Chapter 73 "The Brother I Know" (Part 2) (Fishbone Bites Kitten in Shallow Water...)
This looks kind of delicious too; omnivores would love to try everything.
I can't imagine how pleasing it would be for my eyes if this guy were still alive more than ten years ago and his face were placed next to Coldy's. They're both beauties!
[I can tell it's Lumera]
[The chemistry between the two seems average, lacking sexual tension? But they seem quite harmonious.]
They look a bit like a pair of lesbians.
【？？？】
[Haha, it's not that bad, but my brother's aura is too gentle now. It feels like someone as sharp and outspoken as Coldy doesn't suit our complementary personalities. He's more suited to a bad boy type? A brother who's a little mischievous and knows how to joke would also be suitable.]
[My sister is a lesbian, so she's perfect for women. See Anri-chan? A real couple is right in front of you. This intimate contact is so natural.]
[It's still easier to ship Xiao Cai and Han Jie. When Xiao Cai was spinning and dancing at the beginning, Han Jie responded to her with just one look. Now, Coldy Jie seems to have a lot of feelings for her, always doting on her younger sister.]
Where do we put Yeon-seo and Grape, who know Coldy so well?
[Stop arguing, stop arguing, Lumera is all Coldy's harem]
When will this farce of crowdfunding for Coldy's brother-in-law finally end? If this continues, there will be just as many CP fans as solo fans. They ship members from within the group, then from outside the group, then older men, then younger men, they ship those who appear in public, and those who don't. They really don't discriminate. Isn't this a modern-day spiritual opium?
[It's not that funny, it's all the same group of people shipping them. Most of them just like the image of the unnie as a universally adored beauty. They're crazy about it when it's fake, but they're unwilling to accept it when it actually becomes real.]
If GC is true, I wholeheartedly agree.
[This is the most fake one, it smells like a marketing ploy, anyone who believes it will never live a normal life (rolls eyes)]
[It's obviously a publicity stunt for Lao Long's return, but things didn't go as planned and the publicity stunt was ruined. So many people were fooled into genuinely shipping this couple. It's really funny. Can't you tell it's all scripted?]
[So all that buildup was just a way to criticize GC. We know you really hate GC. What can we do if the two of you are so loving?]
[Is it GD who needs a script or Coldy? Aren't these two under the watchful eyes of the entire nation for every move they make?]
Lumera's troubles were all guessed one by one, and finally it was the turn of Lumera's captain.
Jiang Tinghan also provided the clue: "Lyrics".
Tablo was the first to answer: "Is it because there are too many lyrics to memorize?"
Jiang Tinghan's eyes lit up: "Ani, but it's very close."
Mithra: "Quick answer, quick answer! Is it because there are too many lyrics that it's easy to get confused?"
Jiang Tinghan: "Yes, that's right. It's especially easy to get them confused when the lyrics express similar meanings."
Tablo seemed quite experienced when talking about this, nodding as if he understood perfectly: "That's right, he just mixed up the lyrics of two songs and sang them together."
Kang Ho-dong: "For example, were there any stage mistakes such as singing the wrong lyrics?"
Jiang Tinghan: "No, but I might sing it wrong during practice. For example—'Even if it goes out, it will reignite, because I am life itself. Let the Fire meet the Flood! A baptism of blood!'"
She sang a section of "Wildfire" and "Fire and Torrent" together. Although she changed the key in the middle, it sounded surprisingly harmonious.
Even a casual hum is beautiful; my goddess Coldy is just that amazing.
I love both of these songs! I was under so much pressure from the college entrance exams the other day, and "Wildfire" gave me a lot of strength.
My husband's a cappella singing is always unbeatable~ His a cappella singing in the live stream is also very good. Can you post that song? Even a Chinese song is better than nothing.
[So what if it's a Chinese song? Coldy is Chinese, after all.]
[Haha, I feel like a medley of these two songs would sound really good. "Wildfire" is about rebirth from ashes, and "Fire and Torrent" is about rebirth from the ashes. They even have similar themes.]
