Chapter Thirty-Nine: Envy of a Junior

Ji's emotions momentarily out of control, and her inner feelings were hard to contain. I guess she was feeling a surge of emotion at that moment and really wanted to take this opportunity to confess...The first three Miss A members walked pretty fast. After seeing Ji-yeong and his friends stand up to greet them, they smiled and returned the greeting before nodding at Red Velvet's three members and continued walking without stopping.

After waiting for a few seconds, Pei Suzy arrived, lagging behind and keeping a noticeable distance.

"Senior, Annyeonghaseyo..."

Pei Zhuxuan's eyes lingered on Pei Xiuzhi's face for a second, her pupils were somewhat deep and her expression remained unchanged. She politely bowed and greeted him.

When Pei Xiuzhi saw Ji Kyungwon and the others, she actually smiled, stopped her steps, and swept her gaze over the three members of Red Velvet's faces. Finally, she fixed her eyes on Pei Zhuxuan, nodded in return, and then looked at Ji Kyungwon who just waved his hand as a greeting. She looked very interested and asked with a smile, "What's all the commotion about What are you talking about"

Although Bae Suzy is also from 1994 and the same age as several others, she debuted with Miss A ten years ago, making her a senior. Jin Seob Ki and the others were clearly unfamiliar with her and seemed somewhat awkward. Ji Kyeong Yuan glanced at her, reached out his hand and waved to signal everyone to sit down, then pointed at Jin Seob Ki and the others who hesitantly returned to their seats: "Chat casually with your friends, you just went to record a comeback interview"

"Acquaintances" Pei Suzy nodded in reply. After hearing Chi Kyeong-won's words, she glanced at the others again, seeming a little surprised. She reached out and pointed at them, asking, "Are these Red Velvet"

Her expression was as if she had just not known who these girls were, and only after realizing they were relatives of Ji-yeong that she recognized people like IU.

But it's normal, considering how many idol groups debut and disband in the music industry every day. Even if they've collaborated before, it's possible to have no recollection. However, Ki-yeong's expression seemed a little forced.

To be recognized by a senior like this is truly an honor. Both Jiang Seqi nodded repeatedly. Bae Suzy smiled and looked around again, finally her gaze landed on Park Soo-hyuk's face. It seemed she remembered something, after looking at him several times, she showed an expression of admiration: "I remember you are Captain Irenexi, you're really beautiful, just looking at you is pleasing."

"Kang San Mida," seemed to not have heard the hint of seniority and condescension in the other person's tone. Nor did she care that the other party had done their elaborate makeup while she had only put on a light touch. A bright smile spread across Bae Joo-hyun's face, she stood up and lightly bowed in thanks.

A look of surprised and pleased delight crossed her face. Her tone was soft, but she didn't deny the compliment; instead, there was a hint of defiance in her words as if accepting it as her due. She blinked, nodding while speaking, and reached out to smooth down the hair on the right side of her temple, revealing a small earlobe.

A series of actions felt natural and smooth, although the etiquette was impeccable, there was a slightly odd feeling about it.

Seemingly surprised by the reactions and expressions of the others, Pei Suzy paused for a brief moment before glancing at Ji Kyeong-won with a smile. She then didn't linger any longer, offering a couple of compliments to Kang Seobgi and Son Seung-wan, and after waving her hand and shaking her hair, she left.

As soon as Pei Suzy's figure disappeared from view, Ji Jingyuan felt a pair of eyes staring at her from the side. She turned her head and saw that it was Pei Zhuxuan, whose smile had diminished considerably at this time.

Pei Joo-hyuk and Ji Kyeong-won looked at each other, their smiles faded a bit and they both very lightly pursed their lips, then turned their heads away.

Are you close friends with Jingyuan and Sunmi senior

"I wonder if she noticed the subtle atmosphere just now," Kang Seo-ki asked curiously after Bae Suzy walked away.

"

I guess so, we've collaborated before...

"

Pool Jingyuan nodded slightly, giving a perfunctory response for a couple of seconds. It seemed like he sensed the displeasure of the sister sitting beside him.

