Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 263

The members, who had left On Raon and Gwak Sang-hyun in the car and entered the company first, heard from an employee about On Raon’s medical report that had spread widely on the internet.

The employee, who had rushed to the company at a late hour, briefly explained the situation to the members, who were likely already shocked by the discovery of dozens of illegal cameras in their dormitory. “Raon’s medical report was leaked,” was all they said.

However, the members, who searched for detailed information about the incident on their phones after the employee returned to their post, were too stunned to speak.

Gyun Seong-ha, who was soft-hearted, had been crying since he saw the medical report.

“I… I didn’t know it was this severe. He always acted like it was nothing…”

“No, it’s not your fault. Raon probably acted that way because he wanted us to treat him normally.”

Even Kang Ji-woo, who was trying to comfort Seong-ha, had reddened eyes and was pressing his eyelids with his fingers to hold back tears. It was clear that he was desperately trying to suppress the tears that were about to burst forth. This sense of responsibility came from knowing that, as someone the others relied on, he couldn’t afford to shed tears here.

‘As the leader, I should have known and taken better care of him.’

Such regrets weighed heavily on Kang Ji-woo’s shoulders.

The shock felt by Ban Yo-han and Seo Moon-gyeol was no different. They each reflected on On Raon’s past behavior, the words they had exchanged with him, and what On Raon had said to them, their faces frozen in realization.

No one could easily speak in the absence of the person directly involved.

“…Why are those two so late?”

“There’s no car outside.”

Startled, Kang Ji-woo, who had just heard Seo Moon-gyeol’s words after he returned from outside, contacted On Raon on behalf of the others.

Me: [Where’s the youngest?]

OurYoungest: [I stopped by somewhere with Sang-hyun hyung, so I’ll be a bit late.]

“The youngest says he’s stopping by somewhere.”

“In this situation, where would he…”

The employee suggested they take a nap, saying they would wake them when On Raon arrived, but the members, who had positioned themselves where they could see the company entrance, shook their heads in unison.

“It’s okay. Staying up one night is nothing…”

“How can we sleep when he hasn’t arrived?”

While they anxiously kept their eyes on the door.

This time, news came through the employee that multiple sasaengs (obsessive fans) had been found invading the dormitory.

“Did you find them? Where?”

The members, who were trying to find some small comfort in the good news, turned pale at the following words.

“They were in the officetel where Raon used to stay…”

Imagining the situation where On Raon, for whatever reason, encountered clearly unhinged sasaengs in the officetel, the members were left speechless.

“Why, of all places…”

Gyun Seong-ha’s low, distressed voice echoed everyone’s feelings.

And at that moment.

[ORCA (Ok Do-yoon) has started a live broadcast. ORCA: (Silent megaphone emoji)]

A live broadcast notification arrived on the members’ phones as well.

—

All Aeri (fans) who were awake and unable to sleep were startled by the unexpected live broadcast notification.

Except for On Raon, rumors circulated that the members had returned to the company or that the police had come to their dorms.

Such ambiguous stories were spreading secretly, gradually increasing the uneasiness.

In this situation, Orca started a V-App broadcast.

“In this situation, they’re doing a V-App broadcast?”

“Has Seed Entertainment gone crazy…? How could they not stop this and allow it?”

“Surely, Raon isn’t the one who started the V-App broadcast, right?”

As they say, “never say never.”

With trembling hands, fans connected to the V-App broadcast and found that the person who had started it was none other than On Raon.

The very face that had become a hot topic earlier in the day for being handsome and cute on Music Pang Pang appeared large on the screen.

However, it didn’t seem like there were any other members around.

In other words, it was a solo V-App live broadcast started by On Raon.

Foreign fans, unaware of the detailed situation, greeted him as usual, but Korean fans scrutinized his face more keenly than usual.

– ??

– It’s Raon

– Raon, are you okay?

– I was worried ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Is it okay to start a broadcast now?

Normally, On Raon would have greeted them with a cheerful smile, but, true to the title of the live broadcast, he didn’t say a word.

His face looked so pale that it wasn’t strained enough to appear angry.

However, he didn’t seem particularly happy either, so even foreign fans began to send worried messages, asking if something was wrong.

On Raon, who remained silent, made Gwak Sang-hyun, who was driving beside him, increasingly anxious and caused him to glance sideways.

“I allowed him because his pleading face looked so desperate and he said he wouldn’t say much…”

But he didn’t expect him to stay this silent.

If On Raon hadn’t occasionally blinked, fans might have thought it was a photo, not a live video.

While Gwak Sang-hyun seriously contemplated whether to stop the live broadcast, the number of viewers continued to increase.

