Chapter 98: Fan Meeting
“Ah…….”
Muyoung woke up, clutching his head as if it were about to crack. The sun was already high in the sky, about to set. If it weren’t for the scorching thirst, he could have slept longer.
“Are you awake?”
“Hyung? Oh…… What time is it now?”
“One thirty. Being young is good. I wouldn’t have been able to get up today if it were me.”
He handed Muyoung some honey water. The wrap-up party that started last night went from the first round to the second, and even to the fourth round. What started as a light champagne toast at first turned into rounds of bomb shots as time went on.
“I didn’t make any mistakes yesterday, did I?”
“Huh? Don’t you remember?”
“No. I remember up to the third round, but—whoa—the moment I put the bomb shot to my lips in the fourth round, I blacked out. I just woke up now.”
At his words, Gyeongmin shook his head in admiration. He had also stayed with Muyoung until the end last night. Instead, he didn’t drink a single drop of alcohol, using driving as an excuse. Watching from the side, Muyoung didn’t seem drunk at all.
“You were completely fine. You even handed out chocolate milk to people, and you put the PD and everyone else in taxis to send them home. You even had hangover soup with me when we got back.”
“Me?”
It was Muyoung who was surprised instead.
Did he have a second personality? His mind was gone, but his behavior was proper, it seemed. He laughed and rubbed his face against the pillow.
“Ugh. I don’t know. Hyung, can I sleep some more?”
The first wrap-up party he’d ever experienced was really, really fun.
The first round was a classy affair where they popped champagne and exchanged elegant thank-you speeches in a luxury lounge, but as time went on, it turned into a party like a school trip—pour it, drink it!
“Um. Until evening.”
“What’s happening in the evening?”
“I have to go shoot a commercial. ROS.”
“Oh. I see. Then I’ll sleep a little more. I need to sleep more to make my skin firm when I go.”
It was probably because there were members around the same age. Since he hadn’t enjoyed college life much, Muyoung had his first experience with drinking games just yesterday. Wow. He didn’t know it would be so much fun.
“Oh, by the way, has the fan meeting date been set?”
“When?”
“Next weekend.”
It seemed too rushed, but there was no choice. Since it was an event tied to a viewership rating promise, it had to be done before the finale’s excitement ended.
“That’s too soon.”
“That’s how it is. This week is the last broadcast.”
“Hmm. How many people are coming?”
“Applications are being accepted at the cafe today. I’ll try to accommodate as many people as possible. The details are still being worked out. Leave that to the company, and you prepare for your personal event.”
“Oh. Songs and dances.”
He hugged the blanket and pondered.
It would probably be best to do one of the theme songs from You Are a Star, I Am a Star, right? But since some people like me because of The Plague, I should do something more popular, too.
“Hmm. Okay, I’ve decided.”
“Already?”
He covered his mouth with his fingers, as if he had it all figured out.
“Yes. Something classic would be best. I’ll need some help from Romin, though. Oh, by the way, I wonder if he got home okay.”
Muyoung looked for his phone.
There were dozens of calls and texts, mostly greetings from staff or unknown numbers.
“It’s weird. I’ve been getting a lot of calls from unsaved numbers lately.”
His phone used to ring only once a day, and even that was rare. At those words, Gyeongmin sipped his honey water and said,
“Don’t communicate too much with the staff.”
“What? Why?”
After months of working together and going through hardships, wouldn’t it be okay to stay in touch? They were precious connections, weren’t they? But Gyeongmin was firm.
“You can never know what’s in someone’s heart. Let’s go change your number soon. Or get a second phone. Personal information leaks easily these days, so you have to change it periodically. Especially for celebrities.”
At his words, Muyoung slumped down, looking dejected.
It would be hard to connect with people comfortably now. Well. If you gain something, you have to lose something like this, too. He nodded as he sent a reply.
“Okay. But what’s the fan meeting schedule?”
“The boss told me to ask you—”
“I’m fine with all day.”
“—I thought you’d say that, so I recommend two hours. Considering that concerts are also about two hours. Muyoung.”
“Oh. Should I? Okay, that’s fine!”
“And it would be nice to have one invited celebrity at the fan meeting. Is there anyone you’d like to ask?”
“An invitation?”
