boyutpedia Chapter 1439
Chapter 1439
Chapter 1439
Coffee shops and cars crisscrossed, people mingled, and Seoul's mornings were still shrouded in an inescapable hustle and bustle.
The sky was overcast and gray, lacking the clear, warm sunshine that should be present on the first day of the new year. Thick clouds hung low, shrouding the entire city in a light mist, making even the outlines of buildings soft and blurred.
Most of the shops on both sides of the street were not yet open, with only a few convenience stores lit up with warm yellow lights, like stars scattered in the vast morning mist, barely dispelling the chill.
The pedestrians on the road hurried along, most of them wrapped in heavy coats, heads down, rushing back and forth along predetermined routes, creating a cold, dull, and mechanical feeling.
But if you get a little closer, you can seem to feel a kind of anxiety and excitement among the countless indifferent people... It is the restlessness brought about by the housing prices that continue to rise despite multiple rounds of control.
Around noon, in a small coffee shop on the street corner.
Two female college students wearing loose coats sat facing each other, with two steaming cups of coffee in front of them. They ran their fingertips along the warm cups and chatted idly.
The conversation naturally turned to yesterday's New Year's Eve performance.
"Yesterday's MBC Grand Festival was not very interesting. There were no outstanding performances. It got more and more boring as I watched. I started to fall asleep halfway through."
Choi Ji-ae took a small sip, her brows furrowing slightly, her tone carrying a clear hint of disappointment.
"Is Wanna One's stage performance not good enough?"
"I asked Lee Eun-seo, who was sitting across from her."
"It's alright, the lights are so bad you can't even see people clearly."
What about XO?
"XO was pre-recorded, so it didn't feel the same, and it wasn't a stage for 'ON' either."
When EXO was mentioned, Choi Ji-ae's tone remained calm, but with a hint of confusion: "Speaking of which, why didn't EXO perform 'ON' at the year-end music shows this year? Isn't that a new song this year? Why have they been performing last year's old songs all the time... There are so few live performances of 'ON,' and I really like the dance to that song."
“I saw XO fans online saying that it seems the backup dancers are very important, but the KBS and MBC stages are too small and don’t have enough space.”
"That's just the kind of country the peninsula is like."
Choi Ji-ae sighed softly, her tone tinged with a helpless self-deprecation: "Not only is our territory small, but we can't even fit everyone on the stage for the New Year's Eve party. Only the Blue House and the 38th parallel are big enough."
"You'll be in big trouble if the professor hears you say that..."
Lee Eun-seo pouted.
Choi Ji-ae stuck out her tongue and got back to the main topic: "Overall, I feel that KBS's year-end shows were the best this year. The stages were all well-done, and the hosts were pleasing to the eye."
"The host is good-looking? Didn't you say before that Sana's mango-shaped face wasn't pretty?"
"She seems to have become more beautiful. She looks much better than before after this comeback."
"It moved, didn't it?"
"Who knows, it doesn't matter. Anyway, I think Yuan looks pretty good as an MC on KBS this time... You know, Yuan is the kind of person who really makes ugly men and women look bad. No matter who is standing next to her, she will put them down and her flaws will be easily exposed. But this time, Sana standing next to Yuan doesn't look out of place at all. On the contrary, the scene looks pretty good."
"You haven't become a fan of Sana, have you?"
"I don't support female idols." Choi Ji-ae waved her hand dismissively.
"By the way, how was XO's performance on the Kohaku Uta Gassen yesterday? I saw it trending on social media, all over the topic, like 'The boy group that performed on Kohaku Uta Gassen again after six years' and other similar things."
Lee Eun-seo smiled and asked.
"I watched it, and I thought it was just so-so... The red and white stage was small to begin with, and the lighting effects were not good either. I don't know why the live broadcast camera on the neon stage looked so tacky... Anyway, from my point of view, it was just so-so."
"However, according to the trending topics, XO's performance was quite well received in Japan."
As she spoke, Choi Ji-ae added, "Yuan's solo stage was also pretty good... His song 'Uchiage Hanabi' was really good, and he sang it well too."
"It's doing well in Japan? But it seems to be doing quite poorly here."
"what happened?"
"Didn't you see the forum? Lots of people are cursing them! Saying they're unpatriotic and opposing their New Year's Eve performance in Japan."
She read aloud a post on her phone: "Look at this: 'Unable to participate in your own country's New Year's Eve music festival, you go to Japan to participate in someone else's Kohaku Uta Gassen. People who don't know you might think you're a Japanese group. Do EXO and SM even know you're a K-pop company and idol group? Since you don't want to spend New Year's Eve with the nation, then don't come back!'"