[It's amazing how Lumera seems to have never experienced a low point, and Coldy even less so, yet they manage to write and sing songs that capture the feeling of climbing back up from a low point.]
[Coldy seems to have absorbed a lot of material. Even if he hasn't experienced it himself, he can still gain insights from reading related works. And with the recent GD incident, he's even better able to write about that kind of feeling.]
I'm fed up. It's all back to GC after all. Just give it a rest.
Don't be too sensitive; it's just that Coldy can draw inspiration from it.
This song clearly resonates more with Faker's experiences: two failed attempts to achieve a four-peat in the finals, and now it's his third time. He's truly an old horse still eager to run.
[It's up to you how you want to interpret it~]
Tablo practically slammed his fist on his desk to show his agreement: "Yes, especially at concerts and music festivals, it's easier to sing different lyrics. The teleprompter is truly a great invention."
"How do we solve this problem? Why not practice more on our show?" Kang Ho-dong said lightly, transitioning into the classic song medley performance.
The performance consisted of "Waves," "Wildfire," and "Always You." They couldn't just sing "Fire and Torrent" because the copyright belonged to Riot Games, the developer of the League of Legends game.
The intensity of this dance is no less than that of a music show performance. Everyone is wearing headsets, and their singing level on variety shows is no worse than the digital version. It's like experiencing both ice and fire, with one side being submerged in water and the other being burned by fire. Viewers exclaimed, "These are nature spirits, with so many natural elements."
Finally, it's time for the production team to present their special treat: a live version of "Always You" by Coldy and Epik High – this is the first time it's been performed live by Coldy! Previously, it was always a solo performance by Coldy!
Jiang Tinghan felt that the intensity of her workout on "Knowing Bros" and "The Prisoner Is You" was about the same. She had been singing and dancing all the time. The last note of "Wildfire" dissipated into the air, and it was finally time for her body to rest and sing "Always You" purely.
Three months later, she sang "Always You" again, and a flood of emotions came over her. Her dark eyes flickered, and she slowly walked to Epik High's side, lowered her eyes and sang: "Before the empty can you threw landed, in that long, slow-motion pause, a forgotten melody appeared in your mind, and the moment it was suddenly hummed, that was me."
In the stillness of the night, I recall our intimate moments.
The moment our names were called out together on that stage.
When the audience's enthusiasm is all for us, in those fleeting moments when we inadvertently exchange glances.
Like two twinkling stars, they suddenly found their orbit.
Her voice still carried the panting of someone who had just finished strenuous exercise, sounding more like a sigh, which made the song sound even sadder. But that sadness was masked by her deliberately nonchalant demeanor, as if she were calmly recounting a story from the past.
All the past events suddenly came to mind, whether they were quiet moments or noisy moments, we had spent them together.
"It's Always You, and it's still you now."
"It's Always You, it was you back then too."
As soon as the chorus begins, it takes everyone back to that August. This song, "Always You," is like a refreshing iced tea on a hot summer day, dispelling all the restlessness in your heart. Because as you listen to it, your heart just dies.
Every time I listen to this song, it's heartbreaking. Even if you've never been in a relationship, you can project your feelings onto your deceased loved ones or get caught up in the painful imagining of what if they were to pass away in the future. It's incredibly distressing.
A song about "death," both warm and sad, that makes you want to cry the more you listen.
Jiang Tinghan's thoughts were in turmoil. In those few dozen seconds, he thought about many things and came up with a new understanding of the song. Ten years ago, it was G-Dragon, and now it is still G-Dragon.
Furthermore, if her fans hear this song in the distant future, they will also feel the same way as the first verse, suddenly remembering that they once liked such an idol.
Sure enough, once the song is released, it becomes public property, and many interpretations that the creators never expected will naturally emerge.
Epik High then followed up with that rap that went viral across the internet and whose popularity continues to soar:
"Do you remember? That afternoon when even the wind was languid. You and I were nestled on the bench, sharing a cigarette."
Between your lips and mine, a misty haze, thick with sunlight, flows...
"A silent kiss... the flickering smoke between your fingers now, that is me, do you understand?"