“Yeah. Because of the guest performance, the volume will get bigger, I guess.”
“Enbin or Romin? Oh! There’s Yuna, too.”
“……Yuna would be good, too, but it would be better to ask a Zero Term member. I’ll ask around, and if there’s no one, the company will find someone.”
Muyoung drew a circle with his finger, looking satisfied.
It was fortunate that the biggest part of his schedule, the shoot, was empty, leaving him with a lot of free time. He began to plan the event in his head.
[Actor Ha Muyoung’s First Fan Meeting & You Are a Star, I Am a Star 30% Viewership Thank-You Event]
The title was written on a dark blue pamphlet.
Below it was the program.
-Part 1-
Entrance guidance announcement
Sponsor CF VCR.
Official fan cafe cheer VCR and opening congratulations message
Opening and Ha Muyoung’s thank-you speech
-Part 2-
Watch VCR of memorable scenes from The Plague and You Are a Star, I Am a Star
Behind-the-scenes filming talk
Post-it talk with fans
-Part 3-
Congratulations performance
-Part 4-
Autograph session and gift presentation
Ha Muyoung’s letter reading and closing
“Wow. That’s long.”
Muyoung muttered, looking at his face engraved on the back. There’s so much to do. It’s good that I listened to Hyung and decided to do it for two hours.
“Muyoung. Don’t move.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
It was the day of the fan meeting. Muyoung was getting his makeup done and finishing up his event preparations. It had turned out to be a bigger deal than he thought.
“Is the sponsor really Musicss?”
“Yeah. So there will be a lot of reporters here today, so do well.”
“Wow. I’m going crazy.”
Thanks to that, there were no expenses coming out of the company, and the fan meeting was free, too.
Whether you look at it this way or that, it’s a great opportunity for both of us. Muyoung smiled, holding his trembling hands.
“You’ve practiced a lot, right? Are you still nervous?”
“Don’t even ask. I even had a dream about it last night.”
He had spent almost two weeks in the practice room preparing two performances. One was Doha’s theme song, and the other was a dance performance. Doha’s song was okay since he’d been doing it for months……
“What if people say it’s an eyesore?”
“It’s okay. People watch it for that kind of fun, so what’s the problem?”
“What if everyone says they’ll come but then doesn’t, and I’m left dancing alone on an empty stage……”
“Why is he like this today?”
“Aaaah. I’m going crazy—”
There were a total of 150 people coming to the fan meeting. It was a large enough crowd to fill a small event hall, and it was both a burden and an expectation for Muyoung. He checked his shirt and let out a nervous sigh.
“The break time between Part 2 and Part 3 is only 10 minutes, plus Romin’s performance is 10 minutes, so that’s exactly 20 minutes. I’ll need to do my makeup quickly during that time, so please get ready.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have the wig and setting ready in advance.”
“The base is already applied, so I just need to touch up the eyes and lips a bit.”
While the manager and the stylist checked the schedule carefully, the dressing room door opened. It was Romin. He waved with a bouquet in his hand.
“Hyung. Hi.”
“You’re here? Thanks for coming.”
“Nah. It’s our drama’s promise, and you’re the one taking the lead on it, so of course I had to come.”
“Are there a lot of people outside?”
At Muyoung’s anxious words, Romin made an inscrutable expression, as if it were a secret. He fiddled with the flowers and said,
“I’ll give you this on stage later. Hyung, fighting.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah.”
“Mr. Ha Muyoung. It’s about time for you to go out now.”
“Yes! Just a moment!”
The start of the fan meeting was drawing near. Muyoung checked his shirt, slacks, and neatly combed hair one last time. Since it was the first time meeting the fans, he wanted to look as neat and handsome as possible.
“Hyung. By the way, has the fan club name been decided?”
“Huh? Yeah, it’s been decided—”
“Mr. Ha Muyoung!”
“Yeah! I’m going! See you later, Romin!”
At the event coordinator’s call, Muyoung hurriedly ran out into the corridor.
There were staff members following him, carrying clothes, props, and makeup tools. It was chaotic.
“Fighting!”
Leaving his younger brother’s cute cheer behind, Muyoung arrived at the back entrance of the event hall.
As he opened the door and stepped in, he saw the dimly lit auditorium. The backs of people’s heads were packed in the audience seats.
