Chapter 109: Because I Trust the Center (2)

"Honestly, back in the Stardust days, this is the kind of part everyone would have wanted."

"Totally a center part."

"Only the center can pull this off~."

"The impact on this one is killer."

The members’ sweet-talking dragged on.

It was obvious they were dead set on teasing me.

When I first listened to the guide track, I wasn’t entirely sure…

But now that the choreography was out, I was certain.

"This is so humiliating…"

I covered my face with my hand and let out a deep sigh.

It was the pair choreography for the included track Do You Want to Come In.

The rapper line would walk forward exchanging soft raps, and my move was to burst through between them.

And right at that moment when the camera caught my one-shot—

I had to curl my lips into a smirk and spit out a single line.

—Do you want to come in?

The worst part was that it had to be delivered softly, almost like speaking. My shame level had been at MAX from the start.

But then, whoever’s personal taste this was, they kept adding things.

"I think it’d be good to add a prop."

"How about a little head tilt?"

"Seohan, let’s check your facial expression."

Before I knew it, my short but intense part had gained an extra move—tilting my head in a tempting way while holding a tie between my teeth.

At first they said it would be fine to just wag a finger. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if something else got added right before going on stage.

Right then—

"Do Seohan?"

"Yes?"

"Let’s go for something fresh and sexy, but also cute and charming."

From the tiger choreographer of Stardust.

Those were the words that came out of Choi Myunghwan’s mouth, a choreographer whose entire aura was pure charisma.

What was he even saying?

"Pffft."

Ha Junseo couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. Honestly, his reaction was still better than the other side.

Seo Haim was openly laughing and started rolling around on the practice room floor.

"Ahahaha! What the heck is fresh and sexy but cute and charming?"

"Yeah, what even is that?"

That was exactly what I wanted to ask.

It felt almost like this choreographer had some sort of grudge against me, given the demands.

Was this for real?

Just thinking about having to pull this off properly on stage was already giving me a headache.

I took in a short breath and nodded.

Mind control was key.

Back in the Stardust days, there were plenty of tricky parts.

I forced out a voice full of regained confidence.

"Anyway, I can do it."

I was a professional idol…

No part was too embarrassing…

Hypnotizing myself, I smoothly took the tie into my mouth.

Choi Myunghwan gave me a thumbs-up and added another instruction.

"Like a younger guy trying to win over an older woman. You know the feeling?"

"I’m not supposed to know that, though."

Even in this situation, my idol mentality reflexively shut down any romance cells.

"Then think of it like you’re trying to charm the fans who come to the fan signing this comeback."

"Got it."

I nodded, and the instrumental for Do You Want to Come In started playing again.

A light, bouncy melody—completely opposite to the title track.

Ha Junseo smiled faintly and anchored the intro.

Think about it from the start

Try matching my heart

I broke that puzzle

Knock knock—

An airy gesture like knocking on a door. Ha Junseo turned around and locked that door.

It’s hard to even try

It won’t open easily

Give me your everything

Next came Cha Seongbin’s part.

Kang Siwoo walked out alongside him and took over the rap.

A smooth rap that matched the song’s vibe. Kang Siwoo had written the lyrics himself.

Can’t find the answer, just go with the feeling

The solution isn’t far away

Listen up, I told you clearly

I’ll wait here just a little longer

The pair choreography for the rapper line.

The two of them scattered to the sides, lightly spitting their raps as if it were a rehearsal stage.

And then—

My path cut straight through the middle.

A provocative gaze met the empty air.

"Do Seohan! Do Seohan! Do Seohan!"

The hyungs’ cheers played like background music, but I clenched my teeth, thinking of it as the actual stage.

Just as choreographer Choi Myunghwan had emphasized—

Fresh, yet sexy, cute, and charming.

So basically…

Something like this.

I tilted my head and bit down on the tie.

"Do you want to co…me in… hh."

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

"Do Seohan’s having an identity crisis."

"Wow, he’s really in deep."

It had been an especially exhausting day.

"Ah, that was brutal."

Office Worker Dusty Ji-won collapsed onto the sofa with a groan.

She needed to get up and change clothes, but she didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. Her body, stuck to the sofa like melted mozzarella cheese, had no intention of moving.

"Mm… maybe I’ll just sleep."

It was a little early, but if she closed her eyes like this, she could probably fall asleep.

She should wash up…

Ah, even getting up felt like too much trouble.

