Chapter Sixteen He Wouldn't Get Up, Would He?

ptivated by our Naeun, falling head over heels for her charm. Then don't cry when you get dumped."Pool-viewing Yuan chuckled lightly, tilted his head, and looked at Jung Eun-ji playfully."That's great..."Go for it!"

As soon as one enters the forum, a two-character evaluation hangs in the most prominent place, immediately catching the eye and setting the tone for the upcoming fan comment deluge.

"Wow! This debut song is way beyond my expectations, both the song, the dance, and the styling are amazing. I can really feel that there's a lot of potential in this group!"

Indeed, it sounds really good, and the main styling, everyone has a boyfriend-like aura! Completely empty-headed!

"When I was watching v, I was eating cookies. When I saw yuan with gray hair and wearing sunglasses sitting on the sofa, I was stunned. The cookie in my mouth just wouldn't chew. It's too cool! Is this a punishment for me How can it be so y!"

"I was truly killed by yuan! His ash-colored hair is just too eye-catching. This new card should have this kind of styling, right I wonder if I can pull him... Make a wish!"

"Has no one been poisoned My head is full of 'callbaby', it keeps looping and I feel brainwashed... How are the sound source results doing, did it reach number one"

"After the release of the source, it directly topped all real-time charts, with 《callbaby》 in first place and 《butterfly》 in second."

"I highly recommend "butterfly", this song is definitely a great non-title track, not inferior to the previous comebacks' amazing B-sides. Although there's no music video, it's really good, even better than "callbebaby" to my taste."

"Trash Exo, trash songs, just trash fans who cheat the charts!"

"Get back to your own place, haters, and wait to be slapped in the face!"

The two songs included in 《e》 were released, and after listening to the audio and watching the v, all major music sections immediately went into a frenzy. Even though it was past midnight, the speed at which various rumors flooded the screen was still dazzling.

Even though Elly had infinite trust and expectations for her oppa's music, to be honest, she still felt a bit nervous hearing the song and seeing the dance beforehand. After all, this comeback was too important. The previous pre-release hype made it seem like such a big deal, so what if they actually released a bad song Not only would the haters have a field day, even their own fans wouldn't be able to stomach it.

Some fans hold onto the hope that a song like "xo" will propel XI back to the peak of their success. However, most fans are more realistic and simply hope for a decent, slightly better-than-average title track.

And at this time, most fans who watched the MV of the title song all had a sense of pleasant surprise beyond expectations. That kind of warmth flowing throughout the body, countless words were choked in the chest wanting to share the joy in their heart, it was too happy.

Besides Ai Li's frequently used fan forum, other black fan gathering places seemed somewhat deserted at this time. There was no such exciting screen-sweeping feeling, and it took a while for a few familiar faces to post messages.

"This is a piece of trash, an awful song, no doubt about it."

It's just average, nothing special.

"It's a very ordinary song, and the choreography is pretty basic too. There's no plot or special features, it's just pure dancing. I don't know what those fans are so excited about."

"I actually... I actually think it sounds pretty good. And not just the title track, there's another song on this single album that's also really good, and I'm currently looping the whole album..."

"The highlight of this event was definitely the makeup and styling. Some of the locals really impressed me with their looks, especially the one with the glowy makeup and hair color - I thought it was super cool."

"Ace, the source list is completely empty, won't it really make the group come together"

"It's not that simple, you don't understand the extent of the fan-driven chart boosting for this group. A debut being low is quite normal. A good song is only one side of the story. If they want to recover their reputation, there's a lot more they need to do. First, let's see...today's and tomorrow's initial stage performances. Let's look at their live performance strength on stage and how promoting music impacts first-week sales. If their sales don't increase much, then all the other stuff is pointless."

"Right, let's check out today's Inkigayo first. I really hope those few ugly men fall off the elevator or some of them get eliminated, maybe even have a scandal like falling in love or something. It would be best if it involved Ji-yeong! I really want to see how those stupid fans would cry…"

" 1 "

"

Although many passersby seem to have a positive impression of 《e》, the overall public sentiment isn't quite favorable. After all, it's just been recently that the audio and video were released, and there haven't been any noticeable fluctuations in its performance yet. Many detractors are still firmly holding onto their strong confidence.

Let's wait and see how today's debut stage broadcast goes, as well as the follow-up power and sales changes for the first week.

How about the evaluation How about the evaluation

In the living room of EXO's Shinjuku dormitory, nine members gathered together on two large sofas. A group huddled together, all watching the reviews for their newly released single album "e."

Although tomorrow, or rather this morning, there are still many things to do, at this time no one can fall asleep. Everyone is very concerned about what the fans and audience think of their comeback.

“It’s truly beyond my expectations… the styling is so handsome… it’s amazing.” Park Chan-lyeok stood there, reading aloud from his phone with a dramatic tone and an air of pride and delight.

