The song flowed on the stage. Underneath the dog mask, the singer's voice could be heard.
The college student listened to it.
-With the most beautiful heart
My confession to you
Soft and gentle lyrics continued to be sung.
-With the utmost kindness of heart
My love to you
It was a popular love song that was commonly used for marriage proposals and weddings.
'Ah.'
But here, it didn't sound like 'that kind of' love.
The college student was unsure if it was because of the dog costume or his voice.
-When you hear love
Think of me
A dog saving his family.
What was written on the signboard he was holding was clearly a joke, but somehow the joke and the lyrics were connected… It was no longer funny.
-Today and tomorrow too
I love you
The mixed song originally sung by a man and a woman rang softly in the voice of the singer inside the dog costume.
He chose this song even though he could have made a more unconventional or more powerful choice.
On the contrary, it amplified the delivery power of the stage, strangely.
-I love you.
The Welsh Corgi finished his final song with a very deep and rich tone.
The applause from the audience lasted for a long time.
"…"
The college student was frozen in front of the TV, lost in an inexplicable sentiment.
It seemed like a strange longing, nostalgia, was calling to her. She paused her thoughts for a moment, still…
[An impressive performance from 'The Welsh Corgi at Your House'!]
"… ! Hoo."
The MC's loud voice and subtitles sounded around the room. The college student finally shook her head and found a sense of reality.
'Anyway… It was good.'
Unless it went through a huge editing process for broadcast, the winner would have already been decided.
Without showing off enormous vocal volume or high-pitched technique, they had created a beautiful song with the right sound in the right place.
[The winner is… 'The Welsh Corgi at Your House'!]
Sure enough, the winner emerged with a good score.
[With this, the singer to be created in 〈The Singer I Made] has become 'The Welsh Corgi at Your House'!]
The Welsh Corgi pressed the ball with both front paws as if he was thrilled.
It was quite cute and there was a sense of congratulation on winning, but the main point was next.
'His identity!'
After the loser, who was close to winning, left with a disappointed greeting, the flow finally returned to the Welsh Corgi.
[Now it's finally time to meet our winner!]
Confetti exploded.
As cheers mixed with laughter poured in for the Welsh Corgi hugging his signboard, the MC finally opened his mouth.
[The creator of 'The Welsh Corgi at Your House' is…]
At the signal, the Welsh Corgi lowered its signboard, raised both front paws again, and took off his mask.
And what was revealed underneath it… Sweaty black hair and a coldly handsome face.
"… … !!"
[This is Ryu Gunwoo-ssi, the main vocalist of the big rookie group Wishze!]
… He was indeed an idol.
But instead of feeling thrilled by the correct guess, astonishment took over the college student's body.
It wasn't because she didn't know who he was, but it was because… he was a familiar face!
'Ryu Gunwoo??'
The main vocalist from the in-house survival group was smiling faintly.
'No, I also thought he was good when I watched the survival show too…!'
She didn't know it would be like this. No, in the first place, she ended up looking at him in moderation.
She never thought he would actually be a rookie.
She thought that the person would walk the tightrope between generosity and wit, and that he would definitely be an idol with at least 5 years of experience in terms of cuteness and singing… but he was only a rookie?
'He was only a trainee for 3 months… !'
Hey, with that face, wearing a Welsh corgi mask, he was acting like a natural kid?
While watching TV with her mouth open, Ryu Gunwoo smiled and put the doll mask on his side.
And then he picked up the microphone again.
[Hello. I am Ryu Gunwoo from Wishze. Thank you very much for voting for 'The Welsh Corgi at Your House'.]
There was a strange response mixed with groans and strange screams from the audience, and laughter broke out again.
[Can I hear your thoughts on winning?]
[Actually, I didn't dare think about winning, and my goal was to work hard and do what I like, but really… I can't believe it.]
[What is it?]
[It's surprising that everyone has such similar tastes in comedy as me.]
Applause erupted. The MC also asked another question, barely holding back his smirk.
[Do you like Welsh Corgis??]
[I like yellow dogs.]
Saying that, Ryu Gunwoo hugged the yellow dog head mask and smiled.
The cold and delicate impression suddenly softened, and somehow he looked cute…
[Please give a big round of applause once again to the winning creator!]
['The Welsh Corgi at Your House' created by Ryu Gunwoo will serve as the broadcasting station's mascot this month.]
Ta-da-dan!
Accompanied by magnificent BGM, the Welsh Corgi, wearing a mask again, raised one paw and waved the cute signboard. The college student almost reflexively waved her hand at the screen.
That was how the broadcast ended.
But the turmoil in her heart that had begun did not end.
"…"
The college student eventually picked up her smartphone.