Although she knew about the ambiguous relationship between the two, when it was her birthday last time, Bae Joo-hyun still laughed and said very seriously that if given a chance, Ji Kyung-won should introduce Bae Suzy to her, acting like she wanted to befriend them as good sisters.

But Chi Jingyuan is not stupid, even if he pretends to be.

Of course, that wouldn't actually happen.

Based on his understanding, anything that Park Soo-hyuk said in that kind of emotional state was best taken with a grain of salt.

However, the two of them are not in a relationship now. Although their emotions might fluctuate a bit, they don't really care that much and won't get hung up on it.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Red Velvet needed to get their hair and makeup done, and Jiyoung was also called away by her assistant. The stage background had already been set up, and they were ready to start recording the first performance.

Today's debut stage features performances of two songs, "ELDORADO (Golden Country)" and "Spring Day", both of which were pre-recorded with set decorations.

"" is a dance track with a somewhat exotic style and a strong musical melody. Although it's only a B-side track and didn't have a music video, to be honest, in terms of Park Jiung's perspective, this song surpasses the average quality and is comparable to some boy group title tracks."

Because there is no MV to see the choreography, after the release of the audio, it also caused a lot of discussion among listeners. Some fans, after listening to the energetic music, liked the style and melody very much, and they left messages expressing their expectation for the live stage of this song, which even caused a hot discussion.

Given the current circumstances,

The reason this song was chosen as the closing track for 《X》 is that it serves to slightly balance out the lyrical style of 《春日》.

The set design for "Golden Country" was not complicated, mainly relying on a backdrop screen and lighting to create the atmosphere. The recording process itself wasn't difficult.

However, "" is different because the company placed a lot of emphasis on the title track. Not only did they create a full choreography for this ballad, but they also designed many camera angles and atmospheric touches for their debut stage.

This performance set up two backgrounds in total. One was a pre-built waiting room set that resembled the one in the MV very much, and the other was the formal stage. Pool Jingyuan and his team had to record in both settings, then through editing and guidance, constantly switching scenes to create a more interesting visual language.

It's kind of like last year's "Dope" and last month's "allbaby," both using transitions and shots to make the performance more lively and dynamic, giving the originally somewhat stiff stage more charm.

This kind of stage presentation is rarely seen in the entire music industry. Not to mention small companies, even large entertainment agencies find it difficult to achieve this effect. This shows that EXO has always placed great importance on stage presence and visual language.

From the blackout scene in "OLF" to the two-team switching one-shot in "Rage", and now to "Spring Day", ** has truly mastered this technique.

Let's rehearse a few times to get in the groove. Once we don't have any mistakes, we'll officially start recording. Be serious when the time comes. The company has a limited number of colored papers prepared.

"Understood."

Facing PD's instructions, the EXO members nodded in response, waving lightly at the dark crowd below, estimated to have arrived before dawn to watch their recording. The fans began cheering as the rehearsal started.

To enhance the effect, during the chorus of "Spring Day," pink paper confetti continuously falls from the ceiling, covering the entire stage like scattered cherry blossoms.

To avoid waste, it's best to succeed once.

Fortunately, although EXO's mood has relaxed a lot because of the excellent results of their comeback, they are still very hardworking and not slacking off during practice. They have already memorized the song, dance, and movements by heart, and after several rehearsals, there haven't been any major issues. They soon began the official recording.

"How do you feel, yuanxi"

After the stage recording was complete, the members gasped for breath and thanked the staff profusely. As soon as they left the stage, they were caught by the staff sent by the company to film behind-the-scenes footage. A VJ pointed a camera at Ji Seongwon and asked him a question.

"Really... it's pretty tiring." Ke Jingyuan, with sweat dripping from his forehead and cheeks, took the tissue handed to him by his assistant. He gently dabbed at his face a few times.

Below, facing the question, he looked at the camera and let out a wry smile, voicing his true feelings: "In order to achieve the best stage effect, I recorded it five or six times before passing. By the end, I was actually exhausted."