Their rap has a strong sense of coldness and narrative, which makes the already vivid lyrics even more concrete and vivid. It's as if you can imagine the loving scenes of lovers. The sharp and somewhat accusatory feeling of "why did you leave me alone" makes people feel uneasy.
Jiang Tinghan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she suddenly looked up at the camera, as if she were looking at the audience in front of the camera, her voice filled with even more intense emotion.
"Don't judge... Walk by the riverside, let the fireworks kiss you for me tonight."
"I've always loved you, it's always you."
Kwon Ji-yong also felt that Jiang Tinghan was singing it to him, and now that he came to his senses, looking at the lyrics of "Always You," he felt that it was quite prophetic.
He habitually blames himself whenever something happens, showing a somewhat self-destructive personality. The word "Judge" also means "to evaluate," so this lyric can be interpreted as a message to uninformed netizens: "Don't make arbitrary judgments." Coincidentally, the "D" in "Don't" can be the "D" in "GD," and the "J" in "Judge" can be the "J" in "Jiyong," thus implying "Don't make arbitrary judgments about GD," almost like fate.
With the clear, melodious singing voice echoing in his ears, Kwon Ji-yong seemed to feel Jiang Tinghan's feelings even more deeply. His broken heart had been silently warmed for more than ten days, and now it seemed to be completely healed.
He truly couldn't imagine how he would have gotten through this difficult period without Jiang Tinghan. He probably wouldn't have been in the mood to joke around and be jealous, nor would he have had the energy to analyze the lyrics in detail.
The key word for Gyeongdong in 2023 is "luck". To have a lover who is so devoted to you is something no one else could pray to.
[A phenomenal collaboration stage has been created on a variety show!]
[Sobbing, Coldy and Epik High sang so well, my eyes are watering.]
[Our Coldy is not only the main dancer but also the main vocalist, and she even showed off her ability to improvise idioms. Her ACE-level strength was fully demonstrated in this program.]
[It sounds so good, I'm at a loss for words, it's simply a double treat for the eyes and ears!]
The collaboration between Coldy and Epik High is correct, objective, and reasonable! It's a perfect combination of strengths!
[Coldy's rendition of "Always You" feels completely different from all his other songs, perhaps because he has a lot of parts. It always feels like he's singing this song for someone in particular.]
[This song, Coldy, was definitely written for someone, I bet it's Cai Jie. "The moment our names were called out together on that stage. The moment the audience's enthusiasm came for us, the moment our eyes met unintentionally." These two lines are so obvious, isn't it describing the final night? The most outrageous part is the following line, "Like two twinkling stars, suddenly finding their orbit." It's clearly talking about "Shining World," the theme song at the time was called "Shining Star."]
Is it a common practice for CP fans to fantasize that a singer-songwriter's love song is written for their bandmate? Their relationship is much better now, but anyone who has seen "SW" knows how cold Coldy is to Yoon Ji-chae. It's always been Yoon Ji-chae who has a one-sided crush on my goddess, okay? Where did this intimate scene come from? It's all just a fantasy for Coldy/Ji-chae fans.
[Coldy probably watches too many idol dramas and imagines an idol boyfriend. Receiving an award together under the spotlight might seem romantic in idol dramas, but it's a disaster for fans.]
[Kenchana, just appreciate the beauty of the lyrics. Anyway, Coldy hasn't won any awards except for the final night, so this male lead role definitely doesn't exist.]
[Does it really not exist? GC fans have been obsessed with that smoke kiss, and if we're talking about awarding prizes, who can beat Chicken? He should just get lost!]
[Making such a fuss over a cigarette? How could Coldy and GD have been kissing before August? Haven't you noticed that Coldy just throws everything into the mood? They even watched fireworks together later; it's just a classic scene from a sad romance novel.]
If Coldy was singing "I've always loved you, it's always you" to GD, ahhhhh, how romantic!
[All CP fans are equally crazy, they just finished criticizing one and now another one comes along. Let Coldy be the only one who's happy, he just wrote a love song, why is he being harassed like this?]
