GIJS

Chapter 183 Banpo

The blueprint that Gunja brought wasn't exactly a top loader, but rather a kind of miniature frame.

It was a small and thin wooden frame that could hold vertically long photo cards. However, unlike typical frames, this one had connectors on the sides to link multiple frames together.

"If you put a photo in this frame, connect them like this, and set them up like this..."

Gunja continued his explanation as he flipped through the drawings. At first, Team Leader Seo Eun-woo wasn't sure about the idea of putting photo cards in frames, but after seeing how the frames connected, he understood.

"This is... a folding screen!"

The members' idea was to connect the photo cards like a folding screen so that they could be displayed upright.

The connected wooden frames looked quite impressive, even in the drawings. If they inserted photo cards with an oriental design, the folding screen effect would be even more pronounced.

"Some fans might just want to store them normally, but if we make folding screens like this, it would highlight our group's style and also be a special gift for the fans."

"And it would be more fun to collect them this way. Depending on which photo cards you insert and how you arrange them, the folding screens will look different."

Making a folding screen out of photo cards?

The members' creative idea was met with praise from everyone at Solar System.

"I think this idea is just adorable!"

"As long as the frame quality isn't shabby, it could turn out great."

"The cost might go up, but with such a unique item, the price increase would be justified."

"I don't think the cost would skyrocket. The wood is thin, so if we find the right manufacturer, we can keep the price reasonable."

"I love this idea so much that I want to move forward with it. If we have such merchandise, fans would definitely want to buy it, even if it costs more."

"I'd buy it. I'd pay extra for it!"

Team Leader Seo Eun-woo shared the same opinion as the team members. Of course, this would mean more work, but if they could pull it off, the fans would definitely love the idea.

"Team Leader! Can I share another idea?"

"Yes, of course."

"I've been really into fragrance lately. Could we create a special scent for each member, and have that scent subtly emit from the back of the photo cards?"

"Hmm, it's hard to say for sure without testing, but it should be theoretically possible."

"Wait, I'm kind of against that."

"Huh? Why? Isn't a nice scent good?"

"If they make a folding screen out of that, our fans would be sniffing the back of it..."

"...Ah, ah..."

"Hahaha, that's true~"

"Still, I think scented photo cards are a good idea. I'll check if it's technically feasible."

"Oh, and there's one more! This is a photobook idea..."

* * *

[Restaurant Maker> Until the shoot, the 7IN members and their agency, Solar System, were fully focused on preparing for the regular album.]

They minimized their schedules as much as possible, holding meetings to finalize the tracks and music video concepts for the full album and planning the choreography with the best dance team.

Despite diligently preparing for the album, they didn't neglect communication with their fans, especially with Christmas approaching.

On December 18, 2022, a week before Christmas, each of the 7IN members uploaded SNS posts hinting at the Christmas gifts and small events they had prepared for their fans.

[Christmas D-7! Spend this Christmas with Chillin 🙂 What could the gifts we've prepared be? (photo) (photo)]

The post featured photos of the members dressed as Rudolph, which elicited an enthusiastic response from the fans.

[LOL too cute!!!] [They're like deer, not reindeer!] [Looks like Inhyuk took these pictures with a selfie stick LOL] [Yeah, Inhyuk is the official selfie stick of Chillin!] [But how do they look so sparkly even when taken with a selfie stick?] [OMG, the Rudolph antlers are stabbing my heart...] [My nose is tingling, I think the antlers poked my nose too.] [LOL stop being ridiculous] [What could the gift be? So curious!] [You mean they've stopped us from sending gifts, and now they're giving us gifts?] [This is the first time I've felt so humbled as an idol fan.] [I really wanted that carved mandarin duck last time 😢] [What could it be this time? Since it's a reverse gift, they probably didn't make too many.] [Still, the fact that they prepared gifts is so cute, makes me proud, and I love them so much 😢] [LOL why the sudden outburst of gratitude?] [Is it just me who feels grateful?] [Actually, I'm bowing towards the Solar System building right now.] [I can't wait for the gift 😢 I hope I can get one too, even though it might be too much to ask...]

With fans' expectations sky-high, the members began revealing their Christmas gifts one by one.

The first to reveal their gift were Hyunjae and Hyunsu.

Their gift was a 30-minute Christmas concert filmed at home. Hyunsu arranged Christmas carols, played acoustic guitar and piano, while Hyunjae sang.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas—."

Though 7IN usually performed dance-pop on stage, Hyunjae's clear and smooth voice shone brightly in the acoustic arrangement.

Wearing a red sweater and Rudolph headband, making eye contact with the camera, Hyunjae carefully and sincerely sang each note, creating a perfect gift for the fans.

[OMG his voice is incredible!] [It's so sweet, it's insane!] [How can that Rudolph headband suit him so perfectly 😢] [I'm going to keep watching this until the year ends 😢] [Why is Hyunsu wearing a fake beard? LOL] [Bet you Taewoong made him do it.] [Hyunsu, it's true that you become like the company you keep...] [Hyunsu and Taewoong are so funny, they keep influencing each other.] [Ji Hyunsu: "Birds of a feather flock together." Kwon Taewoong: "Muscles and ink together."] [LOL that's hilarious!] [Can you guys stop cracking jokes while Hyunjae is singing?] [True, I need to focus LOL.] [Hyunjae's trying not to laugh at the comments LOL.] [But it's kind of nice that Hyunjae is trying not to laugh, it feels more real... Can I make more jokes?] [No LOL.]

