GIJS

Chapter 94 Special Reward

The ranking system for KBC's music program [Music Garden] was quite unique.

Unlike other programs that place greater emphasis on album sales and broadcast scores, [Music Garden] prioritized real-time online voting.

As a result, it was a chart where so-called "music powerhouses" like national ballad singers and top rappers had little impact.

At first glance, this might seem like a chart that favors idol groups with strong fan bases. In fact, that wasn't entirely incorrect. Just last week, the idol group Favorite rose to second place as soon as they entered, achieving a decent result.

However, there was one group above this idol fandom.

"Now, who will be performing next, Ms. Yeonju?"

"A voice that touches the hearts of fathers and mothers! It's Song Yeong-geun singing [My Love from My Hometown]!"

A top-tier trot singer with unmatched recognition, Song Yeong-geun, immediately became a contender for first place as soon as he made his comeback and hit the [Music Garden] charts.

As Song Yeong-geun, dressed in a sky-blue suit, grabbed the microphone and began the first line, an unusual scream erupted from the audience.

Waaaaaah.

The kind of enthusiastic cheers rarely heard on music broadcasts. Middle-aged mothers' hearty cheers called out Song Yeong-geun's name.

"Yeong-geun-ah!"

"I came from Beolgyeo in Jeolla-do!"

"Yeong-geun, look here!"

"Kyaaa."

The 7IN members in the waiting room were also watching Song Yeong-geun's performance.

"Wow, the cheers···."

"So we have to beat that guy?"

"Yes. Gunja really wants to be first."

"Wow, his voice is amazing~"

"Indeed. It's so rich."

"···By the way, you, you look really handsome···."

Gunja was also deeply captivated by Song Yeong-geun's performance.

"This is··· trot?"

It was definitely different from any music Gunja had heard before.

Idol music focused on clear and straightforward endings.

Thus, Gunja had concentrated on 'cleaning up' his singing, making sure to perform live and with choreography smoothly, without adding unnecessary embellishments.

However, trot was different. Various techniques captivated the ear. Sometimes it was sharp and expressive, while at other times, it drew out the melancholy of parting with a long, poignant note.

"Wow."

Although the form was slightly different, there were similarities to the pansori and traditional singing Gunja had done. Hearing this refreshing tone made his shoulders move naturally.

"Look at Gunja-hyung dancing along."

"Why, Gunja? Is the old man gene in your veins reacting?"

"I don't know, but it's really good music."

"Yeah, Song Yeong-geun sings so well."

"Should I go get a sol's eye or maybe buy some nurungji candy?"

"Oh, is there a sol's eye here too?"

"···But Yeong-geun's vocalization is so good···."

"The emotions are incredible. This is something you should learn."

"I heard that his grandparents were separated families. He was born with a sense of parting."

"Wow, I see."

While the boys were engrossed in the monitor, Song Yeong-geun's performance was reaching its climax.

"Father, my father, please tell me the answer-."

Father, my father-

Song Yeong-geun's lead vocals were followed by the audience's passionate chorus. The cheering moms even showcased a group chant to make their favorite's shoulders stand high.

[Song Yeong-geun! Well done!] [Our Yeong-geun, beautifully done!]

A large banner with an old joke and cheer sticks shaped like dates.

This was just like an idol fandom.

"Father, my father-."

It was oddly addictive.

Before long, Gunja was also singing along to [My Love from My Hometown].

"Please tell me the answer-."

Just humming along, his colleagues' mouths fell open in surprise.

"Wow, Gunja sings so well."

"···Wow, I think my parents would like it···."

"Did it sound okay?"

"Gunja, even if you get old, you won't have to worry about money. Trot will make you a fortune!"

"Hey, don't imitate too much. What if you get addicted to that style?"

"Oops."

In response to Taewoong's concern, Gunja decided to stop singing [My Love from My Hometown]. Instead, he tried performing their activity song, [Origin].

"Gunja, are you joking?"

"Why are you singing so dramatically?"

The song came out slightly differently than usual.

"Ahaha, it sounds like a trot singer covered it~"

"This is not right, Gunja, okay? This will cause problems."

Gunja swallowed hard and nodded. Yet, Song Yeong-geun's song continued to echo in his head.

'Father, my father-.'

What was this addiction?

He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head vigorously. Such mistakes should not happen on stage. They needed to perform their prepared stage perfectly as planned.

"Chilling members, get ready for the stage~"

"Yes, understood."

But perhaps that pressure had become a poison.

Gunja, who stepped onto the stage, ultimately made a mistake.