[I can't take it anymore! This song has been out for three months and I'm still asking for lyrics. That's just how fiery and passionate Coldy is.]
After the song and dance performance, it was time for games. The regulars each found a suitable tablemate to form a team and started competing. There were various games that tested their tacit understanding and cooperation, such as word chain games and rhythm games.
The most explosive part of the show was the "Of Course" game. The rules were that both sides would ask each other sharp questions or make personal attacks, and no matter what the other said, they had to answer "Of course" and then counterattack. Whoever got angry, laughed, or couldn't respond first lost.
This game once appeared on Kang Ho-dong's show "X-Man," and it's a very classic game, but it's also easy to offend people.
The moment the game was announced, the audience knew it would be a bombshell, feeling both worried and excited.
Before the game, Jiang Tinghan bowed 90 degrees to the camera and clasped his hands together tightly, apologizing to the audience in advance.
This kind of situation makes it very likely that she won't be able to suppress her sharp tongue.
Jiang Tinghan stood at the back, letting his teammates, who were both bad at the game and loved to play, have a good time first. Most of his teammates were eliminated for similar reasons.
"You know your dancing isn't as captivating as Coldy's, right?"
"It seems like I've become just a foil for Coldy."
"It must be Coldy and her seven backup dancers."
"How come he's still not as popular as Coldy in his own countries like Japan, the US, and Australia? Not to mention South Korea."
After saying that, the regular members already felt like they were going to ruin the Lumera group.
Even though the girls knew it was true, their competitive spirit, which had been with them since "SW," wouldn't allow them to say "of course," leaving them with only regret and defeat.
But Yoon Ji-chae persisted for several rounds, openly responding to the attack "You're jealous of Coldy's popularity, aren't you?" by saying "Of course," and then fleeing in defeat from the "attack" that "You actually say you're jealous of Coldy but you really like Coldy."
[Ahhh, this is so sweet! It's the same tsundere flavor, classic and timeless]
[West 8 Rome, they really said it out loud! These regulars know how to speak with maximum impact.]
[This is all the truth. Coldy has completely overshadowed the other seven, but honestly, without Coldy, they wouldn't have the popularity they have today.]
[Without Coldy (Kong Yeon-seo), she would have had to rely on her family connections to debut, and she would definitely have been criticized by the emperor from the start. However, being around Coldy, everyone witnessed her complete progress, and her debut became a natural progression.]
[These two albums alone are enough for me to enjoy a lifetime of wealth and luxury. Even if my teammates feel it's unfair, they won't be willing to leave Coldy. They've already made a fortune. If they really don't want to, they can give me their seats.]
The kids are all so proud, but when they lose, they all look at Coldy with guilty and ashamed expressions, instinctively relying on their captain. Their team spirit is really strong.
[If you're always targeting Coldy, you're mistaken. You haven't seen how vengeful Coldy can be.]
Soon it was Jiang Tinghan's turn. Just standing there with her cold expression was enough to make people feel slightly intimidated. It was hard to imagine that an idol who had debuted less than a year ago could have such an aura.
Jiang Tinghan launched the first attack, and Jiang Hudong stood in front of her. The game rules required everyone to speak plainly, so Jiang Tinghan started with "you".
"You could eat two of me in one meal, right?"
Kang Ho-dong was already mentally prepared, but he was still shocked by the description of "two mes." He wasn't at the level of being able to eat more than 100 kilograms!
But he stubbornly remained calm: "Of course!"
The other staff members remained on the job, smiling and observing, ready to rush over and offer comfort should anything happen.
Kang Ho-dong didn't bother with polite formalities; he went straight for the heavyweight: "You must have so many rumored boyfriends that they could fill a whole boat, right?"
Jiang Tinghan's health bar didn't budge at all, and he said easily, "Of course."
She added, "You have a sister named Paige and a brother named George, right?"
The implication is that you're a pig.
She felt pressured by what her seniors said, so she deliberately said it in a more childlike way, and even said "younger brother and sister" instead of "son and daughter".
