforting.


    It seemed like they were back in their practice room, dazed as they waited for the next course of their ns.


    Now, they were in June''s waiting room, each thriving in their respective careers.


    "It''s been such a crazy ride, hasn''t it?" Jangmoon asked, leaning against the couch.


    "Tell me about it," Jay said. "It seems like yesterday when we performed withtex costumes."


    "I still dream about that sometimes," Jangmoon chimed. "It was the performance that made me realize that rapping was fun."


    June chuckled. "Wasn''t I the reason behind that?"


    "You were," Jangmoon said. "Honestly speaking, you were the reason why a lot of things happened during our season. I could see why you ended up in the first ce."


    June tilted his head to the side.


    "What do you mean by that?"


    June always thought he only got to where he was because of Fu.


    Jangmoon and Jay turned to each other with wide smiles.


    "Well, you were the only independent trainee on the show! You also song that Little Meow Meow song," Jay started off.


    "Then, you moved from five stars to zero stars but ended up making us win because of your ridiculous animal concept," Jangmoon continued, chuckling as he remembered the days.


    "Ooh, ooh! You also had those guys arrested!" Jay eximed. "It''s been such a long time that I even forgot about their names."


    "Then, you were stuck in that weird sponsoring issue that we mistakenly believed," Jangmoon chimed, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.


    "Not to mention, you were also everyone''s confidant in the show," Jay added. "Youforted us when you neededfort yourself. I rewatched the show one time, and I realized just how kind you are. I thought you were pretty cold all throughout the show, but most of your actions were actually really warm."


    Jangmoon smiled. "But then, do you remember when you still had that old phone? It made weird sounds in the night, and sometimes, it scared me with how hot it got."


    June chuckled. "It''s gone now. It literally exploded."


    "Ah," Jay sighed, leaning against the couch. "Those were the fun times."


    "I wouldn''t want to do it all over again, though," Jangmoon said, mirroring Jay''s movements. "It was fun, but it was also really stressful."


    "Agreed," June said, looking up at the ceiling.


    "It was a good thing I had you, guys," he muttered softly.


    However, the stupid duo still managed to hear him.


    "Eyy, you actually love us, huh?" Jay said, nudging his shoulder.


    June clicked his tongue. "Believe what you want to believe."


    "However," he added. "I just want to say that I''m grateful to all of you. Thank you for all the memories. I will surely treasure them all."


    Jangmoon and Jay chuckled in amusement. "Well, it sounds like you''re saying goodbye."


    June didn''t say anything and merely continued looking at the white ceiling.


    "Wait!" Jangmoon eximed. "I have another hrious story."


    "Remember that livestreaming mission we had?" he asked, now sitting straight.


    "Oh, yeah!" Jay eximed,ughing out loud while pping his knees. "That was hrious! You thought the cleaning cart was part of the choices."


    June shook his head, also feeling amused.


    "It''s not my fault," June eximed. "It was Mr. Klin who carelessly left his supplies in the room."


    June thought they were going to continueughing. However, Jay and Jangmoon turned silent, causing June to be confused.


    He sat straight and looked at the two of them.


    "Who?" Jay asked, making June even more confused.


    "Mr. Klin," June deadpanned. "The bald janitor we have."


    Jangmoon and Jay turned to each other with raised eyebrows.


    "What bald janitor? We didn''t have a bald janitor."

 Chapter 729 Mr. Clean? You’re Crazy!

    <h4>Chapter 729 Mr. Clean? You''re Crazy!</h4>


    A loud ringing sound echoed in June''s mind after Jangmoon said those words.


    "The bald janitor," June insisted. "He was the one who left his supplies in the main hall during the livestreaming mission."


    "Nah, it was always there in case of emergencies," Jay chimed.


    June shook his head. "No, it was not. The janitor always made sure that everything was in ce. He was the reason why I became viral in the first ce. If it weren''t for that livestream, most people wouldn''t have been so intrigued."


    "That¡ªI do agree with. However, I still do not see what the janitor has to do with any of this. You were the one who thought of doing a toilet livestream in the first ce," Jangmoon said.


    "I know," June impatiently sighed. "But I wouldn''t have done it without him. He was also the one who helped me escape from a lot of trouble. He helped me gather evidence against the guys who tried to sabotage my reputation. He was also the one who taught me how to be cute and all!"


    "Dang, this janitor has a lot of roles in your life," Jay said. "What''s his name? I might be familiar with his name but not his looks."


    June let out a deep breath before speaking.


    "Mr. Klin."


    The two of them were silent for a while before they burst into full-blownughter.


    June clicked his tongue and massaged his nose bridge.


    "I knew the two of you would react like this," he sighed.


    "Mr. Clean?" Jay asked, his eyes filled with tears. "You''re messing with us, right?"


    "I''m not!" June eximed. "His name was really Mr. Klin. Hisst name is Ing."


    Jangmoon and Jay turned to each other with wide eyes.


    "Klin Ing? Cleaning?" Jangmoon muttered, piecing his name together before bursting intoughter once again.


    "Goodness," he said, pping his knees. "I forgot how funny you were."


    June sighed and stood from the couch, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "I''m being serious," he deadpanned, causing the two to stop talking.


    They looked at June''s expression and realized that he was, indeed, being serious.


    "Oh," Jangmoon said, clearing his throat and straightening his posture. "I guess we''re not joking."


    "We aren''t," June said, feeling frustrated. "Why is it that you''ve never met him when he was everywhere?"


    "Was he in the finale?" Jangmoon asked.


    "No," June said. "He got fired in the middle of the show because of some issues."


    "Fired?" Jay asked, perking up. "Oh, you mean Mr. Ian? The semi-bald guy who got fired in the middle of the show for leaving a camera inside the cleaning room?"


    June froze, unable to move.


    Then, he slowly craned his neck to the two of them.


    "Mr. Ian?" June asked.


    "Ah, that guy!" Jangmoon eximed. "He was pretty weird, and I didn''t see him a lot, but I remember him now. Maybe he was messing with you when he said that his name was Mr. Klin."


    June frowned before shaking his head. "No," he muttered. "It can''t be."


    With that, he suddenly burst into a sprint.


    "June!" Jay eximed, in shock at what June had just done.


    Jangmoon, too, frowned in confusion.


    "What the heck is happening?" he asked.


    Jangmoon scratched the back of his head. "I also don''t know. But you should probably go after him."


    "Ah, right," Jay said, standing from the couch and running after June.


    However, as he peeked his head outside, he couldn''t catch a glimpse of the handsome idol.


    Meanwhile, June ran to the ce where Mr. Klin used to hide all the time.


    The janitor''s closet.


    He was breathless as he sprinted there.


    Then, he opened the door without any hesitation.


    He rummaged through the bins, drawers, and shelves¡ªlooking for something...anything that would point to the existence of Mr. Klin.


    "Please," June muttered. "Anything....just anything."


    Just then, someone spoke from behind him, causing him to turn around.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    The janitor''s eyes widened when he saw who was in front of him.


    "Oh," he muttered. "It''s you, Mentor June."


    The janitor looked away, finding June too dazzling to look at. Even in the dark closet, he managed to look unexinably handsome.


    "Do you need something?" the janitor asked.


    June pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.


    "I remember you," June said, making the janitor surprised.


    "Oh," he said. "Have we met before?"


    "We have. You gave me the letter of the janitor who got fired."


    The janitor''s eyes widened in recognition, and at that moment, a spark of hope lit up inside June''s heart.


    So, he wasn''t crazy after all.


    "I remember you now," the janitor smiled. "I''ve been looking for you everywhere. I didn''t realize that it was you, Mentor June."


    "You have?" June asked.


    "Yes," the janitor nodded. "You never got around to taking that letter, so I was wondering if you still needed it."


    June frowned once more.


    Did he just jump to conclusions?


    "What do you mean?" June asked, his voice barely above a whisper.


    The janitor hummed and went through a locked drawer. "I believe I still have it here," he muttered. "Ah, there it is! This one. I think this is the letter you were pertaining to."


    "You left very quickly after taking a random piece of paper, so I was worried if you really got what you wanted."


    The frown didn''t leave June''s face as he grabbed the piece of paper from the janitor''s hand.


    He stared at it for a few seconds, unopened.


    He definitely received a letter. He even read one, too.


    How could the janitor say that he had never received it?


    With a determined gaze, he finally opened the piece of paper, ready to unravel its contents.


    The janitor also peered over his shoulders, anticipating the grand reveal.


    As the paper was fully unfolded, two words stared right back at June.


    The janitor looked at the two words with raised eyebrows, covering his mouth to stifle the chuckle that threatened toe out from his lips.


    "Fuck Azure?" the janitor asked.


    "Dang, Ian was really a crazy janitor."


    "Ian," June muttered. "What about Mr. Klin?"


    "Mr. Klin?" the janitor asked with a frown. "Who''s that?"


    "I met the past janitors before I was hired, and there was never a Mr. Klin."


    June dropped the paper on the ground, feeling like he was being struck by lightning.


    However, he couldn''t believe anything just yet.


    Mr. Klin was real...


    ...and there was one more person who could help him prove that.

 Chapter 730 It’s Finally Open

    <h4>Chapter 730 It''s Finally Open </h4>


    "June! It''s June!"


    "What is he doing here?"


    "Does he have someints about the show?"


    "Dang, he really is handsome. I thought they were just joking."


    "You see him everyday on the screen! How could you doubt his beauty?"


    "I thought ya''ll were just zing."


    "Besides, Cindy likes him a lot, I believe. Who knows if she puts filters on him?"


    "Really? Frame by frame?"


    June arrived at the headquarters of Rising Stars, determined to meet only one person.


    He believed that she would finally determine whether June was going crazy or not.


    Cindy.


    With that, June bypassed all the employees and headed straight to Cindy''s office.


    He didn''t even bother knocking and just went inside, making the older woman jump in her seat.


    She was about to scold whoever interrupted her precious work but halted when she saw it was June.


    Her eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "June? What are you doing here?" she asked.


    "I need your help," June said, sitting on the chair in front of her.


    Cindy, sensing the urgency in his voice, decided to skip the questions.


    "What is it?" she asked.


    "You keep the raw videos of the show in yourputer, right?" he asked.


    Cindy clicked her tongue and narrowed her eyes.


    "Why do you want raw footage of the girls?" she suspiciously asked.


    June sighed. "Footage from the past season," he rified.


    "Oh," Cindy said, her gaze rxing. "Goodness. That is such a long time ago. I wasn''t even the editor during those times."


    "I know," June said. "But, do you still have it?"


    "Well, some are arguably lost. However, I think the past editor saved some of the footages right here," she said, clicking on a master file.


    "Aha," she smiled. "Some clips from the first episodes are here. Come closer so you could see."


    June stood and went next to her, scrolling through the thumbnails of the videos.


    He clicked on ones where he felt he could be seen, ying through them at a fast pace.


    "He should be here," June muttered, waiting for Mr. Klin to turn up after the livestreaming mission.


    However, much to his dismay, he didn''t appear.


    Fortunately, he saw another clip.


    It was in the practice room¡ªwhen he was practicing his cute acts and failing miserably.


    Mr. Klin was supposed to be there, guiding him to the right direction.


    However, the entire 15-minute clip was only of June practicing his cute acts in the mirror.


    Cindy couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "You look like you''re only speaking to yourself there," she pointed out.


    June leaned closer to take a more thorough look.


    The camera was only filming the back of his head; but in his blurry reflection in the mirror, it appeared like he was, indeed, talking to himself.


    June felt like something snapped in his brain.


    He was always alone whenever he met with Mr. Klin.


    Now, his trace couldn''t be found anywhere.


    Not even his fellow trainees knew who he was.


    June stood straight, his ears ringing once more.


    "Did you see what you needed to see?" Cindy asked, yet June appeared like he couldn''t hear her.


    Cindy frowned and was about to ask him once more when the door opened.


    "There you are!" Jay eximed, breathless since he ran around the building to find June.


    "Why did youe here?" he asked.


    June still didn''t respond, allowing himself to internalize everything that was happening.


    Everything was just a lie.


    "Sorry for bothering you, Cindy," Jay said, holding onto June''s wrist. "We''re going now."


    With that, he dragged June out of the headquarters and to the underground parking lot.


    June still appeared dazed even as he sat on the front seat.


    Jay nced at him worriedly.


    "Is everything alright?" he asked. "You just bolted back there."


    June nodded, not really in the mood to exin himself.


    "Everything was a lie," he muttered just as Jay started the engine.


    Mr. Klin...


    Did he not exist in the first ce?


    If so, then who was he?


    Just then, June had a realization.


    Klin.


    K.


    Was Mr. Klin the missing puzzle in all of this?


    June felt his heart racing as he nced outside the tinted windows of the car.


    He saw that they were already near, but he still couldn''t help but feel impatient.


    He needed to try out the newbination.


    As soon as they arrived at Azure''s dorms, June bolted out of the car, leaving Jay confused once more.


    He entered their dorm, ignoring his members as he made his way back to his room.


    He made sure to lock the door before grabbing the briefcase from underneath his bed.


    June sighed in relief when he saw that the other panels were still glowing green.


    He just needed thest number¡ªthe missing piece.


    However, as he reached his hand to turn the wheel, he realized that he didn''t know what number Mr. Klin was associated with.


    "Shit," he muttered.


    He thought he had finally gotten the answer!


    June groaned andid in his bed, feeling at a loss once more.


    "It''s definitely Mr. Klin," he muttered, closing his eyes in annoyance.


    "During this time, somebody would have helped me already," he continued.


    "Fu, where are you when I need you?" he asked, chuckling since he realized that he had missed Fu a lot.


    "Fu," he muttered once more.


    "Fu..."


    Then, he shot straight up, his eyes wide when he had another realization.


    "Fu, is this you?" June asked. "Is this your clue?"


    June knew that he looked insane. Fu didn''t even appear before him, but for some reason, he felt like he had a connection with Mr. Klin.


    "Fu has two letters," June muttered,ing to a conclusion.


    With that, he reached for the lock once more, preparing himself to input the veryst number in the passcode.


    He closed his eyes just as he turned it to the number two spot, not knowing what to expect.


    After a while, he finally had the courage to open his eyes.


    At that moment, he only saw the color green.


    And just like that, a clicking sound was heard in the room.


    The briefcase was finally open.

 Chapter 731 Someone’s Back And Better Than Ever

    <h4>Chapter 731 Someone''s Back And Better Than Ever</h4>


    June felt like it was too good to be true.


    After an entire year of grappling with the briefcase, he finally had it open.


    June sat on the floor with the briefcase in hisp. He held his breath as he slowly opened it, wondering what was to be revealed.


    Papers.


    There were a lot of papers inside.


    June frowned when he saw that these papers were arranged in individual folders, each with abel on the front.


    Azure.


    ESPER.


    Topstar.


    Phoenix.


    There seemed to be a folder for all the big entertainmentpanies in Korea¡ªones that monopolize the entire industry.


    He opened the folder for ESPER Entertainment, which contained thepany''s details, CEOs, and shareholders.


    Lee Soo Boy and Kristy Lee.


    However, it didn''t end with that.


    June didn''t know what to expect, but it definitely wasn''t this.


    They weren''t lying when they said that the contents of the briefcase would be powerful.


    It contained information that could potentially burn down the entertainmentpanies to the ground!


    Tax evasions.


    Prostitute houses.


    Paperpanies.


    Gang involvement.


    Trainee exploitation.


    Lowpensation for employees.


    June knew that allpanies were hical in some kind of way. However, someone actually took the time topile every single dirt they could find in the people who ran the K-Pop industry.


    "This is¡­nuts," June muttered, still in disbelief.


    He quickly opened Azure''s folder and saw the crimes surrounding Mr. Ong. It seemed like he had been hiding the real profit of thepany''s idols to evade some taxes and to have a reason to lower theirpensation.


    June clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disbelief.


    He continued to go through the papers, and with each revtion, the objective of the briefcase became more evident.


    Whoeverpiled this just created a ticking time bomb¡ªwhich meant that the person who had it would be a very powerful being.


    June shook his head in disbelief.


    "I actually have this much power now."


    He might be dying, but he had some of the most vital information known to man. These pieces of information could potentially change how the entertainment industry works.


    Better pay.


    Better terms for idols.


    Overall, better treatment not just for EVE but for the current and uing generations.


    June looked through Phoenix''s folderst, and as expected, they had the thickest folder among everyone.


    It was only after June transmigrated to this body that he learned that the White Tiger Gang was also associated Phoenix. So, it wasn''t too surprising when he saw that thepany had some gang involvement.


    Moreover, Kim Young Do''s exploitation of trainees was also included in the file¡ªeven the one involving June.


    June''s eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    "Who the heckpiled this?" he muttered.


    He knew that it was the old man who was supposedly trusted by all entertainmentpanies, but howe he did such a thing?


    June continued to browse through Phoenix''s papers and saw that there was one paper that didn''t have any identity.


    "Head," he muttered.


    "The head of Phoenix."


    June had heard of him once, but he never came around to learning his true identity.


    It seemed like the wise old man was also unsure of his identity since he was the only one not included in his ''expose'' list.


    However, there was one letter written under the name.


    "L," June read, his frown deepening.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle. "What is this? Death note or something? Howe this person''s so mysterious?"


    June went through his worth, his eyes widening when he saw that it was in the billions¡ªnot in the local currency, but with dors!


    Phoenix, being apany with plenty of subsidiaries, was definitely the richestpany of all. However, seeing L''s worth was particrly shocking. It was almost as if he was the most powerful person on this list!


    "Would I still have the time to get to know who he is?" June muttered.


    With that, June went through all of the contents of the briefcase.


    He sat there for a while, not really knowing what to do with such vital information.


    Then, he looked up at the ceiling, chuckling to himself in disbelief.


    He shook his head.


    "How is this any different from what I did before?" he muttered.


    June closed his eyes, suddenly feeling the burden on his shoulders.


    But then again, he felt that it was fortunate that he was the one who retrieved the briefcase. If it went into the wrong hands, then it would entail very bad things for the entertainment industry and its stakeholders.


    June let out a deep breath.


    "I transmigrated here to be the top idol...but why does it feel like I have to change the industry instead."


    "Do I have to save the idol industry?"


    Just then, it seemed like something snapped back into ce.


    He felt lighter than usual, and it seemed like his vision became brighter, too.


    June couldn''t help but open his eyes and look around the room.


    "What just passed by?" he muttered, seeing pink specks in his vision.


    June''s frown deepened when he smelled a familiar scent.


    "Roses?" he said, tilting his head to the side.


    Then, his eyes widened further when the pink specks danced in his vision, even making hearts and fireworks with its graphics.


    It reminded him of the special effects he had when he performed the Little Meow Meow Song.


    "Is this the side effect of my illness?" June asked, feeling like he was going crazy.


    However, as a familiar notification popped up right above his head, he finally realized the culprit behind such hallucinations.


    June couldn''t help but sigh in relief.


    [Congrattions! The host has finally found his origin.]


    [He is meant to save the idol industry.]


    [You now have the task of changing the idol industry for the better! One, with your performances, and two, with the power that you hold!]


    June smiled despite feeling burdened.


    "It''s been a while," he muttered, the smile not leaving his lips.


    [Hehe.]


    [Fu''s back, bitches!]

 Chapter 732 The Gift Potion

    Chapter 732 The Gift Potion


    ??"It''s about damn time," June said.


    With his utterance, a familiar beat yed in June''s head, making him frown.


    "You''re capable of doing such things now?" he asked in amusement.


    [Fu also had an upgrade!]


    [After his month-long hibernation, he has now been rejuvenated and has be a better system.]


    "You''re also referring to yourself in the third person," June remarked.


    [Fu has been scolded by the systemmittee. They said that Fu should be more professional!]


    "Oh, so you weren''t supposed to be sentient, to begin with," June chimed.


    Fu stayed silent, so June already knew the answer before he could even respond.


    "I get it," June chuckled. "It''s good to have you back."


    [Aww, the host actually loves me!]


    June rolled his eyes but didn''t bother correcting him. He sounded too happy in his head, and he didn''t have the heart to burst his bubble.


    Moreover, it was his first day back, so June was cutting him some ck.


    [I really thought you weren''t going to have me back.]


    "You''re back to your unprofessional self," June said.


    [Sorry, I can''t help it! I''ll just ept the scolding for now. I really missed you!]


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "So, this is my origin? To change the idol industry? Don''t tell me you made me into a top idol just for this."


    [I won''t say anything then.]


    June sighed. "What am I supposed to do? I can''t just expose all of these CEOs. As much as they''re dirty, they''re also the reason why the K-Pop industry has seeded until now."


    [That''s not my problem. I''m only an idol system.]


    "Well, you''re supposed to have reached your highest potential, right? What does that even mean?" June asked.


    [Right. Fu almost forgot. Please head to your boosters and potions.]


    June frowned but followed Fu''s instruction nheless.


    He quickly went through his potions and saw that the ''gift'' potion was now unlocked. It had been locked for the longest time, so June was eager to see what it entailed.


    June pressed on the potion and saw a long description.


    [An idol is known for being perfect.]


    [However, more than that, an idol is a giver.]


    [With that, you have received the gift potion! This option is only avable once the highest potential of the system is reached.]


    [The host has now made use of his full potential as an idol¡ªmeaning, he doesn''t need the system to improve anymore. He is the best among his peers.]


    [The host is now given the opportunity to gift the system to someone else¡ªa worthy host that would take care of the system as much as the original host did.]


    June''s brows rxed as he continued to read the prompt loudly.


    "However, this is not mandatory," June muttered.


    "The host can keep the system and continue upgrading his skills or even make new ones!"


    "On the other hand, if the host decides to give it away, then the system will reset to the new host''s current skills. Meanwhile, the old host will retain his current skills¡ªat their maximum potential."


    June paused for a moment as he finished reading the prompt.


    Well, it seemed like he was being hit with bombs left and right this afternoon.


    Another pop-up appeared before him.


    [Gift the system?]


    [Yes or no?]


    [Deadline: None]


    ***


    June was greeted by his members, all seemingly in a good mood.


    "Were you practicing lines yesterday night again?" Casper asked, making June halt.


    "I heard you talking in your room," he smiled.


    June pursed his lips. "I thought the rooms were soundproofed."


    "Oh, they are," Casper said. I was listening through the gap in the door."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "Why the heck would you do that?"


    "You seem upset," Casper smiled, changing the topic. "So, I made you your favorite drink."


    Casper handed June a sweet strawberry smoothie, making thetter smile.


    "Thanks, I guess," he muttered, sipping on the sweet drink.


    "I need to go, though. There''s an important mission in Rising Stars this week," he said.


    "I heard!" Jisung eximed. "You''re going to perform with the girls!"


    "I am," June said. "We have to finalize the lyrics of the song today, so I have to be there earlier than usual."


    "Will you be back for our concert practiceter?" Jaeyong asked.


    June nodded. "I wouldn''t miss it."


    Ren smiled. "You''re working harder than usual. Make sure you''re not over-exerting again, okay?"


    June hummed. "I''m fine. Actually, I feel a lot better..."


    ...even though I''m physically dying.


    "I''m so excited for the uing performances..."


    ...since they might also be myst.


    "So, I''ll see you guyster!" June eximed before leaving the dorm and heading to the van.


    Jay drove him to the set before he went back home to drive the other members to the practice room.


    June wasted no time in going to their practice room.


    He was about to enter when he heard a soft, melodic voiceing from the inside.


    June stopped in his tracks and listened through the small gap in the door.


    Even with her voice alone, June already knew that it was Mei.


    "Brother, one I''ve never seen...," she sang under her breath.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise since she surprisingly had a smooth voice. It was still pitchy in some ces, but she had improved once more since thest week.


    Moreover, her lyrics were shocking.


    It seemed as if she was dedicating them to June.


    "No," Mei said, shaking her head and tearing off another piece of paper from her notebook. "They''re all wrong. They don''t match!"


    "I hate you, brother...," she continued, her voice sounding strong.


    June was once again surprised. Her voice held a lot more power than he had expected.


    However, as she tried to sing the same line in a higher pitch, her voice broke, making her sigh in frustration.


    "Why can''t I still do this?" she asked, plopping to the ground.


    June smirked. This was the side of Mei that he was ustomed to seeing¡ªthe whiny, strong-willed, and determined one.


    "I''m practicing so hard, but it''s not working out," she continued, breathing heavily on the floor.


    Then, after a few more seconds, she sat straight and started practicing once morr.


    June saw right through her efforts, making him feel unexpectedly warm.


    Last night, he didn''t even think of giving Fu away.


    However, looking at his sister, he finally realized that she deserved it more than anybody else.

 Chapter 733 Youll Be In My Heart

    Chapter 733 You''ll Be In My Heart


    ??[You''re going to let go of me so soon?]


    June shook his head and ignored Fu for a second as he made his way inside the room.


    "Well, you''re early," he said, causing Mei to gasp in surprise.


    She stopped what she was doing and quickly turned off the music yer.


    "Mentor," she greeted and slightly bowed her head.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "That''s a slightly different greeting. You usually just nod at me."


    Mei pursed her lips. "Can''t you just ept the bow?" she impatiently asked, causing June to chuckle in amusement.


    Yet, of course, he won''t give the system just yet.


    Not now.


    He wanted to see the end of this mission before he gave away his precious (not so precious) system.


    [Hey!]


    Moreover, it was still the third week of June. There was some time left until he would actually die.


    June was about to tease her more when the other girls made their way inside.


    Ara stopped and looked at them with raised eyebrows. "You guys are early," she remarked.


    June smiled at the girls and slightly bowed. "I just got here."


    "Oh," Yeri apologetically smiled. "Sorry, Mentor. We should have gotten here before you."


    June waved her off. "It''s alright. You''re right on time. For now, let''s sit in a circle so we can discuss what we''ve written during the night."


    The girls bit their lips, seemingly nervous about what was going to happen. June saw this and assured them it was alright.


    "I won''t judge," June said. "I''m also bad at songwriting."


    Zonya shook her head. "You don''t expect us to believe that, don''t you, Mentor?" she teased. "Almost all of the songs you''ve co-written turned out to be great hits."


    "Yeah," Ara chimed. "It''s not like you were bad, to begin with. You''ve always been great with words ever since Rising Stars! I bet what I''ve written would sound silly in your ears."


    "Well, if it''s something you''ve worked hard on, then there''s no reason for me to think that it''s silly," he said.


    "Let''s start, shall we?" he said, marking the official start of their training.


    Yeri raised her hand. "I''ll go first," she said, wanting to get it over with.


    "Wooh! Go, Yeri," Ara cutely cheered, causing the older girl to pat her head.


    "Alright, here goes nothing," she said.


    "You were there before I was...


    Yet, we both navigated the world for the first time.


    Oh, the time has gone by so fast.


    Now, the world is as sour as a lime.


    Speaking of limes, you''re a sour one.


    So, shower once."


    June pursed his lips as Yeri continued her verse. He felt that it sounded amusing. However, she sang it so seriously that June didn''t have the heart tough.


    Ara, on the other hand, wasn''t afraid to show her reactions.


    "What the heck! That''s so random," she said after Yeri finished her verse.


    Yeri scratched the back of her head. "Yeah. It''s harder to find rhyming words than I expected. I also don''t know what it''s like to have a sibling, but I searched some videos on LikLok, and they all described a sibling as an annoyance."


    June smirked. "Well, you''re not wrong about that. There are some times when you want to throw your siblings off a cliff."


    The girls turned to June in surprise.


    "I thought you didn''t have any siblings?" Mei asked.


    June cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "It''s also based on my research," he muttered.


    "Why don''t we have the other girls go next?"


    The other girls took turns roughly singing the lyrics they''d written, and as expected, June didn''t find anything suited for the song just yet.


    After Ara sang about the pure love between a brother and a sister, June couldn''t help but shake his head.


    "I think it sounds too much of a love song," he remarked. "Our song''s title is ''Sibling''s Love,'' so I think we should clearly draw the line. You know that a lot of weirdos are out there."


    Ara sheepishly chuckled. "You''re right. We don''t want any fetishizers making the performance weird."


    June nodded. "Well, we still have one more person. Why don''t you sing for us, Mei?" he asked.


    Mei gulped, appearing more nervous than usual.


    She closed her eyes and shook her hands, garnering worried looks from her teammates.


    "Are you alright?" Ara asked.


    "Yeah," Mei said. However, her voice betrayed her as it broke at the end of her statement.


    "Are you nervous?" Yeri inquired.


    Mei, once again, shook her head.


    She was telling the truth this time.


    She truly wasn''t nervous.


    However, there it was again¡ªthe heavy feeling inside her chest.


    Mei had written a short verse after being unable to sleep yesterday night, and for some reason, she wrote it in only a few minutes.


    She didn''t know where she got the inspiration from, but it was definitely strange.


    How could she write so well about a sibling who didn''t even exist?


    "I''m ready," she said after a while, making the others watch her intently.


    June paid his full attention to his sister, wondering how she interpreted a sibling''s love.


    June knew that Mei didn''t know about their past rtionship as siblings, but he held a glimmer of hope in his heart.


    Maybe, just maybe, a part of her knew that she had a brother¡ª


    even if that wasn''t June.


    "I''m not going to sing," she said. "This is just a poem that I curated yesterday night."


    They all nodded and waited in anticipation for her to begin.


    With her first utterance, June couldn''t help but hold his breath.


    "You are the person I know the most,


    A mirror reflecting my soul, yet cast in a different light,


    We are the same person in different fonts,


    Parallel lines of thought and heart."


    "They say opposites attract, and with that, I agree.


    Too simr, we often find ourselves repelling,


    Yet the ma of our bond still works,


    A silent force drawing us back, time and time again."


    "Brother, I don''t know where you are,


    But I hope the world is kind to you; I hope you are happy.


    Are you happy?"


    Mei closed her eyes as the image of a man emerged in her imagination once more.


    "I miss you, though the words remain unspoken,


    A quiet ache that lingers in the silence.


    I love you, though you don''t have to hear it,


    I hope you don''t hear it."


    "I just hope you know it,


    Please know it,


    Because the words escape me, lost in the space between us.


    I don''t even know where you are,


    But in the quiet of my heart, you are always here."

 Chapter 734 Jay Finds Out

    Chapter 734 Jay Finds Out


    ??"What the heck? That''s so good!" Yeri eximed, making June snap back to reality.


    The lyrics definitely didn''t seem like a coincidence anymore.


    Did Mei recall him in any sort?


    "Was it good?" Mei asked. "I wrote it in a few minutes."


    "Girl, I can never write that even if I was given an entire hour," Hyuna chimed. "You did a great job."


    "I almost cried!" Ara eximed. "It''s a good thing it was only short. If it was longer, then I would have bawled my eyes out."


    "I liked it a lot," Zonya said.


    "It''s good," Yeri chimed. "Right, Mentor?"


    They all turned to June, their eyes widening when they saw his current state.


    "Mentor June?" Ara skeptically asked. "Are you...crying?"


    June''s eyebrows raised, and he quickly felt his cheek.


    Just as Ara said, he was actually crying.


    He shook his head and wiped the tears from his eyes.


    June had been feeling more emotional these days. It seemed like dying actually altered his brain chemistry!


    "I''m fine," he said, looking up at the ceiling to stop his tears from spilling further.


    Then, when he felt that it was safe¡ªhe faced the girls once more, who looked more concerned than before.


    "You actually...cried?" Mei asked.


    June pursed his lips and quickly diverted the topic.


    "Well, it was a touching poem," he said. "It was almost as if you have a brother."


    Mei scratched the back of her neck. "That''s what''s strange about it. When I wrote this, I actually felt like I had a real brother," she opened up.


    "Oh," June muttered. "Can you recall what he looks like?"


    Mei shook her head. "I''m not sure," she muttered. "I can''t see his face, but I can feel that he''s warm...and big...and annoying."


    Herst description made the group burst into chuckles.


    "Well, you can never take away annoyance when you''re talking about siblings," Yeri said.


    "You''re right about that," Ara chimed. "I really like Mei''s poem, but I was also highly amused by Yeri''s."


    "It sounds like two different songs," Zonya remarked. "Mei''s poem talks about wishing your siblings well and feeling love for them without them knowing."


    "Yeri, on the other hand, just sounds like a series of roasts," she chuckled.


    "I think we have to choose one between the two," Hyuna said, making the other girls nod in agreement.


    June, on the other hand, stayed silent¡ªseemingly in the process of thinking.


    Then, after a few seconds, a wide smile arose from his lips.


    "What if we don''t have to choose between the two?" he asked, causing the girls to turn to him with inquiring eyes.


    "Are you proposing that we mix the two concepts?" Mei asked.


    "Exactly," June smirked.


    "We can''t jive them together," Ara countered. "It wouldn''t be a coherent song, then. It will sound like a love-hate rtionship."


    "Exactly," June repeated.


    With one word, the other girls suddenly came to a realization.


    June''s idea was actually good!


    "We have been given a cute instrumental," June continued. "Now, we have Yeri''s silly lyrics, which matches the concept of the song well. However, if we make it too humorous, then people would think of it as a parody or a joke song."


    "However, mixing it with Mei''s poem, which talks about the unconditional love of a sibling, we can have a song that perfectly describes the paradoxical love-hate rtionship of siblings!" he concluded.


    The other girls stayed silent for a few moments before they turned to each other with wide eyes.


    Ara raised her hand while June gestured for her to continue.


    "Are you sure you don''t have a sibling¡ªa brother, perhaps?"


    June was confused by her question. Nheless, he shook his head.


    "Dang it," Ara muttered in disappointment.


    "If I can''t have you, I was willing to have your brother instead...or sister! We don''t discriminate in this household."


    ***


    June couldn''t help but smile as he arrived at their dorm.


    Even with all the shocking revtions, there were still lots of things to smile about.


    "Thank you for your service," June happily eximed. "However, I would appreciate it if you don''t vape inside the car. We, singers, need to keep our lungs clean," he continued.


    The staff member''s eyes widened, and his cheeks instantly became red.


    He was fetched by somebody else since Jay had joined the other members in their practice for the concert.


    With that, June got out of the car and waved goodbye, letting the staff member internalize what had just happened.


    Normally, June would just ignore such actions¡ªespecially since they would probably only meet once or twice more.


    However, with June''s near end, he decided to just say anything he wanted. What was the worst that could happen when he was going to die in the end?


    Now, June just needed to shower and get changed before Jay fetched him to go to the practice room.


    He entered the empty dorm and quickly went to the shower. The warm water against his skin felt so nice that he didn''t realize he had already spent so much time inside.


    June looked at the time on his phone and saw that it was already past 4 PM¡ªthe time he agreed on with Jay.


    With that, he quickly dried his hair and wrapped a towel around his waist before heading back to his room to get dressed.


    However, as he opened the bathroom door, he nearly jumped in surprise when he saw that someone else was already there.


    "Jay," he said.


    It was a good thing that Jay''s back was turned to him, so he wasn''t able to see June''s bare body.


    However, June was confused since Jay continued facing away from him. Usually, he would look at June at any given chance.


    Yet, it seemed like he was frozen in his spot.


    Tightening the towel around his waist, June called his name once more.


    "Jay?" he asked. "Wait for me outside. I''ll just get dressed."


    But then again, Jay didn''t turn around, staying rooted in his spot.


    June''s frown deepened.


    There was definitely something going on.


    With that, he decided to see what Jay was so preupied with.


    "What are you¡ª"


    June stopped in his tracks when he saw what was in Jay''s hands.


    Then, some liquid sttered on the paper, making some of the ink smudge.


    Tears.


    They were Jay''s tears.


    Then, he slowly lifted his head to look June in the eyes.


    "Jay, I¡ª"


    "When were you nning on telling me that you''re dying?"

 Chapter 735 June Is Anti-Fragile

    Chapter 735 June Is Anti-Fragile


    ??"Oops," June muttered.


    He didn''t realize that he had stashed it away so carelessly in his drawer.


    Meanwhile, the contents of the briefcase were hidden in the depths of his closet.


    "Oops?" Jay eximed. "Is that the only thing you could say?"


    June sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "How did you know how to interpret the results, though?" he asked. "Those are justboratory values."


    "I told you!" Jay eximed. "I finished university with honors."


    "Besides," he continued. "It''s literally written right here¡ªBe careful. June could die in June, LOLZ."


    June let out a deep breath and massaged his temples.


    "How can someone like him have a license, much less own a hospital?" June muttered.


    Anyway, the cat was out of the bag, so June believed there was no use hiding it.


    It was actually pretty tough keeping it to himself, so this was a good opportunity to have a confidant.


    "Surprise? I''m sick," June said in an unsure tone.


    Jay''s lips quivered as June said those words.


    Then, not even a secondter, he started crying hysterically¡ªalmost as if he was the one who was dying.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and he didn''t know what to say or how tofort him.


    With that, he patted Jay''s shoulder.


    "Hey, it''s alright," he chuckled. "I''m still here. I''m still alive. If it makes you feel better, I can live up to three months."


    June''s statement didn''tfort Jay in the slightest.


    "Umm, if I get treatment, I could die faster. So, technically, this is much better," June awkwardly smiled.


    That made Jay cry even harder, making June scratch the back of his head.


    "So, this was why you asked the question back then?" Jay asked, sniffing.


    "Sort of," June said. "However, it''s not set in stone. I feel like I can live a few years more with how I feel, but then again, I''m no doctor."


    Jay ced the results back in the drawer and held June''s hand.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to get treatment? My aunt''s great grandfather''s friend''s pet jellyfish sitter''s niece had some kind of blood cancer, too, and she got better with spiritual healing and soursop leaves," he said.


    June smiled. "I appreciate that. However, Dr. Oh said that it''s toote for natural remedies. I''d rather live the rest of my short life without any worries than to have something to me if some kind of treatment doesn''t work."


    Jay wanted to cry once more, but seeing June''s courage made him hold back his tears.


    "Gosh," Jay muttered. "What am I going to do now?"


    "Nothing," June said. "There''s nothing you can do except to act normally."


    Jay looked at him incredulously. "How could I even act normally after what you''ve just revealed? I feel like I can''t live my life from now on! Should I go with you when the timees?"


    June shook his head. "Don''t say that," he said. "Let''s just go," he casually said while cing his bag over his shoulder.


    "I bet the other boys are waiting."


    June didn''t allow Jay to respond and went ahead to the car.


    Jay quickly followed after him, staring at him for a few seconds, causing June to sigh.


    He narrowed his eyes at Jay and pointed at him with his index finger.


    "Remember what I said¡ªact normally," he warned.


    Jay pursed his lips, and with that, he drove the car to Azure''s practice room.


    The two of them were silent as they got out, and June hoped that Jay would actually listen to his instruction so the other boys wouldn''t be suspicious.


    As much as he wanted to give the boys a heads up, he couldn''t help but think that the preparation for the concert would be ruined if they found out he was seriously ill.


    He opened the door to the practice room and was met with the sight of the boys resting on the floor.


    They were filled with sweat as they had been practicing since the morning.


    However, with the sight of June, it seemed like they were all energized.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed and bounced over to where June was, giving him a bro hug.


    "Did you have a good day?" he asked.


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "Us too!" Jisung said. "We went over the parts of the concert that looked iffy, and we made sure to keep up with your pace so we wouldn''t make any mistakes."


    June shook his head. "You guys are already at my pace," he said.


    "That''s right," Akira boasted with his hands on his waist, showing off his confidence.


    "But can you teach me this high part? I can''t seem to get it while dancing so hard," Akira added.


    The other members shook their heads while June gave him some advice.


    Jay, on the other hand, stood at the corner of the room, his face looking as dark as the Point Nemo in the middle of the night.


    He looked at the scene before him and covered the bottom half of his face with his hands, feeling tears well up in his eyes.


    Then, he brought out his phone and started snapping photos of the boys.


    However, he didn''t realize that he had his sh on, so the boys all turned to him.


    Jaeyong frowned in confusion. "What...was that?"


    "For my memory," Jay said in one breath, making them unable to decipher him.


    "What is he on?" Jisung muttered.


    June red at him, causing Jay to swallow the lump in his throat.


    "It''s for BTS stuff," he said in a fake cheery voice.


    "Oh," Jisung said. "Make sure we look good in it, then."


    Jay nodded before turning to face the mirror and seeing his red eyes.


    "This is for the better," he dramatically said as snot filled his nose.


    "I shall live with the burden."


    June watched him through his peripheral vision and shook his head.


    Jay was being dramatic again¡ªjust as usual.


    Jay turned around once more, and at that moment, June slipped on the wet floor, causing him to fall to the ground.


    Akira and Ren turned to each other before bursting intoughter.


    The other members also watched him in amusement.


    Meanwhile, Jay ran to where he was, almost as if he was in a warzone, and cradled his head like a mom to her child.


    "Are you alright?" he frantically asked. "Please! Please! Be alright. I''m not ready to let you go yet."


    The boys watched the scene before them with raised eyebrows, weirded out by Jay''s actions.


    June, on the other hand, sighed in defeat.


    Maybe it wasn''t better for Jay to know about this.

 Chapter 736 The Briefcase’s Heir

    <h4>Chapter 736 The Briefcase''s Heir </h4>


    "I swear, if you keep doing this, I''ll let you die first," June muttered as the two of them got up.


    Jay''s breath got caught in his throat as he internalized what June had said.


    Well, that sounded very threatening¡ªalmost as if he really meant it.


    With that, Jay slowly moved away and sat in the corner to reflect upon his actions.


    June sighed in relief when it seemed like he wasn''t going to interrupt them any time soon.


    "So," June said. "Should we practice thest stage?"


    "We shall!" Akira eximed. "I''m satisfied with all the performances except for that one. For some reason, it really feels like there''s somethingcking."


    "It''s the line distribution," June said.


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his head.


    "That''s what I thought so, too," he sighed. "The line distribution is too unfair for it to be called a special song. Sehun only gets three seconds in the song. Our fans also think it''s unfair," he said.


    June hummed while nodding.


    "We should just make the line distribution fair then," he said.


    Jisung chuckled while ying with his shoces. "If only it was as simple as that," he muttered.


    "It could be as simple as that," June chimed. "Let''s just cut my parts and make it even."


    Ren frowned. "Are you alright with that?"


    "Of course," June said. "I''d be tired at the end of the concert anyway. Lesser lines are better for all of us."


    "That''s not really the question we should be asking," Zeth remarked. "The real question is¡ªwill thepany be alright with it?"


    Ren sighed while shaking his head. "That''s the thing. They are the ones who control the line distribution, so let''s just stick to what we''re given."


    "Except we don''t have to," June said, passionately disagreeing with them. "Let''s do this by ourselves. This is our song¡ªwritten by Ren."


    "If June wants to make the line distribution even, then we should make the line distribution even," Casper smiled, wrapping one arm around June.


    June shook his head and pushed him away.


    "Anyway," he said. "I''ve already thought about this after the mini-concert ended, so I''ll be sending you guys the new line distribution soon."


    Jisung chuckled. "Well, if it isn''t obvious that you''re really pushing for this."


    Sehun, who had the least lines, was hesitant to speak.


    "Is this really...alright?" he asked, still feeling skeptical.


    They all turned to Jay, who was sitting in a dark corner with hollowed cheeks. It seemed like he wanted to say something but was holding himself back.


    "You''re awfully silent," Akira pointed out. "Usually, you would ask to follow what thepany says at this time."


    Jisung chuckled. "Well, he''s on edge because Mr. Ong has been scolding him left and right these days."


    Sehun shook his head. "Yeah, I''m also thinking about you, Jay. I''m sure Mr. Ong wouldn''t like this. You''ll get scolded again."


    Jay stood and passionately shook his head. "This is fine! In fact, you guys should go right ahead with whatever you want," he said, making the members surprised.


    "Are you...sure?" Sehun hesitantly asked.


    "A hundred percent!" Jay eximed.


    "Life is short. You''re not harming anybody with what you''re doing, so do what makes you happy! This is your concert. This is your time to shine. You are EVE¡ªour ever-shining boy group that will remain as eight until the end!"


    He ended his speech with his fist in the air, making the boys even more weirded-out.


    "Well, if it''s alright with Jay," he said.


    "Then, let''s go ahead and tweak our final performance."


    ***


    The boys were now back in their dorms, and Jay was still with them.


    "What is he still doing here?" Akira muttered.


    "Why Akira?" Jay obnoxiously asked. "Can''t Ie here and sleep anymore?"


    Akira scratched the back of his head. "Well, not really. You stopped sleeping here after you got that girlfriend that you spent all your money on."


    "That is not my girlfriend! She stopped replying to me," he dejectedly said.


    "And I still have some money," he chuckled. "Not a lot, but it''s clean money! It''s what I scrap from my dainty paycheck."


    The boys shook their heads in amusement.


    "Anyway," Jay continued. "I''m here because I want to sleep with June."


    "What?" the members said in unison.


    Casper raised his hand. "I want to sleep with June, too."


    Zeth listened to their conversation and shook his head. "So, this is why shippers exist," he muttered.


    "No!" Jay eximed. "This is my special time with June. I want to sleep with him," he said, wrapping his arms around June''s bicep.


    Jisung shook his head. "You''re delusional if you think June would agree to your suggestion."


    Casper sighed and nodded. "You''re right. I''ve tried multiple times, and I''ve failed all those times."


    June clicked his tongue, about to push Jay away when he realized something.


    "Sure," he suddenly said, making them turn to him with wide eyes.


    "Dang, I also believed you wouldn''t agree to it," Jay muttered. "But I''m notining! No take-backs, alright?"


    "Yeah," June nonchntly said. "Let''s sleep in my room together."


    "What the heck?" Casper eximed, losing his cool. "What about me?"


    June turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "What about you?"


    "Can Ie with you?"


    June looked him dead in the eyes before slowly shaking his head.


    "Nope," he said. "Just the two of us."


    With that, June went to his room, with Jay trailing behind.


    Jay turned around at the still-shocked members and stuck his tongue out at them.


    Casper fell to his knees and ced his fist on his chest.


    "What did I do wrong?"


    Meanwhile, in June''s room, Jay immediately plopped onto his bed.


    June clicked his tongue and dragged him away, causing him to fall to the floor.


    "You''re dirty," he said. "You''re not going to sleep on my bed."


    "What?" Jay eximed. "But I thought you said we would sleep together like a bunch of good homies?"


    "We''re not," June said. "You''re going to sleep on the floor."


    Jay pursed his lips and hesitated to speak. Afterward, he nodded in agreement.


    "That''s better than nothing," he muttered.


    "But don''t sleep just yet," June said, rummaging through his closet to look for something.


    "I have something to show you."


    With that, June brought out a smaller briefcase that contained some information regarding Azure and Phoenix.


    "What is that?" Jay asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "I''m entrusting this to you," June said, looking Jay in the eyes.


    "I''ll help you while I''m here...but once I''m gone, I want you to use this information to good use."


    "For the betterment of EVE...for the happiness of the boys."

 Chapter 737 You’re The Next CEO

    <h4>Chapter 737 You''re The Next CEO</h4>


    "Is this the briefcase you''ve been raving about?" Jay asked. "I know that you''re an old soul, but I didn''t think you''d be this obsessed with briefcases, too. Although, they are a pretty good collector''s item."


    June clicked his tongue.


    "You''re really an idiot."


    "Open it," June said, raking his fingers through his hair.


    "Oh," Jay said, opening the briefcase like he was in some kind of game show.


    "Make it faster," June said, clicking his tongue.


    "That''s what she said," Jay said, making June roll his eyes.


    "You''re insufferable."


    Jay chuckled loudly¡ªhis first genuineugh of the day.


    "It''s so easy messing with you," Jay said, still chuckling as he opened the briefcase.


    However, as he held the papers in his hands and started reading its contents, all of the humor left his body.


    "Mr. Ong," he muttered, looking through the papers.


    His eyes widened with every piece he read, making them almost pop out of his head.


    "You understand, right?" June asked.


    Jay raised his head and continued looking at June with wide eyes.


    "What does this mean?" he asked.


    "Exactly what you''re reading," June answered. "These are evidence against Mr. Ong¡ªstrong ones that could remove him from his current position.


    "I mean¡ªhow do you even have such information?"


    June sighed. "It''s a long story. However, it came right before I knew I was sick. Now, it feels like the world is telling me to give you and the boys a good future ahead with this powerful information."


    "H¡ªhow?" Jay asked. "What the fuck! This is nuts! Do you realize how much power we have in our hands right now?"


    "I''m aware," June said. "People would die just to get this kind of information."


    "However, this could either go good, bad, or worse for us," June continued. "That''s why I''ll help you. You''re the only person suited for this role."


    "What do you mean?" Jay asked.


    "You need to overtake thepany," June smirked. "Have Azure for your own."


    Jay''s eyes widened, and he let go of the papers, making them scatter on the floor.


    June clicked his tongue as he looked at the mess.


    "I swear," he said. "Why are you so shocked?"


    "I¡ªI can''t believe it," Jay stammered. "Me? A CEO?"


    "You need to put that degree to better use," June remarked. "Besides, the boys and the girls need someone good as their CEO. I fully trust you, so that''s very telling."


    "The girls?" Jay asked.


    "The new girl group," he said. "We cannot act hasty about this. I believe that there are still some things we need to consider before revealing all of this information."


    "I shall n everything for you," June said. "However, in the event that I die before everything gets executed, then I shall trust in your expertise."


    Jay shook his head. "I honestly don''t know what to feel about this."


    "It''s overwhelming," June said. "However, we''re already ahead of the enemy. So, just rx and follow everything that I say."


    Jay scratched the back of his head.


    "Now, let''s rest. Tomorrow will be another big day," he continued.


    "Do you really think I can do it?" Jay suddenly asked, causing June to turn to him.


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    "Can I be a CEO of apany?"


    "You can," June said. "Obviously, I probably wouldn''t live long enough to see how well you will do. However, you''re bound to make mistakes. In the event that you make too many mistakes, I shalle and haunt you even on my deathbed."


    "Goodness," Jay said. "You must really be ready to die if you''re speaking like that."


    June smirked. "I''ve already died once."


    Jay frowned in confusion. "When?"


    "Don''t sweat about it," June said. "Just keep those pieces of information safe."


    "Got it," Jay said, holding onto it for dear life.


    "Good," June smiled. "Now, let''s go to sleep."


    June went to his bed and covered his body with the nket.


    Meanwhile, Jay stood and watched him.


    "Can Ie in¡ª"


    "No," June deadpanned, causing Jay to nod in defeat.


    "Okay," he muttered. "Good night, June."


    "Good night."


    ***


    Another day passed, and it was now the day of June''s performance with thedies.


    Almost everyone was looking forward to the performances, even the mentors themselves.


    The production crew made sure that there wouldn''t be any spoilers between the teams, so the other mentors didn''t know what was in store for them.


    They gathered in June''s waiting room, observing each other''s outfits.


    Lee Sik was dressed in an all-white suit, which was very fitting for the sad bad that he was going to perform.


    Meanwhile, Amira was dressed in her usual idol get-up, a little bit darker than what she was used to but nheless enhancing her beauty.


    Ji-Hyun wore a dramatic red dress, showing everyone that she was the drama herself.


    Gun, on the other hand, was wearing the typical street-style clothes that you would see in dancingpetitions.


    They conversed among themselves, curious about each other''s performances but not wanting to give anything away.


    "So...," Ji-Hyun started off, clearing her throat. "How did your preparations go?"


    "It was...good," Gun said, a little bit on edge.


    Lee Sik clicked his tongue.


    "You guys are acting very strange. Just describe your performance briefly for us. It''s not like we''re not going to see it in a couple of minutes."


    Gun scratched the back of his head.


    "You''re right," he said. "Honestly, I think it''s already pretty obvious with our outfits. However, the girls are quite excited about this. The win might not mean much to me, but they want the benefit more than anyone."


    "Don''t they all?" Amira asked. "Well, you could expect a full package performance from us. Don''t even think of them as trainees. They look like real idols."


    "Woah, that''s a hard vouch," Gun said. "I''m looking forward to it then."


    "Well," Lee Sik said, clearing his throat.


    "Does anybody know what kind of song June''s team is going to show? I feel like they''re the most secretive one regarding their concept."


    "Hmm," Ji-hyun hummed. "Up until now, I don''t have the slightest clue of what they''re going to do with a song entitled ''Sibling''s Love.'' I fear it''s going to sound like a Momocelon song."


    "Isn''t it Cocolemon?" Lee Sik asked.


    Ji-hyun shrugged. "I''m not sure. My son watches it every day, though. He''s so cute with his overalls and tie."


    Just then, June entered the room, making the other mentors turn toward him.


    Ji-hyun''s eyes widened when she saw what June was wearing.


    "Overalls and a tie?" she eximed.

 Chapter 738 The Mentor Mission Commences

    <h4>Chapter 738 The Mentor Mission Commences</h4>


    "You look like my son!" Ji-hyun eximed as soon as she saw June.


    June looked down at his outfit and smiled.


    "Is that so?" he asked. "I''m d. That was the vibe I was going for."


    "Well, not really," Ji-hyun said, scratching the back of her head. "You look like a grown-up version of my son¡ªlike a high school senior that almost all the girls are crazy about!"


    June chuckled in amusement. "I''ll still take it, I guess."


    Amira nodded in agreement. "You look really good! I''ll vote for you."


    Lee Sik shook his head in amusement.


    "I guess you don''t mind losing if it''s to June," he remarked, causing Amira''s face to redden.


    Just then, two familiar faces were shown on screen, causing June to raise his eyebrows in surprise.


    The girls went crazy as two handsome men appeared on the stage, and the set almost broke with how chaotic they were.


    "What are they doing here?" June muttered.


    The other mentors turned their attention to the screen and couldn''t help but watch the two boys in awe.


    "Good evening, everyone," Casper greeted, appearing professional, unlike his usual attitude.


    Jaeyong stood by his side, and the two of them created a picturesque view that the audience adored.


    "Since June, our precious member, is going to be performing tonight, we have decided to take over the stage," Casper continued, earning squeals from the crowd.


    "He called June a precious member!"


    "Juniper is real!"


    "My ship is sailing."


    "And I''m here to keep Casper in check," Jaeyong added, making the crowd chuckle and Casper to shake his head.


    The other mentors, who were watching from the inside, looked at the screen with agape mouths.


    "Seriously," Ji-hyun muttered. "How good-looking is your group? I feel like you don''t have a visual hole."


    "They definitely don''t," Gun said. "EVE was picked from the best of the best!"


    Amira nodded. "It''s heartbreaking that they only have three years with each other."


    Lee Sik nudged Amira''s shoulder. "Hey, don''t say that. It makes me sad, too."


    "Well, if it makes you feel better, we still have two years left in our contract," June said, which definitely didn''t make the situation better.


    "Has time flown that much?" Ji-hyun asked, her gaze focused on the ceiling.


    June shook his head.


    Fortunately, a staff member entered their room, signaling for them to go to the waiting room with the girls.


    June sighed in relief as the conversation was cut short.


    They arrived at the waiting room, and as expected, the girls erupted into squeals.


    "Mentor Gun! You''re so handsome!"


    "Omo! Amira and Ji-hyun are so pretty."


    "Lee Sik Senior looks legendary!"


    "I want to make June into a keychain and keep him in my pocket."


    "If I had a step brother like June, then I would definitely¡ª"


    "Don''t finish that statement, please. You''ll get canceled before your debut."


    "How is he so cute?"


    "He looks really pale, though. Is he okay?"


    "June''s so cute! He''s like my little brother."


    June sat next to Mei, and thetter turned to him with a pursed lip smile.


    In the past days that they had been practicing together, they have developed a close rtionship.


    Well, June could say that he had built a good rtionship with all the girls in the team, and he was genuinely rooting for all of them.


    However, in the process of their practice, he hade to see how hardworking Mei truly was.


    In the end, his will to give her the system strengthened even further.


    It was nearing the end of June, so he felt that it was the perfect time to give her the system¡ªright after their performance.


    "Mentor Gun''s team, please take the stage," the staff member said, making the girls exim in excitement.


    They had already decided their order, and with June''s main character energy, they were bound to performst.


    Well, it was actually Mei''s luck¡ªshe was the one who randomly picked their order in the first ce.


    Mentor Gun''s team took the stage, and it was obvious that they had worked hard for their performance.


    They showed real street dancing along with addictive chanting melodies, making the sound echo in the ears of the audience.


    The second team to go was Lee Sik''s team.


    After an exciting performance from Gun''s team, it was time to take it down a notch with a sad bad.


    Lee Sik''s voice opened the stage, and it instantly captured the hearts of the audience.


    The girls, although not as equally skilled as the legendary master, were able to match his emotions perfectly.


    They talked about the sadness in one''s mind and how hard it was to escape such sadness. A lot of people rted to their lyrics, so June thought that they were the frontrunners in thepetition.


    However, the next stage, which was Ji-hyun''s team, changed the mood right away.


    It seemed like a musical¡ªa theatrical performance about a group of girls taking revenge on a guy who had yed them all.


    They sang in a strong yet alluring way, which, once again, amazed the audience.


    Amira, not wanting to bring the mood down, also brought some spice into thepetition.


    Their performance, reminiscent of a girl group''s powerful debut song, blew away the audience.


    They seemed like an actual girl group!


    Being thest one to perform, June''s team began to feel the pressure of the amazing performances before them.


    "Ah, we shouldn''t have gonest," Ara said, her face red from all the overthinking.


    Yeri patted her back tofort her, although she also felt nervous.


    "June''s team," the staff member said. "Please head backstage and wait for your turn."


    June pursed his lips and stood from his seat.


    Although it wasn''t obvious, he was also pretty nervous.


    Not only was this his first performance with a girl group, but it was also his first performance with his sister¡ªpossibly even thest one.


    "Let''s do this," June said, earning cheers from the other girls.


    He turned around and saw the cheery faces of the contestants, making June''s heart feel warm.


    "We''re excited!" Ji-hyun eximed from the side.


    "Show us what you got, June!" Gun eximed.


    June nodded and turned to face his teammates.


    Mei looked into his eyes and also nodded.


    "Let''s do this," she said with a small smile.

 Chapter 739 Story Of My Life (1)

    <h4>Chapter 739 Story Of My Life (1)</h4>


    The audience fell into a hush as thest group went up the stage.


    They held in their breaths as June stood at the very center with a small smile. The audience wanted to scream, but with one action from June¡ªhis index finger against his lips¡ªthey continued to stay silent.


    The stage was bathed in a gentle glow, the kind of light that promised a fresh start and endless possibilities. A soft, pink hue enveloped the performers, giving the scene a warm, inviting atmosphere.


    The girls were dressed in adorable, almost schoolgirl-like outfits¡ªid skirts, knee-high socks, and white blouses with Peter Pan cors. Their hair was tied up in neat ponytails with bright ribbons that bounced with every movement. June, in his crisp polo shirt and jaunty sailor scarf, looked like the picture of youth. He looked like a reliable older brother to the young girls, which added more to his charm.


    The entire ensemble exuded an aura of innocence¡ªlike the first day of spring.


    Compared to the other stages, which started with the lights all turned off, this particr stage started with all the lights shining down on the performers, which definitely added to the impact.


    As the camera focused closer on June, the people in the waiting room eximed in amazement.


    "Ah, his face is really a cheat sheet."


    "What the heck is this kind of aura?"


    "He''s so handsome. I''m going to vote for him just for his face alone."


    "Don''t you think he wouldn''t like that?"


    "Oh, who cares? I like his face! Screw me!"


    "I would want him to screw me."


    Finally, the music began, and a lively, upbeat tune instantly lifted the spirits of everyone in the room.


    The melody was infectious, with a bubbly energy that made it impossible not to smile.


    Jia held onto Bora''s am and squeezed for dear life.


    "Cute June. Cute June. Cute June," she muttered, almost in a daze.


    Bora, who was equally as crazy as Jia, merely epted the strength and kept her gaze on the screen.


    They were really going to have Cute June once again after a while!


    The choreography, though simple, was delightfully synchronized. Each moment was a yful expression, easy to follow and even easier to enjoy. They pped their hands, spun in circles, and swayed to the rhythm of the cute melody.


    "At 4 years old, our biggest problem was the portion of food,


    We''d argue and wrestle in a yful, endless feud.


    You''d steal my fries, I''d take your pie,


    Mom wouldugh, shake her head, and just roll her eyes."


    June started off the song, which set the standard high. For most of the audience, it was their first time hearing June sing live, and it definitely didn''t disappoint.


    "So, this is what the OG astras are raving about."


    "His live voice is even better than the recording."


    "Everyone wasn''t exaggerating when they said that his voice was angelic."


    ''I''ve only ever heard him in recordings. I''m so d I can actually listen to him in real life."


    "Girls, this is a rare moment. Let''s make the most of it."


    "You''re acting as if this is thest time you''ll ever hear him live."


    "With the bloodbath that is their concert ticketing, I''m confident that this might just be thest."


    The mentors backstage, already aware of June''s raw talents, focused on the lyrics instead.


    They knew June as being the master of concepts¡ªand it seemed like he had outdone himself once again.


    Right off the bat, Lee Sik''s attention was captured.


    "This kid is really meant to be a star," he muttered. June transformed such a weird title into something that would equate to a masterpiece.


    For the first verse, the girls and June mimed squabbles over imaginary portions of food, their faces scrunched up in exaggerated displeasure. They tugged on invisible tes, pretending to count andpare, their yful bickering drawingughter from the audience¡ªespecially those who had siblings. The segment was filled with light-hearted teasing and innocent disputes, perfectly capturing the trivial worries of early childhood.


    "At 5, I went to school, you cried, you said you stubbed your toe,


    But we both knew the truth, though neither would show.


    You missed your partner in crime, your ymate in disguise,


    I promised toe back with stories to surprise."


    Yeri sang the next verse, showing theplex between a brother and a sister¡ªwhere one would miss the other but would rather hide it than say it out loud.


    Again, the audience members could rte to the performance, and it made them pay even more attention to it.


    As the music transitioned, so did the storyline.


    The cheerful notes turned slightly moreplex, mirroring the changes in the siblings'' lives.


    The yful atmosphere took on a sadder tone.


    "At 8, mom and dad separated, our worlds torn in two,


    But we found strength in each other like siblings often do.


    We''d whisper in the dark, sharing dreams and fears,


    Findingfort in our bond, silently wiping away the tears."


    Gun''s eyes narrowed as he felt tears brimming in his eyes. His parents had separated when he was younger, so he could deeply rte to what they were trying to portray.


    The performers now depicted the separation of their parents through expressive, heartfelt movements. They reached out to each other, hands grasping but never quite reaching.


    Their faces reflected the confusion and sadness of children trying to understand a fractured family. The choreography remained simple yet profound, each gesture resonating with the audience.


    "Dang," Bora muttered. "Is this song about me or what?"


    "You don''t have a sibling," Jia deadpanned.


    "But my parents are divorced!" she eximed. "Who the heck wrote this?" she muttered.


    June.


    It was none other than June.


    The other girls helped, too, but he curated the progressing storyline.


    However, if you asked him, then he would say that it wasn''t a hard task.


    Why?


    Because this wasn''t just a song.


    It was the story of his life.

 Chapter 740 Story Of My Life (2)

    <h4>Chapter 740 Story Of My Life (2) </h4>


    Well, of course, it wasn''t the exact storyline of his life.


    Their parents never separated.


    They just died.


    However, that would sound very morbid in a very cute song, so June decided to mask their deaths with divorce instead. It was still a sensitive topic, especially for those who had experienced it, so June also wanted to shed light on it.


    With the sad revtion, the people quickly realized that this wasn''t the cute performance that they signed up for.


    "Oh no," Jaeyong said, looking up at the ceiling and fanning his face.


    "Don''t tell me¡ª"


    "Goodness, you''re already crying," Casper said, massaging his temples. "I thought you were over this!"


    "I thought so, too," Jaeyong eximed. "But June just makes me cry so bad, man. I don''t know what to do."


    Casper clicked his tongue before shaking his head.


    "You know, I would usually call you a crybaby at this point. But it''s June, so I understand," he sighed.


    Jaeyong, despite his tears, shook his head and said, "Simp."


    Next came the chorus, which would serve as the foundation of the song.


    "At 12, I hated you. It would have been better if you didn''t exist.


    I would''ve had a better life if you were seized.


    You''d m the door, I''d shout some more,


    Our bond strained but never fully tore."


    It was represented by a faster, more intense rhythm. Their interactions became more dynamic, filled with fiery and dramatic exchanges.


    They portrayed heated arguments and half-hearted reconciliations. Their faces were animated with anger, frustration, and asional bursts ofughter, which captured the rollercoaster of teenage emotions.


    While the first part showed innocence, the chorus vividly portrayed the love-hate rtionship typical of adolescent siblings.


    Casper shook his head in amusement.


    "Does June really not have a sibling?" he asked.


    "Not that I know of," Jaeyong answered. "Why?"


    Casper smirked. "He''s got it perfectly. This is how I feel about my sisters."


    The next verses showed the other milestones that the siblings had reached. The people were more enamored than ever, and they were curious how the story was going to end.


    The mentors watching from the waiting room didn''t feel like they were in apetition anymore. Instead, it was as if they were watching a show¡ªa very interesting one.


    "At 16, boys stood next to you, and I saw you anew,


    No longer my little sister but a young woman who grew.


    You talked of crushes and dates, secrets you''d confide,


    I stood by, protective, with a brother''s pride."


    For some reason, Mei got emotional during this verse.


    She knew that she couldn''t rte, yet somehow she felt like she had experienced such things first-hand yet forgot about how it truly felt.


    "At 17, you wanted a field trip, but money was tight,


    We stayed home, had our own fun, and danced through the night.


    We nned our future travels, dreams we''d soon pursue,


    Withughter and hope, creating memories anew."


    The mood turned bittersweet. However, it leaned more toward a bitter taste once the second chorus hit.


    "At 18, "I still hate you," I''d say, with bitterness and spite,


    Our arguments were explosive,sting into the night.


    We''d fight over nothing, yet everything too,


    The tension between us painfully grew."


    As the song progressed, the people were increasingly bing more invested in the story of the siblings, and they couldn''t help but root for a happy ending for them.


    Yet, June already knew how it ended.


    He looked at their expectant faces and subtly shook his head. They didn''t know what was going to hit them.


    It was now Mei''s turn to sing, and June paid more attention than usual. For the past few days that they had been practicing with each other, June made it a pact to be Mei''s personal vocal mentor. Although her parts in the song were quite small, June believed that she had the greatest part of all¡ªthe bridge.


    It was the part that June usually had, but he wanted Mei to sing it¡ªbecause he knew that she was the perfect person to portray its emotions.


    Then, as the music swelled, the performance took a serious turn.


    Mei stood at the center, the music stopping for a second as the realization dawned that despite the fights and misunderstandings, the siblings could not live without each other.


    Those behind her moved closer. They performed lifts and supportive holds, symbolizing the strength and support that siblings provide each other.


    "At 19, I realized that life was finite, fleeting, and true,


    The thought of losing you, a shadow that grew.


    Suddenly, every moment with you became dear,


    The fights and theughter, every smile, every tear."


    Her rendition left everybody speechless. The girl who always sang with a shaky voice sang those four lines with certainty¡ª


    with a sureness that couldn''t be shaken.


    She meant every line, and it manifested in how she portrayed it.


    Then, June stood beside her, the spotlight shining between the two of them.


    The people couldn''t help but gasp as they saw their faces on the two varying wide screens. At that moment, it seemed like their resemnce became even more obvious¡ªlike they were the siblings in the story themselves.


    Eyes glistening with tears that didn''t want to be shed, the final words were then said.


    "At 28, I have a lot of regrets.


    The things I''ve never said, all of the secrets.


    Lying on the ground, with no chance of goodbye.


    I wonder if this is all there is to life.


    Will we meet again? For a second time?


    I hoped and prayed until it became mine.


    Then, one day, you''ll walk down the street.


    And you''ll smile, but you wouldn''t realize it was me."


    The lyrics of the song, although pretty confusing, still struck a chord in the heart of the audience...or maybe it was just June.


    June already knew that the lyrics were something that only he would understand.


    However, he still wanted to include it to serve as closure between him and Mei.


    It just seemed like they weren''t meant to remain as siblings in every life.


    "I can''t breathe," Jaeyong said, hard snot filling his nose.


    Then, just when the atmosphere seemed almost too heavy, they shifted the gears once again.


    The music picked up, returning to the yful, energetic theme that had started the show.


    "I hate you more than anyone in the world,


    But if the world turned upside down..."


    "I''d still choose you."

 Chapter 741 World’s Best Idol

    <h4>Chapter 741 World''s Best Idol</h4>


    The audience erupted into a loud round of apuse as June''s team went down the stage.


    Jaeyong and Casper were already supposed to go up, but Jaeyong looked like a mess, so Casper had to fix him up before they went.


    June passed by them as he walked down, making him shake his head.


    Casper smiled at him and teasingly pointed at Jaeyong.


    June clicked his tongue, already aware of the effect he had on Jaeyong. He just didn''t know why he was acting as such when June recalled that Jaeyong had a great rtionship with his siblings!


    The staff urged the two hosts to go up the stage, so Casper had no choice but to face the audience with his swollen eyes.


    The fans in the audience weren''t surprised. They already knew that Jaeyong was the biggest crybaby in EVE.


    However, that didn''t stop them from teasing the big guy.


    "Well, as you can see, Jaeyong liked the performance very much," Casper said, earning another round of chuckles in the audience.


    Jaeyong sniffed before speaking into the microphone.


    "Those were very beautiful performances," he remarked. "I was trying really hard not to cry at all of them, but you all know that June just gets me like that."


    "Oh, we all know," Casper said.


    "Anyway, enough about me," Jaeyong said, quickly diverting the topic. "Now, you will all be voting for your favorite teams."


    "Remember what June said," Casper quickly added. "Don''t vote for the person, but for the performance¡ªin that way, the win would be justifiable."


    The audience nodded in response, seemingly obedient.


    "You will be given five minutes to vote," Casper continued. "The results will then be revealed to the teams but will not be revealed to you until the episode airs this Friday."


    Disappointed sighs were heard all around, but they already knew that they couldn''t do anything about the situation.


    With that, Casper and Jaeyong went down the stage while the audience voted among themselves.


    Meanwhile, June''s team was greeted with cheers as soon as they entered the waiting room.


    June couldn''t help butugh when he saw that the other girls had mascara running down their faces.


    Gun, too, had a runny nose, while Ji-Hyun was on a phone call with someone¡ªseemingly her kids.


    "The two of you should love each other," she said in a motherly tone.


    "I know that you hate your brother, but you are birds of a feather!"


    Meanwhile, the other girls still couldn''t stop talking about June''s team''s performance.


    "I hate to say this, but I miss my brother."


    "I always fight with my sister because she always uses my clothes, but I''d rather have her use all of my clothes than not have her at all."


    "Their performance made me realize so much."


    As they sat in their seats, the girls on June''s team knowingly looked at each other before nodding.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise when a paper bag was ced on hisp.


    "What''s this?" he asked, inspecting the bag.


    Mei sighed impatiently. "Open it."


    June shook his head and opened the paper bag, only to be met with a mug¡ªone that had ''The World''s Greatest Idol'' written on it.


    "A mug, really?" June asked with a small smile.


    Mei clicked her tongue. "If you don''t like it, then we can take it back."


    Ara shook her head in amusement and tapped Mei''s shoulder.


    "Mei''s acting like this, but she was the one who decided that we should give you a gift," Ara chimed.


    June raised one of his eyebrows and looked at Mei with inquiring eyes.


    "It''s only because you helped a lot with my vocal training," Mei said, not wanting to meet his eyes. "Yeah, that''s all there is to it."


    June shook his head.


    Well, it seemed like she still didn''t want to acknowledge that she appreciated June.


    "Thanks," June said, smiling at all five of them. "I appreciate it, really. I would love to know why you had this printed out, though."


    "It''s obvious, though," Mei muttered, causing June to turn to her.


    "Please enlighten me of the reason," he said.


    Mei clicked her tongue and spoke as she yed with her fingers.


    "That''s because you''re the world''s best idol," she said. "You''re the best among everybody else. You worked hard to get to where you are. There''s a certainty to your identity...almost as if you were born to be an idol."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, wondering why she suddenly thought so highly of him.


    He was about to pry further when Casper and Jaeyong went through the door, eliciting screams from the girls.


    "They''re here! They''re actually here!"


    "What the heck? They''re even more handsome up close."


    "What is Azure feeding these boys?"


    "Mistreatment and a whole lot of useless brand deals."


    "Dang, I need me some of that."


    "Well, if we debut, we might end up looking poreless like them."


    Casper and Jaeyong went up the stage and nodded at each other before speaking.


    "The results are in," they simultaneously said, causing the girls to stop gushing over the handsome pair and focus on the results.


    June stood with his teammates and lined up in front of their cards.


    The mentors were at the front while the girls were behind them.


    Casper and Jaeyong took the advice June had given them¡ªon how to make the show more thrilling.


    At that moment, June regretted telling them such things.


    They were taking it too far!


    It had already been five minutes since they''d spoken back and forth.


    "Alright, I think that''s enough," Jaeyong chuckled as he felt June''s re.


    "Our kitty is already mad," Casper remarked, turning to June with a wide smile.


    Some of the girls, who were also Juneper shippers, covered their mouths to keep their squeals to themselves.


    "We won''t be announcing thetter ces since none of you honestly deserve thest rank," Casper said.


    "Instead, we shall announce the top two teams with the highest amounts of votes!"


    "The first team is¡ªA Sad Sonata!" Jaeyong announced, making Lee Sik sigh in relief.


    The girls behind him covered their mouths and turned to each other in surprise.


    "And the second candidate is...," Casper started off.


    "Sibling''s Love!"


    June heard squeals behind him while he closed his eyes and nodded.


    He was very proud of the performance, so he wouldn''t have minded not cing at all.


    However, he knew that the girls would love to take the benefit, so he prayed that they took the first ce.


    The other teams pped for them, not feeling bitter despite their loss.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat, letting out a deep breath as he prepared himself for thest announcement.


    "And the winner for the Mentor Mission is..."

 Chapter 742 Gift System

    <h4>Chapter 742 Gift System </h4>


    "SIbling''s Love!" Casper announced, appearing like he was happier than the contestants themselves.


    June smiled to himself, feeling an indescribable happiness go through his veins.


    At that point, he had been used to victories.


    However, this particr one was special because he won it with his sister.


    Not only that, but he felt that it served as a great closure for what they had¡ªalthough Mei was still not aware of their real rtionship.


    "Mentor June," Jaeyong said, also looking proud. "Do you have some words to say to everybody in the room?"


    June smiled and took the microphone from the stand before facing everybody.


    He felt fulfilled since it didn''t appear that they were questioning the result. There was some disappointment on their faces, but that was normal. June was just very thankful that they won, not because of his poprity but because of the performance they had.


    "First of all, I want to say thanks to the girls on my team," he said, causing their smiles to widen.


    "I know first-hand how hard they''ve tried, and I''m also deeply rooting for all of them. However, I''m also proud of all of you. From the auditions and now to the near end, I feel like you guys are finally ready to be idols."


    "You have been an integral part of my journey," he smiled.


    "All of you."


    "This will be an experience that I will take with me until the day I die," he said, earning ''awws'' from the listeners.


    "You''re going to be immortal, June!" a girl eximed, making the room burst into chuckles.


    "That would be too lonely," June said. "I wish I would live a normal, peaceful life up until my 70s," he continued.


    But that wasn''t the case for everybody.


    "Anyway," he continued. "This is yourst mission. The next one, you would be in front of thousands of people¡ªyour future fans."


    "I hope that all of you don''t lose hope and continue striving until the very end of thepetition."


    "Not only that, but I also hope you continue striving even if you didn''t fulfill your goals for this show."


    "Thank you."


    With that, he ced the microphone back on the stand while they pped for his glorious speech.


    "Thank you for that," Casper chimed. "Jaeyong nearly cried again," he added, making the girls chuckle at the cute idol.


    "Well, we will conclude tonight''s filming with the benefits that June''s team will receive," Jaeyong said with a stuffy nose.


    "Each girl will be given 100,000 stars added to their votes. This is a very great prize as it may change the course of the game," he continued.


    The girls started discussing among themselves, feeling the gravity of the situation since the finale wasing in the following week.


    "This has been Casper."


    "And this has been Jaeyong."


    "See you in the live finale next week!" they said in unison, signaling the end of the filming.


    With that, the different teams dispersed, beingforted by their respective mentors.


    June, on the other hand, celebrated with his team, even ordering them some food.


    The other girls went back to get dressed, but June held onto Mei''s wrist, making her halt.


    She turned around with a frown.


    She was about to speak, but June ced his index finger against his lips and shushed her.


    "Follow me," he mouthed.


    Mei was surprised, but nheless, she followed June, feeling like she couldn''t miss out on the interaction.


    They arrived at the back of the staircase¡ªa ce where cameras weren''t found.


    Mei frowned as they arrived at the dark area.


    "What the heck?" she muttered.


    "I''m not into older dudes, just so you know."


    June frowned and stepped away from him.


    "Don''t get the wrong idea," June said. "You shouldn''t be liking anybody at this point."


    Mei rolled her eyes. "Why did you pull me to the side, then?"


    June pursed his lips. "I have something to give you."


    Mei frowned and held out her hand.


    "What is it?" she asked. "Make it fast. The food is going to arrive soon."


    "It''s not a material thing," June vaguely answered.


    Mei''s frown deepened.


    "What do you mean? Don''t tell me bullcrap and say that it''s your love or something like that."


    "No," June eximed. "It''s something...supernatural."


    Mei sighed and shook her head. "You''re not making sense."


    "Just...just tell me that you won''t get weirded out," he warned.


    Mei clicked her tongue. "I''m already weirded out."


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "Alright, I understand. Then, just tell me that you''re not going to freak out."


    "Depends on what it is," Mei said with narrowed eyes.


    "Promise me," June urged, making Mei feel like June was being very serious.


    "Alright," she finally said. "I won''t freak out."


    "Okay," June said.


    "Okay," he repeated.


    He went through his potions and looked at the ''gift'' button.


    At that moment, he suddenly felt emotional.


    [So, this is it, huh?]


    "This is it," June muttered, not bothering to hide it from Mei.


    Mei frowned. "What the heck? You''re speaking to yourself now?"


    "Shh," June said. "Don''t interrupt me. Just give me a moment."


    Mei rolled her eyes but nheless followed June''s instruction.


    It really did seem like he was unusually emotional.


    [I''m going to miss you.]


    "Don''t give me that sappy shit."


    June said those words, but he felt tears brimming in his eyes.


    [You were the best host I could have wished for.]


    "And you could have been a much, much better system," June deadpanned.


    Fu ignored him and continued saying emotional stuff.


    [We''vee a long way.]


    [You could barely dance when I first met you, and now you can fly through the roof with your dance moves.]


    June chuckled and shook his head.


    [I''m very proud of you, darling.]


    "Darling?" June muttered.


    [You might think that you didn''t arrive at your current level with your own effort, but I want to tell you that it was only possible to havee this far because it was you.]


    [June, you were meant to be a top idol...and now, you are one.]


    [I''ve served you well, and I''ll serve your sister well.]


    "Treat her well," June said, feeling tears brim in his eyes.


    He couldn''t believe that he was feeling emotional from a crazy system!


    [I''m ready.]


    June pursed his lips and nodded, finally saying the words he had long kept.


    "Gift system."

 Chapter 743 Better Life

    <h4>Chapter 743 Better Life</h4>


    Mei stood there for a second, feeling like she was in some kind of simtion.


    Then, she shook her head as she looked at June''s teary eyes.


    "Why are you getting so emotional?" she muttered, finding the situation weird.


    [It''s fine to get emotional! We''re suffering a loss here.]


    Her eyes instantly widened, and she looked around the ce, wondering where she heard such a voice.


    [I''m here.]


    Mei darted her eyes all around, making her feel like she was going crazy.


    She let out a small chuckle.


    "Alright, I think I need to head back. I''m feeling pretty tired," she said, a bit absent-minded.


    She was about to leave when the same voice spoke once more.


    [You''re taking this surprisingly better than your bro¡ªI mean, than June. He fainted and injured his face when he first heard my voice!]


    "Are you hearing him now?" June asked, wiping his eyes and looking intently at Mei.


    Mei''s mind was in a constant state of distress as she tried toprehend everything that was happening.


    [Yes, listen to June before I make a formal introduction!]


    "What the fuck is happening?" Mei asked, not able to control her voice.


    Her voice echoed through the walls, making June cover her mouth with his hand.


    "They''ll hear you!" he whisper-shouted.


    Mei looked at June, still appearing shocked.


    June sighed. "You promised me that you wouldn''t freak out!"


    Mei removed June''s hand from her mouth and sighed, trying to calm down her mind.


    "How could I calm down when I have this mboyant-ass voice speaking in my head?" she whisper-shouted back.


    "Oh, I never thought of it that way," June chuckled. "But Fu is pretty mboyant."


    [Just because I''m fabulous does not mean that I''m mboyant.]


    "See! It''s speaking again!" Mei eximed.


    June sighed and massaged his temples.


    "I know you must be in shock," he said. "But it''s really not that bad."


    "What the heck is this? How do you even know that there''s someone speaking in my head?" Mei asked.


    "Because that came from me," June smiled.


    [Good evening, host! I am Fu, your idol system.]


    [Goal: Be a top idol, or your brother dies.]


    [Your current stats are:


    Vocals: B-


    Dance: C+


    Visuals: S


    Rap: F]


    Mei''s eyebrows raised in surprise. She knew she needed a lot of work done, but having her statsid out for her was quite humbling.


    That didn''t take up much of her thoughts, though, since Fu''s previous statement caught her off the most.


    "Brother?" she muttered.


    "Huh?" June asked as soon as she said the word.


    Mei looked at June before shaking her head.


    "What the heck is he talking about?" she asked.


    "Oh, he says a lot of useless stuff," June said. "Don''t listen to him all of the time. He throws curveballs that would stray you away from your original path. I wish I knew that sooner."


    "However, he''s not bad at all. The missions he gives are still ridiculous, and some are borderline illegal, but they seem to happen for a reason."


    Mei closed her eyes to absorb everything June was telling her.


    "Is this really happening?" she asked, still unable to believe it.


    June sighed and turned even more serious.


    "It''s what I''ve been meaning to give you sincest week," June said.


    Mei chuckled. "Like it''s just some kind of gift? What the heck? What even is this?"


    "It already told you," June said. "It''s a system¡ªan idol system that helps you upgrade your skills."


    Mei frowned, and then she pointed at June.


    "All along, you had this kind of system with you?"


    June pursed his lips before nodding.


    "And that''s why you were able to improve so fast?"


    June continued nodding.


    "I guess you could say that," he said. "Although, in my defense, it wasn''t easy getting to where I am today. I''m not sure whether it''s easier or more difficultpared to other trainees, but I know that I don''t have any regrets."


    Mei scoffed, about to tell him off for having a cheat sheet, when Fu spoke once again.


    [The skills reflected in the system are due to the host''s hard work.]


    [Fu is not a cheat sheet.]


    [Fu is just a helper to the deserving ones.]


    That instantly had Mei quieting down.


    She was still in disbelief at what was happening, yet somehow, she felt that it made a lot of sense.


    Mei was a very huge fan of such books, so she wasn''t unfamiliar with such concepts.


    However, even then, being the subject of such concepts was still pretty shocking.


    "And why me?" Mei asked, her voice holding a sense of eptance.


    That caused June to smile.


    "Because it''s you," June vaguely answered, causing Mei to impatiently sigh.


    "Just tell me the reason," Mei deadpanned


    June shrugged. "Honestly, there''s no set reason."


    You''re my sister.


    "You just seem to be the most hardworking out of everyone in the entire show."


    Of course, she has been a hard worker ever since we were younger.


    "I could tell that you like this job a lot. You really want to be an idol."


    That still shocks me to this day.


    "Honestly, you''re way better than me since I was given the system not out of my own will but randomly by the universe."


    And now, I''m choosing you.


    "So, I wanted to change things and give it to someone who has wanted it from the start."


    And that''s you.


    "So, take this gift of mine, and I hope you fulfill your dreams with it. Fulfill your goals, too," he continued.


    I might not be there to see it happen, but I''ll still be watching from afar.


    "You''ll have a hard time adjusting at first, but I hope you take it one step at a time. You got this," June said, patting her back.


    Somehow, June''s words and actions ignited something in Mei''s heart¡ªsomething that she felt she had experienced before.


    Then, before she knew it, a tear fell out of her eye.


    June was surprised, while Mei shook her head and aggressively rubbed her eyes until they were red.


    "I don''t get it," Mei muttered. "Why do I want to cry every time you''re near now?"


    June smiled at the ground.


    Mei may not know, but she must have felt it deep inside.


    June didn''t say anything and started walking away from Mei, hoping she would continue to feel their connection without the explicit use of words.


    Before June came May.


    So, June wanted to give Mei everything he had before he left.


    "Mei," he said just as he left, causing the girl to look at him with teary eyes.


    I''m your brother.


    "I hope you live a better life this time."

 Chapter 744 A Better Azure

    Chapter 744 A Better Azure


    With that, June went back to his waiting room, leaving Mei to ponder upon everything that had happened. He opened the door and saw Jay pacing back and forth. "June!" Jay eximed as soon as he saw him. "Where have you been?" "I just talked to someone," June said with a small smile. "You didn''t wait that long, did you?" "I didn''t," Jay said, massaging the bridge of his nose. "But, you should have told me. They''re also waiting¡ª" "Hey, just because I''m dying, you don''t have to be so concerned. I''m still in pretty good shape, you know?"


    Jay''s eyes widenedically. Then, he pursed his lips and gestured for June to cut it off, making thetter even more confused. "You''re...dying?" Just then, June realized why Jay was acting as such. June''s eyes mirrored Jay''s as he slowly turned around to meet the gazes of Casper and Jaeyong. Jay cleared his throat and walked next to him before whispering in his ears, "That''s what I''ve been meaning to tell you. Casper and Jaeyong are waiting with me." "Oh," June said, pursing his lips. "Hi, guys!" Casper continued to frown while Jaeyong was in a state of confusion. "Dying?" Casper repeated his question. "What are you talking about?" Jay scratched the back of his head and tried toe up with an excuse. "His Grandma is dying," he chuckled. "Did I tell you that already? She''s very sick in the hospital and looks like she''s going to pass soon." June red at Jay while the other two didn''t look convinced. "No," Jaeyong stubbornly said. "I heard you say that YOU were dying¡ªnot anyone else." Jay chuckled once more. "Forget about what I said about Grandma. June just meant that he was dying fromughter because I''m such a funny joker." "You didn''t even make a joke," Casper deadpanned. June sighed. "I''m sick," he finally revealed, making Casper''s and Jaeyong''s expressions soften. It seemed like they couldn''t believe what June was saying and that they couldn''t find the right words to say. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Like a flu?" Jaeyong asked, almost in denial. June pursed his lips before shaking his head. "Very sick," he vaguely said, making the two instantly feel emotional. Casper went to his side and held onto his body, inspecting his arms, chest, and face. June sighed and let him be, knowing just how much Casper loved him as a friend. "How sick? Shouldn''t you be at the hospital then?" "Yeah," Jaeyong urged, already on the verge of tears. June chuckled and hit Jaeyong''s chest. "Stop crying now. The performances are long over." "Stop joking," Jaeyong muttered. "You should listen to what Casper had said." "I already went to the doctor," June sighed. "They told me that it''s toote. I don''t have much time." Casper and Jaeyong still appeared lost. June understood them very well. He would react the same way if one of his members had also gone through such a thing. "I know that it''s hard to process, but we can''t do anything right now. We can just ept it and move on. I''ve been doing my best to give you guys the best while I''m still here, and I''ll make sure that you keep receiving the best even when I''m gone. You don''t have to worry¡ª" June didn''t get to finish his statement since he felt the air get knocked out of his lungs. His eyebrows raised when he felt two bear-like figures by his side, hugging him like he was their long-lost child. Then, his eyebrows rxed when he felt a wet sensation on his shoulders. He patted their backs,forting them. "It''s alright," he said. "It''s going to be okay." Casper raised his head, tears on his eyes and cheeks. "How can it be okay when we''re just finding out that you''re dying?" he eximed. Jaeyong also turned to Jay with narrowed eyes. "You betrayed us. You should have told everyone." Jay pursed his lips, also feeling emotional. "June didn''t want me to tell you guys." June nodded. "Don''t me Jay. He''s been helping me a lot. I still stand by what I said that the other members shouldn''t know." "But why not?" Jaeyong eximed. "Don''t they deserve to know it, too?" June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "Think about Jisung," June muttered. "Think about how much he''ll cry. He won''t even function," he said, smiling as he remembered their youngest member. The other two turned to each other and suddenly understood. "There''s no reason to hide it from you guys since you''ve already found out," June continued. "But I hope that you keep it to yourselves¡ªthat''s just one of my wishes." Casper, despite being against it, nodded in agreement. "I''ll do whatever you say," he muttered. Jay shook his head as he wiped his unshed tears. "Gosh, you''re still a simp even until now." "One of your wishes?" Jaeyong suddenly asked, changing the topic. "Do you have other ones?"


    "Yes," June smirked, suddenly appearing evil. Jay scooted closer to Casper. "Somehow, I''m not worried when he looks this evil. Why does it feel like he''s going to be better in no time?" "He looks hot," Casper whispered back, making Jay recoil back. "Jay already knows of the n," June continued.


    Jay snapped back to reality as he stood next to June. "You''re going to tell them?" "The more trusted hands I have, the better," June said. Jaeyong frowned despite his tears. "What''s happening?" he asked. June''s smirk widened as he continued exining the n. "I have some vital information against Mr. Ong," he said. Casper and Jaeyong finally realized the gravity of the situation. So, they let go of their sad emotions for a moment and intently listened to June. "One that could cause him to get kicked out of thepany." "We''re going to be revealing it after thest episode of Rising Stars airs¡ªon July 6th," he continued. "Now, I''m unsure if I''ll be able to make it until then, but I''ve already talked to news outlets, and they know we have a blind iteming. This is courtesy of Mr. Choi Pablo," he said.


    "However, only Jay and I know of such information as of the moment." "Well, us too, right?" Casper asked. June shook his head. "You''ll know once it''s out. What I need you guys to do is to push Jay to be the new CEO." The guys'' eyes raised in surprise. Jay, too, pursed his lips. "I still can''t believe it," Jay said. "But June made a pretty reasonable point." "Jay is already part of the board ofmittee as our manager. EVE is currently the biggest artist in thepany¡ªeven more than those actors they have." "With this in mind, Jay is a great candidate for the CEO¡ªone that wouldn''t mistreat you or the new girl group from Rising Stars." "And with your guys'' cooperation, Jay should have a stronger chance to be nominated." "Then, we''ll witness the fall of Mr. Ong..." "...and the birth of a new Azure."

 Chapter 745 The Last To-Do List

    Chapter 745 The Last To-Do List


    Casper hugged June while the rest of the members stared at them. "Did the shipping finally get to them?" Akira whispered to Jaeyong. Jaeyong pursed his lips before shaking his head. Then, his eyes got teary as he stared at the two of them, making Akira frown. "What the heck?" he muttered. "Why are you two acting so strange these days?" "Anyway," he said, turning to Jisung instead. "Are they finally canon?" he asked, causing the other members to frown. "Canon?" Sehun asked. "Like the camera brand?" "Oh, Sehun," Ren said, chuckling to himself. "You''re a lost cause. It means those things that people use during wars." Akira and Jisung turned to each other and shook their heads. "What are we going to do with you guys?" Akira asked. "It means that they''re finally together." "Oh, they''re together?" Zeth asked. "No!" Jisung eximed. "They can''t be together. June does not like anyone romantically like that. Casper¡ªI don''t know. He just seems like an alien." "But why is June not rejecting his affection? See!" Akira eximed. "June''s even letting Casper talk while he''s cooking. He usually makes him go away!" Jay sighed as he munched on a piece of celery. "Just let him be," he said. "They''re having a moment. If I were you, I would hug June, too." Jisung perked up. "Can I really do that?" Meanwhile, Akira frowned. "Wait a minute. I just realized¡ªwhy are you always here now? You''ve been here the entire week." Jay clicked his tongue. "Stop that. I''ll be your boss soon," he proudly said. Akira scoffed. "As if!" he eximed. "Azure would have to go bankrupt for that to happen." "That can''t be," Jay said. "Azure needs to thrive," he said,ughing manically while standing. The members didn''t even pay attention to him, already used to his delusions. "Breakfast is ready!" June eximed from the kitchen. The members boisterously went to the dining area, already excited for their meal. They sat in their usual spots¡ªan instinct that they hadn''t realized.


    Then, they started eating the food that June had prepared. "What''s with all of this?" Ren asked with bright eyes. "Why?" June asked. "Is the food not to your liking?" "It is!" Ren eximed. "It''s just...too extravagant. Can we eat this much food for breakfast?" June smirked and ced another dish in front of them. "Just enjoy it," he said. "Don''t forget about the taste." With his statement, the three boys who knew about his illness started tearing up. Akira turned to them and shook his head. "Weird ass people," he muttered. Jisung whispered next to him, "You''re the weirdest here." "Anyway," he said, turning to June. "Thank you for this, June! You should eat with us, too." "Hmm," June said, going to his seat. The atmosphere was loud and warm, as usual. He was usually annoyed because of the chaos, but June merely closed his eyes and enjoyed everything happening around him. He ate as normal, and he got up to wash the dishes. "Let me do it, bro," Jisung said, but June shook his head and ruffled Jisung''s hair, making thetter lean toward him like a kitty. "I''ll do it," June said. "Just enjoy this day." "I will!" Jisung said. "We need to rest today because we have a lot to do tomorrow." "That''s right," June said as he continued washing the dishes. "I''ll go and watch a drama with Akira then!" he said, skipping happily to the living room. Meanwhile, June had time to reflect as he continued washing the dishes. After that, he went to his room. He had lots of things to do today, so he quickly got dressed and grabbed the briefcase from his closet before cing it in his big, ck bag. He went out of his room, capturing the attention of his members. "Where are you going?" Casper asked. "To greet some people," June said. His members frowned. "Should you be doing that when we have something important to do tomorrow?" Akira asked. "You should just rest and watch this drama with us." June shook his head. "I''ll be back before it gets dark." "Still," Jaeyong said, turning to Jay for help, knowing that their manager would also reprimand June for wandering around. However, much to their surprise, Jay just nodded. "Okay," he said. "Just make sure to be back before dark." "I will," June said, waving his hand goodbye before leaving their dorm. Then, once he was out, the members of EVE all turned to Jay with questioning stares. "Why did you allow him to just leave?" Jaeyong asked. "Let him be," Jay said, looking down at his hands with a small smile. "It''s what makes him happy."


    "I don''t want to regret anything," he muttered. Meanwhile, June pulled out a note from his pocket and smirked as he read at his checklist. Things To Do Before July: N?v(el)B\\jnn


    1. Visit Grandma and peel her some apples. 2. Go to Minjun''s school with ice cream from that one store and give it to everyone in his ss (give anonymously). 3. Donate 16,000,000 won to an orphanage. 4. Have a nude photoshoot with Choi Pablo (upper body only). 5. Leave Jenny some pocket money. 6. Give Jia and her friends gift cards for EVE merch. 7. Gift CHAOS and OCTA shirts with my face on them. 8. Bury it. June moved at a fast pace to get everything done. All in all, it took him until afternoon to aplish his to-do list. "Only one thing left," he muttered, feeling a bit exhausted. He had an ice cream cone in one hand and his favorite bag in the other. June stood outside a familiar apartment¡ªone he considered his home for most of his stay in Korea. "Leave! We''re making renovations, so I''m not looking for any tenants at the moment," he heard an old woman scream. "My workers need to have their snacks now! So shoo and skedaddle!" He hid behind the wall and shook his head when he realized who it was. "Monsterndy," he muttered. Then, sensing that she wasn''t there anymore, June slowly moved away from the wall and walked to where the renovations were happening. It seemed like thendy was finally getting the building fixed. It was overdue since the location was considered prime, being near the city. It had been demolished, and the foundation was being reced. There was a huge hole, and it was slowly getting filled with cement from the mixer. June smirked. Then, without any hesitation, he threw the bag into the hole and watched as the cement covered it. "Good luck finding it now," he muttered.

 Chapter 746 June 30th

    Chapter 746 June 30th


    Thest day of June. June 30th, 2024. The boys were getting ready backstage, appearing more organized than the first mini-concert that they had. It seemed like thepany actually put a lot of effort into their concert this time. They were performing in a venue that was significantlyrger than the first one, so it still felt nerve-wracking despite the better preparations. "What''s the capacity of this concert hall again?" Akira asked, his palms sweaty from nervousness. "Around 16,000," June answered. "But, I think they decided to sell the blocked view seats, so there''s roughly around 18,000 attendees in the concert." "Damn," Jisung said. "I knew we were popr, but we''re THAT popr, huh?" Jay shook his head. "This is no match to your guys'' poprity! Thepany should have rented out a stadium instead¡ªone with over a 60,000-person capacity." Ren smiled as he imagined such a grand concert. "Well, one can dream," he said. "Maybe, on our official first tour?" he asked. "Yes!" Jisung said. "We can start in Korea, then we can also travel the world. I''ve always wanted to perform on Madison Square Garden!" "You''ll achieve that soon," Jay said. Then, he nced at June, who was still smiling despite his circumstances. "I just wish that all of you would be there," he whispered. "What was that?" Ren asked, not hearing Jay''sst statement. "Nothing," Jay said. "Get yourselves pretty, thene backstage. You''ll see how the audience looks like before heading to the stage in order to take away some of the nerves. Then, after half an hour, the concert will officially start." Having Jayy out what they needed to do made the boys even more nervous. As Jay left the make-up room, Jaeyong gathered his teammates. He was already teary-eyed when the concert hadn''t started yet, so Akira teased him. "What happened with you?" he asked. "You''re like a pipe these days. You just keep squirting whenever you have the chance." "I don''t think that''s appropriate to say," Sehun remarked, but Akira and Jaeyong paid him no attention. "Just let me have my moment," Jaeyong said. "I''m considering this as our first andst concert, so I''m feeling emotional," he continued. Casper pursed his lips and looked down at the ground. Meanwhile, June looked the same. "What do you mean byst?" Jisung chuckled, nudging their leader''s shoulder. "This is just the first of many!" he eximed. "We''ll still perform in those big stadiums that we''re dreaming of. Right, June?" he asked, turning to his bro. June smiled and nodded. "Right," he said. "I think we need to go now, though. The staff is already signaling us to proceed backstage." The members of EVE nodded and went backstage, where they were met with Jay''s excited smile. "Take a look," he said, gesturing to arge monitor beside him. The boys looked at the monitor with wide eyes, observing the pink sea of lights that adorned the dome. Every seat was filled, and it was surreal to think that so many people hade to support them as a team. "These are our fans?" Akira asked in disbelief. Jay nodded with a proud smile. "You guys havee a long way," Jay said. "I still remember when I used to stand on stage with you, and we would perform in front of what we thought was already arge crowd." "However, here you guys are," he continued, suddenly feeling emotional. "I hope that you''ve enjoyed every single moment." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His gaze was directed to June as he said that. June chuckled and shook his head. "It would be a lie if I said that I enjoyed it all. Honestly, I underestimated just how tough the preparations an idol needs to do," he said, making his teammates empathize with his words. "So, there are a lot of moments when I felt like giving up¡ªwhen I felt that it wasn''t worth it anymore," he continued. "But then again, I don''t have any regrets," June concluded. The only regret I have is not being able to be an idol for longer. "So, with that, let''s enter the stage with the same mindset," he said, looking at his teammates. "We''re idols. We''re performers, so that''s exactly what we''re going to give to the audience¡ªa show they will never forget." With determined nods, the members of EVE took their positions under the stage, where they would be slowlyunched up. The lights inside the concert hall finally dimmed, and the audience burst into loud cheers. The members of EVE were surrounded by darkness, yet it didn''t hide that they were shining brightly from within. Smoke filled the stage as a banging sound was heard all over the venue, causing the crowd to go silent. "One minute!" the performance director screamed, causing the other staff members to prepare themselves.


    The members of EVE nced at each other onest time, smiles adorning their faces.


    Then, the tforms slowly rose, and the once darkness was now reced with shining bright lights. The pink sea of lights that they saw through the monitors materialized in front of their eyes, and they couldn''t help but smile at the sight. Then, as the first note of their opening song was heard through the stage, they snapped to their performer selves and got ready to give a show that everyone would enjoy. June stood at the very center of it all, his handheld mic against his lips. The mere appearance of his face on therge screens was enough to cause chaos in the venue. His eyes appeared like shining stars under the shiny lights, and the people couldn''t help but marvel at his beauty as the wind swept through his hair. He looked around and savored the moment, knowing that this might just be hisst. So, as they waited for the intro to finish, June decided to do some adlibs and hype the crowd up. "Astras, are you ready?" he screamed, eliciting louder cheers from the audience. The members were surprised, but they were more pumped up after June had said such words. "EVE on top!" he continued in a loud, booming voice, sending goosebumps through the audience''s and members'' bodies.


    "Let''s fucking party like it''s the end of the world!"

 Chapter 747 That Boys A Liar

    Chapter 747 That Boy''s A Liar


    Although the concert hadn''t ended yet, fans had already started posting the clips they had filmed while it was still ongoing. The most iconic moment was, no doubt, the adlibs that June had done before the start of the show. - It''s over. He cursed at all of us. - June has always been unfiltered. However, it seems like heid low after he officially debuted. I''m d to see him loosening up again! - You can see on the boys'' faces that they''re really enjoying what they''re doing. - Even their sexy songs are making me cry. Is that normal? - I just feel so proud of them. I had been here since the very beginning, and it wasn''t an easy journey. I''m so happy to be able to see them on such a big stage. I hope to see them in even bigger stages in the future! - I can''t party like it''s the end of the world, June! I still want to see all of you! - I wasn''t fortunate enough to get a ticket this time. Next time, I want to be able to watch all of you guys on the stage. For sure...next time. "Are you guys enjoying the show?" June asked as they prepared themselves for the next stage. A resounding agreement was heard in the venue, which boosted the boys'' energy. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Although they were physically tired, the boys felt like they could continue performing for hours more.


    "What''s your favorite part of the entire concert?" Akira asked. Those watching at their homes from an illegal livestream proudly shared their thoughts. - I love all of it! - Please don''t die. I will love you for a very long time. - I loved the part where you guys sang and danced.


    - Can you believe that EVE is not even a one-year-old group? How many groups do you see being this sessful so early in their careers? - No one! That''s why EVE is the best group ever! "I know that you guys might not like this," Jisung chimed. "But the next stage will be ourst song for the night! However, for now, let''s listen to our members''st ments!" Disappointment exmations were heard all throughout the concert hall. "I know. I know," June said. "You guys don''t want it to end yet, but some things just need toe to an end, right?" Jisung shook his head. "Not us, though!" he said. "We''ll stay with you guys forever! Today will just be a pause, but it won''t be the end. Right, guys?" "Right," Jaeyong chimed. However, he wasn''t able to hold in his emotions as he stared up at the ceiling. The cameraman focused on him, and the audience suddenly realized that the concert was reallying to an end. "Sorry," Jaeyong said, his tears now freely flowing from his eyes. "Don''t cry! Don''t cry!" the audience chanted. However, they, themselves, were already on the verge of tears. June shook his head and stood next to their leader. The other boys, too, sensing Jaeyong''s vulnerability, went next to him. "Group hug!" Akira eximed. The boys all went in to hug Jaeyong, and it created a beautiful picture for everyone in the audience. Jia pursed her lips to prevent herself from crying. Then, she brought out her camera and snapped pictures of the boys before uploading them on Navel. Not even secondster, the post had already garnered more than a thousand likes. After their group hug, Jaeyong continued with his ment, his mind filled with thoughts of June. He didn''t give anything away, but June knew that his speech was dedicated to him, which also made him emotional. After that, the other boys started saying theirst speeches one by one. Casper, who was known to not cry, even shed a tear, which led the audience to crumble. "What the heck?" Bora eximed, fanning her eyes to stop her tears from falling. "Why is that bastard crying?" Wei nodded in agreement. "He''s too much for my heart," he said. "He has never cried until now." "That''s all," Casper said. "I really want to spend more time with you guys in the future. I hope we can make it happen." With that, Casper passed the mic onto June, which instantly elicited reactions from the audience. June raised his eyebrows in surprise as protests were heard in the venue. "What?" he asked. "You guys don''t want me to speak anymore?" - I''m holding in my tears. I''m sure I would burst into tears after June is finished with his ment. - Tell me about it. It was already bad enough when he was in Rising Stars. His speeches had me weak! - Let''s get ready for another monumental speech. My tissues are ready. Akira chuckled as he gauged the audience''s reactions. "I think they don''t want to cry, June," Akira chimed. June chuckled loudly. "Don''t worry," he said. "I won''t make you guys cry. It''ll just be a usual speech." - Oh no. I already have a bad feeling about this. - Don''t lie to us, June. If I cry, you have to marry me. - Delusional. He''s already married to me. "I want to start things off by saying that tonight has been unforgettable, and standing here, I''m carrying every moment we''ve shared." June smiled before continuing his speech. "You know, I used to think that ''forever'' was just a word¡ªsomething abstract and unattainable. I mean, how could somethingst for a lifetime?" "But the guys, they keep saying we''re going to perform forever, be with you guys forever. And now, maybe, I think they''re right." The crowd ''awwed'' after June said those words. "June, you liar," Jia said, already feeling the waterworksing. "Perhaps forever isn''t about time¡ªbut the connections we make and the memories we cherish."


    "Even if we find ourselves distant or far apart, if the love is still there, then maybe forever does exist. It''s not about always being together in person." "This stage, this music, and your support have allowed me to do what I love the most." "I never knew that happiness could be so simple until you told me how happy you were because of me...because of us. That made me believe that happiness is truly within reach."


    "I want to be better for all of you, to give you the best of me. But if therees a time when I can''t, I hope you''ll continue to love us as you do now. Love the boys and take care of them¡ªthey need your support, your cheers, and your love."


    "Thank you for listening to me sing, for letting me dream, and for being my strength. Remember, no matter where we go or what happens, our hearts are forever connected."


    "And finally, always keep a ce for us in your hearts because you will always have a ce in ours...in mine."

 Chapter 748 No Goodbyes

    Chapter 748 No Goodbyes


    "June, you''re such a liar," Jisung said, sniffing after June said those words. June had been in a daze during his speech, so he didn''t realize that the venue was already filled with tears after he said hisst words. "What did I do?" he innocently asked. "You made all of us cry," Casper said, standing next to him and leaning against his head. Their height difference was just perfect for him to do that, and for a second, the fans stopped crying to fangirl. - I can''t with all of these emotions. Do you want me to cry or feel giddy? EVE, please make up your mind! - I''m crying because of June''s speech, and now, I''m crying even more because my favorite ship ising to life! - June should go down in history as one of the greatest speech-makers of all time. "That''s enough," June said. "I didn''t say all of that just to make you cry. In fact, I wanted all of you to smile because you''re surely going to cry with ourst song!" The audience protested once more as the members went to their positions for the final stage. "This is entitled¡ªNo Goodbyes," Jaeyong said just as the music started.


    The lights dimmed out, casting the dome inplete darkness. The hum of anticipation was heard in the air, and for a moment, it felt as though time stood still. Then, one by one, thousands of tiny lights began to flicker in existence, shimmering like a constetion of dragonflies. The boys looked around as the makeshift lights surrounded them. June smiled in satisfaction. It seemed like thepany actually listened to their suggestions for once, or maybe it was just Jay all along. Nheless, the effect was natural and surreal, a perfect reflection of the bittersweet parting of their final stage. The boys of EVE stood in a line, each at their mic stand. The simplicity of the set-up amplified the emotions even more. There was no choreography, no shy movements¡ªjust them, their voices, and their emotions embedded within the song. The opening chorus of their final song, ''No Goodbyes,'' echoed through the venue, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The boys took a collective breath before Akira began to sing, his voice melding into harmony with Jisung, one that spoke of their friendship and hard work. "We''ve climbed the highest mountains, we''ve walked the longest roads, Through the nights and through the shadows, with the dreams we''ve carried close. Remember where we started, theughter and the tears, Every step that brought us closer, every hope and every fear."


    The song continued, and the audience realized that the line distribution was different this time around. It was as if the boys all had equal lines, which made the performance even more emotional. - Sehun has lines now. I''m so happy. - I was a bit disappointed during the mini-concert because of the line distribution. It would have been a perfect concert otherwise. However, now, it seems like they''ve fixed it. I''m really so happy. - This is already a perfect concert. I really wish I was there. - No goodbyes, EVE. No goodbyes.


    "No goodbyes, just see youter, We''ll meet again somewhere, somehow. Hold these moments like a treasure, We''re forever, here and now."


    As the first chorus faded, the boys'' voices gave way to the instrumental interlude. They nced at each other, smiling as they enjoyed the moment. This was not just a song but a culmination of their shared experiences, triumphs, and struggles.


    The rappers sang during the second part of the song, which highlighted their vocal ability despite their main role in the team.


    "From the shadows of the alleys to the brightest of the lights, We held on to each other through the darkest of the nights. Every friend we made along the way, every heart that shared our song, We carry you within us; you have made us strong."


    "No goodbyes, just see youter, We''ll meet again somewhere, somehow. Hold these moments like a treasure, We''re forever, here and now." As the song moved into the emotional bridge, the lights on the stage began to dim once more. June stepped forward, his heart pounding as he prepared to deliver his lines. But just as he opened his mouth to sing, a sh of light behind them caught his attention. He hesitated, thinking it was a technical mistake, but then familiar voices were heard over the sound system.


    "Shoot to the top! Hi guys, we''re LEVEL-UP!"


    "And this week''s winner is EVE!" "Jaeyong, Jisung, Casper, Zeth, Ren, Sehun, Akira, and June¡ªthe legendary rookies that are creating a new wave!"


    The boys turned around, puzzled, as therge screen behind them lit up with a montage of their achievements for the past months. Then, after that, aption of unaired scenes from their journey that were delightfully edited followed. Clips ofte-night rehearsals, candid moments ofughter, and emotional highs and lows filled the screen. The audience gasped and then fell silent, captivated by the intimate glimpse into the boys'' lives. June''s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He nced to his right, where he saw Jay waving. At that moment, June knew that he was the one who organized the surprise, which strengthened his belief that Jay needed to be the new CEO of Azure. The bridge of the song began, and he found his voice again, stronger than ever.


    "In every heart, in every moment, This is forever; this is our home. Through every storm, we''ll keep on going, Together, we''ll never be alone."


    As the montage faded and the song swelled back into the chorus, the boys turned back to their microphones, their expressions a blend of joy and nostalgia. They sang thest chorus together.


    "No goodbyes, just see youter, We''re forever, here and now."


    And as the final notes of the song lingered in the air, they sang thest line, their voices united in a beautiful conclusion.


    "No goodbyes.N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 749 In Heaven

    Chapter 749 In Heaven


    It was cold. The kind of cold that prated deep within the bones. June couldn''t open his eyes. However, he could hear a beautiful melody from far away. His eyebrows furrowed in his sleep. "Did I actually die?" he muttered. The singing continued, and the cold intensified. "It''s cold," he whispered. "It seems like I''m in heaven," he smiled. Despite all of the sins he hadmitted, the deities actually allowed him a chance to go to heaven! Now, it didn''t seem like dying was too bad. He sniffed the air and smelled a delicious scent¡ªone of fresh pie in the oven. A small smile appeared on his lips. "Pie," he muttered. It had been a while since he ate the baked good. "June," a woman''s voice said. June''s eyebrows furrowed. "God?" he asked. "He must be out of his mind," she muttered, making June even more confused. So, god was actually a woman, huh? "Wake up, idiot!" With closed eyes, June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. It also seemed like god was an avid curser. Was that the reason why he was epted into heaven? Just then, he felt a strong force on his forehead, making him gasp loudly and sit straight. "What the heck?" he eximed, holding onto his forehead. June finally opened his eyes, only to see Jenny, his beloved cousin, looking down at him with a disgusted expression. "What the heck?" she repeated back. "It''s already brunch time! Howe you''re not up yet?" "I know that you had a concert yesterday night, but that isn''t an excuse to bezy!" June frowned in confusion. "Why...are you here?" he trailed off. "Did you die, too?" Jenny pped the back of his head once more. "Die, my ass. Do you want me to kill you?" she asked. June was dumbfounded. Her hits definitely hurt¡ªeven more than the gangsters he used to work with when he was in his old body. So, that could only mean one thing¡ªhe was actually alive. "Anyway," Jenny sighed. "I came here because Jaeyong asked me toe. Something abouting to get you or something." "But, I didn''t expect you to wake up sote," she continued. "I already baked a pie and all, but you''re still not awake." "Heck, your members are already practicing a song! You should join them," she said. "And what''s with your room? Why the heck is it so hot? I turned up the air conditioning all the way up because it feels like a safari in here." June scratched the back of his head. So, that exined the sensations he felt a while ago. "Strange," he said. Jenny clicked his tongue. "What''s even more strange is that you''re still not getting up! Hurry up. The pie is being cut right now." June, despite finding the situation strange, got out of bed and followed after his cousin. "Well, Dr. Oh did say that I may have more time," he smiled. "Let''s enjoy it for a moment." With that, June went out of his room. The first person to greet him was Casper, who was already standing outside of his door. His face was pale, and it seemed like he was dreading June''s awakening. When Casper saw June, his face became even more pale¡ªalmost as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing. "You''re still alive," Casper loudly said, making Jenny turn around. She giggled loudly and giddily pped Casper''s arm. "Oh,e on now," she said in a flirty tone. June rolled his eyes. His cousin was insufferable, as usual. "I''m not that violent," she continued. "I won''t kill him just for that. I also don''t want to be martyred by his fans." Even as Jenny ranted, Casper continued staring at June. June left him all alone and went to the kitchen. The first thing he noticed was Jay and Jaeyong, who had their faces on the table. "He''s finally awake!" Jenny announced, making the two of them lift their heads. Then, their eyes widened as soon as they saw June. "You¡ª" Jay eximed. However, June red at him before he could finish his statement, making him zip his mouth shut. Jaeyong, too, appeared like he had seen a ghost, unable to say anything with his agape mouth. "Oh, sit down, bro," Jisung said, pointing to June''s seat. "Jenny made us blueberry pie. It''s really good!" he added. Jenny smiled widely before patting Jisung''s head. "You''re really such a good boy," she said, making Jisung beam. "Oh, please," Akira said. "Don''t feed himpliments. His head is going to get bigger." Jisung shook his head and continued to gesture for June toe closer. "You know what would be better, though?" Akira asked. "We should eat this pie while watching the new drama on TV!" Jisung''s spine straightened in excitement. "Yeah! We should do that. But Jaeyong doesn''t want us eating in the living room," he muttered. "It''s...alright," Jaeyong said, disbelief still evident on his face. "Yay!" Akira and Jisung eximed, quickly standing from their seats and coaxing the others to join them in the living room. Zeth got up and patted June''s back. "Last night was really good," he said. "Our group name trended all night long because of your speech." Sehun, too, smiled at him. "Thank you for redistributing the lines of thest song," he said. June absent-mindedly nodded, still finding the situation surreal. "June,e on!" Ren eximed. June nodded and followed after them, sitting on the couch. He observed his body and didn''t find anything wrong. Then, a small smile appeared on his face. It seemed like he was actually okay! "I still have some days," June muttered, feeling happy about his extended time. With that, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and turned it on. He had turned it off in preparation for his death, but it seemed like he still had some time. As the home screen appeared, his smile fell when he saw that he received multiple texts from an unknown number. The first text read¡ª''Today''s the deadline.'' June''s eyebrows furrowed as he clicked on the message. Then, the other messages appeared. Unknown: I will give you until midnight. Unknown: You will regret it if you don''t answer. Unknown: I know you have it. I know where it is. Unknown: I am giving you a chance to give it to me before I do something worse...much, much worse. Unknown: Last chance.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    That was thest text that June had received, making him shake his head. "Why is it taking so long to air?" Akira eximed. "It''s supposed to be out by now!"


    "Breaking news!" "What is that?" Sehun asked. June snapped his gaze away from his phone as soon as Sehun saw those words. "We have an active shooter in a hospital in Seoul."

 Chapter 750 Savior Complex

    Chapter 750 Savior Complex


    The members of EVE were sprawledfortably across the plush couches in their shared living room when the shocking news broke out. They all turned silent when a sharp tone and a bold ''BREAKING NEWS'' banner shed across the screen. They focused their attention on the screen as the anchor, a woman with aposed yet urgent demeanor, appeared. "We interrupt the usual program to bring you an urgent update," she started off. "Isn''t that the hospital?" Jay asked, breaking the silence. June''s frown deepened as he recognized the familiar background. Indeed, it was none other than the hospital that Dr. Oh owned, sprawled across the television in all of it''s transparent glory. "We have just received reports of a gunman on the loose at Seoul Hospital."


    "Shit," Akira couldn''t help but curse. "It''s really in the hospital near here." Some of the boys nced at June, knowing that he was a frequent visitor of the hospital. "The individual is believed to be a psychiatric patient and is currently armed and dangerous." Some clips from outside of the hospital were shown, appearing blurry to the naked eye. The camera could only capture their silhouettes through the transparent windows of the first floor. However, even then, it was obvious that there was chaos going on inside.


    "Seoul Hospital has now issued a code ck, and patients are being transferred out of the hospital for their safety. However, not everyone can be escorted out due to fear of being gunned down."


    "The gunman is reportedly in the indoor garden where patients and some of their families were gathered. One person has been wounded, while others are hiding." "The hospital staff and the police are on the scene, paying attention to handling the situation, but the gunman appears to be extremely agitated and unpredictable."


    "It''s only the start of July, yet it has alreadye to this," Jenny muttered. "I sure hope that none of them are harmed." The members of EVE exchanged worried nces, their previousughter now reced with tense silence. Then, the scene cut to a shaky live feed from a bystander''s phone. "On the screen is footage from one of the people inside. Despite vitions against various media policies, it has not been taken down for surveince of the situation going on inside. The police are also monitoring the footage." June''s frown deepened as the footage shown was chaotic, capturing screams, muffled cries, and a frantic crowd trying to find safety. The image then panned to show an old woman being held at gunpoint, her skinny face pale with fear. "Oh my gosh," Jisung whispered as the familiar woman was shown on the screen. June felt like his heart had stopped beating as Grandma appeared, looking more fearful and anxious than ever. The members all turned to June, concern evident in their gazes. "June," Jay said, reaching out to him.


    However, June couldn''t see or hear anything else. All he could focus on was the woman on the screen. However, before he could continue dwelling on the fact that his grandma was currently being held hostage, the shaky camera shifted up, showing the dreaded gunman that everyone was talking about. At that moment, a gasp escaped from everybody''s lips, and they stared at the screen with eyes filled with disbelief. "Is that¡ª" Casper wasn''t even able to finish his statement since he felt lightheaded. Meanwhile, June shook his head before facing the ceiling. "Chul," he muttered. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he internalized the situation. Just then, the texts he received from Laohu shed in his mind...


    ...and at that moment, he knew. This was not a mere coincidence. It was, most definitely, nned. Then, the scene cut back to the news anchor, now appearing more worried than before. "Just in," she said in a frantic voice. "The gunman is now holding an innocent old woman hostage. The scene inside is now more chaotic than ever, and the police are trying to negotiate with the gunman for him to release the civilian." "Please stay tuned to the updates." With that, the screen turned ck before going back to the station''s usualmercials. "Go to the news channel, quick!" Jay urged. Akira, forgetting about his current favorite drama, did as Jay had told him so. However, at that moment, June stood abruptly, the intensity in his eyes cutting through the room''s tension like a knife. The other members looked up at him, confused.


    "June? Where are you going?" Jaeyong asked, concern heard in his voice. June didn''t respond immediately. He grabbed the van''s keys from the table and darted toward the door with determined strides.


    "June, wait! You can''t just¡ª" Jay started, but June cut him off.


    "I have to go," June said, his voice resolute. "I can''t just sit here and do nothing."


    The room erupted in protests, but June''s mind was made up.


    "Let mee with you," Jay said, but June didn''t bother waiting for him. He didn''t want to ce any of them at harm, so he used his speed to lose Jay and his members. "June!" he heard from afar, but he didn''t turn around. Instead, he quickly went inside the van and started the engine. He could see the boys going after him, trying to stop him, but he didn''t pay them any attention. With that, he sped through the streets, his heart pounding in his chest. The city blurred past him as he pushed the car to its limits, memories of his past life shing through his mind. The chaotic fights, nights of strategizing, and finding ways to survive...


    Those instincts kicked in, pushing aside any hesitation.


    As he neared the hospital, the shing lights of police cars and ambnces came into view. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The area was cordoned off, and officers were trying to keep the growing crowd at bay. "No one maye in! I repeat, no one maye inside," the officer screamed through his megaphone. "Please, my son is inside," a woman pleaded, but the police officers didn''t want to take their chances. "Rest assured, we will try our best to handle the situation," the officer responded. June parked a few blocks away and approached the scene on foot, his mind focused on one thing and one thing only. Saving those people.

 Chapter 751 June, The Gangster

    Chapter 751 June, The Gangster


    He was dressed in all ck like he always did whenever he went out. That seemed to have helped a lot as he slipped through the chaos, making his way to a side entrance that not many people knew of. The hospital''s indoor garden was just beyond it. He looked around and saw a couple of police officers roaming around, so he quickly blended into the shadows.


    June''s heart raced as he slipped past the police, his instincts guiding him like they had during his days in the gang. He knew that the chaos unfolding inside the hospital wasn''t random. It had the hallmarks of a desperate man and innocent civilians that would put him on leverage. June knew that Chul was just a pawn in arger game, and June could sense there was more at y.


    His mind raced back to the days when he dealt with simr situations. Hostage situations usually happen for two reasons: either the perpetrator had nothing to lose, or they had something crucial to gain. In Chul''s case, it was likely both. Slipping through the caution tape, June moved unnoticed, his years of evading authorities serving him well. He approached two guards stationed at an entrance, his movements precise. A quick press to a pressure point on the first guard''s neck rendered him unconscious, distracting the other guard and allowing June to slip inside. Inside, the hospital was eerily quiet, with patients and staff hiding in fear. On the first floor, he found people lying on the ground, their eyes wide with terror. Now, you might be wondering why June was acting so rashly. Normally, he would have done this behind the scenes, not allowing himself to be put under the spotlight due to the nature of his job. However, he was living on the edge¡ªon the brink of death, So, if this was thest day he would live, then he would go out fighting for what mattered. He strode toward the garden, the patients and staff watching him in fear. Even the police outside, who were watching through their binocrs, seemed stunned as they saw a figure walking toward the gunman.


    "What is he doing?" the police muttered. "He needs to stop. We don''t want a casualty." "Give me that," another police officer said, grabbing the megaphone from his coworker. "To all the people inside, please stay calm," he subtly said, not wanting to hint anything to the gunman. Although June had heard the policeman, he didn''t heed his words. The civilian who was livestreaming the entire thing was also shocked as she panned the camera toward the walking civilian. June smirked. It was time to give them a good show. Then, without any hesitation, he removed his mask, exposing his face to everyone in the room.


    Small gasps were heard in the hospital as a handsome presence graced them.


    Even amidst the chaos, they could instantly recognize June''s handsomeness. "Who is that?" an officer muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    Another officer took out her binocrs, gasping when she recognized who it was. "It''s June...from EVE," she replied, just as stunned.


    Ignoring the murmurs, June pushed through, confidently walking to the scene. The livestream shook, making many peoplein. - Who is that? Someone''s walking toward the scene! - What the heck is happening? Please steady your hands!


    - Girl, the woman is traumatized. Let her be. - The guy looks handsome. - What the hell are you guys on about? He''s literally in 144p on a shaky phone camera!


    - He just removed his mask! That looked so cool. It was almost like an action film. - This is better than modern action films!


    - Please stop romanticizing real-life crime. Just then, the camera woman held onto her hand, which allowed for more stable filming. Then, like the deities had answered the viewers'' prayers, the inte connection seemed to be boosted inside the hospital as the resolution became clearer. With that, chaos ensued. - THAT''S JUNE! - Omo. It really is June!


    - What is he doing there? - Rumor has it that his grandma is staying at that hospital!


    - Then, does that mean...


    - I don''t want to assume, but then again, June wouldn''t go to the hospital just to save a random woman.


    -Frick. It''s so cool of him, but I''m so concerned. -I can''t help but think that he''s going to get hurt!


    -June, please allow other people to do that!


    Just then, chaos also ensued outside of the hospital. The members of EVE, along with their manager and guards, stood among the concerned citizens. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Casper was the first one to the scene. "Let us in," he said. However, the police officers subdued them, reinforcing the barricades. Meanwhile, those waiting outside couldn''t help but feel enamored by the handsome idol group. - A little birdy said that EVE is also there. Dang, I should have gone. - Please have some respect. There are lives at risk here. - I just want everyone to stay safe, please. I can''t afford to lose anyone from EVE!


    - Bro, June looks like he''s about to die. He''s going against an armed man!


    As June got closer and closer to the scene, Chul turned around, instantly recognizing him. The sight of June''s familiar face seemed to jolt him into an even wilder frenzy. "You," Chul muttered, remembering how June had ruined his life. With that, he tightened his hold around the old woman''s neck, making her choke. "Don''te closer!" Chul screamed, his voice high with panic, as he pointed the gun directly at June.


    June stopped in his tracks, his eyes locking onto Chul''s. Everything else faded away. The noise, the chaos, the fear¡ªit all dissolved into a single, intense focus. He was used to situations like this. He had faced down more menacing foes in his past life, and he knew that fear could be both a weapon and a weakness.


    "Chul," June called out. "I''m not here to hurt you. I''m here to talk." "Talk?" Chul spat, his grip on the gun tightening. "What''s there to talk about?" June took a cautious step forward, his hands raised in a non-threatening gesture. "I know that we don''t have a good past, but let''s put it all behind us. You don''t want to hurt innocent civilians like this."


    "Shut up!" Chul''s voice wavered, but his resolve seemed to be weakening. "You don''t know anything!"


    June pursed his lips, losing patience. He was just using the very first tactic in his books¡ªbargaining. Approaching such situations with calmness was usually the best way to go, but June could see how his grandma was starting to lose oxygen, which made him feel angry rather than calm.


    The crowd watched in stunned silence. Jay, standing at the front of the police line, looked ready to burst with a mix of anger and helplessness. "June, get back here! This is too dangerous!"


    June ignored his manager''s plea, and his focus was solely on Chul.


    For a moment, it seemed like June''s words were getting through. Chul''s eyes softened, and his grip on the gun loosened slightly. But then, in a split second, a flicker of madness returned, and he raised the gun higher, aiming it directly at June''s chest.


    "You don''t get it!" Chul yelled. "There''s no way out for me!"


    In that instant, June saw red. "That''s right," he spat. "You''re fucking done for."

 Chapter 752 All Is Lost

    Chapter 752 All Is Lost


    Chul''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and at that moment, it felt like he was going to lose his head. However, knowing that he had a gun, Chul''s courage was reinstated. June took a deep breath, focusing on Chul. His years as a gangster had taught him how to deal with vtile situations, and now those skills were his beast weapon. He needed to disarm Chul swiftly and safely, ensuring no one got hurt.


    The livestream continued bustling with wildments, most of them still in disbelief that the nation''s current most popr idol was at a crime scene. Meanwhile, June decided to break out his three-step rule in case bargaining didn''t work. Step 1: Distraction. June''s eyes darted around the room, quickly assessing his surroundings. He noticed a stack of medical trays on a nearby cart. With a swift motion, he kicked the cart, sending the trays to the ground. The bystanders screamed in shock. Meanwhile, the police officers outside sensed the chaos, and they didn''t know what to do. "Do something!" Casper eximed.


    Zeth held him back and patted his shoulder. "We need to act rationally, boy," the chief of police said. "We don''t want to harm any other civilians." Casper turned to Zeth with pleading eyes. "He can''t die," he muttered. "He really can''t." Zeth sighed and continued patting Casper''s back, not knowing what to say. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Meanwhile, the number of viewers in the livestream doubled, and it seemed like almost half of the nation was tuning in on the show. Even those in June''s province watched what was happening with bated breaths. - Shit just got real. - I think June''s got this.


    - Wooh! Go June!


    - The people who are acting like this is some kind of match are sick in the head. June let out a deep breath before proceeding to the second step. Step 2: Disarm


    Seizing the moment of distraction, June moved with lightning speed. He closed the distance between himself and Chul in a single heartbeat. With a practiced maneuver, he grabbed Chul''s wrist, twisting it with just the right amount of force. - Holy moly! The action is insane. - I can''t believe June is doing this right now.


    - Is it bad to say that I''ve be a fan now? - Goodness, people are really so insensitive!


    - I think we''re forgetting that June is quite skilled in martial arts. Remember that loser who tried to stab him? Didn''t he also put up a good show back then?


    - Yeah, but he also ended up getting stabbed. - Eyy, at least he''s alive now, isn''t he?


    With June''s fast actions, the gun slipped from Chul''s grasp, flying through the air. And then, it was time for the final step. Step 3: Neutralize. Before Chul could react, June delivered a swift, precise kick to his chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. He followed up with a controlled strike to Chul''s shoulder, ensuring he stayed down. The entire sequence of moves was executed with the skill of a trained fighter, a proof of June''s past life.


    The gun skidded across the floor,ing to a stop near a nurse June recognized.


    Without hesitation, he kicked the gun towards her. "Hide it!" hemanded.


    The nurse, eyes wide with shock and understanding, quickly grabbed the gun and concealed it. The police, alerted by themotion, quickly rushed in and subdued Chul, pulling him to his feet and securing him in handcuffs.


    - That ended so quickly. - The police couldn''t even do that?


    - Dang. My respect just went to greater heights. What can''t June do? - He''s fcking amazing. He just outdid the SWAT team. - Imagine being that talented. - June is truly a hero. "No! Let go! I need to finish that bitch!" Chul screamed, but the police officers had him properly subdued. Those waiting outside booed at Chul as he emerged, which added to his rage even more. Laohu, who was watching from his home, couldn''t help but stand, finding the situation unreal. Lin Zhi, who was right by his side, also showed his disappointment. "They can''t do anything right!" Laohu screamed, sending his mug flying into the air beforending on the wall and breaking into a million pieces. Meanwhile, as the situation sunk in, the room erupted into chaos. Reporters pushed forward, cameras shed, and people began to cheer. They called June a hero, their voices adding to the volume of the chaos. Meanwhile, the members of EVE pushed through the crowd, trying to look for their center. However, they were quickly surrounded by fans, which made it a difficult task. June barely heard the chaos. His focus was entirely on his grandmother. He knelt beside her with a small smile, gently cradling her frail body in his arms. "Grandma, it''s over. You''re safe now," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.


    "Grandma?" "Grandma?" He called her twice, but she still wasn''t responding. Something was wrong. Her eyes were closed, and her body felt unusually still. Panic gripped his heart as he continued calling out to her. "Grandma? Grandma, wake up!"


    The surrounding chaos faded into the background as a cold dread settled over him. The police continued to manage the scene; the crowd''s cheers rang out, but June''s world narrowed down to the still figure in his arms.


    "Why isn''t she moving?" he muttered, his voice barely audible. His hands shook as he checked for a pulse, but he couldn''t find one. "No, no, no," he whispered, his heart breaking.


    Just then, the members of EVE arrived where June was, their faces filled with concern. However, they showed relief when they saw that June was okay. Yet, that relief quickly faded with June''s next words. "She''s not breathing," he muttered. A paramedic rushed over, gently taking his grandmother from his arms and beginning to perform CPR. June watched, his vision blurring with tears. He had saved everyone else, but now he felt utterly helpless.


    Then, he felt his vision slowly going ck. "June! June!" The world became nothing but a haze. Was this it? Was it finally his time? However, as he saw his grandma being pumped back to life, he couldn''t bring himself to smile. Because even when he had saved everybody else, he couldn''t save his grandma.

 Chapter 753 The End Of Time

    Chapter 753 The End Of Time


    June woke up to the sound of beeping machines. He opened his eyes and saw familiar surroundings. He also saw that he was connected to a heart monitor and an IV, making him frown. There was a person beside him, one who he instantly recognized as Casper. With the sound of rustling clothes, Casper woke up, quickly assuming a fighting stance. June would haveughed if this had been any other situation. However, he couldn''t even bring himself to smile. "I''m not dead," June said, making Casper snap back to reality. He quickly sat on the bed next to June. "You''re not," Casper affirmed. "Are you okay?" June weakly nodded. "And Grandma?" he asked. The question threw Casper off, so June instantly caught that something was wrong. "Casper," June said in a serious tone. "Where''s Grandma?" Casper pursed his lips before directing his gaze to thep. June''s jaw clenched as his patience ran thin. "Answer me," he urged. With that, Casper let out a deep breath and looked into June''s eyes. Then, he shook his head, making June feel like his entire world just crumbled. Casper didn''t even have to do anything for him to understand. June stood from his bed, removing the cardiac monitor''s probes and his IV, making some of the blood spill onto his clothes. "Wait, June. You need that! Don''t do this," Casper said, trying to stop him. However, June could hear nothing but the sound of his own heart beating. Then, he stormed out of the room with Casper hot on his tracks. "June, wait, please. You''re still not better," he urged. But once again, June ignored him. As he went out of the door, he was met with his members, who all had tired and swollen eyes. They stood as soon as they saw June, and with the looks on their faces, June felt like his suspicions had all been confirmed. "No," he whispered before breaking into a sprint. His members were shocked to the core, unable to move. "June, wait!" Casper eximed, continuing to run after him. With that, the members snapped out of their dazes and also followed after June. However, June kept running. He didn''t even know where he was running to. However, deep inside his heart, he knew that he was running to his grandma. Then, as he got to the end of the hall, he saw a familiar figure, much smaller than how he hadst seen him. Minjun, appearing like a vulnerable little child, turned his head toward June. Then, as he got to the end of the hall, he saw a familiar figure, much smaller than how he hadst seen him. Minjun, appearing like a vulnerable little child, turned his head toward June. "Big bro," he called out in such a sad voice that June could hear his heart breaking into two. June wanted tofort him...to hold him, but he stayed rooted in his spot as he read the letters above the room he was in front of. PURGATORY With that, June shook his head, feeling in denial. "No," he muttered. Just then, Dr. Oh came out of the room with a weary expression, making June turn to him with hope. Maybe. Just maybe. He was mistaken.


    "I''m sorry," Dr. Oh said in an equally broken voice. He had also thought of Grandma as someone precious, so he truly felt sad for June and Minjun. "I couldn''t save her." "No," June denied in a loud voice, shocking all of them. With that, he marched toward the room, only to be met with a small figure covered in white cloth. At that moment, there was still no tears in his eyes. However, as he went to the figure and slowly removed the white cloth, the tears freely flowed. He felt Dr. Oh''s presence behind him, with his hand on top of his shoulder.


    "June, let''s go," he said, also on the verge of tears. June couldn''t find it in himself to move. He continued looking at the old woman on the table, once so full of life. "It''s unfair," he muttered, tears still streaming down his cheeks. He had lost everyone. His mom, his dad, and now his grandma. Why was the world so fucking unfair? As the world carried on with its usual routine. Inside the quiet room, everything came to a standstill. The hum of the clock on the wall was the only sound, each tick a cruel reminder that time, for everyone else, was still moving. But for her, time had stopped. The old woman, who had once been his pir, nowy motionless. His heart felt like it was being torn from his chest. The memories flooded back. He saw her in the kitchen, cooking meals that always tasted of home. He remembered her stories, the way her eyes would light up with each detail. He recalled the nights she stayed up just to watch him on the television and brag to her friends afterward. "July 1st would be a nice day to die." "I''ll destroy my friends in Mahjong once I get better." "Make sure toe back, okay?" Even her words rang inside his mind, reminding him that only one of those things had been fulfilled¡ªthe one thing he dreaded the most. Then, before June knew it, Dr. Oh had covered his grandma once again. Dr. Oh held onto June''s hand and led him out of the room, where he was met with his members, who were also crying after seeing their strongest member in such a vulnerable state. June stood there, feeling numb, when he felt Minjun go up to him for a hug. "June," Minjun sobbed, his body shaking from the sadness. June pursed his lips as the tears continued to flow. Then, everything snapped back to reality. His grandma was gone now.


    This was the reality.


    With that, he returned Minjun''s hug, empathizing with the little kid who had even more memories with Grandma¡ªthe one who was hurting the most. "I''m sorry. I''m sorry," June continuously muttered. Those were the only words he could bring himself to say. "I''m sorry." Dr. Oh looked up at the ceiling to stop himself from crying. Meanwhile, the members of EVE turned to each other for support as they also felt the loss of a great loved one. At that moment, only silent sobs were heard in the hallway. As the hours passed and dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, June whispered his final goodbyes. "Goodbye, Grandma."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 754 Areum (Beautiful)

    Chapter 754 Areum (Beautiful)


    The day was uncharacteristically bright, as if the universe was teasing those who were mourning Grandma''s death. The sun bathed the funeral house in a soft, warm glow, illuminating the numerous white lilies and chrysanthemums that adorned the room. Friends and family filled the space, each person holding onto Grandma''s final request: no one should cry today. June stood at the very back, greeting attendees with a forced but respectful smile. Meanwhile, the other members of EVE, along with Jay, were at the ritual table, helping themselves with the food that Grandma''s friends had prepared. He couldn''t help but smile as the olddies gushed at them for appreciating the food. They had been June''s confidants since the day of her death, to which he was grateful. It had only been two days since Grandma had died, yet she was already being buried. It was once again one of her wishes¡ªto not prolong her stay on Earth any longer. It seemed like she was thoroughly prepared for her death as she had quite a lot of wishes to be fulfilled. Minjun stood at the entrance with his mom and dad, who took some time off from their jobs to join the funeral, much to the young man''s surprise. Minjun clung to his parent''s hands, his eyes red-rimmed but dry as they greeted guests at the entrance door. The murmurs of conversation were low, filled with shared memories and expressions of condolence. June moved through the crowd, acknowledging each sorrowful smile. His heart ached, but he held hisposure, honoring Grandma''s wishes. Finally, it was time for the service to begin. The room fell silent as June took his ce at the front. He looked out at the sea of faces, familiar and otherwise, and took a deep breath. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lena looked at him but quickly looked away, almost as if she couldn''t honor one of Grandma''s wishes. "Thank you all for being here today," he began. "Grandma would have been so pleased to see so many of her loved ones gathered here." Nods passed through the crowd. June paused, collecting his thoughts, and then continued.


    "Hello, everyone. For those who may not know me, I''m June. Grandma''s ''Not-So'' grandson," he began, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "We weren''t rted by blood, but she epted me wholeheartedly into her life, and for that, I am eternally grateful."


    He nced around the room, noting the nods of understanding from the attendees. "Grandma knew that today would be difficult for all of us, and she made it clear that she didn''t want us to cry. Though she probably knew it would be impossible to follow that rule when her next wish was to have me say the speech during the service."


    The attendees chuckled, and the members, with food still filled with their cheeks, smiled in amusement since they were familiar with June''s touching speeches. "However, before I say what''s on my mind, allow me to read something." June paused, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of paper. "Grandma left something for me to read today, a message she entrusted to Dr. Oh to give to me," he said, still remembering how the doctor gave it to him after he had cried his eyes out in the hospital. "I haven''t read it yet, so this is a surprise for all of us," he continued. Lena''s eyebrows furrowed. She wasn''t aware of this, and to have Grandma entrust an important letter to June must mean that he was very important in her life.


    Unfolding the paper, June began to read aloud. "To my neighbors," he read, a chuckle escaping his lips, "you wouldn''t taste my cooking anymore and would stick to your in cooking."


    The room filled with softughter, a gentle easing of the tension that had gripped them all.


    "To my friends," June continued, "you''re d that you''ll be able to win in Mahjong now."


    More chuckles, apanied by nods and knowing smiles.


    "To my son-inw," he read, "you don''t have to give me allowance now. Though, I never really needed it."


    The humor in her words brought warmth to the room, reminding them of her yful nature.


    "To my daughter," June''s voice softened, "you don''t have toe back just for me anymore. This would be thest time. You were rarely there, so I hope you would be with Minjun more often."


    A somber silence settled. "To my grandsons," June read, his voice breaking slightly, "I would love you no matter what." He paused for a moment before cracking a joke.


    "Well, there seems to be a bias there," he added with a soft smile.


    He continued, his voice filled with affection, "June, I hope you take care of yourself. And Minjun, don''t be naughty now. Your grandma''s not there to scold you anymore."


    Taking a deep breath, June read the final lines, his eyes glistening. "Andstly, don''t resent me. I am in a better ce." Folding the paper carefully, June looked up at the assembled faces. "Grandma wanted us to remember her with joy and love, not with tears and sorrow. She wanted us to celebrate her life, not mourn her passing."


    He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Grandma was a remarkable woman who touched so many lives. Her wisdom, her kindness, and her love will stay with us forever. She believed that death was not an end but a new beginning. Today, we honor her wishes by celebrating the life she lived...not the one she lost."


    With those final words, June stepped back, allowing the funeral director to take over. The pallbearers, including Minjun, moved to the casket. As they lifted it, June felt a deep pang of sorrow, but he held his head high. They proceeded outside, where the casket was gently lowered into the ground. June stood by Minjun''s side, holding his hand tightly. However, Lena gently tugged Minjun away from June. Then, she red at the idol, which made June even more confused. June snapped back to reality when her tombstone was raised, allowing him to see such a beautiful name. Areum Na. Then, he broke one of Grandma''s rules. A lone tear fell from his eyes. It was the first time he had known her name... ...and it happened when she was gone.

 Chapter 755 Oopsie, I Made A Little Mistake

    Chapter 755 Oopsie, I Made A Little Mistake


    June stood outside of the funeral home, where the freend was. The people inside were busy eating the ritual food and interacting with each other, but June couldn''t bring himself to do so. "Sorry, Grandma," he muttered. "I knew you wanted this to be a happy moment, but I can''t bring myself to smile with genuineness." Then, he stared up at the sky, which was still ringly bright. "Would it be better if I joined you there?" he whispered. However, he quickly shook the thought away. He was already being granted extra time, so June didn''t want to take it for granted.


    He stood there for a few moments, just observing the bright skies, when he felt a presence near him. June frowned and turned his head to the side, only to be met with Dr. Oh, who appeared like he had a lot on his mind. "There you are," Dr. Oh sighed. "I was wondering where you went." June pursed his lips. "I was just...here." Dr. Oh nodded. "I''m d," he said. After that, they were silent for a few minutes before June decided to break it. "Come on," he said. "Just say what you want to say." The doctor scratched the back of his neck. "How do you even know that I want to say something?" "Because you came here," June deadpanned. "You wouldn''te here if you didn''t have anything to say." Dr. Oh pursed his lips. "Well, you''re right," he sighed. "Hmm," June hummed. "Then, say it." The crazy doctor sheepishly looked at him, causing June to frown. Why was he acting so strange? "Are you sure?" Dr. Oh asked. "Yes," June deadpanned. "Nothing will shock me more than what happened to Grandma." Dr. Oh awkwardly chuckled. "You''re right about that," he said. "I could have stopped it," June continued, his gaze straying far away. "Maybe if I had been there before the heart attack happened, then everything would have been fine. She would still be receiving treatment until now." June redirected his gaze to Dr. Oh once more, and he found the doctor sweating profusely. "Yeah, yeah," he said, his throat drying up. "However," Dr. Oh quickly added. "I don''t think you should me yourself."


    "There''s no one else to me," June said. "Chul," Dr. Oh said. "He''s the one to me." "Anyway," he continued, pping his cheeks in the process. "I''m straying away from my main objective." "What I truly want to say is that you shouldn''t me yourself because it is already written in stone," Dr. Oh revealed. "What is written in stone?" June asked with a frown. Dr. Oh sighed. "I''ve been meaning to tell you since the other day, but I fear that you weren''t going to take it well." "You''re dilly-dallying," June deadpanned. "Just tell me." "Don''t resent me for this," he said while awkwardly chuckling. June frowned. He already knew that Dr. Oh was going to say something important. He was the acting the same when he revealed June''s sickness. "Your grandma''s death may not just be attributed to the fact that she had a heart attack," Dr. Oh continued. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Instead, it seems like her body was leading up to her death." "You''re still speaking in riddles," June said, feeling impatient. Dr. Oh sighed. "Your grandmother was dying, June," he revealed. "It seems like she didn''t have a lot of time left despite the treatment. In fact, the treatment had made her even weaker." "But...but she was fine!" June eximed. "Herst test results revealed that she only had anemia and a mild infection. She was going to be okay!" "That was what I thought, too," Dr. Oh muttered. "I should have known that there was something wrong when there had been such a massive improvement in her health only after a week." "But, I was wrong. The test results were wrong. And for that, I''m very sorry." "You''re not making any sense!" June said, almost screaming. "How could the test results be wrong?" Dr. Oh pursed his lips, waiting for June to calm down, before looking straight into his eyes. "Because the test result wasn''t hers," he revealed, causing June to halt. A moment of silence passed through. "The test results were yours." June felt like he was being transported to another dimension. "What...did you just say?" June asked in disbelief. Dr. Oh sighed before running his fingers through his hair, making his white hair messy. "You see, we check Grandma''s blood work every week, and she had been showing signs of deterioration. So, I decided to conduct a deeper, moreprehensive test the week after." "Simr to the one you''ve done," Dr. Oh continued. "We gathered her samples the same day as you, and we also sent in your names to the specialboratory in Germany on the same day." "They have cutting-edge technology that is truly like no other." "However, it seems like their service fucking sucks, and they mixed your names up." June felt like he was being pranked. "Where''s the hidden camera?" June asked, looking around. "You know, this is not a good joke, Dr. Oh," he said. "This is not a joke," Dr. Oh seriously said. "I wish it was." "Wait, I actually don''t wish that. It''s great that your results have been mixed up. Wait, no! It would have been better if your results didn''t get mixed up in the first ce and you knew that Grandma Areum was going to die soon. That sounds wrong," he muttered. "Anyway!" he loudly eximed. "That was what happened." "Then, on the night of Grandma''s death, I received an email from the Germanboratory about their mistake. I didn''t know what to do since you looked so dejected, so I kept it to myself until now." "Thatboratory, I tell you! I''ll really sue them. They can''t even do simplebeling right," he ranted. However, June didn''t pay attention to him and continued analyzing the implications of the switch-up. "So, this means that Grandma was the one with the limited time¡ªthe one who was most likely to die by the end of June," Dr. Oh revealed. "And you, June..." he said, cing his hand on June''s shoulder. "...are not going to die anytime soon."

 Chapter 756 Complicated

    Chapter 756 Complicated


    June sat in his bed, trying to think about everything that had happened in the past few days. He looked absent-minded, borderline crazy, with a nk look in his eyes. It was a good thing that the finale for Rising Stars has been rescheduled because of what happened. Otherwise, June would have really gone crazy.


    Then, without any warning, a few chuckles escaped his lips. After a few seconds, the chuckles turned into full-blownughter, even escaping through the soundproof walls. The members, who were outside of June''s room, turned to each other with wide eyes. "Should we go in?" Jisung asked in a worried tone. Casper held onto June''s door and shook his head. "Let him be," he said. "We need to give him some privacy." June''sughing sessionsted for a while. He didn''t know if he was going insane. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He might as well be with all the revtions that had emerged. "I''m not dying," June muttered. "I just have fucking anemia!" Then, he fell to his bed, scratching his head in frustration. "I swear, I could kill Dr. Oh at this moment," he grumbled. June had already done everything he could because he knew he was going to die. He already gave his system away! He had indirectly said goodbye to his friends and fans. He had buried the fucking briefcase in his old apartment''s foundation to prevent it from being exploited. June finally stoppedughing as reality hit him. However, even then, there were some things he wouldn''t have done if he didn''t know that he was dying. June would not have enough courage to speak up against their CEO regarding their unfair treatment. He also wouldn''t have been able to stop Chul as the gunman since he would have acted with hesitation. Andstly, he wouldn''t have been able to realize just how precious life was if he hadn''te close to losing it. "It''s not that bad," June said, almost as if he was trying to reassure himself. Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It''s not that bad," he repeated in a more resolute voice this time. Then, when he opened his eyes, a murderous look appeared. It seemed like he had more time to save the idol industry. June knew that it was far from saving, but with the new chance he was granted, he also knew that he could make a difference. He shook his head as his mind was filled with a thousand ideas. "Since when did I get so ambitious?" he muttered in disbelief. However, even then, he couldn''t shake a certain thought away. Revenge.


    Then, his re intensified as he looked at himself in the mirror.


    June knew that Grandma''s death was inevitable. However, even then, he knew that Laohu and Lin Zhi took a huge part in taking away her life. Moreover, June was done ying nice. It was time to bring out some of his old traits. "You want to y dirty, huh?" ***


    June and the other members of EVE were being scolded for missing their prior ''appointments'' because they decided to apany June to Grandma Areum''s burial. Jay sighed in frustration. "I''ve already got it handled," he said to Mr. Ong. "Those affected have been informed." Mr. Ong''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "I see," he said. "So, you have some time to inform our stakeholders, but not me." "Because like I said, I''ve got it covered, sir," Jay said with conviction. June smirked. That was also one thing that had changed after Jay discovered June''s supposed illness. He had gotten more courage to stand up to his higher-ups rather than kissing their asses. Mr. Ong frowned. "There''s something in the way you''re talking that I don''t like," he remarked. With that, Mr. Ong stood, which was not much of a surprise to the boys anymore.


    After EVE started acting out, he had been getting angrier than usual. "Anyway, how can you say you''ve got it covered when you don''t even watch your kids well?" Mr. Ong eximed. "I still can''t forgive how June decided to intercept a possible national emergency!" Casper scratched the back of his head. "It was pretty cool, though." "Yeah," Ren smirked. "He didn''t even get harmed." Mr. Ong''s face looked like it was about to explode. "All actions by EVE shall be reported to me prior to its aplishment." "Even your social media posts." "What?" the members of EVE eximed, feeling that it was unfair. Mr. Ong smirked. "You guys are under a contract. One breach of it, and I am not afraid to negotiate the terms with thepanywyers. At the end of the day, you guys are under my supervision." "So, with that, your every move, every word, or even your every intention shall be passed onto me for approval." Then, he sat back down, now with a calm smile. "You got that?" he said with a smirk. Jay was supposed to oppose him, but the CEO red at him. "Don''t forget that you are our under our contract, too," Mr. Ong said. "Do you want to continue speaking, or do you want to be transferred to another department?" The members of EVE turned to Jay with concerned looks. Then, Jay shook his head before standing from his seat. The boys quickly followed. Jay bowed for a brief second before leading the boys out of Mr. Ong''s office. As soon as they got out, he burst into anger. "I can''t believe that man! He''s built like a teapot, yet he''s so full of fucking hate!" Ren nudged his shoulder, causing Jay to re at him. "What?" he snapped. Ren pointed inside the CEO''s office. "He could still hear you," he said. Jay turned his head to the side and saw that Mr. Ong was, indeed, ring at him through the transparent ss wall.


    Jay pursed his lips and bolted to the elevator while the boys followed with amused smiles. They entered the elevator but still couldn''t shake away Mr. Ong''s words. "Is everything he said even legal?" Akira asked. "About us reporting our every move?" "Technically, it is. We signed a contract, so even our social media presence can be controlled by them," June responded, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "But just because it''s legal does not mean its good." "Right," Jay said. "If I be the CEO, I would never do that to my artists!" Akira looked at Jay with pity as he patted his back. "You can keep on dreaming, bro." Jay smirked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Oh, brother," he smiled. "You have no idea how much power I have in my hands right now," he eximed beforeughing like a viin. June turned to him before shaking his head. Their n needed to be moreplicated now. "Hey, Jay," June said, causing him to halt hisughter. "Come with me after you bring the boys back to the dorm." Jay''s eyes widened. "I''m down! You guys don''t have any schedules for today anyway." "Can Ie?" Casper asked with bright eyes. "No," June deadpanned.

 Chapter 757 You Fooled Me

    Chapter 757 You Fooled Me


    "Bye, boys!" Jay excitedly waved his hands as the members of EVE got out of the car. He was excited about his friendly date with June, which Casper was definitely not happy about! "Can''t I reallye?" Casper asked. June shook his head. The less people who knew about June''s n, the better. "Nope," he said. "See youter." With that, Casper grumbled before shutting the car door close. "So, where to?" Jay asked as soon as they were gone. June brought out his phone and showed him a location. Jay''s eyes brightened. "Ooh, fancy!" he eximed. "We''re going to Gangnam?" "Yes," June said. "I have to meet someone there." "Okey dokey," Jay chimed. Jay started driving, so June decided to open up a conversation. "The n that we have," June started off, making Jay raise his eyebrows. "I think we need to add in a few extra steps," June said. Jay''s eyebrows immediately furrowed. "What?" he asked. "I thought you were in a rush because you never know when you''re illness is going to kill you." "Hmm," June hummed. "I''m not sick anymore, though." "Don''t step on the brakes," he added, already aware of Jay''s habit when he was shocked. "Good save," Jay muttered. Then, he turned to June with wide eyes. "What do you mean you aren''t sick anymore?"


    "Well, technically, I was never even that sick in the first ce. I was just anemic," June responded. "Backtrack a bit," Jay said. "You''re making my head hurt." "Dr. Oh switched my hospital results with Grandma''s, and they were mistaken about my diagnosis. It''s that simple." "Oh, we''re here," June said, pointing at the modern-looking building that was owned by his friend.


    Meanwhile, Jay absent-mindedly parked the car in front of the building. June got out of the car as if he didn''t just reveal such an important piece of information. Then, inside the car, Jay let out a chuckle. "I''m going crazy." June clicked his tongue, opened Jay''s car door, and pulled him out of the car. "Don''t think too hard about it," he said. "Just think that nothing of that sort happened in the first ce." Jay let out a chuckle once more. "I''ve been acting so courageous," he muttered. "I''ve broken so many rules, too." "And you''re telling me that it was for nothing?" he eximed, holding onto June''s shoulders. June smirked and removed his grip from his shoulders. "It''s for the better. Come on," he said, about to pull Jay inside when they suddenly saw a number of men in ck suits going inside the building. They were all well-built, which caused Jay''s eyes to sparkle back to life. "Ooh, handsome men," he said. "What work does your friend do?" Meanwhile, June frowned, feeling even more suspicious. "I see," he muttered after a while. "The yummy guys just don''t stop!" Jay continued. He had always been weak against tall, muscr men! June turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "You were weak against Jangmoon, too," June remarked. "Have you considered that, maybe, the reason why you can''t hold onto your rtionships is because you actually like¡ª" "Aww," Jay said, not even listening to him. "It''s over!" June clicked his tongue before shaking his head.


    "Well, I guess I''ll support you with whatever makes you happy." With that, he gestured for Jay toe in, who looked even more excited. However, as they entered through the doors, the group of muscr men were nowhere to be found. Instead, there was one huge man in the middle of the room¡ªone that June recognized. Marcus appeared surprised when he saw June, and he quickly stood to bow to them. "Master June," he greeted. Jay''s eyes widened. "You''ve got such buff men calling you master?" June ignored his manager. "Good afternoon, Marcus," June said. "I''ve already told you. You don''t have to call me master."


    Marcus nodded before lifting his head. "Yes," he said. "Are you here to see Mr. Haruto?" "Yes," June said. "Is he in?" Marcus nodded once more. "He''s in his office. You can stay here for a couple of moments so that I can inform him of your presence." "Thank you," June said, sitting on the expensive-looking couch situated in the middle of the ''restaurant.'' "Dang," Jay said right by his side. "You have a friend this rich, and you didn''t even bother telling me." June continued to ignore Jay as he looked around Haruto''s restaurant. When he first came by, Haruto had imed that he closed the entire restaurant.


    However, the restaurant looked empty today, too, which June found strange. Before he could ponder upon it even more, Marcus came out from the back, bowed at them, and pointed to the direction where he came from. "I shall lead you to Master Haruto''s office now," he said. June nodded before turning to Jay. "Stay here with Marcus." Jay, surprisingly, took it very well and nodded excitedly. With that, June followed Marcus to an office behind the ''kitchen.'' There were some workers whipping something up, which was once again strange since they didn''t have any customers. "Here, June," Marcus said, opening the door. June smiled and entered inside the room, finding his friend behind his table with a wide smile. June looked around the office, a small frown emerging from his face. The more he stayed here, the more his suspicions were being confirmed. "You visited?" Haruto excitedly eximed. "You should have told me beforehand." June smiled. "I''m sure that would be more convenient," he muttered. "What was that?" Haruto asked. June shook his head and walked to the seat in front of him. "It''s been a while," June greeted. "It has," Haruto said. "You''re life is never boring, isn''t it? You just saved the city from a gunman emergency!" "Hmm," June muttered.


    A silent moment passed before they simultaneously spoke. "I didn''te here without a reason," June said. "I''m sure you didn''te here for nothing," Haruto also said. The two of them chuckled after their statements. Then, June''s face hardened before looking up to meet Haruto''s eyes. "I need your help," he said. Haruto''s eyebrows furrowed, sensing the urgency of the situation. "Sure," he responded. "Just as long as it won''t be out of my expertise." June smirked. "It won''t be. In fact, it would be right up your alley." Haruto tilted his head to the side. Something about the way June said those words confused him. "What do you mean?" Haruto asked, his tone softening. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    June''s smirk widened as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against his seat. "Great job hiding your den as a restaurant, Haruto." "You almost fooled me."

 Chapter 758 Youre Not Him

    Chapter 758 You''re Not Him


    "A den?" Haruto asked after a while, his face red from the usation. "What are you talking about?" Haruto continued to feign innocence, but June wouldn''t be fooled. He already had a hunch that his childhood friend didn''t have such an innocent business. He was way too rich and had way too many connections for someone who was just a ''producer'' and a ''restaurant owner.'' "You had me fooled there for a moment," June said. "But I know better than anybody else." Haruto smirked. "And what is it that you know?" "This restaurant is just a facade," June imed.


    "You don''t have any customers despite it being a bustling Saturday afternoon." Haruto leaned against the back of his wheelchair. "What if we were just closed?" "That still doesn''t exin why you don''t have an ''open'' sign at the front. You imed to have closed it off when we met, but I beg to differ. This ce is not a restaurant. It''s a meeting ce." June looked around the room and saw that there were many loopholes¡ªsecret entrances. It resembled the offices that Laohu had, so June knew that there was something more than what meets the eye. "And the biggest giveaway," June said, bringing out his phone and pulling up Marcus'' picture. With the help of Bo Wen, he was able to discover Haruto''s butler''s real identity. "He''s a hitman," June deadpanned, making Haruto surprised. "When we first came here, a bunch of men also entered. I knew, right off the bat, that they weren''t any normal men. They wear the same uniform as Marcus." Haruto was still at a loss for words, so June continued speaking. "You could continue denying it, but there''s no use," he smirked. "I also know that the guards you provided for Minjun weren''t any ordinary men." "You, my friend, are involved in something darker than what your family knows." Haruto pursed his lips and kept his gaze on June''s phone. Meanwhile, June continued smirking, waiting for his friend''s revtion. After a while, Haruto finally smiled, causing June''s smirk to widen. "You got me," Haruto said, leaning his elbows against his table. "It seems like you also have good connections on your side," he continued, gesturing to Marcus'' information on his phone. "You should refer this guy to me. I''m sure he''ll be a great addition to our team," Haruto said.


    June chuckled. "He''s not interested in the industry anymore. Besides, he exclusively works for me," he boasted. Haruto shook his head in amusement. "So, what is it that you think I do?" he asked, curious about June''s response. "Based on the information I have, I would say that you run a gang," June said. Haruto''s face twisted into a grimace. "Oh hell no," Haruto said, causing June to chuckle. "We''re not a gang," he denied. "We are so much more than a gang." Haruto crossed his arms in front of his chest. "In fact, we''re even against them," Haruto continued. June smirked as he finally got it. "You run a group of hitmen," June concluded. Haruto mirrored June''s smirk. "Bingo," Haruto said. "I''m only telling this to you because I fully trust you." "But, we''re unlike any other group of hitmen you''ve seen before. After I jumped off of the building and lived, I felt like I was granted a brand new chance. I must have hit my head pretty hard since I wanted to do something other than being an idol." "Instead, I wanted to bring justice to everyone who has been oppressed like us," he continued. "So, I designed this group when I met Marcus in Japan. I had been making decent money from being a shadow producer while recovering, so I helped him out. Turns out, there are a lot of people who are good at targeting other people!" "Then, I created this organization with the sole purpose of eliminating those who had wronged society but have not been apprehended because of the rottenws that govern thend," he said with a frown. "Why haven''t you sniped Kim Young Do just yet, then?" June asked. "Because he has someone backing him up," Haruto said. "Someone more powerful than I am. We''re still a new organization, you see. But hey, this industry actually pays well." June looked around his office once more. "I can see that," he muttered. "We call each other The Robin Hood, by the way," Haruto proudly smiled. "You know? Because we do bad for the sake of good! It''s honestly really fun."


    June pursed his lips. "What a creative name," he sarcastically said, but Haruto took it as apliment. "So, that''s how it is," Haruto chimed. "I''m surprised that you''re taking this really well. Most people who know about this nearly passed out when I told them." "Who else knows?" June asked with a frown.


    "Haruki," he said. "Honestly, he was the only one I told this information to. You, on the other hand, guessed it¡ªwhich is still really surprising." June chuckled. "I thought Haruki was supposed to be cold." "That''s just a facade," Haruto chimed. "He''s one big baby in the end." "Anyway," Haruto said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Now that I have shared my side of the story, I think it''s time that you share yours," he continued, looking at June with a mischievous glint in his eyes. June frowned at the sudden shift in his tone and disposition. "What do you mean?" June asked. It was now the time for Haruto to smirk. "I''m not the only one who has been keeping secrets," Haruto started off. "I have been observing you since we met, June, and I find something really, really strange."


    "You say that you have lost your memories, and I nearly believed you." "However, no matter how I look at it, there''s something that''s out of ce." June froze as Haruto moved his wheelchair and went closer to him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Then, his jaw hardened as Haruto narrowed his eyes at him. "Almost like you''re apletely different person," Haruto whispered. June''s breath got caught in the back of his throat. After that, Haruto smirked, leaning closer to June. "You''re not really June, are you?"

 Chapter 759 Low-Blow

    Chapter 759 Low-Blow


    Haruto burst intoughter as he observed June''s shocked face. Of course, June was shocked! Nobody had noticed until now, so he thought he was doing pretty well. Thinking that he could still fool Haruto, he quickly shifted back to a neutral expression. However, it seemed like it was toote. "You may have fooled your members." "You might have even fooled your rtives." "But you can''t fool me," Haruto smiled. "I was your best friend for the entirety of our trainee years! There''s no way that you''re the same person." June remained nonchnt as he asked a new question. "And what made you say this?" "It''s just too much of a drastic change," Haruto started off. "You imed to have lost your memories, but you remember the important events of the past. Joon-ho is definitely not as strong-minded as you, andst but not least, your improvement in performing had increased too drastically for it to be realistic." "No offense¡ªbut we really didn''t have much potential back then," he chuckled. "You''re way too good now." "However, aside from that, I just felt it. For all the times I''ve spent with you, I could tell that you weren''t the same person."


    June pursed his lips. "Why do you trust me then?" he asked. "If you knew that I was a different person, then why are you still trusting me until now?" Haruto smiled as he wheeled himself back behind his table. "That''s because you''re still June," he responded. "I couldn''t bring myself to resent you even after everything we''ve gone through because I knew you always did what was best for me." "Even if it''s up to your expense," he softly said. "So, whoever you may be, I believe that you''re still a good person..." "...because I believe that the universe will not make June into a bad person. He''ll still be good in every dimension." Haruto''s statement somehowforted June. However, at the same time, he thought that he was wrong. "I''m not a good person," June muttered. Haruto smirked. "Are you confirming that you''re not June?" June sighed, feeling defeated. Yet, he also knew that he could trust Haruto. "You''re also taking this surprisingly well," June remarked. "Other people would have passed out now." Haruto shrugged with a fond smile. "These things aren''t new. I actually find them interesting," he continued. "Now," he said, leaning against his table. "You must have been ced in Joon-ho''s body to achieve his dreams. However, I think you went beyond that." "If June could see himself now, then he would be beyond proud." "We only dreamed of bing idols, yet here you are now, being the best in the industry¡ªthe top idol." June shook his head in amusement. "However, I''m also assuming that being an idol is not your only purpose in this world," Haruto added. June pursed his lips before nodding. Haruto''s smile widened as he opened his arms, offering himself. "Well, you''re in luck! Joon-ho has such a powerful friend." "So, tell me what you need, and I''ll do it to the best of my capacity," Haruto said. June also leaned against his seat, his face turning serious. "I came here with a bigger purpose," June said. "I already have a n, so I need your help executing it." "I''m going to change the idol industry," June said with determination. "I''m down," Haruto said. "That''s also what I''ve been nning to do in the first ce." "What''s our first action?" he asked. "Before all of that, I need you to help eliminate the people from my past that keep haunting my present." Haruto raised one of his eyebrows. "Eliminate as in?" "Kill," June said without any remorse, making Haruto smirk. "That''s more like it," he said. June nodded and presented a name. "Chul," he said. "I need him gone. I believe this will be a good way to intimidate the opponent." Haruto''s eyebrows suddenly furrowed, making June confused. "What?" he asked. "I''ve also looked into it," Haruto said. "I was afraid that he was going to be let off because of his psychological instability. So, I took it upon myself to look into his whereabouts after everything that had happened." "However, it seems like another person has beat me to it." June''s frown deepened. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Chul is dead," Haruto revealed. June''s world paused for a moment. However, after that, he realized that it didn''t sound too surprising. Chul was just a pawn in their game, so the fact that he failed to do his task meant that he had a high chance of dying. "We tried looking into the killers, but it seems like they are also skilled," Haruto continued. June shook his head. "I know them," he said. Haruto was taken aback. "Are they the people in your past?" June nodded. "It''s no surprise that they''re not the ones acting upon their ns. From the very start, they had used lowlives to execute their dirty work." "However, it''s time for that to stop." "So, instead of Chul, I have another person for you," he smirked, taking the pen from Haruto''s table and grabbing a folder from Haruto''s stack of files. He wrote down the name before passing it back to Haruto. Haruto''s eyebrows furrowed as he silently read the name. Then, his eyes widened in surprise. "Isn''t this¡ª" June nodded before Haruto could even finish his statement. "Can you do this for me?" he asked. Haruto''s eyebrows furrowed as he nodded with determination. "I will do my very best," he said. "Give me a week."


    "I shall grant you protection, too," Haruto added. "It''s the least I could do for being your only friend in the past. June smirked as he leaned against his chair. "Once they go low, I can get lower," June remarked, causing a shiver to run down Haruto''s spine. At that moment, he felt like he was in the presence of quite an amazing man. Just then, June''s rm rang, making Haruto jump in his wheelchair. June quickly retrieved his phone to turn it off. "Sorry for that," he said. "I need to head back now. I have to sleep early because I have a brand shoot tomorrow." Haruto shook his head in amusement at the sudden shift in his attitude. "What kind of shoot?" Haruto asked. "Oh, for a toilet cleaner."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 760 Sexy Sanipoo

    Chapter 760 Sexy Sanipoo


    "Mr. Ong is actually happy for once," Jay said as he led June and Jisung to the set. "That''s surprising," Jisung said. "He has been so grumpy thest couple of weeks. I wonder who made him into such a grumpy mess." Jay and June turned to each other but said nothing. Jay then cleared his throat. "Well, like I said, he''s happy that a very popr brand has reached out to you," Jay smiled. "Although June is really the reason behind why you guys were chosen in the first ce." Jisung chuckled. "Oh, I know. I think it''s been long overdue." With that, they made their way inside the set, and they were greeted enthusiastically by the staff. June and Jisung smiled at them, bowing in respect as they came across the people they would be working with. Then, they were met by the creative director, who felt instantly rejuvenated when he saw the two handsome boys before him. "Omo!" he eximed. June pursed his lips since he already felt like the guy acted way too familiar. "I can''t believe I''m working with such big idols," he said, circling around them while giggling. "You guys have the smallest faces I have ever seen in my life!" June tilted his head to the side, wondering if that was apliment. However, Jisung smiled with glee. "Thank you, sir," he said. "If I could just gobble you guys right up, I would do so," he added, making June softly sigh. It was confirmed. This guy acted a lot like Choi Pablo. "However, I am a professional," he smiled. "So, I won''t be doing that." "Well, where are my manners?" he suddenly chuckled. "I haven''t introduced myself yet!" "Good morning," he said. "My name is Juan, and I shall be the photographer and the creative director of the shoot." June and Jisung bowed once more. "After you''re done with hair and make-up, you cane back here, and we can start." "You guys are shooting with an unconventional product, so it would be a bit of a challenge. However, do not fret. I shall guide you until the end of the shoot." "Now, chop chop and get to hair and make-up!" he eximed. June and Jisung obeyed and went to the make-up area. The two of them got their make-up done at the same time. While that was happening, Jay gossipped with the people on the set, causing June and Jisung to shake their heads in amusement. "Anyway," Jisung said. "Casper''s been talking about you non-stop these days¡ªsaying that we should value you more and that we should be thankful that you have graced the world and its mere earthlings with your ethereal presence."


    June clicked his tongue. Jay must have told him that he wasn''t sick anymore.


    "Don''t listen to him," June said. "You already know that he''s a little bit special." Jisung beamed with joy. "I agree with him, though! You are a national treasure that needs to be protected. You are EVE''s baby boy¡ªone that we cannot live without." June narrowed his eyes at him. "You''re younger than me." "I don''t care," Jisung said with a teasing smile. "You''re done, sir," the make-up artist shyly said to Jisung. "Oh," Jisung chimed. "I should head out first, then," he said. "Join me after?" "Hmm," June hummed and slightly waved his hand.


    With that, Jisung went to the set to start getting his photos taken. Meanwhile, June yawned as the make-up artist continued doing his make-up. "You don''t mind if I sleep for a bit, do you?" June asked. The make-up artist''s cheeks reddened before she nodded. "Thanks," June muttered before closing his eyes. It didn''t take long before he lost consciousness. Meanwhile, the make-up artists spoke in hushed tones as June continued to nap. "What''s taking you so long?" Jisung''s make-up artist asked. "You usually finish before me." The other make-up artist scratched the back of her neck. "I know," she muttered. "But look at his face!" she eximed, gesturing to June. Jisung''s make-up artist was dazed for a second as she gazed at June''s sleeping face. "He''s so beautiful that I feel like make-up would taint his face." *** N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Sir June." June opened his eyes as soon as he heard his name. The make-up artist, still with red cheeks, looked anywhere but June''s eyes. "Your make-up is done, sir," she said. "I think Jisung is done, too." June, still feeling a bit sleepy, nodded and got up from the chair. "Thanks for your hardwork," he said just as he left to go to the set. Juan''s eyes lit up as soon as he saw June. "Perfect timing!" he eximed. "Jisung had just finished. It''s your turn now." "Honestly, I don''t know why yourpany epted this deal," Juan started off as the other staff arranged the set. "I was the one who pushed for it," June said. Juan''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Really?" he muttered. "How so?" "I use this brand a lot," he said, pointing to the popr and expensive brand of toilet cleaner on the table. "They promised a lifetime supply in the contract, so I told my manager to ept it right away. Thepany agreed, so we''re here." "Oh," Juan said. "That''s surprising. Other idols are ambassadors for Lousy Vutton, Prabra, Fakergamo, or Ralph Lowrent, yet you''re an ambassador of Sanipoo." June shrugged. "It''s fine with me," June said. Juan smiled to himself. June was just bing more and more charming in his eyes! Now, he knew why Choi Pablo made him his muse!


    "Alright," Juan said, giddily giggling. "Let''s start then." June nodded, and with that, he sat on the chair and held the ''Sanipoo'' bottle in his hand.


    He yawned, still feeling a bit sleepy. Although he had gotten home early tomorrow, he arranged a lot of things with Haruto on the phone, leaving him to sleep prettyte. "Jisung went with a cuter vibe," Juan exined. "Maybe we can try that, too." However, as June ced the bottle next to his face and looked into the camera with his sleepy, bedroom eyes, Juan was rendered speechless. Like his body was in auto-mode, he clicked on the ''capture'' button. The photo immediately appeared on the monitoring screen, making the staff members gasp in surprise. They were silent for a few moments, just staring at the masterpiece that was June''s face. "Has toilet cleaner always been this sexy?"

 Chapter 761 Crash Landing On Juan

    Chapter 761 Crash Landing On Juan


    The set was filled with sounds that resembled a cheap drive-by hotel as June continued working his magic. "Ahh!" "Oh, that''s nice." "Yeah!"


    "He''s so handsome." "You''re doing great!" Juan eximed as June posed for the camera. "That''s right. Make love to the camera!" he nearly screamed in excitement. June was a bit weirded out by Juan''smentary, but he just continued with what he was doing to get it over with. He was in dire need of a nap, so he acted like the toilet cleaner was a pillow and leaned even closer to it. In that particr action, his lips were dangerously close to the bottle, creating chaos in the set. "Can I be reincarnated into a toilet cleaner?" "I think you''d be reincarnated into a toilet instead." "I can''t believe June kissed a toilet cleaner bottle before me." "Honestly, I wouldn''t kiss you first, too." "Goodness. My self-esteem is getting murdered today." Juan''s eyes lit up as he continued taking shots of June. "It''s going to be hit. This product is going to be a great hit," he whispered. "I should ask the corporation to release this sooner since I can''t wait for the public to see it," he continued. Meanwhile, the staff members continued gushing about June at the monitoring screen. Just then, they heard a soft and handsome voice behind them. "He''s doing great, right?" Jisung cheerily asked. The staff members turned around, feeling like they were hit by a ray of sunshine. Seeing such handsome men in real life made them wonder if they had saved the world in their past lives. "You did great, too," one of them absent-mindedly said, feeling bad for not gushing about Jisung as much as they did for June. "Thanks," Jisung shyly smiled, making their motherly naturee out. Then, Jisung turned his attention to the screen. "But June is really a masterpiece," he said. "I''ve always thought that he was handsome. I think people are going to like the advertisement." They nodded enthusiastically, agreeing with everything that Jisung was saying. One of them turned to their workmates and whispered, "It''s not just Juneper. There''s also Junesung." The photo shoot continued, and it went better than expected. Jisung and June joined each other by the end, and with their contrasting visuals¡ªa soft boy with a sexy look and a handsome boy who had a cute charm, the staff members believed that they were going to reach a million sales for the toilet cleaner. After it was over, they were called over by Juan, who now appeared more enthusiastic despite the exhausting shoot. "Good job, guys," he smiled. "I really thought this would be harder than usual, but you proved me wrong. You did such a fantastic job!" June and Jisung bowed at the photographer. "My assistant has talked with the admins of the product, and they are working on releasing it within the month after showing the teaser tomorrow," he continued. Jisung''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "It''s going to be released that soon?" "Well, you know," Juan smirked. "I believe this project does not need much thought. It can already be released as it is!" Jisung chuckled in amusement. "Thank you for your hardwork." "No, I should thank you," Juan said, throwing kisses at the two of them. With that, June and Jisung bid farewell to Juan and the other staff members. However, before June could leave, Juan held onto his wrist and gave him his personal calling card. "What''s this?" June asked. "When you want to have your photos taken, just call me," he smirked. "I know that you''ve worked with Choi Pablo plenty of times before, but maybe you want to give Juan a chance," he said, pertaining to himself in the third person. June pursed his lips before reluctantly nodding. Well, it looked like he had gotten himself another fan. Choi Pablo was going to have a field day once he heard about it. With that, June finally left to follow after Jay and Jisung. It was alreadyte at night since Juan had a lot of ideas that he wanted to execute for the shoot. Moreover, he treated the entire crew to an expensive meal since he was so satisfied with the photos he took.


    The three of them made their way to the van, where Jisung quickly turned on the radio and heard one of their songs ying. It was a normal urrence now¡ªEVE had practically be a resident in the local radios in Seoul. "Let''s go home," Jay said. "Yes, please," June muttered. "I need a nap." "If June wants a nap, then June gets a nap!" Jay eximed just as he had turned on the car engine. June closed his eyes and let himself get lulled by the sound of their song when he suddenly heard his ringtone, making him click his tongue. He frowned when he saw that it was none other than Choi Pablo. June sighed deeply before answering the call. "What?" June snapped. "You got your photos taken by Juan?" he eximed. June clicked his tongue. "It''s for a brand shoot," he said. "Even if!" Pablo eximed. "You could have your pictures taken by everyone except him!" "It''s not like I can do anything about it," June remarked. "Besides, how do you even know? The brand hasn''te out with our photos just yet." Pablo groaned in frustration. "That bastard sent me a photo of you practically making love with a toilet cleaner! That should have been me! Not that Pablo-wannabe. That bastard even named himself Juan because he also wanted a Spanish-inspired name." June sighed. "What do you want me to do?" Pablo was silent for a moment before speaking in a cheeky voice. "Actually, nothing," he chuckled. "I''ve got it all covered." Meanwhile, Jay and Jisung were bickering over the radio station. "Let''s listen to music!" Jisung eximed, pressing on one of the channels. "No," Jay eximed. "Too much music rots your brain! We should listen to the radio news instead. It''s what feeds our heart and soul." "Bullshit," Jisung cursed, making Jay gasp. "You don''t even watch the news! You just get it from gossiping." "People can change," Jay chimed. "Besides, did you know? Radio stations are the very first to capture the news! Marcus told me." "Ah, that buff security guy you had been talking about all day long? Well, of course. Just because a man with a good build told you to do so, then you just instantly want to listen to him!" "You have a muscle fetish!" Jisung concluded.


    "That''s not true!" Jay eximed. "It is!" Jisung threw back. "It''s not!" June clicked his tongue. "Why are you even arguing about this?" "It''s true!" Jisung continued. "It''s not!" "It is!" "It''s not!"


    June''s eyes widened as the two of them continued bickering. "WATCH OUT!" Then, arge crashing sound was heard.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 762 Jays Muscle Fetish

    Chapter 762 Jay''s Muscle Fetish


    Smoke filled the scene as three cars were caught in a collision. It was silent for a few moments before the sounds of sirens were heard. Then, breaking through the silence inside the car was the sound of the radio host speaking in an urgent tone. "Just in! There has been a collision at Rainbow Street in Seoul! A ck SUV, a white sedan, and a dump truck had been the affected vehicles. While the dump truck and SUV appear fine, the white sedan had been crushed between the truck and a post." "The nearby police are on the scene, checking dashcams and nearby cameras, while medical help is still on their way. The identity of the sedan driver has yet to be recognized, but the owner of the ck SUV and the driver of the dump truck had been apprehended for further questioning." "Well, I guess you''re right. Radio stations are he quick. The crash just happened," Jisung said as soon as the report was finished. Jay was still wide-eyed, appearing in disbelief at what had happened. "Your brakes have really saved us this time," Jisung continued. "I really thought we were going to be caught up in the crash." Jay finally broke out of his trance and smiled. "Eyy, I told you that these abrupt braking would pay off in the future." Meanwhile, June focused his gaze on the scene where people had gathered. "It doesn''t seem like any ordinary car crash," he muttered. "What was that, bro?" Jisung asked. June didn''t answer his question and continued looking at the SUV, finding it familiar. Then, despite his awful vision, he saw the man standing next to the police cars. His suspicions were confirmed when Jay gasped loudly. "Omo!" he eximed. "Is that Marcus?" June''s frown deepened. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was, indeed, Marcus. "Dang, that''s Marcus?" Jisung asked, squinting his eyes to get a better look at the buff man. "He''s hot." "See?" Jay eximed. "Now, I get why you want to follow everything he says."


    Jay proudly smiled. However, his face twisted into that of concern when Marcus was led inside the police car with handcuffs on. "What are they doing?" Jay eximed. "They''re probably going to interrogate him," Jisung chimed. "Oh no," Jay said, his voice filled with concern. "He''s alone, isn''t he? He needs a friend like me! Jay was about to leave the car when he realized that he still had the two boys with him. "Right," he muttered. "I can''t expose you two." June nodded. As much as he had a lot of questions, he also didn''t want to involve himself in a public ident. With that, Jay started the engine and drove away from the scene. "I''m going to drop you guys off and follow him to the police station," Jay said, determined to go back to Marcus. Meanwhile, Jisung shook his head.


    "And he says that he doesn''t have a muscle fetish," he muttered. With Jay''s speedy yet safe driving, June and Jisung had arrived at their dorm. Jay merely dropped them off at the parking lot before speeding back to the police station so he could help Marcus. "Let''s go?" Jisung asked. "Hmm," June hummed before they made their way inside the dorm. As they opened the door, June found the dorm much quieter than usual. It was still pretty early in the evening, so the dorm would usually be filled with chaos during these times.


    So, June found it strange how only the sound of the news rang through the walls. Jisung and June made their way to the living room, where they saw the members watching the news. Jisung cleared his throat, causing them to turn around. A collective sigh of relief was heard when they saw them. "Goodness!" Akira eximed. "I felt like I just recovered from a heart attack!" June frowned. "What happened?" Jaeyong scratched the back of his head. "Well, Casper said that he saw the van on the news for a split second, so we''ve been watching here thinking if it was really you. But, you''re here." "Oh, we were there," Jisung nonchntly chimed, making the others surprised. "It must have been the van that Casper saw. Although, it really is strange since we were parked away from the scene. But then again, I don''t want to question how Casper''s mind works." "We witnessed the car ident," Jisung continued. "It was a close call, but Jay was able to stop the car before we got entangled in the mess." "It was a massive wreck," Ren said, still appearing concerned. "That white sedan was crushed. However, don''t you think it''s strange how it was the only car out ofne?" Sehun asked. "It is pretty strange," Zeth said. "I hope they reveal more on the news."


    "Speaking of Jay, where is he?" Ren asked. Jisung shrugged and sat on the couch with them. June also sat next on the edge of the couch, his eyes focused on the unfolding news. "He''s with his boyfriend," Jisung responded. "Hmm," the guys hummed, not even surprised about it. They had all been the subject of his rants about Marcus for the past day. "Ooh! They''re showing the footage," Akira said, making them focus once more. "The CCTV footage has been revealed. It seems like the white sedan was traveling at high speed behind a ck SUV, attempting to overtake it. However, as the sedan maneuvered into the oppositene, it failed to notice arge dump truck that hade to a sudden stop due to the obstruction." "The dump truck, attempting to avoid a collision with the sedan, swerved abruptly to the side, crushing the sedan against a nearby roadside post. The impact was severe, causing extensive damage to the sedan and tragically resulting in the death of its driver." The boys grimaced as the crash was shown on the television. "Although the driver had be unrecognizable due to injuries, with blood work and fingerprints, he had been identified as Lin Zhi Hong, a past contestant of Rising Stars and an aspiring actor."

 Chapter 763 Their Real Relationship

    Chapter 763 Their Real Rtionship


    The boys were all shocked, filling the room with nothing but silence. The news had transitioned onto itsmercials, but they still couldn''t stop thinking about what was previously shown. "Lin Zhi Hong," Zeth muttered. "That''s Lin Zhi, right? The Lin Zhi that was a trainee along with us?" he eximed. "It was his photo," Sehun muttered, also unable to believe the turn of events. "He''s dead?" Jisung asked, his gaze focused on a faraway object. "I can''t believe this," Akira said. "He was just my age." "What the heck even happened?" Jaeyong asked with furrowed eyebrows. June also couldn''t believe what he just saw. With that, he stood from the couch and went to his room, locking it as he waited for Haruto to answer the phone. Indeed, he had asked Haruto to eliminate Lin Zhi. However, Haruto said that he was going to execute it within 7-14 days. So, why is it that Lin Zhi was now dead? At first, he didn''t want to kill Lin Zhi since he knew that he could be the loophole in Laohu''s ns. However, June''s mind changed after Grandma''s death. At that point, he realized that Lin Zhi was even more desperate than Laohu. So, he decided to get rid of him. Moreover, June believed that Lin Zhi and Laohu had a deeper rtionship than what he knew from the surface. His early promotion in the gang and the fact that Laohu had kept him for the longest time was a testament to that. So, he knew that Laohu was going to be devasted once Lin Zhi dropped dead. It was a bargain. A loved one against a loved one. "Hello?" Haruto finally answered the phone. "Haruto," June said in a meaningful tone. "Yes, yes. I''m in the police station. Wait a second," he said before some scuffling sounds were heard over the phone. Then, after a few seconds, Haruto''s voice became clearer.


    "I can talk now," Haruto said. "You''re with Marcus?" June asked. "Hmm," Haruto hummed. "Your manager is also with us," he added. "Gay, was it?" he asked. "It''s Jay," June deadpanned. "Oh," Haruto said. "Well, he burst into here and demanded awyer for Marcus." June sighed and massaged his temples. "Ignore him. He seems to be infatuated with your guard." "I can see that," Haruto said. "Well, I''m assuming that you''re here to ask about Lin Zhi?" "Yes," June said. "Is it your doing?" Haruto was silent for a few moments. "No," he finally answered, confusing June. "Who did it then?" he asked. "No one," Haruto sighed. "It was truly an ident." "Marcus has been trailing him for the past day. We usually gather our target''s usual whereabouts, hobbies, and other details to make the elimination as quick and discrete as possible." "That was why I asked you to wait for 7-14 days," he exined. "It seems like Lin Zhi is keener than we had anticipated, though, as he noticed Marcus'' presence right away." "However, Marcus continued his job, being extra careful to avoid getting caught. He followed Lin Zhi to a bar, and he got wasted. Then, unluckily, Marcus ran into him in the bathroom, and Lin Zhi recognized him despite his drunk stupor." June''s frown deepened as he continued listening to Haruto''s story. "Marcus didn''t want to make a scene, so he swiftly escaped. However, again, Lin Zhi seems to really know a lot as he trailed after him." "Lin Zhi chased Marcus on the highway." "The ck SUV," June muttered. "Yes," Haruto confirmed. "Then, he overtook Marcus using the otherne, causing him to get crushed by that dump truck." A small smirk arose on June''s lips. It seemed like his luck was finally working...


    ...or maybe it was just karma finally showing its course. They didn''t even have to lift their fingers to eliminate Lin Zhi. Instead, he was the one who caused his own downfall. "Thanks, Haruto," June said. "He finally got what he deserved..."


    "...while our conscience remains clear." ***


    A big-built man wandered around his penthouse, appearing to have seen a ghost. "No, this can''t be," he muttered repeatedly, his eyes wide and bloodshot. He reeked of cigarettes and alcohol while a news clip yed over and over again on his TV. He paused for a while, wiping his snot with the back of his hand before turning to the television. "Lin Zhi Hong, the driver of the white sedan, is still waiting to be imed by his rtives¡ª" "No!" he screamed, grabbing the vase from the table and throwing it to the TV, causing it to turn ck and shatter into a million pieces. Without the sound of the television, only angry sobs filled the dark room. "This can''t be." "It really can''t be." Laohu was in denial, so he went to his phone to look for something¡ªanything that would show that Lin Zhi wasn''t dead. However, as he scrolled through the posts of the idents, he didn''t find anyone talking about his brother¡ªnot even a hashtag that hoped for his peaceful rest. Instead, the cruel human world was talking about the handsome man who was involved in the ident. - I don''t mind getting crushed by him. - Please. We''re all going to hell.


    - He''s so handsome! - Lin Zhi was a wack job. I heard that the alcohol in his blood was very high, too. He could have caused a major ident. - I''m so d that Mr. Handsome is okay. - Wait, is that Jay with them? - The picture is blurry, but I think it''s really Jay! Laohu felt his heart stop after he read thosements. Then, he clicked on the photos and zoomed into them one by one. Then, his phone fell to the floor before his body followed. A small chuckle bubbled from his chest before it turned into full-blownughter. "It''s him," he said, his expression hardening. "It must be him." Laohu nced to the side and saw a photo of June¡ªone that had numerous pen and knife marks. It was something that Lin Zhi used when he wanted to blow off some steam. Then, right by its side, was a picture frame¡ªquite an old one that showed two teens standing side by side. Written at the bottom were their names. Lin Zhi and Zhilei. "My brother," Laohu muttered. "They have started a war."N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 764 The Nations Boyfriend

    Chapter 764 The Nation''s Boyfriend


    A week had passed, and it went by very silently...too silently if you asked June. However, he might just be used to the chaos that surrounded him throughout his life. Now that Lin Zhi was dead, he was preparing himself for the worst. However, it seemed like Laohu still hadn''t struck. With that, June decided to enjoy his peace, since he knew that it was temporary. "CASPER''S CONVULSING!" Akira''s voice rang through the walls of the house, causing June''s smile to fall. "Oh my gosh! He really is malfunctioning! Let''s call 911!" Sehun eximed. Then, loudughter cut through the noise, making June''s frown deepen. "Jisung is having a breakdown, too. I don''t know what to do anymore," Jaeyong said, almost in distress. "I''m as handsome as him, right?" Zeth asked amidst all the chaos. "Right, guys? Please give me some validation!" June covered his ears with his pillows, but it was no use. He could still hear the sound of his members'' voices despite his soundproof walls. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Azure really needed to invest in a better home for them! With the unrelenting noise, June finally stood from his bed, appearing annoyed. "Well, it seems like I have spoken too soon," he muttered. It actually wasn''t peaceful at all! June left his room and was met with a messy situation. Casper looked dead on the ground while Akira tried to perform CPR on him. Meanwhile, Jisung was giggling to himself in the corner of the room. "We''re so handsome," he said while giggling. On the other hand, Renughed at a crying Zeth, who was staring intently at his phone. Sehun and Jaeyong became the mediator of it all. However, it didn''t seem like they were helping at all. "What are you guys doing?" June asked, his voice breaking through the chaos. Like his presence was some kind of magical antidote, Casper was brought back to life. "Oh, dang," Akira said. "I feel like Casper will outlive us all as long as he could feel June." June sighed as he looked at all of them. "It''s so early in the morning," he remarked. "You guys are going to be the death of me." "Nuh-uh!" Akira eximed. "You''re going to be the cause of death of other people. How can you look that good for a toilet cleaner shoot?" June tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What the heck?" he muttered. "It''s out already?" "Yes," Jaeyong smiled. "And people are going crazy over it." "Jisung has been acting giddy since morning, saying that the two of you looked good together," Sehun sighed. "Meanwhile, Zeth has been going crazy¡ªiming that you look too handsome to havee from a human''s vagina. He is iming that you are an alien who came from the heavens and is now in denial," Jaeyong added. June shook his head. "And this guy?" he asked, gesturing to Casper. "He hasn''t spoken nor moved since he saw the photo posted by Juan." June frowned. "What photo?" he asked. Ren smirked as he turned to June for a second. "See for yourself!" he said. June clicked his tongue before going to Navel. Indeed, he saw that his name was trending worldwide.


    The first thing he saw was the advertisement for Sanipoo itself. It was a photo of their toilet cleaner with June''s and Jisung''s face all stered over it. Their contrasting visuals were very pleasing to the eye, and they made the stic bottle of the toilet cleaner appear like a luxury item. Moreover, June and Jisung picked their signature scents, which were going to be used for the scent of the cleaner itself.


    They also revealed that a photocard would be given to 1,000 random buyers, increasing its engagement even more. "How did they even produce this so fast?" June asked. Akira chuckled. "Well, it looks like anything can happen with the power of handsome men!" June shook his head and went through thements. - Great! Now, every time I poop, I can think of June and Jisung. - Watch me use this on my nkets instead. It would feel like a nice, warm hug from them. - My parents failed. I should have been born as a toilet cleaner bottle. - Now, my mom can''t say that I''m spending her money on stupid shit. I''m spending it on toilet cleaner, Mom!


    - Is this why all of the Sanipoos are out of stock? - Please, just let me have one Sanipoo. You can have my photocard if I get one, but please! This brand is the only one I use. - I can''t believe we''ve sold out a toilet cleaner. - My shit always smells like a nuclear explosion. This is the only thing that eradicates the scent. Please let me have one too. - Is it already sold out? The coboration was only released this morning!


    - Others: begging for one bottle. Me: sitting with fifty bottles of Sanipoo in my room. - Girlies, the limited edition bottles aren''t even out yet. Ya''ll are just buying the regr Sanipoo. June shook his head, a little bit amused. A small smile appeared on his face as he scrolled through the posts. However, he suddenly saw a photo of him kissing Casper on the cheeks. "What the fuck?" he eximed. However, it didn''t get better than that. As he scrolled further, he saw that he had almost kissed everyone on the cheek!


    Even fans bravely showed their faces just so they could reveal that June had kissed them. With one more scroll, June finally saw the culprit. It was Juan, the photographer and creative director of the entire shoot. "Sanipoo? More like Sanikiss," June read out loud. The sane membersughed out loud when June finally saw the reason why he was trending. Juan posted one of the photos in which June appeared to be kissing the toilet cleaner bottle. However, Juan had edited out the bottle and only posted June in the kissing pose. Aside from that, he also posted some exclusive pictures that Sanipoo didn''t post, creating a delusion among fans and non-fans alike. "Congrattions, bro!" Akira said, leaving Jisung to wrap one arm around June''s shoulder. "You''ve just be the Nation''s Boyfriend!"

 Chapter 765 A Wild Wise Casper Appears!

    ?


    765 A Wild Wise Casper Appears!


    In the span of one day, June had gained the nickname ''Nation''s Boyfriend'' across the entire country. Moreover, Sanipoo toilet cleaners had sold out in most cities.


    Tomorrow was going to be the finale of Rising Stars, and the boys were busy practicing for a special surprise performance.


    It was a song that the public wouldn''t expect, so the boys were working very hard on it.


    As they continued practicing, they couldn''t help but converse about their future endeavors. "Our first-year anniversary ising up,'' Jaeyong said, making the boys turn to him in surprise.


    "No, it''s not," Akira deadpanned. "We technically debuted in November, so there''s still plenty of time."


    Jaeyong chuckled and scratched the back of his head. ''Is that right?" he muttered.


    "The real question we should be asking is-when is our nexteback?" Zeth chimed. "True, true," Ren said.


    "Well, it hasn''t been that long since we released an album. It was in May, was it? I don''t even think we had any time to rest for the year," Sehun said.


    "That''s also true," Ren remarked. "I do want our nexteback to be special, though. I hope they would give us more freedom now that they know that we have the capability to create a hit song


    "Right!" Jisung excitedly said. "Luster did wonderspared to the other songs they''ve produced. Although getting help from other producers isn''t bad, I do believe that we should have more creative freedom as artists and not just mere performers."


    Casper sighed before nodding.


    "I think a lot of idols also want something like that. Somepanies are more lenient when ites to creative freedom, while Azure is an absolute menace. Nheless, I think this is something that the industry reallycks-freedom. We aren''t free to love who we want to love. We''re not free to do what normal people do. We''re not free to make the mistakes that are expected from humans."


    "We do not even have the freedom to create what we are good at-music. So, in that sense, I really do hope that once we start getting more creative freedom as EVE, otherpanies will see that it actually pays well. That has already happened with Luster. More K-Pop idols areing out with self-written songs on their albums because of it. I hope we can continued to help other artists.


    They all turned silent after Casper''s mini-speech.


    Akira narrowed his eyes at him. "You''ve been observing June too much. You''re also getting great at speeches."


    Casper chuckled in amusement. "I''ve always been pretty smart. You guys just don''t see it." "Pretty crazy, you mean," Zeth muttered. "However, I do agree with what Casper had said. Once the discussion of oureback starts, let''s bring it up with thepany."


    Ren sighed and shook his head. "I''ve already lost hope in Azure"


    "I''m just d that they''re still giving us exposure," he muttered.


    "Now, let''s go. We don''t have any time to waste. We have a huge crowd to impress tomorrow"


    The members of EVE continued practicing even though the sun had set.


    They felt rushed since they were informed that they needed to prepare a performance quitete.


    However, they weren''t the only people who were feeling agitated that night.


    In arge, white office in Itaewon, two people-a man and a woman, were seen in contrasting moods.


    "Let''s go home!" Jenny eximed. "I''m not getting paid for my extra hours."


    Pablo clicked his tongue and continued scrolling through the edits of June kissing other people''s cheeks (and lips and other body parts that are not appropriate) on Navel.


    "Juan, you bastard," he muttered. "What did you do to my muse?"


    "Pablo," Jennyined, bouncing up and down. "Please, let''s go. I''m craving ramyun. I''m afraid I''ll die if I don''t eat it soon.


    "We have ramyun there," Pablo said, pointing at the snacks table while his eyes were still focused on his phone.


    "Those are cup noodles," she said, clicking her tongue. "I want the one cooked on the pot." "You won''t die if you don''t eat it for one night, Pablo argued. "Just help me out here!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jenny groaned and begrudgingly sat next to her.


    "What do you want me to do?" Jenny incredulously asked. "You have been like this since morning. What''s so bad about Juan posting June''s pictures? It''s for a brand shoot!"


    "Sanipoo should have called me," Pablomented.


    "Well, they didn''t," Jenny deadpanned.


    "Besides, Jenny continued. "The photos turned out pretty well. A lot of people like it very much. The cheek kiss edits are the testament to that."


    Pablo turned to re at his assistant.


    "Don''t say that!" he eximed.


    "I''m just telling the truth," Jenny defended.


    Pablo groaned and leaned against his chair.


    "This bastard has been my rival ever since he came to the photography scene! He keeps trying to copy my style, but he always fails to do so! He even copied my name."


    Jenny clicked her tongue and joined Pablo as he continued scrolling through countless posts that praised June for their Sanipoo photoshoot.


    "Well, it seems like the public disagrees," Jenny said, pointing to one particrment.


    Pablo straightened his posture and read thement that Jenny was referring to.


    "Juan is the best person who had captured June. It feels...raw. Almost as if I''m there with Junc.


    Kudos to Juan! Please keep taking photos of June in the future.


    Pablo''s eyes twitched as he slowly ced his phone on the table.


    Jenny noticed this and felt a shiver run down her spine.


    "Uh-oh," she muttered. Maybe she shouldn''t have pointed out thement after all.


    "Jenny," he said in an eerily calm voice, making Jenny gulp


    "Bring out THE photos," he instructed, causing Jenny to gasp out loud.


    "THE photos?" she shakily asked.


    "Do I need to repeat myself?" he menacingly asked.


    Jenny pursed his lips. "Are you sure? Wouldn''t June get mad?"


    Pablo smirked as he stared into the distance.


    Jenny followed his gaze and frowned.


    "What is he even looking at?" she whispered.


    "He told me that it was a gift," Pablo said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "I was thinking of keeping it to myself, but then again, it was a present."


    "I could do anything with the present he has given."


    "So, bring out TI IE photos."


    What photos


    !


    % i


    66


    SandKastle

 Chapter 766 The Fight Of The Century: Pablo vs. Juan

    ?


    766 The Fight Of The Century: Pablo vs. Juan


    The members of EVE had practiced until midnight yesterday, so they were still in bed although it was alreadyte in the morning.


    It was a good thing that the live show wasn''t until the early evening, so they still had some time


    to rest.


    June woke up as usual to prepare some breakfast for the members.


    Ile hummed the song they were going to perform while he cooked homemade hash browns and sunny side-ups for the boys.


    Then, one by one, the members of EVE woke up as they smelled the nice aroma of June''s cooking.


    "Good morning!" Akira eximed as he sat on the chair. "Ooh! You already prepared our drinks." June clicked his tongue. As they had been living with each other for a decent amount of time, June hade to memorize the drinks that the members of FVF. usually drank.


    Iced Americano for Zeth.


    Hot Chocte for Ren.


    Jasmine Tea for Jaeyong.


    Cinnamon Latte for Schun.


    Pure milk for Jisung.


    A mixture of grape juice and apple juice for Akira,


    And in water for Casper.


    It somehow spoke of their own little quirks, and before June realized it, he had started preparing it for them whenever he was the one cooking breakfast.


    "You know us so well,'' Akira smiled as he drank his sweet concoction.


    The other members joined in, too, thanking June for preparing them a hearty meal.


    "This will take less than a minute," June said.


    "Hmm, go ahead," Jaeyong said. "The boys are still busy scrolling through their phones."


    June chuckled and shook his head in amusement.


    Just then, as he flipped thest batch of hash browns, amotion was heard from the table. "Casper''s convulsing again!" Akira eximed.


    June turned around and saw that Casper was, indeed, shaking in his seat, some water spilling from his lips.


    "Ew," Jisung said. However, as he gazed at what Casper was looking at a while ago, he also couldn''t help but freeze.


    Then, he fell to the ground.


    "What the heck is going on?" Zeth asked, trying to see what was such a big deal.


    Then, he gazed at Casper''s phone, too, before he froze in his spot-almost as if he had just looked into Medusa''s eyes.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "What''s the big deal?"


    The other members also walked to where Akira was to look at Casper''s phone.


    June was expecting them to have a different reaction since they were one of the ''sane'' ones.


    Although, it was pretty difficult toprehend how Akira ended up as a ''sane'' member of the group.


    "What are you guys doing now?" June sighed, turning off the stove to see what the big deal was. "Dang," Akira said as June opened Casper''s phone.


    "I didn''t know you had this side of you, June,'' he said, patting June''s back.


    June frowned, and then his eyes immediately went wide when he saw what was causing chaos among their members.


    He looked at the uploader and groaned in annoyance.


    "Choi Pablo!" he muttered angrily.


    It was part of his bucket list before he died to make Choi Pablo happy-since he had contributed


    a lot to his poprity and helped with their music video shoots.


    However, he now regretted including him on his bucket list.


    "Who knew that you would actually do a nude photoshoot?" Schun asked.


    The chaos in EVE''s dorm was no match for the chaos that erupted within the Astramunity.


    "Jia, wake up!" Bora eximed, her morning breath wafting through Jia''s senses.


    Jia snapped her eyes awake, feeling like she was hit by something.


    "What the heck?" she asked, covering her nose. "It''s so freaking early! Get away from me."


    "You don''t want to miss this," Bora said, appearing like she had seen an angel in real life-and maybe she did.


    Jia clicked her tongue and focused her gaze on Bora''s phone.


    She felt like she was hit by a shockwave with what she was seeing.


    Jia stared at it intensely, with Bora anticipating her reaction.


    "Well?" Bora asked.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "That''s Al," Jia deadpanned, causing Bora to scratch her head.


    "It''s not!" she eximed. "It was taken by none other than Choi Pablo! It seems like it''s a shade


    to Juan, too, saying that this is how a muse should be photographed."


    Jia couldn''t even internalize what Bora was saying. She was too busy looking at June on the


    screen.


    "Yeah, yeah, yummy," she muttered as Bora continued yapping.


    "Wait, what?" Bora asked.


    However, Jia continued to ignore her. Instead, she zoomed in on the photo and couldn''t help


    but sigh in enjoyment.


    "A literal angel," she muttered.


    June was, indeed, a literal angel in the shoot.


    He wasn''t fully nude-just his upper body. He looked very toned, almost like a swimmer, and his skin was white at snow. It also didn''t appear like he had any make-up. However, he looked like he always did on the screen.


    Choi Pablo had insisted on a fallen angel theme, so June was wearing wings and was surrounded by falling feathers.


    Ilis face showed sadness and eptance all at the same time, which only added to his beauty.


    Well, it was a photo taken when he thought he was going to die, so it was an absolutely legendary facial expression.


    "I can''t believe someone like him has graced thend that we walk on," Jia said.


    The majority seemed to agree.


    Mimi, who was preparing breakfast for her boyfriend, dropped everything when she saw the


    photos.


    "Babe, what''s for breakfast?" Nico asked as he went out of the bathroom.


    Then, his eyes widened when he smelled the scent of burning food.


    "Babe?" he eximed just as the smoke detectors went off.


    He quickly turned the stove off before looking for Mimi in the smoke.


    As the smoke cleared, he saw his girlfriend sitting on the countertop while staring at her phone.


    with a dazed look.


    Nico smirked. "She must be staring at my photos," he muttered.


    With that, Nico went behind Mimi, only to freeze when he saw what she was really staring at.


    For a moment, he was also dazed, wondering if a long-lost angel had been found by scientists. However, as he looked closely and saw that it was June, he immediately frowned.


    "Babe. Babe!" he said, trying to capture Mimi''s attention.


    However, it was no use.


    At that point, Nico knew that he had lost to June once again.


    With that, he plopped to the floor, his knees taking the impact.


    "I hate you, June!" he shouted into oblivion.


    66


    Imagine Taeyong''s Shl half-naked concept photos. Search it up.


    !


    SandKastle

 Chapter 767 Rising Stars 5 Finale (1)

    ?


    767 Rising Stars 5 Finale (1)


    Today was the day.


    The sun had set behind the towering venue that would hold the finale of Rising Stars Season 5.


    However, even then, the fans waiting outside couldn''t help but talk about another topic.


    "ve you guys seen June''s picture?"


    "It was so freaking mesmerizing. I think I can run for five miles now."


    "It wasn''t really special."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Because I see it almost every night."


    "We have the same illness."


    As thest rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, the excitement inside the arena burned hotter than ever. Banners fluttered with the names of hopefuls, their dreams pinned to the oue of this night. The air was thick with the scents of popcorn, hotdogs, and nervousness. Outside, a sea of fans lined up cagerly. Within moments, the crowd surged in, finding their scats amidst the excited murmurs and hurried exchanges.


    They burst into chatters, with most of them still talking about June and his godly body. However, they halted when the LED screen burst into life, disying the logo of Rising Stars.


    Then, before they knew it, the main character of their stories appeared before them in real life.


    The LED screens split open, revealing a figure bathed in spotlight-June.


    June, now the ''Nation''s Boyfriend, strode in sync with the rhythm of the music.


    His presence alone ignited a wildfire among the audience, and they cheered like their life depended on it-echoing off the walls and onto the nearby traffic.


    The stage seemed to tremble as the screams became even louder as June took his ce in the


    center.


    The camera focused on him, and just when he thought that the crowd couldn''t get any louder- they did.


    - What is this beauty? I can''t believe I was born in the same century as him!


    - If I looked like this, I would simply stand there and allow my looks to speak for itself.


    But the thing is-June isn''t just a pretty face! He''s really talented, too.


    - Overrated.


    - I still feel bitter that I can''t have any Sanipoo because of his fans.


    - Guys, stop focusing on June for a second and go vote for your favoritedies!


    The members and mentors watching backstage couldn''t help but marvel at June''s poprity. "They seem louder than usual today," Gun said.


    "It must be because of that half-naked angel picture that was revealed this morning," Lee Sik chuckled.


    With the mention of the half-naked picture, Casper''s eyes started twitching, and he leaned onto Jaeyong for support.


    "Casper?" Ji-hyun eximed in a worried tone. "What''s wrong with him?"


    Akira shook his head and pped Casper''s cheek loudly, making the mentors shocked.


    "Don''t mind him," Akira chuckled. "Just please don''t mention the half-naked picture anymore. The boys, especially Casper, are very sensitive about it."


    Although the mentors were confused, they nodded inpliance.


    "Good evening, everyone!" June''s voice boomed over the crowd, amplified by the quality sound system. "Tonight marks the beginning of an incredible journey."


    The audience hung on his every word, captivated by the anticipation of what was toe.


    "It''s time for the grand finale, where we will witness the birth of the new girl group of the century!" June continued. ''From one hundred talented young women, only five will emerge victorious tonight. Let us wee our top twenty-five contestants!"


    As June spoke, the audience roared once more.


    On cue, the top 25dies came from the LED walls and to the seats on the stage.


    Mei took her seat and watched June through the small screen in front of them.


    [My previous host is so handsome!]


    [Right, right? He''s so handsome, right?]


    [June is so handsome...and cute....and talented.]


    [I miss him.]


    [Is this what it feels like to have an ex?]


    "Can you shut up?" Mei whispered.


    Ara turned to her with wide eyes. "What was that?"


    Mei turned to her and quickly shook her head. "It''s nothing," she said, clearing her throat and murdering Fu inside her mind.


    June paused as he waited for the crowd to settle down.


    Then, when they were finally quiet, he continued with his announcement.


    "The lines are still not closed, so make sure to vote for the person whom you think deserves to be in the top five!"


    "For now," he started off. "Let us have a look at the current situation of the votes!"


    "Please reveal the trainee who is currently in sixth ce!"


    The crowd held their breaths as they waited for the trainee in sixth ce to appear on the


    screen.


    The trainees were all nervous, and June, too, surprisingly found himself looking forward to the results.


    Now that he had given his system to Mei, he wanted to see her sister fulfill her dreams.


    So, when Mei''s face appeared on screen, he couldn''t help but feel bittersweet.


    The audience eximed as soon as she was shown-however, it was attributed more to the fact


    that she looked very pretty.


    - I swear. June and Mei look so alike that it''s scary.


    They don''t look the same.


    -That''s because they''re the opposite gender! Obviously, Mei would look more feminine and delicate. However, if you look at them closely, their features are actually very simr.


    - True. True. I''ve been saying it since the beginning of the show, I think Mei fits well in the team!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    So, keep voting for her.


    - I just hope that she shows something explosive tonight. A good final performance is all she needs to be able to debut tonight.


    "We have the trainee, Mei, in sixth ce," June announced.


    "Will she maintain her rank, or will she sneak herself into the debut line-up by the end of the


    night?" he asked.


    "We will only find out the answer to that questionter!"


    "For now, let us witness a special performance from our unexpected special guests, June said, a small smirk ying on his lips since he knew what was about toe.


    The audience started discussing who it could be, some of them even cing bets. However, when June didn''t leave the stage, they felt their hearts jump to their throats.


    "No way," Jia muttered.


    "Is it EVE?"


    ? !

 Chapter 768 Rising Stars 5 Finale (2)

    Chapter 768 Rising Stars 5 Finale (2)


    - I think we''re getting an EVE performance,dies.


    - Dang it. I should have bought tickets for this show.


    - Did you even tune in to the show?


    - I didn''t. I want to watch EVE, though.


    - I''m so d that EVE didn''t announce their appearance then. I''m inside the venue, and I really do think that EVE is going to pop out somewhere.


    Suddenly, June''s voice cut through the air, capturing everyone''s attention. His voice, stripped of any backing vocals, was rich and warm, like honey lemon tea on a cold day.


    "I thought I was a shining star,


    From where I stood, my light felt strong


    But looking down from the heavens,


    I saw the Earth''s perspective.


    A sea of stars, each one glowing


    Each one iming their own space."


    It wrapped around the audience, drawing them in and leaving them enchanted. It was a voice that seemed out of this world. At that moment, June proved that he was the fallen angel that Choi Pablo captured in a beautiful photo.


    The top 25 girls turned to each other with wide eyes, realizing what song was singing.


    "It''s our theme song" Ara muttered.


    "I almost didn''t recognize it at first," Jeemin said with a touched smile. "He made it sound so sad yet so beautiful."


    Mei gazed at June''s back, feeling amazed at his talent. Somehow, it made her think that his talent wasn''t just because of his system but because he truly loved singing.


    [Right? So, stop speaking bad about my June.]


    [He has done his best to get to where he is now.]


    "I didn''t ask for your opinion," Mei grumbled.


    As the final note of June''s introduction hung in the air, the LED doors at the back of the stage swung open. Out stepped the other members of EVE. The sight of them sent a fresh wave of screams rippling through the crowd, the noise nearly deafening.


    IT REALLY IS EVE!


    - The people there are so lucky! Do they know how hard it is to see EVE these days? -Hey, guys. Isn''t this so touching? Last year, they were the ones who were waiting for their names to be called. Now, they''re singing another song-not as trainees but as sessful idols. The deafening screams died down as the familiar intro began to y.


    Indeed, it was the theme song of Rising Stars Season 5: "The Brightest Star Is Me"


    The audience was used to hearing the song performed by the female contestants, their high voices delivering a sweet, uplifting rendition. But this time, EVE took the stage, their manly voices infusing the song with a different kind of emotion.


    "Among this multitude, I wondered,


    Am I just one among many?


    Do my dreams matter, my hopes, my light,


    In a sky filled with countless beams?"


    The crowd was instantly captivated by the transformation. The strong, melodious voices of EVE filled the stadium, harmonizing perfectly and giving the song a deeper resonance. Their movements were fluid and graceful, a contrast to the typical masculinity expected in male group performances. The choreography was the same as the girls, but EVE''s execution added a unique elegance.


