Chapter Seventy-Seven: University

t in the car, everyone felt a little tired and slumped in their seats."Oh well, this concert ended suddenly. I'm still a bit unaccustomed to it." Wu Shixun felt listless, as if he was lost in thought...Although professional photography equipment was not allowed at the concert, and there weren't any too clear fan-taken videos circulating, it didn't hinder fans and audience members who attended the first performance from promoting and bragging about it afterward in fan clubs or their own circles. Shortly after the concert ended, several of EXO's fanbases immediately buzzed with excitement.

"The first show of the second tour was a complete success! I saw the first tour last year, and everything has improved so much, whether it's the lighting effects or the stage design. The atmosphere at the scene was especially good, with Alice fans cheering super hard. It was really enjoyable! I want to see it again..."

The stage effects and atmosphere were especially explosive, the oppas are so handsome!

"This year's second round was definitely better than last year's first round. Besides the obvious improvements in equipment like the big screen, lift, and lighting, the main difference was the inclusion of many new songs released recently. XO has had some really explosive comebacks this year with all their songs being hits. Hearing these popular tracks live really got the crowd going, and combined with some classic hits from before, it was non-stop energy from start to finish. It was truly amazing."

"By the way, there are also two unreleased songs, one of them was so energetic on stage that I wanted to jump up! It's a preview of the title track from their last single album "l", even though it's not the full version, it's really good and very catchy. After listening to it once, I could sing along!"

"And finally, the birthday segment for yuan was really touching. I felt like I was going to cry watching yuan, and I ended up crying myself! Ahhhh, it's over after such a long time, but my head is still full of the concert scenes…"

"New song! Plus a teaser for the main stage performance! And Yuan oppa's birthday, ahhh, I'm so envious..."

After the first show, the audience who attended went back and told everyone about it, causing a huge stir in the fan group. Many fans who didn't manage to get tickets for the first show, or even tried at all, were filled with envy.

The tickets for the first performance were already in high demand, and with it being May 13th, Ji-Seong's birthday, this coincidence made the day even more special. All his fans were incredibly excited and looking forward to it.

Unfortunately, the over 10,000 tickets for the first show were still a bit too few compared to the large group of fans willing to pay and the number of passersby drawn in by the name. Many original fans who couldn't snag tickets on the first day felt deeply disappointed.

Now that those who were there in the first place have finished watching the whole thing, my heart is filled with sourness.

"How about the new main theme, is there audio"

"It sounds really good, the style is very distinctive, and the melody is catchy. I've already learned the chorus."

"I'd love to hear it, could you sing it for me"

"kkkk teasing!"

……

After various announcements, reports, and leaks raised expectations and curiosity from fans and the public alike, EXO continued with their second performance on the 14th. While some fans were disappointed by the absence of a birthday celebration for Chanyeol, the event concluded smoothly without any issues.

And on the 15th, EXO as a whole group appeared with their manager at Yonsei University's campus located in Seodaemun, Seoul.

May is the anniversary month of Peninsula University, and every university will hold grand celebration activities to bring various colorful events to students. May 15th happens to be Teachers' Day, which is also a very important day for many schools' anniversaries. On this day, a large stage will be set up in the most spacious place, inviting popular artists to perform. Most of the on-campus students will come to watch, and some schools will even open their gates to welcome guests from all directions to participate in the celebration, making it a lively and relaxing carnival.

As the hottest idol group, especially popular among young women, EXO naturally received many invitations from schools. Unfortunately, the celebration dates of several schools coincided with EXO's concert schedule. Additionally, due to performance fees, a realistic consideration was made. After careful deliberation, the only available date, the 15th, was ultimately given to Ji-sung’s alma mater, Yonsei University.

Such a lively scene naturally makes people want to go for a stroll, but no matter how curious, work is always the priority. Ji Jingyuan and his group went directly to the main stage after finishing their styling at the beauty salon in the early morning. After greeting the school officials, they began queuing up for rehearsals.

"The sun is so fiery, yet your heart is still as water."

"Whose fault is it, we used to love each other so much, babe…"

Behind the main stage entrance, Ji Chang-wook stood beside several members who were quietly chatting, listening to the rehearsal music of the hip-hop duo Leessang. His body swayed lightly, his arms crossed and kept time with the rhythm and melody.

He still likes this song "The Woman Who Can't Be Separated" quite a bit.

Today, Yeonsei University invited many popular artists to perform. Besides the popular EXO, there are also many familiar faces. Aside from a few who I just greeted backstage, Leessang is one of them who is currently rehearsing.