" 《callbaby》 audio source ranked eighth, 《butterfly》 second…"

"Nice!" Bian Berhyen waved his hand fiercely, his face twisted into a ferocious grimace as he slammed his fist down onto the sofa. His hair visibly shook twice, showing just how much force he had used.

“Ooh ooh ooh…” A few others were infected by the atmosphere and couldn't help but cheer, making the whole dormitory lively. For a moment, it was filled with excitement and joy.

This period of time, EXO has been busy with preparations for their comeback, performing on music shows, recording and practicing dance routines for the upcoming singles album tracks, and working on their second tour which already has confirmed song list and performance flow. Park Chanyeol, Do Kyungsoo, Baekhyun, and Wu Sehun are also filming the web drama "My Neighbor is EXO." Everyone has been working late every day, with only a brief relaxation during Lunar New Year, and they haven't had much rest for a long time. Added to this is the immense expectation and anxiety surrounding their comeback, making everyone feel incredibly stressed.

Now, even with just a starting drop and fans' good reviews, they already feel a huge sense of relief.

"Not bad," Kim Jun-myeon chuckled and nodded, but looking at the others so excited, he couldn't help but add a reminder: "But for us, this is considered normal results. The specific trend will depend on the follow-up momentum after a week of music shows, and whether the sales will increase..."

Kim Jun Myeon is like this, he's actually quite happy inside, but due to his duty and personality, he always has to put on the brakes for others every time.

While listening to the members' excited discussions, Ji-seong occasionally chimed in, and his phone also received a text message at just the right time. He opened it and saw that it was from Tzuyu: "The song is very good, the dance is also very beautiful, cheer up (muscle)."

I took a look at the time, it's almost one o'clock now. This girl is really keeping her promise and waiting for the v release. After watching it, she immediately sent me feedback and words of support. She's really enthusiastic.

Though he wasn't near the pool, Chi Jingyuan shook his head and quickly typed back, "Thanks... Go to sleep soon."

Later, he shared something specifically with Zhou Tzuyu. He had seen an online article about "The Important Relationship Between Sufficient Sleep at Night and Skin Melanin Deposition" while browsing the internet before and thought she might find it interesting.

"Hate it (angry)."

Soon Tzuyu replied, and Jiyeong saw the angry emoji she sent and chuckled. He didn't reply again. After a while, his phone rang again, receiving two messages from Joohyun consecutively.

"Great, and the styling is also cool (smiling face)."

"Yilin is already your fan now, she was constantly v-ing in the dorm just now, couldn't stop her (偷笑)."

Chi Jingyuan leaned against the sofa and blinked, imagining what it would be like to see Kim Yilin dancing to "Call Baby" was a little hard to picture.

But isn't this little girl rather lively

He isn't very familiar with this new member of the Come to Debbies club yet.

"Alright, everyone, let's get some sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow to record the stage performance." Just then, their manager came out of the room, wearing clothes and waving at them with a tired voice.

After reading the comments and having a good laugh, nine people readily accepted it. With smiles on their faces, they went back to their rooms. As he walked, Ji-seung glanced down and replied with a smile to Seulgi:

"I'm still your fan."

…………

They had a comfortable sleep last night, and the next morning Exo got into the nanny car, preparing to head to SBS for their first comeback performance on Inkigayo after their return.

Today is a significant day for the Peninsula, Three One Day. Although it's still early, there's quite a buzz on the streets. Especially along the roads, many businesses and shops have hung several flags at their entrances to commemorate the occasion. Just now, as I passed by a government department, I saw a few people waving banners and shouting loudly from the window seat beside me. I couldn't tell if it was a demonstration or a parade.

March 1st, this comeback day is actually pretty good. It's also the Sun Day (Sunday), and the first day of the comeback week is almost at its end. After participating in "Inkigayo" today, even if the first week is over, next week we can directly participate in the song evaluation for one of the artists.

There were quite a few cars ahead, it looked like there would be a traffic jam for a while. Chi Jingyuan took back his gaze outward and picked up his phone to check the music industry news for today.

Of course, the most eye-catching news in the music industry today is EXO's official comeback. After releasing the sound source and MV at zero o'clock yesterday, major media outlets and websites had already drafted their press releases overnight, and they all released them early this morning unexpectedly, the most grand of which was Billboard, a well-known American music website. They gave many positive reviews to EXO's comeback, which were cited by numerous media outlets on the peninsula:

According to reports, Billboard released an article praising EXO's new song "Call Baby" for finding its way back to the group's roots late at night. The article details the new song and music video, once again confirming the global influence of EXO's music.

The report states that "" contains all the necessary musical elements, with a melody that keeps circling your ears. This is the secret to EXO's high popularity. The song reminds one of the late 90s and early 2000s when pop music was at its peak, and NSYNC-like music is most popular in 2015. With even stronger rhythms and hooks, emphasizing rap and dance elements, it is 100% a powerful trendy track.