    It showed their versatility and dedication to their craft.


    It was one of the things that EVE paid great attention to. They had watched boy groups murder girl group song because they added way too much masculinity to it.


    With that, the members of EVE decided to keep the same elegance of the song because it


    wouldn''t hurt to show that men could dance in a delicate way.


    - This is why EVE is the most popr boy group of the generation.


    -They look so beautiful!


    - How can they pull off any type of concept?


    - Overrated.


    -I swear, this guy keepsmenting overrated,'' but he also keeps on watching. Make up your mind! Are you a fan or a hater?


    "Yet even in this crowded sky,


    I felt my essence, my spark.


    I am still a star, still glowing,


    A part of this wondrous night."


    As they sang and danced, the crowd watched in awe.


    For many, this was a full-circle moment.


    They remembered EVE''s humble beginnings on Rising Stars Season 4, their struggles and triumphs, and the journey that had led them to this very stage.


    Now, here they were, not just as performers but as inspirations to the new batch of hopefuls. The audience couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride, their eyes misting with tears at the sight of EVE''s growth and sess.


    "Now, I know what mothers feel," Jia said, wiping the tears on the corner of her eyes.


    "I''m so proud of my babies," she muttered.


    The performance continued, and at that moment, EVE felt like they were transported back to the time when they were still aspiring idols.


    "With my fellow stars, I journey,


    Together, we form constetions,


    Stories buried in the night''s embrace. Sometimes, log covers my brightness,


    Clouds obscure my shining heart.


    But deep within, I know my fire,


    Unseen, yet burning."


    The lyrics resonated with what they were feeling, and through this particr performance, they


    wanted to show the aspiring girls that they could achieve their dreams, too.


    The mentors, who were still watching backstage, couldn''t help but tear up.


    "It feels like yesterday when we were scolding them for being such noobs," Gun said.


    "That was just you," Bone chimed, tears also brimming in his eyes.


    Ji-hyun smiled as the camera panned to the smiling faces of EVE.


    "They had reallye so far," she muttered.


    "They deserve it so much."


    Amira couldn''t help but nod in agreement. As a fellow idol, she knew that EVE was a special


    group-one that arose once every century.


    They were a team filled with idols who were born for that sole purpose.


    "I may be one in a billion lights,


    But I still have my ce.


    I am the brightest in my own right.


    Through trials and doubts, I hold on,


    To the truth that lies within."


    The members of EVE sang together most of the time, which was simr to the original


    recording.


    None of them shined the brightest.


    Instead, they shined bright in their own light.


    With that, June looked up at the sky, staring at the stars that lit up the darkness.


    Like destiny, there were plenty of stars that dotted the sky, making June smile.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "So when you look up at the sky,


    Remember, among the many There is a star that shines the brightest,


    A light that is uniquely mine."


    66


    This performance is inspired by ''Sudden Shower'' by ECLIPSE. It''s from the drama ''Lovely Runner:'' Give the song a listen since that''s the vibe that I imagine for this song.

 Chapter 769 Rising Stars 5 Finale (3)

    Chapter 769 Rising Stars 5 Finale (3)


    Their performance ended, yet it still lingered in the air.


    The boys of EVE, standing under the stars, created a beautiful and meaningful picture-one that nobody could rece.


    - Nobody could rece EVE in my heart.


    - True. I tuned into this season, and it just didn''t feel the same. Although I love the girls, I can''t help butpare them to EVE


    - All of them are born to be idols!


    -EVE is going to go down history-I''m telling you.


    - Overrated.


    June smiled as the camera panned back to him. He stood at the center of the stage, ready to host the show once again after their performance.


    Ilis hair got messed up from the performance. I lowever, it only made him look even cuter.


    - Omo! A cute kitty with hair standing in all directions.


    Kyaah! June is so fucking cute. I want him to fu-


    Stop right there.


    - I want him to fulfill his dreams and always be happy! What are you thinking about?


    "That was EVE with ''The Brightest Star Is Me, otherwise known as the theme song of this year''s Rising Stars!" he eximed, and the crowd erupted into cheers once more.


    The girls, too, gave the boys standing ovations, knowing that they owned the song that was originally theirs.


    "Now, it''s the girls'' time to show their talents," June continued.


    "The girls prepared a performance with all of them, and after their performance, the voting shall close."


    The girls stood from their seats and went backstage, preparing for their performance.


    Mei let out a deep breath and positioned herself in the middle.


    "Good luck, Mei," Ara said.


    Mei pursed her lips and nodded. "Good luck, too."


    June waited for the cue from the staff before he continued. Once everything was set, the director spoke through his in-ear monitors.


    "Go!"


    "With a brand new song, Tire and Water, let us all wee the top 25!" June eximed.


    With that, the girls walked out from backstage, eliciting screams from the audience. It wasn''t as loud as that of EVE''s, but it was loud nheless.


    The girls took their positions, and since it was dark, the audience couldn''t see their current formation.


    June, who joined the mentors and the members of EVF. on the seats in front of the stage, watched the girls intently.


    It hadn''t been that long since he had given his system to Mei, so he wondered how her skills had changed since then.


    Just then, the lights burst into brilliance, illuminating the stage with an orange hue.


    The top 25 girls stood in a striking pyramid formation, with Mei positioned at the center.


    June''s heart felt like it stopped beating for a second.


    "She''s the center?" he muttered.


    It seemed like he wasn''t the only one confused, too.


    - Mei as the center? Really now?


    - So many people are still so bitter! Mei has improved so much in the course of the show. You''re


    just letting your miserable selves show by calling her untalented all of the time.


    As much as I didn''t like Mei during the first half of the show, it also can''t be denied that she has really improved.


    - Her performance with June was iconic! It was one of the best vocal performances of the show. Mei, despite feeling nervous, lifted her head and stared right into the camera,


    Like perfect timing, the camera zoomed in on her, earning cheers as loud as the one that EVE got.


    The other girls were confused as to the sudden increase in the volume of their voices. However, seeing Mei on the small screen before them made them realize the reason behind it.


    Jeemin shook her head. She, too, wanted to be the center for thest stage, but somehow, she also knew that Mei deserved it.


    She showed it during the choosing of the center role.


    Mei killed it.


    As the elemental music of ''Fire and Water'' filled their air, reminiscent of The Final Countdown, their schoolgirl scarves fluttered-one side orange, the other blue-symbolizing their unity amidst diversity.


    - Mei hasn''t sung yet, but I already believe she deserves the center position.


    - A face like hers only arises once in a century.


    - We''re so lucky we have two of them in this lifetime, though-Mei and June.


    -May and June! Hey, that''s actually pretty cute. Their ship name could be #Monthz


    -Stfu. You''re a mistake.


    -Your mother should have swallowed you instead.


    -Don''t ship June with a random ass girl.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    -June is for everyone! He can''t date anyone!


    Amidst the arguments happening online, the performance continued.


    It started with a dynamic dance break; their movement synchronized to near perfection. June raised his eyebrows in pleasant surprise. His gaze was directed to one person only-Mei. Iler dancing had drastically improved since they''d performed together.


    A small smile appeared on his lips as he continued observing Mei.


    That didn''t go past the people watching in the front, as some of them filmed June and quickly posted it on Navel.


    It was captioned ''You won''t believe who June is looking at


    It looked like a rtively normal video, with June having an attentive look in his eyes-like a lover would do. Then, it panned to Mei at the very end, eliciting unwantedments from astras and normies alike.


    -Something''s definitely going on with them!


    -I''m d I wasn''t the only one who noticed! They''re too close to just be friends.


    -June is just mentoring her. You guys can''t be normal for once.


    -A guy and a girl can''t be just friends."


    -I''m letting you go, June.


    -Bitch, he never even held onto you in the first ce.


    The girls continued dancing before staying still for a second.


    Then, Mei stepped forward, her voice carrying the weight of their journey.


    "Water and fire, never meant to blend,


    But it''s what I''ve got, my path to the end.


    Enduring the burn, feeling the chill,


    Reaching for dreams, bending my will."


    Just when June thought that Mei''s dancing was surprising, her singing had surpassed his


    expectations a hundredfold!


    The audience couldn''t help but gasp as they heard Mei''s voice.


    Even Lee Sik had to pinch himself awake to ensure he wasn''t dreaming.


    "Dang," Junc muttered.


    "Fu is putting in some work."

 Chapter 770 Rising Stars 5 Finale (4)

    Chapter 770 Rising Stars 5 Finale (4)


    Although Mei''s voice wasn''t at the level of real idols just yet, the audience still found it impressive how she had improved drastically over the course of two weeks.


    Now, they couldn''t really call her tone-deaf or untalented.


    As the performance ended, it was apparent that Mei truly deserved the center spot.


    Ilowever, June feared that it was toote.


    As he made his way back to the stage, a countdown of one minute was shown on the screen. "After the minute is over, the voting will officially close," June said.


    The people, both onsite and online, scrambled to get their votes in at the veryst minute. For some, their minds have changed because of the final performance, while some wanted to spend more money on people who didn''t even know they existed.


    "Vote for Mei, Jia said, urging her friends to use their remaining stars for Mei.


    Bora chuckled in amusement. "Aren''t you jealous of her?"


    Jia looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. "Why would I be?"


    "Because she''s being linked with June."


    Jia clicked her tongue. "That''s a ridiculous way of thinking. I don''t think they have anything going on. Instead, I feel like they have a very special bond."


    "However, in the event that they''re really dating, then I don''t have any say in that. I''m just a fan," she said.


    "You''re more than a fan, though. June knows you quite well," Wei said.


    Jia chuckled in amusement. "That doesn''t change a thing. I am still a fan. I should know my ce. If my idol dates and it''s not harming anyone, then it shouldn''t affect my life drastically. Sure, I could be sad about it, but at the end of the day, I''m happy that my idol is happy."


    "Besides, just because my idol dates someone doesn''t mean that my chances of being with him decreases. The chance was never there in the first ce," she muttered.


    "3...2...1...!"


    "The voting link is finally closed!" June eximed, causing Jia to re at her friends.


    "Dang! You chatted me up, so we missed the chance to give our stars.


    Bora scratched the back of her head. "I don''t have any stars anymore."


    "I still have some," Jia muttered, disappointed.


    Soomin apologetically looked at her. "Sorry, Jia"


    Jia sighed. "It''s fine,'' she said.


    However, it quickly turned into a re, causing shivers to run down their spines.


    "But if Mei doesn''t make it, then I''ll hold it up against you for three generations," she warned.


    The girls gulped in nervousness, now praying that Mei would be able to make it into the final line-up.


    "Now," June said, his voice filled with more depth.


    The lights dimmed, and at that moment, the audience knew that the announcement of the final members was finally going to take ce.


    Yena and Yejin signaled for June to go backstage as the music intensified further.


    - I feel like I''m going to shit myself.


    -I DO NOT miss this feeling.


    - Truly, Rising Stars has a talent for making people feel queasy.


    - I still don''t know who''s going to make it. Aside from Jeemin, I can''t predict which other girls will make it in.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    - It sucks that the group will only have five members, too.


    June was handed the envelope backstage, finding himself more breathless than usual.


    "This is it," Yena said. "Start with the fourth ce, then to the first "


    Yejin nudged Yena''s shoulder. "June knows. He has been through this before.


    June chuckled and nodded. ''Yeah, I got it. I still have some advice from Minho about how to build suspense."


    Yena and Yejin burst intoughter.


    "The audience is going to mald again," Yejin muttered.


    "Well, you''ve got this," Yena said. "You''re finally going to have a junior group."


    June couldn''t help but smile. "Yeah," he muttered.


    With that, he went back to the stage, and the drums of the music became even louder. The audience couldn''t help but hold their breaths as they waited for the announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen," June started off, his soft and charismatic voice filling the arena. "In my hands are the names of the debuting members-five girls who will be a part of Azure''s first girl group in years."


    "However, before I get to the debuting members, let me first reveal the name of the group!"


    Omo! This is what I''ve been waiting for.


    - Did you guys send in your name ideas?


    -I did! I hope it gets picked.


    - What did you send?


    - Twinx! It''s like the Winx club and a Twix bar at the same time.


    Ugly ass name! I sent in S-Ass! It''s short for S-ssed assassins!


    - I don''t think that''s any better.


    - Oh, shut up! Let''s see how you did. What did you send?


    - Mine''s awesome! It''s Queen of Fairies! Otherwise known as QueeF


    - We''re fucked, are we?


    "And the name of the five-member girl group would be," June started off, turning back to the


    screen.


    Finally, the letters appeared after a few animations.


    "Lunaire!" June eximed.


    Instead of cheers, there was a collective sigh of relief in the crowd.


    "Thank goodness, it actually sounds nice, Bora said.


    "Lunaire, standing for the moon. They are a girl group who has appeared once in a blue moon-a very rare group that is to be treasured," June said, reading the short description.


    "With that, let us dive straight into the fourth ce!" June said, and the intense music came back


    once again.


    The audience held their breaths as June said a short (not so short) description of the debuting member. As per Minho, he also added a lot of silence, which added to the tension and


    impatience of the audience.


    "We have none other than Yeri!"


    Yeri''s eyes widened in surprise while the crowd cheered. She felt tears brimming in her eyes since she didn''t expect it.


    Yeri was quite an unexpected pick. She had never been the most popr trainee in the show, but nobody could argue with the fact that she waspetent. Despite herck of solo stans, she was a favorite of many, which allowed her a spot in the debut line-up.


    "In the third ce..." June continued as Yeri tearfully took a seat at the fourth prestigious chair.


    "...is Ara!"


    Ara covered her mouth as soon as her name was called. Mei, despite her heart beating out of her chest, turned to her friend and gave her a small hug.


    "You deserve it," she whispered.


    Ara nodded and went to her seat as well.


    "Now, we have the top two contestants of the show," June said, building even more tension.


    One of them was already obvious, so June called her first.


    "Jeemin! You are a center candidate," June eximed.


    The second candidate, on the other hand, was hard to predict. Aside from Jeemin, nobody had a


    consistent rank throughout the show.


    So, it could be anyone.


    June raised his head for a moment to look at his sister.


    Ile knew that she was also a popr candidate, and he wondered if she could also unexpectedly


    take the center spot like him.


    "And the other center candidate is..."

 Chapter 771 I Practically Raised Her

    ?


    771 I Practically Raised Her


    June opened the envelope and pursed his lips as soon as he read the name inside.


    Then, he brought the microphone to his lips.


    "Mina," he announced.


    Mina''s eyes widened while Mei pped for her.


    June expected it to be Mei, but he also wasn''t mad that Mina had be a center candidate. Undoubtedly, she was the trainee with the most training time and had a lot of talent.


    Yes, Mina! I would have rioted if she wasn''t in the line-up!


    -The four girls already look promising. I wouldn''t be mad if anyone joined them at this point. - Gosh darn. This is a good line-up.


    - Truly! Azure needs to take care of them well.


    Zeth and Ren, who were from the samepany, stood and showed happy smiles to the


    camera.


    Jeemin and Mina, on the other hand, held each other''s hands as they waited for June to announce the center of the debut team.


    June was silent for a few moments, building the tension before he finally announced the results. "And the center of LUNAIRE is..."


    "Jeemin," he eximed.


    The crowd burst into congrattory cheers. It was quite expected. In the entire season, she had been voted as the first-ranked trainee every round.


    She was somehow the Zeth of the season. However, there wasn''t a twist. She managed to keep her rank until the end.


    The two of them shared their speeches before making their way up to the seats.


    As the bright music faded, the arena was once again filled with nervousness and intensity as June held thest envelope in his hands.


    "Mei," he whispered as he held onto it, manifesting for his sister to somehow make it in.


    [You know, if you don''t debut here, your brother might die.]


    Mei sighed as her pesky system appeared before her right again.


    ''I don''t even have a brother,'' she thought.


    [Alright. Whatever you say.]


    [Anyway. You really have to debut here. If you don''t, I won''t be able to see June often.]N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ''Is that why you want me to debut under Azure?"


    [Duh! Why else would I want you to debut in Azure aside from June? Thatpany is shit.] ''Well then, you wouldn''t mind if I failed here."


    [Don''t say that! Then, that would mean that I also failed as a system.]


    [I can''t fail.]


    [I''ve never failed.]


    [Or maybe it''s just because June is my host.]


    [I love June a lot, have I told you that?]


    "Mei!"


    "Shut up," she eximed, louder than usual, making the other aspirants turn to her with wide eyes.


    At that moment, Mei realized that almost all of the people were looking her way-even the audience.


    She was confused, looking at the camera with wide eyes.


    "It seems like she''s still in shock," June said, chuckling in amusement.


    Mei turned to June, and she saw him smiling with twinkling cycs.


    "Get up there," Zonya eximed, making Mei even more shocked.


    Then, she pointed to herself in disbelief, earning chuckles from the crowd.


    "Yes, Mei," June said. "You''re part of the debut line-up."


    Mei still couldn''t believe it, but her legs started moving toward the stage, almost as if she were in auto mode.


    At that moment, it felt like everything had faded.


    All she could see was the stage and the path leading to victory.


    However, from her peripheral vision was June, and at that very second, she felt tears brimming in her eyes.


    On the other side of the stage were her old parents, who hade all the way from China. Although they were originally opposed to her dream, they were gazing at her with teary eyes that were filled with pride.


    Mei felt her heart race as she stopped in the very middle.


    June smiled at her, his mind suddenly shing to the times when Mei was still young.


    She was very cute then-very hard-headed and stubborn. However, that was one of her charms.


    Mei was one of the strongest people that June knew.


    However, in his presence, he also saw Mei''s vulnerabilities.


    They grew up together without their parents, and seeing Mei on the big stage made June emotional.


    He felt tears brimming in his eyes, but he subtly blinked them away to avoid any suspicion.


    "I practically raised her," he muttered.


    Mei stepped up to the grab the microphone and cleared her throat.


    Mei is in the line-up! The girl group is nowplete.


    - I can''t believe that all of my picks made it in!


    - Ew. Why did someone like her make it in? Now, the line-up is ruined.


    -That''s true. Although she had improved, she is inherently not as good as the other girls. She''ll just fail to keep up with them.


    - I don''t care what anybody has to say. I''ll just think that all of you areing from a bad ce. I pity you for projecting your misery onto a talented person. Mei is very good, and she will keep the bnce in the team.


    The crowd quieted down as Mei let out a heavy sigh.


    "This is something I didn''t expect," she smiled.


    "I know that I have ced high in the past rankings, but I am also aware of my shorings as a trainee. In no way am Iplete. I lowever, I want to say that I will work my hardest to get


    closer to thatpletion."


    "To my parents," she said, turning to the old couple on the side of the stage.


    They were shown on the big screen with teary eyes, and the crowd couldn''t help but aww at the


    happenings.


    She switched to her mother tongue, so June still managed to understand her.


    "I know that you were against this dream in the beginning. I know that it''s hard, but it would be harder if I''m not able to do it. I won''t regret ever taking this path, and I would also do my best so


    you won''t regret supporting me."


    "To the girls who didn''t make it, she said, switching back to Korean.


    "Thank you for being patient with me. I want to say that this is just the beginning for all of us. It


    won''t be thest time that we will see each other."


    "To our mentors," she continued, ncing at them.


    The mentors did a thumbs up, all seemingly satisfied with the line-up.


    "Thank you for guiding me in this journey. I would have never gotten it far if it weren''t for you"


    June was expecting Mei to end the speech right there.


    Ilowever, he was surprised when she suddenly called his name.


    "And for mentor June...


    **

 Chapter 772 Presenting To You, LUNAIRE!

    ?


    772 Presenting To You, LUNAIRE!


    June''s cycbrows raised in surprise.


    He definitely wasn''t expecting his name to be called since Mei had already thanked the mentors.


    Akira sighed as he watched Mei look at June with sparkling eyes.


    "There goes my ideal type," Akira said. "I lost another one to June.


    "At this point, we''ll lose everyone to June," Jisung said. "But I don''t mind!"


    Casper, on the other hand, minded-very much.


    Zeth shrugged. "I don''t know. I''m not feeling romantic vibes from them," he chimed.


    Mei cleared her throat once more before saying what was on her mind.


    "When we first met, I have to admit, I didn''t like you," she started off, earning gasps of shock from the audience.


    She chuckled at their reactions.


    "It''s not that I hated Mentor June," she rified. "It seemed like I had just some kind of prejudice since he was a big idol."


    "How can she even say that?" Ara chuckled in amusement.


    Mina, too, shook her head in disbelief. "It looks like we''ll have a sharpshooter in our team." "We just seemed so different," Mei continued. "I couldn''t see past our differences. "llowever, as time went on, you showed me who you truly are-a kind-hearted,passionate, and genuine person. You broke down the walls I had built and brought out the best in me." "You''ve supported me in ways I never imagined possible," she chuckled, pertaining to Fu.


    "So, for all of Mentor June''s fans out there, I just want to say that you''re a fan of a great man. I know that he has been through a lot during the show, so I just wanted to tell everyone to give June lots of love."


    "He deserves it," she muttered.


    June ced his hand over his chest.


    Ile almost wanted to cry.


    That was the sweetest thing that his sister had ever told him! She usually cursed at him when he was still in his old body.


    Her speech was well-received by the audience. However, it also fueled their dating rumors even


    more.


    - Aww, that''s so sweet! She''s like a little sister.


    - That ain''t no little sister. They''re definitely dating.


    - Tell me you''ve never had genuine rtionships without telling me.


    - They''re definitely dating. Do you see how they look at each other?


    - They''re looking at each other normally! You''re the one who''s abnormal.


    - The astras in thements are in denial. Your idol is dating a trainee!


    "Once again, thank you," Mei said, smiling at the camera, her eyes now void of any tears.


    "I promise not to let you down!"


    With that, she ced the microphone back on the stand and made her way to the fifth spot at the bottom of the pyramid.


    [Well, it''s not the first ce like June, but I''ll take it.]


    [Congrattions, host!]N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Mei held in the urge to roll her eyes as Fu appeared once again.


    As she made her way to her seat, the members weed her with open arms, and she epted them with wide smiles.


    June smiled as he observed the excited team-their juniors.


    "There you go, folks!" he eximed, getting ready to close the show.


    "It has been a long journey, but we finally have the five girls in our midst."


    "Everyone, I want to introduce-LUNAIRE!"


    ***


    "We finally have a junior group! Can you guys believe it?" Jisung asked as soon as they made their way to the dorm.


    "Well, yes," Sehun responded. "We literally just finished attending their final show."


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "You sure are a joy to talk to," he sarcastically said.


    "Do we have a schedule tomorrow morning?" Casper asked as he ced his coat on the hanger.


    Jay smirked before shaking his head. "You guys are free once again! However, we have a meeting with Mr. Ong in the afternoon."


    The group groaned as soon as Jay mentioned the meeting,


    "Oh,e on, it wouldn''t be too bad," Jay said. However, it almost sounded like he was


    convincing himself.


    "Not that bad?" Akira eximed. "I get diarrhea every time I go to his office. There''s something about his vibe that makes me want to shit."


    "It''s because he''s shit himself," Jacyong said, making the other members surprised.


    They looked at their leader with wide eyes.


    Jaeyong raised his eyebrows.


    "Why?" he asked.


    "It''s surprising that you just said that," Ren said. "I thought you were a Mr. Ong simp."


    Jaeyong sighed and shook his head.


    "I''m the leader. I need to maintain a neutral position most of the time. However, that doesn''t mean that I can''t speak about the injustices I feel"


    "I have a lot of their faults listed down, and I''ve tried bringing it up with him. However, he has


    June clicked his tongue. ''Well, they''ve always imed to be doing the best for us. Yet, their nning style is quite old-fashioned. It wouldn''t work in this modern world."


    "We''re still sessful, though, Zeth chimed.


    "But then again, that''s because of my handsome looks," he said, bringing out his pocket-sized


    mirror and swooning when he saw his reflection.


    Then, his gaze strayed to his members, who were looking at him with near disgust.


    "Well, I guess you guys are handsome, too," he added, clearing his throat.


    Ren shook his head. "I swear, you never change," he muttered.


    "Anyway" Ren said. "I think we should sleep. It''s prettyte, and we need all the energy we can


    get if we''re going to speak with Mr. Ong tomorrow."


    The other members nodded in agreement.


    However, Jay spoke, causing them to halt.


    "That could be!" Jay said. "Or, you guys could stay here and have some fun"


    The boys turned to cach other with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Have fun?" June asked.


    "Yeah!" Jay eximed before bringing out something from his bag-a huge box that clinked


    when he ced it on the table.


    "I low did that even fit in his bag?" Akira muttered. "Is he Mary Poppins or something?"


    "What''s that?" Jisung asked.


    Jay smirked as he walked to the box, revealing the content to the boys.


    The members were surprised as soon as they saw what was inside.


    Jay''s smirk widened as he observed their shocked expressions.


    He excitedly opened his arms after he brought out the five fancy bottles and ced them on the


    table.


    "Let''s get hammered tonight, boys!"


    Are you guys ready for drunk EVE?


    !


    66


    SandKastle

 Chapter 773 Drunk Habits

    ?


    773 Drunk Habits


    The boys were silent for a second as they looked at the five huge bottles of alcohol on their table.


    It was different kinds-wine, whiskey, vodka, rum, and gin.


    Just looking at the array already felt like a health hazard.


    "Oh, hell yeah!" Zeth eximed, already running to the kitchen to get some sses.


    "It''s been forever since I''ve drank!" he called from the kitchen. "Those are the expensive kinds, too, right?"


    Jay proudly smiled. "How did you know?" he asked.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong scratched the back of his neck.


    "Is this really okay?" he asked. "We have to talk with the CEO tomorrow"


    "That''s still tomorrow afternoon, Ren said, sitting on the ground. ''It''s also been a while since I''ve drank. I miss it, honestly."


    Sehun looked at the bottles and sighed.


    "Are you really our manager?'' he asked. "How can you ask us to drink?"


    Jay innocently smiled. "Well, we''ve been feeling quite stressed these past couple of weeks, right?" he asked.


    "It''s time we rx! Besides, this is what Marcus rmended in the grocery store.""


    "Ahh," the members collectively eximed, finally realizing why Jay asked them to drink in the first ce.


    "But really," Jay added. "I think we all deserve this. Alcohol isn''t bad if it''s drank in moderation." Sehun sighed and joined Ren on the floor.


    "Fine," he said. "I need to release some tension, too.


    Akira smiled, also nting his butt on the floor.


    "Heck yeah! Let''s get hammered!" he eximed.


    Zeth came back with the sses and ced them on the table.


    Meanwhile, Casper, June, and Jisung continued standing, with their youngest member appearing hesitant.


    "I don''t know," he said. "I''ve never drank before!


    "Dang, you really are a baby chick, Ren said. "Don''t worry! We won''t let you get drunk"


    Jisung pursed his lips. "I still don''t know."


    Casper, too, bit his lip in hesitation. "I have a really bad habit when I''m drunk,'' he said.


    "We all have bad habits!" Akira said. "I kiss everything"


    The boys looked at him with disgusted expressions.


    Zeth shook his head, wanting to forget about Akira''s habit. "I have one too. I tend to love myself


    a lot when I''m drunk."


    Akira ced his hand over his mouth. "But you already love yourself a lot. That''s freaking scary" Zeth chuckled before turning to Jacyong.


    "What about you?" he asked. Jacyong pursed his lips and shook his head, not wanting to reveal


    it.


    "I don''t have ns on getting hammered tonight anyway" he said. "So, I won''t tell you!"


    "Boring!" Akira called out before turning back to Casper.


    "What''s your habit, Casper?" he asked.


    "I''m overly honest, Casper said.


    "Oh, that''s not too bad," Schun said.


    "Yeah, that''s very normal," Jisung chimed.


    Casper shook his head. "You don''t understand," he said.


    "I''m very, very honest."


    "I don''t even know my drunk habit," Jisung muttered.


    "It doesn''t matter!" Zeth eximed. "Just join us. It won''t be fun if it''s just us."


    June looked at the bottles and found them all familiar. As someone who frequented bars and had to drink alcohol with clients and enemies alike, June knew them like the back of his hand.


    He still thought that it was a bad idea-since alcohol usually made people too fearless.


    However, thinking that it was a rare moment, he sat on the floor.


    "Fine," he caved in.


    With one word, Jisung and Casper also sat on the floor.


    "I''m down," Casper said, clearing his throat.


    "There''s always a first time for everything, right? Let''s see what my drunk habit is!" Jisung


    eximed.


    The members shook their heads in amusement.


    "Simps!" Akira eximed.


    With that, Jay opened the first bottle and poured it into the nine sses.


    Then, the members took the sses and raised them high in the air.


    "You guys have been so busy for thest couple of months. You''ve barely gotten a break since your debut, so we didn''t even have any time to celebrate"


    "So, before anything else, I just want to say that I''m proud of you, guys! You''re the biggest idols in South Korea, and I''ll witness you taking over the entire world!"


    The members chuckled at the cheesy speech before clinking their sses.


    They downed the alcohol, finding the beverage quite sweet.


    "Iley," Jisung smiled with bright eyes before looking at thebel of the bottle.


    "This is actually pretty good" he said. "Marcus did a great job choosing them!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jay squared his shoulders with pride. "Of course! Marcus always does a great job."


    "These are all pretty sweet, June said, looking at the bottles.


    The members turned to him with surprise.


    "How do you know?" Akira asked.


    June smirked as he downed another ss. "You would like to know, would you?"


    He grabbed one of the bottles and showed it to his members.


    "This one is the Quinta de Serrado Reserva, originating from Portugal. This red wine is cracked


    in the heart of the Dao region."


    June opened it, and the members intently watched him.


    It felt as if they were watching a real connoisseur in a vineyard.


    When, in reality, they were in a messy dorm. However, June truly looked like a masterpiece!


    "On the nose, you''ll encounter dark cherries, plums, and a hint of violets. Along with that are subtle notes of vani and spices from the oak aging process. As it graces the pte, you''ll be delighted by its rich and velvety texture, revealingyers of ckberries, cassis, and a touch of


    tobo."


    "The tannins are well structured, which leads to the elegant finish," he said, ending his description by opening the wine and making the others taste it.


    "Dang!" Zeth eximed as soon as the wine hit its pte. "Where did you learn all of that?"


    "At this point, I don''t even want to ask," Akira said. "This guy can do anything. I won''t be


    surprised if he can shoot guns, too."


    "True!" Jisung eximed. "I think you might have been a prince in your past life!" "Should I post that on my Navel? June is a prince? Yeah, that would be good, wouldn''t it?"


    The members were surprised when Jisung suddenly took out his phone.


    Fortunately, Ren snatched it away from him and ced it under the table.


    "Oh, goodness," Jay said. "I think Jisung''s drunk.


    "What the heck?" Akira asked. "He only had two sses. This kid is such a lightweight"


    "We''ve also figured out his drunk habit, too, Zeth chimed. "He''s reckless! So, let''s watch him at


    all costs.


    "Hmm," June hummed, pouring himself another ss.


    As June continued telling them about the different drinks, the boys drank with gusto.


    It was an enjoyable night.


    Ilowever, it was also a night that they would never forget...


    ...because it was a night when all of their drunk habits came through.


    66


    This is inspired by K-Pop idols doing their drunk lives! Hongbin, a member of VIXX even ended up in a scandal because he held a drunk livestream and started bashing other idols. This particr live is inspired by Schun and Chanycol, though! It''s fun. You can watch an edit on YT for a spoiler.


    !


    SandKastle

 Chapter 774 Dont Get Drunk Kids (1)

    ?


    774 Don''t Get Drunk Kids (1)


    "Akira, stop kissing my foot!" Zeth eximed. "I know that I''m very handsome-even my feet, but that doesn''t mean that I want you to kiss it!"


    "Ah, onions," Akira said as he snuggled closer to Zeth''s foot. "I remember my mom''s cooking. She should cut this right up so I can eat now!"


    Sehun, whose face was red but was seemingly normal, nced at Jay before gasping loudly.


    "Guys, Jay''s not breathing!" he eximed. "Ile''s dead! Let''s call for an ambnce."


    Ren clicked his tongue and poked Jay.


    "He''s fine," he deadpanned. "He''s even snoring. I swear-you''re so dramatic."


    "Well, Sehun''s been dramatic ever since. We just don''t see it much since he keeps to himself. I think he secretly hates us," Casper calmly said.


    June shook his head. "You weak links!" he eximed. ''You can''t even handle this much alcohol?" Jaeyong sniffed as June said those words.


    "I can," he said, wiping his tears away. "I really can. I''m sorry. I''ll do better."


    Casper chuckled. "Such a crybaby. That''s usually a sign that you were repressed as a kid. You didn''t have the opportunity to show your feelings, so they''re hard to control now that you''re an adult."


    "You''re so noisy!" Ren said. ''I''m bored! Let''s y something"


    Meanwhile, Jisung giggled as he watched his members bicker.


    "This is such a happy time," he muttered. "I''m always happy when I''m with you guys."


    "Where''s my phone? I need to share this happiness with our fans!"


    With that, Jisung started crawling on the floor.


    June shook his head as he watched Jisung. "He''s like a baby chick. I would love to have a baby brother like him. I should have asked my parents to make another boy when they were still alive. Now, they can''t reproduce because they''re buried six feet under the ground!"


    For a moment, it seemed like the boys became sober.


    "Dang, that''s dark," Ren said.


    The members of EVE continued to create chaos in their dorm.


    In short, all of them were drunk out of their asses. Jay was passed out on the floor, unable to control his children.


    Fortunately, aside from their drunk habits, none of them had slurred speeches, and they still understood each other pretty well.


    "Aha! I found it," Jisung eximed when he saw his phone under the table.


    "I have to share this with astras," he said in a sing-song voice before going to his Navel ount.


    "What are you doing?" June asked, his eyes fluttering.


    Jisung responded by speaking in a cheery voice instead.


    "Hi, guys!" he eximed, extending the hand that was holding his phone while waving the other. "How have you guys been?"


    Jisung had, indeed, turned on the live option on Navel.


    - Jisung! Hi there!


    Jisung''s face is red. So cute!


    -Why did you go live thiste in the night, baby?


    - You seem so happy! Did something happen?


    "I am happy!" Jisung responded with a smile that made his eyes crinkle. That made the audience crazy, and before he knew it, the number of people in the livestream reached a hundred thousand.


    -Goodness. It''s 1 AM! What is everyone doing sote?


    It''s never toote for Jisung!


    - I have a special notification when the members of EVE go live. My body automatically got up as soon as I heard it.


    Jisung giggled. "You guys should sleep if you want to. I''m just very happy, so I went here!"


    Then, he panned his phone to his members, who were doing all sorts of things.


    - What....are they doing?


    - Is Akira on the floor resting his head on Zeth''s foot while Zeth''s talking to himself in the mirror?


    What''s Ren doing? He''s speaking to himself.


    -Wait, why is Jaeyong crying with Sehun? Did something happen?


    - And who''s body is that on the floor?


    -Guys, are you drinking?


    - Eyy, that''s not possible! Why would an idol group go live when they''re drunk?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Casper sat closer to him and bowed. "Oh, astras?" he asked. "It''s me, Casper. We''re drinking right now. That''s why the members are like this."


    -...- They are drinking!


    - Kekekeke, I can''t take this! They''re the only group who has the courage to do this!


    - Hey, won''t they get into trouble?


    - Who cares? They look very cute right now!


    - Let us see June, please.


    "Ah, June?" Casper eximed when he saw his name in thement section. With that, he pulled June closer to the camera, revealing his red face and messy hair.


    Nheless, he looked very handsome, and he shot arrows in the hearts of the fans.


    - Kyaaa! June is still so handsome!


    - They all look handsome. When I drink with my friends, I look like a bloated pufferfish.


    - A pufferfish is already puffy, though.


    - Exactly. That''s how bad I look.


    "Hi, guys," June said, waving his hand.


    "June is so handsome, right?" Casper asked. "He deserves his poprity so much."


    Jisung nodded in agreement. "He''s the best big brother in the entire world!"


    June shook his head in amusement. "Anyway, do you guys want to hear a story?" he suddenly


    asked.


    The members of EVE, who were at the back, also paid attention to June.


    - Yes, please! We would love to hear your stories, June.


    You could talk about dog poop, and I''d still listen to you.


    What is it, our lovely June?


    "I haven''t told anyone this before," he giggled, leaning closer to the camera.


    The angle was quite weird, but since it was June, he still looked great.


    "I''m not from this world," he whispered.


    Despite his soft voice, the other members still heard him.


    They all turned silent, trying to internalize June''s words.


    Thement section had be awfully slow, too, almost as if they were also processing


    June''s story.


    "I came here after I was shot!" he continued.


    "Then, before I knew it, I was in this body"


    "I''m a tough guy! I''m part of a gang!" he eximed.


    Just then, the room was filled withughter, making June frown.


    Thements, too, went unbelievably fast.


    June is so fricking cute! Have you been reading scary stories?


    - Omo. What should we do with June? He''s so precious!


    - I want to squish his face.


    - If June says he''s a tough guy, then he''s a tough guy


    - No, he''s my Pookie.


    Meanwhile, his members''ughter became even louder, making him frown.


    "I''m telling the truth!"


    !

 Chapter 775 Dont Get Drunk, Kids (2)

    ?


    775 Don''t Get Drunk, Kids (2)


    Even though June was beingpletely honest, his members and the astras in the live stream didn''t seem to believe him.


    Now, the members were singing an ABBA song, harmonizing even though they were drunk.


    June, who was still feeling pretty upset, diverted his emotions to the song:


    "The winner takes it all!" he sang in falsetto, his angelic voice filling the room.


    - We''re getting a concert for free!


    Honestly, this is so good. I can''t believe they''re drunk while singing this good.


    - Stan talent. Stan EVE!


    - I stumbled upon this live on ident. I think I''m a fan now,


    -Yay! Wee to the club. There''s no way out.


    "Ah, that was a great one," Jisung said. "Our boys are so talented, right?"


    "You want us to sing more?" Jisung asked. "We''ve already sung a lot, though. My members look pretty tired. Why don''t you send us some questions instead?"


    -Won''t the other tenantsin about the noise?


    "Tenants?" Jisung asked. "They''re asking if the other tenants are going toin!


    Zeth put down his mirror and grabbed Jisung''s phone.


    "Currently, there''s no one on this floor except for us. This is where Azure artists usually stay, with idols being at the top-most floor. The actors are on the floors below us, so I doubt they''ll be able to hear us."


    "Yeah," Akira chimed. "LUNAIRE hasn''t moved in yet! However, that wouldn''t be a problem. The walls are soundproof here, so they won''t hear us."


    Casper nodded. "That''s one of the good things about the dorm. However, there are also lots of deficits. The shower heater doesn''t work at times, and our stove frequently gets broken. Oh, the paint is also chipping"


    - What the heck? You guys are making so much money, but don''t you have a nice house?


    - Azure should treat you guys well! You''re the biggest moneymaker in their entertainmentpany!


    -Guys and girls, we have a mission! Now that EVE is being honest with us let''s ask them questions about how thepany treats them!


    "Yeah, it''s scary here sometimes," Jisung muttered. "But it''s alright. At least we have somewhere to sleep in, right?"


    Why don''t you tell us about your uing album?


    "Uing album?" Jisung repeated. "Jacyong will answer that question!"


    Jaeyong, who was still teary-eyed, sniffed as he was handed the phone.


    "We still don''t have an idea. I think it''s still too early. We do want to release an album, too, but that''s not just un to us." he said.


    "We''ll make sure to put out great music once the timees.


    Casper once again took the phone from their leader to add to his statement.


    "We want the next album to be filled with songs that came from us," he started off.


    "The songs from thest album were curated by the in-house producers. We had to fight for


    Luster to make it in. However, it turned out to be the biggest hit."


    "Oh, did you guys also know? Luster is about my cat, Luther!"


    - Guys, it''s working.


    - Ask more questions!


    - Let''s expose Azure!


    Meanwhile, Jay, who was snoring on the floor, had a pretty bad dream.


    "No, we didn''t mean to," he muttered in his sleep.


    "I have another question here!" Jisung said.


    "What do you think about your CEO? Is he kind to you guys?" he asked.


    Jisung frowned after he read the question.


    "I don''t want to answer the question, he said, handing the phone to June.


    June clicked his tongue as he spoke about their CEO.


    "Let''s see," he said. "He''s always on his chair, and he alwaysmands us to do things we don''t agree with."


    "He has a high-pitched voice, too, so it''s hard to listen to him sometimes"


    Zeth chuckled loudly. "His wig flies away, too, when he opens the windows. It''s hard to hold in myughter whenever that happens."


    "Oh, and his office smells strangely of cheese!" Ren chimed. "Not Mozzare or Gouda. The Blue Cheese kind."


    - They''re destroying their CEO!


    He deserves it.


    This is so funny, really.


    - I''m quite scared, though. I really feel like they''re going to get into trouble because of this.


    - Don''t worry! We''ll protect them.


    Casper, who had shown his drunk habit plenty of times, decided to conclude their answers with a bang.


    "Realistically speaking, he''s not the worst CEO," he said, almost in a news anchor voice.


    Here we go!


    We get the hottest tea from Casper. I love this very much!


    - I''m seated for the tea.


    - Wait, why are there 200,000 viewers now? Who are these people?


    This is on entertaininal I''m a fan of another aroun, but I love this! I stand forment nders


    - I might stan EVE just for this one. They''ve got balls!


    - I''m scared. Why does Casper sound so smart?


    "However, there are areas where I believe improvements could be made, particrly regarding our freedom and how it impacts our performance and morale"


    "As an idol, I understand that certain controls and restrictions are part of the job. We''ve all epted that. However, sometimes these limitations feel excessive. For instance, our musical freedom is quite restricted. Many of us have creative ideas and a strong desire to contribute more to our music, but we often find ourselves unable to express these ideas fully" "Simrly, our social media presence is tightly controlled. While I understand the need to maintain a certain image, a bit more flexibility here could help us connect more genuinely with our fans. Lives like these are great, no?"


    "Another point of concern is the apparent bias within the group. Some members, especially June, find themselves overworked, while others seem underutilized. We''re fortunate to be a strong, cohesive team, but this kind of disparity can strain even the best of rtionships over


    time."


    "So, in conclusion, Mr. Ong could su-"


    Just then, Jisung''s phone turned ck, causing Casper to frown.


    "I think your phone died," he said.


    Jaeyong cried, making the others surprised.


    "No!" he said. "It''s so young. It can''t die!"


    With his statement, the members of EVE burst intoughter...


    ...oblivious to the fire they have created.


    I love Casper smn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ? !


    66


    SandKastle

 Chapter 776 Its Not That Bad

    ?


    776 It''s Not That Bad


    The members of EVE woke up with raging hangovers.


    They were all huddled in the living room, and they were awoken by the sound of someone vomiting in the bathroom.


    Akira groaned as he got up.


    "Who the heck is making so much noise?" he shouted.


    His exmation woke the remaining sleeping members, covering their ears as they felt their heads throb.


    "Goodness," Jacyong said, blinking his eyes awake.


    "What happenedst night?" he asked.


    Jisung frowned as he looked at the fiverge bottles on the table.


    "Don''t tell me-did we drink all of that?"


    June, too, frowned when he looked at his members. They all looked like they''d ridden a rollercoaster for three hours.


    He tried to recall what happened yesterday, but it was all just a big blur.


    "Does anyone know what happenedst night?" Junc asked.


    Casper, who appeared the most normal out of them, shook his head.


    "I tend to forget everything when I''m drunk," he said. "I''m worried, though. I felt like I said something stupid."


    "Me too," Sehun said. "Why are my eyes swollen?"


    Just then, Jay trudged back to the living room, groaning in pain as he plopped on the couch.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I''m never drinking again," heined.


    "Do you know what happened?" Casper asked.


    Jay shook his head. "No idea," he said.


    June sighed before standing from the floor. "My dder is going to explode," he muttered.


    Jay turned to him with a smile. "The toilet smells of vomit, so take the Sanipoo before you go." June clicked his tongue and grabbed one of many bottles.


    However, he halted when he saw thebel behind the bottle. It was the first time he realized such a detail.


    "Wait, Sanipoo is owned by Phoenix?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Akira responded. "You don''t know?"


    June shook his head. "Phoenix is a really bigpany. It has many subsidiaries, and Phoenix Entertainment is just one of them. It''s probably the biggestpany in South Korea."


    "The owner is pretty controversial, though," Jay chimed.


    June turned his head to their manager. "Why is that?"


    Jay shrugged. "It''s not because they''re a bad person or anything. It''s just that nobody really knows who they are not their name, not their gender."


    "Only the CEOs of the subsidiarypanies are known."


    "Huh," June muttered. "Strange."


    "Yeah," Jay said. ''But it''s pretty cool, too, right?"


    "Anyway, didn''t you need to pec?" he asked.


    June nodded and went to the toilet, covering his nose when the scent of hot vomit hit him right away.


    He clicked his tongue and sprayed some of the Sanipoo before doing his business.


    Ile closed his eyes, feeling refreshed as his dder was being emptied, when he suddenly heard Jisung scream.


    "Guys!" Jisung eximed.


    "I think we''re in deep trouble.


    ***


    The boys, along with Jay, sat in a fragrant room.


    The sound of wheels rolling was heard-the only thing piercing through the silence.


    Jay sucked in his cheeks as Mr. Ong circled around him.


    "Finally," Mr. Ong coldly said. "I have been waiting for all of you to respond."


    "I know that our meeting was scheduled this afternoon, but I had to move it carlier duc to... reasons," he chuckled.


    The members of EVE didn''t say anything, knowing that they had done something wrong. Well, in June''s case, he thought that it was long overdue. He watched the clips online and wanted to apud Casper for everything he had said.


    "I even had my assistant light up one of my expensive candles because I didn''t want my room to smell like blue cheese," he said, turning to Ren, who pursed his lips to prevent himself fromughing out loud.


    "I also went to my salon beforeing here so they could touch up my wig" he said, now turning to Zeth.


    Zeth looked down at hisp without saying anything.


    "Now," Mr. Ong said, wheeling himself back behind his table. "Could you tell me why you had a livete in the evening when I told you that every move of yours shall be reported to me?" "And not only that, BUT YOU DID IT DRUNK!" he shouted, causing the members to wince. Then, he turned on his TV to show the boys the aftermath of their drunk livestream. However, his browser history showed up instead.


    ''Wig hairstyles that aren''t obvious''


    ''Why do I smell like blue cheese?''


    ''Octopus sex!


    June fancam 20231


    The boys felt like they were in a ''try not tough'' challenge. They quickly looked away from the screen as Mr. Ong scrambled to shift the screen to the presentation he had created.


    "Ilere!" he eximed, trying to calm himself down.


    June''s eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise when Minjun''s article appeared on the screen.


    EVE''s drunk live stream? An iconic moment!


    Last night, the hottest K-Pop boy group of their time, EVE, took to the inte by storm with a live that was surprising and utterly human at the same time. The group''s impromptu drunk live stream quickly spiraled into a viral sensation, attracting 250,000 viewers at its peak. What could have been a recipe for disaster turned into a memorable event that endeared the boys to their fans and the public alike.


    The live stream showcased a side of EVE that fans rarely see: raw, unfiltered, and charmingly inebriated. Far from the polished, choreographed performances that K-Pop idols are known for, the members of EVE let their guards down and showed their cute, natural selves. They sang songs, proving that their talent shines through even in less-than-sober conditions. The public loved it, finding the boys'' antics reminiscent of their own drinking sessions with friends. But the mostmendable part of the evening came when led by the group''s member Casper, the boys aired their frustrations with their managementpany. Despite the alcohol and the potential for chaos, he articted their grievances professionally. Their candid discussion about theck of creative freedom, biased workloads, and stringent social media controls resonated deeply with viewers.


    This bold move didn''t go unnoticed. Fellow artists such as Haruki of CHAOS, Uno of OCTA, and actress Hana publiclymended EVE for speaking out against industry norms, a topic often considered taboo. Their bravery in addressing these issues struck a chord, leading to an outpouring of support and admiration from both fans and peers.


    In a single night, EVE managed to gain over a hundred thousand new followers, with Casper emerging as the central figure of this surge in poprity.


    So, what do you think about EVE now? Their drunken night may have started as a simple livestream, but it ended as a defining moment in K-pop history!


    "I read this article!" Casper smiled. "It was so sweet!"


    "Yeah, it''s not so bad, right? The public seems to like it," Akira chimed.


    Meanwhile, Mr. Ong felt like he was going to bust a nerve.


    "This article has over a million views!"


    !


    Swing left to continue >

 Chapter 777 Delayed Comeback

    ?


    777 Dyed Comeback


    Mr. Ong''s face was so red he looked like an embarrassed lobster.


    "It''s really not that bad, sir,'' Jay hesitantly said.


    That was Mr. Ong''s final straw.


    Ile stood from his office chair and mmed his fist on the table. Even though he had gone to


    the salon to get his wig fixed into ce, it was still no match for his anger.


    It became disheveled, making him look like a hairy Humpty Dumpty.


    "It''s not that bad?" he asked with narrowed eyes.


    "How can you tell me that it isn''t so bad when this article has over a million views!"


    "Now, people are making Azure Entertainment a big joke!"


    Mr. Ong showed the other articles.


    ''Mr. Ong''s Shorings: Literally and Figuratively


    ''If Your Office Smells Like Blue Cheese, Then You Might Have An Underlying Yeast Infection Like Mr. Ong"


    ''Hitting Puberty In Your 50s? Calm Down! You''re Not Alone. A Certain CEO Is Also The Same.''


    The boy''s faces also became red as they held themselves back fromughing.


    "Dang," Akira muttered. "Those are some damn good article titles."


    Mr. Ong continued airing out his anger.


    "You are an idol group! How can you show this kind of behavior on media? Especially you, Casper," he said, pointing at the tall boy.


    Casper pursed his lips and looked down at the ground.


    June massaged his nose bridge. "That''s right. We''re an idol group-a human idol group. We''re not robots, nor are we made from AI. We''re just like everybody else."


    "We would take responsibility if we did something wrong, and I have to admit that the things we''ve said could be refined. However, ourints are things we''ve already told you. You just didn''t listen."


    "So, Casper took the initiative to air out his frustrations," June said.


    Casper looked up at June with wide eyes before cing his hand over his chest, feeling touched.


    June''s statement just seemed to make Mr. Ong even angrier.


    Jay pursed his lips and held onto June''s thigh, preventing him from speaking any further.


    Mr. Ong continued ranting while the members of EVE remained silent. He went on and on about discipline and how EVE was the very first group that had disrespected him as such.


    Well, at least they got a supetive for the day!


    Mr. Ong looked at the boy''s faces before plopping back down on his chair.


    "I swear-my remaining hair will shed because of you guys," he muttered.


    "What now?" he asked. ''How are you going to fix the damage that you''ve done to your group?"


    "I don''t think there''s any damage, sir," Casper chimed. "I gained 300,000 followers in one night."


    Mr. Ong red at him, causing Casper to purse his lips.


    Then, he shook his head. "And to think I gave you guys everything! But, this is how you''re repaying me."


    June held in the urge to roll his cycs.


    Mr. Ong was just doing the bare minimum!


    "Now, I called the meeting this afternoon to discuss youreback," he said, capturing the boys'' attention.


    "I wanted to tell you that the preparations will start by the end of July or early August since LUNAIRE will have their preparations first."


    The boys excitedly looked at each other.


    "However, seeing as you guys aren''t thankful to thepany that gave birth to you, then I think you wouldn''t have any problem dying youreback.


    The boys'' moods did aplete 180-degree turn.


    "A dyedeback?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Ilmm," Mr. Ong hummed, a satisfied smile grazing his face. "LUNAIRE will need more preparations for their debut, so you wouldn''t mind stepping away a bit, right?"


    June pursed his lips before letting out a deep sigh. "Sir, you know that these are one of the exact reasons why we said what we saidst night. You can''t just dy oureback as you see fit."


    "Why can''t I?" Mr. Ong asked. ''I am the CEO, right?" he smirked.


    Jay was about to argue, but Mr. Ong had already pressed the button for security.


    "That''s all," he said.


    "Do not worry. You''ll still get youreback. In fact, the team is probably starting on the preparations. You''ll hear back from us once everything is done. For now, continue with your individual schedules and brand deals."


    June shook his head in disbelief. "You''re not going to let us in on the preparations anymore?" "Well, you know," he nonchntly said. "Thest time you meddled with the preparations of the songs, there was a big mess, right? I had to talk to Teddy to keep his pride in check."


    The members didn''t expect that Mr. Ong could get even lower, but he did.


    Just then, the security guards came inside the room.


    "You asked for us, sir?"


    "Ah, yes. Please escort these handsome men out of my office. I have a lot to do since a new girl group of mine has just been created," he smirked.


    The boys didn''t have a choice but to stand and leave the room.


    However, before they could step out of the door, Mr. Ong called for them once more.


    "Be nice to LUNAIRE, alright?" he asked. "They shall move in by next week, so give them a warm


    wee."


    "You will also meet their manager one of these days, so be on the lookout for him."''


    The boys nced at each other and ignored Mr. Ong''s words before leaving in a sour mood.


    As soon as they were out of the room, the boys ranted about how unfair everything was.


    "Do you think it''s fair?" Akira eximed. "We didn''t even do anything wrong! We were just telling the truth!"


    Jay sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "We did nder him, but I believe that he deserves it. It''s just infuriating that we can''t do much about it because we''re all under a contract."


    "What are we going to do now? I don''t want another factory-made album. It would be nice if Mari helped us, but this is Teddy we''re talking about," Ren said. "The only reason why our album seeded back then was because of Luster!"


    The members agreed, and they continued ranting as they went down the parking lot.


    However, just then, they felt arge figure pass by them. Yet, none of them stopped.


    They just realized it when he was already gone from their sight.


    "Who...was that?" Jay asked with wide eyes.


    The boys stopped and turned around, seeing a muscr man wearing a navy blue suit.


    June frowned while the others nced at cach other in confusion.


    "Do you know who that is?'' Akira asked.


    Jay shook his head. "No idea. He seems...interesting, though."


    "Muscle fetish," Jisung whispered.


    Jaeyong hummed. "I''ve never seen him before. Can he be the new manager?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    !


    Voto

 Chapter 778 Creepy Old Men

    ?


    778 Creepy Old Men


    "Why did he call for all of us?" Akira groaned as he continued cating the snacks that thepany had prepared.


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "You don''t have the right toin. You''ve eaten half of the stuff on the snack table."


    Currently, the workers, including interns, internal staff, and some artists who didn''t have schedules, were gathered in Azure''s biggest conference room.


    Akira sighed. "That still doesn''t change the fact that we don''t know why we''re here."


    "Did anybody tell you, Jay?" he asked.


    Jay shook his head. "I have no idea. This is the first time Mr. Ong has called everyone from Azure Entertainment"


    "The onlyint I have is that we don''t have any seats," Zeth chimed. "Why are those old people the only ones with seats?"


    "Well, to be fair, some of them can''t walk for five minutes without their joints wearing down," Akira chimed.


    "That''s another thing!" Zeth added. "I also don''t understand why so many old people run topany. It''s the same with politics!" he ranted. "Why are the ones leading the country on the brink of death?"


    "Well, you seem to have a lot of opinions," Jay chimed.


    "I want to go home," Akira whined, stuffing his mouth with sweet olives.


    Jisung shook his head. "Don''tin so much. If someone has the right toin, then it''s June."


    The boys turned toward June, who was currently being bombarded by people from different age brackets.


    "June! Can I have a picture too?"


    "My daughter likes you very much. Are you single?"


    "Can I please have your autograph?"


    "June, right? Why don''t you dance for uster?"


    Zeth shook his head in amusement. "Who bets that June is in a bad mood?" he asked.


    The members, along with Jay, all raised their hands.


    "Oh, it''s obvious," Jay chuckled. "Ile hates it."


    Truth be told, June wanted nothing but to get away from people whose breaths smelled like caviar.


    Fortunately, June''s misery was cut short when the door opened, revealing Mr. Ong in his signature chair.


    As soon as the people realized that it was Mr. Ong, they moved away from June and bowed in respect.


    June sighed in relief and went back to his members, who were looking at him with teasing smiles.


    Mr. Ong wandered his eyes around, smiling in satisfaction when all of them were bowing. However, his smile fell and a small frown made its way to his face when he saw that June wasn''t bowing his head at him-not even the slightest.


    Mr. Ong narrowed his eyes at June, but he merely smirked.


    There was no way that June was going to bow down for him. June only bowed for people who deserved it.


    Mr. Ong''s jaw clenched, but he quickly smiled when the others greeted him enthusiastically. "Now," he said, making them silent. "You might be wondering why I have called all of you to this gathering. This is a special day, so I want to celebrate it with all of you."


    The crowd murmured excitedly, and the members of EVE also wondered what Mr. Ong had up his sleeves.


    "As you all know, the fifth season of Rising Stars had just ended, and we now have a girl group under our wing"


    "Tomemorate this special moment, I decided to throw a party for the girls!" he eximed. Zeth narrowed his eyes. "Did he do something like this for us?"


    "Definitely not," Sehun chimed.


    "IImm, interesting, Ren remarked.


    The doors opened, revealing the five members of LUNAIRE. They were fully made-up, and their pretty, almost fairy-like visuals instantly brightened up the room.


    "I''m not mad, though," Akira smiled. "I would love to talk to our junior group!"


    June clicked his tongue and held out his arm to stop Akira from walking closer to the group of girls. Then, he red at him.


    "Don''t even think about it," he warned. "Stay professional."


    Akira was about to argue, but he saw the seriousness in June''s expression, so he sighed and nodded inpliance.


    "Here are the girls!" Mr. Ong eximed, standing next to them.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    There was a mischievous look in his eyes, and June swore that he had never seen him so happy.


    The others, too, especially the older men, looked particrly excited, making June bite his lip. Mr. Ong extended his arm so it rested on Mina''s shoulder.


    "Aren''t they pretty?" he asked. "I will make sure that they will also be the Nation''s Girl Group, simr to EVE. I had done everything in my will to get EVE to the top, and look at where they are now."


    The staff nodded like blind little mice-ready to ept and obey everything that Mr. Ong was saying.


    Just then, Mr. Ong''s hand slowly lowered down, causing June''s eyes to narrow further.


    "Omo" Tionna one not liking how the girle hecame increasingly ufortable


    June looked around to see if other people found it weird. Some of the interns, especially the young women, looked away, also looking ufortable.


    llowever, the other workers, more specifically the creepy old men, were enjoying the show.


    "I think we should do something," Jaeyong said.


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "He''s worse than I thought."


    "Look at Mina," Ren whispered. "It looks like she''s about to cry"


    Mina also attempted to move away, but Mr. Ong continued gripping her waist as he boasted


    about his achievements.


    June could see the members of LUNAIRE ncing uneasily at each other, and at that moment, he recognized something from Mei''s eyes.


    June clicked his tongue.


    His sister was going to explode soon.


    She was a very righteous person and couldn''t stand others being bullied, so June knew that she was bound to say something out loud.


    However, as much as June admired her for that, he also knew how tough was to establish at reputation in the industry when you have barely debuted.


    Mr. Ong''s hand was getting dangerously low.


    So, at that moment, June looked around.


    Then, when he saw a near-empty tower of oysters, he went over to it and smirked.


    Jay''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "What are you doing?" he whisper-shouted, trying to stop June.


    However, it was toote.


    June had ced his hand on top of the metal tower and tipped the entire thing over, causing it


    to fall to the ground with a loud bang.


    !

 Chapter 779 The Managers Rizz

    ?


    779 The Manager''s Rizz


    Screams of shock were heard inside the small conference room.


    Mr. Ong also jolted in shock, causing him to move away from Mina.


    Mina sighed in relief and stepped away from Mr. Ong.


    Meanwhile, the others looked at June with wide eyes, wondering why he had done such a thing. His members were also surprised. However, there was an underlying pride in their expressions. The board of directors red at June, with Mr. Ong being the most furious.


    June watched as he opened his mouth, seemingly going to scold him in front of the majority of Azure Entertainment workers.


    However, June spoke before Mr. Ong could get a word out.


    He bowed his head and held onto his hand, which appeared to be shaking.


    The workers whispered among themselves, wondering what June was doing.


    Then, after a few moments, he finally lifted his head, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    The workers gasped in surprise, not only because June looked pitiful but also because he looked handsome!


    The shaking of his hand intensified, making him look more pitiful.


    "I-I''m sorry," he stammered. "I only wanted to take some food."


    "But my hand shook, so I toppled it over," he said, once again looking at the ground.


    As he directed his gaze to the floor, a small smirk appeared on his face.


    Surely, the people would buy his acting.


    He lifted his head once more, now seeing the empathetic looks of the workers.


    They nodded in understanding, and June had to pursed his lips to stop himself from smiling.


    "It must be because I have a lot of work," he muttered. "My hands keep shaking these days from fatigue."


    "I''m really sorry," he bowed at a 90-degree angle. "This will be thest time. I''ll be more careful from now on."


    Mr. Ong pursed his lips and let out a deep breath as the room was filled with words of assurance for June.


    Meanwhile, the boys shook their heads in disbelief.


    Jisung even had to cover his mouth because he was so shocked.


    "That was remarkable," he muttered. "He''s such a good actor!


    "He hangs out with us way too much that I forget how talented he is at times, Akira said. "But dang, that was an Oscar-worthy performance."


    "It''s okay, June!"


    "Don''t sweat about it!"


    "Don''t scold him, Mr. Ong. He didn''t mean it!"


    Mr. Ong, who was aware of June''s strong personality, shook his head.


    "This guy is going to be the death of me," he muttered.


    With that, he cleared his throat, his smile returning. However, it wasn''t as bigpared to before.


    It also seemed like he was upset, making June smirk.


    "It''s fine," he finally said. "The cleaners are on their way!"


    June looked down at the mess he had made and felt quite bad. So, he kneeled and started cleaning the mess himself before the cleaners coulde.


    The action made the other workers swoon, internally praising June for being so kind.


    Mr. Ong bit his lips to suppress his anger. June has so many tricks up his sleeve!


    Meanwhile, the members of LUNAIRE nced at cach other.


    Ara shook her head in amusement. "I think June did that on purpose," she said. "He saw how Mina was feeling ufortable"


    Mei nodded in agreement, a small smirk on his lips.


    "I would have said something if it weren''t for him," she muttered.


    The cleaners finally arrived and helped June with the mess.


    After everything was cleaned, the meeting went on as usual, with Mr. Ong obviously in a worse moodpared to the beginning.


    He wasn''t even next to the girls anymore, causing June to smile in satisfaction.


    "Anyway," he said, clearing his throat. "This gathering is to celebrate the birth of my new girl group," he said, still sounding a little bit mad.


    "Ilowever, I will also take this time to introduce a new employee to you-LUNAIRE''s new manager. Although he is new to Azure, he isn''t new to the industry. Maybe some of you even know him. Ile has been with Phoenix for a long time, but he decided toe here and lend me a hand," he chuckled in amusement.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed as soon as he heard that the new manager was from Phoenix.


    "Do you have an idea who it is?" Jisung asked, nudging Jay.


    Jay shook his head. "After I started disobeying Mr. Ong, I haven''t been able to get as much Intel. It seems like the board of directors also aren''t fond of me."


    "Well, they seem pretty fond of this guy, though," Sehun remarked. "They''re smiling when the dude hasn''t evene out yet."


    "Lei, you cane in," Mr. Ong called.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    They all turned their attention to the white door, waiting for the arrival of the new manager.


    After a few seconds, the door finally opened, revealing arge, muscr man wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt.


    Jay took a sharp breath while the others also swooned.


    "Dang," Akira whispered. "The new manager is quite handsome."


    Jay nodded in agreement, his eyes focused on the neer.


    The guy charismatically smiled as he made his way next to the girls. It was their first time meeting, so he politely bowed at them.


    The girls, with the exception of Mei, turned to each other with giddy expressions-a single thought urring in their minds.


    "Thank you for such a warm wee," he said, showing his pearly whites to the workers.


    Meanwhile, June observed him, wondering if he had seen him before.


    The new manager looked around, and for a moment, his eyes met with June.


    June''s eyebrows slightly furrowed when the new manager''s smile widened as their eyes met.


    However, it was over in a second, leaving June even more confused.


    "Mr. Ong had known me for a few months now, and although I held a pretty high position in Phoenix Entertainment, I decided to resign because I wanted to take a managerial position instead. It has been my passion ever since," he smiled.


    "So, I transferred to Azure to fulfill that passion," he said with a serious expression, moving the staff members.


    Although they barely knew the new manager, it was obvious that they already liked him.


    "Oh, how rude of me," he chuckled. "I''m saying all these things when I haven''t even introduced


    myself"


    "Hello, everyone," he smiled, slightly waving his hand.


    "My name is Lei, and I will be LUNAIRE''s manager."


    You''ve arrived at thetest chapter!

 Chapter 780 A Pretty Cool Dude

    Chapter 780 A Pretty Cool Dude


    It didn''t take a genius to know that everyone liked the new manager. Except for one person¡ªJune. The young interns looked at him like he saved them during their past lives. The old people found him very charismatic with his pearly-white teeth and kind voice. The members of LUNAIRE, even Mei, appeared to be fond of him too. At first nce, he really seemed like a harmless dude. He even seemed pretty chill! However, there was something in him that June couldn''t quite pinpoint. He didn''t see it in his actions, but he felt it¡ªthere was something strange. Akira skipped to where the members of EVE were with a wide smile. "Lei''s pretty cool," he smiled. Jisung nodded in agreement. "I spoke to him for a second, and it seems like he likes dramas too! What a cool dude." "Hmm," Zeth said. "I can tell that he also works out. I should talk to him about his routine." "Me too," Sehun said. "Me three," Casper chimed, making June''s eyebrows raise in surprise. June turned to Casper while thetter looked at him with confusion. Then, June shook his head. "Not Casper, too," he muttered. "Jay looks like he''s in love again," Ren said, nodding toward his direction. Jay was sitting next to Lei, talking animatedly while thetter nodded and listened intently. "Am I reading too much into this?" June asked. He felt like aplete outsider! You know that feeling when you don''t like someone in ss while your other ssmates are seemingly fine with them? June felt like that after a long while. "Have you talked to him yet?" Jisung asked. June shook his head. "Well, you should," Jisung urged. "I think the two of you are going to get along. I believe he''ll be a great manager for LUNAIRE." June clicked his tongue. He really wasn''t sure of that.


    "No thanks," June said. "I''m fine here. I''ll just wait for the celebration to end."


    Jisung nudged his shoulder in a teasing manner. "Are you feeling shy?" he asked. June clicked his tongue. "It''s not that," he argued. "I just don''t see the point of speaking with him." "Why not?" Zeth asked. "We''ll probably bump into him a lot since he manages LUNAIRE now." "Come on," Akira said, poking June''s side. "Just talk to him!" "I don''t want to," June deadpanned. "It wouldn''t be that bad," Jisung chimed. June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I don''t want¡ª" "Ooh!" Akira suddenly eximed, his gaze directed toward else. "It seems like you don''t even have toe to him. He''sing over here with Jay." June clicked his tongue and confirmed that they were, indeed, walking toward their way. "I said I didn''t want to," June muttered. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He pursed his lips and let out a small smile as the two of them arrived at their spot. June didn''t know what to say, so he merely observed the new manager. He really did look quite handsome¡ªalmost like an actor. His eyes reminded him of someone, but June couldn''t recall it in the back of his head. Lei looked at the boys and smiled. "EVE," he said, cing both hands over his heart. "It''s really an honor to be here with you. I can''t believe I am in the presence of legends in the making." The boys gushed while June remained silent. "Well, he definitely has a way with words," he muttered. "I believe I''ve spoken to most of you except for June," he remarked. "Yeah," Akira smiled. "I think June feels pretty shy approaching you first." June red at Akira for a second, causing thetter to chuckle. Lei, too, burst into chuckles, making June sigh.


    "Well, that can''t be the case," he said. "I should be the one who''s embarrassed to approach such a big star." June cleared his throat and straightened his spine. "That''s nonsense," he said in a professional tone while holding out his hand. "We''ll be co-workers from now on, so it''s best if we feelfortable with each other."


    Lei smiled and took June''s hand. "I''ll be honored," Lei said, shaking June''s hand. At that moment, June nced down at their hands. June felt pretty suspicious, so he wanted to confirm something. Even though he was left-handed, he held out his right hand so that Lei would receive it with his left hand. June searched for it, not really expecting much. So, when he saw a familiar tattoo on the inner portion of Lei''s arm, he felt like his world came crashing down. He froze, and his grip had be incredibly strong. However, even then, Lei didn''t flinch, further confirming June''s suspicion. "Care to let go of my arm now?" He could hear words being thrown around, but he couldn''tprehend them. It sounded like one giant blur. "June," Casper said in a worried tone, causing him to snap back to reality. He pursed his lips and looked around, seeing the questioning stares of Lei and his members. June looked at Lei''s arm once more to confirm if he saw it right. There, he saw the tattoo once again¡ªWhite Tiger. Then, he quickly let go of his hand, almost as if it was made out of fire. The tension was thick for a moment. Fortunately, Akira broke it with a joke. "June was acting shy a while ago, but now, he doesn''t want to let go of Lei''s hand." The membersughed, with Jay being the loudest. Lei, too, chuckled along with them while June maintained a neutral expression. As soon as they were doneughing, Lei turned to June. "Are you sure you''re okay?" he asked. "It seems like you spaced out for a moment there." June returned to normal, a yful smile appearing on his lips. "I''m fine," he said. "You don''t have to worry about it." Lei sighed in relief. "That''s good. I heard from the others that you caused an ident because of fatigue a while ago. Don''t exert yourself so much, okay?" he said with a smile before gently patting June''s shoulder. "Well, I guess I''ll be speaking with the oldies now," he said, making the others chuckle. With that, he waved his hand at the boys behind June. "See?" Jisung said, nudging June''s shoulder. "He''s cool, right?" June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Yeah. Cool," he said. Then, he whispered the next word, none of his members being able to hear him. "Laohu."

 Chapter 781 Everybody Likes The New Guy

    Chapter 781 Everybody Likes The New Guy


    "It''s him," June said, pacing back and forth in his room. "There''s no other exnation," he whispered. "He sounds like him. Although he doesn''t speak like him. Lei uses much kinder words," he continued. "But then again, we had always been in the gang setting when we spoke, so maybe he does speak like that in real life?" "Oh, who am I kidding? They have the exact same tattoo!" he eximed. "Unless someone else has the same tattoo," he muttered. "But, when did he learn Korean? As far as I know, he only speaks Chinese." "But, I don''t know him that well to even tell." "Goodness," June muttered. "Why did he be their manager? And what? He used to work at Phoenix? It all just checks out!" "It''s Laohu. I''m certain." "But what is he doing? Is he really here to get the briefcase?" "Well, it''s a good thing that it''s buried in cement." June paced back and forth, his mind a mess. After a while, he finally calmed down and looked up at the ceiling. "Who are you, Lei?" he asked. Just then, he felt someone else''s presence in the room, causing him to jump in shock. "Ah!" June eximed when he saw Akira with a teasing smile. Then, he froze when he saw the mischievous look in his eyes. "How much did you hear?" June asked right away. "Don''t worry," Akira smiled. "Not a lot. Just up until the point when you were very curious about Lei." June closed his eyes and was about to tell Akira not to make such a big fuss about it. However, Akira, being Akira, was already wandering around their dorm and screaming his head off. "June is a tsundere!" "He''s very curious about Lei!" "He likes him!" "He has a muscle fetish like Jay!" June facepalmed before massaging the bridge of his nose. "If I could just strangle him," he said while doing the action. Then, he heard Casper''sint from outside of his bedroom. "If he has a muscle fetish, then why isn''t he fetishizing me?" June groaned and went out of his room. There, he saw his members, along with Jay, looking at him with varied expressions¡ªmost of them amused. "I do not have a muscle fetish!" June eximed. "Uh-huh," Jay said. "That''s what I said in the beginning too." "Ay-yo?" Sehun asked. "You''re admitting to it?" Jay cleared his throat and focused his attention on his phone. "But really," Akira said, walking over to June and throwing one arm around his shoulder. "You don''t have to feel shy about liking Lei! I''m sure you''re feeling skeptical about him because of what happened with Chul, but I feel that he''s different," Akira said. "Trust me! I have a good judgment of character," he smiled. June gave him a dead look. "You thought I was the son of conglomerates and didn''t talk to me for a good week because of it. You''re not a good judge of character," he deadpanned, bringing up the past. Akira pursed his lips, not being able to argue with him. Jisung chuckled in amusement, also remembering those times. "Well, I believed you then," Jisung said. "And I think Lei is a good person¡ªat least, based on what I have seen from one interaction." "I''m a good judge of character, right?" he asked with wide eyes. Casper nodded in agreement. "I only trust good people, too. I think you''re just way too skeptical about Lei''s identity." With his friends'' statements, June wondered if he was really being dramatic. "Am I, really?" he muttered. "Yes," Jay said. "You''re reading too much into it." "See!" he eximed, showing his phone to the boys. It was a selfie of Lei with the members of LUNAIRE, and it seemed like he bought them individual cakes. "He even bought them cakes and is helping them move tomorrow. If that doesn''t scream ''good person,'' then I don''t know anymore." June was slowly losing his mind. In the photo, the tattoo on his left arm peaked a bit, making him feel breathless. "I really hope my gut feeling is wrong," he said. "Now, stop being such a worrywart, and let''s watch this variety show!" Jay eximed. June sighed and sat along with them. "Ooh! Is that the new one from PD Ramil?" Jisung asked. "Yup," Jay said. "It''s a fun variety show where big stars are thrown into the province! This is the very first season with a star-studded cast. They tried to recruit June, but he''s fully-booked." "Aww, that''s a bummer," Jisung said. "Maybe on the next season." "Yeah, they said that they wille with new casts every month!" ***


    LUNAIRE was finally going to move into the dorms. Aside from Mei, they weren''t aware of what it looked like just yet, but they were expecting a lot¡ªsince Azure was a pretty bigpany. So, when they arrived at a tacky-looking building, they couldn''t help but feel disappointed. "Well, it''s still better than my oldpany," Yeri said. "This will do." "It''s good," Mei said. "It looks very expensive." The others turned to Mei with pitiful expressions. Then, Ara patted her shoulder. "Did you have a hard life?" she asked pitifully. Mei shook her head. "Let''s just go in," he said. However, before they could take a step forward, somebody called for them. "Girls!" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lei, who came out from a luxurious car, jogged to them, and the young women couldn''t help but smile. He was wearing casual clothes, making him look more approachable. "I told you to call when you got here, right?" he asked with a worried smile. "I wanted to help you guys move," he said. Then, he grabbed their luggage without any effort, looking like a local version of Superman. Jeemin had a sharp intake of breath. "I''ll go ahead," he said. "The elevator is small, so just follow after me, alright?" "Thanks, Sir," Mei said. Manager Lei meaningfully smiled. "I told you that I want to have afortable rtionship," he said. "Just call me Lei," he said. "Just like how the other members of EVE call their manager by his name."


    "Alright," Mei casually said. "Besides, it wouldn''t be too hard to memorize it because our names sound alike," the Manager winked. Mei shook her head in amusement. Meanwhile, the other girls couldn''t help but hold their breaths. "Holy crap! He''s really charming!"

 Chapter 782 Who Lives In A Pineapple?

    Chapter 782 Who Lives In A Pineapple?


    "How could you not swoon at him?" Ara asked, nearly shaking Mei''s shoulders as they walked to the elevator.


    Mei shrugged. "Because he''s our manager. There''s no reason for me to swoon at him."


    Yeri chuckled in amusement. "Don''t be surprised anymore, Ara," she said. "Mei didn''t evenfeel attracted to June when he was mentoring us."


    Jeemin and Mina looked at Mei with wide eyes.


    "You didn''t?" Jeemin asked. "How can you even resist his charm?"


    "He''s like a brother to me," Mei honestly said.


    Ara smirked. "Well, if he was my brother¡ª"


    "Don''t even go there," Mei said, ring at her friend.


    Araughed loudly. "I didn''t even get to finish what I was saying!"


    Mei groaned. "You didn''t even have to finish it for me to understand."


    "Fine, fine," Ara said. "Anyway. Enough about June. We don''t have a chance with him anyway! He''s too big of a star to even think of having a rtionship with."


    "Instead, let''s talk about Manager Lei! Do you think he has a wife?"


    "I don''t see a ring on his finger," Mina smirked.


    "Yes!" Ara said, raising her fist high in the air.


    The girls chuckled in amusement as they observed their youngest member.


    Although they hadn''t built that close of a connection just yet, they already knew that Ara was going to be a handful.


    "You agree that he''s handsome, right?" Ara asked, holding onto Mei''s arm. "He slightly reminds me of June."


    "He does not," Mei snapped before she could stop himself.


    The girls stopped, and they looked at Mei with wide eyes.


    "Well, that was an aggressive opposition," Mina muttered. "And you say that you''re not attracted to June."


    "You really need to stop with that romantic agenda. The public is already fueling it," she muttered.


    Mei sighed and raked her fingers through her hair.


    "You really need to stop with that romantic agenda. The public is already fueling it," she muttered.


    "Anyway," Mei continued. "I don''t think they''re simr. June is much more...natural," she said.


    "Natural?" Yeri asked. "Are you saying that Manager Lei got a lot of stic surgery or something?"


    Mei sighed and shook her head. "That''s not what I''m saying."


    "It''s just that¡ªI feel something pretty weird about Manager Lei," she muttered.


    Ara sighed and shook her head. "Didn''t you feel the same way for June during the start of Rising Stars? Manager Lei is fine!"


    "Yeah," Yeri chimed. "Your guards are just up most of the time, so you have a hard time letting people in."


    Mina frowned in confusion. "You seem okay with his presence, though," she chimed.


    "I am okay with it," Mei sighed.


    "He''s just...too kind," she concluded.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" Jeemin asked. "I would rather have a kind manager than Mr. Ong."


    The girls enthusiastically nodded in agreement.


    "Oh, we''re here," Ara said when they saw their team name on the door.


    Ara gasped loudly when she saw that EVE''s door was just right in front of their door.


    "Omo," Ara said. "We''ll be blessed with eye candies every morning!"


    The other girls shook their heads in amusement.


    Then, Jeemin opened the door, expecting to see only their manager inside.


    So, imagine their shock when they saw the eight members of EVE, along with their manager, holding party poppers with a banner that said¡ª''QUIT SOLITAIRE! STAN LUNAIRE!''


    In the middle was Zeth, who was holding onto a cake.


    Mina, being their leader, bowed as soon as her surprise wore off.


    "What''s this, seniors?" she asked. "You shouldn''t have."


    Zeth chuckled as he ced the cake on the table. "Oh,e on now. Our dorm was pretty lonely when BOYMYSTIC left. This is the least we could do."


    "And stop calling us ''seniors'' already," Ren said. "It''s not like we didn''t train together."


    Mina scratched the back of her head, feeling shy.


    "The other girls, too," Sehun said with a kind smile. "You guys can call all of us normally, alright? Don''t hesitate to ask for our help too. We''ll make sure to aid you when we''re free."


    Lei excitedly pped, causing June to narrow his eyes in suspicion.


    "Isn''t it fortunate that you guys have such kind co-workers?" he asked.


    "Oh, stop it," Jay said. "We''re the ones lucky since LUNAIRE has such a kind manager," he teased.


    The others agreed, praising Lei for helping the girls with their move.


    June, on the other hand, still didn''t know what to feel.


    ''This must be what Elmo felt whenever Ro''s around,'' he thought.


    "Well, what are you guys still doing standing there?" Akira asked.


    "Let''s eat the cake!" he eximed.


    The girls excitedly nodded and joined EVE on the floor, where Lei was already cutting the cake into equal pieces.


    "Zeth bought this with his own money, which is a big surprise since he''s usually stingy," Ren said, earning chuckles from the big group.


    "So, dig in! This will probably be one of thest times where he''s going to treat you guys."


    Zeth rolled his eyes. "Don''t listen to him," he said.


    Lei distributed the tes, and since June was pretty hungry, he quickly took a bite.


    The sweet taste instantly invaded his senses.


    However, he frowned despite his sweet tooth.


    "Pineapple," he muttered.


    Then, he turned to Mei, who was about to eat some of the cake too.


    June quickly sprung into action, and he pped her hand, causing the cake to plop to the ground.


    The others looked at him with wide eyes, unable to speak for a moment.


    "What...was that, June?" Jay asked after a while.


    June sighed. "That was close," he said. "It wasn''t obvious at first sight, but the cake has pineapple."


    Mei frowned.


    "You''re allergic to pineapple, right?" June asked.


    Mei slowly nodded in agreement.


    "Oh," Zeth said, feeling guilty. "I wasn''t aware that you had a pineapple allergy."


    "If I had known, then I would have chosen a different one."


    Mei shook her head with a small smile.


    "It''s alright," she said. "It''s not amon allergy."


    "Yeah," Akira chimed, scratching the back of his head. "I didn''t even know that it existed."


    "Hmm," Mei hummed.


    They were engulfed with silence once more before Lei spoke, capturing everyone''s attention.


    "Why is it that you know about her pineapple allergy, then?"


    N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 783 The Industry Is Crap

    Chapter 783 The Industry Is Crap


    June froze at Lei''s question. The others, too, frowned in confusion. "That''s some rtionship type of shit," Akiramented. June wracked his mind for some kind of excuse. He knew just how bad Mei''s pineapple allergy was, so he acted without thinking. "Uh¡ªit was in her profile," June answered. "The mentors went through them meticulously, so I got to know that she''s dangerously allergic to pineapple." They were silent for a moment before Ara eximed. "Ah! The form we filled out for the cafeteria?" Ara asked. "They did ask us to disclose our allergies so they know what to prepare." "Yes, that!" June eximed, feeling slightly relieved. Mina tilted her head to the side in confusion. "The mentors even go through all of that?" she asked, amazement heard in her voice. June chuckled. "I only went through my team''s allergy list since I treated them a lot," he bluffed. "I didn''t want a legal case." They burst into chuckles. "That makes a lot of sense," Ara said. Then, she gasped loudly. "Is that the reason why you didn''t order anything with fish in it because you knew I was allergic?" she excitedly asked. June pursed his lips before nodding in agreement. "Yeah," he said. "That''s why." "Aww!" Ara eximed. "Mentor June is so caring." June awkwardly chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. Well, fish wasn''t really a practical thing to order in the practice room, so he never even thought of ordering it. Fortunately, it seemed like they got over the topic quickly as they started conversing about the idol life and what to expect.


    The boys stayed at their girls'' dorm for a good hour, sharing advice about the industry and how to have an easier time in it. "You should be extra careful," Casper warned. "The industry is harsh on all individuals, but I find that it is the harshest to women. You will encounter quite a lot of unwantedments and even touches. I would suggest calling for help when that happens." The girls nodded in understanding. Mina cleared her throat and turned to June. "Thank you for yesterday, by the way," she said, an appreciative smile on his face. June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What did I do?" he asked. "You tipped over the oyster rack," she smiled. "Mr. Ong stopped touching my waist after that one." "Oh, so it wasn''t an ident?" Lei asked. Jay shook his head. "It wasn''t. June did a good job ying it off, though." Lei chuckled in amusement. "Well, it seems like June is truly a wise and proper man. Between you and me, I also don''t like Mr. Ong that much." "Same!" the boys eximed. Jay sighed and patted Lei''s back. "I really have a hunch that we''re going to get along well with each other." Lei nodded with a genuine smile. June observed him, and at that moment, he became confused once again. Could he really be mistaken? Just then, their eyes met, and Lei also smiled at him with genuineness. "Thanks for protecting the girls,June," he sincerely said. June pursed his lips and nodded. With that, they started cleaning up the tes and helping the girls settle in. Lei and Jay were currently speaking with Mr. Ong on the phone, probably about the arrangements and restrictions between the two teams. Mei was alone in her room, so June decided to knock on her open door. Mei turned around and frowned when she saw that it was June. "Is there something you need?" she asked. "In fact, I do," he said. "I need to talk with you." "For what?" Mei asked. June pointed to his mind, and at that moment, Mei knew that he wanted to talk about Fu. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Meet me at the back of the stairs in an hour," June said. "It''ll be quick." With that, he left her room without waiting for her confirmation. ***


    It was alreadyte in the afternoon when June went out of their dorm to go to the back of the stairs and meet with Mei. Much to his surprise, she was already there when he arrived. "You came," June said. Mei clicked her tongue as she leaned against the wall. "I was debating on it. But I also have some questions regarding this guy." June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Ask away," he said. Mei sighed before asking her first question. "Is he always this annoying?" she asked. June burst intoughter as soon as Mei said those words. "Yes," he responded after hisughing fit. "He annoyed me to death, and he always gave me the most ridiculous missions. However, I''vee to realize that the missions were actually beneficial." "One thing I wished I knew before fulfilling such missions was that it could possibly be the answer to my future problems." Mei sighed. "Well, it doesn''t seem that way." June chuckled. "What are your missions right now?" he asked. "I''ve alreadypleted two¡ªbe part of the debut line-up and take a photo with 5 famous people." "Now, I need to learn someone''s real name," she said, sounding confused. June was confused, too. "Someone''s real name? What does that even mean?" "I also don''t know," Mei said. "But I''ll figure it out somehow." Silence passed them for a few seconds before Mei broke it. "And you?" she asked. "Why did you call me here?" June sighed. "Honestly, I just wanted to give you a warning." "A warning?" Mei asked. "The thing that happened yesterday with Mr. Ong¡ªthose are daily urrences in some ces. I wanted to tell you to take care of yourself. However, don''t fight back too much. You''ll only get hurt in the end." Mei frowned in confusion.


    "So what?" she asked. "If something like that happens, I should just stand still and take it?" "That''s not what I mean," June said. "Then, what should I do?"


    "Tell me," June said. "You need to tell me or any member of EVE. We''re going to handle it." Now, June realized why he had to change the idol industry. It wasn''t only because of his sister but because of instances like this. He knew he couldn''t eradicate itpletely, but he could definitely try. "Why are you doing all of this, though?" she softly asked. "Why go through the hassle of helping me?" June smirked. "It''s because I care about you." Just then, they heard what seemed like keys drop to the ground. Their eyes widened, and they turned their gazes to the sound. Then, there they saw none other than Manager Lei.

 Chapter 784 Keep It On The Down Low

    784 Keep It On The Down Low


    Mei and June looked like they were deer caught in headlights. To be fair, June''sst statement could definitely spark rumors, and based on Manager Lei''s expression, he must have heard at least thest statement. "Uh¡ªyou still haven''t left, sir?" Mei asked, scratching the back of her head. Lei pursed his lips before shaking his head. "I helped the other girls in unpacking. I was nning on helping you, too, but you weren''t in your room." "Oh," Mei said. "June just had to tell me something." "Yeah, I could see that," Lei muttered. They were silent for a few moments before Lei and June spoke altogether. "You guys have to be honest with me," Lei started off. "Look, it''s not what it looks like," June said. "Wait, what?" they simultaneously said. June scratched the back of his head. "It''s not what it looks like," he repeated. "I know that it looks pretty strange, but we were just talking. I had to tell her something." "Yeah," Mei enthusiastically nodded. "So, you don''t have to be cautious." "Oh," Lei chuckled. "I was just going to ask you guys to be honest because I''m open about these things." "We live in the 21st century. I really don''t mind if you guys engage in adult rtionships." "Oh hell no," June said, already feeling disgusted. The two of them turned to him with wide eyes. "Dang," Mei muttered. "You didn''t have to deny it like that," she whispered. Lei scratched his head. "Well, if you say that there''s nothing going on, then I believe you guys." "Are youing around soon, Mei? I need to head in a while soon because I have to meet someone important." "Uh¡ªyeah," Mei said, turning to June and pursing her lips in a smile. "Let''s go." With that, the two of them made their way back to LUNAIRE''s dorm while June clicked his tongue in annoyance. He leaned against the wall once more but quickly jolted straight when he realized that Lei''s phone was in his pocket. However, it wasn''t in any ordinary position. "Fuck," he eximed and bolted to follow after them. The elevator was in use, so June used the stairs. He bolted like his ass was on fire¡ªhis objective was to make it to the top-most floor before Lei and Mei did. Fortunately, since June was pretty fast, he arrived when the elevator was still on the floor below. He situated himself in front of the elevator, trying to calm his breath. "Goodness," June sighed, still breathless. He held onto his beating heart to try and calm it down. "This body stillcks stamina. I need to work out more." Just then, the elevator doors opened, and June showed a stern expression. "What the heck!" Mei eximed from the elevator, genuinely surprised. "How are you here?" Meanwhile, June''s eyebrows rxed when he saw that Mei was alone in the elevator. He looked around, wondering if he was just seeing wrong, but Mei snapped him back to reality. "What are you doing?" Mei sighed. "How can you even be here when we left before you?" June clicked his tongue. "Where is your manager?" "Oh," Mei said. "We separated. Someone called him on our way up, and he hurriedly left." "Shit," June cursed. With that, he left Mei to go back to their dorm room. He couldn''t believe that he made himself such an easy target! June burst through the doors, causing his members to look at him with wide eyes.


    They were already dressed in their pajamas, eating fried chicken as they watched PD Ramil''s new variety show once again. "Where have you been?" Jay asked. "We bought fried chicken." June pursed his lips, not really in the mood to eat. Truth be told, he felt sick to his stomach. He felt like his non-existent rtionship with Mei was going to be released to the public¡ªwhich was disgusting. Some protagonists might not mind being linked with their sister, but not June! He despised it. June closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "Guys," he started off, getting their attention once more. "If you hear anything about me, then don''t believe it, okay?" The members nced at each other in confusion. "What do you mean?" Jay asked with a frown. "You don''t have any negative articlesing out right now." "I know," June sighed. "But once somethinges out, I want you guys to believe me, okay?" He then turned to Jay. "Try to keep it under the public''s eye as much as possible." The boys were still confused, but June knew that they would get it in no time. Then, he went to his room to think of a strategy to reduce the impact of the dating rumors. It wouldn''t only affect him, but it would also affect Mei! "Haruto?" he muttered before shaking his head. "Nah, that kid knows nothing about media." "Minjun will also receive bacsh if he does an exclusive denial of the news," he continued. Then, someone passed his mind¡ªsomeone rted to Minjun. However, he shook his head once again. "Nah, I already used up all of my favors." With that, he sat on his bed, going to Navel and endlessly refreshing the pages. If the guy was really Laohu, then June knew that he would use anything against him. As most people know, dating was one of the biggest downfalls for new idols.


    Mei hasn''t even started yet, but she was already being targeted! June didn''t know how long he had been sitting on his bed, just trying toe up with an idea.


    Then, before he knew it, Casper opened his door, causing him to stand in surprise. "Casper," June muttered. "What is it?" Casper''s expression didn''t give anything away. "The article is out," he said, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow. June knew that Laohu acted fast, but he didn''t expect that he would be this speedy. With that, he followed Casper to the living room. There, he saw his members looking at their phones with ambiguous expressions. Then, Jay lifted his head, his expression also unreadable. He let out a small sigh before shaking his head. "So, this was why you wanted to keep it on the down low, huh?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 785 Im Not A Good Person

    785 I''m Not A Good Person


    June couldn''t move in his spot. He knew that a lot of people were already specting about his rtionship with Mei since they had close and natural interactions. So, once Laohu released something as suspicious as what happened a while ago, then people were bound to believe it. "I''m sorry. I should have¡ª" "You shouldn''t be sorry!" Jay eximed, standing and suddenly wrapping one arm around June. He gave him a squeeze, making June confused. "I shouldn''t?" June asked. "Yeah," Jay said. "This is something that shouldn''t be hidden! Why are you so ashamed?" "Just because," June said. "I just can''t¡ª" "Oh, you must find it embarrassing!" Akira chimed, making June even more confused. "Embarrassed?" "I, too, would be quite embarrassed if something like this was revealed about me," Akira smiled. Ren scoffed. "Don''t lie. You''d be the one asking sites to post the news." June scratched the back of his head. Well, Akira did want to date someone, but he wouldn''t go as far as revealing it to the public, right? "You really have such a loving heart," Jayplimented. "Love?" June muttered. "It''s really not like that." "Aww," Jisung said. "Bro is still feeling shy. You really don''t have to! It''s actually pretty admirable. You gave such a big amount, though." June felt whished. "A big amount?" he repeated. "Is this not a big amount to you? You donated 10,000 USD to an independent charity for homeless children," Sehun said. "Dang, you must have more money than I thought," Akira remarked. June pursed his lips and snatched Jay''s phone away from his hand. There, he saw an article posted by an official news ount.


    ''June''s Anonymous Donation to Little Sunflowers'' In the heart of Seoul, nestled quietly away from the city''s frantic pace, lies Little Sunflowers, a sanctuary for homeless children. Owned and operated by a family who has been providing shelter and care for generations, Little Sunflowers is more than just a home. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Recently, they have received a generous donation from an unexpected visitor. On a seemingly ordinary day, June, a member of the popr idol group EVE, walked through the doors of Little Sunflowers. He was dressed inconspicuously, his face partially hidden behind a mask. Despite his efforts to remain anonymous, his presence couldn''t be disguised.


    "He came in, and although he was wearing a mask, he felt different," said Mrs. Kim, the matriarch of the family that runs Little Sunflowers. "There was a quiet sincerity about him that immediately stood out."


    June''s intention was to make a 10,000 USD donation anonymously. He expressed a heartfelt desire to give without seeking recognition. However, Mrs. Kim''s daughter, a keen observer and a fan of EVE, quickly identified him.


    "When she recognized him, she was so excited and wanted a photo instead," Mrs. Kim recalled with a smile. "He had hoped to remain in the background, but his generosity and kindness were something we felt needed to be acknowledged."


    "We are deeply grateful for his support," Mrs. Kim said. "In a world where public figures often seek the spotlight, June''s humble approach was truly inspiring. His actions have made a real difference in the lives of these children, and for that, he deserves recognition."


    "That''s the article you were talking about, right?" Jay asked, nudging his shoulder. June sighed and massaged his nose bridge. He really thought that a dating rumor woulde around once again. However, it was an article about the generous donation he made before he expected to die. "Such a kind young man!" Akira teased. "Eyy, you don''t even want to be found out by the public?" Zeth asked. "You''re a good person, pal." Sehun patted his back. "Good job, June. You''re really an inspiration to others." June shook his head, feeling guilty. He had to admit that he only made the donation because he thought he was going to die a tragic death. "Don''t praise me," June said, feeling even guiltier as he read thements of the public, calling him an angel. - June is such a sweetheart! He really deserves all the good things in the world. - I am a fan of the right person. - How can someone be so perfect? - How many more anonymous donations has he made?


    June pursed his lips. He had only donated for a good cause twice. And both times, he was justpelled to do so. The first time he donated to a local charity home was because it was part of Fu''s missions. "Now, now," Jay said. "I can''t keep this on the down low like you have requested.


    This shall be spread all throughout social media! Through this, I will show Mr. Ong that you guys are kind to those who deserve it." The other members nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, June continued scrolling through his phone. The article had recorded over 200,000 views in just a span of a few minutes, and June''s guilt continued to pile up. Just then, he received a text from an anonymous number. Unknown: That was such amendable act. You are truly admirable. June frowned in confusion. June: Who are you?


    Unknown: Oh, this is Lei. Jay gave me your number, and I was really moved by the article, so I decided to contact you. June clicked his tongue and turned to Jay. "Why did you give my number to Lei?" he deadpanned. "I gave all your guys'' numbers," he smiled. "You''re not special, son." June shook his head and looked at his text once more. It was a different number. He knew that he had Loahu''s number saved, and it wasn''t that particr one. However, June also knew that Laohu wasn''t dumb enough to use the same number. He knew that June knew him. However, June just didn''t know what he looked like. So, with that, June''s confusion grew even more. "Who the hell are you?" he muttered. "Aww, so many brands have contacted us once more after the article came out," Jay said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You really are such a good person, June." June groaned in embarrassment. "I''m not!"

 Chapter 786 June Proposes A Charity Concert

    786 June Proposes A Charity Concert


    June was still unsure about Lei''s real identity. So, he decided to let it go for now. He had tried asking Bo Wen, but he also didn''t have a clue. Laohu''s identity was a mystery to him, too. It seemed like Lin Zhi was the only person who knew about his real identity. However, Lin Zhi was dead, so that wouldn''t really help. For now, June wanted to watch how Lei truly acted and see if there were any holes in his personality. However, he has another thing bugging him, so he decided to address that first. "Can''t you tell thepany about it?" June asked. "Oh, I will tell them," Jay said. "I really think it''s a good idea, too. You guys are earning a decent amount, so giving back to people in need is a reallymendable cause." "I just don''t know if thepany will agree," Jay said. "I would say that there''s a 0.1% chance of them agreeing." June clicked his tongue. "What''s the harm in joining a charity concert? We also don''t have as many schedules this month because they dyed theeback." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    As June scrolled through thements on his viral articlest night, he found out that one of the kids, Luna, was suffering from child cancer. The 10,000 USD was supposed to go in for her treatment, but they had to split it in half to care for the other children, too. June thought of donating once more, but he saw that the charity home was hosting a concert-for-a-cause with children performing, and it appeared like they hadn''t sold that many tickets. He saw photos of the kids practicing, and his heart broke just imagining them perform in front of a small audience. So, he thought of a cool idea for EVE to make a special appearance so that more people would tune in, and in turn, they would garner more donations, too. However, for that to happen, they needed thepany''s approval. They also needed their help to make the concert as regted as possible¡ªso as not to cause chaos. Jay sighed. "There''s no harm, of course," he said. "But thepany only likes profit-only causes." "Don''t worry," Jay added. "I''ll still talk to Mr. Ong today." "I''lle with you," June said. "Are you sure?" Jay asked. June nodded in determination. ***


    "No, that''s ridiculous," Mr. Ong said. "Do you know how much effort will go into it if you guys perform?" "You''re not some hillbilly band that can go to such events just because you want to," he said. "EVE being there means that my workers also need to be there to keep everything in check." June pursed his lips. "That''s why we''re asking for your help...sir," he said, squeezing thest word in to sound more respectful. "And like I said¡ªwhat''s the benefit we''ll get from it? Face value?" "We''ll be helping a little girl with her recovery," June deadpanned. "Isn''t that the best benefit we can get?" Jay nodded in agreement. "Abstract benefits are not real benefits. Let me give you a tip¡ªthe only abstract thing that matters is the glory that money brings," he chimed, even chuckling.


    "That''s the reason why I was able to get to the top in the first ce." Jay and June nced at each other. They both knew that. The contents of the briefcase were a testament to that. "I''ll shoulder the expenses," June said. "You don''t have to spend a penny. Jay will even handle the ticket selling and all." "I''ll pay for the workers'' times. We just need your approval¡ªthat''s it." "This will also be good for thepany''s reputation," June continued. "More investors will be attracted if we conduct this humanitarian cause."


    Mr. Ong pursed his lips, appearing to be thinking about it. For a moment, Jay and June felt like they had finally convinced the old man. However, a small cheeky smile made its way back to his face. "I can''t do that," he said. "My reputation is already ruined anyway, so I don''t need things like this to save me." Just then, the doors opened, and Lei came in. His eyes widened when he saw that Mr. Ong wasn''t alone. "Oh, pardon," he said. "I thought you were free, sir." Mr. Ong smiled as soon as he saw Lei. Lei was about to leave, but the CEO quickly stopped him. "I am free," he said. "I''m done with my discussion with these two." "Go ahead and tell me what you need." Lei scratched the back of his head as he bowed to June and Jay. "Sorry for interrupting," Lei said. "I had just finished going through the magazine shoots of LUNAIRE. I picked the ones that I felt were fitted for the girls. I believe that they shouldn''t go on so many shoots as that makes them too essible. We''ll be able to elevate their reputation if we only keep the most prestigious ones." A satisfied smile made its way to Mr. Ong''s face. "That''s more like it," Mr. Ong said. Then, he turned out to be Jay. "This is how you should be handling your artists. You need to think about their well-being while also bringing in the most money for thepany!" With his statement, Jay directed his gaze to the ground. "Umm, Jay is also doing a great job, sir," Lei said. "He''s one of the reasons why EVE is so sessful these days." "Really," Mr. Ong said, sounding sarcastic. "Sometimes, I think that it''s because of Chul." June''s jaw clenched as Mr. Ong mentioned the unhinged man. He couldn''t believe that he justmended a killer. June shook his head. "I see," June muttered. "You support murderers, but you can''t even support good causes." Mr. Ong snapped his gaze to June at lightning speed after he said those words. "What did you just say?" he eximed. Lei''s eyes widened while Jay continued feeling upset. "Let''s calm down," Lei said, chuckling nervously. "Calm down?" Mr. Ong eximed. "How can I calm down if this idiot always shames me?" "Just because I don''t want to agree to your charity concert, this is how you''re going to treat me?" June continued looking into his eyes, not showing any remorse. "Charity concert?" Lei suddenly asked. Mr. Ong sighed and massaged his nose bridge. "They want to hold a charity concert for a sick child...and they want to perform in it. Ridiculous, right? How could such big stars perform in such a small venue?" June was about to argue once more, but he was cut off by none other than Lei. "I actually think that it''s a pretty good idea."

 Chapter 787 Truly, The Best Idols

    Chapter 787 Truly, The Best Idols


    "See! I told you he''s not a bad guy," Jay said, nudging June''s shoulder as they went inside the van. "Hmm, sure," June said, looking out of the window. Truly, Lei was looking kinder and kinder in June''s eyes. Aside from him convincing Mr. Ong to allow EVE to perform in the charity concert, there wasn''t any news about his dating rumors, either¡ªwhich meant that Lei actually kept it to himself. "There''s still a downside to this, though," Jay added. "He did agree to us joining the concert, but he also isn''t going to support us financially or with manpower." June shrugged. "That''s alright," he said. "I told you that I''d handle it, right?" Jay chuckled in amusement. "O-ho," he eximed. "I see that you''re a big shot now. How much money have you been making?" June shook his head. "You''re aware of it," he deadpanned. "I am," Jay said. "You''re probably the highest-paid idol of your generation. However, since Azure has a bigger cut, if you were any less popr, then you would only have an adequate amount." June nodded. He was, indeed, making decent money from being an idol. However, 10,000 USD was still a pretty big amount for him. "Are you sure you want to push through with this?" Jay asked. June nodded. "I don''t need that much money. I already bought some real estate with the money I made with Luster, so let''s just say that I''ll be more stable than you think." Jay pped when they arrived at the red light. "That''s right," he muttered. "I shouldn''t have questioned your intelligence." "Anyway," Jay continued. "Since we''re pushing through with this, do you want to ask for help from Lei? When you went to the restroom, he told me that he was open to sponsoring half of the production costs." June frowned. "And why does he want to do that?" Jay''s eyes brightened as he responded to the question. "He said that it had been his dream to help people in need since he was young! He never had an avenue to do so back then, so he wanted to start now." June sighed. "How can he even shoulder half of the expenses? Is he that well-off?" "I think he had a pretty prominent position before, so he might be rich. However, he couldn''t handle the workload and didn''t enjoy the job, so he left." "I see," June said. "Anyway, he doesn''t have to dish out anything. I''ll pay for it on my own." Jay shrugged. "Alright," he said. "But he wille, okay? He''s pretty excited about it." June pursed his lips but nheless agreed. "But do you need any help getting the news out? Azure also doesn''t want to make an official statement in your guys'' ount." June shook his head. "I got that covered, too." *** n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    They arrived at the dorms, and June left Jay to break the news to his members. They sounded quite excited based on their gasps, so June smiled as he closed the door. Then, he dialed Minjun''s number, waiting for him to respond. It took a couple of rings before he answered the phone. "Bro," Minjun said in hushed tones, making June frown in confusion. "Minjun," he trailed off. "What''s up?" "Everything''s good," he responded, still in that hushed tone. "Why are you whispering?" June asked. "Oh," Minjun softly chuckled. "It''s because my mom''s home." "Lena''s there?" June asked, surprised. "Well, that''s new." "Yeah," Minjun muttered. "She''s been home more frequently after Grandma died. You know¡ªshe bought a house in the rich parts of Seoul, and she doesn''t want to leave me alone often now that Grandma''s gone." "That''s good then," Junemented. "But that still doesn''t answer why you''re speaking in hushed tones." Minjun sighed, and at that moment, June felt that something was wrong. "She doesn''t want me speaking with you anymore," he said. June frowned. "What...do you mean?" "Honestly, I also don''t know the reason behind it," he said. "She said something about getting into trouble and being unsafe when you''re around." June felt his breath get caught in the back of his throat. Perhaps, did Lina find out the reason behind Grandma''s death? "She even blocked your number on my phone," he said. "How are you speaking to me right now then?" June asked. "That''s because she raised a smart kid," he chuckled. "That''s honestly her fault." "Anyway, I don''t n on stopping my contact with you. It''ll probably be less often since I can''t do it when my mom''s around, but just shoot me a text, and I''ll set up a schedule with you beforehand."


    June shook his head in amusement, finding the little boy endearing. "Sure, sure," June said. "Anyway, what do you need?" Minjun asked. "I need you to help me put out an article," June responded. "Say less," Minjun said. "Send me the details, and I''ll have it done by tonight." June smirked. "You''re the best." "Minjun! It''s time for lunch!" June heard Lena''s voice from a distance, followed by Minjun''s cursing. "Crap," he said. "I need to go now. I''ll really post it by tonight!" "Yeah, take your time," June said. "Talk to you¡ª" Minjun ended the call before June could finish his statement. "Thanks a lot, kiddo." ***


    ''EVE to Hold Benefit Concert for Little Sunflowers''


    Following June''s heartfelt donation to Little Sunflowers, the renowned idol group EVE is set to host a special benefit concert at the sanctuary for homeless children. This intimate concert, scheduled for next week, aims to raise funds for the treatment of a young resident battling cancer.


    The concert will feature just 100 seats, sold at $50 each. This limited seating arrangement is designed to create a unique, up-close experience for the attendees while maximizing the funds raised for the cause. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards the medical expenses of the child, ensuring they receive the best possible care and support during their treatment.


    However, this event is not open to everyone. Prospective audience members will be required to answer questions on a form before being granted a ticket. This vetting process is designed to ensure that those attending are genuinely supportive of the cause and will contribute to the concert''s goal of maximizing benefits for the children of Little Sunflowers.


    Truly, EVE is setting the standard for all artists. Do you know any other idols who have done the same before?

 Chapter 788 The Best Idols Have The Best Fangirls

    Chapter 788 The Best Idols Have The Best Fangirls


    - Is this legit? - Minmin has always posted reliable stuff, so I think we can trust him on this one. - How, though? Azure hasn''t even posted about it. - You''re right! It''s not April Fools today, right? - I''ve been Minmin''s follower since he had less than 100,000 followers. I can vouch that he has never given any fake news. - But like¡ªhow does he know? - We don''t ask how Minmin acquires his information. We just trust in him because he''s a good guy.


    "Can we really trust him?" Bora asked as she continued reading through the article. "It will be sick if Minmin''s joking," Soomin said. "Who jokes about a charity concert?" "That''s why I have all the reasons to believe that it''s real," Jia said. "Besides," she continued. "Minmin has been a fan of June since he was in Rising Stars. If June wasn''t so busy, then I would think that he''s Minmin himself." With her observation, the group of friends turned silent. "What if¡ª" "No," Jia deadpanned. "Don''t even go there." Just then, Soomin gasped in surprise. "Guys!" she said. "Look at June''stest post. I think Minmin is telling the truth." The girls collectively went to June''s Navel page and silently read through histest post. Hi, guys! You heard right. EVE is going to be performing at the charity concert with Little Sunflowers. We''re doing this for a good cause and not for anything else. With that, before the tickets are released, we will ask you to fill out this form. This ensures that the people attending truly support our original cause. Details of the concert will only be disclosed to those who have won the tickets. - OMG! It''s real. I can finally see EVE! I''ve been wanting to touch their hands since I saw them perform online. - Girl, you''re one of the people they don''t want to sell tickets to. - What is this behavior? Why are they acting cocky now? And what? Only 100 tickets? They''re so ungrateful to their fans. - You guys are angels! I hope I get a ticket.


    - I don''t like his tone. Why is he being so ungrateful? - Ungrateful where? He''s literally just being professional. - They''re just doing this for publicity. Let me guess? They''re going to have aeback soon? "Goodness," Jia said, massaging the bridge of her nose. "The inte is really filled with unhinged people." Bora clicked her tongue, also feeling pissed about the otherments. "They''re just being brave because they''re behind a screen. Make them meet EVE in real life, and they''d all fold. That''s how pathetic they are." Wei nodded in agreement. "They''re doing something so nice, but there''s still quite a lot of bacsh." "That''s how you know that a team is sessful, though," Nari said. "People can''t ever be satisfied with anything that they do." "Yeah," Bora said. "Imagine if I be a K-Pop idol. I''ll be canceled right away!" "Hmm," Jia hummed. "Me too. Imagine going on hiatus because you''re in a consensual rtionship, or you''ve danced to a police siren, or for eating a goddamn strawberry! I swear, people care too much about things that don''t matter but won''t bat an eye at actual pressing problems!" Her friends looked at her with wide eyes. "Well, you have a lot of anger pent up," Soomin remarked. Jia shook her head. "I''m just telling the truth," she said. "Anyway," Bora said, straightening his posture. "Why don''t we fill out this thing?" Jia nodded and clicked on the form. She was expecting it to be a form filled with questions rted to EVE. However, after filling out her name and other demographics, only one question appeared. While Jia kept her gaze on the screen, the others turned to each other in confusion. "Is this legit?" Bora asked. Soomin scratched the back of her head. "Maybe June posted the wrong form." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Yeah, I don''t know what to answer to this." Jia smiled as she continued looking at the question. "No, it''s right," she smiled, making the others turn to her with curiosity. "Huh?" Bora asked. "It''s right," Jia said. "And it''s very June." How do you hope attending this concert will impact your life? Jia felt her admiration for June swell even further¡ªif that was even possible since she already loved June an abnormal amount. However, it was times like this that showed why June was truly worthy to idolize. "It''s a genius question," Jia eximed. "It filters out the people with good intentions without them thinking too much about it. How will it impact your life? Of course, at first, you''d say that it''s because you want to enjoy EVE and help others. However, it''s not as simple as that. June is seeing if our intentions are pure."


    "When you ask someone how something will impact their life, you''re asking them to reflect deeply on their personal values. It''s not just about wanting to see EVE perform or even about helping others on a surface level. It''s about how those actions resonate with who they are as a person. June wants to know if we''re there for the right reasons, not just for a good time or to feel good about ourselves."


    Bora pursed his lips. "Well, it''s obvious that you''re June''s fangirl. How can you be so good with words?" Jia smirked. "Come on. I already gave you a clue. Just answer it." Jia quickly typed her answer while the others were still hesitant. Jia lifted her head for a moment when she saw Bora conspicuously doing something on her phone. "Don''t even think of opening that AI app," Jia said, pointing her finger at Bora. Bora pursed her lips. "My intentions are pure! I''m just not good at words." Jia shook her head in amusement. "Then, say it in your own words. I swear, June would appreciate it even more if you do." Bora sighed before typing out her feelings in her own simple words. Meanwhile, Jia smiled as she typed out thest sentence of her answer. Then, she smiled in satisfaction as she read it once again. Attending this concert will remind me of the goodness in the world. I''ve been feeling losttely, caught up in my own problems and forgetting what really matters. It will be a moment where I can pause, reflect, and remember that there is so much more to life than my worries. I want to feel that connection and sense of purpose and carry it with me long after the concert ends. It''s not just about seeing EVE; it''s about feeling part of something bigger, something truly good.

 Chapter 789 Brainstorming For Charity

    Chapter 789 Brainstorming For Charity


    "So, what song are we going to sing?" June asked as they gathered around the living room. The members of EVE were sat in a circle. Jay was out and about, finishing the preparations for the charity concert which will be held tomorrow. Granted, it seemed like Mr. Ong didn''t want them to thoroughly prepare for the charity concert since they had been going to events, one that Mr. Ong usually hosted for his fellow rich men, in the past few days when they should already be preparing for the charity concert. "Well, we have to perform something within our concert setlist," Jaeyong said. "Those are the songs we''ve thoroughly prepared for, so we''ll choose among those." The others nodded in agreement. "What about Super Rocket?" Akira excitedly chimed. "Wouldn''t that be good? It''s quite explosive." "Yeah¡ªexplosive," June deadpanned. "We''re going to st their ears off. We can''t do that since the owner of the home is an old woman." "Ooh! A mature woman," Zeth eximed. "Let''s perform Red Sun then." The other boys looked at him with raised eyebrows. Zeth looked at them with confusion. "What?" he asked. "I think the owner would appreciate it if we danced like that in front of her." "What are we? Magic Mike?" June eximed. "We can''t do that in front of literal children. We''re going to get arrested by the end of it all." "Ah, right," Zeth said. "Children¡ªI almost forgot." Ren shook his head. "I can''t believe you forgot that we''ll have children as our audience." Zeth clicked his tongue. "Well, if you''re any better, then what''s your suggestion?" "Hmm," Ren hummed, cing his hand under his chin. "I was thinking¡ªwhat if we do a cover?" he asked. "Oh, that doesn''t sound too bad," Jaeyong said. "What song, though?" "Well, I feel like it has to be something iconic and well-known by all generations. It could even be an old song that has been poprized by a newer artist." Then, he pped when an idea appeared in his mind. "What about that song you sang with Lee Sik¡ªFather!" Ren eximed. Once again, the group turned silent. Zeth shook his head. "And to think that you''re iming to be better than me." Ren clicked his tongue. "Why? What''s wrong with it?" "They''re orphans," June deadpanned, making Ren pursed his lips. "Do you think they''ll be touched if we sang about a father that they don''t even have?" "Dang, that''s dark," Jisung muttered. Casper raised his hand, about to make a suggestion, when the other members turned to him and said a resounding, "No." "We need to do something light," Sehun chimed. "Something fun and sweet. So, let''s perform First Love instead." June contemted, thinking that it could actually be a good idea. However, with Akira''s statement, his positive thoughts went down the drain. "We would look like pedophiles," Akira remarked, making Sehun click his tongue. "Why do you have to make it weird?" Sehun groaned.


    Akira raised his hands in surrender. "I''m just telling the truth! I don''t want to sing ''first love, first love'' to a bunch of children." "He has a point," Jisung said. "I always have a point," Akira chimed. "Which is usually pointless," Ren added, making Akira click his tongue. "Anyway," Akira said. "I think we can sing Oasis and Luster." Casper instantly brightened up with the mention of Luster. "Aside from it being songs that our members contributed in making, it''s also the songs that we are most well-known for." "Besides, it has good meaning," he said. "Luster because the children shine as bright as diamonds," June butted in. "And Oasis because they''re a treasure in the dry, harsh world." Akira nodded, appearing impressed. "What he said." Ren chuckled. "Those weren''t your original reasons, I believe." "I was going to say that Luster because it sounds cute and Oasis because it sounds fun," he added. "Yeah, let''s stick with June''s meaning," Jaeyong chuckled. "It''s settled then," he continued. "We''ll perform Oasis and Luster. It''s a good thing that we''ve already practiced the routine thoroughly before, so we wouldn''t have any problem performing it."


    "Wouldn''t that be too short, though?" Jisung asked. "We only have a short set," June said. "The children are also going to perform and show off their artwork, so we''ll just be the opening act." "But didn''t they give us 15 minutes?" Akira asked. June nodded. "Then, it''s too short," Jisung confirmed. "I think we need to add one more song¡ªsomething that the children would appreciate." Just then, Casper raised his hand once more. "Please give me a chance. Please!" he eximed, almost going down on his knees. "I swear¡ªif this is some nonsense suggestion, you''re banned from speaking until tomorrow," Akira said. "It''s not," Casper insisted. "It''s really the perfect song!" Casper looked too pitiful in June''s eyes, so he sighed and nodded. "Just let him be, guys." Ren turned to him, wiggling his eyebrows. "Are you developing a soft spot for Casper?" he asked. June clicked his tongue and red at him, making Ren chuckle in amusement. "Let''s hear it, Casper," Jaeyong said to the excited man. Casper nodded and settled back in his spot. "Earlier, I was about to suggest that we sing Luster because it reminded me of Luther, who is a cat, and children really like cats¡ª" "Back to the topic," June said, already feeling impatient. "Sorry," Casper chuckled. "However, we''re already singing that song, so another one popped into my mind. I think this might be the most genius thing I''ve ever thought of in my entire life." "Well, that''s big," Akira said. "What is it?" Casper finally said the title of the song. For a moment, the boys were all silent. Then, wide smiles appeared on their faces... n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ...except for one person¡ªJune. "That''s ridiculous," June said. "We can''t perform that song!" "Why not?" Jaeyong asked. "We definitely can," Akira said. "And you''ll be the center of it." "Who''s in favor of that?" Jisung asked, and the seven other members raised their hands. June pursed his lips before ring at his teammates. "I''m not getting out of this, am I?" "Nope!"

 Chapter 790 The Charity Concert

    790 The Charity Concert


    In a small house nestled far from the bustling street of Seoul, an unusual scene unfolded. The usually quiet grounds were filled with people¡ªone that was out of ce from the serene setting. "Let us in! We just want to see EVE." "We''re going to pay anyway!" "Yeah, that little girl needs our money, right? So, why are you holding us here when we just want to help?" Arge group of people, particrly EVE''s fans, were outside the gates of the small sanctuary. "We didn''t drive here all the way from the province to not get in." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    One of the guards sighed impatiently. "Then, you shouldn''t havee," he muttered. "What did you just say?"


    The group of people started creating chaos, pushing each other to get past the guards. However, they were halted when a huge man came out of the gates. "What seems to be the problem here?" he asked. "Sir Marcus," one of the guards said, bowing. "We were just doing our job. We''re not letting anyone without tickets inside." Marcus smiled, and that seemed to captivate the fans. Then, Marcus turned to the chaotic group. "Sorry,dies and gents," he smiled. "Only ticket holders are allowed inside. If you didn''t get a ticket, then this event isn''t for you. If you want, there are cafes and restaurants down the street where you can go instead. I assure you that your trips won''t be wasted then." With Marcus'' utterance, fans found themselves following. There were still a few stubborn fans, but the guards were able to handle them well. Jia and Bora had just arrived, and they were quickly let in by none other than Marcus himself. He smiled and tore off their tickets. "Have fun,dies," he said, waving as they made their way to their seats. Bora and Jia turned to each other with knowing eyes. As they got to their seats, they finally said what was on their minds. "That guard was pretty handsome," Bora said. Jia nodded in agreement. "I guess every person linked to June will always have some kind of beauty."


    Bora shook her head in amusement. "I swear¡ªyou make everything about him."


    Meanwhile, inside the little house were the members of EVE. They busily prepared for their uing performance while the kids already arranged themselves outside. Just then, Mrs. Kim, the old matriarch of Little Sunflowers, entered the room with a wide smile. The members turned to her and bowed their heads in respect. "Oh, no need for that," she said with a fond smile. "If anybody should be bowing, then it should be me. You took some time off from your busy schedule just toe and help the kids. June has already donated a lot, too. For that, I am eternally grateful." Mrs. Kim smiled back at him. "Anyway," she said. "I hope you can stay until the end." "We can stay until the end," June said.


    "That''s perfect," she smiled. "Then, we shall be waiting for you outside. I believe the preparations are about to be finished." Jaeyong nodded. "We''ll be out in a few minutes." With that, Mrs. Kim went out of their room to join the audience. The intimate venue could barely amodate a hundred people, just enough to fill the garden of the small sanctuary. The audience consisted not only of dedicated fans but also of folks who bought tickets before EVE announced their participation.


    "Thank you foring, everyone!" Sara, one of the volunteers in the home, excitedly greeted me as she went up the small stage. "Today marks a very special day for Little Sunflowers. The home has been taking care of children since the 1980s, but it''s the very first time we''ll be holding an event like this..." "...and we''re doing it for none other than Luna," she smiled, pointing to the little kid in a wheelchair and multiple tubes attached to her body. Despite looking frail, she excitedly waved to the audience with arge smile. The crowd pped for her, awwing at her bubliness and cuteness. "Luna is a little ball of sunshine," Sara remarked. "Now," she continued. "I shall not let you wait any longer. I know that a lot of you came here for our first performers." The audience shook their heads¡ªan attestation that June had screened the best people to attend the charity concert. "Let us wee our very generous and handsome performers¡ªEVE!" Sara eximed. The venue was filled with polite cheers and ps, the fans holding back from making so much noise as EVE made their way to the stage. People who had never seen them up close were instantly enamored. "Are they even humans?" "And I thought I couldn''t like them any better." "There''s no way they''re the same breed as we are." Jay stood next to Lei and sighed, wiping the sweat on his temples. "You alright?" Lei asked. "You''ve been running around left and right since yesterday."


    Jay nodded. "My kids really want to perform in this concert, so I did everything I could with all their schedules." Lei smiled and patted his back. "Well, you''ve done a good job. You''ve worked hard." Jay turned to Lei with a tearful smile, making the other manager surprised. Lei chuckled in amusement. "Why? What''s wrong?" he asked. "It''s been a while since I''ve heard that," Jay dramatically said. Their conversation was cut short when the familiar, upbeat intro of Oasis was heard through the speakers. The crowd instantly pped along with the music, making the boys of EVE turn to each other with smiles. Although the event was rtively smallpared to all the things they''ve done, the boys still felt more nervous than usual. With that, they gave their all to the performance. "Oh, oh, oasis Oh, oh, our life is Where the waters intertwine...Where love is so deep, like the ocean''s endless line.With friends by our side beneath the azure dome.In this haven, we''ve found our true home." After Oasis, they went straight to another one of their hit songs. "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized. Every single time I look into your eyes. Yeah, you always make me mesmerized. Need you with me for life." The fans, ustomed to singing along with every lyric, were surprised to find themselves joined by the ordinary attendees¡ªthe children and staff of the sanctuary and even local residents. At that moment, the boys subtly turned to each other as they performed. It definitely felt surreal, and at one point, some of them felt emotional. Although they had performed in bigger venues in front of thousands of people, it was a moment that made them feel¡ª''I made it.'' As EVE concluded their set, the members gathered at the center of the stage.


    "Aww, it was over so quickly." "That''s what makes it more special, no?" "Why do I want to cry again?" Jia asked as she looked at the happy smiles on the boys'' faces. Bora shook her head. "You always feel emotional with EVE." She sighed and fanned her eyes with her hands. "I just hope that they''re happy like this all the time." "Do not worry," Jaeyong said. "We still have a little bit of time, so we''re going to perform one more song." The crowd cheered. "This is a special song dedicated to the children," Akira said, waving at the kids.


    "We tried our hardest to convince June to perform this song, so please cherish it a lot!" The crowd murmured in curiosity and excitement. Then, when a familiar song yed, it all made sense why June was hesitant. "Little Meow Meow will haunt June until the end of his career."

 Chapter 791 The Charity Concert (2)

    791 The Charity Concert (2) n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Undeniably, the kids were excited as soon as they heard the familiar intro of the hit song ''Meow Meow'' by Little Meow Meow. For them, it was a song they wanted to hear more than Oasis and Luster. However, why was it that the adults felt even more excited than the kids? Jia and Bora held each other''s hands on theirps, squeezing each other''s palms as they tried to contain their excitement.


    The other guests turned to their phones to share their excitement. - EVE is going to sing Meow Meow. - Meow Meow by THE Little Meow Meow? - Yes. - What the heck? This charity concert is much better than I''d imagined. Why couldn''t I get the tickets? - Please film them for me. - Filming isn''t allowed inside! - I bet this is June''s tactic so that only a few people could watch him do aegyo! - Brave of you to think that June wanted to partake in this in the first ce. Truly, June was quite it when his members suggested performing the song during their brainstorming activity. However, he had no power against the seven of them, so he had no choice but to follow. Yet, seeing the excited smiles on the children''s faces made him think otherwise. Even Luna, who couldn''t stand on her own and was being propped up by two older children, gazed at the stage with unmatched excitement, making June''s heart soften. With that, the music started, and the boys went to their positions. They made the performance as simple as possible. The eight of them practiced by ying Little Meow Meow on the television and dancing to it in their pajamas. They kept it true to the original performance and channeled their cuteness, simr to Little Meow Meow. "In the shadows of the moonlight,


    Whispers of a hidden sight,


    A meow, so soft and yet profound,


    Echoes through the silence all around."


    They sang in unison, their voices sounding like the gates to cat heaven opening. The boys also danced the original choreography, which was simple and easy to follow through. Yet, even with simple choreography, they managed to make the performance look sophisticated. Bora squeezed Jia''s hand tighter, subtly rocking her body back and forth to contain her feelings. "So...cute. I want to squish them to death," Bora muttered. "Behave," Jia said. "You don''t want the kids seeing that you''re more excited than them. They''re going to think we''re crazy." "We''re already crazy for thinking that these grown-ass men are cute." Jia smirked. "That''s why K-pop is so special. Imagine babying Western artists. It''s just weird." "Yeah," Bora muttered. "I found this ''Drake as Kittens'' post on Navel and


    immediately wanted to throw myself off of a cliff." "But you sent me the ''June as Kittens'' thread whilst crying," Jia remarked. Bora nodded. "See? Told you that fangirling makes us crazy." "Now shush," Jia said. "I want to savor this moment and capture it with my eyes." "Meow, meow, a timeless call,


    Unveiling mysteries, standing tall or small.


    Beneath the surface, secrets lie,


    In the depths of a feline''s eye."


    Despite June''s initial apprehension, he still performed to the best of his ability. In fact, he almost seemed like a natural! He clenched his fists in front of his face and acted like he had paws! The other boys turned to each other with smiles, knowing that June was bound to give it his all no matter the performance. Indeed, June''s internal organs were already screaming for help. However, seeing the lovely smiles on the children''s facespelled him to do his best. With that, the members of EVE gave it their all for their final performance. Jay sniffed and wiped the tears away from his eyes, making Lei turn to him with a chuckle. "This isn''t even an emotional song," he chuckled. Jay pursed his lips before shaking his head. "It is...to me," he muttered. "They''re my little babies. Aren''t they just the best?" he asked. Lei gazed at the ground with an ambiguous smile. "You care for them a lot, huh?" he asked. Jay let out a deep breath and turned to the new manager. "Well, of course," Jay said. "I really think of them as my family. I genuinely have never seen any other people work as hard as EVE, especially June." Lei crossed his arms in front of his chest and gazed at the handsome idol who was doing cat poses on the stage. "That must be why he''s so sessful," Lei muttered. "Yes," Jay said. "I see a lot of people saying that June was just lucky and all that. He was lucky to be born with his face. He was lucky to have that kind of talent."


    "However, I''ve been there since the beginning. June didn''t have any of those. He just made it seem like he has been talented and attractive since the beginning," he smiled. "That, in itself, is already a talent. From the get-go, his mind has been very strong¡ªunlike any other person that I''ve met." "I see," Lei muttered. "So, June will always have my back," Jay said, a wider smile on his face. "You don''t feel jealous of him at all?" Lei suddenly asked, making Jay surprised. "Didn''t you want to be an idol before you became a manager?" he continued. Jay paused for a while, reflecting on Lei''s deep question. "Jealous?" he muttered. "Of course, I''ve been jealous." "Like you said, this has been my dream for the longest time, and honestly, although I really like what I''m doing now, there are still some moments when I think about performing." "But then again, don''t we all have something we yearn for? That doesn''t necessarily mean that we want it. We just wonder how things could have changed if the trajectory of your life went in a different direction." "Hmm," Lei hummed.


    "So, yeah. I guess I get jealous from time to time. But that doesn''t diminish the fact that I am supportive of June and the other boys," Jay proudly said. Lei smiled and nodded. "You''re a good manager, Jay," he said, patting his back. Jay pursed his lips, feeling his cheeks warm up. Then, he reciprocated the action, looking sincerely into Lei''s eyes. "You''re also going to be a great one," he said to Lei. "How do you even know that?" Lei chuckled. Jay reassuringly smiled. "I just know." "I''ll be here to support you no matter what."


    "I''m holding your word on that," Lei smiled.

 Chapter 792 My Dream Is...

    792 My Dream Is... N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "That has been EVE, everyone!" Sara eximed as she made her way back to the stage. Her cheeks were warm with excitement. She couldn''t show it on stage, but she was also a big fan of EVE. Seeing them perform cutely in front of her eyes was enough to push her to the edge! But, she needed to act professionally as the event''s host. Sara looked around, her smile bing bigger when she saw the ted look on the audience''s faces. "I hope you all don''t leave now that EVE is finished," she started off. The audience shook their heads, and the members of EVE turned to smile at each other. Jisung nudged June''s shoulder. "Your n worked. These fans are really nice." June smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest, feeling proud of himself. "Now, we have special performances from the children!" "Please give the first group a round of apuse as they showcase their artworks!" she eximed. The crowd pped in excitement. The members of EVE, who were sitting where the children were during their performance, also sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for the children toe out. One by one, the children came out with different artworks.


    "Hi! My name is Junkyu!" one of the kids eximed. "I made a drawing of a rocket because I want to be an astronaut," he started off. "Aww," the crowd said as he toothlessly smiled. "I also wanted to be an astronaut once," Zeth said. Just then, he showed his artwork, and it was shed on the big screen. The crowd became silent as the two round wheels with the rocket''s body painted a familiar picture. "That doesn''t look like a rocket. That looks like a pen¡ª" Akira started off, but Jisung covered his mouth before he could finish his statement. "Oh hell yeah," Zeth said. "That''s not any rocket. That''s simr to MY rocket!" June facepalmed and massaged his nose bridge. "You guys can''t be taken anywhere."


    The next kid was wearing a white polo, and she beamed at the audience, making her look adorable. "I''m Daisy!" she eximed. "And I want to be a doctor to help other people!" The adults nodded proudly while Akira let out a deep breath, staring into the distance. "I, too, wanted to be a doctor," he said. "However, life led me to be an idol." "Oh, thank goodness," Ren said, sighing in relief. Akira turned to him, offended. "What''s that supposed to mean?" Ren merely smiled and focused his attention back on the children. The program continued, and the kids showed off their different talents. It was an enjoyable time. Despite it being messy at times and having a lot of dead air, the atmosphere was warm and encouraging. "Now, we''re down to thest performance of the day," Sara said, making the audience exim in disappointment. Sehun raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That fast?" he asked. "It''s already been two hours,"Jaeyong chuckled. "What?" Zeth eximed. "It feels much shorter than that." "It''s because you guys are enjoying it," June remarked. "When you''re enjoying the moment, time just seems to move faster." Jisung nodded in agreement. "I really love this event," he said. "Thanks for inviting us, June." June nodded before focusing his gaze on the front. "Thisst performance is quite special," Sara introduced. "You may have noticed, but Luna wasn''t able to join the performances because she''s been frequenting the hospital for her treatments." "Oh, this is bad," Jia muttered, making Bora turn to her with wide eyes. "Ay-yo? Don''t tell me you don''t want to watch a sick kid perform," Bora said. Jia clicked her tongue and pinched her side. "Not that!" "I just feel like the tears areing." "Oh," Bora muttered. "You''re right. This is bad." "Little Sunflowers has always tried its best to give each child a happy and healthy life before they could fly on their own. It came as a surprise to us to know that one of our little flowers had been struck with cancer." "Being an independent organization that relies on volunteers and donations, it was a hard time for all of us. We can''t even begin toprehend the amount of pain Luna must be in," she said, looking down at the ground as she recalled her diagnosis. "However, a beacon of light appeared before us," she said, turning to June with a wide smile. The other members also turned to June with proud smiles. Meanwhile, June looked down at thisp and scratched the back of his neck. "I''m really not that good of a person," he muttered. "Because of his help, we were able to start Luna''s treatment," Sara continued.


    "She''s already on her second cycle and is going strong despite it being tough." "With that, we just can''t leave Sara out of the picture, as she has prepared a special performance for all of us, too!" "Please give her a round of apuse!" The audience burst into cheers as Luna was wheeled to the stage. Her bright smile was devoid of any negativities, which increased their admiration for her even more. "Mic test," she said in her cute voice, making the audience ''Aww.'' Luna beamed, feeling excited for her performance. June pursed his lips, feeling his heart race inside his chest. The other member, too, turned serious, feeling the gravity of the situation. "Thank you, everyone, foring to this party!" Luna started off. Her eyes crinkled into the shape of crescent moons as she smiled, making June automatically smile, too. "How could such a bright person have an illness?" Akira asked by her side. June nodded. "Don''t you think it''s unfair?" he continued to ask. June nodded once more as she looked at her unwavering smile. "It''s unfair," he muttered. "I''m not really good at anything, but I like reading!" Luna continued. The crowd opposed her first statement, making her giggle. "But I wanted to say thank you to everyone, so I wrote this poem while I was at the hospital." June heard a sniff beside him, capturing his attention. "Oh no," Akira muttered. "Jaeyong has already started." June shook his head in amusement. However, as he heard Luna''s next statement, he felt like he wasn''t safe either. "The title is¡ªThe Prettiest Flower."

 Chapter 793 The Prettiest Flower

    793 The Prettiest Flower


    "In a garden full of flowers,


    Some are bright, some are sad,


    Some stand tall, some lost color,


    But together, they don''t look so bad." From the get-go, the people felt emotional. "This is better than Ted''s writing," Akira remarked, earning chuckles from his members. However, as Luna said her next words, they all focused on the stage once more. June knew that it was just a poem about flowers, yet somehow, he felt like his life was going to be changed. "A persones and looks around,


    They pick the best, the one that shines,


    A flower strong with bright colors,


    They take it home, and it still looks fine." She pauses for a while to catch her breath. The crowd looked worried, but with a bright smile, they became reassured. "The flower goes to a lonely room,


    Where a little girl must stay,


    She''s feeling sick, can''t run or jump,


    But the flower makes her day." June pursed his lips together to keep his emotions controlled. Jaeyong had lost all control and was already crying his eyes out. The other boys would have teased him already, but they were also focused on the poem. Despite its simple writing, it hit them right in the heart¡ªespecially with Luna rting the story of the little flower to her own life.


    "She touches the soft petals,


    Feels the strong stem in her hands,


    She thinks about the garden,


    Where this flower used to stand." Luna''s eyes were shiny with tears, yet somehow, the smile never left her face. It made her delivery even more emotional as the crowd struggled to keep their emotions in. Just imagining how a child¡ªone that should be running freely and ying with her peers¡ªacquired a shitty illness made them feel choked up. "The flower sits in water clear,


    Hoping roots will grow again,


    But even if it never does,


    It helps to ease the girl''s pain." She wiped her eyes for a second, but her smile still didn''t go anywhere. "The little girl talks to her flower,


    Says, "You''re my friend, don''t go away,"


    She shares her secrets and her dreams,


    And keeps it close both night and day.


    No more tears about the park,


    No more wishing to run free,


    In her room, she has a friend,


    That fills her heart with glee." The sun was high in the sky, making the atmosphere warm. With the pretty child''s voice ringing through the air, everything felt surreal. "The flower used to be so bright,


    Now, it starts to fade and bend,


    The girl still loves it just the same,


    Holds it close, like a friend."


    "She whispers, ''Flower, don''t be sad,


    I''m here with you, and I''m d,


    You came to me, you''re not alone,


    Together, we make a home.''" At that point, tears were already streaming down the crowd''s faces. Luna paused and chuckled for a moment, enjoying how everybody was reacting to her poem.


    "But the prettiest flower might fade away,


    Just like the girl, it might not stay." Jaeyong bit his fist, trying his hardest to suppress his sobs. However, he failed miserably. The other members, too, looked up at the bright sky, feeling pain erupt in their chests. June let out a shaky sigh as he kept his gaze on the stage. "But that''s okay," Luna smiled at all of them. Their admiration soared even further. For someone who hasn''t even hit her adolescence, her mind was far beyond her years. The adults felt ashamed for the pettyints they made in their lives. However, at the same time, they feltforted. It was going to be okay. Things were bound to be better. "Because I can just say...," Luna continued. "The world picks the prettiest flower for the hardest fight,


    To face the dark and find the light. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Because they know the prettiest flower can do it...


    ...when she has you by her side." She ended the poem with a strong line. For a moment, it seemed like her gaze was directed straight at June, making him hold his breath. There was a thankful glint in her eyes, showing appreciation to June and for the people who continuously helped her. However, before June could think so hard about it, all the other children came to the stage, each holding onto a sunflower. They all wore the same bright smiles like Luna and swayed side by side as a familiar tune yed in the small garden. It was a nursery rhyme usually sung during Parents Day or Teachers Day, so most of the spectators were well aware of it.


    "Thank you for the dreams so high,


    Thank you for the sky.


    Thank you for the helping hand,


    You helped us understand.


    Thank you for the stars so bright,


    Thank you for the light.


    Thank you for the sunny days,


    Yet, somehow, the sound of children singing in chorus after Luna''s beautiful poem made the standard nursery rhyme sound emotional. "What the fuck is this?" Bora said as she fanned her wet cheeks. Jia turned to her with a teary re. "Don''t curse," she scolded. "I hate this song!" Bora whisper-shouted amidst her tears. "It''s overyed and sounds annoying..." "...but why are their tears streaming down my face?"


    They continued to sing in unison, sincerity heard in their voices as the adults continued to watch them with happy tears.


    "Thank you for the happy songs,


    Thank you all day long.


    Thank you for the dreams that fly,


    You helped us touch the sky.


    Thank you for the fun and y,


    Thank you every day.


    Thank you for the joy we share,


    We know you really care."


    June felt something tug at his heartstrings. He turned to his members, but he was surprised to see that they were also looking at him. Simr smiles adorned their lips as their gazes strayed back and forth to the singing children and to each other. You know how other artists feel like they have made it when they had performed in big stadiums? June didn''t shame them. He would probably feel the same. However, at that moment, he felt like nothing could ever replicate the feeling. It was the moment where he felt like EVE had made it. Then, he looked up at the sky with a small smile. "It''s good to be an idol," he whispered.


    Being an idol has lots of cons, but what''s cool about it is how you can influence other people. With that, I really appreciate idols/artists who use their tforms for the better!

 Chapter 794 Duck, Duck, Goose

    794 Duck, Duck, Goose N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Thank you so much for attending the event," Mr. Kim said, sincerely shaking each member''s hands.


    The charity concert was over, and the audience was being escorted out of the venue. Thanks to Haruto''s team of hitmen, the concert proceeded without any mishaps. "That was a great show," Jia sighed, feeling like she was reborn as a new person. Bora nodded in agreement, unable to speak. The people who had been waiting outside enviously stared at those who were able to attend the charity concert. However, they also couldn''t help but feel confused when they saw their swollen eyes. "What happened over there?" Inside, the members of EVE decided to stay a little while as they prepared some food for the children and the volunteers. The bountiful food wasid on the table in the garden while children happily ate and yed. The members of EVE stood at the corner, just observing everything. "This is nice," Jaeyong muttered, his eyes still swollen from the crying session he had a while ago. Casper nodded in agreement before turning to June. "Thank you for fighting for this," he said. "We would have missed out on it if you let Mr. Ong get his way." June smiled and was about to take thepliment when Jay popped up from behind them.


    "It''s thanks to Lei, too!" Jay chimed, startling the members. "Ah, right!" Jisung eximed. "Wasn''t he the one who convinced Mr. Ong to let us do this?" "Indeed, he was," Jay proudly said. "He even took some time during his work to help me with the preparations. Isn''t he just a bundle of joy?" The other members nodded in agreement. Speaking of the devil, Lei''s voice was heard in the garden, capturing the members'' attention. "Guys!" he eximed. "Let''s y!" The boys snapped their gazes at Lei, finding him forming a circle with the children. The members turned to each other before nodding excitedly. "Let''s go!" Akira said, running to go to where they were. The other boys chuckled and also joined in on the circle. "What are we going to y?" Jaeyong asked. "We''re ying Duck, Duck, Goose!" one of the kids said. "Ooh, I loved that game when I was younger," Ren smiled, sitting next to a random kid. The boys spread out, and June found himself sitting next to the boy who wanted to be an astronaut¡ªJunkyu. "Does everybody know how to y the game?" Lei excitedly asked. There was a chorus of agreement from the crowd, but one person found himself freezing up. "Duck, Duck, Goose?" June muttered, unaware of how the game worked. June had never heard of such a game before! Was it a rhyming game? Or something that had to do with animals? "It sounds stupid," he whispered. However, Junkyu was able to hear him, making the kid turn to him with bright, wide eyes. June quickly looked away and focused his gaze on the grass. He really didn''t know how the game worked. To be fair, he didn''t know a lot of childhood games. It was because he was forced to be an adult at an early age that he didn''t really find himself engaging in the games that his peers usually did. In short, June had a short childhood. However, as he looked around, he realized that he was the only one who appeared like he didn''t know, so he kept his mouth shut. "I''ll get it after the first round," he muttered, sitting up straight and appearing more observant. "Who wants to be the first ''it?''" Lei asked, looking around. Junkyu excitedly raised his hand, so Lei called his name. "Here you go," Lei said, handing him an expensive-looking handkerchief. "I''ll y some music!" Sara eximed, taking the initiative to y EVE''s first album through the speakers. The members chuckled in amusement while Junkyu began circling around them. June watched him intently, following his every move. 10:43


    "June''s cheating!" Zeth eximed. "He''s following Junkyu''s movements!" "So, you aren''t supposed to do that," he whispered. With that, he stuck his gaze to the middle, only following Junkyu through his peripheral vision. "Duck!" Junkyu cutely said as he tapped Ren''s head. June frowned. "What is this?" "Duck," he said for another time, tapping a child''s head this time.


    "They''re not doing anything," he muttered, continuing to observe him. Although June didn''t know anything about the game, he felt the atmosphere intensify.


    Junkyu circled around them with a mischievous smirk. June felt that something grand was going to happen soon. With that, he straightened his shoulders. He still didn''t know how the game worked, but just as long as he wasn''t the victim, then he would be fine. He was a fast learner. He''d know soon enough! However, as Junkyu got closer to his position, he realized something. "I have bad luck," he muttered. With that, just as Junkyu passed him, he turned around and found the handkerchief behind him. The others gasped in surprise. Sara, who was watching from the side, also covered her mouth in shock. "What the heck?" she eximed. "He caught that so fast!" The other boys turned to each other in amusement. "As expected," Jisung said. "Bro has the best instincts!" Akira sighed and shook his head. "He''s even good at this game?" Their statements were proven wrong, however, when June stood and stayed still, holding the handkerchief in his hand as Junkyu darted to his previous seat. "Why isn''t he running?" Jay muttered. June pursed his lips and wondered what he needed to do. "Fuck," he whispered. He should have known that he would be the first victim because of his bad luck!


    "What are you doing?" Casper asked loudly, capturing June''s attention. "June, you''re the goose!" Akira said, his eyes wide with frustration.


    "I''m...the....goose," June muttered, the realization suddenly hitting him. With that, he ced the handkerchief over his shoulder and positioned his arms by his side in a folded position¡ªlike he had little wings. The members of EVE''s eyes widened in horror. "Oh no," Akira muttered. "He definitely doesn''t know this game," Zeth chuckled. With that, June started pping his wings and making goose sounds. They all turned silent, and Junkyu even stopped running to look at what June was doing. Akira pursed his lips and shook his head. "His looks saved him this time, really." I find this funny yet sad at the same time! June never had a proper childhood. It''s good that he''s ying like this with EVE. SandKastle

 Chapter 795 What Meis Mission Really Meant

    795 What Mei''s Mission Really Meant N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The boysughed like buffoons for what seemed like the hundredth time after the game ended. June sat on the corner, sulking as his members continued to tease him. Akira mimicked what June had done beforeughing until he became breathless. June pursed his lips and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Are you guys done?" he asked. "Ahh," Akira sighed, leaning onto Casper for support. "That was great¡ªit was the biggestugh of the year." June clicked his tongue. "You should have just told us that you didn''t know how to y the game," Jisung said, still chuckling. "I didn''t think I would be the first one to go," he said. "The real question is¡ªhave you never yed this before?" Ren curiously asked. June bit his lip before sighing. "No," he said. "I never got the chance to y such games when I was younger." "I had to take care of a lot of things, so I didn''t have time for it," he confessed, halting the members''ughter. They turned silent and looked at each other with guilt. Zeth clicked his tongue and nudged Akira''s side. "You imbecile!" he whisper-shouted. Akira pursed his lips before ring at Zeth. "Youughed too," he whisper-shouted back. The boys looked at June with pity, making him click his tongue. "It''s fine," June said. "Don''t look at me like that. I still had a happy childhood." Just then, his phone rang, and he saw the reason why his childhood was happy yet bitter at the same time. ''Mei'' "I have to take this one," June said, holding his phone. "Sure," Jay said. "We''ll leave after you take the call."


    June nodded and walked to an empty space in the garden. He sat on the bench and saw his members interact with the children. He smiled in amusement before pressing the ''answer'' button. "June!" Mei eximed as soon as he answered. June had to move his phone away from his ear for a moment as Mei''s loud voice rang through. "Well, you''re excited," he remarked. Mei chuckled. "I have some good news," she started off, making June even more surprised. "Wow," he said. "You actually called me for some exciting news. That''s a first." Mei clicked his tongue. "You''re ruining the moment." "I just wanted to tell someone this since I''m so happy. Besides, it''s not like I can share this information with anybody else. They''d think I''m crazy for saying I have a voice inside my head." June chuckled. "So, it''s about Fu." "Yes," Mei said. "I finally aplished that pesky mission!" June searched his mind for Mei''s mission and remembered the one she mentioned when they spoke in the dorms. "Ah, yes. What was it again¡ªfind out a real name?" June asked. "Yeah," Mei confirmed. "I didn''t get it in the beginning. I still don''t know what it means now, but it''s actually much simpler than I thought." "Continue," June said, growing curious about her mission. When he had Fu, all of his missions were stated tantly. Their reasons weren''t really disclosed, but at the same time, they weren''t as vague as her mission. "I just have to learn about someone''s real name," Mei continued. "It''s that easy?" June asked. "Well, yes...and no," she responded. "That''s what I did in the first ce! I offered your real name, which is Choi Joon-ho, but it didn''t work. I also tried other artists'' real names, but Fu still didn''t ept it." "Then, I figured that it''s because I was using known real names," she continued. "I inferred that I should find out the real name of some unknown person." "With that, I stumbled upon something in Lei''s car," she said, making June straighten his posture. "Hmm," June hummed with a small frown. Then, he strayed his gaze to Lei, who was still ying with the children. He had a wide smile on his face as the little girls chased him. Lei looked kind and carefree¡ªsomeone who had a good heart. "I found his contract with Azure and saw his real name," Mei continued. "Turns out Lei was just a fake name," she chuckled. "What''s his real name?" June asked, his gaze still focused on Lei. "It''s surprising," Mei said. "I thought he was Korean because he looked the part. However, it turns out that we have the same nationality." Ding. A ringing sound echoed in June''s mind. "Wait, I wrote it down," she said, followed by the sound of turning pages. "It''s Zhilei Hong," Mei chimed. "Well, Lei isn''t really a fake name. It''s more of a nickname, I guess? But it''s really a surprise that he''s Chinese!" June couldn''t hear anything but the ringing sound in his ears. "Hong," he muttered. "Anyway, that''s what happened," Mei happily ranted. "Now, I have a new set of missions that had be even more ridiculous. However, I''m d that I was able to upgrade my vocal skills since we''re going to start recording the album." "By the way, I also want to ask for some tips in the recording booth. I didn''t want toe to you, but you''re really one of the best singers out there¡ª" June would dly help her sister. However, he couldn''t do so with his current mind. "Zhilei Hong," he said in a deep voice, making Mei halt. "June?" she asked, sounding confused. "You still there? Why are you repeating his name?" "I''ll talk to youter," June said. "Wait, I''m still asking for advice¡ª" June turned off the call before Mei could even finish her statement. It was amazing how Mei''s mission still benefitted June even after he gave Fu away.


    His gaze didn''t leave Lei even after the call had ended. June knew that he looked familiar. However, he didn''t think it would be possible. At that moment, a lot of things made sense. The reason why Lin Zhi was favored the moment he arrived at the gang. "Brothers," June whispered. His gaze hardened as he continued looking at Lei. Then, Lei''s gaze suddenly snapped toward June, his eyebrows raising in surprise when he saw June''s intense look. Nheless, he chuckled in amusement and even smiled at June. June shook his head as a small smirk appeared on his lips, crossing his arms in front of his chest just as Lei snapped his gaze away.


    "My instincts are right." "Looks can really be deceiving."

 Chapter 796 Stealing Someones Glory

    796 Stealing Someone''s Glory


    The members were back in their dorm, and June instantly went to his room to contact a trusted person. "Baldie," June said as soon as he answered the phone. "Master!" Bo Wen excitedly said when he heard June''s voice. "It''s been a while." "Hmm," June hummed. "How have you been?" "I''m doing alright. My kid''s grandma finally allowed me to talk to her through the phone." A small smile appeared on June''s face. Somehow, he felt proud of the Baldie since he was finally reconnecting with his most treasured person. "That''s good," June said. "Do you have some time to help me with something?"


    "Of course," Bo Wen said. "I told you¡ªI would always be at your service." "I need you to look into someone," June continued. "Go ahead," Bo Wen said. "Zhilei Hong," June said in a serious tone. Bo Wen paused for a moment. "Zhilei Hong?" he asked. "How do you even know that guy?" June frowned. "You know him?" Perhaps Bo Wen also found out that Lei and Laohu were the same person? "Yeah," Bo Wen said. "He''s pretty famous here in Phoenix." "Really, now?" June asked. "Yeah," Bo Wen said. "He''s one of the board of directors. He has a pretty good influence in thepany, and he was even rumored to be vying for CEO." "Tell me more," June said, leaning against his bed frame. "Wait, let me go to my office," Bo Wen said.


    "You still there?" "Yeah," June said. "Continue." "As I was saying, Zhilei joined thepany around a year ago, but he was instantly hired in a high position. However, I didn''t really question it since he seems reallypetent." "He was liked by many, but he was also mysterious. He only showed up in the board''s meetings and would rarely be seen in the building." "He was popr since he was handsome, though." Bo Wen clicked his tongue. "This is something that only a few people know. So, you''vee to the right person." "Zhilei was pretty ambitious. He was the one who pushed for artists to go international and things like that. However, I can also tell that he wants to have a higher position." June frowned. It was already contrary to what Lei had said during their first meeting. Lei clearly said that he transferred to Azure because he wanted to take on a managerial position. "You know how it is in thesepanies," Bo Wen continued. "The power struggle is real. A lot of people want to be CEOs, and Zhilei was one of them. However, I heard from someone that Zhilei wasn''t just aiming for CEO Young Do''s position. Instead, he was aiming for the top CEO." "The head," June muttered. "Exactly," Bo Wen said. "He wanted to find out the head''s identity. I still don''t know the details why, but that''s what I heard." "How do you even know all of this?" June asked.


    Bo Wen sighed. "I can''t tell you my secrets. However, you can trust me." "He had a pretty bad argument with CEO Young Do since he found out that he was looking for the head," Bo Wen continued. "How important is this head?" June asked. "You don''t even know," Bo Wen chuckled. "If Laohu is a snake, then the head is the dragon. They''re the boss level¡ªone that nobody had ever surpassed." "Heck¡ªthey''re the level that has never even been essed!" Bo Wen continued. "Anyway, going back to the story. There was some conflict among the higher-ups, and Lei was inevitably kicked out. His support of Lin Zhi, who was exposed to have done a lot of crimes, supported that, so he was demoted to a managerial position." "However, he left after the demotion, and the next thing I know, he''s already in Azure." June smirked. Aside from the ''head,'' whom June still had to find the identity of, the story finally added up. "Well, that''s the story," Bo Wen said. "I can send you his files right now if you want. However, I don''t see any dirt on here. It just has all his volunteer work." "Please do," June said, already expecting a clean resume. "I''ve sent it," Bo Wen said after a while. June smiled. "Perfect." "I''m curious, though," Bo Wen said. "Why are you asking about Zhilei? Aside from his association with Lin Zhi, he seems out of the picture." "For now, just focus on your kid." Bo Wen chuckled. "You don''t have to remind me to do that." "Thanks, Baldie," June said. "Always at your service, Master." With that, June finally ended the call. *** n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After the Charity Concert, EVE was showered with praises by the media and the public. -EVE is an inspiration to the new generation! - EVE is birthing a new genre of idols. - I''m a fan of the right idols. - Azure hit the jackpot with these boys!


    -Their stocks are amazing right now. EVE deserves it all! - I love them so much. You don''t even understand. - They deserve all the praise they need. - They''re pretentious. They just want recognition. - There''s always a fucker who spoils the good mood, huh? Mr. Ong''s assistant entered his office with a wide smile on her lips. "Sir, good news!" she eximed as she entered the room. Mr. Ong excitedly raised his hand. "Is my new wig made of 100% real human hair from Asian virgins finally here?" he asked. The assistant paused for a moment before shaking her head. "No, sir," she responded. "EVE is getting a lot of praise for the charity concert." "Oh," Mr. Ong said, his face dropping. "That''s not good news, then." "It is, sir!" she insisted. "Our stocks are rising because of it. A lot of big brands also want to coborate with us. Investors are also putting in more money to thepany." Despite his initial disappointment, Mr. Ong brightened up as soon as money was mentioned. "I see," he said. "So, it generated money, after all." "Yes," she said. "I heard that a lot ofpanies are looking into it, too. It seems like EVE has started a trend among entertainmentpanies." Mr. Ong clicked his tongue. "But we''re the first ones!" he eximed. "Yes, sir," she nodded. "This is good publicity for thepany. With LUNAIRE''s debuting up, we''re bound to be even more sessful." Mr. Ong smiled, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he leaned against his seat. "Good, good," he muttered. "Schedule a talk that would celebrate the sess of the charity concert," Mr. Ong said.


    The assistant excitedly nodded. "Should I call the members of EVE?" Mr. Ong shook his head. "Of course not." "I will be the speaker."

 Chapter 797 Everyday, Everynight

    Chapter 797 Everyday, Everynight


    Despite all the revtions, June managed to get some good sleep. The Charity Concert cemented his mind to bing an idol, and with that, he became even more determined to change the idol industry for the better. Because EVE didn''t have any schedules for the day, June and the other boys decided to sleep in. However, as some sunlight peeked through his curtains, June decided to get up and prepare some breakfast for the boys. He went to the kitchen and whipped up something fast before cing the food on their living room table. June knew that the boys were currently obsessed with PD Ramil''s new reality TV show, ''Everyday, Everynight,'' so he inferred that they wanted to watch the rey since they missed itst night. As expected, as soon as June was finished cooking, the boys came out of their rooms and sat around the living room table. It was instincts at that point. "Do we have the rey already?" Akira asked, some dried saliva still on his cheeks. "I do," Jisung said, his eyes barely open. June shook his head in amusement. He really knew the guys like the back of his hand. "You guys love that show, huh?" June asked. Jaeyong, despite not being a fan of dramas, nodded in agreement. "It''s really good," he said. "There''s so much drama at times, but it''s also wholesome." "Joonie is already bing famous because of it," he added. Casper clicked his tongue. "I don''t like that guy." "What?" the others eximed, turning to Casper. "How could you not like him?" Akira asked. "He''s so good and kind. He''s handsome, too." "Who''s Joonie?" June asked, capturing the others'' attention. "Oh, right," Akira chuckled. "You don''t really pay attention to the show. You''re busy every day in your room." "What are you even doing there, bro?" Zeth asked. "Are you filled with sexual tension these days?" June red at Zeth as he continued to tease June. "Shut up," June said. "I''m looking into something." "Anyway, who''s that guy?" he asked. "y the rey!" Akira said, and Jisung quickly followed. The show yed, and June instantly realized why it was popr. The amount of men and women was the same, so it almost seemed like a dating show. However, it involved fairly popr people, but they couldn''t really date each other. Instead, it felt like a rite of passage. Their real personalities were shown, and seeing so many contrasting ones was quitepelling. "Is this show really popr?" June asked. "Very," Akira responded. "It airs every day for an hour, and it''s almost unfiltered. It''s a same-day edit, and they have a live feed in YouWatch, so a lot of people also tune in to look for hidden moments. It''s almost like Big Brother with a mix of Survivor, but all of the people are quite famous."


    "After the first episode, it became a very popr show." "I see," June muttered. "And that guy over there!" Akira continued, pointing to a guy with pink hair and fair skin. "He''s be the most popr person in the show despite being a D-list actor when he came in." "Hmm," June hummed, continuing to watch him. "He''s pretty nice." "He''s not nice!" Casper eximed, taking them by surprise. Ren chuckled in amusement. "Why don''t you like him?" "He''s obviously copying June!" Casper eximed. June turned to him and raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" June asked. "The pink hair, his clumsy way of talking, his deep perspectives. Even the way he smiles andughs is just like June. Heck, the mole under his eye is in the same position as June''s! That''s why people like him a lot." They all turned silent before bursting into chuckles. "You''re way too deep in the June lore," Sehun said. Casper pulled on his hair. "He even has a simr name! You guys are not getting it."


    June observed Joonie and found that he, indeed, felt a bit simr to himself. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    However, it was only the beginning of the episode, so he couldn''t really confirm it. "Continue watching!" Casper insisted. However, before June could really observe Joonie, Jaeyong dropped his tea on the floor, making Akira''s crotch wet. "What the heck, dude?" he eximed. "I look like I pissed myself!" "Go to channel 8," Jaeyong said, ignoring Akira. Akira frowned. "Heck no! We''re watching the show." Jaeyong clicked his tongue and grabbed the remote. "That''s not important right now." With that, he switched to channel 8. Akira attempted to bring it back to the rey, but he stopped when he saw a familiar face on the TV. "Mr...Ong?" he muttered. The others were also intrigued, wondering why their CEO was a guest on a popr morning talk show. June frowned and watched the show. "Thank you for being with us," the host said. Mr. Ong smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you for inviting me here." "No, it''s truly our honor," the host giggled. "We''re here with Mr. Ong, the CEO of Azure Entertainment and the person behind the Charity Concert at Little Sunflowers."


    "What the fuck?" Jisung cursed. Ren would have scolded him for cursing, but he also felt angry. "Oh, don''t give me too much credit," Mr. Ong humbly said. "There were a lot of people involved in the process. I just spearheaded it, to be exact." "He is not doing this right now," June muttered. "Recently, you have been under fire after news about Azure''s mistreatment of their artists came to light," the host said, changing the topic. Mr. Ong''s face shifted for a moment, but he quicklyposed himself. "I saw," he nodded. "What can you say about this?" the host asked. Mr. Ong sighed, and at that moment, June realized that their CEO was a damn good actor. "Each institution has a set of ground rules," he started off. "Some are harsher than others, but what most people fail to understand is that these are needed for keeping the order in that said institution." "I believe the news and the people''s perspective about me are hard to reverse." "So, I''m just going to let it be." "What I can do now is continue helping others," he smiled. "Just like the Charity Concert, I hope people can see that I am a good CEO."

 Chapter 798 Jays Dilemma

    Chapter 798 Jay''s Dilemma


    "He didn''t even agree to the charity concert in the first ce, and yet he''s saying that he was the one who spearheaded it?" Jisung eximed. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What a fucking joke!" Ren ced his hand over Jisung''sp. "That''s enough cursing for a child like you." Jisung sighed andid down on the couch. "Can''t we do something about this?" he asked.


    "Yeah," Jaeyong muttered. "June was the one who paid for the event, too. We even pitched in our own money for additional donations. Nothing came out from Mr. Ong''s pocket." "Technically," Jay chimed, clearing his throat. "It''s still an Azure event." "How?" Casper asked. "The official page didn''t even post it." "Because you guys are under Azure Entertainment," Jay said. "Are you on our side or not?" Akira asked, appearing annoyed. Jay pursed his lips. "Of course I am," he said. "I''ll always be on your side." "I''m just saying¡ªit wouldn''t be too wise to say anything about it. Youreback is already dyed as it is." "At this point, Azure wants to be bigger than us," Sehun noted. "That has always been the goal," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. This was the reality that they had to face. At the end of the day, although they enjoyed making music and inspiring others, they were still pawns of a muchrger industry. "So, what are we going to do now?" Jisung asked, on the verge of tears because of his frustration. Jay nced at June. "Well, June has something that could definitely bring him down." June''s eyebrows furrowed while the other members looked at him with wide eyes. "You do?" they eximed. June bit his lip and red at Jay. Jay pursed his lips and looked away. "You don''t have to concern yourselves with that," June said. "But¡ª" Jay tried to argue, but with one more re from June, he decided to stay quiet. "Am I the manager here or what?" he whispered so the others weren''t able to hear him. "You''re keeping something from us," Jaeyong said with narrowed eyes. June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It doesn''t concern you guys," he said. He didn''t want to involve his members and possibly harm them in the process. Jaeyong narrowed his eyes in suspicion.


    "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes," June said with a reassuring smile. "However," he continued, making them all intrigued. "I have one question for you, guys." The others, with the exception of Jay, nodded. "Do you trust me?" June asked, taking them by surprise. "You''re suddenly asking that question?" Sehun asked. "Just¡ªJust answer it," June said, sounding serious. Casper nodded. "I trust you." The others nced at each other before nodding. "Yeah," Sehun said. "We don''t have any reason not to trust you." A smirk tugged on June''s lips. "Good," he said. Jaeyong pursed his lips. "Why''d you ask the question, though?" June shrugged with a small smile. Because we''re in for a wild ride. "Don''t think too much about it," June said. "Just keep trusting me from now on." ***


    "Ah, the articles about me are turning out nice," Mr. Ong smiled as he scrolled through his Navel ount. "They''re praising my hair, too!" he chuckled in amusement. "I knew the hair of virgins would do the trick." Just then, two people went inside his office, so he weed them warmly. "Ah, you''re both here. Come and sit," he said. Jay frowned in confusion. Well, he was in an awfully good mood. Meanwhile, Lei smiled and quickly followed his instructions. "You look really good today, Mr. Ong. Your hair suits you a lot." Mr. Ong beamed. "You''ve noticed?" he asked. "Of course," Lei said. "I pay attention to you a lot, Mr. Ong." Mr. Ongughed out loud, even pping his table in the process. "Ah, Lei. You''re truly a blessing to thepany." Then, amidst hisughter, his gaze strayed to Jay, who was still standing near the doorway. His smile fell a little bit as he called for him. "And what are you still doing there?" he asked. "Come here," Mr. Ong said. Jay pursed his lips and sat next to Lei. Lei smiled at Jay, and thetter reciprocated it with enthusiasm, feeling at ease since he was with Lei. "Why did you call for us both, sir?" Lei asked. "Hmm," Mr. Ong hummed. "Yes. I called for a meeting today." "Well, it''s just the usual routine. I don''t have time for two separate meetings, so I called you here together." "LUNAIRE''s debut ising up in about three weeks, right?" "Yes, sir," Lei said. "The preparations are going well. The girls are really excited, too." "Ah, those pretty girls," Mr. Ong smiled. "I shall visit them sometime in their practice room. Send me their schedule, will you?" Lei pursed his lips but nheless nodded. Jay raised his hand. "Why''d you call for me, sir?" Mr. Ong clicked his tongue. "If you would let me finish, then you would know," he muttered. "Anyway," he continued. "I see that the EVE boys are back to posting on their own ord again. I told you that their posts should run through me beforehand, right?" Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "Yes, sir." "Then, do your job properly," Mr. Ong scolded. "Lei, over here, has only been with us for a short amount of time, but he already knows these things. I''m expecting more from you." Jay sighed. "I didn''t know," he said. "What?" Mr. Ong asked with a small frown. "What are you muttering about?" "I didn''t know, sir," Jay rified in a much louder voice this time. "I have 8 boys to handle. I can''t go through their posts one by one every day to see if they have posted something. I also have other responsibilities as their manager," he continued, feeling wronged. Mr. Ong scoffed. "Then, you should manage the boys better." "It''s because you let them treat you like a friend. Now, they think of you as a joke." "If they really respected you, then they would take the initiative to ry their posts without being told to do so." "Reflect on your rtionship with the boys," Mr. Ong continued. "Do they really respect you as a manager?" "Or are they taking advantage of you because you''re friends?"

 Chapter 799 Internal Conflict

    Chapter 799 Internal Conflict


    Jay stood outside Mr. Ong''s office with an ambiguous expression. "Do they really respect you as a manager?" "Or are they taking advantage of you because you''re friends?" The old man''s words echoed in the back of his mind, making him shake his head. "Are you alright?" Lei asked as he made his way out of Mr. Ong''s office. Jay snapped out of his thoughts and lifted his head. Then, a small smile appeared on his face. "Yeah," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "That was pretty harsh," Lei continued, leaning against the wall. "He shouldn''t have said those words to you when you''re doing a good job with EVE." "Hmm," Jay hummed, still with a small smile. "I''m used to it already. Mr. Ong has always been like that since EVE started rebelling against him." "Rebelling?" Lei asked. "Well, it''s more like the boys are retaliating," Jay corrected himself. "Azure''s management needs some improvement, and the boys aren''t afraid to show that." "Especially June?" Lei asked with a chuckle. Jay looked down at the ground and nodded. "Especially June," Jay confirmed. "Well, don''t think too hard about it," Lei said, patting his back. "The boys respect you, don''t they?" he asked. Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "In any event that you don''t feel too good about it, then don''t hesitate to tell me," Lei said in aforting tone. Jay smiled up at him. "Thanks, Lei. I''ll be sure to¡ª" Jay''s words were cut short when his ringtone resonated in the hallway. "Speak of the devil," Jay chuckled, quickly answering the phone. "We need to talk," June said in a loud, urgent tone, causing Jay to frown. Due to the volume of June''s voice, Lei was also able to hear him. "What are you¡ª" June didn''t let Jay finish his statement. "Behind the fourth-floor stairs," June demanded. "Meet me there now." Jay frowned as June abruptly ended the call. "What was that about?" he muttered. Lei turned to him with raised eyebrows. "I''m assuming you need to go?" Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "Duty calls," he said. "Well, it was nice talking to you," Lei said. "I need to head to the girls'' practice room too."


    "Yeah, I''ll see you around," Jay said, waving his hand and going to the fourth floor like June had told him to. Jay''s eyebrows furrowed when he saw that June was already there. He turned around for a moment when he felt that someone was following him.


    However, he shook his head and continued on his way when he didn''t see anyone. "June," Jay said as soon as he arrived. "What are you doing here?" June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I need to talk to you," June responded. "Aww, did you miss me?" Jay jokingly asked, causing June to click his tongue. "This is a serious matter, Jay," he said, making Jay furrow his eyebrows. "Is it that urgent and serious that you''re speaking to me about it here?" he asked. "Yes," June deadpanned. Jay sighed and also leaned against the wall. Meanwhile, June stood straight and walked closer to him. "You hid it," June said. Jay frowned. "Hid what?" June shook his head in frustration. "You''re the only other person who knows where it''s hidden. I haven''t told anyone but you." "What are you talking about?" Jay asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "The briefcase," June said. "You hid it after our conversationst night." Jay''s eyes shifted, and he chuckled nervously. "That''s ridiculous. I didn''t take it anywhere. You must have misced it." "I don''t misce such important belongings," June deadpanned. Then, he sighed before raking his fingers through his hair. "I know that you''re frustrated because you want to bring down Mr. Ong soon, but you need to be patient." "I told you that I have a n for this." Jay sighed, also feeling frustrated. "Your n is non-existent, June," Jay said. "It has been on hold since your grandmother died!" June scoffed in disbelief. "I can''t believe you''re bringing grandma into this." "I''m just telling the truth!" Jay eximed. "You say that you''ve got it covered, but you don''t." "You even gave me some hope that I can finally step out of the shadows," Jay muttered. "However, I''m still stuck here." "Do you know how exhausting it is to be at the end of everyone''sints and anger?" "You must think that just because we''re friends, you can do whatever you like," Jay continued. "However, you have to think that I''m still your manager, and I''m also having a hard time." June clicked his tongue and ruffled his hair. "You''re not getting my point!" June eximed. "The information in the briefcase is something not to be taken lightly. A thorough n is needed for it to be sessful. We can''t just expose it and call it a day. I just felt urgent a while back because I thought I didn''t have enough time. However, it''s different now." "We''re not even sure who will rece Mr. Ong if that happens! You''re just a manager, after all." "Just a manager?" Jay eximed, feeling betrayed. "I see," he said, nodding in disbelief. "So, that''s all you see me as." June massaged the bridge of his nose. "That''s not it, Jay," he calmly said. "I''m just saying¡ªwe need to be more careful from now on." "So, tell me where the briefcase is so we can put it in a safe ce once again." Jay shrugged, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "If I''m just a so-called manager, then you should have no problem looking for it yourself." "After all, I''m not smart orpetent or anything like you. You''d be able to find it for sure," Jay spat, making June even more frustrated. "Jay," June called for his name, but the manager was already walking away. "Jay!" June repeated in a much louder voice this time. However, it was to no avail. June sighed in frustration as he raked his fingers through his hair. "I can''t believe this," he muttered. Meanwhile, on the stairs above them sat a charismatic man with his pearly-white teeth on disy. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as his heart raced in excitement. He covered his mouth to prevent a manic chuckle from escaping.


    "Bingo," he whispered. "An opportunity fell right into my hands."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 800 Jays Second Betrayal

    Chapter 800 Jay''s Second Betrayal


    For the second time of the day, Jay was left all alone, his mind in turmoil. He was in the office''s lounge¡ªthe one that managers normally use. Managers were always busy with their artists, so the lounge was empty most of the time. Jay clicked his tongue as he downed the espresso shot like it was some kind of alcohol. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted when someone came in. Jay didn''t know what he was expecting, but when he saw Lei in the room, he couldn''t help but feel surprised. He jumped in his seat and ced his hand over his heart.


    "Well, you seem awfully shocked," Lei said. "Isn''t this lounge supposed to be for managers?" Jay wasn''t able to speak for a good minute. Then, he shook his head. "I just thought you were with LUNAIRE," Jay said after a while. "And I thought you would be with EVE," Lei answered with a small smile. Jay pursed his lips, feeling upset all of a sudden. They sat in silence for a while before Lei decided to break it. "Are you alright?" he asked. Jay snapped out of his daze and looked at him with curiosity. "Why''d you ask?" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "It''s obvious," Lei said, ncing at Jay. "You''re usually joking, but you look...serious." Jay shook his head. "Am I that transparent?" he muttered. "I think that''s a good thing," Lei said. "You''re honest. We need more people like you leading the industry." Jay perked up as soon as Lei said those words. "You think so?" he softly asked. Lei nodded with a reassuring smile. "I know so," he said. Then, he crossed his arms in front of his chest as he continued ranting. "The idol industry is filled with people who want to be the best, the richest." "In the process, they don''t care if they trample on other people, even innocent ones. I''m talking about idols, managers, and anyone with a good heart." "You think I have a good heart?" Jay asked. "You do," Lei said. "You were able to lead EVE to the top with your good heart, and I''m sure that you''ll also do well if you were given the chance to lead on a muchrger scale." "I think you and I are simr," Lei continued. Jay turned to him with one eyebrow raised. "What do you mean by that?" he asked. "Back in Phoenix, I almost became the CEO," Lei started off, causing Jay''s eyes to widen. "You were?" he asked. "Yes," Lei said. "As hard it is to believe, I actually came close to that goal." "Then, what happened?" Jay asked, curiosity filling his mind. "Like Mr. Ong, there were a lot of people who couldn''t let go of their power." "Then, as expected, they ganged up on me¡ªthe person who wants to change the idol industry for the better." "I thought you wanted to have a managerial position?" Jay asked. Lei smiled and nodded. "I still do." "Directing idols is one of my greatest passions," Lei continued. "However, that''s hard to do in an industry that''s filled with money-hungry and power-hungry people. With that, I still want to achieve my goal of changing the idol industry for the better." "We are simr," Jay muttered. "Phoenix was too hard to tame," Lei sighed. "So, you came to Azure instead?" Jay asked. "You could say that," Lei responded. "However, I also wanted to manage an up-anding group." "Mr. Ong gave me a great opportunity as soon as I came here, but I realized that he also has lots of faults like the people in Phoenix." "He''s corrupt. He''s unkind, and he doesn''t hesitate to take credit for what others have done," Lei ranted. "You''re right about that," Jay said. "That''s why I don''t understand why June is withholding such important information when we can bring him down in an instant." Lei turned to him in surprise. Meanwhile, Jay covered his mouth as soon as he said those words. "What...did you just say?" Lei asked with a curious glint in his eyes. Jay frantically shook his head. "Forget about what I said." Lei frowned but nodded in understanding. "I see," he muttered. Jay nced at him and frowned when he didn''t pry further. "Wait," Jay said, catching Lei''s attention once again. "Hmm?" Lei hummed. "What if I tell you that there''s information against Mr. Ong out there¡ªone that could potentially ruin him and his subsidiaries?" Lei ced his hand under his chin. "I believe that information should go to the right hands." "Who knows? If someone exploitative is able to get such information, then Azure would be even worse." "On the other hand, if it falls in the right hands, then that person would be able to help change the idol industry¡ªsimr to my dream." "You have the same dream, too, right?" Lei asked, turning to him with bright eyes. Jay nodded. "I do," he muttered. "So, when that happens, if we get such information, we can form an alliance," Lei continued. "Then, the two of us can change the idol industry together." Jay pursed his lips, feeling chills run down his spine. "Then," Jay said, clearing his throat. "What if I say that I have such information?" ***


    It was alreadyte in the night when Jay had gotten home. He didn''t go to his apartment; instead, he went to a ce he considered his second home. Jay opened the door, his face still etched with a frown. As expected, the room was already dark when he got inside¡ªexcept for a single candlelight in their living room¡ªone that was illuminating a figure on the couch. Jay walked closer to the figure until he could clearly see his face. "June," Jay said as soon as he saw the handsome young man. June crossed his arms in front of his chest as he leaned against the chair. "So, was I right?" That was the first thing that June asked. Jay pursed his lips for a moment before nodding. "You were right," he muttered. A smirk finally appeared on June''s lips. "So, did you do exactly as I told you?" Jay mirrored his smirk, feeling a sense of aplishment. "I did," he said. "I gave him the briefcase."

 Chapter 801: Fell Right Into His Trap

    Chapter 801: Fell Right Into His Trap


    ?


    "How did you know?" Jay asked.


    The two of them were on the building''s balcony, sipping on some hot chocte as the wind blew over their hair.


    The balcony was usually filled with artists who smoked. It was luded from the streets'' view, so it was the perfect spot for artists to let out their pent-up frustration.


    However, since it was alreadyte into the night, Jay and June sat on the chairs.


    "I told you," June said. "I knew from the beginning that there''s something strange about him."


    "I really thought you were trolling," Jay sighed, leaning against his seat. "I almost didn''t believe you."


    "However, you were right."


    "He came to the manager''s lounge and talked about how he wants to change the idol industry for the better."


    June smirked, swirling his mug as he looked at the wall in front of them.


    "Some things really never change," June muttered.


    It was how Laohu, now Lei, used to convince him, too.


    He spouted shit about justice and family, and that led June to believe that he was doing the right thing¡ªthat things were bound to be better if he followed his orders.


    However, it never did.


    "He must have heard our conversation, too," Jay said. "He wasn''t surprised when I told him that I had some information against Mr. Ong."


    June shook his head. "Well, I did tell you to lure him in on our argument."


    "That will lead him to believe that we have some kind of strain in our rtionship."


    "Then, once he sees a crack, he wouldn''t hesitate to strike."


    "I bet he offered a position to you already," June said.


    Jay sighed and nodded.


    "It really went as perfectly as you said."


    "After I gave him the briefcase, he said that he''d handle it. Then, he gave me an offer right away-that I be his right-hand man."


    June scoffed. "Well, did you ept?"


    "I''m not going to lie. It was pretty tempting," Jay chuckled. "But then again, I don''t know what Lei''s really like. So, I told him that I''d think about it."


    "I thought I had a good grasp of how he really is. I thought he was kind. He also gave me good advice."


    "However, he felt different a while ago."


    "Cunning?" June asked.


    "Evil," Jay muttered.


    June raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, you''re more observant than I thought."


    Jay pursed his lips. "How did you even notice since the beginning?" he asked. "Do you have psychic powers?"


    June chuckled as he took another sip from his hot chocte.


    "Let''s just say that I''ve been blessed," he started off. "I know more than what the average person does."


    "I can''t tell you why, but all you have to do is trust me," June said.


    Jay shook his head in amusement.


    "You know, it took a lot of willpower for me to continue being by your side."


    June tilted his head to the side.


    "Why''d you say so?" June asked.


    Jay bit his lip and looked down at his fingers.


    Then, he shrugged. "It''s just been pretty toughtely," he said. "I feel like I''m at the bottom of the barrel in thepany."


    "Mr. Ong doesn''t favor me anymore, so he treats me like shit. He even makes other interns look down on me."


    "Then, with Lei by my side, I just felt..forted. He was the only manager that made me feel like I waspetent."


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "So, it''s really a surprise," Jay chuckled, trying to hide his real feelings. "Why did you entrust me with this task when you must know how I''m truly feeling?"


    June closed his eyes and felt the breeze against his skin.


    "You''ve already answered your question," June said, making Jay confused.


    June opened his eyes and gazed at Jay, looking as serious as ever.


    "I already knew how you''re truly feeling," June said.


    "You''re a good friend."


    "You''ve proved that plenty of times before."


    "So, I knew that you would be on my side-always."


    A smile finally arose from Jay''s lips. He felt his heart warm up after June said those words.


    It was true.


    He really would trust in June through and through.


    "Even if muscr men tempt you in the process," June added, making Jay click his tongue.


    "I told you I don''t have a muscle fetish."


    "Sure," June sarcastically said.


    Jay shook his head. "Dang, I should have just betrayed you."


    "You wouldn''t be able to," June smirked.


    Jay sighed. "You''re right. I might be worse than Casper, but I''m in this June shit for life."


    June nodded. "I''ll also have your back-always."


    Jay smiled freely, all of the burden leaving his heart.


    For a while, they just sat there in silence, enjoying the grotesque view of the dirty wall before


    them.


    "I''m curious, though," Jay said. "Why''d you give him the briefcase if you don''t like him?"


    June smirked.


    "Good question," he said.


    Jay hummed. "Goodness. I really didn''t think of that. Why are you doing this?" he eximed. "Aren''t we fucked if he gets his hand on such information?"


    "Did you take out some of the papers that I told you-ones that weren''t about Mr. Ong and


    just about thepany?" June asked.


    Jay frowned and nodded. "Yeah," he said. "I kept it in your room as promised."


    "Good," June said.


    "Then, we''re right on track."


    "Can you exin, please?" Jay asked, feeling like his head was going to explode. "I may have graduated with a master''s degree, but I can neverprehend your mind."


    June ced his cup on the railings of the balcony and focused his gaze on the stars.


    "In the world of power and ambition, there''s a game between ascent and descent, between


    the rise to glory and the inevitable fall from grace."


    "Ooh, we''re starting off with such a nice line," Jay muttered, already feeling excited.


    "Now that the briefcase is in his hands, Lei believes he''s poised to seize Azure


    Entertainment."


    "And perhaps he is, with his connections and money. But what Lei doesn''t understand is that while he''s busy plotting his ascent, we are patiently waiting."


    "It honestly wouldn''t be too surprising," June continued, nonchntly looking at his nails.


    "He''s already acquainted with the board. I bet he has some shares, too. So, with Lei in the picture, it''s a guarantee that Mr. Ong would get kicked out of Azure because he now has a worthy recement."


    "So, you gave the briefcase to Lei so Mr. Ong would certainly get kicked out?" Jay asked with


    wide eyes.


    June smirked. "Well, that little guy is already shaped as a pawn, is he?"


    "Holy crap! You really are a genius," Jay said, his mouth still agape from disbelief.


    "Once Lei reces him, we still have some time to gather our ammunition because he''s not


    going to retaliate right away," June continued.


    "He''s going to get some glory, and I''d hate to see it, too. But when that happens, when he''s at


    the highest of the mountain, that''s the best ce to strike."


    "Because the fall will be much more painful."


    "The fall will be something he wouldn''t be able to get up from."


    "Then," June whispered. "I''ll finally avenge my death."

 Chapter 802: Tiger Turned Azure

    Chapter 802: Tiger Turned Azure


    ?


    "Mr. Young Do, this is bad!"


    The CEO of Phoenix Entertainment stopped reading his daily Yuri manga to look at his assistant.


    "I hope you interrupted me for a good reason," he said.


    "Mr. Suman! I think Azure''s going down."


    Mr. Suman, the CEO of ESPER Entertainment, stopped eating his rice cakes as one of the board of directors came inside his room.


    "What? Tell me some good news, will you?"


    CEOS of differentpanies were in turmoil after rumors had arisen about Mr. Ong, Azure


    Entertainment''s CEO.


    "Are we next?"


    "How did they find out?"


    "Are they going to start investigating ourpany, too?"


    "We need to clean up everything quickly!


    "Cover all of the illegal issues!"


    It was a rainy morning, with a thunderstorm on its way to bombard the country.


    However, what the people didn''t know was that another kind of storm was going to hit them. In a small dorm room in the middle of Seoul was Jia, who was scrolling through her phone and watching some velocity edits of June.


    Just then, she saw aption of the members of EVE being overworked, with June having the most screen time.


    "She''s crazy," Bora said to her other friends. "One moment, she''s crying. Another second, she''sughing. Now, she''s annoyed."


    Soomin chuckled. "Give her a couple of seconds. I bet she''ll curse out Azure Entertainment once again."


    "My babies are being overworked! However, they''re practically jobless right now. They don''t even have content! But when they have aeback, they throw them to multiple brand deals that are not even beneficial to the team," Jia eximed, standing from the floor to pace back and forth.


    "See! They give my boys so much to work on. However, they can''t give them aeback with proper promotion. Azure is fucking shit!"


    "I really wish that their CEO would fall from grace! He has been shit at handling his artists since GIRLS'' REVOLUTION!"


    "I bet my love life on this! I''d rather be alone my entire life than for him to retain his position!"


    Just then, loud thunder resonated in the room, causing the girls to scream in surprise. "Breaking News! Azure''s CEO In Crisis!"


    They all turned their attention to the television before them.


    "Mr. Ong, the once-celebrated CEO of Azure Entertainment, has been ousted from his position. This abrupt changees in the wake of a series of rming allegations and a decisive vote by the board of directors."


    "Mr. Ong, who recently garnered widespread acim for his significant contributions to a high-profile charity concert, is now at the center of a scandal that has rocked Azure Entertainment to its core. Following a unanimous vote by the board, he has been removed from his role as CEO, effective immediately."


    "The decision to remove Mr. Ong was not taken lightly. It follows a growing list of serious usations that have emerged over the past few weeks. Mr. Ong is currently under investigation for fraud, infidelity, and possession of child pornography."


    "The board of directors is now faced with the critical task of selecting a new CEO to lead Azure Entertainment through this period. The process is expected to be thorough and swift, as thepany aims to stabilize and restore its image in the wake of these damaging revtions." "As investigations continue and thepany seeks new leadership, all eyes will be on how Azure navigates this crisis and rebuilds its standing in the industry."


    Then, just as the screen shifted to another scene, the lights and all electronics turned off-a ckout!


    The girls remained silent for a few moments before Bora broke it.


    "Welp," she said.


    "Looks like you''ll forever be alone, Jia."


    ***


    "It''s happening," Jay said as they stood in the middle of the floor.


    Staff would usually stop and stare at the members.


    However, they couldn''t do so this time.


    People kept running around while the board held a meeting.


    "Holy crap," Ren muttered. "Are we actually going to witness the downfall of Mr. Ong before our very eyes?"


    Zeth sniffed. "The day has finallye."


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "We''re not even sure if it''s really going to happen."


    "That''s true," Casper chimed.


    June shrugged and sat on one of the couches. "It''s going to happen," June said.


    "How are you so sure?" Akira asked.


    "Don''t question my bro," Jisung said, sitting next to June with a wide smile.


    "I believe you," Casper sincerely said.


    Akira shook his head and massaged the bridge of his nose. "You guys are the worst, I swear."


    "The board is currently having a meeting about who''s going to rece him. So, for all I know,


    Mr. Ong is as good as done," Jay said, also taking a seat.


    Sehun frowned in confusion. "Why are you here then? Shouldn''t you be inside?"


    Jay shrugged. "I''m not part of the board."


    "But I heard that the other managers are there," Jaeyong remarked.


    "Correction," Jay said. "Only Lei is there."


    "Wait, what?" Jisung asked. "Why? He''s not part of the board of directors, right?"


    "He''s not," Jay smirked. "But he has something that warrants his presence in that very


    room," he said, pointing to the closed auditorium.


    Jay and June turned to each other before shaking their heads in amusement.


    "You guys will know soon enough."


    Meanwhile, inside the meeting room, Lei stood at the very center.


    "Wemend Lei for bringing these matters to light," one of the board of directors said, gulping as he looked at Lei''s enthusiastic smile.


    "Thank you," Lei bowed gratefully. "Thest thing I want is for Azure to crumble because of one''s individual sins."


    "With that being said, I believe that everyone in this room has contributed well to the sess


    of Azure, and I also know that you have nothing to do with what Mr. Ong had done," he


    continued.


    Chills ran through the old people''s spines.


    At that moment, they felt that they were in the presence of a very powerful force.


    "As the news broke out the other day, multiple investors have pulled out," the old man continued, his voice unconsciously shaking.


    "With that, Lei had brought the shares of thepany and is now the greatest shareholder after Mr. Ong''s seize."


    The board of directors turned to each other in surprise, wondering where Lei had gotten that much amount of money.


    "As of now, he owns 42% of the shares," the old man continued, making the others even more


    confused.


    One woman, whose shares merely ounted for 6% of Azure Entertainment, raised her hand. "So, this meeting isn''t for us to choose the next CEO, right?"


    "No," the old man sighed. "This meeting is a formal announcement of the new CEO of Azure


    Entertainment."


    Lei''s smile widened as he stood straight in front of the old crowd.


    "Good afternoon, everyone," he said.


    "I shall be asking your cooperation from now on."


    "Not as a manager, but as the CEO of Azure Entertainment."

 Chapter 803: His Journey To The Top

    Chapter 803: His Journey To The Top


    ?


    "The new CEO of Azure Entertainment has been announced!"


    "A hardworking man in histe 30s buys Azure''s shares and saves the day!"


    "Handsome and hunky CEO who climbed his way to the top!"


    "Rags to Riches: The story of Lei, a young man who only dreamed of changing the idol industry!"


    "So, Mr. Lei," the interviewer started off.


    Lei smiled and shook his head. "Lei is good enough," he said. "You don''t have to call me ''Sir'' or anything like that."


    The interviewer''s eyes widened in surprise. "But you are the CEO of Azure Entertainment, Lei. Are you still not used to such honorifics?"


    Lei nodded. "That''s part of it," he said. "However, a huge part of me doesn''t want to get used to it. We are both professionals in our own light. Just because my position is deemed more prestigious does not make me a better person."


    "So, you can call mefortably-like a friend."


    "I''ve found myself at the bottom of the barrel plenty of times. I''ve also buttered up to a lot of people who had a higher position than me."


    June scoffed as he watched the interview.


    Bottom of the barrel? The guy has been on top of the chain since forever!


    "However, they didn''t respect my presence because of my position. I''ve never felt so low in my life than those moments. So, I promised that when I get a position of power, I will use it for the good-to empower people who were once like me."


    The interviewer ced her hands over her heart, appearing teary-eyed.


    "Well, with how you are, I think you can do just that-change the idol industry," she said, and the audience eximed in agreement.


    Those watching the show from thefort of their homes were also touched.


    - Mr. Ong is finally out! I was expecting another atrocious old man to rece him, but we actually have a good guy this time!


    - If I can''t have June, then I''ll have Lei instead. How can he be so charismatic?


    - Doesn''t he look familiar?


    - Yeah, he looks like my husband.


    - No, not that. He looks like an actor. Lin Zhi, was it?


    - Don''t bring that dead criminal into the conversation.


    - But I''m really happy about EVE and LUNAIRE. They have such a great CEO now.


    - Azure might just change how the idol industry works!


    - Let''s go, Lei! We support your endeavors.


    Meanwhile, Phoenix Entertainment''s office was filled with chaos after the news broke out.


    "Zhilei? He became the CEO of Azure?"


    "What is he nning to do?"


    Mr. Kim Young Do, the CEO of Phoenix Entertainment, clenched his fists in anger as he scrolled through multiple articles praising Lei.


    "What are we going to do, sir?" his assistant asked.


    Young Do closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.


    "Fortunately, I didn''t trust that guy enough to show him my dirt," he smirked. "He acted innocent when he was here, but he had ns to take over my position by going to the head." "He said he didn''t want to reach a top position, yet he''s there in Azure making a fuss."


    "I really can''t read that guy," his assistant muttered.


    "Neither do I," Young Do said. "So keep an eye on him. Keep an eye on his artists, too. We never know what they have up their sleeves."


    The members of EVE looked touched as Lei''s interview came to an end.


    Jisung ced his hand over his heart and nodded with teary eyes.


    "Everything he said was on point. Our CEO is the best!" he eximed.


    June pursed his lips to prevent himself from saying anything.


    "Thank goodness," Jaeyong sighed in relief. "I don''t have to be on edge every time we have a meeting now."


    "Lei for the win!" Ren said, raising his fist in the air. "I don''t know how he became the CEO in the end, but I''m just really grateful that we''re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."


    Zeth nodded in agreement. "He ain''t too bad."


    Meanwhile, June and Jay whispered among themselves.


    "These guys think he''s a good guy," Jay whispered.


    June clicked his tongue. "That''s how you were before."


    "But he does sound like a good guy," Jay chimed. "I almost believed him again after watching


    the interview."


    June sighed. "He has a great convincing power."


    "What are we going to do now, though? You didn''t brief me about what we''ll do next."


    June pursed his lips. "Well, it''s safe to say that I¡ª"


    "What are you guys talking about?" Casper chimed from behind them, causing Jay and June to move away from each other.


    Jay cleared his throat and focused his gaze on the screen.


    "Ah, wow. Lei''s really handsome. He can be an actor himself!" Jay awkwardly said.


    ***


    Meanwhile, after the interview ended at SBN station, Lei bowed politely at all the people he


    came across.


    All of them looked at him with admiration, making his heart swell with pride.


    Lei kept a smile on his face throughout their interactions.


    However, as soon as he was in his waiting room, his smile dropped, and a look of exhaustion passed through his face.


    "As expected," he muttered, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Acting kind is such a hard


    task."


    "Come to think of it, I''ve been keeping up this act for a while now, but it''s still hard for me." He leaned against the couch and let out a deep breath.


    Then, from where he was sitting, he could see his reflection on the mirror adjacent to him.


    He smirked and ced his elbows against his knees.


    "I''m doing a good job, though," he muttered. "Like I always do."


    He stared at his face for a good minute before his smirk was reced with a determined


    frown.


    "It has started, brother," he said. "Our dream of taking over the entertainment industry."


    "We should have achieved it together," he chuckled bitterly.


    Then, his frown twisted into a murderous re.


    "We should have achieved it together," he repeated through gritted teeth.


    "So, I vow to see this dream until the end. I won''t let all our hard work go down the drain."


    "And along with that, I''ll make the people who made you suffer pay."


    He nced outside and saw a billboard endorsing Sanipoo. He circled in on the guy on the


    right, looking as perfect as ever.


    "Starting with you."

 Chapter 804: The Silent Battle Has Began

    Chapter 804: The Silent Battle Has Began


    ?


    "Who has a meeting at 7 in the morning?" Akira eximed as Jay parked their van.


    Jay yawned and leaned against his seat. "You guys go to music shows at dawn. You can''tin about morning meetings."


    "But we perform there," Akira said. "Performing and having a meeting are two different things."


    Jaeyong chuckled. "I think we''re just used to our meetings with Mr. Ong being in the afternoon."


    "That''s because he always ys golf in the mornings," Ren remarked.


    "Bet he can''t y golf in prison now," Akira said.


    The other boys looked at him with reprimanding expressions.


    "What?" he eximed. "Joking about bad people isn''t epted anymore?"


    Jaeyong shook his head. "Anyway, we should be thankful that we have a new CEO who would actually call for an early meeting like this. Lei is looking out for us."


    Akira sighed. "I guess," he said.


    "Yeah!" Jisung chimed. "Now that we have a new CEO, I''m curious what opportunities we''ll have waiting for us."


    "Well, we still have 15 minutes before 7," Jay said. "Why don''t you guys head up and wait for me there?"


    "Okay," the other members said.


    "Except June," Jay added, making the others suspicious. Nheless, they let it go.


    However, Casper continued looking at them with narrowed eyes as he went out of the van, making Jay shake his head in amusement.


    "I swear-Casper might actually think that you''re his cat."


    June sighed. "Let him be."


    "Why did you want to talk to me?" June asked.


    Jay turned around to face June but was surprised when he saw his glowing face.


    "Hot diggity damn!" he exined. "Why''d you look so good in the morning?"


    June clicked his tongue. "Get to your point."


    Jay subtly shook his head. "I swear, you woke up even earlier than me," he whispered. "Anyway," Jay continued. "We didn''t get to finish our conversation a while ago."


    "Ah, about the next course of our ns?" June asked.


    "Yes," Jay said. "It went exactly as you nned. Lei actually bought some shares and became the CEO of Azure. He also offered to make me the director of management."


    "Did you take it?" June asked.


    "Duh!" Jay said. "You told me to ept it. However, I also told him that I want to continue being your manager."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "That''s good. I don''t want a new manager, and you''ll have more authority as the director."


    "My wallet''s going to be thicker, too," he chuckled while rubbing his palms together. "But just thinking about the workload already gives me the creeps," he shivered.


    "So, now that the phase is done, what are we going to do?"


    June''s face appeared serious, so Jay anticipated his answer. After his genius prediction, Jay had more reasons to follow June.


    However, his seriousness quickly vanished when he shrugged.


    "I haven''t thought that far," he said with a smile.


    Jay felt like he was hit by a car.


    "What?" he eximed. "What do you mean?"


    "It means that I don''t have a n just yet," June said.


    Jay chuckled absent-mindedly. "So, you''re telling me that we just gave away very powerful information to an evil person without any backup ns?"


    "That wasn''t the objective," June said. "The objective was to get Mr. Ong out of the picture. We sessfully achieved that. I don''t think he''ll be back anytime soon or ever."


    Jay massaged his temples.


    "But, we''re letting Lei lead thepany without a n?" he asked.


    June sighed. "We have some time," he said. "I told you-Lei wouldn''t do anything tant


    from the get-go. He''s still trying to capture everyone''s trust, including ours."


    "So, he''ll retaliate when we least expect it," he continued.


    "By that timees, we should have the n," June said. "But I need a certain person before that could happen."


    Jay frowned. "Who?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips. "Are you, perhaps, familiar with the head of Phoenix?"


    "Who? Kim Young Do?" Jay asked.


    June sighed. "As expected, even a gossiper like you doesn''t have an idea."


    Jay froze, and he narrowed his eyes at June. "Wait, you actually know about the existence of


    the head of Phoenix?"


    "So, you''re aware?" June asked.


    "Of course I am," Jay eximed. "Insiders that work in thesepanies all know!"


    "Then, do you know him?"


    Jay shook his head. "Nope. That''s something out of my reach. I''m just surprised that you also


    know about him. You really do know more than what I''ve expected."


    June sighed. "He''s the one I need to be able to get this n moving."


    Jay''s shoulders slumped. "Well, good luck," he said. "Nobody knows. It''s something that a lot


    of people have given up on."


    June smiled and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Well, there has to be a first for


    everything, right?"


    Just then, Jay''s rm rang inside the van, making him curse.


    "Crap. It''s 7 AM. Let''s quickly head up."


    June nodded, so the two of them went to the highest floor, where the CEO''s office resided.


    The other boys were already seated on the couch when they got there. There were also some bread and refreshments on the table, catching them by surprise.


    "Sorry, sir," Jay said. "I had to talk to June about something."


    Lei kindly smiled. "I told you to call me Lei, Jay. Nobody is a boss around here. And it''s alright.


    We haven''t started yet."


    Jay chuckled and nodded. "Right, sorry. It was just a habit."


    "Come on, sit down," he said, gesturing to the couch. "Have some food, too. You guys must


    not have had breakfast yet because it''s too early. However, I had to call this meeting since I''m busy all throughout the day."


    "It''s alright!" Akira eximed with his mouth full, acting like he wasn''t the one whoined the most in the van. "We''re happy to be here."


    Lei chuckled in amusement. Then, he turned to June, who appeared nonchnt.


    "Good morning," he said with a warm smile.


    June merely bowed, causing him to chuckle once more.


    "June isn''t the friendly type, huh?" he joked, making the others snicker.


    "He''s not," Akira said. "But he''s kind. He''ll joke around with you when he''sfortable."


    Casper nodded in agreement. "He''s like a cat!"


    June clicked his tongue and red at his teammates.


    "A cat, huh?" Lei fondly muttered. "Quite cute."


    June subtly shook his head. "Why did you call for us here?" he asked.


    "Ah, right," Lei said. "You must be curious why I called you this early."


    "Well, I didn''t want to ry it to you at thest minute, so I''m telling you now so you have


    more time to prepare."


    The boys looked at him with curiosity.


    Then, Lei smiled.


    "I have bagged you guys a schedule in China!"

 Chapter 805: A Huge Opportunity

    Chapter 805: A Huge Opportunity


    ?


    The boys excitedly looked at each other.


    June, too, was intrigued since his original country was mentioned.


    "China?" Jay asked with a curious glint in his eyes.


    "Yes," Lei smiled. "Although EVE is still a rtively new group, I think this could be the time to expand your poprity overseas."


    "You''re already very popr in Korea, and your poprity is also increasing in other


    countries, but China has one of the biggest imprable markets in the world."


    "Once you enter it, consider your careers cemented," he continued.


    The boys couldn''t shake off the smiles on their faces.


    "Wouldn''t this be our first overseas schedule too?" Jisung asked.


    "It is," Jaeyong answered. Then, he turned to Lei.


    "What kind of schedule did you bag for us?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips and listened intently. Everything that Lei had said was on point. China was truly a great yet difficult market to prate.


    However, June couldn''t shake off the feeling that there would be a catch in what Lei was suggesting.


    Lei''s smile widened. "You guys are going to perform in a big event!" he eximed.


    "The Jade Music Festival," he revealed.


    "I''ve never heard about it, but I''m already excited," Jisung giddily said.


    The others chattered excitedly, ted with the opportunity that was handed to them.


    June, however, stayed silent since he finally realized the catch.


    "I see," he muttered. "Wise move."


    Lei looked at the boys with proud smiles. However, his smile slightly faded when he turned to June, who still had a neutral expression.


    "You alright?" Lei asked, patting his shoulder. "Aren''t you excited for this?"


    June lifted his head and politely smiled.


    "Yeah, everything''s great," June said. "Thanks for the opportunity."


    Lei''s smile widened once more. "You''re wee," he said.


    Then, he turned to face the boys again to talk about the details of the festival.


    "This festival will be conducted next week," he started off. "I apologize if I wasn''t able to ry the information to you guys sooner since I still had to wait for their confirmation." "Oh, that''s alright," Zeth chimed. "We''re used to learning about events at the veryst minute. This is actually a very nice change."


    The other boys nodded in agreement.


    "The Jade Music Festival will be held at arge open field in China, and twenty artists will be performing. As I said, you guys will be going there next week, so you''ll have to miss LUNAIRE''s debut."


    June pursed his lips in disappointment. He wanted to witness his sister''s debut live, but at the same time, he couldn''t really do anything about their conflict in schedule.


    "You will be the tenth performer of the night," Lei continued. "I tried getting you to performter on, but that''s the best that I can do."


    "It''s fine with me!" Ren said, sounding happy. "The fact that we could perform in foreignnds is already enough."


    "Thank goodness," Lei said in a relieved tone. "Each artist is given 15 minutes, so you can prepare your performance with that in mind."


    Jaeyong nodded, typing the details on his phone.


    "Do you have any restrictions for the performance?" Sehun asked.


    "What do you mean?" Lei rified.


    "Well, I was just wondering if you had any requests or if there are any songs we can''t perform?"


    Lei chuckled. "That''s ridiculous. I trust your guys'' artistry."


    The boys beamed as soon as Lei said those words.


    "So, go ahead and perform in whichever way you like. However, if you want a tip, then I''ll definitely rmend singing your popr songs. That way, you can promote the group, too."


    Just then, Lei''s phone rang, halting their conversation.


    He looked at his screen and sighed. "Well, I have to go now. I have to apany LUNAIRE for their preparations for the debut showcase."


    "You guys can leave the tes. I''ll clean them when I get back."


    The boys nodded and stood from their seats.


    Lei was about to leave but stopped when he was at the door frame.


    "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, already looking apologetic.


    "Since I am yet to find a recement manager for LUNAIRE, I''ll have to ask Jay to apany me to their debut showcase as the director of management," he said.


    Jay frowned in confusion. "Then, that means that I won''t be able to join the boys in their first overseas schedule," he inferred.


    "Yeah," Lei sighed. "I''m sorry about that. I can''t seem to find a suitable applicant for


    LUNAIRE just yet."


    Jay turned to the boys, and they all had understanding looks on their faces.


    "It''s alright with us," Jaeyong said. "I''ll watch over the boys. Just as long as we have good security, then we''ll be alright."


    Lei smiled. "I''ll make sure to do that," he said. "Sorry, I really have to go!"


    With that, he waved his hand and left the room.


    The boys waved at him and also went out after a few minutes.


    They rode the elevator with wide smiles, already imagining their performance for the Jade


    Music Festival.


    As they got to the van, they chattered excitedly.


    "Our first overseas schedule! Can you guys believe it?" Jisung asked. "I''ve never gone to China


    before."


    "Me neither," Casper added.


    "Count me in," Ren said.


    "I don''t think any of us has gone, right?" Jaeyong asked, looking around.


    June stayed silent and continued analyzing Lei''s decision.


    Then, the other boys started researching the Jade Music Festival.


    "Holy cow!" Ren eximed. "It''s deemed as the biggest summer festival in the entire


    country!"


    "It had a 60,000 attendancest year," Jisung muttered. "That''s too much!"


    "Oh, goodness! Lei has given us such a great opportunity! I can''t wait for us to start nning


    our performance," Akira chimed.


    "The Jade Music Festival, huh?" June muttered.


    To the foreign eyes, it might sound like a luxury to perform in such arge event.


    And it was.


    It truly was.


    To native groups and artists, that is.


    As expected, Laohu was still smart.


    He knew that they were an all-Korean group that didn''t have any background information on


    the Jade Music Festival, so he gave them such an opportunity.


    June smirked.


    Unluckily for him, they inherently weren''t an all-Korean group.


    So, June knew just what he was trying to do.


    "Should we really perform our songs like Lei had suggested?" Jisung asked.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.


    "No," he answered.


    "We can''t do that."

 Chapter 806: Tears, Tomatoes, Or Tolerance

    Chapter 806: Tears, Tomatoes, Or Tolerance


    ?


    The car was filled with silence after June''s tant rejection.


    "I think this is the first time you''ve spoken about the festival today," Sehun said.


    "True," Ren chimed. "You''ve been awfully quiet. Why the sudden rejection?"


    June ignored their statements, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "We can''t just perform our own songs," he repeated, making the boys confused.


    "Why not?" Akira asked. "We don''t have a lot fans there just yet. It is a good way to showcase our songs, just like Lei had said."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong chimed. "I bet they''ll like Oasis and Luster, too. They''re good songs to perform in festivals."


    Jay, despite driving, was curious about June''s reasoning, too.


    June let out a deep breath before responding.


    "The Jade Music Festival isn''t popr without any reason," he started off.


    The others listened with intrigue.


    "It''s a cultural event," June continued.


    "I figured," Jaeyong said.


    "It shows the pride of the people for their homnd."


    "So, Chinese artists dominate the festival. It''s a time to showcase their talent while inculcating the culture of China. So, foreign artists aren''t warmly weed."


    The boys turned silent after June said those words.


    They had already arrived at their dorm''s parking lot, but they stayed in the van as they internalized his statement.


    "It''s true," Casper said, scrolling through his phone. He had also been silent in the meeting, taking his time to research about the festival.


    "Korean pop group gets thrown with tomatoes for their vulgar performance in the Jade Music Festival," Casper read.


    "The tomatoes being sold outside the Jade Music Festival are for the foreign artists who ruin it."


    "Should foreign artists be allowed to perform in the Jade Music Festival? A resounding no from the audience!"


    "Tomato juice or blood? Girl group member gets sent to the hospital after a tomato from the audience ruptures her optic nerves."


    The boys felt shivers down their spines as Casper read the articles.


    June turned to him with surprise.


    "You actually found such articles?" June asked. "They''re usually written in Chinese."


    "Oh, web trantors exist now," Casper said.


    Ren sighed, already looking worried. "So, the Jade Music Festival is only for domestic performers?" he asked.


    "Yes," June nonchntly confirmed.


    They turned silent for a couple of moments before chaos erupted in the van.


    "That''s why Lei did such a good job nning this," June whispered, so nobody was able to hear him.


    It wasn''t a known fact that the Jade Music Festival was only for domestic singers.


    Well, it wasn''t explicitly written in stone.


    However, with how the audience treated foreign artists, it might as well be.


    Every year, a couple of acts still fall prey to the festival, wanting to test out the waters in China. However, the Jade Music Festival was the worst one to join as a rookie.


    "Then, why did Lei ask us to perform there?" Jaeyong asked with a small frown.


    Zeth scratched the back of his head. "Maybe he also doesn''t know."


    June scoffed. Lei was a native Chinese. He most definitely knew.


    "But don''t worry," June remarked, trying to alleviate their worries. "It''s not like foreign artists are banned from performing in the festival."


    The boys sighed in relief.


    "So, some foreign artists seed in not getting thrown tomatoes at?" Jisung worriedly asked.


    "Yes," June said, recalling some performers from his teenage days.


    "And some artists seeded in prating the market?" Akira excitedly asked.


    "No," June said, making the others slump in defeat.


    "There are only three reactions that foreign artists mostly get-tomatoes, tears, or tolerance."


    "Tears?" Ren asked. "Has an artist moved the audience to tears?"


    "Oh, that was wrong," June said. "The audience has moved some artists to tears."


    Ren pursed his lips.


    "And tolerance?" Zeth asked. "What does that insinuate?"


    "Oh, they just tolerate the performance," June responded. "Nothing more, nothing less."


    "They don''t make any noise. Mostly, they''re ignored," he continued.


    "So, what you''re saying is that we''re...fucked?" Sehun asked.


    June nodded. "In a way."


    "But also, I think it''s partially the artists'' fault for not researching about the Jade Music Festival before performing there."


    The other boys continued to listen, knowing that June was bound to present a solution somewhere.


    "As I said, it''s a cultural festival where people take pride in their homnd," he continued.


    "However, most artists only perform their songs without regard to the intention of the festival. Raunchy songs are also out of the picture," June said. "The first person who got thrown tomatoes at performed a very sexy song after an old artist just performed something


    cultural."


    "Oof," Akira said. "So, we also need to take what the past acts perform?"


    "Yes," June responded. "But there''s no way for us to figure that out before the start of the


    event, right?"


    "Hmm," the others agreed.


    "So, we have to prepare a performance that appreciates the culture of China, not something


    that appropriates it," June said.


    "That''s how we can get past the prejudice that the audience already has."


    The others nodded in agreement. However, their dilemma still wasn''t finished.


    "But how are we going to do that?" Zeth asked. "We don''t have anyone who knows much


    about Chinese culture."


    "We can hire someone to teach us about it, but then I''d fear that we wouldn''t be able to


    understand it fully."


    June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Don''t worry," he said.


    "You guys have me."


    The boys were confused, looking at June with furrowed eyebrows.


    "What do you mean?" Ren asked. "Are you well-versed in their culture? I recall you having


    good knowledge during that quiz show, but you''re still Korean, right?"


    "Right," June nodded.


    And that was the reason why Lei decided to throw them into such a festival.


    It just sucked for him that June was actually Chinese.


    "Ah, right!" Jay eximed, suddenly remembering something. "You guys don''t know yet


    since his movie hasn''t aired, but June''s fluent in Chinese."


    They turned to each other with shock.


    "Wait, what?"

 Chapter 807: The Transporter

    Chapter 807: The Transporter


    ?


    "Wake up, everyone! Our flight is in an hour!" June eximed from the living room.


    He had already packed some food for the boys since they didn''t have time to eat breakfast anymore.


    Today was the day they were going to Beijing, China, for the Jade Music Festival.


    Jay wasn''t there with them since he was busy with LUNAIRE''s debut showcase that was going to happenter in the evening.


    So, June was set to drive for them.


    June sighed impatiently after he arranged all of their luggage. He knew that it was their first time going overseas together, but the boys seemed to have overpacked.


    They were only going to stay there for three days! And by the morning of the third day, they needed to go back to Korea.


    "What''s taking them so long?" he muttered, impatiently tapping his foot on the floor.


    He nced at the clock once more and shook his head.


    There was less than an hour left, and he was sure that they were going to miss their boarding time if they didn''t go out of the house in a minute.


    "Guys, I''m going to count to three," June warned, already feeling frustrated. "If you don''te out in those three seconds, then I''m leaving without you."


    With his statement, he heard things toppling over and protests from his members'' rooms.


    "One," June started off.


    More things fell over, and more screams were heard.


    "Two," he continued.


    "Three!"


    Their doors opened nearly at the same time.


    Different fragrant scents wafted through June''s nostrils, making him frown.


    Then, his frown deepened when he saw what his members were wearing.


    "What are you guys wearing?" June asked as he observed their outfits. "Are you all going to a fashion show or something?"


    The members turned to each other, not finding anything weird with their outfits.


    Instead, it was June''s outfit they found weird.


    "Are you sure you''re wearing that to the airport?" Akira asked.


    June frowned and looked down at his outfit.


    "Yes," he said. "What''s wrong with it?"


    It was an outfit that a regr person would wear to the airport!


    The other boys exchanged looks before shrugging.


    "It''s alright," Casper said. "His face is great anyway."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong said. "You should wear what''sfortable for you."


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    "Well, we have to go," June said. "Our boarding time is thirty minutes from now."


    "Crap," Jaeyong muttered. "I lost track of time. Can we make it? We still need to face the reporters."


    "Reporters?" June muttered under his breath, confused. Why would there be reporters in the airport?


    June frowned and disregarded Jaeyong''s statement. "If you guys moved faster, then we wouldn''t have to rush."


    "Jay''s not here, too," Jisung said, biting his lips in nervousness.


    June clicked his tongue. "Just hurry up and grab your things. I''ll get us to the airport."


    The boys once again exchanged looks, appearing skeptical as they followed June to the van.


    June didn''t waste any time turning on the engine.


    "Wait," Zeth said from the backseats. "Can you drive?"


    June smirked as he turned the gear. "Of course!" he eximed.


    He wasn''t just a driver! He was nearly as good as the transporter!


    June had even driven amidst a gun shooting; rushing to the airport was a piece of cake for him!


    With that, he stepped on the gas and went out of the parking lot at the speed of light.


    The members jolted in their seats, and at that moment, they felt that their lives were in danger.


    The guard of their dorm felt something pass by, but it didn''t quite register in his mind.


    "What was that?" he muttered. "A fly?"


    As they got to the street, June drove even more ruthlessly.


    Zeth closed his eyes and began praying to every god in the universe despite not being faithful.


    Akira and Ren hugged each other even though they swore they were enemies.


    Jaeyong''s soul left his body as June overtook a car.


    Casper, on the other hand, was enjoying the car ride like he was in an amusement park.


    "Watch out!" Sehun eximed when he saw a dog unexpectedly crossing the street.


    June looked unfazed as he swerved to the right, sessfully evading the dog withoutpromising other people''s safety.


    Well, except for his members, who felt like their souls had left their bodies.


    The ride to the airport, which usually took thirty minutes, had shortened by half, and the boys


    were there in no time.


    June turned off the engine when he saw that the guards were already waiting outside.


    "They''ll take care of the van, right?" he asked, but none of them answered him.


    He turned around and saw his members'' pale faces, almost as if they had seen a ghost.


