Chapter 316: Break (12)

“Wooooah!!!"

“Yeeeeah!!! Park Yoon-Chan!!!!"

“...Wow, the thumbnail turned out really good."

“Thanks... Thank you so much."

Goh Yoo-Joon was buzzing with excitement by shaking Yoon-Chan, while Jin-Sung had his game face on and fully focused from the moment the video popped up. I gave Yoon-Chan a reassuring pat and clicked on the thumbnail.

Everyone knew that if YMM Entertainment did anything right, it was their serious attitude toward performances. They might skimp on the budget, but they always pulled out all the stops with the resources they had.

Even if they started with a B-grade song, their in-house composers poured their souls into it and upgraded it to A-list material. The Rings, even those who routinely criticized the company, trusted them completely when it came to stage quality, album concepts, and music videos.

Therefore, they naturally poured their hearts into Park Yoon-Chan’s solo live stage, a project that might not attract much general interest. If anyone was to watch it, it would have been because of the

UTube

algorithm.

“What? Where is this? Outside?"

“Yes... It was filmed both outdoors and on set."

“Really? There is such a place in Korea?"

People were wowed by the stunning quality of the backdrop. In a sweeping green field, Yoon-Chan stood with dancers while shimmering in the sunlight. The pale screen lit up with the rich makeup and colorful threads in Yoon-Chan’s hair that the stylists had been raving about in the group chat. The vibrant outfits harmonized beautifully with the green fields and evoked the essence of a cool summer in the blink of an eye.

“Wow, he doesn’t even look like Yoon-Chan hyung."

“The quality is no joke, right? You wouldn’t believe how much the visual team struggled."

“No, Supervisor. It’s all with love for Yoon-Chan! ...Haha."

It was like seeing the top student at school, who was always quiet and well-behaved, throw off his glasses and start dressing up right after graduation. The cool sky and the rustling wind made up the background, and the title “Forest” appeared in white letters across the screen before slowly fading away.

“Ah, I’m so nervous..." Yoon-Chan muttered under his breath.

I turned to look at him. He was nervously biting his lip and fidgeting with his fingers as he took deep breaths. Considering the recent controversy over his abilities, anyone could tell he was incredibly anxious about this live video going public.

After the title disappeared, the camera, which had been showcasing the scenic view, slowly zoomed in on Yoon-Chan and the dancers. Then, the scene abruptly switched to a close-up of his face.

Someone nearby couldn't help but let out an exclamation of awe. “Wow."

I was brimming with pride. That was our Chronos’ visual right there. Only a few could look that good from up close.

“I’ve never seen anyone handle a zoom like that without it feeling forced. He looks like something out of a graphic novel."

The camera panned out again, capturing Yoon-Chan and all the dancers from above. The breezy intro of the song “Forest” started. If Yoon-Chan had been the only one feeling the pressure earlier, now even my lips felt dry.

It was a song I had composed and written. As the tropical guitar sounds began playing, the choreography kicked in. It was clearly a dance track, but no one at the agency could deny that Yoon-Chan's dance skills were still not quite ready for a solo spotlight.

Perhaps that was why the camera soon started focusing more on Yoon-Chan’s expressive face than the dance moves. But that was a trick only those of us in the industry, like the director and me, who had been present at the shoot, were aware of. To an untrained eye, the editing was so subtle, it felt seamless.

Moreover, the Yoon-Chan in the video was so visually stunning that he was likely to win over many fans. The key dance moves and choreography he was good at were displayed well enough that nobody could doubt his dancing skills.

“Great focus~ This is really well filmed. Feels like I’m watching a music video," Goh Yoo-Joon said.

Supervisor Kim laughed heartily and placed his hand on Goh Yoo-Joon’s shoulder. “If this gets a good response, we will think about also producing your solo song like this."

“Really? Are you talking about ‘Hide Room?’"

“Yes, that’s the one. Oh, that’s another track Hyun-Woo made, right?" Supervisor Kim asked.

Behind him, the visual director and the head of the marketing planning team exchanged frustrated glances and sharply turned their eyes back to the video. Their looks said it all: 'Why are you taking the credit when we did all the hard work?'

