Chapter 12: A Natural Snail Catching Festival

Because the show resembled a talent contest for ordinary people, there wasn’t much screen time for them outside of the opening interview.

Therefore, they had to make a strong impression right from the start.

The members of 4ever, including Jemin, pulled out every single talent they possessed.

Except for Woohyung, of course.

Woohyung unenthusiastically performed beatboxing, which looked destined to be completely edited out.

James suddenly tried to twerk, so Jemin frantically stopped him, but thankfully it seemed like it would pass as a funny variety moment.

“The youngest member! You have to show us some aegyo~”

Ah, that dreaded aegyo.

Jemin clapped enthusiastically while feeling deeply relieved inside that he wasn’t the youngest.

Getting older certainly had its perks in moments like this.

Just as Jemin dropped his guard, Eunhan, who was stomping his feet in embarrassment, suddenly grabbed Jemin’s wrist tightly.

“Jemin-hyung, do it with me!”

Eunhan had dragged Jemin’s arm into the mud with him like a water ghost, but even in the middle of that, Jemin’s brain was spinning fast.

“Seo Eunhan, you really…!”

It wasn’t as if doing aegyo would wear down his lips, and he only had to endure a brief moment of humiliation, so it wasn’t impossible, but it certainly wasn’t something he wanted to do voluntarily.

However, this exact situation was something the Hanjem stans would absolutely adore, so he had to play the role of the “older member being dragged along by the assertive younger member.”

“Looking at you now, it seems like Eunhan-ssi and Jemin-ssi are the closest friends~”

After putting on a absurd display of aegyo, Eunhan and Jemin covered their faces as if embarrassed and returned to their spots.

The MC threw out a mechanical reaction along with that comment.

Eunhan, completely unaware that Jemin was intentionally playing along to feed content to the fans, took the cue smoothly.

Jemin thought it was a relief that Eunhan was a guy who didn’t overthink things.

“Since Eunhan is the youngest, I adore him a lot.”

Jemin didn’t miss the MC’s comment and chimed in at the perfect timing.

‘If I say a line like this, Hanjem stans will lose their minds with joy.’

It was a planned intervention by Jemin to snatch a single solo shot for himself in that moment.

“Who is Woohyung-ssi closest with?”

He’s not close with anyone.

Jemin predicted Woohyung would answer exactly like that.

If he did, discord rumors would hit the headlines before the group even made a name for itself.

If a “Jung Woohyung bully/ostracized” rumor broke out, Jemin might die of sheer injustice.

Jung Woohyung being bullied? That guy ostracizes everyone else, if anything!

Either way, as an idol group that relied on member dynamics, they had to prevent such a disaster at all costs.

Jemin made up his mind to beat Woohyung to the punch before he could open his mouth.

“Me!”

“Yu Jemin.”

Woohyung and Jemin spoke at the exact same time.

Both of them widened their eyes and looked at each other, as if surprised by the other’s response.

“Oh. You two spoke at the exact same time.”

“Haha.”

Jemin laughed awkwardly.

Why on earth did that bastard say me?

He couldn’t fathom Woohyung’s intention.

“But isn’t Jemin-ssi older?”

The MC, suddenly remembering something, flipped through his cue card.

On the front profile of the cue card, it clearly stated: Yu Jemin (24), Jung Woohyung (22).

“We’re so close that we decided to drop formal speech and talk comfortably as friends.”

How am I supposed to say that this guy doesn’t even treat me like a Hyung?

Jemin swallowed those words back down his throat.

“Wow~ As expected of a global group, you have a completely American mindset~”

“Yes, that’s right. Haha.”

After that interview, reaction camera shots were all the screen time they got.

Since appearing even once as a guest on TV broadcast was a rare opportunity these days, Jemin didn’t complain.

Rather than that, he was distracted by keeping a constant eye on Woohyung.

Woohyung, finding the broadcast boring, had dead fish eyes and was opening his mouth as if about to yawn.

Jemin squeezed Woohyung’s thigh tightly while sending a glare that said, “Are you crazy? Hold that yawn in,” narrowly preventing a [Jung Woohyung Attitude Controversy] search term.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Once filming ended, Jemin bowed deeply and repeatedly in a loud voice.

With the sole determination to make a good impression on the staff, Jemin folded his waist excessively as he greeted them.

“I’m so sleepy, I need to catch some sleep at least on the way back to the dorm.”

The members stretched and let out the yawns they had been holding in.

As they rolled their necks while walking to the vehicle, a loud popping sound echoed.

“Hey! Over there!”

“Eek!”

Just as they were about to step into the vehicle, a commotion broke out, and looking over, they saw fans.

They had somehow found out and followed them all the way down to the underground parking lot.

The manager quickly tried to get into the car and drive off, but it was already too late.

The moment Woohyung got into the car, he crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

Jemin rolled down the car window and waved his hand to them.

“Did you wait for us? Your legs must hurt so much. Thank you, we’re really nothing special.”

Our Jemin is an angel.

Why isn’t that Jung Woohyung bastard even showing his face?

The reactions on the commute home were starkly divided depending on who their favorite member was.

“Jemin-ah, a present!”

Through the open window, a fan abruptly pushed a shopping bag forward.

“Presents are not allowed.”

To a rookie idol from a tiny agency struggling with financial difficulties, luxury gifts were an immense temptation.

Jemin wanted to beam brightly right that second and send a heart while saying, “Noona, thank you!”, but he held it back with all his might.

Instead, he put on a pathetic face like a whimpering puppy and spoke in a sorrowful voice.

“Hyung, can’t I at least take the letters? It’s their sincere heart.”

“Insane. Did you hear how Jemin talked?”

It was all calculated.

An idol with both a kind face and a kind heart who valued sincerity over material things.

That was the exact image Jemin wanted to build.

