168 - Upki Girl

< No Medicine for Yonppaen > <Valentine's Event Group 3: Yona, Director Kim Sang-in> Winner (Username): Woo Yontak (★Yonnayepeo★) Story: I've only ever known February 14th as the day Ahn Joong-geun was sentenced to death. What exactly is Valentine's Day for... Urgh... Even Lawyer Woo knew how to joke. The moment Yona saw this story, she couldn't help but smile, imagining Woo Yontak's serious face. Apologies to other fans, but with a username like 'Yonnayepeo,' he was bound to get a free pass, and he made them laugh with such a witty story. It was somewhat unexpected, though. From their Icon Contact days, he rarely participated in first-come, first-served or lottery events. Even when he won a prize at a fan sign event, he would often give it up, wishing other fans could enjoy it more. Yona considered both him and Kim Yoon-ho as benefactors, and had been determined to repay them one day, but he just never gave her a chance. Now that he actively joined this event, she was nothing but grateful. Yona's principle was to treat all fans fairly and equally, regardless of age or gender, but Lawyer Woo was an exception. For Woo, who usually didn’t care much about his attire, Yona went beyond the gift prepared by the company and personally selected a daily outfit and shoes she thought would suit him well. After wrapping up the first event with the initial applicant, Director Kim Sang-in called Lawyer Woo. "Lawyer Woo, we're about to leave. Where should we go? Hahaha, yes. Where is Yonnayepeo? Uh-huh, got it. Hehehe..." Seeing Director Kim chuckling after the call, Yona asked, "Why?" "He's asked to be called by his username today, not as a lawyer." "Oh, where is he?" "The Seocho-dong sports center. He's playing ping-pong with some colleagues." Director Kim's car set off towards Seocho-dong. After confirming the shopping bag was safely in the backseat, Yona opened the UpKigirl group chat, a space shared solely among members, even without Yoonho, where candid and often cheeky conversations would unfold. While Yona was away, over 200 messages had piled up. Eunbit had reported a school violence incident involving Yoojun, turning the chat into chaos. Jjemjjem Sit! [You’re like a moral guide, Eunnya, sparking scandals wherever you go...] Yoonho's Mine [Bastards!!!! I really hate school violence!!!! How can they, even on someone's birthday!?] Yoonho's Belonging [Whoa, whoa, calm down, Yoonho’s Mine.] Please Take Me [Did Director really fight?] Yoonho's Belonging [Yep, it was no joke. The leader from that side slapped my wrist, but then Oppa exploded with anger and shouted, 'How dare you bully our Eunbit? Villains go to hell!' before grabbing him by the collar single-handedly and hurling him away like the Hulk. He flew about 10 meters or so.] Please Take Me [Wow... Director's so cool... as expected...] Yoonho's Mine [Hahaha, you’re falling for it again, Yeonhong. Obviously, Eunbit added some MSG to that story, haha. Knowing the guy’s personality, he probably didn't lay a finger on anyone, afraid it’d be a mutual fight. I bet my left boob he didn't.] Please Take Me [Like you have any boobs to bet…] Yoonho's Mine [Shut it. My Maxim cover edition is worth more than yours, thank you?] Please Take Me [Who says so? They even offered to trade your three for my one. I heard yours was going on sale at used markets.] Yoonho's Mine [Buzz off.] Please Take Me [Where to?] Jjemjjem Sit! [But shy and timid Jjemjjem getting into a fight? No way. Even Alia thinks Eunnya’s making it up.] Yoonho's Belonging [Nah, for real! He attacked first! Of course Oppa got mad when someone hit his dearest! I was shocked too.] Yoonho's Mine [I won't believe it till I see it.] Please Take Me [As expected, our Director has hidden depths. Even a man would fall for him.] Yoonho's Belonging [And he raps well, perfectly from head to toe; that's the essence of life.] Jjemjjem Sit! [Oops, Alia’s arrived at the first winner’s place. Gonna quickly deliver the chocolate!] Jjemjjem Sit! [Oh, and don't forget the chair again, Jangwoo!!] Yoonho's Belonging [Why mention that here, haha.] Please Take Me [Riya, be nice to Jangwoo Oppa ㅠㅠ] Not Giving Upㅋ [Phew, finally caught up with the messages.] Yoonho's Belonging [Yoni Leader's back!] Not Giving Upㅋ [Eunbit, are you hurt?] Yoonho's Belonging [Looks like there might be a bruise on her arm ㅠ] Not Giving Upㅋ [What jerks.] Please Take Me [Those son-of-a-guns.] Yoonho's Mine [Bastards. School violence perpetrators should have their limbs cut off.] Yoonho's Belonging [Eek.] Not Giving Upㅋ [So, are you at the police station now?] Yoonho's Belonging [Yep, yep. I’m giving my testimony with Oppa.] Yoonho's Mine [Testimony?] Please Take Me [What testimony?] Not Giving Upㅋ [I think you meant 'statement,' not 'testimony.'] Yoonho's Belonging [Oh, right, statement, hahaha.] Not Giving Upㅋ [By the way, Seowon Unni, it's 'wen' not 'way.'] Yoonho's Mine [Way to go, way to go, way to go.] Not Giving Upㅋ [Haha.] After catching up with the chat, Yona relayed the current situation of Eunbit & Yoonho's team to Director Kim, who was driving. "Oh, really? She's not