    June frowned. "What happened?" he asked.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips and shook his head.


    "Remind me not to let June drive ever again," he muttered.


    Meanwhile, outside the van, a huge crowd waited.


    Multiplerge cameras graced the airport while fans wearing masks covered the perimeter.


    Jia and her friends stood at the sides, frowning as they took in the amount of people in the


    airport grounds.


    "What is this?" Bora muttered. "They''re luding the walkways for the other passengers."


    Soomin frowned as she continued looking around. "Has there been such a huge crowd in an airport before?"


    "In my five years of fangirling, I don''t think so," Nari said. "This is insane! Almost every crevice is covered."


    Jia bit her lips in nervousness. "I just hope they have plenty of guards."


    Bora nodded in agreement.


    The reporters for various media sites had also set up their cameras, narrating what was happening. The feed was live on YouWatch and multiple fans who weren''t able to make it to


    the airport tuned in.


    "Good morning, everyone!" the reporter of ThisPatch eximed.


    "Today marks a historic day. The newly-appointed nation''s boy group is going to their very


    first overseas schedule."


    She panned the camera around and gasped.


    "Wow," she said. "It seems like a lot of people want to see EVE today. I don''t know how


    they''re going to go through this crowd."


    "Anyway, I think their van just arrived! However, they''re taking a long time going out."


    "I''m really excited for their airport outfits! Who do you think will have the best one?"


    - June!


    - June looks good in anything.


    - I think it''ll be Akira. He''s a true people-pleaser.


    - Please! It''s going to be Zeth.


    - I agree with that.


    The crowd gasped as the door finally opened.


    "They''re here! EVE is finallying out!"

 Chapter 808: Airport Fashion

    Chapter 808: Airport Fashion


    ?


    The screams resonated in the airport as the first person made his way out of the van. However, they quickly halted when a group of uncles was revealed instead.


    - Oh, it wasn''t them.


    - I thought it was EVE for a second.


    - There are eight of them, too. What a coincidence.


    - Look at one of them. They''re waving at the cameras.


    - Ah, uncles, please make it faster.


    "There they are!" one screamed, causing a domino effect on the other fans.


    shes and shouts were heard as the first member of EVE finally made his way outside.


    "We have Zeth with us, and he''s rocking the bad boy look!" the ThisPatch reporter eximed. "Leather is definitely suited for him, and look how those skinny jeans fit his legs. It''s a fashion ick nowadays, but the word ''ick'' does not exist for Zeth!"


    June''s eyes widened when he saw Zeth waving at the people from outside the car.


    - Omo! He''s the bad boy that I envision in my daydreams.


    - If I''m going to get hurt by a boy, I want him to look like Zeth.


    "The people outside," June muttered.


    Casper excitedly turned to him. "They''re for us!" he eximed.


    "There''s so many people, right?" he added. "A lot of them are holding your banners, too. They''re very excited about this schedule."


    June felt like his heart stopped beating.


    "And those people with huge cameras?" June quietly asked.


    "They''re fansites, of course!" Jisung happily chimed. "They''re going to take photos of us and upload them online. It will be like a free photoshoot!"


    "Not all of them, though," Jaeyong added. "The others are reporters from different sites. They all have their own ongoing live streams right now, so make sure to be on your best behavior. We don''t want them picking up on anything weird and making a fuss out of it." "Well, I''m next!" Casper eximed, opening the front door and getting out of the car.


    "Casper is the next one to be revealed!" the reporter eximed. "He has azy fit today, but he still looks good. The matching tracksuit paired with the gold essories makes him look effortlessly handsome."


    - There''s a cat embroidered on his purse. So cute!


    - I think that''s the infamous Luther.


    Since the door was opened, June had a better view of the airport.


    There seemed to be hundreds-no, thousands of people waiting outside for them.


    "Since when did the airport allow this many people to be on their grounds?" June eximed. Ren frowned. "Since forever," he said. "They make exceptions when artists arrive."


    "That''s why we were wondering if your outfit was alright this morning. But then again, you''re June. I could never reallyprehend what''s on your mind," he said before getting out of the car.


    "Omo! Ren is rocking such a chic look. He''s wearing a tweed jacket and bucket hat. His outfit looks like my entire yearly sry!"


    - The reporter is so real. The gold ne he''s wearing is from Channel.


    - His belt is also from a luxury brand!


    June pursed his lips. He thought he knew a lot about the idol industry, but it turned out that it wasn''t enough.


    He had seen photos of idols in airports, but they looked so made-up and well-dressed, so he thought that it was just a trending type of photoshoot.


    "I''m next!" Jisung eximed.


    The crowd awwed as soon as Jisung made his way outside with a shy smile.


    "A total boy next door outfit for Jisung!" the reporter giddily said. "A neat white polo and


    some cks¡ªhe''s the epitome of the younger neighbor that we fantasize about."


    - I just want to keep Jisung in my pocket.


    - So wholesome. I want him to do things to me.


    - Please don''t. He''s a baby.


    Then, without saying anything, Sehun made his way outside.


    Once again, they screamed when they saw the idol, much louder this time.


    June shook his head as he looked at Sehun''s back figure.


    "An all-denim look? This is iconic! Sehun is bringing back the 90s fashion."


    - He''s the first one to rock the all-denim look after Britney Spears.


    - His bicep is also slightly peaking through since the denim jacket slid off his shoulders.


    Jaeyong sighed as he looked outside. It seemed like the number of people was increasing steadily.


    "How many guards do we have?" he muttered. "Will they be enough to keep us safe?"


    Akira patted his back.


    "Don''t sweat about it just yet, leader!" he eximed. "It''s time for us to show off our outfits first."


    With that, he went out of the car with a confident smile.


    "Wow!" the reporter chuckled. "Akira''s bringing a different style. He''s wearing a casual suit


    to the airport. He must feel ufortable, but it''s a treat to our eyes."


    - I feel like I''m getting married to him.


    - Imagine him walking down the aisle with that suit.


    - Please stop feeding my delusions.


    With every passing moment, June felt like he was going to explode.


    He looked down at his outfit for the hundredth time since they got to the airport and shook his


    head.


    It was totally something that a normal person would wear to the airport.


    Flying wasn''tfortable at all, so he wanted to increase hisfort by wearing such


    clothes.


    However, he didn''t know that he had to go through the Red Sea before that could happen! Not wanting to best, he turned to Jaeyong to inform him to gost instead. However, Jaeyong was already making his way outside before June could utter a single word.


    "The leader of EVE has graced us with his presence. He''s rocking a clean look with a baby blue button-up and beige shorts."


    - AHHH SHORTS! I CAN SEE LEGS.


    -Why do you like men''s legs so much.


    - Why do men like women''s legs so much?


    The members of EVE stood in a line, the cameras continuously shing as they posed.


    "Where''s June!"


    "June,e out!"


    "June is taking a long time," the reporter said. "It seems like he prepared for this. We''re


    waiting for his arrival."


    June looked around the car for something...anything.


    Even Jay''s snake-patterned suit would be much better than the one he was wearing at the


    moment.


    Then, after fussing around for a couple of seconds, he finally stopped when he saw his reflection in the rearview mirror.


    "What''s there to worry about?" he muttered. "I''ve never cared about this before."


    With that in mind, he finally opened the door. Since he was in the driver''s seat, he was


    luded by the car for a few seconds.


    Then, he was finally revealed to the public.

 Chapter 809: The Worst Airport Outfit In The History of Idols

    Chapter 809: The Worst Airport Outfit In The History of Idols


    ?


    -What...is that?


    -At a nce, I thought he was one of the uncles we saw a while ago.


    -Don''t say that.


    -Was it too much?


    -The uncles a while ago are dressed better than June.


    The reporter from ThisPatch was also confused. If it weren''t for June''s magnificent face, then she would have thought that he was just a normal person.


    "Well," the reporter started off, clearing her throat. "June is wearing some worn-out joggers. It seems like the bottom is fraying, too. He''s also wearing a ck shirt, but there are spots of orange on the hem. Is it tie-dye, or is the fabric just tainted with bleach?"


    "Who knows?" she chuckled. "His bucket hat seems like a freebie from the brand Sanipoo- the ones that they hand out during the rainy season!"


    -So, June''s really frugal, huh?


    -What kind of airport fashion is this?


    - This is how I look at home. I salute June for having the courage to wear it at the airport. He''s truly one of the bravest idols out there.


    -His face saved him for real.


    -I, too, wear this at home but I don''t look this good in it.


    "He''s also wearing some sandals with socks that aren''t even matching," the reporter continued, a chuckle bubbling up her chest.


    June pursed his lips as he heard the crowd''sments about his clothes.


    He couldn''t hear their words clearly; however, he was certain that they weren''t positive reactions.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. That was the least of his worries right now. They needed to go to their boarding gate!


    However, unbeknownst to June, he was already being called a fashion terrorist online.


    -The top idol carries himself like that? What a joke.


    -I see that a lot of people find the situation amusing. However, I just find it ridiculous. Why would a famous idol wear clothes as such?


    -True! For all I know, June doesn''t care about his fans. Look at the number of people waiting for him out there, and he didn''t even bother to put on pretty clothes.


    Lei, who was in the hall for LUNAIRE''s debut showcase, smirked as he read thements online.


    "Well, it seems like he did this one to himself," he muttered while shaking his head.


    Jay ran to where he was with a worried look.


    "Are the boys okay?" he asked. "I still need to help calm the girls down since they''re all nervous."


    Lei smiled as he ced his phone back in his pocket.


    "They''re doing fine," Lei said. "You can go assist the girls."


    Jay still couldn''t shake off his worry.


    "Did you give them plenty of guards, at least? The boys are so popr now that they need a bodyguard for each of them."


    Lei nodded. "Don''t worry," he said. "It''s all covered."


    Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "Alright, I need to head back. Ara is having a breakdown since her dress doesn''t fit."


    "Sure," Lei carelessly said before bringing out his phone once again.


    Meanwhile, at the airport, the boys started making their way inside.


    "Gear up," Jaeyong said as he took the first step. He also wasn''t expecting so many people toe and see them, so he was worried if the seven guards that they were assigned with were enough to keep the peace.


    "Be careful, everyone," Sehun said, looking out for the younger members.


    The other boys nodded and started walking inside the airport, too. Smiles graced their lips as they waved at the fans from far away.


    However, as they got closer to the crowd, their smiles quickly faded.


    It became increasingly suffocating.


    "Move away! Move away!" the guards eximed, trying to keep the situation at bay.


    Yet, they were weak against therge crowd.


    The crowd continued to push, and even the reporters couldn''t do anything about the chaos. "The camera!" the ThisPatch reporter screamed. "You guys are going to ruin the camera!" Her screams were drowned in the chaos. The livestream continued to capture everything, even as the camera swayed.


    Although it was blurry, it was obvious that the members of EVE didn''t have any space to pass through.


    -What is happening?


    -I can''t even see the boys clearly.


    -Goodness, it looks like a stampede is happening there.


    -Yah! Get away from the boys! I see someone touching them.


    Truly, the fans didn''t respect the boy''s personal space. With that, the members felt like they


    were enclosed in a tight box with nowhere to escape.


    Jia and her friends stepped back, not wanting to be a part of the sea of people.


    "What the fuck?" Bora eximed when she saw the situation from far away.


    Jia frowned. "Move away!" she screamed, hoping they would give the boys some space. However, it was no use. It was a bloodbath.


    Jisung felt tears brimming in his eyes as he felt someone''s hands trailing on his abdomen.


    June clicked his tongue and swatted the perpetrator''s hand away. Jisung looked at him with eyes filled with gratitude.


    Then, June looked at the guard who was assigned to the two of them.


    "Protect him," he said.


    The guard, who also appeared to be struggling amidst the crowd, frowned. "What about you,


    sir?"


    "I can handle myself," he said. "Protect the kid."


    The guard was confused but followed June''s instruction nheless.


    June shook his head. Again, he felt that it was Lei''s fault that they didn''t have enough guards.


    It was true that he wasn''t retaliating just yet, but he definitely created small nuances that would eventually lead other idols to snap.


    Unfortunately for him, June wasn''t one to snap from situations as such.


    "We''re almost there!" Jaeyong shouted.


    Zeth, although a fiend for attention, sighed in relief when he heard Jaeyong''s statement.


    The guards didn''t hesitate to push the disrespectful people away, and thankfully, as they got near the entrance of the immigration, more space was created for them.


    "I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!" Ren eximed.


    They moved more hastily so they could go to their destination faster.


    Then, after what seemed like years of torture, they finally made it inside the immigration


    area.


    "That was...intense," Akira said with wide eyes. His hair, which he meticulously styled in the


    morning, had be disheveled.


    The others, too, looked like they were attacked by some kind of cmity.


    "Thank goodness, that''s over," Ren said, sighing in relief.


    Jisung nodded, leaning on the wall to regain his energy.


    They caught their breaths for a while, still processing what had happened.


    However, after a few seconds, Casper noticed something strange.


    "Where''s June?"

 Chapter 810: Welcome To China

    Chapter 810: Wee To China


    ?


    The boys were already in sour moods after being bombarded at the airport. When they realized that June wasn''t with them, their moods turned even more sour-borderline murderous.


    "Where is he?" Casper asked, looking around the airport with furrowed eyebrows.


    Jisung bit his lips in anxiousness.


    "He helped me a while back," he said. "I didn''t think that he needed some help, too. I''m a bad friend!"


    "No, I''m a bad leader," Jaeyong said, already on the verge of tears. "I should have looked out for all of you!"


    Akira paced back and forth, his eyes scanning the airport for June.


    "What if something happened with him? What if someone abducted him already?" he eximed.


    Ren pursed his lips. "Don''t say things like that!" he eximed. However, he was already feeling anxious.


    They stayed silent for a few moments, feeling at a loss.


    They were aware of June''s poprity and just how many crazy fans he had!


    "I can''t believe our first overseas schedule turned out like this," Casper muttered.


    "I''ll go look for him!" he said with determined eyes.


    The guards turned to each other in surprise.


    "You guys need to be at the boarding gate in five minutes," one of the guards said. "You can''t afford to lose any more time, sir."


    Casper''s eyebrows furrowed.


    "So? You''re telling us to just leave June behind?" he asked.


    "No, sir," the guard calmly said. "The two of us will go look for him."


    Casper clicked his tongue when he finally noticed the number of guards they were with.


    "There''s only seven of you? I thought a total of eight would be here," he said, massaging the bridge of his nose in frustration.


    Akira patted Jisung''s shoulder and whispered in his ears, "Casper''s actually pretty hot when he''s serious like this."


    Jisung clicked his tongue and pushed Akira away. "Now''s not the time for that!"


    "Sorry, sir," the guard said. "The other guard took care of your bags along with the van."


    Casper shook his head in disappointment. "Then, they should have hired another one."


    Jaeyong walked over to him and ced his hand over his shoulder.


    "He''s right, Casper," Jaeyong said. "We can''t go out there anymore."


    Jaeyong nced outside and saw that there wasn''t a single opening. It was still luded by reporters and fans.


    "Let''s allow them to handle this," Jaeyong continued. "We''ll wait inside."


    "But what about June?" Casper asked.


    "We''re not going to leave without him," Jaeyong assured. "It''s just not safe for us out there."


    Casper pursed his lips, still feeling hesitant. However, in the end, he nodded.


    With that, they made their way inside while the other guards went to look for June.


    They were still in distress, feeling like the entire trip had been ruined.


    June was the one who knew a lot about China, so he was already excited to show them some good Chinese food.


    Most importantly, June curated their performance for the Jade Music Festival. He was the backbone of their group, so they knew they wouldn''t be able to perform without him!


    "What are we going to do?" Jisung asked as they arrived at the boarding gate. The other passengers were already lining up to get their passports and tickets checked, but EVE couldn''t move, knowing that June wasn''t with them.


    The others looked down at the ground, also feeling useless.


    However, they quickly lifted their heads when they heard a familiar voice.


    "Took you guys long enough," he said.


    Their eyes widened, and their postures immediately straightened.


    "June?" Casper eximed.


    June clicked his tongue and stood from one of the seats.


    "You guys were so slow. They''re going to close the gates soon!" he said.


    "B¡ªbut¡ª," Jaeyong stammered, in disbelief at what he was seeing.


    June sighed and gestured for them to line up.


    "Come on," he said. "We don''t have any time to spare."


    The boys were still shocked, but they still followed June''s orders.


    After their passports and tickets were checked, they finally made their way down the runway.


    It was only then that they could ask what had happened.


    "What the fuck happened to you?" Akira couldn''t help but curse. "We thought you got


    abducted or something!"


    June frowned. "Abducted? They''d be lucky if they could abduct me."


    "What did you do then?" Jisung asked.


    June smirked and looked down at his outfit. "Well, it seems like this outfit has its perks."


    "After I pushed away that girl who touched your abs, I was left without a guard," June


    exined as they continued walking.


    "Then, I just slipped away from the crowd and walked at the sides, which was rtively free," June continued.


    "I even met Jia and her friends," he happily added.


    The boys were taken aback. "So, you just walked here...by yourself?" Zeth asked in disbelief.


    June nodded. "Yup. It was quite easy. I got here in no time."


    "You know-I feel like June''s luck is one of the biggest mysteries in the world," Akira


    remarked.


    "I can''t tell whether it''s good or not."


    ***


    After a few hours, the ne finally descended.


    Fortunately (and much to June''s surprise), Azure actually booked them business-ss


    tickets, so they were able to have afortable flight.


    It really did seem like Lei was earning the trust of the members.


    As they made their way out of the ne and into the airport, the boys felt apprehensive once


    again.


    "The thing that happened in Incheon Airport is not going to happen again, right?" Ren asked, already sounding afraid.


    "I sure hope it doesn''t," Zeth said. "I love me some attention, but goodness, that was


    excessive."


    The boys all nodded in agreement, not wanting to experience something like that again.


    However, after they got past immigration, there were crickets.


    Not a single fan was waiting for them outside. Some people nced at them, wondering how such a good-looking bunch of friends came to be. However, they didn''t bother them at all.


    "Well," Zeth said, feeling like his pride had been stomped on. "I didn''t expect such profound


    silence."


    "Oh, wow," Ren said. "You actually know that word."


    Zeth clicked his tongue as he red at his friend.


    "I honestly don''t know what''s worse," Akira said. "The fact that we had been mobbed in


    Korea or the fact that nobody knows us here."


    The others nodded except for June, who was looking at the airport with a nostalgic smile.


    "Wee to China,ds."

 Chapter 811: VPN

    Chapter 811: VPN


    ?


    The boys made their way to their hotel transport. As they walked through the airport, the boys nced around, still apprehensive about theck of crazy fans.


    Some people looked toward their way, but it was mostly attributed to their good looks and the huge bodyguards by their side.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat and patted one of the bodyguards on the shoulder.


    "Can you guys take a step back?" he shyly asked.


    The guard kept his gaze on the perimeter.


    "No, sir," he said. "It''s our duty to protect you."


    Jaeyong looked at the ground as more people nced toward their way. "I wish they would have protected us like this back in Korea," he muttered.


    "Some are taking pictures of us!" Jisung whisper-shouted excitedly.


    June turned to the people taking photos of them and shook his head.


    "They''re not fans," he said, making the others slump in defeat.


    "There''s the transport," one of the guards said. The boys, despite feeling disappointed, entered their car and settled inside.


    Akira tried to open his Navel app, but it couldn''t be opened.


    "What''s this?" he muttered. "Why can''t I go through Navel right now?"


    Casper shook his head. "June told you to research about the country before our flight, right? Other apps don''t work here. You need a VPN."


    With that, he showed the opened Navel app on his phone.


    "Ah, right," Akira eximed. "I forgot! I''ll download one on my pher."


    "Can I look through your Navel?" Akira asked, his hands mped together.


    Jaeyong shook his head in amusement. "I swear-you''re addicted to your phone these days."


    "That''s because he likes scrolling through articles about him," Zeth said.


    Ren gave him a disgusted expression. "Don''t tell me that you''ve influenced him."


    Zeth raised his hands in surrender with a proud smile ying on his lips. "It was all him. You can''t influence someone who doesn''t want to be influenced."


    Ren sighed and shook his head. "Oh, you guys are the source of my nightmares."


    Meanwhile, Akira tuned out their conversation and started scrolling through Casper''s Navel ount. He was hoping to see some articles praising him for his airport look, but it seemed impossible to find on Casper''s ount.


    "What the heck is this?" Akira eximed. "Why is June''s face the only one I''m seeing as I scroll?"


    Jisung smiled. "Casper follows June''s topics."


    "And you don''t follow ours?" Akira asked.


    Casper shook his head. "Nope," he proudly said.


    Akira''s frown deepened.


    "See! They''re all about June," he ranted. "You''re obsessed, dude."


    Casper, too, frowned. "There should be some cat pics there somewhere...and some of my photos, too. I don''t just follow June''s topic."


    "He must be trending or something," Jaeyong suggested.


    Akira''s eyes widened in realization. "Ah, you''re right. He is trending."


    "Ooh, for what reason this time?" Jisung excitedly asked.


    "For being a fashion terrorist," Akira nonchntly answered.


    However, the other members looked at each other in horror.


    "Let me see that," Jaeyong said, looking at the posts about June.


    "June''s handsome face saves the day," he muttered as he read one of the titles. "But, his outfit is something that can''t be saved."


    "Uncle Core? June receives criticism forck of self-management," he continued.


    "Self-management?" Jisung asked. "What does that have to do with this?"


    Then, they turned to June, who was freely scrolling on his phone with a wide smile.


    He had logged into his previous Weibee ount, which was a tform simr to Navel but based in China.


    "Why are you so calm again?" Ren asked. "You''re trending for a bad reason this time."


    June finally stopped scrolling through his phone and looked at his members'' worried faces.


    "What?" June asked.


    Zeth chuckled. "He''s not even listening."


    "Oh, I was," June said. "I just don''t think it''s a big deal now. I wear that outfit all of the


    time."


    Jisung scratched the back of his head. "I guess," he muttered. "But they''re asking you to apologize."


    "For what?" June chuckled. "It''sfortable. I don''t see myself apologizing for wanting to befortable."


    His members became silent after he said those words.


    "Well, that makes sense," Sehun muttered.


    Ren sighed. "I aspire to have the same level of nonchnce as June in my next life."


    "Instead," June said, turning his phone to his members. "This post is getting pretty popr in Weibee. It''s only been a few minutes since we got out of the airport, but it already has a thousand interactions."


    The boys narrowed their eyes at the photo. The caption and thements were all in Chinese, so they couldn''t really read it.


    "Oh, that''s us," Akira excitedly said. "I told you that some of our fans took pictures at the


    airport."


    "They''re not fans," June chuckled. "They''re saying some pretty mean stuff right now."


    The boys turned to each other with wide eyes.


    "What are they saying?" Jaeyong asked, concern heard in his voice.


    June turned his phone toward him and read the caption andments.


    "Who are these people? They have big guards, but no one even approaches them. So


    embarrassing."


    "They''re handsome, but we don''t know them."


    "That''s embarrassing. Who do they think they are?"


    "I think they''re K-Pop stars?"


    "Well, nobody cares about them here."


    "Guys, I just searched them up. They''re EVE a popr K-Pop group."


    "Popr where?"


    "You can''t even see their faces with their masks."


    "And that one guy looks homeless."


    The boys felt like their self-esteem was being annihted as June continued reading the


    comments.


    "Well," Akira said, the light leaving his eyes. "We''re not doing good in two countries right


    now."


    June chuckled as he scrolled through morements.


    "Don''t mind these posts," he said. "They''re not official articles or anything, so it would die


    down pretty quickly."


    Jisung sighed in relief. However, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion when he realized


    something.


    "Why do you have a Weibee app on your phone?" he asked.


    June froze while the other boys looked at him with suspicion.


    "I used that thing-VPN," June said as an excuse.


    However, the boys still weren''t convinced.


    "June can even download a VPN now?" Jisung asked.


    "He didn''t even know how the app store worked the other day," he continued.


    "Yeah," Jaeyong nodded. "He asked me to apany him to the app store."


    The boys all turned silent.


    "I don''t even know anymore," Akira muttered.

 Chapter 812: Well, Were Unwelcome

    Chapter 812: Well, We''re Unwee


    ?


    "Stop scrolling through Weibee!" Ren eximed as the members of EVE got into their car.


    It was already the afternoon, so they were now on board to go to the venue of the Jade Music Festival. They still felt pretty tired from the flight, but they couldn''t do anything about it since it was their job.


    "I can''t help it!" Akira said. "This app''s so addicting. Why is everyone so mean for no reason?"


    Sehun sighed and shook his head. "You''re going to jinx our performance," he said. "What if we be the receiving end of the hate train after we perform?"


    With Sehun''s statement, the other boys became nervous.


    June sighed. "Don''t look at anything right now," he said. "Just focus on the performance."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "We''ve worked hard on our performance this past week. Unless we mess up, I don''t think we''d be at the receiving end of the hate train."


    Zeth sighed. "I guess. I''m just hoping that I don''t mess up. The performance is something I''ve never tried before."


    Ren''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Well, you''re insecure. That''s new."


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "If I didn''t know that the Jade Music Festival was so unfriendly to foreign artists, then I''d be more confident."


    "But I don''t want to get thrown at with tomatoes on stage!" he eximed. "Red is not my color."


    Ren pursed his lips and shook his head. "What was I expecting?" he muttered.


    "We''re here," the driver said, parking the car behind the open field where they were going to perform.


    The boys paused and looked around for a moment, seeing the huge tent behind the stage. "Our team is already inside," Jaeyong said. "The event will start in approximately half an hour, so we should get our hair and make-up done right before our set."


    The boys nodded and finally got out of the car.


    They looked around the area and smiled. Since they went straight to the venue from their hotel, they didn''t have the time to look around the city.


    The venue of the Jade Music Festival was quite beautiful. There were trees surrounding the open lot, some of the leaves falling to the ground. The scent of flowers also invaded their nostrils, which ced them in a better mood.


    As they got inside the tent, however, the peace abruptly came to an end.


    Shouts were heard all around, and to make matters worse, it was anguage that most of the boys didn''t speak.


    They stood at the entrance for a moment, just taking everything in.


    It was obvious from the get-go who the performers were. Some of them were already dressed in their stage outfits, some were getting their make-up done, while some just had the aura of an artist.


    The tent had dressing rooms at the side, while the middle was left open for the make-up artists.


    Just then, June felt someone push against his back.


    "Move away!" the Chinese man said in a gruff tone. Then, when he saw who the boys were, he rolled his eyes.


    "I swear," he muttered. "Why do they still call foreign artists to a cultural festival? They''re just going to spill the mood."


    June pursed his lips and didn''t say anything.


    "Well, these guys are pretty handsome, so they''ll get some pity cheer from the crowd," he continued.


    After that, he lifted his head and looked June in the eyes. However, he could only hold eye contact for a couple of seconds before turning to the side with a passive re.


    "Move," he said in English.


    June smiled and obediently did what he said.


    The man clicked his tongue before turning to the other boys. "All of you-move."


    The boys pursed their lips and moved to the side of the tent.


    Just then, a hugemotion was heard inside.


    "It''s Angel Zhang!"


    "Angel''s here."


    "She''s going to be the final performer of the night!"


    "I want her autograph."


    Murmurs were heard all around, and although the other members of EVE couldn''t understand them, they could still make out her name-Angel.


    June, on the other hand, was well aware of the star in front of him.


    Angel Zhang.


    One of the greatest opera singers of their generation.


    She was only in herte 20s, but she had already established her name in the industry forever. Aside from being a great singer, she was also a very talented actress who specialized in


    periodic dramas.


    Coincidentally, she was also June''s first love.


    Angel looked around, the smile never leaving her face as she greeted the other artists.


    However, her smile slightly dropped when she saw the members of EVE at the side of the entrance. She pursed her lips and quickly averted her gaze before following the man who had told them to move.


    He opened a tent inside the tent, one that seemed more prestigious than others, and led Angel


    inside.


    As she got inside, the chaos erupted once again.


    "Let''s go," June said after a while, finally making their way to their make-up artists.


    However, the journey to their area wasn''t a walk in the park.


    Multiple people bumped into them, and most of them were unapologetic.


    Jisung sighed in relief as they got to their make-up area.


    "Well, that was something," he said.


    "That was nearly as difficult as the airport mob we went through this morning," Zeth sighed,


    sitting on the ground since there were no avable chairs anymore.


    "You guys go first," June said to Jisung and Akira.


    The two nodded and sat on the make-up chair.


    Meanwhile, June stood behind them, just scrolling through his phone.


    Just then, he heard chattersing from their side-singers that June didn''t recognize.


    Based on their matching outfits, though, they were from the same group.


    Perhaps an idol group like them.


    "They''re brave," one of them said. "I wouldn''t be able to perform in an event like this."


    "Do you think they''re going to perform their own songs?" the other asked.


    "I sure hope they do. I want to see someone getting thrown tomatoes at."


    With that, the two of themughed loudly.


    Then, the third person next to them, who was the farthest away from the members of EVE,


    shushed the two idiots.


    "They could hear you," he said in a warning tone.


    The two boys merely shook their heads.


    "They can''t even understand what we''re saying," one of them said, side-eyeing the members


    of EVE, who weren''t oblivious to their actions.


    "Is it just me, or are they gossiping about us?"

 Chapter 813: Another Representative

    Chapter 813: Another Representative


    ?


    June merely smirked, not wanting to give away that he fully understood Chinese in order to hear more of what they were talking about.


    "Who are they in the first ce?" the guy nearest them asked.


    "I don''t know," the one next to him said.


    The guy at the very end sighed. "They''re EVE. They''re very popr in Korea and across the world."


    "I don''t know them, though," the first guy chimed.


    "They debuted before us," the sane one sighed. "Don''t talk bad about them. They''re good idols. I just don''t think it''s a good decision for them toe to the Jade Music Festival." "But I don''t think they know," he continued. "A lot of foreign artists are blinded by the thought of being able to break through the market in such a big event like this."


    June nodded in agreement. Well, it seemed like this group actually had a sane member. "At least they''re not alone this time," he continued, his gaze straying elsewhere.


    June followed where his gaze was directed, and his eyebrows instantly raised in surprise when The saw who was behind them.


    "Robbie," June said, capturing the guy''s attention.


    Robbie turned around with a wide smile.


    "Oh my! EVE, you guys were invited here, too?" he asked.


    The members turned toward the soloist''s direction, pursing their lips since they weren''t too fond of him.


    In case the others forgot about it too, Robbie was one of the members of the debuting team of Rising Stars'' failed season. He was also the one who hosted the show when June was under the spotlight for being sponsored by his supposedly rich parents. Moreover, Robbie was one of the participants of King of Kings-ending up inst ce.


    In summary, Robbie had a grave grudge against EVE-especially June.


    "Fancy seeing you here," Robbie continued. "I thought I was the only artist representing our country. I''m d that I have someone else with me."


    Zeth leaned closer to Ren. "He definitely doesn''t mean that."


    "When are you going to perform?" Robbie asked, facing June.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "Halfway through," June responded.


    Robbie smirked. "That''s tough. It''d be pretty hard to capture the audience''s attention when you''re performing in the middle of the show. That''s usually the most boring."


    Akira frowned, throwing back his question. "When are you going to perform?"


    "Second," Robbie proudly said. "As a senior, you can watch my performance and write down some tips."


    Akira was about to stand from his seat and reprimand the solo artist, but June ced his hand over his shoulder.


    "We''ll be sure to do that," June said.


    Robbie was pleasantly surprised. He thought that June would take offense to his statement.


    But, it seemed like the feisty idol had been tamed by the harsh industry.


    "Wish me luck," Robbie said. "I was told that I need to standby backstage now."


    June smiled once more. "Good luck, senior."


    With that, Robbie waved at the boys and went backstage.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "I really don''t like that guy. What is he even doing here?"


    "You should have let me teach him a lesson," Akira said, still ring at the spot where Robbie stood.


    Jaeyong sighed. "Are you a thug or what? Even June didn''t lose his temper."


    Akira''s frown deepened.


    "Which is weird," he chimed. "You''re usually the first one to lose your cool when ites to losers like that. Why didn''t you retaliate this time?"


    June smiled, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he faced therge television in the very middle of the tent.


    "I pity him," June said.


    The other boys knowingly turned to each other.


    "He doesn''t know what he signed up for."


    Just then, the television came to life, showing the green-themed opening of the Jade Music Festival.


    The members jolted when the loud sound of fireworks filled the venue, signaling the start of the most awaited festival.


    The camera zoomed out, and there they saw the number of people in the open field.


    Every seat was filled with old and new faces alike. They were holding lights of different colors, while some had paintings on their faces. Most of them, especially the women, also wore the traditional hanfu, appearing like the flowers that surrounded the field.


    Jisung''s hands couldn''t help but tremble as he observed the crowd.


    "60,000," he muttered. "They weren''t exaggerating. I have never seen a crowd thisrge."


    "Me too," Ren said, his mouth agape.


    "I''ve only ever seen it during the 2002 Korea Olympics," Sehun said, feeling lightheaded from the amount of people in the field.


    "Omo," Jisung muttered. "You''ve watched that? I was born that year."


    "Seriously, you''re ancient," Zeth said, making Sehun shake his head.


    "I shouldn''t have said anything," he muttered.


    Just then, a popredian duo, David and Dave, arrived at the stage, eliciting screams


    from the crowd.


    They faced each other with knowing smiles before walking to the front of the stage.


    "Good afternoon, everyone!" they eximed at the same time.


    Once again, the crowd screamed, and the artists inside felt the vibrations of the shout.


    "The seats are filled once again," Dave started off. "It seems like the Jade Music Festivals'' excitement just increases every year."


    "Well, of course!" David chimed. "The talent of our artists also increases with each passing year, so that''s only normal."


    "Indeed," Dave chuckled. "We have some new and old faces with us, and they shall be providing us entertainment while showing off our culture tonight!"


    "Are you guys ready for the performances?" David asked.


    A resounding ''yes'' was heard in the venue.


    "Then," Dave said. "Show me your loudest screams!"


    The crowd quickly followed, sending shivers down the performer''s spine.


    Robbie, who saw howrge the crowd was, couldn''t help but smirk. He was already thinking that these people would be his fans. He had dabbled in the Chinese industry after debuting as a solo artist, so he knew just howrge the market was.


    He also knew that EVE was practically a new name, so it would be harder for them to garner a reaction from the audience.


    "That''s the spirit!" David eximed. "I''m sure you guys are ready for the epic performances


    toe."


    "So, without further ado, we wee you to the Jade Music Festival!"

 Chapter 814: Like A Buffet

    Chapter 814: Like A Buffet


    ?


    The members of EVE were still getting their make-up done as the show started.


    The first act of the night was Jayden Chou, a great artist in his generation. He sang a rendition of ''You Bring Me Down'' by Joshua Grabon, and it was a piece that set the tone for the entire festival.


    The audience felt like they were getting lifted to the heavens with his deep and intense voice, and with that, they were ready for the other performances toe.


    "He''s...amazing," Jisung said, his mouth agape.


    "My mom loves him," Zeth chimed. "He''s been doing this for a long time, right?"


    "Yes," June said. "He''s probably done this before Jisung was born."


    "Before you were born, you mean?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Nah, he wasn''t performing by that time. He was still chasing his dreams, probably," June mindlessly answered.


    "Idiot," Akira chimed. "You were born the same year as Jisung."


    June pursed his lips. "Right," he muttered.


    "Anyway, he set the bar really high," Jisung said. "Will we be able to perform up to this standard?"


    "Our performance is a different color," June responded. "It''s not something that could bepared with the performance of Jayden Chou."


    "However, we don''t need to be nervous. That''s the job of the second performer of the night."


    The boys turned to each other with wide, knowing eyes.


    "Ah," June said, finally sitting on the make-up chair. "I really pity that guy. I hope to watch his performance, but I''m sure I''ll be able to watch HD clips of it on Weibee right away."


    Robbie, who was feeling confident a few minutes back, felt like his world was going to


    crumble.


    The performance that Jayden Chou had curated was a grand vocal performances, one that showed his prowess as a veteran singer along with expensive effects that made the stage even more grand.


    Robbie had watched performances from the Jade Music Festival online, but he didn''t know that it all came from the artists'' pockets.


    Robbie was only made aware of it when the workers went ahead and removed the props that Jayden Chou had used, leaving the stage bare.


    Nheless, he was confident that the K-Pop wave had also hit China, and he also knew that some of his fans were lingering in the venue.


    So, with that in mind, he made his way to the stage and prepared to sing his own songs, hoping that it would make it big in China.


    However, as soon as he sang the first note, it seemed like a collective yawn was heard in the


    venue.


    Chatters filled the field, and it really did feel like no one was listening to him.


    It was painfully obvious in the livestream, too.


    - He''s singing his own song. Brave soul.


    -Good luck to him.


    - His songs are bad.


    - His voice is not that bad but the delivery is awful.


    - He sounds whiny.


    - And what''s with the nd stage? I can''t believe I''m watching this right after Jayden''s stage.


    The members of EVE also couldn''t help but feel bad for Robbie. As much as they were annoyed by his presence, it was also proven that singing your own songs in an event like this was the worst way to go.


    "I want tough, but I''d seem to evil," Akira said, pursing his lips to control hisughter. "We already know that you''re evil," Ren said, clicking his tongue. "Go ahead. No one will judge you here."


    "Besides," Jaeyong added. "It seems like the others are judging him more than us," he said, looking around the tent.


    Indeed, the other performers as well as staff members, ridiculed Robbie for such a lousy performance.


    June sighed. "This inudstry is ruthless," he muttered.


    Fortunately, Robbie ended his performance without getting thrown tomatoes at.


    However, it seemed like that would have been a better option.


    Robbie went down the stage with tears brimming in his eyes. The crowd hadn''t apuded for him at all, nor did the others try to console him.


    He was just...invisible.


    Even as Robbie made his way back to the tent, he wasn''t perceived as anything.


    They quickly moved onto the next performers, who turned out to be the young men who was sitting next to EVE during hair and make-up.


    "The up-anding boy group that hade from the popr survival show is now here!" David eximed.


    That immediately capture EVE''s attention.


    "A survival show?" Zeth muttered.


    "Having only debuted for two months, they had already broken so many records! Let us all wee-ELEV8!"


    The eight members of the boy group ELEV8 made their way to the stage.


    Akira frowned. "These were the guys who kept badmouthing us, right?" he asked, turning to


    June.


    June shrugged.


    "They have eight members like us, too. I feel like I''m in the OCTA situation again."


    "Well, they dide from a survival show like us," Zeth said. "Eight members is pretty standard now."


    "Shush, they''re going to perform now," Ren said. "I want to see just how good they are."


    The music started, and the members of ELEV8 danced to the beat.


    The boys of EVE watched with keen eyes, also curious about the new idol group.


    It seemed like they were performing one of their songs, one that talked about being as fierce


    as a dragon.


    "They''re good," June established after the first verse had ended.


    "The song''s nice," Jaeyong chimed. "It has a catchy beat."


    "It''s not anything special, though," Akira bluntly said. "If they wanted to criticize us so


    much, then they should have done some live singing."


    "The backing track is so loud that you can barely hear their real voices."


    Ren pursed his lips. "I didn''t want to say it out loud, but it''s mediocre at best. If they were


    really trash talking us, then they should reflect upon their words."


    June smirked. "The lyrics are nice," he said. "It''s something that raises the audience''s


    excitement."


    "That''s all that they need to have such a good performance?" Zeth asked.


    "Well, no," June said. "But it''s better than Robbie''s performance, so they''re eating it up like


    good stew."


    "What does that mean for our performance then?" Ren asked, suddenly feeling nervous.


    "You''re all done," the make-up artist said, interrupting their conversation.


    June finally opened his eyes and stood from the chair. He faced his teammates, and they all


    gasped when they saw how he looked.


    Akira looked at his members and shook his head. "You guys are really goners."


    "What the heck," Zeth muttered. "You suit this make-up style so much."


    "Our performance?" June asked, going back to Ren''s question.


    "They''re going to eat it up like a buffet."

 Chapter 815: Anticipating A Boring Performance

    Chapter 815: Anticipating A Boring Performance


    ?


    - Alright, it''s getting pretty boring.


    -It''s the same thing over and over again. I feel like there have been three copies of Jayden Chou by


    now.


    - And there''s only been nine performers. You know that it''s serious. When are people going to realize that you can''t just copy someone and expect to be praised for it?


    - Well, we are in the middle of the show, so people are bound to be tired.


    - Yeah, I''m getting tired, yet I''m just lying in my bed.


    - The next performer needs to liven things up. The ninth performer was such a bore to watch.


    The Jade Music Festival was now halfway through, and EVE was about to head to the stage.


    The other performers and staff members were surprised by the group''s outfits and make-up as they passed by them.


    The members of ELEV8, who had finished their performance, was joined with the other performers in the middle of the tent, where therge TV was perked up.


    "What''s on your mind, Miss Angel?" her manager asked as she looked to be agitated.


    "Who were those artists we met a while ago?" she asked. "By the door?"


    The manager''s eyebrows raised in surprise, wondering why the big artist was curious about the foreign artists.


    "EVE, I think?" he asked. "I''ve heard their name before, but I''m not too familiar with their music. They''re a K-pop group. I''m guessing that they''re going to sing their own songs."


    "Hmm," Angel hummed, her mind shing to the time when she made eye contact with the handsome idol.


    "One of the guys seems familiar," she muttered.


    Her manager was surprised. "Have you seen one of them before?"


    Angel quickly shook her head, making his assistant even more confused.


    "Just his aura," she said. "I felt his aura."


    "Well," his manager muttered. "You''ve met a lot of people in your long career. People are bound to have the same aura."


    Angel clicked her tongue since she really felt she had met one of the guys a long time ago! Then, she looked around her tent, looking for something.


    "I don''t have a television here?" she asked. "I want to watch their performance."


    Her assistant scratched the back of his head.


    "I should have requested one," he said. "I think they''re going to perform next. I heard from those outside."


    "You can watch on my phone if you want," he offered, bringing out his phone from his pocket.


    Angel shook her head and stood from her seat. "No, it''s alright," she said. "You know that my eyesight is really bad. I need to watch on therge television outside."


    Her manager frowned. "Are you sure about that? There would be smaller artists out there."


    Angel shrugged and ced her jacket over her stage outfit. "Yeah," she said. "I''ve been in their position before too."


    Her manager sighed and nodded in defeat. In the end, he apanied her to themon area, making the other artists shocked.


    "It''s Angel Zhang!"


    "What is she doing here?"


    "She''s going to watch with us."


    The members of ELEV8 turned to the beautifuldy with wide eyes. As artists from the same industry, they admired Angel Zhang a lot, so they wanted to get close to her.


    However, that was nearly impossible with her aura. It made her untouchable.


    They believed that only one person was able topete with her aura-Jayden Chou.


    It was perfect timing, as Jayden went out of his own tent and saw Angel.


    The two of them stopped for a moment to greet each other with a friendly hug. The others turned silent as they were graced by the two powerful icons of their generation.


    Their aura multiplied, and that made the once chaotic room peaceful.


    "You''re here, too?" Angel asked as she broke away from their hug.


    Jayden chuckled and nodded. "Yeah," he said. "It''s stuffy in my tent. I needed to get some fresh air."


    Angel shook her head in amusement. "It''s not any better here, though."


    "Eh," Jayden shrugged. "But, you''re here. You also want to watch the show?"


    Angel wordlessly nodded. Then, the two of them sat on empty seats and focused their attention on therge screen in front of them.


    The chatter gradually became louder, too, especially since the ninth performer didn''t give them something worth watching for.


    Just then, David and Dave came back to the stage, capturing their attention once more as they introduced the next artist.


    "That was an inspiring stage!" Dave eximed; however, most of them knew that he didn''t really mean it.


    "Indeed," David agreed. "In a blink of an eye, we''ve arrived to the midway of the show. Who knew that time would go by so fast?"


    "I know, right?" Dave chimed. "Well, these next performers are going to give us something new once more."


    Just then, huge props came from the side, surprising them.


    Two tall cherry blossom-like trees were perched at the side, creating a beautiful image.


    The audience was also perplexed, wondering who was going to perform on the stage. Robbie frowned in confusion. "They''ve arranged those?" he muttered.


    -Who''s the next performer again?


    - The cherry blossoms are beautiful! How did they make it so that the petals could also fall?


    - Well, they leaked the artists'' arrangement. A group named EVE is next.


    - Omo. EVE? The guys that were seen in the airport?


    - I don''t know them.


    - I heard some of their songs when I went to Korea. Almost every store yed them.


    - Well, I still don''t know them.


    -They''re one of the victims of the Jade Music Festival!


    "Well, it seems like our next performers prepared a lot for their stage," Dave chuckled.


    "Truly," David said. "I''m getting more curious about what they''re going to show."


    "Well, there''s no need for other introductions. A popr group hailing from Korea, we have


    none other than-EVE!" the two of them eximed.


    There were some pity cheers from the crowd-one that came from their supporters who traveled to Beijing just to watch their favorite idols.


    The lights turned off along with the LED screen behind them, so the crowd couldn''t see what


    the group looked like.


    However, they could see their silhouettes, and it appeared like they were wearing flowy


    gowns.


    Then, the lights finally turned on, illuminating the eight members of EVE.


    "They''re wearing Yishangs?"

 Chapter 816: 52 Hertz (1)

    Chapter 816: 52 Hertz (1)


    ?


    The lights dimmed low, casting a serene blue hue across the stage.


    The LED screens showed the ocean.


    Some of people in the crowd found it strange how they had trees under the ocean; however, they let it go for a moment to focus on their performance.


    In the center, surrounded by the tworge makeshift cherry blossoms, stood EVE, d in the dignified attire of Yishang, a male variation of the traditional Chinese Hanfu.


    Angel frowned, and she looked to the side to see Jayden wearing the same expression.


    "What are they going to perform?" she asked.


    Jayden snapped out of his thoughts and ced his hand under his chin.


    "It''s strange," he said. "I saw them a while back, and I thought they were going to perform their own songs."


    "Me too," Angel muttered.


    The crowd was even more confused, wondering why a K-Pop group was wearing their traditional clothing. It was the first time for foreign artists to embrace a heritage that resonated deeply with the Chinese people.


    - I almost cursed. Why are they wearing such clothes?


    - What are they even going to perform?


    Murmurs were heard all around the field. However, they turned silent when the cameramen zoomed in on their faces.


    The members of EVE stood in a straight line, holding each other''s hands with closed eyes. Each member appeared ethereal with their natural, barely-there makeup. They exuded an aura of purity and grace, and the people couldn''t help but marvel at their beauty.


    - Well, these friends are actually really handsome.


    - A group with no visual holes? That''s new!


    - But what song are they going to sing? Don''t tell me they''re going to sing their own song while wearing those outfits?


    Suddenly, the intro of ''52'' by none other than Jayden Chou filled the stadium.


    Once more, Jayden and Angel turned to each other with furrowed eyebrows.


    "They''re going to perform my song?" he asked.


    "It''s been a long time since you released this song, right?" she said.


    "Yes," Jayden nodded. "It''s been four years, I believe. It''s a popr song with no music video."


    "May I ask why?" Angel asked.


    "It''s because I couldn''t capture the loneliness of the song. I thought it would be better if I just left it alone."


    "Up until now, I still don''t know what it means," Angel muttered.


    Jayden chuckled. "Not a lot of people do."


    "But, it''s about the 52 Hertz whale," he answered. "The whale forever calls out a frequency no other whale could hear, forever destined to be alone."


    The other artists surrounding them listened to their conversation, and they also felt enlightened by Jayden Chou''s exnation.


    "How are they going to perform this song?" one of the members of ELEV8 muttered.


    The music swelled, and EVE began their performance.


    Gasps were heard in the venue as they danced with the grace of Chinese traditional dance. However, it wasn''t only that; they also executed the loneliness and yearning of the 52 Hertz whale with their movements and facial expressions.


    Jisung was right at the center, and his innocent expression spoke of a thousand emotions. The audience, initially unsure of what to expect, found themselves captivated. Whispers rippled through the crowd as EVE effortlessly executed intricate dance moves they had meticulously prepared. For a group not steeped in Chinese tradition, their respect for the art form was obvious in every gesture and every sway that conveyed the emotional depth of the song.


    Then, a voice rang through the filled.


    The boys didn''t sing the song live since they were short of time in learning the intricacies of thenguage, as they also prepared another song.


    They didn''t want to record something haphazardly, so they decided to make June sing the song on his own through the recording.


    "In the ocean, I drift through waves of dreams.


    A silent traveler, longing to explore the unseen.


    With a heart full of wonder, I yearn to touch the unknown.


    To find a ce where my voice can be heard, where I can belong."


    The audience held their breaths as the first verse was heard.


    Jayden Chou frowned.


    "Is that your voice, sir?" one of the young artists asked.


    He frowned and shook his head. "No," he muttered. "It''s not mine."


    "Could it be that-"


    Then, he shook his head. It wouldn''t be possible. They appeared to all be Korean artists.


    However, the person singing the song soundedpletely fluent in thenguage, even adding the nuances of the song''s emotion.


    Angel closed her eyes and only focused on the song for a moment.


    It was a beautiful, captivating voice that encapsted the loneliness that the whale was


    feeling.


    Paired with the sound of the ocean waves along with the deep blue hues that danced behind them on the LED screen, she couldn''t help but appreciate their performance.


    "I stumbled upon an ind, a ce of breathtaking beauty.


    A world painted in colors I''ve never known.


    But when I turn around, seeking another''s eyes.


    I find only the expanse, the empty sky."


    - Is it possible to fall in love with a voice?


    - Who sang this? Are they using a cover for their performance?


    - Why isn''t anyoneining that they''re not singing live?


    - Because they appear too beautiful, brother. Have you seen any other foreign artist put out a stage like


    this?


    The boys danced once more, with Zeth as the center this time. His visuals didn''t fail this time around, too, and the crowd gasped as his pained expression was shown on therge screen.


    - Help me. I''m getting sucked into his beautiful eyes.


    - What''s his name? Please, can someone tell me what his name is?


    -No one. He''s the manager.


    - He''s a staff member.


    - He''s Zeth. He''s the main visual of EVE and a talented rapper and dancer.


    -Goodness. This is too beautiful.


    Zeth reached his hand toward the cherry blossoms, but he couldn''t seem to reach it.


    No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t reach it.


    As the storyline progressed, the crowd started understanding the link between the cherry


    blossoms under the deep waters.


    Being heard.


    Being seen.


    It was impossible.


    Just like Cherry Blossoms under the ocean.

 Chapter 817: 52 Hertz (2)

    Chapter 817: 52 Hertz (2)


    ?


    Jayden Chou''s breath got caught in the back of his throat as the song continued.


    In fact, everyone seemed to hold their breaths as they watched the delicate performance. The boys, although muscr, appeared as fragile as a feather.


    The audience could tell that the boys put a lot of effort into their performance. Moreover, it felt like they didn''t attend the festival just to show off their songs. Instead, they also put emphasis on Chinese culture-something that the previous foreign artists had failed to do.


    - Could it be that we now have the very first decent performance by a foreign artist at the Jade Music Festival?


    - Decent? Bro, this is better than most who had performed.


    - They''re performing in the middle of the show, but I''m so captivated.


    - They took away my sleepiness! Now, tears are brimming in my eyes.


    The voice in the recording continued to sing sorrowfully, making them more curious as to who was singing.


    "I sing, not with a voice that the world can understand,


    But with a frequency that only the void can hold.


    My cries rise like prayers into the silent night,


    But they return to me unanswered."


    June''s voice soared, filling the venue with rity.


    The boys continued to dance, mirroring the loneliness that the whale must have felt. They moved as one entity, trying to reach the impossible yet never giving up.


    "I am alone in this vastness, unseen, unheard.


    A soul adrift in an ocean that feels indifferent.


    My tears mingle with the salt of the sea.


    A sorrow that stretches unseen.


    I reach out with my song, hoping for a connection,


    But find only the cold embrace of silence.


    In this space, where no one answers, I start to understand,


    Some songs are meant to be sung alone, to be whispers in the wind."


    With each line, Jayden''s curiosity peaked. Who did this stunning voice belong to?


    He nudged Angel''s shoulder.


    "Who is this?" he asked.


    Angel shook her head. "I have no idea," she said. "Why? Are you not fond of his delivery?" Jayden shook his head. "No," he said. "It''s the opposite. I want to be able to sing with this voice."


    Meanwhile, Robbie, who already knew that the voice was June''s, couldn''t close his mouth. A fly went in, but he didn''t have the energy to react. Instead, he just let the fly wander around his mouth like it was a precious cave.


    The members of ELEV8 were also shocked. They thought that another K-Pop group would blindly disrespect the essence of the festival, but EVE was giving everyone a run for their money.


    Aaron, the center of the team and undoubtedly a fan of EVE, felt pride swell in his heart. "I knew it," he muttered.


    Since he had watched all of their performances, he knew that they were bound to show something good on the stage.


    They''ve never been caught cking.


    As the performance reached its peak, EVE''s dedication to honoring both the 52 Hertz whale and Chinese culture became clear. With the movement of their bodies paired with June''s touching voice, they painted a picture that touched the hearts of everyone in the audience. "Hope fades in the quiet surrender.


    A slow eptance that perhaps this is all there is.


    The world is vast, but my world is small.


    I''m just there, that''s all.


    Maybe I am not meant to be heard,


    Maybe my song is a privatenguage,


    A melody meant only for the depths,


    An echo that returns only to me."


    The final note hung in the air, reverberating through the silence that followed.


    EVE stood, breathless butposed.


    They were back in a familiar formation-one that they had started with.


    At that moment, the audience realized that it wasn''t foreign artists that they disliked but the sheer audacity to perform something for mere promotion rather than engaging oneself in the harmonious culture of the country.


    - I...don''t know what to say.


    - I do. That was freaking fantastic!


    - I knew that Jayden Chou''s song was sad, but I didn''t think that it would be THIS sad.


    - I want to watch it all over again!


    - It''s a good thing that they will post this live recording again. We can watch it over and over again!


    Meanwhile, the situation inside the tent was also silent.


    Jayden Chou ced his hand under his chin. He liked his song ''52'' very much, but oftentimes, he found himself straying away from it because it entails great emotionality. However, these young boys, not even fluent in thenguage, showed the true loneliness that The wanted to embody in the song.


    Amidst the silence, Jayden Chou stood, his handsing together for a slow p.


    His eyes were focused on the screen, where the members of EVE were focused one by one.


    Then, the others also followed-even those in the crowd.


    They pped and cheered as loud as they could, the volume simr to that of Jayden Chou''s


    cheers.


    The members of EVE wanted to nce at each other in happiness.


    They had done it.


    However, they held back since they didn''t want to ruin the sentiment of the performance.


    Moreover, they still had another song prepared in their short set.


    The lights dimmed once more, leaving behind a lingering sense of awe.


    With that, the boys quickly went behind the curtains.


    They moved quickly, their hands expertly working to remove the traditional Yishang they had worn the first performance. The weight of the flowing fabric was reced with lighter, morefortable clothing for their next number.


    Moreover, they didn''t want to wear traditional clothing during their next stage for fear of


    tainting the attire''s pure image.


    Then, just in time, the stage brightened up with a gold hue, recing the cool blue.


    An unfamiliar beat was heard in the venue.


    The crowd''s chatter picked up as they tried to recognize the song.


    It was a song that most of the audience was unfamiliar with; however, it was a beat that they


    couldn''t help but jive to.


    Even before the lyrics started, the audience was already swaying and pping along.


    - What is this beat?


    - It sounds so catchy!


    - I think I''ve heard this somewhere.


    - It''s their hit song ''Luster.'' It''s still Korea''s number one song on Durian, even after weeks of release.


    - Really? Then it ought to be good.


    - I was hoping they wouldn''t stray too much from their past performance, but I guess I''ll forgive them


    since the dance number was truly something else.


    - I hope they sing now. I don''t like idol groups who are only good at dancing.


    - Oh, honey. They can sing, alright.


    June took centerstage, ready to sing the opening of the song.


    And with his utterance, the people were given the biggest shock of the night.

 Chapter 818: Luster 2.0

    Chapter 818: Luster 2.0


    ?


    - What the heck?


    - What is happening?


    - Why does he sound so fluent?


    - Does he know the effect he has on me? I''ve known him for less than ten minutes, and I am already in love!


    - How can he speak Chinese so well?


    Indeed, June took the initiative to trante the lyrics of Luster into his nativenguage. It wasn''t an easy feat, especially fitting the lyrics into the beat.


    He also couldn''t ask for help from his other members since none of them spoke Chinese like he did.


    So, he dedicated his time to ensuring that each word was precisely tranted so it wouldn''t sound weird.


    "One, you''re the one for me.


    In your eyes, that''s where I long to be.


    Two, you''re too good to be true.


    With every smile, my love for you grew."


    The crowd chattered among themselves, wondering how he sounded like a native man.


    "What is this? Did they trante their song into Chinese?"


    "I''ve never seen so much dedication from an idol group!"


    "This song is good, too."


    "It''s only been one verse."


    "Even if! They need to release it here, too. It''s going to be a hit!"


    However, that wasn''t the only shock of the night.


    Jayden, as soon as he heard June''s live voice resonating in the venue, knew that he was the one who sang the recording.


    It seemed like only he and Angel recognized this, though, as they turned to each other with wide eyes.


    "It''s him," Angel said, her mouth agape.


    "It is," Jayden Chou. Then, he looked around, looking for other people who would have noticed.


    However, the other performers only continued monitoring EVE''s performance, unable to tear their eyes away.


    Jayden smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "Where has this boy been hiding all along?" he muttered. "If he had debuted here, then he would have created a big storm."


    The next person to sing was Akira and Jisung.


    "Three, you''re the light in my dark.


    In your presence, I find my spark.


    Four, you''re my guiding star.


    In your love, I''ve found my avatar."


    - These two boys don''t sound too bad, too!


    - Yeah, they have good pronunciation. Who taught them this?


    - Only a native speaker would be able to make them sing like that!


    - But aren''t Koreans also familiar with our letter system? They have some letters that are derived from our alphabet.


    - That doesn''t take away the fact that they''re amazing singers! Do you hear their tone and intonation?


    The members danced and sang the song live without any struggle.


    Even when they sang together in the chorus, nothing seemed out of ce.


    "Cause I''m tongue-tied, and I''m hypnotized.


    Every single time I look into your eyes.


    Yeah, you always make me mesmerized.


    Need you with me for life."


    Indeed, June made sure that his members would get the pronunciation right. He didn''t want


    to give a half-assed performance in front of a new crowd.


    In fact, the entire group never wanted to give a mediocre performance.


    They always settled for the best.


    The song neared its end, yet the crowd still wasn''t over the fact that the K-pop boy group performed a high-quality performance in anothernguage!


    Then, as thest notes of ''Luster'' resonated in the field, the boys stood in a formation once again, cheery and bright-a huge contrast from their performance in the beginning.


    Somehow, it made the crowd fall in love even more with the members of EVE.


    - Ah, stop looking at me with those bright smiles! I''m already in love with seventeen other boys! Don''t give me the temptation.


    - You''re so right. My wallet is drained as it is. However, I feel like these boys are going to ruin my life.


    - I''m a new fan! I didn''t think I would like their performance this much.


    As the members of EVE settled on the stage, David and Dave went up with excited smiles.


    They had interviewed every artist after their performance, and they felt the most excited to interview EVE.


    "Give it up for EVE!" David eximed, and the crowd burst into deafening cheers.


    The boys were already used to such noise; however, David and Dave covered their ears in


    shock.


    "Wow!" Dave said. "Those cheers are loud. It seems like you have captured the hearts of many tonight."


    "Well, I''m not really surprised," David continued. "I, too, was very excited for their stage! They made me feel so many emotions in those few minutes! I felt myself getting whished


    from all of it!"


    - The two hosts are so excited that they''ve forgotten that they can''t speak Chinese.


    - Well, from the way they sang a while ago, I would also believe that they''re fluent in ournguage.


    - Look at their faces, though. So cute! It''s clear that they can''t understand anything.


    David and Dave continued praising EVE for their wonderful performance.


    The members of EVE nodded despite not knowing what he was saying. "Dave!" David said after a while. "The boys can''t understand what we''re saying."


    The audience burst into chuckles, causing the boys to chuckle along with them in a dyed manner. That seemed to endear them more to the fans and the hosts, though.


    "See," Dave said. "They''re evenughing just because we''reughing," he chuckled and looked at the boys with fatherly eyes.


    "Well, we do have an interpreter with us. Let me call him up here for a moment."


    June finally snapped out of his reverie, shifting his focus from the audience to the hosts.


    Then, he lifted the microphone to his lips.


    "Oh, there''s no need to do that, sirs," June said in a respectful tone.


    The two hosts halted as soon as June said those words. Then, they turned to each other in


    surprise, wondering where the voice came from.


    "Was that you, young man?" David asked curiosity in his eyes.


    June chuckled and nodded.


    "Yes," he said. "You may talk with me, and I''ll trante for my members."


    "What the!" David eximed in surprise.


    "Howe you''re so good in ournguage, young man?"

 Chapter 819: Dont Leave, EVE

    Chapter 819: Don''t Leave, EVE


    ?


    -So, he''s fluent after all?


    -Goodness. I''m dying at the Zoom-ins. He''s so handsome.


    - I didn''t notice a while ago since I was so focused on his talent, but he really is handsome, right?


    - I used a VPN to be able to watch June, but I still missed his performance. Then, I came to thements and found otherpetitors for his heart. I can''t do this anymore.T


    hose at the tent were also surprised, turning to each other with wide eyes.


    Even Robbie, who thought that he knew a lot about EVE, was perplexed. Not only was June handsome, talented, and popr, but he could also speak multiplenguages.


    "Life is unfair," Robbie muttered.


    Meanwhile, the members of ELEV8 who spoke ill of the members during their hair and make- up time, turned to each other with horror-filled eyes.


    "So, he could understand us all along?" he muttered.


    "Why did he act like he couldn''t then?" the other whisper-shouted.


    Meanwhile, Aaron shook his head in disappointment.


    "That''s a lesson for the two of you," he said, causing his members to cast their heads to the ground.


    Angel, on the other hand, felt like an electric current coursed through her veins. The more she observed June, the more she felt that she had met him before.


    "Well," David said, clearing his throat. "It seems like you know quite a lot about China, young man. Are you perhaps mixed?"


    June smiled.


    Well, he was¡ªin his past life, that is.


    "No, sir," he politely said. "I''m just very interested in your culture."


    The other boys looked at June with wide smiles, feeling proud of their member.


    "You''re a bright young man, aren''t you?" Dave chimed. "I appreciate how such a talented person appreciates our culture."


    June bowed respectfully.


    - Can this guy get even better? He''s like the definition of perfection!


    - Wee to the club. That guy doesn''t have any ws.


    - Correction! He has severe bad luck. However, at the end of the day, his charms all makeup for it.


    - I''m already researching everything about him and his group as I speak.


    "Now, I just have a few questions for you," David started off. "What made you want to perform 52?"


    June tranted the question since he didn''t want to be the only one to be speaking.


    Jaeyong took the initiative to answer the question.


    "Well, it''s a song that my mom likes since she''s a huge fan of Jayden Chou. Then, it turns out that June knew the song, too. We weren''t too familiar with the lyrics, but June exined it to us. We loved the message, so we wanted to perform it in front of all of you."


    June tranted his answer, and the hosts eximed in amazement.


    "Wow," Dave muttered. "I guess Jayden''s Chou''s poprity exceeds borders, huh? Well, you guys did a great rendition. I nearly cried along with David. In fact, I want to watch it all over again."


    David nodded in agreement. "Why is it that you didn''t sing the song live, though? It didn''t take anything away from the performance, but I''m just curious."


    June answered this time.


    "The group wanted to give tribute to the country without disrespecting it. We were short of time since we only heard that we would be performing here a week ago. Since we also had other schedules, we didn''t have enough time to learn the intricacies of the song."


    "With that in mind, we decided as a whole to just have me record the song so we could focus better on our emotions as we danced."


    David and Dave looked at each other, their heads tilted to the side in curiosity.


    "Did I hear that right?" Dave asked. "You were the one singing 52 in the recording a while back?"


    June pursed his lips and nodded.


    "Yes," he said. "I hope I did the song justice."


    Once again, chaos erupted in the venue. The tent was filled with chatters after June''s


    revtion.


    "That was his voice?"


    "He''s better than me."


    "I don''t want to perform anymore."


    "We should have performed before them."


    Jayden already had a hunch that the handsome young man was the one who sang the song a while back, but he was surprised nheless.


    "I want to talk to himter," he said with a fond smile.


    "This group is bing more and more interesting as we interview them," David said.


    Dave nodded in agreement. "Well, even though we want to talk with your group all night long, I''m afraid that our time is limited. With that, can we have two members say theirst words to the audience?"


    Akira took the microphone this time. He smiled energetically, and the crowd found him


    adorable.


    - And who''s this puppy-like guy?


    - Why is this group filled with so many gems?


    - I swear, they''re all going to be the death of me.


    - Not Akira, too!


    "Thank you so much for the opportunity! We were scared at first since we didn''t want to be thrown at with tomatoes, but it wasn''t anything like that! I''m very happy that we performed


    at this festival!"


    June shook his head in amusement before tranting his statement.


    The crowd and the hosts also chuckled.


    "Does the festival have that kind of reputation?" Dave chuckled.


    "Alright, one more person."


    Akira passed the mic to Jisung, and once again, thement section went insane.


    -And this baby. He looks the youngest and squishiest.


    - His eyes are so pure! I have already adopted him as my child.


    - Do you think he likes older women?


    - He does, but he''s already taken...by me.


    - Please stay away from Jisung.


    "Thank you for watching our performances. We came here not only to show our talents but


    also to portray your incredible culture. I hope this won''t be thest time we will see each


    other. We''ll make sure toe back!"


    June tranted once more, and the audience felt touched.


    - Pleasee back.


    - In fact, don''t leave, please.


    - Yes, stay here. We''ll treat you well, boys.


    -You guys changed your heart so quickly.


    - I already love the EVE boys.


    With June''sst trantion, David and Dave made their way to the center of the stage.


    "Once again, that was EVE!"


    With David''s statement, the field burst into loud cheers.


    The members of EVE, who were already on their way to the tent, turned to each other with


    wide smiles.


    "We did it!" Jisung happily eximed.

 Chapter 820: The Idol Has Idol Fans

    Chapter 820: The Idol Has Idol Fans


    ?


    The members made their way backstage, feeling satisfied with their performance.


    "That was awesome!" Jisung eximed. "I really felt the thrill of it all."


    "Ah, that was the best," Zeth said. "I nearly cried during our first performance. I can''t wait to watch the rerun and rey my part over and over again."


    Ren shook his head in disbelief.


    "Anyway, did you guys see their faces when we sang in Chinese? It was epic! It was as if they had a newfound respect for us," Sehun chimed.


    "Well, we''re very lucky to have June on our team," Jaeyong said, wrapping one arm around his shoulders.


    June shook his head in amusement.


    As they arrived at the tent, the once hostile eyes now looked at them with amazement.


    They turned down the volume of their voices as they made their way to their designated area. Akira looked around and smirked.


    "I guess the biggest revenge is truly proving people''s assumptions wrong," he said. "Look at how they look at us now."


    June mirrored his smirk as he leaned against the chair.


    They continued talking about their epic performance when someone suddenly cleared his throat.


    The boys stopped talking when they saw the two members of ELEV8 who badmouthed them, along with the sane guy beside them.


    The members of EVE nced at each other with questioning eyes, wondering what they were doing there.


    "Umm," Aaron started off, scratching the back of his neck since he didn''t know what to say.


    June pursed his lips as he waited for his statement.


    "We just wanted toe here and say that you guys did an amazing job," he said. "Along with that, my members want to apologize for talking bad about your group."


    One of the members clicked his tongue. "I didn''t think you would be fluent in Chinese."


    June chuckled. "So, if I didn''t understand what you were saying, you wouldn''t apologize?"


    He pursed his lips. "Well, I was wrong," he admitted. "You guys did a great job. So, we apologize."


    June smiled and patted his shoulder. "Well, at least you guys are brave enough to apologize for your wrongdoings. Good job, kiddo," heplimented.


    His eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to Aaron and asked, "Wait, isn''t he younger than me?"


    Aaron ignored his statement and brought something out of his pocket.


    June frowned in confusion. "Do you still need something?" he asked.


    Aaron felt his cheeks warm up as he gave June his phone along with a marker.


    "Actually," he said, his cheeks bing red. "I''ve been a big fan of you since Rising Stars. I''ve always wanted to be an idol, so when I heard there was going to be a survival show here, I applied right away in hopes of being like you."


    "I was an individual trainee, too, and there were times when I felt like giving up, but seeing you ovee your struggles on the show encouraged me during my darkest times."


    "So, if you could, can you sign on my phone?" he shyly asked.


    Aaron''s teammates looked at him with wide eyes.


    "What the-"


    "Our leader is a fan?"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. He debuted barely a year ago, yet he had already inspired someone to chase after his dreams in the process?


    A small smile appeared on June''s lips as he signed Aaron''s phone.


    Aaron''s face couldn''t be painted as June gave his phone back. He looked at his signature with wonder.


    Casper pursed his lips and wanted to interrupt, but Sehun restrained him before he could


    move.


    "There, there," he said. "June has a lot of fans. It can''t just be you."


    "Thank you so much, senior," Aaron bowed. "Please don''t forget about me when you be famous here, too."


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    Aaron''s smile widened. "Well, based on your performance, I believe that you''re going to be the greatest topic of the event! You should tell yourpany to capitalize on your poprity


    here."


    June chuckled in amusement at his advice. "Alright," he said. "I''ll be sure to do that."


    However, June really couldn''t trust their new CEO.


    "Well, we best be going," Aaron said. "Thanks again, senior,"


    June nodded and waved at them as they left. The two reluctantly waved back, but June didn''t


    mind much.


    As soon as they were gone, he turned to face his teammates again.


    "What did they say?" Ren curiously asked.


    "Oh, that guy is a fan," he said, pertaining to Aaron.


    "Dang," Zeth said. "Did he want my autograph too?"


    "No," the other members deadpanned.


    Zeth clicked his tongue and sulked in the corner.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong brought up a topic that June didn''t expect.


    "We had a sessful performance in this festival, but now that it''s over, don''t you guys think that it''s weird how we were sent here in the first ce?" he asked.


    "Hmm," Ren hummed, stroking his chin. "Now that you talk about it, it seems like only Robbie is the only other foreign artist to perform here. If it weren''t for June, we would end up


    with the same fate as him."


    Jisung frowned. "So, what are you guys insinuating?"


    "I''m not sure," Jaeyong shrugged. "CEO Lei is always kind to us, though, and he''s


    significantly better than Mr. Ong."


    Zeth nodded. "Maybe he just didn''t know."


    June clicked his tongue. "I''ll give you guys a piece of advice," he said.


    The members focused on him.


    "Don''t trust people so easily," he continued. "Especially those who are on the top. Don''t you


    find it weird how fast he got to his position?"


    The members felt enlightened; however, they were still confused.


    Jaeyong was about to ask June to rify his statement, but before he could do that, he froze


    when he saw someone behind June''s back.


    The other members also gasped, causing June to frown in confusion.


    "What?" he asked.


    Jaeyong shakily pointed to the person behind him, looking star-struck.


    Still, with a frown, June turned around.


    He didn''t know what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn''t this.


    "Angel Zhang?"

 Chapter 821: A Literal Angel

    Chapter 821: A Literal Angel


    ?


    shback, 2018


    Shanghai, China


    "So, you''ve never been in a rtionship, eh?" Bowen asked, nudging his shoulder.


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue. "What''s it to ya? Do ya think I have enough time for that?"


    "Well, it''s because you''re working too hard. Your hard work was rewarded with more work. I pity you, really."


    Jun Hao shook his head. "Whatever."


    "You''re in luck, though," Bo Wen said. "We''re going to a bar today. I heard they''re going to have girls serving us. And by serving, I meant ''serving," he continued, winking at Jun Hao.


    Jun Hao frowned. "You have a wife," he deadpanned.


    "Oh, that''s why I''m noting. You''ll be the one to apany Laohu along with some other ugly goons."


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue. "I''m not going," he said. "I told my sister I''ll go home today."


    Bo Wen smiled. "Well, that''s too bad," he said. "My wife is pregnant, and she needs someone to take care of her. Don''t you feel bad at all?"


    Jun Hao pursed his lips. Why did he have to have such a good heart? Bo Wen knew that he was weak against his wife because she was so kind to him.


    "You''re cleaning the toilets for a week," he said.


    Bo Wen groaned. "Fine," he said. "Does that mean that I can go home now, though?"


    Jun Hao nodded. "Go and take care of your wife, idiot."


    Bo Wen chuckled and packed his bag.


    "What do I need to do, though?" Jun Hao asked. "And does Laohu already know?" "Hmm," Bo Wen said. "I told him that one of us would go. He trusts us both, you know?" "There''s nothing special you have to do. He wants to have some fun, drink, and y with somedies-if you know what I mean. So, just protect him and make sure he has a good time."


    "But, you can also have fun on your own. The world knows that you''re aching for some physical touch."


    Jun Hao pushed Bo Wen away.


    "Just go," he said, already feeling annoyed.


    With that, the baldie waved his hand and went out of the room.


    Jun Hao sighed and quickly went to the parking lot. He saw Laohu''s car and went to the one beside it.


    "You''re going?" one of the goons asked as he entered.


    Jun Hao wordlessly nodded.


    "It''s your first time, right? I''m sure you''ll have a great time," another chimed.


    With that, the five goons burst intoughter, looking at each other with knowing eyes.


    It didn''t take long before they arrived at the ''bar.''


    It was called a bar, but it was more of a prostitution den. It was something against Jun Hao''s principles, but then again, he knew that meddling with such a thing when he was just one person wouldn''t do anything good.


    He simply couldn''t change it.


    "Laohu''s in that room," one of the goons said, pointing to arge red door.


    Jun Hao didn''t speak, only crossing his arms in front of his chest and scanning the crowd for any danger.


    "We all know that he''s going to be there for a long time," another said.


    With that, the goons faced the bartender and asked for some drinks.


    Jun Hao frowned. "We''re not supposed to drink while we''re on the job."


    They looked at each other before bursting into chuckles.


    "Still so uptight, huh?"


    "We''ve done this plenty of times before. Laohu is practically a regr here. Nothing ever happened once he''s in that room. It''s locked and bulletproof. All he needs is a couple of young girls, and he''lle out in the morning."


    "Which means," they smirked. "We have the freedom to do anything that we want until then."


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue and looked at his watch. It seemed like he wouldn''t be able to go home again. With that, he brought out his phone and texted Mei Ling that he would be home by morning.


    The girl replied back with a mere thumbs up.


    Jun Hao shook his head in amusement.


    Just then, one of the goons ced a drink in front of him. "Come on. Just drink," he said.


    Jun Hao ignored them and kept his gaze on the growing crowd. He felt himself feeling nauseated with the mingling scents of bodily fluids and alcohol.


    No matter how many times he was exposed to such scenes, he felt like he still couldn''t get


    used to it.


    The goons turned to each other with displeased faces.


    "He''s always like that feeling righteous," one whispered.


    "For all I know, he''s also rotten like us. In a barrel of rotten apples, there''s no escaping one''s


    fate."


    "Well, it looks to me that he needs to loosen up. Why don''t we bring him a present, boys?"


    "The blue room?" another asked.


    They all nodded mischievously.


    Meanwhile, Jun Hao didn''t know what wasing at him.


    One second, he was still scanning the perimeter, and the next second, he was being pulled to a


    small, blue room.


    "What the heck? Let go!" he eximed.


    He was strong, but against five people who were pushing on him with great strength, he


    didn''t stand a chance.


    "Don''t worry, brother!" one said. "This is our present to you."


    With that, they mmed the door, and Jun Hao heard the sound of keys from outside.


    He tried to open the door and cursed under his breath when it didn''t open.


    "Fucking hell," he muttered.


    He stepped away from the door and sighed. Well, on the bright side, he would be able to rest


    tonight.


    However, just then, he heard someone whimper behind him.


    Jun Hao''s eyebrows furrowed as he quickly turned around and saw a young woman on the


    bed.


    The room was dark, with only two strips of blue LED light illuminating the ce.


    "Please don''t do anything," she said, fear evident in her voice.


    Jun Hao frowned and finally opened the lights.


    As soon as the room was illuminated, Jun Hao felt his breath get caught in the back of his


    throat.


    "An angel?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    The girl frowned, although fear was still seen in her features.


    "How do you know my name?"

 Chapter 822: An Angels Life (1)

    Chapter 822: An Angel''s Life (1)


    ?


    shback, 2018


    Shanghai, China


    Jun Hao was taken aback. He had never seen the girl before in his life.


    However, one thing was certain-she was very beautiful.


    Almost like an angel.


    She red at him, causing him to straighten his posture.


    "What was that?" he asked, feeling a bit lightheaded although he didn''t even drink a drop of alcohol.


    He also felt his heart rate rising inside his chest, so he ced his hand over it, hoping to calm it down.


    However, it persisted.


    Just then, his sister''s voice rang in the back of my mind.


    "Why do I like him so much when we don''t even know each other?" Mei Ling eximed as she looked at a photo of a new idol group. "Is this what you call love at first sight?"


    "How do you know my name?" she asked, her arms wrapped around her body.


    Jun Hao pursed his lips. "I don''t know your name," he deadpanned.


    "You do," she insisted. "Angel-you called me by my real name. They don''t even know my real name here."


    Jun Hao''s mouth went agape after her statement. "Ah," he said. "It suits you well." "What?" Angel frowned. However, she shook her head and continued guarding her body.


    "If you came here for THAT, then just know that I won''t do it with you," she said. "They may have tied me up and kept me in this room, but that doesn''t mean that I still can''t break a man''s jewels."


    Jun Hao''s eyebrows raised in surprise as he nced down at his crotch.


    Then, unconsciously, he covered it with both hands.


    He stepped forward, but Angel screamed before he could take another step.


    "I''m telling you! Don''te closer!" she screamed.


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue and continued advancing toward her. Angel''s eyes showed horror as Jun Hao sat on the bed.


    She tried to break free, but she was shackled to the bed, unable to put up a fight.


    With that, she closed her eyes and held onto her body as tightly as possible.


    Then, when she felt the man''s breath brushing against her skin, she harshly turned to the side.


    Jun Hao clicked his tongue and held onto her face before gently brushing away a piece of fluff in her hair.


    "It''s been bothering me since a while ago," he softly said.


    Angel opened her eyes, feeling breathless, as she looked into a pair of intense yet kind eyes. For a moment, she found herself attracted to the man''s face.


    However, Jun Hao moved away before she could internalize what was happening.


    Angel sat there for a while, dumbfounded at what was happening. "You''re not going to do anything?" she asked.


    "Why?" Jun Hao chuckled. "Do you want me to do something?"


    Angel furiously shook her head. "No," she said. "I don''t want that."


    "Then, I won''t do anything," Jun Hao said. "Simple as that."


    Angel stayed silent for a while, wondering if she should trust the man''s words. However, then again, he hasn''t tried anything even though she was shackled.


    "What brought you here?" Jun Hao couldn''t help but ask.


    "What do you think?" Angel scoffed. "Do you think girls work here out of their own ord?"


    Jun Hao turned to look at the broken girl before shaking his head.


    "No," he said. "But, everyone has a story to tell, don''t they? I''m sure you have yours, too."


    Angel''s gaze softened as she turned to the side.


    "Why do you want to know?" she softly asked.


    Jun Hao shrugged. "Well, my precious colleagues locked me here to have a good time. I''m assuming we''ll be here for a while, so we might as well make the most of it."


    "And why should I tell my story to a stranger?" she asked.


    Jun Hao chuckled. "Isn''t it better to tell your story to a stranger? The less you know about a person, the fewer prejudices you have against them. And, the best part of it is you don''t have to worry about them sharing your story."


    "You''re strangers in the first ce."


    For the first time in the night, a smile made its way to Angel''s lips.


    "You know, for someone whoes to ces like this, you seem pretty smart."


    "Why?" Jun Hao asked. "Do you think I also came here out of my own ord?"


    Angel stayed silent for a while before shaking her head.


    "No," she said.


    "You''re right," Jun Hao said, his gaze focused on the wall before them. "I''m probably doing this for the same thing as you are."


    "Money?" Angel asked.


    "Exactly," Jun Hao smirked. "I told myself I would leave if I had enough money; however,


    I''vee to realize that there''s no running from this ce."


    "The moment you sign up for money, you sign your soul away. The moment you choose to leave? Then, your life is on the line."


    Angel pursed her lips and nodded. "Exactly," she muttered.


    "So, now that I''ve told my story, are you willing to share yours?" Jun Hao asked.


    Angel chuckled in disbelief. "That was barely a story," she said.


    Jun Hao merely let out a small chuckle but didn''t say anything more, not even bothering the


    prettydy to expound her story.


    However, after a while, Angel broke the silence.


    "I want to be a singer," she said, capturing Jun Hao''s attention.


    He didn''t say anything, only waiting for Angel to continue her story.


    "Believe it or not, I came from a family who made a decent ie," she said.


    "It''s not hard to believe," Jun Hao said as he looked at her beautiful face.


    "Thanks," she muttered.


    She looked down at herp and yed with her fingers before continuing her story.


    "However, I also came from a family with strict traditions. Be awyer. Be a doctor. Be an ountant," she continued. "All of my siblings conformed to it, and they made my family


    proud."


    "However, I didn''t want to lead that path. I wanted to lead one of my own."


    "At the end of the day, it was my life to live. I would be the one living my life, so why was it


    that they wanted to hinder my dreams so much?"


    Then, she let out a deep sigh.


    "Looking back on it, though, maybe I should have listened to my parents."


    "Then, maybe I wouldn''t end up here."


    "What happened?" Jun Hao asked.


    "I told these things to them. I told them that it was my life to live. So, they told me to live my


    life but to not expect them to be a part of it."


    "I was disowned by my parents when I chose a music major in university. I was stripped off of everything I was used to, and before I knew it, I grabbed onto countless opportunities."


    "And this is one of those opportunities?" Jun Hao asked.


    Angel nodded. "I thought it was a regr bar," she said. "But then, I had signed up my whole


    life before I knew it."


    Jun Hao frowned.


    "How long have you been here?"


    "Three months," she muttered. "And probably for the rest of my life."

 Chapter 823: An Angels Life (2)

    Chapter 823: An Angel''s Life (2)


    ?


    "What makes you say that?" Jun Hao asked.


    "Don''t y innocent," she said. "You know the answer to that. The moment I leave, I''m also going to lose my life."


    Then, she looked down at her shackled wrists. "And I can''t even escape!" she eximed.


    Jun Hao chuckled, causing Angel to re at him.


    "You find this funny?" she eximed.


    Jun Hao stoppedughing and covered his mouth before shaking his head.


    "No, I just find it amusing," he chimed.


    "Isn''t that the same thing?" she muttered.


    He leaned against the bed frame, just right beside her, before letting out a deep breath.


    "Don''t you find it amusing?" he asked. "Two souls like us have different stories but the same fates-we signed up our entire lives for this kind of life, and we can''t even escape."


    There was silence in the room before Jun Hao heard Angel sniff.


    His eyebrows raised in surprise as he looked at the now-crying girl.


    "Why are you crying now?" he asked.


    Angel red at him as she wiped her eyes away with her torn sleeve.


    "Why do you go around saying shit like that?" she asked.


    "I thought you already knew that," he said. "I just summarized it for you."


    "Even if!" she eximed. "Hearing it from someone else makes it feel more real. I know my life is fucked, but you don''t have to say it out loud."


    Jun Hao chuckled, raising his hands in the air in surrender.


    With that, the two broken individuals found themselves getting closer.


    "Aren''t you tired?" Jun Hao asked.


    "Of talking with you? No," Angel said. "Of this life? Yes."


    Jun Hao smirked as he nced at his phone. He saw that it was just past midnight. The music


    in the club was on full beat, and the two of them could feel the room vibrating with the bass of the music.


    "You know what would be nice?" Jun Hao asked.


    "What?" Angel asked.


    "If we could change our fate," he said.


    Angel sighed and nodded. "That would be nice, wouldn''t it?" she muttered. "But then, it would be impossible."


    "You''re right," Jun Hao confirmed. "It would be impossible for the two of us to change our fate."


    Angel cast her gaze to herp.


    "However," Jun Hao quickly added, causing her to raise her head in curiosity.


    "It wouldn''t be impossible to change one of our fates," she said.


    Angel frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"


    She was surprised when Jun Hao suddenly got up, looking for something.


    "What are you doing?" she asked.


    Jun Hao ignored her question and continued searching the cabs for something.


    "A-ha," he said. "I knew it would be here all along."


    Then, he showed the metal key to Angel, who frowned in frustration.


    "It''s been there all this time?" she eximed.


    Jun Hao chuckled. "It''s not like you could reach it anyway."


    With that, he walked to where Angel was and unlocked her from her shackles. The pretty girl massaged her wrists and whispered a small ''thank you'' as she was finally able to get away from the bed she dreaded.


    "Leave," Jun Hao suddenly said, making Angel perplexed.


    "What?" she asked, unsure if she had heard Jun Hao right.


    "Leave," he nonchntly said. "Escape. Go away. Do you need more synonyms?"


    "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Do you think I could just leave this ce? The


    moment I walk out that door, they''d bring me back here in no time."


    "That''s why you''re going to leave through that window," he said, pointing to it.


    Angel''s eyes widened in surprise. "Are you crazy? We''re on the second floor."


    "So?" Jun Hao asked, opening the window and jumping out without any hesitation. He fell to


    the ground with a loud thump, causing him to curse. However, he quickly stood and looked


    up, only to see Angel gazing at him like he was insane.


    Then, Jun Hao looked around and made sure that the coast was clear. He looked back at Angel and opened his arms.


    "Come on," he said. "No one''s watching! Jump!"


    Angel''s eyes showed apprehension. However, as she looked at the dirty room and the charming man who was waiting for her on the ground, she felt something shift in her heart.


    She wanted to choose the more beautiful thing-and to her, the man down the road was the most beautiful view she had seen ever since she came to the hostel.


    With that, she cursed under her breath and jumped down the window, closing her eyes and waiting for the impact.


    However, instead of the hard ground, she felt someone''s secure arms instead. She opened her eyes and saw the man looking at her with proud eyes.


    "See?" he asked. "It wasn''t so bad, was it?"


    A smile finally appeared on Angel''s face. "It wasn''t," she said.


    Jun Hao gently let her down to the ground before dragging her to a secluded area away from


    the bar.


    Angel was still apprehensive, but she felt safe in his presence.


    Jun Hao continued looking around, being as meticulous as possible. Then, he nodded.


    "Alright, no one will find you here now."


    Jun Hao brought out his wallet and brought out a good handful of money.


    Angel''s eyes widened in surprise when he ced it in her hands.


    "What''s this?" she asked.


    "You''ve never seen money before?" he asked with a smirk.


    At that moment, Angel felt her heart racing in her chest. It wasn''t the nervous kind this time


    --but the good kind.


    One that you would find yourself getting addicted to.


    "That''s enough money for you to move to a new city and stay a few nights at a cheap hotel."


    "It won''t be enough tost you for a whole month, so try busking on the streets. If you truly


    want to be a singer, then I think you would be able to do well."


    "Then, save some money and make it to the big stage. Fulfill your dreams."


    Angel''s heart swelled with every word the man said.


    Was it possible to fall in love in such a short amount of time?


    "So, go," Jun Hao said, finally letting go of her hand.


    Angel felt her body grow cold with the absence of his touch.


    "W-What about you?" she stammered.


    Jun Hao smiled. "Change your fate," he said. "I''ll be happy if at least one of us makes it out of


    this hell."


    Angel''s heart squeezed in pain.


    Then, she nodded.


    She stepped back and looked at the empty roads before looking back at the beautiful man


    before her.


    For a moment, she slipped on the wet concrete, so Jun Hao quickly came to her aid and held


    onto her waist.


    "Careful, Angel," he said.


    Angel''s cheeks reddened as she stabilized her posture.


    "Now, you should really go," Jun Hao said. "I have to get back before they be


    suspicious."


    Angel slowly nodded, but in truth, she didn''t want to go.


    Yet, she also knew that this was her only chance.


    With that, she clutched the bills in her hand and stepped away from the man once more.


    As she was about to turn around, she couldn''t help but ask one more question.


    "What''s your name?" she asked.


    Jun Hao was silent for a while before smiling.


    "Jun," he responded.


    "Remember me as Jun."

 Chapter 824: Recognized By Big Stars

    Chapter 824: Recognized By Big Stars


    ?


    Present Time


    "June." "June!"


    June was lost in his thoughts until he heard Jaeyong calling his name.


    Then, his view became clear once again.


    Angel Zhang was right before him.


    She looked familiar yet different at the same time. She already looked beautiful before, but she definitely looked even more beautiful now.


    A small smile appeared on June''s face.


    Back then, he wanted only one of their fates to change. However, now, they were face to face, each with changed fates.


    It wasn''t impossible after all.


    Angel, too, seemed to not know what to say, just opening and closing her mouth without any words spilling.


    "June," Angel whispered.


    She could never forget such a name. It was the name of the only man she loved-one that she could not forget up to this point!


    However, looking at the ''June'' before her, he definitely didn''t look familiar.


    He was way more handsome and gentle-looking, unlike the Jun she really knew.


    Just then, some staff withrge props passed by behind her, but she failed to evade them because she was busy observing June''s face.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and he quickly pulled her toward him to avoid getting hit. "Careful, Angel," he said, causing Angel to freeze.


    That tone! They had the same tone! He also said the exact same thing that Jun did back then! However, as she looked into his eyes once again, she couldn''t see an ounce of familiarity. Jun''s eyes were a little bit crooked, but this guy has a golden ratio!


    Angel narrowed her eyes, reaching her arm to touch June''s skin. However, June was pulled back before she could do so.


    Angel''s eyes widened as she looked behind June, only to see another handsome and muscr man looking at her with a slight re.


    ''Well, they look good together," she thought.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "Casper, behave," he said.


    Casper pursed his lips and nodded. "There''s plenty of eyes here," he muttered. "I just don''t want you to get into an unnecessary scandal."


    June nodded, understanding his teammate''s sentiment. With that, he kept afortable distance and bowed.


    "Hello, senior," he said.


    Angel cleared her throat and also slightly bowed. "Hello," she said. "Thank you for saving me there."


    June shook his head. "It was just instincts."


    They were silent for a few moments before June broke it.


    "Is there anything you need?" he asked.


    June acknowledged Angel to be his first love. He spent many days thinking about her before, too, even singing a heartbreaking karaoke song when he got drank.


    However, it had been way too long, so he actually forgot about his feelings.


    As he looked into her eyes, she was nothing but a talented performer with lots of fans.


    Meanwhile, Angel couldn''t shake off the feeling that June was really familiar.


    With that, she nodded.


    "I just wanted topliment you guys for your performance," she shyly said.


    "And here," she said, rummaging through her purse and giving June her personal calling card.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise; however, he found himself reaching for her number.


    Angel''s cheeks reddened as she bowed once more.


    "That''s all," she said. "Continue to do a good job," she muttered.


    With that, she went away from the members of EVE while June pocketed her number.


    As soon as she was gone, the boys flocked to where June was.


    "What the heck was that?" Zeth eximed.


    "June''s Rizz extends borders?" Ren asked. "Unbelievable!"


    "You need to put in a cage," Casper muttered.


    "Why do you always get girls'' numbers?" Akira bitterly eximed.


    "Not only that, but he got Angel Zhang''s number," Jaeyong chimed. "She''s one of the biggest stars in China!"


    June scratched the back of his neck as the boys continued pestering him to share her number. He didn''t divulge it, of course.


    June still didn''t know what he was going to do with the number, but he decided to keep it since it mighte in handy one of these days.


    Angel, on the other hand, went back to her tent with a racing heart.


    "This is dangerous," she muttered. "Is this what fangirls feel like when they have an idol?"


    "Or is it because he feels so familiar?"


    Then, she gently hit her forehead. "Why did I give my personal number so easily like that?" "You gave your personal number?" her manager eximed, causing her eyes to widen in


    surprise.


    "What are you doing there?" she asked with wide eyes.


    "I never left," he said, walking over to her and cing both hands on her shoulders.


    "You really gave your personal number to someone? I thought you weren''t interested in anyone because you''re still stuck on that first love of yours?"


    Angel''s cheeks reddened further.


    "Who is it?" her manager asked. "Please tell me it''s at least an A-list celebrity."


    Angel pursed her lips and shook her head. "I''m not telling you."


    Back to the boys...


    They were still making a huge fuss regarding Angel giving June her number when someone


    cleared his throat from behind them.


    They finally stopped teasing June and turned around, only to see Jayden Chou looking at them


    with a wide smile.


    "Ah, EVE," he said. "I''ve been meaning to speak to you."


    Their eyes widened since they were in the presence of a really big star.


    Jaeyong, whose mom listened to Jayden Chou''s music all the time, froze in shock.


    June quickly bowed, and the others followed.


    "Oh, there''s no need for that," Jayden chuckled. "But, I appreciate it. I can tell that you are a


    polite group of boys."


    "Anyway, I just came by to tell you that you did a great job with my song. 52 is a song that I


    still struggle to interpret up to this day, but you guys did a perfect portrayal! I''m just going to


    ask permission for it to be reposted on my page."


    Jaeyong enthusiastically nodded. "Of course, sir! It is our honor."


    "But before any of that, can I ask for a photo with you? I will also post it on my Weibee


    ount."


    The boys were surprised, and they agreed enthusiastically.


    Meanwhile, June couldn''t believe it.


    His goal was to have a decently-loved performance at the Jade Music Festival. He knew how hard it was to prate the market through the festival, so he didn''t have high expectations. However, even Jayden Chou came to appreciate their performance!


    "You boys deserve to be recognized for your performance," Jayden smiled, typing on his


    phone as he spoke.


    "There, I''ve posted it already!" he excitedly said. "I''m looking forward to working with you


    in the future."


    "Us too, senior," June politely said.


    Jayden nodded and handed him his calling card too.


    "There you go," Jayden said. "Give this to yourpany and give me a call for a


    coboration."


    With that, the big star left the group of boys, all looking starstruck.


    "June! Open that Weibee ount of yours and look at his post."


    June, who was also excited, reached for his phone and opened his old Weibee ount.


    He clicked on Jayden Chou''s profile, causing the boys to freeze in shock.


    Akira grabbed his phone and looked at Jayden''s follower count.


    "He has 63 million followers?"

 Chapter 825: His Failed Plan

    Chapter 825: His Failed n


    ?


    "Good job, girls!" Jay eximed as soon as the members of LUNAIRE ended their debut showcase.


    They all exchanged smiles before bursting into cheers.


    Even Mei, whose personality was simr to June''s, let out a small squeal out of excitement.


    With Jay''s assistance, the debut showcase became a massive sess.


    The 5,000-capacity venue was filled to the brim, and their music video had garnered over a million views in only two hours!


    Aside from that, they had broken through the top 100 of the Durian charts at number 32. Although it didn''t reach number 1 like Oasis did, it was still a great achievement for a debut group.


    The girls broke their hug and turned to Jay.


    "Thank you for being here with us, sir," Mina said. "We wouldn''t have done it without you." Jay, despite feeling tired, cracked a smile. "Of course. Your manager suddenly became the CEO, so it''s expected for me to step up as the director of management."


    "Aren''t you upset that you didn''t apany the boys to China?" Ara asked.


    Jay chuckled and patted their heads. "I believe those boys are doing fine in the Jade Music Festival."


    Mei immediately frowned as soon as Jay said those words.


    "Wait, can you repeat that again?" she asked.


    "The Jade Music Festival?" Jay repeated.


    Mei''s frown deepened, making Jay and the other girls turn to her in worry.


    "Why?" Jay asked. "Is there something wrong with that?"


    Mei had been so caught up in the debut showcase that she didn''t notice that EVE was going to perform at the Jade Music Festival.


    "The Jade Music Festival," she muttered.


    "What?" Jay asked, suddenly feeling frantic.


    "I think it would be great to search the words ''tomato'' and ''EVE'' right now."


    Meanwhile, Lei, who had his separate room in the venue, rxed in his seat as he watched the stocks of Azure Entertainment go up.


    With only just their debut song, LUNAIRE had skyrocketed to the top of the trends. Based on their records, it wasn''t impossible for them to reach the top ten within a week!


    He might not have been able to conquer Phoenix, but with Azure in his hands, he can stille closer to his goal-to be the biggest entertainmentpany in South Korea and monopolize the industry.


    EVE and LUNAIRE would be his stepping stones to get there. However, he wasn''t afraid to get rid of EVE when the time came-especially with what June did to his brother.


    "Now, let''s see," he said, switching to his other phone to scroll through his Weibee ount.


    He knew that EVE would have finished performing by now, and he wondered if his n had worked.


    Unless the world turned upside down, then it was most likely that it did.


    Lei was aware that June knew Chinese since he could understand Lin Zhi to some extent. However, looking at his background, he was just a regr Korean student who took Chinese as an elective.


    So, there was no way that he would be able to understand the intricacies of thenguage.


    Lei went straight to the trends as he opened his ount.


    His eyes brightened in delight when he saw EVE at the top of the hot topic charts.


    "Oh," he muttered. "What''s this? They rose to number one so quickly? Did they do such an atrocious job?"


    Even Jayden Chou, the legendary artist, was only second in rank!


    Lei felt his heart race in excitement.


    He clicked on EVE''s name, expecting to see their group being trashed by the Chinese media.


    However, his smile quickly dropped when he saw that the articles were filled with praise. "EVE takes the Jade Music Festival by storm! The popr K-pop group beat all the C-pop groups that have performed."


    "No tomatoes for EVE! Who would have thought that the best performers of the night would be a K-pop group? Analysts are amazed by this information!"


    "Jayden Chou posts a photo with EVE, showcasing their striking visuals! He also praised the boys for doing his song justice."


    Lei''s frown deepened with every article he read.


    Then, he went straight to Jayden Chou''s profile, which had over 60 million followers.


    Thetest post was indeed with EVE, and it had garnered over 10 million views and a million likes in just two hours.


    "What is this sorcery?" he muttered.


    "Thank you, boys, for performing ''52'' with great passion! I am reminded of myself when I watched your performance. Special shout-out to their center, June, for singing the clip during their dance. Check it out!"


    Lei''s hand shook as he clicked on their performance video.


    June''s soft voice filled the room. His fluent pronunciation was evident right off the bat, causing Lei to clench his fists in anger. Moreover, the boys performed so well that Lei couldn''t even counter thepliments that Jayden Chou had given.


    Thements, too, were unlike that of a regrizen. Most of them were positive! Where were the miserable people whomented negative things for the heck of it?


    - EVE! I have be a big fan after this one.


    - When are they going to debut in China?


    - Please release the Chinese version of Luster. I believe that it''s going to be a big hit!


    -I hope Azure can hear this! Let EVE debut in China, too!


    -Give the boys more opportunity here. You''re going to be richer if you do!


    - I came out of the Jade Music Festival as a new fan.


    - I watched the show as a Jayden Chou fan, and now I am also an EVE fan.


    - Were called astras!


    - Astras! I am now an astra.


    Lei couldn''t believe his eyes. As he scrolled through his phone, he saw their interviews and how June was practically fluent in Chinese. Lin Zhi had mentioned it to him before, but he didn''t know that it was to this extent.


    "My n...failed?" he muttered before bursting into chuckles.


    The video of EVE''s performance continued ying over and over again. Meanwhile, Lei continuedughing in disbelief, sounding like a manic person.


    Jay, who was outside of the room, could hear what was going on inside.


    He felt chills run down his spine as Lei''s crazyugh pierced through the door.


    Jay shook his head and stood straight before walking away from the room.


    "June was right."


    "This guy is crazy."

 Chapter 826: A Day In Beijing

    Chapter 826: A Day In Beijing


    ?


    June woke up with the scent of his members surrounding him.


    How does he know that?


    Let''s just say that it wasn''t consensual. He learned it against his own will.


    Casper, with the scent of grass and a little bit (a lot) of insanity.


    Jaeyong, with the scent ofundry and stress.


    Jisung, with the scent ofvender and snacks.


    Zeth and Ren, with manly body spray and some angst. Don''t ask why they smell the smell the


    same.


    Sehun, on the other hand, smelled like the cab of someone''s grandma. The type of grandma who knitted for a hobby and made hard cookies on a daily basis.


    And Akira? He smelled of nothing...unless his grippers were out.


    And in this case, they were, which was the reason why his slumber was interrupted in the first ce.


    With closed eyes, he groaned.


    "What are you guys doing here?" he asked, already sounding tired despite the long sleep he had.


    "Bro!" Jisung eximed, jumping to his bed and going under the covers. With that, he felt the other members flocking to him, too, making him groan in annoyance.


    He removed his sleeping mask and red at his members, who surrounded him like a bunch of scared hamsters.


    "June smells so good!" Jisung eximed, holding onto his homie''s arm. "He smells like baby cologne and home."


    Sehun frowned. "Home? What does home even smell like?"


    Jisung shrugged. "He just smells like home. I can''t describe it. This must be one of the reasons why so many people like him."


    "Pheromones?" Casper asked, causing June to frown.


    "What the heck is that?"


    Ren shook his head and ced his hand over June''s shoulder. "I think it''s best if you don''t find out."


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "Seriously, what are you guys doing here?"


    "It''s our day off!" Akira eximed. "We''re going to stay here in Beijing for one more day without any schedules, so why don''t we go out?"


    "Yeah!" Sehun chimed. "You know a lot about the country, so we reckoned that you also know some tourist spots."


    June pursed his lips. Of course, he knew the tourist spots around Beijing. He had explored the area plenty of times before in his past life.


    He found it troublesome to tour them around, so he wanted to decline.


    However, the boys looked at him with sparkling eyes, which melted June''s icy heart.


    "Fine," he said. "I''ll get ready in a few minutes."


    "Yay!" the boys eximed, even giving each other high fives.


    June shook his head and went to the bathroom to freshen up and change into his clothes. It didn''t take long since he had already taken a bath the night before.


    With that, he went out of the room, where he found his members lounging in his bed.


    "You''re right," Casper said, sniffing June''s nket. "He does smell like baby cologne and home."


    "Right?" Jisung eximed. "It''s very fitting."


    June clicked his tongue and hurriedly went to the bed to pull his nket away. Then, he folded it while ring at Casper and Jisung.


    "Where do you guys even want to go?" June asked as he continued fixing his bed.


    The boys didn''t respond and continued looking at him.


    June raised one of his eyebrows in inquiry. "What?" he asked.


    Zeth stood and circled around him, observing his outfit.


    "Isn''t this the outfit you wore at the airport?" he asked.


    Ren shook his head. "He had a different shirt. Oh, I think the sweatpants are slightly darker back then, too."


    June clicked his tongue and looked down at his outfit. "What''s it to you? I have more than ten sets of these."


    "Dang," the boys said in unison.


    "What?" June asked. "You don''t buy duplicates of your clothes? They''refortable and cheap, so I buy them when I get the chance."


    Zeth sighed and wrapped one arm around June''s shoulder. "I respect you, brother. Now, I totally get why you were able to sponsor our props for yesterday night''s stage."


    "Your money only goes to stuff like this," he said.


    June sighed and removed Zeth''s arm around his shoulder.


    "Just answer my question," he said. "Where do you guys want to go?"


    "Well, I''m hungry," Zeth said, rubbing his stomach. "Let''s eat some local food."


    "Yeah!" Akira said. "Something filling."


    June ced his hand under his chin, recalling the ces he had eaten when he visited Beijing


    with his gang before.


    Then, his mind automatically went to a ce that he frequented during those times.


    "Can you guys handle spicy food?" June asked.


    "Heck yeah!" Akira eximed.


    Meanwhile, Jisung shook his head. "I can''t, bro."


    "Don''t worry," June said. "I think they have a kiddie menu."


    "Aww, that''s perfect for Jisungie!" Ren said, patting the younger idol''s head.


    Jisung sighed and shook his head. "I''m not a kid, though."


    June ced on his mask and slung his backpack over his shoulders.


    "Come on," he said. "The ce is pretty popr, so we need to leave now before it bes


    filled."


    The boys turned to each other, excitement seen in their eyes.


    "It must be a really popr restaurant," Ren whispered excitedly.


    Sehun nodded. "June has good taste, so I have a lot of expectations."


    With that, the group of boys made their way down the hotel. They were at the very top, so it took a bit to get there."


    Then, as they arrived at the lobby, they found that the entrance was luded. Moreover, the hotel buffet, which was usually empty, was filled to the brim.


    Zeth frowned as he removed his sunsses. "Dang, is the hotel buffet actually good?"


    "Please leave! We cannot ept non-guests in the hotel," one of the staff members said.


    "We''re going to pay!"


    "We''ll book a room!"


    "We''re fully booked!" another staff eximed, trying to keep the situation calm.


    June gestured for the guys to stop, and they quickly followed.


    Ren narrowed his eyes at the hotel''s entrance. It seemed like there were plenty of people


    luding the door.


    "I don''t think only the hotel buffet is popr," he said. "The hotel itself must be popr."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong muttered. "All these people want a room here, huh?"


    June, however, felt like there was something strange.


    Then, when one of them turned to where they were, June finally realized why he felt strange.


    "Fuck," he muttered.


    "EVE! Guys, there''s EVE!"

 Chapter 827: EVEs Popularity Is No Joke

    Chapter 827: EVE''s Poprity Is No Joke


    ?


    "Shit!" Akira cursed, not knowing what to do.


    June acted quickly and went to the elevator to get it to open. However, since there were a total of 14 floors in the hotel, it took a while for it to go down.


    "June, open it," Jaeyong urged, but June could only do so much.


    The fans were getting closer and closer. The hotel staff tried to keep the situation at bay, but some still managed to break through the barriers and go to where EVE was.


    They started screaming in a foreignnguage, even going as far as getting Casper''s beanie. It all became a big blur as the members were surrounded by their new fans.


    Fortunately, before the damage could be fatal, the elevator door finally opened, and the members quickly went inside, with June blocking the fans.


    The doors closed, and it was only then that the members of EVE sighed.


    They were silent for a few moments, still internalizing the situation.


    Then Zeth looked at all of them before letting out a small chuckle.


    "Goodness," he said. "You guys look like a mess."


    Casper clicked his tongue. "Say that to yourself. Look at your shirt."


    Zeth looked down at his shirt and saw that there was a hole in his chest area. It seemed like someone had cut a piece of his shirt to keep as a souvenir.


    However, they cut his shirt at the most inconvenient ce. The nipple.


    Zeth let out a squeal as he covered his chest with his arms.


    Ren clicked his tongue, also looking at his loose shirt. It had been pulled in different ces, so it appeared three timesrger than the original size.


    Jisung, on the other hand, had missing buttons.


    "At this point, June is the most well-dressed out of all of us," he chimed.


    The other boys turned to June, and they found that he, indeed, appeared unscathed.


    "What the heck?" Zeth eximed. "Why do you look fine?"


    June shrugged and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "They didn''t touch me."


    The elevator doors finally opened, and they made their way back to June''s room once again.


    June sighed as he closed the door to his room. "I was really craving that dish, too," he muttered. "Who knew that we''d be mobbed even at this hotel?"


    "I think nobody expected it," Jaeyong said, scratching the back of his head. "We didn''t even call our guards since we didn''t have a problem yesterday."


    "That''s because nobody cared for us yesterday!" Ren eximed. "How the heck did our fans multiply in such a short amount of time?"


    Zeth smirked and shrugged. "I''m guessing it''s because of my performance yesterday."


    Ren rolled his eyes and ignored their narcissistic friend. "Anyway," he said, turning to June. "I still want to go to the restaurant you''re talking about."


    "Me too!" Akira eximed.


    "Me three," Jaeyong chimed.


    "Count the rest of us in."


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "How can we do that? We can''t even eat at the hotel buffet at this point."


    "Should we call our bodyguards?" Jaeyong asked.


    "It''s no fun," Jisung said. "I want to spend some quality time with you, guys."


    "What do you suggest then?" Zeth asked. "It''s true that we can''t go out there."


    Just then, Casper raised his hand.


    "I have an idea!" he eximed.


    "Oh no," Ren muttered, but Casper continued with his suggestion.


    "June, you said that you have ten sets of that, right?" he asked, pertaining to June''s outfit.


    June frowned but nodded nheless.


    "Well, it seems like people don''t think you''re a celebrity with such clothes. There are eight of us. We can wear one set each and go out in twos, and no one will even notice!"


    They turned silent for a moment.


    "No way," June said. However, his refusal was overridden by his members'' enthusiastic agreement.


    "Genius! I knew you were the smartest out of all of us," Zeth said. "Although the size wouldn''t match with some of us because June is a tiny hamster, I''m still down for the idea."


    "Thinking about it, he wasn''t mobbed at the Korean airport, too," Jisung said. "I''m also down for the idea."


    The others agreed that it was a genius idea.


    June stood from the bed and ced his hands on his waist. "You guys don''t even care about my opinion?" he asked.


    "Well, we don''t have any other choice," Jaeyong said, pulling out his ''leader'' tone.


    "We''re going to starve here. We''re growing adults. Don''t you want us to eat, June?" Jisung asked with puppy eyes. "Besides, didn''t you want to eat there, too? We''re all excited to eat at the restaurant with you."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. Out of all his members, he was the weakest


    against Jisung.


    Maybe it was because he knew how babyish the young man truly was, or maybe it was because he was the person who stood by his side since Rising Stars.


    With that, June finally nodded, causing the other boys to rejoice.


    "I''ve already worn one of the sets at the airport," June said. "I''m wearing one right now, and I need another one to wear at the airport tomorrow. So, there''s only seven avable sets." Casper stood and crossed his arms in front of his chest. There was a smile ying on his lips as he shook his head.


    "No problemo," he said. "I can just wear the one that you''ve worn."


    June was about to argue that it was weird, but it seemed like the others didn''t find it strange,


    so June had no choice but toply.


    June shook his head. "I hate it here," he muttered.


    "Aww, don''t lie!" Akira eximed. "I know that you love us."


    The boys all wore June''s clothes, and as Zeth said, they were a bit tight on Jaeyong, Sehun, Casper, and him. However, they all found itfortable.


    "I might start buying things like this," Akira said as he looked down at himself. "I mean, I


    look awful, but this is so dangfortable. It feels like I''m wearing nothing!"


    June sighed and shook his head. "Who''s going down first? Wait for us in front of the


    convenience store up front."


    Jisung yed with his fingers. "Are we sure that this is going to work?"


    With his utterance, the others doubted it, too, not wanting to go first.


    "Since I was the one who suggested it, I''ll go first with June," Casper said, walking to where


    June was.


    "Yeah, I think that''s for the best," Jaeyong said. "Text us when you get there."


    With that, June sighed and followed Casper to the hotel lobby.


    June was still a little bit apprehensive. With how meticulous fans were in this era, he was sure


    that they were going to find out one way or another.


    However, as they walked out of the hotel without a single eye ncing toward their way, June


    realized that his clothes must hold some kind of power.


    "Yay, my n worked!" Casper eximed.

 Chapter 828: Hole In The Wall Restaurant

    Chapter 828: Hole In The Wall Restaurant


    ?


    "Holy crap! That actually worked," Jisung eximed, sitting on the pavement as he felt the adrenaline leave his body.


    He was thest one to leave the hotel along with Ren, and it seemed like the people started bing suspicious when it was their turn. Fortunately, the crowd didn''t do anything and just let them pass through.


    "Told you it would work!" Casper eximed, still feeling excited since he got to wear June''s clothes.


    Meanwhile, someone dropped a bill in front of Jisung''s sitting figure, causing all of them to freeze.


    "Feed yourself and your friends, young man," the old woman said in a kind and worried voice.


    As she left, Jisung felt like crying.


    "At what expense, though? I was just mistaken as a beggar!"


    "Hey," Akira said, picking up the bill and seeing how much it was. "Don''t diss beggars like that. They''re still people."


    Jisung pursed his lips and didn''t say anything more.


    "Besides, this is 100-yuan!" Akira excitedly said. "Can we buy a meal with this one, June?"


    June grabbed the bill and nodded. "This would do. We''re going to a cheap ce."


    "It''s bound to get full soon," he continued. "Let''s go."


    With that, June started walking in the direction of the restaurant.


    Meanwhile, the other boys turned to each other with inquiring eyes.


    "A cheap restaurant?" Akira asked.


    "Maybe it''s a hole-in-the-wall kind of ce," Jaeyong excitedly chimed. "I love restaurants like those!"


    "Yeah, they have the best food," Ren added.


    "You said it was near, right?" Jisung asked.


    June nodded. "A ten-minute walk," he muttered.


    "That''s not too bad," Jisung smiled. "I''m really excited. I''m so hungry that I could eat a whole mammoth."


    "Right this way," June said, pointing to a narrow alleyway with cigarette butts scattered around.


    June smiled as he walked through the familiar pathway. Although he hadn''t been here for a long time, he still remembered it in the back of his mind.


    It seemed like muscle memory at this point.


    However, he stopped in his tracks when he didn''t feel anyone trailing behind him anymore.


    June turned around, his eyebrows raising in inquiry, when he saw the other boys with hesitant looks at the entrance of the alleyway.


    "Are you sure it''s here?" Jisung warily asked, already feeling afraid.


    June frowned and looked around before nodding. "Yes," he said. "We''re almost there."


    "Oh, it must be a shortcut!" Ren said.


    "Ah," the others sighed in relief. "Right. I am fond of shortcuts."


    With that, they followed after June once again.


    However, the deeper they got in the alleyway, the more they realized that maybe, just maybe, it wasn''t just a shortcut.


    Jisung felt a shiver run down his spine as a muscr, bald man cut meat on the side of the street.


    "That guy''s good at knives, so he became a butcher," June said, touring his friends like they were on a safari adventure.


    They quickly evaded their eyes as the butcher stabbed the meat with full strength, some of the blood sttering on his apron.


    "Now, that guy is good with chainsaws, so he''s doing metal work," June chuckled, remembering a funny story that involved the guy.


    Once again, the boys became nervous as the guy welded what seemed to be a window frame without wearing any goggles.


    "Are you guys seeing this?" Zeth whisper-shouted. "He''s raw-dogging the welding machine!"


    "Please never say that word again," Ren whispered back. "But you''re right. This is insane."


    Akira turned around and gulped. "Do you think it''s toote for us to go back?"


    "Oh, I can''t go back there without June," Zeth said.


    "Why the hell not?" Akira asked. "You have the biggest body among us here!"


    Zeth shook his head. "June''s the toughest here, if you think about it."


    "Oh, that guy," June chuckled, pertaining to another man. "He used to be a hitman, so he decided to do a funeral business."


    June continued chuckling, finding the irony funny.


    However, the boys continued to be silent.


    "How does he even know all this stuff?" Sehun whispered, feeling afraid of June, too.


    "I¡ªIs it still far?" Jisung stammered.


    "No, we''re here!" June happily eximed when he saw the familiar restaurant at the very end of the block.


    The boys sighed in relief. However, their relief quickly vanished when they saw the restaurant


    before them.


    "This...is the ce?" Jisung squeaked.


    June turned around and nodded. Their faces were luded with hoods, so June didn''t even notice that his members were already in distress.


    "Yeah, we''re here," June confirmed. "I told you it would be filled to the brim. Good thing there''s still one vacant table over there."


    June guided his hesitant members inside, where they sat in the middle of the room.


    The boys continued looking around, gulping when their eyes connected with a scary group of


    old men.


    The boys couldn''t believe June took them to such a ce. The small space was filled with


    people who appeared like they had troubled pasts!


    Jisung kept his gaze on the table while the others appeared visibly ufortable.


    "Ah, let me see," June said, grabbing the menu. "You don''t mind if I order for all of us,


    right?"


    "S¨Dsure," Akira said, still feeling apprehensive.


    "They increase their prizes, too" June whispered. "Intion is really crazy. It''s a good thing


    that these are still affordable."


    Meanwhile, the boys whispered among each other while June was busy scrutinizing the


    menu.


    "Maybe we should have stayed at the hotel instead," Jaeyong whispered.


    "Yeah, the mob was actually a blessing in disguise," Zeth chimed.


    "Come to think of it, this is Casper''s fault. He shouldn''t have suggested that we dress in these


    clothes!" Akira added.


    "You guys approved of the idea," Casper retaliated.


    "Come on, guys. Don''t fight. It''s already scary as it is," Jisung said.


    He looked around but quickly directed his gaze to the table.


    The boys were in a dilemma.


    They trusted June to bring them to a good restaurant.


    And although the small space smelled incredible with different spices, meats, and vegetables,


    they couldn''t shake off the feeling of being uneasy.


    Zeth looked around, not being able to take his curiosity. Then, he froze when he made eye


    contact with arge, burly man.


    Zeth was a buff dude, but the guy before him was a different story.


    "Zeth, stop looking!" Ren eximed. However, it was toote.


    The man was already heading toward their way with clenched fists and a menacing


    expression.


    "Oh no," Zeth muttered. "He''s going to fucking beat us up!"


    "You shouldn''t have looked him in the eye!" Ren whisper-shouted. "June, June, help us," Jaeyong said, but June was too preupied with the menu.


    "I miss eating all of this," he chuckled, his members appearing like dust. Then, the man finally arrived at their table and mmed his fist on the old wood. "What are ya looking at, huh?"

 Chapter 829: The Hottest Rising Boy Group

    Chapter 829: The Hottest Rising Boy Group


    ?


    The man definitely didn''t look amused.


    Despite some of the boys being gym buffs, they felt like they couldn''t hold a candle against the bald man.


    Moreover, it seemed like the other customers inside the restaurant knew the man very well, and they turned to the members of EVE with inquiring and suspicious eyes.


    "June," Jisung shakily said, finally snapping him out of his daze.


    June looked up and saw his members looking at him with wide eyes-like they were asking for help.


    Then, he turned to the side, where the scary man stood, his eyes also widening in surprise when he saw who it was.


    "Chen Chen?" he eximed, remembering the man''s name.


    The burly man frowned as soon as the stranger mentioned his name. The other boys also became even warier, wondering what June was going to pull.


    "How do you know my name?" Chen Chen asked.


    June shook his head as he looked at hisrge figure. It felt like yesterday when Chen Chen only reached up to his chest. However, he towered over him now!


    "I saw you on the news," June said, knowing that their restaurant was popr because of their original recipes and that they''ve been featured plenty of times by food vloggers, critics, and even one of the American Presidents.


    June knew Chen Chen on a personal level before, though, but he decided not to divulge such information.


    "Oh," Chen Chen said, his expression softening. "Thank you. I saw you guys looking toward my way, so I reckoned that you wanted to order."


    June nodded. "We''ll have the whole roast duck, two servings of Jiaozi, and the spicy hotpot. Can we also have the Jiang Jiang Rousing and the spicy braised chicken feet? Yeah, I think that would be enough."


    "Oh,stly, some sugarcane juice for all the boys."


    Chen Chen smiled in satisfaction. "It seems like you know our best dishes here, brother. Do youe here often?"


    June shook his head. "No, not really. We''re from Korea. I just admire your restaurant a lot." Chen Chen''s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh wow! I didn''t know that our restaurant was that popr. Well, I''ll have the dishes ready in no time. Just hang still with the other brothers." June nodded and sat back down, now facing his anxious teammates.


    "What did he say?" Akira asked. "Did he want to pick a fight?"


    "Pick a fight?" June asked. "Why would Chen Chen do that? He''s a sweet guy. He just wanted to take our orders."


    "Sweet guy?" Zeth asked. "He walked so menacingly toward us just now!"


    "That''s just how he is," June said, brushing theirments off.


    "It still bothers me how June knows so much about this ce," Ren whispered.


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement.


    June smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Maybe I lived in this country in my past life."


    The boys turned silent for a few moments before bursting into chuckles.


    Casper raised one hand. "But I do think it''s possible."


    "Anyway," June said, clearing his throat and changing the topic.


    "Chen Chen is really sweet. In fact, the people here are all pretty kind. The restaurant has been open for more than 90 years, courtesy of Chen Chen''s great grandpa, and it was originally catered to the people in the neighborhood."


    "They served great food at a cheap price to help people who couldn''t afford such meals. As years passed by, they became more popr because of the quality of the dishes. However, their price increase had been reasonable thus far, and it''s still frequented by the neighborhood because of this."


    "Chen Chen, over there, is his father''s apprentice and is working to inherit the business. Although he''s only 18 years old-"


    "What?" the boys couldn''t stop themselves from shouting, drawing the attention of the other


    customers.


    They quickly bowed for the noise and turned to June with wide eyes.


    "He''s only 18?" Sehun whisper-shouted.


    June nodded. "Yeah, he''s pretty famous on Weibee, too."


    Zeth leaned back against his seat and let out a deep sigh. "I can''t believe I got scared by an 18- year-old."


    Just then, Chen Chen came back with a trolley full of food.


    "Brothers, here are the things you''ve ordered," he said with a wide smile. Looking at him like this, he actually looked like a cute 18-year-old.


    He ced the food on the table, and it was then that the boys realized why the restaurant was always full.


    The scent of the meat, herbs, and spices wafted over their senses, making them even hungrier than they were.


    "I added a dessert on the house," Chen Chen said, making June beam.


    "Thanks, bro," he said. "We''ll enjoy it well."


    With that, the boys started removing their hoods to eat the food that had been given to them.


    As soon as the first dish hit their taste buds, the boys became enamored, and they ate like they had been starved for days.


    "It''s spicy, but I like it so much," Jisung said.


    "What''s this? It tastes so good yet healthy. I don''t feel guilty eating this," Zeth added.


    "I knew it," Ren muttered. "June really has the best taste."


    June''s eyes also widened as he tasted some of the dumplings. Although he had already tasted such dishes before, he still couldn''t shake off his amazement.


    There was a reason why it became his favorite restaurant in Beijing in the first ce!


    The members of EVE continued to eat without a care in the world, oblivious to the attention


    that they were currently getting.


    "Oh, what a group of handsome young men."


    "How can we be blessed so early in the morning?"


    Chen Chen, too, froze in his tracks as he looked at the handsome and beautiful face of the


    brother who had ordered from him.


    He was the epitome of an angel!


    Chen Chen felt touched that someone like him admired their restaurant so much.


    However, as the chatter increased in the restaurant, Chen Chen began to realize that these


    handsome men were not ordinary citizens.


    "Wait-have you seen Jayden Chou''s Post yesterday?"


    "Aren''t they the kids that he posted?"


    "Oh, the one who performed 52?"


    Chen Chen quickly went to the angelic brother and patted his back, interrupting his meal.


    "You''re EVE! You guys are the hottest rising boy group in the country!"

 Chapter 830: Down-To-Earth Icons

    Chapter 830: Down-To-Earth Icons


    ?


    "Ah, that was a good meal," Akira said, feeling satisfied as he patted his stomach.


    "Yeah, I almost doubted June for a second there, but he pulled through in the end," Zeth added.


    "Moral of the story: never doubt June," Jisung chimed. "I think he''s already proven himself over and over."


    The others nodded in agreement.


    "It''s also good that we weren''t mobbed at the restaurant," Jaeyong smiled. "The people were respectful and didn''t even want to disturb us. Chen Chen is a sweet kid, too."


    June smirked. "Told you."


    "Well, what do you guys want to do now?" Akira asked. "I don''t want to go back to the hotel just yet. It also appears like our disguise is still working since nobody has approached us." "Calling my clothes as a disguise," June muttered. "Where do you want to go? We need to take a cab if you want to go to some historical sites."


    "Nah, I don''t think we can have a tour like that," Sehun said. "It would be too much of a waste since we need to prepare for our early flight tomorrow in a few."


    "Yeah, something along the neighborhood would be nice," Ren said.


    June stopped when he saw a familiar scenery not far from them.


    "Do you guys want to go there?" he asked, pointing toward it.


    "A yground?" Jisung asked with bright eyes.


    June nodded. "It''s a yground just for adults."


    The boys excitedly turned to each other. "Heck yeah!" Akira eximed. "Race you there!"


    The group of eight boys ran to the yground, just ying to their hearts'' content.


    For a moment, they forgot that they were idols and became just a regr group of people having fun.


    The smiles on their faces couldn''t be painted as they continued to y, some passerbys also enjoying the sound of theirughter.


    Meanwhile, they were oblivious to the craze that they had created in the country.


    ***


    Azure Entertainment''s staff were currently in a meeting for the ns for thest two quarters of the year.


    They were discussing LUNAIRE''s variety show appearances when the news of their stocks going up suddenly broke in the room.


    "This is crazy," Ted eximed. "With LUNAIRE''s debut, our investors have increased by 10%. They''re really a monster group!"


    "It just went up to 15%," one of the graph analysts said.


    Lei''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. It seemed like his n of having LUNAIRE take him to the top was actually working. He also wasn''t afraid of using the members of EVE, but he needed to get rid of June and ruin his career as discretely as possible as he did with Lin Zhi''s.


    "I think it''s because of this!" Mari chimed. "EVE is trending in China for the second time in the day, and this time, it''s because of their kindness."


    Lei maintained a neutral expression while the others buzzed in excitement.


    Jay proudly nodded. "My boys were seen eating in a local restaurant that''s well-loved by everybody, and they were praised for their good attitudes. Moreover, the song ''52'' is trending in their music tforms while Luster is quickly climbing up the charts despite it being a foreign song!"


    Lei couldn''t believe his ears.


    He had sent EVE to the Jade Music Festival so they would be humiliated! Then, he would use that humiliation to make them into his pawns.


    However, it seemed like nothing was going his way.


    With that, he smiled and chuckled in what seemed like a genuine manner.


    "I''m happy that the boys are being praised over there," he said.


    The others nodded. "We have to look into theireback soon. I believe this would be a great time to capitalize on their poprity," Mari chimed, already feeling excited for their next album.


    The room was filled with positive reactions after Mari''s suggestion.


    Lei continued smiling; however, in the back of his mind, he only had one thought.


    For their nexteback, he didn''t want June to be a part of it.


    In fact, he wanted June gone.


    In EVE.


    In Azure.


    In the whole entertainment industry.


    ***


    After a fulfilling stay in China, the boys were now on their way back to their home country.


    "I''m going to miss this ce," Jisung said as they drove to the airport.


    "Yeah, it was fun ying with you guys, even if it was only for a short while," Jaeyong said with an emotional smile.


    Ren shook his head. "Please don''t start crying on us now," he teased.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips and looked outside the window to stop his eyes from tearing up. The trip made him realize how he wanted to travel the world with the boys and share good music with people who loved them.


    Moreover, it just instilled in him that they were a family and that being apart for things like this was going to be a miserable thing.


    They finally arrived at the airport, and Sehun was about to leave the car when June suddenly stopped him.


    "What''s wrong?" Sehun asked. The other boys also turned to June with inquiring eyes.


    "Those people," June started off, his gaze focused on therge crowd before them. "Are they


    here for us?"


    The boys also gazed outside and saw a huge group of people behind two barricades with banners in their hands.


    "I think they are," Jaeyong muttered. "I saw the word EVE on one of the banners."


    The security guard smiled. "They are here for you, boys. I was afraid that you guys were going


    to be mobbed again, but it seems like the airport staff had arranged these great security measures for all of you," he chimed.


    The boys turned to each other in pleasant surprise.


    They loved their fans very much, but at the same time, they didn''t want to be mobbed like


    they did at Incheon Airport.


    So, seeing such efforts from people who weren''t even from theirpany touched their


    hearts.


    "Shall we head out?" June asked.


    The boys nodded, and they finally made their way out of the car.


    June was still wearing hisfortable clothes, but the fans didn''t seem to mind, only finding


    him more rtable.


    There were a lot of guards in the area, so everything was orderly. The members happily waved their hands as they made their way through, not being able to stop smiling.


    At that moment, June felt like they had won again.


    "You''ve failed, Lei," he muttered in amusement. At the end of the day, the public was on their side.

 Chapter 831 A Fashion Craze

    831 A Fashion Craze


    The boys couldn''t shake off the smiles on their faces as they settled into their ne seats. There were fewer people on the flight back home, so it was essentially only them and the rest of their staff members. "Ah, that was an experience that I won''t forget," Zeth said as the ne took off. "Same," Jaeyong said. "I already want toe back here as soon as possible." "Well, our world tour is bound toe out soon, right?" Jisung asked. "OCTA''s already going on a tour by next month." "I think we need a neweback before any of that," Ren chimed. "We need at least three albums for us to have a full setlist." "Hmm," June nodded in agreement. "Now that LUNAIRE''s debut is done, do you think we could talk to Lei about oureback?" Jisung asked. "I think so," Zeth said, scratching the back of his neck. "It''s been long overdue. We need to do the preparations if we want to release it by October or November¡ªjust in time for our anniversary." "Gosh darn," Casper muttered. "We''ve been together for that long already?" "Yeah, can''t believe it," Akira said. "That''s longer than all my past rtionships." "Correction¡ªyour only one rtionship," Jaeyong teased. "Which didn''t even count since the girl didn''t agree to be your girlfriend." Akira narrowed his eyes at Jaeyong. "Don''t bring up the past." Jaeyong raised his hands in surrender. "You were the one who brought it up in the first ce!" "Anyway," June said, clearing his throat. "I think it''s best if we start brainstorming for the album, too. I don''t know how much freedom we''re going to be given for this particr album since Ted is still with us, but now that Mr. Ong is out of the picture, I believe we would be able to have more input regarding it." Ren nodded excitedly. "I actually have a few tracks that I feel have potential. Nothing title-track worthy yet, but they''d make pretty good B-side tracks." "I heard some of the songs, and they''re good," Zeth said. "I have some verses written out, too, so we can include that." "Great," Jaeyong chimed. "I like the enthusiasm." "Well, we''re only bound to be doing this for two years more after our one-year anniversary. We should make the most of it and bring out the best we can. Thest album''s title track was a bit of a bummer, but I''m d that Luster was there to save the day," Ren said. Jisung sighed. "Don''t count our time left together now," he said. "I don''t even want to think about it." Ren''s eyes widened, and he quickly patted the precious youngest member''s head. "Sorry, Jisungie," he said. "It just came out before I could stop myself. Why don''t we talk about something else, huh?" Jisung nodded, already feeling much better. "Instead of talking about our inevitable disbandment, don''t you think it''s better to talk about June''s issue?" Akira asked. The boys turned to him in curiosity. "June''s issue?" Casper asked. "June has be the country''s angel in just two days. He doesn''t have an issue!" "In China, that is," Akira smiled. "But remember the articles regarding his airport outfit before we arrived at our hotel?" The boys froze as they recalled the events. "Crap," Jaeyong muttered. "We couldn''t monitor the situation because we were busy with the festival!" Casper brought out his phone but realized that they were high in the air. "Weren''t thest articles bad?" Sehun asked. "Some people called himzy and a bad example." "People are so weird," Ren said, clicking his tongue. "What''s it to them if June wears somethingfortable to the airport? It''s not like he''s naked or something!" "Although, I think they''d like that even more," Casper remarked, causing the boys to re at him. He raised his hands in surrender before turning to June. "Don''t worry, June!" he eximed. "We''ll protect you from the nasty articles!" The other members nodded in agreement, showing their determination. June merely shook his head. It wasn''t like he cared too much about such a scandal. He had been involved in drug, dating, bullying, and maniption rumors. He could care less about how people viewed his outfits! A few hourster, they finally arrived in their home country. As they made their way out of immigration, it was only then that the exhaustion hit them. "I hope we won''t be mobbed this time," Jaeyong sighed, already wanting to hit his bed. "Hmm," Zeth hummed, putting on his sunsses. "I honestly don''t have the energy to interact with anyone right now¡ªmuch less get mobbed again." The other boys nodded, also wanting to go back to their dorm as soon as possible. As they walked through the airport, though, they felt that something was strange. A tall girl with ck clothes passed by them, and they couldn''t help but find her familiar. "I think I''ve seen her before," Jisung muttered. Just then, another familiar figure passed through. A short man in an all-gray outfit passed by them this time, and the others wondered where they had seen such people before. Meanwhile, June kept his gaze on the ground, also feeling sleepy since they woke up early for their flight. "What''s happening?" Zeth eximed. "I feel like I''m in a simtion!" "Was the response positive after all?" Ren asked, looking around at all the familiar people. Then, they finally arrived outside of the airport, where more people were waiting. Fortunately, the airport decided to ce barricades this time, already aware of the chaos that happened during EVE''s departure. However, the barricades couldn''t hide the obvious. "No wonder they''re so familiar," Casper said. "They all look like June." June, hearing his name, finally lifted his head, only to be met with people who looked like him. "What¡­is this?" he muttered, unable to believe his eyes. Well, they weren''t his doppelganger, per say. However, the way they dressed was eerily simr to the outfit June was wearing at the moment. The boys looked at the crowd with wide eyes.


    "I haven''t seen this many people rocking oversized shirts before," Sehun chuckled. Jisung excitedly turned to June and shook his arms. "Did you just create a fashion trend?"  N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 832 A Piece Of Land

    832 A Piece Of Land


    "Why can''t we find June''s shirt anywhere?" Jia eximed out of frustration. The girls were out in the mall with shopping bags in their hands. Bora sighed. "Well, it did look pretty old. I''m guessing they''ve already discontinued it." Jia slumped in disappointment before adding a new oversized shirt to her basket. They quickly paid for it and went to look for a restaurant so they could eat their lunch. As they walked around the mall, they were amused by the amount of people who were wearing the same style as them. Bora shook her head in amusement. "June just really created a new fashion craze, huh?" Meanwhile, Cindy, who had just arrived at Azure''s building, frowned when she saw so many people dressed like they were in thefort of their homes. "Goodness," she said to her assistant as she sat on her chair, her gaze focused on herptop. "Why are kids dressed sofortably these days? Jia was the same when she went out of the house a while ago." Then, she looked up, only to see her assistant wearing the same thing. Her assistant smiled and ced her coffee on the table. "Oh, this is the new trend¡ªdressing forfort!" she excitedly eximed. "So many people want to look good these days, and most are just pretentious. We already live in difort, so we might as well befortable with our clothes, right?" Cindy pursed her lips. "I guess," she said. "Who made this trend, though?'' Her assistant beamed. "It''s June, of course! That man has everyone in a chokehold these days." Cindy froze before bursting intoughter. She shook her head in amusement. "That boy, really." Meanwhile, the members of EVE were ted that June''s dreaded airport fashion turned out to be positive. They were in their living room, watching the reruns of ''Everyday, Everynight,'' as they ate the fried chicken that Jay had ordered. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jaeyong chuckled as Jay dropped some of the sauce on his clothes. However, since it was all-ck, it didn''t really show. "So, you''re also sporting June''s fashion now, huh?" Jaeyong asked. Jay smirked. "This is the shit nowadays, boys. You should really rmend some good ces where I can buy such clothes in June. I''ve never felt sofortable in my entire life!" June clicked his tongue, shaking his head. He wanted to order a batch of his favorite ck shirt because Casper ripped one, but he saw that it was sold out. "No way," June said, taking a bite of the chicken and focusing his gaze on the television. "Anyway, what happened while we were gone?" Jisung asked. "Well, LUNAIRE''s debut was a sess," Jay smiled. "They''re going to perform in music shows for three weeks, and it''s predicted that they''re going to have their first win soon." "Nice," Akira eximed. "As you all know, June has created a fashion craze, and nearly everyone is wearing hisfortable clothes," Jay continued. "However, aside from June, there''s another person who trended over the weekend," he added. "Who?" June asked. Jay pursed his lips before revealing the person. "Lei," he answered. ***


    "The most rtable CEO eats street food after a busy day!" "Lei, the new CEO of Azure Entertainment, is this month''s cover of GG Korea, showing off his muscr body!" "A glimpse into the life of Lei, the hunky CEO of Azure that everybody loves!" "From charity projects to being a supportive CEO, Lei does it all." "They''re thirsting over our CEO?" Jisung asked with a small frown. "Well, to be fair, he is pretty good-looking," Jay muttered, earning weird looks from the other boys. "I kind of agree," Akira said, his facade cracking. "Everyone seems to love him," Jay continued, biting his lip as he looked at June. June shrugged before focusing his attention on his chicken leg. Again, it wasn''t too much of a surprise. Lei was known to be charismatic even when he still identified as Laohu. He had the kind of charm that encapsted the public. He was damn good at hiding his real intentions, too. Because EVE was a group that the public loved, Lei must have wanted to have the same trait. June shook his head in amusement. "He must be making his move soon," he muttered.


    ***


    In therge office of Azure''s CEO¡­ Lei couldn''t stop smiling as he read through thements of the articles that were posted about him. "Two could y that game," he whispered as he watched their stocks rise once again. Just then, his assistant, Dan, entered his office. Dan was also his co-worker at Phoenix Entertainment, so he was aware of Lei''s intentions. "Sir," Dan said, bowing his head as he sat on one of the chairs before Lei. Lei took a sip from his tea before crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Yes?" Lei asked. Dan chuckled as he ced his tablet on the table. "It seems like it had worked, sir. The public loves you, and your employees are praising you for being a great CEO." "48 billion won," Dan smiled. 08:33


    Lei''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Doable," he muttered. "We need to acquire thisnd at all cost." "Well, of course," Lei smiled. "It will only go uphill from here." Dan nodded in agreement. "Now, I know that you want to expand your domain in the industry, and Azure is finally ranked third out of all entertainmentpanies. We have finally beat TopStar and Harmony in terms of ranking." "Only ESPER and Phoenix are above us in terms of stocks," Dan continued. Lei smirked. "It''s only a matter of time before we surpass them too." "Hmm," Dan hummed. "However, before we do that, I believe that an expansion is necessary." Lei''s eyebrows raised in intrigue. "I''m listening." Dan smirked as he showed a photo of a huge demolished lot. "This is a 4,500-square-meter lot in the heart of Seoul. It is located in a growing business district, which has been acquired by other businesses. I believe this would be a great start to expanding Azure Entertainment." "Not a lot of people know about this, so we need to consider ourselves lucky, sir." "Moreover, it is owned by an individual who couldn''t take the renovation costs, so she''s selling it for a reasonable price." "Considering it is still arge piece ofnd, we need to have a huge investor." "Hmm," Lei hummed. "How much?" "48 billion won," Dan smiled. Lei''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Doable," he muttered. "We need to acquire thisnd at all cost." Dan nodded and scrolled to another photo¡ªa logo of a familiarpany. "And I have just the investor¡ªStar Motors. They recently signed a billion-dor contract with an international oilpany, and I heard they''re looking for something to invest in." "And the best part is¡ªthe CEO, Minsoo Kim, is known for holding private parties in his club in Cheongdam-dong every now and then." The smile on Lei''s face couldn''t be erased. "I see," he said. "He must be looking for a new muse." Dan mirrored his smile. "Exactly."

 Chapter 833 Dan Ahn

    833 Dan Ahn


    "I don''t know if I could do this anymore," Jay eximed as he arrived at the dorm of the boys. The boys went out from the kitchen and found their manager on the floor of the living room, appearing like all the life had left his eyes. "Does anybody want to ask what''s wrong with him?" Akira asked. The boys evaded Akira''s gaze and was about to make their way back to the kitchen, where June was preparing dinner, when Jay started ranting about his busy schedule. "I thought I would be happier with a higher position, but it turns out to be false! I''m getting paid a little more for doing a whole lot more!" "Well, that''s what a promotion entails in the corporate world," Sehun said. "Unless you''re at the very top of thedder, you''ll spend your whole life just doing more work." Jay shook his head, pping his cheeks. "I can''t even apany you guys to your schedules anymore," he sulked. "Dinner''s ready!" June eximed. The boys ignored Jay''s rants and went to their dining room, eagerly waiting for June to ce the food on the table. Jay sighed and followed after them, still feeling a bit down. However, when June ced a steaming bowl of curry rice before him, a huge smile appeared on his face. He looked at the handsome idol with a teary smile and held onto his arm. "You''re really the best," he said. June shook his head in amusement. "Eat up," he smiled. "You''ve worked hard." With that, June also took a seat, listening to thefortable chatter. "Anyway, what were you talking about again?" Akira asked after a while. Jay sighed, his shoulders slumping. "My workload!" he eximed. "It''s so freaking hard. I have to look through other artists'' schedules now. Fortunately, LUNAIRE has a new manager, and she''s actually pretty good with her work. I think I''ve seen her before too¡ªAnn, was it?" June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Intern Ann?" he eximed. "Ah!" Jay eximed. "That''s why she looks so familiar. Indeed, she''s the intern who used to work for Rising Stars. Seems like she''s back in thepany." June nodded, feeling slightly relieved. Even if Ann was a little clumsy, he knew that she could be trusted with the girls. "Anyway, because of that, I have some free time next week. I''ll be able to apany our tall line to their brand shoot." "Tall line?" Akira asked. "You guys already know who those are," Jay deadpanned. Akira pursed his lips and continued devouring the curry. "We also have a schedule that day, right?" Jisung said. "Yes," Jay confirmed. "You have an appearance on a YouWatch show. You''ll be visiting that famous guy''s gym."


    Zeth sighed. "I''m still upset that you guys were invited to that show and not me." "Well, the objective of the show is to have people who suck at the gym try out new machines," Sehun said. "It''s only fitting that the short line is going." "I can''t believe I''m part of the short line when I''m 180 cm," Ren muttered. "June should have joined us then," Akira eximed. "He''s the shortest here!" June lifted his head and sighed. "Do you guys want me to stop cooking dinner for all of you?" They all turned silent. Jay chuckled. "Yeah, it would be iconic if June went. However, June has a separate schedule. As the center of EVE, he''s been asked to represent the team for the new opening of Azure Cafe." "Ah, right. That''s tomorrow," Casper said. "Lei is putting in some work," Akira chimed. "The cafe is already a huge topic since our fans can dine with our holograms for a very expensive prize." Casper tilted his head to the side. "I honestly don''t think that''s a good idea." "Me too," Jay said. "But, they seem to think that nothing''s fine with it. Besides, we''re the very first entertainmentpany to do something like it, so they think it''s revolutionary." "Anyway, that would be in the afternoon, so you''ll be the first one to arrive here, June." "The short line is going to the video-shoot in the evening while the tall line will stay overnight in Busan, where the photoshoot will take ce." June nodded. "Yeah, got it. Who''s going to apany me?" "Well, since my assistant manager will apany the short line, you''ll be joined by Dan." "Dan?" June asked.


    "Yeah," Jay said. "He''s Lei''s new assistant. He''ll be the one to drive you to and from the cafe. I''ve also asked Ann to look over you." June nodded. "Got it," he said. ***


    It was the next day, and the tall line was already in Busan for their photoshoot. The short line were resting for their shoot in the evening, while June was waiting for Dan to pick him up in the parking lot. While waiting for Dan, June quickly texted Bo Wen for a background check. He managed to get Dan''s full name from Jay, and the guy''s social media seemed pretty decent. However, June felt like he needed to be wary with anyone who was connected to Lei. Just then, a sleek-looking ck car appeared right before him. June''s eyebrows raised in surprise as Dan came out of the limousine. "Long time no see," Dan muttered, yet June was able to hear him. "June," he said with a bow. "Sorry for making you wait. I had to drop off Sir Lei at the events ce before anything else." June pursed his lips and bowed. "It''s alright," he said. "Thank you for apanying me today." Dan smiled widely as he opened the door for June. "It''s my honor, sir," he said. June held onto the door and shook his head. "You don''t have to do things like this," he said. Dan chuckled and nodded in understanding. "Got it, sir." With that, June entered the car along with Dan. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    June put on his seatbelt while Dan waited for him. "By the way, you''ve be much better than I thought," Dan said, catching June by surprise. "Better?" he asked. "Prettier," Dan said. "You''re prettier in real life. I bet you have a lot of admirers." June pursed his lips and slowly nodded. "Well, idols are expected to be pretty, right?" "Right," Dan chuckled. With that, he finally started the car and drove to the site of the cafe. It wasn''t that far. In fact, it was a small building right next to Azure Entertainment. June gazed outside the window as he waited for them to arrive. Just then, he received a text from none other than Bo Wen. He opened his phone and quietly read his text. Baldie: Dan? Dan Ahn? He also transferred there? Well, he is close with Lei.


    Baldie: Dan used to work here in Phoenix.

 Chapter 834 A Manager He Trusts

    834 A Manager He Trusts


    As expected, you can never fully rely on one''s first impression. Although Dan appeared like a good man, June knew there was something beneath the surface.


    June raised his head and saw Dan ncing at him with a smile. "Water?" he asked. "I have some prepared in thepartment." June nodded and opened thepartment, grabbing one of the water bottles before taking a swig. "Thanks," he said. With that, he looked at Bo Wen''s new texts. Baldie: Watch out for him. He''s been working with Phoenix for a long time, and he suddenly left. June: What did he do before? Baldie: Recruitment. He''s in charge of recruiting new trainees and setting their schedules. June frowned as soon as he read Bo Wen''s texts. "We''re here," Dan said, so June quickly ced his phone inside his pocket, straightening his posture. They had arrived at the Azure building, and not far from them was the new cafe. Mr. Ong acquired the small space next to the building under Azure''s name, and it seemed like he had furnished it, too. However, it was Lei who officially opened it. In turn, he was highly praised by the public for being a fast worker. June shook his head with a smirk. As expected of him. "Let''s go?" Dan said, snapping him out of his thoughts. June nodded and opened the door. As soon as the sunlight hit his face, there were squeals surrounding the area. Some fans wanted to witness the opening, and seeing June sent them into a frenzy. "Omo! It''s June." "I didn''t think that he would be here!" "I just wanted to see what the new cafe looked like. It seems like I''m really blessed." June smiled and waved at the fans, who were still squealing in excitement. A lot of them were sporting hiszy style, making him even more amused. They finally entered the cafe, where June saw Lei, Jeemin, Ann, and other important stakeholders of thepany. "There he is!" Lei eximed, walking over to June and patting his shoulder. "Looks like we''replete," Lei smiled. June smiled at the attendees before going to where Jeemin and Ann were. They were the ones he trusted the most. Ann appeared excited as he stood next to her. However, she contained her excitement and merely bowed at June. Lei stood in the middle of the spacious cafe, where an elevated tform was. He tapped the microphone and smiled at the crowd. "Thank you, everyone, foring to Azure''s first-ever idol cafe. This will be the one of many," he started off. "I thank the past and present idols of Azure, as well as the other artists under thebel, for making this possible. We wouldn''t have done it without you." "For now, we shall conduct the ribbon-cutting ceremony beforeing back here for a small celebration. Then, Azure cafe will officially open its doors to our customers tomorrow!" The crowd pped as Lei raised his ss in the air. With that, they made their way outside. The people were disappointed when the old, crusty board members were the first ones to appear. Then, the screams increased when Jeemin and June made their way outside, capturing some of the passersby''s attention. Ann chuckled in amusement. "You''re popr as usual," she muttered. June shook his head in amusement, a small smile ying on his lips. However, his smile quickly fell when Lei made his way outside, also eliciting screams from the crowd. It wasn''t as loud as that of June''s and Jeemin''s, but it still made June realize that he was facing against a strong opponent. Lei smiled at the crowd, appearing kinder than a saint, before initiating the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A few more boring speechester, the ceremony was finally done, and they were back in the cafe to test the new food. June went to the table and grabbed a cupcake with his face on it. Jeemin chuckled as June stared at the cupcake. "Are you weirded out?" she asked. June looked at her and shrugged, taking a bite out of the cupcake. "Being in the idol industry for almost a year, this might be one of the tamest things I''ve encountered," June said. Jeemin chuckled and grabbed some of the fruits. "Well, isn''t it weird to be eating yourself?" June shook his head. "It''s much weirder if I ate my members." Jeemin chuckled once more. Ann arrived where they were, holding a cup with EVE''s logo as thette art. "June, it''s been a while," she greeted. June smiled and slightly bowed. "Ann," he said. "Yeah, you''re back in Azure." Ann chuckled. "Well, my film degree wasn''t paying the bills. Thankfully, my experience in Azure put me on edge for this managerial position." "Wee back," June said. "I trust you to take care of the girls." Ann nodded. "Of course," she smiled. "You already know how I am." "I need to go the restroom," Jeemin suddenly said, excusing herself. However, before she could take a single step forward, Ann held onto her wrist. "I''ll apany you," she said. Jeemin chuckled. "Are you sure?" "Yes," Ann said in a resolute voice. "There''s a lot of weird people here," she continued, looking around. "You don''t know what will happen to you." June nodded in approval. It really did seem like Ann knew a lot about the industry and cared about the girls. "We''ll be back, June," Ann said. June hummed. "Take care." With that, June was left all alone again, just observing the room. He heard a familiarugh, making him frown. He turned to the side and saw Danughing with what seemed to be the investors of the new cafe. For a moment, it seemed like they were all looking at June with intrigue. However, it was gone in a split second. June kept his gaze on Dan, who interacted with the investors like it was his expertise. "Thatugh," he muttered. He couldn''t shake away the feeling that he had heard hisugh before. Just then, June''s head ached, his eyebrows furrowing. Memories shed in the back of his mind, with Dan''sughter being the focal point of it all. Then, Danughed once again, snapping June back to reality. "Recruitment," June muttered. "Trainees¡­," he continued. Dan''s words also echoed in his mind. "Long time no see." "You''ve be much better than I thought." "Prettier." So, that was why he spoke like they had met before. "He had stic surgery," June muttered. However, hisugh was still familiar. Dan Ahn was the guy who allowed Choi Joon-ho''s first kiss. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 835: June At The Club?

    ?


    "These are our trainees from Phoenix Entertainment."


    "They don''t have the prettiest faces, but they will do, right?"


    "You can just close your eyes if you want to, but they do have a lot of potential."


    June felt a shiver run down his spine as a part of his memories resurfaced once again. Truly, Choi Joon-ho had gone through unimaginable things as a trainee.


    June was sure that Lei already knew of such information. Once the public found out more about his past, June was sure that his career would be tarnished-even if it wasn''t even his fault.


    The thing that was probably holding them back was theck of evidence.


    The kind of evidence that would only indict June and not their precious selves.


    "They don''t have that kind of evidence," he muttered.


    Unless...


    June''s eyes strayed toward Dan once more, and at that moment, it seemed as if he was looking at him, too.


    Dan smiled at him, to which he responded with a small nod before looking away.


    Unless there was a reason why June was called on his own here with Dan.


    ***


    A few more boring conversationster, the event had finallye to an end.


    The sun had already set when the higher-ups decided to wrap the party up. In the absence of the public''s participation, they decided to bring out some alcohol.


    June was enjoined by them, but he denied, knowing that there were still fans waiting outside the cafe.


    From his periphery, he saw Dan speaking with Lei, but he acted like he couldn''t see such a


    scene.


    "June," Ann said. "Jeemin and I are heading out now. She has a shoot early in the morning."


    June straightened his posture and nodded. "Take care. See you when I see you."


    Ann nodded. "We''ll definitely see each other more now."


    Jeemin also waved her hand at June. "Thanks for apanying us, senior."


    June bowed and watched as they left.


    Just in time, he felt someone pat his back. He turned to Dan with a curt smile.


    "You ready to go?"


    "Hmm," June hummed, and with that, he followed Dan to their car along with some security guards.


    Indeed, some fans were still waiting outside the cafe, so June took the courtesy to smile at them, appreciating how they had waited for so long.


    "Some fans are really dedicated, huh?" he asked as they got inside the car. "What kind of people would wait outside a venue for more than four hours just to get a glimpse of their favorite, handsome idol?"


    June held back the urge to say something insulting.


    "Well, it''s not like they''re harming anyone," June muttered.


    "In this life, where we''re all focused on money, fame, and making it to the top, isn''t it nice to have something you''re interested in-one that would make you wait outside for a couple of hours? One that would make you uselessly happy?"


    "Those innocent things-don''t you think it''s nice?" he asked.


    Dan was silent for a few moments before nodding in agreement.


    "Do you still have some of that water?" June asked after a while.


    "Yeah," Dan smirked. "It''s in the same ce."


    "Thanks," June said, opening thepartment and grabbing another water bottle.


    He paused for a moment when he saw something at the back, a seemingly innocent pack of pills.


    However, he quickly closed thepartment before Dan became suspicious.


    They continued their drive to the dorm, but June still couldn''t shake away the feeling that Dan was going to do something strange.


    Just then, a cheery ringtone rang in the car.


    "Oh, sorry," Dan chuckled. "That''s my phone connected to the Bluetooth of the car. You don''t mind if I answer, do you?"


    June shrugged and kept his gaze on the scenery beyond the window.


    "No, go ahead," he said.


    "Thanks," Dan said before turning on the call.


    "Dan!" a deep voice rang inside the car. "Finally, you answered."


    Dan straightened his back and cleared his throat.


    "Mr. Kim," Dan said. "Sorry, sir. I was caught up in an event. It ended just now."


    "Of course, I know," the guy, Mr. Kim, responded. "Lei told me that it had ended, so I''m


    calling you."


    "I heard you''re back in the business."


    June''s eyebrows raised in inquiry.


    "Business?" he muttered.


    "Ah, yes," Dan awkwardly said. "I left my pastpany a while ago and decided toe back to the industry."


    "I see," Mr. Kim said. "Well, as you know, I am here at ''Sun Down.'' We''ve met here plenty of times before, and I enjoyed those times. As someone who had done you plenty of favors before, why won''t youe here and pour me a drink?"


    "...maybe, even give me a gift?"


    June pursed his lips.


    The way they spoke was in riddles.


    June already had his suspicions that this ''gift'' and this ''business'' wasn''t the normal kind.


    "Well, you see, sir¡ª"


    "Come on," the man urged. "Just for a little bit. I just signed a huge deal, and I heard you might be wanting something¡ª"


    "Alright, sir," Dan said before the man could finish his statement. "I''ll be there in a few."


    "Good," the man chuckled. "I''m looking forward to your gift."


    With that, the call ended. June''s mind was running with questions. However, there was one thing certain¡ªhe''s not going home tonight.


    "Sorry for that," Dan said.


    "It''s alright," June responded, his gaze still on the window.


    However, his eyes weren''t focused on the scenery anymore. Instead, it was on Dan''s


    reflection, who was oblivious to June''s actions.


    Dan was silent for a few moments before he cleared his throat.


    "You know how it is in this industry. A person does you a favor once, and he thinks that you


    owe him forever."


    Dan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and clicked his tongue.


    "I''ve already paid off my favors, too, but it seems like he found out that I''m back to work. In


    fact, the Sun Down club is already near here."


    "Can you do me a favor?" he suddenly asked.


    June covered his mouth for a second before turning to Dan.


    "What is it?" he asked.


    "Well, you see, that man doesn''t seem to respect my time whenever he meets me all alone.


    However, if Ie with someone else, he would let me go sooner."


    June raised one eyebrow. "You want me to apany you to a club?"


    "It''s not a club," Dan quickly rified. "Well, the exterior is a club, but we''re going to the VIP


    lounge, where there are only important people. It is a dignified ce; do not worry."


    Then, Dan sighed and focused on the road once more.


    "But, it''s alright if you don''t want to. Ipletely understand."


    "I''ll go," June said, shifting his gaze to the window once more.


    There was an undeniable smirk ying on Dan''s lips.


    However, he wasn''t the only one. June was smirking too.

 Chapter 836: A Familiar Scenery

    ?


    At least Dan wasn''t lying when he said it would be a ''nice'' club.


    As June entered the ck one-story building, he quickly realized that it was the fanciest club he had ever been in! The clubs he went to when he was still in White Tiger couldn''t evene close to it.


    This only added to June''s hypothesis that Mr. Kim was someone important-probably one with a lot of money.


    June wore his cap and mask as they walked through the bar. There were a lot of people, and he didn''t want to risk getting his photo taken.


    He knew the dangers of his decision toe here, so he needed to be extra careful.


    With that, he kept an eye out for people who might have their phones out. Fortunately, they were all too busy dancing and eating each others'' faces.


    June found something more interesting in the club.


    It seemed like his fashion craze had also reached such an audience. There were a lot of people wearing oversized shirts and faded sweatpants as they danced to the raunchy music.


    They finally arrived at the VIP lounge.


    June''s expression hardened.


    Despite being a nice club, it also has the same concept as the other clubs that June had been in.


    The VIP area had an open area, which consisted of old men and younger, attractive people who were there to ''entertain'' them.


    However, alongside the open areas were the ''enclosed'' spaces, where the real magic usually happened.


    And by magic, June wasn''t pertaining to the good kind.


    "We''re here," Dan said, stopping in front of thergest door in the room.


    June gestured for him to go in first. Dan knocked before opening the door.


    As soon as he entered, there was a series of exmations within the room.


    Another suspicion of June''s had been ticked off.


    This wasn''t the first time Dan was meeting such people.


    "It''s been so long!"


    "We missed you, Dan. We missed your little gifts, too."


    "Aww, are you here all alone?"


    Dan stopped at the doorway and nced at June.


    "No, I''m here with someone else," he said. With that, he gestured for June toe inside.


    June entered the room, already knowing what to expect.


    The room was filled with a mixture of nasty perfume, alcohol, and sex.


    "Ah, a boy?" one of the old men eximed. "That''s a good thing. Mr. Kim is actually looking for-"


    Dan cleared his throat before the old man could finish his statement.


    Meanwhile, June wandered his eyes around the room.


    There were only a few people inside the room, and he could quickly segregate who was there for their money and who was there because they needed it.


    "Umm, let me introduce you, guys," Dan said.


    "These are some of my co-workers from before. They''re all in the entertainment industry."


    June nodded before removing his cap and mask.


    As soon as his face was revealed, gasps were heard inside the room.


    It wasn''t only because of June''s breathtaking handsomeness but because of his fame. They couldn''t believe that a star like him woulde to a ce like this!


    Their eyes showed intrigue, and he quickly became the center of attention-with everyone wanting to get close to him.


    ...Mostly for sexual reasons.


    A face like June''s only came around once in a thousand years, and being able to spend a night with someone like that must feel like heaven.


    "Nice to meet you all," June said.


    "Dan''s my manager''s proxy for the day, so he asked me to join him here for a short while. Please take care of me."


    Feigning innocence.


    That was the first step of June''s n.


    "Right," Dan chuckled. "Where''s Mr. Kim, by the way?"


    "He met some investors in another room," another man answered. "He''d be back after a while. You can sit while waiting."


    Dan and June nodded before sitting on the middle couch. As June walked past them, they felt their amazement increase.


    He really did appear like a star.


    Dan quickly talked to his colleagues while June sat quietly, just observing the interior of the


    room.


    Escape routes.


    There was one at the right, barely visible. This must be where the ''important people'' leave


    through during police raids.


    CCTV cameras.


    As expected, there were none.


    They knew that having such would only increase their chances of getting caught.


    "Do you want a drink?" Dan asked after a while.


    June pursed his lips and nodded, taking the ss.


    Dan watched him intently as he took a swig with half of the ss emptied.


    Then, Dan went back to talking with his colleagues.


    With that, June took out the water bottle from Dan''spartment to take away the bad taste from his mouth.


    "You''re not a fan of alcohol?" a young man asked, dressed in tight clothes.


    June turned to them-three people who appeared to be around his age, maybe even younger. There was another one like them, but she was on thep of one of the old men in the room.


    "Mhhm, you could say that," June responded.


    The three were silent for a few moments, just ncing knowingly at each other.


    June''s eyebrows raised in inquiry.


    "Oh, it''s nothing," one of the girls with short hair said. "We just can''t believe that you''re this


    good-looking."


    "Oh," June said, looking down at hisp. "I just came from a schedule, so I''m all made up."


    "I don''t think it''s the make-up," the young man said. "I think it''s just your face. You''re really


    a different breed, bro. No wonder your group is so popr these days."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    Well, it seemed like they were a decent group of people, so June felt like his n would go


    smoother than anticipated.


    "What''s your guys'' name?" June asked, wanting to know how to address them.


    "Right," the short-haired girl chuckled. "My name''s Hailey. You can call me Hail."


    "I''m Hyuck," the guy said.


    "And I''m Allison," the girl with tinum-blonde hair said. "You can just call me Ali."


    June nodded. "Aliases?" he asked.


    Hyuck smiled and nodded. "Of course," he said. "Everyone goes by aliases here. Well, it''s not really an alias but a stage name? Yeah, that''s what I would like to call it."


    June nodded.


    Trainees.


    He was a hundred percent sure that these kids were trainees.


    Just then, June felt a pat on his shoulder.


    "We''re heading out for a smoke, June," Dan said. "Mr. Kim is taking longer than usual."


    "Is that alright with you?"


    June nodded. "Yeah, be back soon."


    Dan smiled reassuringly. "Don''t worry."


    "Alright, we''ll be back soon. We want to smoke here, but thest time they did that, the


    smoke rms went off," he chuckled.


    "It''s perfectly fine," June said.


    "You can leave me alone."


    Dan nodded. "Alright, I''ll see youter."


    With that, he went out of the room with his colleagues,ughing to themselves.

 Chapter 837: June, The Great Helper, Strikes Again!

    Chapter 837: June, The Great Helper, Strikes Again!


    ?


    Dan''s smile fell as soon as he left the room. He felt shitty for kissing up to June''s ass, but he also knew it was necessary.


    "June''s really something, huh?" an employee from ESPER Entertainment said. "No wonder EVE is beating OCTA in terms of poprity. His face alone could start a war."


    "Is he your gift for Mr. Kim?" another past colleague asked.


    Dan nodded as he blew out some smoke.


    They chuckled.


    "And you said you were leaving the industry."


    "I just left Phoenix," Dan said. "Kim Young Do is nothing without the big boss. He wants us to treat trainees better now, talking about ethics and shit when he''s not a clean man either." "I''m surprised June followed you, though. Are you sure a big star like him wants to go here?" Dan smirked as he puffed his cigarette once more.


    "It doesn''t matter," Dan said. "His sympathy is enough for him to stay here. As long as I y innocent, he''d cave in. Besides, he won''t be able to do anything since he''d be passed outter anyway."


    They looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "You put something in his drink?"


    Dan smirked. "I don''t know," he innocently said. "Let''s just say that I''m getting that property investment by the end of this night."


    With Dan''s statement, they all burst intoughter.


    June, on the other hand, felt it was the perfect time to get some information from these trainees.


    June was about to speak when the girl who was on one of the men''sps eximed in disgust as soon as they were gone.


    "Fuck," she cursed. "Do we have to do all of this shit just to get our name out there? I felt that man''s hard-on as I was sitting on hisp, and it felt like a deformed cactus."


    "That bad?" Hyuck asked.


    The girl nodded and sat right beside Ali.


    "Oh, where are my manners," she said when she saw June. "Hi! My name is Scarlet. You can


    call me Scar. I''m an aspiring actress who has yet tond any supporting roles."


    June took her hand and nodded curtly.


    "Nice to meet you, Scar."


    Scar was dumbfounded for a moment as she stared at June''s face.


    "Wow," she couldn''t help but say. "They''re right. You really have no pores at all."


    June chuckled. "That''s an exaggeration."


    "It''s really not!" she eximed. "Are you made of porcin or something?"


    "Now, I kind of understand why I''m stuck without roles. If you''re the kind of people that we fight with on a daily basis, then it''s understandable."


    "Being an actress isn''t all about looks, though," June said as he looked at the drink before him. "Isn''t your acting skills the most important?"


    "That-I agree with," Scar said. "However, there''s something even more important than those twobined."


    June looked up at them with curiosity.


    The four of them turned to each other with knowing looks.


    "Money!" they eximed at the same time.


    June couldn''t help but chuckle as they jinxed each other. However, his expression quickly became serious when he realized that this must be their coping mechanism.


    "Is that why you''re all here?" June asked, breaking their celebration.


    Hail pursed her lips before slowly nodding.


    "I guess," she said.


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    Ali skeptically looked at him. "You''re not judging us, right?"


    June leaned against his seat before shaking his head.


    "No, why would I? You wouldn''t be here if you were not desperate enough. This must be thest measure for you."


    "You feel like you''ve already exhausted all your resources. You''re doing your best, but it''s never good enough. You see your friends enjoying their lives and wonder when that time wille for you-when the universe will finally be on your side."


    "So, having nothing to lose, you go to this ce. You feel like this is yourst chance. You have already sacrificed so much for your dreams, so what more can you not sacrifice?"


    "I do think that this means would only give shortsting results. However, who am I to judge when you feel that this is your chance?"


    They were all stunned after June said those words.


    "How can you summarize it so well?" Scar muttered.


    "Bro," Hyuck said, cing his hand on his shoulder. "You really deserve your fame. You''re an angel!"


    Ali ced her hand over her chest. "I''m so touched," she said. "I didn''t think you would be able to understand how we feel."


    June shrugged. "It''s just how I think."


    Hail smiled at June. "You''re a good man."


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "I''m assuming that you know why we''re here then," Hail started off.


    "Yeah," Hyuck chimed. "So, why did youe here despite all of that? Or did you not have a clue about Sir Dan? He''s famous here for bringing fresh meat and gifting them to these rich men to gain some favors."


    June chuckled. "Well, it seems like you guys know a lot about this ce."


    They knowingly looked at each other.


    "Well, we''re thest ones here since we only do certain favors. Maybe it''s also the reason why


    I haven''t gotten a role just yet," Scar said.


    "The guys you''re doing favors for are not powerful enough to give you such things," June


    said, knowing the intention of such people.


    "They just make it seem like they could help you, but in terms, they''re also kissing someone''s


    ass."


    Hyuck sighed deeply. "I fucking knew it. I was just too desperate to ept it."


    June looked at their distressed faces and pulled something out from his wallet.


    "You''re all aspiring actors?" June asked.


    "Scar and Hyuck are," Ali said. "Hail and I are independent idol trainees, hoping to get recruited into bigpanies."


    June pursed his lips and gave Ali and Hail a calling card.


    "This is for Mentor Gun''s dance studio," he said. "Hone your skills and audition in Phoenix.


    They''re still recruiting this time, I believe. You can also have free vocal lessons from Miss Ji- hyun''s studio. I''ll tell them beforehand."


    "And you, guys," June said, handing them another card. It was given to him by Director Jam, who wanted him to audition for the lead role of his uing musical. However, June still had too much on his te, so he said he would think about it.


    "Go to this site on Sunday. They''re looking for extras. Just do your best, and I''m sure you''ll make it," June said, knowing that Director Jam was looking for roles for ''party-goers,'' to


    which the two fit perfectly.


    They couldn''t believe their eyes as they stared at the cards.


    "Why-why are you doing this?" Hyuck stammered.


    June smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "It''s not for free," he started off.


    They looked at him with curiosity.


    "I need you to tell me who Mr. Kim is..."


    "...and why Dan is using me to gain a favor from him."

 Chapter 838: A Gift For Me?

    Chapter 838: A Gift For Me?


    ?


    They exchanged uneasy gazes.


    June instantly knew that they weren''t clueless about it.


    Well, it seemed like the people they were ''entertaining'' also knew something about the ''deal,'' so June already had a hunch.


    Hyuck scratched the back of his head, already feeling indebted to June.


    "Well, we don''t know the full details," he started off. "However, they did talk about it before you guys arrived."


    "Mr. Kim was also here a while ago, so they briefed him about it," he continued.


    Scar nodded. "It seems like Dan is nning on acquiring a new property in one neighborhood in Seoul. It''s quite arge property, so I believe he wants Mr. Kim''s help in securing it."


    "Hmm," June hummed, cing his hand under his chin.


    Since Azure had already opened their cafe business, it made sense for them to think about expanding thepany, too.


    It was the obvious choice.


    Lei was really going to take Azure to the top.


    However, he wasn''t afraid to sacrifice June to get there. Involving Dan was already enough proof of it.


    "Do you know where this is?" June asked.


    Hail looked at the table and eximed. "A-ha! They left the folder here," she chuckled, pointing to the folder under the table.


    June shook his head in amusement as he retrieved the folder.


    "Can you look out for them?" he asked.


    Hyuck held out an ''okay'' sign. "Of course, bro. You''ve got our backs."


    "I''ll stay by the door," Hail said, standing from her seat.


    June smiled gratefully. With that, he opened the folder, his smile slowly falling.


    "This...," he muttered.


    Oh, life was truly ridiculous.


    "Who knew she''d have this big of a property?"


    June was staring at a familiarndscape-a very familiar one.


    His past apartment.


    His monsterndy who charged rent like she didn''t have money the next day was actually the owner of all the vacant lots surrounding them?


    "4,500 square meters," June muttered.


    It was just enough for a new building for Azure. Moreover, since June left, the neighborhood has slowly transformed to be a business district, and in a few years'' time, he was sure that it was also going to be a popr street.


    He looked at the prize and was surprised by how affordable it was.


    "I heard that it''s an exclusive selling," Scar chimed. "Not a lot of people know about it since the owner still hasn''t decided properly."


    "However, with the proper prize, I believe they would let it go," she continued.


    June nodded, finally understanding what his role was in this y.


    Lei was hitting two birds with one stone.


    If Dan manages to ''sell'' June to Mr. Kim, then they would secure the investment.


    Then, in the end, June''s name will also be tarnished as Dan would make sure to protect Mr. Kim''s name.


    They weren''t afraid to throw him under the bus when the time came.


    June shook his head in amusement.


    So, he had to stop this deal at all costs.


    With that, he''ll also be hitting two birds with one stone.


    Not only will he dy Lei''s n of conquering the entertainment industry, but he''ll also save


    the important documents that were hidden under its foundation.


    June turned to the four trainees with urgency.


    They looked at June with curiosity.


    "I need your help," June started off.


    Just then, Hail looked back at them with a worried expression.


    "They''reing back," she eximed.


    "Shit," June cursed under his breath.


    ***


    The doors opened, and the scent of smoke wafted through their senses.


    June was still in his original spot, his eyes closing out of tiredness.


    Dan hid his smirk as he saw his disposition.


    "It''s working," he muttered.


    "Scar, sit here," one of the old men said, patting hisp.


    Scar pursed her lips and walked to where he was, promising that this would be thest time she would be holding onto such desperate measures.


    "How are you?" Dan asked June.


    June held onto his temples, already internally cursing. "My head hurts," he said in a


    distressed voice.


    Dan looked at him with concern. "Really?" he eximed. "Here! Have some water. I also have


    a pain reliever here if you want."


    With that, Dan handed June one of the pills that was in hispartment a while ago.


    "Thanks," June said, taking the water and the pill before drinking it.


    Dan smiled. "It will work in a couple of minutes. Mr. Kim ising in soon. After saying a few


    greetings, I''ll assure you that we''re heading back."


    June nodded and leaned against the couch, closing his eyes once more.


    With that, Dan went back to conversing with his ugly friends.


    Then, June slightly opened his eyes before slipping the pill into Dan''s drink. He also slipped


    some more of the pill, having retrieved it from his car''spartment a while ago.


    The action was so quick that nobody in the room had noticed. Then, he closed his eyes once


    again.


    Hyuck and the others turned to each other with concern.


    They barely had enough time to talk about June''s n a while ago, so they were feeling


    anxious.


    Meanwhile, Dan and his colleagues knowingly looked at each other as June groaned in his


    sleep.


    "Oh no," Dan said in fake concern. "We really need to head out soon."


    "Don''t worry," an old man chimed. "Mr. Kim is already heading back."


    June''s eyes remained closed throughout their conversation.


    However, he was forced to open them when the door opened.


    "Mr. Kim!" Dan eximed.


    June pursed his lips and slightly opened his eyes to get a look at the man who was going to


    ''own'' him for the night.


    Then, his eyebrows instantly furrowed in disgust.


    The guy could be his grandfather!


    He was wearing a suit, and his hairline was as deep as the Marianas Trench. Moreover, he filled the room with a rotten scent that was luded by Tobo-smelling perfume. He was an unpleasant sight, so June quickly closed his eyes.


    "Dan! It''s been such a long time since we''ve seen each other," Mr. Kim started off.


    Then, silence reigned in the room for a couple of seconds before June felt someone''s rough


    hand pass through his cheeks.


    He felt a shiver run down his spine, and he tightly closed his eyes to hide his disgust.


    "What a wonderful gift I have!"

 Chapter 839: Icing On Top

    Chapter 839: Icing On Top


    ?


    Dan''s heart raced as he watched Mr. Kim eyeing June like he was the most delicious piece of steak.


    It seemed like his pill had finally sunk into June''s system. The cup of alcohol he gave him a while ago also contained a tranquilizing drug, so there was no way that June could make sense of his surroundings now.


    June sat quietly, his eyes half-lidded and his head lolling slightly as if he was barely conscious.


    Everything was going ording to n.


    Mr. Kim leaned back in his seat, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Thank you," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "Bring me the contract by morning."


    Dan nodded, his expression calm and professional, but inside, he was already celebrating.


    "Of course, Mr. Kim," he replied smoothly. "I''ll take care of everything."


    He turned to June, putting on a mask of concern.


    He even sat beside him and ced his hand on his shoulder. "I just have to call someone," he said, his voiceced with false kindness.


    "I''ll be back soon to take you home, alright?"


    June blinked his eyes open, but he couldn''t do it for too long.


    With that, he just nodded in agreement, causing Dan to smirk.


    Dan stepped out of the room, and his expression quickly shifted to that of triumph.


    He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing Lei.


    Lei had been the one to suggest this little arrangement in the first ce, so Dan was eager to report his sess.


    As the phone rang, Dan felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over him. He frowned, trying to shake off the sensation.


    "Dang," he muttered. "Their soju is strong."


    "Or am I getting old?" he chuckled. "My alcohol tolerance is not as it used to be."


    "Dan," Lei said, snapping Dan back to reality.


    "Sir Lei," Dan said, keeping his voice steady despite the growing dizziness.


    "You called early," Lei said.


    Dan smirked, leaning against the wall. "Well, of course. I told you that June woulde and join me right away."


    Lei chuckled. "Seems like he''s really more innocent than I thought."


    "Well, how did it go?"


    Dan smirked as he looked at his surroundings.


    "The deal is as good as done."


    Lei couldn''t keep the smile away from his face.


    "Good," he said. "You already have the contract. Have him sign it by tomorrow. Make sure to bring June back, too, and twist the truth. Make it seem like he wanted it."


    "That way, he wouldn''t be able to do anything."


    "Of course," Dan smiled. "That''s my expertise."


    "Well, I need to go the restroom now. I drank a little bit too much, and my dder can''t handle it."


    Lei chuckled in amusement.


    "I''ll entrust it to you. See you in the morning."


    With that, Dan ended the call with a wide smile on his face. He stopped leaning against the


    wall and was about to go to the restroom when he stumbled on his feet.


    Fortunately (not really), he was able to catch himself before he fell, evenughing in amusement.


    "Looks like I really had a lot to drink tonight."


    ***


    Back in the room, June continued remaining still.


    It wasn''t the first time he had encountered something like this, so he''d learned to recognize the signs. Feigning innocence was easy enough-it was a role he''d yed before, after all.


    Now, all the other parts of his n needed to work together for it to be sessful.


    The men in the room with him began to murmur among themselves.


    Their hushed voices were filled with crude remarks about June''s appearance.


    One of them leaned closer to Mr. Kim, a nasty grin on his face. "You''ve hit the jackpot tonight, Mr. Kim," he said with a chuckle. "That one''s a real beauty."


    Mr. Kim''s eyes never left June. "Is he well-behaved?" he asked, his voice low and steady.


    One of the other men nodded eagerly. "Yes, Dan gave him something to keep him calm. He won''t cause any trouble."


    Just then, Mr. Kim''s phone rang, cutting through the conversation.


    His phone was on the couch, just right between him and June, so thetter could see it from


    his view.


    June, his eyes still half-closed, nced at the phone subtly.


    ''Honey,'' it read.


    The irony of it all almost made him smile. Almost.


    He watched as Mr. Kim dismissed the call without a second thought, turning his attention


    back to the other creepy old men.


    That''s when June felt it¡ªa light touch on his hand.


    He held in the urge to barf as Mr. Kim started ying with his hands.


    June didn''t move, but he opened his eyes just a fraction, only enough to see Hyuck looking at him.


    Their eyes met briefly, and June gave a barely noticeable nod. Hyuck understood immediately.


    With utmost care, Hyuck took a step forward, pretending to stumble. He let out a small yelp of surprise as the drink in his hand sshed onto Mr. Kim, soaking the front of his expensive


    pants.


    "Ah, sorry!" Hyuck stammered, bowing his head in a show of embarrassment. "I didn''t mean to-"


    Mr. Kim waved him off, his annoyance barely contained.


    "What are you doing?" one of the men eximed. "Do you know how much that costs? It


    costs you more than your life!"


    "Yeah, watch where you''re going, you clumsy imbecile," another chimed.


    Mr. Kim stood and took some napkins, wiping away his pants.


    "It''s alright," he said. "These are going toe offter anyway," he even joked, causing the


    room to burst intoughter.


    June''s face twisted into disgust, and it was a blessing that Mr. Kim''s attention was on his


    colleagues and not him.


    "Let me help you clean it up, sir."


    "Me, too!"


    "Yes, we can''t afford to ruin the expensive fabric."


    June wanted to shake his head, feeling a bit of pity for the group of men. But then again, they


    chose this kind of life, and June also knew they weren''t good people in the slightest.


    As the group of men kissed up to Mr. Kim, June saw something from his peripheral vision.


    It was Mr. Kim''s phone, and it was ringing once more-his wife.


    June subtly looked around, confirming that no one was looking at him.


    This was the icing on top.


    Then, June pressed the ''answer'' button.

 Chapter 840: The Perfect Plan

    Chapter 840: The Perfect n


    ?


    It didn''t end there.


    Hyuck subtly signaled for Scar to act her part out.


    Scar nodded and stood from her seat, the old men oblivious because they were busy tending to Mr. Kim Minsoo''s pants.


    Scar''s hand trembled as he reached for the bowl of snacks sitting in front of Mr. Kim.


    The man was still standing, his face a mask of poorly contained frustration as his dogs wiped at the stain on his expensive trousers.


    Scar''s legs naturally gave out just as she had reached in front of Mr. Kim.


    She clumsily tripped forward. Desperately, she grabbed onto the first thing she could find- Mr. Kim''s pants.


    The fabric slipped down far too easily, and with them, the unfortunate man''s underwear followed.


    For a brief, horrified second, everything wasid bare in front of the stunned guests.


    "That wasn''t part of the n," Hail muttered, closing her eyes and turning her head to the side.


    Meanwhile, Hyuck pursed his lips to contain hisughter. "This is better than the n," he muttered.


    Meanwhile, Ali was frozen in her seat. "It looks like...Texas."


    Time seemed to freeze as gasps of shock filled the room, followed by a dead silence that rang louder than any noise.


    Mr. Kim stood there, his face a boiling shade of red, as his eyes darted around the room. Then, he lost it.


    "Do you know who I am, you filthy little street rat?" Mr. Kim''s voice was venomous. "How dare you-how dare you humiliate me in front of everyone!"


    His fists clenched as he trembled with fury.


    June covered his mouth to suppress the smile on his face.


    "You''re nothing but a pathetic, worthless piece of trash! How dare you touch me with your dirty hands?" Mr. Kim''s voice echoed through the room, seething with contempt.


    "Or is it because you want some of this?" he asked, pointing to his crotch.


    "You''re so desperate, huh? You want to get in my pants, is that it? You''ve heard of others being sessful because of me, and you want to be the same?"


    "Well, unluckily for you, I won''t do just that. If you had a prettier face, then you would have the chance. However, you are not up to my standards," he said.


    Then, gasps were heard in the room once more as Scar threw a ss of wine at Mr. Kim''s face.


    "Now, that really isn''t part of the n," Hail said in horror.


    June wanted tough out loud. This was actually panning out better than he thought! It was the best drama he had seen in a while!


    "You think you''re the shit just because you have money?" Scar eximed. "Yes, I''m desperate. But I won''t touch your Texas-looking thing from a mile away!"


    Scar''s eyes widened with fear as Mr. Kim took a step toward her.


    "Scar!" Hyuck eximed.


    The events went fast.


    Scar tried to back away, but the old man was quicker. The p came out of nowhere, sharp and loud, snapping Scar''s head to the side. The sound echoed through the room, and everything seemed to stop.


    June, who had been monitoring the scene, felt his stomach churn.


    That wasn''t supposed to happen.


    No one was supposed to get hurt.


    "Mr. Kim, please!" one of the other guests, a man with a slick suit and a nervous expression, tried to intervene. "Let''s get you dressed, don''t we? You''re going to have a great night tonight!"


    "Let me at that bitch!" he eximed.


    Scar continued to stand there, frozen, when Hyuck pulled her toward them and asked if she was alright.


    "Are these the kind of people you bring to my club? Do you think of it so lightly?" Mr. Kim eximed in anger.


    The other workers rushed forward as if to shield Mr. Kim from further embarrassment.


    They bent down to pick up his pants, wiping away the mess, and trying to restore order.


    They treated him like a god who had been wronged by mere mortals.


    Their hands trembled as they helped him with his trousers, offering apologies that only seemed to fuel his anger further.


    And then, in a split-second decision, June fell to the ground, dragging Mr. Kim''s phone with


    him.


    The phone ttered to the floor beside June, its screen lighting up with the call. Mr. Kim, momentarily distracted from his tirade, let out a deep sigh as he bent down to help June up. "You clumsy fool," he muttered, his voice low but still filled with irritation.


    But then, something caught his eye. His phone-there was a call in progress. Slowly, he picked it up, his expression turning from irritation to confusion as he brought it to his ear. "Hello?" Mr. Kim''s voice was tentative, his anger momentarily forgotten.


    On the other end, a woman''s voice, familiar yet strained, responded, "What...did I just hear?" Mr. Kim''s face drained of color as the realization hit him.


    "Honey?" Mr. Kim asked.


    The room fell into an even deeper silence as everyone realized what was happening.


    "Don''t call me honey. I knew this would happen again. I thought you had changed!"


    The call ended, and Mr. Kim was left standing in disbelief.


    Then, chaos erupted.


    You ruined my night! All of you, you''re trying to embarrass me! This was supposed to be perfect, and you''ve all ruined it!"


    His eyes darted from face to face, searching for someone to me.


    The other guests rushed to calm him down. "Please, Mr. Kim, it''s okay, it''s not that bad-"


    "Shut up! Just shut up!" Mr. Kim screamed, his voice cracking as he clutched his phone, his knuckles white. The desperation in his eyes was unmistakable now, the realization that his perfect night had been ruined beyond repair sinking in.


    In the midst of the chaos, June saw his chance. He locked eyes with Hyuck, who had been standing near the edge of the room. June gave a subtle nod, then gestured toward the secret exit hidden behind a curtain. Hyuck understood immediately, and with a quick signal, he got the others moving.


    One by one, they slipped out through the exit. The guests were too distracted by Mr. Kim''s meltdown to notice, their focus entirely on trying to contain the situation before it spiraled even further out of control.


    It wasn''t until several minutester, when Mr. Kim finally paused to catch his breath, that someone noticed. "Where are they?" a guest whispered, looking around the room in


    confusion. "Where did they go?"


    Panic spread among the remaining guests as they realized that June and his group were gone


    and vanished without a trace.


    Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Dany passed out,pletely oblivious to the chaos that had


    just unfolded outside.

 Chapter 841: Too Dazzling

    Chapter 841: Too Dazzling


    ?


    It felt as if June could still hear the screams inside the VIP room as he entered Hyuck''s beat-up


    car.


    Fortunately, the fresh night air calmed him down, taking away the unpleasant sensations that lingered in his system.


    The five of them sat in Hyuck''s old car, still trying to internalize what had happened.


    "Holy hell," Hyuck muttered.


    "I can''t believe we just did that," Scar said, staring out into the distance.


    "That was the scariest thing I''ve ever done in my entire life," Hail added.


    June pursed his lips, suddenly feeling guilty for dragging them into such a mess. "I''m sorry


    "It was awesome!" Hyuck suddenly eximed, catching June by surprise.


    "Hell yeah!" Ali chimed. "Seeing them look so hopeless was so satisfying. I bet they don''t even know that we''ve already left the room."


    Hail nodded in agreement. "I feel...free-like a thorn had been plucked out of my throat! I don''t want to go back to this ce again."


    June frowned in confusion. "Wait, you guys aren''t upset?"


    They turned to the handsome man in inquiry, still amazed that someone like him had graced their presence.


    "Why would we be?" Hyuck asked. "We just showed those nasty men their ce! And we also met you in the process, and you''ve given us more opportunities than we could ever have in that club."


    June scratched the back of his neck and faced Scar, noting her scarlet cheek.


    "Are you alright?" he asked. "That was a hard hit."


    June frowned when Scar''s face became even redder. She looked away from June and nodded.


    "I''m okay," she smiled. "This is nothing! He didn''t even hit me that hard. I swear-I''ve already forgotten about it."


    June nodded. "That''s good. Make sure to ice it when you get home."


    Then, June nced at his phone, noting that it was nearing midnight.


    Not only that, but there were countless texts and missed calls from his members.


    Akira: Why aren''t you here yet? You''re supposed to be home by now.


    Jisung: Bro. Where are you? I''m going to cry if you don''te soon.


    Casper: Please tell me you''re okay.


    Casper: If you need help, blink three times.


    Jay: Where are you?


    Jay: June, I''m being serious. Dan is not answering my questions, too.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Do you guys mind driving me toward the dorm?" he asked.


    "We don''t mind at all," Hyuck said. "Right, guys?"


    "Yeah," Ali smiled. "It''ll be our honor."


    "Thanks," June muttered. "It''s in this street," he said, showing the location on his phone.


    "Got it," Hyuck said, turning on the engine and finally driving toward Azure''s dorms.


    June responded to Akira''s text, saying that he''ll be home soon.


    With that, he ced his phone inside his pocket.


    "That was really awesome," Scar said, going back to what they''d done a while ago. "How did you even know that his wife was going to call him?"


    June shrugged. "I didn''t," he honestly responded. "The universe was just on my side at that moment."


    "I didn''t think we''d be able to execute it because we were short of time, but I felt that we were a perfect team a while ago!" Hail eximed.


    June chuckled in amusement as they agreed with Hail''s statement.


    "By the way, is it alright if we leave your manager there? Wouldn''t you get into trouble?"


    June smirked. "The moment he took me there, he already knew that he was the one in the wrong. What I can do now is feign my innocence."


    "In the end, he wouldn''t be able to do anything because he doesn''t have any evidence. Can you pass me the videos, by the way? I''ll make sure not to expose your faces. In fact, this wouldn''t go public."


    "I''m sure Mr. Kim won''t allow it," June smirked.


    Hyuck shook his head in amusement as Ali transferred the videos to June. She also added extra ones-all heinous acts of Mr. Kim in his club.


    "I was too afraid to share these videos before, in fear of getting my name tarnished," Ali muttered. "However, you inspired me, June. I realized that nothing would change if I just continued to take and take without retaliating."


    June smiled as he gestured to his phone. "Thanks for this," he said. "It would be a great help. It''s time we started cleaning the entertainment industry of these freaks."


    They all nodded in determination.


    "But you''re really amazing," Scar added. "No wonder you''re a praised actor. I thought the n would fail because you drank some of that spiked drink."


    June smiled and brought out the water bottle from his jacket pocket. Instead of it being clear, it was tainted brown. He had spat out the alcohol that Dan had given him. He only made him


    believe that he wasn''t in his right mind so he would feelcent.


    They gasped in surprise. "I didn''t notice it at all!" Hyuck eximed.


    Ali nodded in agreement. "In fact, I wouldn''t have known that you slipped the pill inside


    Dan''s drink if you hadn''t told us beforehand."


    "A genius, I say," Hyuck said, showing June a thumbs up.


    "Oh, we''re also here," he added.


    "You can go inside the parking lot," June said.


    Hyuck nodded and made his way into the underground parking lot. Then, he turned off the


    engine, feeling a new sense of aplishment.


    As June fixed his items, they all turned to him with grateful expressions.


    June raised his eyebrows when he felt their gazes on him.


    "Do you still...need anything?" he warily asked.


    They shook their heads.


    "No, no, you''ve already helped with a lot," Scar smiled. "We''re just really happy to have met


    you."


    Hyuck nodded with a wide smile. "We''ll make sure to not let your help go to waste! We''ll see


    you in the same spotlight soon."


    June nodded. "Work hard until you get there."


    They turned to each other with determined gazes before leading June out of the car.


    Just then, there was a flock of boys rushing toward them.


    "June!" Akira''s voice rang through the parking lot.


    Jisung''s sniffs could be heard alongside him.


    "Where have you been?" Ren eximed, looking equally as worried.


    Hyuck and the others turned to the three members of EVE, who were all running to where they


    were.


    It felt like a real-time heaven simtion.


    "Too dazzling!"

 Chapter 842: Witnesses to Junes Harem

    Chapter 842: Witnesses to June''s Harem


    ?


    June''s new friends looked at the three other members of EVE with wide eyes.


    June was already a sight to behold, but with the four of them together, it was another story.


    They had different charms, and it made them wonder how such people came together as a group.


    "Are you alright?" Akira asked, inspecting June''s body for any injuries. "Where''s Dan? Why did he leave you all alone?"


    Meanwhile, Ren sniffed June''s nape, making thetter sigh in frustration. June pushed Ren away, but Ren held onto his wrist and continued sniffing his nape.


    "You smell like alcohol! Did you have anything to drink?" he eximed out of worry.


    On the other hand, Jisung went to June and looked at him with wide and teary eyes.


    "I was so worried, bro," Jisung muttered, his lips trembling in fear. "You weren''t answering at all! I can''t imagine losing you," he continued before giving June a hug.


    June sighed and patted the younger guy''s back.


    "There, there," he muttered.


    "I''m fine," June said. "I wouldn''t have been able to go home if I wasn''t. I''m here now, aren''t I?"


    Meanwhile, the four, who were originally amazed by their looks, turned to each other with knowing gazes.


    "Yaoi?" Hail muttered.


    It was only then that the members of EVE noticed their presence.


    Jisung continued hugging June as he turned to them.


    "Who are these people?" he asked, his voice filled with apprehensiveness.


    June was surprised by how cold Jisung sounded.


    Their eyes widened in surprise. June clicked his tongue and patted Jisung''s back.


    "They''re my new friends. They were the ones who helped mee back here."


    With that, Jisung''s face softened, and he went back to his shy self. He stopped holding onto June and went closer to them, bowing his head.


    "Thank you for taking care of him," he said.


    "I¡ªIt''s alright," Hyuck muttered. "He also helped us, so..."


    "What even happened?" Ren asked in concern.


    "I''ll tell you when we get inside," June said.


    Then, he turned to his four new friends and also bowed.


    "Feel free to reach out to me when you''re in trouble. You best be going now because you guys had a long night."


    They nodded and smiled at June before leaving Azure''s building.


    He waved his hand goodbye as the four of them left.


    Then, as he turned around, he saw the questioning gazes of his members.


    "You have a lot to tell us about."


    ***


    "So...you''re telling me that Lei''s new assistant tried to drug you?" Jisung eximed, his eyes wide.


    June slowly nodded. "Yup. I caught it beforehand, so I was able to escape."


    Jisung clenched his fist and stood from the couch. "Where is he?"


    June shrugged. "Probably passed out in the bathroom. I did a reversal and made him drink the pill he wanted to give me."


    "That''s my boy!" Akira eximed.


    Ren red at Akira and ced his hand on June''s shoulder.


    "Are you alright?" he asked.


    June nodded. "Yeah, nothing happened. I was able to leave beforehand. I left without a trace, too, so I''m sure there''s no footage of me in the club."


    Ren sighed in relief. "That''s good. You should tell Jay about this."


    "He already knows," June said, having told him the details in their car ride.


    June had just told their members of Dan''s evil ns. However, he didn''t ry Lei''s real intentions.


    June knew his members. Once they knew Lei''s involvement in all of this, then there was no way that they were going to sit still.


    With that, he needed them out of the picture.


    Jay was enough to help him.


    Thest thing he wanted was for Lei to target his members, too.


    He cared for them too much to let that happen.


    Just then, Jisung started marching out of the door.


    "Jisung, where are you going?" Ren eximed.


    Jisung cried out in frustration. "I''ll beat those guys up! I told Casper about it, and he told me to use violence."


    June clicked his tongue. "You already told that guy?"


    "Oh goodness," Akira muttered. "I bet the others are having a hard time restraining him."


    That was, indeed, the truth.


    In a beach resort in Busan, the ''tall line'' used all of their strength to restrain Casper on the


    bed.


    "Get the ties!" Zeth eximed.


    "On it," Sehun said, taking some of Jay''s atrocious ties and tying them around Casper''s wrists


    like makeshift handcuffs.


    Casper kicked like an Olympic athlete, causing Jay to fall off the bed.


    Zeth clicked his tongue as he continued restraining Casper.


    "Your only job is to hold onto his legs!" he eximed. "Don''t mess it up!"


    Jay groaned in frustration and ced his entire weight on Casper''s leg.


    "Do you know how strong this man is? He kicks like a horse!" he eximed.


    Sehun, too, had a hard time restraining Casper''s shoulders.


    "I swear-how the hell are you so strong?" he asked.


    "June''s fine now!" Jay shouted in exasperation. "Besides, you can''t go back to Seoul now.


    We''re going in the morning, anyway."


    "I need to teach that Dan a lesson!" Casper eximed. "He hurt June."


    Zeth clicked his tongue as he pinned him to the bed. "Ren told me that he''s fine. You''ll get to


    see him tomorrow!"


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Choi Pablo, who had been their assigned photographer


    for the shoot.


    Pablo was about to ask them to have a midnight snack but stopped when he saw them in a


    compromising position.


    "Oh my!" Pablo eximed.


    They all stopped as soon as they heard Pablo''s voice.


    Their eyes widened when they realized thepromising position they were in.


    Sehun frantically shook his head. "It''s not what it looks like..."


    "Fun!" Pablo eximed. "I love BDSM!"


    Meanwhile, back in the dorms, the ''short line'' also restrained Jisung. However, it didn''t take


    as much effort as that of Casper''s.


    "So, what are we going to do?" Jisung eximed. "Are we just going to let him get away with


    what he had done? We should report this to Sir Lei and to the police so that he''d get his


    karma!"


    June sighed and shook his head.


    "Jisung, I told you that it''s okay. Karma is already underway."


    Jisung''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "Don''t worry," June assured with a small smirk.


    "We don''t have to do anything for karma toe."


    "It''ll happen on its own anyway."

 Chapter 843 Karma and Bleach

    843 Karma and Bleach


    Dan woke up with the sound of items nging to the floor. He opened his eyes, his head pounding and his mouth dry. The smell hit him first¡ªa mix of urine, stale vomit, and industrial cleaner. "What the hell?" he muttered. "What happenedst night?" He felt like he had been hit by a truck and yed with a bull right afterward! He blinked his eyes to focus them, and then his surroundings finally made sense.


    He was slumped in the corner of a dingy bathroom, the tiles cold against his skin. His body ached, stiff from the awkward position he had been lying in. He groaned and tried to push himself up, but his arms felt weak as if an elephant slept on them. "Rough night, huh?"


    Dan turned his head slowly toward the voice, squinting through the harsh light. A bald janitor stood nearby, leaning on a mop handle, looking down at him in annoyance. Dan tried to respond, but his throat was raw, and all that came out was a hoarse croak.


    "Come on. Get up," the janitor said. "This is myst spot before I can go home." Dan''s eyes widened in surprise. "What time is it?" The janitor frowned. "Past ten," he answered. "Shit," he eximed. "It''s thatte already? Why didn''t you wake me up earlier?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The janitor scowled. "It''s not my fault you got shitfacedst night," he muttered. Dan frantically stood. His legs wobbled beneath him, and he almost fell forward, catching himself just in time on the edge of the sink.


    As he did, his foot caught on something hard. He heard a ssh and looked down to see that he had knocked over the janitor''s bucket. The murky brown water spilled across the tiles, pooling around his shoes. "Watch it!" the janitor snapped. "Goodness, why do I have to stumble upon idiots every day and night?" he started ranting. Meanwhile, Dan was about to run out of the bathroom, but the floor was more slippery than he had anticipated. Before he knew it, he fell back down to the ground, swimming in the shallow pit of filth and vomit. The janitor looked at him with wide eyes, and he quickly pursed his lips to prevent himself fromughing. Meanwhile, Dan gagged, the sight and smell almost too much for his already weakened stomach.


    "Well, I''m not going to lie¡ªthat made my morning," the janitor smiled. Dan groaned and wrung out his clothes before washing himself in the sink. It didn''t do much, as he still smelled like feces, pee, and vomit. However, he had no time to think. June. Mr. Kim. The VIP room. What had happened? How had he ended up in this state?


    He needed answers, but the fog in his mind made it hard to focus on anything for more than a few seconds at a time.


    He pushed out of the bathroom and into the hallway, blinking in the brighter light. The hallway was deserted, and the club was quiet and empty now. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fumbled to pull it out, his fingers still trembling. The screen showed a missed call from Lei, and as he stared at it, another message popped up. Come to the office. Now.


    Dan swallowed hard, his mouth dry as sandpaper. He tried to remember, but the more he forced himself to recall, the blurrier the night became. He needed to get to the VIP room first. Maybe someone was still there. Maybe Mr. Kim had left a note, or maybe June was still around. Anything to exin what the hell had happened.


    When he reached the VIP room, he pushed open the door and immediately felt his stomach drop. The room was empty. The lights were off, the tables cleared, the couches vacant. There was no sign of June, Mr. Kim, or any of the others who had been therest night. Dan cursed under his breath, his hand trembling as he reached for his phone. He needed to find June. But when Dan called, the phone went straight to voicemail. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. He switched to calling Mr. Kim, but the call didn''t even connect. It was as if Mr. Kim''s number had been disconnected or, worse, blocked. His phone buzzed again, another message from Lei: Dan cursed once more, shoving the phone back into his pocket. As he walked back to the parking garage, he kept reying the few memories he had of the night before. June, who was drugged and helpless on the couch. Mr. Kim, practically salivating at the sight of the idol. And then¡­ nothing. He found his car parked where he''d left it, and he sighed with relief when he saw the keys still in his pocket. Sliding into the driver''s seat, he could smell himself. It made him gag, but he forced himself to focus. He didn''t have time to worry about how he smelled. "It''s okay," Dan said, trying to calm himself down. "I''m sure they had a great time. I bet Mr. Kim is still with June." With his statement, his heart started calming down, and a smirk made its way to his lips. "That''s right," he muttered. "The deal is as good as done. I just need to take the contract to Mr. Kimter to seal it." Then, he turned on his radio, the small space resonating with the sound of popstar Bobo Sawa''s new song. "Karma and bleach. I threw it at your father!


    If I had a wish, I would have thrown it at your mother!" Dan bopped his head to the beat, finding the song really good. When he finally arrived, he parked haphazardly in the lot and hurried inside, ignoring the looks of disgust from the staff. "Gosh, what is that smell?" "That smells worse than my ex''s apartment." "Crap. Who the hell let that guy in?" The door to the CEO''s office was slightly ajar when he arrived. He hesitated for a moment. However, he quickly reassured himself and pushed the door open. Lei was sitting at his desk, his back to the door, staring out therge window behind him. The office was eerily quiet, and the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner. Dan closed the door softly behind him. "Mr. Lei," Dan started. "I came as soon as I got your message."


    Lei didn''t respond right away. He remained facing the window, his posture stiff, and his hands resting on the arms of his chair. Despite his initial courage, Dan found himself with sweaty palms. Slowly, Lei turned in his chair to face Dan. His expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and piercing. "You smell like doodoo," Lei said, his tone even, almost casual. With that, Dan let out a chuckle. He was in a good mood! Lei must have called him to share the good news! "Yeah, rough night," he lightheartedly said. "But, uh, about the contract. Everything went well yesterday," he continued, nodding as if to convince himself. "Mr. Kim¡­ he had a good time. We''ll get the contract signed today, right?"


    Lei''s gaze didn''t waver. He simply stared at Dan, his eyes narrowing slightly. Finally, Lei sighed, the sound long and weary. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Dan''s. "Mr. Kim doesn''t want to sign the contract anymore."

 Chapter 844 Noir Jisung

    844 Noir Jisung


    8 hours earlier¡­ "What do you mean?" Jisung asked, looking at June with a small frown. "Well, the n''s still not set in stone, but it could if you would help me," June started off. Jisung straightened his spine and nodded. "What do you need?" Ren and Akira joined their huddle. "We''ll help you, too." "You see¡ªI have these clips of Mr. Kim in my phone, but I don''t have his contact number. The faces of the other people aren''t blurred, too." The boys stopped in their tracks and looked at June. "That''s it?" Jisung asked. June raised one of his eyebrows in inquiry. "Yes," he deadpanned. "I would ask someone I know," he started off, pertaining to Bo Wen and Haruki, "but they''re not responding. Moreover, it''s hard to blur the faces when they''re moving." They were still frozen for a few minutes before bursting intoughter. June frowned, feeling offended. "What?" he asked. "I thought you guys wanted to help me." Akira leaned onto Ren for support, who quickly shoved him away. However, that did not stop him fromughing his ass off. As June watched them continue tough, he let out a long sigh and started making his way back to the living room. "But it really is hard," he muttered, having already tried it. He had done it with photos (thanks to Minjun''s help), but the videos were another story! "He''s sulking," Jisung said, clicking his tongue and pping Akira and Ren on the shoulders. Akira shook his head. "Youughed, too!" With that, the three of them went to the living room to tend to their second-youngest member. "June," Ren started off. "Come on. I''ll do it. I have a background in video editing, so I can help you." June raised his head, still having a subtle re, causing the others to look at each other with amusement. They didn''t find June threatening at all! Much more like a cat who didn''t get what he wanted.


    June silently handed him his phone before crossing his arms in front of his chest. Ren resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks as he sat on the couch and started blurring the faces of the other people in the video. "Now, where can we find his number?" June asked, turning to Akira and Jisung. "That''s easy," Akira said. "You can just search the inte." June frowned. "You can do that now? I thought you had to hack into someone''s phone or something?" "That''s so old-fashioned," Akira chuckled. "CEOs these days market themselves online, and I''m sure this guy has some kind of professional profile lingering somewhere." Jisung nodded and started searching for Mr. Kim''s name. It didn''t take long before he found his professional portfolio, one that included his contact details. "Here it is," Jisung smiled. "See? It''s all here." "That''s amazing," June innocently said. Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "I just searched his name, though," he muttered. "I''m also done," Ren said. June turned to him with wide eyes. "You''re amazing, too. That was so fast. I tried to cover it frame by frame." Ren pursed his lips. "I just downloaded an app," he whispered. "Thanks for this," June said. "Now, I just have to send this to him."


    "Do you need help with that, too?" Akira asked. June clicked his tongue. "Of course not," June said. "What do you think of me?"


    With that, June brought out his phone and was about to send Mr. Kim the videos when he was stopped by Akira. "What now?" June eximed. "You can''t just send him the videos and expect him to see it," Akira said. "I bet he gets thousands of messages every day!" June frowned. Although he had been in the gang for years, he had never done things like this. Bo Wen was the expert when it came to these kinds of threats. June was more concerned with physical threats than anything else. "You have to intimidate him," Akira said. "Here, let me try." With that, Akira grabbed June''s phone and started typing. "You have three hours to live¡­" Ren clicked his tongue and took the phone from Akira''s grasp, quickly erasing what he had typed.


    "Are you a criminal?" Ren eximed. "You can''t do that." Ren smirked. "In fact, I do," he boasted. He held onto June''s phone and smiled. "Congrattions! You have won a free luxury car!" Akira shook his head and grabbed the phone from Ren''s hand. "Bitch, that''s illegal, too. Are you scamming him or something?" he asked. Akira sighed. "It worked on me before," he muttered. The two of them started arguing about what to send when Jisung took the phone. "Oh, Ji," Ren said, cing his hand over his shoulder. "You shouldn''t meddle with these matters. You''re too innocent for this." Jisung sighed and started typing on June''s phone. The other three watched him, their eyes widening with every word he wrote. Then, afterward, he gave it to June with an innocent smile. "I think it''s best if we are truthful about this. That way, we''ll be able to capture his attention because he knows that something like it truly happened." Akira absent-mindedly read his text out loud. "Good evening, Mr. Kim Minsoo. This ising from a concerned citizen. Recently, videos of you engaging in uneptable behavior have been circting around in the corporate world. Fortunately, I stopped the spread before it got to important people. However, this is only temporary." "Thend¡ªgive it up. Otherwise, this might just be posted all over social media." "Dang," Ren muttered. "I believe that." "Same," Akira agreed. June smiled and patted Jisung''s back. He actually had a talent for this! "Good job, Ji," June said. Jisung nodded and straightened his back, appearing like a cute puppy who had been praised for being good. "¡­and he''s back to normal," Akira chuckled. "I swear¡ªyou turn into apletely different breed when ites to June." June stared at the message once more before hitting send. Then, he sent all of the videos he had gathered, knowing that it would do the trick. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

 Chapter 845 Victorious

    845 Victorious n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lei woke up with a huge smile on his face. He left the office early yesterday, leaving the swamp of work that came with being Azure Entertainment''s new CEO. Truly, great power entails great responsibility. However, a certain level of power would entail lesser work¡ªone where you can just pay or exploit other people to work for you. After White Tiger was dissolved, Lei wanted to have the same kind of freedom in the entertainment industry. He wasn''t there just yet, but he was getting closer and closer to his goal. Just then, his phone rang, showing Mr. Kim''s name. A small smirk made its way to Lei''s lips. It seemed like Dan wasn''t lying when he said it was a done deal. The old man was calling so early in the morning. However, his smirk quickly fell with Mr. Kim''s starting statement. "I can''t buy thend in Dongdam," he started off. A deep frown reced Lei''s smirk. "Sir?" he asked, thinking that he heard wrong. Mr. Kim sighed. "As I said¡ªI would not be able to buy thend in Dongdam. I cannot invest my money in yourpany." Lei pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes as he tried to make sense of the situation. "Did anything happen, sir?" he asked in apprehension. "Did you not have a good night?" Mr. Kim didn''t respond for a few seconds before his sigh was heard through the phone. "I am only calling you as a sign of respect. I will not pull out my investment from Azure Cafe. However, I will not be able to invest in your new building." "That''s it." "Wait, sir," Lei said. He pursed his lips since he sounded like he was begging. That was thest thing that Lei wanted to do¡ªto beg others. "Do you want to talk about this in person?" "No," Mr. Kim impatiently said. "How many times do I have to tell you that I''m not interested anymore?" Lei''s heart raced inside his chest. "But, sir¡ª" "It''s best if we just keep our rtionship through Azure Cafe. I don''t want to be involved in other things. I don''t want to be involved with your assistant, too." With that, he turned off the call, causing Lei to drop his phone to the ground. He stared off into the distance before a chuckle bubbled up his chest. He looked at his desk and saw an unsuspecting vase with a yellow tulip inside. His hand itched to grab it and throw it to the television, but he stopped himself. He wasn''t in his territory. He still had a front to keep up. With that, he settled on his teacup instead. He grabbed the ceramic cup and held it in his hand, squeezing it tightly until it broke into a thousand pieces. ***


    "W¡ªWhat?" Dan stammered in disbelief at what he was hearing. "He won''t sign the contract?" "How is that, sir? Everything went well yesterday!" "Are you sure?" Lei asked, appearing extremely calm. Somehow, that made him appear even scarier. "Yes," Dan said with conviction. Lei continued looking at him. "Yes?" he repeated, sounding unsure this time. "He liked my gift!" he continued to defend himself. "He said that June was the most beautiful gift I''ve given him. They even went away on their own yesterday." Lei raised one of his eyebrows. "Then, why is it that Mr. Kim left all alone yesterday?" he asked. "The cameras in the club didn''t even capture June." It would have been better if June had been involved in all of this. Through that, Lei could have used something as leverage. However, there was nothing. Nothing at all. It almost seemed¡­nned. Dan''s face was drained of all its color. "B¡ªbut we were there." "It''s impossible! He was going to sign the contract," he eximed. Lei massaged the bridge of his nose. "What are you going to do? I entrusted this to you." Dan scrambled to get his phone out of his pocket. "I''ll fix it, sir. I''ll try to convince him." "I already did that," Lei said. "Don''t speak to him anymore. He''s going to pull out his investment from Azure Cafe if you do that." Dan gulped and looked through his contact list. "It''s alright, sir. I still have contacts with other important people. I can clutch a deal until tonight¡ªor maybe until tomorrow. That way, we can talk to thend owner by the end of the week." Leiughed out loud, halting Dan''s actions. Heughed like a maniac who had lost his mind, causing Dan to close his eyes in fear. The sound alone sent shivers down his spine, and it was only then that he was reminded that Lei wasn''t someone he could mess with. "What are we going to do now, though? I tried that, too," he smiled, showing his pearly whites. "And guess what?" Dan said. "The owner''s already in talks with another person." Dan felt like he was hit by a truck multiple times in several directions. His mouth went agape, and he couldn''t close it anymore. "What do you mean?" he muttered. "This was an exclusive sale. Not a lot of people know about it." "Think again, Dan," Lei said. "Who even bought it in such a short amount of time?" Dan eximed. Lei clicked his tongue and shook his head. He also didn''t know¡­and that was what frustrated him the most. The two of them stood in silence for a while, feeling incredibly lost, when they heard chattering from outside of the office. Lei''s office was a one-way mirror, so he could see outside it, but those outside couldn''t see him. At that moment, he saw Jay along with the members of EVE, who appeared to be having a fun conversation. Then, at the very end of the line was none other than June, just listening to his members. Dan frowned when he saw his state. He lookedpletely fine¡ªlike he wasn''t drugged the night before. Then, like he could see through the ss, he made eye contact with Dan, causing thetter to hold his breath. And with that, June smiled in victory.

 Chapter 846: Concept? I Have No Idea

    Chapter 846: Concept? I Have No Idea


    ?


    The boys were currently in their studio, trying toe up with a concept for their new album. Although it hadn''t been announced that they were going to have aeback, the boys still wanted to discuss it.


    They knew that aeback needed a lot of preparations, so they wanted to prepare it as soon as possible just in time for their first-year anniversary. Moreover, they had some regrets in thest album, and they didn''t want history to repeat itself.


    "Well, we already did a beach concept," Jaeyong muttered. "However, I do want to get wet again."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    They looked at their leader with wide eyes before collectively shaking their heads.


    "I''m going to pretend that you didn''t say that," Akira muttered.


    "We need to think about the trends," Ren started off. "What''s trendy these days?"


    They all turned to their youngest member, Jisung, who was already deep in thought.


    "Hmm, I guess-racing?" he asked. "A lot of people like F1 drivers these days, and rightfully so. They''re so cool!"


    "That''s a good idea," Zeth eximed. "Then, we can wear tight fitting clothes and take them off under the burning sun."


    Ren''s face twisted into a grimace, already not liking the idea.


    "Except," Sehun chimed. "OCTA has already done something like that. Remember their debut song?"


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "Oh, right," he muttered. "I nearly forgot about it. It''s been like, what? Around 400 chapters?"


    "What?" Ren asked, frowning.


    "What?" Zeth answered back.


    They all shrugged and continued their discussion.


    "Well, we can also go with the royalty concept. Everyone keeps telling us that we''re the kings of K-Pop already," Casper boasted.


    "We already did that concept with King of Kings, though," Jisung said. "And technically, ourst title track is also royalty-inclined. It just wasn''t done that well since it was filmed in a box-type studio."


    They all turned to June, knowing he was the member with the greatest ideas.


    June couldn''t shake off the smile on his face. He saw Daning out of Mr. Lei''s office a while ago, and it looked like hell had bent him over. June chuckled as he recalled Dan tripping on his own feet, too.


    "June?" Casper called his name, causing him to snap back to reality.


    June raised his eyebrows and looked at his members, who were all expectantly looking at him. "What?" June asked.


    "Do you have a concept in mind for the neweback?"


    June pursed his lips. Right! They were going to talk about the concept of theireback. The boys held their breaths in anticipation, waiting for June''s genius idea toe through. Then, he shook his head.


    "I don''t," he said with a small smile.


    The others sighed in disappointment.


    Jay chuckled and patted their backs. "It''s alright, guys," he said. "We still have some time. I went through some of Ren''s songs, and I quite like them. We won''t have a problem with the B-sides, so we have more time to n the title track."


