“Who could possibly be the mysterious female singer that received love calls from all the members? Let’s find out now―!”
Sung Yoo-seok’s smooth commentary took charge of the overall proceedings for this recording of the Infinite Challenge Music Show.
As soon as his commentary ended, Ha Eun began to walk slowly through the doors that started to open left and right.
What greeted her were the members of Infinite Challenge who recognized her face and started to jump out of their seats one by one.
Sung Yoo-seok’s voice followed, officially introducing Ha Eun instead of referring to her as the mysterious singer.
“She’s the hot star these days! It’s Lee Ha Eun~!”
A loud applause erupted in response.
Ha Eun, bowing her head briefly in greeting to the welcoming applause, introduced herself as a participant in this Infinite Challenge Music Show.
“Hello, I’m Lee Ha Eun. I’m here because good people have given me a good opportunity. I look forward to working with you all.”
As soon as her calm voice ended, the applause rang out once more.
Shortly after the applause settled down, a brief interview session between Ha Eun and Sung Yoo-seok followed.
“You received love calls from all the members of Infinite Challenge, including myself. How do you feel about that?”
“I’m glad that everyone enjoyed my singing. Honestly, I was a bit worried.”
“Come on, why would Ha Eun worry about singing? There’s no one here who doesn’t know that Ha Eun sings well.”
The conversation shifted to recent activities of Ha Eun.
After the filming of <Cloud-Clearing Moonlight>, she briefly talked about how she had been doing.
“Fortunately, I’ve been lucky enough to shoot a new drama. I’m working hard to embody the character well.”
“And how is it at school?”
“Things were a bit noisy because of the drama we filmed before, but overall, I’ve been attending normally.”
“Hmmm, I don’t think so~? It must be anything but normal~?”
“?”
Soon after, a performance video from the Narae Gogyo official YouTube channel appeared on the large screen behind Ha Eun.
For some reason, the situation in the video felt quite familiar.
And decisively.
“Since you have me, shouldn’t you take my miserable fate along with you?”
“Now my sins are yours, Kyle. Regret them deeply until the day you die…”
The voice flowing from the large screen was none other than Ha Eun’s voice.
Realizing belatedly that it was a performance video of <Should We Fall Together>, she looked back and forth between Sung Yoo-seok and the screen with an awkward expression.
“Our Ha Eun is a complete superstar even at school, right? Isn’t that true, Lee Jun?”
“That goes without saying.”
Lee Jun immediately testified to how loud the applause and cheers were from the audience for <Should We Fall Together>.
Although Ha Eun thought there was a slight exaggeration, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
“She acts well, sings well. What can’t Ha Eun do?”
With a hint of playfulness in Sung Yoo-seok’s comments, she simply smiled and replied that good results came from hard work.
The opportunity for other members to speak came afterward.
“Now, since Ha Eun has joined us with much difficulty, if anyone has questions for Ha Eun, please feel free to ask.”
Thus began the Q&A session between Ha Eun and the members of Infinite Challenge.
The first to speak was Yoon Si-hyeok, who met Ha Eun during the filming of <Don't Stop People> a long time ago.
However.
“I truly liked our Ha Eun since she was the neighbor uncle in the past. I watched Taelondang with great immersion—”
Yoon Si-hyeok, who had become what people referred to as an ‘Uncle fan,’ excitedly poured out what he wanted to say.
“Alright, alright, Yoon Si-hyeok. This isn’t Ha Eun’s fan meeting. Calm down, calm down.”
Sung Yoo-seok quickly intervened, noticing that Yoon Si-hyeok’s brakes had malfunctioned for a moment.
Afterward, other members gradually opened their mouths to express their fan sentiments or personal curiosities about Ha Eun.
“Isn’t it a bit daunting to stand on the same stage as uncles like us?”
“They’re all such interesting people that I think it’d be fun no matter who I teamed up with.”
As she continued to answer with a mix of wit, the amount of time allocated to Ha Eun was nearing its end.
“For the last question, please share your determination for this music show.”
In response to Sung Yoo-seok’s request for her final comment as a guest, Ha Eun scanned the members of Infinite Challenge sitting beyond.
Then, with a hint of a smile on her face, she spoke.
“I will create an amazing stage. One that will be talked about for a long time.”
With confidence as a singer, she addressed all the members of Infinite Challenge, including Sung Yoo-seok.
“Now, let’s give another round of applause for Ha Eun!”
Within less than a second, applause once again filled Ha Eun’s ears.
Following Sung Yoo-seok’s gesture to guide her to the guest-only seat, Ha Eun walked and sat in the chair that had been prepared for her.
What followed was the time allotted for singers other than Ha Eun.
The singers who hadn’t appeared yet took turns introducing themselves briefly and promoting themselves.
Finally, the time to decide the teams for this Infinite Challenge Music Show began shortly after.