Because the stage was hastily set up, the backstage area was also quite rudimentary. The space itself wasn't large to begin with, and it had to accommodate several groups of artists and their managers, assistants, as well as school organizers and student volunteers who were helping out. With so many people coming and going, it was very noisy and poorly soundproofed. Some artists found it unbearable and simply came out to join the excitement instead of staying backstage. This was the case with EXO, for example.

While listening to the music, Ji Jingyuan looked towards the stage.

This is a large open-air theater located within the Yonsei University campus. It's quite spacious and has a circular shape overall. The seats start at the stage and gradually rise in a regular staircase pattern, creating a vast and empty expanse when viewed from afar. The ring-like shape also makes the sound particularly noticeable. The music playing through the speakers echoes around the theater, coming and going.

At this time, because it was too early, the students hadn't arrived yet. However, the venue could hold a very large audience. Chi Jingyuan, who had once performed a solo school anniversary performance, knew this very well.

If there are no surprises, the main stage for Yenching University's anniversary celebration will be here. He was invited last year because of his student status and already has some experience.

I haven't participated in a university's anniversary celebration yet... How is the atmosphere at Yanse I heard it's quite lively.

After looking around, Wu Shixun and Kim Jun Myeon mumbled a few words to each other before asking Chi Kyeong-won.

This is EXO's first time participating in a school anniversary performance since their debut. Many members haven't really experienced being college students and joining in the festivities, so besides Park Chanyeol, everyone else has little to no experience.

"It's pretty lively, you'll know how many people there are once the afternoon session starts. It's not less crowded than a concert, even better atmosphere." Ji Jingyuan nodded, he understood this very well as his college years were filled with abundant emotions and time.

After answering, Ji Jingyuan's expression became strange. He turned to look at Wu Shixun, with a curious expression: "Xiu ge is going to take graduate school entrance exams now, why didn't you think about taking the college entrance exam back then Aren't fans saying that you could get full marks in high school math"

The tone was full of jest and provocation, causing the few guys nearby to chuckle.

This meme is really making those in the know chuckle.

“In response to him, she gave him a roll of her eyes and a raised middle finger.”

"By the way, Jingyuan, it seems like things are really lively here at Yonsei. You're studying here, right Maybe you can take us on a tour later" Kim Jun-myeon seemed very interested in Yonsei. After looking around, he suggested this.

Seeing that several people were interested, he made a gesture and said: "We'll be free after rehearsals. We can go for a walk then."

}]

Speaking of Chi Jingyuan, although his grades are average and he doesn't come to school often, these years, he has been just so-so during the final exams. He is not really a good student. However, he still cares about his alma mater. After all, it was the school he seriously studied and got into. Among a group of junior high school educated artists on the peninsula, he, who also has a high level of education, would naturally feel some pride. Of course, he wouldn't refuse such things.

"OK, rehearsal!"

After waiting for almost an hour, it was finally EXO's turn. The nine members in casual clothes greeted the staff and walked onto the stage, instantly attracting the attention of many college student volunteers.

Soon the music began, and EXO, standing in formation, started moving to the rhythm of the music, rehearsing.

Today they had a stage with a total of 5 songs, counting the greetings and breaks, it was about sixteen minutes of performance time, which is already a very long performance.

The anniversary performances usually start in the afternoon and last until evening. Because the time span is quite long, each performing group naturally has a lot of performance time, like Leessang just now. Their stage time was almost forty minutes, with ten songs performed, it's no different from a mini concert.

Although for school anniversary performances, some economic companies often charge a reduced performance fee, some companies are more calculating about it. Moreover, the fees charged by different-level groups naturally vary. As EXO is currently the hottest group, their performance fee is naturally the highest tier. These days, news has been circulating online, possibly leaked by someone, that for Yonsei University's anniversary celebration, EXO's five-song stage performance cost nearly 100 million Korean won. This figure is considered exorbitant for a school anniversary performance case.

As EXO's first time participating in a school anniversary performance, the performance fee is honestly quite high. This price could hire three or four groups of first- and second-tier boy bands to perform at school. Like Leessang who just had their rehearsal, ten songs' worth of performance, probably costs less than a fraction of EXO's fee. The difference is still very noticeable.

This hefty fee, estimated that not many schools could afford it, makes Yenching University one of the wealthier ones.

That's why these top universities spend a lot of money every year to invite popular artists to perform, because the tuition and dormitory fees at Peninsula High School are quite expensive, and students actually have a say in the lineup for the school anniversary. If students are not satisfied with the performance lineup invited by the school, they can directly voice their dissatisfaction on platforms like SNS.

