232 - Upki Girl

<Yunho Kim's Journey Ends: "Do What You Want"> <Upkey Girl Hits Back-to-Back with 'Coffee, Wanna Drink?' Following 'Violet'> The follow-up track "Coffee, Wanna Drink?" from Upkey Girl’s mini-album has topped eight music charts for eight consecutive days. This marks yet another home run following their title track "Violet." The album sales, which had briefly waned, are now experiencing an upward trend, nearing the significant milestone of 300,000 copies sold, having surpassed 290,000 within just a month of release. Out of all albums released in 2018, only eight artists have exceeded 300,000 sales, with only two girl groups, VNF and Upkey Girl, achieving this feat. Typically, boy groups with strong fan bases excel in album sales, while girl groups, focusing on mainstream appeal, dominate in digital streams. Upkey Girl, however, has succeeded in both arenas, establishing themselves as the top rookie act of the first half of 2018. If "Violet" was Upkey Girl’s signature, showcasing their unique, sophisticated sound, then "Coffee, Wanna Drink?" features a catchy hook familiar in many girl group songs, appealing to a broader audience. Their stage outfits included school uniforms, cheerleader costumes, and vivid dresses, emphasizing a lovely and cute image, sticking to the successful girl group formula. The choreography shifted from the complex and intricate moves of "Violet" to lively and charming point dance moves. Yona, the leader of Upkey Girl, explained the success of "Coffee, Wanna Drink?" saying, "The song and dance are easy enough for even elementary students to follow. The melodic hook stays with you after just one listen." Proving her point, the killing part of the track, Sungbin's line "Maxim, Maxim, I'll make it, don't regret not having it," is often drowned out by fan cheers during performances. Additionally, Jinria's "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee Chu" is a favorite among fans, reminiscent of the catchy "Pika Pika Pikachu." Emphasizing their unique fan engagement, Upkey Girl held daily "tea time" meetings with fans during their follow-up activities, bringing them even closer to their supporters. Even I had the chance to drink stick coffee prepared by Yeonhong. Though it was the same coffee I always have, it tasted exceptionally delightful. ――――――― <Music Market's Top Song of the Third Week of June: Upkey Girl's 'Coffee, Wanna Drink?'> ―upkey: Huge thanks to the stylists for their hard work till the end. Today's coffee shop uniform outfit was lovely! If there are any baristas like this, I'd visit every day. ―BokdoriBbul: Good job till the end, Gyeonyonhongrya♡ ―Purureom: Although Upkey Songs that only Upkey Girl can deliver are great, I really like mainstream songs like this too. It would be nice if they keep releasing Upkey Songs as title tracks and more mainstream songs as follow-ups. ―crazygogo: I also want to try the Maxim that Bit makes. ―Mumumubong: Chumchulia, Lovelylia, Finallia, all I can see is you♡. ―Nasty: MaximMaximㅋㅋㅋ are they aiming for a coffee ad or what? ―Ryu Ham: Look at Hong entering with flair after the rap at 2:17ㅋㅋ Hongyahongya♡ ―Maru Jong: Our dear fox, thanks for the great songs till the end; rest well! ―Mirinang: Yonvely today too♡♡♡♡ ――――――― <Upkey Girl Scores Coffee Commercial as 'Maxim, Maxim' Becomes Reality> Five-member girl group Upkey Girl has been selected as models for a coffee advertisement. On the 21st, Dongseo Co. announced, "Upkey Girl will be modeling for our coffee brand 'Summer Ice,' aimed at summer." A representative from Dongseo stated, "We chose them as models as their diverse and positive energy aligns well with the brand concept of Summer Ice. This breaks the stereotype of coffee ads featuring serious and atmospheric models and is expected to create a ripple in the industry." Meanwhile, member Seungbin humorously remarked via the official company SNS, "Full of mischief, who made that rustling noise? This time it's real coffee," eliciting laughter from fans. ―Magic Jeoa: Bitpayo! As it's a first-place promise, Seungbin and Yonlee will have to do a Maxim magazine shoot anywayㅋㅋㅋ ㄴMonghwa: Yes, during the showcase, they said if they get first place with 'Violet,' they’d do a Maxim shootㅋㅋㅋ *** "Hey, shouldn't we give our next-door lyricist a cut of the ad fee?" "Seriously. He said he wrote the lyrics with a coffee ad in mind, and it actually came true..." With their follow-up track also a massive hit, Upkey Girl wrapped up six weeks of promotions for their mini-album. What was surprising, though, was that "Coffee, Wanna Drink?" composed by the "next-door composer," garnered a hotter response than the title track, "Violet." While "Violet" topped charts thanks to fan power, "Coffee, Wanna Drink?" captured broader and more widespread attention. Reflecting