Due to being the only one who received love calls from all the members, Ha Eun was the first to go.
“Now, Ha Eun, please turn around for a moment. Those who want to team up with Ha Eun should stand behind her.”
The sound of footsteps followed.
After a moment, she turned around and, as expected, all the members except for Lee Jun were standing behind Ha Eun.
After looking back and forth between the eager faces and outstretched hands toward her, she pondered deeply.
And at the moment when the time for choice finally arrived.
-Swoosh.
“Let’s work well together.”
“Uh, uh…? Is it really me?”
“Yes.”
“Whoa!!! Awesome!!!”
She grabbed the hand of Yoon Si-hyeok, who seemed to have the most fan sentiment towards Ha Eun among the members who were not chosen, and selected him as her final partner.
Yoon Si-hyeok, who looked as if he would fly from joy.
The other members who were not chosen by Ha Eun returned to their original seats, clearly showing their disappointment.
Ultimately, since there were other singers besides Ha Eun, all the members ended up forming their own teams.
The recording concluded after the last member of Infinite Challenge chose their partner.
Then, during the next recording, the news that they would meet in their respective workrooms was conveyed by PD Jeon Yoon-seob of Infinite Challenge.
“Hey, Ha Eun! No, no, Ha Eun!”
“You can call me casually.”
“Oh, really?”
Then, a more familiar-looking Yoon Si-hyeok asked about the next recording.
More specifically, he asked about Ha Eun’s workroom.
“Do you happen to have a separate workroom?”
“No, someone else is renting it for me. The song we’ll be calling will probably be created together with that person.”
“That person?”
“Hwang Ji-hyuk. He won SIT ON THE MONEY this time. Do you know him?”
As Ha Eun’s question about Hwang Ji-hyuk ended, Yoon Si-hyeok nodded.
He added that he had been enjoying Hwang Ji-hyuk’s songs recently.
“Wow, I’ll be teaming up with some incredible people.”
His voice was laced with a joyful expression.
Afterward, Yoon Si-hyeok received Hwang Ji-hyuk’s workroom address and Ha Eun’s contact number.
More excited than before, Yoon Si-hyeok said he was looking forward to the second recording of the Infinite Challenge Music Show next Monday.
Eventually, Ha Eun and Yoon Si-hyeok parted ways right after that.
She simply watched as Yoon Si-hyeok walked away joyfully.
Shortly after, Drrr, drrr.
Feeling like it had been a while, Ha Eun contacted Hwang Ji-hyuk to inform him that Yoon Si-hyeok had been chosen as Pinocchio’s team member.
[Hmm, Si-hyeok? I know he’s decent at singing, so that should be fun!]
“Then, I’ll see you next Monday.”
[Yes~. See you next week~.]
Things were going smoothly.
She thought that the chemistry between Yoon Si-hyeok, who could be called her superfan, and Ha Eun would shine through in the next recording.
However, that was a matter for the next recording.
At the moment, there were still things that needed to be prioritized.
The day right after a smooth completion of the first filming of the Infinite Challenge Music Show, on Tuesday.
-Ding dong─!
Right after school, Ha Eun headed straight to Jee Hye-min’s house and rang the doorbell.
Because she had to take another break from broadcasting due to the school trip starting this Wednesday and ending on Saturday.
Anyway, Jee Hye-min was the in-charge of Fantasia.
Dealing with external and internal issues of Fantasia was also her responsibility.
Moreover, since there had already been a health notification regarding Diah a few days prior.
Jee Hye-min determined that her four-day absence could easily cause misunderstandings.
Finally.
“Alright, everyone, please focus!”
Seating Ha Eun right next to her, she began the important announcement broadcast.
This time, it seemed better for Jee Hye-min, as the person in charge of Fantasia, to personally announce things related to Diah and Diah’s broadcast.
– Dotori-dan, prepare yourselves!
– Why are you suddenly frying pancakes, Ram Ji?
– Important announcement? With four exclamation marks?
– ? What does ‘special guest’ mean in the broadcast title? Is it a boyfriend?
– Is Ram Ji finally getting married? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– I’ll miss you!! (Actually not at all)
Even that time, she thought she would just convey a few important announcements to the viewers instead of Ha Eun.
Additionally, she only intended to let Ha Eun say a brief message about resting well during her absence.
Certainly, there shouldn’t have been any problems with Jee Hye-min’s plan.
However, after the announcements finished, during the second part of the Battle Island broadcast.
“Wow, CEO, you really can’t do it─! Isn’t it all about seeing and shooting~?”
– Gasp
– Isn’t Diah supposed to take care of things from the back?
– Diah says what she wants to say to the CEO, LOL.
– Truly provoking GOAT.
She never anticipated that Ha Eun, who was still using Diah’s voice, would unleash a torrent of unsolicited advice like a tsunami.
She also failed to realize that she should have sent Ha Eun home immediately after the announcement broadcast.