If the lineup invited is very strong, it will naturally make students very satisfied. It can play a promotional role at the same time, and can also, to some extent, show off the school's prestige and financial strength.

And inviting idols to perform at school doesn't necessarily mean everyone has the opportunity to see them for free. Some schools are open to the public, allowing visitors to come and go freely because they might have invited some less popular third- or fourth-tier groups.

However, conversely, some wealthy schools can afford a luxurious lineup of performers like Uncle Bird and EXO. These schools may also have very strict management and not sell tickets to the public or open them up. They may even strictly check student IDs, such as Chung-Ang University and Kyung Hee University, which only allow undergraduate students to participate and even check the photos on their student IDs.

They're doing alright.

The main stage setup was pretty ordinary, just a simple 'earthy' shaped stage with various lighting and sound equipment arranged around it. Behind the stage was a large LED display screen. That was about it; there weren't any fancy bells and whistles like fireworks or a lift.

The theater is large, but the stage area is quite small. It's fine with fewer people, but for a large group like EXO with nine members, they have to stand horizontally in a row, otherwise, even if they stand diagonally, they can't form a straight line. In the end, one or two people are squeezed out.

When they started rehearsing, Ji Jingyuan and the others discovered the problem.

Besides, the equipment and lighting placed at the edge of the stage also took up a considerable amount of space, compressing the dancing area. When there were many people, many formations and movements couldn't be arranged, the formations weren't neat, and some dance moves couldn't be fully extended. This actually affected the overall stage effect quite a bit.

However, it's a school anniversary celebration, not a concert. For many students, seeing celebrities is enough. This kind of performance...

The main thing is the atmosphere.

Of course, the attitude should still be serious.

"Let's go."

Rehearsal ended, he greeted his manager, and Ji Jingyuan led four members who seemed quite interested away from the main stage, preparing to explore Yen-sei's campus.

The five of them were dressed in casual clothes and without masks, wearing hats as they strolled leisurely along the road. Aside from Park Ji-sung, the other four—Woo Shi-hun, Kim Jun-myeon, Do Kyung-soo, and Byun Baek-hyun—seemed very interested in the scenery and cultural landscape around them, constantly looking left and right.

"Our school's location is pretty good. The only downside is that you can't take the subway directly to it... There's an affiliated hospital right next to our school. I went there once, and the equipment is quite advanced; it's a pretty modern hospital. It would be very convenient for students to see a doctor."

"Over there is the library, and the building next to it has the school emblem on top. The symbol of Yan Shi's emblem is a torch and a library, representing truth and freedom. It embodies the fundamental spirit of Jidu teachings, although I think it's not very interesting..."

To visit, Chi Jingyuan led a few people back to near the school gate and started walking inside again. As they walked, he pointed at things around them and gave introductions. This student transformed before several members into a tour guide. Although he didn't know much, some things were from books or what he heard from others, it was enough to let these culturally-uneducated high school students briefly glimpse the humanistic charm of this renowned university on the peninsula.

"Deep inside there's a well-known spot, one of the oldest buildings at our school. I think it was built in 1922. I believe it's called 'Yin Dongzhu Dormitory,' or something like that. But I've never been there and don't know much about him."

"Don't you know Yin Dongzhu He was a very famous poet in modern times." Bian Beixian glanced at him, his tone and gaze both a little strange.

"I know Yoon Dong-joo, he used to study at Yonsei University..." Wu Shixun couldn't help but immediately reveal a mocking expression: "You still have the nerve to say you're a current student of Yonsei How many times have you even come back in the two or three years you've been enrolled"

He accidentally let it slip and felt a bit awkward, but Ji Jingyuan had already practiced his nonchalance. He acted as if he hadn't heard anything and continued to nod while walking ahead.

These five people were still quite eye-catching, after all, their aura was distinctly different from that of ordinary university students. Some people on the road couldn't help but glance at them when they saw them, and naturally they were full of surprise after seeing their faces.

However, as a very famous student on campus, Chi Jingyuan was quite well-known among his peers. He encountered many classmates every time he went to school, so it didn't cause much of a stir.

"It feels... a bit ordinary." After walking for a while and looking around, Kim Jun-Myeon hesitated, smacked his lips slightly, and seemed a little disappointed.

As one of the most famous universities on the peninsula, it has a big reputation. However, after visiting for a while, they didn't feel like an academic holy land as imagined. It wasn't particularly elegant or modern, just ordinary.

"Indeed, if we look at the style and overall ambiance of the single-wheel building, it's not particularly outstanding. In terms of elegance and retro charm, it pales in comparison to Korea University. As for modernization and hardware facilities, it definitely falls short compared to Seoul National University."