This was the situation 30 seconds before a new Ryu Gunwoo fan account was created.
• * *
I did it well.
Because it was a special program, the cast lineup was not very good, so the best expectation was that the response would be good once the lid was opened.
'The editing came out well.'
I had already seen 'Wishze's Ryu Gunwoo' appear in real-time search terms and evaluated it with satisfaction.
I had an interview scheduled at night and was sitting in the shop, so I had a lot of time.
I also checked congratulatory messages coming to my smartphone.
And then it was time to check the group message area where emoticons were flowing.
I received a private message.
- Keun Sejin: ㅎㅎㅎㅎ
- Keun Sejin: Have you seen this yet, Moondaemoondae? (link)
"Hmm?"
I checked the link address.
'It's something from social media.'
Has another meme been created with that Welsh Corgi?
Since I hadn't been able to monitor it properly yet, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look, so I clicked on it.
It was a new post that was posted just a few minutes ago.
-Gunwoo is really so cute. I feel like I'm going crazy. I haven't been able to sleep for over a week and I'm just waiting for more content.
… One of my fans?
Seeing that there was a mention of entertainment, it seemed like they were interested in the dog mask this time.
'Does he really want me to monitor this?'
If his intention was to cheer me up, I couldn't say it was a failure. I chuckled and scrolled down.
After seeing the fan art of a Welsh corgi with flashing eyes, a video of me taking off the mask, and photos of my debut activities, the chatter started again.
-Actually, I have seen Gunwoo in real life because I had a hugging event with a different member during the Wise Guerrilla Concert…
Huh.
└Ackㅠㅠ
└Why didn't you choose Gunwoo?ㅠㅠ
└My friend asked me to give a cheering comment to another member… But that member was cute too. The problem is that my heart didn't beat…
And this person who was chatting excitedly even attached a proof photo as the responses grew.
-The participation bracelet I received at that time… Let's stop talking about it (photo)
What was in the photo was a paper band hanging on a wrist with a bracelet.
And… It was the fabric I remembered.
The light blue knit and bracelet were worn by the person who received a hug from Jin Chaeyul.
This was the attire worn by Park Moondae's first homma at the time.
"…"
No way.
-It seems like my preferences have been modified, but I'll still fight back. Cold Gunwoo-like talk won't appeal to me yet. Stubbornness will prevail.
-I know it would be crazy to rent a cannon, but I want to…
The account's post ended there.
"…"
I quietly put down my smartphone.
"Gunwoo, did something good happen?"
"Yes. A little."
"Oh~ Ah, it must be because of the Welsh Corgi!"
It was similar.
Nothing changed because of this, but somehow I felt like things were back in place.
I finished the interview that day with more effort than planned.
And in the meantime, the ripple effect of entertainment was growing more and more uncontrollably.
• * *
First, let's go back in time a little more.
Before 〈The Singer I Made〉 aired, a trend began to form when the article appeared.
-The kids' entertainment shows are coming out (link)
-Wow, disaster escape ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. What should I do? I'm so looking forward to it.
-ㅋㅋㅋ I guess they only gather kids with interesting reactions and let them appear!
Since it was quite common for a group to select entertainment members and promote them to programs, people reacted as if that was something like that.
And this was a program that looked at various coping methods through a disaster simulation starring the three VTIC guys, which was aired for the first time.
Let me say this first.
… Cheongryeo was correct in his nomination-doing.
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-I thought this was how shamanism came about.
-Talking about how this is like something he saw in a cartoon (captured by Jung Woodan)
-Friends who are instigated (captured by Jin Chaeyul and Oh Yoonshin)
The two yes-men were surprised by the sudden warning of an earthquake, yet they still tried to do something quickly, which drew an admirable response.
And Ju-Dan said bullshit there too, but it was really effective. He appealed as a mental supporter for the two.
As the three of them were appealing to a young fan base that mainly used social media…
Entertainment programs targeting other target groups of people were also aired.
-All three male idols who appeared in Four-legged Friend are crazy. Please appear next season as well.
-Shin Jaehyun is starring on Four-legged Friend. No wonder my mom told me to come watch it.
-Everyone becomes happy when they see Ryu Chungwoo's 60kg Malamute arms flashing (screenshot)
The two guys who appeared as regulars in the new season of the problem dog guidance program called "Four Legs But They're Friends" took very good care of the dogs.
It was focused on warmth rather than laughter, but it seemed like they got a lot out of it.
They created a favorable image with a reliable and adult appearance.
-Either of them is fine. Let's get married.
-I came here to look at puppies, but I saw Shin Jaehyun next to them. Why is he so calm and sweet? ㅜㅜ
-Wow, people would usually get angry, so what's with this patience here?
