The diamond ring, sparkling in the candlelight, acted as an invisible bond, drawing Ou Yangguang and Kim Ji-won closer together.

After the night of his birthday, Oh Sunny and Kim Ji-won became even closer.

The interactions between the two appeared increasingly natural and touching on the set of "We Got Married," causing the "Golden Couple's" popularity to continue to rise.

However, at this moment when everything should have gone smoothly, an unexpected storm quietly struck.

On the evening of October 19, SMTOWN's concert at the Bird's Nest in Beijing was held as scheduled.

Due to the filming schedule of "The Heirs" and the recording arrangements of "We Got Married", Ou Yangguang had already confirmed that he would not be able to participate in this concert.

This is a routine scheduling arrangement within the company, given that they have many artists, each with different development focuses, and it's common for them to miss a variety show concert at the last minute.

But things are different now. The explosive popularity of "The Heirs" has put Ou Yangguang in the spotlight, and his every move is being magnified infinitely.

The noticeably empty spot in EXO's performance during the concert, along with the official list of absentees, quickly became the trigger for controversy.

That night, major forums and online communities were instantly flooded with posts.

"Royalty is just different; they can cancel a group's schedule whenever they want?"

"Filming movies and recording variety shows is an excuse? Don't the other members have any individual schedules? In the end, they've just gotten arrogant!"

"I feel sorry for the other members, who have to perform hard in the cold weather in Beijing, while the lucky one is filming a drama and a dating variety show in South Korea."

"He's only been popular for a few days! How dare he skip SMTOWN? Don't forget he debuted because of his company!"

These hostile comments included disapproval of his identity as an actor, dissatisfaction with his personal schedule taking precedence over group activities, and even clips of him from "We Got Married" juxtaposed with footage of the members performing in the cold wind at the Bird's Nest, accusing him of "forgetting his roots" and "indulging in a life of pleasure."

Of course, many fans also defended him:

"The scheduling conflict was arranged by the company, so why are you criticizing SUN?"

"With 'The Heirs' being so popular right now, can the filming schedule be delayed?"

"The contract for recording 'We Got Married' was signed long ago, so why can't I go?"

"Being both an actor and an idol is already very tough, can't we be more understanding?"

The battle between fans and critics intensified, with related topics even climbing to the bottom of the trending searches on Korean websites. Although most rational fans and casual observers felt that his absence was understandable, the sharp criticisms and questions still pierced the dream bubble surrounding Oh Sunny, which had been built up by the success of the drama.

The atmosphere in the dormitory was somewhat somber. The members, exhausted from their trip back from Beijing, were also affected by the online uproar. Kim Junmyeon, as the leader, patted Oh Sunny on the shoulder: "Don't pay attention to those comments, we all know what's going on."

Park Chanyeol also chimed in, offering his usual comforting words: "Exactly! Those people are just jealous that our Kwang is so popular right now! Besides, your acting and variety shows are also helping to increase EXO's popularity!"

The other members also cast understanding glances their way. However, Ou Yangguang still keenly noticed, in a fleeting moment, a complex emotion flashed across the eyes of a few members.

Perhaps it wasn't malicious, but that subtle feeling about the gap in resource allocation and personal development became particularly sensitive after the team had faced turmoil.

"I understand, thank you brothers." Ou Yangguang smiled and didn't say much, but the joy of success in his heart was ultimately overshadowed by a shadow.