Chapter 122: The Singer in the Memories (7)

*Warning: The fan reaction that comes out at the beginning is a bit lengthy, but I've expanded the narrative to ensure it complements the main storyline rather than overwhelming it. Please enjoy the reading without concern!

[Community Board] [HOT] Chronos Just Visited My Dad's Restaurant!!!

This place is a hidden gem, tucked away in a remote and rural market. I had to do a double-take when I saw them. I'm not exactly a fan of Chronos and can't name all the members, but there was no mistaking their identity. Their faces are a regular feature on music shows. The reason for their visit was a mystery, but they arrived with a man who looked like their manager. They then joined a strikingly charismatic granny and a kiddo, who are frequent visitors to our restaurant.

For those familiar with Chronos, here's a bit of a description: one member had platinum blonde hair, oozing an attractively wild vibe that's a sure hit with fans. Another had a rather intense look, reminded of a tough but popular kid at school, and the third was fucking beautiful, with large, expressive eyes and a gentle attitude. Fans will likely recognize them from these clues.

Anyway, the granny they came with is known for her vivid hair color and distinctive presence (my dad mentioned she was once a famous singer), and she initially came alone. I thought she came to grab lunch by herself, but Chronos and the kiddo joined her after that. From what I could tell, the child seemed to have tied all three Chronos members' hair into small buns with red hair bands, which made them look like they had hearts or apples on their heads—absolutely hilarious! Lol.

It was so amusing to see these tall, imposing guys having such playful accessories, and they tried hard not to show their discomfort, LMAO. It seemed like they were having a hard time with the kiddo, haha.

I refrained from taking pictures because it didn't feel right. Feel free to drop your questions in the comments!

Comments 862

└Enough with the made-up stories

ugh...

└Please don't post stuff like this on the Chronos forum... No one's buying it.

└This sounds like Hyun-Woo, Yoo-Joon, and Yoon-Chan with their manager and an old-time singer. Maybe they are working on a new project?

└Lolololol, did they seriously keep walking around with those hair bands? Lololol. Aren't they too proud to handle such embarrassment? Lololol.

└└Writer here. The kid was pretty stubborn about them not taking the hairbands off lol. The one with the platinum hair seemed really bothered by it and kept trying to untie it, but the kid was having none of it,

AHAHA

.

└Why on earth would Chronos show up in some rural area? Seriously, why are people believing this...? No way... This is just made up... It's exasperating, please stop believing such nonsense...

└Actually, it's true. Hyun-Woo and Yoon-Chan might set aside their pride if there's a reason, but Yoo-Joon probably felt the most embarrassed in that situation. He's surprisingly the most down-to-earth among them.

└└Yeah, that's right lol. Yoo-Joon usually goes along with things until he can't handle the embarrassment anymore, then just laughs it off. He's relatively less crazy

haha

.

└The thought of them with hair bands is just too adorable,

Awww

. And them being all flustered by the kid lol I wish they had taken a photo and shared it.

└└Yeah, I couldn't hear everything, but they seemed to be very polite to the kid. They were quite respectful and kept thanking me. Even my dad said he liked them.

└But really, what was the purpose of their visit? If Chronos was meeting an erstwhile famous singer, all under the watchful eye of their manager, it couldn't have been just a casual encounter.

When the witness post first surfaced on the community forum, most fans were skeptical about it. They either dismissed it as a mere fabrication or diverged into discussions about the character interpretations of the members. The original poster was not even a fan of Chronos, so the post was brushed off as just another attention-seeking user.

However, it wasn't long before this post was elevated to legendary status. This was due to the emergence of candid shots of Suh Hyun-Woo, Goh Yoo-Joon, and Park Yoon-Chan on

BlueBird

, the popular social media platform.

Yoon-Chan's Sunflower @dkdjjj0305 · 1 minutes ago

OMG, it wasn't just clickbait, it’s real... What the...

(Hyun-Woo, Yoo-Joon, Yoon-Chan with apple hair, walking in the market with Ro-Ah.jpg) Comments 8 Retweets 2.7k Likes 4.1k

Even in a tranquil rural area, perhaps the fact that it was near a university district contributed to the rapid spread of this news. Images poured in like a cascade—depicting the members who were towering over 180cm, strolling blankly with heart-shaped hair bands, and attentively caring for the child.

Though fans initially suspected a made-up story, they couldn't help but admit that they had always wanted to see them with this kind of “apple” hair. They then laughed and eagerly saved the photos to their galleries.

With the appearance of the new staff, speculations about the change of Chronos’s manager appeared. Someone also identified the famous old singer as Yeong-Yee from the same agency, parking theories of a potential agency-wide collaboration.

Fans were abuzz with various theories, eagerly anticipating Chronos members to shed light on this matter. As a result, their expectations for the upcoming project soared.

On the other hand, having successfully wrapped up their meeting with Yeong-Yee, Chronos gathered in a small conference room with their team staff.

