Chapter 49 A Thrilling Autograph Session Forum | What are you doing here?! ...

Kwon Ji-yong originally didn't want to come.

Who knew he'd be so lucky? He won the lottery after buying less than a thousand albums.

Well, it's not exactly cheap.

He thought that he had been behaving himself for four months, and even if he came to the scene, he wouldn't be at risk of being exposed if he didn't go up. He just wanted to watch from a distance for a while.

Normally, autograph sessions attract 30 or 50 people, but today, because it was Lumera's first autograph session and the album sales were so amazing, they opened a session for 100 people.

With the presence of spectators, the actual number of attendees would be even greater.

Kwon Ji-yong stood at the edge of the venue, ready to slip away at any moment. He first observed the fans who came to attend the autograph session. Most of them were beautifully dressed girls, but there were also quite a few male fans. Several of them were fully armed like him, since there were cameras everywhere, and not everyone wanted to appear in other people's cameras.

Just like before, he covered up his neck tattoo with foundation, as well as the tattoo on his hand. He also had his sister put together an outfit that was hard to look at: classic square-framed glasses, a plaid long-sleeved shirt, and trousers that were not fitted at all and had a terrible cut. It should have looked sloppy, but on Kwon Ji-yong, it actually looked quite refreshing.

Kwon Dami was amazed, saying, "G-Dong, you can make anything look amazing when you wear it."

However, wearing a mask and hat makes him look like a classic stalker from a movie, and Kwon Ji-yong can't change it, because if he does, he'll become a trendy guy again.

Anyway, it's better to think of him as a pervert than to think of him as Kwon Ji-yong, so Kwon Ji-yong set off like that.

His loose and shapeless outfit at the event wasn't particularly eye-catching; what drew attention were the male fans with exaggerated physiques and the many female fans who looked wealthy and sophisticated.

OK, safe.

Kwon Ji-yong, who was initially in a lighthearted mood, immediately became grumpy when he saw a large number of fans standing in front of him who were at least 1.8 meters or even 1.9 meters tall.

Kids these days are amazing, they're all so well-nourished and so tall.

Ah, damn it...

The girls of Lumera are ready! Today they're dressed in a snowman-inspired style, all white, but with crowns and tulle elements, making them look like exquisite princesses.

Each person's time on stage was relatively short, but the fans were clearly well-prepared.

To avoid the situation where everyone rushes past the front just for Coldy, Jiang Tinghan was put first in line. The first fan to go up handed Jiang Tinghan a scarf and wand from Harry Potter, a green Slytherin scarf.

She said earnestly, "Unnie, tell me some big news about Avadak!"

Jiang Tinghan was taken aback: "Huh?"

Is this a death curse?

"are you sure?"

The fans nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

Jiang Tinghan wondered what kind of quirk this was, but still fulfilled the fan's wish and said a standard "Avadakul melon."

The fans clutched their hearts, saying excitedly, "Unnie, I'll still love you in my next life!"

I made dumplings just for this dish of vinegar.

Jiang Tinghan suddenly took off her scarf and put it on the fan, then gently extended her hands: "Want a hug?"

The fan's head suddenly felt dizzy, and she felt as if she were floating on a cloud. Before she knew it, she was hugging Jiang Tinghan, and the fragrance of her favorite idol wafted into her nose.

Then I heard a voice in my ear: "Next time, use a love potion, make me fall in love with you."

"!"

She let out a silent scream, her heart exploding like fireworks.

I tried to flirt with my idol, but I got flirted with back!

The fans were still in a daze when they got to the next Kong Yeon-seo.

Kwon Ji-yong: "..."

Hold it in, it's your girlfriend's job!

If he's not going to participate, what's the point of him being there? Just to watch 99 people interact intimately with their partners? What kind of challenge is this that makes you so angry?

He's not jealous, he's not jealous, he's not jealous...

The next fan arrived quickly. She sat down in front of Jiang Tinghan, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Unnie, there's a man who's been trying his best to stop me from seeing you, but I couldn't refuse, could I? Please say something serious to that man! Or give him a warning..."

Jiang Tinghan asked first, "Then how should I address you?"

Fans said, "Just call me Baozhen."

Jiang Tinghan clasped his hands together and said sincerely, "Baozhen's father, brother, or boyfriend, please respect Baozhen's thoughts. She is a very perfect and independent girl."

Fans exclaimed, "Unnie, you're so smart! I'd love to see you looking so dignified!"

Jiang Tinghan: "Oh, can we cut that out and start over?"

Fans couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, please say it to this man again."

Jiang Tinghan said sternly with a straight face, "No matter who you are, Baozhen belongs to me."

Fan: "But what if he's my father?"

Jiang Tinghan feigned a flustered expression: "Ah... I'm so sorry, Baozhen's father."

Her expression hardened again: "But I will not give up on Baozhen."