The manager spoke with a exhausted face: “Do whatever you want.”

Once the manager’s permission was granted, Jemin accepted only the letters and gave a wave with his hand.

“We have to leave now. Get home safely! Thank you! I’ll upload a selfie before going to bed tonight, so wait for it!”

“Jemin-ah, I love you!”

Only after going so far as to draw a heart with his breath on the rolled-up car window did Jemin’s fan service finally come to an end.

“Aren’t you tired?”

Woohyung, who had been staring blankly at Jemin, asked in a provocative tone.

“Are you tired every single day?”

Jemin snapped at Woohyung in a tone 180 degrees different from when he was dealing with the fans.

Woohyung didn’t even answer and tried to plug earphones into his ears.

Jemin, suddenly surging with frustration at Woohyung ignoring his words, grabbed his wrist.

“Are you really not going to break that stubbornness?”

“What stubbornness?”

“Not calling me Hyung.”

No matter how much he grabbed him and threatened him, it didn’t work at all.

Even the people around them just threw out casual comments like, “Ayy~ Woohyung-ah~ Just call him Hyung~”

Even the CEO didn’t seem to take it as a serious issue.

If I spoke informally to the CEO, he’d go stark raving mad.

Jemin complained inwardly.

“I’d call it integrity or fidelity rather than stubbornness.”

At Woohyung’s ridiculous claim, Jemin swept his hair back and responded calmly.

“It’s not like I’m telling you to use extreme formal honorifics. I’m just telling you to call me Hyung.”

“Change your name then. To ‘Yu Hyung.’ Then I’ll call you Hyung.”

“It’s not that I want honorifics from you.”

I DO want honorifics.

If I don’t get at least formal speech from that bastard, I’ll die of sheer unfairness.

Hiding his true feelings, Jemin continued with the expression of a thoughtful older brother caring deeply for his younger member.

“I’m worried that people outside will think you’re a disrespectful, rude bastard without manners. I’m saying this because I’m worried about you as a Hyung.”

At this point, I might be the reincarnation of Gandhi or Nightingale.

Jemin thought to himself.

These days, educational methods are moving away from unconditional, strict discipline.

To achieve ‘My Woohyung Has Changed,’ empathy and acceptance are necessary.

Yet Woohyung’s impenetrable shield bounced Jemin’s warm gaze right off.

“If I think someone is worthy of respect, I’ll use honorifics on my own.”

You disrespectful, rude bastard.

Jemin mouthed the words silently.

Then, unable to contain his rising anger, he blurted out while pointing a finger at Woohyung.

“Then do you use honorifics with James-hyung because you respect him?!”

“Why me all of a sudden? Why?”

James, who had been engrossed in a mobile game, widened his eyes in surprise when his name came up.

“Ah, James-hyung, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yeah~ It’s okay.”

As expected, James-hyung was cool.

“I think Woohyung-hyung acts like that because he wants to get close with Jemin-hyung.”

Eunhan, sitting in the passenger seat, muttered in a sleepy voice.

At Eunhan’s words, Woohyung and Jemin looked at each other with expressions of pure disgust.

“Even if his expression is like that, I think he likes you, Hyung.”

“When his expression is like that, who on earth would like him?”

“Eunhan-ah, just go to sleep.”

“Yes sir.”

Jemin had thought they would flop after releasing their first album.

Then, due to Jung Woohyung’s fansign incident, he wondered if they were going to retire altogether rather than just flop.

Yet as if there was a way out, that noise marketing turned into actual attention, and their name was slowly becoming known to the public—they needed a solid breakthrough hit.

Thinking that a follow-up track promotion was the answer, the 4ever members threw themselves into practice.

The one making the missteps wasn’t the members, but the CEO.

“No, we should be going on music shows! Why…!”

“Do you know how much money hair, makeup, and outfits cost just to go on a music show? Promoting that much with the title track was enough. To prepare for the next activity, we need to do event performances and make money.”

How can you sell the oars when the tide is coming in?!

Jemin felt deeply wronged.

We’re finally getting a reaction, and instead of music shows, you’re booking events?!

And not even big events, but local specialty product festivals!

Without DSLR fansite cameras, it’s an event where only the local elderly see us and that’s it.

Literally an event that only earns money without bringing in any new fans.

“Working hard at events like this is how we get to release the next album, right?”

“I like events too, but…”

Can’t we do events after finishing promotions?

Jemin realized once again: for an idol to succeed, the members, the fandom, and the agency all had to function properly.

“Still, since it’s our first proper event performance, I’m nervous!”

“Yoonbin, I feel so motion sick I’m gonna die.”

They had driven for nearly three hours in the car.

Even if there was some response online, event casting directors were older adults.

Rather than idol singers, they preferred hiring Trot singers, and even if they hired idols to balance things out, they favored famous ones.

In short, 4ever was not even a consideration.

Nevertheless, the Natural Freshwater Snail Catching Experience Festival had booked 4ever.

They had to perform on stage in front of people catching snails with their pants rolled up.

“If we slip because of the water while performing, our heads will crack open immediately.”

Eunhan said while trembling.

Looking at the shabby stage setup, Jemin couldn’t shake the thought: ‘National Singing Contest’ stage looks way grander than this.

“Woah! Jemin, those are our fans, right?”

Surprisingly, there were fans who had followed them all the way to this mountain slope.

They were likely people who came out of their way early on to become famous fans or fansite masters.

Behind the elementary school students busy catching freshwater snails, they were scouting for a spot without water where it was easy to zoom in with their cameras.

“Since our fans are here, we have to work hard. No matter what kind of stage it is.”

Yoonbin spoke like a true leader, encouraging the members.

“…I hope so.”

Jemin looked at Woohyung with anxious eyes.

Is this guy going to half-ass the performance?