Director Ryan Will has come to Korea. Seo Jun sent a video, and it hasn't even been 24 hours. How urgently he came, Ryan Will's luggage contained only a few scripts and a wallet.
Then the conversation between Seo Jun and Ryan Will began.
After the greeting, Ryan Will didn't say a word and just scrutinized Seo Jun.
Director Ryan Will's eyes examined Seo Jun from head to toe, just like the first time they met, with a serious expression.
Seo Jun, trying to suppress a smile at the solemn expression, lifted his head proudly.
He wanted to show off. He wanted to boast. The video he sent had that much value.
After a long while, Director Ryan Will, who had been staring intently, finally spoke.
"You've become ordinary."
"Huh?"
That was an evaluation Seo Jun never expected. Was it bad? Seo Jun tilted his head.
"Before, even when you just smiled, you gave off a good and kind vibe."
Ryan Will tilted his head to the side. Seo Jun's head followed Ryan Will's movement.
"Now, I don't feel anything. You're ordinary."
"Is that good?"
"For now."
Seo Jun's question made Ryan Will nod.
"You need a blank canvas to paint it white or black. It's a good thing."
Silence fell between the two again. Ryan Will wiped his face.
"How did you do it?"
Ryan Will, who had been silent, finally spoke after lowering his hands from his face.
"Until the last video, to be honest, it was the worst."
"Why are you saying it if you're sorry?"
Seo Jun pouted. He wasn't really hurt. Because Director Ryan Will's eyes and the way he opened the door and came in told him otherwise.
"That's in the past. Now..."
Ryan Will answered with a very satisfied look.
"You're the best."
Seo Jun's eyes rolled at the sudden praise. He thought he might get some praise, but he didn't expect to be called the best outright. But soon, the joy of being praised made Seo Jun laugh.
"Right? I did really well, didn't I?"
"Yeah. That's why I burned all the revised versions."
"Revised versions?"
The image of Jonathan jumping out of bed in shock at the late-night burning of the revised versions flashed through Seo Jun's mind but was quickly dismissed as Ryan Will nodded.
"If you couldn't fix it before shooting, I was going to try to minimize your appearance."
That was the first time Seo Jun heard this. He wondered if he wasn't trusted, but the disappointment was short-lived. Seo Jun nodded, understanding Ryan Will's thoughts. After watching the seven months, no, eight months of practice videos, he would have done the same if he were the director.
It was really,
the worst.
An awkward and strange child who tried to act like a villain while exuding a good and kind vibe. It felt like he was trying to mimic something that didn't work.
Who forced him to say such things? That's what Seo Jun thought.
Seo Jun shuddered and said,
"Even if I acted according to the original script, people would only feel the awkwardness in my acting."
Ryan Will nodded. He continued to smile. As soon as he saw the video, he took out the first script.
Comparing the cold child in the video to William, he was more than excited. He couldn't wait to come to Korea.
"But now, there's no need for that."
"Hehehe."
The two smiled, dispelling the serious atmosphere. Ryan Will's eyes sparkled.
"Can I see it in person? Is that okay?"
"Sure!"
Seo Jun got up from the chair and clenched his right hand.
[(Evil) The Sad Fragrance of a Solitary Flower - Lowest Tier - has been activated.]
[(Evil) The Sad Fragrance of a Solitary Flower - Lowest Tier]
Within a 10-meter radius, only this flower blooms.
It looks like a weed, and no one knows it's a flower.
Smelling the flower's fragrance makes one feel sad.
And,
In front of Director Ryan Will, there was a child who had been abused and resented the world.
Director Ryan Will was satisfied with Seo Jun's acting. He then prepared to return to the United States.
Although it felt like he had only been in Korea for 10 hours, the couple, who wanted to tell him to rest before leaving, closed their mouths at the fierce gleam in Ryan Will's eyes.
Seo Jun's acting in person had a different atmosphere from the video. Ryan Will, eager to return and revise the script, took the earliest flight back to the United States without even an hour's rest.
After Ryan Will left, Seo Jun boasted to his parents. The couple, who had seen Seo Jun's acting, praised him for how well he did. Seo Jun fell asleep very satisfied.
Excited to go to the evil library and read the two open books, he thought. Only two doors were open, either because he lacked enough malice or time. But he felt that soon, the same number of doors in the good library would open.
"I hope the good library opens soon! What books will be there!"
The couple, seeing their son, who had been gloomy for eight months, fall asleep with a smile, also went to bed happily.
And the day dawned.
It was the weekend, so Seo Eun-hye went out to meet her friends, and today, Lee Min-joon was staying with Seo Jun. After eating the delicious lunch prepared by his father and brushing his teeth, Seo Jun suddenly looked in the mirror.
Huh?
There was nothing where it should be on his head. The thing that always sparkled,
"Spit it out!?"
Seo Jun spat out the toothpaste foam and quickly rinsed his mouth with water, then looked in the mirror again. No matter how he looked, the number was gone.
"Dad! Call the others! Video call!"
"What?"
"Call the others!"
Lee Min-joon, confused, made the video call. The only "others" Seo Jun was talking about were BrownBlack.
BrownBlack would be busy with practice or schedules, so he called Seo Eun-chan, who had become the CEO of Cocoa Entertainment and was likely to be free.
Seo Eun-chan, who happened to be with BrownBlack, took the call and passed the phone to BrownBlack.
"Whoa! It's gone!"