Another fan has been captivated.

This girl is a genius at charming fans!

The next one was a Chinese fan, who was clearly prepared: "Sister, let's play a game of exchanging secrets!"

Jiang Tinghan smoothly switched languages: "Okay, who wants to go first?"

Fans exclaimed with admiration, "Sister Han, you go first!"

Jiang Tinghan: "My secret is that just before I went on stage, Zhicai asked who ate her banana. I said it was Xiuwen who thought it was prepared by the staff and ate it, but actually it was me who ate it."

Fans laughed so hard their eyes disappeared: "Sister, you're really a little naughty."

Jiang Tinghan: "So don't tell anyone later."

Fans swore: "Absolutely not."

Jiang Tinghan: "Then it's your turn."

The fan feigned innocence: "I have no secrets."

Jiang Tinghan's expression instantly turned resentful: "..."

She, who always saw through fans' tricks, finally fell for one herself. The fans were very happy and even told Bae Soo-min and Yoon Ji-chae about it in broken Korean.

The two sat next to each other, and both could hear what was said. They immediately looked at Jiang Tinghan with disbelief and strong condemnation.

Jiang Tinghan gave a polite smile to the fans in front of her, pretending not to notice their gazes.

One minute per person for a hundred people doesn't actually take long; half the time will pass quickly.

A male fan wearing a hat and mask appeared in front of me. He seemed rather timid and hesitant. When I met his gaze, I looked somewhat gloomy.

Are you dressed so warmly for the autograph session?

Jiang Tinghan continued with her professional smile, and said in a gentle tone, "Oh my, are you a Korean fan?"

The male fan sat down, his voice high-pitched, like a duck's quack, and he sounded quite young: "Yes, yes, how did you tell?"

Jiang Tinghan: "I saw the 'I Level Up Alone' merchandise badge on your bag."

The male fan's eyes lit up: "Noona, you've read this comic too?"

Jiang Tinghan: "I've read a bit of it, and the male lead is very handsome."

The male fan seemed to want to continue the conversation, and suddenly extended his hand: "T-Can we shake hands?"

Jiang Tinghan nodded: "Of course."

She shook hands with the male fan and noticed that his hand was sweaty and his grip was very tight. Combined with his somewhat obsessive gaze, it looked a little scary. He also muttered to himself, "What to do, what to do, what to do..."

Jiang Tinghan was somewhat familiar with this state. She remembered that Tang Shichen had once shown a similar expression, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

But Jiang Tinghan felt that there was something different between the two. She looked at their clasped hands and saw faint bluish-purple marks on their sleeves. The force with which he gripped her hand was so strong, as if he had grasped at some lifeline.

The staff nearby noticed that the two were shaking hands for a rather long time and realized something was wrong. Just as they were about to speak, the two let go of each other's hands.

Jiang Tinghan suppressed the irritating memories, her voice becoming gentler and more concerned, and asked, "Is there anything you want to tell me? Cheng Xiaoyu's subduing of Fang was so cool, right? I screamed when I saw the King's Domain."

Male fan: "Yes, he's S-class! But I liked the battle between Cheng Xiaoyu and Bell the most; it was so cool!"

"I Level Up Alone" is a typical classic underdog story. The weak protagonist unexpectedly gains the ability to level up, gradually becoming stronger and eventually becoming the strongest, making all the monsters in the world fear him.

The comic book's plot is quite formulaic, but perhaps it offers a sense of hope and redemption for some teenagers in reality who want to escape weakness and gain power.

Jiang Tinghan continued, "Yes, he's too powerful. He's afraid of no one! If only Cheng Xiaoyu existed in real life, he could protect me no matter what danger I encounter."

The male fan paused slightly, his eyelids trembling even more violently, as if he were enduring some kind of pain. After a moment, he said, "Well, if he really appeared in front of me, I would be willing to give him all my money!"

Jiang Tinghan observed that although the male fan was dressed conservatively, he was probably wearing brand-name clothes and shoes. In addition, he was able to come to the autograph session, so he should be well-off. It was just this injury... he didn't know whether he had done it himself or someone else had done it.

A minute isn't a long time, and the staff was already reminding us how much time was left.

The male fan immediately became agitated, unable to control his expressions and body language, his whole body trembling. When the staff met his gaze, they were startled and almost called for bodyguards.

Jiang Tinghan quickly spoke up to comfort him: "Would you like to shake hands again?"

Looking into her sincere, dark eyes and her all-encompassing smile, the male fan gradually calmed down and, with a slight tremor, took her hand.

Jiang Tinghan continued, "Although he doesn't exist in real life, there are many people who can protect us, such as the police, people who uphold justice in society... You are my fan, and I will protect you too."

She has already hinted that if any problems arise, we can ask her for help.

The male fan's eyes widened visibly. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally just nodded: "Okay!"