    "You didn''t show them to the production team, did you?" Ren anxiously asked.


    Jay shook his head. "Of course not. Ted is still there. I doubt he''ll ept them because his music taste is crap."


    "Your songs good to my ears. Jangmoon also listened to it in passing and said they would be great additions to the album."


    Ren sighed in relief. "That''s good, then. I''m also happy that you guys like the song."


    Jisung shyly raised his hand. "I''m also working on a song. I hope you guys can listen to it after I finish it."


    The boys looked at their youngest member with wide and bright eyes.


    "Little Ji!" Sehun excitedly eximed. "You''ve been working on a song?"


    "Let''s listen to it," Ren said.


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck and shook his head.


    "It''s not done yet," he said. "It doesn''t have lyrics, too. I''ll give it to you guys when it''s done."


    They sighed in disappointment; however, Jisung reassured them that they were going to be the first ones to hear the song.


    With that, the boys decided to order food to feed their tired minds.


    "Ah, that was tough," Akira said. "Let''s eat and think about it moreter."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "You didn''t even make a suggestion!" he teased.


    Akira stuck out his tongue andid on the ground.


    They went on their phones as they waited for their food to arrive.


    Casper, who still had the VPN installed on his phone, went to Weibo and saw that their performance video was still trending.


    "Our ''52'' performance is still up there," he said, capturing their attention.


    "What?" Jaeyong asked with a small frown. "But, it''s been like what? More than a week since we had that schedule."


    "True," Casper muttered. "I guess people like it because it''s so peaceful. It''s something that they don''t see from boy groups that often."


    "Peaceful, huh?" June muttered.


    Just then, Akira brought up another topic.


    "Look at this!" he eximed. "Joonie is gaining even more poprity after ''Everyday, Everynight.'' So, he terminated his contract with his previouspany and is in talks with a new one."


    "Oh, that makes sense," Jisung chimed. "He was from a smallpany, and his poprity had skyrocketed so much. I bet he wants to sign apany with greater resources. I wonder where he''s going to go to."


    "I still don''t like that guy," Casper muttered.


    "Well, I don''t really care about that," Akira said. "I''m just curious about the second season! I


    heard they were going to have one next month."


    "It did really well, so I bet they''re capitalizing on its poprity," Jaeyong said.


    "I want to go," Akira groaned. "Do you think they''re recruiting?"


    Jay lifted his head. "As a matter of fact, I think they are. I heard that Director Ramil was in


    talks with thepany a few days ago."


    "Oh, June needs to go!" Jisung eximed. "He''s perfect for the theme."


    "I agree," Zeth said.


    Ren raised one eyebrow in surprise. "You don''t want to go?"


    Zeth quickly shook his head. "No way. Did you see how they had to eat worms and raw leaves?


    I respect it, but I can''t do stuff like that. June''s more suited for stuff like that."


    "I''ll try to find out for you, guys," Jay said, causing the boys to chatter excitedly.


    Just then, June''s phone rang, so he quickly retrieved his phone from his pocket.


    When he saw the caller ID, he couldn''t help but smile.


    He stood from the floor and made his way to the door.


    "I''ll be back," June smiled. "The little devil is calling."

 Chapter 847: You Already Know

    Chapter 847: You Already Know


    ?


    It had been a while since June had spoken to Minjun, so he was more excited than usual.


    As soon as he arrived in the hallway, he pressed on the ''answer'' button and ced the phone before his ear.


    "Minjun," he greeted. "What''s up?"


    "Big Bro!" Minjun eximed.


    June frowned as soon as he heard his voice. "Are you taking testosterone pills or something? Why is your voice getting deep?"


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "It''s called puberty, idiot," he deadpanned.


    June pursed his lips. In the back of his mind, he already knew that. However, he still couldn''t erase the image of the small kid that he had first met.


    "How can a 7th grader go into puberty that early, though?" June muttered.


    "I''m already in 8th grade," Minjun sighed. "Why are we even talking about this?"


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Well, why did you call?"


    "Nothing much," Minjun said. "It''s just been a while since we''vest spoken. You also haven''t been involved in a scandal for a while now, so I''m wondering if things are going alright."


    June clicked his tongue. "Are you praying on my downfall?"


    Minjun chuckled. "Well, no. With your luck, I was just assuming that you would have another scandal or two. Actually, the airport outfit one was a bit close, but then you started a trend. I see kids my age rocking your outfit everywhere I go now."


    "Isn''t that great?" June asked. "You can see me even when I''m not there."


    Minjun sighed. "Well, if my mom wasn''t such a worrywart, then I would invite you to our new house. It''s very big, actually. It''s in the middle of the forest and appears straight out of that movie with a sparkling vampire."


    "I''m not sure what you''re talking about," June deadpanned.


    "Of course," Minjun said. "What did I expect from you? Well, anyway, it''s really big. My mom''s not home all the time, too, so it gets pretty lonely. However, she has eyes everywhere, so I can''t invite you."


    June frowned. "How are you able to call me right now then?"


    "My mom isn''t home," he cheerily said. "And I''m hiding in the washing machine while ying hide-and-seek with our workers. I''ve been here for 15 minutes and got bored. I reckoned that I would be here for a while, so I decided to call you."


    "Anyway, when are you guysing back? My ssmates are all dying for new music from you."


    June smiled. "Soon," he answered. "Tell them that they don''t need to wait for long."


    "Is it really soon?" Minjun asked. "I know you have a new CEO since yourst CEO is crap. Is he treating you better?"


    "Hmm," June hummed. "It''s too early to tell."


    "That doesn''t sound like a good thing," Minjun said. "You know, do you want me to ask my mom to help you, guys? I''m sure she can pull some strings."


    June chuckled in amusement.


    Lena definitely wouldn''t like that.


    "I don''t want your mom to hate me even more," June said.


    "That''s fair," Minjun muttered. "Well, let''s move onto another topic then."


    "Did you know? Our monsterndy selling all hernd in our old apartment! It turns out


    that all the vacant lots surrounding it were also hers! I can''t believe she''s that rich," Minjun eximed.


    June froze in his spot and frowned.


    "H-how do you know that?" June stammered.


    For all he knew, it was an exclusive sale-which meant that not a lot of people knew about thend being for sale.


    June knew that Minjun''s intel was crazy, but he didn''t think it would be to this extent.


    "My mom told me," Minjun said.


    June''s frown deepened.


    "Grandma and I have been staying in that apartment for so long, so it just made sense for her to tell my mom," he continued.


    June''s frown eased, and he nodded in understanding.


    "I see," he muttered.


    "Well, that''s all the news I have for today. I hear our canines barking already. I think they''re


    going to sniff me out now. I best be going before they call my mom," Minjun said.


    June shook his head, still amazed with how ridiculously rich the kid was.


    "Stay safe," June said. "We''ll meet soon."


    "Yup!" Minjun eximed. "See you soon."


    With that, Minjun ended the call, leaving June with a smile on his face. Talking to the little kid


    was stressful at times, but June always felt happy with every conversation.


    He ced his phone back into his pocket when he heard someone calling his name.


    "June."


    June stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around, already aware of who was calling his


    name.


    He neutralized his facial expression and faced the person.


    "Sir Lei," he said, bowing his head in respect.


    Lei chuckled with his signature warm smile. "I knew I saw you a while ago. What are you


    doing here?"


    "Just trying to make some music with the boys," June vaguely answered.


    Lei''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, you guys are already nning something?"


    June nodded. "It''s for the nexteback."


    Lei pursed his lips. "I see," he muttered.


    They were stuck in silence for a few seconds until June spoke once more.


    "Do you have anything you want to talk about?" he asked.


    Lei lifted his head and met eyes with June for a second.


    "Right," he muttered. "I just want to talk about..st night."


    June clicked his tongue. "About how Dan took me to the club?"


    "Well, he got drunk pretty quickly, and I was ufortable staying there, so I left on my own," June nonchntly said while looking down at his nails, appearing unbothered.


    "Don''t worry," he added. "I didn''t get caught by anyone. I also didn''t create any trouble." Lei felt his temper increasing, but he continued smiling despite it all.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "That''s...good," he squeezed out.


    "Well, you should have gone there yesterday," June smiled. "Dan was all over the ce.


    Maybe you should look into hiring morepetent workers."


    Lei chuckled to hide his anger. "I''ll make sure to do just that."


    "Bye for now, then," June smiled. "I still have a lot to discuss with my members."


    With that, he turned around and was about to head inside their practice room.


    However, Lei''s next statement made him freeze in his tracks.


    "You already know, don''t you?"

 Chapter 848: The Time Will Come

    Chapter 848: The Time Will Come


    ?


    June wasn''t shocked, to say the least.


    He had already expected it.


    Lei knew that he was smart, and June acknowledged Lei''s wits, too.


    They had been in a psychological battle ever since.


    June turned around with an innocent expression.


    "What was that?" he asked.


    Lei''s smile didn''t waver. In fact, it widened further, appearing like he was enjoying their conversation.


    "You already know," he pointed out, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "My real intentions."


    "You already know them," he repeated.


    June mirrored Lei''s position. At that moment, it felt like two strong walls were facing each other, both unwilling to yield.


    From inside the studio, Casper felt a shiver run down his spine. He looked around the room with a small frown.


    "Who turned up the air conditioning?" he asked, wrapping his arms around his body. He felt goosebumps all over his skin, causing his frown to deepen.


    Jay turned to him with furrowed eyebrows. "No one did," he said.


    Casper clicked his tongue. "Strange," he muttered. "It feels colder than it usually is."


    Jisung shook his head in amusement. "You must be hungry. You''re already hallucinating, bro."


    "Is that it?" Casper asked, tilting his head to the side. "Or is it because June''s not here to warm the room?"


    Meanwhile, June and Lei continued staring at each other. It felt as if they had finally met their opponent after battling for so long.


    "Ah, I can''t do this anymore," Lei said, the smile being reced with a smirk. "I know you already know, so what''s there to pretend about?"


    "Beats me," June said. "I knew since the very beginning."


    Lei bit his lip. "What gave it away?" he asked.


    "Your eyes," June smirked. "They never lie."


    "And you can''t really hide who your rtives are, Mr. Lei. It''s a dead giveaway," he vaguely said, pertaining to Lei''s resemnce with Lin Zhi.


    Lei shook his head in amusement. "I should have known," he muttered.


    "It seems like you''re one step ahead of me all of the time."


    June shrugged. "It''s no big deal. I''m just doing my job."


    Lei''s gaze hardened as he gazed at the nonchnt idol. Up until now, he hated how at ease June always seemed to be.


    When he got first ce in Rising Stas, and Lin Zhi failed to debut...


    When they won King of Kings...


    When he took away Lin Zhi''s role...


    When Lin Zhi died....


    It was then that Lei realized that he had never won against June.


    Not a single time.


    His hands were unconsciously clenched.


    "Your days of victory are over, though," Lei said, copying June''s nonchnt demeanor.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "What made you say that?" he asked. "I just beat you again, didn''t I?"


    Lei pursed his lips. "That wasn''t my loss."


    "Ah, right," June muttered. "It was Dan''s. Sorry, my bad."


    Lei''s eyes narrowed at June.


    "You know-you''re never going to have the victory you''re aiming for. Our current positions


    are already enough testament to that," he said.


    June nodded. "I know," he said.


    From the get-go, he knew he was in a disadvantageous position.


    Lei was his CEO.


    June was under his contract.


    Lei has more money and properties under his name.


    June had more influence; however, that was a double-ended sword. It also meant that he wasid bare in the eyes of the public-with more people scrutinizing his every move.


    However, June was more desperate...and Lei didn''t know that.


    Jun Hao might have been defeated by Laohu, but June would never allow himself to be beaten


    by Lei.


    With that, his eyes met with Lei once again.


    "But that''s not going to stop me," he smirked.


    Lei smirked, too. "Brave," he said. "Very brave. I guess I like that we''re the same."


    June chuckled in amusement.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yeah, you could say that," he chimed. "In a way, we''re really simr."


    "We''re both desperate."


    "We have the same goal-to change the idol industry."


    "However, I want to change it for the better," June smiled, walking closer to Lei.


    "You, on the other hand, want to change it so it can be yours," he whispered menacingly.


    Lei''s eyebrows gradually furrowed as June looked him in the eyes.


    For some reason, the fire in June''s eyes reminded him of someone...distant. However, Lei couldn''t quite pinpoint who.


    There was one thing certain, though he didn''t like it one bit.


    "You''re going to regret ever facing me," Lei spat, slowly showing his true self.


    "Is that so?" June smirked. "Even as you say that, you can''t really get rid of me."


    "Why?" June provoked.


    "Because I''m irreceable..."


    "...and you can''t afford to let me go."


    Just then, the door opened, revealing Jay, who appeared excited.


    However, he frowned when he saw Lei and June in close proximity.


    "What...are you guys doing?" he asked.


    June continued looking into Lei''s eyes with a menacing smile.


    "Nothing," June smiled. "Just a friendly conversation between an idol and his CEO, right Sir


    Lei?"


    Lei brought the smile back to his lips, acting as if nothing even happened.


    Then, he nodded.


    "Right," he said. "I''m just asking June about what you guys are working on."


    "Oh, it''s their next album," Jay said. "I wanted to discuss that with you, by the way."


    "Sure," Lei smiled. "We''re already nning on it, anyway. Let''s hear your suggestions for


    another time."


    Jay nodded and turned to June. "Care to help me carry the food we''ve ordered? Those


    hooligans didn''t want to help."


    June chuckled and nodded, following after Jay.


    However, just as the two of them started walking, Lei spoke once again, making them halt


    their steps and turn around.


    "June," Lei called.


    June raised one eyebrow in inquiry.


    "Yet," he said. "But the time wille."


    With that, he turned around and walked away from the two of them, leaving Jay confused.


    The manager turned to June with furrowed eyebrows.


    "What is he talking about?" Jay asked.


    June''s facial expression remained neutral. However, he finally realized why Lei said thosest


    words.


    It was a response to June''sst statement.


    "You can''t afford to lose me yet," June muttered.


    "But the time wille, huh?"

 Chapter 849: The Replacement Is Here?

    Chapter 849: The Recement Is Here?


    ?


    June didn''t think that the time woulde soon enough, though.


    He was shaken awake by none other than Akira, some of his saliva dripping down June''s cheeks.


    June awakened and pped Akira''s face while wiping away the drool from his skin.


    "What are you doing?" June eximed.


    Akira didn''t mind being pped by June. Instead, he held onto his wrist and dragged him to their dining room.


    "Casper cooked!" Akira eximed. "He told us not to wake you up early, so he cooked instead."


    June''s eyes narrowed at him, appearing like he wanted to murder the older member. "Then, why did you wake me up now?" June eximed.


    "Oh, because the food is done," Akira said. "I''m excited to taste Casper''s cooking."


    June shook his head and sat on his seat while Casper ced the food on the table.


    As soon as he did, the members all turned silent, looking at the questionable contents of the te.


    "Oh, is this broli?" Sehun asked, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "I love vegetables in the morning."


    "It''s a chicken nugget," Casper said. "But, I did put some veggies and herbs in it."


    "Oh," Sehun muttered. "A homemade chicken nugget?"


    Casper excitedly nodded.


    Akira leaned closer to Jisung and whispered, "I think this was a bad idea."


    "But he looks so excited, though," Jisung whispered back, his gaze focused on Casper''s smiley expression.


    "And what''s this?" Ren asked. "vored water?"


    "It''s soup," Casper smiled.


    "Why does it have ice? And why is it clear?" Jaeyong asked, sounding quite afraid.


    "It''s cold soup. I''m trying a new recipe," Casper answered.


    "It looks like shit," Zeth said before he could control himself. However, Ren quickly covered his mouth.


    "What was that?" Casper asked with raised eyebrows.


    "Nothing, nothing," Jisung chuckled nervously, not wanting to ruin Casper''s mood.


    "We''ll eat it," he said.


    None of them wanted to take the first bite, so they all turned to June, who had just finished pping himself awake.


    With that, he mindlessly poked one of Casper''s green chicken nuggets and took a bite.


    The others watched him patiently, wanting to see his reaction.


    June shrugged and took another bite, causing the others to sigh in relief.


    "I guess it''s not too bad," Akira whispered.


    With that, he also poked a chicken nugget and ced it whole in his mouth. The others did the same, with some being more timid.


    "How is it?" Casper excitedly asked.


    There was a collective reaction within the room.


    Akira quickly spat the green chicken nugget, the chewed-up blob plopping onto the table like it was a piece of poop.


    "Ew!" Jisung eximed.


    "What the heck is that?" Akira eximed. "It tastes like a weapon!"


    The others, too, started spitting out the chicken nugget, causing Casper to frown.


    "What did you put in it?" Zeth asked, cleaning his palette with the clear soup. Fortunately, it just tasted like slightly salty water.


    Casper''s frown deepened. "Chicken," he started off. "Barley leaves."


    "That''s it."


    "That''s it?" Akira asked. "So, that''s why it tastes like a bomb!"


    Then, he turned to June. "How could you eat this?"


    June looked up at them and shrugged. When he was younger, he could eat everything, so this wasn''t too bad.


    "It''s not bad," he said, causing the others to look at him with amazement.


    Meanwhile, Casper jogged to where June was and patted his back.


    "I knew it," he said. "This is the type of food that Luther likes, too."


    The boys looked at Casper with wide eyes.


    "You fed us cat food?" Zeth eximed, running to the sink to rinse his mouth.


    Casper clicked his tongue. "It''s human food, duh? I made it for you this time, so it''s human food."


    "I can''t believe this," Ren muttered, feeling vited.


    "Well, it doesn''t matter anyway. I don''t care what you guys think. Just as long as June likes it!" Casper happily chimed.


    "I don''t like it," June deadpanned. "I just don''t think it''s disgusting."


    "It doesn''t matter," Casper said, already feeling fulfilled.


    "Someone open a ramen packet," Zeth said after his session at the sink.


    Ren sighed and stood.


    "I''ll do it," he grumbled.


    The boys, along with Casper, rejoiced.


    As they waited for Ren to finish cooking the ramen, Akira suddenly came across a very


    interesting article.


    "Holy crap!" he eximed.


    The boys stopped what they were doing and turned to their member with raised eyebrows.


    "What?" Jaeyong asked.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I can''t believe I caught this just seconds after it came out," Akira muttered.


    "What is it?" Jisung asked, scooting closer to Akira to look at what he was reading.


    Jisung also gasped in shock, covering his hand with his mouth.


    Zeth impatiently clicked his tongue. "Well, don''t just sit there. Read it out loud."


    Jisung nodded and grabbed Akira''s phone before reading the article out loud.


    "Breaking News: Joonie Joins Azure Entertainment!"


    "What?" the boys, with the exception of June, gasped in shock.


    Even Ren stopped stirring the pot for a moment to listen to what Jisung was reading.


    "Joonie, the former D-list rookie actor who recently gained fame on PD Ramil''s hit variety show, ''Everyday, Everynight,'' has signed with Azure Entertainment. Initially brought on as a seemingly filler member, Joonie quickly captured the audience''s hearts with his genuine kindness and reliability, thriving in the show''s unique setting away from the hustle and


    bustle of city life."


    "The two-week show, which had Joonie and other celebrities living and working in rural farnds, revealed a side of him that many had not seen before, leading to an outpouring of support and admiration from fans. His newfound poprity caught the attention of various entertainmentpanies, but it appears Azure Entertainment offered the most enticing deal, even covering his separation fee from his previous agency."


    "Is this real?" Jaeyong asked with wide eyes.


    "It is," Akira said. "He even has an exclusive interview."


    With that, Akira showed his phone to his members before ying the video.


    June tilted his head to the side when he saw that his pink hair was now dyed blonde, simr to


    how June did it during King of Kings.


    "What are your thoughts on Azure?" the interviewer asked.


    "I''ve always admired them," Joonie responded with a bright smile. "I love all of their


    shows."


    "How does it feel now to be a part of it?"


    "I feel honored," Joonie said with a slight bow.


    "Although I had signed with an acting agency a while back, I''ve always had another dream."


    "To be an idol."

 Chapter 850: Youre Not June

    Chapter 850: You''re Not June


    ?


    As soon as the news about Joonie joining Azure Entertainment broke through, praises for the artist and thepany filled social media.


    - Wow! Joonie''s joining Azure Entertainment? Who would have known?


    - He said he''s interested in bing an idol. Do you think he''s going to debut as an idol?


    - That would be nice. He sang during the campfire in one of the episodes, and his voice was pretty nice.


    - Yeah, I saw some of his dancing videos back then, and he also seems decent.


    - I used to hate Azure Entertainment, but since they have a new CEO, I agree with the coboration! I like it so much <3.


    - I''ve fallen in love with Joonie after ''Everyday, Everynight,'' and I''m going to support him no matter what he does.


    - Am I the only one who''s reminded of June whenever I watch him?


    - Omo! Now that you''ve said it, I think you''re right. He does feel a lot like June.


    -Sorry, June. I might like him better than you!


    - Have you seen the brand reputation for this month? Joonie''s second, just right behind June. I think he might surpass him soon.


    "What are thesements talking about?" Casper asked, clicking his tongue. "June''s poprity is much, much higher. He has so many endorsements, too."


    "But they decreased this month, right?" Jaeyong asked, turning to their manager, who was now in their dorm room.


    Jay nodded. "Yeah, they''ve decreased."


    June shrugged. "I don''t mind. I don''t like being swamped with work anyway."


    "But even then, you still maintained your number one spot," Jisung chimed, nudging June''s shoulder.


    June shook his head in amusement. Meanwhile, Casper continued to look at his phone with a deep frown.


    Ren chuckled and patted his back. "Why do you hate him so much anyway?"


    Casper sighed. "I told you-he reminds me too much of June."


    "Then, shouldn''t that be a good thing?" Zeth asked. "You''re the number one simp for June anyway."


    June was waiting for Casper to counter Zeth''s statement, but he didn''t say anything about it. Instead, he continued ranting about Joonie.


    "He reminds me of June, but \not in a good way," Casper deadpanned. "I have a feeling that he''s copying him."


    "Really?" Sehun asked. "Well, he had his hair dyed pink when he first joined ''Everyday, Everynight.'' Now, he''s blonde and has the same haircut as June during King of Kings."


    "I noticed that, too," Zeth said.


    "Now that you''ve said it, I think you''re right," Akira said. "He''s not nonchnt like June. Instead, he reminds me a bit like Lei, like his tantly kind. However, the way he carries himself, the way he smiles, and even the way he dresses-it all reminds me of June."


    Jisung pursed his lips and nodded. "Is that the reason why I like him so much?" he muttered. "Yes!" Casper eximed. "You''re just far too innocent to notice it, Ji. He''s even copying June''s way of speaking."


    "I''ve never seen Casper this proactive before," Ren said, amused.


    Casper turned to June and started shaking his shoulders. "What do you think about this?"


    June took another bite of Casper''s chicken nugget, to which the other boys grimaced at.


    "I didn''t watch the show," June said while shrugging. "So, I don''t really know...and about the hair color-I don''t mind. I can''t gatekeep a hair color now, can''t I?"


    Casper sighed and shook his head. "You''re way too kind, Junie."


    Then, he gasped and covered his mouth in shock. "I can''t believe I just said that! Junie... Joonie! That guy is getting into my brain."


    June shook his head. "Rx. The guy hasn''t even done anything."


    June only said that; however, he felt that it wasn''t a coincidence that Joonie was now with theirpany.


    Since Lei already knew that June was aware of his real intentions, then he was sure that Lei was going to do his best to remove June from the picture.


    "Let''s see," June said.


    ***


    The LUNAIREdies were practicing for their special music show stage when Ann came in with


    a wide smile.


    "Guess what?" she eximed.


    The girls stopped practicing and turned to their excited manager with curious expressions.


    "What?" Ara excitedly asked, bouncing to where Ann was.


    The other girls, too, formed a circle around their manager, sweat dripping from their temples after hours of training.


    "I got some important information," Ann started off, causing the girls to be even more -curious.


    "Just tell us, Ann," Mina chuckled in amusement.


    "A new artist is joining ourpany!" Ann revealed, causing the girls to look at each other.


    "Is it Joonie?" Ara asked.


    Ann''s smile fell. "Wait," she muttered. "How do you guys even know?"


    "It''s all over Navel," Jeemin said. "I thought you were chronically online. You should have known before us."


    Ann pursed his lips before sighing. "Ah, this manager job is taking away my time online. Well, that''s one. The other one is I heard from one of the producers that one of you is going to join PD Ramil''s show by the end of the month."


    The girls, who were originally amused by their manager''s mistake, looked at her with wide


    eyes.


    "What?" Jeemin eximed. "PD Ramil''s show?"


    "Is it ''Everyday, Everynight?"" Yeri asked, still in shock.


    "Yes," Ann said. "That''s the show. It''s quite popr, right?"


    "Quite popr?" Jeemin exasperatedly said. "It''s the hottest show right now! After the sessful first season, everyone''s anticipating the second season. How can you drop the


    bomb so casually like that?"


    Ann shrugged. "Well, I did say that I have some news."


    "Do you know who''s going to join from our team?" Ara excitedly asked.


    Ann shook her head. "Nope," she said. "I don''t think they''ve decided just yet. However, this is


    a great way to promote your team."


    The girls nodded, already excited about the future ns of thepany.


    Just then, Mei walked away from them.


    "Where are you going?" Ann asked.


    Mei showed them her empty water bottle. "I''ll go refill it ande back."


    Ann nodded. "Alright. We''ll wait for you before the final practice."


    Mei nodded and went out of the room, whistling their song under her breath as she made her


    way to the water fountain.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She quickly filled her water bottle and was about to head back to their practice room when she


    saw someone familiar from afar.


    He was wearing a cap along with an oversized tracksuit.


    Mei smiled in amusement. "What is he doing here without his members?" she muttered.


    With that, she walked over to him and pushed his shoulder with strength.


    "You say that you''re annoyed by my presence, but you came here to see me, huh?" she teased.


    The two had grown closer in the time that Mei and the other members of LUNAIRE were preparing for their debut performance.


    "What? Are you too cool to talk to me now?" Mei chuckled, about to tease him more.


    The guy turned around, causing Mei to freeze.


    "You''re not June."

 Chapter 851: Bad Vibes

    Chapter 851: Bad Vibes


    ?


    Indeed, the boy in front of Mei wasn''t June.


    His back looked just like June''s. Even the way he dressed and carried himself reminded Mei of June.


    At a glimpse, some could even say that the guy looked like June, especially the way he had his make-up done.


    However, he definitely wasn''t June.


    June was more handsome-a hundred times better.


    Mei didn''t say that out loud, though. She would get caught dead before sheplimented June out loud.


    The guy snapped his fingers in front of Mei''s face, causing her to snap back to reality.


    Then, he removed his cap, giving Mei a clear vision of his face.


    She was no expert in make-up, but she thought it waspletely obvious that he was trying out June''s make-up style. His contour was done to hide his slightly more prominent chin and bigger forehead.


    He was still handsome, but without all the make-up, Mei would reckon that he would a lot less like June.


    Then, it clicked on her.


    She had seen this person before.


    "Joonie?" she muttered.


    Joonie smiled. "Mei, right?" he asked.


    "Wow, you''re prettier in real life. I was starstruck for a moment there."


    "This is amazing. I didn''t think I would meet a celebrity on my first day in thepany," he added.


    Mei pursed his lips. "You''re the celebrity here," she said, aware of his poprity because of his recent variety show and interview appearances.


    "Oh, stop it," Joonie chuckled, waving thepliment off. However, it was pretty obvious that he enjoyed it very much.


    Mei cleared her throat. "Well, I''m going now. I still have to practice with my team."


    "I''m sorry for pushing you like that," she continued. "I thought you were someone else."


    With that, she bowed and left the guy all alone.


    However, his next words made her halt in her spot.


    "You thought I was June, huh?" he asked, satisfaction heard in his voice.


    "Are you two dating or something?"


    Mei frowned and swiftly turned around, only to see that Joonie''s expression had changed to a cockier one.


    "What?" Mei asked, only being able to spit out one word.


    "You''re dating, right?" he asked. "You can tell me. I won''t tell anyone!"


    Mei''s eyes narrowed in suspicion. She had seen plenty of clips of Joonie on social media, andn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    he seemed entirely different from how he was portrayed on the show.


    "No," Mei simply said. "We''re friends."


    "Eyy," Joonie chuckled. "Boys and girls can''t be friends like that."


    Mei pursed his lips. "I''m not entitled to exin anything. However, what you''re thinking is wrong."


    Joonie raised his hands in surrender. "You don''t have to be so mad, princess. I was just asking."


    Mei clicked his tongue, feeling her eyelid twitching.


    "Sure," she said through gritted teeth. "Now, if you''ll excuse me..."


    With that, Mei walked away from him, more hurriedly this time.


    She could still hear Joonie''s chuckles from a distance, causing her to clench her fists. "Bye, princess!"


    ***


    "So, that''s for the third B-side song," Ren said after presenting another song to his members.


    "June helped with the chorus and the bridge of this one, and I think it turned out really nice," he added.


    "Really nice?" Akira eximed. "It''s near perfect! I still wouldn''t think of it as a title track, but this has a very high potential of being our promoted B-side track."


    "I agree," Jaeyong said. "The melody is nice and addictive, and we can have an intense dance break in the bridge, too."


    "Really?" Ren asked. "I didn''t expect that."


    June subtly smiled and patted his back. "I told you they would love it."


    In fact, it was the type of song that could pass as a title track for other groups. However, the boys had something different in mind for their title track this year. They didn''t know what yet --but it wasn''t this.


    Nheless, they still believed that the song needed to be included in their album.


    "In fact, we love all three songs," Jisung said with a wide smile. "They''re different, but somehow, they''re cohesive. I want all of them to be a part of the full album."


    "I agree," Jay said. "Let''s keep these three for now. The other two already have lyrics, too."


    Jaeyong smiled in satisfaction. "We''re progressing so nicely for this album. I can''t wait to show it to astras on our anniversary."


    The boys nodded, also appearing excited.


    "Anyway, send this song to me," Jay said. "I, too, want it to be the promoted B-side track, so I''ll take it up with the marketing team."


    Ren nodded. "I''ll send it to you."


    "Sure," Jay said. "Oh, our food is already downstairs. I''ll take it and announce something importantter."


    Just then, June''s phone rang, so he brought it out of his pocket to look at the caller ID.


    It was none other than Haruto.


    June''s eyebrows raised in curiosity. Haruto rarely called him because he was extremely busy,


    so he must be calling for something important.


    "I''ll just take this," June said, and the other members nodded.


    He went to his room and closed the door before answering the call.


    "Haruto," he greeted.


    "Junie! My little Junie!" Haruto eximed. "How are you doing?"


    June pursed his lips. "Good, I guess," he muttered.


    "Well, I miss you very much!" Haruto said. "Don''t tell him that I said this, but Haruki misses


    you a lot, too. He''s on hisst leg of the tour, and he says he wants to hang out soon."


    June pursed his lips. "Is that the reason why you called me?"


    "Why, yes!" Haruto eximed. "Can''t I call just because I miss my friend?"


    June sighed. "I thought it was something important," he deadpanned.


    Haruto clicked his tongue. "Do my feelings not matter to you anymore? You don''t want me to


    call you, is that it?"


    "Stop being dramatic," June said. "I''m going to hang up."


    "Wait!" Haruto eximed, making June click his tongue.


    "I actually have something important to say."


    June sighed and didn''t speak, letting Haruto reveal it himself.


    "Phoenix''s head."


    "I think I might have a lead on his whereabouts."

 Chapter 852: In Dongdam

    Chapter 852: In Dongdam


    ?


    "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?" June eximed, already feeling frustrated.


    "Oh, I just missed you a lot," Haruto answered. "I wanted to tell it right away but couldn''t because I was too excited."


    June massaged the bridge of his nose. "Well? Aren''t you going to say it to me now?"


    "Right," Haruto chuckled. "I almost forgot again!"


    "Anyway, let me tell you the backstory first so you would know that my story is credible."


    June pursed his lips. "Make it quick," he instructed.


    "Yes, yes," Haruto responded.


    "Anyway, ever since I found out that you were looking for the head of Phoenix, I started my thorough research."


    "I barely slept these past few weeks because I was so engrossed in the case. It seems like it runs deeper than I had expected."


    "Phoenix is apany that started back in the 1970s. It was started by a single man who had a passion for singing but couldn''t pursue it due to practicality reasons."


    "And how do you know about this?" June asked.


    "Oh, it was briefly stated in a book about Phoenix''s origin. It was only a small paragraph, but I pieced it all together."


    "Moving on, it was said that the man built the empire on his own. He didn''t have a rich family or business partners or anything like that."


    "However, like an empire, it was bound to get bigger. Phoenix wasn''t known for its entertainmentpany at first. It started as a cleaning industry-services, products, and things like that. Then, it became quite big, spreading to real estate, hotels, and oil, before it eventually established its entertainmentpany in the early 2000s."


    "It still wasn''t that sessful then, but they never let it go. It only started booming in the mid-2010s, when they started debuting idol groups."


    "So, Phoenix Entertainment is the ck sheep of the Phoenix empire?" June asked.


    "You could say that," Haruto responded. "However, from my readings, I would say that it''s the head''s first love. It was the one he wanted to keep the most, yet it seems like Phoenix grew into something that became out of his control."


    "And that''s the reason why he went into hiding?"


    "Now, there''s no explicit text about this, but I would say so," Haruto continued. "After the establishment of Phoenix Entertainment, I couldn''t find any other ounts of him-like he vanished into thin air."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I tried speaking to employees from other entertainmentpanies, especially the old ones, about whether they ever had any interaction with the head, but they couldn''t bring themselves to speak about it."


    "There''s something suspicious there," Haruto said, feeling his frustration mounting. "But, they didn''t divulge anything. It seems as if they also want to erase his existence in this world."


    "Strange," June muttered. "Why would that be?"


    "Right?" Haruto eximed. "That''s my dilemma, too. Why are some hiding him while some are looking for him?"


    "It feels like a paradox."


    "He''s also the one we''re looking for, right?" June asked.


    Haruto paused for a while, causing June to sigh.


    "Come on," he said, clicking his tongue. "Stop creating suspense. We''re not in a crime drama."


    "Sorry," Haruto chuckled. "I''ve always wanted to try that."


    "You say that he''s the one we''re looking for, right?" Haruto asked.


    June hummed.


    "That seems to be the case. That''s what everyone thinks, and maybe, just maybe, that is the reason why no one has ever found him."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, slowly piecing the puzzle together.


    "It''s not him," he said.


    "He''s...dead," June concluded.


    "Fuck you," Haruto suddenly said, causing June''s eyebrows to raise in surprise.


    "Excuse me?" June asked.


    "Sorry," Haruto sheepishly chuckled. "I wanted to reveal it myself, but you beat me to it."


    June shook his head. "Alright, you can say it again."


    "So kind!" Haruto eximed, going back to his ''true crime'' character.


    "He''s...dead," he repeated, sounding like he just made the greatest revtion.


    June gasped in shock, acting as if he hadn''t made the conclusion himself. It annoyed him to the core, but hearing Haruto''s chuckles made up for it.


    "I was looking for a dead man!" Haruto continued.


    "Then, one day, as I was continuing my research, I stumbled upon this very nicedy. It was a long day, and I was sitting on the ground. I looked like a mess, and she mistook me as a beggar."


    "Understandable," June muttered.


    "Wait, what?" Haruto asked.


    "Continue," June instructed.


    "Well, she looked at some of my research papers that had scattered and figured out what I was trying to look for."


    "Fate is really funny sometimes," he chuckled. "Because it turns out that thedy worked for the very man himself!"


    June raised one of his eyebrows. "And you believed her?"


    Haruto cleared his throat. "Come on, there''s no reason for her to lie, right? She had a


    backstory and all."


    June shook his head. Well, at least it was better than nothing.


    "Alright, continue," he instructed.


    "She became his maid when he became too busy with thepany. She was the very first one


    in their household!"


    "She said that the man was very simple and had innocent dreams. However, thepany grew out of his control, and before he knew it, it had strayed away from his original


    intentions."


    "It became what he dreaded the most, so he hid, only focusing on the important things."


    "However, the pressure was still too much, and he died of an aneurysm back in 2011," he


    concluded.


    "She continued to say that not many know this, so it seems like a lot of people are still looking for him. Then, she proceeded to tell me to stop my search since it would be futile."


    "I agreed with her," he ended.


    June waited for him to continue, but Haruto remained silent.


    "That''s it?" June asked.


    "What?" Haruto eximed. "I''ve already given you so much information."


    "You have," June muttered. "But you told me that you had information about his


    whereabouts!"


    "Oh, I do," he chuckled.


    "She told me where he used to live."


    "In Dongdam," Haruto concluded.


    June''s ears rang as soon as he heard those words.


    "In Dongdam?" June asked.


    "Where I used to live?"

 Chapter 853: Companys Company

    Chapter 853: Company''s Company


    ?


    "Oh, right!" Haruto said as if he just didn''t drop the biggest bomb on June. "You mentioned living in that shabby apartment, right?"


    "Well, it''s not so shabby now. I can''t believe it''s being developed in a business center in just one year! You should have stayed there," he continued.


    "Haruto," June warned. "You need to take this more seriously."


    Haruto clicked his tongue. "Right, sorry. Well, he did live in Dongdam-dong, but that''s only until 2011. I doubt you would also notice him."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I know," June muttered, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.


    In 2011, he still wasn''t part of any entertainmentpany.


    In 2011, it has been said that Phoenix Entertainment was still starting out.


    "It''s still amazing how coincidental all of this is," June added.


    "I agree," Haruto chimed.


    "Well, do you have any other information?" June asked, feeling more intrigued.


    The case was getting more and more interesting the more he heard about it.


    "What do you think of me?" Haruto asked. "I''m Haruto-of course I know more about it! I milked the shit out of that maid."


    "Wait, that doesn''t sound good. Anyway, I asked more questions, and it seems like the maid is still in touch with the family."


    "Oh," June muttered, his eyebrows raising.


    "However, at that point, I could feel that she was being hesitant. She only told me that she was invited to a housewarming party for his son''s new home."


    "And that is where?"


    "UN vige," Haruto answered. "Where the rich people live. I wanted to ask more, but she didn''t want to share anything anymore. Then, she gave me money and left."


    "You didn''t get her contact details?" June asked.


    Haruto didn''t respond for a while, so June took that as a sign that he didn''t.


    "I still have the money she gave me, if that makes it better. I could track the fingerprints-"


    "There''s no need," June said, sighing. It was a bit frustrating how they lost their only lead, but at least June was getting somewhere now.


    "You''ve done well," heplimented.


    Haruto beamed from the other side of the phone. Beingplimented by June was one of the greatest feelings in the entire world!


    "Well, I''ll be sure to give you more details once I have them," Haruto said.


    "Make sure to do that," June responded.


    Just then, his door opened, revealing Jisung who was already eating the fried chicken that they''ve ordered.


    They called it a ''palette cleanser'' for Casper''s chicken nugget.


    "Bro," he called. "Jay''s going to announce something."


    June nodded. "Let''s talk soon," he said to Haruto before ending the call.


    With that, he followed Jisung back to the dining room. There, he found his members talking casually among themselves.


    "Now, this is what you call a chicken nugget," Akira said, taking a bite of what they had ordered.


    Casper shook his head. "Do you know how those are made? They''re probably filled with GMOS and synthetically-processed extenders. My chicken nuggets are all natural. It even has barley powder because Luther needs to live long."


    "I don''t need nine lives," Akira said, popping another chicken nugget in his mouth. "I''m happy with my GMOs. Everything is bound to kill you anyway. It''s better to die happy than to live miserable!"


    Casper shrugged and grabbed the ''synthetic'' chicken nugget, too.


    "You''re right," he agreed.


    "Oh, June''s here," Jay said, letting go of the chicken leg and standing in front of the table.


    "I have an important announcement to make!" Jay eximed.


    "Do you have to stand?" Akira asked.


    "Yes," Jay smiled. "This is a very exciting announcement. However, I''m still upset that we were only informed this morning."


    "What is it?" Jaeyong asked amidst his bites.


    Jay looked at them with excitement. "Are you guys aware of Ramil PD?"


    The boys looked at each other with wide eyes.


    "Are you finally going to announce who''s going to be joining his variety show?" Jisung asked.


    Jay chuckled. "No," he deadpanned. "I''m still clueless about that."


    "Oh," they said, their shoulders slumping.


    "Why did you ask us about him then?" Sehun asked.


    "Well, I''m sure you''re already aware of ''Everyday, Everynight,'' but I''m sure that all of you also know a lot about his YouWatch channel!"


    "Of course," Ren said. "It''s like one of the most viewed entertainment channels. Well, he always has fresh ideas, so it clicks well with the viewers."


    "Well, do you guys know about one of his ongoing series-Company''s Company?"


    The boys turned to each other with intrigue, finally realizing what show they were going to participate in.


    "Did Lei arrange this?" June asked, also aware of the show.


    "Yes," Jay said. "It''s scheduled for tomorrow since it''s the only free time that he found in our


    schedule."


    "That soon?" Jisung eximed.


    "Yes," Jay sighed. "That''s why I still feel pretty upset. This wouldn''t happen if I was the one who scheduled it. However, it''s final."


    "This is still a great opportunity, though. ESPER Entertainment''s episode was a hit when it


    was uploaded during the start of the year," Casper noted.


    "Yes, it was really fun," Jisung smiled. "Uno''s quite funny."


    Company''s Company.


    It was yet another masterpiece of Ramil PD.


    Aside from being a sessful variety show producer, he also had a popr YouWatch channel. It featured various artists, ranging from idols, actors, and models toedians,


    doing random challenges.


    Company''s Company was something that started with Phoenix Entertainment.


    It was a show that allowed the artists in a certainpany to show their bond asbelmates


    as well as theirpetitive side.


    Last time, it was ESPER entertainment.


    TopStar and Harmony also had their respective episodes.


    Now, it was Azure''s turn.


    It was quite ironic. Azure was apany that one wouldn''t expect to be in the show because they didn''t have many artists. However, with EVE and LUNAIRE under their name, it became


    possible.


    It was also a testament that Azure was making a name for themselves in the idol industry.


    "I have one question, though!" Casper said, raising his hand.


    The boys turned to him with curious expressions.


    "Is Joonie going to be there?"

 Chapter 854: EVE, The Big Stars

    Chapter 854: EVE, The Big Stars


    ?


    The boys of EVE were currently in their van, waiting for their signal toe out.


    Jisung looked out of the window, but their view was luded by a small house. In front of them were four other cars, moving once they dropped off their artists.


    Jisung looked behind them and didn''t see any other car.


    He turned to Jay with wide eyes.


    "Are we thest ones to reveal ourselves?" he excitedly asked.


    Jay nodded excitedly. "That''s right!" he eximed. "I''ve gathered some information, and the very first car is LUNAIRE since they''ve debuted thetest."


    "The second car is some of the actors in the agency, while the third one is Joonie."


    Casper clicked his tongue. "Why is he even here? He literally joined thepany only days ago."


    Jaeyong chuckled in amusement. "He''s still a part of thepany, Casper. Besides, aren''t you curious about his real personality? I know I am!"


    Jisung nodded excitedly. "If he''s just like his character in ''Everyday, Everynight,'' then I think we''ll get along well."


    "Bullcrap," Casper muttered.


    Meanwhile, in arge garden surrounded by trees and flowers, Ramil PD''s staff had gathered around, going through final cues and making sure that everything was in ce.


    In the middle of them all was Ramil PD himself, wearing a simple grey shirt and sweatpants. He had an in-ear monitor and microphone in ce while sitting on the grass.


    "We''re starting in a minute!" he eximed, causing the staff to settle down.


    As they prepared for the opening, the staff couldn''t help but discuss the events that would take ceter on.


    "LUNAIRE is going in first, right?"


    "I''ve seen them before, and they look really pretty in real life."


    "Do you know the actors from Azure?"


    "Not really, but they have a few hits from here and there. I bet they''ll be great additions to the show, though."


    "I think Joonie is going to be here! I missed him after working for ''Everyday, Everynight.""


    "Is he really as kind as everyone makes him out to be?"


    "Yes! He has the best personality."


    "What about EVE, though?"


    "I still can''t believe that EVE is going to be here. Aren''t they like super big stars?"


    "It''s so hard to recruit them in shows. We hit the jackpot."


    "I don''t think I''ve ever seen EVE in real life."


    "Me too."


    "Me three!"


    "I''m excited to see them."


    Ramil PD cleared his throat and spoke through his small microphone.


    "Alright, we''re starting in 3...2...1...," he started off.


    The set turned quiet as the cameramen directed their cameras to the small house, which would serve as the entry point for the different artists.


    The girls of LUNAIRE made their way out of the house, and the staff all cheered.


    "Oh, so pretty!" Ramil PDplimented them as they made their way to the garden.


    The girls bowed politely at the staff, showing off their good manners.


    "Take a seat, girls," Ramil PD fondly said, gesturing to the chairs that had beenid out in the garden.


    The girls appeared a little bit nervous, considering this was the first time they would be filming with other artists for a variety show. With that, they took their seats at the very corner, waiting patiently for the other artists toe in.


    "Next," Ramil PD directed.


    It didn''t take long before some of the actors, along with the soloists of Azure Entertainment, made their way to the garden.


    "Jordan Lee is in the house!" Ramil PDmentated. "It''s been a while. You''ve gotten much more handsome."


    Jordan bowed and hugged Ramil PD before going ahead and sitting next to the girls of LUNAIRE, who bowed deeply at the sight of the big senior.


    Meanwhile, the other actors appeared a little bit unnatural; as for most of them, this was a first.


    "Come on, don''t be shy," Ramil PD chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Go ahead and take your seats."


    There were six actors in total, three men and three women. With their arrival, the seats were quickly filled.


    "I always feel nice whenever we film these episodes," one staff member chimed. "It''s amazing to see these many attractive artists in one casual ce."


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Ramil PD smiled as the next person came in. He was very familiar with him, having filmed a show for two weeks straight with thed.


    The others also turned to him with curiosity, as this was the first time they would be seeing


    him in real life.


    Ara gasped softly as Joonie walked out of the small house.


    "I thought it was June for a second," she muttered.


    Jeemin narrowed her eyes. "He does look like June."


    Mei pursed her lips and wanted to challenge their conclusions; however, knowing that she hadn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    a microphone on, she didn''t say anything anymore.


    Joonie''s arrival felt quite natural. He has worked with most of the people in the garden since they were the same staff that worked on ''Everyday, Everynight.''


    So, undoubtedly, he seemed the most rxed out of all the artists despite only being in Azure for a short while.


    "Ah, Joonie," Ramil PD greeted, standing from the ground to give him a small hug. "It''s great to see you as always."


    Joonie smiled warmly at the camera. The other producers looked at the live feed with amazed


    expressions.


    "I''ve said it before, but this kid really looks good on camera."


    "Go on and have a seat. We still have onest artist," Ramil PD said, directing him to sit next


    to the actors.


    Joonie nodded and went to the seats. He bowed at the other artists, to which the others greeted back with a small smile and a bow.


    Ramil PD sat back down as they waited for thest artist toe around. There were eight seats left in the garden, so it was pretty obvious who was going toe.


    Jordan was excited to see the members of EVE since it had been a while since they''d met.


    The other actors, too, were curious about EVE. Although they lived in the same building, it was hard to bump into them because they had a busier schedule.


    Joonie, too, paid more attention than usual. He had never seen June before in real life, so he wanted to see how special he truly was.


    Meanwhile, the staff members all directed their gazes to the door of the small house, feeling


    excited for the arrival of the big stars.


    Ramil PD brought the microphone close to his mouth.


    "Alright, let thest guestse in."

 Chapter 855 Surprise Guests

    855 Surprise Guests n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Stop pushing, Akira," Jaeyong said, already feeling annoyed. "But I''m so excited!" Akira eximed. "I want to y games and eat from their buffet already. I heard they have a really good one." Sehun shook his head in amusement. "Of course, you''re here for the food," he muttered. Akira turned to him with raised eyebrows. "Is there something wrong with that?" "No," Sehun said. "It''s just fitting for your character." "Be quiet," Zeth said. "I''m trying to fix my facial expression." Ren turned to him with furrowed eyebrows. "Fix your facial expression?" "Yes," Zeth muttered. "I need to have a killer face as I go through that door. I''ll be the first one to be seen on camera anyway." Meanwhile, Jisung''s hand shook as he looked at the small door. "The baby chick''s nervous again," Akira chimed. Ren shook his head in amusement. "Since when has Jisung not been nervous?" June, on the other hand, was quiet as usual, just waiting for their cue to go in. Fortunately, they didn''t have to wait for long as the door opened a few secondster. The boys quickly turned quiet as Zeth made his way out of the door. With his appearance, visible gasps were heard from the garden. "Zeth senior looks so handsome!" Ara muttered. Mina chuckled in amusement before shaking her head. "They can hear you." Ara clicked her tongue. "It''s not only me anyway," she whispered back. Indeed, the other actors also started muttering to themselves, finding Zeth attractive with his white shirt and leather jacketbo. However, it didn''t end with that. It felt like a train of handsome men had arrived as EVE went in. Zeth set the concrete, and Casper strengthened it even further. Sehun, with his boy-next-door looks, also captivated the others. Then, Jisung was the fourth one toe through, showing off his shy and boyish looks, which had the staff members cooing in their spots. Akira and Ren were the next ones toe through, having different charms. Then, thest person went outside the house, and they wondered if it was possible for such a person to exist. "Different," a staff member muttered. "Why does he look so different?" "Immacte, you mean? I feel like we''re being graced with an angel right now." "He''s not one of us!" June, with a small smile ying on his lips, bowed at the staff members. It was then that they realized why EVE was such a big star. Just their appearance and aura alone were enough to fill the entire room! Ramil PD was also in shock. He had seen plenty of idol groups before, but EVE was the one with the greatest appeal. He leaned closer to his co-producer and whispered, "We did a great job at picking Azure for today''s episode." The cameramen focused on June''s face, and it was a different reaction from that of Joonie. Joonie looked a lot better on the screen. On the other hand, the camera didn''t do June any justice! He still looked great, but it could not capture the beauty that he possessed in real life. Even Joonie was stunned as June sat at the farthest seat. He couldn''t take his eyes away from him. As he continued looking at him, he felt a pang of jealousy in his chest. A small frown made its way to his face. However, he quickly reverted back to a cheerful expression as Ramil PD spoke through the microphone. "Good morning, everyone!" he eximed. The artists turned to each other awkwardly before cheering. Ramil PD, along with the staff, chuckled in amusement. "Well, I can see that you guys aren''t used to this, huh? It''s something that we''ve expected since Azure Entertainment has been established primarily for their temporary groups," he continued.


    "You guys also don''t have a lot of artists in thepany, right?" Jordan, as one of the most experienced artists in the room, nodded. "If the other temporary groups were here, then the atmosphere would be more lively!" Ramil PD smiled knowingly before signaling something to his staff. "We had the same thought," he eximed. "That is why we have brought in the past idols of Azure Entertainment." Jordan''s eyes widened while the others turned to each other with questioning stares. "No way," Zeth muttered, feeling dread in his heart. Mina stood excitedly. She was a huge fan of GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, so if her suspicions were right, then she would be meeting her idols! The artists in the garden turned to the small house, waiting for the door to open. After a few seconds, it finally did, and the first person toe through was none other than Nico! "We''re here to turn this filming into a party!" he eximed. Jordan stood and made his way to the middle. "No freaking way," he repeated. Nico, along with the other members of BOYMYSTIC, made their way to the garden, hugging their past center and leader. "It''s been a while, leader!" Nico greeted. Jordan smiled fondly as the other members also greeted him. From behind them, the staff were already arranging the chairs, adding ones beside Mei and June, who were both at the near end. However, it didn''t end with BOYMYSTIC. The members of GIRLS EVOLUTION also came through the door, earning excited gasps from the other artists, especially LUNAIRE. Kiera was the first one to enter, causing Zeth to purse his lips. Ren turned to him knowingly, silently teasing him. Mimi was the second toe through, and instead of looking for her boyfriend, her eyes immediately searched for June, whom she hadn''t seen for a short while. She nearly gasped when she saw June smiling at her. He had gotten even more handsome! How was it possible that he got more attractive every time she saw him? Her fangirl mode was activated, but she quickly calmed herself down since they were filming a show. The staff were delighted with the arrival of the past idol groups, already knowing that the show was bound to have at least a million views. Ramil PD chuckled in amusement as the atmosphere turned more festive. He allowed them to interact for a while before speaking into his microphone once again. "I know all of you are excited," he started off. "However, we don''t want to film until sundown, so we need to get started." The artists chuckled in amusement as they settled in their seats. Ramil PD waited for them patiently. Once they were all settled, he spoke into the microphone once more. "Alright," he excitedly eximed. "We have the amazing past and present artists of Azure Entertainment right before our very eyes." "With that, let us now start with the filming!"

 Chapter 856 Guess The Person

    856 Guess The Person


    BOYMYSTIC sat right beside EVE, with Jordan joining them. GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, on the other hand, sat right beside LUNAIRE, who all looked at them with wide eyes. Mina couldn''t close her mouth as Kiera bowed her head at them. Jeemin nudged her shoulder with an amused smile. "Calm down," she muttered. Mina pursed her lips and nodded before turning her attention to the cameras once more. However, even then, she couldn''t ignore how Kiera smelled like fresh flowers. On the other hand, Nico sat right beside June. It put him in a bitter mood; however, he thought that it was better than Mimi sitting next to June. Nico had seen how his girlfriend looked at June when she entered!


    Nico clicked his tongue and nced at June. However, he found himself speechless as he caught a glimpse of him. "What''s this?" he whispered. "Why is he so annoyingly handsome?" Ramil PD cleared his throat into the microphone, capturing all of their attention. They faced the cameras and showed their ''artist'' selves.


    Ramil PD looked at the crowd and smiled. "It''s much livelier now!" "Now, I know that we called you guys here when it''s nearing lunchtime," he started off. "Did you guys eat?" he asked. "You told us to skip lunch!" Nico eximed. June''s eyebrows raised in surprise, and he patted Casper''s shoulder. "He told us that?" he muttered. Casper nodded and patted his stomach. "Yes, I''m starving." Akira raised his hand. "Are we going to have your famous buffet?" he excitedly asked. Ramil PD chuckled in amusement. "Well, it seems like Akira did his research." Ren nodded. "He''s a big fan of your shows! He watches each one." Ramil PD''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is that right?" Akira scratched the back of his neck and leaned down to hide his reddening cheeks. "I see," Ramil PD chuckled. "If you really are a fan of my content, then I''m assuming that you already know what''sing next?" Akira''s smile quickly fell, already knowing the trend in Ramil PD''s shows. Not everything was handed¡ªespecially those that his guests wanted. Those things needed to be earned. "We''re all not going to be able to eat?" Akira asked. Ramil PD smiled. "You got that right!" he eximed, causing all of them to groan in disappointment. June looked around and saw their dejected expressions. He felt confused, but he didn''t say anything else. "For our first game of the night, we''ll be having a ''guess the artist'' battle!" Ramil PD announced. Once again, they groaned, now in frustration. It was one of Ramil PD''s signature games, where he puts up a photo, and they try to guess who the artist was in just three seconds. 13:44 n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June had seen some clips on Navel before, and he has never been good at them. He wasn''t great at recognizing famous people at all¡ªunless he had a real-life interaction with them. So, he already knew that it wasn''t going to end well. "Don''t worry, though," Ramil PD continued. "All of you will be able to eat." The artists turned to each other with relief. "However, how you''re going to eat will differ," he continued. They became confused, wondering what Ramil''s PD was pertaining to. "There would be ten rounds in total," Ramil PD said. "Each of you will be assigned one artist for each round, and if you get them right, you pass!" "You will be given something that you need to be able to eat at the buffetter." "Ah, it must be tes and utensils!" Jisung eximed.


    Ren nodded, patting the younger member''s head. "What a smart boy you are." "As each round passes where you don''t pass, then let''s just say that you''ll have a harder time eatingter," Ramil PD mischievously smiled. "Now, let''s start!" he eximed, pulling out his huge stack of pictures, not giving the first person any time. He pointed to Jordan, who was now at the very end of the line.


    Jordan''s eyes widened when he saw the first photo. "1¡­2¡­" "Zennighta!" he eximed. Ramil PD looked at him with surprise before nodding. "Correct! You pass!" Jordan sighed in relief while the others eximed in amazement. "How did he recognize her so fast?" Mimi asked. "I nearly copsed even though it wasn''t my turn," Akira muttered, cing his hand over his heart.


    "I didn''t expect a foreign artist," Ara eximed. "Good thing he got it right!" The next thing he knew, Jordan was being handed a big te with arge spoon and fork. The others looked at it with wide eyes. "That could feed an entire family!" Akira eximed. Then, he faced the front with more determination. "I need to get it right at all costs!" The next artists continued. However, they weren''t as good as Jordan. Being quickly put under the spotlight pressured them, causing them to splutter incorrect names. It brought aboutughter within the group, and the producers of the show quickly became satisfied. It was Nico''s turn, which meant that June was next. He was already praying that he got someone who he had met before¡­or maybe an old actor or actress¡ªsomeone who was from his previous generation. "Nico," Ramil PD started off, showing him the photo. Nico smirked before answering within a split second. "Mimi!" he eximed. "That''s unfair!" Sasha called out. "How could he get his girlfriend?" Nico stood and pointed toward Mimi. "It seems like the universe is on our side, babe." Mimi''s cheeks reddened as the others began to tease them. "Ah, must be nice," Akira said, earning him a p from Jaeyong. "Don''t say that in front of the camera!" he eximed. "Oh," Akira muttered before covering his mouth. "Toote," Ren said, shaking his head in amusement. The others continued teasing the couple, but June couldn''t find himself to do so. For some reason, he felt like he wasn''t going to get his question. Aside from Mimi, he couldn''t figure out the other artists that they had shown. "Settle down now," Ramil PD said, still amused. "It''s June''s turn." Subconsciously, they paid more attention to June. The staff also peeked from behind Ramil PD to see who June was going to get. "Oh, he got an easy one." "I''m d. I want to see him eat well." Ramil PD finally flipped the photo, and the others sighed when they saw the photo. "Too easy!" Akira eximed. "1¡­2¡­3¡­" "Wrong!" They all turned to June with wide eyes, with the staff even gasping in surprise. "Are you insane?" Nico eximed by his side. June pursed his lips since he couldn''t truly recognize the person in the photo. It was a man in a suit who didn''t appear like an actor! "It''s the President!"

 Chapter 857: A Man Who Cant Recognize Anyone

    Chapter 857: A Man Who Can''t Recognize Anyone


    ?


    June froze in his spot.


    There was chaos in the garden, with people wondering if he was truly smart.


    To be fair, June didn''t know much about the people in their government!


    However, looking at the photo, it was, indeed, the President of their republic.


    "He has hair!" June eximed, trying to justify his mistake.


    They all turned silent.


    "You''re making it worse," Casper muttered from his side.


    June pursed his lips and stood from his seat before bowing deeply.


    "Sorry, Mr. President. It was my mistake."


    Silence reigned in the garden once more before they all burst intoughter.


    "How could we get mad at him when he looks this cute while apologizing?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I think June is the only one who could get away without recognizing the President," Mimi muttered. "He''s so cute!"


    "Ah, I''m not the president, but I forgive you," Ramil PD said, finding June endearing.


    "It''s understandable since he does have hair in the photo," a staff member chimed, causing agreements to go around the garden.


    June sighed in relief and sat back down in his seat.


    Once again, he almost got into trouble because of a bald man!


    The President...


    Mr. Ong...


    Mr. Klin...


    But then again, Mr. Klin helped him a lot. Maybe he woulde around soon once again.


    That is if he wasn''t just a part of June''s imagination.


    June snapped back to reality when Casper correctly answered his question.


    "Luther!" he eximed.


    "Who is that?" Joonie muttered.


    One of the actors patted his shoulder. "It''s his infamous cat. His cat is even more famous than some of us here."


    Joonie raised his eyebrows in surprise, wondering just how big EVE''s fan base was. However, it also made him feel greedy.


    Somehow, he also wanted that fan base for himself.


    The game continued, and only a fourth of the artists were able to pass the first round.


    When it was Mei''s turn, she looked at ease.


    June sighed and already expected her to pass. He knew that her sister practically knew everyone in the entertainment industry. She just loved watching shows, movies, and the like too much.


    It didn''t even take her a second to blurt out the name of the familiar idol.


    "Kim Chaewon."


    "Correct!" Ramil PD eximed.


    "Wah, that was so quick. I didn''t even get to take a look at the photo!"


    The second round quickly began, and June began praying once more that he would be given a person that he actually knew.


    The prize for the second round was a normal te and utensils, one that they would use for a meal in the office.


    It was a little bit concerning since it was still the second round. They wondered how the tes and utensils would progress if they were already down to normal tes!


    "It''s June''s turn once again!" Casper eximed from the back, already rooting for him.


    Ramil PD turned the printed photo, and June was rendered speechless once again.


    However, he didn''t want to stay silent this time, so he blurted out the first name that he could.


    "Ronaldo Messi!" he eximed.


    Once again, they all turned to June with wide eyes before bursting intoughter.


    "Is he doing this on purpose or not?" Kiera asked,ughing in her seat.


    "I think he''s not," Mimi chuckled, tears already dwelling in her eyes.


    Nico narrowed her eyes at her from afar, wondering why she found June so endearing.


    June scratched the back of his head as he failed the next round after that. At that point, the winners were given bowls with a single spoon.


    In the next round, June''s character wasn''t even human!


    It was a snowman with a hotdog for a nose, and everyone couldn''t believe that he couldn''t recognize it when he hadn''t even watched it before!


    "Hotdog?" he asked, causing Ramil PD to burst intoughter.


    "I see that June isn''t good at everything. I''ve always thought that he would be great at


    games."


    Just then, a co-producer whispered something into Ramil PD''s ears.


    Ramil chuckled. "Ah, June''s luck is bad? I could see that."


    Fortunately, he wasn''t the only one left within their team.


    Akira, who wanted to eat like a king at the buffet, got his question wrong, too.


    Aside from that, Joonie was also left in the line. However, if you asked him, it was deliberate.


    He wanted to stay in the game for more screen time.


    However, in the fourth round, he really didn''t know the artist who was shown.


    In fact, almost all of the artists didn''t know who was being shown in the photo.


    "Wrong!" Ramil PD eximed, a mischievous smile ying on his lips.


    "Well, this was the hardest one in the bunch. I believe this wouldn''t be answered at all," he


    continued.


    "It''s Lee Chung-ook," June suddenly said, capturing their attention.


    Ramil PD turned to him with wide eyes.


    "What did you say?" he asked.


    "It''s Lee Chunk-ook," June repeated. "He''s the one who starred in ''Kung-fu, You Foofoo,''


    the 1920 hit film about fools training to be kung-fu masters."


    "Omo, how does he know that?" Jeemin asked.


    "As expected from June," Ren chuckled. "He''s the best."


    Ramil PD, along with the other staff members, also burst intoughter.


    "How can you know this and not the other ones we''ve shown?" he asked.


    "I liked that movie," June innocently said.


    The producers of the show were having a field day. They didn''t know that they would hit the jackpot with June. But then again, he has been a viewer attractor since Rising Stars.


    The fifth round followed, and June got it wrong once again.


    The winners had a significantly smaller te, one used for cakes, along with a fork, so it was


    clear that the next people to get them right were going to eat humbly.


    In the seventh round, where they were given a paper te and a stic glove, Akira finally got


    it right, leaving June as the only member of EVE left in the game.


    "Yes!" Akira eximed. "This is more than enough for me," he said.


    The crew chuckled in amusement as Akira made his way to the back.


    In the eighth round, June wanted to get it right. However, the universe wasn''t on his side


    when he got another cartoon character.


    In the ninth round, only two people were left in the game. It was none other than Joonie and


    June.


    "We have two hot stars with us," Ramil said. "I''m happy that such handsome guys are left in


    the game."


    "This one would be a do-or-die round. The first person to get it right will win this te!"


    It was a te and spoon from a toy set, one that would only be able to hold a few teaspoons of


    rice.


    June was determined to get it right this time.


    He leaned closer to his seat to get a better look at the photo. Meanwhile, Joonie remained


    rxed by his side.


    "It''s alright if I take thest ce," he said, smiling at June with crescent eyes.


    "Alright, I''ll take this round then," June said, facing Ramil PD once more.


    His members snickered at the back while June remained focused.


    Then, the photo was finally shown, and his frown deepened.


    It was a photo of a man who appeared like he didn''t know how to take photos.


    "Who is that?" June muttered.


    Just then, Joonie sighed and raised his hand.


    "It''s June."

 Chapter 858: A Pair Of Scissors

    Chapter 858: A Pair Of Scissors


    ?


    The set was filled withughter as June was handed his eating utensils.


    He tilted his head to look at it, making him look like a lost puppy. The producers quickly directed the cameras to focus on him.


    They were expecting him to look annoyed, especially since he had the most questionable utensil. However, he merely looked confused, making him appear like a cute animal.


    "A pair of scissors?" June asked before looking straight into the camera.


    He nced at Joonie''s toy set before looking at his scissors.


    "How are you going to eat with that?" Casper asked concern heard in his voice.


    "He deserves it," Akira chuckled out loud, bouncing to where June was. "How can he not recognize himself?"


    Ren chuckled along with Akira.


    "I recognized it right away. You went viral with that selfie," he said.


    June sighed. "I don''t even remember taking it."


    "I think it was in the hospital when you were stabbed by that one contestant," Jisung said. "It''s a famous photo."


    June ran his fingers through his hair. "I think I blocked it out of my memory."


    "Well, yes," Jaeyong said. "I remember people telling you that you were bad at taking photos."


    "He''s still bad," Zeth chimed. "Although his photocards are still the most expensive ones."


    "Alright, settle down again," Ramil PD said. "This is the time for you to eat to your heart''s content. We will bring out the food and tables here. Feel free to use your utensils to eat."


    As the staff brought out the food to the garden, the artists couldn''t help but exim in amazement.


    "This is it!" Akira eximed, putting his hand over his mouth and feeling touched. "This is what I''ve been looking forward to!"


    "This is too much," Arained, having only a stic cup to be able to eat her food.


    Just then, she received a look from one of the talent managers from behind the crew, so she quickly pursed her lips.


    "Time to eat," Ramil eximed as he presented the buffet to them. "However, this is a one- time-only buffet, which means that you can only get food once," he instructed.


    Jordan shook his head in amusement. "Ramil PD is as strict as always."


    "That''s what makes his shows a hit, though," Nico stated, already excited to get some food since his te wasrge.


    Akira didn''t have to be told twice. Although he had a flimsy paper te, he quickly dug in and piled his food on top of it before sitting on one of the tables dedicated to EVE.


    The others also lined up, excited to eat since, for most of them, this was their first meal.


    Joonie lined up but stopped when he saw that LUNAIRE was behind him.


    "You can go first," he said with a sweet smile.


    Jeemin smiled politely and bowed at the guy. Mei, on the other hand, still felt that there was something iffy about him.


    However, she bowed her head in respect since they were in front of the cameras.


    "I''ll gost," Joonie said to the members of BOYMYSTIC, too, who found his kindness bizarre.


    "Huh," Jordan muttered. "He really is kind as everyone makes him out to be."


    Nico scoffed, covering his microphone for a moment. "I don''t buy it," he whispered to their past leader, causing thetter to chuckle in amusement.


    Joonie was now at the end of the line, looking to see if anyone was still behind him.


    Then, he saw June standing a few feet away from him, appearing deep in thought.


    Joonie put on a kind smile and was about to call him, but June went to their seats with an unreadable expression.


    He pursed his lips since he hadn''t had the chance to act kind to June. With that, he silently sighed and moved closer to the line for the food.


    June waited patiently as his members went back to their seats. Casper and Sehun had the most food with theirrge ass tes. They piled it to the brim, and they both turned to June.


    "Do you want some?" Casper asked. "I brought enough food for us two."


    "Me too," Sehun smiled.


    "Me three," Jisung chimed despite having a smaller te.


    Akira pursed his lips and pushed his full paper te towards June. "Even if these are all my favorites, you can have some, too."


    June shook his head and looked at the camera filming them. "It won''t be fair," he said. "It''s the rules of the game."


    Just then, someone interrupted their conversation by clearing his throat.


    They lifted their head and saw none other than Joonie, who was looking at them with a bright smile.


    "Hi, can I sit here?" he asked, pertaining to the extra seat on their table.


    The boys looked at each other. Casper was about to protest, but Jaeyong smiled and nodded before he could.


    "Sure," he said. "Go ahead."


    Casper pursed his lips and started eating his food to prevent himself from saying anything


    bad.


    "Thank you so much," Joonie smiled.


    With Joonie joining their table, more cameras pointed toward their table, wanting to see more


    of their interactions.


    Joonie looked around the table and couldn''t help but feel apprehensive.


    Their face cards were all lethal, so he wondered if he was being mogged. But then again, he


    was often likened to June, so he thought that he was still safe.


    They kept eating while engaging in casual conversations. Joonie nced at June and pursed


    his lips. He looked much better up close.


    "Do you feel bad?" Joonie suddenly asked.


    June snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at him.


    "Huh?" he asked.


    "You look down," Joonie smiled. "Are you alright?"


    ''Is he a therapist or something?'' June thought, finding him ridiculously kind.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "No," June deadpanned. "I''m just thinking."


    "Oh," Joonie muttered, appearing surprised by his answer. "I see."


    "Besides," June said. "I think you should worry about your food more. Is that enough to fill


    you up?"


    Joonie smiled. "I don''t eat much. I can really share with you."


    June shook his head and took the pair of scissors from the table.


    "They must have given this to me for a good reason," he started off, capturing the attention


    of everyone at the table.


    "Oh no," Jaeyong muttered. "What are you nning, June?"


    June shrugged and stood from his seat. "I''ll be back."


    The others watched June, wondering what the unpredictable man was going to do.


    The members of EVE knew how Junecked media training, or frankly, he didn''t just care.


    However, they were always afraid of what he was going to do next.


    Truth be told, his next action was something they didn''t expect.


    "Is he climbing a tree?"

 Chapter 859: Greedy For Screentime

    Chapter 859: Greedy For Screentime


    ?


    June thought there would be a reason for the production crew giving him a pair of scissors.


    He could only pick up a single food with it, and he couldn''t necessarily use it as a te, so June inferred that he had to use it to get another utensil.


    He looked around the garden and saw a banana tree standing amidst the pretty flowers.


    With that in mind, he grabbed his scissors and walked over to the banana tree. One cameraman followed him inconspicuously, wondering what he was going to do. Ramil PD also stopped conversing with his fellow producers to look at June.


    June didn''t think twice before climbing the banana tree and cutting half of one leaf.


    They were all stunned as he nonchntly entered the house and came out with the fully- washed leaf.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Then, he went to the selection of food and started picking out what he wanted to eat.


    Truth be told, he had already eaten before going to the shoot, but he was not really informed that they needed to skip lunch.


    However, after seeing the food, he wanted to eat with his members. He could just ask for a taste from them, but he reckoned that it would be unfair-especially since he did really badly in the game.


    With that, he sat on his seat with a decently filled banana leaf before digging in with his own hands.


    The others merely watched the oblivious June, who only snapped back to reality when Ramil PD burst intoughter.


    "Oh goodness!" the producer eximed.


    June stopped chewing and looked at the gleeful producer.


    "I have never seen anything like this before," he continued, turning to his staff members, who also appeared amused.


    The pair of scissors was originally designed to hold the noodles-especially the holes. However, June just gave it a whole new meaning.


    His members also burst intoughter, with Jisung holding back his aggression,


    "That''s so cute!" he eximed.


    June frowned. "What is?" he asked.


    "The way you just cut the banana leaf," Jisung smiled. "I didn''t think about it at all."


    June shrugged and continued eating. "Well, it''s not really possible to eat with a pair of scissors, so I bet that they gave me this thing for a reason," he smiled.


    The camera captured his innocent smile, so the producers couldn''t help but agree with him.


    "Is this alright?" one of them asked Ramil PD.


    "He looks so proud," Ramil responded. "I don''t think we can get mad at him for being resourceful."


    The others nodded, fondness also seen in their eyes.


    With that, they continued with their meals. June quickly became the main character, and one person didn''t like it one bit.


    He looked around and saw that most of the cameras were pointing toward their table, so he kept his smile.


    However, deep inside, he hated the way the staff members, along with Ramil PD, looked at June with such fondness.


    He was the only one they gazed at like that during ''Everyday, Everynight.''


    "I''m just going to wash my hands," June said after he was done eating, satisfied with his meal.


    Akira was right when he said that the food was good.


    Joonie watched as June made his way to the little house. The cameramen seemed to be busy eating, too, so Joonie stood from his seat.


    "I need to go the restroom," he softly said in his signature kind voice.


    Jaeyong lifted his head and nodded, still busy with his te.


    With that, Joonie went to the house. He looked around to see if there were any cameras around and sighed in relief when there weren''t.


    Then, he didn''t go straight to the restroom. In fact, he didn''t even need to go.


    He just went straight to the kitchen sink, where he saw June washing his hands.


    June''s eyes narrowed when he felt someone''s presence behind him.


    "Do you need anything?" June asked, causing Joonie''s eyes to widen in surprise.


    ''How did he know that I was here?'' he thought.


    June turned around and raised one eyebrow, silently coaxing Joonie to answer his question.


    Joonie smiled, still acting kind despite theck of cameras.


    "Oh, I just wanted to wash my hands, too," he said.


    June shrugged and stepped to the side to dry his hands.


    "Go ahead," he said. "I''ll be heading out first."


    However, Joonie spoke once more.


    "Wait," he said, causing June to halt.


    June turned around and saw that Joonie was still washing his hands, but he could see his eyes staring right into him from the reflection of the ss on the cupboard.


    "Yes?" June asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Truth be told, he was also curious about Joonie''s personality.


    "Is that all part of your act?" he asked in the same tone.


    "What?" June asked.


    Joonie turned around, still with wet hands, and smiled even wider.


    "All of that?" he asked. "Acting oblivious and all? I guess it''s good for your branding. It gives


    you more screen time as well."


    June looked at him to gauge if he was serious, and then he let out a small chuckle when he realized that Joonie was, indeed, serious.


    "I see," June muttered, so he was the only one to be able to hear it.


    "What do you think?" June asked, not wanting to directly answer his question.


    Joonie smiled and took the towel from the rack.


    "I don''t want to make assumptions," he smiled. "So, I''ll keep my mouth shut."


    "I think you already made an assumption," June said, mirroring his smile.


    Joonie''s expression didn''t deter. In contrast, he appeared even brighter.


    "Ah, you got me," Joonie said. "Although, I was only able to recognize your act because I was


    doing the same."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    So, Joonie was actually the one who wanted to prolong his screen time?


    Well, that wasn''t too surprising now. He did have a lot of screentime for ''Everyday,


    Everynight,'' so he must be an expert in it by now.


    "Anyway," Joonie said, letting out a deep breath as he left the towel to dry on the rack.


    "There''s still plenty more games to y," he continued.


    He walked towards the door but not without looking back at June.


    "I''m just giving you a heads up-I''m not going to y dumb for the next rounds anymore."

 Chapter 860: Too Many Guessing Games

    Chapter 860: Too Many Guessing Games


    ?


    "Huh," June muttered.


    He already knew that people in showbiz showed very little of themselves, with some being pretentious. However, Joonie was great at keeping it even without the cameras.


    If June didn''t know any better, then he would believe that Joonie was just looking out for him.


    June shrugged and was about to leave. He felt a little bitpetitive, but he didn''t think too much about it.


    However, before he could truly leave, he heard someone in the living room of the small house.


    Usually, he would just leave, but he heard familiar names being said.


    He frowned and peeked from behind the wall, only to see Ara and Mei in front of one of the talent managers.


    "What did I tell you about food intake?" the manager asked.


    Ara pursed her lips. "We barely ate breakfast," she said. "Plus, we''re on the show. Isn''t it normal that we eat?"


    The talent manager shook her head. Meanwhile, June frowned as he tried to gauge the topic of their conversation.


    "You''re talking back?" the manager asked.


    Ara was about to say something more. Mei held onto her shoulder.


    "We eat a normal amount, ma''am," Mei said.


    "A normal amount?" she eximed. "Did you see your te? You mounted your food on that te like a starved mammoth."


    "As idols, you need to manage yourself. Do you know what people want in this industry?" she asked.


    The manager didn''t give Mei and Ara the time to respond before she spoke once again.


    "They want perfection. A single pimple. An arm hair. A fat roll. Nobody wants to see those on idols. If you want to be more popr, you need to manage yourself better."


    Mei and Ara looked down at the ground.


    Meanwhile, June''s frown deepened.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He wasn''t a stranger to the extreme diets that idols were ced on. He also acknowledged that the diet culture was harsher for women.


    June was lucky to have a fast metabolism, plus dancing for half a day for nearly all seven days of the week also helped him keep his physique.


    He knew how important one''s looks were in the idol industry, but this was unreasonable. The girls looked perfectly fine!


    At the end of the day, there were also humans, and June wished that the industry focused more on someone''s talent rather than their looks.


    "You need to be at a certain weight to be considered desirable," the talent manager continued.


    That was the time when June decided to interrupt.


    He dropped his phone to the ground, creating a noise.


    Their conversation halted, and the three of them turned to the source of the noise.


    Their eyes widened in surprise, with the talent manager being the most shocked.


    However, she recovered quickly, smiling at June like she wasn''t saying vile things to Mei and Ara.


    "Oh, June," she eximed. "What are you doing here?"


    June pursed his lips to keep his emotions neutral. "I just washed my hands."


    "Oh," the manager muttered. "Well, how long have you been there?"


    "I just got here," June bluffed. "My phone fell, and I saw that you guys were here."


    "I see!" she eximed, feeling relieved. "I was just telling these girls some tips on how to manage themselves better."


    "However, we''re done now," she added, going next to Mei and Ara to pat their shoulders.


    "Go on, girls," she smiled. "I bet the shoot is going to resume soon."


    Mei and Ara nodded, still appearing a little bit down.


    With that, they walked out of the house, leaving June with the manager. He looked at her and tilted his head to the side, causing Wendy''s eyebrows to raise in inquiry.


    "Do you need anything else?" she asked.


    June put on a fake smile before shaking his head.


    "I just want to ask-what''s your name?" he asked.


    The manager''s eyes widened, and her cheeks reddened.


    She cleared her throat before responding.


    "You can call me Wendy," she smiled.


    "Wendy," June muttered. "I see."


    Wendy was waiting for him to ask another question, but with that, June left her all alone, making her confused.


    "What was that?" she asked with red cheeks.


    As June made his way back to the garden, he noted the woman''s name, cing her on the list of people to look out for in thepany.


    As he arrived, it seemed like the crew had finished putting the tables away, as the chairs were once again arranged in a line.


    "There he is," Akira eximed, pointing at June.


    "What took you so long?" Jaeyong asked. "Did you do surgical scrubbing?"


    June shrugged and sat next to Jisung. "I just had to look into something."


    They shook their heads in amusement. "I swear-June''s always looking into something."


    "Are we all settled now?" Ramil PD asked after a while.


    "Yes!" the group of artists collectively eximed.


    Ramil PD smiled in satisfaction.


    "Well, did you guys enjoy the food?"


    "It was the best!" Akira eximed, giving the crew a thumbs up.


    Ramil PD chuckled. "I''m d that you guys liked it."


    "June seemed to like it the most. He even climbed a tree to eat," he chimed.


    June scratched the back of his head while the others teased him. He nced at Joonie and saw an amused smile ying on his lips. It looked so genuine that he felt some unease.


    He was an actor before, so it would be understandable for him to be great at this. However, it seemed like he was a far better actor than June had realized.


    Probably even better than Lin Zhi.


    "The day doesn''t end here," Ramil PD continued. "The day is still young, so we still have


    some fun games to show!"


    The artists turned to each other in curiosity, wondering what kind of game they were going to


    y.


    Ramil PD had a very famous roster of games-ones that were simple but always seemed to do


    the trick.


    "We''re done with ''Guess the Artist,'' now we''re onto another guessing game," he smiled.


    "Now, it''s time for you to show just how good you are with music."


    "We are ying-Guess the Song!"

 Chapter 861: Popular Segment

    Chapter 861: Popr Segment


    ?


    Long story short, June wasn''t that great in the game either.


    They were divided into four teams with ten people each.


    GIRLS'' EVOLUTION and BOYMYSTIC retained their members since there were already ten of them.


    Two actors joined EVE''s team so they couldplete the ten members.


    Meanwhile, LUNAIRE was joined with the remaining actors along with Joonie for thest team.


    June was interested in a lot of music. However, all of the songs that were unfortunately yed was from the newer generation! To make matters worse, he was the one assigned to press the buzzer for their team and say the song out loud.


    "How could you not know this, too?" Akira eximed in frustration. "That was our chance to catch up."


    Even Jisung had to close his eyes to stop himself from scolding June.


    "It''s okay," he muttered. "He can make mistakes. June is not perfect."


    The two actors that joined them looked at the group with amused expressions.


    "Is he usually this bad?" one of them asked.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Casper pursed his lips and nodded. "I went to his room once, and he was listening to an old Chinese song while sleeping."


    "You went to his room, too?" Jisung eximed. "When I went to tuck him in, he was listening to Japanese metal."


    "He''s an odd, old soul," Jaeyong said with a chuckle.


    On the other hand, Joonie was killing the game. Although he was an actor in the past, it was evident that he was interested in music.


    He knew all of the new songs, and he became the savior of his team plenty of times.


    "Joonie earns another point for their team!" Ramil eximed. "At this point, they already have nine points. One point more and they would be taking home the bacon."


    "This one is finish the lyrics," Ramil PD said. "Press your buzzer and let your representative stand to sing the song!"


    "Ah, we don''t have a chance," Zeth sighed.


    June clicked his tongue and turned to his members. "It''s not like I''m the only one who''s bad here! You guys don''t tell me the answer fast enough," he deadpanned.


    They pursed their lips while Zeth sheepishly scratched the back of his head.


    "Well, LUNAIRE''s team is just too fast. They have Mei and Joonie who are like music encyclopedias," Akira said.


    "I know the answers, though-unlike you," he teased, nudging June''s shoulder.


    June clicked his tongue and focused his attention to the front, ready to redeem his team although it was clear that they needed a lot of catching up to do.


    They currently had four points.


    Meanwhile, BOYMYSTIC and GIRLS'' EVOLUTION was at a tie with seven points.


    Joonie''s team was leading the pack, as they only needed one more point in order to win. "You are my..."


    With those three words, the music stopped, giving them time to think.


    However, before a song could evene to their minds, Joonie had already raised his hand and pressed their buzzer.


    They all turned to him with surprise while the staff members eximed in amazement.


    The others already knew the song at that point, but Joonie was still the fastest among them.


    Joonie stood and sang the rest of the line.


    "...rockstar. You set the bar. Can''t believe you''re far."


    "Correct!" Ramil PD eximed, and their team burst into cheers.


    "You''re so good at this game!" Jeemin eximed. The others also startedplimenting


    him.


    Casper clicked his tongue. "I also know that song. He''s just very fast at pressing their buzzer."


    Ren shook his head in amusement. "He''s got quite a good tone when he sang, too."


    "I mean he''s still not better than us, though," he whispered.


    "Mei got three points for their game," Mimi said from the side. "You were really good, girl!"


    Mei smiled shyly before bowing her head at the senior girl group member.


    "Yeah, that was great," Joonie said, turning to her and offering his hand. "We have nice teamwork."


    Mei merely nodded and shook his hand before focusing on the camera.


    [You''re really June''s sister. You don''t take shit from anyone.]


    ''Well, it''s obvious that he''s justplimenting me in front of the cameras to show that he''s kind.''


    [Your intuition is scary.]


    "We have our prizes for the winners right here," Ramil PD eximed, capturing their attention.


    "An expensive headset for all of you!"


    LUNAIRE turned to each other excitedly as they grabbed their prizes. The other actors were


    pleased too, stillplimenting Joonie for a job well done.


    Jisung clicked his tongue. "I also wanted one of those," he muttered.


    "I''ll buy you one," Casper said.


    Jisung shook his head. "Those are out-of-stock. I''ve already tried looking for them, but they''re limited edition."


    June pursed his lips and turned to the younger member. "I''m sorry," he said.


    Jisung chuckled in amusement. "Why are you apologizing? We all didn''t do a great job."


    June scratched the back of his head. "But I was the one who was assigned to press the


    buzzer."


    "You didn''t have a choice, though," Ren smiled. "The other team picked you to bear the responsibility."


    June pursed his lips and still felt a little bit bad.


    Normally, he wasn''t reallypetitive.


    However, seeing Joonie''s smug smile as he turned to their team made his blood boil.


    He sighed and turned to his members.


    "Do you guys know what game we''re going to y next?" he asked, determination seen in his


    eyes.


    "Well," Jisung muttered, looking around the garden. "They''re taking away the chairs, so I think I already know what''sing next."


    "I already knew since the beginning," Sehun said, stretching out his limbs. "And I''m


    excited."


    "It''s a staple!" Zeth eximed. "We can''t have an episode of ''Company''s Company''s without


    it."


    The actors joined their conversation. "I think I already know where this is going, though. I best believe that it''s not going well for us."


    "Damn right," the other actor chimed. "We''ll support you guys from the sidelines."


    "Don''t worry," Ren chuckled. "I think June is also clueless about this. He''s not the type to


    watch dance practice videos."


    "You should join us," the actor chuckled. "Let''s cheer for your members."


    June let out a deep breath.


    "So, it''s this, huh?" he muttered.


    Random y Dance.

 Chapter 862: Junes And Joonies Fans Battling It Out

    Chapter 862: June''s And Joonie''s Fans Battling It Out


    ?


    - June is so cute! How can he even think of cutting the banana leaf?


    - I just think it''s unfair. Joonie had to eat with the toy set, and he didn''t do anything to change his consequences


    - Ramil PD literally let it happen! Besides, your idol said that he doesn''t eat much and it will suffice. So, stopining.


    - As expected of June stans. They have a superiorityplex. Maybe if your idol did well, then he wouldn''t need to cheat.


    - Fuck off. He did not cheat.


    Five days had passed since they filmed Company''s Company, and the boys were watching the video live through Ramil PD''s YouWatch ount.


    They had three bowls of popcorn, some already scattered on the floor.


    From the get-go, the video was already expected to be a great hit. As soon as Ramil PD hinted that Azure would film ''Company''s Company,'' a huge discussion went on online.


    Some of them were positive; however, most of them were massivelypetitive. With so many artists featured in one video, fans were bound to wish for their favorites to turn out the best.


    And that was exactly what was going on at the moment.


    The ''Guess the Song'' portion was currently airing, and the viewers poured out their frustration for June''s team.


    - Are they really musicians? Why don''t they know any songs?


    - Right-because knowing new songs makes you a musician. Didn''t you hear what June said in the beginning? He''s much better at guessing old songs, but Ramil PD has only shown them new songs all this time!


    - Stop making excuses for your favorites. It''s obvious that they don''t know shit about music.


    - True. Joonie is even annihting them.


    - Goodness. It''s exhausting being an astra. I feel like I fight with idiots every day.


    - Wee to the fandom, honey. We have gotten too big, so we also have lots of enemies.


    The ''Guess the Song'' portion finally finished, with the boysughing loudly after their mini- argument was aired.


    - My boys are so precious! How can anyone hate on them?


    - Because they''re overrated and don''t know shit about music-especially June. How can even be their center?


    - I''m ignoring the upstairsmenter.


    - Aww, Jisung looks so sad that they didn''t get the headphones! Come here, baby. I''ll buy them for you.


    - Casper already offered to buy it for him, but Jisung said they were out of stock. What is thepany doing? If Jisung says he wants headphones, then shouldn''t they hurry up with the production?


    - It''s a limited edition product.


    - Even if! What Jisung wants, Jisung gets.


    Just then, before they headed straight to the next segment, some fresh, close-up shots were edited in by Ramil PD.


    Joonie was the first one to be shown.


    Casper frowned and clicked his tongue. "As expected, he really looks good on camera."


    "Woah, did you justpliment him?" Akira asked with wide eyes.


    "Just on camera," Casper said. "His contour is obvious in real life. He''s not bad looking, but he tries too hard to look like June."


    "Thements love him, though," Jaeyong muttered as thements went by fast. -Joonie is so handsome!


    - He really reminds me of June...


    - I''m so proud of Joonie! I''m so d that he''s now in Azure.


    - Please don''tpare this anteater to June.


    - Bitch, June wishes he looks like Joonie.


    "Did you see thatment?" Jia eximed when she saw it pass by.


    "Nobody saw thement except for you, girl. You must have bionic eyes," Bora said, scratching the back of her neck.


    The group of friends was also watching the live stream of Ramil PD''s show. They had been camping on his channel for an hour just because they were so excited.


    Although it wasn''t finished yet, they already considered it a legendary show-especially with all the screentime that June had.


    However, it wasn''t a perfect experience due to the haters in thements-aka, Joonie''s fans.


    "They said that June wishes he looked like Joonie! Are they blind or something?"


    Just then, a close-up shot of June was shown, causing the girls to go speechless.


    - Omo.


    - Goodness.


    - Fuck. Fuckity. Fuck. Fuck.


    -...


    - June looks so fresh! Like a freshly made mochi. How is he so handsome?


    - The people who said he wants to like Jooniee out. This face is as natural as it gets! It appears like he only has lip balm on.


    "There''s no use getting mad at them," Jia muttered, sitting back on the floor. "The face


    speaks for itself."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Meanwhile, the members of EVE were also amazed.


    "Woah!" Jisung eximed. "Screenshot it."


    Jaeyong shook his head in amusement. "It''s on the television."


    "I don''t care," Jisung said, capturing the moment with his phone.


    As the break continued, the cameraman followed after June, who had settled under one of the


    trees.


    "What''s this?" Akira asked. "I don''t recall this ever happening."


    June''s eyes widened. "They''re going to air this?" he muttered.


    "What are you doing?" the cameraman asked, fondness heard in his voice.


    - Ooh, what is this? An extra scene?


    - The cameraman speaks to June like he''s a child. It''s so cute.


    - Well, June is still a child. He''s my baby.


    - Nurse, she''s awake.


    - Please take your meds.


    June stopped what he was doing for a moment and looked up.


    "Oh," he muttered. "I just wanted to do somest-minute studying."


    The cameraman chuckled. "We''re going to start soon. You won''t be able to learn the


    choreography in time."


    "I know," June said, scratching the back of his neck. "I was bad in thest two rounds, so I


    want to do my best for this one."


    "Are you going to memorize the dances?" he asked.


    June shook his head. "That''s impossible now, isn''t it?"


    The cameraman chuckled. "Yes, it is," he said. "So, why do you still want to watch the


    videos?"


    "I''m just familiarizing myself with them," June said. "I''ve seen most of them before, but I


    need to be reminded."


    With that, June focused his gaze on his phone once again, pressing through the dance practice


    videos at a ridiculous speed.


    The other boys all turned to him with wide eyes.


    "Wait," Casper muttered.


    "Are you able to learn choreography just by seeing them briefly?"

 Chapter 863: Random Play Dance (1)

    Chapter 863: Random y Dance (1)


    ?


    - Random y Dance? Thank goodness! I''ve been waiting for this.


    - This is my favorite segment in the entire show. I''m so d that they let Azure do it, too.


    - Look at the actor''s nervous expressions! It''s quite unfair for them to go through this, but it''s just so fun to watch. Sorry, actors!


    - June should be the most nervous, though. He had been the worst in the past two games.


    - Don''t underestimate our June! He just has bad luck. He''s an old soul who knows a lot about past artists and songs, and it''s only been modern songs since the beginning!


    "Answer Casper''s question!" Akira eximed. "Can you learn choreography just by looking at it?"


    June opened his mouth to respond, but Ramil PD''s voice interrupted him.


    "Listen up, everyone!" he started off.


    June smiled and focused his full attention on the screen. "It''s starting. You don''t want to miss out on it, right?"


    With that, the boys sighed and let it go, also focusing their attention on the screen.


    "I''m sure you already know the game. However, I''ll still ry it for those who are clueless," Ramil OD continued.


    "A song will y, and you must dance to the actual choreography. Those who can''t keep up may leave voluntarily, but if you''ve got a thick face and stick around despite knowing you can''t dance, you''ll be eliminated anyway. Got it?"


    The artists nodded before nodding. Most of them had determined gazes, wanting to be the main character of the game.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You''ll be judged by those who are eliminated. We have twenty songs lined up. If anyone manages to pass all twenty, they''ll be hailed the winner or winners! Otherwise, we''ll take thest person standing if everyone else is eliminated. Good luck."


    Ramil PD settled on the grass, looking up at them with anticipation.


    Random y Dance was also his favorite game of the show. He was also aware that it was


    famous among fans, with the portion being the most reyed on YouWatch.


    "Let''s start!" he eximed, snapping everyone into focus.


    With that, the music started, and the tension in the garden heightened.


    The first song, ''Mermaid Melodies'' by GIRLS'' EVOLUTION, filled the open space.


    June let out a deep breath when he recognized the song. It was a song they had performed during the Rising Stars, so he confidently stepped up to dance to its choreography.


    - It feels so nostalgic hearing this song!


    - June''s team performed this song, right?


    - Yeah, during the first mission in Rising Stars!


    - I can''t see June, though.


    - He''s there in the back!


    Almost immediately, a few contestants faltered and walked off, unwilling to risk


    embarrassment.


    Nico, scratching the back of his head nervously, admitted he didn''t know the choreography at all.


    "How can you not know your girlfriend''s song?" Ramil PD asked in amusement as Nico sat beside him.


    Nico scratched the back of his neck before showing Mimi a finger heart. "Sorry, babe!" he called from afar.


    Three actors joined the eliminated team while the other three awkwardly attempted the moves, looking more like wriggling worms than dancers.


    June, positioned towards the back, danced with precision and familiarity, blending in with those who also knew the choreography.


    However, it was Joonie who surprised everyone.


    It seemed like he strategically ced himself in the front to show off his moves. He was primarily known as an actor, yet he took the lead confidently.


    Zeth, who was by his side, was also surprised. He wasn''t just a decent singer but also a good dancer.


    Mei pursed her lips. Well, it seemed like Joonie actually had some talent. However, it didn''t take away the annoyance that she felt for the man.


    The staff members watched in awe as he effortlessly led the group through the routine, earning nods of approval from those already eliminated who were now acting as judges. -That''s my Joonie!


    - Suck that, haters. You cannot call Joonie untalented anymore!


    - I knew it. Joonie is a good dancer, too. What a great young man.


    - I think I''m bing a fan of Joonie!


    - He''s in front of the members of EVE, and dare I say, they blend so well together.


    As the song ended, there was a brief moment of relief before the next track, "Bombastic" by BOYMYSTIC, began to y.


    "Ah, I love this song, but I don''t know the choreography!"


    Ara, admitting she wasn''t familiar with the song, stepped back.


    Mimi, too, took a seat, causing chuckles to go around the garden.


    "Well, it seems like Mimi doesn''t know her boyfriend''s song, too," Ramil PD chuckled.


    Mimi shook her head and sat on the other side of Ramil PD.


    She was actually familiar with the choreography. She just couldn''t be bothered to do so?


    Why?


    Because she wanted to watch June dance to different songs!


    - Where is June?


    - Seriously, why can''t I see June?


    Is he behind the tall line? Based on the far-camera shots, it seems like he''s killing it, though.


    - Gosh, June stans are so weird. Just admit that your favorite isn''t good at this game, too, so he purposely went behind the tall members!


    June remained towards the back, maintaining his steady performance. He stumbled during the first part, especially since he had never practiced the song before.


    However, he had participated in a LikLok challenge with Jordan with the same song, so he quickly channeled what he had briefly learned.


    At that point, the six actors were now sitting along with Ramil PD, watching the show in


    amusement.


    Meanwhile, Joonie continued to shine at the front, and his skills continued to surprise the


    staff members.


    "Joonie''s really good."


    "Wow, he''s a good dancer."


    "Zeth''s also killing it!"


    "Yeah, but that''s expected of him as one of their main dancers."


    "Why can''t June be seen, though?" Ramil wondered silently, observing from the sidelines.


    - Even Ramil PD is looking for June''s non-existent talent.


    Mind you, even the main dancers of EVEpliment June''s dancing skills.


    -That''s because they''re simps.


    - You guys are insane! Mentor Gun has acknowledged him plenty of times. Not only that, but you can


    see that he''s good at dancing with his performances.


    - It doesn''t make him versatile, though. It''s the reason why he can''t dance to other group''s songs.


    Meanwhile, Joonie is killing it!


    - Yeah, he''s in front of the members of EVE, and they fit so well together.


    - It''s almost like he''s the real center of EVE!


    - Yo, I have this amazing idea. What if he reces June?

 Chapter 864: Random Play Dance (2)

    Chapter 864: Random y Dance (2)


    ?


    - Seriously, June needs to step up so he can show these haters that he''s a great dancer.


    - My Pookie is humble, so he''s staying in the back.


    - Well, now that more and more people are getting eliminated, there''s a chance that he''s going to be seen better.


    Mimi frowned as she needed to crane her neck to look at June. She had been paying attention to him since the very beginning, and although it was hard to see him, Mimi could say that she was impressed.


    It felt like he had improved his dancing since thest time she had seen him.


    The tension increased as they waited for the next song to y.


    With each song, the number of contestants decreased. They started with 40, and they were now down to 20 with the 7th song ying through the speakers.


    - They''re on their 7th song, and Joonie''s still killing it.


    - He mentioned once that he liked dancing, but this? He''s like a hidden ace!


    - Even though he''s not the best dancer in the bunch, my eyes keep drawing toward him.


    - That''s because he''s the most unexpectedly good dancer. He looks a little bit clumsy, and the members of EVE are definitely better than him, but our expectations for him are significantly exceeded, and that''s why we''re looking forward to him so much.


    Joonie, still in front, had quickly be the star of the show. With every song, his confidence grew. He was very much interested in K-pop, and since he didn''t have much work as an amateur actor, he practiced quite a lot songs during his free time.


    ''Make Love by Bittys'' started to y, a sultry and sensual song that immediately set a different tone in the garden.


    "I love this song!" Mimi eximed, already craning her neck to look at June.


    Mei, who had been struggling with the moreplex routines, quickly stepped back, shaking her head.


    "This one''s not for me," she admitted. She still had shorings as a dancer, and although she was familiar with the choreography, she stepped back, not wanting to make a fool of himself.


    The garden felt emptier, so the stakes were higher. The eliminated ones from EVE included Akira and Ren, who had given their best but were eliminated with a girl group song.


    Meanwhile, the main and lead dancers from BOYMYSTIC and GIRLS'' EVOLUTION were still in the game.


    June, still lingering in the back, hadn''t drawn much attention. The crowd was stillrge enough to provide cover for him.


    The next song, "Rawr" by XO started-a track that most male trainees knew well. The beat and the choreography mimicked that of a hungry man who roared for love.


    Keira visibly faltered as the song progressed.


    She had reached her limit and quietly took a seat, followed by Yeri, who, despite loving the song, couldn''t keep up with the choreography.


    - No, my girls!


    - None of the boys are sitting, though.


    - This song is a staple for male trainees! I heard it''s one of the songs they need to learn the choreography of when they enter apany!


    June hadn''t heard the song in a while, but as the beat dropped, his body instinctively remembered the moves. Muscle memory kicked in, and he moved with ease, blending in with the others.


    In fact, it felt like his body was on autopilot. But still, he stayed in the background, almost invisible to the judges.


    There were only 14 contestants left when the ninth song began to y. The judges, who had started to chat amongst themselves, became stricter with each passing round.


    "Everyone''s doing so well," Ramil PD pped, impressed that there were still plenty of contestants despite nearly half of their song roster being yed.


    However, the next song was guaranteed to significantly lessen the number of contestants. - Oh no! It''s ''Very Fragile by Le Syrup!''


    - I love this song, but the chorus is a little bitplicated.


    - They had a more viral song in the album, so it would be harder to dance to this song.


    It was a rtively new song, and as the first notes yed, a few contestants exchanged nervous nces. Sehun, one of the stronger dancers, scratched the back of his neck and sat down, deciding not to risk it.


    "Wee to the loser''s club," Akira greeted as their oldest member sat.


    Two members from BOYMYSTIC followed suit, along with a couple of the remaining girls from GIRLS'' EVOLUTION.


    June, however, stayed in the game.


    He closed his eyes briefly, channeling his focus inward. The song yed in his mind, and he visualized the choreography, recalling the movements and transitions.


    When he opened his eyes, he began to move, mimicking the dance as it reyed in his mind. His execution was wless, yet he remained in the shadows, unnoticed by most.


    - I can''t see June from behind Zeth!


    - That''s because they''re so synchronized.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    As the song ended, only nine contestants were left standing.


    Zeth, Sasha, Mina, Jeemin, Joonie, Jisung, Jordan, Cera, and June.


    "Oh, that song wiped out a lot of people," Ramil PD remarked, his voice pleasantly surprised. The eliminated contestants, now judges, murmured in agreement.


    Nico noticed something odd.


    "Wait, did June dance at all?" he asked, doubt creeping into his mind.


    "He''s been so ambiguous these past rounds," an actor agreed. "I haven''t seen him much."


    June popped up from behind Zeth. "I danced to all the songs!" he said, defending himself. Ramil PD chuckled. "I barely noticed you, boy. Are you hiding behind Zeth because he has a buff body?"


    June shook his head while the othersughed. Joonie nced at him with a semi-smug expression.


    "Alright," Ramil PD said. "We''ll give you another chance, but you have to step up for this next one."


    For the first time in the game, June stepped forward, and he was now in the middle along with


    Joonie.


    June waited for the song to y.


    All eyes were on him now, so he needed to show that he had yed the game fairly.


    The next song began to y, and as the first beats of ''Slippery by Smooch of Death'' were


    heard through the garden.


    The eliminated contestants exchanged looks of surprise.


    "This song literally came outst week!" one of the remaining trainees eximed.


    "But it''s famous on LikLok," Ara pointed out.


    The contestants remained standing as the song began.


    The newness of the song had caught many off guard, and those who hadn''t kept up with the


    latest trends were at a disadvantage.


    Joonie, who had been so confident earlier, looked stiff and unsure. However, he was one of the contestants who still knew the dance.


    Cera sat along with Zeth, and with that, only seven of them remained.


    Meanwhile, June stood motionless for a moment as the pre-chorus yed, his mind racing.


    "June, you''re in great danger of being eliminated," Ramil PD announced.


    The pre-chorus continued to y, so he quickly channeled his mind to think of the


    choreography.


    As the chorus neared, it finally clicked. "Twerking," he realized.


    This was the song that had twerking!

 Chapter 865: Random Play Dance (3)

    Chapter 865: Random y Dance (3)


    ?


    Everyone anticipated June''s dance.


    "We didn''t see you at all in the beginning," Jisung said, turning to him. "Was it deliberate?" June shook his head. "I just didn''t want to move."


    The others shook their heads in amusement as they focused their attention back on the screen.


    Jisung, despite knowing the choreography, shook his head and went to sit next to his


    members since he couldn''tmit to the twerking move. Casper, too, felt too embarrassed to do it.


    - Aww, what a shame! I wanted to see Jisung shaking some ass.


    - June looks like he''s about to cry.


    - He has his eyes closed.


    - June, save yourself from embarrassment and just let yourself get eliminated!


    - Joonie''s moving! Although, it looks like none of them know this song so much.


    The chorus was mere seconds away, so June finally opened his eyes.


    His usual nonchnt look graced his face, so the viewers didn''t know what to expect from him.


    "This is legendary," Casper said, leaning his elbows against his knees as June finally began to


    move.


    The track was from a new girl group that had captured the country''s attention with its catchy tune and distinctive twerking move in the chorus. June had seen the dance many times but had never tried it himself.


    However, as the chorus yed, he moved with ease.


    His style was far from the typical, brash masculinity of many of the idols who had attempted the dance challenge.


    Instead, his dance was graceful, with a neutral elegance that made the twerking look refined and tasteful. The fluidity of his movements was mesmerizing, and he executed each step with a nonchnt ease.


    The crowd was stunned into silence.


    - Dare I say that he''s the twerking king?


    - What the heck? Why was he hiding behind Zeth all this time when he could dance like that?


    - We told you! Even though he''s not explicitly a main dancer, June is one of the best dancers in EVE-if not in the entire industry!


    - I came here to watch Jordan, but now I realize why June is so popr. Why is he so charming?


    - Where are Joonie''s fans now? Your fave is shaking his ass like it''s a piece of concrete.


    "Waah!" Ramil PD eximed, unable to contain his surprise just as the song had finished. "We need to talk about this!"


    Mimi covered her mouth with both hands as she tried to keep her heart calm.


    Nico couldn''t help but purse his lips after watching June''s performance.


    It felt like they were watching a proper cover in a dance studio.


    Jordan patted June''s back. "Yah! Since when did you learn to move like that?"


    June merely smirked and shrugged.


    The other eliminated contestants were visibly impressed. "I didn''t think he could move like that," one of the actors said. "That was incredible!"


    "Ah, he''s really good," Jeemin said.


    Mei also couldn''t help but smirk as she nced at Joonie. The spotlight had been taken from him in an instant.


    "y the next song!" Ramil PD eximed as the chatters died down.


    ''Kick Hit by 127'' yed through the speakers. It was a powerful boy group track that contrasted the upbeat nature of ''Slippery.''


    The beat was aggressive, and the choreography demanded a high level of energy and strength. June stepped into the routine with the same calm confidence he had disyed earlier. The movements were sharp and precise, and each step was punctuated with strength. His lines were powerful, showcasing a level of control and adaptability that left the others in awe once again.


    - Frick. That was hot.


    - Coming from twerking and now this? June is the majesty of duality!


    - I''m so d that the haters are now silent. They can''t deny June''s talent.


    Mina, feeling that she wasn''t worthy to dance with those left, took a seat.


    "You did a great job," Yeri smiled as she sat next to her.


    Mina nodded and focused her attention on the front, where June was disying his strong dance. Her mouth became slightly agape. Her view from the side didn''t do his dancing any


    justice!


    It was the right decision for her to sit and enjoy the show.


    As the song ended, the remaining contestants were now down to just four: Sasha, Jordan,


    Joonie, and June.


    "There''s 7 songs left, and we''re down to 4!" Ramil PD eximed. "Can we actually make it to


    20 songs?"


    "Who do you think is going to take the cake?"


    "June! June! June!" the members of EVE collectively chanted.


    "Sasha, you got this!" Mimi cheered.


    "Jordan, my man," Nico eximed as he looked into his eyes. "You better win this one for our


    team."


    Meanwhile, Joonie was silently encouraged by the actors.


    However, even as the others supported their respective teammates, their eyes kept drifting


    back to June, who always seemed to capture their attention.


    The next song was "Groove" by Taenim, a track with a sensual undertone.


    - Dang, they''re using this song?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    - This will be freaking legendary!


    - June is already moving.


    - Fuck, he''s the most versatile dancer I''ve ever seen.


    - True that! From upbeat twerking to strong, powerful dancing and now to sensual grooving.


    June''s movements were sultry and engaging, each step dripping with his sexiness. Jordan, feeling out of his depth, tapped out midway, unable to keep up with theplex


    choreography.


    "Ah, sorry," he apologized to his teammates. "It''s not my style of dancing!"


    Meanwhile, thepliments continued to pour in.


    - His ability to adapt and perform is freaking incredible.


    - My eyes are automatically glued to June.


    - I can''t see anyone else except for him.


    The next song began, an obvious throwback to the 90s: ''Sweets by C.O.L.D.''


    The cute, nostalgic tune was a stark departure from the previous tracks. Sasha, who had struggled to keep up with the more contemporary routines, shook her head. "I forgot this song even existed," she muttered as she took her ce on the sidelines.


    She then turned to Mimi, who had her hands sped in front of her chest.


    "You''re not going tofort me?" Sasha asked in amusement.


    Mimi waved her hand, not even bothering to look at her friend.


    "I''llfort youter. For now, it''s more important that I witness June''s performance."


    As the song yed, the room focused on the remaining contestants.


    Thest twopetitors-June and Joonie.

 Chapter 866: Random Play Dance (4)

    Chapter 866: Random y Dance (4)


    ?


    - I didn''t expect June tost this long.


    - I did! He''s always been a great dancer.


    - Yeah, but you have to admit that our expectations were below the gutter. It''s a known fact that June is an old soul who doesn''t know much about new pop culture. So, this is very impressive.


    - He''s an idol. He should know this. Joonie, on the other hand, is killing it despite being an actor.


    - h, h. Your fave is getting eaten up by June.


    "They''re fighting in thements," Akira chuckled.


    "Who?" Jisung asked, his cheeks filled with popcorn like a hamster.


    "June''s and Joonie''s fans," Akira said.


    "There''s no argument here," Casper chimed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "June wins in every way."


    Casper was telling nothing but the truth.


    While Joonie was the star of the show during the first parts of the challenge, when he was ced next to June, he appeared like a meerkat.


    Although Joonie''s gaze was sharp and intense, his movements were a whole different story. They were urate yet clumsy at the same time-one that showed he was an amateur.


    On the other hand, June''s movements were elegant yet powerful. His nonchnt demeanor also added to it all.


    The next one was another ssic. It was a cute girl group song from the 90s, and June recognized it immediately, although he had never danced to it before.


    He stepped forward, a small smile ying on his lips as his mind had already pieced the choreography together.


    Joonie nced at June for a second and quietly clicked his tongue, hoping that June wouldn''t know the song.


    Yet, the two of them began to dance, and once again, it quickly became clear who was the better performer.


    Joonie was decent, no doubt about that. His timing was on point, but there was something missing. His performance, whilepetent,cked the finesse and fluidity that made a dancer truly stand out.


    June, on the other hand, was in his yground. Despite the fact that he had never danced to this particr song before, his execution was wless.


    Mimi covered her mouth to prevent herself from screeching.


    Ramil PD noticed this and nudged Nico''s shoulder.


    "It seems like your girlfriend is a big fan of June," he teased.


    Nico nced at Mimi before shaking his head. "Let her be," he muttered. "She had always been a big fan of June. I mean it''s not that surprising. He really is a great performer."


    Ramil PD nodded in agreement as he continued to watch June. As the producer of the show, he wanted to give the two artists the same level of attention. However, June just caught his eye every time.


    "Don''t tell him I said that, though," Nico added, causing Ramil PD tough.


    Unbeknownst to Nico, it was going to be aired on YouWatch.


    June''s body flowed effortlessly from one step to the next. But what really set him apart were his expressions. Even as he danced, he didn''t forget to engage with the music, his face lighting up with the yful energy of the song.


    - My baby is so cute.


    - I thought Joonie was great at first, but man, June is on another level.


    "I want to squish June''s cheeks!" Jaeyong eximed as June continued to dance cutely, even going as far as turning to June.


    June quickly ced his palms over his cheeks and shook his head.


    "Don''t you freaking dare," he warned.


    Meanwhile, the reactions of the other actors and contestants were shown, looking impressed.


    "He''s a true performer," Mina said, nodding in admiration. "He''s got the whole package- technique, expression, everything."


    "Joonie''s still in the game, though. I wonder who''s going to win?" Ara asked.


    Mei secretly hoped that it would be June. Not that she was rooting for him, but she just didn''t want Joonie to win.


    As the song came to an end, they became even more excited.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was clear that June had outperformed Joonie, but thepetition wasn''t over yet.


    Ramil PD had onest trick up his sleeve-a curveball that would test both contestants to their limits.


    The next song began to y, and most of the artists frowned. The melody was familiar, yet not at the same time.


    "What''s this?" Jaeyong muttered.


    It took the others a while to realize what song was ying.


    "Ah!" Mimi eximed. "It''s Baam Baam by MOOMOO! That viral song."


    Looks of recognition passed by their eyes. However, they quickly nced at Ramil PD, who had a mischievous look in his eyes.


    "How can you do this to the boys?" Jordan asked in amusement.


    Ramil PD shrugged and focused his gaze on thest two contestants.


    It wasn''t a killing part or the segment of a song usually showcased in random y dances.


    Rather, it was the first verse of a track.


    Joonie''s confidence faltered. He was used to the highlight parts of songs or the shy segments that actors often learn to mimic for variety shows.


    But this? He couldn''t possibly know this! He found himself searching his mind for the choreography, but it was no use. He had never learned this part of the song, and there was no way that June would, too.


    - Aww, is it going to be a tie?


    - That''s fine with me.


    - It''s definitely not fine! Having two winners is no fun.


    - True. We need to settle this!


    June would have been in trouble, too, but fortune was on his side.


    A small smirk made its way to his lips.


    This was the song that Mentor Gun had taught during one of their dance sses.


    The memory came rushing back, and with it, the choreography he had learned.


    His smirk was reced with a smile as he began to move, his body flowing into the routine


    with ease.


    The scene was almostical. June''s performance was both funny and impressive, capturing the yful spirit of the song.


    His versatility was on full disy, proving once again that he was a true dance encyclopedia.


    Joonie, meanwhile, stood still, his pride warring with his sense of defeat.


    He pursed his lips, not wanting to give up.


    However, he realized that it wasn''t in his character to appear bitter. So, he quickly smiled and


    pped for June as he made his way to the other contestants.


    Finally, one person remained.


    However, even then, Joonie couldn''t shake off the bitterness in his heart.

 Chapter 867: You Are The Dancing King

    Chapter 867: You Are The Dancing King


    ?


    - I knew it. I knew it.


    - You guys didn''t know shit! You all underestimated my baby!


    - Don''t listen to them, June. I have believed in you since the very beginning.


    The song finally ended, and June even imitated the pose that Mentor Gun had taught him. It was an ''apple cheek'' heart that had the other contestants, along with some staff members, squealing.


    "Ah, I''ve be a fan of June," one of the actors said, his hands over his heart.


    Mimi''s eyes brightened as she heard such words. With that, she turned around with an excited smile.


    "I''ll tell you everything I know about him!"


    Meanwhile, June was still on screen, and his ''apple cheek'' heart was reyed over and over again, and a slow-mo shot with floating hearts and meowing sounds was even inserted. June stood from the couch in protest. "What was that?" he eximed.


    His members couldn''t help butugh at the ridiculous editing.


    "It looks like the editing team did some research," Sehun said.


    June shook his head as Akira pulled him to sit back down.


    "Come on. It''s not over yet," he said. "It''s going to be more epic from here on out."


    "June! June! June!" the group chanted simultaneously.


    June scratched the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed.


    "I won, right?" he shyly asked.


    Ramil PD chuckled as he nodded. "You did," he said. "However, may I ask how you know so many dances?"


    June pursed his lips. "I don''t," he said. "I''ve seen them, so I imitate them in my mind," he honestly answered, causing the others to be taken aback.


    - What?


    - He ys the dance in his mind then copies it?


    - What kind of sorcery is this?


    -I don''t think I''ve ever seen someone like that before.


    - The craziest thing I saw was Lili, that girl group member who watched a dance once and then executed it perfectly. However, this is another level!


    June pursed his lips as morepliments poured in.


    Well, that skill was something he got from Fu. It was his cheat code. However, it seemed like


    it stuck around even after he gave Fu away.


    "We can''t end it here!" Jordan eximed. "We need to see more."


    June''s eyes widened as the others agreed with Jordan.


    "It''s over, though," he muttered.


    Sasha chimed in, "He''s still got energy left; let him finish the whole 20 songs!"


    "What?" June couldn''t help but exim, causing the others tough once more.


    However, they continued to push him to dance, causing June to massage his nose bridge in frustration.


    Ramil PD, catching onto the wave of enthusiasm, couldn''t help but grin. He nced at June, who was still standing in the middle of the garden. However, it appeared like he wanted nothing more than to sit back down.


    "June," Ramil PD called out. "There are still 4 songs left out of the 20. Do you want to take on the challenge and finish them all?"


    June pursed his lips as he looked at the anticipating faces of the others. Then, from the far end, he saw Joonie with an expression that could bepared to someone holding a two- -day-old shit.


    With that, he nodded.


    "Alright," he sighed.


    "June! June! June!"


    The voices of his teammates-Akira, Casper, and Jisung-rose above the crowd, egging him on. In fact, most of the eliminated contestants were cheering for him, and their earlierpetitiveness was now reced with admiration.


    June sighed once more, but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    "Alright then," Ramil PD said, clearly pleased with the decision. "Let''s see if you can make it through the final four!"


    The music started up again, and the first of the remaining songs yed: ''Devil by OCTA.'' The song had a dark, edgy vibe, and the choreography was intense, full of sharp, aggressive movements. But June wasn''t fazed. He knew this song well, having kept an eye on Uno, who he still considered one of his greatest rivals.


    June moved with precision and power, his nonchnt expression never faltering as he executed each step with perfection.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    OCTA, who was watching from thefort of their own dorm, couldn''t help but admire June.


    Uno didn''t say anything, but his cheeks reddened.


    Seven turned to him and shook his shoulders. "He''s so good! Do you think he watches our performances?"


    Uno shrugged, not giving anything away.


    As ''Devil'' came to an end, the apuse was almost deafening. But there was no time to rest as the next song started ying-a familiar track for a group of girls.


    ''Cosmos by LUNAIRE.''


    This B-side track had a dreamy, ethereal quality to it, and the choreography was intricate, filled with fluid, almost celestial movements.


    The girls turned to each other with surprise, not expecting their song to be included since it was only released recently. It didn''t go viral, too, so they wondered if June knew it.


    June knew, of course. He had monitored his sister''s performance and even criticized some of


    the missing points.


    "He even knows this one?" Ramil PD eximed.


    Mina couldn''t help but smile as she watched June with wide eyes. He gave a whole new


    meaning to their song!


    The livestream chat was aze with praise.


    - June is unstoppable! Is there anything he can''t do?


    - Cosmos is such a hard song, but he''s making it look effortless.


    As the song ended, June took a deep breath, hisposure still intact. But the challenge wasn''t over yet. The third song began, and this time, it was a bad-an unexpected twist for


    a random y dance.


    The song, known for its emotional depth, required apletely different style of dance-


    contemporary.


    June didn''t hesitate. His movements became softer as he embodied the emotion of the song.


    It was a disy of his versatility, showing that he could handle not just the high-energy tracks but also the slower, more expressive pieces.


    "He''s like a dance chameleon," Jordan murmured, clearly impressed. "No matter the style, he


    makes it his own."


    Nico scoffed, although he had to admit that he was also impressed.


    "It''s easy," he muttered.


    And finally, thest song began to y.


    Like perfect fate, Oasis sted through the speakers, making June sigh in relief.


    June''s expression brightened slightly as the song started. There was something about performing his group''s song that brought a certain warmth to his usually cool demeanor. He moved with confidence, hitting every beat like he had done it thousands of times before.


    And he actually has.


    His execution was perfect, and the contestants soon treated the game as a free concert.


    As the song ended, the crowd pped once more. Along with them were the staff members,


    including the cameramen, who usually didn''t react to such scenes.


    - Ha! Take that, you bitches.


    - You are all miserable for calling him talentless a while ago.


    -So, who''s going to rece June now, huh?


    - No one. June is irreceable.

 Chapter 868: Coffee Truck

    Chapter 868: Coffee Truck


    ?


    -Fcking awesome, I tell you.


    - It really is legendary. I hope the live ends now so I can rewatch it over and over.


    - Someone already posted the videos on Navel and LikLok. They''re popping off right now.


    - Why would someone do that? I''m still trying to gatekeep June!


    - Girl, you''re gatekeeping the hottest idol in Korea right now.


    - I can still gatekeep him from international fans!


    The game finally ended, and everybody was impressed, to say the least.


    Ramil PD even stood to give June a round of apuse. June scratched the back of his neck, suddenly feeling bashful from all the attention he was receiving.


    Somehow, the editors of the show attached blushing cheeks and a ribbon to June''s ear, causing his eyes to widen at the scene.


    "Seriously, what do they think of me?" he eximed, already feeling upset. "The editing is outrageous!"


    His teammates began to tease him.


    "Aww, they made you coquette!" Jisung eximed.


    June frowned. "Isn''t that a food?" he whispered.


    Fortunately, his members weren''t able to hear him. Otherwise, they would squeeze him to death from cuteness aggression!


    "Can I sit now?" June asked in the middle of the garden.


    Ramil PD shook his head. "You still need to hear about your prize," he said.


    June nodded, anticipating his prize. Ramil PD was also known for his generous prizes, so he looked forward to it.


    "For the first prize, you shall be granted a coffee and snack truck!" Ramil PD announced. The others eximed in amazement, some in jealousy. However, most of them believed that June deserved it.


    In K-Pop or K-Drama culture, a coffee/snack truck referred to a mobile vehicle or stall that served coffee, other beverages, and snacks.


    These trucks were often sent to filming locations or events by fans, productionpanies, or sponsors as a gesture of support or appreciation for the cast and crew. It was amon sight on Korean drama sets where fans or production teams sent these trucks to provide


    refreshments and boost morale during long filming hours.


    "When can I use it?" June asked.


    Ramil PD smiled. "Anytime and anywhere you want," he said. "You can just give me a call, and I''ll get it arranged right away."


    "Ah, I''m jealous!" Jordan eximed; however, there wasn''t an ounce of bitterness in his voice.


    "Originally, this is the only prize I''ve prepared," Ramil PD continued. "However, after seeing your effort, and since you''re the only idol who haspleted all 20 songs, I decided to give you an extra one!"


    June tilted his head to the side in curiosity. The editors attached him with cat ears and a tail, causing June to sigh in frustration once again.


    "Now, they''re making you into a furry!" Casper eximed, appearing too excited for the edit.


    - The editors get me. I resonate with them. Where can I apply for this job?


    - Same. All I want is to push for my June kitty agenda.


    - K-Pop is such a weird ce. Imagine doing this for a Western artist.


    - It would be weird as hell.


    Ramil PD revealed his prize, causing June''s eyes to widen in delight. It was the headphones that Joonie''s team had won during the song guessing game!


    - Aww, June looks so happy to receive it.


    - Baby, I would buy you a hundred of those if it meant I would get to see your happy expression every


    day.


    -You guys sound like his mom.


    -Me? No, I''m his sugar mommy.


    - Alright, that''s enough. I''m logging out.


    June received the headset with a wide smile, causing Ramil PD to chuckle in amusement.


    "Well, it seems like you''re even happier with this than the coffee truck," he said.


    June shook his head and secured the box between his arm and his torso.


    "I''m happy for the two of them," he said.


    However, Ramil PD was right when he said that he was definitely happier with the pair of headphones.


    He appreciated the coffee truck, but he didn''t know where to use it. Their music video filming still wasn''t set in stone, so he felt it would still be a while before he could actually utilize it.


    With thest game, Ramil PD stood in the middle of the garden.


    "And that''s it!" he eximed. "Thank you, everyone, especially to the artists, for sparing your time and effort to the shoot despite your busy schedules."


    "We had fun!"


    "It was great!"


    Compliments for Ramil PD and the show were heard across the garden, causing the middle- aged man''s cheeks to redden.


    "Anyway, this has been Azure! See you next time in another episode of-Company''s


    Company!"


    With that, the camera panned out and faded into ck.


    The boys sighed in satisfaction as soon as it was done.


    "Ah, that was great," Zeth said, patting his stomach since he was already full from the popcorn. "I looked very good."


    Ren rolled his eyes. "I''m d that your looks are the first thing you''ve noticed," he sarcastically said.


    "It was really fun," Jaeyong smiled. "I think our fans would increase once again!"


    "Damn right!" Akira eximed. "June''s random y dance is already going viral."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The boys continued speaking, forgoing the fact that the show was still running.


    It was only when Joonie''s voice resonated in the room that they snapped their attention back


    to the television.


    Casper clicked his tongue. "What''s with him?"


    "There seems to be some behind-the-scenes content," Jisung muttered, his eyes focused on


    the screen.


    "It was really great!" Joonie excitedly said to the camera. "I had so much fun with everyone, especially the members of EVE. I think I''ve grown closer to them."


    "Bullshit!" Casper eximed.


    Sehun shook his head in amusement, cing his hand on Casper''s shoulder.


    "Calm down, man. You really don''t like him, huh?"


    Casper enthusiastically nodded, not bothering to deny the usation.


    Fortunately, before Casper became more heated, the scene shifted.


    It now showed June and Jisung standing underneath the tree shade.


    "Here," June said, handing him the box of the new headphones.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "What''s this?" Jisung asked.


    "Headphones," June deadpanned.


    "For you."

 Chapter 869: Sooner Or Later

    Chapter 869: Sooner Or Later


    ?


    Joonie thought he was going to regain his momentum as soon as the behind-the-scenes footage would be shown.


    He deliberately said that he was close with EVE in order to gain traction from their fandom. He knew that everything associated with EVE would turn out to be a trend, and he wasn''t afraid to use such information to his advantage.


    He had just moved into their apartment on the bottom floor. EVE and LUNAIRE were located at the topmost portion, and it made him feel bitter because it also signified the hierarchy in theirpany.


    However, truth be told, it was the only avable unit in the building.


    Setting aside his feelings for their dorm arrangement, Joonie smiled in satisfaction when he saw thements flooding withments about him.


    - That''s so wholesome! More EVE and Joonie content, please.


    - Joonie makes friends so easily! That speaks a lot about his personality.


    - I love Joonie so much <3. He''s so genuine.


    - EVE should totally befriend Joonie. Our little boy needs friends from his newpany.


    - Nobody wants to befriend your boy.


    However, as soon as he was beingplimented, the attention quickly shifted to the act of kindness between Jisung and June.


    Their microphones had been detached, so their voices sounded more raw and muffled. It added to the authenticity of the interaction, especiallypared to Joonie''s interview, which seemed pre-nned.


    "For me?" Jisung asked, his eyes widening in shock. "But why? You were the one who won."


    June pursed his lips and gently shoved the box toward him, letting it go so that Jisung would have no choice but to receive it.


    "I''m not going to use it," June insisted. "So just take it. You seem to really like it."


    Jisung looked at him with wide, bright eyes, feeling touched. "Are you sure?"


    June clicked his tongue and nodded.


    With that, Jisung appeared even happier.


    He held the box in his arms like it was the best thing that he was gifted to.


    "Thank you," he said. "I''ll use it really well."


    A small smile made its way to June''s face. Jisung looked very happy. He even unboxed the headphones right away, his smile widening with every second.


    June couldn''t help it.


    He patted Jisung''s head like he was a cute puppy.


    -So, so cute!


    - I can''t. I love them so much.


    - Is that why June looks so excited? Because he wanted to give the headphones to Jisung?


    - Aigoo, what would we do with these babies?


    The members of EVE watched the scene fondly.


    "That''s why you had the headset!" Akira eximed. "I was wondering where you got it. I


    almost got jealous, but then we got this cute scene," he gushed.


    Sehun patted June''s and Jisung''s head. "Our youngest members are so sweet."


    June clicked his tongue and pushed Sehun away.


    "You guys are making this into a big deal again," he groaned.


    "The day hase when June''s name upied the top three spaces in the country''s trends


    list," Akira said, standing from the couch and pping.


    The others also pped, admiring their precious center.


    "Three times?" Zeth asked. "Is the random y dance one?"


    "Yup," Akira nodded, still feeling proud of June.


    "The other one is #JuneSung," he added.


    June frowned. "What the heck is that?"


    "Your ship name," Akira deadpanned like it was just a normal urrence.


    "Aww, our ship is sailing!" Jisung eximed, throwing his fist high up in the air.


    "Juneper is still superior," Casper muttered, earning him a p on the back of his head from June.


    "What''s the third thing then?" June asked, wanting to change the subject.


    "June''s nose," Akira said.


    The entire group frowned as soon as they heard the next keyword.


    "What?" June asked, his eyebrows furrowed. "Why is my nose trending?"


    "The trend is just filled with your side profile and how your nose is something they want to achieve," Akira revealed.


    June shook his head. "People tend the weirdest things. Who would even go out of their way to copy my nose?"


    ***n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Your nose got higher," Dan said to Joonie as he entered their practice room.


    Joonie turned to Dan, his manager, with a smirk. After Dan''s stunt with June, he had been demoted to a managerial position. Now, he was none other than Joonie''s manager.


    "I got nose threads," Joonie said with a small smile. "Do you think it looks simr to June''s?" Dan looked at Joonie and tilted his head to the side. Well, he did look like June, but at the same time, Dan felt like no one could reallypare to June in this era. He was a man with natural handsomeness and beauty.


    "Yes," Dan said despite it all. "Your side profile has improved."


    Joonie nodded. "It''s a great decision then."


    "Has my new schedulee out yet?" he then asked as he walked over to the music yer.


    "Yes," Dan said. "You are guesting on another YouWatch show. Make sure to keep your kind, approachable, and genuine personality."


    "You also have that showing up. It''ll be conducted next week. You''re already aware of how it goes, so I''m not going to lecture you much about it."


    "Lastly, you need to practice the song that CEO Lei had personally gifted you. After your show next week, we''ll head straight to the next ns."


    Joonie nodded, already appearing excited. His pastpany has never been this proactive, and he could tell that Azure Entertainment wanted to push him further into his career.


    "Did you receive the song already?" Dan asked.


    Joonie nodded. "I just started listening to it. The choreography isn''t done yet, right?"


    Dan shook his head. "We''re already in talks with a choreographer."


    "Alright," Joonie muttered. Although, it appeared as if he wanted to say something more.


    Dan paused and raised one eyebrow in inquiry.


    "What?" Dan asked. "I can tell that you still want to ask something."


    Joonie pursed his lips and nodded.


    "What you said the other day," Joonie muttered. "Do you mean it?"


    Dan''s eyebrows furrowed before he realized what Joonie was talking about.


    Then, a small smile appeared on his lips.


    "Yes," Dan said. "I mean it."


    "Just follow my instructions and keep that enthusiasm and persona.


    "Sooner orter, you''ll be recing someone in thispany."

 Chapter 870: Comeback Discussions

    Chapter 870: Comeback Discussions


    ?


    "Dang, these headphones are really good," Jisung said, amusement seen on his face as he walked through the hallways of Azure Entertainment.


    He was on his way to the meeting room so they could finally discuss the date and preparation for theireback.


    Jisung was all alone because he decided to stop by thepany''s cafeteria to buy some brownies. Meanwhile, the others came from prior schedules.


    He walked down the hallways, trying his best to prevent himself from popping and locking because the headphones that June gave him were topnotch. The bass was the best, and it even had some noise-cancetion features!


    As he walked through the practice rooms, where music could sometimes be heard, he decided to test out the noise-cancetion features by removing his headphones and putting them back again.


    "Waah, this is really amazing," he muttered as his hearing senses were overwhelmed with nothing but music when he put on the headphones.


    He did this multiple times, finding it fascinating every time, like a little kid.


    Jisung chuckled to himself as he fully removed his headphones and ced them around his neck.


    A fraction of the music could still be heard from its current position, but aside from that, the ambient noise from the hallways of the practice rooms was also prominent.


    Jisung hummed a tune under his breath-the song he had been working on for the longest time.


    Just then, he stopped walking when he saw that one of the practice room doors was slightly ajar. He smiled and walked over to the door.


    "I would appreciate it if someone closed it for me," he muttered, feeling excited to do a good deed.


    There was some musicing from inside, one that sounded awfully familiar.


    Jisung frowned and held onto the slightly ajar door, feeling something strange bloom inside his heart.


    He leaned closer, hoping to hear more of the song. However, before he could do so, the music abruptly ended, and he was brought back to reality.


    Jisung heard some footstepsing inside, so he quietly closed the door and walked away with some hesitation.


    However, as he got close to the meeting room, he still couldn''t shake away the fact that the song sounded quite familiar.


    "Ji!" Ren eximed as soon as he went through the doors.


    Jisung snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at his teammates. It seemed like he was thest one to arrive.


    His cheeks reddened as he bowed, quickly taking his seat next to June.


    June smirked when he saw the headphones around Jisung''s neck, feeling satisfied that the younger member was using his gift.


    "We''replete now," Lei said with a wide smile. "Good. We have plenty of things to talk about today."


    The members of EVE nodded, suddenly turning serious. Despite their yful nature, they appeared very professional when it came to their work.


    "We have Ted and Mari here," Lei said. "They will continue to spearhead your album like yourst one."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The boys, along with Jay, pursed their lips to hide their disappointment. They remembered how theirst album didn''t perform as well as their debut because Teddy influenced their title track too much.


    Mari saw the looks in their eyes and reassuringly smiled.


    "We''ve already talked about it with Sir Lei," she quickly disimed. "We have heard some of the songs that you''ve given the production team, and Sir Lei had personally told us to incorporate it in the album."


    The boys sighed in relief, including June. He had expected the worst from Lei. However, it seemed like he was decent when it came to giving them artistic freedom.


    "Now, there will be ten songs in the album," Mari continued. "So, we will fill in that space. The title track still hasn''t been decided. However, we will decide on it soon."


    Jaeyong raised his hand. "Do we have any room for another song suggestion? What if one of suddenly has something to show?" he asked, ncing at Jisung, who had a thoughtful look on his face.


    Lei''s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.


    "What do you mean?" he asked. "Are you guys working on another song besides the ones you''ve sent?"


    "Jisung-"


    "Jisung really likes the songs we''ve sent," Jisung quickly interrupted Akira before he could finish his statement, even pertaining to himself in third person. "Yeah, I really like them," he awkwardly added.


    Akira looked at him with wide, inquiring eyes, but Jisung merely shook his head.


    The others were also confused; however, seeing that their youngest member looked ufortable, they decided to let it go.


    "Umm, I''m just wondering," Jaeyong justified hisst question.


    Lei pursed his lips. "Well, that would depend. I guess we can amodate it as long as it''s good for the album. However, we would prefer if you give us all your songs now, even if they''re unfinished, because Teddy, Mari, and their team would work toplete them."


    "We are also looking for a group to choreograph the chosen title track in the future," he


    continued.


    The members exchanged uneasy gazes before nodding. The situation was already much better than theirst album, so they felt like they couldn''tin further.


    "Now that all of that has been established," Lei continued. "I''m going to ry the rough timeline of theeback."


    "We are going to start recording the songs you''ve sent, especially the confirmed side tracks," he said.


    "Then, by your first-year anniversary, the album and everything else shall be aplished." "The choreography of the title track will follow after we choose the title track by the second week of September."


    The boys frowned as soon as they heard the timeline.


    "The second week of September?" Zeth asked. "Isn''t that too long? Shouldn''t we rush things now since November is only around the corner?"


    "It''s alright," Lei said. "You guys debuted in the third week of November anyway, and aside from that, some of your members won''t be present for the next weeks."


    The boys turned to each other with wide eyes, finally realizing what Lei was talking about.


    "Casper, Jisung," Lei started off.


    "The two of you shall be joining the new season of ''Everyday, Everynight.""

 Chapter 871: The Key Item

    Chapter 871: The Key Item


    ?


    "Dang," Akira muttered. "I wanted to go to the show, too!"


    Ren looked at him with raised eyebrows. "You''re just saying that in theory," he said. "You definitely can''t live in the middle of nowhere without your phone."


    "I definitely can," Akira boasted, squaring his shoulders. "You don''t know me!"


    "You can''t," Ren said, challenging his statement.


    "Without your favorite food?"


    Akira clicked his tongue. "Easy! We''d just hunt some chickens and fry them on the spot."


    "Without your video games?"


    Akira pursed his lips. "It''s only a little more than a week. I can survive that long."


    "Without your favorite dramas?"


    Akira''s eyes twitched, already feeling challenged. "Well..."


    "Without looking at the trends? You have the worst case of FOMO," Ren continued.


    Akira sighed. That was his breaking point.


    "You''re right. I''m happy I won''t be there."


    "Oh no, my dramas," Jisung eximed, already in distress. "How am I going to live without watching my favorite shows?"


    Sehun chuckled and patted Jisung''s back. "Looks like you have to let it go."


    Meanwhile, Casper was awfully quiet.


    "Hey," Zeth said. "You alright?"


    Casper shook his head. "I''m not going to see you guys for a while."


    "You''ll be with Jisung," Jaeyong pointed out.


    Yet, Casper''s eyes automatically turned to June, who was busy texting someone on his phone.


    June felt Casper''s gaze on the side of his face, so he lifted his head and looked at him with one eyebrow raised.


    "What?" he asked.


    "Why can''t you go?" Casper eximed, sounding desperate. "It would be more fun if you were there."


    "That''s true!" Jisung eximed. "I feel safe when June''s there. I feel like we''ll be able to eat well if he joins."


    Akira nodded in agreement. "I really thought June would be there. Aside from the fact that he''s very in demand, he also suits the show''s concept really well. I wonder why he wasn''t chosen."


    "Me too," Zeth said. "Ramil PD was also fond of him during our recent shooting."


    Jay sighed. "Well, you see, this is Sir Lei''s decision. Aside from that, I believe this was decided even before ''Company''s Company'' was filmed."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I see," Jaeyong muttered.


    Casper and Jisung turned to each other with pursed lips, already knowing that they were going to be miserable for the next two weeks.


    Meanwhile, June was still busy typing on his phone.


    They had arrived at their dorms, yet June couldn''t find it in himself to go out.


    The others frowned as he stayed in his seat. Jay, too, had turned off the engine and wondered why June wasn''t getting out.


    "Did you forget something?" Jaeyong asked.


    June pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah," he said. "I need Jay to drive me back."


    Jay''s eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Is it that important that you have to fetch it now? I can take it for you in the morning."


    June gave Jay a look, causing thetter to frown.


    Then, he looked at his members and gave them a small smile. "We''ll be back soon."


    With that, June shut the door of the van, making Jay even more confused.


    "Where are we really going? My bath is waiting for me. I also n to wear my favorite pajamas and lounge in my new mattress-"


    "We''ll meet Marcus," June deadpanned, causing Jay to purse his lips.


    Then, a small smile appeared in his voice.


    "Why didn''t you say so in the beginning?" he eximed before turning on the engine. "Let''s go."


    June shook his head and leaned against the seat as Jay drove to the familiar ce.


    As soon as they got to the building, they were instantly escorted to the underground parking lot-as if they were already anticipating the two''s arrival.


    Jay got out of the car faster than June, appearing more excited than ever.


    They went up to Haruto''s restaurant, the two of them parting ways without telling each other goodbye.


    Jay instantly went to where Marcus was while June went straight to Haruto''s office.


    June didn''t even bother knocking as he entered.


    Haruto jumped in his seat, cing his hand over his heart.


    "I''m here," June simply said before plopping on the seat before him.


    Haruto shook his head in amusement. "Would it hurt for you to knock?"


    "Let''s cut to the chase," June said. "I have some free time while my members go off to a show. After that, I''ll be fully focused on theeback, so we need to speed things up."


    "I know," Haruto said. "That''s why I called you today."


    June nodded, already expecting something big. Although Haruto was annoying most of the time, he was a great source of information. It also seemed like he was very interested in this


    case.


    "So?" June asked.


    Haruto looked around the room before pointing to a stack of boxes on the side.


    June frowned as he scrutinized it. "What are those?" he asked. "Headphones?"


    Haruto innocently nodded. "I saw that you liked them in the show, so I bought more for you."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Seriously, why do you do this before getting to the important part?"


    "Don''t you like it?" Haruto asked with wide eyes. "These are the limited edition ones. Do you want me to swap them out for you?"


    "No," June firmly said. "Just¡ªjust thank you," he sighed. "You don''t have to do things like


    this in the future."


    "But I like doing this for you!" Haruto eximed.


    June shook his head. "Alright, alright. Just do anything you want."


    "Now, tell me what I really need."


    Haruto sighed before clicking his tongue. "Our friendship is too cold," he started off.


    "Anyway," he continued, snapping back to a serious mood. "I called you here because I have something that I think would lead us to the current ''head'' of Phoenix."


    June nodded, his eyebrows furrowing in curiosity. He even leaned his elbows against Haruto''s


    table in anticipation.


    Haruto pursed his lips before bringing something out from the drawer of his work table.


    June held his breath as Haruto lifted the item.


    Then, a frown graced his face as Haruto ced it down on the table.


    June looked at it with disbelief.


    "Sanipoo?"

 Chapter 872: A Close Competition

    Chapter 872: A Close Competition


    ?


    June stared back at the photo of himself.


    It was the sexy version of the ''Sanipoo'' that they were models of.


    "What the fuck is this?" June eximed as he flicked the bottle away.


    "Hey, hey," Haruto said, grabbing the bottle and making sure that it wasn''t damaged in any way, even going as far as cradling it like a baby.


    "Do you know how hard it is to get one of these things?" Haruto eximed. "I had to drive an hour to an unknown grocery store, and I even had to fight an olddy just for thisst bottle. These are like gold these days."


    June shook his head and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "I have plenty of those in my house," he said, frustration heard in his voice.


    "Oh, does that mean you have the cute version, too? I''ve been looking for it everywhere."


    June sighed and stood from his chair. "Alright, I''m going home."


    "Wait!" Haruto eximed, scrambling to get a hold of June''s wrist and pulling him to sit back down.


    "If you''re just going to waste my time..."


    "I''m not!" Haruto said. "I''m really not. It might look like it, but I''m dead serious."


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Tell me how ''Sanipoo'' is relevant to this equation?"


    "Well, you see, I met the maid once again," Haruto started off. "I got her contact number, by the way."


    June nodded, silently gesturing for him to continue.


    "It was unexpected. She works at a salon as a cleaner now, and I just happened to pass by her."


    "Anyway, I waited for eight hours for her shift to end," he continued.


    June pursed his lips. Thedy must have been so scared.


    "I chased her down for a good half an hour, too," Haruto added. "Well, I was with Marcus, and he did the honors, but you know what I mean."


    June shook his head. "Goodness. You traumatized her."


    "No, she was just shaken, but she''s alright now! I gave her some cash."


    "Anyway," Haruto continued. "I asked her for more clues-about how I could find the sessor of thete head of Phoenix. However, she didn''t tell me anything tant." "Howe?" June asked.


    "Well, it might be because she had been their maid since the sessor was a little kid. She said that she owed their family a lot, and she didn''t dare expose them. It was what thete head would have wanted her to do so," he exined.


    "However," June said, already expecting it to have some kind of catch.


    "However," Haruto continued. "She told me about this brand-Sanipoo. She told me that this is the key item to finding the sessor."


    "And that is because?" June asked, wanting to find out more.


    "Oh, that''s all that she ever told me," he chuckled. "I asked you toe here because I couldn''t decode it up until this day."


    June sighed and shook his head. What more did he expect from Haruto?


    "Well, it''s a known fact that ''Sanipoo'' is made by Phoenix''s subsidiary cleaningpany, but


    it still doesn''t make sense how it would lead to its head."


    "What about the address?" June asked. "Do you have any leads where he might live? He''s in UN vige, right?"


    "Yes," Haruto said. "However, that''s still all that I know about his address. The head must have lived a secretive life, so his son followed in his footsteps."


    June nodded. "Alright," he said, standing from his seat. "We''re heading out now."


    "What?" Haruto eximed. "But I prepared some food for you, guys. Why don''t you stay for a bit, huh?"


    June sighed and looked at Haruto''s pleading face. "Come on," he said. "I bet Jay wouldn''t mind."


    Of course, Jay wouldn''t mind since it would only extend his time with Marcus!


    "Alright," June said. "We''ll head out right after."


    ***


    It was the next day, and Joonie was on his way to the salon to get dolled up for his interview.


    It was early in the morning, so he wasn''t in the mood.


    However, as soon as he got inside, he quickly shifted to his warm persona.


    "Good morning," he said.


    The stylists and make-up artists greeted him fondly.


    Dan trailed behind his back before walking over to the couch, where other managers usually waited for their artists. However, since it was so early, he was the first one there.


    "Let''s head to the shampoo area," the stylist said.


    Joonie nodded and followed after her to get his hair shampooed.


    As she massaged his hair, the other workers couldn''t help but notice the height of his nose.


    "Wow, you have such a pretty nose," one of them said. "June''s nose is trending these days because a lot of people want its projection. You have a simr one."


    Joonie pursed his lips but quickly smiled. "Well, this is natural," he said.


    Some of them gasped. "So, June''s isn''t?" they asked.


    Joonie held in the urge to smirk. "I didn''t say anything about that," he vaguely said. "Just that mine is natural," he boasted.


    "Then you are really handsome," they began to shower him withpliments.


    Joonie couldn''t help but smile. His day was already made with the amount ofpliments he


    was receiving.


    Meanwhile, Dan, who was still on edge with Sir Lei, smirked as soon as he saw some news


    from the private investigator he had hired.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After the incident with June, he had been demoted to a managerial position, which also meant


    that his position in the hierarchy had also gone down.


    With that, he vowed to find the one thing that would make Lei trust him again.


    That is to find the head of Phoenix.


    He knew that Lei had been looking for him for a while now, and having the ''head'' on his side would bring about even bigger victories for Lei.


    Dan had been in a bitter mood ever since he was demoted. However, with the new text from


    the private investigator, he felt like he had been invigorated.


    He didn''t even think twice before dialing Lei''s number.


    "Sir," he eximed, sounding a tad too excited.


    "What do you need?" Lei asked. "I''m busy."


    "I know, sir," Dan smiled. "However, I have something that you wouldn''t want to miss out


    on."


    Lei remained silent, so Dan took that as the chance to ry the piece of information he had


    gathered.


    "The head of Phoenix," Dan started off.


    "He''s in UN vige."

 Chapter 873: One Step Ahead

    Chapter 873: One Step Ahead


    ?


    Lei looked at all the materials that Dan had prepared for him.


    After his failure to get June in trouble, Lei''s trust in other people had once again diminished. He realized that he was still the mostpetent person in his life.


    However, scanning through the proof that Dan had prepared, he realized that his past assistant wasn''t too bad.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "UN vige, huh?" Lei muttered.


    Dan excitedly nodded. "This is the first time we''ve seen a lead. The precise location still hasn''t been found out, but this is a great step."


    "We are also looking at the list of men living within the area, trying to see who fits the description of the previous head''s son," Dan continued. "In fact, I already have the list ready for you."


    Lei smirked in satisfaction as he looked through the list. It was three pages long, and he believed that he would finally be able to find him after all these years.


    "If we had him on our side, then we would be invincible. Based on his father''s autobiography, he must be someone who values morals. With that, I shall expose Kim Young Do and also take Phoenix Entertainment under my belt," Lei said, already going through an overview of his n.


    Dan smiled, already feeling excited. "And I''ll be here with you, sir. We shall do this together." Lei nodded, satisfied with his current performance. "I''ll send you a bonus. Check your ountter."


    Dan pursed his lips to stop himself from smiling too much.


    With that, he bowed his head. "Thank you, sir. It will be used wisely."


    Lei chuckled and sat on his chair as he skimmed through the list of names.


    "How did you know, by the way?" Lei asked. "How did you know that the head''s son is residing in UN vige?"


    "It was a difficult task," Dan said, repeating what the investigator had told him. "In fact, it seemed as if it was destined for us to find out."


    "The investigator came across such information by chance. He had met someone who was looking for the same person and listened in on his conversation with the past maid of the head''s household."


    Lei dropped the paper, his face hardening as he looked at Dan.


    Dan''s smile slowly dropped when he saw the murderous look on Lei''s face.


    "Sir?" he asked. "What''s wrong?"


    "So," Lei started off, sending shivers down Dan''s spine. "You''re telling me that someone else is looking into this?"


    Dan froze when he realized the implication of his words.


    "W-well, you s-see," he stammered.


    Lei clenched his fist and brought it down to his table, making a loud sound. Then, he massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "Who?" he eximed. "At least, tell me who it is."


    Dan pursed his lips. "We are still looking into the identity of the maid-"


    Lei mmed the table once more, causing Dan to close his eyes.


    "But," Dan quickly added. "We did get the information of the person who was looking for the head like we are."


    Lei''s mood calmed down a little bit as he opened his eyes.


    "Show me," he said. "You should have shown me in the very beginning!"


    Lei nodded and opened his phone, going through his conversation with the private investigator.


    "Here," Dan said, shakily handing Lei his phone.


    Lei abruptly took it away from him and looked at the photo, feeling like a bucket of ice water was dumped on him, when he instantly recognized who it was.


    In the photo was the buff-looking guy who was involved in Lin Zhi''s death, and in front of him was a man in a wheelchair. At that moment, he felt lost once again.


    Lei knew that these people were involved with June...so that meant that June was one step ahead of him once more.


    Lei''s grip on the phone tightened, causing the tempered screen to break into pieces.


    Dan''s eyes widened as the scene unfolded before his eyes.


    However, even then, he couldn''t shake off the question that lingered in his mind.


    "I''m still going to receive that bonus, right?"


    ***


    Casper and Jisung were busy packing in their rooms, which had already taken too long because they were whining.


    "I bet you''re the only people who don''t want to go to ''Everyday, Everynight.'' Do you know how many other artists want to take your slot? It''s a free ticket to variety stardom!" Ren eximed as he looked at the two sulking men.


    "You also don''t want to go!" Jisung eximed from his room.


    Ren chuckled. "That''s because I have to work with our producers for the songs they have approved."


    "Zeth also doesn''t want to go because he''s afraid of bugs," Casper chimed.


    "Sehun''s too much of a homebody tomit to a long filming like this," Jisung added.


    "And Jaeyong would definitely cry if he was faced with difficult situations," Ren continued.


    "We don''t even have to mention Akira."


    "So, in conclusion, June is the only suitable person in our team!" Ren concluded.


    Just then, June passed them, quickly denying their usation.


    "Nope," he said. "I don''t want to go."


    The three of them turned to June with wide eyes. Even Akira, who was lounging in the living room while watching a new drama, joined in on their conversation.


    "You''re lying," Akira said. "You love settings like those!"


    "I do," June said, not wanting to deny it. He had always wanted to be a farmer after experiencing the dangerous life of a gangster and the noisy life of an idol. It was even his


    retirement n!


    However, at the moment, he had more important things to do.


    With Casper''s and Jisung''s absence, the group had some free time. June wanted to take the time to finally look for the ''head'' of Phoenix-especially since he already received quite a lot


    of clues from Haruto.


    "But I won''t go," June ended his statement.


    With that, he was about to head to his room to ask Bo Wen for his help when the door mmed open, revealing Jay with an excited yet nervous expression.


    The four of them turned to him in surprise.


    "What happened to you?" Akira asked. "It looks like you''ve been chased by a ghost."


    Jay ignored his statement and faced June.


    "I just received some changes in your schedule," he said, appearing anxious yet slightly


    excited.


    "June," he continued, looking at him.


    "It was also decided that you will film ''Everyday, Everynight'' with Casper and Jisung."

 Chapter 874: Provoke Me

    Chapter 874: Provoke Me


    ?


    "What?" the others eximed. "But that''s already tomorrow!"


    June frowned, unsure of what was happening. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I swear-if you''re pulling my leg, then I''ll literally break yours in half."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jay felt a shiver run down his spine, but he nodded with assurance.


    "It''s already established," he said. "You''re going to the vige with Jisung and Casper."


    Jisung and Casper turned to each other with wide eyes before simultaneously bursting into cheers.


    "Yay!" Casper eximed, holding hands with Jisung and jumping up and down like a bunch of little school girls.


    Meanwhile, June massaged the bridge of his nose, still in disbelief at what was happening.


    "What''s with the sudden change of mind?" June asked. "Why am I suddenly joining?"


    Jay pursed his lips. "Sir Lei thought you would make a great addition to the cast."


    June shook his head. That was bullshit!


    "Why? Don''t you want to go with us?" Casper asked.


    "No," June deadpanned without any hesitation. "I told you I had something to do."


    Jay felt apologetic since he knew that June wanted to take this time to look for someone. Casper shrugged. "That doesn''t matter. You''re still going with us anyway."


    June shook his head and leaned against the wall, cing his phone inside his pocket.


    "Well, what are you waiting for?" Jisung eximed, wrapping one arm around June''s shoulders.


    "Let''s get to packing!"


    ***


    June sighed as they sat in Azure Entertainment''s first-floor lobby. They were asked to stay there and wait for the production crew to fetch them.


    It was early in the morning, with the sun not even having risen.


    Casper and Jisung were by his side, appearing grumpy from the early call time.


    Jisung turned to June and nudged his side.


    "Aren''t you tired?" he asked.


    "I am," June admitted.


    "You should sleep," Casper advised.


    June nodded, but even then, he couldn''t find it within himself to sleep. His mind was still preupied with how he was going to locate the current ''head'' of Phoenix while he was in a remote vige!


    Casper nced at June''s bags and frowned. "Is that the only thing you have?"


    June looked down at hisrge backpack and nodded. "Yeah," he said. "This has all my essentials. My clothes are pretty light to pack since they''re all made from cotton."


    "We''re going to be there for nine days," Jisung said, looking down at his and Casper''s luggage. It was a stark difference to June''s backpack.


    "I know," June said. "I even packed light."


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "I guess it''s a good thing to be low maintenance."


    With that, he closed his eyes as they waited for their transportation to arrive.


    Just then, June stood.


    Casper looked at him with curiosity. "Where are you going?"


    "Restroom," June briefly said. "I won''t be long."


    With that, June walked to the restroom to do his business. After that, he went to the sink to wash his hands. He was about to dry them when someone came into the room.


    He stopped when he saw it was.


    As far as he knew, the office workers usually came around 8 AM. So, it was strange to find him during this time.


    "Why are you here?" June asked.


    Lei chuckled as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest.


    "I was expecting a warmer greeting," he teased.


    June clicked his tongue. "The two of us already know our respective objectives. There''s no need for pretentious greetings."


    Lei''s smile was reced with a smirk. He straightened his posture, but his arms remained crossed in front of his chest.


    "Did you like my surprise?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips. "Is this all part of your scheme? You know that this show will make me even more popr, right?"


    Lei nodded. "Of course, I know that¡ªwhich is why I didn''t dispatch you in the beginning."


    June raised one eyebrow in curiosity, coaxing him to speak further.


    "However, we have to make sacrifices," Lei continued. "Through this, you won''t be able to fulfill your objectives."


    June frowned, causing Lei to burst intoughter.


    "Ah, I really love that expression of yours. It makes me feel alive when I see you upset."


    "What do you want?" June asked with narrowed eyes.


    "I want what you want," Lei vaguely said. "The person you''re looking for- I will be the first one to find them."


    June''s eyebrows shot up in surprise, causing Lei tough even louder.


    "You thought you were the only one who knew, huh?"


    "News sh, kid. I''ve been looking for him for the longest time. I don''t know what you want with him, but best believe if I find him, you should start counting your days."


    June tried to remainposed, but it was obvious in his expression that he was livid. That seemed to fuel Lei even more.


    "Nine days," Lei continued. "Nine days is enough for me to find the person you''re looking


    for."


    "Once that timees, you''ll regret ever crossing my path."


    "You''ll regret ever challenging me."


    "You''ll regret what you did to Lin Zhi."


    "You will bow to me."


    Lei stepped closer and closer to June with every statement.


    June bit his lip, trying to control his anger. However, before he could act upon it, the door


    burst open, revealing Casper, who had a worried look on his face.


    He paused when he saw that Lei was in front of June. He bowed in respect.


    "Good morning, sir," he greeted. "You came early?"


    "Oh, I didn''t leave," Lei smiled. "As the CEO, I have plenty of things to finish...plenty of


    people to find," he said, subtly ncing at June.


    June clenched his fists by his side while Casper nodded.


    "Well, I just came here to fetch June since he took too long. Our transportation is here," he


    said.


    "Oh, sorry for that," Lei chuckled. "We had such an enjoyable talk that we didn''t notice the


    time."


    "Right, June?" Lei asked.


    June remained silent as he walked to where Casper was.


    "Well, if you excuse us, sir," Casper said.


    Lei nodded, an amused look still on his face.


    "Of course," he said. "You guys go ahead."


    "June," he called his name, but June didn''t bother turning around.


    "Have fun!

 Chapter 875 Just Like A Tattoo

    875 Just Like A Tattoo


    "Fuck him. I hate him. I hope he falls into a ditch and doesn''t get discovered for a thousand more years. By the time he''s discovered, aliens have invaded the and will be using his bones to dig up other worthless humans," June muttered. Jisung turned around with an innocent expression as they walked toward the white van that the production crew had prepared for them. "What did you say, bro?" he asked. Casper, who appeared pale behind June for having heard such words, frantically shook his head. "Trust me," he said, cing his hand on Jisung''s shoulder. "You don''t want to know." Jisung frowned in confusion while June continued muttering curses under his breath. However, as soon as they got to the van, he smiled out of respect for the staff members. There was a producer in the front seat of the van while cameras adorned each corner. The boys, not being used to such set-ups, appeared awkward as they settled in their seats. The producer, named Nami, felt her cheeks warm up as she was graced with the presence of three handsome young men. However, she kept it in since she was a professionaldy! The driver started the engine while Nami exined what was going to happen. "Wee, EVE," she said. The boys all bowed, sometimes ncing at the camera to give a nervous smile. Nami noticed this and chuckled. "It must feel awkward, huh?" she asked. The boys collectively nodded, still not being able to say a word. Although they had guested in plenty of variety shows in the past, the setting of ''Everyday, Everynight'' was different. Just the thought of staying in an unfamiliar ce for nine days already made them feel nervous. "Don''t worry," Nami said. "You''ll get used to it. The house where you''ll be staying will have 24-hour surveince, so it''s best if you shake away those nerves now." "Alright," June said, taking one for the team since Casper and Jisung appeared awfully nervous.


    "The other participants are already on their way to the designated venue, too. By the time we get there, you''ll be given more instructions." "It will be a four-hour drive, so for now, you can do whatever you want," she said. Jisung raised his hand. "We''re not obligated to y games in the car ride?" Nami chuckled in amusement. "Oh no," she said. "I bet only a couple of seconds of this scene would be shown. Just think that the shoot hasn''t started yet. You canfortably rest or watch something on your phone." With that, she faced the front once again, her cheeks now as red as a tomato since she held in her fangirling a while ago. Meanwhile, Jisung and Casper still couldn''t shake away their nervousness even after Nami told them to befortable. "What are we going to do now?" Jisung whispered. Casper shrugged. "I don''t know. Why do I feel like it''s the calm before the storm?" "Because it technically is," Jisung said. "''Everyday, Everynight'' is really fun to watch, but the missions are tough." Casper nodded. "I binge-watched the show with Akirast night, and I don''t think I''ll be able to do it." Jisung''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is that why you look so restless?" Casper pursed his lips and nodded. Meanwhile, Jisung shook his head. "Well, if you believe you won''t be able to do it, then what about me?" Casper sighed and nced at June, who had just popped his wired earphones on. "Well, it''s a good thing that June''s with us, right?" Casper asked. Jisung smiled and nodded, his worries vanishing for a moment. However, he became concerned once again when he realized that June had only seen snippets of the show. "Has June ever watched the full show?" he asked out of worry. Casper shook his head. "He''s way too busy to watch it. I don''t think he even knows theplete concept. Just look at what he has packed." Jisung pursed his lips. "I know, right? He must not know that he needs to pack as heavy as possible because this is where the team''s resources usuallye from when they lose in missions." "He looks so innocent," Casper said, cing his hand over his heart. "He does not know what''sing." "Look at him sleeping," Jisung continued. "We''re not going to have that much sleep once we''re in there." "Let''s not wake him up," Casper said. "He needs all the rest he can get." Jisung nodded in agreement. "Let''s make a pact to protect June for these nine days! Let''s make his stay asfortable as possible." Casper also nodded, appearing determined. "Simps unite!" Jisung looked at him with confusion before shrugging. "Unite!" he responded. The car ride continued. It seemed like June was much more tired than he had assumed as he was awoken by the vibration of his phone. He blinked his eyes awake to look at his phone, slightly widening when he saw that more than three hours had already passed. June nced to the side and saw Casper and Jisung leaning against each other, some saliva dripping out of the corner of Jisung''s lips. With that, he brought his attention back to his phone. He had a new text from none other than Minjun, causing him to smile.


    Little bro: I have a gift for you! June shook his head in amusement as he typed out his answer. June: Very fitting. I''m in a bad mood these days, so I need something to cheer you up. Little bro: I''m sure you would like this gift. June: Show me. It took a little bit over a minute before Minjun finally responded. Little bro: It''s a photo of me!


    Little bro: *sent a photo* n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June''s smile widened as he erged the photo.


    Minjun wasn''t alone in it. On his right was Lena, whose half-body was seen. He let out a small chuckle. June: You''re getting brave now. You even took a photo with your mom. Little bro: I already told her that I had deleted it. June: You''re going to be the death of your mom. Little bro: Oh, shocks. She loves me too much. June clicked his tongue. This little dude''s confidence had increased so much, June: By the way, I didn''t know your mom had tattoos. Little bro: She has a couple of them. It''s not obvious because she wears long sleeves most of the time. June hummed and went back to the photo, zooming in on Lena''s tattoos. "Pretty cool," he muttered as he observed them. However, one particr tattoo caught his attention. One very familiar-looking one. Just then, the van came to a halt. "We''re here," Nami said, but June was still focused on his phone. June frowned as he zoomed in even closer, trying to get a better look. However, before he could get a clearer look, his world turned ck. `

 Chapter 876 Middle Of Nowhere

    876 Middle Of Nowhere


    June still couldn''t see anything.


    "What the heck is happening?" he muttered. It was so fast that he couldn''t evenprehend the situation! At first, he could smell the familiar scent of air conditioning with the lingering odor of the car freshener. The next thing he knew, darkness enveloped him as a dark sack was ced over his eyes. His pulse quickened, and his body tensed up as he felt himself being dragged out of the vehicle by a couple of strong hands.


    It felt like an abduction!


    "Settle there," a gruff voice ordered, pushing him onto what felt like a flimsy surface. June tried to reach up and remove the blindfold, but before he could, a voice boomed through a nearby speaker, startling him.


    "Do not take off your blindfolds. I repeat, don''t remove the blindfolds."


    He could hear murmurs around him, but they were inaudible. June frowned and instinctively inhaled, trying to ground himself in his surroundings. The air smelled fresh, like grass that had just been cut. It reminded him of the countryside¡ªa scent that was rare in his line of work. There was also a hint of something unpleasant, maybe cow dung, but it wasn''t overwhelming. Instead, it was oddlyforting, as if he had just stepped into a different world, far from the urban chaos he was used to.


    He reached into his pocket, hoping to find his phone, but after a quick search, he realized it wasn''t there. June clicked his tongue. He still hadn''t ended his conversation with Minjun. Moreover, he didn''t have the chance to properly scrutinize the photo he had sent! n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Before he could dwell on the situation, the voice from earlier returned, echoing through the air. "Now take them off."


    June hesitated for a moment, then carefully pulled off the blindfold. His eyes took a second to adjust to the sudden influx of light. As his vision cleared, he realized that he was inside a small, cramped space. "A cardboard box?" he muttered. It was ridiculous. The sides of the box were tall enough that he couldn''t see much beyond them. However, he knew that they were already in the ''vige'' that would serve as his home for nine days. Next to him, he spotted his backpack. Relief washed over him, and he quickly reached for it, hoping his phone might be inside. But before he could rummage through it, the voice interrupted him once more.


    "Wee to ''Everyday, Everynight,'' lucky delegates." "Ten people, nine days, and a whole lot of fun. Are you guys ready?" There was no response. The voice chuckled, still finding the situation amusing. "Reveal the first person!"


    ***


    "Is it on yet?" Jaeyong asked from the kitchen. "Yes!" Ren eximed. "Come quickly. The theme song is already ying." Jaeyong just ced the bag of popcorn into the bowl, not even bothering to unravel it, as he ran to the living room. His members, along with Jay, were seated on the couch, eager to watch the first episode of ''Everyday, Everynight.'' They weren''t the only ones excited. The variety show had taken the nation by storm with its first season, and after a sessful run, everyone was eager to see what the second season would bring. What added to the excitement was the fact that the cast for this season had been kept a mystery. Spections had been flying around, with names being thrown left and right, but no one knew for sure who would be on the show.


    - Crap! This is so exciting. - Does anybody know who''s going to be in this season?" - There have been spections, but nothing is confirmed. - They say that it''s a star-studded season! - Dang, over 500,000 people are waiting for it to start? - The producers must be ted. They''re going to top the ratings once again!


    "It''s starting!" Akira called out, rushing to grab a seat in front of the television. As the opening sequence began, the familiar theme song yed, and the screen lit up with vibrant colors, showcasing the variety show''s signature style. Then, the screen went ck for a moment before the words ''MORE INTENSE'' appeared in bold letters, followed by an explosive montage of the previous season''s highlights. The excitement in the room grew, with some viewers already getting goosebumps from anticipation.


    Finally, the theme song ended, showing the first segment of the new episode. The camera panned over a wide field lush with green grass, the sound of birds chirping faintly in the background. There was a sense of calm that was immediately ruined by the sight of severalrge cardboard boxes ced in the middle of the field.


    Akira narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Where is this?" he wondered aloud. "It looks like some sort of farm?" Sehun spected. "A farm?" Zeth eximed. "Just because it has grass does not mean that it''s going to be a farm. It looks like they''re in the middle of nowhere!" "They have mountains behind them, too," Ren said. "In thest season, they went to a rural area for farmers and fishermen. Why does it feel like they''re in a secluded mountain for this one?" "Shh," Akira eximed. "Ramil PD is speaking." As the camera zoomed in on one of the boxes, Ramil PD''s voice could be heard narrating the scene. "Our cast has no idea where they are or what awaits them. But one thing''s for sure¡ªthey''re in for a surprise!"


    The camera cuts to an overhead shot, revealing theyout of the boxes and the surrounding area. It was an isted location, far removed from any signs of urban life. The viewers could almost feel the istion, the silence only broken by the asional rustle of the wind.


    Akira felt a shiver run down his spine. "This feels¡­ominous," he muttered. "Reveal the first person!" Ramil PD announced dramatically.


    The sound of cardboard tearing filled the air as the box ps were pulled back, revealing a figure inside. The camera captured the moment perfectly, and the surprise was evident on the person''s face as they realized they were being filmed by numerous cameras. "Casper!"

 Chapter 877 The Cast Members

    877 The Cast Members


    Casper could feel the heat in the air before he even took his first step out of the cardboard box. As soon as the box ps were pulled back, the sunlight hit Casper''s face, and the cameras zoomed in to capture the moment. "There''s our man!" Zeth eximed as soon as he was revealed. He nodded in approval at his outfit¡ªa leather jacket. HIS leather jacket, to be exact. Casper adjusted the jacket that Zeth had insisted he wear. Zeth told him that he should make the best first impression since it was the one that stuck the most. And, as it turned out, Zeth was right. Posts from Naver started pouring in, each one more enthusiastic than thest.


    - Omo! It''s Casper from EVE!


    - So, that''s why my boyfriend is gone! He went on the show without telling me. - Why does he look so scrumptious in the middle of nowhere? - Is it fair to look like that so early in the morning? The production crew was also satisfied. Even with only the first member, there was already some buzz about the show. Casper pursed his lips to hide his smile, knowing that he looked damn good. But before he could fully bask in the attention, another box was opened, and Casper''s eyes widened in surprise as he saw who it was. Haruki of CHAOS stepped out, his appearance causing another wave of reactions online.


    EVE and CHAOS had met once more.


    Casper turned to Haruki, his eyes still wide with surprise, but his lips curved into a small smile. Haruki also turned to him with a smile. Somehow, though, Haruki was hoping that another member of EVE would show up. The unexpected reunion of two powerhouse groups was already causing a stir, with somementing how they were d to see them together after ''King of Kings.''


    - They really did it¡ªEVE and CHAOS together.


    - Casper and Haruki? This is going to be insane! - What''s the freaking budget for this show? How can they afford them? - In the first season, only half of the stars could be considered ''famous.'' However, with two people in, I can already tell that they''re putting the first season''s money to good use! Then, the third box opened, and the atmosphere changed again. A woman stepped out, her presence instantly lighting up the area. It was Mimi, her fresh idol visuals making the production crew cheer. The viewers at home responded just as enthusiastically.


    - It''s Mimi! She''s so bright!


    - She''s like a ray of sunshine! Nico, who was unfortunately not invited to the show, cheered by himself in their shared apartment. At first, he was hesitant to let her go. However, knowing that this would be a boost to her career (and that June wouldn''t be there), he let her grab the opportunity. Mimi''s entrance was like a breath of fresh air, her smile infectious as she waved at the cameras. Nico watched her, his heart beating inside her chest. But the surprises weren''t over yet. The fourth box revealed another woman¡ªthis time, someone no one had expected. - I told you! The budget goes big on this one. - Freak. She''s so beautiful. - I love all of her shows. - The number of viewers increased once again! Hana Lim, the A-list actress, stepped out, looking stunning in a pink dress that glowed under the sunlight. Her appearance created chaos even among the staff members, her beauty undeniable even in such a simple setting.


    Hana nced at Mimi and smiled, a gesture that was simple but full of warmth. "Maybe I should have gone," Akira muttered, suddenly regretting it. "Boy, it''s not like you can just go," Ren said. "You weren''t invited in the first ce." Akira clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes at his member. Just when everyone thought they had seen it all, the fifth box was opened, and another surprise was revealed. Akira stopped sulking as soon as he saw the next member. "Ha! He''s also here?" It was Choi Pablo, the mboyant photographer that everyone (maybe except for June) loved. He was originally known for being mysterious, especially when it came to his work. But ever since heunched his YouWatch channel, his personality has won over even more fans.


    - Pablo! I can''t believe he''s here. - Is he going to take photos during the show?


    - I sure hope so. There are way too many beautiful people here for him not to take photos. "Hello, everyone!" he eximed, but the production crew told him to be quiet. Meanwhile, June, who was at the farthest box, felt like he heard someone familiar. However, it was gone in a second, making him frown. The sixth person to be revealed was Jisung. He stepped out of his box with a shy wave, instantly melting hearts with his adorable persona. Thements went wild with the arrival of a second member from EVE. - Jisung''s so cute! I can''t handle it!


    - Two members of EVE! This show is going to be legendary! Haruki pursed his lips as soon as he saw him. Well, there goes his hope! There was no way that three members of EVE would be on the show. "My son is so cute," Ren sobbed as he looked at Jisung on the screen. "It felt like yesterday when he can''t even go out of the house without looking like he wants to cry!" Then, the seventh box opened, and a figure with icy white hair emerged. It was Uno, the center of OCTA. His hair was now grown out, giving him an ethereal look that made him appear like he wasn''t from Earth. - Uno! He looks like an elf! - OCTA''s center is here too? This is insane! Jisung''s eyes widened, and he quickly bowed at Uno. "It''s been a while," he said. Uno pursed his lips and nodded. "Hmm." Jaeyong, watching from thefort of their dorm, couldn''t help butment, "There seems to be a pattern here¡­" But before he could think too much about it, the next reveal interrupted his thoughts.


    Mei of LUNAIRE stepped out, the eighth participant in the show. Her members, watching from their dorm, cheered loudly, proud that she was representing them. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "She''s the only one who could do this show!" Ara eximed. "Go and eat those bugs, girl!" "She''s here, too?" Mimi muttered, also sensing some kind of pattern. Then, it was time for the ninth reveal. It was one that took everyone by surprise. "What is he doing here again?" "He''s back?" - Joonie! Have you guys noticed the pattern?


    SandKastle


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 878 The Groups Similarity

    878 The Group''s Simrity


    - Joonie''s back? - I became a fan of him after watching thest season. I was pretty sad that it ended so quickly. Now, I get to see him once again! - The winner of the season is finally here, everyone! - Why are you making it into apetition? - Joonie! The main character of the show! The ninth reveal took everyone by surprise. It was Joonie who participated in the first season. Casper held in the urge to click his tongue in disappointment. Who knew that this guy was going toe back? Meanwhile, Uno looked at him with curiosity. They hadn''t met before, and he was trying to make something out of his first impression. On the other hand, Casper almost smiled¡ªalmost. He thought it was another person. However, he had his hopes up for nothing. The camera panned to an overall shot, allowing the viewers to exim in amazement. The group was already star-studded, with nine people who were all famous in their own way. But it wasn''t done yet. There was still one more person to be revealed.


    Inside his cardboard box, June remained clueless about who the other nine were. His view was still luded, leaving him in the dark¡ªboth literally and figuratively. "I swear," he muttered. "Why do I always have to be thest one in these kinds of things?" As he ranted to himself, his cardboard box was removed slowly, finally revealing himself to the light. A collective gasp was heard.


    June stood there, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light. But the moment the other participants caught sight of him, the silence shattered.


    - June?


    - June is here?


    Thements flooded in almost instantly, the online chat exploding with disbelief and excitement.


    - Holy crap! They managed to afford three members of EVE?


    - Ramil PD really went all out for this season!


    In the distance, Ramil PD''s smug smirk was caught on camera. He really prepared well for this season, wanting it to be even bigger than the first one!


    He had kept the final reveal under wraps, knowing that the shock of June''s appearance would affect not only the audience but also the cast. "I see the pattern now!" Jaeyong excitedly eximed, standing from the couch when he finally realized what the group had inmon. Akira also looked at the screen, shaking his head in amusement. "What is it?" Zeth asked, absolutely clueless. Akira turned to him with wide eyes. "You don''t know? How can you not know?" Sehun scratched the back of his neck. "I also don''t understand what you guys are talking about." The other three turned to each other with amused expressions. "Look at it more closely," Ren said, crossing his arms in front of his chest, not wanting to give it away so easily. Zeth clicked his tongue in annoyance. Nheless, he and Sehun turned to the screen with narrowed eyes. "So?" Jaeyong asked, enjoying the situation. "Do you guys finally see it? What do they have inmon?" Zeth clicked his tongue. "I guess they''re all good-looking. However, they''re not as good-looking as I am. Maybe June can is. But then again, he''s wearing his usual style of clothes¡ªjust with a white shirt this time. I told him to borrow one of my varsity jackets so he could look more stylish¡­" "You''re getting off-topic," Ren deadpanned. "I have no clue," Sehun chimed, leaning against the coach. "Geez," Akira muttered. "I see that the two of you are getting old. You can''t evenprehend things like this?" Zeth clicked his tongue. "We''re nearly the same age!" Sehun shook his head. "I swear¡ªyou guys are going to be the death of me someday." Akira chuckled and focused his attention back on the screen. "Fine, fine, I''ll tell you," he said. "These people¡­are all simps for June!" Meanwhile, the rest of the participants were proving Akira''s statement right as they stared at June with wide eyes, each of them processing what they were seeing. "What?" Joonie muttered, unable to believe it. He had been tipped off about the other cast members just the day before. June definitely wasn''t on the list! His mouth opened slightly, feeling like the world had betrayed him. On Navel, the viewers also caught the simrities between the groups, and they went wild. - It''s a June simps special! We''re being blessed this season! - Notice how all these people are rted to June somehow. - Not only that, but these are his most popr ships. - June hates being adored. I wonder how he''s going to survive these nine days? Choi Pablo, unable to contain his excitement, squealed out loud, his usual calm demeanorpletely forgotten. Mimi, her eyes wide with surprise, quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her gaze not leaving June. Uno, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, found himself unable to look at June for more than a moment. His ears turned a deep shade of red, and he quickly turned away, trying to hide the blush that was creeping up his neck. Haruki, on the other hand, had to purse his lips to stop himself from grinning. "He''s really here," he muttered. Mei, who had been watching quietly, almost sighed in relief. Somehow, the presence of June made her feel safer, as if there was someone she could rely on in this unfamiliar environment. She stole a nce at him, feeling a small sense offort in knowing that she wasn''t alone in this secluded vige. Jisung, standing just a few feet away, couldn''t help but be proud of his teammate. The others had a great reaction to his arrival! As expected from his verypetent and very handsome brother! Casper also smiled and even pped for June as he was revealed. However, despite not looking at the other contestants, he felt something strange within his heart. The rhythm of his pping eventually slowed down as the feeling in his heart bloomed even further. Then, he tilted his head to the side. "Why does it feel like I''m in a dangerous position?" Casper sensed hispetition n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    SandKastle

 Chapter 879: Plain, Just Plain

    Chapter 879: in, Just in


    ?


    Amidst the chaos, Ramil PD cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the scattered conversations and drawing everyone''s attention.


    The nine cast members, who were still excited from the reveal of their final member, turned to face him. A grin spread across his face as he saw that their excitement had yet to die down.


    "Eyes over here, and not on June," Ramil PD teased, earning a few chuckles from the group and a surge of yfulments from the viewers.


    - Ramil PD knows what''s up.


    - He''s right, though. June is going to be their squish doll all throughout this season.


    - That doesn''t sound right to me.


    - Squish doll? Is that some kind of fetish or...


    "I know you guys are excited," Ramil PD continued, his tone taking on a more serious note, "but before we dive in, we need to establish some rules."


    The cast members, sensing the producer''s seriousness, listened intently.


    Ramil PD''s voice softened as he took them back to the first season. "For those of you who watchedst season, you might remember the setting-a small vige where fishing and farming were the main sources of food and livelihood. The cast members had toplete missions or work hard to earn their meals. Otherwise, they had to turn to their personal belongings to trade for food."


    A few of the cast members nodded, recalling the scenes from the previous season. June just nodded along with them since he only saw glimpses of the show from when Jisung and Akira watched it from the living room-or when they sometimes forced him to watch the show with them despite his initial resistance.


    But then again, June was too busy to watch the whole show and grasp the entirety of its concept.


    "They created friendships, had friendlypetition, and learned what it was like to live without the luxuries they were used to," Ramil PD added, a nostalgic note in his voice.


    He then turned his attention to Joonie. "Joonie, you were part of that experience. How did you find thest season?"


    Joonie smiled warmly. "It was challenging but rewarding. We learned a lot about each other and ourselves. It was an experience I''ll never forget."


    The viewerspped up his response, and the live chat was filled with admiration.


    -Joonie is too pure for this world!


    - Such a wholesome answer, as expected from Joonie.


    - He was such a starst season. I can''t wait to see his chemistry with this new cast.


    "Ah, those were some good times," Ramil PD said, appearing amused.


    "However," he suddenly said, pausing for effect, "this may be the same show, but it is the next season."


    In EVE''s dorm, the members who weren''t participating in the show leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen.


    "I''m so invested in this," Akira muttered.


    "How is it going to be any different, though?" Jaeyong asked.


    "For one, they did say that the show would be revamped," Ren started off. "And with June''s luck, I would say that it''s going to be difficult for these people."


    The camera panned back to Ramil PD, who now wore a smirk that sent a chill through the group.


    "There''s one rule here-survive."


    The cast members exchanged looks of surprise. The live chat exploded once more.


    - Wait, did this just turn into a survival show?!


    - What''s with this? Thest season was already difficult! What do you mean they have to survive?


    - June can''t seem to escape survival shows. Can he


    "You are currently in Porid Vige," Ramil PD continued. "This small house is the farthest on the hill. Any other civilization is an hour''s walk away."


    Mimi pursed her lips as she nced at Hana, who had the same horror-filled eyes.


    Maybeing here was actually a bad idea!


    He paused, letting the reality of their situation sink in. "We were born from nothing, and man shall start with nothing," he said.


    "No gadgets. No contact with the outside world."


    The group tensed, with June having the most noticeable reaction.


    He was reminded once again that he wouldn''t be able to look for the ''head'' of Phoenix while Lei was probably already searching for him!


    Ramil PD''s expression softened slightly. "However, I''m not that cruel," he said, a hint of humor returning to his voice. "I''m giving you guys some leverage. In thest season, I allowed the participants to eat the snacks they brought or cook from the stash they had bought beforehand. But this time, you will only start with limited items."


    As he spoke, several staff members approached the group, handing each of them a ck backpack and a stack of clothes. The clothes were simple-a white shirt and grey sweatpants.


    "These are your day clothes," Ramil PD exined. "You''ll wear them during the day. This ensures that you''re really united."


    The group looked down at their matching outfits. The simplicity of the clothes stood in contrast to the fancy outfits some of them had arrived in.


    "The backpack is for your belongings," Ramil PD added. "I''m not that cruel to let you start with nothing, so you shall have only this. Stuff it with your items. However, only those in the backpack can be utilized for your stay here. Your other items will be kept and can only be imed by the end of the show."


    June''s gaze shifted to the clothes, noting the simplicity of the design, and then he looked down at his own outfit.


    "Huh," he muttered. "It''s the same."


    The grey sweatpants were the only thing that set it apart from the outfit he was already


    wearing. It turned out that dressing simply would actually work in his favor.


    Then, he looked down at the backpack in his hands, turning it over slowly.


    The material felt familiar, and as he inspected it more closely, he realized why.


    His eyes widened and sparkled under the sunlight.


    "Omo," Akira muttered as he looked at the screen. "Why does he look so excited and cute?"


    "Who the heck is excited for that in-ass backpack?" Zeth asked. "And how are they going to fit all their belongings inside it?"


    Ren narrowed his eyes at the screen before the realization hit him. Then, he couldn''t help but chuckle before bursting into full-blownughter.


    His teammates turned to him with wide eyes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "He''s crazy," Zeth muttered. "What are youughing about?"


    "Look," Ren said, nodding toward the screen. "That backpack is the same as June''s."


    Meanwhile, June felt likeing here wasn''t that bad of an experience.


    This was the backpack he had been looking for but never knew the brand of!

 Chapter 880: Battle of the Ships

    Chapter 880: Battle of the Ships


    ?


    After receiving their items, they first got dressed in their matching uniforms.


    "I''m done," June said, causing the other cast members to turn around.


    Pablo sighed in disappointment. "You changed that easily? I didn''t even get to see."


    Uno turned to him with wide eyes, but Pablo continued to change into his in clothes, acting like he didn''t make such ament.


    Jisung chuckled as soon as he saw June. "Did you even change? It looks like you''re wearing the same clothes."


    "Oh, I am," June said. "I didn''t change into the shirt since they''re the same."


    Pablo sighed once more. "So, I wouldn''t be able to see it anyway."


    - Pablo''s as disappointed as us.


    - We wanted to see June''s abs, too.


    Haruki clicked his tongue. "Did you know the theme beforehand?" he asked, capturing June''s


    attention.


    June shook his head. "These are my usual clothes."


    Casper and Jisung nodded in agreement.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Zeth even criticized him for wearing such in clothes, but it turns out that it worked in his favor," Casper said. "Well, June is always right."


    Joonie pursed his lips and shook his head as he put on his clothes. He had nned his outfits ahead of time, wanting to show off his handsome side. However, with all of them in in clothes, there was no doubt that June''s visuals stood out.


    Meanwhile, as Casper changed into his clothes, Pablo couldn''t help but exim in amazement.


    "Omo," he said. "Your body-it''s like a body builder."


    The others also turned toward their way and saw Casper, whose back was bare. Even though he didn''t flex, the muscles on his back unconsciously tensed.


    The people who watched the scene couldn''t help but curse in excitement.


    - The back view is amazing.


    - This is my view every morning.


    - Casper''s body is really a sigma.


    - What the heck does that mean?


    - You don''t know? Are you pre-historic? Did you witness the evolution of dinosaurs?


    Sehun pursed his lips as the word ''Sigma Casper'' kept appearing on his Navel feed. "What does Sigma mean?" he asked.


    The members of EVE turned to each other before frowning.


    "We have no idea."


    Finally, the male cast members finished getting dressed in their uniforms and left the makeshift tent.


    They came out one by one, and the editing team edited the scene with pink flowers flowing and dreamy music ying in the background.


    - Ah, visual attack!


    - They all look so good in their uniform.


    - They look like a cult.


    However, amongst all of them, of course, June stood out. He looked like he was in his habitat. He had the kind of beauty that didn''t need anything fancy to be able to entuate it.


    A few secondster, the girls also went out of their respective tents, all appearing beautiful despite the in clothes.


    - I swear. Everyone is so good-looking.


    - There''s a sneak in there.


    - Who are you talking about?


    -You guys figure it out.


    Ramil PD smiled in amusement as the members nced at each other.


    It felt more real now.


    "You guys all look good in the uniform," Ramil PD informed. "Now, it''s time for you to transfer your belongings to the backpacks we''ve provided."


    Groans of disappointment were heard in the small field. Aside from June, most of them had a luggage. Some of them even had two, especially since they were going to stay in the secluded area for nine days.


    Casper opened his luggage, making June frown.


    "No wonder it felt so light," June muttered. "Why do you have so many cat plushies?"


    Casper turned around. "These are myfort plushies. I can''t sleep without them."


    June clicked his tongue. "They all can''t fit inside your bag."


    Casper looked at him with wide eyes. "Does that mean I won''t be able to take them?"


    June sighed and massaged his nose bridge. Sometimes, Casper felt so mature, but it was times like this that June felt he was still quite young...or maybe he was just in weird.


    "You can take one," June said, causing Casper''s eyes to brighten. Then, he turned to his plushies, finding the ck one that looked like his cat.


    - So cute! June really looks like the older brother between the two of them.


    - Has Casper always been this cute?


    - I have now realized that June acts as the oldest among all members of EVE.


    - They''re so precious! Truly, nothing could beat #JunePer.


    - Btch, #JuneSung is the best. Your faves have a fake ass friendship. Casper is always annoying him.


    -Ay-yo? We''re having battles for ships now?


    - Fake friendship? Jisung is the one who always cries to June. It''s obvious that June doesn''t like it when


    he does that.


    - Guys, since when was this serious?


    - I swear, people need to touch some grass. I can''t believe you even found something to fight about in


    this sweet scene.


    Meanwhile, June turned to Jisung, who had his gadgetsid on the grass.


    June frowned. "You even got soundmaking equipment?" he asked.


    Jisung nodded. "I wanted to write some music while we''re here. But I don''t think I''ll be able


    to take it."


    - Omo, Jisung is going to write some music?


    - This is the first time, right?


    - Are they finally going to release a new album?


    - They better be. We''ve been deprived for too long.


    June sighed and grabbed his backpack. "Wait here," he said.


    He then went to Ramil PD. "Is it alright if I don''t transfer my belongings here anymore?" he


    asked.


    Ramil PD frowned when he saw that June''s backpack was identical to the one he had given.


    "Oh, alright," Ramil PD said. "It''s the same backpack anyway. I can''t believe you were able to fit all your belongings in that. You''re the only one here who has done that."


    "Well, let me just take the extra backpack then."


    June frantically shook his head. He has been looking for that backpack forever! The tag on its old one had worn out, so he didn''t know for a long time. Now that the new backpack was in his


    hands, he wasn''t going to let it go!


    "Can I keep it?" June asked.


    Ramil PD was surprised, but then he chuckled, nodding in agreement.


    With that, June walked away from Ramil PD, appearing excited.


    Ramil PD chuckled as he watched June walk back to the group.


    "That kid is really loveable," he said to the camera.


    That sent thement section into mes.


    - Wait...Is Ramil PD alsopeting for June''s heart?

 Chapter 881: Find the Key

    Chapter 881: Find the Key


    ?


    As soon as June got back to the group, he opened his backpack for Jisung.


    "ce them here," he said. "I still have some space."


    Jisung turned to him with wide eyes.


    "Are you sure?" he asked.


    "Yes," June sighed. "The space is a waste. You can put them here."


    Jisung smiled and happily obliged. Meanwhile, June watched him with excitement.


    For some reason, June felt that he would regret it if Jisung didn''t pack his music equipment for this trip.


    - #JunePer is superior? Look at these two men!


    - For sure. #JuneSung on top.


    - I''m writing a fanfiction as we speak.


    - How do you guys think they will feel once they read ourments?


    - I wish they would read fan fiction for content again.


    - Genius!


    Meanwhile, the others were also having a hard time packing their belongings into one backpack.


    Uno, whose luggage was filled with hair products, was in distress. His hair, which was already touching the back of his neck, needed all of it so it could look good every day!


    Meanwhile, Haruki had packed so many snacks. He had a sweet tooth despite his cold


    personality, and he couldn''t seem to stash them away.


    Mimi was the same. However, instead of snacks, her luggage was filled with ramyun and other cookables.


    Hanaughed as Mimi squeezed the air out of the ramyun packets, hoping they would be smaller and fit inside the backpack.


    "You''ve bought a lot of food," Hana said.


    "Of course," she chimed. "Have you seen this show? There were plenty of times when the cast members were starved, especially during theirst days, because they couldn''t sustain themselves with the missions. I''m not taking any chances!"


    "It seems like you''ll only be able to fit three packets, though," Hana said.


    Mimi sighed and nodded. "You''re right. I can''t fit anymore."


    Then, Mimi nced at Hana''s bag, which was almost exploding with skincare products. She let out a little chuckle while Hana''s cheeks reddened.


    "These are all my essentials," she defended. "I can''t skip one step from my ten-step skincare routine."


    Mimi raised her hands. "Hey, girl. I don''t judge."


    On the other hand, Mei had a rtively easy time. She had an adequate amount of everything (as expected from June''s sister), and it fit perfectly inside her bag.


    She then nced to her side and saw Joonie''s makeup products inside his luggage.


    "You brought even more makeup than me," she said.


    Joonie pursed her lips and turned to her with a twitching eye. Fortunately, it wasn''t caught on


    camera.


    "These are not makeup," Joonie denied before quickly stuffing it inside his bag.


    Of course, they were makeup. After seeing June in real life, Joonie didn''t want to lose. Now, he needed to work twice as hard to look like him.


    Mei frowned and shook her head. "There''s nothing wrong with having a lot of makeup," she muttered. She didn''t get why Joonie denied it so tantly.


    On the other hand, Choi Pablo was as dramatic as usual.


    "Can''t we have two of these, PD?" he whined. "I won''t be able to pack a single camera! All my essentials have already filled the backpack."


    Ramil PD shook his head, appearing amused. "No," he said. "This show is about going back to our roots. We cannot be too greedy as people."


    Choi Pablo clicked his tongue and grabbed onto his camera before walking toward June, who was currently packing Jisung''s equipment into his bag.


    "Keep this for me," he said.


    June turned to him with raised eyebrows. "Why?" he asked.


    "Come on, Junie," he said.


    Joonie paused with his packing and turned around, happy that Pablo was calling him. He had always wanted to have a photoshoot with the renowned photographer. However, his face slightly fell when he saw that he was talking to June instead.


    "I will take pretty photos for you and the others, don''t you want that?"


    June was about to refute when the girls walked to where they were.


    "That''d be pretty cool," Mei chimed.


    "Yeah, I''ve never had the chance to get my photos taken by you," Mimi added.


    "Can you really do that?" Hana asked, sounding excited.


    "Yes!" Pablo eximed. "I already saw plenty of spots that are great for photo taking. I just need this camera."


    "Give me," June said. "Take it from meter."


    With that, he grabbed the camera from Pablo''s hand and carefully ced it inside his bag.


    Choi Pablo squealed in excitement. "You''re the best, Junie-poo!"


    - Oh. Maybe it''s #PabJune?


    - #JuneSung and #JunePer shippers are fighting in thements, but in reality, Pablo is the real one.


    - Girl, June only packed Pablo''s camera because of Hana. Did you see how he smiled when he looked at


    her?


    - It was obvious that June did it for Mei. She also looked excited, and June nced at her before he packed Pablo''s camera.


    - Guys, it''s because of Mimi.


    - No freaking way. Mimi is only for Nico. Nico is only for Mimi.


    - Why do I feel like the upstairsmenter is Nico?


    After the chaotic packing, the staff members came once more to grab the cast''s respective luggage, cing them inside the vans before they drove away from the secluded area.


    "Now, you guys are ready," Ramil PD said. "The show shall officially start!"


    With that, the other staff members started leaving the area, making the cast members frown. "What''s this?" Haruki asked, confused.


    Ramil PD smirked as the cameramen merely left their cameras in ce before entering their


    van, too.


    "Where are they going?" Joonie asked, unfamiliar with the concept. Back then, the staff


    members watched them until the night. And even then, they would only leave once the cast


    members were already fast asleep.


    "They''re going to rest," Ramil PD nonchntly said.


    "Then, what about us?" Mimi asked.


    "Well, this is your first day here," Ramil PD started off, also putting on his jacket.


    "That house will be your home for the next nine days. However, in this era, a home isn''t given


    -it is earned."


    "With that," he continued. "You have the mission of entering the house-your home."


    Haruki walked to the house and tried to open the door, frowning when he realized that it was


    locked.


    "Where''s the key?" he asked.


    Ramil''s smirk widened. "The key is not with me."


    "What?" Casper eximed.


    "How are we going to get in?" Uno asked.


    "However, the key is around here."


    "There are clues around the area-some more obvious than others."


    "Now," Ramil smiled, walking away from the camera.


    The cast members'' eyes widened.


    "Not you, too, PD!" Pablo eximed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I shall leave you."


    "Good luck," he smirked.


    "Now, remember, this will be your home! If you can''t get in, then you''d have a hard time for


    the nine days."


    And with that, the PD entered the van before it drove away, leaving ten confused cast


    members in the garden.

 Chapter 882: Just Not

    Chapter 882: Just Not


    ?


    The garden turned silent after Ramil PD and the crew left.


    "Are we being pranked?" Haruki asked.


    "Can they really leave us here all alone?" Mimi also added.


    - What is this? Why are they leaving the babies alone?


    - This is so fun, though! It really feels like a challenge.


    - I love stuff like this!


    - Clearly, a lot of people do. We currently have a 30% real-time rating!


    Truth be told, Ramil PD''s challenge had spread through social media, and many households, specifically families, were tuning in to the show while having their dinner.


    - My mom is loving this. She just asked me to watch it with her every day.


    - My dad, who doesn''t think watching the TV is productive, is also very intrigued. He really likes the concept.


    - It''s a surprise that my brother also joined us for our watching night. He thinks June is the most handsome!


    "So, what now?" Jisung asked, scratching the back of his neck.


    The reality sunk in.


    They were outside with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the belongings in their backpacks.


    Casper sighed before marching up to the front door. He twisted the doorknob with force, clicking his tongue when it didn''t budge.


    "It''s still locked," he announced.


    "I highly doubt it would open when we already tried to open it a while ago," Uno said.


    Casper twisted the knob again, this time using his shoulder to push against the door, but it remained firmly shut.


    Jisung, on the other hand, headed around the back, hoping to find another way in. A few momentster, he returned with the same news. "The back door''s locked, too."


    - They got the cast members stressed on their first day.


    - If they can''t open the house, they could stay with us. Porid vige is just a two hour walk away! Sighs of frustration were heard among the group as they exchanged nces. The house was right there, but it might as well have been miles away for all the good it did them.


    The others began to wander around the perimeter of the garden, searching for anything that might give them ess.


    "I''ll search for it in front of the house," Joonie said, narrowing his eyes in concentration.


    "I''ll be at the back," Jisung said, also looking for it. The others were nearby, each having their designated areas.


    June looked through the cacti before shaking his head.


    As the minutes ticked by, their search proved fruitless.


    "It''s no use," Joonie finally said, stepping back from the bushes he had been inspecting. His voice sounded hopeless, and it made the others stop their efforts. "We need to look for clues."


    - Did they search hard enough?


    -Where do you guys think it''s hidden?


    -The surroundingnd is so vast. It would take forever to look for it.


    June, who focused his gaze on the door, spoke up. "Does anyone have their wallets?"


    The group turned to him, confused. One by one, they shook their heads, unsure of where he was going with this.


    "They took that from us, too," Uno said.


    "Oh, right," June muttered. "No one has a card? Or a pin?"


    Again, the group responded with a collective shake of heads.


    "Oh, were you going to pick the lock?" Casper nonchntly asked.


    June nodded, his expression thoughtful as he continued to inspect the door''s lock.


    "Pick a lock? You can pick a lock?" Uno asked in disbelief.


    Before anyone could question him further, Jisung cut in, redirecting the conversation. "Why do you think Ramil PD making us do this?"


    - Alright, why did Casper think that picking a lock was something a normal person could do?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - For the new fans out there, June is a handyman. He can do anything except have good luck.


    June leaned against the door, arms crossed as he thought it over. "It coincides with the theme of the show," he said slowly. "We start from nothing. We earn things here."


    Mei sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I just can''t believe we even have to earn a house," she muttered, ncing up at the locked door with dismay.


    Pablo raised his hand, offering a solution. "There are only two options here," he said, counting them off on his fingers. "We can either make our own makeshift house for the night or find a way to open this one."


    "Who can make a makeshift house?" Haruki asked, exasperation heard in his voice. He looked at the others, who seemed equally dubious about their ability to construct shelter from scratch.


    "You want us to hack on wood and make a temporary home?" Haruki continued. "What do we have to do next? Drink our own pee?"


    They all grimaced as they imagined it. Meanwhile, thements found the situation really amusing.


    - Since when was Casper this funny?


    - He looks gruff, but he hates things like this. When he went camping with his members, he nearly suffocated from frustration.


    "We''re not exactly in the wild here," Mimi pointed out, gesturing to the manicured garden surrounding them. "But still... we need to figure something out."


    "Let''s just find the clues," Casper suggested. "They''re probably out here somewhere."


    The group nodded in agreement, and they spread out once more, scouring the garden for anything that might serve as a hint. Time passed, and the sun became hotter and hotter by the


    minute.


    It was Hana who finally stumbled upon something. "Hey, over here!" she called out, her voice breaking the silence. The others quickly gathered around her, eager to see what she had


    found.


    In her hand, she held a small, crumpled piece of paper. The group leaned in, their eyes narrowing as they tried to catch a glimpse of the paper.


    "What the heck is this?" Mei asked, frowning as she stared at the word.


    Pablo took the paper from Hana, turning it over in his hands as if expecting more clues to reveal themselves. "It''s just... not," he said, his voice reflecting the confusion on everyone''s


    faces.


    "Not what?" Casper muttered.


    "Just...not," Pablo repeated, turning over the paper and even going to the camera to show it to


    the audience.


    Truly, the three letters stared back at them through the screen.


    "Not."

 Chapter 883: Stomach Rumbling

    Chapter 883: Stomach Rumbling


    ?


    After revealing the anti-climactic clue, the cast members continued to look for the other clues. However, despite spending two grueling hours on searching, they still couldn''t figure it out.


    The group gathered beneath the towering mango tree, the hot sun beating down on them. It was already past noon, so the breeze felt more like they were in the air fryer.


    Their white shirts were drenched in sweat, with Haruki even lifting it up to provide his body some venttion. Uno sighed and curled up on the corner of the bench, also feeling frustrated. In fact, all of them were frustrated.


    The only reward for their effort was three crumpled pieces of paper, each bearing a single word: "not," "the," and "same."


    "It''s ridiculous," Pablo eximed, staring at the words in frustration. "Why would they separate a clue like this? It could''ve just been on one piece of paper."


    Hana shook her head. "How are we going to open the house with these three words?"


    "We can''t," Mimi said. "We need more clues."


    "How many more clues do you think we still need to find?" Mei asked.


    They turned silent since they didn''t know the answer to her question.


    No one did.


    Then, they continued to slump beneath the shade of the tree. Therge bed-like frame underneath provided just enough room for everyone to huddle together.


    Mei wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, fanning herself with a makeshift fan she''d taken from a nearby tree. "It''s so hot now," sheined.


    Hana gave her a spray bottle. "Here, apply some sunscreen."


    "Thanks," Mei muttered and generously sprayed the liquid sunscreen on her skin.


    "Let me have a spray, too," Haruki said.


    Hana nodded. "I have two of those, so we can all use it."


    - These guys are so funny! They may not have a house, but they have sunscreen.


    - They''re setting their priorities.


    "Why does June still look fine, though?" Pablo eximed. "Did you really search for the clues like us?"


    "He did," Jisung said. "He even went up this tree. He''s just like that."


    Casper nodded in agreement. "He has insane stamina."


    Joonie pursed his lips as the others showered June withpliments. While June appeared the same when he first got here, Joonie''s make-up was slowly melting away with the intense heat! They really needed to go into the house soon so he could retouch himself.


    Meanwhile, June noticed Jisung struggling to stay cool and pulled a towel from his bag. He gently ced it behind Jisung''s back, treating him like a younger sibling.


    Pablo, seeing the act of kindness, turned to June with a hopeful look. "Can you do that for me, too?" he asked, batting his eyshes at June.


    "No," Casper deadpanned, cutting off the request before June could respond.


    - It has started.


    - It''s so sweet seeing June taking care of Jisung.


    June then turned to Mei and also handed her a towel.


    "ce it on your back," he said. "Getting dry with sweat can make you sick."


    "Woah!" the others eximed.


    June shook his head. "I''m just taking care of the younger members."


    Mei felt her heart warm up. It was the first time June had done this to her, but somehow, it felt so familiar.


    Joonie, who had been observing the exchange, saw this as the perfect moment to show his own kindness. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a bottle of water, holding it out to Mei. "Here, have some," he offered.


    Mei shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. "I have my own, really. You should drink it."


    Before Joonie could insist, Uno reached over and snatched the bottle from his hand without a second thought. "I''ll take it," he said, tipping the bottle back and taking a long drink. "I had to pack my hairspray, so my water bottle didn''t fit."


    Joonie pursed his lips, his kind act quickly buried under the ground. With that, he let out a small smile and turned away, afraid that his facade would crack from annoyance. "What are we going to do now?" Jisung asked, breaking the silence that had settled over them.


    Haruki stretched his arms above his head, leaning back against the tree trunk with a contented sigh. "I don''t know about you, but I could sleep right here."


    "Me too," Casper added, settling in morefortably on the grass. "But we have to take into consideration what Ramil PD said. We''re going to have a tough time for the next nine days. I''m guessing he won''t grant us the house until we open it."


    "But how are we going to do that?" Mei asked as she looked around at the others. "We don''t have the key nor enough clues."


    Before anyone could offer a suggestion, the silence was interrupted by a loud rumbling sound. All heads turned to June, who was looking away, his ears tinged, turning red.


    "Was that you?" Casper asked, unable to hide the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.


    June quickly shook his head, suddenly feeling shy.


    Jisung, ever observant. "You didn''t get to eat breakfast, did you? You were packing your stuff


    latest night because you got the noticete."


    "June wasn''t supposed to be here?" Haruki asked.


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "He was informedte. Why are you so shocked, though?"


    - Thank goodness for thest-minute changes!


    - Whoever made June join the cast, I hope your food always tastes good.


    Mimi, who had been quietly watching, suddenly felt a spark of concern in her chest. She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a packet of ramyun, holding it up with a determined look. "I have ramyun!" she announced, her eyes lighting up. "I saw some pots behind the house. We can cook it."


    Hana raised an eyebrow, trying to remind her of their earlier conversation. "I thought you wanted to save that for thest day."


    Mimi waved her off. "I''m hungry too," she reasoned, already standing up and heading toward


    the back of the house.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Me too!" Jisung eximed.


    Casper nodded in agreement.


    But, in reality, they just couldn''t bear seeing June go hungry.

 Chapter 884: The One I Have Left

    Chapter 884: The One I Have Left


    ?


    "We need some firewood, though," Mimi said as Jisung and Casper arrived with arge pot. "I''ll get them," June said, standing from his seat.


    Haruki looked around before standing quickly, almost as if someone electrocuted his butt. "I''lle with you," he said.


    June nodded. "We''ll be back soon."


    The others nodded in eptance, despite some of them wanting to join June.


    "Can Ie?" Jisung asked, trying out his luck, but June shook his head.


    "We won''t be long," June responded.


    "Take this camera with you," Pablo said, cing one of the small cameras around June''s neck. "The staff would want most of this to be documented."


    June merely nodded.


    With that, Haruki and June made their way down the hill. Fortunately, they didn''t have to walk long. They saw a forest-like area a few meters away, and it seemed like some of its


    branches were dry and perfect for starting a fire.


    "Let''s go there," June said, pointing to the area.


    Haruki nodded and followed after him. With that, they silently gathered the firewood.


    -The two rivals are together again.


    - No one really established if they''re close now.


    - I don''t think so. Haruki is still quite aloof with others.


    -But weren''t they spotted together before?


    - No one''s sure of that.


    Haruki nced at June from time to time, appearing as if he wanted to say something.


    June sighed and stopped picking the firewood. "Just say what you want to say."


    Haruki clicked his tongue and looked away from June. "How''d you know?"


    June shook his head. "It''s obvious."


    Haruki pursed his lips as he also stopped picking up the firewood.


    "I just wanted to apologize, I guess," he said.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "For what?" he asked.


    "You already know," Haruki said. "It''s not that big of a deal. Don''t think too much about it. Just know that I don''t hate you."


    June shook his head. "I already knew that since the beginning."


    Haruki''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    - Aww, these two are actually pretty sweet.


    - I swear, this feels more like a dating show than a survival show.


    - Yeah, this feels like a mixed-gender version of a bachelor show.


    - And June is the main character.


    The members of EVE shook their heads in amusement as they watched the show.


    "It''s only halfway in, but June already has so much screentime," Jaeyong said.


    "Well, that''s the reason why he ended up as our center," Zeth said. "And it isn''t because of bias. He''s just a very entertaining person overall."


    Minjun, who was watching the show with his maids and butlers, smiled proudly as the scene continued to y.


    "That''s my big brother," he boasted to the older workers.


    "June is really cool," one of the maids said. "Now, I know why my daughter likes him so much."


    "Yeah," their driver said. "He appears nonchnt, but he''s actually quite caring."


    Just then, Lena came back after a long day of work. Minjun and the others were way too immersed in the show, and they didn''t even notice.


    Lena paused as she arrived at the living room, her eyes narrowing in suspicion when she heard June''s voice through the screen.


    "I know that you''ve been through a lot," he said to Haruki. "You also have a personality that''s only yours. Our personalities don''t match, but that doesn''t mean we can''t be friends."


    "We can still understand each other. That''s the beauty of it all," he said.


    Lena frowned. Here he was again with his inspiring yapping!


    She clicked her tongue and walked to the table, grabbing the remote and turning it off,


    causing the crowd of watchers to exim in disappointment.


    "I ought to beat up¡ª," Minjun started off but pursed his lips when he saw it was his mother.


    Lena raised one eyebrow. "You ought to what now, young mister?"


    Minjun pursed his lips and shook his head. "Nothing, Mom," she chuckled. "I was just surprised, that''s all."


    Lena sighed and shook her head. "What did I tell you about June? I told you not to associate yourself with him anymore, right? You only ever got into trouble because of him."


    Minjun sighed. "But, he''s really kind and he cares about me a lot," he said, looking at the others for support.


    The workers diligently nodded.


    "Yes, ma''am," their chef said. "I can tell that he''s a good kid from the show. I guess the


    dangers in his career just can''t be escaped."


    "See!" Minjun eximed. "Even they agree."


    "They don''t know what June is capable of," Lena said. "You, too, do not know him. Don''t get too attached to him. Otherwise, I''d really push for your homeschooling."


    Minjun was about to argue but quickly pursed his lips when he realized he would never win against his mother. With that, he just settled for ring at her.


    Lena sighed and went over to where he was, cing a hand over his shoulder.


    "Like I said, I''m doing this for your own good. I don''t want you to get hurt. After mom died, you''re the only one I have left," she softly said before kissing him on the temple.


    Minjun''s expression softened for a moment, but he still didn''t budge.


    "I''m going back to my room," she said. "I had a long day."


    Then, she went to her room, gently closing the door.


    Meanwhile, Minjun let out a breath he didn''t even know he was holding.


    "You always have a long day. You say you only have me, but what about me?"


    "Who do I have now when you''re not even here?" he muttered.


    The workers turned to each other, pity seen in their eyes. However, they also knew they


    couldn''t do anything about it.


    "June is the person who cares the most," he whispered, only being able to hear himself.


    On the other hand, after Lena changed into her pajamas, she slumped in her bed and turned on


    the television.


    She would usually watch a true crime show to put her to sleep, one that had gruesome


    murders. The more graphic, the better.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    However, for some reason, she itched to watch something else that night.


    Before she even knew it, she had clicked a particr channel where a familiar handsome boy


    was shown.


    "Gosh," she muttered.


    "Why am I doing this?"

 Chapter 885: From A Strangers Perspective

    Chapter 885: From A Stranger''s Perspective


    ?


    June was busily preparing the ramyun for the entire team. There were only three packets and ten of them, so he needed to stretch it out as much as possible.


    Fortunately, June knew just how to do that. He was an expert at making smaller portions big! It was a characteristic he earned when he had little to no money.


    The others watched him with wide eyes.


    "Is June a good cook, too?" Uno asked, intrigued. He felt like he was watching a real-life cooking show with how June moved.


    Casper nodded as he carved some makeshift chopsticks from a piece of wood.


    "Yup," Jisung chimed. "He''s really good. He can make junk food taste gourmet!"


    "June''s cooking," Pablo excitedly eximed. "I can''t wait to try it."


    June tuned out their conversation and continued working his magic. Fortunately, they came across some chives and root vegetables on their way back. He didn''t hesitate to take them.


    It was alreadyte in the afternoon, and almost everyone was starving. They still didn''t have a clue how to open the house, so he wanted to make a scrumptious meal before the skies fully turned dark.


    - Isn''t June the perfect husband?


    - He is. He takes good care of me and our three children.


    - I shouldn''t have asked that.


    Even Joonie couldn''t help but watch the scene before him with wide eyes. Cooking under the intense heat, June still looked great. Moreover, the scent of the ramyun hit his senses, making him unable to look away.


    Fortunately, it didn''t take long before June was finished. The girls had made makeshift bowls from the banana leaves nearby, too, so all of them could eat with less trouble.


    "Dig in," June said.


    The others didn''t hesitate to eat. They dove in right at the same time, appearing as if they''d been starved for a few days. Mimi, who had a heavy breakfast, didn''t feel hungry in the beginning. However, the scent of June''s food somehow stimted her appetite.


    With that, she dove right in, grabbing some of the vegetables with some noodles with broth.


    She took the first bite, and she felt as if she was in heaven.


    Mimi turned to June with wide eyes. "What did you put in this?"


    June shrugged. "Nothing much. Just the seasoning packet and some herbs I saw around the garden."


    "What the heck?" Pablo eximed. "Why is this better than some five-star restaurants I''ve been to?"


    June shook his head. "All of you are just hungry."


    Casper shook his head as he took another bite. "No, we''re not exaggerating. This is really good. Right, Joonie?" he said, nudging him.


    Joonie stumbled a bit, but he quickly caught himself.


    Then, he nodded, not being able to deny it. "Yeah," he muttered.


    Mei, on the other hand, stopped at the first bite. Again, she felt tears brimming in her eyes-a strange sensation she felt whenever June did something out of the blue.


    The taste.


    It was all too familiar once again.


    June noticed her hesitance, so she nudged her shoulder. "You alright?" he asked.


    Mei snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at June. Then, she pursed her lips before nodding and digging back into her food.


    - Is it just me, or are these two awfully chummy?


    - I thought I was the only one who noticed. It seems like June cares about her a lot.


    - Maybe they''re dating.


    -You guys are weird. June is just naturally caring.


    - Y''all are just delusional. There''s no way your oppa isn''t dating anyone.


    Jisung looked up at June with wide eyes, the corners of his mouth stained red with the broth. "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    June shook his head. "I already took some bites when I tasted it. I''m full."


    Besides, the three packets could only be stretched to an extent. It was still not enough to feed the nine of them, much less the ten of them.


    "You keep eating," June said, turning to the side to prevent his stomach from grumbling. He was still hungry, but it wasn''t like before.


    - Why is this so touching?


    - Like a mom telling her children she''s not hungry when she truly is.


    - Ah, June, you have my entire heart.


    - Seriously, how could someone hate on him?


    Lena, who had ced a cucumber mask over her face, frowned.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What the heck?" she muttered. "Why is he acting so selfless now?"


    However, she couldn''t ignore the fast beating of her heart.


    She ced her hand over her chest and hit it hard. "Fuck this," she muttered. "What a bad, cunning man."


    The others continued eating while June looked around the area.


    He nced at the house and clicked his tongue. The lights were all open, yet the doors were still closed.


    June wondered what kind of lesson this would teach them. The heat during noon was enough to send them into a heat stroke. However, he knew they were going to contract hypothermia by the time the evening hit.


    Did Ramil PD want them to experience the extreme of weather so they''d get ustomed to it for the next few days?


    But then again, June felt that his reason wouldn''t be as shallow as that.


    With that, he nced to the other side, where the mango tree stood tall.


    Then, his eyes suddenly caught something on one of the fruits¡ªa green paper that mimicked


    the leaves.


    He frowned and went to it without any hesitation.


    "June, where are you going?" Haruki called out.


