Chapter 454: What Should We Do From Now On (18)

It was already the second day of the concert, and we were about halfway through the performance schedule. I had thought the members would come just once due to their busy schedules, but Goh Yoo-Joon was there again today. He was sitting with my family in one corner of the family section. I glanced over at him and my family, relieved to see he was taking good care of my parents.

Just as I caught my dad's eye and smiled brightly in his direction, I addressed the audience. "Wow, we’ve already gone through half of the songs I prepared. Time sure flies, doesn’t it?"

"Yes!!!"

"Today, I feel a bit more at ease than yesterday. I checked social media after last night’s show to see the reactions."

I brought up the video that Reina had posted yesterday, thinking it would only stir interest among Eden and Chronos fans. However, it turned out it had even made the news. I couldn’t believe everything about me turned into news these days.

As soon as I started talking, laughter spread across the audience, who seemed to be vaguely aware of last night's news.

"I felt a bit wronged seeing it make the news. Just to clarify, I wasn’t drunk in that video," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed, but I managed a hearty laugh.

However, the audience didn’t seem convinced, so I quickly added, "I was drunk, but not

that

drunk. My friends, or rather, my members told me that when I’m drunk, I just agree with everything. I simply say ‘yes’ to everyone."

So, I might have been emotional and cried a bit, but I was pretty coherent in the video. "It might have looked like I was truly drunk in that video. Haha."

I lightened the mood jokingly as I prepared for the next segment, which I had thought through carefully for the concert. "Next up is..." I hesitated, causing a stir among the audience who probably remembered the odd events from last night’s performance and expected something unusual again.

Yes, they were right. "We have a special guest tonight. This guest is very close to me, almost my muse, and someone I love dearly."

As I hyped up the guest, the audience and fans seemed clueless about who it could be. That was expected. Known for being a social butterfly, Goh Yoo-Joon contrasted me sharply. I preferred staying at home and was shy around people, a fact which the fans knew too well.

They perhaps thought my friends were limited to Goh Yoo-Joon, and comically enough, Jin-Wook. Or if they stretched it, maybe Ji-Hyuk from High Tension?

‘Goh Yoo-Joon appeared yesterday... So, could it be Jin-Wook since he’s describing someone this closely connected?’

Some might wonder, especially since Jin-Wook and I often worked on music together.

But of course not. I smiled broadly and said, "Let me introduce today's special guest."

I didn’t step down from the stage, only stepped aside.

"Huh?" the audience murmured. Soon after, the big screen behind the stage lit up with my image. It was a video I had pre-recorded before the concert.

- Hello! I am Suh Hyun-Woo from Chronos.

I greeted cheerily in the video with a big smile. The people in the hall were briefly confused, but then laughter emerged as the audience caught on to the gimmick of this talk segment.

I shamelessly continued. "Welcome, Hyun-Woo. Everyone, please give a big round of applause for today’s surprise guest, Chronos' very own Suh Hyun-Woo."

'I’m sorry. Please bear with me a little,'

my expression seemed to say, and the audience warmly applauded the video version of me.

- Thank you. Thank you.

The video of me thanking the audience was perfectly timed when someone adjusted the playback from behind the scenes.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Both yesterday and today, we've had many guests from Chronos. Hahaha." I was actually quite embarrassed but pretended to be calm. "In fact, Hyun-Woo and I get along very well. We are almost the same person."

- Yes, that's right.

"Oooh!" The audience marveled when the video me responded right on cue. It took quite an effort to synchronize this.

"What kind of person do you think I am, Hyun-Woo?"

- Um, you? Hmm..."

"Haha, go easy on me. People are watching."

- Hmm, I think Eden is a very shy hard worker.

"A shy hard worker?"

- Yes, he is very timid and lacks confidence, so I was actually a bit worried when he first decided to debut as a solo artist. How could such a shy guy manage alone in this tough entertainment industry?

The video version of myself shared the worries I used to have when I first became Eden.

- But you know, even when there’s something he lacks or struggles with, he puts in an incredible amount of effort and truly excels in the end. I’ve really been enjoying watching his growth and achievement recently.