"Thank you, Nuna. Actually, I like you more than Cheng Xiaoyu!" He spoke louder, his voice more determined.

Jiang Tinghan gave a clear and pure smile, like that of a daffodil: "I also thank you for coming today."

Even though she's been an idol for a few months, she hasn't forgotten the professional knowledge she learned.

At this moment, a commotion broke out among the fans in line and those watching the ceremony. The male fan's violent trembling, which resembled a seizure, had frightened them. The staff's outstretched hands were also clearly intended to stop the male fan from taking any extreme actions.

Fortunately, the male fan got up and left without doing anything. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I saw the male fan leave directly, completely ignoring the other seven girls.

This immediately caused an uproar among the fans in the audience. Generally speaking, even if they don't like a member, they will say a few words or go through the motions without saying anything. It is rare for someone to leave without giving face like this. It is not only disrespectful, but it may also make the other members feel embarrassed.

All the cameras were immediately focused on him, and the staff could only lead him away. Just in case, they called security, but when the security guards approached, he sensitively shouted, "Don't come near me!"

The fans, unaware of what was going on, were completely drawn to him, while the staff on the other side worked hard to maintain order and immediately had the next person fill the vacancy.

Hello, may I shake your hand?

A deep, hoarse voice came from above, but the tone was light.

Jiang Tinghan's heart skipped a beat. She was more shocked than when she shook hands with the male fan and saw his eyes. She immediately looked up and met a pair of eyes hidden behind old-fashioned black square-framed glasses.

He seemed to be wearing colored contact lenses, turning his slightly light brown pupils into deep black. He had no tattoos, and his eye shape, which was originally slightly oval, was stretched out. His eyes, which were not large to begin with, became even narrower. His hat weighed down a few strands of messy hair, making him look like a stranger at first glance.

But how could Jiang Tinghan possibly admit his mistake?

Kwon Ji-yong came for a signing event?! He even dared to go on stage?!

No way! Has he lost his mind?! My brother-in-law's addiction is that strong!

Jiang Tinghan was terrified.

Kwon Ji-yong felt wronged. The male fan he had just met looked very similar to him, so he had taken a few extra glances at him.

It would have been better if I hadn't looked, because once I did, things got really bad. This male fan was radiating an unfriendly aura, glaring fiercely at every fan who got even slightly closer to him. Before he even joined the queue, he got into a verbal altercation with someone at the back of the line.

Kwon Ji-yong has experienced countless sasaeng fans in his more than ten years in the industry, and has also seen many crazy fans who would squat outside his door every few days or even sneak into his hotel. Although he couldn't be so sure, he felt that this male fan was somewhat similar to those sasaeng fans, so he mentioned this to the security guards and asked them to pay more attention.

But the male fan didn't do anything, so the security guards couldn't say anything. Kwon Ji-yong was worried, so he lined up behind the male fan, keeping a little distance from him. Everything was fine, but he was prepared to rush up and stop him if he did anything.

Seeing the male fan leave quietly, he wanted to leave under the pretext of having something urgent to do. However, the fans in front of him went up to the autograph table, and the fans behind him, who were originally very orderly, all became excited and pushed forward because of the male fan's action of leaving directly. He couldn't back out even if he wanted to.

At this point, insisting on leaving might arouse more suspicion; it's better to just go on stage honestly.

Kwon Ji-yong was also a little nervous, thinking that at least everyone's attention was on that male fan.

A security guard accidentally bumped into a male fan, who seemed to react negatively and started arguing with the security personnel, which effectively distracted the fan.

Although it was unethical, this male fan did act as a shield for him. (Hands clasped together)

Kwon Ji-yong looked at Jiang Tinghan, whose expression was somewhat gritted and who looked like a cat about to puff up its fur. In any case, thankfully nothing bad happened. When he saw the two of them shaking hands and Jiang Tinghan's expression was a bit off, his heart almost jumped out of his chest.

Nothing is more important than safety, whether or not one is exposed.

Jiang Tinghan shook hands with Quan Zhilong somewhat reluctantly, still smiling, but glaring fiercely at him.

My hands were clasped together, a familiar warmth, a fleeting touch, like a spark from a firework falling into my palm. After the fall, the heat dissipated, leaving only a gentle, warm sensation.

Mars is still Mars. If you keep it buried in your palm, it might reignite and spread like wildfire one day.

But there was also a strange sensation, a slightly hard outline.

It seemed like Kwon Ji-yong slipped her a piece of candy.

The staff were very sensitive to the handshake and kept a close eye on Kwon Ji-yong.

Kwon Ji-yong, however, spoke casually like an ordinary fan: "Coldy, you've done a super good job, saranghaeyo."

He quickly let go of her hand and left to fill the next spot. He tried his best to keep up with the autograph sessions, but was interrupted by male fans. He chatted normally with the next few teammates for a few dozen seconds, and then quickly left.

