The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 114

Yu Ha-woon had felt unnecessarily embarrassed while they posted it on Stargram, but to MILLENNIUM’s eyes, he was just adorable.

Of course, the visual of the cookies themselves was shocking and terrifying.

―Is this a cookie for Halloween special? LOL I’m not joking, it really looks like a ghost

―Ha-woon, sorry but… I think I’m going to see that in my dreams

―Eyes staring into the deep abyss, pupils dilated to their limits, and a mouth that seems to be vomiting out the fear embedded in one’s heart. Ah, this is a work of art. Yu Ha-woon, this is a masterpiece that would make Munch’s Scream weep. My score is… 10/10 points

└Damn LMAO this is way too hilarious

Still, people regained their peace of mind after seeing the photos uploaded together afterward.

―Our youngest in a pink apron T_T what is that, why is it so cute

―Yu Ha-woon is committing crimes today…. stop assaulting my heart

└Fact) Ha-woon has never not been cute

└No, that’s obvious but he’s been showing mature charm lately and then suddenly returned to being an ultra-cute life form, so it hits even harder T_T

―By the way, why the sudden baking? Are they filming new self-content?

└If not self-content, then something like a reality show

└The kids are busy running around music shows, are they really filming self-content again now? The timing seems strange

└Who are they making that for

Yu Ha-woon’s cuteness initially overwhelmed MILLENNIUM, but they eventually came to their senses.

There had been no baking-related hints in CENTIX’s reality program 〈TIME WITH CENTIX〉.

It was also strange to give CENTIX, who were busy running around music shows, yet another NeoTube original content project.

Then naturally, attention focused on ‘who they were doing the baking for.’

Baking naturally leads to giving the results to someone.

MILLENNIUM, who had fallen into a brief lull, immediately recalled CENTIX’s characteristics.

―Wait lol do we really need to seriously think about this? Isn’t it obvious they’re making it for us?

―These are kids who filled their debut song with fan love from the start, ah lol isn’t the ending too obvious

└Right, who else would they give homemade cookies to besides fans

└Offering to Hyeong-seok…?

└LOL I just imagined Go Hyeong-seok sitting in the conference room with his arms crossed eating cookies

└”Offering” you crazy people lmao

―When will they give them out? Don’t they usually prepare stuff like this for commemorative events

―Should we see it as a reverse gift?

└Yeah, right, the act itself of giving something back to fans is a reverse gift

└No, what have we done for them that they’re already giving reverse gifts… these hopeless romantics

└Right, all we’ve done so far is send one lunchbox,, this embarrassing feeling

―No, so when and where are they giving that

└How would we know if you ask us, sir

└If we think about commemorating anniversaries, realistically the first face-to-face fan signing would be most likely, right?

While excited people were spouting nonsense, one MILLENNIUM made a sharp prediction.

A fan signing would be the most likely place to meaningfully do this kind of reverse gift.

Moreover, tomorrow was the first face-to-face fan signing, making it even more plausible.

And inevitably, envy and anger toward the winners came.

―Wow, so the MILLENNIUM going to tomorrow’s fan signing get to see the kids up close, see them wearing cute headbands, watch the stage right in front of them, get autographs, and receive reverse gift presents too? I can’t sleep because I’m so upset―.

└Should’ve bought more albums if you’re jealous

└Damn, what am I supposed to do when you hit me with facts like that T_T

―It’s already a fan signing that’s left my hands, so I won’t create any lingering attachment… Those going, please take tons of photos of the kids and upload them, that’s my final request

―Guys, just saying one thing before I go, are you going to eat the reverse gift cookies you receive from the kids?

└I’m going tomorrow and honestly I’m a bit conflicted lol I want to keep it forever in my heart, but the kids made it for us to eat… I feel like I shouldn’t not eat it

└The fact that you can have such happy worries is a blessing, you fraud

└Hehe, I spent over 100 ^^

└Rational fraud okay

CENTIX’s fan signing had expectations that pierced the sky from the beginning, but this reverse gift event prediction fanned those flames even fiercer.

Time flowed quickly like that.

The long-awaited day of the first fan signing dawned.

* * *

‘Mm, familiar air.’

The homma savored the chilly autumn wind as she moved her feet.

Sangam-dong, a place she used to come to as frequently as eating meals.

Her fangirling hiatus had lasted longer than expected, so opportunities to attend live music show recordings or face-to-face fan signings had considerably disappeared.

Somehow, the homma had a feeling she would continue her CENTIX fangirling for a very long time.

Checking the time, it was 5 PM.

‘Fortunately, traffic wasn’t bad so I arrived right on time.’

The place where CENTIX’s first face-to-face fan signing was being held was Mirinai Square, very close to nearby broadcasting station buildings.

This place, considered one of the standard locations for idol fan signings, was also very familiar to the homma.

Even though she hadn’t come in several years, perhaps out of habit, her feet automatically headed toward one entrance.

