GIJS

Chapter 84 Why is Yudu coming up in the showcase?

Yudu (流頭), celebrated on June 15 of the lunar calendar, is a traditional Korean festival that has been observed since the Silla period.

Yudu, occurring in midsummer, was a time when ancestors washed their heads in flowing water from the east to drive away misfortune and pray for a good harvest.

Young Gun-ja also loved this day. Although he usually had to stay in his room and focus on his scholarly training, during the festival, his uncle didn't bother him much.

He would wash his face with other kids in the flowing water, watch the servants' wrestling matches, and enjoy delicious noodles. Even the midsummer heat couldn't surpass the joys of Yudu.

"Wow! It's Yudu!"

"Haha, Young Master, are you that happy?"

"Yes! I really like Yudu!"

The idea of tainting his joyful childhood memories with such indecent homonyms was unsettling.

It felt as though even the joyful memories of his childhood were being corrupted.

Gun-ja glared at Team Leader Seo with a resentful look and continued speaking.

"Team Leader Seo, it seems you imagined a different Yudu."

"Oh, no, when people say Yudu, they all..."

Sweat beaded on Team Leader Seo's forehead as he looked around, but no one came to his aid. It seemed everyone was enjoying his embarrassment.

'The team leader is making that kind of face.'

'I actually thought of a breast party too.'

'But what other Yudu is there?'

This time, the current team helped by speaking up.

"Oh, it sounds like this. Yudu on June 15 of the lunar calendar. It's a traditional festival where people wash their heads in flowing water, eat delicious noodles and rice cakes, and overcome the heat!"

Gun-ja nodded in satisfaction and continued.

"Yes. The festival held on Yudu is called a Yudu feast. I don't know what kind of feast a breast party is, but it's different from a Yudu feast."

Team Leader Seo, still feeling embarrassed, coughed awkwardly but was curious.

"A Yudu feast..."

In fact, an idol showcase is usually predictable. Performances, new song shows, music video previews, a brief Q&A, and photo sessions.

Is it right to hold such a common showcase? 7IN was too special a group for that.

From the start, they had approached promotion differently by appearing on [Masterpiece Genuine Antiques], and their group's concept was based on Joseon scholars.

In contrast, the idea of a Yudu feast was innovative from the start. What exactly happens at a Yudu feast? Curiosity was inevitable.

"Can you explain in more detail how you plan to incorporate the Yudu feast into the showcase?"

"Yes, Team Leader."

Gun-ja began to explain his plan in earnest.

"As I mentioned, the custom of washing one's head in the eastern flowing water on Yudu will be brought directly to the showcase. How about holding a lottery at the showcase and offering head washing to selected fans?"

"Hmmm—"

"And it will include drying their hair as well."

It was indeed a bold idea. However, if executed, it would be feasible. Fans would likely be thrilled if their favorite idols washed and dried their hair.

Moreover, it wasn't as incongruous as a foot bath. Our ancestors did indeed celebrate this day in such a manner.

"But if that happens, only the selected fans through the lottery would benefit."

"Hmm, yes."

"How about creating Yudu noodles for those selected?"

"Yudu noodles?"

Yudu noodles refer to the noodles eaten during Yudu. Made with a clear broth from chicken bones and handmade wheat noodles, it's cooked with shredded chicken.

"However, hot noodles might be too warm for the fans, so we could replace it with cool, refreshing Chogye noodles. With cucumber, onion, and carrot, and seasoned with sweet and tangy vinegar, mustard, and syrup, it should be a refreshing treat even in the midsummer heat."

"Ah, that sounds delicious."

Everyone in the meeting room unconsciously licked their lips at Gun-ja's vivid description. Head washing with Chogye noodles was quite a creative and appropriate idea.

Above all, the idea of introducing a forgotten Korean festival was appealing. The members also seemed to like Gun-ja's idea.

"Oh, I think it's great!"

"I was wondering what strange idea Seonbi Hyung had."

"If the concept is introducing a traditional festival, it fits well with our group's image and seems good."

Team Leader Seo nodded in agreement, seemingly approving the idea. Gun-ja, excited by the positive reaction, began speaking faster.

"And at this Yudu feast, a deity who drives away misfortune and brings good harvests will also come."

"A deity?"

"Yes. Our 7IN members will become this deity and bring good luck to the fans."

"That concept is interesting. Can you tell me more about this deity?"

"It's Grandfather Yudu."

"G-Grandfather Yudu?"

Again with Yudu?

He was taken aback and searched, only to find that Gun-ja's words were indeed true. Grandfather Yudu does actually come on Yudu Day.

"So what you're saying is that the members will all become Grandfather Yudu?"

"No, that's not quite right."

"Phew."

"We're not grandfathers yet, so we'll become Yudu young men instead."

"...But the issue isn't about being a grandfather..."