Jiang Tinghan was left staring blankly at the single green mint candy in her hand, which had been packaged in a small bag, the words Kwon Ji-yong had said before leaving still echoing in her ears—

"Nuna, bye-bye."

The name "Noona" coming from the mouth of Kwon Ji-yong, who is more than ten years older than her, made her heart race wildly, completely losing its normal order and rhythm. It was hard to tell whether she was startled or hiding some other throbbing emotion.

Thump, thump, thump, thump... each sound clearer than the last.

The memory of this latest handshake overshadowed the previous one, which was a bit sweaty and nerve-wracking. Even though Jiang Tinghan wasn't flustered by the male fan's behavior, a warm feeling still welled up in her heart.

How come he always manages to appear under these circumstances? It was the same when he had a fever after a performance, and it's happening now. It's as if God manually placed the little figures representing the two of them face to face, using the meeting to dispel negative emotions and feel the power of support.

Is God on Kwon Ji-yong's side too? Is God helping him flirt with me every day?

And... they really hadn't seen each other for a long time.

Jiang Tinghan quickly suppressed her emotions. So what if they hadn't seen each other for a long time? There were still many fans who were meeting her for the first time.

She temporarily banished Kwon Ji-yong from her mind and continued interacting with each fan, sometimes gentle, sometimes humorous, carefully answering each fan's question.

"Unnie, will you remember me next time we meet?"

What's your name?

"Xi Min".

“Okay, Hee-min, I will definitely remember you. You have big eyes, a small mole here, and a cute round face.”

"Unnie, can you recite this tongue twister?"

"Are the bean pods in the field opened or unopened? The opened pods aren't very good either %￥&@... The bean pods in the field are pods... The unopened pods in the field... It doesn't seem right."

"I'll go back and practice hard, and I'll be able to recite it fluently when you come to me next time." Jiang Tinghan's eyes curved at the corners, and her tone seemed to hold a hidden hook. No one could refuse this promise of a next time.

"Sister Han, do you know why the moon is pointed at both ends and curved in the middle?"

"have no idea."

"Be sharp to the outside, but gentle to the inside."

"...Wow!" Jiang Tinghan clapped in response to the cheesy pickup line from her Chinese fan. "When I saw you say you had a stomachache, I immediately took out a painkiller and gave it to myself. Do you know why?"

The fan, with clear eyes, said, "I don't know."

Jiang Tinghan said in a bubble voice, "Because I'm afraid... my heart aches."

The fans were jolted awake, then nearly burst out laughing.

...

After the autograph session ended, Jiang Tinghan returned backstage with his teammates. He first asked about the male fan, and the staff said he left normally.

Jiang Tinghan breathed a sigh of relief for the moment, and then looked at the candy in her pocket. Normally, she shouldn't accept any food, but when the staff tried to take it, she refused with the reason that "I'm just keeping it as a collection and won't eat it. After all, it's a token of the fans' goodwill."

Does Kwon Ji-yong carry candy with him when he goes out?

The bag containing the mints was transparent and had no label. Jiang Tinghan did a quick image search and found tons of results for this type of mint, but most of them were for—

Jiang Tinghan saw signs such as "Quit Smoking Candy," "Quit Smoking with This," and "Girls No Longer Need to Worry About What to Give Their Boyfriends to Make Them Quit Smoking."

She texted Kwon Ji-yong directly, asking: "Oppa, are you quitting smoking?"

Kwon Ji-yong's tone was normal, showing no sign of guilt for almost being forced to make an official announcement: "Yeah, I've been trying recently, but I think it's going to fail."

Jiang Tinghan followed his lead and asked, "Why?"

Kwon Ji-yong sent a voice message.

Jiang Tinghan looked around immediately, found the earphones, and put them on before daring to start listening.

His voice no longer had the artificial magnetism of a few hours ago; the youthful tone was unmistakable, and there was a hint of amusement in his voice: "Because I get anxious when I can't see my girlfriend, and when I'm anxious, I want to smoke to relieve the stress. If I can't see her, I can't quit smoking."

This makes it sound like Jiang Tinghan is like cigarettes, but to some extent it's not wrong; both are things that make him addicted.

Jiang Tinghan pursed her lips: "Didn't we... just meet?"

It was you who walked so fast.

The implication is that they could have stayed for the full minute, but Kwon Ji-yong only stayed for a dozen seconds before leaving.

Kwon Ji-yong sent another voice message, his tone rising at the end, sounding somewhat teasing: "So you're blaming me for not spending more time with you? Actually, I'm blaming myself too. I spent at least four or five hours covering up all my obvious features, and in the end, all I got was three sentences and a little over ten seconds of face-to-face time."