"Haha, thank you. It feels kind of odd, though."

- So, Eden, what kind of person do you think I am?

"You, Hyun-Woo?"

- Yes.

"Hyun-Woo, you are genuinely a great person!" I joked with a laugh, then shifted to a more serious tone by speaking as if advising my future self. "But sometimes, I think you tend to worry too much. You are always so concerned and thoughtful."

- Me? Do I really do that?

"Yes, you’ve always worried about how others might perceive you, fearing they might dislike or even hate you."

- Yeah, that sounds like me.

"You've not only debuted, which once seemed impossible, but also topped the charts, held a concert recently, and managed to overcome some of your deep-seated anxieties like stage fright. I think you’ve come a long way."

The audience murmured louder at this. "Stage fright...?"

I had expected this reaction. It was the first time I publicly acknowledged my struggle with being scrutinized.

"From now on, I hope you worry less and simply embrace the joy and happiness when those moments come."

- Thank you.

After this exchange, I continued the dialogue with myself from the video. Soon, it was time for the song I was so embarrassed about, yet meticulously prepared for.

"Alright, next up is..." I paused before giving a small, resigned laugh. "I've been doing a lot of things since yesterday that I normally wouldn't do."

Usually, these were antics to entertain the audience, like feigning bad dancing, engaging in comic banter with Goh Yoo-Joon, or conversing with myself on video. But the performance I was about to present would outdo them all in absurdity.

"Now, since Hyun-Woo has made the effort to come here, and he is the main vocalist for Chronos... Right?" I pretended not to be certain about my position in Chronos, and my video self nodded in agreement.

- Yes, I’m the main vocalist of Chronos.

"It would be a shame not to hear you sing since you’re the main vocalist. We have a performance prepared, and I hope you enjoy it."

What followed was a bizarrely surreal performance, a duet with myself from the video. As expected, the audience's initial reaction was a mix of laughter and confusion, but I pressed on with determination.

"It’s ‘My Room’ by Senior Lovers."

I was deeply engaged with the overall feel of the song, and so did my video counterpart. The visual effects subtly enhanced the atmosphere.

Even as the somber melody sounded from the speakers, the audience couldn't help but laugh. A wave of embarrassment washed over me. Fortunately, as soon as I began singing, the laughter subsided.

♪ I don't want to meet anyone

If you've spent time hurt and struggling

In the room, in the darkness

In the Blue room, deeply

Let's spend time alone, completely in this room

Though the context was humorous, the performance was earnest. I ensured the song resonated beautifully. It was a performance meant to be heartfelt.

Even if this stage got me teasing from group members or family for years, I wasn't bothered by it. Where else could I have the opportunity to harmonize and duet live with myself?

The distinct differences in voice, tone, and technique between Suh Hyun-Woo and Eden added an intriguing layer for the fans to analyze and enjoy.

To fully capture the necessary emotion, I opened my eyes, which I had kept closed until now. The audience now listened silently and appreciated my singing. It was a highly experimental stage, and I was genuinely relieved it was well received.

***

- Thank you!

"Yes, thank you. I will see you later."

Video Suh Hyun-Woo disappeared. Despite the absurdity of this segment from start to finish, the audience was well-acclimated to the theme and engaged well with the dialogue.

Then I performed a series of songs, this time leaving the humor aside. I covered a piece by Reina and followed with a setlist predominantly from Eden's album.

The time had come for the real guest to appear.

"Next up... Heh." I couldn’t help but chuckle. The guests about to take the stage was as eccentric as the previous ones, even more than Goh Yoo-Joon and my pre-recorded version from the video.

It was Bearview. He was the original artist of the song "Sentiments," which was meant for young people who felt sentimental late at night. I had covered this song on

Introduce My Singer.

Little did I know, Bearview turned out to be a massive fan of Chronos, and he was known among fans as a Ring.

This morning, Bearview arrived at rehearsal decked out in a Chronos concert T-shirt and slogan belt, complete with a Chronos light stick. Upon seeing me, he burst into tears. The impact was profound. With excitement and a bit of apprehension, I looked forward to what would surely be a memorable stage talk with such an unpredictable guest.