Chapter 95 XO Won't Disband, Right?
r. It felt like he had been reborn. 。Even Pyo Ji-seong wouldn't see this level of fan gathering. It's comparable to the few times EXO held ticketless fan signings on the peninsula before, where so ma..., the Peninsula Asteroid
The winner is... yuanap;ap;ap;ap; Suzy, for “So.”
Following Yoon Sang's announcement, screams echoed from below.
To everyone's surprise, because EXO confirmed they wouldn't be attending this year's A, many fans didn't show up to cheer. However, the cheers at this moment were incredibly loud, with the audience reacting even more enthusiastically than during the Best Album award just now.
Even though XO's fans weren't present, the atmosphere they created was enormous. This just shows that "So" is a truly popular song that has resonated deeply with people. There is no one who would argue against it winning this major award. Fans of any group basically agree in their hearts.
After the results were announced, all the idols in the artist seating area stood up to congratulate. Sane, who had been extremely nervous just moments before, was disappointed to see that she hadn't won. Her face reflexively creased with a frown, but she quickly adjusted and instantly flashed a bright smile as she stood up and clapped, looking genuinely happy for the winner.
...while just moments ago, they had shaken hands and cheered for their senior colleague from the company, ner didn't feel awkward at all. They quickly let go of each other's hands and stood up excitedly, clapping rapidly for Suzy Bae with genuine and bright smiles.
In a white dress, Bae Suzy took a deep breath and stood up, smiling politely. She slightly bowed to the congratulating fellow artists before turning towards the stage, following the voice beside her with each step.
“In 2014, the song “So” by Yuan and Suzy won one of the three major awards at the lonic award. With its beautiful melody and ambiguous emotions, it was loved by everyone and achieved a super record of eight consecutive weeks at number one on music charts after its release. It is the highest-ranked music on the sound source chart this year!”
"Recently, you feel like you belong to me, but you also don't belong to me..." With the bg of "so", Bae Suzy stood in front of the microphone on stage, bowed to accept the grand prize trophy, and looked at the overwhelmingly dark audience below, starting her acceptance speech:
"I'm sorry that YuanXi from EXO, who I was collaborating with, couldn't attend because of overseas schedules..."
"Ahhh..."
She started by mentioning Chi Jingyuan, but was interrupted halfway through by a sudden scream.
Her close-up shot on the big screen was indeed eye-catching, and her white dress really highlighted her figure.
Even mentioning Chi Jingyuan's name at this point would still heighten the tension.
Seeing the enthusiastic reaction below, Suzy Pei covered her mouth and smiled happily. After the cheers subsided a little, she pursed her lips and continued, "I will pass this trophy on to him later."
"It's really hard to imagine getting such an important award, thank you so much to the organizers for giving us this honor... I remember when we recorded this song it was really difficult and there were a lot of problems..."
Issa won the Grand Prize from aa in her debut year, but since then she has never touched that area again. It can only be said to be lukewarm. As for Pei Suzy's passion for her group now, it has dissipated a lot. At this time, she stands here alone and receives the award as an individual, so naturally she is in a good mood.
Having simply expressed her excitement, Bae Suzy seemed to have calmed down a bit and quickly began expressing gratitude to various staff members: 'Thank you to PD Park Jin-yeong, the overall producer of , thank you to music director Lee Jong-won senior, art director Jung Yeon senior, thank you to DY unnie for our styling...'
"Thanks to Ji Kyeong-won for writing, composing, and arranging the song "so"."
"Ah ah!
"
"!
" Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
Another round of cheers interrupted the speech, this time even louder than before, with clear exclamations and expressions of admiration mixed in.
Many people listen to music without paying attention to who the creator is. Even though "so" became so popular, many people still didn't know that it was an original composition by Ji Jingyuan. After hearing this, many people had a feeling of 'I see,' or 'It's actually him,' which was quite surprising.
Lastly, thank you to everyone who has always supported me and yuanxi's fans. Thank you very much...
"Kongsangmida…"
After saying a lot, Suzy Bae bowed and walked off with the trophy.