this, it maintained its chart-topping position longer than "Violet," serving as a clear indication that company plans and public desires don’t always align. As Yeom once said, the majority of the public seeks a lovable and cute image from girl groups, and Upkey Girl was no exception. The school look with twin tails and ponytails reminded everyone of the timeless charm throughout ages. After finishing their mini-album promotions, Upkey Girl planned a week-long official break before preparing their next album. I will be traveling to Brunei with the girls for three nights and four days as we had promised. We scheduled the trip for the end of June, after Ramadan concludes. Although we would still meet frequently at the company, and our paths inevitably cross due to the “Light of the Shadow” shooting requiring us to spend at least one day together every two weeks, this trip marked a farewell journey with the girls in a symbolic sense. Upon the trip's conclusion, I am set to move to a nearby studio apartment. However, the mood was far from sad or gloomy. The girls were simply excited about the prospect of traveling together for the first time. I, too, am excitedly looking forward to this journey. The reason for this was clear: while I used to recharge by traveling on weekends and during time off while working for the company, I hadn’t had a proper trip since becoming Upkey Girl's manager. Above all, according to Lia, the royal family of Brunei was preparing for our trip as if we were state guests, so I couldn't help but be excited. Until the day before departure, the girls were completing their rigorous schedules that demanded precision to the minute, which included shooting promotional materials for an anti-school violence campaign, a fan signing event, a recording for B-Music's "Here for a Concert," a celebratory stage at the Gangneung Danoje Festival, and even a Maxim iced coffee commercial shoot. The iced coffee shoot was composed of five episodes, one for each member. While it wasn’t intended for TV broadcast, it was a web-exclusive advertisement targeted at the younger generation with a quirky concept, fitting the girls' image perfectly, and it was a fun shoot. Returning to our dorm, we packed our bags and immersed ourselves in the anticipation of the upcoming trip. "Mun-daeng, have you ever been on a private jet?" "Not a chance." "They're sending a private jet for us tomorrow." "Really?" "Yeah, they said the King himself would fly over." "Come on, that's a bit too much MSG in the story. I can get the private jet part, but saying the King is flying it himself sounds too Hollywood, don't you think? Haha." "Even in Hollywood movies, that would probably get criticized," other members agreed, brushing off Lia’s tale as mere exaggeration. But then, it actually happened. The King of Brunei, Lia's father, Sultan of Bolkiah, personally flew one of the world's most expensive private jets, a Boeing 747, to pick us up. Apparently, he occasionally enjoys flying like this. I was expecting traditional Bruneian royal attire, but he was dressed in a sharp suit and coat. Accompanying the king were the Crown Prince and Osman, who we met previously, along with his personal secretary, Ho-sun Kim, who had orchestrated this opportunity. Before boarding, Ho-sun guided us through the procedures and expressed his gratitude to me. "It's just as Director Yunho Kim predicted. The sun's warmth truly coaxed the coat off Alya, rather than the wind. Thank you." "It’s thanks to your excellent mediation, Secretary. I'm more grateful that you looked out for Lia." "Are you really quitting as Upkey Girl's manager?" "Yes, I've settled it with the girls, and this trip may very well be our farewell." He raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised. Since he knew how the members felt about me, he probably found it unexpected that they let me go so smoothly. He quickly masked his surprise and, in a friendly manner, continued. "I see. You'll be busier soon, but before that, I owe you a drink." "I’ll hardly be busier than now. I do plan to prepare a successor group for Upkey Girl, but I doubt it’ll be more hectic than managing Upkey Girl." "I beg to differ… I think you'll find yourself busier than you thought, to the point where managing Upkey Girl might seem like the easy part." "Why do you think so?" "It's just my hunch." He chuckled softly, as if he knew something I didn’t, but I chose not to press the matter. "You can proceed to the premium check-in counter for departure procedures." Except for taking a private jet exit and virtually no waiting time during the boarding process, the overall departure procedures at the airport were similar to any first-class trip abroad. The pilot handled the flight to Brunei, and the royal entourage shared meals and conversation with us. It