"But there's nothing I can do... I just happen to be dressed similarly to that male fan, both wearing hats and masks. If I stay any longer, these fans who were scared once will look at me warily, and that would be very dangerous."

Jiang Tinghan: [Why did you come through all this trouble? Even if you go this far, there's still a risk of exposure. What you're doing is far too dangerous.]

Her words were a bit too rational, sounding somewhat cold, as if she were complaining that Kwon Ji-yong had caused her trouble. She regretted it as soon as she sent them.

She's so upset right now. What should she do about this male fan? She can't just ignore him now that she's seen him, can she?

Is it possible that G-Dragon, a heavy smoker for over ten years, is trying to quit? Is it for her? Or is it just a spur-of-the-moment decision on his own? What will people say online? Will there be posts like "G-Dragon was suspected of being at a Lumera fan signing event"?

Jiang Tinghan also felt something was wrong with herself. Even when faced with something huge, like when she received thousands of harassing messages, she was able to handle it calmly, even though she was a little scared.

But for some reason, in front of Kwon Ji-yong, these little problems would be magnified infinitely, making her panic, making her irritable, and making her lose her composure.

It seems that when she meets Kwon Ji-yong, her hard shell automatically softens, always allowing him to glimpse her more authentic and vulnerable side.

Kwon Ji-yong's tone remained gentle as he patiently explained everything to her: "If it's discovered, it means I'm a fan of Lumera, or I'm filming a comeback variety show and doing some kind of challenge. Because I came here voluntarily, I'll be the center of public attention, and you'll be the victim from beginning to end."

[I came here boldly because I had prepared enough solutions. I decided to come for this book signing after careful consideration and accepting the consequences of exposure; it wasn't an impulsive decision. Of course, unscrupulous media outlets might fabricate rumors like "I was selecting concubines on Lumera," which will definitely affect you, and I apologize for that.]

I know you might be feeling scared right now, but no matter what, it should be me who's scared. You don't need to put more pressure on yourself.

Upon seeing Kwon Ji-yong's long, handwritten post, Jiang Tinghan suddenly calmed down. Working non-stop for months, with both team schedules and personal commitments, even the most hardcore person would feel exhausted. But after meeting him, this exhaustion found a suitable outlet.

She doesn't have to solve her problems alone; there's another person by her side who can offer help.

How could she forget something so important?

[We probably weren't caught today, but please don't do this again, Oppa. I'm being greedy; I don't want this to affect me, nor do I want it to affect you. I don't want to see you being manipulated by the media. I don't know what will happen in the future, but at least for now, I want us both to be safe and sound.]

Kwon Ji-yong sent a short but reassuring message: 【Okay】

Jiang Tinghan asked again: "Oppa, the male fan in front of you has an injury on his hand. I feel like someone hit him, and he really hates being touched, which further confirms that. What should I do? He didn't ask me to help him, but he doesn't look very old, and I can't just stand by and do nothing."

Kwon Ji-yong: [Is that so? He was indeed dressed very conservatively, not even his ankles or neck were showing, only his eyes. There were probably scars in the areas that were covered.]

Jiang Tinghan: [That's what I think too, and I suspect his injuries likely stemmed from a family member, most likely his father. He didn't speak when staff approached him, but he reacted strongly when a physically imposing security guard approached, indicating that the assailant was someone he perceived as tough and powerful. If it had been a teacher or parent at school who witnessed it, they probably wouldn't have ignored it.]

Kwon Ji-yong: [Baby, if you don't want to be an idol, you could consider becoming a crime consultant.]

Jiang Tinghan: [I took criminal psychology as an elective]

Kwon Ji-yong: [(Thumbs up) I suggest you call the police. Tell them you saw injuries on this fan's hands and that his behavior was too strange, suggesting he might have been assaulted. This fan coming here is already a cry for help; don't worry about whether you're meddling.]

Jiang Tinghan thought about it for a while and felt that Quan Zhilong made sense.

Immediately, she found her agent and said earnestly, "Unnie, please call the police for me."

The agent was immediately alarmed and asked tremblingly, "What happened? Is there something wrong with the gift? Is there a camera? Or are there some contraband hidden inside?"

Jiang Tinghan smiled helplessly: "No, I just found out that a fan might need my help."

*

Meanwhile, online opinions were in an uproar.

Today was Lumera's first fan signing event. Online fans were waiting to see if there would be any interesting conversations or interactions. Some passersby were also paying attention. In the end, quite a few things happened, including the news that "a male fan of Coldy refused to interact with his seven teammates and clashed with security."

[This is terrifying! He was interacting normally with Coldy, and Coldy was smiling. Everything seemed normal. How could he suddenly start shaking like he had a seizure? I'm so afraid he'll rush up and hurt Coldy.]