Next was Taewoong. Though one wouldn't expect him to be good at gift-giving, he surprisingly prepared a whole reverse-gift set and started a live broadcast.

"Merry Christmas, everyone! But Christmas is in winter, right? What happens in winter? We're more prone to catching colds and gaining weight. This is the season to take care of our health and exercise. So, I've prepared some vitamins, protein, and a home workout routine for you. The green card is for beginners, the gold card is for intermediates, and the red card is for advanced levels. The advanced level might be a bit tough since it starts with a handstand, but..."

[???????] [Taewoong, what???] [Is he really telling us to exercise for Christmas? LOL] [He really doesn't get us, does he? LOL.] [Who has time to work out? We're too busy lying in bed watching your videos.] [But I kind of want that reverse-gift set 😢.] [Looks like Taewoong handwrote all the workout routines because he doesn't have a printer?] [OMG handwritten cards.]

"Yes, I wrote the workout routines by hand because I didn't know how to print them on colored paper. But that's not the point..."

[You fool!!!!] [That's the most important part LOL.] [If I can get my favorite's handwritten card? Can't miss that.] [The vitamins and supplements are packaged so cutely LOL.] [Since I started following Taewoong, I've been working out a little bit everywhere I go.] [At first, it was hard and annoying, but now that I feel healthier, I'm really happy. Taewoong fans, try working out, it really changes your life.] [LOL a fitness missionary in the chat LOL.]

"That's right, everyone, exercise can change your life. I think I'll have to do some one-on-one counseling. I'll pick just five people and call them. Anyone who doesn't want to exercise?"

[Me!!!! Me!!!!!!!!!!] [Me!!! I've never exercised in my life!!!!] [I even hate walking, I roll around on the floor with my back!!!!!] [You move? I'm just a brain in a jar!!!!!!] [Please, Taewoong, me, me, me, me, me.]

Though it started with question marks, Kwon Taewoong's fitness class turned out to be the perfect gift for his biggest fans. The random selection for the reverse-gift set also delighted everyone.

And the Christmas gifts continued.

Yuchan uploaded a vlog of him and his siblings volunteering at an animal shelter, perfectly hitting the mark with fans who wanted to see Yuchan with his siblings.

Though he was the youngest in the group, at home, Yuchan was the eldest of three and showed his mature and responsible side, causing all fans to clutch their hearts.

[Yuchan's so grown-up at home 😢.] [They've been volunteering every winter since two years ago. Isn't that so heartwarming?] [Where else in the world are there siblings like this?] [His siblings are just as adorable as Yuchan 😢.] [Yuchan speaks so clearly and firmly when he's with his siblings.] [Yeah, he's so precise, no wonder his siblings listen to him.] [The puppies are so cute 😢. I think I'm going to start volunteering at an animal shelter next Christmas too.] [I'm just a fan, but I feel like my outlook on life is changing.] [Same here, I'm inspired to become a better person.]

Siwoo and Inhyuk prepared gifts centered on photos. True to his narcissistic tendencies, Siwoo gifted his fans a bomb of selfies.

Not just a few lazy selfies, but over 300 meticulously selected ones spanning from his teenage years, driving fans to scream with happiness.

[LOL this is insane.] [How many photos are there?] [There's no end to them LOL.] [How can someone have such an endlessly interesting face?] [I could never get tired of looking at him 😢.] [I was about to be disappointed by the selfie gift, but this is the best of the best.] [How does his face glow like that even with a selfie stick?] [Look at the photos from when he was in France 😢. He's whiter than the Europeans.]

Inhyuk revealed photos and videos from his time in the U.S. Among them was a video of a young Inhyuk dressed in a full Rudolph costume, singing a Christmas carol in English.

[OMG baby Inhyuk!!!] [So adorable LOL.] [This kid grows up to be an 87kg, 188cm muscle idol.] [LOL please don't confuse kg and cm, even if you're excited.] [But Inhyuk was seriously so cute as a kid LOL.] [His lips have been cherry-like since he was a baby.] [The photos from his time in the U.S. are all so nice 😢. He looks like a gorgeous student in that hoodie.] [Inhyuk stands out no matter where he goes because of his great physique.] [LOL there's even a photo of him with a bunch of leather-jacketed guys LOL.] [I'd love to see a stage where Inhyuk wears his hair loose and a hoodie like that someday.] [LOL Inhyuk is secretly the most cheerful and full of aegyo.]

As all the members revealed their gifts, Gunja was the last one left to announce his.

With all the fans eagerly awaiting, Gunja finally started his live broadcast.

"Everyone, Merry Christmas. To celebrate Christmas, I am going to distribute my gift to you all."

"[Banpo??????] [Why is the word so grand?] [What is it, what is it, what is it????] [Banpo? Is it Banpo Jaeyi???] [LOL Is Gunja a chaebol or something?] [Banpo?? Could it be Hunminjeongeum???] [Ah, I'm so curious, hurry up and tell us!]

"I've posted the gift on 7IN's official website. You can freely go and take it," Gunja said.

Fans quickly scrambled to the official website. After a few minutes of server overload, they finally managed to see the title of the gift that Gunja had posted."