was surreal. An overwhelming surrealness. Being face-to-face with a king of a country, especially the monarch and crown prince of an absolute monarchy, naturally made me tense, but they surprisingly displayed an amicable demeanor, working hard to ease our nerves. Thanks to two translators and simultaneous interpreting devices, communication flowed smoothly. Apparently, it had been 15 years since Lia last saw the king. Naturally, Lia didn’t remember, and the king only remembered Lia as a baby. The meeting, clearly set for business purposes, had the king warmly engaging with Alya despite the long absence. Of course, the air of business couldn’t be completely shed—Lia similarly approached the reunion with a businesslike mindset. It felt more like negotiating a deal than a father-daughter relationship. "My, you’ve grown so much, ‘Haja Alya Surulu Bolkiah.’ You look just like your mother, easy to recognize!" "Um, I’m Yeonhong..." "Aha, my apologies! So, this must be Alya then? I gave you your name!" "Sorry, but I’m the leader Yona." After a series of blunders, Seungbin couldn’t hold back a giggle, and I gave her a pointed look to keep it down. It was indeed a comical situation. "Eh? Then who’s Alya? Everyone’s so beautiful; no wonder I got confused even after seeing photos!" "Why don't you keep guessing until you get it right?" Lia muttered, sounding a bit peeved, prompting the Sultan to finally gesture towards Lia and spread his arms. "Aha, it’s you!" "Oh, really…can’t even recognize faces but making such claims… Don’t translate that." "I personally came to bring you back, so let go of the past!" "Alright, just make sure to keep your promises." "Of course!" Lia hadn’t shared what she traded for the royal title and support in the successor selection process, neither did Secretary Ho-sun. But it seemed like exchanges valued beyond the three hotel properties and assets previously owned, given the plans to renew contracts with Cassie, Uncle Hong, and the existing medical staff. Lia wasn’t the type to settle for just breaking even. "Now, which one is the famous Myuno Manager?" After personally greeting the girls in order, the king turned to me with a glint in his eye. The king's words were translated into formal language by the interpreter. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. My name is Kim Yunho," I said, introducing myself. The king, however, looked at the Upkey Girl members with a whimsical gaze and started talking about seemingly unrelated topics. "In Brunei, officially, one man can have up to four wives." "Excuse me?" "But for the royal family, words like 'official' and 'Sharia law' are meaningless." What was he trying to say? Was he bragging about having many wives and being above the law? The king quickly continued, offering some clarity. "Once Alya becomes an official royal, anyone marrying her also gains a title and becomes royalty." Seo-won, who seemed to grasp the king's implication the quickest, let out a sigh of relief and murmured. "That's a relief. We don't have to worry about getting eliminated among ourselves. Though I was confident I'd win." Ah, at last, I understood the king's implication thanks to Seo-won's words. Even though Brunei allows polygamy, with five members in Upkey Girl, the king was suggesting that I marry all of them, thus making them all royalty and disregarding the existing law. In other words, he was suggesting marrying all five members. Is that something a king should be saying? While I had heard that the royal family had certain freedoms beyond Islamic law, I didn’t expect it to be addressed so bluntly. Granted, thanks to oil money, the welfare for citizens is great, and there's no tax, so there's absolute trust from the public. However, in an absolute monarchy where the king holds ultimate power, the law hardly dictates his actions. It’s even codified that the ‘king is above reproach both personally and officially.’ Whether true or not, the current experience gave it 200% credibility. Lia seemed unfazed, likely aware of talk about marriage beforehand. The other members, too, nodded as if they had discovered a clever solution... but really, why were they all smiling so contently? Seungbin even gave a double thumbs-up in delight. "Brunei is great! Let's share Kim Yunho!" What do you mean, share? I wondered if they really understood the kind of treatment women might face in an Islamic state, yet they all seemed to agree happily. "Now that I think about it, polygamy is a good policy. It's so fair," Yona commented. "Well, if I can't have him all to myself, might as well share, one day each," Han-ga added. "Hmm... How about dividing the weekdays and on weekends all six of us gather?" Hong suggested. "Yunho's lucky. Enjoying a peaceful and fair way of life with such beautiful and young women despite being