Chapter 248: Again After Rainfall (24)

[Pre-release] Editing clips of our babies made my gums dry, Watch how they play #AgainAfterRainfall #CheckThisOut #Rings

A video about ten minutes long with a subtitle saying "A perfect day for a walk" showcased the scenery outside the dorm before focusing on Suh Hyun-Woo, who was inside.

[Everyone's enjoying their own leisure time~]

With the change of subtitle, Suh Hyun-Woo was lying on a pure white bed and fiddling with his phone. He appeared unusually relaxed. This tranquil moment was accompanied by a peaceful song suitable for meditation. Fitting subtitles before continuing to provide a soothing vibe.

- Haha!

Suh Hyun-Woo burst into laughter as he sat up. His bright smile was enhanced by the sunlight streaming through the window, and was so charming, it made even the viewers on the other side of the screen smile.

- Where are you?

His affection-filled expression toward the phone, his waving hand, and his lively conversation clearly showed he was video calling.

[Who is making him so happy?]

The screen then transitioned to the content of Suh Hyun-Woo's video call provided with subtitles.

- Are you there? Have you arrived?

- Hey! Hyun-Woo!

- Hyung! I went out with Yoo-Joon hyung!

- Oh, really?

Despite seeing each other every day, their enthusiastic waving and greetings made it seem like they were having the time of their lives.

[What are they doing?]

- Hello, Rings!

- Hi, Rings!

- It's been a while! We miss you! We are in New York!

- Why are you two there?

- We went out to complete an errand for Hyun-Woo hyung!

- We are about to start the errand now!

[An errand?!]

The English subtitles expressed the viewers' confusion, though it was eventually concluded that the Chronos members were simply having fun in their own way.

[Hey guys, don't leave us out~]

While Suh Hyun-Woo and his group members were enjoying their call, the desperate subtitles wanting to join in created a perfect collaboration.

- Everyone, it's fantastic here. Now, Yoo-Joon.

- Yes?

- Can you sing a song for the fans, please? Make it seem as if you are on a video call with them, and add some personal touches before and after.

- What?

Goh Yoo-Joon was taken aback by Suh Hyun-Woo's sudden request. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded with an even more playful expression than Suh Hyun-Woo’s.

- So I should think of this as a call with the Rings. Okay. Jin-Sung, give me your phone.

Goh Yoo-Joon received the phone from Lee Jin-Sung and angled the camera to occupy the entire screen by himself. What was he planning to do?

While the editor, Suh Hyun-Woo, and the expectant viewers held their breath, Goh Yoo-Joon flashed a world-class smile. The moment he smiled, the screen lit up as if enlightened with cheesy computer graphic flowers blooming around him and a heart-fluttering background song playing.

- Hey, babe.

Suh Hyun-Woo's response that burst into laughter was smartly muted by the editor. Whatever he was saying, his audio was completely cut off, leaving only Goh Yoo-Joon's warm voice.

- Are you awake, Rings?

Eventually, Suh Hyun-Woo was unable to contain himself and turned off his own video screen, an icon taking his place in the corner. The editor seized the opportunity to draw a face on the icon screen and labeling it 'Rings.’

- How are you? I miss you, Rings.

- Ah, hyung, you’re so weird—!

Just like Suh Hyun-Woo's voice had been muted, Lee Jin-Sung's exclamation, "Ah, hyung, you’re so weird!" had also been silenced.

- Eh? Sing a song, you say? Right now? I’m a bit shy, but okay. I would do anything for you.

Then, he sang a sweet song while looking at the screen. Shortly after, Suh Hyun-Woo turned his video back on. The screen showed Suh Hyun-Woo with a completely fed-up expression with another cheesy subtitle implying he couldn't hide his reaction.

- How was it? I hope you liked it. Well, I’ll see you again soon! Bye!

- Ah, yes, yes. It was good, Yoo-Joon. Ah, really, that was unbearable to watch.

[I couldn’t tolerate watching my friend’s performance XD]

The subtitles reiterated Suh Hyun-Woo's feelings. The video shifted to show him sitting back on the bed, beaming with joy, just as Lee Jin-Sung excitedly shouted "Babe!"...

[We may not understand the thoughts of Chronos...]

[But it sure is delightful to see them happy.]

...and the clip ended with this final subtitle. Despite being uploaded just fifteen minutes ago, the video was already swarming with comments from hyena-like fans on

UTube.

They were quite excited, starved for content, and ecstatic.

- Why are you doing this to me, really... I do love you but...

└This is the peak of being overinvested LOL

- Are you kidding me? This is too good aaaah Please release the full video asap,

Again After Rainfall

team ??

- I almost died happy again today. Please post a similar video tomorrow too.