seriously hurt?" "Seems like Eunbit got hit on the arm, but Director Gwak intervened." "What if he faced trouble for stepping in unprompted? The best plan these days is not to get involved with kids. What if Eunbit had gotten a scar? I'd have run off, thinking of the kids at home. That's why I'm wary of sending kids to school." "Looks like they’re writing a statement at the police station now." "Goodness, there's always some incident around Eunbit today too." "Hehehe, we were just talking about that too." "If she becomes a regular on variety shows, the Variety Gods will surely favor her every shoot." Yona agreed wholeheartedly, chiming in to keep the conversation flowing smoothly. "Director, are you really considering quitting once the 'Ripple Girl' project wraps up?" "That's what I planned when I joined, but... I'm not sure yet. Since I've grown attached, I'd like to see you guys hit number one firsthand..." "Definitely. We promise to reach number one, so please stay and work with us." "But Jehee's asking for help too." "Mayqueens?" "Yeah. They’re doing well too, so they plan to launch a mini-album right after 'Ripple Girl' finishes, with new members. Planmaker's said they'd fully back them, but knowing Jehee, she might not go for it..." "Planmaker already has Happy Joy, right?" "Would it be better to push Happy Joy, or Mayqueens?" "Ah..." "The CEO must be having a tough time. If only he'd let Jehee handle it, all would be fine, but he’s trying to do it himself. Still hung up on Plan.EL days." The conversation paused as Kim changed lanes. Yona, with a passing thought, casually asked, "What's Jehee like as a person?" "Jehee? She looks like she has a good personality. She does her own thing, but only when working. As a friend, she holds no grudges and is considerate of others. Not many are like that. You've met her, right?" "Yeah. I met her at a GirlK dinner, but all the Plan.EL members were there, so I didn’t get to talk to her much." "She's a decent person. Want her contact info?" "I already have it. Seowon's been in touch with her personally." "Really? That's unexpected, from Seowon?" "Does Jehee have a boyfriend?" "Jehee’s boyfriend, huh..." A playful grin spread across Director Kim's face. Not known for being tight-lipped, he decided to share a bit with Yona, leaning in as if it were no big deal. "She was dating Senior Jin Gyu-seong. But I heard they broke up after Plan.EL disbanded. And besides Jin Gyu-seong..." "What... Wait a minute. Senior Jin Gyu-seong is married... to Senior Seol Min-kyung..." "They're the quintessential 'show-window couple.'" "Oh dear..." Jin Gyu-seong and Seol Min-kyung. The superstar actor couple that shocked the public with a marriage announcement right after a dating scandal 10 years ago. Even recently, they'd attended events and premieres together, but was it all an act? And Jin Gyu-seong, known for his family-oriented image, involved in an affair with someone as young as Jehee... This was precisely why Yona preferred to remain ignorant of the murkier side of the entertainment industry. Director Kim's subsequent words were even more shocking. Jin Gyu-seong had other side flings in various fields, and Jehee, fully aware, had continued seeing him for years. Moreover, it seemed that those well-acquainted with the industry were aware that Seol Min-kyung also had a lover. "This is insane… But why hasn't this made the news? A scandal involving those two would be a massive scoop." "Hehe, want to know?" An ominous chuckle. "Not really, but... since we're on the topic, let's hear it." "Seol Min-kyung's sponsor is Cho Hoon-yong, the vice president of Jo-Kyung Group. You're aware of what falls under Jo-Kyung Group, right?" "Jo-Kyung Entertainment... Jo-Kyung News... Jo-Kyung TV..." "Exactly. Who would dare touch the Cho family that controls both entertainment and media? Plus, it was Cho Hoon-yong who originally paired up Jin Gyu-seong and Seol Min-kyung. Total pervert." "Ugh... This is just too much. I don't want to hear anymore..." "Yeah, well, let's see only the good and walk the righteous path. What I learned from nearly 15 years in this industry is that you can comfortably succeed without dipping into that side. But people's desires have them reaching further, getting tangled with the powerful and the privileged." Indeed, she understood all too well. Hearing these stories only intensified Yona's gratitude and appreciation for those around her, including Yoonho and the UpKigirl members, and now, Lawyer Woo Yontak whom she was about to meet. Yona held onto this thought every day. Without Director Kim Yoon-ho and Lawyer Woo, I wouldn't be where I am today... Even if I survived a failed suicide attempt due to bad luck, I'd still be alive, cursing the entertainment world, hating my talents in singing and dancing... Never knowing how happy I could be while still pursuing my dreams. Beep― As Yona indulged in reflection, a slight sting tickled her nose while the car smoothly descended into the underground parking lot of the sports center where Woo Yontak awaited. Director Kim called Lawyer Woo once more. "Mr. Yonnayepeo, we've