Muttering to herself, Ji-won covered her face with her hands.

Right then—

Dding-

The cheerful notification sound of the Yui App made Dusty Ji-won sit up.

"What, a live?"

She instantly recognized it as the Yui App’s unique alert sound.

With heavy eyelids, she absentmindedly tapped into the Yui App.

"Are my boys doing a live to cheer us up?"

She felt grateful that they still came to see the fans regularly, even during such a busy comeback prep period.

"I have to watch this."

Just like that, her bedtime was pushed back. Dusty Ji-won lay down again, resting her neck on the sofa armrest.

Tok tok-

The moment she opened the Yui App, the screen was filled with a close-up face.

The proud center of Stardust, Do Seohan, launched an unexpected face attack.

"…!"

Even without lighting panels or filters, his annoyingly handsome face always shone bright—today was no exception, and she almost let out a gasp of admiration. But then—

"Huh?"

Seohan had picked up a tie from somewhere and was holding it in his mouth.

At the same time, question marks popped up in the Dustys’ minds.

??????

Seohan-ah, what are you doing?

Do-Hamjji, what are you doing?

Wh-wh-what kind of concept is this?

Ji-won unconsciously straightened her posture. Sleep was gone in an instant.

"Do Seohan, what are you doing?"

On screen, Seohan didn’t answer.

He just silently held the tie in his mouth.

"……"

Is this a spoiler??

Where’d you even get that tie?

Is the title track concept sexy??

Except that’s… not actually sexy

Despite the flood of crazy comments, Seohan kept staring blankly into the camera until Ha Junseo tapped him on the shoulder.

[Stop it. You’ve shown them enough.]

[Ah.]

Tok-

Seohan let the tie fall limply and lifted his head.

[Hello, Dustys.]

His shameless face remained, but his ears were faintly red.

Ah hahahahahaha what are you doing lol

Is he a hamster grinding his teeth?

Never thought the first thing I’d see after getting home and opening the Yui App would be Do Seohan gnawing on something

Why are you embarrassed after doing it yourself, baby ㅠㅠ

Do-Hamjji’s ears turned red

Is he trying to emphasize that he’s a hamster-human hybrid???

Why was he biting a tie out of nowhere during a live broadcast?

From the vibe alone, it looked more like a country puppy that had secretly rummaged through its owner’s closet and ran off with a tie.

Dusty Ji-won burst out laughing and clutched her stomach.

"This is killing me. What is Do Seohan even doing?"

So is this a spoiler?

If it is, that’s its own kind of problem lololol

It was a spoiler.

[Everyone, you saw the article about our second album prep, right?]

Kang Siwoo casually brought it up, gauging the Dustys’ reactions.

Just a few days ago, an article had come out about Stardust’s comeback.

The article said they would be coming back a month later, on July 2nd.

"Yeah, yeah."

Bringing that up now meant…

The Dustys’ claim that Seohan’s earlier actions were a spoiler suddenly seemed much more plausible.

Yeah this is totally a spoiler, guess there’s a move where he bites a tie

Wait, that’s a real move?? In the title track?? And Do Seohan does it?? No way, absolutely no way

Kang Siwoo confirmed it.

[It’s a spoiler.]

[Ah, but it’s not a spoiler for the title track.]

Dusty Ji-won happily took in the spoiler the members were spoon-feeding her and thought—

It must be for the coupling song they’d be performing alongside on music shows.

Still, for a spoiler…

“A hamster grinding his teeth?”

Unless the title of the next album’s promotional track was Grinding Teeth, would there even be a place for choreography like that?

While I was seriously wondering about it, Cha Seongbin spoke up with a grin.

“It’s Do Seohan’s killer part. Right?”

“……”

“Killing part! Killing part!”

With the hyungs hyping him up, the maknae’s ears turned even redder. His eyes still seemed unfocused.

Seohan’s expression is drying out lolololol

This guy’s got no soul right now

Mam-Seohan’s inner thoughts: I just want to crawl into a mouse hole

Ah lol don’t just keep it to yourselves, spoon-feed us—what’s the killing part?? ㅠㅠ

A spoiler for the coupling song’s killing part.

Whether the person in question, Seohan, agreed or not, that’s what it was.

Jin Sehyun looked over the rapidly scrolling comments and patted Seohan’s shoulder.

[Seohan-ah, show it again with more impact.]

[Shall I?]

Had Do Seohan put a steel plate over his face?