"Many people are joining in the cursing, and XO's fans are fighting back; they've already started hurling insults at each other."
"Sigh, this is pointless. If you can't compete on popularity and sales figures, you resort to these same old tricks. Isn't it always the same old routine?"
Choi Ji-ae curled her lip, her tone full of sarcasm and certainty: "Do you believe that this kind of topic was definitely created by fans of Big Bang and Wangna One? These two groups have joined forces online to fight against EXO-Ls."
"Speaking of which, who will be Dispatch's first couple of the year? Last year, Kai's relationship was exposed, and I could keep up with the gossip for days. Who will it be this year?"
Who do you hope it is?
"Of course, something sensational! Whose relationship announcement in the entertainment industry would cause the biggest stir right now?"
"If I were to look among idols... Yuan."
"Wow, it really is! I hope Yuan is exposed. If Chi Jingyuan's relationship is really exposed, that would be so explosive! I could definitely keep eating this gossip for a month!"
"Actually, I'm a little curious too. I really want to know what kind of women a man like Chi Jingyuan would date..."
"Weren't there rumors before? Like about Suzy, Irene, Mina, and so on..."
"These women all have terrible figures, do you really think that's possible? I think Yuan would prefer women with more sexy figures."
"Um, I think... Oh dear, Dispatch's news is out!"
"Who is it? Who is it?!"
"It's GD!"
…………
Celebrity gossip is always eye-catching, and Dispatch, with its powerful sensationalism and high degree of authenticity in its revelations, has made its annual couple revelations at the beginning of each year a focus of attention and anticipation across the internet in recent years.
The most sensational story before was that of Lim Yoon-a and Lee Seung-gi in 2014, which can be said to have established Dispatch's status.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Yoona is a shareholder of Dispatch.
Last year, everyone thought that D Society would suspend its annual exposés of couples due to the then-current "best friend scandal," but unexpectedly, it exposed the relationship of a member of the nation's top boy group EXO, which further boosted its own profile.
This year, naturally, is something everyone is eagerly anticipating.
Around noon, Dispatch released its news as scheduled, revealing a new couple for the new year: G-Dragon from Big Bang and Lee Joo-yeon from After School.
The news immediately caused a huge uproar online, with related terms quickly trending on social media. However, unlike previous years when the public was shocked, this time it was more about confusion and bewilderment among netizens. The comments section was filled with questions from many people.
Who is Lee Joo-yeon?
The female member is indeed not very famous; not many people know After School, let alone that she is a popular member.
But GD is known to everyone.
GD's status is definitely high enough to be a couple at the start of the year, but he has always had a lot of rumors, and Big Bang has been around for a long time, and he himself is getting older.
Furthermore, the woman is not very famous, so the hype surrounding this revelation is even less than that surrounding Kim Jong-in's relationship revelation last year.
Not to mention comparing her to Lim Yoon-a.
While the news shocked many, it also drew numerous comments online expressing disappointment and criticism.
"GD and GD's relationship has been an open secret for a long time, so it's not shocking enough."
"It's boring, everyone knows GD's tricks."
Seemingly trying to salvage the self-esteem of the "Peninsula's No. 1 Paparazzo" after seeing these comments, Dispatch immediately added another couple to the story that same day: Lee Joon, a former member of the boy band MBLAQ, and actress Jung So-min.
This time it immediately attracted a lot of attention, but due to the fame of the two main characters, many people still felt it was not shocking enough.
"Is there any big news? I want to know about Yuan's love life!"
"We want to see Yuan!"
"Is this what a couple looks like at the start of the new year? Even if they're not on the same level as Yoona, they should at least be like Kai from last year!"
There's a lot of demand online, but I wonder if Dispatch regrets not revealing Kai and Jennie instead of G-Dragon.
The two couples reacted very differently to Dispatch's exposé.
Lee Joon and Jung So-min's agency responded quickly after the news broke, frankly admitting that the two had been dating for five months and that their relationship was stable. They asked the public to give them their support and not to pry into their private lives.
G-Dragon and Lee Joo-yeon both denied the relationship, with their respective agencies issuing statements claiming the online rumors were untrue.
While the internet was buzzing with speculation, Ji Kyung-won had already returned to Seoul, driving to the film set in Gangwon Province to resume filming "The Spy".
Although it's already a new year, the crew from 2017 and 2018 seems to be exactly the same. Ji Kyung-won has been on set for a few days, and his only feeling is that it's too cold.
"I know what 'Miss Shibi' means now, Gen-chan, aren't you going a bit too far?"