"Moreover, many American music media outlets have given very positive reviews to EXO's "callbaby(Call Me)" MV. The MV is considered one of EXO's most eye-catching highlights. This time, the MV removes unnecessary elements and focuses on EXO's dance moves and individual charm. To the fullest extent, the MV showcases bold and uninhibited dance styles, capturing people's attention."

The new song's MV discarded the inherent pattern of male groups in people's impressions, and fully interpreted the individuality of each member. With diverse styles of clothing such as basketball jerseys and bomber jackets, basketball shorts and patterned skinny jeans, and customized hair colors, each member's personal charm was fully showcased.

At the same time, EXO will be making their comeback stage on "Inkigayo" today (March 1st) with their new song, and they will continue to appear on various music programs to promote their new album.

Besides the news from the peninsula itself, Xia Guo is also abuzz. EXO remains the most popular and well-known boy group from the peninsula in mainland China. Several major websites there were also among the first to release statements:

"The highly anticipated popular group #EXO's regular second album pre-released single album "e" is back with a bang!

The webpage link to the album includes two exquisitely produced songs that showcase EXO's extraordinary charm from all angles!

The pre-released title track "callbaby" has caused a huge sensation in the music industry as soon as it was released!"

Although seeing all these media outlets showering them with praise filled Pool Jingyuan's heart with joy, he felt a little overwhelmed after reading too much. That's why he returned to his first day, didn't even record the initial stage performance, and the subsequent results haven't been confirmed yet. Now they're being praised to the skies! What if their performance doesn't meet expectations later It would be so embarrassing.

A book friend I've known for ten years recommended this app called "換源app" (huan yuan app) to me, and it's truly amazing! I use it to listen to audiobooks while driving or before bed. It's a great way to pass the time. You can download it here:

I don't know how much promotional resources s company has invested, but on the first day of its return, there was such a big response. Even Billboard in America seems like a marketing account, hyping up EXO's momentum.

It actually works, a lot of people on the peninsula eat this up. These references to news

He glanced ahead and behind. The road in front was still blocked, the nanny car going back and forth but not smoothly. Several members at the back were all huddled there taking a nap, seemingly over-excited yesterday and not resting well, they all looked listless this morning.

Influenced by this tranquil atmosphere, Chi Jingyuan also felt a little sleepy. He put his phone away, tilted his head against the backrest and closed his eyes for a nap.

……

"Call baby, call baby."

In the waiting room of SBS Inkigayo, GFriend, a girl group who had just debuted not long ago, were taking a break. Eunbi was sitting there holding a drink but she wasn't drinking it. Instead, she was nodding her head and humming the chorus of "Call Baby," her body swaying lightly with the rhythm. Though her voice was soft, the other members could hear her clearly.

After listening for a while, Cui Yuna from not far away turned her head and smacked her lips, looking at her: "How did you become an XO fan After watching the v, you've been humming this song non-stop, so into it."

"Where does it all begin, our beloved Enfei has loved XO for a long time. During the era of "The Fury", she seemed to have bought their albums."

Zheng Yilin smiled and sat next to Ding Enfei, bumping her shoulder lightly. The two giggled and hummed along for a few bars before Zheng Yilin nodded thoughtfully and said: "However, the title track of EXO's comeback is really good. I watched the V, mainly because the choreography and styling are great, and now I hear that the online reviews are very good…"

"By the way, xo will also be recording her debut stage on Inkigayo today. I wonder if I'll get to see her later."

"Absolutely, even if they are pre-recorded and don't meet during rehearsals, the last award presenter will definitely be on stage."

“By the way, Eun-fei, who do you like best in XO…” Mentioning male idols, and EXO, which is currently the hottest topic, brought back memories of how they once discussed privately which female idol had the best figure. Several members immediately became interested and gathered around, discussing enthusiastically.

"I wouldn't say I like it, I'm just more..." Ding Enfei raised her eyes and pondered for a moment, pursed her lips, then gave a playful smile. However, before she could finish, she was interrupted by her manager.

"Alright, don't overthink it. Get ready quickly. There's likely to be a small interview shortly, and then we might start rehearsals."

"Got it."

The new girl group was being met with a very imposing manager. They quickly stopped their conversation, replied with a quick "yes", and glanced at each other before nodding silently.

Ding Ningfei no longer sang "Call Baby," and instead lowered her head to sip a drink through a straw.

After a while, the door to the practice room was knocked on. A staff member pushed the door open and told them to go for an interview. After responding briefly, several members lined up under the lead of captain Kim So-jung and walked out of the practice room.

They had just stepped out the door and taken only two steps when a group of people walked toward them, causing everyone to freeze. They quickly regained their composure and bowed deeply, greeting them: "Seniors, Annyeonghaseyo."

