Second Try Idol

“Hello, everyone! It's been quite some time since we've had the pleasure of meeting you live like this, hasn't it?" Ji Byeok-San began. His voice was infused with warmth as he greeted the viewers. “For today's session, we've planned an exciting opportunity to engage with all of you, alongside the sensational Chronos members."

The cast marveled at the rapid flow of messages.

“Wow, just look at the speed of the chat."

“Chronos' popularity truly is remarkable."

As soon as the live broadcast kicked off, the chat became a blur of rapid messages and signaled the fervor and anticipation of the fans. The live stream of Slacker Number One was always well-received, but with Chronos' powerful allure, the impact was unparalleled.

The cast members themselves couldn't help but let out exclamations of amazement as Ji Byeok-San chuckled lightly and effortlessly continued steering the show. “The reason we've joined you live today revolves around our special topic, right, director?"

He smoothly passed the baton to the production director, who promptly elaborated on the rules of today's engaging game.

“Yes. Starting now, you, our dear viewers, will have the chance to view music videos produced and edited by each team. We invite you to vote for the video that you like the most by following the link below."

“Shall we first reveal what each team's theme is?" Ji Byeok-San suggested, his tone teasing a surprise.

There was a brief moment of tension among the Slacker family, but they quickly regained their composure and seamlessly supported Ji Byeok-San in the proceedings.

“Hyun-Woo and Yoon-Chan, please step forward and share the themes.”

“Ah, yes!" Park Yoon-Chan was visibly the most tense, and Suh Hyun-Woo appeared more at ease yet still somewhat shy with the audience. They took steps forward to the camera while holding papers that concealed the awaited themes.

- LMAO look at how shy they are!

- I can feel their awkwardness through the screen lol

- hahaha both are so adorable aww

- Where is the link?

The audience's warm chatter continued, offering words of encouragement to alleviate the palpable tension. However, these messages flew by too swiftly for the nervous pair, who were focused intently on their task.

“Shall we reveal the themes now?" Ji Byeok-San prompted.

“One, two, three!" The entire cast joined in the countdown, and the two revealed each team's theme at its climax. [Kang Joo-Han] and [Red Riding Hood Cha Cha].

The chat exploded with reactions.

- ?

- ???

- LOL, what am I even watching right now? CHA CHA? 😂

- Cha Cha is insane LOL!

- AHAHAHAHAHAHA

- What the heck

- “Kang Joo-Han” out of nowhere...?

“Yes, we've selected songs that relate to our guests, Chronos, for this challenge.”

- But those are… lol

- They only chose the ones that Chronos members are embarrassed with the most haha

- What the heck is “Kang Joo-Han?”

- He is Chronos’ leader, but it’s the title of the song too LMAO

- Cha Cha 😂😂😂

The audience responded with a flurry of LOLs and confusion, and their rapid-fire of laughing emojis filled the chat. The themes were meant to be humorous, yet the overwhelming favorite for its unexpected hilarity was “Cha Cha.”

This track, unlike “Kang Joo-Han” which had limited exposure, was infamous due to its aggressive promotions and iconic thumbnails on UNET. This made it a well-known piece of Chronos' colorful history. It was called both a dark past of Chronos and a legendary turnaround song that first made Chronos known to the public. Of course, the description was largely intended as a playful tease.

- 😂Kang Joo-Han AHAHHA

- Never expected I would hear that song here lol

- Joo-Han 😂😂😂

- Cha Cha and Kang Joo-Han? Ahahaha what a combination

Those who were commonly known as muggles(non-fans)[1] laughed at “Cha Cha” while the Rings laughed at “Kang Joo-Han.” Either way, viewers could deduce from the Rings’ reactions that “Kang Joo-Han" was just as comically entertaining as “Cha Cha.”

As the laughter subsided, Ji Byeok-San remarked. “You see? The reactions are fantastic. I knew they were famous for a reason."

“I didn’t expect people would like them this much.”

With the initial amusement giving way to excitement, Suh Hyun-Woo and Park Yoon-Chan returned to their seats. Ji Byeok-San was also slowly wrapping up the conversation. “Shall we move on to watching the music video we filmed?”

“Isn't the team that presents first at a slight advantage?"