Chi Jingyuan doesn't deny it, the facts are there. At first, he felt that way too.

He didn't explain much, but instead led several people towards the latter half of the school. They crossed several roads and walked deep into the schoolyard. A row of classical-style teaching buildings suddenly came into view, making everyone fall silent. The green vines and ivy climbing the walls added a sense of profound tranquility to the building and its surroundings, as if they had arrived in a medieval garden.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the fresh air seemed to be pregnant with a deep and profound atmosphere.

In the heart of this place, vestiges of its founding in 1885 still remain, whispering tales of a bygone era. A profound historical aura permeates the very air, yet despite being just a few hundred meters from the previous area, it evokes a completely different sensation.

That sense of time transcending thickness comes not only from the walls covered in creeping vines, but also from the emerald-green, aged brick and the elegant antique window sills.

Chi Jingyuan glanced back at the few people who were obviously shocked by the environment and atmosphere, smiled without saying a word.

This is the most essential part of the school he attends.

It seems that they were intimidated by the weight of the school's humanistic landscape and cultural historical atmosphere. Several high school students became quieter, and their eyes looking at Ji Jingyuan held a hint of envy.

This is indeed a very good place.

“It would be great if I could get into Yan Shi’s graduate program in the future.” After walking around for a while, he glanced at the time. Ji Jingyuan took a few people to grab some food and came out. On the way, Bian Berhyen looked at the growing number of students around him and sighed with emotion.

"Awesome!" Ci Jingyuan gave him a thumbs-up and praised him sincerely.

To be honest, he knows best how painful it is to balance the busy idol schedule with studies. This guy, along with people like Kim Gyu Seok, are still thinking about raising their academic qualifications and pursuing graduate school. They're really amazing.

"In front was a small open-air theater, which often hosted various events. During school celebrations, it also served as a stage to invite performers. However, in terms of excitement and scale, it was still a notch below the main stage."

Pointing ahead, Ji Jingyuan briefly explained to the members, "There's a spacious, stepped plaza at the end of the road under the shade of a tree. "

During the school anniversary celebrations, there are almost daily artistic performances. Not only do they invite popular artists of the moment, but also many student-led performances from within the school itself. Aside from the grand main stage, which is the most elaborate and attracts the largest audience, there are also smaller open-air theaters hosting various performance acts. Occasionally, well-known artists will even make an appearance in these smaller venues.

"Are there any performances here today" Kim Jun-myeon casually asked, then recalling his feelings from the tour, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Looking at it this way, Yonsei University is really quite good. The greenery, scenery, and cultural atmosphere are all great... Speaking of which, I remember a lot of TV dramas have been filmed here, right"

"Well, there are quite a few. I remember some more famous ones like "If Love Had Wings," and "My Savage Girlfriend." Oh, and "IRIS," Kim Tae-hee is really beautiful in it."

"It's a shame..."

Chi Jingyuan nodded, thought for a moment, and then mentioned a few well-known television dramas he was familiar with. Finally, he sighed softly, as if regretting something.

"There's also the one from "Reply 1994" that Go Ara played, I've seen it," Doh Kyung Soo chimed in at this time.

"Do you have it I haven't seen that one. Do you still have time to watch these, oppa Do you know Gao Yala" Ji Jingyuan led them towards the small theater and glanced at Doo Kyung-soo after hearing this, casually saying so.

"We're from the same company, of course we know each other," Do Kyung Soo said with a hint of exasperation.

"I'm not saying this kind of acquaintance, I'm saying... never mind."

"Jingyuan, don't you think that someone else's 1994 is more popular than your 1997, so you're jealous and don't want to watch it" Wu Sehun psychologically speculated maliciously.

"How is that possible... 《1997》 is the first in the 'Please Answer' series, it was way more popular than 《1994》, okay Can you even see Plus, don't you know who the male lead is"

A few people bickered and argued their way into this small open-air theatre. The audience seats were still empty, but there was quite a bustle on stage. Several crew members and volunteers scurried about, and there seemed to be someone who looked like an artist rehearsing.

There's a performance here too.

One person curiously asked a question, and several people prepared to get closer to take a peek. They had only taken a few steps forward when several tentative greetings suddenly came from behind them.

"Senior..."

Feeling a slight sense of familiarity in the voice, Ji Jingyuan's steps faltered. He turned back along with the others, and as soon as he did, several familiar faces came into view. This made him blink involuntarily, and his lips twitched slightly.

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networkith such great results this time, did you ever imagine it before" After setting the mood, Kim Chang-ryeol asked."A little bit," the three members looked at each other, Kim Jun-myeon nodded without con...