【Ahhh, I'm so scared! I was initially thinking this fan was being tactless for not signing with the team, but now I'm actually glad they didn't. Otherwise, who knows what I said that might have triggered his temper? He seems really volatile.】

[Could we please ban mentally ill people from entering? I'm not discriminating against people with mental illness, I just think it's too dangerous because they can't control their emotions and actions.]

Why does Coldy always run into these kinds of things? He really should find a temple to pray and get rid of the bad luck.

[Someone in the front row caught their conversation on the radio, and it seemed perfectly normal; they were even talking about comics. Coldy's ability to handle the situation is impressive. I think this fan might have irritability; he almost went berserk when the staff reminded him. Thankfully, Coldy managed to calm him down in time. It must have been tough shaking hands with such a dangerous person twice.]

Yes, the staff were all scared, but Coldy remained calm and even managed to smile. I feel that if it weren't for her perfect handling of the situation, the consequences would have been unimaginable...

[He got really irritable later on. The security guards and staff hadn't said anything before he started getting angry again. Judging from his clothes, he's probably a rich young master who doesn't want "commoners" to get close to him. Oh my, how noble he is.]

Besides the discussion about the fan, Coldy's interactions with his fans also sparked heated debate, with online fans expressing their jealousy while exclaiming "Ahhhhh!" and "Hahaha!"

But this is all well-deserved by the autograph session host and the autograph session host. Thank you for your support of Lumera and Coldy!

Two videos stood out with particularly high view counts: one where Coldy shared secrets with his fans, and the other where Coldy and his fans exchanged cheesy pickup lines.

[Hahaha, if it weren't for this fan, the banana that Ji-sae lost would be one of the world's top ten unsolved mysteries. We'd probably never know who ate it!]

[Yeah, Coldy is really clever. If she had only said that Bae Soo-min ate it, Yoon Ji-chae would have definitely gone to verify it. But since she said that Bae Soo-min thought a staff member put it there, Yoon Ji-chae didn't pursue the matter.]

[Coldy is a bad woman! With a captain like that, when do you ever get home? The fans are so disloyal, they promised to keep it a secret but then they told everyone. The look in their eyes is hilarious, hahaha. I can't imagine what kind of underdog the captain will get after the game.]

[Is this some good stuff?! Let me see! Younger man + 3P, that sounds amazing!]

[The fans are really something! They said they had no secrets, and Coldy's surprised look was hilarious. How could they lie to our Coldy!]

[This is what you call fans being just as evil (devilish) as their idols! This fan captioned the video, "I'll tell you my secret next time." Coldy's fans really know what they're doing!]

[Sisters who love cheesy pickup lines, it's time to update yours! These are all old jokes from years ago. I have a complete collection of cheesy pickup lines that I can share for free.]

[Following the top members of the group is awesome, following them for green cards is awesome too, no language barrier, the two combined are doubly awesome! Even our own members can understand our cheesy pickup lines, now it's the Koreans' turn to envy our Panda Girls!]

I found that Coldy is quite humorous. She said that this cheesy pickup line was not only cheesy but also sounded like a lame joke that no one would understand. After hearing it, I laughed like an idiot.

[Your stomach hurts, my heart aches! Ahhhh, Sister Kou, you're so selfish (just kidding), you won't even give your fans painkillers!]

[You might say: I'm afraid painkillers will have side effects, so I'll test them on myself first.]

[Hahaha, what an amazing woman who knows how to charm her fans!]

What's most amazing is that Kou can come up with cheesy pickup lines in a second. Some people, like me, would be speechless and dumbfounded if someone told me a cheesy pickup line, but Kou's mind really works very fast.

[This shows that he usually has a lot of cheesy pickup lines in his head. It's hard to imagine that Coldy would read cheesy pickup lines, but that's how it happened so naturally.]

[That's what you call a contrast! This autograph session showed a different side of Coldy. I didn't know she reads comics, knows cheesy pickup lines, and her expressions were so vivid... Plus, she's really smart, not the kind who's pretending. Every little gesture she makes is a flirtation. I'm so envious of the fan who had a scarf wrapped around her and got Coldy to say a sweet nothing!]

[Ahhh, I saw this video too! I love it too! Waaaa, Coldy is so good at seducing people, he must have been a succubus in his past life! (In a good way) "Next time, let's use a love potion, so I can fall in love with you" and stuff like that... He's such a vixen!]

If I were that fan, I would retort: ​​"Unnie, why do you need me to use a love potion? Can't you just fall in love with me on your own?"

[Kkk, this has turned into a battle of wits between the two of them! Neither of them is thinking about who's the idol and who's the fan; they're just driven by a competitive spirit to outdo the other!]

The other male fan who came on stage after the male fan was dressed casually and interacted with the audience in an ordinary way, so he didn't make a splash online at all.

The next day, paparazzi photographed Coldy entering and leaving the police station, and the public outcry exploded even more.

Fans are speculating that something might have really happened yesterday! They're all extremely worried!