    June didn''t answer and continued trudging toward the tree, ignoring their stares.


    Then, he stopped underneath the piece of green paper, a small smile appearing on his lips.


    "I can''t believe I missed this."


    With that, he jumped and grabbed the leaf with the paper attached to it. Fortunately, it wasn''t too high, so he was able to grab it on the first attempt.


    The others stood and went to where June was, their eyes widening when they saw the piece of


    paper in June''s hands.


    "That has been there all along?" Uno asked.


    June nodded and opened the piece of paper, anticipating a very helpful clue.


    However, once again, only a phrase stared back at them.


    "From a stranger''s perspective."

 Chapter 886: Campfire Stories (1)

    Chapter 886: Campfire Stories (1)


    ?


    Even with four clues in their hands, the group was no closer to unlocking the door to their temporary home.


    It was clear that everybody felt frustrated, tired, and somehow hopeless. Along with that was the thickening darkness that slowly swallowed the sky.


    It seemed like they hadbed through every inch of the garden, turned over every stone, and checked behind every bush, yet the mystery remained unsolved.


    Online, thements was filled with spection.


    - Where might it be? They''ve searched everywhere.


    -I don''t even know. Maybe they missed a spot?


    - Have they checked under the pots? That''s where I usually hide my keys.


    - I swear, they''ve tried everything. Maybe this is just a prank.


    - The skies are already dark. I''m worried for them.


    The concern wasn''t misced. As the night crept in, the temperature dropped, prompting everyone to pull out their jackets and bundle up. The cold air nipped at their skin; fortunately, June kept the fire burning, so it provided them with some warmth.


    They huddled around the fire, the mes casting shadows on their tired faces.


    "Well, I didn''t think we would die here," Pablo quipped, breaking the silence with his dry humor.


    Jisung''s eyes widened. "Are we really going to die here?" he asked.


    Hana, sitting beside him, shook her head and offered him a reassuring smile. She patted his back gently. "We''re not," she assured him, acting like she was speaking to a younger sibling. "I''m sure they won''t let that happen."


    "Yeah," Haruki chimed. "Or they''d be dealing with awsuit from all ourpanies."


    June, who had been quietly watching the mes, nced over at Mei. "Are you alright?" he asked, knowing she got cold easily.


    Mei nodded. "I''m okay," she replied.


    - I swear, these two are suspicious.


    -You guys are so crazy, overanalyzing everything.


    - I guess boys and girls can''t be friends now.


    - They can''t without any romantic feelings.


    Casper, staring into the fire, voiced what they were all thinking. "I hope they would give us another clue or something," he said. "That would help."


    Just as the words left his mouth, the camera hanging around June''s neck lit up, startling everyone. The sudden brightness in the dim light of the fire caught their attention, and they all leaned in.


    Pablo squinted at the camera. "It''s a smart camera," he muttered. "Are they really going to give us a clue like you''ve said?"


    They all appeared excited.


    However, their excitement was short-lived. The camera disyed a message, the letters glowing in the dark.


    "It''s getting boring," the message read.


    "Did they just diss us?" Mimi asked.


    The group groaned, disappointment seen in their eyes. They had been starving, running on nothing but the packs of ramyun they had cooked earlier in the afternoon. Their patience was wearing thin, and thest thing they wanted was to be toyed with.


    "Please tell us campfire stories! About your home or anything," the camera prompted.


    "We''re starving, and they want us to tell stories?" Pablo muttered under his breath, crossing his arms over his chest.


    But despite the grumbling, Jisung, ever the optimist, was the first to speak up.


    "I have a fun story!" he eximed.


    The others turned to him, epting their fate. They might as well tell those stories if they were going to stay outside for a long time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Go ahead," Haruki said.


    Jisung smiled at all of them before casually saying, "I''m adopted!"


    Thements section was in chaos.


    - What the heck?


    - Is this really happening?


    - I did not expect this at all.


    - I''m not crying, you''re crying!


    The members of EVE turned to each other with wide eyes, pointing at each other.


    "Did you guys know?" Akira eximed.


    Jaeyong shook his head. "No," he said. "What the heck?"


    "My child," Ren muttered, cing his hand over his heart.


    "Do you guys think this is real?" Sehun asked, wanting to deny the situation.


    "Would Jisung really joke about something like this?" Akira asked.


    "He said it so casually, though!" Sehun defended. "In front of near strangers and the public,


    too."


    Indeed, the live audience had been caught off guard by Jisung''s revtion, and his name quickly rose up to the trends list.


    Around the campfire, Haruki cleared his throat, aiming to break the awkward silence.


    "Hey, can you really say that?" he asked, looking around the cameras.


    Meanwhile, Ramil PD, in thefort of the staff house, felt sad about Jisung''s confession, watching the live scene intently. However, amidst his sadness, he couldn''t help but smile at


    the revtion.


    "We''ve hit the jackpot," he whispered.


    Jisung nodded to Haruki''s question, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "I''ve never revealed it before," he admitted, "but it''s not something I''m ashamed of."


    June continued to stare at Jisung, his eyes wide with surprise. He couldn''t believe what Jisung


    had just shared.


    "Don''t look at me like that, bro," Jisung said, offering a reassuring smile.


    "Is it really alright?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.


    Jisung nodded again, his expression remaining cheerful. "It''s nothing special," he began. "I got to know about it when I turned 18. At first, I asked myself if it was my fault, you know? Like, did I do something wrong? But then, I realized there was no point in dwelling on it. This is my life now. It may not be with my original parents, but they gave me a home like no other. And for that, I''m happy. It all happened for a reason."


    "Again, it''s not anything special. I didn''t grow upcking in anything, so you guys don''t have to look at me like that. I''m happy with what happened. I''m happy it turned out this way- because I found the home I could never ask for."


    The others didn''t know what to say. Jisung just shared some vulnerable information. In the end, they could only offer him supportive looks, their eyes conveying the encouragement that


    words couldn''t.


    But it seemed Jisung''s honesty had opened the floodgates. The campfire''s warm glow


    reflected on Casper''s face as he suddenly spoke up.


    "Luther is my younger brother," Casper started off.

 Chapter 887: Campfire Stories (2)

    Chapter 887: Campfire Stories (2)


    ?


    - Luther? Isn''t that his cat?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    - I think Casper''s gone crazy.


    - I love Casper with all my life, but why would he say that after Jisung revealed he''s adopted?


    Joonie blinked, also confused by Casper''s statement. Then, he let out a chuckle. "Have you lost your mind?" he asked in amusement. "Luther is your cat."


    The others couldn''t help but chuckle at Joonie''s reaction, but June didn''t join in. He kept his gaze fixed on Casper, sensing there was more to the story.


    Casper''s lips curled into a sad smile as he continued, ignoring the light-hearted response. "My brother died," he said quietly. "His nickname was Luther."


    They all stopped chuckling as soon as Casper said those words.


    - Oh shit.


    -Guys, you are all going to hell.


    - Everybody just sees Casper as a crazy guy most of the time, but he''s actually pretty deep.


    - I feel bad.


    - Why did Joonie even make thatment? It was insensitive.


    - Yeah, I''m disappointed in Joonie.


    - I swear, you were alsoughing at Casper just moments ago.


    Joonie pursed his lips and stayed quiet. He just wanted to make ament because he felt that his screen time was still not enough. However, it got him to this point.


    "We apologize," Hana said, taking responsibility. The others nodded in agreement. "Do you still want to continue with your story?" she asked.


    Casper nodded as he continued to gaze at the campfire.


    "Cerebral palsy," he started off.


    "When I was younger, I didn''t understand why he got all the attention. It made me so mad, but eventually, I figured it out. By then, though, it was toote. I was only able to show him a little love before he was gone."


    "He always wanted to have a ck cat," Casper added. "It took me a while to get to that point, but I finally got one for him, even though he''s not around anymore. We gave Luther a home... for Luther."


    A quiet sniffle broke the silence, and everyone turned to see Pablo wiping at his eyes, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. "You guys didn''t tell me we needed tissues," he muttered, his voice shaky. "I would have stuffed one in my bag."


    "You don''t have space in your bag," Uno teased, trying to lighten the mood, but even he couldn''t keep the sadness out of his tone.


    A soft round of chuckles followed, a small but much-needed relief from the emotional atmosphere.


    After Casper shared his story, the others also chimed in.


    "My parents cut me out," Pablo started off. "But then again, I''m already making enough money for myself. Sometimes, I want to go home to them, but then, it would just make me go bald from all the stress. I don''t want that happening now, do I?"


    "I''m the breadwinner of the family," Hana chimed in. "It was pretty difficult growing up. At times, we would only have soy sauce to eat. At a young age, I wanted to earn for my family- although that''s not something a 15-year-old should even think about. Now, things are better."


    "Umm," Uno muttered. "My story''s not as special as you guys. I''m going to pass."


    Haruki scratched the back of his head. "I had a lot of hatred in my heart when my brother got hurt. Until now, he''s still suffering from his injuries, but he''s had such a bright outlook on life. I realized that I shouldn''t be so pessimistic, and instead of looking for the bad in everything, I first start off by giving others the benefit of the doubt, that there is goodness in this world. Because of that, I feel happier."


    "Up until now, I still have the desire to perform as an idol," Mimi joined in. "The end of our contract came too fast, and I had to ept it. I had to live with it even though I never wanted to. It''s pretty sad to see us all apart, and some nights, I still dream of the life we had."


    Joonie cleared his throat. "I was insecure growing up," he said. "Most of the time, I was good, but never good enough. I guess I''m happy to be praised by a lot of people. I never really had a lot of that growing up¡ªeven though I tried my best."


    Mei, not really nning on sharing her life, eventually caved in.


    "I was in a pretty bad ident a little over a year ago," she started off.


    The others turned to her with wide eyes, but she quickly reassured them that she was okay


    now.


    "I woke up and couldn''t remember most of my life," she confessed.


    June nodded silently. And that was the reason why she didn''t remember Jun Hao at all. But then again, that might have been for the better.


    She didn''t deserve to remember the pain and the struggles they went through. "However, I was blessed by my parents. They took care of me until I was better. They made me remember things slowly. They never pressured me. At first, they didn''t approve of my dream. I understood, of course. Being an idol is very demanding, but in the end, they let me be -saying that this is my life to live, and if I was going to be happy in it, then I should go."


    The others nodded, suddenly feeling their bond growing stronger.


    June sat quietly, watching the mes dance, lost in thought. He knew now, more than ever, that everyone had a story. All of them did.


    They might be artists, stars shining brightly in the public eye, but beneath the fancy clothes, they were just people. People with pasts, with pain, with memories that shaped them into who they were. And at this moment, around the campfire, those stories had started toe to


    light.


    - They''re just like us...


    - I wasn''t ready for this.


    - This show is something else.


    - I''m so proud of them for sharing their stories.


    June continued looking at the fire, oblivious to the looks the others were throwing toward his


    way. It was only when Casper nudged his shoulder that he snapped out of his thoughts.


    He looked up at them and raised one eyebrow.


    "What?" he asked.


    The others smiled, amusement seen on their faces.


    "What about you?"


    "What''s your story, June?"

 Chapter 888: A Home Is A Place Where...

    Chapter 888: A Home Is A ce Where...


    ?


    June lifted his head and saw the anticipating looks of the other members.


    - There''s no way they''re going to get my Pookie to open up.


    - June is a listener!


    - We already know his home situation, but he never really told us much about how he feels.


    - Sometimes, I worry about June because he''s a closed-off idol. I mean, he''s blunt, but he''s always


    been neutral with himself. Contrary to having an energy simr to the main character, he surprisingly doesn''t like to bring attention to himself.


    - You couldn''t have worded it better.


    Thements were telling the truth.


    June wasn''t one to open up easily. It wasn''t that he wanted to hide it from them, but he just never had the intention of revealing it.


    It sounded confusing, but it made sense for June.


    Their gazes lingered on him, waiting for him to speak. June pointed to himself, raising an eyebrow. "Me?" he asked.


    "Who else?" Pablo echoed the question.


    June shrugged, trying to deflect the attention. "Just watch Rising Stars. I already shared something there."


    "That was your life story," Pablo countered, not letting him off the hook. "You''ve never told us how you felt about it."


    "Yeah!" Mimi said. "I watched every episode, and that one made me bawl, but you rarely talk about your feelings."


    Mei also paid great attention.


    June sighed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You can watch my performances then. I tend to give my interpretations through that."


    The others groaned, clearly not satisfied with his answer. They wanted more than just the surface-level June.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Come on, man," Haruki pressed. "We''re all sharing here. Just tell us something."


    "Uno didn''t say anything," June said.


    Uno shook his head. "My life is really uninteresting. I didn''t have many problems aside from being the best trainee and having little to no satisfaction. However, I''ve grown out of it. If you ask me to write a college essay, I''m sure I wouldn''t be able to write anything because I don''t have trauma!" he happily said, causing the others to look at him with surprise.


    "There, he already shared something," Hana said. Even back then, June wasn''t the type to vent his feelings. For someone who went through a lot, he was surprisingly calm. So, she wanted to hear something from him.


    June sighed again. He was already over his past, yet they''re all digging into it again! He didn''t even miss who he used to be or where he came from.


    Clicking his tongue in mild frustration, June finally gave in.


    "Fine," he muttered, causing both the cast members and those watching from the television to cheer.


    "Where do I start?" he muttered. "It''s also not too special. It''s different but not special."


    He paused, trying to find the right words. He didn''t want to make his past sound morous because it wasn''t. Calling it special felt like it would give it a spotlight it didn''t deserve-like it was something to be admired when it was anything but.


    "After my parents died," he began, his voice even softer now, "we-I mean, I never had a real home."


    The others listened intently, not daring to interrupt.


    "The orphanage," June continued, "school, work... None of it felt like home. It was just a ce I stayed, not somewhere I belonged."


    His eyes drifted to the fire. "You tend to look for something you don''t have, you know? I kept searching for it, kept hoping I''d find it somewhere. But then, I just... stopped."


    He looked up, meeting the eyes of each of his friends in turn. "Home isn''t a house. Home is how you feel. It can be a person, a song, or even some type of food. It''s not something you open or close-it''s just there. It''s where you feel safe, where you feel like you belong." He nced at his members.


    June found it with EVE- his current home.


    He didn''t say that out loud, of course. His members already loved him too much. June didn''t need them smothering him out of adoration.


    As much as he loved his sister, he couldn''t deny that he was happier with the life he had now. The group was silent, taking in his words. Pablo was the first to break the silence. "That doesn''t give anything away," he sighed, but there was a softness in his tone that showed he understood.


    He might have wanted more details, but he couldn''t argue with what June had said. It made sense in a way that was hard to put into words.


    June chuckled lightly, the tension easing just a bit. "But that''s it," he said simply.


    "I see," Jisung muttered, his brow furrowed in thought. "I guess we all agree that home is something that would ept us, something that''s open to us, always."


    June paused, his mind turning over Jisung''s words. There was something there.


    "Can you repeat that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.


    Jisung scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "What? It was too long. I forgot. I can only repeat short phrases."


    June shook his head, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the clues they had found earlier. Heid them out in front of him, the firelight illuminating the words on each piece of paper. "Same. Not. From a stranger''s perspective. The" June read them out loud, rearranging the papers as he did. The others leaned closer, wondering why June was messing with the clues at that moment.


    "Not the same from a stranger''s perspective," June said, his voice growing more certain. His eyes lit up as the pieces started to fit together in his mind.


    "What about it?" Pablo asked.


    "Home!" June eximed. "That''s why Ramil PD emphasized it so much."


    - Holy crap. A Eureka moment!


    - I just felt my panties explode. I love a smart man.


    - I still don''t understand.


    - Me too. I just joined in because it feels like June finally knows the answer.


    The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.


    "A home is not the same from a stranger''s perspective. For others, it''s just a house, something closed off, a building with walls and a roof. But for those who belong there, it''s so much more. It''s where your heart is and where your soul feels at peace. It''s not about opening


    a door."


    June stood from his seat.


    "Wait, I don''t understand!" Jisung eximed, but he and the others followed June


    nheless, their curiosity outweighing their confusion.


    June walked over to the unsuspecting window situated next to the door.


    He ced his hand on the cool metal handle.


    Then, with a deep breath, he opened the window.


    It slid open effortlessly, the sound of thetch clicking barely audible.


    And there it was, the answer they had been searching for all along.


    The house had been open the entire time.


    "A home isn''t a ce you unlock," he said softly. "It''s a ce you find."

 Chapter 889: No Progress With The Search

    ?


    June reached through the open window and unlocked the door from within.


    -What the heck just happened?


    -Has this kid always been this smart?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    - How the heck did he figure that out?


    - Woah, he''s handsome and smart?


    - He''s really smart!


    - That''s unexpected.


    - I feel so happy seeing other people discovering that June is actually smart. It does not fit his looks (nobody should be perfect like that), but he is! Please love June even more.


    The others eximed in amazement, their voices echoing in the now open house.


    "I want to punch Ramil PD in the face," Pablo said. "It has been open the entire time? I swear, if he wasn''t the PD, then I would have-"


    Mimi patted Pablo''s arm, causing him to halt his statement. Then, she pointed toward to the table, where a seafood feast wasid out for them.


    "Or not," Pablo smiled. "I love Ramil PD!"


    With that, they went to the table, not even bothering to get tes, and dug right in. Their earlier frustrations were now forgotten as they savored the spread before them.


    Joonie, however, stood apart from the group, his eyes fixed on June. He couldn''t help but stare, wanting to understand how June had figured it out.


    "H-how?" Joonie muttered under his breath.


    Casper, noticing Joonie''s puzzled expression, smirked and walked over to him. He leaned in close, his voice low that his mic wasn''t able to pick it up. "That''s how amazing he is," Casper whispered.


    Joonie blinked, trying to process Casper''s words.


    "You won''t be able to copy that even if your life depended on it," he added. With that, he pped Joonie on the back and joined the others at the table, eagerly digging into the food. Joonie remained frozen, now feeling afraid of the taller man. He was still lost in thought when he felt a warm hand pull him inside. Startled, he looked up to see June standing beside him, his expression calm andposed, as if what he had done was no big deal.


    "Eat," June said simply, his hand lingering on Joonie''s arm for just a moment before he let go. Joonie pursed his lips, still in a daze.


    The atmosphere inside was warm and lively, a very stark contrast to the hours they had spent outside. Then, the show''s outro song yed with them gathered around the table as a background. They ate andughed together inside what had be, in a sense, their home for the night.


    The viewers at home were amazed, to say the least.


    Jia and her friends watched in admiration as their respect for June grew with each passing moment. The members of EVE were simrly impressed, once again taken aback by June''s quick thinking and insight. Seven, from OCTA, was so moved that he stood up from his seat, pping in silent awe. Even Nico, who prided himself in being a June anti, was left speechless. He knew he would never have thought of what June did.


    And then there was Lena. She sat in front of her screen, her hand covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.


    The mention of home, along with June''s interpretation, made her feel emotional. She nced at her right and saw her parents'' pictures, which increased her emotions even more.


    She tried to wipe them away, but more kepting, and she found herself muttering under her breath, "What the heck?"


    ***


    The pilot episode of ''Everyday, Everynight'' was a sess, garnering the biggest real-time rating out of all rival shows yesterday night.


    Almost every employee in Azure was talking about it, praising June and the others for participating in such a great show.


    Lei, however, was in a foul mood despite the sunny morning. He paced his office, his mind consumed with frustration.


    Why was June trending again? Why did it always have to be June? It was supposed to be Joonie who was under the spotlight, the one everyone talked about, the one who would bring in the views and the fans.


    How was he supposed to rece June when June kept doing things like this-ones that kept him firmly in the public''s favor?


    Rece.


    The word echoed in Lei''s mind.


    Yes, that was now the n. Lei didn''t want to let EVE go to waste.


    However, June''s time was supposed to be up, or at least slowly going down.


    But how could Lei move forward with that when June was still the moneymaker for Azure and the one everyone loved? As much as he hated to admit it, he couldn''t afford to let June go just


    yet.


    Lei needed something-something that would shift the bnce of power in his favor.


    The head.


    He just needed to be in the favor of the head of Phoenix. He already had a lot of material against Kim Young Do, but he needed the head''s identity so he could finally destroy Young Do''s reputation.


    With that, Lei could bring Phoenix and Azure together, merging the twopanies into a powerhouse that would dominate the entertainment industry. It would be a monopoly, the likes of which had never been seen before.


    But there was one problem.


    Lei''s hands trembled with rage as he recalled the endless searches and the fruitless efforts to find this man. He hadbed through the entirety of UN Vige, and yet, the head remained elusive¡ªlike a ghost slipping through his fingers time and time again.


    The frustration boiled over, and Lei''s hand shot out, knocking over the mug on his desk. The coffee sttered onto the pristine carpet, a dark stain spreading across the expensive fabric. Lei stared at the mess, his breathing in ragged gasps as the reality of his situation crashed down on him.


    Just then, one of the employees, one who didn''t know about his real personality, came in. She


    gasped in surprise when she saw the stain on his carpet.


    He quickly softened his expression as he looked at her.


    "Sir," she said. "I was just about to bring this in. Did you knock over your coffee?"


    "Yes," Lei said. "I guess I was too tired."


    "I see," the employee said, quickly cing the files on his table and grabbing some napkins before kneeling down to try and salvage his mess.


    "I''ll clean this up, sir," she said.


    Lei looked down at her kneeling figure and felt something bloom inside his heart.


    This was it.


    This was what he wanted all along.


    To have people kneel before him even though he didn''t ask.


    With that, he clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He wouldn''t let this go. He


    couldn''t. He would find the head, and when he did, he would make sure that June was reced. He would make sure that Azure and Phoenix became one and that he, Lei, would be the one to reign over the idol industry.

 Chapter 890: Title Track Worthy

    Chapter 890: Title Track Worthy


    ?


    The next day arrived peacefully...thankfully.


    The production crew didn''t wake the cast members early, too-knowing they had an exhausted night before.


    The sky was clear, with soft sunlight filtering through the trees, casting a gentle warmth over thendscape. The air was crisp and fresh-a perfect day for taking things slow. When Ramil PD gathered the group together, his announcement was a pleasant surprise.


    "Today is a free day," he said with a casual smile. "You can use the vegetation around the garden, but don''t go beyond it. Think wisely, though... this will be yourst ''free'' day. We just want you to get ustomed to the ce."


    "Thank the heavens!" Pablo eximed, already grabbing some bell peppers from a nearby nt.


    Casper paused for a while and looked at the production crew. "There''s no catch?" he asked. Ramil PD merely chuckled, not answering his question. That made Casper feel nervous. However, seeing that the other cast members were already excitedly picking the vegetables in the small garden, he, too, smiled and joined in on the fun.


    June found himself drawn to the small plot ofnd designated for farming. This was his dream retirement, so he took some mental notes for him to use when he hit the retirement age-that is, if he doesn''t die until then!


    As June knelt by the soil, he carefully dug a small trench with his hands, feeling the cool soil beneath his fingers. He nced up to see Casper and Jisung nearby, chatting quietly as they worked. Joonie was a bit further off, concentrated on picking some lettuce.


    The scene was calm, a rare moment where the group could just rx.


    "This is so freaking fun,'' June thought to himself.


    But even as he enjoyed the moment, a nagging thought lingered at the back of his mind. The supplies they had now would onlyst for a day or two. The garden''s vegetation was limited, and unless they nted new seeds and took care of the crops, they would run out of food soon enough.


    June straightened up, wiping his hands on his pants as he surveyed the garden. They had managed to nt a fair amount, but it would take time before anything was ready to harvest. As he continued to work, he heard footsteps approaching. June nced over his shoulder to see Jisung Walking towards him, a somewhat hesitant look on his face.


    "Bro," Jisung said, stopping a few feet away. "I''ve got something to show you."


    June raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? What is it?"


    Jisung nced around, making sure no one else was within earshot. "It''s inside. Come with me."


    Intrigued, June wiped thest bit of dirt off his hands and followed Jisung towards the house. The others were too absorbed in their own tasks to notice them slip away. Once inside, Jisung led June to their shared room and pulled out June''s bag from under the bed.


    "What are you doing?" June asked, watching as Jisung ced the bag on top of the small desk.


    Jisung grinned. "I want you to listen to the song I made. The one I''ve been talking about but never had the courage to show," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.


    June''s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, right now?"


    "Yeah," Jisung replied, already opening the bag.


    June nced at the door, then back at Jisung. "Wait," he said, stopping frompleting the action.


    Jisung paused, looking up in confusion. "What?"


    Without a word, June grabbed Jisung''s arm and pulled him towards the back area of the house. It was still inside, but it seemed amateurly attached to the actual house. Finally, June stopped at a secluded corner, far from the prying eyes of the cameras.


    "There," June said. "No cameras."


    Jisung''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "How did you even find this ce?"


    "I walked around when I couldn''t sleepst night," June replied. "It seems like they missed a spot. This is the only ce where there are no cameras...aside from the bathrooms, of course. But then again, there is a camera outside of the bathroom, so they''ll still see us two go there."


    "With here, it just seems like we went to the dirty kitchen."


    "This is so cool," Jisung muttered. "It feels awkward being in front of the camera at all times, so I''m happy that there''s a ce like this."


    "Yeah," June said. "Don''t tell anyone about it, okay?"


    Jisung nodded, determined to keep the secret.


    "Why did you drag me out here, though? I just wanted to show you the song."


    June shrugged. "We don''t want to spoil the astras," he lightheartedly said. "Even if they aren''t able to hear it, they''re going to have an idea that we''re cooking up a song. It would take away from theeback''s excitement.


    "Right," Jisung said. "You''re a genius, bro!"


    June clicked his tongue. "Just give me the earphones."


    Jisung smiled before handing one earphone to June and cing the other in his own ear.


    "Wait, I''m kind of nervous," Jisung suddenly said. "I''ve helped with our songs before, but this is the first time I''ve done something like this. It''s not going to be as good as yours."


    June clicked his tongue. "Did you work hard for this?"


    Jisung pursed his lips and nodded, scratching the back of his head out of his own


    embarrassment.


    "Then, you shouldn''t doubt it. The fact you''ve worked hard for it means that it''s already good," he said, wanting to build the younger member''s confidence.


    Even now, Jisung still struggled with his self-esteem.


    "Alright," Jisung muttered. "Please tell me honestly."


    June nodded and waited for Jisung to finally reveal his creation.


    With a deep breath, Jisung pressed the y button.


    The moment the music started, June felt a rush of emotion.


    Then, his eyebrows furrowed as he closed his eyes, trying to imagine the song inside a stadium. It was a sound that could easily fill it-the kind of track that could move an audience


    to tears or make them leap to their feet in excitement.


    Then, as the chorus hit, June''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "This... this sounds like a title track."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 891: A Blind Spot

    Chapter 891: A Blind Spot


    ?


    Jisung''s eyes widened after June said those words. He wanted to ask the older idol what he meant by what he said, but he stayed silent as June continued to listen intently to the track he had created.


    The melody was captivating, the kind that drew you in and lingered in your mind long after it ended.


    June frowned from time to time when he heard some technical errors or some elements that didn''t fit.


    It wasn''t perfect-far from it.


    "There are some elements that I can''t pinpoint," June honestly said. "It still feels a bit messy."


    Jisung, who had been anxiously watching June''s reaction, let out a shy smile. "I''m not used to the equipment just yet," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. The flush on his cheeks made it clear that he was a little embarrassed.


    "No, it''s okay," June said, shaking his head. "We can work with it. I really do think it''s something special. I felt the same way with ''Luster.""


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "It''s that great of a song?" he asked, his voice filled with


    awe.


    June nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He reached out and gently patted Jisung''s head, a rare gesture of affection from someone usually so reserved. "You really did such a great job," he said, his tone warm.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Jisung looked down, his face turning even redder. He was shy, unsure of how to handle the praise. "I''m still not sure what to do with it," he confessed. "Or how to incorporate the lyrics."


    "Don''t worry about it," June reassured him. "We have some time. We''ll figure it out. Then, we''ll talk with thepany."


    June could already imagine how the song would change. The base was already great, so things could go way up from here. Somehow, he felt more excited for theireback in November.


    However, Jisung''s expression didn''t show his excitement. Instead, a look of doubt reced his once-happy expression.


    "What?" June asked, observing the change in his demeanor.


    "I''m not sure if I want to give it to thepany," he said quietly.


    June looked at him in surprise. "Why not? I told you it''s good. Are you doubting yourself again?"


    "It''s not that," Jisung said, shaking his head. "You already said that it''s good. I''m taking your word on that. You''ve always been great at seeing the potential in things."


    "Then, what?" June asked, knowing that something was boggling Jisung''s mind.


    Jisung hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to continue. Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke. "Ah, I''m not sure about this. I really am not. There is a big possibility that I might be wrong, but it''s been in my mind ever since."


    June stayed silent, wanting Jisung to continue.


    "On the day of our meeting for theeback," Jisung finally started. "I was testing out the noise-canceling abilities of my new headphones and mistakenly heard someone practicing inside one of the practice rooms."


    June''s brow furrowed. "Who?"


    Jisung let out a deep breath.


    "It was Joonie," Jisung replied, his voice low. "And he was learning a song."


    June pursed his lips and clicked his tongue in irritation. "They''re preparing for him to debut soon," he muttered, already piecing together the situation.


    It was already obvious they weren''t going to debut him as an actor but as an idol-maybe even both.


    "No, it''s not that," Jisung said quickly. "I think-or maybe it is..."


    June sighed. "Just say it, Ji."


    "He was singing a song..."


    "Our song, more specifically-the song Ren had written as our title track."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed deeper, a sense of unease settling over him. "Now, I don''t know why or how," Jisung continued, "but that''s not allowed, right? It hasn''t even been finalized with our group. The lyrics aren''t final, too. But it seems like Joonie was singing aplete song."


    "It wasn''t the same as the one Ren had made-there are definitely some elements that have changed. But no matter what angle I look at it from, I still feel like it''s our song-our supposed title track."


    June took a moment to process the information. The implications of what Jisung had just said were serious. It wasn''t just a matter of Joonie singing the song-it was the fact that it was their song, one that had been designated for their group, and somehow, Joonie was practicing it in secret.


    June''s mind raced with possibilities, and none of them were good.


    "Yeah," June finally said, appearing calm, which also made Jisung feel calm. "Keep this to


    yourself for now."


    "Your song, too."


    Jisung nodded, his face serious. Just then, they heard Pablo''s voice calling out from the other room.


    "Oh, June! Pleasee to the kitchen now. We are starving and in dire need of you. Feed us, please. Feed all of us with your delicious hands!"


    June clicked his tongue with Pablo''s statement, wondering how he could make such provocative invitations.


    "I''ll head out first. Pablo''s not going to stop until I appear," June said, giving Jisung a reassuring nod before turning to leave.


    Jisung watched as June disappeared around the corner. He wasn''t sure what to make of it all, but he trusted June. If June said to keep it quiet, then that''s what he would do.


    A momentter, Jisung''s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.


    He looked up to see Joonie entering the room, a curious look on his face.


    Jisung''s eyes widened as he looked at Joonie.


    "H-how much did you hear?" Jisung asked, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.


    Joonie frowned, his expression confused. "I just arrived," he said slowly.


    Jisung let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders rxing a bit.


    "What were you and June talking about, though? I saw hime out of here," Joonie asked,


    his tone suddenly sweet.


    "Nothing," Jisung replied quickly. "We just had something private to talk about."


    "Private?" Joonie echoed, tilting his head. "But there are cameras all around the house."


    Jisung stiffened, realizing that Joonie had a point. Before he could respond, though, Joonie''s eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh," he said, ncing around the room. "There''s not a


    camera here."

 Chapter 892: Caught A Dirty Secret

    Chapter 892: Caught A Dirty Secret


    ?


    Lena trudged up the steps to her massive house, feeling exhausted. It wasteter than she''d intended to be home, but she had a lot on her te. She juggled the keys in her hand, finally managing to unlock the door and slip inside.


    The faint glow of the living room television greeted her as she entered. She paused in the hallway, listening as the familiar sound of the opening theme of ''Everyday, Everynight'' filled the air.


    Along with that was the sound of Minjun''s voice, still boasting about his favorite big brother, June.


    Lena''s heart quickened as she tiptoed to her bedroom.


    Once safely in her room, Lena quickly shut the door behind her and grabbed the remote. She turned on her television and immediately switched to the channel airing ''Everyday, Everynight.'' The screen flickered to life, and she settled into her bed, her eyes glued to the screen as the show began.


    The familiar faces of the cast members filled the screen, and Lena couldn''t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She''d been hooked on the show since it started airing. But, of course, she wasn''t going to admit that to anyone...especially her son.


    It was just too entertaining to resist, despite June being there. They were now on the third day of the show''s run, and Lena felt like she was right there with them.


    The episode began with a new challenge, as Ramil PD''s voice boomed through the speakers, calling the cast to attention.


    "We''re going to have a team battle today," he announced, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "The victors will be the only ones to win food to eat."


    Groans erupted from the cast members, their faces filled with dread. Yesterday had been a peaceful day, one where they could farm and enjoy the simple life, but today, they were back to reality.


    - Oh, Ramil PD is evil for making them taste the sweetness of life only to take it right back.


    - Yesterday was a fun episode, but I do want to see them starve.


    - I think you have an internal problem.


    Back on the screen, Ramil PD continued with the instructions. "It''s going to be a video battle," he dered, much to the surprise of the cast.


    Pablo let out a loud cheer, his face lighting up with excitement.


    "Finally, you''re talking, Ramil," he eximed. "Did you create this challenge just for me?" The others turned to Pablo and instantly knew they wanted to be a part of his team. "Now, let me exin how you will divide into the teams," Ramil PD said.


    "There will be two teams of five," he exined. "I will first draw two names, and they will be the respective team captains. Then, they will take turns randomly choosing names from this bowl."


    "The rules are simple," Ramil PD continued. "Each team will have the chance to create a two- minute video in three hours-that includes filming and editing. Afterward, the staff members, aside from the assigned cameramen, will be voting for the best video. The most voted video will win."


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "It''s fun," he said. "But what''s the aim of the video?"


    "I will only give you a keyword," Ramil PD said. "Life."


    The cast members looked at each other with confusion.


    - That theme is so freaking vague.


    - Well, knowing Ramil PD, he''ll tell the real theme in the end.


    - I can''t wait to watch the videos.


    Ramil PD ignored their confused reactions and reached into the bowl to draw the first name. "The first captain is... Pablo!"


    A collective cheer erupted from the cast. Everyone wanted to be on Pablo''s team. As a seasoned photographer, Pablo was the obvious choice for anyone hoping to win.


    But the excitement was short-lived as Ramil PD pulled out the second name. "And the second captain is... June!"


    A chorus of groans filled the garden, followed by yfulints. Even Pablo joined in, grumbling good-naturedly about how he wanted to be on June''s team.


    "This is so unfair," Hana said, crossing her arms with a pout. "June is an opponent? He could just film himself, and it would garner the most votes."


    The others nodded in agreement. Even thements agreed with their sentiment.


    - That''s true.


    - Yeah, June is that immacte.


    - June is life.


    -I would vote for June''s face.


    Ramil PD held up a hand to silence the chatter, a knowing smile on his face. "Don''t worry," he said. "We''ve taken things into consideration. This is a blind battle. The videos will be shown anonymously, and the votes are also anonymous."


    "And one more thing," Ramil PD added. "You also cannot include yourselves in the videos.


    Minjun clicked his tongue in amusement. "Ramil PD knows that my bro would win if that happened."


    "But, I''m worried," he quickly added, scratching the back of his neck. "June is the worst with these things."


    Ramil PD continued to exin the rules of thepetition. Lena watched the show with full focus. Because of this, she didn''t notice the soft sound of footsteps approaching her bedroom


    door.


    They were in the middle of picking their teammates through the bowl when Lina finally heard it-the faint creak of the doorknob twisting open.


    "Mom, you''re home? Why didn''t you show up in the living room?"


    Lena''s eyes widened in panic, feeling like her heart stopped beating.


    "Crap," she muttered.


    It seemed like time slowed down as Minjun opened the door. She couldn''t let herself get caught watching this dumb show!


    Without thinking, she fumbled with the remote, pressing a random button in her haste to change the channel. She had no idea what she''d pressed, but anything was better than being caught watching ''Everyday, Everynight'' after voicing out her disdain for June so much.


    Suddenly, the room was filled with loud, unmistakable groans and moans.


    Lena''s blood ran cold as she realized what she''d done.


    "Mom?" Minjun repeated.


    The door fully swung open, and there stood Minjun, his eyes wide in shock.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lena''s face turned a deep shade of red as she turned off the television. It was what she should


    have done in the very first ce.


    However, it was toote.


    Minjun pursed his lips and shook his head.


    "I see. You like watching on the big screen, Mom."

 Chapter 893: A Disaster Team

    Chapter 893: A Disaster Team


    ?


    Minjun leaned back against the doorframe, arms crossed and eyes narrowed, as Lena tried to look for the right words.


    The room plunged into silence, leaving only the faint hum of the air conditioner in the background. She faced him, trying topose herself after the embarrassing scene.


    "What are you doing here?" Lena asked, her voice sharper than intended.


    Minjun cracked one eye open, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Is it safe to look now?" he teased.


    Lena flushed, the embarrassment still fresh in her mind.


    "The guards said you were home. You didn''t greet me," Minjun said. "So, I came here to confirm it myself."


    "I was tired, son," Lena said, lying through her teeth.


    The odds ofnding on that channel, of all things... Lena couldn''t believe her luck orck thereof.


    "I mean," Minjun continued, clearing his throat. "If you miss Dad, you can just get back together. You have his number."


    "Minjun," Lena said in a warning tone. However, Minjun continued teasing his mother, obviously enjoying the urrence.


    "Or you can go to a club. You''re rich, Mom. I think a lot of men would-" "Minjun!" she scolded, her voice rising, more out of surprise than anger.


    Minjun chuckled, shaking his head. "I''m just messing with you, Mom."


    Lena shook her head and massaged her temples. "It was a mistake. It justnded on that channel."


    "Sure, Mom," Minjun said, but it was clear that he didn''t believe her at all.


    Lena''s face reddened further. In her entire life, this was probably the most embarrassed she had ever felt. Fortunately, Minjun switched to another topic before she could get die from embarrassment.


    "Anyway," he continued. "I didn''te here just to greet you. I came to tell you that some people came by a while back."


    "What for?" Lena frowned, trying to focus on the change in subject. "Don''t know. Insurance or something," Minjun replied with a shrug.


    "Did you go out?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.


    "Nope," Minjun said, looking unbothered. "Busy with video games."


    Lena sighed, feeling relieved. "You do just that," she said, waving him off.


    "Your safety is still the number one priority, alright?"


    Minjun nodded and gave her an ''okay'' sign.


    "Well, you can go now. Your mom''s pretty tired," Lena said, wanting to go back to the show quickly.


    Minjun just grinned-one that held a lot of meaning.


    Lena narrowed her eyes at his son. "It''s not what you''re thinking about."


    Before she could exin herself, Minjun was already waving her off.


    "You should really go on a blind date, Mom," Minjun said. "I think it would be good for you."


    With that, Minjun left, the door closing behind him.


    However, Lena was still focused on hisst statement. "A blind date, huh?"


    ***


    Meanwhile, back to the variety show''s challenge...


    June stood in front of the other contestants, waiting for his turn to pick a random teammate. Jisung had already been picked by Pablo. June was a little bit disappointed since Jisung was also great at these things. He was one of the more tech-savvy members, so June also wanted him on his team.


    With that, June reached through the bowl and hoped for someone like Jisung.


    He opened the piece of paper and pursed his lips.


    "Casper," he read.


    "Wooh!" Casper eximed, walking to where June was.


    June sighed as Casper excitedly bounced next to him.


    He had a knack for photography, but his social media feed was dominated by pictures of his cat. June wasn''t convinced that would trante into the kind of video they needed to win this


    challenge.


    The next name Pablo called out was Mei, and June''s sigh deepened.


    His sister had always been the expert when it came to things like this. She''d spent hours making edits of her favorite idols.


    She was great at those velocity edits, too! It was something June had neverprehended. How can she make people move slowly and then fast in such a short period of time?


    June reached into the bowl once more.


    "Uno," he said.


    Uno pursed his lips to hide his smile as he made his way next to June.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    June''s gazended on Uno, who was known for his title of ''Selfie King.'' Maybe that would give them a good advantage.


    Maybe.


    Pablo picked Joonie next, who shed a confident smile. They both knew that with Joonie''s experience in content creation, their team was stacked with talent.


    "You look happy," Ramil PD remarked.


    "I edited my own content before," Joonie responded. "I think we''d do a good job."


    June pursed his lips. Thest choices weren''t looking promising, but he had to make do. "Haruki," he called, watching as Haruki''s face lit up in excitement.


    But June wasn''t as thrilled. From what he knew, Haruki wasn''t the prodigy his twin brother Haruto was. It seemed like Haruki had talent in the singing, dancing, and rapping department while his brother took the other technical skills.


    As the selection process neared its end, June hoped to get Mimi on his team. She seemed like she had a good eye for this kind of thing.


    But when Pablo picked Mimi, June felt the weight of his luck once again.


    Hana was a very talented actress, but she was known for being an old soul.


    Well, June was more of an old soul than her, but of course, he didn''t want to admit that.


    - June''s team is filled with people who are good at everything except for the challenge they need to do.


    -Stop, you guys are roasting them too much.


    -It''s so fun, though!


    - June picked the worst team once again.


    - Wait, Haruki''s not good at these things, too?


    - Nope, he''s known in our fandom as the clumsy guy who needs help for everything.


    - What? But hees across aspetent.


    - He is when ites to work, but he''s really just a baby deep inside.


    - Uno is the same. He''s a great leader, but hecks humor. He also doesn''t get jokes so easily. I can


    already imagine the disaster that their video would be.


    - Hana stays in front of the screen because she can''t be behind it!


    - Casper''s good, I think, but he''s crazy.


    - Well, June''s not any better.


    - Four words: their team is fucked!

 Chapter 894: Meet Pops

    Chapter 894: Meet Pops


    ?


    "So...what are we going to do now?" Hana asked, breaking the silence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Their team of five had left the vicinity of their house and had settled in a nearby pond. They were seated along the big rocks, watching the other team a few meters away from them.


    Theirpetitors cheered, capturing their attention. They focused their gazes on them and saw that Pablo was doing some kind of trick.


    "They''re doing a 360 shot using Jisung''s height? That''s unfair!" Casper eximed.


    "What''s a 360 shot?" Haruki asked.


    "I love that new song by that American pop artist!" Uno chimed.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    - I love this team so much!


    - It''s such a contrast with the other team.


    - They definitely can''t beat them in terms of quality.


    - I wonder how they''re going to clutch this one. I really want to see June eat.


    "Anyway," June said, pping to capture their attention. "Do you guys have any idea how we can start this?"


    "Well," Haruki started off. "It looks like they''re set on making a movie over there. I doubt we would be able to do something simr to that."


    "What can we do then?" Casper frowned. "I don''t have an idea."


    Uno raised his hand. "I''m quite good at filming. I take videos for our LikLok challenges."


    Uno''s words brought hope to their hearts.


    "Really?" June asked. "Can you edit it, too?"


    Uno pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, I just film."


    They then turned to Haruki. "Don''t look at me," he said.


    "Let''s not think about that right now," Hana said. "Why don''t we head down south? I don''t think we should film here because our videos would turn out simr. It''s better to make it different from them. That way, we would have a chance to win."


    June nodded and stood from the pond, following the others further into the vige.


    They didn''t know how long they had walked, but they finally stopped when they saw a small house in the middle of the rice fields.


    Casper frowned. "Didn''t they tell us that the nearest house is a two-hour walk? Have we been walking that long?"


    "I don''t think so," Uno said. "It might be an abandoned house."


    "Well, do you guys want to go near it? It looks interesting," Casper said, suddenly feeling excited.


    June shrugged. "Sure, why not," he said.


    The group of five went near the house, expecting not to find anyone there. However, much to their surprise, an old man was actually inside, appearing to be peeling vegetables.


    As soon as he heard their footsteps, he stopped what he was doing and turned around, the knife in his hand directed toward them.


    Their eyes widened in shock, and they took a step back.


    - What the frick! Is June really this unlucky that they''re being threatened by an old man with a knife?


    - To be fair, I would also freak out if I suddenly encountered a group of people outside my house.


    - Yeah, cut the old man some ck!


    "We''re sorry," Hana immediately said, already having a soft spot for the old man. "Were you surprised?"


    Fortunately, the old man''s face softened, and he didn''t appear as scary anymore.


    "Oh," he muttered. "Are you the artists that Ramil is filming with?"


    They slowly let their guards down and nodded.


    "Yes, sir," Uno nervously said. "We came because we thought your house was pretty."


    The old man chuckled, which lightened the atmosphere further. "Ah, it is pretty, right? I built this one for my wife."


    The group turned to each other with relief, knowing they didn''t encounter a dangerous old


    man.


    "Well, what are you doing here?" he asked. "Did Ramil starve you again?"


    "You know about the show, sir?" Casper asked.


    "Of course!" he said. "The vigers watch it every night in the town''s center. Everyone loves


    it there. I''m definitely going to be famous once this episodees out."


    They chuckled in response.


    "And you can stop calling me ''sir.'' I''m just a simple old man. You can call me ''Pops'' instead."


    "Pops," June muttered. "That''s nice," he said, speaking loudly for the first time since they arrived at the house.


    The old man nced at him and was surprised.


    "Wow," he said. "What a beautiful young man! You look like you could be my son."


    The others chuckled while June smiled in response.


    - See! June just has that charm that makes everyone like him.


    - I definitely do not see the resemnce, but Pops seems like a great guy.


    - Pops is so cute! I''m reminded of my grandpa. I miss him so much. Rest in chaos, old man!


    "Now, how may I help you?" he asked. "I''m assuming you came here for something."


    Just then, Hana had a great idea.


    This old man was the epitome of life! He looked as if he had lived through the wars. If there was one person who knew a lot about life, then it was this old man!


    "Can you help us, Pops?" she suddenly asked, surprising the others.


    "We have to make this video about life, and I think you''ll be the perfect person to be in it! Do you want to help us?"


    "Well," the old man started off, scratching the back of his head. "I''m not really good at these things. This old man isn''t inclined to new technologies."


    "Don''t worry, Pops," Casper said. "This friend over here," he continued, pointing to June, "is the same as you! We will help you."


    Pops chuckled in amusement, enjoying that he was beingpared with June. He did remind him of a child he never had.


    "Alright," he said. "But we can''t film inside the house. I don''t want to wake my wife up."


    "Oh, she''s here with you?" June asked.


    "Hmm," Pops said. "This is our farmhouse. Wee here when we harvest our vegetables."


    "I see," June muttered. "That''s alright then. Shall we head out then?"


    Pops nodded with a wide smile.


    "Alright, young spirits. Let''s make you win!"

 Chapter 895: What Life Is...

    Chapter 895: What Life Is...


    ?


    Uno turned out the camera and started filming Pops.


    The weathered lines on his face told stories that words never could, and his eyes sparkled with the kind of wisdom only years of hard work and love could bring.


    "You''re a genius," June said, nudging Hana''s shoulder, causing thetter''s cheeks to redden.


    - Kyaah! This couple is actually pretty cute.


    - Please don''t ship June with anyone.


    - June can''t be in a rtionship.


    - What a weird crowd.


    They were standing by his small, modest farmhouse, surrounded by the green fields.


    Pops had just finished telling them about his life as a farmer. He spoke with passion and a little bit of humor, which made the filming process even more enjoyable.


    The cast members were excited, their earlier worries about the challenge dissipating as they got lost in the old man''s story.


    "It was great, wasn''t it?" Haruki whispered to June. "I think this could be a winning piece as long as we edit it nicely."


    June nodded, still absorbed in Pops'' words. The other team had opted for a more aesthetic approach. They couldn''t beat them in their own game.


    So, June and his team had chosen something different, something raw-more like a realistic vlog.


    Pops, noticing the camera still rolling, chuckled. "You all sure know how to make an old man feel special. I don''t know what you''re gonna do with all this talkin'', but I hope it''s good for you."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It''s more than good," June said, smiling warmly, signaling for Uno to end the video.


    The old man''s face softened, and he offered, "Why don''t you alle inside for a bit? Do you want some food?"


    Hana warily looked at the cameraman before shaking her head. "I don''t think we can do that, Pops."


    The old man''s face fell, so June quickly saved the situation. "They never told us about it being forbidden," he smiled. "We''ll go if that''s alright with you."


    "Of course!" Pops eximed. "I can give you some snacks-boiled corn and bananas if that''s alright?"


    Casper''s face lit up. "More than enough, Pops! Thank you!"


    The others looked at June with hesitation, but he nodded in assurance, so they all followed Pops inside his small home.


    It looks exactly what they expected it to be.


    The house was simple but cozy, with wooden furniture that had clearly seen many years of use. A few faded photographs decorated the walls, and arge framed picture of a beautiful woman was in the center. Her eyes were soft and kind, and her smile was full of life.


    "That''s my wife," Pops said, noticing their gazes lingering on the photo. His voice was filled with pride, and it was clear that the woman in the picture meant everything to him.


    June hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is it okay if we continue filming?"


    Pops nodded, waving his hand dismissively. "Go ahead. I don''t mind. Just don''t mind me, either."


    June carefully set the camera on the table, adjusting it so that it captured only Pops. They all gathered around, taking seats on the worn-out cushions on the floor, ready to hear more of Pops'' story.


    "How long have you lived here?" Uno asked.


    At that point, the scene faded into a different scene-one that showed the other team''s progress.


    However, those words still resonated with the cast members onsite.


    "All my life," Pops replied, his eyes zing as he recalled the past. "Thisnd was my father''s before it was mine. And his father''s before that."


    "Wow," Haruki breathed out, clearly impressed. "That''s a long time."


    Pops chuckled softly, nodding. "It is. A lifetime, really."


    "Did you ever want more?" June asked carefully. "Like, did you ever wish you could''ve done something different? Lived somewhere else?"


    For a moment, Pops turned silent. It seemed like he was searching for the right words. Then, he finally spoke.


    "I did," he admitted. "At one point in my life, I did. Don''t we all?"


    They all nodded. Living as entertainers, it did feel like they always wanted more. It was just the nature of their job.


    "I was young and restless, like all of you. I thought about leaving, going to the city, and making something big of myself. There was always that little voice in the back of my head telling me I was meant for more."


    He paused, ncing at the photo of his wife before continuing. "But then I met her. And suddenly, all those dreams of ''more'' didn''t seem so important anymore. I found someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I realized that it didn''t matter if we had less. It just mattered that we had each other."


    The room was quiet, feeling touched by the old man''s words.


    Pops continued, his voice growing more thoughtful. "Isn''t it funny? Wee into this world with nothing, yet we always crave something more. We''re always chasing after things, thinking they''ll make us happy. But in the end, it''s the simple things that bring us the most joy. A good day''s work, a meal shared with loved ones, the warmth of a home... Those are the things that matter."


    June swallowed, feeling like he was being hit with multiple stones.


    "And that''s the beauty of life," Pops went on, his eyes twinkling. "When we protect what is dear to us when we sacrifice for those we love... That''s when life truly means something."


    June found himself nodding along, absorbing every word. He could see it now, the bigger picture. He felt the same way.


    He was doing all of this for his loved ones-to protect EVE and the dreams of young idols who wanted to make something out of themselves in this harsh industry.


    Hearing it from someone else ced things into perspective, and he was reassured he was


    going on the right path.


    "Can we meet her?" June asked softly, gesturing to the photo of Pops'' wife.


    Pops'' smile faltered just a bit, and he shook his head slowly.


    "She''s sick," he whispered. "Been bedridden for a while now. But she''s still the most


    beautiful woman I''ve ever known."

 Chapter 896: Junes Editing Skills Are Challenged

    Chapter 896: June''s Editing Skills Are Challenged


    ?


    For some reason, Lena was getting bored with watching the other team. Somehow, it was going too well for them. So, when June''s team was shown once again, a small smile appeared on her face.


    "You can stay here while I harvest more vegetables. You have to edich the video, right?" Pops asked as he ced a wide-brim hat over his head.


    "Edich," Haruki smiled in amusement. "Yes, Pops. If that''s alright."


    "Go ahead," Pops said. "Just don''t be too noisy since my wife may wake up."


    They nodded in understanding and went ahead with delegating one of the most important tasks-editing.


    Uno brought out theptop that the crew had provided for them and transferred the videos to theptop.


    "Now, who''s good at editing?" he asked.


    Casper shook his head. "I can only do basic editing. I can''t do those special effects that you want to add."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    They turned to Haruki, who raised his arms in surrender. "Again, don''t look at me. I''m clueless with these things."


    Hana cleared her throat in embarrassment. "I''m a great actress, but I can''t pretend to know how to edit a video."


    Uno scratched the back of his neck. "June, you''re talented in music production, right?"


    "Yes!" Casper eximed, appearing even prouder than June. "He''s the best."


    "Then, you must have a knack with video editing, too. They''re pretty simr," Uno said, sliding theptop toward June without his consent.


    June scratched the back of his neck. In theory, he was good at music production. However, his skills were provided by Fu.


    - Well, June is good at everything, even if it''s his first try.


    -You''re right about that.


    - He can do this! I believe in June!


    -Go, team! I''m rooting for you.


    "It doesn''t have to beplicated," Casper said. "We do want those wind effects and the background music," he added.


    June remained silent as he pulled theptop closer to him. Hana even helped him put on the headphones so he could concentrate further.


    He looked at all the footage and let out a sigh.


    June truly didn''t have an idea, but he did just what his guts told him to. He had a pretty good track record of trying out new things! This will probably work for him.


    With that, he got to work while the others chattered among themselves.


    June tuned out his environment, clicking away at theptop.


    The others looked at him with amusement.


    "He looks like those hackers we see in kid films," Haruki said in amusement.


    "I don''t think he can hear us," Uno added with a smile.


    "Alright, I just need to get through this firewall," Casper said, adding in thementary as the cameraman filmed June.


    June''s eyebrows furrowed, causing them to chuckle.


    "Then, we need to hack the system by going through the matrix. Ah, this is pretty tough," Casper added as the others continued tough.


    -They are so cute!


    - Honestly, I feel like this type of friendship is really precious.


    - Well, Pops'' words really got to me. I''m sure that hearing it together is also life-changing.


    "But, if I just go through the smodium instead of the wall crack, then we''ll be able to make it faster," Casper continued, now adding random words.


    "And finally, we''re in!" he ended his statement, and along with that, June removed his


    headphones.


    "I''m done," June said, finally looking at the rest of his teammates.


    He frowned when he saw the surprised look on their faces.


    "No way," Haruki said. "You just predicted that?"


    Hana shook her head in disbelief. "Your chemistry is really out of this world. How close are you guys in EVE?"


    "Very close," Casper smiled.


    June remained confused. "What are you guys talking about?"


    They shook their heads. "Watch it on the show," Uno said. "By the way, are you done?"


    "Yeah," June said. "I haven''t yed it back, so I don''t know how good it is. How long do have we left?" he asked the cameraman.


    The cameraman looked at his timer. "Less than 3 minutes," he said.


    June clicked his tongue. "Well, it looks like we''re sticking with this one."


    The others nodded and gathered around him. June''s hand hovered above the y button. Once everyone was settled, he pressed y.


    The cameraman merely filmed their reaction.


    The video yed, and the looks on their faces couldn''t be painted.


    "What...is this?" Haruki muttered, wondering what he was watching.


    June''s eyes widened. "What did I do?" he asked.


    Uno''s eyes narrowed while Hana ced her hand over her mouth, stifling a chuckle.


    Casper pursed his lips, not wanting to say anything. He stood by the fact that June did well in


    everything.


    - What''s with their reactions? I can''t predict what the video is.


    - Girl, it''s obviously bad.


    - Yeah, Haruki is holding in tears while Hana is holding in herughter. Uno looks constipated, while


    Casper looks like he just ate something bad.


    - Oh, I can''t wait to watch the video.


    - I don''t think we should anticipate it that much.


    "What are we going to do?" Haruki finally asked, concern heard in his voice.


    Uno let out a sigh. "You know what-this might actually work. This editing style is trending


    these days."


    "Yes! I''ve seen it somewhere," Casper said.


    June clicked his tongue. "Don''t lie."


    "Well," Hana muttered. "If we''re going forughter, then..."


    "Time''s up!" the cameraman eximed. "Please render your video and head back to the


    garden."


    The others'' eyes widened in surprise. "What?" Haruki asked. "We haven''t even watched the


    entire video."


    "Sorry," the cameraman said. "I''m just following orders."


    They sighed and did as they''d been told, all while muttering assurances to each other.


    "Hey, it''s okay," Casper said.


    "It''s not finished, though," June said. "You didn''t get to see thest part."


    "Umm, it''s going to be funny, and that''s all that matters!" Casper added, attempting to make


    June feel better. However, it wasn''t really working.


    With that, they were forced to hand over theptop to the cameraman and leave.


    However, before they could take a step out of Pops'' small house, someone suddenly spoke-


    the voice of an olddy.


    "Honey!"

 Chapter 897: Pablos Pretty Video

    Chapter 897: Pablo''s Pretty Video


    ?


    "That''s his wife, I think," Hana said.


    "Crap," Haruki muttered. "Were we too loud?"


    "Honey?" the voice repeated.


    "What are we going to do? Pops is out in the field," Uno said.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Someone say that to the old woman," Casper instructed.


    They all turned to June, who was innocently putting away the skins of the bananas they''d eaten.


    June frowned. "What?" he asked.


    "Didn''t Pops say that he looked like you before? Why don''t you go in? I don''t want to be scolded," Casper said.


    "I''ll be waiting outside," the cameraman said. "Make sure to go out in three minutes."


    They nodded and continued to push June toward the door.


    June clicked his tongue and went to the room, wanting to get it over with. Moreover, he had a soft spot for olddies-not in a weird way! From time to time, he still missed his Grandma.


    With that, he carefully opened the door.


    "Ma''am," he softly said. There, he saw an old woman lying down on the small bed. The half of her face was covered with the nket, but her eyes could be seen.


    "Honey?" she repeated.


    June scratched the back of his head. "Sorry for that, ma''am. We came down here to visit Pops. He''s out on the field right now."


    "Oh," she muttered. "I see."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "Do you want me to fetch him?"


    She shook her head. "That''s alright," she said. Although her lips couldn''t be seen, it was obvious she was smiling through her eyes.


    "I''m d that my husband is back to farming. It was another thing he loved."


    "Yes, it appears as such," June said.


    "Yes," she smiled. "I''m d. Now, I can go," she softly said.


    "Huh?" June asked, not hearing what she had just said. "What was that?"


    "Nothing," she said. "I''m d that you came here and told me this thing. In return, I shall tell you something."


    June frowned as the old woman suddenly ced her hand over his. "Sometimes, the thing you are looking for is just right under your nose."


    June''s frown deepened.


    "Now go," she said. "I hear them waiting for you."


    June was still confused, but he felt like he had no choice but toply.


    "Umm, okay," he said. "Get well soon, ma''am."


    She smiled once again. "I am well," she said. "Do not worry."


    June nodded and finally went out of the room. There, he saw the others waiting for him. "Well, did she scold you?" Hana asked.


    June shook his head. "No," he said. "She''s sweet...just like Pops."


    The others sighed in relief. "Well, let''s go now. They must be waiting for us," Haruki said.


    They nodded and finally went out of the house. There, they saw Pops farming from afar. They called his name and waved goodbye, to which he responded with an equally enthusiastic smile and wave.


    Then, they walked back to the garden, where arge white projector was already set up. The other team was also already there, sitting on one side.


    "There they are!" Ramil eximed. "What took you guys so long?"


    "Don''t scold them, Ramil," Pablo said. "I''m sure they needed all the time they could get."


    Ramil shook his head. "Fine," he said. "Anyway, our voters are already here. Currently, only your cameramen know the content of the video. Therefore, they will be abstaining from the Vote,"


    June looked around at the staff members. There were around 30 of them around, with Ramil PD in the very middle.


    "Again, this will be a blind vote. Now, please y the first video!"


    - Kyaah! I''m so excited.


    - I''ve been waiting for this since the beginning of the show.


    - It won''t be a blind vote for us.


    - Pablo''s team''s video is ying!


    Indeed, the first video was that of Pablo and his team.


    The first shot, which showed the pretty sun, had the staff members nodding in amazement.


    "Wow, that''s so pretty," Hana said.


    Then, it transitioned to the fields and the colorful flowers. The sound of the birds chirping apanied the heavenly view, which added to the ''wow'' factor.


    -Wow, this is so pretty.


    - I would like to live in this ce.


    - I would vote for this based on visuals alone.


    Not only that, but their team decided to pull out the wild card! Various shots of animals were included, causing them to aww out of cuteness.


    Pablo smiled proudly, but he concealed it, not wanting to give away that it was their video.


    To put the cherry on top, they included a 360 view of the entire ce.


    It definitely impressed the judges, even Ramil PD.


    "How could they do that without the proper equipment?" he muttered, writing some stars on


    his clipboard.


    Then, it faded to ck, signaling the end of the video.


    The staff members, along with the cast members, pped loudly.


    "Ah, we''re ruined," Haruki muttered when he remembered how June edited their video.


    Uno shook his head. "I still think we have a chance," he whispered.


    June intertwined his fingers on top of hisp. He had a big picture for the video. He wasn''t able to trante it well during the first part, but he wished that it would be shown in thetter


    portion.


    "Alright, let the first video marinate in your minds," Ramil PD. "It was a very pretty video, by the way. Whoever made it seems to have an artistic mind."


    The other staff members nodded in agreement.


    The next video needed to be incredibly beautiful so they could rate it even higher!


    - I''m so excited for the next one.


    - It''s June''s team next. They built the anticipation so much.


    - Please don''t expect too much from our kitty. He''s not the best in this.


    The video finally yed. It started off with a ck screen-a mistake on June''s part. He didn''t


    realize he had ced a title sequence in the beginning.


    Then, the words ''Put Title Here'' were shown, causing him to purse his lips.


    Meanwhile, the others chuckled in amusement.


    His teammates couldn''t bear to watch their video. Even Uno, who voiced out his support,


    turned away in embarrassment.


    Then, the first scene finally yed.

 Chapter 898: Life Is Just Is

    Chapter 898: Life Is Just Is


    ?


    - Did June really do this?


    -Fck, I''m so proud of him. Since when did he learn about trends?


    - This trend is rtively new, too. June is a genius!


    The next cut after the title sequence was Pops standing in front of the field.


    "Ready, go!" a cue was even heard from behind the camera.


    Hana shook her head and ced her hands over her face. However, she heard chucklesing from the staff, which made her slowly retreat her hands.


    Then, just as Pops was about to speak, it cut to the next scene. In short, only a breath was heard in the first clip.


    Another round of chuckles was heard from the staff.


    The next scene was Pops nting some rice and falling onto his butt. However, before he couldnd, it switched to another scene again.


    "Rice," he merely said.


    The chuckles had now turned intoughter, making June confused.


    "Ah," he muttered.


    Now, he realized what had happened in the first minute of the clip. Instead of cutting out the bad parts, he mistook them and cut out the good parts instead. Therefore, all of these were the cuts that supposedly didn''t make it in.


    - It''s the iconic Gen Z editing!


    - The ''I make my gen z intern edit my video'' trend.


    - I love these videos when theye up on my LikLok. They''re the best at promoting products nowadays.


    -I agree! June pulled it off perfectly.


    Truly, since these were the bad cuts, they didn''t flow coherently. The clips felt out of ce, yet somehow, it also felt right.


    The next scene was Pops frolicking around the field.


    "People who don''t eat rice have mommy issues!"


    - That, I agree with.


    - LOL. What are these controversial takes?


    - It''s all just breathing, falling, scenes of nted wheat, and some funny opinions. This is the best!


    Jisung covered his mouth to stifle hisughter. This was right up his alley!


    It seemed like the crew was enjoying it, too. It differed from the slow-paced, aesthetic video that Pablo''s team had put out. Instead, it was the type of video that was so bad that you couldn''t take your eyes away from it.


    - Not going to lie, this is he entertaining.


    - Yeah, Pablo''s video was really pretty-borderline professional, but our attention span is so cooked these days that this satisfies it!


    - But it reallycks the depth that Pablo''s team had.


    - I agree. It would be weird to let this video win when it doesn''t contribute anything except forughter.


    Just then, as Pops showed a thumbs up to the camera, some sad piano music yed in the background. Fortunately, it seemed tastefully done since June was actually talented in editing audio.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ramil PD wiped the tears from his eyes as the sad piano music filled the garden.


    "What''s this?" he muttered, finding it even more hrious.


    "This is so random," Pablo exhaled. "Why is music suddenly ying?"


    Then, the next scene was finally shown, causing theughter to die down.


    The others turned to June with surprise. They had to stop watching at this part a while ago, so they didn''t expect June to add the scene of their conversation with Pops.


    Fortunately, this didn''t need much editing. He just cut out the part where he talked about his wife and talked about life instead.


    "Life," Pops started off.


    The others started paying more attention.


    "Sometimes we think too much about it," he continued. "What is life? What is my purpose? What is the answer to all of these questions?"


    The onceughter-filled garden was now silent, with only the sound of the old man''s voice resonating through the speakers.


    "Life is something we keep trying to solve, even though there might not be a solution. I''ve spent so much time wondering about its purpose-questioning what it all means."


    He paused for a second, and at that moment, the music swelled, sounding more beautiful than ever. It made the others pay even greater attention to his words.


    - Oh crap. They pulled out the humorous-emotional duo.


    -What did we expect from June?


    - Definitely not this. Why is it so well-edited all of a sudden?


    - It''s not that it''s well-edited. It''s just not edited that much. This feels so raw that I can''t help but think I''m conversing with my real grandpa. I miss that old man."


    "However," Pops finally continued. "Maybe there isn''t a clear answer, and maybe that''s


    okay."


    "We''re told that everything has meaning-that everything that happens, happens for a reason. Sometimes, I believe that, too. But other times, searching for that meaning feels like a trap that makes life lose its magic."


    June nodded in agreement. He was being sucked into the video he edited, too. Pops'' words were filled with so much wisdom, and he was thankful that he was able to capture it on camera and y it for other people.


    "Maybe life is just about what happens without needing a reason. You''re sad? It just is. You''re sick? It just is. There are things we can''t change, no matter how much we want to. But what we can change is how we react."


    "We chase happiness like it''s something we can capture, but we forget that it''s something we create within ourselves. Oftentimes, we stand at a crossroads-what option, what road will make us happier? However, how can we be sure that any choice will make us happy?"


    The question caused Ramil PD to hold his breath. He, too, had experienced a lot of crossroads. And until now, he still wondered what it would be like if he had taken a different path. Pops'' words seemed to enlighten him.


    "We can''t," Pops smiled, the warmth reaching his eyes. "At the end of the day, life is just what it is both meaningless and meaningful at the same time."


    "So, I think the best thing we can do isugh, make memories, and stop worrying about how little time we have. Because in the end, life just is, and maybe that''s all it needs to be."

 Chapter 899: The Shocking Reveal

    Chapter 899: The Shocking Reveal


    ?


    And just like that, the scene faded to ck.


    However, it didn''t end at that.


    Like they had gone full circle, a credit sequence was inputted. As expected, though, it didn''t contain anything except for the temte.


    ''Credits''


    ''Insert name here.''


    ''Insert role here''


    That elicited another round of chuckles from the crowd, but it was the type that didn''t find it dumb. However, it felt more of a lighthearted conclusion to such a beautiful video.


    - Crap. I didn''t think this show would make me cry!


    - I thought this was supposed to be a survival show.


    - Thanks for making me remember my dead grandpa.


    - But in all honesty, that was really good. It was so funny at first that I felt like it wouldck depth. But, it was the right amount of everything.


    - June is a genius!


    - Do you think he meant for the video toe out that way?


    Casper nced at June. "That was so good," he muttered.


    "Thanks," June said back. "I didn''t mean for it toe out that way."


    Pablo pursed his lips and shook his head, almost as if he had epted his defeat. At the end of the day, how could he even think of beating June? The guy was overpowered to the maximum! Yet, he always stayed humble, so even then, a lot of people tend to underestimate him.


    Joonie clenched his fists under his legs. He thought their team was a hundred percent going to win! He edited their video so tastefully, and he couldn''t believe that a poorly edited video could potentially beat their team.


    "No," he muttered. "They''ll pull through."


    The voting began, and the staff whipped out their phones to choose the team on an online poll.


    Without hesitation, Ramil PD clicked on an option. As a PD, his criteria for the video was its potential to go viral. Among the two, there was a clear winner.


    After a while, the voting finally came to an end.


    Ramil PD cleared his throat. "The results are in," he started off.


    Uno and Haruki nced at each other with knowing looks on their faces.


    "The team that had won is...,"


    "...the first team!" Ramil PD eximed, also sounding surprised.


    Joonie jumped up in his seat while Mimi and the others looked at each other with shock. Even Pablo, the mastermind behind the camera, couldn''t quite believe it.


    Joonie turned to his teammates and smiled. "This is great!" he said. "We really did a good job."


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. He didn''t feel too good about winning when he liked the other team''s video better.


    Ramil PD also looked at the results of the poll. He couldn''t be mistaken. The score was 51% to 49%. It was a pretty small margin, but the first team really won.


    "Hmm," he hummed. "They still have a long way to go. They can''t see the potential of the video to go viral."


    But then again, maybe this was for the best. He could already imagine thements raging because of their unexpected win. It would further increase the engagement of the show.


    - Oh,e on. I quite like Pablo''s team''s video, but it was pretty shallowpared to the other team''s video.


    - Is technicality a criterion in this? If not, then I don''t see how the first team could win.


    - Guys, June doesn''t even look upset. Can we chill out a bit?


    June''s team sighed. However, they weren''t too disappointed.


    Maybe because their stomachs were already full.


    "Well, it''s a good thing we ate those bananas and corn," Hana whispered.


    Uno nodded. "I had three each. Honestly, I don''t think I could eat more."


    "Me too," June said.


    "Me three," Haruki muttered.


    "Pops fed me rice," Casper suddenly said.


    That led their team to smile and chuckle in amusement, not really minding their loss.


    "The video was really beautiful, though," Hanaplimented. "The first part was really funny, so I thought we could win with humor. But, you pulled a hidden move at the very end there."


    June shrugged. "Pops'' words were way tooforting for us to keep to ourselves."


    Meanwhile, the reaction on the other team continued to be lukewarm.


    "Well, we worked hard," Pablo said.


    Mimi pursed her lips and nodded.


    Joonie couldn''t hide his smile. Even if June''s video captured the theme of the challenge more, Joonie had something that he didn''t have a connection.


    As a returning cast member, he had built rtionships with some of the cast members. Of course, they would win! He had hinted to the other staff, whom he was close with, to vote for the first video.


    "As promised," Ramil PD started off, capturing their attention.


    "Only the winning team will be getting the prize. Honestly, I was surprised at first when I saw Pops in your video," he added.


    Then, he brought out a bag of bananas and corn.


    "He''s the one who provided this for us," he smiled. "It''s freshly harvested from his farm!"


    June''s team pursed their lips together to hide their reaction. Their cameraman, too, stifled a


    chuckle.


    - Oh goodness. Did they really win?


    - The other team had already eaten it before them.


    - This doesn''t make me too upset about the loss now.


    The first team happily took their prize, while June''s team remained silent. They began to have their lunch. Jisung went to where June and Casper were and offered them some of the food.


    However, the two shook their heads.


    "Just eat it, Ji," Casper said.


    Jisung pouted. "But I feel bad."


    "Don''t," Casper warned. "You''ll regret feeling bad for us after you watch this episode."


    June nodded in agreement while Jisung remained confused.


    As the other team continued to eat, Ramil PD decided to strike up a conversation with June''s


    team.


    "Pops is a great guy, right?" he asked.


    Their team nodded in agreement.


    "I first met the old man when we were doing an ocr survey here. The next house is a two- hour walk away, so imagine our fright when we saw an old man standing from afar." "However, the other locals said that Pops is harmless-he just visits the farmhouse when he


    misses his wife. His children even spearhead the harvest of their crops, so the reason is truly


    because of his wife."


    "Right," Hana chuckled. "Pops loves his wife so much. But why does she stay at the


    farmhouse while Pops stays with his children?"


    Ramil PD frowned, directing his gaze at them.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "Why is the old woman living all alone in that ce?" Haruki asked, genuinely curious.


    Ramil PD chuckled, making them confused.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Pops'' wife is already dead. She''s been dead for three years now."

 Chapter 900: Family Tree

    Chapter 900: Family Tree


    ?


    "No..."


    "Leave me alone..."


    A woman showed up in the middle of the forest, her facial features luded by her long dark hair.


    "I''m here," she whispered, echoing through the woods.


    "I''ve been here all along! I''ve been hinting that it''s me."


    "Find me."


    "Find me, June."


    Just then, he heard what seemed to be a chuckle. However, it wasn''t manic-not even intimidating. In fact, it sounded warm...and familiar.


    However, just as he was about to bask in the warmth of the familiarughter, the woman came charging toward him at full speed.


    June jolted awake, breathing heavily as he looked around the small room. He ced his hand over his racing heart and calmed down when he realized it was just a nightmare.


    "What the heck was that?" he muttered.


    Was it because of that old woman? How could Ramil PD casually reveal that she has been dead for three years?


    June shook his head. The world was strange, for sure.


    But then again, he was the one who experienced transmigration. In life, unexinable things just happen.


    He nced at the analog clock on the wall and saw that it was already 4 in the morning. Well, there was no way he would be able to go back to sleep at that point. So, with that, he quietly got up from his bed and went down to the kitchen.


    He opened the fridge to grab some water. There was nothing like downing a crisp ss of water at dawn. He sighed in relief when it hit the right ces.


    Then, he stretched his body, wondering what he should do until the other cast members woke up.


    "Should we cook breakfast?" he muttered.


    He rummaged through the fridge for the bananas and corn that the other team had set aside. However, he realized that they were already gone.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Huh," he said. "Did we eat them all?"


    June remembered them setting aside a few so they could have some for breakfast. They had expected that it would get harder to fight for food in the next few days.


    June shrugged and closed the refrigerator. They still had some fresh vegetables nted in the garden, so he might as well use those.


    "Hmm," June hummed, nodding to himself. He grabbed his jacket and ced it on, about to go out of the house to harvest some vegetables when he suddenly heard some strange soundsing from the back of the house.


    June frowned and hesitated.


    "Holy crap," he whispered. As far as he knew, the staff members came to the house at around 6 AM. The other cast members were also fast asleep, so there was no other usible exnation for the noise.


    Did the dead olddy follow him here?


    June felt a shiver run down his spine, but he mustered up the courage to walk to the back of the house. As he got nearer and nearer, the groaning sounds also became louder. His frown deepened, and his steps became even more quiet and calcted.


    Then, the sound became even more vivid. With that, June peeked through the wall, expecting to see the old woman that haunted him earlier on.


    However, the scene before him was even more shocking.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    What was he doing here?


    ***


    Lei''s hands shook as June''s clips haunted his Navel feed. Even if he had already blocked most ounts rted to June, he still managed to worm his way into Lei''s routine!


    So many people were talking about the already popr idol-and not in the way that Lei would have wanted. June was the talk of the town because of his good deeds and down-to- earth personality.


    He didn''t even speak much in the show, but why was it that he still had the most screentime?


    Lei shook his head, trying to find something positive amidst all of this.


    "The higher he is, the more devastating the fall," he whispered, a small smile finally appearing on his face.


    With that, he clicked away from Navel and headed straight to the album preparations of EVE.


    He listened to their improved title track and nodded to himself. It was definitely going to be a


    hit. It seemed like Ren was more talented at this than he had thought.


    However, his work was interrupted when Dan entered through the doors, appearing breathless and excited.


    Lei lifted his head and raised one eyebrow.


    "I told you not to interrupt me if it''s not for a good reason. We are busy with the album preparations," he deadpanned, going back to listening to the song.


    Dan breathed heavily, trying to calm down his beating heart.


    "No, sir. This is important," he said.


    Lei clicked his tongue and half-closed hisptop before crossing his arms in front of his


    chest.


    "This better be good," Lei said.


    "Yes, sir," Dan said, not being able to contain his smile. "I know that we''ve been looking for so long, but I believe that he''s finally been found."


    Lei''s eyebrows rxed, feeling adrenaline course through his veins. He already had a hunch about what it would be, but he still needed to make sure.


    "Who?" he asked.


    Dan smirked as he showed his phone to Lei. It was an address, along with a photo of arge house. It was the type of house that was reminiscent of that in the hit movie-''Parasight.''


    "The head, sir," Dan said.


    "We finally found him."


    "Kwan Kim."


    Dan scrolled through his phone and showed Lei another photo. It was a man, appearing to be his age. It lined up perfectly. Based on Phoenix''s founder''s biography, his son would be


    around the same age.


    "How are you sure?" Lei asked, still wanting more assurance.


    Dan smirked. "He has a mysterious background-so we can never be too sure. However, his worth is simr to that of what the owner of Phoenix would make."


    "Moreover, his age lines up. Based on the timeline, the current ''head'' would be around his


    age," he continued.


    "Andst but not least, he is part of the integral ''Kim'' family tree-one that Kim Youngdo


    belongs in."


    Lei''s eyebrows raised in curiosity.


    "The one and only nephew of Kim Youngdo."

 Chapter 901: A Rare Date

    Chapter 901: A Rare Date


    ?


    Minjun woke up with a wide smile. It was the weekend, and he had spent the entire night ying his favorite video game. Not only that, but he was able to win one of the rare skins for his favorite character.


    It was one that couldn''t be bought with money, so he had wanted it more than anything. Money has never been an issue for him, so if it had a price tag, then he could just buy it!


    His grandma in heaven must be scolding him now, but what could he do? Hecked the love of his parents at a young age, and they were making it up by providing for him financially. Of course, he was going to exploit it!


    He walked out of his room and stretched his arms.


    He saw the digital clock on the wall and saw that it was already past noon. Just then, Minjun heard his stomach growl. He smiled and patted his stomach.


    "Should we feed these monsters?" he asked, directing his footsteps to the pantry. He was ready to devour all of the snacks that their personal chef had prepared.


    However, as he arrived at the pantry, he saw someone dressed prettily, appearing anxious as she drank water. She was extra careful since she didn''t want to smudge her lipstick.


    Minjun''s eyes nearly budged out of his head.


    "Mom?" he eximed.


    Lena nced at her son and shook her head. "You just woke up? I know you don''t have school, but it''s not good for your health to stay up sote and wake up at this time during weekends." "Says the workaholic," Minjun said. "You should take the advice for yourself."


    Lena shook her head and continued drinking water.


    "I''m surprised that you''re still here, by the way. You''re usually out for work. Do you have an important meeting or something? You''re dressed way too prettily for it."


    "I look pretty?" Lena asked, tilting her head to the side.


    Minjun pursed his lips. "I mean I did get my looks from you."


    Lena chuckled and walked toward him before ruffling his hair.


    "Thanks, brat," she said. "I''m not going to a meeting, by the way. I decided to take the day off."


    Minjun was once again shocked. "You?" he eximed. "A day off? Since when?"


    Lena clicked her tongue. Well, she was never the type to take a day off. However, watching ''Everyday, Everynight,'' she felt like she also wanted to take a day off. She had been watching since the first episode, and now that they were on their 6th day, she felt really inspired.


    "If you''re not going to a meeting, then where are you going?" Minjun asked.


    "Do you remember Mr. Kwan Kim?" she asked.


    Minjun instantly frowned. "That nerdy guy next door? Why?"


    "He''s not a nerdy guy," Lena said. "He''s just passionate about cryptocurrency."


    "What about him?" Minjun asked. "You really went after a nerdy guy? You could just go back with Dad, or better yet, you could go after my big bro! He''s way more handsome than that guy!"


    "But wait, you would get death threats left and right," he muttered. "That would be pretty fun, though. But then, June''s career would also be ruined."


    "So, no, my big bro is off-limits."


    "Minjun," Lena said, massaging the bridge of her nose. "I told you to stop mentioning his name."


    Minjun clicked his tongue. "Anyway, aren''t the two of you pretty close? You''ve also invested in him, right?"


    "Yes," Lena said. "Well, I was supposed to talk about our investment yesterday, but he had another visitor."


    Minjun''s eyes narrowed. "I don''t like where this is going."


    "His visitor was pretty handsome," she smiled, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "We talked a little bit, and it seems like we have the same interests."


    Minjun sighed. "So, you''re going after a normal person now? Did you do another background check on him?"


    Lena shook her head. "Nope," she said. "I don''t want to do that. I actually want to try and have a genuine human rtionship."


    "And he''s not a normal person. He''s also a CEO," she smiled. "We decided to grab some coffee downtown. That''s why I''m dressed like this."


    "Hmm," Minjun hummed, narrowing his eyes at his mother. "I still don''t buy it."


    "Aww, is my little son upset about this? I thought you wanted me to go out and date? It''s


    been a long time since I''ve done something like this-too long, actually. He''s the first person to capture my attention right at the very beginning."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don''t you want your mom to be happy?"


    Minjun felt something tug at his heart. It was true that he told her mom to date someone. It truly had been a while since she tried for love.


    However, something nagged at the back of Minjun''s head. If her mom finds love from someone else, then will she not need him anymore?


    Minjun subtly shook his head.


    "Of course, I want you to be happy, Mom," he softly smiled, causing Lena to also break out into a smile.


    "You know that I always want you to be happy," he added.


    Lena patted his cheek. "I would kiss your cheek, but I don''t want my lipstick to smudge."


    Just then, a car horn was heard from outside of their house.


    "That''s him," she said. "Wish me luck?"


    "Good luck, Mom," Minjun said, his voiceing out weaker than he had wanted.


    With that, her mom walked toward the door, giving him onest wave before she closed it.


    As soon as the door was closed, Minjun, as well as the other workers, ran to the living room window to get a glimpse of the man who had captured the attention of the irondy.


    "Let me see!" Minjun insisted, securing his spot amidst the other workers.


    With his hair ruffled, he watched as the man got out of his expensive-looking car and opened the door to the passenger seat, leading his mom inside. There was a wide smile on his


    rtively handsome face, causing Minjun to frown.


    "Wait a minute," he muttered.


    "That''s Azure''s CEO."

 Chapter 902: Cupcake Mission

    Chapter 902: Cupcake Mission


    ?


    "It''s already our seventh day," Haruki grumbled. Casper turned to him and was startled by his appearance.


    During their first three days, it was obvious that the cast members still put a lot of effort into their looks.


    However, now that they were on their seventh day, most of them sported bare faces.


    Haruki''s stubble had grown in, and his hair was unkempt. Meanwhile, Jisung''s dark circles had be more prominent after their consecutive night missions.


    Mimi and Hana, too, appeared paler than before. Mei, on the other hand, appeared like she had lost her mind. It was probably theck of junk food in her system. For the past six days, all they had eaten were fresh produce.


    "You alright?" Jisung asked in a gruff voice, nudging Mei.


    Mei''s hands shook. "I...need...GMOs," she muttered.


    Jisung pursed his lips and stared off into the distance. "Same," he muttered. "I really want a chicken nugget."


    Pablo arrived, appearing like a stale bag of chips.


    Mimi''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "You didn''t wash your face," she said.


    Pablo groaned and slumped down on the big bench under the mango tree. It had been their hang-out ce ever since, and most of the cast members went there to greet the morning sun. However, even the sun couldn''t cheer them up today.


    "Who cares?" Pablo groaned, cing his head on top of Casper''sp. "I''m not an idol like you, guys. They won''t care if I haven''t washed my face."


    Then, Joonie also arrived. The others turned to him and scowled.


    "Why does this dude look fine, though?" Pablo asked. "Have you been eating more than us?"


    "I feel like I''ve lost weight from only eating sweet potatoes and leaves," Uno muttered.


    Joonie scratched the back of his neck. "We eat the same thing."


    Hana sighed. "I am really hungry, though."


    Pablo turned to Ramil PD, who appeared like he didn''t care about their sentiments. "Hey, Ramil," he said.


    Ramil lifted his head. "What''s up?"


    "Are you going to make us work on the seventh day, too?" he asked. "Even the creator of the world rested on the seventh day!"


    Ramil smiled. "We''re not the creators of the world," he simply said, causing the others to groan in disappointment.


    Just then, Pablo looked around. "Where''s June?"


    "Cooking, as usual," Casper responded.


    Pablo sighed in relief. "I''m so thankful for June. He silently does things like this."


    "Well, he''s the only member who can make root crops taste pretty good," Hana said. "I hope


    he makes a decent amount since I''m really hungry."


    "That''s the second time you said that," Mimi remarked.


    Hana''s eyebrows furrowed. "Because I''m really hungry."


    Just in time, June came out of the house with a pot in one hand and eating utensils in the other.


    They nearly rejoiced as he ced it down on the bench.


    However, before any of that, they couldn''t help but notice June''s bare face.


    "What the heck?" Haruki eximed, standing from the bench and cing his hands on June''s cheeks.


    The others turned to them in surprise. Haruki started squishing June''s cheeks, even going as far as wiping his palm on his white shirt to see if he was wearing some makeup.


    Then, he turned to Casper and Jisung, who were used to such appearance.


    "Why does he look like that?" he asked.


    "Perfect?" Casper asked. "He just does. He''s like that. Even Zeth is amazed."


    Mimi shook her head in amazement. "It feels like we''re filming different shows. How can you still look...fresh?"


    Mei pursed her lips as she observed Kai. Was this the work of Fu? Howe it wasn''t working for her just yet? What tier did he reach before he gave the mboyant system away?


    June pushed Haruki away. "Just eat," he said.


    With that, June sat next to Joonie, who quickly scooted away. He had tried so much for his appearance, yet a guy like June just went and threw away those efforts!


    They started eating, and as much as the food was good, they had been eating the same things for the past few days.


    "That''s thest bit of our harvest," June said, capturing their attention. "I wouldn''t be able to cook anything for tomorrow unless we win a mission."


    The others pursed their lips while others groaned in disappointment.


    "By the time we finish a mission, I already don''t have an appetite," Uno said.


    "Yeah," Haruki agreed. "Remember the time we had to pack dung fertilizer before breakfast? Never again!"


    "And all they give us was bitter vegetables afterward!" Jisung added, grimacing at then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    thought.


    "I thought it was good," June said, liking the bitter taste. Somehow, it could never be more bitter than his past life!


    "That''s because you aren''t normal," Haruki chimed. "Anyway, I want a good lunch. Let''s do a mission."


    The others groaned but nodded in response.


    They turned to Ramil PD, who was waiting for them to finish their conversation.


    "Oh, you guys are going to do a mission today. It''s mandatory," he started off.


    The cast members listened intently, wanting to get it over with.


    "However, do not worry. This does not really cost manualbor."


    They nearly rejoiced...nearly.


    "The vige is going to have a mini get-together in their senior''s hometer in the


    afternoon," he started off.


    "They will be cooking food, and they had invited us to their party."


    "However, we cannote empty-handed. You guys need to prepare something for them-


    the dessert."


    Pablo felt his heart race in excitement. "Are we allowed to eat at the party?"


    "Yes," Ramil PD said. "As long as you guys create as many cupcakes for 50 individuals, then you can eat with them. We will be giving you the needed ingredients. You need to finish it


    before noon to be able toplete the mission."


    "Yes!" Mimi eximed. "This is the kind of mission that I want!"


    "How about our lunch?" Jisung asked. "Since we''re doing this mission, are you also going to


    be giving us lunch?"


    Ramil PD tilted his head to the side.


    "Lunch?" he asked. "This is a dinner mission."


    The others knew it was too good to be true.


    "Then, what should we have for lunch?" Casper asked, sounding exasperated.


    "You guys have your crops," Ramil said.


    "They''re gone," June deadpanned.


    A small smile made its way onto Ramil PD''s face.


    "And that''s why I warned you on the first day-use them wisely."

 Chapter 903: Hunger Insanity

    Chapter 903: Hunger Insanity


    ?


    "Fifty!" Mei eximed in happiness as she piped some icing on thest cupcake.


    The other cast members looked at the array of cupcakes with proud smiles. It wasn''t the prettiest, but they all worked hard on it.


    "They''re so cruel," Hana sighed. "They really just gave us barely enough ingredients for fifty cupcakes."


    "Ramil PD is so smart," Haruki said. "I hate it."


    There was a loud growl heard in the kitchen, causing the cast to pause.


    "What...was that?" Mimi asked, slightly appalled.


    Hana ced her hands over her stomach and pursed her lips. "I told you-I''m really hungry."


    "I wish I could eat one of these cupcakes right now," she said, appearing hypnotized by the sweet treats.


    The others, too, even June, felt tempted to eat them. The parasites in their stomachs and brains craved the sugary goodness of the vani cupcakes. Even Casper, who wasn''t fond of sweet things, waspelled to steal one.


    Joonie gulped as he looked at the pink icing. Meanwhile, Pablo cried in misery that they couldn''t eat their wonderful creations.


    Jisung''s eyes zed over, and for a second, it felt like he had lost his mind. Fortunately, June caught him at the right time. He held onto his shoulders just as he was about to pounce on the cupcakes.


    "No," June said. "Jisung, don''t lose yourself over this."


    Jisung pursed his lips as he reached out to the cupcakes. June continued to hold onto him.


    "Jisung, look at me!" Casper joined in. "This isn''t you!"


    However, June also caught the look in Casper''s eyes. June''s eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he pointed at Casper with his index finger.


    "You''re losing it, too," he said. "Don''t freaking do it."


    Casper closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    Mei, too, breathed heavily like a zombie who was craving human flesh and blood.


    "Hana!" June eximed. "Hold onto Mei. She''s going to pounce any time!"


    However, Hana was also not in the right mind as she stayed rooted in her spot. Fortunately, Mimi was able to hold both of them down before an anomaly happened.


    Uno dropped to the ground and started sucking his thumb.


    "Is he regressing?" Haruki eximed, looking at the white-haired idol with wide eyes. Pablo shook his head. "Everyone is going insane! This is all part of Ramil''s n!"


    "Evil genius," Haruki muttered while shaking his head.


    June then turned to Joonie, and although it seemed like he really wanted to eat, he was the one who could control himself out of everyone.


    June was on the edge of sanity, but he held it in by thinking about one thing.


    "We made these for the townspeople," he started off. "Ramil PD said that there would be around 50 people there, more or less. It''s better toe with the right amount of cupcakes. Imagine their faces if they don''t get to eat it. They''re already preparing so much for us."


    That seemed to snap them out of their insanity.


    "I guess," Jisung said, scratching the back of his neck. "I''ll just take a nap to resist the urge."


    "Me too," Casper said, leaving the kitchen to go back to their rooms. "Can I lick the bowls before I go?"


    June sighed and nodded.


    Meanwhile, Haruki sighed in relief.


    June shook his head as he heard his stomach grumble. Ramil PD was really making this into a survival show! They were at their wit''s end.


    The others also started leaving. Pablo was about to head to his room when June called his


    name.


    "Hey, Pablo," he said.


    Pablo turned around at lightning speed.


    "Yes?" he asked while batting his eyshes.


    "Does your camera still have space?" he asked.


    "Yes, very much!" Pablo excitedly said. "I don''t even have the time to take photos of you guys because we''re so busy with earning everything. However, we have some free time until the gathering. Do you want me to take pretty photos of you?"


    June shook his head. "I want to rest until then. Is it alright if I borrow it, though?"


    Pablo pursed his lips in disappointment before nodding. "Yeah," he said. "It''s in my room. Just get it."


    "Thanks," June smiled and headed up to his room to grab the camera. There, he saw Joonie, who appeared to be napping.


    He smirked and went out of the room before doing something.


    Then, he went back to the kitchen to ce the cupcakes inside the fridge while they waited for the party to start.


    Haruki passed by him and decided to help him.


    "Why are you doing this all alone?" he asked.


    June shrugged. "The others are tired," he said. "They should rest."


    Haruki paused for a moment, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms in front of his


    chest.


    "Aren''t you?" he asked.


    "Aren''t I what?"


    "Tired," Haruki said. "It seems like you have a lot on your shoulders."


    June straightened his shoulders as he continued carefully cing the cupcakes into the


    fridge.


    "Does it seem that way?" June chuckled.


    "Yes," Haruki said. "Even back then, it seems like you had a lot on your shoulder."


    June pursed his lips and ced thest box inside before shutting it close.


    "I guess," June said, leaning his elbows against the counter.


    "Problems," he continued. "I think I used to have a lot of problems and burdens on my


    shoulders. That''s why I didn''t have as much confidence. I was a pushover, and I did what I was


    told to because it was the safe choice."


    "However, now, my shoulders are heavy for a different reason," he said.


    Haruki frowned. "Why is that?" he asked.


    "My shoulders are heavy with the people I care for."


    "It''s not my problems anymore-but them."


    EVE.


    The friends he made along the way.


    The people who helped him get to the top.


    Minjun.


    Grandma.


    "But isn''t that great?" June asked, smiling at Haruki.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Haruki''s breath got caught in the back of his throat. He always thought that June was


    amazing, but he was really on a whole other level.


    "Because of them, I''m stronger than ever."


    "I feel like I can destroy all the problems in the world because I have them with me."


    "But you''re carrying them," Haruki said.


    June smiled.


    "And I know they''ll carry me when the timees that I can''t walk anymore."

 Chapter 904: Minjuns Possible Younger Sibling

    Chapter 904: Minjun''s Possible Younger Sibling


    ?


    "Why do you think my mom is taking so long to get out of that car?" Minjun asked, narrowing his eyes at the car parked outside of their house.


    "Young master," his maid said. "I think we already know."


    Minjun''s eyes widened as he looked at his maid.


    "You don''t think-"


    "That''s disgusting!" he eximed. "I''m not ready for a sibling-especially from a guy like that!"


    "What do you mean?" she asked. "Sir Lei is quite handsome," she giggled.


    Minjun grimaced. "My big bro doesn''t like him. I could tell. Besides, he strangely looks like a cucumber."


    His maid was chuckled in amusement. "I see," she muttered. "You really put your big brother in high regard."


    "Of course," Minjun muttered. "He''s the one who will never leave me."


    With that, he continued looking at the car, burning holes into the sleek exterior.


    Meanwhile, inside the car was filled with silence.


    ''Mint, check!''


    ''Lipstick? Waterproof?''


    ''Face card? Lethal.''


    Lena ticked off these things inside her mind.


    A week hadn''t even passed, but they were already on their second date. Lei took her to an expensive restaurant this time, and they talked about growing businesses. It wasn''t the ideal topic for a date, but Lena enjoyed it very much.


    It had been a while since she had met someone who understood her so much!


    Now, she didn''t normally kiss on the second date, but they were both adults! The two of them were already in their mid-tote 30s, so there was no use shying away, right?


    It seemed like Lei had the same thought as he reached out his hand and squeezed Lena''s thigh. A small smile made its way to Lena''s lips as she faced the charismatic CEO.


    They didn''t say anything.


    They already knew what they wanted to do.


    With that, the two of them leaned in-closer and closer until the tips of their noses were touching.


    However, just as their lips were about to touch, two different rms rang inside the car.


    They jolted in surprise, their heads hitting the roof of the car due to the startling noise.


    Lena''s eyes widened as she quickly scrambled to turn off her rm. She had forgotten that she set it for the night!


    However, it was strange how she wasn''t the only one with the rm going off at the same time.


    "Crap," Lei muttered as he turned off his rm, too.


    The car was filled with awkward silence until Lena decided to break it.


    "So...," she started off. "I think I need to go."


    "Me too," Lei said, scratching the back of his neck.


    Lena pursed her lips. Her date was definitely important. It had been a while since she had felt this way.


    However, her rm signified that ''Everyday, Everynight'' was going to start soon.


    What she didn''t know was that Lei had set his rm for the same reason.


    At first, he only wanted to watch it to monitor Joonie. He wanted him to boost his poprity even more in the show before he continued with his n.


    However, as he watched it, he became addicted. Now, it was something he looked forward to watching every night.


    "Will we meet again?" she asked.


    "Of course," Lei said, sounding like he was in a hurry.


    "I''ll text you," he smiled.


    Lena mirrored his smile and gave his palm a small squeeze.


    "I''m looking forward to it."


    With that, she got out of his car and practically ran to their door. The show will start in ten minutes!


    Lei, too, found himself rushing out of their gate. He nced once more at his new date''s house and whistled.


    At first, he only wanted to get close to Kim Kwan-the ''head'' of Phoenix. However, seeing the beautifuldy in his living room gave Lei more inspiration.


    Not only that, but it seemed like Kim Kwan and Lena got along well. He had even more excuses toe to this neighborhood, which meant more opportunities to meet with Mr. Kwan!


    As he drove out of their house, he suddenly saw Mr. Kim outside of his house, appearing to be...gardening?


    He was gardening thiste in the evening?


    "What a strange guy," he muttered.


    Lei wanted to rush to his penthouse to watch ''Everyday, Everynight,'' but it seemed like fate


    had other ns.


    Mr. Kim waved his hand. "Lei, is that you?" he asked.


    Lei stopped for a moment and rolled his windows even further.


    "Kwan!" he eximed. "What are you doing?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Just gardening," he replied, walking closer to Lei''s door.


    An evil smile brewed behind Lei''s kind one. This guy seemed much easier to manipte than


    he had realized. Is he really the ''head'' of Phoenix?


    "Oh, you like gardening?" Lei asked.


    "Yes," Kwan responded. "It''s something that I picked up after watching ''Everyday,


    Everynight.'' I learned a lot from there."


    "Oh," Lei muttered. "You watch the show?"


    "Yes!" Kwan eximed. "It''s the only show I''m watching right now. It''s actually going to


    start soon. Do you want toe and watch it with me?"


    "Yes!" Lei eximed before he could stop himself.


    He cleared his throat since he sounded way too excited.


    "Yes," he repeated, more demure this time.


    He was hitting two birds with one stone! He could watch ''Everyday, Everynight'' while getting


    close to the ''head.''


    "Come on in," Kwan said. "I was actually looking for someone to discuss the show with. It''s a


    really fun concept."


    Lei nodded and drove his car inside the gates.


    Then, he went inside Kwan''s home, which appeared futuristic-fit for the heir of a multi-


    billionpany.


    "Sit," Kwan said. "I cooked some food. I followed June''s recipe. That guy''s really nice."


    Lei pursed his lips as soon as he said those words, though. It seemed like this guy liked June,


    too.


    However, as long as he built a better connection with him, then Lei was confident that he could turn the rich CEO against June, too.


    The show started, and the two were enamored. It was a really interesting show, and Lei knew


    why a lot of people would gravitate towards June. He had the natural superstar quality.


    However, that made Lei hate him even more.


    As themercials rolled in, Lei took the time to ask him about Phoenix.


    After so many failed attempts, Lei had developed trust issues.


    Now, he needed to make sure.


    "Kwan," he started off.


    Kwan turned to him with one eyebrow raised.


    "Do you mind telling me about yourpany?"

 Chapter 905: The Heads New Friend

    Chapter 905: The Head''s New Friend


    ?


    Kwan tilted his head to the side.


    "Aren''t you aware already?" he asked.


    "Hmm?" Lei hummed.


    "Well, you wouldn''t have contacted me and gone here if you weren''t aware already," Kwan chuckled, crossing his arms in front of my chest.


    "Honestly, I''m surprised," he continued. "Not a lot of people know my identity. It''s impressive how you found me."


    Lei pursed his lips to hide his excitement.


    "Hard work," Lei said. "It was definitely difficult. But I eventually found you..."


    "...the head of Phoenix."


    A small smirk made its way to Kwan''s lips. "I tried so hard to hide it, really. Please don''t let the public know about this. I do not want to be a public target. Besides, I''m contented with leaving here along with my machinery."


    Lei couldn''t hide his smile anymore.


    It was him.


    It was really him.


    "I wouldn''t," Lei said. "You have my word."


    "Good," Kwan said. "From the get go, I knew I didn''t want to reveal myself. However, you actually took the effort to look for me. That is why I gave you a chance."


    "You persevered," Kwan added. "It reminded me of my dad''s perseverance."


    "Being at the top of thedder-you are really the most vulnerable. With the empires that you have, I would say that you have it even harder," Lei said.


    Kwan scratched the back of his head. "I wouldn''t call it that. However, it is tough. That''s why I moved out here. It''s much more peaceful."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lei nodded. "I respect that. I wish I could also go out of the media''s eyes," he lied. "However, it''s different in the entertainment industry."


    "Yikes," Kwan said. "That''s why I can never handle something that deals with showbiz."


    Lei raised one eyebrow. Was that why he delegated the role to his uncle? Because he wanted a peaceful life like his father?


    "I see," Lei muttered.


    Kwan smiled. "It''s actually quite nice to talk with someone my age about these things. It''s also better that you also experience the hardships that I face."


    Lei smiled. "Of course," he said.


    "From now on, you can consider me as your friend."


    "There are a lot of people who would take advantage of you in our respective industries," he continued, and Kwan nodded in agreement.


    "I guess I wanted someone I can talk about these kinds of things, too," Lei said.


    Kwan patted his back. "Well, you''re wee here anytime."


    Lei internally chuckled. This guy was much more gullible than he had anticipated.


    But then again, he wasn''tining.


    "Besides," he added. "Aren''t you flirting with Lena?"


    Lei scratched the back of his head.


    Well, his intention in asking her out was to have an excuse toe to this neighborhood. Now that he was friends with Kwan, it seemed pretty useless.


    However, Lena was quite pretty. It also seemed like she was loaded, so that was another plus. Maybe he could take advantage of her, too.


    "I guess," he said.


    Kwan chuckled. "Well, you better not break her heart. She''s pretty scary when she''s mad." "How do you know?" Lei asked.


    Kwan shrugged. "I just witnessed it once. Don''t worry, though. It seems like she likes you a lot."


    Lei smiled. "I''m relieved."


    His n was going perfectly.


    Lei wanted to ask more about Phoenix and how he managed to make it as big as it was. However, ''Everyday, Everynight'' came back on, capturing their attention.


    The first person to appear on the screen was June.


    "Ah!" he eximed. "It''s June! I really like this guy."


    Lei pursed his lips.


    Alright¡ªmaybe his n wasn''t that perfect.


    This guy liked June way too much!


    ***


    June wanted to go to sleep before they went to the gathering. However, there was a nagging feeling in the back of his head.


    With that, he sat on his bed and coughed loudly, hoping to wake his members up. However, as expected, they didn''t wake up.


    June shook his head and stood from the bed, about to shake them awake. However, he also knew how hard they had been working for the past six days.


    In fact, everybody was most definitely exhausted. All of the missions they had done consisted of manualbor.


    With that, June sighed and decided to let them be.


    He stood from the bed and quietly walked down the kitchen. He drank some water to satiate his hunger. His stomach grumbled nheless, but he ignored it.


    June then nced at the clock behind him and saw that there were still two hours until the gathering. There were some staff members wandering around while Ramil PD was seen outside, chilling in the hammock that his staff had set up.


    He had an apple in hand, and it seemed like he was enjoying his life to the fullest.


    June shook his head. "The show must be doing really well," he muttered. For him to be so happy like that, June could only assume that ''Everyday, Everynight'' would have the highest


    ratings.


    June''s stomach grumbled once again, making him shake his head.


    With that, he opened the fridge, hoping to find some kind of ingredient-a bell pepper, a


    piece of green bean, anything!


    However, what June found was an atrocity.


    His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the boxes of cupcakes in the fridge. He had packed it in fives before going to his room, so there had to be ten boxes.


    Then, that was when he woke up the rest of the cast members, not minding that they were


    tired.


    He nged the pots and pans, and that summoned the cast members one by one.


    They all had messy hair and drool-stained faces. Moreover, they had annoyed expressions. This seemed to be the first time they had looked at June in such a way. They usually looked at him with adoration!


    "June, I love you, but I want to strangle you right now," Pablo said, massaging the bridge of


    his nose as his head ached.


    "You better have a good reason for waking us up," Haruki said with a subtle re.


    June pursed his lips before sighing.


    "The cupcakes," he started off.


    The others looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.


    "We''re missing one box of them."

 Chapter 906: The Cupcake Thief

    Chapter 906: The Cupcake Thief


    ?


    "What?" the others eximed in unison.


    The sleepiness wore off as they simultaneously went to the fridge. Joonie was the first to react. He gently pushed June to the side to count the number of boxes inside.


    Then, his shoulders slumped.


    "He''s...right," Joonie muttered.


    The others began to revolt.


    "What do you mean we''re missing one box?" Haruki eximed. "As far as I know, we created fifty cupcakes¡ªno more, no less."


    Hana nodded, her beautiful face graced with a prominent frown. "I may be really hungry, but I counted those cupcakes really well."


    "I can assure you that," Mei said, raising her hand.


    There was a slight annoyance in everyone''s tone. It was obvious that all of them were on edge -as their chance to eat was now in jeopardy.


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. If only they had more ingredients, then he could whip something quickly.


    "We''re still going to be able to eat, right?" Jisung asked, sounding anxious.


    With his question, everyone became rigid.


    Pablo groaned and massaged his temples. "Crap," he muttered. "The production crew is not messing with us, right?"


    Just then, Ramil PD came to the room.


    "Woah," he chuckled. "What are you guys doing here? We still have around two hours left. We''ll leave in an hour."


    The others looked at each other with hesitation before Casper asked the question.


    "PD, did you, perhaps, get one of the boxes of cupcakes inside the fridge?"


    Ramil PD immediately frowned. "No," he said. "Why would we do that? Our staff has an amazing food truck that has both savory and sweet things! We even have refreshments."


    They couldn''t help but scowl. However, it was gone in an instant as they worried more about their cupcakes.


    Ramil PD caught onto their silence, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.


    "Don''t tell me...," he muttered.


    Pablo sighed loudly, confirming his spection.


    "You guys didn''t finish the mission," Ramil PD said.


    They collectively took a sharp breath after Ramil PD said those words.


    "No, we did!" Casper eximed. "We really did. You can even check on the footage. It was just...gone."


    "How could it be gone?" Ramil PD asked. Then, he called one of his staff members to go and find the footage of them in the kitchen. The staff nodded and opened hisptop.


    They waited patiently, wanting to solve the mystery of the sudden disappearance of the cupcakes.


    However, dread filled the room as the staff said his next words. He turned to the camera and saw that a small cloth had covered it.


    Ramil PD was also surprised. "What? Who did this?"


    The others nced at each other, all with matching frowns.


    "It has been there sincest night," the staff said. "The camera didn''t manage to get the person who covered it."


    "Hmm," Ramil PD hummed. "So, we don''t have footage of them in the kitchen?"


    "We do," the staff responded. "However, it''s all the footage we''ve filmed. They could have fifty cupcakes, but with this frame, we can never be too sure. Along with that, the monitoring camera would have caught the perpetrator-if there really is one."


    Ramil PD sighed. "Maybe you guys just miscalcted...or counted one box as two."


    "We didn''t!" Mimi defended. "The three of us," she said, pertaining to the group of girls, "checked it plenty of times! I even counted those that I piped icing on. We can''t be having a mass delusion now, can we?"


    Ramil PD pursed his lips. "Then, how else are we going to exin the situation? Unless you can exin why this happened, then I don''t think I can take you guys to the gathering."


    There it was.


    The thing they dreaded the most!


    They were tired, cranky, hungry, and on edge! If they didn''t get to eat for the night, then all hell was going to break loose!


    "What do you mean?" Pablo couldn''t help but exim. "We worked so hard on it! In fact, we''ve worked so hard for thest few days."


    Ramil PD sighed. "I know," he said. "I''ve been a witness to that. But not everyone will. In this world, most people only look at the results. They don''t care much about the process. If you didn''t reach your objective, then why should I give you a reward?"


    Everyone turned silent. They couldn''t really refute his words. Although it was in cruel, it was also reasonable.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Joonie cleared his throat. "Who was thest person in the kitchen?" he asked.


    They turned to him with raised eyebrows.


    He sighed. "We''re all hungry," he muttered. "I know that all of us want to go down to the gathering. So, we need to look for an exnation for this. If it''s not any of the staff members..."


    Haruki frowned. "Are you insinuating that it''s one of us?"


    Joonie pursed his lips. "I believe so. It''s the only usible exnation at this point."


    June frowned, predicting where this conversation was going. Joonie was speaking in such a


    kind voice-almost unbelievably so.


    "It was...June," Haruki said after a while.


    The others, including Ramil PD, all turned to June, who remainedposed and nonchnt


    amidst all of this.


    June pursed his lips and nodded, causing the others to frown slightly.


    Jisung, on the other hand, immediately went to his aid.


    "He cleaned up all the mess we made," he eximed. "He also packed the cupcakes in the


    boxes! How can we even use him right now?"


    "We''re not using him," Joonie calmly said. "We''re just conducting a thorough


    investigation."


    "As far as I know, everyone else went to sleep after baking the cupcakes. We only woke up


    now," he continued.


    "Ah," June muttered.


    So, this was the route he was going to take?


    "That''s right," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "I was thest one here. I didn''t sleep. I was also the one who discovered the incident," he


    said,ying out the facts.


    Joonie sighed and walked to where June was, gently holding onto his hand.


    "I know that you''ve been working hard for all of us. You cook us meals, and you also eat the


    least."


    June pursed his lips. He didn''t think he would notice that.


    "You could have told us, June," he continued, appearing concerned.


    "We could have spared some of the batter for you by reducing some from the others."


    "You didn''t have to take the cupcakes without us knowing."

 Chapter 907: June, The Fixer

    Chapter 907: June, The Fixer


    ?


    There it was.


    The usation.


    June saw iting, so he wasn''t really surprised. However, his nonchnce somehow concerned the other cast members.


    - What the heck? Did June really take those cupcakes?


    -No way! He''s a top star.


    - All the more reason why we would steal some. He''s used to getting what he wants.


    - I don''t think we know the same June here.


    - Oh, I would be pissed.


    - Joonie has a point, though! June was the veryst person to leave the kitchen. He was also the one who discovered it-like he said.


    Casper sighed. "Let''s not jump to conclusions here. June took up the responsibility of baking, packing, and cleaning up. We also have no proof of him doing so."


    Joonie pursed his lips. "I know. I really don''t want to use any of you. However, I''m just considering everybody''s well-being. We haven''t had a proper meal for what? Two or three days now? And we''re finally given an opportunity to mingle with the vigers and also eat to our heart''s content."


    "This is the only reason why I''m doing this," he sighed.


    "Like I said, we won''t be mad, June. You can tell us if you did it, and we''ll forgive you. We know how hard it is to resist the temptation. Just like life, we face so many temptations each day. We battle our own fights. We won''t judge you for that. It''s just how it is," Joonie continued.


    -Ah, Joonie is so wise!


    -What was that shallow speech for? Is this guy imitating June?


    - STFU! He''sforting your thief idol, but you''re calling him shallow?


    June slightly frowned. Was that his attempt at an inspiring speech? He shook his head and pursed his lips to hide his smile.


    "Let''s not me June," Mimi quickly said. "We really don''t know who took it!"


    Ramil PD sighed, also notprehending the situation. However, as someone who didn''t know June that much and who trusted Joonie because of the past season, the director was inclined to believe thetter.


    "Talk about it among yourselves," he said before ncing at his watch. "You have around half an hour to either produce those missing cupcakes or to exin what really happened."


    With that, Ramil PD turned to leave, but not without giving them some very important advice.


    "Oh, and make sure to argue in front of the camera, alright?" he eximed before finally turning to leave.


    - Thanks, Ramil PD, for providing us with good entertainment!


    - I am so invested in this. Who the hell stole those cupcakes?


    - It''s June. No doubt about it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    - Ugh. I knew that guy was strange. I had a feeling I didn''t like him since the very first episode, and I was right.


    - Me too.


    - Not all of you switching up so fast when nothing has even been confirmed!


    "They''re gone," Joonie said. "We can be honest now."


    Pablo pointed at the camera. "Are we just going to ignore the big-ass camera in front of us right now?"


    Hana sighed and scratched the back of her head. Then, she turned to June. "Did you really do it?" she asked.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What do you think? Did I do it?"


    Hana groaned along with the others.


    "Why won''t you answer the question in a straightforward manner?" Hana eximed. "As Joonie said, we won''t me you for what had happened."


    Amusement swirled in June''s eyes. "You''re already frowning, though."


    Joonie sighed. "Can you cooperate with us, June?" he asked. "We''re genuinely concerned for you. We''re also concerned about the vigers. You said so yourself-we''re doing this for them."


    June nodded to himself. "Do you really want to continue with this?" he asked.


    Joonie frowned, confused by his off-topic question. "What do you mean?"


    "Alright," June said. "Two can y that game."


    "Huh?"


    The others were also confused, wondering where the conversation was going.


    "Well, it seems like everyone has some sort of suspicion that it was me who did it," June started off.


    "You''re not answering the question," Haruki said.


    "I know," June retorted. "However, let me throw that question back to you, guys-do you really think I would be able to do something like this?"


    They turned silent and looked down at the ground. Casper and Jisung, however, firmly shook their heads.


    - Aww, I knew it! Those two have June''s back.


    - Well, they doubted him so many times already. I would assume that June always turned out right.


    - I bet they also had a fair share of those cupcakes.


    - EVE, thief idols!


    "I''ll let you guys think what you want to think," June said, crossing his arms in front of his


    chest.


    With that, he turned away from the group.


    "Where are you going?" Casper eximed as June opened the door.


    "To fix this," he said.


    With that, he closed the door behind him, leaving the team and the audience to wonder what


    was really happening.


    June looked for Ramil PD and saw him in his hammock, eating a cupcake that was significantly prettier than the ones they made.


    "PD," he started off, capturing his attention.


    Ramil PD''s eyes widened in surprise. The other staff members, too, turned to June with amazed expressions. They saw him every day in the shoot, but it was still shocking every time


    they saw him.


    "Can I talk to you?" June asked.


    "Go ahead," Ramil PD said. "Are you going to confess that you did it?"


    June smirked. "No," he responded.


    Ramil tilted his head to the side. "Then, what did youe here for?"


    "Remember the prize that I won during ''Company''s Company?"" June started off.


    Ramil PD raised one eyebrow before slowly nodding. "Yes," he trailed off. "What about it?"


    "Well, you said that I could redeem it anywhere and anytime I liked," June continued.


    Ramil narrowed his eyes. "Don''t tell me¡ª"


    June nodded. "I want it now. I''ll use the chance to let the vigers enjoy the coffee truck."


    The director sighed deeply. "I knew that I said those words, but that''s not possible. The drive


    here from Seoul takes four hours, and we still have to order the service. It would arrive here by tomorrow at this point."


    June smirked. "But we already have a food truck."


    Ramil PD froze.


    Oh.


    This guy...is also an evil genius.

 Chapter 908 The Original Old Lady Killer

    908 The Original Old Lady Killer n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Come on," Ramil PD said. "It''s time for us to go to the gathering." The dejected group lifted their heads. "We''re going?" Hana asked. "Yes," Ramil PD said. "Someone produced the cupcakes...even much more than required," he muttered thest statement. The others turned to each other in pleasant surprise. "Really?" Jisung asked, feeling joy spark in his heart. "Yes," Ramil PD said, feeling a bit disappointed that he got one-upped by one of the cast members. "Anyway," he said, clearing his throat. "Be ready in five." With that, Ramil PD went out of the house. The others were still confused, wondering what had happened. As they conversed about the possibilities, June finally came into the room. They looked at him with wide eyes, and Jisung went to him and ced his hands over his shoulders. "Is it you, bro?" he asked. "Did you talk to him?"


    "Or did you confess?" Joonie asked. June smirked in amusement. "Like I said, believe what you want to believe...or watch the show when we get back." Somehow, that made them even more confused, however, they weren''t as upset anymore since they were going to join the gathering. Casper and Jisung went to where June was. "What did you do, bro?" Jisung asked. "I know you didn''t do it." "Hmm," Casper nodded in agreement. June finally smiled, shaking his head at his two teammates. It seemed like they were really the ones who had his back for life. "Let''s talk about itter," June said. "Let''s go to the gathering for now."


    Jisung and Casper nodded, and with that, they followed after the staff. They entered therge van, with none of them talking about the incident. Hana, who felt bad about assuming the situation, tapped June''s shoulder. "Sorry, June," she said. "I guess I was just really hungry. I know it''s not an excuse, butyou''re right when you said we don''t have any proof." "Me too," Haruki said. "I think all the tiredness has consumed me. Forgive me, dude. I know you wouldn''t do anything like that." Uno nodded in agreement. Mei sighed. "Yeah, I don''t think you''re capable of doing anything like that." Joonie bit his lip. ''What the heck is with them?'' he thought. Did he stumble in a harem for June or something? Why were all of them on his side? "It''s alright," June said. "What''s important is we''re going to the gathering. I''m going to eat two day''s worth of food." The others smiled at June''s lightheartedment. They finally arrived at the town proper, where they saw an open garden with tables and chairs spread prettily on the grass. The sun had calmed down, so the weather was perfect¡ªnot too hot, not too cold. The van stopped at the side, and some people looked over their way. "Are those the celebrities?" "The celebrities have arrived!" "Grill some more meat and ce them on the VIP table!" The cast members heard them from inside the van, causing them to smile. "So cute," Mimi muttered. Just then, the car door opened, and Ramil PD greeted them with a wide smile. "Come on," he said. "They''re waiting for you." The others turned to each other before going out of the van. Joonie led the pack, and some of them recognized him right away. "Isn''t this the boy who was in the first season?" "You were more handsome in the first season, boy," an old woman said with a wide smile. Joonie was surprised while Casper covered his mouth to suppress hisughter.


    The others followed suit, and they were weed warmly by the crowd. "Hana! I want to ask if you can marry my grandson!" Hana''s cheeks reddened as she politely declined the offer. Another old woman patted Mimi''s back. "I saw that you have a boyfriend. You can do so much better!" she eximed. Mimi pursed her lips together. "Thank you for your concern, Grandma." "You should smile more, young man," an old man said to Haruki. "I looked like you when I was younger, and I also had a lot of angst in my heart. Now, I look like this." Haruki''s eyes widened as he looked at the man before him. "49," the man said with a wide smile. However, that didn''t make Haruki smile one bit. This man looked like he was in his 60s!


    "You''re right, sir," he nervously chuckled. "I should really smile more." On the other hand, Casper was instantly pulled by a group of kids. He was terrified at first. Casper wasn''t good with kids. However, as he was pulled to a box of kittens, he instantly softened. "We know you like cats!" one kid eximed. "Yeah, you like cute things, so we like you," another said with a wide smile. Casper pursed his lips and shyly scratched the back of his head. Well, maybe kids weren''t so bad after all. Uno was surrounded by old people with the same hair color as him¡ªwhite. "Why do you deliberately want white hair?" one asked. "Let''s exchange hair. I''ve been wanting ck hair ever since!" "It''s for oureback," Uno shyly said. "Come what?" the old man asked. "Do you want to go back home now?" "No, no!" Uno quickly defended himself. "For our new song." "Ooh! What''s the title? Come on, share it with us." "I can''t do a spoiler," Uno chuckled, feeling awkward. "Spoiler? Are you calling our food spoiled, boy? Is it bad?" another old man eximed. "No, that''s not what I mean!" Uno said, already feeling tired of defending himself. The cast members enjoyed their time with the vigers. Although this was their first time meeting, it felt like they had lived here for a long time...and maybe they did. Having suffered in their remote house for a week made them feel familiar with the ce. However, amidst all these somewhat peaceful interactions was June. June, the original olddy killer. As soon as he went out of the van, he was bombarded by arge group of supposed fans. "June! You came for me!" "June, I''ve been watching you since Rising Stars! I bought you stars worth my entire pension!" "June, can we have a photo with each other?" "June, do you not care about age?" Chaos erupted as June came out of the van. The others could only sit still and watch the events unfold right before their eyes.


    "Well," Jisung said, amusement seen in his eyes. "June has always been popr with the olddies."

 Chapter 909 Spoke Too Soon

    909 Spoke Too Soon


    Fortunately, they didn''t bombard them for a long time and let them eat. However, amidst all of this, some people still monitored them while eating. "Is it good?" a mother who lost her child asked Jisung. "Yes!" Jisung eximed. "It''s been a while since we''ve eaten like this." "Ah, so cute!" the woman eximed. "You guys sure know how to eat," another man chimed. "Don''t hold back. I know that Ramil is starving you." They nodded collectively, earning chuckles from the vigers. "Aigoo, go on and eat, little babies. How long have you guys wanted meat?" "So long," Casper muttered, already on the verge of tears. - I feel so bad for them. - Now, I don''t feel too angry about June stealing those cupcakes. I would have done the same thing. - It''s not even confirmed! The others have also apologized to him. - Is anyone else wondering how they came to finish the mission, though? "Mic test." Ramil PD''s voice resonated in the space after the production crew set up the sound system. They all turned to the famous PD. "First of all," he started off. "Thank you so much for amodating us today. We also thank you for preparing so much food for us to eat. Since you have prepared so much, the cast members have also prepared something for you." The vigers turned to each other with excitement, wondering what it would be. Meanwhile, the cast members felt nervous. The people in here definitely surpassed fifty. There were kids and teens around, too, so they felt a bit bad for not making enough. However, as a familiarrge food truck came into view, they finally realized why they were able to join the gathering in the first ce. They all turned to June with wide eyes. "You used your prize from Company''s Company?" Jisung asked.


    Haruki shook his head. "You really used it for today?" Pablo ced his hand over his heart. "Aww, June." - He''s undoing his bad actions. - Yeah, he definitely did this to stop feeling guilty about eating those cupcakes. - Goodness, people are infuriating. June did not take those cupcakes! - How can you be so sure? - And even if he did, who the hell cares? They''re there anyway. - True, and I wouldn''t be mad either. June has been cooking for them for the past week, doing dishes withoutining, and waking up as soon as possible to harvest their ingredients! Eating five freaking cupcakes is forgivable. - People will do everything to defend their favorite''s wrongdoings n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You could have used it for your fans," Hana said. "You did this just for us?" June scoffed. "Don''t act special now." "I didn''t do this for you, guys," he said. "I did this for the vigers. I didn''t want them to feel disappointed. I''m sure Ramil PD has already informed them that we''re going to go." "Imagine their disappointment if we don''te. Besides, what other thing can I use the truck for? Our fans? We can do that without anyone''s help," June said. -Freaking cool. -There you go. -Do you think someone like him will do something like that? -I need everyone to take a step back for a moment. You do not know these idols. We only see 10% of their life. So, we can''t assume anything about their characteristics. We''re seeing the things that they want us to see. Everybody lined up for the food truck, even the cast members. They ate the cupcakes that June had baked and found it pleasantly nice despite the scarcity of ingredients. Mei turned to Joonie and frowned. "You''re not going to eat dessert?" Joonie pursed his lips. "It''s alright," he said. "I''m not fond of sweets. Also, there''s only a limited amount. I want the vigers to eat them before me." - People are praising June for offering the food truck, but he''s the same as everyone else! Joonie is right. He''s the most unselfish out of everyone. - For all I know, he''s the one who stole those cupcakes. - Toxic June stans. Why do you always project your idol''s wrongdoings to others? - Stop fighting! Nothing has even been confirmed. June shook his head as he heard what Joonie had said. "Ah, right, June!" Pablo said as they continued to eat. "Do you still need my camera? I''ve been wanting to take photos of the event." June pursed his lips. "It''s here," he said. "However, I took the memory card." "Huh?" Pablo asked. "What do you mean? I can just export it when we''re back and send it to you." June shook his head. "I gave it to Ramil PD." Pablo and the others were even more confused. June nced at Joonie, a small smile appearing on his face. "Let''s just enjoy the moment," June said. "This event will be captured on video anyway." Pablo pursed his lips and nodded. "Alright," he said. "I''m getting more of your cupcakes. Somehow, it tastes better than the one the chefbaked." June shook his head in amusement and also ate the sweet treat. He already had three tes of everything, but he didn''t feel too full just yet. It must be because of all the herbs and root crops they ate for the past week. As they continued to eat and share stories with the vigers, Pops suddenly took the microphone, surprising the crowd. "I think this party is too quiet! We have so many singers and artists among us! Let''s have them sing and liven this party," he eximed. The cast members chuckled in amusement. However, it seemed like the vigers took Pops'' suggestion quite seriously. Before they knew it, Casper, Jisung, Haruki, and Uno were on the stage, and a trot song had yed through the speakers. "What is this?" Casper asked into the mic. "Sing! Sing!" the vigers eximed. June pped along with the vigers, finding it amusing. He was also grateful that he wasn''t pulled to the stage with the four unfortunate ones. However, of course, June should learn not to speak too soon.

 Chapter 910 Theres No Place Like Home

    910 There''s No ce Like Home


    "A¡ªchoo! I even love the way you sneeze," Pablo sang on the stage, throwing kisses at everyone who was watching. The cast members watched the performance with a mix of amusement and disgust. Nheless, the vigers seemed to be enjoying Pablo''s atrocious portrayal. They pped and watched with bright eyes, appearing like they were watching a top-notch performance. "I give you a squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!"


    "Ah-choo! I love you," Pablo ended the song by cing his hands on his cheeks and batting his eyshes at the crowd. June shook his head and grabbed a chicken leg from his te. Yes, he still wasn''t done eating. After cooking for the cast members for the past week, he decided it was time for him to step down! Of course, June was still great at holding grudges! How could they use him of stealing those cupcakes? They better cook their own food starting tomorrow. So, June decided he would eat food that was worth one and a half days. As he chewed on the chicken leg, however, he felt himself being hoisted up. It went by so fast. Before he knew it, he was already on the stage¡ªand instead of a chicken leg, a microphone was in his hand, doused in the grease from the fried piece of meat. He looked at the crowd with wide eyes. "Sing for us!" Casper eximed. "Herees the main event," Jisung said with excitement. Mimi sped her hands in front of her chest while the others appeared like they were looking forward to his performance, too. The group of old women, who called themselves his fans, were at the very front, sitting on the grass with sparkling eyes. "W¡ªwhat will I sing?" June asked. "Whatever you want!" Ramil PD said. "Come on, June. Give everyone a show." June scratched the back of his head and looked around. Then, he walked to the soundman and whispered a song. The soundman was surprised with the song choice. However, he nodded and searched for it. With that, June went back center stage, standing in front of the semirge crowd. Somehow, it felt more nerve-wracking. He wasn''t made up. He also didn''t practice. It was a spontaneous performance where he had to fill the stage all alone. He cleared his throat, and along with that, the song finally yed. The people were surprised by his song choice. "This song¡­," Hana muttered. "It was released even before I was born!" Casper turned to Jisung. "Do you know this song?" he asked. Jisung happily shook his head. "Nope," he smiled. "But, it''s June. I''m bound to like it." Casper nodded, also only remembering the song from when his parents used to y it on the radio. The vigers, on the other hand, were very happy. It was a song that most of them knew¡ªthe song of their youth. June let out a deep breath before he sang his first words. "There''s a path I''ve known since I was small, A winding road where shadows fall." The first lines had already shown so much emotion and skill. In the stillness of the near night, June''s voice rang. His voice was nostalgic, bringing the old souls back to their happy days. - Crap. These old people have watched June perform before me. - It sounds so magical. I can''t do this. - Forget about those cupcakes. Why is June so good at singing? - Wait, June is an idol? - You must be new here! He''s the best idol. - How can anyone not know June? He''s the billboard idol these days. Everywhere you turn, you see his face on ads and billboards. - And it''s well-deserved. His poprity is paired with talent. "I''ve wandered far, across thend, With dreams too big, I got my own hand. But in the city where it''s loud, I found myself lost in the crowd." It was a rtively simple song to sing, but June brought out its beauty with his own voice. The old crowd swayed side to side, with some bing fans of June right on the spot. "This kid sings the best out of everyone," one said. "Didn''t I tell you? June is the best," his fan said. "There''s no ce like home, they say,


    And I feel it more with every day.


    The noise, the rush, they pull me apart,


    But home is where I left my heart." Mei nced at the cast members. It was true that they had a tough time for the past seven days. However, it was still healing. It was their chance to escape the noise and the rush that came with being an entertainer.


    "Ah, this feels like a nice ending," she muttered, leaning against her chair with a small smile. "The scent of rain on the dusty ground,


    The quiet hum of life around.


    The crackling fire, the evening air, n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    A life so simple, nothingpares." It was the perfect song for the night. It truly defined what they had witnessed in their short stay here. "Genius," Casper muttered as he gazed at June. "I see my mother''s hands, worn but kind,


    My father''sugh, the peace I find.


    In the old oak tree where I used to climb,


    And the porch swing rocking in its time." Uno smiled to himself and looked down at his hands. Somehow, it felt like he had lost to June¡ªhe always had. However, he didn''t feel bitter about it. It just was. "The stars are clearer, the nights are still,


    And the world seems softer on the hill.


    The chickens cluck, the cattle low,


    The things I missed, I now know." Joonie, on the other hand, had a hard time epting it. Why was it that this man was good at everything? There must be something¡ªa w of some sort. "For here is where my soul belongs,


    In the corny country songs.


    Where each breath feels full and free,


    In the ce that''s always home to me." June opened his eyes, a small smile ying on his lips as he made eye contact with Pops. "So here I stand, not far to roam,


    For in my heart, there''s no ce like home.


    And though the world may call my name,


    It''s here I''ll stay, forever the same."

 Chapter 911: The Mystery Is Solved

    Chapter 911: The Mystery Is Solved


    ?


    Lena sniffed after June''s performance.


    "What the heck is that?" she muttered.


    He had gone on another date with Lei, so she was still wearing her fancy red dress.


    June smiled at the screen, and for a moment, Lena felt enamored. This guy was truly too handsome for the human eyes.


    "Goodness, I hate him," she said as she wiped away the tears from her eyes.


    However, even as she said those words, she couldn''t deny June''s talent.


    It was one thing for her to hate him for influencing Minjun and putting him in danger. However, it was another thing for him to be able to capture everyone with his talent alone.


    He was, in a way, a perfect idol.


    "What a shame," she muttered.


    She nced at the clock and saw that over an hour had already passed.


    "The episode is ending soon," she said, sounding a bit sad. In fact, the show was bound to end soon, and the cast members were probably heading back by dawn.


    She shook her head and focused her gaze back on the television, expecting the show to end with June''s peaceful performance.


    However, much to her surprise, a narration was shown on the screen.


    "The answer to the mystery," she read the narration out loud. "We will show you now."


    Lena''s eyebrows raised in surprise when the next scene was shown. It was a dark frame, and the audio sounded raw. A shuffling of feet was heard before a figure emerged.


    It was unclear at first. However, some rays of sunshine peeked through the ceiling, and Joonie was revealed.


    - What is happening?


    - What is this? This looks so freaking creepy.


    - Yeah, this is beyond the editing of ''Everyday, Everynight.'' It suddenly feels like a crime show.


    - I''ve never seen this part of the house before. Is it even part of it?


    - Joonie? What is he doing there?


    Lina propped herself up on the pillows to get a better look at what was happening. Half of the view was luded with what seemed to be a wall, but it was still clear enough.


    In Joonie''s hands was a familiar pink box-too familiar, perhaps.


    As the footage continued, it was clear what he had done. Joonie looked around as if afraid that he would be caughtmitting the crime before he opened the box and started stuffing his face with cupcakes.


    Lena''s eyes widened. Based on the camera''s position, this would not have been nned. Why did Ramil PD include such footage?


    - What the heck? Is Joonie the cupcake stealer?


    - OMG! The mystery has been solved.


    - Gosh, so pretentious! And to think he wanted to me June for it.


    - Where are the people defending him now?


    - This is so freaking weird!


    - Ramil PD sucks! Why would he include this in the show?


    The question was answered right away as ''Everyday, Everynight'' shot to the highest rating list-not only for the day but for the entire year, quickly surpassing the record they had made for the finale of the first season.


    Lena shook her head.


    "This would be the hottest news of the week."


    ***


    The cast members were finally bound to go home after a grueling nine-day shoot.


    Joonie was still keeping up with his act, especially since he still didn''t know what was happening on social media. However, he did feel that the staff was more hostile toward him- which made him feel apprehensive.


    "Once again, thank you so much for joining the show," Ramil PD said, getting ready to part with the cast members. "It has been very sessful because of you guys."


    They all bowed in gratitude.


    As they were about to leave, however, Ramil PD called for June''s attention.


    "June," he said, also causing the others to halt.


    June turned around with raised eyebrows. "Yes?" he asked.


    Ramil PD smirked and gave him a thumbs up.


    June also smirked. "Was the response good?"


    Ramil PD nodded. "More than good. It''s drastic!"


    June nced at Joonie, who still appeared confused. "That''s good then," he said. "That''s all I need to know."


    Ramil PD nodded and waved goodbye, and with that, June walked to their car.


    "What was that about?" Jisung asked, patting June''s shoulder.


    June shook his head as he boarded the car. "You''ll know once we have a signal."


    Jisung and Casper turned to each other before shaking their heads and deciding to let it go.


    Just then, the car door opened once more, revealing Joonie, who had a wide and kind smile on


    his face.


    Casper instantly frowned. "What are you doing here?" he asked.


    Joonie''s smile widened. "We''re going to take the same car," he said. "We are from the samepany, after all."


    "Then, does that mean..." June muttered.


    Just then, another person came in-Mei, who appeared to also not expect the car


    arrangement.


    "Are we going bankrupt?" she asked as she entered. "Why is Azure cramping us into one


    van?"


    Joonie chuckled. "Well, you''re different now that there are no cameras around."


    "And I see that you''re still the same very pretentious," Mei said, not holding back.


    She was once again grumpy because they practically starved yesterday. June decided not to


    help with the cooking after being used of stealing the cupcakes.


    Joonie''s eyes widened while Casperughed out loud. He held out a hand toward Mei, and she


    high-fived him haphazardly.


    Joonie sighed. "Why do I have a feeling that you guys don''t like me?"


    "That''s your assumption, not ours," Casper said.


    June shook his head and popped his earphones on. Joonie ced his hand on his shoulder.


    "Why won''t you join our conversation?" he asked.


    June removed one earphone and looked him in the eyes.


    "I have something to do," he vaguely said.


    After Jisung had asked him to listen to the instrumental he had made, June had been ying itn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    at the end of each night. Finally, after their shooting had finished, he realized that it had brought him immensefort.


    In that way, he was able to gain inspiration, so he wanted to write some lyrics before they escaped his mind.


    "Besides," June added with a smirk. "I think you have more things to worry about than me joining the conversation."

 Chapter 912: His True Colors

    Chapter 912: His True Colors


    ?


    As soon as they received a signal in the middle of their ride, chaos erupted in the van.


    Joonie, who had no clue that his reputation had plummeted to the ground, looked at his phone with wide eyes.


    He had multiple texts-too much from what he usually received. It was almost as if a lot of people cared for him!


    However, that wasn''t the case. It was filled with rage texts from Dan, telling him that he had ruined the chances heid out for him! Aside from that, he also received anonymous texts, all sending him death threats.


    As he scrolled through social media, he quickly regretted the decision.


    Casper and Jisung, who scrolled through their phones, immediately turned to Joonie.


    Mei couldn''t stop herself. "You stole those cupcakes?"


    Joonie gulped and lifted his head. "H-how?"


    Those were the only words that coulde out of his mouth.


    "What the heck? You dared use June of stealing it when you were the one who did it?" Jisung asked, his innocence vanishing as he held onto Joonie''s cor.


    Mei pulled on Joonie''s hair while Casper (surprisingly) became the peacemaker.


    "No violence!" Casper eximed. "You guys will scare the driver."


    June, on the other hand, was chilling in his own seat. Jisung''s song reyed over and over in his earphones as he tried to write the lyrics. There were a lot of ideas in his head, but none of them seemed to stick.


    He clicked his tongue and ced the pen under his chin.


    "What about this...," he started off, but he quickly crossed out his idea. "Nah, that''s too generic. It doesn''t feel genuine."


    "Jisung did such a good job. I need to do even better to give this song justice," he continued.


    Meanwhile, a war was breaking out behind him.


    "Someone vited my privacy! Isn''t that the more important issue?" Joonie said, defending himself from the two crazy June fanatics. "Besides, you guys would have done the same thing if June wasn''t there!"


    Just then, everything made sense. Joonie turned to June with wide eyes.


    "It''s him, isn''t it? That''s why he borrowed Pablo''s camera," he revealed.


    The others were stunned.


    Casper slowly pped. "Genius move, if you ask me."


    Just then, Joonie was about to confront June, but Casper held him back.


    "Nu-uh! You ain''t touching him. This is your problem. Even if it''s caught on tape or not, you still did something awful."


    "He''s not a good person!" Mei eximed. "He''s just pretending to be on camera."


    "I knew it," Casper said. "You''re also imitating June, right? You will never be him!"


    Jisung shook his head. "And to think that I really liked you during the first season. I should have listened to Casper."


    Joonie, however, still had his eyes set on June.


    "June!" he eximed, trying to capture his attention. However, June couldn''t care less about what was happening behind him. He scribbled more words but erased them right away.


    The driver nced behind them and shook his head.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This is why I don''t mess with the younger generations," he muttered.


    ***


    Fortunately, they arrived at thepany without any casualties.


    Joonie''s clothes were loose, and the others had ruffled hair, but all in all, it turned out better than what the driver expected.


    "We''re here," he said.


    June finally snapped out of his ''working daze'' and removed his earphones. He grabbed his bag from underneath his seat and got out of the car, not even bothering to look back at them.


    However, Joonie quickly ran up to him before the others could stop him. He harshly ced his hand on June''s shoulder and turned him around.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise as he was met with an enraged face.


    "What?" he asked, already wanting to hit his bed.


    Joonie smirked. "You knew all this time?" he asked.


    "What?" June repeated.


    Joonie pursed his lips and let out a deep breath.


    "Of course," he muttered. "What else did I expect from you? You''re the best! You''re never going down! You will never be reced."


    June slowly nodded. "Thanks, I guess?" he said with a small smile.


    Joonie felt his frustration tipping over.


    "It''s not apliment," he exasperatedly said. However, he quickly calmed himself down, not wanting to show his ugly side just yet.


    "You-It must be so nice to be you," he started off. "You don''t even have to try. You get to live with that face and with all that talent! You get everything handed to you by the universe, and you act like you don''t care. You act like you will never fall down from the top."


    "However," Joonie said, appearing more serious now. "Let me tell you this. There wille a time when you will hit rock bottom-and I will be there to witness it all. In fact," he smirked. "I might just be your recement."


    June chuckled, leaving Joonie confused.


    "You''reughing?" he asked.


    June smiled at him, taking a step closer. Not it was the time for Joonie to be intimidated.


    "You just revealed your n," he said.


    Joonie''s eyebrows furrowed.


    "Now, I don''t know who''s backing you-or maybe I do, but tell them this: they may seed for a short while, but I will always have thest chuckle."


    "Always," he repeated, looking Joonie dead in the eyes.


    "So, once you taste what it feels like to be on the top, enjoy it for a bit. I know just how much you''ve been craving for such attention. You even dare copy me just to have it," he spat.


    Joonie opened his mouth to defend himself, but June cut him off before he could.


    "However, remember this," June continued, taking another step closer. At that point, Joonie felt he was in danger.


    "I will take it back once you''ve had the sweetest bite."


    With that, June stepped back, and Joonie let out a breath that he didn''t even know he was holding. June turned around and walked back to their dorm, leaving the stunned Joonie


    behind.


    And the three others?


    "I''m so jealous right now," Casper said. "He just got scolded by June."


    "Me too," Jisung chimed.


    Mei turned to them with wide eyes.


    "I think I know why your fans are so delusional."

 Chapter 913: Monkybarz

    Chapter 913: Monkybarz


    ?


    "That guy, really," June muttered, shaking his head as he opened the door to their dorm. What he wasn''t expecting, however, was confetti blowing straight into his mouth.


    "Wee back!"


    June stopped in his tracks, closing his eyes as the dry felt paper consumed his taste buds. It seemed like his members had also realized what they had done as a collective gasp was heard. From behind him, Jisung and Casper arrived with wide eyes.


    "Woo! Confetti!" Jisung eximed, kicking some of the colorful paper that had fallen to the ground.


    Meanwhile, the others continued looking at June.


    Jay scratched the back of his head. "Uh...we''re happy to see you?" he hesitantly said.


    June sighed and spat out the confetti before turning to re at his members.


    "Food," he merely said.


    The others scrambled to lead him to the kitchen.


    "Yes, food!" Jaeyong eximed. "Of course, we have some food for you. You guys must be hungry."


    They sat June down while Casper and Jisung followed behind.


    June looked at the spread and saw the things that he had been craving. There were also some cupcakes that looked like they were made by toddlers in the corner.


    "Who made those?" he asked.


    The remaining members nced at each other before Sehun answered.


    "We did," he said. "I know it doesn''t look too pretty, but we did our best on it. You don''t have to eat it, really. We just made it because you guys seemed to really like the cupcakes on the show. The other dishes were all from a restaurant, so-"


    "Give me one," June said without any hesitation.


    Sehun smiled and gave June one. He took a bite and nodded in approval.


    "You guys did a good job," he said.


    They sighed in relief.


    "But, you have to make up to me by blowing confetti in my mouth."


    They all chuckled and nodded, watching their members devour the feast before them.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It really is no joke, huh?" Zeth asked.


    Jisung nodded. "What you see is what you get. My stomach is so full of grass and root crops. I feel like I''ll live ten years longer."


    "Well, at least you guys are stars now," Zethplimented. "Everyone is talking about the show-and I mean everyone! Everyone''s mothers, fathers, grandparents, and even little kids."


    Those who went on the show turned to each other with raised eyebrows.


    "And that scene with Joonie? It''s been the hottest talk since yesterday!" he added. "Genius, I tell you!"


    "Well, he''s probably going to release an apology video soon," Casper said. "Cue the fake tears, the red nose, and the pale lips."


    Joonie definitely knew something. He had a slip of the tongue earlier, and it seemed like he had already been tipped off that he was going to be recing June in the near future. However, with this controversy, it seemed like June bought himself a little bit of time-just enough to discover who the ''head'' of Phoenix was.


    "Anyway," Ren said, making June snap out of his thoughts. "We had already talked about the title track, and we decided to stick with the first song I let you guys hear. They improved it a bit, so it sounds more pop-like. It sounds good to my ears, so we had a collective agreement."


    "That''s fine with me," Jisung said.


    June pursed his lips and nodded in the meantime. Somehow, it felt like it wasn''t going to go as smoothly as he would like.


    "I''m also sorry to break this to you, but your practice will start tomorrow," Jay revealed. "I tried buying one more day since you guys must be tired from the shoot, but they said that we''re losing time."


    "It''s alright," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "We had some rest in the vige."


    "It was only you," Jisung muttered. "But yeah, it''s alright with me. I''m excited for the new album."


    Casper nodded in agreement.


    "After the preparations for the album, you will also prepare for a proper concert," Jay smiled, causing the others to turn to each other with pleasant surprise.


    "A world tour?" Ren asked.


    "You could say that," Jay said.


    "It''s about time!" Jaeyong eximed. "I''ve been wanting to tour even with our first album."


    Jay nodded. "It''s truly long overdue. However, the preparations are already underway. We just need to get this full album out. The first concert dates would be in December, and you would continue on until next year."


    Zeth sped his hands in front of his chest.


    "I can''t wait," he said. "It feels like we''re going to end this year with a bang."


    The others nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, June retrieved his phone from his pocket when he suddenly remembered


    something.


    "I finally learned the brand of the backpack I love," June said, capturing the others'' attention.


    "Your ancient backpack?" Zeth asked.


    June nodded. "It''s the same brand as the one they gave us at the vige."


    "You must be happy," Ren chuckled. "You love that bag."


    Casper and Jisung nced at each other before bursting intoughter.


    "What?" Jaeyong asked, curious.


    "Ramil PD took the bags by the end of the shoot," Casper said. "Turns out, Ramil PD is quite


    stingy. He ns to use them again by the next season."


    "Dang," Zeth said, shaking his head. "He must have made plenty from the show, though."


    "Well, that''s one way to stay rich," Sehun chuckled.


    "Anyway, it doesn''t matter," June said, already going on the online shopping site. "I just


    need to buy one."


    With that, he typed the brand name on the search bar, his heart already racing from excitement. However, what he saw next made his heart stop.


    ''Sold out.''


    June lifted his head and nudged Jisung. "You have other online store apps, right? Search it for


    me there."


    Jisung did what he was told.


    "It''s sold out," he revealed after a while.


    "What?" June eximed, not believing it.


    Jaeyong chuckled. "What''s the brand name anyway?"


    "Monkybarz," June responded.


    The members who didn''t go on the show all turned to each other with knowing looks.


    "Ahh!" Jay eximed. "That''s why almost everyone is wearing those in-ass backpacks." "Monkybarz is sold out in the entire country!"

 Chapter 914: Hang Out Soon?

    Chapter 914: Hang Out Soon?


    ?


    "Nothing ever goes smoothly with our ns," Lei said, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Don''t you agree?"


    Dan pursed his lips. "I''m sorry, sir," he said. "If it makes you feel better, the apology video is well-received."


    "Do you think that can make up for the damage that he had done to his reputation? He was supposed to be June''s recement!"


    Dan sighed. "I know, sir. I talked to him already, and it seems like he''s really repenting." "What could repenting even do in this situation, huh? Will it take back what he had done?"


    Dan pursed his lips and didn''t say anything further.


    Lei massaged his temples and let out a deep sigh.


    "Anyway, is he learning the songs well?"


    "Yes," Dan proudly said. "I think he will blend right into EVE. Are you still going to put him in the group, sir?"


    "Yes," Lei said. "EVE is bound to be an eight-member group, through and through."


    "Is he going to be the center?" Dan asked.


    "No," Lei deadpanned. "Do you think he''s good enough to be the center? After ''Everyday, Everynight,'' I''ve already found the perfect recement for June as EVE''s center."


    A small smile appeared on Dan''s face. "Jisung," he said.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lei nodded. "That boy is gaining fans left and right, and I heard he''s the most popr among teens, too. He may not be of the same caliber as June just yet, but there wille a time when he will."


    "Alongside that, he''s much easier to manipte than June," he smirked.


    "But, would it really be okay to add Joonie into the group?" Dan asked.


    "Yes," Lei said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "EVE is barely a one-year-old group. They would forget June with time. However, EVE would continue to skyrocket into fame. We need to capitalize on each member-especially now that more artists and opportunities are heading our way," he smirked.


    Although his n didn''t go smoothly, Lei believed he had the upper hand because the ''head'' was already on his side. With each passing day, his friendship with Kwan became deeper and deeper.


    "When are we going tounch this n into action, sir?" Dan asked, already ted with the thought.


    "As soon as possible," Lei said. "Within this week, maybe?"


    "That early, sir?" Dan asked with wide eyes.


    "It''s already long overdue," Lei sighed. "I have been wanting tounch this n since I sat on the CEO''s position. However, nothing ever turned out the way I wanted."


    "Now, we have everything we need. I just need to press one more button."


    "And what about Joonie, sir? Don''t you think we need to let this scandal die down for a couple more weeks?"


    "Then, it would be toote," Lei said. "What we cannot give June is more time. We both know that the bastard is too smart for his own good."


    "And the scandal? Let''s just say-it''s the least of our worries," Lei smirked.


    "Because there are two ways a scandal dies," he continued, standing from his seat with a determined glint in his eyes.


    "One-is time," he started off.


    "And two-is another scandal-one that would bury the first scandal under the ground."


    ***


    "Ah! This is so exhausting," Jisung said after they had practiced the choreography.


    "I''m so d I''m not in the center because the burden would be a hundred times heavier." "Well, being at the center is a job only June can do for the team," Zeth smiled. "We even have to carry him for this choreo."


    June sighed and shook his head. At first, he felt burdened with the position. However, as time passed by, he enjoyed being in the center.


    "We''re working so hard for thiseback," Jaeyong said. "Somehow, I feel really proud of our team."


    "Well, of course," Sehun said. "It''s our first anniversary soon. It also feels like we''re doing this for our fans."


    "I could already imagine their reactions. I like this album a lot more than our previous one," Ren said.


    "Of course," Akira retorted. "You have three songs in it. You''ll be getting plenty of royalties!"


    The others chuckled, enjoying the warm atmosphere.


    Just then, June''s phone rang-a small smile adorning his face when he saw it was Minjun.


    "We''re on break, right?" June asked.


    Jay lifted his head and nodded. "Yeah. You guys need to rest, too."


    "Alright," June said. "Let me take this real quick."


    June answered the call and ced his phone over his ears.


    "Little demon," he greeted with a smile on his face. "How are you?"


    "How are YOU?" Minjun asked, throwing the question back to June. "It must have been tough to live in the vige, huh?"


    "Nope," June said. "I enjoyed it except for the cupcake incident."


    "Yo, that was insane!" he eximed. "It was such a hot topic that even my mom knew about


    it. Let me tell you this-my mom never knows these things since she doesn''t even watch the


    show."


    "I bet," June chuckled. "Anyway, why did you call?"


    "Are you free to hang out?" Minjun asked.


    June pursed his lips and recalled his schedule. "We''re preparing for aeback."


    "Finally," Minjun said.


    "So...," June trailed.


    "That means that you don''t have any time?" Minjun asked, already sounding upset.


    "Yup," June said. "Sorry, kiddo. It''s going to get really busy from now on. We have to prepare


    for our world tour right after."


    Minjun groaned. "Why do idols have to be so busy?"


    June chuckled and leaned against the wall. "Why are you even asking? I thought you were


    banned from seeing me."


    "That''s right," Minjun said. "My mom still believes you''re a bad influence. However, ever


    since she''s been busy making kissy faces with her new boyfriend, she hasn''t looked out for me


    too much."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Lena has a boyfriend?"


    "They''re getting to know each other, apparently," Minjun sighed. "But if you ask me, I don''t


    really like that guy for her."


    June continued chuckling, his shoulders shaking from the action.


    "Well, maybe that would make her less grumpy."


    "I wish," Minjun said. "It just took away more of my time with her," he muttered.


    "Minjun," June muttered, sensing the sadness in his tone.


    "Anyway," Minjun said. "I think it would be a while until we get to hang out."


    "Yeah," June sighed.


    "Maybe when you lose your job, we''ll finally see each other."

 Chapter 915: So Long

    Chapter 915: So Long


    ?


    The preparations for theeback were going smoothly. It was definitely difficult, but the process wasn''t as chaotic as that of theirst album.


    If you asked June, then he would answer it was going TOO smoothly.


    It was a calm Thursday evening. They had already recorded their title track and had learned its choreography. Somehow, even though theeback was still more than a month away, EVE was already set to perform it on the big stage.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    June sat next to Jisung and nudged his shoulder.


    "Do you want to tell them about your song now?" he asked.


    Jisung pursed his lips and shook his head. "Not right now," he said. "I feel like it''s still too early. Have you already written the lyrics?"


    June shook his head. "Nothing seems to fit."


    Jisung smiled. "Then, it''s really too early. We still have some time. Maybe we can ask them to add it as thest song to the album."


    June nodded, respecting Jisung''s wishes. It was his song, after all.


    They continued their practice; however, the peace was soon disrupted when someone came into the room.


    "Hunky men?" Jay asked as soon as he saw the two individuals. The members of EVE stopped practicing as they were graced by the presence of police officers.


    "Good evening," one of them said.


    Jay frowned. "May we help you?"


    They showed their badge and went to where June was. "We have a search warrant against Mr. Choi Joon Ho. We ask you to please join us at the police station."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed while the others turned to each other with wide eyes.


    "A search warrant?" Jay eximed. "What for?"


    "Criminal charges that we cannot disclose," the police officer said. "However, Mr. Choi Joon Ho needs to apany us to the station."


    All hell broke loose.


    "Criminal charges?" Casper eximed-the loudest the others had heard him speak. "That''s impossible."


    "What kind of crime did June even do? He''s been with us ever since!" Jaeyong defended.


    "This cannot be. There must be a mistake," Jisung shakily said.


    The others continued to defend him. Meanwhile, June finally realized what was happening. "I see," he muttered. "It has started."


    He knew it woulde to this. He just didn''t think it would happen so swiftly.


    June had been working hard for theireback, not wanting to ck or have any distractions. However, the time has finallye.


    June was aware that his career was in jeopardy the moment Lei became the CEO of Azure. It was just a matter of time.


    He raised both wrists without anyint.


    "I wille with you," he said.


    The members of EVE turned to him with wide eyes.


    "Are you insane?" Akira asked. "Why would you go with them?"


    June sighed. "It''s a search warrant. It''s protected byw. I will cooperate, but that doesn''t mean I am admitting to whatever they charged me with."


    Jay massaged the bridge of his nose.


    The police nodded and ced some handcuffs on June. The others continued to protest, with Casper even holding onto June''s wrist.


    "You can''t go," he exasperatedly said, his hold tightening with every word.


    June pursed his lips and looked at his teammates. They all appeared to be in distress. His heart ached with what he saw.


    He failed to protect it-their smiles.


    However, he also knew it would be even more painful as time passed by. So, he needed to do this for now.


    "I''ll be fine," he said. "You take care of yourselves, alright?"


    Jisung sniffed, not being able to handle his emotions. "W-why does it feel like you''re saying goodbye?"


    "I''m not," June chuckled.


    The others were bewildered with how he could still smile in such a situation.


    However, then again, that was June for them-their strongest center.


    His words didn''t appease them, so June pursed his lips.


    "Do you guys trust me?" he asked.


    The question took them aback, even Jay.


    "Why are you even-"


    "Just answer it," June said. "Do you trust me?"


    "I do," Jisung said despite his shakiness.


    The others followed suit, all looking at June with trusting eyes.


    "Then, that''s good," June smiled. "Continue trusting in me like you do now. Even if it gets


    too difficult, just always remember-we will continue to be EVE, alright?"


    "Now, that really sounds like parting words," Jay muttered.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Let''s go," he said.


    "I''ll see you guys soon," he said to the boys before they left the practice room.


    With that, they went out of thepany. Fortunately, it was past office hours, so there weren''t any staff around anymore-just those working overtime. However, even then, news spread like wildfire.


    They made it to the police car at the parking lot and sped away, with June looking out of the window. Jay patted his shoulder and looked him in the eyes as if silently asking-''are you


    okay?''


    June pursed his lips and remained silent, also not knowing how to feel.


    Lei, who was currently at the topmost floor with Dan, looked outside the window. In front of them was none other than Phoenix Entertainment, a few blocks away but towering above


    every building in the area.


    "There it is," he smiled. "My new empire."


    With that, he nced at the ground, where he saw the police car speeding away. He couldn''t help it;ughter bubbled up his chest, and the dark office was soon filled with the chilling


    sound.


    Dan, who felt chills run down his spine, tried to join in with theughter, but it just sounded like a pig getting ughtered.


    Lei red at him, so he quickly pursed his lips and directed his gaze back to the ground.


    Lei sighed and shook his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "It has finally started," he muttered, a small, sick smile ying on his lips.


    "For so long, I have yed your game. Now, it''s your turn to be the pawn."


    "So long, June."

 Chapter 916: Falling Star

    Chapter 916: Falling Star


    ?


    "Sexual crime allegations?" Jay eximed as soon as the officers revealed what June was being investigated for.


    Then, he turned to June, who shook his head.


    "There must be some kind of mistake," Jay said, sounding nervous. "June can''t. I mean, he hasn''t! There''s no way!"


    If there was one thing an idol couldn''t bounce back-it was this.


    Rightfully so.


    There has been a lot of controversy regarding sexual crimes in the entertainment industry. In the past years, there had been some artists who were aired to the public-some involved in big organizations while some in secret rtionships.


    Once proven right, the oue was fatal. Most of them fled the country, while some served their sentences. It was a point of no return.


    At that point, one''s career would plummet to the ground.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June pursed his lips.


    "These are very serious allegations," he said. "Is there any proof that I had done such?"


    "We have ainant," the police officer responded. "We will continue the investigation and the trials, so we came to inform you. However, since there hasn''t been a verdict, you would be booked without detention-which means that you are not going to be detained throughout the course of the investigation."


    Jay massaged the bridge of his nose and paced back and forth.


    "This can''t be," he muttered. "You''re using June-of all people?"


    "Again, sir, none of these has been confirmed-which is why we are investigating it properly. It will be done through the virtue ofw."


    Jay was ready to burst out of anger. However, June held him back.


    "Theinant," June said, still holding onto Jay. "Who are they?"


    "In the meantime, theinant wishes to stay anonymous. However, in the uing investigation, she had expressed her intention to show in court."


    "She," June muttered. So, it was a woman? He ced his hand under his chin and thought hard. Had there been an instance where he identally touched a woman inappropriately? No matter how hard he thought about it-that wasn''t the case. He had never done such things. He had never even shown any interest in the opposite gender!


    So, there was only one answer to all of this-Lei.


    June shook his head and stood from his seat.


    "I am aware now," he said. "I will earnestly attend all of the trials."


    "June!" Jay eximed. "They''re spewing nonsense! You would never do such things."


    "I know," June sighed, feeling a headacheing in. "But is there some way we can escape this?"


    The police officers nced at each other.


    "Unless you are ruled innocent or if theinant withdraws the case, then you are required to undergo investigation by thew, sir."


    June pursed his lips and nodded, holding onto Jay''s wrist.


    "Let''s go," he said.


    Jay sighed and nodded, leading June out of the police station. However, much to their surprise, the ground was filled with reporters and spectators.


    Jay and June frowned.


    "What the heck," Jay muttered. "It had already been revealed to the public?"


    June turned on his phone and went on Navel. As expected, his name was on the top of the trends list. However, he knew that it wasn''t for something positive this time around.


    He plucked up the courage and clicked on the topic.


    What bombarded him were photos-ones he had never seen before. It already had over fifty thousand likes despite being posted mere minutes ago.


    June clicked on one photo and zoomed in, wondering where the photo had been taken.


    Then, it hit him.


    "The club," he muttered.


    When he was tricked by Dan, he went to the club-where he met those people. He had been wary of the CCTV cameras. However, he didn''t think they would be able to do this.


    Hyuck. Scar. Ali.


    He couldn''t be mistaken.


    It must be one of them.


    "But why?" he whispered.


    He clicked out of the photo and went through thements.


    - Crap, I didn''t want to believe it. But June really went to the club.


    - Him going to the club is the problem with you, guys? He''s being used of a grave crime!


    - Who cares if he did it? I would not want to be vited by him.


    -The world is really fucked.


    - Goodness, I don''t know what to believe.


    - Believe the victim. ALWAYS.


    - Yes! I''m so devastated right now. I can''t believe I trusted him.


    -What will I do with all his photocards right now?


    - Guys, it hasn''t been confirmed. I don''t know why we''re basing his innocence on these photos.


    - I heard he assaulted multiple people!


    - Source: trust me, bro.


    - Can we please act serious for once? Let''s wait for the official statements.


    Jay grabbed June''s phone and ced it in his pocket.


    "I was reading that," June said.


    Jay sighed. "How can you act so nonchnt about this?"


    June pursed his lips. This was definitely the biggest scandal he had in his entire career. "Because I didn''t do it," June sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Do you believe


    me?"


    Jay pursed his lips and nodded. "I do," he said.


    "However, you shouldn''t read these things," Jay continued. "I don''t know how you can even stomach reading it. People twist stories to their liking. It has always been that way."


    June clicked his tongue.


    "Anyway, I already called Marcus," Jay said. "He''s nearby, so he''s going to fetch us from the


    back."


    "How about thepany van?" June asked.


    "I''ll have someone retrieve it tomorrow," Jay muttered. "Why are you even thinking about


    that when thepany is probably the reason that you''re here?"


    "They are the reason that I''m here," June confidently said. "However, the guys have a


    schedule tomorrow. You don''t have any other van."


    Jay clicked his tongue and punched June''s shoulder.


    June looked at him with raised eyebrows.


    "For one second, can you think about yourself? Not anyone else-but yourself."


    June pursed his lips.


    Just then, Jay''s phone rang.


    "Nowe on," he sighed, his voice softer than before.


    "Marcus is at the back."

 Chapter 917: Let Me Rest

    Chapter 917: Let Me Rest


    ?


    "Thanks, Marcus," Jay sighed, the stress in his voice evident.


    "No worries," Marcus said. "You want me to drop you off at your dorm?"


    Jay nodded. "Thanks again."


    "Don''t mention it."


    June stared out of the window, feeling weirdly calm. His career had just burst into mes in a matter of hours, but he didn''t feel too bad about it.


    Somehow, he felt worse for the people he loved. It wasn''t because he was hurting-but because they were. He could already imagine the turmoil his members and his fans were going through.


    June could handle the public scrutiny, but the thought that the people he cherished were also going to get scrutinized made his heart ache.


    "Oh crap," Marcus said after a while.


    June and Jay looked up and saw that the situation was even worse in their dorm.


    There were reporters and protestors surrounding it, with banners that said ''Oust June.''


    Jay clicked his tongue. "Shit. We can''t go out there. You''d be egged."


    June pursed his lips, thinking of a ce to stay at. He could stay with Minjun, but he was sure he was going to get kicked out as soon as he arrived. Lena might even light him on fire.


    "We can go to Master Haruto''s ce," Marcus said. "He has an extra room."


    Jay turned to him. "Will that be okay?"


    Marcus nodded. "I''m sure he wouldn''t mind. In fact, he might like it very much."


    Jay then turned to June. "Would that be alright with you?"


    June nodded, so Marcus stepped on the gas and sped away. Fortunately, Haruto''s ce wasn''t that far from his office. It was only a couple of blocks away-a condominium that was too high for its own good.


    June ced on a mask and rode the elevator with the two of them.


    As they arrived at the penthouse, they were greeted by Haruto, who appeared like he was even more stressed than Jay.


    "June," Haruto eximed. "Goodness," he said, inspecting his body. "I''m so d you''re fine."


    "My career is not, though," June joked, causing the others to turn silent.


    "How can you even say things like that at this moment?" Jay eximed, pping June''s shoulder.


    June pursed his lips and scratched the back of his neck.


    "Too soon?" he asked.


    Jay shook his head. "I have a headache," he muttered.


    "I''ll get you some medicine," Marcus said.


    Jay nodded and sat on the couch. June and Haruto followed. The silence between them was deafening¡ªwith none of them finding the right words to say.


    Jay grabbed his phone from his pocket and saw too many notifications. Most of it was from the members of EVE.


    Jay sighed and opened the messages.


    Casper the Ghost: June is being removed from EVE?


    Jisung the Chick: Jay, please exin this! Why did Azure release a statement that June has been removed from the group?


    Jaeyong the Crybaby: I can''t do anymore. Pleasee back with June, Jay.


    Akira: He doesn''t have a sexual bone in his body! How can they freaking do this to him?


    Jay''s eyebrows furrowed, and he quickly went to the group chat for managers.


    There, he saw a notice about June''s involuntary departure from EVE.


    He stood from his seat, causing the other two to turn to him with curiosity.


    "What?" Haruto asked.


    Jay turned to June, who had his pursed lips.


    "Lei removed you from EVE," he revealed.


    Haruto turned to June with wide eyes. June, on the other hand, kept his lips pursed.


    Haruto felt bad for him. He knew how June worked so hard for this dream. He had achieved the sess that he rightfully deserved; however, why did it feel like the world was against him? How can they take away his dream for the second time?


    June sighed and leaned against his seat. "I see," he muttered.


    Jay and Haruto nced at each other, trying to gauge June''s reaction.


    "A are you alright?" Haruto asked after a while.


    "Peachy," June answered.


    Just then, Marcus came back, giving Jay some painkillers. However, thetter didn''t take them anymore. It wasn''t his head that ached-it was his heart. Seeing the person who had worked


    so hard to get to where he was being mistreated and misrepresented in the media made his heart hurt.


    If there was one person Jay could trust in the whole world, then it would be June.


    "I can talk to Lei about this," Jay said, trying to salvage the situation. "We can also post something on your social media."


    June stood and shook his head. "That would make things worse. Let''s wait for now."


    "For how long?" Jay asked.


    June didn''t respond, making Jay frustrated. "You can''t stop me," he said. "I will talk to Lei about this."


    June massaged his temples. "Do what you want. For now, I really want to rest."


    Haruto pursed his lips. "If it makes you feel better, I found him," he said, capturing June''sn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    attention.


    "Who?" June asked.


    "The head," Haruto said. "We can go to him tomorrow and ask for his help. You still have the briefcase, right? We can use that as leverage. I''m sure he''ll side with us right away."


    "You found him?" Jay eximed, looking at Haruto with wide eyes.


    Haruto nodded. "It was a difficult search, but yes, I found him. Kim Kwan," he revealed. "We also have his address. Again, we can ask for his help to settle everything."


    Jay sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "Somehow, there''s so much to do. I don''t even know where to start. However, don''t worry, June. I''ll get to the bottom of this. We will prove your innocence. I will also talk with the board


    members to reverse their decision-"


    "Jay," June said, his voice louder than usual.


    That took Jay by surprise.


    "Don''t worry about it," he said. "Don''t worry about me."


    "But June-"


    "Please take care of the boys," June said. "I know what I''m doing."


    "But you can''t do it alone!" Jay exasperated.


    "I know," June sighed. "That''s why I''m asking for your help-take care of the boys. I''ll take


    care of myself."


    Haruto and Marcus nced at each other, not knowing how to intervene.


    "For now, I need to sleep," June sighed.


    "So, please, let me rest."

 Chapter 918: Saving Junes Career

    Chapter 918: Saving June''s Career


    ?


    "Keep an eye out for him, alright?" Jay said.


    It was already dawn, yet he was still there. June had settled in Haruto''s extra room as nned.


    They talked about ways how to salvage June from the situation. Although June said he was fine, they felt like they just couldn''t stand there and watch.


    "Do you happen to know where the rest of the contents of the briefcase are?" Haruki asked while Jay arranged his items.


    Jay shook his head. "I know there''s a lot more information out there. I believe June is the only one who knows such information. We''ve never talked about it, and I''m not going to force him."


    "Me too," Haruto muttered. "I''m just curious. Why is he so calm? Does he have something up his sleeve?"


    Jay sighed. "June''s so unreadable," he said. "However, what we can do now is trust him and support him in what he''s going to do."


    Haruto nodded in agreement.


    "Well, I need to go back to the dorm," Jay sighed, appearing tired. "I still have the other boys to handle. I can already imagine the chaos that would ensue once I arrive."


    "Oof," Haruto muttered. "That''s something I cannot do. Well, good luck to you. I''ll keep June here in the meantime."


    "Yeah, thanks for that," Jay smiled. "I''ll check back tomorrow. Please tell him toy low while we fix this. I''m afraid his safety is in jeopardy."


    "Don''t worry," Haruto said. "I have cameras everywhere. I can also activate the special locks."


    "Special locks?" Jay asked with one eyebrow raised.


    "Don''t think about it," Haruto chuckled. "You better worry about the other boys."


    Jay sighed and nodded, massaging the bridge of his nose.


    "Alright," Jay said. "I''ll try toe back tomorrow."


    Haruto nodded while Marcus led Jay out of the penthouse.


    "Alright," Haruto muttered as the two of them left. "Let''s keep an eye out on June!"


    ***


    "Where the heck is June?" Haruto eximed. He decided to stay awake in case June woke up early. However, he found himself asleep on the couch.


    Haruto had searched every corner of the house, but June was nowhere to be found.


    Marcus came from the camera room and pursed his lips.


    "He left," he said.


    Haruto pursed his lips. "Crap," he muttered. "How can he outsmart my special locks? Jay is going to strangle me once he finds out! Do you think he ran away?"


    "I don''t think so," Marcus said. "Like Jay said, he doesn''t have anywhere to stay."


    "That doesn''t make it better!" Haruto said. "What if he has been kidnapped? Or got sucked in by my toilet?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Marcus pursed his lips. "I will order a search for him, sir."


    Haruto nodded, wheeling his wheelchair back and forth out of nervousness.


    Meanwhile, June was in a small Teokkboki ce that looked like it had existed since the 80s. The workers were around Minjun''s age-a sign that it was family-owned.


    Although it low-key felt like childbor, these restaurants usually had the best food.


    In front of June was none other than Minjun, who was looking at him with bright eyes.


    "Well, that was fast," he said. "I said we''d meet once you''re unemployed-and look at you now!"


    June, who had a bucket hat on, lowered it down as he shook his head.


    "Are you happy?" he asked.


    "To see you? Very," Minjun responded. "It''s been a while. But, the unemployed part? It''s unexpected."


    June sighed. "Well, we''ll be seeing each other more often from now on."


    "Nice!" Minjun said, raising his fist high in the air.


    June shook his head in amusement.


    "Anyway, do you have a n regarding this? You''re all over social media. You still have a lot of supporters, but it''s only a matter of time. If we prolong it further, then the public is bound to find to believe in the rumors."


    "I know," June said. "I thought hard about it yesterday. Technically, I don''t have apany to back me up. I also can''t join anotherpany as I''m practically cklisted until the verdictes out that I''m innocent."


    "So, I decided to post something on my Navel page. However, I had been logged out."


    "What?" Minjun eximed.


    "Yeah," June sighed. "Thepany has ess to our individual ounts-for surveince purposes."


    Minjun opened his phone. "The ount is still up, though," he said, showing him the screen.


    "You can recover your ount and post something on it. We can even set something up for a live stream!"


    "How are you going to do that?" June asked.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I forgot you were stupid at this. Do you know your email, at least?"


    "Yeah," June answered.


    "Then, that''s all we need to know. Now, let''s go. We need to deny it quickly to settle the fire!"


    June looked around the shop and frowned. "Where are we going to film it?"


    Minjun puffed up his cheeks and thought of something.


    "Well, we can''t film it in a public ce. You''re going to get tomatoes thrown at you."


    "Gee, thanks," June muttered.


    "So, we need to go somewhere private. But you don''t want to go back to your friend''s house


    just yet, right?"


    June nodded. "I feel bad. Jay''s doing so much, even though I already told him toy low. I


    don''t want them to get hurt, too."


    "O-ho," Minjun eximed. "What a caring man."


    June rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "So, do you have an idea?" he asked.


    Minjun nodded, a small smile ying on his lips.


    "I have the perfect ce!"


    June nodded, silently telling him to continue.


    "Our house," Minjun said. "It''s big and private, and only our workers are there!"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Your house? Don''t you think it''s more dangerous? Your mom might fry me alive once she sees me."


    "Don''t worry," Minjun said. "My mom is out on a date again. She won''t be home until the


    night."


    "So, we have all the time that we need!"

 Chapter 919: Go Live

    Chapter 919: Go Live


    ?


    "What kind of path is this?" June eximed as they arrived at what seemed to be a manmade forest.


    "I snuck out!" Minjun eximed. "And you''re broke now, so we both don''t have cars."


    June clicked his tongue. "I''m not broke. I still have a lot of money. I am, however,


    unemployed."


    "Well, if this keeps up, you''re going to be broke very soon. So, hurry up. We''re almost there!"


    June sighed and followed after the younger boy.


    "There," Minjun eximed. "We''re finally here."


    June sighed in relief. "Finally-"


    His words were caught in the back of his throat when he saw the house before him.


    He stood there with his mouth agape, not being able to move his feet.


    Minjun sensed his hesitation, so he turned around, only to see June gaping at their house.


    He clicked his tongue. "Hurry up!"


    June didn''t move. Instead, he covered his mouth as he took it all in.


    "This is better than our dorm," he muttered.


    "A lot of things are better than your dorm," Minjun deadpanned. "Now,e on. I don''t want the search dogs to be released."


    "Search dogs?" June eximed, his voice breaking at the end of the statement.


    Minjun sighed and held onto June''s hand, dragging him inside their gates. It was cornea- activated, which amazed June even more.


    "Y-you''re so rich," June muttered.


    Minjun shrugged with a smile. "It''s no big deal," he boasted.


    Minjun quickly closed the gates and led June inside. He could see some of their workers already going to where their search dog were.


    "I''m here!" he quickly announced. "No need to bring out the Cane Corso!"


    The workers sighed in relief. "Young master, where have you been?"


    They were about to go near him, but they saw who he was with, making them halt.


    June stopped for a moment and bowed at the waist.


    "Thank you for having me," he said, his voice filled with respect.


    The workers nced at each other as Minjun dragged June to their house.


    "I''m home!" he announced.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The maids all scrambled to greet him at the door.


    "Young master! We were worried," one of them said. Then, they noticed June''s presence and immediately stepped back.


    June bowed once more, repeating his greeting.


    Minjun smiled as he nudged June''s shoulder.


    "This is my older brother!" he eximed. "We''re going to be filming something in my room,


    so don''t make any noise, alright? We''re going to save his dying career!"


    June shook his head and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "We''ll be quick," he prefaced.


    The maids were still hesitant until the oldest one stepped forward.


    "Young master," she softly said. "I don''t think Ms. Lena would appreciate his presence."


    "I know. I know," Minjun said. "But my mom''s busy, right? She''s out on a date. June is going to leave before shees home. There won''t be a problem!" he assured.


    However, even with his assurance, they were still hesitant to let June inside.


    June pursed his lips. "Perhaps, is it because of what''s happening¡ª"


    The oldest maid quickly cut him off.


    "It isn''t," she said with a small smile. "Minjun talks about you frequently, and in those stories, we can tell that you''re a good person. Besides, I think there is way too little proof for us to believe in it."


    "It just blew out of proportion because you''re a really big star. Aside from that, you''re not getting much support from yourpany-they''ve practically abandoned you," she muttered.


    "Woah," Minjun said. "You shouldn''t be here! You should be an analyst."


    The maid chuckled and ced her frail hand on June''s shoulder.


    "Anyway, you are wee here. If young master believes in you, then we do, too. However, we''re just worried about Ms. Lena. She''s really not fond of you."


    June chuckled, feeling touched by their support.


    "Yeah, I am aware," he muttered. "However, it would be really quick. I don''t have any other ce to go to."


    The maid sighed and finally nodded.


    "Alright," she muttered. "However, for good measures, I think you need to leave after lunch. Ms. Lena said she''d be home by the afternoon, so we just want to make sure."


    June nodded with a smile. "Thank you. It''s a great help."


    "It''s nothing," she said. "Now go. You don''t have much time."


    "Let''s go!" Minjun happily eximed as he dragged June to his room. As soon as they entered, there was a smug look on his face.


    Once again, June was amazed by the sheer richness of the young guy.


    "Goodness," he muttered. "Are you Tony Spark''s son or something? Why do you have so many good-quality figurines?"


    "Don''t touch them!" Minjun eximed when June attempted to stroke the biggest one.


    June clicked his tongue. "Dang, I can''t believe I''m even less important than the figurine."


    Minjun rolled his eyes. "Just get over here," he said, already setting up June''s phone for the livestream.


    "What about my ount?" June asked.


    "I''ve already retrieved it," Minjun said.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Already?"


    "What do you think of me?" Minjun scoffed. "This is a piece of cake."


    "Alright, everything''s good now," he continued. "Sit there."


    June nodded and sat on Minjun''s chair.


    "Do I look okay?" June asked.


    Minjun crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Do you even have to ask that? Or do you want me to put concealer on your lips and red eyeshadow below your eyes and on the tip of your


    nose to make it look like you deeply regret what you''ve done?"


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I shouldn''t have asked."


    "Damn right!" Minjun eximed. "You know that you always look good. Besides, you


    shouldn''t look guilty. It''s not like you really did the crime."


    June couldn''t help but smirk. However, he turned serious as soon as Minjun''s finger hovered


    above the ''go live'' button.


    "Are you ready? Or do you need a script?" Minjun asked.


    June shook his head. At first, he felt hesitant since he might stumble with his words. However,


    he didn''t want toe out as scripted. He wanted to be as transparent as possible.


    With that, he nodded.


    "I''m ready."


    Minjun nodded with him, pressing the ''go live'' button.

 Chapter 920: His Apology

    Chapter 920: His Apology


    ?


    "I''m not telling you where June is," Jay sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose.


    "Why not?" Akira eximed, his eyes puffy fromst night''s crying session. In fact, all of the members'' eyes were puffy even those who took pride in not crying.


    "You told us to sleep it off," Jisung sniffed. "We already did! Now, tell us where he is."


    Jay pursed his lips. "I never told you that I would disclose his whereabouts."


    "Why the heck not?" Zeth asked. "Don''t we have the right to know where he is as his members?"


    "Because I know you''ll cause a ruckus," Jay said. "You''re going to look for him when, in fact, we have a meeting with Sir Lei today. Tonight, you also have the jacket shoot for your new album."


    "You expect us to go through with that?" Sehun asked. "After all of this has happened?" Jay''s head started hurting once more. No amount of painkillers worked for what he was feeling. He needed to drink! However, he wanted to be strong for the boys.


    "Yes," Jay said. "It''s what June wants."


    "Why would he want that?" Ren eximed.


    "I know, right," Jay muttered. He was also against it at first. However, he couldn''t forget what June had said to him yesterday night.


    "Life needs to continue," Jay said, quoting June''s words. "It cannot stop because something like this happened. I know it sounds ridiculous, but this is one way to protect yourselves. You need to continue working. Otherwise, thepany will target you too. Now, I wouldn''t stop you from sharing your thoughts about the situation with Sir Lei; however-"


    "How about June?" Jisung said, tears falling from his eyes.


    The sight of their youngest member crying made their hearts ache. They looked away and tried their best not to cry along with him.


    "Who''s going to protect June?" he asked.


    Jay pursed his lips. "Through this, we are protecting June, too," he softly said.


    "How?" Jisung asked, his voice raising from anger. "Is it going to bring him back to the group?"


    That was the limit of Jay''s knowledge.


    "I don''t know," he whispered, looking down at the floor. No matter how strong he wanted to be for the boys, in reality, he also had a lot of uncertainties.


    And the biggest one was whether June would be able toe back to the group or not.


    Jaeyong raked his fingers through his hair and brought out his phone. He was desperate to look for something, anything, when he saw a notification pop up on his phone.


    June is live!


    He lifted his head. "Did thepany seize June''s ount?" he asked.


    "Yes," Jay responded. "Not only him but all of you had been logged out. Thepany said this would control the damage. However, I think they''re just silencing your support for him."


    "Then, why is he live right now?" he asked, causing the members to turn to him with wide eyes.


    "What?" Jay eximed, not believing it. However, it was real. Jaeyong showed them the notification.


    "Crap," Jay muttered. "y it on the television right now."


    They scrambled to get to the living room. Jaeyong quickly cast his screen on the television- and there, they saw June.


    Somehow, they couldn''t help but smile once they saw him.


    "He looks...okay," Jisung muttered.


    "He looks more than okay," Akira chimed. "He looks better than us-that bastard. Even though he appears tired, he''s still good-looking as fuck."


    June waited for a few seconds as the people spilled in.


    Not even a minute in, yet there were already a million people in his livestream. It felt like not only fans were interested in the case.


    - June?


    - What the heck? I thought he was out of EVE. Why is he still using the official ount?


    - Shame on you.


    - I hate seeing his face.


    - Then, fucking leave.


    - Please, June. Tell us what''s really going on.


    - This is so interesting! I don''t even like K-pop, but I''m tuned in.


    - We hate people like you.


    -You made the rest of EVE suffer, June!


    - We support you, oppa.


    - I just want to get the facts, please.


    June let out a deep breath before starting.


    "Hi," he started off. "It''s June."


    Then, he paused as he collected his thoughts.


    "I don''t really know how to start this. Yesterday, everything changed so fast. One moment, I''m practicing with my members like we always do... and the next, I''m being used of something I can''t even wrap my head around."


    "I''ve always given everything I have to this. Every practice, every stage, every moment with you all¡ªI''ve never taken any of it for granted. I know what this life means. I know what you mean to us. To me."


    He looked down and took a deep breath before looking back at the camera.


    "It hurts me to know that some of you are suffering right now. I''m so, so sorry for the pain it''s caused you, for the confusion, the disappointment. I never wanted to be the reason any of you


    felt hurt."


    "Why is he apologizing?" Jaeyong asked with a frown.


    "He shouldn''t be apologizing when he didn''t even do anything wrong!" Jisung eximed.


    "Thepany should be the one apologizing."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I knew it was too good to be true," Zeth muttered, leaning against the couch and looking up


    at the ceiling. "Everything was going too well."


    "Shh," Akira said just as June said his next words.


    "I don''t know what happens from here. I don''t know what''s next. But please, if you can''t believe in me right now... believe in the other members of EVE. They don''t deserve this. They''ve worked so hard, and they''re like my brothers. They''ve always been there for me, and I need you to be there for them now. Please show them love and support. They need you."


    "Fuck you, June," Akira spat. "Why are you still concerned about us?"


    Jay pursed his lips. June really cherished the group so much.


    Then, June let out a deep breath before going closer to the camera. It seemed like the sadness had left his eyes, and recing it was something that looked-murderous.


    The members felt chills running down their spines.


    "Before I end, I need to say this," he continued, looking straight into the camera with those


    intense eyes.


    "Loud and clear."


    "I did-

 Chapter 921: Disheveled Hair

    Chapter 921: Disheveled Hair


    ?


    I did not do it.


    Those were the words that June wanted to say. However, before he could utter them, the app redirected him to his home screen.


    Minjun, who was right behind the camera, looked at him with wide eyes. He silently gestured for June to continue, but June just pointed at the phone.


    "Idiot!" Minjun whispered. "Say you didn''t do it!"


    June clicked his tongue. "It''s gone," he said.


    Minjun frowned and carefully peeked at the phone, making sure that the live wasn''t ongoing anymore.


    When he saw that June was telling the truth, a frown graced his face.


    He went to Navel on his phone and searched for June''s name.


    "It''s...gone," Minjun said. "Your ount is gone."


    June sighed and leaned against the shelf behind him. "Not that surprising," he muttered. "Honestly, it''s more surprising that they didn''t take out the live sooner."


    "Yeah, stupidpany," Minjun muttered.


    "That was really good, by the way," he added. "I definitely felt your sincerity. I even almost teared up in the end! If you were able to finish your statement, then it would have been perfect. Although, thest part gave me chills. You look like you wanted to kill someone."


    June softly chuckled. "Are you rating my exnation video?"


    Minjun smiled. "Well, I think it would be well-received-or at least, it would tame the fire for now. However, some people would still twist your words. Moreover, yourpany might censor you even more from now on."


    June nodded, already expecting it.


    "So, do you want to use my page to get your message across?" Minjun asked.


    June ced his hand under his chin before shaking his head.


    "No, that''s not good," June said. "You''ve worked hard for it to grow into what it is today. It might get taken down."


    Minjun shrugged. "I don''t care."


    June chuckled and stood, wrapping one arm around Minjun''s shoulder and rubbing his head.


    "Since when were you so mature?" he joked.


    Minjun clicked his tongue and pushed him away. "I''ve always been mature."


    June merely smiled and sighed in relief.


    "Well, that''s done," Minjun said. "Want to go downstairs? I bet the food''s done by now." June nodded. "Let''s go."


    ***


    The members of EVE continued to stare at the television. The live stream was long gone, and they were now gazing at Jaeyong''s home screen-which was their very first picture together. Jay sighed and massaged his temples.


    "June," he muttered. "I told Haruto to look over him."


    Jisung sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. "He always thinks about us-even when he''s the one hurting."


    "What are we going to do without him?" Jaeyong muttered.


    The members turned silent, not knowing the answer to his question.


    "He looks better than I thought," Akira chimed. "I think he''s taking this much better than we are."


    "He doesn''t look guilty," Jay said. "It''s because he didn''t do it."


    The members nodded, fully believing in their center.


    "How are the people reacting to this?" Ren asked.


    Jay went to his Navel ount and saw that June''s topic had gained more than three million posts since the previous day.


    He looked through the people''s opinions and nodded.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It''s mixed," Jay said. "There are a lot who still support him, but there is also a good portion that wants him arrested."


    Jaeyong sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It''s going to take a lot more to clear his name. It just sucks that thepany isn''t even helping him."


    "They dropped him like a hot potato. I even thought Lei was a good person," Jaeyong muttered.


    "Didn''t we all?" Jisung asked. "However, they failed to protect June-when he''s one of the people who made Azure what it is today."


    Jay pursed his lips since he already knew of Lei''s true nature.


    "Speaking of Lei," he said. "We have a meeting with him today. I need you guys to behave, alright? You can state your opinions, but do not make a scene."


    Casper opened his mouth, but Jay quickly stopped him.


    "Especially you, Casper," he warned. "We don''t want Lei targeting you too. That''s thest thing June would want."


    Casper pursed his lips after Jay used the ''June'' card on him.


    "Let''s go," Jaeyong said, not wanting to prolong their meeting further.


    They went down to the parking lot and drove to Azure''s building. As they entered, most workers looked toward their way-some with disgust while most with pity.


    The members of EVE hated it. They looked at them like June really did something wrong.


    They finally arrived at Lei''s office and frowned when they saw he wasn''t there yet. Instead, there was none other than Dan, who was sitting in the CEO''s seat.


    Their expressions instantly hardened since they remembered what Dan did to June.


    Jay led the members to sit on the couch before crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "What are you doing here?" Jay asked.


    Dan quickly stood from the prestigious seat and sheepishly raised his hands.


    "You caught me," he said. "I''m just testing to see howfortable it is."


    Jay clicked his tongue. "Where''s Sir Lei?" he asked.


    "Well, you don''t sound happy," Dan chuckled.


    Jay and the members remained unamused, so Dan cleared his throat.


    "He''sing," he said, straightening his back as he walked away from Lei''s table.


    "He''s a bitte since he forgot about this. He has a prior engagement, but he''s already in the


    parking lot."


    Casper clicked his tongue. "He''s wasting our time," he muttered.


    Jaeyong nudged his shoulder, to which Casper merely responded with an eye roll.


    Finally, after a few minutes, the door opened, revealing Lei with swollen lips and disheveled hair. Jay grimaced as he appeared with a smile-as if thepany''s biggest boy group wasn''t


    in shambles.


    "Oh, there you guys are," he said in his signature kind voice. However, the members weren''t


    amused-not even the least.


    "What did I miss?" he asked.


    "Nothing," Dan said. "We were waiting for you, sir."


    "Right," Lei chuckled, sitting on his chair. "Wait, why does this feel warm?" he muttered


    before shaking his head.


    "Anyway, thanks foring," he said.


    "I called all of you here to discuss June''s departure from EVE and the person who would


    rece him."

 Chapter 922: Go To Waste

    Chapter 922: Go To Waste


    ?


    The members of EVE turned to each other in utter shock.


    "What...did you just say?" Casper asked, his fists clenched.


    Lei answered nonchntly. "June''s departure and his recement," he repeated. "I''m sorry that we weren''t able to inform you about it beforehand. However, we take these topics very seriously in Azure," he said, looking empathetic. Dan nodded along with him, making the boys feel like they were in some kind of big joke.


    "So, we cut ties with him right away. This is a vition of his contract, so we are eligible to terminate it without prior consultation. As of yesterday, he has officially been removed from the group and is out of thepany. He also has to pay a fine for the premature termination due to a vition."


    "There isn''t even any proof that he had done it!" Jisung defended.


    "Now, now," Lei smiled. "I know that you guys are upset, but shouldn''t you believe in the victim first? It would be inhumane for you to think about your friend when there is a victim in question."


    "B-but he didn''t do it," Jisung weakly said.


    "And how are you guys so sure about that?" Lei asked. "I acknowledge that this must be very hard for you. However, you''ve only known each other for what? Only a little bit more than a year? That''s a very short time to get to know a person."


    "Moreover, isn''t June more closed off than the average person? It might be because he doesn''t want you guys to see who he truly is," he continued.


    Sehun frowned, feeling like they were being gaslighted.


    "Now, your career is at an all-time high. We cannot jeopardize it just because of someone''s wrongdoings. So, I suggest that you guys continue with your work while thew punishes June, alright?"


    That rendered the boys silent. They had wanted to say a lot of things beforeing, but why did it feel like Lei wasn''t going to budge no matter what they say?


    Jay massaged the bridge of his nose. "Then, we should push back theeback a little bit and clear their schedules. The boys need to-"


    "Oh, that''s something we absolutely cannot do," Lei smiled. "As you know, it''s EVE''s anniversary, and there are already articles confirming your guys''eback in November. Do you want your fans to be disappointed?"


    "June is the center of our team," Akira sighed. "He is a focal point in our choreography, in our discography, and in all of our performances. I can''t fathom why thepany does not want to protect him."


    "We can''t protect a criminal," Lei said. "That would tear down our reputation."


    "Anyway, you guys don''t have to worry about that," he continued. "I am well aware of June''s role in the team. That guy made it nearly impossible to rece him, huh? Your formations are for eight people, too. We want you guys to still befortable with that formation, so we decided to bring another member to your team."


    The members felt like they were being whished left and right.


    "A new member?" Jaeyong asked. "And this wasn''t discussed with us?"


    "This was discussed by the top-level management," Lei said. "You''re still not one year into your career, so introducing a new member wouldn''t be as big as a problem."


    Jay bit his lip to prevent himself from causing a scene. "Now, who is going to rece June?" Lei smiled.


    "Joonie," he responded. "Isn''t it nice? They have simr names, too."


    "Joonie," Casper repeated. He scoffed in disbelief. "You think that guy could rece June as the center of EVE?"


    "Pardon," Lei said, clearing his throat. "I didn''t mean for it toe out that way. Joonie is still a rookie in the idol industry, so naturally, he won''t be recing June. He would just be an additional member toplete your team."


    "The person who will rece June is with us right now," he smiled.


    The boys stiffened as they all gazed at Zeth. Naturally, they thought of him since he ended up second in Rising Stars.


    Zeth pursed his lips and massaged the bridge of his nose. He was a fiend for attention. However, not in this way. He would rather eat rocks than rece June in their team.


    In fact, all members of EVE felt the same way. However, Lei''s next words left an even more bitter taste in their mouths.


    "Congrattions, Jisung," Lei said, standing from his seat and patting Jisung''s shoulder. "You will now take June''s center role in EVE."


    Jisung felt like he was hit by multiple buses. The other members, too, gazed at him with wide eyes.


    Jay felt that this was an all-time low. Having Jisung, June''s best friend, rece him was the cruelest decision.


    "Now," Lei said, going back to his seat and not giving the members any time to retaliate. "It''s fortunate that only the title track has been recorded. So, it''s the only song we will record again."


    "The parts have been redistributed, and the formation will be revised. However, it wouldn''t be drastic since Joonie will fill in that space. Moreover, Joonie has been practicing your songs for a while now, so he won''t have a hard time adjusting."


    Casper stood from his seat, not being able to tolerate it anymore.


    "Casper!" Jay eximed, but the taller guy was unstoppable.


    He walked to where Lei was and held onto his cor, lifting him up and ring straight into


    his eyes.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You bastard," he spat. "Did you n this all along?"


    Something passed by Lei''s eyes before he held onto Casper''s wrist, squeezing tightly. Casper grimaced out of pain, but he continued to hold on.


    "Casper," Lei started off. "You liked June very much, right? You must be really upset," he said in an almost teasing stone.


    "Don''t worry. It will get better with time. You''ll forget him after a while. You still have a lot of years left for your career."


    "However, let me give you a piece of advice," he said. "In fact, let me tell this to you all."


    "Choose who you side with," he smiled. "You''ve worked hard for your dreams. You don''t want it to go to waste just because of June, right?"

 Chapter 923: The One Above The Door

    Chapter 923: The One Above The Door


    ?


    "Yo, this is really good," June said, practically devouring the bean sprout and beef soup that Minjun''s chefs had prepared for them.


    "I tell you. I have it really good here," Minjun smiled.


    June chuckled and shook his head. Then, he looked around the ce, measuring how big it


    was.


    "Doesn''t it get lonely, though?" June asked.


    Minjun shrugged. "I''m used to it," he said. "Besides, would you rather be sad and miserable in a big house or in a small house?"


    "A big house," June responded.


    "You have your answer then," Minjun said.


    June shook his head in amusement and continued eating. "How are the people perceiving the video?"


    Minjun went on his Navel ount and chuckled. "You made a lot of people confused. There are still a lot of hate posts. However, I was right to think it would tame the fire for now. Most people are waiting for the verdict."


    "Anyway," he continued. "You have my support. I have more time now since my mom''s always busy going on her dates."


    "Right," June said. "Lena''s dating someone? I can''t believe it?"


    "Why not?" Minjun asked. "My mom''s pretty."


    "Sure," June said, sounding unconvinced. "But she''s terrifying."


    "Geez," Minjun muttered. "You''re right."


    "Well, who''s the unlucky man?" June teased.


    "Right! I nearly forgot to tell you. It''s really ridiculous, but it''s your¡ª"


    Just then, heavy footsteps were hearding from outside of the dining room. The door opened, interrupting their conversation. It revealed none other than the oldest maid, appearing breathless.


    "We have an emergency, young master!" she eximed. "I was in the garden tending to the flowers when I saw your mom''s car pulling up."


    Adrenaline rushed through the boys'' bodies as they stood from the table.


    "What?" Minjun eximed. "What happened to her date?"


    "I also don''t know," the maid responded. "But, we should make it quick and have June leave."


    The two of them nodded, about to go to the front door when it opened. Lena''s voice echoed through the wide space.


    She groaned. "Is there any food? I''m really hungry."


    Minjun''s and June''s eyes widened even further.


    "What are we going to do?" Minjun whispered, appearing frantic.


    "Don''t you have a back door?" June asked in a quiet voice.


    "We don''t!" Minjun eximed. "My mom said it would be harder to monitor my behavior if we had a backdoor, so she closed it off."


    "Crap," June muttered. "Where can I hide?"


    "Minjun!" Lena eximed, her voice sounding nearer now. "Have you eaten lunch yet? Let''s eat together."


    Minjun quickly pushed June to the stairs. "Go up and hide," he said. "I''ll try to distract my mom and fetch you afterward. We can''t let her find out that you were here!"


    June nodded and went upstairs.


    "Wait!" Minjun whisper-shouted, causing her to halt. "Just don''t go through the farthest room on the right!"


    June nodded, not minding Minjun''s words, as he silently went up the stairs. As he went up, he could hear Minjun greeting Lena.


    "Mom!" he said, sounding a bit nervous.


    Lena''s eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you just standing there?"


    Minjun looked around and grabbed a rag. "Oh, you know. Just cleaning up," she said.


    Lena frowned. "You? Cleaning up?"


    "What?" Minjun asked. "I cleaned up a lot when I still lived with grandma! Besides, I was bored, so I reckoned I would clean."


    Lena shook her head. "I guess it runs in the family," she muttered.


    "Anyway! Let''s eat lunch. I''m starving," she said.


    "What happened to your date?"


    Lena sighed. "He had a meeting," she responded. "So, we rescheduled for the next weekend."


    "I see," Minjun muttered. Her mom was about to go to the dining room when Minjun abruptly stopped her.


    "Shouldn''t you get dressed first?" he asked.


    Lena frowned. "But I''m really hungry."


    "It''s unhygienic," Minjun quickly retorted. "You should eat with clean clothes on."


    Lena was bing more confused by the minute. "Since when did you care about this?"


    Minjun cleared his throat and straightened his spine. "Since now," he responded. "I''m building my principles."


    Lena shook her head. "Fine," she said. "Wait for me, alright?"


    Minjun nodded and waited for her mom to go back to her room before he bolted upstairs.


    Meanwhile, as June arrived on the second floor, he recalled what Minjun had said.


    "Just go to the farthest room on the right?" he muttered, navigating his way through the wide hallways.


    There, he saw the room that Minjun was pertaining to. It seemed darkerpared to the other rooms in the entire house. In fact, it felt like it was a room that no one dared enter.


    So, with that, June inferred that it must be a really good hiding spot.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He twisted the knob open, frowning when it didn''t budge. He clicked his tongue and grabbed a hairpin from his bag. After what happened in ''Everyday, Everynight,'' he carried one-just in


    case.


    Who knew he would need it so quickly?


    He crouched down and started picking the lock, smiling in satisfaction when the door opened.


    June entered the room and quietly closed the door. Then, he turned around, being met with darkness. He clicked his tongue. Why was the room so dark when it was still noon?


    With that, he turned on the lights, not knowing what to expect. He felt that something special had resided in the room. However, as the room was illuminated, it seemed like a pretty


    normal office.


    "It must be Lena''s," he muttered.


    June started carefully walking around the spacious office. The files on the table were neatly


    stacked on top of each other. June was curious and wanted to take a peek, but he felt that Lena would feel if someone moved her items even by a centimeter.


    The walls were filled with books. In fact, the walls were shelves themselves, so the room smelled a lot like crisp paper and aged leather.


    However, as June continued to traverse through the office, he felt a chill run down his spine. He felt as if someone was watching him from behind, causing him to halt.


    His eyes narrowed as he slowly turned around, not letting his guard down. Then, he faced the door with narrowed eyes.


    And there, he saw something-or instead, someone-whom he never thought would be seen


    in a different setting.


    His eyes widened as he stared at therge photo frame above the door.


    "What...are you doing here?"

 Chapter 924: Off Limits

    Chapter 924: Off Limits


    ?


    "Where the heck is that guy?" Minjun asked as he frantically opened all the doors on the second floor.


    He started at the left side since he specifically told June not to go to the farthest room on the right. However, he was nowhere to be found!


    Their time was limited, and June needed to get out of the house right at that moment. It was times like this when their big house was a disadvantage.


    As he arrived at the middle of the floor, he felt a chilling sensation run down his spine. "He didn''t," he muttered.


    However, Minjun felt that June, indeed, did it. So, he ran to the farthest room on the right, cing his hand on the doorknob and twisting it open.


    Minjun cursed under his breath and opened the door. He was surprised when he saw June standing in front of the door, appearing like he had seen a ghost.


    He clicked his tongue and held onto his wrist, dragging him out of the room before June could even utter a single word.


    "I told you not to go here," Minjun scolded, turning around to lock the door before proceeding to drag June to the first floor.


    June still wasn''t responding, and Minjun continued shaking his head.


    He, himself, had only been in that room two times. Those two times, his mom scolded him profoundly. After that, he never dared enter it again.


    Minjun sighed in relief when they finally reached the front door.


    He pushed June outside, who still appeared out of his mind.


    "Contact me when you get home," Minjun said, about to shut the door. However, June stopped the action with his foot.


    "What?" Minjun asked. "You need to go! My mom changes slowly, but she''ll be done soon."


    "Minjun," June said, his eyes showing his seriousness. Minjun frowned, wondering why he looked so serious.


    "That person above the door-"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Minjun, where are you?" Lena''s voice was heard from afar.


    The young boy quickly shut the door before June could even finish his question.


    Lena frowned when she saw her son walking back from the entrance.


    "Why did youe from that direction?" she asked with narrowed eyes.


    Minjun sighed. "Were you always this suspicious, mom?"


    "It''s because you''re acting strange," she reasoned.


    "You gave birth to a weird son. Deal with it," he said. "Now, let''s go. It''s been a while since we ate together because you enjoy eating with Lei more."


    Lena''s face softened. At first, she was upset that their date was canceled. It was the second time that Lei had done it, and although she understood that he was busy because of June''s issue, it still upset her.


    However, it was actually good that it got canceled.


    She smiled and ced her hands on Minjun''s shoulders. "Mom''s sorry," she lightheartedly said. "Let''s eat more often from now on, huh?"


    Minjun sighed, not knowing what to make of her promise. He didn''t want to expect anything only to be disappointed in the end.


    With that, he merely nodded with a weak smile.


    "Yeah," he muttered.


    Meanwhile, June had just snapped out of his daze as he traversed through the huge manmade forest that Minjun''s rich neighborhood had.


    There were some houses next to theirs, appearing as big. June could tell that the people who lived there were in another sry bracket.


    Just then, it shed in his mind-the photo.


    At that moment, June''s expression hardened. Starting from his transmigration, he already knew he was part of something big. However, the fact that these things were so well- connected made him feel that everything that happened was really for a reason.


    He shook his head and hailed a cab.


    "Millionaire Residences, please," he muttered.


    The driver nodded and quietly drove to the condominium.


    On his way there, June saw his billboards. A small smile graced his face. When people called him a legendary billboard artist, he couldn''t reallyprehend it.


    However, it all made sense now.


    His face was literally everywhere.


    They still hadn''t been taken down-which was a good thing. However, June knew it was only a matter of time.


    He shook his head and concentrated on the streets instead, not bothering to nce at the billboards. Somehow, it made him feel a little bit mncholic.


    "We''re here, sir," the driver said.


    June brought out some money from his wallet and handed it to the cab driver before getting out of the car. He went to the elevator and pressed the number of the highest floor, whistling as he waited to arrive.


    Then, he inputted Haruto''sbination on the pad before entering through the door.


    Haruto, who was still anxiously wheeling himself back and forth, looked up when he heard the door open. His eyes widened in relief when he saw it was none other than June.


    "June!" he eximed.


    June nonchntly waved. "I''m back," he sighed.


    Haruto sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "I''m back?" he eximed. "That''s all you have to say when you''ve been missing since morning?"


    "I went to a friend''s house," June said. "I didn''t run into trouble."


    "Even if!" Haruto said. "You should have told me where you were going. I even had Marcus arrange a search party for you."


    "A search party?" June asked with a frown.


    Haruto clicked his tongue and waved him off. "That''s not important anymore. What''s


    important is you''re back now. I saw your live, too. It seems to be gaining good attention. However, Lei would soon pull out something that would ruin your momentum."


    June nodded.


    "So, what''s your next move?" Haruto asked.


    June pursed his lips as he sat on the couch.


    "You said you had the head''s identity," he started off.


    Haruto''s face turned serious as he went closer to June. He looked into his eyes before


    nodding.


    "Yes," he said. "I found out where he lives. Do you still have the briefcase with you?"


    June remembered where the briefcase was. Then, he nodded.


    "Somehow," he muttered.


    "Kim Kwan seems like a pretty friendly guy," Haruto continued. "However, he''s closed off


    from the real world, and that''s why he hasn''t been found in so long."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "I see. Are you sure you''re correct?"


    Haruto bit his lip. "I cannot be a hundred percent sure, but all arrows point to him."


    "Alright," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Then, it''s time to make a little visit to the head."


    "Tomorrow," he added. "Drive me to UN Vige tomorrow."

 Chapter 925: The Race To The Head

    Chapter 925: The Race To The Head


    ?


    "Where are you going, sir?" Dan asked as Lei arranged his suit in front of the mirror. He made sure there weren''t any creases.


    For this day, he needed to look his best.


    "Are you going on a date with Lena Park?" Dan added, a teasing look on his face.


    Lei clicked his tongue and turned around, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "No," he deadpanned. "I canceled the date."


    Dan''s eyebrows raised in curiosity. "I thought it was going well."


    "It is," Lei said, turning back around to the mirror. "We''re getting to know each other pretty well. I was even supposed to take her to a hotelter in the evening."


    "However," he added. "Our n is going so well, so I reckoned it''s time for me to talk with Kwan."


    Dan couldn''t help but smile. "Is it finally time, sir?" he asked.


    "Yes," Lei said. "We''ve been chatting about old video games, along with some business talk here and there. I believe he isn''t too interested in his entertainmentpany since he rarely talks about it. I think he won''t mind signing a deal once I show him his uncle''s wrongdoings." Dan nodded and inserted his hand inside his pocket. "Shall I get the van ready, sir?"


    Lei smirked while staring at himself in the mirror.


    "Yes," he said. "It''s time. Phoenix Entertainment will finally be mine."


    Meanwhile, in Haruto''s penthouse, June was also getting ready to go to the head''s house. "Dang, you look really handsome," Haruto said as June went out of his room, dressed in a white polo tucked in some ck cks. "Are you going for a casting audition or what?" June sighed and shook his head. "Might as well impress the head while we''re at it."


    Haruto nodded and continued to inspect his appearance.


    "And the briefcase?" he asked. "Are you going to bring it?"


    "Not right now," June said. "It''s not needed."


    Haruto frowned. "How are you going to convince Kim Kwan to side with you, then?"


    June sighed. "Just get the car ready."


    Haruto pursed his lips and nodded. "Marcus is already downstairs. Let''s go."


    June wheeled Haruto outside his penthouse and went down to the parking lot. They were met Marcus, who helped Haruto inside the car.


    June looked at the chrome-covered car with appreciative eyes. "You got a new one?"


    "Yup!" Haruto excitedly eximed as June also entered the car. "It''s nice, huh?"


    June merely nodded as he settled in his seat.


    With that, they sped away to UN vige.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    June was silent on the way there while Haruto continued giving information about Kim Kwan. "He''s pretty young-only around Marcus'' age," Haruto started off. "However, his worth is already estimated to have reached 1 billion dors. That''s US dors!"


    "Aside from that, he has rtions with Kim Young Do, and it''s rumored that Young Do is able to keep his position in Phoenix despite being corrupt because of their filial ties."


    June looked out of the window, gazing at the familiar scenery.


    "Are you listening? These are all important information. You need to show that you''re really interested in him," Haruto said.


    "Yeah," June said. "I''m listening."


    Meanwhile, Lei also nced out of his window as Dan drove him to Kwan''s house.


    A small frown graced his face when he saw a fancy-looking car next to them.


    "What is this?" he muttered. "A Ferrardi?"


    He clicked his tongue, not wanting to appear pathetic next to the sports car.


    "Dan, speed away," he said. "I don''t want to be next to this thing."


    Dan swooned as he nced at the car next to them.


    "Got it, sir," he said, pressing on the gas to surpass the sports car next to them. With the sports car out of his view, Lei felt more relieved.


    As expected, he always wanted to be the best in everything-no matter what aspect that was.


    "Marcus, you''re going way too slow for a sports car," Haruto sighed.


    Marcus pursed his lips. "I''m only following the speed limit, sir."


    June chuckled in amusement. "You must be the kindest hitman I''ve ever met," he said.


    Marcus couldn''t help but smile. "Thank you, June."


    The car ride was filled with Haruto''sments and stories about Kim Kwan, making June''s ears hurt.


    Finally, after a couple more minutes, they arrived at UN vige, the richest subdivision in Seoul.


    "We''re near," Marcus said.


    June crouched down a bit to look outside of the window. He could see towering houses next to each other.


    After a while, the car finally came to a halt. June frowned as he looked at the house in front of them.


    "This is his house?" June asked.


    Haruto shook his head. "No, his house is three houses down. The big one right there. Do you want us to park right in front of their gate?"


    June shook his head. "No, this is perfect," he smirked, finally opening the door and getting


    out.


    He saw a distant van in front of Kim Kwan''s gate, causing him to tilt his head to the side. Did he have another visitor?


    As June was about to walk to the house, Haruto reached out his hand from the window to hold


    onto his wrist.


    June looked down at him.


    "Be careful, alright?" he said, sounding concerned.


    June smirked, taking Haruto by surprise. "Don''t worry," he said. "I got this."


    Haruto pursed his lips and decided to trust June.


    "Call me when you''re nearly done. We''ll pick you up here again."


    June nodded. "Alright, I''ll see youter."


    With that, the Ferrardi sped away from UN vige, leaving June all alone.


    "Ah, we''re finally here," he muttered as he walked down the street.


    Then, when he arrived in front of Kim Kwan''s house, he stopped.


    "Azure," he muttered as he looked at the te number of the van parked right in front of it.


    June frowned. "Don''t tell me he''s here."


    With that, he walked a couple more steps-finally arriving at his destination.


    Then, without any hesitation, he raised his hand and hovered it above the doorbell. However,


    it wasn''t just him.


    Another hand shot through, holding onto his wrist with profound strength.


    "You...Why are you here?"

 Chapter 926: Phoenix

    Chapter 926: Phoenix


    ?


    "Oh, Lei?" Kwan asked as he opened the gate for him. "I thought you couldn''te today." "I can''t miss our game night," Lei smiled.


    Kwan chuckled and opened the gate wider. "Lena will scold me once she finds out you''re here instead of with her. Anyway,e on in. My personal chef is already preparing dinner."


    Lei smiled. "Thank you for having me."


    The two of them went to Kwan''s mansion and settled in the living room.


    "Well, you look very proper," Kwan chuckled. "You just came from work?"


    "Yes," Lei said, cing his briefcase on the table. "I came here straight away."


    "I can sense your dedication," Kwan chuckled. "Anyway, dinner will probably be ready in half an hour. What do you want to do until then?"


    Lei pursed his lips. This was the perfect time to show him. He opened his briefcase and took some papers out.


    Without saying anything, he handed them to Kwan, who appeared confused by the events. He grabbed the papers and inevitably read them. Meanwhile, Lei waited patiently, trying to keep his expressions neutral-not wanting to appear too excited.


    After a while, Kwan finally stopped reading, cing the stack of papers on hisp with a deep frown.


    "My uncle," he muttered. "He did all of this to Phoenix trainees?"


    Lei pursed his lips, appearing genuinely concerned about the situation.


    "Yes," he answered. "As I''ve told you, I worked in Phoenix back then. This is the information I''ve gathered against him. I didn''t want to tell you at first, but after a while, I decided to do it -for the sake of our friendship."


    Kwan''s fists clenched around the piece of paper. "I knew it," he muttered. "This is also one of the reasons why I didn''t want to be known to the public. I don''t want to be associated with my family anymore. However, this is in cruel. How can they do this to little kids with dreams of bing an idol?"


    Lei sighed. "That was what I was trying to change when I was still working at Phoenix. However, your uncle is also powerful. He knows the system of thepany, and he has created many allies in the process."


    "I am only one person¡ªone who wants to change the idol industry, so I wasn''t able to do it. Only someone with more power than your uncle would be able to grant that position to me," he continued.


    Kwan''s frown deepened as Lei continued his story.


    "Do...you want my help?" Kwan asked.


    Lei thought he would never ask. Then, he solemnly nodded. "I know we haven''t known each other for a long time; however, if you would grant me this opportunity, then I would be very grateful. I also wouldn''t take it for granted."


    "As you also know, Azure Entertainment is going through a tough time thesest couple of days. June''s departure had created a buzz, but it also doesn''t look good with our investors- especially since June was the face of EVE."


    "However, we are working hard on rebuilding EVE to be a much better group-even better than the one with June in it. Yet, we can''t do it alone. I can''t do it alone."


    "I need your help," he said.


    "So, if you will, we can create a symbiotic rtionship."


    "You can save Azure Entertainment while I can take care of Phoenix."


    Kwan''s eyebrows furrowed in concentration.


    "You want to take Phoenix and merge it with Azure?" Kwan asked.


    "Frankly speaking, yes," Lei said. "I am confident that I would be able to change the idol industry for the better if this happened."


    "Now, are you willing to help me, Mr. Phoenix?"


    ***


    "What are you doing here?" Minjun eximed as he held onto June''s wrist.


    In his arms was a stic bag filled with expensive ice cream-the ones that cost the same as a full-course meal in a cheap restaurant.


    June ced his left hand over his heart. "I thought you were someone else," he said. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"


    "You''re the one who nearly gave me a heart attack! What are you doing outside of our house? My mom is home!"


    "Really," June muttered. "That''s perfect."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What do you mean?" Minjun eximed. "She''s already in a bad mood because her date ditched her once again! You''re going to get burned alive if she sees you here."


    "Minjun, you''re already here? Where is the ice cream?" they suddenly heard from inside the gate.


    Minjun''s eyes widened further as his mom''s voice sounded closer.


    He ced both hands on June''s back and aimed to push him away. "Go away! You can visit me another time! Just call me," he whispered shouted.


    However, June stayed still in his spot.


    "Minjun, who are you talking to?" Lena asked.


    Minjun pursed his lips. "No one, mom. Don''te out! I''ll go inside in a second."


    June clicked his tongue, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I''m not going."


    "You''re insane," Minjun said, not being able to control the volume of his voice.


    "I heard another voice!" Lena eximed, cing her hand on their gate. "I''m going out


    now!"


    Minjun felt his heart race inside his chest. On the contrary, June remained calm, appearing like he didn''t give a damn about what was happening.


    Minjun continued to push him away. Just then, the gate opened, revealing Lena in all of her


    glory.


    Since it was a hot and disappointing evening, she was wearing pajamas paired with a tank top, ready to eat the ice cream that her son had bought.


    However, the night became even hotter when she saw June next to her son-both figuratively and literally. June was hot; there was no doubt about that. But Lena also felt hot from anger


    since she didn''t want him in the vicinity of their house.


    "What are you doing here?" she eximed out of rage.