└ HAHAHA us fans are resurrecting on a daily basis 😂

- Wow, I hit replay without realizing. Yoo-Joon makes me feel like I'm in a pseudo-relationship with him. I'm upset but I love you too, babe ??

└ Sorry, Joon... Ah... I fckin love you

└ ?

└ ??

└ Hyung...?

- This is the best type of content. I mean it.

- Everyone, don't get too immersed. He said 'babe' to me, you know?

└ Salute to the top three overinvested fans

- LMAO I imagined for a moment that they were talking to me and felt happy.

- Hyun-Woo, where are you right now? It's not much, but I want to bow to you.

- I wish they released individual versions of ‘babe’ for each member.

└ Ikr? Seriously!!!!

└ Please make this a regular content now, YMM!

This video was like a storm for Rings. Content during Chronos’ non-active periods was precious, especially well-made content that could be rewatched endlessly. Such pseudo-romance content[1] was a gift from individual members to Rings.

How could the fans just let this pass? Rings went a step farther than the

Again After Rainfall

team and created clips as if they were actually on a video call and uploading their versions. The titles were [What if Goh Yoo-Joon was your boyfriend?] or [What if you had a secret fling with Lee Jin-Sung?]

While Goh Yoo-Joon was speaking, the video highlighted Jin-Sung, who was sneakily glancing at his phone, waving his hand, making eye contact with the camera, and smiling. This created a secret crush or romance vibe with the viewer. Goh Yoo-Joon's voice was replaced with background music.

[What if Suh Hyun-Woo was your male friend?]

They made videos where Suh Hyun-Woo appeared to be speaking with either a disgusted, playful, or affectionate expression―of course, the conversation was replaced by background music. It was as if Suh Hyun-Woo was the viewer’s actual male friend.

However, there was only so much they could do with a fifteen-minute video, and Rings desired an ideal and higher-quality content. They expressed their wishes in the comments and through other means for YMM to outright produce video call content featuring all five members.

Of course, it was unlikely that YMM, who didn’t even seem to consider what fans wanted unless it was handed to them on a platter, would produce such content. It would probably be more likely for Kang Joo-Han to discover this than for YMM to take the initiative.

Lily Yoon @liyun · 1 minute ago

I mean, I've heard of restraining from pseudo-romance, but I’ve never spoon-fed it... Yoo-Joon, ah no, babe, no, Joon, no, darling....

Reply RT Like

Going to Match Rings @banjiha · 1 minute ago

'Babe'... Dulcha (Second Cha Cha)... Ah... I'm infuriated... I'm already preparing to get couple rings with you...

Reply RT Like

My Posts Become Holy Ground @yesunim · 2 minutes ago

Aaaaah, can you hear me, advertisers nationwide? I recommend Chronos, the nation's top rookie group, who hasn't shot a single ad yet. Give them each a video call part, and I will spend on your products the equivalent of constructing a building daily, thinking of the members as my siblings. Please consider this!

Reply RT Like

The fans’ wishes, as well as the rate at which they consumed content, even caught the attention of a new employee form a major corporation while they were sneakily watching the video hidden in the restroom.

***

“Performing in such a venue seems nice, too," I said. I liked the quiet environment that allowed us to focus on the music.

“It felt a bit lonely without the audience, though," said Goh Yoo-Joon.

I nodded in agreement.

Reina laughed heartily. “You will soon be able to fill a much larger hall than this one with an audience. There's a place provided by Callia's record company, and the festival I've booked at the end of our schedule will be much bigger."

“Ah, that sounds like so much fun!"

“How about Jin-Sung performing a solo dance then? Discuss it with the members."

“I'd like to dance with Hyun-Woo hyung, actually."

“That's sweet."

As Jin-Sung became the beloved good member in the eyes of Reina, I looked out at the stage we would be performing on. Like most stages we had performed on before, this one was bustling with passers-by, but there was something different this time.

“Hyun-Woo! Hyun-Woo oppa!"

“Joo-Han! Joo-Han, ah!"

Chronos' international fans somehow knew we were here and lingered near the stage to greet us. The groups’ popularity overseas was modest at best. While we were more popular than many groups that debuted around the same time, except for the major agency idols like High Tension and Street Center, we were still at the bottom of the list among the

Pick We Up

contestants who had managed to debut.

Yet, there seemed to be about thirty Rings gathered. As the fans cheered for us and we greeted them back, the curiosity of people passing by grew, and their attention turned toward us.

1. This refers to media or content that simulates romantic interactions or experiences, giving the audience a feeling of being in a romantic relationship or encounter without it being real. This is popular in various forms, including but not limited to video clips, audio recordings, interactive games, and virtual reality experiences, where the creators aim to evoke romantic emotions in the audience as if they are part of a romantic storyline. ☜