[Origin] had a particularly large vocal part for Gunja. Each time he tackled a part, Song Yeong-geun's dramatic voice echoed in his mind. The pressure not to make mistakes only confused him more.

"Lost in the fog- searching for you-."

The dance was perfect. The outfit was as sexy as usual.

However, the endings had become oddly coarse.

"Arrived at this place- Paradise-."

Every time Gunja's part came up, the rough and hearty ending tones came out. Even the fans in the audience, known as the Chillingz fan club, tilted their heads, noticing the difference in vocal style.

"Why is Gunja's live like this?"

"It's not that he can't do it··· Why does it seem a bit off today?"

At the same time, the middle-aged fans who came to support Song Yeong-geun also felt strange emotions.

"Oh, that young man-."

"Strangely captivating?"

"The song is quite tasty."

"Seems like an informed young man."

The members also noticed this change. Since most of them had removed their in-ears, they clearly heard Gunja's coarse ending tones through the monitor speakers.

'Ah, what is this···.'

'It's ruined.'

'It's ruined···.'

'If I had known, I would have put earplugs on Gunja during Song Yeong-geun's performance···.'

Even though the members did their best on stage until the end, they couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. Singing an idol song so coarsely was a major blunder.

Gunja himself heard his voice clearly. As a result, even the final one-shot expressions carried a touch of gloom.

'···What on earth did I just do···.'

If this is the case, then being number one on terrestrial music broadcasts is a mistake.

Though disappointed, the outcome went in a somewhat strange direction.

* * *

"July's third week Music Garden, this week's number one is... Congratulations! 7IN!"

Wowwwww—

Even after their names were called and hearing the cheers of the fans, the members were bewildered. The result was completely unexpected.

"What? What!? We're number one—!?"

"Wow, what is this!"

The stage they thought was a failure ended up taking first place, even surpassing Song Yeong-geun, who was like a 'chart monster' on Music Garden.

They had finally achieved their long-desired number one spot on terrestrial music broadcasts.

"What's this, how are we number one!"

"Yeah! The 'scholar' hyung sang so oddly!"

The most surprised was Gunja. He had thought he had made a huge mistake. He had expected to confirm the 'super special reward' gained through debut later.

But being number one. They're number one!

Only after finishing their schedule and arriving at the Solarsystem office did they hear the full story of the incident. Team Leader Seo Eun-woo was waiting for them.

"Yu Gunja."

"Yes..."

"I monitored the live broadcast of Music Garden as well. Your singing was quite unusual."

"...I'm sorry..."

"Electronic pop and trot, it's a terrible mix. Our song isn't 'Amor Fati,' right?"

"...Yes..."

"Don't make such mistakes in the future. If you practice harder than anyone else but sing like that on stage, it'll seem like you're joking."

"I will keep that in mind..."

After the stern lesson came the explanation. How exactly did 7IN end up in first place?

"The outcome was decided by real-time online voting. We got much more votes than we anticipated."

"Ah—"

"Fans probably cast their votes for you. However, the variable was the middle-aged and older demographic."

"Middle-aged and older people?"

"Yes. Your peculiar way of singing seems to have won their hearts. It has been confirmed that a lot of middle-aged fans voted for 7IN."

"So then..."

"Yes. Your mistake actually helped."

Only then did Team Leader Seo Eun-woo relax and smile lightly. The members looked genuinely happy.

"Ah, Yu Gunja. Even if you stumble, you end up shining."

"Well, if you stumble, of course you'd end up with a bruised nose, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Anyway, you know what I mean, right?"

"Of course. It's like catching a mouse while stepping back. That's what you meant, right?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I meant."

"Gunja, did you actually calculate this too?"

Ji hyeonsu's praise made Gunja just laugh. There was no way it was a calculated move.

But in the end, he was able to check the reward.

The next morning, Gunja woke up earlier than anyone.

After finishing his mind-clearing calligraphy, he called out his friend's name quietly after a long time.

"Chang, are you there?"

...Wuuu—

As if responding to the call, a semi-transparent status window appeared in front of Gunja.

[Reward viewing conditions met.] [You have achieved number one on a terrestrial music broadcast program.] [You can now view the 'super special reward'.]

It was a 'super special reward,' not just a special reward. He couldn't even imagine what it might be.

The reward was still obscured, but the length of the hidden message was much longer than usual.

Perhaps the reward might not be just one.

Thinking that, Gunja pressed the 'view' button on the status window.

[Viewing 'super special reward' now.] [First reward revealed.]

"Just as expected..."

As anticipated, the reward was not one but several. Yes, this is what should be called a 'super special reward.'

However, the content of the reward was something even Gunja had not anticipated at all.

"No, what is this—"