“True, the main writer just mentioned character roles.”
Seo Ye-hyun nodded, looking like he firmly believed he was faithfully fulfilling his role as the reliable eldest. I debated whether to tell him the truth, but Ryu Jae-hee spoke up first.
“We all know what concepts we’d like to try, except for Eden, but I think we should put those aside.”
Usually smiling and playing the role of the mood maker, the youngest member’s expression was unusually serious.
‘Did I miss it because he’s always smiling?’
Seeing him with a serious face made me realize he looked more mature than I thought.
“One of the things fans care about is the dynamics within the group. But to be honest, our group’s dynamics are a mess right now.”
Ryu Jae-hee asked for forgiveness for speaking bluntly and continued with a composed expression.
“Let’s be real. Dobin hyung gets nervous around Eden hyung more than anyone else, and whenever Eden hyung and Ye-hyun hyung are together, they bicker or argue.”
“Hey, but we’ve been fighting a lot less lately!”
“You two were bickering just five minutes ago.”
It’s not like we lost our initial charm because of discord; it’s just that we had a friendly conversation.
Feeling wronged, I unconsciously turned to look at Seo Ye-hyun, who was also looking at me with the same expression.
Our eyes met briefly before we quickly looked away.
“And Ha-jun hyung, you still only feel comfortable around Eden hyung in the group.”
The focus shifted from me and Seo Ye-hyun to Gyeon Ha-jun.
I thought there wasn’t much to criticize about him, but it seemed Ryu Jae-hee saw things differently.
“Ha-jun hyung sees me and Dobin hyung as younger members he needs to take care of, which is fine. But it’s obvious that he still feels awkward around Ye-hyun hyung. We’re all in the same team, after all.”
“Well, I’ve spent more time with Eden, so…”
Gyeon Ha-jun tried to explain with an awkward smile, but Ryu Jae-hee cut him off.
“It’s obvious to me that even when Ye-hyun hyung and Eden hyung argue, you side with Eden hyung.”
As one of the people involved in this, I couldn’t agree at all.
What about all the times Gyeon Ha-jun scolded me?
“Even if Eden hyung is at fault, you’re the one apologizing to Ye-hyun hyung on his behalf. That’s why their relationship remains strained, and things stay awkward between you and Ye-hyun hyung.”
Why am I the common thread in all these messed-up dynamics?
I thought I’d been relatively calm and well-behaved this time around, so why am I being blamed for the group’s dysfunctional relationships?
“If this gets shown on air, we’re going to have rumors of discord.”
“So we did our best to package it for the broadcast.”
“Right, we packaged it.”
Ryu Jae-hee scoffed at Seo Ye-hyun’s retort and my agreement.
“If we did, I wouldn’t be taking this seriously. Unfortunately, the roles and dynamics the fans perceive aren’t very positive.”
Ryu Jae-hee first targeted Seo Ye-hyun, whose ideal image clashed most with reality.
“First of all, Ye-hyun hyung has become the role of a lousy eldest who looks to the leader for guidance whenever he makes a choreography mistake. And since we don’t have much content outside of our performances, Eden hyung gets blamed for being too harsh on him.”
“Not reliable but lousy? Why? Wait, but it’s true that I’m being harsh on him. Except for the ‘lousy’ part, they got it right.”
“Do you want me to really scold you?”
“See! Again! Hyungs, it’s been less than five minutes since you said we don’t fight much anymore!”
“Maknae, I’ve told you many times, this isn’t fighting. By my and Ye-hyun hyung’s standards, this is a very affectionate conversation.”
“No, I don’t think this is an affectionate conversation, even by my standards.”
Even if I keep my cool and say this is an affectionate conversation, it won’t help.
Ryu Jae-hee sighed and looked at me, rubbing his temples.
“The fans see Eden hyung as a perfectionist and controlling producer who’s serious about music. This is a double-edged sword. If we’re not careful, you’ll get labeled as authoritarian and controlling towards the members. You’re already getting criticized because of Ye-hyun hyung.”
Why should I get blamed because of someone else?
I liked the image of a producer serious about music, but I wanted to avoid the other two negative perceptions, knowing how much criticism they bring.
And with that image, I didn’t think I could complete the quest.
“We’ll skip Ha-jun hyung. There’s nothing much to say about his on-screen image. Just keep doing what you’re doing on camera.”
Gyeon Ha-jun nodded in relief.
Then Ryu Jae-hee turned his gaze to Kim Dobin, who was looking at him with the most expectant expression and bright eyes, and let out a heavy sigh.
“Dobin hyung, you need to tone down your comedy. Fans say you’re not funny. They only see you trying hard to be funny but failing, which just draws more criticism. And with your already fragile mentality, can you handle that?”
“I’m… not funny?”
Kim Dobin asked repeatedly with a shocked expression, mouth agape.