old. Isn’t that nice?" Lia inquired. I was at a loss for words, so I kept silent. It was the first time I really felt uncertain, not knowing who was a mafia and who was a citizen. Could I even confidently say I was a citizen? Among all the madness, I felt like I was the one actually going insane. After the introductions were over, the king and his entourage gave us a tour of the private jet's interior. True to his reputation as one of the world's wealthiest individuals, known for his love of luxury and collection, the jet was extravagantly decorated with gold and crystal, resembling a high-end hotel. Even the remote and bathroom tissue holders were gold. The king loved showing off, in a way that felt less like a nouveau riche and more like a proud artist explaining his soul-infused masterpiece. His pride in his car collection, in particular, was evident. The onboard garage housed a gold Rolls-Royce embossed with the Sultan's emblem, Ferraris, and futuristic concept cars, all of which were not merely rare but utterly unique, just one in the entire world—noted with pride. Rather than feeling threatened, his demeanor and enthusiasm came across as endearingly bourgeois, significantly easing my tension—much like a humble chairman casually thanking you for your hard work. "Sungbin." "Yes?" On the way back to our private room after viewing the cars, Seungbin quietly asked me. "Do you think if I asked the king for a billion won to buy snacks, he’d give it? I mean, for them, a billion won is probably nothing." "Phft, only you, Yoo Eunbit. Why don't you go ask?" I chuckled at the thought. It was meant as a joke, but you, of all people, actually went and relayed it to the interpreter... "Sis, could you ask them to give me a billion won for snacks?" Naturally, I expected the interpreter to disregard this. However, her task for today seemed to be 'delivering exactly what's said,' and she nodded seriously, without a trace of humor. I quickly intervened, preventing a potential mishap. "You’re seriously... just... terribly ridiculous," I scolded. "What? You told me to ask directly." "If I told you to jump off a cliff, you'd do it?" "Yeah, of course." "Ah, never mind... I'm going to lose it," I sighed. The reality seemed to dissipate from the moment we boarded the plane. I felt like Alice, falling into the rabbit hole of a strange new world. What awaited us at the end of this journey? *** There was a one-hour time difference between Korea and Brunei, with Brunei being ahead. After a nearly six-hour flight, we arrived at our destination at 10 PM and traveled by limousine to the Empire Hotel, a mere fifteen minutes from the airport. Despite its official five-star rating, it's actually one of only two seven-star hotels worldwide, surpassing standard evaluations. Receiving state guest-level treatment, each of us was provided a personal room. Additionally, a local guide accompanied each of us as personal aides, not ordinary tour guides but young Bruneian officials, and Lia had three dedicated bodyguards. Before heading to our rooms, Ho-sun Kim, who was in charge of this trip, made an announcement. "Please take today to rest and recover from your travel fatigue. We'll begin the official schedule tomorrow morning. By the way, Director, do you play golf?" "No, I don’t." "Oh dear, how can a man your age not know how to play golf, Mundaeng!" "Sorry, I should’ve learned..." "Why not take this opportunity to learn? The country club here is famous. What about horse riding? Have you tried that?" "I haven’t tried horse riding either..." For someone like me, horse riding is even more foreign than golf. It wasn't something I ever imagined trying. As I shook my head, Eunbit, looking like a bigwig, suddenly started teasing me. "Oh my, what has my brother been doing all this time without learning horse riding? Isn't it like having a driver's license these days?" "Have you done it?" "Of course. I’ve been taking horse riding lessons as an after-school class since elementary school. I'm practically one with horses." Ah, that's right. She's from Tamra Kingdom. Her confident swagger and boasting suddenly made sense. Seungbin reassured me not to worry, as she'd teach me step by step, while patting my back. "So, does that mean only Alya can play golf?" A disappointed Lia asked, and Hong replied timidly. "I, I can play a bit. I was briefly in the golf club in middle school." "Hong, is there any sport you haven't tried?" "I didn't really care or enjoy it, but the coaches and seniors wouldn't leave me alone... and I turned out to be alright at it..." Perhaps Hong was meant to be an athlete after all. I wondered if I was wasting a future talent like Park Inbee or Kim Yuna on idol activities. "Please get a good rest tonight, and I'll see you in the morning. If you need anything, feel free to