The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 51

Chapter 51

 

Rua walked toward me so confidently that everyone’s attention immediately shifted in my direction.

The woman standing in front of me slowly lifted her head.

The moment our eyes met, her eyes widened. Then her lips moved soundlessly as she simply stared at me in disbelief.

‘She looks really shocked.’

“Hello?”

“Kyaaaahhh! Siwoo-nim!”

The woman let out an ear-piercing scream and started hopping up and down.

“I’m a huge fan!”

“Haha. Thank you.”

“Unbelievable!”

“Siwoo!!!”

As people suddenly rushed toward us, the situation instantly descended into chaos.

‘…This has become quite troublesome.’

“Please wait a moment!”

Just as I was feeling overwhelmed, the café staff hurried out from inside and began controlling the crowd.

“If everyone rushes at them at once, the trainees could get hurt!”

“We’ll bring them inside the café so everyone can see them together, so please cooperate!”

At the café staff’s shout, the fans gradually stepped back.

‘Phew. If this had gone on any longer, someone might’ve gotten hurt.’

“Thank you.”

When I bowed ninety degrees, one of the café managers waved his hands and stepped closer.

“You three came to look around the café together, right?”

“Yes. Though we honestly didn’t expect there to be this many people. We’re sorry if we’ve caused any inconvenience.”

“Not at all! We’re grateful that you came. The people waiting in line probably feel the same way.”

“That’s a relief. If it’s alright, would it be possible to hold a short fan meeting in the café?”

“It would be an honor!!!”

“Then we’ll wait in line and go in.”

“No! Please come right in!”

‘There are so many people waiting. Going in immediately feels a little awkward.’

“No, but…”

Apparently, overhearing our conversation, people nearby suddenly started shouting.

“Guys, go in!”

“You need to go inside!”

“Hurry up!”

“Ah… Thank you!”

Considering everything, we decided that waiting in line would actually be more troublesome for everyone.

We bowed deeply.

Greeting people with every step, we quickly made our way toward the café.

“Wow…!”

As I entered the café thanks to the fans’ consideration, the sight before me stole my breath.

“They decorated it beautifully.”

“Amazing!”

The interior of the support café was covered wall-to-wall with various photos of the three of us.

Most were screenshots from the show, pictures of us smiling or fooling around.

One wall was filled with fan messages written on Post-it notes beneath individual photos.

There were even letters mixed in between.

‘Honestly, this is touching.’

I was busy admiring the lovingly decorated café when…

“You should have this too!”

“…?”

A shyly smiling fan pointed toward the counter.

On top of the counter sat drinks and cakes personally prepared by fans, alongside small handwritten cards.

“Wow!”

“Thank you!”

The fan’s face turned bright red.

She nodded and then practically ran away.

The cup sleeve on the coffee read:

“Let’s debut, Rusi-Nyang.”

“Rusi-Nyang?”

“I think they combined our names!”

Warmth spread through my chest.

“Impressed!”

After touring the café, the three of us stood together and took photos.

Whenever we struck poses we’d learned from Star Picking 5, the fans absolutely loved it.

At some point, so many people had gathered that the café was completely packed.

Even outside, people surrounded the building, so we decided to hold a brief fan meeting.

“There’s a microphone here?”

The café manager proudly handed over a microphone.

“Haha. We prepared it just in case!”

‘What? Did they somehow expect us to come?’

“You’re incredibly well prepared!”

“Thank you. Honestly, I was secretly hoping you’d visit someday. But the fact that you actually came is so moving!”

“The fans put so much effort into this place. Of course, we had to come. We’re the ones who should be grateful.”

Amid the warm atmosphere, the impromptu fan meeting proceeded quickly.

“First of all, we’d like to sincerely thank everyone who came to support us.”

“No, we’re the grateful ones!”

“I’m so touched that you actually came to the café!”

“Rusi-Nyang, we love you!”

‘Even with such a sudden visit and fan meeting, they’re this happy.’

Every word sank deep into my heart.

I couldn’t believe that something as simple as a few words from me could be returned as this much love.

‘It’s fascinating.’

As unfamiliar emotions washed over me and left me speechless, Rua picked up the microphone.

“Hey~ Looks like our little brother Siwoo is touched. Actually, knowing this many people are cheering for us gave me serious heart-flutters!”

“Kyaaaahhh!”

“We’ve got heart-flutters too!”

After rua finished speaking, Seo Hayul picked up the microphone.

“…Hello.”

The atmosphere inside the café heated up once again at the sight of Hayul’s ears turning bright red.

“Hayul-nyang!”

“So cute!!!”

“Uh… Sorry, but I’m actually a dependable eighteen-year-old boy who’s pretty far from being a cat.”

Hayul squeezed his eyes shut.

The sight was genuinely hilarious.

“Hahaha!”

“He’s adorable.”

“Hayul, give us a ‘meow’ just once!”

His face bright red, Hayul reluctantly raised his hands in front of his face.

Curling his palms inward and bending his fingers slightly, he looked like a cat hesitating in front of a toy.

“…Meow.”

“Kyaaaahhh!”

“Hayul-nyang is so cute!!”

His face turned so red it looked ready to explode.

Eventually, he lowered his head in defeat.

Laughter erupted throughout the café.

‘I should make him do that again sometime.’

While the fans laughed and teased Hayul, their gazes suddenly shifted.

“Rua, do a meow too!”

“Siwoo, try meowing!”

This time, they had changed targets.