However, Lumera's account only stated that she had nothing to do with Coldy herself, that she was safe, and that she provided information to the police for some other reason.

Fans bombarded Lumera's account and Wake One for several days before Dispatch finally intervened.

Dispatch, a media outlet with considerable influence in the Korean entertainment industry but a mixed reputation, published an article titled "Coldy's heartwarming act at his fan signing event saves fans from domestic violence; the stepfather involved has been taken into custody by the police!" The title alone is quite eye-catching.

Recently, at a fan signing event, well-known artist Coldy noticed an injury on a male fan's hand, noticed something was wrong, and promptly called the police, thus uncovering a case of a teenager suffering long-term domestic violence from his stepfather.

It is reported that the male fan's mother is a senior executive of a group company, and his biological father passed away early. The fan has been enduring this because he did not want to add trouble to his busy mother.

Currently, thanks to the joint efforts of Coldy and the police, the victim has decided to tell his mother what happened. His mother has decided to file for divorce, and his stepfather has been placed under police custody.

Coldy did not share the article, but posted a slogan from an anti-domestic violence association, which indirectly confirms that the incident is true.

fan:"???"

This is not what they expected!

【Huh? No? I thought my sister was being harassed again, but it turns out she became a helpful citizen?】

[Ahhh, I'm so sorry to that guy. Looking back now, he didn't actually do anything too extreme. He just yelled a few words, he didn't lay a hand on me...]

I deserve to die! I take back everything I said to him! No wonder he was wearing a mask, he had a scar on his face. I even said he looked down on people of low social standing. I really... can't sleep tonight.

No wonder he refused to let the security guards get close; it probably reminded him of bad memories. Poor thing. Looking back at their conversation now, there are so many clues, but I didn't notice them at the time.

Thinking about it this way, Coldy is really amazing. She must have noticed the injury when they shook hands and immediately figured out how to comfort the fan. She first talked to him about topics he was interested in to build rapport, and then cleverly used that topic to subtly suggest that he should bravely seek help from others.

What's most terrifying is that after going through all that, she was still able to perfectly complete the autograph sessions with each fan and then calmly handle everything afterwards. She's so empathetic! This kind of thing could easily cause a lot of trouble, but even knowing it would be thankless work, she still went to the police.

This is like saving a teenager! This male fan made the right choice in liking Coldy, I'll follow my goddess Coldy forever! She's beautiful inside and out!

Yes... and she didn't help out of a premeditated persona. She said on the spot, "You're my fan, and I'll protect you." It's impossible that she would decide how to market herself and promote herself as "so kind and a savior of some young man" in just a few seconds. She completely kept her word!

Within just a few dozen minutes, hashtags such as "Coldy calls for an end to domestic violence," "Coldy bravely saves a child from domestic violence," "Stepfather is worse than an animal," and "How to balance work and love for children" surged to the top of Korean trending topics. Soon after, the news spread, and international Twitter and Chinese online forums also began to discuss the matter.

This is not simply about an idol helping a traumatized teenager; it's about a long-standing social issue.

The name "Coldy" was frequently mentioned, and he was bestowed with positive titles such as "witty," "kind-hearted," "brave," and "responsible." Netizens commented, "As long as Coldy doesn't do anything illegal or cross the line, we can forgive him no matter what happens!" and "This is a true public figure, not someone who occupies public resources, but someone who advocates for truth, goodness, and beauty!"

This incident was widely reported on Chinese news websites, which used Coldy's Chinese identity to improve China's reputation abroad and attached various praises from foreign countries to make Chinese netizens feel proud and honored.

Jiang Tinghan's reputation while working in South Korea was initially lukewarm, with many wondering why she would choose to develop her career in South Korea if China wasn't good enough. However, after this incident, such comments disappeared, and netizens instead jokingly commented: "Our country's universities are really good at training students! She's been working in South Korea for so long and can still apply what she's learned!" "Coldy is a shining example for university students. We're no longer useless and naively naive university students; we are useful!"

Of course, some people criticized Coldy for just talking the talk, asking why he doesn't donate any of the money he makes from 208.

Jiang Tinghan responded publicly, stating that she had just bought a house in a third-tier city for her family in full, and that she was not well-off. She attached a donation record of 20,000 RMB, saying that any more than that would leave her starving.

She added with gratitude, "Luckily, Wake One provides meals and accommodation."

This made netizens both laugh and cry.

[This Coldy is very filial; he buys his parents a house as soon as he earns money.]

[20,000 is a small number for Produce 2018, but I think it's a lot! Coldy has only been a member for three months...]

[But to be able to buy a house outright after only three months in the industry is making way too much money! Even in a third-tier city, the most expensive houses cost at least two million, and the cheapest ones cost at least seven or eight hundred thousand.]