“Does the voting start now? If it starts after both videos have been shown, wouldn't the second music video be in a more advantageous position?"

The cast engaged in a spirited debate over the strategic timing of their presentations, only to be settled by the director's clarification that voting would commence after all videos had been shown. This prompted them to engage in a playful round of rock-paper-scissors to decide the order.

Throughout this lively exchange, all eyes of Rings remained riveted on Chronos. Goh Yoo-Joon and Lee Jin-Sung, who were becoming the popular extroverts of the idol world, rolled up their sleeves and participated in a rock-paper-scissors competition.

“Why don’t you throw a rock, Senior?" Kang Joo-Han pondered aloud.

“Do you want to take the lead, Joo-Han? The audience would definitely prefer seeing you in action."

Kang Joo-Han was now comfortably close to the much-respected senior On Jeong-Woo, and he beamed a bright, infectious smile. “Then, shall I do it?" he asked, his voice laced with hopeful anticipation.

It seemed he was about to seize the opportunity. However, Suh Hyun-Woo, ever observant, quickly stepped in to interject. "Hyung..." Suh Hyun-Woo's previously shy and awkward demeanor vanished, replaced by a sheepish grin. “May I try instead?" he suggested. His eyes gleamed with a playful challenge.

Kang Joo-Han hesitated before replying, “...You want to do it?"

Suh Hyun-Woo's warm and genuine laughter seemed to sweep Kang Joo-Han off his feet, leading him to gracefully step aside and offer the spotlight to his beloved friend. “Go ahead, then.”

The Rings burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers at this exchange. Suh Hyun-Woo, typically reserved and less expressive, had shown a rare side of his personality much to everyone's surprise and delight.

Was this endearing side of him only revealed in the presence of the original team members? It seemed likely, especially since his charming, gentle smile was destined to become a popular gif on social media later.

Suh Hyun-Woo's transformation was notable as he wasn't usually one to stand out with bold expressions or many words when cameras rolled. His persona was built around a calm, affectionate maturity with occasional glimpses of playful sincerity. It was a trait that made one think of him as Goh Yoo-Joon's close confidante.

As the cheerful and grinning duo of Kang Joo-Han and Suh Hyun-Woo continued their playful banter, the Rings couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected dynamics unfolding before them.

“Who is the member with the most aegyo[2]? It's definitely Hyun-Woo."

Kang Joo-Han had once remarked this offhandedly during a live stream on Q-app. His statement, though seemingly casual, might have carried more truth than usual. This reflected a genuine appreciation for Suh Hyun-Woo's endearing qualities.

Meanwhile, Suh Hyun-Woo breathed a sigh of relief, a quiet chuckle escaping him. He then leaned closer to On Jeong-Woo, who looked puzzled by the ongoing antics, and whispered, “Joo-Han... hyung is surprisingly bad at rock-paper-scissors."

Kang Joo-Han was often forgetful of his own gaming weaknesses, and he would occasionally be reminded of that during crucial moments.

‘I can't let Joo-Han hyung lead in such a crucial moment.' Suh Hyun-Woo thought to himself, his concern not just for the game but for maintaining their team's strategy. After all, the game's prize was one million won[3].

“Is Team ‘Kang Joo-Han’ ready?"

“Yes!" came the enthusiastic reply.

Joo So-Dam represented the opposing team and stepped forward confidently. The game of rock-paper-scissors concluded swiftly, with Suh Hyun-Woo securing a surprising and easy victory.

“Wow, it's rare to see So-Dam lose at rock-paper-scissors!" Gun-Seok exclaimed as he was visibly impressed.

“Our member who's the best at rock-paper-scissors is definitely Suh Hyun-Woo," Goh Yoo-Joon affirmed with pride evident in his voice.

“We will take the second turn," Suh Hyun-Woo said while setting the stage for what was to come.

"Our ‘Red RIding Hood Cha Cha’ might have been expected to be very funny, but this time we tried producing it with a luxurious concept," Joo So-Dam explained.

Can “Cha Cha” be luxurious? The viewers listening to Joo So-Dam's explanation could only think of 'the magic pendant' in their heads. It was Chronos' representative B-grade concept song, and the original was a children's animation soundtrack, quite cute and bubbly like a nursery rhyme. How luxurious could it get?