? A fresh thrill sweeps in with a cool breeze,

Leaves dance and sing with the wind,

Urging us forward, just you and me,

I will be your unforgettable first love,

Sunshine in my forest

Yoon-Chan sang with a bright, joyful expression while welcoming the cool breeze across the open field. It was a refreshing change to see him so animated, given his usual reserved demeanor. The Rings were sure to love this side of him.

His voice was soft yet clear, and it slightly overpowered the background music with its melodious sound. Although a few parts seemed polished in post-production, you could still catch the authenticity of a live performance through his breaths and slight movements from the choreography.

‘He sings so well, but why do people fuss over his abilities?’

It seemed like critics only focused on his rare bad days.

Later in the video, the scene shifted to a live set performance. The raw, unpolished feel of his voice seemed almost harsh. However, he nailed the performance and showcased the effort he had put in. This video might not change everything overnight, but I hoped it would calm the controversies around Yoon-Chan and bolster the Rings' faith in our abilities.

[Forest]

The screen displayed the title in bold black letters after the song concluded, and the video ended with a close-up of Yoon-Chan. It definitely highlighted his striking visuals again. Applause erupted spontaneously, which was a silent tribute to the hard-working staff and Yoon-Chan himself.

“You've really worked hard, Yoon-Chan. You did incredibly well," Joo-Han said gently between claps.

Yoon-Chan lowered his head. “Thank... you..." His trembling shoulders and tearful voice clearly showed he was moved to tears.

Goh Yoo-Joon began to console him, perhaps a bit too dramatically. “Hey! Why are you crying? Who upset you?"

“Ah, hyung... really, hyung..."

Suddenly, Jin-Sung started crying even more than Yoon-Chan. It made sense for Yoon-Chan to break down after the emotional rollercoaster he'd been through, but why was Jin-Sung sobbing even harder? And why did Joo-Han look so bitter, why were his ears flushed, and why did Goh Yoo-Joon seem on the verge of tears himself? They were all kind-hearted, so their reactions weren't entirely surprising.

“...Excuse me."

Why did Su-Hwan suddenly turn away, not showing his face, and leave the room? No, it made sense. Su-Hwan cared for us as if he were the sixth member of Chronos. I felt deeply moved too, and those close to us would surely understand.

“Why are you guys overreacting?"

I understood why others teared up, but why was Supervisor Kim crying? “Don’t cry, you guys!"

“..."

Despite the somber mood, the viewing session for Yoon-Chan's solo live video concluded successfully.

***

“Are you up?"

“...Yeah."

Goh Yoo-Joon's voice was groggy as he entered the living room and nudged my legs off the couch to sit down.

“Wow, that was some serious sleep. I feel so refreshed, wow." Despite his puffy and grumpy face, Goh Yoo-Joon looked surprisingly cheerful. “Killer sleep. Absolutely insane." It seemed he’d had a great night's sleep for the first time in a while.

I chuckled and rearranged my awkwardly placed legs by putting them over Goh Yoo-Joon lap.

With the conclusion of “Phantom Spirit” activities, we were officially on break. Though Yoon-Chan and I were still busy with individual commitments, the end-of-album promotions had definitely lightened our schedules.

“It feels like the first day of vacation. Should I sleep some more? I might end up with a headache if I do, right?"

“If you want to sleep, just sleep," I responded casually and turned on

UTube

. “Did you see the views on Yoon-Chan’s video?"

“No, why? Is it doing well?"

I handed him my phone. Even half-asleep, Goh Yoo-Joon was impressed by Yoon-Chan's thumbnail and was shocked by the view count. “What the... Why did the views skyrocket overnight?"

“Because it exploded. Caught the algorithm."

Who wouldn't click on that thumbnail? You didn't need to be a fan of idols or even Chronos to be drawn to such visuals. Those who accidentally clicked on videos criticizing Yoon-Chan’s abilities would have this video recommended to them. The painstakingly crafted thumbnail was impossible to ignore.

Many viewers had been drawn in this way, leading to shares and discussions on social media, and a surge in views from fans and curious people alike. The video's quality kept people coming back and racked up views on repeat plays. This exposure was a boon, not just for the Rings, but for introducing Yoon-Chan's striking looks to a wider audience.