She definitely didn't come for nothing this time, as IU isn't making a comeback this year at all. Bae Suzy came specifically for this annual song award after being notified by the organizers. If she had just sat through the event and won nothing, it would have been incredibly awkward.
After the annual artiste awards ceremony concluded, the 2014 award show came to a close.
The annual album award went to g.o.d, the annual artist award went to IU, and the annual song award went to "so".
Except for the first one which was a bit unclear and felt like showing respect and taking care of a senior, the other two were well-deserved.
This year, IU has shaken off the previous negative impact. Through continuous releases and excellent digital chart performance, she has greatly recovered her image which was severely shaken due to the scandal.
The song "See You on Friday" released at the end of last year has ranked in the top five of this year's annual chart, showing that her popularity has returned to its former glory and even surpassed it. Among female solo singers, she is already quite distinctive.
“You worked hard…” The manager quickly draped the prepared coat from his hand onto Bae Suzy’s shoulders, and after glancing at the grand prize in her hands, he smiled with great joy: “The pd just called me on the phone, he’s also very happy. The company can take advantage of this to do some promotion, it will be helpful for you, as well as Issa's comeback next year…”
The agent indeed looks very happy. This year has been a low point for JYP, with the new boy group GOT7's debut only managing to scrape by and their comeback in the middle of the year failing to make any waves. The newly prepared girl group 6IX was also constantly delayed due to various accidents and reasons, and today this girl group project is basically scrapped.
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The company's stock price has plummeted to a historic low, even cheaper than a Starbucks Frappuccino. It has been ridiculed by various online communities. Shareholders are putting immense pressure on the company, leaving both management and staff feeling stressed. This year's revenue is largely propped up by 2PM's tour and Suzy's popularity. This award win benefits Suzy significantly, and it also brings good news to JYP Entertainment.
The agent remembered that Park Jin-young was still laughing on the phone a moment ago, boasting about how he had seen potential in Ji Seong-won at first glance and proactively invited him to collaborate.
Then he added as an afterthought, "Oh, by the way, the winning company has already communicated with side S. But Soo-ji, remember to congratulate side Ji-gyung privately."
"Got it."
Pei Suzy sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking at online comments on her phone while nodding occasionally: “Later.”
…………
"Oh my, finally done. Three games in a row has left me with wobbly legs."
On the van, several EXO members were lazily sitting in their respective positions, playing on their phones and chatting casually. Some were admiring the streetscape and cityscape of Fukuoka through the window. Park Chanyeol, after who knows what he saw, put his phone against the backrest as if relieved and shouted.
They just finished the third and final performance of their Fukuoka concert tour. Everyone has returned to their hotel, rested up, and is now heading out for a celebratory dinner.
Holding a concert is very demanding on both physical strength and experience. After three consecutive days of performances, everyone in xo is exhausted.
Chi Jingyuan was the same. In the last few stages, he had no more energy and could only rely on the fans' enthusiasm to persevere. He wobbled and completed the final performance.
But as soon as the concert ended, for some reason he suddenly felt his energy return.
The performance had ended a while ago, and by the time everyone got back to the hotel, showered, changed their clothes, and settled in, it was already past midnight. Some people were dawdling around, and by this point many were so hungry they could barely even speak.
池景源 knew today was the day of the awards ceremony. He had just seen on his phone that 《so》 won one of the top awards, song of the year. But compared to last year when EXO won the same award with 《咆孝》, this time he wasn't as excited and ecstatic as before, instead appearing rather calm.
Moreover, he actually already anticipated winning the award in his heart beforehand. 《so》's audio source results are indeed astonishing. The level of heat it generated on the peninsula is something you can deeply feel just by being there. You could hear it everywhere, from big streets to small alleys. Young men and women, as well as students, all used it as their ring tones and notification sounds - a truly impressive sight.
Although this time Sun's solo was also very successful, with "Eye Nose Mouth" achieving five or six weeks at the top of the melon chart, its overall performance was still inferior to "so".