Everyone burst into laughter. Lee Soo-geun and Kim Hee-chul patted Kang Ho-dong on the shoulder, saying, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. If you're angry, you'll lose!"
Kang Ho-dong held back again: "Of course."
Then she couldn't wait to retort, "You'll become more open-minded when you go to America, won't you?"
It refers to the sexy swimsuit in the "All in Gold" music video.
Jiang Tinghan remained unmoved: "Of course."
"You've now surpassed the mischievous child and prodigy, becoming a giant senior who only knows how to create entertainment by getting angry, right?"
After saying it, she put her hands together and apologized. She'll probably be criticized to death after the show. It's not that she wants to take advantage of everyone, but she has to leave some for others.
"Mischievous Boy" was Kang Ho-dong's previous persona on "X-Man," "Shindong" refers to Shindong from Super Junior, and "Senior" corresponds to "Dong." Surpassing his own and Shindong's physique, he corresponds to "Giant." The literal meaning of "only using anger to create program effects" is already extremely aggressive, but the two slightly respectful descriptions or titles "Giant" and "Senior" also highlight Jiang Tinghan's survival instinct.
Kang Ho-dong ultimately couldn't hold on and was defeated. He patted Kim Heechul on the shoulder, signaling him to avenge his teammate Shindong.
Kim Heechul, of course, felt obligated to help, staring intently at Jiang Tinghan: "You actually want Lumera to be just you, right?"
Jiang Tinghan shook his head and quickly said, "Of course!"
Kim Heechul objected: "That can't be done!"
Jiang Tinghan said matter-of-factly, "The rules don't say that."
Then the head-shaking mechanism was banned, disallowing cheating.
Jiang Tinghan quickly retorted: "Have you forgotten that you're an idol?"
The underlying message is to develop into a variety show personality.
A burst of cheerful laughter erupted around them again. Kim Heechul clutched his chest, his voice trembling as he said, "Of course..."
"Compared to Epik High, you'd actually prefer to collaborate with someone else, right?" Kim Heechul looked around for a target. "I'd prefer to collaborate with Soo-geun hyung."
Epik High, who were ranked behind, were innocently dragged into the fray: "Heechul-ssi, aren't we in the same team?"
Kim Heechul said somewhat embarrassedly, "Sorry, sorry."
This was even easier for Jiang Tinghan: "Of course."
"I think Senior Li dances better at our Lumera ball than you do."
Kim Heechul couldn't take it anymore. Feeling intensely insulted, he could only clench his fists and give up, a classic case of shooting himself in the foot.
Jiang Tinghan then defeated Li Xiugen, who was shorter than her, with "Where are you? I can't see you," and Xu Zhanghui with "You prefer Yoo Jae-suk to Kang Ho-dong, right?" She single-handedly took down several regulars.
[Hahaha, they're going crazy! They're killing like crazy! I don't even dare to listen to what Coldy says!]
[How wicked! Coldy definitely shouldn't kiss himself, or he'll be poisoned!]
[If Unnie frequents the internet, she'd definitely be a master at starting arguments.]
[Coldy, don't worry, I'll protect you!]
Don't be afraid, you're surrounded by fans. We've never lost a fight.
[Has Tablo already felt Coldy's sarcasm after being repeatedly attacked? I told you all not to mess with her.]
[The captain who's protecting his cubs is so handsome!]
[Coldy's already attacking like this, the permanent players shouldn't be so mild-mannered either, or they'll really be defeated!]
It was finally Tablo's turn.
Jiang Tinghan immediately said, "Your Epik High isn't as popular as it used to be, is it?"
A milder way of saying "outdated".
Tablo himself often uses this phrase to make fun of himself, easily completing the game: "Of course!"
He spoke with particular force and conviction.
"You often cause trouble for your agent, don't you?"
Jiang Tinghan paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "Of course."
"Actually, Haru doesn't look up to you, does he?"
Haru is Tablo's daughter, so this is something Tablo really can't tolerate. Coldy really knows how to hit people's sore spots.
Tablo spat out three words through clenched teeth: "Of course."
"You write songs just to make money, right?"
