GIJS

Chapter 90 There's a Plan

"Please welcome this week's number 1 candidate!"

As the hosts of the music show extended their arms forward, the large monitor in the studio displayed the two candidates for this week's number 1.

[7IN: "Origin"] [Favorite: "Bittersweet"]

The monitor showed the names of 7IN and Favorite. Last week, Favorite was not a candidate for number 1, but this week, they had managed to climb to the top spot by increasing their album sales and broadcast appearances.

However, in terms of album sales and broadcast counts, Favorite couldn't compete with 7IN.

7IN's faces and stories were everywhere; their presence was even seen in educational broadcasts introducing traditional culture. The incident where the real Shim Sa-jeong's painting was found on [Masterpiece Genuine Antiques] was reported as the main news on a national broadcast.

Moreover, the initial sales reaching 600,000 copies in the first week had completely overshadowed Favorite.

Min Kang-hoo, who was looking at the chart, bowed his head. No indicator could show that Favorite could surpass 7IN.

"Congratulations! This week's number 1 is 7IN with 'Origin'!"

As soon as the host finished speaking, fireworks exploded from all directions. The genius idols 7IN had achieved the top spot on cable music broadcasts right from their debut.

"... W-we're number 1... Hyungs! We're..."

"Wahaha, we're number 1 right after debut! We must be crazy!"

"Ahaha, get a grip. We need to give our acceptance speech~"

Hyun Si-woo, who skillfully calmed the members down, took the microphone first and delivered the acceptance speech.

As always, with a bright smile, he bowed his head and thanked the fans, then handed the microphone to In-hyuk. Despite his red, tear-stained eyes and choked voice, In-hyuk managed to give his speech.

"Thank you... to our beloved Chillingz and everyone who helped with the album production... I won't cry anymore."

After saying he wouldn't cry, In-hyuk immediately covered his face with his thick arm and wiped his tears.

Such a tearful hyung. Gun-ja, looking at In-hyuk with sympathy, also felt something welling up inside his chest.

He had achieved number 1 before. But this was the first time that all seven members had achieved it together as one.

It was indeed a touching and thankful moment.

With Hyun-jae's fluent speech, the acceptance speech ended, and the encore stage began.

"Thank you-!"

Surprisingly, Gun-ja danced on stage, communicating with fans holding calligraphy brush light sticks through gestures and big bows at the end of each phrase. Despite this, the live performance remained flawless.

* * *

[This week's music show number 1 idol's crazy encore stage.avi]

The encore stage of 7IN, who achieved number 1 on [M Planet] just a week after their debut, became a minor sensation.

Achieving number 1 itself wasn't something special. There were quite a few idols who achieved number 1 on music broadcasts right from their debut. But what was interesting was the encore stage video.

Typically, the encore stage of a number 1 singer is less intense compared to the main stage. It's an opportunity to interact with the fans who came to the studio and express gratitude.

Since there is almost no sound correction, it is also a moment where the singer's live performance skills are fully exposed. Many idols have faced criticism for their live performance skills revealed during this time.

However, 7IN was extraordinary even this time.

Despite delivering a performance almost as intense as the main stage, their live performance was remarkably steady. Even more surprising was Gun-ja's ability to do everything while performing.

After finishing the first verse, he bowed deeply to the east, then to the west.

The choreography was already tight, but finding gaps to insert deep bows was almost like a skillful art.

After performing the bow, he would quickly get up, catch up with the choreography at double speed, grab the hand microphone when it was his turn to sing, and respond to the fans' cheers by waving his hands.

Gun-ja's performance, which seemed like magic, made even non-fans laugh.

[Hahahahahaha] [What is this person hahahaha so funny] [I guess being number 1 is really making him happy hahaha] [Not giving up on anything hahaha] [The bowing and jumping is hilarious hahaha] [So passionate haha I'm getting motivated] [All idol encore stages should be like Gun-ja's from now on] [Hahaha do they think anyone can do that?] [But it's amazing; many idols' live skills are exposed during encore stages] [Bowing + live performance hahaha that's almost like doing a burpee test while performing live] [Hahahaha completely crazy in many ways hahaha]

The first number 1 on a music show was a big gift for the fans as well. Additionally, the backstage photos posted on the official SNS were extremely pleasing for the fans.

One photo showed Gun-ja, who accidentally cut the cake and then reassembled it, taken by Ha Hyeon-jae and uploaded to the official account.

Gun-ja's sorrowful expression as he kneeled and reassembled the cake provided fans who gifted the lettering cake with 120% satisfaction.

[Oh myㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ are you crazyㅠㅠㅠ] [So did he start slicing the cake as soon as he came into the waiting room? hahahaha] [Was he hungryㅠㅠㅠㅠ it's kind of cute and pathetic] [I really want to empty my bank account and just buy cakes for him] [They say he's pretending to be surprised because they didn't take a proof photo] [Hahahaha he's trying to reassemble it to take a photo proof hahahaha] [So cute and lovely and doing everything by himselfㅠㅠㅠㅠ] [And the outfit looks amazing;;] [Is kneeling and acting pouty in front of the cake supposed to be sexy?]