It is said that the choreography for the song "Spring Day" was Yuanxi's idea and she did it herself. What was her thought process behind choreographing a ballad specifically What do you think are some of the song's characteristics

“Since it’s the title track, of course we have to put more emphasis on it.” Ji Jingyuan laughed and made a joke, then seemed to recall something, his expression became much more serious: “Actually, it's because ‘Spring Day’ is not a regular ballad. It's a song that can showcase a different charm from XO’s usual style, with some Alternative hiphop elements. And during the arrangement process, we combined the sensibility of British rock and some electronic music.”

"Because we wanted to showcase more complex attributes and emotions, and enhance the live stage effects, we still did a complete choreography... Besides, after all, we are a boy group, dancing is our main business."

Pool Kyung-won's last sentence made VJ laugh, and after ending the question and answer session, he went to find other members. Meanwhile, Pool Kyung-won didn't stay there, but returned to the resting room directly. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water and started gulping it down.

After a while, the members came back one by one, all exhausted. They found a spot, collapsed, and were too lazy to get up.

After drinking a few sips of water, Chi Jingyuan put on his glasses and started playing his game console. Besides the return interview and some special recordings, there wasn't much else to do. They could rest until the afternoon broadcast began.

Singing programs are really a waste of time.

This is great.

…………

"I had the same dream again, the endless desert stretching out to nowhere."

"A resplendent and magnificent city, vanishing in the blink of an eye."

With a distinctive, raindrop-like prelude falling upon an oasis, D.O.'s voice softly rises to sing the first verse of the lyrics, providing an excellent introduction to the stage for "Golden Age."

On the television screen, EXO's nine members stood scattered across different corners of the stage. Their black outer wear paired with light-colored inner garments painted the entire stage in a deep, mysterious ambiance.

The dim lights combined with the eerie melody seemed to pull every audience member into a distant, alien desert, witnessing firsthand as nine figures set off on a journey to find the Golden Kingdom and their own oasis.

The melody started softly and gradually became more upbeat. The originally loose formation on stage also slowly tightened up. When it came to Ji Jingyuan's part, the volume suddenly increased, and the accompaniment surged with power. The stage lights shifted from a cool tone to an intensely hot one. The song entered an exciting chorus.

"Glowing before us, we set off towards an unknown future."

Every step will become a legend.

"The Eldorado."

The neat dance displayed on each member's body, every time a person's part comes, the position changes quickly, back and forth constantly but not simply repetitive, making people dizzy.

The lyrics of perseverance and the passionate melody continuously touch people's emotions.

"What are you looking at"

Suddenly, a somewhat noisy sound came from beside her, pulling Kim Taeyeon back to reality from the captivating stage performance on TV. She frowned slightly, looking displeased at the source of the noise. Hwang Mi-young, who had gone to make a phone call earlier, was now sitting beside her at some point.

"Watch EXO's comeback stage today."

Just now, the feeling of being immersed in emotion dissipated. Kim Taeyeon pouted and explained with a shrug, her gaze returning to the television. However, the feeling of excitement that she had gotten from following the melody and stage just a moment ago was gone.

Girls' Generation is currently preparing for this year's album. Even though they have been active for 8 years, except during comeback periods, even if they prepare an album, each member has bought property and has their own social circle. Members of Girls' Generation rarely live in the dormitory anymore.

But they just released their Tokyo Dome concert from last year yesterday.

Their DVD is about to be released, and they will also be releasing the music video and audio for their ninth Japanese single soon. There will also be a fan meeting in the near future, so these days several members have gradually returned to the dormitory. The originally quiet house has become much livelier.

"Oh, right. XO is a continuous regression, I almost forgot." Huang Meiying patted her head and sat down beside her, also starting to watch the large screen in front of them. She didn't seem to notice Taeyeon's slight displeasure just now, and she kept talking: "Their comeback last month was particularly successful, so what about this month"

"Just make do, it's not great at the moment, anyway I see a lot of people online criticizing it." Kim Taeyeon seemed to be paying special attention, saying without looking back.