***

As the last week of “Blue Room Party” schedule approached, Jin-Sung finally got his cast removed. However, it didn't mean an immediate return to the stage as a separate rehabilitation period was necessary. In the end, Jin-Sung concluded his participation in the “Blue Room Party” choreography without ever joining it.

“It's already the last week of October. Time flies so quickly," said Supervisor Kim.

Was it just my imagination, or did Supervisor Kim's notebook appear more worn than usual?

The final week of October, leading into the first week of November... While this held true for many professions, the entertainment industry entered its busiest period until early January. With various award ceremonies and special broadcasts scheduled for December, Chronos found themselves inundated with invitations, thanks to their significant impact in the latter half of the year.

“The peak season is upon us, but let's all unite and pull together. Su-Hwan, ensure the kids don't wear themselves out. Try to keep event schedules to a minimum."

“Understood."

Supervisor Kim flipped through his notebook and mentioned, “For now, Chronos is aiming for a comeback in January, following the end of Allure's activities."

“...That seems a bit tight."

“They are rookies after all. It's better for rookies to have frequent broadcast exposure. The concept will be a continuation of the Chronos universe narrative, following the previous concepts and 'Parade.’"

Supervisor Kim's words prompted Producer Do to glance at Joo-Han with half-lidded eyes. “Joo-Han, would you like to be involved this time as well?"

“Am I allowed?"

“Of course. Who else would work on 'Blue Room Party?’" It seemed Joo-Han's working style had resonated well with Producer Do.

Momentarily lost in thought, Joo-Han quickly nodded in agreement. “I'd be honored!"

Amidst discussions about collaboration stages for award ceremonies, Chronos's remix stages, and their schedules with Yeong-Yee, everyone was buzzing with excitement—a stark contrast to their “Blue Room Party” comeback. As the meeting progressed, the members became increasingly nervous, realizing it was their first time facing the idol year-end season.

As for me, having observed the hectic end-of-year schedules of top-tier agency idols during my time as a trainer, I knew they would somehow manage when the time came. However, this perspective was solely from the staff's point of view.

Supervisor Kim turned another page in his notebook. Even the experienced planning team, who had orchestrated several year-end seasons before, looked visibly overwhelmed, gasping at the packed schedule. Spearheading the Chronos project, Supervisor Kim spoke and everyone listened intently.

“I know it's a bit late, but should we consider establishing an official fan club for Chronos? It seems like a crucial step, not only for the members but also for our planning team, who will undoubtedly have to put in extra work."

“Umm... yeah. That makes sense," agreed the planning team leader, nodding with a mix of tears and determination.

The creation of the official fan club was somewhat overdue, particularly given that the fan name 'Ring' had been coined early on. This delay highlighted YMM’s lack of experience in the idol industry, despite the strong unity among the fans.

“Let's start recruiting for the first official fan club soon, and we'll plan the inaugural ceremony following our comeback activities in February."

“Wow, an inauguration ceremony," Jin-Sung whispered in awe.

Mr. Seong responded, “Stay focused. We have a lot to do. Jin-Sung, make sure you concentrate on your rehabilitation."

“Okay!"

“And... that's a wrap."

“Thank you, everyone!" With that, our scheduling meeting came to an end.

***

Although we had a packed schedule ahead of us, it was the manager's task to distribute it appropriately, ensuring we could adapt without overextending ourselves. The immediate priority was our collaboration with Senior Yeong-Yee and today's final performance of “Blue Room Party.” As this performance marked the start of a two-month break, we pondered how to best convey our gratitude to the fans.

After much deliberation, we came up with an idea.

- Hello, this is Tucan! We just stopped by the waiting room to see someone!

- And hello, this is Ji-Eun! Let’s meet Chronos, a candidate for first place today!

“Two, three! Hello, we are Chronos! Nice to be back!"

- Welcome, Chronos. Congratulations on being nominated for first place again this time.

“Oh, thank you so much. We are truly grateful."

- Could we hear your thoughts on being nominated?

Prompted by Tucan's question, I eagerly grasped the microphone and replied, “Yes, we are absolutely thrilled to be considered for first place continuously during our promotion. We promise to keep delivering performances that won't disappoint anyone!"

- Excellent. And if Chronos were to secure first place this time, what kind of special celebration can we expect?

Goh Yoo-Joon seized the microphone and chimed in, “Well, if Chronos does win first place again, we plan to read a letter we’ve prepared for our beloved Rings to the tune of 'Blue Room Party!’"

Our way of expressing gratitude was straightforward and sincere. We had spent time brainstorming the content of the letter since yesterday, and I was curious to see if the fans would appreciate our heartfelt efforts.

- Alright. Let's see who will clinch first place today. But first, could Chronos please introduce the next performance?

As Tucan wrapped up, Jin-Sung mimicked a phone with his hand to his ear. “...Are you asleep[1]?"