Director Lee Yong-jung, who was currently driving, was also in the meeting room. It had been years since he'd seen Team Leader Seo in such a flustered state. Being around these kids was never dull.

Recalling the absurd Yudu Day meeting while driving, he soon arrived at the showcase venue.

"Hey guys, we're here. Let's go cook the noodles!"

* * *

On the third day of 'Favorite' comeback, the atmosphere at the Curly Music office was not good.

The ominous mood began when the teaser video views lagged behind.

The difference in views between the teaser video and the music video release was about 2.4 times.

Though Favorite's views weren't small, 7IN's impact was beyond their imagination.

Since Favorite was also a team with mass appeal, they were sensitive to metrics like views and music chart rankings.

Fortunately, after the music release, they secured the top spot on the charts, easing their worries.

Even in the fiercely competitive 'Lime' chart, they entered the top 60 and quickly rose to number one. It was a commendable result beyond expectations.

However, the optimistic mood didn't last even three days. As soon as 7IN's music was released, Favorite's records began to crumble.

The title track entered at 17th place on the Lime chart, and other tracks from the mini-album also performed better than Favorite, showcasing superior results.

On platforms like 'Aladin' and 'HexMusic,' which aggregate real-time charts, 7IN even claimed the top spot, shattering Favorite's dominance.

While other agencies could shrug it off with comments like 'Ayuksi's power is incredible,' Curly Music's situation was different. Their main artists, Min Kang-hu and Kang Yeol, had both been severely overshadowed by 7IN.

Min Kang-yeol had become a background character on 'Ayuksi' thanks to Yu Gun-ja. Min Kang-hu had become a pink monster on a quiz show with an 8% rating.

The representative chuckled, saying, "It's great for a veteran idol to gain a new image," but Kim Eun-pyo, who directly handled Favorite, had a different opinion.

When the activities of the two teams overlapped, it became a matter of pride.

At least, they didn't want to lose to 7IN in any aspect—music video views, chart rankings, ratings, or any other measure.

Unfortunately, although the initial mood for views and rankings wasn't great, it wasn't over yet. There were still many ways to stir up interest.

Whether this was a bad or good omen was unclear.

At the fan showcase for Favorite, held simultaneously with their new single release, there was a minor incident. A troublesome sasaeng fan had managed to get into the showcase venue through a lottery.

The sasaeng fan, seizing the opportunity, jumped up during the members' stage greetings and ran towards Min Kang-hu. Fortunately, security quickly intervened, and no accidents occurred, but reporters captured the moment on camera.

Thanks to this, there was a steady stream of articles from the start of the activities.

Min Kang-hu just cursed and moved on, but Kim Eun-pyo insisted on sending him to a psychiatrist.

"Kang-hu, let's get you checked out at the hospital for a bit."

"Huh? Because of that crazy fan? I'm fine."

"Kid, just go. These things can become trauma later."

"Is it about MBTI or something?"

"Did you mean PTSD?"

"Oh, right."

"...Don't go on quiz shows from now on."

"Why the hospital? Are you sending me because of INFP?"

"Partly that, and don't you want to beat Yu Gun-ja?"

"Of course."

"Then go get treated and mention it occasionally on JLive."

After sending Min Kang-hu to the psychiatrist, Kim Eun-pyo gathered the reporters. Sasaeng fans were always good fodder for entertainment journalists.

['Favorite' showcase disrupted by sasaeng fan] [Sasaeng fan attacks Min Kang-hu, tense moment.] [Min Kang-hu narrowly escapes, suffers mental anguish and visits psychiatrist...] [Idol sasaeng fan culture through Favorite's incident: Is this acceptable?]

Perhaps due to these efforts, mentions online gradually increased.

While 'sasaeng fan' was a rather outdated keyword, the response was encouraging.

Most importantly, it was good to be ahead of 7IN in terms of showcase buzz.

A showcase generally follows a set routine. It rarely generates buzz. Most people, even those who aren't idol fans, often don't know such events even exist.

However, thanks to the 'fortunate' appearance of a sasaeng, Favorite's showcase was consistently reported for several days.

The article views and comments were not bad. For an article about a showcase that most people wouldn't be interested in, this level of reaction was significant.

Hopefully, a similar unexpected coincidence wouldn't occur at their showcase.

As long as such absurd coincidences didn't happen, it seemed that Favorite would at least not fall behind 7IN in terms of showcase buzz.

On the day of 7IN's showcase, before seeing the flood of article headlines that followed the event, this was what he thought.

['Ayuksi' debut group 7IN holds Yudu feast at showcase.] ["Reporter, over here!" Exciting and delicious Yudu feast scene.] [7IN's Yu Gun-ja, "Today, I'm the Yudu young man!"] [Yudu feast at the showcase satisfies both reporters and fans... "It's like paradise"] [7IN holds Yudu feast at showcase, becoming Korea's first 'Yudu idol'.]

"...What the hell is this?"

The views of the articles were exploding.