    June gazed at her with a smirk, looking her up and down. Lena''s cheeks reddened since she felt that June was checking her out.


    However, in reality, he was just staring at the underside of her arm-where a prominent ck


    mark was shown.


    Then, he smirked.


    Phoenix.

 Chapter 927: Like A Happy Family

    Chapter 927: Like A Happy Family


    ?


    "I do want to help you with that," Kwan said.


    Lei felt excitement course through his veins. He didn''t think it would be difficult, but he also didn''t think it would be this easy.


    "So, with that," Lei started off, about to get the prepared contract from his briefcase.


    "But," Kwan suddenly said, making Lei halt.


    "I think you came to the wrong person."


    Lei frowned deeply as he ced the briefcase back on the table. "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "Phoenix Entertainment, huh?" he asked. "I''m sorry, but only my uncle has the authority to appoint another person to be its CEO-or thew...or maybe his boss!" he said.


    Lei was utterly confused. "His boss," Lei muttered. "Isn''t it you? The owner of Phoenix?"


    Kwan sat there for a moment, taking everything in. Then, a look of recognition passed by his eyes.


    "Ah!" he eximed, even going as far as standing from his seat. "You''re talking about THAT Phoenix-the one that has Phoenix Entertainment."


    Lei became even more confused-if that was possible. "Yes," he said. "Is there any other Phoenix?"


    "Yes," Kwan said. "I see that we have a misunderstanding," he muttered.


    He sat right back on the couch, looking at Lei with humor in his eyes.


    "You''re finding this funny?" Lei asked, not believing what he was seeing.


    Kwan let out a chuckle and covered his mouth. "Sorry, sorry," he muttered. "This is really amazing. I can''t believe it hase to this."


    "I don''t run Phoenix," he smiled.


    "I own FeeNicks," he exined. "You know, that AIpany that makes taxes easier! Now, we even have ChatNickPT. It''s the reason why my house is so big right now!"


    Lei felt like he was transported to the underworld.


    "FeeNicks?" he muttered.


    "Yes," Kwan said. "I have been curating it since I was young. Nobody believed in me. I asked for money from some rtives for a start-up, but they never gave me a chance. My uncle, Young Do, was the one who opposed it the most. Now, look at where I am. I was able to achieve this all by myself!"


    "So, you''re not the ''head'' of Phoenix?" Lei asked, sounding absent-minded.


    "Oh, I wish!" he eximed. "Then, I would have absolved my uncle from thatpany much sooner."


    ***


    Minjun, Lena, and June were sat on the long table-just the three of them. The maids and the other workers gossipped among themselves, none of them wanting to go in due to the tension felt in the room.


    Minjun smiled as he looked at his mom and June. They were the people he loved the most in the world, so he couldn''t be happier with what was happening.


    "Let''s eat!" Minjun eximed. "It''s been a while since I''ve eaten with three people like this."


    Lena nced at her son and watched as he ate with gusto. Somehow, that dissipated her anger for a moment. She pursed her lips and stroked her son''s hair.


    "Eat well," she softly said, taking Minjun and June by surprise.


    They definitely thought she was going to explode as soon as they started eating. However, much to their surprise, she silently ate.


    A small smile was constantly on Minjun''s lips as they ate their dinner. June couldn''t help but smile, too. What Minjun was truly craving was aplete family-he could see that.


    After their meal, however, it seemed like the bomb had finally ticked.


    Lena stood from her seat, the bottom of her chair scratching loudly against the floor.


    Then, she looked June in the eyes, who didn''t back down from her gaze. She considered turning away for a moment just because June''s face was too much to handle, but she kept their gaze until the end.


    "Let''s talk," she said.


    June smirked as he stood from his seat. "Sure," he said. "It''s what I have been waiting for."


    Lena''s eyes narrowed while June continued to smirk. Meanwhile, Minjun watched them with wary eyes.


    "Mom," he said. "Don''t kill him, alright?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lena merely smirked, making Minjun nervous. Then, she gestured for June to follow after her.


    Minjun wanted to follow after them, but Lena only had to re at him for a second before he stopped following them.


    Finally, they arrived in front of a room. Lena opened the door, revealing none other than her bedroom.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Well, I didn''t expect to enter your room," he remarked. Before he could utter another statement, he felt the air get knocked out of his body.


    Lena held onto June''s neck at lightning speed, pressing dangerously hard.


    June was taken aback. He didn''t expect that! She was even much better than some of the people he had fought with when he was still in the gang!


    But then again, Lena was still no match with June. In no time, he had flipped their positions.


    However, instead of holding her by the neck, June held onto both her shoulders instead.


    Lena pursed her lips, trying to keep her emotions in check.


    From outside the door, Minjun and the other workers tried to figure out what they were talking about. However, the only thing they could hear was banging sounds near the door. Minjun pursed his lips and turned to the workers. "You don''t think they''re-"


    "Don''t finish that thought, young man," the old maid muttered.


    Inside the room, Lena and June finally separated, now upying the bed with their backs turned away from each other.


    "Don''t we need to face each other in order to talk?" June asked.


    Lena, still with red cheeks, pursed her lips and shook her head. "No," she said. "You stay put.


    This is the only way we can talk with each other."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "Fine," he said. "If that''s what you want."


    Lena cleared her throat. "Why did youe here?" she asked. "I''ve already imposed that I don''t want youing near Minjun at all costs. Do you have a death wish or something?"


    June sighed. "Honestly, that''s something I cannot do. No matter how hard you try to push me away, I already consider Minjun as my younger brother."


    "However, I technically didn''t break your rule this time around."


    "I didn''te here for him."


    Lena scoffed. "Stop lying. Who else are you going toe here for?"


    Lena waited for his answer, but it didn''te within a few seconds.


    Then, before she could process what was happening, June was already in front of her. He


    managed to sneak up on her without making a sound.


    "You," he finally revealed.


    "I came here just for you- the real owner of Phoenix."

 Chapter 928: Sanipoo Tattoo

    Chapter 928: Sanipoo Tattoo


    ?


    June paced back and forth in front of Lena. She was still awfully quiet, not wanting to give anything away.


    However, June was already convinced.


    It was her-Lena Park.


    "At first, I couldn''t believe it," he started off. "I had been looking for the ''head'' of Phoenix for so long. A lot of people knew about ''him,'' but they never knew his identity."


    He stopped pacing and stood right in front of her. "Turns out, it''s because we were looking for a ''she'' instead."


    "However, I still wasn''t sure. But then, I started piecing the puzzle together."


    "First," he started off. "You''re awful amount of money. I knew that Minjun was rich; however, he surprised me every time. He said it was because both of his parents owned apany. Yet, this was on another scale. Minjun had everything before it even came out."


    "Another reason that solidified it for me was when you helped me with my dilemma regarding Phoenix. Nobody would have been able to help me get out of it so easily¡ªyet you did," he continued.


    "Third," he continued, kneeling in front of Lena. The woman was surprised, and she scooted further away from him. However, June held onto her arm and turned it to show her tattoo.


    Lena quickly retreated it, but June had already seen it.


    "This tattoo," he chimed, standing once again. "I thought I was losing my mind when I first saw it. I knew it looked familiar-the logo of Phoenix."


    June shook his head in disbelief at how he was able to find out it was Phoenix''s logo. When he was taking a dump and using a ''Sanipoo,'' he was reminded of what Lena''s tattoo looked like.


    It seemed like the ''Sanipoo'' was more useful than he had expected.


    Lena finally lifted her head, ring at June.


    "Those aren''t solidifying facts," she smirked. "What? You inferred I was the owner of a multi-billionpany just because I''m rich and have this tattoo?"


    "You''re not as smart as I made you out to be."


    She stood and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I knew I had a bad feeling about you. Why are you even looking for the ''head'' of Phoenix in the first ce?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June shrugged. "Honestly, at first, I wasn''t really interested. However, after knowing everything they did to me as a trainee, I wanted to bring thepany down."


    "However, I''m past that now. In fact, it seems like it''s ''Phoenix'' who wants to find me."


    "What are you talking about?" Lena asked with a frown.


    "Confusing, right?" June asked. "Let''s just say that I''m more involved than this than you would expect."


    "I don''t care," Lena sighed. "You''re talking to the wrong person."


    "You can''t convince me otherwise," June said, nonchntly observing his nails.


    Lena bit her lip in frustration. She had hidden her identity for so long. Only her husband and their trusted workers knew about it-and that was the reason why they grew apart in the first ce. However, someone actually found out on their own?


    She sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. "What do you want?" she asked.


    A small smirk made its way to June''s face. "Finally," he muttered. "You''ve admitted to it."


    Lena crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Well, you''re a stubborn piece of shit. You''ve already made up your mind."


    June nodded. "You''re right about that."


    Lena shook her head in disbelief. "Pathetic," she muttered. "Is that the reason why you became close with Minjun and my mom, huh? Have you known all along?"


    "I even gave you the benefit of the doubt, but you''re using my son to get to me, huh?"


    June frowned. "You''re talking nonsense."


    Lena smirked. "Why else would you get close with Minjun?"


    June shook his head. "I became close with Grandma and Minjun before I even knew."


    "Ah, I see," Lena sarcastically said. "You just happened to be close with them without thinking of the bigger picture, huh?"


    "Yes," June said. "That''s exactly what happened."


    Lena frowned, ring at June and pointing at him with her index finger.


    "So, you''re telling me-you were able to deduct all of those from the reasons you told me a while back? Just because I have a lot of money and have this tattoo? I could be a fan of Phoenix for all you know!"


    June sighed and sat on the bed. "You might want to sit down for this one."


    "No," Lena deadpanned. "Tell me the real reason why you were able to realize why I was the owner of Phoenix."


    June pursed his lips and leaned against his hands, positioning them behind his back on the bed. Then, he recalled the exact moment when he came to an epiphany.


    He couldn''t believe it. In fact, he still felt it was ridiculous up until today.


    It even seemed like the universe was teasing him.


    All along, they had been connected.


    "I was here," June said, causing Lena''s eyebrows to furrow even further. "The other day, I was here."


    Lena frowned and massaged the bridge of her nose. "I knew it," she muttered. "There was a faint scent in my office. You fucking went there and went through my files? How low could


    you go?"


    "Fuck, I ought to kill you," she continued to mutter. "Nobody has disrespected me this way


    "Listen to me," June firmly said, causing her to halt.


    Lena pursed her lips before sighing impatiently, gesturing for him to continue.


    "I didn''t go through your files. I know my boundaries. Again, that isn''t the reason why I found


    out."


    "Then, what?" Lena eximed. "Stop going around in circles."


    "It''s because of the photo I found above your door."


    Lena froze, her eyes widening in realization.


    "Your family portrait," June continued. "It had you, Grandma, and your dad, I presume."


    "Your dad is the reason why I found out. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I knew right away."


    "The original ''head'' of Phoenix."


    "Mr. Klin Ing."

 Chapter 929: Original Head

    Chapter 929: Original Head


    ?


    shback.


    "Dad! When are you going to buy me the doll that I wanted?" Little Lena Park asked as she looked up at her dad.


    Her dad, with a bald head despite being young, smiled at her. He was a janitor in a nearby theater in their neighborhood. He didn''t make much, so it pained him to see his daughter ask for something he couldn''t afford.


    He had always wanted to be a performer-an idol of some sort. However, life just didn''t turn out that way for him. He was blessed with his own family at a young age, so he had to let go of his dream.


    With that, he opted to work in a theater so he could get close to his dream-even if it was only a little bit.


    He smiled and patted Lena''s head. "Don''t worry, honey," he said. "Dad is working hard. I''m currently making some new cleaning products, and a lot of people are interested in buying them. Once I get back my capital, then I will buy you the doll that you want."


    "Ah, capital?" Lena asked. "So, you''ve invested some money, and you need to get it back, right? Profit?"


    He was surprised by his daughter''s intelligence. "How do you know these things? Are you interested in running a business, my dear?"


    "Yup!" Lena eximed. "When I grow up, I will make a music studio and hire you to be an artist! That''s always been your dream, right, Dad?"


    He chuckled. "My precious daughter. Let''s reach our dreams together, alright?"


    "Hmm!" Lena nodded in agreement, her pigtails bouncing with her nod.


    Back to the present.


    "You alright?" June asked as Lena appeared absent-minded.


    Lena snapped back to reality, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. It had been a while since she had thought about him-her dad. However, June brought it all back.


    Then, before June could talk once again, she held onto his cor, stronger than before. June was startled, but she let him be, knowing that this was also a lot to take in.


    "How do you know that name?" she spat.


    Klin Ing.


    That was something that Lena and Grandma only knew. Her father''s real name was Kwangsoo Park. Klin Ing was the stage name he wanted for himself, so he had never shared it with anyone else.


    It has never been written anywhere-not even in his biography.


    So, the fact that June knew about it sent Lena into a frenzy.


    "Calm down," June said, holding onto her hands and gently removing them from his cor.


    "I know it''s hard to believe, but I met him," he started off.


    Lena''s frown deepened further, and then she chuckled. "You...met him?" she eximed in disbelief. "My dad died 13 years ago-before Minjun could even be born. You''re telling me that you met him when you were a kid, too?"


    June shook his head. "I met him recently-about a year ago."


    Lena scoffed. "You expect me to believe that shit? Are you saying that he reincarnated or something?"


    June sighed. "I don''t know," he muttered.


    "Liar," Lena spat. "I already knew you were low, considering you know about my identity, but


    I didn''t think you would go this low. Why would you even say something like this about my dead father?"


    "I''m not lying," June said. "I also can''t exin it. However, I did."


    "Mr. Klin-he was one of the people who brought me to where I am today."


    June sighed. Mr. Klin. Fu. The original ''head'' of Phoenix.


    All of them were one person-Kwangsoo Park.


    "He came like a shining ray of light. He was cheerful, passionate, and he believed in justice."


    "He was the one who forced me to be better and the one who kept me pushing until I reached my dreams. Heck, he was also the one who made me realize that I had this dream in the first ce!"


    "Now, you might think that I''m making all of this up, but I''m really not."


    "Maybe it''s fate that brought us to this. Being an idol has always been his dream, right?"


    Lena pursed her lips. June had said it so perfectly. He also captured her dad''s personality in those few statements.


    "He started Phoenix by producing cleaning products from scratch. It became popr, and before he knew it, he had built an empire. Phoenix Industrial. Phoenix Electronics. Phoenix Utility. Phoenix Transportation."


    "Phoenix grew into more of what he had expected. Before he knew it, he had lost the essence of his life. So, he created Phoenix Entertainment. Yet, there were a lot of people who were against it¡ªhis subordinates, his counterparts-all of it. However, he kept it. It was the ck sheep of Phoenix."


    "He worked hard on it, but he didn''t get a lot of support. In the end, it didn''t turn out the way he wanted. Then, he died before he could see it blossom."


    "You, Lena Park, then turned it into something your dad will be proud of. However, aside from that, there are still a lot of things you can''t control, right? You have a lot of enemies- both outside and inside yourpany."


    "You kept your identity under the spotlight because you didn''t want to put your family in jeopardy. You also don''t want Minjun to go through what you went through. You don''t want him to see you suffering-just like how you saw with your dad," he continued, assuming that Lena felt that way. However, judging from her reaction, it seemed like June was right. "Now, I don''t know if I was chosen by the universe to do this, but I think we can do this- together. I will help you lessen your burden while you help me change the idol industry."


    June stood in front of Lena, cing one hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head, and there,


    June saw some unshed tears in her eyes.


    "So," he started off, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.


    "What do you say, Lena Park?"


    "Do you want to work together?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 930: Get Lost

    Chapter 930: Get Lost


    ?


    June hit it right on the nail.


    Everything he said was urate, and Lena felt like she was getting her fortune read right in front of her. She hadn''t told anyone these things before.


    As a child, she often saw her dad suffer the consequences of the actions of others. Kwangsoo tried hard to hide it; however, it still showed because Lena knew.


    So, when she inherited thepany, she made a personal promise to keep Minjun out of it. He didn''t deserve to go through what she did. However, in the process, it also seemed like it brought her more distant from her son.


    She felt that it was better that way.


    June waited patiently for her answer. If there was anyone who could help him, then it was her -none other than her.


    However, instead of a serious answer, a chuckle bubbled up Lena''s throat.


    June frowned in confusion. She wasughing?


    "Ah," she muttered after a while, wiping the tears from her eyes. Then, she looked at June, the sadness in her eyes now being reced with anger.


    "You? Lessen the burden? How are you going to do that? Are you going to sing and dance your way out of my problems?"


    June pursed his lips and shook his head. "I have some vital information that would allow you to gain leverage against your enemies-one that would put them under your control."


    The briefcase.


    It was something that Mr. Klin had put together. June inferred that it was for Lena. However, he never had the chance to show it to her. In the end, it was in June''s hands-with no one else knowing.


    "Where is it?" Lena asked with one eyebrow raised.


    June smirked. "I''m no telling you, of course," he said. "You need to agree to my proposition before I would reveal it to you."


    Lena scoffed and shook her head. "Sure, sure," she said.


    June''s eyes narrowed. "You don''t believe me, do you?"


    "Is there a reason for me to believe you?" she asked, her chin held up high.


    June sighed. "I''m telling you. We can help each other."


    "What do you want me to do?" Lena asked. "Pay your way out of the trial?"


    "No," June said. "Sign me under Phoenix Entertainment."


    Lena turned to him with wide eyes; then sheughed out loud. "You''re insane," she said. "Why would I do that? Your reputation is ruined. You''re just going to taint the reputation of the entirepany."


    "That''s only if you assume that I''m going to lose the trial. I didn''t do any of the things that they''re using me of. Now, I can fight this alone, but ultimately, I would lose."


    "I need some connections-one that would protect me. Yourpany will be able to do that."


    "So, you''re basically asking for money, is that it?" she asked.


    "You could say so," June said. "However, it doesn''t end with that. You can also help me bring EVE and LUNAIRE to yourpany."


    Lenaughed once more. His n sounded more and more ridiculous the more he borated on it.


    "Do you know how much I would have to sacrifice to be able to do that?" she asked.


    "I know," June muttered.


    "Yet, you''re still asking for me to do so? Those guys have an ongoing contract with Azure. I have to pay the termination fee and risk thepany going into turmoil. I worked hard to get Phoenix Entertainment to where it is today. I''m not sacrificing that for you."


    "You have a lot of money. I assure you that EVE and LUNAIRE will be one of your greatest moneymakers."


    "This isn''t about money," she smirked. "I have more than enough. The main problem here is you''re risking the downfall of Phoenix Entertainment. It''s the one my dad cherished the most, and I won''t let it go down to mes-no matter what happens."


    "It''s already up in mes," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "You already know that your system is rotten. You''re just turning a blind to it because you don''t want to take any risks."


    Lena pursed her lips as June continued to read her mind.


    "Kim Young Do was a key person in the sess of Phoenix Entertainment, but he will also be the cause of its downfall. I suggest you work with me before that happens. Like I said, I have something that would help the two of us. You just have to trust me."


    Lena paused for a while, appearing to be thinking about it.


    Trust.


    That was a concept she hadn''t heard in so long.


    After her parents'' death, her mindset was solidified even further.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Things turn out for the worse when you try to change them. The status quo might be rotten, but it was still working. Why fix something that''s still working-no matter how rotten it


    might be?


    She felt an ache in her heart. A part of her heart opposed this mindset, but at the same time, she knew that it was what kept her family protected until now.


    "Get out."


    June bit his lip and lifted his head, looking at Lena. However, much to his dismay, she wasn''t looking at him anymore. Instead, she had her gaze on the floor, appearing to be in a dilemma.


    "What?" June asked.


    "Get out," Lena repeated. "It was a mistake for you toe here."


    "Didn''t you hear what I just said?" June exasperated. "This is something that your father wants!"


    "How do you know what he wants?" she spat. "You''re not the one who grew up with the pain of seeing him lose himself just because he was kind to everybody-just because he gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, just because he had an innocent dream of building a good future for the entertainment industry!"


    "So, get out."


    "I would have gotten rid of you now-maybe call someone to eradicate you from this world


    for finding out my identity. However, for the sake of Minjun, I''m not going to do it."


    "So, get out and get lost before I do something I regret."


    "And nevere back here."

 Chapter 931: Losing Hope

    Chapter 931: Losing Hope


    ?


    June was inevitably kicked out.


    "Bro?" Minjun asked as June went out of Lena''s room.


    His eyes widened when he saw that June''s cor had be looser than before, with some of his chest showing.


    "Wait," he muttered.


    June sighed and shook his head, already knowing what he was going to say. "Don''t even think about it," June said. "None of that happened."


    Minjun frowned when he heard how weak June sounded.


    "Are you alright?" he asked, turning serious.


    June pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah," he muttered. However, it was obvious that he wasn''t.


    "Are you sure?" Minjun asked once again, to which June weakly nodded in response. "So, did you two make up? Can I see you more often?"


    June pursed his lips and shook his head. "I don''t think that''s possible, buddy."


    Minjun frowned. "Why not? I thought you two had a good talk."


    June chuckled and ruffled his hair. "It does not have anything to do with that. I just-I''ll be busy with the trials and all of that. I might eveny low after all of it."


    "Wait," Minjun muttered. "Why are you talking like you''re going to lose the trial?"


    "When is it, even?" he asked.


    "Two weeks from now," June answered, sighing. "Anyway, it will be a while before we see each other, so take care of yourself, alright? Take care of your mom, too."


    With that, he walked to the door, but Minjun was still left frowning.


    "Big bro!" he eximed, making June halt. However, he didn''t turn around.


    "I''m not going to lose you, too, am I?" he asked, sounding broken.


    That made June''s heartache. He pursed his lips and shook his head, finally turning around with a sincere smile.


    "You''re not," he said.


    Then, he turned around once more before waving goodbye. With that, he went out of their house.


    He walked to the streets and saw that Lei''s car wasn''t parked in front of Kim Kwan''s house anymore. From afar, he also saw Haruto''s car. It seemed like they went to fetch him even though June didn''t inform them.


    He walked to the car and went inside.


    Haruto turned around. "Where did youe from? I saw you walking away from that house."


    June didn''t answer, so Haruto took that as a sign not to pry further.


    "Well, how did it go?" he asked. "Did you manage to get his support?"


    June looked out of the window and shook his head.


    Marcus and Haruto exchanged nces before collectively sighing in disappointment.


    "Ah, shit," Haruto cursed. "Well, I didn''t think it would be that easy. So we could try again. Marcus is looking for dirt under his name. We can use it to ckmail him."


    "Don''t bother," June said, raking his fingers through his hair.


    Haruto frowned. "What? What do you want to do, then? Do you want to get support from ESTEEM instead?"


    "They won''t take me," June muttered.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Haruto''s frown deepened. "Do you have any ideas, then?"


    June nodded as he watched the trees pass by quickly.


    "I''ll


    go through with the trial," June said. "Then, after that, I''ll probablyy low." "What?" Haruto eximed. "Are you hearing yourself right now? We don''t know what kind of evidence they''re going to pull out in the trial! You could go to jail, and I would pay for the bail. However, that would also mean your career is over! There are still two weeks left until the trial. We can still find something that would make everything much easier for you to bounce back from this."


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. "Honestly, it was kind of insane for me to think I would be able to win against him in my second life. Maybe, in my third life, I would be able to do so."


    "Oh, don''t give me that crap, June," Haruto said. "We''re so close. You''re so close!"


    June sighed and leaned against the headrest before closing his eyes. "I feel strange, Haruto," he softly said.


    At that moment, Haruto felt a lump form in his throat?


    June''s voice sounded like his past self just now-not the new, strong June that he hade to love. However, he sounded like the Choi Joon Ho that started losing hope in his dream.


    If there was someone in the world who deserved to be an idol, then it was June.


    There could be a hundred multiverses out there, but Haruto would believe that June would still be an idol.


    Haruto sighed and bit his lip, cing his hand under his chin.


    "Marcus," he said.


    "Yes, master?"


    "Go to Seoul Square."


    Marcus nodded without any question. Meanwhile, June frowned, straightening his spine. "Where are we going? It''s been a long day for me, so I want to sleep."


    "Hell no," Haruto said. "I''m not letting you go home with this kind of attitude. You can feel tired, but you can never give up, okay?"


    June clicked his tongue. "So, where exactly are you taking me?"


    "To show you why you''re here in the first ce," Haruto vaguely answered. June was still confused, but he had no choice but toply with what Haruto was nning.


    Then, they finally arrived at Seoul Square-the liveliest street in Seoul. It could bepared to Times Square in a way. There were a lot of buskers, b-boy dancers, and people in general. As they got out of the car, June quickly felt overstimted. He was wearing the mask and beanie that Haruto brought out of hispartment as he looked around the ce.


    "This is just making me more tired," June sighed.


    "Oh, don''t worry," Haruto said. "I''ll take you somewhere that would liven up your blood."


    June''s frown deepened as Haruto held onto his arm. Marcus wheeled him away, and June was pulled along with them.


    Then, they stopped in the middle of the ce where thergest crowd had gathered.


    "They''re the most famous buskers around here," Haruto said.


    June looked at the crowd and nodded. "I could see that," he muttered. "So, what are we doing


    here?"


    Before Haruto could answer, one of the members of the band spoke loudly into the


    microphone.


    "It''s time for us to rest!" the lead vocalist of the band said. "So, we''re going with our iconic segment-bystander busker! Whose soul is brave enough to sing in front of our audience


    tonight?"


    Haruto smirked and elbowed Marcus'' side.


    "Right here!" Marcus eximed in a loud voice.

 Chapter 932: Ideal Office Guy

    Chapter 932: Ideal Office Guy


    ?


    June''s eyes widened in horror. He knew that Haruto had an underlying motive foring here. Now, he knew that it was because of this.


    He sighed and shook his head, massaging his temples.


    "I see someone right there!" the lead vocalist of the band eximed. Haruto chuckled in amusement. People immediately turned their heads, eyesnding on Marcus, then on June. "Oh, there they are!" the guitarist smiled. "Damn, man. You have a killer body. Do you want to sing?"


    Marcus nced at June before shaking his head. Then, he held onto June''s wrist.


    June clicked his tongue.


    "What are you doing?" he muttered through gritted teeth.


    "Apologies, June," Marcus said. "I''m just following through with what Haruto wants."


    With that, he raised June''s arm with brute force. "My friend right here wants to sing." "Another handsome man!" the guitarist eximed.


    The lead vocalist shook his head. "How can you even tell? He''s wearing a mask!"


    "I just can feel it," the guitarist said.


    Meanwhile, the people started murmuring as they continued to look at them. At first, June was worried that the crowd would instantly recognize him in his get-up. He was wearing a suit, with his hair covering most of his eyes and a mask over his face. He was also wearing clear sses that made him look like an office worker.


    However, as he heard the content of their conversations, he realized that they didn''t recognize him at all.


    "Where do such handsome workers work?"


    "Why is it that we don''t have people as such in our office?"


    "Sing! Sing!"


    A person initiated to chant, and the others quickly followed. Before he knew it, the chant had grown too loud, capturing the attention of other bystanders. They, too, began to join the already big circle.


    "Well, what are we waiting for?" the lead vocalist eximed. "Come up here and take the mic!"


    June bit his lip under the mask and hesitated; however, with Marcus'' strong push, he had no choice but to take the spotlight.


    As he got to where the band was, he pulled his mask even higher, not wanting to be recognized by anyone.


    "I told you he was handsome!" the guitarist eximed as they looked at June.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The lead vocalist nodded in approval.


    "I see that," he said. "Do you want to take off your mask for our audience?"


    June abruptly shook his head.


    "Oh," the vocalist chuckled. "I see that we picked someone shy tonight. Then, can you give us your name?"


    Once again, June shook his head, leaving the band perplexed.


    "Well, we have an anonymous singer for today. Why don''t we call him ''Ideal Office Guy?'' I''m assuming you just got off of work, right?"


    June nodded.


    "Alright, Ideal Office Guy, it is! We have him here with us, our 32nd guest ever since starting this show."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. Show?


    Then, he saw the camera at the side; then, it all clicked for him.


    These guys were ''The Buskerz.''


    They were a rtively old band but new to the fame scene. They traveled the world, mainly in Korea, to busk in different cities. They''d even made an appearance on the Allen Degenerative Show, performing in front of millions of viewers. And now, here they were.


    June was chosen for their popr segment, ''Bystander Buskers,'' where they invited someone from the crowd to sing in front of their audience. If June wasn''t mistaken, they also held livestreams of their busking sessions, so some people would be watching the events live as of the moment.


    - Ideal Office Guy is hot!


    - Yeah, he gives off a ''nerdy'' colleague that''s very proficient at work but would not take shit from anybody!


    - We''ve got our Korean boy of the month!


    - Ah, I stumbled upon this livestream due to my loneliness about June''s situation. Pleasefort me, ''Ideal Office Guy!''


    The crowd started chanting, "Ideal Office Guy."


    "Ideal Office Guy!"


    "Ideal Office Guy!"


    June swallowed hard as he listened to their chants. It was only then that he felt the pressure of the situation. He had always sung as ''June,'' and that was why people loved him. He did feel like he had gotten morefortable with performing; however, maybe that was associated


    with his name.


    People loved his name, but June felt like maybe, just maybe, his talent wasn''t the reason why he got to where he was-that it wasn''t the reason why he became so popr.


    However, standing before the crowd, he finally had the chance.


    He wanted to show himself to the world not as June but as Chen Jun Hao, the guy who liked singing but had to give up his dreams due to the reality of life.


    "What song do you want to sing?"


    Just then, he snapped back to reality when he heard the guitarist talking to him.


    "Hmm?"


    "The song," the guitarist chuckled. "They''re waiting, man. They want to hear you sing."


    June hesitated. He could feel the crowd''s anticipation pressing in on him from all sides. His mind raced, flipping through every song he could think of, searching for something, anything, that might suit this moment. Then, out of nowhere, one song popped into his head.


    "Weed," he said.


    The band member blinked, then raised an eyebrow, impressed. "''Weed'' by Hyoshu? That''s a tough one. You sure about that?"


    "Yeah. I''m sure."


    The guitarist shrugged. "Alright, man. Whatever you want. We can y that for you."


    Then, he turned to his bandmates before rying the information. As expected, the others nced at June like he had also lost his mind.


    "Is he sure?" the bassist asked.


    The guitarist nodded. With that, the rest epted June''s choice. They were still pretty hesitant. These could only go two ways-very good or very bad. Weed was one of the toughest songs to sing in these kinds of settings. It was usually the song that singers sang in contests or


    by drunk people when they wanted to de-stress.


    The lead vocalist gave June the microphone. "Good luck," he said.


    "Let''s give it up for ''Ideal Office Guy!""

 Chapter 933 Weed

    Chapter 933 Weed


    The soft strum of the guitar filled the air as The Buskerz began to y the opening chords. The melody floated gently through the crowd, and June could see their expressions soften, anticipation hanging on every note. "It''s Weed!" Haruto turned to Marcus with wide eyes. "I love this song," he eximed. "This is going to be iconic if he sings really well." "It''s still going to be iconic if he sings bad. Honestly, that would be better! We can''t have this ideal office guy even sing well." - This guy is brave. He''s going to sing Weed? - It''s a song by Park Hyoshu of all things? He''s asking for a death wish! - Not even artists can sing this song well. - That''s true. - Anyway, his talent would not be a factor to my simping. He shall still be my Korean boy of the month. June held the microphone closer to his chest. He didn''t know why he had chosen "Weed" of all songs. The decision hade to him out of nowhere, like a sudden breeze stirring up old memories. But now, standing here, with so many faces looking at him, it all made sense. Or maybe it didn''t make sense at all.


    He couldn''t exin it. He''d been having a hard time recently, and it wasn''t just the public pressure or his departure from Azure. Maybe it was everything he had gone through since he began this journey of bing an idol. He hadn''t realized just how much it affected him until now, standing in front of this crowd with the guitar softly guiding him forward. He felt lost in the spotlight as if he had strayed from the path he had set out on a year ago. And so, as the intro came to an end, June closed his eyes and began to sing.


    "Weed in the garden, where you don''t belong,


    Pulled by the hand that thinks you''re wrong,


    But you rise again, with roots so deep,


    In the soil where others fall asleep." The lyrics flowed out of him, each word filled with a strange familiarity. With his first utterance, the people were instantly captivated. Even Haruto, who had known of June''s talent since they were young, couldn''t help but be amazed. "He''s really born for this," he whispered with a small smile. "I''ve been torn, I''ve been thrown,


    In the dust, where nothing''s grown.


    But even here, in a barrennd,


    I find the strength to stand." The people closed their eyes as they listened to him sing. As the chorus began, the members of the band turned to each other with wide eyes. This guy was good¡ªawfully good. The drummer shook his head. He was even better than their lead vocalist!


    "Storms wille, and roots will tear,


    The rain won''t fall, and the sky won''t care.


    But I find the light in empty skies,


    And still, I rise, still I rise."


    - Holy crap! He is OUR Korean boy of the month. How can he sing so well? - It''s unfair. How can this guy sing so well, too? - He sounds like a professional singer. - Doesn''t he sound familiar, though? - He sounds like June! Huhuhuhuhu. - Girl, I miss him so much that all I can hear is him, too! I''m crying because this guy sounds like my favorite idol of all time. - Respectfully, why would June be here? It''s impossible. - Yeah, I''m just holding onto the thought because I miss him a lot. - It''s literally been three days. "Even when beauty turns to stone,


    Even when the wind cuts to the bone,


    I will rise, with roots so deep,


    I am the dream you couldn''t keep."


    As June continued to sing, he began to question his purpose. Was it because of his system? His sister? Now that his system was gone and his sister was with him, he became unsure of the answer. He also began to question why people began to love him. Was it because of his looks? Because people thought he was handsome now, and that made them like him more? The thought haunted him sometimes, creeping into his mind when he least expected it. He had always been the same person, yet everything changed once the world started noticing him.


    But even as he sang, with the weight of the song wrapping around him, something else began to stir. The crowd''s reaction was soft at first¡ªan appreciative smile here, a thoughtful nce there¡ªbut as the song continued, those expressions deepened. People started to sway gently, nodding along with the rhythm, their smiles growing wider.


    For just a moment, June let himself get lost in it. In the music, in the crowd. His voice, raw and emotional, carried over the park, reaching every corner, every listener. The song was about survival, about something small and insignificant that still found a way to grow, even when the world tried to tear it down.


    "A weed is pulled, trampled, and forgotten, But it always returns¡ªstronger, and ready to grow where no flower dares."


    As the final chords of the song faded, June opened his eyes. The apuse was immediate, but June wasn''t focused on the pping or the cheering. His eyes had caught on something else entirely.


    In the distance, past the crowd, towering above the park, was a billboard. A familiar image stared back at him, torn slightly at the edges, worn from exposure to the elements. It was his group, EVE. His members smiling brightly, their faces stretched across the giant poster.


    June''s chest tightened. Seeing them there, so close and yet so far, reminded him why he was doing this in the first ce. The crowd in front of him now, all with different stories¡ªteachers, students, struggling parents, couples who looked like they hadn''t smiled in weeks¡ªthese were the people who surrounded him. These were the people he sang for.


    And his song had brought smiles to their faces. Maybe it wasn''t the kind of morous sess that some idols dreamed of, but it was real. His music gave them a momentary escape from their daily struggles, just like it had done for him all those years ago. This was his dream, after all¡ªnot the fame, not the spotlight, but the connection.


    June stood there, the noise of the apuse fading into the background, as he realized something profound. He had been so caught up in the whirlwind of everything that he had forgotten why he started in the first ce. It wasn''t just about being seen. It was about sharing something, about giving others what music had always given him.


    And that was worth the fight. Always.

 Chapter 934: I Do Nothing and I Trend

    Chapter 934: I Do Nothing and I Trend


    ?


    Dan, waiting in Lei''s ce like a loyal girlfriend, excitedly stood from the couch and grabbed the cake from the table as he heard the sound of the door opening.


    Lei arrived, and as usual, Dan couldn''t read his face.


    However, he knew that Kim Kwan was pretty fond of his boss, so it wouldn''t be too hard to get his cooperation for the merging of thepanies.


    "Congrattions, sir! You are finally-"


    However, before he could finish his statement, Lei grabbed the cake and mmed it on his face, rendering him speechless.


    The apartment became awfully quiet as the cake fell to the ground, with Dan tasting the icing on his face.


    ''Pretty good,'' he thought.


    However, with Lei''s reaction, Dan knew that it didn''t go well.


    With that, he grabbed another cake from the fridge, one that said-''There''s still a chance for us!''


    "Here, sir," he said in a dejected voice.


    Lei looked at the cake and pursed his lips, grabbing it and throwing it to the ground without hesitation.


    Was this why his n failed again?


    Because he was surrounded by stupid fucking people?


    "What do you think you''re doing right now?" Lei asked, feeling even more frustrated. Dan pursed his lips. "I was thinking we could celebrate, sir," he muttered.


    Truth be told, Dan was just really excited to finally be promoted. If Lei managed to get Phoenix Entertainment in his hands, then it would entail more opportunities for him.


    "There''s nothing to celebrate," Lei said through gritted teeth. Then, he held onto Dan''s cor, taking the man by surprise. His eyes widened, and he tried to run away from the murderous CEO.


    "You got the wrong guy," he said, causing Dan to freeze in shock.


    "It''s not...Kim Kwan?" he muttered.


    Lei chuckled. "What did I fucking expect from you? I really can''t trust anyone to do these things for me," he muttered.


    With that, he let go of Dan''s cor, letting him fall to the ground. His body mmed harshly on the floor, but Dan wasn''t fazed. He was still caught on the fact that he got the wrong guy. How could that be? All signs pointed to Kim Kwan. If it wasn''t him, then there was no usible exnation.


    "I¡ªI''m going to find the right person!" Dan eximed, standing from the floor.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lei shook his head. "There''s no need to do that," he said.


    He was going to find the ''head'' himself.


    "Then, what do you need me to do, sir?" Lei asked, suddenly fearing for his life when he noticed the shift in Lei''s attitude.


    "Just release the announcement of Joonie joining EVE," he said, massaging the bridge of his


    nose.


    "Isn''t it too early, sir?" Dan asked with wide eyes.


    Lei red at him, causing him to purse his lips.


    "Right away, sir," he muttered.


    The faster he got the news out, the more that the people would ept it-especially now that there was still ambiguity with June''s case.


    "Push theireback date nearer, too," Lei added. "We need to milk those fans of their money for what I''m about to do."


    Dan nodded, going on his phone to instruct the different departments of thepany.


    "Still, sir," Dan muttered. "Don''t you think we''re rushing everything?"


    Lei couldn''t contain his anger anymore. He held onto Dan''s arm and squeezed hard, causing thetter to wince in pain.


    "Time is the luxury we don''t have," he spat.


    "The longer we go on with this, the longer we''re giving June time."


    "And trust me, we do not want to give June any more time."


    ***


    Jia and her friends were in her room, still mourning June''s departure from EVE.


    "What is going to happen now?" Bora asked, slumping on the floor. It felt as if her own family had abandoned her with what she felt.


    "I don''t know," Jia muttered.


    "Dang," Nari said as she looked at Jia. "You look like you''ve been through it, girl."


    Jia red at her.


    "I''m the same," Wei muttered. "I was crying this morning, and my mom kept asking what was wrong. However, she won''t understand! How can I tell her that I''m crying because of a guy that doesn''t even know me?"


    Bora clicked her tongue. "Don''t shame yourself for being a fan. Besides, nothing has been proven yet."


    "But, do you think it''s possible?" Jia asked, wanting to have hope about the situation. "Do you think June cane back to EVE?"


    Bora pursed her lips. "It''s hard to say," she said. "It involves a lot of legal aspects. June''s contract termination means that he isn''t affiliated with Azure anymore-not in the slightest. He even has a trial lined up."


    "If the members of EVE want to leave Azure, then they''d have to pay a hefty sum to terminate their contracts. So, honestly, the only way that could happen is if Azure goes bankrupt as a whole or if someone else buys their contracts," she said.


    Jia sighed and leaned against her bed frame. That seemed impossible for now.


    Just then, Nari stood from the floor, capturing everybody''s attention.


    "No way!" she eximed.


    Jia groaned and closed her eyes. "What now?" she muttered, not wanting to deal with


    anything anymore.


    "Azure just released the dates for EVE''seback," she said. "It''s going to be this month."


    The other girls frowned.


    "Not only that," she muttered. "But they''ve announced that Joonie will be joining the team."


    Jia and the others collectively groaned. "Can Azure give us a break?" she eximed. "Can they be even more tant with their hate for June?"


    "Yeah, something''s weird," Bora frowned. "Azure wouldn''t just let Joonie join the group like that. They must have nned it since then."


    Jia turned to her with a frown. "You think so, too?" she asked. "All of this is honestly strange. It really does feel like they''ve been nning it for a long time."


    Sumin sighed and shook her head. "Well, I wish we could meddle with the corporate struggle, but for now, we have no choice but to stand on the sidelines."


    Wei nodded in agreement. "How''s the reaction to the announcement, by the way?" she asked.


    Nari scrolled through her phone and pursed her lips.


    "Honestly, it''s neutral," she said. "I think a lot of us are exhausted with everything that''s


    going on, so it''s not gaining a lot of traction. It''s only on the fifth trending topic."


    Bora frowned. "And what''s the first one?"


    Nari shrugged. "Something called ''Ideal Office Guy.""


    "Oh, and behind him is June."

 Chapter 935: Come Back Anytime

    Chapter 935: Come Back Anytime


    ?


    The group of three arrived at Haruto''s penthouse-all with varying emotions.


    Marcus and Haruto kept raving about June''s performance, while June looked slightly annoyed.


    "You were freaking awesome!" Haruto eximed. "I swear, everyone in the audience was captivated by the song. Marcus even teared up, right Marcus?"


    Marcus'' cheeks reddened as he scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah," he muttered. "I could really feel your sincerity with the song. I know you''re having a tough time, so it really resonated well."


    "At that moment, I felt like I was one with the audience. Although all of us had different burdens to carry, we became one at that moment. It''s really touching. I liked it a lot," the big man said, showing June a thumbs up.


    June pursed his lips to hide his smile. However, he failed in the end. Once they got home, he wanted to scold the two for making him sing in front of an audience. However, he realized that he actually liked it.


    It hasn''t been two days since he was used of sexual crimes, but he already wanted to perform once again.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Thanks," he muttered in the end, sumbing to thepliments.


    "I''m going on Navel and sharing my fancams on my alter ount," Haruto excitedly said, his hands in front of his chest as he squealed like a fangirl.


    June turned to him with raised eyebrows. "You have an alter ount? For what?"


    Haruto pursed his lips, getting caught. Then, he shook his head. "I forgot," he said.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Whatever, you do what you want to do. I''m heading to bed."


    June was about to head to his room when Haruto stopped him.


    "June," he said, his tone turning serious. June turned around for a second.


    "Yeah?" he asked.


    Haruto pursed his lips before asking his question. "You''re not giving up, are you?"


    June smirked before shaking his head. "Of course not," he said. "You said I could rest, but I''m not giving up."


    A wide smile graced Haruto''s face. "Yeah," he muttered. "Rest well."


    June nodded and went to his room. His heart definitely felt lighter than the night before.


    He changed into his pajamas and got into bed, about to fall asleep when his phone suddenly rang.


    He frowned and looked at his screen, only to find that there were plenty of missed calls from his members.


    June shook his head in amusement. With that, he answered his phone. As soon as he did, chaos erupted in EVE''s dorm room.


    "He responded!" Zeth eximed.


    "June is here," Sehun smiled.


    "June!" Casper said, nearly pushing everyone out of frame.


    "Bro," Jisung sniffed. On his shoulder was Jaeyong, who also appeared to have been crying.


    Ren smiled, appearing tired. "It''s nice to see you, June."


    Akira, on the other hand, scolded June right away.


    "Why the heck did you answer only now? We''ve been trying to reach out to you since yesterday!" he eximed.


    June scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry," he said. "I turned off all my notifications. I was busy today, too."


    Akira sighed and shook his head. "Must be nice! We''re busy as hell, too. Jisung is now our center, and he literally cries every time we practice."


    Jisung sniffed and red at Akira. "Can you me me?"


    "They even pushed oureback dates nearer," Jaeyong sighed. "And we''re forced to practice with Joonie, who''s deadset on changing our concept. That guy knows nothing!"


    "I swear, I''ve never seen Casper so quiet before," Ren chimed.


    "But Casper isn''t talkative," June pointed out.


    "That''s the point!" they eximed at the same time.


    That lead the group to burst intoughter. After it died down, they all turned silent, all looking at June, who had a wide smile on his face.


    "I miss this," Jaeyong suddenly said, capturing their attention.


    Sehun clicked his tongue. "Now, you''re making this sad."


    "But it is sad!" Jaeyong said. "We can''t even do anything about it. We''re just ves to Azure, and although we''ve made a lot of money, we have no way of getting out of our contracts without losing everything."


    The boys nodded, suddenly feeling dejected.


    June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.


    "Don''t beat yourselves up for it," June said. "Besides, it''s only been two days. How can you guys feel like this already?"


    Akira clicked his tongue. "We have no choice. We really want to help you."


    June shook his head. "You can help me by doing your best," he said.


    Jisung frowned. "So, you want us to continue like this?"


    "Yes," June said. "The fans will be disappointed if you don''t give your all."


    "But, we don''t want it. We want to do it with you. They want us to do this album, the promotions, and a whole-ass concert by the end of the year! Do you think that''s humane?


    Especially with what we''re going through right now."


    "It''s not," June said. "But, it''s the nature of the job."


    Jisung sighed and nodded. "We''ll do our best," he muttered. "But you also have to do your


    best toe back, alright?"


    June smiled. "Yeah," he said. "I''ll do just that."


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. "Call us, alright? If you need any help, just call us. And don''t be


    ashamed of anything. We will wait for you, no matter what."


    Ren nodded. "You can even blow up Azure, and we won''t be mad."


    June burst into chuckles. "Not to that extent," he said.


    The boys looked at each other in surprise. "Wait, you have a n?"


    "I better go, guys," June smiled before they could ask any more questions.


    "Wait, June!"


    June turned off the call, chuckling to himself as he ced the phone on his bed.


    "Those guys," he muttered. "I miss them."


    With that, he wrapped his nket around his body and reached out to turn off themp. However, before he could do that, the door burst open, making him curse out loud.


    "Why the heck-"


    Marcus appeared before him, appearing breathless.


    "June!" he eximed, cutting him off. "He''s here."


    June frowned and stood from his bed. "Who?" he asked, his fighting mode activating.


    "Dang, this is a pretty good penthouse. Not better than our house, but I won''t mind staying


    here."


    June''s frown deepened when he heard a familiar voice getting nearer to his room.


    "Is this June''s room?"


    With that, someone appeared behind Marcus, making the big guy squeak like a mouse. June''s


    eyes widened since he had never seen Marcus react as such.


    "Bro!" he eximed.


    June couldn''t believe his eyes. "What are you doing here, Minjun?"

 Chapter 936: Marcus Phobia of Children

    Chapter 936: Marcus'' Phobia of Children


    ?


    "So, you ran away?" June asked after Minjun finished his story.


    Minjun shrugged. "I guess that''s one way to put it," he said.


    June shook his head and massaged his temples. "You''re really making Lena hate me more, huh?"


    Minjun clicked his tongue, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Don''t mention that name," he said.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "What happened? You were fine a while back."


    Minjun shook his head. "I don''t want to talk about it. Anyway, where are those cookies and milk Haruto told me about? Why is it taking so long?"


    Haruto''s eyes widened, and he quickly instructed Marcus to give the young man his cookies.


    Marcus pursed his lips and shuffled to where Minjun was, taking very cautious steps.


    Minjun frowned as Marcus ced the te and cup in front of him before running away. "What''s wrong with him?" he asked Haruto.


    "Apologies," Haruto bowed. "He''s afraid of children."


    Minjun frowned. "I''m not even a child," he muttered. However, he didn''t pay much attention to him anymore as he devoured the cookies.


    "Well," June said. "How are you nning on going back?"


    Minjun sighed and shook his head. "Didn''t you hear my story? I''m not going back."


    June clicked his tongue. "So, what? You''re nning on staying here?"


    "Yup," Minjun said, causing Marcus to squeak from afar. Haruto sighed and patted his back. "Calm down, big man."


    "Well, I was hesitant at first. My mom will probably find me, but this ce is really nice! You even have a security guy in your home," he said, pointing to Marcus. "So, yeah. I''ll be staying here."


    "That''s fine!" Haruto eximed. "June needspany while he''s here."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Sweet," Minjun said, happily dipping the cookies into the milk.


    However, June wasn''t convinced. "Minjun," he said in a reprimanding tone. "Go home right now."


    Minjun stopped eating, his eyebrows furrowing. "I don''t want to," he stubbornly said.


    "My mom isn''t listening to me. She hasn''t listened to me for a while now, so it wouldn''t make much of a difference when I''m at home," he muttered.


    June pursed his lips before sighing in defeat. How could he say no when Minjun looked so lonely?


    "Fine," he said. "Just as long as you''re okay with it."


    "Yay!" Minjun eximed. "Now, I can help you with your trial."


    June shook his head in amusement before grabbing a cookie from his te and taking a bite.


    "By the way, your name is trending," Minjun informed.


    June tilted his head to the side. "What?" he asked. "Why? Is there any new information on the allegations about me?"


    "Nope," Minjun said. "You''re just trending."


    June frowned and opened his Navel app.


    Minjun''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "You finally got your ount back?"


    "Nope," June said. "I made one."


    "O-ho," he smirked. "You''vee a long way. You can do that by yourself now, huh? Tell me your username so I can follow you."


    "Yeah, it''s SkEVEidiJune," he responded as he logged into his ount. Minjun paused as soon as he said those words. "What...did you just say?" "SkEVEidiJune," he repeated. "Do you want me to spell it out for you?"


    Minjun felt himself losing patience. "Do you even know what that means?"


    "Yup," June answered. "SK is South Korea. EVE is EVE because I''m in that group, and idi is a cute name. It means ''celebration'' or ''gift.'' Isn''t it good?"


    Minjun pursed his lips and merely nodded. "Yeah," he muttered. "I guess that''s good. At least your fans wouldn''t find your ount because it sounds like a fucking joke."


    Marcus covered his mouth as Minjun cursed. Meanwhile, June shook his head.


    "Whatever," he muttered before going to the trends list.


    Lo and behold, Minjun was telling the truth. The first trend was ''Ideal Office Guy," and on the second spot was his name.


    - I love this guy.


    - Someone get his name, please. I can''t do this. I fell in love with a stranger once more.


    -Who is this man? Please conduct your investigations and find him.


    -I''m an office worker in Seoul Square. I''ve literally never seen this person in my entire life. He''s too good to be true.


    - He sounds like June.


    - He really does.


    And that was when June realized why his name was trending. His smile widened as he


    continued reading the posts.


    - Are we all going through mass hysteria now?


    - I think we all miss June.


    - I was devastated by the news, and I do want to believe the victim first, but the proof in the media isn''t really convincing. It''s just him in the club. I think it''s time we stop babying these idols and let them


    live a normal life like us.


    - Seriously, though, it''s amazing how his name is even trending when he hasn''t updated us for a


    while now.


    - He did! He had a live stream.


    - But his ount is gone now. I really miss June. I hope we can see that he''s okay.


    June continued smiling down at his phone, causing Minjun to shake his head in disbelief.


    "You look like you''re talking to your lover."


    June lifted his head, still with a smile. "Oh, it''s just that my fans are so cute."


    Minjun looked at him with a disgusted expression. "Dang," he muttered. "You really became


    an idol."


    "I am an idol," June said, going back to reading thements.


    "It wasn''t like this in the beginning," Minjun said, shaking his head. "It''s like you were operating on a system back then, both wanting and not wanting to be an idol."


    June ignored his statement and suddenly took a photo.


    Minjun frowned. "Now, what was that?"


    "They said they want to see me," he smiled. "So, I''m going toment on this photo in the


    most popr post."


    Minjun froze before shaking his head. "No, you''re going to regret that."


    "Done," June smiled, showing Minjun the photo he posted.


    Minjun looked at it with a nk expression.


    "Oh," he muttered. "I see that you haven''t improved in this aspect."


    "How could you be so hot in your photoshoots but look like this in your selfies?" he asked.


    June smiled. "What do you mean?"


    "Look at thements," Minjun said.


    June frowned and read through the replies to the photo he posted.


    - Fuck off. You''re ruining the mood.


    - We asked for a photo of June. You look like a December.


    - Isn''t this the guy who tried to impersonate June?


    - That ended up being June.


    - What if this is June?


    - June''s not like this.


    - SkEVEidi?


    - Nah, this ount is made by an old man, for sure.

 Chapter 937: Kidnapping?

    Chapter 937: Kidnapping?


    ?


    Marcus popped his head out of his room and sighed in relief when he saw that Minjun wasn''t there anymore. Instead, Haruto and June were on the couch, discussing their ns for the kid.


    Haruto lifted his head when he heard the door open.


    "He''s gone," Haruto said. "You cane out now."


    Marcus pursed his lips and slowly made his way to the couch. Then, he cleared his throat.


    "Are we really keeping him here?" he asked.


    Haruto enthusiastically nodded. "June was just telling me that he found the real identity of the ''head'' of Phoenix, and it just so happens to be his mom!"


    Marcus'' eyes widened in shock. "So, he''s an extra evil child?"


    Haruto clicked his tongue. "That''s all you gathered from that?"


    Marcus pursed his lips and didn''t say anything anymore.


    "I honestly feel like it wouldn''t be such a good idea," June said. "Like I said a while ago, his mom hates me. That''s why she isn''t willing to help me at all."


    "Oh, my friend," Haruto chuckled. "You are too innocent! This is the perfect opportunity for you."


    June frowned. "What do you mean?"


    "The kid willingly went to you. You need something from his mom. Technically, it''s not kidnapping, but we can ask for some kind of ransom."


    June stood there for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. "So, you want to use Minjun to get what we want from his mom?"


    "Exactly," Haruto smiled. "Marcus can act as a kidnapper!"


    Marcus broke into old sweats while June shook his head.


    "Yeah, we''re not doing that," he said.


    If it was his past self, then he would have agreed right away. However, things were different now. This was Minjun they were talking about. Although the kid may agree, June still wasn''tfortable with it.


    "He came here because he wanted to escape his present reality," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I don''t want to put him into something traumatic like that. I highly doubt he wants to scare his mom, too."


    Haruto clicked his tongue. "You''re really kind," he muttered. "I wonder why his mom came to hate you."


    June shrugged. "I don''t know. She might be secretly attracted to me or something."


    Haruto and Marcus chuckled. "That might actually be the case," Haruto said.


    "There''s no other possible exnation since you take care of Minjun really well," he added. "Anyway, ignore my suggestion. We''ll keep Minjun here until he''sfortable to go home." June nodded and stood from the couch. "Alright," he said. "It''ste now. We should really hit the sack."


    Marcus pursed his lips. "I don''t think I would be able to sleep tonight."


    Haruto and June shook their heads in amusement before heading to their respective rooms.


    June plopped down on his bed and closed his eyes, attempting to sleep. However, for some reason, he couldn''t do so.


    There were a lot of thoughts inside his mind, so he grabbed a notepad from his bag and opened an audio file on his phone. It yed softly through the speakers-the instrumental of Jisung''s first song.


    It truly was beautiful, and June wasforted as the sound engulfed his room.


    He had a hard time writing the lyrics back then because he felt that nothing fit.


    However, at that moment, the words flowed out of June as he continuously wrote on his notepad.


    ***


    The morning came, and June woke upte because he stayed up until dawn to finish the lyrics for Jisung''s song. He doubted he would be able to show it to him soon, but he was really satisfied with how it came out.


    As he arrived at the dining area, he saw Minjun on Marcus'' usual seat, with the big guy sitting on the floor. June nced at him.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "There''s a vacant spot next to Minjun," he said.


    Marcus furiously shook his head. "I''m good, thanks," he smiled, although he appeared shaky.


    June shook his head. "Suit yourself."


    "Did you get a good sleep?" June asked as he watched Minjun eat.


    Minjun nodded. "Yup!" he eximed. "I didn''t even need to y games in order to sleep. It must be because you''re in the same house."


    June chuckled and ruffled his hair. "You really missed me, huh?"


    Minjun was about to deny it, but he nodded in the end, causing June to pinch his cheek.


    Marcus pursed his lips and shook his head. "How can he do that?" he muttered.


    "Really, though," June said. "Isn''t Lena going to look for you?"


    Minjun shrugged. "She has a date again today. She has beenining about her missed


    dates for a while now, so I bet she won''t look for me right away."


    June shook his head. "I doubt that," he muttered. "Who is she even dating?"


    "Oh," Minjun frowned. "I haven''t told you? I thought you already knew?"


    June shook his head. "You didn''t tell me."


    "Hmm," he hummed. "I see."


    "Well, you know him very well. He''s none other than your boss."


    The sound of utensils hitting the y engulfed the room as June, Haruto, and Marcus all


    dropped their forks.


    June looked at Minjun with wide eyes. "Come again?" he asked, not believing his ears.


    "It''s Lei," Minjun revealed.


    June pursed his lips and looked away. His eyes met with Haruto''s for a second, and he


    mirrored his expression.


    "The world is really small," Haruto muttered.


    The world was small, indeed. How could Lei date Lena?


    "Does he know about you?" June asked.


    Minjun pursed his lips before shaking his head. "I don''t think so," he muttered. "We''ve never met, and I want to keep it that way. Honestly, my mom looks very happy to meet him-it must be because he''s so handsome."


    "But, she''s never had anyone after my dad, so I''m letting her be, you know? Although I don''t


    like it that much, I can do this for her."


    Haruto raised one eyebrow. "I thought you didn''t like her-and that''s why you ran away."


    Minjun shakes his head. "It''s the opposite, actually," he said.


    "It''s my mom who doesn''t like me."


    "Without me, she would have a better life."


    "So, I ran away...for her."


    The room was filled with silence for a couple of seconds. Even Marcus felt for the little boy.


    Just then, June cleared his throat.


    "Hey, Haruto," he said. "You still up for that kidnapping scheme?"

 Chapter 938: Forget About Him

    Chapter 938: Forget About Him


    ?


    "I''m sorry," Lena said through the phone. "Rain check. I can''te to the date as nned. I have an emergency."


    Lei sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. Here he was, thinking he could finally blow off some steam after the stressful weak.


    "It''s fine," Lei said through gritted teeth. "Just call me when you''re free. It''s also a little bit busy with EVE''s uingeback."


    "Yeah, sure," Lena said, sounding distressed before ending the call.


    With that, Lei called Dan on his phone. He answered right away.


    "Call Jay. We''re going to have a meeting," he said.


    Dan, who was in EVE''s practice room, nodded enthusiastically. He walked to where Jay was and nudged his shoulder.


    "Sir Lei wants to talk with us."


    Jay pursed his lips. "The boys are still practicing," he said, sounding exhausted. It has only been three days since June had left EVE, and he has significantly aged.


    Dan turned off the music, causing the boys to stop. "Take a break," he said. "You guys had been practicing all day. We''re just going to Sir Lei''s office for a short meeting."


    The boys silently nodded and sat on the floor before scrolling through their phones.


    The two managers left, and with their departure, Joonie began ranting about their uingeback.


    "Why won''t you guys want a sexy concept? Don''t you think the song would be a bigger hit if we take our shirts off?" he asked.


    The other boys lifted their heads for a second but went back to their phones, already used to hisints.


    Joonie clicked his tongue. "I swear. You guys aren''t listening to me. If thiseback fails, then you don''t have anyone to me but yourselves."


    Casper, who has been holding back because June told him to behave, couldn''t take it anymore.


    "The only reason why thiseback would fail is because you''re the one in it, and not June."


    Joonie frowned while Jaeyong sighed.


    "That''s enough," he said. "They told us to rest. Let''s do just that."


    "No, he needs to hear it," Casper said. "You think you''re a big shot just because you were included in our team. However, hear this. You will never, ever rece June."


    "Oh, stop being dramatic," Joonie said. "You''ve only known him for a year! You''ll get over it."


    Casper continued to re at him. ""Even if many years pass, we would still not want you in the team."


    Joonie smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Well, you better get over it," he said. "June is out of the team. Plenty more years will pass, and he won''te back. An idol used of sexual crimes? That constitutes death to his career."


    "You don''t know anything," Jisung said, joining the conversation.


    "Oh, but I do," Joonie smiled. "You paint him to be such a good guy, but he does things behind your back. You think he''s taking care of you, but in truth, it''s just because you guys are on the same team. It''s good for his reputation."


    "Moreover, even if he didn''t do such crimes, he had already done quite a lot of damage. He had ruined your image. I''m here to save it. He had disappointed a lot of fans. He is the reason why the movie he filmed is being pushed back."


    "He''s not a good person," Joonie said. "He''s evil, and you guys just can''t ept that because he has manipted you into thinking he''s so charming."


    "So, stay miserable for all you want," he smirked. "But that''s not going to change anything." "June''s career is dead, so we might as well act like it is."


    ***


    In the end, June didn''t go through with the kidnapping scheme. Instead, he arranged for the mother-and-son duo to talk about their feelings. However, Minjun didn''t know about this, of


    course.


    June knew that Minjun wouldn''t agree to his n, so he had to lie to him.


    "Where are we going?" Minjun asked.


    "Somewhere," June responded as Marcus continued to drive them to the designated ce.


    Minjun''s eyes narrowed. "That doesn''t give away anything."


    June sighed and shook his head. "Just go through with it," he said. "We''re near."


    Minjun pursed his lips and shrugged.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After a while, they finally arrived at an all-white studio.


    Minjun paused and narrowed his eyes. "This is..."


    "June!" Pablo eximed, his eyes swollen as he emerged from his room. He immediately went and hugged June, to which thetter merely epted. It seemed like he was really upset.


    "I missed you," he sobbed.


    Jenny, too, emerged behind him and poked his side.


    "Are you alright?" she asked.


    June couldn''t help but chuckle. "It''s only been three days," he said. "It''s not like I''ve been away for a month."


    "It already feels like forever!" Pablo eximed. "Do you know how much I''ve been crying?" June looked at his face and pursed his lips. "I think I can imagine," he muttered.


    "You didn''t do it, right?" Pablo asked.


    June shook his head, causing Pablo to cry even harder.


    "I knew it! Your shit agency is painting you to be the bad guy when they''re the ones not doing anything to prove your innocence. Why don''t you join me, huh? I can create a newpany, and you''ll be the very first one to be signed!"


    June smirked. "Can you sign the other members of EVE, along with LUNAIRE?"


    Pablo pursed his lips. "How much?" he sheepishly asked. "Around 9.7 million USD?"


    "Oh," Pablo said, taking a step back. "Can''t you debut as a solo artist instead?"


    June chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Just focus on photography, Pablo."


    Meanwhile, Minjun tugged on June''s lips.


    "What are we doing here?" he impatiently asked.


    "Ooh!" Pablo eximed. "Is this the brother you were talking about? He''s very good-


    looking, too. Maybe he would like to be signed as well?"


    "Nope," Minjun said, shaking his head.


    "Answer me, June," he urged. June was about to respond. However, at that moment, the door


    opened, and the reason why June took Minjun here in the first ce was finally revealed.


    Lena arrived at the studio; her eyes widened when she finally saw Minjun.


    "Mom?"


    "Minjun!" she eximed, running to the young boy and giving him a hug.

 Chapter 939: Mama

    Chapter 939: Mama


    ?


    The lock was heard from inside Pablo''s office, causing Minjun to freeze in shock.


    "He just locked us in," he muttered, shaking his head. He tried to twist it open, but it was truly locked.


    "Stay in there," June said firmly, his voice muffled through the thick door. "Talk it out."


    On the other side of the room, Lena sat quietly, eyes tracing the curve of her son''s back as he simmered in front of the door. She could see the frustration in the tightness of his shoulders as well as the anger he didn''t know how to express.


    "Minjun, sit down," she said softly.


    Out of everything that June did (except for being such a good and handsome guy in ''Everyday, Everynight''), this was something she really appreciated.


    "I''m leaving."


    He pulled at the door, but it still wouldn''t budge.


    "You''re not going anywhere," she sighed, sounding tired. She hadn''t been getting any sleep. "We need to talk."


    Minjun''s hand slipped off the doorknob. He turned to face her, bitterness lining his words. "What''s there to talk about? You''re not going to listen."


    Lena flinched but held her ground. "I will. Please, just talk to me."


    Minjun scoffed, pacing the floor with his head bowed. "You''ll hear what I say, but you won''t listen. You never do."


    His words cut deep, like a de sinking in slowly into her flesh. Lena swallowed hard, her throat thickening with the pain of the truth. She had tried, hadn''t she? She had always tried to be there, to give him the best life she could. But now, face-to-face with her son''s anger, she wondered if she had ever truly understood him.


    "I''m listening now," she whispered, eyes pleading. "Did something happen, son? I thought everything was going well. We didn''t even fight before you ran away."


    Minjun stopped, his breath heavy as he looked at her. His lips trembled before he finally spoke, "It doesn''t matter anymore. I''ve already made peace with it."


    "With what?" Lena''s eyes softened.


    "The divorce," Minjun muttered, staring at the ground. "I''m alright with it. I''ve been alright for a long time."


    She had always worried how the divorce would affect Minjun, but he had never said anything. He had just... epted it.


    "You didn''t need to be alright with it," she whispered.


    Minjun''s hands balled into fists. "But I had to be. I had Grandma. She always told me why you and Dad were away. You were both working hard for us to give us a good life. She made me understand that."


    Lena blinked, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. "I thought... I thought I was doing what was best."


    "I know," Minjun sighed. "Grandma exined it over and over, and I believed her. But sometimes..." His voice broke, and he shook his head. "Sometimes, I wonder what it would''ve been like to have a different kind of richness."


    Lena''s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"


    Minjun met her eyes, and she could see the years of loneliness in them. "I didn''t need all the stuff. The house, the fancy things. I just... I just wanted a family. I wanted time, not money."


    Lena''s throat tightened, tears falling now, no longer able to hold them back. She had convinced herself for so long that she was doing the right thing, working so hard for Minjun''s future, that she hadn''t seen how much she was losing in the present.


    "Then June came," Minjun continued, his voice softer now. "He was so pathetic at first. He didn''t have anyone. But he worked hard, he pushed through everything, and... I admired him a lot. And the craziest thing is, he treated me like I was his real brother."


    Minjun shook his head. "I''ve never felt like anyone''s real anything. Not with you, not with Dad. But June? He made me feel like I mattered like I wasn''t just this... this project you both dropped off with Grandma while you went off living your lives."


    "And then," Minjun''s voice cracked again, "when Grandma died, and you came back, I thought... I thought maybe things would be different. That maybe, finally, we could live like a


    normal family, even if it''s just the two of us most of the time."


    Lena couldn''t breathe, her chest heavy. "I wanted that too..."


    "But it wasn''t different."


    "You were still busy. You still didn''t have time for me. And somehow..." He paused, his face twisted in pain.


    "Somehow, it hurt even more. Because this time, you were right here, but you still felt so far away."


    Lena pursed her lips. "I''m sorry..."


    Minjun sighed, slumping against the wall. "Don''t get me wrong. I''m thankful for everything. I know not everyone gets to be loved like this, with so much money. But it still hurts."


    Lena''s chest heaved, and she wiped at her tears, unable to stop the flood now. "Is that why you left? Because you hate me?"


    Minjun shook his head slowly, looking at her with sadness she hadn''t seen before. "No. It''s because you hate me."


    Lena gasped, covering her mouth as his words sank in. "What? No! How could you think that?"


    "You never asked me what I wanted."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I liked school, but you pulled me out to homeschool me. I liked our neighbors, but you took me away from them. And I liked June - he was the only one who made me feel like I belonged somewhere-but you didn''t want me to talk to him anymore."


    "He''s already having such a tough time, but you''re pushing him away. He''s been there with me when no one else was. I want to be the same with him."


    "I don''t really know why, but I really want to help him. Maybe it''s because he truly is pathetic, or maybe Grandpa''s genes passed onto me, and I just like helping people who have way less


    than I do."


    "But, again, you''re starting to push him away. You epted that Lei guy so easily in your life when he hadn''t done anything worth trusting for, but you''re here, taking away the person I


    care about the most."


    "So, you really, really hate me."


    "Minjun," she muttered.


    "Sometimes," Minjun interrupted.


    "I think it would have been better if I wasn''t born at all."

 Chapter 940 Hear Me Out

    940 Hear Me Out


    Lena couldn''t say anything after Minjun said those words.


    She truly had hurt him plenty of times.


    She thought he was doing the best for him by keeping him away from the public eye¡ªand that included everyone he loved.


    However, Lena was wrong.


    She was doing it for herself. She was selfish.


    For so long, she had kept her identity. She didn''t want to go through what her dad went through. When people didn''t know of her identity, she was more respected, and resistance was lower.


    Moreover, she didn''t have to face so many enemies.


    She knew that a lot of people were praying for Phoenix''s downfall. Too many people want to bring it down.


    So, Lena did all of these to keep her peace...to keep the empire that her father had built.


    Because it was the only tangible memory she had of him. However, to what expense?


    She hurt her child more than anyone else in the world just because she was self-centered.


    Just then, a lone tear fell from Minjun''s eyes. Lena walked to where he was and gave him a hug. Minjun leaned closer to her, and at that moment, when they were so close, she still felt the distance between them.


    It was the kind of distance that wasn''t built overnight¡ªbut all throughout his life.


    "I''m sorry."


    Those were the only words she could say.


    Lena had said it plenty of times.


    ''I''m sorry for not being there.''


    ''I''m sorry, I couldn''t make it.'' ''I''m sorry. I''ll make it up to you.''


    ''I''m sorry. I''ll buy you something.''


    However, it has never been¡ª''I''m sorry. I''ll change from now on.''


    It has been long enough.


    Lena hoped she wasn''t toote.


    "I''m sorry," she repeated. "I don''t hate you. You''re the person I love the most in this world."


    She realized it now.


    "Everything could be taken away from me, but not you," she whispered. "Not you, Minmin."


    Minjun''s breath got caught in the back of his throat. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.


    "Really?" he asked, his voice filled with the innocence of a child.


    Lena''s heart ached even further as she hugged him closer to her body.


    "Yes," she said. "I''ll do anything for you."


    "Anything?" Minjun asked, his voice suddenly sounding calmer than before.


    She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes at his sudden shift in attitude. Lena let go of Minjun for a moment and looked at his expression. His teary eyes were reced with determined, almost mischievous ones.


    "Yes?" she asked, sounding unsure.


    "Then," Minjun smiled, causing Lena to raise her eyebrow in inquiry.


    "You''ll do anything to make it up to me, right?"


    Lena pursed her lips. Goodness, her son looked so sorrowful just moments ago that she forgot how scheming he was.


    "Then, help June with whatever it is that he''s nning to do," he chimed.


    "You can do that for me, right, mom?"


    ***


    Pablo narrowed his eyes at the door of his office.


    "I really don''t like that woman," he said, causing June and Jenny to shake their heads in amusement. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You''ve been saying that since she arrived," Jenny said, now chewing on an apple. Pablo''s eyes narrowed even further. "And I''m telling you," he said, tapping his fingers on the counter. "It seems like she has a different motive with June." June raised one eyebrow. "And what motive might that be?" he asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Sexual¡­motives," Pablo revealed, causing June''s face to contort to disgust. "Fuck that," he said. "That woman hates me." "All the more reason why you should be more cautious!" Pablo eximed. "There''s a very thin line between hate and lust, you know?" Then, Pablo shook his head. "I can''t believe you even got rich, mature women simping for you." "You''re utterly wrong," June said. "But how''d you know she''s rich?" "Well, a rich person can just sense this," Pablo said. "Anyway, going back to the topic. You should stay away from that woman." Jenny chuckled, her cheeks filled with the crunchy fruit. "Why? Is it because you''re jealous?" Pablo scoffed and went closer to June, wrapping his arms around his bicep. June impatiently sighed and let him be, knowing that he was still recovering from June''s departure. "That would only happen if June actually liked her!" he said. "I''m guessing he isn''t too fond of her either." "You got that right," June muttered. Just then, the door opened, revealing Minjun¡ªwho looked surprisingly happy. His eyes were a little bit red, but aside from that, it appeared like their conversation went well. June stood straight as Lena walked out of the office, looking significantly worse than Minjun. Her eyes and nose were red and puffy, and some of her mascara had run down her cheeks. "Oh, honey," Pablo muttered. "She can afford a lot of things, but not a good waterproof mascara?" However, even though Lena appeared to have had a really long crying session, there was a hint of annoyance on her face. Minjun happily skipped to where June was, and thetter was surprised when Lena didn''t do anything to tear them apart. Instead, she shifted her gaze away from them. Minjun looked up at June with a wide smile. "Did you have a good talk?" he softly asked. Minjun nodded, giving him a thumbs up. "Everything''s good. Right, mom?" Lena pursed her lips and walked to where June was. Suddenly, she held onto his shoulder, causing June''s eyes to widen in surprise. Pablo exaggeratedly gasped and covered his mouth. "I knew it," he muttered, turning to Jenny, who was also watching the scene with wide eyes. "I need to talk to you," she said. June raised one eyebrow. "I thought you didn''t want to see me anymore?" Lena let out a deep breath as she felt her temper rising. However, Minjun was watching her with bright, innocent eyes, so she sucked it up and smiled at June. "I''m going to help you," she finally said.


    "Whatever your n is¡ªI''ll hear it out."

 Chapter 941 Prove Me Wrong

    941 Prove Me Wrong


    June was back in Minjun''s house. Fortunately, Lena didn''t lead her to her bedroom anymore. Instead, the two of them were inside her office, the scent of old books filling his senses. He breathed in deeply and smiled. "I really want to wipe that smile away from your face." June smirked and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Minjun!" he eximed in a joking tone, causing Lena to sigh in frustration. She clicked her tongue. "Stop that." "Will you stillin?" he asked. "No," she said through gritted teeth. June looked at her with amusement; however, at the same time, he also saw her effort to make it up to Minjun. He truly wished it wouldst a long time now. "So, what do you want me to do again? Sign you to Phoenix Entertainment?" she asked, still sounding reluctant. June''s smirk widened as she looked Lena in the eyes. "That was the deal I made the other day," he said. "You rejected it then, so now, I have a better proposition." "Goodness," Lena whispered. She already had a bad feeling about it. June looked too smug for his own good. "We need to proceed with my original n," June continued, nonchntly looking at his nails. "First, you would help me with my trial," June said. Lena sighed. "Alright," she muttered. "I can do that after signing you with Phoenix. We have top-notchwyers. As long as the evidence isn''t tant, then it''s no problem." "Oh, I don''t need you to sign me under Phoenix Entertainment," he said, confusing Lena. She clicked her tongue. "What do you mean? How can I help you that way?" June shook his head. "For the next days, Phoenix Entertainment is going to go to mes." Lena frowned. "You''re still not making sense." "Is it too hard to understand?" June asked, chuckling. "It is what it is. Someone has gathered enough evidence against yourpany, and they will release it within the week. I don''t want to sign with a failingpany!" he teasingly said. Lena scoffed. "You''re talking as if your career is going oh-so-well, huh? Whatever. How do you even know this?" "Let''s just say you''re not the only one with connections." Lena let out a deep breath and raked her fingers through her hair. She still found it ridiculous, but it felt like June was telling the truth. "Tell me more," she said. "The internal struggles of yourpany would be exposed. Corruption. Molestation. Tax evasion. I know that you know a lot, but there''s also a lot more that you don''t know." Lena frowned. These were issues she took seriously. How could it go over her? "Oh, don''t me yourself," he quickly said. "Your empire is way too big, and they''re in the hands of greedy people. Even if they act like loyal dogs in front of the big boss, they''ll inevitably bite the hand that feeds them in the end." Lena couldn''t argue with that. Phoenix truly was that big of an empire. "And who''s going to do that?" Lena asked. June then reached into his backpack, grabbed the information against Kim Young Do, and gave it to Lena. Lena read through the first few pages, her eyes widening when she saw the information that June held. These were the deepest, darkest secrets of Phoenix Entertainment. "H¡ªhow did you get this?" June smiled and nced to the right, where Mr. Klin''s photo was seen. For a second, it seemed like the portrait winked back at him; however, he snapped back to reality when Lena called his name. "June, answer me," she said, sounding desperate. "I have a lot more information," he started off. Lena frowned. "So, you''re the one who''s going to release this to the media?" June shook his head. "Of course not," he answered. "You''re not my main target." "Huh?" Lena asked, sounding very confused. "There''s a person who wants to take over yourpany¡ªto be the biggest entertainmentpany in Korea. He is also the person who will expose some of these pieces of information soon." "Who?" Lena asked. June smiled. "Your boyfriend." Lena paused. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Lei," June confirmed, rendering her silence. They were stuck in silence for a couple of minutes before Lena burst into chuckles. "You''re kidding," she said. "Lei? Lei is a good man. He''s satisfied with his job. He''s not greedy like the others." "Aren''t viins the most charismatic characters?" June asked, tilting his head to the side while looking at Lena. Lena''s eyes narrowed. "You''re charismatic," she said before she could stop herself. "Why, thank you," June smiled. "I''ll take that as apliment." "Anyway, I know that you got a good thing going on, but I''m here to warn you that there is really something about that guy that you don''t know." "He wants yourpany," he reiterated. Lena clicked her tongue. "Again, how do I know you''re telling the truth?" June shrugged. "You have a date tomorrow morning, right?" Lena frowned. "How do you¡ª" Then, her mind strayed to Minjun, causing her to shake her head. "That kid," she whispered. "And what about it?" Lena asked.


    "nt that in his car," June instructed. "In that file, there is some information that only I have. Then, you''ll see that it would be released to the public faster than the speed of light." "Are you insane?" Lena eximed. "Why would I want to expose these things to the public?" Kai raised his eyebrows. "What''s the matter?" he asked. "I thought you trusted Lei very much. Lei is a good man. He is only interested in Azure, right? What are you so scared of?" Lena opened her mouth but closed it again, biting them in nervousness. Then, she spoke after a couple of seconds. "And how do I know that you''re not the one who will release this? As you said, you''re the only one who has this information." June leaned against his seat. Then, his smile softened. "Because there''s some information about me there, too," he said. "Most that I don''t want to be released to the public. Most that shouldn''t even be released from the public!" Lena frowned and went through the file, frowning when she saw June''s real name as the title of one of the narratives. Her breath got caught in the back of her throat. "Just try it," June said. "If the information gets exposed, then you''ll know if I''m telling the truth. Then, you''ll be more confident trusting my words." "If I''m bluffing, then you know that Lei is a good man. You''ve got yourself a good boyfriend." Lena pursed her lips, not saying anything anymore. "However, before you do any of that¡ªask him about children." Lena looked at him, hoping he would borate.


    June smirked, shaking his head. "Just do it."


    Lei hated kids.

 Chapter 942 Bad Bed Chemistry

    942 Bad Bed Chemistry


    "I can''t believe I''m listening to that guy," Lena muttered as they arrived in Lei''s car.


    They had just gotten dinner¡ªa very expensive one that Lei paid for. Lena was used to paying for dates since she had more money. So, it felt nice being treated like this. Lei opened the door wider, looking at Lena with amusement. "Aren''t you getting in?" Lena snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. "Yeah, sorry about that," she said. Lei chuckled and ruffled her hair. "You''re so cute." Lena pursed her lips. See! He was very charismatic. ''Viins are usually the most charismatic characters.'' June''s words echoed in the back of her mind, causing her to swat the air out of annoyance. Lei continued to look at her with amusement, causing her cheeks to redden in embarrassment. "You ready to head home?" Lei asked. "Or maybe you want to hit a hotel?"


    Lena froze, and for a moment, she stayed silent before nodding in agreement. A small smile made its way to Lei''s lips. "Finally," he whispered. "Alright," he said. "Let''s go to the Starlight Hotel. I already booked a room there." Lena''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "You got a hotel room booked already?" Lei scratched the back of his head. "Ah, sorry. Is that weird?" Lena pursed her lips. It was a little bit weird. The two of them were adults, but having a hotel room booked at that moment made it feel like Lei was expecting this to happen. Nheless, Lena shook her head. With that, Lei started driving to the hotel, with Lena hesitating on what to do. She had the file that June gave in her bag, and she was having a dilemma about whether she should do as he said. It didn''t take long before they arrived at the Starlight Hotel. "Wait here," he said. "I''ll get the valet to park it. I''lle right back." He haphazardly parked the hotel in the driveway, seemingly impatient. Lena bit her lip and looked around the car. There wasn''t anything suspicious inside. Maybe, June was speaking out of his ass, and he was just jealous. Lena shook her head. Alright, that sounded a little bit delusional. "Give me a sign, please," Lena said. Just then, a song yed inside the car, making her eyes widen in surprise. "Leave him. Leave him. He doesn''t love you, but only your body." Lena''s eyebrows furrowed. "What the fuck? Who writes songs like this?" Then, she looked at the title and the artist of the song and saw it was by none other than CHAOS. She pursed her lips since it was by an artist from herpany. Just then, she saw Lei walking over to their car. Before she had time to think, she ced the file inside thepartment. At the perfect time, Lei opened the door, smiling at Lena. "Come on," he said. "Let''s head up." Lena pursed her lips and nodded, wanting to undo her actions. However, it was toote. She couldn''t let him know she was the one who left those pieces of information. Lena followed after Lei, feeling a little bit nervous. They entered the elevator, and Lei held onto her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Are you nervous?" he asked. Lena shook her head; however, her expression betrayed her. In fact, she wasn''t really nervous about what they were going to do. Instead, she was nervous about what she had done. June really got inside her mind with his speech yesterday! What a cunning man!


    "Don''t worry," Lei said, capturing Lena''s attention. "Daddy will take care of you." Lena froze in shock. What. The. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Heck. Was. That. Lena kept her thoughts to herself, but Lei took that as a sign that she liked what he had said. He couldn''t stop smiling as he led Lena to the room. He opened the door and led her to the bed, not sparing another second before he devoured her lips. However, Lena was still focused on June and what Lei had said a few moments ago. Maybe, just maybe, June was actually right. Lei sensed that Lena wasn''t kissing back, so he lifted his head and looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. After a tough week, he was looking forward to getting some kind of pleasure. However, Lena was acting too innocent for him. "You alright?" Lei asked, already sounding frustrated. Lena pursed her lips and decided to ask the question that June told her to ask. "Before we start," she said. "What do you think about children?" she asked without any warning. Lei''s eyes widened in surprise. "Children? Like¡­offsprings?" he asked. Lena nodded. "Oh," he muttered. "Is that¡ªIs that your intention with me? Aren''t you going a little bit too fast?" Lena sighed. "It''s not that," she said. "Children in general¡ªespecially those from single mothers." Lei pursed his lips and didn''t say anything for a couple of seconds. So, Lena decided to set up a trap. "Because I hate them," she said, wanting to gauge his reaction. He was definitely going to deny it! However, instead of reprimanding Lena, Lei sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness," he said. "I''m keeping an image for thepany, but I also don''t like children. They''re annoying. They don''t bring anything good to society." "Don''t even get me started on single mothers. How can they live with the fact that their husbands left them? They must have done something wrong for that to happen. But then again, I guess it''s better than them leaving their children to the father." "It is their duty to take care of children, after all," he ended. Lena pursed her lips. Well, she wasn''t expecting such a well-borated answer. He just kept going and going¡ªwhich stabbed Lena''s heart over and over. He definitely sounded sincere¡ªtoo sincere, in fact.


    "Right?" he asked in the end, to which Lena nodded in agreement. Lei''s smile widened. "So, can we continue now?" Lena merely nodded, and he let him do the work. However, if you asked her, the only thing she could remember was these two things:


    June was right. And Lei was very bad in bed.

 Chapter 943 Youre Always Right

    943 You''re Always Right N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lena arrived at their house the morning after, looking like hell had bent her over. Just then, someone spoke, making her already bad morning even worse. "Well, you look like a train wreck." She lifted her head and saw June lounging on their couch. He was watching the morning news, and he turned it down as Lena stood on the bean bag next to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, not even having the energy to reprimand him. "Minjun called me," June answered. "He told me he didn''t want to feel alone, and since I knew you would have a great night, I decided to join him here." Lena shook her head. "I regret everything. I really do." "Helping me?" he asked with a chuckle, expecting her to agree. However, she suddenly shook her head, taking June by surprise. "No¡ªfor dating that stupid guy." June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh," he said. "That quick?" "I asked the question," she started off. "Oof, that''s rough," June said. "Did he say how much he hated children?" June knew from the very start that Lei had skewed values. However, as soon as he came to Korea, he changed his image. So, he wasn''t sure that he would reveal his true colors. However, in the end, someone''s real self really showed in the bed. "Not only that," Lena added. "He said inappropriate things about single mothers¡ªabout how they deserve it and everything!" June covered his mouth to stifle a chuckle. Oh, if Lei only knew. "You think this is funny?" Lena asked. June shook her head and behaved in his seat. "Pardon," he said. "Please continue." "He has the guts to say stuff like those when he can''t even satisfy me in bed!" At that moment, Minjun was walking down the stairs to grab breakfast. However, as soon as he heard his mother''s words, he shook his head. "Well," he muttered. "I guess I should sleep again." With that, he trudged up the stairs and allowed June and her mom to talk about adult things. June couldn''t contain hisughter anymore. He guffawed, pping hisp as he continued to listen to Lena''s rant. "He was only thinking about himself! He continued on and on without asking me if I felt good," she continued. "I didn''t even feel it! I think my deodorant is bigge¡ª" "Alright, that''s enough," June said, cutting her off. "I don''t want to hear it." "In conclusion," he added. "He''s not the ideal guy you painted in your mind, huh?" Lena nodded and slumped on the bean bag. "Far from it," she muttered. June smirked and nced at the television. Then, he smirked when he saw a familiar face. "Perfect," he muttered. He grabbed the remote and turned the volume up. "And he just got worse," June said, nodding toward the television. Lena lifted her head and looked at the television. "Good evening, viewers. We''reing to you live with breaking news. An exclusive report has just been released concerning Phoenix Entertainment, shedding light on shocking allegations of corruption, employee discrimination, and molestation. The report also implicates former trainees in these disturbing revtions." "Thisprehensive investigation into Phoenix Entertainment has revealed a troubling history, especially concerning their current CEO, Mr. Young Do Kim. A single source hase forward detailing instances of financial misconduct, unfair treatment of employees based on gender and ethnicity, and even allegations of molestation involving past trainees¡ªone of which includes one of the hottest stars of the generation who is also battling his own allegations¡ªChoi Joon-ho." Lena softly gasped. "So far, Phoenix Entertainment has not issued an official statement in response to the allegations. However, our sources indicate that legal actions may be imminent as the authorities are reportedly looking into these ims."


    "The future of Phoenix Entertainment remains uncertain as the public outcry grows and some stakeholders demand ountability. With mounting pressure from both the public and regtory bodies, the entertainment industry is closely watching to see how this unfolds." "We will continue to monitor this developing story closely. For now, back to the studio."


    June lowered the volume once more and turned to Lena with a mischievous glint in his eyes. It didn''t even appear like he felt bad for such sensitive information under his name being released in the media. "So," June said. "Do you believe me now?" ***


    "Genius!" Lei eximed as he held onto Dan''s shoulders. "You''re really a genius. Everyone is eating it up! This is the start of Phoenix''s downfall. I''m sure the ''head'' of Phoenix will reveal himself sooner orter!" Dan chuckled and sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. He was still a little bit perplexed. He was awoken at dawn by none other than Lei, and he continually thanked him, saying that he did a great job finding ''new'' information. Yet, Dan didn''t know what information he was referring to! However, hearing Lei so excited made Dan feel that it was good news. In the end, he just grabbed the credit. "What did I tell you, sir?" Dan asked with squared shoulders. "I would find the ''head'' for you!"


    "I know," Lei chuckled. "I thought you were useless after that blunder with Kwan, but I was mistaken. I should give you a bonus once all of this is done." Dan beamed. There was no way he was going to let go of the credit now! Dan had released the contents of the file, and he couldn''t believe howprehensive it was. It felt as if it had been done by someone who had studied the entertainment industry for a long time. He wondered who was truly behind such information. However, for now, he was going to bask in the glory. "But sir," Dan continued. "Don''t you think releasing the information about June would be beneficial for him? What if the public will pity him?" Lei clicked his tongue. "That doesn''t matter," he said. "In the end, June isn''t my ultimate goal. He''s just the person I want to destroy along the way." "This revtion will truly let him gain the empathy of his fans. However, it won''t take away his ountability for what he is being used of." "Moreover, our society will not care about a male victim. Most would say that he should have wanted it." "So, June doesn''t stand a chance against the wrath of the public." "His career will soon be forgotten¡ªand this is how he will be remembered."


    This is simr to Goo Hara''s case. She was a very brave soul who was a victim of revenge tapes. In the end, she was the one scrutinized. May they rest in peace. SandKastle


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 944 A Degree Holder

    ?


    944 A Degree Holder


    K-Pop truly wasn''t as sparkly as it seemed.


    Behind the glittery life of the idols, therey shadows that few, and sometimes none, dared to speak


    of.


    The weight restrictions felt like a constant battle. Every grain of rice mattered under the unforgiving scrutiny of cameras and fans alike.


    "What happened to her?"


    "She let herself go."


    "Why is an idol not taking care of his self-image?"


    Aside from that, backhandedpliments haunted them, too.


    "You look so healthy!"


    "I love how confident you are despite your body."


    Unsolicitedments were something they had to live with.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Aside from that, personality became amodity, carefully crafted by the agencies that molded their


    careers.


    Be mysterious.


    Be apologetic.


    Be who you are not.


    Normalcy became a distant dream. Privacy dissolved everyone in the industry, and you are expected to act like it was okay. Even mundane activities were controlled, from friendships to dating, and every move was choreographed to maintain an illusion of unattainable perfection.


    But perhaps the darkest truthy in how they were treated asmodities, not people. Some idols whispered of the price they paid for stardom. Allegations of exploitation and even abuse echoed in hushed conversations backstage. The lure of fame drew predators who saw idols as mere objects, their dreams and dignity stripped away in exchange for a fleeting shot at stardom.


    June knew too well the weight of expectations and the suffocating grip of contracts. Behind the smiles and synchronized dances, his heart carried the stories of those who felt trapped, who believed they had no choice but to endure.


    That was the reality of K-pop.


    That was the status quo.


    However, just because it was normal does not mean it was right.


    And June wanted to start fixing that.


    At first, he hesitated to share the information with Lena. However, how else was he going to prove his trustworthiness to her?


    Moreover, June felt that these topics weren''t talked about a lot in the idol industry. It had be a taboo, even if, most of the time, it wasn''t the idol''s fault. He wanted to inspire others to not be ashamed of what they had gone through.


    "We don''t have to watch it, you know?" Lena softly asked as another news channel reported on the incident. However, this particr one talked about what June went through as a trainee.


    Lena observed him and couldn''t understand how he could casually watch how they narrated his trauma on live television.


    Meanwhile, June watched with a small smile. He couldn''t believe he had gone through all of that! This guy was actually really tough. If he had upied his body when all of that happened, then he would be a criminal by now!


    Lena sighed and decided to take matters into her own hands. She grabbed the remote and turned it off.


    June looked at her with raised eyebrows. "What was that?" he chuckled. "We should watch it more. That anchor was really diving deep into the report. They must have been paid by Lei. Anyway, your phone is sting with notifications. Don''t you want to answer those?"


    Lena shook her head while massaging her temples. "I''ll deal with itter!"


    "I think it''s safe to say you''re telling the truth?


    June shrugged. "What did I tell you?"


    Lena clicked her tongue. "I know. No need to rub it in my face!


    "So, what are you nning on doing now?" June asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    Lena paused for a while before answering. "Well, I guess it''s time to take Kim Young Do out of thepany-simr to Mr. Ong, I know he has done a lot for Phoenix Entertainment, but thepany would be taking a hit if we keep him there.


    June nodded. "Who are you going to rece him with?"


    "No idea yet," Lena said.


    "It''s not someone from the Phoenix board of directors, right?"


    Lena frowned. "Of course, it would be from there. Who else am I going to appoint except from my employees?"


    "Then, you would fail all over again, June said.


    Lena sighed. "What now?"


    "Did you know that Lei used to work in Phoenix?"


    Lena almost fell out of the beanbag. As someone who has to oversee her empire, I found it impossible to know all of her employees! So, this was new to her.


    "He did?" she eximed.


    "Yup" June answered. "He''s been plotting this for a long time!"


    "However, he couldn''t get Phoenix, so he decided to target Azure instead. With Azure under his name, he also wants to take over Phoenix. That''s how big his dream had gotten."


    "I don''t understand; she muttered. "Why is he doing this?"


    "Is there an exnation for the things we want on this earth? Why do you want all the skins in a game? To brag? Why do you want to keep your dad''s empire? Just because you miss him? Some things we can''t let go of just because we can''t."


    "It''s human nature to always want something more!"


    "That''s the reason why corruption, wars, and miserablity happen!"


    Lena pursed her lips. How could he say such things nonchntly?


    "Bring someone from outside-one that has a rtively clean past!


    "One that isn''t from a rich family or from an empire!


    "One that would protect his artists because he, too, wanted to be one in the past."


    "Oh, and did I mention that he has a college degree?"

 Chapter 945: Minmins Back, Baby

    Chapter 945: Minmin''s Back, Baby


    ?


    June was getting way too ahead of himself. So, he shook his head with a chuckle.


    "Sorry about that," June chuckled. "There''s still some time before that would happen, right? You still need to have a meeting with thepany?"


    "Yes," Lena sighed. "But, who are you talking about?"


    "I''ll tell it to you soon," June smiled. "For now, you need to help me with my allegations."


    Lena groaned. "You''re making me work too much!"


    "Aren''t you used to that now?" June asked. "Besides, once you start helping me, you''ll have lesser workload on your shoulders."


    "You always speak in riddles," she scoffed. "So, what do you need me to do? Can I help with the trial after I break up with Lei. I want to get that guy out of my life as soon as possible."


    June nearly jumped from his seat. "Break up with him? But why?"


    Lena looked at him with wide eyes. "Are you insane?" she eximed. "Why would I continue entertaining him after all that he has done. Not to mention he''s really bad in bed!"


    "Oh, Lena," June said, shaking his head. "You''re quite innocent for someone who owns such a bigpany."


    Lena blushed at his words. Why the heck did that have an effect on her?


    "W-what do you mean?" she stammered.


    "This is the perfect opportunity to help me!" June said with bright eyes. "Now that you know his true colors but he doesn''t know yours, you can exploit him to the maximum!"


    Lena looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Fuck you," she said. "You want me to put up with him for you?"


    "You can do that, right?"


    June turned to him with wide eyes and a charming smile. Lena''s breath got caught in the back of her throat. He really did look like a kitten the closer you looked at him. For a hot minute, she was silent, just looking at June.


    Then, she absent-mindedly nodded.


    "Nice!" June eximed, snapping him back to reality. "You must really love Minjun to be putting up with this. But then again, I''m notining."


    Lena covered her mouth and couldn''t believe she just agreed. And to think it wasn''t because of Minjun but because June looked too much like a cute cat!N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Besides," June added. "Don''t you want to get revenge? Imagine his face when he realizes that the person he''s been chasing is in front of him all along?"


    Well, that sounded pretty fun.


    "Fine," Lena sighed in defeat. "So, what do you want me to do?"


    "I need you to sign another artist in yourpany," he started off, making Lena frown. "You have an acting department, right? You''re also nning on expanding that."


    Lena frowned. "Why do you want me to sign so many people into thepany? Phoenix Entertainment is going to go bankrupt because of you!"


    "Don''t worry," June smiled. "You don''t have to deal with awsuit because this person is unsigned! We just need you to sign them before Lei does."


    "What?" Lena asked, sounding confused.


    "The person behind my allegations is Lei," June said. "And the person he''s using is someone who always wanted to be an actress but never got the opportunity to."


    "And you know this because?" Lena asked.


    "Because I know a lot of things," June smiled.


    Well, Haruto and Bo Wen knew a lot of things. They just happened to treat June like their master so he also knew about them!


    "Fine," Lena sighed. "Will this guarantee that she would back out of the allegations?"


    "Yes," June responded. "As long as you guarantee her safety. You would also do that, right?" Lena sighed and nodded. "What else?"


    June smirked. "That''s it for now," he smiled. "Settle everything with yourpany first and recruit the person I''m pertaining to."


    "Once that''s done, we''ll proceed to the next phase."


    ***


    Minmin leaned back in his seat, cracking his knuckles with a smirk. The light from hisptop glowed in the dark room, illuminating the smirk on his face. He stretched once more-gotta get those vibes right¡ªbefore diving in, fingers flying across the keyboard. It was wild how life could flip in just one day.


    JUNE IS INNOCENT! I FREAKING KNEW IT!


    Guys. Hold onto your overpriced coffee and tasteless snacks because we''ve got some news.


    Last week, the most beloved member of EVE, the one, the only, June, was hit with some serious allegations. And no, not the "he''s too good-looking for his own good" kind-though, let''s be real, that''s still true.


    I''m talking about those kinds of allegations. The ones that got everyone screaming on Navel. Cancel-culture vibes were in full swing. Azure Entertainment? Completely ghosted him like a bad date. Kicked him out, no questions asked. Literally threw him under the bus with no spare


    tire.


    BUT HOLD UP.


    Seoul police just came through with some tea today. And y''all better sit down for this one.


    Turns out... it wasn''t June. Yep, you heard that right. Not June. The actual victim in the case straight-up told the police, "Oops, wrong guy. June is an innocent man. My bad. So sorry." The official statement from the victim (who''s identity still hasn''t been revealed and probably will never be), released earlier today, reads as follows:


    "I want to sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding and the harm caused. After further review and reflection, I realize that I identified the wrong individual in this case. June was not involved, and he is entirely innocent of the usations made against him. We did meet in the same club, but nothing remotely sexual happened. None at all. It was a mistake on my part, and I deeply regret any pain and damage this has caused him, his fans, and his career. I hope that this rification will help set the record straight, and I apologize once again for the distress this situation has caused."


    Anyway, as of today, the charges are dropped. And with the charges being dropped, June''swsuit against Azure Entertainment? Yeeted. Gone. The man is free.


    Ever since the truth dropped, support for June has doubled. Tripled even. All those haters? SILENCED. All those fake fans? Blocked and deleted. His real fans-me included-always knew. WE BELIEVED IN JUNE. I mean, have you seen his face?


    That is not the face of a guilty man. The audacity of you all to think otherwise!


    So, to all you doubters out there who were quick to jump on that cancel train...how does it feel


    to be on the wrong side of history?


    Minjun smirked as he wrote his article. It has been a while since he wrote something


    humorous like this.


    "Minmin is back, baby," he muttered before stretching once more.


    "Now, let''s write that article on Phoenix, shall we?"

 Chapter 946: Thank You

    Chapter 946: Thank You


    ?


    It was raining cats and dogs, turning the streets into rivers of gray. Office workers, drenched and miserable, walked along the sidewalk, their minds far from the usual gossip and office politics. All they wanted was to escape the gloomy weather and curl up in the warmth of their homes. But as they arrived at the lobby of Azure''s building, they couldn''t help but talk about yesterday''s biggest revtion.


    "Can we even take him back?" one woman whispered, her coat soaked at the hem.


    "We can''t!" her colleague hissed, shaking his head as he tightened his grip on his briefcase. "The contract is void. Besides, they already reced him with Joonie."


    "Honestly, it''s a loss on our part. We let go of one of the biggest idols of the generation. We should have waited until he was proven guilty or innocent."


    They both shivered, though it wasn''t just from the cold. The news had rocked Azure Entertainment to its core. June-the golden boy of EVE, their moneymaker-had been proven innocent. The charges that had turned his world upside down had crumbled to dust, leaving everyone wondering what was to happen next.


    As the conversation died, the office workers caught sight of someone walking toward the building. They blinked, unsure if they were seeing things.


    "Is that...June?"


    June strolled through the office like the sun had broken through just for him. He wasn''t hunched over or hiding under a hood. He walked confidence that turned heads even on a gloomy day like this. His smile was radiant, and his posture screamed freedom, as if he wasn''t just used!


    The office workers were left frozen, jaws ck as he passed by, heading straight for the doors of Azure.


    Much to their surprise, June stopped before them, his wet hair clinging onto his hair and some droplets on his skin. Nheless, it didn''t make him less good-looking. Instead, it made him look even more charming!


    "Can I please use your ID cards to enter?" he asked with a bright smile. "I already lost my card."


    The office workers turned to each other before absent-mindedly agreeing.


    Inside, the atmosphere was no less tense. Up in Lei''s office, things were falling apart faster than anyone could control.


    "How can this be?" Lei''s voice cut through the room as he mmed the phone down. His sharp eyes turned toward Dan, who stood awkwardly by the door.


    Dan winced, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "I-I don''t know. She changed her story. There''s nothing we can do about it now, sir."


    Lei paced the room, his mind racing. "Nothing we can do? Are you kidding me? We had everything nned!" His hands clenched into fists. "Where''s Scar?"


    "Scar?" Dan squeaked, shifting ufortably. "Well, I still can''t reach her. Her family¡ª" "They''ve disappeared," Lei growled. "You don''t think I know that?"


    Dan swallowed hard. Scar had been their trump card-the girl who had been at the club that night, who could have buried June with one testimony. Lei had promised her an acting contract, a fast track to the spotlight if she just did this one thing. And she had agreed, reluctantly. But now? She was gone, vanished like smoke in the wind.


    "The photos you have," Lei continued, his voice low and dangerous, "are worthless. They only show him in the club. They don''t prove anything."


    Dan remained silent, trying toe up with a response, but nothing he could say would calm Lei down.


    "And now the victim''s family is off the grid." Lei pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headacheing on. "She''s out of our reach. There''s no witness left to pin this on him." "Maybe we can still¡ª" Dan started, but he was cut off when the door creaked open.


    June stepped into the room, bringing with him a sudden, almost eerie calm. He didn''t seem fazed by Lei''s fury or Dan''s nervous energy. He was just... there, smiling like a man who hade out of the storm on the other side.


    "I''m just here to collect something," June said, his voice as smooth as ever.


    Lei''s eyes narrowed. "Jay already collected all your items," he spat through gritted teeth. "You can''t be here. You''re not part of Azure anymore."


    June''s gaze driftedzily across the room beforending on Lei. The tension was thick, and Dan felt a chill creep up his spine as June and Lei locked eyes. There was something unspoken between them, something that made Dan want to be anywhere but here.


    "Did you renovate your office?" June asked. "Why does it look...worse than before? Did you lose all of the money once I was out of thepany?" June asked in a teasing tone.


    For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, Lei sneered. "You still think you can continue your career like this? Even with the charges dropped, you''re nothing without EVE. The otherpanies won''t touch someone like you-a defiant, troublesome idol with no loyalty to their agency."


    June''s smile didn''t falter. In fact, it seemed to widen. "Is that what you think?"


    Lei''s expression hardened. "I know it."


    June''s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Let''s see."


    Dan shifted on his feet, ncing nervously between the two of them. He wasn''t sure what was more unsettling-Lei''s barely contained rage or June''s calmness.


    "You''re not going to find anotherpany," Lei continued, his voiceced with venom. "You think you can walk out of here and just sign with someone else? You''re dreaming. The industry doesn''t work like that. No one wants a liability."


    June chuckled softly, shaking his head as if Lei had just told him a joke. "Oh, don''t worry. I''m not here to torment you, Lei."


    Lei raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that. "Then why are you here?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    June paused, his eyes locking with Lei''s again. "I''m just here to say thank you."


    The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off. Lei and Dan both looked at him,


    confused.


    "Thank you?" Lei echoed, his tone sharp with disbelief.


    June''s smile never wavered. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me out of Azure for free."

 Chapter 947: Good Luck To You

    Chapter 947: Good Luck To You


    ?


    June''s smirk lingered as Lei stood frozen, his mind racing. Those few words felt like they meant a lot. It was as if June had nned everything from the very start.


    Before, Lei spoke as if he was the grandmaster of the chest game, but now, it felt like the roles had been reversed, with June knowing where every piece needed to be.


    However, June hadn''t nned this.


    It just happened to work out that way.


    This was the universe''s way of getting back at Lei for everything that he had done-and June wasn''t afraid to be the one to execute the universe''s n.


    Now that his name was somewhat cleared, June was ready to drop a bombshell. However, before he could even get a word out, the office door swung open, and two burly security guards entered. The two of them looked like stereotypical guards with their ck suits and dark sunsses.


    "Unauthorized entry," one of them said t.


    They grabbed June by the arms, their grips firm but not aggressive. He didn''t resist. Instead, June let out a softugh, allowing himself to be dragged away, leaving Dan and Lei in stunned silence.


    "I''ll see you soon!" he called out.


    Lei''s jaw tightened as he watched June being escorted out.


    Dan, on the other hand, was the most afraid he had ever been. He always thought that Lei was scary, but June right now felt far more terrifying.


    As the security guards guided him through the dimly lit hallways of Azure, June''s thoughts drifted.


    He actually missed this ce!


    And then, they passed by a familiar door-a practice room he knew all too well.


    June gently tapped one of the guards on the shoulder, shing his trademark killer smile. "Hey," he said. "Can I visit them for a bit? I won''t be long, promise."


    The guards exchanged hesitant nces, unsure whether to deny his request or go along with


    it. But June''s smile was too disarming, too innocent. After a moment of silent debate, one of the guards nodded. "Ten minutes," he said firmly.


    June grinned. "Thanks."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I guess they can''t resist my charm," he whispered as he walked to where the practice room


    was.


    The door opened, and there they were-EVE.


    The sight of them hit June like a wave. It had only been a week since he''dst seen them, but it felt like a lifetime. Inside the room, Joonie stood near the center with Zeth and Jisung, practicing their routine. Their focus shattered the moment they saw him.


    Their eyes widened in shock like they were staring at a ghost.


    June smiled as they continued to gawk at him. "Miss me?"


    "June!" Jisung gasped, running toward him. Before June could react, the rest of the group followed, enveloping him in a barrage of hugs. It was like a family reunion, the kind you don''t realize you need until you''re in the middle of it.


    Casper held onto his arm and squeezed tight. Akira clung to his legs like a ko. Meanwhile, Jaeyong began crying at the sight. Sehun chuckled and patted his back. Ren nodded at him in acknowledgment, while Zethined that he looked too handsome for someone who was going through so many things.


    June let out a long sigh, half-heartedly pushing them away. "Alright, alright, calm down," he said, but he couldn''t stop the smile that crept onto his face. The warmth of their excitement was infectious. They really had missed him.


    Joonie, on the other hand, stayed back, watching the whole scene with furrowed brows, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His expression darkened, his thoughts racing with a thousand possibilities. ''What was June doing here? Why the heck is he here?''


    But Joonie''s internal protests were drowned out by the group''s overwhelming joy.


    "I saw the news! I knew we could trust you," Jisung said, his voice filled with hope.


    "I can''t believe they made all of that up!" Jaeyong eximed.


    June smiled. It actually wasn''t too bad now that he thought about it¡ªinstead, it was actually a blessing in disguise.


    "Are youing back?"


    Before June could respond, Joonie cut in, his voice sharp and cold. "He can''t. His contract was terminated."


    Casper immediately shot Joonie a re. "Shut up, Joonie."


    June raised a hand, signaling for silence. "No, he''s right," he said with a small shake of his head. "I can''t. I''m only here for...what is it now?"


    He nced at his watch. "Eight minutes?"


    "What? Why did youe, then?" Jisung asked, his tone filled with confusion. The others also exchanged questioning looks.


    June''s smirk returned. "Just to taunt someone," he said, his voice light. "And to make sure things are still on track."


    Jay, standing quietly off to the side, suddenly perked up. "Did you do what I asked?" June asked, his gaze locking onto Jay.


    Jay nodded meaningfully, and the rest of the group looked even more confused by the exchange.


    "What are you guys talking about?" Casper asked, ncing between June and Jay like they were speaking anguage only they understood. "I need to know. I have FOMO." However, neither of them answered. June''s attention stayed on Jay, his voice calm but firm. "Meet me tomorrow," June said. "Bring what I need."


    Jay nodded once more, his expression serious.


    "Let us in!" Jisung pleaded, stepping forward, desperate for answers. The others looked just as eager to be let in on whatever secret was passing between June and Jay.


    June chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Sorry," he said, "not yet."


    Joonie had finally had enough. His brows knit together in frustration, and he took a step forward. "Leave," he said, his voice low but firm. "Leave now. We''re practicing for our


    comeback."


    Joonie was ring at June, almost as if he was challenging him.


    ''You''re not part of this team anymore,'' Joonie thought.


    June turned to face him fully, his smirk widening into something a little more dangerous, a little more knowing. He leaned on one leg casually, letting the silence hang for just a moment


    longer before speaking.


    "Yeah," June said with a mocking tone, "good luck with youreback."

 Chapter 948: I Resign

    Chapter 948: I Resign


    ?


    "Where the heck are we?" Lena asked as she looked around the ce.


    June smiled. "We''re at my friend''s restaurant."


    "It doesn''t look like it," she muttered.


    June clicked her tongue. "Are you going to keep onining?"


    Lena sighed and shook her head, taking a seat in front of June. She looked around the ce and still found it weird. There weren''t any people around, and the lights were pretty dim.


    If it wasn''t for the candlelight to their side, then Lena would have a hard time seeing June''s features. Then, it suddenly hit her.


    A date.


    This felt just like a date!


    Her cheeks reddened; however, before she could dive into her fantasy, June rested his feet on the chair and leaned his chin on his knees.


    "Let''s see," he muttered while looking at the menu. "Let''s just get them all. I''m sure Haruto prepared all of the food anyway. Besides, the guy who''sing would also want the same thing.


    Lena pursed her lips. Right-they were here to meet June''s rmendation for the empty CEO seat of Phoenix Entertainment.


    "When is heing?" she impatiently asked.


    June nced at his phone. "He''s on his way from the dorms. So, he''ll be here in a couple of minutes."


    Lena sighed and yed with the tablecloth as they waited. June watched her and smirked. "So, how did the meeting go?" June asked.


    "Well, my secretary was the one who personally attended it, and we had cut off a lot of the top-management employees. It seems like they had a lot to do with Kim Young Do''s wrongdoings."


    "However, Phoenix is vulnerable now, so we have to secure the CEO spot right away. You had better not be joking about this rmendation. We''re already aughing stock as it is! That Minmin guy wrote an article about Phoenix being blind to corruption for years, and people are jumping on it! I swear-if I meet that guy, I''d curse his mother out for raising him like that."


    June covered his mouth as he smirked.


    "Oh, if you only knew," he muttered.


    "What?" Lena asked.


    June shook his head. "Don''t sweat about it. The guy I''m rmending is really passionate about this. He has learned a lot about management, and like I said, he has a lot of empathy for artists."


    "He doesn''t even know what he''s here for right now!"


    "What?" Lena eximed.


    Just then, someone came in-the one and only Jay.


    He was whistling an EVE song as he trudged right in, not forgetting to greet Marcus, who was out at the front door.


    As he entered the restaurant, he immediately went to June.


    "Oh, Junie-poo! How I missed you," he said, making kissing noises in June.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed him away; however, Jay continued clinging onto him like a touch-deprived monkey.


    Meanwhile, Lena watched the two of them with wide eyes.


    This was the guy June wanted to run her most prizedpany?


    "Jay, behave," June sighed. "We''re not alone."


    At that moment, Jay noticed Lena, and his cheeks instantly reddened. Lena frowned and unconsciously leaned against her seat.


    "Sorry," Jay said, clearing his throat and taking his seat. Then, he straightened his back and made his face serious-almost as if he was smoldering.


    June pursed his lips and massaged the bridge of his nose before nudging Jay''s shoulder. "Stop that," he muttered.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jay softly clicked his tongue before going to his normal, professional self.


    "Lena, this is Jay¡ªthe guy I was talking to you about," June introduced him. "And Jay, this is Lena-someone we have important business with."


    Jay smirked and offered his hand to Lena. "A pretty businesswoman, I see. Nice to meet you," he said in an almost transantic ent, making June shake his head.


    Lena reluctantly took his hand and gave it a firm shake. However, as seconds ticked by, Jay didn''t let go, so June had to manually disengage their hands together.


    "Alright, that''s enough," June said through gritted teeth. "Let''s get straight to business."


    Lena sighed and nodded. She didn''t know how long she could tolerate the weird guy.


    "So, Jay-did you do what I asked you to do?" June asked.


    Jay nodded and brought out hisptop, opened it, and proceeded to a file.


    "Yup," he said. "I gathered all evidence regarding EVE''s mistreatment throughout the year. This started with the budgetary cuts for the music videos, the inhumane schedules, theck of artistic freedom, and your unrightful departure from the group."


    June smiled as he looked at the concrete evidence. Lena, too, watched it intently. Then, she nodded.


    "Yeah, this is alright. Send it to me, and I''ll have thewyers ready."


    June smirked and cracked his knuckles. "Sweet," he muttered. "Prepare your money, too. It''s going to be expensive, but with this, you''re going to save a little bit of money."


    "Geez, thanks," Lena sarcastically said. However, June still took it as a genuinepliment.


    "You''re wee," he smiled, causing Lena to shake her head.


    Meanwhile, Jay still appeared perplexed. "I know that you asked me to gather all of these, but what is it for?"


    "To get EVE out of Azure," June finally said, causing Jay''s eyes to widen.


    "Holy shit!" Jay eximed. "You have all the money to do that?"


    June shook his head. "Nope, but she does," he said, nodding toward Lena.


    Lena scoffed while Jay looked at Lena like she had saved the world before.


    "Rich mama?"


    Lena sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose.


    "June, the more this guy talks, the more unsure I am about him," she said.


    June chuckled. "Isn''t he good, though? He''s transparent. He only shows what he truly is.


    Would you rather have a guy with normal behaviors but turn out to be maniptive in the


    end?"


    "Normal behaviors?" Jay asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Anyway, there''s no backing out now," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Oh, there''s still a possibility," Lena scoffed.


    "You can''t do that," June sighed. "This guy has already resigned!"

 Chapter 949: Officially Signed

    Chapter 949: Officially Signed


    ?


    "You don''t want to be the cause of this guy''s unemployment, do you?" June asked with bright


    eyes.


    Lena looked at him like he had gone insane. "Resigned? When? Just now?"


    "Nope," June said. "I''m aware of the two-week turnover policy in thepany, so he resigned around two weeks ago-just when I was terminated from thepany."


    Lena''s jaw dropped as she processed the information. "Two weeks ago?"


    "Yes, ma''am," Jay responded. "At first, I thought he was insane, but then I remembered all the times I thought he was insane, and then I just believed in him. Did you know? There were plenty of moments when things would have gone easier if we just listened to him at the very beginning! So, I didn''t think about anything else and said-''fuck it, we''re resigning!'' But then, I felt bitter because that Dan guy was the one I needed to train to handle EVE and let me tell you-"


    "Since when exactly have you nning this?" Lena asked, cutting Jay off and turning her attention to June.


    "For a while now," June said, crossing his arms in front of my chest. "There were some mishaps along the way, but it turned out like I nned in the end."


    She sighed and closed her eyes for a second. "And what would you have done if I didn''t agree to this in the first ce?"


    "Oh, I was bummed out about that," June honestly said. "I almost thought of giving up! But then, the stakes were too high already. Thankfully, Minjun was there."


    Lena narrowed his eyes at him. "You''re a cunning man."


    "Thanks," June smiled, causing Lena to shake her head.


    Meanwhile, Jay, who was still confused about what was happening, raised his hand and cleared his throat.


    "So, what about me?" he asked. "My turnover ends the day after tomorrow, and technically, I''ll be unemployed."


    "Don''t worry," June said, smiling as he patted Jay''s shoulder. "Lena has the perfect job for you."


    Lena pursed her lips and thought about it for a while. But then, Jay did say that June always turned out right in the end.


    With that, she sighed in defeat and brought out something from her bag.


    She ced it in front of Jay and held out a pen for him.


    "What''s this?" Jay asked with a small frown.


    "Read it, idiot," Lena deadpanned, already frustrated with him.


    Jay scratched the back of his head and read the contents of the contract, his brows furrowing with every sentence.


    "I think this is wrong," Jay said. "Why would you give me the contract to be the next CEO of Phoenix Entertainment?"


    "It''s right, then," June smiled.


    Jay felt like he was being dunked in acid alive. "W-what do you mean?"


    Lena clicked her tongue. "I''m the head of Phoenix, you dimwit. June found me. Now, are you going to sign it or not?"


    ***


    The practice room was in chaos as Dan introduced himself as the new head of the managerial department and the sole manager of EVE.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Joonie pped for him while the rest lifted their heads faster than the speed of light.


    "New manager?" Jisung asked. "What happened to Jay?"


    Dan smiled and ced his hand over his chest. "Unfortunately, Jay has resigned two weeks ago. His turnover ends today, so I''m officially introducing myself as your new manager."


    The original members of EVE turned to each other with frowns on their faces.


    "Resigned?" Jaeyong eximed. "Why have we not heard about this?"


    "Oh," Dan said, feigning sadness. "Did Jay not inform you beforehand? That''s honestly really sad."


    The boys were still confused. "Is he here?" Zeth asked.


    "I believe he''s in his office gathering-"


    Before Dan could finish his statement, the members of EVE bolted out of the practice room. Joonie frowned as he watched their retreating backs.


    "Hey, we need to practice!" he called out for him; however, Dan stopped him.


    "Let them be," he smirked. "We don''t want to be too cruel now, do we? This is thest time they''d be working with each other."


    Meanwhile, Jay appeared way too happy for someone who had just lost his main stream of ie.


    He heard a knock on the door and saw Sir Lei standing in the doorway, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he leaned against the frame.


    "So, it''s official, huh?" Lei asked.


    Jay smiled as he nced at the CEO. "Yes, sir," he said. "Thank you for everything."


    Lei smirked and uncrossed his arms. "It''s a shame to see such apetent employee go. But then again, who am I to stop you?"


    "Right," Jay muttered.


    "So, what are you nning on doing now? Go back to being an idol? Be a streamer?" Lei asked, almost in a teasing tone.


    Jay shook his head. "I have a small job lined up. It''s still here in Seoul, and it''s closer to our house."


    "A small job," Lei chuckled. "Alright, I hope you''re satisfied with that. I hope they pay you better, too."


    With that, Lei turned around to leave; however, Jay said something that made him stop in his


    tracks.


    "You know that I know, right?" Jay asked, his voice turning serious. "About your real personality."


    Lei halted before slowly turning around, the smile on his face being reced with a smirk.


    "It''s about time you said that," he said. "I was wondering if you''d act clueless until yourst


    day."


    Jay smirked. "I could say the same thing to you, sir."


    Lei chuckled and shook his head. "To be fair, I really believed you were on my side in the beginning. However, after I granted you this position, you went ahead and sided with June." "So, I''m thankful you quit on your own. I was going to dispose of you either way."


    Jay smiled and bowed his head. "Well, it''s time for us to part ways now. Good luck on your


    own endeavors, Lei."


    Lei''s eye twitched at his sudden casual endearment, but he continued to smirk. "You too, Jay.


    I hope not to see you on the streets in the future."


    "Oh, don''t worry, Lei," he smiled. "I like being on the streets."

 Chapter 950: Cheon Jaebeom

    Chapter 950: Cheon Jaebeom


    ?


    "Are EVE''s preparations going well?" Lei asked as he sat on his chair.


    "Yes, sir," Dan responded with a small smile. "They still seem a bit down, but with a little bit of guilt-tripping, they''re back to practicing. Most of the tracks had been recorded and edited. The jacket shoot has also been aplished. The music video shoot started yesterday and will continue tonight after their interview with Billbong."


    Lei smiled. "All of that in three days?" he asked. "Must be tiring."


    Then he paused for a bit before nodding in approval. "Nice work, Dan. Now that Jay is out of the way, the boys are working harder than ever!"


    Dan chuckled and nodded before scratching the back of his neck. "I think they look a bit too tired, though. Do you think we can postpone-"


    Lei looked at him like he had grown three heads. "Postpone? Did I hear the right word?" he chuckled.


    "The fans are waiting for the album. The faster we get this album out, the faster we''ll prove that EVE does not need June to seed. The boys'' well-being is the least of our problems. They should be doing this for thepany that had raised them."


    Dan pursed his lips and nodded. "You''re right, sir," he said. "I don''t know what has gotten into me."


    "Anyway," Lei said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Has Phoenix announced their new CEO yet? I wonder who it will be? Mr. Kris? Mr. Leris? Mr. Norizz? Ah, the possibilities are endless! But what would they do? No matter who they rece Kim Young Do with, I still have some dirt on them as long as they''re from Phoenix. Those bastards are dumb for letting me work in theirpany before."


    Dan cleared his throat. "I believe they still haven''t reced Kim Young Do, sir."


    Lei''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "What?" he asked. "But, it''s been three days. Doesn''t the head know that leaving the top seat vacant would make thepany vulnerable? Oh, he''s much more stupid than I would have thought."


    Dan nodded in agreement. "The moment he announced the next CEO, I already have contact with various news channels for the exposure of the sessor."


    "Good," Lei said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He would push Phoenix to its breaking point and make it crumble. At that point, if he couldn''t take Phoenix Entertainment, then Lei was determined to bring it down.


    The two of them had some afternoon tea, and they decided to watch television when they came across a shocking revtion.


    "When do you think they''ll announce the recement, sir?" Dan asked.


    Lei shrugged. "I believe it would happen in the next few days. As I said, it''s too dangerous to leave the top spot open. So, if the head isn''t so stupid¡ª"


    "Breaking news! Phoenix Entertainment appoints new CEO and signs major talent."


    Lei was cut off before he could finish his statement. After June''s departure from EVE and Azure, in general, there had been a lot of breaking news in the media. In fact, most people in the country was tuning into the corporate drama, wondering what the next revtion would be.


    It has been the hottest thing ever since Rising Stars!


    "After days of spection and uncertainty, Phoenix Entertainment has finally appointed a new CEO, following the abrupt removal of Kim Young Do during a heated general meeting three days ago. The decision to oust Young Do, who had led thepany for years, left both the public and employees in a state of suspense as the entertainment giant remained without a clear leader."


    Even those who were currently working in Azure, as well as Phoenix, stopped their projects to watch the news on their phones,ptops, or on the public televisions in their respective lobbies.


    "For three days, Phoenix Entertainment stood at a crossroads, with industry insiders reporting growing unease among employees. The sudden leadership vacuum at the top of one of Korea''s biggest entertainmentpanies sparked rumors about thepany''s direction, leaving fans and stakeholders alike anxious for news of a recement."


    "Now, Phoenix has shocked the industry by appointing Cheon Jaebeom as its new CEO. Jaebeom''s appointmentes as a surprise to many, as he has no previous connections to Phoenix Entertainment. The announcement has left experts and employees alike questioning what his leadership will mean for the future of thepany. Despite concerns about hisck of ties to Phoenix, Jaebeom is known for his forward-thinking strategies in the business world, which could bring fresh energy to the entertainment sector."


    "Cheon Jaebeom?" Lei asked, trying to recall the familiar name. "Have you heard that before?"


    "I have," Dan said with a small frown. "But I don''t think I''ve ever seen him in Phoenix. Where did I hear that name again?"


    "In a major development apanying the leadership change, Phoenix has also signed popr singer June, who was recently let go by Azure Entertainment under controversial circumstances. June, who was falsely used of sexual misconduct, was swiftly proven innocent after the allegations were debunked, causing a public outcry against Azure for their hasty decision to cut ties with the singer."


    Dan and Lei turned to each other with wide eyes. Lei''s eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets with how shocked he was.


    "June with...Phoenix?" he muttered.


    Lei was expecting June to be signed soon. With his talent and looks, he was bound to be snatched away. However, Lei also knew how bigpanies valued their reputations. They wouldn''t just sign June-especially when the allegation was still fresh! Only those useless, small entertainment countries would have the guts to sign him at this point of time!


    Unless...


    "The news of June''s signing has sent waves through the entertainment industry as fans eagerly await his next moves under the Phoenixbel. To mark his new chapter, June posted a photo on his newlyunched social media ount, SkEVEidiJune, baffling fans with the image, caption, and the atrocious username."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "The post features June with the new CEO and his long-time friend, Cheon Jaebeom-also known as C-Jay."

 Chapter 951: Happy Independence Day

    Chapter 951: Happy Independence Day


    ?


    - Jay is the new CEO of Phoenix? - How the heck did that happen?


    -Has he always had connections?


    - I don''t think so! He''s from a simple family. He doesn''t even have a father!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - I believe his mom was a seamstress. He graduated college with high honors, but he didn''t want to have a corporate life, so he joined Rising Stars. But he sucked in it.


    - How do you even know these things?


    - I dated him once.


    - Wait, what? Is he a bad person?


    - Nah, he''s a a good person. He''s pretty stupid, sometimes downright weird, but I think he suits a CEO position well.


    -True. But can we talk about June signing with Phoenix? I feel so happy!


    - I miss him with EVE, though. How does the group stand now?


    "Good morning!" Jay chimed at a group of interns passing by.


    "Have a good day, everyone," he said to some members of the board.


    Then, he whistled as he walked to the elevator. He entered and smiled when he saw a bunch of employees bowing at him.


    "Nice to see you all," he said as he pressed on the uppermost floor.


    The others began whispering under their breaths.


    "The new CEO is pretty handsome, isn''t he?"


    "You''ve lost your mind. He just looks like a more ptable version of the sloth from that ice movie."


    As the others left, they said their pleasantries to the new CEO before going to their respective offices.


    As he arrived at the topmost floor, he also greeted the other employees who were there. Most of them smiled at him before bursting into gossip.


    "How do you think he got the position?"


    "Maybe, he slept his way to the top?"


    "Hey, it''s not nice to assume things like this."


    "Yeah, he''s not that handsome to be sleeping his way to the top."


    The announcement of the new CEO came to the surprise of many. There was already a lot of spection surrounding it, with some employees even siding with ''potential'' new CEOs with the hopes of getting on their good side and being promoted.


    So, imagine their shock when the new CEO was a young individual who had joined Rising Stars, was EVE''s ex-manager, and appeared like he didn''t have a serious bone in his body.


    As nearly the entirepany discussed their new CEO, a new face also entered the building, rendering most of the gossippers speechless.


    June walked in with a simple white shirt and ripped denim jeans. His hair was unstyled, causing it to flow freely as he walked. He didn''t have any makeup aside from the lip balm that saved his dry lips.


    In short, he looked like the walking personification of perfection.


    The reaction was drastically different from that of Jay! While they questioned why Jay was appointed as the new CEO for June, there were no questions asked when it came to June.


    "He''s going to save ourpany."


    "Azure is a fool for letting him go."


    "I''m surprised we signed him, though. His scandal is still fresh."


    "It''s been proven false."


    He entered the elevator, and the people inside felt like the sun just came in. His fresh scent bombarded their senses, and some of them needed to hold themselves back from touching him.


    So, this was what fangirl urges felt like!


    As he arrived at the topmost floor, he greeted some of the employees, causing them to hold their breaths.


    "Did...an angel just walk by?"


    June merely smiled at them and went to Jay''s office, not bothering to knock.


    "Hey," he said, causing Jay to jump up, startled.


    Jay ced his hand over his chest and let out a deep breath.


    "A knock would have been fine," he said.


    June shrugged and sat on the couch. "It''s just me."


    Jay clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I''m a big shot now. You need to treat me better."


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "And who got you to this position?"


    Jay smiled and dropped his bag to go to June and give him a big hug.


    "Of course, it''s you! Who would have thought? My mom threw a party for the entire neighborhood because she was so happy."


    "You didn''t invite me," June deadpanned.


    "Well, you would be the main character if you went. Give this to me, dude."


    June shook his head. "Alright, I forgive you."


    Jay sighed and went back to his seat, leaning against his seat and rocking side to side. June observed him and smiled before ncing at the namete on his table.


    "THE Sir Jay.''


    June scoffed at his name. It was good that his branding still hasn''t changed, although he has reached a higher position.


    "This is nice," Jay sighed. "I feel like we''vee a long way."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "But you know there''s still a long way to go, right?"


    "Yeah," Jay said. "But, at least we''ll be able to bring the other boys here, right?"


    June nodded with a smirk. "Yup, they''re on their way here as we speak."


    The workers who June passed by still weren''t over the fact that they were graced with the presence of an angel. Then, they were whished once again when a group of hunks entered


    Phoenix''s building.


    "Wait... is that?"


    "What are they doing here?"


    "Dang, now I know why they''re so hard to topple."


    "They''re the number one boy group for a reason."


    "I love me some men who look like losers."


    "Truly, though¡ªwhat are they doing here? Aren''t they prohibited froming here,


    especially without a manager?"


    "Did theye to visit June?"


    Phoenix was in chaos once again as the members of EVE made their way to Jay''s new office.


    They had some food at hand as if they were there to celebrate Jay''s new job.


    Like June, they didn''t knock on the door as they entered.


    Akira held onto the cake and skipped to where the two of them were.


    "Congrattions on your new job!" Akira eximed.


    June and Jay smiled as they stood from their seats, ready to wee the boys.


    They all had smiles on their faces, but June didn''t miss how tired they looked.


    However, June knew it was going to get better from now on. At least, that''s what he hoped to


    do.


    "Congrattions, too," June softly said. The others turned to him with wide smiles.


    "Happy Independence Day."

 Chapter 952: EVE is Ours

    Chapter 952: EVE is Ours


    ?


    "Well, technically, we''re not free yet," Ren said. "We just left without permission!"


    Jaeyong scratched the back of his neck. "I''m still not sure if that''s alright, though. We didn''t even attend the music video shoot yesterday."


    "Yah, what are you scared of?" Akira asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Jay will pay for the severance fee!"


    "For each of us?" Jisung asked with wide eyes. "Do you even have that much money?"


    June and Jay nced at each other before shaking their heads.


    "Don''t think about that," June said. "What we need to do now is discuss the implications of us leaving Azure."


    The others nodded and took their seats. Akira sighed and opened up the food they had bought. "So, we''re not here to party."


    Jaeyong turned to him and shook his head. "How can you even think about that at this time?"


    Akira shrugged and bit the crust of the pizza before signalling Jay to start.


    Jay nodded, pacing back and forth as heid out the timeline of their premature departure. "Typically, idols in our industry sign long-term contracts, often seven years. However, EVE is in a more favorable position with only three years left on our contract."


    The members of EVE nodded as they listened intently.


    "There are several ways idols can leave theirpany. The first is negotiation. We sit down with Azure and discuss better terms. This happens quite often and can lead to improved conditions for us."


    They grimaced at the thought of staying in Azure Entertainment.


    "However, we don''t want that, as you want to transfer over here."


    "Some idols wait until the contract naturally expires. We fulfill our obligations and choose not to renew. However, again, that would take two more years, so we''re crossing out that option."


    "That leads us to the third option: legal action," he continued. "Idols sometimes sue to enforce their rights or terminate contracts early. It''smon but can be costly and time- consuming."


    "Lawsuits take a long time," Casper pointed out. "Does that mean we''ll have to postpone our activities until we win thewsuit?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Jay smirked, halting and crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "That is why there''s an elusive fourth option. It''s rarely achieved due to its expense. It involves invoking the severance use in our contract. This use guarantees a base pay of 2.8 billion won per member, approximately 2.1 million USD, pluspensation for any investments that didn''t yield expected returns. For EVE, that could mean upwards of 128 million USD."


    "What the heck?" Jisung eximed. "Do we have that much money?"


    June smirked. "Like I said, you don''t have to worry about the money."


    The others looked at June and Jay with amazement, wondering how they would be able to pay such great fines. However, like June said, they didn''t concern themselves anymore and just trusted in the two of them.


    "And so with that, we had created a loophole-the forbidden technique."


    "Azure will have no say because we will do exactly as they say."


    "However, even then, Azure might try to sway the public opinion."


    "They could portray us negatively or im financial losses due to our departure. They might seek public sympathy to mitigate their own losses; especially with Lei as their CEO. The evidence we have isn''t enough for Azure to be toppled down, and aside from that, Lei''s portfolio is squeaky clean at the moment."


    "So, what do we do now?" Ren asked. "Where do we stand with this?"


    Jay smiled. "We wait, of course. Well, you guys wait. Now, I have a lot more to do because of this."


    "However, it''s safe to say wee!"


    "Wee to Phoenix!"


    ***


    Azure Entertainment was in shambles as their biggest group, EVE, had just announced their departure from thepany and their willingness to pay the severance fee.


    Lei''s eyebrows furrowed as hiswyer exined they couldn''t do anything about it.


    "What do you mean we can''t do anything about it?" Lei eximed.


    Thepanywyer pursed his lips. "Technically, we can sue them for this, but they had also


    brought up evidence of them being overworked and underpaid."


    "Moreover, as long as they pay the severance fee along with the damages, then they have basically paid their way out of the contract."


    Lei couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    "Now, we may fight for this in court, but it will take a long time. In that period, Azure Entertainment wouldn''t be able to make use of EVE at all, and it would be better to let them


    go."


    Lei scoffed. "So, they''re practically in Phoenix Entertainment?"


    "After they pay the severance fee of a calcted 213 million USD, then yes, sir, they are free to sign with them."


    Lei''s hands wrapped around the cup, feeling rage brew inside his heart.


    He knew he was going against a strong force like June, but what was this? He had a force of 213 million USD? Where the heck did he get that money when his pay was only 20% of all his


    projects?


    He might be rich, but it wasn''t to the extent that he would be able to pay for all of his members'' severance fees! Thewyer pursed his lips as he waited for Lei''s verdict.


    Everything was going to shit!


    All of his ns had gone down the drain!


    He thought his biggest enemy was Phoenix itself, but it was June after all.


    It has always been June.


    Lei closed his eyes and thought for a second.


    "So, EVE is out of the picture," he started off.


    Thewyer pursed his lips and nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. "I also didn''t expect them to be


    able to pay the severance fee."


    "But that doesn''t mean that EVE should be out of the picture," he continued, causing thewyer to furrow his brows in confusion.


    "What do you mean, sir?"


    Lei clenched his fists under the table, wanting to break something but holding back.


    "Let''s make Phoenix regret signing them."


    "EVE may be gone, but EVE will forever be ours."


    "Their name. Their music. All of it is ours."

 Chapter 953: Phoenix vs. Everyone

    Chapter 953: Phoenix vs. Everyone


    ?


    "Did you see the news?"


    "Of course! EVE is now in Phoenix!"


    "It''s been such a crazy month. I can''t believe it was just filled with drama from Azure and Phoenix."


    "Is it over now? Is EVE finally going toe back?"


    "Nope! EVE is no longer EVE. Did you see thetest news?"


    It has been a week since EVE left Azure Entertainment, and everything has been going smoothly ever since. Both Phoenix and Azure Entertainment had lost plenty of investors in the process, and the two were getting even more stressed as time passed by.


    June had decided to stay in Minjun''s room for the night, and as he woke up, he was met with Lena, who appeared like she had aged ten years in the span of a week.


    "Hey there," June smiled.


    Lena pursed her lips and sarcastically smiled. "Hey," she eximed in a fake happy tone. "You look nice."


    "You look like you''ve been hit by a truck."


    "I wonder why!" Lena eximed, ring at him.


    "Well, I think this is the right time to ask for my request," he continued. "Can you get LUNAIRE out of Azure, too?"


    Lena''s eyeballs nearly fell from their sockets after June made his request."


    "You''re insane," she said. "You made me pay 200 million USD to sever your group''s contract, and now, you want me to get another group out? Sorry, bud. I''m not doing that. Their contracts are going to be even more expensive since they have a five-year one and are new to the industry."


    "So, unless Azure Entertainment goes bankrupt or the entirepany falls apart, you won''t be able to do that."


    June ced his fingers under his chin. "Bankrupt, huh? Alright, I''ll take that into mind."


    Lena narrowed his eyes at him, but June remained neutral. He was happy that EVE was out of the Azure, but he couldn''t forget about his sister. She was the reason why he became an idol in the first ce.


    He couldn''t let Mei stay in thatpany!


    "By the way," Lena continued. "Didn''t you say you were going to show me something? You said you have a lot more information regarding the entertainment industry."


    "Are you free tonight?" he asked.


    Lena pursed her lips before nodding.


    "Alright, I''lle here again, and I''ll show you."


    Lena nodded in agreement, already curious.


    "Well, I''m heading out," June said.


    Lena nodded as she drank from her coffee. "You''re preparing well for youreback, right?" June held out an ''okay'' sign.


    June was fetched by Marcus before they went to Phoenix Entertainment.


    As June arrived at the practice rooms, he saw that his members were already there with huge smiles on their faces. They looked drastically different from when they were still in Azure.


    Now that Jay was the CEO, the artists were given more musical freedom, and the work conditions had drastically improved.


    "So, can we use the songs for our nned album?" Ren asked.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips. "I believe so. Well, at least the songs you''ve written."


    "Fortunately, Ren wrote almost all of the songs for that album, so it won''t be a problem," Jaeyong smiled.


    "Yeah, it won''t be a problem at all!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Just then, Ren and Akira fought over a water bottle, causing it to fly toward the practice room mirrors. It broke into pieces, and some flew toward June, who was the closest to it. He felt a sharp pain on his eyebrows, causing Casper to scream like a little girl.


    The others also began panicking.


    The events happened fast. Jisung tripped on his foot andnded on the remote, causing it to turn on. June reached for his eyebrow and saw that there was blood on his fingers.


    Then, some familiar music yed, causing the members to turn silent.


    "Our...title track?" Ren muttered under his breath.


    The host''s face appeared on the screen, a face June had seen more times than he could count.


    "Lei?" Jaeyong eximed with wide eyes as the famous, handsome CEO graced the screen. As much as a lot of people were happy that EVE was now in Phoenix, a considerable number of people also supported Azure Entertainment...and that was mainly because of Lei.


    He has been using the ''pity'' route all throughout their dispute, and it was working.


    Bright studio lights lit up his face, making his pale skin even more stark under the harsh glow. Behind him were seven gleaming letters-EVE-spelled out inrge, glittering white font. The logo was familiar-too familiar, in fact.


    It looked just like the logo of Rising Stars, which always became a hot topic every year.


    However, it was strange. Why was their name in such lettering?


    June focused back on the TV as their title track faded into the background.


    "EVE is iplete," he started off.


    "Seven boys. Seven talents."


    "We need to make EVE eight again."


    June felt a sense of deja Vu. This felt like when he just transmigrated. The broken ss, the chaos, and everything in between.


    "Prepare to witness fiercepetition, jaw-dropping performances, and the determination of 100 trainees. Only one will stand beside EVE. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an unforgettable journey! Wee to Completing EVE!"


    June could already imagine the flood ofments from the public.


    - Holy crap! Completing EVE?


    - Are they going to rece EVE overall?


    - But EVE just spoiled in their new live that they''re going to have aeback soon.


    - The boys can''t be EVE anymore?


    - Oh crap. What the heck is happening?


    - The drama isn''t over yet!


    - Who will watch this show?


    - I will!


    - I will, too. I just can''t resist it.


    -You guys have EVE members as your disy pictures!


    - Can you me us, though? This is so interesting! Is Joonie already the first member? Despite it being the firstmercial, Completing EVE has already be the talk of the town. Indeed, bad publicity was still publicity, and in the end, it had garnered the attention that Lei wanted it to get.


    As the scene shifted, the members of EVE were speechless to see the partners of Azure for this


    specific project.


    "ESTEEM? YGG? TOPSTAR? What the heck is this?" Zeth eximed. "These are all the big entertainmentpanies except for Phoenix!"

 Chapter 954: What About Our Title Track?

    Chapter 954: What About Our Title Track?


    ?


    "So," Jay started off as he looked at the boys.


    They were quiet, with their gazes on the ground. Meanwhile, Casper was holding an ice pack over June''s small wound.


    June clicked his tongue and pushed him away. "I don''t need that," he muttered. "


    Jay first motioned toward the broken mirror. "Care to tell me what happened to that?"


    "Well," Jaeyong cleared his throat. "We saw themercial."


    Jay scratched the back of his neck. "That still doesn''t exin why it''s broken," he muttered. "Anyway! Looks like we''re in a pinch," he chuckled, changing the subject.


    Zeth pursed his lips. "I don''t think this is worth chuckling over."


    "After everything this group went through, I think this is the least of our worries."


    Ren''s hands shook as he red at Jay. "Least of our worries? They stole our songs!"


    The boys turned silent. "Technically, we can''t do anything about it. I''m sorry I didn''t mention this to you a while back, but they still own the intellectual property for all your songs. We are trying to get your name back, but they haven''t responded yet. We''re also not sure if you guys can get your songs back."


    "Well, aside from Oasis and Luster, I don''t really mind," Akira smiled.


    Ren massaged the bridge of his nose. "But what about the songs for this new album?"


    "You have other ones, right?" Akira chimed, batting his eyshes at Ren. "I heard a snippet the other day, and the songs you made were banging! I guess people do make the best songs during the toughest times."


    Ren shook his head in disbelief.


    "That means we''re back to square one, though," Sehun muttered.


    Ren sighed and nodded, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I also don''t have any title track-worthy songs aside from the one we gave to Azure."


    "I know we can fight for it in court once again, but that will take an even longer time. I hate this."


    "I believe the main issue here is our name. EVE was perfect for us. LEVEL-UP, too, since we have leveled up since then. What are we going to do without our name now?" Jaeyong asked, cing his fingers under his chin.


    The members stayed silent. That was, in fact, their biggest concern.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Despite their poprity and the loyalty of their fans, the boys had been known as EVE since the very beginning. The moment they lost the name, it would also feel like they would have lost their identity.


    Although the name brought a lot of trauma to the boys, they were still attached to it.


    It was their name, after all-their identity.


    Jay pursed his lips. "I''ll see what I can do. However, our biggest enemy here is time. If there''s a faster way to do this, then it would be to topple Azure overall. However, I don''t see that happening anytime soon."


    June perked up, and he covered his mouth to hide his smile.


    "For now, I would suggest that you guys bring out the past songs you''ve written. I believe you have some from all the rejected ones during Mr. Ong''s reign, right?"


    The members turned to each other and nodded.


    Ren, too, sighed in defeat. "I guess I have some written in advance. I''ve been really inspired these days."


    Casper raised his hand. "What are we going to do with our title track, though?"


    The boys turned silent while June nced at Jisung, who was looking down at hisp. He fiddled with his fingers, appearing like he wanted to say something but was holding back. June shook his head and called his name.


    "Ji," he said, causing the younger boy to lift his head. "Do you have anything you want to say?"


    That captured the other members'' attention. They turned their focus to Jisung''s, whose face reddened at a ridiculous speed.


    He scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat. "Umm," he started off. "So, I''ve been trying to write a song for our album, and I was able to make one."


    The boys turned to each other with surprise.


    "Can we hear it?" Casper excitedly asked. The others, too, appeared excited about it.


    "It was messy, so June helped me arrange it. However, it still doesn''t have any lyrics-"


    "I wrote it already," June said, cutting his statement short.


    The boys now turned to June, who pulled hisptop toward him. He walked to the speakers and connected them.


    "You have?" Jisung asked with bright eyes.


    June nodded. "Yeah," he responded as he navigated hisptop. "I wrote it rtively quickly, but I believe it fits the song the most. I have also fixed some of thepses, so it feels moreplete now. However, this is Jisung''s song, and I think you guys are going to like it."


    The members, along with Jay, remained silent as June pressed y.


    The bright,forting sound engulfed the practice room, and the boys'' expressions instantly showed their interest.


    June''s voice broke through the melody. It was unlike everything they''d released before. Sure, it was bright like Luster. It also had a pop undertone like Oasis.


    However, it felt different.


    It felt deeper-somewhat rtable.


    The boys closed their eyes as they let the music flow through their veins. For the entire four minutes, not a word escaped their lips. However, from the atmosphere inside the room, it felt like they hade to a collective agreement.


    As the song came to an end, the boys let outforted sighs, some of them feeling


    something heavy inside their hearts.


    Jisung''s mouth was agape as he looked at June. "The lyrics," he muttered.


    June smiled and shook his head. "It was only possible because you made such a beautiful


    song."


    Ren let out a chuckle before it burst into full-blownughter.


    "Gosh!" he eximed. "I want to scold you for gatekeeping this song for so long. However, if


    you didn''t, then we would have lost a masterpiece to Azure."


    "So, I''ll thank you instead," he smiled.


    The other members nodded in agreement.


    "We have our title track," Jay chimed.

 Chapter 955: A Mans Stupidity At Its Best

    Chapter 955: A Man''s Stupidity At It''s Best


    ?


    "Wee to Star Radio. We have some fans of EVE on call. Should I still call them that at this point when the group already lost it''s name?" the host chuckled.


    "Please state your names."


    "Hi, my name is Jia!"


    "Bora here."


    "I''m Sumin! Mom, I''m famous."


    "I can''t believe they picked up our call. My name is Nari, by the way!"


    "And I''m Wei!"


    "Well, that''s a lot of people," the host said in disbelief. "So, we are calling fans from around the globe about their opinions on everything happening between Azure and Phoenix! What can you girls say about this?"


    Jia cleared her throat. "Well, I''ve never liked how Azure managed their talents since the very beginning. They failed to expand their past group''s capabilities, so I''m d that EVE is out of thepany."


    "I see," the host said. "Do you feel the same thing even though they''ve changed their top- level management?"


    "Yes," Jia confidently said. "I''m sure a lot of people will disagree with me since the current CEO has earned quite a following. However, I''m speaking for those who have been fans of EVE since the very beginning."


    "I was also happy when they changed their management, but with the recent blunder with June, I have all the reason to believe that they are actively sabotaging his career."


    "However, it didn''t turn out the way they nned, so they had to let go of EVE. Yet, they''re not stopping there. They''re still capitalizing on their name and even making a whole new group around their concept! Isn''t it ridiculous?"


    "You''re being too kind," Bora said.


    "What we can say is that Mr. Lei is a greedy man, but he smiles prettily for the camera and acts innocent, making his cult fall for him every time! He despises his groups, and from what I see, he''s trying to take Phoenix down by coborating with these bigpanies!"


    "Well, this group is definitely opinionated," the host muttered. "Do you have anyst words?"


    Bora cleared her throat. "Hey Mr. Lei. Listen here, you little shi-"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Lei turned off the radio before Bora could finish her statement. To be fair, the radio host also turned off the call by then because swearing wasn''t allowed in their live.


    Meanwhile, Lena pursed her lips, amused as she tried to hide her smile. "Why''d you turn it off?" she asked.


    Lei sighed and shook his head. "Did you hear them talking shit about me?"


    Lena had endured another date with him for the sake of knowing his next moves.


    Now that she knew he was confiding with other bigpanies, she couldn''t pass up on the chance.


    "You don''t believe that, do you?" Lei turned to him with wide, puppy eyes.


    Lena had to hold herself back from cringing. The only people who were able to pull off that kind of look were Minjun and June.


    "Of course not," she said, trying to sound as sincere as possible. Lei fully believed her, though. It seemed like he wouldn''t be able to believe that she was the owner of a multi- million dorpany.


    "Thank goodness," Lei smiled. "I knew I could trust you."


    "Of course," Lena smiled, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "So, you can tell me whatever it is that''s on your mind," she started off.


    Lei nced at her. "What do you mean?"


    Lena cleared her throat. "Well, as you know, I''m also managing a business of my own, but it''s entirely different from your field. Quite small, in my opinion. So I want to ask if this is a good idea-to be joining forces with other big entertainmentpanies?"


    Lei chuckled as Lena asked that question. "Aww, are you curious about how the entertainment industry works?"


    "Yeah," Lena smiled, biting her lip. "Teach me."


    "Well, this is rarely a good thing," Lei said. "There is a huge possibility of sabotage, and honestly, it would allow the otherpanies to fend off your ideas."


    "However, at this point, I believe that it''s necessary," he smiled. "With EVE-wait, not EVE- with June''s group in Phoenix Entertainment, otherpanies are seeing them as a threat now."


    "Phoenix Entertainment may not have started as the biggest K-poppany, but they are slowly bing one, and with June''s group joining them, that possibility just becamerger."


    "So, we need to stop them," Lei smiled. "By joining with these bigpanies, we''re going to make the new EVE, and not only will they benefit from it, but we will also get to prove how Phoenix made a mistake."


    "Is that so," Lena muttered, cing her hand under her chin. "It''s soplicated! I don''t think I can understand it!"


    Lei chuckled and patted her head. "Don''t think too much about it. It isplicated. Don''t worry. I can teach you more about these things. I''ll treat you, too, once the show bes a


    sess."


    "Although, I believe it already is because so many people are talking about it!"


    "That''s right," Lena smiled. "Congrattions. It''s the talk of the town."


    "Hmm," Lei smiled. "With this, I am one step closer to my goal."


    "Goal of what?" Lena innocently asked.


    "Of making the biggest group and overtaking Phoenix."


    "I see," she said. "But, if I may ask, why do you hate Phoenix so much?"


    Lei shook his head. "Phoenix is my end goal. I know they have plenty of groups under their name, but it''s only a matter of time."


    Lena nodded. "I think you can do it," she encouraged him.


    "Of course," Lei said. "Like I said, I''m getting close to my goal. I''m nning on recruiting more idols and getting more entertainmentpanies by my side."


    Lena held in the urge to smirk. "So close," she muttered. "It would be a shame i f someone ruined all of that, would it?"


    Lei frowned, turning to her with furrowed eyebrows, but Lena justughed it off.


    "Don''t worry, though!" she eximed with a wide smile, acting cute. "I won''t let that


    happen. I''ll be the one to protect you- the one who will be on your side when that happens.


    Lei''s frown eased, and he patted Lena''s head once more.


    "You really get me more than anyone else."

 Chapter 956: The Briefcases Rightful Owner

    Chapter 956: The Briefcase''s Rightful Owner


    ?


    "Where are you taking me?" Lena asked as she entered Marcus'' car with June.


    Before he knew it, Marcus had be their driver for matters like this. It wasn''t like the big guy wasining. He actually considered it as an enjoyable side mission!


    "Don''t worry," June said, putting on some sunsses. "It''s not far from here."


    Lena suspiciously looked at him. "Why are you so covered up at night? And why are you wearing such fancy clothes?"


    June looked at his get-up in the mirror and leaned against his seat.


    "Well, I can''t be seen with you, so I have to cover up really well. These clothes are from Jay. I can''t even go out with my own get-up anymore because people recognize me.''


    Lena shook her head and crossed her arms in front of her chest.


    Then, she looked out of the window, where the view had be increasingly familiar.


    Like June said, it didn''t take long before they arrived.


    "We''re here, June," Marcus said as he parked the car right outside of the property.


    June smiled. "Thanks, Marcus. We won''t be long. You can wait in the car."


    Marcus nodded as the two of them went out.


    Lena looked at the ce with narrowed eyes. Her movements were slow as she followed after June.


    June turned around for a moment and sighed. "Are youing or not?"


    Lena couldn''t shake off her frown. "What are we even doing here?"


    June smirked. "Does this ce look familiar?"


    "Of course," Lena muttered. "My mom lived here for a long time. How can it not be familiar?"


    June hummed and turned on the shlight of his phone, looking for a familiar spot.


    Most of the apartment building had been demolished, but the surrounding structures were still intact.


    "Where is that again?" he muttered.


    "There it is," he smiled.


    Lena impatiently clicked her tongue. "What are you looking for?"


    "The item I''m talking about," June deadpanned as he stood over the newly-cemented lot.


    Lena continued to frown as she tried to understand the situation.


    "Has Mr. Klin left you anything before he died?"


    Lena''s expression softened when he mentioned her father. She ced her hand under her chin before shaking her head.


    "Well, aside from the obvious-which is Phoenix, he didn''t leave me with anything else. I don''t think he even had the time to make a will because he died so suddenly."


    "Hmm," June hummed. "So, you really have no idea, huh?"


    Lena''s brows furrowed in confusion. "Why?" she asked. "Did he leave you something?"


    "Not necessarily," June answered. "However, he left something in this world. I think it was for you, but he never got around to giving it."


    "Fortunately, I was the one who found it."


    Lena''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Well, what is it?"


    "You said that Mr. Klin was the most interested in Phoenix Entertainment, right?" June started off.


    Lena nodded.


    "I can tell that the old man has a lot of interest in the entertainment industry. I believe he wanted Phoenix Entertainment to seed even after he died."


    "So, he gathered information-dirt-against other big entertainmentpanies starting from when they were created."


    Lena''s eyes widened even more-if that was even possible.


    "What?" she eximed. "H-how? What do you mean?"


    "It''s exactly what I''ve said. Well, it doesn''t have any dirt on Lei since he''s new to the scene, but for Topstar, Esteem, you name it. We have the secrets of the CEOS, thepany, the employees in our hands."


    Lena still couldn''t believe it. There were times she resented her dad for passing the burden of Phoenix Entertainment without any guidance. However, here it was.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "So...you''re telling me I can use this to topple other entertainmentpanies?" she muttered.


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Now, you can look at it that way," he started off. "However, wouldn''t K-pop feel monotonous once that happens?"


    "What you can do, however, is change the industry. By having this information, you have leverage against thepanies. You can basically ask them to do anything they want!"


    "So, ckmail?" Lena asked.


    "Again," June continued. "I''m only an idol. I''m leaving this thing to you. However, if you need any help, I know a really good guy for ckmailing. He doesn''t get caught, too," he suggested, his mind straying to Haruto.


    "I see," Lena muttered. "I''m guessing you also want me to use this information to make those coborating with Azure back out, right?"


    "Exactly," June smiled. "And aside from that, this can be the catalyst of better treatment for their artists. Once their unfair terms would be exposed, they would have no choice but to


    change them."


    Lena looked at June with admiration. He was an idol who didn''t only think about himself but also about the future of the iing generations.


    "I hope the hardships end with us," June continued. "The industry can''t continue being like


    this."


    Lena smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Alright," she muttered. "I''ll continue


    to do as you say."


    June smiled.


    "So, where is it?" Lena asked.


    June''s smile widened even further.


    "It''s here," he vaguely said, causing Lena to raise one eyebrow. She looked around the area


    and frowned.


    "You kept it here? Are you insane? There''s no wonder it''s not around anymore!"


    "Oh, trust me," June said. "It''s here. I''m standing on top of it."


    Lena''s frown deepened as she looked at the ground. Then, it suddenly hit her.


    Her eyes widened in shock before turning to June.


    "You buried it here?" she eximed.


    June nodded. "Yup! I thought I was going to die, so I didn''t want it to go to evil hands. It''s


    much better for it to not be used than it being used for evil."


    "I get it," she sighed. "But did you have to bury it here? Goodness, this is going to cost me more now," she muttered, massaging the bridge of her nose.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "I bought thisnd, you idiot," Lena deadpanned. "I was nning on expanding Phoenix Entertainment for next year, but it looks like I have to renovate it quickly."

 Chapter 957: An Inspiration

    Chapter 957: An Inspiration


    ?


    It was the day of their recording, and some members of EVE gathered right outside of the studio.


    June halted as he saw Akira and Jisung skipping hand-in-hand to where he was.


    "What are you guys doing here?" he asked. "I thought I had the earliest schedule."


    "You do," Jisung smiled. "But we wanted toe with you."


    June sighed and shook his head. "You don''t even get up early to eat breakfast. How can you guys be here earlier than I am?"


    "Come on," Akira said. "My recording schedule is still in the afternoon, so I''m going back home right after."


    June shook his head at his dedication. With that, the three entered the recording studio.


    However, much to their surprise, it was actually upied.


    Jay turned around and greeted them with surprise. "You guys are here early," he remarked, his eyes widening as he noticed the EVE members.


    The three looked at Jay along with the small group of fresh-faced trainees that apanied him. Akira wanted to coo because they looked so adorable-so innocent without knowing a thing about the entertainment industry. Meanwhile, Jisung hid behind Akira''s back, feeling shy despite being older than the group of trainees.


    June nodded, a slight frown creasing his brow. "It''s my scheduled recording time," he replied. Meanwhile, the group of trainees looked at the members of EVE with wide eyes. It was early in the morning, so they were dressed in casual clothes and had no make-up on, but they looked so much like princes!


    "Yeah, the title track, right?" Jay asked. "I''m d the album preparations are going well."


    "By the way, these are some new trainees," Jay exined quickly, gesturing towards the six individuals who had paused their activities upon the arrival of EVE. "Just giving them a tour around. We were about to wrap up."


    Akira couldn''t help but chuckle. "Is that even the work of a CEO?"


    Jay clicked his tongue, shaking his head in amusement. "My secretary is busy. Besides, I like doing this. It makes thepany feel more close to its employees, am I right?"


    "Sure," Akira deadpanned. "Just say that your secretary is the real CEO of Phoenix Entertainment."


    Jay rolled his eyes before facing the trainees. "Come on, kids," he said. "Let''s leave these mean guys, shall we?"


    One of the trainees, a young man with eager eyes and a nervous smile, raised his hand tentatively. "Um, could we stay and watch?" he asked, causing the other trainees to turn to Jay and the members with hopeful gazes, too.


    Jay nced at June, silently seeking approval. June hesitated for a moment, considering the request. After a while, he sighed and nodded.


    "Sure, you can stay," he said, his gaze shifting back to the trainees. "But this is going to take around an hour. You guys can leave in the middle if you want."


    The trainees nodded eagerly, clearly thrilled at the opportunity to observe EVE in action.


    "An hour of just looking and listening to June? I''m not going to leave anytime soon," one of the girls muttered.


    The trainee next to her nodded excitedly.


    As Jay, Jisung, Akira, and the other trainees found seats along the studio''s back wall, June settled into his respective position in front of the microphone.


    With a nod from the engineer, the music began to y, filling the studio with the improved melody of their title track.


    The engineer jived to the intro, clearly liking the song. He had heard the instrumental plenty of times now, and he was curious how EVE was going to make ite alive.


    June closed his eyes briefly, centering himself beforeunching into the first verse. His voice, smooth and resonant, filled the air with an undeniable presence, drawing the trainees'' attention.


    Jisung and Akira nced at each other as the trainees immediately eximed in amazement. They looked at June like they had some sort of awakening.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jisung couldn''t me them. He still felt that June was amazing no matter how many times he had heard him sing.


    "Nice," the engineer said. "I think we got it."


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "That easily?"


    The engineer nodded. "Yes. This is already a really good take. I don''t think we should change


    it."


    Since June was also satisfied, he nodded and proceeded to the next verse.


    "Is it always this easy?" one of the trainees asked themselves. However, Akira was able to hear him.


    He chuckled and shook his head. "It''s never this easy. June just makes it look like that because he''s really good. I don''t think he''s even going to spend an hour here!"


    The trainees felt that June was really amazing.


    Then, June continued, now rapping. The trainees turned to each other with surprise once more. June rapped really well, too? It was a cheat code after showing off his incredible vocals! The trainees watched in awe as June performed, their eyes bright with admiration. They had heard EVE''s songs before and seen their performances on screen, but witnessing them in the intimate setting of the recording studio was an entirely different experience. At that moment, Jisung took the opportunity to ask them what they felt about the song. He scratched the back of his neck before speaking. "Do you guys like the song?" he nervously asked. However, he didn''t have to be nervous at all.


    The trainees exchanged excited nces before nodding enthusiastically. "It''s amazing," one of them replied.


    "I can already hear it ying everywhere!" another chimed.


    "I like it so much, and I think my mom will like it, too."


    "Yes! It''s a song that a lot of generations would like."


    "Phoenix''s stocks are going to rise again."


    Thestment made the adults chuckle. Meanwhile, Jisung sighed in relief, not being able


    to hide his happiness.


    "My song is good," he muttered, feeling proud of himself.


    Meanwhile, as June continued to sing, the trainees also continued to be more inspired.


    Akira saw the looks on their faces and smiled.


    "Do you guys want to be idols soon?" he asked.


    They turned to them and nodded, appearing inspired.


    "Work hard and practice then," he encouraged them. "However, don''t expect to be as good as


    June. That guy is untouchable."

 Chapter 958: Naming Wars

    Chapter 958: Naming Wars


    ?


    "So, what are we meeting for?" Akira asked as he sat in their new office. It was bigger than the one they had in Azure, and it even hadplimentary snacks!


    Switching to a newpany was definitely the right choice!


    Jaeyong pulled down the whiteboard and opened the marker.


    "Ah, that smells nice," Zeth smiled as the scent of ink wafted through his senses.


    Ren looked at his friend, weirded out, but he didn''t say anything more because that wasn''t the weirdest thing about Zeth, unfortunately.


    Jaeyong cleared his throat. "So, we all know that November ising soon. They would also be releasing theeback details by the first week. Almost everything is finished at this point, but we still don''t have our name back."


    June pursed his lips. Lena had already coborated with Haruto to ckmail the otherpanies, but it was still taking a long time due to the legal processes.


    "We''re hoping we can get our name back as soon as possible, but in the event that doesn''t happen, we still need a backup name," Jaeyong continued.


    The others groaned.


    "I don''t want to think of a new name," Akirained.


    "Then, we''re not going to have aeback," Jaeyong deadpanned, causing Akira to pout.


    "Come on," he continued. "You guys are considered geniuses in the industry! We cane up with a cool name."


    The members turned silent as they each came up with a new name for their group.


    Akira clicked his tongue, standing from his seat and mming his hands on the table, capturing everyone''s attention.


    "I believe that the name ''EVE'' still suits us the most. So, why don''t we retain the name, but instead of spelling it with two E''s, we spell it with two 3''s?"


    The boys turned silent once more. Jaeyong frowned before turning to the board and writing his suggestion.


    3V3.


    Jisung tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What''s three versus three?" he innocently asked.


    Akira clicked his tongue. "That''s EVE, you idiot!"


    "Really?" Jisung asked with wide eyes.


    "Why does it look so...cheesy?" Zeth pointed out. "I, for sure, don''t want to be in a group named 3V3!"


    "It''s the same pronunciation!" Akira eximed.


    "Nah," Zeth shook his head. "That kind of name is designed for groups who are bound to fail."


    "Agreed," Ren nodded. "With one look at the name, I can already tell that it''s going to be a flop group."


    Akira clicked his tongue and plopped back on his chair. Jaeyong sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "Alright, does anybody else have any suggestions?"


    Casper raised his hand. "Meow?" he asked.


    The boys collectively sighed. "Alright, let''s not take any suggestions from Casper for this meeting."


    "Besides, didn''t a group debut with that name already?" Ren asked.


    "That''s different," Akira pointed out. "They spelled it as M30W, with the number 30 in the middle."


    "Why?" Sehun chuckled. "Because they have 30 members?"


    "Yup," the younger members of EVE said in unison, causing Sehun''s eyes to widen in shock.


    "Any more?" Jaeyong asked, already feeling frustrated.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Hmm, how about LIZ?" Zeth asked, capturing their attention. The others were intrigued.


    "LIZ," Jaeyong muttered. "That''s...actually not that bad. What does it stand for?"


    "Lizard," Zeth deadpanned.


    The others'' faces fell.


    "Because you know," Zeth tried to exin. "We can regenerate despite having our tails cut off!"


    "That''s the fucking worst idea I''ve heard in my entire life," Akira said, pointing at Zeth. "Whatever," Zeth muttered, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Still better than 3V3."


    "Ooh! I have one," Jisung happily chimed in.


    "Go ahead," Jaeyong said, feeling tired.


    "Well, Akira sent me this story a while back. I think it''s Alpha Jaeyong x Omega June. I didn''t read the story, but it was really popr, and fans seemed to like it a lot," he said.


    June, who had no clue what those words meant, listened intently.


    Meanwhile, the other members who knew exactly what Jisung was saying couldn''t close their mouths in shock.


    "So, I was wondering, what if we named ourselves Alphaxomega? AXO for short?" he


    excitedly asked.


    Jaeyong pursed his lips, wanting to break down in front of his group. He then turned to Akira and red at him.


    "Do not send things like those to Jisung ever again."


    Akira covered his mouth as he burst intoughter. "I didn''t think he would take it so seriously! Besides, it was really well-written. Sometimes, I wonder why such good authors write things like that. They could easily write a best-selling book instead!"


    Jisung was confused as the other members strongly disagreed with his suggestion.


    "Why? What does it mean?" he asked Ren.


    Ren merely shook his head. "You don''t want to know," he seriously said, making Jisung even more confused.


    Just then, Sehun raised his hand, causing Jaeyong to sigh in relief.


    "Finally," he muttered. If there was one person he could trust on serious suggestions, then it would be Sehun. The two of them were the oldest in the group, so they could rte to each


    other a lot.


    "Sehun," he said. "Do you have a suggestion?"


    "Yes," he smiled. "I''ve been thinking about it. We all have new Navel ounts, right? June


    was the first one to make it, and he has the most striking username."


    "What was the word before your name again, June?" Sehun asked.


    "Skevedi," June answered, causing the other members to freeze.


    Sehun hadn''t tantly said his suggestion, but the others already had a hunch.


    "Yeah, that!" Sehun happily eximed. "Doesn''t it sound pretty cool?"


    The other members were about to disagree, but Jaeyong suddenly hummed in agreement.


    "Yeah, it does sound pretty cool," he muttered.


    Akira stood from his seat once more. "Oh, we are not doing this," he muttered.


    "Don''t you guys know what that means?" he asked.


    Sehun, Jaeyong, and June turned to each other with confusion.


    "Oh, please save us," Akira muttered. "Let''s schedule this meeting for another day."


    "Agreed!" Ren enthusiastically eximed.


    "We don''t have much time," Jaeyong frowned. "I really do think that Skevedi is¡ª"


    "Meow?"


    "Oh, for goodness'' sake, Casper!"

 Chapter 959: Everyones Backing Out

    Chapter 959: Everyone''s Backing Out


    ?


    "Are the trainees from the different entertainmentpanies ready?" Lei asked as he entered the meeting room.


    The board of directors, along with the managers, were gathered in the room. It was gloomier than usual. After EVE left thepany, it seemed like the atmosphere had dulled down a bit.


    More than that, Lei became worse at handling his temper. So, his true colors were being exposed slowly.


    Dan nodded while the others cast their heads to the table.


    "Yes, sir," Dan excitedly said. "I''m handling the trainees from the smallerpanies, which will take up half of our hopefuls. They have all sent in their profiles."


    Lei nodded with a small smile. They had only released the first teaser for the show-not even the trainees-but Completing EVE was already a big topic.


    It wasn''t too well-received, especially with the amount of fans that the original group had. However, bad publicity was still publicity. No matter how people perceived it as bad, Lei knew for sure that they were still going to watch it.


    It''s human nature.


    It''s also the reason why problematic creators are still the richest among their peers-because of people who continually hate on them, not knowing it was what paid their bills.


    "And the otherpanies?" Lei asked, turning to the Yena and Yejin-the main producers of the show.


    Yena frowned as she looked around the table. Why did it seem like these people didn''t know just yet?


    "Sir, we have a big problem," Yena started off.


    Dan''s breath got caught in the back of his throat. He knew that Lei had been on edge for the entire week, and he was doing his best not to agitate him further.


    However, what was this?


    Another round of bad news?


    "What?" Lei asked, his fist clenching.


    Yejin pursed her lips. They were from a different area of Azure Entertainment-one that was concerned with shows-so they didn''t know much about Lei and his temperament.


    "Well, Esteem, Harmony, Topstar, and all other bigpanies have called us to say that they''re not going to send in any of their trainees," she started off.


    The room turned silent. No one except those working for the TV show knew about it. Even Dan was shocked. The otherpanies clearly said they were going to send in their trainees! It was what made the teaser so popr for a reason!


    "What...do you mean by that?" Lei asked, trying to keep his calm.


    "It''s exactly what Yejin had said," Yena chimed. "We personally called these entertainmentpanies, and they all said the same thing."


    Lei pursed his lips. "They signed a contract," he started off.


    "I am not aware how you handled this, sir," Yejin continued. "But some said they still haven''t signed the contract, so nothing was set in stone. You might want to check back on them, sir."


    Lei felt his veins constrict. He opened his workptop and suddenly saw plenty of emails.


    The most recent one he got was from Esteem, who had already sent back the contract. However, in their most recent email, they said they had already terminated the contract and paid for the presumed damages.


    It wasn''t just that.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    What Yejin said was right.


    Some of the bigpanies didn''t sign the contract at all, but Lei trusted them from their oral agreements.


    "What is happening?" he muttered. All of thesepanies expressed their enthusiasm for working with Azure as soon as Lei proposed the idea.


    However, they all backed out at the same time.


    Not only that, but only the bigpanies had backed out. It was as if someone instructed them to do so. However, who had such the power to do that?


    Yena sighed and massaged the bridge of her nose. "This is the reason why we didn''t want to take up this show in the first ce," she suddenly said, making Dan''s eyes widen in shock. She didn''t just say that! However, the brave woman continued talking her heart out. "Completing EVE is just a project made out of spite. We had taken this up with the overall CEO of Azure, and he said he would support it as long as it would create more profit. However, I don''t see it that way."


    "EVE will never be reced. If you would, you could just leave this aspect to us and cancel the show," Yejin chimed. "Rising Stars isn''t due for another two years since LUNAIRE just came out."


    Lei stood from his seat and walked to where Yena was. He couldn''t control himself as he held onto her cor.


    Yena''s eyes widened while the other employees screamed in shock. They had never seen their CEO act in such a way! Only Dan was aware of how he truly acted.


    Dan quickly went to where Lei was to stop him. However, thetter overpowered him by a


    huge measure.


    "Sir," he said. "You need to calm down."


    Lei didn''t heed hisints and continued holding onto Yena''s cor.


    "Let go!" she eximed.


    "Give up on the show?" Lei asked, his voice sounding murderous. It sent shivers down everyone who was in the meeting room.


    "Do you know how much we''re betting on this right now? EVE is gone, and we need a new EVE! We can''t let those bastards get away with everything they had done."


    "This new group will save thepany and push Azure to the top. The original EVE wouldn''t even be able topare."


    "So, don''t say any of that nonsense because this show will push through. I am Azure Entertainment and everything that I say will be followed, understood?"


    He sounded so threatening that the others had no choice but to agree to what he said.


    With that, he pushed Lena back into her chair before going out of the meeting room, mming the door shut.


    Meanwhile, Yena wiped away the sttered saliva on her cheeks while the others were still


    shocked.


    Dan pursed his lips and ran after Lei, who was muttering something under his breath.


    "You," he eximed.


    "How the fuck are you able to do all of these?" he screamed so loud that the people in the waiting room still managed to hear him.

 Chapter 960: It Will End Soon

    Chapter 960: It Will End Soon


    ?


    "Oh, it''s bad," June chuckled as he took a sip from his wine ss.


    He was currently in Haruto''s restaurant with Lena, Jay, and Haruto himself, discussing their next ns for Azure Entertainment.


    "What is?" Jay asked, his cheeks filled with meat.


    June showed them his phone, where a brief footage of Lei scolding Yena was seen.


    Their eyebrows raised in surprise. "Where did you even get that?" Haruto asked as he tossed their sd.


    June shrugged. "Ann," he answered. That intern was still as brave as anyone else.


    "Are we going to use this as evidence for him?" Haruto asked.


    June shook his head. "Nah," he said. "This is too light. It''s also pretty unclear. Based on Ann''s report, though, it seems like he''s not giving up despite the bigpanies backing out of the project."


    "Which is amazing, by the way," Jay smiled. "How did you even do it?"


    Lena shrugged and nodded toward Haruto. "I didn''t do anything," she said. "This guy told me to trust him."


    June smirked. "You''re improving. You''re trusting people now," he teased Lena.


    Lena''s cheeks warmed up as she took a bite from her pasta dish. "Well, I have no choice, do I? You''ve exposed my identity to these two. Moreover, you guys haven''t done anything to break my trust, so I''m going to keep working with you."


    Jay stood and saluted at Lena. "You can always trust us, Lena!" he eximed. "But seriously," he sat back down. "How did you manage to make them all back out?"


    "It was easy," Haruto said. "They value their reputation more than this coboration with Azure. Aside from that, we had tangible proof, so they knew we''re being serious."


    "Going through with the coboration would just be a loss for them, so they all backed out."


    Lena nodded. "I would have done the same thing."


    June smiled. "Aren''t you d we''re on the same team, then?"


    Lena rolled her eyes. "Mypany already took a hit," she defended. "I''ve already removed those rotten employees. I''m sure there are plenty more out there, but we can''t police everyone."


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "So, what are we going to do now?" Jay asked. "I think Completing EVE would be postponed for a bit, but if Lei insists for it to go on, then he would. Moreover, it would be harder to dissolve the whole of Azure with that. It''s also multifaceted like Phoenix."


    Lena nodded in agreement. "We can''t take down an empire like that."


    "We''re not, don''t worry," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I know my limitations. That''s why we''re just going to dissolve Azure Entertainment."


    Jay narrowed his eyes at June. "I have a hunch that you''re doing this just to get LUNAIRE out of thatpany."


    June shrugged. He was partially right. Mei had been texting him these days, telling him off for being selfish and leaving thepany without prior notice. Of course, June wasn''t just going to leave his sister all alone.


    However, aside from that, he still felt like he hadn''t taken his revenge for everything Lei had done to him.


    He wasn''t going to kill him, of course.


    June didn''t want to entertain the possibility of Lei transmigrating like him. So, he wanted to torture him slowly-by taking away his dream right before his eyes.


    Besides, those kinds of people didn''t deserve to die.


    They deserved to live through the consequences of their actions!


    "That is still a hard thing to do," Haruto pointed out. "Azure Entertainment may be new to the scene, but they''re still a formidablepany. Yes, their stocks had been falling, and Lena could easily buy them now, but I believe their CEO isn''t willing to do that as long as Lei is in power."


    "You''re right," June said. "Which is why we''re going to take away that power."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "How?" the three of them said in unison.


    June thought about it, too. He had a hard time thinking of a way since he never had any proof that Lei was the one who ran White Tiger back in the day.


    However, it suddenly hit him.


    The people he met along the way weren''t just there for show.


    Ang Zhang.


    There was a reason why the two of them met again-and it was all thanks to Lei!


    That girl had also gone through hell before she rose to stardom, and if there was one thing she hated-it would be the likes of Lei.


    Lei, who frequented the prostitute house she was forced to be in.


    Lei, who owned that very bar.


    June shook his head in amusement. It was just bing better and better!


    Haruto and Jay turned to each other with confused looks as June chuckled to himself,


    appearing like a handsome viin. Meanwhile, Lena felt her body heat up.


    Was it from the wine or from how hot June looked? Probably both.


    "June," Haruto said, snapping him out of his daze.


    "Hmm?" June hummed, acting like none of that just happened. The three became even more confused.


    "Are you going to share your n?" he asked.


    June nodded. "I just need to contact another person first. However, be on your toes. Lei''s downfall ising soon."


    Lena raised her hand amidst their conversation. "Can I break up with him now? I don''t think there''s anything else I can extract from that guy. He also keeps asking me to go to a hotel with


    him."


    "Oh no!" Jay eximed. "Yes, you should definitely break up with him as soon as possible."


    "No," June said, causing them to be surprised.


    "What?" Lena asked. "What else could I do?"


    "There''s still one thing you need to do," June said. "If I know Lei, then he would be the type of person to escape when he realizes that the situation isn''t in favor of him anymore. So, just hang tight. His downfall is going toe soon."


    "It should be soon enough," Lena muttered. "It feels like it''s already been 900 chapters at


    this point!"


    June smiled. "Don''t worry," he said. "It will end soon."

 Chapter 961: Annual Halloween Party

    Chapter 961: Annual Halloween Party


    ?


    It was thest day of October-Halloween night. Everyone was out on the streets, all dressed in their costumes.


    Phoenix Entertainment wasn''t an exception to the holiday.


    Their Halloween Party was nothing short of legendary.


    Every year, without fail, thepany transformed its corporate office into a spooky wondend. From glowing pumpkins to cobweb-covered chandeliers, everything screamed Halloween.


    It was a tradition that Mr. Klin had created the moment he built Phoenix Entertainment. Although only a few artists attended back then, he still cherished every moment. And now, Lena carried on the tradition.


    The best part? The costumes. Every artist showed up decked out in their finest, and thepetition for best-dressed was as fierce as it was fun-especially when arge amount of money was involved.


    Since they were the youngest group in Azure, RUNNIN'' arrived first, promptly at seven.


    The rookie group had been preparing for the event for weeks, determined to win the cash prize and use it to buy a month''s worth of groceries.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Dressed as royals from head to toe, each member wore a different prince outfit,plete with capes, velvet boots, and crowns that sparkled under the moonlight.


    Their leader, Yoon, practically floated down the red carpet, head held high like he actually ruled a kingdom.


    And although it was an exclusive event, the photos of their costumes still managed to get leaked somehow.


    Jia and her friends waited for the updates like hyenas preying on little dogs.


    - They look like they just walked off a drama set!


    - RUNNIN'' reallying for that Best Dressed cash prize!


    - They are rookies, but they already look like royals!


    - Ah, this is uninteresting, though. I don''t want prince-like visuals for Halloween.


    - What do you want then?


    - Someone dressed so ridiculously ugly that they''re unrecognizable.


    The boys couldn''t help but strike dramatic poses for the imaginary crowd while the camera shed at them.


    They were the definition of extra, bowing to each other and pretending to knight their maknae. The moment was pure chaos, and by the time they reached the door, they were in fits of giggles.


    Next up was LITTY, the two-year-old girl group.


    The six girls appeared out of nowhere, each one dressed as a mythical creature. Unicorns, faeries, and elves glided down the red carpet, wings shimmering under the camera shes.


    The real spectacle, however, was Eunmi.


    She had fullymitted to her mermaid costume,plete with a shiny green tail that left her unable to walk.


    Two of her group members, Seoyun and Jiwoo, had to carry her in, hoisting her up with great effort.


    - I''m crying. Why is Eunmi a literal fish??


    - Now, this is what I''m talking about!


    - Nah, this isn''t the level of chaos I wanted to see. She still has pretty makeup!


    - I think OP wants to see someone''s bare face.


    - Seoyun and Jiwoo deserve an award for carrying the team. Quite literally.


    They made it inside without a hitch, though not without a lot ofughter and support from the other attendees who were quickly gathering by the venue doors.


    As if on cue, CHAOS made their grand entrance.


    And what an entrance it was. The group had opted for a pirate theme, though "pirate" seemed like too tame a word for how incredible they looked. Haruki led his team, his long ck coat flowing in the wind as they walked down the carpet.


    He wore a hat that looked like it had been stolen straight from a Hollywood set, and his usual perfectly coiffed hair had been reced with a long wig.


    - Oh my gosh, Haruki''s wig!


    - CHAOS really went all in, huh?!


    - This pirate crew can board my ship ANY DAY.


    - They can search my booty.


    - It''s not ugly enough! I want to see ugly costumes!


    As the rest of CHAOS followed behind, the effect was almost too much. They had their arms slung over each other''s shoulders, singing sea shanties at the top of their lungs.


    By now, the venue was packed with idols and artists, each costume more creative than thest.


    Scar, who was new to the scene, entered dramatically whilst utilizing her stage name, going full "Scarface" with a convincing prosthetic scar running down one side of her face.


    - Is she a new actress? She''s pretty.


    - Queen moves, honestly.


    - Is this what the guy wants? For someone to look like they''ve been stabbed?


    - No! This is too professional-looking. I don''t like it.


    As the party continued to fill up, almost all the people were looking for EVE.


    - Where are my babies?


    - It''s their first Halloween party appearance, so I''m excited!


    - They''re a very creative group, so I''m looking forward to it.


    Meanwhile, Phoenix''s fans didn''t know what to expect from EVE since they were the newest addition to thepany.


    Unlike the other groups, EVE had been given almost no time to prepare. Their schedules were packed to the brim, and only the night before had they gotten the confirmation that they were expected at the Halloween party.


    But no one knew what to expect from the boy group this time.


    They''d been scattered across the city in their own homes since moving out of their dorm from Azure, and althoughst-minute coordination was their strong suit, this was an exception.


    June stood in front of Haruto''s mirror, frowning at his reflection. He had spent thest thirty minutes wondering whether this costume was a mistake.


    "Do I look alright?" June asked, turning to Haruto and Marcus, who were casually sitting on the couch, their faces smeared with paint and various Halloween-themed essories dangling off their arms.


    Haruto squinted at him. "You look fine. It''s Halloween, you''re supposed to look ridiculous. Besides, this is your group''s concept. You can''t bail out on them!"


    "Ridiculous is an understatement," June muttered, ncing down at his reflection.


    They were runningte, as usual.


    Casper had already texted June five times, reminding him that the others were waiting for him outside Haruto''s penthouse. June had been looking into buying the one next to it, but now


    wasn''t the time for those thoughts.


    With a resigned sigh, June grabbed his coat and headed for the elevator. As he descended to the lobby, he encountered a mother and her young son in the elevator. The pair stared at him in stunned silence, the mother quickly averting her eyes while her son let out a small giggle.


    When the elevator dinged open, he hurried out and made his way to the street, where the rest of EVE was already piled into a sleek ck car.


    As June approached the vehicle, he noticed the silence. His fellow members had beenughing and chatting moments before, but now they all stared at him with wide eyes. Jisung was the first to speak, his eyes wide in horror. "What are you wearing?"

 Chapter 962: Center of Attention

    Chapter 962: Center of Attention


    ?


    The eight boys sat inside their limousine (courtesy of Lina) without uttering a single word. Even Bo Wen couldn''t get a word out as he pursed his lips to try and hide hisughter.


    It was a very hard task to aplish, especially since June looked like he was ready to murder every person in the car.


    June looked around the car and saw the guilty look on the boys'' faces-especially Casper''s.


    The car smelled strongly of a 2010 pop-up shop of tacky men''s perfume, and the blue and red neon lights didn''t help one bit with their situation.


    Jisung cleared his throat, raking his fingers through his hair and appearing like a model straight from a photoshoot.


    "Umm," he started off. "You look really cute, June."


    The others had sharp breath intake while June red at Jisung.


    Then, he exploded.


    "Are you guys having fun with this?" he asked. "Did you all n this, huh?"


    Jaeyong''s eyes widened in panic, and he frantically shook his head. "It''s not any of that sort!" he eximed.


    "You weren''t able to join our video chat because you had somewhere to be, so we got Casper to text you the concept of our costume."


    June then turned to Casper, who was evading his gaze.


    "Care to exin yourself?"


    Casper scratched the back of his head. "I really did text you the right concept! I didn''t think my phone would autocorrect it into something else."


    The other boys looked at him with disbelief.


    "How the heck is that even possible?" Sehun eximed.


    Casper pursed his lips. "It just is, alright? I already feel too guilty."


    June sighed and shook his head. "No wonder I found it ridiculous! And to think I did this because of my loyalty to you, guys!"


    "Aww," Akira said, cing his hands over his heart. "June cares about us so much that he''s willing to look stupid with us!"


    June red at Akira, causing him to turn away.


    "Anyway," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Bo Wen, head back. I''m going to change."


    The boy''s eyes widened.


    "We''re alreadyte as it is!" Jaeyong eximed. "We can''t go back now."


    Ren nodded in agreement. "I received a text from Haruki that said we are the only ones they''re waiting for! We can''t possibly make them wait any longer."


    June''s eyebrows furrowed. "So, what?" he eximed. "You want me to go there in this costume?"


    "Why not?" Ren innocently smiled. "I think you do look pretty cute."


    Zeth clicked his tongue. "Yeah, it''s kind of ridiculous how good you look in that costume."


    "You''re only saying that because you have your abs out," June deadpanned. "If you had this costume, you would want to head back, too."


    Zeth shrugged and looked down at his abs. "Well, be thankful I''m not dressed in that, then." "Shall I turn back?" Bo Wen asked, sounding conflicted.


    "Yes," June said.


    "No," the rest of his members eximed, drowning out his voice.


    Bo Wen scratched his bald head and decided to continue driving to the ce of the event, causing June to sigh in frustration.


    Akira reached out and wrapped his arms around June.


    "Don''t worry, June!" he eximed. "You still look very nice. Besides, think of it as a gift to the fans. Imagine how they''re going to feel when they see you."


    "Repulsed," June deadpanned, causing the boys to shake their heads.


    "Trust me," Zeth said. "Even if you had dressed up as an earthworm, the fans would still love you."


    June sighed and looked outside the window, already seeing therge Phoenix building.


    "I''m afraid that might be better."


    - Where are June, Jisung, Zeth, Casper, Sehun, Ren, Akira, and Jaeyong?


    - I can''t believe we''re resulting in calling them such a way because their name is still owned by Azure Entertainment.


    - Yeah, they need toe up with a new name soon.


    - I hope they leave it to the sane people in their group, though.


    - They''reing out!


    - OMG! Are those abs, I see?


    - Casper and Zeth have their tits out!


    - What are they dressed as?


    - Surfers!


    The boys came down the limousine one by one, earning praises from the cameramen. The cameras shed at lightning speed as the members appeared.


    - They''re so freaking handsome!


    - The future of Phoenix is bright.


    - I''m a Phoenix hoe. Now that this group is in thepany, I might stan.


    - Seriously, the surfer concept is genius! They looked like boys you would fall in love with during your


    vacation!


    - Except boys like this don''t really exist in real life.


    - Where is June, though? Why is he taking such a long time?


    - The other boys look so amused. Are June''s abs out too?


    - Omo! Are we getting more mature concepts from EVE?


    - Sigh. A big disappointment once more. All these boys are too handsome for their own good. I wasn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    expecting something explosive, but there''s none.


    "Come on!" Akira eximed as June hid behind therge post.


    June pursed his lips before cursing under his breath. He would hold this against the members


    for the rest of his life.


    After a while, June finally decided to show up in front of the cameras.


    The lights stopped shing for a couple of seconds as the cameramen just stared at June.


    Then, it shed like crazy. There wasn''t a single millisecond where they didn''t stop taking


    photos of June.


    The other boys looked at him with amusement.


    "June looks cute!" Jisung eximed.


    -The photos are out!


    - Oh my fucking gosh. What is June wearing?


    - THIS! THIS IS WHAT I''M TALKING ABOUT! IDOLS NEED TO START WEARING THINGS LIKE THIS.


    - I can''t. This is hrious.


    - A surfer and a spurf?


    June shook his head as he settled in the middle-his position as the rightful center of the


    group. However, he didn''t need to stand in the center to be the center of attention.


    Amidst the beautiful surfer boys stood a cute blue creature with neon yellow hair. June clicked his tongue. "I hate you, guys."

 Chapter 963: Winner Winner

    Chapter 963: Winner Winner


    ?


    As soon as the photos were released, June became the talk of the town. His name even surpassed the trend ''Halloween,'' taking up the number one spot in the trends list.


    And as the group entered the venue, the people inside were amazed.


    One, because the new group in thepany was such a handsome bunch.


    "Gosh. No wonder we can''tpete with EVE on the charts."


    "Yeah, and they''re very good in live performances, too."


    "You haven''t even seen them perform live!"


    "Yeah, but they beat CHAOS in King of Kings, and CHAOS are known for their epic performances."


    The second reason was June.


    The lights illuminated the group as soon as they entered, and it wasn''t hard to miss June- especially with his neon yellow hair.


    Other artists looked at him like he had lost his mind. Then, their second reaction was to burst intoughter.


    "Only June, man."


    "So true. He''s the only idol who can pull off that look."


    "Why is he so freaking cute in that costume?"


    The others seemed to love his costume. However, June was having none of it. He wanted nothing less but to jump into a pool of bleach to get rid of the blue paint from his skin.


    The group went to their table, but they were still the talk of the entire room. As they settled in their seats, the stage opened, and Jay was revealed.


    The room enthusiastically pped as Jay smiled. However, they couldn''t help but notice his costume, too.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Is he...sparkling?" June asked.


    The other boys chuckled. "I think so," Akira said. "Goodness, how long did that take?"


    "He can''t be a regr vampire. He even covered himself in glitter," Jaeyong muttered. "Beats me," Ren said. "Jay really likes being the center of the attention, so he''s loving this." "It seems like the other artists don''t really mind, though," Zeth observed. "I do think they''re thankful that Jay has been appointed as the new CEO."


    "Well, he''s doing a great job," Jaeyong smiled. "It must be because he also knows what it''s like to dream of bing an idol, so he takes care of the artists better."


    Haruki, who was just at the next table, joined in on their conversation.


    "I can attest to that," he said. "For thest Halloween Party, the girls from LITTY wore ghillie suits because they knew how much of a creep Kim Young Do was."


    The boysughed, feelingfortable with thepany''s new management.


    "It is a joy to see all of you here," Jay started off. "Especially you, June! I can see your hair from here!"


    June groaned at the shout-out. Meanwhile, the others burst into cheers andughter. "Anyway, wee to our annual Halloween Party! It''s my first time conducting this event, so I wanted to go all out. We are going to continue this tradition all while changing the idol industry for the better!"


    "Before we get started," he continued. "Allow me to wee the new artists that had been signed to thepany since my stay here."


    "First, we have six new actors and actresses under Phoenix Entertainment-Acting," he started off.


    The group of new actors stood from their seats as the rest of the artists pped.


    June saw some familiar faces, noting Scar, Hyuck, and Hale. He didn''t hold any grudges against Scar and wished the best for her career instead.


    "We also have new rappers signed in line with the expansion of ourpany to Hip-Hop and RnB!"


    Three new artists stood, dressed as secret agents. One of them towered everybody else, looking familiar.


    Jisung''s eyes widened in surprise. "Is that...Jangmoon?"


    As if on cue, Jangmoon spoke in a loud voice.


    "Thank you for having me here!" he eximed. Then, he turned to June''s table and pointed at


    them. "June! I told you we''ll see each other in different dreams soon."


    June smiled and nodded as the cheers became even louder.


    "I can''t believe it," Jaeyong said, shaking his head in amusement.


    "Andst but not the least, we have my very precious boys-EVE-wait, no!"


    The ps were halted when Jay realized his mistake.


    "Sorry," he said. "Can''t use that name just yet. Don''t want to get sued."


    "Anyway, let''s wee June, Zeth, Casper, Jisung, Ren, Akira, Jaeyong, and Sehun!"


    The cheers were defeaning as the members stood from their seats. It seemed as if they were in a mini fan meeting with how the other artists treated them.


    "We really need toe up with a new name soon," Jay muttered. "Anyway," he continued. "It''s time to get this party started! Enjoy the food. Don''t think about your diet for tonight, and let''s have some fun! We will also be having games, so please participate in them as much as you can."


    "Andst but not least, by the end of the night, we will be announcing the winner of the ''Best Costume'' award, who will be receiving a very nice prize. Are you all excited?"


    "Yes!" the artists eximed.


    "Let''s party!"


    That night became unforgettable for the artists. It was the most fun they ever had at a Halloween Party, and with Jay as the CEO, it didn''t feel ufortable at all.


    However, by the end of the night, all the artists became serious as they waited to be hailed as


    the person with the best costume.


    "And the winner is," Jay started off, building tension.


    Everybody held their breaths-almost as if this was the finale of Rising Stars.


    "Congrattions, June!" Jay eximed, taking the blue boy by surprise. His eyes widened


    while the others groaned in disappointment.


    However, they didn''t resent the oue because June did have the most memorable costume


    of the night.


    "Come on up here and im your prize!"


    June scratched the back of his head, some of the blue paint chipping and falling like dandruff


    on the table. He stood and walked to the stage, where Jay was holding onto a veryrge gift


    card.


    "As I said, we want to make this year very special, and fortunately, our lovely sponsor generously awarded us with this gift. Honestly, I''m pretty jealous of it," he muttered, causing


    the crowd tough.


    "Congrattions! You have won a luxury room in Vista Residences!"


    June''s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets while the rest of the artists were also shocked.


    A condo?


    They were going to award him a condo?


    June didn''t hesitate further and grabbed the gift card.


    Maybe dressing as a spurf wasn''t so bad after all.


    With that, June''s name trended all night.


    However, as the clock ticked 12 and the new day had begun, the number one trend changed.

 Chapter 964: Lenas Last Role

    Chapter 964: Lena''s Last Role


    ?


    After June was hailed as the ''best dressed'' at the Halloween Party, the artists decided to stay back to have some informal fellowship. It was their ''day off'' tomorrow, so they took the chance to do something that wasn''t rted to their job.


    Before they knew it, the day had ended, and it was already November 1st.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    November 1st had a peculiar way of sneaking up on people, but no one expected the shock that came with the early morning news.


    By 1 AM, Azure Entertainment was trending at number one, and not for any of their hit groups. An article circted quickly, sending waves across the entertainment industry.


    BREAKING: Azure Entertainment CEO Exposed as Investor in Human Trafficking Club


    Today, we received exclusive news regarding Hong Zhilei, better known as Lei, CEO of Azure Entertainment. The CEO reced Mr. Ong this year, and his poprity has been steadily increasing due to his manly looks and kind personality.


    However, we truly never know a person based on what they show on the surface.


    Earlier this month, June, their most popr idol, has been dismissed from the group and thepany for alleged sexual crimes. However, it was quickly proven wrong, which led to a downward spiral trend, making Azure''s number one boy group go to the hands of Phoenix.


    CEO Lei is currently trying to create a group like EVE, but amidst that, he has been linked to an illegal club in Shanghai involved in human trafficking. The club, now shut down by authorities, lured young hopefuls with promises of stardom, only to trap them in exploitative situations.


    Authorities in both countries have confirmed that an ongoing investigation is underway, with charges expected to be filed. The entertainment world reels in shock as one of the most influential figures is now under scrutiny for serious crimes. More details wille as the investigation unfolds.


    Phones buzzed relentlessly as people scrambled to digest the information.


    Lei, the man behind the curtain of Azure, one of the biggest entertainmentpanies, was now linked to one of the darkest corners of society. The bacsh was immediate.


    The artists in Phoenix stopped for a while to tune into what was happening. Since it was Halloween night, most people were awake, so all of them were aware of what was happening. Scar''s eyes widened, and she turned to June, who had a smirk on his face.


    She still felt guilty for scheming with Lei to get June out of the group. However, now, it seemed as if June had nned this all along.


    Scar shook her head with an amused smile. "No wonder," she muttered. "I wish you and your group the best, June."


    The news hit hard, but none harder than Lei himself, who had chosen to spend the night at a club to escape the pressure he had been feeling for weeks. He was apanied by Dan, who was nursing drinks in the dimly lit club, unaware of the storm brewing outside.


    Dan scrolled through his phone absently, checking thetest gossip, when his eyes widened in horror. There it was the article sshed across every major news outlet.


    His breath hitched. "Crap!"


    He turned to Lei, who was lost in his own thoughts, downing a drink.


    "Sir," Dan''s voice wavered. "You need to see this."


    Lei nced overzily, his brow furrowing at Dan''s pale expression. Taking the phone, he stared at the screen, the words slowly sinking in.


    "What," he muttered. "No."


    His fingers tightened around the ss. "No, no, no."


    His mind raced. How?


    How had this gotten out? The club was discreet, hidden.


    It had been him since he was still in White Tiger! It never got out until now. Who the heck would know such information?


    He stood abruptly, knocking over the ss, which shattered against the floor. People nearby turned to look, but Lei didn''t care.


    "Sir, where are you going?" Dan eximed.


    "I have to get out of here," Lei snapped, leaving Dan alone, feeling anxious.


    The club''s neon lights flickered as he made a quick escape out the back entrance, avoiding prying eyes.


    As he sped away in a sleek ck car, Lei''s mind began spinning. The walls were closing in on him. The police were likely already building a case, and it was only a matter of time before they came knocking. His safe world of luxury and power was crumbling, and he was at a loss for what to do.


    There was only one person he could trust now.


    "Lena," he muttered.


    He drove through the night, heart pounding until he reached Lena''s luxurious house.


    Lei pressed the doorbell a little too forcefully, his hand shaking.


    When Lena opened the gate, she wasn''t surprised to see him. It was as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.


    Her expression was calm, almost too calm, and it unnerved him, but in his panic, he ignored


    it.


    "Have you seen?" he asked.


    Lena pursed her lips. "I think everyone has seen, Lei."


    "Shit," Lei cursed before holding onto Lena''s shoulders. Thetter wanted to break free, but she endured for now.


    "You trust me, right? It''s not me. You know that," Lei said, his voice cracking slightly as he looked at her.


    Lena smiled softly. "Of course, Lei. I know it''s not you."


    She gestured for him toe inside. The house was dark, with only a few dim lights casting shadows across the room. Lena moved to a small table and opened a drawer, pulling out a key and a slip of paper.


    "Here," she said, handing them to Lei. "This is an address in the countryside. You cany low there for a while. No one will find you. It''s safe."


    Lei''s hands shook as he took the key and paper, relief flooding him for the first time since the news broke. He smiled his first real smile in hours.


    "Thank you, Lena. I don''t know what I''d do without you," he said, genuine gratitude in his voice. He even went as far as cing a wet kiss on her lips.


    Lena returned the smile, though it didn''t quite reach her eyes. "Of course. It''s what our rtionship is for, right?"


    Lei nodded, trusting herpletely. He turned to leave, pocketing the key and the address.


    As Lei sped through the roads under the night sky, Lena looked up at the moon, smirking to


    herself.


    "See you in jail, asshole," she whispered under her breath as the door clicked shut.

 Chapter 965: The Original Host

    Chapter 965: The Original Host


    ?


    "You''re really a genius," Lena said. "How did you know he was going toe to me?"


    June smirked, leaning against the couch. They were in Haruto''s apartment now. The four had built a strange friendship. Despite being years younger than the other three, June felt like the oldest among them.


    He still had a blue tint on his skin because Haruto bought paint that had ink in it, but he didn''t mind.


    Nothing could ruin his day.


    "There are a lot of things I know about June, but it beats me how he''s always so right about these things," Jay said before June could respond. "However, I''ve gotten used to it."


    Haruto smirked as he listened to their conversation.


    "It''s because he has no other choice," June responded, ignoring Jay''sment. "He had ruined everything. He can''t even get Dan to do anything now since he left him all alone. He also can''t trust your neighbor because he exploded on him for not being the owner of Phoenix."


    "In the end, he has no one else."


    "He thought he had you, but he''s mistaken for that, too."


    "He''s truly alone."


    ***


    The countryside was far more peaceful than Lei had expected. The house Lena had sent him to was massive¡ªa three-story house tucked away in the rolling hills, surrounded by trees and long, winding roads. No neighbors for at least a kilometer.


    As he stared out the window at the stillness, the realization that he was truly alone started to sink in.


    "This ce is insane," Lei muttered, leaning against the windowsill, shaking his head in disbelief. "Lena''s really rich."


    He took a slow breath, trying to clear his mind. But it didn''t work. His thoughts circled back to the catastrophe that had just unfolded. Who could have exposed him?


    It couldn''t have been a coincidence. No one knew except for a few people, and even then, they were supposed to be loyal. His mind swirled with the loss-the empire he had built in the entertainment industry was crumbling.


    Sure, he had lost his footing in showbiz, but that wasn''t the worst of it. He was starting to lose the sense of who he was.


    Could he start over? Build something from the ashes of his old life? Could he... start a gang again?


    He let out a bitter chuckle at the thought. It felt like a lifetime ago, but the memories still clung to him.


    It all started 12 years ago.


    Back then, Lei didn''t have a vision for his future. He had been aimless, getting into trouble and eventually being kicked out by their parents. They had no patience left for him. But Lin Zhi, his younger brother, had been different. Lin Zhi was full of hope, full of dreams that seemed too big for their small, poor world. He wanted to be an idol-an actual star.


    But they didn''t have the money for lessons, for the connections, for any of it.


    Even after Lei was kicked out, Lin Zhi kept visiting him, bringing him food, and talking to him about his ns. No matter how much trouble Lei caused, no matter how clumsy and careless he was, Lin Zhi believed in him. And because of that, Lei wanted to believe in something too.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    At first, it was for Lin Zhi-to make his brother''s dream happen, to give him a shot at the big time. But somewhere along the way, Lei found a dream of his own.


    Lei''s gang started as something small, something no one really knew about. He stayed anonymous because it felt safer that way. He didn''t want his family involved, and he didn''t want Lin Zhi''s hopes tied up with the shady world he was stepping into. But the gang grew quickly, and the people in it listened to him. They respected him. He was just 19, but as soon as he had a taste of that sweet, sweet loyalty as soon as he realized he could make others work for him...


    ...it was game over.


    shback, 2012: Shanghai, China


    It waste one evening, and Lei was in one of the backstreets of the city, his gang somewhere nearby, keeping an eye on things. He leaned against the grimy wall of a closed shop, smoking a cigarette and keeping his head low.


    He took a drag and exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the night.


    Then, he saw him-a bald man, probably in histe 40s, walking confidently down the alleyway in a suit.


    He had a mop keychain dangling from his briefcase. Lei raised an eyebrow. What kind of idiot walks through here alone, looking like that?


    His instinct was to rob the guy. His gang could use the money, and no one would bat an eye at another business type getting roughed up in this part of town. But something held Lei back. "Ah, we could use the money, though," he muttered. "And this guy looks loaded." Before he could make a move, the man noticed him. Instead of looking scared, though, he walked right up to Lei, stopping a few feet away.


    "What is a young man like you doing in such a dangerous ce like this?" the bald man asked, his voice calm, almost curious.


    Lei didn''t answer. He kept his expression neutral, eyeing the guy warily.


    The man didn''t seem fazed by Lei''s silence. Instead, he pulled something from his coat pocket and held it out-a bandaid.


    "Clean yourself up. You''ve got a cut on your face."


    Lei nced down at his reflection in a nearby shop window and noticed the small gash near his temple. He hadn''t even realized he was bleeding.


    "Don''t you have sses tomorrow or something? You should head home. Your parents must be worried," the man continued, still holding out the bandaid. "You''re still young. You shouldn''t be wasting your time in alleys."


    Lei scoffed, batting the man''s hand away. "Go away, old man. You don''t know anything about


    me."


    The man just sighed and shook his head, but he didn''t leave.


    "Ah," he muttered, more to himself than to Lei. "I thought you were the one. What a shame. Your heart is ck and does not have hope."


    Lei frowned, taken aback by the crypticment. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    Before the man could respond, a loud noise broke the tension. Lei whipped his head around to see a ck cat darting out from a dumpster, the lid mming shut behind it.


    When Lei turned back, the bald man was gone.

 Chapter 966: The Origin of White Tiger (1)

    Chapter 966: The Origin of White Tiger (1)


    ?


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    shback, 2014: Shanghai, China


    Lei was 21 now, and his gang had grown into somethingrger than he ever imagined.


    It had expanded from the small, scrappy group he had started as a teen into one of the biggest gangs in Shanghai. And yet, despite the chaos and the power, no one knew who Lei really was. He kept his identity hidden, operating in the shadows, just the way he liked it.


    But every now and then, his mind drifted back to the bald man he''d met years ago.


    There was something about that strange encounter in the alley that stuck with him. The guy wasn''t even important, but his words, the bandaid, the crypticment-it all stayed with Lei. He couldn''t shake it, no matter how much he tried.


    It was annoying, honestly.


    Today, though, there was something else on his mind. A new recruit had joined the gang-a kid named Chen Jun Hao. Bo Wen, one of his trusted informants, had brought him in.


    Lei sat in his dimly lit office, staring at the surveince feeds of the different operations they had running. Bo Wen stood by the door, waiting for instructions.


    "What''s his name again?" Lei asked, not taking his eyes off the screen.


    "Jun Hao, sir. Chen Jun Hao." Bo Wen replied, hands sped behind his back.


    Lei frowned. "Why is he here? I never really got to hear his story."


    Bo Wen shifted on his feet. "Something about his sister. I think he''s the breadwinner for his family. Said he needed to make money fast. He seems like a harmless kid. I think we would be able to make good use of him."


    Lei''s frown deepened. Breadwinner? He thought of Lin Zhi, his younger brother, and how everything he had done was for him.


    The kid sounded just like him back in the day-scraping by, doing whatever it took for their respective siblings.


    "Interesting," Lei smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    "Where should I put him, sir?" Bo Wen asked. "He''s pretty smart, and he''s in decent shape. I was thinking of the Intel team. I believe I can lead him well."


    Lei shook his head.


    No, Jun Hao didn''t need to be coddled. He needed to learn more than just strategy and numbers. A person like that needed to understand the dirty work to see the world for what it really was.


    "Put him in the cleaning team," Lei ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    Bo Wen blinked, surprised. "Are you sure, sir? It would be a waste to -"


    "Don''t question me." Lei cut him off sharply, his eyes hard.


    Bo Wen nodded quickly. "Understood, sir. Right away."


    Lei leaned back in his chair, watching as Bo Wen left the room. He stared at the screen again, but his thoughts weren''t on the operations anymore.


    They were on Jun Hao. The kid reminded him of himself too much, maybe.


    However, he appeared kind. That would either be his greatest strength or his biggest downfall.


    ***


    shback, 2020: Shanghai, China


    Six yearster, everything had changed.


    Lin Zhi was now 20, and he was still struggling to break into the idol industry. Despite Lei''s best efforts, despite all the money he had funneled into his brother''s career, Lin Zhi just couldn''t seem to get a foothold in a decentpany. He kept getting offers from smaller, less reputable agencies, but none of them were the right fit. Lei wanted more for him - he wanted Lin Zhi to have the best and make it to the top.


    It was frustrating seeing his brother''s talent wasted on these second-ratepanies. Korea was where he needed to be, but getting into a major entertainmentpany there wasn''t cheap.


    They didn''t just take anyone, and without connections or arge sum of money, Lin Zhi was stuck.


    Lei had been wracking his brain for weeks, trying to figure out a way to get his brother where The needed to be. And then, one night, everything changed.


    Lei was at his bar, overseeing the night''s activities. The ce was packed with the usual crowd-gang members, shady businessmen, and a few regr patrons who had no idea what went on behind the scenes. It was loud, the air filled with the scent of cigarette smoke and the sound of the clinking of sses.


    But amidst the noise, Lei noticed a group of men sitting in a corner booth, speaking in low voices. They were dressed sharply, like executives. Something about them piqued his interest. Lei nced over, narrowing his eyes.


    He made his way over to the bar where Bo Wen was pouring drinks. "Who are those guys?" Lei asked, nodding toward the corner.


    Bo Wen nced over. "Some higher-ups from Phoenix. Big entertainmentpany."


    Lei''s ears perked up. Phoenix? That was one of thepanies Lin Zhi had tried to get into. They were no joke-a rising entertainment firm in Korea.


    "What are they doing here?" Lei asked.


    Bo Wen shrugged. "Not sure. They said they were here for a meeting. Something about finding something valuable.""


    Lei''s curiosity deepened. Phoenix executives didn''t just show up in ces like this without a reason. He moved closer to their booth, keeping his head down as he listened in.


    The conversation was quiet, but Lei managed to catch snippets of it.


    "I heard the head left something before he disappeared," one of the men said in a hushed tone. "Information that could change the entertainment industry forever." "Whoever has it," another man chimed in, "will have the power to monopolize the industry. No one would be able topete."


    Lei''s heart raced. Information that could change the entertainment industry? Monopolize it? His mind was already spinning with possibilities. If he got his hands on whatever they were talking about, he could use it not just for himself but for Lin Zhi. With that kind of power, Lin Zhi wouldn''t just break into the industry-he would dominate it.


    "We heard it''s here-in Shanghai, at least," the first man said, lowering his voice even more. "So we came to find it."


    Lei clenched his fists. This was it-the opportunity he had been waiting for. If he could figure out what they were after if he could get it before they did, he could change everything-for


    himself, for Lin Zhi, for their future.


    His life was about to change forever.

 Chapter 967: The Origin Of White Tiger (2)

    Chapter 967: The Origin Of White Tiger (2)


    ?


    shback, 2020: Shanghai, China


    Lin Zhi''s entrance into the gang was something Lei had never wanted. For years, he had done everything he could to shield his brother from the darker side of his life, but the walls were crumbling fast.


    Lin Zhi hade to Lei with a determination that Lei hadn''t seen before he was desperate to make money, more than what Lei could give him.


    "I need this, gege," Lin Zhi had said. "I''m going to make it; I just need some extra cash for now. I''ll pay my way into Phoenix Entertainment and show everyone what I can do. I don''t care how dirty the work is, I just need to get in."


    Lei had hesitated, but Lin Zhi''s determination won out. And so, his younger brother was thrust into the gang''s operations, starting immediately as a drug dealer. It was the fastest way to earn money, and Lin Zhi didn''t shy away from the dirty work. In fact, he thrived in it. Lei could see his brother bing someone else, harder, sharper, with every deal he made. But Lin Zhi didn''t care-his eyes were on one prize: to be a rising star.


    While Lin Zhi was out making deals and stacking cash, Lei had his mind on something bigger. The information the Phoenix higher-ups had mentioned a few months ago still haunted him. He had worked hard to build an alliance with Kim Young Do, one of the top executives at Phoenix.


    Lei had presented an offer they couldn''t refuse.


    "We''ll find the briefcase for you," Lei had said during one of their meetings, leaning back in his chair with utmost confidence.


    Kim Young Do had taken a long drag from his cigarette, eyes narrowing as he considered the offer. "And in return?"


    "In return, you take my brother, Lin Zhi, into Phoenix. No questions asked. No small roles. He bes a star."


    Kim Young Do had smirked, amused by Lei''s audacity. But the offer was good, and Phoenix had been on the rise-still an underdog.


    "Alright, Hong. You bring me the briefcase, and I''ll make sure your brother gets in."


    That had sealed the deal. But Lei knew this wouldn''t be easy. The briefcase was no ordinary piece of luggage-it was said to contain the information that could control the entertainment industry, a power so immense that whoever had it could manipte the fate of every artist and agency in Korea. Lei needed someone skilled, someone who could blend into the shadows like he had done for years.


    That person was Chen Jun Hao.


    ***


    Chen Jun Hao had started at the bottom, cleaning up the messes no one else wanted to touch. But Lei had known from the start that Jun Hao was something special. He was smart and capable, and he learned quickly. Even though he was at the bottom of the food chain, he still excelled.


    By 2022, Jun Hao had led the team that finally found the briefcase.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But Lei had underestimated him.


    Jun Hao had changed over the years, hardened by the life he had lived, and he wasn''t someone who could be bought off cheaply. He didn''t care about the glory, or the money-he cared about being respected, about beingpensated fairly. And when Lei offered him a fraction of what he was worth, Jun Hao refused to hand over the briefcase.


    It was Lin Zhi who had lost patience first.


    He killed Jun Hao just like that. Lei never thought his brother would have it in him, but it seemed like the gang had scraped the little bit of innocence he had left.


    However, looking back on it, he shouldn''t have killed that guy-Chen Jun Hao.


    Lei had been furious. Not because Lin Zhi had killed Jun Hao-death was part of their world- but because of what Jun Hao represented. In the eight years that Jun Hao had been with the gang, he had quietly amassed an incredible amount of power and influence.


    More than Lei had realized.


    Jun Hao wasn''t just an operative¡ªhe was the glue that held everything together. He had connections, alliances, and a way of keeping people in line. Without him, the gang began to unravel.


    One by one, people left. Their allies abandoned them. Without Jun Hao''s strategic mind, their operations fell apart. And before Lei knew it, everything he had worked so hard to build was gone. The empire he had constructed over the past decade crumbled, all because of one impulsive moment.


    Despite it all, Lin Zhi was still epted into Phoenix Entertainment. The deal with Kim Young Do had been upheld, and Lin Zhi was on his way to bing the star he had always dreamed


    of being.


    But for Lei, it was a hollow victory.


    Lin Zhi quickly entered Rising Stars, and Lei continued to support him from behind the scenes. There was still bitterness in his heart-for he had lost his gang. However, as days passed, he had his eyes set on overtaking the entertainment industry.


    He would do it together with Lin Zhi. They had fewer enemies now, but they still knew what they needed to know.


    With Lei''s help, Lin Zhi rose through the ranks, and he became a very promising trainee-one who would inevitably make it.


    However, it seemed like they still had enemies even in this field-and it came in the presence of June.


    June-the guy who came from Phoenix and became an independent trainee. The guy who outsmarted him in all ways he couldn''t ept. The guy he couldn''t understand.


    The guy who reminded him of the person who made him lose White Tiger-Chen Jun Hao.