Following suit, Yoon-Chan mockingly held his hand to his ear, casting a disdainful glance at Jin-Sung. “Jin-Sung! Are you asleep!?"

“

Ugh

!"

Yoon-Chan groaned in mock irritation and brought his hand to his ears while looking at Jin-Sung’s face with a disgusted expression. Then, Jin-Sung spoke again. “Are you asleep? Are you asleep!”

“Ugh!” Yoon-Chan withdrew his hand and shook his body as if he got a chill to his spine. Then, Joo-Han walked between the two and said, “Salla is singing ‘You Should Change Your Number.’”

“Music, cue!"

“...Okay!"

“Thank you!"

Our pledge for first place concluded, and the camera crew swiftly exited the scene.

“You've got our support. You always perform exceptionally well."

“Good luck, everyone!" Yoo Ji-Eun and Tucan were impressed by our resolve and cheered us on before leaving the waiting room.

After that, I leaned back on the couch, unwinding a bit.

“If we win, Hyun-Woo, you start with the letter. Remember, it’s all about matching the beat and capturing the right emotion."

“Me first? Alright, got it." I nodded in agreement with Joo-Han’s direction and then turned to look for Goh Yoo-Joon. “Hey, where did Yoo-Joon go?"

“Yoo-Joon hyung? Uh, maybe the restroom?"

“Oh, really? I wanted to sync up the harmonies with him."

“Haha. Not sure." Jin-Sung shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding my gaze.

...Avoiding my gaze? That was suspicious.

“What is going on?"

“What do you mean?"

I widened my eyes, starting to count the people in the waiting room. Goh Yoo-Joon was missing, the manager was absent, and so was Yoon-Chan. Here were just Jin-Sung, Joo-Han, and me.

“There’s something you are hiding. Jin-Sung always has a reason for avoiding eye contact."

“No, I swear there's nothing!" Jin-Sung protested, but Joo-Han laughed softly.

“Don't worry about it. Just sit back and relax. Remember, you've got some practice in the evening."

“Hmm. Okay, for now," I answered.

The fact that Joo-Han wasn’t taking my side and was siding with Jin-Sung instead made it clear that they were hiding something. However, I decided to let it go, considering our upcoming performance.

Soon, Supervisor Kim, Goh Yoo-Joon, and Park Yoon-Chan returned to the room. Goh Yoo-Joon fiddling with a cushion was a clear sign that they were up to something.

‘Today's a special day, isn’t it?'

“Excuse us, Chronos, please head to the stage for your performance!"

“Right away!"

My moment of contemplation was interrupted by the stage staff. In the backstage, I shook off the usual nervous energy.

“Suh Hyun-Woo is still as nervous as in his first performance. Got stage fright?" Goh Yoo-Joon teased, patting my back and guiding me toward Joo-Han.

I placed my hand over Joo-Han’s. “It’s the final performance of 'Blue Room Party.’"

“Let's nail it!"

“Let's deliver a flawless performance, leaving no regrets."

“Absolutely!"

“Chronos!"

“Let's shine!"

Together, we shouted our motto as the MC introduced the “Blue Room Party.” We stepped onto the stage, greeted by the Rings’ cheer. It was the culmination of our debut activities. Our final performance was about to begin!

***

“And the winner for the final week of October is... Chronos! Congratulations!" With the resounding cheers of our fans echoing around us, fireworks burst into the sky, and bouquets and trophies were presented to us. To attain first place from our debut to the final performance was an extraordinary honor for a rookie idol group. As I held the last trophy, I was overwhelmed with an indescribable feeling.

“Share your thoughts, Hyun-Woo," Joo-Han said, handing me the microphone and trophy. Despite the sudden task of expressing our sentiments, I quickly gathered my thoughts.

“Thank you so much. It's truly an honor to have ranked first until the very end. This achievement is all thanks to the unwavering support from our behind-the-scenes team and most importantly, our beloved Rings. We are immensely grateful and promise to return with even better albums."

- Congratulations to Chronos once again. We will see you next time on

Countdown

. Thank you!

As the intro to “Blue Room Party” started playing, Yoon-Chan, who had just returned from backstage, handed me a letter. I then cleared my throat and unfolded it, preparing to read it. Despite “Blue Room Party” being a trendy hip-hop track, its slower beat seemed fitting for a letter reading.

“To our beloved, dear Rings," I started, reading slowly along with the beat.

“Kyaaaaak!"

As I was startled by the fans' roaring cheers, I looked up to find they weren't cheering for me but something else.

“...What?"

“Hyung, happy birthday!"

Goh Yoo-Joon and Yoon-Chan were slowly approaching with a cake. ‘

...Oh, that's right

.’ It was my birthday today. Following that incident, it had been so long since I had celebrated with a cake that I hadn't given much thought to my birthday.

1. Must be the concept of the next song performance lol ☜