The fans' reactions kept pouring in real-time. Even Ha Hyeon-jae, who was known for his training ability since A-Yuk-Si, couldn't draw out this level of reaction.

"Who exactly is this 'scholar Hyung'?"

"Hmm? Why do you ask suddenly?"

"Well, sometimes he seems clueless, but at other times, he seems like a natural idol."

"Haha, can I take that as a compliment?"

"Sure, it's a compliment. Anyway, I really don't know if he's a bear or a fox."

"A bear? A fox? If I were to become an animal, I would want to be one of the Ten Longevities."

"Wow, I thought you were swearing suddenly."

"Haha, Tae-woong. The Ten Longevities are..."

"I know it too. Turtle, deer, crane, those things, right? Things that live long."

"Oh, it seems like your knowledge has increased a bit."

"But how did you manage to insert a deep bow into that choreography?"

"It's not difficult. Just do this..."

As Gun-ja demonstrated the deep bow followed by a bounce, the members were in awe.

"Is that even possible?"

"Why does his body move like that?"

"...Core... I guess his core is incredibly strong..."

"Indeed. Gun-ja, what's your three-set lift?"

"What? Three-set lift? How could you ask such a sacrilegious question!"

"No, not the three-set lift..."

Just as Tae-woong was about to clarify, Director Lee Yong-jung walked in at the perfect moment.

"Hey guys, the fan meeting schedule is set!"

"Oooh-."

Director Lee Yong-jung brought news of the first fan meeting.

It was heard that to participate in the fan meeting, one would need to buy over a hundred albums, but Gun-ja had little interest in such things.

It was the first event where he could meet fans in person.

Gun-ja, who knew the value of fans better than anyone, was once a person who was trapped in a box and starving to death just a few months ago.

Although his singing and dancing skills had improved, fundamentally, Gun-ja's talent had not changed.

What had changed was the world. In this world, there were fans who liked Gun-ja's singing and dancing. Living in such a good accommodation and receiving such generous treatment was all thanks to them.

Thinking this way, he couldn't help but feel grateful.

"So how many people will we be meeting?"

"Um, probably about 100."

"100 people, 100 people..."

Gun-ja thought for a moment and then asked Director Lee Yong-jung.

"If we meet each person for about one meal time... it would roughly take about three days."

"What, what did you say? What's a meal time?"

"It refers to the time it takes to have a meal. In modern time, it's about 30 minutes."

"30 minutes?"

Director Lee Yong-jung burst out laughing at the mention of 30 minutes.

"Hey, where is there a fan meeting that's so generous?"

"?"

"If it's 30 minutes per person... oh, it really would take three days. That's too long."

"Then, how about a tea time..."

"Tea time? What's that?"

"It's the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. About 15 minutes in modern time..."

"Hmm, that would be difficult too."

Gun-ja's face darkened at the mention of tea time being difficult.

It was supposed to be time to have an open conversation. Isn't it too much to not even give time for a cup of tea?

"Maybe the time for a conversation will be around 5 minutes per person."

"Five minutes? Isn't that about one-quarter of an hour?"

"Can't we just use modern time units? Do we really need to keep that concept when talking with the manager?"

"Five minutes is too short!"

However, Director Lee Yong-jung firmly shook his head.

Even with 5 minutes per person, meeting 100 people would take at least 500 minutes. Considering delays, it would take 600 minutes, or about 10 hours.

"I understand the disappointment. But some things just can't be changed."

"..."

"If you're really disappointed, prepare a return gift or something."

"A return gift?"

Seeing the question mark on Gun-ja's face, Ji Hyun-su explained as usual.

"When fans bring gifts to a fan meeting, it's called a tribute, and if idols prepare and give gifts to fans, it's called a return gift, Gun-ja."

"Hmm, I see."

"Why? You could prepare a return gift. I was going to tell the manager to prepare something."

"No, what I don't understand is the terminology."

"The terminology?"

Gun-ja nodded and continued.

"Fans are our lords. Didn't we say so in [Concept: Loyalty]?"

"Well, yes."

"A tribute is something a subject offers to the king. So, our gifts to fans are tributes, and their return gifts should be called return tributes."

"...It does make sense when you put it that way."

Hearing Gun-ja's bizarre yet logical reasoning, Hyun-jae was thoroughly impressed.

"Wow, I guess you need to think like that to be loved."

With a satisfied expression, Director Lee Yong-jung joined the conversation.

"So, you want a return gift?"

"No, I want a tribute."

"Right, a tribute. Then, what should I prepare for you?"

Gun-ja, who had been thinking for a while, smiled as if he had come up with something and spoke.

"I don't need anything else, just one thing."

"Oh, really? What is it?"

"An axe."

"?"

"Just one axe, with a sharp edge."

Director Lee Yong-jung was completely baffled by the request.

"An axe? What are you going to do with that?"

"Hehe, I have a plan."