Did he really think his jokes were funny all this time?
“You’re naturally funny just by being yourself. Don’t try so hard.”
Ryu Jae-hee gave a half-hearted pat on the back and continued.
“As for relationships, we’re fine since we’re seen as close and we actually are.”
“Huh, we were close?”
“Come on, hyung. I’m serious here. If you keep joking like this, it won’t help. Seriously, it’s not funny.”
Kim Dobin slumped his shoulders at Ryu Jae-hee’s reaction, and I awkwardly patted his back.
“Yeah, Dobin, watch your timing when you jump in.”
[A message about fostering discord among members has been detected.]
[Initial Intention -1]
Great, stop sending these messages. How are you supposed to live as a comedian if you get offended by such things?
Despite our shared gloom, Ryu Jae-hee continued.
“The problem is the hyungs. When the three of you are together, it feels like Ye-hyun hyung is left out. I can’t force you to be closer, but you can’t let this show on camera.”
With the long time Gyeon Ha-jun and I had spent together at our previous agency, it was natural that Seo Ye-hyun had little room to join in.
But that’s our business, and in front of the fans, we know we have to smile and get along no matter what.
Knowing this is one thing; actually doing it is another.
“So what do we do?”
“Since Ye-hyun hyung has already been labeled as clumsy, Eden hyung needs to change. Eden hyung should show a softer side and yield to others outside of music and practice. If you keep butting heads without compromise, it’ll fuel rumors of discord.”
Ryu Jae-hee explained his reasoning as I raised my eyebrows, not liking his suggestion.
“The ideal leader who mediates and cares for the members has already been taken by Ha-jun hyung. So Eden hyung should aim for an image of being strict with music but more relaxed and accommodating otherwise. I think that’s the answer.”
When Ryu Jae-hee mentioned something similar before, I thought he was trying to get on my nerves. But listening to him now, I found myself nodding in agreement.
If this concept is a good fit, it would be great. If not, I’ll just have to come up with something else.
I guess I’ll go with this for the hidden quest.
[▷ Set the concept ✓
▶ You have completed the task of setting a concept desired by fans.
▶ Concept for Yoon Eden: Strict with music and performances, but otherwise laid-back!
▶ You receive 10 Initial Intention points and a random ticket as rewards.]
Was this really the right answer?
While I stood there, dumbfounded by the quest completion message, Ryu Jae-hee continued to define the images of the other members.
“Since Ye-hyun hyung already has an established image, just give up on being the reliable eldest and instead embrace being the clumsy eldest, the one the members tease. Eden hyung, just stick to what I suggested, Ha-jun hyung, keep doing what you’re doing, and Dobin hyung, tone down the jokes. Maybe act more like a dog, or a puppy.”
Even if Ryu Jae-hee was lying, the quest completion message didn’t lie, so I nodded.
“How did you find this stuff when I couldn’t?”
“Just type ‘sub account name’ into the search bar. But hyung, you should just keep searching your name like you’ve always done. I’ll handle the responses from the shadow fandom, so don’t look into the abyss.”
What kind of abyss does he usually see…?
“What’s my sub account name?”
Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked, but Ryu Jae-hee refused several times, warning me I might regret it.
Finally, when I insisted that I wouldn’t regret it and urged him to tell me, he reluctantly revealed one of my sub account names.
I steeled myself for what I might find, but the posts were surprisingly mild.
**Revyou @IREVEYOU**
Our Ediin, please keep this hairstyle foreverㅠㅠㅠㅠ Silver hair with a slicked-back undercut is killing all the fansㅠㅠ
(Allrightornight_gif.)
**REVE_official @LnL_reve**
Replying to @IREVEYOU
Why do you write ‘Ediin’ instead of ‘Eden’?
I was staring blankly at the account that had been deleted after just one refresh when Kim Dobin, blinking beside me, muttered,
“Hyung, your expression look like a raccoon that got wet in cotton candy. Raccoon… I want to eat raccoon noodles. Of course, I don’t mean that literally, so don’t misunderstand, Ye-hyun hyung.”
“What kind of stream of consciousness is that?”
* * *
**Myeon @mmannn**
What? Why did Revyou delete their account?
**(Locked) Byouje @hamzziiiiuj**
Replying to @mmannn
Eden replied from the official account asking why they used the sub account name instead of 2E’s name.
**Myeon @mmannn**
Replying to @hamzziiiiuj
2E? Is 2E Eden’s new sub account name? LOL
But 2E seems like the kind who would just search his name straightforwardly and never look up sub account names. How did he find out?
**(Locked) Byouje @hamzziiiiuj**
Replying to @mmannn
Guessing it was probably Jae-hee who told him. Jae-hee is seriously a master at finding sub account names. I think they’ve changed his own sub account name like five times already.
***
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