In this way, it succeeded in appealing to a wider range of middle-aged and older people.
Up to this point, fans were anxious about their octopus-like personal activities, but they didn't completely explode. Because it felt appropriate, and the success effect was clear.
However, tremendous aggro arrived with the next hitter.
-Kim Raebin appeared in 〈School Rapping〉, Cha Eugene appeared in 〈Enlistment Standards〉….
-????
Cha Eugene's military variety show and Kim Raebin's rapper survival appearance.
Fans were energized by the gem-filled lineup.
-Taein Kim is crossing the line of being crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Are you kidding me?
-Are you asking a guy who just served you to serve again, and on a rapper suvrvial show? A kid who didn't even want to be an idol was made into an idol. Are you crazy?
-Hey, no matter if it's an entertainment show or not, isn't it a bit too much to send high school students into the military?
The atmosphere heated up as if they were about to attack the agency with a fax machine, but the entertainment program aired first.
It was Cha Eugene's military variety show.
-Fuck
And the situation seemed to be going as fans feared.
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ah, this is killing me. The assistant is speechless.
-I think he will return home to America after the program is over.
-It seems like they wanted to send someone who wouldn't normally be going to the military. But I'm more curious about whether they should have sent Ryu Chungwoo instead.
-That's funny, but is it possible to feel like you want to bite your nails at the same time?
At the very beginning of the broadcast…
Cha Eugene, like any other foreign character, played the role of a licorice character who showed four-dimensional charm due to communication problems, or appeared as an outsider to get reactions.
Because he was young, viewers also laughed, but it was inevitable that the image of 'the youngest foreigner, radish kimchi' would be attached to him.
-I know Eugene must be frustrated too, but it's so funny ㅋㅋ
-But he's still brave and cute. He doesn't even cry.
This kind of atmosphere.
However, this evaluation was completely overturned starting from episode 2.
This was because Cha Eugene had a mind to put it simply.
[Cha Eugene: I will take it!]
-Cha Eugene, why didn't he fail in the general march?
-He's holding up well.
- He's surprisingly friendly and quiet. Is he really from America, the land of the free? He's adapted to the Korean style entirely. What's going on?
-He's laughing while being on the helicopter. Fuck ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Since it was an entertainment show, only the pattern and framework of real life in the military were borrowed, and the training schedule itself was inconsistent and stimulating.
Thanks to this, there were many parts that required courage and stamina, and Cha Eugene played a remarkable role in each of them.
Moreover, there were people who were flustered because he never gave up.
-It seems like he was originally a kid who played American football. A quarterback.
└Wow ㅋㅋㅋ
-I guess he was a sports kid.
-It's good that there are no unnecessary over-the-top reactions. I hate the entertainment-type reactions of people who come to camp in the military.
In the end, Cha Eugene achieved flawless ace editing on the last four days of the 10-day shoot.
It was originally a popular entertainment show, and thanks to this, Cha Eugene's popularity rose to the level of a meme after the 10-day episode aired over two months.
"Congratulations."
On the day he returned from filming, Cha Eugene, who had left a great comment saying, 'Everyone except me thought I was a football coach,' shrugged his shoulders.
"I hate you, hyung. I won't forget this."
Okay.
"Anything else?"
"The rice over there is not tasty. And everyone speaks like Kim Raebin."
Cha Eugene, who regained his speaking skills after three days, pointed at the TV and stuck out his tongue.
Just then, the person responsible was coming out.
[Kim Raebin: I will do my best.]
[Lee Seonjung: I'm scared of that word now.]
This was 〈School Rapping〉, which was preparing for the semi-finals.
By this time, Kim Raebin had almost become like the Grim Reaper in the program.
Of course, there were some ridiculous twists and turns, but that would be explained later. To conclude, this one was also a cakewalk.
Jin Chaeyul sat in the living room with a smile.
"Wow, many people think Raebin is a solo rapper, right?"
"Whenever he goes out and says hello, he talks about Wishze."
"Oh my gosh."
And today, with my identity revealed, all members had made a mark on the public at least once on a popular entertainment show.
Of course, the voices that had been building up erupted.
-What on earth is Wishze doing?
-When I came to my senses, I didn't know any members. I don't know their songs, but is this possible? Is it actually a group of comedians?
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└Surprisingly, the stage is even better. Come see the legendary debut stage. Everyone tore up the stage without leaving a single person out. (Link)
└They're so good
└Fuck, I can't believe this is a real situation.
└No, but since they are all in one place, it feels like the worldview is collapsing.
When popularity was at its peak…
'It's done.'
It was the right time for a new album to come out.