Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 284

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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284. If Anyone Asks About Kairos’s Fresh and Cute Boy Group Concept (3)
Kairos’s “More More” was remarkably earnest.
It was to the point where I thought, ‘Are these guys seriously committed to all of this?’
Come closer, More More!
Tralalala―, More More!
Lee Yu-gun stepped forward, his sharp, triple-lidded eyes making no attempt at concealment, his loose mesh knit layered over a white short-sleeved shirt fluttering with each movement. Naturally, this knit was also the pale pink color of cotton candy.
The part that had been praised in the original for its beautiful vocal tone—sung with aegyo in falsetto by another member—had transformed into a sharp, crisp mid-range singing rap with a hip-hop vibe when Lee Yu-gun performed it, and he didn’t seem to feel even a shred of guilt about it.
Moreover, watching him casually tap the pink heart-shaped sunglasses on his head with his characteristic teasing movements suggested he was actually enjoying himself!
Tell me, More More!
Tralala―, More and More!
Just when I thought we’d adapted somewhat, Ju Eun-chan appeared next, wearing fluffy white ear muffs and a matching fuzzy scarf around his neck, his cool gaze softened into the gentlest, roundest expression as he dominated the camera.
The pale pink V-neck sweatshirt looked exceptionally soft, but the point was that Eun-chan’s jawline and voice were anything but soft. His black hair, which he’d rarely dyed since debut, stood out particularly striking today.
With Eun-chan at the center, all seven members stood in a perfect horizontal line.
With somewhat coy movements, they turned slightly to the side, their pale pink forms bending at the waist to place their arms on the person in front and rest their faces against their backs. It was the kind of cute choreography commonly seen in girl group performances.
This is More than ‘Like’
I want more more!
And as they crossed their legs, supported their chins, tapped their faces with their hands, or tilted their heads—witnessing Italian mafia members engaged in this mischievous, fresh, innocent game of house—the crowd’s reaction was generally this:
– Kairos, stop doing what you want to do…no, do more…no, stop…no wait, do a bit more…no…
These people, having discovered tastes they never knew they had, writhed in anguish, clutching their heads.
* * *
Kairos had calibrated the “sweet and spicy” balance perfectly.
For example, Kang Ha-jin, Lee Yu-gun, and Ju Eun-chan would pour out rapid-fire part exchanges, and then Jeong Si-u would monopolize a solo shot while showcasing his visuals.
Just when people were confused—’What is this? What am I feeling?’—they’d receive impeccable therapy, making them think, ‘Wait? Is this actually… good?’ rendering judgment impossible.
And the effect was outstanding!
– Men in pink really do work
– This is strange… why does it suit them so well…? Why… is it actually okay…?
– Chungwol Girls unnies, I’m sorry, I can’t remember the original anymore
– Oh please, my cheeks are about to split from smiling, oh my god
Because they’re naturally large, they’re naturally cute.
With tall, handsome guys using their massive frames to shower aegyo while fluttering pink fur everywhere, there was no one who could dislike it.
In every formation throughout the approximately one minute forty-second stage, Kairos had positioned Seo Tae-hyun, Dan Ha-ru, and Jeong Si-u among the members to neutralize the visuals.
The most overwhelmingly commanding presence among them was inevitably Seo Tae-hyun, and once your gaze was drawn to his light, dancing movements with his pink hair flowing, Kang Ha-jin matching his height appropriately beside him also had the effect of appearing endearingly cute.
– Ugh, Kairos is so cruel, don’t try to solve everything with your faces
└ But it all got solved with faces anyway, didn’t it?
However, there was one part that simply couldn’t be resolved: Lee Do-ha’s solo section.
Although the entire performance was only one minute forty seconds, each member had their own allocated part, and during their section, they had to monopolize the camera without anyone’s help.
To this, Kairos’s answer was clear.
– If we’re doing it anyway, let’s do it decisively.
A direct frontal assault.
Stop testing us when you already know
I’m tired of pretending we’re just friends anymore.
Do-ha, dressed in an angora knit outfit as he played the polar bear in “I was waiting for Do-ha, but a polar bear showed up instead,” moved across the stage from left to right in one fluid motion, his powerful rap emphasizing his heavy, low-pitched tone. It was a dynamic use of his impressively tall frame.
– Was “More More” always this explosive of a song?
The lyrics were slyly unchanged from the original, but Do-ha paid no attention to the original song’s vibe whatsoever, sticking firmly to his own style.
He didn’t seem particularly interested in looking cute or innocent, but his noticeably softer styling compared to usual, combined with the deep, penetrating gaze he always directed at people and cameras alike, came through with understated clarity.
The slightly tense expression from tackling choreography he’d never attempted before added an effect that perfectly captured the nervous anticipation of waiting for a confession from someone you truly love.
Before my weary heart makes this excitement disappear,
Come closer and tell me. Want you, More More!
Ha-jin (the doberman) and Ha-ru (the retriever), who had solidly established themselves as Kairos’s loyal dogs, exchanged a light high-five with Do-ha while grinning. The three of them, their eyes meeting at center stage, burst into bright laughter without restraint.
The camera then captured Si-woo, who was enjoying this stage more than anyone, Yu-gun, who had simply copied the girl group’s movements exactly as he saw them, Eun-chan, who couldn’t hide his awkwardness and embarrassment, and Tae-hyun, who had finally found his true calling.
They looked more natural and endearing than ever before. I couldn’t remember anything about who had covered whom or how things had gone previously.