It's simply a matter of whether, in the absence of Chi Jingyuan, the organizers will award the grand prize to team 'a'.
Perhaps for this collaboration, the other side might just see it as one of many schedules for Park Chanyeol, not fully considering it as a job for EXO member Chanyeol. He doesn't have that same sense of accomplishment from winning awards with EXO. Even though he won the grand prize on 《so》, his emotional response wasn't very significant. It feels like the biggest meaning of this award is simply a recognition of his creative work.
I wonder what it would be like if those who crave the Grand Prize heard about Chi Jingyuan's feelings.
Of course, I'm still pretty happy. The Golden Award is the Golden Award after all, even if this one with the slightly lighter weight feels like a bit of a smaller ceremony.
And with EXO experiencing continuous setbacks, currently in a period of turmoil, winning this grand prize for "so" is also a great comfort gift for fans. At the very least, it can give some fans a boost and allow them to regain their former confidence online, which they had lost due to EXO's hiatus.
After casually reading a few comments, and seeing that his destination was almost in sight, Chi Jingyuan was just about to put his phone away when his hand suddenly buzzed with a text message.
He casually opened it, his eyes widening immediately. He quickly pulled his phone closer and held it in front of him, shielding the screen with his body and arm, afraid of being caught by the glances of the members sitting beside him and behind him.
The message was sent by Suzy Bae. She didn't write anything, just sent a selfie.
In the photo, she sits on her bed wearing a crimson silk low-cut slip dress. The revealing style and some sexy lingerie are indistinguishable. A slit that extends into the neckline is particularly eye-catching. Her long legs are crossed together, white and bare, with red nail polish on her toes. And between her knees lies the award for *so*’s song of the year, adding a touch of unexpected charm to the scene.
Even though they weren't officially dating, these private photos certainly shouldn't be seen by anyone else.
Chi Jingyuan glanced at the members behind him. He found they hadn't noticed what was happening here, and his heart finally settled down. Afterward, he picked up his phone and took a closer look, then curled his lips into a sneer and muttered to himself in astonishment.
This selfie of Suzy Bae is quite daring, with a very obvious suggestive meaning.
Speaking of which, it's been a while since they've seen each other. It feels like Pei Suzy seems to be getting more and more relaxed when facing Park Kyung-won.
Why is she squeezing for a selfie, pool-side Chi Jingyuan doesn't even know what size she is.
That's so hypocritical.
Well, the effect... is indeed a little bit...
With a light chuckle, Chi Jingyuan didn't reply and directly swiped the screen away. As he pondered in his heart, the nanny car arrived at its destination. He followed the members out of the car and rushed into the restaurant.
We'll talk about what comes next later. Right now, the most important thing is to fill our stomachs.
…………
"Well, is the era of APKs already over before it even began"
Ji Chang Wook sent a message to Jung Eun Ji in the crew, with a teasing tone.
After concluding their three-day concert series in Fukuoka, EXO returned to the peninsula on the 14th. They first went back to the company to record for a morning session before Ji-sung quickly rushed back to the filming set.
Today, besides filming, I also need to record some behind-the-scenes footage for "The Uncanny Counter." This requires Director Kim Won Sik and several of the main actors to accept interviews from the television station.
At this time, the crew was busy with preparations for the start of filming, while Park Ji-won found a sofa on the set and sat idly, thinking about the news he had seen earlier today. He sent a text message to Jung Eun-ji.
After the announcement of their comeback earlier this month, acube agency suddenly issued a statement yesterday. Due to serious errors during the album production process, all 50,000 printed albums for APK's comeback have been scrapped and the comeback date has been postponed by one week. The group is now scheduled to make their first comeback stage on November 21st on the music program "Music Bank".
Fifty thousand albums is no small number, and delaying the release adds a layer of shadow to the news, making it feel somewhat inauspicious.
But it's just a delay, nothing major.
"Wait for me!"
Soon, the other party replied, even though the return was delayed, Zheng En-di's mouth was still so hard.
"I'm waiting I'm a big winner, who are you"
"Die!"