Jiang Tinghan also spoke firmly and forcefully: "Of course!"
Saying that being even a second slow is disrespectful to money.
"Is the relationship between you Epik High members not as good as it seems on the surface?"
Tablo: "..."
Tablo out!
The permanent players and Epik High are suffering defeat after defeat. If this continues, they will be swept by multiple opponents!
Next up was Mithra, who had been entrusted with an important task. He had been thinking about it for a long time and said as soon as he came up, "You won't be renewing your contract after it expires, will you?"
This is a very sensitive topic. Although there was no direct attack, the level of danger has suddenly increased.
Jiang Tinghan made a heart shape with her cheeks towards the camera and gave a smile: "Of course."
WK1 clearly stated that she was not acting voluntarily.
"Your dancing isn't even as good as the square dancing of the aunties downstairs, is it?"
Mithra was silent for a moment. Although Epik High's dance wasn't very difficult, they did have synchronized, knife-like movements. Believe it or not, it was definitely better than square dancing!
He said with considerable difficulty, "Of course!"
"You value money more than the team, don't you?"
No matter the choice between the two, "money" and the other option, Jiang Tinghan would always choose "money" unconditionally, unless it's her parents, boyfriend, or pets.
She is of course grateful to her fans, as her success stems from their enthusiastic support. However, she entered the industry initially to make money, which is called "never forgetting her original intention to make money and keeping in mind her mission to buy a house."
"Of course!"
Nobody doesn't love money!
As Jiang Tinghan spoke, he mentally chanted a prayer, already losing count of how many apology text messages he would have to send after this. In the process, he also solved a problem that Epik High had never discussed with Coldy privately: "You're into hip-hop because your physical attributes don't allow you to be an idol, right?"
Mithra didn't stick to it either: "Of course... no, it's because I prefer hip-hop."
Actually, the requirements for appearance are not necessarily very high for idols; for details, please refer to several members of Bigbang.
Jiang Tinghan breathed a sigh of relief: "Senior Miane, it's just a game, don't take it seriously. You guys have been very successful with Hipopo."
Mithra chimed in, saying, "Mine is the same. Money and the team are complementary; you can't abandon either one."
Jiang Tinghan nodded: "Yes."
Kang Ho-dong: "Hey, hey, hey, no mutual flattery allowed! This is a very strict game, let's continue!"
There was also Tukutz, who first tested the waters: "Fox is the one who taught you how to write songs, right?"
Jiang Tinghan's heart skipped a beat. Even though he had guessed that it might be mentioned, his expression still slowed down for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal: "...Of course."
"You're 170cm tall with hair that's 4cm long, right?"
Tablo, who had just been clutching his wounded heart, suddenly burst out laughing. This was his joke; he had once said, "Tukutz is 170cm tall with 4cm of hair."
Tukutz couldn't help but laugh, surprised that Coldy even knew this: "Of course!"
He swallowed hard and said somewhat cautiously, "Fox is important to you, isn't it?"
Everyone else present was taken aback by his boldness and gasped, revealing a hint of gossip in their eyes.
The ambiguous relationship between "Fox" and "Coldy" has recently become a hot topic among netizens, who are very curious about it.
Jiang Tinghan bit her tongue and said without much hesitation, "Of course!"
Everywhere you look, there is a desire for victory and a possessiveness.
Playing this game really requires being prepared to leave the entertainment industry after the show ends.
Tukutz felt a tremor in his heart as he looked at Jiang Tinghan. The next second, he heard Jiang Tinghan say, "Everyone thinks that there are only two people at Epik High, and you are the DJ hired to go on stage and spin for them, right?"
Tukutz clutched his heart, just like Tablo.
Epik High was completely wiped out.
This woman is someone you really shouldn't mess with; you can't beat her, you really can't beat her!
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Author's note: The behind-the-scenes footage of Wkorea is really beautiful! It looks so much better than the photos. We really need to get moving!
I've recently come across a lot of old concert fancams, and they're so enjoyable to watch! I wish I could travel back more than ten years to go to a concert there! [crying emoji]
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