    Now, sitting in the countryside, looking out over the sprawling fields, Lei couldn''t help but reflect on everything that had happened. His life had been had been glorious thus far, but the person he started all of this for was now dead.


    And here he was, hiding in a house far from the city, far from everything he had once known.

 Chapter 968: The Final Enemy

    Chapter 968: The Final Enemy


    ?


    Lei leaned back into the leather chair, his eyes narrowing as he stared out the window at the quiet countryside.


    "I could get used to this," he muttered.


    However, amidst the peace, he still felt a storm brewing inside his head. It had sunk in now.


    He had lost his empire-everything he worked hard for. Lei''s expression hardened before he let out a deep chuckle.


    But that didn''t mean he had to lose everything. He could still take back some control and salvage what was left.


    "Oh, who am I kidding?" he chuckled, his eyes bloodshot from theck of sleep and the alcohol in his system.


    It was over. It was gone-never to be found again!


    Now, what he couldn''t ept was that June was still running free!


    With that, Lei set his mind on ending June, once and for all.


    June had the briefcase. Lei was sure of it. That''s why June was able to move so confidently now, and that''s why Phoenix Entertainment had rebounded under his influence. The briefcase had fallen into his hands, and it was toote for Lei to recover it.


    But it wasn''t toote to end June''s life. That kid has escaped death way too many times.


    Lei smiled to himself as the n formed in his mind. There wasn''t a deliberate n. He went to the kitchen and saw a stack of knives on the counter. He was already imagining plunging the sharp metal into June''s throat.


    His life was already destroyed, after all. Lei had nothing left to lose.


    Satisfied, Lei stood up, stretching his arms as he walked toward the counter, touching the knives like it was his most prized possession.


    Then, he chuckled. He still had some money left. He could use that to kill June, maybe sneak up to him in an event. They were going to have aeback soon. With that thought in mind, The let go of the knives and stepped backward.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The ce was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerator. He opened it, surprised to see it fully stocked with fresh food. His brows furrowed.


    "Why is it stocked?" Lei muttered to himself.


    He scanned the kitchen again. The counters were spotless, the floors practically shining.


    It wasn''t just clean-it was pristine, almost too perfect. No dust, no signs of neglect. It was like the house had been waiting for him.


    Lei''s gaze drifted toward the wall, and that''s when he noticed them: the picture frames.


    His eyesnded on the first frame, a photograph of Lena holding a small child. The boy looked familiar. Lei tilted his head, squinting at the photo. "Where have I seen him before?" he whispered, his mind racing.


    But before he could piece it together, his eyes caught sight of another frame-one that sent a chill down his spine.


    The bald man.


    The man who had been guing his thoughts for years, the one who had no importance but never left his mind. He was in the photograph standing beside a young teen and a beautiful


    woman.


    "Why are you here?" he eximed in a loud voice. He grabbed the frame and looked at it more intently, his frown deepening when he realized who the young teen was-Lena.


    The three of them held something in their hands-a scroll, a banner? Lei squinted to make out the words.


    "Long Live, Phoenix," he muttered under his breath, his pulse quickening.


    That''s when everything started to fall into ce.


    It hit him like a bullet train.


    The pictures, the pristine house, the stocked refrigerator-it was a trap.


    A perfectlyid trap.


    The house wasn''t a safe haven-it was a cage, a snare waiting to snap shut.


    His mind raced as he spun around, heading for the door. The frame fell from his hands, the ss shattering into a million pieces, with some even sttering to scratch the skin on his legs.


    However, that was the least of his worries.


    He needed to get out. Now.


    But before he could make it to the exit, the door burst open with a deafening crash. Lei froze, his heart hammering in his chest as a flood of men in uniforms stormed in, guns raised and shouting orders.


    The authorities. They had found him.


    He cursed under his breath, backing away from the door as they rushed toward him, their boots thundering against the floor. He had no time to think or react.


    "Get on the ground! Hands where we can see them!" one of the officers barked, his voice booming in the small space.


    Lei''s mind scrambled for a way out-somest-minute escape. But there was none. The walls were closing in, and there was nowhere to escape.


    He had been outyed until the veryst second.


    Lena had set the perfect trap, and now he was caught.


    "Damn it," Lei muttered, dropping to his knees as the officers swarmed him, forcing him to the ground. The cold steel of handcuffs mped around his wrists, the weight of defeat crushing him.


    As they hauled him to his feet, Lei''s mind raced back to the photographs. The bald man, the banner, the haunting words, June.


    That fucking bastard June.


    Long Live Phoenix.


    It all made sense now.


    Lena was the head, after all.


    She was bigger than him, bigger than his gang, bigger than the empire he was trying to build.


    Lei had been a pawn, and now the game was over.


    They dragged him outside, the bright sunlight stinging his eyes as he was shoved into the back of a waiting car. The doors mmed shut, the sound echoing in his ears like the final nail


    in his coffin.


    As the car sped away, Lei leaned his head back against the seat, staring nkly at the ceiling.


    His empire was gone. His brother was dead, and June held all the power now. Everything Lei had fought for, everything he had sacrificed-it was all for nothing.


    And then, at that moment, someone''s face shed in the back of his mind.


    Chen Jun Hao.


    For some damn reason, he felt that all of this wouldn''t have happened if he didn''t kill him.


    And for once, Lei was right.


    He was finally right, but what was the use of that now?

 Chapter 969: Nameless

    Chapter 969: Nameless


    ?


    "Where are you going?" Lena asked. "We''re going to your new school in an hour."


    Minjun smiled. "I know, Mom," he called out. "I just need to do something first. I''ll be sure to be here when we leave."


    Lena sighed and shook her head as Minjun ran to his bedroom. "What is that kid doing in his free time?" she muttered.


    Breaking News: The Fall of Hong Zhilei - A 13-year-old''s Breakdown


    So, in case you''ve been living under a rock or, I don''t know, still using flip phones (no judgment), here''s the tea: Hong Zhilei, the former CEO of Azure Entertainment, has officially been canceled and not in the usual, celebrity-got-caught-with-a-bad-take way. Nope, this man has been arrested, like, handcuffed-and-shoved-into-a-car-level arrested.


    It''s been five days since Hong was dragged out of his secret hideaway, and I know what you''re thinking: what really went down? Well, buckle up because this is going to be a wild ride.


    Apparently, after a very dramatic arrest, he was handed over to the Chinese Authority. The drama doesn''t stop there, though. During his arrest, someone leaked an interview where Zhilei can be seen going off on a full-blown tirade, throwing around the most random names: June (our KING), some bald guy (who??), and a girl named Lina? Len? Leni? (the plot thickens). It wasn''t really clear, but you get the gist of it.


    Watching the video was like watching your drunk uncle at a family gathering, trying to connect every conspiracy theory he''s ever heard.


    Oh, and just when you think it couldn''t get any worse...they tested him for drugs. And guess what? Yep, the man was positive. He really did the most.


    Anyway, now that Zhilei''s locked up and babbling about bald men, Phoenix Entertainment''s out here doing what they do best: winning. An exclusive source leaked that they are very close to sealing a deal to subsidize Azure Entertainment.


    YUP, you heard that right. Phoenix might be stepping in to clean up the mess, and rumors say the deal is going down smoother than your poop after a morning icedtte.


    This has been a wild ride, but Phoenix is literally killing it, per usual. The son of Phoenix''s mysterious owner (seriously, who is this guy?) must be living his best life, probably sipping some bougie coffee while watching this all unfold. Ah, I envy that guy.


    - Lei really wanted to take down everyone with him, but he fell on his own.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    - Wait, wait, wait. He was ranting about June until the veryst second? I knew that man was deranged! Keep him very far, please.


    - Oh, I heard he''s spending a long time in jail. They seized his properties and money, too, since it was apparently acquired through illegal means.


    - Not him being on drugs AND screaming about a bald man.


    -Man, this is why you don''t trust people with too much money.


    - Hey, maybe June doesn''t have bad luck after all. Now that I think about it, he''s won every major battle in his life! He just loses the minor ones.


    - June will be very happy to hear that (I don''t believe it, though).


    - Are we just going to ignore the fact that Minmin is 13? He writes better than most of us!


    ***


    Meanwhile, back at Phoenix Entertainment, things were looking really good.


    The boys were scattered across the practice room, taking a much-needed breather after hours of rehearsing. The mirrors were fogged up from the intense choreo, sweat dripping from their faces. They''d been working nonstop, knowing that the world had its eyes on Phoenix Entertainment now more than ever.


    "Are we sure about this?" Jaeyong asked as hey on the floor.


    "Yeah!" Jisung eximed, looking more excited than ever. "At first, I was sad to let it go, but I think it''s time. We''re going to leave it all in the past and start anew! That''s what it means, too. Right, Casper?"


    "Hmm," Casper hummed with a small smile. "I like the change."


    Zeth shook his head in amusement. "I can''t believe we''re actually taking Casper''s advice for this one."


    "I consulted with June before consulting with you, guys," Casper said.


    "Ahh," the group collectively said. "So, that''s why it sounds decent."


    "Are you sure about this June?" Jaeyong asked, looking at their center with a serious gaze.


    With a small smile, June nodded.


    Just then, Jay walked in, clipboard in hand, looking fresher than usual.


    "Well, you look nice," Ren said as he entered.


    Jay smiled and bowed like a prince. "Well, thank you."


    "It wasn''t apliment," Akira chimed. "It means that you usually don''t look nice, so it''s a surprise to see you so nice for once."


    Jay clicked his tongue and didn''t bother replying to Akira''sment.


    "Good news," Jay announced instead, standing at the center of the room.


    He sounded really excited, so the boys paid great attention to what he was about to say.


    "Phoenix is closing a deal soon with Azure Entertainment. We''re finally expanding thepany."


    The boys looked at each other with excitement. June merely smirked, already having a hunch since Mei had been texting him nonstop since this morning.


    "And," Jay continued, gazing at the boys with a knowing look, "the teasers will be released tomorrow night."


    Shouts of excitement rippled through the room.


    "Finally!" Akira eximed. "We''re free from the dungeons! I can''t wait for our fans to listen


    to our song."


    "One more thing," Jay said, cutting their celebration short.


    "We can finally use your name."


    Silence.


    The boys nced at each other, smirking.


    Jay frowned in confusion. "What?" he asked with narrowed eyes. "I''m sensing something


    suspicious in your expressions."


    "You guys will stay as EVE, right? The design team is already working on your name and the logos. We''ve been holding it off for a while now."


    The boys remained silent, making Jay even more suspicious.


    "Let them stop for now," June said, breaking the silence.


    Jay tilted his head to the side. "Why?" he asked.


    The boys didn''t answer again, making Jay feel skeptical.


    Just then, Jaeyong raised his hand. "Can we hold a livestream tonight?"

 Chapter 970: Its A New Dawn

    Chapter 970: It''s A New Dawn


    ?


    The screen blinked on, and the eight boys of EVE-June, Akira, Ren, Jisung, Jaeyong, Casper, Sehun, and Zeth-sat around arge table. At first, their heads were lowered, making it seem as though something serious had happened.


    They had logged into June''s new ount, which had gained over five million followers in the small span of time he had made it.


    Fans poured into the chat, thements rolling in faster than they could be read.


    -What the heck is happening?


    - I''m scared.


    - This feels so serious.


    - Akira''s shoulders are shaking. Is he crying?


    - Goodness, we just got them back. Don''t tell me they''re taking them away from us again.


    - I will literally drink bleach if that happens.


    - Drink Sanipoo instead!


    The tension was suffocating, even through the screen, as more fans joined, trying to figure out what was going on.


    Then, just as quickly as the serious atmosphere had built, the boys lifted their heads in unison with grins on their faces.


    "Gotcha!" Renughed, throwing his head back.


    Akira snickered beside him, adding, "We had to, sorry not sorry."


    - YOU GUYS ARE THE WORST!


    - I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK!


    - So, Akira''s shoulders were shaking because he was hiding hisughter.


    - I KNEW IT! SUCH TEASES!


    - Disband. Right now.


    Sehun chuckled and waved at the camera, "It''s been a while since we did this, right?"


    "Yeah," Jisung added, rxing into his chair, "Last time we all went live together... I think it was, what, a month, two months ago?"


    Zeth smiled. "Yeah! It was when we got drunk and aired out everything we didn''t like about Azure! Ah, those were good times."


    Jisung pursed his lips as those memories came flooding back in. "I shouldn''t have brought that up."


    Jaeyong, the leader, chimed in with a wide smile, "We missed you guys! Can you believe it? We''re all back together!"


    The fans erupted in excitement.


    - Finally!!!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - EVE IS BACK TOGETHER!


    - JUNE, OMG, I MISSED YOU ALL SO MUCH!


    - You guys don''t understand. This is my family. I see them more than my parents. This is so important


    to me.


    - Never lose hope, guys! EVE is back together.


    - Just cancelled my order of rope and a high chair.


    Akira leaned in closer to the camera, winking, "We''re finally out of the hellhole, Azure!"


    Jisung''s jaw dropped, eyes wide with horror. "Can you even say that?"


    Jaeyong sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Akira," he warned.


    Akira shrugged,ughing. "Well, Phoenix owns Azure now, right? So, technically, I can.


    Besides, Jay is so busy that he won''t even watch this live!"


    The rest of the boys shook their heads, stiflingughs at Akira''sment.


    Ren added, "It''s still crazy to think about. Looking back on it, it felt like everything moved so fast. However, the dark days were long-it really was."


    Zeth nodded. "I''m sure you guys had a hard time, too. So, we decided toe on here to surprise you all!"


    Casper leaned back and crossed his arms, putting on a thoughtful expression. "You know, speaking of surprises, I think they''ll like what''sing tomorrow."


    Suddenly, the boys turned to Casper in panic.


    "Casper!" Sehun nearly shouted, his hands flying up. "What are you doing?!"


    "What?" Casper blinked innocently. "I''m just saying!"


    Jisung groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We talked about spoilers beforeing on here. They weren''t supposed to know!"


    - What''s tomorrow?


    - NEW ALBUM??


    - Casper, don''t let them silence you, king.


    - Please tell us more. I feel like my life is in a drought.


    "It wasn''t even a spoiler," Casper said, scratching the back of his head. "They already know we''re working on an album and that we''re going to have aeback. Our song is really good, too. I didn''t even tell them our title track, which is-"


    June reached over and covered Casper''s mouth. "No more spoilers," he said.


    Casper tried to fight off June. "But it''s a good spoiler!" he protested, throwing up his hands. "Like, a really good one."


    - Omo. My delusions areing back.


    - #JunePer is sailing. I miss them bickering so much.


    - Guys, don''t ship real people.


    - They''re making it very hard not to!


    - Casper and June are married.


    June shook his head and leaned closer to the camera before whispering, "Pretend you didn''t


    hear anything, okay?"


    - Oh, what is this POV?


    - Alright, daddy. Whatever you say.


    - Whisper to me more, June.


    - How does he look this good?


    - How can I have a normal rtionship now?


    - I hope June is real.


    "June does look really good," Jisung said as he read thements.


    "What''s new?" Akira sighed. "We get to see it every day, yet I''m still shocked. I swear, he


    didn''t look like this when we first became friends.


    Zeth took this opportunity to jump in front of the camera, his face filling the screen as he posed dramatically. "What about me? Am I not good enough for you guys?"


    Thements burst intoughter.


    - ZETH, PLEASE!


    - WE LOVE YOU BUT...


    -Sorry, June''s just too much today!


    June smirked, leaning casually against his chair. He raised an eyebrow, his expression yful


    but dangerous. "Oh? Am I distracting everyone?"


    "Yeah," Ren teased, nudging June, "Stop using your looks to derail the live!"


    The group burst intoughter, feeding off the energy of the fans. It felt like old times again,


    their natural chemistry flowing effortlessly. It had been a long time since they were able to rx like this with their fans, and it felt...right.


    But then, as theughter began to fade, June''s expression changed. He leaned forward, a bit more serious now. "Actually," he began, his tone steady but softer, "there''s something important we need to tell you all."


    The mood in the room immediately changed as the other boys also straightened up, their smiles fading into more thoughtful expressions. The fans, noticing the sudden change, began


    flooding thements once again.


    - WAIT, WHAT?


    - What''s going on?


    -You guys are scaring us again.


    - This is cruel. Is it a serious matter after all?


    - I don''t think they''re joking anymore.


    Jaeyong took a deep breath and addressed the camera, his voice calm but serious. "We know


    it''s been a crazy year. So much has happened, and I''m sure you''ve all noticed the changes in our group. Things weren''t easy for us. We''ve been through a lot, and we didn''t expect our lives to be so intertwined as they did."


    He nced around at the others, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Being part of EVE meant everything to us. We built something special together, something we''re proud of. But...it was more than just the music. It was the friendships, the brotherhood. I never thought I''d be so lucky to meet a group of people who''d change my life like this."


    The fans were already emotional in thements.


    - I''m not crying, you are!


    - EVE forever!!


    - DON''T YOU DARE SAY GOODBYE!


    - Is this really the end?


    - The rope and the high cart have been added to my cart again.


    Jaeyong''s expression turned more serious as he continued. "But...everything has a season. And sometimes, we have to say goodbye to the old to make room for something new." June, who had been quietly watching Jaeyong, finally stepped in. He smiled at his members before turning to the camera. "We know how much EVE means to you. It means the world to us, too. But..." He paused, taking a deep breath. "It''s time to say goodbye."


    Thement section was filled with curses and capital letters, and the members were no


    longer able to read them.


    - NO NO NO NO!


    - YOU CAN''T END EVE!


    - PLEASE SAY YOU''RE JOKING!


    - This is all Azure''s fault. Who wants to send a truck in front of their building?


    - Girl, Azure is under Phoenix now!


    Jaeyong quickly raised his hands to calm everyone down, a small chuckle escaping him.


    "Whoa, whoa, hold on! We''re not disbanding."


    Ren grinned, leaning into the camera. "Yeah, calm down, guys. We''re not going anywhere."


    June smiled, his expression softening. "What we mean is, we''re saying goodbye to


    EVE...because we''re starting something new."


    Casper leaned in. "You ready for this?"


    Sehun, trying to hold back a smile, pointed at the camera. "You guys are the first to know."


    Jaeyong took a deep breath, locking eyes with the camera. "From this moment on...we''re no


    longer EVE."


    The boys looked at each other, nodding, before Jaeyong continued.


    "This is a new beginning for us."


    The fans were still confused.


    - Then, what are you, guys? My husbands?


    - My boyfriends?


    -My pets?


    -My kinks?


    - Goodness, gracious. You guys are so unserious.


    - Is this a new era?


    - Just tell us!!


    June smiled, looking relieved. "It''s time for a fresh start. We''ve been through a lot, and we''ve


    come out stronger. This is just the beginning of something even bigger."


    Akira leaned back, crossing his arms with a grin. "We''re excited. We hope you guys are, too."


    Jisung added with a yful wink, "And maybe Casper''s spoiler will make more sense tomorrow..."


    The groupughed, the tension lifting as they began teasing each other again. The fans were


    still confused as to what was happening, but with Jaeyong''s next statement, it all made


    sense.


    "The light of a new beginning," Jaeyong started off.


    Then, the rest of the boys followed. "DAWN hase! Hello, we are DAWN!"

 Chapter 971: From Eve to Dawn

    Chapter 971: From Eve to Dawn


    ?


    It seemed like everyone, along with their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, andndies, were waiting for DAWN''s new teasers.


    After Casper''s not-so-subtle spoiler, thepany announced that DAWN was going to make its debut soon.


    And now, nearly everyone in the country was waiting for their concept photos toe out. Even Lena, despite being the CEO of Phoenix Entertainment, was spared from spoiling herself and waited along with the rest of the world for the reveal of DAWN''s debut.


    People tuned in early, and most of Navel was already spamming the feed. Their team name, DAWN, had been trending ever since they notified the public of the change. Even now, the topic is able to hold the number one spot in South Korea. Aside from that, their new ount, which had only been up for a day, garnered six million followers-making them the most quickly followed K-pop group of all time.


    - When is it going toe out?


    - Things like thise out at midnight!


    - Why do they have to post it sote? I don''t even stay up thiste for schoolwork.


    - Anything is worth it with EVE.


    - It''s DAWN!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - My bad, my bad. I''m still getting used to it!


    Jia and her friends had also gathered for the historic moment. After it was announced that EVE was going to debut as a new group with the same members, her group of friends had already started creating theories.


    "So, what do you guys want the concept to be?" Jia asked, squeezing her hands in excitement.


    "Hmm," Wei hummed, cing her fingers under her chin. "I guess like a macho dancer concept?"


    Her friends looked at her like she had lost her mind.


    "I swear-you''re not normal," Jia said, shaking her head. "What about you, guys?"


    Nari smiled. "I kind of want to see them as animals! I think that would be really cool."


    Wei raised one eyebrow. "Well, my suggestion definitely sounds better. Do you have a bestiality kink or something?"


    Nari tilted her head to the side. "What''s that?"


    "I guess she''s not aware of it," Bora chuckled.


    Jia clicked her tongue and nudged Bora''s side. "What about you?" she asked. "You have anything in mind?"


    Bora shrugged. "Well, since they just came out from Azure, I kind of want them to do a noir concept-you know? Full killer mode and all."


    Jian''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "That''s...actually not a bad idea."


    Bora smiled. "I told you I''ve got my eyes set on making it to Phoenix Entertainment after I graduate."


    Jia sighed and nodded. "I wish I could, too."


    "You''re a Math major," Bora teased, poking her tongue out to tease Jia.


    Jia chuckled in amusement. "Anyway," she continued. "Anything DAWN does, I would support it."


    Her friends looked at each other before collectively booing. "You''re no fun! Come on, tell us what you want their concept to be."


    Jia shook her head with a small smile. "There''s not a particr one," she said. "Like I said, I''m fine with everything DAWN would put out-especially now that they have more creative freedom in theirpany."


    "However, I''ve made a list of the possible concepts they might have," she said, suddenly bringing out a small notebook from her back pocket.


    "Well, you''re prepared," Bora muttered.


    "First, a fairy concept," she started off. "Or elves would also be nice. However, OCTA just did that mythical concept a month ago, so that might not be usible at the moment." "Second, of course, is the obvious bad boy concept. However, they already did that for the title track of the second album."


    "Third is what I''m hoping for it to be-a lumberjack concept," she smiled, looking at her friends with wide eyes.


    Meanwhile, her group of friends burst intoughter. "Jia is definitely the least normal about


    us."


    The fivedies weren''t the only ones guessing the concept that DAWN was going to partake. With a new name, will they go for a new concept, too? They had a rtively fresh image, and most people wanted them to keep it.


    At the same time, though, fans wanted to have a clear distinction between EVE and DAWN, especially now that they were in a new chapter of their lives.


    Choi Pablo pouted as he stared at the screen, continuously refreshing. Jenny was by his side, also curious about DAWN''s debut.


    "You''ve been huffing and puffing since earlier," Jenny said.


    Pablo sighed. "It''s because I wasn''t the one who they hired to take their concept photos!"


    "Nobody even knew they were preparing a new album under Phoenix," Jenny chuckled. "Besides, you''ve never worked with thatpany before."


    Pablo clicked his tongue. "Whoever owns thatpany must not like me."


    Jenny shook her head in amusement. "Whatever you say," she muttered.


    Only a minute left until midnight came-and along with that were DAWN''s new concept photos.


    Everyone was still arguing about their concept, with most convinced that their prediction


    would be right.


    - Ah, it''s that time of the year again!


    - I can''t wait to hear theories about their new album.


    - I wonder what kind of lore they''re going to put out for this debut.


    - I''m convinced they''re going to have a full, sexy concept! -Thirty seconds! I repeat, thirty seconds left until midnight strikes!


    - I feel like Cindere right now.


    People refreshed their screens, waiting for the photos to pop up. They didn''t know what to expect. Would it be a group photo? Or would the individual photose out first?


    Their questions were answered right away as the first set of photos came out.


    Then, the words "From Eve to Dawn" were the first ones that they saw, followed by June''s ethereal-looking photos.


    The album name itself was already ingenious. Aside from that, June''s face was enough to save the whole of humanity! However, after getting past those two, the concept that DAWN had chosen suddenly became evident, making most of the fans confused.


    - I mean, June looks pretty, but what is he?


    - I think he''s a...gangster?

 Chapter 972: A Farmer, A Ballet Dancer, and a Gangster?

    Chapter 972: A Farmer, A Ballet Dancer, and a Gangster?


    ?


    DAWN''s concept photos were the talk of the town. It hasn''t even been aplete day since it was posted, but fans and non-fans alike were already making theories.


    The members of DAWN, who had just woken up, checked the response of the teasers as they gathered around the table. They were in June''s new apartment-the one he won at the Halloween party-with June cing their breakfast on the table.


    Jisung looked around the ce and shook his head. "I still can''t believe you got this big ce for free," he muttered. "I wish I could live here, too."


    June clicked his tongue. "Well, you guys might as well own it. You''re here more often than your homes."


    Zeth smiled. "It''s because this is the closest to ourpany."


    June shook his head and sat next to Jisung. "Let''s eat," he said.


    The boys nodded and indulged in June''s home-cooked meal. Amidst the meal, Akira brought up the topic of their debut.


    "Right!" he eximed. "The teasers are out now. I wonder what our astras think about it."


    Ren raised his hand. "Is it still applicable to call them that?"


    "What? Astras?" Akira asked.


    "Hmm," Ren hummed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I think so," Akira smiled. "It would be weird to call them a different name now. Aside from that, it''s not even trademarked, so we can use it as we like."


    Casper nodded in agreement. "It''s part of our lore, too. EVE...DAWN...they''re quite rted, don''t you think? It''s just that one means night and one means morning."


    Ren shrugged. "I guess," he said. "I''m notining, though. I''m already having a hard enough time trying to get used to our new team name."


    "Anyway, back to the response of our astras," he smiled, leaning closer against the table.


    Akira went to his Navel ount while the others waited. His eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise. "Oh, we have eight million followers now," he said.


    "It''s projected to hit ten million soon," Zeth boosted. "To be frank, I think it''s because of my teaser photos!"


    Ren clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    Akira ignored him and went straight to their hashtag #FromEVEtoDawn.


    - They all look so good. I''m going tobust.


    - You? Combust. Me? Bust my-


    - People are toofortable on the inte.


    - Does anybody understand their concept, though?


    - I don''t! Why do all of them have such weird jobs?


    - Me too. They all have simr color grading, but it seems like apletely different concept for each member. Itcks cohesion.


    - That''s what I''m going to say! However, I''m going to wait for the other teasers toe. Who knows? It might make sense by the end of it all.


    - I''ve always supported EVE''s concepts. However, as DAWN, I''m finding it harder toprehend what they''re going for.


    - Let''s all wait!


    Akira chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "It''s just what you said," he chimed, turning to June. "Most people don''t know what concept we''re going for."


    "Well, that''s the point," Jaeyong chuckled. "It''s perfect! We''ve elicited the kind of reaction we wanted to receive."


    Ren nodded. "I swear-If I was a fan, I would also be very confused. I won''t even be able to guess what kind of music we''re going to put out with such a concept."


    "The fans agree, too," Akira said.


    - I wonder what the song is going to be like.


    - It''s so freaking confusing. I love it!


    - Are we just going to ignore the fact that Casper is a farmer?


    - Nah, what''s weirder is that June is a gangster!


    -And why is Sehun working in a convenience store?


    "The photos came out well, though," Jaeyong said. "Did you have fun at the convenience store?" he asked Sehun.


    Sehun chuckled before shaking his head. "It felt...nostalgic. However, it was definitely not fun. I remembered the long nights I spent in those stores. I would work right after practicing, then would go to school in the morning!"


    "Oof, that must have been tough," Zeth said. "Anyway, I look great in my school uniform, right?"


    Ren shook his head. "You look the most normal-the most forgettable," he teased.


    Zeth scoffed. "What''s that supposed to mean? That was my life before I became an idol! One of the toughest times, too. However, it''s still my dream to be able to finish my studies. What about you?"


    "What?" Ren asked. "I''m in a recording studio. You guys know how long I have wanted to be a producer. However, the road there was tough. I''m fortunate enough to be handsome, so I became an idol instead," he winked.


    Jisung shook his head in amusement. "I get what you mean," he said. "I also aspired to be a ballet dancer since I was young, but that didn''t work out. I''m happy to be able to do something simr to it and more."


    "Yeah," Akira chimed. "Both jobs are very strict and have inhumane diets!"


    "Come on now," Jaeyong said. "We''re trying to change that. Anyway, I can''t believe our teasers are connected-idols."


    "That''s because that''s always been our dream," Akira said. "Besides, it''s our actual past as RAVEN members. It wasn''t an easy time, but we continued to push through. Look where we


    are right now!"


    Jaeyong nodded before turning to June. "I know you said we should be what we were during the lowest points of our lives," he started off. "So, why are you a gangster?"


    A small smirk made its way to June''s lips. "What do you guys think?" he asked.


    The boys turned silent for a moment before Zeth said something with narrowed eyes.


    "Were you...a past gangster?" he asked.


    Once again, they turned silent, feeling that the possibility wasn''t zero. However, Jisung broke the silence by letting out a lighthearted chuckle.


    "There''s no way!" he eximed. "June is harmless. He''s not capable of those things despite


    his tough exterior."


    June shook his head as the others agreed. In the process, he made eye contact with Casper, who seemed to be conflicted.


    "What about you?" he asked. "Did you live on a farm when you were younger?"


    Casper pursed his lips before responding. "I thought we were just doing random jobs."

 Chapter 973: Debut Countdown Live (1)

    Chapter 973: Debut Countdown Live (1)


    ?


    "It''s my first time working with them. I can''t believe we get to see them all in one small room."


    "You better get used to it now. They''re officially under Phoenix Entertainment."


    "I swear, they look like wax figures."


    The boys had gathered for their debut livestream. It was only them in a room in Phoenix, along with some other staff that had been newly assigned to their team.


    However, some staff members from other teams also tried to discretely enter the room to get a glimpse of DAWN. Despite being under Phoenix Entertainment, most of them hadn''t had the chance to see DAWN in real life due to the idols'' busy schedules. So, seeing them for the first time felt like an out-of-body experience.


    "Stop eating," Jaeyong sighed. "We''re about to start in a couple of minutes."


    Akira pursed his lips and ced down the te of chocte-vored strawberries and mallows before taking a seat next to his members.


    Ren clicked his tongue and grabbed a napkin before wiping Akira''s face. "Goodness," he said. "It''s our debut, and you look like a mess."


    Akira smiled sheepishly while the staff members arranged everything for their lives.


    "Two minutes!" one of the producers eximed.


    The boys nced at each other before nodding.


    "Alright," Jaeyong said. "It''s time. Act professionally, okay, boys? Let''s show them that we''re a mature, new group."


    They nodded in agreement.


    "Starting in five...four...three...two.."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Crap!" Casper eximed as the soda can he opened slightly burst, causing some of the boys to get sshed on by the refreshing drink.


    "Casper!" they eximed in unison.


    Jaeyong turned to the producer, but it was already toote. The prompter showed the words -''we''re live,'' causing Jaeyong to shake his head.


    Well, what more did he expect from these hooligans?


    "Hi guys," he started off, already sounding tired.


    "What''s up, everyone!" Jisung sweetly eximed, trying to do some damage control.


    - It hasn''t even been one minute into the life, and it''s already so chaotic.


    - I think you should have changed your name to CATASTROPHE instead. Then, the shortcut of it would be CAT.


    - That actually doesn''t sound too bad.


    - How are you, guys?


    - Jisung looks so sweet while Jaeyong looks very stressed!


    "Let''s introduce the group first," Jaeyong said, trying to liven things up.


    "The light of a new beginning!" he started off.


    "DAWN hase! Hello, we are DAWN!" they said in unison.


    "Ah, it''s nice to finally see you guys now that we''re DAWN!" Akira eximed. "How are you guys today?"


    "I think they''re doing great," Zeth chuckled as he looked through thements, most them containing overenthusiastic profanities.


    "Do you guys notice our outfits today?" Sehun asked, looking at his team.


    -You''re all dressed as the jobs in your respective teasers!


    - Casper looks like a proper farmer.


    -You all look yummy.


    -Your concept still confuses me. The video teasers didn''t help one bit. However, thest teaser sounded really nice!


    - Yeah, I was a bit skeptical about the concept and how it would sound, but I found myself gravitating to thest teaser to listen to the small snippet over and over again.


    - I''m a casual listener here. I''m yet to be impressed. Let''s seeter when they drop the music video. "Moving on," Ren continued, trying to help Jaeyong host the show. "Our music video will be released in approximately one hour! That''s noon-time in our timezone."


    "We''re going to wait for that moment with you, guys," Sehun added. "So, while we''re waiting for it to drop. We''re going to answer some of your questions and y some fun


    games!"


    The prompter directed them on what to do next.


    Casper nudged June''s shoulder since it was his turn. June sat straight and looked at the prompter.


    "Here''s what you''re going to do next," June said, squinting his eyes. "Pick a question in the fishbowl and answer it professionally. No unnecessary spoilers, please."


    The boys looked at June with wide eyes before bursting intoughter.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong sighed and shook his head. "Goodness," he muttered. "This is going to be a long hour, is it?"


    - I can''t. June even read the freaking instructions.


    - Please let him have some media training.


    - No, please. He''s like a breath of fresh air in the idol industry! He''s one of the biggest idols to date, yet he''s still down-to-earth.


    "Anyway," Jisung chuckled. "That''s what we''re going to do. Why don''t June pick the first question?"


    The other members nodded in agreement. June pursed his lips and reached inside the ball,


    picking up a piece of paper.


    He quickly opened it and read it out loud.


    "What''s the significance behind your individual teasers-especially the first ones? Why do all


    of you have different jobs?"


    -Ah, this is the question I wanted them to answer!


    -Let us know, please. I''m dying of curiosity.


    "June picked the perfect question," Akira chuckled. "He''s actually the one who pushed for


    this concept."


    "As expected from our concept king," Casper proudly said while sitting straight up.


    June chuckled and shook his head. "Well, as you all know already, Jisung produced the song while I wrote the lyrics. We also created our own choreography."


    "Now, you may not know this-but this song wasn''t supposed to be on this album. We had a problem with our pastpany, and that is when this song emerged. In the end, we decided to go through this one because it''s what spoke to us the most at that time."


    "You didn''t answer the question," Akira deadpanned.


    June smirked. "Well, you just have to watch the music video to find out," he teased.


    - Ah, but it''s still too long!


    - Since when did June learn to push and pull like this?


    -My baby kitten has changed. He doesn''t spoil us anymore.


    - Please, just a tiny hint!


    Just then, Casper spoke without permission, causing the others to turn to him with wide eyes.


    "It''s what we were during the lowest points of our lives!" "Except for me," he chuckled. "I just think farmers are cool."

 Chapter 974: Debut Countdown Live (2)

    Chapter 974: Debut Countdown Live (2)


    ?


    - They look like they''re going to murder Casper.


    - To be fair, Casper is the reason why we know so many things now.


    - Our spoiler King!


    Jaeyong shook his head and decided to continue. "Alright," he muttered. "Let''s answer some more questions before listening to the snippets of the album, shall we?"


    "Yeah, let''s do that," Sehun enthusiastically chimed.


    "I''ll read the next one," Zeth said, reaching into the fishbowl.


    "Do you guys have any ns to do a concert? If so, please conduct it in a big venue."


    The boys knowingly looked at each other, not really saying anything. However, that was enough for their fans to guess that something was being nned.


    - Omo! Are they really going on tour?


    - I really think they are.


    - Phoenix has been treating them really well, so I won''t be surprised if they announce it soon.


    - To be frank, the K-Pop industry has been pretty fun these days. Thepanies seem to be advocating for their artists more. I wonder what changed?


    - It''s EVE''s influence, me thinks.


    - It''s DAWN!


    "Here''s one thing I will tell you," Zeth smirked. "Good thingse for those who wait."


    And with that, they moved on to another question.


    "June, when is your movie going toe out?" Jaeyong read a question.


    June ced his hand under his chin. "Hmm, I''m not sure about the exact date. However, they did say that it was going toe outte this year or early next year. I''m guessing thetter because I was involved in some allegations, and they had to backtrack a bit."


    -Man, they''re being so brutally honest.


    -Who the heck would bring up their past scandal just like that?


    - Well, it isn''t really a scandal. He was just used by Lei, and he had to live with it despite being innocent.


    - Yeah! Idols should be more honest, I think. The fact that we view them as perfect beings is the reason why the industry is so cutthroat. I believe DAWN is trying to change that. They''re rtable.


    - I can''t find them rtable with their damn faces! How do they look so good every time?


    "Okay, let''s go for thest question before heading over to the ''special'' questions," Jaeyong said, handing Sehun the bowl.


    Sehun picked a question and read it out loud.


    "Any tips on dieting? I want to look like a K-Pop idol," he started off.


    The boys looked at each other, looking a bit confused.


    "Why did this question even make it in?" Zeth muttered.


    "Wow,ing from a narcissist like yourself?" Ren teased.


    Zeth clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I''m not a narcissist," he rified. "I just love myself very much-there''s a difference."


    "Sure, sure," the other boys teased.


    Zeth sighed. "Anyway. Honestly, I''m not a professional in that aspect. However, if you want to start dieting¡ªthen you have to do it for you-not for anybody else!"


    "Yeah," Jisung smiled. "Surround yourself with people who will support you, not push you to the ground or tolerate you for your bad habits," he added.


    June, feeling passionate about the topic because of what he had seen in the industry, chimed in. He hadn''t spoken in a while because his members were the greatest yappers of their generation. But with this one, he wanted to get a message across.


    "Honestly, I think it''s really important to focus on what makes you feel your best," he started off.


    "You have to ask yourself what does health mean to you? Is it feeling physically strong, or is it more about your emotional, mental, or even spiritual well-being? Everyone has a different answer, and that''s okay."


    The other members knowingly turned to each other, knowing June was going to bust out one of his great speeches once again.


    The new staff members nced at each other with slightly wide eyes. They weren''t too familiar with DAWN''s game, so hearing June speak so eloquently did something to their hearts.


    "How could he speak so well?"


    "Sometimes we feel like we need to eat less or exercise more to meet certain expectations, and while that might work for some people, it''s not always the healthiest choice for


    everyone," he continued.


    "I''ve learned that we mightpromise one aspect of our health to feel good in another way -like being happy emotionally but not necessarily feeling strong physically. It''s hard to bnce all of it, but that''s what you need-bnce."


    "At the end of the day, it''s about building a healthy rtionship with yourself. I want to tell this to other idols, too."


    "We all have different bodies, but what''s most important is finding a routine that supports both your happiness and your health. You do you, and remember-your well-being, in every sense,es first."


    With that, he ended his speech, and his members jokingly gave him a standing ovation. "Bravo! That''s our center, everyone!" Akira said, even going as far as bowing on the floor.


    Jisung gave him a thumbs-up as they sat once again.


    - Aww, that''s what I really needed to hear. Thank you so much, June!


    - I''ve been struggling with weight since I was a kid. June was able to capture its essence very nicely. I will look at myself more nicely now, too.


    "Well, there''s only half an hour left for this live, so we''re going to head to the next corner," Jaeyong chimed. "We''re going to continue answering questions, but this time, it''s going to be the questions that we, ourselves, had written."


    - Oooh! This is going to be interesting.


    - I hope the questions are all unhinged.


    - Knowing their personalities, I just know I wouldn''t be disappointed.


    "The questions are anonymous to add to the fun," Sehun said. "I''ll pick the first one!"


    He opened the first piece of paper and slowly read the contents inside.


    "What do you think of JunePer? It''s the superior ship in DAWN, right?"


    The boys stayed silent before staring straight at Casper.


    "Oh, I thought the questions were going to be anonymous?" he nervously chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "It is," Akira deadpanned. "We just know that it''s you."

 Chapter 975: Listening Party

    Chapter 975: Listening Party


    ?


    "Well, that corner was useless," Akira said. "It was obvious who asked what question."


    Jaeyong sighed and shook his head. "Even then, you guys enthusiastically answered each one. That''s why we''re behind schedule now."


    "Ah!" Jisung eximed. "There''s only fifteen minutes left and we still need to let them listen to the songs on the album!"


    With that, June pped loudly, startling the members.


    "Alright, everyone. It''s time to talk about the songs on our uing album," he announced, knowing he had to stop their conversation right then and there; otherwise, it would go on forever.


    And June wasn''t joking.


    Akira grinned mischievously and leaned closer to the camera.


    "So, this album-eleven songs, from Eve to Dawn. Get it? It''s a metaphor for everything we''ve gone through. Not just the name change but... from darkness to light. From night to day. You get it?"


    He punctuated the exnation with finger guns, leaving everyone in the room chuckling. Ren cleared his throat, stepping into his role as the ''serious one'' for the moment.


    "Let''s start with the first song Cosmos." His eyes glimmered with a little nostalgia. "This one... well, it was supposed to be our title track originally."


    "What happened?" Casper interrupted with faux shock, hand dramatically pressed to his heart. "How could it not be the title track?"


    "I know, right?" Ren smirked, ying along. "But you''ll see why it didn''t make it. Anyway, Cosmos is all about, well, the vastness of everything. It''s got this dreamy, atmospheric feel like you''re floating in space. The harmonies are really delicate, almost like stardust scattering, with the vocals being the stars. There''s this very nice swell in the middle, where everything builds up like you''re soaring toward a supernova, and then it just-bam-drops back into that ethereal calm. It''s magical."


    "Stardust," Akira muttered under his breath. "Deep stuff."


    "You''re gassing yourself up," Zeth said, shaking his head.


    Ren rolled his eyes but continued. "The lyrics are about looking up at the sky, realizing how small we are, but at the same time, how we''re all connected. You know, that whole ''we''re part of something bigger'' vibe."


    "Man, I love that song," Casper sighed dramatically, sinking deeper into the couch. "But speaking of songs I love..." He sat up, his eyes lighting up mischievously. "Let''s talk about my personal favorite-Purr."


    Everyone groaned as soon as he said it while Casper leaned into the joke, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Now, Purr-this is yful, cheeky, and has this sultry beat that makes you feel like you''re stalking through the night. The bass is low and kinda prowls around the melody, and when you listen to it, it feels like the song is just waiting to pounce on you. The vocals are soft, almost teasing, like we''re whispering secrets through the speakers."


    "Alright, that''s enough," Sehun chuckled. "We don''t want Casper getting too deep into cats."


    Casper shot him a look, refusing to be derailed. "It''s got this cool mix of purring sound effects ¡ªhence the title. And the lyrics? Let''s just say the metaphors are...sexy."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "I bet our fans are gonna go nuts for that one," Akira added,ughing.


    "Don''t fuel his love for this song," Jaeyong scolded.


    Akira shook his head. "Nah! Anyway..."


    "Next up¨DMy Bad," he continued, taking over the conversation again, nodding toward the others.


    "Now, this one''s a bit of a rollercoaster. It''s got that upbeat, summery energy like we''re cruising down the highway with the windows down and nothing but good vibes. The beat is catchy, and you can''t help but nod along when it hits. We sing about messing up but owning it. There''s no angst or drama-just like, ''Yeah, I did that, my bad, but whatever, I''m still awesome.""


    "The energy is high," Jisung added, punching the air. "You''ll want to dance. Trust me."


    They continued to give descriptions of their songs, all while letting their fans listen to little snippets.


    - They all sound so good!


    - I love Purr so much.


    - Cosmos is where it''s at!


    - Nah, man. My Bad sounds really good. I can''t believe these guys produced most of these songs.


    - ce your bets on what''s going to be the B-side track!


    Casper jumped in again. "Alright, but let''s not forget our more... unhinged side. Song number nine-Unhinged."


    "That song is straight-up chaotic," Zeth cackled, already picturing the choreography. "It''s wild, all over the ce, and we''re just letting loose. There''s this frantic energy, the beat is fast and sharp, and the vocals? We go hard. It''s not pretty. It''s raw, aggressive, and crazy in the best way possible."


    "It''s the kind of song you listen to when you just want to break stuff," Akira added with a grin. "Not that we''re promoting violence..."


    Ren tried to keep the exnation a little moreposed, but he couldn''t even resist. "It''s a lot about feeling like you''re on the edge, but instead of pulling back, you just let go. The song itself kind of loses it."


    "Scary awesome," Jisung corrected. "We went full tilt on this one."


    Akira pped his hands together to wrap things up. "So, now you know most of the songs, but


    of course, we saved the best forst. Our title track-To My New Beginning."


    At that, thement section became even crazier.


    - I still don''t know what it''s all about!


    - This is what I''ve been meaning to listen to!


    - All the songs are so good. I wonder how good the title track is.


    "This one... it''s special," June began softly. "The whole album, like we said, is about going from night to day, from darkness to light. And To My New Beginning is the perfect summary of that journey. It''s about saying goodbye to what we were but also embracing what''s next."


    Akira nodded. "The lyrics are personal, too. Although June mostlyposed it, we each had a hand in writing them."


    "Anyway, let''s not go on for too long! Let''s y the song for everyone to hear."


    - Oh, thank goodness!


    - They only spoke about the lyrics. They didn''t say anything about the genre!


    - Can''t wait!


    However, before the song could even y, the following words were shown on screen


    - ''Livestream over. Please watch the music video!''

 Chapter 976: Three Million Preorders

    Chapter 976: Three Million Preorders


    ?


    The anticipation surrounding DAWN''s new album had taken the country, or even the whole world, by storm.


    After the teaser dropped, fans couldn''t wait to see what this rebranded version of EVE had to offer. The chatter online had been non-stop, hashtags trending, theories flying about what the concept would be.


    Everyone, it seemed, was getting ready for it to drop.


    The album itself even garnered three million pre-orders, breaking their previous record.


    Jia and her friends had gone all out. They didn''t want to just watch the video on their phones -they had rented an entireputer shop. Rows of screens lined up, each one prepared to stream the music video the moment it went live. Jia clutched her drink with shaky hands, ncing at Bora, who had a proud smirk on her lips.


    "I can''t believe we managed to book this whole ce!" Jia said.


    Bora grinned and opened up a can of soda. "I told you! Our family has various careers. My uncle owns this ce and also manages the pork belly shop downstairs. Meanwhile, my aunt has an underwearundry shop next door."


    "Underwearundry shop?" Jia asked with furrowed eyebrows.


    "Yeah," Bora said like it was a normal urrence. "Aundry shop just for underwear."


    "No wonder," Jia said, finding it was fitting for Bora to have such a weird family.


    Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Mimi and Nico were lounging in their shared apartment. The TV was on, streaming the countdown.


    Mimi was practically vibrating with excitement, sitting cross-legged on the couch and wearing one of June''s old hoodies she''d snagged from an online auction. She didn''t know if it was authentic, but it was the thought that counted for her.


    "This is it!" she squealed, pping her hands together. "I''ve been waiting for this all week! No-all month!"


    Nico, sitting next to her, couldn''t help but roll his eyes. "I don''t get what the big deal is," he muttered, though a small part of him was curious. But that curiosity was overshadowed by the feeling of jealousy.


    Mimi had been talking non-stop about DAWN, about June specifically, and while Nico didn''t want to admit it, he also really wanted to watch their music video. Of course, he wasn''t going to admit that.


    Mimi nced at Nico, noticing his brooding face, and smirked. "You''re just mad because you know they''re better than BOYMYSTIC."


    "Pfft. As if," Nico grumbled, crossing his arms. "They''re okay, I guess."


    "Okay? They''re the most sessful group toe out of Rising Stars! Admit it! We wouldn''t be able to do what EVE-I mean, DAWN-had done."


    Elsewhere, Choi Pablo was living it up. He and his photographer friends were gathered in a luxury apartment with a panoramic view of the city behind them.


    "So, you guys are really in for a treat," Pablo bragged, leaning back against the plush cushions, swirling a drink in his hand. "I personally know DAWN. We go way back. Worked with them on a few shoots, you know?"


    His friends, mostly unimpressed, raised skeptical eyebrows. "Yeah, yeah. We''ll see how good it is," one of them said, clicking around on hisptop.


    Pablo just smirked, knowing he''d get thest word after they saw the video.


    In a quieter part of the city, the dancers from Gun''s dance studio had taken a break from their usual intense practice session. Sweat still glistened on their skin, but no one wanted to miss the video drop. Gun himself had gathered his crew around a massive screen, grinning as they all settled in.


    "This is gonna be epic," Gun said, popping a piece of gum into his mouth. "You know DAWN''s choreo is always tight. Watch closely-we''ll have to learn this one by tomorrow."


    There were groans of agreement, but everyone secretly couldn''t wait.


    One of the dancers raised her hand. "But didn''t you hate them, teacher?" she asked.


    The old students turned to the girl and shook their heads. "She must be new here," they muttered.


    Gun ced his hand over his heart and looked outside the window. "I freaking love those guys. If I could give them the world, I would," he said with resolution.


    The room fell silent as the screen flickered with the final countdown seconds.


    In the richest part of town, Minmin and Lena were sharing a rare moment of peace, sitting by the window with cups of hot chocte warming their hands.


    "I can''t believe we''re actually going to watch this live," Minmin said, blowing on his drink. "It''s like we''re witnessing history."


    Lena nodded, though her thoughts seemed distant. Her phone buzzed, the notification for the music video''s release making her heart skip a beat.


    "I thought you hated June, Mom," Minmin continued. "Or is it the opposite? Do you like


    him?"


    Lena blinked, nearly spilling her hot chocte. "What? Where did thate from?"


    Minmin smirked knowingly. "Oh,e on. You can''t hide it now. I bet if we looked at your search history-"


    Lena''s face flushed red as she quickly shook her head. "It''s not like that."


    "Really?" Minmin leaned in, teasing. "So, you wouldn''t want him to be my dad?"


    "No!" she eximed, her cheeks growing even redder. However, a tiny part of her mind agreed with her son.


    "Let''s just watch it," she muttered, not wanting to discuss it further.


    All at once, the notifications began lighting up across the city. The music video had dropped. Phones,ptops, and TVs flickered on in apartments, caf¨¦s, and studios.


    The screen was dark at first.


    No music. Just silence.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Slowly, a night sky came into view, stars twinkling faintly in the distance. The video yed


    like a mini-film, not a typical music video. There was no shy choreography or immediate explosion of sound. Instead, it opened with eight boys-each one walking alone under the


    night sky.


    Eight different boys. Eight different lives.


    The camera lingered on each of them, their expressions thoughtful, as if they were all on separate journeys. No words were spoken, but the mood was heavy.


    Each of the boys continued walking through different locations-a quiet street, a train


    station, and an empty bridge.


    Still, there was no music.


    Just the soft hum of the night.


    The anticipation grew as the boys'' footsteps echoed. There was a moment when everything seemed to slow down. The night stretched endlessly around them, and for a brief second, the silence felt overwhelming, like the calm before the storm.


    Then the screen went ck.

 Chapter 977: To My New Beginning (1)

    Chapter 977: To My New Beginning (1)


    ?


    The moment the screen lit up, the music began.


    A soft piano melody filled the air-not quite sad, but instead carrying a sense of hope-as if something brighter was just out of reach, waiting to be discovered.


    There was a subtle struggle in the notes, a reminder that hope doesn''te easily and that it''s earned through hardship. It felt like the kind of song you''d listen to on ate night, reflecting on life, yet somehow, it was also the perfect anthem for the youth.


    Eight boys were shown again, walking through their own separate paths in life. June was the first to be spotlighted, his face illuminated softly by a streetmp. There were scars on his face, making him look scary yet pitiful. As he walked, he began to sing.


    "The sun rises, but it doesn''t feel like it''s for me.


    The light slips past, and I wonder if I''m just not meant to follow."


    The warmth in his tone was undeniable, instantly captivating. It was the kind of voice that wrapped around you, inviting you to listen, to feel.


    His voice carried that same hope the piano had hinted at-hope born from struggle. The lyrics spoke of journeys not yet finished. That maybe, it wasn''t about sadness but about the journey through it.


    "Everything I want feels out of reach, like chasing shadows,


    And every day feels long as if time stretches on when I suffer,


    But short, so short, when a little happiness finds me.


    It''s strange-how the days can feel endless yet disappear in a blink."


    The other members began to appear one by one as June''s voice carried the melody. They were all living their own lives, shown in quick but meaningful glimpses-Ren at a recording studio, Akira and Jaeyong in the practice room, Jisung in a recital, Zeth in school, Sehun in a busy convenience store, and Casper in a deste farm.


    Each of them moved through these spaces alone, yet there was something connecting them all, even if they couldn''t see it yet.


    Akira sang in a soft voice.


    "I wonder if I could stop time, would I?


    Could I do it all again?"


    As the chorus approached, they began to dance. But it wasn''t together. Each boy danced in his own world, separate from the others.


    "I won''t.


    I won''t do it all again.


    What meaning would it have if it did?


    Will I meet the same people?


    Will I get to live the same life?


    So, I''d rather be stuck in what I have


    Than live in the uncertainty of not having this life.


    It''s tough, it truly is.


    But it''s mine."


    The second verse arrived, and with it, percussion was added.


    Again, they walked. This time, all eight boys were walking toward something unknown. The camera followed each of them, showing their faces filled with determination and their heavier steps despite not knowing where they were heading.


    As they continued walking, the setting around them began to change.


    "There are moments I wish I could rewind,


    To take back the hard days, the ones that hurt.


    But then I think, would it be the same?"


    They entered a tunnel. It was dark-impossibly dark-so much so that it swallowed them whole. The only sound was the echo of their footsteps against the hard ground and and the song in the background. But still, they kept walking.


    "Would I still meet you, stillugh at the same jokes,


    Would the memories I cherish happen again,


    Or would they vanish, like they never existed in the first ce?


    If I started over, would it be better-or worse?"


    The song grew louder again, that hopeful melody returning. The darkness wasn''t going tost forever. And just as that thought settled in, a faint light appeared at the far end of the tunnel.


    It was small, barely more than a pinprick, but it was there. The boys saw it, too, each of them looking up, their eyes catching the glow. And they continued forward. The light grewrger, brighter until it wasn''t just a distant hope anymore-it was something real and within reach. "Time moves fast and slow, pulling me in all directions,


    But there''s something about this life, even in the hard parts,


    That makes me want to stay."


    As they emerged from the tunnel, the music swelled. They found themselves on a stage, not grand or borate, but simple. There were no bright lights, no screaming fans. Just them and the open air. And then, the chorus came again.


    "I won''t.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I won''t do it all again.


    Because what meaning would it have if it does?


    Will I meet the same people?


    Will I get to live the same life?


    So, I''d rather be stuck in what I have


    Than live in the uncertainty of not having this life.


    It''s tough, it truly is.


    But it''s mine."


    This time, they were together. All eight of them. The choreography was no longer just individual movements. They had finallye together after walking separate paths. The song soared with this chorus, the harmonies fuller now, their voices blending perfectly.


    The bridge followed, quieting the music just a little, adding a reflective tone. The boys stood on the stage, and the camera zoomed in on each of them in turn. Their faces softened, small, almost imperceptible smiles ying at the edges of their lips.


    One by one, they nced behind them, looking back on their past selves. In a sh, their past lives pulsed on the screen. For a brief second, it was as if the boys were seeing themselves as they had been before. But just as quickly as those moments appeared, they vanished, like a memory being tucked away.


    The camera zoomed out, capturing all eight of them together once more. The music slowed, the beat fading away, leaving only the soft piano that had started the song. The boys stood on the stage, their faces lifted toward the light, their expressions now calm.


    Then, just like before, the screen cut-but it led them to a peaceful field this time around.


    Then, their voices were heard.

 Chapter 978: To My New Beginning (2)

    Chapter 978: To My New Beginning (2)


    ?


    It was kind of ironic.


    June was singing about not wanting to have another life; but if he thought about it-this was his second chance.


    His second life, at that.


    However, as much as his first life had molded him into the person he was now, he wasn''t afraid of letting it go.


    When he wrote the lyrics, he only thought about this particr life.


    This life where he met a new family, a new set of friends, and his sister-who is able to live out her dreams.


    This was the life he didn''t want to let go of-no matter how tough it may be.


    The sound of wind against the tall grass brought peace to the viewers, making them close their eyes for a brief silence. Then, the members'' voices echoed softly in the silence.


    They weren''t singing. Instead, they were speaking, each voice distinct.


    - The waterworks are here.


    - What the heck? This is unlike what I''ve expected. However, I''m notining. They really are one of the best artists of this generation. They created their story into this masterpiece.


    - No other artists are touching them when ites to concepts. I can already picture this song in the radio and variousptions. Mark my words. This is going to be revolutionary.


    - This really feels more like a short film than a music video. Please nominate this for the best music video!


    June''s voice came first, steady but filled with an unmistakable warmth. "We''ve walked through the dark, but we never walked alone."


    Ren followed, his tone gentler and more reflective. "We''re still the same... but somehow, everything''s different now." You could almost hear the smile in his voice and the way his heart seemed to soften as he spoke.


    Next came Akira, his voice a little more yful but no less sincere. "We were lost... but maybe we needed to be, to find each other." There was a lightness in his words, but underneath, there was a real acknowledgment of the struggles they had faced together.


    Casper''s voice came through next, deeper and more grounded. "If we could do it all again, I wouldn''t change a thing." It was simple but full of conviction, showing his loyalty to the journey they had taken.


    Jisung was quiet, but his words were no less impactful. "I never knew how strong we were... until we had to be." It sounded like he was still processing everything but grateful for the strength they had found in one another.


    Then, it was Jaeyong''s turn. "It wasn''t the light at the end of the tunnel... it was us." His voice sounded choked up like he was holding back his tears. As expected from their very emotional leader.


    Sehun''s voice came through next, softer. "We didn''t just survive... we lived."


    Finally, Zeth''s voice echoedst, filled with a sense of finality. "This is only the beginning."


    And with that, there was a sense that the journey wasn''t over and that this was just a new chapter in their story.


    As their words faded into the background, real footage began to flicker across the screen- clips from the very start of their journey. They were younger then, with faces full of hope and uncertainty. There were shots of them in the practice room, sweating andughing, failing and trying again. Small moments of joy, of doubt, of brotherhood. It was raw and real, a reminder of how far they hade.


    The music swelled once more, the piano returning with its hopeful notes, but this time, it was apanied by a soft hum. They sang together in harmony, the high and low tones mixing together to create an even more emotional tone.


    "I won''t stop time.


    I won''t rewind my life, tempting as it sometimes feels.


    Because this life, with all its struggles and its moments of light,


    Is what brought me here, to my new beginning.


    The people, the memories, the joy and pain-it''s all real.


    And I''d rather hold onto that,


    Than risk a life where none of it exists."


    The bridge''s words were more impactful than ever. It seemed as if they weren''t just singing the words-but saying it to each other and to their precious fans. Even though the song hadn''t ended yet, it already felt like the perfect anthem for the beautiful and not-so-beautiful times they had spent together.


    Thest chorus began, their voices blending in perfect harmony. They were on stage once again. It was different from the first stage they took. It was much bigger now, and the lights shone brighter, illuminating each of them in a golden glow. Along with that, there were people surrounding them-an audience that loved them for who they were.


    "I won''t.


    I won''t do it all again.


    Because what meaning would it have if it does?


    Will I meet the same people?


    Will I get to live the same life?


    So, I''d rather be stuck in what I have


    Than live in the uncertainty of not having this life.


    It''s tough, it truly is.


    But it''s ours."


    The piano continued as the boys nced at each other, walking closer and wrapping one arm around those next to them. Then, they raised their hands high in the air before taking a bow.


    Along with the sound of the piano was the sound of apuse.


    Then, the scene began to fade out.


    However, instead of the darkness from the start-the night that represented EVE-it was now the DAWN, the light from a rising sun.


    Their silhouettes were the ones that merely showed as the song began to reach its end.


    The camera zoomed out, showing them standing side by side, their heads held high, as if they were looking at a future they had once only dreamed of.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The sun continued to rise behind them. Where there had once been shadows and doubt, there was now only warmth and possibility.


    And with the final note, the music faded, leaving only the sound of the wind and the glow of


    the sunset.


    This was their DAWN.


    Their new beginning.

 Chapter 979: Dear June

    Chapter 979: Dear June


    ?


    - DAWN bes the number one most streamed boy group in the first 24 hours on Durian of all time -beating a 12-year record!


    - Holy crap! DAWN just debuted at number one on the international album charts!


    - Their album has sold all pre-orders in less than 12 hours, and there are still a lot of fans who haven''t purchased theirs.


    - Phoenix''s stocks are at an all-time high. I''m so d I brought some when they were cheap and had issues with their past CEO.


    - This is insane, guys. The music video even has 13 million views at the moment and counting!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - The boys have broken all their records, but they''re nowhere to be found.


    - I think they were all tired from the showcase.


    - Yeah, the album was a masterpiece, and that''s why all songs are charting right now.


    - DAWN, wake up! You''re famous.


    - It''s going to be so hard gatekeeping them now.


    Their fans were right. DAWN was fast asleep when all of these achievements were being made. After their music video aired yesterday, they had no time to check the reactions because they headed straight to their debut showcase.


    There, they shared their performances with their fans. And since the two-hour event extended to three hours because of their endless yapping, the event endedter than usual.


    After having dinner, the boys decided to sleep over in June''s huge condo and drink until dawn for their new beginning.


    In the end, all of them had been hammered and had only woken up in the middle of the day. June was the first to wake up, as always, and he checked his phone. His head wasn''t hurting (surprisingly), but the bright light of his screen still made him squint.


    He usually received a lot of notifications. However, that day, it was more drastic than usual. He frowned and sat from the bed.


    However, that seemed to be a difficult task when Casper was practically strangling him with his arm. June clicked his tongue and pushed the tall boy off the bed, not really minding that there was a loud sound as his body hit the floor.


    On his foot was Akira, who was hugging his leg like it brought himfort. Once again, June had no problem kicking him away, causing thetter to groan in pain.


    June then rubbed his eyes awake and looked through his notifications.


    Choi Pablo: June! You bastard. How can you be so good-looking? Now, all of my friends want your contact information. I won''t tell them, though. BTW, congrats on the sessful debut! You just got 10x richer.


    Hana: Your album is so good. I''ve been ying it non-stop for the past hour. The title track choice was genius. I can''t wait to see you at the movie premier since I need to know more about the concept you guys used. I''ll see you there!


    Jangmoon: Please, please, please let me feature on your new album! Or better yet-your solo stuff. I''ll be good to you, I swear!


    Jenny: Yo, cousin! Your song is doing so well, and sir Pablo said you''d be richer by now. Send me 4,000 dors.


    Gun: My students are learning the choreography of your song at the moment. You made it so far, June. I''m really proud of you!


    Uno: You beat us this time. The song is really good. OCTA will be sure toe up with something better next time.


    June let out a chuckle at Uno''s attempt to threaten him.


    Ang Zhang: Your song is ying everywhere in China. I''m d that everything worked well with your group. Because of you, I want to be more vocal about the issues surrounding Lei and be an advocate for women''s rights. I''ll be sure to update you when that happens. Congrats again!


    June''s smile widened with every message he read. He didn''t think much about the people he met along the way on this journey, but now that he had reached the flower path, it felt like all of them came into his life for a reason.


    Lena: Thanks for the stock raise. Now, Minjun wants to buy some stocks from Phoenix now. I won''t let him.


    Baldie: Listening to the song made me cry. I can''t believe you made it this far. From cleaning toilets together, and now you''re topping the charts. Thank you for being here for me during your past and present life. Oh, and another thing! I''m going to be meeting my son next week! His grandparents finally permitted me to visit. I''ll make sure to send you photos.


    June scoffed and shook his head with a smile. "I was the only one who cleaned the toilets," he muttered.


    Haruto: THE SONG IS FREAKING FIRE! IS THAT THE SONG YOU WROTE IN MY PENTHOUSE? Anyway, Lei''s being beaten in jail, I heard. So, that''s another piece of good news. Oh, and Haruki wanted to say the song is good. He''s just too much of a tsundere to text you personally.


    Jia: Is this still your number? If it is, then I just want to tell you how proud I am of you. I had been there since the very beginning since you wore a mask and now that you''ve made it to number one. I believe this is just the start and that you and DAWN still have a long way to go. However, I want to say that I would be there to witness it all-just like I did during the beginning. Congrattions, June!


    June ced his hand over his heart, feeling warmth blooming inside it. During the start, feeling warm and giddy was something he wasn''t used to.


    He didn''t even get how people could feel such a way when there are so many bitter moments in the world. The only person worth living for back then was his sister.


    However, now, June has learned how to live for himself to appreciate life for what it is.


    "Life is good," he muttered.


    Just then, his screen lit up once more, showing Mei Ling. He clicked on the notification right away. His eyes instantly widened, not expecting the to find a voice message along with two


    words.


    "Dear, June..."

 Chapter 980: The Real Kind

    Chapter 980: The Real Kind


    ?


    By that time, Akira had risen from the floor, massaging the back of his neck as he staggered toward the bed.


    "Why the heck am I on the floor?" he eximed, groaning once more as he cracked his joints. "My body hurts."


    June ignored Akira and just looked at Mei''s message. Then, he stood from the bed to look for his earphones.


    Meanwhile, Akira looked at him weirdly. "What are you doing?" he asked. June didn''t respond to him, so he shrugged and scrolled through his phone.


    The moment he opened his Navel ount, his eyes widened, and he stood from the bed, feeling excited.


    "Omo!" he eximed, walking to where Casper was to shake him awake.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This is big! This is huge! No, this is humongous! This is like Zeth''s ego!"


    Casper finally woke up and was instantly met with Akira''s phone screen. His eyes also widened, and he was now alert, looking at it with dted pupils.


    "We need to tell this to everyone!" Akira excitedly said.


    The two of them went out of June''s room to wake the other members up.


    Meanwhile, June had just found his earphones, causing him to sigh in relief.


    He walked over to his bed and sat, leaning against the bed frame as he plugged his earphones in.


    He let out a deep breath and mustered up enough courage to click on the voice message. He didn''t know why he found it so difficult-especially since it had been a while since the two of them had met. They didn''t even talk much these days because they were busy with their own lives.


    However, even then, June considered Mei as her real sister-even though she would never acknowledge him as a brother.


    There was a slight pause in the beginning before Mei finally spoke. June couldn''t help but chuckle because of the first two words. It was very fitting for someone like Mei.


    "Hey, loser."


    He shook his head in amusement and leaned his head against the wall, not knowing what to expect with the three-minute-long voice message she had sent.


    "You might find it weird that I''m sending a voice message. I just have a lot on my mind, and I didn''t feel like typing out a long ass paragraph, so I''m doing this instead."


    She let out a deep breath before continuing.


    "Congrats on your achievements, I guess. Don''t get used to hearing it from me. I''m not gonna make this a habit."


    June chuckled once more. It seemed like she was being held at gunpoint when she was recording the voice message. However, in her next statements, her tone shifted drastically, causing June''s eyebrows to furrow in concentration.


    "Honestly, when we first met, I really didn''t like you. I''m sure you already know that. However, I never really told you the reason."


    June listened intently.


    "You reminded me of someone from my past-not someone I hated, but someone I think I cared for too much. That scared me, okay? I didn''t like how easy it was to want to like you. It made me mad because I was convinced you were just another stuck-up idol, used to getting everything handed to you. I was wrong. You''re not like that at all."


    June was surprised by her reasoning. He would have never thought that she felt such a way.


    "I really didn''t want to send this, but Fu keeps pestering me to do so. Does he do that to you? I feel like he''s been getting sassier and sassier as days go by. Why does a system even whine to you? I thought they weren''t even meant to be sentient! Anyway, I''m getting off-topic now," she muttered, causing June to chuckle.


    She let out another deep breath.


    "You''ve done more for me than I could ever put into words. I mean, you pulled us out of that hellhole of apany, for one. And that''s just one thing on a long list of everything you''ve done. You didn''t have to do any of that, but you did. For me. For all of us. And don''t get me wrong, it doesn''t mean I''ll start treating you any differently. I''m still going to call you names and mess with you, so don''t expect anything else."


    June smirked. He felt the back of his eyes getting warm. It was a good thing Mei wasn''t talking so seriously and was still adding jabs here and there. Otherwise, June felt like he was going to bawl his eyes out.


    In the end, it was only his sister who could evoke such emotions from him. She was, in fact, the reason why he did all of this in the first ce. However, he was d that he kept with it for himself and not for anybody else.


    "Here''s the thing," she continued. "I feel different when I''m around you. Lighter, somehow. Like maybe, just maybe, you''ll always have my back. It''s not something I''m used to, you know? Feeling safe. So yeah, don''t let it get to your head, but I trust you. I do."


    "And before you get any weird ideas-no, I don''t like you like that. Gross."


    June closed his eyes and shook his head. Goodness, he couldn''t even imagine Mei feeling that way for him.


    "That''s never going to happen. Honestly, I feel really bad for your future partner. I bet they''d live in constant pressure, trying to live up to your perfection. Anyway, I''m getting off-track


    once again."


    "What I really want to say is that I''m happy," she said, the smile in her voice being heard through the speakers.


    "I''m happy that I met you, that I got to see the real you. And I hope-really hope that you''re


    happy too."


    "So, congrattions on all your achievements. You all deserve them."


    "And thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. You''re the first person I think of when I''m in trouble-and somehow, you''re always the first person toe through."


    "The one who protects me."


    "So," she said, sighing in resignation.


    "If I were to live another life, I''d want you to be my brother. The real kind."


    "And I know it might sound weird, but I mean it. I really do..."


    "...brother."

 Chapter 981: Cry Fest

    Chapter 981: Cry Fest


    ?


    That did it for June.


    He could hear his members celebrating outside his room, their footsteps growing nearer every second. However, all he could hear was the sound of Mei''s voice-calling him her brother.


    June was certain that she still didn''t know. From the way she spoke, it was obvious that her memories hadn''t recovered.


    However, June thought it was much better. June wanted Mei to live a good, new life without the memories of the past. No matter how meaningful it was, June didn''t want her to go through that pain once again.


    It also made her statement even more special. Despite not knowing that the two of them were real siblings in his past life, she still felt it.


    He shook his head and wiped the tears from his eyes.


    Just then, the door opened, revealing his members, who all had happy looks on their faces.


    At that moment, June lifted his tear-stricken face, halting their celebration.


    Then, Akira ced his hand over his heart. "Aww, June is so touched by our achievements that he''s crying!"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise as his members started tearing up.


    They misunderstood.


    Jaeyong looked up to the ceiling and fanned his eyes. "I was doing so well," he muttered. "Seeing June cry because of us is so touching."


    Yeah, they definitely misunderstood.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Ren and Zeth held onto each other and started crying. "We''vee so far!" Zeth eximed. "We''re going to be okay now."


    With that, the others followed suit, the room filled with tears, snot, and the sound of grown men crying.


    June, being the reason why this had happened in the first ce, watched the scene before him with a sigh.


    "These guys," he muttered.


    However, even though they misunderstood June''s emotion, he was still thankful.


    He was d that everything turned out well for them. He knew that in most cases, the groups lose to theirpanies-with them having to bury their dreams underground and being forgotten into oblivion.


    June had seen it plenty of times when Mei was just a K-Pop fan. Now, he had ovee such a situation. He felt that there was nothing they couldn''t conquer now.


    However, that wasn''t just his goal.


    For the people who lost their dreams before, June wanted to show that there would always be a chance. And for those who felt they were in a simr situation as EVE-there was something they could do.


    June''s train of thought broke when he felt heavy bodies stacking on top of him.


    "Guys," he groaned as the other boys smothered him in hugs and tearful words.


    He wanted to push them all to the ground, but he held himself back, a small smile appearing on his face.


    He shook his head and opened his arms, patting them on the back.


    "Congrattions, guys," he muttered.


    "We really did it."


    ***


    There was no mistaking.


    DAWN''s debut was the hottest of the year-even surpassing that of EVE. Their song, To My New Beginning, was an instant hit.


    What set it apart from anything else was the fact that it wasn''t just sessful in the domestic charts but also in the international ones.


    Overnight, the members had garnered millions of new followers, and more people from around the world were still discovering their group.


    However, June faced one problem.


    As they were practicing for their concert performances, Akira went over to June and ced a hand on his shoulder.


    "I think you need to change your Navel username," he said.


    June lifted his head with furrowed eyebrows. "Why?" he asked. "I thought of it for a really long time."


    Akira chuckled. "I''m sure," he sarcastically said. "However, it''s not working well for our brand. You have 12 million followers now, but you''d have a lot more if you had a different username!"


    "True," Zeth said, sitting on the floor and moving away from Ren when he felt some of thetter''s sweat drip on him.


    "Gross," he muttered.


    "Up until now, there are still lots of new fans asking me about your social media handle," Zeth continued.


    "But it''s so obvious," June said. "Are people just naturally dumb these days?"


    Akira sighed and shook his head. "Goodness," he muttered. "You''re not perfect after all."


    "Just change it," he said. "I get those messages, too. Look!"


    June squinted his eyes as Akira presented to him the bulk of his direct messages.


    - What''s June''s Navel ount?


    - Please tell June to make one right away!


    - I can''t look for June''s ount anywhere.


    June clicked his tongue. "Just tell them my username."


    Akira pursed his lips. "I just can''t message random fans on the inte! Besides, I''m not going to give a shout-out to your weird-ass username."


    June scratched the back of his neck. "What''s wrong with it?" he muttered.


    "First, it''s literally SkEVEdi! I''m not going to exin that to you anymore since I know you won''t understand. However, it feels more like a meme page than a personal one. Another thing is that there are too many numbers. It''s hard to remember. And the most important thing is that it contains our old team name. We''re DAWN now. So, you need to change it."


    June was slowly bing convinced.


    "Aside from that," Akira continued. "You don''t even post photos of yourself. Your profile picture is the default one. How do you expect new fans to find you?"


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Fine," he muttered. "I''ll change it."


    The other members walked over to where they were, expecting June to create another


    atrocious username.


    June frowned. "Why are all of you here?"


    "Just for guidance," Jisung smiled. "We want the best for you, bro."


    June sighed and shook his head before going to his settings to change his username. He still remembered what Minjun had taught him, so he was now able to do it on his own.


    He paused for a while, thinking of a new username.


    The other members were expecting the worst. However, as June typed out his new username,


    they were pleasantly surprised.


    DAWNinJune.

 Chapter 982: Mister Photogenic

    Chapter 982: Mister Photogenic


    ?


    "Oh, you''re right," June said after a while. "I''m getting a ton more followers."


    He showed his phone to his members, showing the amount of followers he had earned in just a few minutes.


    Akira pursed his lips. "Alright, maybe I should have let you keep that old username."


    Jisung chuckled and nudged Akira''s shoulders. "Don''t say that!" he eximed. "Now, it''s time for you to update your profile picture.."


    June pursed his lips. "Do I have to?"


    "You do!" Sehun chimed. "Come on. It won''t take too long."


    June paused, ncing at his default nk avatar. "Fine," he muttered and sat straight.


    Without hesitation, he whipped out his phone, angled it at a terrible upward position, and snapped theziest selfie possible. His hair was tousled from practice, he had a light sheen of sweat on his face, and his hoodie was bunched up awkwardly at his neck. He uploaded it in seconds, not even bothering to check the result.


    Akira, lounging on the floor next to him, bolted upright in horror. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What was that?"


    June blinked at him. "What was what?"


    "You can''t just upload a random photo like that. You''re an idol, man! You''ve got professional photos. Use one of those!" Akira jumped up, snatching June''s phone and frantically scrolling through the gallery.


    Zeth, who had been busy admiring his reflection in a nearby mirror, looked over. "Excuse me, but if anyone''s giving selfie lessons, it should be me. June, your angles were all wrong. You''ve got potential, but we need to work on your form."


    June snatched his phone back, a little bemused. "It''s just a picture, guys." Casper squinted at the screen. "Wait... is that the picture you just uploaded?"


    The boys all crowded around his phone, jaws dropping simultaneously.


    "How does he look this good?" Ren finally broke the silence, his voice t with disbelief.


    "It''s a literal disaster shot, but he looks like a model," Zeth added, sounding equal parts amazed and annoyed.


    Akira shook his head, waving a hand in the air. "Okay, no. This has to be illegal. You can''t just look that good without trying."


    Zeth stared at June as though he was trying to solve aplex equation. "It''s all in the bone structure... but still. That lighting was atrocious."


    June, who had been quietly listening, shook his head. "We still need to practice, guys. You''re all acting like I just reinvented the selfie."


    "He changed," Casper said with narrowed eyes. "He wasn''t like this before."


    The other members gathered around Casper as June went to the music yer.


    "Yeah, he can''t change from hisplex!" Akira eximed. "That''s what makes him more humane! We need to prove that he''s still the same," he said with determination.


    As soon as they resumed practice, June went into full focus mode. They were halfway through the routine when disaster struck.


    June, leading the formation, miscalcted a step, his foot slipping on a tiny puddle of water that none of them had noticed. He crashed to the floor in, sending a water bottle flying across the room. Water sshed everywhere, drenching him from head to toe.


    There was a collective gasp, followed by a chaotic scramble as the others rushed to help him up.


    "June! Are you okay?" Jisung hovered worriedly.


    June waved him off, shaking his hair out like a drenched puppy. "I''m fine. Just slipped."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Akira, always the loudest, burst intoughter, pulling out his phone to take a photo.


    "This will prove it!" he eximed, raising his phone in the air.


    The others surrounded Akira to look at the photo while June watched them with confusion. "What are you guys doing?" he asked.


    The other boys, even Jisung, were expecting something entirely different. However, the photo showed June, drenched but somehow still pulling off the wet look wlessly. His hair clung to his face in just the right way, the water catching the light from the studio, making him glow like he was on the beach.


    Ren squinted. "This is getting ridiculous. How does someone look this good after falling on their face?"


    Zeth crossed his arms, his voice incredulous. "It''s witchcraft, I tell you. Pure sorcery."


    ***


    Later that day, during their break, Akira, being the chaotic menace he was, got his hands on some eyeliner and decided to have some fun. June, who had passed out on the couch from exhaustion, became the unwitting victim.


    "Let''s give him a little something," Akira whispered, pulling out the eyeliner pencil.


    Jisung gasped. "We shouldn''t!"


    Jaeyong smirked. "Oh, we definitely should."


    Jisung turned to him with wide eyes. "Not you, too!"


    They giggled like school kids as Akira expertly drew on June''s forehead. Casper added a few finishing touches, drawing tiny stars and hearts for good measure.


    When June finally woke up and wandered over to the mirror, the whole group braced themselves for his reaction.


    Akira snapped the photo at the right moment, giggling as he went to his camera roll. Meanwhile, June blinked at his reflection, staring at the doodles on his face. "Really?" On the other hand, the group of seven boys stared at the photo with disbelieving looks.


    Zeth gave a dramatic sigh. "Of course, he looks good! Of course, it only enhances his charm. What''s next? Are we going to dump a bucket of paint on him, and he''ll look like an avant- garde masterpiece?"


    June just rolled his eyes, wiping at his forehead with a towel. "You guys have way too much free time. Let''s get to practicing again."


    ***


    To celebrate another sessful practice, Jay decided to surprise them with a cake. It was quite big, withyers uponyers of fluffy frosting.


    "Let''s dig in!" Casper cheered, diving toward the cake with no sense of decorum whatsoever.


    But, in true chaotic fashion, things quickly went downhill. Amidst them grabbing slices, Sehun identally knocked the cake forward, and before June could react, the topyer smacked right into his face.


    There was a stunned silence. The frosting was everywhere-his nose, his cheeks, even his hair. The rest of the members stood frozen for a moment, unsure whether tough or


    apologize.


    However, Akira was sure about what to do. He brought out his phone and took a picture.


    "This is it," he muttered, quickly showing the photo to the other boys.


    Once again, they were stunned to silence.


    Casper sighed and shook his head. "You''re not the same June that I know."

 Chapter 983: Schedules Over Schedules

    Chapter 983: Schedules Over Schedules


    ?


    As the boys were practicing for their concert that was set to kick off by the start of next year, Jay burst through the doors with a wide smile.


    The boys turned to each other and groaned. With that wide of a smile, they knew he was bound to announce more of their schedules.


    "Oh,e on," Jay said. "I haven''t even said anything yet!"


    "You don''t have to," Zeth said. "We already know you came here with more schedules."


    Jay sheepishly chuckled and scratched the back of his neck. "You guys know me so well."


    "We have some non-negotiable schedules. However, do tell me if it''s getting too much, alright? You know I can cancel some for you."


    "Sweet!" Akira eximed. "This is one of the perks of being friends with the CEO. We can make him do whatever we want."


    Jay pursed his lips. "Now, that''s not what I implied with that. I''m still your CEO, so you shouldn''t treat me as a casual friend when we''re inside the-"


    "Let us hear them," June said, cutting his statement short.


    Jay sighed and nodded like an obedient little puppy. "Sure thing, bro!"


    The boys turned to each other and chuckled in amusement.


    Jay cleared his throat and started with the first schedule.


    "So, you guys are scheduled to go to PAPA awards-the biggest awards show in the entirety of Asia!"


    The boys turned to each other with wide eyes.


    "PAPA awards? Isn''t that show rigged?" Akira asked.


    Jay''s eyes widened. "They''ve already been investigated, and their doing better now," he said. "Don''t ever say that anywhere else, alright?"


    Akira shrugged. "I''m just telling the truth," he muttered.


    "Is that allowed, though?" Sehun asked. "I thought only the nominees would be able to attend the show. We''re a new group, so I''m sure they weren''t able to track our records since the tracking period is already over."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "It''s the same situation with EVEst year. We weren''t able to attend the award shows because we debutedte."


    "That was the casest year," Jay answered. "However, as I said earlier, they had already been investigated, so they''re making it more into a legit awards show with more performances- even from those who aren''t really nominated."


    "Back then, all of the artists they invited were all awarded. It became an attendance award show-like many others. However, with this new image, they wanted to invite as many groups as possible! Isn''t it great? You guys are given a six-minute setlist," Jay added.


    "Six minutes, huh?" June asked. "That''s barely enough time for a performance."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I know. I know," Jay said. "But it''s better than nothing. This way, you can also get a feel for award shows. Maybe you can even find someone to date!"


    Jisung raised his hand. "I thought we were in a dating ban."


    Jay frowned. "Who said that?"


    "Thepany," Jaeyong deadpanned.


    "Ah, right!" Jay eximed. "Of course-but if you don''t get caught, then-"


    "Alright, that''s enough," Jaeyong said. "No one''s going to an award show to look for a date. I''m assuming you had already epted the offer."


    Jay nodded. "If that''s alright with you, guys."


    "It''s fine with me," Zeth said. "I have all the more reason to show off my good looks now."


    Ren rolled his eyes before chiming in with his opinion. "It''s also cool with me. It would be fun to curate a creative performance again. It reminds me of all the survival shows we''ve been on."


    "Great!" Jay eximed. "That''s settled then. Let''s move on to the next schedule."


    "Oh, this doesn''t involve the entire group-just June. You have two uing schedulesing up."


    June''s eyebrows raised in intrigue while the rest of them sighed in relief.


    "Thank goodness!" Akira eximed. "More rest for us."


    June rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "What do I have?"


    "Well, your movie premier ising up. That''s also a non-negotiable," Jay revealed.


    "Ah," June muttered. "Right, what''s the name of the movie again?"


    The boys turned to him with wide eyes. "You don''t remember? It''s very trendy right now!" Sehun said.


    June scratched the back of his head. "It''s been a while. And you know I don''t keep up with the trends."


    Jay shook his head in amusement.


    "Anyway, I''m going," June said. "I also want to look at the final oue."


    "Good," Jay said. "That would be in three days. We already have your attire ready."


    "Sweet," June said. "Now, what''s the other schedule?"


    "This one will be filmed the day after your movie premiere. Now, this one is just an offer. We haven''t epted it yet. However, we believe it would be a great loss if we reject it."


    "Just tell me," June said.


    Jay smiled and nced at the other boys, who also seemed intrigued.


    "You''ve been inviting to Crawling Man!"


    A collective gasp was heard inside the practice room. Even June was pleasantly surprised. Crawling Man was the variety show that most artists-especially new ones-wanted to go to!


    It was a show that had run for more than ten years, so they already had an established fan base. Not only that, but people like to say that you have sessfully be popr when you appear on Crawling Man!


    This was the type of opportunity that didn''te by easily.


    "You need to go, June!" Jisung eximed. "That''s my favorite show ever!"


    June raised one eyebrow. "You sure do have a lot of favorite shows."


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "I''m telling the truth! I''ve been watching the show since


    I was in elementary school."


    Zeth nodded in agreement. "It''s about time that they invite one of our members. However, it upsets me a bit that June''s the only one who has been invited."


    "Don''t feel too bad about it!" Jay said. "June is the only one who fits the show''s theme for the


    week."


    June frowned and turned to Jay, not having a good feeling about it.


    "What''s the theme?" he asked.


    Jay smiled widely. "It''s a Bad Luck Party!"

 Chapter 984: Bad Apple

    Chapter 984: Bad Apple


    ?


    The night was alive as fans lined the streets outside arge movie theater.


    Tonight was the grand premiere of Untouched Souls, the film that had been in the making for what seemed like forever.


    A fantasy historical fusion with intricate lore, stunning visual effects, and a star-studded cast -it had been one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. Yet, despite the excitement surrounding the project, it had faced numerous setbacks: dys, cast changes, and the highly publicized and debunked scandal involving June.


    But now, all seemed to be back on track. The red carpet was already filled to the brim with celebrities, media, and enthusiastic fans. The shes from cameras appeared like lightning as the stars of the night made their way down the red carpet.


    Taehyun and Hana, the film''s main characters, arrived together, hand in hand, stepping out of their luxury car. Taehyun, tall and impably dressed in a sleek ck tuxedo, shed his famous smile at the cameras. Hana, looking every bit the leadingdy in a shimmering, floor- length gown, clung to his arm. The pair looked like a power couple, and the fans ate it up, screaming their names as they slowly made their way down the red carpet.


    "Taehyun! Hana!" The reporters rushed toward them, microphones outstretched, eager for a soundbite.


    "What an entrance! You two look stunning!" one of the reporters gushed.


    "Thank you, thank you," Taehyun said with a modest smile, adjusting his tie while ncing toward Hana, who gave a small wave to the crowd.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The two exchanged nces, clearly excited, but as they posed for photos, Taehyun leaned closer to Hana and whispered something. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress augh.


    A curious reporter raised her hand and asked, "What''s the secret? You two seem to be in such good spirits!"


    "Oh, we''re just... anticipating someone special''s arrival," Taehyun teased.


    Hana grinned, unable to hide her amusement. "We''re waiting for June, of course," she said, almost giggling.


    Taehyun nodded in agreement, feigning seriousness. "Yeah, the movie''s great and all, but honestly, we''re just here for June."


    Their yful banter caused the crowd to erupt inughter.


    The reporters alsoughed, amused by the two stars'' enthusiasm for their co-star.


    "So, you''re both more excited about June than your own premiere?" one asked cheekily.


    "Look, the movie''s great, but June? June''s on another level," Taehyun replied with a mock- serious expression, earning moreughter from the crowd. Hana gave a mock sigh of agreement, holding her hand to her heart.


    As theughter died down, the excitement only grew. The clock was ticking, and there was still one person left to arrive.


    The atmosphere felt like it was building up to that final moment-the arrival of June, whose every move had been watched closely since the resolution of his scandal. Fans whispered among themselves, some clutching banners and light sticks.


    But not everyone was so thrilled.


    Standing off to the side of the red carpet, away from the shing cameras and fawning fans, stood Bad Apple-a well-known film critic whose reputation for brutal, no-nonsense reviews had made him infamous in the industry.


    Dressed in a tailored suit, he adjusted his cufflinks, his eyes narrowing at the chaos around him. His presence at the premiere had already caused a stir; after all, he was notorious for his harsh critiques. But the reason people respected his reviews was because they were honest, even when they were scathing.


    Bad Apple surveyed the scene with disdain. "This ce is a circus," he muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a sneer as he watched the mob of June''s fans clogging the streets. They were loud, energetic, and utterly unbearable, in his opinion.


    "They''ve turned this premiere into a fan rally," heined to no one in particr, his gaze shifting to the limousines pulling up one after the other. "I came for a premiere, not a riot."


    He couldn''t deny that Untouched Souls had a dedicated fanbase. The book series had been wildly popr, and the film adaptation was supposed to be a major cinematic event.


    But in his mind, casting an idol-June, of all people was the ultimate misstep. He had seen the somewhat positive response online, but he wasn''t convinced. June, to him, was nothing more than a product of his fans'' obsession. Sure, he had seen June''s work in Love To Hate You, but even that had left him unimpressed.


    "Childish," he had called it in his review, mming the plot as overly simplistic and the characters as underdeveloped. He''d given it a pitiful 1.3 apples out of five.


    And now, June was about to star in Untouched Souls, a beloved book series that had captivated readers with itsplex characters and detailed world-building. Bad Apple couldn''t help but feel dread.


    "They''ve butchered the casting," he muttered again, crossing his arms as he scanned the crowd. "How can they expect him to carry such a role?"


    As if on cue, the final ck limousine pulled up at the end of the red carpet. The crowd immediately erupted into deafening screams. Signs with June''s name shot up into the air, and fans surged forward, eager to catch a glimpse of their idol.


    The sound was almost unbearable to Bad Apple''s ears, but even he couldn''t look away as the door of the limousine slowly opened.


    And then, there he was.


    June stepped out of the car with a small smile that made the crowd lose their minds. Dressed in a fitted ck suit, he looked like he was the main character of the event. His hair was styled to perfection, his face glowing under the lights.


    He gave a calm smile to the fans, waving as the cameras shed nonstop, capturing his every


    move.


    Even Bad Apple, in his eternal cynicism, couldn''t deny that June cut a striking figure. For a brief moment, he found himself-dare he say-impressed.


    But the moment passed quickly.


    "Looks aren''t everything," Bad Apple muttered, narrowing his eyes at the idol on the red carpet. His expression darkened as he watched the overzealous fans scream


    June''s name. "It''s all a facade. Let''s see if he can actually act."


    "I''m ready to give this movie half an apple if he doesn''t do Jian''s character justice."

 Chapter 985: Untouched Souls Premier (1)

    Chapter 985: Untouched Souls Premier (1)


    ?


    The theater''s lights dimmed as the audience settled into their seats, the chatter of excited voices fading to a hush.


    On the stage in front of the screen, the cast of Untouched Souls lined up, their faces glowing under the spotlight. Taehyun and Hana stood at the center. Both were smiling as they waited for their go signal to speak.


    Finally, Taehyun stepped forward to greet everyone.


    "Thank you all for being here tonight. It means the world to us to finally share this film with you."


    He nced at Hana, who nodded in agreement. "We''ve worked so hard on this project, and I think I speak for the entire cast and crew when I say it''s been an incredible journey. We hope you''ll see just how much passion went into making this filme to life."


    Hana took over, her voice just as enthusiastic. "It wasn''t an easy process. As many of you know, we faced some challenges along the way, but each of those challenges only made us more determined to bring you the best version of Untouched Souls."


    She paused, smiling as she scanned the room. "And I think we did it. We hope you all love it as much as we do."


    The audience pped politely, some of them leaning forward. It seemed like a lot of them were expectant, especially the die-hard fans of the book. They wanted to love it, but they weren''t afraid to voice their opinions if the movie didn''t meet their expectations.


    Risa, the writer of the original novel, stepped up next. She lookedposed but humble as she bowed slightly to the audience. "Thank you foring," she began.


    "I know that many of you have read the book, and I''m sure you''re all aware of how difficult it can be to adapt something so close to the hearts of its readers. We wanted to emte the essence of the book, even knowing how many adaptations fail to capture that spirit."


    A few murmurs were heard in the audience, some nodding in agreement. The history of book- to-film adaptations was littered with disappointments, and the fans here tonight were keenly aware of that.


    Risa smiled softly. "But we believe we''ve created something great, something that captures the heart of Untouched Souls. We hope you''ll agree." She stepped back, bowing again as the audience apuded, though with more curiosity than enthusiasm this time.


    Finally, it was June''s turn to speak. He hesitated for a second, then stepped forward confidently. The theater held back their squeals as he ced the microphone before his lips. From the back, June''s eyes caught sight of something unexpected. His members were standing up, waving at him from the veryst row of the theater. His eyes widened for a moment.


    They had told him they were going to rest tonight and not attend the premiere. He shook his head lightly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, before regaining hisposure and turning back to the audience.


    Clearing his throat, June began, his voice steady. "This film... it means a lot to me."


    He paused, the sincerity in his voice catching the attention of the audience. "When I first read the script, I was struck by how much it reminded me of my own life."


    From somewhere in the theater, there was a soft, audible scoff.


    Bad Apple.


    He sat in his seat, arms crossed, already skeptical.


    ''His life?'' Bad Apple thought with a sneer.


    Jian, the character he''s ying, had a tragic past. What does a pampered idol like June know about hardship?


    Unaware of Bad Apple''s disdain, June continues. "The story of this film touches on themes of confinement and freedom, of living within the boundaries set by society or by our own minds," he said. "It''s a story that speaks to me on a personal level, and I hope it will resonate with all of you as well."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The audience listened intently, though some were clearly reserved. They knew June''s words were heartfelt, but they weren''t yet convinced that he could bring the depth of the character to life.


    Bad Apple narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself. "Let''s see if the film can speak louder than his words," he scoffed, already doubtful. He was a fan of the book-an ardent one, at that.


    And he had serious reservations about June''s ability to capture theplexity of Jian.


    Finally, the cast stepped off the stage as the lights dimmed further. The anticipation in the theater reached its peak. The screen flickered to life, and the logo of the productionpany faded in, followed by the opening credits.


    Then, the movie began.


    The camera panned over an expansivendscape, vast and ethereal. The world was like nothing seen before-a world where emotions ruled all. Four great factions stood as the pirs of thend, each tied to a powerful emotion that dictated the magic they wielded. The first to appear on screen was thend of the Crimson faction. The Crimsons were known for their unwavering strength and determination, their emotions burning like fire. The camera zoomed in on a group of warriors standing tall, their eyes filled with intensity.


    In the distance, a towering fortress of red stone loomed. The Crimsons were fighters, and their magic came from their minds-the force of their will manifesting into powers that could crush mountains or bend the winds to their favor.


    Next, the scene shifted to the Golden faction, where perfection reigned supreme. Golden towers stretched toward the sky, gleaming in the sunlight like they touched the gods.


    The Goldens were the embodiment of ambition and the pursuit of excellence. In their eyes, there was always room for improvement, and it was their unrelenting desire for perfection that allowed them to wield their magic with precision and control. Their powers shimmered like the gold they so revered, bending the very elements around them with mastery.


    Then came the Shadows. Mysterious and elusive, they were the keepers of secrets, their powers tied to the depths of their emotional turmoil. The screen darkened as the camera swept over theirnds-a ce cloaked in shadow, where the light barely touched the ground.


    The Shadows were the embodiment of doubt and hidden fear, their magic born from the uncertainties that gued the human soul. They moved like specters, slipping through the shadows, their abilities allowing them to blend into the darkness and strike from unseen


    ces.


    Finally, the Ivory faction appeared. Theirnds were tranquil, a ce of serene beauty and inner peace. The Ivories were known for their calm and steady emotions, their powersing from a ce of understanding and eptance.


    The camera focused on a tranquil garden where the Ivory n meditated in perfect harmony with nature. Their magic was gentle but powerful, capable of healing the deepest wounds or restoring bnce to the chaos that surrounded them.


    And at the center of this world was Seon, the heir to the Ivory n. The camera zoomed in on him, standing alone on a cliffside, gazing out at the world with a look of contemtion. Unlike the others, Seon had unlocked the ability to understand all emotions. He could wield the powers of every faction, a gift that made him both feared and admired. But Seon''s heart


    was conflicted.


    "Why," he whispered to himself, the wind carrying his words, "why do we limit ourselves to one emotion when we are capable of so much more?"

 Chapter 986: Untouched Souls Premier (2)

    Chapter 986: Untouched Souls Premier (2)


    ?


    The movie continued, and June''s first appearance was nearing.


    The screen lit up with Yian''s birthday celebration.


    The Shadow n''s estate, shrouded in mist, was the perfect backdrop for the quiet and cold event. The camera panned across the courtyard, revealing beautifully adorned tables set with food that none of the guests seemed eager to eat.


    Servants stood by silently, their faces hidden beneath hoods, as the Shadow n members watched each other warily, exchanging only the asional nce.


    Despite the festive setting, the Shadows still appeared miserable and disdainful.


    Jian stood at the edge of the gathering, pping politely as his half-brother Yian was showered with praise and attention.


    It was the first time June''s character appeared on screen, and the audience collectively leaned forward. Jian wore the deep cks of the Shadow n, his sharp eyes and expressionless face making him seem like just another part of the scenery.


    But even in the silence of his presence, there was something about him that drew the eye.


    In the shadows, Jian was always there-watching, listening, waiting.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. He barely remembered filming this scene, but now, seeing it on the big screen, he realized how crucial this moment was.


    Jian was introduced early in the story as a silent figure in Yian''s life. The younger brother of the Shadow n''s future leader, Jian, was everything Yian wasn''t.


    The camera focused on Yian''s bright smile as the Shadow Master, their father, ced a hand on his shoulder, dering him the future of the n. The guests pped half-heartedly, their eyes betraying their true feelings.


    Jian''s eyes remained fixed on his brother, his pping mechanical and unfeeling.


    June had to admit his performance wasn''t as stiff as he feared. There was something subtle in the way Jian stood there, an undercurrent of emotion just waiting to break through the surface.


    At the back, the members of DAWN exchanged amused nces. They had known June was talented, but to see him in this role, embodying aplex character on the big screen, was still amazing.


    Bad Apple, sitting in the audience with his arms crossed, prepared to criticize June.


    Yet, even he found it hard to deny the subtle intensity June brought to the role.


    As the scene continued, the celebration moved on, but Jian remained in the background. His role was essential to the n, though never in the spotlight. Yian was the heir, but Jian was the one who knew the n''s secrets- the one who carried messages in the dead of night, unseen and unheard.


    With that, Bad Apple ced his pen down, not finding anything to criticize in the particr scene.


    The scenes continued, and as Risa said, they tried their hardest to emte the book.


    An hour into the movie, most of the book lovers found themselves pleasantly surprised with how good the movie was.


    Suddenly, the movie cut to a shback-a glimpse into Jian''s past.


    Bad Apple frowned, searching his mind for this particr scene. "This isn''t part of the book," he muttered. With that, he clicked his pen and opened his notebook, ready to criticize the movie for straying away from the original storyline.


    He watched intently as a younger Jian stood in a small courtyard, facing a woman with tears in her eyes.


    His mother.


    This was the moment that shaped him, the scene that exined why he had be the silent, loyal messenger of the Shadow n.


    "Jian," his mother''s voice trembled as she stood before him, holding back her emotions. She was beautiful but worn, her face lined with masked sorrow. "They are in need of a new messenger. You... you are not a useless yielder. You''ll be treated well by the Shadow Master''s family."


    Her words sounded cold and distant. Jian stared at her, his young heart struggling to understand what was happening.


    This wasn''t the mother he knew-the warm, loving woman who had always been by his side.


    June''s character, young Jian, stood there, motionless, his small hands trembling at his sides. The soft fluttering ofundry in the evening breeze was the only sound.


    "I... I don''t want to go," Jian''s voice was small, broken. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he looked up at his mother, silently begging her to say it wasn''t true.


    To tell him he wasn''t being sent away like a piece of property.


    Bad Apple gasped softly, his hold on the pen tightening for a brief second.


    But she didn''t. She couldn''t.


    His mother turned her back to him, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her robe but still with a stern face. "It''s what''s best for you, Jian. You''ll be safe there. You''ll have a ce and a purpose."


    "But what about you?" His voice cracked as he stepped forward, reaching out to grab the hem of her robe and pull her back to him. "I don''t want to leave you. I don''t want to be a


    messenger. I want to stay here-with you, mother."


    For a moment, she didn''t respond, and the silence between them grew heavier.


    When she finally turned back to face him, her eyes were red, but there was a forced frown on her face. "You don''t have a ce here. I don''t want you anymore. You''ve burdened me for too long. It''s time for you to be useful."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    It was a lie, and they both knew it.


    The audience sat in stunned silence, watching the heartbreaking scene unfold. The camera lingered on young Jian''s face, the anguish and confusion so raw that it was hard to breathe. The younger Jian took a deep, shuddering breath, holding back the sob that threatened to escape. He wasn''t allowed to cry.


    He was the Shadow n''s new messenger, a role he didn''t want but had no choice but to ept.


    The camera cut back to the present, where Jian, now older, stood in the shadows of Jian. June''s performance was stunning. The subtle nuances of his expressions, the way his body seemed to carry the invisible burden of his past-it was captivating. Even the most skeptical viewers, including Bad Apple, were drawn in.


    In the dimly lit theater, Bad Apple''s hand slowly lifted to his face. He hadn''t realized it until that moment, but a single tear had slipped down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, embarrassed by the disy of emotion.


    For the first time that night, something marked Bad Apple''s notebook. Not a harsh criticism or a sarcastic remark, but a single tear that stained the page.

 Chapter 987: Untouched Souls Premier (3)

    Chapter 987: Untouched Souls Premier (3)


    ?


    The very first block screening for ''Untouched Souls'' felt like a bloodbath. Most fans weren''t able to get tickets, so they started a frenzy online.


    Although the movie wasn''t over yet, social media was flooded with reactions, screenshots from the red carpet, and even some blurry, sneakily-taken videos of June on screen.


    The hashtags #JuneAsJian and #UntouchedSouls trended almost instantly, and everyone who hadn''t managed to get tickets, like Jia and her friends, was feeling the fear of missing out.


    Bora groaned as she scrolled through her feed. "I can''t believe this. Why didn''t we get tickets?" She clutched her phone dramatically, looking close to tears. "That could''ve been us. Watching June on the big screen..."


    Jia sighed. "Well, sorry!" she eximed. "I found out about itte because I was busy job hunting."


    "Goodness, I hate being an adult," she added. "I just want to spend my mom''s money until the day I die."


    Nari raised his hand. "I hope I don''t live long!"


    Her friends ignored her and continued to sulk due to theirck of tickets.


    Bora sighed and shook her head. "Look, let us not worry. My cousin managed to sneak in, and she''s filming the whole thing. We can get it by tonight if we''re lucky!"


    She lifted her phone with a smug smile, showing her friends the text message from her sketchy rtive.


    Jia''s eyes widened. She pped Bora lightly on the back of her head. "Are you serious? That''s pirating!"


    Bora stared back, frowning. "Oh, so you want me to tell her to stop filming?"


    Jia nodded, firm in her resolve. "Yes! We need to watch it officially. For June! We need to give him the money we have!"


    Bora rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. "I''m sure June wouldn''t mind... I mean, do you even know how much this movie''s made just from ticket sales in Korea?"


    Jia shook her head. "No, I told you, I''m job hunting."


    "Ten million. Ten million tickets were sold," Bora said, smiling as she saw Jia''s jaw drop. "Imagine. And he''s just getting started in the acting industry."


    Back in the packed theater, the movie was reaching its climax. The screen showed an intense gathering-leaders of the other factions, all-powerful heirs, gathered in the samend.


    The audience was drawn in, eyes wide, breaths held, knowing that something monumental was about to happen.


    At the center of it all stood Yian, radiating a dark aura of dominance. He had done the unthinkable-he had killed Red, the Crimson heir.


    The revtion of this murder hade in fragments, each more horrifying than thest, until finally, the truth wasid bare. Not only had he killed Red, but he had consumed his heart.


    Yian had absorbed Red''s soul, his power, and the darkness that came with it. He was bing unstoppable, his strength now beyond mortal limits.


    Hana''s character, Mika, stepped forward, her face pale but determined. The decision she was about to make was clear in her eyes yet painful to watch.


    She, too, was prepared to give herself up-to let Seon consume her own soul, adding her strength to his so that he might have a chance against Yian.


    But Seon shook his head, eyes filled with sorrow. "No," he whispered, his voice breaking as he looked at her. "I can''t... I won''t do that to you."


    Mika''s face crumpled, her eyes filling with tears as she took his hands in hers.


    "Please, Seon... I''m already lost. This is my choice."


    But before they could say more, Yian''s cold, mocking voice cut through the air, sending a chill through the theater.


    "As expected," Yian sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "A weak character, broken by love. Such sentiments only serve to reveal the ws of those unfit for true power."


    He smiled cruelly, tilting his head. "It''s why I shall reign-because I am free of such... distractions."


    With a casual motion, he raised his hand and began to chant, his voice low and guttural, calling on dark magic to consume Mika''s soul. He would take her strength as well, bend it to his will, leaving Seon powerless and broken.


    But then, something happened. His spell didn''t take hold.


    Confusion crossed Yian''s face, but he quickly masked it, trying again, his voice rising as he chanted louder. Yet nothing happened.


    The camera slowly panned across the room, catching each face of the gathered heirs, tense and waiting. The audience held their breaths as the camera finally stopped-on Jian.


    A collective gasp from the theater was heard.


    Jian stood in the shadows-like he always did.


    It was he who had disrupted Yian''s spell, he who had betrayed his brother at this critical moment. His hands were clenched by his sides, his body tense, but his expression remained calm.


    This was June''s best moment. His face showed emotions that only those looking closely could catch-a lifetime''s worth of secrets, of silent loyalty, turned to rebellion-all of it contained in his gaze. His betrayal was as quiet as it was devastating.


    Yian turned to his brother, disbelief giving way to fury. "You... you would betray me?"


    Jian''s face remained impassive, though his eyes were filled with a fierce light. "For too long, I watched you destroy everything that stood in your path. But this-this is where it ends, Yian." Without another word, Yian unleashed the full force of his stolen power. The st was enormous, a deadly wave of pure darkness that would leave nothing in its path.


    But just as the attack reached its target, Jian moved, throwing himself in front of Seon.


    The st hit him with full force.


    The silence in the theater was absolute as Jian''s body staggered, his face twisting in pain. He copsed to his knees, his breathing shallow, and his hand pressed to his side as blood seeped through his fingers.


    Seon fell to his knees beside him, his hands hovering helplessly over Jian''s wound. "Why?" he choked out, his voice breaking.


    Jian''s eyes fluttered, the fire in them dimming. "Because...," he whispered, struggling to speak as he looked up at Seon, his expression filled with an unspoken apology.


    "This is the only way I can... make things right."


    As his vision blurred, Jian''s gaze shifted to Yian onest time, a faint, defiant smile on his


    lips. "You''ll never win, brother," he murmured. "Not while... they still believe." And then his eyes closed, his body going still, leaving the room in a stunned, griefden


    silence.


    Back in the theater, the audience was utterly captivated by June''s performance. The way he''d conveyed Jian''s pain and his final act of defiance-it was more than they''d expected. The unfiltered emotions left everyone stunned by the depth of his portrayal.


    In the crowd, Bad Apple sat frozen, his notebook in hand. His fingers had hovered over the


    page, ready to write down another critique. But instead, he found himself staring, unable to


    look away.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "What is this movie?" he muttered.

 Chapter 988: Bad Apple Approved Or Disapproved?

    Chapter 988: Bad Apple Approved Or Disapproved?


    ?


    The theater was filled with muffled sobs, audible even as the movie''s closing music sted through the speakers.


    Jian''s death scene had struck deeper than anyone had anticipated, transforming him from a character despised in the book to one mourned in the film.


    It was in his final act of sacrifice that Jian had be human-a figure people could root for. And though fans knew how the story would end, watching it unfold unexpectedly made everyone feel they were reading the book for the first time.


    In the audience, the DAWN members Jisung and Jaeyong clung to each other, wiping their tear-streaked faces. "My bro," Jisung sniffled. "Why did he have to die?"


    Jaeyong, simrly affected, nodded, choking back more tears. "June really killed it," he mumbled.


    Akira, though moved himself, nced at them and shook his head, offering a small, knowing smile. "Nah, he got killed," he snickered.


    The movie continued, its final scenes portraying an uneasy peace as the rival factions-the shadows and the light, the kindness and anger-found equilibrium.


    They were wed,plex, and forced to coexist despite their differences, and it was in that unity of contrasts that their true strength emerged.


    The screen went dark, and a moment of heavy silence settled over the audience.


    Then, slowly, people began to p.


    The apuse grew louder, and the theater lights came up, revealing a standing ovation.


    The cast and director, along with Writer Risa, made their way onto the stage, their faces shining with pride, tears, and exhaustion.


    Hana and Taehyun, visibly moved, wiped away tears as they took in the apuse and cheers. Everyone could tell it was June''s performance that had pulled at the heartstrings most, and it was the same for them.


    "Who allowed him to have such a sad backstory?" Hana muttered as she wiped another lone tear from her eyes.


    Director Jam stepped forward, feeling giddy all of a sudden.


    "Thank you all," he said into the microphone. "None of this would have been possible without every single person here, especially our amazing cast, who brought this story to life in ways I hadn''t even imagined. And our Writer Risa, who gave us a story worth telling."


    As the apuse continued, Risa waved shyly, mouthing her thanks to the crowd.


    But the loudest cheers were unmistakably for June.


    The audience couldn''t help it.


    They flocked toward him after the ovation, trying to take a photo with him.


    "June, please take a photo with me."


    "You smell really good."


    "Oh, wow! You really don''t have pores.


    Near the back of the theater, Director Jam spotted a familiar face in the crowd.


    He grimaced, shaking his head as he recognized him.


    "Oh, no... not him."


    "Who?" Risa asked.


    Director Jam subtly nodded in his direction. "I hate that guy."


    Hana, who was standing beside him, followed his gaze and sighed. "Ugh, it''s Bad Apple. He''s never given me a good review, not even for my best performances. It''s always ''mediocre,'' at best."


    She wrinkled her nose, crossing her arms.


    Taehyunughed. "That is Bad Apple, right? The guy hates everything except blockbuster thrillers and international action movies. The only movies he''s ever reviewed positively are the ones he thinks are too big to fail. Fun fact he hates adaptations the most! He thinks they''ve never done justice to the book."


    Then, he shrugged, managing a slightly nervous grin. "Guess we''ll just have to wait and see. He''s probably going to tear us apart in the review."


    But just as he said that one crew member gasped.


    "Bad Apple has posted!" she eximed. The word got around the theater, and the cast members found themselves huddled in one corner while June was still busy with his fans.


    Hana, Taehyun, and the others all pressed closer, preparing to dissect what they feared would be a harsh critique.


    But as they read, their expressions changed from apprehension to shock and then something close to disbelief.


    Bad Apple''s Review: Untouched Souls


    ''In a world oversaturated with high-budget, high-stakes films, few manage to reach the soul of the audience. Yet, Untouched Souls managed to surprise me. From the moment the opening credits rolled, I was skeptical. The plot followed familiar ground: a power struggle, factions locked in endless rivalry, a cast of characters whose choices seal their fates in predictable ways.''


    ''But it was in the film''s second half where something unexpected happened. The character Jian, previously written as one-dimensional in the original story, emerged as a figure whose actions and inner turmoil left even this critic astonished.''


    ''Let''s get something straight-this is not your typical character arc. Jian''s transformation conveyed depth and humanity that I rarely see, creating a twist that deviates from the book''s limitations. Director Jam and Writer Risa took a risk in allowing their protagonist to be overshadowed by his own brother''splex, conflicted journey. And it was a risk that paid


    off.''


    ''Then, there''s the matter of the actor who brought Jian to life: June. Now, this might be his first major film, but it won''t be hisst. His portrayal of Jian held such restraint that every scene he appeared in made me lose my breath. He understood his character to the bone.''


    ''The climax scene-the one that left the entire theater breathless-might just go down as one of this year''s most memorable cinematic moments. I found myself invested in Jian''s story in a way I hadn''t anticipated. And if you''ve read my reviews before, you''ll know that this rarelyN?v(el)B\\jnn


    happens.''


    "He''s praising us, right?" Taehyun asked, his jaw slightly unhinged.


    Hana clicked her tongue with a small smile. "Can''t you read?"


    "I can," Taehyun gulped. "I just can''t believe it. Not a single criticism has arisen just yet."


    "Shh! I''m not finished reading yet," Hana said, elbowing his side.


    ''To put it bluntly, this film is more than the sum of its parts. Untouched Souls brings new life


    to well-worn themes, turning them into an emotional rollercoaster. I urge anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to experience it for themselves.''


    ''Thus, this is Bad Apple Approved.''


    ''4.5 good apples over 5''

 Chapter 989: Hierarchy In A Castle

    Chapter 989: Hierarchy In A Castle


    ?


    "Have you seen Untouched Souls already?"


    "No way! You haven''t seen Untouched Souls?"


    "The movie is so good. I can''t believe you haven''t seen it yet."


    "At this day and age, it seems like a crime to not have watched Untouched Souls."


    "Untouched Souls has garnered 12 million viewers in the domestic market in just a week!"


    Director Jam shook his head as he read through the news. The smile on his face couldn''t be painted as he continued scrolling.


    "Gosh," he muttered, clicking his tongue. "It''s a hit. This movie is a hit!"


    He knew the movie was bound to be sessful because of the star-studded cast. However, the fact that even the strictest critics hadplimented the movie made it even more sessful.


    Of course, there were still some critiques and unreasonable hate online. It''s what people do when they see something popr. They jump on the bandwagon and call it ''bad'' and ''overrated.''


    However, Director Jam didn''t mind at all. It was actually working great in his favor! The more they talked about the movie, the bigger his bank ount bes!


    Yet, then again, the money didn''t feel too important for Director Jam. He was rich enough to live adequately until the age of 95.


    He had another script at hand, and he was more focused on bringing June into the production to be his main character.


    He called his assistant over, who appeared more tired than he was.


    "Yes, sir?" she asked.


    "Bubbles," he said, looking at hisptop home screen, which turned out to be a screencap of June in Untouched Souls.


    "Have you gotten in touch with Phoenix Entertainment?"


    Bubbles pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, sir," she said. "They''ve been very easy to


    communicate with since they''ve gotten a new CEO."


    "Then, did you ask what I wanted?" he asked, hope filling his heart.


    Bubbles nodded. "Yes," she responded. "I gave them a proposition about June being the main character for your new drama."


    "What did they say?" he excitedly asked.


    Bubbles scratched the back of her head before responding. "Well, you see...June is quite the busy guy, they said. He''s fully booked until the end of the year."


    "This year?" Director Jam asked, standing from his chair. "Then, we can push the production back a bit! We can start next year."


    Bubbles nervously chuckled. "That''s the thing, sir," she said. "He''s booked until the end of NEXT year."


    "WHAT?"


    ***


    "Well, if it isn''t our busy guy," Akira said as he came out of June''s room. He snuck in during the middle of the night. June wanted to be alone in his room, but Akira couldn''t take Casper''s snoring and decided that sleeping on the floor of June''s room was much better.


    "And yet this busy guy is still cooking for you, guys," June said, rolling his eyes.


    Akira smiled and leaned against the counter. "Well, at least we can watch your show today! It''s the reason why we even gathered here this morning."


    June shook his head and gestured for him to sit. "The food isn''t ready yet," June said. "Wait a few minutes."


    "Hmm," Akira hummed and took his seat.


    Since they weren''t living in a dorm anymore, June''s huge apartment had be their unofficial living quarters. June said he doesn''t like having them around so often, but he had brought a bigger dining table to amodate his eight members.


    "Right," Akira said, remembering something. "You never told us how your filming went."


    June shrugged. "It wasn''t anything special," he said.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Aww,e on!" Akira eximed. "It''s Crawling Man! Every episode is funny. I''m sure there was also a funny moment during the filming."


    June scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I had a good fewughs," he muttered, feeling a bit bitter.


    Akira narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Why do I have a hunch that something happened?"


    June pursed his lips. "You''ll be able to watch the show anyway."


    Akira groaned and nced at the clock. "That''s in ten hours! Come on-just give me a little snippet. Who else did you meet? What was their reaction when they first saw you?"


    June sighed and shook his head. "Just wait until the show airs, okay?"


    Akira leaned against his chair in defeat. "Oh, I can''t wait for it to air."


    ***


    It seemed like the entire country was waiting for Crawling Man to air. It was already a popr show-with a loyal fan base that tuned in every week.


    It was also strategically aired on a weekend, so it garnered more viewers. However, today was definitely special. After it was announced that June was going to take part in this week''s episode, his fans, who usually didn''t even watch cable television, all dropped their phones to watch the show.


    Not only that but since Untouched Souls had be popr, his appearance also sparked enthusiasm among the fans of the movie and the book.


    Heck, even his celebrity friends wanted to watch the show despite their busy schedules!


    "It''s starting!" Akira excitedly eximed, hugging his knees to himself.


    June shook his head, not getting his excitement.


    Then, the familiarughter of the cast members was heard through the speakers. The scenery showed a huge mansion with a flower garden upfront.


    They could then hear the distant voices of the members from inside the house, appearing to be eating from the sound of the utensils nging on the te.


    "What kind of theme do we have today?" Jumi, the actress-turnededian, asked with a


    very straightforward attitude as they were finally shown.


    "Wow!" Jisung eximed as soon as they saw them. "She''s wearing a princess gown."


    Ren then chuckled when he noticed something peculiar. "And Bangsoo is wearing a servant outfit," he said. "Is this going to be another hierarchy game?"


    Bangsoo looked down at his outfit and shook his head. "Why am I dressed as a servant?"


    "Because you look like one," Jaeduck, the main host of the show, said, causing the six other


    members to burst intoughter.


    "What am I even supposed to be?" Jeewoo, their oldest member, asked.


    "I think you''re stable, boy," Eunho, the member they were afraid of the most, noted.


    Shinchan shook his head. "The bias is apparent! Why do you get to be the prince?" he asked


    Eunho.


    Just then, there were sirens surrounding the area, and the windows were covered with ck-


    out curtains.


    Jaeduck''s eyes widened.


    "What is happening?"

 Chapter 990: Supporting Characters

    Chapter 990: Supporting Characters


    ?


    Then, balloons popped everywhere, causing the cast to yelp in surprise.


    "Yah! This is over the top!" Jumi eximed. She looked expectantly at the producers as they slowly closed the mansion''s heavy double doors behind them.


    "Seriously, what''s happening?" Bangsoo asked, appearing scared out of his mind. "I don''t want to be a servant in this pce anymore!"


    A momentter, the main producer finally spoke, holding a scroll.


    Eunho shook his head in amusement. "You guys have a lot prepared, don''t you think? Do we have a handsome guest today?" he asked.


    However, the main producer ignored him and unrolled the scroll before beginning to read.


    "Wee, noble guests," he started. "Today, you willpete for a grand title, a legacy beyond riches or power. Today, you will vie to be...the heir of the Bad Luck Castle!" "Ah, seriously," Shinchan said. "Did you have to do all of those just to introduce that?"


    "Vie to be heirs?" Jeewoo asked. "Does that mean I don''t have to be a stable boy forever?"


    The producer continued. "Right now, each of you holds a different ce in the royal hierarchy. Jaeduck, you are the firstborn prince."


    Jaeduck sat up a bit straighter, giving an approving nod. "Firstborn? I can live with that. It''s what I deserve."


    Bangsoo shook his head. "Ah, I really hate him so much."


    The producer moved down the list. "Eunho, you are the second prince."


    Eunho nodded in satisfaction. "I should have been the firstborn, though," he joked.


    "Shinchan, you are one of the royal guards," the producer announced next.


    Shinchan let out a dramatic sigh. "So much for being royalty," he muttered, shaking his head in mock disappointment.


    The producer continued. "Jeewoo, you''re the pig pen boy."


    Jeewoo threw his hands up in mock indignation. "Really? A pig pen boy?"


    "And Bangsoo," the producer said with a small smile, "you''re the servant."


    Bangsoo groaned, rolling his eyes. "Who the heck picked these roles for us?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The producer smiled. "These are the roles you''ve picked for yourselves. Do you remember how we asked you to pick pieces of paper before the end ofst week''s shoot?


    The members'' eyes widened in recognition. "Ah, so that''s what it was," Jumi muttered.


    "Then, that means that Bangsoo has some rotten luck," Jaeduck said.


    The castughed as Bangsoo continued to protest.


    "In today''s challenge, each of you will y games centered around luck," the producer exined.


    "The winner of each game will rise in the hierarchy, while the loser will fall. By the end of today, only one of you will be dered the true heir of the Bad Luck Castle."


    "Wait, wait," Jaeduck said, holding up a hand. "So we can actually lose our royal status?" "Absolutely," the producer confirmed. "You''ll all have topete to keep your ce."


    Bangsoo looked back down at his servant''s outfit with frustration. "So if I lose, I get demoted to... what, a broom?"


    The cast burst intoughter again, but the producer merely shook his head.


    "Oh, and there''s one more thing," he added, holding up a finger. "You''re not the only ones here today."


    Bangsoo raised his fist in the air. "Do we have guests? Please tell me their position is lower than mine!"


    "We have three special guests with us for today''s episode," the producer announced. "They will join thepetition as the youngest in the royal family."


    Bangsoo let out an exaggerated groan, throwing his hands in the air. "So I''m not only a servant, but I have to lose to three more people?"


    Ignoring him, the producer gestured towards the entrance, where the first guest was about to make her appearance. "Our first guest is known for her... unique luck."


    The doors swung open, and Niki, a rookie actress from a popr TV show, walked in. She looked around the room with wide, excited eyes, waving as she entered.


    The cast greeted her with excitement and curiosity, some offering enthusiastic apuse. Niki gave them a shy smile. She was clearly a little nervous but thrilled to be there.


    "Wee, Niki!" Jaeduck said with a grin, standing up to give her a bow. "My wife loves your show!"


    Nikiughed, taking her seat and looking around at the rest of the cast with growing excitement.


    The producer moved on to introduce the second guest. "Our second guest is new to theedy scene but already making waves. Please wee Rowoon!"


    "Ah, that guy?" Shinchan eximed. "We had a skit the other week. You invited him here?"


    The doors opened again, and Rowoon entered, immediately performing a cartwheel that earned him loud cheers and apuse from the cast.


    "What the¨D" Jeewoo eximed, taking a step back in surprise.


    He grinned, giving them all a confident salute before sitting down.


    "Ah, he does way too much. This is my junior, everyone!" Shinchan said,ughing as he pped Rowoon on the back.


    "Setting the bar high, I see," Jumi joked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.


    Rowoon justughed, clearly enjoying the positive attention. But the producer had onest surprise in store.


    "And finally," he said, "our third guest is someone most people have been curious about."


    Bangsoo tilted his head to the side. "So, he''s someone like me?"


    That earned him a p on the back of the head from Eunho.


    "Don''t overdo it," he warned with an amused smile.


    "Please wee ourst guest!" The producer eximed.


    The doors opened once more, and this time, the room seemed to freeze as June stepped in. His entrance was almost surreal, the aura around him capturing everyone''s attention. There was a collective gasp from the cast, followed by a moment of silence as they took him in.


    "This is my first time seeing him in person!" Jumi whispered, her eyes wide with surprise.


    "He''s even more handsome than I imagined," Bangsoo muttered, unable to look away.


    June offered them a polite bow, a small smile gracing his lips as he took in the scene. The cast members erupted into apuse and cheers. Even Jaeduck looked impressed, nodding approvingly as June took his ce.


    "June!" Jeewoo eximed.


    Shinchan nced at the producers with an impressed look. "You guys managed to recruit


    him?"


    Even Jumi, who was never known to be excited with male guests, couldn''t help but react.


    "Isn''t he from Untouched Souls? I loved the film!"


    Niki and Rowoon nced at each other with wide eyes. They didn''t expect June to be here-


    especially not after having such a sessfuleback and movie.


    Niki sighed. "Looks like we''ll be supporting characters for the day!"

 Chapter 991: Yes, Im A Lucky Boy

    Chapter 991: Yes, I''m A Lucky Boy


    ?


    The cast had now settled, and they were waiting for the cameras to start rolling once again.


    June was sat in the very middle, appearing like a lost kitty as he nced around the room. It wasn''t his first time being in a variety show, but this one was different.


    Crawling Man was something he had watched since he was young-not this particr show. However, the one in their homnd was something he diligently watched.


    The cast members whispered to each other while the crew got ready.


    "Is he really real?" Bangsoo asked.


    Shinchan shook his head. "He''s the most ethereal man I''ve seen in my life-and trust me, I''ve seen a lot of men."


    Jumi tilted her head to the side. "I don''t know how to feel about that."


    Even the production crew couldn''t believe that June was right in front of their eyes.


    "We''re going to have a feast today!"


    Just then, June had finished the cup of water that they had prepared beforehand.


    Their eyes widened, and they quickly scrambled to refill it.


    Bangsoo noticed this and shook his head, pointing at the group of staff. "I can already sense the favoritism here."


    They merely smiled and went back to their stations.


    "Settle down now!" the main producer eximed. "We will be resuming the filming. Please p the te."


    The cameras were rolling once again, showing the guests and the cast members for this week''s special.


    Jaeduck started off. "We have three amazing guests in our midst! Let us all give them a round of apuse."


    - I''m sorry for everyone, but I''m just looking at June.


    - The upstairsmenter is so real. I''m not even a fan, but my eyes just stray to him unconsciously.


    - Seriously, though, why did they have to put him next to Bangsoo and Shinchan?


    "Before we get on with the missions, we can''t miss out on their introductions," Jaeduck continued. "Why don''t we start with Niki?"


    Niki smiled at the camera. "Hi, everyone! My name is Niki. I started acting three years ago with minor roles. This year, Inded a lead role in the daily TV drama called Steel Family," she introduced.


    "Three years?" Jumi eximed. "I thought you were a rookie in the industry."


    Niki scratched the back of her head. "A lot of people think that way," she chuckled. "I think


    it''s partially because of my luck, and that''s why people think I''ve been in the industry for only a short time."


    "Ah, right!" Eunho eximed. "The producers told us that these guests have something inmon today."


    "They haven''t told us yet," Jeewoo said, ncing at the crew.


    - I think I could already tell.


    - Isn''t it obvious from the name of the castle they''re in?


    - It''s literally called the ''Bad Luck Castle!''


    "I assume we all have bad luck," Niki smiled.


    The cast members looked at all three guests before shaking their heads. Shinchan then pointed to Niki and Rowoon. "I could understand the two of you having bad luck, but I just can''t imagine June having it."


    Akira burst intoughter after Shinchan said those words.


    Ren, too, couldn''t hold in his amusement. "Please tell me you proved them wrong, June."


    June rolled his eyes. "You''re supposed to be rooting for me."


    Ren held out a peace sign. "Sorry, bro."


    "We''ll get into thatter," Jaeduck said, already sounding amused. "Let''s get into your luck, shall we? Why would you ssify yourself as having such bad luck?"


    "I mean, a lot of our members here have bad luck. For example, Bangsoo, Jeewoo..."


    "You too!" Bangsoo eximed. "Don''t act like you don''t have rotten luck, too."


    Jaeduck clicked his tongue. "I am not up to your level."


    Bangsoo was about to argue, but he couldn''t in the end.


    "Jumi and Eunho have rtively good luck, while Shinchan is a hit or miss. I think he got unlucky with his face, though," Jeewoo chimed, earning a scoff from Shin-chan.


    Jaeduck shook his head. "Let the guests speak!" he reprimanded them in a joking tone.


    Niki chuckled and exined her luck. "Well, I''ve always onlynded the minor roles-and it''s no ordinary minor roles. I''ve been a stunt double, a ghost, a dishwasher, a prisoner. You name


    it."


    "Oh, that is pretty bad," Jumi chuckled.


    "Yeah," Niki said. "I still have some streams of bad luck here and there, but after Inded this role, it became significantly better."


    "How about you, Rowoon?" Eunho asked, feeling intrigued. "What kind of luck do you have?"


    Rowoon scratched the back of his head before responding. "You can say it''s pretty simr to that of Niki," he started off. "I''ve been performing inedy bars since I graduated from high school, and I''ve onlynded dirt roles since then."


    "I don''t even know how I was able to get to where I am today. Shinchan knows that."


    Shinchan nodded, knowing Rowoon''s story. "And the worst part is-he''s in debt!" he


    eximed.


    The cast members were surprised before they burst intoughter. Meanwhile, Rowoon walked to where Shinchan was and covered his mouth.


    "Bro!" he eximed. "I told you not to tell anyone about that."


    Shinchan pushed him away. "Why not?" he asked. "You''re slowly paying it off. He wanted to


    make a business with a fellowedian, but he ran away with the capital."


    Rowoon pursed his lips. "I think that''s a good enough testament to my bad luck."


    "Yeah, we don''t need to hear anymore," Jeewoo said. "You''ve got worse luck than me!"


    "Moving onto the next person," Jaeduck said. The cast members all turned to June, who still appeared too innocent to be in this episode.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "June," he started off. "Do you have bad luck like these guys?"


    It took a while for June to answer. Bad luck? He had a whole lot of it. However, of course, he


    didn''t have any stories to tell such as that of Rowoon and Niki. So, he merely shook his head.


    Then, he smiled at the camera and gave it a thumbs up.


    "I think my luck is not too bad, actually."

 Chapter 992: Tomatoes, Tomatoes!

    Chapter 992: Tomatoes, Tomatoes!


    ?


    The members of DAWN turned to each other with skepticism after June said those words. "Oh, I just know he swallowed his words," Akira said before he could stop himself.


    That earned him a re from June, who didn''t confirm or deny Akira''s usation.


    - Oh, my sweet baby June, why did you say those words?


    - I bet he wants to take it all back.


    - I can''t believe I''m saying this-but he''s got worse luck than Bangsoo.


    - Is that even possible? Bangsoo has the worst luck in Crawling Man! He has proven it for eight whole years already.


    "Oh," Jaeduck said, looking pleasantly surprised. "Then, this won''t be a problem then. We''ll be ying games based around luck today."


    June nodded. He knew he didn''t have the greatest luck; however, things worked out for him most of the time. So, he took pride in it and agreed.


    Jumi raised her hand. "If there are any team games, I want to be with June then."


    "Me too!" Shinchan eximed.


    Eunho shook his head. "Jumi, you''re awfully excited today. You don''t usually act like this when we have male guests."


    Rowoon raised his hand. "I would know. She hadn''t nced at me for half an hour now."


    Jumi shook her head in amusement while the others continued to tease her.


    "That''s because I really liked his movie," she said. "Untouched Souls-it''s one of my favorite pieces of literature, and he was the one who brought my favorite character to life!"


    "You actually read?" Jeewoo asked, making Jumi click her tongue. "Anyway, I know you guys have seen it too."


    "I did," Jaeduck said. "At first, I didn''t have any ns of watching it, but then my son forced me to. I''m d I went with him. It was a really good movie."


    Eunho nodded in agreement. "It''s one of the best films of the year."


    Niki, who hadn''t said anything since her interview, also chimed in the conversation. "I also really like it. June was really good in his role."


    June smiled and gave them a curt bow.


    - Aww, June has be so sessful!


    - Yeah, everyone I know is either talking about Untouched Souls or DAWN''s new album. It''s really amazing.


    - I''m so d everything worked out great for him and his team in the end.


    - He deserves it all, honestly.


    - True! He has done so much for the industry only one year into his debut.


    "You''re not much of a talker, are you?" Eunho observed.


    June nodded.


    "Ah, but I''ve watched some of your videos online," Shinchan admitted. "He''s quite funny. I hope we can see that today."


    "I think I''ve seen some of his viral clips, too," Jaeduck added. "Aside from being a good singer and a fantastic dancer, he''s great at variety shows! He''s even better than Bangsoo!"


    Bangsoo red at Jaeduck. "I don''t say anything, but you still include me in the conversation."


    Theyughed before the producer gave them another round of instructions.


    "Alright, shall we head to the first game?" he asked.


    The members and guests all eximed in excitement. Then, the crew finally revealed their first mission.


    They all stood, only to see a huge number of boxes sprawled across the garden.


    "What is this?" Eunho asked as they all settled in front of the set.


    "Like I said, these are games that are based on pure luck and pure luck alone," the producer exined. "We will have a total of four games. This is the first one!"


    "The title of this game is-Random Box of Fate."


    "In front of you, there are fifty boxesid out across the ground. Half of these boxes contain sturdy tforms, which are safe to step on. The other half are hollow boxes filled with... well, let''s just say, some interesting surprises."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    - Oh goodness. I can already tell this is going to be a disaster.


    - June, show them what you''re made of!


    - It''s a fifty percent chance! June can do it.


    "The goal is to reach as many boxes as you can without falling through," the producer continued to exin. "If yound on a hollow box, don''t worry - you can keep jumping until you reach a tform. However, the number of hollow boxes yound on will be counted as your ''unlucky score'' for that round."


    "Each tform box yound on will help you rise in rank. The fewer hollow boxes you encounter, the luckier you are, and the higher your rank climbs."


    "So, it''s really luck-based, huh?" Bangsoo muttered, already dreading the entire day.


    He was known for his rotten luck, so he already knew he was going tond on the special hollow boxes.


    Jaeduck noticed his nervousness and burst intoughter.


    "It seems like Bangsoo is anxious," he pointed out. "Why don''t we start with June since he said his luck isn''t that bad?"


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. However, with the expectant looks on the other cast members'' faces, he couldn''t help but nod.


    "Alright, June, you''re up first! Let''s see if you really have that famous good luck," Shinchan eximed, pping for him.


    June took a deep breath, sizing up the boxes before him.


    He scanned the area until he found a box that called for his name.


    "That''s the one," he muttered.


    - Oh, he looks confident!


    - I really shouldn''t have watched this after watching Untouched Souls. It''s not good for my delusions.


    - Seriously, with his get-up, he looks like a modern-day version of Jian.


    - Do you think he''s going to get a tform?


    - I hope so! I want him to wear a more extravagant outfit like Jaeduck.


    He walked over to the first box, giving the others a quick reassuring nce before leaping


    over the chosen box.


    The cast members watched him excitedly as hended-only to hear a faint squish


    underneath his foot.


    June''s face froze, losing a bit of his bnce as something wet and squishy began to ooze around his feet. He slowly looked down, only to be met with the sight of a bloodbath.


    "He got tomatoes!"

 Chapter 993: Demoted

    Chapter 993: Demoted


    ?


    - Our boy is so unlucky.


    - Seriously. Even Bangsoonded on a tform already!


    - What''s with this kid''s luck? I thought he said it wasn''t that bad.


    -It is bad. My baby just got immune to it.


    - What will he step on next?


    Contrary to what June had said, it seemed like his luck hadn''t recovered at all.


    Maybe it was partially his fault for jinxing it.


    However, he tried his best not to show he was getting annoyed.


    "This is your fourth box, June," Eunho said, sounding amused. "If yound on another dud, then you will be demoted to Bangsoo''s level."


    Bangsoo sighed as he looked at his cream-covered feet. "Come and join me as a servant," he said.


    Jaeduck chuckled. "No, if June steps on another dud, then you''d automatically be promoted to be a pig pen boy. The ranking will move up!"


    Bangsoo looked relieved. He had stepped on three consecutive duds before he finally saved himself. The others had gotten a good box on their first or second try. Jumi evennded on three good boxes before deciding to opt out! As a result, she was the richest among them. June was on his fifth box now, and he still hadn''tnded on a good box.


    He had stepped on tomatoes, brick toys, soap, and soy sauce thus far.


    He raised his hand. "Can I stop here?" he asked.


    The cast membersughed, finding the young idol amusing.


    "Come on now," Jaeduck said. "Don''t you want to try out your luck?"


    "Yeah!" Shinchan chimed in. "Besides, if you get a good box for this one, then Bangsoo stays as a servant while you be a pig pen boy."


    "Unless you want to be stuck as a servant with Bangsoo now?" he asked.


    June pursed his lips and sighed. He had already stepped on too many atrocious things. There was no harm in trying again, right?


    At times like this, he wished he still had Fu. However, he didn''t know whether he would actually make a difference in the situation.


    June shook his head to get rid of such thoughts and look for another box instead.


    He stopped at the farthest one-where no one had reached yet.


    "This one," he pointed, making the cast members intrigued.


    "It''s going to be legendary if you step on another bad box," Jeewoo said.


    Jumi clicked her tongue and pinched the older man''s side. "Don''t say that."


    "Oww!" Jeewoo eximed. "You''re defending him too much."


    Jumi sighed and shook her head. "I feel bad," she said. "I think we finally have someone to counter Bangsoo''s bad luck."


    Shinchan nodded in agreement. "Well, at least he got lucky in the face department."


    Bangsoo red at them. "Again, I say nothing, but I still feel involved."


    "Shh," Jaeduck said. "He''s going to jump now."


    They paid attention to June, who looked awfully nervous for his sixth jump.


    - Aww, June looks so cute!


    - I want to hold his hand.


    - This is hrious! Even if this kid does not try to be funny, I''m still amused.


    - That''s the June effect.


    After plucking enough courage, June finally jumped, wanting tond on something steady.


    It felt like that¡ªonly for a brief moment. However, he began to sink, causing his eyes to go wide.


    "What is this?" he eximed, looking at the white goo that covered his feet. "Oobleck?"


    The cast members burst intoughter after Junended on another bad box.


    Bangsoo raised his hand in victory. "Yes!" he eximed. "I got promoted."


    Meanwhile, Rowoon and Niki shook their heads in disbelief.


    "Waah," Niki said. "I take everything I''ve said back. I got a good box on my second try. I might actually have good luck."


    "I got it on the first try," Rowoon said. "I think thatedian friend of mine also took my bad luck away with him."


    "Please help me," June said after a while, capturing their attention.


    Whileughing, the older cast members helped June out of the cornstarch and water


    suspension.


    "Oh, what a cute boy," Jumi said. "You really can''t help but adore him."


    June smiled at thepliment. However, he wasn''t entirely happy. His feet were covered in


    all sorts of things!


    He hesitantly raised his hand. "Can I have some time to wash my feet?"


    Theyughed once more, finding June amusing.


    "Don''t worry," the producer chuckled. "Those whose ranks had changed will now change into their outfits."


    June pursed his lips. "Yeah, that would be good."


    Eunho burst intoughter. "It''s not too bad, kid."


    June shook his head. "I shouldn''t have taken thest jump. Maybe then, I could be a servant with Bangsoo."


    Bangsoo raised his hand. "Don''t call me a servant no more, June. I''m a pig pen boy now!"


    With that, those whose ranks had been changed went inside the mansion to get changed. Meanwhile, Jumi decided to treat everyone with the money she had earned during the mission.


    There were some fruits and other treats on the table. It was perfect for the weather.


    They chowed down on it as the members came out one by one.


    She clicked his tongue when Bangsoo tried to snatch some of the gummies on the table.


    "That''s not for you," she said.


    Bangsoo''s eyebrows furrowed. "I thought you bought this for all of us."


    "Yeah, but those are for June," Jumi said with an innocent smile.


    Bangsoo pursed his lips and shook his head. "You treat me worse than a servant," he said


    before grabbing some of the chips instead.


    As they ate the snacks, they waited for June.


    "Where is that kid?" Jaeduck asked.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Well, he did step on quite a lot of things. I''m guessing he still washing up," Shinchan said.


    Jaeduck chuckled. "His luck is really at the next level, huh? How could he get six straight bad


    boxes?"


    "There he is!" Niki suddenly eximed, capturing their attention.


    They turned toward the pathway toward the garden, seeing June in his new get-up. They


    didn''t say anything for a couple of seconds before Rowoon broke the silence.


    "Alright, this is unfair," he said.


    "Why does he look better as a servant than us as princes?"

 Chapter 994: Karaoke King

    Chapter 994: Karaoke King


    ?


    - Get June out of there, please!


    - He lost two consecutive games.


    - Please let this third game work in his favor <3.


    - My kitty hasn''t eaten anything except for the gummies that Jumi had bought!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Wee to the third game," the producer said. They were inside one of the rooms in the castle now-one that looked like a theater.


    A dramatic background track of trumpets yed, and the cast members, already in their respective costumes, exchanged looks. June nced at his "servant" partners, Bangsoo and Shinchan, both dressed in oversized rags with frayed edges, like something from an old- fashioned peasant drama.


    They''d all been hoping to escape their role as servants, but thest game -a mourized rock, paper, scissors that involved money- had not gone in their favor.


    Now, here they were, stuck as servants for yet another round.


    Eunho, standing with his group, the so-called ''Children of the Kingdom,'' looked over at them with amusement.


    "Look at you three," he teased. "Bangsoo and Shinchan look like they''re theic relief in some medieval si, but June... You look like the lost prince forced to serve them."


    The othersughed, and Bangsoo sighed. "Third time! I''m just doing my job!"


    Shinchan nced at the two of them and made a loud noise.


    "What now?" Bangsoo asked.


    "I looked at June for a second, then at you. I got scared," he admitted.


    Bangsoo clicked his tongue and acted like he was going to hit Shinchan.


    "It''s not like you''re any better!" he eximed. "I get scared whenever we meet."


    June shook his head at his teammates.


    "The third game is entitled ''Karaoke King,"" the producer introduced, making the cast even more confused.


    Jisung turned to June with wide eyes. "Is this the part where you''re going to turn everything around?" he asked.


    Ren crossed his arms in front of his chest. "How is this a game based on luck?"


    The cast members were thinking the same thing.


    "This is a skill game!" Jumi eximed. "It''s not about luck at all."


    "It kind of is," Eunho said, chuckling. "Sometimes, even bad singers get more scores. It''s kind of a roulette."


    The producer cleared his throat and didn''t heed theirints. Instead, he ryed the instructions.


    "You''ll all be singing up until the chorus of your chosen song. Each of you will get an individual score, but we''ll also average each team''s scores. The team with the highest average score will win a little extra spending money for lunch!"


    Shinchan''s face lit up. "Does that mean we can buy meat if we win?"


    "You could buy anything you want if you have enough. But don''t forget - this is also an individual game. So, while you''ll be working with your teammates, your solo performances will determine your final rankings. Got it?"


    "This works in June''s favor!" Rowoon eximed. "He''s a great singer."


    "Ah, you''re right," Jaeduck said. "I haven''t heard him sing live before, though."


    "Wait," Jumi said, tilting her head to the side. "June is a singer?"


    The cast members and guestsughed. "Goodness, you really only care about what you like. June is originally an idol. He just acted on the side," Eunho said.


    Jumi scratched the back of her neck. "Well, I didn''t know that."


    The teams were set: the servants team with June, Shinchan, and Bangsoo; the pig pen boys with Jeewoo and Rowoon; the royal guards with Niki and Jaeduck; and the children of the kingdom led by Eunho and Jumi.


    "I''ll go first," Bangsoo said. "I need to sing when I''m not yet nervous."


    The rest of the cast burst into apuse as Bangsoo stepped forward. He grabbed the microphone, cleared his throat dramatically, and struck a pose that could only be described as exaggerated confidence.


    The instrumental began, and Bangsoo sang-if you could call it that. From the very first note, it was clear that singing was not among Bangsoo''s talents. He was off-key, his voice cracking every few words, and he missed the rhythm entirely. The cast members were clutching their sides, struggling to contain theirughter.


    "Is he serious?" Jumi whispered, wide-eyed, as she stifled augh.


    "Oh, he''s serious," Shinchan confirmed.


    As Bangsoo hit the chorus-or rather, stumbled into it-the entire room was in fits ofughter. Even June couldn''t contain it.


    Jaeduck and Jeewoo were covering their ears, Eunho was doubled over, tears ofughter streaming down his face, and Jumi was hiding behind a cushion, peeking out in horror.


    Finally, the music stopped, and Bangsoo struck a triumphant pose.


    "Thank you, thank you," he said, bowing as if he''d justpleted a sold-out concert. The cast gave him an enthusiastic round of sarcastic apuse.


    Bangsoo watched with a hopeful expression as the numbers popped up on the screen. His score was 70 points.


    "Seventy!" Shinchan eximed, clutching his chest like he''d been struck. "That''s... so much worse than I thought!"


    Bangsoo looked slightly defeated but shrugged it off. "Hey, seventy''s not bad! It''s still a passing grade!"


    "No, it''s really not," Eunho deadpanned, earning another round ofughter.


    Next up was Eunho, representing the higher rankings. The room quieted as he took the microphone, his easy confidence showing. With a voice as smooth as butter,


    Eunho sang his song with ease. He was a singer, after all.


    As he hit the chorus, everyone was nodding in admiration. June, too, was impressed. When Eunho finished, there was a moment of silence, followed by loud apuse and cheers.


    "Now that''s how you sing," Jumi said, giving Eunho a thumbs-up.


    The score shed on the screen: 95 points.


    "Oh,e on!" Bangsoo groaned. "How am I supposed topete with that?"


    "You don''t," Jaeduck teased. "Just leave it to the professionals."


    The game continued, with each cast member bringing their own uniqueness to their songs. Shinchan''s performance, though earnest, was nearly as rough as Bangsoo''s, earning him only 77 points. The others weren''t much better, with Jaeduck getting 85 and Jeewoo surprising everyone with a solid 88. Each new score shed on the screen, sparking cheers, groans, and


    laughter.


    Finally, it was June''s turn. As he stepped forward, his teammates cheered him on with a new wave of enthusiasm.


    "Come on, June! Show them what a real idol sounds like!" Bangsoo hollered, his hands cupped around his mouth. "You''re our only chance!"


    June had really shitty luck.


    However, singing? That was one of his strongest feats.


    "Let''s show them," he muttered just as the song began.

 Chapter 995: Do You Miss Me?

    Chapter 995: Do You Miss Me?


    ?


    Of course, the members of DAWN already knew June was going to kill the challenge. "What did you sing?" Akira asked, bouncing in his seat.


    Ren clicked his tongue and covered his mouth. "He''s literally about to sing."


    - It''s ''Do You Miss Me?'' by Kim Bum!


    - I love this song so much.


    - Isn''t it too high for him?


    - Oh, you must be new here.


    - This is a piece of cake for June.


    Truly, DAWN was at the peak of their career. In Korea, there were more people who knew June than those who didn''t. However, there was still a fraction who was clueless about his skills.


    Moreover, the new wave of fans that came from Untouched Souls still weren''t too familiar with him as an idol. So, a lot of people anticipated the live stage.


    Aside from that, for Jumi, who didn''t even know that June was a singer, along with the other hosts who hadn''t heard him sing before-this was a new experience.


    June wanted to give them a good show, of course.


    "I love this song," Bangsoo said, cing his hands over his heart.


    Shinchan shook his head. "You better not sing with him."


    Bangsoo clicked his tongue and shut his mouth. He was actually really tempted to sing with June. However, he didn''t want to be scrutinized by the public, so he kept quiet until June sang the first lines.


    "I''ve been on my bed, not even sleeping," he started off.


    Jumi''s eyes immediately widened. She covered her mouth with her hand and turned to the person next to her, who turned out to be Niki having the same reaction.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    June had the kind of voice that you would want to hear every night!


    "Wondering if it''s me you''ve been missing.


    I can''t wait to let go of this feeling.


    But with one look at this ring...


    It alles back."


    - He''s singing like he had gone through six divorces.


    - That''s June for you! He can emte every feeling in the book.


    - There''s no way this man doesn''t have a girlfriend. He''s fine. He''s talented. He looks capable!


    - We don''t want to hear that here.


    June let out a shaky breath before continuing the chorus.


    "Do you miss me like I miss you?


    Do you kiss him like I kiss you?


    Do you imagine the future with him, too?


    I was the one who broke your heart, but I can''t escape you."


    Shinchan closed his eyes to feel the song, suddenly remembering his ex. However, he quickly snapped back to reality when he realized he was daydreaming on live television. What the heck did June just do to him?


    Bangsoo, despite this song being his favorite, actually didn''t sing along! That was a groundbreaking record.


    Niki and Jumi waved their hands slowly to the beat of the song, looking at June like he was their long-lost son.


    Eunho, on the other hand, nodded in acknowledgment. Being a singer himself, he was more critical of June''s singing. However, much to his surprise, June was just as what the public had said-exceptional.


    "Really good," he muttered.


    Jaeduck dramatically narrowed his eyes and mouthed the lyrics of the song-even though he couldn''t rte to it. He had never broken anyone''s heart before! It was his heart that was shattered plenty of times. Yet, June brought out those emotions inside of him.


    Rowoon watched June with an agape mouth. He shook his head and wanted to p right then and there.


    No wonder he was so unlucky!


    This guy was perfect in all other aspects. If he had great luck, too, then he would just be a robot!


    "I hope youe back.


    I''ll give you everything you want now.


    But all I can do is watch your back.


    Because I can''t say these words somehow."


    With that, the song ended, and June finally opened his eyes.


    The first thing he saw was the crew''s amazed expressions. They quickly erupted into cheers, making him smile.


    It was followed by the cheers of the cast members. He even felt Jaeduck''s arms on his


    shoulders, shaking him vigorously.


    "You sing so well, young man!" he eximed. "I could rte to what you said!"


    Normally, the other members would refute Jaeduck''s statement. However, June''s song was


    still stuck with them, so they just pped in amazement from their seats.


    - This is the first time I''m hearing the crew members'' loud ass cheers.


    - They''re not immune to June''s charms.


    - I love it so much!


    - Holy crap! He''s actually a really good singer. I originally thought he was an actor because of his performance in Untouched Souls. Now, I know. He sings the best!


    However, even with the praises surrounding June, he could only focus on the screen-waiting for his score.


    He pursed his lips. He had done his best as usual. Based on their reactions, it was the best performance of the night. So, there was no way he was going to get a bad score in this one! "A hundred!" Bangsoo eximed. "He only deserves a hundred."


    "If June gets a hundred, then we won''t be inst ce," Shin-chan said, looking up at the ceiling in a prayer position.


    "I fully believe in you!" Bangsoo said, gently pping his shoulder.


    They waited for June''s score to show up while holding hands. The other teams looked at them


    with amusement.


    "Yeah, it''s going to be a hundred," Jeewoo said. "Let''s prepare to change into servant


    clothes."


    However, it seemed like he spoke too soon as the score was finally shown.


    69


    Lucky number, but unlucky voice! Keep on practicing!


    The members turned to each other with wide eyes before bursting intoughter.


    "What the heck? How the hell did he get a lower score than Bangsoo?"


    Bangsoo wanted to rejoice because June had a lower score than him; however, at the same


    time, he couldn''t. They were on the same team, after all.


    Even then, though, the thing that Bangsoo was amazed at the most wasn''t this.


    "Wah," he muttered, cing his hand on June''s shoulder. "You have worse luck than me."

 Chapter 996: Whats the Name of the Castle?

    Chapter 996: What''s the Name of the Castle?


    ?


    Casper couldn''t close his mouth out of shock. The episode was nearing its end, yet June had ended inst ce-every single time.


    Casper pursed his lips and turned to June, who had a neutral expression. Well, he was one who wasn''t easily bothered, after all.


    "You know what," he started off. "That''s actually more impressive than winning all games."


    Sehun nodded in agreement. "This is the first time I''ve seen someone lose all the games they had prepared."


    "Bangsoo was right when he said you had worse luck than him," Akira chimed in.


    - Poor June! It really isn''t his day.


    - Look! Even the cast members are amazed.


    - I am, too, honestly. This is the first time I''ve seen this in Crawling Man history.


    - It''s legendary! I could already imagine theption on YouWatch. It''s going to be freaking funny.


    Niki pursed her lips and went to June, bowing at him in admiration.


    Jaeduck chuckled at the young woman''s action. "What was that for, Niki?" he asked.


    "It''s just amazing," Niki said, scratching the back of her head. "I think I don''t have the right to say I have bad luck now. I ended up in third ce."


    "Me too," Rowoon said.


    Bangsoo scratched the back of his neck. "I feel weird. It feels weird that I''m not in thest ce."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Shinchan shook his head in amusement. "Me too. I''m used to sticking my tongue out at you. Now, I can''t even do that to June because he''s too handsome."


    "We will now reveal the final rankings!" The producer eximed, shing the result on the


    screen.


    They were now back to where they had started, and it was time to reveal the winner of the night.


    As expected, Jumi came out on top. Eunho came in second, while Niki was third. From then, the scores were pretty close. Bangsoo, however, had a negative score.


    Yet, June still took the cake with -16 points. It was a groundbreaking record!


    "I''m just at negative one," Bangsoo muttered. "It''s really strange."


    "And I got a one," Shinchan chuckle. "Still better than negative sixteen, though."


    June pursed his lips as the cast members began to tease him. It seemed like they had be morefortable with each other after the day-long filming.


    "Before we reveal the prize for the winner, why don''t we have a word from our guests?" Jaeduck asked, leading the show as it neared its end.


    Rowoon started first. "I''ve always wanted to guest here. Another thing on my bucket list has been ticked off! I also want to say that I''m paying my debt off slowly but surely...and if you''re my friend who ran away-I''ll see you in jail!"


    Theyughed at his lighthearted yet serious threat.


    Niki spoke next. "Hi, everyone! Thank you for inviting me here. Please continue loving Crawling Man. Aside from that, I hope you give Steel Family a chance, too. It airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on this channel in the morning!"


    Jumi shook her head in amusement. "Of course, you have to promote your work!"


    "We can''t forget the VIP of the night," Shinchan said, turning to June-who had been stuck in his servant outfit for the entire duration of the show. Yet again, he still looked like a prince in it. His face really did all the work.


    June pursed his lips before speaking.


    "I really thought my luck had improved," he started off. "I mean, DAWN was brought back together. We had a great album with satisfactory results. The movie I starred in was also a hit," he continued.


    "It''s more than a hit!" Jumi chimed in.


    "However, it seems like all of thosee with a prize," June muttered. "Yet again, I would take all of this bad luck if it means I get to do this for a long time with the people I care for."


    The members of DAWN turned to June with wide eyes as he said that. June scratched the back of his neck, feeling his cheeks warm up.


    "Why did they air it all?" he groaned.


    "Aww!" Jaeyong eximed. "Nobody loves our group more than June."


    - That''s actually really sweet!


    - He''s so well-spoken.


    - My heart hurts. I''ll take all your bad luck away, June!


    "Let''s give a hand to him!" Jaeduck eximed. "You really endured well today."


    The other cast members gave him a pat on the back, thanking him for making the show very


    entertaining.


    "Now, onto the prizes and the penalty," the producer said.


    Jumi sped her hands in front of her chest. "Ah, I can''t wait!"


    The staff brought out the prize¡ªa small box that seemed to contain something important. Then, they opened it, causing the members to gasp in surprise.


    "Is that real gold?" Jaeduck asked.


    The producer nodded. "We have real gold as the prize-fit for the heir of the castle."


    Bangsoo groaned in frustration. "I should have worked harder!"


    Shinchan shook his head. "Even if you worked harder, you would still end up inst ce. Be thankful that June is here."


    "Jumi is so lucky," Rowoon chimed in.


    The producer clicked his throat, capturing their attention once more.


    "Do you remember the name of this castle?" he asked.


    The members were confused. He would usually announce the penalty at this point.


    "Bad Luck Castle?" June answered.


    "Correct!" The producer eximed. "Therefore, the Bad Luck Castle isprised of people


    with bad luck. The real heir must be worthy of such a title."


    Their eyes widened, sensing what wasing next. June couldn''t believe his ears.


    "June, congrattions!" The producer eximed. "You are the rightful heir of the Bad Luck


    Castle. Please im your gold on the table."


    June still couldn''t believe it. The other members also looked at him with shock.


    How did they miss the name of the castle all along?


    "Therefore, the penalty will go to the person whose bad luck is pretentious-the one in the


    second bottom."


    Bangsoo''s eyes widened further-if that was even possible.


    "Bangsoo, you will clean the Boxes of Fateid out in the garden as a penalty!"


    "Aww,e on!" Bangsoo eximed.

 Chapter 997: Something Missing

    Chapter 997: Something Missing


    ?


    The members of DAWN gathered around in the practice room, each of them sprawled across the floor, catching their breath after a long practice.


    Sweat glistened on their faces, but so did a collective sense of frustration. The song they were bound to perform at PAPA awards continued ying in the background, so Jaeyong went and stopped it, already finding it repetitive.


    "Is it possible to hate our songs when I liked it so much back then?" he asked.


    Jisung shook his head. "Of course, it''s not normal! We should love our songs."


    "I love our songs," Casper chimed.


    "Man, I do, too," Zeth sighed. "But this performance preparation is making me drained."


    "Tell me about it," Sehun said. "It feels like we''re still in the beginning of everything even though we''ve practiced so much."


    Ren nodded in agreement. "There''s something missing here! I just don''t know what."


    "We need something new, something...extra," Jaeyong dered, hands on his hips, still breathing heavily.


    He was met with a chorus of sighs.


    Akira wiped his forehead dramatically, grinning from ear to ear as if he was about to solve the world''s problems with one brilliant idea.


    "What if we did, like...a ribbon dance?" he said.


    Sehun, leaning back against the mirrored wall, raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to use ribbons? You barely handle a mic stand, Akira."


    Akira shrugged. "Hey, I saw it in a drama once. They looked cool!"


    Jisung''s eyes lit up. "What if we tried ballet?"


    "No way!" Zeth shot down the idea immediately, looking horrified. "Ballet is such a hard type of dance. People underestimate it. You''re the only one who can do it well! Imagine what that would do to my image!"


    Everyone rolled their eyes, especially Ren, who muttered, "Of course, it''s always about your ''image.''"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Zeth ignored him, leaning back with his usual smirk. "Actually, you know what we need?"


    He casually began to tug at the hem of his shirt, winking at his reflection in the mirror. "Maybe I should just...take this off." He flexed his arms, smirking as he looked around for approval.


    "Zeth, we''re aiming for PG-13, not an R rating," Jaeyong groaned, covering his eyes. "Do you think the PAPA awards are going to be okay with that?"


    Zeth shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Can''t help it if the fans want what they want."


    Casper suddenly jumped up, pointing at Zeth. "Oh, I got it! We should do...a roley theme.


    Like, I could be the hero, Zeth''s the viin, and the rest of you are my backup squad! I''ll save the day, obviously."


    "And who are we going to save?" Jisung excitedly asked.


    Career turned to June.


    "Oh heck no!" June eximed.


    Akira''sugh was loud and immediate. "You? The hero? If anyone''s saving the day, it''s obviously me. You''re theic relief, Casper."


    Ren chimed in, his tone dry. "And does this hero rescue include a brain transnt for you?"


    June looked at his members with disbelief and shook his head. "Goodness," he muttered. "That''s what all of you are concerned about-and not me as your freaking damsel?"


    "That''s actually the best part of the idea," Sehun said, causing June to sigh in disappointment.


    He then searched his mind for a brand new idea.


    It seemed like DAWN had done every trick in the book. That was how many performances they had curated. Being in survival shows, they werepelled to perform with new concepts in fast intervals.


    Now, they were going to perform at a muchrger stage-with different fandoms attending -so they had to leave a good impression.


    He leaned against his elbows and looked at his members before suggesting something. "What about...martial arts?"


    The room went silent as everyone turned to look at him, blinking as if he''d suggested they all try underwater synchronized swimming.


    "Martial arts?" Jaeyong''s jaw dropped a bit, already picturing the group doing stunts on the stage.


    June nodded, his expression unchanging. "Think about it. High energy, crowd-pleasing, impressive."


    Sehun looked doubtful, scratching his head. "You think we''re all built for that? I mean, I''ve got old bones."


    "Sehun, don''t say that," Jaeyong said. "Please don''t sumb to these guys'' teases."


    Sehun chuckled. "Sorry. Akira is getting to me."


    "It''s cool though!" Jisung eximed, his eyes sparkling. "Like we could jump and kick and do those fancy moves! Imagine Casper doing a flying spin!"


    Ren chuckled, rolling his eyes. "The only ''flying spin'' he''d be doing is falling on his face." Casper raised his hand. "I was in the Taekwondo and Judo team when I was younger."


    They all turned to him with wide eyes. Then, in the small space, Casper executed the flying spin that Jisung had mentioned.


    Ren looked at him with wide eyes. "Holy crap! I forgot how talented you were for a second." Zeth, too, seemed intrigued. "I could make martial arts look hot."


    Casper''s eyes suddenly lit up again. "Wait! We could do a crossover! Martial arts and roley! Like, we''re all fighters from different realms, meeting in an epic battle to...I dunno, save the world or something...or June. June is better."


    "Alright, that''s enough," Ren chuckled. "Let''s stick with Martial Arts, yeah? Casper can teach us some tricks."


    "Is that alright with everyone?"


    They shrugged, and their leader, too, didn''t seem to hate the idea.


    "We still have some time," he said. "I think it''s worth trying."


    Just then, the door creaked open, and Jay stepped into the room, his clipboard in hand and a tight-lipped smile on his face. The members immediately groaned in unison, already sensing what this could mean.


    "DAWN, I see you''re...hard at work," Jay began, raising an eyebrow as he took in the scene


    before him.


    "Another schedule?" Ren guessed, his tone dry as sand.


    Jay nervously chuckled, clutching the clipboard closer to his body. "Let''s just say, you''re going to need all this ''creative energy'' you''ve been discussing. I''ve got something big


    nned for you."


    Jaeyong shook his head.


    "We don''t want it."

 Chapter 998: Gummy Ambassadors

    Chapter 998: Gummy Ambassadors


    ?


    "Oh,e on!" Jay eximed. "Hear me out on this!"


    Akira squinted up at him. "Why are you even our manager when you''re already the CEO? Doesn''t thepany have other staff?"


    Jay''s smile grew. "Because, Akira, I can''t trust anyone else with our most precious asset. I love EVE more than anything else!"


    "We''re not taking any more schedules until after the PAPA awards," June said.


    "We agreed to focus on this performance. Besides, I just filmed Crawling Man a week ago!"


    Jay held up his hands, looking both amused and slightly exasperated. "I know, I know! I wanted that, too. But trust me, this is one opportunity you can''t refuse."


    The boys were clearly unconvinced. Akira let out an exaggerated sigh, slumping against the mirrored wall. "Do you know how much energy I have left? Zero. And I need at least ten percent of it for the big stage."


    Jisung pped his hands together in what seemed to be a pleading gesture.


    "Please, can we just focus on the PAPA awards? This performance is going to be legendary!"


    Jay wasn''t budging. "Think of it this way-it''s a brand deal. And a very, very popr one."


    The word ''brand'' made everyone perk up slightly. However, this wasn''t new to them. They were practically wanted everywhere!


    "Just spit it out, Jay," Ren groaned, leaning his head back. "We''re too tired to y guessing games."


    Jay''s eyes sparkled as he took a deep breath, savoring the moment. "It''s... Benben Gummies." Dead silence filled the room.


    Slowly, all heads turned toward June, the one member of DAWN who actually had a soft spot for those ridiculous, brightly red-colored gummy bears with cartoon faces on the wrappers. June''s expression was unreadable, and the rest of the boys looked at him with dread.


    "Oh no," Ren whispered.


    "Please don''t," Sehun muttered.


    But it was toote. A glint of excitement had appeared in June''s eyes. He was sold.


    "No. No way!" Zeth said, standing up straight. "June, you''re kidding, right? Benben gummies are marketed for children!"


    June shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "They''re...good gummies."


    The rest of the group groaned loudly.


    "I''m down!" Casper eximed.


    ***


    And that''s how DAWN found themselves on set the next day, dressed in brightly colored tracksuits, each one a shade of the rainbow.


    Akira was in electric blue, Casper in neon green, Jisung in sunflower yellow, Sehun in purple, Zeth in red, Ren in orange, Jaeyong in midnight blue, and, of course, June in pink.


    Their task? To sing the Benben Gummies jingle in front of a green-screen background of giant, dancing gummy bears.


    "This is...not how I thought our careers would go," Ren muttered under his breath, adjusting the zipper of his orange tracksuit.


    Casper, meanwhile, seemed to be embracing his green outfit with surprising enthusiasm. "Guys, let''s just own it. June looks so happy!"


    "Are you even hearing yourself right now?" Zeth asked, his voice dripping with disbelief.


    Jisung, in his yellow tracksuit, was bouncing slightly, singing along to the obnoxiously catchy jingle that was ying over the speakers. "They''re kinda cute, though. Look at their little faces!"


    He pointed at the gummy bear costumes off to the side, where some of the staff members were prepping to join them for the group dance.


    Sehun nced over at June, who waspletely calm, even tapping his foot to the beat as if he genuinely liked the song. "I can''t believe you brought us here," he said, shaking his head.


    June just shrugged, unbothered. "I told you, they''re good gummies."


    "You won''t even be able to buy them anymore because they''ll be sold out everywhere," Sehun muttered.


    The director pped his hands, getting their attention. "Alright, DAWN! Time for the chorus. And remember-smile! This is a children''smercial, so make it fun and energetic!"


    Each member forced a smile, though Ren''s was more like a grimace, and Sehun''s barely counted as a smirk. They lined up, and as the music started, they began the choreographed dance, each trying to keep up with the happy, bouncy movements.


    "Benben Gummies! Sweet and fun! Grab a pack, and enjoy the sun!


    Akira, true to his yful nature, added a few exaggerated moves that made the staff chuckle. He caught sight of themughing and grinned, deciding to throw in a few spins just to see how ridiculous he could get away with looking.


    Casper, meanwhile, was mouthing the words enthusiastically, bobbing his head to the beat and pointing at the camera every chance he got.


    "Every bite, a gummy delight!


    June,pletelyposed, hit each move perfectly, looking almost serious as he sang the gummy jingle with what could pass for a music show performance. The other members sneaked nces at him, trying to hold backughter as he poured his heart into what was clearly the most childish line.


    "Benben Gummies! Gummy and bright! DAWN-approved, day and night! It''s the one that increased my height!"


    The staff pped between takes, thrilled by how cute they all looked. One of the stylists wiped a tear, sighing. "They''re just so adorable in those colors. We hit the jackpot with them!"


    "We had offered the brand deal to them before, but Azure rejected it every time. It''s a good thing they transferred to Phoenix."


    "Look at Sehun! He''s like a cute grape!"


    Sehun overheard, and his face turned a faint shade of pink. "I''m too old for this," he muttered, though he couldn''t hide the small smile that crept onto his face.


    The director came back over, giving them the thumbs-up. "Alright, boys, just one more take. This time, even bigger smiles!"


    Jaeyong groaned under his breath but forced his best grin. As the music yed, they went through the choreography once again, this time throwing in even more exaggerated gestures, mostly because they knew that if they didn''tugh, they might cry.


    Akira even tried to harmonize during thest line, making everyone burst intoughter just as


    the song ended.


    Finally, the director called, "Cut! That was perfect!"


    The boys exhaled, their shoulders dropping as the exhausting shoot wrapped up.


    As they left the set, the staff continued to gush over how cute they all looked, and June smiled, pulling a pack of Benben Gummies from his pocket and popping a blue one into his mouth. It was the firstunch of the rainbow edition!


    Jaeyong red at him, only half-joking. "I hope that was worth it, June."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June just shrugged, grinning as he held up the pack. "It was."

 Chapter 999: Award Show Season

    Chapter 999: Award Show Season


    ?


    Award show season.


    It was something that fans loved and hated at the same time.


    However, no matter what their stand was on award shows, there was one thing certain-they would vote for their favorite artists like it was a real election.


    The Prestige of Asian Pop Awards, also known as PAPA, and Asia''srgest music awards ceremony, was only a few hours away, but the frenzy around it had been building for weeks.


    Fans, both local and international, had gathered outside the venue in clusters, each representing their favorite artists.


    Signs and banners with bright LED lights blinked as they were held high above heads, each one proiming undying loyalty.


    The PAPA was notorious for its controversies-usations of ''attendance awards,'' where some thought trophies went to those who simply showed up.


    However, with a full investigation conductedst year, PAPA was determined to earn back its credibility. This time, they''d invited the biggest, most respected artists across Asia, wanting to earn the people''s trust once again.


    For fans, this event was a battleground, and every minute that led up to the main event made them palpitate like they had drunk eight shots of espresso.


    The red carpet area was a glittering gauntlet for idols and actors alike.


    Fans shrieked as their favorite idols strolled by, shing smiles and practicing waves while dressed to the nines.


    The biggest groups were due to arrive soon, and the tension was already increasing.


    Jia and her friends held their spots near the front row, eyes wide and hearts pounding as they waited for glimpses of their favorite idols-DAWN.


    Among the fan crowd, a fight seemed to break out.


    Bora nced back and frowned. "Goodness," he muttered. "Are the girls fighting already?"


    Two groups of fans squeezed too close together, began trading insults. The two arguing fans started out pretty discreet. It was nearly drowned out by the crowd''s excitement, but it eventually became a full-blown verbal fight.


    "I can''t believe you''re here waving that ugly lightstick," one fan, a die-hard of the group CHAOS, spat as she gestured to the fan next to her, who was proudly brandishing a lightstick in ZERO''s signature colors.


    "Oh, please," the ZERO fan scoffed back. "Maybe if your faves actually put in some effort, they''d look half as good as ZERO on stage."


    A few other fans tried to shush them, but the CHAOS fan rolled her eyes, huffing loudly, "This is why your idol smokes! Stressed out from that ''effort,'' I guess."


    Jia and her friends looked at each other, trying not tough while simultaneously feeling secondhand embarrassment from the exchange.


    "Here we go...can''t even go a minute without fan wars around here," Wei said, shaking her head.


    "Oof," Jia muttered. "I, too, would smoke if I had fans like this."


    Security had noticed, too. Within seconds, two tall guards swooped in and split the fans up, ushering the CHAOS and ZERO supporters apart and toward the back of the line.


    "Alright, you two, enough of that," one guard said sternly as they escorted the bickering fans away. The fans groaned in protest, one of them whining, "But she started it!"


    The other retorted, "She was being disrespectful to my boys!"


    "Out. Now." The security guard was unmoved, pushing them further away as Jia and her friends watched, trying not to make eye contact with the disgruntled fans now being led off. They chuckled in amusement and quickly turned their attention back to the main event. Group after group arrived in dazzling outfits, sending cameras shing with every step. Jia spotted KIZZ ME, the girl group known for their sexy stage presence.


    Tonight, they wore matching red dresses, glistening under the lights with bold silhouettes and sparkling fabric. Their long, sleek hairstyles and dark makeup drew admiration from every corner as they posed gracefully. One member winked at the camera, and the fans lost it; screams were heard through the cold air.


    Not long after, CHAOS emerged, the boy group making waves with their intense performances.


    They wore slick ck suits, ssic yet powerful. The fans, previously arguing over them, resumed their screams, momentarily forgetting their earlier fight. CHAOS exchanged waves and nods before walking to the interview area.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Haruki is so fine," Bora eximed.


    "Tell me about it," Nari sighed dreamily.


    Momentster, another group, ZTC142576-a rookie group whose name was too hard to memorize-arrived in simr ck suits.


    They walked confidently, trying to keep their nerves under control as cameras captured every angle.


    Their fans cheered enthusiastically, hoping this would be their breakthrough moment in front of a broader audience.


    Jia couldn''t help but notice how the rookie group''s energy shed with CHAOS''s, both presenting simr looks but giving off such different vibes.


    "I think they''re the fourth boy group to wear ck suits tonight," Jia observed.


    Bora nodded. "It''s the ssic outfit for award shows, really. If it''s not ck suits, then it''s white suits, or not, it''s red suits."


    They began to get into the traditions of award shows. But then, the crowd became more


    excited than usual.


    DAWN had arrived.


    It was honestly pretty concerning how the fans immediately recognized DAWN''s car. However, then again, K-Pop fans were probably among the best investigators on the. If you had told K-Pop fans that their favorite idol was on the Titanic, then they would have done everything to save it.


    Meanwhile, in the car, the members of DAWN were stuck in silence.


    Despite performing countless times before, they couldn''t help but feel nervous. This was their first award show appearance, of course-so it was to be expected.


    However, if you asked them, it wasn''t the performance they were nervous about.


    Instead, it was what they were wearing-something they had onlye up with three days before the award show. It was tailored very quickly, and they didn''t have enough time to take


    it all in as they got dressed just a few moments ago.


    Sehun looked at his members and sighed.


    "Can we really wear this?" he asked.

 Chapter 1000: Modern Tradition

    Chapter 1000: Modern Tradition


    ?


    "We''re fine!" Akira said, pping a reassuring hand on Sehun''s shoulder. "We even consulted an expert, remember? A whole Korean history teacher. We''re covered."


    Sehun shifted in his seat, still ncing out the window as he caught glimpses of the fans pressed up against the barricades, waving signs and shing lights.


    "Yeah, you''re right," Sehun said.


    "And to add to that-this was June''s suggestion!" Casper eximed. "So, of course, it''s going to be okay."


    That seemed to do the trick.


    "I''m sold!" Sehun eximed. "Let''s go out now."


    From the beginning, they''d wanted something that spoke of their roots but looked distinctly different from the usual red carpet-outfits that boy groups wore.


    They''d gone so far as to visit a Korean history teacher who taught them the nuances between traditional styles and potential appropriation issues. By the time they finished, they knew the importance of respecting tradition.


    That was a pretty interesting day for them.


    "Come on," Akira continued with a grin, gesturing toward the door. "They''re waiting for us. You know how our fans can be so impatient."


    Zeth nodded, scrolling through his phone.


    "Yup," he smiled. "They''re cursing us out on Navel now!"


    The door swung open, and after a brief exchange of nces, the members decided to let June go first.


    June sighed and shook his head. "Always making me the sacrificialmb," he muttered.


    However, even then, he decided to lead their group, stepping out of the car with his killer smile.


    The response was instantaneous.


    Fans screamed as cameras shed, and the crowd immediately surged forward, pressing against the barriers as they struggled to get closer.


    June looked every bit the part as he stepped forward, shoulders back, exuding a calm elegance that carried a spark of tradition mixed with modernity.


    His hanbok was midnight blue, the fabric deep and rich, shimmering subtly under the shing lights. The embroidery at the cor and cuffs caught the light, adding a refined touch that stood out from the simpler suits and dresses worn by other idols that night.


    DAWN was truly in a ss of its own.


    The fans'' response was crazy. Whispers rippled through the crowd as everyone took in DAWN''s modern hanbok attire.


    It was traditional yet innovative, a style that managed to strike the perfect bnce between honoring history and embracing the present.


    The other members stepped out one by one, each in a simr midnight blue modern hanbok, though the designs vary slightly.


    Sehun''s sleeves were longer, flowing more dramatically with each step, while Akira''s cor was adorned with a line of subtle silver embroidery, almost like stars dusting the night sky. Ren wore his with a tailored vest that had intricate patterns, adding a touch of elegance to the already distinguished look.


    It wasn''t just DAWN''s fans reacting.


    People from every corner of the venue were craning their necks, whispering and pointing,pletely interested.


    It was rare for any idol to pull off something so different from the standard red carpet-attire. The cameras turned on them in full force, each sh capturing their movements.


    It was an entry that couldn''t be ignored.


    "Wow," Jia whispered, eyes wide as she and her friends leaned over the barricade.


    "Damn," Bora said. "I wonder how they''re going to perform tonight."


    Wei nodded in agreement. "That''s what I''m most excited for! They look like ancient royalty!"


    Once they reached the carpet interview area, the boys lined up.


    June, who stood in the middle, gave a slight bow to the host, and the rest of the group followed.


    The host grinned, holding the microphone up to the group with a smile that was friendly yet curious, clearly eager to discuss their attire.


    "DAWN! Wow, you all look incredible tonight!"


    The host''s voice echoed over the speakers, and the fans cheered louder, a chorus of shouts filling the air.


    "These are quite different from what we''ve seen tonight-what inspired this look?"


    Jaeyong took the mic first, ncing at his members for a moment before he answered. "Thank you so much. We really wanted to honor where wee from but also bring something fresh to the red carpet. We actually consulted a Korean history teacher about this look," he said, eyes lighting up as he continued. "She helped us understand cultural respect and how to blend traditional styles with modern fashion. We''re really proud to be here wearing something meaningful."


    The crowd''s apuse grew louder, and several fans chanted DAWN''s name.


    The host beamed. "Well, you''re definitely setting the standard tonight! Now, let''s move on to another big topic-your new brand deal. The BenBen gummy advertisement just came out yesterday, right?"


    A wave ofughter and excitement rolled through the crowd as fans shrieked, someughing.


    DAWN''s members froze.


    "Crap," Zeth muttered.


    The timing couldn''t have been worse-or better, depending on perspective.


    Theirtest advertisement for BenBen Gummies had just dropped the day before, and the response had been...intense.


    Fans had been posting about the ad non-stop since its release, their social media feeds flooded with clips of DAWN in brightly colored clothes, singing an absurdly catchy jingle while dramatically biting into gummy bears.


    "Oh no," Akira whispered, the corners of his mouth twitching as he fought back a grin. "I can''t believe this is happening right now. We look too hot to be doing this," he said to Ren. The hostughed, clearly aware of the situation. "Come on! Give us a little taste of the jingle, won''t you? I think your fans would love it."


    The boys stared at each other, wide-eyed and struggling to hold backughter.


    Ren''s face turned bright red while Sehun nced at Jaeyong, who looked torn betweenughing and finding the nearest exit.


    The fans, meanwhile, yelled and chanted for DAWN to sing the ad''s song. Some had even pulled out their phones, ready to capture the moment as theyughed and cheered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    There was no way out.


    Akira held up his hands, trying to stall. "Umm, we forgot the words?"


    The host grinned even wider, clearly enjoying their reaction. "That can''t be! You guys killed it


    in themercial."


    June pursed his lips. Despite wearing such handsome attires, their cute brand deal was still brought up. It seemed like the crowd was also fixated on it.


    That meant it would be harder for the crowd to take them seriously during their actual


    performance.


    "This is a problem," he muttered.

 Chapter 1001: Sponsors of the Night

    Chapter 1001: Sponsors of the Night


    ?


    The artists were now in their respective seats. DAWN arrived prettyte, so almost all of the seats were already taken when they arrived. The intern led them to their seats, and there, the attention immediately shifted to their group.


    The other artists immediately talked about their outfits, praising them for their creativity.


    - When is it going to start?


    - I heard the artists are already assembling!


    - I saw DAWN''s outfit previews. I really need to see them perform now.


    - Please, please, please¡ªcan time move faster?


    Haruki shook his head as he looked at the members of DAWN.


    "These guys are so freaking extra," he muttered.


    LUNAIRE, who sat a few feet away, had been chatting among themselves, feeling excited about their very first award show, before pausing to look at DAWN.


    "June must have thought of this," Mei muttered.


    "I think he did!" Jeemin said. "He''s really smart, huh?"


    "Nah, he''s a show-off!" Mei said.


    However, it seemed like the other girl groups begged to differ. They exchanged whispers, eyes wide with curiosity and awe. For many of the rookies, it was their first time seeing DAWN up close, and it showed in their hushed voices that they were very curious about them.


    "That''s DAWN? They look unreal," one of the rookies whispered, eyes trailing over the group of eight boys.


    "I know, right? I didn''t realize they were this tall. I thought June was a small guy," another added, her gaze darting to June, who was smaller than his peers but was taller than average. Mei shook her head as her members also looked at DAWN. "Don''t do that," she said.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her members turned to her. "What do you mean?" Yeri asked.


    "Do you want to be in aption of ''Idols Being Amazed By June''s Visuals?'' I was ced there once. I don''t want to be in it again."


    Before the crowd could fully process DAWN''s looks, the atmosphere changed with the arrival of the night''s hosts. Along with that, the live stream finally started, presenting the opening of the show.


    The fans roared as Taehyun and Hana stepped onto the stage, feeling their chemistry even through the screen.


    The duo, who had captured hearts with their recent blockbuster film Untouched Souls, waved warmly at the audience, their smiles dazzling under the bright lights.


    Hana''s dress was a flowing masterpiece, a deep navy blue with cascading silver threads that gave the illusion of a night skye to life. Taehyun, dressed in a tailored ck suit with a midnight blue tie, appeared to be her very handsome butler.


    "Good evening, everyone!" Taehyun called out, lifting a hand in greeting. His voice, smooth as silk, was met with screams and shouts from adoring fans.


    Hanaughed, the sound bright and ringing. "Wow, the energy here tonight is incredible!" She nced over at Taehyun with a yful grin. "You think they''re excited for the awards or just to see us?"


    Taehyun feigned a thoughtful expression, eyes twinkling as he scanned the crowd.


    "I''d say it''s a solid fifty-fifty split," he joked, prompting a ripple ofughter.


    "We''re gathered here today to give out the prestigious awards for the best artists of our generation," Hana started off.


    "This will be a night filled with performances, thrills, and, of course, victories!" Taehyun continued.


    Hana then nced at the artists'' section and smiled. "I''m spotting familiar faces," she said, nudging Taehyun.


    "Ah, there he is!" Taehyun eximed. "Our one and only friend, June!" he called out, his voice teasing.


    The cameras immediately swung to catch June''s reaction. He was sitting just behind some of his DAWN members, who all wore matching expressions of amusement. A flush of color swept across June''s face, and he offered a shy wave.


    - Aww, so cute! He was startled.


    - June is so cool while performing, but he''s really just a regr guy.


    - I like him so much. He shines on the screen.


    "June!" Taehyun hollered, pointing at him with a grin. "You better not be hiding back there. We saw yourst scene, man. Still recovering from that."


    The crowd erupted in cheers, and June''s face turned an even deeper shade of red. He mumbled something to Ren, who patted him on the back with augh.


    "All right, it''s time for the main event!" Taehyun announced, pulling attention back to the stage area. "But before that, let''s acknowledge the true stars of the night-our sponsors!"


    The yful sarcasm in his voice wasn''t lost on the audience, and a chuckle rolled through the crowd.


    Hana took over, shing a bright smile. "We''re grateful for our sponsors, without whom this night wouldn''t be possible. First up, we have Cofeeko, the candy that''s always seen in the girl protagonist''s pocket during high school dramas. You know, the one-the candy that''s inexplicably important for two whole episodes."


    The crowd roared withughter as the advertisement shed on the screen, showing a teen actress dramatically pulling a Cofeeko out of her pocket with a look of exaggerated relief. The members of DAWN couldn''t help butugh, Akira mimicking the actress''s expression as Sehun nudged him with a grin.


    Taehyun raised a brow. "And who could forget Samsing? Thetest model that''s somehow always used by the poor protagonist who can barely afford dinner but magically owns a phone that costs more than rent."


    Gasps ofughter and knowing nods rippled through the crowd. The members of LUNAIRE were caught on camera giggling, their hands covering their mouths as they tried not to break out into full-blownughter.


    "And, of course," Hana said with a yful roll of her eyes, "the most important one of all. BenBen Gummies! The chewy snack that guarantees screen time in your favorite show because, let''s face it, no one can eat one without smiling for the camera."


    June groaned audibly, drawing the attention of the cameras as the spotlight once againnded on DAWN.


    The entire group tried to hide their embarrassment, and fans screamed with glee.


    Theirmercial yed on the screens, showing exaggerated close-ups of DAWN members biting into brightly colored gummies and smiling wide with dramatic enthusiasm.


    Indeed, they looked crazy over the Benben gummies.


    "Oh,e on," June muttered under his breath.


    This wasn''t helping with their image!

 Chapter 1002: The Performances Start

    Chapter 1002: The Performances Start


    ?


    - They look so embarrassed!


    - The cameraman is a genius for focusing on DAWN at the perfect moment. They were caught off guard.


    - It seems like Benben Gummies had a bigger picture. The fact that they released the coboration yesterday is sick! My boys still need to perform serious songs.


    - It''s working, though. The rainbow edition ones with DAWN''s photocards are already sold out in my local grocery store.


    -Girl, it''s sold out everywhere!


    Jaeyong let out a yful groan, muttering under his breath, "Can we just hide now?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Before any of the members could respond, the camera zoomed in on June. His expression remained impassive, serious in a way that contrasted hriously with the cheerful chaos surrounding him.


    The crowd let out a collective scream as someone in the front shouted, "His face card never declines!"


    The statement was met with another wave ofughter, especially from the artists who were near that particr fan.


    Well, June was just thinking how they could possibly outperform their image in the gummy advertisement when almost all viewers, along with the other idols, were already dead set on their cheery image.


    - How can he look so good even in these moments?


    - My man''s face card is so lethal that he looks like that even in the most unserious moments.


    - I think I''llugh when I watch their performance, though. I can only imagine them singing about gummy bears that make them grow now. It really is bad timing.


    The chatter gradually died down as Taehyun and Hana took center stage once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you''re enjoying the show so far," Taehyun announced with a grin. "But now, it''s time for the moment you''ve all been waiting for: the opening performance of the PAPA!"


    Hana''s smile brightened as she leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Please wee the iparable new girl group LUNAIRE!"


    A hush swept over the audience as the lights dimmed and the stage transformed into a glowing, cosmic wondend.


    The backdrop projected an endless gxy with twinkling stars and swirling nebs.


    Fog crept across the stage, creating an ethereal scene that had everyone captivated. Then, on cue, LUNAIRE appeared, descending gracefully from above, suspended by wires and dressed in delicate, shimmering fairy costumes. Their outfits sparkled in shades of silver and pastel colors, the designs resembling the wings of mythical creatures.


    The first notes of their song, Cosmic, filled the hall, arranged with orchestral instruments that made the room feel they weren''t on Earth.


    The members of LUNAIRE floated down, their movements fluid as they hit the stage.


    The choreography was enchanting, and every step was perfectly aligned with the music. They spun and twirled like real fairies, the smiles not leaving their faces.


    June watched intently, arms crossed, but a soft, brotherly smile yed at the corners of his lips. His eyes followed the members as they moved across the stage, their expressions showing how happy they were to be performing.


    They glided into a stunning formation, wings fluttering as they hit the chorus. A loud cheer erupted from the crowd, and June found himself pping along with everyone else.


    Unbeknownst to him, the camera once again panned to capture his reaction. The instant his smile was caught on the big screen, fans shrieked, their voices echoing through the venue.


    June noticed the camera''s gaze and quickly dropped the smile, his expression reverting to its usual stoic look. The sudden change only fueled the audience''sughter, and even the emcees on the side of the stage couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "I swear, they''re going to use that for every meme tonight," Ren whispered, not being able to contain his own grin.


    "You looked too happy, bro," Jisung chuckled. "Too happy."


    Just then, June heard something from his side-another rookie boy group that seemed to be amazed by their performance.


    "They''re so pretty!"


    "Isn''t Mei so pretty? I always thought so, even during Rising Stars."


    "You started watching them since Rising Stars? You''re down bad, man!"


    June immediately frowned. Who the heck were these little gremlins? His brotherly instincts threatened toe out.


    As the song came to an end, LUNAIRE struck their final pose. The lights dimmed once more, and for a split second, the stage was cloaked in darkness.


    When the lights returned, LUNAIRE stood beaming, slightly out of breath but glowing under the stage lights. The apuse was really round, making the girls'' smiles even wider.


    June joined in the apuse, giving them a nod from his seat. He could see the relief in their expressions and the subtle way their shoulders rxed after the high-pressure routine.


    "This little girl," June muttered as he gazed at Mei. "She has improved so much. Fu is doing her a really good favor."


    The night continued with the presentations of the first awards and performances from various groups.


    The crowd sang and danced in their seats as the lineup progressed, consisting of only rookie groups for the first half.


    Since they invited many groups this year, the pacing was tight, with each act barely getting time to exit before the next was introduced.


    Fans of every group screamed at full volume. From the youngest rookies who had debuted just a month ago to groups with several years under their belts, each performance brought something new to the table.


    Even so, there was an unspoken understanding among everyone present: the most anticipated acts were yet toe.


    Usually, the older groups would be the ones performing in the end¡ªand that was true for this event, too. CHAOS was bound to performst. However, DAWN was an outlier to it all.


    Despite only debuting a couple of weeks ago, DAWN was going to perform third to thest. Some of the artists on stage, especially those who debuted before them, questioned the


    decision.


    Why was it that a rookie group was performing right before their seniors?


    There was only one answer to that-poprity.


    DAWN was undoubtedly the most popr group in the lineup, and since the producers didn''t


    want the audience to leave prematurely, they ced them to perform near thest.


    However, of course, those groups didn''t seem to understand that. The concept of seniority


    was still embedded within them.


    So, they were ready to scrutinize DAWN''s performance to the core.


    Meanwhile, the members of DAWN made their way backstage.


    "We''re up next," Jaeyong said.

 Chapter 1004: Mixed Feelings

    Chapter 1004: Mixed Feelings


    ?


    The audience was silent, not wanting to ruin the moment.


    The soft strains of Casper''s gayageum still resonated, but now June''s voice began to thread through the quiet stage.


    There was something unique about the way he sang. How could he use his delicate voice in so many genres? Pop, rock, bads, rap, trot, and now pansori? How many more talents did he have?


    It was hard to pull off, requiring experience and deep emotional resonance, yet June captured it perfectly.


    - My mom owns a pansori vocal lesson house. She''s watching with me right now, even if she said she wasn''t going to watch at all! Now, she wants to recruit June to our roster of performers!


    - Do you guys know how difficult this is to pull off? He''s literally singing in a different genre.


    - He sounds like a master! Most people are born in this kind of singing atmosphere. They take years to cultivate their skill.


    - Yeah, it''s freaking amazing! I don''t recall June saying he has experience in pansori. So, it must be his first time.


    "The sun rises, but it doesn''t feel like it''s for me.


    The light slips past, and I wonder if I''m just not meant to follow."


    A soft murmur swept through the audience, the song''s bittersweet tone reaching deep.


    The idols in the crowd exchanged nces, their expressions showing amazement and empathy.


    Haruki leaned forward, hands sped together, trying his hardest not to fanboy right then and there.


    Members of LUNAIRE were motionless, their whispers stilled by the captivating start.


    "Everything I want feels out of reach, like chasing shadows,


    And every day feels long, as if time stretches on when I suffer,


    But short, so short, when a little happiness finds me.


    It''s strange-how the days can feel endless yet disappear in a blink."


    The depth in June''s voice was like a spell, drawing listeners into his world. He had the kind of voice you didn''t just hear...but feel.


    He navigated between the soul-stirring vibrato of pansori and the polished, modern notes of contemporary badry.


    The result was a performance soyered that the crowd felt each phrase pressing against their chests.


    The camera captured Crimson, a member of a 5-year-old boy group, who was known for his stoic demeanor, with a subtle mist in his eyes. He was one of those who questioned the order of performances. Now, all he could focus on was June''s singing.


    Suddenly, the voices of the other members joined in, harmonizing softly. The blend was rich and haunting, enjoining their individual stories into one shared experience.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I wonder if I could stop time, would I?


    Could I do it all again?"


    The lights became whiter, and Jisung stepped to the center, moving with the grace of a seasoned dancer. His ballet was fluid and expressive, every leap and turn echoing the song''s theme of longing and eptance.


    There was an elegance to the way he danced, yet an underlying sharpness that came from being an idol dancer.


    Zeth joined him without hesitation. He was the member who imed he couldn''t dance to ballet because it would make him look unskilled. However, he joined in without a problem. He had absorbed Jisung''s teachings of ballet and applied them to this performance.


    The audience watched, entranced.


    Even seasoned performers in the crowd, who were used to the grandeur of award show stages, felt a tightness in their chests.


    The story unfolding before them was one they all knew too well-the sacrifices, the uncertainty, the fragile joy of pursuing a dream together.


    As the two dancers concluded their duet, the song''s chorus yed.


    "I won''t.


    I won''t do it all again.


    What meaning would it have if it did?


    Will I meet the same people?


    Will I get to live the same life?


    So, I''d rather be stuck in what I have


    Then, we live in the uncertainty of not having this life.


    It''s tough, it truly is.


    But it''s mine."


    June''s voice pierced the tension in the room. For a moment, it felt as though everyone could see the long, tireless journey DAWN had taken to stand on that stage together.


    - Oh, fuck this! Why am I crying?


    - Again, you must be new here.


    - Yup, as a seasoned astra, you should always be prepared with tissues whenever DAWN performs.


    - I thought they were going to change their concept with the name change. They''re still the same! They''re the best at making me feel insane.


    Camera shes caught idols in the audience nodding slowly, their eyes reflecting the song''s message.


    Haruki rubbed the corner of his eye with a quick motion, and even members of LUNAIRE shared quiet, understanding smiles.


    The boys on stage looked at each other as the final verse neared, their expressions filled with unspoken words.


    They wanted to portray this song in a different way¡ªas if they had an alternate ending.


    Instead of being with each other, they live their lives individually.


    It was the eptance that they couldn''t stop time.


    It was the truth that if they hadn''t fought for it, then they would be friends who became


    strangers.


    With that thought in mind, their performance became even more emotional.


    "I won''t stop time.


    I won''t rewind my life, tempting as it sometimes feels.


    Because this life, with all its struggles and its moments of light,


    Is what brought me here, to my new beginning.


    The people, the memories, the joy and pain-it''s all real.


    And I''d rather hold onto that,


    Than risk a life where none of it exists."


    Thest note hung in the air, fragile and full of unvoiced emotion. The audience held their


    breath, on the verge of tears.


    And then, just as the silence threatened to tip into a sob, the music changed dramatically.


    It became intense once again-simr to that of the VCR.


    Then, without warning, Casper went to the middle and flipped forward,nding on his feet


    with a smirk.


    The audience was stunned, to say the least.


    "What the heck was that?" Bora eximed, on the verge of standing from her seat.


    Leave it to DAWN to tug at heartstrings only to jolt everyone and surprise them with backflipping in the next second.

 Chapter 1005: Just Six Minutes

    Chapter 1005: Just Six Minutes


    ?


    - Did he just do a front flip?


    - Where the heck is this performance going?


    - I was on the verge of tears, and then boom! Casper''s torso is in my face.


    - Am I the only one who finds this hrious?


    - It looks like a mini-drama.


    Indeed, although the boys put off Casper''s suggestion of incorporating a plot into their performance, they eventually caved in.


    In the end, they presented a mini-drama that showed their multifaceted charms.


    The stage that had just held the heart-rending performance of ''To My New Beginning'' was now transformed. The ambient and emotional white light now reced by red and blue.


    A low, throbbing beat came out of the speakers, vibrating through the floor and into the audience''s very bones.


    The boys of DAWN stood tall and unyielding at the center of the stage, eyes glinting with a newfound fire.


    The eptance stage was done.


    Now, they were in the final stage of the grieving process-revenge.


    The six minutes were short, so they wanted to pack a lot of their charms into it. They had already gone the emotional route in the beginning, and now they were preparing for something epic.


    What better song to portray that than one of their songs in their new album-Unhinged? Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed. It sounded like a heavy metal door had been kicked open. The audience flinched in surprise.


    The background changed to a digital rendition of rusted locks breaking apart, scattering in a chaotic dance.


    The beat intensified, and DAWN exploded into a dynamic movement.


    Each step, each kick, was sharp and powerful, reminiscent of martial arts training.


    Casper, in the lead, spun in a wless 540 kick that transformed into a low, sweeping move. The audience gasped, stunned by the sudden ferocity.


    - Since when did Casper know these moves?


    - He was an athlete!


    - The other members are also impressive! It looks like they''ve worked so hard for this.


    The lyrics began, harsh and biting, as Jaeyong''s voice cut through the heavy bass.


    "Used me till the hinges creaked,


    It kept me close and never let me speak.


    Chains rattled when you turned that key,


    But now the lock''s broken, I''m free."


    Casper and Jisung leaped forward, flipping in unison beforending together without any instability.


    Their movements were synchronized with the beat, turning each step into abination of dance and battle.


    Casper dropped into a low stance, mimicking a block before pivoting into a rapid set of kicks. Jisung mirrored him, their symmetry perfect, like a duo that had trained for this moment their entire lives. The idols watched with wide eyes, with some standing to get a better look.


    "Did he just pull a tornado kick into a split and make it look that easy?"


    The second verse hit with even more force, Zeth''s deep voice taking the lead.


    "Twist that handle, try your luck,


    This door''s broken; I''m running amok.


    You thought you knew who you were pressing?


    Time to learn¡ªthis rage''s a blessing."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    With those words, Zeth mmed his fist into the ground, a sound effect of metal shattering ringing out as the lights flickered, casting shadows that made him look twice as fierce. Theizens watching from home couldn''t help but flood social media withments.


    - Is it just me, or did Zeth actually crack the stage?


    - Me: watching calmly. Also, I''m screaming internally at how good this is.


    - Be for real. How can anyone watch this calmly?


    The choreography reached its climax as June and Sehununched into a partnered sequence. They locked eyes and subtly nodded at each other.


    June moved first, a swift, controlled sequence of punches that Sehun countered with blocking motions before spinning around and pulling June into a mock throw. They broke apart only to meet at the center, spinning in perfect synchronicity.


    Jisung broke free from the formation, taking center stage once more.


    The tempo shifted, dropping to a haunting lull as he executed a spinning crescent kick so fluid that it seemed to defy gravity.


    Hended quietly, and the other members encircled him, their bodies forming a barrier as the beat built up again. The crowd couldn''t contain their amazement.


    "Are they even human?" a member from KIZZ ME whispered, their eyes darting to catch each movement.


    The chorus came back, shouted by all the members.


    "Unhinged and unbound,


    The silence, the lies, drowned.


    This fury, you tried to tame,


    But now you''re the one in my game."


    The dance became even more intense, each member showcasing their martial arts background, or at least the one that Casper had taught them in a span of days.


    Akira executed a roundhouse kick while Zeth paired up with Casper for aplicated routine involving mock strikes and flips. Even those who''d never seen DAWN live could feel the power radiating from them.


    Backstage, other idols stood glued to the monitors. One of them, from a rookie group, whispered, "This is going to break the inte."


    "Correction-it already has," another added, eyes glued to the stage.


    In the final moments of the song, June broke away from the circle, sliding into a low stance before rising with a jump, pulling off a twisting sidekick. The crowd screamed as thest note faded, leaving the members breathless but standing tall.


    The camera zoomed in on June. The people wondered how the same face showed sadness just mere minutes ago.


    Before the crowd could catch their breath, Casper, always the wild card, jumped forward and performed a wless backflip,nding with an exaggerated bow.


    - I just burst.


    - Ay yo? What does that mean?


    - You don''t want to know.


    - I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TICKETS FOR THIS!


    - Congrats, astras! We have more fans on our side now (more enemies).


    The camera panned back to the group, capturing their expressions-equal parts exhaustion


    and exhration.


    The idols in the audience leaped to their feet, pping and shouting as if they''d just


    witnessed history. And maybe they had.


    Six minutes.


    All it took was six minutes for DAWN to show one of the best award-show performances of all


    time.

 Chapter 1006: Most Popular Award

    Chapter 1006: Most Popr Award


    ?


    The aftermath of DAWN''s performance was astronomical.


    Although other awards had been presented after it, most of the crowd was still talking about their performance!


    Those who had initially raised an eyebrow at the lineup-the daring decision to put DAWN sote in the show-couldn''t help but eat their words now.


    DAWN had blown every expectation out of the water, and they didn''t know if they could live up to it.


    Crimson pursed his lips together. "The sequence is actually good," he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. He couldn''tprehend how anyone could perform right after them! The really was no escaping the fact that DAWN had set a bar that felt impossible to meet. Backstage, members of CHAOS huddled together, all with simr expressions.


    "Those DAWN dudes, really."


    "I can''t believe we''re performing after them."


    "Well, we did debut years earlier than them."


    "They might as well performst!"


    Haruki clicked his tongue and broke away from their huddle.


    "Whatever," he said. "They''re the best. There''s no way our performances can beat them when ites to concepts."


    "But we''re already here," Haruki continued. "Let''s just show them what we practiced."


    His members nodded. However, in the back of their minds, they were still cursing the rookie group, DAWN, out.


    When they finally stepped out to perform, they made sure to give a show that would momentarily take away the crowd''s mind from DAWN. They fulfilled their objective, of course. However, it was clear that everyone''s mind was still wrapped around DAWN''s explosive set.


    As thest performance of the night concluded, the room became nervous, most of them carrying hope in their hearts.


    The performances were done. Now, only thest award announcements remained, and with it, the air grew tense with anticipation.


    It was the most nerve-wracking moment for the artists and fans alike. Although the possibility was low, they still wanted to win-no matter what!


    Members of DAWN sat together, already feeling sleepy since the award show had been going on for four hours and counting.


    Akira held in a yawn, leaning against Ren, who quickly pushed him away.


    They hadn''t won anything yet, but that didn''t bother them. For Jaeyong, though, he was waiting impatiently for their name to be called.


    Jaeyong nced at his phone, his finger tapping anxiously against the side. He had been tracking the votes for the most popr award all night.


    It wasn''t cool at all, but can you me him? Jaeyong was just a naturally anxious person.


    The moment came. The lights dimmed, and Taehyun walked out to the center stage holding the envelope. "And now, the award for the Most Popr Artist of the Year," he announced, pausing for effect.


    Jaeyong''s hand tightened around Jisung''s, squeezing it hard. Jisung winced but didn''t pull away, his own excitement too big to be dampened by the pressure.


    "It''s us," Jaeyong whispered, feeling excited yet nervous at the same time.


    "This award is a hundred percent based on fan votes," Taehyun added.


    The envelope was opened, and Taehyun''s eyes lit up. "The award goes to... DAWN!"


    The audience apuded. Cheers filled the space as DAWN''s members exchanged nces before being nudged onto the stage by Casper and Sehun.


    Jaeyong led the way, his heart racing as he walked up to ept their first award of the night. The bright lights felt warm and overwhelming as Taehyun handed the trophy to him, giving a smile that said he knew what this meant to them.


    Jaeyong stepped up to the mic, gripping the award tightly with trembling hands. He blinked, trying topose himself, but as he nced back at his members-Jisung, with his yful grin, June with that unreadable yet proud expression, and Casper raising an eyebrow as if daring him to cry-the emotion bubbled up.


    "Thank you," Jaeyong started, his voice catching. He swallowed hard, eyes blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. "Thank you to our fans, who believed in us even when everything seemed impossible. This is... this is for all of you who made this night unforgettable." Heughed shakily, "And for my members, who are more than just my teammates. They''re my family. Thank you for sticking with me even when I was a mess."


    Akira, always quick to lighten the mood, leaned in and whispered loud enough for the audience to hear, "Look at him, about to cry like a baby."


    The crowdughed, and Jaeyong shot him a mock re before stepping back to let Jisung speak. Jisung smiled shyly. "Thank you to everyone who''s shown us love. This night isn''t just ours-it''s all of ours. Let''s make next year even more unforgettable!"


    As they walked back to their seats, Casper yfully bumped


    Jaeyong''s shoulder. "Almost lost it there, didn''t you?"


    "Shut up," Jaeyong mumbled, though the grin on his face said he was anything but annoyed. They sat down, surrounded by the warmth of the crowd''s apuse still echoing in their ears.


    Now, only the grand prizes were left, the ones that carried the most prestige: Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year.


    A VCR began to y, showcasing the history of these awards. Iconic performances from the past, the legends who had graced the stage before them-the artists who paved the way. The idols watched intently, their faces reflecting both awe and yearning.


    As June watched quietly, he felt a nudge on his side.


    He frowned and turned to Casper, who was looking at him with bright eyes.


    "Think we''re done for the night?" Casper asked.


    June, leaning back slightly, raised an eyebrow. "Why don''t we bet that we''ve won another award?" Casper asked, not a thought behind his eyes.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    June shook his head. "It''s impossible. We just debuted a few weeks ago, Casper. These awards


    are based on a year''s worth of achievements. We can''tpete with that just yet."


    A mischievous glint sparked in Casper''s eyes. "Let''s make a bet then. Are you down?"


    June tilted his head, feeling challenged. "What are the stakes?"


    Casper leaned in close, whispering something into June''s ear that made him frown and pull


    back slightly.


    The corners of Casper''s mouth twitched upward, daring him.


    June hated that look.


    In the end, he couldn''t turn down the challenge.


    "Fine," June muttered.

 Chapter 1007: Artist of the Year

    Chapter 1007: Artist of the Year


    ?


    Taehyun and Hana called the presenters for each grand award.


    The first award was the ''Song of the Year.'' Usually, the one with the most streams won the award. However, for this year, they also took into consideration the influence it had on mainstream media.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    June nced at the poprity award trophy in Jaeyong''s hands and smiled. He knew it was the only award they could get as DAWN-one gifted by their fans.


    Although some would feel a bit disappointed for only getting a fan-voted award, he was still very grateful. Their fans loved DAWN so much that they were willing to vote for them multiple times. Some even made multiple ounts in order to duplicate the votes.


    June could never do that!


    He smiled and shook his head before turning his attention back to the stage.


    "The Song of the Year goes to..."


    "Ma Fridge by E.T.!" the presenter eximed.


    Grand music was heard in the hall as the rookie girl group made their way to the stage. They couldn''t help but cry for their very first grand award. It was definitely expected.


    Although their group had just debuted at the start of the year, their song quickly became viral on social media tforms. And even if their group wasn''t as sessful as those who were older in the industry, the influence of their song was definitely undeniable. The song yed over and over again on the radio and in different shops all over Korea!


    They gave their tearful speeches before proceeding back to their seats, where they were congratted by their fellow artists.


    The next grand award was the ''Album of the Year.'' June already had a hunch about who was going to get the award.


    PAPA changed their criteria this year. It wasn''t about sales anymore but about the quality of the songs and the involvement of the artists.


    June thought it was a novel idea.


    Fans these days mass-buy their idol''s albums and create a multitude of trash just so their favorite artists can bag awards during year-end shows.


    Although sales were still a part of the criteria, they only made up 15% of it.


    If more award shows were to follow in their footsteps, then the K-Pop industry would be even more innovative!


    "The ''Album of the Year''s goes to CHAOS'' End of Chaos!'' the presenter eximed.


    June nodded in agreement. He stood from his seat and pped as the members of CHAOS made their way to the stage.


    Haruki turned around for a second, searching for June and silently saying-''We beat you!'' June shook his head and smirked.


    He thought it was well-deserved. CHAOS has been involved in their album production years into their career, and it paid off. They were mostly self-producing now, and theirtest album was R&B-based.


    It was a y on their team name-the ''End of Chaos.'' It sounded like a disbandment album, and June theorized that it was truly the near of their disbandment.


    However, after the change in their CEO, something must have switched within their team. "We need to be honest with you," Haruki started off. "The team honestly had a hard time producing this album. We had thoughts it might even be ourst," he continued.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise. Dang, he had really good instincts.


    "However, we are now stronger than ever, and we are here to inform you that CHAOS will continue!" he eximed, causing the crowd to shout in support.


    The members of DAWN turned to each other with knowing looks. It seemed like the change in Phoenix''s Entertainment CEO wasn''t only beneficial to them but also to the artists that were originally there.


    "I''m d," June muttered.


    Now, it was time for the grandest award of the night-the ''Artist of the Year.''


    To be the ''Artist of the Year'' meant having the most influence in the industry in that particr time frame.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. Now, this was something he wasn''t sure about.


    There were a lot of groups that had influenced the industry this year. However, they were all to equal extents.


    Was it going to be OCTA?


    Or maybe CHAOS once again?


    KIZZ ME also had a rtively good run.


    June was actually looking forward to who won.


    He leaned against his seat and waited as Taehyun and Hana made their way back to the stage.


    "It''s now time for the veryst award," Taehyun started off.


    "The Artist of the Year," Hana dreamily sighed. "It''s something that only legends are able to acquire. Who will be that legendary artist?"


    The crowd screamed, each shouting different names. June could hear their fans screaming their team name; however, he shook his head. It was truly impossible!


    Those few weeks couldn''t ount for a whole year!


    The camera focused on Hana''s hands, opening the white envelope.


    Then, the two hosts took a peek, causing the two of them to look at each other with surprise.


    It didn''t take a genius to know that it was a shocking result.


    June turned to Casper with a smirk. "Ready to lose?" he asked.


    Casper merely pursed his lips and leaned his elbows against hisp, silently praying for a


    miracle.


    June shook his head in amusement and turned his attention back to the stage.


    "Everyone, this is honestly one of the shocking moments of the night," Hana said, not being able to hide her smile.


    June nced at his sister''s group. Is it possible that Mei had won such a big award in their first


    year as a group?


    June smiled. That would have been nice, wouldn''t it?


    "Do the honors," Taehyun said while Hana nodded.


    She grasped the card in her hands and nced at the artists'' area for a brief second, a small


    smile on her face.


    "The Artist of the Year is none other than..."


    She paused for a while, building the tension for the announcement. The audience was getting frustrated as the camera focused on multiple idol groups.


    "...EVE!"

 Chapter 1008: The Greatest Acceptance Speech Of All Time

    Chapter 1008: The Greatest eptance Speech Of All Time


    ?


    Casper was the first one to stand, shocking the other members.


    Jaeyong, despite studying the algorithm for weeks before this award show, also didn''t expect this.


    The other artists turned to DAWN with wide eyes.


    Before the winner was announced, most of them couldn''t think of another group that had the most influence this year other than DAWN. However, like June''s reasoning, they thought that DAWN wouldn''t even be nominated because of the length of their career.


    However, they had forgotten of another possibility!


    Of course, EVE was the most influential group of this year!


    Jia and her friends turned to each other with wide eyes. Bora, however, leaned back against her seat and nodded.


    "That''s what I thought," she muttered. The supporters of other artists, who were ready to fight other fans because they believed their favorite idol group deserved the award the most, became silent after the winner was announced.


    "Well, I can''t argue about that."


    "That sounds about right. EVE was everywhere this year."


    "Who''s going to go up the stage, though?"


    "Well, EVE is DAWN."


    The staff led the members of DAWN to the stage, who were still in a state of shock.


    June turned to Casper, who was looking at him with an expectant smile.


    June pursed his lips. Crap! That freaking bet!


    Casper practically skipped to the stage, ready to receive their award. He bowed deeply to Taehyun and Hana, who excitedly congratted them.


    Jisung and Jaeyong were sobbing at this point. It was a good thing they had already spoken about theirst award because they definitely couldn''t say anything about this particr one.


    Sehun, who also appeared emotional, took the lead for their greeting.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The members bowed altogether, proud smiles on their faces.


    Even Zeth stopped thinking about himself for a second and ced his hand over his heart.


    He walked over to the microphone and smiled.


    He was silent for a while before chuckling in disbelief.


    "Thank you," he started off. "Honestly, that''s all I can say for tonight because I really didn''t expect it."


    "I would have prepared something beforehand if I was slightly expectant," he added, causing the crowd to chuckle.


    "Thank you so much for loving EVE, and now, for loving DAWN. You guys are the reason why we are here today," he said, ending his speech.


    Sehun was the next to go. He decided to keep it short because he didn''t want to end up like Jaeyong and Jisung.


    "As the oldest brother of these guys, I want to say thank you," he started off. "Thank you for allowing us to continue our dreams. Thank you for making my little brothers smile."


    Lena, who was watching from her bedroom along with Minjun, held back a sob. However, her son noticed and shook his head.


    "Are you sure you''re still not a fan of them?" he asked, but it was only met with another sob.


    Minjun smirked and focused his attention back on the television.


    Casper smiled widely as he stood in front of the microphone.


    "You guys don''t know how much this means to us," he smiled. "I want you guys to know that you''re a part of something so big. While it is true that we will never ever know each and every one of you, you are still precious in our eyes."


    "And I''m not saying this because it''s a part of my job description," he added, making the crowdugh once again.


    Haruki clicked his tongue, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "These dudes are even good at being funny?"


    "There''s really nothing they can do."


    One of his members nudged his side. Haruki turned to him with one eyebrow raised.


    "Why? Are you jealous?" he asked.


    Haruki scoffed. "If it was any other group, then I would have questioned it," he started off.


    "However, it''s DAWN. If there''s a group that deserves it, it''s them. No one can argue with that."


    The other members also struggled to give their speeches, with Ren nearly breaking down. Thankfully, Zeth''s teasing made him stop crying.


    Now, it was time for their veryst member to speak-June.


    June, whom the members couldn''t live without. They had a collective agreement that DAWN was June and June was DAWN. They didn''t feel bitter about it at all.


    It was just the truth.


    Without June, their group would cease to exist.


    June nced at Casper, who still had that annoying look in his eyes.


    He sighed and shook his head. He wasn''t one to back down on his words, so he decided to go through with his promise.


    The crowd waited for June to speak. However, his first word was something that made the


    crowd go into a frenzy.


    "Meow," he started off.


    His members, except for Casper, were shocked-to say the least. Casper was the only one who


    pped excitedly. This was his favorite agenda!


    "What is he doing?" Mei asked with wide eyes.


    Jeemin burst intoughter. "Why is he the funniest idol ever?"


    The crowd also began tough, but June wasn''t done just yet.


    He cleared his throat and set his embarrassment aside before saying what was on his mind.