“Ah, when will the kids come?”

“I want to see them quickly.”

An entrance where several telephoto cameras and tripods had already been set up.

This was famous as a dedicated spot used by idols for fan signings.

So today too, many fansites were waiting to witness CENTIX’s commute with their own eyes.

The homma, well-versed in the dark side of this world, quickly scanned people’s faces.

‘Doesn’t seem like there are any malicious data sellers.’

Those who came on proxy photographer requests or those who attended fan signings solely for profit.

These types aren’t fans of that group. They simply came for their own benefit.

So they don’t follow fan managers’ control or hesitate to cause trouble that makes people frown.

You might overlook it once or twice, but when such karma accumulates, people around start to notice.

The homma, who had rolled around the idol scene for a long time, had memorized the faces of most people on blacklists.

Since no recent idol had risen in value as much as CENTIX, she had worried many such lowlifes would flock here.

It seemed MILLENNIUM had beaten the data sellers in competition through pure financial power.

About 10 minutes later.

When several black vans passed through the parking lot, people gathered at the entrance grabbed their cameras all at once.

‘The kids are coming!’

Though the homma had seen CENTIX in person many times, the special feeling that only commutes gave was sweet every time.

The members looked even more lovable as they enthusiastically waved their hands even while being protected by security guards.

“Hello, MILLENNIUM!”

“We’ll see you in a little bit!”

“Thank you so much for coming. Isn’t the wind cold? Are your hands okay?”

“Not at all!!”

“Si-hyeok, aren’t you cold? Your clothes look too thin!”

“I’m fine, so everyone be careful not to catch colds. If you get sick, we’ll be sadder.”

“Sniff!”

Ma Si-hyeok, who got out of the van last, exchanged brief banter with the fans.

The shy character created from 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 was still valid, but his skill at delivering such smooth comments seemed to have improved considerably.

Ma Si-hyeok’s fans made groaning sounds while faithfully pressing their telephoto cameras’ rapid-fire buttons.

Ryu Si-hwan’s homma also showed skilled technique without losing concentration.

She checked the results while swallowing slight regret.

‘Si-hwan got out first and went in fastest, so I couldn’t capture many shots.’

It’s okay. This was just an appetizer before the real event started.

Now was when things got really important.

“We’ll check the list and have you draw numbers, so everyone please line up properly―.”

At 5:30, roll call and number drawing began.

The homma set down her gift bag for the members and offered a desperate prayer in her heart.

‘Please, let me get the number I want. Back numbers won’t do, please!’

After confirming her ID and picking one number from the container.

Miraculously, [19] appeared.

‘Nice!’

Numbers 1-10 were closest to the members, that was true.

But the very first numbers had to go sign immediately after a very short preparation time.

In other words, you had to set up cameras and tripods under time pressure and rearrange gifts according to the order the members sat.

Most importantly, you lost the chance to take precious photos of members not currently signing.

In that sense, the homma preferred numbers 11-20.

The seats were second closest from the front, and you had leisure to finish all setup and quickly take photos.

Clenching her fist, she quickly wrote questions on the post-its she’d brought in advance.

Roll call and number drawing finished.

Finally, 100 MILLENNIUM entered the fan signing venue with swelling hearts.

As soon as the homma sat down, she attached member indexes and question post-its to the album prepared by the organizers, plus a post-it with her name on the last page.

If she dawdled even a little, time could become tight, so she thoroughly set up her camera and tripod immediately.

‘Good, all preparations are complete.’

At 6:30, CENTIX came up on stage waving both arms enthusiastically.

“We’ll give our greeting, two three. All eyes on us! Hello, we’re CENTIX!”

“We missed you, MILLENNIUM!”

“Our first fan signing, our first fan signing! I’m so nervous!”

“You’ll have a fun time with us today, right?”

“Yessss!”

“You promised, right? Don’t tremble in front of me just because you’re nervous!”

Seong-hwi was already showing his fox-like smile and shaking fans’ hearts.

‘If you say that, people will get more nervous, you sly guy.’

Though her head was processing Seong-hwi’s comment, the homma’s camera was fully focused on Ryu Si-hwan.

Today’s CENTIX outfit was gray blazers/black slacks.

Each member had different brooches and chains around their chest or collar areas as key points.

‘The outfits are perfect too. Insane.’

CENTIX, who came forward to the front of the stage to greet everyone, began sitting down one by one behind the long table.

The homma quickly opened her bag containing gifts to prepare to rearrange the gift order.

‘Seon-woo second. Ha-ru fourth. Ha-woon third, Hwi fifth, Si-hyeok at the very end. Huh, huh. Wait, huh? Huh?’

The homma, who had arranged the gift bags, looked at Ryu Si-hwan sitting in the front seat and fell into panic.

She wasn’t mentally prepared yet.

No matter how long her fangirling experience was, it had been a while since she’d come to a fan signing for an idol she really liked.

In that situation, she was going to have a conversation with her bias first.