speak to the guides." The Jeju native, who had spent a lot of energy shopping for swimsuits, asked with sparkling eyes, "Can we swim now?" "Unfortunately, the pool is usually open only until 7 PM..." "Oh... it’s too late." "...but, as part of the royal entourage, exceptions can be arranged. Shall I prepare the main swimming pool?" "Really? I can promise to be quiet and not disturb anyone." "I'll have it ready for you. You can head out in about 20 minutes." Overjoyed, Eunbit responded with a celebratory dance. "Yay! Late-night swim, yay! Lia said she’s going, what about the rest of you?" "I'm just going to relax on a sunbed." "What about Yonnie and Hong?" "I’m swimming." "I’m prepared to spend the entire night in the pool." Ah, the joys of youth. I planned on soaking in the bathtub, enjoying a can of beer, and getting a good night's sleep. The pool seemed dangerous. Going there with these rascals was bound to lead to teasing. Still, Yona asked me as if it were a given, "Director, you’ll swim, right? I saw on a blog that the pool has surfboards and other fun stuff." "No... I was just going to relax with some beer and then sleep..." Before I could finish, Seo-won interrupted. "Oh, the Director is droning on again. You can rest for eternity when you’re dead. Why risk missing out here? Where's your sense of community?" "Exactly, Mundaeng, are you trying to show your age or something?" "No, no. I think resting is part of the trip too. If I rest well, I can have more fun from tomorrow." "Oh, stop acting so old!" I tried to defend myself, but it was in vain. If I didn’t go, they threatened not to come too, so I had no choice but to join them at the pool, planning to just lay on a sunbed and read. The pool was enormous. Even if a few girls chatted, it wouldn’t really bother nearby guests. The main pool, seemingly merging with the sea, had kayaks, paddleboards, and even an artificial beach, just like Yona mentioned. Two staff members at the poolside bar were available for us, but alcohol wouldn't be served. Due to country laws prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol and tobacco in public, foreign visitors could only drink what they brought in, with a limit of about ten cans of beer per person, inside the hotel room. The girls who had arrived earlier were already splashing around in the water. Seo-won was taking pictures of them from a sunbed. "Youth is wonderful." I settled on a sunbed next to Seo-won, who frowned upon seeing my face. "Oh, what’s this? Sunglasses at night?" "It's the pool. Sunglasses seem appropriate." "Take them off. It's embarrassing. And why aren’t you wearing a swimsuit?" "I'm not going in the water, so what’s the point? I already showered. Why are you in a swimsuit if you're not going in?" "For the ambiance. Atmosphere." Seo-won was wearing a beige one-piece swimsuit, but the style resembled a bikini as it had a sheer material over the abdomen, showing her navel. Knowing any prolonged gazing would earn me snide remarks, I kept my eyes away from that area. “Are you not coming in?” “Director, come swim! The water’s warm!” “Ah, you guys go ahead. I’ll join in a bit,” I waved them off and reclined on the sunbed. Being out here, it felt good. Even with sunglasses on, I could see the countless stars in the night sky. Once I took off my sunglasses, the sight left me awestruck. “Wow, Seo-won, did you see the stars?” “Yes, they’re beautiful.” “Wow... this feels surreal...” “Exactly.” Her answers were nonchalant, evident of her lack of interest. Dropping a bottle of oil next to my lounger, she turned over and lay on her stomach. “If you're not going in the water, can you at least apply some oil on me?” “Why put on oil?” “To get a nice tan, of course.” What kind of nonsense... “You were chiding me for wearing sunglasses at night, and now you want to tan under moonlight?” “Yes. Have you heard of moontanning? It’s the latest trend. You didn't know?” She lied so naturally, anyone but me would have believed her. “Even if I pretend to buy that, who said you could just tan? Who gave you permission?” “Just do it, like when you gave me a massage. You can untie the strings at the back.” Ah, she’s referring to when she 'accidentally' brushed against me. Is she planning to make contact under the guise of another slip-up? This rogue, who claims never to have dated, surely has a sensually charged mind. The deceit was so transparent it almost made me laugh. I called Hong, who was underwater practicing with the “Jeju Seal,” to take my place. “Hong!” “Yes!” “Would you mind giving Seo-won some oil?” “O-oil?” “Yeah. She says she’s moon tanning.” “Ah, okay!” “No, you don't have to, Yeon-hong. The director will do it.” “No, I’ll do it. Don’t bother the director.” Sweet Hong took my words at face value and approached, emerging from the