One could feel Jung Eun-ji's frustrated hopping and Ji-sung's pleased, satisfied laughter as their goal was achieved.
Just as he was about to try again and let Jung Eun-ji know the weight of the award for best song of the year, someone suddenly called out his name: "Kyung-won, it's time to start."
"Here I come."
Chi Jingyuan hurriedly responded with a sound, put down his phone after finding a mirror to check himself, and then quickly rushed over.
Unfortunately...
Sitting on the couch, facing the camera that was focused directly at him from the pool view, he first smiled, then turned his gaze to the question board held up by the staff beside him.
"What effort went into portraying and digesting the character Zhang Kelai"
This interview did not involve any reporters; instead, the production team collected many questions from viewers and fans online. Then, in front of the camera, each main actor and director answered them. It serves as behind-the-scenes footage while also giving back to the audience.
"Hello everyone, I'm Ji-yeong Ki, who plays Zhang Kelai in "The Untamed". It's great to meet you all."
Chi Jingyuan wore a tailored deep blue suit, with an ID card reading "Zhang Kelai" hanging around his neck. His eyes and smile had the aura of a male protagonist in a drama, making him seem less like an actor being interviewed and more like Zhang Kelai stepping out of the screen into reality.
"Well, I think the most important thing about Zhang Kulai's character is the expression of his emotions."
Seeing the first question raised by the staff, he smiled and said directly with a chuckle as if he had been prepared for it:
“I incorporated a lot of my own experiences to the fullest extent. Feelings I felt during my trainee and pre-debut period after entering s company, feelings as an idol after debuting, and some experiences from when I interned at a trading company before filming "The Untamed" to experience the character... I made a lot of effort to mobilize emotions to the greatest extent.”
His answer was a bit commercial, but mostly he was being truthful. He really did try hard to embody the character of Zhang Kelai.
"How much emotion did Zhang Klai put into filming those heartwarming scenes with his mother in the drama"
Seeing this question, Chi Jingyuan hesitated for a moment, organized his words, and then looked at the camera to answer: "Because I am the youngest child at home, I have received the most love and care since birth. Now looking back, there are many heartwarming memories that impressed me deeply. When filming these scenes, I have a sense of overlap that resonates with me very much, and I will try to bring in my past self."
“…………”
After asking seven or eight questions, his interview came to an end. He then greeted the staff and first checked this short sample with his manager, looking for any inappropriate parts. After finishing, he ran to a nearby location and began observing director Kim Yu-seok's interview segment.
There are few actors in their 20s who have the same level of recognition and acting skills as Park Ji-hun.
At this time, Kim Won-seok was just being asked about the male lead, and when Ji Kyung-won went over, he heard the other person praising himself in front of the camera nonstop:
"It's very grateful that Chi Jingyuan can act."
Jin Yuantan didn't have much of a smile, instead looking quite serious: "It wasn't that we chose Chi Jingyuan, but rather that Chi Jingyuan chose us."
Although it's true that Chi Jingyuan took the initiative to contact the production team of "The Untamed" from many choices, seeing the director give him so much face in the interview, he still felt a little embarrassed.
Too much, too much.
But later when Kim Won-suk commented on the other actors, although his tone and wording were not as exaggerated as when he evaluated him, they were full of praise and rainbows. This also put Park Ji-won at ease.
I wouldn't have guessed the director had this up their sleeve...
In addition to interviews with the lead creator and actors, the production team also interviewed several reporters and editors from various media outlets. They also conducted multiple interviews on the streets around office buildings in Seoul where white-collar workers congregate, receiving positive feedback and praise.
All of these shots will be included in the behind-the-scenes special of "The Untamed" which will be released in December.
After finishing the behind-the-scenes footage, filming continued. Because of the three-day absence, Ji Chang Wook's scenes had piled up considerably, and today he was busy until almost 1:00 a.m. before wrapping up.