[You’re—falling for my charm—]
On the big screen above the stage, a ‘Musicss’ commercial kept playing on repeat.
There were even reporters sitting in the front row.
Wow. This is ridiculously nerve-wracking. Then, the screen changed, and gentle music played.
[The most beautiful actor in the world, we support you, Ha Muyoung.]
One by one, fans’ handwritten messages of support appeared on the screen, along with Muyoung’s face.
[You are our Muyoung National Treasure. We’ll always protect you.]
[National Treasure Actor Ha Muyoung!! I love you!!]
[Guardians will be by your side. Muyoung.]
Muyoung’s fan club name was Muyoung National Treasure.
Their nickname was Guardians. Muyoung smiled unconsciously as he watched the video. His nervousness gradually subsided.
“Yes! Hello, everyone. I’m Kim Ji-hoon, the MC for Ha Muyoung’s fan meeting today! The program is as follows—”
After the fans’ cheer VCR ended, the MC introduced himself. Now, it was time for Muyoung to appear.
“—Now, let’s welcome the main character, Ha Muyoung! Mr. Ha Muyoung!”
At his call, Muyoung walked down the stairs. The fans, who thought he would appear from backstage, were startled and shouted.
“Huh?”
“It’s Muyoung!”
“Where? Where?”
He rushed down the stairs and grabbed the microphone. The audience seats were packed full, with no empty spots. Muyoung bowed and waved with a smile.
“Hello. I’m Ha Muyoung. It’s really nice to meet you, Guardians!”
“Waaaah—!”
Muyoung and the fans waved at each other, sharing their affection. The sound of reporters’ cameras clicking mixed in, too.
The fan meeting, which started like that, proceeded smoothly in a hot atmosphere. Despite the short preparation period, there was no shortage of anything.
“This question here is interesting. ‘Muyoung, I really enjoyed the drama. But I heard you’re tone-deaf. Is that true? ㅠㅠ’”
“Wow. Where did you hear that? Unfortunately, yes. It’s true. Hahaha.”
“That’s strange. You seem to sing very well.”
“It’s really strange for me, too. When I think of it as acting, it works. I met Ciwon hyung the other day, and he was surprised, too.”
“Oh, by the way. We can’t leave out this topic. The music ghost, I mean. There’s a question here.”
Sitting in a chair and chatting with the MC, Part 2 went by in a flash.
Finally, it was time to perform on stage. The MC grabbed the microphone and wrapped up Part 2.
“That was the end of Part 2. We’ll take a 10-minute break and then start the congratulatory performance right away. Muyoung, get ready.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Muyoung greeted the Guardians and quickly went backstage. The stylist was waiting with cosmetics in hand. Red lipstick was applied to Muyoung’s lips.
“Quickly, quickly!”
“Where are the clothes?”
It was chaotic, like a concert backstage. The break time was already over, and the MC’s voice and the OST of You Are a Star, I Am a Star could be heard.
“Mermaid Prince Jeongmin, Romin of Zero Term!”
“Kyaaaah!”
That meant there were only about four minutes left!
With dark eyeshadow and a sharply drawn eyeliner, long wavy hair in a wig looked naturally elegant, as if it were his own.
“Muyoung, you’re done.”
“Shoes, here!”
Even with killer heels on, he stepped onto the stage with a trembling heart. His long legs were exposed in a skirt that was open on the sides, swaying gently as he walked.
“You’ve waited a long time! Baek Ji-yoon’s Coming of Age Ceremony!”
“Kyaaaah—!”
Da- da-da-da—
As the familiar prelude played, Muyoung placed his hand on his waist. The backup dancers were also dressed the same.
Romin, who was watching, covered his mouth with both hands and held his breath. He thought it would be funny……
‘It suits him way better than I thought.’
The smooth waves were no joke. Muyoung put on a deadly gaze and let out a laugh. He ran his hand over his red lips and winked!
“Kyaaaah!”
“Muyoung! Aaah!”
With just one gesture from Muyoung, cheers erupted.
If it weren’t for his physique, he would have looked like a real woman, his face was so pretty.
His nicely toned muscles were subtly visible under the lights. Everyone was enjoying themselves and shouting for a while, but soon they lost their words and became engrossed in Muyoung.