At this point, people had no choice but to admit it.
– I actually liked this kind of thing
This was the moment the final winner of the senior idol cover stage was confirmed.
* * *
What greeted Kairos as they returned to the waiting room after their wild performance was laughter that bordered on screaming.
“Ahahaha! Ah, my stomach hurts, seriously, you guys are all crazy, ah!”
“Here comes Miro’s proud youngest!”
“Whose idea was that anyway?”
“Yeah. You need at least this much guts to be Miro’s maknae.”
It was Upia, who would be closing out today’s music festival as the most senior group with their ending stage.
“Why are you guys even here….”
“You guys, heh, ah, I’m dying, we came to mess with you, puhaha!”
“Ha-jin, look at this. I recorded hyung’s video too. Can I upload this to OneStarr?”
“Hyungs, are you guys really not busy?”
Ha-jin, wiping sweat from his face with a towel, shot back cynically—the sly expression from earlier nowhere to be found. But the Upia members, already lost in the thought of teasing their much younger juniors, didn’t hear a word of it.
“Ooh~ Tae-hyun~ our Tae-hyun~ you did so well~?”
“Please go away, seniors….”
The Upia members, abandoning their own spacious waiting room, had completely taken over their juniors’ cramped one, now calling out members’ names and reacting enthusiastically.
Tae-hyun, finding the teasing from his agency seniors more terrifying than the cute girl group stage, was visibly losing energy in real time as he retreated further into the corner of the waiting room. Meanwhile, the other members began changing out of their sweat-soaked clothes.
Soon it would be time for their actual main stage performance.
“Si-woo, Si-woo, you don’t look like it, but you’re good? You looked great in it?”
“I’m just naturally good-looking like always, thank you.”
“…Ah. I can’t argue with that, which is frustrating.”
Nam Da-down, hit with a playful jab, clenched his lips tightly, his expression showing his frustration at being unable to counter.
Ha-jin, having completely removed his shirt and wiped down his body with a damp towel, put back on the shirt he’d worn on the red carpet earlier and surveyed the waiting room.
Over there, Do-ha was already caught by Yoon Ji-nu, and Kwon Sang-rok, who clearly seemed to want to be alone, was being held from both sides by Ju Eun-chan and Dan Ha-ru as they pestered him for feedback on their stage.
It was nothing particularly special.
‘Why are these hyungs even barging into someone else’s waiting room….’
Are Upia really not busy?
Even as he said this, the lively atmosphere wasn’t unpleasant, so Ha-jin chuckled softly and took a sip of water. Then Seo Tae-il, who had been sitting deeper in the waiting room, set down the tablet he’d been holding and called out to Ha-jin.
“Hey, kid. Come here for a second.”
“…Have you finally decided to become my adoptive father?”
“Well, at this rate you’re not getting married anyway, so it might be nice to have a grown son or something.”
“I’m sorry, but I already have my biological father at home, and he’s very much alive and watching with wide eyes.”
He’d probably changed his profile picture after watching today’s performance too.
While thinking that he should have Kang Ha-won check on Father’s profile picture the moment he got home, Ha-jin obediently moved to the seat next to Tae-il as instructed.
He was beginning to understand why these guys were making such a commotion by coming to someone else’s waiting room in the middle of this busy year-end stage.
“If you’re going to be a father anyway, how about you start by giving me New Year’s money, Office Father?”
“Office… what? Stop talking nonsense.”
“I’m serious.”
At the light joke, Seo Tae-il let out a small chuckle as if laughing at himself, then checked the situation in the waiting room and the broadcast monitor before straightening his posture. Han-sol, who was sitting across from Tae-il, gave Ha-jin a light nod, and Ha-jin returned it casually with a bow of his head.
Seo Tae-il got straight to the point.
“I thought choosing a cover song would give you a headache. You used your head well, didn’t you?”
As expected.
He’d assumed they would know since it was their own song, but it seemed Yupia had also heard all about the cutthroat politics that went into selecting this cover song.
‘Though it wasn’t important enough for them to come find me like this and comfort me.’
Kang Ha-jin, who had conveniently forgotten his own past when he’d rolled up his sleeves and started a cafe just to forget that sadness and frustration, shrugged his shoulders shamelessly and answered.
“Hyung, don’t you know? I’m Miro’s strategist.”
“But I heard Tae-hyun and Ha-ru chose the song?”
“…Effectively utilizing the wisdom of those around you and selecting the appropriate method is also an important virtue of a strategist, Hyung.”
“Anyway, I was curious about what you were thinking when you chose this song, and whether the kids were doing okay, so I came by. From the atmosphere, it looks like you handled it well.”
Seo Tae-il nodded in acknowledgment and showed Ha-jin his phone.
The screen was filled with reactions to Kairos’s “More More” cover.
“You’re trending at number one right now. The buzz is insane, right?”
“All~ part of my plan.”
“Yeah, whatever. Just do that.”
“I’m serious. I told you I have a plan for everything?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
After hearing Ha-jin’s words, Tae-il nodded with his usual scoff.
He probably thought it was just the pleasant bravado of a rookie who’d finished a cover stage well, but Ha-jin was sincere.
“I’m serious? And it’s not over yet, the plan.”
“…?”
At his confident words, Tae-il and Han-sol’s gazes turned toward Ha-jin.
“I yielded your song, but I have no intention of yielding your junior position.”
Ha-jin, buttoning up the last button of his crisply pressed shirt, flashed a confident smile and drew a V-shape with his hand.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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