The crew finished work and everyone filed out of the building, in small groups. As soon as Pool Jung-won and Park Bo-gum came out of the Seoul Plaza and stood at the intersection waiting for their assistant to drive over, they were suddenly spotted by seven or eight fans who had been camping outside the door. As soon as they saw him come out, the fans rushed forward toward Pool Jung-won, but after getting a few meters away, they seemed hesitant and stopped short.
There are also a couple of familiar faces, probably someone Alice that Ji Jingyuan has met before.
Chi Jingyuan wasn't flustered either. He glanced at his phone, it was already 1:20 am. These people were still here this late, not going back home. What were they doing Wouldn't they be lurking around for him
"Why haven't you gone back yet"
Taking two steps forward, Chi Jingyuan smiled and greeted the few people at the table.
"Oppa..."
Several fans who looked very young stood in front of him, their eyes fixed on him with obvious excitement. However, the few people seemed a little hesitant and didn't speak. After a few seconds, a girl whose face looked familiar finally spoke up, her voice soft:
"Will XO disband"
Following the voice were seven or eight pairs of worried eyes, staring intently at Chi Jingyuan.
Hearing this question, Ji Jingyuan was stunned for a moment, and then he felt a rather absurd feeling in his heart.
Because three consecutive members have exited, EXO is currently in a precarious situation. As of now, there has been no official statement or announcement regarding EXO's future plans. This winter single comeback has also not been made public. From the outside perspective, it seems that EXO, having endured repeated blows, is being neglected by the company and gradually being shelved and ignored.
In recent days, many rumors have been circulating online about various groups disbanding, members leaving, EXO disbanding, and certain individuals going solo. Some of these rumors have gained traction, while others are clearly fabricated at first glance.
Pool Jingyuan had also seen these comments online before, he just thought they were too fake and dismissed them with a smile. But this time being asked by fans face-to-face, he couldn't help but find it a little ridiculous.
At this moment, a sudden gust of cold wind blew past, making Chi Jingyuan, who had just walked out of the warm film set, shiver slightly. He felt a little cold.
Recently, winter has arrived. The temperature in Seoul in mid-November is dropping rapidly. Especially now, even wearing a warm coat, one can feel the chill in the wind. Let alone exposed skin like face and hands.
Chi Jingyuan wanted to tighten his collar, but the hand he stretched out suddenly stopped in mid-air.
His gaze involuntarily fell upon the several dishes in front of him.
These several obviously young fans didn't go home late at night, in such cold weather they squatted at the entrance of the studio until deep into the night, just wanting to ask him if the rumors were true, whether EXO would disband.
He thought the rumors were ridiculous and laughable, but to some fans' ears, they sounded very real because as the saying goes, "too much concern leads to chaos."
Looking at the few fans in front of him, shivering in the biting cold wind, their faces pale and white from the frost, some with their hands tucked into their pockets, others shrinking their sleeves, or rubbing their hands incessantly for warmth, Ji Jingyuan's heart suddenly surged with a wave of emotion.
Although it was freezing cold, they didn't seem to mind much. All their attention was focused on Ji Jingyuan's face, waiting for his reply. One of them even looked at him with fear, as if she was afraid that the next word he said would be her death sentence.
Several of the diners looked filled with worry and anticipation, some even with fear in their eyes. Ji Jingyuan couldn't quite bring himself to smile.
He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. After several seconds, the expression on his face finally relaxed. He first winked at Park Jae-hyeon beside him and made a gesture of drinking water. Seeing Park Jae-hyeon understand and turn away, he forced a smile onto his face and looked at the few people present. In a gentle tone, he asked, "Where did you see these news"
"On the internet, in that forum."
"In xo's fancb, many people say this."
"I heard it from a friend..."
It seems that sensing Ji-won's good attitude, several fans' moods also eased up. They started chattering excitedly and finally nervously asked again: "Is it true, Oppa Will EXO disband"
"Of course it's fake, how could XO disband We're actually preparing for our next comeback right now."
Chi Jingyuan spread his hands and made a defeated gesture, calming down the few diners while also eliciting laughter from them.
"Oh, good, good."
"I knew Duo Hui was lying to me. She's a fan of fite and has always disliked Ai Li. I'm going back to scold her."