water... h-hot? Haa! What a bombshell of a physique, making one question whether this was Asia or Latin America! There's a reason fans dubbed her Hong Kardashian. Seo-won remarked, “Oh, look at her, that pig. Look at all the fat.” But her body—with its voluptuous bust, smooth hourglass waist and hips, and seamlessly flowing legs—was an explosive combination 99 out of 100 guys would shout “Wow! Gorgeous!” over. I didn’t expect this level. She wore a simple, plain, conservative black one-piece, yet more description feels unnecessary. It should remain unsaid. Simply, it screamed South America. Carnival Festival! Hong stood with her back to me, looking at Seo-won. The distance from her posterior to my elbow was roughly 50 cm. To avoid staring at her backside, I had to consciously turn my head to the left. “Do I just apply this on your back? Like smearing sauce on a grilled eel?” “Forget it. I won’t do it. What tanning at moonlight?” “I knew it. You just wanted to mess with the director, didn’t you?” Ignoring Hong’s remarks, Seo-won muttered as she looked at me. “What a jerk, Kim Yunho. Would it hurt him to lift a finger?” See, just look how shameless she is. She might fool me once, but not a second time. “Ah, so nice…” I lay back casually, flaunting my ease to Seo-won while opening a book I brought. It was a memoir from the co-founder of 3S Entertainment on running an agency. While flipping through the contents, Yona interrupted me. “Director, what’s that board called?” Yona, seated cross-legged on a paddleboard, was leisurely rowing. “It’s a paddleboard. The one next to it is a kayak.” “Oh, as expected. Have you tried it?” “No, I haven’t.” “This is my first time too. I thought maintaining balance would be hard, but it’s surprisingly easy.” “Really? You must have good balance.” “Perhaps. I feel like I could do actual yoga on this.” “Yoga there, really?” “Yes. It’s a trend.” What universe’s trend is she talking about? I’ve never heard of it. Yona's swimwear was a striped monokini, deeply cut along the chest and waist. She paddled towards me, standing atop the board and performed various yoga poses purely, unnecessarily, right in front of me. Seo-won, watching from afar, incredulously asked, “Yona, what are you doing?” “Yoga,” Yona answered briefly, then adopted a crane stance, hands holding the moon. Her inner thigh muscles bulged like cords, clearly visible to me. Though slender, she’d danced and exercised much since young, resulting in impressively toned thighs. “Ugh, ugh. She must love it.” “Hm?” Noticing Seo-won’s mutterings, I realized I had been staring at Yona’s legs. “Yona’s and my figure aren’t that different, you know? In fact, I think my legs are slimmer.” “Who said otherwise?” “Then why gawking at Yona all the time?” “What are you talking about?” “When pretending not to, Yona can be quite the flirt. Eesh!” “Eek! Don’t, sis!” What a temperament. Seo-won ultimately leaped into the water, flipping Yona’s board upside down. Then it happened. “Puhahaha!” At the far end, Eunbit burst into laughter, consumed by her own excitement. I looked over, confused, only to see her barely poking her head above water, waving something above. “Oppa, look at this! My bikini top came off! Must be because there’s nothing to hold it up. Even with two pads in, puhahahaha!” After Seo-won asking for oil, Hong's hourglass figure, Yona's paddleboard yoga, and now Eunbit's — likely intentional — bikini top snafu, I found myself overwhelmed by their relentless antics. This was why I wanted to avoid the pool. Beyond simple tiredness, I anticipated such scenarios unfolding. It's nothing new for them to tease me. Upkey Girl being Upkey Girl. The real issue lies with me. Lately, their provocations have been increasingly affecting me. I hate to admit it, but the kids are starting to seem less like members I'm responsible for and more like women, as potential partners. It started when the purple aura disappeared. I had always assessed their appearances professionally, to present them as idols — a mere part of my job as a producer. At times, I did see them as women, but it was like opposing ends of a magnet, a force instinctively pushing those thoughts aside. Whether through dreams or other women, that energy was never directed toward them, nor was there any desire to cross boundaries. Now, even with the pesky Seungbin, who I once saw as a younger sister or niece, I felt a distinct shift. I'm convinced it's due to the absence of that purple aura. The aura had served as a barrier, ensuring my personal feelings didn't interfere, essential for them to rise to the top. It was like DNA preventing inbreeding, or the Earth's magnetic field shielding from solar winds. With that formidable shield gone overnight, here I am in confusion. "Want to see Bibit’s chest beneath the pool lights?" "Oh, jeez. Come