Despite ears that looked ready to burst, his expression was calm.

Rustle, rustle.

Do Seohan picked up the tie he had set aside and bit down on it again.

And then—

Wink—

Our maknae even threw in a wink.

A low, soft word followed.

[come in.]

At Seohan’s one line, Choco Haim flailed both arms and took it further.

[Yes! Yes! We come back!]

[Comeback! Stardust comeback!]

[Truly global.]

lololololololol oh my god

Do Seohan is a pro

How the hell does he pull that off?

Ah what even is the concept ㅠㅠ I’m so curious lolololol

This was dizzying.

“Why is my boy obediently biting a tie when told to…”

Were you a puppy that bites when ordered to?

“And why is that a spoiler for this album…”

The more I looked at this album’s concept, the less I understood.

“Is it going to be another cute one…”

Dusty Ji-won pressed her hand to her forehead and thought seriously.

These guys…

What kind of song are they preparing?

.

.

.

At the same time, a post went up on the community.

[So what’s Universe Dust’s concept for their second mini-album?]

Is it sexy, refreshing, sentimental, or powerful? Curious.

Has there been any spoiler?

The perfect answer was posted.

There’s no way that’s sexy

ㄴ Ah lolololololololololololololol

ㄴ Way too much lololololol

ㄴ You think that’s sexy?

ㄴ Ah ㅠㅠ Hamjji, close your eyes

If it really were sexy, that would’ve been a disaster.

The next day, at the Do You Want to Come In music video shoot. Seohan fanned himself with his hand as he spoke.

“It’s already hot.”

Seohan quickly quenched his thirst with the water Manager Lee Jaeyoon handed him. It felt more exhausting than when they filmed the title track music video.

“That’s weird. Is the choreography tougher?”

“Seems like only your choreography is tough.”

Jin Sehyun drained a banana milk in one go.

“Still, our live got a good reaction.”

“What’d they say?”

“They don’t know what kind of spoiler it is, but they’re sure our album concept isn’t sexy.”

“……”

Seohan clenched his fists in frustration, but it wasn’t particularly threatening.

“But it’s kind of similar, isn’t it?”

“How so?”

“In what way?”

At Seohan’s words, Jin Sehyun and Seo Ian’s eyes widened at the same time.

“A little fatally flirty… wasn’t that the vibe?”

“…?”

The lyrics were provocative, sure.

“It was a cute vibe, Seohan.”

Jin Sehyun counted on his fingers as he went over the choreography points Choi Myunghwan had highlighted.

“Fresh, yet sexy, cute, and charming.”

“Yes.”

“And the proportion of sexy in that?”

“Twenty-five percent?”

“That’s exactly the concept.”

Seventy-five percent cute, twenty-five percent sexy.

Jin Sehyun added firmly,

“We go by the majority rule.”

“There’s no such thing.”

“That’s the law of democracy.”

“Unbelievable.”

Jin Sehyun shrugged and took his phone out of his pocket.

“Oh, right. I promised the Dustys I’d send them a selfie.”

“What selfie?”

“Ones I took during our last promo.”

Jin Sehyun went into his gallery, carefully selecting from among the many selfies—

Tap tap tap.

—then sent them to the fans via Private Message.

“Anyway, sexy or cute, I think our title track this time turned out really well.”

“I agree.”

The title track was truly a masterpiece.

Seohan nodded vigorously, agreeing with Jin Sehyun’s words.

Exaggerating just a little, he was counting down the days until he could finally get up on stage.

Jin Sehyun nodded back while scrolling through his phone.

“Oh, Seohan, you pull off that kind of concept well.”

“Right? Even if I can’t do sexy, I could probably handle powerful, don’t you think…?”

“That’s Do Seohan’s specialty.”

“Of course.”

Swish—

While replying to Seohan, Jin Sehyun absentmindedly scrolled down to check the entertainment news section.

Now that he thought about it, he was always reading the news.

It wasn’t for nothing that fans had nicknamed him the Search King—Seohan was thinking this when,

“……”

Jin Sehyun’s face stiffened slightly, as if he had found something.

“What is it?”

“What’s this?”

With a reluctant expression, Jin Sehyun slowly raised his phone, then urgently called to Seohan.

“Hey, look at this.”

[‘Stardust’ Lee Junhyeok: “I’m back.” Appearing on SBC’s Boy’s Dream]

Huh?

Why is that hyung showing up here?

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