Looking at the text message from Mina on his phone, Chi Kyung-won couldn't help but chuckle softly.
If we were to pinpoint the biggest change in 2018 compared to the past, for Ji Kyung-won, or for Mina... it would probably be the ability to return to how things were a long time ago, and to occasionally start communicating with friends again.
Don't you think they look alike?
Chi Kyung-won replied with a smile, then felt a gust of cold wind, instantly shivered, tightened his down jacket, and couldn't help but complain to his assistant Choi Ji-chang, who happened to be walking over, "Why does Gangwon-do feel a bit more subdued than other places? When will we finish filming our scenes here and move on to another location?"
"Some of the locations and sets here will be used throughout the entire filming process."
Choi Ji-chang walked over to him and handed him a warm cup of coffee: "However, after this scene is finished, the crew will move to Seoul, around January 20th."
"Phew, that'll be quick."
Upon hearing this, Ji Jingyuan's mood improved a bit: "It would be much more convenient if we went to Seoul."
It's not that Ji Kyung-won is unprofessional, but Gangwon Province is not only cold, but also quite remote. Not only is there a communication barrier at work, but it's also inconvenient to meet with some friends.
Chi Kyung-won took the coffee from Choi Ji-chang, took a sip with relish, and felt much warmer instantly.
"Brother, what's up?" He could tell at a glance that his assistant had something to say.
"Yes, the company has a few projects and schedules that I need to keep in touch with you."
"..."
Holding his coffee, Chi Jingyuan nodded to indicate that he was listening attentively.
"The contract for 'Produce 101 Season 3,' also known as 'PD48,' has been signed. The production team has indicated that they will hold a production meeting in the middle of the month and invite you to attend to discuss some aspects of the program's flow and your role in the program, Jingyuan."
"OK, I'll go if the timing is okay."
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan blinked and then agreed.
This is one of the trips he's been most interested in lately.
"Then, Kyungwon, you have been selected as the first torchbearer for the Seoul section of the Winter Olympics, on January 15th, specifically the section from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Gwanghwamun Gate. You will need to record a thank-you and promotional video and give an interview to official reporters."
"I understand, no problem."
Chi Jingyuan nodded quickly.
As we enter 2018, the Incheon Winter Olympics are drawing ever closer. EXO, as Winter Olympics ambassadors, not only have to cooperate with various promotional activities, but also perform the opening ceremony. This is an important performance for such an important occasion, requiring a lot of practice. It can be said that their work is quite busy.
As for the torchbearer, Chi Kyung-won didn't care. Although it sounded glorious, in reality, many artists were chosen, so the honor wasn't that significant.
Bae Suzy was even a torchbearer on the first day of the Winter Olympics torch relay, having already completed the run on November 1st last year.
"And then..."
Choi Ji-chang looked at the memo on his phone and listed a whole bunch of things, including advertising shoots, magazine shoots, interviews, and even a whole bunch of other things like promotional live streams for Byun Baek-hyun's solo performance.
This year's Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle) has had a significant impact and brought considerable benefits to Japan, resulting in a plethora of events and activities there.
It's fair to say that aside from filming, all his time is completely filled with work. For a top artist like Ji Kyung-won, it's impossible to have any free time.
In comparison, filming is actually a bit easier.
"Finally, it's XO's turn. We need to return to SM on January 9th to practice with the group and participate in the Golden Disc Awards on the 10th." (After saying this last sentence...)
"I'm fine with anything. You can discuss the timing with the production team."
Chi Kyung-won was already used to it. He casually nodded in agreement, exchanged a glance with Choi Ji-chang to indicate that everything was OK, and then looked down at the message sent by Mina.
"You mean Roadhog? Yuan-chan, how did you connect Roadhog with... with Yoona-senpai?"
"Xiao Nan, you still lack some imagination."
Ji Jingyuan chuckled and chatted with her without any hesitation about how strong and great Yoona was.
Being able to chat with Mina again like friends, even if it was a bit deliberate, was a great reconciliation compared to the deliberate estrangement and entanglement before. It gave Ji Jingyuan a slight sense of accomplishment that the people around him had become better.
Although it may only be a little better, it has indeed made people feel more at ease.
"..."
Just as he was focused on replying to messages, a figure walked over from the side, pulled out the chair next to him, and slowly sat down.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Kyung-won saw Kim Ji-won wrapped in a thick down jacket, looking rather unwell with a worried expression on her face, as if she had something on her mind.
Chi Jingyuan put away his phone and turned to look at her:
"What's wrong? Did the PD scold you again?"