– Orca’s Raon started a V-App broadcast, but he hasn’t said a word for 5 minutes

┗ Is it still on?

┗ Yeah

The amazing news that the protagonist of the hotly discussed community was starting a V-App live broadcast spread instantly.

Even non-fans were now curious and began joining the broadcast in large numbers.

– What are you doing?

– Where are you now?

– There’s no sound, is this a broadcast accident?

– Where are the other members?

– You look beautiful today

Fans easily realized that the broadcast was taking place in a moving car, judging by the slightly shaking body and background.

“Did he start it to target sasaengs?”

“If he’s broadcasting to reassure fans, that’s touching, but I wish he’d stay quiet for now.”

“But he’s too silent right now…”

People’s speculations were endless.

On Raon himself didn’t quite know why he suddenly started the broadcast in this situation.

Originally, he didn’t want to show his face, intending to broadcast only his voice.

However, he thought that if he didn’t show his face and didn’t speak, viewers might consider it a broadcast accident or a waste of time, so he decided to show his face despite potential controversy later.

Since he wasn’t saying anything or doing anything, all On Raon could do was watch the chat scroll by faster than usual.

– What’s going on?

– Why isn’t he talking?

– I thought the screen froze.

– He’s so handsome.

– Raon, are you really okay? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– I love you from São Paulo.

– Please just say you’re okayㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

In the midst of this, some trolls seemed to have infiltrated, as there were occasional negative comments.

– Fans are going crazy because of him, but he has the nerve to start a broadcast.

– Raon, stop eating up this attention or you’ll get sick ㅠㅠ

– In the car on the way to the mental hospital?

Fans were outraged and vented on social media, but On Raon didn’t take the negative comments seriously.

For a while, On Raon stared at the chat window, which repeatedly froze, sped up, and refreshed.

He suddenly realized why he wanted to start the live broadcast.

– I don’t know if you’ll see this.. I don’t think you will, but.. I want you to know that Raon gives me immense happiness and strength every day. Even though I’m just a homebound fan who can’t go to public events or fan meetings, I love you a lot ♥♥♥

He felt his face heat up.

“…….”

How foolish.

He had just felt betrayed by the fans a little while ago, but now he was seeking comfort from them again.

Despite feeling foolish and pathetic, On Raon’s eyes didn’t leave the chat window for a moment.

Another ten minutes passed in silence.

– (Artist) I miss you.

– (Artist) Come back soon.

Two chat messages from verified artist accounts appeared consecutively in the chat.

The artist’s messages didn’t scroll up like other chats but stayed fixed at the top of the chat window for a while, so no Aeri (fan) could miss them.

– Oh my gosh.

– Who is it?

– Ji-woo???

– Guys…ㅜㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜㅜ

– I’m tearing up ㅜㅜㅠㅠㅠ

– ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Naturally, the artists on the Orca channel referred to the members.

Since On Raon wasn’t doing anything, the person who sent the chat messages must have been Kang Ji-woo or another member.

Some Aeris felt a surge of emotions, witnessing the warm and close relationship among the Orca members.

On Raon saw those messages too.

His eyes widened a bit.

Then, his lips moved ever so slightly.

“Me too.”

Because it was such a simple phrase, fans easily read On Raon’s lips and flooded the chat with tears.

– Me tooㅠㅜㅜㅠㅠ

– Me too??ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Guys, me too ㅠㅠㅠ퓨ㅠㅠ

– Please make sure to tell us who sent that laterㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Orca is family ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ

After that, no more artist messages appeared.

Twenty minutes into the broadcast.

“We’re almost there.”

Feeling relieved by the smoothly flowing situation, Gwak Sang-hyun finally announced that they were almost at the company.

Although he lowered his voice, it still picked up on the live broadcast, so fans realized the broadcast would soon end.

– Are you leaving now?

– Raon, sleep well and don’t overdo itㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Good night, Raon.

– It was nice seeing your face.

– I was worried, but thank you for starting the broadcast, Raon.

“Goodbye.”

On Raon, now sitting up straighter and with a calmer face than when he started, said goodbye quietly.

“See you tomorrow.”

He ended with a promise to meet again.

[The broadcast has ended.]

And that was it.

A simple, ordinary sentence ended the broadcast, leaving the screen black. One Aeri stared blankly at the dark screen, her eyes welling up with tears.

To some, tomorrow is nothing special, arriving without a hitch as they sleep soundly under a cozy blanket.

But for others, On Raon’s firm and aching heart promising tomorrow was a struggle and overwhelming just to think about.

That single sentence conveyed his entire message.