-What? What's gone?
Seo Jun's eyes widened. The number indicating the bond of [Orchestra Conductor's Connection - Low Tier] that should have been floating above BrownBlack's heads was gone.
Suddenly, the beads in Seo Jun's mind fell with a clatter.
"Impossible!?"
Did they fall and reset? Isn't it too easy to reset?!
Wait.
How long has it been since the beads fell? Seo Jun, lost in thought, didn't even hear BrownBlack calling him and started counting on his fingers.
Opening the library door, waking up, sending the video, Ryan coming the next day, and now it's morning again.
It's only been three days!
Three days should be fine. Seo Jun had heard from Uncle Chan that BrownBlack was on a break because of the former CEO of Cocoa Entertainment.
Of course, even on a break, they would have been preparing for the next album by singing, but still, three days.
It's only been three days.
Seo Jun asked urgently.
"Guys, how was practice yesterday?"
-Practice? It was the same as usual?
"No, more like... something's off. Like, the timing is off or the skills have dropped."
BrownBlack shook their heads, confused.
-Not since the Christmas Eve stage. We're in sync now.
Seo Jun buried his face in his hands. No way. These guys can't know the effect of the skill. What should he do?
His mind raced. Seo Jun suddenly lifted his head.
"Guys, what are you doing today?"
-We have a fan meeting. It's been a bit shaky this year. Do you want to come?
"Will there be a stage? Will a lot of fans come?"
-We invited as many as possible because everyone has been through a lot. Of course, there will be a stage. We're called LiveDolls, after all.
Seo Jun nodded at Park Seo-jin's words.
"I'll come. When does the fan meeting start?"
-Um, at 1 PM, but if you come now, you'll be a bit late. There's a 6 PM session. Do you want to come then?
"No! I want to go now! Dad! Let's go!"
Lee Min-joon was startled by Seo Jun's urgency. He was about to say, "It might be late if you go now, how about 6 PM?" but closed his mouth and quietly gathered his phone, wallet, and car keys.
Because his son's burning eyes made it clear he wouldn't give up.
Seo Eun-chan sent the location via text. It was far, at least 30 minutes away, but his father decided to put in the effort for his son. He sent a simple text to Seo Eun-hye.
"Quick! Dad! Quick!"
Seo Jun stomped his feet. Lee Min-joon, despite Seo Jun's urging, drove at the speed limit for his son's safety.
Fortunately, there was no traffic, and they soon arrived at the fan meeting venue.
"Seo Jun! Brother-in-law!"
Seo Eun-chan was waiting outside the fan meeting venue, looking equally surprised.
Seo Eun-chan led the two inside. The staff and stage crew greeted Seo Eun-chan as they passed.
"What's going on all of a sudden?"
"Uncle! Has it started already?"
"It's already started. The kids are on stage now."
Seo Jun's mouth dropped open. No way! As he stomped his feet, Seo Eun-chan's voice came like a ray of light.
"Meet them backstage after the first part."
"Will they sing in the first part?"
"They already sang at the start of the fan meeting. They'll chat with the fans and sing another song at the end. There are more stages in the second part."
Seo Jun let out a sigh of relief. If they don't sing twice, they can make up for it in the second part. The LiveDolls' reputation can't be tarnished! He was so worried he felt drained.
Seo Jun, who had been stomping his feet and urging, suddenly calmed down. Seo Eun-chan and Lee Min-joon exchanged glances. What's wrong with him? I don't know. Lee Min-joon shook his head.
Seo Eun-chan, scratching his cheek a few times, spoke.
"Want to go see the fan meeting from over there?"
"Sure!"
"Okay. You have to watch quietly, right?"
"Sure."
Seo Jun held Seo Eun-chan's hand and headed to the seats.
They were close to where the fans were sitting, but everyone was so engrossed in BrownBlack on stage that they didn't notice Seo Jun and Seo Eun-chan entering.
Choi Si-yoon, on stage, was the only one who noticed and gave them a nod. Seo Jun waved back. Lee Min-joon, who had called Seo Eun-hye to explain the situation, sat next to Seo Jun.
BrownBlack was chatting with the fans on stage. The three of them sat and watched the fan meeting.
It was time for the fans to read the notes they had prepared. There was a particularly common theme. Hwang Ye-jun, holding the microphone, laughed and said,
"This one is the same. 'CEO Seo Eun-chan, please take good care of BrownBlack! We appreciate it if you treat us like when you were the manager.' Seo Eun-chan has already received this many notes."
Hwang Ye-jun placed the note on the table. The stack of notes had similar content.
"We're really happy that Seo Eun-chan is the CEO. We can now speak freely about what we want. We hope he stays the same in the future."
The fans clapped enthusiastically at Park Seo-jin's words. They trusted the kind and reliable Seo Eun-chan, despite his intimidating appearance. They wished for good luck for the future of Cocoa Entertainment.
"Uncle, you're awesome!"
"Hehehe."
Seo Eun-chan, flattered by his nephew's praise, smiled awkwardly. Although it was his first time as a CEO, with so much support, he felt he could do it.
The first part of the fan meeting passed quickly, and preparations for the stage marking the end of the first part began.
Seo Jun, who had become anxious again, clenched his fists. The guys were doing well, but he was worried if they could satisfy the fans who had seen so many stages without their skills.
Dum dum dum!
The music started. The fans, who had been chatting happily, cheered as BrownBlack appeared on stage with serious expressions.