    "I never had a dream," June began.


    His first statement was enough to capture everyone''s attention.


    "Growing up, dreams felt like luxuries-something for people with different lives. Singing and dancing were just outlets, moments that made me forget, but nothing I thought could be


    in the future. And so, I didn''t want to be an idol," he continued.


    "That must have been obvious during the first episodes of Rising Stars."


    The crowd chuckled, finding it true.


    "But the thing is, the stage has a way of iming you. It pulls you in and shows you pieces of yourself you didn''t know were there. I found love in performing, even when the world felt


    heavy."


    "Yet, this industry isn''t just about performing. There are dark days and times that made me ask why I kept going. But there was always something that pushed me forward. And that something was you. You, who cheer, who cry, who don''t give up on us, even when we struggle. You, who have your own dreams, who know what it''s like to fight for something that might


    feel impossible."


    The fans were crying now. June truly had a way with his words.


    "I want you to know that being an idol isn''t a special job. It''s just a job, one thates with its own share of love and, yes, even hate. But I hope that you never see K-Pop-or any of us- as your everything. We shouldn''t be the center of your world. We should be the background music, the soundtrack to your moments, not the entire story. Live for yourself, find your own joy, your own path. Enjoy us when it makes you happy, not because you feel like you have to." "We perform to bring happiness, and that, in turn, makes us happy. And that''s why I am standing here tonight. I have to say thank you. Thank you for letting us be part of your lives and for letting me find a dream I didn''t know I had. You are our everything. You are the reason we get back up. And because of you, I can say, with all my heart, that I''m grateful."

 Chapter 1003: A Dramatic Performance

    "Alright, team!" Jaeyong eximed as they stood beneath the stage.


    They were getting ready to appear on stage. However, their introduction and VCR were still yet to y before they performed.


    "The one and only DAWN!" Hana excitedly eximed, making the boys put on their game faces.


    Then, the familiar sound of their VCR was heard throughout the venue, making the crowd go quiet in concentration.


    - The performances are quite short, right?


    - That''s because there are too many artists this year.


    - I hope they gave DAWN more time to perform.


    - It already feels different. Their VCR has started!


    Everyone turned their attention to the screen where DAWN''s VCR had just started.


    It began with a panoramic shot of a sprawlingndscape painted in deep hues of navy and silver, the stars shimmering like scattered diamonds.


    Standing atop a hill, June''s figure came into view. His midnight blue hanbok fluttered dramatically in the breeze, almost camouging against the night sky.


    - Dang, is this a movie?


    - Untouched Souls part two?


    - What is this? Do they have a song that requires this kind of atmosphere?


    - I don''t know! All I know is that I''m excited. DAWN always eats with the concepts.


    The members of CHAOS shook their heads as the first scene yed.


    "When did they have the time to film all of this?" Haruki muttered, finding them impressive since he knew how hectic their schedule was.


    Behind June, the rest of the members started appearing one by one.


    Their eyes seemed to reflect unseen battles¡ªwith each member engrossed in the role that they were given.


    Whispers were through the rows where idols sat, LUNAIRE leaning forward with intrigue, their amusement from earlier reced by genuine interest.


    Other groups exchanged nces, the whispers of "They really do go all out" surfacing among them.


    On-screen, June''s gaze was as cold as steel, focused on the storm of dark forces that charged up the hill.


    The camera panned swiftly, showing shadowy figures with eyes that glowed an unsettling crimson, their jagged forms twisting like sentient smoke.


    The intense music underscored the scene, and each beat was a surge of adrenaline that gripped the audience tighter.


    With a shout, June leaped forward, leading the charge. The other members followed suit, their movements sharp, synchronized, and reminiscent of warriors holding the line.


    They shed with the shadows, movements fierce but graceful; each strike choreographed with DAWN''s signature precision.


    The camera cut to shots of other idols reacting. A member of ZTC12456, the rookie group, had his jaw slightly ajar, eyes wide like he had stumbled into the climax of a drama he couldn''t look away from.


    Taehyun nodded approvingly, unable to suppress a small smile at the cinematic quality of the scene. "As expected from June," he muttered.


    Back on the screen, the battle raged on. A sudden gust of wind howled through, and the camera zoomed in on June''s face as the realization of an oing threat registered in his eyes.


    From behind, a shadow pushed him¡ªa dragon.


    Jia and her friends simultaneously turned to each other in surprise. The mythical creature looked way too familiar for them to just ignore it.


    "Azure?" Bora muttered.


    It truly was a shadow of an Azure that pushed June away from his members.


    The world around him slowed down as he teetered at the edge of the cliff. His arms iled, the fabric of his hanbok catching the wind like the wings of a bird mid-dive.


    Gasps erupted from the audience. Even those who were veterans in the industry. Despite the initial feelings of bias, they became unexpectedly enamored.


    "No way," someone whispered from the CHAOS section, eyes darting between the screen and the dark stage before them.


    The slow-motion scene stretched on, with June''s expression shifting from shock to eptance in the span of a heartbeat.


    But just as the emptiness beneath him threatened to im him, a hand shot out and caught his arm. The grip was firm, shaking out of desperation.


    The camera panned out to show not just one but all the members of DAWN holding on to him.


    Casper''s eyes zed with determination as he anchored the others, their linked hands forming a chain that kept June suspended between falling and being pulled back to safety.


    Of course, the audience didn''t think it was just a dramatic save.


    Instead, it was a metaphor, clear as day, for what they had endured as a group.


    The hall erupted with soft murmurs of understanding and admiration. In a moment where drama met reality, DAWN had managed to pull the entire room into their story.


    The screen faded to ck, and the stage lights flickered on like stars re-emerging after a storm.


    Silence, a deep, anticipatory silence, enveloped the audience as the stage slowly illuminated. A single spotlightnded on Casper, who sat cross-legged with an unfamiliar instrument cradled in his arms.


    "The gayageum?" Hana whispered, audible only to Taehyun beside her. Even the idols exchanged nces, puzzled but curious.


    Most astras were aware that Casper knew how to y the guitar.


    However, he now held the traditional Korean zither as though he had spent a lifetime mastering it.


    His fingers danced across the strings, and a hauntingly beautiful melody filled the space.


    It was their song¡ªTo My New Beginning.


    However, instead of it being a song of hope, it sounded more like a cry for help.


    - Only a second has passed, and I fear this is already the best performance of the night.


    - So true. They should have performedst!


    - Casper is so freaking hot when he''s serious.


    Idols in the audience, from CHAOS to LUNAIRE and even ZTC12456, sat frozen, eyes locked on the stage. The audience seemed to breathe in unison, waiting for the next move.


    Then, a figure stepped out from the shadows, walking to the front of the stage.


    It was June, his expressionposed but intense, eyes scanning the sea of faces before him. He took a breath, and the moment stretched as the crowd collectively leaned in.


    And then, he opened his mouth and began to sing. Not in the style the world hade to know him for, but in a traditional Korean pansori tone.


    Mimi''s eyesically widened.


    "He can sing this genre, too?"

 Chapter 1009: Ravens Terrifying Anecdote

    Chapter 1009: Raven''s Terrifying Anecdote


    ?


    It turned out that wasn''t the only grand prize that DAWN had won as EVE.


    Nearly all of the award shows in Korea awarded them with the biggest prize. Even the usually rigged ones gave them such an award! It seemed like they had no choice but to give it to EVE since they truly had the greatest influence on the industry for this year. Aside from that, they were definitely afraid of astras and how they could flip the situation.


    However, the boys didn''t bother going since they were busy preparing for their very first concert. Besides, they couldn''t be bothered to perform at rigged award shows anyway!


    Despite their group attending only one award show, they became the icons of eptance speeches. June''s speech had been the standard, and he had other idols working overtime to write their eptance speeches beforehand!


    However, the biggest difference was that June''s wasn''t rehearsed at all!


    Now, they were going to have another event just right before their tour started.


    "I love fan meetings!" Akira eximed as he trudged to their practice room. "We''re going to have one next week, right?"


    "Hmm," Jisung hummed. "I honestly can''t wait to meet our fans!"


    Akira and Jaeyong turned to each other with knowing looks.


    June noticed this and nudged Akira''s shoulder.


    "What''s going on?" he asked.


    The others'' attention was also captured. They looked at the two with inquiring eyes.


    "Well," Jaeyong started off, scratching the back of his neck. "This fan meeting is going to be different from the one we had before."


    "How so?" Sehun asked. "It''s just the same. We''re going to meet our fans!"


    Akira pursed his lips together. "I''m all for meeting our fans. However, what Jaeyong said was right. This is a fan meeting born from the biggest spenders among our fans."


    "And so?" Ren asked.


    Zeth ced his hand on Ren''s shoulder. "Oh, poor Ren. You don''t know how these things work, do you?"


    Ren frowned and red at Zeth. "It''s not like you do, too! You''ve never been an idol before." Zeth smiled, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Well, well, well. You don''t know how famous I was when we were both in school! I had people funding me then! I was grateful at first, but then I realized just how scary people were when they think they''ve given you their everything."


    "That''s exactly what happened with our group back then, too," Jaeyong muttered, capturing their attention once again.


    "Oh, you mean THAT incident?" Sehun asked.


    The other boys slowly understood what the two were talking about. It was a rtively famous story among idols-the RAVEN fan meeting incident.


    "Ah," Akira muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "I remember it all too well. Honestly, those were the times when I couldn''t even joke in our group."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "That''s how bad it was?" Sehun asked.


    "Yup," Akira and Jaeyong said at the same time.


    "What really happened?" June asked. He knew of the incident, of course-courtesy of Mei Ling.


    However, he didn''t know the details surrounding it.


    Akira sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Where do I begin?" he muttered.


    "It was during that time that obsessive fans started bing innovative. We also had a fan meeting simr to this one-where the fans that had bought the most albums would be selected."


    "Some awful incidents happened before to other groups, but those groups were significantly more popr than we were. So, Jaeyong and I thought it was impossible! There was no way it could happen to us," he continued.


    "And yet it did," Jaeyong chimed.


    "The fan meeting was about toe to the end when one of the fans swapped their drinks with mine," Jaeyong continued the story. "Then, I just happened to almost die that day."


    "What?" Ren eximed. "It said on the news that you just got food poisoned!"


    "Yeah-poisoned. Real poison! I think it was rat poison, am I right?" Akira smiled.


    "How can you say that so casually?" Ren asked.


    Akira shrugged. "Well, Jaeyong''s still alive, isn''t he? Our agency downyed it because they didn''t want to worry the fans. Aside from that, the fan who mixed the drink spent the most money on us. They didn''t want to lose such a fan."


    "Dang, they''re the worst," June muttered.


    "Yeah," Jaeyong chuckled. "I had to get my stomach pumped out, but I still lived!"


    "Anyway, I do think we need to be more careful this time around," he concluded. "I believe security will be tighter because Jay couldn''t afford to ck off on us. However, we can never be too sure."


    Akira nodded with closed eyes. "I really want to make this an enjoyable time for us!"


    June pursed his lips. "Who even decided that the biggest buyers should be the ones to attend


    such events?" he asked.


    The boys collectively shrugged.


    "I don''t know," Akira shrugged. "It''s been like that since forever!"


    June clicked his tongue. "That shows why we sold so many albums then. We''re really promoting mass consumerism at this point!"


    "A woke king," Casper said, speaking for the first time of the day.


    "Anyway, we can''t do anything right now since the emails have been sent out already," Jaeyong said. "However, if you want to change something, we can bring it up to Jay. I''m sure


    he''ll listen to us."


    "Hmm," June hummed.


    "Should I ask him to provide us with more security for the time being?" Jaeyong asked.


    June clicked his tongue and shook his head.


    "That won''t be necessary. We don''t want our fans to think that we see them as threats. I''m sure most of them don''t have bad intentions."


    "Yeah," Jisung muttered. "I wish June''s good fan goes-Jia, was it?"


    June perked up with the sound of Jia''s name. He did wish she would go. However, he would be more thankful if she didn''t. She just started a new job and was probably saving up money!


    "Anyway," Jisung said. "I''m sure our fans aren''t too crazy. They''re the best fans in the


    world!"

 Chapter 1010: Richest Fans in the World

    Chapter 1010: Richest Fans in the World


    ?


    The best fans in the world.


    Astras.


    Otherwise known as one of the fastest-growing fandoms in the entire! DAWN had even surpassed their follower count when they were still EVE in just a span of a few weeks.


    Their follower count had surpassed 17 million by the time their fan meeting was going tomence!


    Bora, who was still in herst year of college, called her best friend, Jia, to tell her about the fan meeting.


    "Yo," Bora greeted, munching on some shrimp chips.


    Jia, sounding stressed, answered. "What?" she snapped.


    Bora''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, someone''s having a good day," she sarcastically said.


    Jia sighed before speaking once more. "Seriously, what is it? These balding men and dry-ass women are asking me to buy their coffees. I don''t have any time to spare! So, hurry."


    "Oh," Bora chuckled. "That means you won''t be able to go to the fan meeting then."


    Jia groaned. "Don''t remind me again. I''m already upset that they asked me toe to work on a weekend."


    Bora shook her head. "And here I thought you were going with Wei."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jia''s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Wei''s going?"


    "Yeah," Bora said. "You should read the group chat more often, you know? You don''t chat there anymore."


    "That''s because I''m still under training," Jia muttered. "I promise I''ll make it up to you guys once I get to my actual position. Being a mourized intern sucks! Anyway, how many albums did Wei buy this time?"


    "She asked for money from her dad," Bora said. That statement itself was enough to let Jia know that Wei bought a ton of albums.


    "Ahh," she said, nodding in acknowledgment. "Aren''t you going?"


    "Nope," Bora said. "I don''t have that much money. Besides, this event is filled with the likes of Wei. We have influenced her to be better, but you know that the venue would be filled with obnoxious, entitled people! I can''t be there. I might start a ruckus!"


    "You''re right," Jia chuckled. "Well, tell Wei to update us."


    "She will," Bora responded. "Just check the GC. Now, go and buy those coffees!"


    Meanwhile, at the event ce in a fancy hotel, the members of DAWN had gathered for their second fan meeting. It was quite an intimate ce, so they would be able to see the faces of their fans more clearly.


    "Are you nervous?" June asked Jisung, who was fidgeting in his seat.


    Jisung nodded. "It''s been a while since we''ve done this. This is also the first time we''re facing them as DAWN! I don''t want to disappoint them."


    June pursed his lips and patted the innocent member''s back. "Keep that heart, Ji," he muttered.


    Jisung looked up at him with wide eyes. "Are you nervous, too?"


    June hesitantly nodded. "You could say that."


    However, he wasn''t nervous for the same reason as Jisung. Akira had spent the entire night telling him horror stories about sasaengs, and he couldn''t stop thinking about them since!


    Although June considered himself pretty fearless, this was something he was quite iffy about -when a person looked so innocent that you wouldn''t expect them to do such atrocious things!


    Outside of the venue, the fans started lining up.


    Wei had arrived early, as they were still going to be arranged based on the album they had bought. As she walked to the venue, she already realized what kind of atmosphere it had.


    Multiple girls were getting dropped off by their personal drivers.


    Handbags that were more expensive than a four-year tuition at a good school were hung on their arms.


    Perfumes that smelled like the flowers on the side of the street or the musk that naturally formed when you left your clothes in the cab for too long were sprayed without a care in the world, making the hallway smell like a funeral.


    And, of course, the sound of obnoxious voices that thought they were better than everybody else.


    Wei pursed her lips and looked down at her outfit. She had worn her usual style, and she appeared to be severely underdressed amidst the group of men and women lining up in the hallway.


    To be fair, she was the same as them before.


    She didn''t want to brag, but her family was really well-off. Her dad had a great business in China, and she was working remotely for him. It was great! She wouldn''t trade it for the world.


    Of course, back then, she wanted the world to know that, too. However, as soon as she met her current group of friends, she realized howfortable it was to just live life without bragging about your money.


    So, in the end, she changed for the better.


    Some of the attendants sneered at her, but she couldn''t care less! She was there to meet the people whom she loved a lot! She couldn''t wait to ask for their autographs and give them to her friends once the event was done.


    Just then, someone spoke through a megaphone


    "Wei Wang?" the organizer asked. "Pleasee to the front of the line."


    The others began murmuring, wondering who that was.


    "How many albums did you buy?"


    "A hundred."


    "I bought three hundred."


    "Oh, that''s a lot. I had to cut down on my spending because my dad told me to."


    Just then, another fan burst into tears. She fanned her face while her ''friends'' tried tofort


    her.


    "This can''t be! I bought six hundred albums! I should be the first!" she eximed, starting a


    tantrum.


    Wei raised his eyebrows in surprise. She scratched the back of her neck and walked to the


    front, surpassing all of them.


    "Wei Wang?" the organizer confirmed.


    Wei nodded, making those behind her turn to her with wide eyes. This simple-looking girl


    turned out to be the biggest spender.


    "Yes," she answered, showing them her ID.


    The organizer nodded and allowed her to be in front.


    She tilted her head to the side. "Was a thousand albums too much?" she muttered.

 Chapter 1011: The Culture of K-Pop fans

    Chapter 1011: The Culture of K-Pop fans


    ?


    Wei looked around the venue, feeling slightly out of ce.


    She hade to plenty of ces like this before, though. Her dad even owned a hotel back in China! However, the atmosphere was truly different.


    She could feel the res of the other girls, especially the one who cried over the six hundred albums she bought.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Aside from that, this was Wei''s first time actually participating in such an event! She was already fond of a lot of idols back then, but it was never to this extent.


    To be fair, it was her dad''s fault.


    She told him to buy a couple of albums under her name. She just didn''t expect him to buy a thousand!


    Well, at least it didn''t go to waste. Wei would ask Jia to host a giveaway on her ount. That girl had a lot of followers for being June''s fan since the beginning of Rising Stars!


    Since she was unfamiliar with the atmosphere, she turned to the girl by her side, who appeared the most normal out of everyone in the room. She was also dressed in extravagant clothes, but she had her eyes cast downward.


    Wei cleared her throat to try and capture her attention. However, much to her surprise, the girl stayed silent.


    She cleared her throat once again, which fortunately led the girl to turn to her with wide eyes. Wei''s expression mirrored hers. "Oh, sorry," she said. "Did I startle you?" she chuckled.


    The girl merely looked at her with wide eyes. That was the time that Wei observed her face, finding her slightly familiar.


    The girl turned to the side, not giving Wei more time to think about it.


    "What do you want?" she muttered.


    Wei put on a friendly smile. "I must have startled you," she started off. "Sorry, I just wanted to ask some things."


    "You see-this is my first fan signing event, and I''m unfamiliar with what to do. I''m assuming the staff would direct uster, but a heads-up would be nice."


    The girl''s eyebrows furrowed. "It''s your first time?" she asked.


    "Yeah," Wei chuckled. "I didn''t expect to be the biggest spender, honestly. I think that speaks


    a lot about my financial decisions, huh? But I''m not that reckless, really! I didn''t even want toe first. Being here is all I want."


    The girl''s eye twitched, making Wei confused.


    "You alright?" she asked.


    The girl shook her head and turned to the side, crossing her arms in front of her chest and muttering inaudible things under her breath.


    Wei''s eyebrows raised in surprise as she nced at her.


    Well, it seemed like she actually wasn''t normal, too.


    Fortunately, Wei''s mood was lifted when the boys of DAWN came out to the small stage, causing the room to erupt into suppressed screams.


    She, too, pursed her lips as she observed them sitting in their seats. It felt like there was a screen before her. However, she was aware that this was real life.


    No matter how many times she had seen the boys (courtesy to Jia), she was still shocked every time!


    She sighed dreamily and sped her hands in front of her chest.


    "Good morning, everyone!" Akira happily eximed.


    The attendants acted like they weren''t just throwing dirty looks at each other a few moments ago. They suddenly acted soft and demure in front of the boys!


    Wei shook her head. Of course, she didn''t hold it against them. She just found it really amusing.


    Meanwhile, the boys smiled as they looked at their fans. Seeing them up close made them realize just how real the people who supported them were.


    June, however, felt that the room smelled too fragrant, so he coughed into his handkerchief for a moment.


    Yet, that moment was captured by one of the girls in the front row. Although cameras weren''t really allowed, they always found a way to sneak one in. She had even uploaded it on Navel already!


    And just like that, people acted like June had contracted a deadly disease and was wishing him well from one sneeze.


    On the other hand, Jisung was reading the prompt before them with a tilted head and wide eyes. It was just a normal action, but once more, K-pop fans had a strange way of portraying their idols.


    ''Jisung is so baby! I love him so much.''


    - Aww, he does look cute.


    -I want to put him on a crib.


    - Yeah, and change him into a diaper!


    - This is the reason why your idols smoke.


    After a few introductions, the fan sign finally began. Wei was the first one on stage.


    The boys were arranged by age, so June and Jisung were in thest two seats.


    Then, the fans sat one by one in front of the members, and they were given 30 seconds each to converse with them. This will go on until all of the people in the room have talked with all of


    the members.


    Wei was up first, and of course, she had to aplish her primary mission-to get autographs for her best friends.


    Zeth for Soomin.


    Jaeyong for Nari.


    Ren for Bora.


    And June for Jia!


    Wei, of course, would keep all the other autographs to herself. The more the merrier! She


    wasn''t picky with her boys, too. She even liked Lin Zhi at one point.


    June recognized her to be Jia''s friend, causing her to beam with joy.


    "How did you know?" she asked with wide eyes.


    "I saw you with her once," June smiled warmly. It was great to see a familiar face.


    "Well, then, I don''t need any other introductions," Wei joked. "Can you sign this photocard


    for Jia?"


    "Only for her?" June asked.


    Bora ced a finger under her chin. "Yeah, we''ll just share."


    June chuckled and did what she told. He handed her back the small photocard and watched as


    she went to Jisung''s seat next.


    So far, so good.


    Those were the kind of fans that June loved to interact with!


    With that, he turned his attention to the next person, who was looking at him with a wide


    smile.


    She seemed...sweet.


    "Hi," June said, waving his hand.


    "Hi, June," she said with a small smile. "Long time no see!"

 Chapter 1012: Its Hard Being An Idol

    Chapter 1012: It''s Hard Being An Idol


    ?


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Ah, that''s right," he said, not confirming or denying anything.


    Well, he had met a lot of fans during the span of time he had been an idol. It was impossible to


    remember all of them! He felt just like a teacher who was confronted by a student whom he didn''t know.


    However, she did look familiar, so June didn''t put out the possibility that they had met before.


    She chuckled. "I guess you don''t remember," she said.


    June scratched the back of his neck. "If you''ll remind me, then maybe I''ll remember."


    She shook her head with a smile. "It''s okay," she said. "It''s impossible for you to remember every fan."


    A small smile made its way to his lips. She was actually pretty cool. The fan sign was going much better than he had anticipated!


    "Yeah," he muttered. "So, where have we met before?"


    "During your first fan sign," she said. "However, it was so quick, so you might not remember."


    "Ahh," June said. "You went there, too? You''ve been a fan for a long time, then."


    She nodded.


    "What''s your name?" June asked.


    "Mia," she answered.


    "Alright," he muttered, signing her album.


    And just like that, the staff gestured for her to end their conversation. Her eyes widened, and she quickly dug for something in her bag.


    "Move, please," the staff strictly said.


    However, June raised his hand. "It''s alright," he softly said.


    Then, he turned back to Mia. "What is it?" he asked.


    "I almost forgot to give it to you," she smiled. "I made it myself, so I want you to keep it."


    June took the keychain from her and observed it.


    It was a small bobblehead that looked awfully familiar. "Is this me?" he asked.


    She nodded. "Please keep it."


    June smiled and ced it in his favorite bag. "Here," he said. "Thanks a lot."


    Mia smiled and finally went to Jisung''s seat, where the two talked about the ''June keychain'' she had made.


    The smile on June''s face couldn''t be painted. He enjoyed cute items such as those!


    However, the next person seemed to enjoy cute things, too.


    "Please do the kitty aegyo for me, June!"


    His eyebrows raised in surprise. "I''m sorry. What was that?"


    The fan pulled out a photo and showed him a pose of another idol, who looked like he was having a hard time, posing as a cat-his tongue out and all.


    "Oh goodness," he muttered.


    It has started.


    Unfortunately, it didn''t just end with that.


    June didn''t know why K-pop fans loved to ask their idols to act cute when they were grown men, but Akira''s words echoed in his mind, reminding him of the reason.


    "They spend the most money out of all the fans in the world! They even buy stars andnd under our name," he eximed. "Of course, they think they can ask us to do anything!"


    So, with that, June did as he was told-as long as it wasn''t too unreasonable, of course.


    "Please draw something here," a girl said, her hands shaking as she offered her arm.


    June pursed his lips, drawing a poorly-drawn star on her arm. However, she moved her arm prematurely, so he was only able to draw three sides.


    June''s eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Wait-"


    "Perfect," the girl smiled, looking at the drawing with sparkling eyes. "I''ll get this permanently tattooed on my body!"


    June had to back away a bit. "I don''t think-"


    "Move, please," the staff said, and the girl happily went to Jisung.


    He pursed his lips. Well, that three-sided star looked strangely like a phallic organ.


    "Whatever makes her happy, I guess," he muttered.


    He also wasn''t the only one who encountered such weird fans.


    "Can you please spit in this specimen cup?" a fan asked Sehun. "I want to mix it with


    Jaeyong''s and act as if you''re making out."


    Fortunately, the staff members acted quickly and kicked her out after she said those words. However, Sehun would be left traumatized for the rest of the event.


    "I wrote a song for you," another shyly said, handing a piece of paper to Ren. "I know you love writing. I won''t mind if you use this song."


    Ren smiled. That was actually really sweet!


    However, as he looked at the lyrics, his smile dropped.


    ''Please me, touch me, make me a doll.


    I love how you hold onto my neck.


    Strangle me if you can.


    Kiss Me. Give me a peck.''


    However, just right next to him, Akira was also struggling.


    "I think you''re the best singer in DAWN," the fan said.


    Akira chuckled and shook his head. "Nah, that''s definitely June."


    "But thank you," he added. "I really appreciate it."


    "I''m telling the truth," she insisted. "That''s why I want you to judge my voice. I''m going to audition for Phoenix soon, and I want you to give mements."


    "Oh, they''re holding an audition?" Akira asked.


    "Yup," she said. "In the next two weeks! I''m going to be your colleague soon."


    Akira chuckled. "Go ahead then."


    The girl started singing, and Akira held in the urge to cover his ears. She finished with a wide


    smile, causing Akira to purse his lips together.


    "So, how is it?" she sweetly asked.


    Akira smiled. However, it didn''t reach his eyes.


    "Well, you''re singing! You''re definitely singing!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The matter of whether she could sing, however, was something an idol couldn''t say to his


    fan.


    "Aww, I knew you had great ears!" she eximed. "I''ll really see you soon."


    Akira merely chuckled and watched as she went over to June.


    The fan sign continued with a few more weird moments. However, fortunately, nothing


    drastic truly happened.


    Yet, once again, it was too soon to speak.


    As they got to thest row, one girl bypassed all the other members and headed straight to


    Jisung.


    She jumped over the table and held onto Jisung''s cor.


    "How can you leave me?" she eximed.


    Jisung looked at her with wide eyes.


    "How can you leave my baby and me alone? Don''t you have any pride as a man?"

 Chapter 1013: Little Ji

    Chapter 1013: Little Ji


    ?


    Fortunately, the guards were fast enough to disengage the scene.


    However, even then, the girl didn''t stop screaming as she was being dragged away.


    "No! He needs to take care of our family!" she eximed.


    The other fans looked at her with disdain, and they quickly posted it on Navel, which created another trending topic.


    -What is happening in this fan sign?


    -Who is that girl?


    - Did Jisung really get someone pregnant?


    - Do you believe her so easily?


    - Well, we don''t know our idols well!


    - Jisung looked so scared. Maybe he really is the father.


    - I know that girl! She''s from my school, and she''s crazy for Jisung. I think she just has delusions.


    - Oh my. You need to report this to Phoenix.


    - Fans are so scary these days.


    June turned to Jisung and held onto his shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Can you continue?"


    Jisung merely nodded with a small smile. "Yeah," he muttered.


    Well, there went their semi-peaceful fan sign!


    They continued greeting the other fans, but the guards were more wary this time. As a result, the fan sign ended earlier than expected, and the boys in their hotel room, all silent.


    They turned to Jisung, who was still deep in thought.


    Then, Jaeyong and Akira simultaneously broke the silence.


    "Are you alright?"


    "Are you really the father?"


    You could guess who asked what question.


    They turned to Akira with a re, causing him to raise his hands in surrender.


    "What?" he chuckled. "I''m just curious. Zeth dated an idol during our first year. Maybe little Ji is dating someone, too."


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "I don''t know her," he said.


    "Oh, that''s good then," Akira said. "Although, we would have epted you either way."


    Jaeyong clicked his tongue and pped the back of Akira''s next. "We''ve been so busy this year. That girl''s stomach doesn''t look protruded at all. I would assume that she''s not even pregnant."


    "Probably," Jisung muttered. "That was scary, though," he said. "I thought I was going to get stabbed."


    Casper shook his head. "We all know June wouldn''t let that happen!"


    June nodded in agreement.


    "Yeah," Zeth said. "He would have shielded you with his own body. June doesn''t have nine lives for a reason."


    "Well, I think he already spent 8 of them in the past year alone," Akira said. "So, he would have died if she was actually a criminal."


    They all turned to Akira once again.


    "What?" he asked. "I''m just stating the possibilities! You guys are so uptight. Don''t you know that you should always look at the bigger picture?"


    The others sighed and focused their attention back to Jisung, who appeared betterpared to before.


    "It''s fine," Jisung said. "I guess I was just a bit shaken up. It''s good that she only went as far as using me."


    Jaeyong nodded. "Yeah-the good thing is we''re all safe."


    "And you didn''t have to get your stomach pumped out of rat poison!" Akira chimed.


    The others decided to ignore him this time around.


    "Anyway," Casper said, clearing his throat. "Did any of you encounter any...weird fans?" he asked.


    There was a moment of silence before they simultaneously ranted.


    "Someone asked me to evaluate them before their Phoenix auditions! They''re tone-deaf!" Akira eximed.


    "I''ve never seen such obscure lyrics in my whole life," Ren said while shaking his head.


    "I don''t think I can look at Jaeyong in the same way anymore," Sehun chimed, pursing his lips.


    "Well, I was imed to be a father," Jisung chuckled.


    "I met a narcissistic fan!" Zeth said in exasperation.


    That stopped their rants for a moment, turning to Zeth like he had lost his mind.


    Then, they shook their heads and continued ranting.


    However, June stayed silent.


    Although some of his fans were weird, it didn''t go past making him perform cute acts. Honestly, he still felt bad for giving that girl an atrocious tattoo that she would have for the rest of her life, but she seemed really happy about it.


    More than that, he was happy to meet the faces behind their supporters. Most of them seemed pretty cool despite their quirks.


    The other boys were silent now, and June found that they were staring at him.


    He raised his eyebrows.


    Akira sighed and ced his hand under his chin. "This is a surprise, honestly," he started off. "I thought June''s fans would be the craziest out of the bunch, but I was proven wrong." "Yeah," Zeth said. "He''s so unlucky in other aspects but lucky in being an idol, you know what I mean?"


    June smiled and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Why? Are you guys jealous?" he asked. Ren nodded. "I want a cute keychain, too."


    Jaeyong and Sehun looked at the trinket in June''s bag with wide eyes. "You got a gift?" he


    eximed.


    "A handmade one," Jisung chimed. "I also talked with Mia, and she said she stayed up all night making it since she wanted June to cherish it!"


    "I want that, too!" Zeth eximed. "Can you ask her to make me one?"


    June smirked. "I think she just made one for me."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Yeah, that''s true," Jisung nodded. "She said she didn''t have any more time to make one for


    each of us."


    Ren clicked his tongue and crossed his arms in front of his chest.


    "I want one, too," Casper said.


    "Do you guys want to ce a group order?" Sehun asked. "Maybe we can have someone make


    us matching keychains!"


    "Oh, I don''t mean my own keychain," he smiled. "I mean-I want June''s keychain. It''s cute. I


    can crochet clothes for it."


    Zeth turned to him with raised eyebrows. "You know how to crochet?"


    Casper nodded. "It''s my hobby."


    "You''re so weird," Zeth said, shaking his head.


    June clicked his tongue. "Again, that''s the thing you find most concerning about that


    statement?"


    Jisung raised his hand and looked at the keychain on June''s bag. "Honestly, I want it too," he


    said.


    "See!" Casper eximed. "It''s so cute!"


    "Why would you want it?" June asked, genuinely curious.


    "Because I''m your fan, bro," he said. "I was your fan first before we became teammates!"


    "The keychain is one of a kind, so I want one too."


    June saw the longing look in his eyes and sighed. He still looked pretty traumatized from the


    interaction a while ago.


    With that, June''s heart softened.


    "Fine," June said. "You can have it."


    Jisung''s eyes widened. Meanwhile, Casper stood from the couch.


    "This is so unfair!"

 Chapter 1014: Hiding

    Chapter 1014: Hiding


    ?


    Weird things had been happening to DAWN.


    After the fan sign ended, a lot of strange events surrounded them.


    Of course, they had somehow expected it. The bigger their fandom was, the more toxic it was going to be. Since their fans were increasing at a rapid pace like bacteria in still water, they were already prepared for the worst. They knew it was one of the things that came from being in the spotlight.


    However, even then, it was easier said than done.


    They were now in the car, appearing exhausted. They stayed in June''s apartment the previous night because they had a photoshoot for their concert early in the morning.


    However, it was useless since couldn''t even get a wink of sleep. Why? Because they swore someone was picking the lock!


    "Are we just being paranoid?" Akira asked with hooded eyes.


    "I think we are," Jaeyong said, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Casper, you checked the perimeters, right?"


    Casper nodded, his eyes closed. "Yeah. There was no one there."


    "But I could definitely hear someone picking the lock!" Jisung eximed, holding onto his bag that was now adorned with June''s keychain.


    "Yeah-it sounded like a melody, too," Sehun said, frowning. "We can''t be mistaken."


    "Look," Zeth said. "My beauty rest waspromised for this. I do think that someone tried to pick the lock-but only once. Casper checked multiple times, and there was no one there!"


    Ren nodded in agreement. "Frankly, I think it''s because of what happened during the fan sign. We realized that we had a lot of crazy fans, and Akira''s sasaeng stories are not helping us one bit."


    "Hey," Akira said. "I was just trying to inform all of you! We can never be too careful, you know?"


    "Of course," Jaeyong said. "However, this ordeal led all of us to look like this. The makeup artist is going to have a hard time covering my dark circles."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The others nodded in agreement. Then, they turned to June, who was sleeping against the window. Like the others, he didn''t get a lot of sleep.


    However, he looked so well-rested!


    Zeth sighed. "I''m just going to categorize June as an alien. I don''t want to believe that he''s one of us."


    "Yeah, I think that''s for the best," Sehun said.


    Jaeyong chuckled. "Well, we''re going to a hotel again. We''re going to take pictures on their balcony. We could rest in the penthouse while we''re at it."


    "Oh-ho," Akira said. "That is some nice treatment."


    "Of course," Jaeyong said. "Jay would give us nothing but the best!"


    "This is a private schedule, right?" Jisung asked, ying with his fingers.


    Ren turned to him with a small frown. "Yes, Ji," he said. "Why?"


    Jisung smiled and shook his head. "Sorry," he said. "I''m just a bit tired, so I don''t have the energy to face the fans, you know?"


    "Definitely," Ren said. "We need some alone time, too."


    Jaeyong nodded. "Yeah, this is a private schedule. No one should be there. We have the highest floor to ourselves."


    Jisung sighed in relief.


    With that, they made their way to the hotel. Fortunately, the schedule had not been leaked, and no one was waiting outside the hotel.


    They quickly made their way to the highest floor to get their makeup done and have their solo photoshoots.


    June was the first to go. He sat on the makeup chair and closed his eyes. The makeup artist frowned as she looked at his face.


    "Did you get your makeup done already?"


    June silently shook his head.


    Meanwhile, Akira, who was getting his makeup done just right beside him, sighed. "Oh, to have that face," he muttered.


    "You''re looking better and better every time I see you," she said before going to work.


    Then, some of the boys went to the balcony to get their solo shots while the others got their makeup done.


    Jisung and Ren were thest ones to get their makeup done, and they excitedly conversed about their uing tour.


    "Are you excited to go overseas?" Ren asked.


    "Hmm," Jisung nodded. "I can''t wait, honestly. I haven''t traveled out of Asia."


    "Same here," Ren said.


    "Has any of us traveled to North America?" Jisung asked.


    Ren nodded. "I believe Jaeyong and Akira had gone. They went to international festivals back


    when they were still in RAVEN. Oh, Casper must have gone, too."


    "Yeah, I believe that," Jisung chuckled.


    Casper had probably gone everywhere-with Luther, too.


    The two of them continued talking. However, at that moment, they felt something sh at


    them.


    Jisung frowned and turned to Ren. However, he was busy using his phone.


    Then, he shook his head. He had been feeling like this since their fan sign had ended. He really


    should get a grip.


    However, it happened once more, and this time, Ren noticed it.


    Ren frowned and looked out the window. "Was that some lightning?"


    The makeup artist shook her head. "It''s very sunny out."


    "Hmm, strange," Ren muttered.


    Just then, Jisung heard another sound. It was from above them. He frowned and looked


    around the room, startling the makeup artist.


    "Oh my," she said. "I was almost done, but you smudged your lipstick just now."


    Jisung pursed his lips. "Sorry," he said, turning back to her. However, even then, he didn''t lookfortable.


    The makeup artist frowned. "Are you alright? You''re sweating even though the AC''s up. You''re going to lift the base of your makeup at this point."


    "Sorry," Jisung apologized once more.


    She sighed. "It''s alright. I''ll just use some powder."


    However, Jisung felt like he wasn''t crazy. These past few days, there''s really a feeling that


    someone was following him and watching his every move.


    He heard that subtle sound once more, along with the sh. He clicked his tongue and


    abruptly turned around, startling the makeup artist once more.


    What met him was a sight that would rey over and over again in his nightmares.


    Bright, white eyes and dark pupils stared back at him.


    "There''s someone in the vent."

 Chapter 1015: A Job That Slowly Kills You

    Chapter 1015: A Job That Slowly Kills You


    ?


    Jisung screamed, capturing the attention of everyone in the room. It was such a terrifying sound, and it made June, who was on the rooftop, stop for a moment.


    "June, right here!" the photographer eximed.


    He paused for a moment and held up his hand. "Please wait," he said.


    The photographer frowned. "Is there anything wrong?"


    June could feel it. Something bad had happened. He just didn''t know why.


    For the past couple of days, there really has been some tension in their group. It wasn''t anything internal. The feeling of being followed was just really strong.


    It was strange since no one really knew about his apartment, so it has been their safe haven since. However, someone managed to break the peace.


    Aside from that, they even felt it inside theirpany.


    June knew that he was being overly wary. He had checked plenty of times, and he hadn''t found anything tangible. However, the thought of someone following them was putting him on edge.


    Just then, he heard the faintest scream, making him stand.


    "Uhh," the photographer muttered. "Are you really okay?"


    "Please excuse me for a moment," he said as he ran to their room. The others were confused, with Jaeyong trying to stop him. However, he continued his journey to their room.


    Meanwhile, the makeup artists had also noticed the presence of the person inside the vent, and they were screaming their heads off. Jisung was crouched on the ground while Ren called for the police.


    The sound of someone crawling on the vents was heard inside the room, making the situation feel more real.


    Finally, June arrived at the room and saw the chaos that they were in.


    Ren stopped speaking for a moment and sighed in relief when he saw June. Somehow, having him there felt really reassuring.


    "What''s happening?" he asked.


    Ren clicked his tongue. "Someone was in the vent trying to take photos of us."


    June clicked his tongue and ran to where the vent was. He was about to go up and open it with his bare hands, but the security personnel had arrived, and they stopped June before he could ruin the property.


    "Allow us, sir," one of them said. "Someone is already on the other side of the vent, waiting for the stalker toe out."


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "How does a person even get up here? It''s the 14th floor," he muttered.


    The security personnel scratched the back of his neck. "Apologies, sir. We''ll look into it."


    June nodded and went to where Jisung was, cing a hand on his shoulder.


    "Are you alright?" he asked.


    Jisung kept muttering something under his breath.


    "They''re out to get me," he said, his eyes wide with shock.


    June bit his lip as he watched him. This wasn''t good. He sighed and firmly pressed on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality.


    "Jisung, we''re here," he assured. "You''re fine. The stalker is gone, okay?"


    Jisung finally snapped out of his daze and looked at June.


    "The stalker is gone?" he muttered.


    "Hmm," June hummed. "The police are on their way."


    Jisung sighed in relief. However, it still didn''t take away his worry.


    "For how long, though?" he whispered.


    June pursed his lips since he also didn''t know the answer to it. Having obsessive fans was something that every group had-it was especially worse in K-pop since idols mostly keep the topic under the rug.


    It had been going on forever, and although it had be better, it was still awful.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The other members, along with the staff members, had also been informed, and they were worried about the oues of the photoshoot.


    "Our concert is in two weeks," Jaeyong said. "Can we reschedule the photoshoot?"


    Their assistant manager looked at their timetable and sighed in disappointment. "I really wish we could," she said. "However, the other days are filled with other promotional videos for the concert. You guys have to be a guest for shows, too. I''m really sorry." Jaeyong sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Can you continue?" Akira asked.


    Akira nodded. "Yeah. I''m just worried for Jisung."


    "I''ll talk to him," he muttered.


    Jaeyong went to where Jisung and June were. After the incident, they had opted to continue prepping at the rooftop as it was more open.


    Jisung was getting thest details of his makeup finished, with the makeup artist still a little bit traumatized from what happened just a few moments ago.


    Jaeyong gently patted Jisung''s shoulder. "Hey, it''s alright if you step out. I can ask Jay to move your photoshoot."


    Jisung shook his head and smiled. "I''m fine," he said. "Just a little bit shaken up, but I''ll live. I don''t want to repeat this again."


    "Besides," he continued. "We still have our group shots. I don''t want to be a hassle to you,


    guys."


    June sighed. "We can do it on another day if you''d like. We don''t mind."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong agreed.


    "Nah," Jisung said, finally standing from his seat. "Let''s just get this over with."


    With that, he went to the photo zone without saying another word. Then, the photographer


    snapped his pictures.


    Meanwhile, Jaeyong and June watched the scene before them with pursed lips.


    "Harsh, isn''t it?" Jaeyong asked.


    "Hmm," June merely hummed.


    "It''s truly the nature of our job," he continued. "We have broken away from a toxicpany, but this is one thing that we can''t truly control-our fans."


    "They''re the ones we love yet hate the most."


    June shook his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Can you call stalkers as fans?"


    Jaeyong chuckled. "Well, they started as fans, if you think about it. Ah, this is truly difficult. Jisung is the sweetest guy in the industry. He loves being an idol so much. He also loves


    meeting his fans."


    "I would hate for him to lose that passion," he muttered.


    June bit his lip and looked at Jisung. He was professional as usual, but there was something


    missing in his gaze. Theycked the spark that they usually held.


    June didn''t want to see it a bright person slowly losing their spark.

 Chapter 1016: Series of Events

    Chapter 1016: Series of Events


    ?


    To make matters worse, it didn''t end with that.


    Between rehearsals, unexpected schedule changes, and their growing fandom, the boys barely had a moment to breathe.


    The public had caught onto it, too.


    - DAWN looks so tired these days.


    - I heard they''re preparing for a concert.


    - But that''s the only thing they''re doing right now. They look way more exhausted.


    - Have you guys heard about the sasaeng that went up in their vents?


    - What? Where did you hear that from?


    - From my mom, who is friends with the owner of the restaurant next to the hotel where they had a shoot. That restaurantdy was having a fling with the security personnel, so he told her the story.


    - Honestly, that''s a credible source.


    Truly, the members of DAWN were having the worst week ever.


    The day they got home after their photoshoot, Ren saw an unfamiliar envelope slip under June''s front door. He picked it up, eyeing it suspiciously.


    "Uh, June, you got mail?" Ren said, waving the pink letter in the air.


    June frowned, taking it from him. He opened it, half-expecting it to be from a fan, but as he read the contents, a chill ran down his spine.


    > Dear June,


    > I''ve been watching you for a long time now. I found your ce. It can be our ce soon. Don''t worry, I''m not here to hurt you. I just want to see you smile in person.


    > Love, your biggest fan.


    The room fell silent as June''s expression darkened. The letter itself was oddly innocent, but it was the implication that was disturbing-someone had really found out where he lived.


    "Who the hell would send this?" Jaeyong muttered.


    Akira leaned over to read the letter, shaking his head. "I don''t know, but they shouldn''t be able to get your address like this. This is bad."


    June crumpled the letter in his hand. "This is getting out of hand. I''ll talk to Marcus."


    The next incident came a few dayster when they were filming VCRs for their uing concert. The production team had booked a quiet studio space for privacy, but when DAWN arrived, a small crowd had already gathered outside. The members shared confused nces, knowing that their schedule wasn''t public.


    "Why are there so many people here?" Zeth asked, peering out the tinted window of their van. Sehun checked his phone, frowning. "No one posted about this location. It''s weird."


    Bo Wen tried to usher them through the crowd as quickly as possible, but it was impossible to avoid the pushing and shoving. Hands reached out, grabbing at their clothes. Someone even pulled on Jisung''s hoodie, yanking him backward.


    June turned, blocking Jisung from the mob as they finally made it inside the building. The door mmed shut behind them, and they all panted, trying to catch their breath.


    "That was insane," Zeth muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "How did they even know we were here?"


    "It''s like they''re tracking us," Ren said, half-joking.


    Jisung didn''t respond. He was unusually quiet, staring at the floor like he was lost in thought. The final straw came the next day. They were supposed to have a day off, but an emergency meeting was called instead. The members filed June''s room.


    Jay was there after a long while.


    "Well, if it isn''t Mr. Big Shot," Akira teased.


    Jay shook his head with amusement. "I''m so rich now, you guys."


    "Must be nice," Sehun said.


    "You guys make more money than I do!" Jay eximed.


    "What''s this about?" Zeth asked, slumping into a chair.


    Jaeyong nced at Jay. "It''s about the incidents this week," he said. "We need to talk." Jisung looked pale as if he hadn''t slept in days. He rubbed his temples, clearly distressed.


    Akira noticed his expression and frowned. "Jisung, are you okay? You look like you''ve seen a ghost."


    Jisung hesitated, then finally spoke. "It''s just... it feels like we''re being watched all the time. And it''s not just fans."


    The room went silent. Everyone exchanged wary looks.


    "You think it''s still the person from the vent?" Ren asked.


    "It''s not the first time this has happened," Jisung said quietly. "I keep seeing the same figure


    outside my window. I thought it was my imagination, but..."


    Akira''s face twisted into a scowl. "It''s Chul, isn''t it?"


    "No," June cut in sharply. "He''s dead."


    "Oh, right," Akira muttered, chuckling.


    "Could it be one of Zeth''s exes?" Casper asked, narrowing his eyes at Zeth.


    Zeth scoffed, rolling his eyes. "No way. I have high standards, remember?"


    "Yeah, because Kiera was definitely out of your league," Ren teased, nudging him.


    The mood lightened for a brief moment, but it didn''tst. Jisung''s hands were shaking as he sped them together. "What about that girl who attacked me during the fan signing event?"


    he asked.


    The room fell silent again.


    It was honestly the most usible exnation for all of this. These events started right after it. However, June found it hard to believe that a young girl would be able to do such things.


    But then again, June knew not to underestimate the capabilities of other people. He knew just how scary human beings could be.


    Jaeyong rubbed the back of his neck, clearly agitated. "We need to bring this up with thepany," he said firmly. "They need to start an investigation. This isn''t something we can


    just handle on our own."


    "Jay is thepany," Akira said, shaking his head in amusement.


    Jay pursed his lips. "We''re trying," he said. "However, we haven''t seen any traces of this


    person just yet."


    Jisung nodded, but he still looked defeated. His eyes were distant as if he were reying every unsettling encounter in his mind.


    June watched him carefully, his lips pursed. He hated seeing Jisung like this-defeated,


    scared. It wasn''t like him at all.


    Without a word, June stood up and grabbed his jacket.


    "Where are you going?" Akira asked.


    "I''ll buy you something," June said simply, ncing at Jisung. "You need a distraction."


    "You have to be careful," Ren said.


    June shook his head. "You guys don''t have to worry about me."


    Jisung gave a small, grateful smile, but it didn''t reach his eyes. June''s heart ached a little at


    the sight, and he hurried out of the apartment, heading for the convenience store just belown/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    their building.


    The air outside was crisp, so he took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. He was just


    reaching the entrance of the store when he saw a familiar silhouette standing by the alley.


    He stopped dead in his tracks, squinting against the streetlights.


    A small smile made its way to his lips.


    It had been a while since they saw each other.


    "Jia!"

 Chapter 1017: Obsession

    Chapter 1017: Obsession


    ?


    June''s expression softened as he saw her silhouette standing near the street light.


    He couldn''t help but smile-he was definitely biased when it came to Jia. After all, she was one of his earliest supporters, back when his face was still hidden behind a mask.


    Unlike many other fans who could be overbearing or clingy, Jia knew how to respect boundaries. She was genuine, always there to support him without crossing any lines. In many ways, she was an ideal fan and had be a good friend over time.


    With a lighthearted step, June walked over to her and gently patted her shoulder. "Hey, Jia," he greeted with a smile.


    But as the figure turned around, June''s smile faltered.


    His eyes narrowed, taking in the small but distinct differences. The face staring back at him wasn''t Jia''s.


    It was close-almost eerily simr-but this girl''s expression was different, her eyes wide with an unsettling excitement.


    "June!" she eximed, her voice high and cheerful.


    June blinked, taking a half-step back in surprise.


    It was Mia.


    He recognized her now, though it was hard to tell at first. She looked so much like Jia-same hairstyle, same casual outfit style. Even their height and build were almost identical. It was uncanny.


    Were they rted in any way?


    They had simr names, too.


    "Mia?" June managed. "You''re here?"


    Mia nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I''m just looking around for a new ce to stay. It''s a nice area, isn''t it?"


    She nced around, taking in the quiet street and the cozy lights of the convenience store behind him. "Do you live around here?"


    June''s instincts red, but he kept his expression neutral.


    He shook his head, smiling politely. "No, just visiting a friend," he lied easily. "It''s a nice spot, though."


    Mia''s smile widened, and for a moment, it seemed perfectly normal-just an excited fan running into her idol. June turned slightly, gesturing toward the convenience store.


    "Well, I have to go," he said, making a move to leave.


    He wanted to keep the interaction brief. Something about this encounter was making his skin crawl.


    But Mia''s hand shot out, lightly grabbing his wrist before he could step away.


    It wasn''t a harsh grip, but it was enough to stop him in his tracks. June turned back, his brow furrowed in mild confusion.


    "Are you still using my gift?" Mia asked, tilting her head to the side, her expression curious and almost...hopeful.


    June blinked. He nodded slowly, deciding it was best to y along.


    "Yeah, of course," he said with a smile. "I use it all the time."


    Mia''s eyes lit up, but the smile on her face seemed to stretch a bit too wide. There was something off about it, and that something made June''s stomach twist uneasily.


    "Are you sure?" she pressed, her tone oddly intense.


    June tilted his head, studying her. "What do you mean?"


    "You didn''t give it away, did you?" she asked with a yful edge in her voice.


    It sounded like a joke, but not really. Her eyes were searching his face, demanding some kind of reassurance.


    June merely shook his head, forcing a chuckle. "No, of course not. I kept it."


    Mia''s smile grew wider, but instead of looking pleased, she seemed almost relieved.


    She leaned a little closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Please use it," she said softly. "It means a lot to me."


    For a moment, the light from the street light cast a shadow across her face, making her look strange, almost distorted.


    Her smile lingered, but her eyes were dark, void of any real joy. The way she stared at him made June''s skin prickle with unease.


    He swallowed, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down his spine.


    He''d dealt with overzealous fans before, but this was different. There was an intensity in Mia''s gaze that bordered on obsession, something he hadn''t seen in a long time. He took a small step back, trying to create a bit of distance.


    "Yeah," he said, his voice a bit strained. "I''ll use it."


    Mia''s face softened, and she took a deep breath. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exposing the inside of her arm for just a split second.


    And that''s when June saw it¡ªa faint, familiar mark. It was a small scar, barely noticeable, but it triggered a memory he had tried to forget.


    He had seen that mark before. His breath got caught in his throat as the realization hit him.


    He nced up at her face again, really looking this time. The resemnce to Jia wasn''t just uncanny-it was deliberate.


    The hair, the clothes, and even the way Mia smiled were all carefully crafted imitations. His mind raced, piecing together fragmented memories of that scar, of a gift that had made him ufortable, and of a girl who had once stalked him to this extent.


    "Crap," he muttered under his breath, the word slipping out before he could stop it.


    Mia''s head tilted, her smile faltering slightly. "What was that?" she asked, her voice still


    sweet.


    June forced himself to smile, even though every instinct was screaming at him to get away


    from her.


    He nodded, taking another step back, this time more deliberate.


    "Yeah, I said I''ll use it," he repeated, his voice lighter now, more cheerful. He was putting on his idol mask, the one that never showed fear or difort. "Don''t worry."


    Mia''s smile returned, wider than before. "I knew you would," she said softly. "I always knew you wouldn''t forget about me.


    "Well, it was nice seeing you," he said, forcing a casual tone. "But I really have to go now."


    Mia nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his face. "Of course," she said sweetly. "I''ll see youn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    around, June."


    He didn''t reply. He simply turned and walked as calmly as he could toward the store, resisting the urge to break into a run. He could feel her eyes on his back, watching him with that unsettling, unblinking stare.


    As soon as he was inside, he let out a breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. He nced back through the ss door, but Mia was gone, vanished as if she had never been there.

 Chapter 1018: The Keychain

    Chapter 1018: The Keychain


    ?


    June pushed the door open to the apartment, his hands bncing a whole box of expensive assorted ice cream tubs.


    He stepped inside, instantly greeted by the noise of his members sprawled out on the couch, looking half-exhausted and half-wired.


    "Did you rob a convenience store?" Akira asked, raising a brow at the ice cream box.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Shut up and eat," June said, plopping the box onto the coffee table.


    The moment he let go, the boys dove at it like a pack of hyenas.


    Casper, the fastest, was already prying open a tub with his bare hands while Jaeyong snatched a spoon straight out of his pocket, ready to dig in. Zeth pulled out his favorite vor and nudged Ren, who was struggling to find his preferred vani.


    Amid the chaos, June''s gazended on something out of ce. Jisung''s bag was left unattended on the couch. It wasn''t like Jisung to leave his things lying around, especially not after the strange encounters they''d had recently. He let out a long sigh, grabbed the ice cream box again, and headed toward his room.


    "Where are you going?" Zeth asked, spoon halfway to his mouth.


    "To eat in peace," June muttered.


    But his n failed spectacrly as the rest of the members trailed after him like a line of ducklings, ice cream in hand.


    "If you wanted us in your room, you could have just said so," Akira teased, smirking as he pushed open June''s door without waiting for permission.


    June clicked his tongue, setting the ice cream box on the small table in his room. The others made themselvesfortable, settling in like they owned the ce.


    Akira, still licking his spoon, threw himself onto June''s bed while Ren and Casper sat cross- legged on the floor. Jisung, thest to enter, stood awkwardly by the door, clearly still shaken by whatever had been haunting him this past week.


    "I think I know who''s behind all this," June said abruptly.


    The room fell silent. Even the clinking of spoons against ice cream tubs stopped. They all looked at June with wide eyes.


    "So suddenly?" Akira muttered.


    "You just brought ice cream, and suddenly you have an epiphany? You really are an alien!" Zeth eximed.


    "Who?" Jaeyong asked, leaning forward, the spoon hanging from his lips.


    June took a deep breath, his mind reying the encounter outside the convenience store.


    "Mia," June said, looking at each of them in turn. "Or whoever she really is."


    Ren furrowed his brow, setting his ice cream aside. "Mia? The girl who gave you that very cute keychain? I talked to her, too, and she seemed quite nice!"


    "Yeah, she was," Zeth said, confused. "Are we talking about the same Mia?"


    "Yeah, that''s the one," June confirmed. He nced at Jisung, who was staring back at him.


    "We''ve met her before. She changed. She really did."


    "What do you mean?" Zeth asked, confused. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "She changed her hairstyle or something? I mean, we can''t really recognize every fan out there."


    June shook his head. "No, it''s not just that. She looks like Jia now. Deliberately. She wasn''t like this before, but when I saw her, it clicked. The hair, the clothes, even her expressions-it''s like she''s trying to be a copy of Jia."


    Casper let out a low whistle, his eyes wide. "Wait, you''re saying she... changed herself? To look like Jia?"


    "Yes," June replied, feeling a shiver run down his spine as he remembered Mia''s face. "It was subtle enough that I didn''t notice at first. I knew she was familiar, but I couldn''t ce it. Now I know. It''s her."


    "The sasaeng I had during the first fan sign."


    The room was dead silent. Ren rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsettled. "You''re serious?" he asked. "I thought she was in prison!"


    "She got out," Jaeyong said. "She paid the bail, I believe, and thest thing I heard-she had gotten better."


    "Well, it seems like she hasn''t," Akira chimed in.


    "But why now?" Jaeyong asked. "Whye back now, after all this time? I would infer that after being arrested like that, she would stop doing all of this."


    "People are scary, you know?" Casper said. "Others im that natural disasters, ghosts, or animals are their biggest fears, but for me, it''s people!"


    "We have a mind that can think, but some don''t use it. They choose to do bad. That''s how scary humans are."


    "Casper is really smart sometimes," Akira muttered, shaking his head in amazement.


    "There''s another thing," June continued. "It''s the keychain she gave me. I thought it was just a harmless gift, but..."


    He paused, watching as the realization dawned on his members'' faces. Jisung''s eyes widened, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his spoon. "You''re saying it has a camera or a tracker?" he asked, his voice cracking.


    June nodded. "I''m almost certain it does. I realized it toote, but it exins a lot. It exins Why Jisung felt like he was being watched and why we''ve been getting followed so easily. She''s been tracking us."


    Casper pointed at Jisung. "See! I should have been the one who kept the keychain!"


    Zeth swore under his breath, throwing his spoon into the empty tub with a tter. "So, all this time, Jisung was right," he muttered. "He really was being followed."


    "I knew something was off," Jisung whispered. "I could feel it, but I thought I was just being


    paranoid."


    "We should get rid of it," Jay eximed, already halfway to the door. "Smash it or throw it away or something!"


    "Not so fast," June interrupted, holding up a hand to stop him.


    "What?" Jay asked. "Don''t tell me you want to keep that ugly ass keychain?"


    "You said it was cute before," Akiramented.


    "Of course not," June said, answering Jay''s question.


    The room was silent for a moment before Jaeyong broke it.


    "Oh no," he groaned, rubbing his temples. "You''re nning something again, aren''t you?"


    June''s lips curled into a small, tight smile.


    "Maybe."


    Casper stood from the floor.


    "So, can I have the keychain now?"

 Chapter 1019: Junes Effective Team

    Chapter 1019: June''s Effective Team


    ?


    Minjun was lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone with an annoyed look stered on his face. He wasn''t sure if the news articles or the chaos they described was making his blood boil.


    First, they weren''t written well.


    And second, headline after headline screamed about DAWN''s recent incidents.


    ''DAWN Mobbed by Fans at a Hotel,''


    ''Chaos at DAWN''s Fan Meet-Stalking Incidents Reported''


    ''Phoenix Entertainment Under Fire for Inadequate Security Measures.''


    He rolled his eyes, tossing his phone onto the couch with a huff.


    "This is ridiculous. I swear, Phoenix Entertainment sucks," he muttered, loud enough for Lena to hear from the kitchen.


    "What did you say?" Lena called out, popping her head around the corner.


    "I said Phoenix sucks!" Minjun shouted back, his tone filled with irritation. "Have you seen the news? DAWN is being mobbed everywhere they go! It''s like Phoenix has zero idea how to protect them!"


    Lena set down her mug of coffee and walked over, arms crossed. "That''s not fair, Minjun. Phoenix is doing its best. It''s not exactly easy managing a group as popr as DAWN, you know."


    Minjun raised an eyebrow, his disbelief obvious. "Oh, please. That''s exactly the problem! DAWN is growing like crazy, and the fans are bing crazier by the day. Stalkers, sasaengs, mobs at every turn-Phoenix should''ve seen thising and beefed up security ages ago." Lena let out a sigh, sitting down next to him. "You think it''s that simple? Phoenix is handling it. They''ve got ns in ce-"


    "ns? Really? Is the n to just let fans tackle them before their schedules? Because that''s what it looks like," Minjun snapped, leaning forward. "June''s practically being thrown into crowds. I saw a video where he almost tripped because fans grabbed his arm! It''s insane. Oh, and Jisung isn''t smiling as much now. Meanwhile, Phoenix are twiddling their thumbs!"


    Lena''s eyes narrowed slightly. "First of all, they''re not twiddling their thumbs. They''ve hired extra security for events, and they''re adjusting protocols="


    "Adjusting protocols?" Minjun cut her off, letting out augh. "That''s corporate speak for ''we messed up but are trying to make it sound like we know what we''re doing.""


    Lena clenched her jaw. "You don''t know what you''re talking about. You''re just a kid reading some sensationalized articles online."


    "Oh, so now I''m just a dumb kid? Sure, Mom. Whatever helps you sleep at night," Minjun shot back. He leaned back against the couch, throwing his hands up. "Why are you even defending Phoenix so hard? It''s not like you own the ce."


    There was a pause.


    A very long pause.


    Minjun leaned closer, staring at his mom''s face.


    Lena''s lips pressed into a thin line. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.


    The silence was deafening.


    Minjun''s eyes widened, and then he burst outughing. "I''m joking! Geez, Mom, you look like you''ve seen a ghost," he said, still chuckling. "Honestly, if you owned Phoenix, I''d have a lot moreints. Starting with how much I hate the owner."


    Lena''s smile faltered. "You... hate the owner?" she repeated.


    "Obviously!" Minjun eximed, oblivious to the way her face fell. "I mean, who wouldn''t? Whoever runs Phoenix is clearly out of touch with reality. The way they''re handling DAWN is a mess. I''d tell them that to their face."


    Heughed again, shaking his head. "Can you picture it? I was standing in front of the big boss of Phoenix, just ripping into them. ''Hey, yourpany sucks. Fix your security or watch DAWN get trampled by a mob again.""


    With that, Minjun grabbed his phone again and scrolled through another article, muttering to himself about the headlines of the big news outlets.


    "These all suck," he muttered.


    Meanwhile, Lena went back to the kitchen with narrowed eyes.


    "So, he hates me, huh?" she said, shaking her head and letting out augh. "Ah, that kid, really. He inherited his father''s attitude!"


    She pulled out her phone and dialed June''s number. He picked up almost immediately.


    "What?"


    Lena pursed her lips. Alright, maybe it wasn''t his dad, but June, with whom Minjun was simr. He could have greeted her more warmly!


    She was the owner of Phoenix after all!


    Lena cleared her throat, her voice back to its usual business-like tone. "June, we''re adding more security on you guys," she said, already typing up a message to her contacts at Phoenix.


    "No arguments."


    "So suddenly?"


    "Just ept it!" Lena snapped.


    ***


    Haruto sat at his desk, squinting at the monitor in front of him. It was supposed to be his rare day off, but the noiseing from the living room was impossible to ignore. There was some buzzing followed by a ttering sound and what might''ve been a spark.


    "What the hell?" Haruto muttered, pushing back his wheelchair. He made his way out of his room, frowning as the noise grew louder.


    When he turned the corner into the living room, his jaw dropped. There was Marcus, hunched over the coffee table with a welding machine in hand, sparks flying.


    Surrounding him was a collection of random items: a ceramic mug, a keychain, a mini fan, and a sleek perfume bottle.


    Haruto crossed his arms. "What is this?" he asked, raising his voice to be heard over the noise.


    Marcus looked up, pulling off his protective goggles with a nonchnt expression. "Props," he said simply.


    Haruto''s frown deepened. "Props?"


    He moved closer, peering over Marcus''s shoulder. "Since when do you make props?"


    "Sincest night," Marcus replied, turning back to his work.


    Haruto stepped around to get a better look at the table. Now that he could see them up close, the items looked almost... cute. He picked up the ceramic mug first. It was painted in pastel colors, with a little smiley face that seemed homemade.


    Then he spotted the keychain, a tiny figure that looked suspiciously like Juneplete with a smirk and tousled hair. The mini fan was shaped like a cat, and the perfume bottle was decorated with tiny flowers.


    "Aww," Haruto cooed as he examined the cute assortment. "These are adorable. Did you


    make all of these?"


    Marcus just nodded, not looking up from the fan he was tinkering with.


    Haruto grinned, holding up the mug. "And what exactly are these for?"


    "They''re for June," Marcus answered matter-of-factly.


    Haruto raised his eyebrows, clearly confused. "For June? What, like a gift set or something?"


    Marcus finally nced up, giving Haruto a t look. "No. They''re surveince devices."


    The smile froze on Haruto''s face. He blinked, staring at the mug in his hand. "This... has a


    camera in it?"


    "Yup," Marcus said, going back to work. "Right inside the handle."


    Haruto turned the mug slowly, squinting at the handle as if he''d find the camera lens. He couldn''t see anything out of the ordinary. "Seriously?" he muttered, then pointed to the kitty


    fan. "And this one?"


    "Camera," Marcus confirmed.


    Haruto''s mouth fell open as he picked up the perfume bottle next. "And this?"


    "Microphone," Marcus said without missing a beat.


    Haruto''s eyes widened. He picked up the keychain of June. "And let me guess-this has a


    tracker in it?"


    Marcus nodded. "Correct."


    Haruto let out a breathlessugh, setting the keychain back on the table.


    "You can do this too?" he asked.


    Marcus nodded once more.


    Haruto looked at Marcus, who was now adjusting the wiring on the mini fan. "And when did


    June ask you to do this?"


    "Last night," Marcus said casually, as if installing spy gear into everyday objects was just a


    regr Tuesday night activity.


    Haruto pursed his lips" So, you pulled an all-nighter for this?"


    Marcus shrugged. "June said it was urgent."


    Haruto couldn''t help but let out a small, incredulousugh.


    "You''re nearly done, huh?"


    "Almost," Marcus said, pulling his goggles back on as he finished the final touches on the


    bunny fan.


    Haruto leaned back, drumming his fingers on the armrest. "Okay, I have to ask," he said, his tone teasing. "Who do you like better-June or me?"


    Marcus paused, lifting his goggles once more. He stared at Haruto. For a long moment, he


    didn''t say anything.


    Without a word, Marcus went back to work, focusing intently on the fan as if Haruto hadn''t


    spoken at all.


    "Oh, wow," Haruto said, feigning a dramatic sigh. He slumped back against the couch, throwing an arm over his eyes. "I think I know the answer."


    "But same," he said. "What else does June need? Let''s make them all!"


    ***


    The DAWN members were scattered around the Phoenix Entertainment break room, each lounging in their own way.


    Akira was stretched out on the couch, scrolling through his phone, while Ren casually leaned


    against the counter with a bottle of water. Zeth was humming a tune under his breath while


    ying drums on the table. June, however, was the center of attention, holding a new ceramic mug in his hand.


    It had a glossy, uneven finish with a tiny hand-painted flower on the side. It looked innocent -ordinary even-but in the hands of June, the most ordinary things had a way of bing anything but.


    Akira''s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Okay, what is it this time?" he asked, gesturing at the mug.


    "Oh, this?" he said, feigning nonchnce. "A mug."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Right," Haruto drawled, not believing it for a second. He leaned closer, inspecting the mug.


    "So, let me guess. It''s not just a mug, is it?"


    June tapped the handle of the mug with his finger. "It''s got a tiny camera in it."


    Ren let out a low whistle, crossing his arms. "A camera? And where exactly are you nning


    to use that?"


    "It''s a gift."


    "For who?" Casper asked, looking at June with narrowed eyes.


    "For Mia," June nonchntly said. "What?" Jisung eximed. "How can you give her a gift after everything she''s done?"


    June shrugged. "I''m just giving her back the favor. Stalk our team? Let''s have someone stalk


    her."


    A chill ran down Sehun''s spine. "Wait...that sounds illegal."


    "It is," Jaeyong said. "How exactly are you going to give it to her?"


    "Oh, I''ll just leave it after our schedule. She''ll pick it up. She''s the one taking my stuff, after


    all."


    Akira cracked up, pping his knee. "You''ve turned her own obsession against her," he said. "You''re really something else, June."


    Sehun raised his hand. "Guys! Isn''t that illegal?"


    June''s smile faded a bit. "I was lenient the first time," he said, his tone t. "Clearly, that


    wasn''t enough. She needs to be caught in the act. Otherwise, this is just going to keep


    happening."


    Ren nodded slowly. "You''re baiting her," he realized. "You''re giving her something she can''t


    resist, so she''ll take it and expose herself."


    June hummed with a nod.


    Haruto burst outughing, doubling over. "You''re actually a mastermind," he said, shaking


    his head. "I almost feel bad for her."


    "Almost."

 Chapter 1020: Idols Are Not Your Friends

    ?Chapter 1020 Idols Are Not Your Friends


    "Obsessive fans are smart in other aspects," June said as he saw that the perfume bottle he deliberately left in the restroom was gone.


    He had to give props to Mia! She was great at hiding that he didn''t even notice.


    However, everything was falling into ce now.


    June had gathered enough evidence of her stalking their group and was going to talk with the higher-ups right after their photoshoot.


    Jisung was in a much better mood, too. Phoenix had increased their security, and although the amount of fans that came to them during their non-working hours was still ridiculous, it had definitely gotten better.


    Since Jisung and June were done, the two of them decided to head back to June''s ce to rest first. They loved their job, but it was definitely tiring at times.


    The two were in the back seat, filled withfortable silence. The site was pretty far from June''s apartment, so Jisung came up with a suggestion.


    "Hey, do you want to go live?" he asked.


    June raised one eyebrow. "Right now?"


    "Yeah," Jisung said. "It would be fun. We hadn''t done one by ourselves before."


    June nced at the navigation screen and shrugged. There was still half an hour left before they made it to his apartment. With the traffic, it may be even more than that. With that, he shrugged. It had been a while since they had spoken with their fans, and June knew they were having a hard time, too-especially with everything happening on the news about DAWN.


    "Let''s go," June said.


    Jisung beamed and turned on his phone before going to their official Navel page. Another good thing about being on Phoenix was that they could ess their own ount now! Of course, there were still some restrictions, and they have a team dedicated to controlling their posts, but it was better than nothing!


    "Let''s wait a bit," Jisung muttered, looking at the view count.


    However, it seemed like they didn''t have to wait long because as soon as they went live, there were already thousands of fans in the live stream.


    "Oh," he chuckled. "We have a hundred thousand in the live in such a short time. Hi everyone!"


    - Omo! It''s Jisung and June.


    - The duo we love the most.


    - The youngest line!


    - I bet Casper is having a breakdown right now.


    "How has everyone been?" Jisung asked with sparkling eyes.


    June smiled and waved at the camera. "It''s been a while."


    Yeah, it really has been!


    - I think we should ask you guys that question.


    - How are you, boys?


    - Is everything going well?


    Jisung pursed his lips. "Well, it''s been a tough week. I''m not going to lie," he muttered. "But, it''s all good now. It''s not entirely good, but it''s getting better! Things are looking up-and our concert is very near now!"


    - Aww, we saw what happened.


    - We were so worried.


    - People who stalk you shouldn''t be called as fans.


    - I second the motion!


    - Seriously, you guys should just leave the fandom if you have that kind of mindset.


    June read thements and shook his head.


    "It seems like you guys are angrier than us," he said. "I understand, though. It really is frustrating."


    - Aish, seriously. Who are the people who made them feel this way?


    - Jisung, please don''t lose your smile.


    "Don''t worry, guys," Jisung chuckled, showing his signature smile. "I''m really okay. It''s impossible for a person to always feel happy. So, there are times like this, too.


    However, we''re idols, so we have to show you the best!"


    June pursed his lips.


    - I think June disagrees!


    - Come on, June. Speak your truth!


    - What do you think about what Jisung said?


    - You don''t always have to show your best. You guys can be sad with us!


    June let out a deep breath and looked outside of the window before focusing back on the phone.


    "I''ve actually been thinking about this a lot," he started off.


    - Here we go.


    - I''m all ears.


    - Let me hear June''s defiance!


    "What is an idol?" he asked, leaning against the headrest. "I find myself asking this question a lot. Of course, the main answer would be-a performer. That''s the main


    job."


    "However, it''s so much more than that. I don''t think we''re seen as regr people," he continued.


    Jisung looked at June, wondering if it was all right to say such things. However, June kept going.


    - Oh, so we''re going this route.


    - I didn''t realize we were getting so serious.


    - I don''t mind it at all!


    - We''d love to hear your perspective. Everything is SO cookie-cutter in K-pop, so this isn''t talked about much.


    "I would assume that others would ask-why can normal people go to clubs but idols can''t? Why can''t we be in romantic rtionships? Why do we have so many


    restrictions when our job is to perform?" he asked.


    "Then, I thought long and hard about it-and I think that Jisung is right," he continued.


    "We should only show our best selves."


    "Oh," Jisung said, his eyebrows raising in surprise.


    "What?" June asked.


    "I didn''t expect that kind of answer," he said, scratching the back of his neck.


    June chuckled. "Now, don''t get me wrong. Our ''best'' selves don''t necessarily have to be good all the time. Our best selves might mean our hardworking, our tired, our real selves. However, aside from that, we have to take into consideration that people look up to us. They spend money on us. You''re like our employers, honestly," he added. Thements lightheartedly disagreed, but they knew that it was somewhat true. "I don''t know you guys personally, and there are some things you don''t know about me, too. That''s our rtionship. It will never go past that," he continued. "We''re your friends, but not at the same time. I already told this during my speech at the PAPA, but I''ll repeat it again. We should not be the center of your lives." "We show our best selves because we know that youe to us for happiness. You don''t watch us to see us set a bad example. We feel untouchable for you." "And I''m sorry for saying this," he continued. "But I hope it stays that way. Not in the


    ''you guys can''t think of us as your friends'' kind, but in the sense that we are a fleeting part of your life-one that serves to make you happy and not to satisfy your personal obsessions," he ended.


    Jisung looked at him with wide eyes.


    He wasn''t even a fan, and yet he felt a sting from June''s words!

 Chapter 1021: Sweet, Little Sue

    Chapter 1021: Sweet, Little Sue


    ?


    - Honestly, a lot of us needed to hear that.


    - Yeah, my delusions were getting too real for a moment.


    - Wait, some of you aren''t joking?


    - Why do you think they have so many sasaengs?


    - Seriously, though. I know we''re not friends in real life. I hope you are well, so I will also maintain my distance.


    "I think they''re sad now, June," Jisung said, chuckling as he read through thements. June chuckled along with him. "Don''t take it negatively," he said. "Like I said, we have a special rtionship that only we know of. It''s not personal, but it''s still special."


    "Yeah," Jisung smiled. "I just hope we stay happy for a long time. Try not to engage in negativity because liking idols should be an enjoyable hobby! Along with that, I hope you guys respect our boundaries, too. In that way, we can all have a happy time."


    "That''s true," June said. "We don''t want to resent you guys."


    "June!" Jisung eximed. "I thought you wanted to show your best self to them!"


    "This is my best self," June said. "My honest self. It''s something that has to be said-not only for our group but for those who are actively promoting, too. I''m also taking into


    consideration the younger groups that would be debuting."


    - Ah, such a thoughtful senior.


    - His words stung because they were true.


    - Yeah. As June said, it shouldn''t be taken negatively. This does not change anything. He just wants us to know that we don''t know each other in real life.


    - He''s setting a boundary-which is needed because we''re fans and they''re idols. That''s just the way it is. That''s how it will always be.


    "Anyway," Jisung smiled. "We just wanted to greet you guys since it''s been a while! We''re actually heading back from a shoot. Please look forward to it!"


    With that, Jisung ended the live, turning to June with wide eyes.


    "Was that okay?" he asked.


    "The live?" June rified.


    Jisung innocently nodded.


    June shook his head in amusement. "Of course, it''s okay. It''s not like we said anything bad."


    "But I told them to respect our boundaries," Jisung said.


    June clicked his tongue. "Are you hearing yourself right now? We shouldn''t need to ask others to respect our boundaries in the first ce! Besides, this is a good step for what I''m about to do," he said.


    Jisung tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What are you trying to do?" he asked.


    June crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Don''t worry. It''s not anything illegal. Instead, I''m actually on the side of legality this time! Gow!"


    Jisung scratched the back of his neck. "Somehow, that makes me even more nervous."


    June shook his head. Honestly, he initially didn''t want to go through it. He could go the dirty route and show Mia that she was messing with the wrong idol. However, June suddenly thought of Jisung and realized there were many idols like him.


    So, he decided to put in some extra effort to help the likes of Jisung.


    Or maybe it was just Jisung.


    June definitely had a soft spot for Jisung.


    ''No, I don''t,'' June thought.


    Well, could you me him?


    Jisung was the first contestant to approach him back in Rising Stars! He was also the one who believed in him through and through, no matter how many challenges they faced together.


    So, if you were asking June, then he would say that he was just returning the favor.


    He definitely did not have a soft spot for Jisung!


    ***


    June leaned against the conference room table, appearing casual amidst the stiff suits and stern faces gathered around him. Jay sat beside him, his lips pressed into a thin smile.


    One of the board directors, a middle-aged man with a balding head and sharp sses, cleared his throat. "We rarely see idols at these meetings," he remarked, looking over at June. "It''s quite a change of pace."


    A woman beside him, one of theirpanywyers with a sleek bob haircut, leaned in to whisper, though not quietly enough. "June is so handsome in person," she murmured to her colleague.


    June met their eyes, shing a small, charming smile that only added to the whispers.


    Thepany''s headwyer, an older woman with silver-streaked hair, tapped her pen against the table. "Alright, let''s cut to the chase," she said, eyes narrowing as she surveyed the room. "What''s happening here? Why was this meeting called? And most importantly, why is June here?"


    Jay leaned back, unbuttoning his zer as he took out a slim folder from his briefcase. "I thought you''d never ask!" he lightheartedly eximed like he wasn''t the CEO of a multi- millionpany. He passed the folder to thewyer, who raised a brow before taking it.


    "You''re about to see something interesting," Jay continued. "But before I exin, let me ask you all something. Did you really think June was just another pretty face here to sing and


    dance?"


    June rolled his eyes. "Stop making it seem like amercial, Jay," he said.


    The board of directors turned to each other with surprise. It was the first time they had seen the idol speak over their CEO!


    And Jay took it well, too! What was this dynamic?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Can you please just answer our questions?" one of thewyers said. They truly weren''t used to idols being in the room. Usually, it was just the board of directors who wouldin! Not only that, but it took a long time before these meetings were even initiated!


    "Oh, sorry," Jay said with a chuckle. "Just got a bit excited there."


    Jay slid one final paper across the table. It was a legal notice.


    "Well, I know this is pretty umon for idols, but hey, Phoenix wants to be the pioneer of these things! What our idols want, our idols get-that is if it''s reasonable enough."


    "Anyway! I''m rambling again," Jay chuckled, scratching the back of his neck.


    "Can you just help June sue someone?"

 Chapter 1022: To Idols Fighting Back!

    Chapter 1022: To Idols Fighting Back!


    ?


    Minjun''s eyes were wide as he read Junestest texts as well as the posts from mainstream media. His lips parted into an exaggerated O-shape before he gasped, pping the table in excitement.


    "Waah, so cool!" he eximed, startling his mom.


    Without wasting another second, Minjun ran to his room and hunched over his keyboard to start typing.


    Lena frowned as she looked at the empty space.


    "Is he going through second puberty?"


    Breaking News: June Sues a Fan (Yes, You Read That Right!)n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Written by Minmin, the most honest, most unbiased reporter you''ll ever find (and I don''t even like June that much, so you know it''s true).


    Guys. Sit down. Grab some popcorn. It''s finally happening.


    June, everyone''s favorite idol, just pulled the ultimate Uno reverse card on a fan. That''s right! The man who sings love songs like he''s serenading each one of you personally just filed awsuit against one of his own fans. And honestly, I''m here for it.


    Now, before you start spamming my inbox (which is already clogged with your DMs, by the way), let me break it down. Our boy June recently held a live stream, chatting like the charismatic menace he is. In the live with Jisung, he dropped a bombshell statement.


    "The rtionship between idols and fans should remain untouchable," June said with the straightest face I''ve ever seen. And guess what? Half of you took that personally.


    Because the inte is, well, the inte, chaos ensued. Comments flooded the live chat, split between those who were waving their virtual pom-poms in support and those clutching their pearl nes like June just insulted their entire lineage.


    Let''s break this down:


    -70% of fans: "Preach, King! Idols are people, too!"


    -30% of fans: "You ungrateful brat, we pay your bills! You belong to us!"


    - Others: "Who''s June?" (Please stay lost, my dear friends. This is not the ce for you.)


    With that kind of reaction, you''d think June announced he was quitting music and moving to a remote ind to raise alpacas (honestly, I''d watch that reality show, though).


    However, even with the mixed reactions, June didn''t back down. Instead, he doubled down. He went full send, diving into the murky waters of litigation.


    This fan-let''s call them ''Delulu''-apparently crossed a line, and June said, "Not today, Satan." He''s suing for harassment, stalking, and a severe case of being a weirdo. And you know what? Good for him.


    Thiswsuit isn''t just about one fan. It''s about setting a precedent. For far too long, idols have been treated like they''re life-sized dolls, existing solely for entertainment. June''s saying, "I''m a person too, and y''all need to chill." And can we get a round of apuse for that? Standing ovations, even.


    Of course, there''s bacsh. Because, duh, it''s the inte. Some fans are acting like they just found out Santa isn''t real, screaming about how June doesn''t care about them anymore. I''m pretty sure one person even started a hashtag #JuneIsOverParty (which trended for all of two seconds before everyone moved on to the next scandal).


    To those people, I say: Honey, you need to get yourself checked out. Take a step back, log off, and touch some grass. Maybe adopt a pet rock and learn what healthy boundaries look like.


    For the rest of you those pping and saying, "Finally, someone had the guts to do it"¡ªI see you. June sees you. And I think he might even like you a little more today.


    Stay tuned for updates because you know I''ll be there, live-tweeting the courtroom drama like it''s the Met G ofwsuits.


    And if June wins this case (which he probably will let''s be honest), it''s going to send a shockwave through the industry. Your faves might just follow in his footsteps.


    So, how do you feel about idols retaliating? Let me know in thements below!


    Unless you''re the delusional type, in which case... maybe don''t.


    ***


    Back in June''s apartment, the group was gathered around the coffee table, scrolling throughments on their phones. The atmosphere was rxed, with most of them finding the bacsh amusing.


    "70-30, huh?" June mused, leaning back against the couch with a grin. He tossed his phone onto the table, watching it spin beforending face-up. "Better than I expected."


    Akira smirked, nudging him with his elbow. "You basically called out half our fanbase. I''m surprised they didn''t burn our posters yet."


    Ren leaned forward, reading a particrly intensement out loud. "The fame''s gotten to his head. June doesn''t love us anymore."


    Zeth snorted, shaking his head. "They act like you proposed to them on stage or something. These people need a reality check."


    "Hey, don''t give them ideas," Juneughed. "But honestly, this needed to happen. We''ve all dealt with fans who go too far, and it''s time we stopped pretending it''s okay."


    Jaeyong nodded in agreement. "It''s brave, man. The industry''s been too scared to make a move like this. If thiswsuit goes through, it could change things for a lot of idols." "Anyway," June said, "I know the hate would pass eventually. They''d move onto the next scandal like Minmin said."


    Akira raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of storms... I just checked the news. Thewsuit''s probably started now. How do you feel about it?"


    "Confident," June replied without hesitation.


    "Preach," Sehun said, raising his ss in a mock toast. "To idols fighting back."


    They all clinked imaginary sses, chuckling before settling back into their seats.


    June, however, couldn''t shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind.


    He pulled out his phone again, flipping through his notifications until he found the text he''d received earlier that day.


    A new message shed on his screen: Mia was spotted near apany building.


    June''s brows furrowed as he zoomed in on the location pin. He knew this ce. It was the same address he''d been texted about recently.


    Well, it was a month ago, and he didn''t bother replying, but hey, it was still familiar!


    It was none other than Jia''s workce.

 Chapter 1023: The Ridiculous Coffee Run

    Chapter 1023: The Ridiculous Coffee Run


    ?


    June''s lips pressed into a thin line as he read the message again. It left a sour taste in his mouth, and he knew exactly what he had to do.


    "Bo Wen," he called out, grabbing his leather jacket from the back of the couch. Bo Wen was sprawled on the armchair, munching on a bag of chips with a blissful look on his face. He perked up at June''s voice, an eyebrow quirking up in curiosity.


    Yes, even Bo Wen decided to make June''s apartment his haven after the Mia incident.


    "What''s up? You look like you''re about tomit a felony," Bo Wen said, half-joking but fully serious. With June, you could never tell.


    June shot him a dry look. "Not quite, but I need backup. We''re going out."


    Bo Wen''s expression changed from rxed to alert in an instant. He tossed the chips onto the table and got to his feet, adjusting the cor of his own jacket. "Is it about your stalker? Did she do something again?"


    June nodded, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I just got a text. She''s near Jia''s office. I don''t know what she''s up to, but I need to make sure she''s not harassing anyone. Especially Jia."


    Bo Wen''s eyes darkened with concern. He knew how much June cared about his fans-the real ones, the ones who supported him without crossing lines.


    Jia was one of those fans. If Mia was trying to drag her into this mess, it was crossing a line June couldn''t forgive.


    "Let''s go, then," Bo Wen said, cracking his knuckles. "We''ll make sure she doesn''t get a chance to cause trouble."


    However, just as they were about to leave, Bo Wen paused.


    "Wait, did you tell Jay about this?"


    "Yes," June said. That was a lie, of course.


    Bo Wen nodded. "Well then, let''s go on an adventure!"


    As they headed out, June''s thoughts were racing. He wouldn''t mind being hurt by Mia, but Jia was an entirely different story! Since June knew that it was Jia who Mia was trying to copy, he knew that thetter wouldn''t be afraid to do something heinous.


    "This is thest straw," he muttered.


    ***


    Jia slumped back in her chair, staring at herputer screen like it was a personal enemy. It had been less than a month since she started this job, and she was already questioning all her life choices.


    She ran a hand through her hair-only for a few strands toe away with her fingers.


    "Great," she muttered. "I''m already losing hair. Is this what adulthood feels like?"


    She nced around the office, a maze of gray cubicles filled with overworked and underpaid employees.


    The atmosphere was suffocating, the kind of ce where dreams came to die slowly, smothered under stacks of paperwork and endless emails.


    Everything operated on a hierarchy. The higher-ups barely acknowledged her existence, except when they needed coffee.


    Well, it was partially her fault for turning down her mom''s offer to work in Phoenix Entertainment. After Azure Entertainment was acquired by Phoenix, Cindy naturally transitioned to thepany, too. She had wanted Jia to work with them, but Jia refused! She didn''t want to be a nepo baby!


    Jia sighed, turning to the tiny mirror she kept on her desk. She looked awful. She had dark circles under her eyes, pale skin, and not a trace of makeup.


    She hadn''t had time for it this morning, rushing out the door after snoozing her rm one too many times.


    "I look like I''ve been dug up from the grave," she said to herself, squinting at her reflection. Before she could attempt to tidy herself up, her phone buzzed with a new message from her supervisor.


    Office


    Now


    Two words, no punctuation, like they couldn''t spare the energy for an extra period.


    "Ugh," Jia groaned, pushing herself up from her chair. Her back ached in protest. She felt like a zombie as she trudged down the corridor, heading to her supervisor''s office.


    "Jia, I need you to run a coffee order," her supervisor barked as soon as she stepped in. She didn''t even look up from his desk. "It''s for the board meeting. Get it right this time."


    Jia clenched her jaw but forced a smile. She had memorized this ridiculous order by now, despite how insane it was.


    "Let me guess," she said, rattling it off without missing a beat. "One triple-shot, half-decaf, soy milktte with extra foam but no sugar. One iced caramel mhiato with exactly three pumps of vani syrup, no more, no less, extra drizzle on the top, and stirred counterclockwise. One ck coffee with three ice cubes, not two, not four. And one matchatte with oat milk, but only if the oat milk is the barista''s preferred brand; otherwise, almond milk, no sweetener, extra matcha powder, and a sprinkle of cinnamon."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her supervisor looked up, surprised. "You got it," she said, almost impressed. "Now hurry


    up."


    Jia forced herself not to roll her eyes.


    ''If I mess up even one drink, they''ll probably make me write a 10-page apology letter,'' she thought


    bitterly.


    With that, she walked out of the office.


    The coffee truck near the office had way too many people for Jia to be happy. She shuffled through the crowd, feeling like a salmon swimming upstream against a current of tiredmuters. Her whole body ached, especially her lower back, which had been protesting all day.


    "Why does everything hurt?" she mumbled, rubbing the small of her back. "I''m too young for this."


    She ced the order with the barista, who didn''t even blink at the absurd requests. Clearly, this wasn''t their first insane coffee order of the day.


    As Jia waited, she leaned against the truck, trying not to fall asleep standing up. Her eyes drooped, and she was almost ready to doze off when she heard a sudden, loud noise.


    The distinct sound of a motorcycle revving its engine pierced through the usual noise of the street outside. Jia frowned, turning her head toward the side. The noise was getting louder and closer. She squinted, trying to see who it was.


    Before she could fully process what was happening, she saw the motorcycle swerving through traffic at an rming speed. It zoomed past cars, ignoring traffic lights. The rider was dressed in ck from head to toe, a sleek helmet hiding their face.


    Jia''s heart skipped a beat as the motorcycle veered closer. It wasn''t heading down the road anymore-it wasing straight for her.


    She took a step back, instinctively raising her hand to shield herself as the motorcycle continued to elerate toward her.


    Crap! She just went to get coffee, and now she was going to die?

 Chapter 1024: Bo Wen, The Big Bouncy Man

    Chapter 1024: Bo Wen, The Big Bouncy Man


    ?


    Oh, the motorcycle was definitelying after her.


    She had said plenty of times that she wanted to die, but not literally!


    With that, even in her most drained state, her survival instincts kicked in the moment she saw the motorcycle barreling straight toward her.


    Her body jolted to life, adrenaline washing away her fatigue like a ssh of cold water.


    "Not today," she muttered. She still needed to watch DAWN''s first ever concert!


    Besides, she had watched enough K-dramas to know what happened next. The ssic scene where the innocent female protagonist gets hit tumbles dramatically onto the pavement and somehow ends up in the arms of a handsome man.


    Except in her fantasies, she always cursed out the female protagonist first.


    Why couldn''t they move away when there was still plenty of space and time?


    Just as the motorcycle was about to hit her, Jia leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding it.


    She felt like an action star in a slow-motion movie scene. However, what happened next wasn''t quite what she expected.


    The motorcycle driver, who seemed prepared for an impact but not for a sudden sidestep, swerved wildly to the left.


    Instead of colliding with Jia, the bike plowed straight into arge, bulky man with a bubble tea at hand who had been waiting for the perfect time to intercept.


    The crowd gasped as the motorcycle made contact.


    But then, something absurd happened.


    Instead of the man getting thrown back, it was the motorcycle that flew off him. The bike flipped over, sending the rider flying through the air like a ragdoll.


    Jia''s eyes widened, her jaw dropping as she watched the scene unfold. The big man didn''t even flinch. He simply looked down at his spilled bubble tea with a look of deep sorrow, before running to the motorcycle driver and removing her helmet.


    Jia frowned since she looked too familiar. However, she was sure she hadn''t seen her before.


    "What in the...?" Jia muttered, half in disbelief and half in awe. Around her, people were screaming, some pulling out their phones to record the chaos.


    The whole scene felt like something straight out of a pstickedy.


    Behind the counter of the coffee truck, the barista called out, "Triple-shot, half-decaf, soy milktte, and the rest of that insane order! Miss, your coffee''s ready!"


    Jia blinked, snapping out of her daze. She hurriedly grabbed the bag ofplicated drinks, her brain still processing what she had just witnessed.


    "What is happening today?" she mumbled.


    Just as she was about to head back to the office, the crowd parted once more.


    Murmurs spread through the onlookers, and she heard someone gasp, "It''s June!"


    Jia''s heart skipped a beat.


    June? Here?


    She turned her head and, sure enough, there he was, striding through the crowd with that effortlessly cool aura he always had.


    The sun glinted off his hair, making him look like he was glowing. The crowd''s screams reached new heights as people recognized him, cameras shing as they snapped pictures. "June! Over here!" someone shouted, waving their phone frantically.


    But June wasn''t paying them any attention. Instead, he was walking right toward Jia. Her brain short-circuited.


    ''Is heing to see me?''


    She froze, clutching the bag of drinks like it was a lifeline.


    "Are you okay, ma''am?" June asked, his tone gentle and concerned as he approached her.


    "Ma''am?" Jia echoed, her eyebrows shooting up.


    Did he just call her ma''am? She felt a stab of offense and disbelief.


    ''Doesn''t he recognize me? It''s me, Jia!''N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You look a bit shaken," June continued, oblivious to her internal turmoil.


    He gently took her by the elbow, guiding her away from the chaos like a knight in shining armor. "Why don''t I lead you back to thepany? Don''t worry about this mess. We''ve got it under control."


    Jia let herself be led, still confused. People around them were still taking pictures, but no one dared to get too close.


    "Wait, this is so weird," Jia muttered under her breath as they walked. "Why is June here? And why doesn''t he recognize me?"


    As they neared the entrance of her office building, June nced at her with a reassuring smile. "I''m d no one was hurt. It''s great that everything turned out fine," he said. "Actually, my friend works here. She must be busy inside. I''m really d that no one got hurt."


    "Huh?" Jia asked, tilting her head in confusion. "Wait, you''re saying¡ª''


    June didn''t let her finish. He gave her a polite nod, his expression softening. "Take care, ma''am. And please, get some rest. Older people need their sleep."


    "HUH?" Jia eximed, her voice cracking. She stared at him, wide-eyed and ck-jawed.


    ''Did he just call me old?''


    Before she could protest, June had already turned on his heel, walking away with that effortless charisma that left everyone in a daze.


    The crowd parted for him like he was Moses and they were the Red Sea, people staring after him with hearts in their eyes. Jia stood there, dumbfounded.


    "Old?" she whispered to herself, incredulous. "Did he seriously just-"


    She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of confusion. She nced around, wondering if anyone else had caught that, but everyone was too busy fangirling over June.


    Still in a state of shock, she turned and trudged back toward her office. Her feet felt heavy.


    ''He didn''t recognize me, did he? But why was he here? And what was up with that whole ''ma''am'' business?''


    It was like the universe had conspired to give her the weirdest morning ever.


    By the time she made it back inside the building, her supervisor was standing at her desk, tapping her foot impatiently. Her eyes narrowed when she saw her empty hands.


    "Jia," she snapped. "Where''s the coffee?"


    Jia froze, her eyes going wide as the realization hit her like a truck. "Oh my goodness," she whispered, horror dawning on her face. "The coffee! I dropped it outside!"


    Her supervisor''s face turned an rming shade of red. "You WHAT?"

 Chapter 1025: Jia Becomes A Savior

    Chapter 1025: Jia Bes A Savior


    ?


    "This is the third time this month you''ve messed up the coffee order. You''re supposed to be a professional! Do you know how important this is?"


    Jia blinked at her, still half in shock. "I almost got hit by a motorcycle," she protested weakly, gesturing toward the door.


    Mrs. Liu''s expression was utterly unsympathetic. She folded her arms, ring at her. "But you didn''t get hit, right? So what''s the problem? Now go back out there and get those coffees."


    Jia stared at her, finding her insufferable. She''d just had the most insane, life-threatening morning, and she was acting like she''d misced a stapler.


    Her blood pressure spiked.


    ''Nope. That''s it. I''ve had enough.''


    Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and stepped closer, meeting Mrs. Liu''s condescending gaze head-on. "You know what, Mrs. Liu? I quit. I''m done with this nonsense."


    Mrs. Liu''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Excuse me? You can''t just quit because of a little mistake-"


    Jia cut him off, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, it''s not just the coffee, Mrs. Liu. It''s the everything. Let''s start with the fact that I''ve been working like a mule for three weeks straight while you take credit for all of my work. And your coffee order? The ''triple-shot, half-decaf, soy milktte, with a sprinkle of cinnamon and exactly two pumps of hazelnut syrup''? It''s ridiculous. You know what else is ridiculous? Making me walk five blocks in the rain for it every morning because you can''t function without your overpriced drink."


    The entire office had gone silent. Heads were popping up from behind cubicle walls, eyes wide as saucers. Mrs. Liu''s face was turning a concerning shade of purple.


    "And don''t even get me started on the hierarchy here," Jia continued. "Why does the intern have to pick up dry cleaning for the CEO? Why am I fixing the Wi-Fi when we have an IT department? And can someone exin why Carol from ounting gets to nap at her desk every afternoon while I''m running around like a headless chicken?"


    Carol, who had indeed been napping at her desk, jolted awake at the mention of her name. "Huh? What did I do?"


    "And you, Minnie," Jia pointed at the HR manager who was sipping her green smoothie. "You once wrote me up for taking a bathroom break. A bathroom break! Do you monitor everyone''s dder or just mine?"


    Minnie nearly choked on her smoothie. "I-I was just following protocol!"


    Jia threw her hands up. "Oh, to hell with your protocol! I quit! I''m out of here!"


    With that, she grabbed her bag from her desk, shoving her multicolored pens into it.


    She paused, remembering something important. She quickly opened her drawer and pulled out her overprized June photocard, the one she had taped up as a little source of daily motivation.


    ''Not leaving without you,'' she thought.


    "Jia, you can''t just leave-" Mrs. Liu sputtered, but Jia was already dialing her phone, ignoring herpletely.


    "Hey, Mom?" she said.


    "Is your offer still up?"


    To hell with being a nepo baby!


    ***


    Jia hadn''t felt this light in years.


    There was a spring in her step as she walked into Phoenix Entertainment, the ce she was now proudly calling her workce. Well, it technically wasn''t her workce yet.


    There was still a lot to do, considering she just offended half of her past office. Aside from that, the transfer would take a little over a week. However, even then, she was still excited!


    She took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of polished floors and faintly scented air fresheners. It was infinitely better than the stale, recycled air of her old office.


    Oh, another bonus was that June''s face was everywhere!


    Cindy met her with a bright smile. "I told you, boo bear. You should have epted my offer when I first gave it to you."


    Jia clicked her tongue and scratched the back of her neck. "Well, to be fair, you were still working under Azure back then. I don''t want to be associated with Azure at all."


    "Sure, sure," Cindy said. "Anyway, you''re right. This ce is infinitely better than Azure." "Let me show you around."


    "This is one of the most chaotic departments-quality control. Everything goes through here. From the social media posts to the news articles about our artists. It''s like the nerve center of the wholepany."


    Jia nodded eagerly, feeling like she''d made the right decision.


    She loved drama-especially if she wasn''t the one involved in it. She could also protect June from those malicious news reporters!


    They entered the room where people were typing furiously, phones ringing nonstop. It was chaotic but in an exciting way.


    Cindy peeked over someone''s shoulder and turned to Jia with a whisper. "Looks like they''re discussing an article about June. Want to take a look?"


    "June?" Jia''s ears perked up. She craned her neck to see the screen. It looked like a headline was being edited.


    The worker looked up, clearly excited.


    "Oh, Miss Cindy, you heard about it?" the worker said, grinning. "June''s getting praised all over social media. A few days ago, people were criticizing him for being cold and detached. But after yesterday, he''s a hero. Apparently, he saved a pedestrian from getting hit by a


    motorcycle."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Jia felt her face go hot, her eyes widening in realization.


    She leaned closer to read the headline. It red in bold, attention-grabbing letters:


    ''Heroic Idol June Saves Helpless Old Woman from Tragic ident!''


    "Old woman?" Jia eximed, her voice echoing across the room. Several heads turned to look at her, eyebrows raised in confusion.


    "Yeah," the worker said, nodding enthusiastically. "It''s all over the fan sites. They''re saying he''s such a gentleman, swooping in to help this poor, elderly woman who was about to be


    hit."


    Jia''s eye twitched.


    ''Elderly woman?''


    She clutched her chest, feeling a stab to her chest.


    She was fresh out of college! Did her pastpany really suck all of the young energy out of


    her?


    She pursed her lips and took a step back.


    Maybe it was better to have been ran over.

 Chapter 1026 Anti-climactic

    1026 Anti-climactic


    The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as DAWN stepped out of Incheon International Airport. A soft glow coveed their faces, illuminating the post-concert euphoria engraved across every member''s features. The boys waved with their signature smiles, the type that could light up a room¡ªor, in this case, an entire airport.


    Hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof fans were there, holding up signs that said, "DAWN, the light of Korea!" and "Forever our sunshine!" Phones were up, cameras clicked away, and fans screamed at the top of their lungs.


    It was organized chaos, with airport security guiding DAWN through the crowd as they blew kisses and made heart signs.


    After the past incident when they first went to China, Phoenix knew better than to scrimp on security for DAWN. They arrived at the boarding gate and talked about the concert they had just a few nights ago. "80,000 people in total," Ren murmured, still in a trance.


    He gazed at Akira, who looked equally dazed, clutching a handful of goodbye gifts and plushies that fans had tossed their way. "We sold out three nights in a row. The biggest dome in Korea."


    "And all we had to do was threaten June to lift his shirt for once," Casper teased, dodging the yful swat June aimed at him.


    "Shut up. I didn''t even do it," June sighed. "They came to watch our performances." "Well, of course," Zeth said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "But if you''re asking me, I believe they stayed because I showed my abs in the end." The group shook their heads. "Next stop, North America!" Akira eximed, raising his coffee cup high in the air. "It''s still weird, though," Jisung said. "Most groups would start in Asia for their tour. We''re going to North America all of a sudden." "That''s because we''re also invited to that international music awards show," Jaeyong said. "NTC?" June asked, frowning slightly.


    "Are you kidding me?" Ren leaned back. "It''s NTV, not NTC! The NTV Music Video Awards! Do you know nothing about Western media?"


    June shrugged. "I don''t keep up with it. I only have Navel." "Figures," Akira muttered, shaking his head. "I nearly forgot you live under a rock."


    Even though they were exhausted, they couldn''t help but feel excited for the new leg of their tour. Their first concert tour as DAWN was already shaping up to be a monumental sess, and they were eager to meet their fans abroad.


    The flight was a long one, with over ten hours of air travel before theynded at LAX. It had been mostly smooth¡ªwell, aside from Akira identally spilling his drink on June''sp mid-flight."


    "You''re not supposed to baptize me," June groaned, wiping the soda off his pants.


    "Consider it a blessing," Akira smirked. "You''ll need it for this leg of the tour."


    June shook his head as the ne began its descent, with the iconic LAXnding striping into view. The group exchanged excited nces, imagining the crowd that would await them.


    "I bet the fans are already camping outside the airport," Jisung said, practically bouncing in his seat.


    "You think?" Ren grinned. "I can''t wait to see their faces."


    As they disembarked, the members were confident that the love they''d felt in Korea would extend across the Pacific. Their security team led them through the arrival gates, where they were prepared to greet the crowd of American fans.


    Except¡­ there was not a crowd at all. The members stepped into the arrivals area, waving instinctively, only to be met with a few awkward coughs and the distant sound of someone vacuuming.


    The boys were so used to being mobbed everywhere they went that seeing such serenity made them feel strange. Casper was the first to break the silence. He turned slowly. "Uh, did we get the right flight information?"


    Ren pulled out his phone and double-checked their schedule. "Yeah, this is the right time and terminal¡­"


    "Hey, do people even know we''re here?" Jaeyong asked, squinting to see if fans were hiding in the shadows. Zeth pulled out his mirror to look at his face. "Do they have a different beauty standard here?" Akira''s face fell in disbelief. "But¡­ we''re DAWN. We just had a sold-out concert in Korea!"


    "Maybe they don''t get the news here," Jisung suggested, though he didn''t sound convinced.


    "Or maybe they just don''t know us," June matter-of-factly added, sounding the most rational in the group. "I told you¡ªit''s hard to monitor matters when you''re from the other side of the world. We''re not known here." "Maybe they have really tight security," Sehun said, still not wanting to ept the fact that no one came to greet them at the airport! Even CHAOS was greeted warmly when they had their tour here! They walked a bit further, trying to salvage the situation. Akira, never one to be embarrassed, began waving again, this time more energetically, wanting to summon the fans with his enthusiasm. "Hello, Los Angeles! We''re here!"


    June sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Akira, stop embarrassing us." A lone janitor, pushing a mop across the floor, looked up and gave a small, confused wave back before returning to his work.


    "I guess that''s our first American fan," Casper said with a snort.


    Akira, clearly unwilling to ept this fate, pulled his hood lower over his face. "Maybe if I hide, it''ll feel less awkward."


    Casper pped a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, look on the bright side. No crowd means no chaos." n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Or it means no one cares," Akira muttered, sinking further into his hoodie.


    They shuffled through the empty terminal, drawing a few curious looks from travelers who clearly had no idea who they were. It was a sharp contrast to the packed crowd at Incheon, and the difference was enough to leave them all slightly deted.


    As they reached their van outside, Jaeyong couldn''t help butugh. "Well, that was anticlimactic."

 Chapter 1027 The Stars That Nearly Didnt Shine

    1027 The Stars That Nearly Didn''t Shine


    The van rolled smoothly down the highway, but the silence inside was anything but. DAWN''s members, usually loud and boisterous, were instead staring out the windows, still not over the fact that they had no fans in America. "That was bizarre," Zeth finally said, breaking the silence. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Are people gaslighting us? They told us we have plenty of international fans."


    Jaeyong, ever the logical one, ced a hand under his chin thoughtfully. "ording to my data, about 50% of our fans are from Asia, and the other 50% are from around the world."


    "So¡­ what does that mean?" Ren asked, ncing back from the front seat.


    Jaeyong shrugged. "It means that if our fans are spread out evenly, we''re still talking about a rtively small percentage per country. It''s like a sprinkling of fans across a giant pancake."


    "A pancake?" June looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You''ve lost me."


    "Think of it like this," Jisung chimed in with an innocent smile. "We''re stars in Korea, but here? We''re like a shooting star, and no one noticed because they were too busy looking at the moon. We have a case of ''Star Syndrome''¡ªsuper famous at home but barely known abroad. We haven''t promoted here at all! Of course, they don''t know us."


    "Oh, do we have ''star syndrome?''" Zeth asked. "I''m sure that you have it," Ren said, rolling his eyes. "However, I guess I did expect to be greeted by a few fans." "There were a few," Sehun said. "A handful." Akira shook his head. "If we don''t have any fans here, then why are we performing at the NTV Awards?" he asked, frowning. He looked genuinely puzzled. "If no one knows us, what''s the point?"


    Casper grinned, leaning forward from the back seat. "Are you unhappy about it, Akira?"


    Akira shook his head, chuckling. "No, I''m just confused. I mean, isn''t it a bit¡­ backward?"


    "Backwards?" June asked. "It''s not backwards, it''s an opportunity. It''s a chance to get more fans." "I thought you didn''t want more fans?" Casper asked, turning to June with a small frown. June froze. Right. Too much fame would be anyone''s bane of existence! Before June could think too much about it, the van pulled up in front of a trendy-looking restaurant in downtown LA. Their manager had picked it out, promising them a taste of American food before they officially kicked off the North American leg of their tour.


    "Let''s eat," Ren said, stepping out of the van and stretching his arms. "I''m starving."


    "Maybe some burgers will make us feel better," Zeth agreed.


    As they walked into the restaurant, they were greeted by a cheerful server who seemed to recognize their faces immediately. "Wee! Oh my goodness, it''s you guys!" she eximed, her eyes wide with excitement.


    The group exchanged a quick look. Maybe their luck was finally turning around.


    "You know us?" Zeth asked, shing his trademark grin.


    "Of course!" she beamed, gesturing for them to follow her to arge corner table. "You''re such a big deal here!"


    Akira looked smug as he slid into his seat. "See? I told you we had international fans."


    The server nodded eagerly. "You''re one of the hottest groups right now. So many people have been talking about you."


    Casper leaned back, looking satisfied. "Well, it''s nice to know we''re appreciated."


    Ren chuckled, nudging Jaeyong. "See? I told you not to worry."


    The server brought over a round of drinks, still smiling as she set them down. "This meal is on the house," she said with a grin. "It''s an honor to have you here."


    The members of DAWN exchanged thrilled looks. A free meal? Things were definitely looking up.


    "That''s so kind of you," June said. "Thank you!"


    "You''re wee! I can''t believe I''m serving 7VEN right now!" she gushed, cing her hands over her heart.


    Silence. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    For a split second, the world seemed to pause. The members of DAWN stared at her, frozen in ce. Ren''s smile faltered, Akira nearly choked on his drink, and Casper''s jaw dropped open.


    "Sorry, what did you say?" Jisung asked slowly. The server blinked, tilting her head. "You''re 7VEN, right? The biggest boy group out there right now? Your song ''Butter My Cakes'' has been ying everywhere!"


    June pursed his lips. He forced augh, scratching the back of his head. "Oh, no, we''re not¡ª"


    Akira cut in, nudging June sharply under the table. "Yes, yes, that''s us," he said quickly, stering on his brightest smile. "We''re very big here."


    Casper bit down on his lip to keep fromughing. Zeth was doing the same, covering his mouth with his hand, while Jisung just buried his face in his arms on the table. The server looked ecstatic, nodding as she brought over a basket of fries. "I knew it! You guys look exactly like the pictures."


    "Exactly," Ren managed to say, his voice strangled from trying not to burst outughing. "It''s amazing how urate those pictures are."


    June gave Akira a death re. "What are you doing?" he hissed under his breath.


    Akira leaned in, whispering back, "Hey, free food is free food."


    They couldn''t believe it¡ªmistaken for 7VEN, one of the most popr Western boy groups. It was both ttering and humbling in the weirdest way possible.


    "You know," Jaeyong said after a moment, picking up a fry, "this just proves we have a long way to go. If they''re mistaking us for 7VEN, we''re definitely not as recognizable here as we thought."


    "Or we just need better posters," Zeth quipped.


    "Or better faces," Jisung added, causing everyone tough again.


    By the time the meal was over, the server returned with a big smile. "It was such an honor serving you today. I can''t wait to tell my friends I met 7VEN!"


    June forced a smile. "Yeah¡­ us too."


    As they left the restaurant, the members of DAWN burst intoughter. "I can''t believe we got a free meal for being someone else," Jisung said, shaking his head. "And they say fame is hard-earned."


    Ren patted June''s back sympathetically. "Look on the bright side. At least we know we have a doppelg?nger group out here."


    "Next stop, the NTV Awards," Akira said, looking at the others with a wide grin.


    "This time, they''ll know exactly who we are," June dered.

 Chapter 1028: NTV Awards

    Chapter 1028: NTV Awards


    ?


    The sleek ck SUV cruised down the packed streets of downtown LA, carrying DAWN towards one of the most significant events of their careers-the NTV Music Video Awards.


    For a group that had already conquered the biggest domes in Korea, it was a new kind of challenge.


    "Does anyone else feel like this is surreal?" Ren asked, looking out the tinted window.


    Skyscrapers, neon lights, and excited fans blurred past. There were posters and digital billboards showcasing tonight''s performers.


    June leaned back in his seat, adjusting the cuff of his designer jacket.


    "It''s our first time performing in the west," he said, letting out a breath. "I know K-pop acts have been here before, but it''s still different, isn''t it?"


    Akira snorted. "You don''t say. I feel like we''re about to get thrown into a lion''s den."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Rx," Jisung said, although his own fingers were fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "We''re going to kill it. We always do."


    Casper, who was seated up front, turned around with a cheeky grin. "You guys know the drill back home, right? At PAPA, we''re usually thest ones on the carpet. Then, they ask us questions by the end of it. Here, it''s different. We''re going to be stopped. Then, they''ll ask us questions. I bet a lot of reporters will."


    "What kind of questions?" Jisung asked, his eyes wide.


    "Questions like, ''What''s your inspiration?'' or ''What do you think about your chances of winning tonight?"" Casper replied.


    Ren chuckled nervously. "Well, at least they won''t ask us what our blood type or MBTI is."


    "I''m not prepared for this," Akira groaned. "We''ve been trained for the Korean press, not this."


    "It''s impressive how Casper knows all of this, though," Jaeyong said. "Thanks for researching it, man."


    Casper merely nodded.


    "Anyway, we should all rx!" Akira eximed. "We can answer the questions without any trouble. It''s easy!"


    "Easy?" Jaeyong gave him a pointed look. "You remember what happenedst time someone asked us who our musical influences were, and you blurted out ''Mozart'' because you panicked?"


    "Hey!" Akira shot back, cheeks flushing pink. "I was trying to be ssy."


    Ren smirked. "Yeah, well, let''s try not to pull a Mozart moment tonight. Our music sounds nothing like his."


    As the car neared the red carpet area, they could see the massive crowd gathered outside. Fans held up posters and light sticks, their cheers and screams audible even from inside the vehicle. Casper peeked through the window and whistled.


    "Look at that," he said, shaking his head. "It''s packed."


    "But they''re not screaming for us," Zeth sighed.


    The members of DAWN exchanged curious looks, and Akira leaned closer to the window, squinting as he scanned the crowd.


    There was a deafening scream that rose above the rest.


    "It''s Two Directions!" someone outside yelled.


    "Two Directions?" June frowned. "Who''s that?"


    "They''re like the Western equivalent of us," Casper said with a shrug.


    "And who''s that other one?" Zeth pointed to the massive cheer that erupted next. "Is that... Sabrina Thatcher?"


    "Ooh, I like her a lot!" Ren eximed. "She''s the best at making pop music."


    "Oh, and look-there''s Bruno Pluto!" Sehun said with wide eyes. "I can''t believe I''m breathing the same air as him."


    Akira groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is insane. How are we supposed topete with all these giants?"


    June shrugged. "It''s not like we''re nominated for the same categories. We''re under Best K- Pop, and Fans Choice Awards."


    "Right," Jaeyong said, trying to cheer the boys up. "Aside from that, we were granted an opportunity for a short performance. So, let''s not lose our confidence."


    As the car pulled up to the red carpet, the door swung open. The crowd''s cheers grew louder, but it was a different kind of loud-excited but mixed with curiosity.


    This was not the overwhelming roar of their Korean fans.


    Casper was the first to step out, shing his signature grin and waving at the crowd. The rest followed. The shes from the cameras were blinding, but they held their heads high.


    "Smile and wave," Ren whispered through clenched teeth, his smile wide and fixed.


    "Smile and wave," Jisung echoed, doing just that.


    As they made their way down the carpet, a woman holding a microphone stepped up, blocking their path. Her sleek dress and sharp smile screamed seasoned reporter.


    "DAWN, wee to the NTV Music Video Awards!" she greeted them enthusiastically. "It''s your first time here, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, hello," Jaeyong answered shakily, giving a polite bow.


    "How does it feel to be here, making your Western debut performance?" she asked, holding


    the mic closer.


    The boys turned to each other with wide eyes. They did not rehearse for this!


    However, much to their surprise, Casper stepped forward and answered.


    "It''s a huge honor," he said. "We''re excited to perform and meet our fans here for the first time."


    The reporter''s eyes sparkled as she leaned in. "You''re up against some of the biggest western artists tonight-Starlit, Jaxon Roar, and even Dua Pizza. How do you feel about your chances of taking home an award?"


    Casper shed a confident smile. "We''re here to give our best performance. The rest is up to the fans."


    "The fans might not even know us here, though," he added with a chuckle.


    The reporter raised an eyebrow, catching thement. "Is that true? Are you worried about


    your reception here?"


    The boys watched Casper speak with the reporter with wide eyes, in disbelief at what was


    happening.


    Casper looked so freaking smart and charismatic at the moment!


    How can he speak such fluent English?


    Casperughed it off, waving a hand. "Not at all. We just know we''ve got a lot to prove, and


    that''s what we n to do tonight."


    Another wave of screaming erupted behind them, and DAWN turned their heads to see Jaxon Roar making his way down the carpet, shirtless as usual, blowing kisses to the crowd.


    The reporter tried to steer them back on track. "Before you go, can you tell us what song you''ll be performing tonight?"


    Casper grinned. "It''s a surprise. But let''s just say it''s something that''ll make everyone remember who we are."

 Chapter 1029: A Sprinkle Of Discrimination

    Chapter 1029: A Sprinkle Of Discrimination


    ?


    DAWN was finally inside the venue, the shimmering lights of the NTV MVAs casting a spotlight on every attendee.


    They walked through a sea of celebrities, their polished shoes clicking against the glossy floor.


    "Look, some of them are staring at us," Jisung muttered, ncing around.


    Sure enough, a few people were stealing nces their way. Some looked at them with curiosity, while others seemed to be sizing them up.


    A group of young women near the entrance were whispering to each other, asionally pointing at DAWN.


    "They''re handsome," one of them said, her voice carrying over the noise. "For Asian people, I mean."


    Ren''s eyebrows shot up. He exchanged a quick nce with June, who looked equally bewildered.


    "Did she just say-" Ren began, but Casper interrupted him with a wave of his hand, forcing a grin.


    "Let it go," Casper muttered, though his jaw was clenched. "It''s not worth it."


    "Hey, that''s racist," Akira said under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.


    But before they could dwell on it, a voice called out to them. "DAWN?"


    It was Sabrina Thatcher, one of the biggest pop sensations of the moment. She was the kind of artist who could pull off a headlining tour with just one viral hit. Tall, blonde, and morous, she approached them with a bright smile.


    "Oh my goodness, you guys are great!" Sabrina said, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs-up. All the boys blinked at her, clearly caught off guard. "Uh, thank you!" Ren managed to say, the others quickly nodding in agreement.


    Casper shed his most charming smile. "Thank you so much. We''re honored to be here." Sabrina gave a little wave before she was swept away by her entourage, leaving the group standing there, still processing what had just happened.


    "Did that just¡ª" Sehun began, but he couldn''t finish the sentence.


    "Did we just getplimented by Sabrina Thatcher?" Akira asked, looking like he''d seen a ghost.


    "Yup," Jisung confirmed, shaking his head in amazement. "She actually knows who we are." June, who was awfully quiet, was nudged by Sehun. "You don''t know her, huh?"


    June pursed his lips and shook his head.


    The other boys chuckled in amusement.


    "The girl who sang Cappino," Jisung exined.


    "Ah," June said. Of course, he knew her!


    They continued walking until they were approached by a bubbly reporter holding a mic with the NTV logo.


    "Are the interviews not yet done?" Zeth muttered.


    "I think they''re from different channels," Jaeyong whispered back.


    As to not seem rude, they smiled at her and weed her warmly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She was young, maybe in her twenties, with a kind smile that put them at ease.


    "Hello, DAWN! It''s great to see you here at the NTV MVAS!" she greeted them. "Can I ask you a few questions?"


    "Of course," Casper said smoothly, stepping forward. The other members took a step back, letting him take the lead.


    "Wait, have we established why Casper knows English so well?" Ren whispered to Akira. Akira shrugged. "At this point, I''m convinced this is his fifth life."


    "So, this is your first time performing in the west. How does it feel?" she asked.


    "It feels incredible," Casper replied, his American ent wless. "We''ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time."


    The reporter''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your English is really good!" she eximed.


    Casper chuckled, ncing back at the others, who were also amazed at him. "I studied here for a while," he exined casually.


    "You what?" June blurted out, eyes wide. "Since when?"


    Casper merely shrugged.


    "Well, I have to say," the reporter continued with a grin, "your face cards never declines."


    June, standing beside Casper, furrowed his brow. The loud music, chattering crowd, and fast- paced English were making it hard for him to keep up.


    But he did catch one word-''card.''


    Without a second thought, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his credit card, holding it out toward the reporter.


    The entire group froze. The reporter''s eyes widened, then softened as she burst intoughter. "Oh my gosh, no, no!" she giggled. "I meant-you look good! It''s apliment."


    June''s face turned bright red as he quickly shoved the card back into his pocket. The rest of the boys were trying to hold back theirughter, though it was a losing battle.


    Casper slung an arm around June''s shoulder, grinning at the reporter. "He''s cute, isn''t he?" "He''s adorable," the reporter agreed, stillughing. "Thanks for your time, guys. Enjoy the night!"


    As they walked away, Ren pped June on the back, still chuckling. "Dude, you literally just tried to pay the reporter."


    June groaned. "I''m not good in English. Besides, it was toote."


    "That''s okay," Jaeyong said, trying not tough too hard. "At least you made an impression."


    Theirughter died down quickly as they approached the next interviewer. This one didn''t have the same friendly demeanor as the previous girl.


    He was older, with a sharp look in his eyes and a scowl that made them all tense up.


    "Hey there," the interviewer greeted them dryly, not bothering to smile. He nced over the group, barely concealing his disinterest. "So, you guys don''t speak English very well, do


    you?"


    Casper blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me?"


    The interviewer. "I mean, it''s obvious. You''re struggling a bit here."


    The other boys frowned. Meanwhile, Casper tried to keep the situation at bay.


    "Well, actually, I studied here for a while," he said, his voice tight. "I''m pretty confident in


    my English."


    "Uh-huh," the man said dismissively. "Can you tell us your names, then? Not that it matters -people probably won''t remember anyway. You all look the same."


    A silence fell over the group. Akira''s smile had turned strained, and even the usually calm


    Sehun looked like he wanted to say something bad.


    But instead, they forced themselves tough it off, albeit bitterly.


    "Well, that was pleasant," Jaeyong muttered as they walked away, shaking his head.


    Just as they turned the corner, they collided with someone. A man dressed in a shy red leather jacket nearly stumbled, ring at them as he regained his bnce.


    "Watch where you''re going!" he snapped.


    Casper looked at the man, recognizing him immediately-Tyler King, an up-anding


    popstar known for his rap skills and cocky personality.


    He was the kind of artist who got just as much attention for his social media drama as his


    music.


    June stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "You bumped into us," he slowly said.


    Tyler sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I see. My bad. Didn''t realize I was talking


    to the Asian invasion."


    Then, in a mocking, exaggerated ent, he repeated, "Watch where you are going!"

 Chapter 1030: Keeping Composure

    Chapter 1030: Keeping Composure


    ?


    June''s face showed fury as he stared at Tyler King''s retreating figure. It was moments like this where his past self resurfaced. Tyler''s face didn''t look like a human''s anymore, but a mere


    target.


    His eyes were dark, and his jaw was set in a way that could only be described as murderous.


    Casper, standing closest to him, saw it first-the rigid tension in June''s shoulders and the way his fingers twitched, ready to curl into fists.


    "Oh no," Ren muttered, catching sight of June''s expression. "He''s about to lose it."


    Jisung, sensing the storm, moved quickly, grabbing June by the elbow and pulling him back. "Not here, June," he chuckled nervously, trying to keep his voice calm despite the panic bubbling up inside him. "We can''t make a scene."


    "Let me go!" June harshly whispered. He tried to wrench himself free, but Ren and Jaeyong were on him in an instant, each gripping one of his arms.


    "Easy there, tiger," Jaeyong said, attempting to keep his voice light. "You can''t just go around punching popstars on live TV."


    "But did you hear what he said?" June retorted, eyes still locked onto Tyler, who wasughing with his entourage a few feet away. "He''s freaking racist!"


    Sehun patted June''s back, trying to soothe him. "Yeah, we heard him," he said. "But you punching him isn''t going to solve anything."


    From a few feet away, Tyler seemed to notice themotion and turned back, smirking as he caught June''s furious gaze. "What''s the matter?" he called out, voice dripping with mockery. "Did I hurt your feelings?"


    Before June could lunge, Casper stepped between them, raising a hand to physically block June''s path. "Go away, man," Casper said coldly, his smile now reced with a look of irritation. "Before he does something bad."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Tyler''s smirk faltered for a moment, his eyes flicking back to June. He seemed to assess the situation, eyeing June''s lean figure up and down.


    He felt a shiver run down his spine. Those eyes-despite him looking as delicate as a doll, it felt like he could murder him if he wanted to. Tyler gulped while the rest of DAWN dragged June away from the scene.


    As soon as they were gone, he gave a dismissive snort.


    "Him? Do something bad?" He turned to his manager, who had been watching the exchange with mild interest. "Who are those Asians?" Tyler asked.


    "You''re nominated in the same category," his manager replied dryly. "Fans'' Choice Award."


    Tyler''s eyebrows shot up, and then heughed a loud, barking sound. "They''re up against me?" Tyler scoffed. "Please. That award is mine."


    "Come on," Jisung muttered, pulling June away before he could throw any more res in Tyler''s direction. "Let''s just get to our seats."


    "Yeah," Ren added, nudging June forward. "We''ve got better things to do than waste our energy on that guy."


    June took a deep breath, trying to let the anger melt. He allowed himself to be dragged along, but not before casting onest re at Tyler. "He''s lucky," June muttered under his breath. "Lucky I didn''t knock his teeth out."


    Casper gave him a sideways nce. "I know, buddy. But we''ve got a performance tonight. Let''s focus on that."


    Jaeyong chuckled as they continued their way to their seats. "It''s times like this when June feels like one of the youngest."


    "Nah, he feels the scariest," Akira chimed. "I couldn''t even crack a joke back there."


    As they made their way to their seats, the atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit. They passed by rows filled with celebrities, some of whom looked at them with curiosity, others of whom seemed genuinely pleased to see them. When they finally reached their section, they were relieved to find they were seated next to Sabrina Thatcher again.


    Sabrina greeted them with a bright smile, clearly happy to see them. "Hey, it''s you guys again!" she eximed. "You ready for tonight?"


    "As ready as we''ll ever be," Casper said, grinning. "How about you?"


    "Oh, I''m not performing," Sabrina said, waving a hand. "Just here to present an award. But I''m excited to see you guys perform."


    "Really?" Jisung asked, looking surprised.


    "Yeah, of course!" Sabrina leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "You guys have this... energy. It''s different. I like it."


    "Thank you," Jaeyong said.


    As they settled into their seats, the boys couldn''t help but take in their surroundings.


    It was surreal being here, surrounded by the biggest names in Western music. They could see the likes of Ariana Freezer and Olive Rogers in the distance,ughing and chatting with their Taylor Sweep and the Jonas Sisters.


    "You know," Ren said quietly, leaning towards Casper, "it feels like we''re in a different world here."


    Sehun nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "It kind of is, isn''t it? Even though K-pop is making waves globally, there''s still this...barrier."


    "Yeah," Jaeyong agreed, frowning thoughtfully. "It''s like we''re epted, but only to a certain point. Like, we''re a novelty but not part of the main act."


    Jisung sighed. "We get criticized for things that Western artists don''t even have to think about. The training system, the manufactured image-people act like it''s a bad thing without understanding the hard work that goes into it."


    "And don''t even get me started on thenguage barrier," Akira added, shaking his head. "If you''re not fluent in English, you''re automatically seen as lesser."


    June''s thoughts led back to Tyler. He folded his arms across his chest, staring ahead with a stormy expression. "You should have let me punch him," he said tly.


    Jaeyong chuckled in amusement. "I know you wouldn''t be able to do it."


    June grumbled under his breath. He just found a more annoying person than Joonie!


    "Rx," Akira said. "Tyler King is the opener," he reminded June. "We''re performing in the middle of the show. By the time we''re done, no one''s going to remember his set."


    "Of course," June said, a small smirk appearing on his face.


    "We''re the best at that. Performing-like we always do."

 Chapter 1031: Tyler King

    Chapter 1031: Tyler King


    ?


    Back in Korea, DAWN at the NTV MVAS became a hot topic. The boys might have looked calm and collected on the outside, but to fans watching the livestream, they seemed hriously out of ce among the Western artists.


    - They look like lost chicks wandering around.


    The post was followed by a picture of the members wide-eyed and clearly overwhelmed. The post started gaining traction, with fans flooding thements withughing emojis and affectionate words.


    - My boys have made it so far.


    - I''m so happy to see them go to other countries, but for some reason, my heart aches, too.


    - Yeah, I feel like a mom sending my son on the first day of school.


    - Here we go again!


    Another clip was circting, too¡ªJune''s interaction with the second reporter.


    When the journalistplimented them with the phrase, "Your face card never declines!" and June, unable to keep up with the conversation, pulled out an actual credit card, it quickly became a viral meme.


    ''POV: When someone says your ''face card never declines,'' but you take it literally,'' joked a popr page, Pop My Base. Within minutes, the post had garnered over 100,000 likes and thousands ofments.


    - Who is this guy? He''s adorable!


    - They all look like hunks, honestly.


    - He''s so cute! Someone tell us his name.


    - He''s just the janitor.


    - He''s a staff member.


    - He got lost andnded on the red carpet.


    - I can''t believe you guys are gatekeeping June to this extent.


    Back at the venue, the boys were seated in their section, waiting for the show to start.


    All of the artists were seated now, so it was only a matter of time until it started.


    Casper leaned toward June. "I just checked our socials," he whispered. "You''re already trending again."


    June raised an eyebrow. "What did I do this time?"


    Casper grinned. "You pulled out a credit card when the reporter said your ''face card never declines.""


    The realization dawned on June, and his cheeks turned a faint pink. "Oh," he mumbled. "I didn''t understand what she was saying."


    Jisung snickered from the other side. "Don''t worry, bro. At least they find it cute."


    Before June could retort, the lights in the venue dimmed, signaling the start of the show. The MCs took the stage, hyping up the audience with their energetic banter.


    Of course, the members of DAWN barely understood. Foreign humor was pretty hard to understand!


    After a few opening jokes and announcements, they introduced the first performer of the night.


    "Please wee, the one and only... Tyler King!"


    The crowd erupted into polite apuse as Tyler strutted onto the stage, bathed in blue and red lights. His outfit was shy-a bright red tracksuit with gold chains clinking around his neck. He adjusted his snapback, gave the audience azy wave, and picked up the mic.


    The music kicked in, a heavy trap beat ring through the speakers. Tyler started mumble- rapping, the lyrics slurred and unintelligible.


    "Yeah, yeah, uh, I''m the king, you know the vibe,


    Flexin'' hard, money on my mind,


    Rollin'' deep, got my squad on the grind,


    Can''t hear the haters, they way behind."


    He moved around the stage, his body swaying in time with the beat, but his performance felt more like he was going through the motions rather than delivering something meaningful. The lyrics continued, all blending together into a monotonous drone.


    "Drip, drip, yeah, I got that ice,


    Livin''rge, man, this life so nice,


    Can''t see the fakes, yeah, they roll the dice,


    I''m the king, man, y''all just mice."


    The camera panned across the audience, capturing the obligatory head-bobbing from other artists. They were nodding along in respect, their expressions showing polite interest and indifference.


    It was clear they knew the drill-nod along, p at the end, and move on.


    June, however, wasn''t as good at hiding his reaction. He sat there, eyebrows slightly furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. It wasn''t that he was trying to be rude.


    It was just...underwhelming.


    The lyrics felt repetitive, and the performance wasckluster.


    He couldn''t help the disinterested expression that crept onto his face.


    "Is it just me, or does this feel like a really long ad?" June whispered to Casper.


    Casper smirked, biting back augh. "Shh, don''t say that out loud."


    As the performance dragged on, June leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. He tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow as Tyler attempted some half-hearted dance moves, clearly meant to hype up the crowd.


    It wasn''t working.


    The energy was t, and June''s unimpressed look spoke volumes.


    Unbeknownst to him, one of the roaming cameras had zoomed in on his face at that exact moment, capturing his candid reaction. The shot lingered for a second too long, broadcasting June''s disapproval to everyone watching the live stream.


    In the control room, one of the producers noticed it immediately. "Oh, we''ve got a reaction shot!" he called out. "Perfect! Keep it!"


    Within minutes, June''s expression was already circting on social media apps.


    - Omo. June can''t hide his expression!


    - I can''t. June doesn''t like the performance.


    - Isn''t it kind of rude, though?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    -That guy''s an asshole. I think he can take some criticism.


    - Who even is this guy? Tyler King is my king. I''ve never heard of this group before! The reactions were halved. Most astras and those who didn''t like Tyler King''s personality either found it funny or rtable. On the other hand, Tyler''s fans, as well as some aggressive rap enthusiasts, resulted in ad hominem-insulting June and their group because of a single


    reaction.


    Back in the venue, the performance finally ended, and Tyler finished with a mic drop. The apuse was lukewarm. He gave the audience a cocky grin, bowing before strutting off the


    stage.


    The MCs quickly took over, trying to liven up the atmosphere again. "Wow, give it up for Tyler King, everybody!" they cheered, and the crowd pped.


    "That''s it?" June muttered, a small smirk appearing on his face.


    "Why?" Ren chuckled. "What''s yourment?"


    June shrugged.


    "Boring."

 Chapter 1032: Were Infinite

    Chapter 1032: We''re Infinite


    ?


    Backstage at the NTV MVAS, the atmosphere was chaotic-crew members ran back and forth, frantically checking equipment, while artists and their entourages filled the space.


    It was a disy of mour and wealth, each artist decked out in designer clothing, surrounded by managers, stylists, and assistants.


    The boys of DAWN, however, stood out-not because they were shy, but because they were noticeably...modest.


    Ren nced around, taking in the scene. "It''s crazy back here," he muttered, nudging June. "Look at the setups for these other artists."


    June took it all in, his expression unreadable.


    Enormous prop pieces were being wheeled in for the next act-a full castle facade that would be used for a fantasy-themed performance.


    Meanwhile, in their small corner, DAWN had only a few staff members and no extravagant props. Their performance was going to be bare-bones.


    Just them and the stage.


    Of course, they had already expected it. Haruki had warned them already- they were going to be given the bare minimum.


    Jaeyong sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There''s nothing we can do. They think they''re doing us a favor just by letting us perform."


    "Exactly," June replied.


    He turned to face the others. "It''s just us and the stage. No gimmicks. However, that''s something we can leverage. We have something that the some artists don''t have-all- rounded talent."


    Jisung, who had been quiet until now, nodded. "It''s a one-song performance, but we''ll make it count."


    "You know," Akira added, crossing his arms and looking around, "I noticed a lot of lip- syncing out there. Some of the biggest artists, too."


    Ren scoffed. "Yeah, I saw that."


    "It doesn''t matter," June said. "We don''t need any of that."


    Casper grinned. "Oh, we''re going to kill this stage. June looks like a determined cat."


    An announcement came over the speakers, calling them to the stage.


    The boys shared onest nce.


    It was their turn.


    As they made their way to the stage entrance, they could hear the MC hyping up the crowd. "And now, we have a group making their debut performance on the NTV stage, all the way from South Korea-DAWN!"


    The audience response was mixed-there were some cheers, likely from fans who had managed to get tickets, but the majority of the crowd was quiet, unfamiliar with the name. The boys took their ces on the darkened stage, feeling the eyes of thousands on them.


    The stage lights slowly brightened, revealing the eight members of DAWN standing in a line, their sharp suits catching the glow of the spotlights.


    There were no props, no massive stage pieces-just a few strobe lights behind them, casting shadows that made their figures lookrger.


    A low hum of anticipation filled the venue as the audience took in their appearance.


    Even those who had no idea who they were couldn''t help but be struck by their visuals-the sleek, handsome faces that looked like they had been sculpted for the stage.


    The music started with a heavy, pulsing beat. The sound of synths filled the air, creating an ethereal, cosmic atmosphere.


    They had decided not to go with their title track this time because they felt it was too soft.


    Instead, they chose the intro song for their album, Cosmos.


    The boysunched into a synchronized dance routine. As expected, it was sharp and explosive. However, for those who weren''t used to K-pop stages, it was pretty shocking.


    They spun, kicked, and dropped low. The choreography consisted of contemporary and street styles that had the audience''s heads turning.


    Then, the music softened a bit, and June stepped forward to sing the first verse.


    "In the void, where time stands still,


    I found a spark, a will to feel,


    Through the stars, I search for you,


    In every breath, the cosmos knew."


    His voice was clear and strong, carrying a depth that wasn''t lost even in the massive venue.


    The other members harmonized with him, their voices blending into a sound so full it seemed like there had to be a backing track-yet there wasn''t.


    The crowd started to react, murmuring in surprise.


    The rity of their vocals and the power of their live singing was something that stood out against the previous performances.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ren took over the second verse, his voice softer.


    "Across the light-years, I call your name,


    No distance too far, no space the same."


    As they sang, the choreography picked up again, intense and fast-paced.


    They moved in perfect sync, but each member brought their own style-Ren''s fluid spins, Jisung''s sharp footwork, Akira''s smooth transitions.


    Casper stepped forward for the chorus, his deep voice resonating through the venue.


    "In the cosmos, we find our ce,


    A love that echoes in endless space,


    Beyond the skies, beyond the stars,


    Together, we''re infinite, no matter how far."


    The harmonies built up,yer afteryer, creating a wall of sound that filled every corner.


    It was powerful, almost overwhelming, like being hit by a truck but surviving. June''s voice


    soared above it all, adding adlibs that felt like it was part of a backtrack.


    He sang with everything he had, eyes closed.


    "Even when the gxies fall apart,


    I''ll find you, love, at the very start,


    In the cosmos, we''re one and the same,


    Forever bound by a single me."


    The lights behind them shed, creating the illusion of a starry sky.


    There were no shy pyrotechnics or props-just the eight of them under the starlit effect,


    singing their hearts out.


    And it was breathtaking.


    For the bridge, Sehun''s smooth falsetto took over.


    "We''re stardust, we''re infinite dreams,


    Hold on tight, don''t let go."


    June hit a high note that echoed throughout the dome, sending shivers down the audience''s


    spines.


    Then, the final chorus hit, and they all sang together.


    "In the cosmos, we find our ce,


    A love that echoes in endless space,


    Beyond the skies, beyond the stars,


    Together, we''re infinite, no matter how far."


    The song ended with a powerful, synchronized dance break-a sharp drop to one knee, heads


    bowed.


    Let''s just say Tyler King couldn''t utter a single world while DAWN performed.

 Chapter 1033: Who Are You?

    Chapter 1033: Who Are You?


    ?


    As DAWN stepped off the stage, the crowd''s cheers and ps still echoed behind them.


    The boys'' faces were flushed, and their breaths came out in heavy pants from the explosive performance they had just delivered.


    There were wide smiles on their faces.


    They knew they''d left an impact, but the extent of it was only beginning to reveal itself.


    Online, thements were already piling up, many from people who had never heard of them before.


    - Who the hell was that? I couldn''t understand a single word, but it was like I could feel it.


    - I don''t know who DAWN is, but that performance was insane. Explosive. Like... the Big Bang Theory kind of explosive.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    - I tuned in for Tyler King, but damn, these guys might be the highlight of the night.


    - Am I the only one who got goosebumps? They didn''t have any shy props or a backtrack, yet it felt like a full production.


    - Their voices? Unreal. Are they really singing live?


    June took onest nce at the crowd as they moved offstage, catching the wide-eyed stares from several people who had been watching on the big screens.


    He grinned in satisfaction.


    "Did you hear that?" Ren said breathlessly as they walked into the backstage corridor. He was vibrating with excitement. "I swear, the whole arena was screaming!"


    Akira pped him on the back,ughing. "And here I thought we''d be drowned out by all the big names."


    "Not tonight," Jisung said, still catching his breath. He looked around, feeling proud of their group.


    People who hadn''t given them a second nce earlier were now watching them with


    curiosity.


    As they made their way through the backstage area, they were intercepted by none other than Sabrina Thatcher.


    "Hey," she called out, a wide smile on her face as she approached. "I knew it. You guys were incredible out there."


    "Thank you," Casper smiled. "It really means a lot."


    "That was the best live vocals ever-more than anyone tonight!"


    Casper was grinning ear to ear. "We''re huge fans, Sabrina. Thank you."


    "Well, you''ve made a fan out of me, too," she said, giving a yful wink. Then, she looked at June longer, making the others turn to him with raised eyebrows.


    "Dang it," Akira muttered. "We lost another hottie to June."


    "Huh?" June asked, tilting his head to the side.


    Akira raised both hands in surrender. "And he doesn''t even know it!"


    Just then, Jaxon Roar, a rock legend with wild, untamed hair and a reputation for tearing up the stage, made his way over.


    He gave them an approving nod.


    "Not bad," Jaxon said with a smirk. "Not bad at all. You''ve got guts, going out there without a backtrack. Respect."


    Casper couldn''t help but grin. "Thanks, man. Coming from you, that''s huge."


    Jaxon waved them off. "I''ll be keeping an eye on you boys. Don''t disappoint."


    Harriet Style, an R&B artist known for her soulful voice and emotional bads, was next. She approached with a slow, appreciative p.


    "You guys are the talk of the backstage. That was one hell of a show. And those high notes? Gave me chills."


    June bowed slightly, a genuine smile on his face. "Thank you. You''re good, too," he said the most coherent English sentence he could muster.


    Somehow, Harriet found it really cute.


    DAWN made their way to their seats, and even then, they continued to receive praise from various artists.


    They had made an impression far beyond what they had expected.


    But amid the congrattory words and respectful nods, one person''s reaction stood out the most-Tyler King.


    He sat a little farther down the stands, his usual cocky smirk reced by a nk, stunned expression.


    It looked like he couldn''t process what had just happened.


    He had been the one to dismiss them earlier, treating them like they didn''t belong on the same stage as him.


    Now, he was the one left speechless.


    June caught Tyler''s eye and gave him a slow, deliberate smirk.


    June was petty, for sure. He was thriving on Tyler''s reaction!


    Tyler''s eyes narrowed, but he didn''t say a word. He simply turned away, the smug look on his


    face returning.


    Akira nudged June with his elbow. "Did you see his face? I think we broke him."


    "Good," June replied, still grinning.


    As they settled into their seats, the boys noticed the excited murmurs and sideways nces being thrown their way.


    Zeth leaned back, clearly enjoying the attention. "I could get used to this," he said, a satisfied smile on his face.


    The lights dimmed again, and the familiar face of Sabrina Thatcher appeared on the screen, making her way up to the podium.


    The crowd erupted into cheers and apuse as she smiled, waving to the audience.


    "All right, everyone, let''s get to it," Sabrina said, her voice ringing out.


    "I''m here to present the award for the Fan''s Choice Award."


    This was one of the most coveted awards of the night, representing global charts, voting, hashtag relevance, and music video views and streams.


    It was an award that took into ount not only the numbers but the fans'' dedication. "You all know how this works," Sabrina continued with a yful smile. "This award is about the people''s voice, the ones who support us day in and day out. It''s about the fans who make sure we know we''re loved-loudly and with a lot of hashtags."


    The screen behind her lit up, showing the list of nominees. Tyler King''s name was there, along with several other huge artists. But at the very bottom of the list was a name that stood


    out to DAWN.


    "And the Fan''s Choice Award goes to..."


    She paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation build.


    The camera panned over the crowd, capturing the excited faces of fans and the tense looks of


    the nominees.


    Finally, she looked back at the camera, a huge grin on her face.


    "DAWN!"


    The boys froze for a second in disbelief before the realization hit them.


    They had won.


    Jaeyong looked like he might cry (like always). "We actually did it," he whispered, shaking his


    head.


    Akira jumped up, pulling the others into a tight hug. "We did it!" he shouted.


    As they made their way to the stage to ept the award, June couldn''t help but look back at


    Tyler King, who was still sitting in his seat, staring nkly at the screen.


    It was a look of utter shock and defeat.


    June stopped right in front of him, turning slightly with a mocking. He leaned in just enough


    so that Tyler could hear him over the noise of the crowd.


    "Who are you?" June asked, his voice dripping with arrogance.

 Chapter 1034: The Future of Phoenix

    Chapter 1034: The Future of Phoenix


    ?


    It was nearing the holidays when DAWNnded back in Korea. The chilly air was a very big contrast to the boiling pot of public opinion they had just left in the States.


    For the past days, June was the center of attention on social media because they felt that his attitude toward Tyler King was uneptable.


    - Look at June! He thinks he can just say whatever he wants.


    - He was so rude to Tyler King! Can you believe it?


    - Well, that''s the end of DAWN''s career, I guess.


    His members tried tofort him about it.


    "Don''t worry, dude," Jisung said, ever the optimist. "People forget about these things in like...a week, tops."


    However, in reality, June couldn''t care less.


    "Whatever," he said. "They can continue talking about it if they like."


    However, just as soon as they talked about the heat they were getting, it was already being transferred to none other than Tyler King himself.


    Pop My Base had uploaded a video of Tyler King mocking the boys of DAWN, and at that moment, it was Tyler''s career that was in jeopardy.


    - I can''t believe I was defending Tyler King. The guy''s aplete joke!


    - No, but have y''all seen the video? Tyler King literally mocked DAWN''s race. He''s DONE. Canceled.


    - Tyler King better start packing his bags for Retirement Ind. And no, we don''t ept racists there. - The way Tyler was trying to be relevant by picking a fight with DAWN. Sir, know your ce. - So I defended Tyler King and called June rude, and then this video came out... *cries in betrayal* - Imagine being Tyler King and thinking you could take on the entire K-pop fandom. Rookie move. June couldn''t help but smirk. The inte was truly a beast, but today, it was on their side. Now, they were having a short break before their holiday performances and the continuation of their world tour.


    However, for some odd reason, Jay called June to thepany early in the morning.


    He sighed as soon as he saw their CEO/friend waiting for him in the lobby.


    Jay walked to where June was and nervously rubbed his hands together.


    "Good morning!" he eximed.


    June clicked his tongue. "Why did you ask me toe here, Jay?"


    Jay was silent for a few moments.


    With that, June narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like I''m not going to like this?"


    Jay grinned, and it set off rm bells in June''s head.


    "I''m going straight to the point," he chuckled nervously. "You''re going to the auditions."


    "The auditions?" June repeated, unable to understand where he wasing from. "Why do I have to be at the auditions? Am I going to be in another survival show?"


    "No," Jay said, shaking his head. "Not that kind of audition. What I meant was-you''d be one of the spectators for Phoenix''s idol search!"


    June still didn''t understand. "Why?" he asked.


    "You''ve got a knack for spotting talent!" Jay said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    "No, I don''t," June shot back, shaking his head. "It''s going to be a room full of executives and the board of directors. They don''t need me there."


    "Well, Haruki will also be there!" Jay added, his tone brightening.


    "Oh great," June deadpanned. "Haruki''s going to be there too. That''s even less of a reason for me to go."


    Jay bounced in his seat, pleading now. "Please, June. I already cleared your schedule for today."


    June stared at him, feeling like he''d been yed. "You cleared my schedule?"


    "Yup!" Jay replied, looking quite pleased with himself.


    "It''s today?" June asked, incredulous.


    "Of course!" Jay nodded.


    June let out a long, dramatic sigh and slumped back in his seat.


    "I thought I was going to have a break!"


    Jay scratched the back of his neck. "Can I use my CEO power now?"


    June clicked his tongue.


    "Whatever," he muttered. "There should be food, right?"


    Jay enthusiastically nodded. "Don''t worry! I won''t let those oldies hog all the food."


    With that, the two of them made their way to the exclusive hall designated for Phoenix''s idol search.


    As they walked, plenty of the hopefuls recognized June.


    "It''s June!"


    "Omo! Is he going to watch the auditions?"


    "I can''t do this. I love him so much."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "What the heck? Why is he so handsome?"


    June squeezed his way through the crowd, keeping his head down as he followed Jay.


    "Is this really necessary?" June grumbled as they reached the elevators.


    "You''re our secret weapon," Jay said. "You might find our next big star!"


    "Or I might as well sleep," June retorted.


    Jay pressed the elevator button, and they waited. As the doors opened, Haruki stepped out,


    dressed in casual but stylish clothes.


    "Oh, you''re here too," Haruki said.


    June merely nodded.


    "Don''t worry. It''s going to be fun," he added.


    "Define fun," June muttered.


    Haruki pped him on the back, nearly making June stumble. "This is how we''re going to


    shape the future of Phoenix!"


    "Or destroy it," June said under his breath, though he couldn''t help the small smile tugging at


    his lips.


    Jay cleared his throat. "Alright, you two, let''s not keep the board waiting."


    June sighed, adjusting his cap once more. He didn''t know what the day had in store, but one


    thing was for sure: it wasn''t going to be boring.


    As they made their way to the audition hall, he nced over at Haruki, who was grinning like


    a kid on Christmas morning.


    "You''re way too excited about this," Junemented.


    "It''s not every day I get to judge people without getting in trouble for it," Haruki chimed. It


    really did seem like he enjoyed judging others.


    "Touch¨¦," June said, pushing open the doors to the hall.


    The room was massive, filled with executives and board members.


    "Let''s sit together," Jay whispered like he was afraid of the board of directors.


    "Yeah, yeah," June muttered, rolling his eyes but unable to suppress a smile.


    It looked like he was in for a long day, whether he liked it or not.

 Chapter 1035: Finding The Next June

    Chapter 1035: Finding The Next June


    ?


    June hadn''t even settled into his seat before he realized just how out of ce he felt. He was nked by Haruki on his right, whose face was lit up like he was at a candy store, and Jay on his left, already rifling through a stack of papers.


    Across the room, executives from the board murmured among themselves, discussing the agenda.


    "So," June leaned towards Jay, lowering his voice, "how do thesepany auditions usually work? They must screen them beforehand, right?"


    Jay nced up, looking momentarily confused, then gave a sheepish smile. "Screen them? Not exactly."


    "What do you mean, ''not exactly''?" June''s eyes narrowed.


    Before Jay could exin, one of the talent scouts, a woman in a sharp, tailored suit, stood up and addressed the room.


    "We''re looking for the new June!" she dered, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.


    June nearly choked on his own spit. "The new what?"


    Jay tilted his head to the side, his expression thoughtful. "That would be difficult," he said simply.


    The talent scout pped her hands, and the first group of hopefuls was ushered in.


    They stood in a line, visibly nervous, shuffling their feet as they waited for their turn.


    "They''ll be performing in sets," Jay exined to June. "Each one gets thirty seconds to show us what they''ve got."


    "Thirty seconds?" June raised an eyebrow. "Isn''t that a little short?"


    Haruki leaned over, grinning. "Trust me, you''ll be begging for it to be shorter after this." The first hopeful, anky teenager with bleached blonde hair, stepped forward.


    He looked like he had modeled his entire appearance after a boy band from the early 2000s, down to the leather jacket and chain ne. He took a deep breath andunched into a dance routine...or at least he tried to. It was an attempt of body rolls and iling arms-more like he was trying to swat a fly.


    "I think the wave is trying to do him," Harukimented, leaning back in his chair.


    The boy finished with a dramatic pose, breathing heavily, clearly expecting apuse.


    There was an awkward silence before Jay gave a polite p.


    June gave a small, sympathetic nod. "Well, you''ve got...enthusiasm."


    The next contestant stepped forward. This one was different-a young woman with a confident smile.


    "I''m going to sing," she dered, then turned to June and gasped. Her smile faltered, and she covered her mouth.


    "Is everything okay?" Jay asked, concerned.


    The girl shook her head, looking at June with wide eyes. "I... I can''t do it," she stammered. "He''s just... too handsome."


    June blinked, caught off guard. "What?"


    "You''re just too handsome!" she repeated. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she turned and rushed off the stage, leaving everyone staring after her.


    "Well," Haruki drawled, smirking at June, "Looks like you''re already making people quit."


    June rolled his eyes. "This is going well."


    The next hopeful was a young man who stepped forward with confidence. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp features and styled hair that looked straight out of a magazine.


    He gave a charming smile, and even the board members seemed impressed just by his presence.


    "I''m here to be the next big idol," the young man said smoothly.


    "Great," Jay said, leaning forward. "What will you be performing for us today?"


    The guy paused. "Performing?" He blinked.


    The concept was foreign to him. "I mean...I''m just really good-looking."


    Haruki snorted. "Is that your talent?"


    "Yes," the man said earnestly. "I mean, look at me."


    June pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can you sing?"


    The guy thought for a moment. "Not really."


    "Dance?"


    He shook his head.


    "Rap?"


    Another shake.


    "Acting?" Jay tried, looking like he was desperately searching for something.


    The young man hesitated. "I''ve never tried, but I''m sure I''d be good at it. I mean, look at me."


    June leaned back, crossing his arms. "So, your talent is being handsome."


    "Exactly!" the guy said.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Jay leaned over to June, whispering, "I think we found the new visual."


    "Of what?" June whispered back. "The furniture?"


    Haruki burst outughing, pping the table. "This is gold. We should keep him just for


    comic relief."


    "Next," June called, shaking his head.


    The next contestant was a tiny girl, barely over five feet tall, with pigtails and a determined


    expression.


    "Oh goodness," June muttered. "She should be in the yground!"


    As she danced, the board of directors seemed pleased. However, June wasn''t.


    Although he became a trainee at a young age, he didn''t believe in the system of training idols


    as young as 11!


    It just sounded illegal.


    More and morepanies were debuting minors, and Phoenix shouldn''t join in on the trend.


    With that, he turned to Jay and shook his head.


    Jay scratched the back of his neck. "Umm, next, please."


    A young man stepped up next, holding a guitar. He looked nervous, but he gave a polite bow before strumming a few chords.


    June perked up¡ªmaybe this one would actually be good. The guy started singing, and the


    first note was so off-key that June visibly winced.


    "Yikes," Haruki whispered, covering his mouth with his hand.


    The hopeful continued, oblivious to the pain he was inflicting on everyone''s ears. Jay nced


    at June, who was staring at the guy like he couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    "Well," June said after the man finished, "you''ve definitely got passion."


    "Thank you!" the guy beamed.


    "I just don''t think singing is your thing," June added gently.


    The hopeful looked disappointed. "Really?"


    "Yeah," Haruki jumped in. "But hey, you''d be great in a screaming metal band."


    The guy''s eyes lit up. "Really?"


    "Definitely," Haruki nodded solemnly. "Just maybe not in K-pop."


    After several more performances ranging from confusing to outright bizarre, the room


    settled into a collective sigh of exhaustion.


    June leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.


    "I can''t believe people think this is easy," he muttered.


    Jay chuckled, shuffling through his notes. "You''ve been surprisingly good at this, you know."


    Haruki nodded in agreement. "Seriously, you''ve given urate feedback every time. The


    board is impressed."


    One of the executives leaned over, whispering to Jay. "We really can''t find anyone like June,"


    he admitted.


    Jay nced at June, a knowing smile on his lips. "That''s what I''ve been saying all along."

 Chapter 1036: A Simple Life

    Chapter 1036: A Simple Life


    ?


    June leaned closer to Haruki, who still seemed to be enjoying the auditioning process. June didn''t know how many people had sung and danced, but all he knew was that he was tired.


    "How long until this is over?" he asked.


    Haruki looked at his watch and hummed. "Well, I was also herest year. It ended around evening."


    "Evening?" June eximed, unable to keep his voice down.


    Jay, along with the board of executives, turned to him with curious eyes.


    June sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "What did I sign up for?" he muttered. It was only the afternoon! They were going to start practicing for their holiday performances tomorrow, too.


    However, even when June was tired, he tried hard to focus on the performances. He knew that a lot of the aspirants plucked up the courage toe to the audition.


    It probably wasn''t an easy decision, so the least thing June could do was watch their performances with sincerity-no matter how difficult it was.


    Like Haruki said, the auditions went on untilte into the night. It was well past dinner time, and most of those watching were already fatigued.


    The executives at the table were now slouched in their seats. The coffee cups in front of them were empty, and their eyes darted toward the clock more than the stage.


    Thest batch of auditionees shuffled nervously in the wings, waiting their turn.


    June pursed his lips. They must have waited for a long time, too.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Let''s do this," he whispered, waking himself up for thest batch of the day.


    They started going one by one, and like most of the hopefuls, a lot of themcked the star factor that Phoenix was looking for.


    That is until a young man stepped forward.


    He looked out of ce-too simple, almost forgettable.


    His clothes were in, a simple white button-up tucked into worn jeans. Slung over his shoulder was a guitar, its strap frayed at the edges.


    He didn''t exude the shy confidence that so many before him had tried to project.


    Instead, he seemed grounded, like he belonged to a world far from the entertainment industry.


    June adjusted his posture, intrigued. He nced down at the profile in front of him. The name ''Ivan Lee'' was scrawled at the top, followed by a short biography. He skimmed through the details, murmuring under his breath.


    "''''Ivan Lee,'''' he read aloud, tapping the paper lightly. "That''s his stage name. He''s 17 years old. Alright, that''s good enough," he continued.


    His eyes darted to the next section, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Came from the province... a farmer."


    The executives exchanged weary nces, barely looking at Ivan.


    June caught it and felt slightly irritated. He didn''t care howte it was-everyone deserved attention.


    He was even fighting through his own sleepiness! But more than that, there was something about Ivan.


    Ivan bowed politely. "Good evening. My name is Ivan Lee, and I''ll be performing a song I wrote called ''A Simple Life.""


    One of the executives stifled a yawn, leaning back in their chair. "Another original song," they muttered under their breath.


    June''s eyes narrowed. Ignoring the murmurs, he leaned closer. Ivan adjusted the strap, strummed his guitar once, and began.


    "I wake up with the morning sun,


    Feel the earth beneath my feet.


    The air is clean, the world is still,


    And this is all I need."


    He let out a small breath before continuing.


    "No fancy lights, no crowded halls,


    No rushing through the day.


    Just quiet nights and peaceful skies,


    Where I can find my way."


    The chorus came, and June felt like he was being transported to the simple life that Ivan was singing about.


    "Give me fields of green and skies of blue,


    A home to keep, a heart that''s true.


    No need for riches, fame, or strife,


    Just let me live a simple life."


    The melody was unpretentious. It was bare in its simplicity, yet there was something


    maic about it.


    Ivan''s voice wasn''t the most powerful, but it carried sincerity.


    The executives, despite their tiredness, seemed to sit a little straighter.


    June didn''t move. His eyes were locked on Ivan, taking in every note.


    The lyrics weren''t groundbreaking either, but they painted a vivid picture.


    The final chord lingered in the air. Ivan stepped back, bowing again. "Thank you," he said


    quietly.


    For a moment, the room was still. Then, one of the executives sighed, scribbling something


    on their notes.


    "Well, he''s got a nice tone," someone muttered dismissively.


    "Too simple," another said. "Not marketable enough."


    "Nothing special," a third chimed in, already flipping to the next profile.


    June felt a sh of anger, but he kept his expression neutral. He watched as Ivan took a step back, his shoulders slightly hunched.


    When thest auditionee had finished, one of the executives pped their hands together. "Alright, that''s it. Let''s wrap this up. Honestly, no one really stood out for thest batch."


    "I wouldn''t say that," June said, his voice cutting through the chatter.


    The room turned to him, surprised. Jay, seated beside him, raised an eyebrow.


    "Huh?"


    June leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "Ivan Lee."


    One of the board executives let out a shortugh. "The farmer kid? You''re kidding, right?"


    "I''m not," June replied firmly. "There''s something about him."


    Another executive groaned. "June, I get it. You''re tired; we''re all tired. Bute on. He''s not idol material. His song was nice, but it''s not enough."


    June stood, cing his hands on the table. "Not enough? Did you even listen to him?" "That song wasn''t just nice¡ªit was honest. Do you know how rare that is? He''s not trying to impress anyone with shy techniques or overproduced tracks. He''s real. And we need that."


    They still looked skeptical. "Real doesn''t sell, June."


    "It will," June shot back. "Because people are craving authenticity. You let him go, and I guarantee you''ll regret it."


    The room fell silent. Jay studied him for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, a smirk ying on his lips. "You''re really putting your neck out for this guy, huh?"


    June didn''t flinch. "I am. And I''m right."


    Jay exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Fine. You believe in him that much? He''s in."


    June nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction.


    Well, it seemed like Phoenix''s future wouldn''t be too bad.

 Chapter 1037: A Special Stage

    Chapter 1037: A Special Stage


    ?


    The early morning sunlight spilled into the hallways of Phoenix Entertainment, but June barely noticed it. He stifled a yawn as he trudged toward the auditorium.


    He thought they were going to start practicing for their holiday performances, yet Jay had summoned them to the auditorium instead.


    His eyes were heavy fromck of sleep. He had spent hours sorting through profiles and audition tapes with Jay the previous night! He should be given a raise at this point!


    "You okay?" Jisung asked.


    June nodded, a yawn escaping his lips. He has had better days! But then again, this was better than being in Azure.


    "What do you guys think we''ll be doing today?" Akira excitedly asked.


    "It''s a no-brainer," Ren deadpanned. "We''re going to be talking about the Christmas stages. Well, it won''t be much of a problem since we already have a concept for it."


    "Ah," Zeth said. "It''s really reassuring performing with you, guys!"


    "Well, that''s a first," Casper scoffed. "You usuallypliment yourself first before mentioning the team."


    "Aww,e on, guys!" Zeth eximed. "You know that I love you."


    "Anyway, why are we going to the auditorium anyway?" Sehun asked. "Shouldn''t we be starting our practice today? We''re bound to start the Asian leg of the tour after the holidays, too. So, we need all the time we can get."


    "Beats me," Jaeyong said. "Jay called for a meeting this morning."


    "Well, let''s find out," Akira said, opening the doors.


    As soon as he stepped into therge auditorium, chatters greeted him.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The boys of DAWN turned to each other with wide eyes when they saw that most of the groups from Phoenix were inside the room. They spotted CHAOS in the middle and LUNAIRE by the side.


    "What is this?" Sehun asked, turning to Jaeyong.


    Jaeyong shrugged, not having an idea.


    Jay was already at the front of the room, clipboard in hand. He also had dark circles underneath his eyes fromck of sleep, but he still looked jolly as always.


    June made his way over with his group members, greeting Jay with a nod before standing beside him.


    "Long night?" Jay asked.


    "I''m sure you''d know," June said with narrowed eyes. "I''m surprised you''re still standing."


    Jay chuckled. "Barely."


    The chatters quieted down as Jay pped for attention.


    "Alright, everyone," he said into the microphone. "Please take a seat. We''ve got a lot to cover today, so let''s get straight to it."


    The idol groups followed their CEO''s instructions. Jay looked pretty serious on stage, and DAWN wasn''t really used to it. However, they had no choice but to ept that their friend was now a big-shot CEO.


    Jay continued, "As you all know, the holiday season is approaching, which means it''s time for the annual Christmas stages. Of course, you are all going to participate this year. However, it will not go as usual. Things are going to be a little different."


    Murmurs broke out among the crowd. June caught snippets of conversations.


    "Is that why they called all of us here?"


    "Must be a huge deal if they''re changing the format."


    "I heard a rumor from ESTEEM! They said that theirpany was going to arrange a group performance soon."


    The boys turned to each other with surprise. Well, that sounded like a usible idea.


    Jay raised a hand, silencing the room again. "That''s right. For the first time, every majorpany will be performing a special stage at the same event. It''s a chance to showcase what we''ve got, so we need to go all out."


    Excited chatters were heard in the room. As expected, idols were reallypetitive, and although they acted professionally on the outside, they were still human! They wanted to have the best performance for the Christmas stages!


    It has always been a big deal in the K-pop world. Fans came to watch their favorite idols'' stages rather than spending it with their family. So, the expectations were much greater.


    "That''s not all," Jay added, capturing their attention once more.


    "The TV station overseeing the event has decided to spice things up with three coboration stages. They''ve chosen the participants themselves, so none of us had any say in the matter."


    The other boys looked at June.


    He had already experienced a coboration stage with his mentor when they performed ''Father.'' It was such a great hit, so they were expecting June to be chosen once again.


    Jay''s eyes scanned the room. "First, a group stage featuring a mix of vocalists from differentpanies. Details will be announcedter. Second, a special dance stage with some of the industry''s best dancers."


    The idea of mixing top talents from differentpanies was appealing to many, but June could already sense the tension.


    Jay paused, his eyes locking onto June for a moment before continuing. "And finally, a duet."


    June''s stomach twisted. Oh, he already knew where this was going on.


    He could just tell by the look on Jay''s face!


    Well, for once, he thought it wouldn''t be too bad. He did love to sing, and having a duet with another artist was going to be another challenge for him.


    "The TV station has already decided on the pair: June from DAWN and Mei from LUNAIRE."


    Mei''s eyes widened, and so did June''s. The two of them turned to each other at lightning speed, their expressions mirroring each other''s.


    June wasn''t against a duet but with Mei Ling? It just seemed so awkward! It seemed like his sister was also appalled by the idea. Despite her not knowing they were biological siblings in June''s past life, the feelings still remained.


    The others congratted them, not really aware of their real feelings.


    "Along with that, the TV station has decided the song you are going to sing," Jay continued.


    June turned to the stage with wide eyes. Now, what was this?


    Jay opened his mouth, and it was then that June heard a ringing sound in his ears.


    "It''s going to be a love song!"


    Oh, it just got worse.


    June would much rather jump off a cliff than sing a love song with his sister!

 Chapter 1038: The Greatest Love

    Chapter 1038: The Greatest Love


    ?


    "So, what are we going to do now?" Mei asked, looking awkwardly around the room.


    It was alreadyte in the evening, and they had just finished their respective practices with their group. They were already tired, but of course, the grind never stops.


    The two didn''t know how to start the conversation, and the fact that they had to sing a love song out of all songs was just appalling to them.


    "Can you answer me?" Mei said in frustration.


    June pursed his lips and ran his fingers through his hair.


    "I don''t know," he sighed. "What do you want me to say?"


    Mei clicked his tongue. "We''ve already been given this opportunity in the first ce. We can''t do anything but ept it."


    "I know!" June said, sounding annoyed. "I hate Jay for choosing this song, though."


    "I don''t think he chose it," Mei said. "Why don''t we look at the lyrics?"


    June nodded and went closer to Mei, who had the lyric sheet in her hands.


    The title of the song was- ''The Greatest Love.''


    The title alone was enough to send shivers down June''s spine. It was a love song that a woman had written for her husband when he died. It spoke of the sentiment of someone''s love


    transcending through life. It was also about loving someone even more when you realized they were gone.


    In conclusion, it was a sad love song that lovers offered to each other during funerals.


    They read the first set of lyrics and shook their heads in unison.


    "Oh, I can''t do this!" Mei eximed. "Why do we have to suffer through this?"


    "That''s what I''ve been saying," June sighed. "Should we go to Jay and ask him to let the TV station change the song?"


    Mei nodded and stood from the floor. The two of them walked toward the door but stopped when they got near. For a moment, the two of them were silent. It seemed like there were a lot of thoughts running inside of their heads.


    Going out of the room andining to Jay would mean one thing-they weren''t up for the challenge.


    And, of course, the universe knew just howpetitive the siblings were.


    With that, Mei turned around with a sigh.


    "Fu just popped up," she said, walking back to her spot and taking a seat. "It''s my mission now-to finish this performance with you."


    June groaned and sat in front of her once more. "He''s a menace, really."


    [What did I do?]


    [I didn''t give you a mission!]


    [Tell June I didn''t give you a mission! I don''t want him to think I''m a menace.] However, Mei stayed silent. She looked at the lyric sheet once more and sighed. It was true that she didn''t want to sing it with June. In fact, she didn''t want to sing the song with anyone! It was a legendary song for lovers, and as an idol, she always thought she wouldn''t be able to pull it off.


    Yet, at the same time, she wanted to take on the challenge. June had been a part of many great stages, but she had only experienced performing with her group. A grand opportunity has presented itself right in front of her!


    More so than that, it was guaranteed to be a hit-especially since she was going to perform with June. As much as she didn''t want to admit it out loud, June was basically a cheat code when it came to performances.


    However, even then, she still didn''t know how they would sing this duet without cringing. "I think we need to ask ourselves first," Mei said after a while. "What is your greatest love? Have you ever experienced something like that?"


    June ced his hand under his chin. And then, it hit him all at once. What was the greatest thing he had done during his life? How far did he go for love?


    Well, there was only one answer to that.


    He joined a gang to feed his family.


    He didn''t eat, so his sister could.


    He even let himself get transmigrated into the body of a failed trainee and then listened to a mboyant, (slightly) evil system, all while trying to be the best idol in the country.


    Much more than that, he fought his past enemies, all while confronting his present ones. He lost his loved ones along the way, and he developed some trust issues, too.


    He gained some new friends-a family, even. He garnered fans from all around the world even if he hadn''t met them in person. He was able to star in a movie and a drama by channeling his inner struggles.


    He was also able to avenge his past self from the people who did him dirty. Subsequently, it didn''t only bring benefits to himself but to an entire industry...one that he was still trying to change until this very moment.


    Much more than that, he realized why he was here in the first ce.


    The dreams he had buried all along, and the desires he didn''t dare say out loud because he thought he didn''t have the luxury to-it made him think that life wasn''t so bad after all. There was going to be a rainbow after the rain-no matter how cliche that sounded.


    Mei looked at him like he had gone crazy. June has been silent for a few minutes now, but it seemed like he was thinking about a lot. His face contorted into different emotions all at


    once.


    "That''s why you''re also an actor," Mei muttered.


    "June," she called his name, but he was still in a dazed state.


    June had realized it now.


    All of these he didn''t do out of spite or hate...or revenge. He did it out of love.


    He did it to save his sister.


    He did it to keep the family he had.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He did it so he could achieve peace within himself.


    He did all of it because he wanted to.


    And that was his greatest love-all of it boiling down to one person-the very reason why he


    started this crazy adventure in the first ce.


    "My greatest love..." he muttered, finally uttering something after a couple of minutes.


    He lifted his head, only to be met with Mei''s curious and weirded-out gaze.


    He let out a deep breath before finishing his statement.


    "...is you."

 Chapter 1039: Yearly Interview

    Chapter 1039: Yearly Interview


    ?


    The practice room was silent for a couple of seconds before Mei erupted into a disgusted rant.


    "Oh heck no!" she eximed. "You can''t freaking say that! I thought you didn''t want to perform this song in the first ce?"


    "Me? Your greatest love. You must be out of your mind. I''m going to the bathroom to throw up now."


    "Ugh," she gagged, nearly dry heaving as she covered her mouth. "I hate this. Take back everything you said."


    June clicked his tongue and snatched her arm away from her mouth. The two of them made eye contact for a couple of seconds. Mei thought she was going to gag in disgust once again. However, the look that June was giving her wasn''t romantic at all! It just felt...warm.


    With that, she pursed her lips, wondering if her outburst was unwarranted.


    June sighed and stepped back, letting go of her arm.


    "I didn''t mean it like that, you idiot!" he deadpanned, shaking his head. "I would also much rather travel to America, steal a nun''s car, drive past the speed limit on an abandoned road, bump into an animal, and eat roadkill without any kind of sanitation or cooking than sing this song romantically with you."


    Mei''s eyes widened with how detailed he hadid it out for her.


    "Dang," she muttered. "Do you have to be that specific?"


    "Anyway," he sighed. "The greatest love does not necessarily have to be romantic."


    "This song''s lyrics are, though," she said. "It says here I''d die for you. In another life, I woulde and find you," she narrated. "How can we make this about friendly love?"


    "Yeah, it can''t be about friendly love," June said. "However, it could mean another type of love-family."


    Mei paused for a while, raising her eyebrows in surprise. It seemed like she was contemting it, and then she burst into chuckles while shaking her head.


    "There''s no way," she said. "We''re not family."


    "Not in this life," June muttered.


    "What did you say?" she asked.


    June shook his head and started grabbing his stuff. Then, he nced at the clock, noting howte it was.


    "Just think about it," June said. "Try reading into the lyrics more. I''m sure you''ll see that it has the potential to be about familial love."


    "Then, once you understand it, contact me again."


    "What?" she asked in exasperation. "But, this performance is set for next week! We don''t have time. We need to practice tonight or at least get a concept going. I won''t be able to sleep at this point."


    "We''re not going to make any progress tonight," June said. "Not until you understand what I''m trying to say."


    "Besides," he continued. "DAWN has an interview tomorrow early morning. I really can''t miss out on that."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With that, he walked out of the practice room, leaving Mei in her own thoughts.


    ***


    The room they were in was a in space. No chairs. No tables. Just them on the ground.


    It was also all white, reminding June of an asylum. But then again, this was one of the most popr channels on YouWatch at the moment, so they couldn''t reallyin.


    "What are we going to do here?" Sehun whispered to Jaeyong.


    Jaeyong shrugged and looked around the room. "I honestly have no idea."


    Just then, the ''SubFeeble'' producer walked over to them with a wide smile.


    "DAWN," she greeted. "It''s an honor to finally see you, boys."


    Jaeyong smiled up at her. "Thank you for having us here."


    "Well, you haven''t been briefed yet, right?" she asked.


    The boys nodded.


    "That''s good," she chuckled. "It seems like Jay kept his word."


    The boys nced at each other, wondering what her rtionship was with their friend. However, they were snapped back to reality when she started speaking again.


    "Well, let me give you a slight introduction. This is for your first-year anniversary. It''s a special interview segment. We n to do this every year as a tradition. Have you watched the one with Billy Jones?"


    Casper raised an eyebrow. "You mean like those annual retrospectives?"


    "Exactly like that," she replied, her lips twitching into a small smile. "It''s meant to reflect on your achievements and growth as a group."


    The boys nodded in understanding. Jisung perked up slightly. "Oh, I watched Billy''s interview. Fans loved it."


    Akira tilted his head, curious. "But...our anniversary was in November. It''s almost thest week of December now."


    She nodded in understanding. "Yes, we know. Thepany was swamped with promotions and end-of-year schedules, so they decided to air this at the end of December."


    Akira nodded in understanding. "Well, that''s a good choice."


    "Yeah, we were too busy during our Anniversary with theebacks and stuff," Jaeyong said. "Again, it seems like Jay is actually taking his job seriously," she muttered, but everyone heard it.


    June was the only one to courageously ask her the question they''d been dying to say. "How do you know Jay?"


    "We dated back then," she answered nonchntly.


    Jisung turned to June and whispered in his ears. "Is she the one who pawned off the jewelry Jay bought her and went back to her ex?"


    "Or the one who had daddy issues who made Jay her sugar daddy?"


    June shook his head and asked another question. "So, is it just us sitting and talking, or is


    there more to it?"


    Her smile widened, not answering his question. "Let''s get started, shall we?"


    The boys exchanged nces, curiosity sparking in their eyes.


    Soon, the cameras were rolling. They were seated in a semicircle now, with June in the middle,


    as per usual. The production crew had rearranged the room slightly, adding soft lighting and a cozy backdrop with DAWN''s logo illuminated in soft gold.


    "Alright," the director called out. "Energy up, boys. Just chat like you''re having fun."


    And then, just when they were about to start speaking, something came out from behind the


    production crew, startling the members.


    "Kittens?"

 Chapter 1040: Why Were Here

    Chapter 1040: Why We''re Here


    ?


    Was this a hybrid interview?


    The boys knew that the channel had a retrospective type of interview along with an interview with animals. However, they were mixing them together just for DAWN!


    The kittens had be the center of attention, earning awed expressions andughter from


    the group. The once in room now felt alive, filled with yful chaos as the kittens explored their surroundings.


    "This one''s fearless," Akira muttered, watching as a ck kitten wed its way up his sweater, its tiny paws gripping the fabric for dear life.


    He held the kitten at arm''s length, unsure whether tough or panic. "Do I look like a -climbing tree?"


    "It''s trying to escape your bad vibes," Jaeyong teased, stroking a fluffy white kitten curled in hisp.


    The room erupted inughter as Akira shot him a mock re. "At least mine isn''t shedding all over me."


    Across the table, Sehun''s ginger kitten had fallen asleep on hisp, its small chest rising and falling peacefully. He nced at his members around him, then down at the sleeping fluffball. "You guys need to calm down. They''re kittens, not wild animals."


    Ren, however, was too busy chasing after his tiny gray kitten, which had wriggled out of his arms and darted across the room. "This one IS a wild animal," he groaned, scrambling to catch it before it disappeared.


    Amid themotion, June sat stiffly in his chair, trying to look unbothered as three kittens- yes, three hung onto him.


    A tabby curled into the crook of his arm, purring loudly, while a calico pawed at hisp, and a ck kitten tried to nuzzle under his chin. He gave an exasperated sigh, his attempts to gently nudge them away failing.


    "Why do they all go to him?" Akira asked, arms folded as he eyed June''s growing collection of kittens. "I only got one."


    Jisung, cradling his ck-and-white kitten, chuckled softly. "Maybe they can sense who the real softie is."


    "Me?" June scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You can take them away if you like."


    "The kitties like the kitty," Casper said with a smirk, earning scattered chuckles.


    "Shut up," June snapped, though his hand betrayed him, gently stroking the tabby''s fur. His expression was equal parts annoyed and fond. Of course, June liked it. He acted like a dad who said he didn''t want a pet but cared for it in the end.


    "It''s obvious you love them," Jisung pointed out with a knowing grin.


    June red at him but said nothing, choosing instead to focus on the kitten nuzzling his chin.


    Before anyone couldment, another situation happened.


    One of the kittens, seemingly overwhelmed by excitement, decided to relieve itself on the pristine white floor. Another followed suit, scratching at the surface like it was litter.


    "Oh no," Akira groaned, jumping back in horror. "They''re pooping!"


    The crew burst intoughter while a staff member rushed in to clean the mess.


    Meanwhile, Ren held his head in his hands. "This is a disaster."


    June''s tabby, not to be outdone, let out a soft meow before adding to the chaos with its own ''contribution.'' June''s expression was one of pure disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"


    "The kittens feelfortable around you," Jay''s ex said, struggling to hide her amusement. "I''d rather they didn''t," June replied dryly, though he helped wipe the tabby cat before keeping it secure in his arms.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Once the room was cleaned up and the kittens settled, the interview resumed.


    The boys sat back on the ground, each with a kitten either in theirp or curled nearby.


    June''s personal entourage of three remained stubbornly by his side, much to the amusement of the others.


    The director cleared his throat, signaling the start of the first question. "How are you?"


    Jaeyong was the first to respond. "We''re better than ever," he said, ncing at his members with a small smile. "The past few weeks have been great. We went overseas. We''re being acknowledged around the world. We even won some awards. It''s great, really."


    "Before that...well, we didn''t even know if we could stay in the same group. But look at us now."


    The others nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting their gratitude and pride.


    Ren leaned forward slightly, his hand resting on the table. "Yeah, it''s been a rollercoaster, but we''re here, and that''s what matters."


    Casper grinned, his tone lightening the mood. "And now we''ve got kittens. Can''t get much better than this."


    The crew chuckled, and the director moved on to the next question. "What''s the secret to your sess?"


    For a moment, the boys looked at one another, silently deciding who should answer.


    Then, almost in unison, they turned to June.


    June blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Why are you all looking at me?"


    "Because it''s obvious," Zeth said simply, earning murmurs of agreement from the others.


    "You''re the reason for our sess!" Jisung happily eximed. The others nodded in agreement. Zeth, too, agreed without anyints.


    June sighed, still petting the kittens. "That''s not true at all."


    "It is, though," Jaeyong said. "You bring in the most fans to our group."


    June shook his head. "At the end of the day, they are still fans of our group. The fact that I brought them into the fandom does not change that."


    "If you ask me, then I say that the secret is that there''s no secret at all," he said, looking directly at the camera.


    "We''re not faking it. What you see is what you get."


    The room grew quiet as he continued. "We make music that we like. Of course, we look at the results¡ªwe want to seed, and we want to make our fans proud. But we''ve reached a point where the most important thing is making good music. Not just for us but for everyone who listens. For our fans, for people all around the world."


    His words were simple but heartfelt. The kittens remained still, their soft purring the only sound.


    "That''s why we''re here," June finished, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Because we''re real."

 Chapter 1041: To DAWN

    Chapter 1041: To DAWN


    ?


    The kittens had settled down now. They realized that this interview was going to take longer than anticipated, so they had found a home in the arms of the handsome boys.


    It seemed like no matter what species, DAWN was sure to bring in some new fans.


    With that, the questions continued, and the boys answered lightheartedly.


    "How is the situation in your group chat?"


    Jisung was the first to jump in, leaning against his arms with a sigh. "Chaotic. That''s the best way to describe it."


    Casper chuckled, nodding. "It''s true. Most of the time, it''s me, Jisung, and Akira doing all the talking."


    Akira raised his hand like he was in ss. "Guilty as charged."


    Jisung smiled. "Jaeyong and Sehun are the peacekeepers. If we''re arguing about something random, they''ll jump in and calm things down. But they''re also the ones who''ll ghost us if they''re busy."


    "Don''t forget Zeth," Casper added, ncing at the usually narcissistic member, who was stroking his kitten absentmindedly. "He doesn''t say much, but when he does, it''s like... paragraphs. Out of nowhere. Like novel-length answers."


    Zeth shrugged, unfazed by the teasing. "I just want to make sure I''m thorough."


    "And then there''s Ren," Jisung continued. "Our very own hall monitor."


    Ren rolled his eyes but didn''t deny it. "Someone has to make sure you three don''t derail the chat every five minutes."


    The groupughed, and all eyes turned to June. Zeth was the first to speak up. "And June? He''s just there. He doesn''t respond!"


    June raised an eyebrow and shook his head, feigning exasperation. "That''s because you''re all too noisy."


    Akira burst intoughter. "You see what we''re dealing with?"


    June let out a small sigh but didn''t argue further. The dynamic between the group was so natural that even the staff couldn''t help smiling as they observed their conversation. They already knew it was going to be a viral video again!


    The interviewer smiled, moving to the next question. "If you could say something to your past self, what would it be? Maybe some advice?"


    The boys were silent for a while before Sehun, their oldest member, began to speak. The other boys let him answer the question because they knew he was one of the members who really had a tough time bing an idol.


    "It''ll get better," he said simply, ncing at his members. "So, hang in there. Even when it feels like the world is against you, just know it''s going to be worth it."


    They smiled at Sehun. Akira then sniffled dramatically, breaking the silence. "Why does that make me want to cry?"


    "Seriously," Jaeyong joined in. However, he was being serious, contrary to Akira. "Sehun did a great job."


    "Oh,e on," Sehun said. "Stop making my story so dramatic."


    Laughter rippled through the group, lightening the mood once again.


    "Next question," the interviewer said with a smile, clearly enjoying the energy in the room. "What do you guys think about...ships?"


    For a second, the boys stared at each other, puzzled. June frowned, breaking the silence. "Ships? Titanic?"


    The crew burst intoughter, and the interviewer quickly rified. "No, no. Like shipping. You know, fans pairing you with each other."


    Realization dawned, and the boys exchanged amused, surprised looks. "Wow," Jisung muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Bold question."


    "Yeah, I don''t think anyone has addressed this in K-pop," Jaeyong said, scratching the back of his head.


    It was quite a controversial topic, so none of them knew how to answer. However, June spoke without any hesitation.


    "It''s part of the career," he admitted. "You can''t delineate it from the fandom-it''s just how things are."


    The others nodded in agreement as he continued. "It can get a bit weird sometimes since we''re real people, but I know most fans don''t mean harm by it. They''re just having fun. Still, I''d prefer not to see it on my timeline. Then again, we barely have time to scroll through our timelines, so..."


    Jaeyong chuckled. "True. We''re too busy."


    The interviewer smiled, impressed by their candidness. "Fair enough. Next question: Do you see yourselves still being DAWN in the future?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Ren spoke up, cing his fingers under his chin. "Honestly, it doesn''t matter what group name we''re under. What matters is that we''re together. As long as we stay together, everything else will fall into ce."


    "Whether it be EVE or DAWN, I just want to perform with these guys for a long time."


    Akira nodded in agreement. "That''s right. I''m d that we were able to get out of our past contract, too. Otherwise, we would have been bound to our pastpanies and would only get to perform together for three years."


    The other boys sighed as they thought about their previous situation. Now, their rtionship was stronger than ever.


    "Andstly," the interviewer said, her tone softening. "What would you like to say to your future selves?"


    The boys took turns answering, their responses ranging from lighthearted to heartfelt.


    "Don''t mess this up," Jisung said with a grin. "Seriously, don''t."


    "Keep growing," Ren added simply.


    "You''re doing well! Don''t take everything so seriously," Akira chimed.


    "Hmm, is Luther still alive?" Casper asked. "He should be."


    "I hope you continue leading your team withoutints," Jaeyong said.


    "Look after your members. They''re your greatest treasure," Sehun added.


    "Stay healthy," Zeth said, earning nods of agreement from the others. "And handsome," he


    quickly added, making the others groan.


    Finally, it was June''s turn. The room grew quiet as he looked at the camera.


    "Are you well?" he began. "I hope you are."


    "Don''t lose the passion," he continued. "No matter how tough it gets, no matter how much the world changes around you, I hope you''re still here. Still fighting, still dreaming." His voice softened, and he nced briefly at the kittens before returning his focus to the camera. "And don''t forget why you started. For the music. For the fans. For yourself. Just...


    don''t lose that."


    The silence that followed wasforting. The boys exchanged quiet looks, knowing they woulde back to this next year.

 Chapter 1042: Everything Comes With A Prize

    Chapter 1042: Everything Comes With A Prize


    ?


    "We''re going to kill it again," Zeth said, sitting on the floor while shaking his head. Just then, he wiped something wet from his brow. "Ah, this feels disgusting. I feel so hot."


    Ren turned to him with raised eyebrows. "You''re sweating," he said.


    Zeth felt like the world had turned upside down. "What?" he asked, a chuckle bubbling from his lips.


    Ren burst intoughter while Jisung innocently wiped his forehead.


    "Woah, you''re really sweating," Jisung said. "I can''t believe it! Isn''t this the first time?" Zeth''s face was drained of color while the others went back to their respective conversations. "Guys!" he eximed, standing from the floor. "What should I do? What happens now?"


    Akira turned to him with a chuckle. "Nothing happens," he said. "You''re sweating. It''s normal. Now, you''re like the rest of us."


    Zeth fell to his knees, creating a loud sound. His hands balled into fists as he stared up at the ceiling. "This was what I was afraid of," he muttered, shaking his head.


    "Alright," Jaeyong pped. "I think we''re done for the night. We''ll have thest practice tomorrow before heading to our schedule the day after."


    The other boys nodded. Meanwhile, Zeth was still in turmoil. However, Ren hoisted him up and led him out of their practice room.


    Meanwhile, as June grabbed his water bottle and towel, his mind wandered elsewhere.


    Mei.


    There were only two days left until their highly anticipated Christmas performance, and she hadn''t reached out to him once.


    No calls, no texts.


    He shook his head. It seemed like she still wasn''t ready for the performance.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "You good, Bro?" Jisung called, slinging an arm over his shoulder.


    June nodded. "Yeah, just thinking about the duet performance."


    Jisung gave him a knowing look but didn''t press further.


    The group began packing up, the chatter turning lighthearted as they joked about holiday ns and the number of gifts their fans had sent to the agency.


    As thest of his teammates prepared to leave, his phone buzzed. His eyes darted to the


    screen.


    Mei: Meet me. Third-floor practice room.


    He stared at the message. Without a word, he grabbed his jacket and made his way upstairs. The third-floor practice room was quiet, dimly lit by the overhead fluorescent lights.


    Mei was already there, sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring at the mirrored wall in front of her.


    When she heard the door click shut, she turned to look at him. "You came."


    "Hmm," June hummed, walking further into the room. He set his bag down and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "What''s going on?"


    Mei sighed. "I''ve been thinking," she began.


    "Well, at least you''re still thinking," June joked, making her click her tongue.


    "Shut up, will you?" she deadpanned. "I''m serious right now."


    June chuckled and shook his head before giving her space to continue.


    Her eyes drifted to her reflection in the mirror. "You know when I first started, I thought the greatest love was the kind that made your heart race. The kind you see in movies-the big, sweeping gestures, the happy endings."


    She paused, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. "But now... I''m not so sure."


    "What do you mean?" June asked.


    "I looked through the lyrics," she said. "I thought about everything you said before."


    She turned to face him fully, her hands resting on her knees. "I think the greatest love isn''t romantic at all. It''s...it''s sacrifice. It''s the quiet things people do for each other without expecting anything in return. Like...like siblings."


    June tilted his head, intrigued.


    "Growing up, I had this idea that love was supposed to be grand," Mei continued. "But then I think about the little things.''


    "This may sound weird," she started off. "But I''ve had dreams."


    "What kind of dreams?" he asked.


    "Strange ones," Mei answered. "Well, not really strange. Just...peaceful."


    "There''s someone in my dreams. One who waits for me after school, even though it means missing his own practices. He gave up so much just to make sure I could chase my dreams. That''s love, isn''t it? Giving up a piece of yourself for someone else."


    June''s throat tightened. Did Mei regain her memories, perhaps?


    "It is," he said quietly.


    Mei looked at him. "But how do you put that into a song? How do you make people feel it? I haven''t contacted you because I don''t know how to do it."


    June straightened. "Well, singing is something you feel, I always say. It''s not something you do. Tap into something inside you that you''ve never before."


    She blinked at him, uncertainty flickering across her face.


    "Try it," he urged, gesturing to the music yer in the corner. "Sing it. Just once. Forget


    about the audience; forget about me. Just...feel it."


    Mei hesitated but eventually nodded. She walked to the yer and pressed y before closing


    her eyes.


    The room fell silent as the first few notes of the ''The Greatest Love'' filled the room. Mei


    started the song.


    At first, her voice was steady but restrained. Then, Mei''s brows furrowed, her shoulders tensed, and a memory seemed to pull her under.


    A man''s voice-not gentle at all but somehow reassuring-echoed in her mind. She couldn''t see his face, but the warmth in his tone was unmistakable.


    "You''re angry and that''s alright," he had told her once, pacing back and forth. "You''re strong. Stronger than you think. You can''t be weak!"


    He had always told stories, although he sounded quite annoying. The memory was distant and hazy, but it was enough. He was always there the man in her dreams.


    Mei''s voice cracked, but it didn''t take away from the beauty of the song.


    June stepped forward, his own voice joining hers. Their harmony filled the room, a blend of pain and hope that felt both distant and achingly close.


    They were telling a story together.


    When thest note faded, Mei opened her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek, catching


    the light. She wiped it away quickly, feeling embarrassed.


    A small teasing smile made its way to June''s face-and for some reason, Mei felt that it was familiar...too familiar.


    "You okay there?" he asked, sounding a bit annoying, too.


    Mei clicked her tongue and turned to the side, trying to keep her tears at bay.


    "Yeah," she muttered. "I''m okay."


    At that moment, June knew that Mei had remembered.


    However, it was only the memory she recalled and not him.


    In this lifetime, she would never remember him as his brother.


    Yet, somehow, that seemed to be the right route.


    Everything had toe with a prize.


    And for June and Mei to live happily, they had to sacrifice the one thing they cherished the


    most in their past lives.

 Chapter 1043: The Reunion You Didnt Ask For

    Chapter 1043: The Reunion You Didn''t Ask For


    ?


    The holiday season has finally arrived, and the air was filled with energy that only this time of year could bring.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Snow dusted the streets outside the towering venue, a massive stadium lit up, weing


    idols and fans alike to what was easily one of the most anticipated event of the year.


    Every year, the grand stage set new standards for performances, but this year, it felt even bigger.


    Something has definitely changed in the idol industry.


    For the first time, groups from variouspanies-big and small-gathered to perform on the same stage.


    Performances were trimmed to showcase only the highlights, giving every group, regardless of size or fame, a moment in the spotlight.


    Every act was being valued now. It was a sign of progress in an industry that had long been dominated by only a few.


    The atmosphere backstage was warm-opposite to the coldness that the weather brought. Groups shuffled in and out of dressing rooms, theirughter and chatter filling the air as they rehearsed their routines onest time. DAWN, who had risen to the top of the charts after an explosive debut year, was preparing for their own performance.


    But they weren''t the only ones reflecting on how far they''de.


    Out in the crowd, Jia and her friends-Bora, Soomin, Nari, and Wei-were seated close to the stage, enjoying the rare days off from their respective careers.


    Bora, still a student, nced at her friends, who were already deep into their working lives. "It''s wild, isn''t it?" Bora said. "You''re here now, watching this as professionals. Just a year ago, we were all students freaking out over whether we''d even get tickets."


    Soomin nodded, a nostalgic smile on her face. "Feels like a lifetime ago. Ah, I feel old."


    Wei chuckled, leaning back in her seat. "Yeah, but let''s be real-we''ve got heavier responsibilities now, but at least we''re getting paid for them."


    "Coming from you?" Nari asked. "You''re definitely overpaid by your dad!"


    Wei was about to retaliate but then closed her mouth. "I won''t argue about that."


    "Well, it''s still true," Jia agreed,ughing slightly. "But don''t you kind of miss it? Going back to school?"


    "Nope," the group replied in unison, making Bora burst intoughter.


    "Not even a little?" Bora pressed, grinning.


    Soomin shrugged. "Okay, maybe a little. The carefree part, sure. But honestly, this feels better. Money makes it all better! Now, I can watch this without pestering my mom."


    "Yeah, and now, I have to eat rice and kimchi for days," Nari chimed, shaking her head.


    Wei ced her hand over hers. "Don''t worry! I can feed you guys if your money isn''t enough." The group burst into chuckles.


    Not far away, in the exclusive VIP section, another reunion was taking ce.


    Gun, Ji-hyun, and Minho-three of the most celebrated mentors from the hit survival show Rising Stars-had found themselves seated next to each other.


    "Look at this," Gun said, shaking his head in amusement as he gestured to the three of them. "Some kind of reunion, huh? We''re all here."


    Ji-hyunughed, crossing her legs as she leaned back in her seat. "It''s been ages since we''ve all been in the same ce. Last time was..."


    "Rising Stars," Minho finished for her, smirking. "Ah, it''s only been a year, but it already feels like a thousand chapters had passed!"


    "It really does," Ji-hyun agreed, ncing at the stage. "Back then, we were the ones in the spotlight. Now look at us, sitting in the audience while our former trainees steal the show."


    Gun snorted, folding his arms. "Don''t act like you''re not proud. You''re practically glowing over there."


    Ji-hyun rolled her eyes but smiled nheless. "Of course, I''m proud. It''s just... surreal. When we were mentoring them, did you ever think they''d reach this level?"


    "DAWN especially," Minho added, his tone thoughtful. "They''re the biggest name here tonight. It''s crazy to think we had a hand in shaping that."


    Gun chuckled, though his gaze softened as he thought back to those days.


    "Remember when I hated June? Couldn''t stand the guy. Too cocky, too stubborn... but damn if he didn''t prove me wrong."


    "You love him now," Minho retorted.


    Gun smiled. "I won''t deny that."


    Minho leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What about you, Ji-hyun? Now that the show is long over, I can talk about it. You had a thing for June, didn''t you?"


    Ji-hyun groaned, burying her face in her hands as the two men burst intoughter. "Oh,e on. Are we really bringing that up right now?"


    "Absolutely," Gun said, grinning. "It''s all part of the history. And hey, it''s not like you were the only one. Half the trainees had a crush on him."


    "True," Minho admitted, hisughter dying down as he nced at the stage. "


    Ji-hyun tilted her head to the side. "All of the trainees were men."


    "You get what I mean," Gun said. "They like him the same way that I do."


    "Somehow, that makes it even weirder," Ji-hyun muttered.


    "Anyway," Gun continued. "We''ve seriouslye so far. From being mentors to watching them be world stars...it''s incredible."


    The three of them fell silent for a moment, recalling everything that had happened for the


    past year.


    Just as the trio in the VIP section began reminiscing, another trio showed up-only to begin arguing out loud.


    "The performances have not even started, but I know that June will be absolutely perfect," Choi Pablo burst into their row, dragging Jenny, his ever-patient assistant, along. His dramatic entrance turned several heads, though most were already used to hisrger-than-


    life personality.


    "Of course, he''s perfect," Lee Sik muttered. "He''s my mentee. It''s only expected."


    "Your mentee?" Pablo eximed while turning to the old man. "He is my muse. Thus, he is perfect. Don''t get it twisted."


    Lee Sik''s eyebrows raised in surprise, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Oh, you''re going down that route."


    "Why don''t we talk about who truly shaped June into who he currently is, huh?"


    "Obviously, it was me," Lee Sik continued. "The discipline I instilled in him gave him the foundation to seed. Without me- "


    "Without you, he''d still be belting high notes like nobody''s business," a cheerful voice


    interjected. Magic Mama, June''s vocal coach, arrived, her oversized scarf trailing behind her. "I''m the reason he''s magic on stage. It''s in my name!"


    "Magic?" Pablo repeated, incredulous. "You''re joking, right? June''s presence is what matters most, and that is thanks to me."


    Jenny groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "Not this again..."


    The bickering quickly escted, each mentor defending their im to June''s sess. Ji-hyun,


    Minho, and Gun exchanged amused looks, their shoulders shaking withughter.


    Just then, like something had rang inside of their heads, they collectively stopped.


    [It''s because of me, you idiots!]

 Chapter 1044: Performance Ready

    Chapter 1044: Performance Ready


    ?


    "Our Jisung is doing so well," Ren said with bright eyes.


    "You did great a while ago, too, Akira."


    Of course, that statement was from none other than Akira-who wasplimenting himself after the special stage with a few other idols.


    The performances have started now, and nearly everyone in the crowd was having the time of their lives. The organizers outdid themselves this time and rightfully so. The industry really needed a fresh change in order to create a bettermunity.


    The special stages were now on full disy.


    The dance team was on the stage, consisting of various main dancers from idol groups.


    DAWN watched with father-like smiles as Jisung moved across the stage. His energy was maic, and the crowd couldn''t help but cheer louder with the each step he took.


    - Jisung is so cool! My baby hamster has now grown into an armadillo.


    - I don''t think Jisung wants to bepared to an armadillo.


    - He does look great, though. I can''t believe he isn''t the center of DAWN.


    Even if he wasn''t the center of DAWN, Jisung could still easily pass as a center for other teams. His fluidity and charisma made him stand out, even among the best dancers in the group. "He''s something else," a younger idol whispered in awe, watching Jisung steal the spotlight. "DAWN doesn''t just have a center," another responded. "They''re all centers!"


    Meanwhile, much to his dismay, June had to prematurely stop watching their performance because he was up next. June adjusted the cuff of his jacket, readying himself for his special stage with Mei Ling.


    The hallways were filled with other idols mingling with each other. So, When June stepped out, whispers were heard around him.


    "Omo! It''s Senior June."


    "Isn''t he so handsome?"


    "I can''t lie. He''s the most handsome person I''ve seen in my whole life."


    "He''s like a manhwa character brought to life."


    As he passed by, younger idols quickly bowed, almost tripping over themselves in their eagerness to show respect.


    Even the older idols watched him with admiration. Most of them knew the impact that DAWN had on the industry. After speaking out against theirpany and demanding better treatment, a lot ofpanies started taking care of their idols more.


    June acknowledged the attention with a faint nod.


    When he reached the backstage area, he spotted Mei Ling standing near the edge, her hands trembling slightly as she stared at the floor.


    She looked up as June approached, frowning when she saw the teasing look on his face. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked with narrowed eyes.


    June raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as he noticed her fidgeting hands. "Your hands are shaking," he said tly.


    "Thank you, Captain Obvious," Mei retorted, closing her eyes to block out his presence.


    Just then, June reached out to touch her arm. However, she backed away before he could make contact.


    "Woah," she said. "We''ve gotten close, but I don''t need you tofort me."


    June sighed and shook his head. "Comfort you? Why would I do that?" He leaned slightly closer, brushing something off her shoulder. "You had a bug on you."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Her eyes snapped open, widening in horror. "What?! Where?" She frantically patted herself down.


    June stepped back, his smirk now full-blown. "Rx. There wasn''t really a bug. I just wanted to see your reaction."


    Her face turned red, and she red at him, her earlier nerves forgotten in the heat of her irritation. "You''re so annoying!"


    "But you''re not shaking anymore," he pointed out.


    Mei paused, realizing he was right. She exhaled deeply, shaking her head as she tried to calm herself further. "Fine, whatever. Let''s just get this over with."


    "You okay now?" June asked, his voice softer this time.


    She looked up at him, her annoyance fading slightly. "Yeah, I''m fine. Let''s go."


    June smiled in amusement. "We''ve prepared for this, alright? Act like we''re still in the practice room. Don''t mind the audience. Once you lose the mindset of wanting to please them, they''re going to like the performance even better."


    Mei chuckled. "Speaking from experience?"


    "Of course," June said.


    The siblings/non-siblings duo waited for the dance performance to finish. June continued to watch Jisung on the monitor and nodded in acknowledgment. He was really killing out there. After a while, the dance performance finally ended, so the staff gave a signal to June and Mei. The two of them walked toward the stage. Backstage staff paused in their work to steal nces at the pair, whispers of admiration trailing in their wake.


    "They look like they walked straight out of a painting."


    "I can''t believe we''re about to witness this."


    "Whoever chose this line-up is a genius."


    "Do you know the song they''re performing, though?"


    As the lights dimmed and the stage came into view, June and Mei stepped forward, their figures illuminated by soft, ethereal lighting. Gasps echoed through the venue as their faces were disyed side by side on the massive screens.


    "They look like they could be siblings," someone murmured.


    "Or deities," another countered.


    - I can write a whole freaking paragraph about how June and Mei are actually siblings in their past


    life. It''s just a canon event. You can''t convince me otherwise.


    - How much do I have to pay to look like this?


    -Girl, you would need to pay for a lot.


    - It looks like they''re singing a love song, though!


    - Nooo! June can''t sing a love song with anyone else but me.


    - Take your meds.


    The cameras captured their every movement. It could be seen that they were a little bit nervous, but to be frank, most people were blinded by their face cards to even notice.


    Their resemnce was striking yet. It looked like they shared an unspoken connection that transcended their physical features. The anticipation in the air increased as the music began


    to y.


    Then came the murmurs of confusion.


    "Wait...is this...?"


    "They''re going to sing that song?"


    "Isn''t that a song for...dead lovers?"

 Chapter 1045: Full Circle

    Chapter 1045: Full Circle


    ?


    The opening melody filled the air, and with it came the whispers of confusion. After all, this was June, the idol who trended simply by existing, and standing alongside him was the rookie idol Mei.


    The two of them had been linked before. Their resemnce and chemistry off-stage sparked endless spection. To some, they seemed like siblings, bound by their uncanny simrities. To most, though, they felt like a couple-especially since they looked alike.


    You know that saying that lovers who look alike will stay together forever?


    However, under the stage lights, along with the haunting notes of the song, all spection fell silent.


    Mei began the first verse, trembling slightly at the starting note.


    "You''re born into this earth to love.


    But no one tells you how it ends-


    With silence where your voice once was,


    And memories sharper than time."


    The lyrics were vague, abstract even-lines about love and separation that left room for interpretation. Mei didn''t look at June, her gaze focused somewhere beyond the crowd.


    June let out a small smile.


    It was as if she had forgotten about everything they''d practiced. Yet, somehow, June knew it wouldplement the performance well.


    June followed, his voice soft yet powerful, making the audience lean in closer. He, too, avoided her gaze, his eyes cast downward.


    "Is this how love goes?


    The sound of yourugh still lingers,


    But your touch is only a shadow.


    I reach for you, but you''re not there."


    - This is already the best stage of the night.


    - I didn''t know Mei could sing this well.


    - It''s not even the technicalities. They''re singing with their hearts. I think that''s the most important feature of the song.


    And then came the chorus.


    The music remained soft, but June''s and Mei''s voices hit the audience like a bus.


    The two turned to face each other, their eyes locking for the first time. The moment sent shivers through everyone watching. Their voices rose in harmony, blending together perfectly.


    "What is the greatest love?


    Is it holding on when you''ve let go,


    Or letting go while holding on?


    Is it living while you''re dying inside?"


    Mei Ling''s hand rose to her chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of her dress. Her face twisted into an expression of pain, her lips trembling as she sang.


    It wasn''t nned, but the audience couldn''t tell. To them, it was all part of the performance, proving her ability to showcase the song''s emotion to the fullest.


    June noticed, his brow furrowing slightly as he continued to sing. But rather than breaking the moment, it merely fueled him. His voice grew richer, giving the song even more depth than before.


    "I still feel you in the quiet moments-


    The brush of wind, the smell of rain.


    It''s cruel how the world keeps spinning


    When mine has stopped."


    At that moment, as Mei''s head began to ache, she remembered the man in her dreams. The memories were more vivid now, but she still couldn''t see his face. She still didn''t know what the greatest love was, but if you were to ask her, then the man in her dreams would be the closest to reaching that stage.


    "What is the greatest love?


    Is it the vows we never finished,


    The song we never danced to?


    Is it the promise I keep to never forget you?"


    On the other hand, June thought about everything he had endured to reach this stage- everything he had sacrificed. Thete nights, the bruises, always feeling on edge.


    There were moments of doubt when he wondered if it was all worth it. He had downyed it for so long, brushing off the hardships as just part of his job in White Tiger. But now, under the spotlight, it all came flooding back.


    "You once said, "I''d die for you."


    But I didn''t know love would ask it.


    I didn''t know goodbye could be so final,


    Or that my heart could break so quietly.


    "I''ll miss you in every life,"


    I whisper to the night.


    Because even now, even here,


    You feel so near."


    And yet, through it all, there had been love. The kind that asked for sacrifices but gave back tenfold in meaning. He poured all of that into the song, making the lyrics feel less like words and more like a memory.


    "Is this what we say to the greatest love?


    A love that lingers, even in death,


    A love that never fades,


    But never truly heals.


    And when my timees, Will you be there?


    Will you reach out to me


    As I reach for you now?"


    The audience began to feel it, too.


    In the crowd, siblings turned to each other, their petty squabbles forgotten as they shared a smile. Mothers leaned over to kiss their daughters on the cheeks. Fathers reached out to pat


    their sons on the back.


    It was strange.


    This was, after all, a song written for lovers separated by death-a funeral song heavy with grief. And yet, in June''s and Mei''s hands, it became something else entirely.


    The song wasn''t about loss anymore. It was about connection, about the bonds that endure even in the face of hardship. It was about love in all its forms-familial, romantic, tonic. It was about finding warmth in the coldest moments and holding on to it tightly.


    "All I can say is this:


    Thank you.


    For a love that remains,


    Even when you cannot."


    By the time the final chorus hit, the audience was fully immersed. Tears glistened in the eyes


    of many while others simply sat in stunned silence, their hearts too full for words.


    "What is the greatest love?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Is it holding on when you''ve let go,


    Or letting go while holding on?


    Is it living while you''re dying inside?"


    On stage, June and Mei Ling stood close as they delivered the song''s final, powerful note.


    "Thank you.


    For the greatest love-


    A love I''ll carry,


    Until I see you again."


    As the music faded, the stadium fell into silence. For a moment, the entire crowd had paused,


    holding their breaths. And then, the apuse began-slow at first, before growing into


    something deafening.


    The crowd was on its feet, their cheers echoing through the venue.


    June nced at Mei Ling, a small, almost smile tugging at the corner of his lips. She looked


    back at him, her own smile genuine.


    June felt like he had gone full circle.


    The person whom he became an idol for was on the stage with him, and they had just sang


    together.


    However, at that moment, he wasn''t an idol for her anymore.


    He was an idol for the other person on the stage-him.


    And that was his greatest love.

 Chapter 1046: This Is It

    Chapter 1046: This Is It


    ?


    "This is it," Akira dramatically said. "DAWN''s final performance of the year. The group had done everything to keep the members together, and they havee so far."


    "From surviving a show together and now putting on countless performances, DAWN are known as living legends! They have be the top grossing idols with only a little over a year into their career, and a lot of people are anticipating what the future will hold. Oh, what a journey it has been. Who knew it woulde to this?" he even fake sobbed.


    "The end is near now-"


    "Ouch!"


    His dramatic monologue was cut short when Jaeyong pped the back of his head.


    Jaeyong shook his head as he stood from the couch. "You''re acting as if our career ising to a close."


    "It kind of is," Akira muttered. "It would be a while before we get to see our fans again."


    "That''s not true," Jisung said, shaking his head. "We''ll always be engraved in their hearts! They''re already used to us, and when they miss us, they can just look back on everything we''ve done. It''s been written on paper. There''s also plenty of videos online."


    "I guess all things are temporary," Casper said before pursing his lips. "We can''t keep doing this forever, you know?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Ren sighed. "You''re also acting as if this is a goodbye! It''s really not. We''re even going to resume our tour by next year."


    June watched them with amusement. "Come on now," he said. "We''re up next."


    The boys snapped out of their sentimental facades and put on their game faces as they walked


    to the stage-the ce where they all belonged. They weren''t thest performers of the night, especially since there were a lot of senior artists present for the night.


    However, they might as well be.


    The door creaked open, and a staff member poked their head inside. "It''s time."


    The room fell silent for a brief second before everyone straightened up. No words were exchanged as they moved together. As the door clicked shut behind them, they were greeted by the roar of the crowd beyond the stage.


    The hallway leading to the stage was dimly lit, shadows stretching long across the polished floor.


    Other artists and staff parted as they passed, their heads nodding in acknowledgment. Whispers followed them, murmurs of admiration and respect that could be felt even amidst the noise.


    June stayed at the back, letting his team lead. He watched them walk ahead. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.


    The hallway grew darker as they approached the backstage area. The lights faded, leaving only the faintest glow to guide their way.


    June''s steps slowed as he looked ahead, his gaze locking onto the silhouettes of his teammates. The darkness wrapped around them, but they were unmistakable-Ren''s sharp stride, Casper''s slight bounce, Jisung''s jittery walk, Jaeyong''s steady pace, Akira''s cheerful steps, Sehun''s calm aura, and Zeth''s model saunter. Each one of them was unique yet perfectly in sync.


    June shook his head, a quietugh escaping him.


    Without realizing it, he came to a stop. His feet refused to move as he stood there, frozen in awe. He was seeing his team-seeing the people who had stood beside him through every storm and had pulled him out of the darkest ces-who had be his family.


    It felt like time slowed, the world narrowing down to just this moment. It was cliche (and pretty corny), but hey, June could make a few exceptions.


    Sensing his stillness, his team turned around.


    One by one, they nced back, their faces illuminated by the faint light. They didn''t say anything at first, just smiled-those warm, knowing smiles that said everything words couldn''t.


    Jisung was the first to step back, reaching out a hand.


    "Bro."


    The rest followed, their voices sounding both teasing and encouraging. June couldn''t catch the exact words, but it didn''t matter.


    "DAWN," Jaeyong said, cutting through the noise. "Time to shine."


    They pulled him forward, their hands on his shoulders, his back. June chuckled, the sound spilling out before he could stop it.


    As they went closer to the curtain backstage, the darkness pressed closer, and then-light. The stage lights zed to life. The cheers erupted, shaking the ground beneath them. June blinked against the brightness, momentarily overwhelmed.


    They stepped onto the stage, and the noise grew impossibly louder.


    "DAWN!"


    "DAWN!"


    "DAWN!"


    The crowd stretched as far as the eye could see. June couldn''t make out every individual, but he didn''t need to. What he saw was enough-their joy and excitement.


    It was surreal. The moment hit him all at once, leaving him breathless.


    This wasn''t just about their performance or their sess. This was about every struggle they had endured, every challenge they had ovee, every bond they had forged. It was about the people who believed in them, who supported them even when the odds were against


    them.


    June''s gaze swept across the stage,nding on his teammates. They stood there, shoulders squared and heads high.


    The music started. June took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in time with the rhythm. He stepped forward. The crowd''s cheers rose and fell-a living, breathing entity that fed off their energy and gave it back thousandfold.


    And yet, amidst the lights and the noise, a quiet thought settled in June''s mind. It really did feel like the end, like the culmination of everything they had worked for. But as the final note rang out, as the lights dimmed and the cheers echoed into the night, June knew better.


    This wasn''t the end.


    It was the beginning.


    As they stood there, June turned to his teammates. Their faces were flushed with exertion, but the smiles never left their lips.


    If you asked the world (or maybe even Fu), June had be the top idol-a title many dreamed of but few achieved.


    But if you asked him, he had gained something far greater.


    He had found his family, his purpose, his ce in the world.


    And he wouldn''t have it any other way.


    END.


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