“Ah, ‘Red Riding Hood Cha Cha?’ That's too forced a concept~"

Kim Do-Rim and other cast members dismissed it as nonsense.

Joo So-Dam grinned and showed her palm to the camera. “Just watch."

- Luxurious Cha Cha is too much LOL

- I am confused haha

- Might be good though?

- Oh, it’s starting now!

- Dang… Cha Cha will devour not only comedy and power but luxury too;;

After Joo So-Dam spoke, the screen gradually darkened and soon her team's music video began to play. The sound of heels was the first thing they heard.

- ???

- What’s the vibe?

- ??????

- They said they just filmed this... Why is the quality so good? What the?

- The color is insane.

On the brightly lit stage, a woman with high wheels confidently walked in.

- Is this fit for Cha Cha?

Like the person in the chat mentioned, “Red Riding Hood Cha Cha” was nowhere to be found in the seriousness and refined visuals. The woman in high heels stopped in the middle of the stage. The camera moved slightly away from her feet and then slowly moved up to reveal her face. As everyone expected, it was Joo So-Dam.

- Wow, unnie…

- Oh my, look at that beauty... She is a goddess

- Wow

- Make sure to post the music video after the broadcast ends, or I will take legal action!!!

- 😂 So unnecessarily serious in the chat... She really is pretty, though.

Joo So-Dam was in blush suit trousers and jacket, a white shirt, and her hair was tied in a single ponytail. She flaunted an image of luxury reminiscent of a lead character in a Korean drama.

- So-Dam unnie… Please do your main job occasionally[4] I can't just see this beauty in variety shows…

Joo So-Dam was under the lights of the opera house and glanced toward the empty audience seats. She raised the violin she was holding and was ready to play. Although playing the violin was always highlighted as her specialty, she had limited pieces she could perform and they were used more as a comedic element in variety shows.

As much as the viewers were in awe, the reaction of the cast behind the scenes became a source of curiosity. The cast's reaction would only be visible in the actual broadcast. Joo So-Dam's performance began. It was the same piece that the Slacker family members teased her about.

- 😂 she made a grand entrance, but the piece she’s playing is Canon

- So-Dam is playing Canon again lol

Despite being a good piece, it had become a punchline among the Slacker viewers, and the chat room quickly filled with laughter. Alongside the luxury, Joo So-Dam certainly secured the laughs. Then, another set of heels was heard. This time the footsteps were heavier. Joo So-Dam's playing stopped, and the screen shifted to show a man's feet.

Tap, tap-

The camera quietly moved up from the stage to the legs of a man walking out. He was dressed in a stylish suit. It was Goh Yoo-Joon.

- Holy fucking cow. He is so freaking handsome!!!

- My internal bond with Yoo-Joon just shattered… He is just too good-looking even for my delusions…

- My goodness…

- The Chronos member is so good-looking^^ What’s his name?

- Our second Cha Cha, Goh Yoo-Joon!

- You crossed the line with that suit, Yoo-Joon… Can we even look at this with the naked eye? It’s too dazzling 😶

- Then wear sunglasses

Joo So-Dam, who had directed the entire music video, captured Goh Yoo-Joon's appearance very well. Goh Yoo-Joon looked at Joo So-Dam as he approached without a hint of a smile, and then frowned, averting his gaze. Then, he casually walked to the piano positioned in the back, plopped down on the chair, and laid his hands on the keys.

- Is this really Cha Cha???

- Doesn’t feel like Cha Cha at all…

- Feels more like a well-made music video or movie

- I didn’t know Yoo-Joon could play the piano WHOA

As everyone marveled at the unique visuals and the luxurious appearance of the two, their duet began. Piano and violin. The melody that resulted from their fingertips was, of course, “Red Riding Hood Cha Cha.” The viewers’ immersion was instantly broken.

1. Korean K-pop fans use the term "머글" (muggle) to describe non-fans, humorously likening them to ordinary people without magical powers, similar to the term's use in the Harry Potter series. ☜

2. 애교 (aegyo) is all about showing off cute, sometimes childlike behaviors to charm and endear yourself to others. ☜

3. Korean currency. ☜

4. Actress. ☜