"Oppa, are you guys coming back When"
As soon as Chi Jingyuan spoke, several fans immediately let out a sigh of relief. The tension and worry they had just felt vanished, and they began chattering excitedly, one after another, in front of Chi Jingyuan. Even at this late hour, their spirits were still high.
"Next month should have a winter single comeback, the rest will have to wait until next year." EXO's winter song project hasn't been announced yet, but Pool Kyung-won just said it directly without any intention of hiding it.
"Wow, XO's winter special I absolutely loved last year's 'Miracle of December', I'm so looking forward to this one!"
"We must make a big splash and show those haters what we're capable of."
Hearing the news of xo's return, several people were ecstatic and their joy was evident. However, some fans expressed concern: "Isn't it too soon for oppa to announce this S hasn't made an official announcement yet. Won't this cause trouble"
Those on the side who hadn't reacted yet also immediately responded, raising their hands and assuring: "We won't tell."
"Don't worry, it's nothing to be ashamed of." Chi Jingyuan curled his lip and shrugged nonchalantly. He raised an eyebrow at the few fans: "I am royalty, after all."
"Haha..."
Several people burst into laughter immediately: "Oppa is royalty, we're fans of royalty! It kills them."
Just now's worries have vanished without a trace. A few meals and conversations with Chi Jingyuan were very exciting, cherishing this hard-won opportunity.
After chatting for a bit, Park returned, carrying a large bag of hot coffee and handing out a cup each to Ji-seong and the several fans.
"Have a hot drink to warm up."
Pool Jingyuan smiled at them before turning serious: "Next time, remember not to believe these rumors. Even if you're worried, you shouldn't run around to places like this late at night and wait for me."
It's late, you guys should head back now.
"Got it, oppa." The fan who was criticized didn't seem upset at all. Instead, they nodded obediently and said "Yes", acting very submissive.
Given their current performance, it's hard to imagine how arrogant and domineering they are online.
At this time, Choi Ji-chang also drove his nanny car to the side of the road. After Pool Kyung-won waved goodbye to these fans, he got into the nanny car, and the car quickly started driving towards the distance.
A few girls stood together, watching the car drive farther and farther away until they could no longer see its tail lights. They looked at each other, and when they saw the satisfied and excited smiles on each other's faces, they all couldn't help but grin back. Holding cups of unopened hot coffee in their hands, though they hadn't taken a sip yet, their hearts were already warm with happiness.
They were all a little reluctant to unwrap their coffees, and a little reluctant to leave this place. They stood there watching Chi Jingyuan's direction leave, happily discussing it.
"Oppa said with his own mouth that EXO won't disband, now you can rest assured....I told you guys before, Oppa Yuan is especially good to fans, some of you didn't believe it before."
"Oh, when it comes to fans of Ouba, they are simply the best. Next time I see someone bashing EXO and Yuan Ouba, I will definitely anti them to death."
"I wonder how lucky Yuan's girlfriend must be. Up close, she's just amazing. Not only is she incredibly beautiful, but she's also so kind. Oh my god, I'm dead."
"Oppa won't date, Oppa is always ours!"
"But I heard that Red Velvet's Irene..."
"Don't mention that ugly woman! She's not only ugly and short, but also old. Oppa wouldn't possibly look at her, it must just be a rumor..."
…………
When he got back to the dorm, the other members were already asleep. Ji Kyeong Yuan lay in bed, thinking about the fans he had met at the entrance of Seoul Plaza earlier. He felt a lot of mixed emotions.
It's those naive and amusing fans who add a lot of color and charm to the idol profession.
Oh, I wonder how many people are being bothered by ridiculous rumors like this.
But once the company officially announces its return plan, it should calm them down.
After a whole day of shooting the next day, Ji-seong returned to the company early and walked into Lee Soo-man's office with his business proposal that he had spent a lot of time on.
First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networke of dance, because they always bring it up. Yesterday, when Ji-seong and Soo-jung went back to the dorm after their farewell, these two were still awake, watching fancams of him on their phones.Hones...