just entered the parking lot. Should we come up, or would you like to come down? Ah, okay, understood. Second-floor ping-pong hall... Let's go, Yona." "Yes." Yona gathered the shopping bags and stepped into the elevator while Director Kim followed, recording with an action cam. ―Ding Dong ―Second floor. "The ping-pong room is... Yona, to the left." "Okay." Something was off. Unlike the bowling alley or concession stand they passed, the hallway leading to the ping-pong hall was dark, with the glass door closed. Under the dim lights in the hallway, only the table inside the entrance was barely visible. It was supposed to be the ping-pong hall according to the sign... "The door's not open. There must be another one somewhere else." "Huh? The ping-pong room should only be here. That's odd... Go ahead, open the door and take a look inside." "Okay." Yona furrowed her brows, cautiously pushing the glass door with her shoulder while peering inside. ―Flash! Suddenly, the lights turned on, revealing several people hidden on either side of the entrance. Startled, Yona instinctively stepped back. "Oh my, that scared me..." But soon, she recognized the familiar faces. Among them, holding a cake adorned with a Yona figurine and "600" shaped candles, was Lawyer Woo Yontak. Wearing a party cone hat, he couldn't meet Yona's eyes out of shyness, instead directing his cheerful words somewhere over her shoulder. "Yo, celebrating the beautiful Yona's 600th day since debut!" The others were die-hard fans from the Icon Contact days who had supported her all this time. "Congratulations on your 600 days, Yona!" "Congrats, unnie!" "We love you!" Although it had only been 5 months since her debut with UpKigirl, counting from Icon Contact, it had already been 600 days. A special day that Yona herself might have overlooked was made memorable by her fans with this reverse event. Director Kim Sang-in, who was recording from behind, had been in on the plan and smoothly guided Yona here with his convincing acting. "Happy 600th day~ Happy 600th day~" The celebratory song began with 'Yonnaprettier's' off-tune lead-in, followed by a chorus of voices. Yona held back tears, wanting to eternally capture this precious and grateful moment, committing the face of each person to memory. "Loving Yona's~ 600th day, hooray!" "Blow out the candles and make a wish. If you blow them all out at once, your wish will come true!" Though there were only three small flames, Yona focused intently as she blew them out, wishing for UpKigirl to achieve an all-kill on music charts and reach number one on music shows. ―Whooosh! "Yay!" "Yona! Yon-na! Prettier!" "Yona! Yon-na! Prettier!" "Yona! Yon-na! Prettier!" After the scheduled activities and chants, Yona finally let go of the emotions she'd been holding back. "What is this, really... It was supposed to be my turn to give today, but why are you doing this..." Was the hat too small, or was Woo Yontak's head too big? With his jaw turning a slight purple from the hat's elastic, Woo Yontak delivered his pre-planned lines in a surprisingly cool tone. "Considering what Yona has given us, it wouldn't be enough to repay her even until our last breath." "What have I ever done for you..." "Just by existing, Yona, you are the light of our lives." "Oh, really... sniff, snort!" "May you continue for 6000 days, even 60 years." "By then, I’ll be a wrinkly granny..." "You'll still be beautiful, Yona." "Sniff..." "Uh... 60 years later, 'Yonnaprettier' might no longer be in this world..." A young male fan's joke was deftly countered by Yona's special charm. "No! Nobody dies without my permission. Even in death, get my approval first. Understood? Got it or not? Snort..." Her nasally voice, courtesy of her earlier tears, utterly melted the fans' hearts. Grabbing their left chest, men and women alike, they raised a unified cheer. "Yona!" "Yon-na!" "Prettier!" "Yona!" "Yon-na!" "Prettier!" "Sigh, if I'd known earlier, I’d have prepared gifts... I only brought something for 'Yonnaprettier' today." "For us, Yona, you are the gift itself—what more could we need!" "Exactly!" "Yona!" "Yon-na!" "Prettier!" "Noona! Thank you for sharing the same sky and air with us!" "Right!" "Yona!" "Yon-na!" "Prettier!" "Yona is... you are the Yona to me!" "Wow, that was great!" "Yona!" "Yon-na!" "Prettier!" They say Yonppaen are beyond cure... By now, this was practically a religion, one where if Yona claimed an elephant was an air purifier, they'd believe it without question. These dedicated followers from the Icon Contact days were the renowned, tightly-knit faction within the UpKigirl fandom known as the Special Yonppaen Squad. Even Director Kim Sang-in, with 14 years of idol manager experience, had never seen fans so passionate yet disciplined. They focused solely on Yona, ensuring not to disrupt or divide the wider UpKigirl fandom. And it wasn't just Yonppaen that stood out. While their loyalty was exceptional, the entire UpKigirl fandom had its own peculiar charm unseen in other girl group fandoms, with fans as unique as the artists themselves. < No Medicine for Yonppaen > End.