Suddenly, the EXO they had just been discussing appeared before them. The nine members, already styled and made up, looked elegant and powerful. The aura of a top-tier idol group was fully embodied in them. Compared to GFRIEND, who were just starting out as rookies, the difference in presence was extremely obvious.

Kim Jun-myeon, who was leading the way, saw the few people and paused for a moment. Looking at their eyes, it seemed like he didn't recognize which girl group they were. However, he politely nodded in return and didn't look much, leading his members past them without lingering. The members behind him also nodded briefly and quickly walked past.

I just told you, wait a moment...

As he was walking, Ji-yeong who was at the second-to-last position in line turned around to talk with Sehun. Suddenly, he heard a greeting from the front and shut his mouth before turning back. His gaze swept over the group of new girl idols who had just debuted recently, forcing out a business smile. He didn't pay much attention to several girls secretly looking at him, just nodded briefly before walking past them.

Although several friends were bowing and greeting each other, their eyes kept glancing at the passing male idol seniors. Ding Enfei, standing on the right, saw Ji Kyeongwon nodding at her. As he passed by her, she felt a warmth spread through her entire body.

"He's really impressive… the senior idol I knew before was right, Yuan is indeed quite outstanding…" Choi Yuna looked at the EXO members who had already turned and walked away, unable to help but sigh softly.

Jin Shaoqing glanced at her sister beside her and nodded in confirmation.

"Call."

…………

"Oh my gosh, I feel like it's been ages since I last sang."

When they arrived at the lounge, Bian Berhyen found a sofa and sat on it with an air of contentment. He then said something casually to those around him, and soon, everyone else followed suit. In no time, all the seats on the sofas were taken.

Did they break up

In a hushed voice, Ji-seong lowered his tone and whispered a question to Si-hun. At the same time, he subtly gestured towards Beomgyeom with his chin.

They not only met GFRIEND backstage, but also happened to meet the girl group RABOW who made a comeback on the 23rd of last month. Both sides are considered quite familiar and stopped by to chat for a bit.

But former lovers, Byun Baekhyun and Kim Jisoo of Rabow, showed absolutely no interaction. Ji-yeong even specifically observed them, discovering that the two not only didn't speak, but they didn't even exchange glances. They looked at each other like strangers.

Logically, they are surrounded by teammates. They are so familiar with each other, and they would definitely keep secrets. Even if they were dating, there was no need to be so reserved. For example, Park Ji-hyeon doesn't seem to mind showing affection towards Jennie in front of the members.

After seeing the two act as if they were strangers, he had a general estimate in his mind. He might as well confirm this with Wu Shixun, who was more informed about this side of things right now.

"Seems like they broke up a while ago..." Wu Shihun followed Ji Kyeongwon's gaze and glanced in that direction. He nodded knowingly and leaned closer, whispering in a low voice, "I heard it was less than three months after their relationship was made public that they broke up. Apparently, it was Brother Baekhyun who called it off."

“You know this already” Ji Jingyuan gave him a surprised look, somewhat astonished by the person's well-informed nature. Then with a playful smirk, he smacked his lips: “Hyungwon wouldn’t have broken up just for the fans, would he As expected of a man who doesn’t fall in love before the age of 35…”

"Pfft, hahaha..." Wu Shixun couldn't help but laugh as soon as he heard it. He glanced at Ji Jingyuan and thought inwardly, "This guy is really cheap and cunning."

"What's up What are you guys talking about" A sudden burst of laughter interrupted the conversation of several guys over there. Bern Baekhyun curiously looked over and asked.

"Ani, it's nothing." The two of them waved their hands in unison, and with a knowing glance, they made light of the situation, brushing it aside as if nothing had happened.

In a moment, the manager stood up and clapped his hands.

"Produce 101's 'Inkigayo' special comeback interview, the script was given to you beforehand, right Any problems" Seeing all members nodding in agreement, Lee Seung Hwan continued:

"Once the background is set up, we'll go for stage rehearsals. We'll be recording two songs, 《butterfly》 and 《callbaby》. 《butterfly》 is fine, but for the first performance of 《callbaby》, we need to shoot it outdoors. The car company that provided the backdrop is ready. It will still be one-shot style. Remember to rehearse the process beforehand, because repeating takes will be a hassle later."

"Alright." Exo’s members, who weren't messing around, quickly practiced after hearing the manager's words. Everyone placed a great deal of importance on this comeback, and the significance of the first stage was naturally self-evident.

Although the specific process had actually been practiced many times before.

Peninsula Asteroid

First release at www.ftxs.com these days, Chi Jingyuan hadn't taken the initiative to contact her besides occasionally sending a text message.That day, she said coolly, 'Contact me after you break up,' which I thought was very co...