[Yeah, isn't it said that idols in South Korea don't earn much?]

Generally speaking, that's how it is. And these kinds of girl groups usually split the profits equally at the beginning. I don't remember exactly, but I think the profits from individual activities are also split equally.

This further demonstrates just how popular Lumera and Coldy are. They can still make a fortune even under such demanding circumstances. I bought Lumera's album and watched their performances and observed their professional attitude at this autograph session; I think they truly deserve it.

Oh dear, this kid is really unlucky. She's probably just incredibly popular, right? Having to split the profits equally means she'll lose a lot of money.

Yes, Coldy is known for being a money-grubber and a money addict, which is why I said she's really great. She's never complained and is completely devoted to the group.

[Coldy deserves this money. Don't forget she also gets royalties. All five of her self-written songs became hits, and she'd be making money every day. But now her wallet is probably empty. Just think, Coldy was a millionaire before, and overnight she's a wage earner. I feel sorry for her.]

Wake One, treat your cash cow well!

*

April passed by without major incident, and in May, Lumera continued with various performances, fashion shows, and autograph sessions.

Two of the messages caught the attention of fans.

The first is that Coldy has once again officially announced his personal endorsement of the top Korean cosmetics brand Sulwhasoo.

Sulwhasoo is a well-known beauty brand with unparalleled popularity in South Korea. It belongs to the South Korean beauty giant Amorepacific, and the mother of the male fan who was abused by her son was an executive of Amorepacific.

The story of good deeds being rewarded brought comfort to fans and passersby alike, while also making them feel good about the executives' gratitude.

This collaboration is extremely beneficial for both parties, as it enhances public goodwill and is a win-win situation, essentially a free positive marketing opportunity.

The second piece of news is that Coldy submitted his graduation thesis and returned to school to defend it.

Her graduation thesis was titled “Parasitic Self-Esteem: On the Psychology and Power Construction of Stepfather Domestic Violence in the Context of Dependence on Strong Women.”

Fans were both surprised and amused: "Coldy, you know how to make use of waste!"

No one expected that this could be brought back in this way!

The only redeeming thing about this wicked stepfather is that he provided Coldy with material for his graduation thesis.

At this time, Jiang Tinghan posted a message on social media, pleading with everyone to stop "judging" her thesis, saying that she also felt socially suffocated.

This was like adding fuel to the fire; her fan base became even more active, with even casual observers joining in the "hahaha," making it one of the "entertainment industry celebrity joke compilations."

She may have genuinely felt socially dead, but this is also a way to win public favor. Now, Coldy is definitely ranked high in the list of celebrities with high public favorability.

For Kwon Ji-yong, there was a third piece of good news.

Entering June, Lumera, who had been well-behaved for five months since their debut, was finally allowed to move freely by Wake One, as long as the idols reported their whereabouts.

This reporting process isn't strict; you can simply say "I want to go out and have fun today" and be allowed to go.

This was tantamount to the imperial court distributing relief grain to Kwon Ji-yong!

Hahahaha! He's finally lived up to this day!

Haha looked at Kwon Jiyong, who was laughing like a fool, and couldn't help but bite him. Kwon Jiyong skillfully pushed the dog's head away: "Haha, I wasn't calling you!"

Haha kept pestering him relentlessly until Kwon Ji-yong finally looked up at it and saw its longing for food.

It turns out it's already lunchtime.

After feeding Haha with dog food (a Chinese slang term for public displays of affection), Kwon Ji-yong comfortably lay back on the bed, sprawled out in a starfish position.

He could finally have a private meeting with Jiang Tinghan!

A month ago, this was something he wouldn't have dared to even think about, and he even felt that online dating was already a thing of the past.

After dating someone, G-Dragon only saw her three times in six months. If word got out, his friends would laugh at him. But now he's fully prepared to redeem himself!

Kwon Ji-yong invited Jiang Tinghan to his home, and then bumped into her downstairs while holding Haha's hand.

He couldn't suppress the smile on his face, which kept turning up as he looked at Jiang Tinghan with feigned frivolity: "Miss, my dog ​​seems to really like you."

Haha finally got the hint and barked twice: "Woof woof!"

Jiang Tinghan's expression was indifferent as she said lightly, "I like your dog too..."

Seeing the slightly resentful look in Kwon Ji-yong's eyes, she added the second half of her sentence: "And you too."

There was a hint of sweetness hidden in her words.

This sweetness is the refreshing, invigorating sweetness of a mint candy.

It's June, and summer, the perfect time for mints, is just around the corner. Shining World also started in the summer.

The first summer after Kwon Ji-yong and Jiang Tinghan got together.

-----------------------

Author's note: Hehe, you can see me on the homepage rankings this week! (shy)

Also, just a heads up: Saturday's update will be later because I'm going to Hong Kong this afternoon to see a 4D touring movie... *cough*