"That...but this song is actually quite good, the lyrics are pretty decent too." Looking at the television screen where the ending was nearing, Huang Meiyin couldn't help but comment.

"Rising like a tidal wave, we once again face it head-on."

"It will eventually resist the Golden Land of Dreams."

"Sailsailsail gottagottagogo…"

The sound emanated from the speakers, and on the TV, nine members stood in a line, striking their Endgpose. As cheers erupted, the screen gradually dimmed, signaling the start of this comeback VCR.

"That sounds pretty good."

Kim Taeyeon nodded and then glanced over with a smirk: "It's you who's been talking nonsense, ruining the atmosphere.

"Hehehe…" Despite being criticized on the spot, Huang Meiying didn't show any annoyance. Instead, she narrowed her eyes and smiled mischievously as she leaned closer.

What are you looking at

"Is it 《M! Countdown》 Oh, there's EXO's comeback stage today right I remember, how did Taeyeon come to think of watching this"

At this time, several voices and footsteps came. Kwon Yuri and Kim Hyo-yeon, who had just moved back to the dormitory this afternoon, walked out of the room next door and sat down on the sofa as well.

The reason I stayed to watch EXO's stage this time was because when I heard the song "Spring Day", I found Kim Taeyeon's style in this song very much to my taste. It's a ballad, but it's not a simple ballad; it's mixed with many styles like rock, which makes it both pleasant to listen to and incredibly fresh.

"The emotions expressed, as well as the high-quality and beautiful MV, are all things she had imagined for herself in a solo performance many times before. This song, 'Spring Day,' was also produced and written by Jiyoung (池景源), which made her very interested. She wanted to see the stage firsthand and see the level of this designated producer, as well as what elements she could incorporate into her future solos."

"Support Jingyuan's song, it sounds really good to me too."

However, Kim Taeyeon didn't say the reason, but just casually came up with an excuse to explain it.

Currently, she is the only member of Girls' Generation to have confirmed her solo schedule. Although the other members haven't explicitly said anything, she herself knows that they also have some opinions. Frankly, it won't be helpful and might lead to other interpretations.

Huang Mei-ying smiled but didn't speak, the two people beside her nodded their heads. As the VCR finished playing, the stage of "Spring Day" also fell silent, and they sat on the sofa watching seriously together.

In a background resembling a train station waiting room, EXO's nine members stand together with their backs to the camera. Warm lighting illuminates them, giving off a soft and bright feel.

I miss you.

After saying it out loud, I missed you even more.

A faint sense of melancholy permeated the intro, leaving an echo in your ears long after it ended. The stage officially began with Jin Jun Mien's opening performance.

After the opening pose, the people who were just huddled together dispersed instantly. The lights changed to a slightly reddish color, and several members appeared on the screen one by one in a long take. As they sang their parts while being followed by the camera, they showcased the entire waiting room.

As the last part of this main verse came to an end, D.O. appeared on camera, stood up from his chair and looked at the lens, guiding the scene with his body slowly moving backward until he reached a closed door.

Before the door, she turned and gently pushed it open. A blinding glare of light and a swirling haze immediately emerged from the other side, causing her eyes to momentarily sting. All vision was consumed by the light and smoke.

The next moment, the two disappeared. The camera panned, and the background on the screen had changed from the waiting room to the formal stage.

Snowflakes are falling, drifting away one by one.

I miss you.

"I miss you."

I miss you.

Two different backgrounds seamlessly blend under the edit. The transitions, with the design of opening doors and smoke, are perfectly integrated. In a flash of the screen, center stage member Ji Jingyuan takes over the melody and begins his chorus part. All the members who had just dispersed gather around him, starting a synchronized group dance.

The large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, enveloped by countless cherry blossoms and leaves, emitted a soft pink glow. Paired with the pale yellow orbs extending from the foliage, the wintery station had vanished, replaced by a stage seemingly blooming into spring.topic in the entertainment industry. After all, it's a new work by renowned writer Kim Eun-sook, who has successfully produced several TV dramas in a row. It is considered one of SBS's key projects fo...