‘If the fans ask, of course I should do it.’

Considering all the support and affection they’d given us, meowing a few times was nothing.

I copied the exact hand gesture Hayul had done.

“Meow.”

‘Is this right?’

“Gyaaaahhh!”

“Siwoo actually meowed…!”

Judging from the reaction, I apparently did it correctly.

‘Thankfully, they seem to like it.’

“Kuhahaha! Little brother Siwoo, that’s too funny!”

“…Rua hyung, you should hurry up too. The fans are waiting.”

“Of course!”

Rua, who had been laughing while clutching his stomach, immediately added a wink and finger-heart before doing his own meow.

‘Are you actually enjoying this?’

“Wooooahhh!”

“Rua is so cute!”

His fan service was impeccable, and the fans seemed extremely satisfied.

After responding to a few requests and questions, we were finally able to leave.

Checking the time, there were fifty minutes left before Episode 7’s live broadcast.

“Wow! There were so many people!”

“Seriously. We purposely came in the evening, but I didn’t expect this many.”

“Wow! The fans really love us!”

Experiencing fans’ affection up close for the first time, both Lua and Seo Hayul looked deeply moved.

“I’ve never seen Siwoo hyung smile like that before.”

“Me too!”

“Huh? I smiled like usual.”

“No. Your real smile is different. You looked ridiculously happy.”

“Yeah, yeah. It was nice seeing little brother Siwoo smiling so brightly.”

Instead of answering, I took the hats given to us by the café manager and placed them on Rua’s and Hayul’s heads.

Aware of the eyes following us, we quickly headed toward the parking lot.

“Oh right, Siwoo hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“I saw your Byulstagram. You went around taking billboard photos with Sunyoo hyung on Monday?”

“Yeah. We wandered around and took a few pictures together.”

“…That’s unfair.”

Hayul suddenly puffed out his lips.

“Why?”

“Well…”

Before Hayul could finish, Rua answered for him.

“Siwoo takes great photos. Sunyoo’s pictures looked like an actual magazine photoshoot. They’re a huge topic right now!”

“Really?”

‘That’s good to hear.’

I had properly repaid my debt.

“But why did you do it? Siwoo isn’t the type to randomly take photos for people.”

‘This guy can be surprisingly sharp sometimes.’

“I actually owed Sunyoo hyung a favor, so I took a few pictures for him.”

‘No point lying when I don’t even have a camera.’

“Oh! What kind of favor?”

“That’s a secret.”

“Hmph!”

Now, Rua’s lips formed a perfect “3” shape.

“Take cool photos of me too.”

‘So that’s what this was about?’

“…Me too. And while we’re at it, it’d be nice if the three of us took photos together.”

‘Hayul-nyang, you too?’

“Sure.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Since we’re talking about it, let’s start taking photos from today once we get to our destination.”

“Great!”

Before we knew it, we’d arrived at the parking lot.

 

☆☆☆

 

“This is Rua Hyung’s house?”

“Yes.”

“Wow… I’ve never seen a house this big in my life.”

“I can relate.”

‘I knew something was unusual about him ever since I saw him driving imported luxury cars.’

To watch Episode 7 of Star Picking 5, we left the parking lot and arrived at Lua’s home.

Driving a luxury foreign car recognizable to anyone, Lua naturally parked at an upscale villa complex in Hannam-dong.

‘I live in a villa too, but compared to my semi-basement apartment, this is on an entirely different level.’

Even the scent was different.

Unlike the musty smell of a basement apartment, the luxurious Hannam-dong villa was filled with a fresh phytoncide fragrance.

Even the parking lot was enormous.

‘And every single car parked there looked ridiculously expensive.’

“Really? Anyway, I’m hungry! Let’s eat chicken! Nothing beats chicken as a late-night snack.”

Watching our amazed reactions with a bright smile, Rua suddenly began singing about chicken.

“Chicken~ Chicken! I like chicken.”

‘Why is he even good at singing something like this?’

The song sounded completely improvised, little more than excitement over ordering fried chicken.

Yet his voice was so good that it stuck in my ears immediately.

“What kind of chicken should we order?”

“Hmm, should we order the number-one-ranked chicken place on the delivery app?”

“Ugh. Ranking chicken too? What a cruel world.”

“It’s giving me PTSD. How about we just order from the place that delivers the fastest?”

“That’s true. Good!”

Even after ordering chicken, there was still some time left before the broadcast.

“Rua hyung. There’s still time before the show starts. Can we look around your house?”

“Of course. Let’s go! I’ll explain everything!”

Leading the way, Seo Hayul tilted his head.

“But Rua hyung, how many people live in this villa?”

“Huh? Just me.”

‘What? He lives alone in a five-story Hannam-dong villa?’

“Then what about all those cars in the parking lot?”

“They’re all mine.”

“Excuse me?”

“???”

Leading us, both utterly bewildered by this diamond-spoon heir who surpassed even the concept of a gold spoon, Lua began showing us around the living room.

“The trophies on display are awards I’ve won since I was little!”

“Wow!”

“Rua hyung, I already knew you were a genius, but seeing all the awards makes it feel completely different.”

An impressive collection of awards from various music and instrument competitions was displayed beautifully.

‘’For reference, my studio is downstairs in the basement.”

“Seriously?!”

“Want to see it?”

“Of course.”

Following the homeowner, we headed deeper into the house.

Turning a corner, a hidden elevator came into view.

“There’s an elevator inside a private house…”

“The truly rich really are different.”