on..." Lia had approached from behind without a sound, unnoticed until now. I couldn't bring myself to turn and just murmured. "At least announce your presence..." "Don't change the subject. So, do you want to see Bibit’s cute chest or not?" "What nonsense..." "Even though she's smaller, Bibit's chest is pale and pretty." "I'm fine, thanks." "Really? But I bet you do. Lately, Mundaeng’s eyes have been odd around the girls." Caught. "And that adult gaze toward Aliya... I doubt you can keep the 'two-year promise' at this rate." "Ha! Imagining a whole drama in your head, aren’t you, kid?" "Really? Then why can't you look at Aliya?" "What do you mean?" "The noble Aliya is talking from behind, yet you won't turn, almost as if avoiding eye contact with her swimsuits. Trying to dodge a bullet, perhaps?" "Nonsense." "Well then, turn around and face Aliya properly." "Fine, fine, if you insist." I sat up and turned to face Lia. "Happy now?" Good thing I had sunglasses on—my wavering pupils hidden. I thought Hong was the final boss, but here's the true one. Her swimsuit covered the least among them. "For a kid, that swimsuit is..." "Mundaeongie, you just swallowed." "I didn’t." "The two-year promise must feel endless, right?" "Bring in a truckload of Aliyas, and I'll still stand firm." With a sardonic smile, she left me with what felt like a witch’s prophecy, then rejoined the pool. "Remember, Mundaeong. Here, you don't have to follow Korean rules. Nobody's eyes matter." She added before slipping into the water, leaving me in deeper turmoil. The air of this foreign land certainly casts a spell. The girls, frolicking under starlight beside the pool, seemed more vibrant and lively than ever. "Eek! What's happening?" Underwater chaos ensued, Yona collapsing back into the water, followed by Seo-won, Hong, and Lia, in what looked like synchronized tumbles. "You've lost it, Yoo Eunbit!" "Hey, hey! Stop it! Ack!" "Mmm!" Eunbit surfaced some distance away, waving something above her head. "Puhahaha! Look at this, oppa!" Oh dear. It was their swimsuit bottoms. Using her stealthy swimming skills, she expertly pulled them off. "Yoo Eunbit's really lost it. She's completely nuts!" "I can't move, so Director, please get them back." "You know, this actually feels quite... freeing? Is it just me?" “Mundaeongie, help! Help!” "Join us, oppa! I'll strip you equally! Hahaha!" Lia’s words echoed in my mind. "The girls want it too. Everyone's prepared." I needed to escape. Back to my room. I yearned to crack open a cold beer from the fridge and slip into sleep without a care. “Have fun, everyone. I'm heading inside.” But just as I was rising, an informational pop-up appeared before my eyes. ―――――― ★ Oh, what a fool! You’re no longer a manager, and there's no allegiance warranted, so why so hesitant, like a monk? LOL ★ ―――――― Hey, hey, system! Is it really okay for me to do this? Am I really going to? Honestly, I can't hold back much longer... ―――――― ★Stop just yapping and do it already, dumbass!!!!!★ ―――――― Oh, really? Hehehe… . . . . . . “Seo-won, oppa is grinning again.” “Leave him be. He’s probably dreaming about something good.” “Heehee, I should take a picture. Isn’t it adorable when our director smiles, Hong?” “Re-really? But it seems he looks exhausted a lot lately, falling asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Maybe he needs some herbal medicine for fatigue…” “Mundaengdae, wake up! It’s not good to laze around before we start!” “Huh…? Oh, when did I fall asleep…?” “You had a sweet 10-minute nap!” I see. In my dream, I was already at the Brunei hotel, enjoying the pool, but waking up, I found myself on a sofa in the airport’s VIP lounge. I must have dozed off while waiting for the Brunei King and his private jet. But it felt so vivid. Even now, I could feel the lingering tension throughout my lower abdomen. Despite that, it wasn’t a bad dream. The vibrant images of the girls in my dream left my heart thumping pleasantly. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. If they hadn’t woken me up a bit sooner, it could’ve led to an even more delightful scenario… “Ahhh…” I stretched to shake off the drowsiness. The first thing I noticed was Seo-won and Eun-bit sitting across from me. Wait, what? Their auras — they had transformed to the same pink color as Yona’s. Not only them but Hong and Lia as well. Does this mean I can see their sacred and secret information just like with Yona…? Seo-won looked at me with a slight pout. “What’s with that intense look? It’s making my heart flutter.” Well, an info window just popped up in front of your face. ―――――― ★Reward Leave★ Thank you for raising a lively girl group. This trip is your reward leave, so Yunho Kim, do whatever you want^^ Dreams do come true! ―――――― <Yunho Kim Do What You Want (End)> End